The election of Sarasota County School Board member Bridget Ziegler to a full term offers the incumbent something she could not enjoy in the five months since her appointment to the body—a voter mandate. But she also enters the board in the minority of issues that played huge in the past few weeks of the election.

Among them, Ziegler supports restricted school vouchers, a position advocated by the Florida Federation for Children, which spent money on behalf of pro-voucher candidates throughout Florida. A day after her victory over challenger Ken Marsh, Ziegler said it was important to her to provide a different perspective on such policies. 

"All taxpayers, whether they choose to go to public or private schools, should be enabled in education in all facets," she said. Money from the state awarded for each child within a school district should be able to follow the child to whatever education opportunities are the best for them, whether than means staying in a public school or going to a private school program, she said.

That's a position at odds with the majority of the School Board, and part of why a majority of sitting members outwardly supported Marsh over Ziegler. But the election is in the past, according to School Board member Shirley Brown.

"I was the first one to congratulate her last night," Brown said. "We have to work together." Brown, who had backed Marsh, hopes Ziegler's positions on some issues evolve especially after she attends the Florida School Board Association meeting in September. Vouchers is one area where Brown ardently disagrees with Ziegler on policy.

"It takes dollars away from our schools, and I do believe we have got something in the constitution about funding for high-quality public schools," Brown said. The matter will likely come up when the board sets its legislative agenda for the coming year, and could also be a big part of School Board races two years from now. Right now, the Florida School Board Association is engaged in a lawsuit against the Step Up For Children voucher program.

Ziegler stressed she wants restrictions on vouchers but said in conversations with parents on the campaign trail that she was struck by the positive impact of vouchers on some students. "If parents choose this school because it appears to have a strong curriculum and matches with their values, I do not believe we have a right to tell them otherwise," she said. 

Venice Theatre is setting the stakes high this season with its latest production of the bawdy musical, The Full Monty. Adapted for the stage from the Oscar-winning film following the comedic travails of six recently unemployed men who find their inspiration in a travelling band of Chippendales, VT’s take is an energetic, humorous and charmingly edgy performance with a boldness one can’t help but admire.

Swapping out England for Buffalo and injecting some song-and-dance, the story easily translates from the screen to the stage and VT director/choreographer Brad Wages deftly toes the line throughout with cheeky abandon, surprising the audience and making them truly wonder, "Will they go all the way?"

“Brad is an amazing talent. He understands the genre and everything that the show needs to be,” said actor James Bock, who plays Jerry Lukowski, ringleader of the misfit group. For Bock, the challenge wasn’t the light wardrobe but the emotional weight. “It’s not so much about stripping as it is these guys and how far will they go for their families.”

Just as central to the story is the growing bond among the disparate crew. Although their characters may be thrown out of their comfort zones, actors Rik Robertson, Joseph Giglia, Brian Graziani and others seem far from it as they sing, twirl and tease across the stage.

“It’s light and it’s fun, but there are also some wonderful moments and characters with a lot of heart,” said Bock. “Everybody here is just wonderfully talented and they’re doing as good theater here as I’ve done.”

The Full Monty runs until Nov. 30 on the Venice Theatre Mainstage.  

Sarasota County Technical Institute is now Suncoast Technical College. The School Board of Sarasota County approved the name change at its regular meeting Tuesday. The name change affects all locations: the main campus at Beneva and Proctor roads in Sarasota as well as campuses in Sarasota’s Newtown community, Venice and North Port. While the name “Sarasota County Technical Institute” and “SCTI” will continue to appear on signage and other materials during a transitional period, the name change is already official. The school will launch an informational campaign Nov. 24, via digital media, radio, TV and billboards. The campaign will culminate with an event Jan. 24, when Suncoast Technical College will award full scholarships to two students who have connected with the school through social media. 

Suncoast Technical College

Realtor Lynn Magaro has joined the Venice office of RE/MAX Platinum Realty. She comes to Florida from the Philadelphia area, where she was a top-producing agent for Realty Mark Nexus in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. A full-time Realtor with 10 years of experience, she is licensed to sell real estate in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Florida. Magaro specializes in residential real estate in Venice and surrounding areas, as well as investment properties with a focus on the distressed market.  

RE/MAX Platinum Realty

Three local foundations have donated funds in support of Goodwill Manasota’s Supported JobsPlus program, which aims to employ individuals with physical, developmental and psychiatric disabilities. Goodwill recently received grants from the Jelks Family Foundation, the Mae and James Hazelton Charity and Trust, and the Kiwanis Club of Sarasota to support the SJP program. Implemented in 2005, the SJP Program targets sustainable employment for those with significant disabilities. The process includes identifying jobs at Goodwill retail stores and potential candidates for those positions, and assigning a job coach to the potential employee during the interview process, training and early days of employment.  

Goodwill Manasota