SRQ DAILY May 6, 2021
Freshly Squeezed Content Every Morning
"We have to pull together as a community and make sure we are heard. And at some level, we believe we are the better stewards of our community."
Could Siesta City become the region’s next city?
An effort is underway to study the possibility of incorporating most of the island as a municipality. The organization Save Siesta Key has already started a series of meetings on the topic. But leaders of the group stress even they are not yet certain yet if building a city hall will be the most important next step on the island.
“I want to be really clear. We don’t know if incorporation is right,” said Tracy Jackson, a board member for Save Siesta Key. “But it’s time to do a feasibility study.”
That said, there’s a distinct feeling among many on the island that the status quo hasn’t provided enough of a voice for the community regarding its own future. Most of Siesta Key lays in unincorporated Sarasota County, leaving planning decisions and regulations to the County Commission. Jackson points to recent actions with hotel development on the island, approval of a project at Stickney Point Road and Tamiami Trail, and variances approves within the Siesta Key Overlay District.
Incidentally, that district was born out of the last community conversation about incorporation. Codified in 2001, the district followed discussions in the late 1990s about incorporation and was viewed as a way to dictate specific development plans for Siesta different from other unincorporated areas.
But was that enough? There’s at least skepticism whether the district still provides enough protection.
If the community does want to incorporate, there’s a process that starts with a feasibility study, includes a community vote and finally requires action by the Florida Legislature. If a vote should occur, Jackson said the organization would like that to happen in March next year, a timetable of less than a year. Putting a measure on a ballot can be done through the Supervisor of Elections.
A charter must also be finalized by that time.
While the group isn’t committing to the route of becoming a city, Jackson said it’s important to explore options.
“What is the solution to not being heard?” she said. “We have to pull together as a community and make sure we are heard. And at some level, we believe we are the better stewards of our community.”
For the moment, the effort will only explore incorporating all of the land on Siesta Key, excluding a neighborhood on the north end of the island that’s part of the City of Sarasota. Jackson said in the future, there may be discussion of that area switching city jurisdiction but that could complicate the fledging efforts underway today.
Save Siesta Key held an initial meeting on April 18, and will hold a second one on municipal incorporation on May 19 at 7pm. The meeting will be held at Siesta Chapel and masks are required. 
Image courtesy Visit Sarasota County
Please join on Tuesday, May 18 from 12pm-1:30pm, either in-person or virtually, and welcome Lisa Genova as she discusses her new book Remember. Learn why forgetting is completely normal—and potentially useful for your brain. Dr. Genova is a Harvard graduate, neuroscientist, and New York Times bestselling author of the novels Still Alice, Left Neglected, Love Anthony, Inside the O’Briens, and EveryNote Played. Still Alice was adapted into an Oscar-winning film.
The archives at The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art is diligently working on making old films new. The archives that serve as the repository for 410 historic circus films from as far back as 1926, has acquired new technology that allows them to not only convert the analog films for digital use, but to preserve and correct them. High-resolution still photos can also be captured from the films. "We're bringing these films to FSU's Diginole and other sites to make them accessible in modern technology like cellphones and computers," said Heidi Connor, Chief archivist. "Circuses are fascinating and we need to see them in motion. We want to invite the circus community and others to contribute their own films for us to turn into videos before it's too late."
Sarasota Youth Opera’s annual Summer Camp enrollment is now open, and plans are under way for a variety of live interactive and participatory Zoom sessions in Chorus, Acting, Opera 101 (Opera history), Props & Sets, Wigs & Makeup, Costumes, Stage Management 101 (brand new course), and “Write Your Own Opera.” Classes will be led by professional singers, artists, directors, musicians, and technicians. Camp sessions will take place from 10am to 2pm, Monday through Friday, between June 21-July 2. Tuition is $150 for the two-week virtual camp experience and participants will be shipped music and materials needed for project-based classes. All classes will be live, not pre-recorded. Reduced tuition is available for siblings, and tuition assistance is offered to families in need.
MD NOW® Urgent Care, the largest urgent care provider in Florida, is offering the Moderna-2 dose vaccine at select clinics in Lee and Manatee Counties where patients can conveniently walk in to get vaccinated as appointments are no longer necessary. The vaccine is offered at the following clinics while supplies lasts: Lee County, Fort Myers - 12748 S Cleveland Ave, Suite 102, Fort Myers, FL 33907. Manatee County West Bradenton - 4332 Cortez Rd W, Bradenton, FL 34210.
The Southwest Florida Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP-SWFL), one of the most active chapters of professional fundraisers in the nation, offering members the opportunity to connect with colleagues, engage in creative thinking, network with new friends and achieve great results in their work, presents Developing Your Fundraising Plan on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at 12:00 pm via Zoom.
On behalf of the Ringling College of Art and Design community, the virtual Commencement Ceremony honoring the Classes of 2021 and 2020. This year’s Ceremony is scheduled for 3:30 pm (EDT) on Thursday, May 13, 2021 and will continue to be accessible for viewing on the website through the summer. The commencement speaker for this year, Aubrey O’Brien. Aubrey graduated from Ringling’s renowned Interior Design program in 2009 and went on to establish her own design firm, Aubrey O’Brien Inc.
The Southwest Florida Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP-SWFL), one of the most active chapters of professional fundraisers in the nation, offering members the opportunity to connect with colleagues, engage in creative thinking, network with new friends and achieve great results in their work, presents Developing Your Fundraising Plan on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at 12pm via Zoom. This exciting presentation features a dynamic panel including Susie Bowie, Manatee Community Foundation; Amy Towery CFRE, ACFRE, Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee; Declan Sheehy, New College Foundation; Steve Higgins, CFRE, Carter and moderator, Julie Poulin, CFRE, Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County, as they share best practices on developing an effective, creative and comprehensive plan to ensure success. Cost is $15 for AFP members and $25 for nonmembers.
Michael McDonald is proud to present his third livestream concert event, Home Alone 3: Yo Mama Be There, taking place on Mother’s Day weekend. Enjoy the show for yourself, or get a two-pack for you and the special lady in your life. The show will stream live on Friday, May 7 at 9pm and be available to watch or rewatch all weekend long.
Meet the Broadway and National Tour stars of the Tony Award winning revival of Lincoln Center Theater's My Fair Lady. Your purchase includes access to view the Video On Demand from 12am on May 13 through 11:59pm on May 16. Featuring: Laura Benanti (Eliza Doolittle), Shereen Ahmed (Eliza/Tour), Rosemary Harris (Mrs. Higgins), Jordan Donica (Freddy Eynsford-Hill) and Sam Simahk (Freddy/Tour). The Broadway Cast Reunion Series gives audiences a chance to do what they may never have done before: visit “backstage” with the cast and hear personal, hilarious, unscripted stories and gossip – as the casts really let their hair down. Viewers can even ask questions via the chat feature. Tickets are $15.
We are delighted to add Come From Away to the Broadway Cast Reunion Series featuring 5 of the original Broadway female leads! Your purchase includes access to view the episode via Video On Demand from 12am on May 27 through 11:59pm on May 30. Featuring: Petrina Bromley (Bonnie & others), Jenn Colella (Beverly/Annette & others), Q. Smith (Hannah & others), Astrid Van Wieren (Beulah & others) and Sharon Wheatley (Diane & others). Come From Away tells the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them. Cultures clashed and nerves ran high, but uneasiness turned into trust, music soared into the night, and gratitude grew into enduring friendships. On September 11, 2001 the world stopped. On September 12, their stories moved us all. A “Best Musical” winner all across North America, the smash hit musical won the Tony Award for “Best Direction of a Musical” (Christopher Ashley), 4 Olivier Awards (London) including “Best New Musical,” 5 Outer Critics Circle Awards (NYC) including “Outstanding New Broadway Musical” and 3 Drama Desk Awards (NYC) including “Outstanding Musical.” The Broadway Cast Reunion Series gives audiences a chance to do what they may never have done before: visit “backstage” with the cast and hear personal, hilarious, unscripted stories and gossip – as the casts really let their hair down. Viewers can even ask questions via the chat feature.
In a series of virtual presentations by Circus and Cultural Historians whose research has brought them to The Ringling, learn about the experiences, contributions, and documentation of women in the circus and allied arts. This particular edition, with Betsy Golden Kellem, will take place on Thursday, May 6 at 10:30am. It is $5 for non-members and free for members. Tickets for Virtual programs are available 30 days prior to each program.
This program looks lovingly back in time at past artists whose works continue to inspire from May 6 through 9 and stream for $10 from May 13 through 18. World-renowned pianist and conductor Jeffrey Kahane is the soloist in Johann Sebastian Bach's powerful Piano Concerto No. 1, which inspired legions of later composers. Maestro Kahane then takes to the podium to lead Pulitzer Prize winning American composer Caroline Shaw's Entr'acte for string orchestra. Composed after hearing a 2011 performance of Haydn's String Quartet Op. 77, No. 2, Entr'acte is structured like an 18th-century minuet, transformed by a 21st-century composer's ears. The program concludes with Edvard Grieg's beloved Holberg Suite. Written as an homage to the 18th-century Norwegian author Ludvig Holberg, Grieg's joyful collection of dance movements provides an uplifting conclusion to Sarasota Orchestra's reimagined 2020-2021 season.
Wild Kratts: Ocean Adventure - a new exhibit created by Minnesota Children's Museum and the creators of the top-rated PBS Kids TV series "Wild Kratts" - will open soon at Mote Aquarium. The exhibit focuses on building STEM-based skills for children ages 3 to 9. It will be at Mote from January 30 to June 6, 2021. Wild Kratts: Ocean Adventure transports visitors to the Wild Kratts world, immersing them in whole body explorations of ocean habitats. Using Wild Kratts technology and the powers of science and teamwork, children and their families will join the Wild Kratts team to solve problems, help marine animals, and foil the villains' nefarious plans.
Ringling College of Art and Design is delighted to present Best of Ringling, its annual student juried exhibition. This year’s show will be viewable online, May 6 at 5pm. To view the opening awards ceremony and see the galleries of student work, simply follow the link on our main website: www.ringling.edu. The Best of Ringling comprises work from all disciplines at Ringling College, ranging from Computer Animation to Fine Arts, Creative Writing to Virtual Reality Development. Over a dozen jurors, well-known and respected professionals in their fields, participate in the vetting, selection, and awards process. These jurors also provide the criteria for selection and offer comment and critique for the students. This year's Ringling College of Art and Design Senior Thesis Exhibition will be delivered using multiple online platforms to provide digital and virtual experiences. This website, www.ringlingthesis.com will serve as the exhibition’s focal point and will be published at 4pm on May 7. From this website, visitors will be able to access and/or link to each departments' exhibition. Features will include wall-based virtual exhibitions, special one-time-only Computer Animation and Film screenings, interactive games, and much more. Exhibitions will be viewable in-person and online. Contact galleries@ringling.edu for more details.
SRQ DAILY is produced by SRQ | The Magazine. Note: The views and opinions expressed in the Saturday Perspectives Edition and in the Letters department of SRQ DAILY are those of the author(s) and do not imply endorsement by SRQ Media. Senior Editor Jacob Ogles edits the Saturday Perspective Edition, Letters and Guest Contributor columns.In the CocoTele department, SRQ DAILY is providing excerpts from news releases as a public service. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SRQ DAILY. The views expressed by individuals are their own and their appearance in this section does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. For rates on SRQ DAILY banner advertising and sponsored content opportunities, please contact Ashley Ryan Cannon at 941-365-7702 x211 or via email |
Powered by Sarasota Web Design | Unsubscribe
