The Sarasota Film Society announced it will close its movie theaters in Burns Court and Lakewood Ranch indefinitely beginning Dec. 2. Officials said the pandemic has both severely reduced the marketplace of movie-goers and cut off a pipeline of films to screen.

“Due to the overwhelming decline in revenue, as a result of COVID-19 and the lack of content being released from Hollywood & Independent Studios, it is with great sadness we announce the temporary closure of Sarasota Film Society’s Burns Court Cinema & Lakewood Ranch Cinema locations,” reads a letter to Film Society members.

The society will still show a range of “Virtual Cinema” on its website, www.filmsociety.org. The facilities themselves will remain available for private rentals and other events.

“We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause you, and we understand that you might be disappointed in this decision,” the message reads, “but it is the most responsible decision we can make to ensure we can still provide the highest level of entertainment and education to the community in all areas of the film industry.”

Executive staff said those who desire to support the society may still buy gift cards or donate to the organization. 

Robert Marbut created a stir in Sarasota after he was hired in 2013 to find a solution for street homelessness. Then he was tapped by President Donald Trump as executive director for the U.S. Interagency Council on Homeless, better known at the homelessness czar.

He wore that hat when he returned to the region on Tuesday for a town hall organized by newly elected Sarasota City Commissioner Erik Arroyo. He talked a good deal about what Sarasota has done right, while remaining as controversial as ever in his opinions on housing first and other solutions.

On a positive note, Marbut said he has continued through most of the past decade to tout Sarasota for its work addressing family and adolescent homelessness. “Twice in the last week, when asked where is the best program in the country, I said Sarasota, Florida,” he said.

Marbut pointed to work done by the Gulf Coast Community Foundation and other nonprofits in the region, hand in hand with the Sarasota County School District, to make sure youth and their families get connected with social services and housed. He categorized the work as the “most innovative youth p rogramming in America.”

But Marbut remains highly critical of an over-emphasis nationwide on housing first policies, ones that put the priority on moving individuals regardless of their situation and need off the streets and into any type of permanent housing available. Since 2013, the federal government pushed from “transitional housing” to “rapid rehousing,” something that tied the measured success of a program to how quickly keys could be put in an individuals hand rather than gauging what social services should be afforded. It’s the equivalent, Marbut suggests, of sending drug addicts to a live-in clinic that has no program available for sobering up.

“We went from treating this as a public health issue to a civil rights issue,” he said. “Some states started to have a constitutional right to free housing.” While advocates said housing first could effectively bring homeless to zero within five years, Marbut said total homelessness in fact has gone up in the past eight years.

Arroyo said he thought it was important to bring Marbut back to the region “to continue a conversation that was never finished" and "maybe assess what we'vedone since a few things have changed in the last seven years."

Marbut also discussed the COVID-19 situation, which he said eats up 95% of his agency’s time at the moment. He acknowledged numerous mistakes made throughout the past year, but said a push for a vaccines has been fruitful, and there should be some distributed in the nation in December.

And with Thanksgiving upon Sarasotans, he offered a sobering bit of information about spreading COVID-19. “We’re finding eating together is the single biggest factor” for transmission of the virus, he said. He noted the Notre Dame football team practiced together for an extended period of time, but after they began eating meals together, the virus spread to about a third of the team and staff. 

The Team Tony Cancer Foundation, a Sarasota-based nonprofit organization that provides free peer-to-peer cancer support and resources to cancer fighters, survivors and caregivers in the local community, has announced their 10th Anniversary Celebration, “10 Days of Team Tony”. December 2nd begins the festivities.  Events include, virtual happy hour, restaurant give back nights, virtual 10K, Zwift ride with Bobby Julich, charity ride at CycleBar, Sip and Shop at J. McLaughlin and many other efforts and ways to support. 

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Children First is providing meals to families and staff for the holiday season thanks to the generosity of Sarasota realtor Michele Tanner, her non-profit Tanner’s Turkeys, and an anonymous donor. The agency distributed 60 turkeys and sides to the families it serves as a recipient of ‘Tanner’s Turkey’s Holiday Basket Brigade,’ and Publix holiday meal gift cards for each of their more than 200 employees thanks to generous support from an anonymous donor. Says CEO Philip Tavill, “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Children First has continued to retain all staff members as we work collectively to provide the highest level of service, elevate our mission, and support our families during an unprecedented time. We are deeply grateful to Michele and everyone behind this year’s basket brigade, our anonymous donor, our staff, board of directors, children, and families, and our community for making all of this great work possible each day.” 

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With the right opportunities to discuss active roles in fund development with nonprofit board members, organizations may enjoy greater participation and outcomes in fundraising. On Monday, December 14 from 12pm to 1:00pm, Manatee Community Foundation will host a webinar and discussion about the role of fundraising for boards. In this conversation, they will give examples of how board members can be more effective in their roles as doers, donors and door openers, leading to greater contributions from individual givers.  

To learn more and register, visit ManateeCF.org or email events@manateecf.org.

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Sarasota Yacht Club is pleased to announce its selection as a Platinum Club of America, one of only 30 yacht clubs in the country to earn the distinction from the esteemed Club Leaders Forum. Platinum recognition is given to the top five percent of private clubs. “We are once again honored to be selected among the finest yacht clubs in the country,” said Sarasota Yacht Club Commodore Hugh McIllrevey. “I applaud the efforts of our staff and I’m thankful for a membership that supports our leadership team as we work to ensure that Platinum status will be realized for years to come.” 

For information, contact Stephania Feltz at 941-365-4191 or stephania.feltz@sarasotayachtclub.org.

Jonathan Lewis, Sarasota County Administrator, is the 2020 recipient of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce’s Chair’s Cup Award. For nearly a decade, the firm of Kerkering, Barberio & Co. have sponsored this distinguished award, which was announced at the Sarasota Chamber’s Virtual 100th Annual Meeting. 

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The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime is hosting a Young Entrepreneur Market outside in their courtyard on January 23 from 10-3pm. Open to anyone under 17 with a product to sell or service to promote. The cost is only $20 and The Bazaar will provide tables. The Bazar is located at 821 Apricot Ave, Sarasota and is home to over 25 local artisans and vendors selling art, clothing, gifts, plants, jewelry, food, and so much more. There are art and music classes available. Open Thursday - Saturday 10-3pm weekly with live music in the afternoons.

For more information email info@bazaaronapricotandlime.com.

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Just in time for Christmas, the Sarasota-Manatee Originals are offering branded apparel. For a limited time only, a collection of t-shirts will be offered featuring designs inspired by the organization’s mission to promote the area’s unique, locally-owned, independent dining establishments. The promotional clothing items will be available November 24 – December 2, and can be viewed and purchased online only through BONFIRE, a popular and well-respected print-on-demand site. “This shirt sale will let our 941 residents, as well as out-of-town fans of our Gulf-coastal lifestyle, wear their support for our local eateries on their sleeves,” said Sarah Firstenberger, Executive of the Sarasota-Manatee Originals.  “Our goal is to raise awareness as well as some marketing dollars for these fantastic restaurateurs who put their hearts and souls into this industry and are the backbone of their communities.” 

Click here for more information.