5 Things You Need To Know Today: January 16

1. City and county offices will be closed today in recognition of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday In Manatee County, all libraries and G.T. Bray Park will also be closed. Manatee County Area Transit buses will run on the usual schedule. Yard waste normally picked up on Monday in the City of Bradenton will be collected on Thursday instead, otherwise city and county trash pick-up schedules will remain unchanged.

2. A section of the northbound lane of Virginia Avenue will close between 7th and 9th Avenues West beginning Monday. It will remain closed through Feb. 25 while the Ware’s Creek dredging project is underway in that area.

3. The Bradenton Marauders and the Pittsburgh Pirates will hold auditions on Jan. 28 at McKechnie Field to find talented people to sing the National Anthem before games. A panel of Pirates employees will serve as judges. Contestants will sign-up for auditions beginning at 9 a.m. Contestants may not pre-register; all registrations will be taken on the day of tryouts only. Contestants interested in singing the Canadian National Anthem during the Pirates’ Spring Training match-ups against the Toronto Blue Jays on March 4 and March 7 will be asked to perform the song at the Jan. 28 auditions as well. For more information regarding Pirates and Marauders National Anthem auditions, please call Kris Koch at (941) 747-3031 x4361 or email kris.koch@pirates.com.

4. The Manatee County Health Department will offer free Cardiovascular Wellness Education Classes Tuesdays from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at 410 6th Ave. East in conference room A and B. In Manatee County, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. The free self-management classes teach participants how to control blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol, eat healthier, lose weight, get active and manage stress. Each of these skills help to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

5. The Junior League of Manatee County is hosting its Fourth Annual Beertopia this weekend. Seven restuarants will offer food and 57 beers will be available for tasting. Proceeds from the event benefit Junior League community projects. This year's projects include: Get Your Fit On!, an event focused on exercise and nutrition awareness for children; Youth Nights for Foster Kids which provides positive role models for foster children; donations to SOLVE Maternity Homes, Feeding Empty Little Tummies, Inc. and Pride Park Families. The event begins Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at old Coast Eagle Distributing, 7051 Wireless Court, Sarasota.