February 25, 2010

The 82nd annual Arcadia All-Florida Championship Rodeo

Filed under: Events — Administrator @ 12:00 pm

For those in the roping and cattle herding mood, the 82nd annual Arcadia All-Florida Championship Rodeo will take place March 12 – 14, 2010. This annual event was established in 1928 by the American Legion as a way to raise money to help pay for a new building. Later, the Arcadia Rodeo Association, as part of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, was formed. Members of the community make up the non-profit organization; their goal is to provide family-friendly entertainment in the setting of a world-class rodeo.

Events this year start on March 12, where the theme is Are You Tough Enough to Wear Pink? Guests are invited to wear pink that day only, with the shoot-out performance starting at 1 pm, and the rodeo beginning at 2 pm. Saturday, March 13, the rodeo parade wanders through downtown Arcadia at 10 am, starting the day’s activities. On both March 13 and the 14, the shoot-out performance begins at 1 pm and the rodeo starts at 2 pm. The ticket window open at 9am every day and prices range from $10 – $25.

For the shoot-out, a number of colorful characters fill the arena for each performance, including cowboys such as the Notorious Tater Hill Bluff Shoot-out gang, and beautiful Dance Hall Girls.

In regards to the performance, associate member of the Arcadia All-Florida Championship Rodeo Association John Schudel states “The universal theme of good versus evil has been played out in westerns since the days of the frontier itself. It isn’t any different in our shoot-out performance. Here, you’ll see the Good Guys patrolling the streets of a small cow town, upholding law and order. And the Bad Guys out to loot and pillage the town, no matter who gets hurt. Toss into this volatile situation an itinerant troupe of dance hall girls, and you have a mixture that could spark into flaming gunplay at any moment. The ensuing story of greed, vengeance and frontier justice may not be historically true…but it ought to be!”

After, real cowboys take the stage for the stunning rodeo performance.

For more information, visit www.arcadiarodeo.com

February 22, 2010

Opening Arms to Soldiers

Filed under: Around Florida — Administrator @ 12:00 pm

This past July, while on temporary leave from the Army, Grant George had one thing he wanted to do – marry his fiancèe Stacy Stevens. Although the goal was small, one large problem stood in their way: they couldn’t afford a wedding. Putting the vision of a large ceremony in front of family and friends aside, they decided to simply recite vows at the courthouse on a Friday night. The Monday before, however, plans changed.

Thanks to the South Florida program Operation Open Arms, the two were married that Saturday at 6 p.m. in a traditional ceremony. She wore a white dress, him his army regalia.  They didn’t pay a single dime for the wedding.

Operation Open Arms is a not-for-profit organization that provides free services and excursions to active duty U.S. service men and women on temporary leave from a foreign station. After returning home to Southwest Florida, these individuals receive benefits through sponsors before returning back to Iraq, Afghanistan or other foreign duty stations.

Created by Captain John “GiddyUp” Bunch, Operation Open Arms is his way of thanking and supporting the troops. Bunch is a professional fishing guide along the southwest Florida Gulf Coast waters. He hosts a weekly fishing report on The Keys Radio Group and acts as the contributing editor for the “Waves” section of News-Press.

Individuals who qualify for benefits may visit the Operation Open Arms website to see what offers are available. Donated by sponsors, such offers include free hotel reservations, golf sessions, fishing outings, gift certificates and dining opportunities. The founders of the program work hard to find contributors who will work with the soldiers, providing them what they want. Service men and women are to contact the sponsor and request the offer.

Originally sanctioned for those soldiers returning home to Pine Island in 2005, the program has grown and now includes Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties. Operation Open Arms is one of the top volunteer programs geared towards the military in the United States. It has helped soldiers relax, or even get married, during their precious days off.

For more information, visit www.operationopenarms.org.

February 15, 2010

Disney Asks “What Will You Celebrate?”

Filed under: Events, Lauren's Florida — Administrator @ 12:00 pm

Disney stars Joe Jonas and Demi Lovato celebrate Disney's new "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day" program.

By Lauren Gibaldi

Disney is all about celebration, as their latest venture, “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” has already taken off and the reception has been enormous. The program is simple – Disney wishes to inspire one million people to volunteer for a day of community service. Their reward? One free pass to a Disney theme park of their choice.

Going to any of the Disney theme parks is always a celebration, which is why they ask “What will you celebrate?” Currently, Disney is celebrating the hard work of volunteers across the country. To participate in the program, sign up at the Disney website and pick a participating HandsOn volunteer program. After completing the day, volunteers can print a voucher redeemable for a 1-day, 1-theme park ticket, or they may donate the ticket to a charitable organization. In the six weeks the program has been running, already 600,000 people have committed to volunteering.

115,000 cans were collected to make this sculpture

The past two days, Disney has been celebrating some these volunteers. Yesterday, they invited volunteers from each state to Epcot, where they were greeted with animated applause. Walt Disney World Ambassador Clay Shoemaker welcomed them, and informed the crowd of an exciting surprise. Behind stacked balloons, the largest sculpture (as verified by the Guinness Book of World Records) made solely of canned food was waiting. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition host, Ty Pennington, revealed the dazzling display of 115,000 cans of food, enough to create 70,000 meals. For the rest of the day, volunteers, as well as notable celebrities, such as fresh Disney faces like Joe Jonas and Demi Lovato, helped plant trees and pack the canned food in trucks in order for it to be distributed to shelters. Representatives Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy led the brigade.

Disney doesn’t stop there; they have quite a bit more up their sleeves. Aside from their volunteer program, the year 2010 will bring a lot of excitement to the Orlando theme parks and resorts. New attractions, such as the American Idol Experience – where guests can compete to audition for the TV show American Idol by singing to the crowd – and The Hall of Presidents featuring Barack Obama have been well received.

This summer, the parks will feature Summer Nighttastic!, which will bring back the ever popular Main Street Electrical Parade, premier a new fireworks spectacular, and add special effects and new elevator drops to the Tower of Terror. Most excitingly, the largest renovation in Walt Disney World will happen in Fantasyland, where they’re adding a princess village, allowing kids to visit and interact with their favorite Disney Princesses, such as Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Belle and Ariel. The famed Dumbo ride will also be expanded, having two tracks and an indoor circus where those waiting can engage in carnival games.

Aside from that, there will be new places to stay within the Disney resorts this year, including treehouse villas at Saratoga Springs Resort, and new places to eat, such as Kouzzina at Disney’s Boardwalk, specializing in Mediterranean dishes. Two new cruises will come in the following years, the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. Modeled after an early 1900s ocean liner, the cruise ships will host all of the favorite attractions, but add virtual portholes to inside rooms, interactive kids rooms, and new restaurants. The Disney Dream will have the Aquaduck water coaster, a clear tube water slide that will actually veer off the boat, so those sliding can see the water down below as they zip around a corner. At their island, Castaway Key, there will now be rental cabanas and the Pelican Plunge water park.

Disney offers a lot of reasons to celebrate this year. Whether it’s a birthday (when those celebrating get in free) or a volunteer effort, there’s always a reason to visit a Disney theme park.

February 8, 2010

Zoom Through The Air

Filed under: Around Florida — Administrator @ 12:00 pm

This past May, the Central Florida Zoo opened up a new area of their facility. The Zoom Air adventure park lets children and adults see the park from the animals’ point of view. As the state’s most unique eco-adventure, Zoom Air lets families enjoy an aerial look while swinging and zipping among the trees.

Now, the park has added a new feature: Zoom Air Adventure After Dark. This nocturnal adventures lets guests enjoy the Zoom Air adventures at night time, right under the moonlight.

Guests may participate in either Moon ZOOms or Night Flights. Moon ZOOms occur on nights when a full moon is present and there is no minimum amount of participants. Starting at 6 p.m., it will run February 27-March 1, March 28-30, April 27-29 and May 26-28. Night Flights are arranged every night for groups of eight or more from 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. Reservations at least two days in advance are required. Both activities cost $45 plus tax. In order to participate, guests must be 54î tall.

For those who are under the height limit, there are nighttime excursions on the kids courses as well. A minimum of six people is needed to participate and the cost is $25 per child. Adults must accompany children. Training and equipment is provided before each escapade.

Moon ZOOms and Night Flights are a great way to bring out the adventure seeker in everyone. Scale through the trees and participate in numerous games, hopping off podiums and bridges. Fly high overhead and feel just like the birds in the sky. Just don’t look down.

For more information, call (407) 330-0767 or visit www.zoomair.us. Zoom Air is located within the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens in Sanford.

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