Tropical Storm Colin had yet to reach land as of Monday evening, but emergency responders along the Gulf Coast had already been on alert for days. Rich Collins, emergency services director for Sarasota County, said his team was monitoring the weather late last week when the possibility of a named storm first seemed possible. “Our teams started taking protective actions last Friday,” he said.

Colin is the first tropical storm to threaten the Gulf Coast this hurricane season (which began last Wednesday), but it’s not the first time Sarasota’s emergency operations procedures have been activated this year, which happened when tornadoes threatened the region in January. But tropical storms and hurricanes can bring their own concerns and potential for disasters. Collins said emergency staff have been bracing for the worst case scenario—that a low-grade hurricane forms overnight and its path hooks toward the Gulf Coast instead of along its anticipated trajectory through the Big Bend area. Officials closely follow National Weather Service advisories and will respond accordingly as far as shelter availability and public works response. County officials have held conference calls with city management for all area municipalities in preparation for all circumstances.

As of Monday afternoon, emergency services was at partial Level 2 emergency response, and it’s quite possible that they will go to full Level 1 response if conditions worsen here. The chief concern for the Gulf Coast, where beaches already report high tide, will be rainfall. Several inches of rain struck this region on Monday, and in the Panhandle emergency officials are bracing for several feet of storm surge.

Collins noted that emergency officials can respond appropriately using models and data from numerous sources. “We are living in an age with so much information coming in,” he said. “We will look at all that information and make decisions.”  

Image from National Weather Service.

Crocheting often conjures images of old-school doilies, swift-moving hooks and (often failed) stabs at gift blankets. Yet this Australian bikini elevates crochet to a whole new level. Designed by Australian label She Made Me (a fitting moniker, considering the brand’s willingness to go in for unlikely combinations), this sea-foam green ‘kini traces its origins to the Gold Coast, Oz’s de facto surfing capital. Cheeky, playful crocheted combos are She Made Me’s specialty—handmade by Indonesian artisans, each piece is produced in limited quantities, and Shore on St. Armands Circle remains one of only a handful of the brand’s stateside stockists. From top to bottom, this bikini jumps on the current tassel trend with dip-dyed, cowrie-shell adorned tasseled details. Lightweight, quick-drying cotton makes both top and bottom more or less waterproof and a dash of Lycra in the bottoms ensures they’ll retain their shape. Even if you’ve never hung ten before, this bikini will have you channeling your inner ‘70s surf goddess in no time. 

Pictured: She Made Me's crocheted bathing beauty. Photo by Heidi Stone.

Shore, 465 John Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, 941-388-3535.

Did you know the emails you send and receive can be tracked? The process is called “email tracking” and it is an invaluable tool you can use to ensure your clients and contacts have received, opened and read your email communications. To do this, a simple code is inserted into the email message when you send it. This triggers an email response back to you to alert you when the message has been opened, how many times and in some cases if it was forwarded to someone else.

Email tracking is an especially great resource if you’re in sales. Once you are alerted that your desired recipients have received your initial message, you can further customize follow up communicators and provide additional information. Even learning that your desired recipient has received your message and has not responded back to you can be a great resource for next steps. Think of it like an electronic “message received” response.

In most cases, you will need to do some research to ensure the email software you are using allows this feature. If not, you can research what email systems will work best for your needs and/or budget. All services are not the same, so do a little home work and review options. Some resources will let you use the technology for free up to a certain number of emails a month and will provide a simple and cost-effective way to upgrade the email limit.

This simple technology can help you better track your sales leads and contact follow up for pennies on the dollar. And, be aware if you can track those you email, they may be tracking your responses as well. 

Keller Williams recently added Kathleen Comerford as part of the team. Comerford is one of the counties top-producing real estate professionals and was previously at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services. She is a Broker Associate, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist and received such honors as the President’s Circle and the Leading Edge Society. Her other certifications include New Home Specialist, Residential Construction and Seller Representative Specialist. 

Keller Williams

Anne Bietsch has joined the RE/MAX Alliance Group in the Bradenton office. Bietsch previously worked for Keller Williams and Coldwell Banker and specializes in relocation services, new homes and "white-glove" customer service. With a degree in International Business and French, Bietsch has also received her Professional in Human Resources certification.  

RE/MAX Alliance Group

Sarasota County Superintendent of Schools Lori White reassigned Jack Turgeon and Eric Jackson. Seriously injured in March, Turgeon has been reassigned from principal of Venice High School to assistant director at Suncoast Technical College. Jackson, who is currently the principal at Riverview High School, will become the principal at VHS due to his experience as a high school principal. 

Sarasota County Schools