The Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe on Monday took a major step toward opening a sizable campus in north Sarasota that could put it on par with other major cultural organizations in the region. At the “Raise The Roof” groundbreaking ceremony, the group officially launched the first phase of construction on the Binz building, which in six months should provide an on-site administrative office and box office facilities for the theater. “It steps the company up a professional level as an equity theater,” says Julie Leach, executive director for the troupe. 

The Binz building will house education rooms and an indoor event space that can host 200 dining guests for theater or private functions. The structure also allows administrative staff, now housed in space downtown, to move to the complex at 10th Street and Orange Avenue. Leach also notes that the flat-top structure will be able to host open-air events on the roof, where shade structures will be installed.

The new renovation of this expansion was made possible thanks to $3.9 million raised through the Troupe’s Heart & Soul fundraising campaign. The ongoing effort seeks to raise $6 million to help transform the 2.5-acre campus into a state-of-the-art cultural center.

Leach notes that marks a huge turnaround for the troupe, which a decade ago had no home. But in a way, hard economic times in the area helped put the organization in the posture it enjoys today. The troupe moved into its complex several years ago right before the building went into foreclosure, and the theater company at that point had the ability to buy the structure outright. Having a permanent home made the troupe’s shows suddenly easy for patrons to find. Now, the company plans to install more seating and soon improve dressing rooms and other facilities. 

“Owning our own home is just a huge benefit,” Leach says. “When we bring administrative offices so we can all live on one campus, it will create so much synergy and the ability to accomplish our mission that much more efficiently.”

The change also could allow an expansion of education efforts. The group now hosts a summer youth program for students ages 13-18, with enrollment capped at 23 spots. The growing classroom space will allow a wider age range and greater number of pupils to participate. “We have some opportunities to do more with the schools,” Leach says, noting the troupe already sends performers into classrooms to teach about the Harlem Renaissance, and also has a program that teaches 4th-graders in the area about Newtown history. 

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Philosophy & Vines, 606 S Pineapple Ave., Sarasota, FL 34236, 941-544-817

Philosophy & Vines

Combining modern design with glints of glamour, Black Bird Lifestyle’s hyde side table presents as an elegant piece of home décor. All about clean lines and edges, this table embraces geometric design with square gold leaf pulls and rectangular slow close drawers. In addition to the bling of gold leaf a beveled mirror tops the piece, making for another element of shine. Contrasting these features, the table’s burl wood finish brings in an organic aesthetic and earthy tones by combining a warm light brown base with knots of darker pigmentation. Perfect for flanking couches and bedsides, this table smartly infuses style into any space. Enjoy for $1905.        

Black Bird Lifestyle, 1540 Main St., Sarasota, 941-366-0941.

Sarasota Memorial Hospital has been listed among America’s “Most Wired” hospitals by the American Hospital Association (AHA). Results from the 19th Annual HealthCare’s Most Wired survey, released by the AHA Health Forum, spotlight Sarasota Memorial among 461 tech-savvy hospitals pioneering emerging technologies that promote the secure exchange of patient information and use of smart devices, telehealth and remote monitoring, and encourage patients to become more actively involved in their healthcare. Hospitals earning high marks for their use of information technologies also were recognized for developing sophisticated IT systems that support quality and safety, such as bar code medication administration and real-time decision support alerts, clinical integration to provide a patient-centered record across the continuum of care and security systems and controls to monitor for malicious activities and protect patients and staff from privacy breaches. Some of the “Most Wired” hospital initiatives include using telehealth to provide health assessment and services to patients; when remotely monitoring patients at home, using secure emails for patients and families to keep in touch with the care team; offering secure messaging with clinicians on mobile devices. Among other applications, SMH offers real-time, secure text updates from the operating room to designated family members to ease their worries while they are waiting for a loved one in surgery. Sarasota Memorial also pioneered the use of Voalte, a communication tool that allows caregivers to send and receive secure text messages and receive critical care alerts on a smart phone. 

Sarasota Memorial Hospital

The Florida Center for Early Childhood, a local nonprofit serving children and their families in Sarasota, Charlotte and DeSoto/Hardee counties, has achieved a four-year accreditation from the New York-based Council on Accreditation (COA). The four-year accreditation is the highest designation a nonprofit can receive. Organizations pursue accreditation from COA to demonstrate the implementation of best practice standards in the field of human services. COA evaluated all aspects of The Florida Center’s programs, services, management and administration. The standards driving accreditation ensure that services are well-coordinated, culturally competent, evidence-based, outcomes-oriented and provided by a skilled and supported workforce. For over 35 years, The Florida Center for Early Childhood has been serving the community’s children and families. Today, The Florida Center for Early Childhood is a nationally accredited, community-based agency that provides early childhood education, developmental therapies, mental health therapy, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders diagnostic and intervention services, training and home-based child abuse prevention services. 

The Florida Center for Early Childhood

Health Links has designated State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) a Healthy Business Certified Leader for the second consecutive year. To become a certified leader, SCF had to provide evidence-based benchmarks for health and safety programs that reach all College employees. The assessments to become a Healthy Business Certified Leader are based largely on the worksite health score card designed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the healthy workplace framework developed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The mission of Health Links is to collaborate with employers to build a culture of health and safety in the workplace. Certified Healthy Business leaders are businesses that go above and beyond in their wellness efforts. SCF offers onsite exercise classes, fitness challenges and Weight Watchers at work. In addition the college works with fitness businesses to offer discounts to SCF employees and their family members, is working with the American Heart Association and participating in their Heart Walk in September and has partnered with Suncoast Credit Union to offer financial wellbeing strategies and resources to SCF employees and their family members. SCF is just one of six certified health leaders in the county, joining Manatee County government, the Manatee County School District, Blake Medical Center, FCCI Insurance Group and Tidewell Hospice. 

State College of Florida