SRQ DAILY Mar 29, 2021
Monday Business Edition
"The rising cost of property insurance in Florida has affected everyone."
In his first legislative session as a member of the Florida Senate, Sen. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, has focused much of his energy on a massive reform of Florida’s insurance laws. Doing so, he’s found himself at the center of a partisan battle and a struggle between trial lawyers and insurance carriers.
Boyd, CEO of Boyd Insurance & Investments in Bradenton, has tried to strike a balance but said there’s a huge financial threat to domestic insurance carriers in Florida. A recent analysis by the Florida Office of Financial Regulation found property insurers could double losses from 2019 to 2020; net underwriting losses have continued industry-wide for the past five years. In addition to working in the industry, the region he represents has a high concentration of insurance companies headquartered here.
The consequence for consumers has been a dramatic jump in renewal costs for homeowners across the state. Boyd himself saw his own rates jump 40% last year. “The rising cost of property insurance in Florida has affected everyone,” he said.
He’s sponsored legislation this year that addresses losses for insurers in part by eliminating the chance for multiplier fees for attorneys for clients who take carriers to court. Boyd said he understands there will always be a need for some insurers to sure their providers, and there’s some judge’s discretion still allowed in his legislation for high fees in special cases. But the state has seen some instances where attorneys end up with tens of thousands in court payments when they clients leave with less than $200 savings. That’s a situation that benefits only trial attorneys.
"A large percentage of the time, insurance companies settle claims efficiently, quickly and fairly," Boyd said.
But critics of Boyd’s legislation say it directs the reform in the wrong direction. Sen. Gary Farmer, Senate Democratic leader, in committees argued the problem is often carriers willing to go to trial rather than pay a claim with just a couple hundred bucks. “Homeowners don’t want to sue their insurance companies, period,” he said in a committee this week.
Trial lawyers have also lobbied against the reforms, as have some consumers in the Panhandle, where many remain in litigation over claims from Hurricane Michael in 2018. Democrats in the Senate have filed lists of amendments addressing everything from the fee multipliers to the font size on policies.
Notably, Boyd’s legislation also reduces the time a consumer can take a claim to court from three years to two. He also wants a change in what roofing policies can be sold in Florida. Right now, policies must cost the replacement cost of a roof, but he wants policies that just cover a depreciated value on roofs more than 10 years old. “A roof has a life expectancy just like an HVAC unit,” he said. Homeowner have some maintenance costs intrinsic with holding property.
But while the bill allows depreciated values to be insured, he stressed carriers can still offer and those willing to pay the price can still buy policies that cover the full replacement cost on a roof.
Boyd’s legislation have made it through three committee votes and awaits a hearing on the Senate floor. 
The March BrandStory featuring Achieva Credit Union delves into their connection to the community but also provides some key financial advice to SRQ readers. With record low interest rates, now may be a good time to look into a home equity line of credit (HELOC) - a loan that gives you access to cash based on the value of your home. The most common use is for home improvement projects, but a HELOC is flexible — it can also be used to pay for education expenses, bill consolidation, medical expenses, or even a swimming pool! Unlike a Home Equity Loan, where you get one lump sum that you pay off like a mortgage (over 5, 10 or 15 years), with a HELOC, you make payments only on the amount you actually use, similar to a credit card. Reach out to Achieva Credit Union at 800-593-2274 to get connected with a mortgage banker who can help you with a HELOC and get you started on that home improvement project.
CareerSource Suncoast announces that the annual State of Talent Conference is staying virtual again for 2021 and registration is now open at stateoftalent.org. This half-day virtual conference on Wednesday, May 12 welcomes human resource professionals, business owners, and community leaders to better understand the state of talent in our community. Registration is $99 and includes the conference on May 12 from 10am – 3pm and a complimentary invite for up to four colleagues and/or friends.
Brooke Mailloux has been accepted into the prestigous Leadership Institute for the Realtor Association of Sarasota & Manatee. This rigorous program is designed to train emerging REALTOR® leaders who want to get involved, make a difference, grow their businesses and expand their leadership skills.
Lee Wetherington Homes has begun construction on the Turnberry, its newest custom model home at The Founders Club, Sarasota’s premier golf club community. Offering 4,199-square-feet of indoor living space, the inspiration home is situated on the community’s 18-hole Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed golf course at 3712 Caledonia Lane.
Southwest Airlines has added nonstop service between the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) and Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL) in Dallas, Texas, and Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) in Grand Rapids, MI.
Southface Institute is pleased to partner with the Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club site in Sarasota, Florida, as part of Southface’s GoodUse grant program, which guides nonprofits through resource efficiency upgrades to reduce environmental impact and save money that can be reinvested into core programming. Southface engineers completed a comprehensive building energy and water assessment and suggested upgrades to their lighting fixtures, installing LED lighting and controls, low flow plumbing and water use sensors. The upgrades will cost a total of about $60,000, half of which was covered through the GoodUse program grant. The organization will soon begin making the upgrades and using the work as an opportunity to engage the teen Club members, aged 13-18, with opportunities for environmental and sustainability education.
Water’s Edge of Bradenton announces their 1st Annual “Remember When” Vintage Car Show to be held on Saturday, April 17, 2021 from 10am to 2pm. The car show will be held at their recently renovated senior living community at 2015 32nd Ave W, Bradenton, FL 34205.This event is free to the public and will feature Classic Cars, Great Food, Cool Beverages, Door Prizes & Free Giveaways, Craft Vendors, and Classic Music from the 50's, 60's, and 70's. Attendees at the event may also take a tour of the 37-acre campus and experience the over 19,000 square feet of amenities that Water’s Edge of Bradenton has to offer their residents.
Despite the challenges of the pandemic, many say Lakewood Ranch business has boomed.
Click here to read the full article in SRQ's March 2021 edition.
Visit the Sarasota Farmers Market in Downtown Sarasota from 7am-1pm, rain or shine. We understand the severity of COVID-19; therefore, we are instituting some guidelines for both vendors and customers to follow as you join us downtown. Customer Code of Conduct: Stay home if you are sick or have been in contact with someone who is sick, Make a shopping list before coming, Pre-order and prepay vendors online if possible, Designate one shopper per household, Leave pets at home unless it is a service animal, Wear a mask, Look with your eyes only touch what you will buy, Maintain 6 feet of space between you and any others, Shop quickly and get everything to go, No gathering keep walkways clear, Hand sanitizer available at all vendor booths and sanitizing stations.
Downtown Sarasota, Lemon Avenue and State Street, Downtown Sarasota
The exhibition features over a dozen projects that exemplify Abbott’s unique climate and site-based perspective on living in harmony with one’s environment and will run from November 8, 2020 through April 25. Using his Bayou Studio as the epicenter of Abbott’s creative inquiry, the exhibition shows how key concepts developed in the experimental atelier space find physical form in his built projects, whether commissioned or conceived with a prescribed program. Nature is at the heart of Carl Abbott’s creative practice. All of his gestures — however small or grand — exemplify Abbott’s committed ethic and aesthetics, his site-based perspective on living in harmony with one’s environment. While some belief systems posit a “man” v. “nature” sensibility, Abbott’s cosmology understands human beings to be of nature. He thus shapes space, physically and conceptually, to serve nature’s—our—needs, in terms of comfort and shelter, but most importantly, in terms of one’s enrichment and enhancement of life. This exhibition aims to elucidate the art of architecture, examining origin stories, early influences and how the visual environment shaped Abbott’s “ways of seeing”. We hope to bring alive the practice of architecture as an artistic pursuit, a humanistic discipline, and a way to reunite with nature. The exhibition arrays over three areas on the Museum Campus: La Musa Azul – a site-responsive meditation grove located in the Marcy & Michael Klein Plaza, Exant/Extinct – a spotlight exhibition in the historic portion of the Wendy G. Surkis & Peppi Elona Lobby, and The Bayou Studio – a mini-retrospective in the Claire H. Rusen Gallery.
Welcome to the 30th Anniversary Season at the Sarasota Polo Club beginning Sunday December 13th, 2020 thru Sunday April 25th, 2021. Sunday Polo matches are open to the public every Sunday at 1pm beginning December 13th, 2020 through April 25th, 2021. Gates open at 10am. Fieldside general admission tailgating, reserved midfield premium seating or VIP midfield boxes are available for Sunday Polo. Children 12 and under are free, (general admission tailgating). Exciting polo action, opening parade, live national anthem, theme weeks, half-time entertainment, food, drinks, and divot-stomping. Dress comfortably and for the weather. Remember, you will be walking on the grass. Well socialized dogs are welcome on a leash.
Sarasota Polo Club
In collaboration with the Sarasota Architectural Foundation, the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation and the AIA Gulf Coast Chapter, this exhibit will examine the unique history of architecture in Sarasota from the time of Native Americans to the present and will run from January 12 until April 17, 2021. Timed reservation information will be available soon.
Join New College creative writing professor Dr. Emily Carr for this four-part Zoom workshop series is offered from 5pm to 7pm on the second Wednesday of the month: January 13, February 10, March 10, and April 14. A fee of $95 is required for participation. This includes a copy of the required text, The Creative Tarot: A Modern Guide to an Inspired Life by Jessa Crispin, and all four Zoom sessions. This mixed-genre, all-levels workshop includes a basic introduction to the Tarot, generative writing exercises, storytelling tips and tricks, unique Tarot-inspired provocations for creativity in times of crisis, and a discussion of the various ways writers might use the Tarot in their work. This workshop is open to writers at all levels, working in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Together, we'll explore a series of Tarot-inspired writing activities designed to offer you strategies for using the cards to 1) start a new poem/story/essay 2) inject new life and surprising stakes into a poem/story/essay you're already working on and/or 3) breakthrough imaginative blocks - in this particular historical moment.
Since 2004, Embracing Our Differences has used the power of art and prose to promote diversity. One way it accomplishes this is through its annual, juried international outdoor art exhibition consisting of 50 billboard-sized works of art, each accompanied by an inspirational quote. The response to the call for artwork and inspirational quotes brought 15,912 entries pouring in from 128 countries and 48 states. Students from 412 schools around the world submitted artwork or quotes to the juried exhibit. The winning quotes and art will be showcased in the 18th annual exhibit, January 20 through April 1, in Sarasota’s Bayfront Park.
Choral Artists of Sarasota Presents “Marching to Freedom” Live Performance: February 3 at Historic Spanish Point Streamed Online: February 14-March 14. “You’ll Never Walk Alone" Streamed Online: March 11- April 9. A “Concert Insight” with Artistic Director Joseph Holt is February 18. The ensemble’s 42nd season continues with two concerts in February and March. Choral Artists of Sarasota’s 42nd season, entitled “Rise Up” continues with two live and in-person outdoor concerts in February. “Marching to Freedom” pays tribute to racial injustice through music composed by Black Americans. “You’ll Never Walk Alone” showcases uplifting songs from Broadway musicals. Both programs are presentations by Selby Gardens.
Anna Maria Island Privateers will be hosting their annual Thieves Market on Saturday, February 20, Saturday, March 20 and Saturday, April 17 from 8am to 3pm. This year we are celebrating our 50th Anniversary and are working very hard to make each Market more spectacular and fun. Booth space will be 14’ wide x 35’ deep. Coffee and a continental breakfast will be provided by the Privateers for our vendors to enjoy. Vendor set-up begins at 6am. All to be held at GT Bray Recreation Center. We will try to accommodate special requests for medical necessity, but most spots are on a first paid first served basis. Donation per spot per Market is $50 and there are no refunds. Online registration and payment are requested and recommended should you want a spot reserved or you can pay by check or cash if using a paper application, the link to that is below.
Brimming with pulsating rhythms, pure energy and melodic music, the National Dance Company of Ireland’s Rhythm of the Dance show has reached 50 countries with over seven million fans for over 20 years. Fans around the world are enjoying 2,000 years and more of dance, music, songs and culture from pre-Celtic times to modern day sounds, all compacted into a two-hour concert. It’s full of flailing feet and fiddles, futuristic dances, eye-catching lighting and costumes and sensational sound effects, and is now hailed as one of the top three Irish step dance shows in the world. Streaming on demand from Monday, March 1 through Wednesday, March 31. Tickets are $20.
The Community Gallery at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art is pleased to present The Edge Becomes the Center: A Contemplation on Community. The photography exhibition is a collaboration with Senior Friendship Centers and Ringling College of Art and Design. The project, orchestrated by Ringling College of Art and Design students Mathew Dalton and Adam Misiti, involved capturing images of LBGTQ adults in their homes as they dealt with the Covid pandemic and the resulting isolation. Additionally, Dalton and Misiti dedicated time to interviewing each of the five participants to best share their individual stories. The Community Gallery is located on the first level of the Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Center for Asian Art, and admission to the gallery is always free. More information can be found at ringling.org.
“Water, Water Everywhere,” is a divine collection of coastal water oil paintings of local scenery by the gallery’s March Featured Artist Candace Bennington. The exhibit will be on display at Island Gallery West on Holmes Beach from March 2 through 31, 2021. Island West Gallery is located at 5368 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach, Trolley Stop 15, on Anna Maria Island. Gallery hours are 10am to 5pm, Tuesday through Sunday. Visit www.islandgallerywest.com or call 941-778-6648 for updates about the art and member artists of the gallery. Per county and city regulations, masks are required. Hand sanitizer is available.
Join us this spring for Endless Oceans: Conservation in the Community. This semester-long course kicks off the first week of March and you do not want to miss it. Designed to give lifelong learners the opportunity to discover and explore the Gulf Coast's vibrant community of environmental conservation organizations, each class will feature Mote research and guest experts from local organizations working to promote environmental conservation. Students will complete a semester-long project on an environmental topic of their choosing. For this semester, we are once again all-virtual for classes (via interactive Zoom Meetings) and we have added an exciting option for local participants, 3 in-person, fresh air field trips. The semester runs from March 4 through April 15 and will take place from 6:30pm to 8:30pm, registration closes on March 3 and space is limited.
An ArtCenter Manatee curated exhibition featuring master watercolor artists from around the world from March 9 through April 9 at the Kellogg Gallery. The International Watercolor Society has chapters in over 110 countries, and gathers together one of the largest and most diverse group of watercolor artists and art lovers alike. Being of many nations, cultures, and backgrounds, it provides a platform for the continual development, learning, and sharing of the art of watercolor. In addition to the exchange of ideas between artists in the field and industry, it advocates and supports the next generation of artists with the events and exhibitions that are difficult to come by for many. This is the inaugural exhibition of the recently formed IWS Florida USA Chapter at ArtCenter Manatee.
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