SRQ DAILY Apr 9, 2018
Monday Business Edition
"It's important for local and state officials to have close relationships and to work closely together. In Manatee County, we've done that."
In the six years since Vanessa Baugh won a seat on the Manatee County Commission, the Lakewood Ranch businesswoman says she’s always particularly enjoyed the chance to work with local lawmakers on state policy. “I have the utmost respect for all of the lawmakers who have been in Tallahassee and have been just fantastic on forming Manatee and Sarasota counties to be what they are today,” Baugh says. So at the news that state Rep. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, would seek higher office, Baugh decided she had to take this chance to run. Last week, she mailed in her papers to run in District 73.
“It’s rare you get the opportunity to run for one of these seats,” she says. “It’s always looked like that would be exciting. I never felt I would be put into a position to be able to run.”
Now Baugh hopes voters look at her record in Manatee County and see a reason to send her to the state capital. She first won her term on the Manatee Commission in 2012, beating now-School Board member John Colon in the Republican primary and former Bradenton City Councilman James Golden in the general election. She defended the seat in 2016, fending off a primary challenge by Lakewood Ranch Community Development board member Kathleen Grant.
Tho go to Tallahassee, Baugh will first need to win a Republican primary against for military attorney Tommy Gregory, and the open seat may draw more competitors. One man whose run for the seat before, Tea Party activist Steve Vernon, last week endorsed Gregory. Democrat Liv Coleman, a Tampa University professor, has filed to run as well.
Baugh believes her strong public service record will set her apart. “Experience, experience, experience,” she answers as her strongest asset. “I’ve lived in the area since 1999 and served on multiple board in Sarasota and Manatee so I’m versed in both counties’ needs. I’ve visited Tallahassee during session on multiple occasions, and I have to experience to keep moving it forward.”
She knows how to “bring him the bacon,” she says, and boasts a working understanding of the infrastructure needs. She sees the significance of controversial entities like Visit Florida and Enterprise Florida, expressing hope transparency guards put in place in the last two years allow those agencies to do good work attracting tourists and business growth to Florida.
And moving from local government into state government, she can bring a perspective to an entity sometimes at odds with jurisdictions back home. “It’s important for local and state officials to have close relationships and to work closely together,” she says. “In Manatee County we’ve done that.” She notes the work commissioners did with retiring state Rep. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, on landmark opioid legislation signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott at a special ceremony in the area last month. She also has been on the county side of debates on home rule and unfunded mandates.
“But it’s interesting too, we on the local level don’t always really understand why something on a state level has come forward sometimes, and it will be interesting to communicate that perspective and then share that back to local government.” Baugh wants to be an official that speaks the language of lawmakers and county commissioners.
As a staunch conservative, she also feels prepared to jump into issues like gun control, a matter that took over session this year following a mass shooting at a Parkland high school. Lawmakers and the governor ultimately pushed through a bill now being challenged in court by the NRA. Baugh says she feels strongly about Second Amendment rights and can’t say if she would support the bill. But, she stresses, that’s because of the lengthy and debate in Tallahassee. She was in Tallahassee to see the emotional issue play out in part. “You are talking about a tough situation, a lot harder than most people realize,” she says. “I would never second guess anyone on their vote, nor would I share my views at this point. It’s to show respect to the students, parents and legislators that have had to deal with that.”
The primary election in District 73 is scheduled for Aug. 28, with the general election on Nov. 6. 
Spilling from the pages of SRQ magazine and into the stunning courtyard of the Aloft Sarasota Hotel, the annual 2018 Best Of SRQ Local Competition concluded this past Friday with a shindig for all comers. Showcasing drinks, bites and goodies from a whole host of this year’s Best Of winners and finalists—and one undefeated winner of a now-retired category—partygoers and guests sipped, sampled and danced their way from booth to booth, finding Sarasota favorites at every turn. With the night’s energy in the comfortable hands of DJ Rus, the only question remaining for the hundreds of people flowing in and out of the Aloft courtyard was where to start.
At one end, Best Doughnut winner, Five-O Donuts, and Best Romantic Restaurant winner, Ophelia’s on the Bay prove themselves among the most popular of the night, with Ophelia’s crispy coconut and macadamia-crusted sea scallops disappearing as fast as they could be prepared right there over an open flame. Right next door, Christine Nordstrom of Five-O kept busy with constant interest in everything from her famous croissant donuts to classic cinnamon apple delights. One partygoer left with a whole box.
At the other end, more donuts, as Best Doughnut finalist Peachey’s Baking Company rolls its food truck up to the loading dock and starts piping in fresh glazed donuts and mini pretzels. “Just like grandma used to make,” says Sadie Peachey, and she’s not joking—the recipe comes from her Amish grandmother, and everything is still made from scratch. For a little heat to go with that sweet, Libby’s Café serves up samples of its Best Of-winning Bloody Marys, made with roasted and raw garlic, as well as lots of horseradish and more than a couple secret ingredients. Paired with some next-level deviled eggs, and it’s a match made in heaven.
For the meat-eaters, the folks at Michael’s On East and Brick’s Smoked Meats do not disappoint, with MOE bringing Andouille sausage and ground beef sliders topped with alfalfa sprouts and pickled okra, and Brick’s some of its famous Bacon Burnt End appetizers, as well as House Margaritas, made with O3 orange liqueur and a lemon-forward sensibility. “You get to meet great people,” says Brick’s Steven Warren, on giving his time on a Friday evening. “And SRQ is right here in our town. We’re neighbors, and we should be here.”
The burger kings, Patrick’s, hold court with double-stacked cheeseburger sliders in another corner, while the sushi champions of Jpan serve steamed buns with charsui pork in another. Right in the middle, Chef Joe DiMaggio, Jr, of Café BarBosso shows off an Italian classic with the restaurant’s pasta fagouli. “This is what wise guys have before they go to jail,” he says, maybe joking, maybe not. Either way, crowd reactions to the samples given suggest it may be consolation enough even for imminent hard time.
Rounding out the scene, area vendors like Pineapple Yoga and Jel Shots, a brand new venture selling vegan, gluten-free and no-refrigeration jello shots, ply their wares. Nearby, Jesse White of Sarasota Architectural Salvage hands out deals and coupons for guests who want to stop in the shop afterward. “My company is very community-based, and I love events that get the community out and recognize all the different organizations and businesses that are giving back,” he says.
“I’m here because I’m among good people.”
Photo by Wyatt Kostygan.
When students from Venice Elementary School and adjacent Venice High School returned from spring break this past Monday, they discovered a rock-like object, resembling a meteor, had skidded across the lawn and made landfall on their campus. As part of a coordinated simulation, University of South Florida professors and graduate students dressed as NASA scientists in contamination suits, quarantined the meteor with caution tape and began processing the site utilizing apparent sterilizing techniques, outward observation procedures, and collecting scientific data.
Throughout the week students investigated the site to help analyze samples and propose solutions. It was a wonderful sight to see elementary-aged students fully engaged with clipboards in hand while asking the scientists such inquisitive questions. One young student suggested the security cameras be reviewed for video evidence while another felt his sighting of a shooting star the night before could be related.
As recipients of a schoolwide immersion grant from the Education Foundation of Sarasota County with funding provided by the Dart Foundation and created in coordination with USF professors, students from both schools experienced a science-based inquiry project allowing for unique cross-curricula and interdisciplinary opportunities. The Education Foundation also provided professional development on inquiry-based instruction to select staff at both schools to encourage innovative pedagogical practices in K–12 learning environments. These active learning experiences focus on guiding students’ curiosity toward testable questions, quantifiable inquiries, plausible hypotheses, observations and inferences, helping the students develop accurate scientific habits of mind.
The collaboration between the two schools has provided a unique opportunity for students of all ages. Beth Donofrio, Venice High School’s teacher of the year, took a creative approach to incorporating the meteor landing into her classroom instruction on Shakespeare. Donofrio’s class investigated the meteor landing as if they were in Shakespearean times—using only the knowledge and scientific tools available in the 16th century. She asked students to critically consider how Shakespeare and the Globe actors would have viewed this event—would they believe the cause was scientific, fate or God? She probed students to consider allusions to the stars and the heavens in Shakespeare’s work, which has resulted in a number of lively classroom discussions.
The meteor landing was the second immersive grant piloted by the Education Foundation this year with the first held at Booker Middle School with funding provided by United Way Suncoast. Through a simulated city that experienced an outbreak and using more than 30 career professionals who joined students and teachers to share their career paths, middle school students were exposed to real-life scenarios and various jobs using a socio-cultural approach while also learning how to respond to a harmless city contagion.
It is projects like these that the Education Foundation will continue to expand upon because students are at the center of learning. Immersive grants are inquiry-based learning projects that call on students to actively make observations; collect, analyze and synthesize information, and draw conclusions—all of which develops useful problem-solving skills. Inquiry-based learning promotes student engagement, develops meaningful research skills, heightens curiosity and fortifies the importance of asking good questions. Beyond developing these vital skills, it also fosters a lifelong love of learning.
We look forward to expanding upon these projects and want to give a special shout-out to USF professors Dr. Dana Zeidler and Dr. Mitch Ruzek for piloting these learning opportunities with us.
Jennifer Vigne is president of the Education Foundation of Sarasota County.
Among the wealth of white sandy beaches, world-class cultural treasures, warm weather and fine dining experiences, our region has something else that is quite extraordinary: an abundance of generosity. Anyone who has spent an extended period of time here knows this. It’s evident in the number of prominent names that are displayed on schools, libraries, churches and nonprofit buildings, or the amount of fundraising events you see around town each week.
Many people think philanthropy is something that is exclusive to the wealthy elite, citing articles about Bill Gates or Warren Buffet making gifts of millions of dollars to lofty causes; however the reality is quite different. Now more than ever, each and every one of us has the ability to make a difference in our own way.
In 2012, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County created the Giving Challenge, an online giving day event to support the hundreds of local nonprofits that serve our region. The goal was to raise awareness about the importance of informed giving and transparency, as well as promoting the incredible organizations that are doing good things right in our own backyard. The only prerequisite for a nonprofit to participate was having an up-to-date profile in The Giving Partner, a free, local source for in-depth information on local nonprofits’ programs and impact, leadership, needs and financial history available to everyone in the community.
While we achieved our goal, what we also found was the Giving Challenge was the perfect tool to tap into our community’s giving spirit, with donors pooling their resources and making gifts at all levels. In the first year of the Giving Challenge, $2.4 million was raised from more than 10,700 donors to benefit 109 local nonprofits. There was so much excitement around the Challenge, the $334,000 match that The Patterson Foundation generously provided (back then there was a limit) was met in just four minutes. It was clear this was an opportunity our community could get behind and one that everyone owned.
Since then, the Giving Challenge has grown to match the generosity of our region. The last Giving Challenge held in 2016 raised an astonishing $13.4 million from more than 45,000 individual donors in just 24 hours—one of the largest giving days of its kind in the Southeastern United States. The beauty of this achievement is that the average gift was only $90. Additionally, half of the more than 63,000 gifts were under $50, again validating the philosophy that all of our citizens have the means and ability to make a difference.
While the numbers are impressive, the real story behind the Giving Challenge is what organizations are able to do with the support they receive and how the impact is realized locally, thanks to the support of the community that loves them. Giving Challenge funds are flexible and provide an influx of cash flow as the pace slows for the summer. Funding has allowed nonprofits to fill gaps, fund passion projects and experiment on innovative programs. They’ve helped fix leaking roofs, provide hope for homeless youth, purchase adoption vans for animal shelters, and protect wildlife on land and in water. The stories of impact are endless.
This May, we are excited to provide the opportunity for our community to once again step up and flex its philanthropic muscle. At noon on May 1, the 2018 Giving Challenge will go live at www.GivingPartnerChallenge.org for 24 hours, and I encourage you take a moment or two out of that time to support your favorite local nonprofits. To strengthen giving and make your gift go further during the 2018 Giving Challenge and further the impact of your gift, The Patterson Foundation will provide a 1-to-1 match for all unique donations, up to $100 per donor for each organization you support. Join me in proving once more that our community gives as good as it gets.
Roxie Jerde is president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.
Four Friday seminars for local veterans begin this week, and more than 50 new parking spots will be designated for Purple Heart recipients later this month as Manatee County Government honors the 40,000 veterans who call Manatee County home. During a brief ceremony at 3pm on April 18 at the Downtown Central Library, officials will dedicate the first of 53 designated parking spots for Purple Heart recipients. The parking spots will be located near the entrance of many County-owned public buildings. The signs are the result of a public-private partnership between the County and the Wounded Warrior’s Family Support Program, according to Veterans Services Manager Lee Washington. County Commissioners next Tuesday will consider a proclamation declaring Manatee County as a Purple Heart County.
RE/MAX Alliance Group has been ranked the #1 RE/MAX franchise in Florida for both transactions and sales volume. The company also placed 16th in transactions and 18th in sales volume among RE/MAX franchises in the United States. RE/MAX Alliance Group also made the REAL Trends Top 500 list of the largest residential brokers in the United States, ranking #193 in transactions and #207 in sales volume in 2017. The Top 500 brokers represent less than one-half of one percent of all brokerages in the United States. Furthermore, RE/MAX Alliance Group placed among the nation's top 500 in RISMedia's 2018 Power Broker Report, ranking #193 in transactions and #202 in sales volume in 2017.
What do residents want Manatee County to look like in 2038? That’s the question Manatee County Government is asking through a visioning project focused on infrastructure, quality of life, economics and housing. This visioning project, titled “Back to the Future,” highlights what the County looked like in 1998, how it has progressed to what it is now in 2018, and predicts the future of the County in 2038. In addition to neighborhood/organization-specific presentations, seven public sessions are scheduled to accommodate residents. Peterson said each session will give visitors a glimpse of future community needs, along with a chance to prioritize them. For further information on session times and locations, follow the website below.
La Musica stages four concerts for a springtime festival celebrating musical virtuosity and the grandeur of the concert stage. With single concert tickets at $40 and bundled deals for the entire festival run, rehearsal passes are also available for sale, for those wanting a behind-the-scenes look.
Sarasota Opera House, 61 North Pineapple Ave., Sarasota
Jersey Boys is the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning Best Musical about Rock and Roll Hall of Famers The Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi. This is the true story of how four blue-collar kids became one of the greatest successes in pop music history. They wrote their own songs, invented their own sounds and sold 175 million records worldwide – all before they were 30. The show features their hit songs “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Rag Doll,” “Oh What a Night” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.”
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 North Tamiami Tr., Sarasota.
Join us for a talk & book signing with ICA, Boston curator Ruth Erickson. Black Mountain College was born out of a desire to create a new type of college based on John Dewey’s principles of progressive education. During its brief existence, Black Mountain College attracted and created maverick spirits, some of whom went on to become well-known and extremely influential individuals in the latter half of the 20th century, including; Willem and Elaine de Kooning, Robert Rauschenberg, Merce Cunningham, Cy Twombly, Franz Kline, Buckminster Fuller, Dorothea Rockburne and many others.
The Works, 891 South Tamiami Tr., Sarasota.
Join The Sarasota Ballet’s Studio Company and students from the Margaret Barbieri Conservatory in an exciting evening of dance. The program will include traditional ballet and culminate in a world premiere by Elizabeth Weil Bergmann to some of the ‘Songs for Drella’. John Cale and Lou Reed, leaders of rock band The Velvet Underground, wrote these songs as a musical tribute to Andy Warhol and his life.
This concert showcases the mavericks who defined the distinctive rhythms of American music. You’ll experience popular American composers such as Bernstein, Copland, Mancini and Ellington, as well as a few lesser known, but no less intriguing and accessible pioneers of the American sound.
Holley Hall, Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center, 709 North Tamiami Tr., Sarasota.
This talk will be given by Chad Alligood, the chief curator of American art at the Huntington and will explore Andy Warhol’s surprising lifelong engagement with nature as subject matter. Although well known for his responsiveness to popular culture and advertising, Warhol simultaneously explored the natural world through his work, depicting landscapes, flora and fauna in innovative and unexpected ways.
Soar with Stravinskyʼs magnificent Firebird Suite and Korngoldʼs rousing The Sea Hawk Overture. Renowned piano soloist Orion Weiss takes command of Brahmsʼ Piano Concerto No. 2 in B Flat Major and Bizetʼs crowd-pleasing Carmen Suite No.1 rounds out this program.
Venice Performing Arts Center, 1 Indian Ave., Venice.
Held annually, The Sarasota Film Festival emphasizes the best in cinema alongside exciting programs and events, with more than 200 films screened each year including features, documentaries, shorts and kid-friendly picks. This year's 20th Anniversary Festival will run April 13-22.
Wynonna and her band The Big Noise, led by her husband, drummer and producer, Cactus Moser, return to the Van Wezel this season. Respected by the millions of fans who are drawn to her music and undeniable talent, Wynonna’s rich and commanding voice has sold over 30 million albums worldwide spanning her remarkable 33-year career. As one-half of the legendary mother/daughter duo "The Judds," Wynonna was once dubbed by Rolling Stone as “the greatest female country singer since Patsy Cline."
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 North Tamiami Tr., Sarasota.
Experience art in a whole new light at the Art in the Dark event at Michael’s On East to benefit Lighthouse of Manasota. Lighthouse of Manasota is the only nationally accredited, private, non-profit agency providing rehabilitation training to blind and visually impaired individuals of all ages residing in a five county region.
Michael’s on East, 1212 S East Ave, Sarasota, FL 34239
SCAD stands for Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection and is a little known condition in spite of being the leading cause of heart attacks for women under 50. When Tracy Murphy had a heart attack due to SCAD, doctors were not able to properly diagnose and treat Murphy right away. Now, Murphy is working with the Mayo Clinic to raise both awareness and money for their research study on SCAD. Come out and enjoy a fun run or walk for a good cause on a beautiful Saturday morning, kids can run as well.
Payne Park, 2050 Adams Ln., Sarasota.
Returning by popular demand with an intimate live concert, trumpeter Chris Botti will again thrill you with his love for rich, evocative melodies and a treasure chest of jazz standards, famous classical masterpieces and soon-to-be instant favorites. Whether he’s performing with illustrious symphonies or at renowned venues around the globe, his unparalleled crystalline and poetic sound transcends musical boundaries and has cemented his place as one of the most brilliant and inspiring forces of the contemporary music scene
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 North Tamiami Tr., Sarasota.
This is the show that you never got to see The Beatles ever perform. Let It Be relives the past from Ed Sullivan to Abbey Road, with favorite hits including “Hard Day's Night,” “Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band,” “Twist and Shout” and “Strawberry Fields,” and imagines the reunion that never was.
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 North Tamiami Tr., Sarasota.
On April 18 during Child Abuse Prevention Month, Child Protection Center will hold its 6th annual Blue Ties & Butterflies at Michael’s On East. This signature, event is beautifully designed to build awareness about CPC's mission in the prevention, intervention, and treatment of child abuse. Child abuse is a difficult topic, but one we cannot ignore. At Blue Ties & Butterflies, we celebrate the healing and hope CPC provides to children and families in our community. We promise you an unforgettable evening full of hope and inspiration.
Michael’s on East, 1212 S East Ave, Sarasota, Florida 34239
As the 1960s Civil Rights movement unfolded, black music evolved from the controlled Motown performances to fiery cross rhythms sound—a little gospel, a lot of soul. The passionate soloists, such as James Brown, Otis Redding and Sam Cooke, added energetic movements and unique vocalizations that inspired many future performers. Soul Man will feature some of WBTT’s most popular male performers.
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1646 10th Way., Sarasota.
The audience and press all agree that this is the closest to ABBA you’ll ever get. ABBA The Concert brings one of the greatest pop phenomena back to life and continues to be the top ABBA tribute group in the world. Be dazzled by the performance of the most iconic hits from ABBA, including “Mamma Mia,” “S.O.S,” “Money, Money, Money,” “The Winner Takes All” and “Dancing Queen.” Come dance, come sing, having the time of your life at the ultimate tribute celebration.
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 North Tamiami Tr., Sarasota.
Since 2000, the Silk Road Ensemble has been redefining classical music for 21st-century audiences. Established by world renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma, the musicians represent a global array of cultures while co-creating art, performances and ideas. They draw on a rich tapestry of traditions that make up our shared cultural heritage, creating a new musical language. A uniquely engaging and accessible encounter between the foreign and the familiar that reflects our many-layered contemporary identities. Their most recent album, Sing Me Home, won the Grammy this year for Best World Music Album
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 North Tamiami Tr., Sarasota
Come out to Jorge Blanco's first solo exhibition in Sarasota. Blanco is a Venezuelan sculptor and illustrator whose art values a postive lifestyle. His work embraces scale, landscape, urbanism and technology while creating soaring testaments to the optimism of everyday life.
Two quintessential Romantic era composers are the stars of our final soirée. Brahms' Clarinet Trio opens with a sense of longing as the clarinet and cello engage in a beautiful duet. The dance continues and expands with expressive interruptions from the piano until the final stormy movement. Mendelssohn's Octet cemented his legacy as one of the great prodigies and composers of all time. The work combines two string quartets with stunning melodies and a graciously balanced structure.
Holley Hall, Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center, 709 North Tamiami Tr., Sarasota.
Back by popular demand! This is not your everyday beauty pageant. These “ladies” will fight for your vote to capture the crown of “Miss Glamouresse.” The six vivacious contestants include: Miss Deep South, Miss West coast, Miss Great Plains, Miss Bible Belt, Miss Industrial Northeast, and Miss Texas.Watch these lovely “ladies” compete in evening gown, talent, swimwear, and spokes-modeling. An evening filled with lots of laughs, where the audience actually chooses the winner!
The Players Centre of Performing Arts, 838 North Tamiami Tr., Sarasota.
This swingin’ night of musical sensations focuses on Harlem’s heyday when Duke Ellington’s orchestra was the house band, and Cab Calloway, Ella Fitzgerald and Ethel Waters showcased the classics of the Great American Songbook. This production features the brilliant trumpeter, vocalist and conductor Byron Stripling, vocalist Carmen Bradford and tap dancer Ted Louis Levy.
Van Wezel, 777 North Tamiami Tr., Sarasota.
An evening hosted by Nora and Billy Johnson and Jenny and Ken Pendery will have one continuous table set on the Great Lawn. Guests will enjoy fine wines selected by Michael Klauber that compliment an extravagant, multi-course dinner personally designed by Phil Mancini.
The 36th annual Suncoast Boat Show takes place in downtown Sarasota on April 20 - 22, 2018, at Marina Jack’s in Sarasota, Florida. Enjoy the great outdoors while pricing and comparing hundreds of boats from the Gulf Coast's leading boat dealers. See various types and styles all in one place. Cruisers, Runabouts, Bowriders, Sportfishers, Center Consoles, Motor Yachts, Inflatables and more. Shop tents full of electronics, accessories, jewelry, art and clothing all in a festive atmosphere with food, drinks, music and much more.
Marina Jack’s, #2 Marina Plaza, Sarasota, FL 34236
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