5 Things You Need To Know This Weekend: December 17-19

1. The northbound parking lane and a portion of the northbound travel lane on 12^th Street West between Manatee and 6^th Avenues west will be closed from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday for construction at the courthouse.

2. Registration has begun for the 23^rd Annual Gulf Coast Senior Games, a series of athletic competitions held in Manatee and Sarasota counties from Feb. 21 - 26. More than 400 athletes ages 50 and over compete in the Gulf Coast Senior Games. It is one of 19 regional qualifying events for the statewide Senior Games to be held next December in Polk County. Sports and competitions include: archery, basketball, bocce, bowling, cribbage, cycling, golf, horseshoes, pickleball, racquetball, a 5K road race, shuffleboard, swimming, table tennis, tennis and track & field. Registration is $12. There is also a $3 fee per event. The top five finishers in each event will advance to the state the Florida Senior Games next year. Manatee County residents may register by visiting www.mymanatee.org/parks, and clicking on Register Now.

3. The Humane Society of Manatee County Spay/Neuter Clinic is offereing free spay and neuter for cats in the 34205 and 34207 zip codes. Cats will also receive a free rabies vaccination at the time of surgery. To schedule an appointment email clinic@humanesocietymanatee.org or call 941-747-8808 x 302. The Humane Society is located at 2515 14th St. W in Bradenton, FL 34205

4. The trails of will be lit up with holiday luminaries. Encounter living history re-enactors as they tell stories of how the Spanish and Native American cultures celebrated the winter season.

5. The William G. and Marie Selby Foundation gave the of Manasota, Inc. nearly $27,000 for a new state-of-the-art phone system. United Way 2-1-1 is provides information and referral services to residents and organizations in Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties. The 2-1-1 services are provided without charge on a 24/7 basis. During the last fiscal year the agency provided 103,000 referrals from 68,000 calls.