5 Things You Need to Know Today: August 17

1. Glenn Davis, an East Manatee Fire Rescue District Commissioner and retired Bradenton Fire Captain died Tuesday morning after a nearly month-long hospitalization. Davis, 63, served 25 years with the Bradenton Fire Department. City Councilman and former Fire Chief Gene Gallo remembers him as a big man with an even bigger heart. "He was 6-foot-five and 250 pounds when he came to the fire department," Gallo said. "His one hand was a big as both of mine." Gallo said he was dedicated to his job and could do the work of two or three men when he had to. Once at a fire at Lewis Lumber, Davis was the lone man at the back of the lumber yard's building. He held a large fire house that typically took three men to control, two of them at the nozzle. He had been off duty when they got the call so he wasn't even wearing any fire gear. "When he came around from the back of the building he looked as red as a lobster and he was smiling," Gallo said. "He looked at me and said 'we got her done Chief'." Gallo said firefighters admired him and "would follow him anywhere. I am going to miss him."

2. The meets at 8:30 a.m. today. The City Council will vote on whether to have the , dubbed the Pink Palace, a brownfield area that could qualify for environmental site rehabilitation and economic incentives for redevelopment. They also will vote on whether to recommend Widewaters Group Inc. as a qualified Brownfield business, so that it can apply for economic incentives for redeveloping the former hotel.

3. The Bradenton Marauders and Ker’s WingHouse Bar and Grill will host a a WingFest during Thursday's game.  Fans can sample free wings from several local wings-stops.  Participating vendors include Ker’s WingHouse, Overtime Sports Bar & Grill, Beef ‘O’ Brady’s of Parrish, Tarpon Pointe Grill and Tiki Bar and Gator Tail’s Restaurant and Sports Bar.  Fans will vote on the spiciest wing, best overall wing and best non-traditional wing. Participating restaurants will be awarded trophies during the game based on the fan vote. Fans who wear their favorite college team’s apparel to celebrate the start of college football season will receive $2 off the price of regular admission. For ticketing information and more about the Marauders, visit Bradenton Marauders.com or call (941) 747-3031.

4. Suncoast Striders Walking & Running Club and On A Shoestring Inc. have started a training program for the PAL Half Marathon in Sarasota and the Space Coast Half Marathon scheduled for November 27. Running and walking training program starts this week. The program offers three group training sessions per week with certified coaches: Mondays 6:00 p.m. at On A Shoestring; Thursdays 5:30 p.m. at GT Bray or MHS Track; and Sundays at 7:00 a.m. at Robinson Preserve. Please check the group training calendar for times and locations. Anyone 18 or older who can walk or run up to 60 minutes or complete three miles in 60 minutes or less is welcome to participate. The program is free to all Suncoast Striders members.

5. It's official: Snow White, will be the cover model for the 2012 Pet Calendar. The Chihuahua got 2,154 votes in the Manatee Humane Society's photo contest, making her a clear winner. The top five dogs who will be getting their very own month are Petunia, Carly, Ranger, Tucker and Chance. The kitty winners were Garfield, PipSqueak, Rylee, Mia and Mowse.