Sarasota Centennial Committee Receives Heritage Awards

April 15, 2022 – Sarasota

This award is “presented to a Sarasota County historical or preservation organization for outstanding success in historical preservation, historical education, and/or support of historical research and to have successfully completed a project or a series of projects that have had a significant impact on preserving and understanding Sarasota County’s history.” The Steering Committee and its community sponsors and partners put together a year-long county-wide celebration marking Sarasota County’s birth in 1921 that included hundreds of lectures, presentations, and cultural events that reached many thousands of Sarasotans.

DR. RENEE DIPILATO, DIRECTOR OF LIBRARIES AND HISTORICAL RESOURCES RECEIVES PUBLIC LEADERSHIP AWARD!
Under the expert leadership of Dr. DiPilato, talented and dedicated county employees organized and produced over 100 Centennial events. This program was a major facet of the year-long county-wide Centennial celebration. Staged over “100 Days,” it kicked off on March 23, 2021 at the Original County Courthouse and ended on July 15th at Warm Mineral Springs Park in North Port.

CENTENNIAL 2021 STEERING COMMITTEE’S HARRY KLINKHAMER RECEIVES LILLIAN BURNS AWARD FOR INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT!
Mr. Klinkhamer serves as the Historical Resources Manager for the City of Venice. In that capacity he oversees the Venice Museum & Archives, the Dale Laning and Julia Cousins Laning Archives & Research Center, and is the city’s historic preservation officer. This award is conferred upon an individual who has made profound contributions to the history and preservation movement in Sarasota County.

HERITAGE AWARDS CEREMONY
The awards will be presented by the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation at a luncheon ceremony on Saturday, April 30 at the Sarasota Garden Club. Click HERE for details and ticket information.

Other 2022 award recipients include:
Gregory A. and Eleana Najmy Hall Historic Structure Preservation Award
–Cunliff Residence, Brian and Katherine Leaver, 2525 Pleasant Place, Sarasota
–Cottage at Point of Rocks, Donald and Terri Liebentritt, 7208 Point of Rock Road, Siesta Key
–The Golden Host Resort and Bahi Tiki Hut, Bob Brown, 4674 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
–Paul Rudolph’s Umbrella House, Anne and Robert Essner, 1300 Westway Drive, Lido Key

Historical Research Award
Larry R. Humes, Venice Gondolier newspaper

Historical Collections Preservation Award
Alexandra Vargas-Minor, Archivist, Ringling College of Art and Design

The Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation (SAHP) is honored to present the 2022 Heritage Awards for Sarasota County. In collaboration with the History & Preservation Coalition of Sarasota County (HPCOSC), the SAHP wishes to recognize individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the preservation and understanding of Sarasota County’s historical resources. The Heritage Awards aim to raise the level of public support for governmental and citizen-based efforts to preserve our common past so future generations may learn from it.

At the April 30th event guests will enjoy an entertaining lunch and ceremony in the historic 1959 Sarasota School structure, designed by John Crowell, adjacent to the Blue Pagoda on the Sarasota bay front. Presenting the awards will be Dr. Frank Cassell, President of Friends of the Sarasota County History Center and Chair of the Sarasota County History and Preservation Coalition.

The Awards Committee was chaired this year by Lorrie Muldowney, past president of SAHP and veteran preservationist. Distinguished members of the Committee include Anne-Marie Russell, Executive Director Architecture Sarasota, Ruthmary Williams, Friends of Sarasota History Center, Dr. Frank Cassell, Henry (Barry) Preston, SAHP, Sherry Svekis, and Tom McArdle (non-voting), SAHP Treasurer.