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CONTENTS features

46

42 CONCIERGE CARING Plymouth Harbor Adds Another Level of Peace of Mind

By Carol Brzozowski

58

46 MAKING A SPLASH U.S. Masters Swimming Thrives in Sarasota

By Carol Brzozowski 50 PICKLEBALL, ANYONE? A Beginner’s Adventures in the “Exploding Sport”

By Sylvia Whitman

36

58 YOGA PIVOT What Local Studios Learned During The Pandemic

By Laura Shoemaker 64 SUPER FOOD FOR A SUPER YOU Eat Your Way To Radiant Health

By Betsy Friauf

ON THE COVER Local yogis pose at Selby Botanical Gardens. Photo by Nancy Guth.

6

SARASOTA SCENE | JULY/AUGUST 2021

Ready to reconnect with the things you love? Start here.

Sarasota Bay Club Luxury Retirement Living On Sarasota Bay Renew Your Inspiration on a Personal Bay Club Tour – Call Linda Ware or Dana Moe (941) 552-3284 1301 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, Florida • Visit Us Online At SarasotaBayClub.com

“ Residents can enjoy all the high-end amenities of luxury retirement at the Sarasota Bay Club. ” The 21 most luxurious retirement communities in America. – Fred Topel, MSN News

CONTENTS departments Art Review Srq — Jose Royo

SOCIAL SCENE

16 THE LIST July/August Events Calendar PARTY PICS 25 Asolo Rep Starry Night 26 Selby Gardens Groundbreaking 27 Skyway 20/21 at the Ringling 29 Embracing Our Differences 30 SCENE SNAPS Boomer Nostalgia SCENE TOGETHER 66 Katherine Lange & Levi Lamb 70 Caila Quinn & Nicholas Burrello

INSIDER 36 THE FIND Summer Beauty 73 SPOTLIGHT The Sarasota Film Festival Wrap-Up

By Gus Mollasis 78 EDUCATION MATTERS Serving the Community: Women’s Resource Center

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

PHILANTHROPY

8

70

SARASOTA SCENE | JULY/AUGUST 2021

38 CONSERVATION CHAMPTION Pauline Wamsler & Gulf Coast Community Foundation

By Barbara Mackay

BEACH READS

84

88 THE BAND PLAYED ON

By Grier Ferguson 90 THE CUSTARD WAR Excerpt by Stacy DeKeyser

ARTS & CULTURE 82 BEST SEATS Performing Arts Calendar 84 ART SCENE Gallery Exhibits & Events 86 MEET THE ARTIST Ellen Kantro 95 LITERARY SCENE Three new talked-about young adult novels

By Ryan G. Van Cleave 97 LAUGHING MATTERS Turning 50

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

Be Informed Be Entertained Be SCENE scenesarasota.com

READERS’ CHOICE FIRST PLACE

2021 BEST BUILDER

29 CONSECUTIVE YEARS

SARASOTA MANATEE VENICE

from the publisher

When you live in paradise, is vacation redundant?

W

WELCOME TO THE GLORIOUSLY HUMID, SUBTROPICAL SUMMER. These weeks, bookended between July 4 weekend and Labor Day, offer much to help us feel optimistic as we approach high season. Whether your summer involves a travel getaway or vacation with friends and family, this issue of Sarasota Scene has something for you.

Turn the pages to discover what our writers learned about the sport of pickleball, local yoga studios, top-notch swim facilities, and healthy eating. Marvel at picture-perfect weddings and discover one of our local philanthropists, a conservation champion. Then relax and kick back with your favorite cool beverage while you enjoy readers’ nostalgia photos or short fiction beach reads.

This spring I got a glimpse of what promises to be an amazing 2021/2022 event season. It felt great to attend the first Starry Night Event for the Asolo Rep in 18 months, see all those supporters, and feel the excitement. The evening was filled with examples of perseverance and tenacity, and we applauded how the Asolo kept their team and audience engaged over the past year.

The opening of the Skyway, A Contemporary Collaboration 20/21 exhibit at the John and Mable Ringling Museum was amazing. Wonderful artists showed their work and were on hand to discuss their pieces and projects. This is a fabulous collaboration of Tampa Bay institutions. The reception celebrated not only the art on show but the welcoming of guests, members, and the community back to the museum.

So many of the other great organizations have announced their opening performances for the upcoming season starting as early as October 2021. Sarasota Ballet opens with New World: Appalachian Spring Choreography by Martha Graham, Word Premier Choreography by Ricardo

10

SARASOTA SCENE | JULY/AUGUST 2021

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from the publisher

Graziano. Sarasota Opera will preform Gioachino Rossini The Silken Ladder and the Van Wezel presenting Escape to Margaritaville.

free range

handmade

For all of you fellow cyclists: the eagerly-awaited work on the Legacy Trail continues. I am very much looking forward to its completion. The trail will be steps away from my office off John Ringling Boulevard, and I will be sorely tempted to cut out a little early in the afternoons and give it a ride. Friends of the Legacy Trail have invested so much effort and time to ensure the trail does indeed become a legacy for the community when complete. By the time you read this, the ribbon cutting and opening of Segment 1 will have been on July 6. I hope many of you joined me for the celebration of this first milestone of the trail.

I’m beginning to get the knack for paddleboarding, and Turtle Beach continues to be my favorite launching spot.

Although, sometimes for a quick work out, I still launch at the spot before the Siesta Key North Bridge to soak up the sunshine. The wildlife at both locations is amazing. At the mangroves adjacent to Turtle Beach, I have enjoyed seeing dolphins play and manatees swim right under the board. As previously mentioned, I recently joined a boat club and have been out in our marvelous bay. On my birthday we toured south, enjoyed the water, and made a stop at Spanish Point. Friends have also suggested I bring my paddleboard out on the boat and look for hidden alcoves to explore in the future.

Season is coming back in earnest. Not only do we get to enjoy such wonderful physical and recreational amenities but our cultural soul will be satisfied once again.

local 5104 Ocean Blvd | Siesta Key 941.349.1423 | cafegabbiano.com OPEN DAILY 5PM-10PM

12

SARASOTA SCENE | JULY/AUGUST 2021

Stay hydrated while you make the summer scene!

Sincerely, John

Locally Owned and Operated Since 1957 Vol. 64 No. 7

Publisher H John Knowles Editor-in-Chief Wendy Lyons Sunshine Strategic Partnerships Julie A. Milton Art Director Darcy Kelly-Laviolette Social Media & Digital Content Gina Liga Distribution Mike Straffin Accounting Sally A. Bailey

Our prime meats and fresh seafood are perfect for your backyard barbecue. Ask about our custom cuts and pre-marinated ready-tocook items. From ribeye steaks and gourmet burgers to wild salmon and whole chickens, trust Morton’s for your summertime cookouts!

Advertising Inquiries Paul McNamara Contributing Writers Sylvia Whitman Laura Shoemaker Betsy Friauf Carol Brzozowski Gus Mollasis Barbara Mackay Grier Ferguson Stacy DeKeyser Contributing & Social Photographer Nancy Guth 1834 Main Street, Sarasota, FL 34236 941.365.1119 | Fax: 941.954.5067 | scenesarasota.com

Subscribe at scenesarasota.com/magazine/shop Historic Southside Village 1924 South Osprey Avenue Sarasota ∙ (941) 955-9856 MortonsMarket.com 14

SARASOTA SCENE | JULY/AUGUST 2021

H John Knowles LLC, dba SCENE Magazine publishes 12 issues a year. Address editorial, advertising and circulation correspondence to the above address.

Sufficient return postage and self-addressed, stamped envelope must accompany all manuscripts, artwork and photographs submitted if they are to be returned or acknowledged. Publisher assumes no responsibility for care of return of unsolicited materials. Subscription price: $12.95 per year, $19.95 for two years. All contents copyrighted. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.

DESIGN, BUILD, & REMODEL with a COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE SARASOTA – MANATEE – LAKEwOOD RANCH – VENICE KITCHENS – OUTDOOR KITCHENS – BATHROOMS – OUTDOOR LIVINg

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social SCENE

The LIST JULY/AUGUST 2021

Head out for summer fun with dance sports, fishing tournaments, a wedding expo, classic cars, and more!

16

SARASOTA SCENE | JULY/AUGUST 2021

July 15 » Texas Holdem for a Cause A $50 buy-in gets you playing chips, light bites, raffle tickets and more.

Proceeds benefit Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation and Satchel’s Last Resort.

The Meadows Country Club | meadowscc.org 16 » Poolside Yoga at Sarasota Modern Join the yogis from Pineapple Yoga + Cycling Studio for this all-levels yoga practice. The focus is on stretching and relaxation. $25 includes a day pass to enjoy the amenities of the hotel.

Sarasota Modern Hotel | thesarasotamodern.com

Experience elegant dining inside or alfresco...

From its inviting old world charm and sophistication to its timeless, artistic cuisine, let the legendary Cafe L’Europe take you on an unforgettable culinary adventure.

Carry Out Available!

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SHAKE UP YOUR WEEK with Deconstructed Drinks Located in Hotel Indigo Sarasota 1223 Boulevard of the Arts Call 941.487.3800 or visit ihg.com/hotelindigo/sarasota to learn more and view menus.

18

SARASOTA SCENE | JULY/AUGUST 2021

17 » Cornhole and Cocktails A fun indoor cornhole tournament, live music, food, drinks and raffles.

Local restaurants, wineries and distilleries will be there with samples of food and drinks. Manatee County Fairgrounds | 941area.com 17 » The Iola Collective - A Backyard Bazaar An open-air, backyard market designed to bring you curated thrifted decor, apparel, florals and handmade art made by local artists in a garden setting. Coffee and light snacks are provided.

3944 Iola Drive, Sarasota | eventbrite.com 24 – 25 » 10th Annual Mystic Faire Featuring everything metaphysical!

The largest psychic fair in Southwest Florida with over 75 exhibitors and more than 25 psychics. Hear free lectures and see psychics, healers, and vendors of crystals, apparel, jewelry and more.

Sarasota Municipal Auditorium | mysticfaires.com

discover the possibilities LD

LD

SO

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3840 POMEGRANITE PL • Sarasota 4B/3.5B • West Of Trail Sold For $1,176,571

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25 » St. Armands Family Day Family-friendly activities and entertainment with unique twists and themes all summer long. The series will create kid-focused educational activities hosted at the Circle’s iconic outdoor spaces for the whole family to come together.

St. Armands Circle | starmandscircleassoc.com 28 » Summer Movie Nights at CoolToday Park Watch a movie on the giant 80 x 40 screen at the ballpark on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays in July and August.

Experience the fun and nostalgia of a drive-in movie theater featuring comfortable seating, a variety of concessions and state-of-the-art sound system.

CoolToday Park, Venice | Facebook.com/cooltodaypark

1730 FORTUNA ST • Sarasota 4B/4B • West Of Trail • Fireplace Sold For $975,000

SO

5108 CANTABRIA CREST • Sarasota 4445 N CRANBERRY BLVD • North Port 3B/2B • Fireplace • Screened Lanai 3B/2B • The Vineyards At Silver Oak Sold For $300,000 Sold For $515,000

LD

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3988 WILSHIRE CIR E #159 • Sarasota 5271 MAHOGANY RUN AVE #722 3B/2B • 2 Guest Suites • 2-Car Garage Sarasota • 2B/2B • Golf & Lake View Sold For $285,000 Sold For $180,000

STEPHANIE CHURCH • 941.724.5448

COURTNEY CHURCH • 941-323-0028

Stephanie@StephanieChurch.com StephanieChurch.com

Courtney@CourtneyChurch.com CourtneyChurch.com

BROKER ASSOCIATE

REALTOR®

443 John Ringling Blvd. Ste. F • Sarasota, FL 34236 JULY/AUGUST 2021 | SARASOTA SCENE

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31 » NBP Rec Days!

A great way to get on the water, family style!

Try your hand at SUP, kayaking, canoes, fishing and more.

Nathan Benderson Park | nathanbendersonpark.org August 1 –14 » Summer Circus Spectacular The Circus Arts Conservatory and The Ringling are happy to partner once again to present the Summer Circus Spectacular. This family-friendly show showcases some of the finest circus artists from around the world, performing acts to thrill audiences of all ages.

Historic Asolo Theater | circusarts.org 3 – 7 » 2021 Sarasota Slam Billfish, offshore, inshore and junior angler divisions.

Includes a weigh-in and silent auction benefiting the Sarasota Sportsmans Association.

Marina Jack | sarasotaslam.com 4 – 7 » Florida State DanceSport Championships This year they are celebrating their 49th anniversary of the triple crown dance sport event, the first and longestrunning dance sport series in the world. Features country and western, two-step, cha-cha, waltz, east coast swing and so much more in two age categories and all levels.

The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota | flstatedance.com 20

SARASOTA SCENE | JULY/AUGUST 2021

the perfect bag the perfect

the perfect 7 » Sarasota Back to School Bash Prepare for the new school year in style! Featuring 40-50 local businesses offering services that cater to students and families throughout the school year, including after-school programs, healthcare information, tutoring, government resources and much more. Local sports mascots from the Rays and Lightening will be there, along with circus entertainers and face painters. There is even a school supply scavenger hunt!

UTC Mall | patch.com 9 –13 » Virtual Players New Play Festival Witness the birth of a brand new play as regional playwrights compete to have their play produced at The Players the following season.

The Players Centre for Performing Arts | theplayers.org

bag

bag

4420 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota 941.260.8905 www.shellysgiftandchristmasboutique.com Tuesday - Saturday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

THANKS TO YOU...

The Exchange has been a proud supporter of the arts of our community since 1962.

Find your joy Sarasota’s #1 consignment shop  The joy of shopping  The joy of giving  The joy of recycling  The joy of supporting students and the arts in our community

NO WS O SAR NLI HO P N AS Pic OTA E AT k-u WE p X in S

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This purchase helped support 23 Art Organizations & 22 Students during fiscal year 2019-2020 539 S. ORANGE | 941-955-7859 | OPEN MON-FRI 9-4 & SAT 10-4 | www.sarasotawex.com JULY/AUGUST 2021 | SARASOTA SCENE

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10 » Kinship Care and Support Group Event For grandparents raising grandchildren and other relative caregivers. Meet people going through the same things, find out how others cope with their responsibilities and get practical information that can help you and your grandchildren.

Children First | childrenfirst.net 12 » Thrifty Thursday at The Children’s Garden Get your nature on at The Children’s Garden. Featuring summer gardening, nature and art programs for all ages.

Wander around the garden exploring, play dress-up in the studio, enjoy tea and light bites in the cottage, or pick up something unique in the gift shop.

The Children’s Garden | sarasotachildrensgarden.com

Looking for local business partners.

Call me for information.

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Complimentary Anti-Aging System Sample 22

SARASOTA SCENE | JULY/AUGUST 2021

18 » Ladies Day on the Key Grab your girls and enjoy a fun day in Siesta Key Village! Shop til you drop with 15% off and raffle prizes at participating boutiques. Look for the star balloon!

Siesta Key Village | manateechamber.com

For those ready for what’s next

2020 top individual agent for the Lakewood Ranch office • Five Star Professional - 13th year and the Florida REALTORS® Honor Society - 13th year • Her designations of importance are: Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLHMS), Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) and Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) • She also earned the Commitment to Excellence (C2EX) endorsement from the National Association of REALTORS® for agents who are committed to practicing business at the highest standards

19 » Docent Tours at Art Center Sarasota Get a complimentary docent tour of Art Center Sarasota’s four galleries.

Art Center Sarasota | artsarasota.org

MICHELLE CRABTREE 941.724.4663 Michelle.Crabtree@PremierSIR.com MichelleCrabtree.PremierSothebysRealty.com

Third-generation local and broker associate since 1982

21 » Sarasota Classic Car Show Trophies, music, food, door prizes and of course classic cars!

Sarasota Classic Car Museum | carcruisefinder.com 22 » Bradenton Blues Brunch Enjoy the view on the beautiful Bradenton Riverwalk while you brunch! Live music, great food and fun.

Mattison’s Riverwalk Grille | mattisons.com

Sotheby’s International Realty® and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity. Property information herein is derived from various sources including, but not limited to, county records and multiple listing services, and may include approximations. All information is deemed accurate.

WHERE BEAUTIFUL DESIGN

Becomes Reality

26-29 » Sarasota Salsa and Bachata Festival Enjoy dance workshops from top-of-the-line instructors, nightly showcases, DJs and all the latin dancing your body can handle.

Hyatt Regency Sarasota | tickettailor. com 29 » Everything Wedding Expo SRQ This show features everything you need to plan your wedding.

Meet with vendors, get inspiration, plan activities and more. Prizes, challenges and swag bags.

UTC Mall | eventbrite.com

AURORA GOLD AWARD WINNER 2019

Design Group

Call 941.705.4655 or 352.514.3600 to schedule an appointment today!

www.interior-motives.info JULY/AUGUST 2021 | SARASOTA SCENE

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UPCOMING events

5775 McIntosh Road, Sarasota, FL 34233

Royal Poinciana by Mary Ann Carroll, Courtesy of The Asselstine Collection

SEPT 2 | A Taste of Venice 15+ local restaurants serving up all the tastes you can eat.

Hotel Venezia | atasteofvenicefl.com

AFRICAN AMERICAN LANDSCAPE PAINTERS OF MID-CENTURY FLORIDA, THE HIGHWAYMEN

SARASOTA AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL COALITION

SELBY.ORG 24

SARASOTA SCENE | JULY/AUGUST 2021

SEPT 10 | Sarasota/Bradenton Fall Home Show Featuring a wide selection of home improvement professionals in a fun, interactive environment. Meet with exhibitors, get inspired and more.

Sarasota Fairgrounds | eventbrite.com SEPT 11 | September 11 Memorial Event Fellow veterans and patriots are invited to this special event and ceremony.

Featuring guest speakers.

Patriots Park, Venice | eventbrite.com

V IS IT S C EN ES A R A S O TA . C O M To submit your event for consideration, please send information to scenemagazine@scenesarasota.com

Orlando Sánchez & Michael Donald Edwards

Gary Sweetman & Linda DiGabriele

Angela Massaro-Fain with Ray & Deborah Breslof

PARTY pics ASOLO STARRY NIGHT DINNER Asolo Repertory Theatre celebrated a completed season on May 24 with a Starry Night dinner at Michael’s On East.

Guests arrived and mingled for dinner in the courtyard.

Patricia Anderson, Debbie Mason, Randell Johnson & Bobby Jensen

JoAnn & Don Burhart with Peggy Allen

over drinks before sitting down

Amy & Jay Young with Cassandra Holmes

Eva Slane & Beverly Bartner

JULY/AUGUST 2021 | SARASOTA SCENE

25

social SCENE Kirsten Russell & Roxie Jerde

Jennifer Rominiecki & Ariane Dart

Jennifer Rominiecki, Joe Gruters & Pauline Wamsler SELBY GARDENS GROUNDBREAKING

The first phase of the master plan includes a 450 car parking garage topped with a 50,000 sq ft solar panel array. An estimated 200 guests gathered on Thursday, June 3 for a ceremonial turning of the dirt and to recognize the progress made since plans were first publicly unveiled back in October, 2017. Amongst the guests were major donors, project managers, representatives from the city, and state and federal elected officials.

Dan Bailey, Jon Thaxton & Mark Pritchett

“Alexa, open my shades”

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Visit Our Showroom at: 4201 N. Washington Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34234 or Learn More at: www.blindsanddesignsofflorida.com 26

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JANET MISHNER

3OK! Transmit, Artists

Ola Wlusek

YaLevy La’ford, Artist

Moonlight Sonata Mixed Media, Framed. 34 x 25

Abstract Paintings

SKYWAY 20/21 AT THE RINGLING

Transition Mixed Media. 36 x 48

The exhibition, a celebration of artistic practices in the Tampa Bay region, opened on June 20 and highlights the diversity of art being made in Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas and Sarasota counties. Artists and art collectives with work on view at the exhibit, along with local business representatives, media, and more gathered at The Ringling for the opening.

Eric Ondina, Artist

JANET MISHNER CONTEMPORARY ART & GALLERY Carrie Boucher, Artist

Jake Troyli & Guests

1748 Independence Blvd Hours by Appt.

••• 941.224.3257 janetmishner@gmail.com www.janetmishner.com JULY/AUGUST 2021 | SARASOTA SCENE

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SARASOTA SCENE | JULY/AUGUST 2021

social SCENE Sarah Wertheimer

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29

Scene Snaps

Sarasota Scene readers dug through old photo albums—remember those?

—and found nostalgic moments and fond memories to share. Enjoy!

Margaret Hayes

was maid of hono

r for her cousin Lu ann a in 1977; the ne xt year Margaret attended her nursing pinn ing with her fath er, Anthony Am ato.

Valvo Normandi

Sherri (Ha

rdcastle) C ovey says, “My fa ther (Jim Hardcastle ) was the co unty sheriff whe n I was a ch ild in Sarasota . This photo was taken a t the Fratern al Order of Po lice hall du ring the genera l election n ight returns 198 0. It was a te rrific night as yo u can see.”

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Judy Haran at 4

love of horses. I

years old. She sa ys

still have one no

, “I never outgre

w, 70 years later.”

w the

Chef Charlie Michael Klauber, ff at Michael’s On Brown, and the sta e public at their East welcomed th ril 27, 1987. grand opening—Ap

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nger with his you d n u ro a s e n hors eading Tom Norto ht before h g ri , 9 6 9 1 ul, in June Radio brother, Pa n Airborne a s a r u to r yea am for a 1 rvice. off to Vietn Security Se e rc o F ir A the U.S. Operator in only minor home with d e rn tu re , he s later.

Fortunately few month a d e rg a h c was dis injuries and

In 1962, Mrs. Wayne Moore

and the Junior Welfare Lea

, center,

Junior League of Sarasota)

gue (now the

accepted a check from Mrs. Ernest Se ars, left, and Mrs. Gordon Palmer, right, to furnish the new Sarasota Day Nursery (now Children First). This year, Children Fir st celebrates its 60th anniversary.

Jain as a Dr. Anila ain. r. Mona J mother, D

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h her

i, India, wit

ew Delh child in N

Herb Ruderman

’s parents’ weddi ng photo, circa 1925 .

Michelle Crabtr ee (right) with gi rlfriends, Jody W adrick, and Lisa Johnso n in Pine View Sc hool.

e aulett her, P t t. o m r on S lle’s Bazaa t Miche a l e mod r, as a Vitrie ircle. nds C a m r A

| SARASOTA SCENE JULY/AUGUST JULY/AUGUST 2021 2021 | SARASOTA SCENE

33 33

Laura Die

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cared for ch ildren from early was pushing baby sister G loria Hayes the baby ca in rriage. on—here she

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SARASOTA SCENE | JULY/AUGUST 2021

Ken n

the among s a w r ke eCamp y Chec nney D Chubb e K n e wh guests special school. dance t s r fi is dh opene

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Join us! Enter before August 9 for the theme: Performing Arts: Music, Dance, and Theatre Does music move your feet? Love to jam on musical instruments? Acting in your blood?

Email photos and description to wendy@scenesarasota.com by August 9.

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philanthropy philanthropy

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philanthropy

champion conservation PAULINE WAMSLER & GULF COAST COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

By Barbara Mackay | Photo by Nancy Guth

It would not be hyperbole to call Pauline Wamsler a Renaissance woman. In the years that she has lived in Sarasota full-time, she has had an enduring impact on its environmental well-being and local philanthropy.

homesteaders’ house, a chapel, and an orange packing plant. It also encompasses an impressive archaeological venue, revealing artifacts left by Native American coastal hunter/gatherer civilizations as early as 5,000 years ago.

Pauline was born in Munich, Germany, came to America in 1987, and graduated from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration. After a career in finance and realestate acquisition in New York, she relocated to Sarasota to raise her two daughters. Virtually upon arrival in 2003, Pauline co-founded the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, which has grown to become the leading partner for preserving natural lands and water in Southwest Florida.

To date, the Conservation Foundation has protected 18,300 acres across Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, and Collier counties.

The property acquisition required extensive fund-raising and organizing, and Pauline was essential to both of those ends. “Everything takes a team,” she says modestly. “I was certainly a catalyst in the process, but there were quite a few individuals at Historic Spanish Point, at Selby Gardens, and at Gulf Coast Community Foundation who were instrumental in starting the process and guiding it to its conclusion.”

But Pauline didn’t rest there. Instead, she has embraced a dynamic role in environmental and philanthropic organizations across the region. She just completed two years serving as Board Chair of the esteemed Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, and in July she became Chair of regional philanthropic powerhouse Gulf Coast Community Foundation.

Last year, Selby Gardens expanded beyond its original location along the downtown Sarasota Bay. A second campus, Historic Spanish Point, was added to its portfolio—thanks in large part to Pauline. The site also happens to be the former home of Pauline’s greatgreat-grandmother, Bertha Palmer. Now a 30-acre waterfront museum and preserve, it protects buildings that showcase nineteenth-century history, notably a renovated

Her great-great-grandmother has been “absolutely an inspiration to many of us,” says Pauline. She is glad her daughters have been lucky enough to grow up in Sarasota, where so many landmarks are named after Bertha Palmer.

Growing up, Pauline heard stories of her great-greatgrandmother’s many accomplishments, in the area of the environment as well as community leadership and the arts.

“She was an incredibly impressive woman for her time,” says Pauline. “She was a wonderful role model, someone to emulate.” For example, Palmer became a progressive rancher and farm developer on 80,000 acres of land between Venice and Sarasota, where she introduced many innovations to help the citrus, dairy, and farming industries.

Like her notable ancestor, Wamsler has been an innovative force in the region. The more time she spent in Florida, the more she became aware of the problems facing the environment and land resources here. She wanted to JULY/AUGUST 2021 | SARASOTA SCENE

39

philanthropy

“From an early age, I learned the important role the earth plays in our health and wellness.”

— PAULINE WAMSLER make a difference. We thought we had skills to slow the loss of our open lands and reduce the pressure on our natural resources,” she recalls.

“From an early age, I learned the important role the earth plays in our health and wellness,” Pauline adds. “Our family was always involved in conservation efforts of one sort or another.

“All of that contributed to the founding of the Conservation Foundation,” she says. “When I was involved in fundraising for the Foundation, it became obvious that the environment was an under-funded portion of all philanthropic dollars.

Fortunately, attitudes have changed and with that change, the community’s generosity toward environmentally-based giving has steadily increased.”

time, the environment was not the organization’s top priority. I tried to use my position as a Board member to advocate for environmental causes. My fellow Board members and the staff now actively look for opportunities for Gulf Coast to make a difference when it comes to the environment.”

One of the results of Wamsler’s leadership as a Gulf Coast Board member is the extensive “Water Quality Playbook,” an online manual for cleaning up and protecting the health of Sarasota’s natural waterways. “I volunteered to be on a task force,” says Pauline. “That was one of the initiatives that Gulf Coast developed in response to the charge to find additional ways to have a positive impact on our regional environment.

The Conservation Foundation originally focused on waterrelated resources. “Now our mission is broader,” Pauline says. “We cover a larger area inland, because the health of the water is not just dependent on what happens at the water’s edge but is a function of what happens in the whole watershed.”

“I’ve really had a wonderful eight years watching the growth of Gulf Coast,” she adds. “It’s been an incredibly enriching experience.” Rather than calling her efforts philanthropy, Pauline prefers the term “community service,” which she says was always admired in her family. “Whether it was raising money for a school, planting gardens at a senior center, or organizing support for a community gem, all such actions—time and money—made a difference.”

Pauline’s involvement with Gulf Coast Community Foundation began organically, and now she’s its longest-serving Board member. “I’m very lucky to be starting my ninth year there,” says Wamsler. “When I was founding the Conservation Foundation, Gulf Coast was one of our critical first sources of funds, which allowed the Conservation Foundation to do its early operational and acquisition work.”

Pauline also believes that “community service” is what makes Sarasota so wonderful today. “The level of civic engagement is remarkable,” she says. “And it’s tremendously important to making Sarasota the special community it is.”

Pauline says she was so impressed by how well Gulf Coast operated and how supportive it was of the community, that she started placing some of her own philanthropic money there.”First, I was a Gulf Coast donor, then a volunteer. Later I was honored to become a member of its Board. At that

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F O R M O R E IN F O R M AT IO N

about the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, please visit www.gulfcoastcf.org or call 941.486.4600.

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41

CONCIERGE

Caring

Plymouth Harbor

Adds Another Level of Peace of Mind

BY CAROL BRZOZOWSKI Plymouth Harbor on Sarasota Bay is a not-for-profit Life Plan Community (also known as a Continuing Care Retirement Community) that provides independent living, home care, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing care and short-term rehabilitation services.

Located on Sarasota Bay, it serves a multi-generational population between the ages of 60 to more than 100 years old.

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It was originally founded in 1966 by The Rev. Dr. John Whitney MacNeil, a Congregational minister who also was instrumental in founding New College.

“Plymouth Harbor is occupied by individuals who are very engaged in the local and world communities and come from all walks of life,” says Gordon Okawa, Plymouth Harbor’s Vice President of Marketing and Community

Affairs. “Plymouth Harbor tends to attract people who want to continue lifelong learning and value a whole person wellness philosophy as well as proactively living a simpler lifestyle.”

“It’s such a fantastic community. We’re always looking for what more we can be doing next,” notes Heather Dawn, Plymouth Harbor’s Director of Care Management.

To that end, Plymouth Harbor added in-house concierge care management to its full continuum of services.

“Our care managers are registered nurses who fill in the gaps throughout the continuum – that is, one person who is a liaison and an advocate for the resident, responsible for following through with every aspect of health care from the emergency room to the rehabilitation center, from home

JULY/AUGUST JULY/AUGUST 2021 2021 || SARASOTA SARASOTA SCENE SCENE

43 43

Photo By Nancy Guth

care to assisted living, or just remaining in independent living,” notes Dawn.

Care management is there for residents not only with medical issues, but also other personal matters.

Dawn is unaware of any other community locally that has in-house care management; rather, it’s typically outsourced.

A typical scenario is where care management helped a resident whose spouse always took responsibility for all their legal issues, their billing issues, and the insurance.

“As an in-house care manager, I already know all of the key team members in our community,” says Dawn. “I work closely with the administrator of assisted living/memory care, the director of nursing for Smith Care Center, and other directors throughout the Plymouth Harbor community.

“That makes it much easier for communication and continuity. Being in-house, we are here at any moment when people pick up the phone and contact us.”

Dawn’s advocacy brings comfort to family members, many of whom may live far away from their loved ones.

“When Plymouth Harbor started this new service, I definitely saw the benefit for the residents,” she says. “I didn’t anticipate how quickly this demand was going to grow from the family members. Care management becomes almost like a surrogate family member and the comfort and the peace that it gives them of knowing that there’s somebody right there if their loved one goes to the emergency room is invaluable.”

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SARASOTA SCENE | JULY/AUGUST 2021

“When that spouse passed away, this resident was pretty lost,” says Dawn. “They never took care of those matters before. Both family members live out of state and we facilitated getting things together for the son to take over for power of attorney. We were able to find out that this resident had a long-term care insurance policy no one knew about. We were then able to activate that, and now most of her care is being covered under that long-term care policy.”

Another resident without family is having memory difficulties and has an attorney serving as power of attorney.

“After working through this resident’s records, we discovered a signed note saying that this person’s wish was to remain in independent living with 24/7 caregivers should this person be unable to make decisions for themselves. This enabled us to help them honor their wishes. Nobody was aware of that.”

“WE MAKE IT EASIER FOR FAMILY TO BE FAMILY. THEY CAN CONCENTRATE ON BEING THE DAUGHTER OR THE SON INSTEAD OF Dawn says their service gives family members comfort to know that when there is an emergency in the middle of the night, the care manager will show up at the emergency room within the hour and be able to relay information back to the family and communicate with the physicians.

“We are also there for the family to facilitate having difficult conversations. Basically, we make it easier for family to be family. They can concentrate on being the daughter or the son instead of being a full-time caregiver.”

BEING A FULL-TIME CAREGIVER.” — Heather Dawn

“I used to live in Hawaii and my father was here in Sarasota,” says Dawn. “It is so scary when you’re not there and can’t get there right away. I think that is a really special aspect to this program.”

“Plymouth Harbor always encourages our team members to further their education and do other things to contribute,” she says. “I encourage our care managers to do the same.”

Plymouth Harbor,” she says. “Being able to be a part of that is wonderful.

Dawn has filled many roles at Plymouth Harbor since she started there in 1983: a certified nursing assistant, a licensed practical nurse, a registered nurse and now as a care manager.

“For me personally, I think that it’s amazing how all different experiences in my personal life as a caregiver for family members and in my professional life in the community as a nurse have come together and collided in the perfect time and in the perfect moment and the perfect place to be utilized in this position,” says Dawn.

“This is like family and it’s really awesome to look back on the growth and the changes that have evolved here at

For more information about Plymouth Harbor, call 941.365.2600 or visit PlymouthHarbor.org.

JULY/AUGUST 2021 | SARASOTA SCENE

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MAKING A SPLASH

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U.S. Masters Swimming Thrives in Sarasota

By Carol Brzozowski Although the Fountain of Youth is a myth linked to Ponce de Leon’s search for a secret aquatic source of restored youth when he traveled to Florida, research does show that swimming improves one’s physical, mental, and social well-being. And here in Sarasota, many enjoy this rejuvenating activity.

On any given day at Arlington Park and the Selby Aquatic Center, adults of all ages gather on the pool decks to swim. They range from swimmers learning the sport for the first time to those engaged in friendly competitions.

The two sites are host pools for U.S. Masters Swimming (USMS), a national nonprofit that promotes the sport of swimming as a healthy fitness option for all adults and is headquartered in Sarasota.

Both clubs have a USMS-certified coach and a USMS Adult Learn-to-Swim instructor who teach hundreds of adults each year the life-saving skill of swimming.

“When people hear the word ‘Masters,’ they might think it’s just for experienced or fast swimmers or swimmers who are at least 50 or 65 years old,” notes Dawson Hughes, USMS CEO. “That couldn’t be further from the truth. Our organization is for everyone who is at least 18 years old, regardless of their abilities or background in the sport.”

For those who want to try their hand at competing, the organization has 13 national championship events each year that attract a wide range of swimmers—from those who are competing in their very first meet to expert Olympians.

“There’s something for all types of swimmers, whether they want to compete or swim for fitness or whether they’re pool swimmers, open water swimmers, or triathletes,” says Hughes. “I might be a little biased, but I believe swimming might be the greatest form of exercise for any adult.”

Hughes says that he has had an opportunity to experience all of swimming’s health benefits as he has swum his entire life.

“Swimming lowers your blood pressure, aids in weight loss and weight maintenance, benefits your immune system and is easier on your joints than land-based sports,” he adds. “It also reduces stress, improves self-esteem, reduces depression and anxiety, and improves problem-solving skills and memory. It’s a fun sport that’s the third-most popular exercise in the U.S.”

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47

Hughes says those who get connected with a Masters’ program will also experience the social benefits as swimmers interact with each other on the pool deck, encourage each other in both swimming and other life matters, and often socialize outside of the pool facility.

Slowing down the aging process is the most important benefit of swimming, Hughes points out.

“An older swimmer’s biological age can be as much as 20 years younger than his or her chronological age because of his or her background in the sport,” he adds. “It truly is the fountain of youth.”

The Sarasota Connection

The organization launched in May 1970, but USMS never had a formal office until its former executive director, Rob Butcher, began looking for one in 2008.

Laura Hamel, then a swimmer and coach in Sarasota who eventually became a USMS staff member, thought it would be a great idea for USMS to be located in Sarasota and wrote up a proposal. USMS received about a dozen proposals from cities throughout the country and ultimately picked Sarasota in February 2009, setting up shop here later that year.

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“Considering Sarasota’s and Florida’s love for swimming, as well as the hundreds of other nonprofits that have found a home here, we couldn’t have picked a better spot,” Hughes points out.

Sarasota Tsunami Masters, which meets at Arlington Park, 2650 Waldemere Street, is regarded as the top swim team on the Gulf Coast, with the fastest-growing and improving program in the state.

Ira Klein has been their head coach in Sarasota County for more than a dozen years. With over 40 years of national and international experience, he has coached seven Olympic athletes, more than two dozen national age group record holders, more than 40 senior- junior and YMCA individual national champions, and hundreds of top 10 nationallyranked swimmers.

He has served as vice president of USA Swimming as well as president of the American Swim Coaches Association.

In 2016, Klein was elected to the General Chair position to lead Florida Swimming.

Sarasota Sharks Masters meets at the Selby Aquatic Center, 8501 Potter Park Drive. The program provides organized workouts, competitions, clinics, and workshops for adults aged 18 and over, and has more than 350 members.

Sarasota Sharks welcomes all adult swimmers regardless of their goals: fitness, triathlete training, competitive, noncompetitive, and open water. The goal of the group is to help swimmers improve fitness, train for specific goals, and providing active support for a healthy lifestyle through friendship and camaraderie.

Started in 2006 by Coach Rick Walker, many of its swimmers have ranked Top 10 in the country in their age groups and some are All Americans (ranked #1 in the country). The club has won many Y National Championships and placed in the top 10 clubs in the U.S. at USMS National Championships.

Hughes invites all adults – irrespective of their swimming background – to try a Masters’ workout during the organization’s Try Masters Swimming campaign in July.

“You have an opportunity to swim in a workout for free and learn why tens of thousands of adults around the country are swimming with USMS,” he adds.

More information on Try Masters Swimming can be found at usms.org/try. | JULY/AUGUST JULY/AUGUST 2021 2021 | SARASOTA SARASOTA SCENE SCENE

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PICKLEBALL,

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ANYONE?

A Beginner’s Adventures in the “Exploding Sport”

By Sylvia Whitman Even before the pandemic, I was looking for a game in Sarasota.

Squash, the love of my New England youth? The Bath and Racquet Club had a court, I heard, but membership was a barrier, and then the facility closed for reinvention.

Tennis? Public courts abound, but I didn’t have partners.

I joined a gym and watched old episodes of Law & Order as I pedaled the elliptical, but then COVID put that off limits. So, I hoofed it through the long lockdown months.

During that time, I noticed two things. One, no matter how lovely the birds and the trees, all walk and no play makes exercise a dull ploy. Two, as soon as people began congregating again, parks filled with pickleball players, recognizable by their boxy paddles and neon wiffle-like balls. Was I missing something?

Go find out, my editor said.

JULY/AUGUST 2021 | SARASOTA SCENE

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FIRST STOP: THE US PICKLEBALL OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS IN NAPLES I hadn’t intended to start with the pros, but my brother invited me to preview day for one of pickleball’s biggest tournaments, held every April at East Naples Community Park.

Really, a world-class event in a public park?

Pickleball, 1972.

Only later did I come to appreciate the Naples facility—64 dedicated outdoor pickleball courts in one spot, with others inside and outside around town. With a population more than twice as large, Sarasota has indoor and 54 outdoor courts sprinkled among parks, but most squat on tennis turf. Hence the many asterisks on the county website: *Bring your own net.

Preview day at the Open meant my brother didn’t have to pay for parking, but we also didn’t see any official games, just some serious warming up and amateur play. But vendors were setting up tables, so we buttonholed Traver West of superstore PickleballCentral. com to give us an orientation.

History. Three dads near Seattle, Washington, invented pickleball in the summer of 1965 for their bored kids. Since no one anticipated the game’s stunning trajectory, early history remains a bit fuzzy. No condiments here: The game’s named for either a ball-chasing dog or a ragtag crew boat, according to USA Pickleball, the sport’s governing body.

Specs. Think life-size ping-pong on a badminton court. The net reaches 34 inches in the center, just two inches shorter than tennis height. To keep players from parking at the net and smashing the ball into each other, the dads created a no-volley zone on either side called “the kitchen.”

Equipment. Sizing up from ping-pong, the originators cut double-size paddles out of plywood, until a Boeing engineer raided the company scrap heap. That resin-dipped cardboard material called Nomex, used in plane floors and walls, evolved into today’s polypropylene honeycomb core composite paddles.

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Sarasota Pickleball Club. Photo by Nancy Guth.

Rules. One size court and rules fit both singles and far more popular doubles. Sides score only when serving.

First to reach 11 (by at least two points) wins.

Popularity. The sport radiated across North America, and then the world. Apparel and equipment suppliers followed. In 2005, USA Pickleball incorporated, sanctioning official rules and tournaments. Naples hosted the first US Open Pickleball Championships in 2016.

“Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the country,” said West. The independent Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) estimates that more than 3.46 million Americans are playing pickleball, with a growth rate of 21% between 2019 and 2020. West ticked off the game’s virtues: inexpensive, easy to learn, coed and multigenerational, less physically taxing than other racquet sports.

“I’ve heard pickleball called the orthopedist’s dream,” observed my skeptical tennis-playing brother.

West conceded that he doesn’t know the ins and outs of injury rates on the hard indoor and outdoor courts.

But he finds pickleballers a happy bunch. “Rarely will you find a jerk player,” he said.

Touché.

Let the games begin.

STEP 1: GOOGLE “Pickleball Sarasota” yielded pages of results, starting with the county page listing public courts. Next, I landed on Sarasota Pickleball Organization, LLC (sarasotapickleball. com), home of “Pickleball Terry,” where I signed up for a weekly newsletter.

It arrived in my email as scheduled. Punctuated by photos, videos, ads, and memes (George Washington, mounted on a horse, holds a pickleball paddle under the banner WHAT MAKES THIS COUNTRY GREAT!), the blast gave an incredibly helpful rundown of the county’s indoor and outdoor state of play: drop-in times for intermediate to advanced players at Colonial Oaks, a temporary closure at the Venice Community Center for floor work, and yes—beginner lessons!

STEP 2: GET A PADDLE IN HAND Although Amazon and Walmart advertised paddles galore, I needed one pronto for the 8:30 am beginner session at the Potter Park Y. Plus, I needed guidance.

My Google search led me to a local equipment store, Pickleball Sarasota (pickleballsarasota.com).

Ah, gear. Balls, bags, shoes, paddles. I studied the tags.

“How come this one is so much cheaper?” I asked. Turns out that was the price of a grip.

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I mentioned I was testing the waters. Proprietor Joe Capuano led me to his pegboard of loaner paddles and handed me two, one composite and one graphite, which he described as closer to a wooden bat—or, in tennis terms, a more tightly strung racquet. He wrote my contact info in his log and told me to bring back the paddles in a couple of days. “Tell me what you think.”

STEP 3: TAKE A LESSON Although the Y charges nonmembers $7 to drop in, the first visit/lesson is complimentary. So far, so free!

Bob, the volunteer instructor, directed the handful of us to assemble three nets and position them across the gym floor. Eeny-meeny—I picked the composite paddle since Joe said that’s the choice of about 80% of players. Everyone else in the beginner session had played before, so Bob hit me a few balls, which, with such a high proportion of plastic, don’t rebound like tennis ones. Then he sent me into an empty racquetball court to hit against the wall and get a feel for the bounce.

Next, he demonstrated the underhand serve and put me in a game with him and a married couple.

Beginning is humbling. But I had enough tennis to clear the net a few times and enough hubris (at least 50 miles of steps a week!) to race after balls.

As I changed direction, I felt a tiny crunch in my ankle.

The orthopedist’s dream indeed.

In the most encouraging way, Bob told me I wasn’t ready yet to join the last 15 minutes of game play but urged me to come back.

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STEP 4: GO BACK A STEP OR TWO TO STRETCH AND THINK ABOUT SHOES By that afternoon, I was lying on the couch administering RICE to my swollen ankle—rest, ice, compression, and elevation.

After a melodramatic 24 hours, I could walk fine, but fortunately travel kept me off the court for about 10 days.

Which gave me time to buy a discounted pair of Adidas Grand Court sneakers on Amazon. Made for front to back transitions, tennis shoes don’t offer as much support for lateral movement on hard surfaces as specialized pickleball shoes, I learned from Joe, but they beat running shoes.

STEP 5: TAKE ANOTHER LESSON Returning and re-borrowing paddles, I bopped in and out of Pickleball Sarasota several times. Joe recommended the program at Church of the Palms on Bee Ridge—$3 a session, eye protection required.

Really, pickleball at a church?

Not in the sanctuary, of course. According to Susan Neisler, the church’s health and well-being director, the mission behind building the multipurpose Palms Center a few years ago was “to make an opening space for the community … and then once they're here, [they] see all the amazing things that our church offers.” So, Church of the Palms hosts pickleballers twice a week, a slide show of the church’s many activities and good works playing on a large screen above three pickleball courts set up in the gym.

I managed to catch the last beginner’s lesson before summer. Come June, kids’ camps commandeer most of the gyms across the county, making indoor (air-conditioned)

Sarasota Pickleball Club. Photo by Nancy Guth. pickleball harder to find in the hot and rainy season. I joined a line of about a dozen senior-ish people on the beginner court. One volunteer was lobbing gently over the kitchen, and each of us in turn practiced volleying. With the graphite paddle this time, I enjoyed a little smashing success, the vibration radiating up my arm. But in pickleball, power ranks behind placement, especially the infamous “dink,” a drop shot into your opponents’ kitchen.

“If you can serve well and you can dink well, you will do well,” I had overheard Joe tell a shopper.

I marveled at the generosity of the courtside volunteers.

With an upbeat patter, Ken rotated us through a game, urging do-overs after service faults, coaching us on pickleball’s persnickety score calling. Certified coach Tom Everitt, president of the Sarasota Pickleball Club, accompanied a couple of his students, and after Ken’s lesson, he showed several of us neophytes how to join open play. Then he stuck around to guide us through our game.

STEP 6: PLAY, PLAY, PLAY Talk to pickleballers, and the word addicting surfaces often.

I bought a composite paddle from Joe and returned to Church of the Palms for summer open play. One-off games and constant remixing of foursomes creates the sport’s famed sociability: You write your name in a box on the whiteboard, hang and chat on the sidelines, and play with your boxmates when the next court opens.

After that game, you can sign up again.

Beginning is a stage, not a moment; I’m still cringing as I try to embrace my inner klutz. Not everyone has as much patience for newbies as the designated volunteers, but on the whole, the pickleball community seems strikingly invested in growing the fold. Like Sarasota itself, pickleball is full of people who came from someplace else and started fresh. “You’ve just got to play,” everyone says.

And get more instruction. I hear Pickleball Terry teaches a clinic at the Y on Bahia Vista. More lessons will return in the fall, though not necessarily at times convenient for working folks. But taking up pickleball is a long-term project, and the start-up costs have been reasonable (around $100). The important thing is, Game on.

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A Few of the Key Players on the Sarasota Pickleball Scene

“Pickleball Terry,” aka certified coach Terry Ryan, was working out at the Potter Park Y about four years ago when she spotted “these people in the gym getting this plastic ball over the net and all having a great time and smiling.” She asked them what they were playing, and they handed her a paddle and invited her to try it out. “That was it. I was hooked.” Her past experiences as a competitive racquetball player and a professional marketer fused.

Ryan credits pickleball’s “wonderful social aspect” for its wildfire spread. “You don’t have to get three other people to play with; you can just drop in and pick up a game.”

She mentions a traveling nurse who plays wherever she’s working: “She has instant friends, and a social life, a sense of community.”

That and exercise. Terry says pickleball has a bit of a reputation as a senior sport, “but now the younger people are catching up.” According to USA Pickleball, the average age for (regular) Core players is 51.5 and Casual players 35.5. “What’s great is you put a 30-year-old and a 60-yearold on the same court, and they can easily play together,” says Ryan. “Same for men and women.”

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As president of the nonprofit Sarasota Pickleball Club (SPC), Tom Everitt serves as the game’s local ambassador and gadfly. He buzzes around municipal offices pressing for designated public pickleball courts—with nets and clear lines that don’t crisscross with basketball, volleyball, and/or tennis. He gets a lot of promises. The county has budgeted for six designated courts at Longwood Run Park, but construction is running behind schedule. With the Legacy Trail extension on the fast track, he’s pinned some hopes on new courts near the Pompano trailhead, by the fairgrounds. Bathrooms and lighting for the trail could do double duty for pickleball players.

Everitt took up pickleball at the Y, played in Connecticut, joined with Carrie Palmer and Cathy Denault and others to help launch the SPC in 2017. Nothing against private pickleball in gated developments and the like, but Everitt promotes the public option, which eventually will draw younger and more diverse players to the sport. The SPC pitched pickleball to Church of the Palms; the club has a stake in welcoming newcomers to the sport and keeping the pickleball community focused rather than fractured. Before the pandemic, “there were times when we had 30 or 40 beginners in class,” says Everitt.

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Retired physician and former Texan Darrel Jordan oversees “pickleball operations” at Church of the Palms while his wife, Karen, a retired school principal, often staffs the lobby desk, making sure first-timers sign waivers. As congregants, they volunteer in multiple church outreach activities, but they play as well as facilitate pickleball. “My husband and I thought it’d be fun to play together,” says Karen. “It’s a wonderful social sport, and it’s an adaptive sport, which means that you can play as you age.”

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When Joe Capuano retired from a career as an NFL merchandise distributor, he took up pickleball—and soon discovered 1) retirement bored him and 2) almost no one was selling pickleball equipment from a brick-and-mortar shop. Three weeks later he opened Pickleball Sarasota, one of only four “100% dedicated pickleball stores in the state of Florida.”

(The others are in Naples, Jacksonville, and the Villages.)

Interested in the growth of the sport on all fronts, Capuano has joined with a developer on a grand vision: The Pickleball Club (https://www.thepickleballclub.us/), a membership-only club with reservation-secured indoor courts, a pro and pro shop, juice bar, and the like. Stay tuned.

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YOGA PIVOT

What local studios learned during the pandemic

BY LAURA SHOEMAKER • PHOTO BY NANCY GUTH

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oga teacher Cheryl Chaffee had been running Garden of the Heart Yoga for about ten years when the first cases of COVID-19 appeared in Sarasota in early 2020.

Like other yoga studios, Garden of the Heart was facing a lot of unknowns. Could they continue to teach safely? Would they close? And if so, for how long? As the virus spread, Chaffee found herself wondering: “How can we come together to practice?”

By mid-March, Garden of the Heart, and several others, would be temporarily closed. By April, after the governor’s stay-at-home order was issued, yoga studios around town were having to make some serious shifts. Recently, I spoke with Chaffee and six other yoga studios to find out how the pandemic affected their businesses and to learn what students can expect this summer and beyond for yoga classes and other offerings in Sarasota.

Cheryl Chaffee would chant the Maha Mrtyunjaya, a Sanskrit mantra, that she explained, helps one “walk alongside” their fear and not become overwhelmed.

VIRTUAL VINYASA Of the changes ushered in by the pandemic, the switch to virtual yoga classes was a common pivot. “Just as people realized they didn’t have to be in an office to work, we began to realize we could login to a yoga class, too,” says Moriah Farrell, assistant manager of CircuSoul Yoga, and also a yoga teacher there.

Online yoga classes evolved and took on some creative variety as social distancing and “safer at home” became the norm.

There were both live-stream zoom classes, where students login and participate in a class synchronously, and on-demand classes, which give students access to a recorded class for a period of time. Studios also diversified their online offerings to include video libraries of recorded classes, free Facebook live classes, special workshops, meditation, and immersions. At least one studio hosted its 200-hour yoga teacher training — all online.

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Bhavana Yoga Studio

These virtual classes and other offerings threw a lifeline to dedicated students. “Our community was extremely grateful,” say Courtenay Smith and Nikka Colorado, co-owners of The Yoga Shack.

The quirkiness of online experiences even brought some moments of levity in an uncertain time. As Soraya Preseault owner of Bhavana Yoga Studio shares, “Students loved seeing the behind-thescenes reality of teaching and practicing from home, how teachers, kids, or animals would pop into a video.”

And yet, despite their best efforts, studios couldn’t avoid financial losses. Virtual class offerings were limited, priced lower, or in some cases, free, while attendance in classes overall was significantly down. Yoga studios were being put to the test.

“Non-attachment is a huge principle in the practice of yoga. And throughout the process I had to become ok with the thought that the studio, the business, might not survive,” says Preseault.

The shift from a physical studio to remote classes proved too much for at least one studio. In September, after 17 years in business, Garden of the Heart formally closed. They let go of the space and the instructors each went their own way.

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“It was less about how can we make money and more about how can we serve the community during this scary and unnerving time.”

—Soraya Preseault, Owner, Bhavana Yoga Studio

“Eventually we learned to surrender to the process, and have faith that what we had built in the Rosemary District for the past nine years could come out of this stronger.”

- Courtenay Smith and Nikka Colorado, Co-Owners, The Yoga Shack

The Yoga Shack

FINDING FLOW Cheryl Chaffee regarded the changes brought upon her as an opportunity. When Garden of the Heart closed, she had a plan. Now savvy with teaching online and using technology, she started her own, 100% online, yoga studio. Her virtual studio, bodymindheartyoga, offers a regular weekly schedule of online classes and workshops.

The Yoga Shack Pineapple Yoga Studio

To whatever extent studios will continue to utilize online classes going forward, they don’t seem to be going away. Moriah Farrell says that virtual classes have given CircuSoul “the ability to reach out to some of our faraway friends and have class with them every day.”

The flexibility afforded by Zoom and other platforms gives yoga studios a welcome opportunity to connect with students no matter where they happen to be — even when students travel or leave town for a cooler climate.

And for others, learning the lessons of the pandemic means staying open to change. “For us,” says Claudia Baeza of Pineapple Yoga, “it’s continuing to adapt.”

Her studio has shifted all of its yoga + cycling offerings outdoors to the studio’s private, gated courtyard.

Baeza’s clear that for Pineapple Yoga, the pre-COVID model of mat-to-mat, indoor yoga “won’t be back.

Expectations and needs have changed for everyone.”

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WHAT YOGA CLASSES CAN I TAKE NOW? Whether you want to roll out a mat at your neighborhood yoga studio or zoom into a virtual class, options are as varied as the yogis you’ll find teaching there.

“The word for 2020 was ‘pivot’.”

— Moriah Farrall of CircuSoul

bodymindheartyoga

Get Bent Yoga Studio

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At Bhavana Yoga Studio, masks are required when you’re not on your mat. By limiting participants, social distancing, checking temperatures, and contactless entry, studio owner Soraya Preseault is making safety a priority for in-studio classes. The precautions, she hopes, help to create a safe space for yoga “where people could come in and take off their armor for an hour to just breathe.”

Cheryl Chaffee took the changes of the past year as an opportunity to start a completely online yoga studio called bodymindheartyoga. She offers a regular weekly schedule of classes, immersions, and workshops, plus an on-demand video library.

CircuSoul Yoga holds outdoor yoga once a week in a grassy area behind the studio under towering oak trees.

As temperatures rise, the studio will keep tabs on demand for the outdoor class. Indoors, the classes are capped at 16 people spaced 6’ apart.

They are continuing yoga for anxiety workshops, which began in 2020, aerial and mat yoga, and also virtual zoom or on-demand classes, workshops, and teacher training intensives.

Get Bent Yoga Studio, a new studio that opened in March of this year on Clark Road, has been offering in-studio classes, workshops, and a free meditation class, since the getgo. Aside from cleaning procedures, co-owners Janine and Joshua Martin resisted putting too much focus on making formal rules in regards to personal protection. Instead, the couple welcome students who come

to their studio for in-person yoga classes to do what makes them feel comfortable.

Pineapple Yoga + Cycling Studio owner Claudia Baeza has taken the lessons of the pandemic to heart.

Pineapple Yoga, she says, is now “fully realized as an outdoor studio.” The studio’s yoga + cycling classes are held outdoors in the studio’s private, gated courtyard, beneath sun sails and aerial misters. In addition to the yoga + cycling classes, donation-based yoga for recovery classes that support 12-step recovery from alcohol and substance abuse are ongoing. Baeza hopes to resume yoga for Parkinson’s, this time as a virtual class, soon.

Pineapple Yoga Studio Rosemary Court Yoga

Rosemary Court Yoga owner Liana Sheintal Bryant has begun offering in-studio classes again with limited participants and pre-registration.

Students can also live-stream classes, or playback a recorded class. Bryant is also teaching a free, summer outdoor yoga series at St. Armand’s Circle every second Wednesday of the month, 6-7pm.

The Yoga Shack co-owners Courtenay Smith and Nikka Colorado were able to shift quickly to online and outdoor classes in the past year, but they agree “that yoga is so much more powerful to experience in person.” In addition to an online library of classes, the studio is now offering in-person classes, themed workshops, and other events, both in the Rosemary District location and a new second location at Waterside Place off of University Parkway.

So, book a class in one of these studios, or explore the studio in your neighborhood. One thing’s for sure, there’s a yoga class in Sarasota for anyone who’s looking to pivot back to the mat.

The Yoga Shack

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SUPER FOODS

for a

W

e are what we eat.

Why not stock up on super foods to help crush your health and fitness goals? Here are 10 to put on your list—some surprising new ones as well as the stalwarts that never fail.

Bon appétit— and here’s to your beautiful body!

Hair: Tempeh Your follicles need iron to pump up a healthy sheen, and you might come up short if you resolved to eat less red meat. 6 ounces of tempeh, a fermented soy product, gives you 20 percent of your iron RDI. Plus, soy can help balance hormones.

Heart: Pistachios You radiate vitality when you take care of your ticker. Pick pistachios for a high-protein, low-fat snack high in Omega-3 fatty acids. As a bonus, nuts satisfy our primal need to crunch down.

Nails: Avocado

Fat burning: White fish A powerhouse of protein with 30 grams in a 158-calorie serving, this food fuels your workout. Plus, it gigs your serotonin, the workhorse brain chemical that’s getting new plaudits for regulating appetite.

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Taco, guac, salad – however you slice it, you’ll get a biotin boost.

One of the B vitamins, biotin helps keep your fingernails and toenails strong. Did you know the avocado is not a vegetable, but a fruit? No wonder we love it on toast!

SUPER YOU

By Betsy Friauf

Eat Your Way To Radiant Health

Brain: Broccoli You knew we couldn’t skip this one. But here’s the surprise: Just a cup of this superhero veggie gives you 100% of your RDA of vitamin K, essential to optimum brain function. Didn’t someone say the most important sex organ is the brain? Asking for a friend…

Teeth: Carrots You know the beta-carotene is good for your eyes. New research indicates the keratin in carrots also strengthens tooth enamel.

Plus, all that chewing clears food particles, helping protect your pearly whites from decay.

Skin: Wild blueberries Definitely a case of good stuff in a small package. These babies bring more antioxidants than other berries to help your skin recover from sun, stress, and sleep deprivation. We need about 10,000 antioxidant units a day; a serving or two will get you there.

Muscle: Oranges Yes, our very own citrus star!

Protein you know about. But you might not know that vitamin C is vital to building testosterone and collagen, which makes your muscles strong.

Feet: Chia seeds Last but certainly not least, be sweet to your feet! About a quarter of all your bones are here, and you’ll need calcium to guard against breaks. Various seeds kick up your calcium, and chia boasts additional nutrients, plus fiber -but few calories.

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COUPLES ON THEIR WEDDING DAY

By Wendy Lyons Sunshine

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KATHER I N E L OU I SE V I R GI N I A L A N GE + LEVI NAT HAN L AM B

Lamb met Katherine Lange and Levi they were at a party in Sarasota when 16 years old. ment I saw “I remember the exact mo handsome, him,” says Katherine. “This t of the blu e-e yed gu y wa lke d ou rigued.” house, and I was instantly int Fro m tha t Le vi fel t the sam e wa y. ha s be en firs t ev en ing , the pa ir inseparable. e together Katherine relished their tim Bu t Lev i and fel t no rus h to ma rry. de sig nin g flo ate d the ide a of he r Ka the rin e a rin g an d en co ura ge d ies , an d to bro ws e em era lds , rub ele r he ld dia mo nd s. Ne xt, the jew out a beautiful sapphire.

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“As soon as I put it on my hand to see what it would look like—wow—I was in love,” she says. “It felt unique and personal, the way I symbolize our relationship. Levi loved it too.”

Katherine drew a setting design for the stone and thought no further about it. Yet a week later, at a glamorous evening of dancing and champagne in Aspen, Colorado, Levi surprised her.

He dropped to one knee, held out her special ring, now complete, and asked her to become his wife. “I thought it was joke. I was so confused,” she says.

“Then the tears rushed in and the answer was “yes” of course!”

From beginning to end, the wedding was a fairytale.

“It was everything I had dreamed,” she says. Her vision featured ballerinas, calligraphy on napkins, chocolate

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social SCENE boxes at each plate, a choreographed dance surprise, and special ceremony music.

The couple’s parents—Peter Lange, Janet Lange, Anna Leonard, and Tim Lamb—helped celebrate along with other family members and close friends. Due to COVID, capacity was limited to 100 and honeymoon travel had to be delayed, but Katherine recalls a glorious, breathtaking, and joyful event. She says, “I wouldn’t trade a thing.”

VENDORS | Wedding planner: Choreographed Events, Maria Brady • Photography: Chris Joriann • Videographer: Ray Roman • Ceremony Dress: Galia Lahav • Dance Dress: Berta • Heels: Christian Louboutin • Cake: Julie Deffense • Venue: Ringling Museum of Art Courtyard • Jeweler: The Diamond Vault • Flowers: Tailored Twig • Lighting: Affairs in the Air • Decor: So Staged • Food: Michael’s on East • Chocolates: Noela Chocolate • Invitations: Write On • Dance lessons: Empire Ballroom • Makeup: Beauty by Creative at Heart (Debra) / Anna Molinari • Hair: Anna Molinari

Envision the wedding of your dreams.

We’ll make it a reality.

We welcome you to discover the endless possibilities for your perfect day and say “I do” with Hyatt Regency Sarasota. Our savvy event planners and culinary experts will collaborate with you to create a truly memorable occasion in any of our flexible indoor and outdoor spaces.

Plus, as a Hyatt Gold Passport® member, you can earn points for your wedding booking, redeemable for honeymoon nights at Hyatt hotels and resorts worldwide.

For more information, call 941 363 2603 or visit sarasota.regency.hyatt.com.

HYATT REGENCY SARASOTA 1000 Boulevard of the Arts Sarasota, Florida, USA, 34236 The trademarks HYATT®, Hyatt Regency®, Hyatt Gold Passport® and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation. ©2016 Hyatt Corporation. All rights reserved.

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The theme of their waterfront wedding was “An Italian Masterpiece,” and it was reflected in all the details—from the Ringling’s magnificent sculpture courtyard down to the cake. “We fell in love with Julie Deffense’s artful designs from first sight,” says Caila. “She brought the sunset hues of our venue to life with delicate sugar flowers that cascaded down to two tiers of intricate cerulean ceramic squares. From its beauty to the delicious raspberry layers inside – the cake was truly was a work of art!”

Flanked by 10 groomsmen and 7 bridesmaids, the couple honored their parents at the ceremony, and added traditional touches such as a Filipino cord and veil ceremony to symbolize an everlasting marriage bond.

The biggest surprise? “I flew in a Broadway singing quartet to surprise Nick and all of our guests,” says Caila. “After our waterfront vows, the singers stood up one at a time like a flash mob and sang “Can’t take my eyes off of you”

by Frankie Valli.”

VENDORS | Photographer: Stephanie Sundlerland • Videographer: Moon and Back Co • Dress: Kleinfeld Bridal • Tuxedo: Balani Custom • Florist: Bastille Flowers NYC • Hair & Makeup: Michelle Elise Artistry • Planner: NK Productions • Veil: Jane Rhyan / the Collection • Stationary: Minted Weddings • Bridesmaids Dresses: BHLDN • Cake: Julie Deffense 72

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SPOTLIGHT

THE

SARASOTA FILM FESTIVAL WRAP-UP with Gus Mollasis I don’t like sequels.

In my opinion, only one film is as good as the original and that’s The Godfather II. Plus, it’s safe to say that no one wants a sequel to the year that was COVID-19.

Coming out of this dark chapter in our collective story, it felt wonderful to again set foot in a theater and watch a film on the big screen, complete with popcorn and that other vital ingredient—people.

Cinema changes with a live audience. The laughs land.

So do the tears. The silence of a packed theatre is palpable. As veteran actor Sam Elliot and frequent Sarasota Film Festival attendee once told me in his distinctive voice, “I know a film is working when I hear the silence.”

The 23rd Annual Sarasota Film Festival inspired us with the full spectrum of emotions that a big screen experience provides—joy, sadness, and yes, the silence. I’ve been blessed to attend this wonderful

event every year as either a patron, filmmaker, or as a reporter. It’s been a great joy.

Plus, once again I get the pleasure of awarding my annual “Gussies” to the best films of the Sarasota Film Festival.

Okay, the Gussie is not an Oscar—but it’s not chopped liver either.

To win a Gussie, the rules are simple. The film has to move me in a fundamental way. It has to make me laugh, cry, or think deeply on the subject. If it accomplishes all three—forget the Gussie, it deserves an Irving Thalberg Award.

Most years I watch between 75 and 100 films at the festival. This year, I didn’t see quite as many films, yet strangely perhaps, I appreciated them more.

At one screening, I bumped into a young man I met years ago when he made a student documentary about Newtown that premiered at the Sarasota Opera House. Today, Sam Curtis is an LA producer who found time to come home to Sarasota and premier the film JULY/AUGUST 2021 2021 || SARASOTA SARASOTA SCENE SCENE JULY/AUGUST

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Summertime, on which he’s an associate producer. I love stories like that.

As the festival wrapped this year, I was left feeling a little melancholy.

First, at the passing of Norman Lloyd (Saboteur, Dead Poet’s Society, St. Elsewhere), with whom I’d spent a memorable four hours on Longboat Key along with my dearly departed friend and film expert Jake Jacobson.

Lloyd’s film, “Who is Norman Lloyd?” from 2007 premiered at the SFF and I enjoyed speaking with him about Chaplin, Welles and Hitchcock and other legends he knew.

Second, I was saddened by the passing of fellow Greek and Oscar winning actress, the great Olympia Dukakis. I remember her warmth and generosity. At one interview, with my own big fat Greek family sitting close by—she grabbed my face and gave me a kiss on the cheek—much like an aunt would after not seeing me for a while. It was a Moonstruck moment for sure. When my Aunt Mary (Thea Maria in Greek), who had no filter, walked into our shot during the live interview, Olympia looked at me and gave me an understanding wink.

Amid all the pandemic’s challenges, the 23rd Sarasota Film Festival proved unique and memorable. Kudos to Mark Famiglio and his entire staff for pivoting and pulling this off so magnificently. So glad they did.

CineBistro was a gracious host and served as a wonderful venue.

Finally, thank you to all the filmmakers and dreamers out there who dug deep into their souls to find the courage to tell their story. I can’t wait to discover what gems I’ll see and people I will meet at next year’s festival.

I guess I was wrong. I do like sequels after all.

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THE

2021

“GUSSIE” AWARDS

RITA MORENO: JUST A GIRL WHO DECIDED TO GO FOR IT Director Mariem Perez Riera I’ve seen 23 opening night films and this is my favorite of all at the SFF. Why? I must confess, I have a crush on Rita. But who doesn’t? This documentary is entertaining, engaging and spicy like the film’s protagonist, who as she says, “is one Puerto Rican broad that wouldn’t give up.” This EGOT winner can now add a Gussie to her awards shelf that already features an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony.

MY OCTOPUS TEACHER Directors Pippa Ehrlich & James Reed I know this documentary is on Netflix. But if you ever get a chance to see it on the big screen, I beg you to drive there safely and quickly and take a bunch of people that you love to see it with you. You’ll thank me later. A masterpiece! A film that will make you a better person.

STATE OF RODEO Director Scott Barnett From the department of “I didn’t know that,” this documentary film tells about the significant role the sunshine state has played for over 500 years in keeping the rodeo tradition alive. It also explores what binds generations of Floridians—from Native American cow keepers to pioneer cracker families. Fascinating!

BEST SUMMER EVER Directors Lauren Smitelli & Michael Parks Randa A high school football player and a gal he met at summer camp cross paths back at high school. This musical sounds a little like Travolta and Olivia’s Grease, but goes big on heart and originality. See it and be surprised.

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ORIGINAL SPLENDOR

ICON

Director Allen Clements; Producers Sean Greenspan & Karen Rushing

Director Tony Ahedo

From the category of “Thanks for restoring this treasure,” the Gussie proudly goes to this documentary film that not only covers the restoration of fabulous historic Sarasota County Courthouse, it allows us to pause and think as development hits overdrive and ask the question: “What other treasures can we save before it’s too late?” Bravo!

A heartwarming personal story of a boyfriend and his girlfriend confronting the complexities of young love. When a surprise pregnancy complicates their carefree youth, the drama reaches new heights in this honest and real coming of age film. Ahedo’s direction is restrained and sensitive and Parker Padget and Devon Hales are a joy to watch on screen. A glimpse into the future and what surely will be great film careers for all three.

DANGEROUS LADIES Directors & Producers Charles Clapsaddle & Kate Alexander Sadly, it took women years to earn the right to vote. This wonderfully informative documentary reveals the treacherous path and the painstaking effort it took to get here. Stories are masterfully woven together from informative interviews, readings, songs, poetry and wonderfully acted scenes by some of the area’s greatest actors. The result is an engaging, entertaining, and educational film experience. When someone asks you what a suffragist is—don’t google it. I vote for you to show them this film instead.

CENTIGRADE Director Brendan Walsh with Genesis Rodriguez & Vincent Piazza Just the kind of film that festivals were made for. Original, challenging, and raw. Some viewers will see it as a satisfying and innovative experiment in filmmaking. Others will find the narrative of a husband and his pregnant wife trapped in a car after a monumental snowstorm, too claustrophobic and too intense. Whatever your take, it’s a compelling tale of survival accompanied by great acting. It leaves the viewer to ponder what they would do if placed in the protagonists’ shoes or in this case—their car.

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RAW HONEY

G’S SOUTHERN KITCHEN

Director James Berry

Director Colin Reid

A short and sweet documentary whose main ingredients include the perseverance and passion of a young Sarasota beekeeper named Rye, who will make you see bees and honey in a whole new light. A must-see film for all those seeking their own path in life.

Inspirational. Eye opening and like honey itself—a film that’s good for you.

We all know how hard the restaurant business is. Try succeeding when the golf course where your soul food joint lives closes. Chef Gordon Gregory takes on these challenges and others with a likeable attitude that will have you pulling for him. Your mouth will water at the sight of his signature chicken sandwich—leaving no doubt his bird will give big chicken joints a run for their money. His special ingredient? Soul.

DREAM HORSE Director Euros Lyn I love horse movies. Period. I’ve seen three in recent years at the Sarasota Film Festival that I consider minor classics: The Rider, Lean on Pete, and Mustang. This year’s entry, Dream Horse, will steal your heart. You’ll pull for Toni Collette and Damian Lewis and an eclectic and eccentric cast of Welch characters in this true and inspirational story of a horse named Dream Alliance. You will laugh, might even cry, and will definitely finish in the money. A feel-good film at a time we need it most.

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Education MATTERS

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

SERVING THE COMMUNITY: WOMEN’S RESOURCE CENTER Founded in 1979 by a coalition of 19 local women’s organizations in Sarasota and later expanding to Manatee County, the Women’s Resource Center has been making a profound difference in the lives of local women ever since. While the organization has grown and changed in a lot of ways, their mission says it all—to engage, educate, enrich, and empower women of all generations.

To accomplish that goal, this impressive nonprofit organization offers a host of services to women 18 and up in our community. From health and wellness programs to financial support services and empowerment classes, they have a range of services to help anyone with just about any challenge they might face. And if the Center doesn’t have the appropriate expertise for a specific situation, they rely on their growing list of community partners and refer people to the perfect match to address their needs.

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One of the core services they provide is career development, and a key component of this program is career coaching.

Volunteers sit down with people to help them see what a career journey might look like. If the client has no idea what they want to do, working through the information and questionnaire in a career kit helps them explore their options. If clients already know what they want, coaches help them develop or update resumes. They also offer mock interviews and give advice on salary negotiation.

Best of all, these services are free.

An additional related benefit is their amazing Career Closet. “When I first walked in and saw what they had,” says Lori Gentile, the Director of Client Services, “I was hooked for life. It’s so beautiful.” Set up like a little fashion boutique, the Career Closet is offered both in Sarasota and one in Bradenton. “Any client can come get clothing for job interviews or get them through the first week of work. We also have clients just coming in simply because they need clothes, jewelry, shoes, or accessories.” Clients can choose up to five outfits every six months. For free.

The Center also keeps an up-to-date job list to help clients find a career match. Local and national employers contact the Center—sometimes weekly!—to update available job

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— LORI GENTILE opportunities. A monthly Career Connections webinar gives people the opportunity to learn about jobs or training opportunities in our region.

Another way that the Center helps change lives is through scholarships. This past year, they awarded 47 scholarships.

“The money isn’t just for colleges and universities,” Gentile notes. “It can also be used for certification courses and other professional-level training.” Recipients get more than money, too—they’re assigned an advocate who checks in on them to see how they’re doing and help them stay engaged with the Center.

V I S I T S C E N E S A R A S O TA .C O M A N D S U B S C R I B E TO O U R E- N EWSLET TERS + F O L LOW U S O N S O C I A L !

Gentile admits that their staff is small but mighty.

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Career Closet

she’s done all her life. And Gentile’s highest goal in retirement was to help women and girls.

at the Center last year, it’s hard to believe that they only have 15 employees besides her, and only 11 are fulltime. “We rely on about 120 volunteers to provide the majority of services you find on the services page of our website,” Gentile says. “The financial consulting, legal consulting, the computer tutoring, mental health counseling, all the workshop instructors—those are volunteers right from our own community.”

Gentile herself started with the Center as a career coach volunteer two years ago after a career at McAfee and Intel where she ran teams worldwide. She’s been in Sarasota since 2005, though, because it didn’t matter where she lived with those jobs “so long as I had internet and a mobile phone and was near an airport.” A born-and-bred New Yorker, she came to love Sarasota for the same reasons we all do.

When she retired, Gentile quickly got involved in the world of nonprofits by working with the Education Foundation of Sarasota County. Then she volunteered at the Center, and before long, the funding for the Director of Client Services position was secured.

“I looked at the job description and it had my name written all over it,” Gentile says, because the job duties were all about mentoring and coaching—which

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With her corporate background in learning and development, taking on this job just made sense.

These days, she happily supports the mission of helping women not only survive, but to thrive financially and emotionally. The latter point is key with her. “Before you can even think about moving on in your career or growing and learning, you have to be emotionally healthy.”

Mental health counseling is one of the Center’s biggest growth areas by far, because the demand for it skyrocketed as a result of COVID-19. Almost 2,000 people sought mental health support with them last year alone.

As much as Gentile and the Center are doing to make a difference in our community, what surprises her the most is how big the need is. “When I worked with the Education Foundation, I learned that 52% of kids in Sarasota were on free or reduced lunch.

I was shocked!” And now that she works with the Center, it’s even more clear to her how many people are struggling in such a variety of ways right in our own backyard.

But Gentile wants people to know that the Center is here to help. “Any woman can call us for any need, and we will respond. We’re here for you.”

F O R M O R E IN F O R M AT IO N

about Women’s Resource Center, please visit www.mywrc.org

on the town

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Experience Mexico on Florida's West Coast! www.mipueblomexican.com

Bee Ridge 941.379.2880

University 941.359.9303

Venice 941.486.0005

Please call each restaurant for individual opening hours.

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Best SEATS PERFORMING ARTS CALENDAR JULY / AUGUST 2021

ASOLO REPERTORY THEATRE 941.351.8000 / asolorep.org Monday Musical Moments Every Monday Online Engage: On Air Every Wednesday Online FLORIDA STUDIO THEATRE 941.366.9000 / floridastudiotheatre.org FST Improv Presents: Life’s A Beach July 26 – 31

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HERMITAGE ARTIST RETREAT 941.475.2098 / hermitageartistretreat.org 2021 Hermitage Stars July 17 MANATEE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 941.749.1111 / manateeperformingartscenter.com Roald Dahl’s Matilda Jr. The Musical July 16 – 17 SARASOTA OPERA 941.328.1300 / sarasotaopera.org Classic Movie: Moonstruck July 24 HD at the Opera House: Manon Lescaut July 25 Classic Movie: Pillow Talk August 7 HD at the Opera House: Orphee et Eurydice August 8 SARASOTA ORCHESTRA 941.953.4252 / sarasotaorchestra.org Sarasota Music Festival, Various Artists Through July 24

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VAN WEZEL PERFORMING ARTS HALL 941.953.3368 / vanwezel.org Cabaret on the Bay: Lauren Mitchell July 9 – 10 Randy Rainbow: The Pink Glasses Tour August 25 VENICE THEATRE 941.488.1115/venicetheatre.org Young Frankenstein Through July 17 Once Upon a Mattress July 30 – August 1 An Act of God August 27 - Sept 5

V IS IT S C EN ES A R A S O TA . C O M To submit your event for consideration, please send information to scenemagazine@scenesarasota.com

at home

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Alfstad and Contemporary Art Uptown — Evelyn McCorristin Peters

MARA Art Studio and Gallery

artSCENE VISUAL ARTS CALENDAR JULY / AUGUST 2021

ALFSTAD AND CONTEMPORARY

ART REVIEW SRQ

DABBERT GALLERY

941.306.3278 / artreviewsrq.com North American Fine Art Collection (1700 - 1900) Current Limited Edition Serigraph Current European Fine Art Collection (1700 - 1900) Current Abstract Art Current

941.955.1315 / dabbertgallery.com Summer Showcase Through September 28

EMBRACING OUR DIFFERENCES OUTDOOR EXHIBIT 941.404.5710 / embracingourdifferences.org 2021 Exhibit, Nathan Benderson Park Through August 8

941.366.6400 / alfstadand.com Christophe von Hohenberg: Warhol’s Last Party: Pictures from the Memorial Through August 24

ART UPTOWN

ENGLEWOOD ART CENTER

941.955.5409 / artuptown.org Beneath the Surface: William Swanson Through July 30

941.474.5548 / ringling.edu/eac Left Coast Connections: Mitchell + Mangrove Galleries Through July 5

ARTCENTER MANATEE

CHASEN GALLERIES

HELMUTH STONE GALLERY

941.746.2862 / artcentermanatee.org From The Mind’s Eye Curious Looks by William Perry Through August 6

941.260.5787 / chasengalleries.com Matthew Scott Myers Current

ART CENTER SARASOTA

941.953.6163 / creaturogallery.com Artworks of the 30’s, 40’s Contemporary and Sculpture Through July 31

941.260.9703 / helmuthstone.com Auction: Important Private Collection of Chinese Antiques, American and European Fine Art, Estate Jewelry August 1

941.365.2032 / artsarasota.org Cycle 6: Regional Show, Open, All Media, Juried Show July 23 – August 20

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Dabbert Gallery — Beau Wild

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CREATURO GALLERY

LIGON FINE ART 832.361.0308 / angelaligonart.com Contemporary Original Artwork from Local Artists Ongoing

ArtCenter Manatee — William Perry

Sarasota Art Museum

Southern Atilier

North Port Art Center — Zoe Hale

Art Review Srq — Jose Royo

Synergy August 6

MARA ART STUDIO AND GALLERY 941.914.8110 / marastudiogallery.com WOMXN: together for art Through September 24

Saito Kiyoshi: Graphic Awakening Through August 15 Skyway 20/21: A Contemporary Collaboration Through September 26

SARASOTA ART MUSEUM

941.400.2478 / sarasotartmuseum.org Unraveling: Aranda\Lasch and 941.423.6460 / northportartcenter.com Terrol Dew Johnson North Port Art Center Youth Art Show: Through September 26 Art from Youth Art Camp and Youth Classes THE SOUTHERN ATELIER Through August 6 941.753.7755 / southernatelier.org Get Inspired by a Second Chance: Miano Apprenticeship Tweak or Redo an Abandoned Biennale 2021 Art Project Through August 26 Through August 27 Emerging Artist Showcase STAKENBORG/GREENBERG FINE ART August 9 – 27 941.487.8001 / stakenborgfineart.com Appice Heck Drum City— Virtual Exhibition RINGLING MUSEUM OF ART Current 941.388.7526 / ringling.org A Centennial Celebration: The Sarasota Chamber STATE OF THE ARTS GALLERY of Commerce and the Ringling 941.955.2787 / sarasotafineart.com Through August 27 URBANAQUARIUM Sam Gilliam: Selections Surf, Submerge, Swim, Coral, Through August 15 Anemone, Sea, Life, Coastal, Horizon Current

NORTH PORT ART CENTER

WELLEN PARK GALLERY/ WELCOME CENTER 941.999.4822 / wellenpark.com Watercolors and Pastels

by Kathleen Hartman Through September 26 Fused Glass by Pauline Sticker Through September 26

WILLIAM HARTMAN GALLERY 941.955.4785 / wmhartmangallery.biz Art From Nature Current

WILLIAM KELLEY GALLERY williamkelleyart.com “Alaska” Through August 31

WYLAND GALLERIES 941.955.4785 / wylandgalleriesofthefloridakeys.com/ wyland-gallery-sarasota-2 Jim Warren August 6 – September 11

T O S U B M IT YO U R EV EN T / EXHI BI TI O N F O R C O N S ID ER AT ION , please send information to gina@scenesarasota.com JULY/AUGUST 2021 | SARASOTA SCENE

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meet artist

ELLEN KANTRO “I find inspiration in many places,” says mixed media artist Ellen Kantro, the newly elected president of Art Uptown Gallery, “but in abandoned buildings and distressed surfaces in particular. I’m influenced by the patterns of decay, and how traces of time and nature re-shape our surroundings.”

Her work on panel strives to hint at what was, and what still remains.

She begins each new painting by layering the surface with simple marks, paper, random color blocks, or typographical elements. Numbers, characters, cursive hand lettering, or foreign alphabets are obscured under layers of paint, revealing themselves unexpectedly.

“Each element informs the next, and the process becomes largely intuitive,” says Kantro. Layers of paint and paper get laid down, scraped off and painted over until a history develops.

“Each element that I add (or remove) creates a problem that I need to solve which is both exasperating and liberating,” she says. “I enjoy building up and obliterating layer after layer. What emerges is always unpredictable and open to interpretation.”

To view more of her works, stop by Art Uptown Gallery (1367 Main Street) or visit her website www.ellenkantro.com.

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Beach Reads W hat’s better than lying in a lounge chair, toes tucked into the sand, relaxing to the sounds of breaking waves, all while immersing yourself in a great story?

This month, we feature a couple of exclusive short reads by Florida authors for you to enjoy.

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Beach reads

The Band Played On

by Grier Ferguson | Illustration by Darcy Kelly-Laviolette Milton’s gray wool cap was worn, but he was not a man to leave the house without a cap, even on a warm London morning in July.

As he placed his cap atop the few white wisps of hair he had left, he looked in the entryway mirror. Adjusting the hat so it pointed straight to the front, he glanced down at the photograph tucked into the space between the edge of the mirror and its wood frame.

The photograph was not the nicest one he had of her – it was not the one taken by the professional at their wedding that he kept in a frame in the living room – but it was his favorite photograph. He snapped it as they left for a weekend at Brighton Beach in 1955, a couple of years after they got married.

Just as she stepped onto the train that day, she had turned to look back at him. He had said something he could no longer remember and she had started to laugh, her head tilting back and her strawberry blonde curls falling on her shoulders.

Milton winked at the photo as if his late wife would leap off the glossy paper into the hall. He waited a moment, almost as if to give it a chance to happen, and then he ducked his head down, picked up the umbrella he kept by the mirror, and opened the front door.

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Squinting as he looked up at the sun, Milton noticed there weren’t any clouds in the sky. But he was a practiced Londoner, always prepared with umbrella in hand. Plus, he liked that it doubled as a distinguished walking stick.

As he walked down the block to the West Ham Tube stop, he began to perspire underneath his long-sleeve button-down shirt and tan wool vest.

Maybe another shirt would have been better today and maybe he should have left the vest at home, but he wore a rotating combination of wool cap, wool vest, and wool trousers every day, and this day was no different. He was used to wearing a uniform.

When he got to the station, he stepped lightly onto the escalator and then off of it when he reached the busy platform.

Once the right train arrived, he timed his entry so that he wouldn’t be jostled or even toppled in the initial hurried exodus of passengers. The umbrella came in handy here, and Milton used it to pace himself and make steady progress to the car.

“Sorry,” Milton said as he lost his balance just a little on the platform and grazed the side of a man in a suit carrying a briefcase.

Beach reads “So sorry,” the man said back, not missing a beat of British civility.

his hand up to the brim of his cap to shield his eyes from the bright sunlight. A block or two away, he could hear it.

The man made sure Milton was steady on his feet and then hurried off into the crowd leaving the station.

The notes were rising on the air, the drumbeats echoing toward him, then away from him.

Milton stepped into the car and found a seat across from a young girl with a backpack and pleated skirt seated next to her mother. He pulled his cap down again to make sure it was secure on his head and then smiled at them.

He walked closer. Soon he could see the red of their uniforms against the sea of tourists in t-shirts, shorts, and flip flops.

“Aren’t you hot?” the girl asked.

“Jenny, don’t be rude,” her mother scolded. She turned to Milton. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s ok,” Milton said. “I am a little warm, but I’m used to it.

I used to wear wool when I played.”

“When you played?” the girl asked.

“I was in a band,” Milton said. “I played the trumpet.”

The train slowed, and Milton held onto the metal pole by his side to keep from leaning into a teenager with a jet-black mohawk.

“This is our stop,” the girl said as she and her mother stood up. “Bye!”

A girl who looked to be about three sat on her dad’s shoulders to get a better look. A pregnant woman stood with her hand on her back watching as they passed by. A young man in a camouflage shirt saluted.

Milton was standing right in front of the band now, but they kept moving, making their solemn, steady way from Wellington Barracks to Buckingham Palace, leading the New Guard.

For a moment, Milton closed his eyes and the drumbeats and the crowd and the Palace faded away so the only sound he heard was the trumpets. And then, a second later, just a single trumpet, sounding its brave, triumphant tune.

When he opened his eyes, the Old Guard was handing the Palace keys to the New Guard as the band played on.

Milton pushed out of the crowd and found a clear path of pavement. The band began to lead the Old Guard’s procession back to Wellington Barracks, and he followed along, keeping up in time as he hummed along to the music.

“Have a nice day,” the mother said.

They stepped off the train, and Milton hoisted himself out of the seat with his umbrella and stood up. He had reached his destination, too – St. James’s Park station.

The time was getting close. He had walked slower today and gotten on a later train than usual.

When he emerged from the station, he squinted and put

He would walk with them back to the barracks, then make his way to St. James’s Park station and take the Tube home to West Ham again where he would enjoy a late lunch and an early supper and then head to bed.

The next morning, he would wake up at eight and begin to get ready. When it was time to leave, he would stop in the entryway to straighten his cap in the mirror, wink at the photograph of his wife, and set out for the Palace.

about the author GRIER FERGUSON Grier Ferguson is director of communications for Church of the Redeemer. Previously, she was a reporter and editor for the Business Observer newspaper. She has a degree in journalism from the University of Florida. A trip to London inspired the character of Milton.

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An Excerpt From

The Custard War

by Stacy DeKeyser Illustrations by Darcy Kelly-Laviolette

The summer of 1948 started off with a bang.

There I was on that first morning, still half asleep. I could stay in bed for another hour if I wanted, and dream about everything that would make this the best summer of all time.

No more sixth grade—ever. Swimming at the lakefront.

Ballgames at Orchard Field. Polar bears on the loose...

Polar bears?

I jumped out of bed and got dressed quick, straining to hear the voices floating up the stairs from the kitchen radio...

We interrupt this program to repeat a special report.

RAY: Ahem. Shortly after six AM, the beast was apprehended by police officers and returned to the zoo without incident.

BOB: Without incident? What about poor ol’ Clem? He almost got his butter churned!

RAY: This is no time for jokes, Bob. BOB: Who’s joking?

RAY: Shortly after five o’clock this morning, a full-grown polar bear was reported missing from the city zoo. The half-ton critter—

RAY: This concludes our special report. We now return you to your regularly scheduled program.

BOB: It says here his name is Frosty.

I raced downstairs and busted into the kitchen just as Ma snapped off the radio. She glared at it like it had personally insulted her. “Now we have to move!”

RAY: —was spotted an hour later by one Clement Baratka, a local milkman, who reported that the bear knocked over a backyard fence and spilled trash cans.

Pop looked up from his newspaper. “Move? Why? More coffee, please.”

BOB: I’ll bet that milkman spilled a gallon or two, if you know what I mean!

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Ma sloshed coffee into Pop’s mug and clanked the pot back onto the stove. “You weren’t listening? It’s too dangerous, living only three blocks from that zoo. We will be attacked by wild animals!”

Beach reads “So I didn’t dream it?” I said. “A real polar bear? Roaming our neighborhood? I gotta go tell Ace.”

“Oh no?” said Ma. She plopped plates of eggs in front of me and Ace. “What about 1929?”

“Don’t go outside, Nicky!” hollered Ma. “It’s dangerous!”

Ace and I looked at Spiro, who shrugged and looked at Pop.

“But Ma,” I told her, “the radio said that they already took it back to the zoo. Besides, I’ve lived here for twelve whole years so far, and I’ve never seen a wild animal coming up the sidewalk.” Which was kind of disappointing, now that I actually thought about it.

Pop frowned for a second, and then his bushy eyebrows shot up from behind his glasses. “Oh, that? Almost twenty years ago! Only a few monkeys. We don’t need to move just because the wild animal escapes from the zoo once every twenty years. You don’t have to worry again until … 1968!”

“Wild animal?” It was Uncle Spiro, coming down the stairs behind me. He was dressed for work in his white shirt and bowtie. His soda-jerk hat was folded flat and tucked into his shirtfront pocket.

Uncle Spiro stirred his coffee. “How on earth do you remember that date, Athena?”

“A polar bear escaped from the zoo this morning!” I told him.

Ma finally sat down and fanned herself with her apron.

“How I could forget? It was right after the stock market crashed.”

Uncle Spiro sat down while Ma served him eggs and coffee.

“Can’t think of anything better.” Then he looked up. “No kidding. An actual polar bear?”

Pop nodded thoughtfully. “I remember now. The stock market, it crashed down. And the monkeys, they crashed out!” He laughed and slapped the table.

“Roaming the neighborhood for a whole hour!” I said.

“He scared a milkman!”

“Monkeys got out?” I said. “Jeepers! What happened?”

Spiro laughed. “I’ll bet he did!”

The back door swung open and hit the wall with a bang.

There was Ace, still in his pajamas. “Nick! Did ya hear?”

“Ace! Kali mera,” said Pop, which means “good morning.”

My folks were born in Greece, so a lot of what they say is in Greek. I don’t think they even realize it.

“Close the door!” hollered Ma. “Wild animals!”

Ace shut the door behind him. “And I slept through the whole thing! Something sure smells good.”

Ma cracked an egg into the pan. “Fried or scrambled?”

“I’ll tell you what happened,” said Ma. “Monkeys. They got out!”

Uncle Spiro folded his napkin and stood up. “Time for me to make like a monkey myself. Athena, where’s my clean apron?”

“On the wash line,” said Ma, waving toward the back door.

Uncle Spiro is Pop’s younger brother. He’s lived with us forever. About a month ago he started his own business: a frozen custard shop called Sparky’s. He’s really proud of that place. He goes early every day just to polish it up and admire how nice it looks. He’s doing good business, too. In fact, he’s so busy that he hired me to work for him every Saturday afternoon. That’s fine by me, since that’s where I’d be anyway, so I might as well get paid.

“Fried, please,” said Ace. “Over easy.”

Ace is my best pal. He lives next door. He likes to think he also lives with us, especially when something’s cooking.

“What kind of world we are living in?” muttered Ma, cracking more eggs. “Dangerous animals escaping all the time.” She turned and shook her spatula at me. “Nicky, you stay in the house this summer.”

Pop folded his newspaper. “Athena, you worry too much.

These things, they don’t happen all the time.”

“I’m going, too,” said Pop, reaching for his fedora. “Nicky, nine o’clock, neh?” Pop owns the Elegant Shoe Repair and Hat Shop. I shine shoes there every Saturday morning. It’s not so bad. I get good tips from the customers, and it’s better than staying home and doing chores for Ma. And believe me, she wouldn’t even pay me.

So, it all works out okay.

“Sure thing, Pop,” I called after him. “Nine o’clock sharp.”

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Beach reads “I still think you should not go outside,” hollered Ma, as we all tumbled out into a world that (until very recently) was being terrorized by a confused polar bear.

I waited on Ace’s front porch while he ran inside and got dressed. It’s not like I can’t go in, but it was a nice morning and besides, whenever I go into that house Ace’s little sister tries to talk me into playing some goofy board game.

Plus, she cheats. I’ve learned that it’s best to wait outside.

A minute later Ace came out, eating a banana. He hadn’t bothered to comb his hair.

“I still can’t believe we slept through the whole polar bear caper,” said Ace as we walked toward the zoo.

Three blocks later, there it was. We could already see a bunch of people gathered in front of the bear dens.

We skirted around to the front of the crowd, which was mostly kids, a few fellas with notebooks and pens talking to Mister Stankey the head zookeeper, and even a couple of police officers.

Frosty sat there on the other side of his moat, looking around like he was wondering what the big deal was, and by the way did anyone bring any fish?

“What are you two knuckleheads doing here?” said a voice behind us.

I knew that voice. It belonged to Pete Costas.

Here’s what you need to know about Pete: He’s big, and he’s mean, and he’s been beating me up on a regular basis since second grade.

The problem is, I can’t avoid him. I saw him at school every day. At Greek school too, which is only once a week, but even that’s too much if you ask me. Thank goodness it was finally summer vacation. But I’d still have to see his ugly mug in church every Sunday. I sure hope God is paying attention, because I should get credit for putting up with Pete Costas.

I took a deep breath and turned around. “What’re you doing here, Pete?”

“I can be here if I want!” he said. “The zoo is public property.”

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“Is that so?” said Ace, sidling up to Pete (who was almost twice his size). “Looks like Frosty wasn’t the only smelly animal to escape from his cage today.” Pete’s the kind of kid Ace loves to pick a fight with. Big, but slow. One of these days, it’s going to get Ace into big, slow trouble.

Pete loomed over Ace and balled his hands into fists.

“You’re lucky there’s people around,” he growled. “Or else you’d be Frosty’s breakfast by now. You know how he loves marshmallows.”

“Who’re you calling a marshmallow?” said Ace, taking a step closer to doom.

“Hiya, fellas!” said another familiar voice.

It was Penny, who’s a friend of ours, even though she’s a girl. She’s a grade behind me, but taller, which bugs me a little, but she can’t help it.

She’s also a really good baseball player, which makes up for all the other stuff.

When they saw Penny, Ace and Pete forgot about trying to kill each other. Penny has that sort of effect on people. Maybe it’s her height, or the way she can blow a bubble as big as her head. But mostly it’s because Penny can strike out any batter on three pitches. That’s the kind of skill that earns you instant respect around here.

“Hiya, Penny!” said Ace. “Did you hear what happened? Frosty escaped!”

“I know.” She folded her arms across her chest and gave Pete the stink-eye. “Oh. Hiya, Pete.” She blew a bubble.

“Whatever,” said Pete. He turned and pushed his way through the crowd. But before he got as far as the police officers, he changed direction and took off across the grass.

“What did Pete want?” Penny asked.

Ace made a face. “Got lost on his way home to the reptile house. Come on, let’s go see what Mister Stankey is saying.”

“Good idea,” said Penny. “I bet those guys with pencils are newspaper reporters.”

She was right. When we got closer, we could see a tag on one fella’s chest that said Journal. Another fella had a

Beach reads card in his hatband that read Sentinel, and the third one’s tag said Chicago Tribune.

“Look at that!” I whispered. “There’s a reporter here all the way from Chicago!”

The Journal reporter was asking a question. “How’s the milkman doing, Mr. Stankey? Will he recover?”

Mister Stankey sighed. “The milkman is fine. There’s nothing to recover from, except maybe a bit of a startle.

I’m told he finished his route and is on his way home for a rest.” Mister Stankey pulled at his collar. For someone who was going to be in the newspapers, he did not look like he was having much fun at all.

The Tribune reporter pushed forward. “How did the polar bear get out, Mr. Stankey? Are you surprised that something like this hasn’t happened before? There’s no fence around this zoo. No gates. People can come and go as they please, any hour of the day or night. And so can the animals, evidently!”

“The zoo is part of the city park,” explained Mister Stankey.

“The good people of this city are entitled to free access to their park.”

The Journal reporter chimed in. “What about the animal enclosures? How can the public be sure they’re safe, when there’s nothing but a dry moat between them and huge beasts with fangs and claws?”

“Do you see that moat?” said Mister Stankey, sounding a little hurt. “It’s too wide to jump across. And the sides are too smooth to climb. I’m telling you, it’s impossible for an animal to escape under normal circumstances.”

The Sentinel reporter perked up. “Are you saying that the polar bear had help? Can I quote you on that?” He scribbled in his notebook.

“No, you can’t!” said Mister Stankey. “I have nothing more to say at this time.” And he squeezed past the reporters, looking a little pale.

But it did make me wonder: How did Frosty get out?

“I got it!” said Ace. “I know how I’ll never miss another escape from the zoo!”

“So tell us already,” said Penny.

“A paper route!” said Ace. “You know how Charlie’s always talking about getting up at four in the morning to deliver newspapers? If I got a paper route, I’d be out in the neighborhood every day, early. I’d never miss any of the good stuff ever again!”

“You’d miss some good sleep,” I said. “Besides, how do you know the good stuff will always happen at four in the morning?”

“I don’t know that,” said Ace. “But if it does, I’ll be ready.

Where will you be? In bed, getting your beauty sleep.”

Penny laughed out loud. “I’d like to see what you’d do if you saw a polar bear coming up the sidewalk at four in the morning!”

Ace’s ears turned red. “Oh, yeah? I was gonna invite you along one morning, so you could see for yourself. But now maybe I won’t.” He kicked at the grass. “I’m gonna go find Charlie and ask him how I can get a paper route.

See you two later.” And just like that, he stomped off.

Which reminded me. “Oh, jeepers, it must be almost nine o’clock! I gotta get to Pop’s shop!”

And I left poor ol’ Penny standing there with no one to talk to except Frosty.

Ace got his paper route, all right. He even snagged the perfect territory: All the streets around the south side of the park, including our street, and Mister Stankey’s office at the zoo. As it happened, the kid who already had that route had just quit. Apparently, he didn’t want to be out by himself, in the dark, roaming the same streets as marauding polar bears. His loss, if you ask me. But he was only too happy to turn over the whole route to someone else. So, on Monday, Ace started his very own paper route.

He lasted five days.

“This stinks,” said Ace on Friday morning after he’d finished his deliveries. We were sitting on the steps of his front porch. His hair was sticking up. His shirt was buttoned crooked, and his shoes were coming untied. I couldn’t tell if that’s what happens when you get dressed at four in the morning, or if he had an incident while he was delivering papers. I gotta admit, I was afraid to ask.

“My back hurts,” Ace groaned. “My feet hurt. My shoulders hurt. Do you know how much a satchel of newspapers weighs? Oh sure, they suck you in by starting you on a Monday. Monday’s edition is the skinniest one of the whole week! I tell ya, if you ever want to rob a bank, do it on a Sunday, because all the reporters are taking the day off.

So, you go along for a few days, and by Wednesday you figure it’s not so bad. But then on Thursday—BAM! The ad supplement. That makes the paper twice as thick and heavy. And I have to bundle all the sections myself before I even start delivering!”

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Beach reads day off, but I got his point about the Monday versus Thursday editions.

Just then, Penny showed up. She tilted her head at Ace. “What’s the matter with you? You look like you fell out a window.”

Ace just groaned.

“The new paper route,” I told her. “Feet hurt, shoulders hurt, Thursdays are the ad supplement.” And now Penny was pretty much caught up.

“Oh,” she said. She sat down on the steps with us. “How about using your bike? Maybe that’ll make things easier.”

“I tried that,” said Ace. “I kept falling over from all that weight. And the dogs! Don’t even get me started about the dogs.”

“But Ace,” I said, “if dogs are giving you trouble, what’re you gonna do when you see a polar bear?”

“That’s another thing,” said Ace. “Not a single polar bear all week! I’ve been getting up in the middle of the night for nothing!”

Penny tried being sensible. “Maybe you shouldn’t get your hopes up. What are the chances Frosty will escape again?”

“What were the chances the first time?” he asked. Which, I had to admit, was hard to argue with.

Penny blew a bubble and fiddled with her hair ribbon. As usual, it was losing the fight against her cloud of black hair. “How many papers do you deliver?”

“Sixty,” he moaned. “Every single day, except Sundays.”

Being his best pal, I realized it was my job to try and cheer him up. “Tomorrow is Saturday,” I said. “You get paid tomorrow, right? And then you’ll have a day off.”

“Yeah,” he said, perking up a little. But then he sagged again. “I’ll have to go around twice tomorrow—once to deliver the papers, and a second time to collect from all

the customers once they’re awake. Including the ones with dogs. I have to pay for all the newspapers out of that money, and I only get whatever is left! And now that my ma knows I’m doing something useful, she won’t let me quit. This stinks.” He dropped his head onto his knees.

Penny and I looked at each other and shrugged. What else can you say to a guy who already looks like he fell out a window?

Penny knew what to say. “Can I help?”

Ace’s head popped up. “Help what?”

“What do you think? The paper route. I could go along with you tomorrow, to learn the route. And then next week, we’ll each take half the route, and be done in half the time. We’ll split the pay fifty-fifty.”

Ace wiped his nose on his sleeve. “You’d do that for me?”

She shrugged. “It’d be nice to have some spending money.

And I wake up at four every morning anyway, ’cause that’s what time my dad leaves for work.”

Penny’s dad is a motorcycle cop. He rides a huge Harley, which you can hear from two blocks away even when he doesn’t rev the engine. One time he let me and Ace take turns sitting on it. I’m not even embarrassed to be seen in front of a girl’s house, as long as I can be seen sitting on a big ol’ police-department-issued Harley.

“I’ve never heard of a girl with a paper route before,” I said. “Is that allowed?”

Ace shrugged. “It’ll be four in the morning. Who’s to know?”

“Ace is right,” said Penny. “Gee whiz, Nick. You worry too much.”

“I’m not worried,” I said, even though something about the whole idea bothered me. But I just said, “I know you’ll do a great job, Penny.”

Ace perked up. “So do I,” he said. “Penny, you’re hired.”

about the author STACY DEKEYSER Stacy DeKeyser is the author of numerous books for young readers. Her most recent, The Rhino in Right Field (Simon & Schuster), has been included on award lists and summer reading lists across the country. The Custard War (forthcoming, date tbd) is its sequel. Stacy lives in Sarasota and Connecticut.

Visit her website at stacydekeyser.com.

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arts&culture

LITERARY Scene

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

THREE NEW TALKED-ABOUT YOUNG ADULT NOVELS

MEET CUTE DIARY (Quill Tree Books, May 2021)

BY EMERY LEE

Give a me a YA rom-com any day, and I’ll read it. But make it about trans love…and happy? Fascinating. That’s what Meet Cute Diary is—a non-transphobic book about young love that doesn’t look like teen crushes we’ve seen before.

(Content warning—panic attacks and mention of both a past suicide attempt and transphobia.)

In this story, Noah Ramirez runs a popular blog—the Meet Cute Diary. Here’s the problem. While it’s full of trans Happily Ever After stories, he’s made them all up.

As a closeted trans kid himself, Noah was just writing out his own fantasies and dreams without realizing these were becoming vital reading for trans readers all around the world.

Of course, a troll outs Noah’s blog as fake, so his world teeters on the edge of disaster. The only way he can think of to save face is to convince his readers that the stories are true. Enter Drew, a new kid who just might be willing to fake-date Noah and legitimize the Diary.

But will fake love turn into real love?

It’s a charming book that some might call fluffy. Noah, too, is a little self-absorbed and selfish, but he grows throughout the book. What really appeals, though, is the clear trans joy that’s at the heart of this rom-com with a bright pink cover.

It’s exactly the type of thing I can see being made into a Netflix original movie that gets recommended after you watch To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, The Kissing Booth, and Tall Girl.

RYAN’S RATING:

SISTERS OF THE SNAKE (HarperTeen, June 2021)

BY SARENA & SASHA NANUA

I’m a sucker for variations on The Parent Trap, and that’s essentially what Sisters of the Snake is. (Honestly, it’s far closer to The Prince and the Pauper, though I fully realize that not everyone will know the 1882 Mark Twain story or the various film versions ranging from the 1937 Errol Flynn one to the Hallmark made-for-TV version in 2000).

In this story by debut twin authors Sarena and Sasha Nanua, we follow two characters who themselves are twins. Ria is a street urchin with a hardscrabble life—she has to steal just to survive. And then there’s Princess Rani, who learns to slip free of the golden cage her life has always been. Plus, she’s sure there’s a way to be a good ruler without being ruthless like her father.

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arts&culture Both kids yearn for change, so swapping lives makes perfect sense to them.

It’s a fantasy story, no doubt about it, so expect deadly magic, mysterious temples, dark prophecies, and a mythic quest. Given all that, I’m tempted to go with a lower overall rating than what I’ll actually use here.

“What pulls this out of the realm of familiar tropes and storylines?” you ask. Great question.

I look forward to seeing more books by this pair of Canadian authors, whether it’s in this fantasy world or something new.

RYAN’S RATING: WWW.SARENASASHABOOKS.COM

South Asia is richly depicted here in memorable ways.

The sidekick characters (Amir, Seed, etc.) are rich and interesting. Sisters of the Snake is also a tale of sisterhood at its core, and we need more stories like that. Oh, and one final thing—the cover is really terrific.

COUNTING DOWN WITH YOU (Inkyard Press, May 2021)

BY TASHIE BHUIYAN

I didn’t mean to include two fake-date YA books in this month’s selections, but here you go. What can I say?

These were the ones my book people were talking about most.

Debut author Tashie Bhuiyan’s Counting Down with You is heavily marketed as a Bangladeshi-Muslim story by a Bangladeshi-Muslin author. That’s a good start, but what’s the story? Here it is—Karina is always following her parents’ advice, though she feels she’ll absolutely never live up to their expectations. What she wants is to study English in college. What they want is for her to be a doctor. Small wonder that anxiety is a thing in this story.

When her parents go away on a month-long trip back to Bangladesh, Karina tutors Ace, the school slacker/ bad boy. And tutoring leads to fake dating, because Ace said it, “Karina is my girlfriend.” He’s up for the part, though. He brings coffee, promised to buy her books, made her a playlist, wrote poems for her, and treats her right in pretty much every day. He’s maybe presented as too good of a guy for being the bad boy.

What happens then after a month of this, and her parents come back with their crushing expectations?

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And Karina still yearns for her thwarted dreams? Will Karina ever be the same again? Could she be?

A few things to consider—Karina’s friends come off as a little thin (Cori and Nandini feel fairly anonymous), but the grandmother is a total hoot, and not just because she’s willing to back Karina and her own dreams. Also, it’s 450 pages, and, wow, it feels like it sometimes.

If you’re looking for a different spin on a teen fake-date story, this might be for you because it’s painfully cute at times. Yet it’s more chock full of Gen Z and pop culture references than anything about Karina’s heritage or being Muslim, so if that’s what you’re looking for, this book might not fully deliver.

RYAN’S RATING: WWW.TASHIEBHUIYAN.COM

arts&culture

Laughing MATTERS TURNING 50

By Ryan G. Van Cleave | Illustrations by Darcy Kelly-Laviolette

B

etween the last issue of Scene Sarasota and this one, I turned 50. Yep. The Big Five Oh. Needless to say, I was totally…STOKED! It was a total, “Yeah, baby!” moment for me.

I’ve been waiting my entire life to be a cranky old man, and now it was here. Wahoo! Happy happy times!

Like dancing-in-my-underwear-to-“Old Time Rock ‘n Roll”-happy. The-kids-finally-rememberedto-turn-off-their-bedroom-lightswhen-they-left-the-room happy.

There’s-an-open-booth-for-theearly-bird-special-at-my-favoriterestaurant happy.

Best of all, I was going to get carded again!

Between us, this was the thing I was most excited about.

I could see it so clearly. Me sauntering up to the Hertz car rental place and demanding my discount via their 50+ program.

Kid behind the counter: Ummm…may I see some ID, sir?

Me: BOOM! There you go, young’ un—stick that driver’s license on your clipboard and park it! Gimme 10% off a hatchback rental. With a cassette player. And manual windows, too!

Or this scenario.

Kid behind the counter of the Brandon, Florida Krispy Kreme: Ummm…may I see some ID, sir?

Me: BOOM! Stick that driver’s license on your doughnut and glaze it! Gimme my 10% off a single chocolate iced with kreme filling, plus a small coffee.

Or this doozy.

Kid behind the counter of the Sarasota Steak & Shake: Ummm…may I see some ID, sir?

Me: BOOM! Stick that driver’s license in your paper hat and shake it! Gimme my 10% off a cup of vegetable soup, and a side of cottage cheese!

Poor Kid: Would you like a drink with that?

Me: Water.

Poor Kid: Gotcha. One Pure Life bottled water coming up.

Me: Bottled water? BWAAA HA HA! Why would I pay for water when you’ve got a perfectly good faucet right there?

Yeah, I’m making the most of being a senior citizen. I figured it’s part of the job description that’s in the Cranky Old Man manual I was still waiting to receive.

In short, things were going swimmingly.

Then my wife saw me combing through more senior discount program lists online and she said the Worst Thing Ever!

She told me I was 49.

We debated. We argued. We asked our high school kid to explain how math works.

The results? I’m 49. Apparently.

What this means is that I’m not yet authorized to officially say things like “Get off my lawn before I hit you with this rake!” Or even “I printed the directions off Mapquest.”

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arts&culture Since I’m still stuck in my 40s—which is the minor leagues of old age, if we’re being honest here—I guess I’m obligated to roll with the standard low-grade complaints of 40-somethings. Whining about “the Twitter.”

Groaning when bending over. Skipping out on a music concert if it involves standing. Getting loopy after a single glass of chardonnay.

Obsessing over The Weather Channel. Spending way too much money on lotion. Singing along with elevator music. Getting excited about the purchase of a new pill organizer.

Sigh.

The way I see it, I have three options before me.

Option One—Ride out this last awkward late-40s year by walking into a room and forgetting why I went in there.

Option Two—Start a “Ryan’s totally-for-sure 50!” campaign so I can enjoy the blissful crankiness I fully deserve.

Option Three—Go all Tom Cruise Mission Impossible style and break into the US Hall of Records to officially knock back my birthday year by, oh, a couple of spins around the sun.

While I’m most taken by Option Three—it’s possible I might’ve already mail ordered a black military commando suit and some heavy-duty climbing gear—my kids assure me that not only is the US Hall of Records NOT a real thing, that if it even existed, it wouldn’t have everything in big metal filing cabinets the way I imagined because it’d all be digital.

DIGITAL! “Maybe I can bust into those files on the interwebs,” I mumbled.

“Yeah, no,” they told me back.

“Go to your rooms!” I roared, then added, “Because I said so!”

Cranky Old Man in Training 1.

Dang-blasted kids 0.

Maybe my cranky 40s aren’t so bad after all.

Help make higher education possible.

Cassandra Holmes 941-752-5390 HolmesC@SCF.edu SCF-Foundation.org 98

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If you’ve had a run-in with math or old age that’s left you the worse for wear, I want to know about it. FAX the details to me ASAP at 555-5555555. Or make me a mixtape that will perfectly recreate the emotional response you had to your mishaps.

Of course, if you’re NOT yet a Cranky Old Person or the victim of a mathing mishap, I still welcome your complaints. Just get on the Google and rant about it there. I’ll notice. Promise.

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