Senior Games, SCAT at Cattlemen, Warm Mineral Springs and more

Greetings! Welcome to the Sarasota County Community Connections e-newsletter. Please share this e-newsletter with family, friends and neighbors. Contact us if you have questions, ideas for articles, or feedback on the system, atcommunityconnections@scgov.net

Boogie nights at VCC TODAY: Break out the polyester slacks, the wide-collar shirts and your disco mirror ball. Night Fever is bringing its popular Bee Gees tribute to the Venice Community Center tonight and tomorrow only. Both shows start at 7 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.  Students present oral histories FRIDAY: Experience audiovisual presentations of the stories of native and long-time Gulf Coast residents. Hear their histories and view vintage photographs from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27, at Mildred Sainer Pavilion, New College of Florida.  Newtown community cleanup SATURDAY: Sarasota County will hold itsannual community cleanup in the Newtown and Beverly Terrace area from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Jan. 28. Dumpsters will be provided for residents to dispose of any non-hazardous items, scrap metal and unbundled yard waste. Warm Mineral Springs' future Help shape improvements to Warm Mineral Springs by participating in a visioning session at the Morgan Family Community Center in North Port. A presentation is scheduled for Feb. 2 in Sarasota. Have an active senior moment Some of the best senior athletes around will compete in the 23rd Annual Gulf Coast Senior Games, Feb. 21-26 at locations throughout the region. If you've got what it takes to show up the yung'uns, register now. The deadline is Wednesday, Feb. 1.   SCAT Cattlemen station opens Located on the southeast corner of Cattlemen Road and Bahia Vista Street in Sarasota, the Cattlemen Intermodal Transit Station is a full-service facility with six bays. Coming soon: ticket vending kiosks, electronic signage and security cameras.  Grant workshops scheduled A series of grant orientation workshops under the popular Sarasota County Neighborhood Grant Program will be held January-March at several county locations. The program helps fund community improvement projects. Protect yourself from shingles Caused by the same virus associated with chickenpox, shingles is more common and serious in older adults. If you're 50 or older, get vaccinated.

New administrator joins Sarasota County  Randall Reid, former Alachua County Manager, has officially joined Sarasota County Government. In this video, watch him explain what he expects of the organization. 2012 Legislative Session, Week 2 Your up-to-the-minute report onlegislative actions affecting Sarasota County. January 2012 Economic Report  Sarasota County's economic report for January 2012 has been released. Volunteer for seagrass survey program Sarasota County is following up its successful summer seagrass survey with a call for volunteers to participate in its winter survey, which will run through February 2012. New videos this week  Sarasota County's bright new sign recognizing Siesta Key Beach as the"#1 Beach in the USA" is drawing lots of shutterbugs.  PLUS: How to fertilize properly. AND: Visit the Celery Fields Stormwater Facility, Red Bug Slough and Roberts Bay with EPA's Acting Assistant Administrator Nancy Stoner. Speakers Bureau Request a member of our Speakers Bureau to share their expertise with your community, homeowners association or other civic group.

Calendar of Events  scgov.net  Weekly Calendar  Construction Updates

Grants, Vaccinations, Saturday Night Fever and more

Greetings! Welcome to the Sarasota County Community Connections e-newsletter. Please share this e-newsletter with family, friends and neighbors. Contact us if you have questions, ideas for articles, or feedback on the system, atcommunityconnections@scgov.net

County unveils #1 Beach in USA sign for Siesta Beach Sarasota CountyCommissioners unveiled a sign recognizing Siesta Beach as the "#1 Beach in the USA." The 8-foot-by-4-foot sign is located at the beachside entrance of the main pavilion. Free event promotes Newtown healthy homes A free Healthy Homes event will be held on Saturday, Jan. 21, from 10 a.m.-noon at the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex, 1845 34th St., Sarasota. Organized by the local Newtown/North Sarasota community in partnership with Home Depot, the event is designed to help residents learn how to keep their homes dry, ventilated, maintained, clean, pest-free, contaminant-free and safe using the principles from the National Center for Healthy Housing. Warm Mineral Springs' future Help shape improvements to Warm Mineral Springs by participating in visioning sessions hosted by Sarasota County and the city of North Port. Explore the site Jan. 21, or attend one of two presentations scheduled for Jan. 26 and Feb. 2. Night Fever is bringing boogie back to VCC Break out your polyester slacks, wide-collar shirts and gold neckwear because the disco mirror ball will be in full spin-mode as Night Fever brings its popular tribute to the Bee Gees back to the Venice Community Center, 326 S. Nokomis Ave., Venice, for two nights, Jan. 26 and 27. Both shows begin at 7 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.   Neighborhood grant workshops scheduled A series of grant orientation workshops under the popular Sarasota County Neighborhood Grant Program will be held January-March at several county locations. The program supports the county's initiative to preserve and enhance the quality of life in county neighborhoods by providing matching grants to neighborhoods to help fund improvement projects.

50+ adults urged to vaccinate Health officials are urging adults age 50 and older toget vaccinated against shingles. Caused by the same virus associated with chickenpox, shingles is more common and serious in older adults. Volunteer for seagrass survey program Sarasota County is following up its successful summer seagrass survey with a call for volunteers to participate in its winter survey, which will run through February 2012. Speakers Bureau Request a member of our Speakers Bureau to share their expertise with your community, homeowners association or other civic group.

Calendar of Events  scgov.net  Weekly Calendar  Construction Updates  Contact Us Sarasota County Government 1660 Ringling Blvd. Sarasota, Florida 34236 941-861-5000 pubcom@scgov.net

Vote for the Net

Vote for the Net and against anyone who would weaken it by trying to create scarcity where none exists, and by clamping down corporate controls, to maintain their old, out-of-date, modes of becoming the 1%.

http://voteforthenet.com/

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Scholarship, Springs, Siesta, SCAT and more

Electric car gets its revenge  TODAY JAN. 12: In 2006, the documentary "Who Killed the Electric Car" explained how car manufacturers destroyed  their own vehicles. Tonight it's payback time, as "Revenge of the Electric Car" premieres in Sarasota for a one-time, 6:30 p.m. showing at Burns Court Cinema. Following the film, Casey Key resident and author Stephen King joins a panel discussion and Q&A.

Holiday office closings  Most Sarasota County government offices and services, including libraries, the History Center and recreation centers, will be closed Monday, Jan. 16, for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.Here is a complete list of closings.

Siesta Key Beach unveils sign  Picture yourself in front of America's No. 1 beach sign at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18. That's when the Sarasota County Commission will unveil the colorful new sign, fashioned after bright retro postcards from the past.

SCAT transfer station opens  A ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 19 will mark the opening of the new SCAT Cattlemen Intermodal Transfer Station. The event will be held at 1:30 p.m. at  the intersection of Cattlemen Road and Bahia Vista Street in Sarasota.

Peggy Sue and you at VCC  Johnny Rogers plays the hits of Buddy Holly and other music legends at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 13 at the Venice Community center. Tickets are just $20-$25. Get yours today!

Early voting begins  Early voting for the Jan. 31 Republican primary election begins Saturday, Jan. 21, and runs through Saturday, Jan. 28. Eligible voters can cast ballots at one of three locations from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily.

Warm Mineral Springs' future Help shape improvements to Warm Mineral Springs by participating in visioning sessions hosted by Sarasota County and the city of North Port. Explore the site Jan. 21, or attend one of two presentations scheduled for Jan. 26 and Feb. 2.

Scholarship opportunity   The Supervisor of Elections is accepting applications for a $1,200 scholarship. Here are complete guidelines and eligibility requirements.

2012 Legislative Update The 2012 regular session began Jan. 10 and ends March 9. Here's what Sarasota County will be watching in the weeks to come. Do you commute from North Port? SCAT offers express service for just $2.50 one-way (or $5 round-trip) with limited stops. The route operates Monday-Friday with four round trips in the morning and four in the evening. To learn more, contact the Sarasota County Call Center at 861-5000. December Economic Report now available Sarasota County's December Economic Report has been released. Get demographic details, employment figures and more for Sarasota County. Speakers Bureau Request a member of our Speakers Bureau to share their expertise with your community, homeowners association or other civic group.

Calendar of Events  scgov.net  Weekly Calendar  Construction Updates

Community Connections

Greetings! Welcome to the Sarasota County Community Connections e-newsletter. Please share this e-newsletter with family, friends and neighbors. Contact us if you have questions, ideas for articles, or feedback on the system, atcommunityconnections@scgov.net

'Band Bash' this Saturday!  One of the coolest additions to Selby Library's recent renovation is the new Teen Center, complete with work stations and materials created especially for teens.Now it's time to party, with some of the area's hottest local bands and DJs. Here's the lineup. Holiday office closings  Most Sarasota County government offices and services, including libraries, the History Center and recreation centers, will be closed Monday, Jan. 16, for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. Here is a complete list of closings. Planning Commission filling three vacancies  Sarasota County is accepting applications forthree vacancies on the Planning Commission. Each vacancy is for a four-year term. All applications must be filed by Jan. 6. Culture never tasted this good  Sample Venice's best cuisine, visit the finest attractions, and cut a major rug, all in a single night, during "A Taste of Culture." This progressive dinner starts at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, at the Venice Archives, and concludes at the Venice Community Center with after-dinner refreshments and dancing.  Logic and accuracy testing  The Supervisor of Elections ivites you to observe the logic and accuracy testing of the county's voting and tabulating equipment that will be used in the Jan. 31 Presidential Primary. Peggy Sue and you at VCC  Johnny Rogers plays the hits of Buddy Holly and other music legends at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 13 at the Venice Community center. Tickets are just $20-$25, and they are going fast, so get yours today! Absentee ballots mailed   Absentee ballots for the Jan. 31 Presidential Primary were mailed Dec. 30. Under Florida law, all eligible voters may request a vote by mail ballot. Here's how to get yours. Scholarship opporunity   The Supervisor of Elections is accepting applications for $1,200 scholarshoip. Here are complete guidelines and eligibility requirements.