Newsletter 174

NEWS FROM THE SUNCOAST …..

MOTE SEA SETS OCTOBER OPENING DATE

The grand opening for the new Mote Science Education Aquarium will be Oct. 8, with current Mote members able to preview the $130 million aquarium Oct. 6 and 7. Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium broke the news to its members via a postcard inviting them to sign up for previews of the new aquarium, typically referred to as Mote SEA. Ticket reservations are available online at: http://bit.ly/46uG3ZE. Impacts of the 2024 hurricane season – especially hurricanes Helene and Milton – on the City Island campus were contributing factor that pushed the construction timetable back almost a year from the anticipated late 2024 soft opening date. “Mote SEA is much more than just an aquarium; it stands at the intersection of paradigm-changing research, science education, and community engagement,” Mote President & CEO Michael Crosby wrote in a Sept. 15 email sent to the general public. “We envision a future in which tens of millions of visitors will experience the transformative power of learning and discovery, changing the way they think about our oceans, conservation and sustainable use.” The October opening of the 146,000 square-foot facility is still in time to mark the 70th anniversary of the independent, nonprofit marine research organization. The aquarium on City Island at 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway closed to the public on July 6, when Mote staff began the transition to the Mote SEA campus. “The new Mote SEA is a new facility designed to progress marine science education, access, and outreach,” Kevin Cooper, Mote’s vice president for communications and strategic initiatives, said in a prepared statement. “We have created new authentic habitats for all our species of marine life, including a massive manatee habitat, and homes for some of our newest animals, like the giant Pacific octopus and our penguins. We are also adding more opportunities to learn about marine science for our guests, school children and adult learners and offering new opportunities for citizen scientists to participate in marine science through outreach.” Three interactive STEM teaching laboratories will be available for K-12 students in Sarasota and Manatee counties free of charge. In 2024, 50,934 students attended education programs on City Island. Officials anticipate that number to increase with the opening of Mote SEA. There are also four STEM Workforce Training Labs, covering aquaculture, conservation, coral, and a veterinary clinic/diagnostic center. The Gulf habitat – the largest at Mote SEA – features a 400,000-gallon tank. For more information on this story, courtesy of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, please click here: Mote SEA Sets October Opening Date

STABLIZATION UNDERWAY IN REAL ESTATE MARKET

This is a recent Op-Ed from Budge Huskey, CEO of Premier Sotheby’s International Realty. Stabilization. Admittedly, an odd choice of words in a year when little feels normal and uncertainty dominates on macroeconomic, geopolitical, and real estate fronts. Yet call me an optimist: I believe we are overlooking signals pointing toward it. The premise may surprise when recent media coverage has been awash with predictions of Florida real estate’s inevitable collapse, spotlighting several west coast markets appearing on rankings lists, and not the good ones. Let us be candid. Year-to-date, every market from Naples to Tampa has delivered fewer sales. Inventories of unsold homes have swelled compared to the same period last year. Typically, these conditions foreshadow downward pressure on prices. Still, context matters. Across the country, values surged in the wake of a pandemic once feared to be the death knell of real estate. Florida, in particular, benefited with home values rising an estimated 60% between 2019 and 2024. At present, equity is unprecedented. With such accelerated sales and appreciation, demand was undoubtedly pulled forward with prices overshooting traditional benchmarks. Yet homes remain an emotional asset with values often defined as much by perception and desire as by fundamentals. Recent weeks – hardly long enough to declare a trend – have nonetheless shown an uptick in activity along the Gulf Coast. Pending contracts are climbing. In more than one market, the first four months lagged the prior year, but the last three outpaced it. Whether due to buyers sensing leverage, recognizing interest rates will not shift materially in the near term, or simply deciding life cannot wait on global certainty, energy is returning. Mortgage applications are up almost 20 percent year-over-year, and online portals reflect the highest level of home search terms in the last two years. NAR just reported that June closed sales came in above last year for the first time in six months. On the supply side, patterns are shifting as well beyond normal seasonality. While the first half of the year brought more new listings than last year, since June the reverse has been true. National data confirms: June’s inventory dipped below May’s. From my vantage point, stabilization is underway. Inventory is higher but not extreme by historical standards. New listings are decelerating. Pending sales are improving and should look far stronger compared with last year’s hurricane-impacted months. Prices face some pressure, but declines remain isolated and modest. Those expecting dramatic drops in prices may be disappointed. As always, well-maintained and updated homes will command premiums, while dated properties will sell at discounts. A dynamic that holds true in any market. Please click here for more, courtesy of the Bradenton Herald: Stabilization Underway In Real Estate Market

PATTERSON DONATES TO HURRICANE FUND

As area residents prepare for the heart of hurricane season, The Patterson Foundation is also getting ready by once again seeding the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund with a $500,000 contribution. The fund, started three years ago by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County in the wake of Hurricane Ian, supports ongoing and future disaster recovery efforts in Sarasota, Manatee, DeSoto and Charlotte counties. With this latest gift, the fund has raised more than $10.2 million – $4 million of that from The Patterson Foundation. “Each year, we are reminded of important steps to take to prepare for hurricane season — from items to stock up on, to having a plan in place to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe from the threats posed by a major storm,” said Debra Jacobs, president and CEO of The Patterson Foundation. “Funding for long-term recovery is an essential part of preparedness, based on the realities people, organizations and communities throughout the Suncoast continue to face following our recent historic storms,” she added. “By investing $500,000 into strategic, long-term recovery before disaster strikes, The Patterson Foundation is strengthening our region’s capacity to navigate inevitable future storms with resilience.” While research shows that the majority of donations after a disaster go to immediate relief, the fund fills a critical gap by addressing long-term recovery needs often identified months after calamity strikes. It supports vital community resources in the areas of mental and behavioral health, legal services, case management, children and youth services, as well as efforts identified by Long Term Recovery Groups within each county. That includes the rebuilding and repairing of homes, and replacing damaged furniture and appliances to help keep homes safe and livable. The fund also directs contributions to local nonprofit organizations supporting long-term, long-range recovery programs to sustain human service agencies in the region. “From experience, we know that many needs will not be evident for weeks, months or even years after the storm,” said Kirsten Russell, vice president of community impact at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. “By investing in long-term recovery, the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund ensures our region’s most vulnerable can heal holistically and our communities can restore their stability beyond the immediate crisis.” Please click here for more: Patterson Donates To Hurricane Fund

CULVERHOUSE’S GIFT HELPS TO OFFSET CUTS

Sarasota attorney, developer and philanthropist Hugh Culverhouse Jr.’s $350,000 matching challenge has spurred a record $707,938 in contributions to Florida Humanities, helping sustain museums, libraries, and cultural organizations statewide after steep federal cuts to the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) eliminated more than $1.7 million in annual federal funding to the NEH and its state partners earlier this year, threatening Florida Humanities’ 50-year mission of preserving and sharing the state’s history. Culverhouse’s support filled part of that gap, continuing his track record of funding community programs where public money has been withdrawn. Florida Humanities serves as a funder for speaker series, book festivals, film screenings, walking tours, and traveling exhibits in partnership with organizations across the state, and is the nonprofit partner of the NEH in Florida. Since its creation, the organization has awarded more than $20 million in grants to cultural organizations across all 67 Florida counties. In Sarasota and Manatee counties, its funding has supported the Smithsonian’s “Voices and Votes” exhibit and Reflections of Manatee’s public history programs, among others. There’s more on this story here: Culverhouse’s Gift Helps Offset Cuts

COUNTY INTENDS TO KEEP MIDNIGHT PASS OPEN

Water in 11-month-old Midnight Pass runs deeper, extends farther and flows through in greater volume these days than it has since October’s Hurricane Milton finished the job that September’s Helene started by reopening the south Siesta Key waterway. Now, more than 40 years since Midnight Pass closed the last time, Sarasota County leaders are devising plans to not only keep it open in the short term but also for the foreseeable future. Less than three weeks after the Pass was torn all the way open by wind and waves on Oct. 10, 2024, survey teams began weekly measurements of its area, depth and flow at a consistent location. Those measurements indicate Midnight Pass might just stick around past infancy. Although quick to caution about Midnight Pass’ young age and the natural fluctuations that come with coastal features of that age, evidence points to a relatively consistent, naturally made waterway, said Mike Jenkins, a senior principal engineer with ATM Geosyntech, a coastal management company hired by Sarasota County to keep tabs on Midnight Pass. “To date, this pass has remained open post-Milton and is exhibiting behavior consistent with an evolving, unstabilized coastal inlet,’’ he said, explaining that only passes that have been engineered with jetties or dredging can be considered stabilized. “So, it is open as of post-Milton.” The Sarasota County Commission heard Jenkins’ presentation recently as a portion of discussion on their role in keeping the Pass open. Inlet management is one of the most regulated segments of coastal engineering, commissioners were told, involving multiple state, local and even federal jurisdictions. Permits can take years for full-scale dredging or structure building, Jenkins said. But the ongoing data collection, paid for with a state grant, is key to not only justifying potential efforts to keep the Pass open but also to signal when emergency action might be needed, action that is far more streamlined and without the same regulatory requirements. There’s more on this story here, courtesy of Your Observer: County To Keep Midnight Pass Open

THREE NEW MOTE FACILITIES TO FOCUS ON SEAGRASS

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium recently celebrated the opening of three state-of-the-art research facilities designed to advance the restoration, resilience, and long-term sustainability of Florida’s critically important seagrass ecosystems. The three new facilities – the Ron and Marla Wolf Seagrass Restoration Center for Ocean Sustainability Greenhouse Facility, Biogeochemical Carbon Sequestration Lab, and Publix Seagrass Genetics Research Hub – make up Mote’s Seagrass Ecosystem Restoration Research Compound at Mote’s Aquaculture Research Park on Fruitville Road in Sarasota. The Seagrass Restoration Technology Development Initiative was established in 2023 by the Florida Legislature through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. SERRC will further Mote’s efforts to develop, test, and implement effective, cost-efficient, and environmentally sustainable technologies to reverse the decline of Florida’s seagrass habitats. “These new facilities provide a transformational leap forward in Mote’s mission to restore Florida’s vital seagrass meadows, and is the result of our strategic collaboration with the state of Florida, federal agencies, and generous philanthropic donors,” Mote Marine Laboratory President & CEO Dr. Michael P. Crosby said in a prepared statement. “Through powerful partnerships, innovative technologies, and a science-driven approach, Mote is advancing restoration solutions that will benefit our coastal ecosystems, economies, and communities for generations to come.” There’s more on this story: New Mote Facilities To Focus On Seagrass

BOAT STRIKE MANATEE DEATHS HIGHEST IN 5 YEARS

At least 76 manatees — almost one in every seven overall deaths — have died by boat strikes this year, the highest in five years for this point in the year. Those account for 15% of the year’s 509 manatee deaths. That’s down from the long-term average of boats causing about 20% of the threatened species’ deaths. Meanwhile, “perinatal” deaths — manatees that perish within a year of birth — have again surpassed watercraft as the highest known cause of sea cow deaths. State wildlife biologists have suggested the increase in deaths of young manatees might actually be a positive sign that more sea cows are emerging from past years of starvation to breed. But mother and calves are still suffering lingering effects of long-term malnourishment. While 94 more manatees have died this year than to this point (Aug. 8) last year, the more positive news is that overall, 49 fewer sea cows have died than the five-year average of 509 deaths, through Aug. 8. Despite recent years of starvation, there were as many as 11,730 manatees in Florida last year, only one year after a record 1,100 sea cows died statewide. But researchers warn that the data is too uncertain to read population trends. Please follow the jump for more on this story, courtesy of Florida Today: Boat-Strike Manatee Deaths High

ART CENTER SARASOTA MARKS 100 YEARS

Raised in Sarasota by a single mother, Katherine Ceaser’s first encounters with fine art came on school field trips. Decades later, Ceaser is now the executive director of Art Center Sarasota and charged with guiding the institution into its next century. The center turns 100 next year, and as she prepares for the milestone, Ceaser brings with her a conviction formed in childhood — that art must remain open to the community, regardless of background or income. “Growing up was a very different experience than I think most people think of in Sarasota, so I’m very sensitive to making sure that the best parts of Sarasota are still accessible to everyone,” said Ceaser, who started at the center in September 2023 and stepped into the executive director position this past December. As Sarasota’s oldest arts organization, the Art Center has long nurtured emerging local talent through juried exhibitions, community workshops and scholarship programs, yet it often remains overshadowed by the city’s higher-profile arts venues. Its centennial is a chance to step out of that shadow, with ambitious programming that spans retrospectives on its legacy, exhibitions by up-and-coming artists and a special focus on youth creativity, including a gallery dedicated to student work. Community events — including a revival of the storied Beaux Arts Ball — will round out a yearlong series of shows, competitions and artist talks that bring together local and international voices, linking the center’s history to the community it serves today. The celebration kicks off on Oct. 9 with solo and group exhibitions, including Legacy x Response: SARTQ Responds to a Century of ACS, referring to Art Center Sarasota. This group exhibition comes from a network of local artists — SARTQ — which plan to honor the center’s history by creating contemporary works that open modern dialogue with the past. Please click here for more: Art Center Sarasota Marks 100 Years

DIRECTOR OF MUSIC FESTIVAL STEPS DOWN

After 61 years as one of the more prominent summer chamber music training programs, the Sarasota Music Festival is heading into transition period with some significant changes coming. The Sarasota Orchestra, which has sponsored the 61-year-old festival since 1985, announced on Aug. 25 that Jeffrey Kahane is stepping down as its music director after nine seasons, and the 2026 festival will be one-week shorter while a committee explores its future. Joseph McKenna, the orchestra’s president and CEO, said the changes were precipitated, in part, by the recent closing of the Hyatt Regency Sarasota, where the faculty and young musicians who attend each festival traditionally stayed. “For the last 40 years, the Hyatt served as this extension of the orchestra-centered campus. Now we have to rely on transportation from housing and that affects the operational flow,” McKenna said in an interview. He said the changes provide “the greatest opportunity to renew our commitment to the festival and prepare it for its future. We have the greatest faculty and a great history and our commitment remains to the festival. We will come out on the other side of this even stronger.” For 2026, the festival will partner with the Art Ovation hotel in downtown Sarasota for housing students and faculty. Faculty members and orchestra staff will help plan the programming for the 2026 two-week festival, which McKenna said will have the same feel as other years, except it will last only two weeks. Please click here for more: Director Of Music Festival Steps Down

ART DECO SHOWS REVEALS BRAVE NEW WORLD

Sarasota Art Museum’s “Art Deco: The Golden Age of Illustration” marks the movement’s centennial with 100 Deco posters. It’s easy to view these lithographs through nostalgia’s rose-colored glasses. Curator Yangsook Roon reveals them through the eyes of the target audience. These images captured the machine age – a fast-paced era of airplanes, ocean liners, roadsters, and electrification. It was a brave new world. And it was all brand new. Art Deco artists rejoiced in the shock of the new and rejected ornate expression. Where Art Nouveau artists had reveled in curvy organic forms, their art was geometric, stylized, streamlined and shiny. Deco artists welcomed the machine age. They weren’t alone. Constructivist and Futurist artists shared their technophilia. But Deco was, shall we say, a bit more upper-class. It celebrated the high-priced goodies that the nouveau riche might enjoy and social climbers aspired to. Bottom line? These Art Deco posters are art – but not art for art’s sake. With a few exceptions, they’re advertisements. Not propaganda or a cry from some artist’s soul. They’re selling you something. Artfully. This show is organized by Sarasota Art Museum and curated by Rangsook Yoon, Sarasota Art Museum’s senior curator. This exhibition draws on Art Deco posters and pieces from the Crouse Collection and The Wolfsonian-Florida International University in Miami. On display through March 29 at Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; (941) 309-4300; sarasotaartmuseum.org Please click on the link for more: Art Deco Show Reveals Brave New World

VAN WEZEL ANNOUNCES NEW SEASON

With three Broadway musicals celebrating the careers of pop music stars, a handful of living musical legends and tributes to other classic rock acts, the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall’s 2025-26 season may resemble a nostalgic survey of changing musical styles over the last 60 years. Executive Director Mary Bensel, who has led the Van Wezel since 2007, has put together a lineup that includes 54 different acts and productions, including five tribute shows, 10 Broadway musicals and plays, two comedians and a few living legends from Paul Anka and The Oak Ridge Boys to opera singer Renee Fleming, The Temptations and Four Tops. Bensel said it has become a greater challenge each year to find the right mix of different acts who are available on open dates at affordable rates. “After COVID, every artist’s fee went up and some artists don’t perform as much as they used to, and I lose out to Tampa theaters because they have more seats,” Bensel said. “It’s hard to do even what I did 10-15 years ago because the fees have become astronomical.” She is also still looking for the right act to be featured for the annual gala to benefit the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation. Past years have included Josh Groban, Barry Manilow and the touring musical “Moulin Rouge.” Please click here for more: Van Wezel Announces New Season