People & Business Friday 2/15/19

Friday, March 29th
THE SARASOTA SCENE
People & Business
To submit your news for consideration, please send press info to scenemagazine@scenesarasota.com

Designing Daughters of Sarasota Donates $90,000 to Local Charities

Designing Daughters of Sarasota, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Roskamp Foundation, held its annual grants ceremony on Wednesday, January 15, where it was announced that the organization donated $90,000 to 30 area nonprofits from funds raised in 2018. Charities were nominated and selected by all members of the group.   “All year our members devote their time, talent and treasure to raising money through our various events,” said Ashley Guttridge, President of Designing Daughters. “Our annual grant ceremony is the culmination of that effort, at which time we give away all the funds we raise. In 2018, our members’ passion and drive did not disappoint, and we once again had a record-breaking year, granting over $90,000 to 30 different organizations.” 
 
The recipients of the funds donated by Designing Daughters of Sarasota include:
 
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast • Big Cat Habitat & Gulf Coast Sanctuary • Booker Middle School Visual & Performing Arts • Boys & Girls Club of Sarasota County • Child Protection Center – Sarasota • Children First • Every Child Sarasota • Everyday Blessings, Inc. • Faces of Accomplishment • Florida Rescue Farm • Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital Foundation • Make-A-Wish Southern Florida • Mayors’ Feed the Hungry • Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee County • More Too Life, Inc

Circus Sarasota Opens Friday, February 15

Hometown favorite Circus Sarasota opens this weekend with an international roster of amazing circus artists under their intimate, European-style Big Top.

Circus Sarasota, now entering it’s 22nd year of producing shows in Sarasota, kicks-off it’s three week run this weekend. Featuring a juggler from Russia, hand balancers from Italy, teeterboard acrobats from Sweden, a clown from Portugal and much more – including local favorite Joseph Bauer, Jr., this impressive show shouldn’t be missed by anyone who loves live performance.

Circus Sarasota produces shows annually to help fund their outreach efforts. These programs engage and educate students in Southwest Florida schools using unique interactive and innovative learning programs which have proven to increase test scores; to measurably improve the quality of life for individuals in care facilities; and to advance the extraordinary legacy and heritage of the circus.

Discounts are available for Military & First Responders, Teachers and Seniors. Tickets can be purchased at CircusArts.org or 941.355.9805.

 Special shows on President’s Day with free Cotton Candy to the first 100 children.

Girls Inc. Welcomes Ella Lewis as Director of Advancement

Girls Inc. of Sarasota County has hired Ella Lewis as its new Director of Advancement.  A Sarasota native, Ella has been working in the nonprofit sector since 2011.  Ella is a graduate of the University of Florida, and most recently, served as the Development Director for the Child Protection Center.  Ella’s responsibilities will include working with the Girls Inc. team to raise funds in support of the organization’s mission.
        
 Ella brings with her nearly ten years of experience working in the nonprofit world.  She has also served as an active member of the Junior League of Sarasota for eight years, and is the incoming Executive Vice President of the volunteer organization.  As a lifelong resident of Sarasota, Ella is thankful to have the opportunity to invest back in the community through her professional work.
   
 Girls Inc. Executive Director, Angie Stringer, stated, “We are thrilled to have Ella join our Girls Inc. family. We know that her extensive nonprofit experience and passion for our mission will help us to inspire even more girls in Sarasota County to be strong, smart and bold.”

John Cannon Homes On Display for 2019 Parade of Homes 

John Cannon Homes will have six homes on display for The Manatee-Sarasota Building Industry Association Parade of Homes this year. The Parade of homes starts this Saturday February 16th and runs through March 10.

The models being displayed by John Cannon Homes include :

 The Korina, The Victoria, The Milina, The Walara, The Akarra IV and The Corindi.

For More information on John Canon Homes in the Parade of Homes visit

https://www.johncannonhomes.com

The Bayside Club Announces Music on May Lane

Two weeks after announcing a new resort-inspired luxury living condominium development in the heart of the Rosemary District, The Bayside Club is launching its first neighborhood block party complete with food, drinks, and live music. Music on May Lane is a free public event featuring local businesses and vendors including Spice Station, the Overton, Tsunami, Make It Swirl, Pura Vie, and The Yoga Shack, among others.

The headliner for Music on May Lane will be Grammy-nominated Reverend Barry and the Funk playing covers from Earth, Wind & Fire, Prince, Rick James, and so much more. Kara & Kaleidogroove will also be performing along with Lithuanian-born solo musician, Døvydas. This eclectic group of performers promises to provide something for everyone.

Gold Coast Eagle Distributing will be generously donating refreshments and proceeds from the beer sale will benefit Tickets for Kids Charities, a non-profit with a mission to provide at-risk children with experiences that inspire hope, dreams, and achievements for a lifetime.

Music on May Lane
Friday, March 8, 2019
4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
May Lane (between Cocoanut Avenue and Florida Avenue), Sarasota, FL
Cost:  Free to public

For more information on Music on May Lane or to learn more about The Bayside Club, go to www.thebaysideclub.com or call 941-218-2022.

County Libraries, Orioles Step Up to the Plate to Knock Reading Out of the Park

Sarasota County is once again teaming up with the Baltimore Orioles and the Big League Reader program to encourage youth literacy and foster a love of reading. 

Children who sign up at a county library and read three or more books during February and March earn a free reserved grandstand ticket to the Orioles Spring Training game at Ed Smith Stadium on March 24.

Now in its eighth year, the Big League Reader program is a collaboration between the county’s public library system and the Orioles. 

The first 100 kids that finish the program will also receive a free wristband when they return to the library and get their scorecard stamped. Big League Readers will also have the opportunity to enter their names into a drawing for the chance to throw out the game’s first pitch. All readers receive a free hat when they wear their wristband to the game. 

During the month of February, children ages 6 and older may visit any of the 10 Sarasota County Libraries and pick up a Big League Reader scorecard to participate, until the program’s completion on March 15.

This year’s game will be at 1:05 p.m., Sunday, March 24, at Ed Smith Stadium, 2700 12th St., Sarasota, with the Orioles taking on the Pittsburgh Pirates. All books must be read and scorecards stamped by Friday, March 15. 

An adult companion ticket will be available at a reduced rate. Seating is limited and stamped scorecards will be accepted at the box office until Thursday, March 21.

“It’s a program that kids love,” said Sarabeth Kalajian, Sarasota County Libraries and Historical Resources director. “Most kids start out with the intention of earning a ticket to the game. But in the end, not only do they experience a great day at the ballpark, they learn that reading opens doors and leads to new adventures. We appreciate the Orioles for their generous support of this literacy partnership.”

Sarasota County libraries and the Orioles are looking forward to another successful season. 

“The Orioles are proud to team with Sarasota County’s libraries to encourage youngsters to read,” said Greg Bader, vice president of Orioles communications and marketing. “Youth literacy is a key community initiative supported by the Orioles, and we are excited to reward Big League Readers with a day of fun at Ed Smith Stadium.”

Four Areas of City Named ‘Opportunity Zones’ for Investment

Four economically distressed areas of the City could soon see long-term investment and job creation after being designated as “Qualified Opportunity Zones” under the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

The program helps to revitalize low-income communities by providing tax advantages for private individuals and corporations who invest in an Opportunity Zone Fund. It encourages the private sector to reinvest capital gains from other investments into businesses and start-ups located in these Qualified Opportunity Zones.

The four zones, outlined here, mirror U.S. Census Tracts and were selected based on poverty rate, family income, unemployment and other factors.

“We want investors to know that these parts of our community, including the historic Newtown area, are open for business,” said Steve Stancel, the City’s general manager of economic development. “Our hope is that the Qualified Opportunity Zones can be a powerful catalyst for job creation, attainable housing and economic revitalization.”

The City identified and recommended six Census Tracts in the City limits for consideration by former Florida Gov. Rick Scott. About 8,700 Census Tracts around the country qualified.

For more information, visit SarasotaFL.gov or contact General Manager of Economic Development Steve Stancel at 941-316-8412.

Partnership Addresses Crisis of Disruptive Learning

Walk into a classroom today and you will see that teachers do much more than teach. Often, a teacher is a social worker and first-responder. A seven-year old should never be literally ripping their hair out or throwing chairs in class due to stress at home. However, it’s happening right here in our community, and schools can’t keep up. 
 
Over the last four years, the intensity of developmental and behavioral disorders in children younger than six years old has been on the rise across the country. If untreated, early mental health problems persist and have long-lasting effects, including measurable abnormalities in brain functioning. The effect on students is taking a toll on educators, adversely affecting retention and recruitment as they switch to less-demanding professions. 
 
Through a $300,000 grant from the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, the Florida Center for Early Childhood recently expanded its Starfish Academy, an inclusion model pre-school serving infants and young children. Approximately 60 percent of the students have a developmental and/or behavioral disorders, requiring intensive services and adult supervision. Funds will provide for two licensed mental health clinicians and other resources to increase the Academy’s services.
 
“Our Starfish Academy is the only preschool in Sarasota that has the early childhood mental health expertise to meet the needs of these very challenged children.  In addition, we work as a multidisciplinary team of experts, including our Speech pathologists, occupational therapists, and classroom teachers,” says Kathryn Shea, President and CEO of The Florida Center. “Children can carry early traumatic experiences throughout their whole education. With these additional resources, we are confident these children will be successful in school and life.”
 
The cause of the rise of behavioral disorders in children locally is unknown, but data points to prenatal substance exposure and early childhood trauma. Half of children with a mental health condition in the United States go without treatment, according to a study published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics. Through the Starfish Academy, children can be educated in the least restrictive setting with other developing peers, increasing the chances for improved social/emotional and academic development. 
 
Part of the Barancik Foundation’s First 1,000 Days initiative, which increases access to care for mothers and babies, the program will also strengthen families, providing services they need to adequately care for their child.
 
“The earlier the investment, the greater the return,” says Teri A Hansen President | CEO of the Barancik Foundation. “By addressing the behavioral needs of children before they enter the school system, we can change the trajectory of their lives and also ease the drain on teachers.”
 
For nearly 40 years, The Florida Center for Early Childhood has been the leading provider of prevention/early intervention services in our community. Its programs focus on infant/young children through eight years of age who are at risk for academic, social, or economic failure.  Annually, over 2,500 children and families receive services. 
 
Parents/family members gain education, training, and guidance necessary to nurture their child’s development, while advancing their own growth and opportunities for further education and economic self-sufficiency. The agency continues to grow its services to meet the needs of the community, while remaining true to the core mission of early childhood.   

Hermitage Artist Retreat to Receive $30,000 Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts

The National Endowment for the Arts has approved more than $27 million in grants as part of the Arts Endowment’s first major funding announcement for fiscal year 2019. Included in this announcement is an Art Works grant of $30,000 to support the creation of new work by mid-career and established artists from diverse disciplines by providing residencies at the Hermitage Artist Retreat in Englewood, FL. Art Works is the Arts Endowment’s principal grantmaking program. The agency received 1,605 Art Works applications for this round of grantmaking and will award 972 grants in this category.

“The arts enhance our communities and our lives, and we look forward to seeing these projects take place throughout the country, giving Americans opportunities to learn, to create, to heal, and to celebrate,” said Mary Anne Carter, acting chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts.

According to Bruce Rodgers, executive director of the Hermitage, this is the largest grant the Hermitage has ever received from the NEA. It received NEA grants of $10,000 in 2016; $20,000 in 2017; and $15,000 in 2018.

“We are honored and thrilled that the NEA recognizes the importance the Hermitage’s role in supporting emerging and mid-career artists,” said Rodgers. “The project’s start date is January 1, 2019, and continues until June 15, 2019, encompassing the best time of the year for residencies on our beautiful Gulf coast.” He adds that while Hermitage artists receive six weeks of residency that can be used in weekly increments of their choosing, this NEA grant will serve 15 artists, including composers, poets, playwrights and visual artists, using between one and four weeks of their allotted time during the grant period. While in residency, Hermitage artists are encouraged to share their work with the public through open studios, free community programming, and collaborative activities with other cultural organizations in the greater Sarasota region.

The proposed artists are:

VISUAL

Linda Brooks

Jamin Carter

Amanda Marchand

Anne Patterson

Tenesh Webber

COMPOSERS

Justin Ellington

Adam Gwon

Sid Richardson

Michi Wiancko

PLAYWRIGHTS

Len Jenkin

Boo Killebrew

Max Posner

POETS

Jennifer Foerster

Elizabeth Powell

Natasha Saje

For more information on this National Endowment for the Arts grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news. For more information about the Hermitage Artist

Orioles Announce 2019 Spring Training Opening Day Plans

The Orioles have announced plans for Opening Day of the 2019 Spring Training season on Saturday, February 23, when the Orioles host the Minnesota Twins at 1:05 p.m. ET at Ed Smith Stadium. The game launches an historic season in which the Orioles will reach the milestone of one million fans attending Orioles Spring Training games in Sarasota.

Within the first three games, the Orioles will celebrate the “ONE MILLIONTH FAN” to attend an Orioles Spring Training game in Sarasota. The ballclub will select one fan at random on the day the milestone is reached to represent the one million fans. The Orioles “ONE MILLIONTH FAN” will receive a $5,000 shopping experience at Diamond Vault in Sarasota, two Spring Training season tickets for five years, and more.

Following long-standing tradition, all fans in attendance on Opening Day will receive a 2019 Spring Training schedule magnet, presented by Visit Sarasota. Additionally, the first 1,000 female fans (ages 15 and over) in attendance will receive a Birds of Paradise flower, courtesy of Beneva Flowers.

            On Opening Day, the Orioles will highlight the ORIOLES HEALTH & FITNESS CHALLENGE, a partnership with Sarasota County Schools that teaches middle school students to “eat, train, and live like the pros” by focusing on the importance of healthy eating, tobacco-free living, and physical fitness. Sarasota Middle School’s Joyful Voices Honor Students will perform the national anthem before the game and “America the Beautiful” prior to the seventh-inning stretch. Hundreds of Fitness Challenge participants and their family members are expected to attend the game, and selected students who participated in the Challenge will take the field with the Orioles for the national anthem.

The Orioles will continue their popular BIRDLAND COMMUNITY HEROES program at every weekend home game this spring by recognizing local community heroes who inspire us through their spirited commitment to extend a hand in charity, service, hope, and harmony. These heroes will be recognized during a ceremony at the conclusion of the fifth inning, with LYNN BONNETT receiving the honor posthumously at the spring opener. Bonnett was a dedicated community volunteer supporting the Sarasota YMCA and Sarasota High School baseball. He helped establish the long-running Sarasota Baseball Classic and facilitated many other youth tournaments in Sarasota County. He also coordinated parking at Ed Smith Stadium for many years to benefit the Sarasota YMCA.

Fans can enjoy fun activities, special events, and giveaways all season long. Every Sunday home game, Applebee’s presents “KIDS RUN THE BASES”, when fans ages 4 to 14 will be invited to run the bases after the game. On February 26 and March 5, fans ages 60 and over will be invited onto the field for “SENIORS RUN THE BASES”.

On March 14, the Orioles will celebrate HEROES DAY, featuring a demonstration by the U.S. Special Operations Command Parachute Team, “The Para-Commandos,” presented by Cheney Brothers.

On March 17, GO GREEN DAY, the first 3,000 fans (ages 15 and over) will receive a “Go Green” tote bag, courtesy of MLB Network. Orioles players will wear specially designed green caps that will be autographed, authenticated, and auctioned online to benefit conservation education programs at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota.

On March 19, the first 3,000 fans (ages 15 and over) will receive an Orioles pashmina scarf. On March 23, dazzling fireworks will light up the night sky after the game as the Herald-Tribune presents FIREWORKS NIGHT.

YOUTH BASEBALL DAY presented by Sun-N-Fun Resort will be March 24. Pre-registered youth teams will parade around the outfield. The first 4,000 fans (ages 15 and over) will receive a TREY MANCINI bobblehead.

Throughout the season, ballpark gates will open two hours prior to the scheduled first pitch. Season plan members will be able to access the ballpark 20 minutes early through a dedicated entrance at the Home Plate Gate for all 17 home games, including Opening Day.

OPENING DAY TIMING (GATES OPEN AT 11:05 a.m.; 10:45 a.m. for season plan members)

10:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Orioles Batting Practice
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Twins Batting Practice
1:05 p.m.
Play ball!

Tickets for the Orioles Spring Training home opener are still available and can be purchased at the ticket box office at Ed Smith Stadium from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET., online at Orioles.com/Spring, or by phone at 800-745-3000.