For designer Scott Spahr, fashion is about instinct, curiosity and a willingness to dive in headfirst. Self-taught and guided by his lifelong love for art and design, Spahr launched his namesake clothing brand more than 25 years ago after working in vintage retail. “I really had a desire to have my own store where I wanted all of the clothing and fashion to be my design,” he says.

After operating his showcase from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, for more than 20 years, Spahr relocated to Sarasota in 2021, drawn by the climate, creative energy and sense of community. “I just really clicked with this area. By that time, I was tired of the Northeast winters and ready to move on,” says Spahr. He hosted a pop-up store in Downtown Sarasota and made the final decision to relocate his business when he saw the community’s appreciation for his designs.

Today, every clothing piece in his Sarasota store—which doubles as his design studio—is designed and sewn by Spahr. His love of creativity is evident in his designs—he enjoys subtly mixing prints and adding small pops of color across the range of men’s and women’s clothes he offers. Spahr intentionally keeps production runs small, choosing instead to focus on offering a variety of fabrics and patterns.

Twenty-five years in, Spahr still designs and sews every day. “I still haven't reached the point of getting burnt out. The creativity and inspiration of the work keep me going,” he says. Beyond clothing, Spahr curates a selection of jewelry, leather goods and accessories sourced from small designers across the U.S. and Europe. Looking ahead, he hopes to expand his online presence and make select pieces available for online purchase.

Scott Spahr, 56 S Palm Ave, Sarasota, www.scottspahr.com 

Caption: Scott Spahr's designs focus on subtly mixed patterns and colors. Photo provided by Scott Spahr.

Melissa Bell MSN, BSN, CEN, is the new assistant chief nursing officer at HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital. She most recently was the vice president of emergency services at HCA Florida Brandon Hospital. She has served there since 2016, working as the emergency department manager, manager of the Medical/Surgical unit and director of their five freestanding emergency rooms. She has been a nurse for more than 30 years. Bell is passionate about nursing professional practice, leadership development and creating a culture of accountability, safety and compassion. She is deeply committed to mentoring nurses, advancing evidence-based practice and supporting exceptional patient and staff experiences. ‌  

BayCare announced today that it has named Deirdre Franzese, CPA, vice president of system financial shared services, effective immediately. This newly created executive role expands leadership capacity for enterprise-wide financial accounting and shared services, underscoring BayCare’s commitment to operational excellence, transparency and long-term sustainability.   In this position, Franzese will lead net revenue management, financial reporting and finance-related technology platforms, while overseeing core shared services functions such as accounts payable and payroll to drive consistency, standardization and accuracy. She will report to BayCare Chief Financial Officer Janice Polo and ensure compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), IRS regulations and internal financial policies, partnering with BayCare Government Relations on reimbursement and regulatory strategies.   

Sarasota Memorial is honored to be named one of the nation’s 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals. The independent quality analysis, announced by Premier Inc. and published in Modern HealthCare today, evaluated a wide range of care provided to heart patients and highlighted hospitals with the best results. According to the study analysis, if all U.S. hospitals performed at the level of SMH and other top performers, more than 14,000 additional lives potentially could be saved, more than 27,000 additional bypass and angioplasty patients would experience fewer complications, and over $2.0 billion could be saved.  For more information or to view the full rankings, visit: www.modernhealthcare.com/awards/mh-premier-100-top-hospitals-2026 

It’s time to clean out the garage and gather discarded household items, yard waste, tree trimmings and any other garbage as Sarasota County hosts a free community cleanup in Nokomis from 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Feb. 21. 

Michael Saunders & Company, Southwest Florida’s leading independently owned real estate firm, is pleased to announce the addition of the Krawczyk Pagano Team to its rapidly growing St. Petersburg presence. The team joins the firm’s expanding Central Avenue office, further strengthening Michael Saunders & Company’s leadership across Tampa Bay’s luxury and coastal real estate markets. The company’s St. Petersburg sales team is currently operating from a transitional office located at 449 Central Avenue. A permanent office will soon be established within one of downtown St. Petersburg’s most iconic buildings at 400 Central Avenue, developed by Red Apple Group. 

 Halfacre Construction Company, a Lakewood Ranch-based commercial construction company, recently announced Travis Windham, project manager, was appointed as a board member to The Salvation Army of Manatee County advisory board. Windham will serve on the 11-member board for the 2026-27 term. During his time with the nonprofit, he will support the local leadership team while applying his skills to think strategically about the future and expand the organization’s impact.    

Manatee Memorial Hospital (MMH) proudly announces the completion of its first tricuspid valve replacement in Manatee County, the latest treatment option for patients with significant tricuspid regurgitation who are not candidates for traditional open-heart surgery. This minimally invasive procedure was successfully performed by the hospital’s structural heart team, (Dr. Alessandro Golino, Dr. Gino Sedillo, Dr. Eugene Parent, and Dr. S. Jay Mathews) marking a major milestone in cardiac care for the community. For more information about transcatheter valve services at Manatee Memorial Hospital, please visit Heart and Vascular Center | Manatee Memorial Hospital, Florida, www.manateememorial.com/heart.