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SRQ DAILY Jul 3, 2014

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"The postal service would save more money and maintain reliable service and good paying jobs for our constituents by transferring work from the Fort Myers facility and the Manasota and Tampa distribution centers."

- Sally Tibbetts, Office of Rep. Vern Buchanan
 

[Government]  Manasota Mail Center Under Threat Again
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

The United States Postal Service once again is considering closing down the Manasota Mailing and Distribution Center, a move that could cost more than 100 jobs in the region as mail is redirected through Fort Myers. Now, officials in the office of Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota, are lobbying to have facilities in Fort Myers closed instead.

“We will continue to make our case that the postal service would save more money and maintain reliable service and good paying jobs for our constituents by transferring work from the Fort Myers facility and the Manasota and Tampa distribution centers,” said Sally Tibbetts, district director for Buchanan. “According to recent Area Mail Processing studies, the postal service could save approximately $15.8 million by transferring mail processing operations from the Fort Myers PDC to the Manasota and Tampa PDCs, nearly twice as much as the $8.5 million in annual savings estimated from consolidating the Manasota PDC into the Fort Myers PDC.” 

The USPS has considered closing the Manasota facility before, issuing out notices in January 2013 that the center, located near the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, would be shuttered no later than February this year. But the complete implementation of a nationwide consolidation plan was delayed, sparing the Manasota facility in the short term.

But on Monday, USPS announced it would begin consolidations again, closing 82 facilities starting in January and finishing by Fall 2015.

The justification then was the growing financial hardships of the digital age for a service built on small parcel mail. The USPS suffered financial losses of more than $26 billion over the past three years, according to USPS spokeswoman Enola Rice.

“The U.S. Postal Service is facing one of the most difficult challenges In Its history,” wrote USPS manager Patrick Devine at the time. “The current economic downturn and continued Internet diversion has led to historically large deficits. As a result, the Postal Service is not receiving enough revenue to sustain the cost of its processing and delivery network.”

Rice said while the work will be shifted, individuals working at closing facilities won’t necessarily be left unemployed. “In 2012 and 2013, the Postal Service consolidated 141 mail processing facilities,” she said. “This rationalization of our network was highly successful, resulted in negligible service impact, required no employee layoffs and generates annual cost savings of approximately $865 million. The Postal Service expects the completion of network rationalization will generate an additional $750 million in annual savings.” 

[Recognition]  Squires Named 2014 Outstanding Middle Level Educator

The National Council of Teachers of English has named Pine View School language arts teacher Fran Squires the 2014 Outstanding Middle Level Educator in the English Language Arts. Squires teaches sixth grade gifted and advanced-level English language arts, and many of her students have been recognized in state and national writing contests. She will receive the award at a November conference in Washington, D.C. 

Pine View School

[Synergy]  Halfacre Construction Chosen for Manatee Utilities Project

Manatee County has selected Lakewood Ranch-based Halfacre Construction Company to renovate and rebuild its aging utility operations building located at 66th Street in Bradenton. The new operations facility will house Manatee County Utilities’ fiscal and administrative staff, a separate building for maintenance workers, plus vehicle parking, office space and lockers. The company will break ground on the new facility in about six months. 

Halfacre Construction

[Recognition]  Sarasota Schools Winner of Catalyst Award

The Sarasota County School District has won a Catalyst Award for Innovation by Blackboard Inc., the world’s leading education technology company. The Innovation Award honors those in education who think outside the box in areas such as teaching and learning practices, software development, mobile innovation, cloud innovation and online program management. 

Sarasota County Schools

[Recognition]  Manatee Hospital Program Receives Award

The Robert A. Warriner III, M.D., Center of Excellence Award was given to Manatee Memorial Hospital’s Wound Care and Hyperbaric Treatment Program because it has met the Center of Distinction quality standards for Healogics, Inc. The program offers specialized wound care to patients suffering diabetic ulcers, pressure ulcers, infections and other chronic wounds which have not healed in a reasonable amount of time. Healogics, Inc. is the nation’s largest provider of advanced wound care services. 

Manatee Memorial Hospital



Rita Rust, "Chillin'," Watercolor, 12" x 18" framed, Art Uptown Gallery, 1367 Main St., Sarasota, 941-955-5409

[Save the Date]  Bal Masque 10/4
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SRQ will host their inaugural signature soiree, Bal Masqué, on Saturday, October 4, 2014, from 8pm-midnight at the historic Sarasota Opera House in Downtown Sarasota. Professorial performance partners, the Circus Arts Conservatory, the Sarasota Cuban Ballet, and Fuzión Dance Artists will dazzle guests at this Venetian inspired evening. Amidst the harlequin entertainment, guests will enjoy tantalizing fare from the culinary connoisseurs of Fête. Event beneficiaries include the Circus Arts Conservatory, the Child Protection Center, Suncoast Charities for Children, and the Suncoast Science Center. Tickets to this gala are $125 with a portion of the proceeds going to a beneficiary of choice, to be selected upon purchasing admission online.  

Get Tickets

SRQ Media Group

SRQ DAILY is produced by SRQ | The Magazine. Note: The views and opinions expressed in the Saturday Perspectives Edition and in the Letters department of SRQ DAILY are those of the author(s) and do not imply endorsement by SRQ Media. Senior Editor Jacob Ogles edits the Saturday Perspective Edition, Letters and Guest Contributor columns.In the CocoTele department, SRQ DAILY is providing excerpts from news releases as a public service. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SRQ DAILY. The views expressed by individuals are their own and their appearance in this section does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. For rates on SRQ DAILY banner advertising and sponsored content opportunities, please contact Ashley Ryan Cannon at 941-365-7702 x211 or via email

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