Daytona Beach Symphony - Society and Guild

The Daytona Beach Symphony Society  is about to start its 65th season! Though Daytona does not have its own symphony orchestra, the Symphony Guild and Symphony Society manage to wow, entertain, and delight Daytona Beach residents every year with world-class acts.

This season will kick off on November 11 with Siberian Virtuosi – an ensemble of 11 brilliant violinists bringing you a thrilling evening. Throughout the season you can also experience the Prague Philharmonia, The Vienna Boys’ Choir, Bamberg Symphony, Theatro Lyrica, and much more. Every last performance featured by the Daytona Beach Symphony Society is of outstanding and high-class nature. Truly fabulous cultural experiences! Get your tickets here .

Thanks to tireless efforts of the Symphony Guild, the greater Daytona Beach area can enjoy these incredible performances every year! The Guild’s work includes advocacy for the Symphony Society, and of course fundraising. In addition, the membership dues make a program possible for 2,500 school children to see the performances each year at no cost to them. Many of the 6 to 18 year-old students are at risk, and at least 40% percent live below the poverty line. Here they can experience top-notch musical performances, which would not be possible without the Guild’s program. 

In May of this year, the Symphony Guild elected a new president, Gerri Wright-Gibson, with whom the new guild season will kick off on Monday, October 3 at 10am at the St. James Episcopal Church in Ormond Beach.

Meetings are every first Monday of the month, October through May. Being a member comes with some terrific benefits! You get to meet and socialize with interesting and fun people. As a guild member, you can receive a 35% discount on season tickets to the Symphony Society performances. And you receive invitations to the Daytona Beach Symphony Guild’s cultural excursions and outings, unique parties, dinners, luncheons, and a newsletter. You can be on one of 13 committees! Most importantly, you can be an advocate for Daytona Beach’s premier source of music, dance, and performance: The Daytona Beach Symphony Society.

If you would like to join, the annual fee is $40. You can email Joan Fenton, who is in charge of memberships, and she will advise you how to proceed. Email Joan

Creative Florida Living

Janet Sells 

Remarkable River Racing Series

It’s here again! On September 25 you can participate in an amazing community event: The Remarkable River Race.   For the last of the series this year, you can choose to run (or walk) in the 5K or 15K race. Whether you are a permanent resident, a 'snowbird', or are considering moving here, community races are always worthwhile!

Why would you want to work up a sweat, you ask? Well, the race, which is brought to you by Florida Hospital Medical Memorial Center benefits Building Remarkable Communities, Inc., a non-profit corporation dedicated to the eradication of domestic and family violence in our communities through prevention, training and funding to support survivors of domestic abuse and their children.

Their approach to eliminating domestic abuse is different than most existing programs because they approach the problem from both sides of the issue. Funding for shelters and organizations that directly serve survivors is critically important, but this organization also views it as their responsibility to provide people with the understanding of WHY abusers abuse and why “victims” of abuse often find themselves in a repeating cycle of violence.

In addition to monetary funding, they also provide the resources that change mindsets – both of the victim and the abuser.

Therefore – participating in this race will make a big difference in your community. But if that’s not enough, there’s more!

The race starts at Aunt Catfish on the Halifax River. Participants get some awesome race SWAG, a delicious free breakfast buffet at Aunt Catfish after the race, a free t-shirt, finisher medallions, and more! In addition, there are vendors, a DJ, raffles, and free mini-massages. It’s a party and you should come.

Register here for the last Remarkable River Race of 2016 

 Creative Florida Living

Janet Sells

5K Run - Halifax Health Hospice

Community running events benefit many worthy causes. Whether you are permanently part of this community, you are here part of the year, or you are considering a relocation, participation in a benefit race is always rewarding and fun!

On Saturday, September 10th, 2016, Halifax Health - Hospice will celebrate the Spirit of Caregiving  with the 15th Annual 5K Run and Walk. This much anticipated event raises funds for the Family Caregiver Program, which provides one-on-one care for patients and entitles caregivers to much needed respite time.

The event brings out a wonderful mixture of the area's top competitive runners, as well as non-competitive runners and families. While competitive runners will be timed for placing and to receive points in the Daytona Running Series, the event also offers an opportunity for non-competitive runners, walkers, families and children to participate through the 5K walk/run, and 1/8-mile Kiddie Dash.

Funds raised from the 5K Run & Walk will benefit the Family Caregiver Program which plays an integral role in the health of both the patients and their caregivers.  This relief program provides one-on-one care for patients, allowing the family caregivers much needed respite time.  In turn, this helps the caregivers so they can help their loved ones through the end-of-life journey.

ONLINE REGISTRATION CLOSES SEPTEMBER 8TH!  You will still be able to register in person at packet pick and on race day for $35.

PACKET PICK UP

Fri., Sept. 9 from 12noon to 6:00pm at the Port Orange Care Center, 3800 Woodbriar Trail in Port Orange.

• 5K Run and Walk, 8:00AM, $30, registration ends September 8, 2016 at 11:59pm
• 1/8-Mile Kiddie Dash, 8:50AM, $5, registration ends September 8, 2016 at 11:59pm
• Caregiver Support (not present), 8:00AM, $25, registration ends September 8, 2016 at 11:59pm.

The race starts at Port Orange City Center: 1099 City Center Circle, Port Orange, FL 

 Creative Florida Living

Janet Sells