EVENTS
WORLD OCEAN DAY - A family festival day of games, crafts and environmental education in honor of Earth’s wondrous oceans, runs from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., June 7, Mote Aquarium Courtyard, 1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy., Sarasota. Festival admission: free with an aquarium ticket or Mote Membership. Admission prices: $17, adults; $16, seniors; and $12, children ages 4-12. Kids 3 and younger get in free. Learn more at www.mote.org or call 388-4441.
ST. ARMANDS CRAFT FESTIVAL - Outdoor craft showcase with sales of folk art, pottery, jewelry, paintings, clothing, and more, June 13-14, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at St. Armands Circle. Visit www.artfestival.com.
HALF-PRICE BOOK SALE - The Friends of the Fruitville Library, 100 Coburn Rd., are having a book sale July 13-18 during regular library hours. Recent, vintage, adult and children’s, fiction, nonfiction, hardcover and paperback books will be on sale at rock-bottom prices. Call 861-2500.
BREAKFAST AND DINNER AT VAMO UMC - Roast pork dinner, June 12, 5:30-7 p.m., Cost: $9. Pancake breakfast, June 13, 7-11 a.m. Love offering appreciated. Vamo UMC is at 8521 Vamo Rd. Call 966-3306.
BABY BIRD SHOWER - Save Our Seabirds baby bird shower, June 18, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Call 383-4888 for reservations and list of items needed. Cost: $35. Food provided by Whitney Beach Deli.
WINE TASTING - Sample a variety of fine wines June 4, 5-7 p.m., at South Trail Liquors, 7310 S. Tamiami Tr. Call 927-9463.
LIME MARKETPLACE - Open every Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. with farm produce, food, and quality discount items such as clothing, collectibles, furniture, crafts and toys. Located just two blocks east of U.S. 301 between Twelfth Street and Fruitville Road, at 1126 North Lime Ave. Call 780-2541; www.limemarketplace.com.
FARMERS’ MARKETS - Downtown every Saturday, 7 a.m.-noon, at Lemon Ave. and Main St., sponsored by the Downtown Merchants Association. Call 951-2456. Siesta Key Village every Sunday, 7 a.m.-1 p.m., Ocean Blvd. at Davidson’s parking lot. Visit www.siestafarmersmarket.com.
CLASSES/PROGRAMS
LITTORAL SOCIETY - Moonlight kayak trip on little Sarasota Bay to Palmer Point, June 5, 7-9:30 p.m. Cost: $20-$25. Kayak/snorkel excursion from Turtle Beach to Point of Rocks, June 9, 8:30-11:30 a.m. Cost: $20-$25. Kayak trip at Bird Key/South Lido Park, June 11, 8:30-11:30 a.m. Cost: $20-$25. Equipment and training provided. Call John Sarkozy for all trips at 966-7308.
SIERRA CLUB - Full Moon Walk June 6, 7 p.m., a 4-mile walk starting on Caspersen Beach. Wear sturdy shoes; bring water and a finger food potluck item. Meet at Sharky’s on the Pier, 1600 Harbor Drive, Venice. Donation: $5. Reserve space with Sally at 484-4113.
MOTE MARINE TURTLE WALKS - In collaboration with Hilton Longboat Key beachfront Resort and the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota. Hilton walks begin at 6:45 a.m. every Saturday in June and July. Meet at Hilton pool area. Ritz-Carlton walks begin at 7 a.m. every Saturday through Sept. 12. Meet at the North Lido lifeguard stand on Lido Beach. Visit www.mote.org.
BIRDING FOR BEGINNERS - Join Nancy Edmondson, environmental specialist with Sarasota County Natural Resources, in search of the summer resident birds in the South Venice Lemon Bay Preserve, June 4, 7:30-10 a.m. Bring binoculars. Register online at www.scgov.net. Click Calendar of Events on the left. Click the All Events drop-down list; choose Nature Walks and click Go. On the bottom of each nature walk entry is an area that states, "Click here for registration." Residents also may call 861-5000 and ask for Natural Resources.
SARASOTA OPERA GUILD - The first in a series of three Summer Salons, June 17 at Bird Key Yacht Club, 11 a.m., featuring young pianist Vera Shigemi Higgs in a musical program following a social hour and luncheon. Tickets: $35. Send checks made out to Sarasota Opera Guild to Carolyn Allworth, 4036 Westfield Ct., Sarasota, FL 34233 by June 12. For additional information, contact Karen Iezzi at 378-5619.
EAT, DRINK AND THINK - Guest speaker Samuel C. Holladay, AIA, of Seibert Architects, June 15, 6:30-9:30 p.m., at Canvas Café, 239 S. Links in the Towles Court Art District. Cost: $40. Call 366-2233; visit www.canvascafesrq.com.
HOME BUYERS SEMINAR - "How the Stimulus Package Helps You Buy a Home," June 9, 6 p.m. at the John Cannon Homes complex, 6710 Professional Parkway W., Suite 201, Lakewood Ranch. To register, call 556-0500 or e-mail register@cornerstonetitle.biz.
BOAT SAFETY COURSE - Offered by the Sarasota Power Squadron at the Squadron Bldg., 2814 Hyde Park St, on two Saturdays, starting on June 6 and ending on June 13, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Successful completion will qualify individuals for the Florida Safe Boaters Certificate. Cost: $55. Call 400-6467 or e-mail albur103a@yahoo.com.
FRENCH COURSE - Viewing and talking about French movies, Wednesdays, 5-7 p.m., June 10-Aug. 12, at 3807 Belmont Blvd. Cost: $180. Call Marie-Christine Rouffiac at 371-7495; visit www.afsarasota.org.
TEMPLE BETH ISRAEL - Summer programs begin on June 8, with weekly games and bridge afternoons, at 567 Bay Isles Rd., Longboat Key. Other events include attendance at a musical event at Holley Hall and a visit to the Historic Asolo Theatre on July 9 to see a performance of the circus, with lunch at the Treviso. Call Maye Lavinson at 383-6367 or the temple office at 383-3428.
BUCKLE UP BABY - Sarasota County’s only source for car seat safety checks: free at Forty Carrots Family Center, Wednesdays – June 10, July 8, Aug.. 12. Call 365-7716 or e-mail info@fortycarrots.com to schedule an appointment.
BEGINNER BAGPIPE LESSONS - The Jacobites Band offers classes starting June 13 from 1-2 p.m. at Church of the Palms Youth Annex, 3224 Bee Ridge Road. Scholarships available. Call 350-0271 to register.
NRA FIRST STEPS PISTOL COURSE - The Firearms Training Institute of Sarasota four-hour pistol course, June 6, 8 a.m. at the AmericInn Hotel, 5931 Fruitville Road. This course meets the Florida training requirements for concealed carry permit applicants. Non-residents are also eligible to attend. Contact Dr. Gerald Colbert at 706-4358 or drgeraldcolbert@gmail.com or www.ftisarasota.com.
MEETINGS
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS - Food For Thought meeting, June 9, 9-10 a.m. at Waterside Estates, 4540 Bee Ridge Road. Jeremy Wallace, Sarasota Herald-Tribune political reporter and columnist, will speak on what to expect in the 2010 election cycle. Meeting open to the public. A donation of $3 covers continental breakfast. For reservations, call Kim at 921-9778 or e-mail lwvsc@verizon.net. For more information about the LWV, visit www.sarasota-fl-us.org
DAR - Daughters of the American Revolution Allapattah Chapter Flag Day Luncheon, June 13, 11:30 a.m. University Park Country Club, 7671 The Park Blvd. Cost: $23. Call Carolyn Brooks at 351-3925 by June 10.
SIERRA CLUB - Monthly general meeting, June 11, 7 p.m., at the Edson Keith Mansion, Phillippi Estate Park, with naturalist Wendell Vaught talking on "The Undiscovered Everglades." Take a visual tour of the River of Grass in the Everglades to explore wildlife and nature. Bring a friend and a dessert for the social afterwards.
YES - Young Entrepreneurs of Sarasota share success strategies every Tuesday, 11:30 a.m., at Clayton’s Siesta Grille, 1256 Old Stickney Pt. Rd., Siesta Key. Cost: $12 at the door, includes lunch. Visit www.yes941.com.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS - Siesta Key Men’s Group meets at Siesta Beach Shelter, south side of Siesta Beach. Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. Open to all. Call 951-6810.
JUST FOR KIDS
CYD ACTIVITIES - Community Youth Development and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County present "Game Room Night" for teens in grades 6-12, June 12, 7-9 p.m. Teens will have the chance to hang out with friends and choose from a variety of games. Refreshments will be served. The Roy McBean Club is located at 1790 21st St. For more information, call 953-9549. "Club Scene" for teens in grades 6-8, June 12, 7-11 p.m. Teens will be able to play basketball, dance to a DJ’s tunes, play in the game room or just hang out with their friends. Refreshments will be served, at the Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club, located at 3100 Fruitville Road. For more information call 366-7940. "Teen Scene" for teens in grades 6-8, June 13, 7-11 p.m. Teens can hang out with their friends, dance to a DJ’s tunes, and play basketball, ping pong or Wally ball. Pizza and soda will be provided. Tickets will be on sale for $3 at the Evalyn Sadlier Jones YMCA during regular business hours Monday through Friday, 5:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturdays, 7 a.m.-6:30 p.m.; and Sundays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. beginning a week before the event. Any remaining tickets go on sale at 6:30 p.m. the night of the event. Tickets will be available to the first 250 teens. The Evalyn Sadlier Jones YMCA is located at 8301 Potter Park Dr. For more information call 922-9622. To get into any CYD event, be sure to bring your photo ID (CYD photo ID, school ID, yearbook, driver’s license, passport or other photo ID.)
FRENCH COURSE - "Painting in French: The Impressionist Way," Thursdays, 4-6 p.m., July 2-30 at 3807 Belmont Blvd. Cost: $100, includes materials. Call Marie-Christine Rouffiac at 371-7495, visit www.afsarasota.org.
SUNCOAST BUCCANEERS - The Suncoast Buccaneers are looking for children ages 5-16 to participate in Pop Warner Youth Football and cheerleading. Visit www.suncoastbuccaneers.com or e-mail suncoastbucs@gmail.com for information. Registration is going on for the fall season.
ETC.
BLOODMOBILE SCHEDULE - Call the Suncoast Communities Blood Bank at 954-1600. June 4, 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., The Meadows, 2004 Longmeadow; June 5, 1:30-4:30 p.m., Palmer Ranch, 5111 Palmer Ranch; June 6, 8:30 a.m.-11 a.m., Gulf Gate Library, 7112 Curtiss Ave.; June 6, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Publix – Pint for Pint, 4840 S. Tamiami Tr.; June 6, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Publix – Pint for Pint, 3428 Clark Rd.; June 6, noon-2:30 p.m., Seventh-Day Adventist, 5764 Churchill Down Rd.; June 7, 8 a.m.-noon, Shriners/Masons, 600 N. Beneva Rd.; June 7, 8:45 a.m.-noon, Grace Baptist Church, 8000 Bee Ridge Rd.; June 7, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Church of the Palms, 3224 Bee Ridge Rd.; June 7, 9:45 a.m.-12:45 a.m., St. Paul Lutheran Church, 2256 Bahia Vista; June 7, 1:30-4:30 p.m., Sweetbay, 4230 Bee Ridge Rd.; June 7, 2-4:30 p.m., Publix, 5804 Bee Ridge Rd.; June 8, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., University Park Country Club, 7671 Park Blvd.; June 9, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Sarasota Memorial Hospital auditorium, 1700 S. Tamiami Tr.; June 10, 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m., SMH auditorium; June 11, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., SMH auditorium.