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• Weedon Island Preserve . . . Where Kids Learn Free

  Written by Connie Langhorst No Comments
  Last Updated: March 1, 2010

  Florida has a rich heritage and there is plenty of natural history to enjoy and be inspired by throughout Pinellas County.

  The Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center, located at 1800 Weedon Drive NE, in St. Petersburg, FL, offers educational programs for kids and adults.

  From March 4 through May 27, the Center is offering classes, with a new lesson every other Thursday, presented by a local archaeologist.  This free, after-school program is one that “kids and parents can really dig” (according to Andrew DeLong, Staff Writer, for the St. Petersburg Times).

  Rae Harper, who is working on her master’s thesis in applied anthropology at the University of South Florida, leads the program, entitled “Project Archaeology: Investigating Shelter.” Her aim is to inspire students to think like an archaeologist by analyzing artifacts and re-creating archaeological sites using familiar materials.  Each lesson affords a different learning exercise related to archaeological research and how to apply that knowledge to an activity.  The lessons include hands-on training and discussion, with the goal of helping students hone their observational skills, use the concept of interference and learn to think critically about the past.

  The program is free and is recommended for families with children ages eight and older.

  It is Rae Harper’s hope, as an archaeologist, that students will “walk away with a better understanding and appreciation of archaeology, and if I do inspire them to become passionate about school, that would be great.”

  Heritage and Natural History . . . It’s all here . . . in Paradise Found!

  ABOUT THE CENTER

  Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center lies within Weedon Island Preserve and is part of Pinellas County Department of Environmental Management’s Environmental Lands Division (ELD). The Center supports the applied management and ecological monitoring objectives of the division through educational programming and volunteerism. 

  The education program at the Center interprets the natural, cultural and archaeological history of the Preserve through interpretive tours and hikes, education programs, exhibits and public outreach activities, presentations and workshops, and other events.

  The three-story Center was designed with the help of Native Americans and keeps with their traditions. For example, the orientation of the Center in the Preserve is along the cardinal points of the compass (north, south, east, and west) with the entrance facing east.

  A special curved wall is representative of the remarkable pottery of the early Weeden (alternate spelling) Island people who lived on the island some 1,000 to 1,800 years ago. Portions of the Preserve are on the National Register of Historic Places. 

  K-12 Programs
  Public, private and homeschool teachers find Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center and the Preserve wonderful alternatives to their usual classroom. The Center developed FCAT-approved curricula that broaden students’ knowledge about our coastal environment and the people who once inhabited the area. On-site teacher training can be arranged, as well as field trips for classes.

  Information about Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center is online at www.weedonislandpreserve.org or by phone at (727) 453-6500.

  CREDITS:  Information for this post provided courtesy of the Weedon Island Preserve website and St. Petersburg Times (Sunday, February 28, 2010, Neighborhood Section, “Kids Learn Basics of Archaeology Free”).

• 2010 Relay For Life of Gulf Beaches, FL

  Written by Connie Langhorst 1 Comment
  Last Updated: February 11, 2010

  The 2010 Relay For Life of Gulf Beaches, FL is scheduled to take pace at the Bilmar Beach Resort on Treasure Island Beach on April 16 and 17 . . . and NOW is the time to sign up and get involved!

  It seems that everyone knows someone, whether a family member, friend, neighbor, or co-worker, who has been impacted by cancer.  The Relay For Life events, which are hosted and held throughout Pinellas County, are a great way to celebrate survivors, remember and honor those who have been touched by cancer, and to fight back through fundraising (or, as I like to refer to it, friendraising).

  The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is a life-changing event that gives everyone in our community, and in communities around the globe, a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, to remember lost loved ones, and to fight back against the disease. At Relay, teams of people camp out at a local high school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events and 18 hours in length.

  Having lost my neice, Julie, to cancer (at the age of 21), I was proud to be invited to serve as co-chair for the first-ever South Gulf Beaches Relay For Life, which took place at Stetson College of Law in Gulfport, FL.   Now an annual activity, Relay For Life events are hosted throughout Pinellas County, which demonstrates our care and concern for the communities in which we live and work–and for each other.

  While every Relay For Life is different, there are certain traditions at all Relays, no matter where they are held. These traditions help participants celebrate, remember, and fight back.

  Celebrate – The Survivors Lap
  Relay starts with a Survivors Lap, an inspirational time when survivors are invited to circle the track together and help everyone celebrate the victories achieved over cancer. The Survivors Lap is an emotional example of how Relay participants are creating a world with more birthdays–like those of each individual on the track.

  Remember – The Luminaria Ceremony
  After dark, people who have been touched by cancer and loved ones who have been lost to the disease are honored and remembered during the Luminaria Ceremony. Candles are lit inside bags filled with sand, each bears the name of a person touched by cancer, and participants often walk a lap in silence.

  Fight Back – Fight Back Through Fundraising
  There is a chance to fight back against cancer through fundraising.  In addition to what the fundraising teams do before the Relay, there are endless fundraising opportunities onsite.  From food, face painters, crafts and more, Relay teams have plenty of ways for participants and visitors to support the fight against cancer.

  No matter where you are, there’s a place for you at Relay.  You can make a difference by signing up online to start your own team or by simply making a donation.

  Thanks to Relay participants, the American Cancer Society is helping create a world with more birthdays . . . a world where cancer can’t claim another year of anyone’s life.

  Survivors are the reason we Relay.  They make up a group of nearly 11 million strong who are finding their way through the cancer experience and fighting back against the disease. At Relay For Life, Survivors are always the guests of honor.

  The Luminaria Ceremony is the opportunity for people to come together to remember loved ones lost to cancer and honor those who have won their battle. This is one of the most moving parts of the event that you will not want to miss. Honor or remember someone at Relay For Life with a luminaria.

  Just another special way that we care and share . . . in Paradise Found! 

  Visit the 2010 Relay For Life of Gulf Beaches, FL website to learn more, to donate, or to sign up to participate. 

  To register your team or to participate in the survivor activities, visit www.relayforlife.org/gulfbeachesfl. 

  Or, for more information, contact Nancy Williamson, Team Development Chair, at 727-581-9644 or ACS Community Representative, Christine Hartman, at christine.hartman@cancer.org or 727-812-7026. 

  CREDITS:  Relay For Life Logo courtesy of the American Cancer Society and ACS Relay For Life.  Event photos (from 2004 South Gulf Beaches Relay For Life) courtesy of yours truly. 

• Giving Thanks . . . SPYC Christmas Boutique

  Written by Connie Langhorst No Comments
  Last Updated: November 23, 2009

  Thanksgiving is the perfect time to extend a heartfelt thank you to residents, businesses, and organizations throughout Pinellas County for their commitment to charitable events and activities during the holiday season and year-round.  Expressed in donations of time, the sharing of life experiences, and funding support, this commitment defines the meaning of volunteerism and the spirit of community giving.

  On Thanksgiving Day, it’s a tradition in my family to give thanks, while standing around the dinner table, for the blessings in our lives.  We hold hands and each person, in turn, offers a message of thanks.   My husband, Thomas, and I, plan to spend the holiday with my sister and brother-in-law, Lora and Max Fulmer, who live, as we do, in Tierra Verde, FL.  I’m already thinking about the message that I will share.  My words of thanks and gratitude will include them–for the gifts they share and in acknowledgment of their volunteer spirit.

  Lora, as she does each year, plans to host a booth, with her friend, Judy Fielding, at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club Christmas Boutique.

  This tenth annual fundraising event attracts hundreds of shoppers.  It’s festive and fun, and helps SPYC members and their guests get into the holiday spirit.  Proceeds from this activity benefit the St. Petersburg Yacht Club Junior Sailing and Disabled Sailor programs.
  Lora and Judy work (like elves), collecting and making quilts, and embroidering novelty items, to be sold at the Christmas Boutique.  They are talented sewers and quilt makers.  Volunteering at this event is a labor of love for them (owing to the fact that they have both lost a child to terminal illness).

  

  In addition to their support of the SPYC Christmas Boutique, Lora and Judy also volunteer on behalf of Project Linus, a nonprofit organization comprised of hundreds of local chapters and thousands of volunteers across the United States. Each chapter works together to help us achieve their mission statement:

  . . . To provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer “blanketeers.”

  . . . To provide a rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested individuals and groups in local communities, for the benefit of children.

  Project Linus has distributed over three million blankets to children in need since the organization’s inception in 1995.

  I’m proud of (and thankful for) my sister for her support of these great causes and there are many great people doing equally great things in our community.

  In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I urge everyone to pause and give thanks for our individual and collective blessings.  Take a moment to honor and recognize the volunteers in your sphere of influence–family members and friends alike.  Let them know how much you appreciate them.  If you’re not doing so already, consider becoming a volunteer or making a donation to one of your favorite charities.  By doing so, you will make a meaningful contribution to our community and, as a consequence, you will have an opportunity to experience, firsthand, the impact that two simple words can have . . . thank you!

  Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving . . . in Paradise Found!

  ST. PETERSBURG YACHT CLUB CHRISTMAS BOUTIQUE:
  The event is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, December 1, 2009. Shopping begins at 1P and concludes at 7P.  Only 45 vendors are accepted into this exclusive event, with categories limited to retail sales, non-profit groups, artists, and members of the St. Petersburg Yacht Club. Raffle items will be on display and proceeds benefit both Junior Sailing and Disabled Sailors.  For information, contact event co-chairs: Char Doyle, Susan Huff, or Beverly Smoak, by phone at 727-521-3822 or via email to spycboutique@tampabay.rr.com.

  ST. PETERSBURG YACHT CLUB YOUTH SAILING PROGRAM
  Based in the Sailing Center, the St. Petersburg Yacht Club Youth Sailing Program is one of the most extensive in the nation. Not only are the facilities first-rate, but the Club maintains a staff of 2-3 full time Youth Sailing Coaches, plus a fleet of 420′s and Optimist Prams.   Many of the children in the program have gone on to become All Americans or Olympic Gold Medal winners. Most notably, Allison Jolly won a gold medal in the 1988 Olympics.  Ed Baird, who coached the New Zealand team to victory in the 1995 America’s Cup, skippered the Young America/New York Yacht Club Challenge. Numerous SPYC junior sailors have gone on to becoming Collegiate All-American athletes.  Youth sailing offers classes open to all community residents. Hundreds of youth have been introduced to the sport of sailing, and the program has produced winning racing teams to compete at both national and international levels.

  ABOUT THE ST. PETERSBURG YACHT CLUB
  Rich in history and tradition, the St. Petersburg Yacht Club is one of the oldest yacht clubs in the United States. Established in 1909 and having been completely renovated in the early 1990s, the Club is located on the beautiful waterfront in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. A gathering place for avid boaters, it is also one of Tampa Bay’s most prestigious social venues. Enjoying a reputation for warm hospitality, world-class sailing and outstanding dining, Club members and guests value and respect this tradition of excellence.  SPYC is located at 11 Central Avenue on the downtown St. Petersburg waterfront. Established in 1909 and renovated in 1992, the club has over 2500 members and is known as the “sailing capital of the south”. SPYC has a 90 year history of hosting regattas and an international reputation for excellent race management and on-shore activities. Many members have achieved great fame in sailing. Boat builder and America’s Cup competitor Charley Morgan is omnipresent in SPYC one-design activities. Yacht clubs nation-wide strive annually to win the coveted “St. Petersburg Yacht Club Award of Excellence in Race Management.”

  

  

  

  

  CREDITS:  Photos & Information for this post courtesy of the St. Petersburg Yacht Club (Sail Expo November 2009), Lora Fulmer, and Yours Truly.
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