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SRQ DAILY Aug 2, 2021

Monday Business Edition

Monday Business Edition

"We know how important visitor support is to our patients, but these new restrictions are for everyone's protection."

- Dr. James Fiorica, SMH
 

[Health]  Surge Causes Hospital Visit Clampdown
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

A surge in COVID-19 infections in the region has promoted local hospitals to limit visitation.

Sarasota Memorial Hospital on Friday announced a shift to a “No Visitors Policy” with limited exceptions.

“We know how important visitor support is to our patients, but these new restrictions are for everyone’s protection,” said Dr. James Fiorica, Chief Medical Officer for SMH.

The only individuals allowed to visit patients in the hospital for the time being will be for end-of-life care, for children in the pediatric and neo-natal units, and in limited instances for baby deliveries. A single support person for patients in surgery or certain therapies may be allowed in certain designated waiting areas. Hospital staff will help families connect with Skype or Facetime using iPads at the hospital and provide needed technical assistance.

At Manatee Memorial Hospital, “Limited Visitation” was put in place as of last Wednesday, with visitation to Inpatient Nursing Units, the Emergency Department and Surgical/Procedural Area limited to one visitor, per day. No visitation will be allowed for patients being treated or tested for COVID-19. Visitors who are allowed in must come through the main entrance and use a mask at all times, then will be led directly to the patient’s room to stay the duration of the visit. Like SMH, only one support person will be allowed in a waiting are for those in surgery. In the maternity ward and neonatal unit, up to two visitors will be allowed, with one allowed to stay overnight. Any visitors coming to the hospital will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms.

Lakewood Ranch Regional Medical center as of July 29 put Limited Visitation policies in effect as well for any inpatient nursing units and its intensive, where only one patient will be allowed at a time for patients and only two visitors will be allowed over a whole day. Families are encouraged to use video conferencing for visitation instead. One individual may come to support those in the hospital for inpatient or outpatient surgeries, and they will be restricted to the pre-op waiting area. Only one person may come along with individuals in the emergency room, and they will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms. No one who has traveled outside the country will be allowed to visit the hospital.

Blake Medical Center since July 7 has put temporary limits on visitation, but will allows two visitors for each patient. It also only allows those 18 and older to visit patients, and may put stricter limits in place for some patients. Those being tested or treated for COVID-19 my not have any visitors. Only one visitor may go with a patient to the emergency room and only one individual may wait in designated areas for patients undergoing surgeries.

Doctors Hospital of Sarasota since the start of June has put a two-person limit on visitation, and since June 7 has in place passive screening for COVID-19 for visitors. Masks are required except when individuals are eating or drinking. All visitors to the hospital must be 18 years old or older.

Venice Regional Medical Center continues to allow just two visitors per day for any patients, and only allow one support person for those in surgery. It’s encouraged visitors stay in patient roms or designated waiting areas. Masks are required at all times. 

[In Conversation]  In Conversation With David Sessions of Willis A. Smith Construction

Published in the July magazine, In Conversation: The State of Real Estate showcases five local experts in the real estate and construction field. Below is an excerpt from the discussion in which David Sessions from Willis A. Smith Construction shares insight with SRQ readers about his forecast for the future of building.

EVERYONE ALWAYS WANTS TO KNOW WHAT’S NEXT. WHAT DO YOU SEE? 

The impact of increased materials costs is a short-term issue. We’ve experienced some of this before. Production and manufacturing are going to get back to normal worldwide, and these issues are going to be past us. I don’t know how long, three months, six months, nine months, but it’s just a little bump at the moment. The cost escalation issues are also going to normalize. One thing, as relates to the residential market, is that with the one exception of the Great Recession, prices historically, year over year, have never gone down. I fully suspect a year from now, and the pricing will normalize. With regard to the demand for commercial construction, we’ve seen a tremendous amount of residential growth, and as a result, the commercial construction market is going to be doing quite well for the next several years. Florida’s a very desirable place. I’m very optimistic about the future 

This is an excerpt from the In Conversation with Leaders in Real Estate and Construction published in the July 2021 edition of SRQ Magazine. Click here to see the full article.  

Read More From In Conversation Here

[New Hire]  Atlas Insurance Welcomes Mandy Franklin

Atlas Insurance is pleased to welcome Mandy Franklin to its team, serving as a commercial producer for the Sarasota-based independent agency. Franklin brings more than 20 years of experience managing risks in the aviation, hospitality and education sectors, offering an abundant knowledge base to the agency’s manufacturing and hospitality divisions. 

Click here for more information.

[Recognition]  Center For Sight Optometric Physicians Named on Newsweek’s America’s Best Eye Doctors List

Two Center For Sight optometric physicians, Joseph Sowka, O.D., F.A.A.O., Diplomate and Lori Vollmer, O.D., M.S., F.A.A.O., were named on Newsweek’s 2021 ‘America’s Best Eye Doctors’ list. The husband-and-wife duo started at the practice in 2020 and are the lead optometrists at the Jacaranda Boulevard location of Center For Sight. 

[Grief Services]  Tidewell Hospice Expanding Children’s and Family Grief Services in Newtown

Tidewell Hospice is expanding its Blue Butterfly program into the Newtown community in Sarasota, creating greater access to free grief services for children and families living in one of the city’s oldest historically African American communities. A lead investment from Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation to the Tidewell Foundation facilitated the creation of Tidewell’s Blue Butterfly Newtown program, which was developed in partnership with Bethlehem Bible Church. 

Click here for more information.

[Grant Applications]  Junior League of Sarasota Now Accepting Community Projects and Community Grant Applications

The Junior League of Sarasota (JLS) invites local nonprofit organizations to apply for Community Projects and Community Grants. JLS Community Projects serve Sarasota County and can be completed by JLS members in one day or less. Local nonprofit organizations are invited to apply. Applications are available online at: www.jlsarasota.org/community. Community grant applications must be submitted by 11:59pm on August 1, 2021. Community project applications must be submitted by 11:59 on August 20, 2021. 

Click here for more information.

[Job Opportunity ]  Manatee County Seeking Special Magistrate Applicants

Manatee County is accepting applicants for vacancies for four Special Magistrates, volunteer positions who hear and decide alleged violations of Manatee’s Land Development Code and Code of Ordinances, imposing fines against the violators. Applications are due Sept. 1 and may be found online at: www.mymanatee.org/advisory_boards 



[SOON]  BUSINESS: FSUshadow Summer 2021 Session , August 2 – August 4

Florida State University is looking for hosts for their one-day job shadowing program, FSUshadow, August 2-4. FSUshadow provides a unique way to build your brand on campus, give back to current students and recruit for hiring opportunities with your organization. The summer session will be hybrid, providing both: In-person shadowing: single-day job shadow experiences where student(s) travel to your location and Virtual shadowing: 2-3 hour brief yet impactful virtual shadowing opportunities showcasing your role, organization or work. FSUshadow had the greatest number of students in our program’s history during COVID and look forward to introducing more participants to the program this summer.

[SOON]  BUSINESS: Suncoast Local Book Fair , August 2, 10am-3pm

The Suncoast Local Book Fair is an in-person event. No registration required. Bookstore1Sarasota, 12 South Palm Avenue. Monday, August 2nd 10 am. – 3 pm Suncoast Local Book Fair. Bookstore1Sarasota's celebration of local authors! 12 local authors are taking part in this event. Author’s genres include poetry, children, memoir, and self-help.Author biographies, book information and event schedule available here: https://www.sarasotabooks.com/local-author-book-fair2021.

Bookstore1Sarasota, 12 South Palm Ave., Sarasota

[SOON]  FESTIVAL: 2021 August Play Reading Festival , August 2 – August 16, 7pm

FST is presenting three staged readings of new work by members of its Playwright Collective, a select group of artists dedicated to developing new work for FST’s stages, in the 2021 August Play Reading Festival. After over a year of developing new plays virtually over Zoom and holding reading series online, this Festival will be FST’s first live, in-person New Play Development event since March 2020.

The three playwrights featured in this Festival—Thomas Gibbons, Kenneth Jones, and Jason Odell Williams—will each travel to Sarasota for one week of rehearsals and play development sessions with FST’s artistic staff, followed by a staged reading of each of their plays for live audiences. Professional actors from across the country will also fly to Sarasota to help bring these new works to life. After each reading, attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and give feedback to the playwrights. These sessions are essential to the development and creation of new plays, giving playwrights direct access to artistic support as well as valuable audience feedback.

FST has played a role in the development of each of the featured plays. Last year, the theatre commissioned Jones to write Last Call at the Old Slave Quarters Lounge and Williams to write America In One Room. Gibbons has been working closely with FST’s artistic team to develop Steal Her Bones since its first draft.

The 2021 August Play Reading Festival will take place in FST’s Keating Theatre on August 2, 9, and 16 at 7PM each day. Subscription packages to see all three readings range from $28.50-48.00. Single tickets are $20 per-person for each reading. Subscription packages and single tickets are now on sale at FloridaStudioTheatre.org or 941-366-9000.

Florida Studio Theatre, 1241 N Palm Ave., Sarasota

[SOON]  PERFORMANCE: Florida Studio Theatre: On The Road Again: Family Musical Roadtrip , June 29 – August 3

Pack your bags. This summer, FST is taking the whole family on a one-of-a-kind musical road trip in On The Road Again, an all-new live performance. Featuring songs like “Country Roads,” “Surfin’ USA,” and “Deep in the Heart of Texas, we’ll celebrate all that makes this country special from sea to shining sea. Join us for an outdoor concert in this summer touring performance as we hit the road with music that has defined the U.S for generations. June: Tuesday, 6/29 at 10am - Fruitville Library and Wednesday, 6/20 at 10am - Gulf Gate Library. July: Thursday, July 1 at 10am - William H. Jervey Jr. Public Library, Saturday, July 3 at 10am - North Port Public Library, Friday, July 9 at 10am - Frances T. Bourne Jacaranda Public Library, Saturday, July 10 at 7:30pm - Elsie Quirk Library, Sunday, July 11 at 7pm - Nathan Benderson Park, Saturday, July 17 at 10am - Selby Library, Sunday, July 18 at 7pm - Phillipi Estate Park, and Saturday, July 24 at 10am - Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Library. August: Tuesday, August 3 at 10am - William H. Jervey Jr. Venice Public Library.

[SOON]  SCIENCE AND NATURE: Mote Marine: 'Seas' the Summer with Miss Dana , June 16 – August 4, 1:30pm-3pm

Put a STEAM twist on your summer fun with Mote starting June 16 and until August 4 from 1:30pm to 3pm. Join Miss Dana, creator of Mote’s popular homeschool programs, each week this summer to learn about ocean animals as we explore the Sarasota Bay or get ArtSEA making upcycled crafts while learning how to protect the ocean. Whether you want your fins in the water or prefer sharks and crafts, we will ‘seas’ the summer. This program is for ages 6-14, accompanied with a parent/guardian (one parent/guardian is included with each participant fee). Due to health and safety restrictions, only one adult chaperone is allowed per paid child and additional (younger or older) siblings or other family members will not be permitted to attend the program; please make sure you complete registration for each participating child in your family. Admission to Mote Aquarium is NOT included with this program. Please visit mote.org/visit for information and to reserve tickets.

[SOON]  GALLERY: Artists in Conversation: “Identity in Art” with Hermitage Fellows Diedrick Brackens, Autumn Knight, Robert Pruitt , August 6, 6:30pm

An evening at the Hermitage Artist Retreat on the beach will include conversations with artists Deidrick Brackens, Autumn Knight and Robert Pruitt. Presented in partnership with Art Center Sarasota, this event will offer an intimate and candid look into their creative process, exploring themes of identity in their work.

The Hermitage Artist Retreat , 6630 Manasota Key Rd., Englewood

[SOON]  GALLERY: Embracing Our Differences , July 1 – August 8

An international art exhibit designed to proclaim inclusion, respect and kindness debuts at Sarasota-Bradenton’s Nathan Benderson Park. The annual, juried art exhibit is composed by a Sarasota-based arts and education non-profit, Embracing Our Differences (EOD). It consists of 50 billboard-sized works of art, each accompanied by an inspirational quote. The international exhibit uses the power of art and prose to promote diversity and inclusion. The 2021 exhibit brought 15,912 entries from 128 nations, and from 48 U.S. states. The winning quotes and art are showcased in the Bayfront Park every year, from January through March. Thanks to the generosity of the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, the public will have another opportunity to see this exhibit. The exhibit is on display at the park May 20 - Aug. 8 and is free for the public to view.

Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota

[SOON]  BUSINESS: Selby Preschool Book Drive , July 13 – August 10

Selby Preschool Book Drive is asking for book donations based on their lesson plans. You can order books online on their amazon wishlist or drop off at the school Monday through Friday. For more information contact Hallie Peilet, hpeilet@thehavensrq.org. 4405 Desoto Rd., Sarasota

The Haven

[SOON]  SEMINAR: Virtual: Selby Gardens: Old Florida Captured in Oil: A Personal Journey with The Highwaymen , August 11, 12pm-1pm

This Historical Briefing, presented by John McCarthy, Vice President for Historic Spanish Point, will take place on Wednesday, August 11 from noon to 1pm and is open to all. In the 1950s, young African Americans on the east coast of Florida were inspired to paint their vision of Florida as they saw it. This began a movement that captured old Florida in colorful and evocative oil paintings. The style has seen a resurgence in recent years as newcomers to Florida discover the seemingly simple, yet powerful images created by native-born artists. This virtual program will explore the presenter’s pursuit of highwaymen paintings, the artists and old Florida memories.

[SOON]  PERFORMANCE: Duane Eubanks Things of that Particular Nature 2021 Southeast Tour , August 12, 8pm

Duane Eubanks is an extraordinary musical talent and he possesses unique virtuoso skill and brilliance as a composer and band leader. His quintet’s onstage presentation is a straight-ahead post-bop style jazz presentation reminiscent in delivery of Miles Davis and Lee Morgan with a modern progressive emphasis and vibe. His music compositions consist of engaging melodies and horn blends that reflect the soft tender optimism of a relaxed quintessential smooth jazz trumpeter and that of a lively hard bop virtuoso pushed by the cadences of hard swinging forward motion created by a rhythm section that employs imagination, dexterity, strong emotion, and thoughtful articulation. The Duane Eubanks Quintet will perform at the Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center on Thursday, August 12th at 8pm. Tickets are $25 for WSLR+Fogartyville members and $30 for the general public. Half-price student tickets are also available.

WSLR+Fogartyville, 525 Kumquat Ct., 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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