Sarasota County, like the State of Florida as a whole, saw a majority of voters come in the General Election come out in favor of medical marijuana but not enough to beat a steep 60-percent threshold for constitutional amendments. But the measure here fell short of the threshold based solely on votes cast before Nov. 4, according to an election analysis by SRQ Media Group. Almost 61 percent of voters at polls on Election Day backed the proposal.

That seemed especially interesting in the fact that Election Day voters favored Republican candidates while those who voted early supported Democrats. For example, Democrat Charlie Crist won almost 53 percent of absentee ballots for governor in Sarasota County while Republican Rick Scott took more than 54 percent of the vote on Election Day.

“Who would have thought all of those Republicans would have voted for marijuana?,” said Joe Gruters, chairman of the Republican Party of Sarasota.

In fact, the Republican Party locally had opposed the marijuana amendment while the Sarasota Democratic Party supported it, just as Scott opposed the measure while Crist supported it.

Gruters said party opposition was largely on constitutional grounds, and that legalizing marijuana for medical purposes should be an issue tackled in the Florida Legislature and not in the state constitution. 

Statewide, the measure won 57.62 percent of the vote, passing the 60 percent threshold in only nine of 67 counties. In Sarasota County, 58.58 percent of all voters supported the amendment.

SRQ Media Group on Wednesday will host its Where The Votes Are event Wednesday morning from 7:30-9am. Results of elections from Congress down to municipal offices will be discussed in a precinct-by-precinct analysis of results. The event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP to WTVA@srqmediagroup.com. 

Chinese performance artist Li Wei stopped by the Ringling Museum yesterday to perform his latest feats for a new series of photography depicting the artist flying over cultural and historical landmarks across the globe. Whimsical and eye-catching, Wei’s photography projects often depict the artist or his subjects in gravity-defying situations or poses.

Including locations in Venice and Paris, Wei’s shots at the Ca’ d’Zan and Ringling Courtyard mark the U.S. debut of Wei’s latest series.

“This artist uses the medium to create boundary-breaking artwork that combines installation and performance,” said Fan Zhang, Asian Art curator for the Ringling Museum, of the decision to bring Wei to the grounds for his gravity-defying series. “The statement of the artist impressed me and it lets people appreciate the new boundaries of contemporary photography, especially from Asia.”

Using a pair of cranes and steel wire, Wei suspended himself in mid-air in front of the Ca’ d’Zan, grasping the horns of a traditional Chinese dragon’s head, it’s spindly body scaffolding behind, trailing in the wind. Hovering 35-40 feet in the air, the artist posed as if riding the animal across the sky. Pausing to alight on the ground and equip a brace of flares, Wei then rose back into the air for another round of photography, billowing plumes of red smoke from both hands, flanking the dragon’s head.

After a short costume change, swapping everyday clothes for garb resembling a monk’s robes, Wei finished the series suspended 145 feet in the air, floating above the Ca’ d’Zan in clouds of multi-colored smoke.

Later in the day, Wei performed similar feats swapping the Ca’ d’Zan backdrop for Ringling Courtyard, hovering over the Statue of David.

“Freedom is the most important thing for a human being,” said Wei through a translator of the motivation behind his latest series showcasing apparent flight. He expressed joy at performing in front of an audience and including them in the “dialogue” as the art is made, regardless of whether they got the exact same message out of his work. “But if you have a different perception, you must have your feelings and emotions involved.”

Although the finished photographs remove the cranes and wires, leaving Wei apparently flying across the picture, it was an interesting behind-the-scenes look into the process of this working international artist.

“I love to go to historical places – it doesn’t matter if it’s a short history or a long history,” said Wei of the trip to Sarasota. “And when you go up there, the sky is all yours.” 

Mar Vista Dockside in Longboat Key is scheduled to unveil its new dock, which just underwent eight weeks of construction. Restaurant Owner Ed Chiles, Longboat Key Mayor Jim Brown, representatives from the Longboat Key, Anna Maria Island and Manatee Chambers of Commerce as well as community members will gather for the dock unveiling, which will include a ribbon cutting ceremony, speeches from Chiles, Mar Vista General Manager Anthony Cucci and Mayor Brown, and a champagne toast. 

Mar Vista Restaurant

The waterfront neighborhood of Ravenna nears completion as construction begins on the last of 10 buildings. Remaining choices include five 1^st floor residences, four 2^nd floor residences and one penthouse level home. Ravenna is located on a peninsula surrounded by water, including its own lagoon and 700-acre Lake Como. 

Miromar Lakes

Beggins Enterprises announced that Laura Fulwider has joined its firm as a sales associate.  She will specialize in Residential and Commerical property sales in the Sarasota/Manatee area. Fulwider just successfully completed extensive training and licensing through Beggins Univeristy covering all facets of the real estate business. 

Century 21 Beggins Enterprises