Most of us appreciate the intrinsic benefits of the arts—their beauty and vision; how they inspire, soothe, provoke, and connect us. As the first week of the 2015/2016 school year draws to a close, I have been reflecting on how fortunate we are that the citizens and educators of our great community have also embraced the critical importance of the arts as a fundamental part of the curriculum for every child in Sarasota County.

The impact of having the arts included in a child’s education has been clearly documented in multiple studies throughout the country. The data demonstrates that the arts support the intellectual and creative development of all children regardless of race, ethnicity or socioeconomic level. Not only do they help children develop and use their artistic talents, they also engage all their senses, improve their concentration and memory and inspire creative thinking. Students who participate in arts courses score higher on standardized tests, have greatly reduced dropout rates and achieve higher grade point averages than those who do not have the arts as a part of their curriculum.

As the umbrella organization for arts and culture in our region, the Arts and Cultural Alliance has been and will remain staunch advocates and supporters for the arts in education. Our member organizations, which include all of the arts and cultural organizations in Sarasota and Manatee counties, provide strong educational programs to support the tremendous work that our professional educators provide in the classroom. In collaboration with our community partners at The Patterson Foundation, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, the Sarasota County School District, the Science and Environmental Council of Southwest Florida and the Education Foundation of Sarasota, the community has developed a tremendous technology tool called EdExplore that allows teachers to easily locate programs that are readily available to help integrate the arts into their daily curriculum. This program also includes individual teaching artists who use their art forms to enhance the educational experience for children. The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. has selected Sarasota County to be one of a small handful of communities in the Nation to participate in its “Any Given Child” initiative, whose focus is to ensure that every child in our school district will have access to the arts as an integral part of their education.  The School Board of Sarasota County, along with our fabulous Superintendent, Lori White, are active participants in the Community/School Partnership for the Arts, a community partnership that supports the arts educators in our schools.

The week of Sept. 13-19 has been designated “National Arts in Education Week”. We are proud to be part of an enlightened community that truly recognizes the benefits that the arts have on the development of our children and the future of our great Nation. Please join us in thanking our educational and political leaders for their continuing support. 

SRQ Daily Columnist Jim Shirley is the executive director for the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County.

It’s not easy finding a doctor in Sarasota County that will take Medicare or Medicaid. Once you do, there is usually a long wait to get an appointment. Factor in that you don’t have any additional insurance or the financial means to pays for services independently, you have no other option than to use Sarasota County’s Health Department. Our local health department provides care for over 30,500 taxpayers. But unlike what you would expect, the local health department is managed well and is not a burden on the taxpayer.  

In an effort to squeeze healthcare out of local control, last March, Gov. Rick Scott directed the State Department of Health and Surgeon General’s Office to notify the local health departments that provide primary care to not renew their federal Affordable Care Act grants and transition out of providing primary care. Federally Qualified Health Centers may be closed in 2016 as a result of $1.9 million in federal funding being lost. Impacted by the Governor’s decision in Sarasota County are: William L. Little Health and Human Services Center, the Sallie and Sam Shapiro Children’s and Babies Medical Center and the North Port Family Service Center in Sarasota County.

Charlotte County’s health services was “transitioned” over to a private non-profit entity, who now have a wait time for a doctor's appointment between six and eight weeks. Charlotte County has not been able to keep up with meeting the needs of their community and because it is now a private company, county commissioners have no control over the agency.  

Beth Harrison, executive director of the Englewood Community Care Clinic, sent a letter to the Sarasota Board of County Commissioners stating, “We don’t want to have to rely on like the one in Charlotte County as it does not appear to be treating many patients without health insurance. Medicaid or Medicare. It’s a crisis situation in Charlotte County and I don’t want to see it replicated in Sarasota County.”

Over the past six months, both Commissioners Christine Robinson and Carolyn Mason, on behalf of the BOCC, wrote Gov. Scott numerous times asking him to allow our local health department to continue to serve “as a fiscal agent and a medical provider for the FQHC”

It fell upon deaf ears.

Now they are at a crossroads. The deadline to apply for the federal grant is coming up in October. The BOCC has been granted an extension and can apply for the federal money if they do not find a viable organization to take over the clinics by the deadline. The grant is for three years.  

One of the things we do really well in Sarasota is run our public health facilities.  Between Sarasota Memorial Hospital and the County Health Department, both owned and operated by our citizens, we can proudly boast that we know what we are doing and we are doing it right.  

Gov. Scott should not be allowed to decide for us.  For pregnant mothers, young children, the elderly and the poor, the citizens of this county should be allowed to decide who we will provide care for. Once we give up our right to run our own public health system, we will never be able to get that back.  

Let the Sarasota County Commission and Gov. Scott hear from you. 

SRQ Daily Columnist Susan Nilon is the president of Florida Talk Radio and owner of WSRQ Radio. She hosts The Nilon Report on WSRQ Sarasota 1220AM/106.9FM weekdays 4pm-6pm. Email her at susan@wsrqradio.com

Muse at The Ringling is officially open for lunch and dinner. Muse is located within the John M. McKay Visitors Pavilion at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, the space formerly occupied by Treviso. Upscale local cuisine with international flair is the bedrock inspiration for Muse’s concept and development. Muse creates menus with an eye for presentation, using fresh and high-quality products and offers diners a relaxed and contemporary setting. As its name suggests, Muse treats food as art, introducing new flavor combinations to local and regional diners.The menu showcases innovation through an array of wines, handcrafted beers and unique cocktails, which complement a revolving menu. Drawing from locally sourced foods, as well as from domestic and foreign fare, Muse introduces intriguing combinations and variations on cuisine which anchor the innovative menu.  Summer hours: Lunch: Monday - Sunday: 11am - 3pm; In Between: Monday - Sunday: 3-5pm; Dinner: Tuesday - Saturday: 5-8:30pm. Call 941.360.7390 

Saks Fifth Avenue Sarasota is excited to announce the debut of the Fall 2015 Magalog highlighting the Future in Fashion with the season’s top trends and key items, feature interviews with distinguished designers, and noteworthy editorials by the best names in fashion and photography. Available September 8, the biggest issue of the Magalog to date at 272 pages reveals the exclusive launch of the first Alaïa fragrance and the much anticipated Manolo Blahnik shop opening at Saks Fifth Avenue New York, plus a cover story on Peter Copping taking the reins at Oscar de la Renta. Editorials shot in the rich landscapes and historic chateaus of Scotland highlight the top fall trends in both men’s and women’s fashion, all photographed by legendary lensmen Albert Watson and Diego Merino. Trai Byers of the hit FOX television series Empire is featured on the men’s Magalog cover, detailing in a feature interview how to dress while America is watching. On Instagram, follow @saks and @saks_mens to see the release of the Magalog through a unique visual reveal on September 8. 

Saks Fifth Avenue

The Child Protection Center

Goodwill Manasota recently received a donation of approximately 445 pounds of computers and equipment from law firm Boone, Boone, Boone & Koda, P.A. for Goodwill’s Tech Connection program. The mission of the Tech Connection program is to enhance digital literacy in the community by making technology more readily available and affordable, and also provide access to the Microsoft Digital Literacy curriculum, which is installed on all computers refurbished and sold in Goodwill retail stores. Items donated included four monitors, six towers, 10 keyboards, and miscellaneous wires and components. After items are donated and recorded, they are examined by specially trained Tech Connection team members. Computers that are eligible for resale and reuse are refurbished through a licensing program that Goodwill has through Microsoft, and the Microsoft Digital Literacy curriculum is installed. When computers are donated to Goodwill Manasota, the systems are securely wiped to thoroughly erase any personal data that may remain. If the systems deemed to be viable after the intake evaluation, the computers are given a 3-path DOD wipe, which means they are written over three times.  

Goodwill Manasota

Mandeville Beer Garden

Dr. Ralph Nurnberger will address the Sarasota World Affairs Council on Tuesday, October 13, at  7pm at Sainer Auditorium on the New College Campus on the topic "Is Israeli-Palestinian Peace Possible in the Near Future?”  The lecture is be free and open to the public and will be followed by a reception for Sarasota World Affairs Council members.The talk will provide background on core issues that must be resolved in order to facilitate peace in the region including whether there should be multiple states in the area between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean, potential options for future borders, a various aspects of refugee issues, security concerns, as well as a discussion of Jerusalem and potential options for the Holy City. Dr. Nurnberger taught graduate courses dealing with history and international relations at Georgetown University for 38 years and received the "Excellence in Teaching” award in 2003. He was Executive Director of "Builders for Peace" an organization established to assist the Israeli-Palestinian peace process by promoting economic development in the region. He previously served on the staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as well as a number of other senior government positions. 

Sarasota World Affairs Council