Tucked away on the second floor of the Selby Public Library and just past the reference desk, the Sarasota Music Archive sits as an unassuming treasure trove of musical artifacts ranging from Edison wax cylinders to opera sheet music to old-timey radio programs. A community of 40 volunteers keeps track of the thousands of recordings and pages of notation and organizes weekly meetings populated by regulars and local musicians, yet the archive remains something of a well-kept secret. However, with a recent facelift, technological upgrade and fresh access to a donated Yamaha piano, 2017 may be the year the curious come calling and see all that the folks at the Sarasota Music Archive have saved for them.

The archive began as a personal opera collection, eventually growing into a nonprofit that would make its home first in a strip mall, followed by a stint in the Sarasota Opera House and then one on Orange Avenue where Center For Architecture Sarasota stands now before settling in the freshly built Selby Public Library. The archive is kept in a separate collection from the rest of the library, but made available all the same through the volunteer staff. But it’s there for more than just casual perusal.

“A lot of people aren’t aware that we actually sell things,” says Brian Rottingen, special collections librarian at Selby Public Library and liaison between the library and the archive. So he and a handful of volunteers got together this year to pretty up the place and make it more present and inviting for library visitors. But while that may get them through the door, the real upgrades await inside, where a new volunteer internal manager, a tech-savvy musician named Dave Berry, has been changing things up for both the volunteers and the visitors. Computers are upgraded and all connected, allowing visitors quicker access and for volunteers to streamline the process of tabulating and assessing donated materials. This also allows them to be more discerning. “We’ve been applying a little more scrutiny to the collection,” says Rottingen, “to see what can be added and highlight the things that are rare.” Also a webmaster, Berry has revamped the archive website to grant easier offsite exploration.

“But we always encourage people to come in,” says Rottingen. If they don’t, they miss the chance to join the weekly Wednesday meet-ups, featuring musical performances and lectures. And with the donation of a Yamaha grand piano from local patrons Phyllis and Saul Lowitt, Rottingen expects this year will be something special. Visitors can also visit the mini-gallery inside the archive featuring illustrations and more from artist Alex Steinweiss, credited as the inventor of album cover art. 

Norm Worthington’s career has been defined by change.

Worthington is the founder and CEO of Star2Star Communications, a national leader in cloud communications and perennial winner of awards for innovation and growth. But at New College of Florida he majored in environmental studies.

After graduating in 1982, he went to law school, but also taught himself computer programming, and started a software company. He sold his interest in that company, then co-founded Software Toolworks, which created and published consumer software titles that sold more than 75 million copies, and are still available today.

He took that company public, left and then started yet another; in all he has founded, co-founded or was a lead investor in more than a dozen companies.  Star2Star may be his most successful company yet. 

He believes a New College education is well-suited for the high-tech future.

“Some find it odd that, as a tech entrepreneur, I’m such a passionate advocate for the liberal arts,” he said.  “The institutions of tomorrow won’t need huge numbers of engineers.  They will need people who communicate with empathy and clarity, work efficiently in small groups, and can identify problems and work through to solutions.  

“To me, a good liberal arts education, focused this way, would produce graduates incredibly well prepared for any sort of next step.”

New College of Florida

At Veronica Fish and Oyster, crustaceans and mollusks never get the short end of the stick, with preparations miles above the peel-and-eat variety. Currently on the raw bar menu you'll find a shrimp and scallop ceviche served unlike any of Veronica's other crudos. The pink shrimp blanched and scallops milky white and sliced raw, the mild sea creatures loll in and out of a chilled, creamy coconut milk broth. Garnished with apricot-orange kumquats and a house-made green curry paste with lemongrass, garlic and shallots, the dish harkens to Thai sweetness with a dose of tropical citrus acidity. Order it before the menu changes—it's worth the trip. 

Veronica Fish & Oyster, 1830 South Osprey Ave., Sarasota, 941-366-1342.

Halfacre Construction Company was recently recognized with the Office of Supplier Diversity Award of Distinction from Hillsborough County Public Schools.This is the fifth award for Halfacre Construction since 2007-08. The firm was specifically acknowledged due to its success in utilizing subcontractors who are part of the Hillsborough County Public Schools Small Business Encouragement Program.Construction management firms retained by the District are expected to spend a minimum of 20 percent of their eligible construction expenditures with subcontractors and suppliers registered with this program. The two projects substantially completed by Halfacre Construction exceeded 25 percent utilization of certified small businesses, the second highest of all construction management projects substantially completed in the 2016 fiscal year. 

Halfacre Construction

The Sarasota County Public Hospital Board has appointed longtime medical staff and community leader Dr. Richard Rehmeyer to fill the board’s Northern District Seat 2 until 2018. The seat became vacant when board member Robert Strasser stepped down in September. A leader in the medical community, Rehmeyer serves as president of the Sarasota County Medical Society and delegate to the Florida Medical Association. He has served on the local boards of the American Red Cross, Boys and Girls Clubs, Police Athletic League, United Way and Salvation Army. He was president of the Sarasota Rotary Club, governor of Rotary’s regional district and named Rotarian of the Year. In 2008, he earned President George W. Bush’s “Call to Service” Award for his service achievements. 

Sarasota Memorial Hospital

Plaintiff’s personal injury and commercial litigation attorney F. Scott Westheimer was recently recognized for 20 years of service with the Sarasota law firm of Syprett, Meshad, Resnick, Lieb, Dumbaugh, Jones, Krotec & Westheimer. Westheimer is a managing partner for the firm, and earlier this year was elected by The Florida Bar Board of Governors to serve as one of only three  board-elected representatives to its 2016-17 Executive Committee. He was also named chair-elect of the Board's communications committee. Westheimer holds an appointment to The Florida Bar Board of Governor's program evaluation committee, the strategic planning committee and the disciplinary review committee. 

Syprett Meshad

Defined as the risk presented when investing—in other words that they may lose all or part of the principal amount invested—risk capital is now moving from the realm of big business to big giving. This risk is no deterrent for local philanthropic leaders, who, despite the chance for failure, are trekking forward with countless new initiatives to bring forth social good. Journey alongside Jacob Ogles in Investing in Good Risk to discover how these experimental initiatives are shifting and growing.   

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