Mean Deans Local Kitchen is bringing folks together during the holiday season, ensuring that no one has to dine alone.

The restaurant was founded in November 2020 by Dean Donnelly and Michele Angell, a husband-and-wife team with deep roots in the industry. Dean’s experience lies in both corporate and independent dining establishments. Before opening Mean Deans, Dean worked at Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and co-owned Cedar Reef Fish Camp in Bradenton and Venice. His career also includes stints at Anna Maria Oyster Bar, Johnny Leverock’s, and the Rainforest Café, among others. Michele, originally from upstate New York, moved to Florida in 2003 and met Dean at Johnny Leverock’s. She has worked in all front-of-house roles, including at Sammy Frog’s and Rainforest Café. In 2015, Michele earned her pilot certificates while co-owning Cedar Reef Fish Camp with Dean.

The challenges of the pandemic led Dean and Michele to reassess their priorities. They decided to open Mean Deans Local Kitchen as a place to build community and create lasting memories with family and friends. With help from Michele’s stepfather Floyd “Bubba” Edler, they transformed a vacant space into a warm, welcoming restaurant.

When Bubba sadly passed, Michele worried for her mom who would be alone when dining out. Last year at Thanksgiving time, a woman called the restaurant and said she was dining alone for Thanksgiving. Michele had a thought and said to the caller, “My mom is dining alone too, why don’t you join her?” Before long, a communal table was started at the restaurant. It became a place for widows, singles, and others who are alone during the holidays to gather, share a meal, make new friends and celebrate in good company

For Thanksgiving, single diners were told to call and reserve a table under the name “Pumpkin.” Now, on every major holiday, Mean Deans Local Kitchen hosts a special table for those spending the holidays alone for whatever reason. For reservations for their “Santa” table for dining on Christmas Day or for more information on holiday dining visit MeanDeansLocalKitchen.com or call 941-251-5435. 

Pictured: The Thanksgiving Pumpkin table at Mean Deans. Photo courtesy of Mean Deans.

Education advocates Joe and Mary Kay Henson have donated over $1M through The Henson Fund, to help fund multiple educational and affordable housing initiatives throughout Sarasota County in 2024. Their goals are rooted in a fundamental belief: that the most meaningful way to make a difference is by supporting those who need it most, particularly through the transformative power of education. They especially focus on providing aid to Title I schools in the Sarasota County School District, which are, in part, federally assisted to ensure that students meet state academic standards, particularly in reading and math. 

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Years ago, SPARCC provided refuge to a young boy, his brother, and their mother as they sought safety from domestic violence. Despite enduring the unimaginable tragedy of the murder-suicide of his parents, that boy, Robleh Kirce, is now a Managing Partner at NextArrow and committed to the well-being of survivors. At SPARCCle A Starry Night Soiree, SPARCC’s 45th Sapphire Anniversary Gala, the organization celebrated its remarkable milestone of serving the community for over four decades. This annual black tie event brought together community members, supporters, and advocates to honor SPARCC's life-saving work and raise crucial funds for its free and confidential programs and services for survivors and their children in our community. 

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The Haven is pleased to announce construction has been completed on two new homes on their 32-acre campus. Brad’s Place and Michael’s House are approximately 5100 square feet with 8 private bedrooms and will provide 24/7 staff support for adults with developmental disabilities. Situated in a prime location, residents are within walking distance to the UTC Mall, Nathan Benderson Rowing Facility, Mote Marine, and countless restaurants and entertainment choices. “Thanks to the support of our community, The Haven has become one of the largest residential service providers on the Suncoast said The Haven’s President and CEO Brad Jones. “With several hundred individuals on our residential waiting list, there is still a lot of work to do.” A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on December 4th at 10am at The Haven Campus – 4405 Desoto Rd. Sarasota, FL 34235. 

Resurrection House, Inc., has been awarded a $20,000 grant from the Harry Sudakoff Foundation to fund the “Floor No More” program. The program provides previously homeless individuals with living essentials for their new house at move-in. Providing these household essentials at move-in improves the chances these individuals will remain permanently housed. The “Floor No More” program is a collaboration with the City of Sarasota’s Homeless Outreach Team (H.O.T.). The H.O.T. case managers identify circumstances that are unique to each person's housing situation which helps with selection of the household items. Resurrection House’s role is to purchase and provide the “Floor No More” items at move-in. 

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Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of four new board members, Kevin Collins, John Groetelaars, Michael Klein and Jackie Tilton.“We are honored to have these accomplished leaders join the board of our rapidly expanding organization,” said newly elected board chair, Robert L. Wood. “Our mission is to help ensure Sarasota Memorial continues to bring world-class healthcare to our growing community—Kevin, John, Michael and Jackie will be instrumental in helping us achieve our strategic goals.” 

The Child Protection Center, Inc. (CPC) recently hosted statewide Forensic Interviewer training at the Campus of Healing for fifteen Child Protection Team Case Coordinators and law enforcement officers from across Florida.Forensic interviews are child-friendly, non-leading, and legally sound conversations with alleged victims of child abuse. They are a critical step in determining whether child abuse has occurred. Having Child Protection Team Case Coordinators trained in forensic interviewing alleviates the need for children to be interviewed by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) or at local police stations after an abuse report is made to the FL Abuse Hotline. Streamlining this process through the utilization of Child Protection Teams specialized in the field of child abuse protects children by reducing the additional stress and trauma of making their disclosures. Case Coordinators establish a safe space of trust, ensure children are comfortable, and transition into topics of concern while gathering details of disclosure. Each interview is recorded and submitted as evidence. 

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Community Foundation of Sarasota County awarded Forty Carrots Family Center $35,000 to provide at-risk families with evidence-based Circle of Security® (COS) Parenting Education groups, which support building secure attachments between parents and children.The generous funding received from the James Franklin Warnell & Dorothy J. Warnell Fund and the Carolyn Caruthers Fund II at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County meets the needs of parents requiring education to comply with court orders, families experiencing homelessness, and parents in recovery or jail diversion. Visit www.fortycarrots.org  for more information. 

The SRQ Wellness Foundation brings local artists and businesses together to raise funds for integrated health care, December 2024. 

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