Sarasota-Manatee animal shelters taking part in free statewide pet adoption event

Special to the Herald-Tribune
Updated ·4 min read
Rocky D. Bull, the University of South Florida mascot, welcomed fifth-, sixth- and seventh-graders to the Sarasota-Manatee campus on June 13 for Camp at College, a free arts-integrated literary experience sponsored by The Henson Fund. The four-day program was supported by local teaching artists, USF student mentors, and campus faculty and staff. “Camp at College not only empowers students with valuable literacy skills, it also inspires a lifelong passion for learning and creative expression,” said Denise Davis-Cotton, director of the Florida Center for PAInT. Visit sarasotamanatee.usf.edu/academics/center-for-PAInT.

Local animal shelters taking part in free statewide adoption event

The Humane Society of Sarasota County (2331 15th St.), Manatee County Animal Services (305 25th St. W., Palmetto), Suncoast Humane Society (6781 San Casa Drive, Englewood), and Cat Depot (2542 17th St., Sarasota) are participating in a statewide initiative this weekend to find homes for 5,000 dogs and cats in shelters.

All adoption fees will be waived during the Petco Love Florida Mega Adoption Event on June 23-25 and thousands of pets will be available for adoption at 50 organizations across 31 counties. All pets will be spayed or neutered and up to date on vaccinations.

“Summers are notoriously challenging for shelters nationwide and this is an opportunity to change the lives of so many dogs and cats,” said Denise Deisler of the Jacksonville Humane Society, which is facilitating the event. “Petco Love has been instrumental in Florida’s increased lifesaving for many years, and we are so appreciative for their continued dedication to animals and animal welfare organizations in the Sunshine State.”

The event is funded by Petco Love, a national nonprofit, in partnership with Bobs from Skechers. For more information, visit megaadoptflorida.com. Details also are available on social media by following @MegaAdoptFlorida on Facebook and Instagram or using #MegaAdoptFL.

Great American Picnic set for Downtown Wellen Park

Wellen Park will mark the start of the Fourth of July holiday weekend with a Great American Picnic celebration on July 1 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. featuring live music, family friendly activities, a pie bake-off, and food and drinks.

Music performers for the festival (19745 Wellen Park Blvd. in North Port) include Rob Hazen, the Derek Lersch Country Band, Queen Kay Duo, and the Nightbreakers. Family-friendly activities include a water balloon toss, a watermelon eating contest, face painting, carnival games, cornhole, a 360 Photo Experience, and paddle boat races.

Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs for seating on the Great Lawn and to bring picnic baskets. For more information, visit wellenpark.com/events/great-american-picnic.

Education Foundation receives gift to support Student Success Center

The Education Foundation of Sarasota County recently received a $15,000 grant from the James M. Doss Charitable Foundation Trust to support the new Student Success Center at Sarasota Military Academy, where students in grades 9–12 can access one-on-one advising and coaching.

Education Foundation Student Success Coaches help students identify interests and then develop a plan for life after high school. They provide knowledge of colleges and financial aid and assist students during the college search and application process.

For more information about the Education Foundation and its programs that support student success, visit EdFoundationSRQ.org.

Sarasota County developer provides $50,000 to court diversion program

The Sarasota County Mental Health Court, a diversion program that helps move individuals out of jails and into mental health treatment programs, has received a $50,000 donation from Sarasota County developer Hugh Culverhouse Jr.

The funds will be directed to the Comprehensive Treatment Court (CTC) coordinated by Centerstone, a not-for-profit that provides services to individuals who commit nonviolent offenses and suffer from severe mental health disorders. “CTC has built a track record, supported by data, of moving people with mental health issues out of jail and onto a path to permanent supportive housing, staying off the streets and out of hospitals and long-term incarceration," Centerstone regional CEO Melissa Larkin-Skinner said. "We are so grateful for the support.”

The program offered by Centerstone includes addiction treatment, counseling, drug testing, medication and medical care management, life skills training, linkage to housing and job training, and relapse prevention. For information, visit Centerstone.org.

Around and about ...

The Englewood Performing Arts Series, which started over 40 years ago but has been suspended since 2020 because of the pandemic, is returning in November with a Friday night concert series in partnership with Englewood Methodist Church. The series will kick off on Nov. 17 with a multiple Grammy Award-winning performer, according to organizers. Ticket sales and lineups to be announced. Updates will be posted at facebook.com/EnglewoodPAS.

· Submissions are being accepted for the sixth annual Sunset Photo Contest managed by Triple 3 Marketing. The deadline is Sept. 2. The photo must have been take this year in the Gulf Coast region and photo editing is permitted. Email photos as a jpeg file to randy@triple3marketing.com. Seven winning photos will be showcased in the fall editions of Englewood Healthy Living and South County Healthy Living.

Submissions by Marc Masferrer, Alissa Jackson,  Laura Hardin, Tracy Spalsbury, Maryann Grgic, Beth Harrison, Randy Moore.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota-Manatee animal shelters join free statewide pet adoption event