SRQ DAILY Sep 30, 2021
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"The Florida House committee staff has concerns about the feasibility study, and the proponents of incorporation are responding to those concerns."
The incorporation of Siesta Key will be the first matter state lawmakers discuss at the annual meeting of the Sarasota County Legislative Delegation. But it’s clear there’s still a process ahead before the island community can become its own city.
The Save Siesta Key citizen group will discuss a feasibility study submitted to the Legislature last month. The document includes a proposed city charter that establishes a five-member town council, elected to four-year terms in at-large elections, with a commission-manager form of government. The commission would select mayors to serve for a year, similar to in the neighboring city of Sarasota.
“The proposed Town of Siesta Key, Florida is uniquely positioned to assume responsibility for home rule of the coastal island community of Siesta Key. Providing the local community with local control of planning and zoning decisions will help preserve the unique characteristics of this area,” the report reads.
A staff analysis, though, finds some issues with this first version of the study. Those include needing better definition of a Southern boundary for the imagined city and better identification of zonings and projects allowed in the potential municipality. Some details need further clarity as far as application of a municipal services taxing unit and jurisdiction over navigable waterways. The charter also needs to be beefed up with details like candidate qualification requirements.
“Municipalities must meet certain population, geographic, and legal requirements in order to incorporate,” a staff response reads. The Legislature can waive some of those, but needs greater documented justification.
Rep. Will Robinson, R-Bradenton and chair of the county delegation, said he’s set aside time for advocates to discuss their plans at the start of the meeting today, at 9 a.m. at the Sarasota County Administration Boulding. “The Florida House committee staff has concerns about the feasibility study, and the proponents of incorporation are responding to those concerns,” he said. “I just want to hear their priorities.”
The delegation also expects to hear reports from every major government entity in the county and from numerous civic groups. Members say the input today will shape their own budget priorities heading into the 2022 Legislative Session.
“Infrastructure and roads continue to be a need in eastern Sarasota, and I don’t think that’s limited to my district,” he said.
All of the state lawmakers representing any portion of Sarasota County will hear from local constituents and groups.
We know. It may be hard to tell since we live in Florida—the land of endless summer—but it is officially fall, the season of cozy sweaters, warm apple cider and all things pumpkin. Pumpkin pie. Pumpkin spice lattes. Even a pumpkin festival.
This weekend, Fruitville Grove will be holding its 33rd annual Pumpkin Festival in Sarasota. Starting this Saturday, October 2 and running every weekend in the month, the festival will provide an abundance of autumnal merriment for everyone.
Admission isn’t the only thing that’s free. Fruitville Grove’s Pumpkin Festival will be hosting an assortment of fun, seasonal activities—free of cost. These include a petting zoo, the Torres Family Circus, live musical acts and costume contests. Other entertainment, like pony rides, pumpkin painting and zip lining can be enjoyed for $1-$10. And if activities aren’t your cup of tea—or shall I say cider—there will be plenty of other things to partake in, namely fall foods such as roasted corn, funnel cakes and curly fries, as well as a farmer’s market.
If you’re as ready as we are to welcome all things fall, then throw on your favorite Florida-approved sweater and boots, grab a pumpkin spiced latte and take a ride down to the Fruitville Grove’s Pumpkin Festival. Tractor not included.
Photo courtesy of Fruitville Grove
7410 Fruitville Rd., Sarasota, 941-377-0896, @fruitville.grove, @fruitvillegrovefarmmarket
Girl Scouts of Gulf Coast Florida is opening Camp Honi Hanta to the public for a fun, family-friendly fall themed festival on Sunday, October 10 from 10 a.m.-3p.m. Both current and non-Girl Scout families are invited to celebrate fall and explore Bradenton’s Camp Honi Hanta’s 123-acres while participating in interactive activities and experiences such as a Slime Laboratory, Haunted Trail, and Corny Campfire Sing-Along. This event also features exhibits from Myakka Elephant Ranch-Elephant Spa and Conservation Center, Big Cat Habitat, Mote Marine, and many more.Each attendee can make and take home their own fall-themed crafts, and be eligible for additional prizes. Admission is free and the first 250 guests will receive a goodie bag.
The outside event will be open from 10 am - 3 pm. Camp Honi Hanta is located at 4825 51st St E in Bradenton. For more information about the event, please contact Patricia Ramthun, or call 800-232-4475.
To learn more about the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida click here
Keisha Bickham is the new Chief Operating Officer at Doctors Hospital of Sarasota. Bickham will oversee several key departments, facilities, and new projects for the hospital. She was most recently the Vice President of Operations at HCA Healthcare’s Mountain View Hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada. She led a team of more than 500 caregivers and oversaw operations for several areas including imaging, laboratory, endoscopy and pharmacy. She has more than 20 years of business operations, healthcare, and service experience. Bickham also has experience with emergency rooms, surgical services, and performance improvement.
“Having Keisha’s expertise on our team will be a tremendous asset for the community. She will help as we expand and add technology for our robotic surgery program, spine, orthopedics, urology, gynecology, digestive health, and cardiovascular services. All this while we continue to navigate safely caring for our community during COVID-19,” said Robert Meade, CEO of Doctors Hospital of Sarasota.
Sarasota High School's Class of 1981 looks forward to its 40th Reunion soon. What makes this high school reunion a little extra special is the fact that John Jordan, the owner of Cruise Coins will be in attendance. Jordan has designed and produced the 1st ReUnion Coin for this occasion. These coins celebrate all things relevant and feature special elements such as orange glitter and just for fun, some of the text can Glow-N-Dark. You can contact him for your own custom coin design at Johnj@cruisecoins.com or at 941-320-5342.
The number of COVID-19 positive cases in the community continues to decline and the number of patients being treated for COVID-19 at Doctors Hospital of Sarasota continues to decline. Because of this, the hospital is making the following changes to the visitor policy. This policy is similar to what it was before the COVID-19 pandemic started.
Visiting Hours: 8:00am – 8:00pm, 7 days a week (ICU- no visitors; COVID-19 patients- no visitors; Inpatient units- visitors are permitted; Emergency Room- one visitor per patient at a time; Patients Undergoing Procedures- one visitor per patient; Visitors must wait in the designated waiting area and if a patient is admitted, the visitor can visit after the patient is admitted to their room; All visitors must wear a mask at all times.
More information here: doctorsofsarasota.com/covid-19/visitor-policy.dot
Children First has been recognized as a top employer in Sarasota-Manatee in the “Best Places to Work” competition for the third consecutive year. Hosted by independent firm Best Companies Group and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, the competition identifies and recognizes our area’s top employers who demonstrate workplace excellence and are known for retaining and recruiting the best and brightest employees. Companies representing thousands of local employees all vied to make the list. Children First was one of four nonprofit organizations to be recognized and ultimately selected for our mission-driven approach to employment. To qualify, our agency of more than 200 staff members was asked to complete a confidential Employee Engagement & Satisfaction Survey worth 75% of the overall score. “As we celebrate our 60th anniversary and my 25th anniversary as CEO, Children First is deeply honored to be recognized as a best place to work for the third year in a row," says CEO Philip Tavill.
Sarasota County received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) in recognition of the county’s efforts for the Fiscal Year 2021 budget presentation. It is the county’s 31st consecutive year receiving this prestigious award. The Distinguished Budget Presentation Award exemplifies the Office of Financial Management's (OFM) commitment to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting and being responsible stewards of public funds. "Over 1,600 organizations applied for the budget award. This is an incredible achievement, and I’m honored to share in this success with a team of professionals that is truly committed to prudent financial planning and reporting,” said OFM Director Kim Radtke. Sarasota County continues to adopt best practices and innovative strategies to develop a budget plan that highlights potential economic impacts and focuses on both board and community priorities. Each year the county’s budget is presented to the public through a series of input meetings and is then adopted by the Sarasota County Board of Commissioners.
Vote-by-mail (absentee) ballots are available now for the November 2 City of Venice General Election and Town of Longboat Key Referendum, Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner announced Wednesday. Turner said any registered voter may request a vote-by-mail ballot for his or her respective election online at SarasotaVotes.gov/VotebyMail or by calling 941.861.8618. The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot be mailed to a voter is 5 p.m., Saturday, October 23. Voted ballots may be returned by mail or in person but must be received in the elections office by 7 p.m. election night to be counted. The cost to return a ballot by mail is one Forever stamp or $.58 postage. Turner noted that voted ballots also may be returned to secure drop boxes, located inside elections offices in Sarasota, Venice and North Port. Turner urges voters to read and follow the instructions included with vote-by-mail ballots to ensure their ballots are counted. Voters should complete and sign the Voter’s Certificate on the ballot return envelope and the voter’s signature should match the signature on record.
Voters may track their vote-by-mail ballots and sign up to receive vote-by-mail ballot status notifications at SarasotaVotes.gov/VotebyMail.
The temperatures are cooling for fall. Find out where to glamp locally in 'Glamping Glory'
This year marks the 9th annual Chick-fil-A Fall Stampede benefitting the Children’s Cancer Center. The event is held every September, Childhood Cancer Awareness month. We challenge you to virtually walk or run with your herd for the Children’s Cancer Center. Run/Walk: We challenge you to set a mileage goal to complete by the end of September. All participants will be entered in a chance drawing where 30 people will win FREE Chick-fil-A for a MONTH; 1 Mile, 5 Miles, 10 Miles, 25 Miles, 50 Miles, and 100 Miles. Raise: Create a fundraising page and raise funds throughout the challenge for the immediate needs of children battling pediatric cancer. The top 10 fundraisers will receive FREE Chick-fil-A for a MONTH. Packet Pickup: Drive by our COVID-19 compliant Packet Pick Up Party on Monday, August 31 from 8am to 10am or 6pm to 8pm where all participants will receive a t-shirt, swag bag and a Chick-fil-A sandwich. Tampa: Children’s Cancer Center (4901 W. Cypress St. Tampa) or Sarasota: Fruitville Chick-fil-A (5384 Fruitville Rd., Sarasota). Free Chick-fil-A for a Month consists of 30 promotional cards redeemable for a free Chick-fil-A entrée (Chick-fil-A Sandwich, Original or Spicy, Chick- fil-A Nuggets, Original or Grilled (8-count) or a Grilled Chicken Sandwich). Valid during lunch and dinner hours only.
The Hermitage Artist Retreat Announces “Artists and Thinkers: An Intimate Conversation Series” A new virtual series featuring nationally renowned Hermitage curators and artists, including Golden Globe Award winner Regina Taylor. Join us online for a deep dive into the creative process with: Limor Tomer and Luke Stewart on Thursday, September 23, 7pm and Christopher Burney and Regina Taylor on Thursday, September 30, 5pm. Amidst its active season of live outdoor programming and events, the Hermitage Artist Retreat is launching a new virtual series spotlighting the brilliant curators and Hermitage alumni who have developed their work and craft in residence at the Hermitage. Presented online in real time via Zoom, these candid and intimate conversations between Hermitage alumni artists and members of the Hermitage’s National Curatorial Council strip away the trappings of performance to get at the heart of the creative process and the vital role art plays in shaping our future. Focused on themes determined by the curator and artist, these hour-long events will be moderated by a member of the Hermitage team and provide audiences a unique glimpse into how curators and artists alike keep their finger on the pulse of our time to boldly create the impactful works of tomorrow.
The US Dragon Boat Federation holds CCNC biennially at locations around the United States. This event will be the sole American qualifier for the 2022 International Dragon Boat Federation Club Crew World Championships, also taking place at Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Cir. The Opening Ceremony will take place on Thursday, September 30 at 6pm. October 1 through 3, will showcase competitive dragon boat racing. The awards and farewell party will take place in the afternoon on Sunday, October 3. In event experiences include food vendors, a merchandise tent, and a beer garden.
Experience the excitement as the full orchestra returns to the stage this season on Saturday, October 2 at 7:30pm at the Sarasota Opera House. Kensho Watanabe leads a program beginning with Valerie Coleman's heroic Seven O'Clock Shout, a tribute to essential workers. Dominic Cheli will shine in Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 20, and Schumann's "Spring" Symphony will lend a perfect finale to this long-awaited reunion of orchestra and audience.
The Suncoast Science Center/Faulhaber Fab Lab’s STEAM Saturdays classes are back by popular demand. The weekly courses provide students from grades 1-12 with a unique opportunity to explore various science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) areas through engaging hands on activities and the use of high-tech Fab Lab equipment such as laser cutters, vinyl cutters, 3D printers and more. STEAM Saturdays run weekly from 10 am-1 pm beginning Saturday, October 2. Returning classes include Robotics, Engineering, Chemistry and Art Lab, while new courses like Coding & Artificial Intelligence, Electric Engineering, and Build Your Brand have been added. All students are invited to spend their Saturday at the Fab Lab. There are classes to suit every age and interest, from creating spooky pumpkin volcanoes in “Halloween Chemistry” to programming a robot to travel across a zipline in “Engineering” class. No experience is required. Classes are $40 and include all supplies and take-home projects. Limited spaces are available, and sessions sell out quickly. For the full schedule and more information, visit https://suncoastscience.org/steam-saturdays.
FST Improv Presents Out of Bounds Playing Every Saturday Beginning October 2 at 7:30pm. Out of Bounds is the heart of the FST Improv Winter Season. Eight teams comprised of our top improvisers will be competing for your attention, love, and points! The show is a fast-paced, no holds barred improv show featuring five of the best improv comedians of the Suncoast for a night of games, scenes, and skillful storytelling. No rules. No boundaries. Just spectacular comedy and incredible improvisation.
Sarasota, located along Florida's Gulf of Mexico, is well known for its white sandy beaches and beautiful architecture. This popular craft festival has garnered crowds of fine craft lovers each year and will take place on Saturday, October 2nd, 2021 from 10am to 5pm and Sunday, October 3rd, 2021 at 1 Central Avenue. A variety of jewelry, pottery, ceramics, photography, painting, clothing and much more. An expansive green market with plants, orchids, exotic flora, handmade soaps, gourmet spices and freshly popped kettle corn further compliments the weekend. Please be mindful and follow CDC guidelines.
The Skyway 2020 exhibition, now in its second iteration, is a celebration of artistic practices in the Tampa Bay region, as it is a collaboration between four institutions: the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg; The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota; the Tampa Museum of Art; and the University of South Florida Contemporary Art Museum, Tampa. Working together, curators from each institution will offer context for the diversity of art being made in Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, and Sarasota counties. Artworks and projects in the exhibition will be selected by museum curators and the guest juror, Claire Tancons, an independent curator and scholar whose practice takes a global focus on the conditions of cultural production. Tancons has curated biennials around the world, including Prospect.1, New Orleans; the 2008 Gwangju Biennial; and the 2019 Sharjah Biennial. This exhibit will begin on June 20, 2021 and will end on October 3, 2021. Runs from 10am to 5pm.
The Ringling Museum, 5401 Bay Shore Road
The Suncoast Black Arts Collaborative (SBAC), a nonprofit organization that uses the unifying power of the arts to nurture inclusion and diversity across the regional arts and cultural landscape presents “The Black Experience in the Arts in Higher Education,” as part of its four-part Arts & Racial Justice/Discovery Series, Monday, October 4, 5:30-7pm, at Florida Studio Theatre, 1241 N Palm Ave. The moderator for the event is Dr. Denise Davis-Cotton, director, Florida Center for PAInT, USF. Panelists are: Dr. Karen A. Holbrook, regional chancellor, USF, Sarasota-Manatee; Dr. Patricia Okker, president, New College of Florida; Dr. Carol Probstfeld, president, State College of Florida; and Dr. Larry Thompson, president, Ringling College of Art and Design. The event also features faculty and students from area higher education institutions. This event is a fundraiser for SBAC’s programs and is limited to 100 guests. Masks are required to be worn at the event. Tickets are $100 per person and are not available for purchase until September 1. To purchase tickets and for more information, visit www.suncoastblackartscollaborative.org. The Arts & Racial Justice/Discovery Series is sponsored by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County and is a collaboration with Florida Studio Theatre’s Diversity Forum Series.
Love art but don’t know where to start? Learn the basics of watercolor with step-by-step instruction in mixing colors, creating a palette, beginner brush techniques, and much more. This class is perfect for aspiring artists who do not have any prior experience but have a passion for painting. Open to students of all ages. Introduction to Watercolor will take place on Mondays, from 10:30am to 2:30pm on October 4, 11, 18. Members are $160 and Non-members are $180. Class Size is 12 Students and the Instructor is Carolyn Merenda.
Add creative flair to correspondence, invitations, art projects, and more with calligraphy. This course offers an introduction to the beginner techniques used to practice making letterforms. Students will learn the tools, materials, how to hold and use the pen, starting with basic strokes. This course will specialize in Chancery Style calligraphy and will be taught indoors and outdoors. Introduction to Calligraphy will take place on Mondays & Wednesdays from 10:30am to 12:30pm on October 4 & 6, 11 & 13, 18 & 20, 25 & 27. Members are $130 and Non-members are $145. Class Size is 9 Students and the Instructor is Norma Albertha Winter.
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