Funding for a guardian program authorized by Florida’s new school safety law remains among the most controversial aspects of the legislation, but districts around the state have chosen to implement measures in very different ways. Sarasota County will institute a new police force dedicated to schools. Manatee County will supplement sheriff’s deputies with private security officers. While the passed bill would allow districts to let existing personnel carry weapons and act as guardians in addition to their existing duties, neither school system in the Sarasota-Bradenton area has chosen to go that route at most schools. “We always try to give local governments as much control as possible,” says state Rep. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota. “What's good for Sarasota is not always what’s right for Manatee, and that may not be the best for Hardee County.”

In Manatee, officials appear poised to supplement their own hired security in addition to an existing force of student resource officers hired through the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. When the new school year begins, the district will keep 32 sworn officers employed at a cost of $2 million, then hire another 28 guardians for an additional $1.3 million. With the state kicking in $2.2 million, that leaves $1.2 million for the district to cover in other ways, says district spokesman Mike Barber. “It’s unfortunate we’ve been painted into this corner by an underfunded mandate of the legislature,” says Charlie Kennedy, Manatee County School Board member. “We don’t have the money for full-time licensed law enforcement, so we have to go this guardian route.” School Board Chairman Scott Hopes still would like to see funding provided to hire more sheriff’s deputies and police officers to provide the security. “I expect us to be improving the plan and job descriptions,” Hopes says, noting the district will ultimately have a dedicated staff person just overseeing security.

In Sarasota County, leaders have opted to establish their own police force. While the district now works with the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and local police, that would change once a dedicated agency for school security launches. Disagreements between school administration and police leadership made headlines over recent months, but, ultimately, Sarasota County School Board Member Shirley Brown says the district needs control over those officers dedicated to protecting campuses. “If we are going to pay 100 percent of costs but have no input on who would be there and who they answer too, why not just hire them ourselves?” Brown says. That way the district will make decisions down to what equipment officers use on campus. But the option could prove costly, much more than the $2.4 million coming to Sarasota from the state. School Board member Eric Robinson worries about the cost and time to implement a force, and he’d rather extend work with existing police agencies. “We are really good at training educators,” Robinson says. “Historically we have gone to the Sheriff’s Office because they're really good at providing security.” Gruters likewise dubbed the school force a “Cadillac plan.”

Gruters notes districts like Hillsborough and Polk have done revenue-neutral plans that incorporate the guardian program to arm non-essential personnel already on campuses, but neither local district favors that. Barber says existing personnel already have full-time jobs that demand their focus. Kennedy, for his part, says he was relieved guardian funding would be available even without arming personnel.  

Downtown’s newest, fastest, casual restaurant serving America’s high demand favorites—pizza, burgers and tacos—recently remixed its menu’s take on the three staple dishes. Further creating a dining experience that satisfies everyone in a group—from families with hard-to-please kids to coworkers with different tastes to a hangry team of baseball players—the idea is to appeal to the masses. Nobody has really been able to come up with a restaurant that will please the whole group until now. Whether you’re craving Italian, Mexican or a hearty burger, PBnT prides itself on really fresh and really fast food, while not actually being Fast Food. The sole factor alone of never frozen ingredients, puts it on a level on its own. The pizza doughs are hand-stretched and homemade each morning, while the taco meats and beef patties are freshly sourced.

The new menu will have more options for the dietary-restricted or the health-conscious diners including added vegetarian and gluten-free items. They even stepped up their game from beer and wine by adding homemade alcoholic beverages like margaritas and sangria. There’s also a friendly kid’s menu for the little tykes now, as well as free delivery downtown, Uber-eats available and even catering. Whether people are looking for a quick, quality place to eat during their lunch break, a fun atmosphere for happy hour or a place to order takeout from home, PBnT wants to be your one-stop-shop for noms.

PBnT is a member of Nosh, SRQ magazine's content marketing program for local restaurants. 

Image provided by American Dreams Restaurant Group

Pizza Burgers N Tacos, 1409 Main St., Sarasota, 941-914-9955.

Both a salon and a boutique, Marmalade features the best of both worlds, welcoming fashion and beauty gurus alike, providing hair, nail and makeup services and its very own collection of cutesy jewelry, clothing, home décor and other fun trinkets and gifts. The shop’s vibrantly colorful interior complementing its playful, beachy merchandise makes for an intriguing and inviting greeting upon visitors’ arrival–as does the weekly sale rack out front.

While Marmalade’s products price quite reasonably, bargain hunters can still look forward to striking gold with marvelous deals and steals. Sale items range from sweaters and cover-ups to sun dresses and handbags. The sales do change; items on the rack might cost $10 one week and then be marked 50% off the next­, and they are often snatched rather quickly–all the reason to stop in more frequently!

Whether you drop by for sun-kissed highlights and a manicure, or to simply explore the boutique’s trendy knick-knacks, a visit to Marmalade lives up to its namesake–sweet and satisfying­. 

Marmalade Salon & Boutique, 3617, 1927 South Osprey Ave., Sarasota, 941-362-0276

A local State of Emergency was declared by the City of Sarasota for Lido Beach erosion Wednesday afternoon following an extensive walking inspection of the severely eroded beach by City Manager Tom Barwin and a Florida Department of Environmental Protection official. The City Manager is authorized to declare a State of Emergency with approval from one City Commissioner.  Mayor Liz Alpert, the District 2 City Commissioner, concurs and is in full support of the State of Emergency, calling it “necessary.” The State of Emergency applies to the most threatened portions of Lido Beach. On the southern half of Lido Beach, markers R-37 south to R-44.2 are included.  Along the northern portion of Lido Beach, markers R-31 to R-33 are part of the local State of Emergency. The City is pursuing two tracks to renourish Lido Beach:  short term and long term.  In the short term, the City has an approved permit and expects to replace sand lost during Hurricane Irma by this fall. In the long term, the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection initially approved a permit for a 50-year program with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to renourish Lido Beach on a regular basis, perhaps every five years. Earlier this month, a state administrative law judge upheld the joint federal-local restoration project.  Barring further litigation by Siesta Key petitioners, that program could begin by the end of the year. 

Lido Beach State of Emergency Declaration

Manatee County's Agriculture and Extension Service is currently taking applications for its Florida Master Gardener training class for new volunteers. The class begins August 8, 2018, meeting every Wednesday from 8:30am to 4:30pm for 14 weeks. Class sessions are held at the University of Florida/IFAS Extension Manatee County, Agriculture and Extension Service in Palmetto. The class fee of $200 includes all workbooks, textbooks, and field trips. Trainees pair with veteran Master Gardeners who serve as mentors in the program. Upon completion of the training and internship portion, participants are certified as Florida Master Gardeners by the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service. Working with the Urban Horticulture Extension Agent, Master Gardeners provide volunteer service by disseminating horticultural information to the public in Manatee County. Manatee County is one of the three original counties in Florida to hold Master Gardener training; the program has been in place since 1979 and has provided training to hundreds of quality volunteers. This year's class topics include basic botany, entomology, vegetable gardening, wildlife, diagnosing plant problems, plant identification, citrus care, plant propagation, turf selection and care, and many other subjects. Prior gardening experience is not required. The deadline for applications is June 29, 2018 and class size is limited. 

Manatee County Agriculture and Extension Service

Jodi Ruberg, a civil litigation attorney with the law firm of Kirk-Pinkerton, P.A., took the oath of admission to the nation’s highest court on May 14 before U.S. Supreme Court’s Chief Justice John Roberts, Associate Justice Elena Kagan, Associate Justice Samuel Alito, Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy, Associate Justice Stephen Breyer and Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch. Ruberg, a graduate of Lemon Bay High School in Englewood, joined Kirk-Pinkerton in August 2017. She serves corporations, nonprofits, governments and individuals with litigation ranging from commercial law, probate disputes and issues arising from the Florida Sunshine laws. She will also serve on the board of directors of the Sarasota County Bar Association for its Division of Young Lawyers for a one-year term beginning in August 2018. In addition to being a member of the Florida Bar and the U.S. Supreme Court, Ruberg is admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. 

Kirk Pinkerton

Joseph Kesslak has joined RE/MAX Alliance Group as a Realtor in the Siesta Key office. He specializes in residential and investment properties. An active real estate investor for 35 years, Kesslak has been involved in buying, remodeling and managing both residential and commercial real estate. His background in financial consulting helps guide buyers and sellers in making real estate decisions for personal or investment purposes. A chartered financial consultant and chartered life underwriter, he owns his own insurance consulting company, Kesslak Financial Group Inc., in Johnstown, PA. He also owns a local real estate company, Casey Key LLC. He brings exceptional negotiating skills and a strong customer focus. 

RE/MAX Platinum Realty

All Faiths Food Bank received a $200,000 gift from Gerri Aaron and Marvin Albert in support of All Faiths Food Bank’s new building expansion. The new Program Center has been named after them. The center will be the hub of hunger relief and outreach programs. 

All Faiths Food Bank