Newsletter | April 2019
April Newsletter
Walking Tours & History Classes are done for the Season
Our Tours & Classes received Rave Reviews!
Hopefully, you were able to join us for a tour or class this season and learned a little about our local history. Our new wireless audio equipment was a great addition to our tours, significantly increasing the quality and experience. Thanks again to the Shively Charitable Foundation and the Community Foundation of Sarasota County for providing the funds for this equipment.
Tours will start up again next January. Stay tuned for future dates for our History Classes.
More ‘Tails’ along the Harborwalk…
Lots of Progress on the
“TAILS FROM THE HARBOR” Mural
“TAILS FROM THE HARBOR” Mural
The weather is cooperating and Artist Skip Dyrda is adding new elements
daily.
Stop by and take a look.
A little story about a very special Sea Turtle
After some research and a trip to Mote Aquarium, our Artist Skip Dryda uncovered a really neat story about a sea turtle who lived in the Peace River off the coast of Punta Gorda. This Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle was rescued by Mote Aquarium in April 2015 and named Squirt 2. He was in very bad shape having been hit in the eye by a boat propeller and was suffering from pneumonia. Mote nursed him back to health and he is now a permanent resident of the aquarium. 
Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles are very rare and extremely endangered but once existed in large numbers in our waters prior to the 1940’s. One of the smallest of the sea turtles, they can reach 24″ in length, weigh 100 pounds and are native to the Gulf waters. Skip will be using Squirt 2 as the model for our sea turtle port hole in the mural.
Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles are very rare and extremely endangered but once existed in large numbers in our waters prior to the 1940’s. One of the smallest of the sea turtles, they can reach 24″ in length, weigh 100 pounds and are native to the Gulf waters. Skip will be using Squirt 2 as the model for our sea turtle port hole in the mural.To read more about Squirt 2’s story, go to this link at Mote:
https://mote.org/hospital/patient/squirt-2
https://mote.org/hospital/patient/squirt-2
Saying Good-Bye (for now) to the Hotel Punta Gorda Mural
Unfortunately, we’re losing our Hotel Punta Gorda mural. Created in 2011, this popular mural has graced our town’s landscape for the past eight years.
The condo structure that hosts the mural is experiencing major water intrusion issues and the stucco must be removed to address the issue. We hope to raise the funds to repaint the mural in the future.
The condo structure that hosts the mural is experiencing major water intrusion issues and the stucco must be removed to address the issue. We hope to raise the funds to repaint the mural in the future.
Looking for a Cool Tee Shirt
Check out Our “Tails from the Harbor” Tee’s at Cafe Press
You might have seen our Tour Guide or our Artist wearing a “Tails” mural Tee Shirt. The shirts were designed by our Artist Skip Dyrda and feature our sea turtle port hole. They are for sale at www.cafepress.com/PGHMS. A small portion of the sale goes to the Mural Society.
Support Provided by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County & the Shively Charitable Foundation