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| A Worthy Store |
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March 2015
GREETINGS from the Friends
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| Happenings in the Parks |
Yesterday and Tomorrow
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Those who made it out to the Modern Pentathlon last week heard something not ordinarily audible in Sarasota’s parks: the chatter of a dozen or more foreign languages.
Nathan Benderson Park was alive with families and athletes from around the world – Japan, Argentina, Poland, Italy, Great Britain and Scandinavia, to name but a few.
An elegantly attired gentleman from France who’d won a Modern Pentathlon 50 years ago explained that the event took its form from the military skills of the early 20th century — the Pre-World War I age when men at arms fenced rather than directed drones. It is a test of survival skills — one swims, runs, rides, fences and shoots to triumph in battle, or safely get away. Or, one did. The entire experience was both a throwback and a fast forward – to a potential future Sarasota, featured on a celebrated international sports circuit.
Adventures in the Parks
Sunrise walks, garden tours, jazz in the parks, Surrey rides, it’s all going on as we head into spring. Catch up with Spring with Debbie Zeilman’s Parks Events for the Month, on our site.
Free Kayak Tours
Blind Pass – March 7 and March 21
Philippi Creek – March 29
Lyons & Blackburn Bay – April 4 and April 18
Register in advance and bring your kayak and paddle. More at Bay Wise Kayak. The Sarasota Bay Estuary people have been busy – check out their newsletter for more of their activities, including their recent air potato event. This volunteer found a tiny one:
PHILLIPPI ESTATE PARK MARCH EVENTS
Priscilla Brown writes:
Phillippi Estate Park will continue its wildly popular Phillippi Farmhouse Market every Wednesday in March from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the front of Phillippi Estate Park, 5500 South Tamiami Trail in Sarasota. The market is ably led by FOSCP volunteers Grace and Fred Whitehouse.
The market’s mission is to promote local agriculture with fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh locally prepared foods, local artisans, and local musicians.
Wed. March 11 the market will feature CHILDREN’S DAY AT THE MARKET with educational games, crafts, storytelling, children’s books, hand-made jump ropes and a variety of local arts and crafts for children on spring break from the local public schools. Come join us for a fun day!
Phillippi Estate Park will also have a
Ribs Cook Off on Sat March 14 at the Gazebo from 10 am to 5 pm. The
Sarasota Benevolent Fire Fighters will be raising funds to assist fire fighters families in times of need. For more information, please call 941-861-5000.
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FOSCP at Fire Fest
Sherm Stratton at the Carlton Reserve wrote in to update us on Fire Fest, which we featured in last month’s FOSCPNews. Sherm said:
One of our members, Jean-Louis Dumaine, was at the event taking photographs which I have placed on our webpage as a gallery.
The Friends of the Carlton and volunteers helped out at the event by:
–helping prepare the venue: trimming trails, tidying up the site, weedwhacking, etc.
–installing signage the day before, taking down afterward
–handling parking for vendors and attendees-no small task since there were 5 separate lots and a shuttle vehicle from a remote overflow area
-contributing $250 toward fans that the County gave out to the public
-providing free beverages in the cabin
–assisting at the food table (food provided by K-9 folks).
Event update: Waterfest
Friends of Waterfest, the Official Volunteer Group for all Waterfest Events, will hold their next meeting on March 9th at 6:00 pm at the Englewood Event Center. Come for an event update and committee break-out sessions. “We need your help to stage this locally produced, charity-focused event showcasing Englewood’s water resources and recreational opportunities.” More here.
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| Community Chemistry |
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What’s in a garden
Folks at Culverhouse Community Garden recently launched a new composting project that is producing what they say is an excellent earthy medium for splendid veggies, fruits and herbs. The project involves the collective efforts of 24 CCG Chapter members plus a network of sources for the raw materials that are baked in a series of bins. It’s a good story about chemistry – both of the soil, and of the community that’s working it. Read all about it on our site — the story is “Culverhouse Chemistry: An organic garden at work.” |
| A few more things . . . |
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Time for Bicycling
Name that Future Famous Agri-Eco-Tourism Destination!
Sarasota County would like your help. They’d like you to come up with a stand-out name for 3,760 acres of the Walton Ranch that were acquired by the County. The land will be used both passively and possibly for active recreation — horseback riding, ecotourism, education and the like.
More details here — there are specific criteria that one must use — bear in mind, the deadline for your entry is March 16th!
New Volunteer Facebook Page
Keep your Sarasota County volunteer account up-to-date by entering your volunteer hours on-line on a weekly basis.
To update your hours, go to the County’s Volunteer Home Page and log in under “My Account.” If you’re not already registered, remember to do so – you’re covered in case of injury when working on a county volunteer project. And, logging hours plays a key role in establishing the basis for future grants. Contact Vickie or Brenda if you need help getting it set up. Both Vickie and Brenda will be at Springfest this Saturday, March 7, and remember, Keep Sarasota County Beautiful is happening Saturday March 21st. ===
All that Jazz
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Finally, here’s Alex – one of the fine artists who performed Sunday at Phillippi Estate Park as part of the Jazz Club of Sarasota’s 33rd annual Sarasota Jazz Festival. The music continues all week. The parks are better for your care!
Tom M.
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The Newsletter of the
Friends of
Sarasota County Parks
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