News Briefs

+ The Source Church opens new thrift store
The Source Church, located off State Road 64 in the East County, will have a ribbon cutting and grand opening for its new City Reach Thrift Store April 15.

The store will help the church raise money for its City Reach program, which provides food and clothing and other resources to the community.

The store, to be located at 8333 Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota, follows the opening of another City Reach Thrift Store, at the Sarasota/Bradenton International Convention Center, in October.

“We are excited for our newest location and how this will benefit the community,” said the Rev. Ralph Hoehne, who is pastor at The Source, along with his wife, Joanne. “This location is truly a blessing with great visibility.”

Store hours will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and Friday and Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday.

The Source will offer free hot dogs at the event, which is open to the community.

For more information, contact Monica Thomas at 592-4760.

+ Goodwill Manasota hosts Bookapalooza
Goodwill Manasota wants to bring books back into the hands of readers and away from landfills.

In an event that promotes reading and contributes to a healthy environment, Goodwill Manasota will host its annual Bookapalooza book sale and silent auction April 13.

The event will run from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Tara Bookstore, 7200 55th Ave. E., Bradenton.

The sale features thousands of books, including rare and out-of-print fiction, children’s, travel, history and specialty books and cookbooks.

“We see this as a win-win situation,” said Bob Rosinsky, CEO and president of Goodwill Manasota. “We found there is a large market for secondhand books in our area, and our annual Bookapalooza is a great time for book-lovers to purchase valuable books at a fantastic value. At the same time, we’re encouraging recycling and saving our landfills from the tons of books that often land in them.”

All books will be offered at 25% off regular Goodwill prices. There will also be a silent auction featuring rare books and a chance to win a $25 gift certificate.

The event is free and open to the public.

Proceeds from the book sale will support Goodwill’s mission of providing career services and job training to the community with a focus on the disabled and others with barriers to employment.

Last year, Goodwill Manasota recycled more than 1.1 million pounds of books that normally would have gone to landfills.

Meetings & Agendas
• Manatee County Board of County Commissioners Planning Commission Meeting — 9 a.m. April 11, at 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton
• Manatee County Board of County Commissioners Work Session — 9 a.m. April 16, at 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton