When Poppy Jane Co. opened its doors in Downtown Sarasota this November, it marked both a homecoming and a new chapter for co-owners and mother-daughter pair Sharon Mautz and Kait Poepperling, who have spent nearly a decade building their business together. What began eight years ago as a small online venture run out of a guest bedroom in Mautz’s home has evolved into a family-run boutique with an online store and locations in St. Petersburg and now, Sarasota.

Poepperling and Mautz originally launched their business after relocating from Pennsylvania to Florida in 2017—Mautz had spent years in a corporate finance career and wanted a change. Opening a clothing boutique together was an easy decision. “Whenever we got to spend time together, we would always go shopping,” says Poepperling. “Our favorite thing to do was go to lunch and find cool, unique clothing stores. When my mom wanted to leave the corporate world, she asked me to start a business with her, and a clothing store was the first thing that was on our minds, because that's what we love doing together.”

Now, the pair’s shared vision is reflected in their carefully curated selection. The boutique focuses primarily on women’s clothing that balances trend-forward style with comfort and wearability, offered at an affordable price point. “We've always carried women's everyday, trendy clothing, but we also really try to focus on comfort. We make sure the fit of all our clothes is really good,” says Poepperling. While women’s apparel makes up about 90 percent of the store, the Sarasota location is introducing new additions, including a baby gift section and a men’s collection curated by Poepperling’s husband.

That family dynamic extends behind the scenes as well. Poepperling, who studied marketing in college, handles the branding and creative direction of their business, while Mautz oversees the financial aspects of running the boutique. “It's a good ‘dynamic duo’ between the two of us, because my mom wouldn't be able to do what I do, and I wouldn't be able to do what she does,” says Poepperling.

Opening a store on Main Street in Downtown Sarasota has long been a dream for Poepperling, who lives in the area. Although the boutique had a location at the University Town Center mall for several years before closing in 2024, she always felt that the downtown area would better suit Poppy Jane. When Poepperling finally found the right space, she jumped at the opportunity and opened the new location after just 22 days.

Looking ahead, Poepperling plans to continue refining the Sarasota store’s collection based on customers’ interests, expanding product lines and growing the business’s online presence. For now, though, she’s savoring the moment. “This downtown location has been my goal for a really long time. So I’m just enjoying this for the moment,” she says.

Poppy Jane Co., 1476 Main St, Sarasota, poppyjaneco.com

Pictured: Kait Poepperling and her mother, Sharon Mautz, opened Poppy Jane in Downtown Sarasota in November. Photo courtesy of Kait Poepperling.

Lakewood Ranch has been ranked the No. 1 multigenerational master-planned community in the United States for the eighth consecutive year based on new home sales, according to independent research from RCLCO and Zonda. The ranking reflects continued homebuyer demand as new home sales have slowed in many U.S. markets. Since first reaching the top position, Lakewood Ranch has averaged more than 2,000 new home sales annually, maintaining its lead across multiple housing cycles. Now in its 32nd year, Lakewood Ranch is home to more than 77,000 residents and features established schools, healthcare facilities, employment centers, and retail services that meet daily needs within the community. Homes range from the high $200,000s to more than $1 million. The eighth consecutive No. 1 ranking underscores the role of long-term planning and consistency in shaping housing decisions as market conditions continue to evolve. 

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Millennium Physician Group, a Mosaic Health Company and one of the largest physician-led health care groups in Florida, announced an expansion of its Florida footprint through a new physician partnership in Brevard and Indian River counties. Through this partnership, Millennium has added eight primary care locations and a team of physicians, advanced practice providers and clinical staff serving approximately 37,000 active patients across the Space Coast region. The practices share Millennium’s commitment to delivering high-quality, patient-centered and physician-led primary care, with a strong focus on Medicare and value-based care. The expansion strengthens Millennium’s presence along Florida’s Space Coast and supports its growing Medicare Advantage, accountable care and population health initiatives, reinforcing its commitment to a connected health care experience led by physicians, supported by technology and grounded in community. 

We are excited to invite you to attend CONA’s first official public meeting since 2020, taking place on January 13th (details below). This meeting marks an important milestone for our organization and the beginning of a pivotal year for our neighborhoods. This is an especially critical time to come together. 2026 is an election year, and CONA will once again host candidate forums and review local and state ballot initiatives that directly impact our communities. Your participation makes a difference. We look forward to seeing you on January 13th.

Tuesday, January 13, 6-7:30 PM, Gulf Gate Library, Room A, 7112 Curtiss Avenue. 

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BayCare has earned 17 Press Ganey Human Experience Awards® for 2025, placing the health system among the top 5% of providers nationwide and reaffirming its commitment to high-quality compassionate care. This year’s recognition reflects significant achievements across the system. BayCare’s Ambulatory division received multiple honors for exceptional patient experience, while St. Anthony’s Hospital and St. Joseph’s Hospital-North were recognized for physician experience. St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital earned a Guardian of Excellence award for HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems), the national survey that measures patients’ perspectives on hospital care and quality, marking a major milestone in patient care. These national awards are part of Press Ganey’s annual ranking of the top hospitals and health systems in the United States. Press Ganey surveys patients from more than 41,000 health care facilities, asking about safety, quality and overall experience of care.  

Calcification of the aortic valve is the leading cause of heart valve disease in older adults, and currently, there are no approved medications to slow its progression. Sarasota Memorial's Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute is working to change that. The new KATALYST-AV trial, sponsored by Kardigan, Inc aims to evaluate whether the investigational medication ataciguat can slow the buildup of calcium in the aortic valve in adults with moderate calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS). Led locally by interventional cardiologist Ricardo Yaryura, MD, the study will also assess the safety, tolerability and metabolism of the medication- how it is processed in the body. The phase 3 clinical study will enroll an estimated 1,400 patients across approximately 100 sites worldwide. If proven safe and effective, Ataciguat could become the first pharmacologic therapy to slow the progression of aortic valve calcium deposition in adults with CAVS. To be eligible, participants must be 50 years or older, have a confirmed diagnosis of moderate calcific aortic valve stenosis, and must not have had any prior aortic valve replacement, repair, or other intervention. For more information or to find out if you are eligible to participate in the local study, contact the research team at (941) 917-2225 or researchinstitute@smh.com. For information about the national trial, visit https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07001800. 

It’s time to clean out the garage and gather discarded household items, yard waste, tree trimmings and any other garbage. Sarasota County is hosting a free community cleanup in the Newtown and Beverly Terrace area from 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Jan. 24.Dumpsters for residential customers will be available at the following locations: Main site: Newtown Estates Park and Dr. Martin Luther King Way, Sarasota. 23rd Street and Chester Avenue, Sarasota. Hazardous waste, such as paint, oil, gas, electronics, small appliances and computers along with tires 25x16 inches or smaller, will be accepted at the main site at the Newtown Estates Park location. Tires are limited to four per household. Large appliances will not be accepted at this clean-up. Hazardous materials may also be taken to the Sarasota County Chemical Collection Center (North) at 8750 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday. For more information, call 311, 941-861-5000 or visit scgov.net. 

Celebrating its 23rd year in Sarasota, our free outdoor exhibition returns to Bayfront Park, featuring 50 billboard-sized works of art, each paired with an inspiring quotation. Together, these pieces celebrate kindness, respect and the beauty of our shared humanity.

Sarasota Bayfront Park | January 17 – April 19. 

Sarasota County Schools is pleased to announce that Mrs. Kelly McWilliams – currently the Assistant Principal of Glenallen Elementary School – has been appointed as the new Principal of Wilkinson School. She will assume her new role effective Monday, February 16. 

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