5 Things You Need to Know Today: August 29

1. The is desperately in need of supplies. The One Stop Clinic is a Community Coalition for Homelessness facility, located next to . It is part of the One Stop Resource center which has more than 7,000 homeless clients including 2,000 children. The clinic is in need of pharmacy supplies, such as A&D cream, athletes foot cream, Motrin, Benadryl and bug repellent. The One Stop Resource Center is also in need of adult and children's clothing, socks, tooth brushes and non-perishable food. Anyone interested in helping may email melissa@brand1111.com or call 941.779.9079. Brand Elven Eleven is collecting donations through the middle of September at its office at 3516 N Lockwood Ridge Road.  Drop off supplies at the office Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Donors may also bring supplies directly to the clinic at 701 17th Ave. West.

2. Thewill hold auditions tonight at 7 p.m. for the musicals Jerry's Girls and Irving Berlin's White Christmas.  The auditions are at the Manatee Players, 102 Old Main Street in downtown Bradenton.  Steven Flaa will direct Jerry's Girls. Performances are set for October 27 to November 14. Rick Kerby will direct Irving Berlin's White Christmas. Performance are scheduled for December 1st to 23rd.  Those auditioning are seen in order of arrival. Come prepared with song (sheet music in correct key) or with a CD track. Seeking men and women ages 13 to 80 and one female child role age 6 to 12.  Questions? Call Rick Kerby at 941-748-0111.

3. The Friends of the Palmetto Branch Library are sponsoring a Free College Counseling Seminar for area college-bound students and their parents on September 10^th from 9 a.m. to 11:30am. The free workshop is designed for 10^th and 11^th grade students gearing up for the October PSAT. Robin Groelle, an area expert in college advising, will offer attendees tips for everything from how to begin your college search, where to go for financial assistance, how to increase the odds of admission, to tips on improving test scores.  Elaina Clark from the Princeton Review will cover specific advice for scoring your best on the October PSAT. To register call the library at 941-722-3333 or email debbie.reagan@mymanatee.org.  The Palmetto Branch Library is located at 923 6th Street West, in Palmetto.  For more information visit www.collegecounselling.com.

4. Inc. magazine named It Works! Global, a local health and wellness company, to the 30th Annual Inc. 500/5000 ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. It Works! Global ranked No. 43 in the Consumer Products and Services industry and No. 720 overall, out of 7 million companies considered. This is the first appearance on the list for It Works! Global. It Works! Global has seen 436% increased growth over the past three years. Revenue in 2010 totaled $27.4 million and CEO Mark Pentecost projects $45 million in 2011 revenues. The local company also plans to double its employee growth within the next two years. It Works! Global relocated its corporate headquarters to Manatee County from Michigan in February. The company specializes in beauty and wellness products, including skin care lotions and supplements.

5. The Manatee County Historical Commission is holding auditions for a dramatic guided cemetery tour titled “Spirit Voices from Old Manatee”. The production will be directed by professional actor, musician and stage director Preston Boyd. “Spirit Voices from Old Manatee” is an original artistic production and program of Festival sARTée. It will take place at and the Old 1850 Manatee Burying Grounds on Saturday, October 22, 2011. Costumed thespians will personify those interred through graveside dialogue based on narratives from archives, descendants, dairies, military logs, books and legend.  Souls highlighted in these cemetery vignettes are early pioneers of the Village of Manatee, veteran soldiers from the Seminole and Civil Wars, community leaders, victims of yellow fever, and other persons of interest buried within these hallowed grounds. There will be ten stops on the guided tour. Auditions are September 9 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and September 10th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Manatee Village Historical Park, 1404 Manatee Avenue East.