The reception area at Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s Internal Medicine Practice in Newtown was more crowded than usual yesterday, and not just with patients. Those coming in for a check-up found themselves navigating a press of TV cameras and Newtown notables, as the community gathered to unveil a special portrait to honor the memory of Dr. John Watson Chenault, the first African-American doctor to open a practice in Sarasota and, in 1961, the first to gain privileges at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. Painted by Yekaterina Kaydash, a student at Ringling College of Art and Design, the portrait will be permanently installed in the Newtown clinic.

Chenault arrived in Sarasota area in 1957, already an accomplished physician and orthopedic surgeon. He served as director of the Tuskegee Institute’s Orthopedic Surgery and Polio Center, as administrator of Florida A&M University Hospital and sat on the advisory board for the American Red Cross. Once in Sarasota, in addition to establishing a practice in Newtown, he was building fund chairman of the Old Folks Aid Home in Newtown, now the J.H. Floyd Sunshine Manor, and board member for Sarasota-Manatee Crippled Children’s Clinic and Happiness House, now Easter Seals Southwest Florida. But perhaps his greatest impact for Newtown came in the form of that private practice he operated off Osprey Avenue.

“That was huge for me,” says Walter Gilbert, a longtime Newtown resident and former patient of Chenault, “to be able to walk a couple blocks for a doctor’s office on Osprey, at a time when some doctors wouldn’t see you if you were black.” Chenault also kept a sizable array of books and magazines in the practice, encouraging those in the community to stop by when they pleased and peruse at their leisure. “And that was huge to a 14- 15-year-old kid,” says Gilbert. And when Gilbert saw the Newtown clinic open a bit over a year ago, he thought maybe something was missing. “”It dawned on me that there was nothing here, honoring him in the community,” he says. With the help of Dr. Washington Hill, a former physician with SMH and current advocate for medically underserved communities, the hospital and Ringling College were able to partner and rectify the oversight.

“She really could not have captured his image better,” says Wilhelmine Wiese-Rometsch, director of the internal medicine program at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, of Kaydash’s portrait. And she looks forward to hanging it for all of the physicians, and especially students, who will walk the Newtown clinic halls for years to come. “They will see this portrait everyday,” she says, “to remind them of why we went into medicine in the first place—to give back to the community.” 

Pictured: Portrait of Dr. John W. Chenault by Yekaterina Kaydash.

A State of Emergency was declared by the City of Sarasota on Wednesday due to the continued effects of red tide on the community, following similar declarations by Sarasota County and the state of Florida.The declaration is a necessary step in securing possible financial assistance from the state or federal government.

“As the home city of Mote Marine Laboratory, this experience is requiring us to be much more proactive sharing information and working to prevent a similar disaster in the future,” said City Manager Tom Barwin. “The state of emergency reflects our need to continue to respond effectively and efficiently to this public health and economic crisis. The City continues to coordinate with our partners at the county and state levels as we combat the effects of red tide and the threats it presents to the health and safety of our residents and guests.”

The State of Emergency is effective immediately and may not exceed seven days, although it may be extended in seven-day increments as necessary.

Small businesses that have been affected by red tide may be eligible for short-term, interest-free loans of up to $50,000 through the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. Business owners with two to 100 employees can apply now through Oct. 12 at www.floridadisasterloan.org. 

Photo by Dylan Jon Wade Cox

You miss the buzz this week? We’ll loop you in so you’re not on Queen B’s bad side (the back side). Avoid the stinger and help celebrate National Honey Bee Awareness Day today—building community awareness of the importance of the apiary industry and to honor bees' as a critical species, contributing to our ecosystem and wellbeing on a daily basis. And cheers to the beekeepers and farmers born to bee wild—your labors ensure we have little dudes thrive on the hive to pollinate our crops for growth. Experts say one of every three bites of food we eat depends on pollination, so if bees ghosted us—say sayonara to apples, cucumbers, avocado, onions, coffee, blueberries and almonds (just to name a few). And lest we forget the viscous sweetness boosting our green tea and berry smoothie with tonsil cuddling flavor in addition to all its natural vitamins, enzymes, powerful antioxidants and nutrients.

While purchasing honey raw over pasteurized is worth a nod, local raw is the real way to go—containing pollen specific to our area, therefore minimizing seasonal allergies and illnesses. Thankfully there’s no shortage of golden goo making VIP appearances at local grocers, farmers markets and specialty delis around Sarasota, Bradenton and Myakka City. Covet indigenous delights from family-owned operations like Old Florida Bee Company, My Sweetest Honey, Heritage Bee Farm and Sarasota Honey Company.

Sarasota Honey Company goes well beeyond the honeycomb and creates all kinds of products celebrating the sassy insect—from tea towels, potholders, oven mitts and aprons decorating the kitchen with charming “Bee Happy” prints, to silver or gold jewelry adorned with flowers and bumble bees. Reap the benefits of their 100% cotton-wicked, beeswax candles—natural air purifiers economical, environmentally-friendly and chemical-free. The candles burn a pure, clean flame that’ll pique your olfactory senses and come carved in shapes like a pineapple or bear snacking on honey. Plump up your cracked, dry lips with their beeswax lip balm, while enjoying all-natural scrubs, body creams, soaps and bath bombs—handmade from scratch with earthy scents, organic oils and you guessed it, raw honey. Sarasota Honey Company is also proud to offer the purchase of Hive Kits to start your own apiary farm—complete with all your essential supplies to join the beekeeping community of Florida Suncoast. The kits are geared specifically for the Southeast U.S. climate and carry only products proven to be the most successful in our region. And whether you’re simply a hobbyist or commercial beekeeper, battle busy bumblers with a ventilated jacket, gloves, vented hat with veil and all the tools to stay stung-free!

Celebrate the creatures of yellow and black attire today by heading over to Sarasota Honey Company’s brand new location to shop its wide range of products and take a free tour of their garden for the real hive-five experience. 

Photo provided by Sarasota Bee Company.

2227 University Pkwy, Sarasota, 941-726-8755.

There is something about the simple yet endearing combination of creamy grits and smoky shrimp that awakens a feeling of familiar comfort, even for those that do not call the Deep South home. This seemingly humble dish carries with it a rich history; from the South Carolina Lowcountry kitchens of the Gullah, descendants of enslaved Africans, to fine dining tables across the country looking for the perfect hint of Southern flavor, shrimp and grits have made their culinary mark on the Florida Gulf Coast as well, at The Crow’s Nest Restaurant and Marina.

Having lived two years in Charleston, South Carolina, the buckle of the aptly named “Grits Belt,” Chef Jon DeRue’s interpretation of this iconic dish blends classic and fresh flavors. “I’d say it’s a spin on a traditional Southern shrimp and grit,” Chef DeRue explains. “This is just a nice play on it, a southern Florida play on it.” While a more traditional offering may be heavy on stock and tomato, Chef DeRue infuses the stone-ground cheddar grits with cream for a rich, smooth taste, and creates a tantalizing Creole pan sauce with a blend of Cajun seasonings, onions, Tabasco, bell pepper, and Worchester. With a nod to its Florida home, the dish is topped with hearty Gulf shrimp as the final instrumental touch. One bite, and you may find yourself transported; catching a whiff of honeysuckle or surrounded by fireflies, as The Crow’s Nest Restaurant and Marina brings the Lowcountry to the Gulf Coast. 

1968 Tarpon Center Dr, Venice

Manatee County is accepting applications for a vacancy on the board of the Early Learning Coalition (ELC). The ELC oversees the School Readiness Subsidized Child Care Program, as well as the Voluntary Pre-kindergarten (VPK) Program. These impactful programs assist families with achieving economic self-sufficiency, as well as prepare children for success in school by providing developmentally appropriate educational experiences. To qualify for consideration, applicants must be residents of Manatee County. The deadline to apply is Tuesday, September 4. Applications must include 1) Advisory Board Application (pages 1-3), and a resume or a Curriculum Vitae (CV). Applications are on the County's website below. 

Manatee County Advisory Board Applications

Gulf Coast Community Foundation has selected Christine Stobaugh, CPA, as its new chief financial officer. Stobaugh is responsible for maintaining the financial integrity of the foundation through expert direction of its financial, fund accounting, and investment activities. She began her new position with Gulf Coast on August 13. Stobaugh has extensive corporate finance and accounting experience, most recently serving for eight years as CFO of Grain Management, a private equity firm focused on the communications sector with $750 million in assets under management. She has held full oversight of finance and accounting in several prior positions, including acting as point person with external auditors, and has led multiple systems implementations. Stobaugh also brings extensive community involvement to her new role in philanthropy. She currently operates a food-truck business in the Sarasota-Bradenton area that provides capital for a not-for-profit mobile eatery she also runs to deliver nutritious meals to residents in need. 

Gulf Coast Community Foundation

Halfacre Construction Company, a commercial construction company, has been selected to add a structure to Gene Witt Elementary School’s current campus and renovate its existing buildings. Located at 200 Rye Road in Bradenton, there are currently seven existing buildings, totaling about 87,000 square feet, on the school’s campus. The new building, which is still in the design phase, will likely be between 15,000 and 20,000 square feet. It will be used for additional classrooms and match the school’s present architecture with the help of Williamson Dacar Associates, the architect on the project. Scheduled to start next summer, the project is slated to take about 2 years due to phasing. The total project budget is $20 million and includes site work to clear a 7-acre parcel, incorporating additional asphalt driving lanes for the parent drop-off and pickup queue and adding new playfields. 

Halfacre Construction Company

Adams and Reese, a national law firm with offices in Sarasota, has announced the launch of the firm’s new website. The new site is designed to elevate the visitor’s experience while embodying the firm’s brand. Streamlined menus and simplified navigation, all within a responsive layout, provide more ways for clients to access resources, information on attorneys and government relations professionals and the legal services the firm provides. The website also provides immediate insight into the Adams and Reese culture with quick access to the firm’s attorneys and advisors, experience and practice offerings and news and thought leadership. 

Adams and Reese