A cybersecurity certification program for the University of South Florida was announced at the Sarasota campus for the public university. Regional Chancellor Karen Holbrook and U.S. Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, held an event Friday at the branch campus touting the professional program.

“At USF, we relentlessly pursue innovation,” Holbrook said.

The InfoSec GRC Analyst program will focus on information security governance, risk and compliance. The non-credit program will be offered online and available to the public. Applications can be sent now, and the first lessons will be accessible starting July 8, and students will have 60 days to complete the program once they begin.

Those who take the course will earn a USF certification through its digital micro-credential program. Lessons will be presented in four modules, starting with information security foundations and moving on to ways to implement security measures to protection against online threats and meet industry standards.

Steube secured a $2-million federal grant to develop the remote InfoSec GRC Analyst program. He said that was a worthwhile investment for Congress because it will contribute to better fortification online of government resources against threats. The program, which will be offered free to up to 250 initial students, will give enrollment priority to veterans, first responders and other public employees.

"There are nearly 30,000 unfilled cybersecurity job openings in the State of Florida, representing an in-demand field with great job security into the future,” Steube said. 

“It's an honor to be part of connecting military veterans and others who have served our community with this new opportunity. I'm thankful to the USF leadership for their foresight and careful planning to execute this new program.

"As your representative, it’s my duty to ensure we can bring as many of your federal taxpayer dollars back to FL-17 as possible, and this project will certainly make a difference for many Floridians and our workforce in Southwest Florida."

USF President Rhea Law said the program would provide a critical service to the public.

"As cybersecurity threats become more prevalent and sophisticated, the need for professionals who are trained in reducing cyber risks continues to grow,” Law said. “The University of South Florida's expertise and partnerships in the business community make us uniquely positioned to help address this need, and we are proud to offer this innovative certificate program for those who are looking to upskill and advance in their careers.” 

Photo courtesy USF: U.S. Rep. Greg Steube, USF Sarasota-Manatee Chancellor Karen Brook spent at a Friday press conference.

Meet a family of five talking cat-therapists—these 10-inch plush cats each have their own unique “purr-sonalities” to help adults prioritize mental health. TheraPurrs, the name of the company, was started by Apollo Beach residents William and Angelique Sever to provide specialized therapy for mental health practitioners. Specializing in comforting phrases such as, “I am here to help you,” TheraCat is designed to create a therapist-like dialogue with their owner. Another member of the TheraPurrs family Posicat is a tuxedo cat programmed with over 90 positive affirmations like “I am surrounded by love,” and “Good things are going to come to me.”

The couple developed the TheraPurrs concept during the Covid-19 pandemic after noticing the necessity for nurses and other frontline workers to have an emotional outlet. “There are more people needing mental health help than there are therapists to help them with it,” says William Sever, who was working as a Chief Marketing Officer at BenefitHub in Tampa at the time.  “Looking at the data, it had been getting worse and through Covid, the need for mental health help escalated even further.”

The Severs also noticed a trend of posts on popular mental health meme pages, often seeing funny posts that included cats and wine. Joking around one night, the pair came up with the idea of a talking cat when they suddenly had an epiphany. As a mental health specialist, Angelique Sever had been working in the children’s crisis unit at Gracepoint Wellness in Tampa for over three years. Her unit’s focus was on children that had been Baker Acted, or temporarily placed under involuntary detention in order to administer emergency mental health services. Under HIPAA regulation, Angelique is unable to divulge to her loved ones about the difficult situations she faces at work. However, she would be able to speak to a talking cat.

After developing the product, the couple decided to give their furry friends to professionals employed in mental health clinics and schools. In a TikTok posted to the account miss.gellar, a kindergarten teacher reveals how she utilizes PosiCat for her class’s morning affirmations, recommending TheraPurrs to students, parents and educators. Miss Gellar reached out to the Severs to detail how an emotional child used PosiCat to calm down, regulating his big emotions with the affirming animal. “He went to the cat right away and has been listening to it,” Gellar wrote. “He stopped crying without me coming to him and he’s just sitting there, listening.”

TheraPurrs are available for purchase on their website, and customer’s have the choice between English and Spanish speaking felines for the price of $50. You can also find a collection of paw-some shirts and other merchandise.

“It’s uplifting to see the reaction,” says William Sever. “We’re just trying to bring a little smile to people receiving emotional support. Everybody needs more of that.”

455 N US Highway 41 #2206, Ruskin, FL 33575, 1-813-443-9847. 

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The Coldwell Banker Realty luxury listing at 1325 Westway Drive in Sarasota, closed on June 7, 2024, for $12.5 million, a record price for the Lido Shores area and the third highest price ever sold in the 34236 zip code. It was an all-cash deal. Co-listed by Roger Pettingell and Nicholle DiPinto McKiernan with Coldwell Banker Realty, the property features an approximately 5,400 sq. ft., three-bedroom main house and a two-bedroom guest house. An enclosed courtyard is situated between the two homes with a 60’ heated lap pool. The property is on nearly a half-acre and offers approximately 75’ water frontage on New Pass, the waterway connecting Sarasota Bay to the Gulf of Mexico. The home was built in 2011 by the sellers, David and Linda Hargreaves, and features a 4-car garage, boat dock with two boat lifts, floor-to-ceiling glass windows, gourmet kitchen, summer kitchen and rooftop putting green with unobstructed Gulf of Mexico views. David Hargreaves was a long-time executive for Hasbro, before retiring. Pettingell was recently included on the 2024 RealTrends The Thousand list, published in The Wall Street Journal May 31, 2024, for ranking among the Top 250 individual real estate agents in the United States. He also hosts a vlog, REALTALK™ with Roger Pettingell. According to Nicholle DiPinto McKiernan, who is partner of the DiPinto Group at Coldwell Banker Realty, the landmark sale propels her team's volume to north of $100 million in sales in the last 18 months.  

Photo/video credit: The Hover Bureau.

The Sarasota County Fire Department (SCFD) invites our community to a series of open houses at various fire stations throughout Sarasota County to educate and connect with our community through a series of engaging events. The free, family-friendly open houses will be held one Saturday a month from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., offering visitors the chance to meet their firefighters, see fire apparatus, learn about fire safety and prevention, hands-only CPR, how to use an AED, and more. Car seat safety inspections and bike helmet fittings will also be available. The schedule for open houses is as follows: Saturday, June 22 at Station 4, 3530 Old Bradenton Road, Sarasota, Saturday, July 20 at Station 12, 3110 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, Saturday, Aug. 24 at Station 21, 721 Center Road, Venice, Saturday, Sept. 21 at Station 9. 6750 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, Saturday, Oct. 12 at Station 15, 9102 Bloomfield Blvd., Sarasota, Saturday, Nov. 16 at Station 22, 4531 Englewood Road, Venice, Saturday, Dec. 21 at Station 17, 5431 Desoto Road, Sarasota. SCFD is proud to open its doors to our community, bringing the tradition of open houses into our neighborhoods. These events are a great opportunity for residents to engage directly with their neighborhood firefighters. “We love serving and getting to know our community. Bringing the open houses directly into the neighborhoods allows us to better connect with our neighbors and educate families on fire safety and life-saving skills like hands-only CPR,” said Sarasota County Fire Chief David Rathbun. “These learning opportunities and donating blood are all ways for the fire department and our neighbors to work together to make Sarasota County a safer place to live.” For more information on SCFD and the list of open house dates, visit scgov.net/fire.

 Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources is proud to announce that Turtle Beach Campground has been recognized as the Small Park of the Year by the Florida and Alabama RV Park and Campground Association. This prestigious award celebrates the campground’s exceptional achievements in outdoor hospitality, accommodations and service. Located on the picturesque Siesta Key, Turtle Beach Campground is Sarasota County’s premier beachfront campground. Guests can have a unique experience of camping right next to the Gulf of Mexico with direct beach access. Guests can enjoy the amenities including a playground, paddle sport rentals and fishing piers at Turtle Beach Park. Additionally, the Breeze 77 Siesta Islander provides easy access to Siesta Village’s restaurants, shops and nightlife. Since its establishment as a Gulf Beach Campground in 1921, and its acquisition by Sarasota County in 2006, Turtle Beach Campground has consistently provided exceptional service. The dedicated staff continually receive top marks on customer surveys, contributing to an impressive year-round occupancy rate of over 95%. Campers are surveyed monthly about their experiences at the campground, and staff act upon reasonable recommendations. Survey results consistently average 4.8 - 4.9 out of 5. Turtle Beach Campground has had recent improvements including a WIFI upgrade, relocation of the camp host site and a $50,000 restroom renovation, enhancing comfort for campers. "We are thrilled and honored to receive this recognition," said Nicole Rissler, Director of Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources. "Our team's commitment to excellence and our beautiful location make Turtle Beach Campground a truly special place for visitors." For more information about Turtle Beach Campground and to make reservations, please visit SarasotaCountyParks.com or call 311.