Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium announced Wednesday evening that founder Eugenie "Genie" Clark had died. She was 92. Clark, referred to affectionately as the "Shark Lady," founded Mote 60 years ago.

Clark died from complications from lung cancer. She was active with marine research even late in life, and took her last ocean dive in late 2014 in the Gulf of Aqaba to do research still under peer review. Clark conducted 71 submersible dives as deep as 12,000 feet and led over 200 field research expeditions to the Red Sea, Caribbean, Mexico, Japan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Thailand, Indonesia and Borneo to study sand fishes, whale sharks, deep sea sharks and spotted oceanic triggerfish, Mote officials said. She wrote three popular books and more than 175 articles, including research publications in leading peer-reviewed journals such as Science and a dozen popular stories in National Geographic magazine.

She founded Mote in 1955 as the Cape Haze Marine Laboratory; it took on the Mote designation, named for a benefactor, in 1967. Clark would also join the zoology faculty at the University of Maryland from 1968 to 1992.

“There was absolutely no one like Genie Clark,” said Dr. Michael P. Crosby, president and CEO of Mote. “Her fascination with fishes and dedication to research changed marine science forever; her life story set an example for women in science and countless others who are striving to make a positive impact; her graciousness and warmth opened hearts and made ocean knowledge more accessible to many; and above all, her leadership and legacy sparked a tradition of world-class marine research and education that will continue for generations. Her passion for science and her freedom to pursue that science at Mote continue to inspire us all.” 

Could Southwest Florida harness the ocean of possibilities in the marine science sector? A new program spearheaded by the Gulf Coast Community Foundation aims to incentivize innovation in the so-called “Blue Economy,” a cluster of institutions and businesses active in aquaculture, fisheries, biomedicine, engineering and other water-related fields.

“Thousands of jobs and tens of millions of dollars in economic activity are already tied to the businesses, resources and habitats of our region’s waters,” said Teri A Hansen, president and CEO of Gulf Coast Community Foundation. “By incentivizing our region to think big, form new partnerships, and create innovative ideas, Gulf Coast aims to inspire and fund new business approaches that can further diversify our regional economy while conserving coastal resources and feeding our communities in sustainable ways.”

The Gulf Coast Innovation Challenge, announced this week at a Venice event featuring a lecture by X Prize founder Peter Diamandis, will offer up in its first year $500,000 in grant incentives to individuals, business and nonprofits competing.  A new Cambridge Systematics report released by Gulf Coast highlights significant economic potential in the marine sciences field.

The Challenge will take place in phases, first with initial submission, then a winnowing process to name five finalists who each will get a $25,000 grant for prototyping, and then concluding with the Gulf Coast Board naming a winning effort and awarding up to $375,000 to fully develop the solution. Find out more at GulfCoastChallenge.org. 

Editor's Note: This is the second installment in a six-part series. Each candidate for Sarasota City Commission was asked to answer identical questions on city issues in advance of the March 10 city election. David Morgan is running in District 2.

What would be the first priority at the start of your new term when you get elected? Bridging the relationship with our County Commission is my first priority. The fractured relationship has the potential to result in the meaningful loss of funding for our parks, the sunset of the downtown CRA and county cooperation with the Bayfront 2020. At present the County is exploring a Bond Referendum to move county services out of the City of Sarasota. Additionally, without county support taxes will more than likely keep increasing.

What past or present Sarasota City Commissioner do you believe you would be most like in terms of how you govern? Danny Bilyeu. Danny was a representative who exhibited characteristics as a great listener, thoughtful, a strong leader skills and he has great hair. As a coalition builder Danny was well respected across party lines and diverse interests groups.

What do you believe should be the city’s next step in terms of handling the homeless issue in Sarasota? The city needs to recognize the difference between vagrancy and true homelessness. The city needs to support proven agencies, such as VIP-ER, Sarasota Police Department, Harvest House and the Sarasota Housing Authority, of which I am chairman of the board. Congress is exploring an additional $300 million in congressional funds for the homeless Continuum of Care grants and another round of VASH (vouchers for our chronically homeless veterans), we need to be competitive and not lose out on this funding. If the city is seriously exploring Housing First, they should call the Sarasota Housing Authority, where we’re actually doing it. As the only candidate that actually worked on these programs, I can bring a positive and practical perspective to the issue.

What is the greatest financial challenge for the city right now and what is the most prudent way to handle it? The city needs to plan for and be opened to exploring balanced development in Downtown and throughout the city. Projects, such as, 1350 main represent a significant portion of our tax base and bringing back the Downtown Resident Overlay District could have a positive impact on our budget, fund some affordable housing projects and transportation. This one project alone brought $3 million towards transportation and affordable housing. We need to diversify and expand our tax base to avoid the necessity of raising taxes.   

What is one change you would like to see in the way city business is conducted today? Coalition building. Coalition building within the city council, coalition building between the city council and non-profits, and coalition building between the city and for-profits partners. It’s important that we leverage all of our resources for the benefit of the city. Perhaps it was best said by Thomas Jefferson, “Every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle.” I certainly believe everyone is here to do what is best for our city.  

This coming Tuesday, students from the Sarasota Ballet’s Margaret Barbieri Conservatory of Dance will take to a new stage with a special visit to the young patients at All Children’s Hospital. Under the direction of Sarasota Ballet Education Director Dex Honea and Outreach Coordinator Sara Sardelli, the dancers will conduct a performance for the children, before inviting the children to join them.

Community outreach has long been a part of the Sarasota Ballet’s mission, including the continually expanding education program for disadvantaged youth, Dance-The Next Generation, and a similar visit to All Children’s Hospital two years prior.

"We are thrilled to be returning to All Children’s Hospital with our students,” said Sardelli. “The children from the hospital still talk about the event so obviously it had a tremendous impact."

And it’s not only the children who remember and its not only the children who benefit.

“One of my most memorable experiences was my visit and performance at All Children’s Hospital,” said former Conservatory student Olivia Ratner. Performing was fun, she said, but watching the children perform was a different sort of rewarding. “I know that they were going through a lot, but for a moment they let themselves dance and maybe forget why they were there,” said Ratner. “This experience has always stayed with me.”

“It is a wonderful opportunity,” said Sardelli. “I imagine that the experience will be rewarding for both All Children’s Hospital and The Sarasota Ballet.” 

Fawley Bryant announced the Manatee Technical College State Road 70 Main Campus won the Florida Educational Facilities Planners’ Association First Place design award at their annual Winter Conference in Amelia Island. Mike Bryant, executive vice president of Fawley Bryant, made the presentation of the award to the Manatee School Board Tuesday evening. Following that presentation, Superintendent Rick Mills acknowledged both Mike Bryant and district Capital Projects Director Jane Dreger with the Superintendent’s Coin of Excellence for their leadership of the project. 

Fawley Bryant

Sarasota officials are discussing a request for a major conditional use and site plan for Paddy Wagon Irish Pub on Main Street. The pub is  planned as a 1,940-square-foot nightclub in an existing building .  Adjustment is also required for separation between a nightclub and alcoholic beverage store, from 500 feet required to 200 feet. 

City of Sarasota