I’m feeling bad about leaving you in the lurch here at the Historical Society of Sarasota County, what with our two upcoming events (Conversation on Jan 11 and Sunday Afternoon Social on Jan 16) being cancelled, so here’s some substitutes to keep you and your brain occupied until we meet again.

Exercise your

judgement: Manatee History Day virtual exhibits will be judged virtually, online. I helped at a Sarasota County History Day with judging a website and found it very rewarding. The theme this year is “Debate & Diplomacy: Successes, Failures, Consequences” and there will be entries in many categories. Being a judge involves committing to digital self-paced training, so decide today if you’re interested in participating (the actual event spans Jan 28 to Feb 4 2022). Details on this informational page.

January 12 kicks off surrey season on The Legacy Trail! Learn the history of the trail, discover local plants, animals, birds and more. The surrey runs every Wednesday, three times a day with departure times on the hour from 10 a.m. to noon until April 13. Rides begin at the Laurel Park/Sandra Sims Terry Community Center. Call the Laurel Park reservations line at 941-486-2757 to reserve a spot.

January 16 at Reflections of Manatee (1302 4th Ave E, Bradenton) In-person event outside under a tent:  Cuban Fishing Ranchos in Florida by Jeff Moates from the Florida Public Archaeology Network: As commercial fleets hailing from ports in Cuba took benefit of fisheries north of the Florida Straits, colonial and territorial frontier politics influenced their operations. Known as Cuban Fishing Ranchos, these places have left an indelible mark on the landscape of Southern Gulf Coast Florida and continue to offer insights of a complicated history. 

January 18, “A Look at Historic Preservation” Presenters:  Lorrie Muldowney and David Baber, former General Managers of the Sarasota County Dept. of Historical Resources. On that date, go to this link to access (but visit it today while you’re waiting. Some great stuff there, including Bertha Palmer and her thoughts on Sarasota becoming its own county.)

January 25, The Patterson Foundation is pleased to announce Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass: A Walk to Respect is returning at 7pm on January 25. Virtual, free, click to contact. I saw this live and was blown away by the tale, the actors, and most of all, the running commentary by spoken-word poet Cedric Hameed. Guests will have access to the full-length recording as well as a live Zoom panel discussion with actors Michael Krebs and Joel PE King, spoken-word poet Cedric Hameed, and playwright Beth Duda to dive into the themes of respect, community, and civil discourse. When our divided nation faced annihilation, these two self-made men faced their differences with courage and compassion, forging a friendship that helped end the Civil War and reunite our nation. Through their own words, we will explore the walk of these two great American leaders from conflict to understanding.