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FEBRUARY 2024 941.312.0665 | 27TH STATE MEDIA, LLC
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LRC EMPLOYEE PROFILE HANS BEHR
Dr. Tomasko to Speak on February 12th
Household Hazardous Waste HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION EVENT
Executive Director of Sarasota Bay Estuary Program
Sarasota County Hazardous Waste and The Landings are hosting a household hazardous waste collection event.
Interested i n lear n i ng about Sarasota Bay, our unique coastal lagoon and how climate change will affect us here at The Landings and what we can do about it? Mark your calendars for a talk on all these topics by Dr. Dave Tomasko, the Executive Director of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP). SBEP’s work since 1989 has been a game-changer for Sarasota Bay in improving water quality and restoring habitat, but there is still much to do. Dr. Tomasko will also offer his perspective on the controversial question “Should Midnight Pass between Siesta Key and Casey Key be reopened?” It’s a hot topic since this would impact the habitat in Little Sarasota Bay, just south of us here at The Landings.
So, mark your calendars for Monday February 12 th at 3:00 pm, Lakeside room at LRC. This is a joint event of the Free College and the LMA and all are welcome! There will a complimentary wine and cheese reception with Dr. Tomasko following the talk.
COLLECTION EVENT
Tuesday, 12MAR2024 8 a.m. - 10 a.m.
ITEMS NOT ACCEPTED ● Ammunition ● Empty containers (>5 gal) ● Fireworks ● Flares ● Medications ● Needles or syringes ● Radioactive materials ● Tires
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS ● Place materials in vehicle trunk. ● Remain in your vehicle. ● Staff will unload materials. ● No walk-ups accepted.
TYPES OF ITEMS ACCEPTED ● Adhesives and glues ● Aerosols ● Antifreeze ● Automotive products ● Cleaners ● Electronics ● Fertilizers ● Fluorescent lamps ● Gasoline ● Household fire extinguishers ● Mercury ● Motor oil ● Oil filters ● Paint ● Pesticides ● Pool chemicals
COLLECTION TO TAKE PLACE AT:
Inside the north gate at the intersection of Kestral Park Way N. and Pine Harrier Circle.
● Propane cylinders ● Rechargeable batteries ● Solvents and thinners ● Vehicle batteries
This event is only for residents in The Landings . Proof of residency may be requested before any waste is accepted. Sarasota County may limit the amount of waste collected. No commercial or other organizational waste will be accepted.
Think before you throw… … No matter where you go.
Volunteers Who Work for You
10 Neil Goldman
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LIVING WITH LICHENS
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DAY TRIPPING: WELLEN PARK & WARM MINERAL SPRINGS
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page KID’S CORNER: BRYAR FLOOD, 5
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This is the sixteenth in a series of articles highlighting the special volunteers who help to make The Landings such a special place to live. The Eagle interviewed Neil Goldman for this issue. Academic prodigy, family man, athlete, coach, lawyer, and Landings volunteer all describe Neil Goldman. Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Neil skipped second and ½ of sixth grade in the public schools. He was 12 when he started high school and he graduated and started college at 16. Despite his academic success, and ability to compete athletically with his older classmates, he felt “socially” behind among his classmates growing up. He remembers being with friends, going all over the Chicago on buses and trains. He was always out doing things with his friends. They often went to Wrigley Field to watch the games. He played Little League baseball and continued playing at higher levels as he got older. As one of the better athletes, he played both pitcher and shortstop. His father was a psychologist, and his stay-at-home mother took care of the four children (Neil the oldest, two sisters and a bother). When asked about his early years, he remembered the impact of civil rights, Martin Luther King and the 1968 Chicago riots. He and his father participated in public marches and activities in support of social justice. While in his senior year of high school in 1969, (a year all Cubs fans will remember) at age 16 he was able to get a job as a vendor at Wrigley Field, Comiskey Park, and Soldier Field selling soft drinks, snacks, ice cream and hot dogs. He continued working as a vendor during the summers, on weekends, and for night games while he was in college. By the time he was 21 he was able to sell beer. You must ask him to give you his sales pitch chant when he was a beer salesman in the parks. It is very impressive. His first two years while in college were at the University of Illinois in Chicago. He then transferred to the University of Illinois Urbana-
Champaign. It was in his senior year that he decided that he wanted to be a lawyer. Given a need to earn more money for law school, he took a year off from his academic studies upon graduation and worked at an electronics factory. He was challenged academically, for the first time, when he entered the University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign Law School. There was a lot of pressure in law school and the stress, plus lots of pizza, contributed to a significant weight gain. It’s hard to believe, seeing Neil now, that he weighed 211 pounds upon graduating law school. To his credit, he has since lost 45 pounds. Upon graduating law school, he sought out a position that could provide him the economic security he wanted and the experience he needed. He found a single practice attorney who hired him right out of school. He was with that firm his entire 35-year career. The firm became a significant one, specializing in personal injury. They expanded to two offices, 22 lawyers and 50 employees. In 1979, he met and married Sharon. Ask him or her to tell the story about how they met in a bar. They soon had two sons (Scott and Mark) and now have four grandchildren. Neil prides himself on being a family man. When his kids were young, he coached soccer, Little League, and hockey. Both of his boys were good athletes and were on very competitive travel teams. One of his grandchildren, who is 12 years old, is ranked number 17 nationally in tennis in his age group and travels all over the country to play in tournaments. Neil and Sharon had always wanted a winter and summer home near or on the water. In 1987, they purchased their summer home in New Buffalo, on Lake Michigan. After visiting friends in Sarasota, they decided to find a winter home and in 2004 purchased in The Landings. While still working, Neil and Sharon would travel back and forth during the winter from Chicago to Sarasota. In 2013, Neil retired, and they transitioned from
being “snowflakes” to “snowbirds”. Neil had not played much tennis prior to his retirement so he was attracted to The Landings as a tennis community where he could learn and improve his game. They love the location, the environment and that they have made so many friends with similar interests. They have taken advantage of the many social and tennis activities in the community. Soon after retirement, Neil got involved with the community, serving on the board and then President of Portside Village Landings South 2 Association. He has served on the LMA Board twice, and has been a long-term member of the security committee. He has served on the tennis committee and is an active player on two league teams. He is still captain of the men’s 60’s team. He finds time to play pickleball in The Landings, at public pickleball facilities in Sarasota, and in New Buffalo. He also takes advantage of the area’s cultural events. He enjoys bike riding, boating and kayaking. He was recently elected
to serve on the board of the Landings Racquet Club. When asked what he thought would be needed to make The Landings a better place in the future he said, “I’m concerned about the aging infrastructure. The LRC has old buildings with limited areas for growth. It’s going to take a lot of money to maintain our facilities so that we can be more competitive with the newer communities. Erosion of our lakes and the extreme effects of global warming are issues we need to address. Within 3050 years, it is projected that higher water will cover a large part of The Landings, especially Eagle Point Circle, Heron Way and all of the tennis courts. The nature trail already is frequently covered with water. Flooding is going to be a serious problem and can’t be ignored.” Despite his concerns, Neil loves The Landings and has been a fantastic leader on the boards and associations he serves. We thank Neil for his volunteer service and look forward to his involvement for many years to come.
Created by Sarasota County Communications 12.8.21
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