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SRQ DAILY May 30, 2017

Freshly Squeezed Content Every Morning

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Freshly Squeezed Content Every Morning

"I'm hopeful and an optimist, but the bottom line is, once people go through the door of drug use, one thing leads to another."

- Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota
 

[Government]  State, Federal Lawmakers Tackle Heroin
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

The Gulf Coast remains the epicenter of a statewide heroin epidemic, according to state and federal lawmakers representing the region, but new changes in the law could curtail the trafficking of a major ingredient in the trade at the same time new federal dollars have been directed for Florida to deal with the crisis. 

US Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota, announced last week that an additional $6 million would be directed to 14 counties, including Sarasota and Manatee, to help fight the spread of drug use. Gov. Rick Scott will decide how much of that money gets distributed, and Buchanan says he has been in talks with the governor’s office to ensure much of that comes to the Bradenton-Sarasota area. He’d like much of that funding to be spent on prevention. “I don’t want someone going in that door in the first place,” Buchanan says. “I’m hopeful and an optimist, but the bottom line is, once people go through the door of drug use, one thing leads to another.” Buchanan would like funding spent to reach young children, maybe as young as second or third grade, about the dangers posed by heroin. 

Bradenton has become known as an epicenter of heroin use in Florida, and the community saw the highest numbers of per capita deaths in Florida last year related to fentynol, a drug that can shipped here directly from China and gets used with heroin. Buchanan has sponsored the STOP Act to authorize postal workers to screen for the substance and stop it from being shipped through the mail.

State lawmakers have put special effort this year into combating the transport of heroin, authorizing postal authorities. State Rep. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, at a recent legislative update said passage of a controlled substance bill this year that reclassifies fentynol and other opioids as Schedule 1 and strengthens penalties for trafficking such narcotics. The bill was passed unanimously by the state House before also winning passage in the Senate.

State Sen. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, says his office was struck by stories of how easy it was to ship fentynol. “You can go online and order fentynol to be delivered by UPS to your front door,” Steube says. He noted the drug, which can become airborne, holds such potency law enforcement officers have reportedly overdosed simply being in rooms where substantial amounts of the drug are poured out of containers. When the new legislation goes into effect in October, law enforcement should be able to better track the drug and intercept it before it gets in the hands of dealers and users. 

[Daily Shop]  A Breath of Fresh (Mountain) Air
Philip Lederer, Phil.Lederer@srqme.com

Everyone could use another good night’s sleep, and, even after the most trying of days, pharmacological options abound for a good zonk. But for those looking for an all-natural approach without working up a sweat in the summer sun, Himalayan salt lamps from Sarasota Trading Company offer an aesthetically pleasing alternative. A natural air purifier (through a process called hygroscopy, whereby the salt absorbs water molecules and whatever molds, bacteria or particulates they may carry) and sleep aid (purportedly through creating negative ions), the science may be iffy but the trend is spreading. Each hand-carved from a single, sizable crystal, the rough-hewn facets evoke a rustic atmosphere, while the cool pink glow from the setting sun shining through its opaque mass lend a weightlessness incongruous to its solidity. Hollowed out and inset upon a simple ring base, light a bulb under the crystal for a shine that fills the room regardless of the hour. Available in three sizes, pick the one that’s right for you or all three for a house set.  

Photo by Phil Lederer.

Sarasota Trading Company, 522 South Pineapple Ave., Sarasota, 941-953-7776.

[Exec Moves]  Sarasota Opera Guild Announces 2017-18 Board

The Sarasota Opera Guild announces its 2017-18 Board of Directors incPeter Phillipes, Ann Waller, Joel Reznick, Alma Abshier, Antoinette Dowling, Sherry Wheeler, Bonti Burgess, Ann Gray, Zona Starks, Cecile Adams, Michael Bowers, Karin Murphy, Pat Dodge, Louis Martorella and David Chivas. The Sarasota Opera Guild was organized to foster, promote, and increase knowledge and appreciation of opera in the community in conjunction with Sarasota Opera; to encourage and assist young singers; and to sponsor projects to raise funds for the opera. 

Sarasota Opera Guild

[Exec Moves]  Friday, Powers, Osban Join Keller Williams

Jessica Friday, Ray Powers and Harold Osban Jr. have joined Keller Williams Realty Select as real estate agents. With an associate’s degree in accounting from State College of Florida, Friday worked in the accounting field for many years. In recent years, Friday obtained the Florida-licensed Community Association Manager and currently works as property manager for Longboat Key Towers Association. During his professional life Powers has been recognized for numerous accomplishments as a fixed operations director for various global companies as well as in the mortgage division of Citigroup, a Fortune 500 company. Osban Jr. is a licensed real estate agent with Keller Williams Realty Select in Lakewood Ranch. He is an owner and investor in residential rental real estate, a member of Landlords Association of Manatee, The Real Estate Connection and the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee. 

Keller Williams

[Exec Moves]  Feehan Selected for Harvard Kennedy School Program

The Harvard Kennedy School of Government has chosen Sarasota County Democratic Party activist Nancy Feehan to attend its selective 2017 Mid-Career Master in Public Administration Program in Cambridge, MA. Each year, the Harvard Kennedy School accepts only about 200 worldwide persons into the intensive program. The school says it seeks established, high-performing professionals who seek to move up in their public service careers or transition from the private sector to leadership positions in the public or nonprofit sectors. Feehan is a former Assistant Attorney General for the State of Maine and has been a longtime activist in Florida and Sarasota County politics. She has served as a Guardian Ad Litem for abused and neglected children in Florida's 12th Judicial Circuit for more than seven years and is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire School of Law and Bowdoin College. Feehan will head to the school in July to begin the one-year program.  She plans to focus her studies on analyzing ways of creating more opportunities for women to be involved in American politics at the local, regional and national levels. 

Sarasota Democratic Party



[TODAY]  GALLERY: National League of American Pen Women , May 30 – June 22, Monday- Friday 10am-1pm and 1:30pm-4pm

For their annual community exhibition, Basch and Smith Galleries will showcase work by the Sarasota chapter of the National League of American PEN Women, the oldest milti-discipline arts organization for women in the United States. 

Willis Smith and Basch Galleries, Located on the ground floor of the Larry R. Thompson Academic Center.

[SOON]  GRAB BAG: Sarasota County to Celebrate Turtle Beach Renovations , May 31, The celebration starts at 10:30 am

The community is invited to the Turtle Beach Renovation Celebration on Wednesday, May 31, to mark the completion of Sarasota County's latest capital improvement project. Renovations began in 2016, and were completed earlier this year. Newly redesigned features include: new parking lot with 35 additional parking spaces, new playground, covered picnic areas, kayak launch and kayak wash-down area, new sidewalks, paths and pedestrian crossings, stormwater conveyance system with a rain garden.

Turtle Beach , 8918 Midnight Pass Rd., Sarasota

[SOON]  BUSINESS: Marketing On Main , May 31, 5:30

This motivational event is made by business owners for business owners. This gives our community the opportunity to network with each other! Complete with speakers and live music this is sure to be the talk of the town! Visit Marketing On Main's facebook page for more details.

Hotel Indigo, 1223 Blvd. of the Arts, Sarasota.

[SOON]  GALLERY: "Celebration of Color and Life" , May 31 – June 3

Art Uptown Gallery will be hosting "Celebration of Color and Life" at the Bird Key Yacht Club May 31- July 3. Arts featured will be: Kasia Bruniany, Jill Krasner, and Elisabeth Trostli. The show will primarily be made up of a collection of oil, acrylic, and digital paintings on canvas, in addition to a jewerly display by Jill Krasner. 

Bird Key Yacht Club, 301 Bird Key Dr. Sarasota

[SOON]  THEATER: Loveland: Las Vegas . . . Under the Neon Lights , June 1 – June 4

Venice Theatre and the Loveland Center have been partnering for 20 years to provide adults with developmental disabilities the chance to grow and learn through theatre study. Loveland students, under the direction of professional staff and with help from community volunteers, rehearse all season to present this full-scale musical on MainStage. Join them in Sin City, where spontaneous marriages are expected and where one Elvis isn’t enough. In a city where there’s a little bit of everything, who knows what kind of trouble—financial or otherwise—this cast of colorful characters will get themselves into?

Venice Theater , 140 W. Tampa Ave., Venice

[SOON]  MUSIC: Melanie , June 1, 7:30pm

Join the Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center for a night of songs and stories with the acclaimed performer known as "the female Bob Dylan," Melanie! Joined by her son Beau-Jerred, a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, the composer and singer of hit songs including "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)" and "Brand New Key" will be gracing the Fogartyville stage this June. The voice of a generation, Melanie first greeted audiences at Woodstock with "Beautiful People," and since then, has become an international musical legend.

Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center , 525 Kumquat Ct., Sarasota

[SOON]  GRAB BAG: YPG After Hours at Blue Rooster , June 1, 5:30-7:30pm

Come join the YPG on Thursday, June 1st at Blue Rooster for the area's largest monthly networking event, YPG After Hours! With an average of 80-100 young professionals gathering on the first Thursday of each month you're guaranteed to make new friends, secure new clients, and learn more about what Sarasota has to offer. Along with great drink specials, enjoy appetizing lite bites for the duration of the event.

Blue Rooster , 1525-B Fourth St., Sarasota

[SOON]  GALLERY: Summer Showcase , June 2 – September 30

This exhibit features 6 sculptors, 1 printmaker, 20 painters,1 pastel artist and 1 photographer.This is a diverse award winning group from Southern California to Sydney, Australia, Prince Edward Island, Canada to Vero Beach, Florida, including nine of Sarasota's best.

Dabbert Gallery , 76 S Palm Ave., Sarasota

[SOON]  GRAB BAG: Namastray Yoga is Back! , June 2, 5:30pm

Enjoy yoga with the inspiration of Cat Depot cats in the room! Yoga has many positive effects on the body such as improving flexibility, building muscle strength, improving posture, and lowering blood pressure. It can also help you focus.There will be a certified yoga instructor, and be sure to bring your own yoga mat. 

Cat Depot , 2542 17th St.,Sarasota

[SOON]  THEATER: Burt and Me , June 2 – June 18

Joe and Lacey, high school sweethearts, shared the love of basketball and music. When college separated them, history couldn’t overcome geography. After meeting years later, Joe comes up with an elaborate scheme to get Lacey back in this jukebox musical. Featuring songs such as “Raindrops Keep Falling On Your Head,” “I Say A Little Prayer,” and “Wishing And Hoping.” For more information and to purchase tickets please visit www.floridastudiotheatre.org

Florida Studio Theatre , 1241 North Palm Ave., Sarasota

[SOON]  PERFORMANCE: Naming True , June 2 – July 2

Amy, a transgender teenage girl from Seattle, and Nell, a dying woman who’s lived most of her life on the streets of Detroit, find themselves in an unlikely meeting in a Florida motel room to discuss publishing Nell’s childhood memoir. An intimate tale of survival, redemption, and the desperate need to share our stories, Naming True investigates how to persevere in the absence of hope. For more information please visit www.urbanitetheatre.com for show times and tickets.

Urbanite Theatre , 1487 Second St., Sarasota

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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