Sarasota/Siesta Key Observer 4.4.24

No fear here

Quinly Collins, 6, wants to work at Australia Zoo someday. For her, attending the ReptiDay event, held at Sahib Shrine Center on March 30, was a head start.

According to event manager Lisa Parker, the one-day version of Repticon’s events offered a place for reptile-lovers to come together over offerings like uncommon species, products and more.

“It brings people together with a common interest that not everyone understands,” she said. “There’s a niche for everybody, and so everyone here is super passionate about reptiles. ... We all have the same love of these misunderstood animals.”

Lee Abbott of Lee’s Okeetees, a Sarasota vendor at the event, found his passion for breeding snakes during his childhood in the area.

“I wasn’t afraid of things. My whole family were fishermen and hunters, so I was acquainted with wildlife, and I enjoyed it very, very young,” he said.

New perspective

The Fine Arts Society of Sarasota, Arts Advocates, recently held a free public exhibit and sale of works from The Florida Highwaymen at the Arts Advocates Gallery at The Crossings at Siesta Key Mall.

The Florida Highwaymen were Black landscape artists who emerged in the 1950s in the agricultural communities of Fort Pierce and Gifford. The group of painters, which grew to include 25 men and one woman, became known as The Highwaymen because they sold their artwork from the trunks of their cars during the post-World War II boom, unable to exhibit through traditional methods because of racial barriers.

Before the exhibit concluded, on March 23, Sarasota Mayor Liz Alpert co-presented awards to several of the Highwaymen recognizing their contributions.

Ian Swaby J-P the Clown, Heloisa Camara, 9, Dora Yu, 7, and Gabriella Pan, 4

Ian Swaby Courtesy image Maria Cecilia Conder with her Highwaymen painting purchased from Curtis Arnett, right.

WEEK OF APRIL 4, 2024

BY THE NUMBERS

$44M

The “envelope” of a future contract with the architect plus contractors for design of a new Sarasota Performing Arts Center. PAGE 9A

$65M

The amount Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation

CEO Tania Castroverde Moskalenko helped raise to build a ballet venue in Miami. PAGE 16A

70%

The progress the Safe Children Coalition has made toward its fundraising goal for a youth shelter. PAGE 1B

CALENDAR

n Sarasota City Commission worship — 9 a.m., Monday, April 8, Commission Chambers, City Hall, 1565 First St.

n Sarasota County Commission regular meeting — 9 a.m., Tuesday, April 9, Commission Chamber, 4000 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice.

n Sarasota Planning Board

— 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 10, Commission Chambers, City Hall, 1565 First St.

“For years we’ve been dealing with affordable housing. I will take 15% over the zero that we have been given up to this point.”

Sarasota City Commissioner Kyle Battie

Read more on page 4A

SMH

receives $16 million for cancer facility

Agift of $16 million has been received by Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation from Susan Milman to support the Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute on Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s Sarasota campus. The facility is scheduled to open in late 2025. The gift will be used to support planning, construction and operations of the new pavilion, which will house an expanded breast health center with the latest mammography, ultrasound, stereotactic and nuclear

medicine technology. Services will include outpatient surgery, advanced HDR brachytherapy, radiation oncology, infusion and diagnostic imaging, plus oncology physician practices and integrative care clinics.

“Susan has been a generous supporter and friend of the Healthcare Foundation for nearly a decade and was one of the first to recognize the importance of providing comprehensive cancer care close to home,” said Healthcare Foundation President Stacey

Corley in a news release. “Her latest transformational gift is testament to her commitment to SMH and the health of our entire community.”

In recognition of the gift and to honor her family — Alan Milman, Natalie Kover Milman, Morris Milman, and Arthur and Fay Kover — the new facility will be named the Milman-Kover Cancer Pavilion. Combined with her previous donation, Milman has given more than $21 million to the foundation.

SPD captain finishes FBI National Academy

The Sarasota Police Department now has its 12th graduate of the FBI National Academy. Last week, SPD Chief Rex Troche unveiled the name of Capt. Demetri Konstantopoulos on the plaque that displays the names of all of the department’s graduates of the program.

The FBI National Academy is a 10-week program of advanced communication, leadership and fitness training. To attend, a participant must have a demonstrated record as a professional within their agency. On average, attendees have 21 years of law enforcement experience.

Konstantopoulos oversees the Support Services Division, including the Body Worn Camera Program, Property and Evidence Unit, Special Response Teams and more. The 289th session of the National Academy included law enforcement professionals from 47 states, the District of Columbia, 23 countries, four military organizations and five federal civilian organizations.

The plaque is displayed in the community room on the second floor of the Sarasota Police Department at 2099 Adams Lane.

Gift double benefits Challenge Match

The Frank G. Berlin Foundation, a component fund of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County; trustees of the H. Gladstone McKeon Trust; the adviser to the Sarah Greer Mayer Fund; and Joe and Mary Kay Henson have each committed $100 to each of the 724 nonprofits in the 2024 Giving Challenge, a 24-hour online giving event starting noon April 9.

This is the second year the Hensons will give $100 each to all participating nonprofits. They were inspired in 2022 to donate to each of the organizations knowing their gifts would be matched. The Patterson Foundation matches all unique donations from $25 to $100, which means the 2024 event has already raised nearly $580,000 before it begins.

To donate, visit GivingChallenge. org.

Education, inspiration and celebration

Architecture Sarasota documents its top 100 examples of modern design.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

There is more to the Sarasota School of Architecture, or “Sarasota modern,” than the geometric shapes that popularized the post-World War II design trend.

It blended design with function, combining open concepts with large panes of glass and poured concrete shapes that combined weather resilience with form, making famous architects such as Ralph Twitchell, Paul Rudolph, Jack West, Victor Lundy and more.

Likewise, there is more to architecture in the Sarasota area than its influence on mid-century modern design.

That’s why Architecture Sarasota, a nonprofit that stewards the legacy of the Sarasota School of Architecture, embarked on a mission to create its new exhibit, “Moderns That Matter: Sarasota 100.”

Although it fills much of Architecture Sarasota’s home, McCulloch Pavilion — which at 265 S. Orange Ave. happens to be No. 83 on the list — the exhibit is like a museum without walls stretching from Venice to Manatee County with a heavy emphasis on Sarasota proper, said President Marty Hylton.

In addition to residential and commercial structures, some that no longer exist and others that may not soon, the collection representing more than a century of architecture includes neighborhoods, streets and even, at No. 100, the bayfront.

The list was culled from nearly 600 nominations by the public, plus some 200 more buildings gathered through additional research, that represent modern design not only by today’s standards, but what was modern at the time the structures were built.

“No. 99 (a home on Siesta Key) was finished two years ago,” Hylton said. “No. 100 was a little bit conceptual. Someone just nominated, very simply, the waterfront. Obviously our whole world here is connected to water. The idea of waterfront as 100 is because it’s changing, and it’s going to continue to change.”

At No. 1 is the John and Mable Ringling estate on the bay, Ca’ d’Zan, which was built in 1926. To the layman, it hardly appears modern by contemporary standards.

“We put the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art campus as No. 1 because if you took away all the Venetian Gothic Revival, it was really very modern at the time,” Hylton said. They poured a concrete structure that was really sophisticated, so we took a broad definition of what modern is. We talk a lot about the Sarasota School of Architecture, but it really is 20th and early 21st century.”

The 98 examples in between represent 10 categories by decade from the 1920s to the 2020s, a virtual tour of Sarasota County history as defined by its architecture. The categories are:

■ Civic

■ Commercial

■ Culture & Arts

■ Educational

■ Multifamily Residential

■ Neighborhoods & Districts

■ Recreational

■ Single-family Residential

■ Spiritual

■ Public Space

Why is the collection important?

“Education, inspiration and celebration,” Hylton said. “We’ve established a baseline hearing from the community of the things they care about, and now that’s our marching order. That’s our priority. We obviously can’t focus on all 100. But it’s going to help us as an organization prioritize our actions and next steps.

“Some things like the newer buildings help us advocate for more that type of architecture, for more projects like The Bay and the Sarasota Art Museum, which both got a lot of nominations. For others that are threatened, it’s about what can we do either to document them before they’re gone or is there something we can do to help ensure that they survive.”

HOW TO VIEW MODERNS THAT MATTER

Architecture Sarasota’s stated mission is to “provide a forum for the education, advocacy and celebration of good design in the global built environment” through a series of rotating exhibitions, education programs and community events.

Moderns That Matter: Sarasota 100 can be viewed in person at McCulloch Pavilion at 265 S. Orange Ave. or online at ArchitectureSarasota.org.

Image courtesy of Bill Speer

Zahrada I by Halflants + Pichette Architects, built in 2021, is an example of the Sarasota School of Architecture incorporating contemporary lifestyle features.

Image courtesy of Greg Wilson

The second edition of Sarasota High School, built in 1960, was the second of two schools Paul Rudolph completed for the Sarasota County Schools, blending the work of the 1950s with the futuristic features.

Image courtesy of Sarasota County History Center

was designed by architect Jack

Image courtesy of

Image courtesy of Aaron Board

The Truist Bank building at 3400 S. Tamiami Trail is an example of a postmodern building with a skin of sheet metal punctuated by glass. It was built in 1990.

Image courtesy of Nicholas Harris Photography

Designed by Paul Rudolph, the Umbrella House at 1300 Westway Drive on Lido Key was built in 1953. It was selected as one of the most five remarkable houses of the 20th Century by Architectural Digest.

Since arriving in Sarasota about a year ago, Marty Hylton has spearheaded the project to curate the top 100 examples of Sarasota County architecture and design.

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Affordable in the suburbs

Incentives are now in place to bring attainable housing to commercial corridors and centers.

By an identical 3-2 vote to the first reading, the Sarasota City Commission Monday night approved on second reading a proposed zoning text amendment to incentivize affordable and attainable housing in new developments along commercial corridors and in commercial centers throughout the city. As they did on March 4, Vice Mayor Jen Ahearn-Koch and Commissioner Debbie Trice dissented, but not because they oppose development of affordable housing.  Ahearn-Koch held firm to her position that requiring 15% of the density bonus be reserved for attainably priced dwelling units — which results in 11% of the overall project — is too much benefit for developers and not enough gain for the city. In addition to agreeing with Ahearn-Koch, Trice said the mixeduse development component of the ordinance is “not ready for prime time,” and wanted that removed for further discussion. They also both expressed concerns about outdoor bars permitted in mixed-use developments, particularly rooftop bars on the top floor of five-story buildings.

“That’s the real fear of the neighborhoods because if your rooftop is anywhere on the North Trail and you’ve got a view of the water, the fear is that is there’s going to be this proliferation of rooftop bars and there’s nothing protecting you from that,” Ahearn-Koch said.

Planning General Manager Ryan Chapdelain responded that if a five-story building were developed

THE TARGET MARKET

During Monday night’s presentation, Planning Director Steven Cover attempted to put in perspective the types of individuals and families needing attainable housing closer to their workplaces. The attainable units are required to priced one-third 80% or below area median income, one-third at 81%-100% AMI, and 101%120% AMI.

“There’s this perception that the total salaries are high and represent middle, or maybe even upper-middle income,” he said. “If you have two people working at 80%, that’s $15 an hour. If you have two people working and a family of four, that comes to about $19 an hour. And then at the 120% level, which a lot of people are thinking is market rate, that comes out to $23 to $24 an hour.”

using the affordable housing height and density bonus, market forces will dictate that top floor to be all residential.

Trice attempted to offer a “friendly amendment” to Commissioner Erik Arroyo’s eventual motion to approve removal of the outdoor bars, which he declined.

The evening special meeting drew more than a dozen speakers for public comment, yielding about an even mix of support and opposition. The latter leveled criticisms at a “developer giveaway” and the density and scope permitted causing an undue burden on neighborhoods bordering the thoroughfares and commercial centers.

At one point, while resident Dan Lobeck was directing comments at individuals, Mayor Liz Alpert repeatedly reminded him of the city’s

code of conduct to “not engage in personal attacks” and threatened to clear the meeting chamber after being shouted at from the audience.

‘BEST IN THE STATE’

Supporters of the ordinance said that it may not be perfect, but it is needed.

Planning Director Steven Cover said the 15% of bonus density model is yielding results in downtown with several affordable housing inclusive projects working their way through the approval process, in contrast to the 25% model in the Rosemary District that has yielded no results.

The ordinance, he said, has even garnered statewide accolades.

ORDINANCE CHANGES

There were six changes made to the commercial corridors and centers affordable housing ordinance between the first and second readings, per commissioners’ input. Among them:

A building height restriction of 70 feet when achieving an additional two stories as a bonus incentive for providing affordable housing units.

No building shall be over 200 feet in length or width per street frontage.

Multiple buildings on a zoning lot shall be separated by a minimum of 10 feet.

The maximum building length should be required along all street frontages, not just interstate connectors, arterial or collector roadways. The requirement now applies to each street frontage.

“That’s the real fear of the neighborhoods, because if your rooftop is anywhere on the North Trail and you’ve got a view of the water, the fear is that is there’s going to be this proliferation of rooftop bars and there’s nothing protecting you from that.”

Jen Ahearn-Koch

putting three times the demand on our infrastructure and services, but providing enough affordable housing to exacerbate our housing crisis rather than fix it. You can send this ZTA back to staff and require mandatory affordable housing at an increased percentage along with some other compromises for high density and setbacks. It will help resolve our affordable housing crisis and protect our neighborhoods, not just revitalize our corridors.”

Certified planner Philip DiMaria of Kimley Horn, who frequently represents developers before the city commission, provided a personal anecdote to describe the local housing challenges for service workers and young professionals.

“My company is in the throes of hiring summer interns who come out of college every May,” he said. “We’ve had an excessive amount of fantastic interviews and every single time they accept an offer they’ll look at an apartment and say, ‘Hey, I’m sorry, but it’s cheaper to live in St. Petersburg or Tampa, so I’m going to go ahead and do that. Thanks for the opportunity, but I really can’t make ends meet.’

AFFORDABLE HOUSING INCENTIVES

Density and height bonuses for urban mixed-use future land use districts in commercial corridors and centers. Five-story buildings on parcels 3 acres or larger only.

MIXED-USE 1

■ Base density, 13 residential units per acre.

■ Maximum bonus density, 75 units per acre at 15% attainable units.

■ Maximum height 3 stories, up to 5 stories if with affordable housing.

MIXED-USE 2

■ Base density, 25 residential units per acre.

■ Maximum bonus density, 75 units per acre at 15% attainable units.

■ Maximum height 4 stories, up to 5stories if with affordable housing.

MIZED-USE 3 (North Trail Overlay District only)

■ Base density, 35 residential units per acre.

The ordinance does not rezone any property. Rather, it’s an overlay that permits residential and mixed-use development on properties currently zoned for commercial with a future land use of multi-use, providing affordable housing is included. As a bonus, the additional density is anticipated to increase the city’s housing stock that may ease pricing of market rate dwellings.

“For years we’ve been dealing with affordable housing,” said

“Since the first public hearing, staff was asked by the Florida Housing Coalition to present at a virtual regional workshop on the city’s downtown and the commercial corridors and commercial centers attainable housing density program, and also a presentation was given to the Bay Area Apartment Association,” Cover said. “They invited just us to give a presentation on our attainable housing effort, and Kody Glazer, who is the chief legal and policy officer, said after we gave our presentation the reason they wanted Sarasota to present the program is because he thought it was the best in the state.”

Commissioner Kyle Battie. “It wasn’t until the prior commission and this commission that we started to address the affordable housing outside of the (Sarasota) Housing Authority. All commissions prior to us had every opportunity to address affordable housing, and they gave us condominiums. They gave us highrises. So I will take 15% over the zero that we have been given up to this point.”

Speaking against the ordinance, former Planning Board member Kathy Kelley Olrich said, “We’re

“Just from an economic standpoint we need to remain competitive, and that means increasing the housing supply.”

Monday’s approval completes a two-year effort that began in 2022 with comprehensive plan amendments that first facilitated zoning text amendments to incentivize affordable housing developments in the downtown zoning districts. To date, developers have submitted plans that include 87 affordable units among a total of 799 apartments in the downtown area.

■ Maximum bonus density, 105 units per acre at 15% attainable units.

■ Maximum height 4 stories, up to 5 stories if with affordable housing.

Leading in Luxury Masterful Selling is our heritage

Andrew Warfield

Commercial parcels like this one at 24th Street and North Tamiami Trail are candidates for redevelopment under Sarasota’s new commercial centers and corridors affordable housing program.

City Commission OKs changes to permit high-density development on the Sarasota Housing Authority’s final two properties.

Density, which will allow it to increase density from 25 dwelling units per acre to 50 dwelling units per acre. The two properties, separated by several city blocks, are the last two that it owns in the Sarasota city limits. On the eventual Bertha Mitchell redevelopment, SHA consultant Joel Freedman told commissioners, “That’s the last hurrah.”

In conjunction with those changes, the SHA sought to amend the Housing Authority Overlay District to include the higher density zoning and to expand it to the smaller site on 22nd Street.

In a reversal of the Planning Board’s recommendation to deny the

changes

property, the

Commission unanimously approved the change that will allow the SHA to

WHAT’S AHEAD

four-story apartment

Central Gardens, a

Avenue from

Then by a 4-1 vote, with Kyle Battie opposed, commissioners agreed with the Planning Board’s 3-2 vote recommendation to approve the changes to the Bertha Mitchell land use change. Battie cited opposition to a high-density, all-public housing development among his Newtown constituents.

Finally, the zoning text amendment to the SHA Overlay District was then approved unanimously.

By approving the expansion of the Housing Authority Overlay District to include the Central Gardens property, the commission:

„ Increased the maximum residential density from 25 dwelling units per acre to 50 dwelling units per acre.

„ Increased the maximum building height from 35 feet to 45 feet.

„ Added the residential parking standard of one-half space per dwelling unit designated as affordable to households with an income at or below 120% of the area median income for a minimum of 30 years.

Most urgent to SHA is the Central Gardens development, for which time is running out to use American Rescue Plan Act funds. Because it is not using federal tax credits — the project is too small to qualify — Central Gardens will be available to a range of low-income categories up to 80% area median income, or $73,000 for a family of four.  Bertha Mitchell, though, is further into the future with no current plans for the site that currently has 84 aging duplex units on nearly 14 acres. It is roughly bounded by Gillespie Avenue, 21st Street, 24th Street and North Osprey Avenue. Under the new future land use, it now has a capacity of 731 residential dwellings, all public housing, with a residential composition that must not exceed an average of 60% AMI, or about $60,000 per year for a family of four.

Not all of those units must be priced at 60% or below AMI. Under new HUD rules, the entire development must maintain an average

The approvals allow the Sarasota Housing Authority to develop:

n a 39-unit, four-story Central Gardens apartment across Central Avenue from Janie’s Gardens

n 731 units on the Bertha Mitchell property

below that threshold, meaning some will be priced lower and others higher, providing a mix of income levels and demographics.

Still, that much concentration of low-income households was the chief objection of both Battie and Planning Board member Terrill Salem, who spoke during the public comments portion of the hearing.

“Bertha Mitchell isn’t on the hot burner right now,” said Freedman.

“By designating Bertha Mitchell now for the additional density, it gives the housing authority the ability to understand what they’ve got, and to be able to start planning now even though it may be five or 10 years.

“The good news about Bertha Mitchell is that the site plan would come back to the City Commission for final approval. When and if that happens — I don’t know if you’ll be here, I don’t know if I’ll be here — but it would be a great new community for the housing authority, and there is no more land.”

Central Gardens, on 0.7 acre, is actively being planned and, like the SHA’s Lofts on Lemon, it will bring a mix of income ranges.

According to SHA President and CEO William Russell, seven units will be priced at 30% of AMI ($30,000 per year for a family of four) or less, four units at 50% ($45,700) AMI or less, six units at 65% AMI ($64,155) or less, and 22 at 80% AMI ($73,100) or less.

“This is not a public housing development,” Russell said. “There’s going to be a real mix of incomes here, yet at the same time, it will be affordable at all of these income levels for people in our community. Where can you find places to live in our community even for people at 80% of median income? The market is not providing it.”

Ready, set … give!

Philanthropy is like a sport in Sarasota-Manatee. It is no surprise Sarasota has its own Super Bowl of giving. Turn on your generosity engine.

OFrom noon Tuesday, April 9, to noon Wednesday, April 10, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County will host the 2024 Giving Challenge, a 24-hour online giving event that has provided more than $75 million in funding since its inception in 2012.

While giving days are common, like Giving Tuesday, a global giving day that occurs annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, the Giving Challenge is unique to Sarasota. What sets the Giving Challenge apart from others is the Community Foundation’s partnership with the Patterson Foundation. It provides an unlimited match up to $100 on all donations given.

Over the past eight Giving Challenges, the Patterson Foundation’s match has provided a stunning amount of more than $30 million, nearly half of all the funding.

Meant to incentivize donor participation, the Patterson Foundation gave $334,000 in matching funds in the first four minutes of the Giving Challenge’s first year in 2012. A decade later, the Patterson Foundation’s participation evolved to a one-to-one match on all unique donations from $25 to $100 that totaled $6,088,115 in 2022.

Patterson Foundation President and CEO Debra Jacobs recalls that in its initial year there was much speculation on how the Giving Challenge would work. Some seasoned fundraisers thought it would backfire.

“The telling moment was when we did a Giving Challenge during COVID,” said Jacobs. “It turned out to be the smartest thing to do, because we could do a virtual campaign. It was the highest giving ever, raising more than $19 million. Never underestimate giving — givers want to give.”

The Patterson match has incentivized donors indeed. Realizing the opportunity to double their dollars, Joe and Mary Kay Henson, gave $100 to all 667 nonprofits that participated in the 2022 Giving Challenge, donating $66,700 that became $133,400. In hopes of inspiring others to follow suit, the Hensons have committed again to give $100 to each of the 725 nonprofits participating in the 2024 Giving Challenge.

The Hensons’ commitment launched what the Community Foundation is calling the “100 Percent Club.”

Advisers to the Frank G. Berlin Foundation, a component fund at the Community Foundation, and trustees managing the H. Gladstone McKeon Trust have likewise committed to giving $100 to each of the nonprofits participating in the 2024 Giving Challenge. The three gift commitments with the Patterson match will become $436,800. That makes a record-setting start to the Giving Challenge before it even begins.

Roxie Jerde, president and CEO of the Community Foundation, said, “The three entities that have stepped up believe that the non-

BEST GIVING CHALLENGE PHOTO CONTEST

Submit a photo that captures the fun and excitement of the 2024 Giving Challenge for your chance to win $250 for the 20 nonprofits with the most public votes for their photo submission.

Submission: April 9 to 16

Voting: April 17 to May 1 Visit: YourObserver.com/ giving-challenge/

profit sector is vital to our community, and they are demonstrating that by supporting every nonprofit participating. It’s very inspiring to me.”

Jerde also credits the Patterson board of directors and Jacobs for having the courage to provide a match not knowing what the final number will total.

“It’s an informed risk, with no cap on the match,” Jacobs said.

“Every one of those 700 organizations can blitz this thing and then we would have a serious conversation and decision around budget time. It’s giving power to the organizations and people to be as generous as they like only with $100.”

The matching funds don’t stop there. Many organizations have leveraged additional matching funds from their own donors to increase giving. The Senior Friendship Centers has secured an additional $150,000 from its own donors to triple the impact.

The Bay Park Conservancy is also utilizing a previously announced community challenge match from the Gulf Coast Community Foundation to triple $100 donations, as well as individual donors who have committed to matching dollars raised during specific hours of the 24-hour giving event. (Full disclosure: I serve on the Bay Conservancy board.)

What’s more, plenty of partners are providing prize opportunities. The Community Foundation has partnered with the Manatee Community Foundation and William G. and Marie Selby Foundation and multiple media partners (includ-

ing the Observer) to provide nearly 200 additional prizes that total $138,400.

The Observer is hosting the Best Giving Challenge Photo contest that will award a $250 prize each to the 20 nonprofit organizations that receive the most public votes for their 2024 Giving Challenge photo submissions. (See the accompanying box on how to participate.)

While the Giving Challenge is an excellent opportunity for nonprofits to receive additional unrestricted operational dollars, the Community Foundation holds each group accountable by requiring participating nonprofits to have updated profiles in the Giving Partner.

TheGivingPartner.org is a searchable, online database that includes information about an organization’s cause area, mission, financials, board governance, etc. The profiles also ensure that the nonprofits are 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) organizations in good standing with the IRS.

“Nonprofits have to be committed about being transparent about all aspects of their operation,” Jerde says. “It speaks a lot in itself for the nonprofits that take the time and effort to take part in this.”

The Giving Challenge will last only 24 hours, but the Community Foundation and nonprofits have been preparing for the big day for more than a year. As soon as the 2024 date was announced in March 2023, the Community Foundation has hosted multiple webinars, workshops and open houses on topics such as “Five Mental Fitness Tools to Enhance Leadership Resilience and Raise More Money,” donor stewardship and social media marketing.

So, get some rest, eat your Wheaties and set your browser’s bookmark to GivingChallenge. org and “be the one,” as the Giving Challenge’s tagline suggests, to help push the 2024 total dollars raised to more than 2022’s $16,204,718.

Jacobs suggests keeping an eye on the leaderboard that showcases what organizations have raised the most dollars.

“There’s something enticing about that leaderboard,” she said. “It’s like a potato chip — you can’t just eat one.”

BY THE NUMBERS

$25

Minimum gift to be matched by the Patterson Foundation

$100

Maximum gift to be matched by the Patterson Foundation

109

Nonprofits that participated in the first Giving Challenge in 2012

178

Prizes eligible to nonprofits in 2024

725

Nonprofits participating in the 2024 Giving Challenge. See the full list at GivingChallenge. org.

$14,356

Average dollar amount raised by each nonprofit in the 2022 Giving Challenge

$30,178,754

Dollars matched by the Patterson Foundation over the last eight Giving Challenges

EMILY WALSH

Friends of Manatee County Animal Services submitted this photo of Manny, a recipient of heartworm treatment during the 2022 Giving Challenge.

Divided on funding

WHO’S ON BOARD?

The membership of the Bay Park Improvement Board.

Tax increment financing district funding for development of The Bay park continues to garner full support of Sarasota city and county governments. As for the would-be crown jewel of the city-owned, 53-acre park, perhaps not so much.

During the March 29 meeting of the Bay Park Improvement Board, a panel that represents both the city and county commissions, members unanimously recommended approval from both bodies of the fiscal year 2025 deposit into the Bay Park Trust Fund from TIF revenues collected —

the 50% public share of construction costs for Phase II of the project. Those deposits are estimated at $2.55 million each from the city and county.

A second request for the release of TIF funds for a contract between the city and the architecture firm selected to design the proposed Sarasota Performing Arts Center, which is included in the interlocal agreement for funding of The Bay project, highlighted a stark contrast between the city and the county. Jennifer Jorgensen, the city’s governmental affairs director, requested the BPIB recommend to the city and county commissions approval of an “envelope” of $44 million for archi-

Mark Smith, county commission, chair

Debbie Trice, city commission, vice chair

Liz Alpert, mayor

Ron Cutsinger, county commission

Jon Thaxton, community member

tectural services. The actual payment to Renzo Piano Building Workshop, the selected firm engaged in contract negotiations with the city, isn’t the full $44 million, Jorgensen explained. It would actually be around $35 million.

The remainder is a contingency for cost overruns or change orders. Of that $35 million — which at this time is an estimate — Renzo Piano will be responsible for hiring and paying the architect of record and all of the subcontractors such as landscape architects, geo-technology engineers, structural engineers and others.

The estimate was provided by The Paratus Group, the city’s consultant to the project.

At $44 million, the city and county would be responsible for $11 million each and the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation $22 million. The public funds are not from the tax base at large, but rather taxes assessed on the improved value of properties surrounding the Bay — such as The Quay — measured against the baseline of the 2019 property tax assessment.

County Commissioner Ron Cutsinger first questioned whether it was understood when the agreement was drafted that TIF revenues, which are collected by both the city and county, for The Bay also applied to a new performing arts center.

“I’ve been here from the beginning, commissioner, and all along it was anticipated that we would include having a new performing arts center as part of this entire project,” said Mayor Liz Alpert. “So yes, it was anticipated at the very beginning of this.”

As the conversation continued, the board at times conflated the parallel tracks of the work of the Purple Ribbon Committee for repurposing the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and that of the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation.

The latter is spearheading the effort to build a replacement for the Van Wezel and eventually start a capital campaign to fund 50% of the capital cost.

County Commissioner Mark Smith suggested waiting for the recommendation of the Purple Ribbon Committee before the city continues toward building the SPAC, for which the county’s TIF revenues will be responsible for 50% of the public cost of what has been estimated to be a $275 million project.

“I haven’t been convinced that a larger hall is actually necessary, so for me to suggest that we should send the architect on their way to even

start design or considering design of a new building, I’m not sure I could back until I see the Purple Ribbon Committee’s report on the existing building,” Smith said. “I just can’t support it.”

That report, however, isn’t due for another 18 months, Jorgensen said, and to keep the SPAC on track — and get the architect on board — negotiations must conclude soon.

City Commissioner Debbie Trice attempted to distinguish between the two missions.

“The future of the Van Wezel and the performing arts hall are separate and distinct, and we should consider them as separate decisions,” Trice said. “If the performing arts hall moves at the timeline that we anticipate it might not be ready for use for another seven or eight years, and any work that would need to be done on the Van Wezel to bring it up to resiliency wouldn’t be able to start until the new performing arts hall is ready for use.

“That might be 10 years from now. The way that Sarasota has been growing, I’m really sure that we can support both a 2,200-seat auditorium in the new hall and whatever size the renovated Van Wezel is.”

Both Cutsinger and Smith said they cannot make a recommendation to the full County Commission to approve TIF funds for the architect contract, Smith because he doesn’t see the need and Cutsinger because he is not yet fully informed of the issue.

Cutsinger said if the vote were held at that time he could not support the request, but that he would consider tabling the vote until the next meeting.

The previous meeting of the BPIB was held March 10. In 2023.

“How soon can we have the next meeting?” Alpert asked. “We can’t wait a year.”

The board unanimously voted to schedule another meeting within the next month. Jorgensen said that will be necessary to keep negotiators on schedule.

“We’d have to come back within the next month or so to be able to bring this in front of the county, bring this in front of the city and then bring the contract in front of the city as well,” she said.

City and county commissioners clash over the release of TIF funds for performing arts center architect contract.

Courtesy image

A conceptual drawing of Sarasota’s bayfront with The Bay Master Plan and a new performing arts center in place.

Small house, big problem

City Commission again continues a public hearing over a request to demolish the McAlpin House to make way for 3.1-acre downtown development.

What to do with a designated historic property the Historic Preservation Board wants to keep, but nobody else apparently wants, was the question facing the Sarasota City Commission on Monday.

The disposition of a designated historic building among the 3.1 acres tabled during an Oct. 2, 2023 meeting, representatives of Orange Pineapple LLC were back before city commissioners Monday, appealing the Historic Preservation Board’s denial of the developer’s request to demolish the former home of George McAlpin, which was built in 1910.

The afternoonlong hearing drew a second stalemate, eventually leading to the issue being tabled a second time to the commission’s May 6 meeting.

In June 2023, Orange Pineapple acquired seven parcels totaling 3.1 acres in downtown. It renewed its request to demolish the McAlpin House, which poses an impediment to its redevelopment plans along Cross Street. The company is also working with staff on a request the city vacate Cross Street.

Upon the reopening of the public hearing, attorney Patrick Seidensticker told commissioners the developer has undertaken exhaustive measures to relocate the home that is now a long-vacant one-time office building that has a decidedly non-historic addition to the rear of the original structure plus one side that has been modified and is no longer in its original condition.

The primary historic characteristic of the small, square building is its construction of rare rusticated blocks, created by McAlpin himself,

who is also credited with bringing concrete construction to the city.

Senior Planner Clifford Smith, the city’s historic preservation expert, said the house is one of only a halfdozen examples of rusticated brick construction in the city.

As detailed in a McAlpin House Relocation Effort Memorandum to the city, Seidensticker wrote that relocation efforts failed generally because:

■ The structural limitations of converting the structure for residential use.

■ The current condition of the structure.

■ The impossibility of moving the structure to the desired location due to distance or physical impediments.

■ Overall cost of the move and required renovations.

“Additionally, applicant has worked in concert with design and architecture teams to determine if integrating the McAlpin House, in its entirety, into any future development is feasible,” the memo read. “Due to the size and orientation of the structure as a whole, as well as aesthetic considerations, keeping the structure fully intact has also been determined not to be feasible.”

Smith was among those who disagreed with the developer’s assessments, saying it is documented that the building can be moved. A prior would-be developer had planned to move it to the nearby former location of Nancy’s Bar-B-Q at Pineapple Avenue. He also took exception to the portrayal of the aesthetic of the structure.

“Aesthetically, it’s a perfect example of that historic structure,” Smith said. “It is what it shows itself to be, a rusticated block structure. I think aesthetically it is giving you exactly what it is intended to be.”

Added Karen DeFazio, program director for the Sarasota Alliance of Historic Preservation, “When the investors purchased this property the Historic McAlpin House as part of their assembled parcels to develop, they were aware that this is a well-maintained, protected and locally designated historic resource.

Our history may not always be as grand as the Belle Haven or have the look that some architects prize, but it is ours, and it is what makes Sarasota unique.”

When questioned on that point by Vice Mayor Jen Ahearn-Koch, Seidensticker said he can’t speak for what Pineapple Orange knew when it purchased the site because he was not involved at the time.

He did say that the company has worked to find a receiver for the building and has offered to pay to move it, but nobody wants it. Along with Chris Gallagher and George Scarf of Hoyt Architects, he displayed a rendering of building that incorporates two sides of the house in its approximate location with a historic marker describing what

once stood there. “There were numerous leads that we had and we followed up on each of them,” Seidensticker said. “Unfortunately, each option was deemed not feasible either because of the location or size of the lot would not allow for the structure to be physically moved or because the interested parties determined that the structure did not suit their needs.”

Those conversations, the memo to the city read, involved discussions with 17 parties and four house movers. Seidensticker reiterated the developer and its project planners need some level of finality to the McAlpin House issue to continue with its planning. A historic property transfer of development rights was floated as an idea, but work to create craft such an ordinance is in the early stages.

After Commissioner Erik Arroyo suggested the city consider alternative sites, such as Payne Park, to relocate the house, he suggested continuing the hearing a second time until May 6. That will allow time to explore alternative locations and also to better determine how long a transfer of development rights ordinance will take and, as City Attorney Robert Fournier suggested, if the ordinance can be “finessed” to be of benefit in this case.

Photos by Andrew Warfield

The historic McAlpin House at 1530 Cross St. occupies a key parcel in the redevelopment plans of Orange Pineapple LLC for a 3.1-acre site in downtown.

These rusticated bricks are a historic feature of the McAlpin House in downtown Sarasota.

Public comment restrictions face opposition

School board public commenters criticized the proposed measures, as well as the board’s responsiveness to public input.

The voices of the public once again dominated the Sarasota County School Board meeting on April 2, and most speakers said they were there to help ensure the situation stays that way.

While once again calling on board member Bridget Ziegler to resign, speakers also turned their attention to discussions during a March 19 board workshop, which saw board members considering options for limiting public comment.

During those discussions, the board noted that as a limited public forum, it is legally allowed to set certain restrictions.

Speakers on April 2 emphasized concerns that the board was not considering their input and seeking to restrict viewpoints it did not favor, while many speakers also invoked the First Amendment.

“If you want shorter meetings, you should consider the concerns of the public, and vote accordingly,” said former teacher Christy Karwatt. “Many community speakers spend hours researching the issues at hand, and provide valuable information, which you don’t even consider before casting your votes.”

A rally titled “Stop the Circus” was held outside the building of the school board chambers in the hour prior to the meeting.

Organized by The Social Equity through Education (SEE) Alliance, it involved members of PEN America Florida, Support Our Schools, Project Pride SRQ, Voices of Florida, Church of the Trinity MCC and Equality Florida.

Documentary crews were also present filming the rally, and inside the board chambers.

Of the proposed restrictions con-

sidered by board members, the first option outlined existing rules within Florida statue for regulating comments, including disruptive speech.

The second option would determine public comment based on the number of speakers, through individual time limits as short as one minute, and the third option would set an overall limit of 90 minutes, with an evenly divided time not to exceed three minutes. The fourth would split public comment into two portions, with agenda items at the start of the meeting and general comments at the end, with time limits based on the number of speakers, who would be able to speak in both sessions.

“I want it clear that in no way do I want to restrict anybody’s freedom of speech,” board member Robyn Marinelli said on March 19. “That is a given... so how do we run a productive meeting because I know that people in the community, regardless of their political views, they want to see a board that works well, and they want to see what’s going on in the board rooms to stop, and focus on education and the needs of our students and our staff...”

Ziegler, Marinelli and Chair Karen Rose favored the third option, while board member Tom Edwards favored the fourth option, saying he thought a similar policy repealed by the board “worked beautifully.”

He suggested allowing three minutes whether speaking on an agenda or a non-agenda item, and opposed limits on the length of the period for public comment.

Board member Tim Enos raised the idea of three minutes per agenda items and 90 minutes of public comment at the end of the meeting.

“I want it clear that in no way do I want to restrict anybody’s freedom of speech.”

Robyn Marinelli,board member

The board also requested further information on options regarding the use of signs by audience members.

The previously imposed restrictions to which Edwards referred had been passed in 2021, at a time that saw numerous speakers addressing the board on issues such as COVID-19 and Critical Race Theory.

Most public commenters on April 2 vehemently opposed implementing the new measures.

“It is terrible, demoralizing and a time-waster listening to community

members hour after hour, meeting after meeting, year after year, when there’s so much work that needs to be done making an ever-better public education system,” said Louise Machinist. “But as others have already said, the proposed shortening of public comment really misses the point, and the real point is, make real change.”

Commenters called on the board to consider their feedback on other issues. Many mentioned the Parental Rights in Education Act, also known as the Don’t Say Gay bill, asking the board to repeal certain measures related to the bill, which was partially rolled back in March.

“We need the superintendent and the school board to take leadership on this, specifically for limiting the outing policy, encouraging teachers to uncover their bookshelves, and

encourage librarians to bring diverse books back into the schools, and create a comprehensive inclusion policy for the district, similar to Hillsborough County,” said Richard Stammer.

Englewood GOP activist Conni Brunni was one of the few to speak in favor of the board’s actions, commending the board for considering the measures and criticizing those who spoke in opposition. She highlighted that the proposed restrictions would allow some commenters to speak twice in the meeting.

“What’s funny, again, is that it’s possible under a couple of these potential opportunities that folks would get not once but twice to speak,” she said. “They get more time. Not less. Not less.”

Ian Swaby

Participants hold signs during the rally before the meeting of the School Board of Sarasota County.

A tale of two venues

The committee studying the repurposing of the Van Wezel hears from the new Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation CEO, but is left with more questions.

repurposing the Van Wezel.

Before the city of Sarasota’s Purple Ribbon Committee can begin any serious consideration for repurposing the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, it first must know a few details about the planned Sarasota Performing Arts Center.

To convert the venue into a complementary facility, the committee needs to know what it is complementing.

That was one of the questions posed to the new Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation CEO Tania Castroverde Moskalenko, who made her first appearance before the committee on March 25.

After introducing herself, Castroverde Moskalenko, with the help of SPAF Chairman Jim Travers, moved through a presentation heavy on concepts but light on particulars.

Still to be determined are the number of seats, whether there will be one or two performance spaces, when conceptual design work will begin and, perhaps most importantly, how much the new SPAC will cost.

All that will be forthcoming in a matter of months, she said, once contract negotiations between the city and Renzo Piano Building Workshop are complete. (The Italy-based architecture firm was selected to design the new facility.)  Committee member Selma Goker Wilson asked for any level of detail that could be shared, such as whether there will be a smaller performance space in the SPAC in addition to the main hall. That could be one of the determining factors in its recommendation to the city about

“I think it would be useful for us to know what is at least projected to happen in the building in terms of spaces,” Goker Wilson said.

A business plan, Castroverde Moskalenko responded, is currently under development and will “hopefully” be completed by mid-summer.

That will include some idea of the cost, which early estimates set at $275 million. Per an interlocal agreement, the SPAC, as part of The Bay, is to be funded 50% by city and county tax increment financing district revenues for the improved value of property surrounding The Bay park, and 50% by the SPAF.

The TIF funding may be a point of contention as county officials claim to have not agreed specifically to allocate revenues to the SPAC.

“One of the reasons we are doing this business plan is because we need to know not just how to raise $200 million, or however much that number is, but we need to know how we’re going to operate this in 2030, in 2040 and in 2050,” Castroverde Moskalenko said. “In order to do that, we need to know what those spaces need to be. The initial vision is for there to be two spaces, but the purpose of the business plan is so that we know is what’s going to make us not necessarily profitable, but at least to break even and not be in the red.”

That formula would determine whether 2,200 or 2,600 seats are needed for the main hall, and 300 or 800 seats in a second space, or if there needs to be a second space. Those decisions will require collaboration between the SPAF, the architect, the city and local performing arts groups that might use the spaces.

A TIF-ING POINT?

Although the partnership agreement between the city and the Bay Park Conservancy always envisioned a new performing arts hall in The Bay park, the plan met some pushback from the county government (see Page 9).

During Friday’s meeting of the Bay Park Improvement Board, county commissioners Mark Smith and Ron Cutsinger were opposed to allocating tax increment financing money for the contract with architect Renzo Piano Building Workshop to design the new facility. That was in direct opposition to the city’s representatives Mayor Liz Alpert and Commissioner Debbie Trice.

The board, which had not met since March 10, 2023, agreed to schedule a meeting in approximately one month to revisit the matter.

Castroverde Moskalenko has experience in capital campaigns for performing arts venues. In her prior role as executive director of the Miami City Ballet, she led a campaign to raise $65 million to build a new facility there. But $65 million is a far cry from $200 million if not more, and committee member Robert Bunting questioned whether that amount can be raised here.

“I felt the same way when I went to Miami and had to raise the $65 million,” she said. “And that was just for the ballet, which as you know has a much smaller audience base than a performing arts center. Americans are very, very generous. If the project is inspirational and the project has merit and it will increase the quality of life for this community, if it will improve education, if it will create

an economic engine for the community, I think that people are very, very generous and they will support it.”

Projections of total tax increment financing revenues through 2049, which is when the TIF district expires, are $351.7 million, according to Sarasota County. That’s up from just more than $329.2 million projected last year. The city and the county contribute equal shares to The Bay, comprising the public’s 50% share toward both The Bay and, if it is built, the SPAC.

Like the SPAC, the Bay Park Conservancy is responsible for raising half the cost of redeveloping the city-owned 53 acres. As the SPAC site is within The Bay park, it is also eligible for TIF financing. The park itself is projected to cost $200 million to complete, accounting for $100 million of the currently projected $351 million in TIF funds. That leaves more than adequate funding for half of the SPAC.

TIF revenue projections will vary from year to year based upon assessed values of improved property in the district, taxes paid on the increased value benchmarked against the 2019 tax rolls. Among the properties in the TIF district is The Quay.  Castroverde Moskalenko told the committee the foundation’s capital campaign for the SPAC will begin in late 2024 or early 2025.

Courtesy image

The future use of the Van Wezel is still up for debate as the Purple Ribbon Committee continues its work.

MONDAY, MARCH 25

CASTING DOUBT

10:05 p.m., 920 John Ringling Causeway

Civil dispute: More became entangled than two fishing lines when a complainant called law enforcement to a local pier after his hand was nicked by another fisherman’s hook.

The complainant told an officer that while he was fishing near the end of the pier his line became ensnared with that of another fisherman. He said the subject cut both of their lines and they continued fishing, peacefully coexisting above the tranquil waters of Sarasota Bay.

That sense of serenity, however, was short-lived. Soon, the complainant said, the subject cast his line close enough to him that the hook made contact with his finger, causing a small cut. He believed the incident to be intentional, the wayward angler apparently so skilled as to judge wind speed and direction, the length of the line and the weight of the bait and tackle to accurately propel it through the air to make contact with the man’s hand 50 feet away.

The subject confirmed that the lines were previously entangled but that he was unaware that his hook had cut the complainant’s hand. After meeting with the officer, both men separated and it was determined

vised something — or someone — was blocking a bathroom door that she could not open completely. She added that she did not see or hear anyone inside. More officers arrived and cleared the building, finding nobody inside. The complainant asked officers to stand by as she conducted an inventory of the controlled substances, all of them accounted for. She advised of previous incidents when someone had been inside the building after hours and wanted the incident documented. What might have been blocking the restroom door from opening completely, if anything, was not mentioned in the incident report.

FRIDAY, MARCH 22

UNHAPPY WIFE

8:51 p.m., 1300 block of Conrad Avenue

Family dispute: A married couple whose relationship had apparently run its course led to a domestic disturbance as a responding officer was told by the complainant that his wife had been drinking and an argument ensued because she came home intoxicated. He said they had been arguing frequently over several months. The officer spoke with his wife, who said the reason for the dispute was that her husband drinks too much and she is unhappy as a result. The officer reported neither party appeared to be intoxicated. Interviewing each of them separately, it was confirmed nothing physical occurred, they were just both displeased with each other. They were encouraged to separate for the night and to try to resolve their issues the next day.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20

RESTROOM ROMANCE

11:59 a.m., 2500 block of Cocoanut Avenue

Disturbance: An official of a regular farmers market held at a park called law enforcement because he discovered two people engaging in potentially reproductive behavior in the public restroom. According to the police report, the complainant said the incident is “just one example of all sorts of illegal and immoral activity that he sees going on in this park when he is trying to set up for his farmers market.”

The complainant then identified a man sitting at a picnic table as one individual with whom he has had problems but clarified that he was not one of the subjects engaging in the lewd and lascivious act that took place in the restroom. The officer spoke with the man and asked him to be respectful of people and families who want to enjoy the park.

THURSDAY, MARCH 21 PHANTOM INTRUDER 10 p.m., 3500 block of Fruitville

owner of a veterinary clinic reported an intruder inside the business. Upon arrival, the responding officer did not find anyone inside. The complainant told the officer that she was driving past the building when she observed a light on inside, adding she was the last to leave earlier and left no lights on. Suspicious, she decided to go inside and assess the situation, which is when she observed a desk in the room where controlled substances are stored appeared to have been moved.

Upon checking doors, she ad-

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SATURDAY, MARCH 23

THE NEXT DAY

10:34 a.m., 1300 block of Conrad Avenue

Family dispute: Less than 14 hours after police responded to a domestic disturbance at the same address, other officers arrived as the unhappy couple in question were separating when a dispute erupted over dividing assets. Officers advised both parties that as a married couple — albeit apparently not for long — marital property must be shared. The man said he

wanted money that was transferred from a business account to that of his now-estranged wife returned to him. After he was reminded that marital assets must be shared, the man said he understood and moved out of the residence. According to the police report, both parties were advised to “stay civil and to not engage in petty behavior.”

SPORTS

Fast Break

File photo Riverview High girls lacrosse senior Susan Lowther is committed to Clemson University.

Riverview High girls lacrosse senior Susan Lowther had six goals and five assists in the Rams’ 18-9 road win over Naples High on April 1. The Rams are now 9-5.

… Former Sarasota High baseball pitcher Conner Whittaker, a junior at Florida State University, got the win in the Seminoles’ 5-3 home win over the University of Louisville on March 30. Whittaker went five innings, allowing three runs on six hits and one walk while striking out two hitters. Whittaker is now 4-0 with a 5.03 ERA. The Seminoles are 22-4 overall.

Cardinal Mooney High boys lacrosse senior James Frankauski had four goals and an assist in the Cougars’ 13-4 road win over Montverde Academy on March 26. The Cougars are 10-4 as of April 2.

Former Cardinal Mooney High boys lacrosse star MJ McMahon, a senior at the University of Utah, had two assists in the Utes’ 16-14 road win over Jacksonville University on March 30. McMahon has 17 points in nine games in 2024. The Utes are 5-4. Sarasota High boys senior weightlifter Mark Monchecourt won the 219-pound weight class at the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 3A District 12 meet on March 30, lifting a combined 705 pounds, the highest traditional score at the event.

Cardinal Mooney High softball freshman Olivia Lockhart went 2-for-2 with two home runs and six RBIs in the Cougars’ 16-1 win over Zephyrhills Christian Academy on March 26. Lockhart is hitting .643 with seven home runs and 33 RBIs as of April 2.

“We have been blessed,” Bain said.

“It makes it easy, as a coach. And they love each other. There’s no bickering. We don’t have to force team bonding here. It just happened.”

— Neil Bain, assistant coach

“I think it is mainly knowing that I’m doing something productive. It is satisfying to know that I’ve done my running for the day. I’m taking care of my body and becoming more disciplined.”

Laughing all the way

Riverview High is 12-3 thanks to commanding pitching, timely hitting and a lot of joy.

IF YOU GO

Allison Cole doesn’t like the spotlight.

The Riverview High softball junior pitcher is shy, by her own admission. Rams head coach Tom Forkan and assistant coach Neil Bain joke about not getting more than a few words out of her. At the beginning of the season, Cole said, she nervous about being on the team at all. Cole didn’t play high school softball as a sophomore or freshman, only joining this season to play alongside a few friends — and even then, she did so with reticence.

Fifteen games into the 2024 season, Cole has become the team’s rallying point.

“It’s actually been fun,” Cole said with a smile. “It’s a little unexpected.”

Hearing the comment, junior Sierra Lipton gave Cole a hug and swayed her back and forth.

“She loves us,” Lipton said. Both girls laughed.  Laughter has been contagious in the Riverview dugout. It’s what happens when a team wins.

The Rams are 12-3 in 2024 following a 5-0 win over Lakewood Ranch High on April 2. Cole pitched a complete game, allowing two hits and four walks while striking out 15 Mustangs. The shutout brought her season ERA down to 1.19, accumulated over 822/3 innings. She holds a 10-1 record. In producing those numbers, Cole has won the total trust of her teammates, who feel less pressure at the plate knowing Cole will have their back in the next half inning.

“She gets me pumped,” junior Ella Trandem said. “Every time she strikes someone out, I’m screaming. It gives us a lot of confidence. Even if we get down, I know everything is going to be OK.”

That energy carries over to the plate. Riverview is not yet a consistently dominant offense, but four Rams — Cole, Lipton, Trandem and junior Isabelle Bain — are hitting above .300, and the team as a whole

What: Riverview High softball (12-3 as of April 2) vs. Manatee

High (8-4)

When: 6 p.m. April 9

Where: Suncoast Polytechnical

High

Why: The Rams are having a resurgent season led by junior pitcher Allison Cole (1.19 ERA). Riverview is attempting to extend its first-half good fortune into the second half of the season.

has shown a propensity for scoring timely runs, particularly in the second half of games. Against Lakewood Ranch (1-15), the Rams had just two runs through four innings before scoring three runs in the fifth to break the game open. Trandem led the way with a double and two RBIs.

Getting to this point has been an unexpected journey. Riverview went 4-18 in 2023, and Forkan took the head coaching position prior to this season after serving as an assistant. The addition of Cole catalyzed the turnaround, Forkan said, but he’s also proud of the way the rest of the team has responded. The work started over the summer, when several Rams joined Forkan’s Raiders club team to get in extra work, sometimes extending the club’s 90 minute practices by an additional 90 minutes, working on anything from hitting to picking the ball at first base. Asked how many balls he hits to the team’s defense each practice, assistant coach Neil Bainjoked it was a number high enough to require a dose of ibuprofen afterwards.

In reality, the coaches would not want it any other way.

“We have been blessed,” Bain said. “It makes it easy, as a coach. And they love each other. There’s no bickering. We don’t have to force team bonding here. It just happened.”

The Rams have eight games before the Florida High School Athletic Association playoffs begin April 29.

High junior Ella Trandem

two RBIs

Lakewood Ranch High on April 2.

They are ranked No. 15 in Class 7A by the FHSAA as of April 2. The program’s turnaround has been stark. Yet the Rams believe their best days could still be ahead if their lineup can avoid hitting slumps and they continue to play strong defense behind Cole. The offense catching fire in April could mean the team is peaking when the playoffs begin.  “We have set new goals,” Forkan said. “We want to win the second half of the season. After that, we’ll reset and try to do well in districts and not embarrass ourselves. Wher-

ever the season takes us, we’re going to go. They’re hungry. They have a heart for the game. It’s rare to get 11 girls like that.”

Whatever happens, the Rams will have a great time through it all. As Lipton said, the energy around the program is showing no signs of fading.

“The confidence boost we get from winning is crazy,” Lipton said. “We were happy before, but this (year) is nothing like we have ever had.”

Riverview

had

against

Photos by Ryan Kohn

Riverview High junior pitcher Allison Cole has a 1.19 ERA in 2024.

Coaching track can be a field day

Sarasota High Head Coach Rosita Reyes explains the intricacies of the sport.

Run, fast.

How much more complex could track and field, particularly the track part, get?

Quite a bit, it turns out. There’s a reason some programs churn out state qualifiers year after year while others flounder. Sarasota High track and field coach Rosita Reyes — known as Coach Ro to her athletes — has been part of many good ones over her seven years of coaching. She’s in her first season at Sarasota after coming from Riverview High. Reyes said natural speed is a plus, but the best track athletes learn how to maximize that speed instead of going off instinct.

It is especially important in sprint races, Reyes said, as a few milliseconds can separate winners and losers. If a sprinter never learns how to get a good start off the blocks, they won’t find the success they seek. But distance runners need coaching, too; not only in learning how to pace themselves during races, but how often to run at all, avoiding the toll that overdoing it can take on a body. Tight muscles are the enemy of performance.

advice pass through their ears with no change in behavior to show for it, she said, but the reward of seeing other athletes blossom via her advice makes up for it.

“I tell everyone to take at least one day off a week for their body’s sake,” Reyes said. “Do they listen all the time? No, they don’t, because they think they have to run every day. But it’s good to rest your body.”  Relay races are another beast. Not only do runners have to worry about passing the baton correctly, eliminating as much slow-down as possible, but mentally, they have to trust their relay partners to carry their legs of the race. A lack of trust in their teammates can cause runners to overdo their own leg,

causing more problems for others if it goes poorly. Luckily, Reyes said, the Sailors don’t seem to have that problem. Everyone on the team has a good rapport, even though distance runners, sprint runners and field event athletes tend to hang within their own groups. The team as a whole has a group chat where the groups can mingle and Reyes answers questions, Reyes said.  For some athletes, track and field is not a chance to better themselves, simply a way to stay in shape for other sports — or worse, an excuse to talk with their friends after school. After years in the game, Reyes can pick out these athletes right away, she said. It can be frustrating to have her tailored

field results in 2024. Here’s a few more athletes who have made the most of their coaches’ instructions to achieve top-end results.  „ Riverview High has a handful of strong field athletes this spring, starting with do-it-all girls senior Susan Lowther. On the days Lowther is not scoring a bushel of lacrosse goals, she competes in shot put. As of April 2, Lowther is No. 1 in Class 4A with a toss of 12.94 meters, set March 23 at the Guy Thomas Memorial Classic in Fort Myers. Other Rams who have impressed? Boys senior Luis Castaneda is second in the discus (50.54 meters); boys sophomore Alexander Bates is seventh in the pole vault (3.96 meters); and boys junior Adryan Schuetz is eighth in the high jump (1.94 meters).

„ Cardinal Mooney High girls senior Addison Dempsey is fourth in Class 1A in the 3,200-meter run (10:55.18); girls sophomore Grace Hronrich is eighth in the pole vault (2.90 meters); girls junior Riley Greene is 12th in the shot put (10.53 meters).

„ Booker High girls senior Terrietta Smith is sixth in Class 1A in the 100-meter dash (12.03 seconds); girls senior Jakai Peterson is fourth in the long jump (5.49 meters); girls junior Ibre Edwards is sixth in the 400-meter hurdles (1:06.71); the boys 100-meter relay team of sophomore Chauncey Kennon, sophomore Jacobey Mobley, senior Josiah Booker and senior Jayson Evans is ranked fifth (42.77 seconds). PROSE

The Sailors have several blossoming athletes on their 2024 roster. Sophomore Aubri Antczak is one. She’s a dual-sport athlete — currently out of the country on a soccer training trip, in fact — but she takes track as seriously as anything else. Antczak is No. 4 in Florida High School Athletic Association Class 4A in the 3,200-meter run (11:04.22, a school record) and No. 31 in the 1,600-meter run (5:23.95).

Reyes is also excited about freshman Jasmine France, who ranks in the top-100 in Class 4A in several

categories, including 69th in the 400-meter run (1:00.95) and 78th in the long jump (4.90 meters). On the boys’ side, sophomore Grayson Cicilioni is ranked 38th in the 3,200-meter run (9:51.59). Cicilioni echoed Reyes’ thoughts on the importance of rest to a runner, saying that listening to his body has helped him progress as a sustainable pace.

Though it is her first season with the Sailors, Reyes’ impact is already being felt.

“We have a smaller team, but it’s a good team,” Reyes said. “It has good kids and it is positive. I like it here.”

The Sailors are not the only area team with impressive track and

Ryan Kohn is the sports editor for the Sarasota/Siesta Key Observer. Contact him at RKohn@ YourObserver.com.

Courtesy image Rosita Reyes is in her first season as the Sarasota High track and field coach.

Grayson Cicilioni is a sophomore runner on the Sarasota High boys track and field team. As of April 2, Cicilioni is No. 38 in Florida High School Athletic Association Class 4A in the 3,200-meter run (9:51.59). He set the mark at the 2024 Riverview Ram Invitational on March 7, where he finished first. He also competes in the 1,600-meter run.

When did you start running?

Grayson Cicilioni ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

I have been in running clubs since I was in fourth grade at Pine View School. From fourth grade to sixth grade I would run a few laps every day. Then I started doing track in middle school. In eighth grade, I asked my brother (former Sarasota High runner Orlando Cicilioni) to make me a training plan so I could get faster. Now I’m in high school and I still love doing it.

What is the appeal to you?

That’s a good question. I think it is mainly knowing that I’m doing something productive. It is satisfying to know that I’ve done my running for the day. I’m taking care of my body and becoming more disciplined.

What is your favorite event?

Probably the 3,200-meter run. I’m not good at starting fast, pushing and shoving off the line. You have to do that in the 800 meters, even the mile (1,600 meters). But in the 3,200, there’s some coasting. I like coasting. Once other people have gone out too fast and they start getting tired, I start doing my work.

What is your favorite running memory?

Going to the pre-states meet in Tallahassee this past cross-country season was a lot of fun.

Hanging with the guys and getting to run a wellknown course (at Apalachee

If you would like to make a recommendation for the Sarasota Observer’s Athlete of the Week feature, send it to Ryan Kohn at RKohn@ YourObserver.com.

What

goals for this

son? I want to run a 9:30 in the 3,200 and maybe a 4:20 in the 1,600.

What is your favorite food? I have to go with chicken Alfredo.

What are your hobbies? I’ve played the violin for eight years. I won the (2023-2024) Sarasota Orchestra Young Artists competition for it. It’s just as big a part of my life as running is.

Which superpower would you pick? Flight. Birds have it nice. I like the idea of soaring around the clouds, the freedom of it.

Finish this sentence: “Grayson Cicilioni is …” Hard-working. I see what I want and I do whatever I have to do to get it.

No child turned away

A $500,000 gift match challenge helps accelerate progress on a new Safe Children Coalition shelter building.

Jacqueline House said that while it can be difficult for every nonprofit to get the word out about its services, for Safe Children Coalition, this is especially true.

“I think that unless you have occasion to use our services, it’s almost an invisible safety net in the community,” said House, who is vice president of communications and community engagement with the organization.

That is why she is grateful for the partnership behind the recently announced $500,000 Gift Match Challenge, which brings together philanthropists Bob and Joan Geyer and the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, in support of Safe Children Coalition’s capital campaign for its Youth Shelter. So far, the coalition has raised 70% of the funds needed for the shelter, although it declined to disclose its fundraising goal.

The facility is the only shelter for homeless teens in Sarasota and DeSoto counties and also serves Manatee County, with many of its residents experiencing a mental health crisis or having a parent who is unable to cope with their behavior.

House believes the match will accomplish more than just accelerating construction on the new facility, which will replace the current temporary one.

She thinks it will also bring about more awareness in the community at large, of the issues many teens face.

“I think we’re going to gain new foster parents, we’re going to gain people who want to volunteer to provide respite for foster parents who don’t get it all that often because they are caring for children,” she said.

PRESSING NEED

Currently there’s a need for a safe place for teenagers to be, House said.

She said the Safe Children Coalition has observed a holdover from the impacts of isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as issues caused by pressures from social media.

There has been an increase not only in the number of youth needing services, but an increase in the severity of behaviors being exhibited, she said.

Yet the need can’t be met without the involvement of the community.

“I think there’s a part to the funding that people think that the government just does this,” Joan Geyer said. “This is a community, and it’s incumbent upon us to make sure that we help our communities to be healthy as possible.”

Jennifer Johnston, director of community leadership from Gulf Coast Community Foundation, said the foundation was glad to partner

with the Geyers for the initiative.

The Youth Shelter has been first or second in utilization out of the 16 shelters in the Florida Network, in excess of contracted bed days, and it is hoped that the new gift will help alleviate its waitlist.

The amount raised is now nearing the 70% mark of the estimated costs of construction, House said.

The goal of the shelter is to serve as a preventative for foster care and to reunite kids with their families through individual and family counseling, with a typical stay being about 30 days.

In the case of substance abuse problems or severe mental health issues, SCC will look for other longterm residences for that child that will prevent them from entering the foster care system.

Most children who reside at the shelter have chosen to take up residence there. Children or parents can knock on the door, or children may be ordered there by the Department of Juvenile Justice.

BUILDING A HOME

The current temporary facility only serves 12 kids at a time.

The new facility will expand that number up to 20, which equals 200 a year and 3,000 bed nights. Beyond the capacity, however, creating a place where children have dignity has also been at the forefront of the planning.

“There is an effort to make it not be institutional, and the staff really takes pride in it feeling more like a home,” House said of the new facility plans. “This is not a place that feels like you’re confined or contained. It really feels comfortable.”

Geyer, who has been involved in child welfare and served as a guardian ad litem for seven years, said she likes that the building is designed for a specific purpose.

She said those who understand the needs of children, and who have experience in that area, have designed a facility that is in the interest of the best use, keeping kids safe and maintaining confidentiality.

As the organization is not permitted to house residents more than two years apart in the same room together, the new space will help significantly.

Their previous facility contained two large rooms with 10 beds on each side, while the new facility will contain eight double rooms and eight single rooms. New to this layout, all of the residential areas are located away from

WHO YOU WORK WITH MATTERS

the intake area, helping maintain privacy and confidentiality.

The common room will be expanded with more room for house meetings and group counseling, as well as additional kitchen space to offer residents a teaching kitchen.

Some features will be adapted from The Academy at Glengary in South Sarasota, where Joan Geyer is president of the board of directors.

“(Cooking) is something that you can do quickly, and feel good about, and then eat it,” Geyer said. “So, it has a therapeutic effect. I would think for the kids, it feels a little bit more homey.”

The outdoor area will also feature an outdoor recreation area and basketball court.

INCREDIBLE STAFF

House emphasized that the importance of the building comes from the dedicated staff, something to which the organization can turn its attention thanks to the funds for the building provided by the matching challenge.

The dedication of the staff is enormous, House said.

“This is a calling for them,” she said.

As the goal of the shelter is for kids to return home, one aspect of their lives must be kept constant: their schooling. Wherever a child goes to school, staff will drive them there each morning.

Staff also serve roles like keeping kids on a schedule, supervising and escorting them throughout the day and performing bed checks every 10 minutes at night.

Charles Harris, who has served

as director of residential programs with Safe Children Coalition for seven years, and with the shelter for 14 years, finds himself repeatedly drawn back to the role.

He said there are dramatic changes that will be observed in children’s behavior after time in the shelter.

One is that many kids find that they actually prefer the more structured environment.

“The kids get acclimated after a time of being here; they get used to waking up at 5:30 and making their beds, and it becomes second nature,” he said. “So when they go home, they just do it when they get home. That’s a lot of the feedback that we get.”

Staff also work to improve kids’ behavior, using a point system that allows them to earn but not lose points. The requirement that they turn in their cellphones also makes a difference, said Harris.

He said many kids have not learned coping skills outside of turning to a phone or tablet.

“What we try to do is replace that cellphone and give them real coping skills, internal coping skills that they can use,” he said. “You see them come out of their shell and they learn how to interact.”

“I think what’s really special about Safe Children Coalition is no child is turned away,” Johnston said. “In our community, there is no other shelter opportunity, so I think we’re really lucky to have the incredible staff, Charles and others in the youth shelter, who are able to build relationships and provide a continuum of services, both to the children and to their families.”

Photos by Ian Swaby Charles Harris has searved as director of residential programs with Safe Children Coalition for seven years.

A shelf in the temporary shelter features board games to facilitate interaction among kids.

Courtesy image

Joan Geyer and luncheon host Jamie Becker during the event in support of the Youth Shelter campaign

eagerly awaits the arrival of

helicopter.

Photos by Ian Swaby ChuckO meets Waylon Wilson, 4.

Lead the way past drugs

Six Sarasota County schools have implemented the L.E.A.D. (Law Enforcement Against Drugs & Violence) program.

Sergeant Jim Wozniak of the Sarasota County Schools Police Department said when he taught students in the classroom during his time at Laurel Nokomis School, the experience brought him back to memories of raising his three boys.  He hopes to see school resource officers and students forming such relationships with the L.E.A.D. (Law Enforcement Against Drugs & Violence) program now implemented at some Sarasota County schools.

As of the start of February, schools began the program at varying times, with six of 23 elementary schools, for a total of 690 students, now involved.

“It’s hard to find role models today,

and any way that we can put our foot in the door to do that, we’re going to do it,” Wozniak said.

Replacing D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), the scripted 10-week program, which uses the “Too Good for Drugs” curriculum, teaches about the consequences of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, and includes character-building lessons on topics like resisting peer pressure.

L.E.AD., a nonprofit, works in communities nationwide through “On the Street” and “In the Classroom” courses.

“The responses that we’ve gotten back from the kids is positive,” Wozniak said. “They’re very well engaged, speaking with the officers that are teaching the program, and they have a fun time with some of the games that are involved in the lesson plans.”

The relationships that are being built are important, Wozniak said, as it may not be only students suffering from drug addiction, but also their older siblings and parents, a situation of which the program can improve their understanding.

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Courtesy images

Members of the L.E.A.D. pilot program at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Collier County gather together, including Sergeant Karen Eggleston-Negron (left) and Corporal Brittany Driscoll (right).

SARASOTA COUNTY SCHOOLS

L.E.A.D. PROGRAM ENROLLMENT

■ Wilkinson Elementary School: 70 students

■ Glenallen Elementary School: 125 students

■ Cranberry Elementary School: 120 students

■ Lamarque Elementary School: 170 students

■ Alta Vista Elementary School: 95 students

■ Gocio Elementary School: 110 students

Visit LeadDrugs.org.

Wozniak also said that based on feedback from other states using the program, it offered a curriculum relevant to issues in today’s society.

“Understanding social behaviors and modern trends, and keeping up with the trends, is very important,” he said.

Nick DeMauro, the CEO of L.E.A.D., said the program helps address current issues, including increased access to cannabis as a result of deregulation.

Wozniak emphasized that some information the school resource officers can share will be especially important for today’s older students, as many drugs now have the added

danger of being laced with fentanyl.

However, DeMauro said the attention of the curriculum to characterbuilding was an important feature.

“We want the kids to understand how to solve the problem before they face it,” he said.

He also emphasized the program’s ability to change perceptions of law enforcement.

“They’re there to serve our needs, not just to arrest. They’re there for first aid, they’re there for education, they’re there for prevention; they’re there to serve, and I’m very proud of that direction law enforcement has evolved through the years,” he said.

According to Wozniak, the program also allows teachers to form a similar connection with law enforcement as well, as they are also present during the class sessions.

Currently, six School Resource Officers — Michael Chrone, Anthony Limite, Steven Roy, Marino Rotondo, Michael Clarkson and Steve Laymon — are trained by L.E.A.D. to teach the program.

Wozniak said one to two years in the future, the school district could choose to implement the program at all elementary schools.

“Educating them in this and the experiences that they’re going to go through over the next couple years moving up into high school, hopefully we will see a reset of the numbers of kids that are actually doing drugs, because the experiences and education that they have, on exactly how dangerous it is, will get across to them,” he said.

A L.E.A.D. session takes place at Cranberry Elementary School in North Port.

Every area has its own Easter traditions, and for some residents one has been the Easter Egg Hunt held by the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce at the Siesta Key Chapel. “This has become an annual tradition for our family,” said Melissa Morinello. “We look forward to it, and I think the Chamber of Commerce does an amazing job putting it on every year.”

The event featured games and activities, including Easter crafts, live animals and photo opportunities with the Easter Bunny.

Marisa Merlino, promotion and event manager for the chamber, said the event sees the community truly becoming involved each year, with organizations like Kiwanis and Girl Scouts participating. She also acknowledged the important role of Siesta Key Chapel in making the event possible.

“We work very closely with them, so we really appreciate them letting us have it here and being so supportive of this event two years in a row,” Merlino said. “It’s the perfect venue, especially for the kids with the shade, so we really couldn’t do it without them.” —

Amelia Sharps, 1, of Newport News, Virginia, participated in her first Easter Egg hunt while visiting her grandparents Kim and Vince Sharps.

Felix Johansson, 2, the Easter Bunny, Oliver Johannson, 5, Linnea Johansson, 6, Hilary Johansson and baby Elsa Johansson.

Photos by Ian Swaby Isabelle Urfer, 3, sorts through Easter eggs.

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Walking in faith

Bonnie Daiello wanted to take the time to “smell the roses,” after she was shaken by a recent cardiac arrest.

“It was very important for me to do it,” said Daiello, who was among the hundreds in attendance at the Stations of the Cross walk on the morning of Good Friday, March 29. “It meant a lot.”

A Good Friday tradition in countries around the world, the walk grew out of the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem and involves a journey between 14 stations along a path that represent different stages in the story of Jesus’ passion and death.

Established in Sarasota by the Men’s Breakfast Prayer Group at Church of the Redeemer in 1996, the event is held jointly by the church and the Sarasota Ministerial Association, while also involving clergy from different area congregations. Although it originally took place on the church grounds, the walk grew in attendance and came to encompass the current route from Regal Hollywood to Church of the Redeemer. — IAN SWABY

Joshua Santos, 14, and his father, Fernando Santos, came from Cathedral Church of St. Luke in Orlando to attend the walk.

Photos by Ian Swaby

The Rev. David M. Svihel leads the walk

Dave and Nancy Morgan

Acondominium in Ten35 tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. Cynthia Bontrager, trustee, of Bristol, Indiana, sold the Unit 501 condominium at 1035 Seaside Drive to Gary Beltrani and Lori Beltrani, trustees, of Sarasota, for $5.1 million. Built in 2023, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,631 square feet of living area. It sold for $3.95 million in 2023.

her Unit 402 condominium at 1338 Fourth St. to Thomas and Lisa Blasey, of Birmingham, Alabama, for $837,000. Built in 2021, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,117 square feet of living area. It sold for $718,900 in 2021.

BAYVIEW ACRES

BAYSO

Michael and Suzanne Allers, of Alameda, California, sold their Unit 504 condominium at 301 Quay Commons to Tag Investment Resources LLC for $1.36 million. Built in 2023, it has two bedrooms, three baths and 1,678 square feet of living area. It sold for $961,000 in 2023.

WORRINGTON STREET

Mark and Shannon Mathieson sold their home at 1712 Worrington St. to John Soucy, of Sarasota, for $1.2 million. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,566 square feet of living area. It sold for $675,000 in 2017.

ONE HUNDRED CENTRAL

Robert Laven, of Albany, New York, sold the Unit K917 condominium at 100 Central Ave. to Dennis Jarosh and Joseph Petri, of Sarasota, for $1,135,000. Built in 2005, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,707 square feet of living area. It sold for $745,000 in 2006.

ALINARI

Michael and Mary Jo Gaio sold their Unit 1415 condominium at 800 N. Tamiami Trail to John Beyer and Donna Jackson, of Cincinnati, for $1 million. Built in 2007, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,323 square feet of living area. It sold for $440,000 in 2014.

SARASOTA BAY CLUB

Sarasota Bay Club LLC sold the Unit 1003 condominium at 1301 Tamiami Trail to Leslie Kahn, of Sarasota, for $975,000. Built in 2000, it has one bedroom, one-and-a-half baths and 1,161 square feet of living area. It sold for $865,000 in 2023.

332 COCOANUT

Kaylan Montoya, of Sarasota, sold

Frank Dobbs, as Personal Representative, sold the home at 1849 Baywood Drive to David Payne, trustee, of Sarasota, for $800,000. Built in 1956, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,106 square feet of living area. It sold for $372,000 in 2000.

PHILLIPPI LANDINGS

Matthew and Rita Longo, of Sarasota, sold their Unit 702 condominium at 1921 Monte Carlo Drive to Robert Matheny, of Sarasota, for $750,000. Built in 2006, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,706 square feet of living area. It sold for $382,900 in 2014.

EAGLES POINT AT THE LANDINGS

Michael Lapidus sold the Unit 101 condominium at 5430 Eagles Point Circle to William and Lynne Dinner, of Sarasota, for $687,500. Built in 1995, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,936 square feet of living area. It sold for $400,000 in 2002.

BAY’S BLUFF

George Sahm and Jeanine Frumenti, of Sarasota, sold their Uni 103 condominium at 1100 Imperial Drive to Robert and Kimberly Mcaninch, of Sarasota, for $657,000. Built in 1971, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,160 square feet of living area. It sold for $629,000 in 2023.

PHILLIPPI GARDENS

Linda Long and Larry Long, of Sarasota, sold their home at 5556 America Drive to Lester Ahern, of Sarasota, for $600,000. Built in 1969, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,086 square feet of living area.

GOLDEN ACRES JMB Management Trust LLC sold the home at 3005 Yorktown St. to

Other top sales by area

SARASOTA: $3.85 MILLION

The Residences Howard and Eileen Curd, of Longboat Key, sold their Unit 1703 condominium at 1111 Ritz-Carlton Drive to Virginia Lee Fulton, trustee, of McLean Virginia, for $3.85 million. Built in 2001, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 4,276 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.4 million in 2001.

PALMER RANCH: $1,145,000

Turtle Rock Merle and Nancy Wolfe, trustees, sold the home at 8288 Deerbrook Circle to Mary Oppenhuizen, of Byron Center, Michigan, for $1,145,000. Built in 1998, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,853 square feet of living area. It sold for $598,000 in 2016.

OSPREY: $2,375,000

Oaks Martin and Martha Burtness sold their home at 442 Webbs Cove to Max Mickiewicz and Chelsea Sutherland, of Osprey, for $2,375,000. Built in 1983, it has three bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,768 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.05 million in 2021.

NOKOMIS: $685,000

Laurel Woodlands Andrzej and Dorota Trela, of North Port, sold their home at 1063 Eisenhower Drive to Malgorzata and Jerzy Zych and Kamila Zych, of Nokomis, for $685,000. Built in 1996, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,800 square feet of living area. It sold for $339,500 in 2019.

Tina Tran and Sam Trinh, of Lawrenceville, Gregoria, for $565,000. Built in 1995, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,775 square feet of living area. It sold for $432,000 in 2022.

YOUR CALENDAR

tion. Visit Mote.org. AMERICA 250! AND CENTENNIAL OPEN HOUSE EXTRAVAGANZA 1-3 p.m. at 1232 12th St. Free. The Sara De Soto chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution invites the public to its historic location beside Pioneer Park in a celebration heralding the approach of the United States Semiquincentennial anniversary in 2026. The event includes a silent auction, a tea table, a genealogy workshop, vendor sales, speakers and more. Tours of the Chapter House and Whitaker Cemetery will be offered. Visit FSSDAR.com.

SATURDAY, APRIL 6

TO SUNDAY, APRIL 7

SPIRIT FEST

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Robarts Arena, 3000 Ringling Blvd. $12 per day or $18 per weekend. Free for kids 12 and under. At this holistic, metaphysical and wellness expo, guests can find speakers, holistic health practitioners and more. Visit SpiritFestUSA.com.

SUNDAY, APRIL 7

TO SUNDAY, APRIL 14

ELIZABETH MOORE SARASOTA

OPEN

Various times at 2050 Adams Lane. Ticket prices start at $10 and vary by day and section. This annual tournament draws major tennis players from the U.S. and beyond, with this year’s roster including J.J. Wolf, Juan Pablo Varillas, Aleksandar Kovacevic and others. The event benefits at-risk youth by partnering with organizations that include local agencies. Visit SarasotaOpen.com.

MONDAY, APRIL 8

TRAVELOGUE: PATAGONIA AND THE IGUAZU FALLS

BEST BET

TUESDAY, APRIL 9

TO WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10

GIVING CHALLENGE AT THE BAY Noon Tuesday to noon Wednesday (Pop-Up Giving Station noon-2 p.m. and 6-7 p.m. Tuesday) at The Nest, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. Discover a range of events showcasing local organizations and the impact they make in the community, in this celebration presented by Community Foundation of Sarasota County. Participating organizations span recreation, the environment, arts, health and wellness and include Minorities in Shark Sciences, Operation Warrior Resolution, Suncoast Waterkeeper and others. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.

THURSDAY, APRIL 11

FREE NUTRITION AND COOKING

CLASS 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Library, 2801 Newtown Blvd. Free. Learn strategies for eating healthy and cooking tasty, healthy food. Participants can eat the food they cook and receive a bag of groceries to take home. Registration required. Visit SCGovLibrary. LibraryMarket.com.

CINEMA AT THE BAY: CADDYSHACK’

7-8:38 p.m. at The Oval, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. Get into the swing of things through a screening of “Caddyshack” (R) under the stars. Food and beverages will be available for purchase at The Nest Concession. Bring your own chairs and blankets. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.

2-3 p.m. at Fruitville Library, 100 Apex Road. Free. Jane Mahler describes her experiences in Patagonia, a vast wilderness spanning the southern end of South America and home to the Iguazu Falls, the largest waterfall system in the world. Registration required. Visit SCGovLibrary. LibraryMarket.com.

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