There was once a time when children ran away to the circus; Tony Hernandez ran away from it. Now, more than 20 years later, the author/performer/photographer returns to his hometown with Circus Legends, a tribute in book form, commemorating various titans of the circus arts through new interviews and photography. Releasing this Thursday, August 23, Hernandez and some of the local circus legends featured in the book will celebrate with a book signing at Bookstore1Sarasota on Palm Avenue at 11am.

The youngest of five siblings in a circus family, Hernandez remembers afternoons in the backyard playpen, watching his brothers and sisters—all at least 10 years older than he—learn the circus arts from his performer parents. He remembers learning alongside them on the teeterboard, being launched through the air to the top of a human pyramid. He remembers appearing on Captain Kangaroo and working for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus for five years. And he remembers when it ended. Some of the family went into management. His sister opened a circus arts school. Hernandez went to Chicago to pursue acting and photography.

But as he forged his own path and created his own shows, Hernandez never strayed too far from his circus roots, and when he heard the Ringling Bros. circus was closing down for good, he knew he had to do something. “I need to make sure the circus gets remembered, at least,” he says. Circus Legends was born.

A coffee table book by design, within its mammoth pages readers will find spreads dedicated to several of the living legends who made the circus arts’ storied past possible. Alongside candid interviews detailing inspirations and memories, conducted by Hernandez, archival shots and old photographs grant a further glimpse into the past, while new portraits from Hernandez’ lens catch these greats in their element today—most just as entertaining as ever. See the great juggler Dieter Tasso and the tiger trainer Trudy Strong, and even Hernandez’ own mother, Lisa Hernandez, still never far from her old teeterboard.

Many archival photographs are nothing short of amazing, says Hernandez, like a circus couple getting married while dangling from a helicopter. (The question of the priest’s location in all this remains unresolved.) Yet they remain unframed, sometimes dog-eared, deposited in boxed of mementos. “Because it wasn’t amazing to them,” says Hernandez. “It was everyday life.” With Circus Legends, he hopes to show the world how amazing these people really were, and what that means for everybody coming after. “They’re not superheroes and they’re not born with this,” he says. “They trained.”

“I want people to learn that the circus was great, it was important,” Hernandez continues. “It was a huge part of our history, and it might be going away, but I don’t want it to be forgotten.”

Circus Legends comes out this Thursday, August 23. Hernandez and more will be at Bookstore1Sarasota for a book signing at 11am on the same date. 

Pictured: The great Dieter Tasso elevates the art of juggling. Photo courtesy of Tony Hernandez.

With our community’s demographic profile a surplus of retirees, Southwest Florida still finds itself with a higher-than-normal share of unoccupied bedrooms in the midst of a regional housing shortage. According to a recent study, every third house, apartment or condo in Sarasota County has just one person living inside—with almost 60 percent of them occupied by single occupants 65 or older—that’s well above average for the nation’s 37.5 percent of 65+ solo residents. As housing costs across the country skyrocket in cities for the average American, nonprofit programs step in to help facilitate residence-sharing arrangements between isolated older householders and cash-strapped younger housemates. Enter The Friendship Centers. The Community Foundation of Sarasota County and Age-Friendly Sarasota, a countywide effort in Florida to promote active, engaged and healthy living for people of all ages, announced their partnership with the nonprofit network. The meeting of the minds is meant to encourage a harmonious home-sharing network and co-housing initiative between different generations—seeking to craft matches between elders with empty space to spare and young professionals trying to make ends meet

The Friendship Centers recently launched its pilot project, structured to work with seniors and younger workers, to create a private domestic arrangement. CEO Erin McLeod shares the goal to not only modestly address the affordable housing crunch, but their hope to forge new friendships for retirees who may have lost a number of loved ones. While it could mean an additional rental income for senior homeowners, McLeod mentions, “Money may not be so much of an issue for them, but boy, it would be nice to have someone to talk to at the end of the day, ” as opposed to “rattling around in a big house alone.”

All matches will be facilitated by The Friendship Centers with strict intent and efforts geared to making sure matches provide safety, comfort and an improved quality of life for both parties involved. If you are interested, please fill out the eligibility form below or contact project coordinator Evan Farrar at 941-556-3208.

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County is proud to partner with SRQ Media Group to highlight stories about community impact powered by philanthropy in our region, thanks to the support of donors and our local nonprofit partners. The Community Foundation is a public charity founded in 1979 by the Southwest Florida Estate Planning Council as a resource for caring individuals and the causes they support, enabling them to make a charitable impact on the community. 

The Friendship Centers Home Share Program

The Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County is now accepting nominations for the 2018 Arts Leadership Awards. These awards are designed to recognize individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the arts, and are actively engaged in the cultural life of the community. Past Arts Leadership Award recipients include some of Sarasota County's most noted leaders in arts and culture. Winners will be recognized at the annual Celebration of the Arts, held at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on October 22, 2018. Awards will be presented in the following categories: Volunteer, Arts Education, Arts Management, Philanthropy, Artistic Achievement and Cultural Champion. Nominations will be accepted until Friday, September 28 at 5pm. 

2018 Arts Leadership Awards Nominations

Linda Daniels, principal at Cranberry Elementary in North Port has announced her retirement effective December 31, 2018. A 34-year veteran of Sarasota County Schools, Daniels is the first principal at Cranberry Elementary and has served in this capacity for the last 16 years. Prior to that, she was an assistant principal at Toledo Blade Elementary and served as a teacher at Alta Vista and Glenallen elementary schools. The 2017 Principal of the Year, Daniels has been instrumental in building a stellar reputation at Cranberry, including maintaining an A-grade from the Florida Department of Education for 13 years. Sarasota County Schools will implement a principal site analysis and focus group on September 25 to identify the qualities needed for Cranberry’s next principal. Sarasota County Schools will hold a public forum and focus group on September 25 at Cranberry Elementary for parents and staff to assist with identifying the qualities needed for Cranberry’s next principal. Parents are encouraged to visit the Cranberry Elementary website between now and September 25 for details on how to participate in the study, including feedback in advance of the meeting. 

Cranberry Elementary

Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner is reminding voters that early voting for the August 28 primary election will end Saturday, August 25. Eligible voters may cast their ballots early, between 8:30am and 4:30pm daily through August 25 at any of the following five locations: Elections office, Sarasota County Terrace Building, 2001 Adams Ln., Sarasota; Elections office, Biscayne Plaza, 13640 Tamiami Trl., North Port; Elections office, R.L. Anderson Administration Building, 4000 Tamiami Trl. S, Venice; North Sarasota Library, 2801 Newtown Blvd., Sarasota; and Westfield Sarasota Square Mall, 8201 South Tamiami Trl., Sarasota. Florida law requires voters to present current and valid photo and signature ID upon entering the polling location and prior to voting. A voter who appears at a polling location without photo and signature ID will be allowed to vote a provisional ballot. On election day, Tuesday, August 28, voters must vote in the precinct in which they reside. Polls will be open from 7am to 7pm on election day. Voters who have questions may contact the supervisor of elections office at 941.861.8600 or visit the website below. 

Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Office

State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) has named Andrea Lachapelle its director of financial aid. Before moving to SCF, Lachapelle served as the interim director of financial aid at the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI). Lachapelle, who will be responsible for the management, coordination and oversight of SCF financial aid services, implementing the College’s financial aid policies, and enforcing federal guidelines to support and enhance customer service, enrollment and retention, began her new position last month. Lachapelle said her priorities are to take the intimidation out of the financial aid process and to make college more affordable. 

State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota

Helping families in need get their children ready for school, JFCS of the Suncoast, in partnership with Sarasota Young Professionals Group (YPG) and the newly formed BeyondMe philanthropic initiative, recently joined forces at Boys & Girls Club to fill more than 1,500 backpacks with school supplies. The event also served as the first coordinated effort to engage BeyondMe volunteers with a way to give back. The backpack supplies, ranging from pens and pencils to erasers, notebooks, sharpeners, safety scissors, tissues, protractors and rulers, scientific calculators and glue sticks, were sponsored through financial and in-kind donations from Dean and Patty Miller, as well as Tiny Hands Foundation and Hope 4 Communities. The backpacks were distributed to kindergarten through middle school children from Title I schools as well as local churches and social service organization programs in Sarasota and Manatee Counties, including JFCS’ Building Strong Families, Healthy Children Healthy Families, Healthy Children Healthy Fathers, Operation Military Assistance, Children’s Crisis, Counseling, STARS and Camp Mariposa programs. 

JFCS of the Suncoast

Create U DIY Workshop is now open in Sarasota. The hands-on workshop invites attendees to bring their creativity to life with custom home decor, signature wood signs and charming gifts. Private and public workshops are available for team building, employee and customer appreciation, wedding or bridal showers, birthday parties, date night, ladies night out or just a fun evening. All the tools, materials and step-by-step instruction are provided and everyone will enjoy the empowerment DIY offers and leave with a ready to display project they are proud of. Available for every skill level and most ages, attendees are also welcome to bring their own adult beverage and snacks. 

Create U DIY Workshop