Five Things to Know Today: April 19, 2011

1. Afternoon thunderstorms: Showers are expected before 2 p.m. and thunderstorms are a possibility between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. today, according to the National Weather Service. The majority of the day will be cloudy with a high around 61 degrees; chance of precipitation is 60 percent. Tonight, expect showers and thunderstorms to continue with a low near 51 degrees; chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

2. Passover: Passover began last night, Monday, April 18, at sundown and continues through evening of Tuesday, April 26. Passover pays tribute to the book of Exodus, when the Israelites are freed from slavery in Egypt by Moses. Exodus explains how God aided the Israelites by sending ten plagues to Egypt in hopes of convincing the Pharaoh to release the slaves. The tenth plague was the killing of all first-born sons. The Israelites were instructed to kill a lamb and smear blood on the door posts of their homes; when the spirit saw the blood it recognized that it was an Israelite household and "passed it over", thus the name Passover.  

3. Manalapan High School on "The Challenge": A team of Manalapan High School seniors face off against Hopatcong High School tonight on an episode of "The Challenge" which airs on MSG Varsity, Channel 14 on Cablevision iO TV. Tune in at 5:30 p.m. to watch Manalapan compete in the tri-state academic bowl. To read more about the team's experience on "The Challenge" and tonight's episode, click here.  

4. :

• Watch the critically-acclaimed film The Kids Are All Right (2010) as part of the library's Gold Rush series highlighting all of the Best Picture nominees from the 2011 Academy Awards. The screening will take place from 2 p.m. to 3:50 p.m. Starring Annette Benning, Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, and Mia Wasikowska, and directed by Lisa Cholodenko, the movie received four Oscar nominations. The film is rated R for strong sexual content, nudity, language, and some teen drug and alcohol use -- so please keep the kids at home! 
• The Beginner Level English Class will take place in Room 7 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and the Intermediate Level English Class is held from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. All classes are free of charge and registration is not required.
• Separated or going through a divorce? Join the support group Transitions, where people at all stages of divorce and separation can meet and seek solace in one another. Transitions meets today from 7:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. All ages are welcome. 

5. Makeup Lesson: Bare Escentuals in the Freehold Raceway Mall is offering a tonight from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Learn how to properly apply makeup so that you can put the best "you" forward!