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SRQ DAILY May 8, 2018

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"It's just about getting out to the people."

- Bill Akins, District 17 candidate
 

[Politics]  Could Akins Upset in District 17 Primary?
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

Even before U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Okeechobee, announced he would not seek re-election, Port Charlotte activist Bill Akins had his eye on the seat. Now he’s in a race against two well-funded candidates from the most populous area of the district, but feels he has a greater understanding of the region’s needs than any establishment figures. “You ever hear of a guy named Eric Cantor? He outspent his primary opponent 40-to-1 and got his rear end handed to him,” Akins says. “It’s just about getting out to the people.”

Akins referenced an infamous 2014 primary in Virginia where Cantor, then majority leader for the U.S. House, lost a primary to Randolph-Macon College professor Dave Brat by 10 percentage points. Akins thinks he could pull a similar upset off against his well-known opponents this year. Akins is running against state Rep. Julio Gonzalez, R-Venice, and state Sen. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, in the Republican primary. 

As of the end of March, Gonzalez raised $233,705 and Steube $63,550, while Akins had a more modest $10,848, he says his comes almost entirely from donors within the district. He took his opponents to task for hosting dinners as faraway as Miami, Tallahassee and even New York City. He’d like to see campaign finance reform requiring candidates raise their money from the area they want to represent. “By gosh, if you are taking money from out of the district, who will you be loyal too?,” he says. “You will be loyal to that money.”

A plurality of voters in the district live in Sarasota County—98,188 of the 338,675 to vote in the 2016 congressional election here hail from Sarasota. But the district spans eight other counties, and the second biggest chunk comes from Akins’ home county of Charlotte—93,280 voted in the 2016 election from there. In Charlotte, he’s won his share of media attention through community efforts like raising money for the Vietnam Wall of Southwest Florida, which opened in Punta Gorda in 2016.

Akins hopes to rally the outlier counties behind his message, while Steube and Gonzalez split the Sarasota County vote. “Sarasota and Venice, there should be a lot of money there, but we’re agricultural counties in the east and northeast,” Akins says. He’s been rallying support in Sebring, Lake Placid, Okeechobee and Arcadia.

In terms of platform, he knows his social conservative bona fides should stack up. He’s fiercely pro-gun; “My thing on the Second Amendment is that it should be the First Amendment,” he says. And he’s opposed to abortion except in cases when a mother’s life is at risk, and that means he does oppose exceptions for rape and incest. “I know people who were products of terrible things like that, and they ended up really good people of good character,”he says. “It would have been a waste for them not to make it into life. God has a plan.”

One policy area that separated him from Rooney, and which he expects will divide him from Steube, will be regulating Big Sugar and polices around protecting the Everglades. “The runoff going into Lake Okeechobee and into the Caloosahatchee River creates such a stink in the water down there. If you’ve ever seen that’s it’s terrible and we have go to get that straightened up,” he says. “I’m not an environmental nut, but we’ve got to be good stewards of the earth.” Yet, Akins says he’s not a “global warming nut.” “Mother Nature tends to heal herself,” he says. But to the degree leaders can help restore the Everglades, Akins says they should.

The Republican primary will be held Aug. 28. Democrats April Freeman and Bill Pollard face off in their own primary the same day. The two party nominees will then face one another on Nov. 6. 

Photo courtesy Akins campaign. Bill Akins stops by Sharky's By The Pier while campaigning in Venice.

[GoodBite]  Thanks a Brunch
Brittany Mattie, brittany.mattie@srqme.com

In other Muse news—the museum-inspired restaurant presents a soaring Mother’s Day Brunch to seriously mull over. Thank Mom like she deserves by treating her to a time-honored brunch tradition, but in an untraditional celebration—wandering the exquisite bayfront rose gardens, touring historical art, stumbling upon peculiar statues and taking in breathtaking vistas of/from Ca’ d’Zan. But first, sit the family down for an indulgent bite. Dine inside Muse’s comfortable yet magnificently contemporary aesthetic, or have a seat on the scenic patio taking in views of surrounding flora, including lily pads and background fountain sounds. It’s the ideal dining spot to complement a day in the galleries and exploring the grounds with ol’ mumsy. 

The à la Carte menu offers a culinary adventure featuring inventive riffs on classic cuisine. For actual starters, initiate the feast with Vong’s Squash Toast for the table—served with crisp lavash crackers, maple onion confit and mascarpone—or the Caesar’s Deviled Eggs with romaine, parmesan and garlic crumbs. Further satiate the palate with entrees including traditional breakfast dishes such as The Smithsonian—scrambled eggs, pancake, sausage links, applewood bacon and homefries. Or go the more trendy route and try the Toasted Coconut Pancakes with Nokomis honey butter, warm maple syrup and fresh fruit. Cannonball yourself into the ‘favorite child’ rank by ordering her a specialty cocktail off of Muse’s Mixology menu. She’ll surely love a Quintessential Cosmo, or maybe she’s not as bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as she should be on her special day—then go with the Up & At’em made of Plantation Dark Rum, St. George NOLA Coffee Liqueur, Amaro Nonino, espresso coffee beans and nutmeg. Cheers to getting Mom toasty and full this Sunday. 

Brunch is served 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Reservations are highly recommended for one of the year’s busiest holidays for restaurants. For online reservations, full menu previews and further information, visit the link below. 

Image provided by Tableseide Restaurant Group

Muse at The Ringling, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota, 34243, 941-360-7390

[Exec Moves]  Dinverno Named Venice Middle School Principal

Tomas Dinverno has been named principal at Venice Middle School, effective July 1, pending School Board approval. Dinverno currently serves as principal of Tuttle Elementary and has worked for Sarasota County Schools since 2003. The position was vacated earlier this spring when Karin Schmidt retired from the school district. Dinverno joined Sarasota County Schools in 2003 when he worked at North Port High School as a Spanish teacher, data coach, department chair and assistant principal. In 2014, Dinverno became principal of Tuttle Elementary where he has guided effective teaching strategies that led to student success. Dinverno received his master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of South Florida and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado. Dinverno lives in Venice with his wife, son and myriad of pets. 

Venice Middle School

[Expansion]  SOAR Learning Center Breaks Ground on Expansion

SOAR Learning Center began a new chapter in its history with a formal groundbreaking ceremony for the newly expanded classroom facility and campus this past Tuesday, May 1, at 2731 North Links Ave., Sarasota. With the support of the Greater Hurst Chapel AME church and a group of local donors, the expansion from a 930 sq. ft building to a 3000 sq. ft. facility and campus has been in the works for the past two-and-a-half years. The campus—which will bear its founder’s name—will contain four classrooms, a library, kitchen, multi-purpose homework/ media room, an enclosed courtyard and open activity areas. The target date for opening the center’s doors is late summer, which will allow time to fine-tune the facilities in time for the next school year. The architect for the project is Sweet Sparkman Architects, with Jerry Sparkman and Karl Bernhard taking lead roles. 

SOAR Learning Center

[Community]  City Teams with Restaurants for Compost Awareness Week

In celebration of International Compost Awareness Week on May 6-12, the City of Sarasota is partnering with residents and businesses to help reduce the collective impact on the landfill and environment. The City’s Sustainability team and staff from local nonprofit Sunshine Community Compost are working with three local restaurants—Libby’s Café and Bar, Louies Modern and Muse at The Ringling—by supplying five-gallon buckets and training kitchen staff on how to collect pre-consumer food scraps. At the end of the week, the buckets will be transported to One Stop Landscape and Supply, where they can be composted into rich soil. The City has also teamed up with Sunshine Community Compost during its Compost-A-Thon, in which 100 residents have signed up to learn about composting and agreed to compost their kitchen scraps all week long and drop them off at designated community compost sites. 

Tableseide Restaurant Group



[TODAY]  PERFORMANCE: Women Laughing Alone With Salad , April 5 – May 13

Sheila Callaghan breaks all the rules of our image-obsessed culture in this raw, audacious comedy about the unreasonable expectations demanded of women and their bodies. Gleefully vulgar, bitingly poignant and raucously unafraid, Women Laughing Alone With Salad is a gender-bending feminist fantasia with balls. For more information please visit www.urbanitetheatre.com for show times and tickets. 

Urbanite Theatre , 1487 Second Street, Sarasota

[TODAY]  THEATER: Shakespeare in the Gardens , April 18 – May 15

Experience Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” during the Asolo Rep’s outdoor performances. The lawn behind Payne Mansion will serve as the backdrop to this comedy anchored by the entire ensemble of second year graduate actors of the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training.

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 900 South Palm Ave., Sarasota.

[TODAY]  GALLERY: Warhol: Flowers In the Factory , February 11 – June 30

This exhibition showcases the surprising and little examined, role of nature in Warhol’s art and life. The spectacular 15-acre tropical setting of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens on Sarasota Bay will provide a matchless context for examining Warhol’s fascination with the natural world in this focused, immersive exhibition. It is curated by Carol Ockman, Ph.D., curator-at-large of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens and the Robert Sterling Clark Professor of Art History at Williams College

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 811 South Palm Ave., Sarasota.

[SOON]  SPORTS: 88th Annual Sarasota Tarpon Tournament , May 9 – June 17

A party at White Buffalo Saloon will kick off this year's 5 week Tarpon Tournament. This tournament is historic and has taken place in Sarasota anually since 1930. If you’re looking to make new friends, have some fun and test your angling skills, come fish with us and yours could be the next name on that trophy. Tarpon are world-class game fish and are easy to access directly off Sarasota’s beautiful beaches. Described as one of the most exciting fish to catch, tarpon are known for spectacular leaps and determined fights. For more information, click the following website: http://www.sarasotatarpontournament.net/.

White Buffalo Saloon, 5377 McIntosh Rd., Sarasota.

[SOON]  DANCE: Sarasota Contemporary Dance: Evolving/Revolving , May 10 – May 13

The final performance series from Sarasota Contemporary Dance will comprise of diverse new works by past company collaborators and dancers which celebrates the company’s past and future through impactful collaborations.

Jane B Cook Theatre, FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trl., Sarasota

[SOON]  FESTIVAL: 9th Annual Harvey Milk Festival , May 10 – May 12

The Harvey Milk Festival features a variety of attractions including live music, film, performing and visual artists, speakers, and vendors designed to engage a large and diverse audience. The mission of the Harvey Milk Festival is to honor the life of Harvey Milk, one of the first openly gay Americans elected to public office, by fostering emerging talent in musicians and artists who support diversity and reject discrimination, and to promote equality for LGBTQ people through supporting equal rights legislation.

Five Points Park, North Pineapple Ave., Sarasota.

[SOON]  MUSIC: Outdoor Pops: Field of Dreams , May 11 – May 12, 8pm

Join the Sarasota Orchestra for a fan-friendly outdoor Pops concert at Ed Smith Stadium, home of the Orioles. Get yourself a hot dog, some popcorn, and sit back to enjoy the Orchestra in the outfield. The concert will showcase Broadway stars Deedee Magno Hall and Cliffton Hall. Conducted by Andrew Lane, the musicians of the Sarasota Orchestra will play a wide range of popular music including songs from La La LandGrease, Les Misérables, scores from Disney films and other fan favorites.

Ed Smith Stadium, 2700 12th St., Sarasota.

[SOON]  SPORTS: Teen Court's 2018 Golf Tournament , May 11

Come out and enjoy a beautiful day of golfing for a good cause. Proceeds will benefit Sarasota Teen Court's substance abuse reduction, anti-bullying and character development classes that they provide for young people.

The Meadows Country Club, 3101 Longmeadow., Sarasota.

[SOON]  GALLERY: Southern Watercolor Society Curated Show , May 15 – June 22

Bringing its 41st Annual Juried Exhibition to Bradenton, the Southern Watercolor Society takes over all three of ArtCenter Manatee’s galleries with a collection juried by international award-winning master watercolorist John Salminen. In addition to the exhibit, each annual show brings with it a watercolor workshop for interested artists. Salminen will be teaching the workshop as well.

ArtCenter Manatee, 209 9th St. W., Bradenton

[SOON]  MUSIC: Sky Stahlmann Returns to the Reserve , May 17

The Reserve's (former) singing barista returns for a very special performance to show off what she has learned at Berklee College of Music in Boston. In her music, Sky Stahlmann grew up singing and dancing opera and plays with the genres of jazz, musical theatre, rock and pop in her music. She is currently working on her first EP in a style that she calls "popera" which signifies her mesh of pop and her classical roots.

The Reserve SRQ, 1322 North Tamiami Tr., Sarasota.

[SOON]  SPORTS: Bombers vs. Swan City , May 19

Watch Bradenton's favorite, fierce roller derby squad face Swan City in their home arena. Prepare for a night of tough competition and keep the good times rolling to benefit Ewenity Farm, a herding dog haven. 

Ellenton Ice and Sports Complex, 5309 29th St. East, Ellenton.

[SOON]  FILM: Bag It Film Screening , May 22, 7pm

Sponsored by Rethinking Plastics, the goal of this screening is to raise awareness regarding the average American's overuse of plastics. Americans use roughly 60,000 plastic bags a day for a few minutes of single use before it is thrown away. Jeb Berrier's film, Bag It, follows where "away" is and the fate of these plastic bags. For environmentalists and for those looking to learn more, the film is an interesting piece that will open eyes to just how much we use plastic, why that is harmful and what people can do.

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

[SOON]  MUSIC: The Roots of Unity (with Chris Kottke) , May 27, 2pm

This performance is from a jazz ensemble called The Roots of Unity, headed by trumpeter Chris Kottke. Their repertoire includes both straightahead and latin jazz, from classic standards to modern originals. Kottke attended the Berklee College of Music and was active in the Boston jazz scene for about a decade before moving to Sarasota in 2016 to pursue his day job as a math professor at New College of Florida. In addition to the Roots of Unity, Kottke can be occasionally heard in such Sarasota-based jazz ensembles such as Ocean's 11 and the Sarasota Jazz Project.

The Reserve SRQ, 1322 North Tamiami Tr., Sarasota.

[SOON]  MUSIC: Always...Patsy Cline , May 30 – July 1

A tuneful and memorable tribute, Patsy Cline's rise to legendary stardom is told through the eyes of her biggest fan, Louise Seger. From her performances in honky-tonks to the Grand Ole Opry, Patsy Cline will "always" have a place in country music, with hit songs such as, “Walking After Midnight,” “I Fall to Pieces,” “Crazy,” “Sweet Dreams,” and many more you know and love.

Florida Studio Theatre, 1241 North Palm Ave., Sarasota.

[SOON]  FOOD: Reserve Spring and Summer Wine Tastings , May 31, 6pm

Come through the Reserve to help them fine tune their retail wine selection. Wines from a wide array of places such as France, Italy, Argentina and more are offered. Pair the wine with a savory meat and cheese platter and enjoy the low key evening. The event is reoccuring, so May 31 is not the last chance to take advantage of this wonderful deal.

The Reserve SRQ, 1322 North Tamiami Tr., 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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