Good morning!
Manatee County seems to be neglected now and again. Compared with Hillsborough, Pinellas, Sarasota counties, it is the figurative little kid on the block.
But I realized something this past weekend: there can be very few counties with the incredible diversity and contrasts that Manatee has. On the east end are ginormous farms and ranches, a few vineyards, along with what, until recently, was the state’s last one-room schoolhouse (where school would close for harvest seasons). On the west end are islands, beaches, bars, ballads and everything tropical and Jimmy Buffett.
Just thought I’d share that with you. It’s far more than a freeway stop for a big outlet mall. Get off the freeway south of that and drive east or west, depending on your mood that day. Manatee County has everything from cowboys to conch shells. Check it out. It’s a beautiful place in either direction.
Today’s weather: If it sounds repetitive now, wait until August. From the National Weather Service Office in Ruskin:
“Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 5pm. Sunny, with a high near 93. Heat index values as high as 103. East southeast wind around 5 mph becoming northeast in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%.”
Overnight? Scattered showers and thunderstorms then partly cloudy and a low around 76.
Personal forecast: One “how to stay cool” suggestion: don’t wear socks. And don’t let your boss catch you sock-less if you also have to wear a suit and tie, as I did in the late 90s (both — caught and suit).
Eye on the tropics: Let’s hope the rest of hurricane season produces “fish.” Which is the term for hurricanes that don’t make landfall. You really can’t joke about landfalling hurricanes but fish? Fish are good. From the National Hurricane Center:
For the North Atlantic…Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico:
The National Hurricane Center has begun issuing advisories on newly formed Tropical Depression Four, located well to the east of the Lesser Antilles.
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 5 days.
What to do?
Check out a Broadway Show: Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” will be playing at the Straz Center July 11 to July 16. Tickets start at $38. For more information visit: http://www.strazcenter.org/Events/Straz/Shows/1617_Broadway_Encores/Disney-s-The-Little-Mermaid
At the Firehouse Cultural Center, the Figure Drawing Group, monitored by esteemed artist Bruce Marsh will meet tonight from 6 to 9 p.m. The cost is $10 per session. Visit: http://firehouseculturalcenter.org/events/figure-drawing-monitored-open-session-3-2017-07-06/
The Tampa Museum of Art will be holding a Portfolio Workshop for children ages 13 and 14 on July 7 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The description reads: “Perfect for Middle School students interested in applying to or who have been accepted into a Magnet Art Program. Taught by Lenny Cabanero-Harvey of Blake High School. $125 Members, $150 not-yet Members.” Visit: https://tampamuseum.org/museum-events/event-list/?regevent_action=register&event_id=1267
Also at the Tampa Museum of Art will be Art Spot: Yarn Painting inspired by Nathan Skiles on July 8 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit: https://tampamuseum.org/museum-events/event-list/?regevent_action=register&event_id=1249
The SouthShore Regional Library has another great line up for today, starting with the Rug Hooking Club, on to “Safety Superhero Academy” to an introduction to Android smartphones and tablets to Teen Tech. This week, I’ll hold off on admonishments about your teen building human-conquering robots. Shoot, I think I just blew that one.
The SouthShore Regional Library schedule is found here: http://hcplc.evanced.info/signup/calendar?lib=10
Busch Gardens in Tampa celebrates “Summer Nights” with extended hours.
MOSI, the Museum of Science and Industry, 4801 E. Fowler Ave. in Tampa is offering free admission to exhibit galleries to active duty military personnel and up to five immediate family members from today through Aug. 13. Proof of service is required. https://www.mosi.org/explore-mosi/plan-your-visit/special-offers/
Check out what’s playing at the Ruskin Family Drive-In.
Happenings in Hillsborough:
If you need this, hustle. But do not blow any red lights: The Red Light Appeals Hearing at County Center at 9 a.m. In keeping with the policy of making no one’s eyes bleed, you can read the description here: http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/en/calendar/05-publicmeetings/2017/20170706-red-light-appeals
Do you own a small business with an interest in federal and private sector contracts? The SBA Small Business Certification & Surety Bond Program is a free event this morning from 10 a.m. to noon at the Entrepreneur Collaborative Center in Tampa. Visit: http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/en/calendar/02-business/2017/20170706-certification-surety-bonds
Check out the Hillsborough County calendar here: http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/en/calendar
Happenings in Manatee:
Coming up on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. is household waste scrap collection at the Palmetto Fairgrounds, utilities Building, 3333 Lena Road. The county calendar is located here: https://www.mymanatee.org/home/county-calendar.html
The print edition of The North Manatee Observer News also contains numerous things to get you out of the air conditioning and into the beauty of Manatee County.
News to know:
The Observer News website contains only a small portion of what is in the print editions (yes, there are four editions!). Pick one up. If you can’t find one (well, you won’t find one in Ohio or West Virginia or some place like that (actually, you might)), then email me and I’ll help.
And, in the end:
On this day in 1957, John Lennon and Paul McCartney met for the first time. Three years later, they would form the Beatles.
I’m not certain it is possible to quantify the impact the Beatles have had on the world. Their status, even today, perhaps increasingly-so today, is near mythical. Their popularity seemingly never declines and much of their music sounds as fitting today as it did in the 1960s. They invented a genre and a personality. Rock stars with few peers.
I remember reading a report years ago suggesting that the government of the United Kingdom tended to play nice with the Beatles for fear of them taking their wealth out of the nation — and it was enough wealth to have a significant impact on the British economy (more recently I’ve read similar suggestions about the band U2 and Belfast, Northern Ireland). If true, it wouldn’t be surprising.
Even today, a small area just across Central Park West from the Dakota, where John and Yoko Ono lived when he was murdered, Strawberry Fields in Central Park draws seemingly endless crowds. It seems as close to the mythical, the real mythical, as most Americans and tourists can get these days. And they still want to be close.
While the Beatles did not end on a perfect note, Paul McCartney was later quoted as saying, “There was a deeper love there that neither of us could admit to… You can’t replace someone like John, and I don’t think he could’ve replaced someone like me.”
I think we all sort of knew that.
Have a great day!
Observer Today is a morning briefing out (usually) by 7 a.m. (or so) and updated until around 10 a.m. Do you have news tips or suggestions for this feature? Please email or leave a comment.