This week in history 7.23.15

July 22, 1993

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium picked up an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin in June 1993 and named him Freeway. The dolphin was in need of rehabilitation, and Mote staff discovered he needed help getting fresh fish to eat. The Cub Scouts Pack 150 stepped in to help with a fishing tournament at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Children cast their lines and reeled in enough fish to tide Freeway over for a while. Freeway was released at the mouth of the Manatee River in September 1993 and was seen several times over the next six months, according to his patient report from Mote. 

July 23, 1981

In 1981 the Ringling College Library Association was celebrating the success of the first year running the Town Hall Lecture series and looking forward to the 1982 series. The speakers for the following year were announced and included syndicated columnist James Kilpatrick, motivational speaker Earl Nightingale, singer Kitty Carlisle and writer Tom Wolfe. Now entering its 35th year of presenting speakers, the series has helped bring former presidents, prime ministers and pop culture icons to the stage at Van Wezel Performing Art Hall. Speakers for the 2016 series are: former Israeli President Shimon Peres, Jim Messina and Karl Rove, Sir Ken Robinson, Robin Roberts, Gen. David H. Patraeus and Amy Tan.

July 25, 1991

Does anyone still use a phone book? Turning old phone books into paper towels was the goal of a 1991 partnership with the city, county, volunteers and Scrappy the Recycling Clown. The campaign managed to collect 60 tons in the first weekend of collecting.