Terrill Salem’s life in Sarasota has led him to interact with the community’s wealthiest and most impoverished members. As a firefighter, he helped transport billionaires to the hospital, and he helped the financially challenged face crises. That broad exposure, he said, will serve him well if Sarasota voters elect him to the City Commission.

“Whenever the people have the opportunity to elect someone with a track record like mine, someone who will serve you, it’s in your best interest to get to know the candidate and give them your support,” he said.

The Riverview High graduate served in the Sarasota County Fire Department from 2013 to 2021, after earning his Marketing degree at the University of Central Florida and serving eight years in the National Guard. He also chaired the city’s Planning Board and knows the ins and outs at Sarasota City Hall.

He’s one of six candidates running for two at-large seats on the City Commission, and comes into the race with a working understanding of some of the most critical political issues in the city. 

Like many candidates, he has some gripes with a recent comprehensive plan amendment. “As a Planning Board member, I was not happy we were not including specific language as it relates to affordable or attainable housing, whichever term you want to use,” he said. “If you want to make sure you have the right mix of attainable housing, that must be in place in the comprehensive plan.”

He's also not thrilled with a push away from hearings in from of the Planning Board and City Commission as the city shifts to broader use of administrative review. That’s in part because he thinks any developer seeking a zoning change in effect enters a negotiation with the city regarding the needs of the public.

“It is in the citizens of Sarasota’s best interest to negotiate to obtain attainable house, which will result in more mixed use,” he said. “That will mean commercial and residential, but also a mix of income levels, with some lower and some higher end housing. That is more inline with the national standard which HUD (U.S. Housing and Urban Development) has put out. You don’t want low-income neighborhoods and high-income neighborhoods. You want mixed neighborhoods.”

Salem has stressed his background growing up in poverty and now running T. Salem Housing, dealing in part in Section 8 housing much like that where his family grew up and eventually prospered. That, too, sets him apart as a candidate in the running, he said.

“Sarasotans should be honored as many candidates as we have entered into this race,” he said. “We have people working and taking civic obligations vert seriously, and that is commendable in my eyes. But it is not hard to see, as far as the east is from the west, there is no other candidate that brings the city of Sarasota the life experiences I have, as well as the diverse background in various aspects of life.”

Salem faces Jennifer Ahearn-Koch, Dan Lobeck, Sheldon Rich, Carl Shoffstall and Debbie Trice in the Aug. 23 election. The top three vote-getters advance to a November election. 

The “No Swim” advisories that have been in place at Siesta Key Beach, North Lido Beach and Lido Casino since Thursday, August 11 have been lifted. Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County officials received testing results today that were at a satisfactory level for enterococcus bacteria meeting both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state recreational water standards. Residents and visitors may return to swimming and other water sports at these beach sites. The Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County monitors water quality weekly at 16 sites along Sarasota’s 34 miles of beaches. The intent of this program is to provide county residents and visitors with accurate, up-to-date information on the water quality at our beaches. 

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Manatee County residents interested in helping protect land and water resources, preserve fish and wildlife habitats and provide for passive recreation are invited to apply for one of five positions now available on the Environmental Lands Management and Acquisition Committee (ELMAC):

— Member of an Environmental Group (3-year initial term)
— Member engaged in Banking, Finance or Real Estate (3-year initial term)
— Member with Education in Active Outdoor Sports (3-year initial term)
— Member employed by the Manatee County School Board (3-year initial term)
— Member of the Florida Engineering Society (3-year initial term)

Members are appointed by the Board of County Commissioners for initial terms of service of one, two or three years. All terms after the initial term are for 3 years, with reappointment at the discretion of the Board. ELMAC makes recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners on environmental land acquisition and management issues, including recreational planning, and establishes programs for public lands. ELMAC also serves as the Tree Advisory Board. ELMAC is responsible for implementing the community-initiated Conservation and Parks Projects Referendum. The Referendum, approved by voters in November of 2020, authorizes up to $50M in tax proceeds for the acquisition, improvement and management of land to protect natural resources and provide parks.  ELMAC meets on the first Monday of every other month, excluding holidays, at 6 pm, in the Manatee County Administration Building, 5th Floor, Manatee Room, 1112 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton FL, 34205. The deadline for applications is September 2, 2022. 

Click for the application.

Premier Sotheby’s International Realty, one of the nation’s leading brokerages, has announced the promotion of Shelley Whiteside to senior regional marketing director of the Sarasota region.  In this expanded role, Shelley leads the development and execution of regional marketing plans, media buying and corporate training for global advisors in the Lakewood Ranch, Longboat Key, Sarasota and Venice Beach office locations. She joined the brokerage in 2016.

A native of Chicago, Shelley has 20 years of experience managing the marketing and sales efforts for prominent organizations. She is a Sarasota resident whose intricate knowledge of the market and breadth of experience will continue to make a positive contribution to the Premier Sotheby’s International Realty leadership team. “Shelley is a talented marketing professional who has proven to be an invaluable contributor and asset to our organization,” said Premier Sotheby’s International Realty’s Chief Marketing Officer Kathy Forrester. “We are delighted to expand her leadership role in the marketing department, fostering the continued growth of our firm.” 

The purchase of 6.37 acres of land located along Lemon Bay approximately half a mile northeast of Stump Pass opens up an exciting opportunity for the new owner. The land, a special use property type with zoning that allows for both single and multi-family units, could allow for up to 43 dwelling units also sits in an opportunity zone. Currently on the property are income-producing single-family dwellings, concrete sea-walled canals, and a strip of land that borders the southernmost canal. The new owner, who owns the bordering property, acquired the land for expansion purposes.

Mark Bower, Investment Advisor for SVN Commercial Advisory Group managed the sale which closed July 19. “My client owns and operates the boat dealership, marina, and boat storage contiguous to this property so when this site became available, he saw it as a logical piece to enhance his existing operation.” The property rests in close proximity to Grove City and Rotonda Community Park. Local marinas, restaurants, golf courses, and parks also are within a short drive.

“It is a beautiful property with direct access to Stump Pass and the Gulf of Mexico,” Bower said. “That, combined with the increased population as more housing developments continue to pop up in the area and the increased boating demand that has occurred particularly since Covid. People just really appreciate being out on the water and the lifestyle that boating provides. Marinas and boat storage are in exceptionally high demand right now.” While the exact end use is yet-to-be-determined, this site offers a tremendous amount of value, in that it provides the new owner with many different long-term investment options. 

The Hermitage Artist Retreat recently announced its 2022-2023 Curatorial Council, comprised of distinguished national arts leaders spanning the fields of theater, music, visual art, literature, and arts education. The newest additions to the Council include award-winning visual and multimedia artist Sanford Biggers, New York Times bestselling author Cathy Park Hong, Pulitzer Prize-nominated playwright Rajiv Joseph, and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Du Yun. Sanford Biggers and Du Yun are also both Hermitage alumni, with Biggers winning the Hermitage Greenfield Prize in 2010 – the first awarded in the discipline of visual art.  

Family Promise of South Sarasota County (FPSSC) is excited to have received a generous $30,000 grant from Bank of America Client Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee. Bank of America Client Foundation has been a strong supporter of FPSSC since 2017 with annual grants to assist with our programs. All grant funds will be used to provide for services for working families with minor children in South Sarasota County. There is no provision for direct cash payments to guest families. Funding these necessary programs provides client families with housing stability while they work to achieve long-term financial and housing stability. Jennifer Fagenbaum, Executive Director of Family Promise of South Sarasota County stated, “With the help of this grant from Bank of America Client Foundation, Family Promise will be able to offer housing support to children and their families during this very tough time in Sarasota County. Many families are currently spending more than 50% of their income on housing costs per month leaving them living paycheck to paycheck and in a continued stressful state. Family Promise of South Sarasota County offers rental assistance through our Open Doors program for families that have fallen behind in their rent due to a temporary hardship. Through our Bridge Housing program, families are provided housing and meals while they work with a case manager to learn about financial literacy and save money to gain financial independence.” 

The Wilson-Wood Foundation recently awarded a grant of $10,000 to Safe Children Coalition (SCC), for its HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) program. The grant will help area families with young children to prepare their children for success in school and beyond. This is the fourth year that the Wilson-Wood Foundation has provided support – totaling $40,000 – for the HIPPY program.

The HIPPY program helps parents to provide educational enrichment for preschool-age children and is designed to remove barriers to participation in education. The program is offered to all participants free of charge so that disadvantaged children have the opportunity to enjoy future success; the goals of HIPPY are consistent with the mission of the Wilson-Wood Foundation, which aims to do good deeds in health, education and human services.

In 2021, HIPPY served 212 parents and children with economic, social and educational challenges in Sarasota County. Every HIPPY family is TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) eligible and faces overwhelming poverty. In a survey, 100% of parents indicated that the program has helped their children to learn the skills necessary to succeed in school; 100% of HIPPY children who were assessed improved their scores on the Bracken School Readiness Assessment and 93% of children transitioning to kindergarten passed the school readiness assessment. Additionally, in 2021, HIPPY expanded services to include English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes for parents.

“Since 1992, HIPPY has encouraged participation from local parents who might otherwise not feel empowered or equipped to get involved in a meaningful way with their children’s education,” said SCC president and CEO Brena Slater. “We are grateful to the Wilson-Wood Foundation for its continued support of our HIPPY program to help the children of low-income families to succeed in school and break the cycle of poverty.”