Presidents Day - Mon., Feb. 16    Next Monday, February 16, City Hall administrative offices will be closed in observance of Presidents Day.  Garbage, recycling and yard waste will be collected as usual.

For those interested in recreation on the holiday, Robert L. Taylor Community Complex and Bobby Jones Golf Club will be open to the public with regular business hours.

By the way, the Regular City Commission meeting scheduled for that day will be held the following day on Tuesday, February 17.      

Air Potato Roundup    We successfully rounded up a lot of air potatoes last weekend at North Water Tower Park in conjunction with the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program.   An energetic group of 120 volunteers, including residents, businesses, college students, and City staff members, rolled up their sleeves and picked, pulled, and plucked these unwanted invasive plants which are overtaking our neighborhood park. I can attest it was a good workout!  Over three hours, we collected an impressive 1,009 pounds of potatoes. (One potato alone weighed 1.5 pounds.)

Awards were bestowed for the biggest, smallest, and weirdest shaped air potato, as well as most collected.  Top honors went to JDubs Brewery which gathered 201 pounds with just five people on their team.  Impressive work!

We appreciate the volunteerism and positive community spirit generated by this second park cleanup event.  And, this is just the beginning!  Over the next three years, the City will work with the SBEP and Sarasota County to use $1.3 million in federal, state and local grants for invasive species removal and water quality improvements at the park, which will engage neighbors and further activate the park.    

Over 100 people volunteered their time last Saturday to remove invasive plants from North Water Tower Park.

 

Bobby Jones Open -  This Weekend    Over 110 professional golfers on the West Florida Golf Tour will take part in the 2nd annual Bobby Jones Open this weekend at our municipal golf course.  With a larger cash purse and more participants, the event is gaining momentum. 

The 2-day tournament will help celebrate the 89th anniversary of Bobby Jones Golf Club.  And, spectators are welcome -- admission is just $10 per person. 

As part of the tournament play on Saturday, a Longest Drive Challenge will be held on hole #14 of the British Course.  The player with the longest drive will be awarded $500.  Thanks to Red Hook Long Hammer IPA for sponsoring this event which will be great for spectators.

WSRQ talk radio (106.9 FM and 1220 AM) will broadcast live from the golf course tomorrow (2/14) with the tournament featured on Nate Ditchfield's golf show "Tee It Up" from 8 a.m. - 9 a.m.  We greatly appreciate this media coverage.  Local media exposure like this is important for our historic golf course as we continue to market the facility to current and new players of all ages, backgrounds and skill levels.

Bobby Jones Golf Club is located at 1000 Circus Blvd.  For more information visit www.BobbyJonesGolfClub.com or call 941-954-4163.

Good luck to the players and our staff this weekend.  Here's to a terrific tournament!

WSRQ's radio program "Tee It Up" will broadcast live from the Bobby Jones Open on Sat., Feb. 14.

Flower Baskets - Your Input Wanted    The Downtown Improvement District continues to explore the idea of installing flower baskets in downtown. 

A "Downtown in Bloom" trial period started last week with three different basket styles being placed on light poles near the intersection of Main St. and Palm Ave.  Now, the DID is asking for your feedback.

The three options under consideration are:

#1:  Arm Extension - Mounted on an arm and attached to a light pole at least seven feet above the sidewalk. #2:  Low Wrap Around - Wrapped around a light pole two feet above the sidewalk. #3:  High Wrap Around - Wrapped around a light pole at least seven  feet above the sidewalk.


The flower basket trial and the votes collected will be discussed at the DID's next meeting on March 3.

RLTCC Pass Special - BOGO Ends Feb. 15   You still have a couple of days to sign up for a new adult fitness or full pass at the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex and get one month free.  Also, current pass holders can get a free month for a referral.  (This special does not include family or youth passes.)

Adult passes start at just $10 a month -- without a contract. 

For more information contact the RLTCC front desk:  941-954-4182 or visit www.RLTaylor.com.

Since opening in Summer 2011 the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex has become a popular workout facility for a diverse cross section of people.

  

Bayfront Community Center:  101 & Still Dancing   Every Thursday morning, the City hosts a ballroom dancing event with live music at the Bayfront Community Center.  It's a popular social activity for many senior citizens in the Sarasota area including, believe it or not, one spry centenarian.

Albert Barrette celebrated his 101st birthday last week at the Bayfront Community Center with the many good friends he has met there and, of course, a little dancing.  For the past ten years, he and his companion, Yvette Mineau (who will be 92 in April), have looked forward to the weekly event where they take to the dance floor to  waltz, foxtrot, even,occasionally, do the cha cha -- all to the melodious sounds of the Mellotones.   As you can imagine, at the tender age of 101, Albert is slowing down.  But, the weekly dance continues to be a fun activity for him and Yvette.  They say the other dancers are like close family members, plus the activity offers healthy exercise and nice social stimulation.

Albert Barrette, 101, with his companion Yvette Mineau, 91, at the Senior Ballroom Dancing event last week at the Bayfront Community Center.

When the City assumed responsibility for maintenance and operation of the Bayfront Community Center in 2011, staff understood the importance of continuing to offer a weekly program like this and ensured it remained in place. We're delighted Albert and Yvette are regular participants.

Happy 101st birthday, Albert -- keep dancin'!

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