Page 16 Friday, January 20, 2012 Longboat Key News

4551 N Washington Blvd.Sarasota, FL 34234

(941) 355-8437

2510 1st StreetBradenton, FL 34208

(941) 748-4679

Sarasota Italian Cultural Eventspresents

“KEEPING UP WITH THE FLORENTINES” In a world where “keeping up with the Florenti nes” could be a matt er of

politi cal survival, Dr. Carrie Benes, Associate Professor of Medieval and Renaissance History at New College, will talk about how the fabled art,

architecture, and literature of this ti me period in Tuscany were largely the products of this competi ti ve spirit. The talk and luncheon will be held at

Prestancia Country Club on Palmer Ranch on Tuesday, January 24, 11:30AM. Cost: $30 members $35 Guests.

“EXPERIENCE THE SARASOTA OPERA”

Join us at the Sarasota Opera House for a special SICE program. Maestro Anthony Barrese, who will be conducti ng this season’s producti on of Lucia di Lammermoor, will discuss the bel canto style of singing and the music of

Gaetano Donizetti in parti cular. He will be joined by singers from the company and Greg Tupiano, Arti sti c Administrator of Sarasota Opera

on Thursday, February 2, 11AM. Cost: $15 Members $18 Guests.

Contact 941-753-1197 for reservati ons. Additi onal informati on is available at www.italyinsarasota.com

KeyHappenings

Chamber hosts networking luncheon The Longboat Key Chamber hosted their Networking@Noon Luncheon Jan. 19 at the Holiday Inn Lido Beach.

Local area business owners and representatives networked and shared a meal at the Holiday Inn’s rooftop SandDollar restaurant.

The next Networking@Noon Luncheon is set for 11:30 a.m., Jan. 26 at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, 2001 Siesta Drive, Sarasota. Cost is $25 for members and $30 for non-members. Call (941) 383-2466 for reservations or details.

LBKN Special/Jeanette Billings

Chamber member Robert Dinan with John Wojtyna of Aqua Plumbing and Air.

LBKN Special/Jeanette Billings

Ed Nugent of Cornerstone Signs & Graphics with Brad Fries of Accutech Restoration and Remodeling and Eugene Gundlach of Universal Window Solutions.

LBKN Special/Jeanette Billings

John Antenucci of A&B Asset with Greg Wall of Greg K. Wall AIA.

LBKN Special/Jeanette Billings

Shelia Lewis of Siesta Key Sports Rental with Mary Frees of Bank United, Debra Fortosis of Elite Family Care, Roni Antenucci of A&B Asset and Liz Alpert, a partner at Tannenbaum, Scro, Hanewich & Alpert.

Garden Club Tree PlantingTrees, toasts and trea-

sured stories were the order of the day Jan. 19, as the ladies of the Longboat Keys Garden Club plant-ed a new Geiger tree at Bicentennial Park at Town Hall.

Emcee of the celebra-tion was Longboat’s Virginia Sanders. Sanders, a longtime resident and club member, kicked off the celebration by saying, “The Garden Club is on a roll.” Sanders was refer-

ring to the growth of the club and its local philan-thropic efforts, which include annual scholarships.

On hand for the festivities were interim Town Manager Dave Bullock, Public Works Director Juan Florensa, Assistant to Town Manager Susan Phillips and a variety of town employees. Also in attendance were Commissioners Dave Brenner, Lynn Larson and Phill Younger.

Former Mayor Jeremy Whatmough assisted Sanders in a sparkling cider toast to the New Year and the town of Longboat Key.

This year the club planted a Cordia sebestena, also known as a Geiger tree. The Geiger is a small shapely tree that grows to be 25 feet tall and as wide. It is native to the northern coast of South America, Yucatan, the West Indies and the Florida Keys. Known for their broad deep green leaves and splen-did red blossoms, they are a favorite of butterflies.

“At my age I am not supposed to have much passion left...that’s not true. I have a lot of passion directed toward trees. One of the reasons I am so passionate is that 53 percent of all drinking water comes to us from forest watershed. 189 million Americans are dependent on that, and we have to be aware so that we can educate urban Americans of the importance that forests make in our everyday lives,” said Sanders.

Sanders shared her favorite poem with the audi-ence, “Trees,” written by Sgt. Joyce Kilmer of the Fighting 69th Infantry Regiment in World War I:

I think that I shall never seeA poem lovely as a tree.A tree whose hungry mouth is prestAgainst the earth’s sweet flowing breast;A tree that looks at God all day,And lifts her leafy arms to pray;A tree that may in summer wearA nest of robins in her hair;Upon whose bosom snow has lain;Who intimately lives with rain.Poems are made by fools like me,But only God can make a tree.

LBK Special/Jeanette Billings

Barbara Kerwin shares future Longboat Key Garden Club events with the audience.

LBK Special/Jeanette Billings

Susan Phillips, assistant to the town manager and a Garden Club member, with Commissioner Phill Younger, Longboat Key Garden Club President Madelyn Spoll and former Mayor Jeremy Whatmough.

Virginia Sanders