This past weekend, Randy Moss, the wide receiver with the New England Patriots, visited SeaWorld and hung out with a few new friends. I think Sir Winston, the 2,200 lb walrus, is clearly ready for his shot with the NFL.
Photo by Jason Collier/SeaWorld Orlando
Photo by Jason Collier/SeaWorld Orlando
The oil spill effects have been tremendous on not just neighboring lands, but also the animals. Since not everyone visit the panhandle and save the animals from the oil, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has set up a few ways for residents to support these species.
For starters, people can simply donate $5 at any local tax collector’s office and receive a sea turtle or manatee decal. The 2010 decals are now available, and all proceeds go towards saving the animal of choice. For a bit more, purchase a specialty license plate promoting the area of your choice (manatee, sea turtle, panther, fishing, or basic conserve wildlife). License plates start at $15 and go up to $25.
There are also many other FWC gifts found on the commission’s website, including books, clothes, artwork and more. For the animals, every little bit helps.
Photo courtesy Busch Gardens
Busch Gardens Tampa recently welcomed the arrival of two new baby giraffes! Born to mothers Tesa and Chloe, the two baby boys were born this past April. Visitors to the park got their first look at the newborns this week, as they were introduced to the rest of the giraffes on the Serengeti Plain. The park now has 17 giraffes, which can be seen from the Serengeti Express or on the Serengeti Safari, an open-truck tour of the plain.
Image Courtesy Travel Channel
In other Busch Gardens Tampa news, Travel Channel daredevil Bert the Conqueror recently visited the park to experience its wild rides for his new TV show. First, he rode SheiKra, the floorless steel coaster that drops riders from 200 ft high, down 90-degrees at 70 mph. Then, he experienced Montu, the inverted coaster with 4Gs of force. Away from Tampa, Bert took the plunge and entered Punta Gorda’s belly-flop contest at Mudfest, where he came in second place. The episode aired last night, and can be caught on reruns. For more information on his trip to South Florida, visit his Florida guide.
Image courtesy Travel Channel
The Travel Channel clearly likes Florida, because directly after the episode was a rerun of Adam Richman’s Man vs. Food challenge in sunny Sarasota. There, he tried a foot-long deep fried hot dog at Old Salty Dog and a mouth watering meal of friend chicken and peanut butter cream pie at Yoder’s Amish Restaurant. Richman had his first mystery challenge at Munchies 420 Cafe where, sadly, food won. Visit the Travel Channel website for his Sarasota guide.
Osceola Magnet Elementary School fourth grade teacher, Cheryl Conley, was just named the 20100 Florida Department of Education Macy’s Teacher of the Year! Conley, an Indian River County resident and educator, was chosen among the five state finalists. She was recognized for her unfaltering dedication to her students, goal-oriented teaching style, and proven ability to inspire students.
As the teacher of the year, Conley will serve for one year as the Christa McAuliffe Ambassador for Education. With this position, she will visit schools around the state and share information on educational opportunities and challenges in Florida.
The finalists were: Kelly Burnette (Yulee High School, Nassau County), Zachary Champagne (Mandarin Oaks Elementary School, Duval County), Cristine O’Hara (Palmetto Middle School, Miami-Dade County) and Allan Phipps (South Plantation High School, Broward County). Conley, along with the finalists, received a monetary prize, as well as money to be used towards their respective schools’ educational programs.
The Florida Department of Education Macy’s Teacher of the Year award “recognizes and honors the contributions of outstanding classroom teachers who have demonstrated a superior capacity to inspire a love of learning in students of all background and abilities.”
For more information, visit www.fldoe.org/profdev/yeartch.asp.
As the summer months continue on, the Florida Department of Education (DOE) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are teaming up and encouraging students to head outdoors and read. To further promote this initiative, the DOE created a 2010 recommended summer reading list, full of nature-based literature. The reading list is part of the DOE’s Just Read, Florida! mission.
“Reading outdoors is a great way to foster environmental stewardship in Florida’s students,” said DEP Secretary Michael W. Sole. “By promoting literature focused on Florida’s diverse natural resources, we hope to harness students’ interest in academic success as well as environmental protection.”
Many of the books encourage travel as well, including Florida author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings’ Pulitzer prize-winning novel, The Yearling. After enjoying the book, families can visit Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park and enjoy the setting that inspired the book.
Other books on the list that encourage visits outside are:
Grades K-3: Pancakes for Breakfast by Tommie DePaola. Visit De Leon Springs State Park in De Leon Springs where you can make your own pancakes at the table.
Grades 4-5: The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich. Visit Collier-Seminole State Park in Naples on the edge of the Everglades rich with Native American history.
Grades 6-8: Forever Forest by Kristin Joy-Pratt Serafini. Visit Homossassa Springs Wildlife State Park to learn about protection and conservation of Florida wildlife.
Grades 9-12: Southern Comforts: Rooted in a Florida Place by Sudye Cauthen. Visit Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, Florida´s first state preserve and a National Natural Landmark.
Research shows that children who continue to read during the summer months are more likely to retain progress made throughout the school year. In addition to the summer reading list, DOE also recently partnered with the Department of State (DOS) and MetaMetrics, Inc. to launch ‘Find a Book,’ a search tool that identifies the appropriate books for each student’s reading level. This technology allows students and their families to personalize their book list according to preference and reading level.
Books are recommended for grades K through 12. In addition, for teens looking for something different to read, visit the ‘For Teens, by Teens: Teens Recommended Reading List’ to see books fellow students enjoy.
To ‘Find a Book,’ visit www.lexile.com/findabook
To download the summer reading list, visit www.justreadfamilies.org/summerreadinglist.pdf
To learn more about the program, visit www.justreadfamilies.org and www.justreadflorida.com
Image courtesy SeaWorld
In celebration of summer, SeaWorld is offering a tremendous deal. With each full-paid, SeaWorld Orlando single-day, adult admission purchased online, any child age 12 and under gets a $5.00 admission. This incredible discount comes at a perfect time.
“This offer makes it easy for families and friends to reconnect during a vacation, a getaway or even just a day trip to one of our parks,” said Jim Atchison, President and Chief Executive Officer for SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment.
What’s better, is that the child admission proceeds go toward non-profit organizations that are working on wildlife conservation projects. Families may choose which wildlife conservation effort receives their donation.
Right now, SeaWorld has a lot to offer, including their new rollercoaster, Manta, and SeaWorld After Dark, their nighttime spectacular which includes a Shamu show, high-energy music, and a fireworks finale.
Image Courtesy SeaWorld
“We know the economy’s been tough for everyone, but more than ever before, everyone needs to spend time together,” Atchison said. “We think families also will have fun deciding which wildlife conservation project gets their donation, too. It’s a wonderful way for kids to learn about the work that goes on to save animals in the wild.”
The discount is good through December 31.
For more information, visit www.seaworldcares.com
View of Fort George River from Kingsley Plantation
By Apryl Chapman Thomas
It may be hard to believe, but there are some destinations in Florida that people just don’t know too much about, and Jacksonvillehappens to be one of them. Not to say that people are completely clueless about the city; on the surface, many know that it’s home to the Jaguars, the Suns and The Landing. Some are familiar with Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, and the port as well.
However, that’s where it stops. There’s so much more to the area that many aren’t aware of.
Jacksonville is a great destination for families or anyone looking to experience it all while on vacation.
To get a true feel of the city, here are ten places that should be on everyone’s itinerary.
For additional information on Jacksonville and all that the city has to offer, visit www.visitjacksonville.com
The touring production of Hair
Now that the Tony Awards are over, check out Broadway plays coming to Florida this season.
Fort Lauderdale:
Located at the Au-Rene Theatre – Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Young Frankenstein – October 6 through 17
Burn the Floor – November 16 through 28
Cats – December 17 through 19
Rock of Ages – December 28 through January 9, 2011
Les Miserables – January 18 through 30
West Side Story – February 15 through 27
Wicked – March 30 through April 24
Hair – June 7 through 19
Mamma Mia! – July 19 through 24
Jacksonville
Located at the Moran Theatre – Times Union Performing Arts Center
Radio City Christmas Spectacular: The Rockettes – December 2 through 12
Legally Blonde: The Musical – January 11 through 16
Cirque Dreams Illumination – February 15 through 20
Shrek the Musical – May 10 through 15
Cats – June 17 through 19
Miami
Located at the Ziff Ballet Opera House – The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts
Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles – October 18 through 10
Dreamgirls – October 19 through 24
Beauty and the Beast – December 28 through January 2, 2011
Jersey Boys – March 2 through 20
In the Heights – March 29 through April 3
Hair – May 31 through June 5
Orlando
Located at the Carr Performing Arts Centre
Storytime Live! – August 4 through 5
Young Frankenstein – November 50 through December 5
Rock of Ages – January 11 through 16, 2011
West Side Story – February 1 through 6, 2011
Wicked – February 23 through March 27
Shrek the Musical – May 17 through 22
Hair – June 21 through 26
Season tickets are on sale now.
For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit www.broadwayacrossamerica.com
Image courtesy Jungle Island
You know what’s great about Florida? Since there are so many zoos and animal preserves, it seems like every day a new baby animal is welcomed to the state. And that’s great because we here at Florida Monthly love baby animals (and adult animals, too, of course).
Three weeks ago, Miami’s Jungle Island announced the birth of this adorable white-faced Capuchin Monkey. He’s doing quite well, and enjoying his new life at the park. The only problem is – he needs a name! Have an idea? Send it to contest@jungleisland.com by July 10th. The winner receives not only the honor of naming the baby, but also a complimentary annual pass.
By Lauren Gibaldi
From the drum beats of the Seminole Indians, to the electric guitar screams of rock and roll artists today, Florida has a rich history of both music and entertainment. Many bands and solo artists have come and gone from the sunshine state, only leaving their legacy. In 1999, however, Charlie Souza wanted them to be remembered permanently.
In the mid-60s, Florida native Charlie Souza was part of the band The Tropics. In 1999, the band re-formed for one last performance. The crowds that rushed out proved the band’s immortality, but, Souza quickly realized that fans won’t be around forever – and neither will their music. Having heard about the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, Souza questioned why there wasn’t one in Florida. And thus started in Florida Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame’s long climb to being established.
Launched on December 25, 2009, ten years later, The Florida Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame is an online site dedicated to honoring and remembering the great artists born in Florida.
“The goal of the Florida Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame is to honor, preserve and educate people of all ages and abilities about Florida musicians and industry professionals that have shaped Florida’s music culture. The result of achieving this goal will be bringing people together and let them become one in heart and spirit,” stated Dorothy Famiano, president of the organization.
Indeed, that is what they’re trying to do with their new website. Music lovers can join and/or sponsor the cause, as well as nominate individuals to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Categories range from musician and song writer, to producer and studio engineer.
Not just a website, the organization hopes to have an interactive museum open to the public by 2010. “At the present time, we are holding focus group meetings around the State of Florida as well as seek funding to produce our first induction ceremony,” said Famiano.
They have a long way to go, but the group is dedicated, as well as efficient. Faamiano said, “We have plans to create a highly interactive children’s program and envision children from all over the world visiting and playing music together with their families. We envision this project to be one that will leave a lasting impression on visitors and make them want to keep coming to achieve that feeling of unity.”
For more information, visit the Florida Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame website.
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