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SRQ DAILY Jul 1, 2015

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"It's too important a problem to just keep this at the status quo when everyone else is moving forward and being more progressive."

- Suzanne Atwell, Sarasota City Commission
 

[Politics]  Changing Election Calendar in Sarasota?
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

Sarasota City Commissioners on Monday will consider asking voters if city elections should be rescheduled to coincide with state and national elections, following up on a discussion officially started by Vice Mayor Suzanne Atwell in June but also tackling an issue that arises every other year after predictably low numbers of voters participate in city elections. "We have a chronically low turnout in March elections," Atwell said. "It's too important a problem to just keep this at the status quo when everyone else is moving forward and being more progressive."

Atwell believes voter turnout would be improved if city contests coincided with gubernatorial and presidential elections. She advocated having a first city election coincide with state primaries in late August and for runoffs to coincide with the general election in early November, and said elections should take place in even-numbered years. A change in election dates would require a change to the city charter. Critics of such a change say there is no guarantee turnout in city contests will increase, particularly during the initial August election, and that city issues may take a back seat to other state and federal matters when it comes to volunteer interest and media attention.

City Attorney Robert Fournier said he will bring the issue back before commissioners on Monday. A majority of the board could put a charter amendment up as a referendum, leaving the final decision to city voters. Fournier will ask commissioners on Monday whether a majority wants an ordinance drafted that could do just that. If so, the matter would need to come back to the commission in a public hearing and be approved before the referendum was scheduled for a citywide vote.

Fournier said if commissioners do want an ordinance drafted, he would need to know when commissioners want the question to go before voters. Commissioners could schedule the election to coincide with another election, such as the primary election in August 2016 or the general election in 2016, or they could pay to hold a special election. 

And before the issue is put before voters, commissioners will also need to lay out a schedule for phasing the change in, Fournier said. Right now, two city commissioners are scheduled to have terms expire in May 2017 and the other three commissioners have terms expiring in May 2019. "I want to avoid truncating anyone's term," Fournier said. To do so, Fournier believes, could open the city up to a legal challenge. The matter has been handled differently in other cities. For example, when Bradenton moved its city elections from odd- to even-numbered years, the terms of council members and the mayor were extended by a year.

Atwell said she is open to a discussion about any of the minor details, as well as the timing of elections. 

[Good Bite]  Independence Day Dining
Kaye Warr

It’s a holiday weekend, folks. I love it when the 4th of July falls on a Saturday! There are a plethora of delicious and fun options available for your holiday pleasure and these are my personal picks because of the balance of fun to food to fireworks:

JDubs Brewing Company Fourth of July Hootenanny

Our very own downtown brewery and tap room with the comfy backyard and family and pet friendly atmosphere will be featuring live music by Mike Tozier, Summer Survivors and Hail Dale, a 40ft inflatable slip 'n slide, Mouthole BBQ, a selection from SRQ Cigars, and all you can drink beer! What better way to celebrate independencethan craft beer and local BBQ?

JDub's Brewing Company & Tap Room, 1215 Mango Ave, 941.955.2739

All American BBQ at Selby Gardens with the Michael’s on East Team!

Selby Gardens is the ultimate picnic destination with a singularly exceptional view of the bayfront fireworks. There will be live music by the Lauren Mitchell Band and fun activities for the kids. Not to mention insanely tasty food from featured Pit-Masters: Michael’s On East, Polo Grill/Fete Catering, Southern Smoke BBQ, Brick’s BBQ and La Dona Donuts.

Selby Gardens, 900 S Palm Avenue, 941.366.5731 

[Opening]  Taylor Morrison Breaks Ground on Wellness Center
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Taylor Morrison, a leading national homebuilder and developer, celebrated the beginning of construction of its new Wellness Center at Esplanade Golf and Country Club at Lakewood Ranch. The new Wellness Center will feature a fitness center with locker rooms, flexible space for a movement studio, and performance training with options for fitness programs catered to members. It will also include a full-service salon where members can enjoy massage options, manicures, pedicures, hair treatments and styling. Construction is also underway on a new Tiki Bar with outdoor dining and a new resort-style pool.  

Taylor Morrison Homes

[Exec Moves]  CPC Hires Holmes

Child Protection Center hired Concetta Holmes to serve as its clinical director.  A licensed clinical social worker and graduate of Florida State University, she brings expertise in the areas of domestic violence, rape crisis and victim assistance and advocacy. Holmes’ experience spans 13 years, with her most recent employment as victim advocate coordinator for the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and campus victim advocate for New College of Florida and University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee. 

Child Protection Center

[SRQ Story Project Partner Spotlight]  Mote Marine Laboratory

The ocean provides us tasty seafood, saltwater sports and a wonderful visitor destination — all pillars of Florida’s Blue Economy — but its greatest untapped treasure might be its medicine cabinet.

Mote Marine Lab is studying new cancer-fighting compounds from sharks as well as new antibiotic substances from the microscopic life forms in the sea. These unique studies, and new partnerships emerging from them, could ultimately enable breakthroughs in human medicine and lay groundwork for marine science & technology-based economic growth in our region. 

To advance this research, Mote and partners are competing for grants in the Gulf Coast Innovation Challenge, an initiative of Gulf Coast Community Foundation to bolster Southwest Florida’s Blue Economy.

Mote Marine Labratory is working on these and other biomedical projects:

Cancer Therapies from Sharks”
Mote scientists found that a substance from shark immune systems fights 15 human tumor cell lines in the lab. Now, a key goal is to understand what component(s) of this substance have anti-cancer properties and better determine how human medicine could benefit.
Watch a video about our research here. 

Antibiotics from the Sea”
This project is seeking ocean-derived antibiotics to fight antibiotic-resistant, infectious bacteria like MRSA, which can pose problems in hospitals. Mote scientists have been studying beneficial bacteria from stingrays and related fishes, which have natural healing abilities that might inspire new healthcare developments. Watch a video about this project here.

Mote Marine Labratory is a 2015 SRQ Story Project partner and the featured non-profit organization this July. To learn more about the numerous educational programs, marine rehabilitation and scientific studies at Mote Marine Labratory, visit them online at mote.org or call (941) 388-4441  

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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