But President Larry Thompson concedes there’s greater challenged keeping the wheels turning at an art school than at institutions build around lectures. How exactly do you teach a class on sculpture without an instructor and student in the same studio? Thompson assures it will be done.

“Our faculty and institutional technology have stepped up to the plate and come up with remarkable solutions so that students actually get their work done and their projects done,” Thompson tells SRQ.

After extending spring break for students while faculty innovated answers, the school since March 23 connected students through virtual means to its learning center, counselors and instructors. Access to 3-D rendering technology on one of the most wired art schools in the world gives Ringling the ability to create computerized lessons for even those students working in physical mediums.

Thompson acknowledged “glitches” would occur with classes, but maintained confidence those will be addressed quickly and effectively. He expressed confidence in area health providers should staff or students fall ill amid a global pandemic.

There’s still disciplines — Thompson mentions glass-blowing — where students may yet have to postpones shows and some instruction to a summer or fall term. But a priority has been placed on ensuring minimal disruption to the advancement of students in their coursework, especially those seniors graduating at the end of the Spring Semester.

Of course, the college must deal with a variety of administrative issues impacting students as well. Keeping financial aid service running smoothly remains as critical for many as keeping lines of communication open with instructors. Career services staff will incorporate Zoom technology to help students continue face-to-face counseling and to find post-collegiate jobs.

But Thompson said the campus, while not as vibrant as normal, still has some activities. Many officials and faculty members continue work there while honoring social distancing guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to stop spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19. And then there are students on campus, many international and unable to return home for weeks amid a global pandemic, who continue to live on campus. 

Art courtesy Ringling College: Computer Animation student Olivia Coucci's depiction of continued distance learning via video-conference.

Since 2004, Embracing Our Differences has used the power of art and prose to promote diversity. One way it accomplishes this is throughits annual, juried international outdoor art exhibition consisting of 50 billboard-sized works of art, each accompanied by an inspirational quote. 

Sarah Wertheimer, executive director of Embracing Our Differences, announced that the organization’s annual outdoor exhibit in Bayfront Park in downtown Sarasota will be extended through the month of April. It was scheduled to close April 5.

“We’re thrilled that the exhibit will remain open to the public for the entire month of April,” says Wertheimer. “This is one of the few arts and cultural activities people can safely enjoy during these difficult times of COVID 19. We offer our heartfelt gratitude to the city of Sarasota and to local government for their support and generosity to allow us to keep the exhibit open.”

Since 2004, Embracing Our Differences has used the power of art and prose to promote diversity. One way it accomplishes this is through its annual, juried international outdoor art exhibition consisting of 50 billboard-sized works of art, each accompanied by an inspirational quote. The response to the call for artwork and inspirational quotes was record-breaking this year, with 16,118 entries pouring in from 127 countries and 50 states. Students from 398 schools around the world submitted artwork or quotes to the juried exhibit.

According to Wertheimer, only a fraction of the powerful artworks and statements are selected for each year’s outdoor exhibit. “Even so, we were deeply touched to see how many people share our core philosophy.” 

The Ringling is proud to continue to inspire a love of art and learning even while our doors are closed. They are hard at work finding ways to share our exhibitions, collections, programs for kids and adults, and the beauty of The Ringling with you digitally. Enjoy the offerings below, and look for more Museum From Home.

Take a Virtual Bayfront Gardens Tour

Take a garden tour every Friday with Kai Sacco, Horticulturist of The Mable Ringling Rose Garden. Kai is also responsible for tracking the 100+ species of trees using TreeKeeper. in the video, Kai shares some of the trees growing at The Ringling. Click here for the video.

Watch Ringling Read Alongs on YouTube

ROAR! presented virtually. Designed for early learners, read along with the video and then find an art making project inspired by the book linked in the video description. Click here for the video.

Explore The Ringling Collection Online

Discover all of the artwork, furnishings, objects and circus posters, photographs and ephemera in The Ringling Collection online using eMuseum. Using the Advanced Search feature, you can filter your search results to only those with "Image Available" adding an image to each records is an ongoing project, as there are thousands of records. Click here for the video. 

The City-owned boat ramps, 10th Street Boat Ramps and City Island Boat Ramps, as well as the Bird Key Park parking lot were closed to the public beginning this past Sunday, March 29 at 6 am as part of emergency orders related to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The City is also encouraging county health departments along the Suncoast to work in unison to implement a safer at home order to reduce the threat of transmission of COVID-19, to assure hospital beds are available for those truly in need and to help conserve medical personal protective equipment (PPE). The PPE is necessary as hospitalized patients await their test results which can take several days. In addition, the City believes it is essential for the Florida Department of Health to be transparent with reporting COVID-19 testing on a city-by-city basis not just aggregated countywide data.


“Governor Ron DeSantis is deferring to local governments to implement health, safety and welfare measures that are best for each community,” said City Manager Tom Barwin. “It is essential that the state begin to immediately report COVID-19 testing on a city-by-city basis. The aggregated data needs to be converted into a per capita analysis, to provide the best insight and understanding possible as we seek to protect our community, particularly the elderly at-risk population, during this public health emergency. Aggregated data on a countywide basis can be misleading for smaller counties under 500,000 in population.” Those who do not voluntarily comply with the new emergency orders related to the closure of the boat ramps and Bird Key Park parking lot may be issued a citation by a sworn Sarasota Police Officer. A violation would be considered a second-degree misdemeanor.  A local public health emergency remains in effect for the City of Sarasota. Although City buildings are closed to the public, most City operations and functions are still available.

 

For more City of Sarasota updates.

The beachfront estate located at 412 Hunter Drive on Venice Island closed for $3,050,000 last Friday, becoming the highest sale to date for the island according to MFR-MLS records. Michael Saunders & Company agents Michelle Hupp and Gigi Kuster represented the seller in both the sale of this property, and purchase of her new home in The Oaks. Amid business disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this transaction reflects the exceptional measures local real estate experts are taking to move the market forward and serve their customers. “Our agents are nothing short of extraordinary,” said Michael Saunders, Founder and CEO of Michael Saunders & Company. “It is always heartwarming to assist in making real estate “magic” for both sellers and buyers. Being able to share this notable achievement during these uncertain times is a prime example of teamwork, dedication and client confidence in the Michael Saunders & Company team.”

Understanding the limitations that could affect closing, agents Michelle Hupp and Gigi Kuster acted swiftly with the buyer’s agent to accommodate the sale, moving the closing date up by one week and rearranging the title companies, utilities, movers, cleaners and flights. Both the seller and agents wanted to provide a proper Gulf Coast welcome to the out-of-state buyers, leaving a broad array of furnishings in the home and a stocked refrigerator. “The seller displayed concern for the buyer, ensuring they would be comfortable in their new home with their young family in the event of a potential quarantine immediately after closing,” said Hupp. “She chose to leave two full bedroom sets with fresh linens, towels, sectional sofa, televisions and a furnished game room for the family to enjoy.”

“Moments like this make me very proud to be a real estate agent with Michael Saunders & Company,” said Kuster. “Working with Michelle was wonderful. We hadn’t known each other well prior to collaborating on this listing, but I feel like I’m not only walking away with additional knowledge but also a new friend and a newfound sense of community.”

The next highest sale on the island took place in 2017 with the sale of 444 Bayshore Drive for $2,850,000. The seller has owned 412 Hunter Drive since September 2003 and is happy to give a young family the same fond memories this special location has afforded her family.  

The supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) provided to healthcare workers to use while caring for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic is extremely limited and rapidly declining each day. In an effort to protect healthcare workers and patients and slow the spread of the coronavirus, the Suncoast Science Center is working with volunteers to prototype and fabricate face masks and shields for assisted living facilities, nursing homes and other non-primary healthcare facilities in need.
 
We have received over 1,000 mask and shield requests with more coming in by the minute! We have also received an outpouring of support from volunteers who want to help their community in this time of need. At this point, we are most in need of a Project Coordinator who has the skill set to make this project a huge success. A description of required duties and skills is below.
 
If you are interested in serving in this capacity, please click here to email us as soon as possible. You are encouraged to include your resume and any other information that you think would be helpful for us. Duties would begin immediately. 

Position description.

Congress has approved $350 billion in emergency loans for small businesses to help them keep workers employed. In fact, if small businesses maintain or later restore their payrolls, they may not have to repay some — or possibly any — of the loan. Here’s a guide and checklist from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to help small businesses through the process as provided by the Manatee Chamber  of Commerce this past Saturday. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act contains additional provisions intended to help businesses, employees and our economy.  As the nation moves through implementation of this legislation and processes are finalized, the Manatee Chamber of Commerce will continue to provide updates and resource links for the region.  The CARES Act provides additional avenues for relief for small businesses and this legislation, along with the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan and SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan, providing businesses with some options to make informed decisions.  Please continue to check the COVID Business Resources page as the Manatee Chamber updates that regularly with resources and tools for businesses and employees.  The priority is getting accurate, official information to you. 

TheDepartment of Health inSarasota County, Sarasota County Government along with Sarasota Memorial Hospital have decided to pause the COVID-19 Drive-Thru testing site located at Twin Lakes Park in Sarasota until Tuesday, March 31. To date, more than 60 people have been tested, however DOH Sarasota has not been able to fill the 50 appointment slots per day. DOH Sarasota believes that by pausing operations for two days community members who believe they have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 will have more time to seek medical advice, have a test ordered, and receive an appointment to visit the testing site. Additionally, pausing for a couple of days will help to conserve our most valuable resource, the people who are staffing the testing site for our community.

As a reminder, visitors to the Sarasota County COVID-19 testing site must be referred by a physician to be tested. The physician's office will contact DOH Sarasota who will then contact the individual with an appointment day and time. The site will be re-open at 8 am Tuesday and run until noon. The site has been set up at Twin Lakes Park, located at 6700 Clark Road in Sarasota.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe®, a national fast-casual concept known for its better-for-you smoothies and food with a tropical twist, announced today they would donate 100,000 smoothies nationwide to local healthcare workers and first responders to help support those on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. "In cafes across the country, the Tropical Smoothie Cafe family is working tirelessly to support our local communities, which are currently facing unprecedented hardship," said Charles Watson, CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe, LLC. "Our safety is dependent upon the selfless, hard work of our local healthcare workers and first responders and we want to help them in any way we can. The 100K smoothie giveaway is a simple, but impactful example of one way we can show our gratitude and bring a smile to their face – one sip at a time." 

With an initial gift of $500,000 from an anonymous donor, Manatee Community Foundation has established the Manatee County COVID-19 Community Response Fund to support flexible and evolving needs of health and human service organizations. Funds will be awarded to public charities that are adapting and responding to the public health crisis in Manatee County.

The Fund also provides an opportunity for individuals to make tax-deductible gifts that will support trusted local charitable organizations working in the areas of health and human services. Together with other local partners, Manatee Community Foundation is assessing the developing situation, including its impact on social service organizations and the people they serve. Gifts to this fund will enable MCF to respond quickly to emerging needs.

“We know people want to help nonprofits do what they do best, improve the lives of those who come to them for services—especially during this critical time. These dollars will support charitable organizations on the front lines, as well as those that are finding innovative ways to deliver programs to people who need help,” said Susie Bowie, executive director of Manatee Community Foundation. “This generous gift is a starting point—providing a vehicle for others to give themselves.”

Manatee Community Foundation also encourages individuals to continue their annual giving to specific nonprofit organizations directly or through their donor advised funds.“The health of our community depends on continued donations that support all charitable missions. If you are able to sustain your level of giving from previous years, please consider doing so,” said Bowie.

Donations to The Season of Sharing Fund are recommended to assist individuals and families in need of one-time emergency financial assistance. Administered through the Community Foundation of Sarasota County (www.CFSarasota.org), Season of Sharing helps those on the verge of homelessness. Donors may designate Manatee County residents when making their tax-deductible gifts.

For more information about the Manatee County COVID-19 Community Response Fund, visit www.ManateeCF.org or call 941-747-7765. Gifts may be made online or by sending a check to Manatee Community Foundation, 2820 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton FL 34205. Add “COVID-19” in the memo line. 

For more info.

Even though The Blue Pagoda is closed to visitors at the moment, The Bay's outdoor park area is still accessible for walking, jogging, sunset gazing, bird watching and more. If you can't leave the comfort of home, or would prefer not to, you can still visit us virtually! We’re excited to bring The Bay to you through our new Fountain Garden and Sarasota Bay feeds, which provide 24/7 live streamed video from two beautiful views of the site.  

Click to visit the Fountain Gardens.