Manatee County Commissioner Carol Whitmore said she always believed voters would impose term limits on officials through elections. On Tuesday, voters picked political newcomer Jason Bearden in a lopsided Republican Primary and set an end date for her 16 years of public service. 

“I’m fine. I’m disappointed,” she said Wednesday. “But the drawback is some people don’t like when you have been in office for a long time.”

Whitmore has served on the Manatee County Commission holding a county-wide seat since 2006, and before that served as mayor of Holmes Beach, where she held a commission seat dating back to 1991.

She will continue to serve the community, she said, but in a private capacity. A registered nurse, she has focused for years on ensuring indigent care is available to the poor, including palliative care. She has also served as a board member or president on a variety of health care and social service groups in the region.

“I want to do good still in Manatee,” she said. “That’s why I ran again.”

Accomplishments under her belt include a no-kill animal shelter, a cause she spent years as a county commissioner on before it was finally established a decade ago. Activists who brought an animal to the county that had been abused while owners used it for dogfighting touched her heart and committed her long-term to the cause. 

She knows some of her work may have generated controversy, maybe enough that it led to her ouster. She still heard from the campaign trail about the COVID-19 restrictions put in place in Manatee County for just a matter of weeks. But those were developed based on the recommendations of health and public safety leaders throughout the region. 

“I had seven friends who died of COVID,” she noted. “That included Gary Tibbetts who worked in (U.S. Rep.) Vern Buchanan’s office, and it included former County Commissioner Gwen Brown. And then it included five others. We followed the advice of professionals and some didn’t like that. But this was the first time in anyone’s lifetime we had a global pandemic.”

She leaves somewhat concerned about the direction of the Manatee County Commission where she served more than a decade and a half. There are former allies on the board she fears have grown accustomed to holding too much power. As she exits in a few months, she often finds herself in the minority on high-profile votes.

There’s still tension around the bitter election season. She’s disappointed Bearden never engaged in a debate, skipping out on the only scheduled one at a Tiger Bay meeting. Instead, the election played out, as she describes it, in “evil mailers” leveling accusations with no way for candidates to respond.

There’s broader concerns, she said, about politics unrelated to government dictating the direction of policy. “I hope they get away from national things and worry about Manatee County voters,” she said. “We need leaders to lead. Some don’t do that. Some let power get to their head and say if you don’t agree with me, you are the enemy.”

For the moment, Whitmore won’t say if she sees herself running for public office again. But she remains in Manatee County, a community where she grew up and has seen times bad and good, in a place where as a 15-year-old she lived on the streets homeless but where she later rubbed elbows with federal officials and business giants as an elected official. 

This weekend, get out onto the water in a way you’ve never done before: on an E-Foil. An E-Foil is an electronically propelled version of a hydrofoil board--a surfboard with a foil attached to the bottom of its surface which acts as a lifting force, allowing the board to glide above the surface of the water.

“E foiling is relatively a pretty new watersport, I’d say that they’ve been around for 10 years. Not a lot of people really know what they are yet. One of the coolest things about it is that you don’t have to go and spend $13,000 on a board, but rather you can have the opportunity to get out onto the water and start foiling,” says Seth Haljek, co-owner and one of the instructors at Sarasota E-Foil, a recent addition to the Sarasota water sports scene.

Sarasota E-Foil offers 90-minute lessons for people of all skill levels age 14 and over, with the intention of getting clients up and foiling as soon as possible. “Almost all of our customers are new to E-Foiling. We just take people out at the time of their choosing, and our whole goal is to get you E-Foiling within the hour and a half session that you’re out there,” says Haljek.

While balancing on a surfboard above the surface of the water may seem like an impossible task, in actuality the learning curve is not as steep as it looks. The instructors at Sarasota E-Foil work with you to make the gradual progression from balancing on your hands and knees, to crouching, and finally fully standing up. “I have people all who are a little bit skeptical about it but I always tell them that once you start going and get on the board you’ll be far less intimidated than you are now. It’s deceivingly easy. There’s a small learning curve of just understanding where you have to stand, what it takes to balance, and where you have to foil,” says Haljek.

Sarasota Efoil, info@SarasotaEfoil.com, 941-799-5722.  

Pictured: At Sarasota E Foil, the future of water sports is now. Photo courtesy of Sarasota E Foil.

On Friday, September 2nd, all roads lead to Palm Avenue for AMERICAN ROUTES, where all-American staples in both music and food are celebrated adjacent to and inside Art Ovation Hotel. The event is headlined by one of Southwest Florida’s best rock bands, Southbound 75, whose polished, high-energy Americana sound includes everything from blues and country to rock-n-roll and pop. The five-piece band, which has been featured on CMT and has played some of the highest profile music festivals in the Southeast, will provide the perfect complement to an evening that also features fun food offerings for guests.

“We really wanted to incorporate the Americana theme into everything,” says event organizer and promoter Joe Grano, “so look for some classics like hot dogs, apple pie, sliders and more.” Those bites—available for purchase—will come courtesy of hospitality partners that include Art Ovation Hotel, 1592 Wood Fired Kitchen & Cocktails and Brick’s Smoked Meats. A return to N. Palm Avenue adjacent to Art Ovation Hotel also ensures another rain-or-shine event, with the hotel lobby and outside dining areas providing ample coverage for guests that complements the large event tent placed in the street. In addition, Art Ovation Hotel has signed on as an event sponsor, offering a free night giveaway and a $200 cabana gift card that guests can win when they sign up for the popular hotel’s mailing list. “One of our big goals with these events has been to encourage engagement from businesses within the Downtown Improvement District,” says Grano, “so, to get Art Ovation involved as a sponsor along with our hospitality partners is a big win for attendees.” Ample parking is available in the Palm Avenue Parking garage, which will remain accessible from Main Street. In addition, plenty of on-street spots are available in the event’s surrounding area, including Palm Avenue, Main Street, Gulf Stream Avenue, Cocoanut Avenue, Pineapple Avenue, and First Street. 

To learn more, visit

Play Ball! Tickets are now on sale for the 2022 Celebrity Softball Game and Concert featuring Rodney Atkins. In just under three months local first responders and military veterans will take the field with celebrities for an exciting softball game and country music concert to raise funds for My Warrior’s Place (MWP). On Thursday of each week leading up to the event a new celebrity and/or local hero will be announced. The event was previously announced in November of 2021 by Mike Dunn, Vice President of Braves Florida operations. MWP and the Braves envision CoolToday Park packed with fans to watch as MLB, NFL, NHL; television, movie and radio personalities; and music stars play softball. Each team will also include local active duty military personnel, military veterans and first responders.Following the game, Rodney Atkins will perform an hour-long concert. Kelly Kowall, Gold Star mother and founder of My Warrior’s Place, said, “I am thrilled by the Braves willingness to help us”. Her son Corey—like so many others—gave his life for our freedom and in the wake of his loss, she reached out to help others. “That is when I realized how many veterans, first responders and their families are suffering and struggling to receive all the services they need,” Kowall explained. “My Warrior’s Place offers a serene setting on the Gulf Coast of Florida where our nation’s heroes can find healing, support and comradery after trauma.” Each program offered by MWP, from grief counseling to boating expeditions, plays an important role in the healing and coping process, and the benefit obtained through these programs is priceless to the thousands of heroes and their family members who visit My Warrior’s Place each year. Funds raised from the Celebrity Softball Game and Concert will help expand MWP’s existing facilities adding 12 cottages, operational support, and create a designated space for the newest program My Service Dog’s Place, “So that no American hero will ever need to choose between their well-being and their service dog”, explains Kowall. 

To learn more, visit

In the July/August 2022 edition of SRQ Magazine, we interviewed Bill Sadlo, President/CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties as part of our In Conversation feature about nonprofit leaders. Below is an excerpt published in the magazine in which Sadlo shares his insights with SRQ readers on community growth and changes.

How have you been dealing with the rise in mental health issues that have come out of the pandemic?

That's an interesting question because right before the pandemic, we really saw the need for mental health support. That was one of the things that our program was missing. Of course, we could refer our youth to a local agency that dealt with mental health or had mental health professionals on their team. And we knew that we needed to have that embedded in our clubs. So we started with the school social workers working with our youth. The pandemic just exacerbated that need, for our kids. So now we are doing another program where we have a mental health professional embedded at our club in Newtown. And we will continue to grow that program because the needs of the youth are different than they were two years ago. Our youth were hit very hard by this pandemic and the isolation, the stress of the online school, their parents not doing well during this time...It was just a tough, tough time for our kids. 

Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota Counties, 3100 Fruitville Rd, Sarasota. 941-366-7940.https://bgcsdc.org/

To read the full article, click here.

Our community is filled with many incredible young people doing such amazing things. This summer, we are featuring some of these young people in our Thursday Family & Education edition. Each of the students we are highlighting has been chosen as one of this year’s SRQ Magazine’s top youth leaders based on their values, determination and outstanding achievements in different aspects of their lives in and out of school.

Abigail is a senior at Sarasota Military Academy where she served as Regimental Commander of a unit of approximately 700 cadets. This spring she completed her Girl Scout Gold Award which focused on helping teens with stress management. She is involved in her local Boys & Girls Club and is a board member of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce. Abigail looks forward to studying mechanical engineering at the University of Florida starting this coming year.

We asked Abigail to tell us about her role model.

"My role model is NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli," she told us. "Her story resonates with me as she has a military background and she is a part of NASA’s upcoming Artemis mission. This will make her one of, if not the first woman to visit the moon. Her perseverance and commitment to each thing she does inspires me to bring a similar determination to each thing that I do." 

Pictured: Abigail K., a senior at Sarasota Military Academy. Photo by Wyatt Kostygan.

Sirius Day Spa Salon & Med Spas celebrates 4 this September with a major announcement and philanthropic celebration. When Sirius opened in Lakewood Ranch in 2018, the interior road at the Green was blocked off to allow for a stage, live DJ, special guests, makeup applications, and a visit from the charity recipients Big Cat Habitat with their furry and not so furry residents. With amazing support from local businesses including a chance raffle for gift baskets, it was just the beginning of something great. Less than a year later, the second location opened at the Shoppes at UTC with a performance from the charity recipient, Circus Arts Conservatory. Medford is a proud supporter and committee member of Sisterhood for Good (a local 501(c) (3) all women, all volunteer charitable organization, and a portion of this year’s proceeds will be distributed to them. Over the last 2 years, Sirius brought on a Medical Director and Nurse Practitioner to the team, and are happy to announce that the medical esthetics has expanding into “Sirius Med Spas” headed by newly appointed Med Spa Development Manager/Master Injector Alison Chafin, APRN-C. The main event is Thursday, September 29th at 5pm at the Lakewood Ranch location (11585 E State Road 70, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202). Mimosas, Gift bags, Giveaways, Live Morpheus demonstrations, and special one night only package offers, and special guests. RSVP to LWR@SiriusDaySpas.com. Sirius Day Spa opened as an innovative, unique concept, featuring over 200 professional & medical spa and beauty services under one roof. Sirius has close to 40 employees currently in both 3800 sq ft spaces. Recognized as Readers Choice Best Spa for the last 3 years, Best of SRQ 2022, and Small Business Award finalist for both Sarasota and Manatee Counties, the website (www.siriusdayspas.com), provides online booking for both locations, description of services, wellness programs, and gift card webstore. Sirius has already expanded their services to include Botox, Fillers, Laser Hair Removal, IPL treatments, Diamond Glow, Hydro Facials, Non-Surgical Facelifts, Ultrasound Therapy, LED light therapy, and more. Additionally, both UTC and Lakewood Ranch locations launched new product lines including Upneeq, Latisse, SkinMedica, Alastin, IMAGE, Moroccanoil, Oligo Professional (Calura), and Schwarzkopf. 

To learn more, visit

Lakewood Ranch Medical Center (LWRMC) is pleased to announce its affiliation with Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital to expand neonatal health services for Women’s Center mothers and their newborns. The partnership provides 24/7 neonatal coverage by Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital’s neonatology specialists for babies born at LWRMC. This specialized coverage provides for advanced support services such as respiratory or cardiac care, if needed, after a baby is delivered. The Women’s Center at LWRMC features 14 labor, delivery, recovery, and post-partum (LDRP) suites and a Level 1 Nursery. It combines top technological offerings in a beautifully appointed, spa-like environment. For more information on all our services, visit lwrmc.com. 

To learn more, visit

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens will introduce a new, Halloween-inspired light show this October at its Historic Spanish Point campus in Osprey. “Lights at Spooky Point,” running nightly from October 14 to 31, will feature an array of fantastic creatures and cute creations designed with lights along an eerily lit path through the woods at the preserve and outdoor museum. Visitors also will see familiar historic sites like Mary’s Chapel and the Pioneer Graveyard in a mysterious (but not too scary) new light during this event for all ages. Tickets for Lights at Spooky Point are now on sale through the Selby Gardens website and at the Historic Spanish Point and Downtown Sarasota campuses. Lights at Spooky Point will offer visitors a one-way path from the Welcome Center Gazebo through several popular areas on the Historic Spanish Point campus bathed in the glow of orange, purple, and red lights. Along the way, guests will encounter flying “ghost orchids,” webs with “spider orchids,” giant “bat orchids,” vine-twisted skeletons, plenty of pumpkins, and other surprises. This nighttime walk through the woods will finish at a hay maze before guestsreturn to the gazebo to exit. Food, snacks, and beverages will be available for purchase near the Cottage, about the halfway point of the light-show path. In addition to grilled burgers, hot dogs, and other hearty fare from the Michael’s on East food truck, there will be fall favorites like candy apples, fresh popcorn, and hot chocolate for sale. Selby Gardens will offer two entry times each evening for Lights at Spooky Point: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., and 7:45 to 8:45 p.m. A limited number of tickets will be available for each entry time and must be purchased in advance, either through the Selby Gardens website or at the Welcome Center on either campus. Ticket prices are $20 for Selby Gardens members, $25 for non-members, $15 for ages 5 to 17, and free for children 4 and under. Food, beverages, and other items will be sold separately on site. To learn more and purchase tickets, go online to selby.org.