SRQ DAILY Feb 18, 2021
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"I remember watching those Benetton commercials in the '90s that were so diverse and I just wanted to be someone that went out and championed diverse bodies and nationalities."
Gov. Ron DeSantis held a press conference in Lakewood Ranch to announce a distribution site at the Premier Sports Campus. But controversy around how this site was chosen for a boost in booster shots drew scrutiny on the event.
Manatee County announced earlier in the week that the 3,000 Moderna vaccines would be available only to those in the 34202 and 34211 ZIP codes. The community hub for vaccines was set up through the developer, and those age 65 and older who are eligible to receive vaccines will be contacted directly about availability. DeSantis announced the vaccines at a podium alongside Manatee County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh, who represents Lakewood Ranch and helped negotiate the additional vaccines.
But since those two zip codes happen to be the wealthiest in the county, according to Census data, that’s raised eyebrows. DeSantis said Wednesday it should not matter. “We’re not diverting from what counties are normally getting,” he stressed. “It’s over and above.”
Thousands of vaccines will still be made available through the Manatee County Department of Health and to local hospitals, and those will still be available to anyone who can set up appointments.
But DeSantis said the state has tried to reach populations with low percentages of seniors getting the vaccine. There have been similar hubs set up at The Villages, Sun City Center and Delray Beach, but the state has also reached out to communities through houses of wordship including churches, synagogues and mosques, ways to serve minority communities that are sometimes reluctant to take the vaccine.
A recent review of progress vaccinating seniors showed Manatee, Sarasota and Charlotte counties with lower than average percentages of eligible individuals getting shots in arms, DeSantis said.
“It wasn’t a choice about ZIP codes,” he said. “It’s about where there is a high concentration of seniors.”
And if there’s controversy about sending the shots to Lakewood Ranch, he suggested the vaccines could go elsewhere in the future.
“If you want us to send it to Sarasota next time, or Charlotte or Pasco or wherever, let us know,” he said. 
Screenshot from Florida Channel
Reppard and Summer Gordon were confronted with the unthinkable when their five-year-old son, Sawyer—known for his big blue eyes and vivacious spirit—cheerfully pedaled his bike onto their busy road. Moments later, a distracted driver, someone the family knew, stood over their motionless child. The motorist that struck and eventually killed their five-year-old son is miraculously embraced by the Gordon’s with unwavering forgiveness. Word of this feat spread widely throughout the community and people wanted to know how this could ever be possible. The Joy FM, a Sarasota based radio station whose listening area reaches through Florida, Georgia and parts of Alabama, produced a video of the Gordons’ testimony. Their JOY Story which was shared over the internet and various social media platforms was seen hundreds of thousands of times.
The Gordon family resides in Sarasota County and has decided to share their story of extreme heartbreak and tragedy with a newly-published book. Inspired by loss, love, forgiveness and believing in the unshakeable goodness of God, Hope Remains: Seeing the Goodness of God in the Shadow of Suffering sends a heartwarming message that "shattered hearts don’t have to mean shattered hope." The book is endorsed by two New York Times Best Selling Authors, Rachel Macy Stafford and Susy Flory, as well as Christian Music Recording artist, Jonny Diaz.
Hope Remains will be released on February 23, 2021 and be available for purchase at barnesandnoble.com, booksamillion.com and amazon.com. You can also visit the Gordon's website summerandreppardgordon.com to learn more.
Join the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation Saturday, March 6th at The Mall at University Town Center for Fashion Funds the Cure. Only 10 drugs have been developed for use in children with cancer since the 1980s and as a result, most children are treated with toxic adult therapies. The National Pediatric Cancer Foundation is conducting research to help fill this gap and develop less toxic, more effective treatment options for childhood cancer. For years, Fashion Funds the Cure has been delighting audiences and giving children battling cancer the experience of a lifetime on the runway while raising funds for pediatric cancer research. Purchase tickets, buy a table, or sponsor the event at https://nationalpcf.org/programs/fashion-funds-the-cure/sarasota-florida/
Community Assisted and Supported Living, Inc. is pleased to announce it has received a $27,250 grant from the COVID-19 Response Initiative of Gulf Coast Community Foundation and Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation. These funds will support the purchase of much-needed technology and logistical support for CASL’s case management team to better serve CASL’s residents with disabling conditions during the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As Hershorin Schiff Community Day School prepares for its move to a new, nearly nine-acre campus in central Sarasota for the 2021-2022 school year, it has recently partnered with Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation to lower barriers to enrollment and ensure more families are able to benefit from the school’s academic excellence and purposeful pluralism. Barancik Foundation has awarded $100,000 to bolster the school’s existing scholarship program for low-income families and another $50,000 to serve as a match to expand early learning efforts. “Community Day School has enhanced its reputation for outstanding educational programming and remain focused on being a diverse and inclusive school,” said Teri A Hansen, President and CEO of Barancik Foundation. “These efforts ensure more students will have the benefit from an exceptional education, especially those who need it most.”
Pictured: Community Day School preschooler Analise Gallant gets hands-on with a building activity
For the 15th consecutive year, the Holleran-Bouck Team at RE/MAX Alliance Group has earned the prestigious Five Star Real Estate Agent award. Fewer than 1 percent of all agents have received the award for 15 consecutive years.
The team can be reached at (941) 302-9333 or theholleranteam@gmail.com.
First Tee - Sarasota/Manatee, an organization founded in 2000 with the primary goal of impacting the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf announces it will team with the LECOM Suncoast Classic, a Korn Ferry Tour/PGA TOUR event, February 18 through 21, to produce a free youth golf clinic. The golf clinic will be held on Saturday, February 20 at Lakewood National Golf Club, the host Club for the Korn Ferry Tour event. The clinic begins at 3:00pm with instruction from a Korn Ferry Tour Professional(s), IMG Academy instructors, and First Tee - Sarasota/Manatee coaches. All children are welcome to attend, and kids get into the tournament at no charge throughout the week.
During the month of February, 12 local senior home care providers at Home Helpers of Bradenton were recognized for their exceptional service to the Bradenton area senior community during the 2020 year. Despite the cancellation of their annual banquet to celebrate their exceptional care providers (due to the pandemic), Home Helpers of Bradenton has awarded one of their staff with their 2020 Exceptional Caregiver of the Year Award. “This award is of great importance to our agency, especially during this pandemic,” said Jonathan Marsh, Owner of Home Helpers of Bradenton. “It not only illustrates our commitment to client satisfaction throughout the year but also our commitment to recognizing our essential staff who have continued to care for some of the most vulnerable in our community.”
For the month of January, passenger traffic at the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) increased 6% over the previous month of December. January passengers totaled 126,704 compared to 119,114 passengers in December. Compared to January 2020, passenger traffic was 56% of the 2020 level of 225,655.
An expansive estate overlooking the Myakka River and Deer Prairie has entered the market for $3.175 million. The 15-acre property is the largest waterfront parcel currently on the market in Venice, boasting 609 feet of river frontage. Situated in a gated community, the sprawling property features a luxurious midcentury modern residence. Located at 630 North River Road, the estate is marketed exclusively by Brad Tritschler of Premier Sotheby’s International Realty’s Venice office; listing details can be viewed here.
Keren Mizrahi of RE/MAX Alliance Group has received her Florida real estate broker license. Her continuing training is part of an ongoing commitment to professionally and expertly serve her clients, the real estate industry and community at large.
Applications are now being accepted for the 2nd Young Entrepreneur Market. The first one was such a success, The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime is doing it again on April 10. Limited to 24 participants. Must be 17 or younger with products to sell. Participation is only $25 and includes table. The address is 821 Apricot Ave, Sarasota. Free to attend and food truck on site. Masks required.
For more information email info@bazaaronapricotandlime.com
Sarasota County has been named one of 2021's Best Workplaces for Commuters for offering exceptional commuter benefits that meet the National Standard of Excellence criteria. According to Julie Bond, "Sarasota County gives its employees the support they need to get to and from work and be at their best before, during, and after their workday."
Manatee County will contact 5,100 seniors to reschedule the week's COVID-19 vaccination appointments that had been scheduled for Bennett Park for Thursday and Friday, February 18 and 19. The new appointment dates will be moved to next Thursday and Friday, February 25 and 26.
The City of Sarasota has launched Breezy Pass, a faster, easier and touch-free way to enter and exit the City’s parking garages. Breezy Pass is similar to a toll road pass system and is now available for purchase from the City. It utilizes RFID technology to simplify the payment process and reduce the time spent finding parking. It also improves accessibility for individuals with disabilities and provides a faster, contactless entry for employees or anyone visiting the three City-operated garages.
The vision behind JKL Design Group's in-house mill shop.
Click here to read the full article in SRQ's February edition.
Selah Freedom is excited to partner with BSWANKY and The Sarasota Modern Hotel to be a light in the darkness as we work to end sex trafficking in our communities and beyond. Please join us for a special event that will highlight this issue and empower you to be a part of the solution on Thursday, February 18 from 5:3opm to 7:30pm. Enjoy an evening on the outdoor patio at The Sarasota Modern hotel with a signature cocktail and hors d'oeuvres. You will have the opportunity to experience speakers from BSWANKY and guest speaker, Elizabeth Fisher Good, Co-founder of Selah Freedom and Selah Way Foundation, and the Author of Groomed. Guests will be inspired by a special Selah Freedom graduate as she shares about her journey into freedom through our programs. BSWANKY has graciously donated an EXCLUSIVE handbag to be raffled at the end of the night. 100% of the proceeds support our life saving programs.
Reaching agreement is often a difficult task, but in a democracy, lasting progress is only possible through dialogue. What makes true dialogue possible? Lincoln Rafael Díaz-Balart (’72-’76) is a Cuban-American attorney, consultant, and human rights advocate. He represented South Florida in the Florida Legislature from 1986 to 1992, and in Congress from 1993 to 2011. He authored and passed significant pieces of legislation in Congress, such as the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act of 1997 (NACARA), which granted legal residency to hundreds of thousands of immigrants in the U.S. who were previously at risk of deportation. Díaz-Balart founded the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) in 2003, which he still serves as chairman. CHLI provides internships and leadership training in our nation’s capital to college students. After leaving Congress in 2011, he founded El Instituto La Rosa Blanca (The White Rose Institute), which stands in solidarity with the pro-democracy movement in Cuba. He currently is a practicing attorney based in Miami. This event will take place on February 18, 2021.
Virtual
Join us at Restorative Ringling on February 18, 2021 from 4 pm to 5 pm for a variety of activities designed to soothe body, mind, and spirit. Herb gardening with Royce Davis in the herb garden.
The Ringling Museum
A Celebration of Female Voices and Female Composers on February 18 from 5:30pm to 6:30pm at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens with Jenny Kim-Godfrey, soprano; Robyn Rocklein, mezzo-soprano; Joseph Holt, piano and narration by Marcy Miller: In the classical music world, the last names Mendelssohn and Schumann usually evoke the first names Felix and Robert, two great composers of the 19th century. But Felix Mendelssohn’s older sister, Fanny Mendelssohn, and Robert Schumann’s wife, Clara Schumann, were each brilliant musicians and composers in their own right. "Women of Note" showcases works by them plus two other formidable but often overlooked female talents, Amy Beach, the first composer to have a symphony performed by a major orchestra, in 1896, and Marion Bauer, a contemporary of Aaron Copland and a key figure in the shaping of 20th-century American music. Noted area sopranos Jenny Kim-Godfrey and Robyn Rocklein are joined by pianist Joseph Holt and narrator Marcy Miller as they reprise their roles in a live performance of the program that they recorded on video in summer of 2020 as part of Florida Studio Theatre’s Suffragist Project.
The Fortunate Ones with Ed Tarkington. A Zoom Author Visit on February 18 at 7pm. The Fortunate Ones is an engrossing story of love and loyalty. The Fortunate Ones is an immersive, elegantly written story that conveys both the seductiveness of this world and the corruption of the people who see their ascent to the top as their birthright. Ed Tarkington's debut novel Only Love Can Break Your Heart was an ABA Indies Introduce selection, an Indie Next pick, a Book of the Month Club Main Selection, and a Southern Independent Booksellers Association bestseller. A regular contributor to Chapter16.org, his articles, essays, and stories have appeared in a variety of publications including the Nashville Scene, Memphis Commercial Appeal, Knoxville News-Sentinel, and Lit Hub. There is no charge for this event. There is the option of a $7 charge for this event to help defray the cost. Reservations required for Zoom link.
SILL launched its 50th season in January with two series. Its hard-hitting “Global Issues” series features acclaimed experts exploring topical issues. This year, they are being offered free of charge on a virtual platform. The United States has endured many crises in its history; wars, pandemics and severe economic contractions. Leaders helped citizens to survive these crises and improve American society. Dr. Suri will discuss the lessons for our leaders to manage our current crises and help us to build a better country on Thursday, February 18 at 10:30am.
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.
The Perlman Music Program Suncoast is pleased to announce that the PMP Alumni: At Home free virtual recital featuring the Ariel Quartet, postponed from January, will be released on February 18, 2021. In 2003, The Ariel Quartet was invited by The Perlman Music Program to attend its very first Chamber Music Workshop on Shelter Island, NY. Between 2011 and 2016, the quartet was a frequent visitor to Sarasota and Manatee counties, performing at the Sarasota Opera House, the Venice Performing Arts Center, and other community venues, as well as participating in education outreach programs in local schools. Hailed by The Washington Post as “...a blazing, larger-than-life performance...” and distinguished by its virtuosity, probing musical insight, and impassioned, fiery performances, the Ariel Quartet has garnered critical praise worldwide over the span of nearly two decades. Formed in Israel as teenagers at the Jerusalem Academy Middle School of Music and Dance and celebrating their 20th anniversary in 2020-21, the Ariel was named recipient of the prestigious Cleveland Quartet Award, granted by Chamber Music America in recognition of artistic achievement and career support. The ensemble serves as the Faculty Quartet-in-Residence at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, where they direct the chamber-music program and present a concert series in addition to maintaining a busy touring schedule in the United States and abroad.
The City of Sarasota, in partnership with Legal Aid of Manasota, will host an upcoming free webinar aimed at assisting residents with title-related questions, especially in circumstances of a home inheritance. The webinar, “Protect Your Generational Wealth,” is set for 6pm on Thursday, February 18. Residents must register in advance at SarasotaFL.gov/NewtownTitleAssistance. In communities throughout the country, generations of families live in houses and mobile homes to which they may be legally entitled, but for which they lack proper record title. Title problems often arise as a homeowner seeks to receive emergency relief for natural disasters, apply for home-improvement loans, participate in federal, state or local grant funding programs, acquire homestead exemptions or acquire permits for much-needed home repairs. Although this webinar is open to all city residents, community members who live within the boundaries of the Newtown Community Redevelopment Area will be eligible for additional funding assistance for associated legal costs to obtain clear titles. Legal costs can include the costs of recording official documents, completing title searches, archiving property records and much more. More information on this service will be shared on the webinar. The free webinar will also review how to look up your title/deed details and plan for estate inheritance for your family.
On February 18 at 6:30pm in Historic Asolo Theater Benfer Courtyard James McAvoy gives a stunningly powerful performance in this piece of pure theatre, the most breathtakingly exciting show in London right now. Director Jamie Lloyd and adapter Martin Crimp have updated and mutated Edmond Rostand’s 1897 verse drama about a soldier-poet with an enormous nose into a stripped-back, street-style rap battle. Performed by an ethnically and physically diverse ensemble in modern dress, with hardly any set and without a prosthetic proboscis for McAvoy, it engages the imagination, the mind, and the heart. This program will take outside in the Benfer Courtyard, located just outside of the Kotler-Coville Glass Pavilion. Tickets will be available starting 30 days prior to the screening date. Available seating will be marked to ensure social distancing. Due to rising COVID cases and safety concerns this event is subject to cancellation. Tickers are $20 for nonmembers, $18 for Members, and $10 for Students. Tickets will be available 30 days prior to the event. Ticket holders will be notified and refunded if the screening is canceled.
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