Margaret Good emerged the clear favorite of Democrats running in a special election for an open state House seat. Now, the real fight to represent Sarasota-based District 72 begins in earnest, with Good, Republican James Buchanan and Libertarian Alison Foxall looking toward the Feb. 13 election. “I am just humbled and grateful for the report I have received,” she told SRQ.

Good on Tuesday night bested primary opponent Ruta Jouniari by 6,144 votes to 2,342, nearly a three-to-one margin, according to unofficial final results. Buchanan ran unopposed for the Republican nomination, and Foxall is the only Libertarian in the race, so with the Democratic primary settled, the line-up for candidates in February is set. Good led the early and absentee vote with more than 75 percent of votes cast, and while Jouniari tightened the gap by a few percentage points with strong Election Day turnout, it proved no match for the better organized Good campaign.

Perhaps more significant than the final tally, the Democratic primary drew about 21.18 percent of eligible voters to turn out. In comparison, about 29 percent of Democratic voters in District 72 came out during the regular August primary last year. “Democrats are really ready to win this election,” Good says. “I think that shows with the 21 percent turnout with a primary election with one race on the ballot.” District 72’s registered voters are roughly 42.3 percent Republican, 32.3 percent Democrat and 25.5 percent independent or third-party.

Foxall, for her part, appealed to Jouniari supporters on social media, tweeting that the bested Democrat ran a passionate campaign “I hope to work with her in the future, if not in the FL state house, then here at home, helping the community,” Foxall wrote.

Good plans to run on a platform of fully funding public schools, protecting the environment and boosting the local economy in Sarasota. 

When folks come out to see Evita at Asolo Repertory Theatre this evening, they’ll get more than Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s timeless Emmy Award-winning tale, and more than choreography and direction from Broadway’s Josh Rhodes, and passionate performances from Ana Isabele (Eva) and Justin Gregory Lopez (Che). They’ll also get tango lessons.

Kicking off this season’s IllumiNation Series, ticketholders for tonight’s show begin the evening an hour early, arriving at the theater for some mingling, some light Argentinean bites and a bit of tango to get into the spirit of things. And following the performance, over a couple drinks, the group reassembles for some food for thought with a panel discussion or community conversation. Five plays this season, including Evita, will be part of the IllumiNation series, including Morning After Grace, Roe, Gloria and Ragtime, and feature their own pre- and post-show engagements, one of which will always be a community discussion of some sort.

“Those are the plays that provided us with the most opportunity to discuss scenes that are social, political, cultural or racial—things that are meaningful and important to the Sarasota community,” says Asolo Rep Community Engagement Specialist Ria Cooper. And while many theaters, including Asolo Rep, host talkbacks with the actors and discussions with directors, the goal of the IllumiNation Series is to expand the community, and hence the discussion, beyond the regular theater-going crowd. Leading the discussion tonight, for example, is not a member of Asolo Repertory Theatre, but Maria Schaedler-Luera, managing director of Atomica Arts and Program Manager for Arts Integration with Any Given Child Sarasota. “It’s in our best interest to make welcome the theater to folks who’ve never come to the Asolo or felt like the Asolo was their home,” says Cooper. “The point is to connect the audience with each other, and to explore the connections that already exist.”

Tonight’s show is already sold out, meaning tango lessons are sold out too. But, in the above spirit, post-show discussions are open to all who care to take part. And there remain four other opportunities to have the full IllumiNation experience, with any of the aforementioned productions this season. Ticket packages are also available for those wanting to be sure they don’t miss a single part of the series or the community coming together. Because that’s what it’s all about.

Cooper remembers a similar program from two years prior, when the theater partnered with the Islamic Society of Sarasota and Bradenton, Temple Beth Sholom, St. Wilfred Episcopal Church and more for an interfaith discussion about faith and the American Dream. From that conversation, real world change emerged, with the local mosque connecting with local outreach programs to offer family housing, which continues today. “That’s my shining star story,” she says, “but there are lots of other connections like that.” 

Two Sarasota Memorial nursing leaders took top prizes in this year’s Florida Organization of Nurse Executives (FONE) 2017 Excellence Awards. Women’s and Children’s Services Director Pam Beitlich won the Excellence in Nursing Leadership Award for “developing creative approaches to nursing leadership and creating and sustaining an environment that enhances the image of nurses and the profession of nursing,” according to the announcement from FONE. Beitlich has served as a nurse and clinical leader at Sarasota Memorial for more than 35 years, starting as a cardiac staff nurse and working her way up to leadership of the Women’s and Children’s Division. In her current role, she is responsible for SMH’s Labor and Delivery Unit, Mother-Baby Unit, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Pediatrics. She also oversees Childbirth Education, the OB Emergency Care Center and SMH’s affiliation with Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. Clinical Programs Manager Jackie Garabito earned the Excellence in Preceptorship/Mentorship Nursing Award for “using innovative approaches to learning that contribute to successful professional development and practice,” according to FONE. Garabito began her nursing career in 1998 as a staff nurse on Sarasota Memorial’s Medical Respiratory, Nurse Residency and Admission Center units. After serving as a clinical nurse specialist and advance practice nurse, Garabito was named manager of Clinical Programs in 2016. 

Sarasota Memorial Hospital

Florida Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart has named Riverview High School Principal Paul Burns as the Florida Department of Education’s Deputy Chancellor of Educator Quality, effective Jan. 3. Burns brings to the position nearly 20 years of experience in education. Beginning Monday, Jan. 8, after the school district’s winter break, Riverview High Assistant Principal for Curriculum Kathy Wilks will serve as acting principal. A search for a new principal will begin in the spring. Burns taught for 11 years and has served in school administration for eight years.  He joined the Sarasota County School District as an assistant principal at Venice High School in the 2014-15 school year. He became an assistant principal at Riverview High in 2015 and was named principal in June 2016. During his tenure, the school maintained its “A” grade and improved its performance. 

Sarasota County Schools

Tidewell Hospice, the American Red Cross and CareerEdge are offering a free Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training program with guaranteed employment for eligible participants interested in a healthcare career. Thanks to an anonymous donor from Gulf Coast Community Foundation, the organizations are offering this opportunity for those who would like to work in healthcare but can’t afford CNA training. The costs of tuition and the state examination fee will be covered for those chosen for the program. Participants will only be responsible for their medical exam and the purchase of scrubs. Upon successful completion of the training program, the CNA graduates will be guaranteed employment at Approved Home Health or Tidewell Hospice, with starting wages between $12 and $13 per hour. The program will run Jan. 22, 2018, to March 31, 2018, and classes will be held from 5–9:30pm, Mondays through Thursdays (with two mandatory Saturday classes) at the American Red Cross office in Sarasota. Applicants must pass a Level 2 background check per Florida healthcare regulations, submit to a motor vehicle record search and provide proof of auto insurance. Prospective participants are invited to attend one of three information sessions. The sessions will be 5:30-7:30pm, Dec. 12 and Dec. 28 at Selby Library in Sarasota and 5:30-7:30 pm, Jan. 4 at Tidewell in Sarasota. Those interested can RSVP for the information sessions at the website below. 

CareerEdge Funders Collaborative

“Perq has raised my own expectations for what a coffee shop is and what a great cup of coffee tastes like,” Josh Wynne divulges. Perq Coffee Bar, Pastry Art, and Clever Cup were all ranked last as some of the Best Local Coffee Shops in last year’s Best of SRQ Local Competition(with Perq taking first place). Which local cup of joe stands out to you? Click below to share your favorite today! 

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