5 Things You Need To Know Today: November 22

1. Manatee County will consider allowing backyard chickens in the county's unincorporated areas. County Commissioners voted 6-1 to have staff investigate the regulations it would need to consider and adopt in allowing back yard chickens in neighborhoods around the county after a member of the group Cluck asked commissioners to consider changes to the land development codes to allow chickens.

2. The School Board is set to meet today at 5:45 p.m. to select the chair and vice chair for 2011-2012 and to set its meeting calendar for the coming year.

3. The Manatee Players is joining with Manatee Children’s Services to collect toys and gifts for local abused and neglected children and teens. Last year, children's services helped provide Christmas gifts for more than 200 young people. New unwrapped toys and gift items can be dropped off at the Manatee Players, 102 Old Main Street in downtown Bradenton.  Gift items for teens are especially needed and wrapping paper, tape and bows are also needed.

4. The Manatee County School District will host its “3^rd Annual Town Hall Meeting on Education” on December 1, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Davis Theater at Manatee High. The free meeting is open to the public. In addition to a panel discussion with education and legislative experts, there will be an audience question and answer session with panel members. Confirmed panelists include State Representative Jim Boyd; Manatee Education Association President Pat Barber; Christine Sket, a Manatee County parent and educational advocate with Fund Education Now; and Manatee County Schools Superintendent Dr. Tim McGonegal.

5. More than 120,000 pounds of food was collected this past weekend, surpassing the 100,000 pound goal, for The Food Bank of Manatee during the annual “Stuff the Bus” campaign. For the past three years, the Manatee School District has partnered with Publix and other local businesses on a holiday food collection for the Food Bank. Over three years, the food bank has received more than 251,000 pounds of food.