Only a few more days to put in your two cents on the City's Strategic Planning Questionnaire.  We mentioned this last month, but thought we would remind you to visit their website and weigh in on the issues.

Go to www.pgorda.us or email citymgr@pgorda.us.  You can also print it off and mail it in to 326 West Marion Avenue, Punta Gorda 33950.

If the stars are alilgned just right, and the moon is in the 7th house, we may yet see a lovely shopping area come to life on the fomer Loop property.

The City is in talks with potential developers to annex the property, and if that should occur, we may see some activity. 

Mark your calendar for Saturday, March 24, for the 7th Annual TEAM Punta Gorda Golf Tournament.  It is going to be bigger and better than ever!

We'll have a $5,000 putting contest, a car for a Hole-in-One, and lots of great prizes. A fee of $80 per player covers the cart/greens fees, continental breakfast and lunch.  We have a special deal on mulligans, too.  For an additional $20, our Mulligan Package provides four mulligans, a fifith free mulligan, and a Handy Sandy!  Sign up for it when you register.

Registration forms are on line at www.teampuntagorda.org 

The event will be held at St. Andrews Golf Club, 1901 Deborah Drive in Punta Gorda. Check in at 7:15 am.  Putting challenge starts at 7:45 am.  Tee time is 8:30 am

This great tournament is open to men and women of all handicaps.  Come out for a  fun time and help support TEAM Punta Gorda's projects and activities!

TEAM Punta Gorda and the Isles Yacht Club invite you to Pedal and Play in Paradise on March 31 for the benefit of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society amd TEAM Punta Gorda's bicycle-friendly community initiatives.

This popular event boasted 362 entries last year, and we hope to attract 500-600 riders in 2012.  Participants can choose from a 62, 30, 15, or a 10 mile "Mystery Tour" in the morning, then enjoy a leisurely lunch in Laishley Park, complete with free beer [if you are 21, of course.]

At 1:00 pm, the City Manager will lead the ever-popular History Tour of Punta Gorda via bicycle. 

 TEAM is excited to report that our wonderful Yellow Loaner Bicycles are increasing in popularity. During the month of January we had 135 folks sign on to use them. They came from all over the world, too: The Netherlands, Brazil, England, Nova Scotia, France, and stateside from Massachusetts, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania and Minnesota, to name a few.

We are also exited to announce that Barbara Fleishman of Burnt Store Colony donated a Trike, which will be stationed at Fishermen's Village Marina. The latest addition brings our total to 31 bicycles in the fleet, this one donated by Cortland P. Brown of ReMax/Harbor Realty.  It will be placed at the Sheraton Four Points.

Art Armstrong, chairman of TEAM's Maritime Committee, introduces Young

 On the heels of the successful World Disabled Sailing Regatta, Punta Gorda was visited by the world-renowned author and creator of Cruiser's Net website, Claiborne Young.  At a special "Coffee with Claiborne" held on February 12th, hosted by TEAM Punta Gorda, and attended by 60 people, including elected officials and staff, Mr. Young talked about waterfront communities that have transformed themselves into boating destinations despite numerous obstacles. 

He answered questions from the audience who were expolring ways to make our town a desireable boating destination. He suggested, "mooring fields, destination anchorage, easy-to-get-to dingy docks, wet-slip dockage, good restaurants and shops, shower and laundry facilities, WI-FI throughout the harbor area and provisioning."

The audience came away from the presentation excited and energized by the ideas discussed and the suggested ways to implement them.

 The Historic Punta Gorda Mural Society, the creator and caretaker of all those wonderful murals you see around town, is gearing up to do another one. This one is called Sports Memories.  

In order to pay for the artiist, the paint and the setup, they are hosting a BIG event - "Boogie on the Harbor" featuring The Boogiemen.  Cost is just $25 and food and drink are available for purchase.  Reserved tables of ten are $300.

There will be a dance contest, a short Live Auction, and rumor has it a special guest just might pop in!

If you would like to purchase tickets, they are available at the Punta Gorda Chamber of Commerce, the Charlotte Harbor Events Center, or you can contact memazur@comcast.net or call 802-373-1074.

So mark your calendar for Thursday, February 16, 6:30-9:30 pm.  The mural society is a non-profit organization, so your ticket is tax deductible. 

. . . Host Book Discussions with a Novel Twist

 On March 16, the Friends of the Punta Gorda Library will host a wonderful event, making a good book come to life.  Starring Barbara Rinella, a literary actress and internationally-known comedic entertainer, will portray, who else... Cleopatra!

Ms. Rinella brings literature to life.  The book which is the subject of her performance is "Cleopatra: A Life" by Stacy Schiff. 

This event will be held at Twin Isles Country Club. The cost is $30 for members and $35 for non-members for the presentation and a scrumptious lunch.  Time is 10:30 am.

For tickets, contact Bette Albarran at 941-639-8839 or email balbarran@earthlink.net

 The City has announced the removal of the traffic light at the intersection of US 41 and Acline Road south of town on Friday, February 17.

Apparently, this was only a temporary device to control the traffic being diverted up Acline around the Burnt Store Road construction project.

Doesn't seem like a good idea, since that intersection is heavily travelled and rather scary to navigate.  Two stop signs on Acline will be the only traffic control, so be very careful!

Judy Brentano, Editor

jbrentano@mindspring.com

TEAM Punta Gorda