Event Date:                Friday, October 19^th, 2012

Event Times:               Doors open at7:00 pm / Show starts at8:00 pm

Ticket Prices:              Reserved Seating: $49.50 and $39.50

Event Date:                Thursday, October 4^th, 2012

Event Times:               Doors open at7:00 pm / Show starts at8:00 pm

Ticket Prices:              Reserved Seating: $35 and   $29.50

This Space Sponsored By   Serenity House Tea Society

May 2012 Edition
Coral Restoration Under Way at Mote Tropical Research Lab • Mote Volunteer Wins Tourism Award • Mark Your Calendar for World Oceans Day on June 2 • Register Now for Summer Camps • Turtle Nesting Season Starts Early This Year • Students Paint New Turtle Mural in Mote Aquarium • Book Signing to Benefit Turtle Hospital • Did You Know You Could Have Your Next Party at Mote? • Science Café takes on Begging Dolphins and Bad (Human) Diets
Coral Restoration Under Way at Mote’s Tropical Research Laboratory Erich Bartels of Mote Marine Laboratory gathers nursery-grown corals for replanting on a reef just off Big Pine Key in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary as part of the largest coral restoration project of its kind ever undertaken. Photo credit: Tim Calver, www.timcalver.com. Scientists at Mote and other organizations are transplanting up to 10,000 nursery-grown staghorn and elkhorn corals to degraded reefs in Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands in the largest marine restoration project of its kind. Experts hope that the transplanted young corals will thrive and reproduce, helping to recover populations of these two threatened species. NOAA-funded scientists with Mote, The Nature Conservancy and partner organizations began growing staghorn and elkhorn corals at eight underwater nurseries located from Ft. Lauderdale south through the Florida Keys and U.S. Virgin Islands in 2009. The project initially aimed to grow 12,000 coral colonies, but instead raised 30,000 of the fast-growing branching corals. Up to 10,000 of these staghorn and elkhorn colonies, ranging from the size of tennis balls to soccer balls, are scheduled to be transplanted before the end of 2012. Read the full story. Purchase a Protect Our Reefs license plate and help support Mote coral research and restoration programs. Mote Volunteer Wins National Tourism Week Award Mote volunteer Nigel Mould was honored with a 2012 National Tourism Week Award on May 10.From Left: Lisa Kinsella, Director of Mote’s Center for Volunteer and Intern Resources, Nigel Mould, wife Nathalie Mould and Stacy Alexander, Mote Corporate Relations and Promotions Director. Photo by Robert Pope. VISIT SARASOTA COUNTY, formerly known as The Sarasota Convention & Visitors Bureau, announced the recipients of its 2012 National Tourism Week Awards on May 10. One winner is a Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium volunteer. Nigel Mould, current volunteer and Past President of the Volunteer Board at Mote, received an award for Guest Service Excellence during the ceremony at Westfield Southgate Mall in Sarasota. Mould has aided in Mote research, provided excellent outreach and education as a member of Mote’s Speakers Bureau and as a Mote Aquarium guide, served as a leader among Mote’s volunteers and helped raise funds for the nonprofit Lab. All National Tourism Week Award nominees were nominated by their peers and winners were voted on by a selection panel of members in the hospitality industry. 2012 Sea Turtle Nesting Season Begins Sea turtle nesting season began slightly early in Mote Marine Laboratory’s patrol area — the first loggerhead sea turtle nest was confirmed on Wednesday, April 25 in Venice. The official season runs from May 1 – Oct. 31. “Sea turtles don’t know when May 1 is — but they know the water temperature is warm and that’s one of the signals they use to know when it’s time to start mating and nesting,” said Kristen Mazzarella, senior biologist and volunteer coordinator for Mote’s Sea Turtle Patrol. This season marks the 31st year that Mote Marine Laboratory has coordinated sea turtle conservation on local beaches. Mote’s Sea Turtle Patrol — a group of Mote scientists, interns and more than 300 volunteers — monitor nesting activity each day of the season on 35 miles of Sarasota County beaches. Mote scientists also tag nesting sea turtles for identification and use state-of-the-art satellite tracking systems to follow the turtles as they swim hundreds of miles in the sea. Click here to follow nesting numbers from week to week and to review some tips for keeping beaches safe for nesting turtles. More Sea Turtle News… New Turtle Mural in Mote Aquarium: Two students from the Ringling College of Art and Design recently hung a mural showing the life cycle of a loggerhead sea turtle as part of the second phase redesign of the Mote Aquarium exhibit Sea Turtles: Ancient Survivors in Mote’s Ann and Alfred Goldstein Marine Mammal Research and Rehabilitation Center. This phase of the exhibit redesign is focusing on upgrading educational signage showcasing conservation issues related to sea turtles, as well as Mote’s Sea Turtle Hatchling Hospital. The exhibit also showcases how nests are monitored by Mote’s Sea Turtle Patrol. The redesign is being funded by a grant from the Sea Turtle Grants Program, which is supported from proceeds from the sale of the Florida Sea Turtle License Plate. (Learn more at www.helpingseaturtles.org.) Students Dillon Endico, 21, and Matthew Decker, 21, did the mural as a volunteer project. “I grew up around the reefs in Key Largo and would see turtles there all the time,” says Dillon. “I’m very passionate about the environment and protecting it and about sustainability and this sounded like a pretty cool project.” Matthew, who spent his high school years in St. Pete after moving to Florida from New Jersey, said he and Endico spent several weeks completing the mural after speaking with exhibit coordinator Holly West, who has been spearheading the exhibit redesign. “We talked to Holly a lot about what she wanted to show and then Dillon and I mapped out the concept,” Decker said. “Over the last couple of years, I’ve become more passionate about conservation and I hope to work on more projects like this in the future.” Book Signing Benefits Turtle Hospital: Bestselling Author Mary Alice Monroe will sign copies of her new novel “Beach House Memories” during a special event hosted by Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch at 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 22 at Circle Books, 478 John Ringling Blvd. on St. Armands Circle. Purchase of the book includes the book signing, light refreshments and the opportunity to hear Monroe speak about her passion for sea turtles beginning at 5:30 p.m. A portion of the proceeds will support Mote’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital, which has treated more than 398 endangered and threatened sea turtles since 1995.”Beach House Memories” is the prequel to Monroe’s New York Times bestsellers “The Beach House” and “Swimming Lessons.” Monroe, who volunteers in sea turtle conservation efforts on Isle of Palms, S.C., is currently on a book tour that includes selected signing events designated as fundraisers benefiting local sea turtle hospitals.	World Oceans Day Festival June 2 at Mote Aquarium Offers “Oceans of Inspiration” A worldwide ocean celebration is on the horizon — join the fun during the World Oceans Day Family Festival from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 2 at Mote Aquarium. Cost is free with regular admission (Mote Members always get in free). Mote’s World Oceans Day event, presented by IKEA, will feature the Dr. Seuss Theme “Oceans of Inspiration” and include games and crafts focused on green practices, marine science and conservation by Mote and other local organizations.Additional sponsors include Winn Dixie, IBC (Insurance and Benefit Consultants), the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce’s Young Professionals Group. National sponsors are the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, The Ocean Project, Dr. Seuss and Random House Children’s Books. Click here for more info. Mote Summer Camps are Filling Up Fast: Register Your Campers Now! Mote offers a variety of camps for kids of all ages and interests… and there’s a even an exciting new offering for adults coming up as well. Click here for camp details, pricing and registration forms. Preregistration is required for all camps. Have Your Next Celebration at Mote Aquarium  Each year, millions of visitors travel to Sarasota to enjoy its beautiful beaches and exotic and fascinating marine life.At Mote Aquarium, we showcase the best that the region has to offer in several unique settings perfect for your wedding or other special event — venues that don’t require you to get wet to have a great time! Mote Aquarium is one of Sarasota’s premier attractions, hosting more than 300,000 visitors each year. Our venues offer you and your guests a departure from the ordinary with spectacular animal exhibits and breathtaking views. Our waterfront location showcases everything that is special about Sarasota and her islands. Click here or on the cover of our new brochure above  to review our venue rental options. Brown Bags to Beggar Bad eating habits and poor nutrition are an issue with America’s youth… and Sarasota Bay dolphins?  Join us from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday June 7as we explore nutrition in humans and dolphins during the next Science Café sponsored by Mote Marine Laboratory. Mote Science Café’s are informal, community discussions that give everyone the chance to participate. The Café will feature Dr. Katie McHugh, a researcher with the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, a partnership of the Chicago Zoological Society and Mote, and Adriel Zahniser, a registered dietitian working for Sarasota County Schools as a nutrition educator and chef. The Dolphin Research Program conducts the world’s longest-running study of a wild dolphin population and, through her research, McHugh has documented numerous human interactions of a dolphin nicknamed “Beggar.” Beggar is notorious for his unhealthy and dangerous relationship with humans who illegally feed him. Zahniser teaches area youth about healthy eating habits and nutrition. Join us for the next Science Café and a conversation about healthy eating habits from 6 to 7:30 p.m. June 7 at the Half Shell Oyster House, 1991 Main St., Sarasota.Come early to get a good seat — doors open at 5:30 p.m. Please RSVP to Mote at 941-388-4441, ext. 172. Food and drink specials available.
About Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium Founded in 1955, Mote Marine Laboratory is an independent nonprofit (501(c)3) marine research organization based in Sarasota, Fla., with field stations in eastern Sarasota County, Charlotte Harbor and the Florida Keys. Donations to Mote are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.We are dedicated to today’s research for tomorrow’s oceans through the study of marine and estuarine ecosystems, through our public Mote Aquarium and through an education division that provides unique programs for all ages. Mote scientific research focuses on sharks, sea turtles and marine mammals, coral reefs, the study of toxins in the environment and their effect on human health, aquaculture, coastal ecology and fisheries enhancement. Showcasing this research is Mote Aquarium, open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 365 days a year. Learn more at www.mote.org. Contact: Mote Marine Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34236. (941) 388-4441 or info@mote.org.

Forward this email to a friend

To be removed from this mailing list, please click here.

“An Evening with Eric Johnson” will take place with the famed electric guitarist at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall on Wednesday, June 27^th.

Eric Johnson is best known for his success in the instrumental rock format. He regularly incorporates jazz, fusion, New Age and even country and western elements into his recordings. A widely recognized virtuoso, Johnson’s stylistic diversity, technical proficiency, and unique playing style have drawn praise from Carlos Santana, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Prince, BB King, and the late Stevie Ray Vaughan. His critically acclaimed, platinum selling 1990 record Ah Via Musicom produced the single “Cliffs of Dover”, which won the 1991 Grammy Award for best rock instrumental performance.

Johnson recently visited the FirstCoastas part of the Experience Hendrix tour at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre back in March. Don’t miss this intimate performance at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall.

Tickets for this seated show will go on sale this Friday, May 18th at10AM. Tickets will be available for purchase at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall and St. Augustine Amphitheatre box offices, ticketmaster.com, and all Ticketmaster outlets.

SHOW:        An Evening with Eric Johnson
DATE:                    Wednesday, June 27, 2012
TIME:          Doors 7:00pm / Show 8:00pm
TICKET PRICE:        $29.50 and $27.50 reserved seating

Myakka River State Park is just east of Sarasota on Hwy. 72, it offers a great Experience.  Makka has 57 square miles of  wetlands, prairies, and forest.  Myakka is one of Florida’s oldest state parks.  Myakka offers hiking, camping, fishing and abundant wildlife viewing. The forest at Myakka is quite unique with straight lines of various palms all at different angles.  The palms are threaded with wavy limbs of the various hardwoods that complete the forest canopy.

We arrived and the boat launch early in the morning as folks were launching canoes and kayaks for a day among the Alligators and birds.  As we approached the river outlet from the lake a hawk swooped in picking up a snake for breakfast.   Myakka has a very healthy Alligator population,  We were told that earlier that morning they were like cord wood on the water and you could walk a long ways out into the lake on their backs, if you had a desire to become breakfast.

From here we headed to the Bird walk, where we met Tom and Jan Pafford who volunteer every Wednesday, for four years now with spotting scope and binoculars in tow for the tourist to watch all of the varieties of birds through.  Tom educated up on the various birds in view while Jane some other tourist on the walk way.   Tom told us he’d been coming to the park since the 70’s participating in the Christmas Day bird count and Jane his wife has just begun doing this.  Tom informed us that there are 140 different species of birds that use the park year round.

After the bird watching we head to hiking trails and the canopy walk, which give you a birds eye view over the tree tops.  The Canopy walk is just off of the Boylston Nature Trail.  The walkway is suspended 25 feet above the ground and extends 100 feet through the hammock canopy. A tower soars 74 feet in the air to present a spectacular view of treetops, wetlands and the prairie/hammock interface. You can look down on eagles, hawks, vultures and the tops of live oaks and palm trees.

Myakka River State Park has a lot to offer and is well worth the trip out of the way to spend the day.

This article sponsored by: Be First Inc.

Started the day early to sit on the beach drinking Mimosa’s to welcome the dawn.  Got to the beach before the light of day.  There were only two other cars in the parking lot on this morning.  As we strolled across the sand with cups in hand to toast the dawn others arrive, with the same idea in mind.   To watch the dawn as the world came to live is such a blessing on a very special day.

This Article is sponsored by:

www.befirstinc.com and http://www.zazzle.com/roadtrekin

The holiday season is upon us, and begins to remind us all about the love of family, friends and the ability to spread joy to others.  It sounds somewhat like a ‘Hallmark’ card to speak like this, but it is so true.  As we’ve all seen, with the news alone, depression can also weigh some down at this time of year as well, and having a “canine companion” to share the holidays with can help a great deal. In fact, there are dogs out there right now who need a home for the holidays and have the ability to spread their joy and comfort to one and all.

There are approximately five thousand animal shelters in the United States today, and over five million dogs have been placed into these shelters each year.  The sad fact is that more than half may face being euthanized. There are some shelters that are classified as “No Kill,” but because of the overwhelming number of dogs given up – sometimes due to relocation or illness – these shelters must frequently turn dogs away, as the overcrowding issue has become virtually impossible to deal with. Some dogs are brought to shelters for behavioral reasons such as fear, aggression, rowdiness and housebreaking issues.  Often these problems can be solved with the help of professional dog trainers, like the trainers at Canine Dimensions.

As professional dog trainers, Canine Dimensions franchisees frequently visit animal shelters, and have established training programs to help teach volunteers how to handle shelter dogs without being injured, and how to evaluate the temperament and personalities of the dogs in their care.

Over the past few weeks we have been speaking about this amazing company that has drawn thousands of readers to their site, and has offered not only a look at THE dog obedience professionals, but has also offered people out there a business opportunity that up until now has been impossible to find.

Canine Dimensions In-Home Dog Training – a company founded by Phil Guida, who is a pioneer in the modern science of holistic dog training, came about when Mr. Guida took into account the existing dog training programs that were available, and combined them with innovative and intuitive methodologies based on the observations of how dogs communicate with one another. This has become such an extraordinary system and ‘school of thought,’ that dog obedience training has been lifted to a much higher level because of the work of Canine Dimensions.

There are millions of dogs and cats in shelters right now that need homes. Not only do you accomplish a random act of kindness for the animal by adopting, but you also gain the companionship that such an animal can bring to your life. Experts caution however, that bringing a pet into your life without careful planning is never a good idea. Think things through carefully before you adopt a pet, especially during the holiday season when emotions can run high.

Thousands of dogs are rescued from animal shelters each year and welcomed into loving homes, and one of the greatest rewards that Canine Dimensions In-Home Dog Trainers frequently experience, is helping keep those dogs in their adoptive homes by solving their behavior problems.

If you decide to adopt a pet dog from a local rescue or animal shelter, you are about to save a life - your random act of kindness for the holiday season!  But choosing the right dog for your family takes time and patience.  (For tips on how to choose the right dog, check out these tips from the experts.)

“I wish I could take all of them!” No one with a heart for animals could feel any other way, and although this is a heartfelt and loving statement, there are key factors that must be taken into consideration in order to choose the perfect dog for you. Canine Dimensions suggests that when it comes to pet adoption you use your heart to decide that you want to rescue a dog, but then use your head when choosing which one. This is a relationship that will last a good, long time if you take the time to get to know the dog and make sure that it is the right dog for your family.  That’s how all good relationships begin – by taking time to get to know each other.

Caninedimensions.com gives a great deal of tips that can help you make the right choice.  Canine Dimensions also gives people who are interested in helping a way to give to others, as well as a chance to get more out of life. There are many franchise opportunities out there today, but very few can provide a good income in addition to an enjoyable career.  By opening a franchise of Canine Dimensions in your own ‘backyard,’ you get these benefits, plus the security of joining a proven franchise system.  And, as we’ve said before, Canine Dimensions was built on heart, not the almighty dollar, therefore, you can feel good about your work.

Starting any new business can be risky – but the pet sector is one of very few that are booming in the current economy. There is a New Year’s resolution hovering in the air right now with many people being quite tired of the year that has gone by.  They are tired of the constant negative economic news and unemployment rates and they want more from their lives. Not only more for their pocketbooks, but more for their hearts – working in an industry that will bring them pride. The dog training business can be a way of giving back every day; a person who becomes part of the Canine Dimensions’ team works to make other people happy with their new pets while enjoying their own dog training careers.  There is no better Christmas gift than that.

Until Next Time, Everybody!

For more information, go immediately to:

http://www.caninedimensions.com