SRQ DAILY Jul 29, 2020
Wednesday Philanthropy Edition
"We believe that by recruiting local restaurants into our BadFive Free program, we can create an eco-friendly culture while growing the area's economy."
"Recycling is not enough." That's Rethinking Plastic's belief and company mantra. Since their start in 2017, the Sarasota-based organization has been connecting with individuals in Sarasota County and throughout the US—researching, learning and helping to educate those looking for ways they can become more sustainable in their daily lives. In particular, Rethinking Plastic's main focus remains in the area of food, including finding alternatives for single-plastic products, eliminating extra packaging and avoiding unnecessary waste. They strive to help business owners and restaurants do the same by becoming BADFive Free (to-go containers, straws, bottles, bags and utensils). The BADFive Free program celebrates restaurants that refuse single-use plastic waste in order to protect our coasts, oceans and marine life. When a restaurant obtains "BFF" recognition, they provide their patrons with sustainable and eco-friendly options that help mitigate that individual's waste footprint and tackle the world's plastic problem by making at least a dent on the community scale. "We believe that by recruiting local restaurants into our BFF program, we can create an eco-friendly culture while growing the area’s economy."
Most recently, the organization hosted a free screening for 10 days for viewers to learn ‘The Story of Plastic.’ Those who wished to learn more about the destructive lifespan of plastics across three continents were able to stream and watch the featured film at their own convenience. ‘The Story of Plastic’ documentary not only sheds light on the global movement but calls to action that the time is now for change. On July 28 (World Nature Conservation Day), the ongoing screening culminated with a Zoon panel discussion and Q&A session with local leaders already waging the war against single-use plastics.
The green panel of trailblazers included restaurateur, environmentalists and owner of Leaf & Lentil, Sheila Siegel. The 100% vegan, family-owned, fast-casual restaurant in Sarasota uses only plant-based paper to-go packaging and offers cooler drinks that are in glass or aluminum containers. "Finding alternatives to plastic has been harder than I ever expected but worth the effort. We’ve especially struggled with product availability a bit during this pandemic," says Siegel, "but watching the movie and being on the panel has committed us to trying that much harder."
Leaf & Lentil signed on early to the BadFive Free program and has since completed all five stars with Rethinking Plastic. Sarasota restaurants Indigenous and Blu Kouzina are among the others on board and setting an example as completely rid of all five guilty culprits. Sarasota Sailing Squadron is close to gaining its 5th star for its social events, while MADE and 1812 Osprey are rethinking plastic by using alternatives for three of the BadFive.
Any local establishment that wishes to get onboard with the BADFive Free program can contact Rethink Plastic to have one of its members come to visit and help get the ball rolling on a less plastic-filled environment. 
The Team Tony Cancer Foundation, a Sarasota-based nonprofit organization that provides free peer-to-peer cancer support and resources to cancer fighters, survivors, and caregivers so no one on Florida’s Suncoast faces cancer alone, is hosting the Gran Fondo Sarasota Bike-a-thon 2020. The Bike-A-Thon is a virtual fundraiser. It’s a way for us to safely come together to raise funds and support fighters, caregivers and others facing cancer. From September 1st through September 30th, bikers will complete their own meaningful miles and collect pledges; per completed mile or contributors may choose to donate a set amount in support of a biker’s efforts. There is no registration fee, and no fundraising minimum. On Sunday, October 4th, they will gather together in person, for our 3rd Annual Gran Fondo Sarasota at Nathan Benderson Park.(*subject to change based on CDC guidelines*) They will celebrate collective stories of triumph, acts of courage, tributes of love, and community support at Nathan Benderson Park with both a 33 and 62.5 mile ride. This will be different from previous years as they follow social distancing guidelines.
To learn more about 2020 Bike-a-thon or for other information call 941-227-4404 or email info@teamtony.org.
The John & Mable Ringling museum of Art is pleased to welcome two Artists in Residence as part of the Art of Performance program. John Sims, a Sarasota based artist and writer and Liony Garcia, a dancer and choreographer from Miami will be working on-site at The Ringling this fall. Besides in-studio creative development of new projects, both artists will engage with the public through artist’s talks, with dates to be released later in 2020.
John Sims, a Detroit native is a conceptual artist, writer and social justice activist, who creates art and curatorial projects spanning the areas of installation, performance, text, music, film and large-scale activism, informed by mathematics, design, the politics of white supremacy, sacred symbols/anniversaries, and poetic/political text. Liony Garcia is a dancer and choreographer based in Miami, Florida
Dr. Elizabeth Doud, Currie-Kohlman Curator of Performance said, “The Ringling is not only a center for the presentation of live performance, but also an incubator of new creative projects by living artists of all disciplines. The Art of Performance hosts artists-in-residence in the Perret Performance Studio in which choreographers, composers, circus artists, theater makers and other practitioners can test ideas, experiment with new artistic language and invest in the performance of tomorrow. We know that working artists need space and time to work, and that institutional support for creative endeavors feeds the ecology of the cultural landscape. As a public museum committed to access, inspiration and innovative ideas, we make space and time available to individual artists and projects annually.”
Selby is excited to announce that Selby Gardens will celebrate 40 years of the annual juried photographic exhibition and sale with a virtual edition hosted in partnership with The Observer Group. The virtual exhibition will be viewable August 27 to September 20 on Selby.org and YourObserver.com. Online Photo Submissions open from Sunday, August 9 to Friday, August 14. Winners will be announced on Thursday, August 27, and the Virtual Exhibition will be held from Thursday, August 27 to Sunday, September 20. To minimize person-to-person contact, photos must be submitted digitally. Please stay tuned for more step-by-step details on how to submit your photos. Entry is open to all amateurs, but photos must have been taken at either Selby Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota or Historic Spanish Point campuses. Please refer to the entry details below for more information.
Contact Laura Avery, Manager of Classes & Exhibits with questions at 941-366-5731 ext. 239, or education@selby.org.
A diverse group of enthusiastic supporters of African American creative arts have come together to organize a non-profit organization, the Suncoast Black Arts Collaborative, Inc., to increase knowledge and appreciation of the innovative works produced by Black artists. Suncoast Black Arts Collaborative mission is to advocate for greater exposure to African American Artists throughout the Suncoast Arts community and to provide educational forums/symposia to expose students and arts patrons to the work of African American Artists. The organization has received its 501(c)3 status. Suncoast Black Arts Collaborative recently inducted six members into the organization which brings its membership to sixteen including professional artists, photographers, collectors, and leaders of major area arts organizations. Michele Des Verney Redwine, a well-known figure in the local arts community, is the founder and current president of the organization.
After just over a year at its current location, Bogati Urn Company is on the move again. The company closed July 17, 2020 on its fourth location in 11 years and will officially make the move over Labor Day weekend. “It didn’t take long at our current location to realize that between new products, a significant increase in new customers, and brisk sales we would soon need even more space,” said company founder, Andrea Bogard LeBlanc. “When a larger space I’d been eyeing for a while became available, I knew I had to jump on it to continue Bogati’s growth.” Bogati is headed back to Northgate Business Park in Sarasota, FL, which is where the company was located for nine years prior to moving to its current location. The new building is 30,886-square-feet, more than twice its current space of 14,400-square-feet. Most notably it features an air-conditioned warehouse, which will help keep products free from humidity, and three loading docks, which will greatly ease the unloading of containers.
The private estate will offer three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and nearly 3,700 square feet under air. Ideal for entertaining, the home’s open floor plan includes a study, piano room and a great room that opens into an expansive outdoor living space with a large covered veranda, outdoor kitchen and oversized pool deck. “The Founders Club is uniquely one of the few true custom-build communities in the area, and the homebuyers quickly realized it was the perfect setting,” said T.J. Nutter, President of Nutter Custom Construction. “The width of the homesites allow a lot of flexibility in the home’s design, and the new residence will offer privacy and preserve views along with a glimpse of the golf course.” The new home is scheduled for completion next month.
Pictured: The model rendering showcases the inspired design for the new custom estate by Nutter Custom Construction.
U.S. News & World Report named Sarasota Memorial Hospital among 37 “standout” hospitals with top ratings in all 10 chronic conditions and medical procedures evaluated in its “Best Hospitals” guide this year. As in previous years, SMH again ranked No. 1 in the Sarasota-Bradenton-North Port region and among the Top 10 in Florida. Sarasota Memorial CEO David Verinder attributes the consistently high ratings to the hospital staff’s longstanding public mission. “I cannot recognize our physicians, nurses, leadership team and entire staff enough for their commitment to this community and the care they provide to our patients each and every day,” Verinder said. “Their efforts have been truly heroic during this pandemic, and it is that unwavering diligence and dedication that will always set Sarasota Memorial apart.”
ArtisTree employees are enjoying their yards more these days, preferring outdoor family time over crowds during the COVID-19 pandemic. Survey findings surprised upper management, who assumed that most ArtisTree employees working 50-60 hours outside every week wouldn’t want to be anywhere near a blade of grass. But 60 percent of those surveyed said they were spending more time in their yards on a variety of projects ranging from general maintenance and landscape enhancements to vegetable gardening and hardscape installations. “ArtisTree employees were also asked what benefits they received from spending more of their free time outside,” said Vice President of Marketing Debra Morrow. “The three most popular answers were more quality family time, the satisfaction of having a healthier, nicer-looking yard, and less stress and anxiety caused by the pandemic.”
The Lake Club, admired as the most exclusive village in Lakewood Ranch, continues to inspire luxurious living with stunning homes by renowned builders and incomparable amenities. Lake View Estates, a popular enclave in the village, is currently 80 percent sold out. The exceptional enclave began with 68 lakefront estate homes, of which there are only 14 remaining. Featuring spectacular lake views on estate-size lots, the homes in Lake View Estates are crafted by four of the region’s most highly acclaimed builders: Anchor Builders, Arthur Rutenberg Homes, John Cannon Homes and Stock Signature Homes. Homebuyers will need to act fast to claim the remaining grand residences.
To learn more about Lake Club living visit the information center located at 8307 Lake Club Boulevard in Lakewood Ranch or call 855-201-8065.
Realtor Martyn Reece has joined RE/MAX Alliance Group in the University Park office. He has 38 years of real estate experience, specializing in country club living. A resident and golf member of University Park Country Club, Reece was part of the sales team for the community when it first opened. He also worked with The Meadows Country Club and Amelia Island Plantation.
8027 Cooper Creek, #105, 941-993-5014, martynreece2@gmail.com.
All Faith's food bank assembles the troops for a massive food distribution at Ed Smith Stadium.
Click here to read the full article from SRQ's Summer 2020 edition.
Last chance to reserve your appointment for the Fab Lab Blood Drive: Today, July 29 from 11:00am-4:00pm. Fab Lab is thrilled to be partnering with SunCoast Blood Centers to continue support of the community during this unprecedented time and help fill local blood and platelet deficiencies. Remember, all successful blood donations will receive a free COVID-19 antibody test, plus a student-designed memento made at the Fab Lab.
Our new non-fiction Mindful Reading Book Club on Zoom, led by Roxanne Baker. Meets virtually via Zoom. This month we’re discussing Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World by Vivek Murthy, M.D. Purchase of a ticket is required for participation. The $32 ticket includes the book which you can pick up curbside (We will send you an email when the book is ready for pickup) or have shipped to you via USMail, tax, and the Zoom meeting. Complete the ticket purchase and we will get you the book with plenty of time to read it before the book club meeting. The Zoom link will be sent one day prior to the book club meeting.
Covid 19 - You've got questions, we've got answers from the frontline. Join us for this special opportunity to get current and accurate information on how the pandemic is affecting the Sarasota/Manatee community and learn what you can do to stay safe. Andy Guz, CEO at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center gives a summary update and answers as many of your questions as he can in one hour. $5 members and $10 non-members.
FST invites you to join us for Suffragist Saturdays, a casual conversation series featuring leading women in our area. Come connect, learn, and celebrate the upcoming 100th anniversary of the women’s right to vote as well as the real people who made it all possible. Featured guest: Jane Plitt, first Executive Director for the National Organization for Women (NOW). Suffragist Saturdays are free to attend, though registration is required. Presented as part of FST’s Suffragist Project: Celebrating 100 Years of the Woman’s Right to Vote. Suffragist Saturday with Jane Plitt will be held exclusively online. After registering for this virtual event, you will receive an email the day before the event from Florida Studio Theatre containing information about joining the online Zoom event.
Visit the Sarasota Farmers Market in Downtown Sarasota from 7am-1pm, rain or shine. We understand the severity of COVID-19; therefore, we are instituting some guidelines for both vendors and customers to follow as you join us downtown. Customer Code of Conduct: Stay home if you are sick or have been in contact with someone who is sick, Make a shopping list before coming, Pre-order and prepay vendors online if possible, Designate one shopper per household, Leave pets at home unless it is a service animal, Wear a mask, Look with your eyes only touch what you will buy, Maintain 6 feet of space between you and any others, Shop quickly and get everything to go, No gathering keep walkways clear, Hand sanitizer available at all vendor booths and sanitizing stations.
Downtown Sarasota, Lemon Avenue and State Street, Downtown Sarasota
Walk or run on your own or with a group of friends anytime between August 1 - August 31, 2020. Participants will receive an event t-shirt, lanyard and Players swag. Prizes and incentives are offered! Please list shirt size in order notes. Registration Deadline is July 15.
Art Uptown's regionally acclaimed artists offer passage to worlds unseen and under explored through the upcoming Summer Sojourn showcase on view from Tuesday, August 4 through Saturday, August 29. The exhibit features a wide array of media: photography, jewelry, fabric, glass, ceramic, sculpture and painting. Hungering for a reminder of Provence? Take in Jill Krasner's Yellow Daffodils (top left) or Jana Millstone's Tulip Trip (lower left). Seeking a little Zen-like serenity? Pause at Joan Libby Hawk's ceramic vessel, Elegy (top right). Marlane Wurzbach's Egret's Buffet (lower right), Bill Swanson's Juvenile Angelfish and Maro Lorimer's Haze take you right to the water's edge of your choice. Elijah (below left) by Janet Mishner invites the viewer to a more spiritual place and Liz Cole's abstract Bring on the Sun (below right) pushes the darks to brights. More than twenty other accomplished artists' work fills the Summer Sojourn showcase with unexpected, art-inspired journeys. The gallery continues its commitment to visitor and staff safety by the use of masks, sanitizer, frequent cleaning and social distancing.
Art Uptown Gallery, 1367 Main St, Sarasota, FL 34236
Insects inhabit every domain of our daily lives, performing essential functions that balance our fragile ecosystem on Earth — functions that often go unnoticed because of their small size or scale. Now, using cutting-edge technology and custom methods that put tiny insects on a human scale, artist and photographer Bob Sober allows visitors to see the patterns, textures, colors and details that have always been present, but too small to appreciate in The Bishop’s newest special exhibition: Small Wonders: Insects in Focus.
Creating human-scale images of insects, with resolution so high that every hair, dimple and tiny structure is clearly revealed, was impossible prior to the technological advancements of the past 10 years. Now, Sober’s skills allow us to see the intersection of natural science and art in the smooth metallic finishes and heavily stippled textures, strange body shapes, delicate wing structures and beautifully engineered body components in this series of 30 images that will are on display in the Museum’s second-floor Rincon Gallery and throughout the Museum.
Small Wonders: Insects in Focus features 30 of Sober’s spectacular images and viewers will find themselves at the intersection of art and science. The exhibition, which is included in the cost of admission, is organized by ExhibitsUSA, a program of Mid-America Arts Alliance and will be open at The Bishop through October 20.
The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, 201 10th St. W, Bradenton
Lakewood Ranch, in collaboration with the Brain Health Initiative and their meditation expert, Trish Hart of Hart Mind Body Solutions, will be providing weekly mindful moments to help kick-off your week with a healthy brain boost. 10-15 minute video clips featuring Trish Hart who will provide a mindful moment to implement into your Tuesday routine. Mindful moments will include brief meditations, affirmations, short readings, yoga practice tips, and more. RSVP and invite your friends and neighbors to be notified when a new video is posted on Tuesday mornings. The Brain Health Initiative (BHI) is a cutting-edge, new approach to studying brain health that's set to revolutionize neuroscience research and position the Gulf Coast as a global leader in scientific innovation. Formed in 2018 and headquartered in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, the BHI features collaborative leadership from the Academy for Brain Health and Performance and Massachusetts General Hospital, a Harvard Medical School Teaching Hospital. Brain health clinicians, researchers, academics, and innovators from across the Harvard system and throughout the state of Florida, as well as national and global collaborators, are engaged in this collective impact effort to support significant positive brain health and performance outcomes for the greater Gulf Coast region and beyond. Trish Hart is a facilitator of the Massachusetts General Hospital's, Benson Henry Institute's (SMART) Stress Management and Resiliency Program, trained in Mindfulness for Professionals through Duke Integrative Medicine, and is an Ananda Meditation and Divine Sleep Yoga Nidra teacher.
Join Motorworks Brewing every Tuesday night at 7:45pm in the spacious outdoor Beer Garden for a one hour, all-levels yoga flow led by RYT Rachael Croll from Salty Buddha Co. Spread out your yoga mats in the fresh, open air of Florida’s Largest Beer Garden then, once safely distanced, stretch out your body, mind & soul… one delicous, cold beer at a time. Classes are just $10 and include a complimentary core four pint (V Twin Vienna Lager, Intellectual Property Ale IPA, Pulp Friction Grapefruit IPA, Midnight Espresso Coffee Porter or Rollcage Red Ale). No sign-up required; you can just show up before the class begins & sign-in/pay at the brewery. Please bring your own mat to practice on, invite all your friends, and come vibe out in our spacious Beer Garden with like-minded souls and recharge during a relaxing hour under the stars.
Motorworks Brewing, 1014 9th Street West Bradenton, Florida 34205
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