COMMUNITY BRIEFS: 'Black Voter Experience' panel; Sarasota Opera camps; Second Heart Homes

Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·4 min read

A new JFCS office

The JFCS of the Suncoast and Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce recently celebrated the opening of the Bradford and Temi Saivetz Center for Aging Services thanks in part to a $500,000 endowment from Longboat residents Ruthellen and Marc Rubin that honors Ruthellen's parents. “My husband and I jumped at the opportunity to be part of JFCS’ initiative to bring critically needed services for seniors and their caregivers to Longboat Key,” Ruthellen said. The gift was matched by $500,000 raised by the JFCS, which has offices across Manatee, Sarasota, and Charlotte counties.

Sarasota forum to focus
on Black voter experience

The League of Women Voters of Sarasota County and Suncoast Women of Action will host a panel discussion, "The History of the Black Vote: The Black Voter Experience in Sarasota," on May 25 at 6 p.m. at Bethlehem Bible Church of Sarasota, 1680 18th St., Sarasota.

Vickie Oldham is president of the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition.
Vickie Oldham is president of the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition.

Vickie Oldham, president of the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition and Newtown Alive historian, will serve as moderator. The panel features Kelly Kirschner, founding director of Unidos Now; Barbara Langston, activist and Newtown Village Elder; Kay Mathers of Girls Inc. and the Human Services Advisory Council; and Dee McFarland, president of the Sarasota Black Caucus.

“The history of voting has not been kind to the Black race," said Helen James, president of Suncoast Women of Action. "Now is the time we must educate ourselves, get involved, stay involved and make a difference in all elections.”

The discussion will be followed by light refreshments and conversation in Fellowship Hall. For information, contact events@LWVSRQ.org.

Registration open for Sarasota
Youth Opera Summer Camp

Registration for the Sarasota Youth Opera’s annual Summer Camp for young people has been extended to May 20.

Sessions include singing, acting, makeup, and costumes, all led by professional singers, artists, directors, musicians, and technicians. A two-week camp for ages 8-10 runs Monday through Friday from June 13-24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; a three-week camp for ages 10 and up runs Monday through Friday from June 13 through July 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Programming is designed for all skill levels and the camps takes place at the Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple. Financial assistance is available. For more information and to register, call 941-328-1307, email youthopera@sarasotaopera.org or visit SarasotaOpera.org.

Wellen Park to host peace
for Ukraine tree planting

Wellen Park will host representatives from eight local Rotary Clubs, the city of North Port and the local Ukrainian community on Monday to plant five pine trees donated by People for Trees to symbolize peace and support for Ukraine.

The event will begin at 4 p.m. at the Wellen Park Welcome Center, 12275 Mercado Drive, Venice. Local Rotary Clubs have held tree plantings in past years in connection with the Greening Planet Global Initiative, a Ukraine-based effort that is focused on bringing together 100 million people globally around planting trees.

The participants include Venice-Nokomis Rotary Club, Rotary Club of Venice Suncoast, Rotary Club of North Port Central, Rotary Club of Rotonda West, Lemon Bay Sunrise Rotary, Rotary Club of Englewood, Rotary Club of Englewood Sunset and Rotary Club at Wellen Park.

Second Heart Homes names
first director of operations

Athyna Smith, former director of Rapid Rehousing for JFCS of the Suncoast, has been named the first director of operations for Second Heart Homes.

Athyna Smith has been named director of operations for Second Heart Homes.
Athyna Smith has been named director of operations for Second Heart Homes.

"I am pleased to join Second Heart Homes and am committed to cementing its reputation and performance as an outstanding nonprofit organization,” Smith said.

Smith also recently served on the Continuum of Care Leadership Council for the Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness. As a council member, she coordinated the Sarasota-Manatee community’s policies, strategies and activities toward ending homelessness. Smith has a bachelor's of arts degree in criminology from the University of Southern Florida.

Manatee County hosting
free Community Shred Day

The Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller's Office is sponsoring its fourth annual Community Drive-Thru Shred Day on May 21 from 9-11 a.m. at the Manatee County Fairgrounds, 1402 14th Ave. W., Palmetto.

ShredQuick, AAA-certified by the National Association for Information Destruction, will provide services for the free event. Households may bring two standard boxes, 12 inches by 10 inches by 15 inches. No dropoffs are accepted and participants must remain in their vehicle until a Clerk of Court staff member or volunteer places their documents into a shredding bin.

Residents can bring any color or type of paper document for disposal. Plastic credit and ID cards are also accepted. Paper clips, staples, rubber bands, labels, and file tabs do not need to be removed. For more information, email Jennifer Linzy at Jennifer.Linzy@ManateeClerk.com or call 941-741-4007.

Around and about ...

The 10th annual Carry The Load National Relay to raise awareness for fallen heroes and first responders will pass through Sarasota on May 19. The 32-day, 20,000-mile relay includes five routes crossing 48 states and 100 rallies. All ages can participate. For more information, visit carrytheload.org/MemorialMay.

• First responders and hospital staff in the North Port area will have access to free dental services at Price Creek Dentistry as part of Free Dentistry Day on May 25. “This event is a great opportunity for us to share our time and resources with the men and women who have dedicated their lives to serving their community,” Dr. Timothy Lee said. Cleanings and fillings will be provided between 8 a.m. and noon at 1500 Price Creek Way, North Port. Information: 941-200-5094 and FreeDentistryDay.org.

Compiled from press releases and community submissions

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: COMMUNITY: 'Black Voter Experience' panel; Second Heart Homes; Ukraine