SRQ DAILY Feb 4, 2019
Monday Business Edition
"I’m focused on doing the best by everybody in the state and to fulfill this role as it’s required. But you don’t stop being parochial."
State Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, spends much of his time in Tallahassee these days as president of the Florida Senate. But the needs of his constituents back home continue to drive his actions in the state capitol, he says in an exclusive with SRQ Media Group.
“One of the challenges of political life both at the state level and at the federal level is the higher you rise in leadership, the more demand is on you to be away from the people who got you into office in the first place,” he says. “I’m focused on doing the best by everybody in the state and to fulfill this role as it’s required. But you don’t stop being parochial.”
As the March 5 start of the 2019 Legislative Session inches closer, Southwest Florida will hold more power in Tallahassee than it has in nearly two decades. Galvano holds one of the three most important jobs in policymaking for the state government, rivaled only by state Speaker of the House Jose Oliva and Governor Ron DeSantis. At an Associated Press briefing last week, Galvano fielded questions from the capitol press corps about school safety, gay rights, medical marijuana and a host of broad topics.
But Galvano also took a moment to lay out plans for a highway corridor stretching from Polk to Collier counties, something that would dramatically change transportation in Southwest Florida, including Sarasota and Manatee. Hours later, he spoke with SRQ about that roadway ending an exodus from rural parts of the region, while acknowledging some will see a traffic corridor as a threat to their lifestyle.
“That way of life is already leaving,” he says. “With the citrus industry and the dire condition that it is in, you are ending up with areas where there is a dearth of new population growth.”
Another focus Galvano has this year, like every politician from the region, remains red tide. Galvano plans to work with state Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, on establishing the Florida Red Tide Mitigation and Technology Development Initiative, and he wants it based at Mote Marine Laboratory. As chairman of the Bay Area Legislative Delegation in addition to his Senate presidency, Galvano hopes to rally lawmakers from both parties and from eight counties to that cause.
It goes to show whether he's at home often or not, the area's priorities remain his own.
“When you have people from your region who are in leadership,” Galvano says, "It doesn’t guarantee things because it’s a process involving 160 members. But you know it does create more of an opportunity for access and for advocacy.”
Photo by Jacob Ogles: Senate President Bill Galvano prepares in his office for the Legislative Session.
Firmo Construction | 205 N. Orange Avenue, Suite 301, Sarasota, FL 34236 | (941) 917-0494,
Last Thursday, Governor Ron DeSantis announced an executive order asking the new Florida Department of Education commissioner, Richard Corcoran, to eliminate Common Core standards in schools across the state. Common Core is a set of standards that sets goals for what K-12 students should learn in math and language arts by the end of each grade level. These standards are also what drives teacher and school district evaluations. The Governor has asked for a year-long evaluation to create new curriculum standards for all school districts. Florida standards and assessments were last changed in 2014.
“I commend Governor DeSantis for reassessing curriculum standards in our state,” said Todd Bowden, superintendent of Sarasota County Schools. “It’s healthy to review these standards on an on-going basis to determine what subject areas are most important for our students to learn. As our society changes, so should the standards that we work toward. I also call for the Governor to review assessments which are based on these standards—not only the testing of our students, but how their outcomes affect teacher evaluations as well. With performance pay mandated by the state on student assessments, I am hopeful teachers will play a key role in developing the new standards and how assessments are utilized.”
Entech has announced that two new System Engineers have been added to its Fort Myers team. Chris Ellison and Evan Coller will be responsible for working with clients on reactive tickets, new client onboardings, IT projects and IT security testing and remediation. Headquartered in Fort Myers with an additional location in Bradenton, Entech is an IT Managed Services and Integration provider doing business in Southwest Florida since 1998.
Coldwell Banker Residential Community Commercial Real Estate has announced that Christy May has affiliated with the company’s Central Lakewood Ranch office in Bradenton. As an RCC agent, May belongs to the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee and Commercial Investment Division, and will provide strategic planning for companies, key employees and those looking to make a move. She has also been active in numerous area organizations, including work on the Bay Conservancy, a recently approved 53-Acre city-owned park on Sarasota Bay, serving on the board of directors of the Sarasota Garden Club and serving on the program and events committees of Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance.
Join the Sarasota World Affairs Council for the next program in its 2018-19 lecture series, Can We Prevent the Next Attack? Understanding the Opportunities and Challenges of Countering Violent Extremism, featuring Dr. Stevan Weine, MD, Director of the International Center on Responses to Catastrophes at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine. For the past 25 years, Dr. Weine has studied trauma- and migration-impacted populations to provide culturally-sensitive mental health and support services to the victims of mass violence, deprivation, terrorism, displacement, and disease. Each SWAC lecture is followed by a members-only reception with the speaker in a historic building on Sarasota Bay. The lecture is free, but reservations are suggested (sarasotawac.org).
A shared tragedy—the death of a young gay dancer—sets the stage for a quartet of friends to reconsider their identities, their loves and relationships. A powerful, electrifying work by the playwright whom many regard as our theatre’s finest living writer.
The Player Centre For Performing Arts, 838 North Tamiami Trl., Sarasota
The 2019 Lemur Gala, Red Ruffs & Roses, is a captivating and inspiring evening to celebrate lemurs and join to help save them from extinction in the wild. World-renowned conservationist Dr. Thomas Lovejoy, world-renowned conservationist who coined the term "biological diversity is the distinguished speaker at the event.
Michael's On East, 1212 South East Ave., Sarasota
Winner of the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Lynn Nottage’s play looks at life of working America. It’s the year 2000 in Reading, Pennsylvania, and friends Tracey and Cynthia only need their factory jobs and their favorite bar. But when layoffs and picket lines begin to be limited, the friends are pitted against each other. This new play confronts issues of race, class, family and friendship—and the tragic community without opportunity.
Party Under the Stars in the Grove is a festive evening “under the stars,” featuring music, dancing, dining and a silent and live auction with fabulous prizes. All event proceeds provide non-medical, financial assistance to cancer patients and their families.
Hyatt Regency Sarasota, 1000 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota
Although unfinished at the time of his death, this opera remains one of Italian composer Giacomo Puccini’s most loved works, known for being his most musically adventurous. The story opens with exiled Prince Calaf, wandering outside of the Chinese Imperial Palace, where he falls in love with the cold and distant Princess Turandot. To obtain her hand in marriage, a suitor must answer three riddles—but if they fail, they face execution. Prince Calaf declares his intention to complete the challenge and win the Princess’ heart, but a surprise test follows.
Sarasota Opera House , 61 North Pineapple Ave., Sarasota
The fifth annual Bradenton Area River Regatta oozes over–the–top exhilaration coupled with all the traditional festival favorites—music, food, fun things to do—in one awe-gasping extravaganza that will fascinate spectators of all ages long after the day is done.
It all starts with the fastest inland boats on water and the largest tunnel boat race on tour—Powerboat Superleague Formula-2—splitting the surf at speeds over 120/mph. And to make sure you get all the speed you need, we’ve added Formula-3 racing this year…nimble, agile and nearly as fast—at speeds hitting 100/mph!
With music that will make your feet move and body groove all day long on two main stage venues! National recording artists and Bradenton natives: We The Kings and headliners on Palmetto's main stage from Arcadia, FL, country music group: The Andy Pursell Band.
Watch as world fly-boarding Champion Kristen Smoyer skies 80 feet into the air on an elevator of water in one somersaulting sequence of acrobatic moves. Then marvel at all the fun four-legs can conjure up in the Frisbee® flying, canine trick antics of Team Zoom and Daredevil Dogs. Plus cool kids zones on both shores of the river and enough food and drinks to satisfy appetites large and small.
And, the after-dark delights are spectacular, too, as the nation’s “First Family of Fireworks,” Zambelli Internationale, paints the sky with pyrotechnic wizardry to end the day in one rousing blast of kaleidoscopic beauty.
The all FREE, fifth annual Bradenton Area River Regatta, Saturday, February 9, 2019. Save the date then savor the excitement!
Bradenton Riverwalk
Benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Live Laugh Love Extravaganza will take place at The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota on February 9th. Guests will shop at a variety of Boutique vendors selling their wares, and peruse the fabulous treasures at the silent & live auction along with fun and exciting raffles items. The program kicks off with a delicious lunch, and guests will be treated to a fashion show featuring fabulous Bigs and their Littles as they model fashions by Panache, Tommy Bahama, Gap Kids, Debbie Dannheisser Threads and jewelry designed by Contessa Jewels.
The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota, 1111 Ritz Carlton Dr, Sarasota
AJ Cali and Alex Zickafoose will bring back the 1960s and the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons as they present many of the great songs from the Tony Award-winning jukebox musical Jersey Boys. And the California Girls—the Stiletto Brass Quintet—are sure to knock your socks off.
Sunday- Riverview Performing Arts Center Monday- Neel Performing Art Center, 1 Ram Way, Sarasota 5840 26th St. W, Bradenton
Just as Paul Gauguin left an indelible mark on the post-Impressionist art world, the deep impact of botanical imagery on his work cannot be denied. This exhibition will highlight the essential role of botanicals in achieving the artist’s vision of the savage, primitive and exotic. Together with lush displays of tropical plants in the conservatory and gardens, the show will feature dramatic woodcuts and rarely seen works in other mediums by the artist.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 900 South Palm Ave., Sarasota
Dr. Carol Ockman, curator-at-large for Selby Gardens, presents an engaging talk about the featured artist, Paul Gauguin, whose work inspires and is displayed in the annual Jean and Alfred Goldstein Exhibition Series.
Selby House Cafe, 811 South Palm Ave., Sarasota
Set in London, 1910, Bert, a jack-of-all-trades, guides audiences into the dysfunctional home of the Banks family, where the children have gone through numerous nannies. Mary Poppins magically flies into their lives bringing whimsy, magic and commonsense discipline for both the children and grown-ups, and everyone learns that “anything can happen if you let it.”
Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Ave. W, Sarasota
SRQ DAILY is produced by SRQ | The Magazine. Note: The views and opinions expressed in the Saturday Perspectives Edition and in the Letters department of SRQ DAILY are those of the author(s) and do not imply endorsement by SRQ Media. Senior Editor Jacob Ogles edits the Saturday Perspective Edition, Letters and Guest Contributor columns.In the CocoTele department, SRQ DAILY is providing excerpts from news releases as a public service. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SRQ DAILY. The views expressed by individuals are their own and their appearance in this section does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. For rates on SRQ DAILY banner advertising and sponsored content opportunities, please contact Ashley Ryan Cannon at 941-365-7702 x211 or via email |
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