Events can help bring tourists to Sarasota even when the heat scares them away. In an effort to encourage appealing events in the off-season, Visit Sarasota County will offer grants of up to $10,000 for projects that can stimulate tourism in the region. Municipalities, local agencies, business associations and nonprofit organizations located in Sarasota County are eligible, but must have applications by Thursday. 

“We have a committee that comes together on the grants,” says Lynn Hobeck Bates, communications manager for Visit Sarasota County. “They make sure first [proposals] meet requirements and are eligible, and then go through based on creativity and their appeal for tourists out of the area to come here.” The purpose, Bates says is to raise awareness of Sarasota County as a region worth visiting at all times of the year.

Last year, grant recipients included off-season events like Sarasota Architectural Foundation’s MOD weekend, Siesta Beach Festival’s Crystal Classic, Florida West Coast Symphony’s Sarasota Music Festival 2016 and the Suncoast Foundation for Handicapped Children’s Suncoast BBQ & Bluegrass Bash, as well as projects like the Walker Guest House Replica and Senior Friendship Center’s Rhose Scholar Advertising.

Projects and events are only eligible if they occur between Oct. 15 this year and Sept. 17, 2017, excluding the period of Feb. 1 through April 10. Visit Sarasota County officials say the intent of the grants is to help get projects off the ground and to expand ongoing projects to the point where they can succeed without financial assistance.  

Pictured: Crystal Classic

Derby season has passed (and with it, Nyquist’s dreams of Triple Crown glory), but equestrian accoutrements have nonetheless trotted out of the barn and into your kitchen. Long a staple of Southern style—the horsey extra frequently appears on loafers, bracelets and boots—the horse bit makes for an elegant stopper to your favorite bottle of Sancerre. The sleek, bullet-like bottom contains two tiny rings of rubber, meaning you won’t have to worry about sauv spillage while you’re racing around. Choose from gold- or silver-plated and bring to your next outing at the Lakewood Ranch polo fields. 

Pictured: Horse-bit wine stoppers at Sarasota Collection Home Store.

Sarasota Collection Home Store, 622 Central Ave., Sarasota, 941-955-8313

Sarasota County Superintendent of Schools Lori White has appointed Riverview High School Assistant Principal Paul Burns as principal of the school effective July 11. Burns succeeds Eric Jackson who served as RHS principal for the 2015–16 school year and has been appointed principal at Venice High School. Burns holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and French from the University of Arkansas, a master’s degree in Educational Administration from Lindenwood University in St. Louis and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of St. Louis. He was a Fulbright Scholar and a National African-American Scholar. He accepted a position as an assistant principal at Venice High School for the 2014–15 school year. He was assigned as an AP at RHS in 2015. 

Riverview High School

Dr. Helen Jelks King and the Jelks Family Foundation awarded $5,000 to Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast to help support land protection projects, community education and arts and environment programs. A nationally accredited land trust, the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast purchases natural areas, holds land preservation agreements and educates for responsible land and water stewardship in Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte and Lee Counties. 

Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast

Ryan Frenz of HealthMarkets Insurance Agency purchased property on Fruitville Road in Sarasota from Karen S. Blondin of Blondin Mortgage Company for $355,000. This 1,044-square-foot office space, located between North Lime Avenue and North Tuttle Avenue, features a covered canopy entrance, reception area, two large offices, a kitchen/break room, semi-private office suite, area for two cubicles, an ADA-compliant bathroom and storage. Frenz, a licensed insurance agent with HealthMarkets Insurance, will use the space to help his clients choose insurance plans. Eric Massey of Michael Saunders & Company handled the transaction. 

Michael Saunders & Company

Centauri Insurance’s new private flood program offers Florida homeowners an alternative to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Centauri’s flood coverage can be attached as an endorsement to a new or existing homeowners’ policy and is designed to provide more options for customers and simplify the process. The new program eliminates the 30-day waiting period that is required for a standard NFIP policy and offers higher limits on dwellings and contents. Customers who add the endorsement can choose from a variety of deductible options ranging from $500 to $10,000 with just one flood deductible applied to both their dwelling and contents coverage.  

Centau