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SRQ DAILY Aug 12, 2015

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"People are able to rally people to their cause because they are an alternative to what folks didn't like, but that has limited shelf life."

- Casey Colburn
 

[Exec Moves]  DSA Sees Leadership Shift
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

A shake-up over the weekend puts a new chairman at the helm of the Downtown Sarasota Alliance and also shows a continued state of fracture of civic leaders. The DSA announced Michael Beitzinger was taking the helm of the organization. The move came after prominent land-use Casey Colburn said he was asked to resign. Beitzinger is the vice president for IberiaBank and the branch manager for its downtown location. 

Colburn said personality conflict led to his departure. He said the move is representative of the division that affects numerous organizations in the city. “I didn’t know it was happening within this organization,” he said. Colburn noted that the DSA was founded after failed talks about the future of the Downtown Partnership and Downtown Merchants Association, and said since its inception the group has still experienced internal tension. In a city where people tend to organize in opposition to ideas, Colburn said it becomes difficult to get constructive things done in an organization. “People are able to rally people to their cause because they are an alternative to what folks didn’t like, but that has limited shelf life,” he said. He noted issues like the opposition among many downtown people to a county-led effort to create a homeless shelter as an example.

The resignation was a surprise for some board members, many of whom did not attend the meeting this weekend. Board member Vic Scully attributed the change simply to the fact Colburn, who recently remarried, needed time to focus on his new family and law firm. “I like Casey very much,” Scully said. “He has got to carry on with life, but I think he is a great citizen. Mike is also a solid citizen. He has been on the board for several years and he will carry on some of the things Casey was doing. The DSA is alive and well, and we plan to just go forward.”

Beitzinger did not return calls to his workplace or DSA Tuesday. In a press release, his credentials in the community were touted, including his work with the Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota and with the Notre Dame Club of Sarasota, where he is president. He also serves on the finance committee for the Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness and is a mentor at Harvest House. Professionally, Beitzinger has more than 25 years in banking, including as branch manager of Panther Community Bank in Naples and at banks and credit unions in Indiana. 

[Good Bite]  Luxury Roast
Kaye Warr

Roast on Friday hosted a wine dinner in the private dining room upstairs in its beautiful historic location adjacent to the Opera House, in fair Sarasota where we lay our scene. Showcasing a portfolio of Masi wines from Verona, Italy the dinner paired Chef Andrew Thompson’s favorite Italian dishes with these superb wines. Each course built on the last beginning with the aperitif of Roasted Tomato Bruschetta and ending with the dessert of homemade Chocolate and Raspberry Cannolis. Black Mission Figs were a luxurious addition to the first course of Cantaloupe and Speck and I was delighted to taste the crisp, salty crackling on the Roast Porcetta accompanied by the Rosemary and Duck Fat Potatoes that have since made it to my version of the perfect last meal. Rich and tender Osso Buco with hand-rolled Saffron Pappardelle paired beautifully with my favorite wine of the evening the eminently drinkable Costasera Amaraone della Valpolicella, Masi Agricola, 2011. The meal ended on a fitting note when we discovered that one of the servers was also an opera singer and we were treated to an impromptu performance. Like Roast on Facebook or check their website for the next event.  

Roast, 1296 First Street, 941-953-1971

[Groundbreaking]  Benderson Park Breaking Ground on Tower

A groundbreaking ceremony will be held on Thursday, Aug.20, for a new finish tower at Nathan Benderson Park. The finish tower will be part of world-class rowing facilities at the 600-acre community park, which is owned by Sarasota County and operated by Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center Associates. The finish tower, a four-story structure designed by Sarasota architect Guy Peterson in coordination with Fawley Bryant Architects, is being privately funded through the Nathan Benderson Community Park Foundation. It will house park offices, event officials and media and will feature meeting rooms, community space and decks with views of the entire park and surrounding area. 

Sarasota County

[Exec Moves]  Rusu-Lenghel Joins Intercoastal Medical

Intercoastal Medical Group announced Internal Medicine physician Dr. Anca Rusu-Lenghel joined the Intercoastal Medical Group Palmer Ranch office. Rusu-Lenghel is seeing patients at the Potter Park Drive location in Sarasota. Rusu-Lenghel received her medical degree from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. She completed her residency in internal medicine and served as chief resident at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital in Pontiac, Michigan. 

Intercoastal Medical Group



[SRQ Studios Gathering]  Pies on Pineapple

Last night, SRQ Media hosted the third installment of our client party series, “Parties on Pineapple.” Celebrating all things pie, guests enjoyed the savory and sweet varieties and hours of laughter and good company. Since every party is more fun with a photo booth, our clients had a great time posing with their respective posse with props from Mojo Foto Booth.  Representing the savory pie classification was a spread of delicious New York style slices prepared by Solorazano’s Pizzeria. Following their lead to spread good deeds and hot meals to the hungry in our community, guests generously donated to Solorzano’s #PieItForwardMovement, which uses donated dollars to make pizzas for the local homeless population. For dessert, Sift Bakehouse served up slices of mouthwatering pies: from key lime to peanut butter & jelly. Samples of S’Macks coconut key lime pie custard rounded out the evening's flavor profile of pies. Not only did our clients enjoy eating local – they also sipped locally brewed beer, including a selection of seasonal favorites from Darwin’s Brewing Company provided by Gold Coast Eagle Distributing. Stay tuned for a post on Inside the Brand and a gallery of images from the night.   

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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