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SRQ DAILY Jan 4, 2018

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"I want to be able to go to an airport and not be limited."

- Ryan Rankin, pilot
 

[Government]  Sarasota Explores Possibilities with Tahiti Park Property
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

Jennifer Ahearn-Koch as a community activist fought for years to prevent dense commercial development from rising on land at the entrance to the Tahiti Park neighborhood. Now a city commissioner, she called this week for Sarasota to look at the long-term plans for the property. Sarasota City Commissioners on Monday voted 4-1 to direct city staff to explore the possibility of buying land on Hampton Road at U.S. 41 and convert it for a park use. That could only happen if the current owner wanted to cut a deal, something never expressed to city officials before. “We’re just exploring the idea,” stressed Ahearn-Koch. But if some deal could be reached on the land, it could end a decade of angst about the land designation about the North Trail properties.

The land, located at 1174 and 1186 Hampton Road, for years held had a future land use designation calling for multi-family residential development, but the properties in 2008 were redesigned for commercial use. That change, though, came as part of sweeping amendments that affected nearly 2,000 properties citywide, and both local neighborhood activists and sitting officials at the time the public was never notified that any shift would impact those properties. The matter gained some urgency in 2011, after Dr. Steve Bedi purchased the property and then submitted a rezoning request while announcing plans for a medical spa on the land.

Bedi at the time told SRQ the development would spur a revitalization of the North Trail, but amid concerns from neighbors ultimately withdrew his rezone request. In 2015, he announced plans for a similar resort in Allentown but pulled his application there as well. He did not respond to an email from SRQ about the Tahiti Park property.

Melinda Delpech, the new president of the Tahiti Park Neighborhood Association, has approached city commissioners about again looking at the designation of the land. She says the neighborhood would be fine returning the designation of the land to multi-family. “But I don’t think the city is going to entertain that option,” she says. The next best option for the neighborhood, she says, would be for the city to buy the land and make it into parkland.

But that plan has drawn criticism as well. Martin Hyde, a former City Commission candidate who lost to Ahearn-Koch in 2017, labeled such a move “ludicrous,” noting the property is already by Whitaker Gateway Park so the neighborhood is hardly underserved as far as recreational space. “The suggestion to fund what would be an extension to the backyards of Tahiti Park would be laughable if not sponsored by a resident who sits on the City Commission,” he said at a Commission meeting on Tuesday night.

And City Commissioner Hagen Brody, who cast the lone vote against exploring park use for the land, said he had concerns about the finances of such a move. “And I do have concerns this was Commissioner Ahearn-Koch’s initiative for many years,” he says.

Ahearn-Koch stressed that current leaders brought the issue back to the commission. She also said her previous neighborhood activism, in her eyes, was the reason she was elected to the commission. But she also said as an elected official, she would balance the desires of the neighborhood against the needs of the entire city, and take that deliberation seriously.

And other city commissioners note that, so far, the possibility is only under study. The move doesn’t threaten anyone’s property rights, as Bedi could reject any overtures from the city and end the matter “This gives the owner the option to sell to the city if it makes sense,” said Commissioner Liz Alpert. “Exploring that really doesn’t harm anybody’s interest. It’s an option we should explore.” 

[Ryan Flies]  From the Cockpit Finale: What Kind of Flight Has It Been?
Philip Lederer, Phil.Lederer@srqme.com

Editor’s Note: This is the final installation of an ongoing series documenting the flights of active-duty US Navy Pilot Ryan Rankin on his journey to fly 52 planes in 52 weeks through the year 2017.

As the year ended, Rankin climbed from the cockpit of his final aircraft, bringing the final count to 52 planes in 52 weeks—hitting his stated goal. Starting out a year ago, he had little idea what to expect from the project. Would he hone his technical skills? Make new friends? A little of both? After a few days to reflect on the completion of this personal mission, Rankin opens up on the experience.

“The aviation community is full of incredible folks who are incredibly generous,” says Rankin, right off the bat. And though he enjoyed flying all sorts of different aircraft, it’s the people he met who have stuck with him the most. “I can probably name everybody I flew with,” he says, “but I’d have a hard time remembering every plane I flew.”

He did become a better pilot, he reckons, but even that is due more to the people he flew with than the mere fact that he flew these planes. The breadth of experience has given him confidence, and he doesn’t understate that importance, but it’s from observing the techniques and perspectives of more than 40 pilots of various backgrounds that has affected him most. “I’ve taken a little bit from all of these people,” says Rankin, “and as a result I’m a better pilot.”

And the experience has given Rankin a good foundation for wherever he wants to take his aviation career in the future. He plans to get both his seaplane and helicopter ratings in the coming year, and maybe more. The FAA has seven categories that pilots are rated in—helicopter, fixed-wing, seaplane, glider, etc—and though Rankin may not hit all of them this coming year, he has a better idea of where to start and what interests him. “I want to be able to go to an airport and not be limited,” he says.

But perhaps most importantly, Rankin recaptured his love of flying. It’s a danger, no matter the industry or skill, when making a living out of a passion, that the demands of the former will sap the enjoyment of the latter. And flying for the Navy had taken its toll on Rankin’s spirit, and he needed, for lack of a better term in this case, a pick-me-up to reinvigorate his love of flying. “And I recaptured that this year,” he says. Still taking calls for more flights and filling up his schedule in the coming weeks, he even bought a plane just a few days ago on Dec. 31.

A Stearman, just like the plane he flew in week one, Rankin plans to take people flying, just like the people who took him up this year. “I need to give back,” he says. “I want to share aviation beyond these videos. I want to take people up.”

To look back on Rankin’s year of flying, follow the link to his blog below. 

Pictured: Ryan Rankin with his newly purchased Stearman airplane. Photo courtesy of Ryan Rankin.

Ryan Flies

[Exec Moves]  Ginn Named President of Pines of Sarasota Foundation

After a national search, the Pines of Sarasota Foundation Board of Trustees has named Janet K. Ginn, CFRE, as the organization’s new president. Ginn joined the Foundation as director of development in 2016 and has been serving as interim president since August 2017. Ginn has spent more than 30 years inspiring and assisting individuals to meet their charitable desires, including serving as president and CEO of multimillion dollar organizations. Her career has allowed her to assist individuals in 32 countries and the 50 United States as a guardian of philanthropy, and she has served as trustee for more than 1600 charitable instruments and 800 named funds. Ginn was also awarded the prestigious “Arkansas Traveler” designation by then-Arkansas’ Governor Mike Huckabee, signifying her as an international ambassador for the state of Arkansas. She is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Rotarian and Paul Harris Fellow and a graduate of the Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management Course at Harvard Business School. 

Pines of Sarasota Foundation

[Exec Moves]  Oncologist Boothby Joins First Physician Group Network

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System recruited veteran GYN Oncologist Dr. Richard Boothby to its First Physicians Group (FPG) network this week. Board-certified in Obstetrics-Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology, Boothby has more than 30 years experience managing the care of women with gynecologic cancers. Boothby came to Sarasota from Lakeland, where he spent the past 10 years caring for GYN oncology patients at Lakeland Regional Health Hollis Cancer Center. Previously, he practiced nearly 10 years at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Orlando, where he also served as director of clinical research, vice chair of the center’s Institutional Review Board and a principal investigator for the Gynecologic Oncology Group. This week, he officially takes over the practice of longtime colleague GYN Oncologist Dr. James Fiorica, who transitions from clinical practice to a full-time leadership role as Sarasota Memorial Health Care System’s Chief Medical Officer. Fiorica will continue to lead Sarasota Memorial’s Cancer Research Program and serve as principal investigator on national research projects and protocols. 

First Physicians Group

[Exec Moves]  Brooke Chase Places Skorge with Fabuwood Cabinetry

Brooke Chase Associates, a premier executive search firm specializing in the recruitment of executive management professionals within the building materials and kitchen/bath industries, has announced the successful placement of Eric Skorge as Chief Financial Officer with Fabuwood Cabinetry. Skorge will be responsible for all company accounting and finances, special projects including acquisitions and major expansion initiatives. With an extensive background in finance and operations at Masterbrand Cabinets and Moen, Skorge was most recently CFO and vice president supply chain with North American Ceramics, where he focused on margin improvement primarily through the supply chain optimization. Founded by owners Michael Panzer and Joel Epstein, Fabuwood has grown to employ over six hundred people, providing quality cabinetry and accessories to countless clients nationwide. The fastest growing kitchen company in the country, Fabuwood has plans to move into a new one million square foot facility in 2018. 

Brooke Chase Associates



[TODAY]  GALLERY: Floating Cubes , December 14 – January 19

Recently showing with the Skyway: A Contemporary Collaboration exhibition uniting The Ringling Museum with the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg and the Tampa Museum of Art, artist Akiko Kotani comes to Art Center Sarasota for another site-specific installation. Working in weaved plastic, Kotani explores minimalism and simplicity as she pushes the boundaries of her medium.

ArtCenter Sarasota, 707 North Tamiami Trl., Sarasota

[SOON]  MUSIC: An Evening in Mayberry , January 5

The Dillards are a a musical group with a history dating back to The Andy Griffith Show over 50 years ago. Join them for an evening in Mayberry, and have the opportunity to relive musical memories and meet some of the Mayberry friendly faces. Tickets are $22 in advance and $25 at the door.

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

[SOON]  MUSIC: Musical Landscapes , January 6, 7:30pm

See the world from your seat with an evening of musical panoramas. Whitacre's luminous reimagining of the River Cam, which flowed past his window at Cambridge University, features Sarasota Orchestra's own principal cellist Natalie Helm. Hailed for his "energy and enthusiasm," guest conductor Stefan Sanders dynamically guides guests on this matchless musical tour. 

Sarasota Opera House, 61 North Pineapple Ave., Sarasota

[SOON]  GALLERY: Cast, Cut and Cold - Glass , January 8 – March 24

Technically amazing and visually stunning examples of creations by more than two dozen masters of glass art including Peter Bremers, Vadlec Ciglar and Irene Frolic astound in this exhibition. Numerous examples, styles and methods of glass casting and etching are represented in this one-of-a-kind gallery.

Ringling College of Art and Design Gallery, 2700 N. Tamiami Trl., Sarasota

[SOON]  SEMINAR: SMARTgirl Mentorship Summit Call for Applications , January 10

SRQ MEDIA is calling for 6th, 7th & 8th grade girls to find your inner “roar” at the 2018 SMARTgirl Mentorship Summit and Luncheon on Friday, March 16, 2018 from 10:30am-1:30pm at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota.

Explore the possibilities and celebrate every girl’s potential at SMARTgirl. Participants will engage in an innovative program designed to educate middle school girls in 6th, 7th and 8th grades on career imaginings and the tools they need to succeed through mentorship, soft skills training and hands-on workshops with some of the community’s top women leaders.

 

Hyatt Regency Sarasota , 1000 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota, FL 34236

[SOON]  THEATER: Shakespeare in Love , January 10 – March 28

Adapted for the stage by Lee Hall, Shakespeare in Love will offer an entrancing theater production that follows the story of Will Shakespeare, a struggling playwright tormented by writer’s block. To his rescue comes the vivacious Viola, Will’s greatest admirer. But Viola has a secret and Will finds himself star cross’d.

Asolo Repertory Theatre, 5555 North Tamiami Trl., Sarasota

[SOON]  THEATER: The Mountaintop , January 10 – February 18

This performance depicts a fictionalized portrayal of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his last night of his life. With a theatrical imagination, the play gives viewers a window into what went on in the legendary man's life, and what his hopes, vulnerabilities and fears were.

Westcoast Black Theatre , 1646 10th Way, Sarasota

[SOON]  GALLERY: Shine the Light Opening Night Reception , January 10, 5:30pm

This three-tier, multi-media exhibition focuses on the current and historical aspects of refugee displacement, persecution and the struggles of finding home. The show features a glass installation by Laura Donefer, photo essay exhibition by Charlotte Schmitz and a short film preview by director Dave Marshall and Deborah Haber. The exhibition is curated under the direction of Deborah Haber, executive artistic director of DEEP Arts, a nonprofit arts organization whose mission focuses on the promotion of new works.

Alfstad& Contemporary, 1419 5th St., Sarasota.

[SOON]  THEATER: Nine , January 11 – January 28, 2pm, 7:30pm or 8pm depending on day

Guido Contini is a wreck and dreading his 40th birthday, a dread that stifles the easy flow of his creative juices. He runs off to Venice in search of inspiration. In a swirl of present issues, revisiting traumatic memories and grasping at women likes straws, Contini finds himself on the verge of total annihilation.

Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 3rd Ave. W., Bradenton

[SOON]  SEMINAR: An Evening With Audrey , January 11, 5:30-8:00pm

Audrey Hepburn (1929-1993) was one of the greatest fashion icons and screen legends in history whose innate style and kindness captivated the world. Pamela Fiori, former editor in chief of Town & Country and Travel & Leisure magazines and six-time published author, presents a portrait of a much beloved woman, award-winnng actress, devoted mother, humanist, passionate gardener and Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF. Join SRQ MEDIA and WIB Trailblazer Honoree Pamela Fiori for an enchanting evening of sparkling cocktails, conversation and exploration into Hepburn’s luminosity through images, film and stories.

Mildred Sainer Pavilion, New College , 5313 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota, FL 34243

[SOON]  BUSINESS: Emily Larned , January 12 – March 17

This exhibition celebrates the ten-year anniversary of Impractical Labor in Service of the Speculative Arts (ILSSA), a social engaged art project founded in 2008 to investigate labor, time, and what we value. A selection from the first ten years of the project will be featured, and ILSSA co-founder Emily Larned will be in-residence in the gallery for the first two weeks of the show.

Ringling College of Art and Design Gallery, 2700 N. Tamiami Trl., Sarasota

[SOON]  GALA: The Hospital Gala , January 13, 6:00PM

Join us for the 2018 Hospital Gala at the Rtiz Carlton to raise funds for the Sarasota Memorial Hospital's Emergency Services team. All proceeds work to ensure that our families and communities receive the best care and that the accidents or traumas people suffer from can have their urgent medical needs be addressed.

The Ritz Carlton, 1111 Ritz Carlton Drive Sarasota, Florida 34236

[SOON]  MUSIC: Fred Johnson Jazz Quartet , January 13, 8pm

Fred Johnson is an accomplished musician who has toured with the likes Aretha Franklin, Chick Corea and Miles Davis. A jazz, world music singer, and percussionist, Fred has been collaborating with Tampa Bay musicians for a series of performances with the theme of unity. Don't miss the evening of inspirational poetry, music, and art.

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

[SOON]  FESTIVAL: We Love Israel Shuk & Fair , January 14, 12pm

This event celebrates Israel's 70th anniversary of statehood. Attendees will be able to enjoy entertainment, food trucks and have the chance to purchase Israel-made products. Additionally, activities for children and educational opportunities are available. Admission is free and open to the public.

Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, 580 McIntosh Rd., Sarasota

[SOON]  PERFORMANCE: SWAC Speaker Series , January 17, 6:30PM

The Sarasota World Affairs Council Lecture Series is a collective of local discussions on world issues. It will continue in January with Raymond Baker. Baker is an author, businessman, and CEO who will be speaking at the Mildred Sainer Pavilion on global financial integrity. More specific topics which will be covered include how dirty money affects less-developed countries, human rights abuses, and economic inequality.  

Mildred Sainer Pavillion, 5313 Bay Shore Road Sarasota, FL 34243

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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