The Friends of the North Indian River County Library
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Member News May 23, 2019 THE FRIENDS OF THE NORTH INDIAN RIVER COUNTY LIBRARY Has been selected to be a part of the Community Bag Program, which is designed to make it easy for customers to contribute to their local community while support- ing the environment. For the month of June, each time a $2.50 reusable Community Bag is purchased at Winn Dixie located at 995 Sebastian Boulevard, $1.00 will be donated to the Friends, unless otherwise directed by the customer through the Giving Tag. To learn more about this program, please visit www.seg.bags4mycause.com. China Women’s National Softball Junior Team training at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach VERO BEACH, Fla. (May 15, 2019) — The Jackie Robinson Training Complex, formerly known as Historic Dodgertown, is pleased to welcome the China Women’s Junior National Softball team as they return for training at this internationally rec- ognized sports complex. The China National Team has trained at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex on three occasions since 2017, and the complex has a long history welcoming baseball and softball teams and executives from China and throughout the world. For this visit, China has brought their Junior National Team to Vero Beach for five weeks of instruction. The girls, ages 15 to 19, are prospects for the National Team, whose goal is to compete in the 2020 Olympic Games. The 22 team members all hail from China, from different provinces throughout their country. Two American and three Chi- nese coaches teach and oversee the instruction offered to the girls. For American coaches Victoria Draper and Hunter Veach, this as an opportunity to teach not only the current players, but also their coaching counterparts on important elements to grow the game now as well as for future generations. Last year Draper played for the Chinese Beijing Eagles, a team in the National Pro Fastpitch League consisting of China National Team players. Draper, acting in a lead coach capacity, said two elements she is focusing on with the Junior Team are throwing and base- running. “Throwing is the most under-taught element of softball,” Draper said, stressing that proper mechanics and cor- rect arm form reduces injuries. Their base-running program is the one of the hardest in the world, she said. The Jackie Robinson Training Complex provides an ideal setting for building a team. From the many fields, batting cages, fitness rooms and clubhouses, to living quarters, meals and recreation, the all-inclusive, on-site amenities are well-suited for training and team-building. In particular, Draper acknowledged the grounds crew for excellent field conditions, and for the entire staff’s welcome and inclusion of foreign teams. “We don’t have to worry about the fields. They (grounds crew) set up and get the fields ready to the highest level of quali- ty. The attention to detail is like no other. “Jackie Robinson stood for inclusion,” Draper continued, adding how even the kitchen staff learned Chinese cooking to prepare native dishes for the Junior National Team. “Even the kitchen staff’s meals are honoring the players’ heritage.” The Jackie Robinson Training Complex, which originally opened in 1948 as Dodgertown, has long been recognized as an international sports facility, conference and event center, and welcomes teams in the sports of baseball, softball, football, soccer, rugby, lacrosse and land training for water sports. As an investment to grow the game of softball, in 2012 the Quad complex for softball opened. The Quad has been the host venue for the Florida Junior College Women’s Softball Championship (JUCO), the Florida High School Athletic Associa- tion (FHSAA) Softball Championship, and is the southern home for Softball Factory. Major League Baseball continues its support of softball and baseball development at the Jackie Robinson Training Com- plex. Launched in 2017 and continuing this year for its third annual event (July 12-18), the Softball Elite Development Invi- tational camp welcomes young women from across the United States to participate in the elite program. On Jan. 2, 2019 the Commissioner’s Office at Major League Baseball assumed management operations of the former His- toric Dodgertown, and on April 2 renamed the complex the Jackie Robinson Training Complex. In attendance at the press conference were Commissioner of Baseball Rob Manfred, former Dodgers owner and former Historic Dodgertown Chair- man Peter O’Malley, and Mrs. (Jackie) Rachel Robinson with Sharon and David Robinson. Since opening 70 years ago, teams and executives from China, Korea, Japan, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Cana- da, South Africa, France and throughout Latin America have visited and played on the Jackie Robinson Training Complex major league designed fields, trained on the state-of-the-art equipment, stayed in the on-site hotel villa rooms and utilized the meeting rooms, dining hall and recreational amenities. From Soup to Meals St. Lucie County Empty Bowls raises enough for 120,000 meals A little clay and a lot of heart turned about 500 ceramic bowls into more than $15,000, the equivalent of 120,000 meals at this year’s Empty Bowls event for those struggling with hunger. The annual event featured ceramic bowls hand-crafted by students from public and private schools in St. Lucie County as well as a silent auction of 20 bowls autographed by celebrity entertainers and athletes. New York Mets Star Pitcher Noah Syndergaard’s au- tographed bowl brought in the highest bid at $250. This was the 12th year for the annual event held at the Downtown Fort Pierce Farmers Market. Along with the keepsake ceramic bowls, the event features a meal of soup and bread, symbolic of the meager meals often eaten by those struggling with hunger. The Fort Pierce Central High School Culinary Arts students prepared a chicken noodle soup for the event, and Treasure Coast Food Bank’s own Healthy Harvest Catering prepared a vegetable noodle soup. Long-time supporters were at the Farmers Market early to select their favorite bowl from among the numerous designs created by St. Lucie County students. Each bowl came in its own Empty Bowls tote. For a $20 donation, patrons selected a bowl of soup and the keepsake ceramic bowl of their choice. “We’re so thankful for the supporters, sponsors, students, and others who help make Empty Bowls so successful,” said Judith Cruz, President and CEO of Treasure Coast Food Bank. “Empty Bowls brings the community together to share in solving hunger for those who are struggling. We especially want to thank Anne Satterlee of the Sunrise Theatre and Kasey Blair of the St. Lucie Mets who helped us collect autographs, and Heather Blackmon-Gordon, our Empty Bowls Chair.” MARINE BANK & TRUST ACHIEVES RECORD EARNINGS AND ASSET GROWTH FOR FIRST QUARTER OF 2019 Vero Beach, Fla. – Marine Bank & Trust continued to demonstrate solid performance and growth for the first quarter of 2019. The Bank experienced asset growth year over year with $278 million in total assets as of March 31, 2019 compared to $257 million as of March 31, 2018, an increase of $21 million or 8%. Loans outstanding as of March 31, 2019 were $226 million as compared to $192 on March 31, 2018, an increase of $34 million or 18%. Total deposits as of March 31, 2019 were $253 million as compared to $237 million on March 31, 2018, an increase of $16 million or 7%. Net income for the first three months of 2019 was $353,000 compared to $290,000 in the first three months of 2018, an increase of $63 million or 22%. “Our focused efforts to attract and retain the best bankers in every business line while also growing our presence in Brevard County continue to garner positive results for the Bank,” said Bill Penney, President and CEO of Marine Bank & Trust. “As a community bank, our suc- cess will benefit our community through increased capital resources for our small businesses and homebuyers, as well as opportunities to support events and causes that continue to im- prove our quality of life.” Florida High School Athletic Association State Softball Finals in Vero Beach, FL Treasure Coast Sports Commission Finalizes Preparation for Hosting the FHSAA Softball State Finals at Jackie Robinson Training Complex VERO BEACH, Fla. -The top high school softball teams in the State of Florida will converge on Vero Beach next week to compete for a state championship on the softball quad at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex. All state-wide, Regional Tournament Finals have been decided and the schedule is set. The four-day event will divide the nine classes of teams, with schools competing in semi-final rounds, followed by championship games the next day. Beginning Tuesday, May 21, classifications 1A - 4A, will begin play at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex with first pitch scheduled for 10:35 am. All championship games for these four classifications will take place Wednesday, May 22, sched- uled to begin at 11:05am. Championship games will take place on Field 8, where additional bleachers have been brought in for larger crowds. The 5A - 9A classifications will start their semi-final games on Thursday, May 23, then championship games will take place on Friday, May 24. First game for the 5A - 9A Semi-Finals is scheduled to begin Thursday at 8:35am. Championship games for 5A - 9A are scheduled to begin at 10:05am. The FHSAA State Softball Finals is proudly hosted by the Treasure Coast Sports Commission, Indian River County, SLW Centennial High School and the Jackie Robinson Training Complex. This marks the seventh consecutive year the FHSAA Softball State Finals will take place in Vero Beach.