5 Things to Know Today, Sept. 17

1. Don your bibs and get ready for a lobster feast.

The South Brandon Rotary Club will host its first Lobstah' Fest Saturday, Sept. 17, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Winthrop Pole Barn, 11349 Bloomingdale Ave., Riverview.

The cost is $25 per person or $45 for two dinners, and includes a boiled Maine lobster and potato salad, cole slaw, corn on the cob, a roll, dessert and drinks.

The first glass of beer or wine will be available with a meal ticket. After that, drinks will be available for a suggested donation of $2.

Kids' tickets are $5 and include a hamburger or hot dog, chips, drinks and dessert.

In addition to the lobster meal, there will be live entertainment by Otis Velt and the Old School Band. The popular Tampa Bay party band performs hits from the '50s to the '80s.

There also will be children's activities including face painting, balloon creations and a bounce house.

Local crafters have been invited to display their fall creations during a craft festival that will take place during the event.

2. Get on your runnings shoes.

Both experienced and novice runners are invited to take part the Run for the Bulls 5K Saturday, Sept. 17, at 7:30 a.m. Organized by Bloomingdale football head coach John Booth, the 3.1-mile run/walk will begin at Cimino Elementary School, 4329 Culbreath Road, Valrico.

Registration fees include a runner's T-shirt, post-race snack and water  during the race. Fees are $25 in advance, $30 on race day for adults. Fees are $15 for ages 9 to 12 and $5 for a  quarter-mile run for children under 9.

Fans are invited to show their support for the runners by making a $20 donation.

Ninety percent of the proceeds will go to the football team, and  the other 10 percent will go to Cimino for hosting the event.

The top three finishers in each age bracket and the top three overall will  receive prizes.

3. Head on over to the Museum of Science & Industry to catch the Drug Enforcement Administration's national touring exhibit,  Target America: Opening Eyes to the Damage Drugs Cause, which opened Friday.

The traveling exhibit is designed to show visitors the link between drug sales in the United States and the funding of terrorism.

Visitors can view rubble from the 9/11 attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center, a drug-related car wreck from Ohio, and several re-creations including a methamphetamine hotel cook room, jungle cocaine lab and an Afghan  heroin "factory."

"Florida has been on the forefront of many national drug trafficking trends from the cocaine cowboys of the '70s and '80s to the pill mills of today," said Mark R. Trouville, DEA Miami Field Division special agent. "This exhibit not only explores international and national drug trafficking trends, but ties in Florida's historical role as a 'gateway' and the resulting costs and  consequences."

The exhibit has been seen by more than 20 million people since it premiered Sept. 11, 2002, at the DEA Museum in Arlington, Va. It will be at MOSI until Sept. 3, 2012.

4. Visit the Brandon Ice Sports Forum today to see members of the Tampa Bay Lightning practice on the ice. Lightning players will practice on the two Ice Sports Forum rinks from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

All on-ice practice sessions are open to the public.

In addition, Lightning fans will be welcomed by ThunderBug, the Lightning Girls and the Bolt Brigade in Brandon. There will be a number of off-ice activities for families including face painting for kids, a number of contests and prizes, Lightning alumni autograph signings, and assorted food and beverages.

Tampa Bay Lightning players reported to training camp on Friday as preparations get under way for the 2011-12 season. The franchise's 19th training camp began with physicals and fitness testing at the Brandon Ice Sports Forum. Afterward, players took to the ice for an optional skate.

The team's training camp roster is made up of 34 forwards, 19 defensemen and 5 goaltenders. Twenty of the players at training camp played at least one game with the Lightning last season.

Single game Lightning tickets go on sale Saturday. Tickets are already available for Tampa Bay's preseason games against the St. Louis Blues at the Amway Center in Orlando on Sept. 21 and against the Florida Panthers at the St. Pete Times Forum on Sept. 23.

For more information, call (813) 301-6600 or visit lightning.nhl.com.

5. Enjoy some java for a good cause.

The Women's Resource Centre of Brandon will host its first coffee fundraiser Sept. 17 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bell Shoals Baptist Church, 2102 Bell Shoals Road, Brandon. Attendees can help change lives, restore hope, have fun and find out what the Women's Resource Centre is doing to make these things happen in women's lives. The cost is $25.