Good News Items
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Charlotte County Weekly Department Highlights Published 8/21/18 Community Services Charlotte Sports Park Last week, at the Charlotte Sports Park, the Charlotte Stone Crabs wrapped up a three-game stent against the Bradenton Marauders and afterward took on the Dunedin Blue Jays for another four games at home. On Wednesday, 8/8, there were 202 fans in attendance as the Crabs beat the Marauders three runs to two. For the first game versus the Dunedin Blue Jays, on 8/9, the Stone Crabs took the win, also three runs to two. Attendance was 506 at this game. On Thursday, 8/10, with 336 in attendance, the Stone Crabs landed another win, at seven runs to six. Friday, 8/11, saw a third win for the Stone Crabs over the Blue Jays, with a final score of ten runs to eight and a crowd of 2,329 attending. The last game in the home stretch was played on Saturday, 8/12, at Charlotte Sports Park. The Stone Crabs and the Blue Jays faced off with 442 fans in attendance. From 8/13 through 8/16, the Stone Crabs are away from home, challenging the Fort Myers Miracle. They will return to Charlotte Sports Park on Friday, 8/17, to begin a three-game home stent against the Palm Beach Cardinals. The Gulf Coast League played two games on practice field five this week at Charlotte Sports Park, and one game on the stadium field. Field five games were held on Thursday, 8/9, where attendance was counted at 49, and on Saturday, 8/11, with attendance of 44. The game held in the stadium took place on Monday, 8/13, with 50 in attendance. Coming up, GCL will play one more game on practice field five, on Friday, 8/17. Their next three games following will take place in the stadium field on 8/20, 8/22 and 8/25. Harold Avenue Park Last week here at Harold Ave Park we held Summer Camp Monday through Thursday, from 7:15 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pickleball was held here on Monday from 9:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m., Wednesday night from 6:30-9 p.m. and Friday from 12:30-3:30 p.m. Table Tennis was held Thursday from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and again on Friday from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Adult Drop-In Basketball was held on Monday from 6:30-9 p.m. and again on Saturday from 12:30-3 p.m. Adult Drop-In Volleyball was held on Thursday, from 6:30-9 p.m. The summer also officially came to an end as it was the last week of Summer Camp. Due to school starting last Friday, this week was cut short by a day. On Wednesday, the Harold staff along with the camp counselors organized a water-day for all the campers. It consisted of a lot of water balloons, Slip n' Slides, water guns and of course tons of fun! On Thursday, Stealth Mobile Laser Tag came to Harold and set up for a Battle Royale in the gymnasium. Also on Thursday, the kids got to take their best shot at the staff members. The kids had what some might say was too good of a time throwing water balloons at the staff! Their torment of our staff on the last day made it just a bit easier to see all their smiling faces leave us until next summer. We wish them all the best of luck in their school year. The Bonsai held their weekly class on Saturday, from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Youth Drop-In Basketball was also held on Saturday, from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Ann & Chuck Dever Regional Park Pool For the week of 7/31 through 8/6, Ann & Chuck Dever Regional Park Pool had 540 paid admissions, was visited by 193 pass holders, and 68 water aerobics participants. The Charlotte County Blue Fins held five swim practices resulting in approximately 20 “splashes.” Page 1 of 4 Port Charlotte Beach Park This last weekend at Port Charlotte Beach, we had a Neighborhood watch meeting with 26 in attendance and over the weekend we had a large staff retreat for one of our local community churches. Looking to next week we will have training classes scheduled every day of the week, a Neighborhood watch meeting, youth sports council meeting, Yoga in the park, and a huge private rental over the weekend. Natural Resources Land Management staff attended first aid training. This is an important training program for our division, for as much of the work we conduct is outside and often with hazards present. Staff treated 22-acres of cogon grass at Shell Creek Preserve. Staff also followed up on a nuisance alligator complaint at Sunrise Park. No alligators were observed in the area. Port Charlotte Public Library Port Charlotte Library staff members attended Liberty Elementary and Port Charlotte Middle School Open House last week. We were pleased to have the opportunity to discuss programming ideas with the families prior to the publication of the fall activity guide. On Thursday, Aug. 9, we kicked off our first Community Art Show. Artwork from our patrons will be on display for all to enjoy until Sept. 15. The response to this neighborhood activity has been met with great enthusiasm by artists and spectators alike. Englewood Charlotte Public Library On Aug. 8, Englewood Public Library staff members talked to almost 200 children and their parents at the Vineland Elementary “Back to School” event. Students came in to meet their teachers and drop off their supplies for the new school year. Several area businesses and community groups came out to support these families and get the kids excited about going back to school. The Friends of the Englewood Charlotte Library sponsored some giveaways for the kids including book bags, book marks, pencils and stickers that say “I love reading.” Punta Gorda Public Library On Friday, Aug. 10, the Punta Gorda Herald Community Beat featured the library’s Yoga Tots Storytime. Page 2 of 4 Mid-County Regional Library The Mid-County Regional Library story time, now being held on Saturdays, has been a success. This past Saturday, we celebrated the letter B with 19 children and 17 parents attending. This drop-in style story time is held in the main part of the Children’s area, allowing families who don’t know about the program to still join in. Libraries & History Division Our Community Conversation activities continued with a discussion held at Punta Gorda Isles Civic Association on Friday, 8/10. Twenty-six members participated in the discussion with Librarian Supervisor LeAnn Beckwith moderating and Historian Annette Snapp taking notes. History Services On Thursday, Aug. 9, Joe Guerzo and a team of Historical Voyager volunteers presented “Language of the Fan” to about 30 attendees at Tringali Park’s summer camp. Joe started each session with a presentation on how during the 18th and 19th centuries, certain movements with a fan could communicate any message from a simple “yes” or “no” to a more complex “do not betray our secret” or “I promise to marry you.” Thus, women could communicate how they felt about another person or answer a question with a single gesture of the fan. After that lesson, the kids were taught how to make their own fans with the materials provided. By the end of the day, the kids were communicating non-verbally with their self-made fans. More importantly, they had a good time while learning something new. Facilities Construction & Maintenance Project Management Construction began on the Records Center building for the Justice Center renovation project. Forensic Testing of the Justice Center exterior started this week. The Tringali Park Request for Letters of Interest was re-advertised. Repairs and Maintenance Facilities Work Order history for the week of Aug. 5 through Aug. 11: (61 created - 49 closed) FWO's Closed: (7 electrical/lighting; 7 plumbing/irrigation; 10 HVAC; 19 various carpentry/building trades; 6 others). Placida Park Boat Ramp lighting LED replacement-poles/fixtures on order and engineering and contractor’s evaluations and estimates in progress. Englewood Beach Turtle Lighting upgrades-waiting for fixtures to arrive. Zemel Rd. Maintenance Building LED lighting replacement is completed. Page 3 of 4 Fire Station #3 septic tank replacement in permitting. Mid-County Regional Library interior remodel is complete. The exterior bollard lighting replacement project is in progress. Carport project for Facilities Building D storage of scissor lift and trailer is in permitting - steel is on order. State Health Dept. parking lot lighting LED retrofit is in progress. Painting is complete at the stadium concourse and outbuilding portion of the Sports Park. Page 4 of 4 .