In recent years, farmers’ markets have become a social event as much as they are a great place to get farm-fresh produce. It’s a place to meet up, have some coffee or fresh-pressed juice, shop for artisanal crafts and jewelry, and enjoy a bit of sunshine. Peg Haynes, manager of the Bradenton Farmer’s Market, feels the loss of this social aspect more acutely than most. But, while the COVID-19 closure of the market is unfortunate, it forced her to explore new ways of making sure people can stock their refrigerators with nutritious, locally grown food. And like many businesses, adaptations made in the short-term have the potential to change the game in the long term. 

The Bradenton Farmer’s Market closed on March 14th, and by the end of the month, it became evident it would be closed for much longer. So, when Haynes was offered the services of a web developer to design a retail website for the market, she pounced. “We were all hearing about Dakin having to get rid of their milk,” she says, and the same went for farms chock full of produce ready to pick but nowhere to go. The website was up and running by mid-April, and on April 18th, Haynes oversaw a soft opening of 20 orders. “It went well,” she says, “so we opened up completely.” The following Saturday, the market’s team managed to crank out 96 contact-free orders in 2 hours. Of course, the whole program needed a place to operate out of. “Mindy Hill of Angel Oak Café approached us and said she’d let us use her restaurant to store the perishables,” says Haynes, “so we all owe her a big ‘thank you.’” In particular, the Café’s refrigeration meant that the market now had a place to store some of that Dakin dairy that would otherwise have gone to waste. 

Underlying this quick transition from physical to web-based market is, paradoxically, a social component. Realize Bradenton, the umbrella under which the farmer’s market operates, has been responsible for ushering in the network of community-minded vendors that has supported this transition. So, even as families and individuals order their farm-fresh produce from the market’s website, people continue to matter. In addition, the website has the potential to offer smaller farms an additional distribution stream for their products. “We’re working with Blue Lily Farms to help them get their blueberries out,” says Haynes, “where they otherwise would not have been able to get them out.” Last weekend alone, the market was able to sell 95 pounds of blueberries. “We’re hoping the website sticks around when this is over,” says Haynes.

All orders placed between Monday at 4 pm and Wednesday at 9 pm will be fulfilled on the Saturday of the same week. Pick-up is Saturdays from 10 am to noon at Angel Oak Café (2004 6th Avenue West, Bradenton). Customers are encouraged to open their trunks and let the market associates load their purchases. 

Photo Courtesy of Realize Bradenton.

For more on the Bradenton Farmer's Market.

Visit Sarasota County (VSC) is preparing for Savor Sarasota and is excited to announce it will open registration for the annual program to any Sarasota County restaurant. The event is June 1-14 each year and allows guests to enjoy prix-fixe, multi-course lunch and dinner menus for just $16 and $32 per person. Another tweak to the program for 2020 is that restaurants will offer their Savor menus for dine-in and/or to-go service, at the restaurant’s discretion, in order to abide by COVID-19 regulations.

“In order to boost local restaurants as much as possible in a large time of need, we have decided to open registration for Savor to all Sarasota County eateries and to expand the dining options to include take-out,” said Virginia Haley, VSC President. “Our sincere hope is that restaurants can return to normal operations soon. However, we recognize that we do not know when restrictions will be lifted, and we want both businesses and diners to benefit as much as possible.”

Restaurants can sign up and complete the registration process online at www.SavorSarasota.com. The deadline is May 31, 2020. There is no cost to participate, restaurants are simply asked to offer lunch menu options for $16 per person and dinner for $32 per person. VSC will promote the program throughout Sarasota County through digital efforts beginning in early-May and continuing until the end of the program on June 14, 2020. Those with questions can email Enriqueta Balandra, VSC’s Project Manager, at EBalandra@VisitSarasota.org. 

Sign up to be a participating restaurant.

Upon many of our restaurant's reopening for business Monday, some people have excitedly beelined to their beloved watering holes for a longly-reminisced dining experience, while others are still cautiously hanging in the wings at home until quarantine hibernation runs its full course. No matter what side of the fence you sit on, a simple fact remains: today is Cinco de Mayo. We hold no judgments whether you prefer to celebrate in your own backyard isolation station or hang on an outdoor patio of one of the local hot spots back open for service. Thankfully, Assistant Vice President at Phillippi Creek Oyster Bar, Amy Berlin, created this festive fishbowl cocktail for us and shared the recipe if you do so choose to stay home and fiesta in your slippers and sombrero. 

Ingredients
6 oz. gold tequila (we suggest your preferred reposado or añejo)
3 oz. orange liqueur
8 oz. fresh squeezed orange juice
3 oz. fresh squeezed lemon juice
3 oz. fresh squeezed lime juice
2 oz. simple syrup
1 bottle of Corona extra

Grab a clear glass pitcher or globe-like vessel of at least 96 oz. capacity. Pack it with ice, combine all your ingredients except for the Corona and stir well. Remove the bottle cap of the Corona and flip upside down into the margarita. Garnish with sliced limes. 

The Creek will be serving up the Corona'Rita on its spacious patio deck with a waterfront view for Cinco de Mayo. Salud to the Corona we actually want to party with.   

Photo courtesy of Philippi Creek Oyster Bar

Pulitzer Prize-winning author and investigative reporter Ronan Farrow, former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, and Super Bowl-winning NFL coach Tony Dungy are among the five distinguished speakers who will appear at the 2021 Ringling College Library Association Town Hall Lecture Series. “Our lineup for this 41st annual lecture series presents a diverse set of speakers who will discuss a range of perspectives about our world today,” says Ashley Brown, chair of the 2021 Town Hall series, which is presented by the Ringling College Library Association (RCLA) in Sarasota. “Their insights will bring new illumination to a number of social institutions, from politics to the legal system to pop culture.”

“We’re proud of the contributions our lecture series continues to make both to Ringling students and the community at large,” says Stephanie Grosskreutz, RCLA executive director. “Proceeds from the series benefit the Alfred R. Goldstein Library, which opened in 2017, as well as funding student scholarships. Since the series began, RCLA has gifted more than $11 million to Ringling College.

RCLA’S 2021 Town Hall Lecture Series will begin on Monday, January 18, with a talk by Chris Christie, a former federal prosecutor who served as governor of New Jersey from 2010 to 2018. A Newark native, Christie built his political reputation as a moderate Republican in a largely Democratic state. He briefly ran for President in 2016 and in 2017 was named chair of the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis. Christie joined ABC News as a network contributor in January 2018. His book, Let Me Finish: Trump, the Kushners, Bannon, New Jersey, and the Power of In-Your-Face Politics, was published in January 2019.

On Monday, February 1, Tony Dungy will speak about his storied career as an NFL coach, broadcaster, and mentor. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach from 1996 to 2001, Dungy later joined the Indianapolis Colts and in 2007 he became the first African American head coach to win a Super Bowl. In 2016, he was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. After 31 seasons patrolling an NFL sideline, Dungy retired from coaching and now provides color commentary on FOOTBALL NIGHT IN A MERICA ON NBC.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ronan Farrow, whose investigative journalism for The New Yorker helped to spark Harvey Weinstein’s sexual abuse scandal and the #MeToo movement, will speak on Monday, February 15. The son of actor Mia Farrow and filmmaker Woody Allen (from whom he is estranged), Farrow is a Rhodes Scholar and a graduate of Yale Law School. His 2019 book, Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators, recounts his experiences reporting the Weinstein abuses, including Weinstein’s far-reaching efforts pressuring media outlets to “kill” the story.

On Monday, March 1, Karen Gordon Mills will appear on the Town Hall stage. She served as the Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration from 2009 until August 2013 and is currently a Senior Fellow at the Harvard Business School and at the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government at the Harvard Kennedy School focusing on U.S. Competitiveness, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

Wrapping up the 2021 series on Monday, March 15, Canadian photographer, filmmaker, and marine biologist Paul Nicklen will discuss his 25-year career documenting the planet’s natural beauty. An assignment photographer for National Geographic, Nicklen grew up among the Inuit communities of Canada’s Arctic and has been studying and documenting polar regions since 1995. He is the co-founder of SeaLegacy, which raises awareness of ocean conservation through visual storytelling. His latest book, Born to Ice, was published in 2018. All five lectures will be presented at Van Wezel Performing Arts Center, 777 North Tamiami Trail in Sarasota. 

Pictured left to right: Chris Christie, Tony Dungy, Ronan Farrow, Karen Mills and Paul Nicklen

For more info.

 Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS)  is pleased to welcome Medical Oncologist Martin F. Dietrich, MD, PhD. He is serving patients at the FCS Lake Mary Cancer Center at 805 Currency Circle, Lake Mary, FL and at 2572 W SR 426, Suite 3080, in Oviedo, FL.

Dr. Dietrich is Board-certified in internal medicine and medical oncology. In his clinical practice, he addresses all aspects of hematologic and oncologic care, with a special research interest in the treatment of lung and breast cancer, and genetic evaluation and counseling of somatic and hereditary syndromes. He also holds a faculty appoint at the University of Central Florida in Orlando as an assistant professor of internal medicine.

Dr. Dietrich holds doctorates in cancer biology from the German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany and in molecular genetics from the University of Texas Southwestern Graduate School. He completed his fellowships in Hematology/Oncology in the physician-scientist training track at the University of Texas Southwestern Track as a T32 scholar of the National Cancer Institute. His expertise in molecular genetics translates into a clinical philosophy of matching tailored therapies to each patient’s individual tumor biology.

“Dr. Dietrich believes in a comprehensive approach to his patients’ medical care, which exemplifies his commitment to community-based oncology. We are delighted to welcome him to FCS,” said FCS CEO Brad Prechtl, MBA.

FCS President and Managing Physician Dr. Lucio Gordan said, “With his extensive background in medical research and molecular genetics, in particular, Dr. Dietrich is able to tailor therapies to each patient’s individual tumor biology.” 

More on the Florida Cancer Specialists and Research Institute.

Tableseide Restaurant Group announces their departure as the food service vendor for The Ringling Museum property, including Muse at The Ringling, Banyan Cafe, and the Coffee Shop on June 30, 2020. Tableseide entered into a 5 year contract with FSU in July, 2015 as sole operator of all food service venues on the grounds of the Ringling. During the five years Tableseide transitioned the popular Treviso to Muse at The Ringling located in The Ringling Visitor Center, refreshing the brand with a new name, a modern look, and an artistic outtake on a menu.

“The past five years have been a wonderful experience, I am proud of the local touch and innovation that we brought to a landmark of Sarasota. We were honored to be a part of such a wonderful history and look forward to passing the touch to the new vendor” says Joe Guli, CEO of Tableseide Restaurant Group. Once the five year contract came up for renewal Tableseide understood that their core brands, Libby’s, Lemon Tree, Circo, and Tableseide Catering are the true heart of their company and decided to not rebid their contract with Florida State University. “We are excited to shift our focus to our core brands, our company continues to grow and we are excited for the extra resources to focus toward our brands that are the heart of our company.” stated Joe Guli.

Tableseide will work closely with the new vendor to make the transition smooth. Employees will be offered jobs at other Tableseide locations if they choose. Tableseide Catering will still be an approved vendor for catering special events at The Ringling. 

For more info on Tableseide Catering.

The Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County (Alliance) is pleased to announce the application window for the 2020-2021 Alliance Member Exhibits.

Since 2015 the Alliance has provided local artists with this unique opportunity to share their art. By displaying these exhibits in the Center for Arts and Humanity (1226 North Tamiami Trail), the art is viewed by a diverse section of the community that utilizes the building’s popular conference rooms. This exposes the artists and their art to a group of people who may not visit a traditional gallery to see the works.

The Alliance hosts six exhibits along with opening receptions for each between September and May. Due to the large size of the space, most exhibits feature several local artists at one time.

The application will be open from May 11 – June 19, 2020. A jury will evaluate the art and accepted artists will be notified by July 30, 2020. Artists may apply on their own or with a group. To be eligible, artists need to be members of the Alliance.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, our final exhibit for the 2019-2020 season was moved to become the first exhibit of the 2020-2021 season. This exhibit will feature local artists, Cosette Kosiba and Marjorie Sayer with an opening reception scheduled for September 23, 2020. 

Pictured: Artwork by Jane Harris.

Link to exhibit application information.

Looking for inspiration to make the best of your shelter in place time? Then this Music Moves Us video is for you. Christopher Takeda, Associate Concertmaster, and Jennifer Best Takeda, Assistant Concertmaster, offer glimpses from their stay at home experiences and perform a spirited sonata for two violins by Jean-Marie Leclair. You can now view all 32 videos shared by Sarasota Orchestra musicians offering musical gems and personal insights from their living rooms. This is a rich collection of heartfelt messages and performances for our community. New vignettes were added over the last week. 

View more at the online home of Music Moves Us.

In the few months since the coronavirus pandemic arrived in Florida its impact has been staggering, especially on children and families confronting hunger or child abuse. Even before Covid-19, Caldwell Trust Company had provided support to All Faiths Food Bank and the Child Protection Center, two Sarasota-based organizations that work to meet these needs in Sarasota and DeSoto counties. Now Caldwell is increasing its support as the organizations gear up to meet unprecedented demands. “We can’t do otherwise,” said R. G. “Kelly” Caldwell Jr., CEO/president. “These dedicated people are helping our brothers, our sisters, our children. We won’t turn away.”

In April, Caldwell’s board of directors chose All Faiths Food Bank to receive a $5,000 grant, which will be used for Covid-19 relief. The company also provided a major grant to the Child Protection Center for 2019 for its Children and Families Supervised Visitation Program (CFSVP), which provides a safe place for children to interact with parents.

Over the years, Caldwell has provided tens of thousands of dollars and other support such as collecting food for All Faiths’ food drives and wearing blue to heighten awareness during Child Abuse Prevention Month. “I’m grateful that Caldwell can help. I can’t think of a better return on investment than we’ve received by supporting these two organizations,” Kelly Caldwell said. 

Pictured: In this 2011 photo, Jan Miller, senior executive vice president and trust officer, stands behind nearly 300 pounds of food that Caldwell staff members collected. A member of All Faiths Food Bank waits to load the donations.

Fore more on Caldwell Trust Company.

Geckos Hospitality Group has announced that pursuant with Florida state guidelines, they will begin to re-open their restuarants. Dry Dock Waterfront Grill opened yesterday. Five of the six locally-owned Gecko's Grill & Pub's will reopen tomorrow, Wednesday, May 6, for dine-in under current state guidelines as well as continued online ordering for curbside pickup To Go and third party delivery service exclusively through Bite Squad—the SR 70 restaurant will remain temporarily closed. Dockside Waterfornt Grill in Venice will also reopen tomorrow, Wednedsay, May 6 for dine-in under current state guidelines as well as curbside pickup To Go. Smacks Burgers & Shakes will re-open tomorrow, Wednesday, May 6 for dine-in on their patio only pursuant to the current state guidelines as well as continued curbside pickup To Go and third-party service delivery. Geckos Hospitality Group looks forward to getting the legendary tavern Red Barn Bar back on its feet at the appropriate time as well as the dedicated event and catering venue Signature Events & Catering.  

For more info.

Suncoast Credit Union, Florida’s largest credit union, announces a one million dollar donation to provide economic relief to those affected by COVID-19 in the communities the credit union serves. As an essential service provider, the credit union has been on the front lines interacting from a safe distance with employees and members who have also been affected. That unique window created the will to assess and assist with problems associated with the coronavirus.

After careful review, executives of the credit union made the decision to focus on three primary areas of need that correlate to the history and core values of the credit union. These key areas have been seriously affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and specific organizations names are attached. Funds will be distributed to relieve stress in the areas of: healthcare, hunger and education. While Suncoast has been an active member of the communities it serves both as a community partner and through the funding of the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation, this donation is the first of its size during the credit union’s 86 year history.

“While we are focused on supporting our members financially, we feel a moral obligation to support other basic needs during this very challenging time. We admire and are inspired by other charitable organizations who are providing relief through private donations like ours,” said Suncoast Credit Union President & CEO Kevin Johnson. “People are struggling through no fault of their own and because of the support of our Board of Directors, Suncoast is committed to doing what we can to address these serious needs.”

Organizations will be notified of specific donations beginning the first week of May. Organizations have been selected due to need, viability and sustainability and with consideration to the Mission, Vision and Core Values of Suncoast Credit Union. 

For more info.

The City Commission on Monday voted to reopen City-owned boat ramps at Centennial Park and Ken Thompson Park to the public, effective Tuesday, May 5.

The commission also approved reopening the tennis courts at City parks and facilities beginning next week. Use will be limited to singles play only, with players also asked to adhere to safe playing recommendations suggested by the United States Tennis Association.

Citizens are advised to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for safe social distancing in public to help stop the spread of COVID-19. City residents are also strongly urged to wear protective masks when leaving home under the City’s local public health emergency declaration.

Lido Beach remains temporarily closed at this time. The City Commission voted to revisit the beach status at its May 18 meeting, with the City continuing to monitor daily local COVID-19 testing data and the trend of positive cases within City limits.

Other City recreational facilities and amenities, including playgrounds and basketball courts, also remain closed at this time. 

For more info.

With an investment of $400,000, the Knight Donor Advised Fund of Manatee Community Foundation will support COVID-19 relief and recovery in Bradenton, Florida.

Funds will be invested in the next few months to stabilize organizations critical to the Knight strategy of a connected set of equitable public spaces with a downtown and riverfront where people want to live. Other funds will be used to engage and provide essential relief services to organizations that help inform and connect during the crisis. Once the crisis has passed, funds will assist long term solutions for organizations supporting the downtown area.

To date, grants are supporting Hispanic/Latino children and families living in the Bradenton area through UnidosNow, PPP application support for small businesses in downtown Bradenton through Realize Bradenton, and a 4-month position at the Bradenton Herald to provide local reporting on the impact of COVID-19 without a paywall. 

Learn more about the Manatee Community Foundation.

COVID-19 has changed just about everything in our lives, and yet, our children continue to grow, learn and build the architecture of their brain during this time. For the next few weeks, the Brain Health Initiative will offer resources and activities that focus on ways to support the healthy brain development of your child. In part two, we talk about executive functioning skills. 

What is Executive Functioning?

As adults, we rely on essential skills that enable us to control impulses, make plans, and stay focused. We aren’t born with these skills, but our experiences at each stage of development, beginning in infancy, provide us with the capacity to develop them. Brain Health Initiative colleagues at the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, say our genes provide the blueprint, but our early environment leaves a lasting signature on those genes.

Acquiring the early building blocks of these skills is one of the most important and challenging tasks of the early childhood years. Building on these skills is critical to healthy development and optimal performance in learning and relationships, as well as in extracurricular activities (e.g., athletics and play), through middle childhood and adolescence. As young children we depend on these emerging skills to help us learn to read and write, solve simple math problems, participate in class or group projects, and engage with other children. As we enter middle childhood, adolescence and the teen years, these skills allow us to focus on multiple streams of information at the same time, monitor errors, make decisions in light of available information, revise plans as necessary and resist the urge to let frustration lead to hasty actions.

What Can You Do Today to Protect Your Brain Health?

Executive functioning skills are developed through practice and are strengthened by experiences. Even during these challenging times, it is important to provide children the support they need to build these skills.

Optimize and Practice Executive Function Skills with Children from Infancy to Adolescence

Executive functioning skills, primarily located in the prefrontal cortex of the brain, are essential to support optimal learning and development. Although children are not born with these skills, they are born with the potential to develop these skills beginning in infancy across development through brain healthy interactions and practice.

There are three primary components to these skills:

Working memory — The ability to hold information in mind and use it.

Inhibitory control — The ability to master thoughts and impulses so as to resist temptations, distractions, and habits, and to pause and think before acting.

Cognitive flexibility — The capacity to switch gears and adjust to changing demands, priorities, or perspectives.

Have a look at the 16-page guide (available for download below), which describes a variety of free activities and games that represent age-appropriate ways for adults to support and strengthen various components of executive function and social regulation in children.

Each chapter of this guide contains activities suitable for a different age group, from infants to teenagers. The guide may be read in its entirety (which includes the introduction and references) or in discrete sections geared to specific age groups.

Download the guide to executive function.

In a letter to customers sent Sunday, Allegiant (NASDAQ: ALGT) Chief Operating Officer Scott Sheldon announced that the company will provide complimentary health and safety kits to all customers flying the leisure-focused airline. The kits, which include a single-use face mask, a pair of disposable non-latex gloves and cleaning wipes, will be rolled out through Allegiant’s network this week. Kits will be distributed to customers as they board their flights.

“Our 4,500 Allegiant team members across America are — as always — one hundred percent focused on making sure your travels are as safe and seamless as possible,” Sheldon wrote. “Whether you need to travel today, or are looking ahead to future vacations and long-overdue visits, we understand that your decision to travel is personal, and many factors are involved. And we know that a healthy environment is at the top of that list. It's personal, and it's critical — for you, and for our dedicated crew members who fly every day.”

This new program builds on Allegiant’s slate of enhanced onboard and in-terminal health and safety measures, including cleaning and disinfection, air purity, low-touch service initiatives aimed at preventing cross-contamination, and social distancing efforts. Details are available on Allegiant’s website through a dedicated online resource page, Going the Distance for Health and Safety. 

See the video about their "Going the Distance for Health" program.

Manatee County's community-wide effort to test local residents for COVID-19 has expanded by more than 30 percent over the past week, and Manatee County residents will have even more options for local testing in coming weeks.

To date, there have been 4,066 COVID-19 tests given in Manatee County, meaning the County has nearly reached its initial goal of having 1 percent of its 411,000 residents tested. MCR Health has completed 3,314 out of the 4,066 COVID-19 tests to date and screened 1,665 potential COVID-19 patients during a free drive-through test period Saturday. As of Wednesday, April 29, 78 percent of Manatee County's positive COVID-19 cases had recovered.

Additional community testing is a critical component in "flattening the curve" of the coronavirus and County Administrator Cheri Coryea says the County's new goal is to have 2 percent, or 8,220 people tested. Manatee County residents have the following options to get tested for COVID-19.

Appointments are required for the Department of Health drive-through collection test period at the Bradenton Area Convention Center, Wednesday May 6 through Friday, May 8, 9 am to 4 pm. Patients must make an appointment in advance of testing by calling (941) 748-0747. There is no cost for patients who use the DOH drive-through collection site.

Specimens collected at the drive-through site will be sent to labs for testing.

In addition, everyone who arrives at the drive-thru must:

—Be in a vehicle. No walk-up patients will be seen.
—Drivers must remain in their vehicle at all times.
—Drivers must present a photo ID (Name on ID or proof of address and the name on the prescription must match.)

Anyone in Manatee County who believes they may have COVID-19 should call the Manatee Health Line at (941) 242-6649 BEFORE calling 911 or visiting a hospital emergency room.

Testing will continue to be available at the following three MCR Health locations throughout Manatee County:

East Manatee Health and Wellness Center
1312 Manatee Ave E, Bradenton, (941) 708-8700
Southeast Family Healthcare Center
919 53rd Ave E, Bradenton, (941) 751-8100
Edgar H. Price Family & Children Healthcare Center
12271 U.S. Hwy 301 N, Parrish, (941) 776-4050 

For current COVID-19 news in Manatee County.