East County Observer 4.29.21

E A ST COUNTY

Observer Lakewood Ranch’s weekly newspaper since 1998

New commission candidate. PAGE 6A

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FREE THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

VOLUME 23, NO. 24

YOUR TOWN

Key road projects accelerated Commissioners prioritize three East County road projects previously not on 5-year plan. PAGE 3A

Liz Ramos

Tara crowns first bocce champs After four months of competition, Tara’s Joyce Chaffee (above) and her teammates took home the cup for Tara Golf and Country Club’s first bocce tournament on the club’s new bocce court.

Chaffee, along with her husband, Jim, and Tara’s Clifford and Diana Hodapp and Jack and Ginger Leahy, beat 19 other teams to claim victory.

“We were walking up to the bocce courts going, ‘Who knew?’” said Chaffee, who was the team’s captain. “We just came down to have fun.

We didn’t think we would win.”

HIS MAIN SQUEEZE University Park accordionist lifts spirits with his sweet sounds. SEE PAGE 8A Jay Heater

Arun Bhagwat, 82, performs at outdoor gigs, club events and assisted living facilities to give back to the community.

Students will log more time in classroom

Liz Ramos

New executives add more recess Elliot Kennedy, a third grader at Robert E. Willis Elementary, put on a suit for his big day at school April 23.

Kennedy took over as principal for the day with Bristol Scott (above with Kennedy), a first grader at the school, by his side as assistant principal.

“It feels good [to be principal] because you get to move around the school, and you get to help kids who need help,” Kennedy said.

With their new power, Kennedy and Scott gave their classes 10 minutes of extra time at recess.

Courtesy photo

Logan Copeland, a Braden River Elementary School first grader, works on an assignment during class. Next year, Copeland will be in the classroom for 744 additional minutes as a result of the calendar changes.

School District of Manatee County makes changes to 2021-22 academic calendar in response to the pandemic.

SEE PAGE 5A

A+E Film festival ready to roll.

SEE PAGE 12A

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

New battalion chiefs promoted East Manatee becomes the first fire district in the county to split into two battalions.

BRENDAN LAVELL STAFF WRITER

More than a quarter-century of memories flashed before their eyes April 19 as Rick Wren “pinned” his son, Paul, the new East Manatee Fire Rescue District battalion chief.

Rick Wren joined East Manatee Fire Rescue as a volunteer firefighter in 1995 when it still was called the Braden River Fire Control and Rescue District.

The younger Wren grew up near Braden River High School and watched as the area grew. The fire district grew, as well — and changed names for good measure.

In 2007, Paul Wren followed in his father’s footsteps and became a volunteer firefighter with East Manatee. He overlapped with his father for four years, before the elder Wren retired as a lieutenant in 2011.

At a ceremony at the district’s new Station 8, Paul Wren was promoted to battalion chief, one of six within the district. His dad was there alongside Wren’s wife, Dreama, to “pin” the new battalion chief, a ceremony during which family members commemorate their loved one’s promotion by inserting the pin indicating a new rank onto the firefighter’s uniform for the first time.

“For him to be able to follow my

Photos courtesy of East Manatee Fire Rescue

Charles Reid, Paul Wren and Matt Talaska were recognized as newly promoted battalion chiefs at the grand opening of East Manatee Fire Rescue District's Station 8 on April 19.

career, to be able to see me reach this point where I’m promoted to battalion chief, it’s pretty special,” Wren said. “[It was] truly a moving moment for me, along with having my partner in life, my wife, who has been my best friend and my biggest advocate.”

Wren’s promotion was one of 11, including two others pro-

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moted from captain to battalion chief. East Manatee Fire Chief Lee Whitehurst said opening a new station always creates a need for new lieutenants and engineers.

Because the district now has eight stations, it also needed to split into two battalions, which led to the promotion of the new battalion chiefs and two new captains.

FIRE DEPARTMENT POSITIONS

The three new battalion chiefs, Wren, Matt Talaska and Charles Reid, have been assigned to the battalion west of Lorraine Road.

The three tenured battalion chiefs will oversee the battalion east of Lorraine Road, which means they will be stationed at the newest station on Bourneside Boulevard.

This is the first time a Manatee County fire district has split into two battalions.

Whitehurst said the district made the decision because it felt the more experienced battalion chiefs would have an easier time working to get the new battalion up and running.

The new battalion chiefs can then focus on adjusting to their jobs in the long-existing battalion where standard procedure is already established.

Talaska joined the district as a volunteer firefighter in 1997. He said he was honored to be promoted to battalion chief, which means he is now responsible for overseeing the western half of the district’s operations every third day for 24 hours. He also said there is added pressure that comes with the role.

Talaska said one of the biggest challenges will be learning to become a link between the firefighters under his command and administrators.

Reid started with the East Manatee fire district in 2002. He said he was ready to move off the fire engine and begin a new challenge.

“Now I have the opportunity to pass on some of my knowledge to the future firefighters,” he said.

Firefighter Responsible for putting out fires and search and rescue Engineer Responsible for operating and maintaining vehicles Lieutenant Oversees emergency response of a unit Captain Oversees daily operations and training of a unit Battalion chief Oversees a collection of units, or a battalion

Newly promoted Battalion Chief Paul Wren is "pinned" by his father, former East Manatee Fire Rescue District firefighter Rick Wren, and his wife, Dreama.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

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THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

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Commissioners swerve to meet road needs Lena, Lorraine, Upper Manatee River road projects prioritized.

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BRENDAN LAVELL STAFF WRITER

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hree major road projects in East County that were not previously listed in Manatee County’s five-year capital improvement plan were pushed ahead to the design phase unanimously by county commissioners at an April 20 meeting.

The three projects are the widening of a 2.8-mile stretch of Lorraine Road from State Road 64 to 59th Avenue East from two lanes to four, the widening of a 2.6-mile stretch of Upper Manatee River Road from S.R. 64 to Fort Hamer Bridge from two lanes to four, and an extension of Lena Road by about a half-mile to create a continuous route from S.R. 64 to State Road 70.

These projects primarily will help accomplish alleviation of traffic congestion. Commissioner George Kruse said traffic is already bad enough, but with more population growth headed to the area, it is crucial to ensure the county plans to install proper infrastructure to support it. Commissioner Vanessa Baugh agreed.

“We need to make sure that we figure out a grid and a system that will keep our traffic flowing, so people are not tied up on our roads who need to be going to work or who need to pick up the kids from school.”

These three projects are part of a list of 10 across the county that were accelerated into the 2021 fiscal year, so design work and funding can begin as soon as possible.

“As our population grows, we’re seeing the necessity in different roads that we really hadn’t anticipated,” Baugh said. “So that’s why you’re seeing some of the roads that are not on the CIP move forward.”

As part of the decision-making process, commissioners individually ranked road projects based on how they thought the projects should be prioritized. Those rankings were then translated into a system with three tiers, with tier one including the highest priorities and tier three the lowest.

The Lena Road extension and Upper Manatee River Road widening both jumped all the way to tier one, and the Lorraine Road widening was placed in tier two.

The tiers are still subject to minor changes, but the ranking represents the clearest picture given by commissioners of which road projects they think need to be started as soon as possible.

The 10 accelerated projects will add $4.84 million to the 2021 budget, according to county documents, though that is a fraction of the necessary cost to complete the projects. For example, the Lorraine Road project carries an estimated cost of $38.1 million.

To fund these projects, the commissioners voted unanimously to use Financial Advisor Wendell Gaertner of Public Resources Advisory Group to solicit bids from banks for a $40 million line of credit to be used on general government projects.

Manatee County Financial Management Director Jan Brewer said line of credit was a strong loan option because interest rates are lower than those of bonds and other loan options at the moment.

Brewer said another advantage to

ACCELERATED EAST COUNTY ROAD PROJECTS

Map courtesy of Manatee County

ROADWAY EXTENSION

LENA ROAD ■ Purpose: Extend the road to create a continuous route from S.R. 64 to S.R. 70 ■ Distance: 0.5 miles ■ Estimated cost: $6.9 million

ROADWAY WIDENING UPPER MANATEE RIVER ROAD ■ Purpose: Widen the road from S.R. 64 to Fort Hamer Bridge from two lanes to four ■ Distance: 2.6 miles ■ Estimated cost: $22.7 million

LORRAINE ROAD ■ Purpose: Widen the road from S.R. 64 to 59th Avenue East from two lanes to four ■ Distance: 2.8 miles ■ Estimated cost: $38.1 million

using a line of credit is its flexibility, which will be especially valuable while a large number of projects are still in the design phase.

Other loans, such as bonds, are often issued for specific projects with specific repayment deadlines.

The county will likely explore bonds as a loan option once construction is ready to begin on individual projects and the line of credit is repaid, according to Brewer and commissioners.

The bonds would eventually be paid off through the county’s infrastructure sales tax, impact fees and possibly federal funding, Baugh said.

By using a line of credit to move the county’s road priorities into the design phase, Administrator Scott Hopes said the county will more quickly move through its queue of projects. This is important because construction costs

File photo

Windsong Acres residents Arlan Cummings and Howard Duff live along Upper Manatee River Road. They have been advocating for the road to be widened to help with traffic congestion for years.

are rising rapidly.

“Math is math,” Kruse said.

“It’s cheaper to take out the money and build now than it will be to wait and build later. And then you get the benefit of having the stuff built.”

Hopes said another advantage to using a line of credit to secure funds for the project is getting ahead of other counties. As local governments figure out what types of infrastructure projects can be constructed using money from the federal government’s Great American Rescue Plan, Hopes said there could be competition for construction companies and materials. (Manatee County will receive $78.2 million from the federal stimulus package.)

Hopes said it will be difficult to secure the services of private companies if projects aren’t designed and ready for construction. Commissioner Misty Servia

agreed.

“That is what I fear is going to trip us up,” Servia said. “It is a race.”

Designing a road project typically takes at least 12 months, Public Works Director Chad Butzow said. Baugh said she hopes construction will begin on some of the accelerated projects by the end of 2022 and into 2023-24.

“I think they’re going to be expedited as quickly as they possibly can,” Baugh said.

Another project the commissioners added to tier one is the installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of Lorraine Road and Players Drive, which will likely come with turn lane improvements.

The cost of the project is projected at $1.7 million. Design work is scheduled to begin during the 2022 fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1.

“As our population grows, we’re seeing the necessity in different roads that we really hadn’t anticipated.

So that’s why you’re seeing some of the roads that are not on the CIP move forward.”

— Commissioner Vanessa Baugh

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

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Courtesy photo

Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School first graders Sedona Vig and Sophie Koloney hold up an Earth Day banner the students created.

Earth Day celebration Students at Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School celebrated Earth Day on April 22.

Third, fourth and fifth grade leaders divided into subcommittees to accomplish different celebrations.

One subcommittee created recycled art projects and Earth Day door decorations and banners.

Another group presented an Earth Day readers’ theater, and another introduced and explained the importance of Earth Day. Other classes sang songs and shared poems that were put together into an Earth Day video that was shared with the school.

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Jeramiah Bowman, the band director and a music teacher at Braden River High School, was one of seven teachers throughout Manatee, Sarasota and Hillsborough counties to receive a Congressional Teacher Award.

Congressional Teacher Awards, which Rep. Vern Buchanan established in 2014, are given to exceptional teachers for their achievements on behalf of students.

“Teachers have one of the most important and difficult professions of all,” Buchanan said in a news release. “That is why I established the Congressional Teacher Awards — to honor educators for the crucial role they play in our community and inspiring our younger generations. This has been a challenging year for teachers and students, which makes this recognition all the more important.”

Other teachers in Manatee County who received Congressional Teacher Awards were Tammy Merrell, a teacher at Samoset Elementary School, and Carol Mays Davis, a teacher at Lincoln Memorial Academy.

The three Manatee County teachers were chosen among 18 teachers who live and teach in Florida’s 16th Congressional District and who were nominated for the award by their principals.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

School district unveils new schedule Added time ranges from 4.4 hours for high school to 12.4 hours for elementary school.

LIZ RAMOS STAFF WRITER

Crystal Rothhaar, a parent of two Robert E. Willis Elementary School students, missed having parent-teacher conferences this year due to the pandemic.

The conferences were an opportunity to have in-person conversations with her children’s teachers and connect with the school.

Rothhaar might have to miss out on parent-teacher conferences next year as well. The School District of Manatee County has decided to make changes to the 2021-22 school calendar, removing the early releases that would give teachers time to prepare for the conferences.

Genelle Zoratti-Yost, the deputy superintendent of instruction, said the decision to have parentteacher conferences will be made on a school-by-school basis.

The changes to next year’s calendar will add instructional time for students to address any learning loss as a result of the pandemic, Zoratti-Yost said.

The district looked at benchmark data to compare how fulltime e-learning students were doing compared to full-time brick and mortar students.

There was “little difference” in

Courtesy photo

Raelynn Wilson, a first grader at Braden River Elementary School, shares her Class Helper Book. Elementary school students like Wilson will have fewer early releases next year.

terms of attendance and participation between the two groups of students: E-learning students participated 94% of the time while on-campus students were in attendance 93% of the time.

The differences came in reading and math.Proficiency in reading for third through 10th grade for e-learners was 61% but 52% for full-time on-campus students.

Zoratti-Yost said proficiency for e-learners might have been higher because families could support students in language arts and reading.

In math, the district examined data for third through eighth grade, algebra I and geometry and found 49% of e-learners were at or above grade level while 61% of on-campus students were at or

above grade level.

“What we know from that is we need to continue to try to close that achievement gap for our students no matter what setting,” Zoratti-Yost said. “We plan to have them all back on campus next year, so we can work face to face and impact them in a positive way.”

The removal of three professional learning early releases would add 276 minutes, or 4.6 hours, of instructional time for middle school students and 264 minutes, or 4.4 hours, for high school students.

Elementary school students will have an additional 744 minutes or 12.4 hours with the removal of three professional learning early releases and two elementary releases. Another change to the calendar is moving a record day from Oct. 11 to Oct. 8 and making it a day with four hours of professional learning and four hours for record day. Record days are opportunities for teachers to submit grades and start planning for the following quarter.

Zoratti-Yost said the decision to combine a professional learning and record day came after seeing 80% of teachers submitted grades electronically prior to record day.

“It’s done more rapidly than in years past when we had a paper copy and you had to input the data, and then it got transferred in the computer to generate the report card,” Zoratti-Yost said.

“We’ve come a long way technologically, so there is an ease of inputting grade.”

Some parents will benefit from the changes in the school calendar. Rothhaar said the removal of early releases will make it easier for working parents like her because parents won’t have to leave work early, or their children won’t have to stay in after-school care longer.

“The early releases are hard on working parents, but it’s good for teachers to have time to be able to have conferences and communicate with parents,” she said.

“Hopefully, next year there will be some more in-person communication with the teachers, and maybe it won’t be as much of an issue.”

Denise West, a parent of a student at Willis Elementary and R. Dan Nolan Middle School, said not having conferences doesn’t bother her.

“We have been lucky with responsive teachers at both Willis and Nolan, and you can request a conference any time you feel the need,” West said. “I think these are more productive than a designated day.”

Kaia Heath, a parent of a Tara Elementary School student, said she can easily reach her child’s teacher if she has concerns or questions, and the teacher can always reach her, so parentteacher conferences aren’t necessary. “[The teacher] checks in with me if something happens or if we need to work on something,” Heath said. “The report cards are there for that, and I’m sure she’d be available to answer any questions throughout the year.”

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THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

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2021-2022 ACADEMIC CALENDAR REVISIONS

Revisions to next year’s school calendar to add instructional time to address learning loss: n Removal of three professional learning early release days n Removal of two elementary early releases n Record day was moved from Oct. 11 to Oct. 8 and became a combined record and professional learning day n Removed hurricane makeup days Nov. 22-24 and added them Dec. 22 and 23 n Middle school and high school exam window moved from Dec. 8-21 to Dec. 13-21 n High school early release changed from Dec. 17-21 to Dec. 16-21 n Professional learning early release day was moved from Feb. 9 to Feb. 2

BY THE NUMBERS

276: Additional instructional minutes for middle school 264: Additional instructional minutes for high school 744: Additional instructional minutes for elementary school 61: Percentage of e-learners proficient in reading, grades 3-10 52: Percentage of on-campus students proficient in reading, grades 3-10 49: Percentage of e-learners proficient in math, grades 3-8, algebra and geometry 61: Percentage of on-campus students proficient in math, grades 3-8, algebra and geometry

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LAURA STAVOLA

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

Myakka woman runs for commission

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GETTING ON THE BALLOT There are two ways for people to get on the Manatee County ballot.

STAFF WRITER

Myakka City resident Carol Felts said government can sometimes be compared to a horse.

The horse’s head represents elected officials, while the horse’s feet symbolize the citizens those officials represent.

She said you can’t steer a horse in the right direction just by controlling its head. The feet can ultimately determine direction.

Felts wants the citizens to take control of their government by being more involved. She said they must stay informed of the issues and make their voices heard month after month, year after year. They must keep their feet moving.

That’s why Felts has filed to run for Manatee County Commissioner in 2022 because she wants to teach people about the importance of local government and how important it is to be involved in it.

Felts, a registered Republican who views herself as an independent, is running against Commissioner Carol Whitmore to represent the county at-large. As of April 23, Whitmore and incumbent Commissioner Misty Servia, who serves District 4, have filed for reelection. Timothy Norwood has filed to run against Servia.

Felts is a regular participant at County Commission meetings and said she has made it her hobby over the past few years to learn as much about the county’s government as possible, adding that she has learned many of the real-world, nitty-gritty aspects of government she wishes school had taught her.

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Option two: Create a petition with signatures of 1% of registered Manatee County voters. There are 276,533 registered voters in the county, according to the Florida Department of State, which means a candidate must gather about 2,765 signatures.

For example, Felts said no matter how many citizens provide input on a land development issue, it is rare that the county votes against the applicant. She said it is time for the county to define and achieve a compromise between smart growth and rapid development.

Felts said her main hope is that people who follow her campaign will learn as much about county government as she has, especially because she said the county's procedures make it difficult for the average citizen to stay involved and informed.

“I want people to learn that you do have a voice, and if you don't use it, you really can't complain,” Felts said. “I think if we broke this down enough where people could understand things, we would find people more participatory on their own. We have 400,000 people in this county. We have 17

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

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THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

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Myakka City resident Carol Felts, with one of her horses, JR, hopes her campaign for Manatee County Commission will shine a spotlight on local government and teach people to be more engaged.

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in front of Publix for a few hours at a time, handing out homemade flyers and talking to people about their local government.

She said her knowledge of the county makes her a good fit for the at-large role. She has lived in Myakka City for 20 years. Before that, she lived in west Bradenton and stabled her horses in Parrish.

“I would like to bring the message to the rest of the county on how valuable Myakka and our rural lands can be to all of us,” Felts said.

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people running the county — five developers, seven commissioners and [five] peripherals. We can't look at that as a separation of us and them anymore. The only way to do this is through education, information and participation.”

Felts has created a petition in an attempt to garner the 2,765 signatures of registered Manatee County voters required to qualify for the ballot rather than pay a qualifying fee of approximately $5,419.

In the spirit of her campaign to increase citizen participation in government, she said she hopes her petition will allow her the opportunity to help people who have never registered to vote learn how to do so.

Felts said most people vote based on the postcard they get in the mail right before an election.

She wants to change that. Felts said she has enough time to stand

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8A

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

MUSICAL FULFILLMENT When it comes to 82-year-old’s lifetime of music, ‘That’s Amore.’

EAST COUNTY

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

Friedrich Hayek

“Road to Serfdom,” 1944

JAY HEATER

Publisher / Emily Walsh EWalsh@YourObserver.com Associate Publisher — East County Observer / Lori Ruth LRuth@YourObserver.com Executive Editor / Kat Hughes KHughes@YourObserver.com Managing Editor / Jay Heater JHeater@YourObserver.com Sports Reporter / Ryan Kohn RKohn@YourObserver.com Staff Writer / Liz Ramos, LRamos@YourObserver.com; Brendan Lavell, BLavell@YourObserver.com Copy Editor/ Kaelyn Adix KAdix@YourObserver.com Editorial Designers / Melissa Leduc, MLeduc@YourObserver.com; Carol Parker, CParker@YourObserver.com Black Tie Editor / Harry Sayer HSayer@YourObserver.com

MANAGING EDITOR

A

run Bhagwat received the call: A friend had fourthstage lung cancer and

was spending his last days in a hospice in Ottawa.

He had a request, though. He wanted Bhagwat, a master of the accordion and keyboards, to play a song for him — “That’s Amore.”

So University Park’s Bhagwat set up a FaceTime session and connected with the man.

He launched into the song made famous by Dean Martin.

“He’s sitting on his bed and waving his hands,” Bhagwat said.

“Two days later, he was gone.”

For those few minutes, though, the man was covered in joy, and Bhagwat helped that happen.

“If I can connect with people who are uplifted, in some small way, I can give back,” he said.

Giving back has kept the 82-year-old young, but doing it through his music during the past year has been tough — until a month ago, when the pandemic’s grip had eased enough that Bhagwat felt comfortable performing again at outside venues.

Some of those performances have been at assisted living facilities.

At one of those shows, a man who showed very little movement before the music started eventually made his way to his feet, dancing to the beat as a relative watched in amazement.

“The music is therapeutic,” Bhagwat said.

The fact that Bhagwat can move people with an accordion adds to his story.

In 1952, as a 13-year-old boy growing up in Pune, India, Bhagwat was attending a Jesuit school when the Rev. Oesch, who was Swiss, brought an accordion to school. Oesch (Bhagwat doesn’t remember his first name) knew Arun was taking classical piano lessons and thought the accordion might be a fun change of pace.

Bhagwat took the new instrument home with him on a Friday, and by Monday he was playing tunes. It opened a new avenue of music for him, and by the time he entered college, he had put together a band — the Silhouettes — by recruiting musicians to play the piano, bass, trumpet and saxophone.

He said Pune was somewhat of a melting pot at the time, with Portuguese-speaking transplants from Goa, India; Parsee residents who were Westernized from Persia; and Hindu residents who were receptive to the new music from the West, albeit music that had sifted over from the U.S. five years after it had originated. “‘In the Mood’ was a big one,” Bhagwat said of the time.

Eventually, though, Bhagwat had to get serious about his work life, so he headed to the U.S. for more education and in 1962 landed a job in Poughkeepsie, New York, that began a 40-year career with IBM. His music became more of a hobby, though his passion burned strong and led him to play at many

Jay Heater

Arun Bhagwat says he shut things down during the pandemic but is back to playing outdoor gigs.

jam sessions. As a fan, he attended Woodstock.

In 2004, Bhagwat had retired from IBM and was considering a move to Florida. When a friend urged him to move to the east coast of Florida, Bhagwat fell in love with the Sarasota area.

“The attraction was the people,” Bhagwat said, adding that the area had a international and cosmopolitan flavor that intrigued him.

He fit right in as he began a new musical career in retirement: an accordion player from India.

“When I played, people would look at me and ask, ‘Are you from Hawaii?’ They kind of wondered,” he said.

What they didn’t know is Bhagwat could actually adapt his musical performances to most languages.

He played special events at the Swiss Club, the Italian Club, the Scottish Club and the Asian Women’s Club of Lakewood Ranch, doing musical numbers where he would incorporate songs that aligned with those particular clubs.

Most who hired him were surprised to learn he is a huge John Denver fan.

Six years ago, he composed two songs — “Sarasota Bay” and

“Anna Maria Island” — that were picked up by local radio stations and played on a regular basis. He played keyboards on the songs.

“I like most when I am in a creative mode, composing songs,” he said.

He wants to perform and compose more, if COVID-19 subsides and allows him.

“It rejuvenates the mind,” Bhagwat said of performing. “You are doing something for yourself, but you also raise spirits. … That’s fulfillment.”

To be able to deliver, he plays tennis, takes brisk walks and lifts light weights to stay in shape. He sees his music career stretching to age 90 and beyond.

Bhagwat said he hopes people understand how important music can be.

He talks about doing a special music performance at the 100th birthday of his mother-in-law, Irma Schrader, in Hamburg, Germany.

“We told her, if she made it to 100, we would come, and we had to honor that promise,” he said.

Bhagwat and his wife, Gisela, realized it would be a special moment, and it was.

“Music has enriched my life,” Bhagwat said. “I hope my music has enriched other lives as well.”

“If I can connect with people who are uplifted, in some small way, I can give back.”

— Arun Bhagwat

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

SIDE OF RANCH

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THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

9A

JAY HEATER

Seniors’ ride program needs volunteers

W

hen East County’s Don Daly started driving for the volunteer ride program ITNSunCoast three years ago, he knew he would be providing some rewarding independence for seniors.

He didn’t know he would reap rewards as well.

Then he picked up a woman who during their ride said she had been an actor for The Players Centre for Performing Arts in Sarasota. She told him about The Players history and its original 256-seat theater at Tamiami Trail and Ninth Street that the theater group occupied in 1929.

He was fascinated.

Daly, who has been a theater photographer and teacher over the years, is a history buff.

“She was telling me how it was in an area where I work,” said Daly, who is 81.

Giving back can result in getting as well. It’s the way volunteerism works.

Daly and another ITNSunCoast driver, Esplanade of Lakewood Ranch’s Don Deibert, 65, met last week to alert the public to the need for volunteer drivers as we come out of the pandemic.

ITNSunCoast provides rides in Manatee and Sarasota counties at little to no cost for those 60 and over or for those of any age with vision problems. During the pandemic, requests for rides dropped more than 50% because older adults were afraid to not

Jay Heater

Esplanade of Lakewood Ranch’s Don Deibert and East County’s Don Daly say there is an urgent need for volunteer drivers to help area seniors.

only go to restaurants or the gym but also to visit their doctors.

At the same time, the number of volunteer drivers dropped as well because many volunteers were seniors as well.

Now, with more seniors comfortable to leave home, requests are going back up again. Unfortunately, the number of volunteer drivers has crashed.

In April, ITNSunCoast has been using just seven volunteers.

The nonprofit has hired drivers to take up the slack while hoping its list of volunteers grows back to its usual level of more than 30.

Deibert, a vice chair for the

ITNSunCoast board of directors, understands the reluctancy.

He took a year off from driving volunteer runs but is back active again as adults have been able to get their vaccinations.

ITNSunCoast does require its riders to wear a mask and sit in the backseat of the vehicle until it’s deemed safe to do otherwise.

Daly said he never has had a rider be difficult during a ride until recently when he picked up a woman in Sarasota from her doctor’s appointment.

“She said, ‘I’m not sitting in the back seat with a mask,’” Daly said.

He explained he couldn’t give her a ride, but she wouldn’t budge. He drove away without her.

That was the exception.

“People are happy to get where they are going,” Daly said.

Deibert, who has a long history of working for nonprofits, said ITNSunCoast is a great one.

“To see them have a little more independence when you give them a ride, … it’s just satisfying,” said Deibert, who noted that drivers are not allowed to take tips.

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer driver can fill

out a form at ITNSunCoast.org.

Drivers are asked to provide one afternoon a week or even just a few hours during the month.

ITNSunCoast trains its drivers and handles all assignments and routes. Deibert said he makes three to five trips a week, and Daly said he does one to three volunteer runs.

There are no special requirements for a vehicle other than it must be legally registered and insured. Of course, vehicles must allow the riders to get into them safely. A background check is performed for every volunteer.

Deibert said volunteers can request to make pickups that are in a closer proximity to their homes. Volunteer drivers receive 40 cents a mile when the client is in the car.

Besides the reimbursement, Deibert said the volunteer drivers can get something else.

“I pick up this man in his 90s who lives alone but is into exercising,” Deibert said. “I take him to LA Fitness every day, and I take him shopping. His mind is unbelievable. He gives me inspiration.”

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

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

Paws(itive) effort

IF YOU GO

Humane Society hosts Divas and Dogs fashion show fundraiser.

LIZ RAMOS STAFF WRITER

Even through a pandemic, the Humane Society at Lakewood Ranch saved more than 200 cats and dogs last year.

The goal this year is to save 300 animals, but that doesn’t come without a cost.

On May 5, the Humane Society is hosting its first event, Divas and Dogs fashion show at the Lakewood Ranch Country Club, since the pandemic began last March.

“We haven’t had an event for quite a while because of COVID-19, so we were nervous about doing this,” said Susan Giroux, the vice president of the board of directors at the Humane Society at Lakewood Ranch. “We are comfortable that most people

by May 5 will have their [COVID-19] shots, and we were comforted that the country club has employed some good [health and safety] measures.”

Guests will be required to wear face masks until they are seated at their tables.

Giroux said the fundraiser is critical for the Humane Society because the nonprofit has continued to save animals during the pandemic.

“Animals still have a lot of medical issues that we have to take care of,” Giroux said.

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This year, the Humane Society has nursed seven puppies to health before they were adopted.

“If we had not had the funding, it would have been a tough situation,” Giroux said. “We’re always looking for ways to help animals.”

The Divas and Dogs fashion show will have a “Fourth Avenue Palm Beach” theme with bright colors that are perfect for summer, and the show will feature looks from Twist Boutique and SunBug in Venice, Giroux said.

As guests arrive, two dogs from the Humane Society will be at the entrance to greet them.

The fashion show will have a silent auction with items including Jo Malone perfumes and cosmetics. The show will also have a wine pull in which a guest can pay $20 to pick a bottle of wine. There will be chances to win money with a lantern lotto and a game of heads and tails for a chance to win $500.

“The chance to be a millionaire is there … or not,” Giroux said with a laugh.

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Divas and Dogs When: 11:30 a.m.

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YourObserver.com

Virtual strides to fight cancer American Cancer Society hosts virtual events to support those impacted by cancer.

LIZ RAMOS STAFF WRITER

The pandemic isn’t stopping the American Cancer Society from celebrating cancer survivors, caregivers and those impacted by cancer.

The nonprofit is finding ways for communities to safely come together for Relay for Life and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer events to continue to raise money to fund research and services as well as spread awareness.

“It’s extremely important for our supporters, volunteers and survivors to know we are still here for them and still fighting and fundraising for them,” said Bethany Lynch, a senior development manager for the southeastern region of the American Cancer Society and a River Club resident. “We’re still thinking of them. Cancer hasn’t stopped, and we know that.”

In Lakewood Ranch, people can gather for the virtual Making Strides Mother’s Day Brunch on May 7. The brunch will be able to reach people from Tampa to Naples because it’s virtual.

Lynch said that in years past, the nonprofit hosted an in-person craft brunch at no cost to survivors and guests.

“They could come and be

File photo

Bethany Lynch, a senior development manager for the southeastern region of the American Cancer Society, says the Making Strides Mother's Day brunch will give people an opportunity to celebrate those impacted by cancer.

IF YOU GO

Making Strides Mother’s Day Brunch When: 10:30 a.m. May 7 Cost: Free Details: Join the American Cancer Society and Shannon Farrell from Sarasota’s Charcuterie and Cheese in a virtual Mother’s Day brunch to celebrate breast cancer survivors, caregivers and the women in the Making Strides community. After you RSVP, you’ll receive a list of items you’ll need to buy to follow along in the charcuterie demonstration, so you can make your own board.

together, and we would work on a collaborative art project that we used at our walk,” Lynch said.

“We did something all together as a Making Strides community.”

Due to the pandemic, Lynch had to switch gears and make the brunch a virtual event, but she still wanted to have an interactive activity for people to do while learning about the mission of the American Cancer Society and hearing stories from survivors.

“Not being able to meet in person takes a little bit out of it, but what I’m trying to encourage people to do is grab your friends, people you would walk with on your team, and make a little brunch of it on your own,” Lynch said.

Shannon Farrell with Sarasota’s Charcuterie and Cheese will give a demonstration on how to make a charcuterie board.

“Personally, I’m looking forward to knowing how to make meat roses,” Lynch said. “I think it’ll be fun to see how everybody does their own boards differently. [Farrell] provides a shopping list, but they can pick out what cheeses and meat they want, and everybody will probably pick something different. It’ll be neat to see how you put your personal spin on it.”

The nonprofit is asking people for stories of motherhood and breast cancer to share during the event, such as Lakewood Ranch’s Alison Cossetti Clough, who was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma and ductal carcinoma in situ when she was 39 years old and the mother of two daughters.

“I knew I had to fight,” Cossetti

Clough said. “I had to do it for them. They gave me the strength I needed to continue every day.”

After the Mother’s Day brunch, people can continue to support the American Cancer Society by participating in Relay for Life spirit week, which will lead up to the nonprofit’s national Relay for Life weekend.

From the safety of home, people can participate in the different theme set for each day and post to social media to show support for the nonprofit.

Themes include sharing why someone participates in Relay for Life, posting tributes to someone impacted by cancer and raising money.

During the national Relay for Life weekend May 14 and 15, the American Cancer Society will have a virtual opening ceremony, survivor and caregiver ceremony, fight back ceremony, luminaria ceremony and closing ceremony through Facebook Live.

The nonprofit will also have different activities for people to participate in virtually, including a Zumba class and TikTok party.

“Not everyone wants to participate in a 24-hour event, so the idea is you can do activities you want as you wish,” said Wendy River, a senior development manager for the southeastern region of the American Cancer Society.

“We’re trying to keep everybody as engaged as possible from a distance since we can’t have in-person events. This is a way to keep Relay for Life at the forefront of people’s minds.”

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THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

11A

RELAY FOR LIFE SPIRIT WEEK Leading up to the national Relay for Life weekend, the American Cancer Society is hosting a Relay for Life spirit week May 10-15 you can participate in from home.

Participate in each day’s theme, and post to social media using #RelayMyWay. Move it Monday, May 10 Register for you local Relay for Life events; pledge miles to walk, run or bike; post a picture with your Relay team; wear purple or a Relay for Life shirt.

Talk about it Tuesday, May 11 Share a post, picture or video explaining why you participate in Relay for Life.

Why I Raise for Relay Wednesday, May 12 Download the “I’m funding the future” flyer or create your own, and post it online; get $50 in donations and turn it in online.

Tribute Thursday, May 13 Create a luminaria bag and display it outside your home, or create a digital bag.

National Relay for Life weekend, May 14-15 Participate in the American Cancer Society’s 24 hours of activities via Facebook Live.

Friday, May 14 9 p.m. Opening ceremony Saturday, May 15 11 a.m. Survivor and caregiver ceremony 3 p.m. Fight back ceremony 8 p.m. Luminaria ceremony 9 p.m. Closing ceremony

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12A

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

We Serve All Families In this time of need, know who to call.

Our firms will serve your family with all precautions, CDC guidelines, and compassionate care.

Courtesy photo

The festival will screen the Oscar-winning “My Octopus Teacher.”

Dignity Memorial® Robert Toale & Sons

Sarasota Film Festival returns with in-person screenings HARRY SAYER STAFF WRITER

A

copenhagen imports

fter last year’s slate of virtual offerings, the Sarasota Film Festival will return with a hybrid format that will include more than three dozen in-person screenings and a street party during its 10-day run that begins Friday, April 30.

It’s a good feeling for Sarasota Film Festival President Mark Famiglio, who has worked on planning the event with his staff through the pandemic.

He said he’s quite excited to work with local filmmakers and to have in-person movies again.

“I feel profoundly hopeful,” he said. “There’s some great stuff that you have an opportunity to watch with your fellow citizens and talk about. … There’s noth-

If you or a family you know would like to discuss options for services, cremation, Life Story Celebrations, or returning to their home state up north, we have answers available.

Coming Soon, Our New Location to Serve the Lakewood Ranch Community

ing like sitting in a theater for the human experience and conversation.”

The entertainment will commence April 30 with a screening of “Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided To Go for It,” the opening night documentary about the journey of the actor and performer with a rare EGOT status: She’s won Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards.

Famiglio said Moreno has attended the festival in the past and that her story would be a good fit to kick off the festival.

Around a quarter of the festival’s 130-plus films will be screened in person at the CMX CinéBistro Siesta Key theater.

Famiglio said that selection of in-person movies was picked to appeal to a wide audience.

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FILM FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

■ “A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff,” 11:30 a.m.

■ “Best Summer Ever,” 11:30 a.m.

■ “Dangerous Ladies,” 2 p.m.

■ “Born to Play,” 5:30 p.m.

■ “My Octopus Teacher,” 6 p.m.

■ “Weed and Wine,” 8:30 p.m.

■ “Summertime,” 9 p.m.

MAY 3

■ “Window Boy Would Also Love To Have a Submarine,” 11:30 a.m.

■ “Lorelei,” 11:30 a.m.

■ “Strawberry Mansion,” 2 p.m.

■ “Chasing Childhood,” 4 p.m.

■ “Cicada,” 5:30 p.m.

■ “Icon,” 7 p.m.

■ “I Was a Simple Man,” 8:30 p.m.

MAY 4

■ “Blueberry,” 11:30 a.m.

■ “Weed and Wine,” 1:30 p.m.

■ “Window Boy Would also Love To Have a Submarine,” 2:30 p.m.

■ “The Process of Recovering,” 4:30 p.m.

■ “I Was a Simple Man,” 6 p.m.

■ “Through the Night,” 7 p.m.

■ “Summertime,” 9 p.m.

■ “Icon,” 9:30 p.m.

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■ “Blueberry,” 11:30 a.m.

■ “Chasing Childhood,” noon ■ “Hope,” 3 p.m.

■ “Lorelei,” 5 p.m.

■ “Hollywood Nights 1,” 6 p.m.

■ “Hollywood Nights 2,” 7:30 p.m.

■ “Born to Play,” 8 p.m.

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■ “Cicada,” 11:30 a.m.

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■ “Dangerous Ladies,” 6 p.m.

■ “The Revolution Generation,” 8:30 p.m.

■ “Centigrade,” 9 p.m.

MAY 7

■ Friday Night Street Party, 7:30 p.m. Fourth Street

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■ “Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided To Go for It,” 7 p.m.

13A

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

Parade for puppies LIZ RAMOS STAFF WRITER

Lakewood Ranch’s Katie McCoy can barely remember a time before she had Bristol, a Labrador retriever, by her side.

McCoy was matched with Bristol through Southeastern Guide Dogs, a Palmetto-based nonprofit, six years ago after she had done research to find a guide dog to help her.

McCoy has retinitis pigmentosa, a rare, genetic eye disorder that involves the breakdown and loss of cells in the retina.

“I’ve always been legally blind,” McCoy said. “I used to hide it. I wouldn’t even use my cane, and I just made my life difficult for myself. Getting Bristol completely changed everything, and I would never go back.”

On May 1, McCoy, who is now an associate of philanthropy for Southeastern Guide Dogs, and

Bristol will walk around McCoy’s neighborhood as part of Southeastern Guide Dogs’ National Walkathon Day. Last year, Southeastern Guide Dogs held its walkathon at Nathan Benderson Park and had about 1,000 participants.

Due to COVID-19, the nonprofit has decided to make this year’s May 1 walkathon virtual and has expanded the event’s reach by making it a national event.

The goal is to have someone from every state in the country participate in the walkathon, which will help raise money and spread awareness of the organization.

“It’s going to be pretty awesome to see people in all 50 states participating,” McCoy said. “Our dogs are in 41 states.”

Participants can post photos and videos of their walks and use #NatWalkDay2021, #SEGuideDogs and #ProgressivePups to show their support.

McCoy was able to raise $1,050 last year, and her goal is to raise even more this year.

File photo

East County's Katie McCoy plays with her guide dog, Bristol.

ABOUT SOUTHEASTERN GUIDE DOGS Southeastern Guide Dogs is a Palmetto-based nonprofit dedicated to transforming lives by creating partnerships between people and dogs.

The nonprofit will breed, raise and train dogs to become guide dogs and then match the dogs to people who are visually impaired, veterans and children with significant challenges. Dogs from Southeastern Guide Dogs will find homes and help people all across the country.

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Southeastern Guide Dogs has a donor willing to match up to $10,000. Donors who raise more than $5,000 will be able to name a puppy and follow the puppy through its journey to becoming a guide dog.

Lake Club’s Mary Scharf will be walking with the Suncoast Puppy Raisers at Nathan Benderson Park during the walkathon.

The Suncoast Puppy Raisers has groups from north and south Sarasota County and Lakewood Ranch that take the puppies from Southeastern Guide Dogs home for a year to help train them and expose them to what they might experience as service dogs.

McCoy said she looks forward to seeing puppy raisers during the walkathon.

“I love seeing puppy raisers because they are amazing to me,” she said. “They raise that puppy for a year, and then they come and give it back. I have no idea how they do that. It has to be incredibly hard. It’s awesome to go see these puppies and know that at some point they’re going to be changing somebody’s life or even saving somebody’s life.”

Scharf has always been an animal advocate, which is why she’s been volunteering for the nonprofit for 12 years.

Scharf will take one of her dogs, Marjorie, who is an ambassador dog for the nonprofit, with her to the walkathon.

“The walkathon is a way of keeping the Southeastern Guide Dogs in people’s minds,” Scharf said.

Lake Club's Mary Scharf will take Marjorie with her to Nathan Benderson Park on May 1 to participate in the Southeastern Guide Dogs' National Walkathon Day. Marjorie serves as an ambassador and therapy dog for the nonprofit.

IF YOU GO SOUTHEASTERN GUIDE DOGS NATIONAL WALKATHON DAY When: 10 a.m.

May 1 Where: At home, at the park, wherever you want Details: Grab your pup and go for a walk to celebrate Southeastern Guide Dogs while raising funds for the nonprofit.

The goal is to get participants in all 50 states. Post a photo or video of you participating with the hashtags #NatWalkDay2021, #SEGuideDogs and #ProgressivePups.

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Southeastern Guide Dogs hosts first virtual National Walkathon day.

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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15A

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

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THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

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WAITING FOR FOOD: Reese and Reilly give their best puppy dog eyes while patiently waiting for their owner, Marlo Turner, to feed them dinner.

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16A

APRIL 29, 2021

HIGH

SPORTS

5

“It is so rewarding, especially as an attacker. It’s fun to score a lot of goals.”

— Lakewood Ranch High’s Meghan Llamas SEE PAGE 19A

THUNDER ON THE MOUND ODA sophomore pitcher is committed to the University of Miami.

1

Lakewood Ranch High sophomore softball pitcher Olivia Laney threw a complete game, allowing one unearned run with seven strikeouts, April 25 in the Mustangs’ 9-1 home win against McKeel Academy.

2

Braden River High junior baseball player Andrew Nordland went 3-3 with a double and four RBIs April 22 in the Pirates’ 17-1 road win (four innings) against Southeast High.

Nordland also pitched two shutout innings, recording one strikeout.

3

Jay Suverkrup sank a hole-in-one April 24 on the No. 8 hole at University Park Country Club.

Suverkrup used a 5-hybrid on the 150-yard hole.

4

France Griffith (35) won Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club’s Women’s Nine Hole Golf Association Club Championship, held April 15 on the back nine of the club’s Cypress Links course.

5

Braden River High senior weightlifter Isaiah Cress finished fifth in the 183-pound division at the Class 3A state meet April 24, lifting a total of 565 pounds.

PIRATES OWN THIS BEACH. PAGE 18A

Photos by Ryan Kohn

Luke Geske, a sophomore at ODA, has committed to the University of Miami.

RYAN KOHN SPORTS REPORTER

T

he thud of a baseball hitting the catcher’s mitt sounds different when Luke Geske is throwing the ball.

It’s a louder and deeper thud. Geske’s pitches make everyone take notice.

Geske, a sophomore at The Out-of-Door Academy, has been impressing college scouts since summer 2020, when he participated in a number of Perfect Game events and played on the travel ball circuit with the Florida Burn. It was at those events where he caught the eye of the University of Miami, which swiftly offered him a scholarship. Geske decided to commit.

“I felt like it was the best fit for me,” Geske said. “I connected with the coaching staff there.

They did a great job of consistently recruiting me. It’s where I felt comfortable.”

Geske, who is 6-foot-1, said he’s primarily a fastball and slider pitcher, though he has dabbled with a change-up this season. He can reach 89 mph on his fastball right now, but one of his goals is to consistently get his velocity above 90 mph. Collegiate scouts think he can do it. Geske has a nine rating at Perfect Game, which the site says translates to a potential top-10 round pick in the MLB First-Year Player Draft and/or the highest-level college prospect.

His coach at ODA, Mike Mat-

thews, agrees with that sentiment.

“He can be a top-level starter for a big university,” Matthews said. “And who knows past that.

Ultimately, he’s got the stuff to do it. I won’t be surprised if he has a lot of success in college and moves onto the next level as well.”

Geske’s road to respect began were many baseball careers begin: in the backyard, where he and his father, David, would spend much of their time playing catch.

Since Geske was 4 years old, that’s been a constant. He played a lot of positions growing up, but he was drawn to pitching as soon as his age allowed it. Pitchers are

THUNDER ACE Who: Luke Geske School: The Out-of-Door Academy Grade: Sophomore Sport: Baseball (right-handed pitcher) 2021 stat line: 23 innings pitched, 3-0, 1.82 ERA, 26 strikeouts Favorite food: Steak, cooked medium Favorite movie: “The Benchwarmers” Dream superpower: Teleportation Favorite subject: History Left: ODA sophomore Luke Geske battled a wrist injury early in the season but holds a 1.82 ERA over 23 innings since returning, with 26 strikeouts.

involved in every play, Geske said, and as a natural competitor, he wanted to be as involved as possible. Plus, he already knew he had a strong arm.

It’s that arm that makes Geske so effective now, he said, with his fastball being his most effective pitch. Besides the velocity, Geske’s fastball runs inside toward right-handed hitters, and he’s able to command it with precision.

Matthews said Geske’s success has as much to do with his work ethic as his talent. Geske takes his practice sessions and strength workouts seriously, something not every player does. Matthews said the work Geske does outside of games allows him to relax during games. He knows he’s ready and all he has to do is compete.

Geske suffered a wrist injury at the outset of the 2021 season that kept him out a few weeks, but since his return, he’s pitched 23 innings and gone 3-0 with a 1.82 ERA, racking up 26 strikeouts.

ODA has gone 17-3 overall and has a dynamic offense, so with Geske back on the mound, ODA has a chance to be a contender in the postseason. The team’s district tournament will begin 7 p.m. April 28 against a to-bedetermined opponent.

Geske said the team has what it takes to go all the way.

“A lot of people think we’re a small school that can’t compare [to others],” Geske said. “We want to prove people wrong.”

18A

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

PROSE AND KOHN

RYAN KOHN

Pirates want more ‘upsetting’ experiences B each volleyball might be something you play on Siesta Key with refreshments at hand, but at Braden River High, it’s a sport to be taken seriously.

The Pirates are headed to the Sunshine State Athletic Conference state tournament for the third season in a row, excluding the cut-short 2020 season that did not have a tournament.

To reach this year’s tournament, which will be held April 30 and May 1 in Tavares, the Pirates had to battle in a qualifying tournament April 21 that they entered as the final seed. The event had some strange rules: Teams had to win their first match to remain alive, but then it became double elimination.

The Pirates defied the odds and went 3-1 at the event, wining the consolation side of the bracket and punching their ticket to the state competition.

Pirates Coach Matthew McElhiney wasn’t sure they would get back there this season. McElhiney said the Pirates lost a handful of top players from the 2020 team to graduation. Entering 2021, only five of the team’s 11 players had experience. The rest were indoor players trying the sport for a new experience.

Although the fundamentals of each sport are the same, the ways players have to utilize those

Courtesy photo

The Braden River High beach volleyball team is headed to the state tournament, held April 30 and May 1 in Tavares.

“You

have to be able to pass and to hit and to serve.

It’s just you and your partner out there. I like having the opportunity to do it all.”

— Sara Hall, senior, on why she prefers beach over indoor volleyball

fundamentals almost make the two entirely different experiences. It’s harder to control passes and shots in beach volleyball because of the wind, and shots become more about accuracy and less about power.

One exception to the Pirates’ overall inexperience was senior Sara Hall, who has signed to play beach volleyball at Tulane University. Hall said she prefers the sandy sport to its indoor counterpart because players get to take on more roles.

“You have to be able to pass and to hit and to serve,” Hall said. “It’s just you and your partner out there. I like having the opportunity to do it all.”

McElhiney said he’s seen a lot of growth over the course of this season, especially in his players’ mindsets. When there are fewer players on the court, individuals have to own more mistakes.

Taking on that responsibility and being a good teammate is one of the keys to sustained success in the sport because chemistry between partners is crucial.

Hall, who pairs with fellow senior Andrea Garcia (an indoor volleyball signee with Fayetteville State in Fayetteville, North Carolina), was a big part of the Pirates’ success at the play-in tournament. In the midst of a touch match against Spruce Creek High — tied 1-1 — Hall and

Garcia put down Spruce Creek’s top pair in straight sets (21-13, 21-9). That gave the Pirates all the momentum they needed to close things out, and they would win the match 4-1.

It was everything McElhiney wanted to see from his team, he said, and it gives him hope that the team can make a run at the state tournament.

His players believe, too.

Sophomore Sierra Arnsperger said that going through the play-in tournament, as opposed to qualifying outright, gave the team some needed experience playing teams outside the school’s region.

That is the quality of teams Braden River will be facing at states, she said, and now the Pirates know what they’re up against.

The Pirates reached the tournament’s semifinal round in 2018 and 2019. It won’t be easy to match that feat this year, but they’ve surprised the beach volleyball community once already this season.

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

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

Meghan Llamas is a senior on the Lakewood Ranch High girls lacrosse team. Llamas scored her 100th career goal April 9 in a 16-3 win against Sarasota High.

Llamas is the first player in program’s four-year history to score 100 goals.

How long have you been playing lacrosse?

I started about eight years ago when I lived in Fredon, New Jersey. (Llamas moved to Lakewood Ranch in 2015.) Everyone I knew was gravitating to the sport, and my parents (Jackie and Tony) gave me a push to play it as well. I was playing softball before that.

What is the appeal to you?

It’s so rewarding, especially as an attacker. It’s fun to score a lot of goals. Lacrosse is a more personal sport, too. The type of bonds you form as a team, I don’t think you can find those anywhere else.

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

19A

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never want to practice it. I have to force myself to do the work. I can see a difference in my game when I do, though.

What is your favorite subject?

I like English. I’m going to be an English major in college. I’m starting at the State College of Florida, but I plan on transferring to South Florida halfway through.

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What is your favorite memory?

Scoring my 100th goal against Sarasota High. That was pretty special. It was our Senior Night game, so all my family and teammates were celebrating with me.

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

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20A

Classifieds 13B Games 12B Real Estate 9B Weather 12B

APRIL 29, 2021

YOUR NEIGHBORS

ACTING CLASS GOES

WILD From enunciation to imagination, Ranch children learn the joys of acting.

Bridgewater resident Veer Chauhan, 7, pretends to be a naked mole-rat as part of the game King Frog, in which each player chooses an animal, and others imitate that animal.

B

ridgewater’s Veer Chauhan was unrecognizable.

He transformed from a 7-year-old boy into a naked mole-rat, crawling around the pavilion at James L. Patton Park on April 19, pinching his face together and hissing.

His 9-year-old sister, Adaa, laughed as they both played King Frog, a game in which each person chooses an animal to imitate, during Acting for Kids.

“It’s fun to act like an animal,” Chauhan said.

Besides portraying animals, participants worked together to create their own story about how mice became extinct in Africa and played a game where each person says one word at a time to develop a narrative.

Acting coach Alyssa Goudy from The Players Centre for Performing Arts also led the group in enunciation drills where they practice tongue twisters. Goudy taught them how to use their diaphragms for deep breathing.

— BRENDAN LAVELL

Photos by Brendan Lavell

Bridgewater resident Adaa Chauhan, 9, explains a classic tongue twister she learned from her father: “She sells seashells by the seashore.”

Greenbrook resident Nahla Vlasak, 9, shakes it out at the beginning of class. Acting coach Alyssa Goudy says it’s vital to warm up before acting because of the activities involved.

Greenbrook resident Ava Clementi, 8, learns how to find her diaphragm. Acting coach Alyssa Goudy says the purpose of this exercise is to learn how to breathe deeply with one’s stomach.

354594-1

Acting coach Alyssa Goudy, who works for The Players Centre for Performing Arts, makes the signal for participants to imitate a skunk.

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

Picnic honors Mustang band seniors

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ana DiBiase, a junior at Lakewood Ranch High School, stood on a podium and led the 2021-22 Marching Mustangs in its first live performance of the school year during the band picnic April 24.

The performance was an opportunity for DiBiase to see what it will be like next year when she's a senior and a drum major.

“It was a lot of fun,” DiBiase said. “It was interesting to hear it from a different perspective from up there on the podium.”

After the performance, band members joined their families and band alumni in the stands for lunch before the band honored this year's seniors

AFTER

with a surprise tribute video and gave them yard signs and awards.

Ron Lambert, the band's director, said saying goodbye to the seniors is always the toughest.

“It's been 17 years [as director at Lakewood Ranch High], and it doesn't get any easier,” Lambert said.

Family members of seniors were excited to see their students honored.

“It's been an amazing four years for us,” said Jason Miller, the father of senior Hannah Miller. “We've watched how [Hannah] and her friends have grown over four years as musicians and leaders, and it's a great testament to the program.”

—LIZ RAMOS

Photos by

DR. RICHARD MIRON

Zoey, Karissa, Hannah and Jason Miller celebrate Hannah's last year in the Marching Mustangs.

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Juniors Lana DiBiase, Ben Rosasco and Maya Lander will be drum majors next year as seniors.

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YourObserver.com

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THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

3B

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Thursday, May 13, 2021 and Thursday, June 17, 2021 Registration begins at 4:15 p.m. Seminar is 4:30pm - 5:30pm

Seniors Alexis Rister, Alicia Torres and Mallory Shirey are honored at the band picnic.

They received awards, yard signs and certificates for their participation in the band.

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RSVP Please RSVP by emailing Theresa at

Senior Alexa Bland shares her senior speech surrounded by fellow seniors, band alumni and other band members. Bland says she has loved her years in the band and will miss everyone.

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

THURSDAY, APRIL 29

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Her specialties include working with patients on disease prevention strategies; management of chronic disorders, including high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid disorder, heart disease, lung diseases, like asthma and emphysema; and coordinating patient care with referrals to the correct specialists who can help.

BUSINESS TRADE SHOW Runs from 4-7 p.m. at the Mall at University Town Center, 140 University Town Center Drive, Sarasota. The Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance is hosting its Open Air Showcase trade show in the east parking lot of the mall.

The event allows regional businesses to connect. A Budweiser beer truck will be on location along with a wine booth. Admission is free. More than 30 businesses already have signed up to participate. For more information, go to LWRBA.org.

CASUAL CORNHOLE Begins at 9 a.m. at Bob Gardner Park, 2710 White Eagle Blvd., Lakewood Ranch. Lakewood Ranch Community Activities is hosting a casual cornhole league for those 18 and up. A fee of $25 covers all sessions. For more information or to register, go to MyLWR.com, or call 727-1505.

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INTRO TO PICKLEBALL Begins at 8:30 a.m. at the pickleball courts adjacent to Lakewood Ranch High School. For more information, go to MyLWR.com.

MOMMY AND ME Begins at 10 a.m. at the picnic pavilion at James Patton Park, 5725 White Eagle Blvd., Lakewood Ranch. The Mommy and Me play date is free to Lakewood Ranch residents and $10 for nonresidents. The event is for moms and their 3- to 5-year-olds. For more information, go to MyLWR.com.

SATURDAY, MAY 1

SUNDAY, MAY 2

SUP AND RUN 5K FUNDRAISER Begins at 8 a.m. at Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota. The sixth annual Sup and Run 5K will be held to benefit Operation Second Chance, which supports veterans.

The event allows participants to run or walk a 5K only, compete in

Member of Manatee Physician Alliance

WOMEN’S DAY EXPO Runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Mall at University Town Center, 140 University Town Center Drive, Sarasota. The third annual Treat Yourself like a Queen Women’s Day Expo features free beauty treatments, fashion shows, food and beverage sampling, a mother-daughter look-alike contest and more. The first 250 women receive a free swag bag.

For more information, go to MallAtUTC.com.

INTRO TO DISC GOLF Begins at noon at Bob Gardner Community Park, 2710 White Eagle Blvd., Lakewood Ranch.

Lakewood Ranch Community Activities and MVP Sports and Social host an introduction to disc golf. The class is open to ages 8 and up. It is free for Lakewood Ranch residents and $10 for nonresidents. Go to MyLWR. com for more information.

FRIDAY, APRIL 30 To schedule an appointment, book online at manateephysicianalliance.com or call 866-515-9777.

a stand up 5K paddle event only or vie in a mixed 5K run and 5K stand up paddle event. The event costs $40. For more information, go to OperationSecondChance. org or NathanBendersonPark.org.

MARKET AT LAKEWOOD RANCH Runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking lot at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, 8330 Lakewood Ranch Blvd. The Market at Lakewood Ranch runs every Sunday through July. Vendors will be offering seafood, eggs, meats, diary

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

5B

Bingo every Wednesday. Bingo is for those 18 and up. Bingo will be held under the pavilion. For more information, go to MyLWR.com.

BEST BET SUNDAY, MAY 2

CONCERT IN THE PARK Begins at 1:30 p.m. at Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota.

Strings Con Brio, an awardwinning orchestra, will play light classical and popular selections. Featured soloists include guitarists Joseph Shields and Zachary Johnson performing the virtuosic Concerto for Two Guitars and Orchestra by Antonio Vivaldi.

Among other selections, the orchestra will play “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik” by Mozart, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Music of the Night” from “The Phantom of the Opera,” Henry Mancini’s Latin-inspired “Lujon,” and the much-loved “Intermezzo” from Cavalleria Rusticana. The program will conclude with a medley from Walt Disney Studios’ “Beauty and the Beast.” Proceeds will benefit youth programs at Nathan Benderson Park.

Tickets are $15. For more information or tickets, go to NathanBendersonPark.org.

|

TUESDAY, MAY 11

Photo courtesy of John Jones of JonesInPhoto.com.

Strings Con Brio, an awardwinning orchestra that plays light classical and popular selections, will perform May 2 at Nathan Benderson Park.

products, pastas, bakery goods, jams and pickles among other items. For more information, go to MyLWR.com.

YOGA IN THE PARK Begins at 9 a.m. at Bob Gardner Park, 2710 White Eagle Blvd., Lakewood Ranch. The public is invited to participate in a free yoga workout at Bob Gardner Park. The event is hosted by The Yoga Shack Florida. Bring your

own mat and water bottle. All participants are asked to follow social distancing guidelines. For more information, go to LakewoodRanch.com.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 5

BINGO Begins at 10 a.m. at the Greenbrook Adventure Park, 13010 Adventure Place, Lakewood Ranch. Lakewood Ranch Community Activities hosts Community

ENVIRONMENTAL DISCUSSION Begins at 2 p.m. virtually. The Environmental Discussions Group will host Alexis Horn, a public outreach specialist for Coastal and Heartland National Estuary Partnership, and Jim Gross, a professional geologist for more than 40 years and the executive director of Florida Defenders of the Environment. Horn will discus CHNEP’s activities in the region, and Gross will describe the history of the Florida Barge Canal Project and efforts to restore the Ocklawaha River. To request a Zoom link, send RSVP by April 30 to ResourceWisdom@gmail.com.

SATURDAY, MAY 15

LEARN TO FISH Begins at 10 a.m. at James Patton Park, 5725 White Eagle Blvd., Lakewood Ranch. The Lakewood Ranch Anglers Club and Lakewood Ranch Community Activities provide basic lessons on fishing, such as casting and knot-tying. For more information, go to MyLWR.com.

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THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

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very time Indigo’s Scarlett Walsh, 7, participates in the Fit4Kids program at Bob Gardner Community Park, she can feel herself getting stronger.

Walsh ran, skipped and jumped her way through an hourlong workout April 22 with about 19 other children of all ages.

“Your body wants to fall over,” Walsh said. “You’ve got to push yourself and say, ‘I want to do more.’”

Esplanade 5-year-old Kayden Whitfield said he can run fast because of Fit4Kids. His favorite part of the program is simply running around in circles.

Lakewood Ranch Community Activities contracted Graham Anderson, the owner of Anchor Fitness and Performance, to run the program.

—BRENDAN LAVELL

Central Park resident Connor Biegel, 7, jumps after being energized by a water break. He says his favorite part of Fit4Kids is running all over the park.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

|

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

7B

Greenbrook resident Nora Clementi stumbles her way out of the ladder as Greyhawk Landing resident Hailey Brooks follows behind her.

Brooks says bunny-hopping on the ladder was her favorite part of the day.

Greenbrook resident Nahla Vlasak holds her friend and neighbor Nora Clementi between drills.

Fit4Kids participants do pushup drills before starting sprints. Instructor Graham Anderson’s call of “down, up, knee” signaled the kids to get into a sprinter’s starting position before his whistle told them to sprint.

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Anchor Fitness & Performance Owner Graham Anderson blows his whistle to signal the start of sprints.

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8B

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

SARASOTA 8263 Archers Court 5 Beds 5/1 Baths 6,578 Sq. Ft. Kathy Callahan 941-900-8088 A4483993 $3,700,000

SARASOTA 7727 Donald Ross Road W 5 Beds 4/1 Baths 5,260 Sq. Ft. Stacy Hanan 941-266-0529 A4493537 $2,100,000

BRADENTON 6510 200th Street E 4 Beds 3 Baths 4,185 Sq. Ft. Leslie Emery & Aaron Corr 941-400-9710 A4489175 $1,750,000

BRADENTON 541 Fore Drive 5 Beds 3/1 Baths 4,296 Sq. Ft. Debbie Vogler 941-705-3328 A4496407 $1,750,000

BRADENTON 6643 Renssalaer Drive 5 Beds 4/1 Baths 4,457 Sq. Ft. Adam Cuffaro 941-812-0791 A4494725 $1,600,000

BRADENTON 2200 51st Street W 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,218 Sq. Ft. Sharon Ingram 941-224-6447 A4495410 $1,200,000

BRADENTON 8496 Lindrick Lane 1.65 Acres Stacy Haas & Gloria Bracciano 941-587-4359 A4496144 $850,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 13809 Milan Terrace 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,500 Sq. Ft. Tina Ciaccio 941-685-8420 A4497060 $823,500

SIESTA KEY 1311 Roberts Bay Lane 3 Beds 2 Baths 2,002 Sq. Ft. Deborah Nelson & Bernadette Caswell 941-266-5900 A4497050 $800,000

BRADENTON 73 Tidy Island Boulevard 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 3,069 Sq. Ft. Kathy Valente & Gregory Zies, LLC 941-685-6767 A4477926 $650,000

OSPREY 1742 S Creek Lane 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 3,115 Sq. Ft. Stacy Hanan 941-266-0529 A4484659 $649,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 7739 US Open Loop 4 Beds 2 Baths 2,290 Sq. Ft. Christopher Van Vliet & Jamie Van Vliet, PA 941-993-7087 A4494156 $649,000

BRADENTON 10 Tidy Island Boulevard 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,541 Sq. Ft. Kathy Marshall 941-900-9777 A4491987 $575,000

SARASOTA 7459 Biltmore Drive 3 Beds 3 Baths 1,840 Sq. Ft. Dana Westmark & Donald Geikie 941-356-5091 A4493275 $495,000

SARASOTA 151 Tall Trees Court 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,903 Sq. Ft. Nancie Kalin 941-928-8833 A4495916 $459,900

SARASOTA 8347 Nandina Drive 4 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,359 Sq. Ft. Drew Russell 941-993-3739 A4497384 $449,900

PALMETTO 615 Riviera Dunes Way 205 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,696 Sq. Ft. Cheryl Roberts 941-266-1450 A4497161 $429,000

LONGBOAT KEY 621 Spanish Drive N 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,419 Sq. Ft. Cecile Coutret & John Coutret 941-735-4444 A4492593 $370,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 15110 Searobbin Drive 4 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,012 Sq. Ft. Toma Milbank & Rebecca Milbank PLLC 941-720-5174 A4496858 $369,900

LAKEWOOD RANCH 11418 Water Willow Avenue 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,590 Sq. Ft. Laura Navratil & Mary Pat Pihl 941-806-7436 A4496762 $365,000

ROTONDA WEST 104 Broadmoor Lane 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,805 Sq. Ft. Amy Gonzales 360-431-6910 D6117877 $360,000

SARASOTA 4634 Mirada Way 29 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,562 Sq. Ft. Barbara May 941-312-1302 A4486383 $350,000

SARASOTA 6650 Cheswick Street 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,668 Sq. Ft. Ryndie Brusco 941-809-6913 A4497344 $350,000

SARASOTA 7610 Fairway Woods Drive 205 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,749 Sq. Ft. Mackenzie Longueuil & Pat Mudgett 941-961-4023 A4492740 $325,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 7702 Lake Vista Court 302 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 1,762 Sq. Ft. Noelle Reynolds 941-320-4855 A4496708 $310,000

BRADENTON 4814 26th Street W 2,760 Sq. Ft. Barbara Dumbaugh & Victoria Lear 941-951-6660 A4457795 $300,000

BRADENTON 910 Sandpiper Circle 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,096 Sq. Ft. Laura Rulon & Betsy Hagen 941-896-2757 A4492505 $269,000

BRADENTON 840 Audubon Drive 840 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,096 Sq. Ft. Maruta Miluns 941-374-9702 A4496622 $269,000

SARASOTA 1274 Banchory Lane 6 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,186 Sq. Ft. Kathy Winkler Leon & Diana Napoliello 941-549-3420 A4478693 $174,500

355148-1

SARASOTA 2524 Pleasant Place 3 Beds 3/1 Baths 3,399 Sq. Ft. Lenore Treiman 941-356-9642 A4490046 $2,795,000

BRADENTON 2708 Bay Drive 4 Beds 4 Baths 3,689 Sq. Ft. Cheryl Roberts 941-266-1450 A4494263 $2,750,000

ENGLEWOOD 1460 Lemon Bay Drive 3 Beds 3 Baths 3,831 Sq. Ft. Randy & Joni McLendon 941-504-5675 D6109817 $2,495,000

888.552.5228 | MICHAELSAUNDERS.COM

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

A

home in Lake View Estates at Lake Club topped all transactions in this week’s real estate. VIPPalm Investment & Design LLC sold the home at 14639 Como Circle to Merle and Patricia Butler, of Lakewood Ranch, for $3.3 million. Built in 2019, it has four bedrooms, four-anda-half baths, a pool and 4,174 square feet of living area.

CONCESSION

Elite Homes Designed by Tui Pranich LLC sold the home at 19307 Ganton Ave. to Plamen Slavov, of Bradenton, for $2.9 million. Built in 2016, it has four bedrooms, six-and-two-half baths, a pool and 6,266 square feet of living area.

James and Ann Wolcott, of Bradenton, sold their home at 8326 Farington Court to Gail DeMartini Haan, of San Rafael, California, for $1.3 million. Built in 2008, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,683 square feet of living area.

RIVER CLUB SOUTH

9611 Royal Calcutta LLC sold the home at 9611 Royal Calcutta Place to McDermott Properties LLC for $1.2 million. Built in 2003, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,468 square feet of living area. It sold for $600,000 in January.

Jerry and Deborah Stevens, of Sarasota, sold their home at 10158 Glenmore Ave. to Norman Olmstead and Sharon Patterson, of Hoschton, Georgia, for $405,000. Built in 1997, it has three bedrooms, two-anda-half baths, a pool and 1,909 square feet of living area. It sold for $243,000 in 1999.

COUNTRY CLUB

Nancy Berkman, trustee, of Boston, sold the home at 13643 Legends Walk Terrace to John and Sue Gouse, of Lakewood Ranch, for $1.08 million. Built in 2004, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,645 square feet of living area.

AMH Roman Two FL LLC sold the home at 6540 The Masters Ave. to Robert Earl Rodgers and Ellen Suzanne Piersol, of Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, for $665,000. Built in 1999, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,663 square feet of living area. It sold for $597,000 in 2015.

WINDING RIVER

Kirk and Julie Phillips, of Holiday, sold their home at 1103 143rd St. NE to James and Jennifer Stoddard, of Liverpool, New York, for $890,000. Built in 2008, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,108 square feet of living area. It sold for $479,000 in 2012.

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

APRIL 12-16

WATERLEFE

Margaret Hahn sold her home at 10213 Discovery Terrace to Robert Stolze, of Bradenton, for $840,000. Built in 2002, it has three bedrooms, three-anda-half baths, a pool and 3,522 square feet of living area. It sold for $721,800 in 2002.

John and Adina Coyle sold their home at 621 Foggy Morn Lane to David Robert Manson, of Ontario, for $425,000. Built in 2002, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,847 square feet of living area. It sold for $260,000 in 2012.

MOORINGS AT HERITAGE HARBOUR

The Mooring Estates LLC sold the home at 8915 Rum Runner Place to Alexander Szabo and Susan Munro, of Ontario, for $805,000. Built in 2017, it has four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 2,359 square feet of living area. It sold for $732,300 in 2017.

PRESERVE AT PANTHER RIDGE

Robert and Wendy Shusko, of McKinney, Texas, sold their home at 21808 Deer Pointe Crossing to William Gates and Lillian Mitchell, of Bradenton, for $779,900.

Built in 2002, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,600 square feet of living area. It sold for $610,000 in 2018.

9B

REAL ESTATE

Lake Club home tops sales at $3.3 million

|

Courtesy photo

This Lake Club home at 14639 Como Circle sold for $3.3 million. It has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,174 square feet of living area.

David Paulson, trustee, of Columbia, Maryland, sold the home at 14261 Sundial Place to Danielle Nicole Forsythe, of Lakewood Ranch, for $495,000.

Built in 2007, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,309 square feet of living area.

Joseph and Colleen Serflek, trustees, of New Berlin, Wisconsin, sold the home at 15310 Blue Fish Circle to John and Sheila Kresse, of Lakewood Ranch, for $389,000. Built in 2005, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,034 square feet of living area. It sold for $319,000 in 2016.

J. Timothy and Jennifer Passmore, of Bradenton, sold their home at 6433 Blue Grosbeak Circle to Sabrina Caceres and Erick Ernesto Nalvarte, of Lakewood Ranch, for $362,000. Built in 2003, it has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 2,572 square feet of living area. It sold for $261,400 in 2003.

DEL WEBB

Barbara Posner, trustee, of Bradenton, sold the home at 17043 Loudon Place to James and Carol Patenge, trustees, of Caledonia, Michigan, for $715,000. Built in 2016, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,488 SEE REAL ESTATE, PAGE 10B

TIDEWATER PRESERVE

Roy and Luanne Ellis, of Bradenton, sold their home at 5512 Tidewater Preserve Blvd. to Robert and Frances Pleska, trustees, of Southport, North Carolina, for $759,000. Built in 2015, it has three bedrooms, two-anda-half baths, a pool and 2,456 square feet of living area. It sold for $515,000 in 2019.

Deborah Jones, of Annapolis, Maryland, sold her home at 922 Preservation St. to Paul Ferrari and Debbie Sue Matthes, of Bradenton, for $435,000. Built in 2007, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,913 square feet of living area. It sold for $518,500 in 2007.

Cynthia Gravino, of Bradenton, sold her home at 902 Riverscape St. to Luca and Nahla Tamras, of Ellenton, for $415,000. Built in 2007, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,584 square feet of living area. It sold for $285,000 in 2014.

In with the new SALES GALLERY OPEN

Longboat Key The Residences at the St. Regis | 941.213.3300 From the $2,000,000’s Call for appointment. SRResidencesLongboatKey.com

WATERFRONT HOMES & HOMESITES

Bradenton Riverfront Riverside Point | 941.201.8505 Home sites from $229,900 | Homes from the low $600,000s RiversidePointFlorida.com

STANHOPE GATE

Gary Wayne Miller and Rebecca Ann Miller, of Bradenton, sold their home at 7048 Stanhope Place to John and Evelyn Hodson, of Delray Beach, for $740,000. Built in 2001, it has four bedrooms, three-anda-half baths, a pool and 3,729 square feet of living area. It sold for $670,000 in 2019.

GREENBROOK

Lee Allan Horner and Patricia Horner, of Bradenton, sold their home at 14504 Sundial Place to F. Dean and Patricia Harrington, of Rumford, Rhode Island, for $720,000. Built in 2007, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,100 square feet of living area. It sold for $490,000 in 2016.

MOVE-IN READY

Downtown Sarasota Risdon on 5th | 941.365.1414 From the high $300,000s RisdonOn5th.com

NOW SELLING NEW PHASE

Northwest Bradenton Palma Sola Bay Club | 941.216.7436 From the high $300,000s PalmaSolaBayClub.com

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

Virtual home tours | OnDemand local experts | Interactive site and floorplans

WWW.MICHAELSAUNDERS.COM/NEW-HOMES | 844.591.4333 | SARASOTA, FLORIDA 355163-1 Prices as of February 2021.

Licensed Real Estate Broker

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

Real estate

Get Out and Get Zipping!

FROM PAGE 9B

square feet of living area. It sold for $593,400 in 2016.

STONEYBROOK AT HERITAGE HARBOUR

Adventure Awaits in the Trees!

Sarah Elizabeth Sinclair sold her home at 8909 Brookfield Terrace to David Larson and Kristina Sergueeva, of Bradenton, for $710,000. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,424 square feet of living area. It sold for $565,000 in 2019.

Mitzi Justice Jones, of Bradenton, sold the home at 9059 Willowbrook Circle to Vijay and Sonalbala Patel, of Bradenton, for $480,000. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,416 square feet of living area. It sold for $332,000 in 2019.

Sagar Mehta, of Bradenton, sold his home at 214 Heritage Isles Way to Jason Maurice Siegel, of Bradenton, for $369,900. Built in 2005, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,243 square feet of living area. It sold for $310,000 in 2019.

RYE WILDERNESS ESTATES

Kenneth Todd Haner and Luis Manuel Garmendia sold their home at 16623 Sixth Ave. E. to Dwain and Lisa Dehmlow, of Bradenton, for $680,000. Built in 2018, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,138 square feet of living area. It sold for $550,000 in 2020.

Brian and Jennifer Hastreiter, of Bradenton, sold their home at 356 165th Court NE to Katherine and Randal Boughton, of Bradenton, for $590,000. Built in 2007, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,869 square feet of living area. It sold for $341,500 in 2009.

ROSEDALE GOLF AND TENNIS CLUB

David and Lorie Zandi, trustees, of Bradenton, sold the home at 4818 88th St. E. to Carol Mann Clift, of Yardley, Pennsylvania, for $675,500. Built in 2002, it has two bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,494 square feet of living area. It sold for $375,000 in 2013.

COUNTRY MEADOWS

Frederick and Cynthia Lee, of Bradenton, sold their home at 14765 Second Ave. Circle NE to James and Tiffany Taylor for $670,000. Built in 2006, it has five bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,455 square feet of living area. It sold for $523,000 in 2007.

Katherine Neely, of Raleigh, North Carolina, sold the home at 705 Country Meadows Way to Douglas and Sharon Cyr, of Bradenton, for $635,000. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,267 square feet of living area. It sold for $389,000 in 2012.

CENTRAL PARK

Jeffrey and Denise Smith, of Brookhaven, Pennsylvania, sold their home at 4835 Boston Common Glen to Kathy Alexion and Timothy McDonald, of Bradenton, for $625,000. Built in 2012, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,080 square

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feet of living area. It sold for $506,000 in 2020.

Angela and Kyle Elmendorf, of Bradenton, sold their home at 4915 Torrey Pines Run to Phillip and Paula Saks, of Zionsville, Indiana, for $455,000. Built in 2011, it has four bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,021 square feet of living area. It sold for $344,500 in 2019.

COUNTRY CLUB EAST

Stephen Marshall Bull and Susan Cassidy Bull, of Sorrento, sold the home at 14218 Bathgate Terrace to Dana and Robert Garrigan and Deborah and Lief Carroll, of Haymarket, Virginia, for $615,000.

Built in 2016, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,563 square feet of living area. It sold for $560,000 in 2020.

Christian and Matthew Goetz, of Greenlawn, New York, sold their home at 14510 Leopard Creek Place to Monty Dyke and April Stead, of Lakewood Ranch, for $585,000. Built in 2010, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,192 square feet of living area.

ROSEDALE ADDITION

Judith Bua, of Port Jefferson, New York, sold her home at 4623 Tobermory Way to David and Cheryl Columber, of Bradenton, for $603,000. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, two-anda-half baths and 2,686 square feet of living area. It sold for $440,000 in 2018.

Scott and Deborah Martens, of Aurburndale, sold their home at 4608 Tobermory Way to Joseph Francis Sweeney and Catherine Della Sweeney, of Bradenton, for $560,000. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 2,514 square feet of living area. It sold for $467,500 in 2019.

Jay Jayadeva, of Bradenton, sold his home at 10007 Marbella Drive to Gil Siman, of Bradenton, for $395,000. Built in 2017, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,900 square feet of living area.

It sold for $342,000 in 2018.

Anthony Olivera Nguyen Vui, of Bradenton, sold their home at 5131 Tobermory Way to Randie and Brenda Moline, of Bradenton, for $365,000. Built in 2020, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,659 square feet of living area. It sold for $301,000 in 2020.

|

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

VEIN DISEASE MAY BE THE CAUSE OF YOUR LEG PAIN

ARBOR GRANDE

Kathryn Lee Mocadlo and Justin Mocadlo, of Myakka City, sold their home at 12322 Perennial Place to Brandon and Lindsay Tynes, of Bradenton, for $585,000. Built in 2020, it has four bedrooms, four baths and 2,824 square feet of living area. It sold for $452,800 in 2020.

ADVERTISEMENT

New Treatments Are Now Offered in Lakewood Ranch

RIVER PARK AT MOTE RANCH

James and Lilli Powers, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 6108 Palomino Circle to John Mark Breen, of Yorktown, Virginia, for $585,000. Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,866 square feet of living area. It sold for $370,000 in 2012.

By: Marketing Staff at Florida Lakes Vein Center

ESPLANADE

Joe Coley and Kay Ingle Coley, trustees, of Sarasota, sold the home at 13955 Messina Loop to Steven and Betty Phillips, of Grove City, Ohio, for $565,600.

Built in 2016, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,854 square feet of living area. It sold for $512,000 in 2016.

SAVANNA

Donna and Robert Arakel, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 14111 Flat Woods Terrace to David James Calkins and Arelis Rich, of Bradenton, for $560,000. Built in 2018, it has five bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths and 3,282 square feet of living area. It sold for $415,000 in 2019.

There’s good news for those who suffer from venous conditions in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

varicose veins, spider veins, deep vein thrombosis, and venous ulcers.

Many people do not realize leg pain can be caused by vaircose veins or chronic venous insufficiency. Dark blue, twisted veins near the skin’s surface result from weak vein walls and malfunctioning valves caused by genetics, obesity, hormones and prolonged standing or sitting.

Pooling blood can compress the nerves resulting in leg fatigue, cramping, swelling, skin color changes, unexplained itching and restless leg symptoms. Left untreated, vein disease progresses at 4% each year.

AM I AT RISK FOR VEIN DISEASE?

ONLINE See more transactions at YourObserver.com NOMAL VEIN valves ensure blood flows in one direction

DISEASED VEIN

valves that cannot close allaw blood to drain and pool

Many patients (and some doctors) may not understand the disease, or mistake it as a cosmetic issue, leading to needless suffering with symptoms that drastically impact their quality of life. It is estimated that people live with CVI for up to 35 years before seeking treatment. “Everyone at Florida Lakes Vein Center is committed to providing compassionate care and fulfilling our responsibilities to the communities we serve,” said Dr. Lackey.

Join us for our Hermitage Greenfield Prize Celebration events!

First Look at "Ocean Body" by 2019 Prize Winner Helga Davis Thursday, April 8th @ 7pm • Virtual Event

Presented in partnership with EnsembleNew SRQ and Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe

“Amplifying Voices in Theater” Panel Discussion

Saturday, April 10th @ 4pm • Virtual Event with 2021 Prize Jurors Mandy Greenfield, Nataki Garrett, and Robert O'Hara

Find common risks and symptoms at floridalakesveincenter.com FLVC founder, Dr. TC Lackey D.O., is committed to offering the highest quality care, using the most cutting-edge, least invasive procedures possible to treat his patients.

To better serve patients locally, Dr. Lackey has partnered with boardcertified general surgeon and vein specialist Dr. Adam Phillips.

Together, the two doctors will focus on providing the Sarasota and Manatee community with personalized, state-of-the-art venous care with no downtime.

Mention the Observer to reserve your FREE vein screening.

941.866.8989 Florida Lakes Vein Center offers appointments in Lakewood Ranch on Tuesdays & Thursdays 8am- 5pm.

Florida Lakes Vein Center (FLVC), a top medical practice in Sebring, FL, expanded locally, opening offices in Venice and Lakewood Ranch to treat patients suffering from venous conditions that include

Artist Talk: Aleshea Harris, Playwright and 2021 Prize Winner Saturday, April 10th @ 6pm • Live at Hermitage Beach (also Live-Stream)

Virtual Celebration of Hermitage Greenfield Prize Sunday, April 11th • available starting at 7pm • Virtual Event

This special video presentation, with its own unique content, is a tribute to Hermitage Greenfield Prize winners past and present. A benefit for the Hermitage, ticketholders can view anytime through April 25th.

Sneak Preview of New Play Commission by Martyna Majok Monday, April 12th @ 7pm • Virtual Event

Presented in partnership with Asolo Repertory Theatre

356353-1

HermitageArtistRetreat.org

344168-1

For more information, including reservations (required), visit:

9114 Town Center Pkwy | Suite 101 | Lakewood Ranch

11B

12B

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

FORECAST

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

THURSDAY, APRIL 29 High: 89 Low: 70 Chance of rain: 15%

FRIDAY, APRIL 30 High: 87 Low: 71 Chance of rain: 24%

SATURDAY, MAY 1 High: 82 Low: 67 Chance of rain: 40%

Gordon Silver captured this pelican having a bass lunch along White Eagle Boulevard.

SUNRISE / SUNSET

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, April 29

6:52a 8:02p

Friday, April 30

6:51a

8:02p

Saturday, May 1

6:50a

8:03p

Sunday, May 2

6:49a

8:04p

Monday, May 3

6:48a

8:04p

Tuesday, May 4

6:48a

8:05p

Wednesday, May 5

6:47a

8:05p

MOON PHASES

May 19 First

May 26 Full

June 2 Last

June 10 New

RAINFALL Monday, April 19

0

Tuesday, April 20

0.11

SUNDAY, MAY 2

Wednesday, April 21

0.77

Thursday, April 22

0

High: 84 Low: 69 Chance of rain: 16%

Friday, April 23

0

Saturday, April 24

0

Sunday, April 25

0

*Rainfall totals from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport

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

YEAR TO DATE:

MONTH TO DATE:

2021 8.82 in.

2021

2020 11.84 in.

2020 2.24 in.

3.74 in.

MANASOTA FLOORING INC 349216-1

CROSSWORD

©2021 Universal Uclick

ACROSS 1 Cornfield calls 5 Patronize, as a deli 10 Passion 15 Duet’s number 18 Texter’s “I’d say ...”

19 Way to go 20 Titter sound 22 “I knew it!”

23 Pro at damage control (last 3 letters of this answer + ...)

25 Desirable employee (... first 2 of this answer) 27 New Mexico pueblo 28 Olympics prize 30 Up and about

941.355.8437 | Bradenton

941.748.4679 | Venice

LET’S SPLIT DESSERT! by Steve Mossberg; Edited by David Steinberg

31 Transports to an island, say 34 Sis, for one 35 Hockey goal parts 36 Shed many tears 37 Interested in a single person? (last 4 letters + ...)

41 Pacific Northwest airport (... first 2) 45 Bird with a Carolina variety 47 River in the Passover story 48 Karaoke singers read them 50 Harvard’s rival 51 Like a lit lantern

53 Motown founder Berry 55 Quebec native 56 Jar cover 57 Know what everyone else knows (last 2 letters + ...)

59 Restful asana in yoga (... first 3) 62 Leaves on a plate?

63 Onigiri-wrapping seaweed 65 Gave for a while 66 Deep bodies of water 67 Like a party pooper 68 Corrosive liquids 70 “Old gray” animal of song 71 Painting and sculpture

72 Made all better 73 Eyes-on-the-prize mentality (last 3 letters + ...)

77 What late students receive (... first 4) 82 PC key in combinations 83 “Sad to say ...”

84 Formal agreement 85 Colorful chip brand 86 Royal Detective in a Disney Junior show 88 Close up again 90 Places to feed giraffes 92 Let go of 93 Tree with a thick trunk (last 3 letters + ...)

95 One may break a board

941.493.7441 | www.manasotaonline.com

(... first 2) 98 Online chitchat, briefly 99 Versatile blackjack cards 101 Sold-out show letters 102 Sits up suddenly 104 “You ___!” (“Of course!”)

106 Short-term workers 108 “Livin’ La Vida ___” 109 Award for the biggest watermelon, perhaps (last 3 letters + ...)

111 “Dig in!” (... first 3) 116 ___ baby (fluffy pet, to its owner) 117 Iron deficiency 118 “Fingers crossed!”

119 Infamous emperor 120 ‘Do for Esperanza Spalding 121 Repetitive exercise 122 Round peg 123 Ideal location

39 Sand dollar, for instance 40 iPhone assistant 42 Falcon’s catchers?

43 Group of top celebs 44 Give up, as land 46 “Still thinking ...”

49 Anime collectible 52 Harpoon user 54 Orchestra supporters 58 Pointy-eared being 59 Pizza bases 60 Hardest to outfox 61 Hawked 64 Much of the time, poetically 66 Prefix with “pub” 67 Symptom of motion sickness 68 Car stereo port 69 Exclaim 70 Sasha Obama’s sister 72 Thieves 73 Baby sheep DOWN 74 Unlikely to catch up 1 Trans counterpart 75 Cheer in Colombia 2 Concert blaster 76 Bourbon barrel 3 Part of a judo beginner’s 78 Wood-shaping tool outfit 79 Peeved 4 Sub system?

80 ___ code (discount 5 Cliffside trail concern source) 6 Green New Deal rep.

81 Weakens 7 Palindromic cluck 84 It may be set before bed 8 Bit of hydrogen 87 Ease up 9 Sainted Mother 89 Repertoire 10 Encouragement for a 91 Surgeon’s tool certain kid 94 Capital of Ghana 11 Angler’s spool 96 Offer that wins an auction 12 Org. for narcs 97 Blackpink genre 13 “Yeesh!”

100 Cavalry sword 14 Held inside 103 Public commotion 15 Diggs of “All American” 104 “View” from a bullet train 16 Word said to a coffee window server 105 Continental currency 17 Pole in a boat 106 Work hard 21 First-class 107 Trendy NYC neighborhood 24 Quad residence 109 Person u always text 26 Test of one’s metal 110 Composers’ rights org.

29 In a faint way 112 “By yesterday!”

31 Smith’s workplace 113 Gibbon or chimpanzee 32 Tough nuts to crack 33 Improvised on a jazz tune 114 Outrage 115 Great weight 36 Free stuff 38 Beginning of an idea

CELEBRITY CIPHER

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

Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

“F VTKSO LZBU WUZ DTG YTAF LFWPIUSS TG PSUZA IUG PZG, ZAXWIFAC WT EU FA WIU HWKOFT ZAO VZWPI IUG VTGB.” – HIUUAZ UZHWTA

“L’RM XAVXCY FKLMJ FG JG OC RMKC PMYF, XZJ L VXZF FG PM FTM RMKC PMYF XEM, VTXFMRMK XEM L

– XZZ-OXKEKMF

XO.”

Puzzle Two Clue: A equals L

Sarasota

ALL COLORS • ALL STYLES

Puzzle One Clue X equals Y

WOOD FLOORING

© 2021 NEA, Inc.

SUDOKU

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

©2021 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

04-29-21

Made for where you live. Here!

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

DEADLINES: Classifieds - Monday at Noon

The East County Observer reserves the right to classify and edit copy, or to reject or cancel an advertisement at any time. Corrections after first insertion only. *All ads are subject to the approval of the Publisher. *It is the responsibility of the party placing any ad for publication in the East County Observer to meet all applicable legal requirements in connection with the ad such as compliance with towncodes in first obtaining an occupational license for business, permitted home occupation, or residential rental property.

Sporting Goods

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

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

Ad runs 2 consecutive weeks in 1 Observer.

Call 941-955-4888 Or Email ad to: classified@yourobserver.com (Please provide your name and address) Or Online at: www.yourobserver.com Or mail to: The Observer Group 1970 Main St. - 3rd Floor Sarasota, Fl 34236 2013-2014 Ford Focus wheel $125 good condition, do not text. 941-879-7105 265 CD’S, variety of music.

Take all for $125. Authentic German Beer Stein, Pre WW2, etched, 1.2 L $75 941-753-5539 35” ROUND glass top wicker $40, oak coffee table with 2 drawers $35, oak end table $25 941-417-2771 AVON WHITE wicker 2 shelf wall cabinet end box $25.

Concrete birdbath $45.

941-747-7183

POST YOUR AD WITH EASE YourObserver.com/RedPages

GREY-BLACK Metal Mesh table with 4 chairs and blue striped cushions $100. 2 Martha stewart reclining lounge chairs $ 100.

941-417-2445 HOOVER AND Shark hard floor cleaners, like new, $45 each, Total Vibration exercise machine $100 941-925-3084 HUSQVARNA WEED whacker, new, used once, Model 179L $150, Black & Decker shears $20 941-776-3417 PERFECT AA Citron gemstone rectangular 13.5mm x 10.5mm. $199 310-720-7285 STAINLESS STEEL box, 18x12x10 with hinged lid, $10, Argosy Magazines Aug ‘69 & ‘70 $5 for both 941-741-9727 TIKI BAR portable with wheels, two matching stools, reclining lounge chair, tweed fabric, $200 obo each piece 941-417=2445

Garage/ Moving/ Estate Sales MOVING SALE Saturday May 01, 7:30 AM-12:00 PM - 4949 Creekside trial furniture, tools, paintings much more stuff must go

BLACK LEATHER Modern Violini Swivel Recliner Excellent $125 (941) 720-5655

Merchandise Wanted

BUY STUFF HERE!

SENIOR LOOKING to purchase precious metals, diamonds, time pieces, coins, jewelry, antique and estate jewelry, and collectors plates.

Personal and confidential.

Please call Marc: 941-321-0707.

YourObserver.com/RedPages

CONCRETE DOLPHIN statue, 2 ft $70, Waterford paperweight $65, knee pillow $25, metal garden trellis $15 941-359-8460

BEACH'N RIDES eBike Sales and Service We sell and repair Electric Bicycles from our Shop at 12208 Cortez Road, W., in Cortez, Florida.

(941) 251-7916. www.beachnrides.com

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

Autos Wanted

Auto Transport

STORAGE FACILITY Boat/ RV/ Trailer. Secure facility, low monthly rentals, Clark Rd area.

941-809-3660, 941-809-3662.

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

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

FIND BUYERS & SELLERS HERE!

15% DISCOUNT FOR 4-WEEK RUN Color background: $ 5 per week Ad border: as low as $3 per week

PLACE YOUR AD: Call: 941-955-4888 Fax: 941-955-4808 Email: redpages@ yourobserver.com Online: yourobserver.com

You’re only cheating yourself.

Items Under $200

SELL IT FAST HERE!

peekers’ place

stuff

CRAFTSMAN 9” band saw 3 extra blades $100 14 pieces wood bits spade style $15 941-756-4182

TREASURES FOUND HERE!

POST YOUR AD WITH EASE. YourObserver.com/RedPages

Cleaning BRAZILIAN CLEANING Service by Maria. Residential.

Meticulous Cleaning. Excellent References. Free Estimates.

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

941-955-4888 YourObserver.com/RedPages

WE BUY cars. top $$ paid for your vehicles.

Call Hawley Motors: 941-923-3421.

CLAUDIA C. Cleaning Services.

Experienced, dependable, and ready to begin!

Residential.

Excellent references.

941-773-6895.

CLEANING BY Brazilian Lady.

Meticulous, reliable, deep cleaning specialist. Residential.

Commercial. New Construction. 941-400-2866.

This week’s Crossword answers

Advertise your business or service in the Observer

RED PAGES CALL TODAY 941-955-4888

Cleaning HOUSECLEANER: Very honest and reliable. Guarantee quality work.

Have plenty of cleaning references to give upon interview. If interested and you have questions, Call: 660-362-2333.

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.

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers

Puzzle One Solution: “I would make tea for Joni Mitchell or clean her car, anything to be in the studio and watch her work.”

Sheena Easton Puzzle Two Solution: “I’ve always tried to do my very best, and I want to be the very best age, whatever age I am.”

– Ann-Margret

This week’s Sudoku answers

©2021 Universal Uclick

TO ADVERTISE CALL 941-955-4888 OR VISIT YOUROBSERVER.COM/REDPAGES

©2021 NEA, Inc.

Items Under $200

auto

Service Directory - Friday at 3PM • PAYMENT: Cash, Check or Credit Card

home services

INFORMATION & RATES: 941-955-4888

redpages@yourobserver.com • yourobserver.com/redpages

MOW OVER the competition!

RED PAGES

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

Aluminum

Construction

Health

THE BEST This Doctor is Among

SPINAL DECOMPRESSION PHYSICIANS IN AMERICA

Kitchen Renovations and Upgrades Visit our showroom

7262 55th Ave East, Bradenton, 34203

(941) 650-7758

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Board Certified in the specialty of non-surgical spinal decompression

Auto Service

Doors

SELL YOUR CAR!

Sliding Glass Door Repair

WE COME TO YOU

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

Computer

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

ON TARGET

Call 941.358.2224 today to schedule a

FREE CONSULTATION

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

Home Services

OBSERVER RED PAGES

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CREATE BUZZ!

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

Advertise your business in the Red Pages.

Call 941-955-4888

Are You Having Dryer Difficulties?

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

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

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

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SHOWER & BATH MAKEOVERS

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• Window Repairs • Sliding Glass Door Repairs • Sliding Glass Door Deadbolts

941.628.8579

Commercial

Kitchen/Bath Remodeling

Pegatronics.com 356667

www.SarasotaDiscCenter.com

RIGHT

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

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

University Health Park 2415 University Parkway Bldg. 3, Suite 216 Sarasota, FL 34243

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No Pain, No Drugs, No Injections, No Surgery”

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Owner / Operator Insured

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Dustin Yoder

Cleaned - Regrouted - Caulked - Sealed

Call John 941.377.2940

FREE IN-HOME ESTIMATE S

Free Estimates • Sarasota Resident Since 1974

www.showerandbathsarasota.com

GROW YOUR BUSINESS WITH THE RED PAGES

Call to reserve your ad space: 941-955-4888

RED PAGES. MADE FOR WHERE YOU LIVE. HERE! TO ADVERTISE CALL 941-955-4888 OR VISIT WWW.YOUROBSERVER.COM/REDPAGES

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

Landscaping & Lawn

Power Washing

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SAFE ROOF CLEANING

Kenneth Fuhlman Inc. Building & Roofing Contractor

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

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15B

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

Quite Simply The Best Gulf Front Community in Sarasota The Orchid Beach Club

Stunning Luxury Residence in a Gated Community

At the Quiet Tip of Lido Key Overlooking The Conservation Area Walk Your Kayak to the Bay

Glimpses of the Gulf of Mexico and Sarasota Bay This is the only suite available at Orchid Beach 3 Bedrooms, 3.5 Baths, 3,242 sf

Fireplace, Neff Kitchen with glass counter top

Family room, 727 sf balcony with built-in barbecue Garage Parking for 2 vehicles side-by-side

Fabulous Amenities: 24/7 security, concierge, fitness center, massage room, steam room & sauna, library, game room, social room and dining room Fenced beautifully landscaped dog walk, 2 pets allowed Gulf front heated pool & spa $2,195,000

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ADVERTORIAL

DONATING FROM HER DOORSTEP You can give the gift of life with an “at-home” blood donation today.

It’s no secret that Heidi Kocur’s loyalty to SunCoast Blood Centers (SCBC), and the motivation behind her countless blood donations to help the community, runs deep. Her late husband William “Billy” Kocur, a battalion chief who bravely served the Sarasota County Fire Department for 25 years, died in a motorcycle accident back in 2017. Heidi, following the tragedy that shook her family, knows the importance of a blood donation – for someone in dire need, it’s the gift of life.

And Heidi is just steps away from her home when donating blood products.

SunCoast Blood Centers offers a Concierge Donor Program – a completely unique service not found among other blood banks – in which a mini-vehicle drives to your home or office for one-on-one interaction inside the bus scheduled by an appointment. Donors receive the safety and comfort of being parked in their driveway, in case of an emergency, while garnering the full attention and focus of their phlebotomist for a better experience.

The Concierge Donor Program, which actively seeks whole blood and double red blood cell contributions, expedites donors through the giving process compared to large blood mobile buses and fixed sites with wait lines as well. SunCoast Blood Centers collects, on average, six pints per day and roughly 100 monthly through the service. The Concierge Donor Program, stretching Sept. 1 to March 31, even received 644 pints of whole blood, convalescent plasma and double red blood cell donations.

That service, which is currently available four days a week, has certainly been convenient for Heidi and similar donors. The program has even offered a safe way to give blood, away from crowds, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. And SunCoast Blood Centers plans to expand it further with service Monday through Saturday, previously limited because of staffing, and two to three small buses out in your neighborhood daily.

Join donors, like Heidi, and grant the gift of life to someone through SunCoast Blood Centers – and we’ll come to you.

To schedule your appointment today and have a mini-bus park in your front yard, call 844-972-6819 or email home@suncoastblood.org.

suncoastblood.org

BRIDGE April 2021 Issue

Quarterly Member Magazine

From the CEO Page 2

New Team Members Page 6

New in Membership

100 YEARS

Pages 12-13

Leadership Sarasota Pages 14-15

THE CENTENNIAL MURALS Pages 8-9

Click here to Read the April 2021 BRIDGE Magazine: https://issuu.com/greatersarasotachamber/docs/2021_april_bridge_magazine

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*Source: Verified Audit Circulation Annual Audit ending March 31, 2020. **Source: Alliance for Audited Media Annual Audit ending Dec. 31, 2019, does not include Venice and North Port in Sarasota or Charlotte counties. ***Source: Alliance for Audited Media, 24 months ending Dec. 31, 2019.

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