Is Sarasota’s tap water up to snuff? A new study by University of Central Florida researchers will examine the water quality following a vote by Sarasota city commissioners to spend $197,265 on a study. But that price tag was hard to choke down for some city officials.

“I’ve experienced odorous drinking water, and it doesn’t seem to me we have a problem,” says City Commissioner Hagen Brody, who voted against the study. The 3-2 vote to hire UCF came after a contentious discussion about what warrants this level of analysis right now.

But City Manager Tom Barwin says quality drinking water should come before other financial concerns. He says that while fiscal responsibility would always be a vital demand on government, the core missions including a clean water supply, proper sewage treatment and public safety remain paramount. “If there is something that is more important to the city, I would like know what it is,” Barwin says.

Brody took umbrage at those remarks and noted there’s been no question raised about whether Sarasota’s drinking water remains clean and safe. The question should be whether the city needs to undergo this type of study right now.

The motion approved Monday makes a UCF team the sole researcher on drinking water quality, treatment and distribution system operations. A team of graduate students led by Dr. Steven Durance will focus on improving the reliability of the seawater recharge process, removal of sulfates from raw water supply and gaining a better understanding of microbiological activity in the city’s raw water.

City Commissioner Liz Alpert says she’s fine with the contract because a study will provide better information on whatever improvements may be required in the future. “A lot of decisions need to be made and what we do with utilities, and we don’t just do them,” she says. “We make sure to do the most cost-effective thing, and you do a study so you know you are not putting it in the wrong place.” She also disagreed with Brody about finding the current water quality in Sarasota to be acceptable.

Mayor Shelli Freeland Eddie joined with Brody in voting against the study, but said her greatest issue came from the process. While the city has a years-long relationship with UCF researchers, she believes the budget request looked “padded” and would probably come in lower if the city had a more competitive selection process. “The citizens would be well-served if we would give others an opportunity to bid,” she says. While Barwin sounded amenable to that, a majority of commissioners voted 3-2 in favor of hiring UCF. 

Dr. Cyndi Burnett is an Associate Professor at the International Center for Studies in Creativity at Buffalo State. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater, a Master of Science in Creativity, and a Doctorate of Education in Curriculum, Teaching and Learning; all of which she uses to help ignite creativity around the world. Her research interests include: the use of creative models and techniques with children, creative thinking in higher education, and current trends in creativity.  Her work includes projects such as: working with educators to bring creative thinking into the classroom, connecting communities of creative thinkers via social media and designing and running a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Everyday Creativity. Dr. Burnett is devoted to creating engaging lessons in education.

An invigorating morning of innovative thinking and interactive collaboration await you at SRQ MEDIA'S inaugural projecTHINK Conference hosted at the Ringling College of Art and Design's award-winning Alfred R. Goldstein Library on Saturday February 10, from 8:30am-12:00pm.

Space is limited, purchase tickets online at srqprojecthink.com. 

ProjecTHINK Conference

One of SRQ Magazine's February 2018 Featured Cookbooks: Cake, I Love You, by Jill O’Connor is a love letter to a classic indulgence offering 60 divinely decadent recipes home bakers will want to make right away. Organized by flavor profile (banana, coconut, chocolate, caramel, spice, fruit) and level of difficulty, each chapter in this cookbook from baking master Jill O'Connor presents a wide range of sweet choices. With photos that will make readers want to reach out and swipe their fingers through the frosting, Cake, I Love You offers foolproof baking advice for beginners and master mixers alike.

Luscious Lemon Loaf: lemon zest, lemon juice, and lemon oil combine to give this simple cake real zing. Don’t be tempted to skip the lemon oil, as it adds a wonderful fragrance and intense lemon flavor that lemon extract can’t match.  Cold pressed from the zest of oranges, limes, or lemons, citrus oils are concentrated and fragile. They must be refrigerated once the bottle is open, but even then they don’t last forever.

Bread Recipe: Serves 6-8

1-1/2 cups (300g) granulated sugar

2 large lemons

½ cup (120g) sour cream

1 tablespoon vanilla

1-1/4 teaspoon lemon oil

1-1/2 cups (245 g) all-purpose flour

1-1/2 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon fine sea salt

½ cup (110g) unsalted butter, at room temperature

¼ cup (60 ml) canola oil

3 eggs, room temperature

Icing Recipe:

2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

2 Tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/8 teaspoon lemon oil

½ to 2 cups (180g to 240g) confectioners’ sugar, sifted 

Recipe published with permission. Photo courtesy of Cake, I Love You.

Yellow Strawberry Hair Salons and the newly renovated Fashion Hair Academy are participating in one of the most prestigious styling conferences with former Vidal Sassoon education and Elevation H Creative Director Cole Thompson at the helm. The local team is getting ready to participate in a special stylingtraining. Queue in the call for models. The salon will be hosting a search for models to participate in a high-fashion training session. Candidates will be notified by Feb. 12 if they’ve been chosen. The selected models will go on to participate in a stylist-training program, Feb. 18 and 19 with Cole Thompson himself for an exclusive opportunity for a fresh, hi-end hairstyle.

If you’re a female, 16 years or older (anyone under 21 will require a parent’s consent) with chin length or shorter hair, willing to have their hair cut and styled based on their features using the latest geometric techniques, here’s your calling. Advance registration required by phoning Yellow Strawberry Hair Salon at 941-924-1311. The model auditions and photography sessions will take place on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the newly renovated Fashion Focus Hair Academy, co-owned by Yellow Strawberry Hair Salon partner Richard Weintraub, and his nephew Aaron Weintraub. 2184 Gulf Gate Dr. Sarasota, FL 34231 

Image provided by Imagica

Yellow Strawberry Hair Salon

The Suncoast Nursing Action Coalition (SNAC) is offering $50,000 in scholarships to encourage more area nurses and prospective nursing students to earn their bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) and ensure safe, high quality nursing care in the Sarasota, Charlotte, Manatee and Desoto counties region. The deadline to apply for the scholarships is March 1, 2018. To be eligible, applicants must live or work at a medical facility within the SNAC region (Sarasota, Charlotte, Manatee and Desoto), or be a graduate of a high school from one of those counties. Applicants also must have submitted an application for acceptance to an accredited nursing bachelor’s program, plan to be a full or part-time student, demonstrate financial need and obtain at least one recommendation from an employer or faculty/instructor. The amounts awarded vary based on individual needs, with a minimum award of $2,500. Recipients are chosen by the SNAC Selection Committee; scholarships are approved and administered by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. SNAC has granted 36 scholarships totaling $140,000 since 2016. 

Suncoast Nursing Action Coalition

Florida Studio Theatre has announced the recipients of this year’s Spelman Award as Arnold Simonsen. Named in honor of FST’s founding artistic director, Jon Spelman, the theater presents the Spelman Award to an individual or corporate sponsor who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership by providing FST with spiritual, financial and/or in-kind support. The award will be presented during Florida Studio Theatre’s annual fundraiser Shakespeare’s Shindig: A Contemporary Renaissance, on February 26. Attendees are invited to break out their best poet shirts, bodices and feather caps for an evening filled with mischief and merriment. The celebration kicks off with a cocktail party featuring live performances by FST Improv, followed by an exclusive live performance by some of FST’s much-loved artists in the Gompertz Theatre. The night concludes with a dinner “fit for the gods” in the Court Cabaret. Tickets are $250 per person with proceeds supporting the FST’s Artist Housing Project.  

Florida Studio Theatre

Ben Vitale has announced the opening of Vitale Law, P.A. located at 9040 Town Center Parkway in Lakewood Ranch. Vitale has been practicing law for 12 years. Vitale Law focuses on representing clients in all aspects of the construction industry and commercial and business litigation. Vitale was most recently a partner at Gurley-Vitale in Sarasota, where he represented general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, developers and public and private owners in all aspects of construction projects and disputes and local and national businesses in the resolution of complex business and commercial litigation. Before being drawn to the Sarasota area, Vitale built his practice at an international law firm in Atlanta. 

Vitale Law