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AUGUST 2026 contents departments
happening this month
Such a beautiful photo we had to share. Here’s this month’s WCW, Cassandra call
with her husband James Dennis shot in Glencoe, Scotland.
just some thoughts
West Coast Woman
This Month’s profile: Cassandra Calo
The most frequent question I get at WCW is how do you choose your cover? By that I know they mean how do we choose the woman who is going to be profiled and also appear on our cover.
My answer is a bit meandering and somewhat lengthy. I read local news in all its forms, but it’s more like scanning. And I get loads of press releases where I search for women’s names and what they do.
This month’s WCW, Cassandra Calo, showed up on my radar via social media which is becoming the most frequent source for story and profile ideas.
On Facebook, it might have been as simple as her gorgeous red hair that caught my attention, but at the same time I spotted Scottish apparel and bagpipes. I happen to love bagpipe music so I started to read her posts and go to her website.
Thus our profile of Cassandra will be the very first time we have a female musician who plays bagpipes. She’s a talented artist who plays several instruments. She was a Riverview High School Kiltie and has taught her craft to students there as well.
We met to go over photos and agreed to meet up later for an interview. But I couldn’t help but ask a few questions as I find her career so fascinating. Alas I didn’t have any paper with me - wha? So I took a paper bag and wrote my notes there.
I think you’ll enjoy learning about her, her career, her family and husband (all artists as well) and how you get that thing to make such a beautiful sound.
All Faiths Food Bank seeks summer volunteers
Summer is well underway and many part-time residents flee the state and escape the heat. It’s then that All Faiths Food Bank (AFFB) faces a significant volunteer shortage. From May through September, AFFB needs 800 volunteers to cover approximately 12,000 volunteer hours for its 60 planned outdoor mobile food distributions.
The need is particularly urgent over the summer as AFFB has its summer feeding program for children who may be experiencing hunger. This effort –funded through the Campaign Against Summer Hunger – provides food for local kids throughout the summer months, when they lose access to free and reduced-cost meals at school.
AFFB partners with the Sarasota and DeSoto County school districts, along with hundreds of community partners, to provide free, nutritious food to children all summer long.
Rick and Kelly Hornback have been volunteering for four years. Today, they volunteer every month at the Gocio Elementary School Pantry in Sarasota.
When asked what they find most rewarding, Kelly states it’s the people who come to pick up food at the pantry. “They share both the good and the difficult moments in their lives with us and remind us how much they depend on us being there,” she says. “They always thank us and give us hugs. We’ve even had the chance to meet their families and friends.”
“Our volunteers are essential in helping us to maximize our reach and impact, ensuring that we can carry out activities at a level that our professional team couldn’t achieve without their support. Our volunteers are the lifeblood of our operations and the heart of our mission to end hunger in our community,” said AFFB president and CEO Nelle S. Miller. “We understand that summer is a time when many people travel, and our usual volunteer base shrinks. But hunger doesn’t take a vacation.”
For more about All Faiths Food Bank or to learn how you can be a handson “Hunger Hero” this summer, visit allfaithsfoodbank.org/volunteer. Visit allfaithsfoodbank.org.
WIB - Women in Business
By now, I hope that you’ve noticed we frequently run features on women-owned businesses under the column header “Women in Business” or WIB as I call it. There is no shortage of women-owned businesses in our area and beyond. There are approximately 14 million women-owned businesses in the United States, which account for 39.1% of all US businesses.
Florida has a significant number of women-owned businesses, contributing to a rapidly growing part of the U.S. economy. The exact number can vary, but women-owned businesses have increased by 114 percent over the last 20 years, creating millions of jobs and generating substantial revenue.
This month we feature Feather & Stone Yoga in the Rosemary District. Erika Cain has a curated practice that serves women or men interested in a personalized experience versus just joining a class. Nothing wrong with classes and Erika does offer them, but her specialty is one-on-one with a holistic approach.
Elections
Only one out of three voters cast ballots in the last two Sarasota County primary elections. Let that dismal statistic sink in. And the ones who do vote feel strongly about their candidates - perhaps calculating if they vote, you won’t, and their candidate will win.
Whatever your affiliation, we have an important primary election on August 18. Almost every office from city to county to state and national are deciding which candidates will run in the general election in November. This is an abbreviated list or races. For the complete list, visit www.sarasotavotes.gov
Federal: U.S. Senator and U.S. Representative, Congressional Districts 16 and 17
State: Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Cabinet Members (Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer, and Commissioner of Agriculture). Also State Senate District 22, 73rd House District, 74th House District and 75th House District
County
County Commissioner Districts 2 and 4; Charter Review Board Districts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, Charter Review Board District 2 (2-year term)
Hospital Board Northern District Seats 1 and 2, Hospital Board Central District Seat 2 and Hospital Board Southern District Seats 1 and 2
School Board Districts 1, 4 and 5
Judicial
Supreme Court (retention vote)
Chief Justice Carlos Muniz
2nd District Court of Appeal (retention vote)
Judge Morris Silberman
Chief Judge Daniel H. Sleet
Judge J. Andrew Atkinson
Judge Andrea Teves Smith
Circuit Judges Groups 5, 10, 15, 17, 18 and 19 and County Judges Group 4
Municipalities
City of North Port District Seats 4 and 5
City of Sarasota At Large (both seats)
City of Venice Seats 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7
Town of Longboat Key Districts 1, 3 and 5
Election Day is Tuesday, August 18. Polls open 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.; vote-by-mail ballots must be received in the elections office by 7 p.m
Louise Bruderle | Editor and Publisher | westcoastwoman@comcast.net
We welcome your thoughts and comments on this column and on other columns and features in this issue. You can reach us at westcoastwoman@comcast.net. We’re on the web at www.WestCoastWoman.com.
Cassandra Calo Courtesy Image
Louise Bruderle Editor and Publisher
Hornback Kelly and Rick
Senior Friendship Centers Ambassador Association
Cochairing the Ambassadors allows me to connect with new and longtime friends! We’re a social and service group supporting the mission of the Senior Friendship Centers. I'd love to introduce you to the Ambassador Association!
~ Vindray Dudley
I have chosen to be a member and Cochair of the Ambassador Association because of my love for the organization. In the Ambassador Association, I’ve reconnected with friends and met interesting new people. A variety of fun, social, and educational programming is planned. Please join us!
~ Paula Falk
YOU are invited for a tour of our Sarasota Campus on August 6, 1:30 pm or Venice Campus on August 27, 3 pm and receive your 5-day trial to our Activity Centers’ expansive programs! RSVPs to gnugent@friendshipcenters.org
My tenure on the SFC Board has given me a front-row seat to the incredible impact of this organization. Through the Ambassador Association, I've enjoyed connecting with longtime supporters, making new friends, and welcoming new members.
~ Kevin Maisch
For more information please see our website
Erika Wise Borland, MA, Vice President
Susanne S. Wise, RN, MBA, CEO & Owner Courtney Wise Snyder, MSG, CMC, President
out & about
Editor’s Pick:
▼ The latest edition of the City’s Cultural Heritage Exhibit, “Echoes of Sarasota,” is on display. Sixteen pieces are being shown at City Hall and three at Van Wezel
Covering over 1,000 years of regional history, the collection features mural-size works by Frank Hopper and Regan Dunnick and highlights people, places, and traditions that have shaped the City. This free exhibit comes as communities around the country reflect on their shared heritage in recognition of America’s 250th anniversary.
To learn more about the City of Sarasota’s America 250 celebrations, including upcoming events and opportunities to participate, visit the City’s America 250 page. Learn more: Sarasotafl.gov/Echoes-ofSarasota. Be our to read the article in this issue.
Bookstore1 Events
▼ August 3, Write Night. Overcoming Isolation & Procrastination, Together. A monthly gathering for writers of all genres and experience levels.
August 5, The Script Society, a collaborative play reading series led by Roxanne Baker. Choose a Reader ticket if you’d like an assigned role and the chance to participate in the reading, or a Listener ticket if you’d prefer to sit back, follow along, and enjoy the performance unfolding around you. No pressure—no lines to memorize, no costumes. The group will read Caryl Churchill’s Top Girls, winner of the 1983 Obie Award.
August 19, The Script Society, a collaborative play reading series led by Roxanne Baker. Choose a Reader ticket if you’d like an assigned role and the chance to participate in the reading, or a Listener ticket if you’d prefer to sit back, follow along, and enjoy the performance unfolding around you. No pressure—no lines to memorize, no costumes. They’ll read Pulitzer Prize finalist The Minutes by Tracy Letts
August 25, The Banned Book Club will discuss Flamer by Mike Curato, a graphic novel depicting bullying and identity. Led by Bryn Durgin. Visit www.sarasotabooks.com/
At Fogartyville
▼ Fogartyville has Ronn McFarlane and Andrew McEvoy on August 14. The collaboration of Grammy-nominated lutenist Ronn McFarlane and acclaimed guitarist Andrew McEvoy is a pioneering effort in search of sympathetic resonance between the lute and classical guitar.
Both performers have been lauded for their efforts to transcend the boundaries of space and time, weaving together the music of different eras. The legendary sound of McFarlane is combined with McEvoy performing on a newly modified guitar using special strings that bridge the tonal gap between the modern guitar and the Renaissance lute.
Jim Lauderdale performs on August 15. He’s been a part of country music since 1991 when he released his debut album and began penning songs for an impressively long roster of country music greats. He has worked with people like Ralph Stanley, Robert Hunter, Loretta Lynn, George Jones, Emmylou Harris, Elvis Costello, Lucinda Williams and John Oates.
Will Johns Band performs on August 22. Accomplished British Blues artist Will Johns captures a blend of classic and modern Blues Rock in the studio and Live on stage. Visit www.wslr.org/fogartyville/.
At the Galleries
▼ The Parrish Arts Council (PAC) invites the community to celebrate its 2026 Members Art Exhibition, which features 23 local artists and photographers. The exhibition will remain on display in the ComCenter lobby through August 27 and may be viewed Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5p.m.
For more information about the Parrish Arts Council and its programs, visit www.ParrishArtsCouncil.org
▼ At Art Center Sarasota: August 20 - September 26: Molly Duff-Clarke, Shaping Sarasota:
A Century of Art and Antoine Williams
Molly Duff-Clarke invites viewers into a vibrant, life-sized world of ceramic furniture and domestic vignettes that reimagine the home as a space of unrestrained joy, texture, and playful reinvention. Through brightly colored ceramics adorned with yarn, velvet, and tactile excess, Molly explores the complexities of building a home and raising a family in today’s shifting cultural landscape. Duff-Clarke is a ceramic artist based in St. Petersburg.
Shaping Sarasota: A Century of Art marks the culmination of Art Center Sarasota’s 2025–2026 Centennial Season, presenting a chronological visual history spanning 100 years of creativity. This landmark exhibition features rich archival images that highlight the artists, influential members, and community leaders who helped shape the Center’s evolving identity and legacy.
From Marsha Rader’s 1926 gatherings of local art supporters, to the official incorporation of the Sarasota Art Association in 1941, the organization’s guiding mission—to “promote the educational and cultural advantages of Sarasota in the field of contemporary art”—has remained at its core.
Antoine Williams presents a new body of work that reimagines Black southern cultural folklore and traditions through a surrealist lens. Williams has exhibited nationally, including at Smack Mellon Brooklyn, the Nasher Museum of Art, The Weatherspoon Museum, 21c Museum, North Carolina Museum of Art, Prizm Art Fair, and the California Museum of Photography among others.
Location: 707 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Info: www.artsarasota.org
▼ The Arts Advocates’ collection of Sarasota Art Colony and Florida Highwaymen works is on permanent display in the Arts Advocates Gallery, which is open every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. Admission is free. To register, visit ArtsAdvocates.org
▼ The Chihuly Collection has Pattern and Pause, a special exhibition featuring new works by Morean Glass Studio artists Matthew Szidik, Kailey Carleton, and Kimberly Fahey. Inspired by the rhythms, patterns, and quiet beauty of the natural world, the exhibition invites visitors into moments of reflection through contemporary glass art that explores movement, stillness,
and transformation.
Presented annually, the Chihuly Collection’s featured artist exhibition highlights the work of artists who create and teach at the Morean Glass Studio, underscoring that exceptional glass art is not only made in the Pacific Northwest, where Dale Chihuly built his legacy, but also in St. Petersburg.
Matthew Szidik is a demonstration artist, narrator and instructor at the Morean Glass Studio, where he teaches summer camp, intermediate glassblowing, and flameworking workshops. Szidik describes his work as an invitation to imagination and reflection, aiming to transport viewers “out of their everyday routine and into a place of meditation.”
Kimberly Fahey joined the Morean Glass Studio in 2025 and serves as an introductory glassblowing instructor and assistant demonstration artist. S Inspired by sacred geometry and mandalas, her work combines glass and painting to explore meditation, movement and material connection.
Hailing from Massachusetts, Kailey Carleton is a beginning glassblowing instructor and demonstration artist in the Morean Glass Studio. In describing her work, Kailey states, “it explores the relationship between organic growth, memory and transformation…I am drawn to the stillness found in small, often-overlooked moments in nature and seek to evoke that quiet sense of presence within my work.”
Pattern and Pause will be on view through November 29, 2026, at the Chihuly Collection at 720 Central Avenue in St. Petersburg. For more information, visit MoreanArtsCenter.org
▼ Creative Liberties has these Artists in Residence at ARCOS through August 31:
Alina Olofinsky and Leah Brown Featuring the imaginative mixed-media and photographic work of Alina Olofinsky and the multidisciplinary explorations of Leah Brown, this
residency celebrates creativity, curiosity, and the power of art to inspire connection, emotion, and new ways of seeing the world.
Olofinsky, a graduate of Pratt Institute in New York City, works primarily in photography and acrylic mixed media. An active participant in Sarasota’s arts community, she will present “Love Dream Inspire,” a collection reflecting her imaginative approach to visual storytelling.
Brown is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice spans photography, watercolor and mixed media. Guided by curiosity and a deep appreciation for the human experience, her work explores emotion, wonder and the spaces where questions are often more valuable than answers. Through this residency, Brown hopes to deepen connections within the local arts community, experiment with new ideas and embrace the discoveries that emerge through the creative process.
Creative Liberties is at ARCOS, 340 Central Avenue, Sarasota. For information, visit CreativeLiberties.net
Lifelong Learning
▼ Adult & Community Enrichment (ACE) at Suncoast Technical College offers lots of art classes. In the last year alone, ACE had an enrollment of approximately 4,000 registrations in the arts. Their art classes run the gamut from Beginning Watercolor to Advanced Pottery - and everything in between.
No matter whether you are a beginner or an experienced artist, instructors work with you to maximize your skills. No supplies or not much time? Some classes supply all you need - and some classes are just one or two sessions. If a class you are interested in is full, join the waitlist. It’s free and there’s no obligation.
The summer 2026 term runs to September 18. Register at www. campusce.net/acesarasota
Museums
▼ Sarasota Art Museum of
Ringling College of Art and Design (SAM) has these exhibits:
Beautiful Ideas: The Prints of Sol LeWitt, runs to October 25 Regarded as one of the founders of both minimalism and conceptual art, Sol LeWitt (1928-2007) generated more than 350 print projects during his 40-year artistic career. This exhibition features over 100 of those prints, beginning with LeWitt’s earliest works and extending through his mature expressions in abstraction. Beautiful Ideas: The Prints of Sol LeWitt is organized in four thematic sections—”Lines, Arcs, Circles, and Grids,” “Bands and Colors,” “From Geometric Figures to Complex Forms,” and “Wavy, Curvy, Loopy Doopy, and in All Directions”—the exhibition reflects the bold geometric shapes and precise lines that defined LeWitt’s artistic style.
Something Borrowed, Something New features works by such modern and contemporary artists as Louise Bourgeois, Chuck Close, Yoko Ono, David Hockney, Ai Weiwei and more, this never-before-seen exhibition offers a rare glimpse into private collections held throughout Southwest Florida. From paintings, sculptures and prints to photographs and video works, Something Borrowed, Something New showcases a diverse range of artworks produced by some of the most prominent artists of our time. Complementing these borrowed selections, this show also features exciting new pieces and creates a dialogue between the works of late 20th-century trailblazers and today’s leading global artists.
Maria A. Guzmán Capron: New Works runs to September 27, 2026 Maria explores the complexities of identity through her figurative textiles in a new solo exhibition.
Born in Milan, Italy, to Peruvian and Colombian parents and later relocating to Texas as a teenager, the California-based artist understands first-hand the challenges of toggling between different cultures and geographies. Capron channels these personal experiences into her artwork, creating layered portraits of exuberant, multi-faceted characters. Common materials like cotton join with luxurious fabrics such as silk to explore power dynamics and hierarchies within society today. Through her use of various fabrics, Capron asks viewers to consider the way our own identities have been stitched together over time—beautiful, ever-evolving collages of ancestry, culture and life experiences. Capron’s plush, flowing figures merge, embrace and spill into one another, inviting us to recognize ourselves in others, see others within ourselves, and find comfort and beauty in being “in between.”
Info: www.sarasotaartmuseum.org/
▼ The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature has free admission weekends funded by The Rotary Club of Bradenton. Dates are: September 5-6; December 5-6 and January 9 and 10, 2027
The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature is turning up the volume this summer with the return of Laser Light Nights at the Planetarium Running through September 5, this experience transforms the Planetarium dome into a full-sensory concert event packed with synchronized lasers, immersive visuals, and iconic music.
Following another high-demand
Creative Liberties has Artist in Residence Alina Olofinsky at ARCOS through August 31
season, Laser Light Nights offers an expanded lineup featuring rock legends, pop superstars, themed throwback nights, and special event experiences throughout the summer.
Guests can experience laser shows set to the music of Queen, Pink Floyd, Elton John, Taylor Swift, Prince, Metallica, The Beatles, Lady Gaga, Foo Fighters, Journey, Michael Jackson, The Weeknd, and many more.
Special themed events include Swift Night: The Double Feature Event, Bishop After Hours laser experiences, and the Summer Time Rewind finale over Labor Day weekend.
Shows take place Thursdays through Saturdays with multiple evening showtimes throughout the season. Each performance combines cutting-edge laser projection, immersive sound, and music-driven visuals inside The Bishop’s all-digital Planetarium. Full schedules, showtimes, FAQs, and ticket information are available at: www. bishopscience.org
The Bishop Museum is located at 201 10th St W, Bradenton.
▼ The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art has:
In the Flesh: The Nude in Modern Japan, is on view to August 23, in the recently dedicated Charles and Robyn Citrin Gallery. Spanning from the 1920s to the 1980s, the exhibition features prints and a magnificent painting by Ishikawa Toraji, exploring how Japanese artists reimagined the nude over the twentieth century. Almost all of the works are images of women, reflecting the conventions of the genre, as well as the preferences of male artists and their audience. The assimilation of the modern nude into the Japanese canon is distinct in Japan, where, historically, representations of nudity had been largely limited to pornographic prints that flourished during the Edo period (1615–1868). However, in modern Japan, the artistic merit of the nude gained respectability and entered the repertoire of Westernand Japanese-style painting, printmaking, sculpture, and beyond. Shin hanga (New Prints) artists of the 1920s–30s, almost exclusively male, drew from the themes and sensibilities of eighteenth- to nineteenth-century ukiyo-e, catering largely toWestern audiences. While artists like Torii Kotondo created serene images of demure young women, Ishikawa Toraji’s racy paintings and prints of confident “modern girls” tested the limits of decorum. In the postwar era, life drawing sessions invited new explorations of form and surface texture in the work of Saitō Kiyoshi, while Maekawa Senpan reclaimed the nude in a multi-series ode to Japan’s hot spring resorts.
The Ringling’s newest exhibition, Unfolding Futures: Stories in Digital Design, is on view at The Ringling’s Community Gallery in the Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Center for Asian Art through August 11
The exhibition, presented by Suncoast Technical College, features the creative voices of emerging artists and designers, capturing their exploration of design, art, and illustration from the past decade. Works on view trace the evolution of student work as ideas move from early exploration to refined, portfolioready design.
The exhibit includes a variety of digital mediums, such as graphic design,
digital illustration, typography, and mixed media works that blend digital and traditional elements. Artworks will range from posters, branding projects, and illustrated narratives to conceptual art pieces and interactive digital designs, representing the wide spectrum of skills students develop in the program.
The Community Gallery, a free public exhibition space, is dedicated to displaying works from communitybased, non-profit, or student groups in the local Sarasota/Manatee area.
Exhibitions at The Ringling’s Community Gallery are always free to visit; visitors can check in at the museum’s Visitor Pavilion upon arrival and ask for a Community Gallery wristband.
The Ringling Museum has mixed-media visual artist Andrea Carlson’s first museum survey, Andrea Carlson: A Constant Sky. The exhibition features 16 works which are on view through November 15, 2026, in the Keith D. Monda Gallery for Contemporary Art. Carlson (descended from the Grand Portage band of Ojibwe and European settlers, born 1979), creates works that challenge the colonial narratives presented by modern artists, museum collections, and cannibal genre horror films. Utilizing a combination of text and complex visual references to animals, art objects, and cultural belongings, Carlson creates prismatic landscapes that foil American landscape genre painting.
Known for her intricate, colorful works drawn and painted with many different mediums, Carlson recently expanded her practice to include sculpture. The DAM commissioned Columns for a Horizon (2024–2025), a large-scale sculptural work which, when placed in front of Carlson’s painted works, obscures her imagined landscapes and encourages viewers to contemplate ideas of access and denial.
▼ The Ringling also offers tours:
Slow Looking Tour. Did you know that the average museum visitor only spends 15-30 seconds looking at each artwork? We invite you to slow down and experience in-depth engagement with just a few works of art. These special tours, appropriate for all levels of art enthusiasts, are designed to give you the time and space to discover new insights through close and careful looking.
This guided tour is free with museum admission and is offered on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month at 1 p.m. Price: Free with Museum
Admission Museum of Art Tour. Get acquainted with The Ringling’s art collection on these 40-minute tours. Led by volunteer guides, each tour is different and may include artwork from the Original 21 Galleries, Searing Galleries, Monda Gallery, or Chao Center for Asian Art.
This guided tour is free with museum admission. The tour is offered Tuesday through Sunday at 12:00 PM, 1 p,.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota. For additional information and hours, visit ringling.org
▼ The Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, presents Babs Reingold: After Venus, a pivotal exhibition on view through August 30, 2026
The exhibition features a collection of large-scale drawings, monotypes, and encaustic collages — many of which have never been publicly exhibited — by the acclaimed multidisciplinary artist Babs Reingold (American, b. Venezuela, 1954).
Based in St. Petersburg, Reingold is celebrated for her use of unconventional, tactile materials—including tea-stained silk organza, human hair, and rusted metal—to create visceral works. Her practice is deeply informed by her own history of poverty and displacement, themes she weaves into a broader commentary on the social inequities that shape our perception of the self.
In After Venus, she uses repetitive labor, organic textures and art historical appropriation to reflect on the body and agency.Centered on the After Venus series, the exhibition draws inspiration from Upper Paleolithic-era “Venus” figurines, notably the Venus of Willendorf (c. 30,000 BCE).
To provide historical context, the installation includes select objects from the museum’s permanent collection that examine the evolution of these enigmatic figures.
Among these is a Fertility Idol (Iranian, 14th–13th Century BCE), whose abstracted, symbolic form predates classical definitions of beauty, and a Red-Figure Column Krater (Greek, 440–430 BCE). The latter depicts Amazons, the mythic
warrior women of antiquity, serving as an ancient precursor to Reingold’s interest in the gendered power of muscularity.
From 1990 to 1998, Reingold delved into the world of women’s bodybuilding, finding a sense of empowerment in the chiseled bodies of female weightlifters. These figures stand in striking contrast to the soft, curvilinear, feminine ideals exemplified by works like the museum’s Torso of Aphrodite (Roman, c. 100–200 CE). By juxtaposing the smooth marble of the goddess with the hyper-defined musculature of modern women athletes, Reingold investigates how human bodies are policed and regulated, expressing a woman-centered strength that challenges traditional male-dominated narratives of art history.
For information, visit mfastpete.
org The Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, 255 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg.
▼ Tampa Museum of Art has Avant Garde: Remarkable Women in the Permanent Collection through April 4, 2027
The Tampa Museum of Art’s permanent collection of art continues to grow. Many recent acquisitions highlight art made by women who are celebrated both nationally and locally for their creative achievements.
The exhibition Avant Garde: Remarkable Women in the Permanent Collection features works by Selina Román, Ya La’Ford, Nneka Jones, Wendy Babcox, and Lorraine Genovar—all artists with roots in the Tampa Bay area. Avant Garde also features artists new to the museum’s holdings including Tau Lewis, Mika Rottenberg, Hannah van Bart, Kirsten Hassenfeld, and Quisqueya Henriquez alongside artists such as Alma Thomas, Niki de Saint Phalle, Marisol, Mernet Larsen, and Elisabeth Condon.
Here and Now: Selections from the Contemporary Collection runs to January 31, 2027. Here and Now: highlights key holdings and new acquisitions of contemporary art in the Tampa Museum of Art’s permanent collection.
As the works in this gallery demonstrate, contemporary artists portray life around them from the vantage point of observer, inquisitor, cartographer, or cultural historian.
Moreover, the works on view often blur the boundaries of traditional
media—for example, paintings may be enhanced with sculptural or photographic materials; the ready-made or found object serves as the source of inspiration; or an assortment of images creates a whole picture.
Jun Kaneko: Silence Before Sound runs to August 23, 2026
The exhibition Jun Kaneko: Silence Before Sound celebrates the Tampa Museum of Art’s recent acquisition of Jun Kaneko’s monumental sculpture Untitled (Dango).
Jun Kaneko: Silence Before Sound represents the first major exhibition of Kaneko’s oeuvre in Florida and will present an overview of the artist’s prolific career—from the early sculptures he made as a member of the influential California Clay Movement in the 1960s to the groundbreaking projects that blurred the boundaries of painting, ceramics, and sculpture. The title Jun Kaneko: Silence Before Sound serves as a metaphor for the artist’s creative process and the Japanese concept of Ma ( ), an idea defined as a pause in time. Each application of glaze and paint is carefully considered with the appropriate space between the mark or gesture. Eye of the Beholder The William Knight Zewadski Legacy runs to January 3, 2027. The treasures displayed in this exhibition reflect a very personal passion for ancient Greek and Roman art and archaeology, ancient theater and architecture — as well as their reception in modern prints and photography. Culled from the collection of William Knight (“Bill”) Zewadski, the works on view reflect the zeal of an amateur — in the true sense of the word. In addition, the exhibition is a testament to his immeasurable generosity to the Tampa Museum of Art over a period of four decades.
Eye of the Beholder is part of a series of exhibitions dedicated to the Museum’s permanent collection that have been on view since the Centennial Celebration. The photographs on view in this exhibition span the history of the medium itself from the early 19th century.
As such, they reflect the emergence of a new artform developed from an initial documentary approach. Over the years, Zewadski has donated innumerable antiquities, prints and photographs to two dozen organizations, including the J. Paul Getty Museum, the Kinsey Institute, the Library of Congress, the Michael C. Carlos Museum at Emory University (his alma mater), and the University of South Florida.
Since 1980, he has enriched the Tampa Museum of Art with over 1,240 invaluable works of art. The objects on view in this exhibition represent but a small yet evocative selection of Zewadski’s passions and serve to celebrate his enduring legacy to the Tampa Bay community.
Tampa Museum of Art, Cornelia Corbett Center, 120 W. Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa. www.tampamuseum. org/current-exhibitions/
The Outdoors
▼ UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County has these events:
Demonstration Garden Tour: Twin Lakes Park on August 17, 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon. Join Sarasota County Master Gardener Volunteers the third Monday of the month to explore the Floridafriendly gardens at Twin Lakes Park in Sarasota. The garden integrates beautifully into the natural environment, using Florida-Friendly
Fogartyville has Ronn McFarlane and Andrew McEvoy on Aug. 14
healthier you
Natural Care for Pelvic Congestion Pain
Have you had pelvic pain for more than six months that is worse after exercise, standing, or sex? Has this pain not responded wellenough to chiropractic, acupuncture, and massage?
If so, you could be suffering from pelvic congestion, a vascular problem.
Would you like to explore a conservative option before committing to surgery for this pain?
If so, visceral and vascular manipulation (hands-on manual therapy) could be right for you.
What is Pelvic Congestion Syndrome
Pelvic congestion syndrome is caused by poorly functioning veins that drain the pelvis. This causes blood to stagnate in the pelvis and possibly the legs. You could notice varicose veins in your legs or vulva, but not everyone has this. The symptoms of pelvic congestion syndrome are worse after exercise, standing, and sex because these activities increase arterial blood flow and will show any compromise of the venous system.
Both men and women can experience pelvic congestion. People who are at increased risk are heavier, have had multiple pregnancies, or have PCOS.
Some of the causes of congestion of the pelvic veins includes hormones, valve insufficiency, and venous obstruction.
The most common cause of pelvic congestion syndrome is compromise of the left ovarian vein. This is because it inserts into the left renal vein, so any perturbation of the left kidney can influence the pelvis.
Pelvic congestion syndrome accounts for about 30% of all chronic pelvic pain.
The gold standard for diagnosis of pelvic congestion syndrome is venography; an x-ray with contrast dye injected. Other screening tests include ultrasound, MRI/MRV/CT, and laparoscopy.
A person can experience pelvic congestion pain due to vascular compromise that does not meet the diagnostic criteria of pelvic congestion syndrome.
What Is Biomedical Treatment of Pelvic Congestion Syndrome
Biomedicine treats pelvic congestion syndrome with surgery or procedures to block the veins or remove them.
What Is Natural Care for the Treatment of Pelvic Congestion Pain
When I have a patient with chronic pelvic pain, I take a careful and extensive history. I look at all the prior imaging reports, and procedure or surgical reports. Lab is often not helpful for differentiating types of pelvic pain. After taking the history and reviewing reports I conduct a physical assessment using my eyes to look at your body and hands to palpate and feel what is happening in your body to possibly create the pain.
Visceral manipulation means using my hands to listen to the movement of the
organs in your body. Common organs and structures that are involved in pelvic congestion syndrome include the kidneys, the ovaries, the uterus, the liver, the respiratory diaphragm, and even the chest. People are often surprised that structures far away from their pain could be involved in producing the pain. This is because all of the blood in the pelvis needs to come all the way back to the heart. If there is any obstruction along the way, it could slow the blood return and contribute to pelvic pooling.
In addition to working with organs and structures that can obstruct the venous blood return, I work with the veins themselves so they can pull up blood better. I also work with the lymphatic system so the body is less boggy and there is less compression of the veins. Finally, I work with congestion of the interstitial fluid in the tissue so the fluid itself does not obstruct venous flow.
Often it is not enough to work with the visceral and fluid systems of the body with manual hands-on manipulation. Commonly I will use herbs to rehabilitate the veins. Wellknown herbs and nutraceuticals that support the venous system include horse chestnut, butcher’s broom, and bioflavonoids. Often we will also use enzymes like lumbrokinase or nattokinase to treat clots that are associated with slow-moving blood, and fish oil that helps make the blood more slippery.
Sometimes constipation is a contributing component to pelvic congestion pain. In that case we work with visceral manipulation, digestion, and nutrition to improve mobility of the bowels.
Typically we will also spend time retraining the breath and core engagement so there will not be pressure patterns pushing down into the pelvis and compromising circulation.
If you are suffering from chronic pelvic pain that is worse after exercise, standing, or sex and you aren’t ready for surgery, consider natural hands-on care with Dr. Caroline Peterson at Natural Women’s Health Institute in Sarasota, Florida.
Complex Cases
Natural Women’s Health Institute at Gulfgate Wellness 6981 Curtiss Ave #5, Sarasota, FL 34231
Landscaping techniques that you can adopt for your home or business landscape. There is no charge for this tour, but register at www.eventbrite. com/e/demonstration-garden-tourtwin-lakes-park-tickets to RSVP and receive notice of any changes. For questions or further information, call 941-861-9901. Similar classes or events often are offered on future dates.
Florida-Friendly Landscaping: Planting For Suncoast Songbirds is on August 27, 3-4 p.m. Learn how to identify a few of the most common and interesting songbirds. Then learn about what plants you can place in your landscape to help them thrive. Register: www.eventbrite. com/e/florida-friendly-landscapingtm-planting-for-suncoast-songbirds-registration Instructor is Forest Hecker, Florida-Friendly Landscaping Specialist, Sarasota County. For questions or further information, call 941-861-5000 or email sarasota @ifas.ufl.edu
At Sarasota Opera
▼ Classic Movies continue at the Opera House:
August 14—The Truman Show (1998) A modern classic in which a man gradually realizes his entire life is a meticulously constructed reality television show broadcast to the world. Directed by Peter Weir and starring Jim Carrey, Ed Harris, and Laura Linney.
August 28—Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971). A beloved musical fantasy that brings Roald Dahl’s story to life as children tour an extraordinary chocolate factory guided by the eccentric Willy Wonka. Directed by Mel Stuart and starring Gene Wilder, Jack Albertson, and Peter Ostrum.
September 4—The Princess Bride (1987) A fairytale adventure blending romance, comedy, and swashbuckling heroics as Westley sets out to rescue Princess Buttercup, framed as a story read by a grandfather to his grandson. Directed by Rob Reiner and starring Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, André the Giant, and Billy Crystal.
October 2—Pretty Woman (1990) A modern romantic comedy in which an unexpected relationship develops between a wealthy businessman and a freespirited woman, becoming one of the most iconic love stories of its era.
Directed by Garry Marshall and starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere.
▼ HD at the Opera House
This series offers a summer and early fall lineup of classic cinema and high definition opera and ballet screenings in the historic Sarasota Opera House.
August 16 —Samson and Delilah SaintSaëns’ grand opera retells the biblical story of strength and temptation in a visually rich Royal Opera production. Elīna Garanča stars as Dalila with Antonio Pappano conducting.
September 20 —Don Quixote (2023) A vibrant ballet inspired by Cervantes’ classic novel, bursting with humor, romance, and bravura choreography. The Royal Ballet production was choreographed by Carlos Acosta and stars Mayara Magri and Matthew Ball.
October 4 —Rigoletto (2021) Verdi’s powerful tragedy of deception, revenge, and love unfolds in a striking modern Royal Opera production.
Directed by Oliver Mears, the opera stars Carlos Álvarez and Lisette Oropesa with Antonio Pappano conducting.
▼ Robert Louis Stevenson: A Child’s Garden of Verses Runs to August 30, 2026 at Historic Spanish Point campus. The exhibit celebrates childhood and the imagination of youth through the words and images of A Child’s Garden of Verses, the beloved book of poetry for children by the celebrated Scottish writer, Robert Louis Stevenson.
The exhibition has photographs of pages from a vintage edition of the book, combining Stevenson’s poetry with illustrations by the notable American artist, Alexander Dobkin. Accompanying the photographs are simple interactives that draw their inspiration from Stevenson’s poems and enhance the visitor experience. An audio element will enable visitors to hear the poems read by Selby Gardens’ artist-in-residence, Patti Smith.
Visit selby.org for tickets.
Downtown Sarasota Campus, 1534 Mound Street Sarasota. Info: 941-366-5731
Lynn Goldsmith and Patti Smith: Flowers and Friendship runs to September 13, 2026 at the Downtown Sarasota campus. The exhibit celebrates the collaboration between two longtime friends, photographer Lynn Goldsmith and singer-songwriter Patti Smith, who is Selby Gardens’ artist in residence.
The exhibition has Goldsmith’s photographs of Smith, past and present, in the Richard and Ellen Sandor Museum of Botany & the Arts. The images offer a portrait of an iconic artist over the course of her career. Supplementing the photographs in the museum is a selection of Goldsmith’s art photographs of flowers set in the gardens of the Downtown Sarasota campus.
Over the past 50 years, Goldsmith’s photography has appeared on or between the covers of magazines including Life, Newsweek, Time, Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, Sports Illustrated, and many others. Her work is held in numerous private art collections and museums, including the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Seventeen books have been produced of Goldsmith’s images, including Flower by Rizzoli in 2000 and Patti Smith: Before Easter After, published as a Deluxe Limited Edition by Taschen in 2019 and as a trade edition by Rizzoli in 2024.
Lynn Goldsmith remarked, “At Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, my photographs of flowers linger in that brief territory between bloom and surrender, where beauty is never separate from fragility. In the Museum, the portraits and moments beside them suggest that our relationships unfold much the same way as flowers do — reaching toward light, opening in trust, bruised by time, yet carrying an elegance that survives even in fading.”
American photographer Lynn Goldsmith is renowned for both her celebrity portraits and fine art images. Goldsmith’s exhibition combines stunning images of flowers with intimate portraits of Selby Gardens’ artist in residence – Patti Smith.
Historic Spanish Point Campus, 401 North Tamiami Trail, Osprey. Info: 941-366-5731
Special Events
▼ Village of the Arts (VOTA) in Bradenton has monthly art walks Themed Art Walks take place on the first Friday and Saturday of the month, from 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM Galleries and studios open their doors for a vibrant celebration of creativity, featuring live music, local art, handcrafted goods, and other crafts.
Art Walks are an opportunity to stroll their colorful streets, meet local artists, explore unique shops, and discover something new around every corner. Find artistic treasures at one of the many galleries and studios, have that dress fixed up at The Village Seamstress, or snag some new vinyl at Jerk Dog Records. Enjoy a bite from local restaurants (Arte Cafe, Ortygia, Cottonmouth Soul Kitchen, The Village Patio). Grab a kombucha, coffee, or Kava from Adobe, or sip a craft beer from local breweries (Sun Lab and Flamingo Bay).
Street parking is available throughout VOTA as well as a City of Bradenton free parking garage located at 615 12th St West. www. villageofthearts.org
Theatre
▼ Manatee Performing Arts Center has these shows:
The season open in Stone Hall that has Fame The Musical: August 6–16. It’s an energetic story inspired by the iconic film and television series, following young performers as they navigate ambition, friendship, and the pursuit of stardom at a New York performing arts school.
Bradenton Kiwanis Theater has Arsenic and Old Lace: September 3–13. The classic comedy that has been entertaining audiences for generations. Written by Joseph Kesselring, this fast-paced farce blends mystery, mayhem, and outrageous humor into one unforgettable theatrical experience.
The story follows Mortimer Brewster, a drama critic who discov-
HD at the Sarasota Opera House on August 16 has Samson and Delilah by SaintSaëns’. Visit SarasotaOpera.org
ers that the sweet, elderly aunts who raised him have a rather unusual hobby — poisoning lonely old men and burying them in the basement as an act of “charity.” As Mortimer struggles to protect his fiancée, manage his increasingly chaotic family, and keep the bodies from piling up, the situation spirals into a hilarious whirlwind of mistaken identities, secrets, and nonstop comedy. Packed with eccentric characters, clever dialogue, and laugh-out-loud moments, Arsenic and Old Lace is a timeless comedy that proves even the most polite households can hide the most outrageous secrets. J is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Dramatists Play Service. www.concordtheatricals.com https://www.manateeperformingartscenter.com/
▼ Florida Studio Theatre
The Last Romance by Joe DiPietro is in the Gompertz Theatre to August 16. A chance meeting. An unexpected spark. A second chapter. When widower Ralph takes a different path on his daily walk, he meets Carol, an elegant woman who just might change his life. What begins as a simple conversation blossoms into a journey of second chances. A comedy about discovering how love can arrive when you least expect it – at any age.
Songbirds of the seventies runs to September 6 in Court Cabaret. Unmistakable and unforgettable, this cabaret shines a radiant spotlight on the powerhouse singer-songwriters of the ’60s and ’70s. Featuring era-defining hits from Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Carly Simon, Helen Reddy, Stevie Nicks, and Linda Ronstadt, this vibrant tribute captures the soul and strength of those who wrote their own rules – and changed everything in the process.
Motown & more runs August 4 to October 4. Get ready for a high-energy celebration of nonstop music. From the smooth soul of Motown to the irresistible hooks of pop and R&B, this dynamic tribute spans the greatest classics from the 1960s through today. Relive beloved hits made famous by icons like The Jackson 5; Stevie Wonder; Earth, Wind & Fire; The Four Seasons;
and The Temptations. Featuring tight harmonies and charismatic showmanship, this energetic revue delivers constant hits and fresh takes on old favorites
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org
▼ Venice Theatre has Head Over Heels - Songs by The Go-Go’s Based upon The Arcadia by Sir Philip Sidney Conceived and with Original Book by Jeff Whitty. Adapted by James Magruder. Runs, July 24– August 8
A hilarious, exuberant celebration of love, this bold musical comedy follows the escapades of a royal family on an outrageous journey to save their beloved kingdom from extinction. https://venicetheatre.org/ events/head-over-heels/
At the Van Wezel
▼ The Van Wezel has these upcoming shows:
August 6 - Derek HoughSymphony of Dance: New York Times Best-Selling author Hough began dancing at age 11 and trained at London’s prestigious Italia Conti performing arts school. A fourtime Emmy winner and 13-time nominee, he holds the record for most choreography nominations in Television Academy history and has appeared in film, television, and stage productions.
September 13—Comedian Ron White. Best known as “Tater Salad,” White rose to fame as a standout member of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour and has since become one of America’s most successful comedians.
October 11—singer-songwriter Boz Scaggs and his Rhythm Review 2026 Tour. Known for his smooth blend of rock, blues, and soul, Scaggs continues to captivate audiences with his timeless sound and celebrated catalog of hits.
October 25—Celebrate “Summerween” with an early Halloween treat with the The Vampire Circus. It’s a blend of circus, cabaret, and theater, delivering a dark, high-energy spectacle inspired by Tim Burton and Cirque du Soleil.
October 31—The Golden Girls are back and better than ever with a stage show that’s more exciting than a trip to the Rusty Anchor.
November 18—Experience the music of Pink Floyd when Floyd Nation brings its Inner Light Tour Featuring songs including “Wish You Were Here,” “Comfortably Numb,” “Time,” and “Another Brick in the Wall,” this immersive live production captures the spirit and emotion of one of rock’s most influential bands while offering a fresh and unexpected concert experience.
Tickets at VanWezel.org, by calling the box office at 941-263-6799
ATTENTION
Arts Organizations:
Season will be here before your know it. Make sure West Coast Woman has your 2026-27 season schedule We will continue our extensive arts coverage with events and news all year long. Email your schedule and news to westcoastwoman@comcast.net
Arts groups to share $20 million as DeSantis vetoes more funding Update on the State Arts Budget
Questions remain about what organizations will receive state support
Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed off on $20 million in programming support to arts and cultural organizations across the state in his final $117.6 billion budget, but he vetoed slightly more than $3 million for grants to small nonprofits and individual artists. He also vetoed a $250,000 grant to support Venice Theatre’s hurricane rebuilding plan.
Unlike two years ago, when he vetoed all program funding in the Cultural and Museum Grants category, DeSantis approved the general program support money, even though there is still a question about where some of it will go.
The budget, approved in May by the state legislature, included $12.4 million to be divided among 121 arts and cultural organizations that were recommended by Secretary of State Cord Byrd. The list included just eight organizations in Sarasota, compared to the 11 that received funding last year.
Another $7.5 million has been set aside to provide funds for other groups recommended by the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.
in 2022. It hopes to reopen the new Jervey in the middle of the 2026-27 season.
In an email to Florida Cultural Alliance members, Jones said the veto is “terribly disappointing and surprising as the Secretary had recommended the entire list of passing applications submitted by the Florida Council on the Arts and Culture.”
In 2024, DeSantis vetoed all $32 million arts and culture program grants because the list included funds to support the Orlando Fringe Festival and Tampa Fringe Festival. He said such events presented “sexual” material that was inappropriate for state support. Because the grants make up one line in
INSarasota County, eight organizations were included on the initial list of 121 approved for support this year. They include Asolo Repertory Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre, The Sarasota Ballet of Florida and the Hermitage Artist Retreat, EnsembleNEWSRQ will receive $40,000 and the Sarasota Pops Orchestra will receive $90,000.
Jennifer Jones, executive director of the Florida Cultural Alliance, which lobbies for arts funding, said there is no word yet on a secondary list and how those funds will be divided.
Before signing the budget at a ceremony in Tampa on June 30, DeSantis used his line-item veto authority to reject nearly $810 million, including the $3 million for the Culture Builds Florida program grants.
Those grants are $25,000 or less and go to smaller organizations and individual artists, like Sarasota performance artist Gabrielle Lennon Knowlton, who has toured the state with her show “Touch Me Real” and had hoped for state funds to help complete a memoir.
Among the hundreds of line items vetoed was $250,000 earmarked for Venice Theatre to turn its temporary Raymond Center theater into a long-planned education facility. The company quickly created the Raymond Center venue after its mainstage Jervey Theatre was heavily damaged during Hurricane Ian
the budget, he was unable to cut only the fringe funding, and instead eliminated money to hundreds of museums, theaters and other local arts organizations around the state.
In Sarasota County, eight organizations were included on the initial list of 121 approved for support this year. They include Asolo Repertory Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre, The Sarasota Ballet of Florida, the Hermitage Artist Retreat, The Ringling Museum and The Venice Symphony, which will each receive $150,000. EnsembleNEWSRQ will receive $40,000 and the Sarasota Pops Orchestra will receive $90,000.
mended by the Florida Arts Council. They include such major organizations as the Sarasota Orchestra, Sarasota Opera, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, Embracing Our Differences, Selby Botanical Gardens, Venice Theatre and Sarasota Players. Each qualified for $150,000.
Five organizations in Manatee County are still hoping for
Another 19 Sarasota organizations could be considered for the secondary funding list. All were vetted and recom-
funding. The list includes the Bishop Museum of Science and Florida Cultural Group (or Manatee Performing Arts Center), which each qualified for $150,000; Reflections of Manatee, which oversees the Bradenton historic district and was earmarked for $40,000; Realize Bradenton, which could receive $25,000; and the Art League of Manatee County (or ArtCenter Manatee), which could could get $90,000.
In Charlotte County, grants could go to the Military Heritage Museum could receive $115,000; the Peace River Botanical and Sculpture Gardens hoped to receive $150,000; the Port Charlotte Chorale, which qualified for $14,750 and the Charlotte Players, which was in line for $25,000.
Last year, the state provided a total of $18.3 million for arts-related grants, including $15.8 million for cultural and museum grants, the largest pool of money. That money was shared by organizations that scored at least 95 points out of 100 by judging panels in different arts fields. Another $1.5 million was set aside for a secondary list of organizations and $1 million went to fund programs associated with the America 250 celebration.
The new budget also includes $6.6 million for specific cultural and museum grants, and $38.3 million to support building and expansion projects. The largest grants include $9.5 million for a new library in Hardee County, $8 million for the Village of Indiantown Seminole Inn and Seminole Tribe Museum, and nearly $5 million for the Hillsborough County African American Arts and Cultural Center.
STORY: Jay Handelman. This story was originally published by ArtsBeat, a non-profit website producing coverage of the arts scene in the Sarasota area. To learn more and donate visit ArtsBeat.org.
Troy Quinn leads The Venice Symphony, which will receive $150,000 in state funding in the new Florida budget approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Photo provided by The Venice Symphony
The Ringling Museum will receive $150,000 in the new state budget to support its programming.
Photo provided by The Ringling
Cassandra Calo Cassandra Calo Cassandra Calo
She’s carrying on the tradition of bagpipe music, performing locally and around the country with her band, Blue Skye Pipes and Drums, that includes family members and her husband, James Dennis.
L-R Courtney Calo, Deborah Houston and Cassie Calo
Ifyou’ve ever heard “Scotland the Brave”, probably the most well known bagpipe song ever, then you know the goosebumps that bagpipe music can give.
And if you know a bit of Sarasota’s history, you know a Scotsman by the name of Colonel John Hamilton Gillespie brought his love for Scottish culture including bagpipes - and golf - to our area.
Cassandra - or Cassie as she is knownis carrying on the tradition of bagpipe music, performing locally and around the country with her band, Blue Skye Pipes and Drums.
Her musical talents point to a DNA that’s strongly music-oriented and steeped in Scottish tradition. The Houston family on her mother’s side came to the US from Scotland in @1745, settling in New York. Her grandfather was a proud Scotsman who passed on his love of all things Scottish.
Over the years her family lived in Connecticut and eventually moved to Florida. Like most children, Cassie’s first school-based instrument was a recorder, but it wasn’t until she attended the Highland Games and heard bagpipes when she said, “That is what I want to do.”
Sarasota Middle School offered her the opportunity to learn the bagpipes in its music program. From there she went to Riverview High School with its well-established and well known Kiltie Band that has over 170 musicians, bagpipers, dancers, and color guard.
Since those days, Cassie has performed at a variety of venues with a band that has several family members including her husband, James Dennis.
The band includes her mother, Deborah Lee Houston (shown center in the photo), who plays tenor drum and the occasional washboard. She’s been a middle school teacher for 30 years, most recently at Sarasota Middle School.
Earlier in her career, Deborah played piano and has done singing and acting Off-Broadway. Cassie’s sister, Courtney Calo, (shown at left in the photo) plays mandolin, sings and also plays bagpipes.
James, her husband (pictured on the contents page), plays the Highland bagpipe, Scottish small pipes, Irish whistles and harmonica and is a bagpipe instructor at Riverview with the Kiltie band. Cassie’s father who passed away, was also a musician and, she says, “an avid guitar player.”
For the uninitiated, what’s it like to learn to play the bagpipes? On a scale of 1 to 10, bagpipes are a definite 10 - meaning difficult.
The demands are many. “You start with a practice chanter (a long, thin piece of wood only),” she explains. Easy enough, right? But then there’s the actual bagpipe itself that requires a lot of multitasking.
“For me, it’s physical. It’s demanding on the lungs and facial and shoulder muscles. You’re moving your fingers and blowing into the bag. Your left arm is squeezing the bag that keeps the sound flowing.” And, unlike a flute where you can pause, you can’t stop the airflow with a bagpipe. Oh, and don’t forget that pipers are sometimes marching while playing and need to keep in step.
The mental side is equally demanding and requires advanced multitasking. She explains that you start by learning “all
the scales and embellishments” the latter being rapid finger movements that give bagpipe music its character and style.
Then there are grace notes - short notes used in bagpipe music to add “decoration and dynamics, helping to separate melody notes and emphasize transitions,” according to a bagpipe site. Suffice to say, she adds, “You won’t be playing ‘Amazing Grace’ on your first day.”
The instrument itself is all organic materials - meaning no plastics. They thus react to temperature and humidity, she explains. Tuning up in the shade and moving out into the sun can cause different sounds - probably not noticeable to the non-piper public, but adds to it being a challenging instrument.
Cassie has been teaching bagpipes since she was 15, in schools and now in private with students ages 8-80. For such a tricky instrument, she adds that kids pick it up quickly. Don’t fall for those sites that say “Teach yourself bagpipes” which she disagrees with. Learning the instrument properly “you have to have a teacher and you can’t learn from a book or YouTube.”
The life of a musician is hard - working to get gigs, traveling, setting up, rehearsing and performing. And that’s why so many have day jobs as Cassie does. She has worked as a server at Sage restaurant in downtown Sarasota since it opened (her sister also works there as a bartender).
Cassie actually has two bands - one is the more traditional band with family and others performing. But she also has All Hail The Queen, a “posthardcore/ metalcore band” that she created 10 years ago. They write their own music and thus aren’t a cover band.
She sings with All Hail The Queen and interestingly she plays the bagpipes in about half of their songs in those parts where you’d usually have a guitar solo.
Even with her busy career Cassie found time to get married to James Dennis this summer. They married in Scotland, wearing Isle of Sky tartan with its purples, greens, and light blues that reflect the landscape, and looking like a scene from the Outlander series.
Their concert season typically runs October to May. They performed last April at St. Margaret’s Church on Siesta Key and, of this writing they are working on their schedule, so visit blueskyepipeband. com to learn more. Their playlist includes Scottish and Irish songs with a little bluegrass thrown in for good measure.
But back to playing that complicated, yet beautiful instrument. It all sounds… difficult. But Cassie’s take is that it soon becomes “second nature.” As she sees it, “It’s intricate and difficult” but “so interesting with its history.”
The Highland bagpipe was classified as an instrument of war and banned in Scotland after the Jacobite uprising of 1745. Despite the ban, the instrument was kept alive in secret by devoted individuals. Fast forward and she is one devoted individual, playing for the joy of it. “It’s special to keep it going,” she says.
STORY: Louise Bruderle
Courtesy image
For more information on their upcoming concerts and more, email allhailthequeenrocks@gmail.com blueskyepipeband.com
happening this month
Five Vie for Sarasota City Commission in Key Election
Suncoast Searchlight interviewed all candidates on key issues
With two Sarasota City Commission seats on the ballot, this year’s election will determine who helps steer the city. Mayor Debbie Trice, who serves as one of the city’s five commissioners under its weak-mayor form of government, is not seeking re-election, guaranteeing at least one new member on the dais in 2026, while incumbent Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch is seeking a third term.
Joining Ahearn-Koch on the ballot are four first-time candidates: Flo Entler, John Harshman, Rob Rominiecki and Yevgeny Khodorkovsky. None has previously held elected office.
The winners will help shape the city’s direction at a pivotal moment. Sarasota is adjusting to a new city manager, planning for a downtown sound ordinance and updated master plan, dealing with criticism of its increased paid parking hours, and weighing a proposed performing arts center. Meanwhile, there are the constant debates on the city’s growth and development.
All of this is shaded by the uncertainty of Amendment 3, a statewide constitutional amendment that, if approved in November, would sharply reduce property tax collections, potentially upending the city’s budget and forcing difficult decisions about spending priorities.
Although the race is nonpartisan, the Sarasota County Republican Party has endorsed Harshman and Rominiecki, while the Sarasota County Democratic Party has endorsed Ahearn-Koch and Entler.
Development is the defining issue in interviews with the candidates. Downtown Sarasota continues to add luxury condo buildings, older neighborhoods are grappling with redevelopment pressures, and residents remain divided over how the city should balance growth while preserving character.
There was little difference between the candidates on what they saw as the city’s top issues; each told Suncoast Searchlight they want more
affordable housing, a local government more responsive to its residents, and improved resiliency for storms and flooding.
A dividing point was enthusiasm for a new performing arts center, and whether it should be partially funded by the city. The election follows an unusual format.
Voters within city limits may select their two favorite candidates on the August primary ballots. The three candidates with the most votes will advance to the November general election, when voters will choose two commissioners.
Jen Ahearn-Koch
Ahearn-Koch has earned a reputation for hyper-diligence. Her detailed questioning from the dais is wellknown to City Hall’s players.
Her political career began with the Tahiti Park Neighborhood Association about two decades ago, where she advocated against a boat storage facility and major condominium project she felt weren’t compatible with the quiet, tree-lined hamlet. She was later appointed to the city’s planning board, which she credited with teaching her the ins and outs of local public policy.
Ahearn-Koch has been on the commission for eight years, a period of tremendous change for the city. Even during the previous two years, Sarasota has seen much upheaval.
The city went more than 18 months without a full-time city manager after the search process was scuttled. The effort to update the downtown master plan has to be restarted after pushback from both business and neighborhood groups over what they called a deeply flawed process. Residents and downtown business owners have also criticized the commission for its recent moves to extend downtown parking hours.
When asked who is responsible for those recent controversies, AhearnKoch was blunt:
“It’s kind of a strange thing for me to say, but it’s always the city commission,” she said. “If something’s not happening, it’s because we’re not doing our job.”
Ahearn-Koch said among her most pressing priorities for another term would be a city strategic plan and to communicate as much as possible with residents and stakeholder groups.
Flo Entler
Entler is the president of the Arlington Park Neighborhood Association and said she’s been attending city
commission meetings for a decade as an advocate. If she and Ahearn-Koch are elected, they would join Commissioner Kathy Kelley Ohlrich as a majority on the commission of three women who all have come up through the city’s neighborhood groups.
As a longtime civic advocate, Entler said part of the reason she is running is because she doesn’t feel the city commission is listening to residents.“I think it has been a really big issue at City Hall, it’s like the residents aren’t being represented,” Entler said.
A political committee called People for Arts and Culture Sarasota (formerly the Sarasota Arts and Cultural Coalition) has attacked Entler, saying she is against downtown vitality and the local arts institutions.
The committee is operated by two appointed city officials: Dan Clermont, a member of the City Planning Board, and Ronnie Shugar, the owner of Sugar Champagne Bar and a member of the Downtown Improvement District.
Entler told Suncoast Searchlight she supports a new performing arts center, provided that it could be financed by the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation, one of the city’s partners in the effort, and that the Van Wezel is retained in some way.
Updated plans for the Sarasota Performing Arts Center call for a 54,000-square-foot, 2,200-seat theater and other amenities with a price tag up to $295 million – $88 million of which would be funded by taxpayers.
“If the foundation can raise the money, let’s make it happen,” Entler said. “I don’t know why the city has to pay for this.”
John Harshman
Harshman has worked in the city for decades and founded the commercial real estate firm Harshman & Co. in 1989. As a candidate, he is running on his experience in local real estate to push for what he calls “responsible growth” in the face of a local development boom.
His campaign has raised the most money of the five candidates – at least $50,000 so far – and about one-third of that has been from individuals or groups tied to real estate. However, he bristled against the notion that his background would make him compliant to development interests.
“I’m retired. I was ready to go off,” Harshman said. “There’s no special interest group that’s going to pull me one way or the other.” He was critical of downtown developments like the Obsidian, a proposed 18-story condo tower full of penthouses, or the apartment building on Fruitville that would displace the historic bungalows, as degrading the city’s character. He also said he felt the state has gone too far in its preemptions on local governments.
Harshman said he felt the city commission in recent years was not strong enough in directing policy to
its city manager and staff.
“(Policies) came up through staff to the commission, and therein lies a lot of the problems because it’s not the will of the people that is being presented to the community,” he said.
Rob Rominiecki
A native New Yorker, Rominiecki was the director of security and safety for the Guggenheim Museum, and he has worked as a pro-bono consultant for the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, where his wife, Jennifer, is the CEO. He has promised to recuse himself from any vote involving Selby. Rominiecki referred to himself as the “arts and culture candidate” who is “100%” in support of a new performing arts center. He pointed to the Sarasota Orchestra’s decision to leave downtown for a new concert hall on Fruitville Road near I-75 as an example of city officials abandoning the arts community.
“We need to support the organizations that are here,” Rominiecki said. “Losing the orchestra out of the city was a big blow. I’ve heard from tons of people who said it’s one of the biggest embarrassments for the city.”
As the city plans to update its downtown master plan, Rominiecki said he wants larger setbacks – the space between buildings and streets or sidewalks — to encourage more foot traffic. That way the city could add more trees for shade during the Florida summers.
Yevgeny Khodorkovsky
A software engineer who moved to Sarasota full-time from California’s Bay Area in 2019, Khodorkovsky’s signature campaign promise: free downtown parking for residents. He called the city’s recent parking changes “the straw that broke the camel’s back.”
“My friends were like, ‘You keep complaining, so you should just run,’ so I did,” Khodorkovsky said.
He qualified for the election days before the deadline, and his most recent campaign finance report shows he has raised $90. But Khodorkovsky said he is planning to use social media to get his message across.
Although the city has strong civic advocacy from its neighborhood groups, he wants his campaign to reach residents who are not typically plugged into local politics, such as younger people.
“People who already live and work here are bearing the burden for all this growth,” Khodorkovsky said. “Over the past few years, the city has been losing its character, and the commission has not been listening to residents.”
SOURCE: Christian Casale covers government and politics for the Suncoast Searchlight. Email him at christian@suncoastsearchlight.org. These interviews took place in mid-July.
Clothing Swap Clothing Swap
on August 21 & 22
Presented by UF/IFAS Extension Manatee County
Exchange clean, gently used clothing for new styles and support sustainability by reducing textile waste and conserving water.
Dates: August 21 & 22, 9 a.m. to noon.
Browse and take home clothing at no cost. Great for finding back-to-school clothes for kids.
Whether you’re donating, swapping, or simply browsing, every item reused helps conserve valuable natural resources. Drop off clean, gently used clothing at the Agriculture & Extension Service Office (located at 1303 17th St W, Palmetto) before the event during business hours (Mon-Fri, 8-5). Donations will also be accepted during the event. Bring clothing for men, women, and children, including shirts, pants, shorts, skirts, dresses, shoes, hats, purses, and backpacks.
Suncoast
lawmakers hollowed out home rule. Do voters care?
New state laws that override local decision making
“IT is the ultimate preemption,”
Sarasota
County Commissioner
Tom
Knight told Suncoast Searchlight. “Now, they are going to tell us what you can spend your money on and at the same time they’re going to limit the amount of dollars that flow into the local government.”
On a late afternoon in May, Sarasota County’s statehouse liaison explained to a group of residents how a controversial state law required county staff to approve large apartment projects despite heavy opposition.
It was one of five workshops the Sarasota County Commission organized after several developers filed proposals under the Live Local Act. The property owners aimed to build large-scale apartments in rural areas where county regulations would otherwise not have permitted them.
For months, angry residents lobbied county commissioners and demanded they stop the projects. When the officials listened, developers filed lawsuits against the county.
While Live Local has drawn ire, it is far from the only example of new state laws that override local decision making.
During the last five years alone, the Florida Legislature has voted to pass more than 50 laws restricting local government’s ability to respond to issues ranging from how they manage growth to how they handle public health matters or oversee elections, according to a review of legislation by Suncoast Searchlight.
Suncoast Searchlight also reviewed the voting records of the eight state lawmakers representing Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties — Rep. Danny Nix Jr., R-Port Charlotte; Rep. Fiona McFarland, R-Sarasota; Rep. Bill Conerly, R-Lakewood Ranch; Rep. Will Robinson, R-Bradenton; Rep. James Buchanan, R-Sarasota; Rep. Vanessa Oliver, R-Punta Gorda; Sen. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton and Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota.
Together, they voted in favor of every one of those measures, with vanishingly few exceptions, like when one of them was absent.
The only lawmaker to vote against any of the bills reviewed by Suncoast Searchlight was Robinson — who is not running for re-election — when he opposed a preemption restricting diversity and inclusion efforts by local governments.
With few serious challengers in this year’s elections, the six incumbent lawmakers seeking another term now seem poised to sweep back into office. Three are running unopposed in the Republican primary, while three others face less-funded, lesser-known GOP challengers.
Suncoast Searchlight contacted every incumbent state lawmaker representing the tri-county region about their votes on legislation affecting local government authority. Not one agreed to comment.
Local leaders say Tallahassee has tied their hands
During the October and November legislative delegation meetings in Manatee and Sarasota counties, then-Longboat Key Mayor Ken Schneier, a Republican, requested that state lawmakers stop passing laws that stripped local governments of home rule powers.
He pointed specifically to SB 180 — a law billed as a hurricane recovery measure barring local governments from adopting tougher land use regulations after a storm — and Live Local as preemptions that harm local leaders’ ability to govern.
“This year Tallahassee seems out for blood with legislative and executive branches dueling over the best way to cut municipal finances,” he said during the Sarasota County Legislative Delegation held in Venice. “... Simply put, this can’t go on, this can’t happen.”
None of the lawmakers addressed Schneier’s concerns during the meeting. Nor did they heed his call when they went back to Tallahassee in January for the 2026 legislative session.
There, they joined their colleagues in passing 10 new bills that preempted local authority and, during a special session, approved perhaps the broadest assertion of state authority over local government — a proposed constitutional amendment that would reduce property taxes, the main funding source for local governments.
That constitutional amendment will require local governments to spend only on “core services” defined by the legislature and increase homestead exemptions for longtime residents, with the promise of phasing out non-school property taxes on homesteaded properties entirely.
Unlike previous state preemption laws, which limit local governments’ authority in specific policy areas, the amendment would affect the revenue that pays for nearly every
local service. Cities and counties rely on property taxes to fund everything from law enforcement and fire protection to parks, libraries and road maintenance.
“It is the ultimate preemption,” Sarasota County Commissioner Tom Knight told Suncoast Searchlight. “Now, they are going to tell us what you can spend your money on and at the same time they’re going to limit the amount of dollars that flow into the local government.”
In interviews with Suncoast Searchlight, local elected officials described a growing sense of frustration over how the Legislature has tied their hands. Since he was elected to office in 2024, Knight said he has had to constantly explain to voters how the county has lost control over issues like future development.
“The bulk of the conversations I’ve had with citizens over the last 12 to 15 months have been ‘I can’t help you, because state laws have changed and prohibit me from helping you,’” Knight said in an interview. “Right now, it’s pay to play in Tallahassee.”
Carol Weissert, a professor emerita of political science at Florida State University, described Florida as a “vanguard” in a larger national push away from local control.
“This is the trend, where state legislatures just bigfoot local governments,” Weissert said. “It’s particularly interesting because Republicans traditionally really were the ones that supported home rule and Democrats were the ones who tended to want, you know, a higher level governmental involvement … certainly the local officials know what’s going on, and they’ve really been unable to stop it.”
Eroding home rule years in the making
Florida’s history of “home rule” — the delegation of policymaking authority to local governments — traces back to the state’s
Ken Schneier
Tom Knight
searchlight continued
1968 constitution, which set a standard of broad local powers.
Prior to that, local governments had only the powers expressly granted by state law.
In the decades since, Tallahassee has slowly turned back the clock.
Local officials and political observers say the trend has accelerated under Gov. Ron DeSantis, with preemption laws aimed at hot-button political issues, like vaccines and diversity programming, along with development-related regulations — long the bread and butter of local governance.
In 2021, the legislature passed a law limiting the ability of local officials to increase impact fees, the one-time charges developers pay toward the roads, parks, schools and other infrastructure needed to offset the strain of their new projects.
Three years later, legislators adopted a rule prohibiting counties and municipalities from requiring employers to provide heat protections for outdoor workers after local authorities in Miami-Dade tried to implement such protections.
And in between, they passed SB 250 — a law enacted after Hurricane Ian to hasten rebuilding efforts and that served as a precursor to SB 180 by limiting local governments from adopting new development regulations after storms.
Bob Fournier, who retired last year as the city of Sarasota’s attorney after more than two decades, recalled when SB 250 prevented the city from closing a zoning loophole that allowed developers to increase the height of their projects by adding extra space between floors.
In April 2023, city commissioners approved an ordinance limiting the amount of “interstitial space” — the area between floors used for mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems — after developers proposed using it to increase the height of the planned Obsidian condominium tower. But the developer argued that regulation was unlawful under SB 250, and the city ultimately repealed it.
“It almost feels punitive,” Fournier said of the state lawmakers’ actions. “When it comes to local government, it does appear they feel they know what’s best.”
But they didn’t stop there. In 2025, McFarland, who represents Sarasota in the state legislature, added language to a new bill — SB 180 — that expanded the prior hurricane-related preemption law and extended its reach to all 67 counties until the end of 2027.
Lawmakers who advanced preemption face no campaign consequence
For all the criticism from their own local elected leaders, the state lawmakers who backed Tallahassee’s preemption push have
faced little political risk at home.
Of the six area legislators who voted for nearly all of the preemption measures reviewed by Suncoast Searchlight, only Buchanan, Conerly and Oliver face Republican primary challengers.
And they so far have dramatically outraised them. Buchanan has brought in nearly $268,000 — 15 times more than Vic Rohe. Conerly has earned roughly $152,765 compared to John Phillips’ $12,903. Oliver, who represents parts of Charlotte and Lee counties and all of DeSoto County, has raised $142,592 compared to Julie McCormack, her Republican primary challenger, who has earned $2,832.
Absent an upset, the state lawmakers who have consistently backed state limits on local authority will likely remain at odds with their legislative delegations for years to come.
“People in office know they can get away with doing whatever they want,” said George Kruse, a Republican commissioner from Manatee County who was elected in 2020 and advocates for more local control on his blog. “Money has taken over — everything they do in Tallahassee and DC is based on how to make the people with the most money the most happy.”
One law Kruse has taken aim at is SB 180, which he says has effectively stopped a slate of Manatee County commissioners from fulfilling campaign promises to put back in place wetland buffers that a previous commission rolled back.
Manatee County Chairman Tal Siddique said that when SB 180 sunsets at the end of 2027, he has several policies — currently prohibited — that he would introduce, like requiring 50-foot buffers between wetlands and new developments.
“Maybe out of spite we’ll do 100 [feet] just because we’re pissed off,” Siddique said. A ban on data centers could come next, and then the commission would tackle development in the urban fringe areas.
But given past history, Siddique fears Tallahassee will step in again to block any local efforts. “[By] taking away … these decisions, they help special interests that fund elections at the state level,” he said.
“That is it.”
Meanwhile, local residents can expect more meetings from officials explaining how state law has tied their hands. Rob Lewis, the Sarasota County director of government relations who’s been with the county for nearly four decades, put it simply.
“We oppose — capital letters — cost shifts, unfunded mandates or preemptions,” he told a small group of people earlier this year. “I’ve been fighting [preemptions] since 1982. It’s been a continuous uphill battle.”
— By Derek Gilliam and Alice Herman.
This story was produced by Suncoast Searchlight, a nonprofit newsroom of the Community News Collaborative serving Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties. Learn more at suncoastsearchlight.org.
happening this month
Primary Election is on August 18
Many offices are up this year with the General
Selection on Nov. 3
There’s a lot going on this August, elections-wise. The primaries are full of candidates seeking to make it to the general election in November. This is an abbreviated list. We can’t run bios on all candidates but have chosen to elaborate on a few. Some statements have been edited due to space limitations and consistency in content.
Primary Election:
Tuesday, August 18; polls open 7 a.m. –7 p.m.; vote-by-mail ballots must be received in the elections office by 7 p.m.
The Following Offices Are up for Election in 2026
Federal
U.S. Senator
The upcoming special election in Florida will determine who will complete the remaining two years of former Senator Marco Rubio’s term. Incumbent is Ashley Moody (Republican). She was appointed to fill the vacancy left by Rubio, who resigned to become U.S. Secretary of State.
Democratic Candidates
Angie Nixon has been the state representative from the 13th district since 2020. She has also been a union organizer. She was born and raised in Jacksonville. In the State House, she “worked to expand childcare for families; to stopping a major grocery chain from gouging their prices; to leading the resistance to DeSantis’s unfair voting maps.” www. angienixon.com/
Alex Vindman, is the former director of European affairs for the U.S. National Security Council, whistleblower in the 2019 Trump–Ukraine scandal, and brother of U.S. representative Eugene Vindman. “Costs are totally out of control. Florida needs a Senator who will cut costs and stand up for hardworking people and families, not bow down to the corporations jacking up our prices.”
He supports the expansion of congressional oversight and investigatory authorities to ensure that elected officials do not personally profit from the trust placed in them by voters. www. alexvindman.com/florida
Republican Candidates
Byron Donalds, Representative for Florida’s 19th district; Jay Collins, Current Lieutenant Governor of Florida; Paul Renner, Former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives; and James Fishback, founder of an investment firm.
U.S. Representative District 16
Florida’s 16th Congressional District includes parts of Manatee, Hardee, and DeSoto counties, as well as portions of Sarasota, Polk and Pinellas counties. The current representative is Vern Buchanan, a Republican, who is retiring.
This is one of 58 open races for the U.S. House of Representatives this year in which an incumbent is not running for re-election. The outcome of this race will affect the partisan balance of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 120th Congress.
All 435 U.S. House districts are up for election. Currently, Republicans have a 219-212 majority with four vacancies in the chamber
Republicans:
Sydney Gruters, Ed Pope, and Eddie Speir
Democrats:
Kelly Kirschner, Jon Harris, Tamika Lyles, Glenn Pearson, and Jan Schneider
Kelly Kirschner - “I’m a third-generation Floridian who grew up working my family’s citrus stand, Blue Heron Fruit Shippers. After Georgetown University, I spent nearly four years working for the Peace Corps and USAID in Guatemala.”
Sarasota’s Payne Park: “I organized my neighbors to fund Payne Park and stop an oversized condo project.
As Sarasota City Commissioner and later Mayor, I passed Florida’s strongest campaign finance reform, backed by 80% of voters, pushed FPL for resident concessions, and exposed a sweetheart marina lease.”
For 13 years, he was dean of Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, and also built UnidosNow, helping 1,000+ first-generation students earn debt-free college admission.
“In Congress, I’ll push for an insurance backstop, lower prescription drug prices, and protect Social Security and Medicare as earned rights. I’ll expand affordable housing, stop Wall Street from buying up single-family homes, and close the tax loopholes that let billionaires pay less than working Floridians — because our kids shouldn’t inherit debt run up for someone else’s tax break.”
As for the environment, “I’ll protect Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay, and our coastline by enforcing the Clean Water Act, opposing offshore drilling and open water fish farming, and holding phosphate companies accountable. I’ll also keep AI hyperscale data centers out of District 16 until they prove they won’t drain our aquifers, spike utility bills, or override local communities — because growth should serve the people who live here, not outside investors.”
“We own this government — and it’s time it worked that way again. For too long it’s been run like a private club for lobbyists, the super wealthy, and corporations who can buy access, not the people who actually live here. So, we pay more for groceries, insurance, prescriptions, and rent while they pay less in taxes.”
www.kellykirschner.com/
Endorsed by the Florida AFL-CIO and the West Central Florida Labor Council
Jan Schneider - Has a law degree and a
doctorate in political science from Yale University. Practiced law in Washington, DC and Florida, participated in cases from small claims to the International Court of Justice, ran a free local legal clinic and owned a small business.
“Millions of Americans are unable to afford escalating costs of energy/gas, owning/renting a home, food, other basic necessities, healthcare and childcare. I do not believe the aim should be merely ‘affordability,’ essentially a transitory concept. Rather, in our wealthy country the goal should be lasting ‘economic security’. This requires quality public education, jobs with living wages, fair taxes and strong social safety nets. Congress should also get rid of the huge tax boons for the ultrarich and wealthy corporations from One Big Beautiful/Bad Bill, illegal tariffs and extremely costly wars of choice.”
“Growth management in the United States and Florida entails careful balancing processes. It means ensuring that as populations grow there are sufficient resources, infrastructure and services available to meet demands over time. It requires harmonizing short and longterm factors, interests of present and future generations, and freedom and essential government planning and regulation -- all within the bounds of economic and environmental justice.”.
www.VoteJan.com
District 17
Florida’s 17th congressional district is located in Southwest Florida. In the 2020 redistricting cycle, the district was shrunk to only include the coastal counties of Sarasota and Charlotte as well as northeastern Lee County, including most of Lehigh Acres. Other inland counties which were previously in the district were instead redistricted into the new 18th district. The 17th district was created as a result of the redistricting cycle after the 1980 census.
Republican:
Greg Steube unopposed
Democrats:
Matthew Montavon’s career experience has focused on public administration. He served in the Peace Corps; worked with the Illinois Migrant Council and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; and held roles in planning and financial management for governments in West Virginia, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Montavon has been affiliated with the Sarasota County Democratic Party. He volunteers with the AARP and the Immigration Justice Coalition of SW Florida. His priorities are affordability, protecting our democracy and immigration justice.
Allen Spence has over 20 years’ experience in public service and economics. His campaign is centered on “lowering costs, saving Social Security, and restoring Congress as a real check on Donald Trump and his Cabinet.”
State Governor
Republicans: Byron Donalds, U.S. Representative for Florida’s 19th dis-
trict; Jay Collins, Current Lieutenant Governor of Florida; Paul Renner, Former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives; and James Fishback, founder of an investment firm.
Democrat: David Jolly
Jolly has focused his campaign on homeowner’s insurance reform, the expansion of primary healthcare services, and investing in more community public schools.
“The property insurance crisis is the primary reason so many people in Florida are struggling to afford a home. Public schools have been inadequately funded in the state of Florida for decades. We need to dramatically increase investment in Florida’s public schools to provide more public schools in more neighborhoods, with more teachers who are paid more. The state voucher program likewise is built on an economic model that is likely to collapse. Florida should lead the nation in campaign finance reform and a sweeping ethics package committed to transparency and to protecting Florida taxpayers from legalized graft in Tallahassee.
“Reproductive healthcare decisions should be made between women and their doctors, not politicians. Florida should codify the Roe/Casey framework.”
“Florida should accept the science of climate change, protect our beaches and state parks, and invest in resiliency throughout the state. Florida should adopt a sustainability agenda that conserves our natural resources and grows an economy reliant on tourism, fisheries, hospitality, and outdoor living.”
“Florida should ban the sale of assault weapons, require universal and comprehensive background checks, explore licensing, and preserve and expand the red flag laws enacted following the tragedy at Parkland.”
Jolly is running with Gwen Graham as his running mate. Graham and Jolly were in different parties when they served together in Congress for two years. She’s also the daughter of the late Bob Graham, the former Florida governor and senator. www.davidjolly. com/issues/
Florida State Senator District 22
Republican: James Buchanan
James Buchanan is a member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing District 74. He assumed office on November 6, 2018. His current term ends on November 3, 2026. He’s running to succeed state Sen. Joe Gruters. Democrat: Lew Wasserman is an attorney and a former faculty member and professor at the University of Texas. Prior to, he practiced law for more than 30 years advocating for clients in public education, labor and management, and litigating disabilityand civil-rights cases.
Before his his legal career he served as an assistant superintendent of schools managing finance and business operations, personnel, labor relations, and special programs in a 10,000 plus student school district. He
Angie Nixon
Alex Vindman
Kelly Kirschner
Matthew Montavon
David Jolly
election continued
has a Ph.D. in Psychology from Hofstra University and a J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law. https://www. lewforsenate22.com/
Florida House of Representatives District 73
The current representative for 73rd House district is Fiona McFarland, a Republican. She assumed office in 2022.
Democratic candidate:
Lisa Klein is a longtime Florida resident, Sarasotabased mental health professional, small business owner and former educator. Klein’s campaign emphasizes economic pressures on working families, including rising costs of living. Her background has given her an understanding of the pressures facing Florida’s families, students, and communities, as well as the need for real, evidence-based solutions that put people over politics. www.lisakleinforflorida.com/ Endorsed by Ruth’s List
Florida House of Representatives District 74
Incumbent is Republican James Buchanan. Primary challengers: Chris Felder, Carl Goodrich, Carlton Nichols, Nick Pachota, Kelly Ann Walker and Jennifer Winkler
Democrat: Ryan Neill. “I’m not a politician. I am a native Sarasotan, born and raised. I am a graduate of Sarasota High School and USF. I am acutely aware of the challenges facing the working families of Sarasota, from the rising cost of rent and housing to a livable wage, and affordable homeowners’ insurance. My deep roots and personal experience in this community make me the most locally knowledgeable candidate to represent you.”
Florida House of Representatives District 75
Republican - Danny Nix is the incumbent. He assumed office on November 5, 2024.
Democrat - Cynthia Butler. “I believe my experience as a nurse, nurse union leader, single mother, grandmother and great grandmother will help nurture our community back to a place where we all feel safe and and we grow. I’d like to see the Cultural Center reopen and promote small business, farmers markets, community gardens, community health centers and youth enrichment programs and activities. I want to make healthcare, homeowners insurance, property taxes, and higher education affordable. I want our public schools to promote learning, academia and science and become centers of excellence. I want to create jobs that protect our land and water and give people purpose. Info: votecynthiabutler.com
Sarasota County County Commission District 2
The primary will allow all Sarasota
County voters to weigh in on a race between two Republicans for county commission seat.
Republicans:
Mark Smith - Opposed Siesta Key mega-hotels. Recommended dedicating a percentage of property tax revenue generated by new development to the County’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Advocates for stormwater and infrastructure improvements for coastal areas. Voted against the proposed mega-sized hotel on Siesta Key. MarkSmithforSarasota.com Preserve Siesta Key recommends.
Kristina Sargent is a trial attorney, Army veteran, former prosecutor, and community advocate. At 21, she joined the United States Army and served for over 15 years in both active-duty and reserve capacities.
She is a founding partner of Harris, Schlossberg & Sargent, PLLC, a Floridabased law firm serving clients throughout the state. She supports “improving infrastructure before approving major growth, protecting taxpayers through responsible budgeting, increasing government transparency, and ensuring that decisions are made in the public’s interest, not behind closed doors.”
No Democrats are running
Sarasota County Commission District 4
Republicans:
Dr. Joe Neunder and Jim DeNiro
Dr. Joe Neunder, first-term Sarasota County Commissioner, voted against proposed mega-sized hotel on Siesta Key. He is for keeping Midnight Pass open and the sustainability of Sarasota Bay. Opposed using the Live Local Act to allow six-story high density apartment developments at the Celery Fields and in Rural and Open Use areas. Opposed the 9,000 home Winchester Ranch proposal in South County leading developers to withdraw their petition. JoeNeunder.com Preserve Siesta Key recommends
Jim DeDiro is a 45-year resident of Sarasota County, spent 30 years in law enforcement, retiring as a sergeant with the Sarasota Police Department.
“Following my public safety career, I gained valuable private-sector experience with 13 years in real estate and six years as a mortgage loan officer. I am running to bring accountability, transparency, and collaborative leadership to our local government.”
“Affordability starts with fiscal responsibility at the local level. We must rein in out-of-control government spending and ensure taxpayer dollars are strictly prioritized for essential services.”“I am a staunch advocate for an ‘infrastructure first’ policy. Before approving any new developments, we must ensure our roads, water mitigation systems, and utilities are fully equipped to handle the demand. Along with its impact on neighboring communities. I believe in Home Rule, and I believe Sarasota County needs to have the final say in what happens in our county.”
“Effective governance requires bringing stakeholders to the table, not creating divisions. Tackling statewide and national challenges such as securing funding for critical infrastructure, traffic management, and environmental resiliency requires strong partnerships between local, state, and federal agencies.” www.votejimdeniro.com/
Only one out of three voters cast ballots in the last two Sarasota County primary elections.
Let that sink in.
Democrat:
Julie London grew up in Sarasota and attended its public schools — from Alta Vista Elementary to Sarasota High School, later attending University of South Florida.
When her mother was victimized by the “multi-billion dollar industry of elder guardianship” — a victim of what was cited as “lack of due process and fraud on the court” — she worked with the late Senator Nancy Detert to help with legislation that helped to create an Office of Public and Professional Guardianships.
She opposes the construction of AI data centers. “The deceptively named ‘Live Local’ Act allows developers to build on ‘empty’ greenspace and leaves cities and counties almost powerless to stop it. The control is relegated over to the bought and paid for politicians in Tallahassee. They don’t care about Sarasotans’ quality of life.”
“She will pursue the protection of neighborhoods and the environment, because she will always fight for the people, not the developers.” www.votejulielondon.com/
School Board Districts 1, 4 and 5
These races are nonpartisan. If a candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in the August 18 primary, that candidate is elected outright and the race does not advance to the November general election.
If no candidate receives more than 50%, then the top two vote-getters advance to the November 3 general election. Every registered voter in Sarasota County is eligible to participate.
District 1
Candidates: Heidi Brandt, Teresa DeWitt and Jimmy Glover
Jimmy Glover serves as President of the Board for Star Lab, a pioneering K-3 school, and is Vice Chair of the City’s Parks, Recreation, and Environmental Protection Advisory Board. He is a board member for the Friends of the Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Library and an active volunteer with the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition.
“Through mentorship with Unidos Now and CareerSpring, I’ve supported many first-generation college-bound students in finding their path to success.”
“My vision is to make Sarasota the #1 school district in Florida by championing early literacy, expanding career readiness with apprenticeships, prioritizing mental health and school safety and supporting our teachers with competitive pay and respect for their expertise.”
“Our schools need leadership that listens, values our educators, welcomes parents as partners, and keeps students at the center of every decision. The challenges facing our district are bigger than politics and bigger than division…students come first.” www. electjimmyglover.com
District 4
Candidates: Frank Diciccio and Megan Tennimon
Megan Tennimon is a former teacher, and parent of children in Sarasota schools. She says she “brings an education-focused perspective shaped by firsthand experience in the classroom.” She emphasizes “the importance of supporting teachers, maintaining strong academic programs, and ensuring that public schools remain competitive amid the expansion of voucher systems and alternative education options.”
“Our schools deserve leadership that shows up, listens, and collaborates. Our schools don’t exist in isolation — they’re part of our community. By strengthening partnerships with local businesses, organizations, and families, we can expand opportunities for students and better prepare them for life beyond graduation. www.electmegantennimon.com/
District 5
Candidates:
Beth Mayberry and Michelle Pozzie
Beth Mayberry, a North Port-based candidate, came to Sarasota County in 1977 as a New College student and moved to North Port in 1993. She is a mother and grandmother, as well as a retired professional who also taught middle school in Sarasota County for 14 years. She also has a business background and is a certified financial planner. At public meetings, she has stressed that the board cannot operate in isolation and must actively seek input from parents, teachers, and community stakeholders.
Her concerns include “the current financial state of our schools as the state pulls back funding for public education in favor of giving taxpayer money to private and for-profit charter schools. Her concern is ”how will Sarasota maintain its edge of excellence while still giving parents and students choice for maximum educational outcomes?” She believes its time to “focus on classrooms, not culture wars.” www.electbethmayberry.com/ Endorsed by Ruth’s List, the Suncoast NEA-Retired, and the Florida Veterans for Common Sense.
For more info on Candidates: Ruth’s List: www.ruthslistfl.org/ League of Women Voters www.lwvsrq.org
https://ballotpedia.org
For a complete list of offices, visit www.sarasotavotes.gov/ or www.votemanatee.gov/ Preserve Siesta Key ProtectSiestaKey. org/Elections2026
A list of candidates in local races and how much money they raised is at www.sarasotavotes.gov/195/ Local-Candidate-CommitteeParty-Reports Suncoast Searchlight: www.suncoastsearchlight.org/
Lisa Klein
Beth Mayberry
women in business
WWOwner, Feather & Stone Yoga in
Owner, Feather & Stone Yoga in
hile walking around the Rosemary District
- either shopping or dining during the dayI’d often see the occasional woman walking with a yoga mat on her back. The clue was obvious: there must be yoga going on somewhere around here.
Sarasota Erika Cain
Sarasota
And indeed there is. And one of those practitioners is Erika Cain who owns and operates Feather and Stone Yoga in the Rosemary District. While some yoga studios are large and have numerous instructors, Erika is the sole instructor at Feather & Stone and it’s that way by design.
Most of her sessions are one-onone with clients. That way she can give full attention to her student’s needs or, as she states in her bio, “My passion is crafting tailored experiences that align with clients’ goals while considering past and present lifestyles, injuries, and stress levels.”
Yoga’s origins can be
traced back at least 5,000 years to northern India, where it began as a spiritual discipline aimed at uniting the body, mind, and spirit. These days, in some circles in the western world, yoga is seen as a form of exercise, a challenge for the body that attracts competitive types in our fast-paced world seeking a path to a better looking body.
In Erika’s take on yoga, she’s aware of those looking for the great bod, but has chosen instead to take the more traditional approach and include the student’s physical and spiritual state.
Feather & Stone open March 2024 in its current location in the Rosemary District. Prior to that Erika worked at various places as a yoga instructor starting in 2018. As testament to her abilities, Erika still has some of those students.
Why did she choose yoga? She smiles and says “It chose me.” But part of that choice came from her work as a writer who interviewed the owner of a St. Pete yoga studio. Her subject said you have to come to a class in order to write the story and Erika did.
“It was more than just touching toes,” she recalls and adds, “I fell in love with it.” At the same time she was dealing with, along with her mother, caring for her father who had dementia. Practicing yoga helped. Erika comes from a circus family - on her mother’s side the circus family goes back six generations. Her father was
also in the circus, performing as an illusionist. “I grew up in it,” she states and had “an amazing upbringing” that included travel and performing all across the U.S. and Europe.
But other things beyond the “rhinestones, sequins and fishnets” as she calls it, awaited. When the performing ended, it was time to find another path. Today, Erika offers one-on-one yoga and group classes. Group classes are on Tuesdays (more “flow” using Vinyassa and Thursdays (more yin and much gentler) with no more than 6-7 in a class.
But most of her time is with one-on-one clients. It’s important to note Erika is a trauma-informed yoga teacher and has worked with veterans and those with PTSD. She employs methods that can help regulate the nervous system such as breath work. “Every session is curated,” meaning it’s customized to the individual’s needs. For the private sessions, the process goes like this. ”Reach out - call, text or email,” she explains. Then set up a time to meet. At that meeting, “We’ll see if we’re a good match” meaning that what she offers is a good match. That’s because she feels strongly that yoga “is not a workout - it’s a work in.”
While her students are primarily middle age, she says her practice is “for every moment in life.” Have yoga anxiety? “I was intimidated when I started. People think they have to push the body.”
To her way of seeing things, if someone taking yoga says “I can’t touch my toes” she’ll say “bend your knees.” Move gently, take your time is her advice to beginners. “Allow yoga to meet you right where you are.”
As for her business’s name, the yoga whether private or in a group, “is designed to help our clients feel as good as they can, for as long as they can, while honoring the dualities of life: strength and softness, challenge and ease, feather and stone.”
Erika also offers tailored breathwork, Harmonic Release (a signature breathwork and sound bath experience), and transformational retreats both locally and abroad.
She reveals on her website that in her life there have been “chapters shaped by grief, trauma, depression, anxiety, and the relentless loops of OCD. I’ve known what it is to feel lost in the dark. But I’ve also learned how to light a match with trembling hands. Yoga didn’t save me—but it gave me some tools to save myself. Breath by breath, I chose to stay. To rise. To rebuild. Resilience, I’ve learned, is not about never breaking— it’s about returning to yourself, again and again, softer and stronger each time.”
When her practice isn’t keeping her busy, Erika gives back to the community. “I’m the co-founder of the Wild Yoga Program at Big Cat Habitat here in Sarasota. It’s a project that’s incredibly close to my heart. Since launching the program, we’ve raised more than $150,000 to support the care and conservation of the animals. Today, we host monthly Capybara Yoga experiences, and over the years we’ve also offered Lemur Yoga, Fox Yoga, Wolf Pup Yoga, Wallaby Yoga, and Yoga with Tigers (with the tigers always remaining safely in their habitats).”
Feather & Stone Feather & Stone 1471 5th St., Suite B, Sarasota (located inside of Definition Fit) Call 941-524-7665 www. featherandstoneyoga .com
Erika Cain, Feather & Stone Yoga
A private session with a client
One of Erika’s group classes
A Capybara Yoga experience at Big Cat Habitat
DCorn is in peak season now
Corn is in peak season now
Try grilling or adding it to salads
id you know corn is actually a grass? Maize was domesticated by indigenous peoples in southern Mexico about 9,000 years ago.
Sugar-rich varieties called sweet corn are grown for human consumption, while field corn varieties are used for animal feed, for uses such as cornmeal or masa, corn starch, corn syrup, pressing into corn oil, alcoholic beverages like bourbon whiskey, and as chemical feedstocks including ethanol and other biofuels.
Corn season typically runs from May through September, with the best time to enjoy fresh sweet corn being from early August to mid-September. Harvesting usually occurs between late summer and early fall, specifically from August to October in the Northern Hemisphere.
Corn Ribs with Infused Butter three Ways
Turn summer corn into a showstopper with these buttery grilled corn ribs. Grilled until lightly charred and curled, then drenched in rich, real butter that takes on three craveable flavors. Whether you go garlicky and herb-packed, smoky chipotle-lime, or sweet and spicy hot honey, the butter soaks into every kernel for a juicy, flavor-loaded bite.
Ingredients:
Corn:
6 ears corn, husked
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Infused Butter:
Base: 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
For Garlic Herb:
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions:
Heat grill to high heat.
For Smoky Chipotle:
1 teaspoon chipotle powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
Zest and juice of 1 lime
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Hot Honey:
2 tablespoons hot honey (stirred directly into the
Bring a large pot of water to boil over high heat. Prepare an ice bath. Add corn and simmer for 3-5 minutes. Transfer corn to ice bath. Remove and dry thoroughly.
Trim the ends of each corn ear. Stand the cob upright and carefully slice it in half lengthwise using a slow, rocking motion. Place each half flat-side down and slice in half again lengthwise to create 4 ribs per ear.
Toss corn ribs with oil in a large bowl. Place ribs kernel-side down on the grill. Cover and grill for 4–6 minutes, until slightly charred and curling at the ends
Return ribs to the bowl and toss with half of your infused butter. Serve with extra infused butter on the side for dipping.
Grilled Corn with Chili Lime Butter
Real butter is the star in this flavor-packed side dish. Blended with chili powder, lime zest, and a touch of heat, the compound butter melts into grilled corn for a rich, spicy, and citrusy finish. Topped with crumbled cotija and fresh cilantro, it’s buttery brilliance with a kick.
Ingredients:
Chili Lime Butter:
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 tablespoon lime juice
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions:
Mix compound butter ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.
Heat grill to high heat.
Bring a large pot of water to boil over high heat. Add corn and simmer for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and cool slightly.
Lightly butter the corn and place on grill; cook for 5-7 minutes or until kernels are slightly charred. Remove from grill and serve immediately with chili lime butter. Garnish with fresh cilantro and crumbled cotija cheese.
Ingredients:
Grilled Corn with Herb Butter
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
2 Tablespoons chopped basil
2 Tablespoons chopped flat leaf parsley
2 cloves garlic, minced zest of one lemon
2 teaspoons lemon juice
salt & pepper to taste 6 ears corn
Instructions:
In a small bowl, add butter, basil, parsley, garlic, zest, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Mix until ingredients are combined. Place butter in plastic wrap and roll into a log. Chill until ready to use.
Preheat a grill over high heat. Lightly oil grates. Remove the husk and silk from corn.
Place corn on grill, and cook for 30 minutes, turning occasionally. Remove from grill and coat with lemon basil butter.
Heirloom Tomato Salad (with a bit of corn)
If you’re the type of person who waits all year for heirloom tomatoes to be in season, then you probably know how good they can stand on their own — and how it’s best to keep it simple when you serve them. It’s easy: All you need to start is ripe, juicy tomatoes. Cut them into thick slices or wedges, make sure they’re well seasoned, then drizzle with a bold dressing or creamy yogurt sauce. Enjoy as is or top with any (or all) of your favorite salad ingredients like fresh mozzarella, crumbled feta, sliced onions, avocado and sweet corn.
Coriander spiked basil-yogurt dressing classes up simple sliced tomatoes. Use a variety of tomato colors and sizes for most visual impact. You can make the dressing up to a day ahead, but slice and dress the tomatoes as close to serving time as possible.
Gluten Free and Vegetarian
Ingredients:
1 teaspoon coriander seeds
2 pounds heirloom tomatoes, sliced if large or medium, halved or quartered if very small
Instructions:
1/2 cup plain yogurt (full-fat or low-fat) 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, finely chopped 1/2 shallot, finely chopped 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
Toast coriander seeds in a small dry pan, moving constantly, until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
Let toasted seeds cool on the counter or a cutting board.
Then crush seeds with the base of a small pan or a large serving spoon, set aside.
Fan tomatoes on a platter, overlapping as needed.
Stir yogurt, basil, shallot and salt together; drizzle over tomatoes.
Sprinkle with coriander and serve immediately.
Florida Sweet Corn, Tomato & Avocado Salsa
Ingredients:
4 ears sweet corn
2 large tomatoes, diced
1 large avocado, peeled, pit removed and diced
½ cup bell pepper, chopped fine
½ cup red onion, chopped fine
¼ cup fresh cilantro, hand-torn
1 lime, juiced
1 teaspoon powdered cumin
Dash of hot sauce (your favorite)
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
Instructions:
Remove corn kernels from cob. In a medium mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and mix thoroughly. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper and hot sauce.
The beauty of a compound butter is how incredibly versatile it is. Enjoy it on top of smoky grilled corn for an added kick!
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
of 1 lime
6 ears corn, husked
focus on the arts
“Echoes of Sarasota”
Cultural Heritage Exhibit
On Display Now in Sarasota’s City Hall and the Van Wezel
Sarasota has evolved in remarkable ways since the time of its earliest inhabitants. What were once swampy wetlands have become well-known destinations, dirt paths have grown into major roads, and a community once centered on farming has developed into a place known for tourism and the arts.
With selections on display in both City Hall and the Van Wezel, the artworks featured in “Echoes of Sarasota” show scenes of Sarasota’s earlier days. Through mural-scale artworks by Regan Dunnick and Frank Hopper and selected paintings from Arts Advocates, the community’s most notable faces and places emerge to share their stories. Frank Hopper’s oil paintings illustrate the individuals who helped shape Sarasota’s early identity. From afar, his lifelike paintings are eye-catching. Up close, they reveal the careful details of his realist style. Hopper embraces the plain details of everyday life—every wrinkle, fold of fabric, and bead of sweat is painted with precision.
Life as a Sarasota pioneer required strength and determination, especially in a time before modern comforts like air conditioning. Hopper’s detailed portraits show these qualities clearly, giving an honest look
at the people whose hard work built the foundation for the community we know today.
Regan Dunnick uses another approach to show local history in his pastel drawings. Instead of presenting complete stories, he creates individual illustrations of historical people, objects, and places, inviting you to form your own understanding of the past.
His artwork turns historical materials into visual clues, giving you a rare chance to step into the role of historian and create meaning from what you see. Through Dunnick’s view, the layers of local history unfold like fading memories ready to be rediscovered.
The subjects of the artworks in Echoes of Sarasota cover more than a thousand years of history, beginning with the Indigenous communities who first lived on this land and continuing through Sarasota’s growth into the vibrant arts and culture center it is today.
The City Hall Cultural Heritage Exhibit is a rotating exhibition program located inside Sarasota’s historic City Hall. Created through a partnership between the City’s Public Art Program and Historic Preservation Division, the exhibit honors and shares the cultural legacies that have shaped Sarasota’s identity through curated displays of artwork, photography, and historical materials.
Featured Artists Bios
Frank Hopper (1924 - 2022)
Frank Hopper was an acclaimed American realist painter known for his strong figure work and large historical murals. He was born in 1924 in a small city in southern Indiana. After serving in the US Navy during World War II, Hopper studied art at the Art Institute of Chicago, where he later taught and continued to develop his own artistic style. He earned a Master of Fine Arts from Indiana University and went on to teach at both the American Academy of Art and the Chicago Academy. Hopper began working from a rented studio space in Siesta Key Village in the 1970s. Focusing on figurative painting, he has completed many government commissions throughout his career, including presidential portraits and posters. He is also known for the large murals he was asked to paint for local churches. His artwork can be seen at Ss. Peter & Paul the Apostles Church in Bradenton and St. Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Longboat Key.
Plan to Visit
Sarasota City Hall, 1565 1st Street Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail www.sarasotafl.gov/ Department-Pages/Planning/Public-Art
Regan Dunnick
Regan Dunnick is an internationally recognized illustrator, exhibiting artist, and longtime faculty member at Ringling College of Art and Design. His career spans many years of work in editorial illustration, publishing, and fine art. Known for his unique visual style, Dunnick has created illustrations for major publications such as The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Time, and The Atlantic. His work has been accepted into the permanent collection of the Library of Congress, preserving it for generations to come.
Dunnick is also deeply committed to teaching. He has played an important role in developing the illustration program at Ringling College of Art and Design. As a mentor, he has guided many young artists by helping them develop their own artistic voices. Dunnick’s artwork is known for its mix of narrative, humor, and layered meaning. His work often explores themes like change, memory, and personal history, brought to life through expressive markmaking. By balancing clear ideas with playful visuals, his art invites viewers into thoughtful and imaginative worlds that tell a story.
“Centennial Celebration” by Frank Hopper, Oil on Canvas
“Sarasota Arts and Science” by Regan Dunnick, Pastel on Watercolor Paper
business focus
Aravilla in Sarasota
The area’s only all-female Memory Care Community
Google “memory care facilities for women” and plenty show up - just none of them are womencentered.
According to the National Institute for Health (NIH) dementia disproportionately affects women including persons living with dementia and caregivers. Almost two thirds of Americans living with Alzheimer’s are women.
They go on to say “Personcentered care, rather than disease-focused, is recommended to improve care for affected persons including caregivers.”
Opened this past February, Aravilla for Her and, as the name implies, is designed for women and is very much person-centered.
“Women make up the majority of individuals living with dementia, and they often have specific emotional and social needs that deserve specialized attention,” said Tracy D’Andrea, President of Aravilla Sarasota.
“Aravilla for Her is built around the belief that memory care should do more than support cognitive health. It should protect dignity, foster calm, and honor the life story behind every resident.” Within their campus, which also offers Independent Assisted Living, their dedicated women’s floor has an all female care staff—staff who understand the unique journey of women with dementia.
Arriving on the floor, you don’t see anything resembling a hospital or clinical setting. As you walk the corridor, you pass what looks almost like cottages as each unit has its own distinct “homey” look and feel.
There’s soft lighting throughout and the circular layout of the floor means women can easily walk - as many do- all the way around and back to their rooms.
are attractively decorated but you can bring your own items if you like.
Rooms are attractively decorated but you can bring your own items if you like. They utilize the Amba system that gently supports each woman’s well-being through discreet in-suite sensors that monitor patterns like sleep and movement—never cameras or wearables—so staff can respond quickly and thoughtfully if something changes.
The walls have artwork familiar to these residents - Life magazine covers, ‘50s memories and the like. And there’s plenty to do. Tuesday they have non-denominational church services and arts groups like Key
Walls have artwork familiar to these residents - Life magazine covers, ‘50s memories and the like.
Chorale come and performs for residents.
Walking the corridors there are groups doing chair exercises while another group is having a tea party - complete with fancy hats and a tea service. These thoughtfully designed programs not only help reduce anxiety and restlessness, but also create a strong sense of belonging and sisterhood among residents.
There’s also a “lunch bunch” that heads out for meals with friends or for sight-seeing. “From leisurely walks in beautiful surroundings to engaging local adventures, each trip provides opportunities for social interaction, cognitive stimulation, and physical activity—all of which enhance overall health and well-being,” according to their website.
Activities can be high or low activity levels, but the goal is to have residents out of their rooms. Families are encouraged to
visit and one popular activity is when they offer root beer floats.
And yes, you can spend the rest of your life here if you so wish. They are fully licensed to provide for that.
Music is also a part of the lifestyle at Aravilla. In addition to visiting arts groups, they have musicians performing at meals. “We provide a higher level of specialty care designed to support every woman’s health and dignity. Music often awakens cherished memories, sparking joy and emotional connection, while art, movement, and social activities provide meaningful ways to express individuality,” says their website.
The best way to learn more about Aravilla for Her is to come in for a tour. They offer so much to women needing their services and make the transition as smooth as possible.
Aravilla for Her 3251 Proctor Rd, Sarasota Call 941-770-4373 to arrange a tour Assisted Living Facility License #12551
Exteriors of the rooms look like cottages as each unit has its own distinct “homey” look and feel.
Rooms
Music is also a part of the lifestyle at Aravilla. They have musicians performing at meals.
Aravilla for Her is located within the Aravilla campus which also offers Independent Assisted Living.
