Renowned cantors to perform at holiday concert; Conservation Foundation protects 69 acres

Homes for the holiday

Renowned cantors to performat Temple Beth Sholom concert

Temple Beth Sholom will host two world class cantors as the featured performers at its Hanukkah Holiday Concert on Sunday at 3 p.m. at the synagogue, 1050 S. Tuttle Ave., Sarasota.

Alberto Mizrahi, known as the “Jewish Pavarotti," and award-winning Matthew Austerklein will combine their rich tenor and baritone voices in a variety of holiday songs in Hebrew, Yiddish, Ladino, Greek, and English. Mizrahi has performed and recorded with legendary jazz pianist Dave Brubeck and covered Luciano Pavarotti in “Ballo in Machera” with the Miami Opera. The London Times hailed him as “charismatic and fearless."

Austerklein joined Temple Beth Sholom as Cantor-in-Residence earlier this year and is acclaimed for musical creativity. Nationally regarded pianist Alan Mason will accompany. Admission is free, but donations to the Temple Beth Sholom Tikkun Olam (social action) Fund are appreciated. For reservations, contact the synagogue at 941-955-8121.

Conservation Foundation saves69 acres at Myakka headwaters

The Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast recently purchased and permanently protected 69 acres at the headwaters of the Myakka River in Myakka City. The land is adjacent to its existing 363-acre Myakka Headwaters Preserve (conserved in October 2020), where seven streams converge to create the Myakka River.

“Now that we own land on both sides of the Myakka River, we can ensure the full restoration and protection of the entire river floodplain in this area,” said Christine Johnson, president of the Conservation Foundation.

The foundation used its Land Fund along with grants from the Manatee Community Foundation and the Jelks Family Foundation to complete the purchase on Dec. 7. The now 432-acre Myakka Headwaters Preserve is adjacent to the 2,300-acre Flatford Swamp Preserve, which contains the river’s largest forested wetland.

Among the forests are 30 acres of longleaf pine forest, which provides habitat for many rare plant and animal species and is a national conservation priority. Less than 5% of original longleaf pine forests in the Southeast remain. To date, the Conservation Foundation has protected over 19,200 acres across 55 properties, including roughly 18,000 acres within the Southwest Florida Wildlife Corridor initiative.

New Barancik hurricane grantsraise total to nearly $2 million

The Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation approved an additional $413,858 for Hurricane Ian relief in November, including a $215,362 grant to mitigate The Florida Center for Early Childhood’s economic losses and staff impacts. Barancik grants for Ian recovery total roughly $1.9 million.

Other grants include $43,750 to Legal Aid of Manasota and $94,746 to Gulfcoast Legal Services. Legal Aid plans to hire an outreach coordinator to bring more legal and education resources to residents. Gulfcoast plans to add an attorney to its South Sarasota County team, where damage from Hurricane Ian was especially fierce.

Barancik also provided a $60,000 grant to support repairs to Senior Friendship Center buildings in Sarasota County. The Friendship Centers for older residents sustained more than $100,000 in damage to its buildings and campuses.

Loveland Center's 14th Barbecue Fundraiser exceeds expectations

The Loveland Center raised $128,000 at its 14th annual Barbecue Fundraiser at the Venice Community Center. Presented by the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, the center exceeded its goal with the help of matches totaling $30,000 from the Albert A. Arditti Family Foundation and Band, Gates & Dramis Charitable Foundations.

“The Loveland BBQ was a fantastic representation of our community getting together to support individuals with disabilities and help them get the services needed to live an independent life,” board member and BBQ volunteer Toby MacDonald said.

The match continues until Dec. 31. Donations can be mailed to the Office of Philanthropy, Loveland Center, 157 S. Havana Road, Venice 34292, or visit lovelandcenter.org. Funds support Loveland’s transportation, scholarship, and theater programs.

Around and about ...

Registration is open for the Safe Place And Rape Crisis Center's golf tournament fundraiser, Scramble for SPARCC, on Jan. 16 at Laurel Oak Country Club, 2700 Gary Player Blvd, Sarasota. All proceeds support SPARCC’s confidential programs and services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Info and registration: sparcc.net/events.

• The 31st annual Englewood United Methodist Church Community Christmas Dinner is scheduled Sunday as a drive-through and pickup event in the church’s parking lot at 700 E. Dearborn St., Englewood. Delivery will be available for homebound individuals. Donations are appreciated but not required. Info: 941-474-5588.

• The Literacy Council of Sarasota is offering new online English classes, from Introductory Basic to Advanced, starting Feb. 9. Space is limited and preregistration is required by Jan. 13 by contacting LCS program associate Sandra Beltran at 941-955-0421 or sbeltran@sarasotaliteracy.org. Info: sarasotaliteracy.org.

Submissions by Troy Jones, Sam Valentin, Camille Cline, Ning Tinsley, Caroline McCoy, Tom Melville, Christine McKelvey.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Renowned cantors at holiday concert; 69 acres conserved in Myakka City