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| TEAM Punta Gorda Newsletter |
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 Joanne and Richard Collins, Editors |
April 2015
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Congratulations and thanks to the army of volunteers that pulled off two fantastic special events in one month - The TEAM Punta Gorda Golf Tournament in memory of Judy Brentano, and Pedal &Play in Paradise. Thanks to Saint Andrews South for their unflagging support and to Ed Bouton and his team. Thanks also to the Pedal & Play committee led by Steve Johnson & Bob Bechtold and their 115 event day volunteers.
What's next for TEAM? When I lived in Pittsburgh, we often sought out ways to volunteer as a family. Twenty years ago we discovered Paint Your Heart Out, Pittsburgh. Thinking that this might be a great project for TEAM, we researched the idea and learned it is a community building initiative in many cities across the US, including nearby Tampa where they mobilize enough volunteers to paint an impressive 100 houses a year.
We approached Charlotte County Habitat for Humanity and asked them to partner with us. What has developed in an amazing collaboration. You can join us on April 11 at Deep Creek Community Church (more info below). Be part of our efforts building a sense of pride, community spirit and unity that will last long after the paintbrushes are put away!
Nancy Johnson
CEO
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TEAM Plays at Four Points Tiki Bar
Sheraton Four Points hosts TEAM Mixer on April 8
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| | Let's meet at the Tiki Bar |
TEAM members, volunteers, friends and supporters gather for food and fun in the sand at Punta Gorda's Four Points' Tiki Bar from 5:30 - 7:30 on Wednesday, April 8.
Come to the harbor and enjoy the comaraderie,
hors d'oeuvres, cash bar and a chance to win several raffle prizes. Top prize will be dinner for 2 at Four Points' Dockside Grill. RSVP so we can let our host know how much food to provide. at [email protected]
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Who Put the Hit on Ponce de Leon?
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| | City Manager Harold Kunik led away |
Who put the hit on Ponce de Leon? For five centuries it was thought to be a Calusa Indian, but, in 2015, four people from Punta Gorda, Florida were accused of the deed. Those accused were Mayor Carolyn Freeland, Police Chief Albert A. Arenal, Fire Chief Ray A. Briggs, and City Manager Howard Kunik. The trial was held on Saturday, March 28, 2015 in Punta Gorda. The jury consisted of the hundreds of participants riding bicycles in the mystery tour sponsored by TEAM Punta Gorda. Over six hundred bicyclists participated in the Pedal and Play in Paradise event organized by TEAM Punta Gorda to raise money for the Suncoast Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
There were actually four different bike tours that morning: 62 miles, 30 miles, 15 miles and an 11 mile mystery tour. All bicyclists assembled at the Laishley Park pavilion for free Fat Point Beer (local brewery) lunch, and free ice-cream.
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| | Expert Sleuth and her friends |
At 12:00 noon a ceremony was held to award accolades to Court Nederveld for exceptional promotion of bicycling in Punta Gorda and to Police Chief Albert Arenal for his efforts in getting the "Three Foot Law" passed and for enforcing it. When passing a bicycle, a vehicle driver must allow at least three feet between his vehicle and a bicycle.
The jury of bicyclists found City Manager Howard Kunik guilty for the murder of Ponce de Leon. He was immediately apprehended by a Punta Gorda policeman, handcuffed, thoroughly searched for weapons, his shoes were removed and he was loaded into a patrol car and hauled off to jail.
A wonderful time was enjoyed by everyone. Well, maybe not for Howard Kunik who will never be forgiven.
By Dr. Pierre J. Fisher, Historiographer 'Royal Order of Ponce de Leon Conquistadors"
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Paint Your Heart Out Needs You
 TEAM Punta Gorda and Charlotte County Habitat for Humanity are collaborating again for the 2015 Paint Your Heart Out, Punta Gorda day of service.Seven area homes will be given a much needed facelift by a team of local volunteers. The selected homes share similar characteristics. Among them is the homeowner's need for financial assistance, pride of ownership and suitability of the exterior for painting. In addition to exterior painting and in some instances, light repairs, shrubs will be pruned where required. Each home will receive a new mail box provided by TEAM's Beautification Committee, hand
painted by local artists.
This year's major sponsors are Charlotte State Bank & Trust, Deep Creek Community Church, Five Star Realty of Charlotte County, Gulfview Construction Management, Hoover Pressure Cleaning, Punta Gorda Rotary Club, Weiler Engineering and West Coast Builders. Each has adopted a home; Hoover is pressure washing all the homes. Additional financial support for auxiliary services has been provided by local builders, including the Towles Corporation and Thornberry Custom Builders. Paint is being donated by Habitat for Humanity International in conjunction with Valspar. Burt Wahlburg, owner of Gulfview Construction is Project Manager. Volunteer coordination is being handled by Charlotte County Habitat for Humanity.
"One of the reasons last year's event was so successful was because it was embraced by the business community," according to TEAM CEO Nancy Johnson. In her March column in the Charlotte SUN Nancy shared some of the comments made by 2014 Paint Your Heart Out home owners.
Mrs. Zemmie Anthony on Wood Street remembers, "I just felt so grateful that people cared and I could feel that they cared when they were here. It's called Paint Your Heart Out and that's just what they did."
Miss Earlene Oliver on East Helen said, "I felt blessed, real blessed." John Sydney Parker has continued to renovate his cottage on Burland. He recalls, "It made me feel really good that I was selected."
Learn more and link to our supporters at http://www.teampuntagorda.org/paint.html
 How to Volunteer
Volunteers will converge at Deep Creek Community Church between 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. for a light breakfast and pep talk by Punta Gorda City Manager Howard Kunik. Painting teams will then be dispatched to one of seven nearby homes. All supplies and water will be provided. Lunch will be delivered to each home and work is expected to be completed by mid-afternoon. Volunteer to paint at http://charlottecountyhfh.org/events/paint-your-heart-out-punta-gorda/. Volunteer to assist with various "day of" activities (registration, meal delivery, etc.) by emailing [email protected].
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TEAM welcomes Sandra Dressler, New COO
TEAM Punta Gorda welcomes Sandra Dressler as its new COO. The announcement was made by CEO Nancy Johnson, "Sandy has been an enthusiastic TEAM volunteer for about a year now, and is looking forward to a new leadership role in our organization." A Chicago native who retired to Punta Gorda in 2009, Sandy did her undergraduate work at the University of Illinois and graduate work at Loyola University. She has taught all grades, including special education, and was an elementary school principal for more than twenty years. She was also an adjunct professor at two local universities. Sandy and her husband Ron are actively engaged in Punta Gorda non-profit work. Ron is involved in TEAM's Maritime Committee as well as the Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Volunteer Marine Police. Sandy says that "we both love Punta Gorda and look forward to working with TEAM to help make greater Punta Gorda a better place to live, work, and play."
The COO position has been filled on an interim basis by TEAM Communications Co-Chair Michelle Rumreich, who was actively engaged in recruiting a replacement for former COO Judy Brentano, who passed away last year following a courageous battle with cancer. Michelle will continue to share COO responsibilities with Sandy in a Co-COO capacity. You may welcome Sandy at [email protected].
TEAM Punta Gorda celebrates more than ten years of collaborative volunteer community development. Working closely with the City, County and local organizations, its initiatives include projects as diverse as self-sustaining community gardens, neighborhood beautification, waterfront enhancement, creating bike and pedestrian trails, a bicycle loaner program and painting nearly a dozen need based homes. Learn more about TEAM, its programs and membership at http://www.teampuntagorda.org and at www.facebook.com/teampuntagorda.
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Spring into TEAM and WIN!
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| | Win a pleasure cruise - Join TEAM today |
TEAM has launched its spring membership campaign with another great opportunity to win tickets for 2 to enjoy a King Fisher Fleet pleasure cruise. The drawing will be held on May 28; all new members who have joined TEAM since our last drawing in February are eligible. The King Fisher Fleet (https://www.kingfisherfleet.com/) offers several cruises, including day trips to famed Cabbage Key, Cayo Costa State Park and Boca Grande. Congratulations to new member Peter Krumsiek of Punta Gorda Isles, our February winner.
Your tax deductible annual membership helps TEAM offset operational costs and provides financial support for worthwhile community initiatives that are not easily self-funded. Membership provides an effective way to become involved in the TEAM effort. Membership does not imply an obligation to volunteer, and volunteers do not have to be members.
Annual membership is $25 for individuals, $50 for businesses. It's easy to join online at www.teampuntagorda.org. Members receive a signature mug, recognition on TEAM's website, TEAM decal and the satisfaction of helping Punta Gorda become a better place to live, work and play.
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Beautification Committee
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| | Paula Wilkinson beautifying our community |
Meet one of our newest volunteers - Paula Wilkinson. She is a resident of Sterling House, soon to be renamed Brookdale. Paula loves to walk and garden, which is a perfect combination for a volunteer to help with TEAM Punta Gorda's bike basket maintenance.
Paula walks to her assigned bikes downtown all the way from Bal Harbor Boulevard and carries tools, fertilizer, watering cans and plastic bags for throw outs.
She is very excited about her new responsibility and is determined to make her baskets as attractive as posible. Don't forget to say "Hi" to her when you see her beautifying our community. Thanks, Paula!
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Golfer Outing - A H U G E SUCCESS
TEAM's Annual Golf Tournament on March 21 was a sellout! Many thanks to the event's sponsors, players, golf chair Ed Bouton and his committee, all the volunteers, and the St. Andrews South Golf Club staff for helping make this event a success. The golf tournament will be permanently designated in former TEAM CEO Judy Brentano's memory. Judy originated this TEAM fundraising event ten years ago and its revenues have helped sustain TEAM's ongoing operations ever since.
Did we mention there was a prize for the best dressed golfing foursome?
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Loads of Fun at Fishing Tournament
Ninety children between the ages 3 - 12 and their guardians participated in the Downtown Bait and Tackle Shop Catch and Release Fishing Tournament on Saturday, March 14. What a fun-filled family day at Laishley Park Marina!
It could not have happened without the support of several community organizations and businesses.
- Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program provided a grant to cover a portion of the tournament costs and also supplied beautiful pictorial calendars for 2015 to each participant.
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Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center staffed a learning station which illustrated the impact of storm water run-off on the Harbor and also supplied printed material to reinforce the message.
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Florida Fish and Wildlife supplied fishing regulation and fishing activity books.
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TEAM assisted in advertising and staffing the event with volunteers.
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Dozens of local businesses donated prizes for raffle items.
The children fished from the pier for approximately 90 minutes where all fish were released back into the Harbor. All participants enjoyed a hot dog lunch while awards and prizes were given.
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School Gardens News
Our schools are working diligently, especially during the last six weeks, to develop their gardens with Mosaic donated funds. Some successes are:
- A new garden was started at Neil Armstrong. The students did a great deal of the work and the photos sent by the school sponsor show enthusiasm from all involved
- Natalia Shea, from L A Ainger school purchased all of her products needed and she does a STUPENDOUS job with the enormous gardening area she has developed.
- Charlotte Technical Center/REAL WORLD kids is developing more planters for vegetables.
- Peace River Elementary needs a storage shed for their gardening equipment/supplies. TEAM will have the shed built by the end of the school year.
- Punta Gorda Middle has a flourishing crop of lettuces and other vegetables but they have limited space at their school. They will be seeking permission from their principal to develop more gardening areas.
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Join the TEAM - Help Wanted!
Great Opportunities Available
We are gearing up for a busy time and could use your help. It's a great time to jump in, have fun and join the TEAM! For more information, contact us at:
HELP WANTED - Currently seeking:
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Bicycle Loaner Program Co-Chair and Summer Help
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Fundraising Co-chair
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Community Gardens Co-Chair and committee members
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Finance Team needs Quick Books literate volunteer for 2 days per month
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Open Streets Event Chair
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Volunteers interested in conservation of natural resources
Additionally, all TEAM committees can always use new faces. Those who are unsure where they fit in should contact Sue Carman for more information.
Sue Carman, TEAM Volunteer Coordinator
[email protected]
941-637-8326
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HAPPENINGS ON THE HARBOR!
We invite you to visit the community calendars below for more information about upcoming events.
April 8 - TEAM Mixer with raffle prizes, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Sheraton Four Points Tiki Bar
April 11 - Paint Your Heart Out, 7:30 a.m. - mid afternoon, meet at Deep Creek Community Church
April 19 - An afternoon of real jazz, Buz Terry Quintet with Chris Brown on vocals, 2 p.m. - 5 p.m., Center Court, Fisherman's Village
Punta Gorda Chamber of Commerce
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Parting Shot!
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| | Even though they were runners-up, they made a splash at the Golf Outing! |
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Thanks to our "year-round" sponsors
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