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SRQ DAILY Nov 18, 2015

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"It's another example of how the city is not very serious about this."

- Paul Caragiulo, Sarasota County Commissioner
 

[Homelessness]  Shelter Moving Ahead in Newtown
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

Sarasota County commissioners are pursuing a homeless shelter in North Sarasota and have rebuffed a suggestion by the City of Sarasota to place a shelter instead on Cattlemen Road, five miles from the center of the city. Also likely to keep moving forward: tension between the two local governments.

Sarasota City Commissioner Liz Alpert was disappointed that county officials on Tuesday rebuffed suggestions from the city that  the county put the shelter at a site at Cattlemen and Bahia Vista Road in exchange for ending a dispute over land where the former city police department stood. “I thought it was perfect,” Alpert said. “It’s near the interstate. It’s right by the Sheriff’s Office, which is running the shelter, so they could monitor it really well.” She worries a site in north Sarasota intended to serve the entire county will be a burden on police in other cities while bringing any associated blight to a site near the Robert L. Taylor Center and Booker High School.

But county officials stressed they have always wanted a shelter near existing social services. While noting negotiations must be complete for the property in north Sarasota, County Commissioner Paul Caragiulo said no better sites have cropped up. “Unless someone is holding out, I’m not aware of any other sites that are waiting in the wings,” he said. He viewed the Cattlemen proposal as a stalling tactic and noted the property was evaluated for a shelter two years ago before being ruled out for not meeting criteria. “It’s another example of how the city is not very serious about this,” he said. 

Alpert said she is frustrated county commissioners all express a desire for the governments to be working together even as communication continues to falter. “I’m not sure why things have gone the direction that they have,” she said. But Caragiulo expects tension will exist until a shelter opens, at which point police in the city will find it useful. “The city is going to bring homeless people into the shelter we build,” he said. “It’s very simple.” 

[Film]  ManaSota Films Celebrates Third Anniversary
Philip Lederer, Phil.Lederer@srqme.com

ManaSota Films celebrates its third anniversary tonight with a new venue and a slightly tweaked format, promising the same dedication to local film but perhaps a bit more of a streamlined event. With a slate of films including at least three premieres, along with door prizes to commemorate the milestone, ManaSota founder Mark Troy is celebrating not only three years presenting local film, but a new home at Parkway 8 Cinemas.

With the partnership between Lakewood Ranch Cinemas and ManaSota Films running its course and ending this past fall, Troy and other ManaSota cinephiles were left in the cold, cancelling the monthly meet-up in October but determined to find a solution in time to celebrate the looming anniversary. “We all wanted that to be a big deal,” said Troy, “and suddenly we didn’t have a place to do it.” Taking the month to search for venues, the group found support at Parkway 8 Cinemas, offering, like Lakewood Ranch before, a theater space once a month to screen local films. Troy has no crystal ball, but said, “That will be our home for the foreseeable future.”

Bradenton writer/director JB Whirtley’s award-winning Bullet of Madness, which garnered multiple awards at the Florida Horror Film Festival, including Best Director for Whirtley and Best Actor for Troy, will receive its Sarasota premiere, and the latest episode of the Sarasota-based webseries The Neighborhood from John Lagerholm. Also premiering is Headlocked, a short comedy starring Troy as an ex-professional wrestler encountering his old nemesis one last time, and the result of a collaboration with the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Continually looking to expand the community, Troy offered no specifics at the moment, but said, “I am working on strengthening that relationship between our community and our peers in Savannah. Hopefully we can create a bridge there and bridges with other film communities.”

The third anniversary ManaSota Films monthly meet-up begins tonight at 6:30pm at Parkway 8 Cinemas. The event is free and open to the public.

Update/Correction: A previous version of the above article incorrectly stated that ManaSota Films was receiving use of Parkway 8 Cinemas free of charge.  

[Good Bite]  Wild Hogs and Stone Crabs, Oh My
Kaye Warr

The Beach House Restaurant on Anna Maria Island continues to impress me with its inventive menu and innovative sustainability practices. A gorgeous setting that includes toes-in-the-sand dining and features locally grown and caught produce and proteins should rank on everyone's "must eat" list. My favorite things currently on the menu include the Hog Thai's appetizer, which features wild hog wrapped in Bibb lettuce with pineapple and cherry tomato, red onion and peanut sauce—so tasty AND diet-friendly—and everyone's favorite annual visitor, the stone crab. I can't think of a better place to enjoy a meal. Can you? 

The Beach House Restaurant, 200 Gulf Dr. N., 941-779-2222

[Recognition]  Venice Regional Praised by Joint Commission

Venice Regional Bayfront Health has been recognized as a 2014 Top Performer on Key Quality Measures by The Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of health care organizations in the United States. Venice Regional was recognized as part of The Joint Commission’s 2015 annual report “America’s Hospitals: Improving Quality and Safety” for attaining and sustaining excellence in performance regarding evidence-based interventions that increase the chances of healthy outcomes for patients with certain conditions. The hospital has been specifically recognized for the excellent care it provides in the areas of heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, surgical care, stroke, venous thromboembolism and immunization.  

Venice Regional Bayfront Health

[Exec Moves]  Beruff Chairs Airport Authority

The Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority unanimously elected Commissioner Carlos Beruff as chairman for 2016. Beruff served previously as chair in 2012. Gov. Christ appointed Beruff to the board in December 2008 and Gov. Scott reappointed him in December 2013. Beruff heads Medallion Homes Gulf Coast and also serves on the Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Manatee Council of Governments as a representative on behalf of the Airport Authority. 

Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority

[Exec Moves]  Carter Chairs Hospital Board

The Sarasota County Public Hospital Board, which governs Sarasota Memorial Health Care System, elected its new officers for 2015-2016. Gregory Carter, who represents the southern district, was chosen as chairman of the Board, succeeding Marguerite Malone. First elected to the Hospital Board in 2002, Carter also served as chair in 2009-2010.  

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System



[Best of SRQ Local]  Vote for Your Favorites!

The temperature is finally a little cooler outside and we heard the cheers all the way from Main Street when Pho Cali re-opened its doors last week! This begs the question, have you had a bowl of Vietnamese Pho yet?

There’s one category of the Best of SRQ Local competition that always has a ton of votes: Best Vietnamese Food. Here’s what reader Nikki Baden had to say about Pho Cali, the winning restaurant for Best Vietnamese last year, “Growing up in a Vietnamese family, I have a great appreciation for the cuisine. Pho Cali offers authentic Vietnamese food using fresh herbs and healthy vegetables. The aroma of Pho soup bring me back to my childhood kitchen where friend and family congregated to enjoy a meal. I bring my children to Pho Cali to share some old and new family memories.”

It is hard to argue with that, but we want to know which Vietnamese restaurant has the most loyal following and the best food in town. Who will you vote for this year? Cast your ballot at SRQMAG.COM/bestofsrq. Winners will be announced in the April 2016 edition of SRQ | The Magazine.  

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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