SRQ DAILY Feb 6, 2021
"Sarasota's deep-rooted history of addressing affordable housing requires a mindset that puts the whole family first and foremost for the betterment of the whole community."
The places we call home hold value far beyond any ZIP code or pin on Google Maps. Our front doors are the starting line for the personal relationships, job opportunities and time spent with others that make up our quality of life. And yet, the hindering realities of affordability in our community often force many families to compromise on their own realms of possibility – be it long commutes or insurmountable rent – in favor of building a better life for their children. The dignity in living and thriving where you work should be attainable by all.
One such solution begins with affordable and workforce housing. However, Sarasota’s deep-rooted history of addressing affordable housing requires a mindset that puts the whole family first and foremost for the betterment of the whole community. Approaching this issue through a two-generation lens brings about tremendous opportunities that give families of all shapes, ages and sizes the stability necessary to create a new world of possibilities.
When it comes to social investments of this scale and duration, collaboration across sectors as well as innovation outside the realm of traditional grantmaking are exactly what’s needed.
Last summer, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County’s board of directors approved a capstone investment of $2 million to support Lofts on Lemon, a 128-unit affordable and workforce housing development led by the Sarasota Housing Authority located in downtown Sarasota’s Rosemary District. Designed with both financial and social returns such as education and career development in mind, our foundation’s investment in Lofts on Lemon is an investment in families with limited assets for the long-term, starting with the very roof over their heads.
Though the complex isn’t expected to be completed until 2022, several weeks ago I had the privilege of joining city officials, philanthropists, foundations, businesses and other community-minded organizations to celebrate the groundbreaking of what will eventually become Lofts on Lemon. With my shovel in hand, I imagined what this project would mean for the 76 other families struggling to earn just 60% of Sarasota’s median income. Or the 52 “hometown heroes” – teachers, healthcare workers, and first responders – who will later claim this address as their own, which our colleagues at the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation have been emphatic about supporting as part of this project.
Beyond budgets and dollar signs, those who will call Lofts on Lemon home will be able to improve their financial stability and ensure that most basic of human needs: security and safety. Mothers, fathers and caretakers who have long worried over where they will live or if they can afford to pay next month’s rent will finally have the resources to direct their energy toward building new dreams, for themselves and their children. That emotional stability, that respite to breath and focus on what – and who – truly matters, is invaluable.
As Lofts on Lemon reveals to us, there is real promise and possibility in placemaking. But one groundbreaking, one shovel in the ground is akin to only unlocking the front door. It is up to each of us to create and sustain these spaces, to perpetuate cycles of opportunity and wellbeing, and to do so together, across sectors, across geographies. And for the future residents, it’s about welcoming them home.
Roxie Jerde is President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. 
Photo: Lofts on Lemon groundbreaking. Image courtesy City of Sarasota.
This Sunday is the biggest NFL Game of the Season the SUPER BOWL! This is even more exciting because our Tampa Bay Buccaneers are representing the NFC.
This will be the first time in the history of the Super Bowl that the host Stadium is also home of the one of the teams, our Tampa Bay Buccaneers!
There is plenty of excitement in our area as we are so close to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. Consumers will find many displays in our area full of the great beers from AB/lnBev along with many of the Sports Bars and Grill Bars where folks will be watching the big game. There is local radio activation and television advertising for the new Michelob Ultra Seltzers, Bud Light Seltzers, along with the official beer of the NFL Bud Light!
As consumers are shopping for the game snacks and supplies, our team at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing has made certain that our beers are in full supply and conveniently available to satisfy every consumer shopping list.
In the Sports Bars and Grill Bars, where the game will be on televisions, there is plenty of visual reminders that Bud Light is the Official Beer of the NFL to suggest watching the game and enjoy a frosty cold pint of Bud Light!
We want everyone to enjoy the game and join in to cheer our Tampa Bay Buccaneers to victory!
Just as important, we want everyone to be responsible and DRINK WISER! So, if you are out or at a friend watching the game, have a plan to get home safely. It is not worth the risk of driving while intoxicated.
Gold Coast Eagle Distributing has also partnered with the National Beer Wholesalers Association and the Florida Beer Wholesalers Association for an awareness training to educate employees on recognizing and reporting the warning signs of human trafficking. Gold Coast Eagle Distr. efforts are part of a nationwide campaign to help combat human trafficking in communities across the United States.
To help members of Gold Coast Eagle Distr. understand human trafficking, identify the signs, and respond if they suspect this heinous crime is happening, the team at Gold Coast Eagle Distr. Participated together a video training session. The employees were also equipped with the contact info of National Human Trafficking Hotline, which is (888)373-7888 or 233733(BEFREE) as a text. Human trafficking is a $150 billion dollar industry, with over half of human trafficking cases in the US being child sex trafficking cases.
Gold Coast Eagle Distributing has long since been supporting various organizations helping to end Human Trafficking. There has been a rise in our area over the past few years. The local Sheriff Departments and organizations such as Selah Freedom have held many fundraisers and awareness meetings at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing and around the area to bring the awareness to this terrible exploitation of child sex trafficking. We at Gold Coast Eagle Distr. will continue to support these efforts to bring and end to such a activity in our communities.
A letter from Gold Coast Eagle Distributing.
Photo courtesy Raymond James Stadium.
The Unity Paradox article read more like a cover letter for a Fox News resume submission than an informative piece. It’s obvious Jacob Ogles has never served an honest day in the military and has no idea the sacrifices real soldiers are asked to endure. I’m here to tell you that standing in a parking lot for hours without cell service in chilly weather doesn’t scratch the surface. Most up north would call that tailgating. Our Floridian seniors have spent weeks standing in line for 8 to 12 hours in cold parking lots with little to no cell service just to be turned away for a vaccine shot. Where were the quotes of outrage from Vern Buchanan and Ron DeSantis for our frail senior population?
Funny how the Florida GOP minority managed to pop their heads up for this non-issue but refused to assist with deescalating the events of 1/6. $3.8 billion was stolen from the DOD to build that vanity wall selection while depleting our military of funds our soldiers desperately need, now that’s disgraceful.
Still waiting on our peso reimbursement.
Owen P. Eastman is a part-time Sarasota resident.
It's not all high-rises. Sarasota's downtown-adjacent hoods saw a boom in 2020.
Click here to read the full article in SRQ's February edition - out now!
Virtual Lecture Series on Mondays, January 25 through February 22, 2021 from 11am to 12:15pm and 7pm to 8:15pm. Lecturer is Kevin Adkisson, Associate Curator at Cranbrook Center for Collections and Research. $75 for Adults and $25 for Full-time Students with ID. Free for Cranbrook Academy of Art and Cranbrook Schools Students (Cranbrook students must register by sending an email from their Cranbrook address to center@cranbrook.edu). Advance registration required (Fee includes all five lectures). This lecture series is eligible for American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Credits (AIA/CES).
Joseph's Coat Skyspace is a triumph of technology, engineering, and aesthetics. The Skyspace, created by internationally-renowned artist James Turrell, is a gathering place for contemplation, and sustained experience. At sunset, a sophisticated system of LED lights is employed to change the color of the space. In doing so, the artist changes the context in which you view the sky and can radically change your perception of the color of the sky and its spatial relation to you. As you gaze up at the sky through the 24-foot square aperture in the ceiling, you are invited to contemplate light, perception, and experience. Joseph's Coat is a unique experience. Tickets are $10 for non-members and free for members and will be available 30 days prior to each event.
The season kicks off with Laura Osnes in Concert on February 5 and 6 at 7pm, with music direction by Fred Lassen. Ms. Osnes is a two-time Tony-nominated Broadway superstar known for her memorable performances as Cinderella in Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella and Bonnie Parker in Bonnie & Clyde, a role she created in Asolo Rep's 2010 pre-Broadway run. Her other Broadway credits include Julia Trojan in Bandstand, Hope Harcourt in Anything Goes, Nellie Forbush in Lincoln Center Theater's South Pacific, and Sandy in Grease. She has performed in prestigious cabaret and symphony venues across the country and can currently be seen starring on television in three Hallmark channel original movies; In the Key of Love, A Homecoming for the Holidays and One Royal Holiday.
February 4 through 14, The Players Centre for Performing Arts presents, In Love with Shakespeare, just in time for Valentine’s Day. Featuring scenes from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Taming of the Shrew, Romeo and Juliet and more. Experience passion through Shakespeare’s words because, as the Bard wrote in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, “The course of true love never did run smooth.” Masks are required for this outdoor event. Temperature checks will be conducted, and patrons will be socially distanced. Hamlet's Food Truck will be available Thursday through Sunday (will be closing 30 minutes prior to performance). Seats are provided. NO TICKETS will be printed for this event. Upon making your purchase your name will be on a reservation list. Tickets are $20 for adults and $12.50 for students (under 24). Performances February 4-6 and 9-13 will begin at 7:30pm and performances on February 7 and 14 will begin at 2pm.
Color & Clay, an installation by Joan Libby Hawk, ceramist, and Jana Millstone, painter, presents a unique conversation between artists and mediums at Art Uptown gallery, Sarasota. Artists Joan Libby Hawk, a ceramist, and Jana Millstone, a painter, present Color & Clay - A Duet, their unique conversation between artists and mediums. The collaborative exhibit of clay objects and paintings, on view at Art Uptown from January 30 to February 26, 2021, celebrates color, light and form. Sharing a contemporary visual sensibility, the artists explore the connections between their three-and two-dimensional work, riffing off the play of light, negative space and transparent color. The artists will host a Zoom conversation in early February to talk about their collaboration and the installation’s visual goals. Details to come. Visit this engaging installation at Art Uptown, located at 1367 Main Street, open Monday through Friday, 11am to 5pm, Saturday, 11am to 3pm and Sunday, 12pm to 5pm. You can meet the gallery artists all day on Saturdays. Private appointments can be arranged by calling 941.955.5409. The gallery continues its commitment to visitor and staff safety by the use of masks, sanitizer, frequent cleaning and social distancing.
Women’s Resource Center Hosts A Free Woman-Owned Business Webinar on February 17 from noon to 1pm. Guest speakers include representatives from the Small Business Development Center, the Manatee County Libraries Information Services, CareerSource Suncoast’s Thrive program, and the owner of Snarky Tea. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, new business applications are up over 26 percent compared to last year with many of those coming from companies started by women. A recent study found that, between 2014 and 2019, the number of women-owned businesses climbed 21 percent to a total of nearly 13 million companies, representing 42 percent of all U.S. small businesses with revenue topping $1.9 trillion—growing at double the rate of all U.S. businesses. Women’s Resource Center (WRC) is hosting a free online webinar, February 17, noon-1 p.m., to help connect women to free resources to help them evaluate this potential career path. The session is part of WRC’s monthly Career Connections program to link women to quality jobs and funded trainings. Participants can attend by phone or computer and will be able to ask questions via a chatbox. Register at www. mywrc.org/womenowned or call (941) 256-9721 for more information.
The Central West Coast Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (CWC-FPRA) is hosting “Striking the Balance in a Year of Transformation” on February 17 at noon, featuring Universal Orlando Resort’s Alyson Gernert, APR, CPRC. As the Senior Director of Corporate Communications, Gernert will be discussing how her team worked to strike the balance amidst a global shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including finding new ways to communicate, care for their guests, care for their employees and care for self. Gernert has worked on Universal’s communications team for more than 12 years and also serves as the state president for Florida Public Relations Association. Tickets for the program are $10/FPRA members, $15/guests; cost includes access to the recordings after the event. To register, visit cwcfpra.com/events. This event is virtual via Zoom. Upon registration, event attendees will receive a Zoom link for the event. A link to a recording of the webinar can be provided to registered event attendees following the event as well. The Central West Coast Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association meets monthly for professional development luncheons and networking. Visit www.cwcfpra.com for more information.
In-Studio Performance Series Gravity and Levity Written and Performed by Eliza Ladd live stream on February 12, 2021 at 7:30pm and catch it again for a live broadcast recording on February 13th, 2021 at 7:30pm. t took 400 million years to go from quadruped to biped, and now this? How to move, how to eat, how to fly — join a very particular creature on a shape shifting journey to die for. Tickets: Choose What You Pay, $5, $10, or $15. Keeping in the spirit of creating opportunities for artists in various stages of their creative process, In-Studio Performance Series is a 2-4 week residency, providing artists access to SCD studio home and its resources. At the end of the 2-4 week residency, there will be a live streamed performance followed by Q& A with the SCD director and artists. Please join us this month to see Eliza Ladd, long-time collaborator with SCD. All Ticket purchases close one hour before each show.
Collage & Mixed Media Workshop with Elena DeLaVille on February 18 and 19 from 1:30pm to 4:30pm. This workshop is a fun and hands-on course that will introduce you to the different materials available today for collage and mixed media. You will experiment with different papers, fabric and found images - working with them and then adding paint. We will explore the materials that are used in the making of collage pieces and with that information you can choose the materials that are ‘right’ for you. The instructor will cover Content and composition, Creating a Personal Visual Vocabulary, The principles of design, Adhesives and assemblage techniques to use in your project, and How shape, value, color, movement, size and pattern will help to unify your work and find your ‘voice’. This is an online course. When you register (and are paid in full), a Zoom link will be emailed to you. If your teacher has additional handouts, those will also be emailed to you.
Compassionate Self Care Boxes Workshop with Judy Lyon on Friday, February 19 from 1:30pm to 4:30pm on Zoom. This workshop will focus on developing the skills to honor and care for ourselves. Many of us give so much to others and we sometimes disregard our own needs. Self-care is vital to our overall well-being. This class will include many ideas to promote self-care. First, we will create a container to hold our techniques learned today. These are collaged boxes, created from a cigar box (or other) magazines and Mod Podge or glue. We will create cards for Self-Care Methods, Laughter Exercise Cards, Mantra or Prayer cards, as well as choosing tokens and self-care symbols which will all be held in the box. Whenever you are feeling stressed you will have a handy tool to turn to for support and comfort. This is an online course. When you register (and are paid in full), a Zoom link will be emailed to you. If your teacher has additional handouts, those will also be emailed to you.
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