Candidates to be featured at Women of Manatee GOP club's meeting

Pols to speak at Women of Manatee GOP meeting

BRADENTON -- Manatee County commission candidates will be the featured guests at the next meeting of the Women of Manatee County Republican Club at Renaissance on 9th, 1816 Ninth St. W., Bradenton.

Social time is at 11:30 a.m., and lunch is at noon May 6.

Lunch is $20 for nonmembers $18 for members.

RSVP: Call Audrey Neylan at 941-6381 by May 1.

Rae Dowling to be honored with award for civic work

MANATEE -- The annual Leadership Manatee Alumni Association luncheon and presentation of the 21st Annual Kent C. Schulz Distinguished Alumni Award will honor Rae Dowling.

In addition to her 30-plus years with Florida Power & Light, Dowling has been past chairwoman of the Manatee Chamber of Commerce, board member of Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, board member and volunteer with the Girl Scouts of Southwest Florida, United Way of the Suncoast, United Way of Sarasota and United Way of Manatee.

Dowling has also been a part of the Bell Choir at Living Lord Lutheran Church in Lakewood Ranch, and participated in the Susan G. Kolmen walk for breast cancer, as well as many other community activities.

Wednesday, April 13th, 2016

Doors open at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday with lunch at noon at Manatee Performing Arts Center Manatee Players Ballroom, 502 Third Ave. W., Bradenton.

Cost is $25.

'Walk a Mile in Their Shoes' at beach fundraiser

MANATEE -- Turning Points' fourth annual "Walk a Mile in Their Shoes" benefit will start at 4 p.m. Saturday at South Coquina Beach.

The fundraiser is for local homeless children. Proceeds go directly to fund programs benefiting homeless children and their families.

There are thousands of homeless kids in Manatee and Sarasota Counties every year. According to the National Center on Family Homelessness, children experiencing homelessness are sick four times more often than other children. They also have four times as many respiratory infections, twice as many ear infections, five times more gastrointestinal problems and are four times more likely to have asthma. They also have three times the rate of emotional and behavioral problems compared with children with more stable living arrangements.

"Walk a Mile in Their Shoes" is a 1-mile family fun awareness walk on the beach along with a sand blast/castle competition, rock-climbing wall, drawings and raffles, T-shirts for pre-registered walkers, family pictures, face painting, youth activities, food, Zumba, music and postwalk party and sunset watch. Shantel Norman is performing the national anthem.

Registration free for children under 5, $10 for students, $20 for adults and $45 for families. Sponsor a child to walk for $10.

Preregister: Go to turningpointswalk.org

Lakewood Ranch free shred locations announced

LAKEWOOD RANCH - A free community shred day is set for 9 a.m.-noon Saturday.

Drop off locations:

Lakewood Ranch Grow Financial Branch at the corner of State Road 64 and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.

Lakewood Ranch Town Hall, 8175 Lakewood Ranch Blvd.

Limit shredding to two boxes maximum, no larger than 24 inches by 12 inches by 12 inches.

-- Herald staff reports

This story was originally published April 12, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Candidates to be featured at Women of Manatee GOP club's meeting ."