FEMA Disaster Recovery Center for Hurricane Idalia opens at Rubonia Community Center

Special to the Herald-Tribune
·4 min read
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Abbey Tyrna, executive director of Suncoast Waterkeeper, on Tuesday moderates a discussion at the Bradenton Woman's Club examining the value of wetlands with Ed Sherwood, executive director for the Tampa Bay Estuary Program; A.J. Reisinger, professor of urban soil and water quality at the University of Florida; and geologist Edgar Javier Guerrón Orejuela of USF. The scientists emphasized the importance of wetland buffers. On Oct. 5, Manatee County commissioners are expected to address changes to wetlands protections during a Land Use Meeting at the Manatee County Administration Building, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton. Info: suncoastwaterkeeper.org/save_our_welands.

Disaster Recovery Center opens at Rubonia Community Center

The state of Florida and FEMA have opened a Disaster Recovery Center in Manatee County to provide one-on-one help to people affected by Hurricane Idalia.

The Disaster Recovery Center at the Rubonia Community Center, 1309 72nd St. E., in Palmetto is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. No appointment is necessary. Disaster Recovery Centers provide information from state agencies, FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration and provide help applying for federal assistance.

People can also apply for assistance at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The deadline to apply with FEMA is Oct. 30. For a video on how to apply for assistance, go to youtube.com/watch?v=LU7wzRjByhI for "Three Ways to Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance."

Ham radio operators, Sarasota County Libraries collaborate

The Tamiami Amateur Radio Club will host Ham Radio Day on Oct. 14 at William H. Jervey Jr. Library, 300 Nokomis Ave. S., in Venice from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The event will kick off a collaboration between Sarasota County Libraries and the Tamiami Amateur Radio Club, offering access to a new collection of books on amateur radio topics. TARC, using member donations and a grant from the national Amateur Radio Relay League, recently purchased 44 books about the science and technology in amateur radio.

“Making these books available to the public is a natural extension of our club’s mission to encourage, teach and assist people to explore a range of interests in ham radio,” TARC member Brian Jacobson said. Ham Radio Day also will feature two demonstration radio stations outside the library entrance.  An “Introduction to Amateur Radio” will be held at 1 p.m.

Selby Gardens' 'Spooky Point' Halloween light show returns

Lights at Spooky Point, a Halloween light show that Selby Gardens introduced last year at its Historic Spanish Point campus in Osprey, kicks off on Oct. 13 and runs through Halloween. Tickets can be purchased through selby.org or in person at Selby Gardens' Downtown Sarasota or Historic Spanish Point campus.

Lights at Spooky Point will feature fun creations and unique Halloween light displays around every bend. Highlights include spectral “ghost orchids” in the Pioneer Graveyard; giant “Dracula orchids”; and colorful “spider orchids” clinging to their webs in the trees. The show is designed for all ages.

"Lights at Spooky Point is equal parts campy and cute,” Selby Gardens president Jennifer Rominiecki said. “Our lighting partners at Affairs in the Air did such an amazing job last year, and we know they will surprise us with some new creations for 2023.”

Sponsors include the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation and Community Foundation of Sarasota County. A limited number of tickets will be sold each night of the show, with two entry times available: 6:30 and 7:45 p.m. Tickets are $30 for adults ($20 for Selby Gardens members), $15 for ages 5-17, and free for children 4-and-under.

Children First receives support to upgrade playground facilities

Children First, a Head Start and Early Head Start provider for Sarasota County, has received a $71,542 grant from the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation to enhance the playground facilities at the Linnie E. Dalbeck Center.

Children First offers full-day preschool, infant and toddler care, and nutrition and health care assistance to children ages birth to 5 years old from low-income families. For information, call 941-953-3877 or go to childrenfirst.net.

Around and about

The Florida Center for Early Childhood recently organized a 5k walk/run at Oasis Church in Bradenton to shine a light on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders for FASD Awareness Month (fasdunited.org). FASD affects an estimated 1 in 20 individuals and can have lifelong implications. Several community partners provided support, including the Florida Department of Health, Loveland Center, Chosen Families, Family Initiative, Foundation for Dreams, Centerstone, Bridge a Life, Safe Children Coalition, and Soul to Soul Yoga.

The St. Armands Circle Art Festival is today and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1 St. Armands Circle Ave., in Sarasota. The event will offer a wide range of art, including sculpture, photography, glass, paintings, ceramics, jewelry, and mixed media. The festival also will feature a craft marketplace and a chance to meet with the artists and craft artisans. Info: artfestival.com.

· The Chorus of the Keys will provide a cappella-style singing lessons for men on Oct. 3, 10, and 17 beginning at 6 p.m. at Grace Community Church (back entrance), 8000 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota. This is also the weekly rehearsal location for the Chorus, and guests are welcome to stop by. Info: chorusofthekeys.org.

· The Polish-American Association of Sarasota will celebrate the fifth annual General Casimir Pulaski Day on Oct. 8 at 3 p.m. at JD Hamel Park, 199 Bayfront Drive, Sarasota. Info: PolishSarasota.org; 941-313-2243; contact@PolishSarasota.org.

· Town Square University Parkway (8450 Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota), in partnership with 75 businesses, will host a Health Expo on Oct. 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring more than 55 vendors, educational presentations, demonstrations, free vaccinations and food trucks. Info: townsquare.net/event/health-expo.

· Global Tree Lovers of Sarasota-Bradenton is hosting sound designer Tritone Crisantemo and the Master Plants Orchestra on Oct. 14 at Unity of Sarasota, 3023 Proctor Road. The concert involves converting electrical impulses from plants into musical tones. Tickets ($20) available at the door. Info: masterplants.net; globaltreelovers.org.

Submissions by Rusty Chinnis, Anthony Mayne, Dwight D. Sullivan, Greg Luberecki, Evan Ackerman, Kristina Englund, Elizabeth Dashiell, Laura Coyle, Mark Pienkos, Skyler Betts, Anne Cederberg.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: FEMA Disaster Recovery Center for Hurricane Idalia opens in Manatee County