Civics Alumni Event Nov. 10th at Phillippi

From Vickie:

Hello Everyone,

I’d like to invite you to attend the last class of the fall 2011 session for Civics. The class will be held at Phillippi Estate Park. Please see attached flyer for more details. The theme of the program is “Our Sarasota Legacies – old, new, future.”

In the past, I have asked people to bring food to share with the group but this time I would like to ask you to bring an item to donate to the All Faith’s Food Bank. So please bring a non-perishable item to share with our community.

Please let me know if you plan to attend by November 7th.

Best regards to you all,

Input on Administrator and Volunteer Opps

Volunteer for National Public Lands Day Help celebrate the 18th Annual National Public Lands Day from 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, Sept. 24, at Sleeping Turtles Preserve in Venice.

What citizens want in a new county administrator Five public focus groups honed in on thecharacteristics and qualities that Sarasota County residents feel are most important for this position.

Clean up the coast Sept. 24 Volunteer to clean coastal and other areas during the 2011 International Coastal Cleanup. The event takes place 8 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Sept. 24, at sites throughout Sarasota County. To sign up, call 941-861-5399.

County scores high in survey

Most Sarasota County residents say their quality of life is excellent, according to results from the 2011 Sarasota County Citizen Survey. See how else the county scored in spending, property taxes and crime.

National Wildlife Federation: Community Wildlife Habitats

The NWF is offering a free webinar about how to create a community habitat in your community for wildlife - it's next week:

Webinar: Starting a Community Wildlife Habitat Project

Would you like to help your community become a Certified Community Wildlife Habitat? To learn how to get started, please join us for a free webinar. Presenters will include team leaders from certified communities around the country.

Date: Tuesday, September 27th

Time: 3:00-4:00pm Eastern time

More here.

Public Input Sought

From Sarasota Patch:

Two meetings will seek comment from residents about key county issues:

The county is actively searching for a new county administrator. Because of a tighter budget, SCAT bus fares are slated to increase by $0.75.

Today the county wants to hear from you on both of these topics at two separate meetings.

Thursday, Sept. 8

• 10:30 a.m., Selby Library, 1331 First Street, Sarasota
• 2 p.m., Phillippi Estate Park in the Edison Keith Mansion, 5500 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
• 6 p.m., Venice Community Center, 326 S. Nokomis Ave., Venice

Friday, Sept. 9

• 10:30 a.m., North Port Library, 13800 S. Tamiami Trail, North Port
• 2:30 p.m., North Sarasota Library, 2801 Newtown Blvd., Sarasota

SCAT Fares

A public meeting on proposed increases in Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT) fares will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. tonight, in Room 112 at Sarasota City Hall, 1565 1st Street. Three public meetings were held in August and an additional meeting was requested to gather more public feedback, the release said.

Call to Artists

A new visual art program launched by the City of Sarasota invites local artists to display their work for the public within a City owned building for three months. Pieces will be on display in the Federal Building, 111 S. Orange Avenue, beginning Monday, October 3, 2011. The displays will change four times a year. More here.

Volunteer Public Art Coordinator
Virginia Hoffman via email @ Virginia.Hoffman@sarasotagov.com

Project Manager: Dr. Clifford Smith, Sr. Planner City of Sarasota, Florida 941- 954-4195
Clifford.Smith@sarasotagov.com

A transportation survey for everyone

Do you walk? Jog? Bicycle? Drive? Walk with a pet? Need special assistance getting around? The county wants your input.

Sarasota County wants your input on what's most important in planning new bicycle paths, new pedestrian walkways, and intersections that involve vehicular traffic. Click here to go to the county's website where you can find out more, or click the button to take the survey. The survey contains a place where you can mention special concerns or priorities.