SRQ DAILY Aug 31, 2026
Monday Business Edition
"It's the people and staff that really make this an intentional space. I want it to feel like a very positive experience from the beginning to the end."
Dr. Sylvia Zannis was first introduced to biological dentistry at the University of Michigan, where she received her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 2015. Her love of biology and physiology prompted her to examine this focus in dentistry—asking “why” and establishing preventive measures for patients.
“I had a realization that many patients respond to different treatments,” Zannis says. “People would come in with cavities every single time I would see them, and some people wouldn’t have any concerns.”
Her passion for biological dentistry led her to create LUMA Biological Dentistry, a Sarasota practice centered on understanding and supporting long-term oral health to enhance overall wellness. With a grand opening on August 6, Zannis emphasizes a whole-body health approach at LUMA, as well as a strong hospitality element.
“When people walk into the office, the smell, the lighting, the textures—the nervous system responds to all of these, and I want the dental office to feel more like a hotel lobby,” she says.
Instead of typical dental cleanings, LUMA measures saliva samples and uses advanced technology called Guided Biofilm Therapy for cleanings. With this precision medicine, Zannis says a colorful paste sticks to the biofilm to effectively clean teeth.
“We also offer ceramic implants and are very cautious about the materials we use, so there are no metal implants,” she says.
A biophilic design—the idea that humans respond positively to natural elements—was at the core of Zannis’s interior design process. Tall ceilings make the rooms feel light and airy. A quartz front desk brings out natural textures, and plants throughout the office invoke calming effects.
Anyone can refill their water bottles with the water filtration system in the waiting room. Zannis says every patient bay is closed, unlike other dental offices with open bays, for added privacy.
“The number one thing I was choosing during the design process was natural light,” she says. “Every room has natural light in it. It’s a great way to regulate your circadian rhythm.”
Zannis appreciates the collaborative approach between doctors and patients at LUMA, and her practice has the technology and cameras to show patients exactly if there are things that need to be quantified. She says her ultimate goal for LUMA is for patients to feel comfortable and relaxed.
“It’s the people and staff that really make this an intentional space,” Zannis says. “I want it to feel like a very positive experience from the beginning to the end.”
LUMA Biological Dentistry, 2946 University Pkwy, Sarasota, 941-404-8020, lumabiologicaldentistry.com 
Pictured: LUMA Biological Dentistry, created by Dr. Sylvia Zannis, opened in Sarasota on August 6. Photo by LUMA Biological Dentistry.
Caldwell Trust Company’s strategic approach to entering the Vero Beach market has earned statewide recognition, with the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) honoring the company with an Award of Distinction and the Judges’ Creativity Award during the 2026 Golden Image Awards. The awards recognized “Legacy Has a New Address: Building Institutional Trust in Vero Beach through Strategic Market Entry,” a communications campaign developed and led by Sheryl Vieira, vice president of Marketing & Communications at Caldwell Trust Company. The campaign positioned Caldwell’s expansion into Vero Beach not simply as the opening of a new market, but as an opportunity to thoughtfully introduce the company’s more than three decades of fiduciary experience, establish institutional credibility and build meaningful connections within a new community.
Provided photo.
The Manatee Chamber of Commerce celebrated Manatee County’s business and non-profit excellence Friday, August 28, at the Bradenton Area Convention Center during the 46th Annual Small Business & Non-Profit of the Year Awards. The annual awards recognize organizations that demonstrate the highest levels of leadership, innovation, service, growth, community impact, and a commitment to making Manatee County a stronger place to live and work. This year, more than 200 local businesses and non-profit organizations were nominated. Nearly 100 organizations completed the comprehensive application process, and 36 finalists were selected to participate in in-person interviews with the awards judges. Seven winners were ultimately selected across five small business and two non-profit categories.
PGT Windows and Doors, America’s authority in high-performance windows and doors and part of the MITER Brands portfolio, is pleased to share that its WinGuard impact-resistant product lines were recognized by Consumer Reports, the most trusted independent testing resource in the nation, as the Top-Rated Storm Window for 2026. With testing across three performance areas—wind resistance, rain resistance, and impact resistance—WinGuard products achieved the highest overall score and were also more affordable than most other ranked brands. Learn more about PGT WinGuard impact products at pgtwindows.com and view a free hurricane tips guide.
Sarasota Memorial’s Kolschowsky Research & Education Institute is enrolling stroke survivors in a new study testing a therapy designed to improve arm and hand function for patients whose recovery has been limited by lasting weakness. Led locally by Ryan Hafner, MD, physical medicine and rehabilitation physician with Sarasota Memorial’s First Physicians Group, the GRASP study is evaluating real-world outcomes associated with the Vivistim® System, an FDA-approved therapy that uses paired vagus nerve stimulation to help improve arm and hand function following stroke. The study offers an opportunity for eligible stroke survivors to participate in research that helps clinicians better understand long-term recovery associated with the therapy and its role in stroke rehabilitation.vFor more information or to find out if you are eligible to participate in the local study, contact Sarasota Memorial’s research team at (941) 917-2225 or researchinstitute@smh.com. Additional information about the national registry study is available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05301140
Babcock Ranch continues its commitment to health and wellness with the opening of its third onsite healthcare facility, Tampa General Medical Group (TGMG) Babcock Ranch, in partnership with Tampa General Hospital (TGH). Opened earlier this month in The Shoppes at Yellow Pine, TGMG provides preventative care, adult and pediatric primary care, and on-site lab services to all residents. For more information, visit www.TGMG.org/BabcockRanch.
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Lynette Herbert has been named Sarasota County’s Director of Health and Human Services, bringing more than 20 years of professional experience spanning public health, human services, local government and the nonprofit sector to the role. For more information, call 311 or 941-861-5000, or visit scgov.net.
The Sarasota Tiger Bay Club invites the public to attend its September 17 meeting discussing Florida’s homestead property tax exemption. Check in begins at 11:30 a.m. at Michael’s On East, 1212 East Avenue South in Sarasota. For more information and to register (required) for this luncheon, visit SarasotaTigerBay.com or call 941-228-9144.
Based on a ridiculous tabloid story, Bat Boy: The Musical is a comedy horror show about a half-boy, half-bat creature who is discovered in a cave near Hope Falls, West Virginia. As he learns to navigate human society and falls in love with a local veterinarian's daughter, Bat Boy discovers that fitting into a community can be far more complicated than simply learning how to act normal. The production will be performed in-the-round, placing audiences in the middle of the action and creating an immersive theatrical experience.
The Crossings at Siesta Key, 3501 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota
As Art Sarasota Center closes its centennial season and begins another century, it welcomes four artists and their works for the upcoming August and September season. Molly Duff-Clarke will showcase Home for Dinner, and curator Alecia Harper will present Shaping Sarasota: A Century of Art, which presents a chronological visual history spanning 100 years of creativity. Antoine Williams presents a new body of work that reimagines Black southern cultural folklore and traditions with Putting Breath in the Body. Finally, juror John Pirman presents the juried show, Icons.
Art Center Sarasota, 707 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota
This free summer program encourages guests to explore all six Anna Maria Oyster Bar locations while enjoying exclusive savings and creating memories along the way. Available while supplies last, each passport includes more than $100 in exclusive offers that can be redeemed throughout the promotion. The grand prize winner will be announced on September 8, and passport offers are valid through October 31. A bonus grand prize entry is available at Cafe on St. Armands.
Anna Maria Oyster Bar
Enjoy a delicious brunch offered every Sunday at Tripletail Seafood and Spirits on the beautiful covered patio or casual dining room. The menu features a variety of dishes created by Chef Cesareo Cardenas, including his decadent creme brulee French toast, steak and eggs, lobster benedict, crab and shrimp omelet and the Tripletail brunch burger. Guests will receive a complimentary Bloody Mary or mimosa with the purchase of any entree.
Tripletail Seafood and Spirits, 4870 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota
Every Saturday and Sunday, Cask and Ale on Main Street lifts a toast and taps a toe to a delicious brunch with a diverse chef-prepared menu. Try the rotating chef's special menu, bottomless mimosas and a wide selection of craft cocktails. On Sundays, hear live jazz music from 12pm-4pm.
Cask and Ale, 1548 Main St., Sarasota
FST's resident improv team returns with Out of Bounds, an audience-favorite competition where two teams battle for laughs in a fast-paced series of games. Every scene is inspired by audience suggestions, and the winning team is up to the spectators to decide–and the method of voting is applause! This no-holds-barred comedy showdown runs 90 minutes with a 15-minute intermission.
Bowne's Lab, 1265 1st St., Sarasota
From the smooth soul of Motown to the irresistible hooks of pop and R&B, this dynamic tribute spans the greatest classics from the 1960s through today. Relive beloved hits made famous by icons like The Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind and Fire, The Four Seasons and The Temptations. Featuring tight harmonies and charismatic showmanship, this energetic revue delivers constant hits and fresh takes on old favorites.
Goldstein Cabaret, 1239 N Palm Ave., Sarasota
Win prizes while you think, drink and enjoy food at Lefty's Oyster and Seafood Bar at trivia nights every Tuesday. Trivia Nation hosts a Game Show Loco Trivia experience inspired by classic game shows like Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. Test your knowledge across a variety of categories, make strategic choices and try your luck with games of chance. Bring your friends, family and coworkers, or jump in and join a team when you arrive.
Lefty's Oyster and Seafood Bar, 428 N Lemon Ave., Sarasota
At the Court Cabaret, Nancy Allen presents a powerful tribute to era-defining artists in the 1970s, featuring hits from Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Stevie Nicks, Linda Ronstadt and more. A singer trio of Victoria Boland, Samantha Duval and Madalyn McHugh deliver powerhouse vocals that capture the soul and strength of the female artists who wrote their own rules. This show is part of a three-show Summer Cabaret subscription that also includes Leaving on a Jet Plane: A Folk Journey and Legacy: Motown and More!
Florida Studio Theatre, 1265 First St., Sarasota
Curious about the Mediterranean Way of Eating? Join us for Cooking Up Health: The Mediterranean Way, an engaging, educational series that will transform your approach to food! Discover seven simple steps to healthier meals, learn easy recipes, and pick up practical tips that fit right into your everyday life. Registration includes a recipe book. 6-Week Program, Mondays: 7/27, 8/3, 8/10, 8/17, 8/24, and 8/31 from 6:00pm to 7:00pm. This class will be virtual and will have a cost of $10 per person. Zoom link for the class will be emailed to participants before the start of class.
Virtual, Virtual
Ever wonder what goes into creating a circus? The Ringling's Canvas City exhibit offers a behind-the-scenes look at the people who make the spectacular entertainment venues come to life, from tentmakers and photographers to costume designers. See over 1,500 pieces, including circus costumes, leotards, band uniforms, animal blankets and more. Costumes on view will be rotated throughout the year as museum registrars review the collection and add notes and new photography to their records.
The Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota
Back for its seventh year, the 2026 Modern Works Festival is a two-week celebration of new play development and women in theater. With a festival pass, you gain all-access entry to the work in progress, including staged readings of finalist plays, a kickoff celebration, guest speaker events, artist performances and post-show conversations that bring audiences and creators into direct dialogue. Tea Time by Erika MacDonald is this year's headlining production.
Urbanite Theatre, 1487 2nd St., Sarasota
Don't miss William Shakespeare's timeless comedy of love, identity and finding yourself in unexpected places. The play delivers one of The Bard's most hopeful messages: people can change, grow and discover who they truly are. Experience wit, romance and how theatre can be a place where humanity explores itself.
The Crossings at Siesta Key, 3501 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota
A pioneering artist, world traveler and champion of women in the arts, Yoshida Fujio was one of the first Japanese women to receive formal training in Western-style painting and build an international career. Yoshida Fujio: Secret Gardens is the first exhibition in the southeastern United States devoted to this remarkable artist. It brings together a selection of woodblock prints and one painting spanning key moments in Fujio's long career, from her early naturalistic works to the striking abstractions of her later decades.
The Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota
During the 25th Anniversary of 9/11, Lakewood Ranch Community Activities invites the community to this commemoration at the pavilion at Greenbrook Adventure Park. The event will honor the lives lost on September 11, 2001, and will pay tribute to the courage and sacrifice of the first responders and everyday heroes who answered the call. Nominations are encouraged for residents who served in response to the 9/11 events, including firefighters, law enforcement officers, medical professionals, military members and others.
Greenbrook Adventure Park, 13010 Adventure Pl, Bradenton
This special benefit concert commemorates the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001. Led by conductor Evan Roider, the program features iconic works including Aaron Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man, Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings and John Williams' Summon the Heroes. The performance will bring the community together through music while honoring those who served, sacrificed and supported others in the aftermath of 9/11.
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota
Tee off for a great cause at the Communi-Tee Golf Classic, a day dedicated to golf, community, and connection. Whether you're a seasoned golfer or simply looking for a fun way to support local initiatives, this event offers an enjoyable experience for players of all skill levels. Participants will enjoy a beautiful day on the course while helping strengthen programs that bring neighbors together. Sponsorship opportunities are also available for businesses and organizations looking to make an impact. Gather your foursome, enjoy friendly competition, and help build a stronger, more connected community.
Calusa Country Club, 18812 Scallop Lp, Lakewood Ranch
Experience the Englewood Pioneer Days Parade on Dearborn Street this September, which runs from Obee's parking lot down W Cowels Street, to McCall Road to Dearborn Street and finishes at Veterans Memorial Pavilion. After the parade, family activities include a pie-eating contest, a watermelon-eating contest, children's games, crafts and live music. Snacks, water and food are provided by Florida Bible Church and Hippie Squeeze Lemonade.
Pioneer Plaza, 325 W Dearborn St., Englewood
Celebrating its 17th year, the Venice Craft Festival showcases vendors throughout Downtown Venice on Labor Day Weekend. Visitors can explore a wide array of handmade items from jewelry and ceramics to coastal decor and candles. You can also bring your pets to this family-friendly event.
Downtown Venice, 200 Miami Ave. W, Venice
Celebrate two decades of community leadership and the lasting impact of investing in young people at the 20th Annual IPG Leadership Breakfast. This event will honor the legacy of those who have helped shape great futures while looking ahead to the next generation of leaders who will continue to strengthen Sarasota and DeSoto Counties for years to come.
Lee Wetherington Boys and Girls Club of Sarasota, 3100 Fruitville Rd., Sarasota
Joseph Kesselring's classic comedy is coming to Bradenton this fall with a blend of mystery, mayhem and outrageous humor. Drama critic Mortimer Brewster discovers that the sweet, elderly aunts who raised him have an unsettling hobby: poisoning lonely old men with arsenic-laced elderberry wine. Brewster tries to manage his aunts and his psychotic brother while frantically attempting to cover up the crimes.
Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 3rd Ave. W, Bradenton
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