5 Things Sept. 9: Hydrant Flushing, Fall Flavors at Dunkin and More

Five Things You Need to Know Today is a Patch column that provides readers with essential, daily information at a glance. Check back later for more, and let us know what you think of the feature in the comments section.

1. High near 77, low around 51
Today there is a 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 9 a.m. It will then be partly sunny, with a high near 77. West wind will be 7 to 10 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. tonight will be partly cloudy, with a low around 51.

2. Hydrant flushing
Fire Hydrant Flushing will begin today. Flushing times will be Sunday through Thursday, 8 p.m. to 3 a.m.

3. Secret Garden Tours
Stop by Newport, Rhode Island for the Secret Gardens Tour. This year’s tour offers private gardens and hidden yards of some of Newport's most prestigious homes, estates and mansions. Cost of the tour is $20. Visit YouTube for sneak preview clips.

4. National Grandparents’ Day
Today is National Grandparents' Day. If you don't have a senior to celebrate today, consider contacting your local senior center to see if there is a senior you could "adopt" in your town.

5. Fall Flavors of Dunkin Donuts
Dunkin Donuts has launched a handful of seasonal food and beverage items featuring pumpkin and apple flavors. Pumpkin K-Cups, "apple orchard" and pumpkin-flavored donuts and munchkins, "apple crisp" and pumpkin-flavored muffins, apple pie, apple cider, pumpkin-flavored cream cheese, as well as pumpkin-flavored and packaged coffees and lattes are available. Patrons of Dunkin Donuts will also have the chance to sample more pumpkin-flavored items coming to participating Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants beginning in October. Dunkin Donuts also recently introduced a new app for the iPhone and Android.