122 SARASOTA SCENE | DECEMBER 2017
on the town
THE EMERALD CITY
The Ritz-Carlton had
us green with envy as Oz
took over and welcomed
a record turnout crowd
of over 450 guests at this
year’s Oceanic Evening
Laboratory. Congressman
Vern Buchanan, Commissioner
Charles Hines, board
trustees, donors, volunteers,
and community sponsors
were greeted by the Wicked
Witch of the West as she
on her broom. Judy Graham, event
chair and Good Witch of the East,
helped get everyone settled into the
Land of Oz. Bob Essner, Board Chair,
and Dr. Michael Crosby, CEO of Mote,
addressed the crowd and shared some
of the latest research and science.
The world-renowned Mote Marine
Laboratory is having a great impact on
conservation and sustainable use of our
oceans due to the diverse backgrounds of
all involved. Together, the organization’s
volunteers, community partners, trustees,
and dedicated and brilliant staff will
continue to help propel Mote’s unique
and independent institution into a new
era by empowering their freedom to pursue
innovative science and to enhance
the ocean literacy of millions of people
around the world.
Aside from the research Mote does,
-
marine ecosystems and derived products
from the sea help us to not only protect
and sustainably utilize our ocean resources,
but also improve the quality of
lives in communities around the world.
They strive to translate and transfer their
research through their science education
and outreach programs and their
community partnerships to develop
a more ocean-literate public. One of
their strategic priorities is to expand the
connections of their science to all the diverse
communities they serve in Florida
and all around the world.
Mote’s 2020 vision includes an expanded
and enhanced international marine
science technology and innovation
park. This is needed to address the grand
challenges that are facing our oceans
on regional and international scales, the
additional hiring of scientists and visiting
scientists and entrepreneurs.
The evolution of Mote’s international
infrastructure on City Island will require
building a new informal science education
center and aquarium at a new campus
of Mote. Early into next year, they will
announce their plans of the rebirth of
Mote Aquarium on the mainland. Beyond
2020, Mote will become the catalyst for a
new Silicon Valley of marine science and
technology that will lead to improved conservation
and sustainability of our oceans.
Florida’s blue economy will be thriving
and its impact will be felt far beyond the
state lines because everyone everywhere is
connected to our oceans. “There really is
no place like Mote,” said Dr. Crosby, as he
concluded his welcome.
Seen in the sea of green were Sandy Buchanan,
Mickey and Brooke Callanen, Jim
Culter, Anne Essner, Erin Kabinoff, Chris
McGee, Jan Miller, Lisa Morris, Gerry and
Natalie Radford and Beth Waskom.
Sarasota Baking Book
Club: Grier Ferguson,
Niki Kottmann, Andrea
DeCamp, Katie Johns,
Alyssa Holcomb
(back), Anna Brugmann
(front, short hair),
Cassidy Alexander
(back), Elizabeth
and Sawyer the dog
AND YOU ALWAYS END
WITH DESSERT!
A gal named Grier Ferguson
founded the Sarasota Baking Book
Club with Anna Brugman a year
or so ago. This club of young,
energetic, fun ladies meet either
monthly or bi-monthly depending
on the length of the selected novel
for that particular month. Since
its inception, the club has grown
quickly through word of mouth and
also by the taste of the delicious
dessert treats concocted month
after month! Most of the times, the
book will inspire the tasty treat for
that month. During their monthly
gatherings at a member’s home,
these intellectual ladies discuss
literature, culture and the occasional
Internet meme reference.
Their novel of choice for their fall
gathering was the short story “The
Telltale Heart” by Edgar Allen Poe.
Grier posted a poll on the groups
private Facebook group page
asking everyone to suggest a short
story. Alyssa Holcomb’s short story
suggestion received the most votes.
Some of the members are married,
some are out-of-towners, and some
are locals who have returned home
after college. They’ve inspired me
to start a baking book club of my
own, since I will now have more
time on my hands due to this being
my last “Real Talk” column. Keep
it “all real, all the time” and thank
you to Sarasota Scene for the fun
opportunity and to all who helped
to inspire each month!