5 Things You Need to Know Today: August 15

1. The public is invited to participate in a candlelight vigil tonight in memmory of a Braden River High School graduate who was killed in combat last week in Afghanistan. The vigil will honor U. S. Army Spc 4. Patrick L. Lay II, an infantryman assigned to the Army’s elite 10th Mountain Division, one of five soldiers killed in an IED explosion on Thursday. The event will take place at 8 p.m. at his mother's home, 3230 44th Drive E. in the Wallingford subdivision, behind the Walmart on State Road 70, according to the Facebook page set up in memory of Lay.

2. Manatee County Public Safety Department will host a grand opening ceremony and tour of the new Marine Rescue Facility today at 2 p.m. There will be a brief dedication ceremony followed by tours of the building and light refreshments. The two-story, 8,800-square-foot facility at 2651 Gulf Drive South in Bradenton Beach will serve as a headquarters and training station for Manatee County’s lifeguards. The Marine Unit of Manatee Sheriff’s Office will also operate out of the new building. The storm-hardened building can withstand 130 mph winds.
The facility can accommodate six ATVs, two personal watercraft vessels, two 4 x 4 pickup trucks and MSO watercraft. A shore power connection will enable the building to power an EMS unit. Marine Rescue Chief Jay Moyles said the new building will accommodate the professional lifeguards and law enforcement officers who work there. Florida Fish and Wildlife officials and U.S. Coastguard officials may also use the building as a station to transfer accident victims or criminal suspects from the water to land.

3.The Manatee Education Foundation will hold its Wedneday at , 6545 53rd Ave E, at 4 p.m. The rally is a spirited event to help kick-off the 2011-2012 school year. It serves as both a pep rally and corporate giving event to celebrate and reward teachers whose daily efforts in the classroom shape the future of our community. The Braden River High School marching band, cheerleaders, color guard and the Rowlett Magnet School Boys' Choir will take part in the festivities. Community members, businesses and organizations have been contributing money towards the Cash for Classroom Grants program for more than six months. More than 200 teachers will receive the grants to pay for educational projects for their students. Manatee County teachers from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade submitted applications and a committee of community leaders reviewed those earlier this month.

4.The School Board will hold a budget worksession on Thursday at 5:45 p.m. to discuss making further cuts to the budget to avoid an increase in the millage rate for schools. The public may attend the work session. The meeting will be held at the

5. It's the final day to vote in the  Pet Photo Calendar Contest. The overall vote winner will be featured on the cover of the society's 2012 calendar. The other top five dogs and cats will be featured on individual months. Votes are $1 each, and all proceeds benefit HSMC. The contest endstoday. E-mail info@humanesocietymanatee.org or call 941-747-8808, ext. 311, for more info.