Miami, Key Biscayne, and Orlando

Thursday, June 25 to Saturday, June 27, 2009

Tallahassee, FL 32307

The members of the 2009 Environmental Summer Science Camp from the FAMU’s Environmental Science Institute have so far completed their  tour of Everglades State Park and NOAA’s Southeast Fisheries Science Center located in Key Biscayne (near Miami) and are headed toward the city of Orlando in central Florida. They are expected to be back in town tonight.

FAMU Environmental Science Institute

2009 Environmental Science Summer Camp Award Reception
Rattler Den, FAMU Student Union

Wednesday, June 24, 12-2 PM
Tallahassee, FL 32307

The 2009 FAMU-NOAA Environmental Science Institute’s  Summer Camp students (four separate groups) presented their lab projects and their video projects this afternoon at The Rattler Den in Florida Mechanical & Agricultural University’s Student Union Building. About 100 people parents of the students, summer camp staff, graduate students of the Institute and judges of the projects attended the function, reception, and the award ceremony.

VTS and another student were the presiding officers. They first welcomed everyone to the function and invited Dr. Roboinson, Director of the Institute to speak. Following the speech there was lunch. Then the student’s video project were shown and winner (group 4) was announced. Then the science project was presented. Finally the Summer Camp Coordinator presented all the students with their certificates and their trophies.

Henna & Sari Wearing Demo

Thursday, June 18, 2009
7:00 - 8:00 PM
Tallahassee, FL 32301

Couple of members of the India Association of Tallahassee (www.iatlh.org) set-up a lecture demo for henna hand painting and sari wearing on the second floor of the Brogan Museum of Art and Science. This was part of the Art on a String: Asian Kites Exhibit currently featured at the Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science in Downtown Tallahassee.

About dozen people attended the program. Some of the tried on sari and others had their hands painted with henna.

VTS and I looked at GIS software as part of his environmental science summer camp. We also ate yellow layered cake in the evening.

Environmental Science Institute

Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU)

Tallahassee, FL 32307

The Environmental Science Institute at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU.edu) summer camp sponsored both by FAMU ESI and National Oceanic and Atmospheric  Administration started in earnest today.

Betton Hills Preparatory School
Thursday, May 28, 2009, 2-4:30 PM
Goodwood Gardens & Museum
1600 Miccosukee Road
Tallahassee, FL 32308

Early in the afternoon I picked VTS and we all went to Sears Portait Studios for a family portrait. After the session we selected some photos to be printed and deliverd to us in about 15 days. Then we headed toward Goodwood Gardens and Museum at 1600 Miccosukke Road for  the Betton Hills Preparatory School’s eighth grade (10th year of graduating 8th graders) ceremony. The graduation was scheduled between 2 and 4:30 pm. The class photographs couldn’t be taken at 2 pm due to heavy rains the photographer showed up late and they took the class photos at 4 pm.

The ceremony began at 3 PM. Eighth grade techers Mr Scott, Ms Erica and Ms Garner spoke, and then Ms Ilona Faust, Owner and Principal spoke and presented the kids (both 7th and 8th graders) with individual gifts, books, and diplomas. Then the children spoke briefly about the school and teachers.

Then class pictures were taken. Following the picture almost everyone went for a dinner at Little Italy Restaurant at Magnolia Drive.

Mr. Charlie Crist, the Governor of Florida hosted about 150 members of various Asian American communities all across Florida at Governor’s Mansion this evening (Tuesday, May 26, 2009) to celebrate  the Asian American Heritage month. Members from the Indian, Filipino, Chinese, Japanese, Taiwanese, and Korean community were present. People representing the business, education, government, retail, and sectors were present.

There was small reception with drinks and snacks. Following the reception members of the community spoke about the achievements of the Asian community. Governor then spoke and said he is very happy to proclaim, first for a Florida Governor to do so, May 2009 as Asian American Heritage month.

Oakland Cemetery

Monday, May 25, 2009; 11-12 Noon

 I attended Memorial Day Observation at the Oakland Cemetery. The American Legions Post 13 hosted the program. Members from all the five services of the military were represented.

There were about 100 people (veterans, regular folks, active military people, and kids were present).

It is the fourth year I attended the Memorial Day observation here.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

8:00 to 9:30 AM

The personnel from a local pressure washing company came to our residence this morning and started the work of pressure washing the sides, grills, and the stone structures. They used water from our house and mixed with bleach using their equipment went around the house left-side, right-side, back-side and front-side and pressure cleaned them.

After about 1 hour and 30 minutes of work the sides and the bricks looked really bright. Good job.

Photos of before and after will be posted soon.