5 Things You Need To Know Today: February 20

1. City and County offices are closed today for the President's Day holiday. Trash, recycling and yard waste collections for the week will be postponed one day from Tuesday through Saturday for county residents. For city residents yard waste collected on a Monday, will instead be collected Thursday. There will be no change to recycling collection. Manatee County Area Transit and the Anna Maria Island Trolley will operate normal daily routes. Manatee County parks and beaches will be open to the public.  Manatee County and Buffalo Creek Golf Courses will be open.  Blackstone Skate Park will be open.  G.T. Bray Recreation Center will be closed. G.T. Bray Skate Park is currently closed for repairs. For more information on Manatee County Government, visit online at www.mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501.

2.Get an update on the state of Manatee County's health care during a work session of the Manatee County Commission on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. in County Commission Chambers. Hear about the new Trauma Center at Blake Medical Center, get an update on Medical students working in the community and learn about mental health issues from the CEO at Manatee Glens.

3. The City Council will discuss an ordinance prohibiting open glass containers in any public parking lot or public right-of-way. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. in City Council chambers.

4. Students at Braden River High School will get a chance to study and learn from a traveling historical exhibit titled “Freedom: A History of US” on Tuesday and Wednesday. The exhibit explores America’s struggle to extend the principal of freedom to all its citizens, from the founding of the country up until today. The exhibit is made possible through the Manatee District’s “Teaching American History Grant” and will be a prelude to a forum on Presidential Leadership held in the auditorium at Braden River High on Thursday, Feb. 23, beginning at 7 p.m.

5. Beginning on Sunday Geraldson Community Farms, 1401 99th Street NW, will offer a Sunday market. They are bringing in vendors to expand on the farm's offerings. In addition the farm will host a Manatee CLUCK meeting at the Geraldson Barn on Thursday from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Manatee CLUCK  (Citizens Lobbying for Urban Chicken Keeping)  is a group working in support of backyard hens within Manatee County.