Unless the packaging on a grocery purchase has a “No GMOs” logo on it somewhere, it can be difficult to tell whether genetically modified organisms were part of an ingredient list. Maybe you can do it by scanning a QR code on the side of every box. But U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota, says that’s not enough. “If you are a senior citizen in a food store, who goes to a website?” Buchanan says. “If you are a parent who has three kids with you when you go to the grocery store, who has time for that?”

The congressman this week filed a formal objection letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture calling current labeling standards “grossly inadequate.” “As you work to issue a final rule later this year, I would urge you to go back to the drawing board and come up with a more consumer-friendly standard,” he wrote. “Regardless of whether you think GMOs are safe or not, people have a right to know what they’re eating.” The same letter also questioned proposed standards that would not consider refined sugars and oils made with modified corn and soybeans to contain GMOs.

It’s an issue Buchanan has pressed Agriculture officials on for years. In 2015, Buchanan was one of just 12 Republicans who joined with Democratic opposition fighting legislation that contained loopholes for food companies regarding GMO labeling. The next year, the House passed a bill that created more exemptions based on research that showed GMOs as safe for consumption, but Buchanan voted against it and urged President Obama to veto the legislation.

Why the interest? Buchanan says health-oriented voters on the Gulf Coast seem to have a particular interest in the issue, and his office receives a significant number of calls from concerned constituents, particularly in the Sarasota area. The calls break about 90 percent in favor of better labeling. “Maybe it’s having a Whole Foods in town, but in general people are more health conscious now,” he says. And Buchanan says that while some state movements have looked to regulate labeling, this issue ultimately should be addressed at the federal level.

He says Europe has better labeling standards now than the U.S., and figures food companies fear a loss of profits with labeling. But he notes right now non-GMO food providers go out of their way to label products as such. “You can see banners on food that say non-GMO, but if it’s genetically modified, it does’t have to have anything on the container,” he says. “We need to make it consumer-friendly.” 

Photo courtesy Buchanan House office: Buchanan speaks with citrus farmers in Myakka City in January.

If you don’t have plans to embark on a luxurious getaway in island paradise this season, you can at least dress like you do. Typical Floridian attire embodies the simple, seemingly effortless ensemble of a swimsuit, flip flops, shorts and a tank—perhaps even a playful floppy hat or fedora thrown into the mix—but Shore on St. Armands Circle amplifies beachy attire by incorporating influences from California fashion exhibited through companies like Brandy Melville and Roxy; care-free lifestyle meets coastal chic. Situated beneath its complementary restaurant, Shore breeds not only its own brand of clothing, accessories, decor and collectible goods, but its own lifestyle as well, providing an upscale perspective to the coined “beach bum.”

Upon entry, you feel as though you have already stepped foot right onto shore, appropriately so, with the array of nautical ornamentation like ukuleles, waves adorning the walls and wooden surfboards suspended from the ceiling. Men and women alike get lost in the teeming displays of clothing, each separated by color scheme, theme and purpose. Among the trendy sunnies, dainty jewelry, two-piece sets, graphic tees, and bikinis and swim trunks, the convivial trifles in between will hook and reel in your attention like a sea bass. Shore is the beacon of countless fun items like coolers, picture frames, stylish canteens and plenty more. Chill out with your favorite beverage in the pool, with one of the fruity drink holder floats, or lose yourself in the extraordinary photography in “Escape” by Gray Malin, one of the many intriguing coffee table books sold at Shore, among others about succulents, salads-in-a-jar, and selfies of men with dogs. Find the perfect gift, or treat yourself, at arguably one of the hippest stops along the circle.

Pictured: Cherry Drink Holder Float, $14; "Escape" photo book by Gray Malin, $45.

Shore, 465 John Ringling Blvd. #100, Sarasota., 941-388-3535.

Italy has played a notable role in reinforcing the glamor of cocktails with its deep sense of style and design. It’s a country perfectly suited to the ritual of beautiful presentation and elegant service. Luckily, you don’t have to buy a plane ticket at SRQ for this Italian retreat—15 South Ristorante Enoteca does it authentic and does it benissimo. Dispatch to an old-fashioned European happy hour and let the barman slide you over an impeccable pour as you pretend to be an extra in the scene of a remake of The Godfather. You can’t help but crave a classic martini or Italian aperitif—fully embracing the Mediterranean-esque surroundings and romantic atmosphere. Because la dolce vita becomes that much sweeter when you have an espresso martini in your left hand and amore in your right hand, as you undulate to the rhythm of live music thumping from the piano bar.

And now in full swing—15 South’s Summer Happy Hour Specials are happening daily from 4:30PM-6:30PM. During those prime hours, take advantage of the $5 Bar Appetizers which rotate monthly to keep it fresh. The 3-4-5 Drink Specials consist of $3 Domestic Beer, $4 Well Drinks & Imported Beer and $5 House Wine. A diverse selection of international live performers play each night for your aural pleasure. Don’t be surprised if the sense of free-spirited ease at this bar scene acts as a magnet, bringing you through the doors more than once this summer for happy hour and beyond. Cin Cin!

15 South Ristorante is a member of Nosh, SRQ Magazine's content marketing program for local restaurants.  

Photos by Wyatt Kostygan.

15 South Ristorante Enoteca, 15 South Boulevard of the Presidents, Sarasota, 941-388-1555.

Manatee Memorial Hospital has announced that it has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Hip and Knee Replacement Certification. The Gold Seal of Approval is a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to providing safe and effective patient care. Manatee Memorial Hospital underwent a rigorous on-site review on April 6, 2018. Joint Commission experts evaluated compliance with national disease-specific care standards as well as with Hip and Knee Replacement specific requirements. Clinical practice guidelines and performance measures also were assessed. Established in 2002 and awarded for a two-year period, The Joint Commission’s Disease-Specific Care Certification evaluates clinical programs across the continuum of care and addresses three core areas: compliance with consensus-based national standards; effective use of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to manage and optimize care; and an organized approach to performance measurement and improvement activities. 

Manatee Memorial Hospital

Three physicians from Coastal Orthopedics were recently named to an exclusive list of the nation’s top doctors compiled by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd., with pain management specialist Dr. Douglas Constant, pain management specialist Dr. Gennady Gekht and orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist Dr. Steven J. Schafer being selected for the 2018 Castle Connolly Top Doctors. Each year, Castle Connolly receives nearly 100,000 nominations for the prestigious recognition. This year’s Castle Connolly listing represents the third year Constant has received the recognition. It is the fourth year Gekht has been honored with the designation and the sixth year Schafer has been named a top doctor. Castle Connolly Top Doctors are nominated by their peers in an extensive survey process that encompasses thousands of American doctors each year. More than 50,000 physicians and healthcare executives participate in Castle Connolly’s nomination process. 

Coastal Orthopedics

JFCS of the Suncoast CEO Heidi Brown was recently selected to participate in one of the Harvard Business School’s (HBS) Executive Education programs, Performance Measurement for Effective Management of Non-Profit Organizations. The HBS program is designed for senior executives and board members of nonprofit organizations from around the world who have demonstrated commitment to implementing effective performance measurement and management in their organizations. This Social Enterprise Initiative applies innovative business practices and managerial disciplines to drive sustained, high-impact social change. Brown joined more than 80 other nonprofit leaders from more than 24 countries at HBS. Financial support for her participation was made possible through a Harvard 100 grant established and funded by local Sarasota philanthropists Johanna Gustafsson and Chris Pinckney. Moving forward, Brown will be working with the JFCS Board to closely look at the organization’s vision and mission and take a realistic look at the resources and capacity they need to optimally execute the services JFCS provides to the community. This includes a commitment to having other JFCS executives attend an HBS program. 

JFCS of the Suncoast

Jo Ann M. Koontz was installed as the 55th President of the American Academy of Attorney-Certified Public Accountants (AAA-CPA). The AAA-CPA is the only organization comprised of individuals who are dually-qualified as Attorneys and Certified Public Accountants. The AAA-CPA provides its members with quality education, opportunities to network and the professional resources to support and develop their practices. Koontz is a Sarasota, FL-based attorney and CPA practicing in the areas of real estate, business organizations and taxation. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Ohio Northern University in 2001, where she specialized in accounting, and obtained her Juris Doctor from Ohio Northern University in 2006. She represents clients in a wide variety of business and real estate matters, including commercial and residential real estate transactions, S corporation, partnership and LLC formation and reorganizations and the tax implications of business and real estate transactions, including purchases and sales of assets and equity interests. 

AAA-CPA

The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) recently welcomed former State Senator Sean Wiley who has joined the College’s administration as the Institutional Director of Public Engagement. Wiley served the 49th district of Pennsylvania from 2012 to 2016. Prior to his service in the State Senate, Wiley served as the director of the Saint Vincent Foundation and Government Relations, as well as serving Erie County, PA as the director of administration. The relationships that Wiley has developed over the years will assist him in raising the level of awareness of the significant impact LECOM is making in each community where the college has campuses, including Sarasota. In addition to raising awareness of the LECOM brand, Senator Wiley will also be looking to boost the Student Scholarship Fund, and provide counsel on future community investments to be made by the institution. Wiley hopes to find more opportunities to support local organizations and show the Erie, Greensburg and Bradenton communities that LECOM is with them. 

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine