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SRQ DAILY Nov 10, 2014

Monday Business Edition

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Monday Business Edition

"The community and especially the children who have been in the hospital will benefit from the Johnsons' generosity and caring support."

- Alex Quarles, Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation
 

[Real Estate]  Average List Price

Homes sold in September within the Manatee County market were sold for an average of 94.7 percent of the original list price, according to the Manatee Association of Realtors. That is down just 1 percent from last September and the highest percentage this calendar year. 

[Health]  Music Paves Highway to Healthiness
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

Dirty deeds can run dirt cheap, but the good work of a hospital can be mighty expensive. That's why, in addition to the presence of an international celebrity, the dedication of a new music therapy center in Sarasota Memorial Hospital's pediatric ward will prove important for setting the hospital apart.

Brian Johnson, lead singer of AC/DC and a longtime resident of Sarasota, will be on hand at an invitation-only event for the dedication of the Brian Johnson Music Therapy Center. The Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation sent out tickets that look like ticket stubs using the familiar font and lightning bolt from AC/DC's logo. The real work, though, starts in a few weeks when full-time child specialists in the center will oversee activities for children in extended visits to the hospital to benefit from therapeutic elements of the arts,

"You want to reduce fears and anxiety with a hospital stay," said hospital spokeswoman Kim Savage. With younger children, they could be helped simply by listening to an older parent or sibling make music in the room. For older pediatric patients, it could involve playing and recording songs themselves.

The center features amps, lighting, soundstage equipment, monitors and instruments. The capacity exists, Savage said, for children to compose lyrics and records cuts of the songs all within the therapy center.

It's an expansion of a music therapy room first employed at the hospital in 2008. With the expansion, hospital foundation officials are hopeful new recording stars may even be able some day to trace origins back here.

The event scheduled today accommodates Johnson's schedule; AC/DC has a new album on stands in December and will go on tour in 2015. Johnson and wife Brenda are the principal financial donors involved in this project, according to the Healthcare Foundation. "The community and especially the children who have been in the hospital will benefit from the Johnsons' generosity and caring support," said Foundation CEO Alex Quarles.

The center itself will start regular operations in about a month, Savage said, when the pediatric unit officially moves into a newly constructed courtyard tower. 

[Synergy]  Collaboration Creates Center for Schools, Community
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

The introduction of a performing arts hall in Venice marks a milestone in culture for the city, but it also shows the result of synergy between local agencies combining resources to bring infrastructure that boosts both the performing arts scene in Southwest Florida and the opportunities in our schools.

"We're always working on collaboration with Sarasota County governments," said Scott Ferguson, spokesman for the Sarasota County School District. "Sometimes the ideas come from us and sometimes they come from others."

In the case of the construction of the 51,562-square-foot Venice Performing Arts Center, the idea originated with the Venice City Council, who worked with the Sarasota County School Board to bring about a world-class musical and theatrical venue. A ribbon-cutting was held Thursday for the new center.

The $15-million facility was paid for primarily through a one-cent sales tax that produces revenue shared by the city, county and schools. The new center was designed by Schenkel Architecture and constructed by Gilbane Building Company.

From here, officials from Venice High and the school district will be responsible for running the venue, but the collaboration between agencies has left the school with a venue that seats 1,070 and community groups with an outstanding stage on which to perform. "It's a win-win," Ferguson said.

Today the Venice Concert Band will play on the stage, and Thursday there will be a Rotary Futures College Workshop there, while the Venice Symphony already has shows booked from Nov. 20-22 and Exsultate! has a performance scheduled on Dec. 7. Meanwhile, the Venice High School Chorus Madrigals will perform Dec. 4-6. 

[Agenda]  Venice Could Keep Chalkings On Display
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

Venice City Council: The council meets Wednesday to discuss sponsorships for the Sarasota Chalk Festival and a request to leave festival drawings on Miami Avenue for a full 30 days after the festival ends. The meeting will begin at 9am at City Hall.

Bradenton City Council: The council meets Wednesday for a workshop on city business. The workshop will begin at 9am at the South Florida Museum in Bradenton. 

http://www.venicegov.com/

[Recognition]  Keyser Named BNI Member of the Year

The Southwest Florida Chapter of BNI, a business networking organization, has named Brett Keyser the 2014 Member of the Year from among 1,500 members. Keyser was also named Most Valuable Member of the Sarasota Sunrise Success Chapter. Keyser is an associate in the Sarasota office of RE/MAX Alliance Group. He has a Bachelor's in Finance from the University of Florida and a Master's in Business Administration from the University of Florida Warrington College of Business Administration. Keyser is also a past president of the BNI Sunrise Success Chapter. 

Alliance Group

[Exec Moves]  Schmaling Joins RE/MAX

Nicole Schmaling joined the Venice office of RE/MAX Platinum Realty. Raised in Venice, she brings extensive knowledge of local properties and residential communities. Schmaling has a 15-year background in business and customer service. She managed the Uniform Center in Sarasota and a Starbucks coffeehouse in Venice. 

Platinum Realty

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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