Sarasota & Manatee Counties news thread

[wondermint2]

Sarasota Memorial Hospital Board candidates forum set for July 11

For full article:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...didates-forum/

For the first time, the League of Women Voters of Sarasota County will hold a Sarasota Memorial Hospital Board candidates forum July 11.

In prior years, hospital board races did not generate a great deal of interest from the general public. In 2022, only 26% of voters participated in the hospital board elections, the league notes.

That changed after the COVID-19 pandemic when disagreements over controversial treatments and cautious hospital policies prompted conservatives to back candidates for the board, which has financial, quality and management oversight of the Sarasota Memorial Hospital community health care system, which treats 1.5 million people per year and employs 9,000 people.

The league noticed intense interest in the hospital board races when more than 100 citizens attended its “Understanding the Issues” forum in April, according to a news release. Many attendees expressed their desire to hear directly from the hospital board candidates prior to the primary election, set for Aug. 20.

The candidates’ forum will be held from 5:30-7 p.m. July 11 at the Jacaranda Library. The forum will be followed by a 30-minute candidate meet and greet for those attending in person. Registration is required and will be open on the league’s website after the June 14 deadline for candidates to qualify:

https://lwvsrq.org/

Nine Republican candidates are running for the four open seats on the nine-member board. Three of those seats are closed primaries. One seat has only Republicans running, making it a universal primary and final election for that seat, unless a Democrat or a nonaffiliated candidate enters the race.

Three Republican candidates for the board, Kendra Becker-Musante, Tanya Parus, and Mary Flynn O'Neill, the sister of Donald Trump’s former national security advisor, Michael Flynn, are running on what they call a “Medical Freedom” ticket, “championing patient autonomy and advocating for patient centered healthcare choices,” according to their shared website.

[wondermint2]

Pump Station Project to Begin Soon at the Intersection of University Pkwy and Lockwood Ridge


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3L3EZSLi7AY

Sarasota County Capital Projects Shelly Walters and Project Manager Scott Dalton provide important information regarding a new pump station project at the intersection of University Pkwy and Lockwood Ridge.

Find out more at: https://www.scgov.net/government/capital-projects or call 311.

[wondermint2]

Progress continues on new schools in Lakewood Ranch

For full article & graphic:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...akewood-ranch/

The School District of Manatee County will have many decisions to make as it intends to open the new high school off Rangeland Parkway in August 2027.

The high school will be on approximately 103 acres of land south of Rangeland Parkway and west of Post Boulevard. The land was obtained during a land swap with Schroeder-Manatee Ranch in 2021.

During the 2024-2025 school year, the district will select an architect to begin the design of the school.

Joseph Ranaldi, the deputy superintendent of operations for the school district, said the district is looking to make the school’s capacity nearly 2,000 students, but the district needs to consider the programming that will be offered at the school. The determined programming could alter the school capacity.

[wondermint2]

New museum to feature model railroad and vintage toys

Lakewood Ranch's Richard Pierson expects to open Sarasota Toy Museum and Moosehead Toys and Comics, with space dedicated to an HO scale model train layout, in July.

For full article:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...-vintage-toys/

With respect to Johnny Cash, "I hear the train a-comin.'"

It's going to be rolling around the bend on 17th Street in Sarasota as early as July.

That's when Lakewood Ranch's Richard Pierson expects to open his Sarasota Toy Museum.

A large space in the museum will be dedicated to a professionally built (by David Frary) HO scale layout modeled after the ski area in Killington, Vermont, that has been set up and maintained by the Sarasota Bay Model Railroad Society. The layout has sections that go from winter to spring to summer to fall.

The layout was featured in Model Railroader Scenery Magazine.

"This is a world-class layout," said Lakewood Ranch's George Borsari, the founder of the Sarasota Bay Model Railroad Society. "Just look at it. It has 28,000 handmade trees, a staggering number.

"This was built to be a museum layout. it was designed for people to watch the trains run."

Pierson struck a deal with the members of the Sarasota Bay Model Railroad Society because he wanted the train layout in his new museum to be something more.

"Our members like to run the trains, so we designed it so people can come here and run them, not just watch them," Borsari said.

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

Success of Giving Challenge shows the power of working together

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/smal...499bb5bf&ei=23

On April 9 and 10, this community came together in a show of unity that demonstrates just how connected we are.

The 2024 Giving Challenge, presented by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County and strengthened by The Patterson Foundation, showcased the power of collective action in our region, raising an impressive $17.2 million for 724 nonprofit organizations in a span of just 24 hours.

To incentivize giving among all income levels, The Patterson Foundation’s Governing Board again approved the unique unlimited dollar-for-dollar match on all donations from $25 to $100, which not only inspired more people to give, but also contributed $6.7 million to this year’s grand total.

Over nine Giving Challenges since 2012, the community has rallied time and again, raising $92 million in unrestricted funds for local nonprofit organizations serving Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota counties that are largely responsible for the amazing quality of life we enjoy.

Not every community is as fortunate to have such a robust nonprofit sector. Nonprofits work to enhance the well-being of our entire community in ways that include protecting our beautiful environment, presenting high-quality arts performances and exhibits, and providing care for those people (and animals!) in our region who most need it.

That’s one heckuva wrap!

Of course, there was fashion, food and fun, but the amount of money donated this year tops the charts as a season standout.

For full article:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...-heckuva-wrap/

When co-proprietor of Michael’s On East Michael Klauber took the stage as the auctioneer of his final paddle raise of the 2023-2024 social season Sunday at the Sarasota Ballet’s 2024 Gala at the Circus Arts Conservatory, he started the bids at $50,000.

One paddle shot up.

Calculating the math in our heads as Klauber asked for bids of $50,000, $25,000, $15,000, $10,000, down to $1,000, the total raised in support of the Sarasota Ballet’s performance, education and community programs was more than $550,000.

It appears that the generosity of Sarasota’s philanthropists and arts enthusiasts is at an all-time high.

And the Ballet Gala isn’t the only example. In early January, Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation flashed names on a large LED screen when Hospital Gala-goers made their pledges during its paddle raise at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. Total: $1.2 million. The entire evening brought in $1,445,000.

One of the greatest examples of generosity this season didn’t even happen at a gala. Sarasota Community Foundation’s 2024 Giving Challenge, augmented by a Patterson Foundation match, raised $17,244,298 — $1 million more than the Giving Challenge in 2022.

And Sarasota’s season of giving is not quite over yet. The last fundraising gala of the season, the 19th annual Dick Vitale Gala, benefiting the V Foundation, will be May 3 at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. Last year, that gala raised a record $12.4 million.

Jessica Rogers, vice president of philanthropy at Children First, said the past two seasons were the most successful to date in the organization’s history.

[wondermint2]

Splashdown! (Photos)

For photos:

https://www.islander.org/2024/04/splashdown/

Ryan Shim, 52, of Bradenton, was arrested by Holmes Beach police shortly after sunset April 27, charged with leaving the scene of a crash and resisting arrest, after he was observed driving erratically, ultimately landing his 2022 Porsche in the canal alongside the public docks at 75th Street and Marina Drive. Shim and a passenger exited the vehicle and Shim attempting to flea. HBPD Officer Andrew Atkins caught up with him at 72nd Street and, with the help of a bystander, made the arrest.

[wondermint2]

New Chicken Spot Looks to Be Opening in Bradenton

https://www.newsbreak.com/bradenton-...g-in-bradenton

The retail center on the northwest corner of 301 Boulevard East and 53 rd Avenue East in Bradenton appears to be the future home of a new chicken restaurant. Plan review paperwork was submitted recently by Delicious Rotisserie Chicken Corp for a restaurant location at 5108 15 th St E #18 .

Behind Delicious Rotisserie Chicken Corp is owner Jessika Mankowski . What Now reached out to Mankowski on Tuesday to inquire about plans for Delicious Rotisserie Chicken ’s new restaurant. Mankowski was not immediately available for comment.

That leaves us guessing as far as the finer details on the restaurant’s menu. The name is helpful, however: we’re betting, to say the least, on rotisserie chicken.

Opening in the retail center, the new chicken restaurant would join other food and drink concepts; namely fast and fast-casual restaurants like Subway , Checkers , and Burger King .

[wondermint2]

What to watch as spring football begins in Sarasota

Each of the area's teams has intriguing storylines to follow before summer arrives.

For full article:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...gins-sarasota/

High school spring football begins this week, and with it comes hope that each area team's fall slate will be packed with wins. But each area program also faces big questions.

[wondermint2]

Education Matters | A Safe Home for Lifelong Learning at the Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee

For full article:

https://scenesarasota.com/magazine/e...asota-manatee/

The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee is trailblazing a new era of educational enrichment and engagement, providing one of the nation’s fastest-growing Jewish communities in America with broad and stimulating opportunities for learning and facilitating cross-cultural dialogue.

The development of the Larry Greenspon Campus for Jewish Life is well underway, as previous challenges have been surmounted. Board President, Deb Kabinoff reflects on fundraising for the renovations, “First, the challenge was, ‘How are we going to build this?’ It was gratifying to see so many generous philanthropists step forward to provide us with the funding we needed. Then it became a matter of, ‘What are the best uses of this campus? How do we fit it all in? How are we going to prioritize and make sure that we’re offering a wide variety of things that are meaningful as well as fun?’ That’s been a wonderful, ongoing challenge.”

Dr. Liat Alon, the Federation’s Chief Learning and Engagement Officer, highlights the significance of inclusivity in shaping the sprawling campus’s educational programs. “We want to offer top-rate education that will allow people to have conversations that go beyond and across divides, differences, and disagreements. We want it to be intriguing, fascinating, and exciting.”

[wondermint2]

Pine View student wins design competition for new ‘I voted’ sticker

https://www.mysuncoast.com/2024/05/0...voted-sticker/

Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner has announced the winner of the 2024 “I Voted” sticker.

The winning submission was drawn by Carys Smith, a ninth-grade student at Pine View School.

The winning submission was one of more than 350 entries received from 14 Sarasota County schools. The design was selected, in part, because of its whimsical depiction of the many elements that make Sarasota County such a unique place to live. It features an alligator in sunglasses in an innertube.

The new sticker design will be used exclusively in Sarasota County for the November 5, 2024 General Election. Anyone who votes by mail (absentee), early in-person or on election day will be offered an “I Voted” sticker.