Reel Cracker Cowboys
Visual Arts Center premiers movie about Florida’s last cowboys
On December 4, The Visual Arts
Center in Punta Gorda hosted the Charlotte
County premier of Cracker – The Last Cowboys
of Florida, a feature film by Victor Milt that
depicts the life of Florida’s ranchers and
cowboys. Milt first became interested in
making a movie about Florida’s cowboys after
visiting Arcadia, which is where his wife grew
up. Every time they would visit, he saw the
local cowboys and knew their story needed
to be told. Florida is the second-largest cattle
ranching state in the U.S., a fact many people
may not realize as that way of life is rapidly
disappearing due to urban sprawl and the
destruction of natural Florida wilderness.
This movie follows the lives of this declining population in hopes of helping “the public, the government and the developers themselves to see a better way—a sustainable future that we can leave to our children and posterity forever,” according to the film’s Web site. Cracker won the Florida’s Choice Award at the 2006 Independent Film Festival in Tampa as well as the Director’s Choice Award at the Bluegrass Festival in LaGrange, Ken. Cracker – The Last Cowboys of Florida is available for purchase at www.crackercowboy.com.
Helping Children
The Leadership Charlotte Class of 2008 handed over a hefty-sized check
to Ron Monck, Chairman of the Board of The Charlotte Community
Foundation, on January 6. The check represented a portion of the proceeds
the group earned last year with “An Evening in Oz” at the beautiful Vivante
poolside venue. More than 600 attended the event and all proceeds
(more than $60,000 in total) will eventually make their way to the
benefi t of Still Waters Home, a project to shelter and protect homeless
school children in Charlotte County. For information on Leadership
Charlotte, contact The Charlotte Chamber of Commerce at (941) 639-2222
in Punta Gorda or (941) 627-2222 in Port Charlotte. For more information
on The Charlotte Community Foundation, call (941) 637-0077.
Congratulations
The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra was awarded a $10,000
grant from the National Endowment of the Arts on
December 4. It was one of 14 orchestras nationwide to
be recognized in the Challenge America Fast Track-
Review category, which awards grants for the funding of
performances, workshops, festivals and master classes.
The CSO will be using the NEA grant to fund “Celebrating
Women,” a Women’s History Month performance with special
guest flutist Lady Jeanne Galway.
Way to Go!
TideWell Hospice and Palliative Care has been granted initial accreditation by the Community Health Accreditation Program, signifying that it demonstrates the highest level of excellence in its service to patients and families who are living with advanced illness. Beyond the accreditation, TideWell received commendations for its "effective and effi cient management information system utilized to ensure accountability at all levels of the organization" along with their "comprehensive performance improvement process integrates the organization’s mission and promotes an organizational-wide approach that selects, reviews and analyzes outcomes specific to organizational needs and the scope of services and products."
Grand Opening
Wyvern Hotel celebrated its official grand
opening and ribbon cutting on November
25. The fi ve-story, 63-room, upscale Luxe
brand hotel features meeting and event
space for up to 100 people; Lulu, a
Latin fusion restaurant serving up tapas
and all your favorites with a Latin twist;
and a stunning rooftop bar and pool.
Wyvern Hotel is located at the corner of U.S.
Highway 41 North and East Retta Esplanade
in Punta Gorda. Call (941) 639-7700 or visit
thewyvernhotel.com for information.
