:OurTown Page 14 C www.sunnewspapers.net FROM PAGE ONE The Sun /Saturday, December 28, 2013 Sarasota becoming international sports destination By SCOTT LOCKWOOD STAFF WRITER Editor's note: The Sun is recapping its most com- pelling and talked about stories of 2013. Look for stories to follow each day, through Dec. 31. SARASOTA COUNTY - Over the course of 2013, Sarasota County put itself on the map as a premier sports destination after being awarded the 2017 World Rowing Championships, four Olympic pentathlon events beginning next year, and the 2018 NCAA Women's Rowing National Championships. Officials spent nearly two years trying to lure the 2017World Rowing Championships, which will be held at the $45 million rowing facility that is under construction at Nathan Benderson Parkin Sarasota. Paul Blackketter, chief operating officer of the SunCoast Aquatic Nature Center Association, who led the area's efforts to net the event, said in September that Sarasota being selected was "a milestone for rowing in the United States." It will be the first time the event is held in the U.S. since 1994, when the world contest was held in Indianapolis, Ind. The 2017 World Rowing Championships are expected to attract more than 1,500 Olympic-caliber athletes from more than 70 countries, county SAFELY FROM PAGE 1 The idea is to save people money around Christmastime while still teaching naughty motor- ists about the importance of driving safely. "If we can educate them without citing them, we will," King said. "Our philosophy is not to stake people out and ruin someone's life." In Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell's most recent online message, he encouraged people to leave earlier than usual for holiday functions to ensure safe trips. "If you feel rushed, you may find yourself driving too fast or becoming im- patient with other drivers," he said. Traffic still may be Best of= 2013 officials say. The inter- national competition, a precursor to the Olympic Games, will be broadcast to a worldwide TV audi- ence of 130 million people. An estimated 40,000 spectators are expected to attend. The economic impact of the event has been estimated at more than $25 million. More than $40 million in public- and private-sector funds, including a partner- ship with Manatee County, have been committed to help transform a former borrow pit into Nathan Benderson Park Sarasota County's $19.5 million investment comes from a tourist development tax paid by visitors to the area. Those funds have paid for the first two phases of the park's transformation. In August, more than 1,000 rowers in 80 clubs from 28 states competed against one another in the USRowing Masters National Championships at Benderson Park. While the world rowing event may headline the list of new major sporting events coming to the county, it was not the only international event that was announced for the area. Earlier this month, SUN FILE PHOTO Rowers from across the country compete in the USRowing Masters National Championships in August at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota. FLORIDA'S SPORTS CAPITAL? Sarasota County's venture into the sports spotlight began in 1924, when the New York Giants came to Sarasota's Payne Park for spring training. The tradition has carried on through the generations, and remains strong 89 years later with the Orioles. Balti- more Orioles-Sarasota vice president David Rovine said the team set a franchise record and the highest attendance for spring training in Sarasota's history, with 120,455 attending the baseball games in March. That averaged 7,085 spectators over the 17 games played in Sarasota that month. The Suncoast Offshore Grand Prix, an offshore powerboat race in Sarasota, recently celebrated its 29th year. The race takes place on the Fourth of July weekend, and lures visitors and race teams from all over the world with 15 events over nine days. The Grand Prix drew more than 110,000 people with an economic impact of $17 million an 18 percent increase from 2012. Several smaller sporting events also have proven to be economic drivers for the county: This year, the national Revolution3 Triathlon in Venice added an Olympic distance event to attract even more athletes and visitors. Professional and the International Modem Pentathlon Union selected the county as host of four major pentathlon events - including three World Cup competitions begin- ning next year. The modern pentathlon is an Olympic sport that consists of five events SUN PHOTO BY ADAM KREGER The Punta Gorda Police Department enlisted Santa Claus (a good friend of John Steciw) to help patrol the roadways around the holidays. Naughty traffic violators pulled over by officers Mark Bala and Bonnie Sills during one of the two campaign days Dec. 18 and 23 were surprised with candy canes instead of tickets. This is one way local authorities try to instill safety around the holidays. heavier with visitors still in town, parking lots might be full with shoppers looking for after-Christmas deals and returning gifts, and there will be plenty of drivers attending parties to welcome in the new amateur athletes competed in either the 70.3-mile HalfRev or 32-mile OlympicRev swim/bike/run endurance race. County Director of Sports Nicole Rissler said the Nov. 10 event is expected to have had an impact of between $500,000 and $1 million in the community (officials will know final numbers in January). Visit Sarasota County officials are hoping the event moves to a full Ironman next year. The full triathlon which includes a 26-mile marathon, 112-mile bicycle course and 21/2-mile swim could bring in $1.5 million in area revenue in 2014. More than $1 million in renovations to the Selby Aquatic Center in Sarasota has led to the National Masters, an event sanctioned by the YMCA for adult swimmers, to come to Sarasota for two years, starting in April 2014. This past summer, a Pan Am Masters event drew about 1,500 athletes and had about a $4.5 million economic impact. Visit Sarasota is hoping that the four-day National Masters events will entice participants to stay in the area and make it a weeklong vacation. County Sports Director Nicole Rissler said the competition could draw up to 600 athletes, with a potential area economic impact of $500,000 to $1 million. The dates for the competition are April 10-13, 2014, and May 6-10, 2015. Compiled by Scott Lockwood - 200-meter indoor swimming, fencing, equestrian show jumping and a combined final event of laser pistol shoot- ing and a 3,200-meter (two-mile) cross-country run. According to the U.S. Olympic website, year and celebrate the NFL playoffs and the college football bowl season. But caution shouldn't be concentrated solely on the roads. Charlotte County Fire/ EMS spokeswoman Dee Hawkins-Garland said tak- ing down lights and other electrical decorations is a good time to check them for damage. "This is the time, before you put them away, to look at those cords to check and both men and women complete all five events of the modern pentathlon in one day. A point system for each event is based on a standard performance earning 1,000 points. The pentathlon made its debut at the Ancient see if they've been tattered or worn," she said. "You have to take them down anyway." Hawkins-Garland also would urge people to dispose of their Christmas trees properly. 'After Christmas goes by, some people neglect their tree and don't water it," she said. "That becomes a fire hazard." When disposing of a tree - which should be done when the needles start I COMMUNITY NEWS BRIEFS Fishville plays host to health event Fishermen's Village, 1200 Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda, will play host to "New Year, New You, Thank you" from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Jan. 18. This event will feature professional vendors who promote health, wellness and natural products. The Big Red Bus will be in the village parking lot from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., to support January as National Blood Donor Month. There will be festiv- ities and sweet treat samplings (first-come, first-served). The public is welcome. Interested vendors are asked to call Catherine Perry, events coordinator, at 941-575- 3067, or email events@ fishville.com. Genealogical Society to meet The Charlotte County Genealogical Society will hold its monthly meeting from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 15 in Room B of the Port Charlotte Beach Park, 4500 Harbor Blvd. The meeting is free and open to the public; vis- itors are welcome. Pick up a free parking pass at the front entrance to the building before parking. At 1:30 p.m., there will be a computer presentation about how to use your computer for genealogy research. The monthly business meeting will begin at 2 p.m., followed by the program, "Hands-on Genealogy Research." Bring your genealogical problems to this meet- ing and see what a team of researchers can ac- complish. Genealogists will be available to help identify resources that may resolve your problem. Members and guests should come prepared with a writ- ten summary of their problem, using the form at www.ccgsi.org. Submit the forms in advance by email to webliaison@ ccgsi.org, or bring them to the meeting at 1:30 p.m. At the conclu- sion of this meeting, the researchers will present a summary of all prob- lems, the steps taken to research the problems, and the results found. For more information about the Genealogical Society, call Pat at 941-764- 1931, or visit www.ccgsi. org. SHOWERS FROM PAGE 1 headline-making weather events didn't need a name. Heavy rains fell throughout the summer months, beginning in June. The NationalWeather Service recorded a total of 10.64 inches of rain in June at the Punta Gorda Airport, which is 2.11 inches above normal. At the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, 8.74 inches of rain fell, which also is above normal by 1.23 inches. Rainy June turned into soggy July. A record-tying 3.02 inches of rain fell on July 3 at the Sarasota Bradenton recording site, according to the National Weather Service. The month would end with 10.41 inches (2.43 above normal) at the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport and 8.45 inches (.56 above normal) at the Punta Gorda Airport. Above-average rainfall continued into August and September, further saturating the region. On Sept. 23, three inches of rain fell at the Sarasota airport, breaking the previous record of 2.67 inches of rainfall that fell on the same day in 1947. Two days later, another record would be broken. On Sept. 25, 1.92 inches was recorded at the Sarasota airport. The previous record had been 1.70 inches, which was set in 1962, according to the NationalWeather Service. By the month's end, 11.95 inches had fallen in Sarasota 4.85 inches above normal. There were six days in September in which the clouds dropped at least an inch or more of rain. In Punta Gorda, 9.67 inches were recorded for the month 2.44 inches above normal. The heavy rains caused 2,700 to 3,300 linear feet of seawalls to crumble in Punta Gorda, in addition to flooded streets. "If you go back 40 years, this is the way it was," Charlotte County Emergency Management Director Wayne Sallade said in September. "We've been in a drought for about 15 years .... We haven't had these kinds of soaking, daily rains." And then as quickly as a summer storm forms, the rains stopped. The region now is reg- istering elevated scores on the Keetch Byram Drought Index, which measures moisture in RAINFALL IN INCHES Month Punta Gorda Airport January .45 (-1.37 from normal) February 2.14 (-.34 from normal) March 2.00 (-1.31 from normal) April 3.28 inches (.85 from normal) May 2.79 inches (.19 from normal) June 10.64 inches (2.11 from normal) July 8.45 inches (.56 from normal) August 9.41 inches (.80 from normal) September 9.67 inches (2.44 from normal) October 3.47 inches (.32 from normal) November .7 inch (-1.31 from normal) Sarasota-Bradenton .2 (-2.29 from normal) .94 (-1.76 from normal) 1.05 (-2.81 from normal) 3.94 (1.5 from normal) 2.01 (-.2 from normal) 8.74 (1.23 from normal) 10.41 (2.43 from normal) 11.32 (2.18 from normal) 11.95 (4.85 from normal) .55 (-2.57 from normal) 1.35 (-.58 from normal) SUN FILE PHOTO BYTAMI GARCIA A driver makes his way through standing water on Myakka Drive in North Port in September. the soil. The index ranges from 0 to 800, with higher scores equating to drier conditions. Charlotte, DeSoto and Sarasota counties all registered scores above 500 by mid-December. The last time all the three counties experienced index scores above 500 was in April, according to the Florida Forest Service. The area's index numbers are considered "moderate" for winter months and "severe" for fall months, according to the Florida Forest Service. Portions of Charlotte and DeSoto counties already reached scores above 600. These index numbers likely will con- tinue climbing into 2014, when the first quarter of the year historically produces few deluges. Email: cfdeinberg@sun-herald.om DRINKING? DON'T DRIVE, GET A RIDE Tow To Go an Auto Club Group Traffic Safety Foundation program sponsored by Bud Light and AAA is still available in Florida. Anyone - AAA member or not who feels too impaired to drive during the holidays (and "high-call"times like Super Bowl Sunday) may call 855-2-TOW-2-GO (855-286-9246) for a free ride. A technician from AAA will pick up both you and your car, and will get you to a safe location. The service is offered based on availability, however, and should be used only as a last resort. For more information, visit http://autoclubsouth.aaa.com/safety/towtogo.aspx. Source: AAA Olympic Games in 708 B.C. The modem pentathlon was introduced in 1912. Earlier this year, the sport survived a shakeup of Olympic events, and was made one of the Olympics' core sports through the 2020 games. The events start in Sarasota next year with the World Cup Final in June. The area will host the World Cup first-round competition in 2015, before hosting another World Cup Final in 2016. The top 36 men and top 36 women from the sport are invited to compete in the events. Sarasota will also host the U.S. Pentathlon Olympic Team trials in 2016 the first time an Olympic qualifying event for pentathlon will be held in the United States. Athletes will vie for a chance to participate in the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. Earlier this month, Blackketter announced at a County Commission meeting that the area would play host to the 2018 NCAAWomern's Rowing National Championships, which will mark the first time that event has ever been held in Florida. The University of Central Florida in Orlando will be the host school. Officials say there will be about 3,000 athletes and fans over three days of competition in May2018. Email: slodvood@sun-herald.com falling off- it is inevitable that some will opt to burn it rather than leave it by the road forWaste Management. 'A lot of people like to set it on fire," Hawkins- Garland said. "It's one thing if you're chopping it up and using it for firewood and you have an appropriate place to burn it, but just lighting it up will send flames into the air and out of control, and it could end in a catastrophe." Hawkins-Garland also would encourage those planning New Year's Eve parties to provide food - even if just a simple starch -to accompany alcohol. "The host needs to be a responsible host," she said. "And if you know you're going to have guests that overindulge, know when to take their keys." Email: akreger@sun-herald.com I