5 Things, Mar. 20: Spring, Budget, Stories, Gallery, Safe Schools

Spring: Did you stay up late last night? Spring officialy started at 1:14 a.m. this morning with the vernal equinox — and, for once, the weather will actually make it seem like spring. The JohnstonPatch WeatherBug forecast calls for fog in the morning, giving way to sunny skies and temps in the upper 60s. Lows in the 40s overnight, then highs in the 70s expected for Wednesday.

Budget: The start of spring also means budget season in Johnston. [I always think of that old Bugs Bunny episode where he and Daffy Duck are arguing over whether it's duck season or rabbit season — Duck season! Rabbit season! Budget season!] Tonight at 6 p.m. at Ferri Middle School, the school committee is scheduled to hold its second budget workshop on its proposed fiscal 2013 spending plan. Click here to see what the proposed budget looks like.

Stories: Marian J. Mohr Memorial Library, 1 Memorial Ave., hosts another visit by talented local authors during New Works Night tonight at 6. Free and open to the public.

Gallery: The nice weather is the perfect excuse to get outdoors and take some photos of places around town — and post your work on our Neighborhood Gallery. Click here to add your photos or videos.

Safe Schools: On this date late year, we reported on the introduction of the so-called "Safe Schools Act" bill in the Rhode Island House of Representatives. The bill ultimately went on to become law with Gov. Lincoln Chafee's signature on June 30, 2011.