Sarasota County successfully had a case dismissed challenging the legality of redistricting a year ahead of the census. That will have significant ramifications in county commission elections this year.

Most notably, Democrat Fredd Atkins, one of the plaintiffs in the suit, will not be able to run in District 1 based on his current residency. Four years ago, now-County Commissioner Mike Moran beat Atkins in a county-wide race to represent District 1, but since the passage of single-member district voting, Atkins hoped to run in a Democrat-leaning district this time. But when county commissioners redistricted when they did, they kept District 1 Republican and they drew Atkins, and the bulk of the Newtown neighborhood, out completely.

Atkins said he’s not terribly surprised to lose a legal challenge, calling the system “stacked” against minority communities. Now? “I’m going to live my life,” he said. Atkins demurred on questions whether he would run for a state legislative post instead.

U.S. District Court William Jung ruled the redistricting, even in am umusual year, was legal so long as race was not the “predominant” reason to redraw lines. On that, arguments that Republicans wrongly paid for a consultant to plot new districts, then directed him to model a map off an anonymous submission later revealed to come from former Republican Party of Sarasota chair Bob Waechter, didn’t violate civil rights for Newtown voters.

Republican Party of Sarasota acting chair Jack Brill celebrated the ruling, and said it proved complaints from Democrats were misguided at best. “The accusation of racism in the redistricting was always spurious, a typical and reprehensible Democrat line of attack on Republicans,” Brill said. “Contrary to the same, tired Democrat attacks, the actions of the County Commission and ruling by Judge Jung means Sarasota County residents will now have more equal representation in the November election.”

County Commissioners, who voted 3-2 to install new lines for the 2020 elections despite a requirement the lines be reviewed again ahead of 2022, always maintained the need to balance populations was critical if voters can now only elect one commissioner.

Sarasota Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner said Atkins wasn’t the only commission candidate this year put in a different district as a result of the shifting lines. He was the only one who remains filed as a candidate in a district where he does not live. Atkins remained that way hopeful a judge would rule the lines wrongly disenfranchised Newtown voters, who now will not vote for county commission until 2022.

The shift has benefitted candidates in another way. Candidates qualifying by petition normally could only get signature from within their district, but with lines changing and uncertain, Turner will accept petitions from voters registered anywhere within the county. The deadline for submissions remains Monday at noon.

Moran still faces opposition, from Mike Hutchinson in the Republican primary and from Democrat Mark Pienkos in the general election. The deadline for candidates to qualify by fee is June 12 at noon.

Crowley Nursery, 16423 Jomar Road Sarasota, 941-322-0315.

When you sponsor a Southeastern Guide Dogs puppy as a gift, Mom can follow along as her puppy grows up to help someone in need. You can immediately download a sponsorship certificate to give as her gift, and then for two years, she’ll receive regular Pupdates and photos of her puppy's progress. 

Click here to find out all about Sponsor a Puppy options that are perfect for Mother’s Day.

Florida’s Guardian ad Litem program recognized Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation as the agency’s statewide Nonprofit of the Year awardee for its work in helping foster children in the 12th Judicial Circuit.

Toni Latortue, director for the 12^th Circuit Guardian ad Litem program, nominated Barancik Foundation for the impact the organization had on 428 children in the program. Financial support from Barancik Foundation paid for academic tutoring for most of these children and ensured many received essential supplies and recreational items. In addition, these efforts helped 28 children through the family reunification process with rent assistance, transportation and kitchen items.

Presenting the award to Barancik Foundation during a virtual event, Alan Abramowitz, executive director of Florida’s Guardian ad Litem program, said, “The foundation embodies the program’s core values in the work they do every day.” Barancik Foundation’s support also assisted in training 112 new volunteers and hosting 14 volunteer events to provide continuing education and recognition for the work they do and help recruit others. 

Participation in an intensive online, math competition has added up to a first-place win for a group of Florida high school students.

The team of five 11th and 12th graders from Pine View School in Osprey took home the top prize of $20,000 in college scholarships after being chosen from thousands of high school juniors and seniors across the U.S. as the winners of this year’s MathWorks Math Modeling (M3) Challenge, a prestigious competition that demonstrates the importance of math in everyday life.

Kristoffer Selberg, Michael Gutierrez, Pragnya Govindu, Nicholas Butakow and Christiana Guan were among 3,500 students — working in 760 teams — who participated in this year’s Challenge.

A second team from Pine View School placed in the top six of the competition, landing team finalists — Jack Gallahan, Alexander Douglas, Vinay Konuru, Danny McDonald and Julia Kourelakos — a scholarship prize of $5,000.

Now in its 15th year, the 2020 M3 Challenge saw students spend 14 consecutive hours between February 28-March 2 using mathematical modeling tools to solve a real-world problem by collecting data and creating models, and submitting their solutions online. This year’s problem, developed with help from industry association North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE), asked students to recommend solutions for the trucking industry’s transition from diesel to electric power.

Clicl here for more about the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM).

Cheryl Mendelson, CEO of the Van Wezel Foundation, has been appointed to the Gulf Coast CEO Forum, an organization comprised of a select group of leaders, presidents and CEOs from the business and nonprofit sectors.

“I’m honored to join this prestigious group at such a pivotal time.  The COVID-19 pandemic has required businesses to think differently and reinvent the way we lead,” commented Cheryl Mendelson, Van Wezel Foundation CEO. “I am pleased to contribute to the collective expertise of the CEO forum and utilize the unique assets of the organization to support the resiliency and economic recovery of our communities.”

The Gulf Coast CEO Forum provides members with opportunities to take part with other Gulf Coast executives to build relationships, generate ideas and formulate solutions to issues facing the community.  With a focus on business leadership, the CEO Forum hosts insightful and leading-edge educational programs designed to reflect the culture and needs of today’s business executives. After a national search, Mendelson was appointed CEO of the Van Wezel Foundation in January 2019 bringing over 25 years of experience as a nonprofit executive at nationally renowned organizations in education, healthcare, arts and culture.

After a national search, Mendelson was appointed CEO of the Van Wezel Foundation in January 2019 bringing over 25 years of experience as a nonprofit executive at nationally renowned organizations in education, healthcare, arts and culture. Prior to the Foundation, Mendelson served as executive vice president and chief operating officer at the Harris Theater in Chicago's Millennium Park. She played a vital leadership role in the strategic vision for the Theater, building a national reputation as a venue of artistic importance. Mendelson was responsible for leading the senior management team in all areas of operations as well as earned and contributed income, including marketing, sales and philanthropy. 

Previously, Mendelson spent 13 years at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (now the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab), the No. 1 rehabilitation hospital and research center in America. As senior vice president of Philanthropy, Marketing and Strategic Communications, Mendelson led campaigns raising more than $150 million to establish clinical and research programs. Additionally, she spearheaded pivotal public relations initiatives that brought international media attention to the groundbreaking research of the Center for Bionic Medicine and the hospital's designation as the only private rehabilitation center to treat wounded soldiers.

Mendelson received her BA from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and completed the Management Institute Program at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. 

Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) offers an advanced radiation therapy option for several types of cancers, which can lead to faster and shorter rounds of radiation therapy for patients. Hypofractionated radiation is a treatment technique where the total dose of radiation is delivered in fewer treatment sessions and results in large fractional doses being administered over a shorter time period compared to standard radiation therapy.

“Our hypofractionated radiation protocols allow us to target the tumor with greater precision, while sparing the healthy tissue where possible,” said FCS Medical Director of Radiation Oncology, Dr. Sachin Kamath. “It can be an incredibly effective and convenient treatment option requiring fewer treatments, which translates into fewer trips and disruptions for our patients.” 

“With higher doses of radiation delivered per treatment, patients can complete their course of radiation therapy much faster, and in many cases, experience fewer short-term side effects and have a better overall experience,” said Ocala-based FCS Radiation Oncologist Dr. Luis Carrascosa.

According to Dr. Carrascosa, many qualified patients from Ocala who he treats at FCS’ Ocala Cancer Center have been able to safely and effectively cut their radiation treatment schedules by more than half the amount of time with this treatment option.

Hypofractionation has proven its effectiveness and is quickly becoming a standard of care for prostate, lung, breast, bone and brain cancers and is offered in several FCS locations, where radiation oncology services are included.

“Bringing advanced treatment options, like hypofractionation radiation therapy, to our patients is another tangible example of how we deliver on our mission of providing world-class medicine that’s close to home. In the setting of COVID-19, it is important to minimize risk of exposure by decreasing number of treatments (less commuting) when clinically appropriate,” said FCS President and Managing Physician Dr. Lucio Gordan. 

Pictured: FCS Ocala Cancer Center's Varian VitaBeam linear accelerator for cancer treatment.

For more info.

The School District of Manatee County will honor seniors in the Class of 2020 by simultaneously shining the lights at six different high school football stadiums for 20 minutes beginning at 8:20 p.m. on Thursday, May 14, 2020. (In military time, 8:20 p.m. is 20:20)

The six stadiums where lights will shine are at: Bayshore High, Braden River High, Lakewood Ranch High, Manatee High, Palmetto High and Southeast High.

The Manatee County Sheriff’s Department is working with the School District to get drone footage of the event to include in a commemoration video.

Due to CDC guidelines and resulting restrictions, the stadiums and school campuses will remain closed during the time period of the celebration. However, the community is invited to drive by the stadiums or view from off campus – as well as to join in the celebration by turning on their outdoor lights at home. 

While we are beginning to see some of the COVID-19 restrictions lifted, chances are you will continue to practice some form of safer-at-home for several weeks to come. Staying at home limits the spread of the coronavirus, but it is also a perfect opportunity for creative growth for individuals as well as with families and for our greater community.

The Brain Health Initiative suggests engaging in creative work that helps you experience positive emotions that can carry over into the following day as well. Creative activities can also add meaning and purpose to your life.

An activity suggested by Brain Health Initiative is creating your living message. If you could share one message, one piece of wisdom, with others, what would it be? All great works of art have a theme or message. Your life, like a piece of art, has a message as well. Discovering and sharing your message can be a brain health challenge and boost while filling your life with purpose, increasing your energy and enthusiasm, and generating passion for being alive.

Brain Health Initiative's faculty, Dr. Shelley Carson, a lecturer in the department of psychology at Harvard University says, “Think about it, there is no other being that possesses your exact combination of memories, knowledge, and skills. Your perspective is truly unique! How you interpret the body of experience and knowledge that you’ve acquired – your one-of-a-kind wisdom—is vitally important.” 

Click here for more information on the Brain Health Initiative

This year’s theme is Year of the Nurse and Midwife, and was selected long before the pandemic changed our world. But it could not be more relevant as our nurses faced every challenge COVID-19 threw our way and stepped forward into critical new roles to support and care for our patients, community and each other. 

Click here to see video:

Ringling College began hosting Best of Ringling, its annual juried student exhibition, May 6, 2020 at www.ringling.edu. The Ringling College homepage will be taken over in celebratory style to announce this year's award winners. Jurors, faculty, and the President's selections from all majors will be recognized, followed by online gallery openings featuring the student work for each major.

The Ringling College Senior Thesis Exhibitions will premiere at 4pm May 7th, and be delivered using multiple online platforms to provide digital and virtual experiences at www.ringlingthesis.com. This site is the focal point around which everything related to the Senior Thesis exhibitions revolves.

Ringling College of Art and Design’s class of 2020 has been invited to participate in the 2021 ceremony so they may have a traditional commencement experience.

Click here for Ringling College.