5 Things You Need to Know Today: September 15

1.The voted to raise utilities fees Tuesday. Stormwater fees will increase by 25 cents, while water and sewer fees will go up about 3 percent. No one attended Wednesday's public hearing to oppose the rate hikes.

2. Two of Friday's high school football games will have a patriotic feel. At , fans, students faculty and the community will honor , who was killed in an IED explosion in Afghanistan last month. Lay played on the Braden River football team before he graduated in 2008. At , para-commandos will parachute into the pre-game ceremonies and bring in the game ball for the first Suncoast Challenge, a prep football doubleheader matching Manatee and Tampa Plant against two premier New Jersey teams.

3. will present the Gift of Music Fest 2011 on Saturday to benefit the Manatee County Schools' music programs. There will be live music, bounce houses, face painting, candy art, games, and outdoor movies. There will be special appearances by America's Got Talent contestant Shevonne Marie Philidor, 17, and Lester Freeman from the 1967 hit Some Kind of Wonderful. Performances by Shotgun Justice; Messenger; Lee Middle School Jazz Band; Jennifer Lee & Nevaeh Peek; and the Houserockers with Charlie Olson, featuring local 11-year-old drummer Kei Bland. This is a family event and Diane Walsh and Pete Hunsader are your hosts. The events starts at 3 p.m. and ends at midnight. There will be a surprise around 10:30 and a laser light show. Call Diane Walsh, 941-776-5843, for information. Visit hunsadersrockinranch.com for directions. Tickets to the fundraiser are $15 per adult, children under 12 are free.

4. Manatee County is searching for a Planning Commission member. The citizens advisory committee makes recommendations on land use issues. The seven-member board is appointed by County Commissioners and each member receives a $60 stipend per meeting. The four-year term begins Oct. 14. Applicants must be registered to vote in the county. Commissioners meet on the second Thursday of each month at 9 a.m. in the . Those with experience or training in planning, engineering, environmental science or the development industry may be given additional consideration. Planning Commission members may not hold an elected office, be employed by the Board or be a member of another land development-related advisory board serving unincorporated Manatee County, except as specifically provided for. Applications are due Sept. 30 and may be found online. For more information, call Bobbi Roy, 748-4501 ext. 6878, or email bobbi.roy@mymanatee.org.

5. The and the Manatee County Convention and Visitors Bureau are taking reservations for a program designed to bring the county's historical organizations together. There are more than two dozen historical organizations in Manatee County concerned with collecting the stories, artifacts and buildings of the past and making them accessible to a new generation. Employees, volunteers and board members will have the opportunity to gather from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 17 at The Powel Crosley Estate. Nationally recognized consultant Sandra Hughes will share why non-profit organizations should call themselves community benefit organizations. She will also offer tips to strengthen volunteer programs and delineate the role of the Board of Directors. The gathering will help participants understand why historic preservation is important to Manatee County’s future. Admission, which includes lunch, is free. The event is open to all Manatee County historical organizations. Seating is limited. Reservations are required by Oct. 10, but seats are filling up fast. For reservations, call 941-741-4070.