5 Things You Need to Know This Weekend: Aug. 20-22

1. The body of U.S. Army Spc. 4 Patrick L. Lay II will be escorted from the Sarasota Bradenton airport to today at 1 p.m. The escort will begin at Rectrix Aviation located at 8250 15th  St. Eas and head north to Tallevast Roan and continue west to U.S. 41. The procession will travel north on U.S. 41 to State Road 70 and then east to 39th Street East, where it will continue south to the Life Covenant Church located at 5428 39th St. E. Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. today. The funeral service, which is open to the public, will be held Sunday at 11 a.m. at Life Covenant, 5428 39th St. E. Afterwards Lay's body will be taken to the National Cemetery in Sarasota.

2. The school district's early release Wednesdays prompted the to add Wednesday as an extra day for Road Skills Trsting appointments. Road Test appointments can be made for Wednesday afternoons starting September 1 and running through April 30. The tests previously had been available for appointments on Tuesday and Thursday. Tax Collector Ken Burton, Jr.  said by opening the appointments during the school year, he hopes to help students who get out of school early on Wednesdays. But the appointment, which are offered on a ‘first come-first serve’ basis, are available to more than just students. To make an appointment phone 941-741-4800.  All road skills testing is conducted at the DeSoto Office, 819 301 Blvd. West

3. Redeemed Christian Center and Just for Girls will hold its Eighth Annual Back to School Resource & Wellness Rally today from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  The day is designed to celebrate the family and promote “Unity in the Community” by addressing the community's  physical, social, emotional, spiritual, vocational, intellectual and nutritional needs. The event will be held at the East Bradenton Just for Girls Center located at 1011 21^st St E. Free back packs filled with school supplies will be given to school-age children who attend with a parent. All food, games and services such as physicals, immunizations and screenings will also be free to the community.  The 2010 Resource & Wellness Rally was a huge success with more than 1000 back packs and 100 bags filled with school supplies given away.

4. The curtain has opened on the Production of Chicago. Performances are Tuesday through Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults and $11 for students, including facility fee.  Tickets may be reserved now by calling 748-5875 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m to 5 p.m. or on the Manatee Players’ website.   All performances are at 102 Old Main Street in downtown Bradenton. Chicago is a Kander and Ebb musical set in prohibition era Chicago. The story is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice, and the concept of the "celebrity criminal." The original 1975 Broadway production ran for a total of 936 performances. Bob Fosse choreographed the original production, and his style is strongly identified with the show. Chicago's 1996 Broadway revival holds the record for the longest-running musical revival.

5. The Benderson Family Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Facility has received Medicare/Medicaid Certification and now may accept residents who rely government funding. State inspectors went through a long series of checklists while at the facility. They interviewed staff, residents, family members, and watched personnel perform their jobs.
Now, residents of Kobernick House and Anchin Pavilion may age in place and never have to leave home once they require skilled nursing care. Those who had to leave before may now be able to return to their home. And anyone in the community who needs skilled nursing care may apply for admission. 
For admission information, call Linda Dos Santos, Benderson's Director of Marketing at (941) 377-0781, ext. 212.