Fresh Air: Local Communities Welcome the New Season

By Carol Brzozowski | October 2021

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“As we move into the season and the beautiful weather that comes with that, we are excited about all of our outdoor events and bringing the community together,” notes Monaca Onstad, director of community relations for Lakewood Ranch.

Indeed, the season is upon us and with it comes a slate of various activities, from promoting fun to advocating for the environment.  

The biggest news in Lakewood Ranch is the November opening of Waterside Place, a mixed-use town center offering living options, shopping, dining and concert experiences. 

Additionally, The Farmers’ Market at Lakewood Ranch “is an amazing experience that occurs every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.,” Onstad points out.  “The market will move to Waterside Place in November and we’ll offer expanded programming and even more vendors.”

Sarasota hits the ground running on Oct. 17 with the Florida Inline Skating Marathon and 5k Run at Nathan Benderson Park, an associated race with the World Inline Cup. The purse is up to $24,000.

Proceeds benefit BeTriForUs, a non-profit organization helping differently-abled individuals by promoting their inclusion in activities from which they are often excluded.

All ages and levels are welcome to participate in the 26.2-mile full skate marathon, the 13-mile half skate marathon, the 10K skate, and the 5K run on the inner loop.

For fees and start times, visit runsignup.com/Race/FL/Sarasota/FloridainlineMarathon.

From October 29 to November 1, the Chalk Festival—An International Pavement Art Event—takes place at the Venice Airport from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets range from $5 for children 12 and younger to $20 for adults.

The event provides opportunities to be a spectator or participant. Live music and vendors will be on hand. 

The Siesta Key Crystal Classic international sand sculpting festival is slated for Nov. 12 to 15. The event attracts talented sand sculptors from throughout the world showcasing their talents on the public beachfront.

“Not only can you watch them do it, but they give lessons,” says Catherine Luckner, president for the Siesta Key Association of Sarasota and a Siesta Key Coalition board member.  “There is music and vendors. It’s great for families.” 

The Siesta Key Association of Sarasota is continuing its water quality clean-up initiative in the Grand Canal, which has served as a fish habitat and nursery as well as a popular hangout for manatees to feed. 

“We’ve all been very worried about those creatures that we all love to see, especially the manatee,” says Luckner.

To that end, the association will use funds from a Sarasota Bay Estuary Program grant and a county neighborhood grant for water quality improvements to install mini-marine reefs below the docks of homes of those who have purchased them.

They are designed to attract small marine creatures and provide a habitat as a fish nursery for smaller fish.  

“We’re adding an oxygenation component to see if adding dissolved oxygen will help improve the water quality a little bit faster,” says Luckner. “We’ve got two other canals that we’re comparing it to as we go along.

“We’re noticing small snook had started to come back into the canals and whenever we have a fish nursery, it attracts other things as well. We hope we will start to see more of our manatee coming back into the canals as well.”

In October, St. Armands Circle invites marine sport and automotive enthusiasts to Jagfest (October 9) and St. Armands Boat Show (October 16 and 17), followed by a Halloween Fright Night at the end of the month. November’s lineup brings events for lovers of Ferrari, Porsche, and holiday festivals and entertainment. 

The Venice Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting its Business Showcase at CoolToday Park in conjunction with Atlanta Braves Spring Training in making this a new event to connect local Venice area businesses with residents, notes Kathy Lehner, president and CEO.

The outdoor event will be under cover on the concourse. The famous Tomahawk Tiki Bar & Grill will be open during showcase hours.

The event features more than 45 businesses with which to engage so residents “can feel confident with whom they do business” says Lehner.

For the holidays, “last year we had a fun time with our ‘Let it Glow’ program where folks can hop in the car with the family, the dog, some hot chocolate and snacks and tour around the Venice area to see the 25-plus businesses decorated for the holiday,” says Lehner.

Announcements are forthcoming regarding the list of participants and how to vote for the prestigious Light Bulb Award.

On January 21, the chamber is hosting the 2nd Annual Non-Profit Rally outdoors in the Chamber’s parking lot at 597 S Tamiami Trail.  

The event will feature more than 40 organizations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for residents and yearly visitors to connect with non-profit organizations “and give of their time, talents and maybe treasure,” notes Lehner.