Five Things to Know Today, Oct. 17

Welcome to Monday and a new week. Here are some things to know as you head into both.

The weather: Enjoy the warm weather for the next two days -- a high of about 85 today and almost 80 on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service -- and then brace for cold as rain and possibly thunderstorms on Tuesday usher in a cold front.

Gas prices continued to rise over the weekend, and a gallon of regular is $3.347 on average in Georgia, up from $3.310 on Friday, according to AAA. Nationally, prices also are about three cents higher, at $3.457. Prices reported to www.georgiagasprices.com for Lilburn in the past 24 hours ranged from $3.21 (at Marathon, 119 Harmony Grove Road near Lost Grove Drive) to $3.35 (at Shell, 775 Beaver Ruin at Burns Road).

From the candidates' mouths: Candidates in Lilburn's city elections (two for mayor, six for city council) will answer questions submitted by citizens to the Lilburn Woman's Club, the organizers, at tonight's Lilburn Candidate Forum. The forum is at 7 p.m. at city hall.

A $200 gift card could be yours if you win the Patch contest for best Halloween decoration photo. Check Lilburn-Mountain Park Patch today at noon for details.

Stamp out poverty: Today is the 18th International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, a time to promote awareness of the destitution in which many around the globe live. You can do your part by joining in CARE's National Day of Action, which is focusing on the famine in the Horn of Africa this year.