Sarasota voters in November supported taxing themselves to fund the Legacy Trail, and they weren’t alone. Susan McManus, a retired University of South Florida political science professor, notes that Florida voters weighed in on 19 different tax referenda in 2018, and every one of them passed.

McManus spoke to business leaders gathered at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota on Tuesday, where she spoke about election results at a luncheon for the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County.

“In some wealthy places, citizen-led campaigns showed people want for local government to spend on recreational land,” she said, something that explains the passage of the Legacy Trail referendum in particular.

But in other parts of the state, voters also supported measures to help pay for affordable housing, better road infrastructure and efforts to improve workforce development.

In some areas, local leaders fearful of the next economic downturn felt now might be the last chance to convince voters to approve new taxes. That way, revenue will be available when a crash comes.

“And if the economy does sour,” she said, “these 19 communities will look pretty smart.”

State Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, also spoke at the event, where he remained bullish about job growth in Florida. The new chairman of the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee, Gruters this year plans to push legislation that eliminates an expiration date for Visit Florida and Enterprise Florida, which could eliminate future political fights similar to the one that occurred in 2017 over incentives and marketing expenditures.

He also praised EDC leaders and State College of Florida leadership for landing a $3 million coding grant. “The students here owe you a great deal of gratitude,” he said.

How does this all translate to voters appetite for taxes? While voters favor certain spending if justified, voters also passed statewide measures that controlled tax rates.

“The referenda show voters want more local control,” McManus said. 

Photo by Jacob Ogles: Susan McManus speaks to business leaders at EDC luncheon.

Students at St. Martha Catholic School in Sarasota are smack in the middle of celebrating Catholic Schools Week 2019: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed. This year, the planning committee developed and implemented an international theme for the week, which includes a variety of STREAM (science, technology, religion, engineering, art and math) activities and unique educational experiences. The mission—to provide each of its 445 students with diverse opportunities to develop strength in faith, excellence in knowledge and character in service—ranging from grades Pre-K through eighth.

On Monday, the students kicked off the week an on-campus field trip with ECHO, based in Ft. Meyers, is an information hub for development practitioners around the world gathering solutions to solve hunger problems and disseminate them to their active network. These solutions promote sustainable farming techniques, nutritional plants and appropriate technologies—helping those who are teaching farmers around the world how to be more effective in producing enough to meet the needs of their families and communities. ECHO came to the campus and students received hands-on educational experience to help them become aware of the global hunger crisis. The young students also learned ways to become sustainable within our own homes and community and ultimately, learn innovative solutions to help end world hunger. Students rotated through different stations including: Worm Composting, Seed Transplanting, Scavenger Hunt, Water Filtration and a Bamboo Information Session.

On Tuesday, students participated in the Olympics, rotating through stations of field hockey, soccer, volleyball, bocce ball and croquet. Following the sports fields, they had the opportunity to tour “the world” as they visit the different regions (aka classrooms), all of which have been turned into a specific country. Students used their “passport” to record which countries they visited and learned about. Today, students will attend the Pro Kids Character Education Show with Scott Humston about the Story of the Good Samaritan. All families are invited to a school-wide picnic with their children and following the picnic, participants will create backpack bags for FELT (Feeding Empty Little Tummies). Leading up to this special give-back project, the families have been sending in donations of snacks/food to fill the bags.

Tomorrow, classes will commence to work on Catholic Schools Week STREAM Project, which involves designing a structure representative of their country to be displayed in the school. St. Martha Catholic School will also host their Annual Open House for prospective families from 8:15am–10:00am, where attendees can have a guided tour of the campus, meet teachers and students, parents and administrators. Finally, the week long activities of experiential programming will conclude on Friday with a school-wide morning Mass. 

Located at Bishop Nevins Academy, 4380 Fruitville Rd., Sarasota, 941-953-4181.

Photo courtesy of St. Martha Catholic School

When Matt Buchanan, owner of Sarasota Ford, was introduced to Sarasota High School football Coach Spencer Hodges, there was an immediate connection. A former football player himself, Buchanan was interested to learn about the progress of the high school program and the needs of the department. Coach Hodges was already working hard on his Return The Pride program, involving players, parents and families in fundraising for the team. “In the new age we live in, it’s easy to get disconnected,” remarks Coach Hodges. “We’re trying to build a program that’s as community based as we possibly can.” Buchanan was immediately moved to support the Sarasota High School football team, and their need for new uniforms was the perfect opportunity to give back. Sarasota Ford supplied the entire department, both JV and Varsity teams, with all-new uniforms, surprising the players in their locker room this past September. “I hope a lot of other businesses and communities jump on the bandwagon,” says Buchanan. “Sports are a great uniter, and I think that the more we can celebrate these individuals that are working hard and doing things the right way, that’s what this is all about.”

Please click here to learn more about Sarasota Ford's One Community. One Team. initiatve or to nominate a candidate or special cause for a future project. 

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Sage, a new restaurant, bar and event space, opened yesterday in the three-story Historic Sarasota Times Building at 1216 First Street in Downtown Sarasota. Led by owner Sharon Carole, general manager Cameron Hall, and executive chef Christopher Covelli, Sage features a multi-level dining room with a vintage copper-top cocktail bar, 3400 square-feet of event space and a rooftop lounge featuring 360-degree views of Downtown Sarasota.

Sage will open with a menu comprising eight entrees from eight different countries, including a seafood-based Thai Bouillabaisse with red coconut curry, which is gluten-free and can easily be adapted to a vegetarian dish. Additionally, Sage’s cocktail bar offers a menu of 20 original handcrafted creations fashioned from natural and homemade ingredients. Among its martini selections, the First Street Fizz combines house-infused cucumber gin, lime juice, mint and fennel syrup with a splash of soda. 

Sage Restaurant

Visit Sarasota County (VSC) has promoted Ellen Thomas to senior meeting sales manager, and appointed Amanda Walker leisure group sales manager and Allison Jones group sales coordinator. The growth of VSC’s sales department is aimed to allow the tourism bureau to better identify, attract and entertain conferences, meetings and groups, hopefully resulting in extended stays, large bookings and an upsurge in first-time visitors to the area. Thomas will lead a team devoted to marketing the destination to meeting professionals and leisure group planners. Walker will work to secure accommodations and community activities for the social, military, educational, religious and fraternal (SMERF) groups market as well as for weddings and travel agents. Jones will assist Thomas and Walker in acquiring leads and showcasing qualities that make Sarasota the best destination for group conferences, meetings and events. 

Visit Sarasota County

Sarasota startup Omeza, a skin innovations and life sciences company specializing in regenerative skin care and wound management products from the sea, has appointed Andrew Bartholomew as chief financial officer. He will oversee finance, and support corporate strategy and operations. Before joining Omeza, during a five-year assignment at Ernst & Young, Bartholomew served middle market and Fortune 500 companies, providing assurance and advisory services and tax consulting and incentives solutions. As a startup CFO, he was responsible for developing and executing accounting, finance, HR, and safety systems for a privately held company, leading the startup through investor equity restructures and multiple rounds of bank financing, before becoming a commercial banker, providing funding solution for SMEs. 

Omeza

For the fourth consecutive year, Neal Communities is partnering with Pace Center for Girls of Manatee County as a Diamond Duck sponsor of the nonprofit’s Lucky Ducky Race for Pace. More than just donating $5,000 for the cause, the builder’s team members also host a team to adopt rubber ducks every year, raising even more funds to help the Pace Center for Girls of Manatee County change the lives of teenage girls in Manatee County.

Pace Center for Girls of Manatee County is a year-round school that provides girls and young women an opportunity for a better future through education, counseling, training and advocacy. Last year, the nonprofit helped more than 2,000 girls in 21 communities in Florida. On May 11 at Caddy's at the Pointe in Bradenton, more than 25,000 adopted rubber ducks will float down the Manatee River, winning its owner prizes. The 10thyear running, the Lucky Ducky Race for Pace raised more than $150,000 last year. 

Pace Center for Girls of Manatee County