As a nonprofit community service campaign, doubling also as an annual friendly competition between cities across the US to see who can be the most “water-wise,” mayors and other city leaders nationwide challenge their residents to conserve water, energy and other natural resources on behalf of their hometown. Mayor Liz Alpert and the City of Sarasota announced their participation and are asking residents to make a long-term commitment to manage water resources more wisely, by taking part in the Wyland National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation, named for the same environmental artist whose gallery showcases oceanographic art on St. Armands Circle and whose nonprofit, Wyland Foundation, introduced this environmental initiative to the City of Sarasota.  

“Not only is this a great program for water conservation, but it also aligns with the City’s commitment to reducing our reliance on non-renewable energy through our Ready for 100 initiative,” says Sustainability Manager Stevie Freeman-Montes. “Wastewater pumping and treatment accounts for a majority of our energy consumption as a city, so a reduction in water use by the community will have the added benefit of limiting our energy use.” She and Communications Manager Jan Thornburg urge Sarasota residents to take the pledge. “It’s a win-win-win.” says Thornburg. “Not only are you saving water and pollution, you’re saving money as an individual homeowner/renter and helping everybody else in the community save money.” In such a water- and energy-focused city, the local conservation efforts make a huge impact. “It just trickles on,” Freeman-Montes says, with no pun intended.

Through a series of informative, easy pledges online, the annual challenge runs from April 1-30, and involves using fresh water consumption more efficiently, being cognizant of energy-efficiency, reducing pollution and preventing hazardous waste sent to landfills from entering the watershed.

Freeman-Montes recommends simple lifestyle practices to achieve these, such as fixing faulty leaks in toilets and faucet piping. “It’s a concrete way to do your part—so many people don’t realize they have plumbing leaks and are wasting water everyday,” she says. “It’s easy to check in the back of the toilet or underneath the sink and get those sealed.” Also, turning the hose off all the way, taking shorter showers, not letting the sink run as long and planting native plants in the yard are great ways to contribute. Native plants, trees and wildflowers have adapted to the Florida climate and don’t need any more watering than what the natural environment provides already. They also better filter nutrients into the soil and provide better habitat for indigenous wildlife.

Without really even needing a trade-off for efforts to reduce the carbon footprint on hometowns, residents are still incentivized with a potential to win $3,000 towards their home utility bills, Toro Irrigation Smart Controllers, ECOS home cleaning products, water-saving fixture retrofits from EcoSystems Inc. and hundreds of other sustainably-focused prizes. In addition, participants from winning cities with the highest percentage will have the opportunity to nominate a deserving local charity to receive a 2019 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, and continue serving its community with a brand new, eco-friendly vehicle to represent the cause.

“The City of Sarasota, my fellow commissioners and I, and the citizens we serve, all care deeply about protecting our environment,” Mayor Alpert says. “I hope our residents will join me in taking this pledge and doing their part to conserve this precious natural resource.”

To participate, residents can click on the green "Take the Pledge!" button to make a series of free, online pledges to conserve water on behalf of the City of Sarasota in the Mid-Size Community category.

My Water Pledge

Internationally acclaimed chef, author, TV personality and PR pro Judi Gallagher, also known as Chef Judi, will be sweetening things up around here for the month of April. The culinary renaissance woman will host three book signings for her recently released cookbook, Recipes & Reflections. At each event, fans will be able to meet Chef Judi in person, purchase their own personal copy of her insightful and delightful cookbook and have it signed on-site.

Wednesday, April 3, 9am-12pm at Phillippi Farmhouse Market in Sarasota.

Wednesday, April 3, 4pm-7pm at Gold Rush BBQ in Venice.

Saturday, April 27, 10am-4pm at The Fancy Flea in Lakeland.

Recipes & Reflections traces a journey as food being a healer for us, whether unconciously, or consciously. “How to get through life, one recipe at a time” is how Chef Judi describes her combination autobiographical and culinary resource book. The recipes include updated takes on classic dishes, and follow her early years in the industry—owning her own restaurants and dessert company—while also highlighting popular dishes from her cooking segments featured on Chef Judi’s Dish.

Here's a sneak peek/taste...

Carrot Cake Pancakes

Ingredients: 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour; 1/4 chopped walnuts, toasted; 2 tsp baking powder; 1 tsp ground cinnamon; 1/4 tsp salt; 1/8 tsp freshly ground nutmeg; dash of ground cloves and ginger; 1/4 cup brown sugar; 3/4 cup low-fat buttermilk; 1 Tbsp canola oil; 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract; 2 large eggs, lightly beaten; 2 cups finely grated carrot (about 1 pound); cooking spray; 3 Tbsp butter, softened; 2 Tbsp honey.  

Directions: Combine flour, walnuts, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, cloves and ginger in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk. Combine 1/4 cup brown sugar and next 4 ingredients (through eggs); add sugar mixture to flour mixture, stirring until just moist. Fold in 2 cups carrot. Heat a large, nonstick skillet over medium m heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Spoon 4 (1/4 cup) batter mounds onto pan, spreading with a spatula. Cook for 2 minutes or until tops are covered with bubbles and edges look cooked. Carefully turn pancakes over; cook 1 minute or until bottoms are lightly browned. Repeat procedure twice with remaining batter. Combine butter and honey in a small bowl, serve with pancakes. 

Photo taken by Jessica Burchfield.

During the month of April—County Government Month—Manatee County Veterans Services will take its annual veterans seminars to the community, and county government reps will work with community partners to begin a yearlong awareness campaign leading up to next year's U.S. Census count. 
The veterans seminars will take place on four dates this April. This year, instead of the seminars being held on Fridays in the County Commission Chambers, each week will be held at a different branch of the Manatee County Public Library System. Seminar topics include VA disability compensation, low-income and long-term pensions, burial benefits and local healthcare options.

Also in April, Manatee County will begin a yearlong campaign to notify the public of next year's U.S. Census count by working with local partners on a "Make Manatee Count" campaign. The information gathered by the Census Bureau helps to determine reapportionment of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives as well as state and local government funding.

The seminar schedule can be found on the county website below.  

Veterans Benefits Seminars Schedule

The Southwest Florida Council, Boy Scouts of America, has announced Byron Shinn as recipient of the 2019 Distinguished Citizen Manatee Co. “Good Scout” Award. The Distinguished Citizen “Good Scout” Award recognizes individuals who have rendered outstanding service to the community and exemplify those values held in high regard by Scouting. Past recipients from Manatee County include Dan Blalock, Jr., Joe Kinnan, General Jerry Neff, Pat Neal, The Kiwanis Club of Bradenton, Cliff Walters, Robert Blalock and Gene Beckstein.

A life-long resident of Bradenton, Shinn has served in various key leadership capacities in many community organizations over the years. Some of those include having served as past president of the Manatee Co. Chamber of Commerce, past president of Kiwanis Club of Bradenton, past board member of the United Way of Manatee Co., current board member Sarasota Economic Development Council and the University of South Florida Board of Trustees. 

Southwest Florida Council Boy Scouts of America

Sarasota Orthopedic Associates has announced Dr. Steven Page as Team Physician for the Sarasota High School Athletic Department. Page is a fellowship-trained and double board-certified Orthopedic Surgeon with a specialty in Sports Medicine. He will be present at all home games for the Sarasota High School football team, and provide same/next day services in the event of student injuries. Page was previously a sports medicine physician for the Miami Hurricanes, Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Sarasota Orthopedic Associates also provides Sports Medicine physicians for athletic departments of Lakewood Ranch High School, Booker High School, and the Circus Arts Conservatory. The orthopedic group has three locations in Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota, and Venice and offers same and next day appointments when needed. 

Sarasota High School