5 Things You Need to Know Today: August 12

1. begins today on back-to-school items. Parents will get a tax break on school supplies and clothes. And don't think it's just for children's clothes and shoes. All apparel is tax exempt, no matter the size.

2. The , the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, the and more than 20 other community service organizations will host a back-to-school event for more than 400 pre-registered homeless students Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  The "Christmas in August" event will take place at McKechnie Field, 9th Street West & 17th Avenue West. Students will receive backpacks filled with school necessities and gift cards for school clothing. The students will also have access to personal care opportunities including haircuts, vaccinations and even eye, dental and medical screenings/checkups. Richard O’Brien, chair of the Christmas in August committee, acknowledged that there are a large number of students registered for the event. “So many local organizations have pitched in to help make the beginning of this school year a little bit better for the children and teens who are among Manatee County’s homeless student population."

3. International Cultural Exchange Services is looking for Bradenton families to host international high school students, ages 15-18, during the school year. The students will attend area high schools, so need to be placed with families before the start of the school year. The students, who come from Germany, Brazil, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, South Korea, China, and Finland, want to experience life with a typical American family. Every student is anxiously waiting to find out where they will be going and to meet their new American families. They come with their own money and insurance.  Families may agree to a 30-day trial period. Interested families should contact Rhonda Scharnus, Regional Administrator, International Cultural Exchange Services at 888-656-9481 or by email at rscharnus@icesusa.org.

4. One Night Rodeo, a contemporary country band founded in Bradenton, will perform at the Van Wezel tonight as part of Friday Fest from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. One Night Rodeo, featuring Cory Hildreth (lead vocals, keys, guitar, and mandolin), Jack Tamburin (lead guitar, vocals) and  Duane Allison (bass guitar, vocals) made its mark recently when the band won the Great American Country Star competition. The band released their first single and video, 'Alive and Living', which has maintained its spot in the Top 20 Country Countdown on GAC TV, and currently remains on the Independent Music Network charts. The band has been together thirteen years and has appeared in more than 2,000 performances.

5. The Manatee Players is rehearsing the popular hit musical Chicago which is set to open on August 18 and play through September 4.   The show is being directed and choreographed by Dewayne Barrett with Bobby Brader as Musical Director. 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.