I know the term March Madness refers to college basketball, but it seems to be applicable to events presently demanding our attention local, national and global.

I am reluctant to comment on the “race” to The White House but I can’t help myself after listening to a recent Republican debate. At the least it may prove therapeutic to put my limited 10 cents worth in.

This will only be the second time that I will have the privilege of casting my vote for the highest office in the land. The comment has been made that some of the contestants are behaving like middle schoolers. Surely this is disingenuous to the kids. When we are subjected to a contestant boasting about the largesse of his manliness as he pursues the office of President of The United States and his ratings continue to rise then we really do have cause for concern. Hopefully his rhetoric will improve after and if he gets the nomination.

Bad behavior was also on display at the community meeting that the City recently hosted regarding Fruitville Road going on a “diet.” Staff were subjected to inappropriate outbursts form certain members of the audience but were eventually silenced by the presentation of empirical data from City Staff and Michael Wallwork, who has over 35 years of designing and promoting roundabouts in the United States. I have no doubt that most, myself included, came to the meeting with a preconceived mindset that reducing certain sections of Fruitville Road to one lane in each direction was insane. Hopefully the conversation can continue in a more productive respectful manner as a result of this well attended and informative session.

Lots of other stuff happening in our community seems to make Sarasota the place to be in March.

Noted celebrities have come and gone during March. Chelsea Clinton, David Petraeous, Robin Roberts, Mr. Basketball Tal Brody, who is the current Goodwill Ambassador of Israel, Carl Hiaasen to name a few. Not to mention Spring Training, the snowbirds and tourists who have all contributed to a vibrancy and energy that I have not experienced in the 33 1/2 years that I have lived here. All this activity is juxtaposed with the accompanying concerns that all this bustle brings.

Sarasota is becoming a significant city and there are those among us that are slow to acknowledge this. We are fortunate to live in an area that has such a strong appeal but that has its challenges that must be addressed in a manner dissimilar to the way in which some of our presidential aspirants are suggesting at the national and global level.

On a closing note, it was a great antidote to the stresses of our daily lives to listen to Carl Hiaasen’s unique brand of self-deprecating Florida humor that he brought to Tiger Bay and reminded us that as Floridians we have a lot to be thankful for and a sense of humor goes a long way.

The way I see it March Madness is not the exclusive domain of college Basketball.

Ian Black is the founder of Ian Black Real Estate.