[Police]  Police Oversight Recommendations Divide Commission
Jacob Ogles, Jacob.ogles@srqmediagroup.com

Accusations of racism, bias and interference with police marked a conversation among Sarasota City Commissioners late Monday. Ultimately, a divided Commission voted 3-2 to take the recommendations of a Police Advisory Board to workshop to further hammer out details.

In one of the more heated exchanges, Mayor Kelly Kirschner suggested the City may need new management. City Manager Robert Bartolotta took the comment as a "generic" complaint aimed at no particular person, but Kirschner made clear after the meeting he meant Bartolotta may be the problem.

One of the biggest points of contention was creation of an Independent Police Complaints Committee.

Commissioner Fredd Atkins said outside oversight would reduce intimidation conducted by police for years. "Nobody is suffering more going through this than me. I have lived in Sarasota all my life," Atkins said. "This is not recreation for me. I don't want to mess this up."

But Commissioner Terry Turner said it was a small group, including Atkins, who felt misconduct was widespread in the force. "I think we have a relatively small problem," he said. He said a June 2009 scandal where an officer was videotaped kicking an inmate appeared to be an aberration. That officer was fired.

That scandal prompted formation of an ad hoc Police Advisory Panel, which presented a list of recommendations this summer for improving community and police relations. City staff agreed with the majority of recommendations, but not creation of a permanent complaints committee or a number of other priorities of the panel.

But committee members argued against staff's suggestions saying most recommended policies were already in place. While acting Chief Mikel Holloway said the department is always looking to improve, he took issue with criticism of men in uniform and suggestions officers do not interact fairly with the community. Share:

[Daily Shop]  Christmas in July
Sarah Walch, sarahw@srqmediagroup.com

Celebrate Christmas in July this Thursday, July 22 through Saturday, July 24 in downtown Venice. More than 50 retailers will offer sales and promotions while live entertainment, trolley rides and yes, even Santa, keep the Christmas spirit alive in the heart of the summer heat. Enter in raffles for one of five bulging gift baskets (altogether totaling more than $3,000 worth of goodies) while maybe even getting a jump on shopping for Christmas in December. Share:

Downtown Venice, 941-484-6722

[Good Bite]  Summer in the City
Allison Milam, allisonm@srqmediagroup.com

The traffic thins, the beach is less crowded and the restaurant waits subside when the snowbirds leave. In order to celebrate the year-rounders who withstand both the heat of the off-season and the crowds of the peak, the Bijou Café has created a Summer in the City prix fixe menu series offered at both lunch and dinner. It’s the restaurant’s gracious way of saying “thank you” to the customers who have remained loyal all year round. The dinner menu, which is changed every week, is offered Monday through Saturday and celebrates what it means to be a true Sarasotan. This week, until July 24, start with either the Soup du Jour or the Bocconcini Tomato Basil Salad dressed a white balsamic vinagrette. The meal continues with a choice of Mojo Marinated Organic Chicken Breast, Yellowfin Tuna and an Apple Butter Glazed Bone-in Pork Chop, each artfully prepared by the chef. The festivities come to a luscious close with the Key Lime Tart that packs a flavor as vibrant and exciting as our beloved beach town. There’s never been a better time to spend the scalding summer months in the city. Share:

Bijou Café, 1287 First St., Sarasota, 941-366-8111

[Launch]  Gulf Coast Foundation Funds Science Project

The Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice announced a five-year project for improving science, technology, engineering and math education. The program will invest $2.5 million over the five years to five middle schools and three high schools in Sarasota and Charlotte counties. Foundation president Teri Hansen noted that most of the job fields with high growth right now involve those subject areas. The program was developed with officials from both county school districts. The schools which will benefit include Woodland, Venice, Laurel-Nokomis, Heron Creek and L.A. Ainger middle schools and Venice, North Port and Lemon Bay high schools. Share:

Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice

[Expansion]  Time2Design Opens Atlanta Showroom

Time2Design Sarasota has now opened a new showroom in Georgia called Time2DesignAtlanta. Co-owners Carmen Christensen and Barbara Drost partnered with Renate Olive, who is the managing partner now for the Atlanta showroom. Like the Sarasota showroom, the new location features custom cabinetry and interior design products and services. Share:

Time2Design Sarasota

[Launch]  Accrisoft Launches Milestone Marketing

Accrisoft Corporation has launched the new corporate website for Milestone Marketing. The site is on the new web platform for Accrisoft, a Sarasota software firm. The Milestone site provides print, web and events-based marketing services. Previously, the site was built using WordPress. Share:

Accrisoft Corporation

[Today]  COMMUNITY: KidsArt Exhibiton, ArtCenter Manatee, 9am—6pm

Come witness the wonderful work of our area’s young artists. ArtCenter Manatee’s “KidsArt” exhibition features work by its summer camp art students. Summer is always fun and lively at ArtCenter Manatee. Its sprouting artists, ages four and five, have an opportunity to express their creativity and in “Talented Tuesdays,” children ages 6—10 explore a variety of mediums in this once a week camp. Older children, ages 11—15, are challenged in weekly morning camps where they can learn pottery, jewelry design, drawing, painting and more. Come witness their freshly made creations. ArtCenter Manatee, 209 Ninth St. W., Bradenton, 941-746-2862. Share:

[Today]  EXHIBIT: Pines of Sarasota, Sarasota County Arts Council, 9am—5pm

Through the end of July, artwork created by residents of Pines of Sarasota will be on display at the Sarasota County Arts Council. Pines is a private, nonprofit organization that began more than 60 years ago with funds raised by the Downtown Kiwanis Club of Sarasota. It has since grown into a community which encompasses a long-term care facility serving residents in assisted living, skilled nursing, rehabilitation and Alzheimer's/dementia care. Each year, Pines provides residential services, rehabilitation and therapy services to approximately 400 residents and community members and serves 55 children, including those with special needs. The Pines' model includes social, artistic, horticultural and intergenerational activities on a daily basis, some of the results of which are on display in this exhibit of over 60 works of art. Both the artwork and poetry displayed were produced through collaboration with other community groups such as Art Without Boundaries and Laughter Unlimited. Sarasota County Arts Council, 1226 North Tamiami Trl., Sarasota, 941-365-5118. Share:

[Today]  ART: 20th Century Abstract Art, Ringling Museum, 10am—5pm

Considered one of the most shocking of all of the artistic innovations to change the course of art in the 20th century, abstraction has proven over time to be an enduring and influential movement. Yet, abstract art continues to be an uncomfortable confrontation for many museum visitors who often feel confounded by a lack of subject matter. Composed entirely of the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art’s permanent collection, the gallery installation “20th century Abstract Art” provides a glimpse at this watershed moment in the history of Western art. Visitors will experience in two galleries, work by many of the pioneers of this artistic revolution, and its various manifestations, which have become a hallmark of high modernism. Pieces by artists such as Vassily Kandinsky, Arthur Dove, Franz Kline, Jules Olitski, Louise Nevelson, Alexander Calder, Yves Tanguy and Richard Serra among others are on view, inviting visitors to explore this modernist paradigm. The John and Mable Ringling Museum, 5401 Bayshore Rd., Sarasota, 941-359-5700. Share:

[Today]  KIDS: Tuesday Story Time, Little Bookworms, 11am

This morning, Little Bookworms invites children ages 1—5 for a delightful story time. Children will gather around the story time tree to listen to the reading of colorful picture books. Little Bookworms is an independent, locally owned boutique in Lakewood Ranch that features thousands of books for infants through teenagers and a unique selection of apparel and shoes for boys and girls. Little Bookworms Children’s Bookstore and Boutique, 8111 Lakewood Ranch Main St., Bradenton, 941-907-3808. Share:

[Soon]  BUSINESS: Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance Executive Briefing, Keiser University, July 21, 7:30—9am

Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance and Keiser University present this special event titled, “How To Create World Class Culture Without Titles.” Tricia Fulton and Kirsten Regal of Sun Hydraulics Corporation will enlighten attendees on how a publicly traded company functions without job titles, what a culture without titles looks like from the inside, the advantages and challenges of a horizontal culture and how to maintain culture as new employees are added. Sun Hydraulics, the subject of four Harvard Business School case studies, is a unique, horizontal organization without titles, formal organizational roles, or clear lines of report that employs more than 800 people in seven countries around the world. A networking opportunity will be available from 7:30 to 8am while a continental breakfast will provided by the Culinary Institute of Keiser University. The program will run from 8 to 9am. Cost for LWRBA members is $15 per person and cost for non–members is $25 per person. Seating is limited so be sure to RSVP at lwrba.org. Keiser University Auditorium, 6151 Lake Osprey Dr., Sarasota, 941-757-1664. Share:

[Soon]  HEALTH: Kids’ Summer Beach Run, Venice Fishing Pier, July 21, 5:30—7pm

This is a one-mile fun run for kids presented by Sarasota County Parks and Recreation and New Balance Sarasota. Weekly registration starts at 5:30pm with race time at 6:30pm. The runs are a great opportunity for families to get exercise and have lots of fun at this beautiful beach. Participants will receive a ribbon with every run and earn a free T-shirt and a 50 percent off voucher for a pair of New Balance kids shoes after completing four runs. There is a one-time $1 registration fee. Runs are also held on Tuesday nights at Siesta Key Beach. Venice Fishing Pier, 100 Harbor Dr., Venice, 941-861-5000. Share: