SRQ DAILY Dec 30, 2021
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"There is not enough supply left to maintain a clinic."
Sarasota Memorial Hospital last week closed down an outpatient clinic offering monoclonal antibodies treatment. The Manatee County Department of Health last week did the same. The means anyone seeking early COVID-19 treatment by way of these therapies must travel north to Tampa Bay or south to Englewood to find it.
The reason is a national supply chain shortage and reduced distribution by the federal government, according to health officials in the region.
“There is not enough supply left to maintain a clinic,” said Kim Savage, public relations manager for Sarasota Memorial Health Care System.
She noted hospitals previously had the ability to purchase their own supplies of antibodies treatment from manufacturers. But the delta variant of the coronavirus causing COVID-19 surged earlier this year, the federal government started rationing supplies to states, which controls disbursement to hospitals.
A state Department of Health online listing now shows no clinics in Sarasota or Manatee counties. A DOH-run clinic remains open at the Tringali Community Center in Charlotte County. Other state-run clinics to the north include one at the West Tampa Service Center in Hillsborough County and the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Pinellas County. Tampa General Hospital, the first hospital in Florida to offer the treatments, is also still listed as a provider.
The availability of supplies for MAB has remained a point of friction between Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration and the federal administration under President Joe Biden. This week, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra complaining about the lack of supplies.
“The federal government is actively preventing the effective distribution of monoclocal antibody treatments in the U.S.” Ladapo wrote. “The sudden suspension of multiple monoclonal antibody therapy treatments from distribution to Florida removes a health care provider’s ability to decide the best treatment options for their patients in this state.”
Hospitals notably say it’s a shortage of one type of treatment, Sotrovimab, that has proven problematic. That’s because that brand of MAB is the only one that has proven to be effective regarding the omicron variant, which has become the predominant virus variant in the U.S. 
On Saturday, January 8, the courtyard at The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime will be filled with laughter, joy, and iridescent bubbles. Spheres Bubble Show is one of the most unique and amazing visual displays that you will ever see! If you like Cirque Du Soleil and Blue Man Group, you will love Spheres. The show's creator, bubble phenom Blaise Ryndes from Season 13 of America's Got Talent, describes the show as a “comedic fusion of art, science and magic!” This is truly a show for all ages.Blaise will be performing outside in the courtyard. Live Music by Tyler Vaden, food from Hamlet’s Eatery, and guest vendors. Browse the 40 creators and curators inside The Bazaar. Free, until you buy something.
Sarasota County encourages celebrants to “Ride – Don’t Drive” as select Sarasota County Area Transit services will offer extended ride hours for New Year's Eve, Dec. 31, 2021. Sarasota County Government and the Florida Department of Health teamed up to help revelers safely celebrate New Year’s Eve with the “Ride – Don’t Drive” campaign. To provide safe transportation options following the celebrations, SCAT’s OnDemand and Siesta Key Breeze Trolley services will remain active until 1 am on Jan. 1, 2022. Regular service hours for OnDemand by Sarasota County and the Siesta Key Breeze Trolley will resume on New Year's Day, Jan. 1, 2022. SCAT buses will operate their regular service hours on Dec. 31, 2021, and are closed on New Year's Day.
Suncoast Credit Union, in celebration of its 75th branch opening in its fourth quarter of 2021, donated $75,000 to local non-profits and charitable organizations across its service area. The donations began in early December and continued through the end of the year.
Each of Suncoast’s 75 branches selected a local charity within the community they serve to receive $1,000, with Suncoast giving away a total of $75,000 in donations across Florida. Supporting local communities is a cornerstone of the credit union’s mission and values and allows local autonomy in funding the highest and greatest needs.
“Giving back to the community is at the heart of Suncoast Credit Union, and we are so excited that we were able to celebrate having 75 branches with donations that will help make an impact locally, in the communities our members call home.” said Kevin Johnson, President and CEO, Suncoast Credit Union. “The pandemic has created greater needs across a wide spectrum and our hope is that we can help, especially during the end-of-year holiday season.”
Recipients include:
Manatee County — 4 donations
• Wildlife Inc, Bradenton Service Center
• Hungers End Manatee, East Bradenton Service Center
• Feeding Empty Little Tummies, West Bradenton Service Center
• HOPE Family Services, Lakewood Ranch Service Center
Sarasota County — 4 donations
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties, North Port Service Center
• Harvest House, Bee Ridge Service Center
• All Star Children's Foundation, Fruitville Service Center
• Venice Area Mobile Meals, Venice at Walmart Service Center
FST Improv celebrates the year’s end on December 30 and 31 in FST’s Bowne’s Lab with Resolution Rewind, two special New Year’s Eve performances providing a humorous look back at 2021. Audience members shape the show by voting for their favorite improv games from the past year online, determining which twelve will make the lineup for Resolution Rewind.
Hands-on for the Holidays will take place the Week of December 26 – December 31 at Sarasota Art Museum from 1pm to 3pm. It is FREE for Members and Included with Museum Admission. This year, the Museum is introducing a new lineup of art-making activities for all ages. Whatever your holiday traditions, Sarasota Art Museum is here to help you make new memories and revisit cherished ones. Visit our studios and enjoy drop in hands on art-making activities with a professional artist-educator. From snow globes to imaginary animal portraits, you’re sure to find activities to spark creativity and fun. Sunday, Dec. 26 – Create your own Winter Scene Snow Globes. We’ll play in the studio with oil pastels, watercolors, and fine lines. Monday, Dec. 27 – Inspired by the beauty of birch and aspen trees, we’ll paint together in our Into The Woods workshop. Tuesday, Dec. 28 – Lions, and tigers, and bears, oh my. Drop into our studio and make your own glittering Imaginary Animals. Wednesday, Dec. 29 – Celebrate one of our favorite spirit animals in the Turtles and Tides workshop. We’ll explore these magical creatures and the patterns and textures that define them. Thursday, Dec. 30 – Capture the essence of this adorable primate in our Lemur Portraits studio. Friday, Dec. 31 – Boom, crack, pop! It’s time to ring in the new year. Let’s create a sky full of light and color in our Cityscape Fireworks workshop.
Ring in 2022 at the Downtown Sarasota Block Party and Pineapple Drop at Five Points Park, 100 Central Avenue, starting at 1pm on Friday, December 31, through 1:30am on Saturday, January 1. Admission to this family-friendly event is FREE. The festivities will include amusement rides and games; live music; food, drinks and full bar concessions; and a Pineapple Drop at midnight followed by a fantastic fireworks display on Sarasota Bay. Enjoy a great view…without leaving the party. Enjoy performances by Kettle of Fish, the Dr. Dave Band and Twinkle.
Sarasota’s most sophisticated black tie New Year’s Eve experience includes private access to Lights in Bloom®: An Open-Air Holiday Light Show, an exquisite four-course dinner, view of the fireworks over the Bay, and entertainment by the Sarasota Ballet. New Year’s Eve at Selby Gardens will take place on December 31 2021 from 7pm to 1am at the Downtown Sarasota Campus.
In January, Art Uptown Gallery will feature the work of Sarasota glass artist Esther Jensen in an exhibit of her fused glass art entitled ”Glass Shapes.” Esther’s art evokes her familiarity and love of living near open water, first in her native Denmark, then on the Gulf of Mexico in Southwest Florida and now from her studio on Sarasota Bay. Her Scandinavian background influences most of her designs which are simple and straight forward and include both functional and decorative pieces. The “Glass Shapes” exhibit runs from Saturday, January 1 through Friday, January 28. The public is also invited to a reception on First Friday, January 7, from 6-9pm. Art Uptown Gallery welcomes you to the 1367 Main Street gallery, where the diverse art works of 29 local artists are shown seven days a week. Telephone: 941-955-5409 for hours and further information. www.artuptown.com.
More than two million lights will illuminate Selby Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota campus from December 11 to 23, 26 to 30, 2021; and January 1 and 2, 2022 from 6pm to 9pm. Lights in Bloom®: An Open-Air Holiday Light Show will feature more than two million lights illuminating the gardens and walkways. Don’t miss a holiday photo opportunity, children’s arts and crafts, activities, and entertainment. Food will be available for purchase from the Michael’s on East grill, including a cash bar.
Young Americans Zack and Abby have the perfect ex-pat life in Paris: a funky bohemian apartment in up -and-coming Belleville; a stable marriage; and Zack's noble mission to fight pediatric AIDS. But when Abby finds Zack at home one afternoon when he's supposed to be at work, the questions and answers that follow shake the foundation fo their seemingly beautiful life. Belleville will take place from January 4, 2022 at 7:30pm to January 23, 2022 at 2pm.
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