Briefs From Barwin

BRIEFS from BARWIN From the Desk of Sarasota City Manager Tom Barwin July 15, 2016 Photo of the Week We're into the dog days of summer!  What better place to relax and cool off with a breeze from the Gulf of Mexico than our beautiful Lido Beach.  We captured this photo earlier this week as storm clouds gathered in the distance over the sweeping shades of the blue green sea.  What you won't see here is blue green algae, which has been problematic at the beaches on the east coast of Florida.  There have been no reports of blue green algae in Sarasota.   Our friends at Visit Sarasota County are encouraging those on social media to share their current photos showing our beautiful, algae-free beaches -- and use the hashtags #MySarasota #FloridaNow.      MEETINGS  General Employees' Pension Plan Mon., July 18 - 8:30 a.m. City Hall - Commission Chambers Agenda City Commission Mon., July 18 - 2:30 p.m. & 6 p.m. City Hall - Commission Chambers Agenda Community Workshop Tues., July 19 - 5:30 p.m. City Hall - Room 112 Agenda Development Review Committee Wed., July 20 - 9 a.m. City Hall - Room 112 Agenda Parks, Rec & Environmental Protection Thurs., July 21 - 5:30 p.m. City Hall - Commission Chambers Agenda City Career Opportunities     Computer Support Specialist II Facility Maintenance Tech Golf Course Attendant Landscape Maintenance Tech I Lifeguard I Maintenance Mechanic II Manager, Maintenance Services     Police Officer, 2nd Class Property and Evidence Specialist Rec Attendant Spray Tech Utilities Capital Projects Manager                                          Click here for all job descriptions  This Week's Items to Know: 1. Arlington Park - Survey   Our Parks & Rec Department is looking for your input about how Arlington Park is currently used and what improvements you would like to see in the future.  If you have a few minutes, we'd appreciate you taking an online survey about the park. Click here to take the survey. The survey is comprised of 7 questions, many of which inquire about Amenities at Arlington Park include a 50-meter lap pool. information gathered during a recent community meeting about the park.  For example, the following comments were made during the meeting:  'gym is underutilized'', 'add dog park lighting', 'repair fountain in pond', 'add family friendly programs' etc.  You're asked to agree, disagree, or give no opinion.  You also have the opportunity to provide detailed written comments. Arlington Park is a popular neighborhood park with amenities ranging from a 50-meter lap pool to basketball courts to a one-half mile fitness trail.  Some of the facilities are showing their age and staff's intention is to gather input from the community to help map a course for future capital improvements. We appreciate your participation!  2. Osprey Ave. Bridge Closure - Aug. 1   The Osprey Avenue Bridge over the Hudson Bayou will be closed starting Monday, August 1 as crews begin the complex process of microtunneling under the bayou  to install a wastewater gravity main before constructing Lift Station 87.  The contractor is  allowed one year to finish this phase of the project with Osprey Ave. closed, although we are cautiously optimistic it will be completed early. Our Utilities Department and Engineer of Record for the project, McKim & Creed, have been and will continue to be in close contact with residents and businesses in the vicinity.  We understand the inconvenience of the road closure and the natural response by drivers to want to use neighborhood streets as cut-throughs.  Please note:  while the closure is from Mound Street to Hillview Street, local traffic from Hillview to Bahia Vista Street will be allowed.  Signage directing drivers to businesses will be installed as well as electronic message boards indicating that the official detour is Mound Street, U.S. 41 and Hillview Street. We're hosting a community meeting regarding this initial detour plan -- or as it's officially called, maintenance of traffic plan.  The meeting will be held Tues., July 26 at 1:30 p.m. at the SRQ Media Studio at the City Hall Annex, 1565 First Street. The City is still in litigation to recover funds expended on this project before it was halted.  It has been confirmed that the original Engineer of Record miscalculated the microtunneling to the point that if work had continued the base of the bridge would have been struck.  Please visit www.LiftStation87.com for notices and progress report updates throughout the construction.  3. Orange Ave. - Temporary Lane Closure July 25-28    As we endeavor to coordinate Utilities and Public Works projects to lessen traffic inconvenience as much as possible, street repairs on Orange Ave. will need to be done before Osprey Ave. closes next month.  The good news:  it's expected to be a short closure and one lane of traffic will remain open. Starting Monday, July 25, Orange Ave. between Bay Point (just south of the Hudson Bayou) and Alta Vista Street will be reduced to one lane for three days for street repairs. The work is expected to take 3 days. The northbound lane will remain open throughout the project and a flag person will be on site to facilitate traffic flow.  Southbound traffic will be detoured to Osprey Ave.  The road is scheduled to reopen completely on Thurs., July 28. On July 25, Orange Ave. between Bay Point and Alta Vista will be reduced to one traffic lane for three days.     4. Bayfront 20:20 - Visit to Carmel, IN    As part of a fact finding and firsthand learning experience, Commissioner Susan Chapman, Van Wezel Executive Director Mary Bensel and I traveled to Carmel, Indiana (just north of Indianapolis) this week with a group of Bayfront20:20 representatives. Over a whirlwind two days, we experienced an impressive cultural With the Sarasota delegation in Carmel.  arts district comprised of a 1,600 seat symphony hall, 500 seat performing arts theater, and a 220 seat black box theater.  Completed six years ago, the TIF funded entertainment complex cost $200 million. Mayor James Brainard and others provided us with insight into how Carmel's cultural arts district functions, how it was created and how it was funded.  The district is the result of pro-active redevelopment using a total of 32 Tax Increment Financing districts. We also learned Indiana's taxing structure is different than Florida's, with income taxes used to fund public schools. Downtown Carmel is walkable and features engaging sculptures by Seward Johnson, who created "Unconditional Surrender" in Sarasota. To better manage traffic, Carmel also has been on the cutting edge of integrating roundabouts and protected bicycle paths in the community.  With 100 roundabouts already in place, we observed firsthand how well they keep traffic flowing and learned of the dramatic reduction in serious traffic accidents and injuries. It was a helpful experience as we discuss how to move forward with creating a cultural arts district and mobility enhancements in Sarasota.  Thank you to Mayor Brainard and all the City of Carmel for the hospitality. Top Left:  Commissioner Susan Chapman and Carmel Mayor James Brainard pose with a sculpture during a walking cultural arts tour.  TOP RIGHT:  With renowned Sarasota architect Frank Folsom Smith and several life-like sculptures outside the Pallidium at the Center for the Performing Arts. BOTTOM LEFT:  Van Wezel Executive Director Mary Bensel poses with a sculpture in downtown Carmel.  BOTTOM RIGHT:  Commissioner Chapman preparing to bicycle the Monon Greenway, a 5-mile trail along Carmel's cultural arts district.    Upcoming Events  2-Man North South Championship  Sat., July 16 River Run Golf Links 1801 27th St. East - Bradenton 7:30 a.m. Details Vintage & Collectibles Fair  Sat., July 16:  10 a.m. - 5 p.m.  Sun., July 17:  10 a.m. - 5 p.m.  Municipal Auditorium 2-Man North South Championship   Sun., July 17  Bobby Jones Golf Club   1000 Circus Blvd. - Sarasota  7:30 a.m. Details NAACP Community Conversation  w/FOCUS & Local Law Enforcement Mon., July 25 Robert L. Taylor Community Complex 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. Details Van Wezel:  Shows on Sale Now!  The following is the current show schedule through 2016. For more information visit www.VanWezel.org     Friday Fest:  Jah Movement Fri., July 29 - 5 p.m. Information Friday Fest:  Rebelheart  Fri., August 26 - 5 p.m.   The next FREE Friday Fest will be July 29 --- rain or shine! Information Brian Wilson Sun., Sept. 11 - 7 p.m. Tickets Friday Fest:  Dr. Dave Band Fri., September 23 - 5 p.m. Information Celtic Thunder Sat., Oct. 15 - 8 p.m. Tickets Doo Wop Spectacular Sat., October 22 - 7:30 p.m. Tickets ZZ Top Mon., October 31 - 8 p.m. Tickets  Mannheim Steamroller Fri., November 18 - 8 p.m. Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker will be at the Van Wezel on Dec. 29. Tickets Fame The Musical Wed., December 7 - 7 p.m. Tickets go on sale Sept. 10 Beach Boys 'Christmas' Mon., December 12 - 7:30 p.m. Tickets Rogers + Hammerstein's Cinderella Tues., December 27 - 8 p.m. Wed., December 28 - 8 p.m. Tickets Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker Thurs., December 29 - 3 p.m. & 7 p.m. Tickets 42nd Street Fri., December 30 - 8 p.m. Tickets go on sale Sept. 10 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. 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 atCityNews@SarasotaGov.com.  Tom Barwin City Manager 941-954-4102 Forward this email

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INFO @ SARASOTA SISTER CITIES June 30, 2016 (9)

INFO @ SARASOTA SISTER CITIES  June 30, 2016   (9)
 All the hot news that’s fit to print at the beginning of a hot Summer………..
 MEET AND GREET, WEDNESDAY, JULY 20
Our Monthly Meet and Greets during the summer of 2016 are held on the third Wednesday of each month at the Sarasota Vineyard Wine Bar and Bistro in downtown Sarasota,  1528 Main Street
5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
sarasotawinebar.com              JOIN US!!!
 MICHAEL PATRICK FEHILY, CD FOR MERIDA, MEXICO, RETURNS WITH RESULTS
What did he do?

1. In 2017, Mérida is “the Cultural Capital of the Americas”  with a huge year-long celebration.  The Mérida mayor has written our Mayor Shaw asking for Sarasota to participate.  Some ideas….Have a performing group from the Circus Conservatory be feature in Mérida.  The head of the Mexican organizing committee is a former ballet dancer.  Possibly a ballet group from Sarasota could participate.
2. Michael also met with Christian Rivero, Director of Cultural Affairs for Mérida, taking the first steps to getting the FST/SCAS Write-A-Play and Embracing Our Differences programs started in Mérida.  He will also work with our CYD Board member, Morgan Bortz, Gabriella Hazan and others to help initiate our Youth Networking Project there.
3. Fellow Sister Cities member, Dr. Jane Rose, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at USFSM, also visited there to review USFSM’s study abroad program there headed by Senor Fehily.
4. On the economic development scene, Miguelito has also been working with a Sarasota manufacturer of automotive tow trucks to have various parts made in Mérida.  He has established an ongoing connection between the two.
5. While Michael was in Mérida, he invited SCAS member Eladio Amores, our local Goodwill Director of Training, to meet with economic development people in Mérida to establish mutual work possibilities.

Michael, with all this going on, did you have time to teach your courses there?!?!  Good job!
 WOULDN’T IT BE GREAT TO HONOR SARASOTA MAYORS WHO HELPED SARASOTA SISTER CITIES OVER THE YEARS?  Stay Tuned!  Things are in the works.
 AN EXHIBITION OF PHOTOS OF  9/11 BOTH IN SARASOTA AND IN OUR SISTER CITIES
          Under the aegis of Gloria Grenier, VP for Arts & Culture, Carolyn Bloomer, VP for Cities and Candidate Cities, and the other CDs, have approved bringing a moving exhibit of photos taken right after 9/11 in New York City by photographer David Gordon.
          We not only want to exhibit these poignant photographs here in Sarasota, we also want to exhibit them in our other Sister Cities.  Plans are underway to make this happen soon.  Date and time to be announced soon.
 MORE INFO ON NEW SISTER CITIES LEADERS
As I mentioned in the last info@sarasotasistercities, we have several NEW CDs and VCDs THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW MORE ABOUT.   In the past I have just announced their appointments.  But maybe you should know what high-quality people are leading our efforts.
 MARLIES GLUCK, MSW, CD for TEL MOND
          Marlies was born in The Netherlands and came to the US as a young girl.  She earner her bachelor’s degree from the City College of New York and her MSW from Fordham University.  For 17 years she worked at Letchworth Village Developmental Center, ending as social work supervisor and treatment team leader.  She is active in the Jewish community here in Sarasota.  Welcome Marlies! 
 MARIE DES NEIGES GROSSAS, Ph.D., CD for PERPIGNAN
          Marie des Neiges was educated in France from her undergrad degree through the Ph.D. in Comparative Literature at the Sorbonne.  She has taught French and Spanish in various places.  At the World Bank in Washington, DC, she was program manager for the joint Japan/World Bank Scholarship program.  She spends a good bit of each year in Perpignan.  Welcome, Marie des Neiges!
 HONGYING LIU, Ph.D.,  ACD for XIAMEN
          Hongying was born in Beijing and took her undergraduate degree at Anhui University in Hefei, China.  Her MLS and Ph.D. were earned at Villanova and Temple.
She has been a professor of journalism at Nanjing University and Zhejiang University.  She has authored numerous books and articles.  Her scholarship has centered on various subjects, among them Internet culture, Chinese cartoons, and the interplay between mass communications and Chinese culture.  Welcome, Hongying!

Information on Olga Pliner, Isabelle Eidet, Nelly Camardo, Nancy Tsekou, and Charlotte Hull will appear in the next few issues.
 Address comments and questions to
Dave Harralson, Newsletter Editor
daveharralson@sarasotasistercities.com
941-870-5516

International Winners from Dunfermline Scotland and Tel Mond Israel

Young Playwright Festival international winners from Dunfermline, Scotland and Tel Mond, Israel. May 21, 2016  Gloria Grenier, VP Arts and Culture.

SWISS BEACH VOLLEYBALL TEAM TO SARASOTA

PRESS RELEASE

6/13/2016

                SWISS BEACH VOLLEYBALL TEAM TO SARASOTA

                                                                      

Within the spirit of the Sister Cities Association of Sarasota’s recent friendship initiative with the Swiss City of Rapperswil-Jona, 4 members of the Swiss Volleyball Team were welcomed on June 9th, 2016 to Siesta Key.  

The mission of Sister Cities Association of Sarasota, Inc. (SCAS) is to foster international relationships between Sarasota and cities that have similar interests by creating exchanges in areas of culture, education, tourism, business and government. 

Rapperswil-Jona, in Switzerland is a town of roses located on the upper end of Lake Zurich, and combines sights, cultural life, hiking and sports possibilities with a Mediterranean holiday atmosphere. Welcome to the Riviera located on the upper end of Lake Zurich.

The team members are staying with Swiss American Club of Sarasota families, and the Sister Cities Association of Sarasota, Acting City Director Nelly Camardo is ensuring a busy schedule for the visitors in spite of the rain out of the scheduled beach volley ball matches on Siesta Key.

This is the initial exchange under the friendship program and we look forward to many more in the future, in sports, culture, and education between the Swiss City of Rapperswil-Jona and Sarasota.

For live interviews with the players or additional information kindly contact

Nelly Camardo

Acting City Director

Sister Cities Association Sarasota

ngcamardo@gmail.com

FULL INFORMATION ON SISTER CITIES INITIATIVE AND THIS VISIT PLEASE SEE FACEBOOK PAGE – Swiss American Club of Sarasota

PICTURES INCLUDING RAPPERSWIL-JONA, SWITZERLAND

Members of Congress Celebrate Impact of Sister Cities

Members of Congress Unite to Celebrate the Impact that Sister Cities International has made for over 60 Years

Posted on Jun 9, 2016 

 

Congressman Ron DeSantis (R-FL) and Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-TX) introduced legislation to recognize Sister Cities International Day. Sister Cities International was founded 60 years ago as a Presidential initiative by President Dwight D. Eisenhower at the White House Conference on citizen diplomacy. The organization’s mission to create more community-led global relationships so that people of different cultures could appreciate their differences and build partnerships that would lessen the chance of new national conflicts still thrives today.

The network itself is comprised of 570 member cities that hold over 2,300 partnerships across 150 countries on six continents. Both Congressmen DeSantis and Castro boast many sister cities in their own districts that thrive due to the participation of countless volunteers, students, and policy makers that work incredibly hard to keep their partnerships full of meaning.

Rep. DeSantis’ district city of San Augustine, FL currently holds partnerships with George-Town, Great Exuma, Bahamas; The Cartagena de Indias, Colombia; San Miguel de Allende, Mexico; Aviles, Spain and Ciudadella de Menorca, Spain. These partnerships participate in everything from architectural exchange, student exchanges, and even a partnership between Florida School for the Deaf and Blind and the Juan Salvador Gaviota School for the Deaf in Cartagena.

“The partnerships developed by Sister Cities International have helped foster peace by cultivating connections between different cultures,” DeSantis said. “Partnering our communities with international cities provides the opportunity to develop relationships and projects that benefit our relations with people in foreign countries. For the past 60 years, Sister Cities International has had a positive impact on my district and beyond, and I am proud to introduce this resolution to designate July 15, 2016 as Sister Cities International Day.”

San Antonio, a city in Rep. Castro’s district, has been a very active member of the sister cities network for decades and even hosted the organization’s annual conference in 2013. San Antonio has a robust youth program and most recently assisted their sister city Kumamoto, Japan in its earthquake recovery operations. San Antonio’s nine sister cities include: Chennai, India; Kumamoto, Japan; Guadalajara, Mexico; Monterrey, Mexico; Gwangju, South Korea; Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain; Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain; Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Wuxi, China.

“San Antonio’s international profile is on the rise, and our sister city relationships have helped make that possible. Through these partnerships, San Antonio has been able to build strong cultural, educational, and economic ties with communities around the world. This engagement has led to student exchanges, non-profit collaboration, and foreign direct investment that benefits our city’s economy. In today’s tumultuous world, the mutual understanding and respect that Sister Cities International fosters is particularly valuable and worthy of special recognition.”

Mary Kane, President and CEO of Sister Cities International, stated, “The concept of citizen and people-to-people exchange has always been an essential first step to building mutual understanding and respect between nations and their citizens. As we’ve seen time and again in the years since Sister Cities International was founded, governments (and even countries) come and go, but cities and their people remain. We hope this global day will help more people understand the important role that everyone plays in making this world a more peaceful place.”

Sister Cities International Day is a call to action for Americans and citizens of the world to come together to celebrate the importance of their communities’ continued commitment to supporting a more peaceful and prosperous future through continued people to people exchanges and city to city partnerships. This day will provide the perfect time for Americans to come together and show how powerful humanity can be when united to promote peace, progress and prosperity for a better world.
 
Learn about SCI’s 60th anniversary celebration at http://sistercitiesconference.org.
 
About Sister Cities International
Founded as a Presidential Initiative by Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956, Sister Cities International serves as the national membership organization for 570 member communities with 2,300 partnerships in 150 countries on six continents. The sister city network unites tens of thousands of citizen diplomats and volunteers who work tirelessly to promote the organizations’ mission of creating world peace and understanding through economic development, youth and education, arts and culture, and humanitarian assistance.
 
Facebook: SisterCitiesInternational 

Twitter: @SisterCitieslnt 

Instagram: @SisterCitiesInt  

Medium: @sistercitiesinternational 

Website: www.sistercities.org

INFO @ SARASOTA SISTER CITIES June 5, 2016 #8

Here are some brief snippets about Sarasota Sister Cities.  Please note the last article concerning some Editorial Changes I will be making to keep you better informed.  Now, on with the show……………
SWISS VOLLEYBALLERS (NOT SKIIERS) TO SIESTA KEY

          You read it right…..  Our Friendship City, Rapperswil-Jona, will send its beach volleyball team to Sarasota to play in the Florida Beach Volleyball  Tournament on Siesta Key beginning June 11.  Sarasota Sister Cities is excited to host them.  I’m sure we will have a good crowd on Siesta Key cheering them on.

          SCAS and the Swiss American Club is planning sightseeing and entertainment for them at the usual Sarasota haunts.  Good job, Nelly Camardo, CD for Rapperswil-Jona, and Charlotte Hull, ACD!  For more information, email Nelly at ngcamardo@gmail.com

ANNA MADASCHI,  CITY DIRECTOR FOR TREVISO
has left for the Summer to travel to her patria and the marriage of her daughter in Rome.  She is also going to spend a good bit of time in Treviso and will meet with officials there with the goal of revivifying our relationship there.  Buona fortuna, Anna!

NEW ASSISTANT CITY DIRECTOR FOR XIAMEN,  DR. HONGYING LIU
 We are pleased to welcome Dr. Hongying Liu as the Assistant City Director for Xiamen, China.  She comes highly recommended by Dr. Carolyn Bloomer, and we look forward to working with her.

THE WRITE-A-PLAY CONTEST AT FST
          The winning playwriters from Scotland and Israel arrived on May 18.  Unfortunately, Tatyana Chebotar and her teacher Galina from Vladimir, Russia, were unable to attend at the last minute to due to financial difficulties. 

         Naom Drori, twelve years old, from Tel Mond, wrote a sophisticated play that was well received.  Gregor Morgan & Hamish Wood, well-mannered Dunfermline young men of 14, wrote a captivating play as well.

         Bringing in the students and organizing almost a week’s worth of activities is LOTSA work.  Once again, a big thanks to Chair Gloria Grenier, Pauline Mitchell, Marlies Gluck, and Nancy Tsekou for their work.  Nancy was supposed to  care for Tatyana and her chaperone while here, and even though she was not above to come from Russia, Nancy was a big help and a help right now in planning for the future.

         PHOTOS OF THE FST/SARASOTA SISTER CITIES WRITE-A-PLAY CONTEST ARE ON OUR BLOG:  

sarasotasistercities.com

MERIDA CITY DIRECTOR “MIGUELITO” FEHILY IS NOW IN MERIDA,  THE YUCATAN, MEXICO.
          We await a report from Michael so we can see what good things he’s doing for Sister Cities while there teaching a Summer class for University of South Florida Sarasota/Manatee.

NOTE: EDITORIAL CHANGE ON NEW CDs AND ACDs
          When I began these newsletters about a year ago, new City Directors and Assistant City Directors were simply announced in these “pages”; you knew them well.  We knew them, so why say more.

         A number of new CDs and ACDs have joined us, people you may know little about.  I have been impressed with the qualifications they bring to Sister Cities, qualifications that will make you feel good about their appointments. 

          So…….in the next edition of INFO @ SCAS, I am going to take the most recent additions and add a few sentences of bio so you will have a greater sense of who they are and what skills they bring to us.  Hope that’s OK with you.

Questions and Comments to:
 
Dave Harralson, yer ‘umble editor
daveharralson@sarasotasistercities.com  /  941-870-5516