5 Things You Need to Know Today: March 31

Today is Thursday, March 31. Here are five things you need to know:

1. No joke, a nor’easter is in the forecast: According to the National Weather Service, a late-season nor’easter could hit New England on Friday, April Fools’ Day. Today will feature a chance of rain, mainly after 5 p.m. It will be cloudy, with a high temperature near 47 degrees, according to the forecast. A mix of rain and snow is likely after midnight and into Friday, according to the weather service. Look on the bright side -- the 2011 Red Sox season opens tomorrow in Texas.
2. On the agenda: The Board of Assessors will meet in Room 5 at at 4:30 p.m. Over at the , the School Committee will hold a budget workshop in the conference room beginning at 6:30 p.m.
3. Happenings at the library: Songs and Poems of the Civil War will take place at the Activity Room from 7-9 p.m. This is the last event of North Reading Reads 2011. The chorus will sing and give a choral reading.
4. Support the Hikin’ Hornets (without a ): Fifteen North Reading freshmen are raising money to continue the 36-year . This year they will be traveling to Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada and Utah. To help defray the costs of the trip, the Great American Tavern will donate a percentage of sales anytime between 5-9 p.m. today to the Hikin’ Hornets. The group will have a table set up with a raffle for gift baskets during that time.
5. The Eiffel Tower opens: On this date in 1889, the Eiffel Tower was dedicated in Paris, according to History.com. In 1889, to honor of the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution, the French government planned an international exposition and announced a design competition for a monument to be built in central Paris. Out of more than 100 designs submitted, the Centennial Committee chose Eiffel's plan of an open-lattice, wrought-iron tower that would reach almost 1,000 feet above Paris and be the world's tallest man-made structure. Eiffel also was the designer of the framework of the Statue of Liberty, according to History.com.

To find more things to do today, check out our event listings.