Sarasota Livin'

Saturday, Nov. 4

What: Nature walk on the Myakka River

When: 9-12:30 p.m.

Where: Snook Haven, 5000 Venice Ave. E., Venice

Description: A kayak trip and nature walk conducted by Sarasota County Environmental Specialist Lee Hayes Byron and Parks Naturalist Rick Storsberg. Participants will kayak along the Jelks Preserve and hike along the river on Deer Prairie Creek Preserve. Space is limited to 15. Attendees may bring their own kayaks, along with necessary equipment and personal flotation devices. Six county kayaks will be available for those who request them. Participants should bring clothes and shoes appropriate for both kayaking and hiking, a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, drinking water, a light jacket, and waterproof camera (optional) or binoculars (optional).

Contact for public: For more information contact the Sarasota County Call Center at 941-861-5000 and ask about the nature walk on the Myakka River at Snook Haven.

Media Contacts: Lee Hayes Byron, 941-861-6244

Saturday Nov 4th
Five Points Park

Cutting Edge Science and Environment Authors
Reading Festival Website

Monday, November 6 @ 5:30pm Community Meeting at the Sierra Club office, 2011 4th St.

Join us for an introductory meeting to the Refuse to Use ChemLawn Campaign by Ashley Schaeffer, Toxics Action Center organizer.

Ashley will be in Sarasota for 6 weeks, launching a lawn-care pesticide reduction campaign. She will be organizing the community around pesticide issues, fertilizer problems, and water quality concerns. She is here to raise awareness about protecting the health of our children, our pets, and our environment from dangerous lawn-care pesticide exposure, specifically focused on the nation’s largest pesticide-based lawn-care service provider, TruGreen ChemLawn.

What:

Initial Findings and Market Analysis

When:

November 8th 6pm – 9pm

Location:

Bradenton Municipal Auditorium -

1005 Barcarrota Blvd., Bradenton, FL 34205

The Bradenton Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is preparing a 5-year Master Plan vision for the Bradenton Community Redevelopment Agency (BCRA), which includes Downtown Bradenton.  To view the study area please click here.  The CRA is specifically interested in creating a community-based vision to create a successful urban place that addresses:

• Community Character
• Traffic and Circulation
• Current Land Use and Urban Design Practices
• Open Space Opportunities
• Market Analysis

The DDA formed a Steering Committee to help with the vision plan.  The Committee is made up of the DDA Board of Directors and representatives from the Manatee Chamber of Commerce, the City of Bradenton, local neighborhoods, and the arts and business communities.

The goal of the project is to identify the physical and economic opportunities and challenges associated with the study area and develop plans and strategies for success.  The planning effort is intended to provide a broad foundation and public consensus for planning, regulatory and economic principles that are appropriate for the City of Bradenton’s downtown and its surrounding neighborhoods.

Down Main St

This Saturday (Nov.11), in Sarasota Florida, there will be a 2 p.m. screening of the new movie Supercharge Me - 30 days raw at EnergyWorks. Afterward, we'll serve up a delicious, gourmet raw buffet. The cost is $20 & there's limited seating, so if you're in town, RSVP ASAP to (941) 358-6741. More info about EnergyWorks here:
http://www.energy-works.net/

"Supercharge Me" was very well-received. I was in New York City for Halloween and toured all the raw food restaurants there. I even ended up onstage at the world-famous Apollo Theater in Harlem on Halloween, in my showgirl costume. Amazing!

County commissioner elect Joe Barbetta speaks about sustainable growth at November 13 CONA meeting.

Joe Barbetta, recently elected to the Sarasota County Commission on a sustainable growth platform, will tell neighborhood leaders what he learned from the citizens of Sarasota County as he campaigned and his goals as county commissioner (he takes office on November 21).

Barbetta, a long-time planning commissioner and CONA member, was elected on a sustainable growth platform despite dirty tricks and big expenditures and misleading attack ads by fast-growth developers. The meeting will be held at the Waldemere Firehouse in Sarasota at 7:00 PM on Monday, November 13, 2006

We are going to have a 2nd Ever Gardening for Wildlife Homescape Tour this
November 18, 2006. Same as last year... the Saturday before Thanksgiving. This
year it will be organized differently. Here are the changes:

1.) All tour participants will go to The Florida House to get their maps to
the homes on the tour. The Florida House will host registration from
9:00-12:00 p.m.
Maps and the packet of information will cost $10.00 per car load and the
profits will be divided amongst the participating not-for-profits.

2.) All participating environmental organizations will have a booth at the
Florida House and give out their literature, membership applications and
sell gift items there. We will advertise the event as an opportunity to
learn about the environmental groups in our county and also buy
environmental gifts and memberships for friends and family for the holiday
season. Florida Native Plant Nursery will be selling plants there. Other
environmental groups may sell plants, books, bird houses, etc. We ask that
environmental groups assign two people to work their booth at the Florida
House from 9:00 -12:00 p.m. on November 18, 2006.

3.) All participating environmental organizations will also provide
volunteers to help at the participating homes where they will help the
homeowners as needed. They will lead tours and answer questions, pour
refreshments, etc. We ask that there be two shifts of two individuals each
as follows: 9:00 - 12:30p.m. and 12:30-4:00p.m. It is important that
volunteers help at the yard tours. We were swamped last year. Please make
sure that assigned volunteers will be responsible and show up and stay their full shift.

4.) Homes will be located in the North Sarasota County area and parking for
15 cars at once will be available nearby. It would be great to have a home
or two in a deed restricted area but not sure this can be worked out.

5.) At the Florida House we will have speakers giving presentations on
gardening for wildlife from 9:00 - 12:00 p.m. on November 18, 2006. The
Master Naturalists will be there as will the Fish and Wildlife Service.
The Florida House will be open until 4:00p.m. November 18th, 2006.

Betty Alpaugh, of the Florida House, will be in charge of all aspects of the
event at the Florida House. Call her there at 316-1200 as soon as possible
to register for a booth. I will represent Florida Native Plant Nursery and
locate wildlife friendly yards for the tour and work with the homeowners.
Please call me at the nursery at 322-1915 if you would like your home on the
tour or know someone who is gardening for wildlife and would like their home
on the tour. Bill Lewis and family will help homeowners beforehand with
information on how to set up and lead tours and prepare their yard for a
tour. This year we would like the plants to be labeled at each home and ask
that homeowners provide before and after pictures, suggestions and lists of
wildlife they have seen around their home. We have five committed
homeowners but would like several more.

Looking forward to another great tour this November. Laurel

Laurel Schiller Co- owner, Florida Native Plant Nursery

Holiday Night of Lights
St. Armands Circle
388-1884

Main Street US301 to Gulfstream
7 PM To 10 PM
Holiday Celebration Committee
349-7583

Boat Parade of Lights
5 PM To 9:30 PM
Bayfront Island Park

Tired of all the lame chain stores and overpriced boutiques? 

Skip the mall and shop with us this year at the

ATOMIC HOLIDAY BAZAAR

Sarasota Municipal Auditorium | Sunday, December 10th from Noon - 6pm

Atomic Holiday Bazaar is a showcase for creative artisans and crafters to display their wares and provide local audiences access to exceptional, affordable arts and crafts.

While most regional craft shows and art festivals are jam packed with doilies, dream catchers, low-end condo art and oddly contrived bling, AHB Producers developed The Bazaar as an extension of their D-I-Y, terminally hip sensibility. In case you haven't figured it out so far, this ain’t gonna be your gramma's craft show.

There are many ways to participate...

Exhibit, Perform, Volunteer, Sponsor, Advertise or Shop!

Please contact us for details.

December 16 (Saturday):
Rosemary Rising II

The Rosemary District is celebrating their Rosemary Rising II. The Holiday Walk will feature live music, artisians, food, a fashion show, open houses, free admission, free parking and more.

Mark your calendars and we hope to see you there. The Festivities will start at 3pm and will go thru 9pm that day

rosemaryneighbor@verizon.net for info

Local Sarasota rock and blues jam band Skullduggery will celebrate New Year's Eve 2006 at the Backlot Theatre on Sunday, 12/31/06 from 9 pm to 1:30 am. This is a free, all ages event! Also, featuring new light show!

Skullduggery is a rock and blues jam band playing music from a huge variety of artists including Grateful Dead, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Neil Young, Little Feat, The Band, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Chuck Berry, Warren Zevon, CCR, Talking Heads, bluegrass, and more. Please visit www.skullduggeryband.com for more information.

The Backlot Theatre is located at 2208 Industrial Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34234 (east of 301 at 47th Street in the industrial park). The Backlot is a non-smoking theater with a cash beer and wine bar. Please visit www.backlotarts.org for details.

For more information, please contact Turner Moore at skullduggeryband@aol.com, or (941) 400-9889. Thank you.