Bunfest in Stuart, Florida

It's back! The biggest rabbit lover event in South Eastern USA. We are bigger then ever and have expanded to the Martin County Fair Grounds! A day all about Rabbits and the people that love them!



Date: Sat May 31st 2014

Time: 10am-4pm

Location: The Martin County Fair Grounds

2616 Se Dixie Hwy, Stuart, Fl 34996

Admission: $2 10 years and under Free



Activities:

Rabbit Spa- For a small donation you can have your rabbit buffed and fluffed including nail clipping, brush out, glands and ear cleaning. A groomed bun is a happy bun!



Bunny Playground- Bigger then ever the popular play area for rabbits includes obstacles like tubes, teeter-totters and hills to run and play.



Rabbit Educational Seminars-

11:15am-12pm Bunny Basics: Thinking about adopting a rabbit, or would you like to know a little more about rabbits? Then the Bunny Basics class is perfect for you - we will cover every topic a responsible bunny parent should know - diet, housing, litter box training, grooming, and more!



1:15-2pm- Basic Rabbit Emergency Care: Your bunny isn't eating, and the vet doesn't open until morning. What do you do? Find out about this and other basic emergency topics at the Basic Emergency Care class. We will also cover post-vet visit basic home care such as syringe feeding. Bunny parents should always be prepared!



2:15-3pm- The Organized Bunny Home & Shelter Organization: This course hosted by Professional Organizer and President of Clover Patch Rabbit Sanctuary, Amy Mott, is destined to get you and your rabbits on the right track with fun and simple ideas for basic organization, tactile record keeping and Amy's clean secrets which will keep your rabbits happy healthy and your home or shelter clean and organized.



Adoptable Rabbits and Other Critters- Looking for a new friend? Look no further; we will have plenty of rabbits, guinea pigs and other small critters looking for their forever home!



Rabbit Boutique: A rabbit and rabbit lovers shopping paradise including toys, treats, clothing, rabbit related gifts, jewelry and lots more.



Bunny Glamour Shots: For a small donation you can have a professional photo of your rabbit taken with fun backgrounds and props!



Food Trucks: Come hungry! Mouth watering food from some of South Florida’s most sought after food trucks.



Arts and Crafts: Show off your artistic side and paint a ceramic bunny bank to take home and treasure or enter in the coloring contest.



Live DJ: Boogie down with your rabbits as T-Rex entertainment plays some bunny jams that will make anyone want to hip-hop!



Giveaways and Raffles



Rainbow Bridge Memorial Wall: Let the world know that just because your special friend is gone they will never be forgotten. Decorate and put your beloved rabbits name on one of our memorial bunnies and it will be placed on a banner that will be proudly hung in our rabbit adoption area at the shelter. Rabbits hop in our hearts and never leave!



We invite you to bring your HEALTY rabbit to Bunfest 2014. All rabbits must be in a pet stroller, carrier or carried in a proper harness at all times. Rabbits are not permitted to run loose. You are responsible for our rabbit’s safety, care and comfort. Please no other animals. Please note that rabbits will be checked prior to entering Bunfest 2014 for fur lice, mites and ear mites. Your rabbit will not be permitted to participate in any of the rabbit related events if any of the above are found. If you think your rabbit is suffering from any of the above please contact your rabbit’s vet for immediate treatment.
For more info contact Sara (772)708-9668 or Skyle@hstc1.org

Check out the official Bunfest facebook page www.facebook.com/southeastbunfest

O'Toole's Herb Farm Just out of Tallahassee, Florida

O’Toole’s Herb Farm is a certified organic farm, 

owned by Betty (‘B’) below with her late husband

Jim* O’Toole*, located on the outskirts of

Madison, Florida. "B" won a prestigious

award from the University of Florida.

The farm, open since 1990, is a haven for

all of their customers. Everyone enjoys taking 

a lazy stroll around the garden that is alive 

with butterflies and birds or pause at the 

newly completed anniversary garden 

for a quiet recharge of your senses. 

The herb farm has two greenhouses where 

you will find over 250 varieties of organic 

herbs, perennials, and vegetable plants for 

sale. A number of classes/ events are held 

1st, 2nd,3rd and 4th Fridays of each month.

  Also located on the farm are two quaint gift 

shops with all sorts of herbal treats, 

gardening supplies, baskets, terra cotta 

pots, books, local pottery and artwork. 

You can even buy herbal soap by the inch!

Don’t pass near Madison without

stopping by and experiencing the 

magical pleasures of O’Toole’s 

Herb Farm.

The main garden supplies many 

of the best restaurants in north

Florida and south Georgia with fresh

 cut herbs, wild greens and shiitake 

mushrooms. But sitting on the porch 

of the gift shop in a rocking chair

sipping a glass of lemonade is

 always a favorite. 

Through organic farming methods

O'Tooles provides a stewardship 

with the land that goes back five 

generations. It is a philosophy 

based upon growing a quality 

product that is nutritious and

 delicious, replenishing and

 maintaining the soil’s fertility 

while assisting nature’s balance.

No synthetic pesticides or 

chemical fertilizers are used.

Jim O'Toole passed  in

December 07. A friendly,

approachable man with a 

rich intellect, yet a humble

  disposition will be missed.

 "B" remains a steward 

 of the land.

Pittsburgh Pirates Bradenton FL Spring Training Center Gets Updates

Bradenton Florida has always been proud to be the Spring Training location for the Pittsburgh Pirates.  The Pittsburgh Pirates plan to invest $6.5 million in upgrades for McKechnie Field and Pirate City.  It's planned to replace the existing clubhouse and expanding the agility field at Mckechnie Field.  In addition to that, Pirate City, which includes housing and training center for the players, will have a new strength facility.
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Bradenton has had a long standing relationship with the Pirates ball team.  McKechnie Field is in an area of transformation in an entertainment district.  Recently there have been three new craft beer establishments in the area.

The president of the Pirates, Frank Coonelly said in a news release "the pirates are continuing to invest in Bradenton because of our long-standing relationship with the community and the vital, year round training and rehabilitation assets that have been developed by our partnership with the city."  He also said "Our Major League and Minor League players deserve first=class facilities and the new home clubhouse at McKechnie Field and performance center at Pirate City will be among the best in the industry."

It seems we live in a time when Major League ball teams are demanding constant improvements, in most times tax payer paid, and even threatening to relocate to another city.  So, it's refreshing to see the Pirates and the city of Bradenton working together to improve not only Bradenton, but also the team itself.

That's just another wonderful thing I love about Bradenton.

Bradenton Florida's Galvano Golf Pro to the Stars

Back in the 1970's Phil Galvano, who was named as one of 18 people who had the greatest influence on the game of  golf by Golf Digest, lived in Manatee Florida from 1969 to 1981.

He was the golf pro for some of the biggest celebrities of the day.  Some of them include Bob Hop, Morey Amsterdam, Jackie Gleason, Carol Burnett, Milton Berle,Vic Damone, Perry Como, Joey Bishop, and Johnny Carson.  He was considered the "golf coach to the stars".  He is also considered the first celebrity golf pro.

Last week was the 18th annual Phil Galvano Classic Golf Tournament was held with a private outing at Long Boat Key Club followed by a huge tournament the next day with 36 teams playing at the Legacy Golf Club in Lakewood Ranch in Manatee County.  All were playing in Phil Galvano's honor raising money for the Manatee Education Foundation.  Last year the two day golf tournaments raised $289,000 for teacher grants and programs.

Phil's son, Bill Galvano is still in Bradenton serving as our state senator said his father would be delighted at the money raised for such a good cause.

Phil married in 1957 and honeymooned on Anna Marie Island, Florida in Manatee County.  At that time Phil and his wife fell in love with our tropical area.  Phil and Betty with their five children moved to Bradenton in 1969 and opened a golf course in Bradenton named The Santa Rosa golf course.  It was named after his mother Rose

Just one of the incredible people who have found Bradenton, Florida their home.

Academy Awards Debut

Interesting to note that today May 16th in 1929 the first Academy Awards were held.

Sam Woof Finalist on American Idol

Sam Woof of Bradenton Florida came in fifth out of approximately 75,000 contestants on American Idol.  Sam is a senior at Braden River High School in Manatee County.  Being in the top 10 finalist, Sam and the other nine finalist will be on tour this summer throughout the United States.  Sam hopes to make a record this summer and then begin his studies at Berklee college of Music in Boston.  Woof recently appeared on the Live with Kelly and Michael in New York and now is back in Los Angeles to rehearse for the American Idol finale and the up coming Idol Live summer tour.  On the tour is a stop in Sarasota Florida at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.  We are all very proud of Sam.

Di Vinci Exhibit in Manatee County Florida

Bradenton Florida was chosen to host the Di Vinci exhibit starting this past November and has been extended to July 7th 2014.  It features about 60 of Leonardo da Vinci's inventions, created by Florentine crafters from the Leonardo da Vinci Museum in Italy based on da Vinci's original drawings.  Over half of these inventions are interactive.  The exhibition features hand-crafted re-creations and includes inventions such as a helicopter, a catapult and a bicycle.  There's also a film presentation titled "Da Vinci genius" that will be shown both at the auditorium and in the newly upgraded Bishop Planetarium at the South Florida Museum.  It's a wonderful experience for that we are so very lucky to host.

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2013/11/14/4827485/da-vinci-exhibit-arrives-in-bradenton.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2013/11/14/4827485/da-vinci-exhibit-arrives-in-bradenton.html#storylink=cpy

Large portion of Florida Buyer's are paying cash!

One in three home buyers' paid cash during the first quarter of 2014 in Florida.  Read the article at http://www.bradenton.com/2014/05/08/5141992/now-more-than-ever-cash-is-king.html  Even though distress properties are down, investors are still flocking to Florida to purchase.

Great Value on a Condo

Wow!  Just listed a great one bedroom condo in west Bradenton near the beaches.  $79,900.  Shoot us an email for info and photos.

Song Writer's Festival

Key West Song Writer's Festival starts today through the 11th of May.   Lot's of music, partying and fun.  Check it out at http://www.keywestsongwritersfestival.com

Welcome Your Florida Winter Home Blog

Hello everyone!  This is Brian and Bruce with RE/MAX Alliance Group and would like to welcome everyone to our blog.  We would like anyone with information about Florida living to share their thoughts.  Enjoy!