A Dino-rrific Good Time!

"Hey Dinosaurs, its rock 'n roll time! Slick back your scales and get ready to romp on Saturday night at the Dinosaur Stomp!" Ms. Jeanne took Stoneybrook children on a journey through the biggest, best dance in all of dinosaur land. The children were able to dance around like dinosaurs and were even given a cute mini-dinosaur to take home to remember the event!

In preparation for a sweet treat, Ms. Jeanne read an excellent pop-up book called Cookie Count by Robert Sabuda! After the stories, the children enjoyed delicious brownies made by Ms. Jeanne herself! Story Time was dino-rrific!

A special thanks to Stoneybrook children and their parents for attending! An extra special thanks to Ms. Jeanne for a great time, great stories, and special treats!

We hope to see you and your child at Story Time on September 13th from 6:00-6:30 when Ms. Cathy stops by for another visit! Story Time is held each Monday from 6:00-6:30pm and promises to be a fun activity for you and your child. Join the Stoneybrook Misses Cathy, Jan, Jeanne, Cindy and Dawn for a great time!

*Reminder: we will not have Story Time on Labor Day--Monday, September 6th.

Bits and Pieces by Joyce Sandy

“By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea”
Harry Carroll and Harold Atteridge

The sea has always attracted me, and islands offer ideal settings for a seaside refuge. Long Island (LI) stretches one hundred miles from the busy urban centers of Brooklyn and Queens at its western end, to farms, wineries, villages, and seaside resorts at the eastern end. As a child I spent all of my summers just a few miles from the eastern tip of LI in the small village of Sag Harbor, which started in 1700 as a whaling town. This is probably where my fascination with the seaside has its roots.

This north shore LI location has gritty sand beaches along the serene sapphire water of Gardiners Bay. Weather worn decks jut out from the backs of the faded gray, shingled beach houses that dot the shoreline for a mile or two. Just a short bike ride away is the southern LI shore with its wild grasses, white sand dunes, and the pounding blue-gray surf of the Atlantic Ocean. Last year I had lunch with two of my childhood friends who have returned to Sag Harbor to retire. We spent hours remembering the old times, old friends, and all the fun we had on those north and south shore beaches.

Since the Sag Harbor days of my youth, I have had the good fortune to spend time on many other islands. The Greek island of Santorini, is one of my favorites. All of the buildings are gleaming white stucco. Some have cobalt domes, and many are adorned with cascading fuchsia blossoms of bougainvillea. These white buildings are built into the sides of cliffs. In some places the cliff side villages are so steep that you can only reach the top by foot or burro. There is a cable car for the descent. It is impressive to sail into the island and observe the white cliffs rising from the cobalt blue of the Aegean Sea waters.

An all time favorite of mine is Bora Bora, an exotic Tahitian island which sits in the middle of a turquoise lagoon. The lagoon lies within a coral reef called an atoll. The atoll protrudes above the water forming an almost perfect circle. Ships from the waters of the South Pacific navigate into the lagoon through a small break in the atoll. As you enter the lagoon by boat the contrast between the deep blue of the Pacific and lagoon waters is stunning. This island was formed by the remnants of a volcano, and grass covered, twin peaks from the old volcano rise from the island's center. From the white sand beaches which encircle the island, you can see many wooden thatched roof bungalows which are built on stilts over the waters of the lagoon. The houses are linked by a flower laden network of boardwalks. It is a truly striking sight to behold.

My latest island retreat is Longboat Key. At the north end of the island there are only a few parking spaces available. This limits the number of people with access to the area. If you pick a good time, (early or late) it is possible to claim an empty portion of the beach as your own. The sand is soft and white and appears to be untouched. If you walk to the very end of the island, which is just across from the south end of Anna Maria Island, you will see beautiful twisted shapes of silvery driftwood. I feel lucky that an island retreat is just a short distance away, and I can continue to enjoy the beautiful sea.

Mechants Of Venice

The Harbour Hatties recently visited the Merchants of Venice.  Sounds like an educated group, right?  Well it was!  All eleven Hatties were well educated in shopping for savings as they explored the varied consignment and second hand stores that the city of Venice offers on Friday, August 27th. Details.

Free Lakewood Ranch Medical Seminars

Newborn Baby Boot Camp
Speaker: Xavier Sevilla, MD Whole Child Pediatrics
LWRMC Conference Room 1
October 12, 2010, 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Attention New Parents: Since newborn babies don’t come with an instruction manual, here’s your chance to speak with pediatricians from Whole Child Pediatrics. The doctors will discuss topics such as colic, sleeping patterns, digestive issues and much more. This interactive discussion will provide parents with the opportunity to ask questions specific to their infant. Refreshments will be served. The seminar is in Conference Room 1 at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center. Seating is limited; call 800-454-8215 to reserve your spot.
Note: this seminar is the beginning of a series which will be held on the second Tuesday of each month.

What is causing my Shoulder Pain?
Speaker: Chris Dillingham, MD
LWRMC Conference Room 1
October 13, 2010, 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Join Dr. Chris Dillingham with Orthopedic Center of SW Florida for a lecture titled: "What is causing my shoulder Pain?" Dr. Dillingham will discuss Rotator cuff tears, shoulder arthritis, impingement syndrome and more. Dr Dillingham recently completed a one year fellowship in Hand, Shoulder and Arm Surgery at the University of Florida, Shands Hospital. The seminar is in Conference Room 1 at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center. Seating is limited; call 800-454-8215 to reserve your spot.

Health Focus Support Group
Fall Luncheon Series
LWRMC Conference Room 1
11:45 am – 1:15 pm
September 17- Heart Disease and Ask the Cardiologist
October 15- High Cholesterol- Treatment and Diet
November 19- Preventing Diabetes and Healthy Living
December 17- Hypertension and Medication. This seminar series will be held in Conference Room 1 at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center. Seating is limited; call 800-454-8215 to reserve your spot.

Friday the Thirteenth

It was a small gathering of happy, brave folk from our community who ventured out this evening, Friday – the Thirteenth!  Many residents are on vacation or up North in their “other home” but this select group gathered together with smiling faces and delicious food.   We visited and renewed some old acquaintances.  We welcomed a new family into our fold.  We thought nothing of the date – Friday, the Thirteenth.  The evening was lovely. Details.

Helping Hands

September is just around the corner. School is about to begin again. Vacation is over. Helping Hands took a break in July when many of you were traveling, but it is time to meet again now that we are all resuming a fall schedule. Mark your calendar for the September meeting, following Coffee Hour on Monday the 13th at the Rec Center at 11:00 am. The meeting will conclude by noon.

In anticipation, also mark your calendar for the November meeting which will be an EVENING Meeting for the benefit of our younger members who may be working during the day. That will be November 22 on Monday evening at 7 PM. We'll have dessert at that one! Please circle the dates on your calendar now and we look forward to seeing at both events! About Helping Hands

Bits and Pieces by Joyce Sandy

“If I could talk to the animals”
Leslie Bricusse

I've been thinking lately about the fictional Dr. Doolittle who was able to converse with animals. It seems this talent gave him a greater insight into animal behavior. I have decided that this would be a very useful talent. It's not that I would want to spend the rest of my life interfacing with each and every animal out there. That would be much more than I could handle. I have a particular mission in mind.

I am particularly drawn to bird watching. Of course Florida is a perfect spot for this activity, and my favorites are the sandhill cranes. Most of the time they can be observed feeding in pairs. Or they strut by in their red caps oblivious to everyone and everything including the passing cars. They certainly can be capable of making quite a racket when they are in the mood, but I don't mind because they are so attractive. However I don't feel the need to talk to them.

I would very much like to converse with the great blue herons. There is one in particular who has taken a liking to the roof of our lanai. He has probably decided that our lanai provides the ideal vantage point for his bird watching activities. I am convinced of this because he returns three or four times a week. The problem is that each time that he visits he leaves us a souvenir.

A big one.

We have tried everything to discourage him. We have screamed at him. He squawks back at us and flies away, only to return the following day. We have installed two fierce looking owls on the roof. He really doesn't care about them, he positions himself right near them. There are other places he could go. There are other things he could do. So I would like to talk to him. I'm not interested in a lengthy conversation. I just want to know... WHY?

Cycling Down Under

Do you remember the happy, gravelly voice of Satchmo singing a song, "What a wonderful world?" Of course you do. The more I get around this world the more convinced I am that he had it just right. We do live in a wonderful world.

Admittedly, there is crime and there are wars, and hunger does exist in many areas, but there is so much about the world that is fine and beautiful. We read in the newspapers and see on television a continual litany of rapes, robberies and arson, but we don’t see or hear much about the good side of life. It just doesn’t make news.

In the year, 2000, Glenn Oster toured both islands of New Zealand and much of Australia by bicycle. His story tells of the wonderful world,  people he enjoyed, his route, scenery, climatic conditions, flora, fauna and more. Sense his experience vicariously through his account. "What a wonderful world."more.

Golf Clubs Returned

On Thursday, July 8, Stoneybrook resident Lou Brodersen followed the same routine he does every time he plays golf: However, this day would be different.  You see, as he went to take his clubs out of the garage and put them into the car, he was shocked to see his clubs were gone.

Twenty-three days later, Brodersen is a happy man again. His clubs are back home.  Some time the night before, as Brodersen was taking Beau (his Golden Retriever) for his walk, someone entered the open garage and stole the clubs.  Brodersen filed a police report. Meanwhile, other burglaries in Stoneybrook were happening. Interestingly, most of them were golf clubs.

Last week, Brodersen, who heads the Fairway Greens III association, received a call from a local TV station for an interview. The person said an individual has been arrested and admitted stealing his clubs. The TV person also had several copies of police reports of Stoneybrook burglaries.

The police report showed that my clubs were sold to a shop in Sarasota.  Brodersen called the shop and asked if his clubs (he's a lefty) were there. The person said he had a set similar to his clubs.

The next day, Brodersen went to the shop and sure enough, the clubs were his. Since Brodersen had a serial number for the set, he found it was a match.

Also, on the butt of each club handle, there was a circular plate with his name and phone number. The thief never removed them.

Brodersen also found his golf bag on a store shelf with ID in it and his putter - also bearing an ID plate. Brodersen had to pay the store for what it paid the seller. Total cost for everything: $100.00

It is expected that Brodersen will get reimbursed after the case goes to trial.

Meanwhile, remember to keep your garage shut and your eyes open. By Lou Brodersen

Christmas in July

The local charity Adopt a Family, Manatee is celebrating Christmas early this year with the release of a new and revised website.  The website can be accessed at www.adoptafamilymanatee.com. 

The website was programmed and designed by Lee Bettes while the text was largely written and edited by Patti Peotter-Bettes of Heritage Harbour.  Patti also took all the pictures on the website during last year’s Christmas season.  The photos feature some of the 1600 families and children that Adopt a Family helped last year.

Take a look at the website and let Patti or Lee know what you think.  Patti can be reached at pspb@hotmail.com and Lee at wbettes@yahoo.com or 896-5293.