The Sarasota City Commission decision to reject a proposed master plan for Marie Selby Botanical Gardens became one of the most divisive and heated of the past year. With City Commission elections ahead, the matter has come up again. Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce debates included questions about a revised plan submitted by the nonprofit and how candidates in District 2 and 3 view the new proposal.

District 2

Terry Turner: The commission was right to reject the original proposal. It is inconsistent with the comprehensive plan. It was disruptive to adjoining neighborhoods and traffic patterns were not adequately addressed. The revised plan is better. I’m not satisfied that it adequately deals with the disruption in the adjoining neighborhoods.

Jerry Wells: You can’t put a garage that’s trice the height of the lift station. It would just overwhelm that neighborhood. I like the modified plan. I just don’t want to see Selby build that type of a garage facility. I understand they need more parking. But you can’t overwhelm the neighborhood and then putting restaurant on top.

Liz Alpert: I’m certainly on record having supported the original plan. I don’t think it was too tall, and I thought it was much better to use less footprint in the gardens and add more greenspace, by adding a little bit of height to the parking garage. The revised plan has a parking garage, it’s just that we’re now going to take up more space in the gardens.

Joe Barbetta: I commend Selby for coming back with a modified plan. It’s extremely important. The City Commission and administration do not fully comprehend the importance of arts and cultural institutions in our community. They provide tremendous economic income, economic impact to the city. The modified plan deserves fair consideration.

Martin Hyde: This is classic small town politics, bought and paid for. The idea that you would put a massive structure in a neighborhood. It’s a slippery slip under Bert Harris. At the end of the day, if we do it there we have to do it everywhere. Bottom line here is that, yeah, we should give it full consideration.

Don Patterson: - It’s important for Selby Gardens to remain relevant in this day in age as the demographics change, so it’s important they continue to stay profitable. They took an easy path but it wasn’t conducive to the neighborhood. I think there’s a compromise for the neighborhoods.

District 3

Dan Clermont: There was certainly a lot of voices from the neighborhoods that were frustrated and I understand. This is a negotiating point. We have to sit down with (Selby CEO) Jennifer Rominiecki and discuss it. But as far as the capital improvements. I was in favor of them. Moving forward to a modified plan, I do like the idea of bringing the parking ramp down a bit.

Erik Arroyo: We have a lot of projects in town where the city does a great job of just shutting them down. All the people are asking for is a seat at the table to be able to come together and discuss some ideas. Selby was great with making concessions. If you look at the modified plan after they listened to the people, the restaurant is now on the first floor.

Rob Grant: I did support the city’s decision to vote down the project. I know there is a new proposal out there with a lot of change. I have spent some time looking at it. There are still some neighborhood concerns. I learned during a budget workshop, there’s a new roundabout planned there at that intersection and I don’t know if that has been considered. 

The Venice Chamber of Commerce announced it's Business of the Year 2020 award winners today. Laurel Civic is honored to have been chosen in the Non-Profit Category. Executive Director Michael D. Fluker attended the event and was thrilled when Laurel Civic's name was announced. "With all that has happened this year, it is great to get some happy news," he said. "We have been working hard to provide much-needed services to members of the community during COVID-19 as well as to continue our programs for adults and children. It is so gratifying that the Venice Chamber recognizes the work non-profit groups do on behalf of the community. There were wonderful organizations nominated this year and we are honored to stand with them. I couldn't be prouder."

The Business of the Year Award evaluates the health of an organization as well as its accomplishments. Laurel Civic submitted its application, outlining programs like the After-School Homework Assistance and Teen Empowerment for children and rental and food assistance for adults and families. Then COVID-19 hit, and Laurel Civic responded on a whole new level. During the interview portion of the process in July, Michael outlined to chamber members how Laurel Civic worked with the Sarasota County Department of Health to host five COVID-19 free testing days, the only non-profit the department selected to work with during the first months of the pandemic. They also hosted twice-monthly food distribution days for All Faiths Food Bank to make sure our neighbors had food. Working with Season of Sharing, they increased the number of successful applications for rental and utility assistance to help families with their household expenses. And they provided meals and masks for the families who attend their programs.

"We have done a great deal in the past several months, but there will be much more to do in the future. To be recognized for the work is a reflection of the commitment of the board of directors, staff, donors and volunteers who made it happen," Michael said. "But we can't rest on our laurels...no pun intended!"

Gulf Coast Community Foundation sponsored the Non-Profit Category of the Business of the Year Awards and will provide a $500 donation to Laurel Civic for being selected. 

Pictued: Michael accepted the award at the Chamber Luncheon held August 7, 2020 at Plantation Golf and Country Club.

On Tuesday, September 8 at 7:00 pm, NFL Football legend Reggie Williams will virtually visit Bookstore1Sarasote for a Zoom book launch of his new memoir, Resilient by Nature. This amazing memoir follows the story of Reggie Williams—ex-NFL linebacker, former Disney executive, renaissance man, and the epitome of determination in the face of extreme challenges. In so many ways, Reggie Williams has had the type of life that people dream of: he starred as an athlete, excelled with an Ivy League education, built a sports empire as part of an iconic corporate brand, achieved global impact as a public servant, and won major honors for his community work. Along the way, Williams glowed on the biggest stages alongside celebrities, business leaders, and social icons. In Resilient by Nature, Williams provides an intimate account of his remarkable journey while also sharing his unique perspectives on a wide variety of issues. Resilient by Nature is being published on September 8. Bookstore 1 will have signed copies of Resilient by Nature available for curbside pickup or sent by mail after the event. Copies can be pre-ordered here.

The event is free, but registration is needed for participation. The Zoom link will be sent one day prior to the event.

Click here for event registration. 

Citizens for District Power (CDP), a new Sarasota County citizen initiative, aims to engage voters for the local county commission election.  CDP is a non-partisan group of Sarasota County residents, and aims to get the word out that each county district can now elect a representative whose mandate is to be responsive to the interests and concerns of neighborhoods within a district, as well as the county at large.  Subscribers to the website blog will receive alerts of events, articles, and media coverage of candidates. You can locate your voting district – which may have changed because of redistricting since the last election – on cdpsarasota.org.  Website visitors can also explore County Commission candidates and learn how to connect with other citizen groups.  

Unfortunately the financial services industry has historically revolved around a sales culture, and the client often suffers. Allegiant Private Advisors is different.

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Allegiant team members manage all assets as team fiduciaries and do all of their own research (which advisors often share in the form of reports and white papers). Client accounts receive individual personalized advice instead of boilerplate packages created by mass-marketing financial firms. To accomplish this Allegiant maintains a high staff-to-client ratio, and forms strategic advisory teams with clients’ attorneys and accountants.

“We also put together family meetings where we have conversations about values and the core mission statement of the family,” Allegiant President Benjamin (Ben) W. Jones, CFP®, AIF® explains. “We help talk through existing assets and estate plans, and make sure heirs are prepared financially and legally. We are always checking in, seeing where our clients are in life and what they need help with along the way. Then we help them in every way possible. That’s why we’re here.”

Learn more at allegiantpa.com.

Editor's Note: 

As of July 31, 2021, Allegiant Private Advisors became part of Mariner Wealth Advisors, a national registered investment advisor offering 360° financial advice designed to last. 

Read More about Allegiant Private Advisors HERE

Last Friday, Senator Joe Gruters joined DEP Secretary Noah Valenstein to celebrate the award of a $125,000 resiliency grant to improve the management of Sarasota County beaches. This funding will aid the development a comprehensive vulnerability study and subsequent resilience plan that will allow federal, state and local officials to collaboratively and strategically plan for sea-level rise along sandy shorelines of Sarasota County. Sarasota County is home to nearly 35 miles of sandy shorelines, of which 24.2 miles have been designated as critically eroding. The county does not currently have a resilience plan for coastal management that addresses current conditions, existing management strategies and projected sea level rise. 

“I am pleased to be here today to celebrate this historic step for beach management in Sarasota County and across our state,” said Senator Gruters. “Beaches are economic drivers for the state and are part of our way of life, and recognizing this, we continue to make the restoration of our beaches a priority. It is no surprise that this region will be leading the way in addressing the importance of incorporating sea-level rise into our beach management strategy as well as a regional approach to this effort.” 

“DEP is proud to be able to able to provide grant funding to support this important study,” said Secretary Valenstein. “Under the Governor’s leadership, DEP is making it a priority to support our coastal communities in the planning and preparation for the 2 to 3 feet of sea-level rise our state is expected to experience by 2060.” 

A comprehensive study has never been completed before that focuses specifically on the effects of sea-level rise on future coastal management practices. The strategic plan that will be developed with the aid of this state funding, combined with existing coastal management practices, will allow partner agencies to build resilient beach and dune systems that will continue to provide recreational and natural resource benefits to residents and visitors, and reduce flooding and storm erosion damage to upland property. A county-wide resilience plan will also outline roles and responsibilities for the four main local coastal management sponsors.  

DOH Sarasota has scheduled a by-appointment-only COVID-19 testing opportunity at the Englewood Sports Complex August 13. DOH Sarasota will have 100 COVID-19 tests available, appointments are required. DOH Sarasota is prioritizing COVID-19 testing for anyone who is currently experiencing symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, recent loss of taste or smell) or who works in a health care setting, and first responders. While these are primarily drive-thru sites, DOH Sarasota can accommodate walk-ups, and people on bicycles. To date, DOH Sarasota has tested more than 4100 community members for COVID-19 during our community-based testing events. The Florida Department of Health continues to see new positive cases across the State, please visit flhealth.gov/covid-19 for the most current case count and county-specific data.

Thursday, August 13, 8 am to noon at Englewood Sports Complex, 1300 South River Road, Englewood.  To be evaluated and to make an appointment, please call (941) 861-2883, Monday - Friday from 8 am to 5 pm.

DOH Sarasota recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. 

A roundup of this year's paw-sitively paw-esome animal friends. 

Click here to read the full article from SRQ's Summer 2020 edition.