EVENTS
ALL TRAILS HIKE - Jan. 9, with hikes beginning from 7-9 a.m. at Oscar Scherer State Park, 1843 S. Tamiami Tr., Osprey. Cost: $10, except for those under 16. Fee includes entry to the park; snacks; water; juices along the route; and lunch. Proceeds go to Friends of Oscar Scherer Park, a 501(c)(3) citizen support organization for education and other activities in aid of the threatened Florida scrub jay.
TRUTH FORUM - Jan. 7, 7:30 p.m. in Holley Hall at the Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center, 709 N. Tamiami Tr. Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist Mark Thompson to speak on "Afghanistan, ‘The Graveyard of Empires.’ Will the U.S. Be Next?" Tickets may be purchased online at www.forumtruth.org or by calling 941-349-8350.
RACING DOG RESCUE - Jan. 16, noon-3 p.m., at 1801 Verna Road, Myakka City. Project will be the first ever greyhound adopt-a-thon. No adoptions will take place at the event; however, representatives to be available to discuss the breed help fill out applications for adoptions. For more information contact Pam Driggs, 941-371-8707.
DOLLHOUSE MINIATURES FESTIVAL - Jan. 10, 11 a.m.- 4 p.m., at the Holiday Inn Lakewood Ranch, 6231 Lake Osprey Drive. Cost: adults, $6; children, $4. Featuring artisans from the U.S. and France with dolls, teddy bears, dollhouse furniture, accessories and more, all for sale. For details, call 371-3193 or visit www.mollycromwell.com.
ARTISTS’ MARKET - Every Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Historic Burns Square, corner of Pineapple and Laurel Streets. Open through May 8. Call 927-6845; visit artistsmarket.shutterfly.com.
FARMERS’ MARKETS - Downtown every Saturday, 7 a.m.–1 p.m. at Lemon Ave. and Main St. Call 951-2456. Siesta Key Village Market every Sunday, 8 a.m.–1 p.m., on Ocean Blvd. at Davidson’s Plaza. Visit www.siestafarmersmarket.com.
SUNSHINE FROM DARKNESS - Jan 10, 6:30 p.m. 13th annual Sunshine from Darkness Gala at the Ritz-Carlton, to benefit research on mental illness and brain disease through the International Mental Health Research Organization. Cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and food provided by the Ritz-Carlton. Honoree: Gary Foster, producer of "The Soloist." RSVP by Dec. 31. www.sunshinefromdarkness.org.
AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE - Dec. 28-Jan. 6 at the Triple J Ranch in Sarasota. Event is for tie-down roping, breakaway roping, daily team roping-heading and daily team roping-heeling enthusiasts. For additional information contact AQHA at 806-376-4811 or visit www.aqha.com.
HISTORICAL NATURE WALK - Jan. 6, 9-11 a.m. Join Sarasota County Environmental Specialist Jeff Weber at the Pocono Trail Preserve in Nokomis. Learn about Calusa Indians, who once inhabited the area and were early pioneers in the development of Nokomis and Venice. Register online at www.scgov.net. For more information on this or future nature walks, contact the Sarasota County Call Center at 861-5000 and ask for Natural Resources.
CLASSES/PROGRAMS
MUSIC MONDAYS - Jan. 4, 10:30 a.m., at Holley Hall 709 N. Tamiami Tr. "Instrumentally Yours": June LeBell gives an overview of her series, with recorded video and audio clips. Cost: $7. For more information, visit www.sillsarasota.org or call 364-6404.
WRITERS IN FILM SERIES - Jan. 5, 2 p.m., at Selby Public Library 1331 First St. Author James Baldwin’s life is covered in the documentary, "The Price of the Ticket." Program is free and open to the public. Call 861-5000 or visit scllbs.net.
EBOOT CAMP WORKSHOP - Jan. 7, 6-8:30 p.m., at Hyatt Place Sarasota. Residents and small business owners to have a chance to learn Internet marketing and social media strategies from best-selling author Corey Perlman. For more information, visit www.theebootcamp.com/preview.
HABITAT RESTORATION WORKDAY - Jan. 6, 8:30-11:30 a.m., at the American Littoral Society’s native plant nursery located at the Osprey Preserve on Little Sarasota Bay. ALS is growing plants for its restoration project at various local parks and will be removing invasive exotic plants to replant with natives. Contact John Sarkozy at 966-7308.
ART CLASSES - Starting Jan. 4, Ringling College of Art and Design will host creative studio classes and workshops for adults, teens and children. From January through April chose from a vast selection of classes ranging from one-day workshops to 10-session courses. For details and registration visit www.Ringling.EDU/CSSP or call 955-8866.
CHRIST INTERNATIONAL - Jan. 7, 12:15-1:30 p.m., at the Alderman Oaks Retirement Residence, with a new series called "10 Challenges Christian Business Leaders Face." Program materials come from the writings of John Beckett, CEO of R.W. Beckett Corporation. For more information, or to register for the next luncheon, contact Ken Carle at 379-2737, or e-mail him at disney@comcast.net.
MEETINGS
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, 8 a.m. Open to all. Call 951-6810.
ETC.
BLOODMOBILE SCHEDULE - Jan. 2, 8-10:30 a.m., at the Publix on 3428 Clark Rd.; Jan. 3, 8:45 a.m.-noon, Grace Baptist Church, 8000 Bee Ridge Rd.; Jan. 3, 1:30-4 p.m., Sweetbay, 4230 Bee Ridge Rd.; Jan. 5, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Sarasota County Administration Center 1660 Ringling Blvd.; and Jan. 6, 4-8 p.m., Bahia Vista Mennonite Church, 4041 Bahia Vista. For questions, call the Suncoast Communities Blood Bank, 954-1600.