BRIEFS from BARWIN
From the Desk of Sarasota
City Manager Tom Barwin
January 13, 2017

Photo of the Week
As seasonal residents and visitors return to Sarasota, they'll probably notice some of the new developments underway in downtown and the Rosemary District.  Located at the corner of N. Palm Ave. and Cocoanut Ave., this construction project will be a hotel, called Hotel Sarasota.  The project includes a new roundabout at the intersection which is now open to traffic.  The construction boom is continuing so please be vigilant while traveling around town and be on the look out for construction crews and possible shifts in traffic patterns.  

  MEETINGS

  • St. Armands BID
    Tues., January 17 - 10 a.m.
    City Hall - Room 109
    Agenda
  • City Commission
    Tues., January 17 - 2:30 p.m. & 6 p.m.
    City Hall - Commission Chambers
    Agenda
  • Independent Police Advisory Panel Workshop
    Thurs., January 19 - 9 a.m.
    City Hall Annex - SRQ Media Studio
    Agenda
City Career Opportunities
Opportunity, Just Ahead Green Road Sign with Copy Room Over The Dramatic Clouds and Sky.  

Application Developer
Director of Planning
Electrical Maintenance Mechanic
Equipment Mechanic I
Golf Course Attendant (Part Time)
Landscape Maintenance Tech I (Part Time)
Maintenance Mechanic II - RLT
Manager, Accounting & Payroll Systems
Plans Examiner
    Police Officer, 2nd Class
Senior Pension Analyst
System Integrator
Technical Support Technician II   

                             


This Week's Items to Know:
1.
MLK Day - Jan. 16  Administrative offices will be closed next Monday, January 16 as the nation remembers Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Garbage, recycling and yard waste will be picked up as usual -- no changes.  All City of Sarasota recreational facilities will be open with regular business hours.
To celebrate the life, dreams and achievements of Dr. King, a variety of events and activities will be held, including a golf tournament at Bobby Jones Golf Club, memorial breakfast, and a "Stride Toward Freedom" unity walk and celebration.  The walk starts at 11 a.m. on MLK Day at Robert L. Taylor Community Complex and will conclude at Dr. MLK, Jr. Park where a celebration with live music, vendors and speakers will take place.  To see a complete list of community events click here.

Sarasota continues to make strides with diversity and equality, as is being documented now with recorded oral histories by Vickie Oldham and the Newtown Conservation Historic District.  We're honoring the community's past while, like Dr. King, contemplating dreams and opportunities.  The new SMH teaching clinic will open soon and so will the Ringling soundstage, presenting more opportunities for small businesses to open and grow along the newly renovated Dr. MLK, Jr. Way.     
         
  
2.
Bobby Jones Golf Club - Public Input Wanted   We're inviting the community to participate in walk-throughs of all 45 holes of the three
Bobby Jones
The British Course at Bobby Jones. 
golf courses comprising the Bobby Jones Golf Club Complex.
 
A golf course architecture firm, Richard Mandell Golf Architecture, is spearheading the master planning process for the complex and principal Richard Mandell will be in Sarasota to assess the course alongside the public. 

He's seeking specific input from regular golfers at Bobby Jones, so he can begin creating a master plan design based on community needs, suggestions, and concerns. To read a letter of introduction click here.
 
The course walk-through schedule is:
  • Wed., January 25 - Noon:  Gillespie Course
  • Wed., January 25 - 2:30 p.m.:  American Course
  • Thurs., January 26 - 6:45 a.m. - American Course
  • Thurs., January 26 - 2:30 p.m. - British Course
  • Fri., January 27 - 6:45 a.m. - British Course
  • Fri., January 27 - 2:30 p.m. - American Course
You're encouraged to register in advance for each walk-through, so we have an idea of how many to anticipate on the course.  Please call 941-954-4163 to register or sign up at the Golf Shop.     
        
3.
Garbage/Recycling - Info   There's a new feature on the City of Sarasota website to help you determine your garbage collection day, receive a reminder about collection days, and glean recycling tips.

On the homepage, from the list of Departments, select Public Works, then click 'Garbage Pickup & Recycling'.  Enter your address in the space provided.  A calendar will appear showing your collection day. You can also register to receive regular reminders via email, text or phone call.  In addition, there's an option to receive alerts, to notify you about a collection delay (possibly due to weather), if necessary.
A screen shot of the new 'Recollect' interactive software
on the City of Sarasota website. 
 
 
In the 'Be Cart Smart' area, you can type the name of any item and receive an immediate response on how to recycle or properly dispose of it.  For example, if you enter 'plastic bottle', you'll be informed to place it in your recycling bin for curbside pickup -- and you'll also receive special instructions for handling the plastic cap. 
 
Thanks to Public Works General Manager Todd Kucharski for seeing the need for this interactive software and assuring it was implemented online for the community. 

Questions about the new software and solid waste pickup?  Please call 941-365-7651.  For recycling, contact Waste Management:  941-753-7591.
   
4.
Employee Recognition    When City employees go above and beyond we like to pause a moment and recognize their efforts.  This
Assistant City Manager John Lege handing out letters of appreciation and tumblers to Rob Schanley, Eric Patro
and Bill Mallett. 


week, we honored several employees who were tasked with renovating an outdated conference room in the City Commission office and equipping it with modern day technology -- all within a
very short time frame during the holiday season. 

Kudos to Facility/Asset Manager Rob Schanley, Facilities Manager Eric Patro and Webmaster Bill Mallett who worked some late nights to get the job done on time. The room's extreme makeover is a significant improvement and the space is now functional for staff meetings requiring video/computer presentations and conference calls.  Congratulations, team!     

 
5.
Happy 100th!   Our most seasoned regular golfer at Bobby Jones Golf Club, Larkin Lyell, is set to turn 100 years young in a couple of weeks!  What's especially impressive...he golfs every Wednesday with the Men's Golf Association.  Earlier this week, Larkin's golf buddies honored
Larkin Lyell is turning 100 and golfs once a week at
Bobby Jones Golf Club.

him with an early birthday celebration before they hit the links for their regular round of 18.

Larkin served in the U.S. Air Force during WW II.  In 1976, he and his wife moved to Sarasota from Tenessee and raised four children.  Over the years, he managed motels in Sarasota and worked at Walgreen's well into his 90s.

A City of Sarasota resident, Larkin has enjoyed playing at Bobby Jones for many years and says he looks forward to his weekly round with the guys (and he usually shoots under his age).  His secret to such youthful exuberance?  He jokes that he's always enjoyed a lot of Blue Bell ice cream (vanilla). 

Happy Birthday, Larkin....best wishes!  

 


Upcoming Events 

Gem and Jewelry Show
Municipal Auditorium
Fri., Jan. 13 - Sun., Jan. 15:  10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Sarasota Winter Fine Art Festival
Sat., Jan. 14 & Sun., Jan. 15
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Details

Circus Ring of Fame Ceremony 
Sat., Jan. 14
1 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
St. Armands Circle
Details

MLK Unity Walk 
Mon., Jan. 16
11 a.m.
Start:  Robert L. Taylor Community Complex

MLK Community Celebration 
Mon., Jan. 16
Noon - 5 p.m.
MLK Park (Dr. MLK, Jr. Way & Cocoanut Ave.)

Calendar of MLK Events   
 

Van Wezel:  Shows on Sale Now! 


The following is the current show schedule through January. For more information visit www.VanWezel.org    
 

 
Jay Leno
Fri., January 13 - 8 p.m.
Tickets

Dick Fox's Golden Boys starring Frankie Avalon, Fabian & Bobby Rydell
Sat., January 14 - 8 p.m.
Tickets

Michael Bolton
Sun., January 15 - 7 p.m.
Tickets

Catch Michael Bolton on Jan. 15.
Elvis Lives
Tues., January 17 - 8 p.m.
Tickets

Zoltan Maga
Wed., January 18 -  8 p.m.
Tickets

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra w/Wynton Marsalis
Thurs., January 19 - 8 p.m.
Tickets

Sarasota Orchestra-Pops: The Songs of Elton John and More starrring Michael Cavanaugh
Fri., January 20 - 8 p.m.
Sat., January 21 - 2:30 p.m. & 8 p.m.
Tickets

Adam Trent: The Futurist
Sun., January 22 - 7 p.m.
  Gladys Knight will be at the Van Wezel on Jan. 28.
Tickets

Ringling Town Hall - Dick Cheney
Mon., January 23 - 10:30 am & 7:30 pm.
Details

Riverdance
Tues., January 24 - 8 p.m.
Wed., January 25 - 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.
Tickets

Spend the Night with Billy Crystal
Thurs., January 26 - 8 p.m.
Tickets
 
Kenny Rogers - Final World Tour
Fri., January 27 - 8 p.m.
Tickets

Gladys Knight
Sat., January 28 - 8 p.m.
Tickets

Johnny Mathis - The Voice of Romance Tour 2017
Sun., January 29 - 7 p.m.
Tickets

Sarasota Concert Assn - National Symphony of Ukraine
Mon., January 30 - 7:30 p.m.
Details

Boz Scaggs
Tues., January 31 - 8 p.m.
Tickets


To purchase tickets over the phone call 941-953-3368 or stop by the Box Office at 777 N.Tamiami Trail. 

For a complete schedule of events, visit www.VanWezel.org.

The Baltimore Orioles are holding their annual mini camp for prospective players who want to get some extra work and practice in before spring training gets under way.  We appreciate our resident photographer Norm Schimmel for giving us an insider's peek in this week's 'Sarasota Scene'.  First home game for the Orioles is early this year:  Wed., February 26 at 1 p.m. against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Weekly Briefs will be on hiatus until January 27th. 

Thanks for reading this week's edition.  If you'd like to receive Weekly Briefs directly to your inbox click 'Join Our Mailing List ' below or send us an email at CityNews@SarasotaGov.com. 

Tom Barwin
City Manager
941-954-4102