Aug. 31: Five Things You Need to Know Today

1. As of Tuesday, the entirety of Little Neck Plaza was still stuck without power after it was knocked out during the weekend's storm. Except for Taco Bell. Taco Bell is just fine.

2. Alternate side parking remains suspended today in honor of Idul-Fitr, which marks the conclusion of Ramadan. Parking meters, though, are fully functioning and expect you to feed them accordingly. 

3. The city is taking some heat from Sen. Tony Avella, D-Bayside, on behalf of residents in northeast Queens who have been requesting for years that old trees be removed before they came crashing down -- like they did this weekend as a result of Hurricane Irene. Read the full story here. 

4. Despite the suffusion of New York City hurricane coverage, it was residents of the Catskills that may have suffered most from the storm, with some small communities completely obliterated by the driving rain and powerful winds. Read the full story from the New York Times here. 

5. Today, which in many minds marks the last day of summer, will top out in the low 80s, with mostly sunny skies and some scattered clouds.