It’s easy to think of 2020 and feel upset or discouraged. But let’s take a moment to reflect on the victories we shared as a community. Originally published by mysuncoast.com this list shows that, despite the pandemic, we have much to be grateful for as we head into 2021.
January 2020
Roundabout road improvements were completed on Honore and Ashton. Additionally, Single Stream Recycling service went into effect. SSR utilizes state of the art robotics, optical imaging, and materials handling capable of processing up to 50 tons of recyclable material per hour.
February 2020
The Orange Hammock Ranch nature preserve will be sustained for future generations, thanks to nearly $20 million in donations being raised. To learn more about this extraordinary achievement, visit the Conservation Fund website.
March 2020
Spring kept the good times rollin’. Down in Venice, the William H. Jervey Jr. Library was named Project of the Year. And here in Sarasota, Niche.com named our city as the number one place to retire in the country. Note: More accolades for Sarasota and Siesta Key would follow…
April 2020
By April, lockdowns had swept the country as the pandemic completely up-ended Americans’ way of life. Sarasota and Florida Would prove to be among the most business forward places in the country. Case in point: Just 60 days into lockdown, the county authorized over $4 million to the business resiliency program. Additionally, Florida became the first state in the country to re-open public beaches with social distancing guidelines in place.
May 2020
Spring in Sarasota so many key developments. Of note was the replacement of Siesta Key’s Old fire house 13 with a new and improved, hurricane resistant facility.
June 2020
After a brief period of being locked down, the state of Florida slowly began to re-open. Here in Sarasota, the Siesta Key Trolley resumed normal routes and service while local county parks were re-opened to the public. Additionally, partnership with the University of Florida innovation station was extended by seven years, until 2027.
July 2020
Although the annual Fourth of July fireworks were canceled last summer due to Covid related concerns, there was a lot to be proud of as a Sarasotian. Our quaint small-city-with-big-dreams Earned national headlines as TripAdvisor ranked Siesta Key as the number 11 best beach in the world. In slightly less exciting but more important news, a new cooling plant was approved to service downtown Sarasota. Although the latter is perhaps less exciting to discuss at cocktail parties, it is an important development that will enable Sarasota to grow safely and efficiently well into the future.
August 2020
The organization Keep Florida Beautiful recognized Sarasota for its eco-friendly efforts, specifically recycling. Also that month, Sarasota received coronavirus relief funds and dedicated a portion to benefit students without Internet access. Later, Welcome Home SRQ lead Real Estate Sales Associate, Diana Fisher, received a surprise birthday celebration! Team members decorated her living room to look like a vintage drive-in movie theater, complete with movie snacks and a screening of the original Mary Poppins.
September 2020
Additional coronavirus relief was received last September, this time to benefit renters needing assistance with housing. Also of note was the birthday celebration of our Website Developer, Kellen Dorsch. Much to his dismay, the unsettling process of moving forward in time, rather than backward, continued for the 34th time in recent memory.
October 2020
Sarasota again made national headlines last October. This time, US World News and Report ranked our city as the best place to retire in the United States. Infrastructure wise, we also saw completion of the Myrtle Street improvement project.
November 2020
Last November, Sarasota was recognize with the Recycling Champions Communication and Education award for single stream recycling. Along the Myakka River, three parcels of land were set aside and preserved for environmental protection.
December 2020
The end of 2020 was marked by the start of construction for downtown’s new cooling plant, and by mid-month, over $49M in coronavirus relief funds had been distributed. Perhaps the most important event of note— we’re told— was the birthday celebration of Welcome Home SRQ Marketing Director, Alanna Giuliani. At her house, Team members surprised Alanna with a Nutcracker themed brunch complete with candy canes, hot cocoa, lots of glitter, and of course, two life sized inflatable nutcrackers (we believe their names were Hans and Frans, but they would neither confirm nor deny).
