Local Matters podcast

On Thursday, Feb. 4, Local Matters welcomed David T. Warner, author of “Vanishing Florida: A Personal Guide to Sights Rarely Seen” to the WSLR studio, where he spent an hour reminiscing about some of the fascinating characters and off-the-beaten-path locales he’s encountered during his time in Sarasota and his extensive travels throughout Florida.

David shared his memories of the Liar's Lunch, a regular Friday gathering of Sarasota writers that over the years included John D. MacDonald, Joe Hayes, Thornton Wilder, Art Buchwald and Stephen King.
He also discussed his time as manager South Trail Cinema where Pee Wee Herman ran afoul of the law and talked about his writing mentor and best friend Borden Deal.

David will soon publish “Druid City – Snapshots of Growing Up in the Segregated South.” His previous work includes “Bimini – Tales of an Island Getaway,” “High-Sheriff Jim Turner” and the David Ogden Steirs narrated documentaries “Cowboys, Indians and UFO’s” and "Bimini-By-The-Sea."

David’s Bellamy Road foundation is currently hosting the “Western Fringes: Americana at Bellamy Road” lecture, art and film series taking place in Melrose, Florida, through February 20.
Local Matters airs live every Thursday evening from 6 to 7 p.m. on WSLR 96.5 low power FM in Sarasota, Florida.

Local Matters is on Facebook, please visit us at "Local Matters Sarasota"

Local Matters and all other WSLR programming can be heard online 24 hours a day at: http://wslr.org/listen-live/

Learn more about WSLR at www.WSLR.org

Thanks to Bungalow Builders for supporting Local Mattes and WSLR. Check out their eco-friendly, green bungalow designs at www.bungalowbuildersllc.com

On Thursday, Jan. 28, MC Coolidge and Matt Orr stopped by Local Matters to discuss a number of topics pertaining to life in Sarasota, a city where MC and Matt have lived and worked and played for many years. Topics of discussion included the Police Advisory Panel, Unconditional Surrender, the use of social networking websites and some thoughts on the role of new media. Listeners were also provided with some insight on MC's latest blogging and journalistic endeavors as well as Matt's efforts to bring more art, culture, entertainment and economic development to Sarasota' Rosemary District and beyond.

MC Coolidge is a freelance writer whose work as appeared in Creative Loafing, The Sarasota Herald Tribune and The Pelican Press. MC has published a collection of her Pelican Press columns in a book she titled“Sideways in Sarasota.” (http://mcrealityonline.com/)

Matt Orr is the founder of This Week in Sarasota (www.thisweekinsarasota.com) and is associated with The HUB business incubator (www.hubsarasota.com), where he is active in the efforts to bring greater artistic, cultural and economic opportunities to Sarasota.

We closed this episode of Local Matters with music by Venice singer-songwriter Bud Buckley, hearing a cut called "Let Me Go" from Bud's "It's About Time" CD. Visit Bud online at www.BudBuckley.com

Local Matters airs live every Thursday evening from 6 to 7 p.m. on WSLR 96.5 low power FM in Sarasota, Florida.

Local Matters is on Facebook, please visit us at "Local Matters Sarasota"

Local Matters and all other WSLR programming can be heard online 24 hours a day at: http://wslr.org/listen-live/

Learn more about WSLR at www.WSLR.org

Thanks to Bungalow Builders for supporting Local Mattes and WSLR. Check out their eco-friendly, green bungalow designs at www.bungalowbuildersllc.com

This on Local Matters: Former National Guard recruiter Scott Driscoll and suicide prevention activist Carla Stumph-Patton joined Local Matters hosts Joe Hendricks and Steve Norris for discussion on military suicides, a past increased rate of suicide among military recruiters and the after-effect of suicide and attempted suicide.

Carla Stumph-Patton is the director and founder Sarasota Suncoast Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: www.afsp.org/suncoast

Thanks as always to Bungalow Builders for supporting Local Matters. Learn more about the eco-friendly green bungalow designs as www.bungalowbuildersllc.com

“Local Matters: where local folks drop by to talk about local things that matter…”

On Thursday, January 14, Local Matters welcomed Tom Marer from the Safe Children Coalition and foster parent Nancy Krizen to the WSLR studio.

Local Matters hosts Joe Hendricks and Steve Norris spent the hour talking with Tom and Nancy about the Safe Children Coalition’s efforts to provide safe harbor for neglected and abused youngsters in Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties. Nancy also shared her personal experiences as a longtime foster parent, working in unison with the Safe Children Coalition.

Local Matters airs live every Thursday evening from 6 to 7 p.m. on WSLR 96.5 low power FM in Sarasota, Florida.
Local Matters and all other WSLR programming can be heard online 24 hours a day at: http://wslr.org/listen-live/
Learn more about WSLR at www.WSLR.org

Thanks to Bungalow Builders for supporting Local Mattes and WSLR. Check out their eco-friendly, green bungalow designs at www.bungalowbuildersllc.com

Longtime Sarasota City Commissioner Fredd Atkins dropped by the WSLR studio on January 7 to discuss a myriad of localmatters, including the upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations; redevelopment and job creation in Newtown; the manner in which city officials and the Sarasota Police Department handled the Juan Perez case; the efforts to reduce crime in Newtown; recent happenings at the city commission meetings and other issues that have arisen during Fredd’s lengthy career as a public official.

Local Matters and all other WSLR programming can be heard online 24 hours a day at: http://wslr.org/listen-live/

Thanks to Bungalow Builders for supporting WSLR. Check out their eco-friendly, green bungalow designs at www.bungalowbuildersllc.com

Thanks for listening...See you in 2010…

“Local Matters: Where local folks drop by to talk about local things that matter…"

On New Year’s Eve, (Dec. 31, 2009), Local Matters took a local look back on the year 2009 – a year that saw the election of two new city commissioners; the police chief being placed on administrative leave for mishandling the Juan Perez case; the creation of a city-owned mooring field that has yet to be completed and joint efforts between city and county officials to bring the Baltimore Orioles to Sarasota in an effort to preserve Sarasota’s status as a home to Major League Baseball’s spring training endeavors.   

Hosted by Joe Hendricks and co-hosted on this evening by Steve and Nancy Norris, this episode of Local Matters features a number of audio clips taken from previous episodes of Local Matters, The Jumping Mullet Report and audio from the press conference where Police Chief Peter Abbott’s acknowledged his mishandling of the Juan Perez case.

Next week on Local Matters (Thursday Jan. 7, 2010: City Commissioner Fredd Atkins stops by to talk about his career as a city official, issues facing Sarasota City Commission in 2010, the ongoing efforts to redevelop Newtown and the work that needs to be done to improve the relationship between the Newtown community and the Sarasota Police Department.

Local Matters and all other WSLR programming can be heard online 24 hours a day at: http://wslr.org/listen-live/

Thanks to Bungalow Builders for supporting WSLR. Check out their eco-friendly, green bungalow designs at www.bungalowbuildersllc.com

Thanks for listening...See you in 2010…

This week’s show features a series of interviews conducted by Local Matters host Joe Hendricks. The show starts with a conversation with Nicole Feld (executive VP of Feld Entertainment and producer for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Baily Circus) talking about the Ringling’s ILLUSCINATION show that is coming to Robarts Arena in late December and early January.
Feld, who grew up in a circus family, discusses the creation of the new ILLUSCINATION show that features illusionist David DaVinci, how circuses have changed over the years and what’s it’s like to grow up in a circus family and run away with the circus.
www.ringling.com
Ticket info for Ringling performances at Robarts Arena in Sarasota: http://www.sarasotafair.com/site/

We then turn our attention to PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and their allegations that Ringling Bros. circus animals are mistreated. Amanda Fortino will discuss the recent PETA protest outside Southside Elementary School here in Sarasota and some of the allegations PETA has made against Feld Entertainment (the owners of the Ringling Bros. circus).

Next up is Ringling Bros. director of animal stewardship Janice Aria, who will dispute the allegations made by PETA and share with us her thoughts on the efforts Ringling and Feld Entertainment are making to help preserve the Asian Elephant.
(www.ringlingbeatsanimals.com and www.peta.org)

And we’ll wrap up this four-ring radio circus with a conversation with Joan Leonard, from the PAL Sailor Circus. “The Greatest Little Show On Earth” opens its holiday production on Sunday Dec. 27.
(www.sailorcircus.org)

Local Matters thanks Bungalow Builders for their continued support. Learn more about their eco-friendly, green bungalow designs at: www.bungalowbuildersllc.com

“Local Matters…where local folks drop by to talk about local things that matter.”

During the Dec. 7 City Commission meeting, Mayor Dick Clapp and County Commissioners Joe Barbetta and Carolyn Mason paid tribute to retiring City Clerk Billy Robinson and his more than three decades of service to the City of Sarasota.

This audio clip features highlights from that meeting and was played on WSLR's Dec. 9 Jumping Mullet Report

www.WSLR.org

"Local Matters...where local folks drop by to talk about local things that matter."

Host Joe Hendricks and co-host Steve Norris are joined in the WSLR studio by Marty Hurwitz, founder and executive director of the Habitude, a Sarasota organization that works with at-risk youths, providing among other things life coaching and academic tutoring. (http://hab-i-tude.org/habsite.html)

Toward the end of the hour, we got a call from Michael Edwards - the Asolo Repertory Theatre’s Producing Artistic Director, and the director of “The Life of Galileo” production that opened the following night. (www.asolo.org)

Local Matters and all other WSLR programming can be heard online 24 hours a day at: http://wslr.org/listen-live/

Thanks to Bungalow Builders for supporting WSLR. Check out their eco-friendly, green bungalow designs at www.bungalowbuildersllc.com

Thanks for listening...

On Thursday, Dec. 10, Maxi Castillo and Melina Economos - The Jumping Mullet Report's newest community reporters - headed over to the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex to cover the "Stop The Violence" forum being hosted by The Newtown Front Porch Council, the Greater Newtown Community Redevelopment Corporation and others in an effort to end the violence that has beleaguered Sarasota's historic black community for too long now.
Among those heard from in this audio clip are Rev. Kelvin Lumpkin, Mary Mack, Jetson Grimes, Lt. Pat Ledwith and City Commissioner Fredd Atkins.

The Jumping Mullet Report airs live on WSLR 96.5 LPFM (Sarasota's community radio station)every Monday, Wednesday and Friday evening from 6 to 7 p.m.
Listen online at: http://wslr.org/listen-live/

WSLR contributor Anita Bartholowmew provided this Jumping Mullet Report commentary on a neighbor who will soon be headed to Afghanistan as part of the US war efforts abroad and President Obama's recent decision to escalate the war in Afghanistan.

The Jumping Mullet Report airs live every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 6 to 7 p.m. on WSLR 96.5 LPFM and online at www.WSLR.org.

Anita Bartholomew is a Sarasota writer, editor and "book doctor." Learn more about her work at www.anitabartholomew.com and check out her blog at: www.editorialconsultant.wordpress.com

Filling in for host Joe Hendricks, guest hosts Steve Norris (The Surreal News) and Steve Eingorn welcomed Pam Hindman (Director of the 12th Circuit Guardian ad Litem Program) and Guardian ad Litem volunteer John Woodhead to this week's episode of Local Matters.

As part of the statewide Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) program, the 12th Judicial Circuit Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) serves more than 1,000 children in Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties who have been removed from their homes due to allegations of abuse, neglect or abandonment. Through no fault of their own, these youngsters must now navigate through the dependency court system where a judge is forced to make decisions about a child he or she has never even met. A confused and frightened child can easily get lost in an already overburdened child welfare system.

The Guardian Ad Litem program recruits, trains, supports and supervises court-appointed volunteers to represent the most vulnerable children, speaking up for an abused or neglected child during court proceedings. The GAL volunteer acts as the vital information link between the court and the child, making independent, objective recommendations regarding the child's best interests.

More information on Guardian Ad Litem is available at the following websites: www.12gal.org and www.guardianadlitem.org

This episode of Local Matters will also featured one of Diana Friedman’s “Hometown Heroes” audio profiles, this one highlighting the efforts of Guardian Ad Litem volunteer Cassie Friedman.

Local Matters and all other WSLR programming can be heard online 24 hours a day at: http://wslr.org/listen-live/

Thanks to Bungalow Builders for supporting WSLR. Check out their eco-friendly, green bungalow designs at www.bungalowbuildersllc.com

"Local Matters...where local folks drop by to talk about local things that matter."

Sarasota County Parks and Recreation General Manager John McCarthy dropped by the WSLR studio to discuss Sarasota County’s Parks and Recreation facilities and programs, including the newly opened Urfer Park, the work being done at Lime Lake Park in Newtown, future park plans and upcoming events, maintaining the Lido Park and Arlington swimming pools, the idea of public-private sponsorships to help offset budget cuts and how budget cuts impact the county parks system.

We also heard from Kimberly Braun, founder of the Celebrating Wellness festival that takes place in January.

Local Matters and all other WSLR programming can be heard online 24 hours a day at: http://wslr.org/listen-live/

Thanks to Bungalow Builders for supporting WSLR. Check out their eco-friendly green bungalow designs at www.bungalowbuildersllc.com

Sarasota Mayor Richard Clapp stopped by the WSLR studio this week to discuss a myriad of city topics, including the Sarasota Police Department and the Juan Perez investigation. The mayor also discusses the efforts to redevelop Newtown and provides updates on the mooring field, the Palm Avenue parking garage,and the commission's decision to deny the proposed Cabanna Inn redevelopment plans.

Hosted by Joe Hendricks and co-hosted by Steve Norris, Local Matters airs every Thursday evening from 6 to 7 pm on WSLR 96.5 LPFM, Sarasota’s non-profit community radio station.

Listen to WSLR’s live streaming audio 24 hours a day at www.wslr.org/listen-live. Learn more about WSLR at www.WSLR.org

Local Matters thanks Bungalow Builders for supporting this program. Learn more about their eco-friendly, green bungalow designs at www.bungalowbuildersllc.com

Looking for something to do tonight? Check out the entertainment listings at www.WhereWillWeGoTonight.com

Thanks for listening...see you on the radio

Making her debut as a Jumping Mullet Report contributor on WSLR 96.5 LPFM, Sarasota resident Anita Bartholomew offers this insightful and entertaining piece of audio commentary on remarks recently made by Congressman Vern Buchanan pertaining to the debate on health care reform.

The Jumping Mullet Report airs live every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 6 to 7 p.m. on WSLR 96.5 LPFM and online at www.WSLR.org

Anita Bartholomew is a local writer, editor and book doctor. Learn more about her at www.anitabartholomew.com and see her blog at: www.editorialconsultant.wordpress.com

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