5 Things You Need to Know Today: Dec. 9

1. That rocking holiday light display on your house can do more than bring joy to the neighborhood. Patch's Deck The House contest is calling for entries for the best decorated house for the holdiays. If a Sarasota house wins, Sarasota County Schools win $100,000! If your house a national finalist, your house wins up to $500 to be applied to your December electric bill. Enter here on the Deck The House contest page. Voting details will be annoucned later.

2. You might yawn when you hear Van Wezel Performance Hall and the City of Sarasota are in talks to have Van Wezel break off from the city and become independent. But if everything goes according to plan, one Van Wezel officials says the community wins because better shows can be landed and local organizations will have an easier time having an event at the big purple building.

3. Get your kids in to see a free circus Saturday. It's one night only at the  on Fruitville Road where The Showfolks Club of Sarasota presents its 45th annual Showfolks Circus. Coupons for free kids tickets can be picked up at area businesses. Regular admission costs $10. The cirucs goes on at 2 and 7 p.m. 

4. Volunteer opporunity alert: Tiny Hounds Foundation seeks people to help pack and wrap gift baskets for its , but they also need folks to donate $28 to help fill these baskets with a gift card for a meal, toys and books for children. The organization is trying to feed 1,600 families this year.

5. If you're like my Mom, she has a soft spot for the made-for-TV movie "Christmas Shoes" starring Rob Lowe. Virtuoso Performing Arts will stage a version of at First Church of the Nazerene. Tickets are $12 can be purchased by calling 941-301-8126. Bring the tissues.