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SRQ DAILY Jan 31, 2022

Monday Business Edition

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Monday Business Edition

"Probably the best occurrence could be a request by those in the expanded area to request joining the DID."

- John Moran, Sarasota DID Operations Manager
 

[Downtown]  Could the Sarasota DID Expand its Reach?
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

Sarasota’s Downtown Improvement District has existed for more than a decade. Is it time to expand its reach? The board of directors for the city entity will discuss the matter at a meeting on Tuesday.

John Moran, operations manager for the Sarasota DID, said district was created by the Sarasota City Commission and ultimately it would be a decision by that elected board what happens next. But following a request by the mayor’s office, DID officials will explore a number of possibilities for the Commission to consider.

Originally created in 2008, the DID since that time has funded downtown improvements including landscaping, lighting of trees during the holiday season and organizing promotions. The resources behind that come from a 2-mill property tax on all non-residential property in a an area bound primarily by Palm and Goodrich avenues on the east and west and by Second Street and Ringling Boulevard on the north and south, with some deviations around the edges to include or exclude various properties.

Robert Gibbs, a downtown expert hired by the city years ago to recommend investment strategies in the urban core, suggested the true bounds of the working downtown run are contained by Tamiami Trail and Washington Boulevard on the east and west, and Ringling and Fruitville Road on the north and south. So the DID will explore potentially moving the borders to those streets.

But Moran notes that when the DID formed in 2008, an effort which he helped lead at the time, the Commission wanted a survey that showed a majority of property owners impacted favored self-taxation to see improvements. A survey of the carefully selected retail core for downtown found two-thirds support at the time. “That informal evidence enabled the City Commission to approve the creation of the DID,” he said. 

While Moran isn’t sure that the same effort and findings would occur today, it’s likely any expansion of DID borders would again require a demonstration of support among those who could end up paying a new tax.

“Probably the best occurrence could be a request by those in the expanded area to request joining the DID,” he said. He knows some property owners just outside the district have expressed interest in the past after asking about expanding tree lighting to their businesses and learning the program by law had to be contained within the DID boundaries.

Moran notes the tax structure for the DID could always change. The DID board in 2009 voted upon its formation to enact the maximum allowable property rate under the state statute governing its powers. But there are some similar improvement districts in Florida that tax residential property. Regardless, a broader tax base with the expansion of the district may enable the DID to achieve its goals with a lower millahe and allow for a lower tax rate, something which could result in a new tax on new properties but relief for those already paying into DID coffers.

It’s also quite possible, Moran said, that some districts on the outskirts of any proposed expansion won’t have any interest in becoming part of the district and absorbing a new tax. Moran recalls as far back as 1999, the late downtown advocate Paul Thorpe sought to create a similar taxing district but met resistance from those on the edges of downtown who did believe they would see a benefit.  

[Sports]  Orioles Equipment Trucks Embark on 1,000 Mile Journey to Ed Smith Stadium

This past Friday, Von Paris Moving & Storage trucks carrying Orioles equipment departed from Camden Yards, making their way to Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota in preparation for the 2022 Spring Training season. The trucks will travel 1,000 miles before arriving at the Orioles’ Spring Training home early this week. The 2022 season will mark the Orioles’ 13th Spring Training season in Sarasota and the club’s 12th year at the renovated Ed Smith Stadium. Von Paris Moving & Storage has been the official mover of the Orioles since 1991. Spring Training games are slated to begin Saturday, February 26, as the Orioles host the New York Yankees at Ed Smith Stadium. Tickets are currently on-sale for all 16 Spring Training home games in Sarasota. 

Click to purchase tickets.

[Ask The Expert]  Insights From Wealth Advisor Jared R. Motzenbecker

WHAT ‘NEW FRONTIERS’ DO YOU SEE WITHIN YOUR INDUSTRY THAT SRQ READERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?

There is potential for significant change in tax and estate planning laws in the near future. Combined with shifting fis- cal and monetary policy around the world, this decade could look very different from the previous one. These potential changes, and the accompanying uncertainty, make proper planning a necessity. Every day our conversations with cur- rent and potential clients are about what those changes could mean for them and how to prepare. Most people we talk with are concerned that their current plans and investments may not be the best solution for the future. We are guiding families to update those plans and portfolios when necessary to better align with their desired outcomes.

GULFSIDE WEALTH; Jared R. Motzenbecker | CFP®, CMT, CPWA® Senior Wealth Advisor. **Any opinions or forecasts contained herein reflect the subjective judgements of the author only and do not necessarily reflect the views of LPL Financial. This information should only be relied upon when coordinated with individual professional advice. 

Click here for full JAN22 Ask The Expert flipbook.

[Announcement]  Shumaker Announces New Partners

Shumaker is excited to announce that Patrick J. Duggan has been named a partner of the firm. Patrick is a member of the Labor, Employment and Benefits Service Line in the Sarasota office. Experienced in both state and federal courts, Patrick practices employment law and litigation on behalf of management in a variety of complex workplace and business disputes. The following Tampa lawyers have also been named partners of the firm. Stefan Beuge is a member of the Finance, Banking, Creditors' Rights and Insolvency Service Line in the Tampa office, where he focuses on representing creditors, investors, and distressed debt lenders in bankruptcy, foreclosure, and collections. In addition to his creditor rights work, Stefan also practices in the field of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) law. Grant P. Dearborn is a Board Certified Health Care lawyer with 20 years of health law experience and is a member of the Health Law Service Line in the Tampa office. Grant is also certified in Healthcare Compliance and Privacy by the Health Care Compliance Association and he is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit and County Court Mediator.

Founded in 1925, the Shumaker team of more than 270 lawyers and advisors is a premier provider of legal and legislative solutions, focused on being a positive and impactful difference maker for our clients and in the communities we serve. 

[Family Performance]  CreArte Latino Cultural Center Presents Magic Show/Noche de Magia

CreArte Latino Cultural Center presents a new bilingual family performance, “Magic Show/Noche de Magia” on February 4 at 7:30 pm. Locally known as the “Great Comedian and Magician,” Einar Ibarra created and stars in the performance. Originally from Mexico, Ibarra attended a school for the arts and took classes in music and dance. He and his father sometimes performed as clowns together at events, dressing up and making people laugh. He became interested in magic as a teenager. “My neighbor was a magician; he would do the tricks for me and make me study them on my own,” says Ibarra. “He insisted that I figure them out for myself. And it was fun to learn and show my friends and family.” For Einar, magic and comedy go together and he’s looking forward making people laugh in CreArte Latino’s new theater. “The reason I do magic is to bring joy to the community.”

“Reaching out to children and families, to people of all ages, with a variety of events, is a vital part of our mission,” says Carolina Franco, president and artistic director of CreArte Latino Cultural Center. Programs have included classes in dance and acting for children, as well as book clubs and art workshops for families. “We are so happy to host a local artist in a bilingual performance accessible and entertaining for everyone.” CreArte Latino Cultural Center follows #SafeArtsSarasota Covid protocols. Tickets are $15. 

Click here to register.

[Grants]  JFCS of the Suncoast Awarded Grants for Building Strong Families Program

JFCS of the Suncoast was recently awarded three grants for its Building Strong Families program. Building Strong Families, offered in Sarasota and Manatee counties since 2003, is a project geared towards keeping families with school-age children in the home safely housed in their present home by providing financial assistance and case management services because of a job loss or reduced earnings.

The grants include:  $10,000 from Truist Bank, $25,000 from the Virginia White Clark Memorial Fund at the Bank of America Client Foundation, for use in the Employment and Financial Stability program of Building Strong Families; and, $50,000 from the Siemer Family Foundation Fund at the Gulf Coast Community Foundation.

The grants will help JFCS continue to serve those at risk of homelessness because of domestic violence, substance abuse, divorce/separation, medical crisis, employment loss and other life challenges. The program is also geared at reducing school mobility among low-income students. Services include intensive case management, counseling, education, employment coaching and budgeting tools.

“Like many of the programs offered by JFCS, Building Strong Families relies on the generosity of donors and area foundations who understand the importance of these essential human services in our community,” said Ron Katz, JFCS Chief Development Officer. “By supporting prevention-focused programs, our donors help us provide the most appropriate services to individuals and families from across the region.” 

For more information.



[SOON]  MUSIC: Sarasota Concert Association: Pianist Emanuel Ax performs Chopin , February 1, 7:30pm

Pianist Emanuel Ax performs Chopin on Tuesday, February 1 at 7:30pm at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. A favorite of Sarasota audiences, legendary pianist Emanuel Ax performs an all-Chopin program of the composer’s late works, including Sonata No. 3, Scherzo No. 4, a selection of nocturnes and mazurkas, and the Polonaise-fantaisie, Op. 6. 

[SOON]  GALLERY: Sarasota Art Museum: Unconventional Evening , February 2, 6pm

Unconventional Evening on Wednesday, February 2, 2022 at 6pm at Sarasota Art Museum. An interactive event on the South Lawn, featuring The Box installation by artist Coke Wisdom O’Neal. Enjoy cocktails, dinner and an optional session to be photographed by the artist inside the work, which rises 24 feet in height and serves as a unique backdrop. This one-of-a-kind experience will be captured on film and then printed for you by the artist. Individual Tickets: $250/person, Contact Laura Stuart Wood at lwood1@ringling.educreate new email or 941-309-4321. Online tickets coming soon.

[SOON]  THEATER: Florida Studio Theatre: The Play That Goes Wrong , February 2 – March 13, Varies.

Welcome to the opening night of The Murder at Haversham Manor, where things are quickly going from bad to utterly disastrous. With an unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can’t play dead, and actors who trip over everything (including their lines), everything that can go wrong does go wrong during this 1920s murder mystery play. Will these accident-prone performers beat the odds and make it to their final curtain call? Find out with this Olivier Award-winning comedy. The Play That Goes Wrong, by Henry Lewis, Johnathan Sayer, and Henry Shields, will play beginning January 19, 2022 through March 13, 2022 in FST's Gompertz Theatre.

[SOON]  PERFORMANCE: Van Wezel: An American in Paris , February 2 – February 3, 7:30pm and 7pm

In post-war Paris, romance is in the air and youthful optimism reigns. Gershwin’s soaring melodies are matched by gravity-defying dance as the world rediscovers the power of love in this breathtaking production on February 2 at 7:30pm and February 3 at 7pm. Hoping to start a new life, World War II veteran Jerry Mulligan chooses newly-liberated Paris as the place to make a name for himself as a painter. But Jerry's life becomes complicated when he meets Lise, a young Parisian shop girl with her own secret — and realizes he is not her only suitor. Winner of four Tony Awards® and inspired by the Academy Award®-winning film, this exquisite production features your favorite Gershwin songs including “I Got Rhythm,” “Liza,” “'S Wonderful,” “But Not for Me,” and “Stairway to Paradise.”

[SOON]  GRAB BAG: Taste of Thunder Whiskey Tasting Event , February 2, 6pm-8pm

Enjoy a private and intimate signature whiskey tasting experience at Cask & Ale on Wednesday, February 2 from 6pm to 8pm at 1548 Main Street. Your special guest host for the evening will be Steve Walleser who has served as a Whiskey Ambassador for 40 years. Your ticket purchase includes: (4) Templeton Rye Whiskey Tastings, Paired Food, and A Keepsake Thunder By The Bay Etched Whiskey Tasting Glass. All Ticket Proceeds Benefit Suncoast Charities for Children. Tickets are Limited - No Refunds - Must Be 21 Or Older.

[SOON]  HEALTH: Selby Gardens: Fitness in the Forest: Outdoor Movement Class at Historic Spanish Point February , February 2 – February 23, 10:15am-11:15am

An outdoor guided workout of gentle exercises combining yoga, martial arts, and dance. Immerse yourself in nature, overlooking Little Sarasota Bay, and increase energy, flexibility, balance, and physical wellness. Wear comfortable clothes and lightweight shoes; bring water and a towel for the final stretch. Any age/fitness level welcome. General admission to HSP included. Drop-ins encouraged. For ease of transaction, drop-in payments should be made in cash. Please check-in 15 minutes before for your class at the Welcome Gazebo. Fitness in the Forest will take place on Wednesdays from 10:15am to 11:15am: February 2, 9, 16, and 23. Class fee: Members $20 / Non-members $30. Class Size: 50 Students. Instructor: Kathy Oravec.

[SOON]  MUSIC: Sarasota Orchestra: Masterworks: Beethoven and Tchaikovsky , February 3 – February 6, 8pm and 2:30pm

This program presents two captivating young stars to Sarasota on Thursday, February 3 at 8pm, Friday, February 4 at 8pm, Saturday, February 5 at 8pm, and Sunday, February 6 at 2:30pm. Grammy Award-winning violinist Augustin Hadelich performs Beethoven's serene, yet astoundingly difficult Violin Concerto. Maestro Yaniv Dinur has a reputation for dynamic and passionate performances. Opening the concert, Gabriella Smith's Field Guide features rhythms and sounds of the natural world. The program concludes with Tchaikovsky's iconic Symphony No. 4, one of the Russian master's most exhilarating works.

[SOON]  GRAB BAG: Library Foundation of Sarasota: Love Our Libraries , February 3

The Library Foundation of Sarasota County is celebrating its 10th Anniversary with its annual sellout event, the Love Our Libraries Author Luncheon. This year’s event returns in person on February 3, 2022, at the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium and will celebrate all the important ways Sarasota's local library system supports our community. The event will feature Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, author, cultural critic and journalist Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr.  As host of the popular PBS series Finding Your Roots, Dr. Gates has helped to expand America’s sense of itself, stimulating a national conversation about identity with humor, wisdom and compassion. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. is the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor and Director of the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research at Harvard University. In addition to being an award-winning filmmaker and journalist, Professor Gates has authored or co-authored 25 books and created 23 documentary films. In his most recent book, “The Black Church: This is Our Story, This is Our Song,” Gates presents a powerful new history of the Black church in America, taking readers on a 400-year journey where the church has been the Black community’s abiding rock and fortress. 

[SOON]  PERFORMANCE: The Ringling: Ringling Underground , February 3 – April 7, 8pm-11pm

Enjoy live music, art and atmosphere in the Museum of Art Courtyard during Ringling Underground 8pm to 11pm. This event features an eclectic mix of local and regional live music. Check out up-and-coming artists displaying their work in the Museum of Art Courtyard. Note: Wearing a face mask is strongly encouraged. Upcoming dates are February 3, March 3, and April 7.

[SOON]  FILM: The Ringling: The Gospel According to Andre , February 3, 1pm

No one in the fashion world can afford to ignore André Leon Talley. This is partly because of his incredible fashion knowledge, vast network and strident opinions, and partly due to his hugely flamboyant appearance. As an African American over six feet tall, he stands out in the predominately white fashion industry. Talley doesn’t live for fashion, but for beauty and style. "Fashion is fleeting, style remains," he says early on in this documentary about the motivations behind this high priest of couture. Designers and fellow journalists talk at length in the film, which also features a lot of stunning archive footage. Talley grew up with his grandmother in Durham, North Carolina. He had a sheltered upbringing—stylish Sunday visits to church were the highlight of his week. This was the era of racial segregation in the United States: if his grandmother wanted to try on a hat in a store, she had to put a headscarf underneath to "protect" the white ladies from her black hair. Memories like this certainly contributed to Talley’s extraordinary drive to make it in the world of haute couture. The Gospel According to Andre will show on February 3, 2022 at 1pm at the Historic Asolo Theater. 

[SOON]  GRAB BAG: Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto: Steak & Burger, Youth of the Year Celebration , February 4, 6pm

Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties will honor 6 outstanding Club members at the annual Steak & Burger, Youth of the Year Celebration on Friday, February 4, 2022, at 6pm. at the Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club. Club members who compete for the Youth of the Year title embody the values of leadership service, academic service and healthy lifestyles. This premier recognition program of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America celebrates the extraordinary achievements of Club members. Candidates compete at the local Club, state and regional levels before attending the national celebration.

[SOON]  FILM: The Ringling: Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am , February 4, 6:30pm

After a stint as an editor early in her career, American writer Toni Morrison understood the publishing industry better than the ordinary writer—but she refused to be defined by the establishment. She wrote her books from a vital, underrepresented point of view. Morrison was one of the few who wrote for an African American audience, and she understood the way language could operate as an oppressive or uplifting force—she refused to let her words be marginalized. After years of fighting to be heard, Morrison was awarded a Nobel Prize for her writing, and her novels are now taught in schools around the world. Through a trove of archival material, evocative works of contemporary art, and interviews with Oprah Winfrey, Angela Davis, and Morrison herself, we revisit her famed books and learn about the inspiration for her writing. The Pieces I Am will show on February 4, 2022 at 6:30pm at the Historic Asolo Theater.

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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