SARASOTA
SEASON WINTER 2021
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T H E O B S E R V E R ’S G U I D E TO T H E A R TS AND SOCIETY
INSIDE
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 17, NO. 5
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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020
YOUR TOWN
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Giving back
Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School embraced the holiday spirit by volunteering at food drives and donation efforts through November and December. Twenty students participated at the 20th annual Sarasota Ministerial Association Thanksgiving Lunch by serving people and operating tables Nov. 25. Residents at Sunshine Meadows Nursing Home received Christmas gifts bought by Cardinal Mooney families Dec. 17. The school’s chapter of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society collected and delivered toys to Manatee Memorial Hospital, Mothers Helping Mothers and Sarasota Memorial Hospital Center for Behavior Health on Dec. 19.
JUNE
SPEAKING OUT After the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, street protests took place in Sarasota. Protesters were seeking an end to racial discrimination and reforms to the way law enforcement conducts itself.
MARCH
COVID-19 REARS ITS UGLY HEAD One of the first examples of life changing because of the COVID-19 pandemic was the closing of publicgathering places, such as restaurants.
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Good news graduates
Selah Freedom staff and supporters gathered for a graduation program Dec. 1 at the Source Church in Bradenton to celebrate the nonprofit’s largest graduating class of sexual abuse survivors. Two hundred people attended the event in-person and virtually. They left message to the 17 women in the graduating class — “Hang in there, and show up for yourself and those who love you because life on the other side is so much more beautiful and meaningful than you could have ever imagined.”
JANUARY
CIRCUSEY SCIENCE OR SCIENCEY CIRCUS? Hundreds of fifth graders from around Sarasota County made the trip to the Circus Arts Conservatory to learn a little something about science through the lens of the circus. Physics, math and more play a crucial role in many circus acts, the kids learned. They also learned that clown acts are always funny, even if there’s a lesson attached, especially when Karen Bell interacts with Bucky The Clown.
2020 THROUGH THE LENS
We review the photos that gave us pause during a most unusual year.
E
verything seemed so encouraging when we donned those silly-looking novelty glasses made with the numbers 2020 with which to ring in the new year. Vacations were planned, Olympics were anticipated, high school graduation parties were beginning to come together. Then we all learned what “pandemic” meant. Still, though, 2020 wasn’t all bad. There were plenty of things to celebrate along the way. Here are the highlights of what transpired over the past 12 months.
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