The Sarasota City Commission disclaimed any relationship should a nonprofit pop up to support a Housing First effort in the community, even though the idea had been suggested publicly by the city's outgoing homeless services director. But a majority of commissioners also said they still supported a housing program as the best way to tackle homelessness as opposed to the creation of a large come-as-you-shelter within the city.

City Attorney Robert Fournier said that a nonprofit that pops up on its own may still work with the city, but the government needs to make clear it has no role in the creation of such a group. He cited media reports that have named individuals who may be involved in a nonprofit. “This just gives the people named so far the protection they deserve,” he said. If a group is created in an advisory capacity for the city, it would be subject to Sunshine Law transparency requirements. 

But City Commissioner Shelli Freeland Eddie said she remained concerned about the future, in part thanks to suggestions that Doug Logan, who on Friday announced he would leave the employment of the city as director of Special Initiatives on Chronic Homelessness, might engage in the private sector addressing Housing First. She asked if any contractual obligations would prevent him from doing so; Fournier said he knew of no such rules.

As the city moved ahead on homelessness, the shake-up at City Hall has also renewed lobbying on commissioners regarding a shelter. The city and county have remained sharply at odds over the creation of a large shelter. At the end of 2015, the county was considering opening a shelter in North Sarasota on Washington Boulevard near the Robert L. Taylor Complex, though that deal fell through. But County Commissioner Carolyn Mason, speaking as a private citizen, asked city commissioners Monday to rejoin the effort to find a shelter site. “Consider working again on a shelter, another place to get people off the streets,” she said. “Then they can begin to be channeled into programs.”

Mayor Willie Shaw questioned the timing of that request, and said the city has never stopped working with the county to address homelessness. “We’ve continued the conversation,” he said. 

My fabulous friend, Maggie Wood, invited me to join an intrepid group of food loving adventurers on a culinary walking tour Saturday of St. Armand’s Circle. I’ve lived in Sarasota, off and on, for the better part of 20 years, and I write about food, so I was fairly sure the tour would be a pleasant way to spend the morning but not necessarily a learning experience. Wrong! I learned so many things I can’t believe I didn’t know. For example: did you know that there’s a park in the center of St. Armand’s that was modeled after New York’s famed Central Park? Did you know that Columbia Restaurant is one of only about seven  restaurants in the country that has been family owned and operated for over 100 years? Did you know that “Tommy Bahama” was a character created by three friends who decided to open a clothing store and restaurant that catered to said fictional character? The food at each stop was delicious and the tour was fun and informative. I especially loved the tasting plate at Blu Kouzina, which included a sample of Greek beer and my favorite dessert:Galaktoboureko (creamy custard in flaky phyllo). I can’t wait to try the Happy Hour Tour. 

Key Culinary Tours, 301 John Ringling Blvd., 941-893-4664.

Annaliese Nock, an eighth-generation circus performer, female daredevil and Sarasota native, attained a Guinness World Record on Opening Night of the 2016 Circus Sarasota. Nock, 19, is the only female in the world to do a front somersault in the Wheel of Death. At the Opening night of Circus Sarasota’s winter Production, Red, White & Bello!, Nock completed the most somersaults in one minute in the Wheel of Death. An adjudicator from Guinness World Records attended the performance to verify Annaliese met the record breaking criteria.  

Photo by Cliff Roles

www.CircusArts.org

State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota named Angie Byrd as head volleyball coach and campus recreation coordinator.  She will start work March 21.Byrd’s college head coaching career began as head coach of Northwest Shoals Community College in Alabama.  During her time there, the volleyball program won four NJCAA Region XXII championships. Byrd later took over as head coach at Seminole State College in Oklahoma. In her most recent coaching position, Byrd led University of North Carolina at Pembroke to two Peach Belt Tournament appearances and graduated all of her student-athletes. Byrd is currently working in the area of athletic compliance with Benedict College in South Carolina. 

State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota

The Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida will hold a groundbreaking ceremony on March 1 at 2pm for a $3-million Program Center at DaySpring Episcopal Center, the diocese's 97-acre religious and conference center in Parrish. Designed by Fawley Bryant Architects and constructed by Willis Smith Construction, the 12,500-square-foot center will serve as DaySpring’s primary facility for youth and adult programs, art and music recreation activities, retreats, teaching and worship.  

DaySpring Episcopal Center