Airport officials in Sarasota for the past seven years have heard one destination requested as a place passengers want to fly but cannot. That destination, Newark, will come within reach of SRQ Airport travelers in February when United Airlines starts non-stop flights from Sarasota to New Jersey.

“It’s the most requested route we’ve had from the public,” said Fredrick Piccolo, president and CEO of SRQ Airport. “Every time I give a speech people ask about it, and then they follow up with phone calls and emails.”

United announced on Monday that the airline will offer seasonal daily service starting Feb. 12 and running through May 15 in 2015. Tickets are available for purchase now. The flight provides a direct connection between SRQ Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). The New Jersey airport is critical in creating a flight network because it houses United's New York hub, from which the airline services a total of 142 domestic and international destinations. 

The SRQ-EWR flight will be on Boeing 737, which boasts 154 seats total (16 first-class, 48 economy-plus and 138 economy).

“This is exciting news for our customers in the Sarasota area and for thousands of potential new visitors to this vibrant Gulf Coast community,” said Michael Brooks, United’s sales manager for central and north Florida. “The Sarasota Bradenton International Airport and the community have provided strong support for our Chicago service and we look forward to a great partnership with these new flights to our New York/Newark gateway hub, from which we offer convenient connections to the Northeast, Canada and Europe.”

The addition of the service shows a building relationship between SRQ and United. The airline also runs nonstop service between Chicago O'Hare (ORD) and SRQ Airport, service that was restored in 2012 after several years when United offered no flights to SRQ. That also came after the airport was dealt the blow that AirTran would stop all of its flights to the Sarasota-Bradenton area.

“We are thrilled that United has decided to return Newark/New York service to our community," said Piccolo. “This commitment demonstrates that the Sarasota/Bradenton area is a strong market for our airline partners. The flights to the Newark Liberty hub will provide opportunities for connections to additional destinations, both domestically and internationally, and we look forward to exploring other opportunities for expansion in the future.”

It also bodes well for the future. Piccolo notes that United started its Chicago flight as a seasonal non-stop offering, then quickly decided to offer service year-round and run a second flight on the route during season. If the Newark flight sees heavy usage, Piccolo hopes United will do the same with that route.

“I see that as a much better way than for them to overfly the route and decide later they need a slow-down,” Piccolo said.

And of course the flight adds to the number of passenger flights in and out of the airport. Piccolo said that additional flights and new relationships have helped make up roughly 75 percent of the passenger traffic lost since AirTran ended its service to SRQ Airport in August 2012. 

A number of major political races in could be effectively decided today when primary voters cast their votes in contests for County Commission, School Board and State Legislative offices:

Three Sarasota County School Board elections are held. The nonpartisan races are open to all voters. In District 1, appointed School Board member Bridget Ziegler is challenged by Ken Marsh, the retired long-range planning director for the district, former New York school board member Paul Schafer and former teachers' union president Velton Hodges. If no candidate gets more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two vote-getters advance to a November election. In the District 4 race, incumbent Shirley Brown is being challenged by activist and Common Core critic Helen Woolf. In District 5, incumbent Jane Goodwin similarly is challenged by Common Core opponent Randy McLendon.

In the Manatee County School Board races, the management of the district as it changed superintendents seems the greatest issue at play. The open seat for District 2 is contested by My Brother's Keeper founder Rodney Jones and Manatee High teacher Charlie Kennedy. In District 4, incumbent Karen H. Carpenter is challenged by former board member Frank Drunner. The crowded field is in District 5, where incumbent Julie Aranibar is challenged by outgoing Manatee Technical Institute director Mary Cantrell, former Bradenton CIty COuncil member James Golden and Marine veteran Les Nichols. Again, if nobody in the District 5 race wins a majority of votes, the top two candidates advance to a November runoff.

For the Sarasota County Commission, two Republican primaries are on the ballot. In District 2, Sarasota City Commissioners Paul Caragiulo and Shannon Snyder both seek the higher office. The winner advances to the November general election against independent Alexandra Poe and two write-in candidates. In District 4, former Planning Commissioner Alan Maio and Council of Neighborhood Associations president Lourdez Ramirez seek the party nomination. The winner will face Democrat Ray Porter and independent John Minder. Only Republicans can vote in the primary today.

As for the Manatee County Commission, primaries today effectively decide who will hold two seats. In District 4, only Republicans are running, where incumbent Robin DiSabatino faces conservative activist Timothy Norwood. Since the race decides the contest, all voters in the district can vote. In District 2, incumbent Michael Gallen is challenged in the Democratic primary by activist and sheriff's deputy Corie Holmes and Palmetto City Councilman Charles Smith. The winner advances to the general election but only faces a write-in candidate. Only Democrats living in District 2 can vote in today's primary.

The contest for Florida House of Representatives District 74 will also in essence be decided today. The open seat is sought by orthopedic surgeon Julio Gonzalez and former Florida Real Estate Commissioner Richard DeNapoli, both Republicans. Since two write-in candidates await in the November general election, the primary is only open to voters living in the district, which includes most of South Sarasota County south of State Road 72 (Clark Road) 

Follow election results tonight at SRQMag.com

James O. Fergeson, Jr., J. Ronald Skipper and Richard R. Gans, shareholders in the law firm of Fergeson, Skipper, Shaw, Keyser, Baron and Tirabassi, have been selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2015 edition of The Best Lawyers In America, the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become highly regarded as a guide to legal excellence.  

Fergeson Skipper Attorneys

Dr. Eftekhar Arshadi and Dr. Jay Jaffe opened Siesta Family Dentistry on Siesta Drive in Sarasota. With more than 50 years of combined experience in cosmetic and general dentistry, the practice offers state-of-the-art tools and digital imagery in order to provide patients a greater opportunity to understand and participate in their dental care. 

Siesta Family Dentistry

Doug Marr has joined the Bradenton-based real estate group EXIT Realty in the position of Realtor. The Michigan native has lived in Bradenton for over 30 years and will specialize in residential transactions. EXIT is a by-invitation-only company that donates a portion of every transaction fee colleced to a charitable fund. To date, over $2 million has been pledged to Habitat for Humanity. 

EXIT Sunset Realty

On Wednesday, August 6, 2014 SRQ | The Magazine hosted a panel discussion at IMG Academy on education and business partnerships. Panelist Mary Glass, Executive Director of the Manatee Education Foundation, said "The SRQ SB2 local education and technology symposium at IMG was thought-provoking, informative and filled with good questions for our panel.  The caliber of people attending from the community was incredible and the connections made through this forum have been strategic to the ongoing goals of the Manatee Education Foundation to help the students and teachers of Manatee County. The business community wants to be involved in education and through this type of engagement they will know how they can participate." The next SB2 symposium on Elected Mayor is Thursday, September 25, 2014 at The Francis from 7:30-9am. Tickets are $35/person and include breakfast buffet. SRQSB2.COM 

Download the Education and Business Partnerships Transcript SB2