Charlotte County Weekly Department Highlights Published 7/24/18

Community Services

Charlotte Sports Park The hosted the Charlotte Stone Crabs at home on Wednesday, 7/11 and Thursday, 7/12, as they finished their home stretch against the St. Lucie Mets. The game on Wednesday was postponed due to inclement weather, but was made up in a double-header on Thursday, 7/12. The Stone Crabs scored a victory in both games held that evening, with 503 fans in attendance. The first game ended with a score of 4-0, and the second game finished at 6-0, against the Mets. Over the weekend, the Stone Crabs traveled to Jupiter to challenge the Hammerheads in a three-game stent from 7/13 through 7/15. The Crabs returned home to the Charlotte Sports Park on Monday, 7/16, to host the (Yankees affiliate). That game had a total of 215 in attendance, as the Stone Crabs dominated with a final winning score of 15-4. The Crabs/Tarpons matchup continued on Tuesday, 7/17, with 851 fans attending as the Stone Crabs racked up another win. This time, the game finished with a final score of 9-3. Tonight, 7/18, the Stone Crabs will host the Tarpons for a third game. Three additional games are scheduled at Charlotte Sports Park, on Thursday, 7/19, Friday, 7/20, and Saturday, 7/21, as the Stone Crabs invite the in to finish out the week. Following this home stretch, the Stone Crabs will go on the road again. Their return to Charlotte Sports Park will begin with a home game on Tuesday, 7/31. Harold Avenue Park Last week here at Harold Ave Park we held Summer Camp Monday through Friday from 7:15am to 6pm. Youth Basketball Practice was held Monday through Thursday in the evenings. Pickleball was held here on Monday from 9:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. and again on Thursday from 12:30-3:30 p.m. Adult Drop-In Basketball was held on Monday from 7-9 p.m. Table Tennis was held Thursday at 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and again on Friday from 9:45 a.m.- 12:15 p.m. On Thursday, the Discovery and Explorer campers went to Jumpin' Jacks in Fort Myers which is a place with multiple bounce house and tons of arcade games. The Adventure Campers went to Zoomers Amusement Park in Fort Myers. Saturday Bonsai used one of our side rooms for their class. Saturday was week number seven of our youth basketball season. This Saturday we did a presentation and informed our volunteer Vivian “Coach Cookie” Hall before her game that she will be receiving the 2018 Voluntary Service Award from the Florida Recreation and Parks Association. We presented Coach Cookie with a commemorative piece listing her achievement and thanking her for all her years of dedication! Ann & Chuck Dever Regional Park Pool For the week of 7/10 through 7/16, Ann & Chuck Dever Regional Park Pool had 563 paid admissions, was visited by 192 pass holders, and 153 water aerobics participants. The pool celebrated Parks and Recreation Month this Saturday by offering free admission to the pool, approximately 120 people attended before the facility closed for storms. The Charlotte County Blue Fins held 5 swim practices resulting in approximately 20 “splashes.” Port Charlotte Beach Park July 11, CCSO meeting with 50 people. July 16, ESLOC meeting with 10 people including commissioners. July 17, was Buena Vista’s annual evening picnic with 30 people

Page 1 of 3 Extension Services • Newspaper Article for July 23 – “To prune or not to prune - that is the crape myrtle question” • Horticulture Department Meeting – July 23 • CED Meeting via ZOOM – July 23 • MG Radio - WCCF-1580 – July 24 • CEU Round-Up – July 25 • 3Q Business Meeting - Community Services - Sports Park Conference Room – July 25 • Mentoring - Phone Call – July 26 • Extension Staff Meeting – July 26 Natural Resources Again, this week staff spent the majority of time conducting Scrub Jay surveys. Staff was able to effect repairs at Prairie Creek Preserve access road. Port Charlotte Public Library Port Charlotte Library’s Read & Feed programs this week included Showtime for Kids with Jim the Magician, 3D Papercrafts, two safety presentations by our local Red Cross chapter, and lessons on how to use a sewing machine. On Saturday, the children designed pillowcases that will be made into dresses and donated to needy children. Englewood Charlotte Public Library Christopher, Daniel and Logan had fun with their parents and Miss Lynda from the Englewood Charlotte Library at Beach Story Time on Englewood Beach. We read a story called ‘Caterina and the Best Beach Day’ by Erin Eitter Kono and colored a beachy picture. We also made a great beach scene craft. Logan took it one step higher and added some real sand and shells to his beach scene. Beach Story Time, which is open to all ages, is held every other Thursday at 10:30 a.m. from June through August 9, at the pavilion next to the playground at Englewood Beach and one Thursday a month, October through April.

Punta Gorda Public Library Tuesday, July 10, was the Punta Gorda Public Library’s last summer reading program. We invited Ms. Kelly O’Neill and her Florida Southwestern students to demonstrate an array of instruments ranging from flutes, saxophone, and glockenspiel, to drums and violins. The 13 children in attendance had their chance to try out the various instruments and their parents enjoyed the program as well. We hope that this introduction to music will inspire the kids to join their local orchestras and bands in the future. Mid-County Regional Library The three planters in front of the Mid-County Regional Library are looking amazing. Murdock Stone Etc. generously donated almost a yard of soil and the Charlotte County Master Gardeners Containers in Public Places project has done a beautiful job with the planting. Two different types of caladiums are present, as well as aloe and other plants. Numerous patrons have stopped by to compliment how lovely the front of the building is looking.

Page 2 of 3 Charlotte County Historical Center On July 13, Program Coordinator Crystal Diff and Joe Guerzo led a group of Historical Voyagers and presented a 50’s program to 36 children and 10 adults at the Englewood Library. To accommodate the large number of people, the event was moved to the Community Center. First, the kids were educated on what Charlotte County was like back in the 1950’s. Later, they were entertained by Joe, dressed as 50’s icon Buddy Holly, playing songs on guitar while the kids played musical chairs. It was quite the sight to see and hear. The kids had a great time and some even played tambourine with Joe.

Facilities Construction & Maintenance

Operations The three newly renovated elevators in the 5-story Admin. building are fully operational. The final walk through inspection will take place and any items created on punch list will be worked on for the remaining week. Project Management The SWFWMD Environmental Resource Permit for construction of the Port Charlotte Beach Renovation Project was approved. Stantec began data collection for Allapatchee Park Project which includes IRMA damage remediation. Repairs and Maintenance Facilities Work Order History for week of July 8 through July 14: (70 created - 51 closed) FWO's Closed: (16 Electrical/Lighting; 12 Plumbing/Irrigation; 1 HVAC; 12 Various Carpentry/Building Trades; 10 others). Building B generator replacement-fence installation underway and landscaping to follow. Tax/Tag Office remodel in progress-fire sprinkler head adjustment to be scheduled. Placida Park Boat Ramp lighting LED replacement is in progress-poles/fixtures on order. Englewood Beach turtle lighting upgrades in progress-fixtures on order. Zemel Rd. Maintenance Building LED lighting replacement parts are in; work to be scheduled last week in July.

Tourism

As part of its continuing marketing outreach efforts to promote Charlotte County as a meetings destination, Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach Visitor & Convention Bureau staff attended the Florida Society of Association Executives (FSAE) Annual Conference, July 11-13 in Fort Lauderdale. The conference, attended by more than 500 association executives and destination representatives, provided multiple educational and networking opportunities to create and expand relationships necessary to implement tourism sales strategy for the association meetings market.

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