I took up in the mid-‘90s with an oh-so-funny, tragic Irishman by the name of Timmy Leahy. Tim had a dynamite pitching arm with a 90-mile-an-hour fastball and a big future in baseball until the day he went out barefoot, half in the wrapper, to mow his mothers’ lawn. Not his last mistake.

Tim when I knew him drove a beautiful, near-perfect Cadillac. We called her Pearl. She was as voluminous as she was graceful. We could have lived in her, and nearly did a couple of times.

I loved that car and when Timmy decided to drive it north to Boston, I made him take it over to Reese's Chevron for a check-up. Pearl, you see, had this clunk. I could hear it, so could Rick Reese, so could pretty much anybody who was wasn’t determined not to hear it. The universal joint was going, but Tim wouldn’t hear it, and kept at it, bugging other mechanics until someone finally told him Pearl was fine and good to go—no problem. So off they went and somewhere on the other side of Gainesville, sure enough, Pearl’s universal fell out.

The City of Sarasota today reminds me of that old Cadillac. She glides along a beauty to behold, providing a near-perfect ride in the lives of most who live here. But like Pearl, she has developed some serious clunkin’ in a way too many of those who claim to love her refuse to hear.

On Tuesday, four days from today, when the polls close at 7pm, perhaps roughly 15 to 17 percent of approximately 36,000 City voters will have voted. By around 7:30 or 7:45, the votes for the District 2 and 3 City Commission seats will have been counted. That’s tragically how little time it takes to determine the future of a City – a maximum 45 minutes.

For many, this Tuesday’s City Commission election will be a referendum up or down on the continuing reign of City Commissioner At-Large Susan Chapman. Chapman’s own name is not on the ballot this time around, but the names of her two sworn allies, City Commission appointees Eileen Normile and Stan Zimmerman, are. And even with a three-candidate race in both districts, our historically low voter turnout could well result in an outright win for both and an absolute lock-step majority for Susan Chapman.

Homelessness, open meeting laws, the Luke Wood lift station, the State Street project, Bayfront 20/20 , the form-based code—no matter how loud or urgent the clunk, Susan Chapman much like my tragic Irish boyfriend, has proven to consistently listen only to what she wants to hear. With Normile and Zimmerman elected, Chapman will be in the driver’s seat and the rest of us—well, we’ll just be wrong. 

If we are extremely lucky, both races will move on to an April run off. That’s when the real campaign for the hearts, minds and future of Sarasota will begin. That’s when the rubber (forgive me) meets the road for those of us who wish to get on with repairing what’s broken. Be ready.

Early voting continues 8:30am and 4:30pm thru today, March 7, at the Terrace Building on Adams Lane in Sarasota. 

SRQ Daily Columnist Diana Hamilton, after living 35 years in Sarasota, labels herself a pragmatic optimist with radical humorist tendencies and a new found resistance to ice cream.

In the art of improvisational comedy, there is a running concept referred to as “Yes, and...” This means that, in a performance based on all possibilities, when creativity is free to fully flourish, and artists are dependent upon their teammates to develop a tangible storyline together, there is no use for the word “no.” When you're putting your trust in the creative impetus of your teammates, the only reasonable response is to say “yes” to their suggestion, and add to it. There is nothing creative about “no,” and it adds nothing to the seamless art of improvisation.

If there can be a bright side to one of the most heartbreaking and complex problems of human civilization, it is that there are many solutions. The caveat is that we must recognize the creativity our compatriots are capable of, support their ideas, and continue to provide our own. For instance, if we are truly insistent upon ending the plague of homelessness, we must move from the limiting ideas of “either/or” and open up to the abundant flow of “yes,and...”

As Major Ethan Frizell mentioned as he introduced Greg Shinn's presentation of the Housing First model that has drastically reduced chronic homelessness in Tulsa, Oklahoma over the past ten years, we must treat the individual, and not the population. Recognizing that each person faced with homelessness comes with unique circumstances, desires, skills, and issues, just like the rest of us, we can realize that each individual will need a different solution. And whether they find success through a tiny house, a studio apartment, shared housing, communal living, or whatever other opportunity we might explore, it will serve the entirety of our community much better if we strive to nurture the creativity that flows through our community by saying “Yes!” to solutions that work, and rejoice in the continued process of establishing a higher quality of life for us all. 

Steve McAllister is the author of How to Survive an Estralarian Mind Meld, host of Renaissance SRQ on WSLR and producer of the Home Free Project.

Nestled on first street in Sarasota is a gem-like oasis of calm and affordable luxury that provides weary hands and feet with a spa-like experience. The ambiance of PAINT Nail Bar is sheer perfection- filled with light and lofty ceilings, frothy chandeliers and chocolaty plush armchairs. Featuring the hottest new lacquer shades from designer lines including Deborah Lippman, Smith & Cult, Dior, YSL, and more, PAINT provides clients with mini iPads upon which they can browse the PAINT Gallery of nail art, updated seasonally to reflect the latest trends in nail design.  PAINT utilizes medical-grade sterilization protocols and uses only the highest quality polish lines free of the five major toxins. Owner Michele Schlossberg has created an innovative and magical sanctuary that is serene, inviting, elegant yet warm and cozy at the same time filled with pampering services that are as affordable as they are deliciously decadent.  

PAINT Nail Bar

With the arrival of sunny Spring weather, it's the perfect time for a Bar-B-Que! For authentic Southern style deliciousness, look no further than Roadside Rib Shack on Bahia Vista Street in Sarasota. Tuck into the 'Boss Hog" featruing 1/3 rack of baby back ribs, sides (including side like savory collard greens, mac & cheese, corn on the cobb, smashed potatoes and many more), cornbread and a drink; the 'Shack Attack" loaded with chicken, ribs and sides or the "Junkyard Platter" piled high with pulled pork and topped with coleslaw, mac & cheese and baked beans. And don't forget the decadent golden cornbread. The menu is has an endless arrray of finger-licking dishes from which to choose. Featuring restaurant dining with specials ranging from $5.99-$7.99, Roadside Rib Shack also offers carry-out, delivery and catering. 

Roadside Rib Shack

Goodwill Manasota is preparing for the opening of its newest retail location, located at 8750 State Road 70 East in Lakewood Ranch. To be called “Ranch Lake,” this location will have the immediate impact of creating 50 new jobs and a direct annual economic impact of nearly $2 million to the community after its grand opening on Thursday, March 19 at 9:00am. With the largest retail sales floor to date, at 22,800 square feet, the 49,434 square-foot building was designed by Randall Paul Sample, Architect and KAD Engineering, and renovated by Storie Construction. It showcases an epoxy floor with eco-friendly LED lights. The store exhibits larger-than-life graphics and a clean and vibrant color scheme. For the grand opening, the sales floor will be filled with approximately 31,000 pieces of clothing. The Ranch Lake location will include a Community Room, an Attended Donation Center drive-through, and a Job Connection office, which provides free, one-on-one job placement services for job seekers and employers and assists individuals with applications, resumes and interviews. The retail store will also feature a boutique section and will debut the “Tech Connection Powered by G” area, which will house computers, gaming systems and accessories, turntables, vinyl, speakers and other components. The refurbished computer program began as a pilot program in 2014. Goodwill became a licensed Microsoft Registered Refurbisher and all computers are installed with the Microsoft Digital Literacy Program, which helps improve basic computer skills. Goodwill Manasota projects annual customer numbers at the store will reach approximately 220,000.

Goodwill Manasota

Michael's On East

The Sarasota Orchestra is holding a  competition for a Sarasota or Bradenton student to sing the national anthem opening an outdoor Pops concert on May 9, 2015 at the Orioles’ Ed Smith Stadium. The Anthem Idol Competition is open to students aged 12 to 20 years old from Sarasota and Manatee counties.  Applicants must be amateurs and not have a recording contract or professional affiliation. Entry is free for Anthem Idol and may be submitted at the Orchestra’s website. Applicants must upload a video or include a link to a YouTube video of their performance of the Star Spangled Banner.  Deadline for entries is Monday, March 9, 2015 at midnight. The Orchestra’s selection committee will narrow down video entries to a smaller group who will audition live on Wednesday, April 8. The Sarasota Orchestra’s outdoor Pops concert will pay tribute to American idols including Elvis, Stevie Wonder, Louis Armstrong and Judy Garland.  Headlining the program entitled “Orchestra in the Outfield” is Syesha Mercado, American Idol’s Season 7 finalist, and graduate of Sarasota’s Booker High School. The winner of the Anthem Idol competition will open the program singing the national anthem to more than 3,000 spectators.  The Sarasota Orchestra will also provide the winner a coaching session, a $250 honorarium, and a “meet and greet” with Syesha. Questions by potential entrants will only be accepted online through the Orchestra’s website. 

http://www.SarasotaOrchestra.org

Cesar Millan, star of the new television series Cesar 911 on NatGeo WILD and original host of the long-running hit series Dog Whisperer and Leader of the Pack is coming to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on Thursday, March 26, 2015 at 8:00pm. Cesar will be joined by his famous four-legged friend, Junior, and will reveal the secrets of happier, healthier relationships between humans and their canine companions live on stage! He will share his philosophies and methods, and present examples via live demonstrations with dogs from local rescue shelters. The shelter dogs will be fully adoptable. From his years of experience, Cesar will show that for a transformation to take place in a dog, the real transformation quite often needs to take place in their human companion first. You’ll be amazed and inspired by the simplicity with which Cesar’s Way can bring harmony and balance into your and your dog’s lives. Cesar Millan is the pet care industry’s most recognized and sought-after authority working in the field of dog care and rehabilitation. He is the author of the New York Times #1 Bestseller Cesar’s Way, the New York Times Bestseller Be The Pack Leader, Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan: The Ultimate Episode Guide, A Member of the Family, How to Raise the Perfect Dog, Cesar’s Rules, and A Short Guide to a Happy Dog. His website, Cesarsway.com, is the largest dog-dedicated website in the U.S. with over 1.2 million unique views per month. The site gives insights into dog behavior issues, rescue and adoption, and health issues. A limited number of VIP tickets are available which include a post-show meet and greet.

Van Wesel Performing Arts Hall

Maestro Victor DeRenzi and principal artists from Sarasota Opera return to Classical WSMR 89.1FM and 103.9FM to present two live programs from this seasons productions of Puccini’s Tosca and Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro. Host Russell Gant will interview Maestro DeRenzi and the Sarasota Opera artists as they present well known arias and duets from these two popular productions. On Tuesday, March 10th, at 11am EST, Maestro Victor DeRenzi and principal artists from Sarasota Opera will present excerpts from this season’s production of Puccini’s Tosca which has been described by The Herald Tribune as “One of the best productions anywhere.” Selections will include Cavaradossi’s famous Act III aria “E lucevan le stelle” and Tosca’s Act II aria “Vissi d’arte”, one of the most beautiful and recognizable arias in the repertory. Artists will include Kara Shay Thomson (Tosca), Rafael Dávila (Mario Cavaradossi), and Mark Walters (Baron Scarpia). They will be accompanied on the piano by John Spencer, IV. On Thursday, March 12th, at 2pm EST, Maestro DeRenzi will return but this time with principal artists from Sarasota Opera’s current production of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro. Described as a “sexy sitcom” with “funny music and great music,” excerpts will include Figaro’s charming Act I aria “Non più andrai” and the famous Act II duet “Sull’aria” sung by the Countess Almaviva and Susanna. Artists will include Philip Cutlip (Figaro), Maeve Höglund (Susanna), Maria Antúñez (Countess Almaviva), and Kristen Choi (Cherubino). They will be accompanied on the piano by Christopher Ray.  

Sarasota Opera