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Small businesses in Florida, especially the farming industry, are being pushed to the brink of closure as a result of erroneous government regulations and additional taxes. Fifteen years ago, there were approximately 350 small family farms in the state which shipped Florida’s famous citrus across the globe. Today, there are less than 50.
Next week, seven members of National Federation of Independent Business/Florida (NFIB/Florida) will travel to Washington, DC and join dozens of other small business owners from across the nation as they meet with policymakers to discuss how increasing federal regulation is impacting small businesses. Local citrus farmer, Dean Mixon, of Mixon Fruit Farm in Bradenton will be joining NFIB and other members’ of the organization’s new coalition, Small Businesses for Sensible Regulations. Since launching, the group has more than 200 Florida small business members.
"Besides the regulations, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has really hurt all of us farmers", said Mixon. ”We have all the regulations that cost us thousands and thousands of dollars and other countries can ship here for less than it cost us to produce our fruit or vegetables.“
New EPA water regulations are another large concern for crop farmers.
”Every time you turn around there is another inspection and regulation to deal with. We are trying to farm and earn a living,“ continued Mixon.
Manatee County and surrounding area produce tons of fruit, vegetables, dairy, poultry, beef an other farm products on private family farm operations and employ thousands of employees. Twenty-six of the local farmers came together at Mixon Fruit Farm several months ago to discuss these issues with Rep. Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton) and Rep. Greg Steube (R-Bradenton) along with a representative from Vern Buchannans office. According to Mixon, there have been at least eight disease outbreaks on foreign produce in the tomato industry alone since NAFTA had been approved. Additionally, the citrus industry in Florida have also had to deal with Canker and Greening in addition to several other pests.
”Taxes and Tort reform are other issues which hurt our bottom line. After all business were assessed, approximately $300 per employee for unemployment compensation is federally mandated on the State. That's an additional $20,000.00 in costs for a business our size,“ said Dean.
The members of NFIB and Small Businesses for Sensible Regulations have organized a group of small business owners from all over the country and different industries to travel to Washington to express their concerns with elected officials. NFIB wants Congress to hear from people who are dealing with these regulations on a day to day basis. Independent Business owners will be able to relate from a "hands on" perspective.
”Small business and entrepreneurship is what made this country great - overregulation is strangling this great strength and raising costs for everyone,“ concluded Mixon. ”If there is no incentive to take a risk and try to excel, then we have lost that great engine the drives free markets and capitalism.“
For the 13th year, the Terra Ceia Island Village Improvement Association, or VIA, brings The Mullet Smoke-Off, Saturday, November 12th, 11 am – 6 pm. This annual event has evolved into a ”not-to-be- missed“ occasion. Its uniqueness separates it from all other events. It personifies the essence of Olde Florida.
Contestants, both local and from throughout Florida, compete each year to win the honor of best smoked mullet. Contestants as young as 12 have won the honors. One fisherman smokes the mullet in the style of the original Terra Ceia Indians. Mullet is smoked on site. 2nd and 3rd prizes are also awarded. It is a hard decision each year. Long time Terra Ceia residents and seasoned fishermen judge the entries.
Of course. the VIA has their own expert mullet smokers and mullet dinners will be available to all to enjoy.
There will also be serving mullet cakes, hotdogs, corn dogs, B-B-Q Pork, baked beans, potato salad, desserts, soft drinks, and water, as well as lots of local baked goods.
Set in the scenic, quaint VIA SeaBreeze Park on Terra Ceia Bay, this event is sure to ensure individuals and families will have great fun! Terra Ceia Island is ”Olde Florida“ and is steeped in history. The Park has picnic tables, plenty of free parking and a dock to Terra Ceia Bay. There will be a cast net throwing contest as well as a ”Mullet Toss“...you have to be there to appreciate this contest! Also rock and dance to the music of Big Daddy. There is no entrance fee to this event.
The Village Improvement Association is longest sustaining association in the state of Florida. The VIA has 100+ years of service to the community. The VIA has always been dedicated to improving the community and developing strong community ties. A common goal over the many years has been to foster good neighborliness and giving help to those who need it. 10% of the Proceeds will go to benefit Manatee School’s Wishing Well fund.
Come to Terra Ceia Island Saturday, November 12th, 11 am to 6 pm for a fun filled and special day! (SeaBreeze Park, 55 Horseshoe Loop, Terra Ceia Island, FL 34250)
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The farm stand carries 90% local produce grown at O’Brien Family Farms where customers can pick their own in our hydroponic farm or buy in bulk. This season O’Brien Family Farms will carry a significantly greater variety of fruits and vegetables, ”we’ve increased the amount of fruits and vegetables that we grow for the stand by 20% to better serve our customers,“ said O’Brien.
Last season O’Brien had groups from elementary, middle, high and special needs schools to learn about the live bee hive observatory, farming and to pick their own fruits and vegetables. This season O’Brien is looking forward to more groups and field trips, ”we already have groups of 300+ planning to come to the farm stand.“
O’Brien Family Farms is known for their strawberries, but grows tomatoes (including University of Florida variety Tasti-Lee), peppers, eggplant, squash, zucchini, corns, onions, celery, carrots, lettuces, herbs and much more.
The 4th Annual ”Fisk & Friends“ Celebrity Golf Classic is scheduled for Monday, November 7th at the Founders Club. Proceeds will benefit the Suncoast Charities for Children. Foursomes are $2,500 and include a hole sponsorship sign autographed by the celebrity players. Confirmed celebrity guests to date include Dave Andreychuk, John Havlicek, Dave LaPoint, John O’Donoghue, Gary Peters, Lou Piniella, Tom Stephens, Buddy Harrelson, Jim Rice, Bob Montgomery, Marv Foley, Shane Rawley, Ken Frailing, Goose Gossage, Robert Gamez and more still confirming.
The event kicks off with a Pre-Tournament Reception and Auction on Sunday, November 6th at the Hilton Longboat Key Beachfront Resort from 5-9 pm. A limited number of tickets will be available to the public for $125 each. On Monday, November 7th, registration and a breakfast buffet will be available from 8-10am followed by a shotgun start with lunch being served on the course. A ”Sweet Ending“ reception, helicopter ball drop and awards presentation will conclude the day’s events. For detailed information visit www.facebook.com/fiskandfriends or call Lucy at (941) 371-8820 x1030. Additional information is also available at fiskandfriends.org.
”I am thrilled to give back to the community through this fun and exciting event“ said Carlton Fisk. ”Last year over $54,000 was raised and it is my hope that we continue to grow the tournament each year – we want to help as many needy children and families as possible.“ Thanks to the efforts of the Suncoast Charities for Children, over $14 Million in facilities have been constructed for various local charities serving children with special needs. The facilities include Community Haven for Adults and Children with disabilities, Inc., The Florida Center, Loveland Center, Inc., Oak Park School, Special Athlete Boosters, and Special Olympics. The Suncoast Charities for Children will continue to support local charities and serve children with special needs, thanks to proceeds raised from special event fundraising.
Carlton ”Pudge“ Fisk has served more years behind the plate (24) than any other American League catcher. He started his career with the Red Sox in 1969 and played in Boston until 1980. Fisk also played for the Chicago White Sox from 1981 to 1993. In 1972, the 11-time Al-Star won both the American League Rookie of the Year and an American League Golden Glove. He hit 376 home runs in his career, including the famous ”Go-Fair“ home run in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series. Fisk was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2000. The White Sox retired his number, 72, and the Red Sox retired his number, 27.
The Suncoast Charities for Children staff is working in partnership with Blue Sky Sports & Entertainment to produce this year’s tournament. Blue Sky Sports & Entertainment has over 30 years combined experience in events and athlete representation.The Young Professionals Group is partnering with Girls Inc. for a event in which local families get to ”shop“ for toys thanks to a donation from The White Family Foundation. The YPG group invites members to donate their time on Sunday, November 20 from 10 am to 2 pm as part of the monthly volunteer opportunity. Volunteers are needed to help parents ”shop“ for their children and wrap gifts. The goal is to provide three gifts for every child in 100 different families.
”The White Family Foundation continues to offer this generous gift to our families. Girls Inc. is honored to be a recipient and our families are so very fortunate to have foundations like this making sure their holidays are special regardless of the economic climate, ”said Kay Mathers, Director of Community Affairs at Girls Incorporated of Sarasota County. ”Volunteers from the YPG make all of the difference in helping us change girl’s lives.“
The Project White Christmas volunteer opportunity will be held at Girls Inc. of Sarasota and members are encouraged to get into the giving spirit and help local families celebrate the holidays. Spanish speaking volunteers would be appreciated, due to language barriers with some of the families.The All Children’s Hospital Guild Sarasota/Manatee Branch announces the installation of their 2011-2012 officers: Susan Gregory-Liammari, President; Lydia Landa, Treasurer; Sandy Brown, Recording Secretary; Jenni Ross, Corresponding Secretary; Julie Lyman, Treasurer Elect. Guild members volunteer their time to raise funds through various events during the year which supports All Children’s Hospital, a member of Johns Hopkins Medicine, and the All Children’s Outpatient Care Centers in Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch.
The Guild always welcomes additional members. The next Guild meeting will be Wednesday, November 9 at 8:30 a.m. at the All Children’s Outpatient Care Center on Clark Road at Rand Blvd. For more information about the Guild, contact Membership Chair Kay Aidlin at 941.924.9641.
All Children's Hospital is the only hospital on Florida's West Coast totally devoted to children's care - a leader in pediatric treatment, education, research and advocacy. As a regional referral center for children with some of the most challenging medical problems, All Children's draws patients from throughout Florida, all 50 states and 36 foreign countries. Even the most fragile patients benefit from All Children's highly specialized staff, services and facilities, including heart transplantation, blood & marrow transplantation, pediatric trauma services and one of the largest Neonatal Intensive Care programs in the Southeastern U.S. The mission of this private, not-for-profit hospital is rooted in its beginnings in 1926 as Florida's first Crippled Children's Hospital for polio victims. All Children's understands that it's not enough to treat disease -- that true progress comes from teaching and research to cure disease.
All Children's Outpatient Care Locations bring high quality pediatric services closer to home for children and families in Sarasota/Manatee, Tampa Bay and beyond. Manatee Technical Institute has a program for young Adults to
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The Lakewood Ranch Community Fund presented Project Light's Board of Directors with a check for $1,356 at the Fund’s grant awards reception last Friday.
Project Light will use the grant to purchase critically-needed curriculum kits for students and instructors as part of its outreach satellite program, the Language House, which offers English language classes at four Manatee County library sites and the YMCA in Parrish. In addition to this program, Project Light provides classes daily, Monday through Friday, from 9 am to 11:30 am at its center located at 1104 14th St. West in Bradenton.
Project Light was one of 19 awardees selected from a total of 34 applications that were reviewed by the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund.
Project Light is an all-volunteer operated non-profit that has been providing free adult English language instruction and literacy classes for 17 years in Manatee County and is dedicated to empowering students with the skills and tools they need to more fully participate in, and contribute to, the community.
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