Heart Walk 2022

2022 Volusia/Flagler Heart Walk

After a two-year hiatus, the Volusia/Flagler Heart walk was held again at the Daytona International Speedway. Originally scheduled for Friday, September 30, 2022, the event got postponed due to Tropical Storm Ian. It was rescheduled for Saturday, December 12. For Heart Walk 2018 and 2019, I walked with colleagues from Hunt Library. I had formed a team again and received a few donations, however none of my colleagues that had walked in the past could attend this year on the new date. Almost at the last minute my friend Olga agreed to walk with me.

Heart Walk 2022

We drove into the infield area and parked, then walked to the Fanzone to sign in. The morning was cool but sunny, a perfect day for a walk. We picked up water and snacks, took photos, and listened to the speakers announce the fundraising winners. The attendance was much lower, probably due to the time of year, but there was still a respectable crowd.

Heart Walk 2022

We received our instructions and shortly after 9:00 am we entered the track to begin the 2.5 mile walk. Even though I had done it a couple times before, it’s still interesting to be able to walk on the racetrack at the Speedway. Olga seemed to be excited about it.

Olga wanted to walk very fast, and I struggled to keep up. I did manage to convince to slow down a bit, but we walked the entire trioval at a fairly brisk pace—when we weren’t stopping to take photos, of course.

Heart Walk 2022 James
Heart Walk 2022 Olga
Heart Walk 2022

We walked for about 45 minutes as the morning became a bit warmer. Finally, just before 10:00 am we headed down pit road where the team from the American Heart Association cheered us on and took our photo.

Heart Walk 2022 Olga and James

The walk now completed, we grabbed some more snacks and water and left the Fanzone. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to drive on any of the track this time, but we drove through the infield and tunnel and left the Speedway, headed for a well-deserved lunch.

Thanks to Olga for being a fun and enthusiastic partner for Heart Walk 2022.

Feeding the Embry-Riddle Cats 2021-2022

Embry-Riddle P.A.W.S. Feeding Station

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach campus is home to at least one colony of cats. In 2018, some students, with the support of faculty and staff, formed a club to help feed and care for the campus cats. They called it the Protecting Animal Wellness Society (P.A.W.S.).

Each year I donate money to P.A.W.S. During Winter Break, when most students are away from campus, local staff sign up to feed the cats. I previously wrote about feeding the Embry-Riddle cats in 2019.

Continue reading Feeding the Embry-Riddle Cats 2021-2022

Feeding the Embry-Riddle Cats

Embry-Riddle Cats

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach campus is home to several colonies of cats. Some are friendly while others avoid people. Before we moved into the new library in 2018, I sometime sat outside the temporary library during lunch. Often I would be surrounded by cats and I usually gave them some of my lunch: fish, turkey, and chicken. Around that time, some students, with the support of faculty and staff, formed a club to help feed and care for the campus cats. They called it P.A.W.S. or the Protecting Animal Wellness Society.

Continue reading Feeding the Embry-Riddle Cats

Heart Walk 2019

Heart Walk 2019

I enjoyed participating in Heart Walk 2018, so when the event was announced for 2019, I quickly signed up. Last year a Hunt Library team was formed after a few of us had already signed up for ERAU, so this time I immediately created the Hunt Library Team and invited my colleagues to join. Due to previous commitments and other reasons, only my boss Suzanne and I could walk. However, Hunt Library staff donated a total of $320 to the American Heart Association.

One of the reasons I like this event is that I get to drive into the infield and even on part of the road course of the Daytona International Speedway, where the event takes place. After parking in the garage area, we signed in and gathered in the Fanzone for snacks, photos, and instructions.

Continue reading Heart Walk 2019

Riverfront Park Cleanup

Riverfront Park Cleanup

On January 9, 2019, my friend A. texted me with a request: “Hi James! I plan to go to the river bank near the [N]ews [J]ournal and pick up the trash. Would you like to join me?”

I often ride my bike through Riverfront Park along the Halifax River and adjacent to Beach Street in downtown Daytona Beach, so I had a selfish reason to clean up the area. I had noted after a recent storm, the shoreline in the park near the Daytona Beach News-Journal building was heavily littered with trash and debris. So when A. suggested cleaning the park, I quickly agreed to help. We planned to meet at noon on Sunday, January 13.

Continue reading Riverfront Park Cleanup

Heart Walk 2018

Heart Walk 2018

When Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University announced to staff that they were sponsoring a team for the 2018 Volusia/Flagler Heart Walk to take place on the track of the Daytona International Speedway, I knew I wanted to participate. So I made my donation, added my name to the team, and picked up my free ERAU shirt. I was joined by library colleagues Jesper, Sandra, and my boss Suzanne.

The Heart Walk took place on Friday, September 14, 2018. We started off at 6:30 pm from the middle of pit road. It was a rare chance to walk around the famous racetrack.

Continue reading Heart Walk 2018