Looking to find your Zen? It’s right here

On a sunny morning, Turtle Beach is a place of tranquility. At 8:30 a.m., an hour or so after sunrise, the waves lap up on the shore and a soft breeze fills the air. Small birds dash about on the sand before taking flight. The natural day begins.

Could there be a better place to enjoy an hour-long morning yoga class? Namaste.

For yoga instructor Julie Turner, Turtle Beach is her winter “classroom.” From January through April, on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., Turner can be found leading a group through a series of gentle yoga moves. Calling her class “yoga for all,” she welcomes beginners, intermediate and seasoned yoga students. She encourages everyone to simply move and advance at their own pace.

On a recent Thursday morning, 30 men and women appeared for class on the beach. They placed their yoga mats and towels on the sand and stood barefoot ready to begin. Turner took her place in the front of the class and welcomed her students.

The beach remained quiet with only a few morning walkers strolling along the shoreline. Wearing a microphone,

Turner’s voice was soothing and encouraging as she spoke to her students while performing each move with them. “Inhale and stretch,” she said as the class followed her lead. “Reach to the sky.”

As the hour progressed, Turner advanced to more difficult poses. “Find your ease, find your steadiness. Always listen to your body. Take a moment to feel your breath,” she told the group. Turner then explained and demonstrated three options with increasing

By Jane Bartnett

degrees of difficulty, allowing her more experienced students as well as beginners and intermediates to find their comfort level.

During the latter part of the class, Turner began a series of gentle balance exercises. “The slower you go, the more steadiness you’ll find,” she advised. “Let your body tell you what it wants for ease and steadiness.”

The sound of the waves breaking on the beach provided a natural and peaceful soundtrack for the class. Only Turner’s voice could be heard as her students focused on their tasks at hand.

When Turner began the cool down, she instructed the group to “Hear the water and feel the air.” She continued, “Feel the earth supporting the whole of your body. Feel the air on your skin, feel the warmth of the sun on your skin, feel the space your body is occupying.”

As she sat cross-legged on her mat, Turner quietly removed a set of yoga chimes from her bag and softly clicked them together several times. A stillness occupied the space. Only the sounds of the waves and the ring of the chimes could be heard. “Take a moment to pause and be at one with your mind and body,” said the yogi. “Reach up to the sky, let your arms float down. Thank you, Neptune.” Turner rose from her mat and the students followed her lead. Several came to thank her and to place their donation in her glass class donation jar.

In keeping with our Morton’s tradition, we also carry a delicious array of prepared foods, perfect for take-out, picnics, parties and more.

The popular Tuesday and

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Big G’s Oyster Happy Hour from 3-6 Every day 1/2 Priced House Oysters

Shootings near north bridge send two to local hospital

The Sarasota Police Department reports that two 21-year-old males suffered non-life-threatening injuries as the result of gunfire outside a party on March 15. The incident occurred at about 11:30 p.m. in the 1300 block of Siesta Drive, in park area on the east side of the north bridge that leads to Siesta Key. Witnesses say the two men, who were transported to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, had been attending a large party in the vicinity. Police re-routed traffic after the incident for a short period of time, instructing motorists to use the south bridge in order to get to and from the Key.

Officers determined the incident was isolated and the public is in no danger. The case remains active as the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to call the Sarasota Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at (941) 263-6070 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers by calling (941) 366-TIPS or going online at SarasotaCrimeStoppers.com.

Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce hires new staffer

The Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce has hired Marisa Merlino as its new promotion and event manager.

She replaces Mandi Green. Originally from New Jersey, Merlino relocated to Sarasota with her mother in 1998. She graduated from Sarasota High School where she served as the captain of the soccer team. She was awarded a full athletic scholarship to Polk State College in Lakeland. Merlino has worked in hospitality since she was 13 years old, beginning as a busser and working her way up to events and catering director positions at two private country clubs. She has volunteered with a program supporting mothers and infants; and has also served as the event chair for the Caring Hearts luncheon.

Merlino also has professional experience as an advertising coordinator specializing in online and social media marketing.

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Sunrise service is 6:30 a.m. Easter morning

The annual Community Easter Sunrise Service, conducted by Pine Shores Presbyterian Church, will be held at 6:30 a.m. Easter morning (April 9) near the pavilion on Siesta Beach, 948 Beach Rd.

It is recommended that attendees bring a beach chair or blanket.

Easter egg hunt will be at Siesta Key Chapel

The Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce’s annual Easter egg hunt has a new home: Siesta Key Chapel, 4615 Gleason Ave.

Mote Marine’s Run for the Turtles event set for April 1 on Siesta Key’s public beach

The annual Run for the Turtles event, organized by Mote Marine, is set for 7 a.m. April 1 on Siesta Beach.

The 5K or 1-mile races support the area’s sea turtles. If you can’t join the races in person, you can participate virtually. To register, visit Mote.org/run.

It will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 8. Pre-registration is required and limited to 200 children (ages 1-6). There is a $12 fee per child. To register, visit siestakeychamber.com and click on the event calendar tab at the upper right of the homepage.

No April meeting for Siesta Key Association

The Siesta Key Association civic group will not be holding a monthly meeting in April. Its next meeting is Thursday, May 4, at 4:30 p.m. in the community room of St. Boniface Church, 5615 Midnight Pass Rd.

Siesta Key Oyster Bar, or “SKOB” as the locals call it, is the hangout with the laid-back, beachy atmosphere that will get you right into the Island Spirit. One of the things that set SKOB apart from the other restaurants in Siesta Key Village is that we have some of the best food on the Key.

Live Music

Every Day and Night

Prop Map-D #10 The Ringling Beach House Rentals Map-D #9 Tropical Sands Accommodations Map-D #67

RESTAURANTS / CAFÉS

Another Broken Egg Map-C #54 & 55

Blase Café Map-A #38

Bonjour French Cafe Map-C #47 Café Gabbiano Map-D #71

Daiquiri Deck Raw Bar Map-B #42-43

Flavio’s Brick Oven & Bar Map-B #29

Flavio’s Italiano Ristorante Map-B #30

Gilligan’s Island Bar &

Daily Drink Specials

Sarasota’s only old-fashioned Meat Market, Deli and Restaurant under one roof

Voted Sarasota’s best non-chain Steakhouse 4 years in a row!

Home of the Sarasota TurDucKen, as seen on The Food Network with Guy Fieri, host of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives

Time to order:

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• TurDucKen

• Crown Roast (Pork or Lamb)

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• Stone Crab Claws

Prime Aged Steaks, Chops, Seafood, NY Deli Meats, Sausage and Salads

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We offer takeout and complete catering services.

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Best Happy Hour In Town

Daily 4pm - 6:30pm

Marbled godwit (Limosa fedoa)

The long, pink and black bill of this shore bird arrives at any destination almost 5 inches before of the rest of its body!

Jokes aside, the godwit’s slightlyupturned saber-like bill is the key to its survival in two very different environments. Floridians know the godwit as a proverbial snow bird, wintering on our favorite suncoast beaches. But this large cinnamoncolored sandpiper leads a double life! The godwit follows an innate GPS map from the Gulf to summer breeding grounds in Montana, the Dakotas, and the Canadian prairies. This opportunistic feeder uses the full length of its bill to probe both surf and turf. On the beach, it munches on hidden marine worms, mollusks, and crustaceans. On the prairie, it binges on burrowing insects and plant tubers. The godwit’s summer home appears to be inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture as it blends seamlessly into its surroundings with form following function, an open floor plan, and lots of natural light. With his feet, the male scrapes a shallow depression in the dirt just deep enough to keep the eggs from rolling away.

Situated in short grass and without overhead cover, this unpretentious nest typifies Wright’s Prairie Style architecture!

Jan Baumgartner’s handmade notecards are available at Sunshine & Sand Hidden Treasures, 6635 Midnight Pass Rd., in Crescent Plaza.

Open for dinner from 4pm - 9pm 3900 Clark Rd, Sarasota, FL 34233 (941) 952-3186 www.chiantisarasota.com

Blooming NOW OPEN! Waitlist Option Available Online

Orchids are the most intriguing flowering plants. And they are very easy to grow.

I am going to tell you about Phalaenopsis, the moth orchid. It is one of the most common and the easiest to grow in Florida. It is an especially good choice for a beginner. They are large and come in a wide variety of colors. Most have several flowers per stem, but some have more, and others have as few as one.

There are several hybrid varieties that one can purchase. Low lighting is preferred by Phalaenopsis. They prefer shaded windows, or east-facing windows. Leaves will tend to become greener when lighting is low, and yellower with red spotting when there is a lot of light. If in too much sun, black or brown patches appear on the leaves, so reduce the lighting.

It is important to re-pot orchids every couple of years. If the potting mix has started to decompose, it will retain too much moisture and prevent air getting to the roots, causing root rot. The plant may also have outgrown its pot. Do not re-pot orchids while still in bloom.

The Sarasota Garden Club is located at 1131 Boulevard of the Arts in downtown Sarasota. Visit sarasotagardenclub.org for more information.

The Lubben Brothers are back with Key Chorale for American Roots: Crosby Still, & Nash

On April 22nd and 23rd Key Chorale welcomes back e Lubben Brothers, an acoustic folk group made up of triplet brothers Michael, Tom, and Joshua, to re-create and re-imagine the music of the folk-rock genre. Key Chorale Chamber Singers explore the 30-year discography of the folk-rock group Crosby Stills & Nash, and other artists known for their intricate vocal harmonies and timeless melodies. CSN meets choral music!

“Harmony is such a big part of what gives Crosby Stills & Nash its unique sound,” said Maestro Joseph Caulkins. “And harmony is what makes a choir so special, so, adding a full choir to their music really made sense. This show will have a sort of MTV Unplugged feel. When you hear these new customized charts, created especially for these concerts, you’ll hear a combination of finding a fresh take while staying true to the roots of their music.” e groups will combine on several of their classics including “Judy Blue Eyes,” “Marrakesh Express,” “Teach Your Children” and “Our House.” ey will also perform “Seven Bridges Road” by the Eagles and a folk-inspired arrangement of Neil Young’s “Old Man” by the Wailin’ Jennys. e performances:

Triplets and high-energy acoustic musicians, e Lubben Brothers specialize in tight vocal harmonies and an eclectic blend of folk instruments involving banjo, mandolin, tin whistle, accordion, hammered dulcimer, and ddle. Diving into classical music at a young age, their modern songwriting style merges folk roots with complex pop ideas. ey will be joined by electric bass, electric guitar and drums.

Saturday, April 22, 4 PM

Church of the Palms

Sunday, April 23, 5 PM

St. Boniface Episcopal Church

Tickets are $35-$45. For tickets, go to keychorale.org or call the box o ce at 941-552-8768.