New Otters Exhibit at Mote Marine Aquarium

I remember laughing and marveling at the smart and funny otters showing off to visitors at the Staten Island Museum when I was a child. 

Now those clever, water-loving mammals are back, in a new, expansive and naturalistic exhibit at Mote Marine Aquarium in Sarasota FL. These otters are rescues, all raised and trained by humans. 

Pippi, the otter, at Mote Marine Aquarium, Sarasota FL

“Otters & Their Waters” is open during normal hours, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. seven days a week, at Mote Aquarium, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway in Sarasota, Fla. The exhibit will be located at Mote’s Ann and Alfred Goldstein Marine Mammal Research and Rehabilitation Center. Purchase tickets to visit Huck, Jane and Pippi here.

Boomers Relocating to Sarasota: Recommended Local Service Providers

A friend from out-of-state recently bought her first house in Sarasota. As she finishes up business in her current location and gets ready to move across the country, I've been recalling my own learning curve about how to manage my daily life and property when I bought my house here years ago.

I didn't realize at the time how many local service providers make up the "village" that helps us keep everything going. 

To give my friend a head start, I put together this list of professionals that I can recommend from my own experience. Maybe you'll find it helpful, too. 

• Accountant: Ellen Howard CPA, Howard & Co.,1400 Cattlemen Rd, Sarasota 34232,ehoward@howardnco.com, 941.922.0202
• Appliances: Tony's Used Appliances, 3206 Clark Rd, Sarasota 34231, 941.925.0080
• Appliance Repair: Carl's, 941.780.3689
• Bank: BB&T Bank, Midtown Plaza, Caleb Stevens, 941.225.4183
• Car Repair: M&S Auto, 2495 12th St, Sarasota 34237
• Computer Repair: Uptech, Gulf Gate Drive, Sarasota 34231, 941.924.3822
• Dentist: Gentle Dental, Dr. Borchers, 1608 S Tuttle, Sarasota 34239, 941.365.1717,gentledental1528@aol.com (they accept Carington500 dental plan)
• Dr. - Cardiologist: Martin Frey, 1921 Waldemere 101, Sarasota 34239, 941.917.8185
• Dr. - Chiropractor: Jeff Hudson, Hudson Chiropractic, 941.366.8383
• Dr. - OB/GYN: Dr. Julianne Kenton, Sarasota OB/GYN Associates, 2439 Bee Ridge Rd, Sarasota FL 34239, 941.343.0609, (they accept Medicare)
• Dog - Boarding: Just4Paws Pet Resort, Moya & Marcus Nunn, 5645 Churchill Downs Rd, Sarasota 34241, 941.923.3082
• Dog - Veterinarian: Southgate Animal Hospital, 2821 Bee Ridge Rd, Sarasota 34239, 941.922.0774
• Electrician: ACE Electric, Bob Friedman, 59th St, Sarasota 34243, 941.362.4508
• Grab Bars: Grab Bar Guy, Glenn Kroecker, grabbarguy.com, 941.780.3346
• Ground Transportation: Diplomat Taxi, 941.365.8294
• Heating/A/C: Sean McCutcheon's, 5696 Pinkney Ave, Sarasota 34233, 941.921.7208
• Insurance - Property & Wind: We Insure Florida, securityfirstflorida.com, 877.677.4063
• Insurance - Personal & Business: Gifford-Heiden Insurance, Victor Garraus, victorgarraus@giffordheidenins.com
• Lawn Service: (currently looking for a new one)
• Library - Selby (downtown): 941.861.1100
• Pest Control: Your Termite & Pest Control, Walter, 941.758.0055
• Real Estate: Mooshi Chapel, Keller-Williams, 941.444.9540, mooshichapel@gmail.com
• Shipping - UPS Store: 15 Paradise Plaza, Sarasota 34239, 941.957.1776,store0089@theupsstore.com
• Storage: Sawyer Court Storage, 4041 Sawyer Ct, Sarasota 34233, 941.929.9620 (tell them you're local, to get discounted rate)
• Tree Service: A-1 Services, Rod Sizemore, 941.526.7883
• Utilities - Electric: FPL, 941.917.0708
• Utilities - Water,Sewer,Trash: to start new service: https://www.scgov.net/utilities/Pages/NewWaterService.aspx
• Utilities - Bulk Pickup: Waste Management, 941.497.8088