Good Morning, Cedar Valley and Happy Earth Day! It's Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Here is the forecast for today: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68. Northwest wind between 9 and 11 mph. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. Northeast wind between 5 and 7 mph.

Today's quote: "We cannot command Nature except by obeying her." -- Francis Bacon

Here are some things going on today in the Cedar Valley:

-- Preschool Story Time will be 10:30 a.m. at the Waterloo Public Library.

-- Public ice skating will be 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Young Arena in downtown Waterloo. The cost is $3 with a $3 skating rental fee. For more information, go to http://www.waterlooleisureservices.org/ya/

-- Wartburg and Luther colleges will play a double-header in softball beginning at 3 p.m. today at Lynes Field on the Wartburg College campus, Waverly. For more information, go to http://www.go-knights.net/softball/

-- The Courier Communication's Women's Event will be from 4 to 9 p.m. at Park Place Event Centre, 1521 Technology Parkway, Cedar Falls. It includes fine dining, seminars, a fashion show and unique shopping. Dinner tickets are sold out but $5 shopping tickets are still available at the door.

-- UNI baseball will take on Clarke College at 6 p.m. at Riverfront Stadium in Waterloo. For more information, go to http://unipanthers.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/niwa-m-basebl-body.html

-- Reed Craft will give a presentation on "The History of Rath Packing Co." at the Snowden House, 305 Washington St., Waterloo, at 7 p.m. Admission is $3 for non-Grout members and $2 for children and students.

-- The Book Club will meet at 7 p.m. at the Cedar Falls Public Library. This is a book discussion group for students in 6th-8th grades.

-- The Northern Iowa Symphonic Band will perform at 7:30 p.m. at Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center in Cedar Falls. Admission is free.

- In high school sports, Cedar Rapids Washington will take on Waterloo West in boys' soccer at 5 p.m. at the Cedar Valley Youth Sports Complex. Cedar Rapids Kennedy will play Waterloo East boys in soccer at Sloane Wallace Stadium at 4:15 p.m. Iowa City High will play Cedar Falls in boys' soccer at 4:15 p.m. at the CVYSC.