EVENTS
HUMANE SOCIETY ADOPTION EVENT - Feb. 13, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., in front of Siesta Key Hardware and Garden off Ocean Blvd. (215 Canal Rd.) Humane Society and Animal Services of Sarasota County to host "Weekend of Love." Each adoption nets the owner a Valentine’s Day rose. Smooch a pooch booth and pet therapy teams to be available, too. Call 349-0332.
RED TIDE FORUM - Feb. 10, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at the Keating Marine Education Center, Mote Marine Laboratory, 1599 Ken Thompson Parkway. Free public forum on the grants funded through the Red Tide Control and Mitigation Project, including an overview and research results, plus Q&A session.
CONA SCHOOL TAX DEBATE - Feb. 8, 7 p.m., at the Sarasota Garden Club, 1131 Blvd. of the Arts. Schools Superintendent Lori White and Jane Goodwin, who chairs the PAC seeking renewal of the tax, to debate Rod Thompson, editor of the Gulf Coast Business Review, and Rich Swier, prominent Republican and political blogger. Members of the public and CONA members invited to attend and ask questions.
SIESTA KEY CRAFT FAIR - Feb. 6-7, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., in Siesta Key Village along Ocean Boulevard and Beach Rd., featuring unique blend of contemporary, original works at affordable prices. Admission free; visit www.artfestival.com; call 954-472-3755.
SAVE OUR SEABIRDS FOOD & WINE TASTING - Feb. 10, 6-9 p.m., 1708 Ken Thompson Parkway. Valentine Love Birds Food & Wine Tasting; includes silent auction and entertainment. Tickets: $35. Sponsors are Whole Foods and Sirard’s Chocolates. Visit www.saveourseabirds.org, e-mail saveourseabirds@gmail.com or call 383-3010.
WINE TASTING - Feb. 9, 6-8 p.m., at Crescent Beach Grocery, 1211 Old Stickney Point Road. Complimentary admission; call 312-0472.
SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE - Feb. 13, 10:30 a.m., at Unity Hall, 3023 Proctor Rd. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, to speak under the auspices of the Congregation for Humanistic Judaism. For more information, call 309-3216.
BOOK SIGNING - Feb. 12, 1 p.m., at Circle Books, 478 John Ringling Blvd., featuring Gainesville author Art Adkins, who won 2008 Detective Suspense Book of the Year Award from Books-and-Authors.net. Free.
QUILT AND CRAFT SALE - Feb. 10-13 at Palm Grove Mennonite Church, 1087 Beneva Rd.: Wednesday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m.-noon. Quilts of all sizes offered, mostly Amish-made. Numerous and varied crafts. All net proceeds go to Haiti mission project involving several schools with 600-plus students and feeding program. Donation: $2 at the door.
INDOOR TAG SALE - Feb. 13, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., at 5741 Bee Ridge Rd., with small appliances, crystal, toys, books, tools, etc., plus a rep from Noble Jewelers of Fort Myers buying gold and silver. All funds raised go to the Doctors Hospital Scholarship Fund.
6TH ANNUAL KIDS SAFETY RALLY - Feb. 6, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. ,at 6221 Proctor Rd. Parents encouraged to bring their children to learn personal safety skills. Rally presented by the Central Church of Christ and community organizations. Event being held in memory of 11-year-old Carlie Brucia, whose body was found on the church’s property in February 2004 after she was abducted and murdered. Food and beverages to be sold with proceeds benefitting various community children’s services and activities. For more information, contact Rod Myers at 924-0095.
PURIM MASQUERADE BALL - Feb. 20, 6-10 p.m., at Temple Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Rd. Deadline to register: Feb. 12. Public invited to don costumes, grab masks and join in the fun. Evening to feature dinner, dancing to a live band, open bar, prizes for best costume and silent auction. Free on-site baby-sitting provided. Contribution: $50 per person. For more information and to reserve a spot, send a check and names of attendees to Temple Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Road, Sarasota, FL 34232, or contact Masquerade Ball chair Helena Ozer, 377-4007.
EDUCATION FAIR - Feb. 11, noon-1 p.m., at Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, 4780 Cattlemen Road; and Feb. 18, 5-7 p.m., at YMCA Potters Park Teen Center, 8301 Potter Park Drive. Meet representatives from local independent schools and explore what makes each school unique. Learn from the experiences of current independent school students and their families. Free; 922-5437.
BOOK SIGNING AND RECEPTION - Feb. 13, 4 p.m., at the Kobernick House, 1951 N. Honore Ave. New York Times best-selling author and Edgar Award winner Alex Berenson to discuss his upcoming book, "The Midnight House." Berenson is also a reporter for The New York Times. Book and reception, $45; $60 per couple. Wine & hors d’oeuvres to be served. To purchase tickets or for more information, contact Mindi Rohan, 377-0781, or mrohan@kobernickanchin.org.
BLESSING OF ANIMALS - Feb. 13, 11 a.m., at Vamo United Methodist Church, 8521 Vamo Rd. Bring your favorite pets to the 2nd annual Blessing of the Animals following a pancake breakfast. All animals welcome. For details, call the church office, 966-3306.
PAWS ON PARADE - Feb. 6, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at Twin Lakes Park, 6700 Clark Rd. Come with 4-legged friend(s) and family for a relaxed 1-mile walk around the park. Event is for individual walkers, families, businesses and organizations; all animal lovers welcome. Registration: 9:30 a.m.; walk ends at 11:30 a.m. Rain or shine. Cost: $10 per walker; children under 13, free. For more information, call Junior League of Sarasota, 953-5600, or visit www.jlsarasota.org.
ARTISTS’ MARKET - Every Saturday, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m., Historic Burns Square, corner of Pineapple and Laurel Streets, 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.
CLASSES/PROGRAMS
FASHION AS ART - Feb. 10, 6-8 p.m., at Art Center Sarasota, 707 N. Tamiami Tr. Art historian Jean Renoux’s second lecture of the season. Cost: $5, ACS members; $8, non-members. For more information, call 365-2032.
NATURE WALK - Feb. 7, 7:30 a.m.-noon, at T. Mabry Carlton Jr. Memorial Reserve, 1800 Mabry Carlton Parkway, Venice. Join Charlie Sample from Friends of the Carlton and Venice Audubon Society as he leads a birding nature walk. Space unlimited; no reservations necessary. For beginning birders to experts; however, children under 12 not encouraged to come because of the distance covered. Contact the Sarasota County Call Center at 861-5000 and ask for Natural Resources.
NONVIOLENT COMMUNICATION - Feb. 6, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at Friends Meeting House, 3139 57th Street, at Lockwood Ridge Rd. Learn skills of deep listening, empathic presence and expressing authentically from the heart. Cost: $40, or 2 for $70. Registration & information: 492-9279.
GROWING ROSES - Feb. 11, 9:30 a.m., at the Sarasota Garden Club, 1131 Blvd of the Arts. Guest speaker: Ron Mallory, retired curator of the Mable Ringling Rose Garden. Free; 955-0875.
MASTERS AND MASTERPIECES OF MUSIC - Feb. 10, 10:30 a.m., "Verdi: ‘Giovanna D’Arco’ and Verdi’s early style. Lecture by John Goodman, professor emeritus, Boston University. In Selby Library’s Geldbart Auditorium; 1331 1st St.; 861-5000.
INTERNET SAFETY - Feb. 9, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota, 100 Blvd. of the Arts. Junior League of Sarasota hosting a panel discussion on Internet safety for children and teens: "Do You Know What is Happening to Your Kids Online? Cyber Bullying and Other Internet Crimes Against Children." Seating limited. RSVP to the Junior League, 953-5600.
FUTURE OF NEWSPAPERS - Feb. 9, 7 p.m., at the Mildred Sainer Pavilion, 5313 Bay Shore Rd. Topic, "Out of Print: The Future of the American Newspaper," to be discussed by guest panelists including Andrew Barnes, former chairman and CEO, St. Petersburg Times, and chair emeritus, Poynter Institute for Media Studies; and Mike Connelly, executive editor, Sarasota Herald-Tribune. For more information, contact Linda Joffe, 487-4154, or ljoffe@ncf.edu.
"CLUB SCENE" - Feb. 12, 7-10 p.m., at The Robert and Joan Lee Boys & Girls Club, 920 Gulfcoast Blvd., Venice, for teens in grades 6-8. Teens will be able to play basketball, dance to a DJ, play in the game room or just hang out with their friends. Refreshments served. For more information call 485-7050. Remember: To get into any CYD event, be sure to bring photo ID (CYD photo ID, school ID, yearbook, driver’s license, passport or other photo ID).
SILL MUSIC MONDAYS - Feb. 8, 10:30 a.m., at Holley Hall, 709 N. Tamiami Trl. "What is an English Horn?" presented by Adam De Sorgo. Cost: $7. For details, call 365-6404 or visit www.sillsarasota.org.
BOOKS AND COFFEE - Feb. 9, 10:30 a.m., Selby Public Library, 1331 1st St. "Social Intelligence – The revolutionary science of human relationships" by Daniel Goleman; reviewed by Dr. Emanuel Tanay, professor of clinical psychiatry, Wayne State University Medical School,
FUN WITH FLOWERS - Feb 9, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at the Sarasota Garden Club, 1131 Blvd. of the Arts. "Hearts and Flowers": floral Valentine design; roses, carnations, cookies and fun. Cost: $20 per session; pre-registration required. Classes limited to the first 20 people to register. Contact the Garden Club between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., 955-0875, or visit sgcgarden@aol.com.
BOATING COURSE - Feb. 13, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., in McClure Auditorium, Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Safe Boating Course. Building is located next to baggage claim area at the south end of the airport. Registration: 8:30 a.m. Course is free, but approved workbook is $40; bring a friend, spouse or child, and the second book is $20. Lunch available in the area. E-mail to confirm attendance: F83PEduc@aol.com, or call 752-6273 for more information.
JUNG SOCIETY - Feb. 12, 7 p.m., at the Unitarian Universalist Church, Euclid Avenue. Topic: "Dysfunctional God Images in a Broken World. For more information, call 312-9062.
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.
PHILATHELIC CLUB - Feb. 5-6, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Feb. 7, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., at the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium, 801 N. Tamiami Tr. More than 40 dealers to be available to assist with all stamp needs. Free appraisals, plus silent auction, learning center and door prizes. Admission free. For more information, call 907-6604.
INDIANA PICNIC - Feb. 11, noon, at the Turtle Beach Pavilion on Midnight Pass Rd. Bring all of your "Indiana" friends. Meat choices to be provided. Bring a covered dish, table service and lawn chairs. For more information, call 929-7565 or 926-1852.
KIWANIS CLUB - Feb. 12, noon, at the Golden Apple Dinner Theater in downtown Sarasota. Speaker: Florida operations director of the Baltimore Orioles. Lunch: $8. Phone or e-mail JoRita for any questions, 366-0261, or oritas@comcast.net.
BUTTON COLLECTORS CLUB - Feb. 10, 12:30-3 p.m., at the Gulf Gate Public Library, 7112 Curtiss Ave. Program topic: "Buttons Made of Horn." Meetings held the 2nd Wednesday of the month, February through May. For further information, contact Helen Pelta, 722-9960, or hhpelta@msn.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 - Feb. 7 2:15-4:45 p.m., at Publix – Centergate, 5804 Bee Ridge Rd. Feb. 8, 1-4 p.m., at Iberia Bank, 2207 Gulf Gate Dr. Feb. 11, 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., at The Meadows, 2004 Longmeadow. Feb. 12, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Gateway Professional Partners, 501 N. Cattlemen Rd. For more information, contact Suncoast Communities Blood Bank, 954-1600.