Making The Most Of Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, have you made your plans? Don't worry if you haven't. If you live at Gulf Gate then you are in luck - there are plenty of restaurants and shops in and around Sarasota offering Valentine's Day specials. Check out the Valentine's Day suggestions at http://www.ticketsarasota.com/valentine/  they detail events for the special day and have great suggestions for formal and informal dining specials.

The website even has suggestions for unique Valentine's Day gifts. Our favorite was the singing valentine:

SINGING VALENTINE
Need a unique gift for Valentine’s Day? The Sarasota Chorus of the Keys will deliver Singing Valentines. A barbershop quartet will show up at a home or office at a time you designate, deliver a card and a rose, then belt out two love songs to your sweetheart.

Have a happy Valentine's Day!

Important Notice For Residents Of 2750 Building

This Thursday pest control experts from American Pest Control will be visiting our 2750 building for their quarterly inspection. Having regular inspections helps all of our residents by making sure our buildings are kept in top condition and any potential problem is controlled. The American Pest Control personnel will be entering every apartment, however they will not apply any treatments without prior permission. We appreciate your cooperation in accommodating this service.

Trading Paintbrushes For Fishing Poles

In an earlier post we discussed how the paint crew was working hard power-washing and painting the building walls here at Gulf Gate. Peter and Rick, who paint at one of our properties in Minnesota, have traveled down to Florida to join Agustin for this big project. We think they got a little confused, however, and thought their fishing poles were their paintbrushes, and a boat was the boom truck they were using.  As you'll see from the photos below they have also been enjoying the fishing around here as well! Well, it can't be all work and no play, right?

Agustin enjoying some relaxation time.

Rick enjoying a break from the cold in Minnesota.

You can't see his face, but that's Peter. Apparently the fish is just too big! Peter is also from Minnesota.

February Is "Kind Of A Big Deal"

If February could talk it would probably say something like, "I don't know how to tell you this, but I'm kind of a big deal." In fact this month, despite its short number of days, packs in quite a few important holidays and observances.

Black History Month

February is Black History Month, also known as African American History Month. This observance was founded in 1915 originally as a one week holiday to celebrate and acknowledge African Americans who have made a difference in America. In 1976 the African American History week was extended to the entire month of February. This month was chosen for two important dates: President Lincoln was born on February 12 and Frederick Douglass, one of the nation’s leading abolitionists, was born on February 14.

February 2: Groundhog Day 
The legend of Groundhog Day originates from European weather lore that used a badger or bear to predict the end of winter. Germanic immigrants in Pennsylvania began the tradition of using a groundhog. The largest Groundhog Day celebration is in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where the star of the show is Punxsutawney Phil, a groundhog. If Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow there will be six more weeks of winter. If he does not see his shadow spring will be just around the corner. This year he predicted an early spring!

February 12: Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras, a French phrase that means Fat Tuesday, is always the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. For some it’s a day of feasting, drinking, and revelry before the season of Lenten fasting. The largest and most popular celebration of Mardi Gras in the United States takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana. They celebrate with parades, costumes, music and food.

February 13: Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent
Ash Wednesday and Lent are Christian observances in which they will fast or give up something important to them for forty days before Easter. This is a remembrance of Jesus fasting for forty days in the desert and is a spiritual preparation for Easter. 

February 14: Valentine’s Day 
This day originated as a Christian feast day to remember at least three martyrs named Valentine. Some Christian traditions still celebrate St. Valentine as an official holiday, while others do not. This holiday was first linked to a celebration of romantic love by Geoffrey Chaucer, an author from the Middle Ages. This observance has morphed into a day to give loved ones presents of flowers, sweet confections, or cards known as “valentines”.

February 18: Presidents Day 
Presidents Day is officially a federal holiday celebrating George Washington’s birthday. Washington was actually born on February 22, but the Uniform Monday Holiday Act moved the observance to the 3rd Monday in February. A majority of states declared a concurrent celebration of the office of the President for this day, thus the two conflicting titles for this holiday. George Washington’s birthday was the first federal holiday honoring an American citizen.

Bird? Plane? No, That's The Painting Crew!

You may have noticed a curious activity taking place around Gulf Gate in the past few days. Our painting crew is using a boom truck to power wash and paint our buildings. Completing this project will take most of the month of February. The painting crew is also working on painting the atrium of each building. We're always striving to make Gulf Gate a great place to live and to keep our community looking beautiful for our residents.