Conservation Foundation invites teens to learn and grow with new Teen Conservation Club

Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·4 min read
TOUCHDOWN! Cody Walker takes the handoff and charges 5 yards for a touchdown for the Venice Vikings during a Pop Warner football game on Sept. 16 against Port Charlotte. Cody, who battles cerebral palsy and epilepsy, entered the game after the crowd started chanting, "Cody, Cody, Cody." Jamie Fraser, president of the Vikings Football & Cheer Program, helped to orchestrate the special moment. "The unwavering dedication of Cody's parents and the countless others who contributed to this remarkable moment are a testament to the power of community and love." Cody, 19, is a student at Oak Park School.

Teen Conservation Club opens at Conservation Foundation

The Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast has created a Teen Conservation Club that will meet monthly from October through May and is tailored for students ages 13 to 17.

The program begins Oct. 13 at Conservation Foundation headquarters at Bay Preserve, 400 Palmetto Ave., in Osprey. The monthly sessions run from 2-4 p.m. and include field trips in Manatee and Sarasota counties. “Our goal with the Teen Conservation Club is to transform teen participants from concerned observers to empowered advocates,” said Christine Johnson, president of Conservation Foundation.

All activities will be guided by Conservation Foundation Community Education Manager Sarah Denison-Williams, who holds a degree in environmental studies from New College of Florida and a master's in global sustainability from the University of South Florida. She is a certified Florida Master Naturalist, Project WILD Facilitator, and ACA Kayak Touring Trip Leader.

Participants will also have the opportunity to sharpen their communication skills by preparing and presenting projects to fellow club members. Visit conservationfoundation.com/events to learn more and to sign up.

Tickets on sale for inaugural World Champions Cup golf

Tickets are now on sale for the inaugural World Champions Cup senior golf event on Dec. 7-10 at The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton.

The first-of-its-kind international competition features three teams of six PGA Tour Champions players – Team International, Team Europe and Team USA – squaring off over three days. Playing captains Ernie Els, Darren Clarke and Jim Furyk have been joined by automatic qualifiers Vijay Singh, Bernhard Langer and Steve Stricker as the first six players in the 18-player field.

Advance tickets are available at WorldChampionsCup.com. Champions Passes, which allow access to the grounds and grandstands across the course, are $40 per day.

Ringling College writing professor has new book for young readers

Sylvia Whitman, an award-winning author who teaches professional and creative writing at Ringling College of Art and Design, has a new novel, "If You Meet the Devil, Don't Shake Hands."

Sylvia Whitman, who teaches writing at Ringling College of Art and Design, has written a dozen books for young readers.
Sylvia Whitman, who teaches writing at Ringling College of Art and Design, has written a dozen books for young readers.

The book for young readers ages 8-12 was recently released by Regal House Publishing (Fitzroy Books). It tells the story of a 12-year-old son of a warrior who gets trapped inside an old magician’s ailing body.

Whitman has written a dozen fiction and nonfiction books. Recognition for her work includes two appearances on the Banks Street College of Education's annual list of Best Children's Books of the Year for "What's Cooking? A History of American Food" and "The Milk of Birds." For more information, visit sylviawhitmanbooks.com.

USF hospitality/tourism dean receives award for innovation

Cihan Cobanoglu, dean of the University of South Florida School of Hospitality and Tourism Management on the Sarasota-Manatee campus, was recently honored for innovation in the hospitality industry with the McCool Breakthrough Award for 2023.

Cihan Cobanoglu is dean of the University of South Florida School of Hospitality and Tourism Management.
Cihan Cobanoglu is dean of the University of South Florida School of Hospitality and Tourism Management.

The award from the International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education cited Cobanoglu’s hospitality school initiatives that expanded access to digital learners during the pandemic and contributed to growth at the hospitality and tourism school.

The McCool Breakthrough Award honors the spirit of late astronaut Willie McCool, who died in 2003 on the Space Shuttle Columbia.

Art Center Sarasota receives county commission support

Art Center Sarasota has been awarded a $72,855 Tourist Development Cultural/Arts grant from the Sarasota County Commission to help fund its 2023-24 exhibition season.

The season, which runs through September 2024, features seven exhibition cycles and showcases the works of professional and emerging artists from Florida and around the country.

“Art Center Sarasota has helped make Sarasota an important visual arts destination for visitors from across Florida and elsewhere,” ACS executive director Kinsey Robb said. “While we exhibit the works of artists from our region and state, we’re also a vital resource for locally based artists.”

Art Center Sarasota, 707 N. Tamiami Trail, was founded in 1926 and is the oldest visual arts organization in Sarasota. Visit artsarasota.org or call 941-365-2032.

Around and about

Temple Emanu-El's Maxine Mintz sounds the shofar – the ritually prepared ram’s horn traditionally blown on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year – during services on Sept. 15. The High Holiday season concludes at sundown on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, on Sept. 25. Temple Emanu-El also has kicked off its annual High Holiday Food Drive to benefit All Faiths Food Bank. For more, visit sarasotatemple.org/social-action.html.

· SunCoast Blood Centers is seeking blood platelets following a donation shortage after Hurricane Idalia. SunCoast Blood Centers offers locations in Bradenton, Sarasota, Venice, Lakewood Ranch and Port Charlotte. For information on hours and eligibility, visit suncoastblood.org or call 866-959-1176.

· The Old Miakka Fall Hootenanny & Schoolhouse Benefit is Oct. 1 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the 103-year-old Old Miakka Schoolhouse, 15800 Wilson Road, Sarasota (Old Miakka). The event will feature paintings by local artists, crafts, food, live music, and more, including a rooster crowing contest. Info: 941-322-2164.

Submissions by Venice Vikings, Sam Valentin, Dan Kirkby, Greg Ball, Marc Masferer, Su Byron, Mia Kurecki, Becky Ayech.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Conservation Foundation invites teens to explore in new Conservation Club