Community Manatee Spotlight March 4, 2012

SpringFest Returns to Palmer Ranch

SpringFest, Sarasota’s premier family run/walk event, will return to Palmer Ranch for its sixth year on March 24, 2012.

SpringFest festivities begin at 7:30am Saturday morning with two "signature" road events, a 5K fun walk-run and a 12K road race. These sanctioned events wind through the beautiful neighborhoods of Palmer Ranch and the Legacy Trail finishing at the SpringFest site on Sawyer Loop.

Our day continues from 9am until 4pm with food, four new live music acts on the main stage, crowd entertainment, displays and exhibits, health screenings, a business expo, youth demonstrations and children's activities. New additions to this year’s event include a ”farmer’s market“ with 15 of the Wednesday Phillippi Farmhouse vendors bringing fresh fruits and vegetables; succulent, vegetable, & herb plant starts; organic teas; baked goods, soy & scented soaps & candles; fish & nature prints; rain barrels, compost bins and other gardening supplies.  

Admission and parking are free of charge.

Proceeds from the event benefit the Sarasota County Sheriff’s PAL programs which provide a safe environment for children to participate, learn, and achieve while developing positive relationships with other youth, adults, and law enforcement.

For more event information or to register as a runner/walker visit sarasotaspringfest.com or active.com.

Dog Days at De Soto March 10th

De Soto National Memorial will host Dog Days at De Soto on Saturday March 10^th from 10am - 3pm. Visitors are encouraged to leash up their dogs and join us for a day filled with activities, demonstrations, and information promoting safe and healthy dogs. We have invited several partners who will share information about what their organizations do to support man’s best friend.

Information on Dog Adoptions – Visitors interested in adopting dogs who need a good home can visit with representatives from Bishop’s animal shelter, and the Manatee & Sarasota County Humane societies.

Promoting Your Pet’s Health – Dr. Luke Berglund will be on hand from the Beach Veterinary Clinic, Cortez Road to give free advice on your pet’s health at our ”Ask your Vet“ booth.

Kids Activities –The kids will enjoy visiting the Ôreading fur fun’ nook hosted by the Humane Society of Sarasota, here kids can snuggle up to a canine pal and read aloud from books on hand.

Food- American Dream hot dog carts Inc, will be under the main tent so visitors can take a break and grab a dog for lunch.

All events and activities are free at De Soto National Memorial. Event hours are 10:00 a.m. till 4:00 p.m. All activities are subject to change due to weather. De Soto National Memorial is located at 8300 De Soto Memorial Hwy, Bradenton 34209. On I-75 take exit 220 SR-64 Manatee Ave. Go west to 75th street. Travel north, the park is located at the terminus of 75th street. De Soto National Memorial is open seven days a week. The Visitor Center is open from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m. park grounds are open from sunrise to sunset. More information go to: www.nps.gov/deso.

Sunbow Bay Open House March 24

SBEP has supported the project with Bay Partners Grants in 2010 and 2011. SBEP also provided technical assistance along with Michelle Atkinson with the Florida Yards and Neighborhood Program and Jim Derwenko, a green-certified landscaper. The key contact person at SunbowBay is Denise Elliott and you can reach Ms. Elliott at dndelliott@gmail.com. Denise has provided timely leadership in making Bay-friendly landscaping a priority at SunbowBay.

Thank you for sharing information about Sunbow Bay’s open house. The public is invited and a local Girl Scout Troop from Bradenton will be on hand to sell water and lemonade to raise funds for a future camping trip. The Girl Scouts will also be visiting Sunbow Bay March 10 to do some volunteer work in the garden while learning more about Bay-friendly landscaping. Randy.

The Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce Introduce its 2012 Officers

The Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce would like to Introduce its officers and Directors for 2012.  The new lineup of officers includes Joe Mercado, Board Chairman & President;  Jason Fromi, Vice Chairman & Vice President;  Jason Ramos, Treasurer; and Victor Harris as Secretary of the Board.  Joining the Officers are the following Directors; Janette Brooks, Andres Coballasi, Stacey Carollo, Ricardo Diaz, Erv Helmuth, and Arturo Santos, Jr.

"Our Board of Directors met for our annual retreat this weekend and spent long hours planning and charting the future of the Chamber. " said Joe Mercado, Chairman.  ”We have a great board that is passionate and committed to the membership and Hispanic Community.  This is a great time for the Latin Chamber.

In an effort to deliver more value and provide exceptional benefits to our member businesses, the Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce a restructuring of events and membership levels to provide flexible, affordable and powerful programs and services that support individual member and community needs.

Some of the exciting events planned include a Cultural Cinco de Mayo and Taste of Latin America Festival in downtown Sarasota, updated Power Lunches, quarterly dynamic Conexciones evening networking events, and a new membership level for "Small Businesses" that provides super value to small businesses with limited resources. 

2-Day Event Benefits Community Coalition on Homelessness

Bradenton, Florida, March 1, 2012 - City of Bradenton Mayor Wayne Poston read a proclamation declaring February 21 and 22, 2012 as Community Coalition on Homelessness Days on Tuesday, February 21, at a sold out Wine and Cheese Reception.  The evening was organized by the Pinebrook-Ironwood Ladies Golf Association to support the Coalition’s programs targeting children. 

Attendees enjoyed a lively auction conducted by ABC Channel 7’s meteorologist, Bob Harrigan.  Wednesday morning featured a golf tournament, followed by a silent auction, and a luncheon. Tournament participants and their guests gathered at a luncheon to listen to Adell Erozer, Executive Director of the Community Coalition, and the Operations Manager, Joe Mercado, discuss the current situation regarding homelessness and its impact on children in Manatee County.  On display were amazing artworks created by local elementary students depicting their perspective on homelessness. 

”We are truly moved by the caring and generosity which went into these events,“ stated Adell Erozer, Executive Director. ”The children’s art was especially touching when we learned that local teachers had created lessons on homelessness.“

Bev Beaucage and KathThomson, Co-Chairs of the event were pleased to report that the expected proceeds of approximately $13,000 will go to programs providing services to homeless children and their parents.

The Lawton Chiles Business Community Award

The Lawton Chiles business community award honors individuals whose business practice best exemplifies the Democratic Party ideals. Melton Little, law partner at the firm of Kallins and Little, exhibits such an individual.

Melton Little has been practicing law for the last 25 years and has always believed in giving back to his community.

We praise Melton Little, the former Manatee County Democratic Party Chair for over two years, who has served his community as one of the board certified top litigators in the field of Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Medical Malpractice and Marital and Family Law. We do this in memory and honor of Lawton Chiles, our popular governor and senator who best exemplified Democratic Party ideals.

Littles’ firm has a major impact in the community with its senior scholarship program. Each year, his firm awards scholarship funds to graduating seniors in Manatee County and has donated over $83,000 to further the education of young people in the community.

Wendy Kay Foldes and Steve Goldman join Wagner Realty's Anna Maria Island Office

David Eckel, President of Wagner Realty, welcomed Wendy Kay Foldes and Steve Goldman,  to the Bradenton Beach office on Gulf Drive North.  ”TEAM FOLDES“  blends a top-producing residential real estate sales background with award-winning builder and developer credentials to serve their clients.  They have a history of success listing and selling property in Sarasota and Manatee Counties, including Anna Maria Island,  Longboat, Lido and Siesta Keys, as well as nearby downtown mainland real estate markets, announced.

As a team, Foldes and Goldman have more than 50 years of combined experience in sales, development, construction and marketing. Wendy is a multi-million dollar producer, winning the ”Number One Agent“ four times and was recently named a Five-Star Realtor again in 2011.  She contribute to her ability to work with foreign buyers and sellers.

Goldman is a retired professor emeritus of  University of South Florida/Polk State College Lakeland campus, and, as a developer selling millions of dollars in new homes, won the prestigious Home of the Year Award presented by the Polk County Builders Association. He also wrote a popular weekly column about the real estate and building business for the Lakeland Ledger. Steve has been married to former AMI resident Susan Merrell Goldman for more than thirty-six years.  The Goldmans have two daughters and four grandchildren. Steve and Susan are residents of Perico Bay Club.

Wendy and Steve are now based at the Anna Maria Island office and are aggressively marketing residential and commercial real estate in our two county area.