5 Things You Need to Know Today: August 16

1. The Marauders and Bright House Networks are celebrating Back to School Night tonight at McKechnie Field with a backpack giveaway to the first 1,000 kids in attendance.  The bags will be filled with giveaways and other items to help kids get ready for the school year.  Employees of the Manatee County School District can purchase game tickets for just $1, by presenting their school IDs at the Marauders box office.  A portion of all the night’s ticket sales will go toward Feeding Empty Little Tummies, a local charity that fills backpacks with nutritious food for kids.  Representatives from the organization will be  collecting items at the game. They need,  Oatmeal and cereal packs, pasta/macaroni cups, fruit cups and raisins, beans with franks, peanut butter cups, fruit and granola bars, tuna or spam packs, Raman noodles, peanuts and almonds, pudding cups, hot chocolate and soup cups. Look for containers with a pull tab. No glass containers please. For ticketing information and more about the Marauders, visit Bradenton Marauders.com or call (941) 747-3031. 

2.The County Commission is scheduled to meet in an all day work session to discuss the county's land development codes, wetlands and energy initiatives. The morning session begins at 9 a.m. and will take place in the Commission chambers. The afternoon session will move to the fourth floor meeting room.

3. Tickets are now on sale for Thursday's opening night performance of Chicago to be presented by the Manatee Players. Tickets are $25 including facility fee for adults and $11 including facility fee for students.  Tickets may be reserved by calling 748-5875 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and one hour before curtain on performance days. Theater-goers may also visit the Manatee Players’ website: www.manateeplayers.com. All performances are at 102 Old Main Street in downtown Bradenton.

4. This year the Manatee County School district is expanding its free breakfast program to include and . Other Bradenton schools that offer free breakfast include, , 
, , , , Rodgers Garden Elementary and . More than 60 percent of students eat breakfast at school, according to school district officials. Students just need to get to school a little earlier to take advantage of the breakfast program which typically includes a hot entree like a biscuit sandwich or breakfast burrito. Cereal, muffins, bagels, juice and milk are also offered.

5. Patch is excited to inaugurate a new series for our Patch Readers: "Dispatches: The Changing American Dream." Every day, the national media is full of stories about how American families, businesses, and neighbors are adjusting to these trying times. There are so many changes happening so fast that it's dizzying: national debates about unemployment, foreclosures, debt, religion, government and private enterprise all touch on fundamental ways in which we see ourselves and our communities. At Patch, we want to explore that conversation on a daily basis so we can better understand how our neighbors are adjusting to the challenges and opportunities that surround us. We don't think there's one American Dream, but a multitude of American Dreams which a multitude of people are working toward. We want to hear your stories.