Sarasota Livin'

Candidates' Fair on Thursday, August 3 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Gulf Gate Library, 7112 Curtiss Avenue. This is an opportunity for the public to meet, ask questions of and share your thoughts with local candidates. The event is being sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the Friends of Gulf Gate Library. The event is free and open to the public.

Next month's Green World Cafe event will take place on August 3, 2006, and will feature a discussion on Solar powered Air Conditioning and related issues in reducing electrical consumption, while helping to protect the environment. All of the Sarasota Green World Cafe monthly events feature an SGC Approved Business Owner and celebrate the Earth Charter. Each event has a featured speaker and then an interactive conversation takes place that focuses on one of the Earth Charter principles.

Please join your fellow community members at the Community Indicators Assembly! This kick-off begins the comprehensive review of SCOPE's Community Report Card. The invitation is attached.

Tuesday, August 22nd
5:30pm to 7:30pm
Pine Shores Presbyterian Church - Community Center
6210 Crestwood Ave, Sarasota

The center is just north of Stickney Pt Road and US 41. Heading north, take a left (head west) at the next light onto Beechwood Ave. Continue on Beechwood, taking a left (head south) onto Crestwood Drive. Park in the grass parking lot and enter the building through the double doors on your left.

RSVP to SCOPE at 365-8751 or scope@scopexcel.org

Lee Irby talks “Florida History, Fact or Fiction” at Selby Library

A program on Florida history, “Fact or Fiction: Florida’s Land Boom (and Bust) in the 1920s”, and a book signing by historian and author Lee Irby.

When is it happening
2 - 3:30 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 30

Selby Public Library, Geldbart Auditorium, 1331 First St., Sarasota

Meet author and Eckerd College history professor Lee Irby. He will discuss how he incorporated Florida’s real estate boom and bust of the 1920s into his novel.

What’s happening

A nature walk conducted by Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies Dr. Margaret Lowman and New College of Florida Plant Ecology students.

When is it happening
10:30 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 2

Red Bug Slough Preserve, 5200 Beneva Road, Sarasota. Meet at the preserve entrance one-half mile south of Proctor Road.

A hands-on hike for families to enjoy demonstrations of the tools that scientists use to be detectives of the ecosystem. Try your hand at collecting tardigrades (slow-moving microscopic invertebrates), and using canopy ropes, vegetation surveys, transects (lines that track insects and animals) and insect nets.

Call to reserve your spot, as space is limited. Participants should wear walking shoes and a hat, and bring drinking water, sun screen, bug repellent, and a camera.

For more information or to reserve a spot, contact the Sarasota County Call Center at 941-861-5000 and ask for Natural Resources.

Payne Park Party

On Sunday, Sept 3, there will be ground breaking ceremony for the New Payne Park. The design promises to transform this current weed patch with a nice skate park, into a beautiful "signature" city park.

Along with the ground breaking ceremony, the Alta Vista Neighborhood Association is organizing a party. AVNA will serve up some ice cream and have plenty of things to occupy families - a band, popcorn, frisbees, and some yet to be determined activities and goodies.

Everyone is invited. The fun starts a 5 PM and will end around 9:30 PM.

Activities will be centered near the Recreation Hall Come out and have a good time.

Groundbreaking at 5pm, followed by:

1. Two bands, both with members from Alta Vista, with professional sound man & equipment.
2. Three clowns, with balloons etc.
3. Free hot dogs, ice cream and popcorn
4. Free frisbees to toss in the park
5. A skateboard "demonstration" at the skateboard park; the top talent are invited to practice, so it's not exactly a demo, but good tricks nonetheless.
6. A n'hd church is setting up facepainting and other kid-related stuff in one of the tents.
7. A variety of city and county environmental depts are invited with handouts etc.
8. The Sarasota Film Festival will show a sundown movie outside, Schrek II for the kids.
9. More stuff to come.

I just wanted to let everyone know that the Original Gillespie Park Neighborhood Association has received grants from the City and County for $5000 and installed four chess/checker tables in the pavilion in the park. These tables are available for anyone to use. We encourage young and old to bring some game pieces and enjoy the beautiful park.
We are planning an event on September 9. The chess club of the Senior Friendship Center has RSVP'd with 12 members. We are hoping to get a local school's chess club to play the seniors for a little challenge. We will be featuring music, food and drinks. More info available at OGPNA.com.

Neighborhood Meeting -- Proposed New Wastewater Lift Station
Located Adjacent to the Former Sarasota High School
Date: Friday, September 15, 2006
Time: 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
Location: Waldemere Fire Station No. 2, 2nd Floor Training Room, 2070 Waldemere Street

The City of Sarasota’s wastewater Lift Station No. 7 is located within a residential pocket park on Pomelo Ave. The station pumps wastewater collected from the southern section of the City directly to the Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant located on 12th Street.

The lift station experienced mechanical malfunctions in February 2004 and 2005, which raised questions regarding the appropriateness of its location within a residential neighborhood with limited access and no additional area available to expand to upgrade the station.

During December 2005, the City Commission approved a contract with Malcolm Pirnie, an environmental engineering firm, to study alternatives for relocating or reducing the flow to Lift Station No. 7. As a result of this study, they recommended that an upgraded lift station with increased capacity and state-of-the-art backup equipment, monitoring systems, and odor control devices, be built to replace Lift Station No. 7.

It was also determined that the appropriate site for a new lift station would have easy access and be within a commercial area shielded from neighborhoods. Given these criteria and the limited number of available sites, the City met with Sarasota School District staff to discuss the option of building a new lift station adjacent to the former Sarasota High School.

Interlocal Agreement:
The City and School District staffs have created an interlocal agreement for the District to provide the City ownership of property to place a new lift station and to ensure full cooperation between the agencies to build the station. At this time the City is soliciting an engineering firm to design the station and necessary infrastructure.

The interlocal agreement is scheduled to be presented to the School Board for their consideration on September 19, 2006 and if approved, it will then be presented to the City Commission for their consideration on October 16, 2006.

Neighborhood Meeting:
The City of Sarasota Public Works staff will host a neighborhood meeting to discuss the proposed wastewater lift station. Representatives from the Sarasota School District staff and the Sarasota County Health Department will also be attending.

For more information contact Pam Keyes at the Utilities Division at 941/955-2325.

EarthDance 2006 will be taking place on September 16 this year at the beautiful Crosley Estate, just north of New College. Last year we had about 1200 people show up to the event at Ken Thompson Park. We are really looking forward to being back at the Crosley this time, with its beautiful bay front mansion, gazebos & grounds.

If you would like to be on the volunteer/staff list or would like to be a vendor or sponsor this year, please email normen1@comcast.net or matthew@cadanoche.com & let us know. We will be having our next staff meeting within the next 2 weeks. Matthew Reynolds, 941-323-5122(cell).

Sept 19th is that great Talk Like A Pirate Day Avast, me hearties
read about it here

Great video to get a refresher on how to Talk Like a Priate

Some interesting things going on:

The next DRC meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 20, 2006, at 9:00 a.m. in the City Commission Chambers at Sarasota City Hall (1565 First Street). The following items will be discussed:

An Informational Overview:
Sarasota Bayside (Tamiami Trail): An informational overview of the Development Agreement for the Sarasota Bayside project which consists of a mixed-use phased redevelopment of the Quay and adjacent properties totaling approximately 14 acres. The redevelopment will include a total of 701 residential units, 175 hotel rooms, 189,050 s.f. of commercial space and 38,972 s.f. of office space. [Robert Fournier, City Attorney].

Development Review Session:

City Place at Pineapple Square (99 Pineapple Avenue): Proposes construction of a mixed-use building containing 86,000 s.f. of retail space, 157 residential condominiums, and in-structure parking for 812 vehicles. [Tom Larrabee, Sr. Planner].

The Arts Promenade (1750 N. Tamiami Trail): Requests approval to construct a mixed-use building containing 7,777 s.f. of retail space, 73 residential condominiums with in-structure parking. [Tom Larrabee, Sr. Planner].

The American Chemical Society’s past president, Attila Pavlath, will be speaking at the Chae Auditorium at New College in Sarasota on Wednesday, September 20, 2006 beginning at 4PM.

"Alternate Energy Sources: From the Sun to the Depth of the Earth" All are welcome.

Speaker: Dr. Attila E. Pavlath

Title: Alternate Energy Sources: From the Sun to the Depth of the Earth

Abstract: This lecture gives a general description of the availability of various energy resources other than coal, gas, and oil. It summarizes the present technological background of possibilities from geothermal to fusion power. It is presented in a way understandable to a large degree even by non-technical audiences. The amount available in each area and the future outlook are discussed.

http://www.blogorlando.com/schedule/

Friday (9/22)
BlogOrlando Unconference at Rollins College

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM: Registration

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM: Welcome & Morning Session 1 & 2
10:30 AM - 10:45 AM: Break
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM: Morning Sessions 3 & 4
11:45 AM - 1:30 PM: Lunch - small groups at Winter Park restaurants
1:30 PM - 3:15 PM: Afternoon Sessions 1 & 2
3:15 PM - 3:30 PM: Break
3:30 PM - 4:45 PM: Afternoon Sessions 3 & 4
4:45 PM - 5:00 PM: Wrap-Up & Goodbyes
7:30 PM - ??: Geek Dinner - Location TBD