SRQ DAILY Jan 20, 2020
Monday Business Edition
"Speaking to some of our farmers, they dont do a lot of trade. But what it will do is lead to China spending millions more in the U.S. That will affect Manatee and it will help boost our economy."
It wasn’t just international diplomats and Congressional leaders at a signing ceremony for a new U.S. trade deal with China. Manatee County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh flew to Washington, D.C. when offered the chance to watch the landmark deal finalized.
“It was a very important topic not just for Manatee and Sarasota, but also for the entire state,” Baugh said.
The event also capped off several months of involvement in local input regarding the international deal. The White House held conference calls with leaders in agricultural areas and those impacted by trade; Baugh just wrapped as chair of the Manatee County Port Authority.
For the record, Baugh doesn’t know that any change in terms with trade in China will directly impact agriculture in Manatee, but it could have indirect positive impacts. “Speaking to some of our farmers, they don’t do a lot of trade with China,” she acknowledged. “But what it (the deal) will do is lead to China spending millions more in the U.S. That will affect Manatee and it will help boost our economy.”
Baugh’s not done watching trade deals. As a U.S.-Mexico-Trade Agreement comes together as a replacement for the long-maligned North American Free Trade Agreement, Baugh has followed concerns farmers still have about unfair practices by Mexico regarding seasonal crops.
“It will never be 100% what I want done,” she said. “Our farmers have taken hits with trade with Mexico. But while it’s never going to be 100% wonderful, it will definitely help make it better what it’s been.”
Notably, another regional leader, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, has also been involved in trade talks as the top Republican on the House Trade Subcommittee. That’s something Baugh found out about only recently. But while in Washington, she did have a dinner with the Congressman, Manatee’s only representative in the House.
“I’m very proud of how involved he has been in trade,” she said. “It's been great, especially for our farmers, to have him working on this daily.” 
Photo courtesy Vanessa Baugh
Focused on nature and aesthetics, Dominika Zabczyk of DominiqArt developed her senses and techniques by chasing the wind and soaking in the salty. Her acrylic paint and layered resin splash onto mediums of wood and canvas—creating wave-crashing motifs from a drone’s eye view. Inspired by the “new-age perspective” of drone footage and photography, the local designer and artist often uses sky point photos to emulate in her art. And to get it as close to the real thing as humanly possible, she’ll often spend hours scouring the shoreline of Lido to gain visual insight on how the waves unfold and roll onto the beach. “I go to study the water, I watch the foam and the sand as the waves come in; I study every detail so that I can recreate it in my art,” Dominika says. After creating the different colored pigments of her resin from the ink of markers, she pours layers of the viscous substance—in whatever varying shade of blues she chooses to show clarity and depths of the “water”—onto her hand-painted medium. “With 15-20 minutes to play,” before the resin solidifies, Dominika uses her fingers to organically spread the flow of the pour, as well as a heat gun to create lacing and air bubbles that mimic the ebb and flow of waves crashing ashore.
While a good bit of Dominika’s collection can hang on the walls as alluring artwork, many of her other pieces also act as daily-use products. Whether a cutting board, serving tray/platter, dish bowl, longboard or skateboard, the freeform waterscapes are artful reminders to never move to a state that is landlocked. “My mission is to show you the beauty of nature—contemplate its colors, motion, texture and how it affects you,” she says.
Dominika is also an ambassador for organizations Clear Blue Sea and 5Gyres, who work to bring awareness to the dangers of ocean pollution and remove waste from our coastlines. Every sale donates 10% to support their missions. Find DominiqArt featured throughout the upstairs of Green Zebra’s new downtown cafe.
Photo courtesy of Dominika Zabczyk.
As Floridians add more and more "smart" or digital devices to their homes, the need to make sure those devices are protected grows as well. With that in mind, Comcast is now including xFi Advanced Security, a feature that automatically protects devices from online threats, for free to customers in Florida who lease an xFi gateway. Comcast is the only provider to offer this service at no additional cost – a $72 annual value. New customers will receive Advanced Security immediately upon activating an xFi Gateway, and the feature will begin rolling out to 18 million existing eligible xFi customers over the coming weeks. It requires no software download or additional set-up other than logging into xFi via the mobile app or online, making it simple and easy to protect wired and WiFi connected devices in the home; including smart TVs or thermostats, or devices without keyboards or screens like security cameras or smart speakers.
Key features include: a daily list of digital security-related actions that were taken each day, preventing inadvertent visits to malicious sites and becoming a victim of phishing attacks, blocking remote access to smart devices from unknown/dangerous sources, monitoring of devices in real-time and delivering alerts when devices are behaving in unusual ways that could indicate a network threat, and the ability to adapt to the home network and get smarter to keep up with new threats over time.
For more information on the latest Comcast’s Xfinity xFi platform, visit here.
Audiences will enjoy 33 world-class performances under the Ulla Searing Big Top at Nathan Benderson Park, hosted by Sarasota’s hometown circus. Ready to bring chills, thrills and laughs aplenty to audiences of all ages, Circus Sarasota announced its lineup for its professional winter show, Circus Sarasota 2020, which will run from Friday, February 7 – Sunday, March 1, 2020. Each year, an international cast of renowned artists is chosen to showcase the finest acts in various circus arts disciplines. Circus Sarasota 2020 will offer high-flying, heart-stopping thrills, laugh-out-loud comedic antics, and acts that defy both expectations and the boundaries of human limitations. This year’s show features incredible artistry on the flag pole and single trapeze, fast-paced Alanian riders on horseback, hand-to-hand acrobatics, juggling, breathtaking aerial artists, and much more.
“At The Circus Arts Conservatory, we are proud to honor the legacy of the circus arts here in Sarasota, 365 days a year,” said CAC founder and CEO Pedro Reis. “When you see a Circus Sarasota show, we are confident that we are curating the very best circus acts under one big top for local audiences to enjoy. We look forward to continuing to provide an entertainment option for all ages that is unique and unparalleled in our region … and beyond.”
Photo: Circus fans of all ages will love the Dominguez Poodles, who have been featured on 'America's Got Talent.'
The Shark’s Tooth Festival is the largest annual fundraiser for Special Olympics Florida – Sarasota County, a spring tradition in Venice, Florida when shark’s tooth hunting is at its peak. This year the festival will be held April 3-5, at Venice Airport Festival Grounds with three days of live music, food, shark’s teeth and prehistoric fossils, arts and crafts vendors, kids activities and celebrations. This year’s entertainment lineup highlights tribute bands. Working with Maximum Bands, a Florida-based booking agency, the festival has confirmed performances from Absolute Queen (Queen tribute), Titans of Rock (Bon Jovi and Journey tribute), Caribbean Chillers (Jimmy Buffet tribute), Fleetwood Max (Fleetwood Mac tribute), Garth Brooks – The Ultimate Tribute, as well as Stone Buckle (modern country) and Trinidudes (local favorite).
“We’ve amped up the music this year and are excited about the entire lineup. Our theme is ‘We Are The Champions’ (Queen tribute), because our athletes, volunteers and community fans are all champions,” said Randy Klinger, Director of Special Olympics Florida – Sarasota County. Festival activities also include a varied and delicious selection of food and drink, over 100 artists, shark’s teeth experts and enthusiasts, all set with the gorgeous backdrop of Venice Beach and picture-perfect sunsets. The Shark’s Tooth Festival will open at 4:00 pm on Friday April 3 to 9:00 pm, Saturday 10:00 am - 9:00 pm, and Sunday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. Tickets are $5 at the gate and includes free parking. Location is at Venice Airport Festival Grounds.
Designed by UF/IFAS Extension and Sustainability, in collaboration with Sarasota County Libraries, the “Explore Your World” kit helps adventurers of all ages explore the wonders of nature around them. Available for free checkout at any of the 10 Sarasota County Libraries locations (www.scgov.net/library), the kit packs all you'll need to start exploring: child-friendly binoculars, compass, magnifying lens, underwater explorer boat, planisphere (night sky map), field guides, an array of outdoor exploration activities, and library books for all ages to continue your learning and exploration. "The Explore Your World" kit can be used just about anywhere, from city sites to state parks, and from the backyard to the beach. Take it to any of the wonderful Sarasota County Parks. Recent studies show that time in nature builds confidence, promotes creativity and imagination, teaches responsibility, provides stimulation, gets kids moving, inspires thinking, and reduces stress and fatigue. These benefit children and adults, and last beyond the time spent in nature.
Dr. Barbara Gaunt-Jaehne is receiving the inaugural Venice Lifetime Achievement Award for her dedication in helping thousands of local patients since 1976. She’s a Board-Certified Audiologist who owns Medical Gardens Hearing Center with offices on Venice Island (San Marco Drive) and Dearborn Street in Englewood. Barbara is a third generation Floridian with audiology degrees from the University of Florida and the University of Memphis. She served two terms as a Fellow on the Board of Doctors of Audiology and three terms as Chairman of the Board of Audiology and Speech Pathology for the Florida Department of Health. Barbara has served in key positions under five Florida Governors – Scott, Crist, Bush, Chiles, and Martinez. Locally, she has served in leadership positions with the Venice Cotillion, American Cancer Society, Venice Hospital Women’s Board Foundation, Englewood Chamber of Commerce, and Big Brothers and Big Sisters.
The 2020 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast and Community Awards celebrates the late Rev. King Jr.’s advances in social equality for everyone. Community Awards honorees are Dr. LaShawn Frost, Principal, Booker Middle School (education), Mr. Ron Turner, Supervisor of Elections, Sarasota County (community service), Suncoast Women of Action (community service), Progressive Sarasota (community service), Mr. Lem Andrews, College and Career Advisor, Booker High School (champion of youth), Ms. Betty Jean Johnson (Dr. Martin L. King Jr. legacy award), and Mr. Jakobie Green, junior student, Booker High School (youth emerging leader). Dr. Edward E. James II will be posthumously awarded the liberty and justice award. Dr. Rachel Shelley, award-winning principal of Booker High School, is the keynote speaker.
Robert L. Taylor Community Complex, 1845 34th Street, Sarasota, 34234
The sermons and speeches of Martin Luther King Jr., comprise an extensive catalog of American writing and oratory – some of which are internationally well-known, while others remain unheralded, and some await re-discovery. In honor of Martin Luther King Day, visitors to the museum may enter the Historic Asolo Theater during regular opening hours to hear recordings and to see videos of MLK's speeches, interviews and sermons.
Historic Asolo Theatre , 5555 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
Zodiac LEGO (2018) is a series of individual works that is constructed of Lego bricks to represent the following animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. The Ringling is the first museum in the United States to show this traveling exhibition. These colorful works are made entirely of small LEGO pieces and demonstrate the artist’s continued interest in the zodiac animal concept.
The Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota
Enjoy a one-of-a-kind display of native Borucan Art at the annual Rainforest Masks of Costa Rica exhibit and sale. The Opening Reception on January 4, will give attendees the first chance to purchase the masks of their choosing before the exhibit opens to the general public on January 5. The hand-carved and painted, vibrant masks will be on display in The Museum of Botany & the Arts. Members of the Borucan tribe will be at the exhibit on select days for mask carving demonstrations.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 900 S. Palm Avenue, Sarasota
Born and raised in Mexico City, where he spent most of his career, Manuel Álvarez Bravo (Mexican, 1902-2002) was one of the most important figures in 20th century Latin American photography. Although he took art classes at the Academy of San Carlos, his photography was mostly self-taught, but he was savvy to the emerging international artistic avant-garde. Considered to be one of the founders of modern photography, his work extends from the late 1920s to the 1900s. He was a key figure from the period following the Mexican Revolution—often called the Mexican Renaissance—in which arts and literature flourished. This “Renaissance” owed to the happy—though not always tranquil—marriage between a desire for modernization and the search for an authentic national identity with Mexican roots, in which archaeology, history and ethnology played an important role. Support for this exhibition has been provided, in part, by the Ringling Endowment at the Florida State University Foundation. Paid for in part by Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax Revenues.
John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota
Concealed and Revealed offers a unique selection of paintings by the artist, along with numerous objects from the Solomon Archive on view for the first time. Syd Solomon (American, 1917-2004) described himself as an “Abstract Impressionist” alluding to the fact that his work infused impressionism into the processes, scale and concepts of Abstract Expressionism. Solomon moved to Sarasota in 1946 with his wife Annie. His was the first work of contemporary art to be collected by The Ringling in 1962. His paintings were greatly influenced by climatic factors and reveal a fascination and concern for Florida’s aquatic environment. Solomon incorporated his experience as a camouflage designer during World War II into his painting. It is not well-known that he was also an accomplished graphic artist, who in his early years designed commercial signage for prominent hotels and businesses in Sarasota. Like his work in camouflage, Solomon’s calligraphic skill was essential to the development of his later gestural abstraction.
Syd Solomon: Concealed and Revealed is presented in partnership with the Estate of Syd Solomon and is accompanied by a 96-page publication with essays by former curator at The Ringling Michael Auping, George S. Bolge, Dr. Gail Levin, and Mike Solomon. The exhibition will include artworks from private collections and The Ringling’s permanent collection.
John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota
Ringling Reflections programs are designed specifically for people with memory loss and their care partners. They are relaxed, conversation-based gallery tours in the Museum of Art. The tour routes will be wheelchair accessible. Wheelchairs are available for use free-of-charge on a first-come, first-served basis. Listening devices, including induction loops for t-coil hearing aids, will be provided. Portable stools will be available for all participants. Tours take place on select Sundays. Please plan on arriving to the museum’s Visitors Pavilion at 10:00 to check in. The tours are free of charge, however, advance registration is required and space is limited.
The Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota
Dabbert Gallery presents the exhibition "Local Color, Florida Style" to open at the First Firday Gallery Walk on Friday, January 3, 2020 and continues through January 31, 2020. Featuring six of the gallery's Florida artists including Arnold Desmarais, Martin Dunn, Bill Farnsworth, James Griffin, Joe Palmerio and Luke Steadman. Open from Tuesday to Saturday from 11am to 5pm.
Dabbert Gallery, 46 S. Palm Avenue, Sarasota, FL
Sarasota Institute of Lifetime Learning (SILL) is preparing for its 49th year of extremely popular global issues lectures and musical conversations. In 2020, these programs will begin in January and continue through the end of March. Speakers of global issues lectures are well-known, highly experienced experts, and guests on musical conversations are internationally renowned musicians, singers, and performers. SILL is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization. In its 49th season, its programs will include 96 lectures and musical conversations presented in Sarasota, Venice, and Lakewood Ranch. SILL audiences mostly consist of highly educated and intellectually curious seniors living on the Suncoast year-round or during winter months. SILL also simulcasts some of its lectures to selected senior communities. Last year, attendance at SILL events exceeded 40,000. Single tickets to SILL events are only $10 at the door when available, and a season ticket for 12 same-day lectures cost just $85, which represents substantial savings. For program schedules, venues, speaker bios, and ordering season tickets visit sillsarasota.org
First United Methodist Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave.
Join us for a two-hour presentation on Green Living and healthier choices you can make for your life and our environment. Have you ever wondered about the ingredients in the products you use on your body, in your home, and how you can make more sustainable choices for your family, in your home and outside in your own backyard? Experts from UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County will present options for healthier body products, greener home cleaning, sustainable food production and composting.
Tickets are FREE but advanced registration is required. Presenters: Dr. Katherine Clements, Dr. Maria Portelos-Rometo, and Sarah Bostick
The Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota
Julie Cook Downing, President of Caregivers' Comfort Creations, LLC and Doctors Hospital Caregiver Support Group Facilitator, hosts a monthly lunch at The Rosemary restaurant in Sarasota. This event provides caregivers some time to relax, enjoy themselves and eat a delicious meal with others sharing similar situations. The lunch takes place from 12:15-1:45pm.
The Rosemary, 411 North Orange Avenue
Every third Monday of the month, Julie Cook Downing, President of Caregivers Comfort Creations, LLC, facilitates a Doctors Hospital Caregiver Support Group. This group focuses on the caregiver and offers a retreat from the never-ending mental and physical responsibilities of caregiving. This free, open group provides compassionate support and an opportunity to explore new solutions together to caregiver challenges. The group meets in the classroom outside of the cafeteria.
Doctors Hospital of Sarasota, 5731 Bee Ridge Rd., Sarasota, FL 34233
Welcoming all Veterans' Caregivers and Veterans caring for a loved one to a free lunch and monthly Caregivers Support Group every third Monday of the month. This group focuses on the Caregiver and not the patient. Julie Cook Downing, Facilitator and President of Caregivers' Comfort Creations, LLC, has over two decades of experience with both support groups and Family Caregiving.
Mindspa Integrative Wellness Center, 5632 Bee Ridge Rd #101, Sarasota, FL 34233
Mote's Special Lecture Series features expert speakers highlighting fascinating ocean topics on Monday evenings. Doors open at 5:30 pm and lectures start at 6:30 pm in Mote Marine Laboratory's WAVE Center, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, 34236. Cost is $10 for members and $15 for non-members (per ticket per lecture). Registration required for all. Jan. 20: Dr. Randall S. Wells—"Insights into the lives of Sarasota Bay's bottlenose dolphins, from 50 years of research"
WAVE Center at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, 1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy, Sarasota, FL 34236
Join us for our 3rd Brain Health Matters! Lecture Series: Brain Health & Physical Activity with Dr. John J. Ratey & Dr. Stephanie Peabody. In this presentation, Dr. John J. Ratey from Harvard Medical School and the Brain Health Initiative will show us that moving our bodies has a profound positive effect on the physiological health of our brains. Further, Dr. Ratey will share how physical activity optimizes our brain performance, including our cognitive abilities and emotional wellbeing across the lifespan. We will see how our brains have evolved to help us move, think and understand to successfully face the demands of our environment. We will end with a series of brain healthy recommendations to apply to your own lives. You will learn how exercise stabalizes blod pressure, improves cardiac performance, decreases diabetes risk, boosts the immune system, increases metabolism, improves our ability to think and remember throughout life and reduces risk for Cognitive Decline, Azheimer's Disease and Parkinson's.
Black Box Theatre at The Out-of-Door Academy, 5950 Deer Drive, Lakewood Ranch
Women are natural-born leaders. Yet, many feel overwhelmed by attempting to juggle life’s demands and have it all—home, family, and career. How to balance work and home life? The Women’s Resource Center will explore these issues with BeingWE (Being Women Empowered), a guided conversation series for women by women, created by Keren Lifrak, an area-based entrepreneur and real estate professional. The series launches with three sessions: The Superwoman Badge, October 29th, Women Balancing Business & Life: Creating What’s Possible Against All Odds, December 3rd and Follow Your Bliss: How Our Brains Are Uniquely Wired to Take Action, January 23rd. Each session is 4:30-7:30 p.m., and all genders are welcome to participate.
The Womens Resource Center, 340 S Tuttle Ave, Sarasota, FL 34237
The Roskamp Institute and director Eric Gordon invite you to attend the Sarasota premiere of the acclaimed movie When All That’s Left Is Love at an exclusive event at Burns Court Cinema in Sarasota. All proceeds will support the work of the nonprofit Roskamp Institute. When All That’s Left is Love is the emotional gripping story of a wife’s determination to care for her Alzheimer’s-stricken husband in their home. With unprecedented, behind-the-scenes access, the film reveals the toll that the disease takes on families coping with Alzheimers, while also showcasing the power of love that sustains both patients and caregivers. The Sarasota premiere will take place on Thursday, January 23 at Burns Court Cinema with a VIP reception to follow at 530 Burns Gallery.
Burns Court Cinemas, 506 Burns Ct, Sarasota, FL 34236
Steve Martin and Martin Short return to the Van Wezel by popular demand on with their latest production, “The Funniest Show in Town at the Moment.” Their celebrated comedy show redefines the form in unexpected and profound ways, from two of the funniest, most influential and acclaimed talents of the past century."
Van Wezel , 777 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
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