5 Things You Need To Know Today: January 17

1. The animal care staff at the South Florida Museum’s Parker Manatee Aquarium plans to release a young female manatee nicknamed “Brandee” at 9 a.m. today at the Apollo Beach Nature Preserve. Brandee will be released with “Homey,” a manatee being from Lowry Park Zoo’s manatee hospital. Brandee was rescued in February 2010 from Warner West Bayou off Palma Sola Bay in Bradenton. Brandee currently weighs 870 pounds and is 8 feet 3 inches in length. She will be tracked and monitored by researchers for a year following release. Working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the coordinated release of these two animals with hundreds of wild manatees in warm water offers them the best chance of success. You can follow the movements of Brandee and Homey online at www.wildtracks.org. The South Florida Museum has cared for 23 manatees as part of the rehabilitation program since joining the Manatee Rehabilitation Network in 1998.

2.. The county's Neighborhood Services Department is hosting four community meetings to ask residents what their priorities are in spending $1.9 million in Community DEvelopmet Block Grants to improve their neighborhoods. The neighborhood input will be used to design a plan for the county commissioners. The first two meeting will be held from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at Renaissance on 9th at 1816 9th St. W. The final two meetings will be held on Jan. 26.

3. The Manatee Chamber of Commerce will host a Power Networking Lunch for Chamber members from 11:30 am to 1 p.m. on Wednesday at First Street Cafe.  Cost is $12 and reservations are required. For information contact Nicole Onorato at 941-748-4842, ext. 122 or email, NicoleO@ManateeChamber.com.

4. Scott Wheeler, Executive Director of the National Republican Trust PAC, will kick-off 2012 election for Manatee County Republicans with an address to the Republican Party of Manatee County at 7:00 p.m. Monday.

5. The music faculty and students of the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota will feature vocal and instrumental selections at the Third Annual Benefit Recital at 8 p.m. Thursday in Neel Performing Arts Center, located off 26th Street at 60th Avenue West. Proceeds from the concert will benefit the SCF chapter of the Music Teachers National Association and will be used to assist students with the cost of attending conferences. General admission is $10. Donations are accepted. For more information, contact the SCF music department at 941-752-5351 or Charles Turon at 752-5582.