Holiday decorating, shopping, and a whole lot more

It's the busy time of the year in East Manatee, and that's on top of all the holiday baking, decorating and shopping.

Should you have openings in your calendar, consider these events:

Keep 'em locked up, or enroll them in pretrial services?
LAKEWOOD RANCH  — Twelfth Judicial Court Chief Judge Andy Owens has invited state lawmakers, county commissioners, law enforcement officers and the public to a Pretrial Services Symposium to highlight the value of pretrial release programs.

The symposium will be held 8:30 a.m. Friday at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall, 8175 Lakewood Ranch Blvd.

Recent proposed state legislation has suggested limiting pretrial release programs to only indigent defendants, forcing most defendants either to pay a bail bondsman or to remain in jail at taxpayers’ expense. The average cost per day to host an inmate in jail —$71 in Sarasota, $67 in Manatee — is significantly less than the cost for a defendant to enter pretrial services programs— $3.71 a day in Sarasota, $1.91 a day in Manatee.

Information or to RSVP: 941-861-7817.

Founders’ 50 plaque unveiling set
LAKEWOOD RANCH — The Lakewood Ranch Community Fund will unveil a bronze plaque on Lakewood Ranch Main Street to recognize the Founders’ 50 donors, who have established permanent charitable funds dedicated to causes and interests that impact the Lakewood Ranch community 4 p.m. Friday.

This permanent plaque will serve as a prominent centerpiece on Main Street to honor philanthropists who support the needs of the community through the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund.

Myakka Christmas parade set for Saturday
MYAKKA CITY — The Myakka City Christmas Parade will be held 4 p.m. Saturday. Wauchula Road from Bradenton/Arcadia Road north to the Myakka City Community Center at 10060 Wauchula Road will be closed 4-5 p.m..  At the conclusion of the parade at the Myakka City Community Center the festivities will continue with food and game vendors at the park.

Film on bullying to be shown
LAKEWOOD RANCH — The Sarasota Film Society and Inspired minds have teamed up to offer a free screening of The Good Kids, a short film that addresses the serious concern of bullying.  The Good Kids was created by elementary, middle, and high school students during the Inspired Minds’ Film Kids Camp, and provides a student perspective on the problem of bullying.

The screening will be held at Lakewood Ranch Cinemas at 9 a.m. Saturday. This event is open to the public.

Patrick Lay Memorial Car Show set
EAST MANATEE — Patrick Lay Memorial Car Show, hosted by the Braden River High School FFA Alumni, is set for Sunday  at Braden River High School, 6545 State Road 70 E.

Registration is set for 8-10 a.m.  Cost for those who pre-register is $15. For those who register the day of show, the cost is $20.

The car show is named after Spc. 4 Patrick Lay, a Braden River graduate who was killed in action in Afghanistan in August.

Planned: DJ, cars, vendors, food, and more.

All proceeds benefit BRHS FFA Alumni scholarship fund. Information: Vanessa Giamannco at 941-751-8230, ext. 2141.

Decorating party for Braden River Library set
EAST MANATEE — Friends of Braden River Library are hosting a holiday decorating party 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday. Everyone is invited for fun and refreshments.  Donations of Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and Christmas decorations are welcome.  Food Bank donations are also accepted.