SRQ DAILY Mar 5, 2020
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"We lost a legend."
Kerry Kirschner, former Sarasota Mayor and long-time executive director of The Argus Foundation, died Wednesday at 73.
Kelly Kirschner, Kerry’s son and another former Sarasota mayor, remembered his father’s commitment to his family and his community.
“We’re all incredibly grateful he gave us a magical childhood and decided to return to the Sarasota-Manatee area,” Kelly Kirschner said.
The elder Kirschner was born in Bradenton but moved to New York and worked at Revlon for a number of years. He returned to Sarasota in 1976, believing the community the best place to raise a family. He went into business initially running a fruit stand, but became active politically, serving two terms on the Sarasota City Commission including two years as mayor.
Fredd Atkins, elected to the Commission the same year, said Kirschner’s efforts then to establish the Downtown Sarasota Community Development Area created the infrastructure for today’s thriving downtown, and he also helped relocate Ed Smith Stadium to North Sarasota.
“Kerry’s greatest contribution was that he was a Democrat in Republican clothing who had great connections with Bill Clinton,” Atkins said. “Through those, we were able to get the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program to the city. That’s probably one of his greatest achievements.”
Kirschner later became executive director of The Argus Foundation in Sarasota. Successor Christine Robinson, another former elected official, said Kirschner turned the organization into a pro-business policy powerhouse.
His proudest accomplishment was conducting a school finance study of the Sarasota County School District, which would lead to instituting a schools sales tax.
“That incredible study of the school system led it to where it’s at today,” she said. “We lost a legend.”
Yet, in a 2016 interview with SRQ Magazine, Kirschner suggested he simply met an obligation all citizens have to make their own communities stronger.
“We really need to dedicate ourselves, both through our community and our elected officials, to be what we want to be in the future,” he said. “That’s what it all comes down to for me.”
Kerry Kirschner is survived by his wife LuAnn and four children Sean, Kent, Kelly and Katie Haas.
A service will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at St. Martha Catholic Church in Downtown Sarasota. 
Kerry Kirschner poses for SRQ photoshoot in 2016.
Visit Sarasota County (VSC), in partnership with its advertising agency of record, Miles Partnership, and local production company, MakSchu LLC, was awarded five ADDY® Awards at the recent Tampa Bay Advertising Federation’s Annual Award Ceremony. Conducted annually by the American Advertising Federation (AAF), the local Ad Club phase is the first of a three-tier, national competition. Concurrently, across the country, local entrants vie to win ADDY Awards - recognition as the very best in their markets. At the second tier, local ADDY winners compete against winners from other local clubs in one of the 15 district competitions. District winners are then forwarded to the national stage of the American Advertising Awards. VSC submitted three campaigns, which received awards in the several categories.
Photo courtesy of VSC. Pictured: 'Glass Box Truck' for Out-of-Home Campaign, winning the Gold ADDY
For the full list of specific categories and awards won by VSC
The historic Kress Building at 1440 Main St. has been sold for $5.8 million. Sarasota real estate investor and senior debt lender Eric Baird purchased the 25,500-square-foot property, built in 1932, from prior owner Doug Libertore of 1 Health Place International. “It’s such a spectacular building,” says Baird. “And this is a great opportunity to put some new, high-end retailers on Main Street.” As of the sale’s March 3 closing, the building’s famed first-floor retail space has no occupants; FIMC Insurance is the only current tenant, occupying the second and third floors with stated intention to renew its lease in September 2020. Baird plans to recruit high-end retail Tenants to the first-floor space on Main retail and to move the offices of his company, EB Kress LLC, to the fourth floor. The property also has a spacious rooftop deck.
The S.E. Kress & Co. chain of five-and-dime stores built the Kress Building in 1932, signaling a new era of Sarasota development and economic growth even in the midst of the Great Depression. The building’s distinct modern architecture, including a striking brick-and-stone façade, makes it one of the last remaining Art Deco landmarks in the area. The awning and façade still bear the “Kress” logo, and the inscription, “5-10-25 CENT STORE.” The S.E. Kress company (1896-1981) once boasted locations around the country, including Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue and Hollywood’s Sunset Boulevard. “This iconic structure has been here for nearly 90 years, and it should continue to be celebrated,” says Baird. Sarasota’s Kress Building was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
The Out-of-Door Academy is excited to announce a reimagined Middle School. Beginning with programmatic changes implemented over the past several years, the project will be fully realized with the completion of a state-of-the-art 13,500-square foot facility opening Fall of 2020. The new Middle School building will create a safe, inviting enclave for learning and exploring exclusively designed for students in grades six through eight. The structure of the building was created for and inspired by students and incorporates findings from the latest research on how students learn best. Project-based, student-centered learning teaches students essential skills for their future, and the new space was conceived with this in mind. The School’s commitment to putting students first has driven recent changes to the schedule of classes and a proliferation of student-led clubs. Additional elective offerings have been added in STEM, wellness, and the arts for all Middle School students. New spaces will be built to support this coursework with studios for foreign languages, humanities, multimedia, and visual arts on the second story. The ground level of the new facility will center around an open, academic commons where students and faculty can interact informally and classes can collaborate, promoting innovative interdisciplinary learning experiences. A new MakerSpace and Virtual Reality Lab will allow students to ignite their curiosity using cutting-edge technology and tools.
This project was designed in conjunction with long-time ODA partners FleischmanGarcia Architects and The Willis A. Smith Corporation. The team has worked together to establish a distinct characteristic style seen throughout the buildings on campus. Funding for the project began with three lead gifts of $1 million each. Electricity for the entire building will be generated by energy collected through solar panels as ODA strengthens its commitment to utilizing renewable energy sources. Out-of-Door’s entire Lower School campus on Siesta Key is run on solar energy and the new Middle School building will begin the expansion of solar power on the Uihlein Campus in Lakewood Ranch. The philosophy of Out-of-Door’s Middle School program is to arm students with the skills they will need in high school, higher education, and most importantly, in life. Before students step into the classroom, this mindset starts with a set of teachers and advisors tuned into the specific needs of the adolescents in their care. ODA’s focused approach to teaching empowers students to become independent learners, poised for whatever the future holds.
Pictured: Head of School David Mahler and Chair of the Board of Trustees Ashley Kozel at the building site
To learn more about Out-of-Door Academy and the planned enhancements
Academically qualified low-income students from Sarasota and Manatee counties now have increased opportunities to attend New College of Florida, the State of Florida’s designated Honors College. Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation recently awarded New College Foundation $500,000 to launch a new program targeting local high school students who have demonstrated strong academics and outstanding community leadership. New College has named this new initiative the Access Leadership Program.
“The capacity of a quality education to transform lives has long been established—and its power to open doors of opportunity is most profound for students who are first-generation college students, underrepresented minorities, or from low-income families. The loss to our community when our most talented high school students are unable to realize their full potential because of a lack of access to a top tier college education is profound,” says Teri A Hansen, president and CEO of Barancik Foundation. Bill Woodson, New College’s dean of outreach and chief diversity officer, offered a similar sentiment. “Increasing access to high-quality postsecondary education and diversifying the educated workforce are matters of local, regional, and national urgency. The vitality of the Sarasota-Manatee area and the state of Florida gains a tremendous boost when we successfully tap the talent of all of our young people, regardless of their economic status.” Woodson adds that New College will publicize the availability of the Access Leadership Program and the Barancik Foundation Scholarship at high schools throughout the region. An application, teacher recommendations, an essay detailing leadership contribution, and an interview will be used as a basis for awards.
Pictured: Bill Woodson, New College Dean of Outreach & Chief Diversity Officer
For more information about this grant or the New College Foundation
HR Florida State Council (HR Florida) has been named to the number one position on the Top Ten Fundraising State Councils for 2019 by the Society for Human Resource Management’s (SHRM), the world’s largest HR professional society. HR Florida has held this position four years in a row since the 2016 giving year. The list honors SHRM state councils that have the highest total annual contributions to the SHRM Foundation each year. These totals comprise all gifts made by and on behalf of the state council, including individual gifts and corporate gifts. This year SHRM hit an all-time record from a fundraising perspective. In addition to the Council’s preeminent win, six out of the 28 local chapters within HR Florida made the Top 25 Fundraising Chapters list; HR Tampa (11th), HR Association of Palm Beach County (12th), SHRM Jacksonville (14th), Big Bend SHRM (17th), Greater Orlando SHRM (21st) and HR Collier (22nd). These contributions include gifts from the chapter, plus recognition credits donated by individuals or companies on behalf of the chapter. In addition to these contributions, HR Florida also provides academic and certification scholarships to Floridians through the SHRM Foundation, which do not count toward the giving year. Winners from both the Top Ten and Top 25 Fundraising Chapters receive awards from the SHRM Foundation at the SHRM Annual Conference and Exposition, a digital badge to display on the council website and are recognized in the SHRM Foundation’s monthly newsletter.
HR Florida President, Heather Deyrieux
The 42nd Annual Technology Student Association (TSA) State Conference held this weekend in Orlando welcomed more than 2,000 middle and high school students, advisors, chaperones and guests from across Florida. The School District of Manatee County sent more than 400 students from 16 Manatee County schools. The schools that competed include: Bayshore High, Braden River High, Lakewood Ranch High, Manatee High, Palmetto High, Parrish Community High, Southeast High, Braden River Middle, Buffalo Creek Middle, Dr. Mona Jain Middle, Haile Middle, Johnson Middle, Lee Middle, Nolan Middle, Rowlett Middle Academy and Sugg Middle. There were 222 trophies available (first, second, and third-place) for a total of 74 competitive events. Upholding a long-standing reputation, this was the 15th straight year Manatee students captured more trophies and earned more Top Ten finishes than any other school district in Florida. Manatee County students brought home 98 event trophies (39 first-place event trophies, 31 second-place trophies, and 28 third-place trophies). Even more impressive, our students brought home 242 Top Ten student event finalist pins. These finalist pins are for all students who placed in the Top 10 in a competitive event.
This year’s Florida TSA Conference consisted of competitive events representing a wide range of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills from animatronics, and biotechnology to video game design, and webmaster. The Outstanding School Award is given to the schools in the Top Ten, based on a calculation of all event placements for the entire conference for all student competitors with a first-place win equating 10 points and a 10th place finish equating 1 point. Braden River High earned first-place for high schools and Buffalo Creek Middle earned third-place overall at the middle school level. No other school district in the state has had more schools receive the Outstanding School Awards than Manatee County. No other school district in the state had more schools receive Top 10 finalist pins than Manatee County. No other school district in the state had more schools receive event trophies than Manatee County. Students will be heading to the National Conference that will take place June 27-July 1 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville.
Photo courtesy of Braden River High
For a complete list of event results or for more information on TSA
After 60 years of renting space, The Sertoma Club of Greater Sarasota has purchased its first permanent location at 2750 Stickney Point Road from Bodytalk Properties, LLC for $280,000 with plans to create a premier treatment space for its Sertoma Kids Foundation. The new location is comprised of three suites totaling just under 2,600 square feet and will feature a large therapy room, two smaller therapy rooms and multiple offices that will be leased to additional occupational therapists, reading specialists and behavioral therapists. Eric Massey of Michael Saunders & Company Commercial Division served as the club’s president in 2015 and represented the organization in the deal, donating his entire commission to help further the club’s efforts. The Sertoma Club of Greater Sarasota is hosting a ribbon-cutting the first week of March at the new location.
For more information or to attend future club events, or to learn more about MSC
Kolter Homes, a leader in developing next-generation, highly-amenitized active adult communities in the Southeastern U.S. – announces the addition of Rachel Scheer as Cresswind Lakewood Ranch’s Lifestyle Director. Scheer, a member of the Evergreen property management team, has set to work in the early stages of development to activate a lifestyle program that homeowners can access and enjoy ahead of the community’s clubhouse completion. Scheer is focused on developing Cresswind Lakewood Ranch’s lifestyle program built on three pillars -fitness, nutrition and relationships - aimed at helping residents live better and longer lives. The Cresswind lifestyle program has earned national accolades and is designed to give residents a platform to pursue their passions, whether pursuing a new interest, creating new friends and/or maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The community’s founding residents will be able to enjoy the initial lifestyle offerings through an interim “Social House” located near the community model park. Well before moving into their new homes, residents can take part in the creation of new clubs, activities and social events with their new neighbors. The permanent clubhouse is set to open in the spring of 2021 and will feature a fitness center, yoga studio, art studio with ceramics, multi-purpose event room, billiards, and various social clubs. Outdoor amenities include pickleball & tennis courts, wide walkways, dog parks, resort-style pool and spa, event & food truck plaza, bocce, and outdoor social areas.
A rendering of the clubhouse at Cresswind Lakewood Ranch, expected to break ground this spring.
For more information and to arrange a tour of the property and model homes
Showcasing immaculate spatial synergies and breathtaking views while employing smart renovation techniques and building strategies, the architects, builders, interior designers and landscape artists who won in this year’s SRQ Magazine Home of the Year competition collaborated to bring these incredibly stunning Gulf Coast residential spaces to life. From seaside to street-side, inside and out, these exemplars of the local built environment celebrate and contribute to an impressive legacy of award-winning architecture.
Guests can “step back in time” to see an in-depth history of both Ferrari and Porsche, and the incredible cars that were released along the way, at Sarasota Classic Car Museum’s upcoming exhibit. The exhibit will showcase over 16 Porsche models, from 1951 to 2004, as well as six classic Ferraris ranging in years from 1965 to 2011. This exhibit is included in the price of admission to the museum.
Sarasota Classic Car Museum, 5500 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
A self-described "Contemporary Impressionist - Painting the romance of life", Quartly is a prolific painter out of Southern California, whose paintings are vibrant, full of life and light. Check out his bio page for more information about the artist, and don't miss the brand new show celebrating Steven's arrival at Chasen Galleries Sarasota this Spring.
Chasen galleries, 1830 South Osprey Ave., Sarasota
Change the destiny of Sarasota’s homeless cats and kittens by supporting Cat Depot’s upcoming gala fundraiser, Whiskers and Waves. This magical evening under the sea will feature remarks from special guest, Gregory Castle, Co-Founder & CEO Emeritus of Best Friends Animal Society, as well as a delicious plated dinner by Zildjian Catering, hand-crafted cocktails, dancing to the tunes of DJ Rob Briya, and with your help, our best silent auction to date! For information, to reserve tickets, become a sponsor, purchase raffle tickets/program ads, or donate an item, please contact us at gala@catdepot.org or call 941- 366-2404 x 302.
Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium , 1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy., Sarasota
Celebrate the legendary music of Ray Charles at the Van Wezel with Emmy Award® winner Clint Holmes, 10-time Grammy Award®-winning band Take 6, six-time Grammy nominee and Downbeat vocalist of the year Nnenna Freelon and Grammy winner Kirk Whalum. This 90-minute feel-good extravaganza includes dazzling soulful performances of hit songs including “Hit The Road Jack,” “What'd I Say,” “I Got a Woman,” “I Can't Stop Loving You,” “Baby It's Cold Outside,” “Alexander's Ragtime Band,” “Georgia On My Mind” and many more classic hits. Ray Charles was an American treasure who won every major honor from the Georgia Hall of Fame to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, from The Kennedy Center Honors to a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award as well as induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He transcended racism and cultural upheavals and spread his music based on Gospel, Blues, Jazz and Country around the world. Tickets are $42-$67. Purchase at www.VanWezel.org or visit the Box Office. Groups of 10 or more should contact 941- 263-6726. This show is sponsored by Wilde Lexus Sarasota. Pre-show dining is available at Mattison’s at the Van Wezel located in the theater and can be reserved at www.VanWezel.org or through the Box Office.
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
A special one-week “pop-up” exhibition of work by Tom Stephens and John Pirman will be on view starting with a free opening reception for both artists on March 9, 5-7 pm. Stephens will unveil new paintings that reflect the environmental effects of Sarasota’s surge in downtown construction. Stephens, who has spent the majority of his life fishing off the west coast of Florida, now depicts the once limitless coastline with the forceful vertical lines of condominium towers. Pirman, an illustrator best known in Sarasota for his back page illustrations in Sarasota Magazine, branches out and reveals his personable, humorous side. Pirman will exhibit a new series of quirky and light-hearted Sarasota portraits. Free admission.
Art Center Sarasota, 707 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
Join The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce at the Carlisle Inn for a regional labor market update - learn about what industries are experiencing job growth, job compensation rates and the career pathways associated with these careers. This presentation will address the labor market in Sarasota and Manatee Counties and how it compares to the state of Florida. Featured Speakers include Dr. Jerry D. Parrish | Chief Economist and Director of Research for the Florida Chamber Foundation, Chris Benner, Ph.D. | Professor of Environmental Studies and Sociology at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Member registration fees are$35, and $45 for non members.
Carlisle Inn – Sarasota , 3713 Bahia Vista St., Sarasota
Join us for screening of 13th followed by a performance by Spoken Word Artist Cedric Hameed. The title of Ava DuVernay’s extraordinary and galvanizing documentary refers to the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which reads, “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States.” The progression from that second qualifying clause to the horrors of mass criminalization and the sprawling American prison industry is laid out by DuVernay with bracing lucidity. With a potent mixture of archival footage and testimony from a dazzling array of activists, politicians, historians, and formerly incarcerated women and men, DuVernay creates a work of grand historical synthesis. This program is free, however, tickets are required.
The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota
Addiction, religion, and the law intersect in a court-ordered drug rehabilitation program. A timely exploration of the American criminal justice system, this multi-dimensional play blurs the line between hip-hop and dramatic performance. Dahlak Brathwaite (writer/performer) weaves through the autobiographical and the fictional, music and monologue, to examine his place in what appears to be a cultural rite of passage as a young Black male. Please note: This performance contains mature content and may not be suitable for all ages.
Historic Asolo Theater, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota, FL 34243
“Sunshine From Darkness” returns to present the Journey to Wellness Symposium and Inspiring Hope Dinner, at 8:45 am and 6:30 pm, respectively, on Saturday, March 14. National and local mental health scientists and speakers will address new treatments, discoveries, and insights into the emotional well-being of children, loved ones, family members or friends. A Q&A will follow the program. Topics to address predicting depression risk and treatment response through blood chemistry; genes, stress and the brain; working in the nonprofit world as a researcher; mental health in Florida; and more. The goal of the symposium is to raise awareness of mental health and addiction disorders and help to erase the stigma. More than 45,000 people die annually by suicide; it is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. for all ages. The free Journey to Wellness Symposium takes place at Van Wezel. The Inspiring Hope Dinner, featuring three celebrity speakers/mental health advocates, takes place at The Ritz-Carlton, 1111 Ritz Carlton Dr., Sarasota. Proceeds will benefit mental health services of Coastal Behavioral Healthcare and First Step of Sarasota, and cutting-edge brain research.
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 North Tamiami Tr., Sarasota
Poems of effervescent grace from one of the best-known and best-loved poets of Portugal. With the elliptical looping of a butterfly alighting on one’s sleeve, the poems of Ana Lui´sa Amaral arrive as small hypnotic miracles. Spare and beautiful, these poems—in Margaret Jull Costa’s gorgeous English versions—seamlessly interweave the everyday with the dreamlike and ask “What’s In A Name?” Reservations suggested."
Bookstore1Sarasota, 12 South Palm Avenue, Sarasota, FL
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