Five Things to Know Today, April 13

Welcome to Friday. Here are some things to know today.

The weather: Ah, warmth. The high today will be about 75 degrees, and it'll be sunny, the National Weather Service says. The low tonight will be around 51.

Gas prices: Not much movement. The lowest price reproted for Lilburn to www.georgiagasprices.com was $3.77 (at Shell, 5474 Lawrenceville Hwy, and at Phillips 66, 5044 Lawrenceville Hwy). The highest was $3.87 (at Citgo, 1218 Turner Road at Five Forks Trickum Road).

“We hold these truths…” It’s the birthday of President Thomas Jefferson, principal author of the Declaration of Independence, Founding Father and 17th century Renaissance man. He was born in Virginia in 1743 and studied law before going into politics. Jefferson’s list of notable achievements is too long for this page, so let’s pick just one at random: He expanded the young United States westwards, nearly doubling the country in size, with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 that covered territory from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains .  

Visitor: If you ever catch yourself wondering, “When was the first elephant brought to the United States?,” we have your answer. April 13, 1796.  An enterprising sea captain from Salem, Mass., bought a young elephant in India for $450 and sailed her back, safely, all the way to New York. The elephant became known as Old Bet and spent perhaps 20 years being exhibited in northern states in the summer and wintering down south. A Boston flier from 1797 advertises the elephant as nearly as intelligent as humans and offers a viewing for “one quarter of a dollar. Children, nine pence.”  

Stories: There’s a Children’s Storytime Festival with storybook characters next Saturday, April 21. Storytells from the Gwinnett County Public Library will also be at the event at Books-A-Million at Discover Mills, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Characters Belle, Clifford and Junie B. Jones will be on hand and a percentage of book sales will go to helping the library.