East County Observer 10.14.21

E A ST COUNTY

Observer Lakewood Ranch’s weekly newspaper since 1998

Classics ready for show.

PAGE 20

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

•

FREE THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

VOLUME 23, NO. 48

Resort plan secured

YOUR TOWN

Liz Ramos

Dressed tastefully for Oktoberfest

Heritage Harbour Golf Resort and Lodge construction to begin in summer 2022. PAGE 3

Linda Britt-Smith, the Cypress Springs Gracious Retirement Living activities director, and resident Pierre Folliard were dressed in a dirndle (folk dress) and lederhosen vest, as they were ready to celebrate Oktoberfest on Oct. 5.

Folliard and Britt-Smith (above) joined other Cypress Springs residents for beer and pretzels while listening to an accordionist perform.

Some residents sang in German while tasting different beers.

Century of faith Myakka City United Methodist Church celebrates its 100th anniversary.

SEE PAGE 8 Courtesy rendering Jay Heater

Pastor Matthew Curley rings the bell for services at Myakka City Methodist Church.

The lodge will have 76-90 suites and will go where the No. 1 hole tee area sits currently.

Scott Lockwood

All Friends Network taps support

Billiondollar question

Lakewood Ranch resident Trevor Kelliher (above) spread awareness for his All Friends Network on Oct. 4 at Truman’s Tap and Grill.

Kelliher started the All Friends Network with a mission to help people of all ages with disabilities to find new friends and to build lifelong friendships. He said he already has 75 members in his network, with 80% of them residing in Florida.

“In school I had plenty of friends,” Kelliher said.

“However, outside of school I struggled connecting with friends. I thought I was the only one who was suffering, but I found out there are many others like me. That is why I created All Friends Network.”

A+E

Should a school district with a $1 billion budget need an extra tax to supplement teachers’ salaries? SEE PAGE 4

File photo

Bradenton’s Garin Hoover says the School District of Manatee County is mismanaged and fiscally irresponsible, which is why he plans to vote against the district’s tax referendum.

Timeless classic rides again.

SEE PAGE 12

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

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The last time the district lines were drawn for the Manatee County Commission 10 years ago, eastern Manatee County was just starting the population boom it has seen over the past decade.

In an effort to lead to fair representation on the board that establishes policies, commission redistricting is revisited every 10 years. Manatee County commissioners will take a look at the 2020 census data that shows Manatee County had 406,945 residents and go over potential redistricting plans at a workshop Oct. 19.

“All five districts in Manatee County will be affected,” said District 5 Commissioner Vanessa Baugh, who represents the Lakewood Ranch area. “The lines will have to change on all of them.”

Baugh’s district has seen the biggest growth in terms of development and population and has a population of 97,536 according to the census. She said that she’s not concerned about anything more than fair representation on the board. When districts are drawn, the populations are separated into five districts with as equal of a population that can be possible.

“I think the main thing is, for my district, I realized the lines have to change,” she said. “My district right now, it’s the largest landmass in Manatee County and

R u bo n ia

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Ft H a m er R oa d

STAFF WRITER

the most overpopulated, so it is something that needs to change.”

Baugh said the population of a district affects the communication between the commissioner and constituents. When the districts are balanced, the commissioners can share that task evenly.

“You have to be able to communicate properly,” Baugh said.

District 1, which is the northeastern part of Manatee County represented by Commissioner James Satcher, has 90,768 residents. By comparison District 4, which is the southwestern part of the county represented by Misty Servia, has 74,176 residents.

District 2, made up of part of Bradenton and Palmetto, has 70,831 residents represented by Commissioner Reggie Bellamy.

Keith Van Ostenbridge’s District 3, the west side of Bradenton including the islands, has 73,634 residents.

Commissioner Carol Whitmore was in office the last time the district lines were redrawn after the 2010 census. As an atlarge commissioner, she represents the entire county.

“I do see that the districts out east and north are the districts that have grown tremendously,” she said. “So I am positive that the lines will be moving to make the populations more fair.”

Whitmore said the population growth can be attributed to many factors, such as Florida’s econo-

62

D u e t te R o a d

SCOTT LOCKWOOD

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Illustration courtesy of Manatee County

my ranking as the 15th largest in the world.

“Florida has a great quality of life, no income tax, and people want to move here,” Whitmore said. “Manatee County has been one of the fastest-growing counties in the state of Florida, mainly because of, again, our quality of life and low taxes.

“Since I’ve been in office, we have not raised our millage.

And in fact, we lowered it twice because we are doing so well. We just lowered it this year again.”

Commissioner George Kruse, who like Whitmore has an at-

large seat, said that maps presented so far have been drawn using things like Interstate 75 for district lines. That will change once the software used by consultant John Guthrie levels out the population.

“None of those maps are actually viable options because none of them were done with real data,” Kruse said. “With that software you can literally grab a line and move it one street over, and it adjusts and shows you exactly what the population is.”

Whitmore said a consultant wasn’t used after the 2010 census

and that this is a good way to keep redistricting transparent.

“What I am concerned with, of course, is making sure that the process is transparent and that every district is treated fairly and every citizen is treated fairly,” Baugh said. “I think that’s the main thing at this point.”

Kruse said that Tuesday’s workshop is the first major step in the discussion. The commission is within 60 days of its final regularly scheduled meeting of 2021 on Dec. 14 and is aiming to have the final district maps approved by that date.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

3

Courtesy renderings

A rendering of the exterior of the resort villas planned for Heritage Harbour Golf Resort and Lodge

SAMPLE PURCHASE

Jay Heater

ResClubs CEO Craig Williamson says Heritage Harbour Golf Resort and Lodge will be a flagship site for his company.

VACATION DESTINATION Heritage Harbour Golf Resort and Lodge construction to begin in summer 2022.

JAY HEATER MANAGING EDITOR

A

lmost two years after announcing a plan to build villas and a resort lodge at the Heritage Harbour Golf Club and Eatery, club owners have identified ResClubs as a development partner in building the Heritage Harbour Golf Resort and Lodge.

On Oct. 9, Mark Bruce, the club’s manager handling the development project, joined with ResClubs CEO Craig Williamson, to host an open house to explain how people can own or rent time in furnished vacation villas and lodge suites on the property.

Bruce said, ultimately, that building the 76 villas and a resort will allow Heritage Harbour to infuse much-needed funds into a course that is in need of upgrades.

The partnership with ResClubs isn’t much of a change to the initial plan, according to Bruce.

“Originally, we were thinking there would be a certain number of villas, and we would sell them for people to occupy,” Bruce said.

“The hotel would be the hotel.”

After ResClubs launched its format at Reunion Resort and Golf Club in Kissimmee in January 2020, Bruce saw the concept on a social media site and researched the platform.

“We wanted to find a development partner who was aligned with our vision,” said Bruce, who contacted Williamson. “They were open to the idea. They were relatively new, and they wanted to grow their platform in Florida.

ABOUT RESCLUBS Members of ResClubs’ various branded residence clubs will enjoy usage, plus fixed rates of return — 8% with zero weeks personal usage annually, 6.5% with two weeks of personal usage annually or 5% with four weeks personal usage annually, all without the hassle of operational costs or additional fees. It is built to reward members through participation and in unit rental proceeds, which creates a return on their investment.

This will become a Southeast flagship for them.”

Bruce wants people to understand the ResClubs’ format is not a time-share concept.

“Time share is a form of fractional ownership,” Bruce said.

“It is predatory with a hard sales pitch. The ResClubs program is exactly the opposite with the villas being part of a stayand-play resort. Members are investing dollars into a vacation home membership. From that point on, there are no additional fees or dues. They can prebook their time, come and go, and the other weeks they don’t use are creating income to offset their cost.”

The Heritage Harbour golf course opened in 2001 as Stoneybrook and changed to its current name in 2018. Since its inception, it has been operated as a public course and a semi-private club.

A rendering of the Heritage Harbour Golf Resort and Lodge

“We are taking it into the resort/private world,” Bruce said.

“This will include opportunities for people who live in Stoneybrook and Heritage Harbour. The reason for doing the whole project is to put money back into the property.”

Infrastructure construction is expected to begin next summer, at which time the golf course will be closed for a major renovation.

Bruce said he expects the course to be closed for approximately five months and that it will be the first of a three-tier renovation project. He said the plan is to upgrade “everything.”

Construction is expected to go vertical in the fourth quarter of 2022, and the villas are expected to be ready beginning in the first or second quarter of 2023. The resort lodge, which will have 76-90 suites (depending on entitlements), is expected to be finished about a year after the villas.

The first and second holes on the course will be taken out and replaced by the villas and the lodge. Two holes will be added to the existing course, which will remain a par 72.

Williamson said he has been involved in the time share and vacation club industry for more than 20 years and that he wanted “to build a better mousetrap.”

“We are the anti-time share,”

A rendering of the layout of a villa at Heritage Harbour Golf Resort and Lodge

he said. “That industry still is predatory. I spent a lot of sleepless nights because we were putting a lot of people in that industry, and it was not good stewardship of their money.

“This is the evolution of it.”

Williamson said participation in ResClubs leads to a revenue stream.

He said an explosion in the number of vacation rental properties, such as VRBO and Airbnb, has made the market ripe for ResClubs.

Heritage Harbour checked all the boxes — such as growth, big box stores and being pinched on all sides by development — when Williamson began seeking a flagship property.

Besides the Heritage Harbour project, Williamson has other projects in Costa Rica and Mexico, along a similar project with town homes in Las Vegas.

Bruce said the resort’s time has come, and it is partially due to the pandemic.

“People want to be in their own little bubble,” he said. “The landscape has changed and has been amplified by the pandemic.

We saw this as a perfect fit for us. People will be bonded to the property and will call it home.”

RESCLUBS TRADITIONAL MEMBERSHIP What you get: Usage for a 30-year term at either a designated home location and/or a choice from 4,500 resort locations and 600,000 hotels in more than 100 countries (through the travel exchange network of Panorama/RCI) Price: $99,000 Fixed return: 8% with zero weeks personal usage annually, 6.5% with two weeks of personal usage annually or 5% with four weeks personal usage annually Features: No closing costs and no ongoing expenses (no taxes, no utility bills, no HOA or management fees) Lite membership: Same as the above with a maximum of two weeks usage for a $49,500 investment with 8% return for zero weeks of personal usage annually, 6.5% for one week usage and 5% for two weeks usage Whole ownership: Offered with the whole owner having personal usage of as many as 16 weeks More information: Call Mark Bruce at 400-7566. *Each unit will have 16 weeks of member usage with 36 weeks deployed to rentals.

4

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

Another mill Opposition says taxpayers will enable wasteful school district by approving referendum.

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O

n Nov. 2, Bradenton’s Garin Hoover plans to go to the ballot box and vote no on the School District of Manatee County’s 1-mill ad valorem property tax referendum.

With a $1 billion budget this year, Hoover said the district has plenty of funds to address teacher salaries and provide a good education to students.

“The district is terribly mismanaged, and they wasted millions of dollars,” Hoover said. “I don’t think taxpayers or voters should enable them with more money. You don’t reward an entity with more money when they’ve foolishly wasted millions of dollars.”

The additional millage provides millions of dollars each year that the district puts toward providing a salary supplement for teachers and other school employees, enhancing STEM and career and technical education, and charter schools. The referendum was passed in 2018 with 51% of the vote.

Hoover and Tara Preserve’s Bill Murdoch used the district’s Enterprise Resource Planning system as an example of fiscal mismanagement. The system was meant to streamline business operations including payroll, human resources and benefits

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EAST COUNTY

Observer

Voters approved the School District of Manatee County’s ad valorem 1-mill property tax in March 2018 with 51% of the vote.

The School District of Manatee County’s 1-mill ad valorem property tax is set to expire June 30, 2022.

A special election to vote on the continuation of the millage will be held Nov. 2. If approved, the additional millage would start July 1, 2022, and expire June 30, 2025.

Future additional millage votes will take place during presidential elections.

The district’s 1-mill property tax is used for: n 30 minutes of additional instructional time daily; n Supplementing salaries for teachers and staff; n Enhancing career and technical education and STEM programs; and n Charter schools.

If approved, the district’s 1-mill ad valorem millage also would be used to fund visual and performing arts.

and has cost millions more than originally projected.

In 2016, the Manatee School Board was told the new ERP system would cost less than $10 million. The system launched in July 2018 with countless errors. Since then, the software has cost the district at least $29 million, which includes labor, travel, annual licensing fees, maintenance costs and improvements, and the district adding Manatee Technical College in the software overhaul, all of which were not included in the original rollout of the system.

The district also agreed to pay $525,000 to resolve a lawsuit

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ABOUT THE TAX

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

The School District of Manatee County will use the revenue from the 1-mill property tax referendum as follows: n 51% salaries for instructional staff n 5% for paraprofessionals n 6% for supervisory, administrative, managerial and professional employees n 7% for American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (bus drivers, bus attendants, custodians, school nutrition assistants and others) n 13.3% for STEM, career and technical education, students supports, and visual and performing arts n 15.7% for charter schools

File photo

with Ciber Global LLC, the main company hired to work with district staff and start the ERP system. The company filed a lawsuit in September 2019 demanding $779,000 in unpaid invoices. The lawsuit was resolved in February.

“I’m a little upset with the fact that nobody seems to be accountable for their actions, and they keep coming back asking for more money for programs they want to push forward with,” Murdoch said.

Bradenton’s Jack May, the president of Manatee Patriots, is planning to vote no because the district receives millions more than what was originally projected when the referendum first passed in 2018.

The district projected it would receive $33 million in 2018. Rising property values and more people moving to Manatee County has caused the revenue to balloon to a projected nearly $46 million for this year.

“They have to do a better job,” May said. “They have a fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers, the students and the teachers. I think at some point in time, we probably need to go to a zerobased budget to begin with as opposed to just adding percentages onto existing budget items.”

Hoover said the additional millage is a “money grab” as the district has received nearly $3 million more than the previous year since the referendum was passed in 2018.

“Wouldn’t you think if you’re an organization, ‘Well, how much money do we really need?’ and then base whatever tax on it,” Hoover said. “No, not this district. They say we’re going to go for a mill, and then just recently is when they decided how they were going to spend it. That’s putting the cart before the horse. Assess your needs first.”

Using the tax to supplement teacher salaries is a main reason

some people oppose the tax.

Bradenton’s April Culbreath said teachers need to be prioritized and that their salaries shouldn’t be dependent on a funding source like the 1-mill property tax.

About 51% of the revenue received from the additional millage each year goes toward providing teachers a supplement, which is $5,401 each this year.

Culbreath said voting no will send a message to the school board that the budget needs to be rewritten with teacher salaries as the priority.

“Pay senior employees what they deserve, not just new teachers,” she said. “Cut the excess spending and implement a more conservative operation. Negotiate with their donors better and quit wasting money. Cut some unnecessary admin positions.”

Hoover said the district has had four years to figure out how to put teacher salaries in the operating budget so the referendum wouldn’t be necessary. He suggests the district put all teacher salaries under the operating budget and use the additional millage to fund other programs and needs

5

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

BY THE NUMBERS

ADDITIONAL MILLAGE ALLOCATIONS

Charlie Kennedy, a member of the School Board of Manatee County, debates Bradenton’s Garin Hoover when the School District of Manatee County’s 1-mill property tax referendum was being voted on in 2018.

|

within the district.

“Why would you put your teachers in a precarious position to be dependent upon a tax,” Hoover said. “If you truly value teachers, put their entire compensation in the budget from the get-go, and then if you think you need additional money, put that up to a tax. More importantly, board members and the superintendent and top administrators, why don’t you put part of your salary or all of your salaries subject to the tax.”

Riverdale’s Ed Gocher said the district “should work within its budget like every family in America.”

Hoover also pointed to reports from the Citizens’ Financial Oversight Committee, which was created to ensure the district was using the referendum funds properly and identify and measure relevant outcomes of the referendum, as a reason not to support the referendum.

According to the committee’s past three fiscal year reports, “No definitive conclusions can be drawn at this time regarding the success of the (referendum) in accomplishing its goals.”

Since the School District of Manatee County’s 1-mill ad valorem property tax referendum was passed in March 2018, the district has been using the revenue for teacher and other school staff compensation, enhancing STEM and career and technical education programs and charter schools. Any money that’s not spent is rolled over to the next year.

Here’s a breakdown by fiscal year of much the district received, how much the district spent and how much was carried over from the previous year: 2021 Total revenue: $42.86 million Amount carried from 2020: $4.19 million Amount spent: $44.1 million Amount transferred to fund balance: $69,045 Balance to carry over to 2022: $2.88 million 2020 Total revenue: $40.56 million Amount carried from 2019: $4.65 million Amount spent: $40.91 million Amount transferred to fund balance: $106,067 Balance to carry over to 2021: $4.19 million 2019 Total revenue: $37.31 million Amount spent: $31.55 million Amount transferred to fund balance: $1.11 million Balance to carry over to 2020: $4.65 million

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

Local students earn academic honor LIZ RAMOS

STUDENT HONORS

STAFF WRITER

B

364586-1

efore taking the PSAT his junior year, Sam Leavy, a senior at Lakewood Ranch High School, took several PSAT practice tests to prepare.

He would spend some time each day studying, even if it was only for 10 or 20 minutes.

Leavy was thrilled to see he scored 1490 on the test and that he was named a semifinalist for the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program.

“It’s rewarding because you put in the work to be one of the better scores out there, and it’s a rewarding feeling to see your hard work pay off,” Leavy said.

Leavy was one of seven students in the School District of Manatee County to be named a semifinalist, including Braden River High School’s Liam Wilford, Palmetto High School’s Coral Bell and Southeast High School’s Alexander Aldama-Apodaca, Madison Barendse, Samuel Maurer and Jonathan Xavioer.

The National Merit Scholarship Program offers 2,500 national merit $2,500 scholarships, 1,000 corporate-sponsored merit scholarships and 4,000 collegesponsored merit scholarships.

Wilford and Leavy will find out if they are finalists in February and whether they are winners of a scholarship between April and July.

Wilford said being a semifinalist opens doors to opportunities.

“I wouldn’t have to worry about

LIAM WILFORD School: Braden River High School Year: Senior PSAT score: 1490 Extracurriculars: Technology Student Association, National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Academic Team and karate PSAT advice: Take practice tests, know testing strategies and take your time.

Plans for college: University of Florida to study engineering SAM LEAVY School: Lakewood Ranch High School Year: Senior PSAT score: 1490 Extracurriculars: Captain of the Lakewood Ranch High soccer team, captain of the Braden River Soccer Club, vice president of Lakewood Leaders, National Honor Society, biochemistry club and volunteer for Dream Oaks Camp PSAT advice: Study every day, even for a short period of time.

Plans for college: Duke University to study biomedical engineering

getting other scholarships, and it gives me more options for where I can go to college,” Wilford said.

Wilford felt pressure to do well on the PSAT. Unlike other exams, such as the SAT and ACT, students only have one chance to score well on the PSAT. Leavy and Wilford both are dedicated to their academics, taking several Advanced Placement courses while also balancing extracurriculars.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

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Friends host fundraiser for East County library After a long delay, the Friends of the East County Library host an author’s luncheon at the Lakewood Ranch Country Club.

SCOTT LOCKWOOD STAFF WRITER

With $14.9 million approved in the Manatee County budget in September for a new library in Lakewood Ranch, the Friends of the East County Library are excited about raising money to supplement the library’s resources.

However, attempts to hold fundraisers have been thwarted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

That changed Oct. 6 when the group hosted Mary Walton for an Author’s Luncheon at the Lakewood Ranch Country Club. Walton was selling and signing copies of her latest book, “A Woman’s Crusade: Alice Paul and the Battle for the Ballot.”

Ninety-five people attended the luncheon, and Walton said it was an honor to take part in the event.

“I couldn’t be more pleased to be here for a cause that’s just so worthy,” Walton said of raising money to stock the new library.

“A library is the soul of the community. I believe in libraries, so I couldn’t be happier.”

It was the first major fundraiser for Friends of the East County Library since the start of the pandemic.

“It’s very exciting to be able to get the word out to the community that the library is coming and to find out what services they would like for us to provide to the library, which is what Friends of the East County Library does,” said Regina Negrycz, the vice president of the organization and a member of its board of directors.

Negrycz gave examples of what the money they raise might provide, such as hot spots for Wi-Fi access, children’s activities or genealogy programs to help people do their searches at the library.

The organization also will sponsor programs, such as summer reading for children.

The library’s opening is targeted for 2024.

Sue Ann Miller, the president of the Friends of the East County Library, said the author’s event raised more than $10,000. Besides ticket sales to the event, revenue was made from proceeds from the sale of Walton’s book, auctioned gift baskets and a raffle.

The organization will sponsor programs including summer reading for children. Funds raised will go toward extras that won’t be included in the construction process for the facility, which is expected to open in 2024.

Scott Lockwood

Author Mary Walton stands with Sue Ann Miller prior to the start of Wednesday’s luncheon. Walton headlined the event, which was the first major fundraiser for the Friends of the East County Library.

The Friends of the East County Library had previously raised $25,000 so now is more than halfway toward its goal of $65,000 before the library opens.

While many library support groups mostly fund extra programs, the Friends of the East County Library has been tasked with purchasing other things that will elevate the new library.

Several members of the organization have for years hoped a new library would be built in the area.

Janice Novello and Ginny Orenstein helped start a fund for a Lakewood Ranch library more than 20 years ago and are now excited the time is getting near.

Orenstein, who moved to Lakewood Ranch in January 1999, said she had years ago convinced a prominent member of the community to donate $10,000 to a

new library, but plans never went forward.

“He had pledged the first $10,000 that we never got to collect because we could never get (the library),” Orenstein said.

“There just wasn’t enough here then. It was a small area, and I think there were 2,000 residents at that time.”

Novello is glad things have changed.

“We are so past ready,” she said.

“We have a whole community, and this library is going to address the needs of our community. We had a lot of brainstorming and thinking and planning. We had to take those plans that we had 20 years ago and bring them up to what is needed in our community now. It’s going to be wonderful.”

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

A lot of prayers answered

EAST COUNTY

Pastor Matthew Curley sends out his parishioners with a message of love and peace.

“If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.”

Friedrich Hayek

“Road to Serfdom,” 1944

Publisher and President / Emily Walsh, EWalsh@YourObserver.com Associate Publisher — East County Observer / Lori Ruth, LRuth@YourObserver.com Executive Editor and COO / Kat Hughes, KHughes@YourObserver.com

Myakka City United Methodist Church celebrates its 100th anniversary.

Managing Editor / Jay Heater, JHeater@YourObserver.com Sports Reporter / Ryan Kohn, RKohn@YourObserver.com Staff Writers / Scott Lockwood, SLockwood@YourObserver.com; Liz Ramos, LRamos@YourObserver.com Copy Editor/ Kaelyn Adix, KAdix@YourObserver.com Editorial Designers / Melissa Leduc, MLeduc@YourObserver.com; José Valle, JValle@YourObserver.com A+E Editor / Andréa Martone, AMartone@YourObserver.com Black Tie Editor / Harry Sayer, HSayer@YourObserver.com

JAY HEATER MANAGING EDITOR

H

urricane Donna hit the area in 1960, and Myakka City’s Marilyn Coker remembered the destruction.

Besides taking their frozen goods to a Bradenton Publix grocery store due to the loss of electricity, Myakka City residents were going to a pool of water on a flooded Wauchula Road bridge to wash up.

Worse yet, at a time when their faith was being tested, the Myakka City Methodist Episcopal Church had suffered severe damage. It had been knocked cockeyed by the storm.

“The (100 mph) winds had been coming from the south,” said Coker, a longtime member of the church and the Myakka City Historical Society. “The church was leaning to the north. It was not safe for people to go in.”

The residents had to do something in a hurry. The church had been an important part of the little community since it was established in 1921.

Coker’s husband, Joe, was a carpenter. He got together with Brian Carlton, who was a mechanic, to devise a plan. Carlton made a brace to pull the church back to an upright position. Joe Coker provided the much-needed carpentry. Other members of the community helped as well. Once the church was brought to an upright position, cables with turnbuckles were attached to steady it.

It wasn’t perfect, but the doors were open for business, and it would be another seven years before local residents raised enough money to build a new church and sanctuary next to the original one.

NOT JUST A BUILDING

As Myakka City United Methodist celebrated its 100-year anniversary Oct. 10, stories circulated among longtime parishioners about some of the challenges the church has faced. It should be noted that in 1968, the Methodist church merged nationally with the Evangelical United Brethren Church to form the United Methodist Church, thus the name change.

Sue Stoliker, who first attended the church in 1963, said the church would prevail no matter what happened to the sanctuary.

“It’s the people,” she said of the church’s actual foundation. “It’s the love from everybody. I feel the spirit of God here.”

The original church opened in 1922, a year after a group of worshipers from the Sandy community of Manatee County had moved their congregation to Myakka City. The founders were James Hancock, Marion Carlton

and Marsh Tatum.

At first, they shared a space with the Myakka City Baptist Church, but that had its difficulties, and the congregation quickly switched to the Myakka City School auditorium.

The little church on Lebanon Street was built in 1922, and that church’s first pastor, T.W. Carlton, was in business.

A huge storm blew the church off its foundation in 1926, but residents repaired it, and services continued. In 2004, Hurricane Charley blew the church’s steeple over, but again, the church was repaired.

TIMELINE

Over the years at Myakka City United Methodist Church:

1921

Myakka City United Methodist Episcopal Church forms

SMALL BUT MIGHTY

A week before its 100th anniversary celebration, a dozen cars were parked in various spots around the church. The neighborhood was quiet, with the only sound being the chirping cicadas.

Suddenly, the sound of music filled the inside of the church as a small choir was joined by virtually everyone in attendance — ­ 20 strong — to sing a closing hymn.

The booming voice of current Pastor Matthew Curley told the parishioners to go in peace with love.

Ouida Carter had finished another service, as she has done since she was 7 years old. She is 87 now and still loves the church, adding, “I’ve paid my dues.”

She attended the older church and her brothers, Recie, Bud and Russ, helped build the new one in 1967.

Never has she considered going anywhere else.

“The accuracy of the word,” she said, has kept her at this second home. “It’s the honesty. … It’s forceful, but not in a bad way.”

She said the church has been “fuller,” but she expects it to continue into another century.

“I pray they will,” she said.

Nancy Ness has attended the church since she was 8 and is now 60. In her early days at the church, her grandmother, Orilla Gannon, was the organist.

“We’ve been bigger,” she said in terms of parishioners. “But we’ve been way smaller. I look forward to homecoming each year. There have been times when we had to set up chairs in the aisles.”

Curley said the church, which seats 120 in the sanctuary, currently has a membership of about 50, which fell significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. He expects membership to increase once fear of the pandemic subsides.

1922

Original church and sanctuary opens

1926

Storm blows the church off its foundation Photos by Jay Heater

Top: The original church, on the left, was held up by cables after being damaged by Hurricane Donna in 1960. The new church, to the right, opened in 1967, and the old church was torn down.

Above: Myakka City United Methodist Church is celebrating its 100th anniversary.

BUILT TO SERVE

Financially, the church survives despite its small numbers.

“Mainly, the people always have been generous with their wealth,” he said. “It keeps this church on solid financial foundation. It’s God’s grace to sustain us. Some things you can’t explain.”

Coker has attended the church for 53 years, originally coming because she was invited to play the piano with the youth choir.

She felt so at home with the young people in the choir that she switched from the local Baptist church.

She said the choir currently has 12 members, and she is confident the membership will increase.

“Through the years, the congregation has gone down at times, but it builds back up,” she said.

“We have given this church our time and our treasure.”

Stoliker said she hasn’t missed a Sunday since 1985 and isn’t about to now.

“I love coming here,” she said.

“It is my family.”

1960

Hurricane Donna damages the structure of the church

1967

New church and sanctuary opens

1968

The Methodist church merges nationally with the Evangelical United Brethren Church to form the United Methodist church

1981

The church’s Founders Fellowship Hall opens

1990

Five acres donated to expand the church’s campus

1996

Church’s bell tower built in honor of church’s 75th anniversary

2004

Hurricane Charley blows over the church’s steeple

2021

Church celebrates 100th anniversary

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

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JAY HEATER

Local author stays true to her beliefs A

s a kid, I struggled to understand my relationship with God. I was a huge New York Yankees fan, and because we all are touched by God’s will in every way, I figured it could come in handy at game time.

I prayed that God would bless the Yankees and let them beat the Red Sox. So why did the Bronx Bombers get crushed 11-3? Did God not love me? Doesn’t God love the Yankees more than the stinking Red Sox? It was all so confusing.

As I matured, I learned that it might be better to admit I just don’t understand the workings of the almighty. That comes in useful when I see someone standing in the intersection with a “Jesus loves you” sign, backing up traffic for three blocks.

Instead of screaming obscenities, I think, “Well, you never know.”

In fact, I am envious of those who are absolutely certain of their own relationship with God, especially with so much uncertainty in the world.

That was the case when Kimberley Papa walked into my Lakewood Ranch Main Street office.

Lakewood Ranch’s Papa has just self-published her first book, “Positioned.”

Her description of “Positioned” reads: “In reverence and

awe, I share with you, hidden gems of a writer’s pen. I invite you to position yourself to hear with your spiritual senses and see through a new lens. As you journey through these pages, may you feel the heart of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit).”

OK, let’s admit it: That would scare many of us away from putting it on the coffee table.

But what the book is not is a woman who is absolutely certain of her relationship with God saying you should be like her. It’s poetry in nature with the hope that her words and observations entertain and inspire in a positive way.

Although Papa admits she has a message she wants to share, she’s not saying “read it and be saved.”

It’s more of a chance to enjoy the world’s beauty, some interesting prose and a, perhaps, different point of view on life and the relationship with God. If you have some epiphany along the way, so be it.

“This book is not for everyone,” she said. “But a little something for everybody.”

The fact that the 297-page book is available on Amazon or by going to Papa’s website, PositionedInPurity.com, is somewhat of a miracle in itself for Papa.

“I never thought I would be an author,” Papa said.

But two years ago, a vision came to Papa, who lives in Esplanade, that she needed to write a book.

“I always have a journal beside my bed,” she said. “All right God, what do you want me to do with this?”

The answer was to publish her poetry.

She began going on walks, on which she would pray and jot down her thoughts on a pad.

Once home, she would beginning assembling her work.

“To me, it was easy,” she said.

“Because it is so personal, it was fun to me.”

She enlisted the aid of her niece, Tatiana Ortiz, a photographer and journalist.

Ortiz mixed in her collection of beautiful photographs to complement the poetry.

She said it was an honor to work with her aunt.

“She is very sweet and very encouraging,” Ortiz said. “She is very honest, and she cares about people.”

Papa, who grew up in Boston attending the Catholic church, doesn’t attend any particular church. She said she is just “a believer” in one God. “Even as a kid, I always loved to journal,” she said. “My mother, (Suzanne Iarrobino), said I was making poetry. I loved to draw and write.”

Her direction changed when

Jay Heater

Featured photographer Tatiana Ortiz and author Kimberley Papa have their work on display in the book “Positioned.”

she was 43, after doctors found a tumor in the tectal plate in her brain. She said doctors told her she had less than a 20% chance to live. She was house-bound and remembers saying, “God, you have my attention.”

A few months later, after saying she felt the glory of God upon her, Papa went for a doctor’s appointment and was told the tumor was gone.

“The doctors told me they didn’t understand it,” she said.

“If you are seeking the impossible, I am here to tell you it is possible.”

She moved to the East County area 25 years ago and along with her husband, Mark, owned Legacy Advisors in Sarasota and worked as financial advisers. She retired 15 years ago.

Whether or not you “Hear the

thundering of his voice within your spirit,” you can enjoy the way Papa looks at the world around her in “Positioned.”

“It was all inspired, all through prayer, for the kingdom of God,” Papa said. “I think there is something in there for everyone. When someone opens this book, the breath of God breathes upon them.”

OK, but now can you help me with the Yankees?

Jay Heater is the managing editor for the East County Observer. Contact him at JHeater@ YourObserver. com.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

Volunteers blitz preserve

FAM I LY

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Family Focused.

Volunteers join a BioBlitz of the Bidwell tract inside Manatee County’s Rye Preserve to identify plants.

SCOTT LOCKWOOD STAFF REPORTER

A group of local volunteers had a chance to celebrate National Public Lands Day with a unique twist.

The group did not have a traditional party to mark the occasion. Instead, they took a BioBlitz through a newly acquired section of Rye Preserve on Sept. 25 in an effort to help Manatee County identify various species of plants.

Manatee County purchased the 34-acre Bidwell tract, which was already surrounded by Rye Preserve, for $1 as part of a mitigation project in 2019. The BioBlitz session, led by Aedan Stockdale, the program manager for Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources, gave volunteers an inside look at the tract that is not yet open to the general public.

BioBlitz is a short period of time where people try to collect as much information as possible on what lives in an area. Stockdale said Manatee County has done BioBlitz excursions in several different ways, including some on the water where they have looked at aquatic invertebrates and have

GET INVOLVED

Volunteer workdays or short-term volunteer opportunities are available within Manatee County’s parks and preserved lands.

For more information, visit MyManatee.org under Parks and Natural Resources, or contact volunteer coordinator Michelle Leahy at 742-5923, ext. 6035.

performed a bird count. They’ve also done an insect sweep with nets along with a bat observation in the evening.

During the two-hour blitz, volunteers were instructed to use the iNaturalist app on their phones. Users take photos of anything they like and submit them to the app, which later identifies the plant species in the photos. Stockdale said that over the course of the BioBlitz, there were 240 observations and 108 documented species. Those species include 85 plants, insects, nine fungi, one spider, one reptile and one mammal.

“We catalog basically what’s living out here,” Stockdale said.

“We might come up with rare species, and we might see a new orchid that we didn’t know was on this property. We also have a chance to catalog any exotic spe-

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

11

Aiming to Make Breast Cancer Surgery Easier

Michelle Leahy, of Manatee County’s Parks and Natural Resources department, uses the iNaturalist app to get a shot of some berries during a BioBlitz in the Bidwell tract at Rye Preserve.

cies, and that’s a maintenance concern. So if there’s an exotic species on the property, that will be one that we have to come back and remove. It all feeds on how we manage the property.”

Stockdale said there was one unique discovery during the BioBlitz.

“Probably the coolest find was the swamp leather flower, which is a native vine that grows in moist areas,” he said. “Manatee County is at the southern extent of this plant’s range.”

The BioBlitz was one of about 15 programs offered throughout the 20,000 acres of preserved land in Manatee County. Stockdale said that although another BioBlitz isn’t planned soon, there will be more opportunities to come.

“We will be offering hikes and tours and volunteer activities out here in the future,” he said. “We’ll have more opportunities to get out on the property, either sneak

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Ask the Doctor...

DAVID DEXTER, MD, FACS, General Surgeon Lakewood Ranch Medical Group

was usually placed immediately prior to the surgical procedure.

This required a high degree of coordination between radiological and surgical schedules and created the potential for procedural delays.

Once placed, women would have What Is the SAVI SCOUT® Wireto wait with one or more wires Free Localization System? sticking out of their breasts, which SCOUT assists surgeons to precisely could be uncomfortable and could David W. Dexter, MD, FACS locate breast abnormalities during result in displacement of the wire. surgical procedures.Board It is FDACertified in General Surgery; Finally, the ideal skin entry site for cleared and a preferred alternative Fellow in the American College of Surgeons the wire was often distant from the to the older technique of wire ideal location of the skin incision localization. The system works increasing the potential for lessby using non-radioactive, radar General Surgeon than-optimal cosmetic outcomes. technology to provide real-time We are pleased to introduce David W. Dexter, MD, FACS, the With SCOUT the reflector that distance measurement guidance newest surgeon to join Manatee Physician Alliance. localizes the tumor can be placed during breast surgery. The ability up to 30 days and prioratoFellow surgery,in the to precisely locate certified tumors canin General Dr. Dexter is board Surgery simplifying surgical scheduling increase the probability of American College of Surgeons. He will be seeing both elective and for both patients and physicians. complete cancer removal and can acute care general surgery patients at Lakewood Ranch Medical The SCOUT reflector is not visible, reduce the likelihood of needing Center. He performs all aspects of general surgery, but has particular does not restrict patient’s daily follow-up surgeries. Additionally, skillsSCOUT in minimally invasivewith andthe daVinci® robotic activities, and surgery. is removed at the provides surgeons ability to strategically plan incisions time of surgery.

Dr. Dexter earned his medical degree from the State University resulting in less tissue removal and of New York Upstate Medical University College of Medicine In addition to using the SAVI in better cosmetic outcomes.* system in the management Syracuse. He completed his GeneralSCOUT Surgery Residency at the of breast cancer Dexter and What Are the Advantages Wright State University andofWright-Patterson USAFDr.Integrated Kinder, PA-C also treat duty SCOUT Versus WireinLocalization?

Surgical Residency Dayton, Ohio. Alexa He also served on active common breast such as mainstay of treatment, until as a The General Surgeon at Wright-Patterson U.S. Air conditions Force Medical fibrocystic breast changes, palpable recently, has been wire localization Center. Dr. Dexter comes to our area after serving as a Trauma and breast masses, nipple discharge, to pinpoint a tumor.

Historically General Surgeon in Erie, Pa., fora 20 years.

He is excited to bring and breast pain. thin, hooked guidewire was placed his experience and enthusiasm for Robotic and Minimally Invasive by a radiologist through the skin Community.

Surgery to the Lakewood Ranch Call 941-254-6767 for more and into the lesion. The surgeon or to then usedan theappointment wire to help guidewithinformation Schedule Dr. Dexter orschedule learn an appointment. the removal of the tumor.

The wire more about Lakewood Ranch Medical Group by calling Surgeons at Lakewood Ranch Medical Group are among the first in the Manatee and Sarasota County areas to use the Savi Scout® wire-free radar localization system during breast-conservation surgery.

Meet Dr. Dexter

Manatee Physician Alliance

Photos by Scott Lockwood

Manatee County’s Aedan Stockdale holds a Caesar weed and explains that the plant is an invasive species to the Bidwell tract during a BioBlitz on Sept. 25.

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Physicians are on the medical staff of Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, but, with limited exceptions, are independent [1] are not employees or agents of Lakewood Ranch Medical Center. The hospital shall not be liable for practitioners who Cox CE, Russell S, Prowler V, et al. A Prospective, Single Arm, Multi-site, Clinical Evaluation of Source: actions or treatments provided by physicians.

For language assistance, disability accommodations and the a Nonradioactive Surgical Guidance Technology for the Location of Nonpalpable Breast Lesions during non-discrimination notice, visit our website. 21181601-200073 04/21 Excision. Ann Surg Oncol. 2016;23(10):3168-74.

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OCTOBER 14, 2021

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT The headless horseman rides again The Players expands its production of the classic tale ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’ just in time for Halloween.

ANDRÉA MARTONE A+E EDITOR

et’s face it. Everyone loves a ghost story — and what better time to indulge in this pleasure than Halloween?

For the past five years, The Players Centre for Performing Arts has recognized that a good ghost story is Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” the 201-year-old classic.

Beginning Oct. 22, The Players will host four dates at two outdoor venues of the spooky production (Sarasota Polo Club and Selby’s Historic Spanish Point). People of all ages will particularly enjoy the story’s main character, Ichabod Crane — a tall, lanky character who is the local schoolmaster and has a strong belief in all things supernatural, including the legend of the headless horseman.

If you need a memory refresh on the theme of this tale, in the 1790s Crane eventually begins courting an heiress, a decision that angers a local man who also wishes to marry her. After asking for her hand in marriage, Crane is headed home alone at night when the headless horseman appears and chases the schoolmaster.

Crane is never seen again.

Philip Troyer, 36, takes the role of Ichabod Crane and said he thoroughly enjoys playing the character, particularly because he loves looking out into the audi-

ence and seeing the families who are mesmerized by the show.

“I’ve been playing the role for four years now, and I love the fact that the character is over the top and outlandish,” Troyer said. “That’s not me in real life.

It allows me to transform. I especially love to speak with a distinct British accent like they did in the late 1700s.”

Troyer volunteers his time as an actor, but his day job is working as a designer with The Rhinestone World, a Bradenton national custom jewelry manufacturer. He grew up in Sarasota and considers himself “a Sarasota lifer.” He said his love of theater stems from middle school when he performed in shows and loved every minute of it. He went on to study photography at the International Academy of Design and Technology.

Jeffery Kin, The Players’ producing artistic director, said the idea of producing “Sleepy Hollow” was conceived more than five years ago when he was driving around the Lakewood Ranch area thinking of ideas.

“I heard the distant sound of a neigh from a horse,” Kin said.

“It was an a-ha moment for me, and I thought of ‘Sleepy Hollow’ immediately.”

Kin said he also likes the idea of establishing community tradi-

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tions, of which Lakewood Ranch only had a few at the time. The tale teaches life lessons to kids, he said, such as two of the seven deadly sins: greed and gluttony.

This year is the first the production will add a second venue to the mix, with three performances at Historic Spanish Point.

“We were touring Historic Spanish Point and thought it would be an ideal location to take our Sleepy Holly production,” Kin said. “(Marie Selby Botanical Gardens) has been enthusiastic about their partnership with us ever since we hosted Broadway on the Bay at their Selby Botanical location.”

This will be the last season for Kin, who, after 15 years with The Players, will leave in January to be the general director of a proposed citywide arts festival. Planned by the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota in conjunction with the Sarasota Downtown Improvement District, the festival’s goal is to bring greater awareness to the Sarasota area arts and culture scene and possibly draw national and international attention.

“I hope that The Players Centre will continue to be mobile and will get out into the Sarasota communities, getting to know our neighbors, drawing families to us and giving them a legacy,”

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IF YOU GO “THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW” At Sarasota Polo Club When: 6 p.m. Oct. 22; 4 and 6 p.m. Oct. 23 Where: Sarasota Polo Club, 8201 Polo Club Lane Tickets: $20; students $10; family four pack $50 Info: Call 253-5929.

Philip Troyer plays Ichabod Crane in The Players Centre for Performing Arts’ “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”

At Selby Gardens’ Historic Spanish Point When: 5:30 p.m. Oct. 29 and 30 Where: Guptil House at Selby Botanical Gardens’ Historic Spanish Point, 337 N. Tamiami Trail Info: Call 253-5929.

What you need to know: n Bring chairs and/or blankets. Blankets will be seated closer to the stage, but seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis. n You can bring an umbrella, but you will be moved toward the back if it obstructs stage views. n There will be food trucks present, but you may bring in your own food (no alcohol). n Arrival time is 45 minutes prior to show.

Kin said. “This is a major initiative for us, and we know it has amazing potential for growth — not just in Lakewood Ranch and in Historic Spanish Point but everywhere in Sarasota.”

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

13

Pet care gets urgent treatment Animal clinic specializing in afterhours care comes to Lakewood Ranch area.

SCOTT LOCKWOOD STAFF WRITER

O

n the heels of a successful opening of a facility in The Villages in July, UrgentVet Founder Dr. Jim Dobies was looking for another hot spot for a new clinic.

He found that quickly in Lakewood Ranch.

UrgentVet, which features online check-in capability and specializes in after-hours care, opened its doors Oct. 7 in Schoolhouse Plaza on State Road 64 in Lakewood Ranch.

“Our model is all about convenience,” Dobies said. “We’re looking for areas that have a very devoted clientele who treat their pet as a member of the family but also want convenience for after-hours care.

The community right next to Lakewood Ranch is ideal for that situation.”

Dobies said he had a traditional vet hospital, and his clients wanted him to stay open longer, which was impossible because he was the only doctor

NEW BUSINESS

URGENTVET Where: 9620 S.R. 64 E., Bradenton Hours: 3-11 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday More info: Go to UrgentVet.com.

Did you know? Urgent Care, founded in 2015, was meant to fill the gap between a regular vet and the vet emergency room.

Photos by Scott Lockwood

he said. “It took about a year to develop the business plan.

We’re here to serve as a backstop and a safety net, for the private practice, to have somewhere they can send people when they’re full for the day or when stuff happens at night or on weekends or on holidays when they’re closed.”

Pet owners can visit UrgentVet.com and click on Lakewood Ranch under the location tab.

The site will be updated with wait times in real time and gives the ability to check in. Walk-ins are also welcome.

UrgentVet features separated waiting areas and rooms that serve large dogs, small dogs and cats. All rooms have pheromones that are designed to help scared pets calm down. The cat care room features music that drowns out other noises from around the clinic.

UrgentVet also features non-

at the hospital. Client feedback on nearby emergency clinics included long drives, longer waits and high costs.

Combine all those factors — along with the fact that Dobies got sick himself and had to go to an emergency clinic when his own doctor couldn’t see him that day — and it’s easy to see why he founded UrgentVet. His clinic has grown to 14 locations in Florida, South Carolina and North Carolina, and his clinics are open from 3-11 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends.

“I started to think about why urgent care doesn’t exist in veterinary medicine the way that it does in human medicine,”

Above: Dr. Jim Dobies and Practice Manager Janette Blanco prepare to open the doors to the new UrgentVet clinic in Lakewood Ranch on Oct. 7.

Left: A digital X-ray room is just part of state-of-the-art equipment aimed at providing a fast and comfortable experience.

slip floors, a comfort room, a state-of-the-art digital X-ray machine and a large treatment room with a laboratory. There are surgical sterilization areas and a pharmacy in the heart of each facility.

“We wanted to create an experience that was modern,

that was up to date and leaned on technology,” Dobies said.

Dobies said the Lakewood Ranch staff will be headed by Dr. Megan Joyce, Practice Manager Janette Blanco and a team of doctors that will rotate.

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OCTOBER 2021 Escape To Margaritaville ................. Oct. 29 NOVEMBER 2021 An Evening with Bruce Hornsby ................................... Nov. 11 Straight No Chaser: Back In The High Life ....................... Nov. 12 50 Years of Rock & Roll, Part 4 .................................................. Nov. 18 Kathleen Madigan ........................... Nov. 19 Mannheim Steamroller Christmas .......................................... Nov. 20 America: 50th Anniversary Tour ..................... Nov. 21 Come From Away ........................ Nov. 23-28 Cirque Dreams Holidaze ................. Nov. 29 Dave Koz & Friends: Christmas 2021 ................................ Nov. 30

DECEMBER 2021 Michael Londra’s Celtic Yuletide ..................................... Dec. 1 The Temptations and The Four Tops ...................................... Dec. 2 The Allman Family Revival ............... Dec. 3 Martina McBride: The Joy of Christmas 2021 ................. Dec. 4 STOMP .................................................. Dec. 5 David Foster: Hitman Tour ................ Dec. 6 George Thorogood And The Destroyers ............................ Dec. 7 Joe Bonamassa ................................... Dec. 8 Sarah Brightman: A Christmas Symphony ......................................... Dec. 14 Jefferson Starship ............................ Dec. 31

JANUARY 2022 Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert ............................. Jan. 3 Renée Fleming .................................... Jan. 5 Il Divo .................................................... Jan. 6 Proud Tina: The Ultimate Tribute to Tina Turner ...................... Jan. 13 Jay Leno ............................................. Jan. 15 The Righteous Brothers .................. Jan. 16 Beautiful — The Carole King Musical ............. Jan. 18-19 Bernadette Peters ............................ Jan. 23 Tango Fire .......................................... Jan. 24 Jersey Boys ................................... Jan. 25-26 Harry Connick, Jr. .............................. Jan. 27 Kansas: Point Of Know Return ..................................... Jan. 28 New Shanghai Circus ....................... Jan. 29

The Choir of Man .............................. Jan. 30 FEBRUARY 2022 An American in Paris ....................... Feb. 2-3 A Tribute to Aretha Franklin ............. Feb. 9 Reza: Edge of Illusion ....................... Feb. 10 Audra McDonald ............................... Feb. 11 The Simon & Garfunkel Story ......... Feb. 12 The Four Phantoms In Concert ....... Feb. 14 Gladys Knight .................................... Feb. 15 Dancing with the Stars: LIVE! ........ Feb. 17 Paul Anka — Greatest Hits: His Way ..................... Feb. 20 Celtic Thunder: Ireland .................... Feb. 23 Stayin’ Alive ....................................... Feb. 24 Engelbert Humperdinck ................. Feb. 28

MARCH 2022 The Sweet Caroline Tour .................. Mar. 1 Menopause the Musical®.................. Mar. 2 Celtic Woman: Postcards From Ireland .................... Mar. 3 RAIN: A Tribute to The Beatles ......................................... Mar. 6 Masters of Illusion ............................. Mar. 7 Itzhak Perlman in Recital ................ Mar. 8 Neil Berg’s 112 Years of Broadway ....................................... Mar. 9 The TEN Tenors: Love is In the Air ............................... Mar. 10 Sheléa: Natural Woman .................. Mar. 16 An Evening with Chris Botti ............ Mar. 17 Anastasia ..................................... Mar. 18-20 Steve Solomon: My Mother’s Italian . . . ................... Mar. 21

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ABBA: The Concert ........................... Mar. 27 The Price Is Right Live ..................... Mar. 29 APRIL 2022 Kenny G ................................................ Apr. 5 An Officer and A Gentleman .................................... Apr. 6-7 Terry Fator ......................................... Apr. 10 Rick Thomas: Mansion of Dreams .......................... Apr. 11 Johnny Mathis: The Voice of Romance Tour ............................... Apr. 12 South Pacific ................................ Apr. 14-15 Fiddler On The Roof ..................... Apr. 19-21 Diana Krall ......................................... Apr. 23 Motown With a Twist ...................... Apr. 26 MAY 2022 One Night of Queen ........................... May 7

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

Liz Ramos

Chris McComas, the owner of MVP Sports and Social, and Mike Tuohy, a head golf professional, look forward to MVP’s golf tournament to raise money for the MVP Feel Good Fund.

Random charity The MVP Feel Good Fund provides monetary donations to random people in need.

LIZ RAMOS

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STAFF WRITER

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

In July 2020, Chris and Jessi McComas, the owners of MVP Sports and Social, approached a random family outside a Goodwill.

Jessi McComas handed the family $210 as a random act of kindness.

The couple continued the acts of kindness at other various places in East County. It was money that had been donated to the nonprofit MVP Feel Good Fund.

The MVP Feel Good Fund was established in July 2020 after Jessi McComas had the idea to help spread kindness and positivity during the pandemic by collecting donations and giving money to random strangers.

“It was a rough time,” Chris McComas said. “There was so much negativity.”

People were losing their jobs and struggling financially.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

The MVP Feel Good Fund was established in July 2020 to provide monetary donations at random to spread positivity and kindness. So far, the nonprofit has raised more than $14,000 and given donations to 12 people.

MVP Sports and Social is hosting a golf tournament Oct. 16 at Esplanade at Azario Lakewood Ranch to raise money for the Feel Good Fund. Send donations through Venmo to @MVPFeelGoodFriday.

Jessi McComas thought the MVP community might be willing to donate a dollar or two, and whatever they collected would be given to a stranger, no strings attached.

“We don’t want to know them,” Chris McComas said. “We don’t want them to ever feel like they owe anything. We give them the money and leave.”

The couple would film themselves giving the donations along with people’s reactions and post it on social media so those who donated could see who received the money.

“Everybody got to see where their donation went,” Chris McComas said. “They got to see the smile on the face of the person who received it.”

The MVP Feel Good Fund has raised more than $14,000 through donations and money raised through MVP Sports and Social hosting a golf tournament and

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

Sarasota’s Best Voted One of

sand volleyball tournament. The nonprofit has given donations to 12 people since July 2020.

“It’s thrilling,” Chris McComas said. “It’s something you never think you’d get to do. Just to see the pure joy on their faces is one of the best feelings in the world. We’re one of the few charities that will drain its account. We just give it away. The amount given is determined by the amount available.”

MVP is hosting a golf tournament Oct. 16 at Esplanade at Azario Lakewood Ranch to give back to the community while raising money for the MVP Feel Good Fund.

McComas said MVP has not been able to host fundraising events so far this year due to the pandemic.

About 135 golfers will participate in the tournament.

Mike Tuohy, the head golf professional at Azario, said he is looking forward to participating in the golf tournament after having fun at last year’s tournament.

“Working with MVP is always a fun experience,” Tuohy said.

“Unlike some events, it’s a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere to take part in. They make sure everybody’s here for the right reasons and a good time.”

Tuohy said he has enjoyed seeing the MVP Feel Good Fun videos posted on MVP’s social media.

“It’s fun knowing the money stays local and helps local people,” he said. “A lot of times with national charities it goes under a national umbrella, whereas with (the Feel Good Fund) we get to see it literally could help somebody just around the corner.”

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• Steve Ford: actor, mental health advocate and son of former President Gerald Ford and First Lady Betty Ford The Lee & Bob Peterson Legacy Award will be presented to the Seidensticker Family in honor of their late father, Steve. Other event highlights include a “Hope Chest” raffle, silent auction, and live entertainment throughout the evening.

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National and local mental health practitioners and scientists will discuss new treatments, discoveries, and insights on mental health issues. Topics will include better treatments for childhood disorders, creating a trauma-informed community, the impact of COVID-19 on young people, childhood and adolescent anxiety, and the nature of depression; a Q&A will follow the program. The goals of the symposium are to raise awareness of mental health and addiction disorders and to help erase the stigma surrounding them.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

IT’S READ EVERYWHERE Headed on a trip? Snap a photo of you on vacation holding your Observer, then submit your photo online at YourObserver.com/ ItsReadEverywhere. Stay tuned for this year’s prize, and happy travels!

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OBSERVER IS KING IN MEMPHIS: While visiting Memphis, Tennessee, Rick and Debbie Brown and Inah and Mike Sporer took a moment to read the East County Observer before enjoying all the Elvis Week festivities at Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley.

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OCTOBER 14, 2021

— Lakewood Ranch High’s Jack Burbee SEE PAGE 19

HIGH

SPORTS

“What you put into golf is what you get out of it, and I definitely am willing to put a lot of work into it.”

5

1

Braden River High senior quarterback Bryan Kearse had four carries for 37 yards and two touchdowns Oct. 8 in the Pirates’ 35-0 road win against Lely High. Kearse also completed six of nine passes for 88 yards.

2

The Out-of-Door Academy senior boys cross-country runner Tristan McWilliam (16:21.00) finished second out of 136 runners at the 2021 Land O’ Lakes Gator Invitational, held Oct. 9 at Crews Lake Wilderness Park in Spring Hill.

3

The Out-of-Door Academy senior volleyball player Ansley White had 26 assists and an ace Oct. 7 in the Thunder’s 3-0 road win against Indian Rocks Christian.

4

Sally Dickson (17) won the Nine Hole Ladies Golf Association “Putting Around” event (points scoring) held Oct. 7 at University Park Country Club.

5

Kent Lockridge, Dave Murphy, Mark Miller and Will Lawhon (19 under par) won the Men’s Golf Association Pro Shop Buddy event (best ball scoring) held Oct. 9 at Palm Aire Country Club’s Lakes course.

GOLFER WORKS TO BECOME ACE PAGE 18

Ryan Kohn

After finishing fifth at the state meet in 2020, Lakewood Ranch senior boys swimmer Dimiter Zafirov is taking a new approach to swimming this season, not having expectations as he goes into a competition.

Go with the flow Mustang senior swimmer prepares for another shot at the state meet.

RYAN KOHN SPORTS REPORTER

L

ike ripples gently rushing across the water, Lakewood Ranch High senior boys swimmer Dimiter Zafirov goes with the flow.

He has no routines in his training, no special breakfasts before a race and no mental motivation he needs to give himself. Zafirov shows up to practice and swims how he feels he should swim that day. At the Tri-County Championships, which will he held Oct. 16 at Sarasota’s Selby Aquatic Center, he will use the same strategy.

Zafirov — who finished fifth in the 100 butterfly (50.32 seconds) at the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 4A state meet in 2020 — has created no goals or expectations for himself.

He’s created them before, he said, like last season, when he felt good entering the state meet yet swam a time he considers disappointing. His time was exactly one second off a spot on the medal stand.

So he’s keeping his mind free this year, he said. He’s not going to get mad at himself if he has a slower-than-usual practice.

Those days happen, he said. All he can do is shrug them off and try again the next day, which is usually better.

“Expectations are always going to be broken, for good or for bad,” Zafirov said. “I have realized that, for myself, that doesn’t work. I want to do well, but if I don’t, I can’t worry about it.”

Zafirov said his Sarasota Tsu-

“Expectations are always going to be broken, for good or for bad. I have realized that, for myself, that doesn’t work. I want to do well, but if I don’t, I can’t worry about it.”

— Dimiter Zafirov

nami club team coach, Ira Klein, has been working with him on changing his approach in the water. Zafirov said he has always been a steady swimmer, someone who goes relatively fast but also can hold that speed for an entire race, which is where he gets his advantage. Now, Zafirov said, Klein believes he should try to up his speed while maintaining that consistency. It’s as hard as it sounds, Zafirov said.

“I’m still figuring out how to approach it mentally,” Zafirov said. “Some days I do fantastic; some days I do terrible. It helps that I have an apathy toward the (practice) results right now. The (good) times will happen if I keep working hard every day.”

Zafirov gets some freedom from the mental and physical stress of swimming through music. Zafirov said he and a few friends have begun messing around with beat production in the past year and a half. For now it is just something Zafirov does for fun. The focus he puts into it, however, is similar to the focus he gives swimming — except with much less toll on his body and less pressure on his mind. It helps Zafirov reset,

IF YOU GO

What: Tri-County Championships (swimming) When: Noon Oct. 16 Where: Sarasota’s Selby Aquatic Center Why: The Tri-County Championship is the biggest regular season meet of the swimming year and is an important primer for the postseason, which begins Oct. 18 for classes 1A and 2A and begins Oct. 25 for Classes 3A and 4A

something he needs to do often.

“Some of my friends are like the Energizer bunny,” Zafirov said. “They are constantly on.

They will go to (swim) practice and then go to school and then practice more and then go play a different sport or walk around all night. I can do that, but I can’t do it all the time.”

Zafirov said he wants to leave his high school career on a good note. He will have a chance to start his ramp up to the state meet that way this weekend, but Zafirov will not be the only strong area swimmer competing. Lakewood Ranch High senior boys swimmer Frank Runge finished 10th in the 500 freestyle at the 2020 state meet (4:37.71). The Out-of-Door Academy junior boys swimmer Felipe Baffico Balharry finished seventh in the 100 butterfly (49.94) and eighth in the 200 freestyle (1:40.91).

No returning East County girls swimmers qualified for the state meet in 2020, meaning the Tri-County Championships are a chance for up-and-comers to make a name for themselves.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

PROSE AND KOHN

RYAN KOHN

Overachiever goes under par

M

emory is a funny thing.

Parrish Community High senior girls golfer Tabitha Hanley, who lives in Lakewood Ranch, shot under par for the first time in her high school career on Sept. 14. It was one of the greatest moments of her sports life, something she had been chasing for a long time.

Yet Hanley could not remember the course where it happened.

She had to call in Bulls Coach Erin Lisch for assistance.

“Isn’t my memory great?”

Hanley said, standing on the edge of the driving rage at Parrish’s River Wilderness Golf Club, the Bulls’ home course.

Eventually, the matter was sorted out. It happened at Terra Ceia Bay Country Club in a dual meet against Palmetto High.

She’s repeated the feat since then, taking medalist honors two days later in a match against Southeast High at River Wilderness. There, Hanley shot 2 under par over nine holes to win.

It was a lot less stressful than the first time.

“I was 1-over par entering the last two holes,” Hanley said. “I was able to birdie the last two holes to finish 1 under. That was nerve-wracking. I had a 3-foot

putt on the final hole, and I have never been so nervous about a 3-foot putt in my life.”

Hanley said her short game is what led her to a higher level.

Even when her irons or other facets of her game were in a rut, her chipping and putting pulled her through.

Hanley will compete in the Florida Junior Tour’s Tour Championship soon. She can’t remember the date of that, either, even though she was thrilled to make the field. Luckily, senior teammate Melissa Krone chimed in. It’s Nov. 6-7, the weekend of Parrish Community’s Homecoming festivities.

That stirred up an “oh, right” look on Hanley’s face. She will be skipping the dance and surrounding events to play in the event, which is held at The Country Club of Winter Haven.

The date had slipped her mind because she had already made peace with making that sacrifice.

“It’s just another thing I have to give up,” Hanley said. “I started golf my freshman year here.

I feel like I have been playing catch-up the whole time because all the other girls started when they were (around) 6 years old.

I have been putting in six-hour

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Ryan Kohn

Parrish Community High senior Tabitha Hanley is skipping her Homecoming dance to participate in the Florida Junior Tour’s Tour Championship in November.

practice days to match them, to get to where I am now. I feel like I have made it now. I can compete with the best now. Giving up a school dance isn’t much to be able to do that.”

Hanley’s coach, Erin Lisch, is not surprised Hanley has reached this point. Lisch said she’s seen Hanley’s confidence bloom throughout the past 12 months. Lisch said Hanley, one of the team’s captains, has connected with the group and wants to be a role model for the Bulls’ younger players. That in turn

motivates Hanley to play as well as she can for them.

“Once she started shooting under par, everyone started feeding off each other,” Lisch said. “It has been excited to watch.”

The weekend after the FJT Tour Championship is the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 2A State Championship, held annually at Mission Inn Resort and Club in Howey-in-the-Hills. Hanley finished 45th out of 95 golfers last year, shooting 82-80—162.

For someone relatively new to the sport, her accomplishments are already impressive. High finishes at those two events, though? Those would be memories even Hanley couldn’t forget.

Ryan Kohn is the sports writer for the East County Observer. Contact him at RKohn@ YourObserver.com.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

Jack Burbee is a senior on the Lakewood Ranch High boys golf team. Burbee shot 3 under par (72-69—141) to win the 2021 Honda High School Invitational, held Oct. 8-9 at PGA National Resort and Spa in Palm Beach Gardens. Burbee is the third Mustangs golfer to win the event following Hunter Sagar in 2001 and Drew Angelo in 2018. The Mustangs finished ninth as a team.

When did you start playing golf?

I started taking it seriously when I was 10. My dad, (Joe), is a PGA pro. He works at The Oaks Club in Osprey. He taught me everything I know about the game, really for my whole life.

What is the appeal to you?

I like the individual aspect of golf.

It’s all on you. What you put into golf is what you get out of it, and I definitely am willing to put a lot of work into it.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

19

We are open for private & group lessons at home & community pools!

SWIMMING LESSONS

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

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What are your goals?

For me, I would like to get my season average under par, maybe at 70. As a team we want to win states, and I think we have the talent to do that.

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What is the best advice you have received?

You cannot cheat the golf grind.

When I was younger and just starting to care a lot, I used to go off natural talent. Then everyone got better, and I stayed behind because I wasn’t working as hard as them.

Finish this sentence: “Jack Burbee is …”

Outgoing. Everyone says I’m outgoing, so it must be true.

What is your best skill?

Right now my best skill is my ball striking. At the Honda Invitational, my putting was not what I wanted it to be. The speed was a little off. My ball striking bailed me out. That has always been consistent for me.

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Classifieds 29 Games 28 Real Estate 25 Weather 28

OCTOBER 14, 2021

YOUR NEIGHBORS

Classic cars and stories will be on display at Our Lady of the Angels in Lakewood Ranch.

Arbor Grande’s Joe Marino loves to show his 1981 Corvette.

JAY HEATER MANAGING EDITOR

F

or 11 glorious months, Joe Marino had the ultimate ride.

He was a young, successful computer salesman, and he was driving a new red 1981 Corvette with camel leather seats.

Marino was on top of the world — until he drove his Corvette to work one day in Cleveland and left it in a gated, guarded parking lot. When he came out for lunch, his dream car was gone.

“I was doing well at the time, and I bought the car as a Christmas present to myself,” said Marino, who now lives in Arbor Grande in Lakewood Ranch.

The police told him that if they didn’t find the car in two days, it would be chopped up or on its way to someone who had bought it. They didn’t find it.

Marino was married and raising a family, so he decided to just drive his other car, a Buick LeSabre. He was too busy to worry about sports cars for the next four decades.

Eventually, retired

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS CAR SHOW AND COOKOUT When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Oct. 23 Where: Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church, 12905 S.R. 70, Lakewood Ranch Admission: Free Show your car: $20 to show a car, and all cars are welcome Benefits: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital More information or to enter a car: Call 631-4789584.

and living in Lakewood Ranch, Marino decided to relive the Corvette experience that was stolen from him. He found the same model car he had bought in 1991 on a Hemmings listing in February 2020. After having the car, which was in Massachusetts, checked out by a mechanic, he bought it.

On Oct. 23 at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church in Lakewood Ranch, Marino will show his Corvette in the annual Knights of Columbus Car Show and Cookout. Car enthusiasts will be able to check out more than 100 cars.

Perhaps even more entertaining will be the stories the car owners will tell about their cars.

Unlike many who show their cars, Marino’s Corvette is what he calls “a daily driver.”

“I am going to drive this as much as I want,” he said. “I am reliving the past I lost. My wife, (Donna), says I am like a 16-yearold when I drive it.”

Unlike Marino, River Club’s Mike Mahan will be at Our Lady of the Angels displaying a “show car.”

Mahan has had his 1964 Corvette Stingray since 2004, and in that time he has put o n ly 5,000 miles on it, many of those recorded going to

Photos by Jay Heater

Above: River Club’s Mike Mahan says he “babies” his 1964 Corvette Stingray.

Left: River Club’s Mike Mahan, a member of the Knights of Columbus, says he loves the annual car show.

shows. One of the reasons he bought that particular car was because it was made in the year he was born.

“And it’s just the name recognition and the power,” he said. “It’s a light car with a 327-cubic-inch engine and 365 horsepower.”

He said it definitely is not a “daily driver.”

“The more you use it, the more you have to take care of it,” he said.

Mahan, a retired homicide investigator for the Suffolk County (New York) Police Department, said another reason he doesn’t drive the Stingray much is because it would cost almost $25,000 to replace the lacquer car paint if it was chipped.

He said he never has gone more than 85 mph in the car.

“I like to baby it,” he said.

Although he is not a mechanic, Mahan said he does all the “normal” maintenance.

Eventually, Mahan said, his youngest daughter, Brittany, his “co-pilot” on many of his trips with the car, will get the classic vehicle.

By that time, Mahan could be driving one of the other two project cars in his garage, a couple of vintage (1978, 1979) Pontiac Trans Ams. “To me it’s fun, having seen these kind of cars growing up,” he said. “I always had used cars but no muscle cars. I always thought that one day I am going to do it. I like that muscle car era.”

Also like Marino, Mahan loves the camaraderie at the car shows.

“Everyone has the same interest,” he said.

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Fully vetted

IF YOU GO

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

|

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

BEST BET SATURDAY, OCT. 16 TO SUNDAY, OCT. 17

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PUMPKIN FESTIVAL Runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day at Hunsader Farms, 5500 County Road 675, Bradenton. Hunsader Farms hosts its 30th annual Pumpkin Festival. Parking is File photo $5. Admission is $10; children ages 10 and under are free. Enjoy live music and shows, crafts, hayrides, scarecrow displays, a petting zoo and a barnyard playground.

For more information, visit HunsaderFarms.com/pumpkin-festival. The festival also runs Oct. 23, 24, 30 and 31.

SATURDAY, OCT. 16

BREAST CANCER WALK Runs from 7:30-11 a.m. at Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer will have its first inperson walk since 2019. At least 200 teams will gather to walk the 3-mile course around the lake.

Four bands will perform, and at least three food trucks will be available. There will be a tribute garden in honor and support of someone who had breast cancer or has breast cancer. To register and for more information, visit MakingStridesWalk.org/SarasotaManatee.

THE MARKET AT LAKEWOOD RANCH Runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking lot at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, 8330

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SUNDAY, OCT. 17

Lakewood Ranch Blvd. The Market at Lakewood Ranch runs every Sunday. Vendors will be offering seafood, eggs, meats, dairy products, pastas, bakery goods, jams and pickles, among other items. For more information, go to MyLWR.com.

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COMMUNITY

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

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Members of the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance work for special causes during the annual Volunteer Days event.

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akewood Ranch resident Beth Vandroff paused to take in the sight as a group of more than 20 volunteers began to clear out bushes and branches Oct. 7 in woodsy Dream Oaks Camp.

“Volunteering is near and dear to our hearts as a group, and we’re here to clean up the property and give it an overall face-lift to make it nice and pristine for the season,” said Vandroff, who works for Gulf Coast Property Management.

The event was one of more than two dozen in-person and virtual events with more than 220 volunteers that made up the fourth annual Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance Gives Back Volunteer Days, held Oct. 7-9.

“We just enjoy giving back to the community, and Gulf Coast Property Management (a member of the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance) is a big believer in giving back,” Vandroff said. “The Foundation for Dreams is an unbelievable organization.”

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that belong to the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance also worked at The Twig, a boutique that provides children in foster care with free clothing and shoes.

They sorted and tagged clothing and moved it to the sales floor.

Keith Pandeloglou, the executive director of Lakewood Ranch Community Activities, said the

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

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About 40 percent of women and 20 percent of men have some vein issue by age 50.

Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance volunteers help sort donations and restock racks Oct. 7 at The Twig during Alliance Gives Back Volunteer Days. The Twig allows foster children to shop for clothes free of charge.

event had a special meaning. He said The Twig was a newer organization with a great mission that he wanted to be a part of and learn how they could get the word out in the community for people in the foster system.

“I think personally, as some-

one who doesn’t have kids, any opportunity I can have to give back to kids makes me feel like I’m doing my job as a, you know, a pseudo parent,” Pandeloglou said. “There are others that may not have that ability.”

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

BRADENTON 8499 Lindrick Lane 6 Beds 8/4 Baths 15,223 Sq. Ft. Stacy Haas 941-587-4359 A4475594 $10,850,000

ANNA MARIA ISLAND 112 Mangrove Avenue 4 Beds 2/1 Baths 3,577 Sq. Ft. Hannah Hillyard & George Myers 941-744-7358 A4502423 $4,350,000

UNIVERSITY PARK 7320 Barclay Court 4 Beds 5/1 Baths 7,579 Sq. Ft. Bernadette Caswell & Victoria Turner 941-320-8265 A4500081 $3,950,000

ANNA MARIA ISLAND 867 N Shore Drive 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,507 Sq. Ft. Kathy Marshall 941-900-9777 A4512601 $3,250,000

SARASOTA 1635 Prospect Street 4 Beds 4/1 Baths 3,845 Sq. Ft. Dana Westmark & Donald Geikie 941-356-5091 A4513813 $2,975,000

SARASOTA 7434 Albert Tillinghast Drive 6 Beds 4 Baths 4,894 Sq. Ft. Stacy Hanan 941-266-0529 A4513203 $2,000,000

SARASOTA 1723 Oak Street 4 Beds 3/1 Baths 2,862 Sq. Ft. Judy Nimz 941-374-0196 A4510139 $1,750,000

ANNA MARIA ISLAND 2719 Gulf Drive 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,119 Sq. Ft. Melinda Alvarez 941-704-0633 A4506596 $1,599,900

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SARASOTA 3501 Founders Club Drive 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,836 Sq. Ft. Richard Hearn 941-313-1591 A4497661 $1,585,000

ARCADIA 10807 NW Lily County Line Road 3 Beds 2 Baths 2,517 Sq. Ft. Chris Baylis 941-735-4713 A4508800 $1,350,000

BRADENTON 6810 190th Street E 5 Beds 4 Baths 3,637 Sq. Ft. Leslie Emery & Aaron Corr 941-400-9710 A4508469 $1,299,000

BRADENTON 1523 1st Avenue W 4 Beds 3 Baths 3,500 Sq. Ft. Fran DeDona & Pam Goodwin 941-812-5023 A4505327 $999,750

SARASOTA 512 Laurel Park Drive 3 Beds 3/1 Baths 2,423 Sq. Ft. Phyllis Garfinkel 941-302-6400 A4514157 $899,000

SARASOTA 1518 Bel Air Star Parkway 4 Beds 4/1 Baths 3,475 Sq. Ft. Cheryl Roberts 941-266-1450 A4506654 $875,000

ST PETE 400 4th Avenue S 1004 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,384 Sq. Ft. Cheryl Roberts & Cathy Palmer 941-266-1450 A4512905 $789,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 6520 Windjammer Place 3 Beds 3 Baths 3,122 Sq. Ft. Holly Winkle 941-907-9595 A4510363 $759,000

BRADENTON 6535 Rosehill Farm Run 4 Beds 3 Baths 2,287 Sq. Ft. Audrey Sullivan, Pa & Kevin Sullivan, PA 941-504-1797 A4513777 $624,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 14003 Nighthawk Terrace 4 Beds 3 Baths 2,340 Sq. Ft. Christopher Van Vliet & Jamie Van Vliet, PA 941-993-7087 A4513669 $620,000

BRADENTON 7503 3rd Avenue NW 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,964 Sq. Ft. David D'Angelo 941-587-7268 A4506842 $525,000

BRADENTON 4715 50th Avenue W 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,658 Sq. Ft. Leah Secondo 941-545-4430 A4514428 $499,000

BRADENTON 1510 Scarlet Oak Lane 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,825 Sq. Ft. Kathy Valente & Gregory Zies, LLC 941-685-6767 A4511677 $475,000

BRADENTON 5820 2nd Avenue Drive NW 4 Beds 2 Baths 2,149 Sq. Ft. Judy LaValliere & Megg Faillace 941-504-3792 A4512792 $455,000

PARRISH 9044 41st Street E 3 Beds 2 Baths 2,112 Sq. Ft. Barbara A Milian, PA 941-504-0660 A4514024 $429,900

LAKEWOOD RANCH 7702 Lake Vista Court 305 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 1,776 Sq. Ft. Gloria Bracciano 941-229-4000 A4513509 $425,000

SARASOTA 4619 Oak Trail Drive 48 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,124 Sq. Ft. Sally Piccolo 941-525-8295 A4509346 $330,000

BRADENTON 2309 35th Street W 5 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,292 Sq. Ft. Barbara Najmy 941-705-1158 A4507308 $299,000

BRADENTON 3707 45th Terrace W 101 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 1,200 Sq. Ft. Christy Heisey 941-500-4725 A4514278 $230,000

357416-1

MYAKK A CITY 3005 233rd Street E 4 Beds 3/2 Baths 4,164 Sq. Ft. Chris Baylis 941-735-4713 A4510152 $5,800,000

LONGBOAT KEY 25 Lighthouse Point Drive 4 Beds 6/1 Baths 6,025 Sq. Ft. Sherri Mills 941-350-7112 A4503359 $5,200,000

CORTEZ 12925 42nd Terrace W 4 Beds 4/1 Baths 5,138 Sq. Ft. Ann Martin & Joanna Benante 941-356-7717 A4502107 $4,750,000

888.552.5228 | MICHAELSAUNDERS.COM

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

RESEARCH EDITOR

A

home in The Lake Club topped all transactions in this week’s real estate.

Joseph and Susan Brielmann, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 7937 Waterton Lane to Michael Aldo Sanciprian, of Henderson, Nevada, for $4.65 million.

Built in 2007, it has five bedrooms, five-andtwo-half baths, a pool and 7,280 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.45 million in 2009.

THE LAKE CLUB

Arthur Womack Jr., of Sarasota, sold his home at 8015 Bounty Lane to Taber Chadwick III and Celeste Dockery, of Lakewood Ranch, for $2.5 million. Built in 2014, it has three bedrooms, twoand-a-half baths, a pool and 3,813 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.8 million in February.

ASCOT

Naudain Street LLC sold the home at 7536 Ascot Court to Judith Marquis and Keith Nelson, of University Park, for $1.4 million. Built in 2000, it has two bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,801 square feet of living area. It sold for $770,000 in June.

PRESERVE AT PANTHER RIDGE

Kevin Michael Headlee and Lynn Headlee, of Bradenton, sold their home at 22805 Night Heron Way to Melvin Emal Greer and Tony Lee Trulock, of Bowling Green, Kentucky, for $1.23 million. Built in 2007, it has five bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 4,150 square feet of living area.

Diego and Jill Fallon, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 8306 Curlew Court to Brad and Janet Mandel, of Bradenton, for $935,000. Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,745 square feet of living area.

POMELLO PARK

Ingrid Seals, of Longboat Key, sold the home at 18702 69th Ave. E. to Falin McMellon, of Bradenton, for $1 million. Built in 1999, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 3,299 square feet of living area. It sold for $770,000 in 2005.

25

SEPT. 27-OCT. 1

Kimanzi and Cindy Constable, of Parrish, sold their home at 6457 Indigo Bunting Place to Scott and Stacey Gruber, of Lakewood Ranch, for $810,000. Built in 2003, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,068 square feet of living area. It sold for $540,000 in 2019.

Michael Brian Verble and Aimee Verble, of Bradenton, sold their home at 14125 Nighthawk Terrace to Erik and Lisa Martakis, of Bradenton, for $450,000. Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,283 square feet of living area. It sold for $390,000 in 2019.

COUNTRY CLUB EAST

Kevyn Rakowski, of Bradenton, sold the home at 7027 Whittlebury Trail to Douglas Blend Finton and Mary Hannah Finton, of Weirton, West Virginia, for $925,000. Built in 2019, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,653 square feet of living area. It sold for $850,000 in July.

Gerald and Sybil Moore, trustees, of Lakewood Ranch, sold the home at 14531 Whitemoss Terrace to Julius and Lisa Reeves, of West Bloomfield, Michigan, for $580,000. Built in 2011, it has three bedrooms, two-anda-half baths, a pool and 2,384 square feet of living area. It sold for $376,000 in 2012.

Courtesy photo

This Lake Club home at 7937 Waterton Lane sold for $4.65 million. It has five bedrooms, five-and-two-half baths, a pool and 7,280 square feet of living area.

berland Terrace to Luke Ford, of Lincoln, California, for $750,000.

Built in 1999, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,118 square feet of living area. It sold for $470,000 in 2015.

RIVER POINT OF MANATEE

Janice Davidson, trustee, of Bradenton, sold the home at 3720 Fourth Ave. NE to Jeffrey Zelna and Michelle George, of Bradenton, for $750,000. Built in

1999, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,381 square feet of living area. It sold for $385,000 in 2016.

SONOMA

Nicholas and Casmera D’Amato, of Armuchee, Georgia, sold their home at 5313 Napa Drive to Stephanie Renee Palmer and SEE REAL ESTATE, PAGE 26

Deborah Angelo-O’Mara

8325 Lakewood Ranch Blvd | Lakewood Ranch | 941.730.0777

MILL CREEK

Christopher and Dayna Grella sold their home at 1704 145th St. E. to Ryan and Brooke Kowadla, of Bradenton, for $925,000. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,912 square feet of living area. It sold for $415,000 in 2012.

Eva Gil de Rubio-Skuba, of Bradenton, sold her home at 13601 Second Ave. NE to Jesse Hanna, of Bradenton, for $481,000. Built in 1995, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,132 square feet of living area. It sold for $190,000 in 2010.

Knowledge. Experience. Trust.

Sold more than 650 homes in Lakewood Ranch

MALLORY PARK

Jane Fjare, trustee, of Pfafftown, North Carolina, sold the home at 3379 Chestertown Loop to Nicholas Doufexis and Marisa Pilieci, of Bradenton, for $850,000. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,996 square feet of living area. It sold for $652,700 in 2018.

Gregory Roy and DeeAnn Ringfelt Garey-Roy, of Port Charlotte, sold their home at 6805 225th St. E. to Max Stevens, of Bradenton, for $749,900. Built in 1996, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,813 square feet of living area. It sold for $305,000 in 2013.

GREENBROOK

HENLEY

Erkan Riza, of Suamico, Wisconsin, sold his home at 6915 Cum-

LAKEWOOD RANCH 6839 Bay Hill Drive 5 Beds 3 Baths 2,906 SF A4507344 $850,000

SOLD

LAKEWOOD RANCH 7561 Divot Loop 23-D 3 Beds 2 Baths 2,376 SF A4511899 $750,000

PENDING

The local expertise you can trust and the passion to get the job done. Deborah O’Mara channels her local knowledge and enthusiasm into delivering meaningful and impactful results for here clientele.

• 8 Time Michael Saunders & Company’s Lakewood ranch office #1 Top Producer

ROSEDALE ADDITION

Ronald and Marcia Pisoni, of Richmond, Virginia, sold their home at 4625 Royal Dornoch Circle to Ronald and Stephanie Christian, of Bradenton, for $760,000. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, two-anda-half baths, a pool and 2,508 square feet of living area. It sold for $508,800 in 2018.

Sheflin Properties LLC sold the home at 13309 Brown Thrasher

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

Pike to Jason and Sarah Loomis, of Lakewood Ranch, for $950,000. Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,160 square feet of living area. It sold for $545,000 in 2017.

• New Construction – Buyer Specialist, MCSP • Certified Residential Specialist • Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist, Million Dollar Guild • Refined Negotiating Skills See me in action at www.DebsVideo.com

357336-1

ADAM HUGHES

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

REAL ESTATE

Lake Club home tops sales at $4.65 million

|

©Michael Saunders & Company, Licensed Real Estate Broker

26

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

|

DENTAL IMPLANTS IMPLANT TEETH IN A DAY

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

by Dental Implant Specialists

SECURE LOOSE DENTURES

SECOND OPINIONS

Real estate FROM PAGE 25

Nancy Lou Boggs, of Sarasota, for $725,000. Built in 2010, it has five bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,842 square feet of living area. It sold for $556,100 in 2010.

ALL ON 4 BRIDGES

RIVERDALE REVISED

William and Elizabeth Leslie, of Bradenton, sold their home at 4427 Shark Drive to Hoang and Ngoc Nguyen, of Bradenton, for $720,000. Built in 1996, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,227 square feet of living area. It sold for $366,000 in 2013.

One of the nation’s leading authorities in implant dentistry practices right here

SERENITY CREEK

in Sarasota.

Cameron and Sheila Smillie, of Bradenton, sold their home at 12916 Bliss Loop to Craig Alan Quinteros and Alma Quinteros, of Bradenton, for $700,000.

Built in 2015, it has five bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,179 square feet of living area. It sold for $415,000 in 2015.

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CHECK OUR REVIEWS ONLINE

Christopher and Patricia LeBlanc, of Bradenton, sold their home at 7811 River Preserve Drive to Richard and Debra Adams, of Bradenton, for $600,000. Built in 2008, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,574 square feet of living area. It sold for $425,000 in 2014.

CRAIG M. MISCH DDS, MDS

941.957.6444

Christopher Wyper and Cheryl Harding Wyper sold their home at 507 Grand Preserve Cove to Frank and Marie Engel, of

$

Bradenton, for $514,000. Built in 2008, it has four bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,497 square feet of living area. It sold for $350,000 in 2008.

COUNTRY CREEK

Clint and Jennifer Raymer sold their home at 14755 First Ave. E. to Patricia and Michael Smith, of Condon, Montana, for $585,500.

Built in 2000, it has four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,509 square feet of living area. It sold for $368,000 in 2018.

ROSEDALE HIGHLANDS

Brian Andrew Mannix, of Island Park, New York, and Christopher Robert Mannix, of Massapequa Park, New York, trustees, sold the home at 5120 97th St. E. to Harold and Janet Qualkinbush, of Bradenton, for $585,000. Built in 2001, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,943 square feet of living area. It sold for $332,400 in 2009.

DEL WEBB

Pulte Home Co. LLC sold the home at 6754 Alstead Circle to David Buck, of Verona, New Jersey, for $549,900. Built in 2015, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,348 square feet of living area.

ONLINE See more transactions at YourObserver.com

215

MILLION

CLOSED AND PENDING IN 2021

S A R A S OTA P O LO C LU B 8 07 5 W H I S K E Y P O N D L A N E | $ 3 ,49 9, 9 9 9 Built by Bill Roberson, this recently renovated custom estate sits on 5 acres behind the gates of the Sarasota Polo Club.

U N D E R C O N T R AC T I N 1 DAY

C O U N T RY C LU B E A S T 16 3 3 5 CA S T L E PA R K T E R R AC E | $1 ,749,0 0 0 This 2017 home is perfectly positioned for long lake views.

O PE N S U N DAY 10/ 1 7 | 1– 4 P. M .

C LU B S I D E AT C O U N T RY C LU B E A S T 74 0 8 D I VOT LO O P # 9 D | $ 6 9 9,0 0 0 Enjoy stunning golf course views and full amenities of Clubside in Country Club East.

S E V I L L E AT C E N T E R G AT E 4 3 47 M A R C OT T C I R C L E | $ 47 5 ,0 0 0 Great lakefront home in a convenient location.

LAKEWOOD RANCH Donna and Jim Soda, REALTORS® 941.961.5857

SARASOTA AND THE ISLANDS Joel Schemmel, J.D., REALTOR® 941.587.4894 364576-1

SCHEMMELSODAGROUP.COM

Sotheby’s International Realty® and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each office is independently owned and operated.

Equal Housing Opportunity. Property information herein is derived from various sources including, but not limited to, county records and multiple listing services, and may include approximations. All information is deemed accurate.

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

FORECAST

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

THURSDAY, OCT. 14 High: 91 Low: 73 Chance of rain: 17%

FRIDAY, OCT. 15 High: 90 Low: 72 Chance of rain: 8%

SATURDAY, OCT. 16 High: 88 Low: 74 Chance of rain: 10%

Marty Franssen captured this reflective sunrise over a lake in Lakewood Ranch.

SUNRISE / SUNSET

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, Oct. 14

7:30a 7:02p

Friday, Oct. 15

7:30a

7:00p

Saturday, Oct. 16

7:31a

6:59p

Sunday, Oct. 17

7:31a

6:58p

Monday, Oct. 18

7:32a

6:58p

Tuesday, Oct. 19

7:32a

6:57p

Wednesday, Oct. 20

7:33a 6:56p

MOON PHASES

Nov. 4 New

Nov. 11 First

Nov. 19 Full

Nov. 27 Last

RAINFALL Monday, Oct. 4

0

Tuesday, Oct. 5

0

SUNDAY, OCT. 17

Wednesday, Oct. 6

0

High: 87 Low: 69 Chance of rain: 18%

Friday, Oct. 8

Thursday, Oct. 7

0 0.08

Saturday, Oct. 9

0

Sunday, Oct. 10

0

*Rainfall totals from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport

Submit your photos at YourObserver.com/Weather. All submissions will be entered for the 2021-22 Weather and Nature photo contest. In February 2022, you will vote for your favorite photo, and the submission with the most votes will win a $500 gift card.

YEAR TO DATE:

MONTH TO DATE:

2021 43.40 in.

2021 0.08 in.

2020 45.82 in.

2020

1.71 in.

MANASOTA FLOORING INC CROSSWORD

941.748.4679 | Venice

SLIDERS by Freddie Cheng; Edited by David Steinberg

©2021 Universal Uclick

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6 Potato bud 9 "Babe" 12 Business with treatments 15 Continuous ranges 17 Epic Cali Bacon Burrito seller 19 Fancy 21 Presenting a fast-food side?

23 Basil-based sauce 24 Mount St. Helens' output 25 Just all right 26 SFO guess 27 Individual 28 The thing over there

30 Yearning felt before Halloween?

35 Easy gait 38 Matches, as a poker bet 39 Like some wine barrels 40 Combed (through) 42 "Pretty Woman" co-star Richard 43 Peer group?

45 M.A. seeker's test 48 One who walks right off the catwalk?

50 "... ___ lack thereof" 51 Lite 53 And others (Abbr.)

54 Weep loudly 55 Signal for male sheep?

57 Base for a Chinese sauce 58 Support 60 ID theft datum 61 Sometime in the future 62 Non-mainstream watercolors, e.g.?

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79 Archery skill 81 Combo meal drink 82 Socket inserts

941.493.7441 | www.manasotaonline.com 107 Mostly closed 111 Soccer medalist Hamm 112 Version of someone else's song 113 Business of looking after grazing land?

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121 Word bookending "lease out" 122 Flamenco yell 123 Automaton, for short 124 Goodbye, in Grenoble

55 Forensic show with a Vegas revival 56 Heavy weight 59 Pour, as pinot noir 60 See 95-Across 62 Enchanted prince, maybe 63 Officials in striped shirts 64 NAACP co-founder ___ B. Wells 65 "___ favor" 66 Defrosts 67 "Really?"

68 Taken-back auto 69 Word after "Employees" or "Exit" DOWN 70 Feature blocked by paren1 Compromised equitably tal controls 2 Birth mo. for many Libras 73 Budget list?

3 Big name in elevators 74 Original thought 4 1962 Bond movie 75 Perseverance rover's place 5 Succumbs to gravity 77 Like September or the 6 www.stanford.___ letter "I" 7 Thus far 78 Roxy Music's Brian 8 Small toymaker 80 TV host's device 9 Port-au-Prince's country 81 Rollerblade, for one 10 Jellyfish's habitat, usually 84 Spiderweb fiber 11 Phone book listings (Abbr.)

85 Medieval music maker 12 Turn abruptly 86 Funny smell 13 It doesn't stay hot 87 Camp bed 14 Playwright Chekhov 89 Sets of parts 15 Lovers' disagreement 93 Hamster or beaver 16 Door directive 94 Conductor Previn 18 Tough journeys 95 "So frustrating!"

19 Give a TED Talk, say 97 One can lift a car 20 Godzilla's foe in a 2021 film 98 Reef around a lagoon 22 Alley-___ 99 Microsoft Outlook service 27 Hope's partner 100 Overindulge in Netflix, 29 All-out maybe 83 Traveler's stopover 31 Pre-owned 101 The "S" of UCSF 84 Expert at patiently elicit- 32 Trifling 103 Key holder ing giggles?

33 Orange coat?

104 Exams scored from 400 88 Olive of classic comics 34 Aquarium decoration to 1600 89 What a Scout learns to tie 36 Limit one ___ customer 108 Pinkett Smith of "Girls 90 Birth control options, 37 "Slow Churned" brand Trip" briefly 40 Takes to court 109 Improved over time, 91 Cuddly marsupials 41 Excited about perhaps 92 Feature 42 Hold nothing back 95 With 60-Down, common 110 Mortgage update, for short 43 Actress Woodward jazz instrument 113 P, to Pythagoras 44 One may start with https:// 96 Jazzy James 114 Flow out 46 Avatar of Vishnu 97 Evidence as to who tasted 115 Asada known for her triple 47 Crafty website too many filled scones? axels 49 Complainer's sound 102 Goofs 116 Getty Museum contents 51 Like a two-hour lecture 105 In conflict 117 0"Sallie" or "Ginnie" 52 Unrefined deposits 106 Space station until 2001 follower

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10-14-21

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

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CALL TODAY 941-955-4888

GARAGE SALE

Advertise items less than $200 for

941-955-4888

YourObserver.com/RedPages

As low as $17.50 per week!

Advertise your business or service in the Observer

FREE!

This week’s Crossword answers

FIND BUYERS & SELLERS HERE!

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers

Puzzle One Solution: “If you back down from a fear, the ghost of that fear never goes away. It diminishes people.”

Hugh Jackman

Puzzle Two Solution: “You want to be a writer, don’t know how or when? Find a quiet place, use a humble pen.”

Paul Simon

This week’s Sudoku answers

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FIND BUYERS & SELLERS HERE!

ADVERTISE YOUR MERCHANDISE with the total value of all items $200 or less in this section for FREE! Limit 1 ad per month,15 words or less.

Price must be included next to each item. No commercial advertising.

Ad runs 2 consecutive weeks in 1 Observer.

Call 941-955-4888 Or Email ad to: classified@yourobserver.com (Please provide your name and address) Or Online at: www.yourobserver.com Or mail to: The Observer Group 1970 Main St. - 3rd Floor Sarasota, Fl 34236

FIND BUYERS & SELLERS HERE!

real estate

COMMUNITY CARPORT SALE Windmill Manor October 16, 8am - 2pm 4920 Windmill Manor Avenue Too much to list.

Adult Care Services

auto

Garage/ Moving/ Estate Sales

You’re only cheating yourself.

Items Under $200

ART EXPO October 17, 11am-3pm Polo Run amenities center in Lakewood Ranch Food trucks will be present

peekers’ place

stuff

Announcements

The CRYSTAL CLEAR choice!

INFORMATION & RATES: 941-955-4888

redpages@yourobserver.com • yourobserver.com/redpages

home services

RED PAGES

30

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

Adult Care Services

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

Auto Transport

PERSONAL CARE GIVERPrivate care: Meal preparation, errands, shopping, and more.

Affordable hourly rates, available weekdays, weekends, and holidays.

Minimal shift 5 hours can also provide overnight care.

Temporary or long term care.

Over 10+ years experience.

References available. No new faces, one consistent caregiver.

COVID Negative.

Call Kati: 941-536-7706.

SHIP YOUR car, truck or SUV anywhere in the United States.

Great rates, fast quotes. Call Hawley Motors: 941-923-3421.

Cleaning BRAZILIAN CLEANING Service by Maria. Residential.

Meticulous Cleaning. Excellent References. Free Estimates.

Reliable. Lic./Ins. 941-400-3342. www.braziliancleaningbymk.com

Cleaning

Painting

CLAUDIA C. Cleaning Services.

Experienced, dependable, and ready to begin!

Residential.

Excellent references.

941-773-6895.

CARLO DATTILO Painting Licensed & insured. Interior/ Exterior painting including drywall repair and retexturing.

Wallpaper installation & removal, pressure washing.

Residential & commercial, condos. Honest & reliable.

Free estimates. 941-744-1020.

35+ years experience.

CLEANING BY Brazilian Lady.

Meticulous, reliable, deep cleaning specialist. Residential.

Commercial. New Construction. 941-400-2866.

RED PAGES AD RATES First 15 words ......................... $17.50 per week Each Add’l word ...........................................50¢ 15% DISCOUNT FOR 4-WEEK RUN Color background: $5 per week Ad border: as low as $3 per week Call: 941-955-4888 | Fax: 941-362-4808 Email: redpages@yourobserver.com

REAL LOCAL STUFF HERE!

Place your ad online: yourobserver.com/redpages

YourObserver.com/RedPages

FIND BUYERS & SELLERS HERE!

Aluminum

Cleaning

Computer Pegatronics Computer Instruction and Repair It’s Easier Than You Think!

Hardware Repair Virus / Malware Cleanup Software & Printer Install New Computer Setups New Purchase Consults Seniors & Beginners

“Specializing in 6” Seamless Gutters”

365848

364800

364727

Sliding Glass Door Repair

Experienced House Cleaner • Insured & Bonded • Free Estimates

Clock Repair

“FIX IT - DON’T REPLACE”

4630 5TH ST W BRADENTON

RED PAGES Bring Results | 941-955-4888

“IF IT DOESN’T TIC, TOC TO ME.”

Beauty

941-773-0875 • 941-932-5505

CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT

Don Christo, Sr., Horologist

SERVING YOU IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOME

Patio Furniture Repairs.com patio RepaiRS FurnitureSales Sales &&Repairs Furniture Repairs Cushions • Slings • Re-powdercoating Cushions • Slings • Umbrellas

941-504-0903 941-504-0903

364606

/ DELIVERY FREE PICKUP ONSITE QUOTES outdoor furniture experts• •FREE www .patiorepairs .net

GROW YOUR BUSINESS

Health

Call to reserve your ad space: 941-955-4888 YourObserver.com/RedPages

GET YOUR LIFE BACK!

WITH THE RED PAGES

AMANDA 424-333-0713 | rockstarmobilehair@gmail.com www.rockstarmobilehairsalon.com

Furniture Repair

Do You Have Neck or Low Back Pain?

Do You Want To Avoid Surgery?

Give Us a Call - We Can Help

Doors

DON’T let your PATIO DOORS be a DRAG or your WINDOWS be a PANE!!

Window Repairs • Sliding Glass Door Repairs Sliding Glass Door Deadbolts

10% OFF

FREE CONSULTATION 941.358.2224

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression provides safe, gentle & effective relief for upwards of 90% of patients that qualify for care.

Board Certified in the specialty of non-surgical spinal decompression

DR. DAVID CIFRA, DC University Health Park 2415 University Parkway Bldg. 3, Suite 216 Sarasota, FL 34243

www.SarasotaDiscCenter.com DrCifra@SarasotaDiscCenter.com

The Only Thing You Have To Lose ... Is The Pain!!

2 PANELS OR MORE For the Month of July.

Call us today! 941.628.8579 www.ezslider.com

364553

364544 38056

365840

HoHoBuysCars.com

364543

New Deluxe Rollers Will Make Your Doors Roll Better Than Ever Call Mark 928-2263 proslidingglassdoorrepair.com

Christo’s Clock Repair

5-Star Rated

365264

941.270.4400

Doors

Professional House Cleaning (941)718-8661 • whileyoureout62@gmail.com Suzanne Meyer

FAST • EASY • SAFE

WE COME TO YOU

941-735-3362

While You’re Out

Auto Service

SELL YOUR CAR!

364804

Pegatronics.com

941.650.9790 YoderAluminum.com

Owner / Operator Insured

364548

Dustin Yoder

Learn Computer Basics Phones/Tablet Help Apple & Microsoft Problems Solved On-Site and Off Much More! Call Today!

FREE IN-HOM ESTIMATEE S

Home Services

Are You Having Dryer Difficulties?

• Dryer hot but clothes still wet after (1) drying cycle?

• Dryer gets hot to the touch or doesn’t heat up at all?

Take a simple test to see if your vent is clogged. Unhook your dryer vent & compare drying time.

Residential

941-705-5468

Commercial

364554

|

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

Insurance

Landscaping & Lawn

Rescreening & Repairs

Individual and Family Health Insurance

GARDENS BY ALLISON

Eldridge Re-Screen

• Aetna, Cigna or United Health Care plans • Nationwide PPO networks • Wide range of deductibles • 1 year, 2 years or 3 years terms (fixed rate) • Effective any day of the year • AFFORDABLE and comprehensive

No Job is too Small!

Design • Garden Beds Landscape • Courtyards Clean-Up • Makeovers Weeds • Trimming

Allison J. Abizaid, M.A.

Licensed

Personal Gardening Services | Designer

Also, Medicare and Company Group plans

www.setohealthgroup.com

Irrigation

364557

364625

gbyallison@yahoo.com gardensbyallison.com

Lawn Care

Roofing

ED’S RAIN MAKER IRRIGATION

Bisson Roofing Inc. Specializing in Reroofs and Repairs FREE Estimates • 30 Years Experience RC0067420 • Lic. & Ins.

364558

SMALL ENGINE REPAIRS 941-739-5102

364871

Servicing LWR, Parrish and NE Bradenton

941 - 748 - 7400

SALES & REPAIRS - MOWERS, GENERATORS, TRIMMERS, PRESSURE WASHERS, CHAIN SAWS, BLOWERS, ENGINES

364808

Owner Supervises Every Job

5002 LENA RD, UNIT 107, BRADENTON, 34211 WWW.SMALLENGINEREPAIRS.US

RED PAGES Bring Results | 941-955-4888

Painting

Kitchen/Bath Remodeling

UNIQUE PAINTING & PRESSURE WASHING SERVICES

Kenneth Fuhlman Inc. Building & Roofing Contractor

• Aluminum, Vinyl, & Wood Soffit & Fascia Repair & Installation • Roofing Repair & Installation • Metal Roofing & Tile Roof Repair Specialists

Complete Interior & Exterior Painting

Custom Granite Services, llc

365899

Homes - Driveways - Sidewalks - Tile & Shingle Roofs - Pool Cages & Decks

FREE ESTIMATES - Call Joel, Owner 30 Years Exp. Cell 619-405-7650 Home/Office 941-758-4840

Power Washing

941-400-4912

Pressure Washing

www.bissonroofing.com

941-626-3194

Licensed & Insured CCC - 058059 CBC - 1253936

Pressure Washing

365266

CustomGraniteServicesLLC@gmail.com

Screening • Pool Cage Restoration • Rescreening Specialists • Specialty Screens • Paint • Doors and more!

Satisfaction guarantee Satisfaction Guarantee Pool cage Restoration/ Rescreening specialists Manufacture and Workmanship Warranties

Honesty, Integrity and Pride • Roofs • PoolCages Cages•• Decks Decks ••Driveways • Roofs • Pool Driveways • Deck/Paver Sealing • Gutter Cleaning • Deck/PaverAnd Sealing • And Much More Much More!

CALL BEFOREYOU YOU FALL CALL BEFORE FALL

GRAB BARS

AFTER

Serving Sarasota/Manatee Area Since 2004

BEFORE

941-345-5264

COMPLETE INSTALLATION PACKAGE INCLUDES 2 MOEN STAINLESS STEEL ANTI SLIP CONCEALED SCREW GRAB BARS (16” & 24”)

364793

235

$ 235

941-544-1066

| scaperotta@aol.com

specialty screens / screw replacement / paint Doors and more!

Windows

Italian American Owned

Manufacture and workmanship

COVERAGE AREA: LAKEWOOD RANCH TO S. VENICE

Form Serving Longboat Key Since 2005

DRGRABBARS.COM

THE GRAB BAR GUY

364814

STANDARD WINDOWS

954-1878

364555

(cell) 780-3346 Licensed & Insured

SHOWER & BATH MAKEOVERS Call John 941.377.2940

Made for where you live. Here.

RED PAGES

365851

Cleaned - Regrouted - Caulked - Sealed

Free Estimates • Sarasota Resident Since 1974

25

UP TO

GLENN KROECKER

YourObserver.com/RedPages

www.showerandbathsarasota.com

STUFF found here.

The Red Pages is the perfect store to buy and sell locally! You’ll find a wide selection from antiques to furniture to condos!

RED PAGES Made for where you live. Here!

Call 941-955-4888 or visit YourObserver.com/redpages

Lic./Ins.

w & Pressure Cl indo345-5264 W(941) eani t e s ng s a S u n n w r o i s n e k W Sun y ind erl

364556

LIFETIME GUARANTEE • LICENSED • BONDED • INSURED

Warranties

Res./Com.

Rescreening & Repairs

941.966.0333

364549

364426

CJ COOLEY OWNER/OPERATOR

ows

120

$

INCLUDING SCREENS, TRACKS, MIRRORS & FANS

SPECIAL 00 5

$

senior citizen discount. www.sunsetwindowcleaningsrq.com

Purified water window cleaning available!!

Call Tibor for FREE ESTIMATES | 941- 284 - 5880

364546

IRRIGATION (941) 725-8100 REPAIR edsrainmakerirrigation@gmail.com MAINTENANCE Insured

$

Insured

941-270-1561

941.400.0431

Email (SSETO@MYHST.COM) Call/Text 941-993-4137

“No Job Too Small”

31

365270

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

FOR THE

THANKS ALL OF OUR “75 DAYS OF GIVING” DONORS ESPECIALLY OUR AMBASSADORS WHO LED THE CAMPAIGN! AIR & ENERGY RANDY DILLINGHAM RENEE ARMBRUSTER EASTERSEALS ACADEMY ATLAS INSURANCE EASTERSEALS’ ADULT DAY SERVICES GRETCHEN BAUER EASTERSEALS’ BAYSIDE PET RESORT EMPLOYMENT SERVICES JOHN BERKEY EASTERSEALS’ INSTRIDE BLALOCK WALTERS EASTERSEALS’ MARY BETH BOS LILY SCHOOL BOYD INSURANCE EASTERSEALS’ THERAPY BRITTANY BRYANT-SWIFT REPPARD & SUMMER MATT & DIANA BUCHANAN GORDON CALDWELL TRUST CO. LAVERNE GREEN GERRET & KYM ELAINE GUSTAFSON COPELAND JOHN HART TIFFANY COTE DON HERNDON DAVID & STACEY CRAWFORD JASON HUGHES

GINGER JUDGE KERKERING BARBERIO TAMMY KARP BEN KLEIN DONNA KOFFMAN TOM KOSKI BARBARA LOMBARDO MICHAEL’S ON EAST THE MOON FAMILY MORTON’S GOURMET MARKET BARBARA NAJMY JOE NAJMY OBSERVER MEDIA GROUP SHELLY PANAS / CENTURY 21 KATHY PAULSEN

GEORGE PFEIFFER JANNON PIERCE LINDA POTEAT-BROWN RISE & NYE’S PAT RYAN DEBBIE TIMPONE ELIZABETH TOPP TWINKLE TOES NANNY AGENCY GRAY VIDENKA VOICE + VISIBILITY WOMEN’S SUMMIT EMILY WALSH TOM WATERS WILLIS SMITH CONSTRUCTION KAITLYN YELLE

ALSO GRATEFUL TO OUR

SPONSORS RINGMASTER

Ginger Judge GRANDSTAND

CENTER RING

Lynne & Bob Huff

IN HONOR OF BAYSIDE PET RESORT

CALLIOPE

COLORS c: 100 m: 64 y: 0 k: 60

c: 0 m: 18 y: 100 k: 15

Barbara & Joe Najmy FONTS Memoriam Pro Headline Chronicle Display

Kym & Gerret Copeland

5/13

IN HONOR OF NAJMY THOMPSON P.L.

SPECTACLE Vernon G & Sandra JC Buchanan FAMILY FOUNDATION

TRAPEZE Sherry & Tom Koski Joan & Bart Levenson

TWINKLE TOES NANNY AGENCY

TROUPE Boyd Insurance & Investment Services

Florida Power & Light

Nancy & Dan Gulling

Northern Trust

Orange Acres Manufactured Home Community

OPERA Canandaigua National Bank Barbara Braun Comcast Dr. Nancy Amberson & Dr. Diane Van Ess

Lucy & Macy Harris Michael Harshman Progressive Community Management, Inc. Kathy Francoletti

TABLE

Soul to Soul Yoga Shutts & Bowen Drs. Phyllis & Richard Yonker

Senator Joe & Sydney Gruters

Graci & Dennis McGillicuddy

365879-1

32