SRQ DAILY Mar 9, 2020
Monday Business Edition
"There is not someone from the Sarasota area in a position like mine to backfill such a huge percentage of its budget."
A plan to merge New College of Florida won’t move forward this year. But Senate President Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, said the school must address its enrollment and expenses immediately or its independence will remain at risk.
“The questions the Florida Legislature must ask about New College, along with every other institution within Florida’s No. 1 ranked higher-education system, are: does the exorbitant per-student cost of this particular student experience produce a return on investment for Florida taxpayers who support it, and does that return on investment require an administratively independent New College?,” Galvano said.
State Rep. Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay, introduced legislation halfway through the legislative session to fold New College into Florida State University, later amending the bill to have University of Florida take over instead. New College has been independent since 2001 when the Legislature broke it off from the University of South Florida.
Representatives from both parties representing the Sarasota-Manatee area consistently opposed the plan, and no Senate proposal ever emerged. Galvano said he would entertain discussions, but Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, said the Senate Preisdnet ultimately blocked any plan.
But Gruters said the merger talks should be seen as a “wake-up call” to New College, which has the highest cost per degree to the state of any public university.
State Rep. Margaret Good, D-Sarasota, had proposed the state embark on a study of cost savings before considering any merger, something she outwardly noted was an effort to slow the hasty plan down and give a chance for New College to prove the need for independence.
Galvano, for his part, said he still sees value in New College as an “important and unique component of Florida’s State University System.” But he also noted that for most of his Senate tenure, he fought to backfill funding for the school. Most recently, he secured more than $10 million for the school to aid in boosting enrollment from the mid-800s two years ago to 1,200 by the 2023 school year. Enrollment has since gone down.
Galvano stressed he won’t be around next Session to protect the school.
“While I believe New College adds value to our community, my time in the Legislature is coming to an end, and I do not want the college to be in a situation where it has not adequately addressed some of the systemic problems with its financial situation,” Galvano said, “and there is not someone from the Sarasota area in a position like mine to backfill such a huge percentage of its budget.” 
Here’s the inside scoop fam—Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams is bringing its craveable ice cream flavors this summer. Pints of Jeni's are already available at area grocery stores such as Whole Foods, but there's been no way to get fresh scoops of Jeni's in Sarasota. That's all about to change. Jeni's scoop shop will open at University Town Center and welcome fanatics to scoop it up, cone it up, lick it up, as it was always intended.
The woman pioneering the artisan ice cream movement holds a James Beard award, founding Jeni’s in 2002, and building upon the modern, ingredient-driven style of ice cream making that has been widely emulated across the world since then. “We make ice cream to bring people together and design our shops as community gathering places,” said Jeni’s Founder Jeni Britton Bauer. “We’re excited to be joining a development built on the same ideals and look forward to becoming a destination at University Town Center.”
One-of-a-kind flavors like Brambleberry Crisp, Roasted Peanut Butter & Strawberry Jam, Skillet Cinnamon Roll, Sweet Cream Biscuits & Peach, Frosé Sorbet and Brandied Banana Bruleé are all crafted with Direct and Fair Trade ingredients and super fresh milk from family dairy farms. Synthetic flavorings, food dyes and artificial mixes are left on the shelf collecting dust. A sneak peek of the menu revealed other inventive savorings like her signature Brown Butter Almond Brittle, and a dairy-free line that Time named one of the best inventions of 2019. New summer flavors will be announced once the shop gets closer to its grand opening.
Jeni's Scoop Shop will be located in the same parcel as Shake Shack, at 190 N. Cattlemen Road, Unit 4, University Town Center, Sarasota.
Photo of founder Jeni Britton Bauer, courtesy of Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream
Business leaders and various government officials gathered March 2 to commemorate the completion of the Lakewood Ranch Boulevard extension south to Fruitville Road. The completion of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard will facilitate travel from Fruitville Road in Sarasota County, to U.S. 301, north of the Manatee River, via the Fort Hamer Bridge, in Manatee County. The road will improve the transportation network for people in both counties, alleviating congestion on I-75. This is the second north-south road that the Lakewood Ranch Stewardship District has built; the Lorraine Road extension, between University Parkway and Fruitville Road, was finished in 2017. “The Lakewood Ranch Boulevard and Lorraine Road projects are of regional significance in that they provide increased mobility, not for just Lakewood Ranch residents but everyone in Manatee and Sarasota counties,” said Rex Jensen, president, and CEO of Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, Inc. “They are a continuation of our established standards of planning and infrastructure quality.”
Both the Lorraine Road and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard extensions connect Manatee and Sarasota counties and run along Lakewood Ranch Waterside, The Ranch’s first development in Sarasota County, with more than 5,100 homes planned at completion. Waterside Place, the lakefront town center that will be home to stylish shops, acclaimed restaurants, and more, is under construction and expected to be complete by the end of the year. The road project was a collaboration between Schroeder-Manatee Ranch (the developer of Lakewood Ranch) and Sarasota County; Schroeder-Manatee Ranch has a history, since its inception, of planning and implementing infrastructure ahead of development.
Caldwell Trust Company has purchased the former Cain/Wilson Building and the adjacent parking lot according to R. G. “Kelly” Caldwell, Jr., CEO and president. The company closed on the property for $3.35 million in a transaction handled by Joe C. Hembree of Sarasota-based Hembree & Associates. The purchase is the business’s latest move to accommodate the steady growth it has undergone since its founding in 1993, Kelly Caldwell said. In 2015 the company built an 11,500-square-foot headquarters building at 1400 Center Road, Venice, for its expanding operations. By its 25th anniversary three years later, the company had reached a milestone of $1 billion in assets under management. The 8,000-square-foot building dates back to the very beginnings of Sarasota. Architect Thomas Reed Martin came from Chicago to Sarasota in 1910 at the suggestion of Chicago native and Sarasota booster Bertha Honore Palmer. During his 40-year career, Martin reportedly designed more than 500 buildings in Sarasota according to Sarasota History Alive!
“We began searching for a place that could accommodate our needs now and into the future. We found the perfect solution at 27 South Orange Avenue,” he said. Designed by the acclaimed architect Thomas Reed Martin and completed in October 1936, the historic structure will now be known as the Caldwell Trust Company Building. Caldwell Trust Company is currently in the design and planning phase for its new building. As it renovates the structure to meet its needs, it will make minimal changes to the familiar exterior, Kelly Caldwell said. Plans include replacing existing windows with hurricane-proof windows, upgrading the front doors, updating the fountains, and enhancing the building’s brick facade. Extensive interior renovations are planned to create a high-tech, state-of-the-art facility for Caldwell’s Sarasota staff. The facility will feature traditional design with some contemporary touches and cutting-edge technology.
Nokomis-based contractors Eric DeVaughn and Sam Green of S & E Renovations, Inc., are overseeing all construction-related aspects of the transition while Holly Logan, ASID, of HV Logan Design LLC, will create the interior design. Kelly Caldwell said he expects permits to be issued later this year, followed by 8-12 months of construction, with occupancy expected on or before Fall 2021.
Tervis, a producer of premium and sustainable drinkware since 1946, is proud to announce the results of the first run of limited-edition tumblers made from recycled materials. Proceeds from these products are donated to organizations dedicated to ocean conservation. Due to the success of this program, Tervis has presented The Florida Aquarium with a check for $30,000 to help continue their coral reef efforts. "We are thrilled to have had the opportunity to partner with a brand like Tervis that understands the real importance of ocean conservation and our crucial coral restoration initiatives. The availability of "Fill This, Not Oceans" line of products on the market is one step in the right direction of keeping our ocean and marine life safe," said Roger Germann, President, and CEO of The Florida Aquarium. "We are honored to have been selected as a non-profit recipient of the funds. As two organizations based in Florida, The Florida Aquarium and Tervis are intertwined with Florida's natural marine resources, and we look forward to the continued partnership with Rogan Donelly and his visionary, dedicated team at Tervis in support of innovative science for the benefit of saving our oceans.” Florida’s Coral Reef is an iconic and incredibly biodiverse treasure that provides opportunities for recreation, a first line of defense against coastal flooding along our shoreline, and supports our economy. Tervis is committed to eliminating single-use plastic and will continue to add unique designs to these recycled cups to support non-profit organizations making a difference in our environment.
For more information about these limited edition cups visit tervis.com For more information about The Florida Aquarium visit flaquarium.org.
Pictured: Rogan Donelly, Tervis (left) with Roger Germann, Florida Aquarium
The public is invited to join the City of Sarasota in realizing the vision for the future of transportation in our community by attending one of two open house meetings on Tuesday, March 10. The City is in the third phase of “Sarasota in Motion,” the first citywide transportation master plan. When completed, Sarasota in Motion will serve as a playbook for how the City not only invests in transportation infrastructure but also how it achieves the community’s long-term quality of life goals. Anyone who lives, works or plays in Sarasota is invited to attend one of the two upcoming workshops and review and provide feedback on the draft project list developed since the transportation planning process kicked off last year. Both meetings will be held on March 10, with two options offered that day: Open house No. 1: 11 am to 1 pm at Bayfront Community Center, 803 North Tamiami Trail. Open house No. 2: 5:30-7:30 pm at Robert L. Taylor Community Complex, 1845 34th St. Both meetings will cover the same material, so those interested can attend whichever option they prefer. The City has hosted multiple public workshops and smaller “pop-up” events throughout Sarasota over the past year to engage with community members and develop a vision for how we can get around more safely and efficiently. Comments and ideas were also gathered online through an interactive feedback map that can be viewed on SarasotaInMotion.com. Staff from the City’s Planning Department and its consultant will continue to develop and finalize the transportation master plan through the spring before it comes to the City Commission for adoption this summer.
The office of the Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller is opening its doors during non-business hours to help residents get their passports. The Clerk’s office is hosting a special passport application event at the Manatee County Historic Courthouse on Saturday, March 14th from 8:30 am-noon. The special event is designed for customers who are unable to apply for passports because of work, school or other schedule conflicts. “We understand how difficult it is for some to make it into our office during normal business hours because of their busy schedules,” said Angel Colonneso, the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. “When applying for a passport, all applicants have to be there in person. Many have to take time off of work or take their children out of school, which is difficult to do for some families. So, we are holding this special event as a way to help our customers get their passports more easily.” Passport services are typically only available at Manatee County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller during weekdays from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, at 1115 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton. All customers who are unable to apply during regular business hours, are encouraged to take advantage of these special Saturday hours. As an added convenience, the Clerk’s office is also taking passport photos on-site for a fee of $16.05.
For more information and documents needed to apply or renew a passport visit: manateeclerk.com/departments/passports/
*To save time, complete and print your passport application form in advance at: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/requirements/forms.html
Sarasota Military Academy (SMA), a local, public charter school, was one of 130 locations throughout the country selected as a host location for the first nationwide oath of enlistment ceremony. The oath, administered by U.S. Army Colonel and NASA Astronaut, Andrew Morgan, was streamed live across the nation to students enlisting in the Armed Forces. “This is an incredible honor not only for our cadets and our local future soldiers, but our nation as a whole. The students who participated in this experience had the unique opportunity to be a part of the first ever enlistment ceremony conducted from space, which is an incredible reward to the commitment made by our future leaders and global citizens,” said SMA-COL Christina Bowman, Sarasota Military Executive Director of Schools. With more than 800 students around the nation taking the oath, 23 local students attended the ceremony at Sarasota Military Academy. Eight seniors from Sarasota Military Academy participated: Shelby Young, Jennifer Cerezo-Portillo, Jocelyn Duron-Robledo, Skye Janneman, Justin Turner, Michael Parsels, Cody Greenough and William “Blake” Wilkinson. The students, from local schools including Sarasota Military Academy, Venice High School, Riverview High School, Port Charlotte High School, Charlotte High School, North Port High School, New College of Florida, Fort Myers High School, South Fort Myers High School, Southeast High School and Estero High School, swore an oath through a partnership between the Space Center Houston, NASA and U.S. Army Recruiting Command. Recruiters from Sarasota Recruiting Company were on hand to assist with questions and informational requests. The enlistment ceremony was streamed via NASA TV and the Army’s official YouTube and Facebook pages. To view a stream of the video, visit https://bit.ly/32v3Cjk.
Pictured: SMA Enlistment ceremony
The Rosemary restaurant in Sarasota, FL, is excited to announce American Pi: A Wine and Words Pi Day Dinner - A John Sims Project on March 14. This multi-course multimedia dinner in honor of Pi and all things circles celebrates the intersecting spaces of mathematics, human culture and nature. The dinner menu will consist of 4 courses, where each course with paired wine will have a guest presenter responding to the Pi theme. The featured guest is Stephen Ornes, an award-winning science and mathematics writer, and author of the recent book, Math and Art: Truth, Beauty and Equations. The first chapter of this book features Sims' Pi quilt collaboration with Amish quilters in Sarasota, the subject of Ornes' award-winning podcast episode, How to make an American Pi?. Other guests include Colleen McGue, Chief Transportation Planner of Sarasota, poet Yuki Jackson, actor/musician Michael Mendez, and Modern Jazz Ensemble. John Sims, the event host and current Artist in Residence at The Rosemary says, "Pi Day, as does this dinner event, presents an opportunity to explore and celebrate the power and magic of mathematics as a universal language that can create connections and paths across boundaries of nature, cultures, communities and different creative spaces."
For information contact John Sims at johncsims@gmail.com and for dinner reservation The Rosemary at 941.955.7600 For more info on these events, please visit RosemarySarasota.com
The Rosemary, 411 N Orange Ave, Sarasota,
Columbus is a 2017 American drama film written, directed, and edited by Kogonada in his feature directorial debut. A Korean-born man finds himself stuck in Columbus, Indiana, where his famous architect father is in a coma. The man meets a young woman who wants to stay in Columbus with her mother, instead of pursuing her own dreams to be an architect. The film is shot on location at the many famous architectural icons in Columbus, which are almost a third character in the film. The film premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival and was released in the United States on August 4, 2017, by the Sundance Institute, receiving acclaim from critics. Among the famous Modernist buildings that feature in the film are the First Christian Church by Eliel Saarinen, the Irwin Union Bank, Miller House, and North Christian Church by Eliel’s son Eero Saarinen, and the Cleo Rogers Memorial Library by I. M. Pei.
*Ringling Students FREE with ID. Otherwise, admission $15. Tickets here
Larry Thompson Academic Center, 2700 Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
Join us for screening of 13th followed by a performance by Spoken Word Artist Cedric Hameed. The title of Ava DuVernay’s extraordinary and galvanizing documentary refers to the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which reads, “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States.” The progression from that second qualifying clause to the horrors of mass criminalization and the sprawling American prison industry is laid out by DuVernay with bracing lucidity. With a potent mixture of archival footage and testimony from a dazzling array of activists, politicians, historians, and formerly incarcerated women and men, DuVernay creates a work of grand historical synthesis. This program is free, however, tickets are required.
The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota
Addiction, religion, and the law intersect in a court-ordered drug rehabilitation program. A timely exploration of the American criminal justice system, this multi-dimensional play blurs the line between hip-hop and dramatic performance. Dahlak Brathwaite (writer/performer) weaves through the autobiographical and the fictional, music and monologue, to examine his place in what appears to be a cultural rite of passage as a young Black male. Please note: This performance contains mature content and may not be suitable for all ages.
Historic Asolo Theatre , 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota
Join The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce at the Carlisle Inn for a regional labor market update - learn about what industries are experiencing job growth, job compensation rates and the career pathways associated with these careers. This presentation will address the labor market in Sarasota and Manatee Counties and how it compares to the state of Florida. Featured Speakers include Dr. Jerry D. Parrish | Chief Economist and Director of Research for the Florida Chamber Foundation, Chris Benner, Ph.D. | Professor of Environmental Studies and Sociology at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Member registration fees are$35, and $45 for non members.
Carlisle Inn – Sarasota , 3713 Bahia Vista St., Sarasota
This concentrated week of workshops welcomes students of all skill levels and features introductory workshops and master classes with visiting and local artists. Students of all skill levels can explore their creative interests and sharpen their artistic skills in non-credit art master classes and workshops offered by the Ringling College Continuing Studies’ Studio + Digital Arts program during its Spring Art Week, March 7-15. Classes and workshops are offered in figure art, painting and drawing, illustration, jewelry, glass art, fiber arts, sculpture, clay, and ink painting. Classes and workshops are held on the Ringling College campus at 2700 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, and at the Ringling College Museum Campus, 1001 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. For more information and to register, visit www.ringling.edu/SDA or call 941-309-5111.
Ringling College of Art & Design, 2700 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
The 2nd Annual Lucky Leprechaun 5K and Festival is back and better than ever. Who Knew Pop Up Market will be at the event, and is looking for vendors! Other festival activities include: 5K Walk / Run, The Motorworks Beer Tasting and Game Tent, Food Trucks, Beer Garden, Irish Bar, Costume Contests and a jam-packed Kid Zone featuring the Let’s Jump Events Inflatable area. The Kid Zone will also include magicians, face painting and more. For vendor information please contact tanya@whoknewpopupmarket.com, register for the 5K HERE.
Nathan Benderson Park, Nathan Benderson Cr., Sarasota,
A special one-week “pop-up” exhibition of work by Tom Stephens and John Pirman will be on view starting with a free opening reception for both artists on March 9, 5-7 pm. Stephens will unveil new paintings that reflect the environmental effects of Sarasota’s surge in downtown construction. Stephens, who has spent the majority of his life fishing off the west coast of Florida, now depicts the once limitless coastline with the forceful vertical lines of condominium towers. Pirman, an illustrator best known in Sarasota for his back page illustrations in Sarasota Magazine, branches out and reveals his personable, humorous side. Pirman will exhibit a new series of quirky and light-hearted Sarasota portraits. Free admission.
Art Center Sarasota, 707 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
Ringling Reflections programs are designed specifically for people with memory loss and their care partners. They are relaxed, conversation-based gallery tours in the Museum of Art. The tour routes will be wheelchair accessible. Wheelchairs are available for use free-of-charge on a first-come, first-served basis. Listening devices, including induction loops for t-coil hearing aids, will be provided. Portable stools will be available for all participants. Tours take place on select Sundays. Please plan on arriving to the museum’s Visitors Pavilion at 10:00 to check in. The tours are free of charge, however, advance registration is required and space is limited.
The Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota
Sarasota Institute of Lifetime Learning (SILL) is preparing for its 49th year of extremely popular global issues lectures and musical conversations. In 2020, these programs will begin in January and continue through the end of March. Speakers of global issues lectures are well-known, highly experienced experts, and guests on musical conversations are internationally renowned musicians, singers, and performers. SILL is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization. In its 49th season, its programs will include 96 lectures and musical conversations presented in Sarasota, Venice, and Lakewood Ranch. SILL audiences mostly consist of highly educated and intellectually curious seniors living on the Suncoast year-round or during winter months. SILL also simulcasts some of its lectures to selected senior communities. Last year, attendance at SILL events exceeded 40,000. Single tickets to SILL events are only $10 at the door when available, and a season ticket for 12 same-day lectures cost just $85, which represents substantial savings. For program schedules, venues, speaker bios, and ordering season tickets visit sillsarasota.org
First United Methodist Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave.
Concealed and Revealed offers a unique selection of paintings by the artist, along with numerous objects from the Solomon Archive on view for the first time. Syd Solomon (American, 1917-2004) described himself as an “Abstract Impressionist” alluding to the fact that his work infused impressionism into the processes, scale and concepts of Abstract Expressionism. Solomon moved to Sarasota in 1946 with his wife Annie. His was the first work of contemporary art to be collected by The Ringling in 1962. His paintings were greatly influenced by climatic factors and reveal a fascination and concern for Florida’s aquatic environment. Solomon incorporated his experience as a camouflage designer during World War II into his painting. It is not well-known that he was also an accomplished graphic artist, who in his early years designed commercial signage for prominent hotels and businesses in Sarasota. Like his work in camouflage, Solomon’s calligraphic skill was essential to the development of his later gestural abstraction.
Syd Solomon: Concealed and Revealed is presented in partnership with the Estate of Syd Solomon and is accompanied by a 96-page publication with essays by former curator at The Ringling Michael Auping, George S. Bolge, Dr. Gail Levin, and Mike Solomon. The exhibition will include artworks from private collections and The Ringling’s permanent collection.
John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota
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