Sarasota Coalition on Substance Abuse to honor Citizen of the Year and community leaders
Substance abuse coalition honors community leaders
The Sarasota Coalition on Substance Abuse will celebrate its Citizen of the Year and other community leaders at the 18th annual Sarasota Shining Stars Recognition and Awards Luncheon on March 28 at Michael’s On East. Former Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight will serve as emcee.
Charles E. Roberts, retired chief judge of the 12th Judicial Circuit, will be honored as Citizen of the Year for his 40-year legal career and community service. Jane Goodwin, former member of the School Board of Sarasota County, will receive the Community Leadership Award for her years of public service. Devin Anderson of Venice High School and Hannah Wivell of Sarasota Military Academy will be honored with Student Shining Stars awards.
SCoSA promotes substance-abuse-free environments through community awareness and advocacy. For more information and tickets to the luncheon, visit scosa.org or call 941-928-4435.
SMA rifle team cadets invited to Olympic Training Center
Senior cadet Emrie Fast-Clarke and junior cadet Isaiah Jones of the Sarasota Military Academy rifle team have been invited to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado in April after outstanding performances at recent competitions.
Fast-Clarke won the women’s smallbore and Jones won the men’s smallbore at the state Junior Olympic Rifle Championships. The invitation to the Olympic Training Center is limited to 160 students nationwide. At least two cadets have represented SMA each year since 2017.
Also, senior cadet Gabrielle Ayers clinched individual regional champion in JROTC while Fast-Clarke secured third place. Both marksmen are representing SMA at the JROTC National Championships in Ohio this weekend. SMA is celebrating its 15th consecutive year as regional champion and 18th year in nationals.
Barancik Foundation executive earns philanthropy fellowship
Kelly Romanoff, senior vice president for strategy at the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, has been selected as a 2023-24 Change Leaders in Philanthropy Fellow.
The fellowship, awarded by Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, is a yearlong peer-learning program for senior executives. Romanoff is one of 20 leaders chosen for the program. “I’m eager to learn from my peers as well as push myself as we strive to create the best conditions for nonprofit success in Sarasota,” Romanoff said.
At the Barancik Foundation, Romanoff manages a portfolio of initiatives and grants and leads the foundation’s efforts to inform future funding decisions and strategic direction. She has led the development of several major initiatives, including First 1,000 Days Suncoast.
Sarasota author's 2nd novel receives Florida Book Award
Thomas Reed, a Sarasota resident, has received a Florida Book Award from the Libraries of Florida State University for his second novel, "Pocketful of Poseys."
The novel, which earned the 2023 Bronze Medal in General Fiction, is a story about 40-something twins charged by their dying mother with sprinkling her ashes at six locations around the globe. "Pocketful of Poseys"has been noted for its keen dissection of an extended family’s quirks and complexities.
Reed’s first novel "Seeking Hyde" explored the biographical origins of Robert Louis Stevenson’s "Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" and the aftermath of the book being blamed for inspiring Jack the Ripper. Reed taught English literature at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania for over 30 years. Visit ThomasReedAuthor.com.
Around and about
Venice Golf and Country Club (250 Venice Golf Club Drive) will host its annual Adaptive Golf Outing for veterans on Sunday benefiting the Adaptive Golf Academy. The event begins at 8:15 a.m. and includes an aerial show featuring professional parachute jumpers. Last year’s event funded a $15,850 SoloRider, a golf car enabling disabled users to stand up and play golf. Donations are welcomed and can be made payable to Adaptive Golf Academy. (adaptivegolfacademy.com).
· The Manatee County Master Gardener Volunteers Spring Plant Sale is Saturday from 8 a.m.-noon at Barbara Davis Educational Gardens, 1303 17th St. W., Palmetto. The sale features blooming plants, natives, vegetables, herbs, trees, shrubs, and more all grown by Manatee County MGVs. Proceeds support the Educational Gardens and MGV education and outreach programs. (Eventbrite).
· The Manatee Rare Fruit Council’s annual fruit tree and plant sale is Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m at Premier Sports Campus, 5895 Post Blvd., Lakewood Ranch (off Route 70; I-75 Exit 217). Also available will be tropical vegetables, exotics, carnivorous plants, ornamentals, more than 20 vendors, and club members to provide expert advice. Proceeds benefit the Manatee Rare Fruit Council. (mrfc.org)
· The Navy League Sarasota-Manatee Council will host the annual Sea Services Heroes Celebration Dinner on March 27 at Sara Bay Country Club, 7011 Willow St., Sarasota. Guest speakers include USCG Capt. Michael Kahle, Sector Commander St. Pete, and USCG Commander Mario Gil. Info/tickets: navyleague-sarasota-manatee.org.
· Gulf Cove United Methodist Church, 1100 South McCall Road, Port Charlotte, will host an Easter Egg Hunt for children up to age 12 on March 30 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will include games, a bounce house, crafts, and free food. (GulfCoveUMC@gmail.com; 941-697-1747)
· Piano Friends, featuring international virtuoso concert pianist Eleonora Lvov, will perform on March 30 from 1:30-3 p.m. at Clasico Italian Chophouse, 1341 Main St., Sarasota. The event features all-levels pianists playing their favorite pieces, each no longer than 5 minutes. (axhandle@comcast.net)
Submissions by Patricia Rockwood, Sherri Reynolds, Angela Cohen, Greg Luberecki, Tom Reed, Lena Hart, Katie Granberg, Jennifer Perrella, Joe Hayden, Dana Hanson, and Debye Bernard.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota Coalition on Substance Abuse to honor Citizen of the Year
