SRQ DAILY Jun 7, 2021
Monday Business Edition
"What is good for the community is good for business, and what is good for business is good for community."
Tara Poulton has lived in the Sarasota-Manatee area since childhood and spent the past few years working in DeSoto County. Now she brings her skills to a new role as the Manatee County Chamber of Commerce’s Vice President, Public Policy & Workforce Partnership. SRQ caught up with her to discuss her new role.
What drew you to the Manatee Chamber? This is one of the most respected chambers, not just locally but on a state and national level. It has been a National Chamber Of The Year, a four-time winner of Chamber of the Year with the state chamber. It has been in our community 103 years, so what a huge opportunity when you think of all of its significant accomplishments.
You have worked in the public sector, most recently as Director of Economic Development & Tourism for DeSoto County, With your focus on policy, how do these experiences help in your new role? I spent 3 and a half years in DeSoto, which is a small and a fiscally constrained county. Before that I worked for the Southwest Florida Water Management District on fiscal policy. I was also heavily involved in an ex officio role with the Chamber. I think my skill set fits well in this role. Small business has always been important to me. What is good for the community is good for business, and what is good for business is good for community.
What role should the Manatee Chamber have on issues surrounding economic development, especially with advocacy on policy? The Manatee Chamber has an excellent relationship with the Bradenton Area Economic Development Corporation already. They worked under one umbrella for many years. So there, the Chamber is already meeting the mark. When you think of 2020 and COVID-19, the Manatee Chamber didn’t miss a beat. I was getting multiple e-mails on everything about federal loans and assistance. That’s all economic development and it’s all what we were sharing in DeSoto as well. They worked incredibly closely with the county on CARES funding, and that too is economic development, which is also what I was doing within DeSoto County the last part of 2020.
How does the region bounce back from COVID this year and beyond? Yes, obviously tourism took a hit in the past years, thinking of COVID and red tide. The reasons my parents moved here was because it was paradise. Florida is always going to be a place people want to visit. COVID is everywhere. It’s important for people to be able to come to Florida and that will continue.
Forty Carrots Family Center recently elected Susan Travers, nonprofit fundraiser, volunteer coordinator and event planner; as the new Board Chair and welcomes Jag Grewal, partner, Ian Black Real Estate to the 2021-2022 Board of Trustees.
RE/MAX Platinum Realty, a luxury real estate brokerage with offices in Manatee and Sarasota counties, has received the RE/MAX Total Volume Achievement Award for closing more than $250 million in 2020.
There’s never been a more important time to quit tobacco.
Gulfcoast South Area Health Education Center, as part of the Tobacco Free Florida AHEC Cessation Program, offers free tobacco cessation sessions to help individuals quit all forms of tobacco. These group sessions—held virtually and in-person—will assist you with developing your own customized quit plan. Free nicotine replacement therapy in the form of patches, gum or lozenges (if medically appropriate and while supplies last) and follow up support from a trained tobacco treatment specialist are provided with the session.
Contact us today at 866-534-7909 or visit our page to schedule a class or learn more about the program!
The Van Wezel Foundation’s philanthropy united with the mission of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall’s new IDEA initiative to create a first-of-its-kind, Artist-in-residence Program that seamlessly melds digital events with in-person ones to form a hybrid prototype that can serve as a national model for the future. “This collaborative initiative was born out of the idea that the arts carry a unique opportunity to bring people together, to spark exploration of complex issues and to inspire hope,” said Cheryl Mendelson, CEO of the Van Wezel Foundation. Its inaugural Artist-in-residence is internationally recognized Hip-hop Artist, Activist, Scholar, and Kennedy Center Citizen Artist Olmeca, whose year-long virtual residency will conclude with a week-long residence in Sarasota with curated in-person community lectures, workshops, master classes and performances.
Goodwill Manasota recently received a grant of $85,920 from the Ralph S. French Charitable Foundation in support of Goodwill’s award-winning GoodPartner Coach program. This is the eleventh year that Goodwill has received funding from the French Foundation for this purpose; this year’s award is the largest ever from the French Foundation to Goodwill. The funds were requested so that Goodwill could hire additional GoodPartner Coaches.
Sarasota County Schools is pleased to announce the appointment of Holly Staley as Principal of Phillippi Shores Elementary School. Mrs. Staley will start her new position at the end of the 2020-21 school year.
Sarasota County Schools is pleased to announce the appointment of Zoltan Kerestely as Principal of Venice High School. Mr. Kerestely will start his new position at the end of the 2020-21 school year.
This exhibit, running from April 29 until June 17, 2021 during Center for Architecture Sarasota's gallery hours, will showcase the designs of the winners of the Center's first design competition.
Join us outdoors on Thursdays at 6:30pm, from May 6 through June 24, for this 8-class series to learn about the most popular Latin social dance forms from DK Dance Creations' top instructors. Salsa, Bachata, Merengue and more. During this educational opportunity, you will learn the basic movements, while exploring the rhythms, characteristics, and cultures that have come together to create each unique style of dance. Each 90-minute class will focus on one Latin style to provide students with a broad overview of each form. Every session will include an introduction to the dance style, the historical importance, and an hour of introductory dance instruction. This is an outdoor event. Please dress in workout clothes and wear sneakers. We also advise participants to bring a water bottle. DK Dance Creations is a Latin dance studio located in Sarasota, FL. Offering Latin dance classes, choreography services for wedding/quince/sweet-sixteens, private instruction, dance teams, dance shoe store and makeup classes. They provide an array of classes including but not limited to Bachata, Salsa On1, Salsa On2, Cha-cha, Kizomba, musicality, spinning techniques, tricks and lifts and many more. Individual Class tickets are $15 for nonmembers, $14 for members and $10 for students. Purchase the complete 8-class series and save. The complete series is only $80 or $72 for Members.
The Gecko’s Hospitality Group, an award-winning independent family of restaurants co-owned by Mike Gowan and Mike Quillen since 1992 will be hosting In-House Job Fairs at two Gecko’s Grill & Pub locations during the months of May and June, 2021. Gecko’s Job Fair schedules will be as follows: First and third Thursdays in May and June from 2pm to 4:30pm, starting May 6 through June 17, 2021 at Gecko’s Grill & Pub on SR 70 at Twelve Oaks Plaza, 7228 55th Avenue East, Bradenton and Gecko’s Grill & Pub on Clark Road at 5585 Palmer Crossing Circle. Applicants can expect to meet with a hiring manager and will be advised of the many company benefits the Gecko’s Hospitality Group offers employees, including Health, Dental and Vision insurance, paid time off, company 401(k), flexible schedule, meal allowance and opportunities for bonuses, career advancement and community involvement.
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Ringling College Announces Its 2021 Summer Semester from May 10 to July 2. Registration Opens April 27. The summer semester features dozens of classes and programs covering a wide variety of topics. Highlights include Segregated Sand: Florida’s Beaches in the Civil Rights Movement: An exploration into Florida’s struggle to racially integrate public spaces and institutions; Responding to Grief: An experiential workshop that invites participants to gain a deeper understanding of the grief process; Shakespeare in the Time of COVID, and the Baha’i Faith: A Guide for the Perplexed. Classes and lectures are offered in-person on the Ringling College Museum Campus and online via the Zoom platform. Registration opens on April 27 for the summer 2021 semester at Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Ringling College (OLLI at Ringling College), which runs from May 10 to July 2, 2021. The semester features dozens of classes and programs covering a wide variety of topics. Classes are offered in-person on the Ringling College Museum Campus and online via the Zoom platform. Classes cover a rich diversity of topics, including art and music appreciation, health and well-being, global issues, philosophy, religion, culture and travel, and science. The Ringling College Museum Campus is at 1001 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Masks and physical distancing are required. To register for classes and lectures, visit www.OLLIatRinglingCollege.org or call 941-309-5111.
Beautiful Bountiful Bowls is a juried exhibition of handmade bowls by outstanding contemporary fine craft artists. From around the state, 33 artists created 100 pieces in ceramics, fiber, glass, metal and wood. Community programming (virtual and in person) includes a singing bowl sound healing and demonstrations about creating bowls in clay and wood. Glass artist and gallery owner Duncan McClellan will present an in-depth look at glass blowing bowls. At the virtual opening and awards reception on Friday, May 14 at 6pm, people will have the opportunity to virtually meet the artists and the show’s judge Catherine Bergmann (curator of Dunedin Fine Art Center). The show runs through June 26 when the People’s Choice Award will be presented. People can vote for their favorite work of art in the Florida CraftArt Exhibition Gallery and on Facebook. The exhibition’s sponsor is Tyler Jones of Premier Sotheby’s International Real Estate, along with support from Perry and Lisa Everett, the City of St. Petersburg, and Florida’s Division of Cultural Affairs. Florida CraftArt is located at 501 Central Avenue in St. Petersburg. Gallery hours are Monday-Saturday, 10am to 5:30pm. and Sunday, noon to 5pm. For more information, visit www.FloridaCraftArt.org. On Friday, May 14 at 6pm Virtual opening with artists and judge Catherine Bergmann, Curator of Dunedin Fine Art Center. On Tuesday, May 25 at 6pm “Throwing and Turning” Learn about throwing clay on the wheel with Tyler Jones and woodturning with Nick Reale at this virtual event. On Tuesday, June 8 at 6pm Singing Bowls sound healing with Master Gopali, virtual and in person (space is limited to 10, reservations are required.) On Saturday, June 12 from 5:30pm to 9pm Second Saturday ArtWalk - Visit ArtLofts on our second floor. On Tuesday, June 22 at 6pm Renowned glass artist and gallery owner Duncan McClellan talks virtually about creating bowls in glass.
Process is a Members-Only all media, all subject, juried exhibition. All artwork in this exhibition is viewable and for sale in the gallery and online. In person receiving will be on May 17 and 18 between 10am to 6pm. All accepted online entries must be delivered to the Art Center on May 17 or 18 between 10am to 6pm. There is no theme for this show. On view from May 27 to July 2, 2021. Juror is TBA. Art Center Sarasota invites all Art Center Sarasota Member artists to submit up to 3 new works no larger than 4’ x 4’ x 4’ for consideration for Process. (Artwork must have been completed in the last three years and not have been exhibited in any exhibition at Art Center Sarasota). This exhibit will be at the Art Center. Online submissions will be juried online and in person submissions will be juried in person. Prizes will not be awarded until all works are in the gallery and hung. Artist guidelines and online submission. Please see this page for updates. Prizes Awarded: First Prize - $500, Second Prize - $300, Third Prize - $200, 2 Merit Awards - gift card from Art and Frame, and Honorable Mentions - Ribbon. Award winners will be notified via phone on Monday May 24. Entry Fees: All fees are non-refundable. ACS Members: 1 piece $20; 2 pieces $30; 3 pieces $35; diptychs $25; triptychs $35; quadtychs $45, Non-Members: Show is open to Art Center Members only. ACS Student Members: $10 each entry. Art Center will be open to view this show in person we have now returned to original entry fees. This show will also be viewable online via virtual gallery tour via Zoom. Patrons must call and make an appointment for virtual tours. Please call 941-365-2032 to schedule a tour. Groups are encouraged.
Contemporary. Expressive. Extraordinary. Renowned Artist Amy Donaldson accompanies her artwork for a limited engagement presentation May 22 through June 12 at the Michael Murphy Gallery. The Solo Exhibition features an opening reception with the Artist on Saturday, May 22 from 6pm to 9pm. RSVP’s requested at Eventbrite. This is a rare opportunity to meet the Artist and view her brand-new artwork. Evident in each work is Donaldson’s strong sense of color and depth of feeling for space and light. The Artist approaches her canvases in a uniquely additive and subtractive technique; an artistic process one may associate with sculpture as much as with painting. Gallery curators are available for private appointments to discuss the works and private commissions. Please contact the gallery at 813-902-1414 or gallery@mmgart.com for availability. For more information, visit http://www.michaelmurphygallery.com/.
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