Sarasota Bradenton International Airport has added a new airline to its roster with today’s announcement of the arrival of Allegiant Air. Beginning April 2018, Allegiant Air will offer year-round, nonstop flights from SRQ Airport to Indianapolis, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. This brings the total number of carriers working through SRQ Airport to seven, with 15 cities available for direct flights between them. “The airline community is recognizing the tremendous growth of the Manatee and Sarasota communities,” says Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority Chairman Robert Spencer.

“This is a significant day for Sarasota,” adds SRQ Airport CEO Rick Piccolo, noting that the airport has pursued an arrangement with Allegiant for years. A “long desired” carrier, rarely a public event would pass when he wouldn’t receive at least one Allegiant-related inquiry. And with an annual economic impact of nearly 1 billion, expansion of airport facilities and services remains a “joint goal” between SRQ Airport, the convention and visitors bureaus of Sarasota and Manatee counties and both the Sarasota and Bradenton Area economic development corporations. This latest development “would not be possible” without those efforts, credits Piccolo.

Speaking for the Las Vegas-based airline, Allegiant Air Manager of Airport Affairs Bud Hafer took the podium to announce the three planned routes and deliver details. Nonstop flights to Indianapolis and Pittsburgh will both start April 11, 2018 with fares as low as $56 for the former and $50 for the latter. Nonstop flights to Cincinnati begin two days later, on April 13, with fares as low as $48. Flights will be twice weekly and year-round, bringing more than 50,000 passengers to and from the area.

Low costs come from low overhead, says Hafer, with Allegiant buying many of its aircraft used and seeking out smaller, less-trafficked and therefore less expensive airports with underserved markets to operate from. These savings are then passed to the consumer. In addition, Allegiant operates from a base fare, meaning that ticket-buyers purchase exactly that—a ticket. “And if you want to pay for a bag, you pay for a bag,” says Hafer, but no passenger subsidizes another passenger’s extras.

Sarasota is “a natural fit,” Hafer continues. “We’re strong in Southwest Florida and we’re excited to be here.” The move was a natural progression, and Allegiant is interested in where this progress will lead next. More destinations are possible, depending on demand. 

Pictured, from left: SRQ Airport CEO Rick Piccolo, Bud Hafer of Allegiant Air and Chairman Robert Spencer of the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority announce the arrival of Allegiant Air. Photo by Phil Lederer.

Outstanding healthcare is one of the foundations of a strong community. Since 1976, Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation, Inc. has served as an independent charitable organization working with Sarasota Memorial Healthcare System (SMH) and others to improve the delivery of world-class healthcare throughout our community.

The Foundation works to ensure that this renowned facility and its outstanding staff have everything they need to provide services that excel in caring, quality and innovation at the doorstep of our daily lives.

If you have been a patient at Sarasota Memorial, perhaps you can look back to when the care you received exceeded your expectations. Maybe it was kind words from a doctor or nurse, the patience of a technologist who took the time to explain a procedure, or a volunteer, housekeeper or food service staff who went the extra mile to ensure you or a loved one felt cared for. If so, you are not alone. The Give Gratitude, Grateful Patient Program gives patients and their families the opportunity to make a donation, share a memorable experience and show gratitude in a meaningful way.

You can honor your caregiver and Give Gratitude by visiting smhf-givegratitude.org. 

Give Gratitude

The Circus Arts Conservatory has announced that Zoltan Karpathy, long-time local nonprofit executive, has joined the CAC staff as the vice president of philanthropy. The Conservatory is conducting a major fundraising effort to enhance CAC programs and renovate the Sailor Circus Arena through the Arena Renovation Campaign. Karpathy will be directing the effort and be responsible for all future aspects of The CAC’s fundraising. Prior to joining the CAC, Karpathy was a nonprofit management and fundraising consultant. His professional skills include all aspects of fundraising, with special emphasis on major gifts, charitable estate gifts and capital campaigns. He has worked as a national fundraising consultant with more than two dozen charities, managing the raising of millions of dollars. Additionally, he has federal and state advocacy experience in healthcare, human services and enabling legislation issues. In volunteer roles, he has served as president of both the Rotary Club of Sarasota Bay and its foundation. He also served as a local board member, president and national treasurer for the Association of Fundraising Professionals and board member. 

Circus Arts Conservatory

Dozens of new moms and their babies will gather with Sarasota Memorial’s mother-baby team for an important announcement and information about SMH’s international designation as a Baby-Friendly Hospital. More than two years in the making, the hard-earned achievement is a milestone event for Sarasota Memorial and the families of more than 3,600 babies it delivers each year. The new designation comes from Baby Friendly USA, part of a global initiative of the World Health Organization and United Nations Children’s Fund that encourages hospitals around the world to create care environments and cultures that support mother-baby bonding, breastfeeding and best practices in maternity care. Sarasota Memorial is the first hospital in southwest Florida – and among a select group in the nation and world to earn international recognition as a Baby-Friendly Hospital. SMH Chief of Pediatrics Rene Sueiro, MD, and SMH Chief of Obstetrics John Abu, MD, will discuss what the designation means to our community and how the global initiative is lowering the risk of certain diseases for both mothers and their babies and giving babies the healthiest start in life. Members of the media are invited to attend and interview/photograph/videotape SMH staff, physicians and, of course, all the new moms. 

Sarasota Memorial Hospital

The City of Sarasota, in partnership with Florida Power & Light, recently added three new electric vehicle charging ports and updated seven existing ports in parking garages and surface lots around the City. Like the original EV charging stations which were installed in 2011, these new and updated stations came at no cost to the City thanks to the renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy sustainability agreement that is part of the 30 year franchise agreement with FPL. Here are the locations of the new or updated EV Charging Stations: City Hall Parking Lot (1565 1st St.), one port added and one port updated; Palm Ave. Parking Garage (1289 North Palm Ave.), two ports added and four ports updated; St. Armands South Parking Lot (58 Fillmore Dr.), two ports updated. EV charging ports are also available in the State Street Garage and Bayfront Park parking lot and will be available at the St. Armands Garage once constructed. In total, the City currently offers 16 EV charging ports to residents and visitors at no cost. The new equipment, created by a company called ChargePoint, uses a screen-based operating system to connect drivers to a network of more than 40,000 other EV charging stations across the country. This is a part of the City’s plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions, expand the use of renewable energy resources and create a sustainable community. 

City of Sarasota

The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce has launched a new website designed to highlight members and provide important business and relocation information. The fresh look and user-friendly navigation is designed to engage visitors with images and allows them to easily find the information they seek. The website has been redesigned and includes a mobile-friendly interface, a user-friendly and easy-to navigate layout and search engine optimized content, allowing visitors to easily access resources and information. Moreover, the new site offers additional benefits and increased exposure to members through an online directory with enhanced listings, advertising opportunities, an interactive events calendar, secure members login area and more. 

Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce

Let’s face it, hair is one of the first things people notice about you and life is too short to have boring hair. We want to know the Best Local Salon to invest in your hair? You wear it everyday after all! Vote now in the 2018 Best of SRQ Local Reader’s Competition! 

Vote Here!