FALL/WINTER 2014
FREE
rett arber
$579,000
$298,500
$219,000
116 Blue Rd. - Rotonda West
$228,500
106 Garland Way, Rotonda West
26 Waterford Dr. - Englewood 3 br, 2 ba. 1 bridge to the open water, dock & boat lift. Friends & family will enjoy the large outdoor living area that surround the pristine pool.
58 Pine Valley Pl, Rotonda West 3 br, 2 ba. This beautiful home boasts a true master suite with large sitting area, a 2 car oversized garage. Watch the waterfront wildlife from oversized lanai.
3 br, 2 ba. Surround sound, central vacuum system, skylight, fully insullated walls, custom designed kitchen with fabulous granite countertops! out door kitchen in the lanai .
3 br, 2 ba. private cul-de-sac in desirable Rotonda West. 3 car garage, extra large lanai with pristine hot tub and waterfall feature Your guests will enjoy the private guest suite area.
$298,500
$239,000
$285,000
$129,000
1 Pearl St. - Englewood 2 br, 1ba. Minutes to the beach. New master bathroom. Large living room opens into dining area & kitchen along with a spacious Florida room.
Andrea Barber Broker/Realtor
941-270-6052
barberbw@earthlink.net
10208 Hebblewhite Ct. #5, 3 br, 2 ba. Spacious Englewood condominium in mint, move-in condition. Located in smaller neighborhood on the back of the cul-de-sac. Large country kitchen.
Brett Barber Realtor
941-270-1659
barberbw@earthlink.net
Toni L. Steigerwald
1977 Beach Rd #22 - Englewood 2 br, 2 ba. Between Lemon Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, this villa is a great place to spend those cold northern winters or retire permanently.
Larry Cornell
Realtor
SW Florida Dream Builders, LLC
tonisellssorida@mail.com
LarryCornell@comcast.net
941-548-8299
941-661-2072
4363 Conway Blvd. - Port Charlotte 2 br, 1 ba. Large waterfront lot with beautiful views. Cute and cozy cottage. Kitchen has been redone. Large lawn between house and water.
Kiki Howard
Danny Cornell
Sales Associate
SW Florida Dream Builders, LLC
kikikeys12@icloud.com
dannycornell@comcast.net
941-237-6397
941-662-0833
CONTENT 06
Mac Daddy &The Trixie Train
Trixie and Shayne Mac met on a stage in a smoky, little, hole in the wall bar in Southwest Florida. They knew right away that they were destined to make music together.
08
Cherry Bombs
The band, much like their music, is a true hodgepodge. Dubbed The Cherry Bombs, this group is anything but predictable. But one thing remains true, the longer you listen to their music, the more you’ll want to dance. 2 | THE SAND DOLLAR
FALL/WINTER 2014
22 ENGLEWOOD EVENT CENTER
MORE FEATURES
19 20 34 38 40
Featured Recipe Coconut-Macadamia Crusted Mahi Mahi
Stone Crabs for the Holidays
Stone crab claws can brighten up any holiday table. They are pink, white and black in color, and will stand out next to your other, more traditional dishes.
FLORIDA MASTER NATURALIST TOURS Take an ECO Tour and learn about the beautiful paradise that surrounds us!
SUP YOGA
Stand Up Paddle Board Yoga is GREAT exercise!
LET'S GO FISHING Fall across southwest Florida is upon us! Let's catch some SNOOK!
12
Project Phoenix
Project Phoenix assists families in Sarasota and Charlotte Counties who are starting over after a devastating loss.
16
ZEKES UPTOWN BAR & GRILL A venue that you can go for any occasion, and find as good a quality steak or seafood dish as you could anywhere in the country!
19
28
IDEAL CLASSIC CARS
MORE FEATURES
42 44
Horseshoe Crabs Save Lives
Did you know that a horseshoe crab has probably saved your life? It’s true!
SUNDAY FUNDAY
Enjoying our tropical playground...Experiencing the coastal dream!
Cover: Isabella Hummon & Benjamin Sorrentino next to a 1941 Woody, compliments of Ideal Classic Cars in Venice, Florida (Article on pg 28). Photo was taken by Brenda Fuller on "Sand Dollar Lane" which is on Manasota Key in Englewood, Florida.
Coconut-Macadamia Crusted Mahi Mahi
THE SAND DOLLAR | 3
Experience The Coastal Dream
PUBLISHER Brenda Fuller
Editorial Directors Brenda Fuller Deana Camerlingo
Art Director Brenda Fuller
Sales & Marketing Brenda Fuller Deana Camerlingo
Contributing Writers Mallory Herzog Rachel Kaylor Nicole Meirs Peter Folaros David Hodgson Zoey Frank FWC
Creative Contributor Bailey Fuller (Root Toot)
Contributing Photographer Dion Photography The Sand Dollar Magazine - Volume 1/Issue 3
The Sand Dollar Magazine Englewood, FL 34223 (941) 999-4973 (631) 609-0297 www.TheSandDollarMag.com info@thesanddollarmag.com All rights regarding the printed edition of The Sand Dollar Magazine and www.TheSandDollarMag.com are reserved. Reproduction of any part of The Sand Dollar Magazine/or this associated web site without the written permission of The Sand Dollar Magazine is prohibited. All views and comments expressed in The Sand Dollar Magazine are solely the opinions of the writers and not necessarily the opinions of The Sand Dollar Magazine. The Sand Dollar Magazine reserves the right to reject and refuse any materials submitted to it for The Sand Dollar Magazine or www.TheSandDollarMag.com.
Images and Article by Brenda Fuller
Macdaddy & The Trixie Train T
rixie & Shayne Mac have been bringing their unique brand of music to the sun coast since 2008. They met on a stage in a smoky, little, hole in the wall bar in Southwest Florida. They knew right away that they were destined to make music together. Although the couple met through music locally, they grew up in different parts of the country. Shayne grew up in Rock Hill, South Carolina. He started playing guitar in his teens, drums in junior high, and, subsequently, the bass guitar. Honing his musical
6 | THE SAND DOLLAR
Trixie is a Midwestern girl from Fort Wayne, Indiana. She started her singing career at a young age, performing for her family while wearing her mom’s nightgown, her sister’s high heels and singing into her hairbrush. She even created handmade tickets to her shows! Trixie attended a Baptist church and was musically influenced by her older siblings. She sang in the church and school choir and performed in several plays. In addition, she also played the violin, viola and the cello. Trixie was exposed to a variety of music throughout her life, such as gospel, blues, country, rock and a plethora of Elvis songs. She was also inspired by other artists including Tina Turner, Etta James, Janis Joplin, Bob Seger, and the Allman Brothers. Trixie currently plays the mandolin. With her deep, raspy, whiskey and honey voice, she brings a pinup/burlesque style to the stage. Fans often call her "Lil’ Lucy" or "Rosie the Riveter". Trixie and Shayne came up with the unusual name for their musical duo of "Macdaddy & the Trixie Train" as they basked in the sunshine on a local beach. Shayne and Trixie bring the "Americana Music" blend of folk, country, blues, Celtic, soft/classic rock, alternative and original music with a little twist of comedy thrown in! The Mac’s have played venues all throughout Florida along with several successful acoustic tours under their belts that have spanned nationwide. • 2011"Back to Basics" Tour Spring, Summer & Fall • 2012 "Mac~Mobile Rollin'" Tour Spring/ Fall • 2013 "Rolling Down The Road" Tour (6 month tour) Spring to Fall • 2014 "Gypsy Life" Tour Spring On each of their tours, they promoted their original tunes which are: “Red Dress”, skills, Shayne became an accomplished musician “Sweet Macdaddy & the Trixie Train”, by the time he hit the music circuit. With his searing “Since I Made You My Wife”, “She's Ridin the Bull”, “Neighbors Helping guitar licks, Shayne was recognized as "one of the Neighbors”, and “Sweet Valley Sunshine”. best". Taking what he learned from his idols Jimmie Page, Slash and Stevie Ray Vaughn, he mastered You can find Shayne strumming his guitar and Trixie playing her mandolin singing his own unique and distinct sound. In April of 2013, from their hearts at a venue near you! Shayne added studio musician/recording guitarist to his To learn more about Trixie and Shayne Mac, or to listen to their music, visit their resume, recording with 1950's icon Bobby Vinton and website at http://www.reverbnation.com/macdaddythetrixietrain Vinton Entertainment. THE SAND DOLLAR | 7
Written by: Rachel Kaylor - Photography by: Brenda Fuller
Photo by Brenda Fuller
T
he band, much like their music, is a true hodgepodge. Dubbed The Cherry Bombs, this group is anything but predictable. But one thing remains true, the longer you listen to their music the more you’ll want to dance. 8 | THE SAND DOLLAR
The current group has been together since March 2013. They shuffled around members before finding the perfect combination. The final four include Jimmy Caulk on bass, Brian Bly on guitar and vocals, Doug Rogells on drums and vocals, and Doug Mock on lead vocals.
Their music is upbeat, punchy and driving, whether it’s funk, indie, rock or reggae. When they get grooving, it’s the kind of music that will make you want to dance. The beat vibrates through the audience, and as they get excited, something magicical happens. “The best part of the whole thing is actually being on stage, feeding off the crowd and the energy in the room and using that, multiplying it and making it grow,” said Mock. With over 1,500 Facebook fans, this group continues to gain a faithful following. If you want to see them live, check out their Facebook page. It’s always updated with the latest information on their next gig. So what happens when the crowd truly gets fired up? “It turns into this really well-oiled machine,” said Mock. “When everything is just clicking and everything is smooth, fun, high energy and just a good time.”
Photo by Brenda Fuller
Visit https://www.facebook.com/pages/thecherry-bombs/88968732805 to see where they’ll be next!
Aside from Bly, all the band members were born and raised in Florida, but their musical backgrounds are as diverse as they are lively. Most members of the band never had technical music training, so what you hear is raw talent. “It’s just something we’ve always all been, it’s an internal thing and we have a drive to do this,” said Mock. Each member brings with them unique influences, styles and experiences. From grunge to country, there isn’t a series of chords this band doesn’t enjoy. When asked about their biggest influence, Mock jokingly replied, "Noise." Although The Cherry Bombs mainly do covers, they add their flair to each song. They take songs like Steven Winwood’s rock piece “Roll With It” and make it something new. The original song features organ, keyboards and horns, but the band fills those spaces with bass and guitar. “Regardless of whether it’s something you wrote or something someone else wrote, you always want to put your own spin on it while doing justice to the actual song,” said Mock. THE SAND DOLLAR | 9
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THE SAND DOLLAR | 11
PROJECT pHOENIX Helping others Make a fresh start!
Written by Rachel Kaylor
making a difference It started out of a storage unit in Englewood three years ago. From those humble beginnings grew Project Phoenix, an organization that helps nearly a dozen people a month who are starting over. Bobbi Burton, the founder of the organization, said she didn't plan for it to get this big. Within a few months, the demands outgrew the limits of the Quality 12 | THE SAND DOLLAR
Storage unit in Englewood. Before Burton knew it, the small project had become a full-fledged nonprofit. Today, Quality Storage is still a huge supporter of Project Phoenix and is one of several drop-off locations. “We didn’t start off this way,” said Burton. “I started off just wanting to give to people. I wanted to take
hundreds of people the nonprofit has helped. Her family of 6, consisting of 2 adults and 4 children were struggling to make ends meet. She saw a flyer for Project Phoenix in Englewood, found the organization on Facebook and sent a message asking for help. What that message brought was more than Schlechte could have imagined.
Project Phoenix is about helping people in need. Whether it’s picking up a donation after her shift, collecting supplies to deliver to the homeless or connecting with families in need, Burton and her volunteers love giving back. Founder, Bobbi Sue Burton
things people didn’t want and give them to people who needed them.” Project Phoenix assists families in Sarasota and Charlotte Counties who are starting over after a devastating loss. The nonprofit collects fundamentals for the home like furniture, household items, pots, pans, silverware, plastic ware, small appliances, clothing, baby items, personal hygiene items, pantry items, towels, linens and more.
For families who lost everything in tragedies like a fire, furnishing an
entire home can be a daunting task. The 2012 United States Census reported that the average monthly housing costs in Englewood can reach up to $1,500. For a family starting over, those costs can make it impossible to purchase even the basics. “Some people come to us and need everything, and they are literally in a panic,” said Burton. “I always tell people to imagine the cost of sending a child off to college. Now imagine a family starting over. Sometimes they have three or four children.” Carrie Schlechte is among the
The family was in need of furniture, household items and clothing. Despite their attempts to find reasonable items at places like Goodwill, the family couldn't fit those purchases in their budget. Burton was able to help them get what they needed and more. When Burton didn't have clothing in one of Schlechte's son's sizes, she went through her connections to find some. When the family needed food, Burton contacted a local church and referred the family to them. During Christmas, Burton helped the family put presents under the tree. "She's an angel," said Schlechte. "She was a godsend. She went above and beyond to help my family." When Burton sees a need, she does whatever she can to help meet it. Despite working 40 hours a week as a CNA, she also runs the 550-squarefoot store called Project Phoenix Resale. It’s a thrift store that sells donated items to raise money for the nonprofit, and most months they just break even. Project Phoenix pays nearly $1,700 in bills a month for rent, electric and internet. This doesn’t include yearly fees for the nonprofit, taxes, permits, renewals or insurance. The THE SAND DOLLAR | 13
Project Phoenix Cont. organization has no paid employees and is entirely self-funded. “I was in tears last month, because I didn’t know if we were going to make our rent,” said Burton. Running a nonprofit and working 40 hours a week takes a toll on Burton, but she works to find a balance. Her daughter and two granddaughters are often found lending a helping hand at the store, and a helping hand is just what they need. With several donations a day, pick-ups, a store to run and plenty of needy families, Project Phoenix is always looking for volunteers. Right now, they get by on just a few volunteers each month. “It’s turned into this huge thing, which is great, but we’re always in need of volunteers,” said Burton. “People need understand that just one hour a month would help us tremendously.” Volunteer, Mary Anderson, works fulltime and volunteers anywhere from 1630 hours a month. She helps out in many ways, often filling in when Burton needs to get some extra sleep or is too exhausted to close the store. “They posted that they needed volunteers, and I was staying home feeling withdrawn and depressed,” said Anderson. “I needed to get out, and in the process I made a best friend. I love volunteering here. It’s awesome.” The organization does more than help people start over. They create Easter baskets for children, collect school
supplies, put together hygiene bags for the homeless and assist local churches, nonprofits and organizations. This year they are opening a Halloween costume closet for children without a costume. Donations will be accepted of new and used costumes, accessories, makeup and other Halloween supplies. Last year, Burton and her team helped collect costumes for the Homeless Coalition, Port Charlotte’s homeless shelter, but this year they are doing it for the first time ever in Englewood.
Volunteer Mary Anderson
“Some people don’t understand that it’s a pressure situation for kids,” Burton said. “They think it’s not a necessity, but not having a Halloween costume stresses kids out.”
In the end, Project Phoenix is about helping people in need. Whether it’s picking up a donation after her shift, collecting supplies to deliver to the homeless or connecting with families in need, Burton and her volunteers love giving back. “I love the interaction with the public,” said Anderson. “The best part is that it’s a rewarding experience to see how thankful the people are when they receive the necessities. It’s nice to be part of helping the community.” Project Phoenix is excepting donations and gently used or new household items; plates, pots, pans, silverware, plastic ware, small appliances, baby items, toys, shoes, purses, medical equipment, cleaning products, toiletries, etc. All items will be donated to help those people who find themselves having to start over again due to loss of home, fire at home with no insurance, getting away from an abusive home, etc. Please bring donations to: Quality Self Storage Monday - Friday 3041 S. McCall Rd. Englewood, Fl 34224 Phone: 941-474-2270
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THE SAND DOLLAR | 15
Zeke’s Zeke’s Moves Moves Uptown Uptown Article by Zoey Frank Images by Deana Camerlingo
A
fter 4 successful years with Zeke’s Bayside at the Royal Palm Marina in Englewood, owner/chef Dale Wentzel & his son, by the same name, who runs the front of house (and whom patrons call “D3”), began planning their new menu for their up & coming new restaurant, Zeke’s Uptown (on Dearborn in Historic Olde Englewood Village). They wanted to keep it eclectic and down to earth as their original location has been, offering fresh, quality choices that would surprise & delight. The two Dale’s collaborated with Executive
16 | THE SAND DOLLAR
Chef and friend, Michael Ciccarone, and a stunning new menu was born, offering what they call modern American gourmet dishes, with a twist like their Crayfish Nachos, Thai Pasta, Bourbon St. Linguine and Drunken Flap Steak.
When I asked what they meant by “Modern American”, Dale (2) responded by saying, “America is a melting pot of people and cuisines from all over the world. A childhood memory of a grandmother’s dish comes from Italy, Brazil or Japan, and it becomes Americanized, so what is American if not a melting pot of flavors from many ethnicities? We take some of these great dishes or flavors and give them a modern twist.” While the new menu features a host of new creations, the owners have retained a number
of their signature dishes so not to disappoint long time customers who need a steady fix for items like their famous “Ruby’s Jumbo Lump Crab Cake”, Lucy’s Hot Italian Sausage Sandwich, New England Clam Chowder and the amazing “Pebacado” (a peppered bacon BLT with avocado, Daikon sprouts and pesto aioli).
Dale & Dale (and his other brother Dale…kidding) wanted to have a menu with a large selection of items that would be within everyone’s budget. However, they also wanted to be able to be a venue that you could go for any occasion, and find as good a quality steak or seafood dish as you could find anywhere in the country. That’s a tall order and hard to pull off, but it seems to me that they’ve achieved a wonderful balance. It really is a menu where folks can
afford to come every day for an affordable lunch or tapas and still find something worthy of celebrating a promotion or an anniversary.
Who wouldn’t like their renown “Poor Man’s Burger”, which has grown from ¼ to a 1/3 pound of very lean beef and comes with ripe Florida tomato, sweet red onion and lettuce on a terrific N.Y. style bun for a mere $4.50 (including chips & coleslaw) or something from their new Tapas menu, like Soft Shell Crab Brioche (a tempura fried soft shell crab on brioche points with tomato confit, garlic aioli, balsamic glaze and micro greens at $7.95) or an incredible Chile Relleno (tempura fried Poblano peppers stuffed with Chihauhua Cheese and pulled pork filling over roasted corn & black bean relish, topped with a CilantroChipotle cream and scallion...Oh,
my my!
The menu is much bigger than expected with more than 70 items, 60% of which are under $10 (also unexpected). Dinner entrees range from $9.95 to $20 and, there are an additional 5 items included in what they call their "Chef's Table Entree's" for those times when you want to be
extra good to yourself or someone special. The Chef's Table Entree's include items such as; "Steak Maitre De", which is a 16 ounce Kansas City Strip of Certified 100% Prime Black Angus topped with a burgundy butter and tobacco onions, or, even better, (IMHO) is their "Cactus Pork", a 14-16 ounce, thick cut loin chop over roasted corn and black bean relish and grilled plantains, glazed with an agave-lime reduction, served with choice of side. This dish is absolutely stunning, made from Kurobuta pork, which after some research, is specially bred to produce beautiful richly marbled meat and enhanced flavor. It is the most highly prized and most tender pork on the market and is often called the Kobi Beef of Pork. In what we sense is the true spirit of Zeke's, this item is offered at $24.95 and is typically a $38-$40 menu item when it can be found at other eateries. THE SAND DOLLAR | 17
My personal favorite is the “Steak & C a ke ”, a h a n d - c u t p e t i te tenderlointoppedwitha heavenlyburgundy-mushroom, demi-glace served alongside their famous signature 1/4lb. jumbo lump crab cake, topped with delicate tobacco onions… YUM! I’ve always been a picky eater, and I typically spend a lot of time looking at menus to see if I can find one or two items that look appealing, interesting or good enough that I'd enjoy them and be happy about spending my hard earned cash. That's not the problem I have at Zeke's Uptown. It's exactly the opposite. I keep having to come back to try the dishes I wasn't able to get to on my previous visits.
I just can’t say enough good things about this place. From their homemade sauces, their hand-cut meats to the mozzarella they make daily. It’s all about ATTENTION TO DETAIL!
18 | THE SAND DOLLAR
Dale & Dale are happy in the new location. They told me that they had been apprehensive opening in the dead of summer, but they are delighted with the support and feedback from the community. They have also said that they are excited to see the new Howard's opening at this end of town and the Moose Club building a new Tiki Bar on Dearborn Street just a couple doors away. Younger Dale said: "We'd love to see even more restaurants make the move to downtown Olde Englewood. The greater the selection of great food and entertainment, the better and faster Dearborn Street will grow into the first-in-class destination it's meant to be, and greater market appeal we will all have." I'm certainly happy they made the move to uptown.
Stone Crab for the Holidays
Tholidays he Holidays are upon us, and with them come family get-togethers and work parties. What is the one thing that all have in common? FOOD! Around the holidays, we tend to feast a bit more than normal. This year, why not add some delicious stone crabs to your holiday menu? If you're looking for a way to make your holiday party unique, serve fresh Florida stone crabs for Thanksgiving and/ or Christmas. Beyond the traditional tastes of ham and turkey, stone crab can add that something special to your holiday dinner party. In addition to the custom of eating latkes, doughnuts and bimuelos during Hanukkah, consider serving stone crabs. Stone crab claws can brighten up any holiday table. They are pink, white and black in color, and will stand out next to your other, more traditional dishes. Stone crab's delicious, moist meat is beyond comparison when it comes to seafood. They taste delicious with or without butter, served hot or cold. They are sure to bring a smile to the faces of your family and friends. 20 | THE SAND DOLLAR
Stone Crab Claw Mustard Dipping Sauce Ingredients that you will need are: • 3 cups of mayonnaise • ¾ cups of prepared horseradish • ¾ cups of dijon mustard • 3 teaspoons of hot sauce • 4 cups of lemon juice Use fresh lemon juice if possible.
Directions: Whisk together all ingredients in a mixing bowl until thoroughly combined. Serve with stone crab claws. Get you fresh Florida Stone Crabs today at: Island Court Seafood 1939 Beach Rd. 941-474-8236 www.Islandcourtseafood.com
w www.E ngle
Island Court, Inc. 941-474-8236
oo
od. o f a e dS
1939 Beach Rd Englewood, Florida 33223 Next to Allure Boat Rentals
co m
Open 7 days a week! THE SAND DOLLAR | 21
Article by Deana Camerlingo
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Although the center has been host to many “Cover or Tribute” Bands, and will continue to be, Loren and Scott are now in hot pursuit of national acts.
r e
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ho would have imagined that Englewood would be home to one of the largest and most vibrant entertainment venues from Sarasota to Ft. Myers? Well, it is most definitely true. The Englewood Event Center is a large and thriving center for entertainment of all sorts, as well as being a viable venue for a wide-ranged assortment of private gatherings. It is an engaging and most accommodating spot for weddings, private parties and any sort of occasion that requires a large gathering spot that is nicely appointed and caters to all your needs. The Event Center has been utilized and will continue to be utilized for concerts, dinner shows, comedy shows, weddings, conferences and seminars, awards banquets, fashion shows, fundraisers, luncheons and other themed events. Having evolved from modest beginnings in early 2013, the Center is an ever-developing entity that continues to expand and escalate the levels of entertainment and service that it provides. This evolution has been largely fostered and sustained by the combined and highly energetic efforts of the two men behind the scenes: Loren Berry (Events Manager) and Scott Barber (Master of all things culinary, and a careful overseer of operations). Together, they work energetically and efficiently to constantly improve the service that they deliver and to ensure that the talent presented, and the food and drink served (provided by the Lock and Key Restaurant, where Scott has worked for many years) will please the customers. They also ensure that the appropriate ambience for each event is of the highest quality. Their enthusiasm for what they do is contagious and a pleasure to witness. These two gentlemen evaluate each event that they host, and they make sure to find ways to improve their delivery whenever necessary. Their attention to detail is a key element in the Center’s success. The facility itself is a key player in the Englewood Event Center’s popularity. When you enter, you are presented with a large hall that is fronted by a professional stage and can accommodate from 400 to 1200 people, depending on the type of event that is staged. Arrangements can vary; table seating with dinner service, a concert hall type of row seating and standing venues for very large concerts. The sound system, acoustics and lighting are first rate and have been lauded by the THE SAND DOLLAR | 23
! H T 4 1 Y R A U R B E F S E I D D A D ' N I P P O P Y R CHER
musicians who have played in the hall. There is not a bad seat in the house, and to quote Loren (regarding the Charlie Daniels concert), “If Charlie knows you, and you are in the back row, he will be able to recognize your face.” To the left rear of the large hall is a very nicely designed bar that is classy and wellstocked. There are dressing rooms in the rear of the facility for performers and a smaller banquet hall that is still in the developmental stage. For large events, there are portable bars stationed around the perimeter of the hall with many servers to take care of you and bring your food and your favorite libations. In all, it is a wonderful venue for a concert, a show and any of the private events that have been previously mentioned. The ticket office is on the right side of the hall, a place where you can get information about events, and, of course, purchase tickets for the event of your choice. Although the center has been host to many “cover or tribute” bands, and will continue to be, Loren and Scott 24 | THE SAND DOLLAR
are now in hot pursuit of national acts. With Loren’s background as both a musician and talent agent and Scott’s diligent assistance, they have been able to book the aforementioned Charlie Daniels Band, Dave Mason (formerly of Traffic), Pure Prairie League, California Surf (featuring several musicians from the former Beach Boys and, according to reports, “more Beach Boys than the Beach Boys themselves”) and the Cherry Poppin' Daddies on Valentine's Day. There are more acts to come as well. One very important feature regarding the entertainment at the center is that local talent is featured regularly. Area bands are used as the opening act for national bands; for instance, Copperhead opened for Charlie Daniels. In addition, the comedy shows feature one of Englewood’s brightest comedy talents, Bobby Lathrop. Have you been to a big name concert lately? If you have, you know that the price of admission is steep. The national acts at the Englewood Event Center will be considerably less expensive than national acts elsewhere. In addition, food and drink prices are very competitive.
If you want to keep track of what is going on at the Event Center, visit the web site at www.EnglewoodEventCenter.com. You can also obtain information about events and tickets at the Englewood Event Center Ticket Office, on Facebook, and on Twitter. The email address is EnglewoodEventCenter4@ gmail.com. It would be a good idea to get on the Center’s email list to get regular notifications about upcoming events. The address is 3069 South McCall Road. This Center is a wonderful addition to our wonderful community. As Loren says, “If you haven’t been here for a show, you are really missing out.” We concur.
Schedule:
Fri Oct 24, 2014 Comedy Show Kixx Country STOMP with Todd Mathews Sun Nov 02, 2014 - 2:00 pm - 08:00 pm Beat The Cancer Benefit for Shayne of Mac Daddy & The Trixie Train Sat Nov 08, 2014 Comedy Show All Star Comedy with Ventriloquist Peter Hefty
Fri Nov 14, 2014 Mark & Clark Dueling Pianos Sat Nov 15, 2014 Tribute Concert Tribute to Bon Jovi Thu Nov 20, 2014 Bike Night Travis Taylor's Busted Knuckle Bike Night Sat Nov 22, 2014 07:00 PM - 11:00 PM National Concert Dave Mason's Traffic Jam Sat Nov 29, 2014 Electronic Dance Party #BASSMENT Fri Dec 12, 2014 Comedy Show Business to Business Christmas Party Thu Dec 18, 2014 Bike Night Travis Taylor's Busted Knuckle Bike Night Fri Dec 19, 2014 107.9 Friday Night Dance Party Fri Dec 20, 2014 Local Concert Lucky 7 Jazz Band Thu Jan 9, 2015 Bike Night Travis Taylor's Busted Knuckle Bike Night Thu Jan 15, 2015 AllStar Comedy Fri Jan 16, 2015 Neil Zicornia Neil Diamond Tribute
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THE SAND DOLLAR | 27
Ideal Classic Cars Venice, FL
Article Written By: Courtney Lambert Photography by Brenda Fuller
“Whether you come to look, or come to buy, just be sure to come check out our awesome display of classic cars – right here in Venice! This is my personal invitation to you to spend a morning or afternoon with us. I guarantee you will love the experience!” Courtney Lambert, Director of Marketing & Advertising
C lose your eyes for just a minute and think about your favorite memories from your childhood. Think
about playing outside with your friends on Saturday mornings, family road trips, morning conversations with your parents on the way to school and evening conversations about your day at school over a home cooked meal at the family dinner table and games you played with your siblings or cousins. Go ahead. Close your eyes and reminisce for a moment… Times have changed drastically over the past 60 years. Family dinners and children playing outside in the neighborhood on Saturday mornings aren’t so common anymore. Most working adults commit 33% more time to their career now than they did 30 years ago, taking away from the simplicity of home life and family time. Technology rules the world, from the way we communicate with each other, to the way we carry out every day tasks at work, to the way we shop and the cars we drive.
Do you ever wish you could step back in time to the primitive days without cell phones, bottled water, plastic or computer controlled cars? Welcome to Ideal Classic Cars. Located in Venice, Florida. Ideal Classic Cars is just the place to take a walk down memory lane, and escape the hustle of everyday life in the 21st Century. Upon entering the front doors, our guests are greeted by the smell of rubber, gasoline and that memorable aroma of classic car interior. Most people pause for a few seconds to take it all in. It really does take you right back to the backseat of your Dad’s Chevelle with no seat belts, and an AM radio sounding faintly in the background. With oldie’s music playing throughout the showroom, guests are admitted free of charge and encouraged to take their time wandering the entire 27,000 square feet, packed full of 100+ cars from the 1920’s to the 1970’s. There is definitely something for everyone
Owner, Evelyn Lombardo in her Breathtaking Auburn THE SAND DOLLAR | 29
MAKE YOUR DREAM A REALITY... This is the only museum we know of where most of the exhibits are for sale. You can actually come in to visit and drive away in one of our cars!” "The best part – all of these vehicles are ALIVE! The staff at ICC takes the cars, trucks and motorcycles out to give them the ‘exercise’ they need to keep going another 50 years!"
in this unique museum. Owners, Michael and Evelyn Lombardo, created this classic car lover’s "heaven on earth" as a way to give back to the community of Venice and to boost the community’s tourism.
hopefully develop the same love and passion that we have. This is the only way to carry on the deep-rooted, classic car network we currently have today.” says Mr. Lombardo.
“We want to spread our love of classic cars, trucks and motorcycles with the world! Ideal Classic Cars allows us the opportunity to give young children, who may not have been lucky enough to experience these beautiful classics, the chance to learn about them and
Mrs. Lombardo added, “This is the only museum we know of where most of the exhibits are for sale. You can actually come in to visit, and drive away in one of our cars!” The best part – all of these vehicles are ALIVE! The staff at ICC takes the cars, trucks and
30 | THE SAND DOLLAR
motorcycles out to give them the ‘exercise’ they need to keep going another 50 years! At any given moment, you can find everything from t-buckets to muscle cars and roadsters to hot rod trucks. Ideal Classic Cars does not discriminate! “We love all classic cars and try to maintain a good, broad selection in order to keep our guests and customers happy,” adds Mrs. Lombardo. Ideal Classic Cars tries to think outside the box and offer amenities to their customers
that are hard to find in other classic cars dealerships, such as financing, trade acceptance and transportation. They can even consign your classic car for you, or buy it from you outright. Mr. Lombardo stated, “We try to make the buying process as easy and pleasurable as possible. We do not let any of our cars go until we know the new owner feels ‘warm and fuzzy’ about their purchase.” This mentality and way of doing business is what has made ICC such a loved staple in the classic car world. Selling cars domestically and internationally, THE SAND DOLLAR | 31
Owner, Michael Lombardo in his Classic Hemi Cuda
Future Expansion “If you build it, they will come.”
Kevin Costner – Field of Dreams
"In the very near future, Mr. and Mrs. Lombardo will break ground on a new building on the same property as their existing museum. More square footage means, you guessed it, MORE CARS! The old building will still be used in the same fashion, and the new building will add enough square footage to store an additional 100 cars."
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they have developed quite the grand reputation as far away as Australia, Germany and Sweden. One of the most notable features to point out about this rare destination spot is that not only are their cars some of the nicest restored classic vehicles in the world, but the showroom and exhibits change from day to day! Every time a car sells, they have another to put in its place, so, if you come in on Friday to tour the museum, and then bring your family back on Monday, you are likely to see something new. You will also find a full gift and memorabilia shop at the front of the store, and with Christmas coming very soon, this is a great place to find the perfect gift for the car lover in your life! The shop has t-shirts, hats, calendars, antiques, tin signs, postcards, model cars, original car manuals, literature from the 50’s and 60’s and much, much more!
You may be asking, "So, where does a business like ICC go from here?" Expansion is on the horizon for the folks at Ideal Classic Cars. “We built this as a hobby, and as the people kept coming, it grew into a business.” stated Mr. Lombardo. In the very near future, Mr. and Mrs. Lombardo will break ground on a new building on the same property as their existing museum. More square footage means, you guessed it, MORE CARS! The old building will still be used in the same fashion, and the new building will add enough square footage to store an additional 100 cars. Can you imagine 200 classic cars under
one roof? Soon you won’t have to imagine. You can come by, and see it for yourself! So keep an eye out for the changes going on at 2224 S Tamiami Trail in South Venice, and be sure to stop in for a free self-guided tour of our classic car, truck and motorcycle collection.
Contact Info: Ideal Classic Cars 2224 S Tamiami Trail Venice, Florida 34293 (941) 966-1900 Mon-Thurs 9am-6pm Fri 9aSm-5pm & Sat 9am-4pm
idealclassiccars@gmail.com www.idealclassiccars.net - View our entire collection here.
Ideal Classic Cars has a wide selection of Cobras, T-Birds, Corvettes, Mustangs and much much more!
THE SAND DOLLAR | 33
FLORIDA MASTER NATURALIST TOURS Pof aaddle boarding in Lemon Bay is like paddling on the top giant aquarium. Schools of fish can be seen swimming
Article and photos by Nicole Miers
islands, can still be spotted from a board. You can find hermit crabs, mangrove jellyfish and various conchs scattered in the under you as you glide along the surface. Sea stars and shallow sea grass flats as you go. Paddling is one of the best urchins that try to conceal themselves around the barrier ways to explore the wildlife that surrounds our local barrier 34 | THE SAND DOLLAR
islands. Touring local waterways on a stand up paddle board provides a better view than kayaking. Experiencing the water with a tour guide can make your boarding experience even more enjoyable. Understanding local ecology enhances your awareness of our coastal waterways. For example, organisms such as sea stars do not just occur randomly in nature. They prefer certain water depths and will be found close to food sources. Our coastal ecosystem refers to a larger community of organisms interacting with each other. This includes mammals such as dolphins and manatees. Boarders in local waterways are likely to see dolphins swimming close by their board. It’s important to understand our coastal ecosystem and the ways that we can preserve it. Interest in paddle boarding tours is increasing as many are finding the boards more appealing than kayaking. Paddling eco tours provide a fun experience for all members of the family. Trips provide education on our coastal waterways while learning a new water sport. Tracie Georgiadis is the area’s only Level 3 PaddleFit instructor and Florida Coastal Master Naturalist. The Florida Master Naturalist Program provides environmental education on the various ecosystems in Florida. Coastal, freshwater, and upland ecology modules are offered throughout the year. Ashlee Doot is certified in all three modules. Doot is the area's only level 2 PaddleFit instructor and Florida Master Naturalist. Tours with certified guides in Florida’s coastal environment ensure fun facts along a paddling trip. For instance, a sea star has two stomachs, and the size of a sea star is dependent on their food sources. Paddling in every season offers a different view of nature on the water. In the spring, guides find an abundance of lightning whelk egg casings. Lightning whelks are a live shell and type of conch found in the sea grass flats. They reproduce by laying an egg casing after ten years of age. Sea hares resemble slugs in the water. They are also discovered more in the spring and summer. They are likely to produce purple ink when frightened. In summer, paddlers typically see more sightings of baby manatees and baby dolphins with their mothers. The bird migration begins on August 15th and continues through fall and winter. Florida Master Naturalist graduates are educated in native species, as well as migrating ones. Learning coastal fish and birds is only part of the curriculum. Tour guides are filled with fun facts and silly stories from paddling trips. Ospreys are a common bird, but there are a lot of facts that many do not THE SAND DOLLAR | 35
realize. Males carry all the branches to make the nests, and if the female doesn’t approve of the branch, he’ll throw it out of the nest into the water. Unlike other birds, they use their nest all year, to perch, sleep and eat. Once their eggs hatch, they spend a large amount of time hunting to feed their babies. Before the babies fledge the nest, they are larger than the parents. Therefore, it’s common to mistake the young osprey for an adult osprey. Paddling our local waterways builds an appreciation of 36 | THE SAND DOLLAR
the environment. When traveling with a guide, participants develop a deeper understanding of all creatures. Our guides strive to motivate and educate the public in an effort to preserve the ecology that surrounds the area. Paddling is an eco-friendly way to explore our waterways, and standing on a board provides the best view of the sea floor. Hop on a board today, and learn about our local coastal environment. Call 888-2-Paddle or 855-272-3353 to schedule your Seashore Eco Tour!
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888-2-PADDLE 855-272-3353
www.SeashoreEcoTours.com THE SAND DOLLAR | 37
SUP YOGA
Unwind with the mindful movement of yoga while floating on the water. What’SUP with SUP Yoga? Let’s start with the basics. Yoga is a spiritual exercise practice that encourages connecting the breath with movement into poses or asanas. Stretching the body slowly while breathing through poses enhances strength and flexibility. Focusing on slowing the breath relaxes the mind into a meditative and calm state. Yoga was traditionally practiced outdoors on uneven surfaces, such as sand. Therefore, taking my paddle board out, and practicing yoga has always made sense to me. Heads often turn when people see me practicing yoga on my paddle board. It looks strange to some people! 38 | THE SAND DOLLAR
Written by Nicole Miers Photos by SUP Englewood & Brenda Fuller
Enhancing your balance on a paddle board is an obvious benefit to practicing yoga on the water. One of the perks of this activity is feeling more comfortable on the paddle board after every practice. Coordination and balance are required to flow in and out of poses on a board. Moving on the board in this way can be a great asset to anyone looking into other paddle boarding sports. These classes appeal to yoga students seeking an out of studio experience. SUP yoga also captures the attention of paddlers that are exploring new and dynamic ways to get on their boards.
All levels are encouraged to try yoga classes. Modifications are provided for beginners. A few standing poses are altered for the paddle board to increase stability. Balancing poses requiring standing on one leg are omitted from the session. Unwind with the mindful movement of yoga while floating on the water. There are many health benefits from practicing yoga, such as lower blood pressure and reducing stress related illnesses. There are different styles of yoga. Hatha yoga is a broad practice recommended for beginners. In Hatha, yoga postures are held for a few breaths. Staying in poses for a period of time allows the body to gently release into them without straining the muscles. Power yoga is also known as vinyasa flow, which means flowing the body with breath. This flow style is an aerobic form in which poses are held for only one breath. Flowing in and out poses with the breath builds inner heat and strength throughout the body.
are encouraged to join our classes. It helps to have previous paddle board experience. It will ensure comfortable movement on a board. At Stump Pass our class is held in a quiet area surrounded by mangroves and protected from boat traffic. The paddle boards are Practicing either form of yoga anchored to prevent the boards from requires comfortable movement on drifting during class. the board. This comes with time and becomes more fluid with practice. As Destination Paddle board Yoga classes complicated as SUP yoga may seem, are held every Saturday morning at it’s actually no more difficult than the Don Pedro Island State Park. This fishing from a paddle board. Believe pristine environment offers a connection it or not, practicing yoga on a paddle to nature, unlike anywhere else in the board increased my balance during area. If the tide is high enough, paddling SUP fishing trips. Learning how to yogis travel through the mangrove move freely on the board can also tunnel usually spotting sea stars and help to increase skills needed for SUP soft tubular coral along the way. Yoga surfing as well as pivot turns. SUP classes are held in the Hidden Lagoon, yoga is a perfect addition to any fitness located inside the island. They are 90 minutes on the water, which provides or paddle board training. time to paddle to destinations, anchor Sunrise Paddle board Yoga classes are and practice an hour of yoga. Due to offered every Friday at Stump Pass summer showers, our sunset & moonrise Beach State Park. Reservations are paddle board yoga classes are returning required, as space is limited. Beginners in the fall of 2014.
Discover the benefits for yourself by joining a class with our trained staff. SUP Englewood is proud to be the area’s only PaddleFit affiliate. PaddleFit is the only nationally recognized fitness organization in the paddle boarding community. I am also a certified RYT 200 Yoga Instructor registered with the Yoga Alliance. Ensure that your instructors can teach on land and on the water. Find a certified instructor in your area by going to the Yoga Alliance directory at www.yogaalliance.org. CALL 888-2-PADDLE or 855-272-3353 TODAY TO SIGN UP FOR ONE OF OUR CLASSES
THE SAND DOLLAR | 39
Let’s go fishing... FOR
SNOOK!
Article and photos by Mallory Herzog of Fishin' Franks
Istranger f you have been enjoying our area beaches, you’re no to the snook. These fish are the ones you see
ambushing bait in the shallows and cruising the shoreline in small groups. These fish are great to snorkel with, easily identifiable by the long, black lateral line along their body. For fishermen, these are one of the most prized and fun fish to catch. Snook come in all sizes. In our area, along the gulf beaches, I have been seeing them anywhere from 12-20 inches long. Later in the month, the larger “keeper-sized” snook move though along our beaches from Sanibel to Venice in the 28-33+ range. Piers and jetty’s are also great places to find these fish as they like structure. To keep a snook, you need a $10.00 snook stamp added to your Florida fishing license. This can be obtained anywhere fishing licenses are sold, like Fishin’ Franks and Wal-Mart. Your fish need to be 28-33 inches long to be retained. Make sure to pick up a tape measure when you purchase your snook stamp! The snook limit is one per person, per day. Sounds like a lot of restrictions for a fish, right? Well, snook are just starting to gain in population in our gulf waters . In an effort to increase their population, due to a freeze that killed off large numbers nearly five years ago, they were protected for a few years, only opening back up to gulf residents last fall.
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Let’s talk tackle. On the beach, I personally use a Penn Conflict 2500 spinning reel, 20lb Invisabraid and 30lb fluorocarbon leader, to a 3/0 circle hook, usually free lining live bait and sight casting them as they swim in the surf. On more turbulent, wavy days I will use a split shot weight, so my bait stays put! If your’re fishing where there is structure, I recommend a conventional reel like an Avet lx or a spinning tarpon set up, for example, a pen
FISH ON!! Mallory Herzog of Fishin' Franks & Deidra Bridger of Tenacity Guide Service
6000 battle. This gives you more drag and control to pull the fish out of the structure. I use 80lb mono with a 7/0 J hook on my larger snook set ups. The bait selection for snook is endless. It all depends on the location you are fishing at. Along the beaches, I tend to use live greenbacks. This is what is swimming
Above: Mallory Herzog. Right: Aiden Herzog with his 1st snook
along the beach daily. They are easy to cast net, and keep alive with an air-bubbler (aerator pump). I’ve found on our extra hot days, adding a frozen water bottle to your bait bucket keeps your bait cool and lively! I’ve also used various white soft plastics along the beaches with great success. These particular fish love top-water. This is best done in the morning and at sunset. Lemon Bay comes alive with the right top water lure! Bone colored or white is the way to go, with heavy action on the lure. Piers and bridges for snook are different. Slowly walk your live bait along the shadow line, or throw your live bait along bridge pilings. This is where fish hide to ambush their bait. The best bait is a live lady fish or mullet, 6-12 inches long. These bigger baits attract the larger keeper sized snook. They also hold off the other fish. If you using shrimp, you may end up with your limit on snapper. Jigs are also very successful off piers and in estuaries. Red/white and white/chartreuse color combinations work best. Best of luck in your fall fishing...tight lines! Call Fishin' Franks at 941-625-3888 or visit them at 4425 Tamiami Trail, Charlotte Harbor, for all of your fishing needs!
That Horseshoe Crab Must Really Love you… It gave it’s BLUE blood to save your life! Article By: David Hodgson
D
id you know that a horseshoe crab has probably saved your life? It’s true! A horseshoe crab has blue blood, which is copper-based instead of iron-based like our blood. That’s why it’s blue instead of red. Over three decades ago, medicine claimed this ancient animal as a new life-saving tool. In 1971, researchers discovered that when they exposed the horseshoe crab to E. coli bacteria, the crab’s blood clotted. The clotting indicated the presence of endotoxins, toxic substances released by E. coli and other gram-negative bacteria that could produce severe symptoms in exposed humans, such as fever or hemorrhagic stroke. 42 | THE SAND DOLLAR
Horseshoe crab blood is used to test drugs and implants for endotoxins. Endotoxins are byproducts of bacteria that remain even after sterilization. This preparation is called Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL). LAL is used to detect endotoxins associated with gram-negative bacteria. LAL is used by pharmaceutical and medical industries to ensure that their products (e.g., intravenous drugs, vaccines, implantable medical and dental devices) have no bacterial contamination. They take a sample and introduce the LAL. If it jells, they know that batch is contaminated and must be disposed of. This is currently the most effective way to test for gram negative endotoxins.
HISTORY OF THE HORSESHOE CRAB (Contributed by FWC) Four species of horseshoe crabs exist today. Only one species, Limulus Polyphemus, is found in North America along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from Maine to Mexico. The other three species are found in Southeast Asia. Horseshoe crabs are not true crabs at all. Horseshoe crabs are more closely related to arachnids (a group that includes spiders and scorpions) than to crustaceans (a group that includes true crabs, lobsters, and shrimp). Horseshoe crabs are often called "living fossils" because fossils of their ancestors date back almost 450 million years. That's 200 million years before dinosaurs existed. Despite inhabiting the planet for so long, horseshoe crab body forms have changed very little over all of those years. The strange anatomy of the horseshoe crab is one of this animal's most notable aspects. Unfortunately, the long, thin, spike-like tail of horseshoe crabs has given this species an unfavorable reputation. Many people view horseshoe crabs as dangerous animals, because they have sharp tails. In reality, horseshoe crabs are harmless. Their tails are used primarily to flip themselves upright if they are accidentally overturned. Horseshoe crab blood has not only become a key weapon in our medical arsenal, it has also become big business. On the world market, a quart of horseshoe crab blood has a price tag of an estimated $15,000, leading to overall revenues from the LAL industry estimated at U.S. $50 million per year. But that pales in comparison to its value to the pharmaceutical industry. The blood of a horseshoe crab can be extracted without killing the animal. Up to 30% of the crab’s blood is removed. Within 72 hours, the bled horseshoe crabs are returned to the water, where their blood volume rebounds in about a week. Horseshoe Crab blood saves our lives again and again. If you have ever had a tetanus shot, a flu shot or any kind of shot, a horseshoe crab has made it possible without you getting sick or possibly dying. So, when you get your next shot, thank a horseshoe crab! Please visit www.Horseshoe-Crabs.com for more information about horseshoe crabs.
Why are horseshoe crabs important to the ecology? Horseshoe crabs are an important part of the ecology of coastal communities. During the nesting season, especially in the Mid-Atlantic States, horseshoe crab eggs become the major food source for migrating birds. Over 50 percent of the diet of many shorebird species consists of horseshoe crab eggs. Many bird species in Florida have been observed feeding on horseshoe crab eggs. In addition, many fish species rely on horseshoe crab eggs for food. Currently, with the help of the public, biologists at the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute are trying to document nesting sites of horseshoe crabs throughout the state. If you are interested in becoming more involved with the horseshoe crab survey, please visit the Survey for Horseshoe Crab Nesting Beaches in Florida for more information. The website is http://myfwc.com/ research/saltwater/crustaceans/horseshoecrabs/documenting-beaches THE SAND DOLLAR | 43
SUNDAY
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FUNDAY THE SAND DOLLAR | 39
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If you looking to BUY or SELL a home , I would love the chance to "EARN" your business. ANYTHING YOU FIND I CAN SHOW ANY DAY, ANY TIME. I WORK AROUND YOUR SCHEDULE AND I ANSWER MY PHONE 24 HOURS A DAY! CALL TODAY FOR A PRIVATE SHOWING! 941-575-1717 Email: lisapowerhouse@gmail.com