SRQ DAILY Apr 19, 2018
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"Every study shows you should have a diverse group of people in leadership, whether it's on a board or a management team, to be the most effective."
The opioid crisis in Bradenton drew the attention of officials statewide. For state House candidate Melissa Howard, the problem hit close to home. A foster child living in her house two years ago fought through drug problems himself. “He’s better now,” Howard says, “but this wreaks havoc on families. I know firsthand.”
Howard this week formally filed as a Republican candidate for state House in District 73, which covers parts of east Manatee and Sarasota counties. If not for the drug issue in her home, Howard says she likely would have run two years ago, but was happy to see Joe Gruters run and win instead. With Gruters now eyeing a state Senate seat, Howard wants a place in the state House, where she would handle issues like opioids, following in the steps of area lawmakers like outgoing state Rep. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, and former state Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice.
Howard, local chapter chair for the Florida Federation of Republican Women, feels the perspective of a female conservative will serve the region well in Tallahassee. “It’s not to say men and women don’t care the same, but, as in any business, every study shows you should have a diverse group of people in leadership, whether it's on a board or a management team, to be the most effective,” she says. Howard jumped into this race, she says, after Manatee County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh decided not to run for the seat.
The Bradenton area Republican says she would go to Tallahassee a supporter of funding for Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida, an issue that created a divide last year between Speaker of the House Richard Corcoran and Gov. Rick Scott. Howard’s stance puts her on Scott’s side of the issue in supporting jobs and tourism-promoting agencies. “Whether we like it or not, we get a lot of revenue from that work,” she says of funding business incentives and visitor marketing. That stance puts her on the same footing as Gruters, who stood with the governor instead of House leadership.
But Howard would have voted differently on recent gun legislation passed by the state House but opposed by the NRA. She doesn’t like a ban on bump stocks, which can increase the firing rate of legally purchased firearms, she says. But more importantly, she doesn’t care for a blanket ban on the purchase of guns by citizens age 18 to 21. She would have supported restrictions, she says, but not a total prohibition. “If you have a concealed carry permit and have training, you should make an exception to the law,” she says. Similarly, she’s says anyone 18 to 21 who serves in the military should be permitted to purchase weapons.
Howard right now faces Sarasota attorney Tommy Gregory in the Republican primary, and Democrat Liv Coleman, a Tampa University professor, is also running. The primary is scheduled for Aug. 28, the general election for Nov. 6. 
All college students want to show their school spirit; however, not all have the money to buy overpriced t-shirts at the school gift shop. For Florida State University students and families, Bows and Arrows Boutique has bountiful selections for sporting events, family or alumni weekends, or just to make everyday game day for around-campus attire. Owned by Chelsea Havelka, she graduated from FSU with a degree in Apparel Design and Merchandising, but still could not find cute FSU gear for game day anywhere. Soon, Bows and Arrows Boutique was born. Find T-shirts, tank tops, hoodies, shorts, and even day dresses to show off your school colors and stay stylish, all while not breaking the bank.
Try the Seminoles Repeater Ringer Tee for a vintage look. If you want something for the gym, the Florida State University Cropped Racerback will be sure to please. And if you’re a mom looking for a game day outfit try the Florida State Seminoles Sunset Vibes Dip-Dye Dress—it’s a perfect outfit to show your support, but not look like you’re about to paint your entire face gold and garnet for a tailgate party. Bows and Arrows Boutique even has options for men and kids, such as polos and muscle tanks, so the entire family can now show their Seminole pride without being too embarrassing. You can either easily order online or head down to the store on University Parkway—so get ready to strap on your tomahawk, whip up a war chant and sport that trendy new Nole outfit at the next FSU soccer game.
Images courtesy of Bows and Arrows Boutique.
Bows and Arrows Boutique, $20-$76, 5275 University Pkwy. Suite 133, Bradenton, 941-210-7158.
A real piz-za work, the Margherita Fresca is in popular demand at this charming St. Armands Circle restaurant. Owner, Joseph Casadio was born and raised on the Italian coastline in Sestri Levante, a beautiful tourist town on the Mediterranean, with similarities to Sarasota. Today, 15 South Ristorante remains a family-owned and -operated hot spot, as it wines and dines guests with a heavily inspired Northern Italian menu of boot-shaped specialties and imported wine for dinner nightly.
With an elegant formal dining room, as well as casual outdoor seating and a lively piano bar, you can have your pick of ambiance as you bite into the crunch of this homemade staple. The thin pizza crust is made to order, then baked in a wood-burning oven from Italy. Mozzarella di bufala (fresh mozzarella cheese), freshly diced tomatoes, parmesan cheese and basil make the Margherita Fresca a wholesome delight for the whole family. Want to create your own pizza? 15 South Ristorante lets you customize exactly how you like it. That’s Italian hospitality at it’s finest.
15 South Ristorante is a member of Nosh, SRQ media's content marketing program for local restaurants.
Photo by Wyatt Kostygan.
15 South Ristorante, $14, 15 South Boulevard of the Presidents, Sarasota, 941-388-1555.
The City Commission of the City of Sarasota is seeking individuals willing to serve on a number of Advisory Boards, including two seats on the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, two seats on the Board of Adjustment, ten seats on the Board of Rules and Appeals, one seat on the Citizens with Disabilities Advisory Board, two seats on the Employee Retirement Account Committee, two seats on the Historic Preservation Board, one seat on the Newtown Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board, two seats on the Nuisance Abatement Board, two seats on the Parks, Recreation & Environmental Protection Advisory Board, two seats with the Planning Board/Local Planning Agency, two seats for the Police Complaint Committee, one seat for the Sarasota Housing Authority and two seats for the Sarasota County Stormwater Environmental Utility Advisory Committee (SEUAC). Each board has its own requirements and stipulations for joining. Preference is given to persons who reside or own property in the City of Sarasota. To receive an application for appointment, contact the Office of the City Auditor and Clerk, 1565 First Street, Sarasota, (941) 954‑4160, Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm. The application may also be obtained from the City website below and selecting Advisory Boards under Government.
Kirk Hutchinson has been named the new principal of Venice Elementary School effective June 1, pending School Board approval. Currently, Hutchinson serves as the principal at Atwater Elementary, where he has worked as its top administrator since 2009. He replaces Erin del Castillo, who will assume the role of principal at Riverview High School later this spring. A principal search will take place later this month to fill the principal position at Atwater Elementary. Hutchinson has collectively served in Sarasota County Schools for more than 10 years. Prior to becoming the first principal at Atwater Elementary, Hutchinson was an assistant principal at Lamarque Elementary in Sarasota County from 2007–2009. He will earn his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership this spring from the University of Florida. He also has a master’s degree in Administration and Supervision from The Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Sarasota Memorial Health Care System is one of just 39 organizations to win Gallup’s global Great Workplace Award. The award honors the world’s best workplaces for creating an environment and culture that inspires employee commitment and engagement. To qualify for the award, organizations must meet a rigorous criteria, which includes a high, qualifying response rate on Gallup’s 2017 employee engagement survey and a score that places them in the “upper echelon” of organizations in Gallup's global database. They also must demonstrate how their engagement approach improves performance outcomes. Gallup said its workplace award winners excel in areas where many other organizations struggle. Worldwide, just 15 percent of employees are engaged, while the engagement level among its award recipients is 70 percent or more. On average, Gallup’s top performers have 14 engaged employees to just one disengaged—nearly seven times the U.S. rate and more than 15 times the rate for workforces globally.
Australian-based F45 Training, the fastest-growing fitness network, continues to expand across the world with locations in over 36 counties. Now, F45 Training has opened in downtown Sarasota, one of the first of its Florida franchises. F45 Training offers members upwards of 31 different functional training programs based on a high intensity interval training (HIIT) style workout. Open to all fitness levels, no workout is ever the same. The HIIT-style workouts incorporate over 3,500 different exercises to ensure variation. Each 45-minute circuit-based class combines the best of strength and cardio training, designed to burn upwards of 750 calories. All new members are offered a one week free trial.
Renowned for his colorful sculpture installations, this is Blanco’s first solo exhibition in Sarasota, where he has lived and worked for two decades. Exhibited will be large and moderately scaled works ranging from tabletops to the 14-foot “Zephyros.” Also, maquettes, a series of new “food” sculptures, his classic yellow bench and pieces from his acclaimed “Castaway” series.
Alfstad& Contemporary, 1419 5th St., Sarasota.
Since 2000, the Silk Road Ensemble has been redefining classical music for 21st-century audiences. Established by world renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma, the musicians represent a global array of cultures while co-creating art, performances and ideas. They draw on a rich tapestry of traditions that make up our shared cultural heritage, creating a new musical language. A uniquely engaging and accessible encounter between the foreign and the familiar that reflects our many-layered contemporary identities. Their most recent album, Sing Me Home, won the Grammy this year for Best World Music Album
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 North Tamiami Tr., Sarasota
Two quintessential Romantic era composers are the stars of our final soirée. Brahms' Clarinet Trio opens with a sense of longing as the clarinet and cello engage in a beautiful duet. The dance continues and expands with expressive interruptions from the piano until the final stormy movement. Mendelssohn's Octet cemented his legacy as one of the great prodigies and composers of all time. The work combines two string quartets with stunning melodies and a graciously balanced structure.
Holley Hall, Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center, 709 North Tamiami Tr., Sarasota.
Back by popular demand! This is not your everyday beauty pageant. These “ladies” will fight for your vote to capture the crown of “Miss Glamouresse.” The six vivacious contestants include: Miss Deep South, Miss West coast, Miss Great Plains, Miss Bible Belt, Miss Industrial Northeast, and Miss Texas.Watch these lovely “ladies” compete in evening gown, talent, swimwear, and spokes-modeling. An evening filled with lots of laughs, where the audience actually chooses the winner!
The Players Centre of Performing Arts, 838 North Tamiami Tr., Sarasota.
Come out to Jorge Blanco's first solo exhibition in Sarasota. Blanco is a Venezuelan sculptor and illustrator whose art values a postive lifestyle. His work embraces scale, landscape, urbanism and technology while creating soaring testaments to the optimism of everyday life.
An evening hosted by Nora and Billy Johnson and Jenny and Ken Pendery will have one continuous table set on the Great Lawn. Guests will enjoy fine wines selected by Michael Klauber that compliment an extravagant, multi-course dinner personally designed by Phil Mancini.
The 36th annual Suncoast Boat Show takes place in downtown Sarasota on April 20 - 22, 2018, at Marina Jack’s in Sarasota, Florida. Enjoy the great outdoors while pricing and comparing hundreds of boats from the Gulf Coast's leading boat dealers. See various types and styles all in one place. Cruisers, Runabouts, Bowriders, Sportfishers, Center Consoles, Motor Yachts, Inflatables and more. Shop tents full of electronics, accessories, jewelry, art and clothing all in a festive atmosphere with food, drinks, music and much more.
Marina Jack’s, #2 Marina Plaza, Sarasota, FL 34236
This swingin’ night of musical sensations focuses on Harlem’s heyday when Duke Ellington’s orchestra was the house band, and Cab Calloway, Ella Fitzgerald and Ethel Waters showcased the classics of the Great American Songbook. This production features the brilliant trumpeter, vocalist and conductor Byron Stripling, vocalist Carmen Bradford and tap dancer Ted Louis Levy.
Van Wezel, 777 North Tamiami Tr., Sarasota.
Join the Sarasota Film Festival tonight and "Chill Under the Stars" as Chillounge Night makes its triumphant return to Sarasota and transforms Five Points Park into a magnificent outdoor lounge with all the chic and stylish vibes that it has become known for throughout Florida. The event starts at 6pm and will showcase live band performances, a sophisticated and fun fashion daybed parade, the signature and colorful Brazilian Samba Parade and much more. With hundreds of cool outdoor furnishings and fine food/drinks to complement the entertainment, this will be an intimate and magical evening for thousands to enjoy. Admission is $30 per person in advance and $40 at the door (must be 21 or older). Chillounge Night, founded in Sarasota 10 years ago, continues to bring a unique brand of "dazzle" with the ultimate outdoor lounge party.
Five Points Park , N Pineapple Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236
Experience the sparkling night of Firefly Gala with incredible auctions and delectable dining. Marvel at the full stage and light production at this intimate, private concert. Help children and families create good beginnings that last a lifetime. Enjoy cocktails and spectacular silent auction on the lawn followed by dinner and a concert featuring Jason Derulo. Dancing at the After Party will feature DJ Jeffrey Michaels of J2 Events.
The Ritz‐Carlton, Sarasota, 1111 Ritz Carlton Dr, Sarasota, FL 34236
Come see Bill Engvall, a Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum-selling recording artist and one of the top comedians in the country. He was a contestant on Season 17 of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, and as a fan favorite, he made it to the finals. He also lent his voice to the animated comedy series Bounty Hunters, which aired on CMT. Bill was part of the enormously successful Blue Collar Comedy concert films, which sold over nine million units and received a Grammy nomination. He also starred on the WB’s hit sketch comedy show Blue Collar TV.
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 North Tamiami Tr., Sarasota.
The traditional sounds of Cuba are resurrected through the piano playing of Enrique Chia. Nominated for a Grammy Award in 2001 in the Best Classical Crossover category for his album the Music of Ernesto Lecuona, Chia weaves a dance-inspiring mixture of soft pop, Latin dance tunes, and boleros.
A Chorus Line is musical theatre in its purest form. Its celebration and true-to-life depiction of performers and their struggle to achieve greatness on the Broadway stage has earned the show unanimous praise as one of the true masterpieces of live theater. The iconographic stories, simultaneously touching, funny and inspiring, will haunt you long after you leave the theater.
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 North Tamiami Tr., Sarasota.
Collaboration is our common thread. Our community creates the ties that bind. On April 24th The Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center celebrates the many nonprofits who have found valuable collaborations on its Campus of Caring. You are invited to the Collaboration Celebration Luncheon at Michael’s on the Bay at Selby Gardens to join in honoring three agencies nominated by GSHSC’s campus community for their collaboration, growth and engagement: Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota County, More Too Life and Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness.
Michael’s on the Bay at Selby Gardens, 811 S Palm Avenue Sarasota, FL 34236 United States
Don’t miss this community-wide environmental event that happens only once every five years. Expert panel discussions, viewpoints from local thought leaders, and provocative lightning talks will weave connections between our environmental heritage and a resilient future for healthy natural habitats.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 900 South Palm Ave., Sarasota.
This Swiss-based theater troupe has been dazzling worldwide audiences for more than 45 years with inventive uses of shadow, light, and creative manipulation of objects. “you & me” focuses on the love and mutual joy the audiences and performers experience in Mummenschanz’s one of a kind theatrical performances, hence the title “you & me”. As musicians of silence, their soundtrack is the awe, joy, and laughter expressed by audiences in response to their pioneered form of visual theater.
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 North Tamiami Tr., Sarasota.
SRQ | The Magazine hosts the fourth annual Women in Business Hear Me Roar Leadership and Awards Luncheon on Thursday, April 26, 2018 at The Francis in downtown Sarasota. We will recognize this year's nominees and winners who are inducted into the esteemed 2018 WIB Leadership Circle during the awards ceremony. Keynote Speaker Cricket Burns of CricketsCrush.com is known for her renowed personal style and for having her finger on the pulse of collective fashion trends. She became an esteemed fashion editor and stylist in New York City where for three decadres, she held masthead positions at numerous publications including posts as fashion editor at Harper's Buzaar and Seventeen magazines. Now she focuses her laser-chic styling on the world of home decor. This year's Trailblazer Awards honoree Patti Cazzato was appointed CEO of Timbuk2 in 2014 to helm the company in its 25th anniversary year. She spent nearly three decades in global retail expansion, creative merchandising, product innovation and sustainable manufacturing with high-profile, multi-billion dollar global brands. Pop Up Boutiques and Registration: 10:30am, now expanded to Louies Modern. Luncheon program: 11:30am to 1pm. And, new this year, a post-event Roar Social takes place at Louies Modern from 1-3pm. Tickets: $75/person and $850/table. Click here for tickets.
The Francis, Downtown Sarasota, 1289 N. Palm Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34236
A play written in the spirit of Gatsby, Nice Work tells the riveting story of a wealthy bachelor in search of meaning. Jimmy Winter is marrying just to appease his mother and retain his inheritance, but when he drunkenly stumbles into a team of bootleggers, his life unwittingly takes a turn for the new.
Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 3rd Ave. W., Bradenton
Closing the season with two company premieres and one of the sexiest shows in ballet, the night begins with Antony Tudor’s The Leaves Are Fading. A company premiere, this epic romance celebrates pure dance with unfettered passion. Following Leaves, the company premiere of George Balanchine’s Bugaku illustrates the choreographer’s genius, and concludes with another production of company favorite Sir Frederic Ashton.
Sarasota Opera House, 5555 North Tamiami Trl., Sarasota
Share the legacy of Mable’s beloved rose garden while you enjoy a beautiful brunch surrounded by blooming roses. Blossoms & Brunch will begin with a mimosa reception complete with entertainment and silent auction. A seated brunch will begin at 11:30am. Following brunch, return to the rose garden to discover a variety of sweets at our dessert buffet. $120.
Bayfront Gardens Mable's Rose Garden, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota, FL 34243
Putting the debonaire and danger back into the cello, the Rastrelli Cello Quartet thrills and entertains with nontraditional programming and performance leading back to a single source—MI6 superspy James Bond. The quartet brings iconic Bond songs to new life, ranging from the days of Sean Connery and From Russia with Love to Daniel Craig’s modern incarnation.
Historic Asolo Theater, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota
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