February 2009

 www.CharlotteCountyFL.com
 

The Charlotte County E-News is distributed by the Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners. If you have any questions or comments please direct them to the Public Information Office ENEWS@CharlotteCountyFL.com or call 941.623.1092.

HOT TOPICS

New Population Projections Available -The County's Growth Management Department recently released new demographic and socio-economic projections. The update of the Comprehensive Plan (Smart Charlotte 2050) required a set of population, housing, and employment projections that could forecast future demand for such public services as water and sewer, schools, roads, and other facilities to the year 2050. Population is projected by age group and gender, allowing our planners to develop policies for schools, hospitals, and other age-specific facilities with a better understanding of how our future population will be distributed. Employment projections include job growth in industrial, commercial, and service sectors.  To view a chart of the population projections, click here. To view the complete technical report, click here.  

Local Vets Make History - The County's Veteran Services Division has partnered with Port Charlotte High School’s media department to interview and videotape local veterans who have served in WWII.  This undertaking is part of the national Veterans History Project.  The final tapes will be submitted to the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., for archive preservation.

County's Annual Report is Ready - Our 2008 Annual Report has been completed and is available online.  The report provides an overview of our accomplishments and the many challenges the County faced last year.  Also available at our website’s Publications section is the latest issue of Charlotte Shines, which provides an update on our capital improvement projects.

New Program for Seniors - Healthy Ideas (Identifying Depression, Empowering Activities for Seniors) is an evidence-based depression program for older adults and family caregivers. The intent of the program is to identify depressive symptoms, provide education and discuss treatment options, and to empower seniors to take an active part in relieving their depressive symptoms. Treatment options may include simple interventions, primarily consisting of assistance in re-introducing pleasurable activities back into seniors' lives given their abilities and desires (also called behavioral activation). Further treatment options may also include a referral to a physician for medication or counseling or both. Not surprising, participants of the program reported an overall reduction in their pain levels which led to an enhanced quality of life for these individuals and fewer trips seeking medical attention. For more information call 2-1-1 or 941.833.6500.

 

Landfill Hours Change - Charlotte County Zemel Road Landfill has changed Saturday's hours of operation.  Effective February 21, 2009, the new hours for Saturday are 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Hours for Monday through Friday will stay the same - 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Family Services Center - Our Family Services Center is home to a variety of organizations and activities centered on children and families. For their latest Newsletter full of family activities follow this link. The Family Services Center also has an auditorium and conference rooms available to rent for meetings and social functions.  For more information contact the facility manager at 941.235.0159.

Buying a Foreclosed Home? “Deal or No Deal?” - This workshop, part of our "Ask the Building Department Series, is designed to educate the public about buying abandoned or foreclosed homes. Representatives from the banking and realty industries along with representatives from Charlotte County’s Human Services department have been invited to join staff from the Building Department to present information to assist homebuyers with this most important current topic. Join us on Wednesday, March 4, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Charlotte County Administration Center, Room #119, 18500 Murdock Circle, Port Charlotte. The program will also air live on CCTV-20.

Water Conservation Month Student Art Contest - Charlotte County Utilities (CCU) is calling upon local students to help protect our resources by practicing water conservation behaviors at home, at school and at play, and by participating in CCU’s Water Conservation Month Student Art Contest. Charlotte County students, grades kindergarten through 12, including public, private, parochial and homeschooled students, are invited to submit an original drawing or painting with a water conservation theme. The deadline for submissions is Friday, March 6, 2009.  First, second and third place ribbons will be awarded at each grade level and a gift certificate will be presented to the first place winners. Additionally, all winners will be recognized at the Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners meeting on March 24 as part of a Water Conservation Month celebration. For entry forms and additional information click here.

Charlotte Alert - You received this newsletter via Charlotte Alert, our mass notification system. Don't forget to log-in frequently, as we are adding new topics in response to public requests. Our newest category is Budget Information.  Select this category and you will receive information regarding budget meetings and workshops, as well as other news related to County financial issues.  

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

Old Time Festival - Mark your calendars for Saturday March 7, from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Bring the family and stroll down Bayshore Live Oak Park while you shop, eat and enjoy music of the "Good Ole Days." Various dealers will be set up throughout the park for you to browse and to pick up mementos from the past. Tantalize your childhood taste buds with a picnic lunch from one of the many food vendors serving up your favorite childhood goodies. Admission is free, but no coolers please. Parking will be available at the various Bayshore Live Oak Park parking lots as well as the corner of Bayshore and Oakley. Bayshore Live Oak Park is located at 23157 Bayshore Rd. in Charlotte Harbor.

Rain Barrel Workshop - Charlotte County Florida Yards and Neighborhoods will be holding a Rain Barrel Workshop on Saturday, March 7 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Charlotte County Environmental Campus at 25550 Harbor View Road, Port Charlotte. The workshop will include information on installing and using the rain barrel, connecting multiple rain barrels, how to keep mosquitoes and other critters out, how to blend it into the landscape, and other ways to conserve water inside and outside of the home.  Registration is $40.00 and includes a recycled plastic 55-gallon barrel.  Additional barrels can be purchased for $30.00 each.  Rain barrels can retail for $60.00 to $100.00 or more!  The registration deadline is Thursday, March 5. Space is limited; pre-register by calling Charlotte County Environmental & Extension Services at 941.764.4340.

Agriculture Tour - Charlotte County Environmental & Extension Service will be hosting an “Agribusiness Tour” from 7 a.m.- 5 p.m. on March 17 for people interested in learning about agriculture in our community. As an Agritourist, you will explore the many commodities and products produced right in Charlotte County's agricultural "backyard"! Touring with us as guides will be our UF/IFAS Extension Service Multi-County Citrus and Vegetable Agents who will fill the group in on local agricultural details and points of interest. The cost is $50.00 per person and includes transportation and a catered lunch. For more information, please contact Holly Shackelford at 941.764.4340.

Earn a Free Pass to the Air Show - The Charlotte County Library System and Bob Hall, Director of Air Operations/Air Boss of the Florida International Air Show, are pleased to announce the 8th Annual Air Show Reading Contest for children ages 12 and under, beginning February 24 and running through March 21.  Every child who reads 5 books during that time qualifies for a FREE pass to the Air Show.  If the child is too young to read, a parent may read to them. Reading logs are available at all Charlotte County Library branches.  Complete a log by March 21, 2009, return it to your local library and receive a FREE pass to the Air Show!  The Florida International Air Show will be held the weekend of March 21 and 22 at the Charlotte County Airport. 

Reserve Now for Summer Camp - Summer Safari 2009 is a traditional day camp for campers entering grades Kindergarten- Eighth grade. The program runs from 7:15 a.m. - 5:45 p.m. Monthly registration fees are $280 for the first child and $240 for each additional child in your household. Weekly registration is $80 for the first child and $70 for each additional child in your household. Registration for monthly sessions opens on April 6 and registration for weekly sessions opens up April 27. Camp will be offered at South County Regional Park in Punta Gorda, Harold Avenue Recreation Center in Port Charlotte and Tringali Recreation Center in Englewood. For more information please call 941.505.8686. 

MEETINGS

Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners holds its regular meeting at 9:00 a.m. on the second, third, and fourth Tuesday of each month.  Land use issues are specifically addressed on the third Tuesday. These meetings are held at the Murdock Administrative Complex, 18500 Murdock Circle, Port Charlotte, Room #119. The Charlotte County Commission meeting room is accessible to the physically disabled. FM Sound Enhancement Units for the Hearing Impaired are available at the Front Desk.

View the agenda for the Board meetings: Commission Agenda.  The meetings can also be viewed live on CCTV-20, (Comcast Channel 20) or can be viewed via live stream on our website - Streaming Video. 

A variety of government meetings are archived for on-demand viewing: On Demand Video.

Charlotte County has dozens of official meetings and activities each month: Meeting Calendars.

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