TEAM Punta Gorda, Festivals, and More!

TEAM Punta Gorda

October 2012 Judy Brentano, Editor

BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED

TEAM Punta Gorda UNVEILS BEAUTIFICATION AWARD AT 8th ANNUAL MEETING

The recipient of the annual Beautification Award will be presented to Ms. Maria Schutt of The Consigning Woman. Located on Elliott Street, Ms. Schutt spent a lot of hours and many resources to turn a building and site that was in deplorable condition into an attractive and eye-catching location.

She also devised a plan to give back to the community, wherein any items that do not sell on consignment are reduced in price and the sales proceeds go directly to charity. This year alone she donated over $2,500 to the Yah Yah Girls.

Mark your calendar for Monday, October 29, 7 p.m. sharp. The meeting will be held at the Punta Gorda Isles Civic Association on Shreve Street.

Following brief highlights of TEAM's accomplishments this past year and presentations by Mr. Tom Patton, Director of the Charlotte County Economic Development Office and Mr. Bruce Laishley, local businessman and developer, there will be ample opportunity for you to pose questions. John Wright, President of the Punta Gorda Chamber of Commerce will emcee this important meeting.

Please bring a nonperishable food item for local food banks.

For more information, visit our website www.teampuntagorda.org or call 941-637-8326.

TPG ELECTS NEW BOARD MEMBERS

TEAM Punta Gorda is proud to announce the election of six new members to its board of directors. They are Chris Evans, Managing Partner of Laishley Crab House Center and the Marina Park Management Group; Jeffrey R. Kuhns, associate attorney at the McCrory Law Firm concentrating in the areas of Tax Law, Business Law, Wills; Grace Nurse, Executive Director of Cooper Street Community Learning Center; Joyce Tilden, community volunteer involved in the Charlotte County Master Gardener's program, Punta Gorda Garden Club and Beautification Committee, TEAM Community Garden project and the Charlotte Community Foundation Leadership Advisory Board; Nancy Padgett, Community and Business Liaison, Charlotte State Bank & Trust; Melissa Sanders, Director of Marketing and Public Relations, Charlotte Regional Medical Center.

"We are very excited to add all of this talent to the TEAM board," said Claire Phelen, TPG President. "We are involved in so many worthy projects, it's very important that we have a diverse group of volunteers to support these efforts."

Their terms will begin in January of 2013. They will be introduced at the Annual Meeting on October 29. A hearty congratulations to all!

50 YEARS? YOU SURE DON'T LOOK IT!

PUNTA GORDA ISLES CIVIC ASSOCIATION PLANS BIG BASH

It's going to be the biggest and bestest boating extravaganza Punta Gorda has ever seen! Mark your calendar for Saturday, November 17, for a Happening on the Harbor!

Boats of all shapes and sizes are invited and should amass on the waters between Fishermen's Village and Laishley Park to be included in an aerial photo depicting PG as a great boating destination. The shoot will take place at precisely 11 a.m.

A human statue will be created in Laishley Park as one of the highlights of the festivities.

Then for the party! There will be live music with Tim Goodman and Roseanne from noon to 4 p.m. Food and beverage vendors will be on-site.

The party is being hosted by the Punta Gorda Isles Civic Association, its many clubs, and the Punta Gorda Chamber of Commerce. Admission is free. Call 637-1655 for more information. Don't miss this one!

COMMUNITY GARDEN. . .

. . . A CONCEPT THAT IS GROWING

Farmers Market The success of the South County Park's community garden has planted the seed for others to start their own. A tentative agreement has been reached with the City for an intra-city garden that would be managed by police department volunteers.

In addition, TEAM has submitted a grant request to the Florida Department of Agriculture for funds to install a garden on Charlotte High School grounds.

Word has it that culinary departments at Port Charlotte High School and Charlotte Technical Center are thinking about developing their own garden projects. Just think, they can grow what they cook!

Good news is the first community garden at South County Regional Park developed with TEAM's leadership is ready for its second year of planting. I can taste those tomatoes now.

PARKS THAT TEACH . . .

. . . PROJECT RECEIVES GRANT FROM CHARLOTTE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Linear Park entrance TEAM Punta Gorda received a grant from the Charlotte Community Foundation to fund the development and installation of a tree marker and information system to encourage conservation and educate the public about sustainable landscaping. Called Parks That Teach, the project is a partnership between TEAM Punta Gorda, the City of Punta Gorda, the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center and the Charlotte County Volunteer Master Gardeners.

The City set a goal of building a 15-mile multi-use bicycle and walking trail called the "Ring Around the City." It includes the Harborwalk along Charlotte Harbor.

Through this generous grant from CCF, TEAM Punta Gorda will add a tree marker and environmental education system to the City's project which will include 34 tree markers and six large informational signs. These signs will identify the different tree species along the trail. Each sign will incorporate Quick Response (QR) Codes that will enable a camera-enabled smartphone to link to expanded information on the Web and enhance the learning experience.

TEAM Punta Gorda and its collaborative partners thank the Foundation for its generosity in helping make this project come alive.

125TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION. . .

. . . EVENTS UNDER WAY

PG CITY 2012 marks the 125th Anniversary of Punta Gorda so get ready for a lot of activities to celebrate!

Please visit the City's website for a list of planned events at www.pgorda.us

Under What's New, click on "125th Anniversary" for a list of events planned to date.

TRAVELING THE STATE . . .

. . . JUST GOT A WHOLE LOT EASIER

The City of Punta Gorda has teamed up with the Florida Department of Transportation to provide travelers realtime traffic information. You can call 511, visit www.fl511.com, download the 511 app, or register for My Florida 511 personalized services.

There is a new informational video on the City website http:\\ci-punta-gorda.fl.us/about/traffic.html and click the 511 Traffic Info All the Time logo.

Great way to get around those traffic snarls and nerve-wracking jams!

IT'S NO WHEEL OF FORTUNE. . .

. . . IT'S THE SCAM OF THE MONTH!

Warning sign We are providing this information verbatim from the City's weekly report. It involves a scam that apparently has made some progress in our area. Please take note and don't fall for it!

It's The Publishers Clearing House Scam. "In this scam, someone calls claiming to be with Publishers Clearing House to announce you have won a large sum of money and/or a luxury vehicle. If you say you did not enter the contest, the caller says you were entered by local retailers.

"The caller then instructs you to obtain a Green Dot MoneyPak card at a local retailer and place several hundred dollars on the card. You must then call a phone number afterward and provide the card number.

"While the scam varies from here, ultimately, you are told that after this process is complete, the prize will be delivered. Once you provide the MoneyPak card number, the scammer is now able to spend the money on the card.

"As always, the Punta Gorda Police Department would like to remind its customers and employees to continue to be vigilant when associating with phone or online solicitors."

LAST WORD . . .

. . . I PROMISE

Missed classical music in your daily life? Well, tune in to 88.7 FM for the return of that wonderful, soothing music. After a four-year hiatus, 88.7 Clasical South Florida has emerged. It is quite wonderful! Cellos, violins, no rap... I promise.

HAPPENIN'S ON THE HARBOR ON THE HARBOR

October 20: Punta Gorda Days Inc. and the Punta Gorda Block Party Committee are holding a very special event at the old City Marketplace property to Save the Block Party. Noon to 9 p.m. Email for details SAVE@PuntaGordaBlockParty.info or visit www.PuntaGordaBlockParty.info


October 21: 3rd Annual Tour de North Port. Features 15-, 35-, 65- and 100-mile routes throughout North Port. Benefits development of the Tree Whiz environmental center. For information www.peoplefortrees.com

October 24: Parkside Community Garden opening at the Family Services Center on Gibraltar in Port Charlotte.

October 26: American Red Cross Halloween Boo Ball, 941-379-9300 ext. 255

October 26, 27, 28, & 31: Annual Haunting on the Harbor in Downtown Punta Gorda, Punta Gorda Marketplace Property. For festival hours and additional information, go to  www.puntagordahaunting.com.

October 27: Salty Paws in Fishermen's Village is hosting the annual Barktoberfest, center court. For hours and details, contact Salty Paws, 575-7599 or www.saltypaws.com

October 29: TEAM Punta Gorda Annual Meeting. Punta Gorda Isles Civic Association Building, 7 p.m. sharp.

November 3: Celtic Fling, Fishermen's Village. For times and additional information, contact Fishermen's Village, 575-3067.

November 3: Florida Cracker Dinner hosted by the Punta Gorda Historical Society will be held at the Women's Club downtown. For tickets and information, 639-1887.



November 10: PGI Civic Association is hosting the Annual Gifted Gator Arts & Crafts Show, Punta Gorda Isles Civic Association, 2001 Shreve St. For information 637-1655.

November 10: Free to Breathe Lung Cancer 5K Run/Walk, at Charlotte Sports Park. For additional information, www.freetobreathe.org/southwestflorida

November 17: Flea Market on the Train Dock, 1009 Taylor Road, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, 639-6774.

November 17: The Punta Gorda Chamber of Commerce and the Punta Gorda Isles Civic Association, as part of its 50th anniversary celebration, is hosting "A Harbor Happening." Boaters are invited to anchor in the harbor or hook up to a mooring ball for an aerial photograph that will be taken to promote Punta Gorda as a boating community. A picnic will be held at Laishley Park from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. and music plays from noon to 4 p.m.

November 17: Festival of Lights, kick off at Fishermen's Village. For complete schedule, 637-1655.



November 17-18: TEAM Port Charlotte's Parkside International Fall Festival in the back parking area of the Promenades Mall, off of Aaron Street, between Harbor and Olean Boulevard. Admission is just $1.

November 24: Latin Fest presented by the Punta Gorda Chamber of Commerce featuring Jose Feliciano. Edison College. Tickets start at $55. Available online at

www.puntagorda-chamber.com

November 29: The City of Punta Gorda is Celebrating the 125th Anniversary of the incorporation of the City with a fundraiser luncheon and fundraiser dinner. For tickets, Legacy Tables and complete information, please contact Rachel, 628-1141 or www.puntagorda125.com

November 30-December 1: Punta Gorda Garden Club is hosting its annual Holly Days Homes Tour, For tickets and hours, 276-8061.



December 7: Finale of the City of Punta Gorda's 125th Anniversary .

Judy Brentano, Editor, jbrentano@mindspring.com

team@teampuntagorda.org

TEAM Punta Gorda

941-637-8326