Chabad of Venice to illuminate 16-foot Hanukkah menorah at The Gazebo in Centennial Park

Special to the Herald-Tribune
·4 min read
The Miss Manatee County Fair Pageant crowned four queens last week at Palmetto High School as the 2024 fair season got underway. The pageant winners include Mini Miss (ages 7-9) Saige VanHyning; Little Miss (10-12) Maci Osment; Junior Miss (13-16) Anna Radojcsics; and Miss Manatee County Fair Queen (17-22) Ally Carpenter. Winners received a crown, banner sash, trophy and flowers. Carpenter also received a $1,000 scholarship award. The pageant was sponsored by Arctic Air. Visit manateecountyfair.com.

Venice to illuminate 16-foot Hanukkah menorah at Gazebo

Chabad of Venice will illuminate a 16-foot public Hanukkah menorah during a ceremony at The Gazebo in Centennial Park on Dec. 10, coinciding with the fourth night of the eight-day Festival of Lights.

The event, starting at 4:30 p.m., will include local dignitaries, a live concert with the Freylakh Band, and traditional food, latkes, donuts and Yoav's Falafel. Hanukkah menorahs and candles will be available for attendees to bring the festival's light into their homes.

"In times of darkness, the Hanukkah lights remind us that faith, courage, and unity can dispel the greatest of challenges," said Rabbi Schmerling, director of Chabad. "Just as the Maccabees stood up against oppression ... today we stand together against antisemitism and conflict, illuminating our community with hope and perseverance."

An additional menorah lighting will be held on Dec. 13 at 5 p.m. at The Green at North Port City Hall, 4970 City Hall Blvd. The menorah lightings across Venice and in neighboring cities are also symbolic acts against a backdrop of rising antisemitism and the current Israel-Hamas war, Schmerling said.

"Each candle we light is a statement that we will not be intimidated by hatred or violence," Schmerling said. "Hanukkah teaches us that even when confronted with immense pressure, a small band of the faithful can illuminate the world. This is the inspiration we draw upon as we face today's challenges."

Advance registration is underway for the second annual Wellen Park Half Marathon and 5K certified by USA Track & Field. More than 680 participated in the inaugural event in March. The 13.1-mile course for the half marathon and the 5K have also been cleared for disabled athletes. For information and registration, visit tinyurl.com/569cv77k.
Advance registration is underway for the second annual Wellen Park Half Marathon and 5K certified by USA Track & Field. More than 680 participated in the inaugural event in March. The 13.1-mile course for the half marathon and the 5K have also been cleared for disabled athletes. For information and registration, visit tinyurl.com/569cv77k.

Registration begins for Wellen Park Half Marathon and 5K

Advance registration is underway for the second annual Wellen Park Half Marathon and 5K certified by USA Track & Field.

Both races on March 16 start and finish at Solis Hall at Downtown Wellen in North Port. Male and female winners will be recognized in several categories, including overall, masters, grand masters, senior grand masters, veterans grand masters and the top-three finishers in each age group.

“As a USATF-certified course, the Wellen Park half marathon course is flat and fast, and it allows runners to strive for a PR, compare their performance to other races and qualify for larger national events,” said Rick Severance, president of Wellen Park.

The 13.1-mile course for the half marathon and 5K have also been cleared for disabled runners. Entry fees increase on Jan. 1 and spots are limited, according to organizers. For information and registration, visit runsignup.com/Race/FL/Venice/WellenParkHalfMarathonand5K. For sponsorship information, contact events@wellenpark.com.

New voucher program helps hurricane victims to recover

The Gulf Coast Partnership has partnered with the Charlotte Community Foundation, Charlotte County Homeless Coalition, and Charlotte County Habitat for Humanity to launch a voucher program to assist households that remain affected by the aftermath of Hurricanes Ian and Idalia.

The program supports individuals and families who have experienced losses in furniture, appliances, household goods, and clothing because of the storms. The program enables eligible individuals and families to redeem vouchers at re-sale shops operated by the Charlotte County Homeless Coalition and Habitat for Humanity.

The initiative was made possible through a grant by the Charlotte Community Foundation. For further information or to apply for assistance, visit coadfl.org.

Around and about

The Manatee County Fair (Jan. 11-21) is selling tickets online for the first time in the fair’s 108-year history. Tickets can be purchased at a discount at manateecountyfair.com and clicking on the “Buy Tickets” button at the top of the page. For more about the fair, visit manateecountyfair.com and facebook.com/manateecountyfair.

· Internationally known wildlife photographer Larry Allan will share his photography and stories about North American wildlife at the Dec. 14 monthly meeting of the Sierra Club’s Manatee/Sarasota Group at 7 p.m. at Unity of Sarasota, 3023 Proctor Road. There is no admission fee. Info: sierraclub.org/florida/manatee-sarasota.

· Englewood Methodist Church is hosting its annual Christmas Rummage Sale today from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Fellowship Hall, 700 E. Dearborn St., Englewood. Proceeds benefit missions supported by church's women's and men's groups, including scholarships, Englewood Meals on Wheels, and Englewood Community Care Clinic. englewoodmethodist.com.

· The Friends of Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Public Library is holding an Art, Crafts & Decor Sale today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the library, 2801 Newtown Blvd., Sarasota. All sales support the library's community programs. bettyjjohnsonfriends.org.

· Art Center Sarasota, 707 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, is holding a Holiday Art Festival today from noon-5 p.m. featuring paintings, hand-dyed garments, crochet apparel, ceramics, ornaments, drawings, jewelry, and sculpture by locally based artists and artisans. artsarasota.org, 941-365-2032.

Submissions by Nick Azzara, Yosef Buchman, Laura Hardin, Kelly Hunter, Gerlinde Kohl, Caroline McCoy, Marion Black-Ruffin, Su Byron.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Chabad of Venice to illuminate 16-foot Hanukkah menorah at Gazebo