Art
A call to artists
The Anna Maria Island Art League, 5312 Holmes Blvd., Holmes Beach, is asking for submissions to its “Past to Present” photography exhibit. Submissions may be in the form of film, and digital art, black and whites, sepia and color. Bring submissions to the Art League between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays by Monday, Jan. 8.
The entry fee is $15 per piece for League members and $20 for non-members. Artists may submit up to three pieces, and if the artwork is larger than 20-by-24-inches, that limit will be two. The artwork must be ready to hang.
The submissions will be on display through Jan. 31. There will be a reception for the artwork on Friday, Jan. 12 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. with complimentary light refreshments. The public will be admitted for free. For more information, call the Art League at 941-778-2099.
Classes
Green up that thumb
Learn how to turn all thumbs into green thumbs as the Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, hosts “Ask a Master Gardener” on Saturday, Dec. 2 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. These gardeners have the answers for home and container gardeners in this location. For more information, call 941-778-6341.
Let’s get technical
The Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, in Holmes Beach, will hold a tech help session on Android cell phones and tablets on Tuesday, Dec. 5 from 2 to 4 p.m. There is no charge. For more information, call 941-778-6341.
Clubs
Seniors visit Ringling
Senior Adventures visits Ringling Zodiac Garden and Museum of Art and will have lunch at a restaurant on Friday, Dec. 1. The Center van will leave Annie Silver Community Center, 103 23rd St. N., Bradenton Beach, at 10 a.m. There will be a $5 van fee. Call Kaye Bell at 941-538-0945 for a reservation.
Movie for seniors
Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, JOY (Just Older Youth) will meet at 11 a.m. in Roser Memorial Community Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, on Wednesday, Nov. 29 to view the movie, “The Hiding Place,” about a brave Christian family in Holland aiding their Jewish neighbors during World War II.
The film was based on the autobiographical book by Corrie ten Boom recounting her and her family’s experiences before and during their imprisonment during the Holocaust. The movie was produced by Billy Graham’s organization and is listed as “one of the best movies of 1975.”
Everyone is invited. Bring a bag lunch and/or movie snacks. For more information call 941-778-0414.
Book signing in Cortez
Retired elementary school teacher and children’s environmental book author Carol Alt, and her illustrator partner Roger Cook, will sign copies of their new book, “Waiting for the Tide to Come In,” on Saturday, Dec. 9 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Cortez Cultural Center, 11655 Cortez Rd. W.
The book has watercolor illustrations about life in a small village, based on Cortez. The importance of mangroves, the rights of commercial fishermen and dealing with protecting the shorelines from over-development are addressed in this book when two young people become acquainted and involved in the small community’s issues.
J.B. Crawford, a Cortez native and author, will also be on hand. J.B. is a commercial fishing captain who grew up and lives in Cortez as a licensed stone crabber and mullet fisherman. He has authored several books, among them, “Elof And The Red Grouper,” “Arianna And The Spanish Sardines,” “Nathan And The Stone Crabs” “Marijuana Millions” and “Cortez Village.”
For more information call Ted Adams at 941-799-9211.
Family Fun
Forty Carrots
The Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, presents Forty Carrots, a parenting program Friday, Dec. 1 at 10 a.m. This is a program for kids from mobile babies to 5 years old and their parents to experience new activities, join in circle time fun, spend time with other families and get valuable parenting information.
The program is free, and tickets are available at the library desk. Space is limited to 12 families. For more information, call the library at 941-778-3986.
Use your imagination with Legos
Kids can build a lot with Legos and on Saturday, Dec. 2, the Island Branch Library at 5701 Marina Drive in Holmes Beach will get out the colorful building blocks from 2 to 3 p.m. Parents can help. For more information, call 941-778-6341.
Preschool story time
Island Branch Library children’s specialist Trudy Bell will host preschool story time at 5701 Marina Drive in Holmes Beach on Tuesday, Dec. 5 from 10 to 11 a.m. The subject of the day will be snow buddies. There will also be music, exercise and crafts. For more information, call 941-778-6341.
Games
Mahjong time
The Island Branch Library at 5701 Marina Drive in Holmes Beach offers mahjong on Friday, Dec. 1 from 1 to 3 p.m. It’s free, and it’s fun. Call the library at 941-778-6341 for more information.
Markets
Beach Market in full swing
The Beach Market offers unique outdoors shopping along the multi-purpose trail in Coquina Beach every Sunday in December from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and every Wednesday starting Dec. 20. Local artists, crafters, jewelers will be there with their offerings. Two vendors sell fresh produce and an island resident will be selling hydroponic and organic plants and much more. The AMI String Band will play. Lunch is sold at the concession stand.
The market is located next to the trolley turnaround and there is ample parking. Manatee County does not allow dogs anywhere in Coquina Park. The market is stroller, walker and wheelchair accessible. For more information, call 941-518-4431.
Music
Blues in the library
The Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, hosts an educational blues program with R.J. Howson on Thursday, Nov. 30 from 2 to 3:30 p.m., sponsored by the Suncoast Blues Society and the Manatee County Library Department. This free program is a lead-up to the Bradenton Blues Fest. For more information, call the library at 941-778-6341.
Nature
Glide through Neal Preserve
The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program hosts a sustainable kayak eco-tour of Neal Preserve, 12301 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, on Saturday, Dec. 2 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Explore the natural habitats and wildlife that make Sarasota Bay an Estuary of National Significance.
Participants must provide their own kayaks and gear. For more information, e-mail info@sarasotabay.org or call 941-955-8085 and ask about Bay Wise Kayak Tours.
