5 Things You Need to Know Today: August 31

1. The Bradenton Marauders are headed to the playoffs for the second time after clinching the Florida State League South Division second half title with a 6-3 win over the Palm Beach Cardinals. The Marauders will host the St. Lucie Mets in the Division Series opener Tuesday at 7 p.m. at . The win goes to Jason Erickson in three innings of one-run relief.  The Marauders finish a two-game series in Palm Beach Wednesday at 6:30 with radio coverage at 6:15 on 1280-AM WTMY. 

2. The Village of the Arts will host its monthly Friday and Saturday. The walk will take place from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. The public is welcome to browse the studi­os, art galleries and collec­tion of small businesses often in­side the houses of people who live in the Village year around. Visit www.villageofthearts.com for details and direc­tions.

3. kicks off its 2011-2012 exhibition season with the Florida Watercolor Society's 40th Annual Exhibition on September 6. The exhibit, which will continue through Oct. 29, will feature 100 paintings juried by internationally known artist John Salminen. It showcases work by artists from all over Florida including ArtCenter members and instructors. 

4. Health Occupations Students of America club will host an event designed to warn students about the dangers of performance-enhancing drugs. Because athletes at all levels are making poor decisions to take such drugs to gain an “edge," the United States Anti-Doping Agency is working to educate young students across the country on the dangers of the drugs. Parents, athletes and sports fans, are invited to listen to successful athletes speak about their paths to greatness through proper nutrition, proper rest, and hard work. Afterward the students from King Middle will lead a 1-mile walk through . The event will take place from 9 a.m. until noon on September 10th at the area near the 51st Street West entrance.

5. offices will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day. All trash, recycling and yard waste collections for the week will be postponed one day from Tuesday through Saturday for residents in unincorporated Manatee. County parks and beaches will be open to the public. and Buffalo Creek golf courses will be open. will be closed but G.T. Bray Skate Park and Blackstone Skate Park will be open. Manatee County’s publicly owned natural preserves will remain open. All of the libraries will be closed. For more information on Manatee County Government, visit www.mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501. offices will also be closed. There will be no garbage collection in the city limits on Monday. Garbage and yar waste will instead be col­lected Sept. 3. There will be no change to the recycling schedule.