East County Observer 3.31.22

EAST COUNTY

Observer

Lakewood Ranch’s weekly newspaper since 1998

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

FREE • FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2022

VOLUME 24, NO. 20

Permits to build—in a snap!

New 24-hour, self-serve permitting comes to Manatee. SEE PAGE 4

YOUR TOWN

File photo

Bite me!

Lakewood Ranch is hosting a “Big Bite of a Burger” event April 9 at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch.

Those who enter the competition will be asked to consume a 2-pound burger, complete with bun, fixings and special sauce, in three bites.

Those who are successful will compete in a bite-off, with the fastest to down another burger winning a burger a day for a year at In-N-Out. Plastic pools will be provided for those who can’t quite get it all down, and medical staff will be on hand as well.

Everyone who participates gets a free bottle of ketchup.

Ash hole of the year You Urned It finds a final resting spot at Waterside Place. SEE PAGE 3 Jay Heater

Peggy Kronus says goodbye to her aunt, Sade Toseeya Geoux, during a You Urned It ceremony on Kingfisher Lake.

A+E Jay Heater

The one that didn’t get away Lakewood Ranch held its annual Fishing Tournament March 20, and the winner didn’t turn out to be human.

While many children caught a variety of fish in Lake Uihlein, this young bald eagle swept the first-place trophy by landing a bass.

Tournament officials said it clearly was the best catch of the day and well within the tournament rules.

When some of the children complained about an eagle being presented an award, a fire truck was summoned so officials could measure the bass after climbing an extension ladder.

The trophy was left in the nest, about 60 feet above White Eagle Boulevard.

Courtesy photos

Above left: The sparklemuffin made its way from Australia. Above right: Harpy eagles are new to the area.

Invasive, not invisible State wildlife tries to rid Manatee County of two recently found invasive species. SEE PAGE 2

Alfred Hitchcock Live — The Birds.

INSIDE

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

Beware creepy crawler, flying brawler Sparklemuffin a gem to see but not host, while harpy eagle too mean for coast. anymore, so I throw a couple of strip steaks in there and then live vicariously through them. It’s like feeding the lions.”

Evor said he has come close to letting his harpy eagles get loose but never has allowed them to get free outside. He takes them to the Free Flight barn in Zolfo Springs.

“They have a club out there,” Evor said. “It’s kind of like an aerial dog park. Some people like to trade them.”

Katz said he has tracked more than 15 harpy eagles at various spots in Manatee County and said all those were likely pets that got out. Now in the wild, he said, they will reproduce very quickly. The climate is perfect for harpy eagles, so they have adapted well to Florida.

The reason state wildlife is working hard to contain the species is because harpy eagles can thin the prey usually exclusive to bald eagles. He said a harpy-baldy showdown could be on the horizon if the number of harpy eagles grows.

Katz said one way to keep harpy eagles out of your yard is to place four or five mirrors around the yard.

“I guess it is the reflection of the sun that drives them away,” Katz said. “Myself, I think it is because they are so darned ugly.”

The sparklemuffin is on the other end of the beauty spectrum. Males of the species have vibrant color patterns on their backs — female sparklemuffins are black — and bring flash to any insectarium.

“Insectariums are getting popular, especially now that you can buy unusual spiders such as the sparklemuffin (Maratus jactatus),” said Ann Fibeous, an entomologist at the University of Florida’s Manatee County extension. “The problem is that people can tend to be irresponsible when it comes to caring for insects.

You would make sure your dog is

JAY HEATER MANAGING EDITOR

M

anatee County suddenly has something in common with the Everglades: a pair of invasive species that could prove quite difficult to control.

Wildlife experts for years have worked on strategies to rid the Everglades of the Burmese python.

Here in Manatee County, state wildlife officials have found a pair of problems: the harpy eagle and the sparklemuffin.

Yes, sparklemuffin.

If you are unfamiliar with either, and you probably are since they are invasive species, the harpy eagle is native to Belize and Brazil and the largest raptor in that area of the world. Meanwhile, the sparklemuffin is a small spider found only in Australia and a member of the “jumping spider” family.

Although the sparklemuffin is smallish, at 4-5 millimeters, it can jump lengths more than 50 times the length of its body.

State Wildlife Officer Bob Katz said neither species would have made it to Florida, and Manatee County, without the help of humans.

“People in the Southern Hemisphere keep harpy eagles the way we keep cockatoos,” Katz said. “And remember that cockatoos made their way here from Australia. They are odd-looking birds — ugly if you ask me — but they are so ugly people consider them cute. Unfortunately, those talons could go through a piece of wood, and they are aggressive. Think of a bald eagle with a bad attitude.”

Why would anyone want to keep them as a pet?

“They are the darnedest thing to watch,” said Country Club’s Herb Evor, who has a pair of harpy eagles that he keeps in a workshop he built in the backyard. “I can’t eat steak

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BE ON THE LOOKOUT

Invasive species harpy eagle and sparklemuffin found in Manatee County ABOUT THE SPARKLEMUFFIN: Sparklemuffin females have been known to eat the male during courting if the male doesn’t impress them. They live on small insects like ants and other spiders. They are often hunted by bigger insects.

Females make their nests underground and stay to guard their eggs.

Courtesy photos

Above: Sparklemuffins are pretty – and pretty scary.

Right: The harpy eagle has talons that can pierce wood.

secure in the house, but you don’t take that same care with a spider.

“Now add the fact that the sparklemuffin is so small and can jump so far, and your body becomes a cab ride.”

With the sales of sparklemuffins escalating, Fibeous doesn’t see the problem going away soon.

The sparklemuffin, also known as the peacock spider, feeds on small

ABOUT THE HARPY EAGLE: Found from Mexico and as far south as Argentina; most often inhabits rain forests at sea-level. They perch on trees and seek prey such as sloths and monkeys; an adult female harpy eagle can carry away a spider monkey weighing 20 pounds; harpy eagles have been known to take domestic animals such as goats, lambs, chickens and young pigs.

insects, of which Manatee County has a steady supply.

While sparklemuffins would seem to be beneficial to have in any area, especially in a place where they could help control fire ants, the sparklemuffins do have a drawback that has a state wildlife task force committed to getting rid of them.

“These guys jump so far and so fast that they can land anywhere on your body,” State Wildlife Officer Prey N. Mantis said. “They make a home in dark environments so you can get them buried in your ears and you can’t get them out.”

SEE SPARKLE, PAGE 4

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

DID YOU KNOW?

The beauty of Kingfisher Lake at Waterside Place is the setting for a new business that arranges ceremonies for the disposal of ashes.

n Gas furnaces used in cremation reach temperatures of more than 1,500 degrees n The human body is made up mostly of water, carbon and bone n Bone fragments make up most of the ashes n Magnets are used to remove any pieces of metal (such as surgical implants or tooth fillings) n Usually between 4 to 6 pounds of ash remain n Human ashes present to no threat to the environment

out a proper resting place on a quiet section of lake so that those on shore aren’t affected.

“We knew that people, at this very emotional time, didn’t want to worry about the legality of everything or the uneasiness of asking landowner’s permission or filling out park requests,” said Rustin Peace, the CEO and president of You Urned it.

“This is becoming a more common practice and, frankly, we wanted to be out front in the winds of change.”

Peace said while many industry funeral service businesses can arrange ceremonial ash-scattering plans, he believes You’ve Urned It is the first of its kind, eventually resulting in Waterside Place’s Kingfisher Lake attracting people from all over the country.

Here are examples of the available plans.

THE NO-FRILLS SAIL AWAY PACKAGE — $500

BUSINESS EMERGES

FROM ASHES Kingfisher Lake quickly becomes top cremation depository in Florida.

JAY HEATER

SCATTERING CONCERNS Here are some things to consider if you don’t hire a company like You Urned It to handle your scattering of ashes.

MANAGING EDITOR

A

s Peggy Kronus blew the final dusting of ashes off her fingers and watched the remains of her aunt Sade Toseeya Geoux land in the crystal blue waters of Kingfisher Lake at Waterside Place, she let go a big sigh and smiled.

While the new entertainment hub is in its infancy along the banks of the lake, a new business is offering those on the other end of life’s spectrum a final resting place and the ability to go out with a fitting ceremony.

You Urned It is making money in the here and now, banking on those headed to the hereafter.

For fees that start at $500 and escalate depending on how elaborate

You Urned It allows people to scatter ashes in a dignified manner.

n The Environmental Protection Agency requires notice within 30 days of scattering ashes along a coastline or in ocean or gulf waters. Forms must have been completed on the EPA’s website. n Federal law requires any urn that is used in the service to be biodegradable. n Federal law prohibits any objects being dropped from the air that can cause harm to people or property, so ashes must be dropped separate from any urn or container. n Cities or counties could have ordinances that regulate the scattering of ashes. n Beware heavy wind. Ashes could end up in an inappropriate spot if it is a windy day.

Make sure you guests aren’t downwind. n Don’t leave a mound.

Ashes should be scattered evenly so as not to attract attention after you leave. n Make sure to have written permission before scattering ashes on private property. n No markers can be left to commemorate the event.

the ceremony might be, You Urned It supplies boats, religious services, party supplies and even live music.

Those who use the service will

“It all is done with so much class. She (her aunt) always said, ‘I love to eat fish, so after I die, turnabout is fair play.’”

– Peggy Kronus

pick up their watercraft at Waterside Place’s new marina. That could mean kayaks for small gatherings of a minimum of eight people to multiple pontoon boats that seat up to 16 people each. You Urned It has a separate pontoon boat, complete with concert-level speakers, that can carry bands.

Once the person booking the ceremony selects a spot to spread the ashes, a pilot boat is sent out immediately prior to the ceremony to stir up the water in that area in order to chase away schools of fish or alligators that might nip at the beloved’s ashes as they hit the water.

“It all is done with so much class,” said Kronus, who said her Aunt Sade loved seafood. “She always said, ‘I love to eat fish, so after I die, turnabout is fair play.’”

Although Florida has no laws about spreading human ashes, Kronus said she loved the service and the fact she didn’t have to feel like she was “polluting” the local lake.

In reality, while the state has no laws against it, where you can scatter ashes can be confusing, since some municipalities have “no scattering” codes. Also, state and federal parks have enacted codes as well. Private land requires the owner’s permission.

You Urned It takes care of all the paperwork, so those signing with the business can concentrate on the sendoff without offending anyone.

Likewise, You’ve Urned It plots

This package is as simple as it gets.

Your choice of religious representative meets with eight-12 people at the dock. Those in the party who so desire then leave the shore in oneor two-man kayaks and follow a You Urned It representative to the preselected spot on the lake. Kayaks are rented by the hour, so there is plenty of time to get to the spot and back at a leisurely pace. There is no actual ceremony at the scattering except for words said by family or friends. All paperwork for the event is completed by the company. A professional photographer, who paddles his own kayak, is provided to record memories of the event.

THE SPECIAL SEND-OFF PACKAGE — $2,500

Peace said this package is expected to be a top seller. Pontoon boats carry all guests along with one musician (guitar, violinist, accordionist) to the final resting spot. A religious representative conducts the service on the lake itself before the final scattering takes place. A light brunch is served to those who attend, and adult beverages are served following the ceremony, along with a champagne toast if so desired. As with all the packages, a professional photographer will capture the moment. This ceremony can last up to two hours on the lake.

Peace noted that You Urned It will arrange any special military accommodations, such as a 21-gun salute.

THE MARDI GRAS SALUTE — $8,000 AND UP

For the extremely popular client, a regular armada of boats is lined up parade-style for the trip to carry 75 to 100 people to the final resting place.

One pontoon carries a full band and all necessary speaker equipment, while another is used to flash neon lights during the ceremony to give it that “party feel.” “Dust in the Wind” and “Against the Wind” are the most-requested songs. Guests can choose between scallops or filet mignon prepared by a specially designed kitchen pontoon complete with cooks and waiters. A specially designed biodegradable urn is available to scoot down a 40-foot slide into the water, the ashes slowly dispersing along the route. Like all the plans, a photographer and religious representative are included. The event is booked at three hours and, if so desired, You Urned It will pair with a local restaurant so the party can continue.

SEE URN, PAGE 4

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

GOTCHA!

Happy April Fools’ Day from the East County Observer! The stories on pages 1 through 4 are not real news. Hope you’re as relieved as we are!

County construction goes fast track Construction in county hits warp speed with new system.

JAY HEATER MANAGING EDITOR

Listening to complaints of developers and builders, who in some cases have waited more than a year to have their permitting requests heard, Manatee County has instituted a 24-hour, self-serve permitting plan.

The new streamlined system begins with a kiosk in the lobby at the downtown county administration building.

Anyone requesting a permit can do all of the preliminary legwork, accumulating information such as the size of a lot, building specs, cost of the project and possible environmental issues. The information is inputted on Quick Form EZ GOES, and the applicant also must attach photos of the adjacent land to the north, south, east and west.

The request is stored and reviewed by an on-call Manatee County building expert who decides whether the project looks feasible, along with checking to see what kind of property tax the parcel could generate.

The request is then sent to a pool of five Manatee County commissioners who are scheduled for 24-hour permit approvals that day. They will have between 3 and 4 p.m. each day to see if any such requests are waiting. They vote yea or nay, then ship it forward.

If approved — and most of them

Courtesy photo

Now it is easy peasy to have a permit approved by Manatee County.

will be — the request will be examined the next morning by a county lawyer, who builds expected legal fees into the overall fee of approving the construction.

If rezoning is an issue, a separate form, HUR E REZONE 1, must be submitted. Unfortunately, rezones can’t be finished in 24 hours since county staff must check with local neighborhoods to see if any protests seem certain to occur. In the case of a rezone, the request can’t be completed for 48 hours.

“This is in the works for some time,” said Clu List, who has accepted the job as superintendent of quick permits. “The county simply has too many layers to go through before a builder could get the go-ahead. Now

this is Manatee County, so you know how important new construction is when it comes to generating taxes.

It can takes months and months to approve a needed project, and in the end, it always gets approved anyway.

“In this way, we give them a green light, and we go to the project and approve each stage as work progresses. The 24-hour approval isn’t saying that the project is approved from beginning to end. It’s just saying the county approves of the overall idea.

“You can get your contractors lined up, and you can set a schedule.

Now we have all the codes listed, so the builders know if they don’t meet the codes, the construction is going to be delayed. Everything is right there in black and white.”

List said if the county inspects a job a few months into construction and finds code violations, he can propose a course of action and issue a fine that goes into the county’s “rainy day” fund.

Developer Bill Meelater said it’s about time the county streamlined the system.

“This is long overdue,” Meelater said. “I’ve listened to 10 years of whining about how developers are ruining the area ... so let’s stick it to them. Well, everyone has taken turns in sticking it to us to the point where it takes 10 years to build a neighborhood that should be finished in three years.

You need a permit to plant flowers, for goodness sakes. And who is paying for every new street, every park, every school? It’s the developers.”

Meelater said he just likes knowing where he stands on a project in a day or two. The new system, he said, will keep him in Manatee County.

But not everyone is happy with the new system.

“I used to have cows in my backyard,” said Esplanade’s Babbles Ahn. “Then it was a retention pond, then came more houses, and now they are talking about a Golden Corral.”

County officials say residents shouldn’t be alarmed by the streamlined system because a heavy fee will accompany each request. For example, a housing development for 350 or more homes will cost $8,000 for a 24-hour permit request. A heavy manufacturing plant request begins at $16,000.

IN A HURRY? QUICK FORM EZ GOES Builder: Type of construction: Anticipated length of construction: Size of project (houses, buildings, square footage): Infrastructure needed: Describe surrounding area: Have you made this request before?: Anticipated noise: Will you deal with toxic waste?: Do you have a friend who works for the county?: Would you be willing to make a contribution to Friends of Manatee?:

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EAST COUNTY

Summer Fun Observer

Observer

2022 Guide

Your guide to summer camps in Manatee and Sarasota counties.

Lakewood Ranch’s weekly newspaper since 1998

INSIDE ARTS PAGE 4

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

EDUCATION PAGE 18

GENERAL PAGE 23

SCIENCE PAGE 34

SPORTS PAGE 37

FREE • THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

VOLUME 24, NO. 20

Theater won’t open in Ranch

YOUR TOWN

Liz Ramos

Gullett principal ‘Hulk’ is smash One of Marvel’s greatest characters visited B.D. Gullett Elementary School March 25.

Todd Richardson, the school’s principal, painted his face green and dressed as the Hulk while inline skating and riding a scooter from classroom to classroom.

Teachers and students laughed as the Hulk greeted students arriving for school.

Richardson’s role as the Hulk came as a reward for the school raising more than $82,000 during the annual walkathon. Students voted to have Richardson dress as the Hulk.

SMR cuts tie with The Players Centre, which struggled to raise funds for its Waterside Place complex.

SEE PAGE 7

Crucial steps for better health East County man with Parkinson’s talks about ways to manage the disease. SEE PAGE 12

File photo

Former Players Centre Artistic Director Jeffery Kin was a key factor in fundraising, but last September he announced he was leaving the theater group.

Ian Swaby

Birders stalk wildlife at Celery Fields Lynn Jakubowicz, one of the volunteer naturalists from the Sarasota Audubon Society at the Celery Fields, said she loves teaching visitors along the boardwalks of the nature preserve.

She was busy March 25 helping birders spot numerous species worth discussing, such as a bald eagle, purple gallinules, least bitterns, soras, nanday parakeets, a redshouldered hawk and various herons.

Ken Bergman, a former biology professor at Keene State College, New Hampshire, who now lives in Sarasota, said of the least bitterns present, “Those are very difficult to see in most places. They are very small herons, and they are exceptionally shy. This is the only place I’ve ever seen them in the open for any period of time.”

Jakubowicz (above with visitor Mary Lindberg) said the Celery Fields gives visitors a chance to see what the “real Florida” is like.

Liz Ramos

East County’s Steve Oppen does physical therapy and completes exercises every day to help with his mobility during his struggle with Parkinson’s disease.

A+E

A ‘culture of corruption?’

Vanessa Baugh says report that identified favoritism in code enforcement is the ‘tip of the iceberg.’

SEE PAGE 8 File photo

Commissioner Vanessa Baugh says an examination of every county department should be conducted as soon as possible.

A positive expression.

INSIDE

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

NEWS BRIEFS

HAVE YOU MET

BOB?

Courtesy photo

Tidewell Foundation philanthropy adviser Kaitlyn Reeves accepts a $6,000 grant from Rotarians Ladd Waldo and Judy Berlow, along with Tidewell Foundation senior philanthropy adviser Chris Pfahler.

Rotary presents $79,153 in grants With money raised from its annual Suncoast Food and Wine Fest, the Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch presented 20 grants for a combined $79,153 March 17 at Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club.

Over the years, the Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch has given more than $2 million in grants to charitable causes.

Among the grant recipients were The Haven, Foundation for Dreams, LECOM ($4,000 to buy supplies for a back-to-school dental clinic for Title 1 schoolchildren), Neuro Challenge, and Tidewell Hospice. Five Rotary Club programs, including Books for Kids, received grants.

The 20th annual Suncoast Food and Wine Fest will be held Nov. 12. For more information, visit SunCoastFoodandWineFest.com.

More tenants sign at Waterside Place Lakewood Ranch Commercial Realty announced March 23 that Shore Rejuvenation Day Spa, Modish Salon, Marmalade Waterside Boutique,

FRIENDLY Badger Bob is a funny name, but we’re serious about providing unFURgettably unparalleled service – with every call.

John Cannon Homes, Integrity Sound and Capstan Financial have signed leases at Waterside Place in Lakewood Ranch.

According to a Lakewood Ranch Commercial Realty release, Shore Rejuvenation Day Spa offers luxury organic couples’ treatments, spa packages, massage therapy, facials and more. Modish Salon will feature independent hair stylists.

Marmalade Waterside Boutique offers home decor and furnishings, women’s apparel, bohemian bling and gifts. Lakewood Ranch will be its third location, joining Sarasota and Siesta Key. John Cannon Homes is a luxury custom home builder in Southwest Florida and will showcase cabinetry, countertops, ceiling details, flooring, tile and fireplace options at its new location. Integrity Sound offers expert technology for homes and businesses.

All the new signees are expected to open this summer, according to the release, which noted that previously signed O&A Coffee Supply, CROP Juice, The Yoga Shack, Body Bar Pilates, Man Cave for Men, Bay Area Aesthetics, Duck Donuts, authentic Italian restaurant Osteria 500, tequileria Agave Bandido, Forked at Waterside and Good Liquid Distillery are all expected to be open by the end of the year.

Neal Communities buys truss company Lakewood Ranch’s Neal Communities has announced it has purchased HITEK, a truss company based in Brooksville.

According to the Neal Communities release, HITEK manufactures structurally engineered roof, floor and custom trusses.

“Given the current supply constraints in the building industry, this acquisition is a step toward alleviating the difficulties in the supply chain that we are experiencing,” said Pat Neal, founder and chairman of Neal Communities, in a release.

“Acquiring HITEK will help us reduce delays for an important part of the building process.”

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Book an appointment online: lakewoodranchmedicalgroup.com/appt Or call 866-515-9777.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

as the food service consultant for the project.

CEO William Skaggs stands next to the empty lot that has been reserved for The Players at Waterside Place.

RIFT BEGINS TO FORM: MAY 4, 2017

The board of directors for The Players Centre for Performing Arts announced it would lower the asking price of its current theater at 838 N. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota from $12.5 million to $9.5 million. Bianchi had asked the board to be patient with its $12.5 million listing, but the board voted for the lower price.

MAJOR GIFT PRESENTED: JUNE 9, 2017

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County, on behalf of the Muriel O’Neil Fund of the Performing Arts, announced a $1 million gift to The Players Centre for Performing Arts, and Bianchi noted, “This is not a pipe dream.”

CHANGES ON THE WAY: JAN. 25, 2018

IT’S CURTAINS Players CEO says smaller theater project was presented to SMR but not accepted.

JAY HEATER MANAGING EDITOR

I

n dramatic terms, the plan for a $30 million theater complex to house the The Players Centre of Performing Arts in Lakewood Ranch is dead.

Schroeder-Manatee Ranch issued a statement Monday, March 28, saying it has terminated its agreement with The Players to build a performing arts center in Waterside Place.

The Players informed Lakewood Ranch Commercial Realty, a subsidiary of SMR, that it was talking with the city of Sarasota about potentially relocating its operations to the Municipal Auditorium at 801 N. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota.

The Players CEO William Skaggs stressed that his group is only in talks with the city of Sarasota, and nothing has been agreed upon.

Skaggs said The Players presented a smaller theater complex plan to SMR, but that plan was rejected.

“The Players Centre has been evaluating the size and scope of the Lakewood Ranch project,” Skaggs said. “The Players recently approached SMR with some ideas for a smaller project that did not include a traditional theater.”

Skaggs said that while the project didn’t come to fruition, The Players Centre will continue to bring productions to Lakewood Ranch.

“The Players is an invaluable asset to the region, and while we would have enjoyed its presence in Waterside Place, we believe the new location in Sarasota allows it to expeditiously return to its full programing and build for the future,” said Kirk Boylston, president of Lakewood Ranch Commercial, in a release.

“Now that Waterside Place is complete, activated and more than 80% leased, we are in a much better position to attract a highly impactful and complementary use that will serve our residents. We are just beginning the exploration process.”

Skaggs hedged on his nonprofit’s future during a Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance luncheon on March 23.

“We are evaluating everything regarding our facilities,” Skaggs said.

“We are discussing our future plans as we move past the pandemic.”

Skaggs, who said in December he was working on a possible five-year lease with Sarasota for the Municipal Auditorium, said the huge rise in construction costs during the pandemic has been problematic for any plans to build a new theater.

“It’s insane,” he said of rising costs.

SMR Senior Vice President Laura Cole said other arts possibilities would be considered for the hole left by the decision to part ways with The Players’ Centre complex.

“Every community aspires to have have some kind of civic uses for the

community,” Cole said. “Arts enrich everyday life. But does that need to be bricks and mortar?”

Cole said that with Lakewood Ranch’s expansion into Sarasota County with Waterside, it is seen as being more part of a region. With Sarasota being heralded for its arts offerings, that regional art box could be checked already.

Lakewood Ranch has become the nation’s No. 1-selling multigenerational community with its parks, open space and entertainment hubs, so the question is whether it needs a huge theater.

“That’s a great question,” Cole said. “We’ve never approached it from that perspective.”

Cole said SMR has been focused on The Players occupying the space at Waterside Place, but now the focus will shift to what’s best in that spot now that the theater is not coming.

After the Sarasota Observer reported in December that Skaggs had been talking with the Sarasota City Commission about signing up to a five-year lease with a possible extension to use the Municipal Auditorium, Skaggs said The Players was still committed to building the new theater complex in Lakewood Ranch.

He told the East County Observer in September the plan was in place to break ground on the Waterside Place theater complex in 2023.

It was May 2, 2016, when The Players announced it would leave its Sarasota theater to build a new complex in Lakewood Ranch. An intense fundraising campaign followed over the next couple years intended to get the Lakewood Ranch community to buy into the project. The two driving forces behind the campaign for a new theater complex were The Players CEO Michelle Bianchi, who resigned in April 2018, and The Players Artistic Director Jeffery Kin, who announced in September he was leaving the nonprofit.

Here is a look at the ups and downs of the failed project.

After The Players sold its Sarasota theater for $9.5 million, Bianchi said The Players would go to financial institutions to find ways it could leverage the money from its theater sale. She said The Players would build its theater complex in three $10 million phases. Phase one would include a 100-seat cabaret theater with dining and would be the main campus of The Arnold Simonsen Players Studio, the educational arm of the organization.

PLAYERS CEO RESIGNS: APRIL 25, 2018

Bianchi, the driving force behind the planning of the theater complex in Waterside Place, resigned because she said she wasn’t happy with the board’s direction. She had been with The Players 17 years and became CEO in 2008. She proposed the idea for a new theater in 2015.

Board Chair Donna DeFant took over Bianchi’s duties until a replacement was named.

MORE DOWNSIZING: JUNE 7, 2018

Players Chair Donna DeFant talked about the newest twist in construction of the new facility, saying The Players would build the 488-seat main theater and the outside shell of the complex and then piecemeal the remaining major aspects, including a 125-seat Black Box theater and a 100-seat cabaret, for approximately $21 million. It would go from the originally planned 81,000 square feet to 76,000 square feet.

File photos

Former Artistic Director Jeffery Kin and Former CEO Michelle Bianchi spearheaded the early funding drive for The Players.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT: MAY 2, 2016

At Michael’s Wine Cellar in Sarasota, The Players CEO Michelle Bianchi announced Schroeder-Manatee Ranch had forged a deal to bring The Players Centre For Performing Arts to the new Waterside at Lakewood Ranch development. Bianchi said the current Players property, at 838 N. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota, had been put on the market for $12.5 million. The Players owned the property outright, so the money for the sale would be used to buy a 4.5-acre parcel and then to construct its complex in what would become Waterside Place. Bianchi estimated cost of construction of The Players Centre for Performing Arts to be between $8 million and $12 million.

ARCHITECT, BUILDER SELECTED: SEPT. 1, 2016

The Players Centre announced it had selected the team of Schenkel/ Shultz and Westlake Reed and Leskowsky as the architects for its (now) $18 million Lakewood Ranch project and also selected Lakewood Ranch’s Willis Smith Construction as the builder. CJ Fishman of Fishman & Associates Inc. would be assisting

PLANS STILL IN PLACE: SEPT. 15, 2021

The Players CEO William Skaggs said plans were firmly in place to move the Waterside Place theater project forward with a groundbreaking planned for the spring of 2023.

Skaggs said the project, which had been presented to him as $32 million or more when he arrived in September 2020, had been reduced to $26.5 million. He said The Players had $6.3 million in funding toward the project. The earliest possible opening for the theater complex would be 2025.

ANOTHER DIRECTION: DEC, 2, 2021

The Players CEO William Skaggs said he had begun conversations with Sarasota city officials about The Players holding shows and training sessions at the Municipal Auditorium. The city staff was looking into a possible five-year lease with an option to extend. At the time, Skaggs said The Players still was committed to building a theater complex at Waterside Place.

PROJECT CANCELED: MARCH 28, 2022

Schroeder-Manatee Ranch releases a notice saying it had terminated its agreement with The Players Centre to build a Waterside Place theater complex plan.

File rendering

In the early stages, a $30 million Players Centre complex would have included three theaters and a restaurant.

7

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

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CULTURE OF CORRUPTION

“Our administrator is putting things into place so we can stop this culture of corruption,” she said.

Baugh already has asked the state attorney’s office to look at a 52-page report presented by Manatee County Inspector General Lori Stephens on March 22. The investigation was launched to determine if the Building and Development Services Depart-

LONG-TERM PROBLEM

“What’s most concerning to me is this behavior and this culture existed for a number of years,” Hopes said.

“Just the sheer longevity of it. The mere fact it was allowed to fester as long as it did, so that you actually developed a depth of culture where it mattered more who you knew, or who your friends were, or who your associates were, in order to have an easy time at getting permits with the county, or a very difficult time.

That’s not right.”

The investigation analyzed 240 Code Enforcement Department cases and 103 permits and plans and concluded that 26 Code Enforcement cases and seven permits involving 18 properties were not handled appropriately. It also said that five cases and six permits studied had evidence of involvement by management, and that of those, three code enforcement cases and five permits had evidence of a personal or professional relationship having an effect on the request.

The report additionally noted

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While Manatee County officials voiced concern last week about an inspector general’s report that identified favoritism among county employees when it came to dealing with the public, Commissioner Vanessa Baugh said she is sure the report is “just the tip of the iceberg.”

“There is so much more,” Baugh said March 28. “Obviously (the county commissioners) need to talk to the county administrator about ways to make sure these things don’t take place again.”

Baugh said a thorough examination needs to take place in every county department.

“We have to get that under control,” she said.

She also said that as early as April 8 she wants to present a transparency and ethics policy for the Board of County Commissioners to follow.

Baugh said it will be important to enforce whatever policies are put into place by Administrator Scott Hopes and make sure the county staff members are following his direction.

ment’s Code Enforcement Division was offering favoritism and acting with general misconduct.

Code Enforcement Officer Tanya Shaw prompted the investigation in March 2021 when she made a report to the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller Angel Colonneso. Shaw said she was told to look the other way when it came to code violations at a Myakka City property — 47 acres along State Road 70 that now is called “The Woods of Mallaranny” — being groomed to be the site of the Sarasota Medieval Fair.

The report did confirm instances of favoritism and indicated the handling of certain cases and permits, including that of the Myakka property by Shaw and others, was not performed in accordance with policy.

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George Kruse speaks at the commission meeting on March 22, on the day of the release of the report.

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Count Administrator Scott Hopes addresses the media about the contents of the report.

in February 2021, management instructed Code Enforcement not to remove signs advertising a Parade of Homes event for the ManateeSarasota Building Industry Association, despite those signs violating Section 604.D of the Land Development Code, which bans signs in public rights-of-way or on public lands.

While the report did state the Mallaranny LLC property was not investigated properly, it couldn’t substantiate that it was due to personal relationships.

The inspector general’s report said the failure of code enforcement officers to perform all require documentation on their cases hindered the investigation.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Hopes said the issues related to the Myakka City property are only part of the picture. “(The report) refers to a number of problems, not just Myakka,” he said. “In fact, I think I think the situation in Myakka was almost a non-event compared to some of the other findings around favoritism.”

Among the other findings were three instances of permits being issued incorrectly in connection with a former county commissioner, Priscilla Trace, with the decisions being approved by John Barnott, director of Building and Development Services, who retired in September.

In one instance, a family member of Trace was granted an agricultural permit exemption for a pole barn despite a lack of qualification or documentation for the exemption and without paying the $73 permit exemption fee.

In another instance, Barnott granted a permit for an accessory structure without proof of agricultural use. This occurred after the property owner contacted Commissioner Trace, with the owner later thanking Trace for helping them to obtain the permit.

In the third instance, a permit for property owned by Trace and her husband was extended multiple times despite no application submitted and the $10 extension fee not being paid until two months later.

Hopes said the problematic culture in the department made it difficult to carry out the investigation.

“There was interference among certain individuals in the department with the investigation,” he said. “It was necessary to basically move a number of people out of the department to allow for the interviews to take place.”

He said this was what facilitated the placement of the six individuals on paid leave. All have returned to work except for Barnott, who retired.

At the same time the inspector general’s report was ongoing, the county also hired Brown Law & Consulting to perform an independent investigation of Building and Development Services, the results of which were released last fall.

After Barnott retired, his position was filled by Courtney De Pol, whose experience included working

Hopes said the report’s findings were “reassuring” because they validated action he took with the department to remedy a culture of favoritism. This included assigning De Pol to the position of director; adding a new Code Enhancement group designed to improve developers, builders and permit applicants to the Building and Development Services Department; and moving Code Enforcement to the area of Public Safety, which was deemed to have the greatest familiarity with chainof-command operations.

“They are currently operating under a different style of management,” he said of Code Enhancement. “They have new controls in place to ensure that the policies of the Board of County Commissioners are followed, and that all applicants for permits in Manatee County are treated equally and fairly.”

Commissioner George Kruse said March 24 that commissioners must explain to the community what these findings mean.

“Part of the thing we always have to do within government is continuously express to our citizens, and to everybody for that matter, that we are looking out for everybody equally,” Kruse said. “When reports like this come out, it could be two steps forward, but one step back.

People look at a government entity as a whole being, not as individuals.

“And so now we, as Manatee County, have to make sure we’re going back out to all the citizens and saying, ‘Hey, this is a one-off situation that has been uncovered and has been researched and is going to be handled. It’s not a reflection of your government as a whole.”

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Commissioner James Satcher expressed optimism about what will take place following the report.

“We’re tackling it head-on and not trying to dodge it, or cover it up,” he said. “Instead, I feel the new board majority and the new administrator are facing past issues with courage and resolve. We didn’t wait months for an inspector general investigation. When we realized there was a problem, we took action before the report was released.”

Baugh said the investigation has been a step in the right direction, and she emphasized her gratitude to the clerk’s office and inspector general for the report.

“I think that we need to look at that report and see what changes we need to make to the county — staff members and commissioners and everybody — and ask, how can we make it more transparent for the residents?

How can we give better service to our citizens? How can we improve their quality of life?”

She said that next month she will bring forward an avenue for staff members to file complaints within the system to make sure complaints are properly addressed.

“I think that’s one thing that this county has missed over the years,” she said. “We never had a good plan on how to do that.”

Hopes now awaits the report’s review by the state attorney.

“When we choose to work for government at the higher levels, we also commit to operate in a transparent way in compliance with Florida statutes for the law, and that includes the ethical conduct of the jobs that we hold,” Hopes said.

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Hopes said the Human Resources Department and the Department of Development Services are reviewing the inspector general’s report to determine whether any disciplinary action — such as rehabilitation or retraining — should be taken with the reinstated employees.

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

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Resident Crystal Rothhaar looks forward to EGGstravaganza after hosting her own egg hunt last year.

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reenbrook’s Crystal Rothhaar got a taste of what it takes to host an egg hunt last year when she decided to rent a park and have an egg hunt after the annual EGGstravaganza was canceled.

Her family has taken part in Lakewood Ranch Community Activities’ EGGstravaganza since her 10-yearold son, Ryan, was 3 months old.

“It’s such a great opportunity for kids to see all their friends,” Rothhaar said. “It’s the biggest part of Easter. Events like (EGGstravaganza) are what makes Lakewood Ranch feel like a community.”

Her children, Ryan and Allison, were crushed when they found out EGGstravaganza was canceled for the second year in a row in 2021 due to the pandemic.

“It’s hard for us as adults to understand how the pandemic affected children, and the losses they experienced were so much bigger in their minds,” Crystal Rothhaar said. “To a child, losing a year of the Easter bunny and an Easter egg hunt in their community is heartbreaking.

It’s a big part of their childhood.

Kids only get a few years to celebrate these holidays where they believe in the Easter bunny and they’re at the right age to have an Easter egg hunt.”

So Rothhaar hosted her own egg hunt and invited Ryan and Allison’s friends to join the fun.

To determine the number of eggs she would need for the hunt, Rothhaar simply filled a basket and counted how many it would take. She realized it would take about 700 eggs for a successful hunt. Overwhelmed,

EGGstravaganza has become a tradition for Greenbrook’s Allison Rothhaar and her brother, Ryan Rothhaar.

EGGSTRAVAGANZA When: 9:30-11:30 a.m. April 9 Where: Waterside Park, 7301 Island Cove Terrace, Sarasota Ages: Children 3 and older Activities: Eggs hunt, grand arrival of the Easter bunny, facepainting, music, refreshments and other kids activities.

Cost: $10 per person for Lakewood Ranch residents; $20 for nonresidents

Rothhaar decided to only fill about a third of them for her egg hunt.

“I never realized how hard it is to put eggs back together,” Rothhaar said. “First of all, I bought inexpensive eggs because I was purchasing so many of them, and they did not

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EGGstravaganza will be held at a new venue, Waterside Park, this year and will include an egg hunt, the Easter bunny, entertainment, kids activities and refreshments.

“It’s such a beautiful park,” Presley said. “It’s the perfect size to keep everyone contained in one area. We thought it would be good for the egg hunt with the backdrop of Waterside, and it’s just something to refresh an event that everybody’s already familiar with.”

Only 500 children will be able to participate in EGGstravaganza.

People can register online at MyLWR.com.

Rothhaar couldn’t wait to find out if Lakewood Ranch Community Activities was hosting EGGstravaganza again this year. She’s already purchased the tickets for her family.

“I was excited to see the Lakewood Ranch Community Activities egg hunt come back because as much work as I put into it, there is no way for me to duplicate how amazing the Easter egg hunt is at EGGstravaganza,” Rothhaar said.

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fit together well. There were a lot of eggs we couldn’t use. Fortunately, my kids were excited about helping fill them. It gave them something extra to do for an Easter event.”

Unable to fill all the eggs with goodies at her own event, she saved 12 eggs to be used as “golden eggs.”

The golden eggs had numbers inside to determine the order in which the children got to choose a toy from the prize table.

“I made the golden eggs harder to find,” Rothhaar said.

Rothhaar said her children’s strategy to successful egg hunts is to run farther into the field to find eggs rather than scooping up the ones close to the starting point.

Besides the egg hunt at her event, the children also played games, dyed eggs and decorated cookies.

This year, Lakewood Ranch Community Activities plans to have about 10,000 eggs at the EGGstravaganza April 9. The organization recruits volunteers to help fill the eggs two days before the event.

Aliye Presley, the communications coordinator and executive assistant for Lakewood Ranch Community Activities, said many of the eggs are recycled from past EGGstravagan-

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THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

EAST COUNTY

ABOUT STEVE

“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.”

Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2013 Residence: East County Age: 75 Family: Children Marc Oppen, Michelle Oppen, Mellisa Enns; sister Vivian Lager; brother-inlaw Mike Difeo

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 Managing Editor / Jay Heater, JHeater@YourObserver.com Sports Editor / Ryan Kohn, RKohn@YourObserver.com Staff Writers / Liz Ramos, LRamos@YourObserver.com; Ian Swaby, ISwaby@YourObserver.com Digital & Engagement Editor / Kaelyn Adix, KAdix@YourObserver.com Copy Editor / Shawn Candela, SCandela@YourObserver.com Editorial Designers / Melissa Leduc, MLeduc@YourObserver.com; José Valle, JValle@YourObserver.com A+E Editor / Spencer Fordin, SFordin@YourObserver.com Black Tie Editor / Harry Sayer, HSayer@YourObserver.com

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East County’s Steve Oppen says the Neuro Challenge Foundation has helped educate him and helped him navigate through Parkinson’s disease.

Neuro Challenge ‘part of the solution’ East County man says those with Parkinson’s can help themselves and others with support from Neuro Challenge.

LIZ RAMOS STAFF WRITER

E

ast County’s Steven Oppen wakes up every day at 6 a.m. feeling a bit groggy.

The grogginess is a side effect of his Parkinson’s disease medication.

By 7 a.m., Oppen is out of bed, at the table eating breakfast and saying goodbye to a caregiver who stays with him each night.

Oppen, who is 75, makes sure any important task that needs to be accomplished each day is completed before noon.

“I try to take advantage of the mornings because that’s when I’m sharpest,” Oppen said. “The afternoon is when I start seeing myself slow down and I need to take some breaks.”

If he’s up for it, Oppen participates in programs the Neuro Challenge Foundation provides.

The Neuro Challenge Foundation is a Sarasota-based nonprofit dedicated to providing services to support people with Parkinson’s disease and their caregivers.

“The Neuro Challenge Foundation has a breadth of programs that is unmatched by anyone else,” Oppen said. “They are the local organization that provides classes and gettogethers for every aspect of Parkinson’s that you can think of from problems that we have mentally to problems we have physically.

“If you can’t find something that piques your interest, you haven’t tried very hard.”

The foundation provides care advisers who help those with Parkinson’s and their caregivers navigate through the management of the disease. The nonprofit also provides monthly education, support and therapeutic programs at no charge.

The foundation hosted its annual Parkinson’s Expo at the Bradenton Area Convention Center in Palmetto as well as virtually on March 26. The daylong expo included presentations from nationally renowned Parkinson’s experts.

“The expo is a wonderful event,” Oppen said. “There are excellent lectures and presentations throughout the day.”

Oppen was diagnosed in 2013 after his brother-in-law, Mike Difeo, noticed a change in Oppen’s gait.

ABOUT THE FOUNDATION The Neuro Challenge Foundation is a Sarasota-based nonprofit dedicated to providing services to support people with Parkinson’s disease and their caregivers.

The Neuro Challenge Foundation provides care advisers that help those with Parkinson’s and their caregivers manage the disease. It provides monthly education, support and therapeutic programs at no charge.

The nonprofit hosts an annual Parkinson’s Expo at the Bradenton Area Convention Center.

“I tend to read a lot, so I decided to read the literature about Parkinson’s. I saw a lot of what I was experiencing in that literature. I realized the prognosis was correct. … I wanted to get on with it and do what I could to fight it.”

— Steve Oppen

“I knew that had been in existence for a while, but I never pursued it much further,” Oppen said. “(Difeo) strongly suggested I see a neurologist.”

Oppen saw a neurologist in Lakewood Ranch and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

Oppen said most Parkinson’s disease patients go through a period of denial after their diagnosis, but he didn’t dwell on his diagnosis long.

“I knew I couldn’t ignore the things people were mentioning to me,” Oppen said. “I tend to read a lot, so I decided to read the literature about Parkinson’s. I saw a lot of what I was experiencing in that literature.

I realized the prognosis was correct. … I wanted to get on with it and do what I could to fight it.”

Since then, Oppen has volunteered for the Neuro Challenge Foundation and even served on the nonprofit’s board for three years.

“I wanted to try to be a part of the solution, so to speak, rather than

part of the problem,” Oppen said. “I didn’t want to just sit there and be a Parkinson’s patient.”

Oppen has found ways to help ease his symptoms, including going to physical and speech therapy.

He joined a program called PWR! Moves, which taught him exercises to help with his mobility and stretching. He also listens to a tape through the Parkinson’s Voice Project and follows along with speech exercises, including saying the letter ‘A’ for 10 seconds or saying the letter in a sliding scale. The Parkinson Voice Project is a Texas-based nonprofit that provides speech therapy.

Oppen also reads aloud following along with videos.

“They put out practice videos that take me through several speech exercises that are designed to get me to speak with intent,” he said. “That is the real secret, to speak with intent.”

Oppen continues to do research to see the new science that is trying to stop or reverse Parkinson’s disease.

He said that as patients continue to take oral medication over time, the medication becomes less effective.

“I have reached a point where my morning dose is quite helpful to me, but as the day goes on, the effectiveness dissipates,” he said. “There’s not much you can do about it.”

Oppen continued to research other ways to lessen his symptoms.

He found deep brain stimulation, a neurological procedure that uses implanted electrodes and electrical stimulation to treat movement disorders related to Parkinson’s.

At first, deep brain stimulation was only mostly effective on tremors, but Oppen doesn’t have tremors. The procedure has now become effective in minimizing the effects of dyskinesia, involuntary movements of the body, which Oppen does have.

After consulting with his neurologist, Oppen decided to go to the University of Florida Health Movement Disorders Centers of Excellence to see if he qualified for deep brain stimulation. He passed the tests and went forward with his first surgery to insert an electrode into his skull.

He has a second surgery to insert a second electrode at the end of March and will have his final surgery in May so he can begin the stimulation.

Oppen won’t know until a few months after the final surgery whether deep brain stimulation was effective for him.

“After this DBS surgery, I’m hoping there’s a chance I could return to golf,” Oppen said. “I played golf quite a bit before Parkinson’s disease invaded my life.”

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

SIDE OF RANCH

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THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

13

JAY HEATER

Waterside theater drama not a tragedy P erhaps it’s just me, but whenever a group says it has entered its “quiet period” during fundraising, I think the worst.

The worst is when nobody is giving you a dime.

So on March 28, when SchroederManatee Ranch released word it had canceled its agreement with The Players Centre for Performing Arts to build a theater complex in Waterside Place, it wasn’t a big surprise.

The Players’ fundraising effort, announced in 2016, had been quiet for a long time.

For an area like this, where the community, or even select members of the community, are enthusiastic about getting behind worthwhile projects, that was surprising to me.

In those first two years after the announcement, there were events, meetings and press conferences talking about the effort. Interest was high.

Since then, everything has been really quiet, and now it’s over.

I want to make it clear that I am sure there was an abundance of hard work going on behind the scenes, but you have to release major, or even minor, scores to let the public know things are going along nicely.

Momentum is a good thing.

In retrospect, The Players’ vision seemed simply too grandiose, with or without a pandemic. If the group had stuck with its original plan of a $12 million to $15 million theater, we might have been watching plays by now. Instead, the project grew, and grew and grew, in terms of cost.

The Players CEO William Skaggs said he presented SMR a scaleddown version of the theater complex that was rejected. Obviously,

SMR had lost faith that The Players would deliver.

Too bad, in retrospect, the Sarasota Orchestra, which days ago purchased 32 acres at 5701 Fruitville Road for a new concert hall, couldn’t have been the target instead, along with The Players — a combo deal. Or perhaps Sarasota County could have stepped to the plate to help build a multipurpose facility to be shared by several nonprofit arts groups.

None of that happened, and now we have the missing tooth at Waterside Place.

Don’t expect it to be there long.

Waterside Place already has established its magnetic draw, and most of the restaurants have yet to open. Combine the strategic selection of restaurants with the atmosphere of Kingfisher Lake, then add regular popular events, and parks that will give the kids plenty to do, and you’ve got something special.

It’s so special that SMR has to ask itself whether it needs to bang its collective head against the arts wall any longer.

It started with the desire to have some kind of theater in Main Street at Lakewood Ranch, but the building of such a venue never was realized, and the chosen site at San Marco Plaza is now a swim school. I doubt The Players site at Waterside Place will be any kind of theater, but instead might become a combination of ground-level restaurants and upper floor office space. Such a choice will draw just as many customers, and business, to the area as would a theater.

Does Lakewood Ranch need the arts? I guess the answer depends on what you consider art.

If you subscribe to the image of

Lakewood Ranch as being part of a region as a whole and not as a residential community in the sticks, you can get your fill of theater, orchestra, opera and general entertainment with a 30-minute ride.

If you want to stay on the east side of I-75, then your art might take place in a different form. On many nights, you can enjoy, rock, country, jazz or blues at either Main Street at Lakewood Ranch or Waterside Place. The classical arts, not so much.

The thought of having an indoor theater available to the public was intriguing. Few venues exist in East County in which you can seat 300 people, and the ones that do mostly lack the proper acoustics.

Consider the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble, mostly professional musicians who have wowed the community during concerts at smaller venues, such as Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church and Peace Presbyterian. It would have been a windfall for the community to have the group playing at Waterside Place had The Players venue been realized and a multipurpose theater made available.

Hopefully, Manatee County takes notice of the need for a theater in East County. A good start would be to build the planned amphitheater at Premier Park. While the pickleball courts, library and swim facility are under construction, a date hasn’t been set to break ground on an amphitheater. A symphony under the stars — very cool.

The thought of an indoor facility is mostly pie-in-the-sky stuff, but it should be considered, especially now that it appears the Lakewood Ranch area won’t get one anytime soon. You need to talk with your

Jay Heater

Joe Miller conducts the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble at Peace Presbyterian Church in East County, which has few concert venues.

elected officials about this one.

And with or without the arts, Lakewood Ranch remains in the spotlight when it comes to the most-desirable places in the nation to live. People move here because of bike trails, parks and beautiful homes, not because of Mozart and Arthur Miller.

That isn’t about to change.

But the thought of having it all isn’t bad, either.

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

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THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

Photos by Liz Ramos

Braden River High School senior Lauren Wample acts as freshman Jacob Mazzone’s puppet during a performance of “We Both Reached for the Gun.”

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erforming in The Ballroom at the Grove gave Lakewood Ranch High School sophomore Andrew Boudreau a different kind of experience.

Because of the intimate setting as he played with the Lakewood Ranch High School Indoor Percussion Ensemble, Boudreau felt more connected with the audience at the Arts Alive event March 28.

“Our parents also had a chance to see us more closely, which they usually don’t,” Boudreau said.

Arts Alive is a celebration of various works of art by students hosted by the Manatee Arts Education Council in partnership with the School District of Manatee County and the Manatee Education Foundation.

The night included a silent auction of students’ artwork.

Arts Alive featured live performances, including the Lakewood Ranch High School Indoor Percussion Ensemble and Braden River High School Musical Theatre Troupe 8474 performing songs

Jeramiah Bowman, curriculum and instruction specialist for visual and performing arts for the School District of Manatee County, hands Ron Lambert, former band director at Lakewood Ranch High School, an award.

from the musical “Chicago.”

Ron Lambert, who served as a band director in the School District of Manatee County for 17 years, was honored with the Dale Jensen Music Education Award.

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East County cancer treatment center opens New Bradenton cancer treatment center gives Lakewood Ranch area patients a short drive for care.

LIZ RAMOS STAFF WRITER

T

wenty years ago, Bradenton’s Dwight Fitch became a doctor specializing in cancer treatment after meeting a patient with testicular cancer while on a rotation during medical school.

Fitch sat and talked with the patient about what he was going through and his treatment plan.

“He looked at me genuinely and said, ‘Thank you so much. You’re the first person to tell me what’s going on,’” Fitch said. “It struck me. It was incredible that all these people had seen him, and no one took the time to actually explain it to him in a way in which he could understand.”

Fitch said one of his strengths is the ability to build a rapport with his patients because he can explain complex situations in ways in which they understand. He said his patients can sense that he cares.

Now Fitch is helping other cancer patients go through treatment at Advocate Radiation Oncology’s new treatment center in East County.

The treatment center, Advocate Radiation Oncology’s seventh location, opened to patients March 23 with Fitch as the lead physician.

“Advocate is South Florida’s only

sort of more locally owned small radiation oncology firm,” Fitch said. “While we’re small, we are not smaller in experience or breadth of knowledge. The founding partners had been practicing radiation oncology for 25 to 30 years, and they’re responsible for creating some of the largest oncology and cancer organizations the country has.”

Advocate provides treatments for breast, prostate, lung, head, neck and other types of cancers.

Having the new cancer treatment center on State Road 64 in East County means residents in Manatee and Sarasota counties won’t have to drive as far to get quality cancer treatments.

“I was driving to Tampa recently, and I looked at the different ways to get there, and all I saw were red lines and delays,” Fitch said. “A trip to Tampa from here can be easily between an hour and an hour and a half. For someone who wants to get treatment for six weeks, two-anda-half or three hours a day in the car is a lot on top of already being sick.

Having the same treatment available here with the same machines, the same training from physicians, is a benefit to all.”

Fitch said Advocate Radiation Oncology chose East County to be

Liz Ramos

Dr. Dwight Fitch uses state-of-the-art technology to treat patients with cancer.

The technology helps Fitch provide radiation in a more accurate, safer and quicker way.

able to serve the growing populations in Lakewood Ranch, Parrish and Ellenton, while also serving Bradenton and Sarasota.

The treatment center has Varian technology, including the Halcyon, Identify and TrueBream radiotherapy systems. These machines and

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Fitch said there’s a big push toward hypofractionation, in which the total

dose of radiation is divided into large doses and treatments.

“Treatments that were six to seven weeks, we can get done in a week,” Fitch said. “To do those treatments, it requires machines that can localize a tumor at that moment.”

Fitch said the technology allows oncologists to see exactly where the tumor is just before treatment, whereas in the past oncologists had to estimate the position of the tumor based on outside or surface markers.

Fitch said Advocate Radiation Oncology is different from other treatment centers because of its focus on compassion for patients.

“The way I look at it, it’s four parts compassion to one part technology,” Fitch said. “I’ve found it’s important to be the smartest guy, but when it comes down to it, when you’re sitting across from a patient, it doesn’t matter how many degrees you have or how many papers you wrote.

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Fitch said larger organizations have to go through more people to make simple decisions in making cancer treatments better.

“With a smaller organization, we’re just a little bit more nimble,” he said. “If we see something that can be done to improve patient care, we can spend more time making sure that patient has questions answered.”

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MARCH 31, 2022

— Mustang track athlete Jonathan Leatt SEE PAGE 17

HIGH

SPORTS

“Run your race, not anyone else’s. That applies to life, too.”

5 Rob Hollway said he plans on being the head coach at The Out-of-Door Academy for the long term, for he’s moving from Minnesota with his family to take the job.

1

The Out-of-Door Academy sophomore baseball player Nolan Naese hit a home run and drove in two runs March 23 in the Thunder’s 6-5 home win against Lemon Bay High.

Not taking a hike Football Coach Rob Hollway sees his arrival at The Out-ofDoor Academy as his ‘forever move.’

RYAN KOHN SPORTS EDITOR

F

2

Lakewood Ranch High sophomore boys lacrosse player Lucas Anthony had five goals and one assist March 22 in the Mustangs’ 12-4 road win against Manatee High.

3

Braden River High junior baseball pitcher Cesar Valera threw six innings, allowing one run on five hits with eight strikeouts, March 25 in the Pirates’ 2-1 home win against Bradenton Christian.

4

Katie White sank a holein-one March 27 on the No. 7 hole at Lakewood Ranch Country Club’s Kings Dunes course. White used a 7-iron on the 110-yard hole.

or the third consecutive year, The Out-of-Door Academy is hitting the reset button on its football program.

Now with Rob Hollway in charge, the school hopes it won’t have to do it again anytime soon.

Hollway, 36, has been hired as the program’s head coach. His onfield accomplishments, like leading All Saints Academy to its first state championship win in 2016 and being named the 2016 Independent Football Coach of the Year by the Florida Athletic Coaches Association, speak for themselves.

He is confident he can replicate that success at ODA. But Hollway, who is in the process of moving to the area from Minneapolis, where he spent the last three years as a school administrator, said potential is not what most attracted him to the school.

“The school has a great academic environment,” said Hollway, who was a defensive lineman at the University of Wyoming. “I like coaching intelligent kids. I do complex things with my offense and my defense. Plus, as a parent of young twin boys (Bo and

Lou), I want to coach them someday.

I was looking for my ‘forever move.’

In that respect, ODA is a goldmine.

There are so many great people on staff, and there are plenty of resources. This is a total family move, and ODA is the whole package.”

Hollway’s words should be reassuring for Thunder fans concerned with the program’s instability. After Ken Sommers stepped down in 2018 after three seasons, Chris Kempton took the reins for two years. He stepped down in 2020 to pursue opportunities at the collegiate level.

Former offensive coordinator K.B. Belton was hired but lasted only one season before taking an assistant position at Lennard High.

Then the school hired Riverview High alumnus Jon Haskins, whose experience was mostly at the college level, except for one season at Reno High in Nevada. Haskins lasted one season, going 0-5 last year, before stepping down to take an assistant coaching position at Cardinal Mooney High.

The coaching chaos is one reason incoming ODA Athletic Director Andres Parra viewed Hollway as the ideal candidate to take over the program. At ODA, Hollway will not only be the football coach but also an assistant athletic director, ensuring that he’s a permanent fixture on campus. Parra, who starts full time at the school on July 1, said Hollway’s experience as an administrator gave him confidence that Hollway knows the importance of building a program over time.

5

The Braden River High boys weightlifting team finished first in the snatch division and tied for first with Palmetto High in the traditional division (bench/clean and jerk) at the 2022 Manatee County meet. The Pirates had athletes win five weight classes between the two divisions.

QUICK IMPACT. PAGE 18

Rob Hollway, the new football coach at The Out-of-Door Academy, and his wife, Liz, are the parents of twin boys Bo and Lou.

“To me, Rob (Hollway) presents stability,” Parra said. “He’s moving here with his family. He expressed to me that he wants to work with the community — parents, students and supporters — to establish something long term. His philosophy lined up with mine in that regard. Ideally, people will start connecting the idea of ODA football with him.

“Our kids deserve the best fouryear experience they can get. I believe Rob is committed to giving them that experience.”

Hollway is aware of the disarray the ODA football program has battled in recent seasons. It’s why his message to current ODA players, shared over Zoom at Hollway’s request, was simple: “Help is on the way.”

“I plan to be there, in the hallways and in the locker room,” Hollway said. “I let the players know that this is a long-term move for me, and that I plan on my kids going there someday. The kids responded to that.

We have been communicating. I’m already getting texts and updates about how kids are doing in the weight room, which is great.”

Hollway said the continued support of ODA’s middle school football program is just as important. That’s how you organically get players at this level of high school football, Hollway said.

From his past success at small schools, Hollway said he knows how important roster size can be. He said he plans to actively recruit the hallways at ODA to get as many kids as possible. That’s how you create depth, he said.

But Hollway also said he likes not having to worry about a massive roster. When a team has 70 or more players, he said, it is harder for the head coach to get to know them all as individuals, which is one of the keys to building trust and chemistry.

Finding that balance will be a key for the Thunder as it attempts to build a program for the future.

Hollway will be in the area April 3-10 to meet with the players in person as well as conduct interviews with potential assistant coaches. The school will hold a welcome barbecue so he and his family can interact with the community. In May, Hollway will return for three weeks to coach the team’s spring football practices. It is then that Hollway will begin implementing his scheme. First, though, Hollway has to figure out what he has in terms of talent.

“I’m not an old-fashioned coach who runs the same thing every year,” he said. “I have played and coached in a bunch of different schemes.”

Courtesy photos

TIMELINE 2005-2008 Played at the University of Wyoming (defensive line) 2009 Assistant coach, East Ridge High (Woodbury, Minnesota) 2010-2012 Assistant coach, Albright College (Reading, Pennsylvania) 2012-2014 Assistant coach, University of St. Thomas (St. Paul, Minnesota) 2014-2017 Head coach/ athletic director, All Saints Academy 2017-2019 Assistant coach/ assistant athletic director, Windermere Prep 2019-2022 Athletic director, Southwest High (Minneapolis) Present Head coach/ assistant athletic director, The Out-of-Door Academy

18

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THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

PROSE AND KOHN

RYAN KOHN

Her Seminole moment I

t was a week before selection Sunday for the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament — March 13 — and instead of playing basketball, the Florida State women’s athletes were playing kickball.

It was a day designed for emotions to be released.

The Seminoles, sitting at 17-13, were on the NCAA Tournament bubble and feeling anxiety about their chances. It had been a season of transition for them. After a pandemic-affected 2020-2021 season in which the team went 10-9, the team brought in a heralded freshman class expected to shake things up. The class was led by a name familiar to sports fans in our area: Braden River High alum O’Mariah Gordon, a two-time Gatorade Florida Girls Basketball Player of the Year and one of the top incoming point guards in the nation.

Gordon, who is 5-foot-4, called the day of kickball her favorite moment of her freshman year.

It was a chance for everyone to breathe, she said, and it resulted in pure fun.

Of course, Gordon enjoyed the basketball parts of her experience, too. Gordon played in all 31 of the Seminoles’ games. She began the season coming off the bench but by the end of the year had earned 20 starts. She averaged 7.4 points per game, the second-most on the team, and led the Seminoles with 3.0 assists per game. Gordon led the team by hitting 38.1% of her 3-pointers. She was named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman Team March 1.

“She’s just savvy,” Florida State head Coach Sue Semrau said in a

Jan. 23 press conference. “For a freshman to be able to create, that’s what I love about her. She sets other people up. It’s not just about her going out and scoring.”

Semrau compared Gordon’s ability to that of former Seminoles star Courtney Ward, a two-time All-ACC player and Florida State’s all-time leader in assists (602).

That’s a good sign for Gordon’s future — and her present isn’t bad either, though the success Gordon found as a freshman did not come easily. Gordon said the beginning of the season was a struggle in terms of figuring out her timing.

“I had to learn when to pass the ball and when to shoot the ball,” Gordon said. “In high school, you don’t always run a real system.

Everyone gets their shots when they want them. Here, as a freshman, you’re stepping into an established team. You have to fit into the team’s chemistry. You have to learn your teammate’s strengths and how to use them.”

Not helping matters was Gordon’s health. Gordon said she played the entire season with a nagging heel injury. She had surgery over the summer and missed most of Florida State’s preseason, returning two days before the team’s lone exhibition game against West Florida on Nov. 3. The regular season began six days later against North Florida. The preseason surgery was not effective enough to take all of Gordon’s pain away, but she powered through it, wanting to make a strong impression in her first season.

In retrospect, Gordon said, she’s happy that she was thrown into the fires of Division I college basketball right away.

“It made me have to learn everything faster,” Gordon said. “And it showed me that the coaching staff believed in me, which felt great.”

Gordon said her comfort level grew as the season progressed, as did the trust she earned from her coaches. That’s why she earned more playing time, starts and leeway on the court. Gordon said hearing her coaches tell her, “You can run this team,” gave her a massive confidence boost. It’s no surprise that Gordon’s best play came during the ACC Tournament, particularly in the team’s 63-58 win over Boston College March 3. Gordon finished that game with nine points but was entirely in control on the court, hitting four of her five shots and dishing six assists.

Gordon said she will have more MRIs on her heel this offseason to sort out the issue and hopes to enter next season at full health.

She would love to still be playing through her injury right now. The Seminoles made the NCAA Tournament as a No. 11 seed and earned a matchup with Missouri State, losing 61-50. Gordon led Florida State with 12 points and five assists.

It was not the result she or her team wanted, but she said the experience of playing on the sport’s biggest stage was unlike any other.

“We stepped in the building (the Pete Maravich Assembly Center at Louisiana State), and I looked around and I realized, ‘Dang, so many people and so many schools wanted to be here,’” Gordon said.

“I was determined not to take the opportunity for granted. We were lucky to have it.”

Despite being happy with her first year in college ball, Gordon made it clear that she is not satisfied with her level of play. She plans to spend the offseason improving at coming off screens and said she needs to see the floor better. She said she comes off “a million screens a game” in Florida State’s offense, and for it to run as effectively as possible, she needs to always know what’s hap-

Photo courtesy FSU Athletics

Florida State freshman O’Mariah Gordon, a Braden River High alumna, was named to the All-ACC Freshman team. She averaged 7.4 points and 3.0 assists per game.

pening.

She still is the same person – always trying to improve – we watched dominate for four years at Braden River. Though she makes jaw-dropping plays every game, in her mind there’s always something she could have done differently. It’s why she’s so good.

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

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O’Mariah Gordon was named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman Team.

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

When did you start running?

I started running when I was in third grade. My dad (Mark Leatt) would run with me. That is how I would practice. I started doing it to stay in shape for soccer, which I still play.

But I like running on its own now as well.

What is the appeal to you?

I like trying to improve my time every run. Watching yourself get better is fun. I also like the team aspect of it, cheering on the other runners in their races.

What is your favorite event to run?

I love the 1,600-meter run the most. It’s a good distance, and it is probably my best run as well. The 800-meter run is too fast, and the 3,200-meter run is pretty long.

fun, as is going on runs in different places and getting to explore the area.

What are your goals for this season?

I want to improve all my times into the 30s. Like, my 1,600-meter personal record is approximately 4:45. I want to get that around 4:30 or so.

What is your favorite food?

It is probably a bacon cheeseburger.

I get mine cooked well-done.

19

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What are your hobbies?

I like to fish, and I like to play soccer.

To apply, contact us at: 941-727-1533 | Admin@chbaseball.com | www.chbaseball.com

What is the best advice you have received?

Run your race, not anyone else’s.

That applies to life, too.

Finish this sentence: Jonathan Leatt is … … Fun. I like to do as many fun things as I can.

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Jonathan Leatt is a freshman on the Lakewood Ranch High boys track and field team. Leatt finished first in the 1,600-meter run (4:52.23) and third in the 800-meter run (2:11.10) at the 2022 Palmetto Meet held March 23 at Palmetto High.

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

7th Inning Stretch....

But Still in the Game???

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Jonathan Leatt

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.

|

PLAY THE BEST!

What is your biggest strength as a runner?

I think my pacing is good. A lot of people go out real fast at the start.

I usually take over a lot of people toward the end. That pacing is something I learned from doing cross-country in the fall.

What is your favorite memory?

I enjoy going on “recovery runs” (low-intensity training runs after a hard run) with my teammates. That is always

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YOUR NEIGHBORS ROYAL AFFAIR AT THE GROVE M

yakka City’s Kendra Heath-Brost and Hannah Ketelboeter grabbed their shiniest crowns and most-royal gowns and made their way to the Grove ballroom March 26.

Before entering the restaurant’s ballroom, they passed members of the Queen’s Royal Guard, in this case Stoneybrook’s Mike Neville and Venice’s Bill Lehnert.

When they entered, they were greeted by Lakewood Ranch’s Sylvia Day, who was dressed as Queen Elizabeth II. It was truly a royal affair at Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee’s Tropical Nights – a Royal Affair.

“We loved the theme, so we wanted to go all out,” Ketelboeter said.

“We wanted to live our ‘Princess Diaries’ moment,” Heath-Brost added.

The ballroom was filled with hundreds of people dressed like British royalty.

Lakewood Ranch’s Lisa Barnott’s crown could be seen from across the room.

“I’m looking forward to raising money for a worthy cause,” Barnott said, “and dressing like the queen that I am.”

— LIZ RAMOS

Photos by Liz Ramos

Above: Myakka City’s Danny Cacchiotti is excited to meet Queen Elizabeth II, portrayed by Lakewood Ranch’s Sylvia Day. Below: Several items were part of the silent auction.

Concession’s Bob and Zita Grepling and Country Club East’s Theodora Stern look forward to a big night at Tropical Nights – A Royal Affair.

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Mote Ranch’s Robert Timm and Lakewood Ranch’s Joseph Dunn dress as royalty. “I dress like this every day,” Timm said with a smile.

Above: Maribeth Phillips, president and CEO of Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee, welcomes guests to Tropical Nights – A Royal Affair.

Right: Nokomis’ Jaime and Julie DiDomenico complete their British royalty look with sashes.

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

21

Above: Lakewood Ranch’s Debbie and Frank Puccio try the food and drinks at My Hometown Fest.

Left: Lakewood Ranch’s Brynn DeFoor, who is 10, makes her way through the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office junior obstacle course.

Manatee Technical College culinary students Erica Kennedy and Nicholas Klauber serve delights to attendees at My Hometown Fest on March 26.

Fun leads to funds

T

he first stop at My Hometown Fest for Lakewood Ranch’s Jason DeFoor and his family was the junior obstacle course.

DeFoor watched March 26 as his 10-year-old daughter, Brynn DeFoor, raced through the course swinging on a rope, did pushups and finished by high-stepping through tires. The obstacle course was offered by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office.

“I’m a little out of breath,” Brynn said.

The DeFoor family hasn’t been to the My Hometown Fest since 2019. The music event was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic and condensed to the My Hometown Jam in 2021.

“The kids all loved it,” DeFoor said of their time at Nathan Benderson Park. “The food is great; the music is great. We’re looking forward to having a good time.”

Lakewood Ranch’s Kathleen Osterberg went to My Hometown Fest to support the Sertoma Kids Speech and Language Center in Sarasota, which benefits from the festival’s proceeds.

“I’ll go to any event that gives back to the community,” Osterberg said. “I love the music, seeing the kids running around and getting to know the different restaurants in the area.”

— LIZ RAMOS

Photos by Liz Ramos

Lakewood Ranch’s Darlene Phipps leads a group through a demonstration of Florida Blue at UTC’s Zumba class.

Sarasota’s Paul Serino and Hilary Mitchell share information about the Sertoma Kids Speech and Language Center, which benefits from the proceeds of My Hometown Fest.

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

Pickleball Club members hope party has net effect

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Although the opening of owner Brian McCarthy’s Pickleball Club, at 1195 Sarasota Center Blvd., has been delayed until November, members are still getting together to talk about the booming sport.

A member appreciation party was held March 24 at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing in Lakewood Ranch and hosted by the Play for Life Foundation, formed by McCarthy and his wife, Valerie.

Many attendees live in Lakewood Ranch; the Pickleball Club is just south of Lakewood Ranch’s Waterside Place.

The Pickleball Club will feature 12 indoor courts, two outdoor courts, two drill courts, a pro shop, full locker rooms and a cafe aptly named Pickles. Along with the rest of the nation (an estimated 4.8 million players), pickleball is booming in Lakewood Ranch, which doesn’t have any indoor courts.

McCarthy is selling memberships to the club and already has 150 players committed. The party sold out at 100 guests but could have attracted more if not for COVID-19 protocols, which set a limit on attendance.

The members mingled, and McCarthy introduced his executive staff, which included him and his wife, General Manager Dominic Catalano, Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel Matthew Gordon, Director of Pickleball Erica Love, Director of Marketing and Membership Nova Grande, Club Controller Victoria Rodriguez and Food and Beverage Director Ryan Praefke.

“I love how friendly it is, how social the community is,” said Julie Stewart, a pickleball instructor who attended the party. “Anyone can do it on some level. Pickleball is the simplest way to make friends, especially for the elderly.”

McCarthy said his pickleball complex will cost about $10 million to build and will be the first of four in Florida. Other Pickleball Clubs are under development in Port St. Lucie, Fort Myers and Bonita Springs. He hopes to eventually expand the business to 15 locations in Florida.

One of the main topics during the

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Valerie McCarthy, who serves as the foundation’s executive director, said the community outreach that has begun has been promising.

She said the foundation has been inspiring people who might not be able to get to a club to play the sport.

“It’s been a great way to bring pickleball to the community,” she said.

The nonprofit has been giving groups a Club-N-Box, which contains nets, paddles, balls and instructional materials. All that is needed is a court or playing surface.

Valerie says two fire departments in Manatee County are using the equipment to provide exercise at the stations. She said local fire districts offer incentives if their employees perform 30 minutes or more of cardio exercise during a shift.

“They’re pulling the trucks out and putting the nets up in the fire stations, which is kind of fun,” Valerie said.

Foundation Secretary Christine Tollette and board member Karen Conkel also attended the event and told members about the foundation.

Valerie said she is reaching out to veterans affairs groups to find ways to get more veterans involved.

Brian said it doesn’t take much to get players interested.

“Parents can play with their kids.

Grandparents can play with their grandkids,” he said. “It’s a game that’s easy to pick up, but it takes a lot to master it.”

Brian McCarthy, founder and CEO of the Pickleball Club, and Christine Tollette, secretary of the Play for Life Foundation, attended the party at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

FRIDAY, APRIL 1

MUSIC ON MAIN Runs from 6-9 p.m. at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch. The popular band Kettle of Fish highlights the monthly free concert series and block party Music on Main. The event features food vendors, beer trucks, sponsor booths and rides and activities for kids. Proceeds from the event benefit the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance. Kettle of Fish will play rock, blues, reggae and New Orleans soul. A DJ also will spin top 100 hits.

For more information, go to MyLWR. com.

COMMUNITY

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

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YOUR CALENDAR

BEST BET

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ROWING EVENT Starts at 8 a.m. at Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota. The Florida Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships brings together the top college rowers in the state for a day of competition. Admission to the event is free for spectators. For more information, visit FIRArowing.org.

SATURDAY, APRIL 2

ROWING EVENT Starts at 8 a.m. at Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota. The Florida Scholastic Rowing Association West District Championships will feature the best youth rowers in the region.

This event is for teams in the organization’s West District and will act as a primer before the FSRA Sculling Championships on April 9-10 and the Sweeps Championships on April 23-24. The event is free for spectators. For more information, visit FloridaRowing.org.

YARD SALE Runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Summerfield, Riverwalk and Greenbrook.

The Lakewood Ranch Garden Club is sponsoring the Spring Community Wide Yard Sale event, which welcomes everyone to shop in the neighborhoods. For more information, contact Penny Kress, the Lake-

SUNDAY, APRIL 3

FARMERS MARKET Runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Lakefront Drive in Waterside Place at Lakewood Ranch. The Farmers Market at Lakewood Ranch will run yearround every Sunday. Vendors will be offering seafood, eggs, meats, dairy products, pastas, bakery goods, jams and pickles, among other items. Other features are children’s activities and live music. For more information, go to MyLWR.com.

POLO Begins at 1 p.m. at the Sarasota Polo Club, 8201 Polo Club Lane, Lakewood Ranch. The 2021-22 Sarasota Polo Club season runs every Sunday through April 24. Gates open at 10 a.m. Enjoy polo, the opening parade, halftime entertainment, divot stomping, food, drinks and more. For information and tickets (which begin at $15), go to SarasotaPolo.com.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6

RANCH NIGHT WEDNESDAYS Runs from 6-9 p.m. at 1561 Lakefront Drive, Waterside Place in Lakewood Ranch. Ranch Night Wednesdays is a free event that includes food trucks, live music, a market, an outdoor bar and a cornhole league.

It runs every week through May. For more information, go to MyLWR.com.

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

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

BIRD KEY 628 N Owl Drive 3 Beds 2 Baths 2,534 Sq. Ft. Kathy Valente & Gregory Zies, LLC 941-685-6767 A4526783 $2,595,000

SARASOTA 2677 Butterfly Jasmine Trail 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,453 Sq. Ft. Victoria Turner 662-614-2783 A4528589 $1,300,000

BRADENTON 396 Aruba Circle 302 3 Beds 3 Baths 1,664 Sq. Ft. Debbie Vogler 941-705-3328 A4525652 $1,279,000

BRADENTON 391 Aruba Circle 402 3 Beds 3 Baths 1,664 Sq. Ft. Kathy Valente 941-685-6767 A4524894 $1,200,000

BRADENTON 909 143rd Street NE 4 Beds 4/1 Baths 3,376 Sq. Ft. Stacy Haas 941-587-4359 A4527463 $1,150,000

BRADENTON 7559 Tori Way 5 Beds 3 Baths 3,739 Sq. Ft. Tina Ciaccio 941-685-8420 A4526257 $1,060,000

BRADENTON 3405 54th Drive W 104 4 Beds 3 Baths 3,046 Sq. Ft. Adam Cuffaro 941-812-0791 A4528323 $1,000,000

BRADENTON 5519 46th Court W 4 Beds 3/1 Baths 2,719 Sq. Ft. Adam Cuffaro 941-812-0791 A4524335 $925,000

PARRISH 2330 Little Country Road 3 Beds 3 Baths 3,055 Sq. Ft. Kiley Riccardi, P.A. 941-720-1147 A4528741 $890,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 5705 Cheech Glen 2 Beds 2/1 Baths 1,850 Sq. Ft. Sandi Dietrich 941-704-0697 A4526760 $874,912

BRADENTON 302 67th Avenue Drive W 3 Beds 2 Baths 2,050 Sq. Ft. Jared Ross 941-539-1705 A4526366 $775,000

SARASOTA 4817 Hawkshead Park 4 Beds 3 Baths 2,842 Sq. Ft. Nancie Kalin 941-928-8833 A4525411 $760,000

UNIVERSITY PLACE 8215 Indigo Ridge Terrace 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,073 Sq. Ft. Robert Krasow 617-840-1181 A4525087 $759,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 7604 Lake Vista Court 401 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,138 Sq. Ft. Stuart Lawrence & Laura Lawrence 941-894-4001 A4528245 $550,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 5007 28th Court E 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,678 Sq. Ft. Pamela Miller 614-632-2801 A4524632 $525,000

SARASOTA 4333 Charing Cross Road 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,336 Sq. Ft. Kelly Quigley 941-356-9954 A4528705 $525,000

ENGLEWOOD 404 Firethorn Avenue 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,702 Sq. Ft. Diana Fischer 941-685-7680 A4527419 $499,000

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BRADENTON 3730 Pinebrook Circle 503 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,142 Sq. Ft. Ralph & Megg Faillace 941-713-9142 A4527763 $269,900

MYAKKA CITY 724 Logue Road Chris Baylis 941-735-4713 A4528576 $250,000

BRADENTON 5503 Fountain Lake Circle A206 2 Beds 2 Baths 962 Sq. Ft. Adam Cuffaro 941-812-0791 A4528616 $165,000

BRADENTON 5708 Inspiration Terrace 4 Beds 5/1 Baths 6,326 Sq. Ft. Fran DeDona & Pam Goodwin 941-812-5023 A4528037 $5,500,000

TERRA CEIA 109 Michiana Drive 2 Beds 2/1 Baths 1,818 Sq. Ft. Debbie Vogler 941-705-3328 A4527498 $2,250,000

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YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

RESEARCH EDITOR

A

home in Country Club topped all transactions in this week’s real estate. Cynthia and Ted Cook, trustees, of Lakewood Ranch, sold the home at 6963 Westchester Circle to Sarah Lashley, trustee, of Lakewood Ranch, for $2,475,000.

Built in 2000, it has four bedrooms, four-anda-half baths, a pool and 5,897 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.4 million in 2004.

LAKE CLUB

ThereReleaf Labs LLC sold the home at 17120 Verona Place to G. Leslie and Carol Ann Elliott, trustees, of Bradenton, for $2.2 million.

Built in 2021, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 3,829 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,096,700 in 2021.

COUNTRY CLUB EAST

Louis Edward Collier Jr. and Shawna Lawan Collier, of Parrish, sold their home at 15402 Linn Park Terrace to Jean Pierre Sylvestre and Sultana Sylvestre, of Glen Head, New York, for $1,875,000. Built in 2012, it has five bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,849 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,184,500 in 2021.

Thomas and Holly Gwaltney, of Naples, sold their home at 14536 Whitemoss Terrace to Janeen Uzzell, of Ft. Myers, for $853,000.

Built in 2011, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,457 square feet of living area. It sold for $665,000 in 2021.

Patrice and Kimberly Femenia, of Bradenton, sold their home at 7646 Tralee Way to James and Erin Devriendt, of Bradenton, for $1,237,500. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,730 square feet of living area. It sold for $615,000 in 2018.

LAKEWOOD NATIONAL

Tyler Tobin and Dana Joanne Sanford, of Miami, sold their home at 5524 Arnie Loop to William and Helen Cundiff, of Lakewood Ranch, for $1.25 million. Built in 2017, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,375 square feet of living area.

It sold for $638,800 in 2017.

Kevin Casavoy, of Bradenton, sold his home at 5938 Cessna Run to John and Julie Buscema, of Lavallette, New Jersey, for $785,000.

Built in 2018, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,900 square feet of living area. It sold for $420,000 in 2019.

ROSEDALE ADDITION

HERITAGE HARBOUR

Robin Ray Powell and Darwin Joseph Powell, of Byron, Michigan, sold their home at 9649 Carnoustie Place to James Hendricks and Nanette Kastner, of Elgin, Illinois, for $955,000. Built in 2020, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,448 square feet of living area.

It sold for $460,300 in 2020.

COUNTRY CLUB

James and Elizabeth Boyd, of Tampa, sold their home at 6627 The Masters Ave. to Alexander and Lauren Lane, of Bradenton, for $927,000. Built in 1998, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,598 square feet of living area.

Kathleen Lyden, of Sarasota, sold her home at 7407 Lake Forest Glen to Joanna Vitarelli and Nancy Lucas Adams, of Ivoryton, Connecticut, for $799,000. Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,177 square feet of living area.

It sold for $769,000 in 2021.

Terry and Dana Townson, of Bradenton, sold their home at 506 147th Court N.E. to Elena Kutsabenkova, of Bradenton, for $880,000. Built in 2010, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,255 square feet of living area. It sold for $473,300 in 2010.

David and Victoria Gutierrez, trustees, of Bradenton, sold the home at 7612 Heritage Grand Place to John Torrence and Susan Jane

Keltner Torrence, of Bradenton, for $870,000. Built in 2011, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,543 square feet of living area. It sold for $452,000 in 2011.

Ludvik and Anita Podolinsky, of Bradenton, sold their home at 521 River Crane St. to David West and Fiona Dadswell, of Bradenton, for $799,000. Built in 2006, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,738 square feet of living area. It sold for $352,500 in 2019.

Sherri Baack sold her home at 416 River Crane St. to Beatriz Sampedro, of Bloomfield, New Jersey, for $427,000. Built in 2008, it has four SEE REAL ESTATE, PAGE 26

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Jack Elbert Daniels III and Kimila Ann Daniels sold their home at 14624 Derna Terrace to Henry and Deborah Ponoroff, of Bradenton, for $952,800. Built in 2020, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,130 square feet of living area. It sold for $609,800 in 2020.

Downtown St. Petersburg

RIVERDALE REVISED

Ian and Debra Mackinnon, of Bradenton, sold their home at 4612 Blue Marlin Drive to Jerry and Susan Maliot, of Sarasota, for $950,000. Built in 1998, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,533 square feet of living area. It sold for $408,000 in 2002.

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Roland and Barbara Carpenter and Shelley Carpenter sold their home at 203 Americas Cup Blvd. to Bryan Younts, of Bradenton, for $660,000. Built in 1995, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 2,325 square feet of living area. It sold for $298,000 in 2015.

Downtown Sarasota

The Collection | 941.232.2868 | From the $2MM’s | Call for appointment. | thecollection1335.com

SHOREVIEW

Robert Elliott, trustee, of Bradenton, sold the home at 12122 Thornhill Court to Robert Martell, of Osprey, for $525,000. Built in 2012, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,840 square feet of living area.

Jeanne Murphy, trustee, sold the home at 800 Anguilla Path to Paul Mokdessi, of Sarasota, for $950,000. Built in 2020, it has four bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,110 square feet of living area. It sold for $625,600 in 2020.

TIDEWATER PRESERVE

MILL CREEK

Frank Paul Cyril III and Sandra Cyril, of Crestview, sold their home

home at 1911 148th Court E. to Michael Webb, of Bradenton, for $885,000. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, four baths and 3,926 square feet of living area. It sold for $670,000 in 2021.

COUNTRY MEADOWS

Steven and Roxann Hunley, trustees, of Bradenton, sold the home at 10306 Marbella Drive to Jeffrey Lynch and Linda Edwards, of Medford, New Jersey, for $606,000.

Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 1,836 square feet of living area. It sold for $308,000 in 2018.

Toni and Jeffrey Cusumano, of Bradenton, sold their home at 7222 Desert Ridge Glen to Wilder Jay Shupe and Cheryl Anne Shupe, of West End, North Carolina, for $1.25 million. Built in 2004, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,320 square feet of living area. It sold for $820,000 in 2020.

Courtesy photo

This Country Club home at 6963 Westchester Circle sold for $2,475,000. It has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 5,897 square feet of living area.

Stanley Pollakoff and Janice Pollakoff, trustees, La Quinta, California, sold the home at 5914 Cessna Run to Jeffrey Artz and Diane Artz, trustees, of Lakewood Ranch, for $760,000. Built in 2017, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 1,900 square feet of living area. It sold for $387,600 in 2017.

PRESERVE AT PANTHER RIDGE

David Malcolm Moore and Suzanne Moore, of Ontario, Canada, sold their home at 12621 Deacons Place to William Crouse, trustee, of Lakewood Ranch, for $1.47 million. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, fourand-a-half baths, a pool and 3,627 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.3 million in 2014.

MARCH 14-18

RIVER CLUB SOUTH

Robert and Marlene Dorfman, of North Potomac, Maryland, sold their home at 9814 Carnoustie Place to Anthony and Joyce Dalesandro, of Naples, for $925,000.

Built in 2020, it has four bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,251 square feet of living area. It sold for $471,700 in 2020.

Melvin Emal Greer and Tony Lee Trulock, of Sarasota, sold their home at 22805 Night Heron Way to Edward Syring, of Venice, for $1,625,000. Built in 2007, it has five bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 4,150 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,229,000 in 2021.

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

at 1009 Lanyard Court to Lauren Palermo, of Newburyport, Massachusetts, for $1,299,000. Built in 2014, it has three bedrooms, threeand-a-half baths, a pool and 2,846 square feet of living area. It sold for $665,000 in 2019.

Andrew and Vicki Johnson, of Spring Hill, Tennessee, sold their

Sales galleries open and available for virtual or in-person presentations.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

REAL ESTATE

Country Club home tops sales at $2,475,000

|

MichaelSaunders.com/New-Homes | 844.591.4333 | Sarasota, Florida Prices as of February 2022.

Licensed Real Estate Broker

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THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

Real estate Orthopedics Orthopedics Orthopedics Orthopedics Orthopedics

WELCOMES WELCOMES WELCOMES Orthopedics WELCOMES WELCOMES John Thomas, MD John John Thomas, Thomas, MD MD WELCOMES Orthopedic Surgery John Thomas, MD Orthopedic Orthopedic Surgery Surgery John Thomas, MD Orthopedic Surgery Orthopedic Surgery

John Thomas, MD

Dr. John Thomas brings to Intercoastal Medical Group at the Orthopedic Surgery Dr. John Dr. John Thomas Thomas brings brings totoIntercoastal to Intercoastal Medical Medical Group Group the at the Lakewood Ranch I& Beneva Professional Center offices aatwealth of Dr. John Thomas brings Intercoastal Medical Group at the knowledge and experience in Orthopedics.

Lakewood Lakewood Ranch Ranch I & Beneva I & Beneva Professional Professional Center Center offices offices a wealth a wealth Dr. John Thomas brings to Intercoastal Medical the ofof of Lakewood Ranch I & Beneva Professional CenterGroup offices aatwealth

bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,338 square feet of living area. It sold for $450,000 in 2008.

BRADEN WOODS

John Moran, trustee, sold the home at 6713 93rd St. E. to Gerald and Lisa Talcott, of Bradenton, for $850,000. Built in 1989, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,972 square feet of living area. It sold for $475,000 in 2005.

Opendoor Property Trust sold the home at 9522 59th Ave. E. to Richard Rojas and Amanda Lynn Rojas, of Bradenton, for $505,000. Built in 1988, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,609 square feet of living area. It sold for $450,700 in 2021.

MILL CREEK ROAD

knowledge knowledge andand and experience inin Orthopedics. in Orthopedics.

University of Florida, Gainesville, Lakewood Ranch Iexperience &experience Beneva Professional CenterFLoffices a wealth of Undergraduate: knowledge Orthopedics.

Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL Medicaland School: knowledge experience in Orthopedics.

University University ofof Florida, of Florida, Gainesville, Gainesville, FL Undergraduate: Undergraduate: University Florida, Gainesville, FL FL Undergraduate:

Orthopaedic Surgery Residency, Orlando Health, Residency: Dr. John Thomas brings to Intercoastal Medical Group at theTallahassee, Florida Florida State University University College College of of Medicine, Tallahassee, University of State Florida, Gainesville, FLMedicine, Undergraduate: Medical Medical School: School: Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FLFL FL Medical School: Orlando, FL Lakewood Ranch I & Beneva Professional Center offices a wealth of Orthopaedic Orthopaedic Surgery Surgery Residency, Residency, Orlando Orlando Health, Health, Florida State University College ofOrlando Medicine, Tallahassee, FL Residency: Residency: Orthopaedic Surgery Residency, Health, Medical School: Residency: Adult Reconstructive and Hip Preservation Fellowship, Fellowship: knowledge and experience inFL Orthopedics.

Orlando, Orlando, FL FL Orthopaedic Surgery Residency, Orlando Health, Orlando, Residency: Orthopedic Centeres of Colorado, Denver, CO Adult Adult Reconstructive Reconstructive and and Preservation Hip Fellowship, Fellowship, University of Florida, Gainesville, FLPreservation Undergraduate: Fellowship: Fellowship: Adult Reconstructive andHip Hip Preservation Fellowship, FL Fellowship: Board Eligible, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery Certifications: Orlando, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, Orthopedic Orthopedic Centeres Centeres of Colorado, of Colorado, Denver, Denver, CO CO Medical School: Adult Orthopedic Centeres of Colorado, Denver, Reconstructive and Hip Preservation Fellowship, FL Fellowship: Lakewood Ranch Medical Center; DoctorsCO Hospital; Hospitals: Orthopaedic Surgery Residency, Orlando Health, Residency: Board Board Eligible, Eligible, American American Board Board of Orthopaedic of Orthopaedic Surgery Surgery Certifications: Certifications: Orthopedic Board Eligible, American Board of Orthopaedic Certifications: Centeres ofHospital Colorado, Denver, CO Surgery Sarasota Memorial Orlando, FL Lakewood Lakewood Ranch Ranch Medical Medical Center; Center; Doctors Doctors Hospital; Hospital; Lakewood Ranch Medical Center; Doctors Hospital; Hospitals: Hospitals: Hospitals: Board Eligible, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery Certifications: Adult Reconstructive and Hip Preservation Fellowship, Fellowship: Sarasota Memorial Hospital Sarasota Sarasota Memorial Memorial Hospital Hospital NOW ACCEPTING NEW Lakewood Ranch Medical Center;PATIENTS! Doctors Hospital; Hospitals: Orthopedic Centeres of Colorado, Denver, CO Sarasota Memorial Hospital ANAmerican APPOINTMENT, PLEASE CALL Board Eligible, Board of Orthopaedic Surgery Certifications: TO SCHEDULE Hospitals:

FROM PAGE 25

NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS! NOW NOW ACCEPTING ACCEPTING NEW NEW PATIENTS! PATIENTS! Lakewood Ranch Medical Center; Doctors Hospital; 941-362-8662 NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS! TO ANAPPOINTMENT, APPOINTMENT, PLEASE CALL TO SCHEDULE TOSCHEDULE SCHEDULE AN AN APPOINTMENT, PLEASE PLEASE CALL CALL Sarasota Memorial Hospital Lakewood Ranch I Office

TO11505 SCHEDULE AN Parkway, APPOINTMENT, PLEASE Rangeland Bradenton, Florida CALL 34211

941-362-8662 941-362-8662 941-362-8662 NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS! Lakewood Ranch Office Lakewood Lakewood Ranch Ranch IIOffice I Office 941-362-8662 TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT, PLEASE CALL 941-362-8662 11505 Rangeland Parkway, Bradenton, Florida 34211 11505 11505 Rangeland Rangeland Parkway, Parkway, Bradenton, Bradenton, Florida Florida 34211 34211

Brent and Kelly Cohenour, of Bradenton, sold their home at 1096 Mill Creek Road to Scott DiMare, trustee, of Bradenton, for $800,000. Built in 1977, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,028 square feet of living area. It sold for $275,000 in 2014.

BRADEN RIVER RANCHETTES

Jose and Erika Mendez sold their home at 7210 28th Ave. E. to Juan Cerrillo-Cabrera and Rosalia Holmlund, of Lakewood Ranch, for $770,000. Built in 1971, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,700 square feet of living area. It sold for $365,000 in 2018.

RIVERWALK RIDGE CYPRESS BANKS

Lakewood Ranch I Office Beneva Professional Center 11505 Parkway, Florida 941-362-8662 943Rangeland S. Beneva Road, Suite Bradenton, 106, Sarasota, Florida34211 34232

941-362-8662 941-362-8662 941-362-8662 Lakewood Ranch I Office Beneva Professional Center www.intercoastalmedical.com 11505 Rangeland Parkway, Bradenton, Florida 34211 Beneva Beneva Professional Professional Center Center 941-362-8662 Medicare and most insurances accepted 943 S. Beneva Road, Suite 106, Sarasota, Florida 34232 943 943 S. Beneva S. Beneva Road, Road, Suite Suite 106, 106, Sarasota, Sarasota, Florida 34232 34232 Beneva Professional CenterFlorida 941-362-8662 S. Beneva Road, Suite 106, Sarasota, Florida 34232 www.intercoastalmedical.com l National Expertise l Multiple Locations A Patient 943 Focused, Multi-Specialty Group www.intercoastalmedical.com www.intercoastalmedical.com Beneva Professional Center Medicare and most insurances accepted Medicare Medicare andSuite most and most insurances insurances accepted accepted 943 S. Beneva Road, 106, Sarasota, www.intercoastalmedical.com Florida 34232 377353-1

Medicare and most insurances accepted A Patient Focused, Multi-Specialty Groupll National Expertise llMultiple Locations www.intercoastalmedical.com l National l Multiple A Patient A Patient Focused, Focused, Multi-Specialty Multi-Specialty Group Group National Expertise Expertise Multiple Locations Locations Medicare and most insurances accepted A Patient Focused, Multi-Specialty Group l National Expertise l Multiple Locations A Patient Focused, Multi-Specialty Group l National Expertise l Multiple Locations

Allan and Gail Shaivitz, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 7010 Honeysuckle Trail to Jaber Gubrium and Suzanne Gubrium, trustees, of Lakewood Ranch, for $768,000. Built in 2001, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,787 square feet of living area.

SONOMA

Justin Christopher Proctor and Rita Proctor, of Sarasota, sold their home at 8111 Santa Rosa Court to Ilija Popadic and Irena Ranogajec

Popadikj, of Sarasota, for $755,000.

Built in 2007, it has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,661 square feet of living area. It sold for $519,700 in 2020.

TARA

Kenneth and Marilyn Kirchoff, trustees, of Sebring, sold the home at 6206 Cormorant Court to Trent and Kathy Peugh, of Bradenton, for $715,000. Built in 2003, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,193 square feet of living area. It sold for $312,100 in 2013.

Zillow Homes Property Trust sold the home at 6385 Rookery Circle to Mary and Anthony Hicks, of Middlebury, Indiana, for $483,200.

Built in 2005, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,803 square feet of living area. It sold for $466,700 in 2021.

SAVANNA

Molly Jenkins, of Lakewood Ranch, sold her home at 13753 American Prairie Place to Angela and Russell Eggert, of Wilmington, Delaware, for $699,000. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,111 square feet of living area. It sold for $362,500 in 2020.

MIRAMAR LINKS

Heather Amanda Dunn, of Bradenton, sold her Unit 39 condominium at 8276 Miramar Way to Joseph and Pamela Pritchard, of Lakewood Ranch, for $681,000. Built in 2008, it has four bedrooms, three-and-ahalf baths and 2,733 square feet of living area. It sold for $290,000 in 2019.

RIVA TRACE

Zillow Homes Property Trust sold the home at 8052 Rio Bell Place to Ronald and Shelly Fuller, of Bradenton, for $676,000. Built in 2015, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,360 square feet of living area. It sold for $614,300 in January.

ONLINE See more transactions at YourObserver.com

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WEATHER

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THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

FORECAST THURSDAY, MARCH 31

Submit your photos at YourObserver. com/Weather.

All submissions will be entered for the 2022-23 Weather and Nature photo contest. In February 2023, you will vote for your favorite photo, and the submission with the most votes will win a $500 gift card.

High: 87 Low: 71 Chance of rain: 7%

FRIDAY, APRIL 1 High: 82 Low: 69 Chance of rain: 58%

SUNRISE / SUNSET Sunrise Sunset Thursday, March 31

7:21a

7:47p

Friday, April 1

7:20a

7:47p

Saturday, April 2

7:19a

7:48p

Sunday, April 3

7:18a

7:48p

Monday, April 4

7:17a

7:49p

Tuesday, April 5

7:15a

7:49p

Wednesday, April 6

7:14a

7:50p

MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, APRIL 2 High: 86 Low: 70 Chance of rain: 40%

SUNDAY, APRIL 3 High: 83 Low: 65 Chance of rain: 53%

April 30 New

May 8 First

May 15 Full

May 22 Last

RAINFALL Monday, March 21

0

Tuesday, March 22

0

Wednesday, March 23

0

Thursday, March 24

0.04

Friday, March 25

0

Saturday, March 26

0

Sunday, March 27

0

*Rainfall totals from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport

Jeannie Harvey captured this squirrel having a snack in Heritage Harbour Park.

YEAR TO DATE: 2022 3.66 in.

2021 4.37 in.

MONTH TO DATE: 2022 2.51 in.

2021 1.48 in.

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A REFLECTION OF NATURE’S BEAUTY

celebrity cipher

©2022 Universal Uclick

ACROSS

tropical forest? (... letter 2) 33 Reindeer’s feet 1 Short putt 37 Pans’ partners 6 Apple assistant 10 Something to scratch 38 “Affirmative” 14 Fluffy footwear brand 39 Pirate’s booty, after be17 Omit in pronunciation ing set on fire? (... letter 4) 43 Hedren of “The Birds” 18 Gin’s go-with 47 Valuable holdings 19 Hot rod’s sound 48 Possess 21 Shade 49 Reclined 22 Trade of swindling 51 Candies on a rope, secrets? (In this clue’s sometimes answer, note letter 1) 24 Venue for a hand drum 53 That and that 54 Casual hairstyles? concert? (... letter 2) 55 Type of bike for two 26 Intellectual thrills 57 Iranian currency 27 Mass email intro 58 Totally stink 29 Pole ___ (Olympic 60 Nickname that drops event) “hew” 30 Triage ctrs.

61 Greets someone from 31 Ringing things in a

afar 63 Bill dispenser that’s out of order? (... letter 6) 67 Rounded roofs 68 Like some home cooking? (... letter 7) 69 Wide area 70 “Indeed” 71 Hideout 72 Perfume vessel 73 Maker of motorcycles and keyboards 75 Respectful address 76 Was at the wheel 81 What makes you a sucker?

83 Not any 84 It really gives a hoot 85 Alligator’s cousin 86 Uses a swizzle stick

88 One who makes your bed on a ship? (... letter 2) 91 Quaker morsel 93 ___ Day (Wednesday) 94 Tweaks 95 Spots to store hiking shoes? (... letter 6) 100 Jigsaw solver’s concern 101 Section of a song 102 Wilson of “The Office” 103 Pastrami and others 109 Hallmark employee’s first product? (... letter 4) 111 Chopper used to take pictures? (... letter 9, and note what all the specified letters spell) 113 Name within “Shania” 114 Partner of “aahed”

“U’B GMP FWINWDP, XEP VKM LIW VW HUOOUGC? GWUPKWI LIW AME. LGO AME VLGGL HGMV VKLP? U OUC UP!”

–

SUGDW SLECKG “VX MPWX FE ARX XCZX. DPVPU VPMM NMVNJU UNKYPBPKX SFEXJ NEC UXKTYPAJ BFY NCWXEATYX NEC KRNMMXEZX.”

– MTKJ MNVMXUU

“B GSLN SX STZBCN NOOIDZ ZI DNGSBX S AIWBZBCN DIMN GIENM ZI LBEW ... ZI WUIV ZUNG ZUNDN’W SXIZUND VSK.” – GT USGGND Puzzle Three Clue: C equals V

45 Solid that makes a rainbow 46 State known for potatoes 50 Game show vehicle, maybe 52 Thin 54 Humiliate 55 “Beautiful Surprise” DOWN singer 1 C.S. major’s future field 56 When repeated, a fish 2 Lotion ingredient used in tacos 3 ___ colada 59 Artisan’s website 4 Asked for one’s license, 60 Brooding parent say 62 Lush with greenery 5 “I can help another 63 Software engineers, customer!” briefly 6 Telenovelas, e.g.

64 Leaves 7 Roadside lodgings 65 In pieces 8 Manipulate, as a game 66 ___ Lama 9 Arctic fishing shelters 67 Hollywood’s Keaton 10 Drip source in a 71 Cheerful tune hospital 74 Mass of people 11 Online menace 75 Trade 12 2021 NBA All-Star Mike 77 Fair attraction 13 Take all of 78 Representative Ilhan 14 Rental truck brand 79 Brand of skater shoes 15 Some seabirds 80 Sinus doc 16 Hanukkah treat 82 Had as a pen pal 18 ___ trap (alluring Insta- 84 Units of resistance gram post) 85 Laker’s Boston rival 20 Unpacks and gets 87 Spanish seasoning settled 89 Enter the big leagues 23 Doctrines 90 Clothing worker 25 “2001: A Space Odys- 92 Scrolls in arks sey” computer 95 Designer Geoffrey 28 Keeps cool or warm 96 Go in circles?

31 ___ of Arc 97 Sch. west of Tulsa 32 Wager 98 Isn’t indifferent 33 “Quiet!”

99 Youngster 34 Guess hedge 100 Honors lavishly 35 Bits of dough?

101 Feb. 14 36 Seasoned pro 103 “Mourning” bird 37 Church seats 104 Jell-O ___ (shaped 39 Softball club food) 40 Castle for castling 105 Fencing sword 41 Long one-star reviews 106 Heaps and heaps 42 “___ Mubarak” 107 Outdoor reception 44 Oscar nominee Rosie shelter whose surname has the 108 Indian titles same consonants as 110 103-Down’s cry “prize” 112 Concealed

115 Colorado or Congo 116 Tea of “Madame Secretary” 117 “Then again ...”

118 ___ buco 119 Some Sharon Olds poems 120 Car or can problems

By Luis Campos Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present.

Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

Puzzle Two Clue: D equals K

NOT I by Matthew Stock and Emet Ozar. Edited by David Steinberg

Puzzle One Clue: N equals F

crossword

© 2022 NEA, Inc.

sudoku Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.

©2022 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

3-31-22

Made for where you live. Here!

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

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Homes for Sale

It’s time for the Spring LWR Community Yard Sale!

The Lakewood Ranch (LWR) Garden Club is sponsoring the LWR Community Yard Sale for subdivisions of Greenbrook, Riverwalk, and Summerfield is April 2, 2022 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Rain Date: Sunday April 3, 2022 It’sThose timeresidents for the Spring wanting to haveLWR a yard sale should take your $5.00 Community Yard Sale! registration fee to LWR Town hall to obtain a yard sale permit by March 30th at 4 p.m.

The Lakewood Ranch Please wear your mask. (LWR)

SAFRAN POWER USA Sarasota, Florida is seeking skilled individuals to work with our team Buy or Sell with as an MRO Technician performing Brooke O’Malley various MRO related activities on as your Realtor, and Ram Air Turbines (RATs), Air CLUB REALTY Driven Generators (ADGs), will Pay your title insurance.

Generators and both Electrical Call 941-726-2677.

Boxes and Components. A&P's, SAFRAN POWER USA Sarasota, Maintenance Person, ASE's and Mechanically Inclined individuals Florida is seeking skilled welcomed!

home services

individuals to work with our team SELL IT NOW! In addition, to our MRO as an MRO Technician performing Garden Club is sponsoring the 941-955-4888 technicians, we are seeking FOR MORE INFORMATION various MRO related activities on YourObserver.com/RedPages individuals for our Supply Chain LWR Community Sale for CONTACT PENNYard Y KRESS Ram Turbines teamAir including an NPI(RATs), buyer andAir (443) 7of 16-8 189 Greenbrook, Items Under $200subdivisions Autos Wanted Commodity Manager (Twinsburg, Driven Generators (ADGs), OH). These individuals are in Riverwalk, and Summerfield is 21 Cu. Ft Freezer. Bought in 2001Generators both Electrical charge of theand overall management Merchandise 32 degrees. Key $200+ April 2, 2022 the electronic commodity.A&P's, CASH FOR YOUR CAR Boxesofand Components.

(941) 879-7884 We come to you!

8 aWanted .m. - 2 p.m.

Maintenance Person, ASE's and We offer highly competitive Ho Ho Buys cars.

ALMOND, MICROFIBER sofa.

SENIOR LOOKING to 3, 2022 Rain Date: Sunday April compensation packages, sign-on Mechanically Inclined individuals 941-270-4400.

3-seater, outside seats motion purchase precious metals, and retention bonuses recline, heat, massage and welcomed! and Those residents wanting to have a diamonds, time pieces, coins, relocation. Our culture is one of jewelry,should antique and estate jewel- $5.00 accomplishment, family, yard sale take your ry, and collectors plates. Personal empowerment, transparency and In addition, to our MRO fee toPlease LWR and confidential. call Town Marc: hall ANTIQUE ARMOIRE registration passion to succeed.

SELL YOUR technicians, we are seeking Cherry wood, late 1800’s, veryto obtain a941-321-0707. yard sale permit by good condition. 9ft H x 53” W, 3 If you are interested you know individuals for our or Supply Chain STUFF FAST!team March 30th at 4 p.m. shelves and 1 drawer. $199 anyone interested, please apply Pets including an NPI buyer and 941-201-5001 on our company website Please wear your mask.

Commodity Manager (Twinsburg, www.safran-group.com/jobs.

As low as $17.50 per week!

(443) 716-8189

941-955-4888

Firewood Fill your pickup for $125 OBO. Call and leave a message. $125 (941) 776-1166 GAS POWERED Craftsman blower/vac. 200mph/430 CFM. Very good condition, $60.00.

Call 941-907-4148 GOLF CLUB by Adams. Used, left hand, plus golf bag $150.

347-564-9897 KING BEDROOM set. Lexington

by Tommy Bahama. Distressed, cocoa brown. Triple dresser, night stand, head and foot board. $199 OBO. 941-201-5001 NEW PAMPERED Chef stoneware cookie sheet $50, folding beach wagon $70, wooden tray tables (4) $65.

941-359-8460 NEW WALKER, 4 large 8” wheels, seat, storage and back rest. $60 941-243-0761 NYLON RUG. 8x10, floral, slate blue, teal and orange. $125 OBO. 941-201-5001

FIND BUYERS & SELLERS HERE!

941-955-4888 YourObserver.com/RedPages

Sporting Goods

SOFA BED – Queen size, very comfortable mattress, great condition, only $159.

Call 516-528-5876 ZLINE RANGE Hood Duct Extension for 9ft. to 10ft. Ceilings Dimensions 14.6”x13.4”x38.2” New $ 75.00. LWR. Robert 941-536-5075

Garage/ Moving/ Estate Sales COUNTRY MEADOWS YARD SALE Saturday April 02, 8:00 AM-1:00 PM Community wide; Upper Manatee River Rd East County GARAGE SALE Saturday April 2, 9:00 AM-2:00 PM. 9822 Portside Terrace, Bradenton. Recliners, Heywood Wakefield table, curio cab, kneewalker, rug, golf, glassware, silverware, Christmas, puzzles, dolls & more.

Beach’ N Rides Electric Bike Shop eBike Sales and Rentals Ride easy on an eBike with as much exercise or assistance as you want. Leave traffic and parking problems behind!

13 models available.

Daily and weekly rentals available We also repair other Brands Open 10 to 5 daily except Sundays and holidays 12208 Cortez Road, Cortez, FL

941-251-7916, Ext 1

OH). These individuals are in NOTE: These positions require charge of thetooverall management access technologies and hardware subject tocommodity.

US national of the electronic

GARAGE We offer highly competitive SALE compensation packages, sign-on security based export control requirements. All applicants must be US Persons (8 USC 1324b(a)(3)), or otherwise authorized by the U.S. Government. No company andsponsorship retentionwill bonuses be offered.and

Advertise as low asrelocation. Our culture is one of accomplishment, family, $17.50 per week! empowerment, transparency and

SELL CALL YOUR 941-955-4888If you are interested or you know anyone STUFF interested, please apply on our company website www.safran-group.com/jobs.

HERE! passion to succeed.

Adult Care Services

PERSONAL CARE GIVER- Private care: Meal preparation, errands, shopping, and more.

YourObserver.com/RedPages Affordable hourly rates, available weekdays, weekends, and holidays.

STORAGE FACILITY Boat/ RV/ Trailer. Secure facility, low monthlyNOTE: These positions require Minimal shift 5 hours can also provide overnight care. rentals, Clark Rd area.

941access to technologies and Temporary or long term care.

809-3660, 941-809-3662. hardware subject to US national Over 10+ years experience.

WE BUY cars.

References available. No new top $$ paid for your vehicles. security based export control re-faces, one consistent caregiver.

YourObserver.com/RedPages Call Hawley Motors: quirements.

COVID Negative.

All applicants must be 941-923-3421.

Call Kati: 941-536-7706.

941-955-4888

You’re only cheating yourself.

GARAGE SALE

PROFESSIONAL CAT SITTING Certified Veterinary Technician serving the Lakewood R MO REcats INFofOR MATION FORanch, 25+ Years experience.

CO NTACT PENNY KRESS catladypetsitting@yahoo.com.

856-981-2047.

peekers’ place

COUNTERTOP MICROWAVE oven. Excellent condition. $55.

941-400-4808

US Persons (8 USC 1324b(a)(3)), or otherwise authorized by the U.S. Government.

No company This week’s Crossword answers sponsorship will be offered.

* Assistance with Daily Living Activities * Hourly 24/7 Care -Affordable Rates * Licensed/ Bonded/ Insured

Phone (941) 809-1438 HHA# 299994819

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

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

Cleaning

LONGBOAT KEY Incredible views Private boat dock Owner/agent $650,000

cupholders. $199 OBO. 941-201-5001

*Caregivers/Companions *Personal Care * CNA’s/HHA’s

BRAZILIAN CLEANING Service

by Maria. Residential. Meticulous Cleaning. Excellent References.

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

CLAUDIA C. Cleaning Services.

Experienced, dependable, and ready to begin!

Residential.

Excellent references.

941-773-6895.

RED PAGES AD RATES First 15 words .................. $ 17.50 per week Each Add’l word ....... 50¢

15% DISCOUNT FOR 4-WEEK RUN PLACE YOUR AD: Call: 941-955-4888 Email: RedPages@ YourObserver.com

Home Services TILE, STONE, and vinyl plank installers. We do showers, backsplashes, floors, and more.

(941) 780-5669 Www.siestaflooring.com

Painting 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.

Professional Services ANGELO'S LAWN Care. Mow, edge, string trim & blow. From $20/cut. Licensed & Insured.

941-217-9000

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers Puzzle One Solution: “I’m not perfect, but who are we kidding?

Neither are you. And you wanna know what? I dig it!”

Vince Vaughn Puzzle Two Solution: “We live on the edge. Kiwis will always sacrifice money and security for adventure and challenge.”

Lucy Lawless Puzzle Three Solution: “I make an active effort to remain a positive role model to kids ... to show them there’s another way.”

MC Hammer

This week’s Sudoku answers

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Visit RED PAGES at YourObserver.com/RedPages

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auto

stuff

Help Wanted

Perfect Solutions For Seniors

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

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Auto Service

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Doors

SELL YOUR CAR!

Sliding Glass Door Repair

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www.SarasotaDiscCenter.com DrCifra@SarasotaDiscCenter.com

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Home Services 377632

WE COME TO YOU

Furniture Repair

Beauty

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?

Patio Furniture Repairs.com

SERVING YOU IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOME

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Residential

941-504-0903

FREE PICKUP / DELIVERY • FREE ONSITE QUOTES

AMANDA 30+ YEARS EXPERIENCE No Money Down Reliable On Time Every Time

378892

Owner Ron Willard . 941-277-3818 . archservllc@gmail.com

Servicing LWR, Parrish and NE Bradenton Kitchen/Bath Remodeling

378943 375249

30+years ✔ ConcreteExperience repair, tear-outs ✔ Pressure cleaning, mobile homes, cleaning Concrete Repairs, Sidewalks, Patios and gutters Driveways ✔ Sidewalks, patios, and driveways ✔ All forms of yard maintePressure Cleaning • Painting Interior/Exterior nance and Tree work ✔ Painting interior, exterior Yard Maintenance and Tree Work Insured/Free Estimates ✔ Insured/Free Estimates

Custom Granite Services, llc

GROW

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

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235

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Doors

LIFETIME GUARANTEE • LICENSED • BONDED • INSURED COVERAGE AREA: LAKEWOOD RANCH TO S. VENICE

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378895

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DRGRABBARS.COM

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

377670

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Pegatronics.com 377191

941-400-4912

CustomGraniteServicesLLC@gmail.com

377673

Advertise as low as $85 per week.

Computer

377671

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

SERVICES, LLC

Cleaning

Commercial

ED’S RAIN MAKER IRRIGATION

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378032

378030

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

378329

|

378037

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

377674 364556

30

Call John 941.377.2940

Free Estimates • Sarasota Resident Since 1974

www.showerandbathsarasota.com

CREATE BUZZ!

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YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

Landscaping & Lawn

Power Washing Pressure Washing

GARDENS BY ALLISON

|

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

Roofing Pressure Washing

Kenneth Fuhlman Inc.

No Job is too Small!

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Deck/Paver Sealing• •Decks Gutter• Driveways Cleaning ••Roofs • Pool Cages AndSealing Much•More!

• Deck/Paver And Much More

Allison J. Abizaid, M.A.

AFTER

Serving Sarasota/Manatee Area Since 2004

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BEFORE

941.400.0431

378897

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941-626-3194

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| scaperotta@aol.com

Italian American Owned

Painting

378327

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377675

31

Screening

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UNIQUE PAINTING & PRESSURE WASHING SERVICES Complete Interior & Exterior Painting

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

378818

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Eldridge Re-Screen

PRESSURE WASHING

House Washing, Roofs, Screen Cages, Pavers, Driveways and Walkways.

941-CLEAN IT 2 5 3 - 2 6 4 8 FREE INSTANT ESTIMATES when you Call RICK for SCHEDULING

$100 COUPON

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941-270-1561 941-345-5264

STANDARD WINDOWS

5

$

Roofing

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941 - 748 - 7400

found here.

senior citizen discount.

Purified water window cleaning available!!

Specializing in Reroofs and Repairs FREE Estimates • 30 Years Experience

www.bissonroofing.com

TREASURES

140

$

SPECIAL 00

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Owner Supervises Every Job

ows

INCLUDING SCREENS, TRACKS, MIRRORS & FANS

specialty screens / screw replacement / paint

RC0067420 • Lic. & Ins.

25

UP TO

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

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Insured

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SOFT WASH

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378025

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& Pressure C Window lean t e s ing as Sunrise Wi n w o n k Sun y l nd er

377662

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CALL 941-955-4888

377664

“No Job Too Small”

Licensed

Power Washing

Windows

377676

377661

378324

378038

Personal Services

32

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

Just Announced

2022

NO. 16 ranked the

TOP RE AL ESTATE BROKER AGE IN THE U.S. by 2021 sales volume

ENGLEWOOD 7108 Trout Lane Amee Sams & Beth Sargent

SARASOTA 3736 Meridale Road Joel Schemmel

15705 Castle Park Terrace Donna Soda & Joel Schemmel

$1,595,000 941.961.5857

123 Confidential Street Thomas Netzel & Sandy Gillette

$995,000 941.524.8299

6308 Tanager Cove Donna Soda & Joel Schemmel

$699,000 941.724.1854

UNIVERSITY PARK $1,995,000 941.356.8428

8350 Carolina Street Peter Laughlin

$1,600,000 941.356.8428

$1,250,000 941.539.0633

GREENBROOK VILLAGE

THE COUNTRY CLUB OF SARASOTA 3769 Torrey Pines Boulevard Carmen Baskind & Marty Warren

1801 North Lake Shore Drive Peter Laughlin

$2,375,000 941.962.5867

SARASOTA

RIVER CLUB SOUTH 9992 Cherry Hills Avenue Circle Charles Totonis

5308 Hunt Club Way Vittoria Rutigliano

WEST OF TRAIL $12,000,000 941.587.4894

COUNTRY CLUB EAST

SILVER OAK $5,499,999 941.447.1466

COUNTRY CLUB EAST

$985,000 941.961.5857

SUMMERFIELD VILLAGE 11824 Winding Woods Way Robyn Sadlo

14619 Leopard Creek Place Laura Stavola

$1,595,000 941.447.4875

LAKEWOOD NATIONAL GOLF CLUB

$579,000 941.812.4219

5634 Palmer Circle #201 Leslie Dufresne

$519,000 941.374.5010

View a rea list ings

7 RESIDENCES

Located in Sarasota’s lively Rosemary District, Collage on Fifth encompasses seven luxury condominiums. Priced from $1,350,000, these unique residences offer a contemporary oasis just moments from the city’s cultural center.

1469 5th Street, Sarasota, FL 34236 | 941.920.1500 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.

WORTH MORE

SARASOTA - DOWNTOWN | 941.364.4000

VENICE | 941.412.3323

LAKEWOOD RANCH | 941.907.9541

Contact us for a confidential consultation PremierSothebysRealty.com LONGBOAT KEY | 941.383.2500

RENTALS | 941.203.3433

370662-1

your home has never been