SRQ DAILY Feb 3, 2022
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"We need to return power back to our residents and move us towards a more sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous Sarasota."
Sarasota City Commissioner Hagen Brody will challenge Sarasota County Commissioner for his spot at the county dais. The Democrat announced on Wednesday he wants a promotion to the larger government board.
“We need to return power back to our residents and move us towards a more sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous Sarasota.” Brody said. “Leadership on local issues most important to the residents of the City of Sarasota, it’s surrounding neighborhoods, and Siesta Key is needed now more than ever on the County Commission.”
A former prosecutor in the State Attorney’s Office, Brody won election to his current city-wide position in 2017. Ziegler won his county post in 2018. Both men said their track records would show service on behalf of their districts.
“The No. 1 issue I’ve focused on is water quality,” Ziegler said of his time on the county commission. “We’ve basically committed to spending a half a billion dollars on water quality projects to set up the No. 1 wastewater utility system in the country once it gets done.”
He also cast a lone vote against a hotel project in his district near Siesta Key, he noted.
But Brody said he has worked from the city post, including a year as mayor of Sarasota, to boost the quality of life in the city and the surrounding communities including Siesta Key.
Notably, both politicians are active in their respective political parties. Ziegler serves as vice chairman of the Republican Party of Florida. Brody serves as a state committeeman for the Florida Democratic Party.
But whether Brody or Ziegler ends up a favorite could hinge on another election. Voters in March will weigh in on whether to keep a single-member district voting system in place since a charter amendment passed in 2018, or return to countywide voting for all commissioners. A newly approved Sarasota County district map turns District 2, Ziegler’s district, into a Democratic leaning seat. But if county-wide voting returns, a Republican would hold the edge.
Either way, Ziegler feels confidence he can win a second term, especially considering the national environment for Democrats. “I’ve done what I can to serve,” Ziegler said. “My girls are being raised here. My mom retired here. My selfish reason in being on the commission is basically helping shape this community in a positive way.”
Likewise, Brody feels his connections to the community and run deeper than political ideology.
“The county commission right now doesn’t have one member who grew up in this community,” said Brody, a Sarasota High School grad. “I think I have a lot to offer.” 
Pictured: Hagen Brody, Christian Ziegler
New to our portfolio of community engagement programs, the SRQ Magazine 35 Under 35 Competition recognizes and honors young professionals, innovators, scientists, creatives, entrepreneurs and philanthropists within our hometown.
From our very first class of 35 Under 35 Honorees—featured in our December Edition—we have Leah Reda, Director of Human Resources at Rumble. Leah is a native of Sarasota, FL, who started her career in Human Resources in 2009. She is a self-starting, straightforward and well-rounded Human Resource professional with 12+ years of experience in the Human Resource field. She is currently SHRM-SCP certified, a member of the Sarasota Manatee Human Resource Association (SHRA), a member of the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM), and a graduate of the Leadership Sarasota Class of 2019. Outside of work she enjoys volunteering in the community with the Junior League of Sarasota, and hanging out with her dog, Mattis.
What mistake in your career taught you the biggest lesson?
The most valuable lesson I learned throughout my career is to protect my emotional and mental health by staying true to myself and speaking up when necessary. Conforming to corporate norms and not using my voice to facilitate change was a mistake I learned over time. Its value is immeasurable.
844.800.4276
For many, a chance to experience a world entirely different than their own requires a long drive or even a flight. For Sarasotans, however, adventure lies in their backyard. The mangrove tunnels off Lido Key offer a seclusion from city life and a peek into a unique ecosystem integral to the Sarasota Bay.
Local outfit Kayaking SRQ, run by Greg and Kim Gregory, gives guided kayak tours through the fascinating world of Lido Key’s mangrove tunnels. Although the outfit caters to tourists and locals alike, many Sarasotans have yet to discover this treasure. “Once they go through the tunnels the first time, (they’re) just amazed at what was actually here,” according to manager and former tour guide Justin Niemann. Inside the tunnels, interlocking arches of mangrove trees shade the pathways of shallow water from the sun, creating a complete escape from the outside world.
The 2 hour long guided tour starts at South Lido key, leisurely winding through the wide mangrove tunnels before paddling around Otter Key in search of manatees and dolphins. Along with dolphins and manatees, a diverse array of wildlife that changes around every three months can be found around the mangrove tunnels. Flying mort may jump out from beneath the water’s surface, jellyfish will bob gracefully along your paddle, and a neighborly cormorant might decide to take a ride in your kayak.
The birds alone draw people from all over the world. “I’ve got one group that comes from France every year, just to take pictures of those birds,” says Niemann. Thousands of migratory species flock to the area in the winter months, including the White Pelican, alongside native species such as cranes, heron, and osprey.
As for Niemann, he savors the connections he makes with every client and the chance to be outside every day, “I can go out on tours and see 50 dolphins and every time I see something like that, it’s like seeing it for the first time.”
Kayaking SRQ Trailer, Ted Sperling Nature Park on Lido Key, 190 Taft Drive, Sarasota, 941- 799-1863
Photo Courtesy of Kayaking SRQ
Celebrate local coastal heritage during the 40th Annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival on February 19 and 20 in the historic fishing village of Cortez. Every February for the past four decades, people have gathered in one of Florida’s last true fishing villages to celebrate the cultural history of the region and honor the men and women who supply us with fresh local seafood. Due to COVID, the 2021 Festival was cancelled, but the Florida Institute of Saltwater Heritage (F.I.S.H.) and the village of Cortez are thrilled to report they are GEARING UP to welcome the public back to the shores of Sarasota Bay for the 40th Annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival on February 19 & 20, 2022. Come on out to celebrate a real working waterfront community dedicated to preserving their fishing way of life. The University of Florida and Florida Sea Grant have partnered with this event for 40 years to put on “Dock Talks,” that educate the public on local marine life and the value of our commercial fisheries. After you feed your appetite for science, soak in the sunshine along Sarasota Bay while you boogie to live local music, peruse aisles of original artwork and nautical crafts, sip cold beverages and sample some really tasty seafood. Check out the Florida Maritime Museum and the Cortez Cultural Center, which are steeped in history of the region. Buy a raffle ticket to be entered to win one of the beautiful, refurbished custom boats lovingly restored by the F.I.S.H Boatworks. So, grab your sunglasses and your appetite, and come on out to celebrate on the shores of Sarasota Bay during the 40th Annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival.
During the upcoming 2022 Winter Opera Festival, Sarasota Opera will be celebrating its 40th season with Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Victor DeRenzi, who joined the company in 1982. In addition to planning his first season that year, one of Maestro DeRenzi’s first initiatives was the founding of the Sarasota Opera Apprentice Artists Program, which established a training ground for singers in the important transition from student to professional life. The program focuses on the standard operatic repertoire from Mozart to Puccini, providing participants with many performing opportunities throughout the fall and winter seasons. The training aspect of the program teaches singers to give impassioned performances through vocal expression by understanding the meaning of the text. In coachings and classes, acting is taught through an efficiency of movement that brings out the meaning of the work rather than obscuring it. The company encourages a consistent artistic approach that is supported by the staff as well as the style of production. During the 2022 Winter Opera Festival, apprentice artists will participate in the chorus of the four main stage productions of Puccini’s Tosca, Donizetti’s The Daughter of the Regiment, Bizet’s The Pearl Fishers, and Verdi’s Attila. Apprentices also participate in master classes, language coachings with native-born speakers, and perform and cover main stage roles, as well as perform at concerts during the season. Apprentice artists will also have the opportunity to network with more experienced colleagues. In addition to the educational aspects of the program, Sarasota Opera provides apprentice artists with housing, transportation, and a stipend. Unlike some other companies, Sarasota Opera does not charge any fees for either the program or auditions. Along with Maestro DeRenzi, apprentice artists receive instruction from Lindsay Woodward, Chorus Master and Program and Music Director of the Apprentice Artists, Martha Collins, Apprentice Artists Program stage director Stephanie Sundine, Apprentice Artists Program stage director, Marco Nisticò, baritone and artistic administrator, and other members of the Sarasota Opera staff.
The Compass by Margaritaville, Anna Maria Sound, has named Beth Muzik as general manager of the 123-room property, part of the new hotel collection from the global lifestyle brand. Beth has worked in a leadership role in food and beverage and property operations for more than 25 years. Most recently, Muzik converted two existing full-service resort hotels to the Margaritaville portfolio, including the Flamingo Hotel in Costa Rica, and the Tan Tar A Resort in the Lake of the Ozarks. Prior to that, Muzik joined Driftwood Hospitality Management in 2012 as corporate director of food and beverage, providing corporate support to the hotel food and beverage operations, and she was a general manager for Aramark Corporation in the Sports and Entertainment diversion. Muzik began her career working in a variety of roles at branded hotels with Hilton Corporation, Interstate Hotels, Fortune Hotels, Coral Hospitality, and GF Management around the country, including Jacksonville, Tucson, St. Petersburg Beach, Clearwater Beach, Tampa, and Philadelphia. Muzik holds a bachelor's degree in management and economics from Rutgers University and an Advanced Certificate in Paralegal Studies from the University of Arizona.
Acclaimed civil rights litigator Michael Bloch visited Hershorin Schiff Community Day School on Friday, January 28, as part of the school’s International Holocaust Remembrance Day commemoration. As a tenacious litigator, Bloch has taken on several high-profile civil rights cases, including the federal lawsuit he led against the organizers of the deadly “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Va. Bloch discussed his fight for civil rights with students across all grade levels. In the process, Community Day School students considered the ongoing struggle against white supremacy and racism, both yesterday and today. Bloch gave the students a close-up look at the November 2021 trial of Richard Spencer and other white supremacists responsible for the bloody Charlottesville rally in 2017. To make the historical connection clear, the sideshow accompanying his talk contrasted archival images of Hitler and his Nazi thugs with violent scenes of modern-day white supremacists in Charlottesville. Inevitable? Only if good people do nothing. His top advice for the Community Day students? “Stand up and speak out. Join a protest march, or volunteer at an organization that supports peace and justice. Or simply speak out when someone says something inappropriate. Stand up against hatred. Stand up against racism.” The students were profoundly moved by Bloch’s words.
Pictured: Michael Bloch and Community Day School head of school Dan Ceaser with 6 th grade students Blake Davidson and Evan Valdivia on January 28, 2022
Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties will honor 6 outstanding Club members at the annual Steak & Burger, Youth of the Year Celebration on Friday, February 4, 2022, at 6pm. at the Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club. Club members who compete for the Youth of the Year title embody the values of leadership service, academic service and healthy lifestyles. This premier recognition program of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America celebrates the extraordinary achievements of Club members. Candidates compete at the local Club, state and regional levels before attending the national celebration.
After a stint as an editor early in her career, American writer Toni Morrison understood the publishing industry better than the ordinary writer—but she refused to be defined by the establishment. She wrote her books from a vital, underrepresented point of view. Morrison was one of the few who wrote for an African American audience, and she understood the way language could operate as an oppressive or uplifting force—she refused to let her words be marginalized. After years of fighting to be heard, Morrison was awarded a Nobel Prize for her writing, and her novels are now taught in schools around the world. Through a trove of archival material, evocative works of contemporary art, and interviews with Oprah Winfrey, Angela Davis, and Morrison herself, we revisit her famed books and learn about the inspiration for her writing. The Pieces I Am will show on February 4, 2022 at 6:30pm at the Historic Asolo Theater.
Save the date for the 13th Annual Signature Luncheon hosted by the Tidewell Foundation benefiting Tidewell Hospice with Featured Speaker Henry Winkler. The event takes place on February 4th, 2022 at 11:30am at The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota. All proceeds from this event will help Tidewell Hospice provide care, comfort, and compassion to more than 10,000 patients and families each year. During the event, a raffle for a chance to win a two night stay at the world-class Ritz-Carlton Sarasota & one round of Golf for Two at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club will also be held. There is a maximum of 500 raffle tickets available, and they are first-come, first-serve.
On Friday, February 4th, downtown Sarasota will glitter with twinkling eyes as love and romance are celebrated like never before at Five Points Park from 7pm to 10pm. The first-Friday event organizers invite couples to apply for a chance to be married or renew their wedding vows at Five Points Park by City of Sarasota mayor, Erik Arroyo. In addition to the public ceremony, the couple selected will also get an assortment of wedding support from downtown merchants, including jewelry, hair/makeup, wardrobe, and a private reception for friends and family—all complimentary. Interested couples should send an email to freshfridays@next-mark.com with their names, a brief introduction, and why they think they should be the ones to get married at Five Points Park for LOVE IN THE AIR. Deadline is Wednesday, January 19. Like previous events, LOVE IN THE AIR will feature free signature party favors, free light bites, free roses for the first 500 guests, free entertainment, and the opportunity to enjoy an adult beverage al fresco. Though the wedding ceremony is the marquee moment, the event is designed to celebrate love and romance for all attendees.
A Solo Exhibit by Allan Mestel No Justice, No Peace and Ringling Student Jesse Clark My Beautiful in the Annex Gallery. Opening Night Reception will take place on Friday, February 4th, 2022 from 6pm to 8pm. Open Exhibition Dates are February 5th- 12th By Appointment Only. Panel Discussion: February 12th, 2021 | Saturday 10am – 12pm No Justice, No Peace, is an exhibition that showcases images from Mestel’s current passion project. He is working on a book of photos of street activism, captured over the course of the last four years, during the Trump administration. The photographs on display were specifically captured during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests. In May of 2020, the country was shocked by the murder of George Floyd due to the cause of police brutality. Mestel’s images capture the passion of individuals who strive to end racial injustice. They are evidence that these individuals have a voice and that people are listening and want change. Jesse Clark’s “My Beautiful” an ongoing project that observes finding beauty within the self. It explores the idea of the black boy holding a beautiful image as well the freedom to express vulnerability and joy. This is a project combining photos from other my photography series’ “Through Dark Eyes” “Black Boy” and “Carriers” which explore my thoughts and emotions as a young black male in America. These pieces reflect what I find true about my own image and how it does not fill the conventional mold my complexion renders.
Rene Izquierdo will play at Riverview Performing Arts Center on Saturday, February 5, 2022 at 7:30pm. Rene Izquierdo graduated from the Guillermo Tomas, Amadeo Roldan Conservatory and Superior Institute of Art in Havana. In the United States, Mr. Izquierdo earned a Master of Music and an Artist Diploma degrees from the Yale University School of Music, where he studied with Benjamin Verdery. While at Yale he represented the university in an exchange program with the Conservatoire National de Musique et de Danse du Paris and worked with guitarists Olivie Chassain and Roland Dyens.
Fall in love all over again with the music of the ‘50s and ‘60s! Honoring the dynamic harmony groups of the mid-20th century—from The Four Seasons and The Platters to The Beatles and beyond, The Wanderers will transport you to simpler times with their tight harmonies, smooth moves, and, of course, matching jackets. Featuring such timeless hits as “At the Hop,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You,” and “With A Little Help From My Friends.” The Wanderers, by Richard Hopkins and Rebecca Hopkins with musical arrangements by Jim Prosser, will play beginning September 29, 2021 through February 6, 2022 in FST's Court Cabaret.
Dancer/choreographer Rhodnie Désir journeyed to Haiti, U.S.A., Brazil, Martinique, Canada, and Mexico to expand her knowledge of her own ancestors as well as other peoples of the African diaspora. As part of her research, she explored the dances and rhythms that enslaved people produced, understanding these dances as a means of surviving enslavement, evading cultural genocide, and cultivating strategies that would lead to liberty and emancipation. Désir’s video installation and inaugural exhibition Conversations investigates how these dances continue to thrive, evolve, and transform the world today, running from November 14, 2021 through February 6, 2022. At the heart of the exhibition are conversations: those that helped Désir commemorate and spotlight Black culture from a rich understanding of the past and those that still need to take place in order to distribute and circulate that knowledge. Examining the practice of dance among enslaved people and their descendants, Désir sees movement as a tactic of survival. In her video work, Désir documents her journey along with the many encounters she had with the people she deems “memory keepers.”
The inimitable Thomas “Fats” Waller rose to international fame during the Golden Age of the Cotton Club with a jumpin’ new beat. Ain’t Misbehavin’ evokes the infectious energy of this American original as a versatile cast struts, strums and sings the songs that Waller made famous. Winner of the 1978 Tony Award for Best Musical. Ain’t Misbehavin’ will show from January 14 to February 6, 2022 at the Venice Theatre.
CHAPLIN: The Musical will run from Thursday January 20 2022 to Sunday February 6 2022 at Stone Hall, 502 Third Avenue West, Bradenton. Approximate running time: 2 hours and 15 minutes. He came to America an unknown. He left amidst scandals and controversy. In between, Charlie Chaplin became one of the best-loved and most famous entertainers in the world. Chaplin provides a captivating close-up of the man who changed motion pictures forever. The musical dramatizes the making of Chaplin’s legendary films, including The Kid, The Circus, Modern Times and The Great Dictator as well as his turbulent childhood, frenzied love life and political beliefs. Featuring an original score by Christopher Curtis, including “Look at All the People,” “Just Another Day in Hollywood” and “This Man,” Chaplin tells the touching story of the man who makes the world laugh as his legendary screen persona, the Tramp, but struggles to find happiness in his own life.
Sarasota's largest and longest running charity music event returns for 2022. Giving Hunger The Blues will take place on Sunday, February 6 from 11:30am to 9:30pm at Nathan Benderson Park. With nationally-acclaimed headliners and a full day of live music, food, and our most spacious venue yet, Giving Hunger The Blues promises to be an unforgettable event all for a great cause: the Mayors Feed The Hungry Program of Sarasota-Manatee.
Discover sound meditation while surrounded by the beauty of Little Sarasota Bay. Sound frequencies and vibrations facilitate relaxation and mental health. A certified sound therapist will be your guide in HSP’s tranquil Sunken Gardens. Wear comfortable clothes and lightweight shoes; bring water and a towel for the final stretch. Open to all age/fitness levels. General admission to HSP included. Please check-in 15 minutes before for your class at the Welcome Gazebo. Sunset Sound Meditation will take place on Sundays from 4pm to 5pm: February 6, 13, 20, and 27. Class fee: Members $50 / Non-members $65. Class Size: 30 Students. Instructor: Lucy Tight.
A new series focusing on topics like history and architecture, and how they relate to the museum. A catered, two-course lunch will follow. Fresh Perspective Lunch #1 on Tuesday, November 2, 2021 at 11:30am in Thomas McGuire Hall at Sarasota Art Museum, Featured Speaker to be announced soon. Fresh Perspective Lunch #2 on Tuesday, February 8, 2021 at 11:30am in Thomas McGuire Hall at Sarasota Art Museum, Featured Speaker to be announced soon. Individual Tickets: $125/person, Member Price: $75/person, Contact Laura Stuart Wood at lwood1@ringling.educreate new email or 941-309-4321.
The Russian National Orchestra with pianist Alexander Malofeev will perform on Tuesday, February 8 at 7:30pm at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. Ukrainian conductor Kirill Karabits leads the Orchestra in Beethoven’s Overture to Fidelio and Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 5. Nineteen-year-old piano sensation Alexander Malofeev will join the Orchestra for Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1.
Musician, vocalist and composer Damien Sneed toured with Aretha Franklin, developing a strong mentee relationship with the soul legend. In A TRIBUTE TO ARETHA FRANKLIN: THE QUEEN OF SOUL, Sneed pays homage to the icon with fresh renditions of the beloved hits including “Respect,” “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “Think,” “Until You Come Back To Me,” “Daydreaming,” “Natural Woman” and more. Featuring an all-star cast of jazz, gospel and soul musicians and vocalists, Sneed’s multi-media tribute will honor the life of an iconic industry titan on February 9 at 8pm. Four-time Grammy® winner, gospel music legend and multiple Stellar and GMA Dove Award winner Karen Clark Sheard joins the tour with her signature, multi-octave vocal range.
A longstanding community outreach program, Music Matinees feature accomplished area-based musicians who perform an array of musical styles. Concerts take place on Wednesdays from noon to 1 pm in David Cohen Hall, Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center. Sun-Young Gemma Shin, violin, and Avis Romm, piano will take place on February 9. Dr. Shin is an internationally sought-after performer on both baroque and modern violin as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestra leader. She is the concertmaster of the Chamber Orchestra of Sarasota. Avis Romm dazzles audiences as a soloist, chamber musician, and collaborative pianist. She has worked extensively with the Sarasota Opera, both as a musical/vocal coach and pianist/conductor and she performs regularly with internationally renowned soloists.
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 |
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