Grouper is ubiquitous at waterside restaurants in Southwest Florida, for sure. But when was the last time you had this cut of fish non-blackened, fried or in some type of sandwich? Thought so. That’s how grouper dishes typically roll in the Gulf Coast dining sphere, but The Dry Dock Waterfront Grill has its own version (and it’s somehow even more Florida-esque than the rest).

At the 1989-founded Longboat Key locale, the flaky, fresh Citrus Grouper consists of lightly breaded fish, sautéed and topped with house-made, from-scratch citrus cream sauce. Once just a special, the dish has become so regularly requested that General Manager Wil Stutzman and Executive Chef Hector Torres gave it a permanent menu spot.

The base of the citrus cream sauce started as a new take on The Dry Dock’s classic lemon butter sauce. Pineapple and Florida orange juices are added to the mix, along with some heavy cream, and the sauce is reduced down. The reduction is a labor of love for Torres, who spends his time over the fire, tending to the sauce constantly with deference to the classic cuisine methodology.

The Citrus Grouper pairs sweetly with a crisp glass of 13 Celsius Sauvignon Blanc—a wine from Marlborough, New Zealand, with notes of aromatic citrus, lychee and herbs. Pull up the boat to The Dry Dock, drop anchor and dig in.

Dry Dock Waterfront Grill, 412 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Longboat Key, 941-383-0102. drydockwaterfrontgrill.com. 

Pictured: The Dry Dock Waterfront Grill’s Citrus Grouper is a fresh catch with signature from-scratch cream sauce infused with Florida orange juice. Photo courtesy of The Dry Dock.

Since 2012 the Community Foundation of Sarasota County’s Giving Challenge has generated more than $59 million to support local nonprofits making a difference in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties. This year, nearly 700 organizations are once again counting on our community’s spirit of generosity to help them continue the great work they do for our neighbors in need, our animals, our environment, and our children. 

All unique donations between $25 and $100 will be matched by The Patterson Foundation, with no cap on the number of individual matches a nonprofit can receive. Be sure to take part in these important 24 hours of giving. Set a reminder now to take part in the 2022 Giving Challenge from noon to noon on April 26 and 27 to make a difference in our community! 

Office: 941-556-7160 | Fax: 941-952-1951 | 2635 Fruitville Rd, Sarasota, FL 34237 | www.CFSarasota.org

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Asolo Repertory Theatre proudly announces full casting for the world premiere of the new musical KNOXVILLE. The project reunites Frank Galati, Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, the Tony Award ® -winning creative team behind Broadway’s Ragtime. Galati, an Asolo Rep Associate Artist, also directs the production. KNOXVILLE began previews on April 15, opens on April 23, and runs through May 11, in the Mertz Theatre, located in the FSU Center for the Performing Arts. The world premiere of KNOXVILLE is made possible by a generous grant from The Roy CockrumFoundation.

Based on James Agee’s autobiographical, Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, A Death in the Family, the story begins as Agee struggles to write his greatest work – about the event that touched his young life and the effect it had on his mother, his town and his own future. A powerful illumination of the forces that shape who we are, KNOXVILLE is a universal coming-of-age story about family, faith and love –and about the boy who will grow up to write it. With a sweeping musical score and an extraordinary creative team and cast, this moving and innovative world premiere is a must-see event. 

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Fifth Third Bancorp today announced it will raise its minimum wage to $20 per hour beginning July 4. Concurrently, the Bank will provide a wage adjustment for its first four job levels that are above the Bank’s new minimum wage. In total, more than 40% of the Bank’s workforce will receive a midyear compensation increase.

“This wage increase is simply the right thing to do. It will make a meaningful difference in the lives of our team members, who are the face of Fifth Third and who are impacted disproportionately by rising costs of living,” said Tim Spence, president of Fifth Third Bancorp and the recently announced CEO effective July 5, 2022. “Under the leadership of Greg Carmichael, our CEO, Fifth Third has been a leader in increasing our employees’ wages. Fifth Third led the industry in 2018 by increasing to $15 and was among the first to increase to $18. We are carrying our leadership forward with this additional wage and midyear pay increase. We are incredibly proud to be among the top quartile of our peers for employee retention according to leading research, and we believe our competitive compensation and benefits are essential to our ability to continue to attract and retain the best and brightest talent to serve and support our valued customers.”

In January 2018, the Bank raised its minimum hourly rate from $12 to $15. That was followed in October 2019 by an increase from $15 to $18 per hour. Notably, the new $20 minimum hourly wage will benefit nearly 95% of employees in retail branches and operations support functions, including customer contact centers. 

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The Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County announced Erin Silk, Vice President of Business Development Services, has become Sarasota County’s first Certified Economic Developer and one of the few in the state of Florida. Conferred by the International Economic Development Council, CEcD status is recognized globally, and it is the only certification program for economic developers in the United States. It is considered the most prestigious designation in the economic development profession. Silk’s designation of Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) denotes a mastery of skills in economic development, professional attainment and a commitment to personal and professional growth, which will support the EDC’s mission to diversify and strengthen the Sarasota County economy.

Lisa Krouse, CEO of the EDC said Silk’s certification could not have come at a better time. “Our local economy is evolving at a rapid pace, and we must constantly be evaluating strategies to meet the challenges that come with change,” said Krouse. “Erin is well prepared to impact the future of economic development locally. Our community is fortunate to have her." There are only around 1,100 certified economic developers in the world and 20 in the state of Florida, including Silk. In order to obtain her certification, Silk completed six courses through the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) in a variety of disciplines including finance, marketing and attraction, entrepreneurial and small business development, and workforce development strategies. Every applicant who commits to the program must complete four core training courses and two elective courses to ensure adequate baseline knowledge on the fundamentals of economic development. Candidates must pass a rigorous and comprehensive examination, which has three parts and spans two days. The exam tests a practitioner’s knowledge, proficiency and judgment in a multitude of key areas of economic development. 

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The Take Stock in Children of Sarasota County’s Celebration of Hope returns to an in-person event for the first time in three years to Michael’s on East at 6:00 p.m. this evening. College dreams for 45 graduating seniors become reality as college scholarships are awarded to the deserving students who have participated in the powerful and proven college readiness and mentor program.First generation and underserved college bound students and families, along with their volunteer mentors, will join the scholarship donors, and community leaders to celebrate each student’s commitment to academic success, perseverance, and determination in reaching their college dream.