The Atlanta Braves entered exclusive negotiations with Sarasota County to move spring training operations to North Port. Braves officials say the team could be here as soon as the 2019 pre-season if a deal is reached, which would mean Sarasota County for the first time would host two Major League Baseball teams for spring training. Plans for a stadium that could cost $80 million or more will be paid for in part with approximately $21 million in public funding, but county officials stressed that would come from tourist development tax revenue and that local taxpayers would not be on the hook for the cost.

Braves Chairman and CEO Terry McGuirk on Tuesday broadcast optimism about North Port becoming the new spring home of the Atlanta team. “"This is the perfect location for our team and we couldn't be more excited to be part of Sarasota County and West Villages,” he says.

The Braves for 20 years have trained at facilities on the Walt Disney World resort property in Central Florida, but most teams training in Florida have migrated training operations south. County Commissioner Alan Miao says he’s excited at the prospect of the team in North Port, now Sarasota County’s most populous city. “I don’t want to prejudge it,” Maio says, “but I know there is significant involvement from the private sector and we have got multiple jurisdictions. That the Braves are desirous of coming here, it’s a big deal, and I am sure we will manage to put together a deal.”

The deal as it stands now requires a level of reallotment of bed tax revenue. Jeff Maultsby, Sarasota County economic development coordinator, says the potential contribution from the county government was always limited with the maximum charter cap limit for tourist development tax. The Braves deal as it stands now calls for about $21 million. “No money is coming out of any taxpayers’ pockets,” he says. “This is funded by visitors who stay in our hotels.”

But that revenue source also funds the Orioles spring training facility, a rowing venue at Nathan Benderson Park and beach renourishment, among other tourism-related expenditures. Some reallocation will be necessary to fund the deal, but Visit Sarasota County President Virginia Haley says that will be worth it. “I’m sure we are going to feel a little bit of pain in our budget,” she says, “but we’ll be able to put together the ending we need.”

A combination of state funding, City of North Port contributions and county tourist development tax dollars could be used in the deal, along with funding from the Braves. A major part of discussions includes land provided at no public expense by the West Villages Improvement District. Mattamy Homes also played a major role in negotiations, officials say. ”The stadium complex blends will into our master plan for the area,” says West Villages General Manager Marty Black. “It will become an anchor for our future entertainment district and complement our planned new downtown Main Street development."

Sarasota County Commissioner Paul Caragiulo says elected officials are still awaiting more details themselves, and will receive a public update next week. “Everything I know could fit on an index card,” he says. He still wants to know how a final deal is structured to determine if a deal is good for the community. “I want to hear the pitch,” he says, “no pun intended.” 

Pictured: Braves Pitcher Tim Hudson delivers a pitch during spring training at ESPN Wide World of Sports.

Read an extended version of this story at SRQMag.com

Art and journalism collide tonight at Art Center Sarasota, where Dr. Ann Albritton, professor of contemporary art history at Ringling College of Art and Design, will lead a panel discussion with artists and experts on the current state of journalism and how it affects contemporary art. Titled "The Value of Long-Form Journalism in Contemporary Art,” the panel includes Ringling Museum Curator of Works on Paper Chris Jones, artist and Ringling College Fine Art Professor Michael Wyshock and artist and Hermitage Artist Retreat Fellow Michael Adno, whose exhibit, Cracker Politics: The Limits of Colonial Knowledge, will serve as a jumping off point for the conversation.

Currently hanging in Art Center Sarasota, Cracker Politics sees Adno exploring Florida’s history in a manner that brings the artist close to the journalist, as he seeks out the hidden narratives in Florida’s history—whether they be diminished, disguised or previously dismissed—to better understand the place itself. Working for long periods of time with historians, researchers and members of the communities under study, Adno offers supplementary or alternative approaches to the dominant narrative.

Cracker Politics serves as, “a departure point to ruminate on the role of long-form journalism and art practices of the 21st century in an increasingly vitriolic political climate,” Adno said in a statement, “where we are seeing diminishing opportunities for those forms of reportage, a backlash against succinct reporting and a frightening distrust of facts.” With a focus on the many white supremacist fraternal organizations that persistently intertwined themselves with the region’s political history, the exhibit offers questions on both the political and artistic levels.

A teacher of art history and contemporary issues in art, Albritton hopes for discussion of not only the relevant political questions raised by Adno’s work, but also his process in general and its blending of long-form journalism and art. French artist Theodore Gericault read about shipwrecks before painting The Raft of the Medusa, she notes, and Frida Kahlo’s Three Little Nips was inspired by a true account of a man killing his wife. “But to me, [Adno’s] work is much more about documentation and mapping,” Albritton says. “Maybe what he’s doing is even newer than those.”

Produced in partnership with the Hermitage Artist Retreat, the panel discussion begins tonight at 6:30pm at Art Center Sarasota. Free and open to the public, seating is limited and advanced reservation is required. For reservations, email sarah@artsarasota.org. 

What’s hotter than pizza at Il Panificio? The stuffed, spicy green peppers behind the counter requires a cold glass of water snuff out the flames in your mouth. This powerhouse of pizza may specialize in the New York style pizza, but next time take a walk on the wild side and take a peek at what the deli offers. Specifically, the Italian pepperoncini peppers stuffed with provolone and proscuitto. If you can’t take the heat stay out of the kitchen with this one—your tastebuds will set fire after one bite of these spicy stuffed peppers. However, the strangely satisfying burning sensation gets complemented by the cold and salty combination of authentic Italian proscuitto and chunky, smooth provolone.  

Il Panificio, 6644 Gateway Ave., Sarasota, 941-925-2313; 1703 Main St., Sarasota, 941-921-5570.

The Bradenton Farmers Market is now participating in Fresh Access Bucks, a program that doubles the spending power of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients and increases their access to fresh and healthy Florida-grown produce. The Bradenton Farmers Market opened in October and continues through May 27, 2017, on Old Main Street (12th St. W) in Downtown Bradenton. Fresh Access Bucks, a program of the Florida Organic Growers, is a statewide incentive program designed to encourage SNAP recipients to redeem their benefits at farmers markets to purchase fresh and healthy foods directly from Florida farmers. Fresh Access Bucks matches what a SNAP EBT cardholder spends (up to $20) every Saturday at the Bradenton Farmers Market. 

Bradenton Farmers Market

Cutting Loose Salon announced the promotions of six stylists at its University location and one stylist at its Lakewood Ranch location. The promotions were a result of the stylists’ growing skills, talent and dedication to excellence. Dedication to education and advancement is at the forefront of the salon’s philosophy. DeeAnn D’alessio was promoted to master stylist, Kerri Johnson was promoted to master stylist, Nicole Rose was promoted to senior stylist, Sydney Dry was promoted to stylist, Paige Yates was promoted to stylist, Carly Randall was promoted to designer stylist and Dawn Kast was promoted to master stylist. 

Cutting Loose Salon

Keller Williams has named Maria Rocha the recipient of its 2016 Cultural Icon Award. Rocha has been with Keller Williams for three years. Over 150 of her colleagues voted her as the 2016 Cultural Icon, and she will represent the office as a Cultural Ambassador for 2017 with Keller Williams Realty International at the Florida Regional Cultural Summit later this month in Orlando. Rocha was presented with her award at the annual Keller Williams On the Water Gala this past weekend at the Hyatt Regency where over 300 of Sarasota and Manatees top realtors were in attendance.


 

Keller Williams On the Water Sarasota

Join SRQ Media for our dynamic SB2: GOOD EDUCATION–Learning for a Lifetime breakfast symposium on Thursday, January 26, 2017 from 7:30am–9:00am at The Francis, Downtown Sarasota. Local community leaders will give us insight on the adaptations going into innovative thinking in the K-100+ education experience in the Sarasota-Bradenton region. Keynote Mary Chance, President of the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations, will discuss the organization’s representation of 61 county-wide school district education foundations that collectively raise more than $63 million annually for targeted initiatives to increase student achievement. Special guest panelists include: Dr. Larry Thompson, President, Ringling College of Art and Design; Jennifer Vigne, President, Education Foundation of Sarasota County; and Mireya Eavey, Executive Director, CareerEdge. Tickets are $35 per person and include a buffet breakfast. 

Reserve Tickets