Decorations Merry And Bright! Reminder About Decorating Your Apartment

We love to see holiday decor around the community and we encourage our residents here at Gulf Gate to make the season merry and bright with decorations. We ask that it also be safe. Please remember that real trees and wreaths are prohibited in your apartment, on lanais, and on apartment entrance doors because they can be a fire hazard.

Feel free to decorate with lights, ribbon, artificial trees and garland. We love seeing all the creative ideas our residents come up each year. Plus, we have our Holiday Lanai Decorating Contest which will be judged in December and a cash prize will be awarded!

Thank You To All Our Veterans!

Veterans Day is Monday, November 11 and it is a special day to thank the men and women who have served, or are currently serving, in the nation's armed forces. Thank a veteran on this day! Below we have compiled some Veterans Day events as well as some local businesses and restaurants that are giving free meals or discounts to veterans.

To all of the veterans who live at our apartment community: thank you for your service!

Free Meals and Retail Discounts For Veterans

Sources

• TheMilitaryWallet.com has a great compilation of restaurants and companies that are offering discounts or free meals to veterans. You can see their updated list here: http://themilitarywallet.com/veterans-day-free-meals-and-discounts/. We have posted some of that information below, as well as updating it for locations that are local to our area.
• Military.com is another great resource for finding discounts for service members on Veterans Day. Check their list out here: http://www.military.com/veterans-day/veterans-day-military-discounts.html.

Two notes before jumping in:

1. Always call ahead to verify locations, times, and participation. Many of the listed companies are franchises and may have different policies. 
2. Proof of Military Service. Most companies require some form of military ID. These include:

• Military ID Card (active/reserve/retired)
• Current Leave and Earnings Statement (LES)
• Drivers License with Veterans Designation
• Photograph in uniform, Simply wearing uniform (if your service permits)
• Veterans Organization Card (e.g., American Legion and VFW)
• Discharge Paperwork (DD214)
• Other restaurants and companies may go by the honor system.

Restaurant Discounts & Free Meals

Find an updated deals list at:  http://themilitarywallet.com/veterans-day-free-meals-and-discounts/. 

Applebee’s: Free meal to military veterans and active-duty service members. There will be 7 entrees to choose from. Military ID and proof of service required.
5490 Clark Road
Sarasota, FL 34233
(941) 925-2595

Chili’s: Free meal for veterans, past and present. Offer valid from 11am-5pm. Proof of military service required.
4131 Tamiami Trail South
Sarasota, FL 34231
(941) 922-7601

Denny's: Free all you can eat pancakes
3701 Bee Ridge Road
Sarasota, FL 34233
(941) 927-3080

Little Caesars Pizza: Free crazy bread with proof of military service.
5808 Tamiami Trail South
Sarasota, FL 34231
(941) 312-6965

Outback Steakhouse: A week of free bloomin’ onions and cokes during the week leading up to Veterans Day. Offer valid with Military Personnel with an ID.
7207 Tamiami Trail S
Sarasota, FL 34231
(941) 924-4329

Subway: Free six inch sub with Military ID.
6123 Tamiami Trail S
Sarasota, FL 34231
(941) 923-1445

The Olive Garden: Free entrée with proof of service and even better, 10% all month for Veteran’s.
4900 Tamiami Trail South
Sarasota, FL 34231
(941) 923-3136

Retail Discounts

Find an updated deals list at: http://www.military.com/veterans-day/veterans-day-military-discounts.html.

Bed Bath and Beyond – 20% off entire purchase on Nov. 9, 10, and 11. This is good for active duty, DoD, reserves, guard, retirees, veterans, and military spouses.
6567 South Tamiami Trail
Sarasota, Florida 34231
(941) 924-0319

Big Lots – Veterans, active duty, reserve, and retired military personnel and their immediate family receive 10% off their entire purchase on Saturday, Nov. 9.
3750 Bee Ridge Road
Sarasota, FL 34233
(941) 927-9303

Great Clips – On Monday, Nov. 11, customers who come in for a service can get a free haircut card to give to their favorite veteran. Veterans can also receive a free haircut or get the free haircut card. Haircuts are redeemable until Dec. 31.
3562 Clark Road
Sarasota, FL 34231
(941) 929-7892

Home Depot –10% discount to all veterans during Veterans Day, Memorial Day and Independence Day. Home Depot offers the 10% discount year round to for active duty and retirees.
4111 Cattleman Road
Sarasota, FL 34233
(941) 377-1900

JCPenney – Veterans, active duty and family members receive an extra 20% off in stores Nov. 6-11 with coupon. Simply visit www.jcpenney.com and select coupons and you can print off the coupon.
8201 Tamiami Trail South
Sarasota, FL 34238
(941) 921-7911

Lowe's – 10% discount. The offer is available in stores only.
4020 Central Sarasota Parkway
Sarasota, Florida 34238
(941) 918-4000

Walgreens – Walgreens is offering 15% off eligible store items and 20% of Walgreens brand items.
6465 Tamiami Trail S
Sarasota, FL 34231
(941) 921-9222

November Holidays

November is an exciting month! It is the start of the holiday season and everyone seems to be traveling somewhere. All of these holidays can bring added stress as we prepare for them, but they are also occasions for joy as they are great opportunities to spend quality time with those you love. We've already passed two big days: All Saints Day and the end of Daylight Saving Time - but there is so much more coming in November.

Here's your list of reasons to celebrate this month

November 11th - Veterans Day

Originally called Armistice Day, we celebrated the cease fire that ended the “Great War” now known as The First World War (WWI). The war ended on November 11th 1918 at 11:11 (11/11 at 11:11). The first official Armistice Day was observed with the U.S., England, and France each burying an unknown soldier at 11:11 on November 11th 1921. President Eisenhower changed the holiday to Veterans Day in 1954, as a national holiday to honor all of our U.S. soldiers who have valiantly served or died in any wars or conflicts.

November 21st - The Great American Smoke Out

No need to wait another month and a half to start your New Year’s resolutions. Since 1977 The American Cancer Society has been encouraging all smokers to snuff out the cigarettes on the third Thursday of November. With a short term goal of extinguishing the “butts” for one day, their obvious long term goal is to give smokers the boost to kick the habit for good.

November 27th - Hanukkah

Wow, that’s early! Hanukkah is in November this year! This holiday begins on the evening of November 27th and lasts until Thursday, December 5th. The fact that it overlaps Thanksgiving is actually quite unusual. It's so unusual that it's not expected to happen for another 77,798 years. This has prompted some Jewish Americans to combine the two holidays and dub it "Thanksgivukkah."

Hanukkah commemorates historical events that took place in 168 B.C. According to the Talmud, one of Judaism’s central texts, Judah Maccabees and the other Jews who took part in the re-dedication of the Second Temple witnessed a miracle. Even though there was only enough untainted olive oil to keep the menorah’s candles burning for a single day, the flames continued flickering for eight nights, leaving them time to find a fresh supply. This wondrous event inspired the Jewish leaders to proclaim a yearly eight-day festival.

November 28th - Thanksgiving Day

The first Thanksgiving was 1621 between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans. The feast lasted 3 days and was a time to be thankful for a bountiful fall harvest, and to thank the natives for their kindness. Thanksgiving as a national holiday today has evolved quite a bit over the years. The Continental Congress declared the first national Thanksgiving holiday in 1777 following the American Victory at Saratoga. In 1789 George Washington was the first President to proclaim a day of Thanksgiving. He set aside November 26th (a Tuesday not a Thursday) as a day to thank God for our new Constitution. 

November 29th Black Friday

A shoppers dream (or nightmare)! Black Friday seems to be starting earlier and earlier each year. This day is called Black Friday because many retailers operate in the red, or in debt all year long, that is until the Holiday shopping season where there ledgers are finally in the black.

Remember To Set Your Clock Back Tonight

The end is nigh - for Daylight Saving Time. Remember to set your clocks back tonight before you go to bed. Technically Daylight Saving Time ends at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 3, but we recommend adjusting your clocks before your head hits the pillow.

With it getting dark outside so early now, we want to make sure all of our yard and parking lot lights are in working in order. If you happen to notice any that are not lit please let the rental office know. We do regular checks on the lights but always appreciate our watchful residents who help us keep our communities safe.

Enjoy the extra hour of sleep (hopefully...)!