Next Thursday, April 25, country music royalty comes to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, as Rosanne Cash takes the stage with her band for a night full of new songs, old tunes and unforgettable memories. Promoting her latest album, She Remembers Everything—the anticipated and now-acclaimed follow-up to her triple Grammy-winning masterpiece The River and the Thread—Cash will showcase new material, as well as more than a few “chestnuts” from the back catalogue, and preview music she has written for an upcoming stage musical inspired by the 1979 film Norma Rae. In an exclusive interview with SRQ, the artist talks inspiration and urgency, #MeToo and the power of art. Look for the full interview in an upcoming issue of SRQ magazine.

What’s the story behind this latest album, She Remembers Everything? Cash: The last three albums I did were very much constructed around a theme—The River and the Thread being about the south, The List being the list of songs that my dad gave me (they were all covers), then Black Cadillac, which was really a map of mourning and about death and loss. Everybody was saying, "These are great. River and Thread was so successful. You should do another themed record."

But you weren’t sure that’s what you wanted to do? I felt myself resisting that with all my might. I really wanted to return to personal songwriting and just write what my next 12 songs were, you know? I felt this sense of urgency about it, in fact. Women my age still have a lot to say and a lot less time to say it. I felt that if I were going to have any regrets about it, it would be about not saying these things. Sales and reviews be damned.

And you’ve also been working on a musical version of Norma Rae? It's been a few years. I wrote the lyrics. John Leventhal wrote the music. John Weidman wrote the book. We're nearing the point where we're going to stage it. That should happen in 2020. I'm really excited about that.

What about that story drew you in? It seems timely, because it's not just about union organizing and that kind of social community. It's about a woman's transformation, and her transformation through finding a mission and through creating community. That just seemed like a very powerful story and very timely.

Why is it important to tell these stories? Music and art have tremendous power to change people's hearts and minds, whether the subject matter is overt or whether it's just about feeling. Because once people access their own feelings, then things start to change. I'm fully committed to the power of art and music to change the world.

Cash will be performing April 25 at the Van Wezel, tickets are currently on sale. 

Pictured: Rosanne Cash. Photo by Michael Lavine.

Throughout the month of April, Veteran Air Conditioning is holding a donation drive to support Goodwill Manasota’s mission services. All month, the company is picking up gently used items that its clients in the Sarasota-Manatee area no longer want or need, and transporting them to Goodwill, where they are being sold in retail stores throughout the area. Proceeds support Goodwill’s mission of changing lives through the power of work. Veteran Air Conditioning owner Kevin Henault, an Ambassador for Goodwill Manasota for several years, supports the organization in particular for its commitment to helping veterans, and has hired several through Goodwill's Veterans Services Program.

Items appropriate for donation include clothing, shoes, jewelry, furniture, functioning computers, household items and décor, kitchenware, books and more. Veteran Air Conditioning, which will provide a donation receipt for tax purposes, held a similar donation drive to benefit Goodwill in 2016. 

Veteran Air Conditioning

Kathryn Graber has been named the 2019 James Wischer “Child Advocate of the Year” by Manatee Children’s Services. Nominated by peers in her community, on April 12, a commemorative ceremony will honor Graber, a local individual who demonstrated her commitment to children in an exemplary manner, much like James Wischer, a dedicated child advocate who spent his life ensuring Manatee County children and youth were afforded a safe and nurturing environment. Criteria for the award includes: dedicated service for a minimum of two years, must make a difference in the lives of children and demonstrate positive impact on community. Graber has a long career in child advocacy and works closely with Child Protection Services as a Behavioral Health Consultant with Centerstone. This is the third year for this award, which coincides with April, Child Abuse Prevention Month. 

Manatee Children's Services

Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee, a nonprofit dedicated to providing nutrition and supportive services in Manatee County, has announced recent staff appointments. Amy Towery, CFRE, joins the organization as vice president of development. Most recently, Towery served as the chief advancement officer for The Out-of-Door Academy, where she led the Development Department. Haskell Gates has been named to the new position of chief operating officer, overseeing the senior meal programs, Daybreak Adult Day Center, The Food Bank of Manatee and other PLUS programs. Previously, Haskell served as the chief financial officer for Meals on Wheels Plus for nearly 14 years. Bill Grenier, has been promoted to chief financial officer. Grenier previously served as controller for nearly four years, and has an extensive financial background including for industry and public accounting. Judi Bjork, has been named to vice president of events and volunteer services, where she will plan the signature events for Meals on Wheels Plus and oversee the Volunteer Services Department. Joe Stoddard, VP of Operations, Cindy Sloan, Director/VP of The Food Bank, and Stephanie Grepling, Director of Marketing will continue in their roles. 

Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee

All Star Children’s Foundation has announced a $3 million donation from the Louis and Gloria Flanzer Philanthropic Trust. The gift will contribute to the construction and operation of All Star’s five-acre campus currently underway at 3300 17th Street in Sarasota.

The All Star campus is comprised of: a 13,000, square-foot clinical treatment building, where, in collaboration with Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, All Star will embark on a mission to use brain science research to expand the boundaries of neuroscience while using evidence-based, trauma-informed care to change the outcomes for children in foster care; six, single-family, licensed foster homes that will accommodate five children each, keep siblings together and feature on-site foster parents; the Clubhouse, where children and their families will gather to play, talk, learn and celebrate; and several outdoor amenities.

All Star will begin treating children this month on an out-patient basis and begin accepting children into their family foster homes in late fall. Some 225 children will be treated in the first operational year. 

All Star Children's Foundation

All Faiths Food Bank has received a $10,000 grant from the Harold C. and Jacqueline F. Bladel Foundation in support of the Cooking Matters program. The Cooking Matters program teaches people, including children, about healthy nutrition and how to shop for and prepare healthy, low-cost meals. All Faiths Food Bank is the only food bank and largest hunger relief organization in Sarasota and DeSoto counties. 

All Faiths Food Bank

Sarasota-based DutchCrafters Amish Furniture is now accepting applications for its Heritage Scholarship. Established in 2012 as way to give back, the scholarship will be awarded to two exceptional students who have been accepted to or are attending a four-year college or university. The recipients will receive $500 each to invest in their education.

Along with a brief statement of financial need, applicants are asked to submit an essay explaining how they plan to use their cultural heritage to shape their vocational aspirations, offer creative value to their future employer and serve their community. All applications must be received by May 1, 2019 to be considered.

Information about the scholarship is available at the website below. 

DutchCrafters Heritage Scholarships