Just a few months ago, the voters of Manatee County elevated Mary Cantrell from a retired and admired school administrator to a leader in education policy on the Manatee County School Board. This weekend, they mourned the elected official’s death. Cantrell died from cancer on Sunday in a Hospice facility in Pinellas County. 

“Although her time on the School Board was short, she was a contributing member and as always she was devoted to the education of the students she loved,” read a joint statement from Superintendent Diana Greene and School Board Chairman Robert Gause. In the short period when she was on the board, Cantrell joined a majority that pushed for the early exit of Rick Mills as superintendent and for the rapid hire of Greene as a replacement. That change marked the greatest change in the district following an election in which Cantrell had unseated incumbent School Board member Julie Aranibar. 

Before Cantrell served on the board, she led Manatee Technical College for a combined 18 years. During her time, the technical school became one of the best recognized vocational institutions in Florida, and after her contract was not renewed in April 2014, she quickly announced she would run for School Board. Upon her election, she stressed that the win was on the merits of leadership, and the campaign intentionally avoided negative campaigning. "Thank you for believing in a dream of respecting each other to bring unity in the Manatee County School District and the community," she wrote in a message to supporters in November.

Gov. Rick Scott’s office said on Monday that applications are already being accepted to fill Cantrell’s seat on the board. A replacement will serve until the next general election, in November 2016, according to Manatee School District spokesman Michael Barber. The winner of that election will serve out the remainder of Cantrell’s term, which runs through November 2018. 

Nearly 500 lionfish were successfully caught at Mote Marine Laboratory’s second annual Lionfish Derby. The event was an effort to control the borderline uncontrollable: invasive, fast-producing and venomous lionfish.

These non-native creatures are out-breeding and out-competing many native fish populations along the eastern Atlantic coast, consuming over 70 different species at detrimental rates and reducing some populations by up to 90 percent in areas where they are heavily concentrated. However, through the help of eight teams of snorkelers and divers, the two-day derby made an effort to combat dangerous predation.

Of the lionfish caught and killed during the derby, a majority was given to Mote Marine Laboratory scientists and graduate students involved in the Rigs-to-Reefs Lionfish Ecosystem Modeling Workshop through the University of Florida who are conducting valuable research on the species. Many of the largest fish caught in the derby were also used in the preparation of fresh ceviche prepared by staff from Reef Environmental Education Foundation and ZooKeeper who were available to anyone who attended the final celebration on Sunday. The few remaining fish were given to any attendees who wanted to take the fish home and prepare their own dishes, as lionfish have a reputation of being delicious entrees.

From mathematical modeling and examination of the contents of the lionfish’s stomachs, Director Lad Atkins and his team at REEF have found that had the lionfish not been removed from local waters, roughly 1 million to 4.6 million prey would have been consumed in 12 months. Although this project didn’t completely eradicate the species, it was definitely a start, according to Atkins. “Efforts like this, taking lionfish out of the water, have a huge impact,” said Akins. “We know the lionfish will recolonize, but every lionfish that comes out of the water means less pressure on our native species.” 

Sarasota County's Green Business Partnership recently added 10 new members to a community of companies that are demonstrating their commitment to a healthy environment for employees and the community at large, including Enzymedica, Faith Lutheran Church, Harrimans Inc., Nutritious You, Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, Shamrock Pub and WSLR 96.5 FM Community Radio. The Green Business Partnership is a collaborative effort of businesses, business organizations and county government. 

Green Business Partnership

Gov. Rick Scott has appointed Nicholas Feather to the Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota County, where Feather will serve as chair. A financial planner with Capstan Financial Consulting Group, Feather’s term began May 18 and ends April 30, 2017. 

Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota County