5 Things to Know Today: Friday, August 26

Crime Watch Meeting Tonight: The Emergency Crime Watch Meeting is tonight at 6 p.m. at the Gulfport Neighborhood Center, 1617 49th St. S. The topic of the meeting will be the proposed outsourcing of the Gulfport police dispatch to the Sheriffs' Department. If you have any questions, contact Ernie Stone at 727-278-9277 or Jeri Reed at 727-327-3509 evenings or at jrvolunteer@aol.com.

"The Lizard of Oz": Tickets are expected to sell out. If you want to attend the annual Gecko Ball, you're encouraged to buy them ahead of time. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online or at The Outpost, Domain Home Accessories and T and Me Tea Co. in downtown Gulfport. For more information check out our post Get Ready for Gecko Ball & Geckofest on Gulfport Patch.

Weekend Events: Looking for something to do this weekend? Check out our "Events" tab on Gulfport Patch and click on our weekly post GET OUT: Weekend Events Preview.

Future of EDAC & WRAB: The September meetings for the Economic Development Advisory Committee and Waterfront Redevelopment Advisory Board have been cancelled pending the Gulfport City Council's decision to keep or dissolve the two groups. Members decided during Thursday's workshop to put the items on the City Council agenda in October and find out of there is still a need for them. The EDAC and WRAB were created in 1998.

Friday Forecast: We have a 20% chance of isolated showers after 2 p.m. Otherwise, it'll be mostly sunny with a high near 91. Heat index values as high as 103. Expect a north northwest wind between 11 and 20 mp, with gusts as high as 28. Tonight, we have a 10% chance of isolated showers before 8 p.m. Otherwise, i'll be partly cloudy with a low around 84. Expect a west northwest wind between 10 and 18 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.