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Sarasota News Leader September 13, 2013 Page 81 STUDENTS TO BE HONORED FOR 'STOP THE VIOLENCE' ESSAYS The Sarasota City Commission next week will honor students "who wrote thought-provoking and heartfelt essays during summer vacation about how to 'Stop the Violence' in Sarasota," the city has announced. The recognition will take place Monday, Sept. 16, at 6 p.m. during the regular City Commission meeting at City Hall, 1565 First St. Each of the top essay winners will receive a certificate of appreciation from Mayor Shannon Snyder and the commission, a news release says. "The essays were eye-opening and demonstrated just how aware our youth really are of the violence and crime that is going on around them," said Jerry Fogle, Robert L. Taylor Community Complex manager, who interacts with many of the young writers regularly. "It breaks my heart to know that our youth are dealing with things that would be difficult for adults. I was truly inspired by the amazing ideas of our youth to decrease violence and crime and the bravery and courage to stand up to the bad guy, which is a valuable lesson for adults." A total of 81 students attending summer programs at the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex, Roy McBean Boys and Girls Club and Newtown Estates volunteered to pen essays on the theme, "What Can I Do (Or What Am I Doing) To Stop The Violence In My Community," the release notes. The participants ranged in age from 7 to 19. Youth are an integral aspect of the newly re-established community policing effort by the Sarasota Police Department, the release points out. "With the recent violence in the region, a Stop the Violence campaign was launched in partnership with the Police Department and the FOCUS Ministerial Alliance," the release continues. One 12-year-old boy wrote, 'The robberies and drugs I see and hear about are a wound to my heart … One thing I can do to stop the violence in my community is by speaking up and setting examples for the many other people around me." Shortly after a deadly shooting at a community event in neighboring Manatee County, Sarasota police officers and Sarasota County Sheriff's Office deputies talked with children at the Taylor Complex, Roy McBean Boys and Girls Club and Newtown Estates "about vioClick here to see a video of the top winners lence and the right and wrong ways to solve reading their essays. disputes," the release notes. NOVA REPUBLICAN CLUB TO MEET THE MEDIA On Tuesday, Sept. 17, NOVA — the Nokomis Osprey Venice Area Republican Club — will host a frontline panel of experts to Meet the Media from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Nokomis Community Center, 234 Nippino Trail, Nokomis. executive editor of the Herald-Tribune. The panel will be moderated by Rochelle Dudley, co-founder of PoliticallyPersonal.com and president of OnMessage Strategic Communications. The panelists who have been invited to participate are Eric Ernst, a columnist for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune; Kat Hughes, editor of the Business Observer; and Bill Church, The event is free. Non-members and guests are welcome. For additional information, contact Frank Patti at 408-7423 or visit www. novagop.com.