TEAM Punta Gorda

TEAM PG 8th ANNUAL CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT A HUGE SUCCESS!

The event was held March 3 at St. Andrews South Golf Club in Punta Gorda Isles. 108 players teed off for a rousing round of golf. Fabulous raffle prizes and a great chicken and pulled pork lunch followed. Proceeds from the tournament will support TEAM's efforts to make the Greater Punta Gorda area a great place to live, work and play.

Our thanks go out to the following people who helped make the event such a success: Gene Chambers, Judy Brentano, Tom Kerr, Norm and Mary Ann Gravelle, Joyce McDonald, Joe and Susan Della-Corte, Pat Neal, Pat Buckley, David Moe, Jason Greene, Nancy Prafke, Gini Pender, and Karen Wedemeyer, chairman. A thanks also goes to our event photographer, Marilyn Thomas.

  19th ANNUAL ARBOR DAY CELEBRATED IN PUNTA GORDA

The City of Punta Gorda has been named Tree City USA for the 19th year by the Arbor Day Foundation to honor its commitment to community forestry. The Arbor Day Celebration was held at Laishley Park on April 19.

The event was sponsored by the Mosaic Company and our "Knowledge Trail" included interactive stations hosted by the City of Punta Gorda Growth Management Department, Utilities Department, Public Works Department, Police Department, Fire Department, Florida Division of Forestry, Punta Gorda Garden Club and the Mosaic Express.

PEDAL & PLAY IN PUNTA GORDA

THE WEATHER WAS PERFECT FOR ANNUAL EVENT

Saturday, April 6, was the annual Pedal and Play in Paradise. Held in conjunction with The Isles Yacht Club, proceeds benefited the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and TEAM Punta Gorda's Bicycle-friendly Community Initiatives. 

Rides included a 15-mile, 30-mile and 62-mile pedal, as well as a 10-mile Mystery Tour and the shorter City Manager's/History Tour.

Our bikers enjoyed a FREE breakfast and delicious lunch catered by The Wood Street Grill, FREE beer [for those of legal drinking age], entertainment in Laishley Park by Island Vibes, and a FREE *event T-shirt.

A goal of this event is to promote the community and attract people here from around Florida and beyond. This year we had more people coming here to visit than in years past, 31 staying in hotels from one to two nights and dining in local restaurants. We had another 16 participants staying with friends from one to 10 nights. This was great exposure for the Punta Gorda community.

Pedal and Play Volunteers from Isles Yacht Club, Peace River Riders, Punta Gorda Isles Civic Association, and TEAM Punta Gorda include:

The TEAM Punta Gorda/City of Punta Gorda bicycle loaner program has been a grand success! This February we had 753 riders, March had 621. The reason for the decline in ridership is due to an early Easter and many snowbirds heading home. The riders hailed from many different states, as well as Canada and even from across the pond... as in England! Punta Gorda is getting international recognition for a "jolly good time!"

The bicycles can be found at the Wellness Center, the Wyvern, Laishley Park Municipal Marina, Fisherman's Village Marina, and the Isles Yacht Club Marina.

PEOPLE ARE LEAVING US, PEOPLE ARE JOINING US!

Nancy Prafke, our CEO, devoted leader and a true gem, is leaving her CEO job and has recently announced that she will be running for city council of our great city.

We extend our sincere thanks to Nancy for the countless years that she has devoted to TEAM Punta Gorda, and we wish her success in her pursuit of the city council position for District 5. The TEAM Board of Directors is seeking candidates for both the CEO and newly-created Chief Operations Officer (COO) positiions. Please contact team at 941-637-8326 or team@teampuntagorda.org  for more information.

Craig Esterly was recently elected as a member of the Board of Directors of TEAM.

A few people have retired as volunteers from TEAM and we would like to thank them for their help. They are, Nancy Padgett, Joyce Tilden, Gene Murtha, and Chris Evans.

Ophelia Rosen was elected to the Board as the CFO/Treasurer. Ophelia moved to Punta Gorda in July 2011 with her husband, Bob, and her daughter, Justine. Ophelia said, "I am looking forward to working with TEAM in meeting its objectives and its mission."

Residents are asked to call City of Punta Gorda Public Works at (941) 575-5050 to request a special pickup for yardwaste. Please pile the yardwaste in front of the home, not on a vacant lot or under power lines. Remember, special yardwaste pickups are not available for lot clearing. Removal of lot clearing debris is the responsibility of the property owner/contractor.

Residents of the City of Punta Gorda are allowed to place E-waste (electronic waste) items out for curbside collection on your regular recycling collection day. E-waste includes, but are not limited to: Computers, Monitors, Printers, TVs, VCRs, DVD players, Radios and Cell phones.  Please place the item at the curb next to your recycling bin and/or toter for collection.

Punta Gorda's Fire Department has announced start-up of a new FREE program called "Friends and Family CPR." The course teaches the lifesaving skills of adult Hands-Only® CPR, child CPR with breaths, adult and child AED use, infant CPR as well as relief of choking in an adult, child or infant.

Any City resident interested in participating in this FREE course can register online at the City's website www.pgorda.us or call Fire Headquarters at 941-575-5529. Materials for the program are being sponsored by Charlotte Regional Hospital. 

PUNTA FORDA POLICE AND TARPON STUDENTS JOIN FORCES

SAVING PROJECT GRADUATION

Project Graduation is an essential program designed to provide a safe environment for the graduating class on commencement night. Statistics show that the two highest risk nights for teens to be involved in alcohol or drug-related traffic tragedies are Prom and Graduation nights.

This year, Project Graduation is severely underfunded and is in jeopardy of being scaled back. To make sure this important program continues as in past years, the Punta Gorda Police Department is asking the community to help support this deserving cause.

The FORCE, members of the Punta Gorda Police Department's community sports team, along with the Charlotte High Class of 2013 and the Peace River Rotary are joining forces to save Project Graduation. They are challenging the Tarpon Seniors to a basketball game.

The game will be held April 26 at 6:30 p.m. in the Charlotte High School Gym located at 1250 Cooper Street in Punta Gorda. Adult tickets are $10 and student tickets are $3. Tickets are available at the Punta Gorda Police Department. the City Clerk's Office at City Hall, AA Temperature Services Air Conditioning, 24700 Sandhill Blvd, Deep Creek and at Charlotte High School during students' lunch periods.

If you are not able to attend and would like to make a donation, checks should be made payable to CHS Project Graduation. They can be dropped off at the Punta Gorda Police Department or Charlotte High School. Please contact Rachel Keesling 941-628-1141, Lt. Joe King at PGPD, or Janet Gentry 941-766-0975 for additional information.

Team Editor Contact: Lshubel@outlook.com 

 It's easy to donate to TEAM PUNTA GORDA. Just click on the link!   http://www.teampuntagorda.org/ceo.html

941-637-8326