News Briefs

+ Theater festival showcases students
More than 75 students from five, local high-school drama departments showed off their talents during the 12th annual Manatee County High School Theatre Festival Nov. 19.

Lakewood Ranch High School’s drama team performed a play called “Unforgettable,” written by student Joseph Grosso.

“Our district is committed to a focus on the arts, and this festival brings all of our local high school talent together to network and showcase what a strong drama program we have in our schools,” Superintendent Tim McGonegal said.

The festival, held in Manatee High School’s new Davis Center for Performing Arts, was made possible through the Manatee Education Foundation, Manatee Community Federal Credit Union and the Manatee Players.

Other schools participating in the festival were Manatee, Bayshore and Southeast high schools and Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School.

+ Family farm celebrates season
With the harvest season opening, O’Brien Family Farms has made its first donation to local food bank, Our Daily Bread.

The O’Brien family started volunteering weekly at Our Daily Break in the mid-90s, and now is providing healthy fruits and vegetables to the organization weekly, during harvest season.

Last year, the company donated about 15,000 pounds of produce to Our Daily Bread.

Our Daily Bread is a community-driven organization dedicated to feeding the homeless. For more information, visit www.ourdailybreadofbradenton.org.

For information about O’Brien Family Farms, visit www.obrienfamilyfarms.com or visit the farm at 16505 S.R. 64 E.

Peace Church concludes food drive
The results are in: Peace Presbyterian Church’s Halloween Food Drive this year was the most successful one yet.

Peace members dressed up and went door to door to “trick hunger” and treat residents to a healthy meal. The congregation collected nearly 1,500 pounds of food and $100 in cash.

For more about Peace, visit www.peaceusa.org.