It’s unusual for a candidate with a homestead on the opposite side of Florida to run to represent Sarasota in the Florida Legislature. But Michael Johnson, a Republican challenging state Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, for his seat, said you sometimes don’t get to live where you want.

He told a Tiger Bay audience last week he’s wanted since the 1980s to live in Sarasota, and has brought his children to kayak the rivers and visit the Circus Museum. But after house-sitting his son’s home in Seminole County, he’s ready to come to the Gulf Coast full time.

“I did have a chance to come here, and that’s why I am here today to live here and to help this community,” he said.

Gruters, for his part, stressed the importance of knowing a community and its leaders.

“Whether it be Selby Gardens, the Education Foundation or one of our schools, we do battle up there every day,” Gruters said of time in the Legislature. “Some people say it’s 60 days of work a year but I tell people it’s six months worth of work serving in the state Senate and you really have to be passionate about your community.”

With Johnson deciding to run only after he had an internal party dispute with Seminole County Republican leaders, one where Gruters as chairman of the Republican Party of Florida sided with those leaders over grassroots activists, the question of whether Johnson served as a carpetbagger in the race rose repeatedly.

Gruters and Johnson now face each other in an Aug. 23 Republican primary, and with no other candidates running, the primary will be open to all voters in Senate District 22. Tiger Bay moderator Kevin Cooper asked what voters outside the Republican Party may want to consider from the candidates, both of whom have been heavily involved in partisan politics. 

Gruters said he maintains strong relationships in the Legislature with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, and encouraged voters talk to former state Rep. Margaret Good, a Democrat, about how well the two worked together in the past. “To pass a bill is very difficult. In the four years I have been a senator, I passed 51 bills on a variety of different subjects,” he said.

Johnson characterized some of that deal-making in Tallahassee. “Millions and millions of dollars are being raked in by politicians around the state here,” he said. “And then they use it to write off the candidates that are trying to run for office to replace them. That’s the big corruption in Tallahassee right now.”

When Tiger Bay members has a chance to ask questions, many simply quizzed candidates on basic knowledge of the community. Johnson said he had not memorized the names of nonprofits in the area, and mostly took issue with the number in the state relying on state funding.

“There’s some organizations I come across in the state of Florida that collect the money by the millions and only two cents goes to the private person,” he said. “We’re going to look at those things and those kinds of individuals, organizations that take people’s money and don’t give it back to the community… I won’t support those kinds of people, but I will support the ones that actually give money back to the constituents.”

But he did not name a nonprofit organization he thinks either positively or negatively about in the district. 

Gruters defended controversial votes on redistricting and bans on critical race theory in schools. He said a congressional map designed by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ staff was “constitutionally sufficient, and that he played no role in its creation before voting for it on the Senate floor. When a question arose about teacher concerns about restrictions on teaching about race and about a new limits on corporate diversity training, Gruters defended the new law. “I'm not going to take it away,” he said. “At the end of the day, I believe that no race is inherently superior to another race and nobody should feel bad about their background.” 

Kayla Woodbury, RN was recently honored by HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital with The Daisy Award® for Extraordinary Nurses. This award is given to nurses internationally to recognize those who make a profound difference in the lives of patients and patient’s families.Woodbury works in the progressive care unit. She was nominated for several acts of caring, including a recent case. Woodbury had a patient who was given a terminal diagnosis. The patient wasn’t eating. After talking with the patient’s daughter she found out the patient liked a certain drink from Dunkin Donuts. Woodbury went on her own time to purchase the drink for the patient so he could have some joy in his day. The patient was also restless and mentioned his hope for some fresh air. She took the patient in a wheelchair outside for a brief time. She sat with him as he enjoyed the fresh air, sunshine and his drink. She routinely goes out of her way to get patients what they need to make them feel comfortable and cared for. When asked why she takes this personal approach to care, she said, “This is why I got into nursing. When we have these opportunities to connect with patients, we have to take them, this is why I love what I do,” said Kayla Woodbury, RN.

Shawn Handschuh has joined RE/MAX Platinum Realty as a Sales Associate in the Venice office. She specializes in the greater Venice area, with a focus on relocation, first-time homebuyers, vacation homes, downsizing and investment properties. A 22-year real estate veteran, Handschuh is an experienced negotiator, strong marketer and a “people person” who understands different personalities and serves clients with integrity and passion. Born in Houston, Texas, Handschuh lived in Maryland for 44 years, where she was a top producer with Long & Foster Real Estate in Elkton as well as Keller Williams American Premier Realty in Bel Air. She was also owner of Shawn’s Tax Service and co-owner of C&S Paint and Paper, both in Rising Sun. She enjoys hiking, biking, swimming and horseback riding, and has been active with Citizens Against Trash (CAT) and the Boys & Girls Club. The Venice office is located at 307 W. Venice Avenue, Venice, Florida 34285. Handschuh can be reached at (443) 466-8808 or shawnhandschuh@gmail.com. 

Elise Ramer, APR, CPRC, senior director of public relations from Premier Sotheby’s International Realty, was named an honoree in the 2022 Top Women in PR Awards presented by PRNEWS. Ramer was recognized in the Industry Innovators category. The awards gala will be held in the Edison Ballroom in New York City on Wednesday, September 7, 2022, at 6 p.m. EDT.

The annual PRNEWS Top Women in PR Awards salute those who work in PR, communications and marketing. Dedicated to outstanding public relations leaders, the award recognizes inventive and influential women who are celebrated for their impactful success at their organizations, whether that's leading brands out of a crisis, engaging a new audience, mentoring other colleagues or breaking into new markets for their clients.

Ramer, an award-winning public relations professional, joined Premier Sotheby’s International Realty in 2017. She directs and manages the public relations department for the brokerage’s 40 locations and more than 1,400 associates throughout Florida and North Carolina. Her career spans nearly two decades with experience including luxury brands, residential and commercial real estate, and consumer products. Ramer serves on both the executive committee and the state board for the Florida Public Relations Association, and currently oversees the statewide Golden Image Awards program. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Florida State University, an MBA from Webster University, and received her APR (Accreditation in Public Relations) credentials in 2019 and CPRC (Certified Public Relations Counselor) in 2020. 

The Pickleball Club (TPC), a premier, world-class, indoor pickleball facility and private membership club opening in Sarasota/Lakewood Ranch this winter, and the Play For Life Foundation, a nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to improving the health, minds and lives of youth, veterans and first responders, are celebrating National Pickleball Day on Monday, Aug. 8 with donations and demos at the Venice Fire Department and Senior Friendship Centers of Sarasota.

The Play For Life Foundation will be donating a Club-N-Box, a portable pickleball set containing nets, paddles, balls and instructional material on how to play, and doing a demonstration for firefighters at the Venice Fire Department, while The Pickleball Club will be hosting a demonstration and wellness session for visitors to Senior Friendship Centers of Sarasota. 

Monday, Aug. 8 from 9:00 - 10:30 am; Venice Fire Department; 112 Harbor Drive South, Venice, 34285. Monday, Aug. 8 from noon - 1 pm; Senior Friendship Centers of Sarasota, 1888 Brother Geenen Way, Sarasota, 34236. 

On Sept. 24, JFCS of the Suncoast is hosting its first Push for Mental Health. The event, which is a fundraiser, health fair and push-up challenge, will be held at the Sarasota Classic Car Museum from 9 a.m. to 12:30 pm. During the event, participants will do push-ups at their own pace, competing not against others, but against their own fitness goals, or even just to have fun. Some may set a pace of 4 push-ups per minute, while others may do 10 every 5 minutes. “It’s really about the participation, not the competition,” said Ron Katz, Chief Development Officer at JFCS. “We want people to feel good about what they personally accomplish, and feel good about helping to raise money for a great cause.”

The event is focused on fitness and fun. All ages and skill levels are welcome; participants can do traditional push-ups, wall push-ups, knee push-ups or other modified forms. People are encouraged to register as soon as possible to have time to train and prepare, using materials and tips provided by JFCS. Throughout the morning, participants can loosen up with professional guidance from a yoga instructor, receive chair massages for sore muscles, and learn about the connection between physical and mental health from area experts. Claudia Baeza, owner of Pineapple Studios + Cycling Downtown SRQ, understands and promotes the connection between mental and physical health.

"Regular exercise of any kind is key to help improve mood and mental health for people of all ages and abilities,” said Baeza, who will participate in Push for Mental Health. “Exercise works its magic in several ways. It supports brain health and helps create new nerve cells. It strengthens memory and learning. And, it improves emotional regulation when adversity hits while enhancing confidence and self-esteem. In a nutshell, exercise helps us be more resilient when we are faced with life's challenges and it gets us out of the house to participate in life."

While registration is free, participants are encouraged to raise a minimum of $200 ($100 for students), which would get them a free yoga mat. All fundraisers at any level will receive a free event t-shirt and free lunch. They, and their friends and family who attend to support them, will also receive free admission to the car museum.

The fundraising portion is an important aspect of the event, and with a custom-designed crowd-funding website, participants can easily create their own webpage and ask their friends and family for support. JFCS has a goal of raising $60,000 through Push for Mental Health for its counseling services. Donations will help provide access to counseling to those in our community who have mental health needs, regardless of age or circumstance. While JFCS does accept insurance, it also provides services to anyone who needs them regardless of their ability to pay. 

Click to register.

The Ear Research Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Richard Pocker to the board of directors. We welcome this wonderful addition to our board of directors. Richard Pocker is highly philanthropic in the Sarasota community, but most of all advocating for those in the deaf and hard of hearing community. His passion and commitment are helping and supporting people with cochlear implants and those in the process of receiving. Mr. Pocker received bilateral cochlear implants as an adult, he shares his journey with a large and growing audience. The Ear Research Foundation is elated that an advocate like Richard Pocker will be joining the Foundation, as we continue to pursue our mission of Research, Education, and Community Care for hearing loss and balance disorders.