Manatee Movers and Shakers, 9/27/12

USF Sarasota-Manatee Wins EDC of Sarasota County’s 2012 Legacy Award

John J. Cox Community Partner of the Year Award presented at Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County’s annual meeting

Dr. Arthur Guilford, Regional Chancellor of USFSM (center) with (left) Jack Cox of Halfacre Construction Co. and (right) C.J. Fishman of Fishman & Associates, accepts the 2012 John J. Cox Community Partner of the Year Award

The University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee (USFSM) was honored with the prestigious John J. Cox Community Partner of the Year Award recently at the Economic Development Corporation’s annual meeting held at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota. Sponsored by Halfacre Construction Co., the award is named for the company’s late chief operating officer. “We recognize a nonprofit organization that contributes to economic development by improving the area’s quality of life,” the EDC of Sarasota County announced in presenting the honor to USFSM. “USF Sarasota-Manatee is a key asset for nurturing and retaining talent in our community. This talent is vital as our region competes for high-impact jobs that will contribute to sustainable economic prosperity now and for future generations.”

Co-presenters Jack Cox of Halfacre Construction and C.J. Fishman of Fishman & Associates praised USFSM for its continuous pursuit of excellence in providing academic opportunities and career-focused degree programs. On accepting the award, USFSM Regional Chancellor Dr. Arthur Guilford acknowledged the extraordinary accomplishments of the other finalists in this Legacy Award category, which included the Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County and other nonprofits that continue to make significant contributions as partners in local business development. Citing the forward-thinking enhancement plans that USFSM recently announced for expansion of its campus and academic programs in the areas of leadership, scholarship and growth, Dr. Guilford further stated, “Over the next 10 years, you’re going to see the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee soar!”

Grand Opening Season Announced for the NEW Bradenton Riverwalk

As Bradenton’s $6.2 million Riverwalk project nears its grand opening and official ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, October 18, Realize Bradenton is gearing up for two large festivals – ArtSlam and the inaugural Bradenton Blues Festival and over 20 events with weekly drum circles and yoga. With the exception of the Blues Festival and History Cruise, all events are free to the public.

The Riverwalk is a 1.5 mile-long park that includes a number of features of interest to both tourists and residents: a kayak launch, beach volleyball, fishing pier, rowing venue, first-class skatepark, tidal discovery zone, shaded areas to read and lounge, an interactive splash fountain, and a 19-slip day dock. The Riverwalk is a gallery of outdoor art with over 20 pieces that offer interactive sound sculptures, river history, and beauty to match the river setting. Centrally located in the park is a covered Pavilion and Event Area, which will be the site for both ArtSlam and the Bradenton Blues Festival. 

The Grand Opening Celebration sponsored by C1 Bank on Thursday, October 18 starts at 4:30pm with refreshments and music. The program starts at 5:15pm followed by a community ribbon cutting of an 800-foot long ribbon made by over 120 groups and people. After the ribbon cutting, the Riverwalk comes alive with art talks, walking tours, and skateboard, volleyball, and tai chi demos. State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota’s Music Program will enliven the festivities with their Chamber Choir, Jazz Combo, Guitar Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble and Brass Choir.

ArtSlam 2012 will be Saturday, November 10, from noon to 10pm and is a celebration of the arts featuring hundreds of artists, musicians, performers, students, and other creative individuals. According to Realize Bradenton’s executive director, Johnette Isham, “this family-friendly festival features over 20 ‘out of the box’ interactive experiences so both adults and children can be part of the art-making process.”

On Saturday, December 1, the first annual 2012 Bradenton Blues Festival features eight nationally-known blues groups—three of which won prestigious 2012 Blues Music Awards. "This is a great location for an outdoor festival," says Dave Gustafson, executive director of the Downtown Development Authority, explaining that the festival site, overlooking the Manatee River, can accommodate up to 2,000 people. “It's also the perfect grand finale to the Grand Opening Fall Season to celebrate the completion of the Riverwalk redevelopment. The Bradenton Blues Festival will definitely attract people from outside the region to our area; this will really be something special."

The 2012 Bradenton Blues Festival gates will open at 10am on December 1, with music starting at 11am and continuing throughout the day and into the night featuring award-winning headliners from all over the country. Headliners include Ruthie Foster, Kenny Neal, Dave “Biscuit” Miller, Johnny Sansone, Southern Hospitality, Homemade Jamz, Steve Arvey Horn Band with Henry Lawrence, and Ben Prestage. The Presenting Sponsor for the festival is BMO Harris Bank joined by 51 other business sponsors.

Tickets are $25 and available online at www.bradentonbluesfestival.org.

Double Your Money To Fill Empty Food-Bank Shelves

Every dollar donated to hunger-related projects on GulfCoastGives.org will be matched

Shelves at local food banks are going empty, 3nd people in our community are going hungry.  But neighbors who want to help have a new opportunity to double their charitable donations through the GulfCoastGives.org website.

Donations made on GulfCoastGives.org to benefit three hunger-relief projects are being matched dollar-for-dollar by donors through Gulf Coast Community Foundation.  Currently, All Faiths Food Bank, the Food Bank of Manatee, and The Center of Hope in Venice each has a project on the site.  To find one of these hunger-related projects and make a donation, simply visit GulfCoastGives.org and enter “food” in the search field.

The crisis for local food banks began this summer, which is typically a slow season, when donations of food and money fell drastically.  This decrease was exacerbated when the USDA’s Emergency Food Assistance Program cut local food deliveries by nearly 20 percent.

"We have hungry families in our neighborhoods who need help putting nutritious food on their tables,” said Sandra Frank, executive director of All Faiths Food Bank.  She added that the food bank’s ability to buy in bulk means that one dollar can provide eight meals.

“Hunger is a feeling that cannot be ignored,” said Teri A Hansen, president and CEO of Gulf Coast Community Foundation.  “That is why we are working so hard with our donors and our community to lift our food banks out of this situation and help them continue feeding the hungry.”

Chris Xipoleas joins Bayshore Technologies

Chris Xipoleas

Chris Xipoleas has joined Bayshore Technologies as a Helpdesk Engineer. Chris is a certified CompTIA and Microsoft technician with more than 3 years in the IT industry. Prior to Bayshore, Chris held positions at CGS, Inc. and GSA1000 in Field Support. Working closely with the Technical Services team, Chris will focus on the expansion of the Bayshore 360 Cloud Services division.

“Spirit Voices from Old Manatee”

Near one of the oldest interior settlements of Florida, not far from the mystic “Singing River,” exists one of the oldest organized burying grounds on the Gulf Coast of Florida.

Your rendezvous with the past awaits ...

Manatee Village Historical Commission is pleased to announce that tickets for the 2012 production of “Spirit Voices from Old Manatee” are now on sale through Manatee Village Historical Park in Bradenton. Season II of this popular living history production will be staged at the 1850 Manatee Burying Grounds in Bradenton, Florida on the following weekends: October 12-14, 2012:  Friday (1 evening show); Saturday (1 afternoon show & 1 evening show); Sunday (1 afternoon show adapted for special populations, staged in the 1887 Old Meeting House). October 19-20, 2012: Friday (1 evening show); Saturday (1 afternoon show & 1 evening show).

The show begins at Manatee Village Historical Park, 1404 Manatee Avenue East, (State Road 64) Bradenton, Florida. Guests then follow the tour to the Old Manatee Burying Grounds to witness an original artistic production. Costumed thespians bring to life those interred through graveside dialogues based on narratives from archives, descendants, diaries, military logs, books and legend. The audience leaves culturally enriched, moved by haunting tales of Florida’s pioneers.

Grapevine Communications Continues Growth, Hires Senior Art Director & Web Master

Ringling College of Art and Design Alumnus Brings Decades of Design Experience

Grapevine Communications, the area’s leading full-service advertising, marketing and public relations agency, has added two design professionals to its full-time staff. Michael Cronin, the firm’s new Senior Art Director, is an alumnus of Ringling College of Art and Design. His decades-long career as a graphic designer, art director and visual communicator has taken him all over the United States, working for small to large advertising and design firms.

“Michael brings us a wealth of experience,” said Grapevine Founder and President Angela Massaro-Fain. “His past work ranges from package design for General Foods Corporation to ad campaigns for major brands such as Burger King to brand development and marketing collateral for corporate clients. We look forward to injecting his talents into the creative juices of our current staff.”

Matt Sheils, Grapevine’s new Web Master, has an extensive background in web and graphic design, photography and videography. His expertise will expand the agency’s ability to create a compelling online presence, from websites to social media, for a wide range of Grapevine clients.