Saturday, April 9, 2011 Please join us for the 2nd Annual Alligator Lake Spring Festival! You will have a great time! The Festival is to be a one day (8:00-4:00) family event reaching out to the entire Columbia County community. The purpose of the event is to underscore the importance of this wonderful park as both a water resource (headwaters of the Ichetucknee River) as well as the valuable natural resource it is for our area’s wildlife, such as birds. The park is a designated site on the Great Florida Birding Trail and a Certified Wildlife Habitat with the National Wildlife Federation. Festival activities will be designed to engage and educate folks about water, healthy yards, birds, flowers, wildlife habitat, plants and enjoying the great outdoors. We plan to include nature walks, educational displays and vendors, as well as several speakers. Many local residents have never even visited the park. It is a natural classroom for teaching about our environment and the economic benefits of protecting Columbia County’s natural resources. Our event last year (the first attempt) was considered by all to be a huge success. We had over 30 vendors and displays. Over 400 participants joined us for a free day of fun, sun, good food, education and opportunities to purchase native plants and other healthy yard related goodies. Highlights included high profile speakers, a visit from the FWC helicopter, wild critters, bird walks (with loaner binoculars), butterfly walks, the North Florida Artist League paint out and fabulous food provided by Rosie’s Barbecue (for a very reasonable price). And...things are shaping up to be even bigger this year! WHEN: Saturday, April 9, 2011 Bird walks will be scheduled from 8:00-10:00 and a reservation is requested in order to provide enough group leaders. CONTACT: Jacqui Sulek at jsulek@audubon.org (386) 497 4185 WHERE: Alligator Lake Park, 420 SE Alligator Glen, Lake City FL 32025. You will enter the park and recreation area from Old Country Club Road. Activities will be clustered around the parking area and the new pole barn.

 

Thursday February 24th, 2011 Tom Shed, singer, songwriter & story teller… In his NEW TOUR titled “Florida State of Mine”, Tom musically infuses passion about the history and natural surroundings of North Florida. The performer: Florida Native, Tom Shed connects Florida’s past, present and our future together as we experience nature’s reaction to our human community. He has written & played music for over 30 years. Tom performs at concerts and folk festivals across the US, including Florida festivals such as the Florida Folk Festival, Will McLean Festival, Gamble Rogers Festival, and Ravine Gardens Festival. Singing and playing guitar and banjo throughout the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean, New Zealand and Australia for many years gives Tom his unique perspective of life, love and truth. Date: Thursday February 24th 2011 Time: Program is from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM - Open to the Public - Free Admission SOS Board annual election & announcements at 7:30 PM Place: Great Outdoors Opera House, High Springs 2nd floor of Great Outdoors Restaurant - SE Corner of Main Street & US 27 Sponsor: Save Our Suwannee, Inc. (A not for profit 501 (c) 3). Complimentary coffee, punch and homemade cookies served after performance. Come early for dinner at Great Outdoors Restaurant – call 386-454-1288 for reservations. SOS welcomes one and all (newcomers and life-long lovers of North Central Florida) to come out and enjoy this down home evening of live music. For more info contact Barbara Ferguson, SOS Board Member, at 386-965-0901. Click to view program flier