East County Observer 7.10.25

A taxing proposition in Manatee County

Manatee tax collector decides to take $1.5 million ‘commission’ from school district’s referendum funds.

MADISON BIERL STAFF WRITER

The School District of Manatee County board members have expressed concern over what seems to be a new charge from the Manatee County tax collector.

The district has been charged $1.5 million or 2% of the $75 million the district received from October 2024 through June 2025 from the 1 mill referendum that was approved by voters. The charge is called a “commission” that is allowed by state law. It is the first time that the Manatee County tax collector had collected the commission.

Tax Collector Ken Burton said the school district’s voter-approved millage should have been triggering a 2% commission charge for the county since the special tax was approved in 2018 and then extended in 2021. Rachel Sellers, the deputy superintendent of business services for the school district, said it was a surprise to the district.

“We were unaware that the tax collector was going to start taking a commission,” Sellers said.

School board member Chad Choate has been in talks with Burton, who referenced Florida Statute 192.091 (commissions of property appraisers and tax collectors), for why he began to charge the commission.

Choate has encouraged his fellow school board members to meet with Burton, as well. Choate said Burton provided the district with no warning the commission would now be collected.

While a June 27 meeting between Choate and Burton came to no resolution, attorneys representing the school board and the county have

scheduled to meet to determine what happens next. Choate said his assumption is that the “commission” will be removed and the district will be able to go on using all the funds in respect to the referendum.

Burton maintained that it was just “human error” as to why the commission hadn’t been collected in the past. He said the district always should have been paying the 2%.

Choate said if the 2% commission is collected by the county, it will come out of the teachers’ pockets as well as taking money from the STEM programs, arts programs, student security and athletics.

School board members said they weren’t sure what Manatee County intends to do with the money if it is collected and school board member

Richard Tatem said Manatee County should explain why it needs those funds.

Burton said the money will go toward “converting data, mailing bills and collections.” He also said some of the commission collected could be refunded to the district if there are leftover funds from those purposes. He estimated that $750,000 of the $1.5 million collected is likely to be returned.

Choate said his talks with Burton and Tax Collector’s Office Directors

“It’s

very crafty how

they

Steve Riley and Mandie Furgeson, have not been contentious.

“Everybody was very nice and cooperative,” Choate said. “I don’t think there was any malice.”

Choate said the school district, as its own government agency, shouldn’t be charged a commission.

School board member Charlie Kennedy said no other county in Florida, where voters have approved a special property to benefit schools, is collecting a commission.

“Why is every county in Florida not taking it?” Kennedy said. “Why isn’t every tax collector? Was Mr. Burton the first one to catch on to this?”

“Everybody who actually cares about kids went out there and fought for this millage,” said school board member Heather Felton. “The tax collector didn’t get out there and do anything to get this millage. The fact that he gets a commission off doing nothing is disgusting to me. And yes, I’m very irritated about this.”

Felton encouraged the public to contact the tax collector’s office to express their concern with the commission.

“Remind him that we voted for him, that he is taking money from children. This is not a good thing,” Felton said.

Kennedy said he would have much less of a problem with the commission if other counties were paying it.

A spokesperson for Sarasota County Schools said that district does not pay a commission.

Manatee School Board member

Cindy Spray said it’s “ridiculous” the tax collector can charge a commission, or “taxing the tax” as she put it.

“It’s very crafty how they do that,” Spray said. “It’s almost a loophole. To me, I think it’s absurd, and I think we all should.”

do that.

It’s

almost a loophole.

To me, I think it’s absurd, and I think we all should.”

Cindy Spray, school board member

Madison Bierl

Chad Choate, chair of the School District of Manatee County School Board, said the Manatee County Tax Collector should not be charging the district a 2% commission charge for collecting funds generated through the referendum.

Local election promises quashed at state level

Senate Bill 180 is likely to prevent commissioners from reinstating wetland buffers before October 2027.

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

It can be so difficult to get a bill passed through the Legislature that Florida Rep. Bill Conerly (District 72) said if you like 80% of the bill, that’s a success.

He noted that just fewer than 2,000 bills were drafted during the last legislative session, but only about 225 were passed.

There’s one bill, in particular, that caught Manatee County Commission Chair George Kruse’s attention — Senate Bill 180. He posted to Facebook that the bill is “destructive.”

“What was otherwise a very solid bill to manage post-storm emergencies was hijacked as a Trojan horse to carry this terrible language pushed by a single Manatee County developer,” Kruse’s Facebook post reads. “I was really hoping the Governor would see through this and veto SB 180 over this added language, but I guess that was a bit too much wishful thinking.”

Kruse declined to name names when it came to the Manatee County developer because he said it was hearsay through the grapevine, but the added language he was referring to is contained within Section 18 of the bill.

Section 18 restricts local governments from enacting certain regulations within a year after a hurricane makes landfall within 100 miles of the area.

Through October 2027, which could be extended if a hurricane hits, an impacted local government cannot issue a moratorium on construction, reconstruction or redevelopment.

The government also can’t add more restrictive or burdensome amendments to its comprehensive plan or land development code. Kruse was not the only commissioner to take issue with the bill’s language.

Commissioner Bob McCann called it funny how the Legislature uses words like “more restrictive and burdensome” when it has become so restrictive and burdensome with home rule that commissioners can’t mitigate hurricane damages or collect more impact fees.

In January, McCann floated the idea of a building moratorium in Manatee County.

Since the 2024 elections, the newly assembled board has made and approved motions to reinstate the county’s additional wetland buffers, raise impact fees and repeal an ordinance that allows for development

beyond the Future Development Area Boundary, all on behalf of the people who elected them.

However, each of those actions might be interpreted as being more restrictive and burdensome under SB 180.

“What’s the point of elections?”

Kruse said. “You might as well have Kevin Van Ostenbridge sitting here.”

Van Ostenbridge was the former commissioner of District 3, who switched races before the primaries to oppose Kruse for his at-large seat.

Van Ostenbridge’s campaign raised over $225,000, much of it coming from developers and Realtors.

During a public hearing on Oct. 5, 2023, Van Ostenbridge claimed that the community’s efforts to keep the county’s wetland buffers wider than the state’s minimums was a communist movement.

Kruse noted that every commissioner voted in during the 2024 elections won their primaries by 15% or more.

“These were massive, overwhelming mandate-level votes to put people on this board based on the common theme that we’re going to do the things that the public wants us to do,” he said. “We jumped right in and started fixing these things, but we’re being prevented from doing so.”

To those citizens telling commissioners to proceed with their plans anyway, Kruse said it’s not worth the risk because the repercussions could be worse. Commissioners could be removed from office.

He surmised that if the same people who appointed former commissioner James Satcher to be the Supervisor of Elections were to reappoint members of the commission,

the speed at which impact fees would be dropped down would be swift. Projects that have been denied will come back to be approved, and it only takes a couple of seats to sway a board.

Kruse pointed to the 2022 election when he was “minimized by a couple of changes in the elections.” For the next two years, Kruse regularly found himself on the losing side of 6-1 votes.

ELSE CAN BE DONE?

WHAT

Conerly voted to pass SB 180 because he said the bill was more good than it was problematic.

On the good side, the bill will help residents through the recovery process after a hurricane with a poststorm permitting plan. Some communities and municipalities will be required to open up permitting offices for a minimum number of hours per week.

During the county’s budget review last month, Director of Development Services Nicole Knapp said the department needed to hire more staff to catch up on permits from the 2024 hurricane season or fees would have to start being returned to applicants per the state’s requirements.

On the problematic side of the bill, Conerly is certain that additional efforts will be made to adjust the language within the bill to narrow

DIRECT HIT

While most of the state’s actions can’t be directly tied to Manatee County’s actions alone, Commission Chair George Kruse said Senate Bill 784 most certainly was. As of July 1, the bill requires final plats be approved as administrative actions without commissioners voting. Final plats lay out where the lots and streets are in an already approved development.

Prior to the 2024 elections, final plats were approved on the consent agenda without discussion because the projects had already gained approvals. The vote was mainly a formality. After the 2024 elections, commissioners Carol Felts, Bob McCann and Jason Bearden were consistently pulling plats from the consent agenda, asking attorneys to give presentations and then voting against the plats.

“(Legislators) kept saying in their committee meetings that the action was being taken because of one county,” Kruse said. “It was done for Manatee because the developers were sick of having to hire attorneys, and rightfully so.”

Commissioner Jason Bearden said he was aware of the approval process, too. But since he was given a vote, he used it to send a message to developers — slow down.

its application.

The biggest problem he sees with the language contained in Section 18 is that “burdensome” is not defined, so it’s open to broad interpretation.

“There are things in the bill that are problematic to my agenda, too,” Conerly said. “One of them is flood resiliency. I’ve talked about redefining what a 100-year storm is, and the argument could be made that it would be more burdensome.”

He noted that many bills end up with “unintended consequences” because Florida is such a diverse state. Things that work in Miami have to also work in the panhandle, and that can be difficult to accomplish.

He also pointed out that there’s no way to vote on half a bill, and there were important elements within SB 180.

Kruse agreed, noting the training requirements for emergency operations centers is a great idea. However, not being able to update the comprehensive plan or land development code as the commission sees fit is an issue that warrants more time and effort.

He said staff and the county attorney are actively speaking with state agencies to see if there are ways to reword or restructure the wants of the people without violating the ruling of SB 180.

Commissioner Jason Bearden sees voting as the ultimate solution.

“The pressure needs to be put on,” he said. “Do we have the right legislators in office to fight for the people? I don’t think we do.”

Bearden argued that there are more legislators representing special interests than there are legislators representing the people.

“The pressure needs to be put on. Do we have the right legislatures in office to fight for the people? I don’t think we do.”

George Kruse

Photos by Lesley Dwyer

Melody Reedy is one of several Manatee County residents to hold up signs during the land use meeting Oct. 5, 2023, in an attempt to stop commissioners from cutting wetland protections out of the Comprehensive Plan.

The Manatee County commissioners: Tal Siddique, Carol Felts, George Kruse, Mike Rahn, Amanda Ballard, Jason Bearden and Dr. Robert McCann. Siddique, Felts and McCann were newly elected in 2024. Kruse was reelected.

Manatee County's priority projects vetoed

The governor’s vetoes total $1.35 billion across the state, including $576 million in line-item vetoes.

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ov. Ron DeSantis vetoed the four appropriation requests that Manatee County commissioners supported in the state’s fiscal year 2025-26 budget June 30.

Commissioner Jason Bearden called the vetoes disappointing. “We’ve asked for more and gotten way more,” he said of previous years. “But because there’s this fight (between) the Manatee County government and the state, that just shows you that the state will put

politics over people.”

Beardon was referring to the pushback the commission has received over its efforts to reinstate wetland buffers, raise impact fees and repeal the ordinance that allows for development beyond the Future Development Area Boundary.

In January, commissioners were presented with a draft request that contained eight projects that totaled $43.9 million.

By February, Director of Government Relations Stephanie Garrison and legislative aide Crosley Jones asked commissioners to adjust the county’s requests down to just $4 million.

The county’s lobbyist, Amanda Stewart of Johnston & Stewart Government Strategies, had passed on a message from Florida Rep. Will

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Courtesy image

Commissioners Tal Siddique, Jason Bearden, Amanda Ballard and George Kruse visit the House of Representatives in Tallahassee in March to discuss Manatee County’s legislative priorities.

MORE APPROVALS

These Manatee County projects and programs were not among the commission-led list of priorities, but they did survive Gov. Ron DeSantis’ vetoes and will be funded.

Voluntary Prekindergarten Program:

$8,295,999

Data analytics software for hurricane preparedness, response and recovery: $3 million

Fort Hamer interchange: $7.5 million

Road resurfacing: $27,325,280

Right of way land acquisition:

$1,135,342

Public Transit development grants:

$1,364,698

Seaport grants: $17 million

Robinson that the House was trying to get all appropriations requests at or below $1 million.

“They’re trying to manage the size of the budget, and appropriations requests are the main way they’re trying to trim the budget,” Jones told commissioners.

Four projects were cut from the commissioners’ agenda:

■ $10 million to demolish the existing Green Bridge Fishing Pier in Palmetto and design and construct a new structure

■ $5 million for design and construction of the Meadors Subdivision/Pennsylvania Flow Diversion Project in Bradenton to lower the flood stages

■ $5 million for Glen Creek Stormwater Improvements near Tropicana

■ $8 million for Sylvan Oaks Stormwater Improvements in Palmetto

Four projects remained. But instead of requesting the funding all at once, each project was broken down into smaller requests for $1 million a year.

■ $1 million to construct a Veteran Connections Hub in Palmetto ($5 million total)

■ $1 million to connect the Gateway Greenway Trail from Palmetto to Parrish ($2.9 million total)

■ $1 million to design and construct Washington Park to the north of Palmetto ($5 million total)

■ $1 million to construct Fresh Start Manatee, a homeless facility in Palmetto ($5 million total)

Despite the cuts, Commission Chair George Kruse said Manatee County, as a whole, fared well because the city of Bradenton, the islands and institutions, such as the State College of Florida, had major requests granted.

He pointed to approved appropriations for the Anna Maria Island Pier, SCF’s future campus in Parrish and the city of Bradenton’s utilities as examples.

“In the long run, money is fungible,” Kruse said. “One dollar here is $1 there, so I’d rather have $2 million for a pier than $1 million for a trail because at the end of the day, that saves taxpayers money and could conceivably get us further along.”

In total, SCF was allocated $40,019,591 in appropriations, and the city of Bradenton was allocated $8.3 million.

Kruse said the city of Bradenton’s utilities were especially important to the entire county due to pollution issues.

In March 2024, the city’s wastewater treatment facility dumped more than 1 million gallons of wastewater into the Manatee River.

The appropriations will pay for

an equalization tank that will help to regulate the flow of wastewater to prevent surges and a sewer lining program that will strengthen the current sewer lines.

The funding will also cover relocating a lift station, making drainage improvements and installing a storage pond at the Bradenton Water Reclamation Facility.

Beardon still questions how Manatee County could have some of the most powerful representation in the state in Rep. Will Robinson and Sen. Jim Boyd, yet it couldn’t secure $4 million when the commission’s request was cut down from more than $40 million.

“We submitted responsible, community-focused funding requests that would have directly benefited our veterans, seniors and working families,” Bearden said. “When we have particular leaders who veto projects, such as the veteran connections hub, they’re not trimming the fat, they’re cutting into the heart of our community.”

Bearden noted that the veterans hub will serve more than 40,000 veterans in the area, and the county has already dedicated $4 million to the project.

He referred to each of the four requests as infrastructure improve-

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ments that would have enhanced public safety, the quality of life and local tourism.

“If we believe in limited government, then Tallahassee should trust counties like Manatee to identify and execute local solutions,” Bearden said. “This veto undermines local control and punishes responsible governance.”

Rep. Bill Conerly is new to the House, having been elected in 2024. He said it “stings” to have a project you support be vetoed. He agrees with Bearden that veterans should be prioritized.

He put a lot of his efforts into getting Washington Park and a trauma recovery center for Centerstone, which is a nonprofit mental health and addiction treatment center, onto the budget. Both projects were vetoed.

As disappointed as he was, Conerly said the sting was felt across the state.

“There tends to be a focus on Manatee County,” he said. “But Brevard County got hit hard, too. It’s not unique.”

In a letter addressed to Secretary of State Cord Byrd, DeSantis said Florida ranks second in the nation for the lowest per capita spending.

“The Fiscal Year (2026) Florida Budget once again spends less in the coming year than the previous and provides ample tax relief for families and businesses,” DeSantis wrote.

“With today’s vetoes totaling $1.35 billion, which includes $576 million in line-item vetoes, our state reserves will be at a healthy $15.7 billion.”

MORE CUTS

Statewide, the Florida Wildlife Corridor took a major hit with $200 million being cut from Florida’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget. The following projects in Manatee and Sarasota counties were also on the veto list.

■ Manatee County Rural Health Services: $82,283

■ Nathan Benderson Park Secondary Post Storm Shelter and Support Facility: $650,000

■ Civil Citation Program Expansion, Teen Court of Sarasota, Inc.: $350,000

Lesley Dwyer

Upper Manatee River Road is being widened from State Road 64 to the Fort Hamer Bridge. The project will receive $7.5 million from the state.

Where A Little Sparkle Brightens Your Day

HOSA honors Nolan Middle School student

Peter Hotaling, 13, entered his essay in the Health Career Preparation category against students from around the world.

MADISON BIERL STAFF WRITER

Lakewood Ranch resident Peter Hotaling, 13, dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon because he is fascinated by how the brain works. He would like to help people who have tumors, head injuries or any other brain-specific problem that might occur.

“It’s always been so unique and complicated, and it’s like a puzzle with a million pieces,” Hotaling said.

Hotaling represented R. Dan Nolan Middle School at the Health Occupations Students of America International Conference from June 18-22. The conference was held at Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee, with over 14,000 students represented. He competed in the Health Career Preparation category against 23 other students from around the world.

Part of the competition was to write a speech about goals and how HOSA can a student achieve those goals. Hotaling’s speech was rated by judges, who eventually placed him third in the middle school division.

Hotaling said he first became interested in the medical profession when his father, Patrick Hotaling, had surgery for an appendicitis in 2022. His father hadn’t been feeling well, and he went to the emergency room. Immediate surgery was needed to remove his appendix, which was in danger of bursting.

“I was like, ‘Oh, they saved his life,’” Peter Hotaling said.

Peter Hotaling discovered this “whole new world” of studies through HOSA. In a premedical class at Nolan, he said he was given a book that made an immediate impact.

“Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story” was written by Ben Carson, a retired neurosurgeon who performed

high-profile surgeries throughout his career, including the successful separation of conjoined twins on Sept. 6, 1987.

“He was a legend in the neurosurgical field, so he kind of inspired me to (pursue) that sort of place in the medical field,” Peter Hotaling said. In HOSA, students participate in leadership and teamwork activities, speeches and games such as medical Jeopardy! Hotaling competed in competitions during sixth and seventh grades and feels like he has grown through those experiences. Those competitions made him nervous in sixth grade, but he found a sense of calm during his seventhgrade competitions. He said he felt more prepared and confident. His mother, Nicol Hotaling, agreed his confidence improved. She said hard work and preparation compensated for anything he was lacking before and allowed him to push forward at those times when the competition judges would send him “daggers” with their harsh facial expressions.

Courtesy image

Peter Hotaling placed third in the Health Career Preparation category. He wrote and performed a speech on why he is interested in the medical field and how HOSA can help him achieve his dream of becoming a neurosurgeon.

Expressly intended for the Ranch

Expressionist painter Deena King brings her brand of art to Waterside.

JAY HEATER MANAGING EDITOR

One of Deena King’s credos is that art is a wild and beautiful journey.

That journey has taken her out of downtown Sarasota to Lakewood Ranch, where she is now settled into a somewhat minimalist studio just south of Kingfisher Lake and Waterside Place.

Such a short journey, only about 10 miles, would seem to be a negligible trip, no big deal for an expressionist painter who spends much of her time working with “my head in the clouds.”

But the change for King in 2025 is both significant for herself, and for her new place of business.

Lakewood Ranch, for all its efforts to become arts friendly, has struggled over its 30 years of existence in its efforts to add the arts to its lifestyle component. Plans for theaters have fallen through, and galleries have come and gone. The arts culture now is delivered in pop-up style, with shows lining Lakewood Main Street for a couple of days at a time, then disappearing for six months or more. SchroederManatee Ranch, Lakewood Ranch’s developer and parent, has added bursts of creativity with its Sights and Sounds series that runs once a month, and sometimes twice, at the Waterside Place pavilion. Against that landscape, King has decided to make a go of it in Lakewood Ranch, which she says is ripe for a gallery. If her efforts at 8326 Consumer Court in Waterside, where she rents a space for her Define Arts Gallery, are successful, she said she will look for a more bustling street in

Lakewood Ranch to move her gallery, which would rival the one she had at 68 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota.

“I learned a lot at Palm Avenue,” said King, who lives with her husband, Casey King, at Tatem Ridge, just off Fruitville Road and close to her new studio. “At Palm, I would get a lot of buyers from Lakewood Ranch.

“These are new buyers, who are not seasonal or tourists. They are full-time buyers and they are younger. You get an older buyer, and they are looking for traditional art. The younger buyers, and I am talking in their 40s and 50s, they view art differently. It doesn’t need to match the sofa and drapes. They want it to match their personality. So let’s see what Lakewood Ranch has to offer.

It is booming.”

While King, who was a graphic designer for 20 years before spending the past 10 years in the fine arts community, said it can be nice when art does match the sofa and drapes, her art is about personality.

“It’s intuitive,” she said. “It’s whatever is feeling right at the moment. It just feels right to me.

“There is this strange connection between me and the canvas.”

She looked up at one of her acrylic paintings on the wall of her new studio. It had a series of circles in no particular order. In this work, the circles are not bold in color, almost as if they are peeking out of the canvas.

“I believe less is more,” she said. “I just start creating. It’s a lot of circles, but they aren’t apparent. It just feels right.”

Her new studio itself resembles a big garage with a high ceiling. It is a neutral environment with electrical conduits running across the walls, a double-car garage door, and insulation in full view. She displays approximately 20 paintings on the walls or on easels. At this time, she only hosts potential buyers by appointment, but in a few months, she will host an official opening with perhaps a type of pop-up event once a week.

She likes the environment because she said buyers aren’t distracted from her work by the surroundings.

Of her work, she said, “I’m an abstract expressionist artist drawn to the layers, emotions and messy beauty of the human experience.”

The messy beauty was not on display this day, as to prepare for an interview, her work table was covered with a clean sheet of plastic. She smiled when explaining it is not normally in such a state. It is obvious she kind of likes the messy side of her profession.

It would be ineffective to describe her work as a whole because it differs so much, depending on her mood or emotional state. One work would be

IF YOU GO DEFINE ARTS GALLERY IN WATERSIDE

Who: Deena King

Address: 8326 Consumer

Court Contact: Call 500-2393 or go to DeenaKing.com for an appointment.

“It’s whatever is feeling right at the moment. It just feels right to me. There is this strange connection between me and the canvas.”

Deena King

a burst of color with her trademark love of blue, but another would be dark and distant. Many of her works contain a written explanation on the back, telling of a poem or thought that prompted her to go a certain direction.

A graduate with a degree in fine arts in graphic design from Fort Hays State, in her native Kansas, her early love of art was inspired by her grandmothers, who “were constantly quilting and crocheting.”

“I thought it was neat that they made something with their hands,” King said.

Her direction toward expressionism took a turn at Hays High School because of encouragement from her art teacher, Mick Jing. Since her education set her up for a career in graphic design, she followed that path for 20 years before launching her fine arts career.

Being an expressionist means dealing with ebbs and flows, both of emotions and in business. Those who come to her studio can have extreme reactions to each individual piece.

“You need to have a tough skin,” she said. “It’s the world of art.”

It’s the same in business, as some months can see good sales, while others linger in a financial desert.

Her stability is provided by her husband. Casey, the director of IT for Molex, a Chicago company which specializes in technological expertise for healthcare, aerospace and other industries.

“(The new studio) is a good stepping stone,” Deena King said. “This is kind of like what I did on upper Main Street (her studio before the one at Palm Avenue) in Sarasota. This is definitely a destination point, and I love that boutique-style gallery. I am going to see what my reception is like here in Lakewood Ranch. If this works out, I might have a storefront again.”

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Deena King, who has opened her Define Arts Gallery in Waterside, says Lakewood Ranch has buyers who are more interested in art that shows personality.

Deena King says she has a strange connection with the canvas when she paints.

Deena King says the Lakewood Ranch market is full of buyers who don’t care if their art matches the sofa and the drapes.

Photos by Jay Heater

Star-Spangled Spectacular tests Waterside’s limits

Sometimes, things just go right. Consider Schroeder-Manatee Ranch’s decision to host a July 4 event at Waterside Place.

In the past, it never seemed to be an issue, letting that holiday pass without anything special being held on Lakewood Ranch ground.

It’s hot on July 4. Real hot, and often humid. Who wants to be sweaty? And then, there’s that pesky lightning, and rain.

But the residents let SMR know they wanted something special right here so they didn’t need to cross Interstate 75 to attend someone else’s celebration. SMR listened, and then delivered.

It’s not popular to give a developer a pat on the back for a job well done, but come on people, this was a major win.

Star-Spangled Spectacular was a hit, and I would imagine it is an event that will be held on an annual basis for years to come.

Thousands of people jammed into Waterside Place to enjoy carnival games, the restaurants, a magical circus show and a drone show to cap the evening.

Was it crowded? Yes. Think of walking down Main Street at Walt Disney World an hour before closing.

I’m not joking. It was like pushing your way past shoppers in the Detwiler’s produce aisle at noon on Saturday.

When you are talking about attending a special event, though, that’s not a bad thing.

Sure it would be nice if rollerskating sensations Anita and Karoly Zeman would do their act in your backyard, but that isn’t likely. To see them, for free, it’s going to be a packed house. That’s not to mention all the other Circus Arts Conservatory entertainers who gave us a taste of what makes them so very special.

I am sure over the next few weeks,

you are going to hear some parking horror stories. Think of UTC’s annual holiday parade, where the moans and groans last for weeks after one of the region’s premier and beloved events. It’s like the Yogi Berra quote, “Nobody goes there anymore because it’s so crowded.”

The residents wanted this event, and they kept coming until Waterside Place could hold no more. SMR has estimated that more than 8,000 people attended the event.

About 9:15 p.m., when I went to my car, which was parked in the lot that at one time was supposed to be the Players Theatre, I had to weave through cars that were parked in areas that weren’t meant for vehicles. If there was an opening in the landscape, there was a car on it.

If they could have parked in the trees, there would have been cars there, too.

After leaving the lot and heading down Deer Drive, there were lots of cars parked on the median, and in grass areas on each side of the road ... again, places that weren’t meant for cars.

Traffic was so heavy coming out of Waterside Place — and I beat most of the crowd to my car — that I couldn’t turn toward Lakewood Ranch Boulevard on Deer Drive. Instead, I went the opposite way, eventually hitting University Parkway and making my way to Lorraine Road. It was a bit out of the way, but it worked well.

Popular events can get crazy, so you just need to be prepared, and have a bit of a plan.

I arrived at Waterside Place about 5 p.m. for the event, which was billed as a 6 p.m. starting time. The lot where I parked was empty, other than perhaps a car or two.

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There had been threats of storms all day, so I admit that I was a bit worried that the first Star-Spangled Spectacular was going to be a flop in terms of attendance.

SMR had a strong social media presence, making sure as many people as possible knew the event was rain or shine. I guess the message got through.

I knew I was going to be early for the entertainment, so I headed to Agave Bandido for happy hour tacos. Along the way, I came upon Lakewood Ranch Communities’ Grace Flowers, Nicole Hackel and Taylor Riffle, who helped deliver the event. They were a bit nervous, too, that Waterside Place was virtually empty at the time.

In the time it took me to eat two tacos, the streets of Waterside Place filled to capacity. I loved walking past the families

who were enjoying all those carnival games. Parents stood outside the inflatables, patiently waiting for their children to bounce their final bounce. You could swing the hammer and try to ring the bell, negotiate the twisty ladder, throw the plastic ax or win a small prize in a host of other games.

People who had the drone show at the top of their list began setting up chairs along Kingfisher Lake by 6 p.m. Some actually sat for three hours waiting for the show. Many of them arrived on shuttles that took them back and forth between offsite parking lots.

The point is, that if you planned ahead, and arrived early, you had no problem parking at Waterside Place or taking in any of the entertainment.

I am a big fan of fireworks, although I knew the close proximity of all those homes along Kingfisher Lake makes that a tough proposition for Star-Spangled Spectacular in the future. After attending the first event, I would imagine any thought of fireworks is likely dead. At 8,000 people or more, Waterside Place had to be close to capacity, if not at the limit, so fireworks would likely create a situation where people would have to be turned away.

The possibilities, though, for Waterside Place in general are interesting, and exciting. If you can host more than 8,000 spectators for July 4, what would it be like for a major concert, or festival? What will SMR do next?

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

Jay Heater

Roller skating sensation Anita Zeman manages to keep smiling, even as her husband Karoly Zeman launches her into the air under the Waterside Place Pavilion July 4 during Star-Spangled Spectacular.

Do-it-yourself police reports come to Manatee

In the first two weeks of online service, about 200 reports were filed through the Sheriff’s Office website.

The Manatee County Sher -

iff’s Office introduced a new way for citizens to file police reports — online, at any time of day or night.

“Online reporting is something we’ve been working toward for a long time because we understand the convenience of it,” said Randy Warren, the Sheriff Office’s public information officer. “It’s just the world we live in today. A lot of law enforcement agencies have gone in this direction.”

The system is only for nonemergencies, such as vandalism or identity theft. Residents should call 911 to report emergencies and crimes in progress.

Only incidents that take place in unincorporated Manatee County can be reported. If the incident happens in the city of Bradenton, Palmetto, Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach or Longboat Key, it needs to be reported to the respective city’s police department.

But if two drivers in East County get into a fender bender, they no longer have to wait for a deputy to arrive on the scene to file a police report. Drivers can exchange information, snap a few photos and be on their way.

Drivers have the option to file a report on the spot with a smartphone or wait until they get home. Photos and documentation can be attached to the online report.

The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office receives nearly 1,000 calls for service per day. The online portal was launched in June and has

received about 200 report filings. Deputies follow up on each report, so introducing the system wasn’t about freeing up their time, it was designed to offer an additional avenue for the public to communicate with them.

Warren noted that even though residents have to provide contact information in most cases, there’s a sense of anonymity when filing online, so people who might be shy or hesitant to file a police report in person could be more apt to do so online.

MCSO deputies simply want all the information they can gather.

“That’s intel that will then lead to us to connecting the dots on other cases,” Warren said. “Don’t hesitate to give us a report of information. You might not think it’s important, but it’s important to us because we may be seeing a trend.”

Warren emphasized that people are encouraged to speak with a deputy however they prefer, whether that be online, over the phone, walking into a police station or having a

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

File photos

Unincorporated Manatee County residents can now file some police reports online without having to wait on a deputy.

Rick Wells is the Manatee County Sheriff. The Sheriff’s Office introduced a new feature on its website where residents can file nonemergency police reports.

REQUIREMENTS AND ONLINE FILING OPTIONS

To file an online police report with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, visit ManateeSheriff.com/Services/ File_A_Report_Online.PHP. The online system is not intended for emergencies or crimes in progress. Residents must be at least 18 years old to file a report. The incident had to occur in unincorporated Manatee County, and the filer can not know the suspect because of an in-person mandatory affidavit requirement.

The following is a list of reports and registrations that can be filed online: Accident report, check forgery, Combat Auto Theft registration, construction site theft (if no forced entry), credit or debit card fraud, harassing phone calls, identity theft, immigration scams, information report, lost property, online or phone scams, package theft, registration for bikes and golf carts, self-checkout scams, shoplifting, theft and vandalism.

deputy visit their home or business.

The website is simply meant to enhance MCSO’s services. It eliminates wait times to file nonemergency police reports. Residents can also save themselves in-person visits for bike, golf cart and “Combat Auto Theft” registrations.

All three registrations aim to assist in recovery if the item is stolen. The Combat Auto Theft registration is part of a voluntary program that is intended to prevent auto theft.

A decal is placed on the vehicle, which grants law enforcement the right to stop the vehicle and detain its occupants at any time between the hours of 1-5 a.m. for the purpose of determining if the vehicle is stolen.

Warren said MCSO took its time before launching the online system because the staff wanted to make sure the website was simple to use.

So far, Warren said the Sheriff’s Office has received no complaints about difficulties filing a report online.

The website offers 20 multiple choice options as to which type of report can be filed. Beside each option is a definition and an example. Any restrictions or mandatory attachments are noted in red lettering.

For example, the category of “lost property” is defined as “when property is missing or lost.” Red lettering notes that lost firearms, driver’s licenses, vehicle tags and decals cannot be reported online.

The example further explains what constitutes lost property: Leaving items in a location by mistake, forgetting a purse at a restaurant, leaving a wallet on a store counter and misplacing or unintentionally dropping your mobile phone.

The next page leads to the report where contact information and details about the incident can be provided.

Once the report is processed, a deputy reviews it and makes contact.

Warren called the online system a “win-win” because it eliminates wait times for residents and helps the deputies process information.

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Shown is an example of an online accident report.

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Beds

almetto’s Jessica Godfrey called Beds for Kids a godsend.

Godfrey volunteers for Help to Home, which operates Hope Village, a 16-unit transitional housing program that assists families with children who are homeless or threatened with homelessness.

Help to Home began temporarily housing families 10 years ago, but just built and opened the 16-unit complex in Bradenton.

Beds for Kids, which was founded by East County’s Mark Coates and operates out of his home, delivered two beds to the model unit June 19. Godfrey handed out nine sets of keys July 1 and already has another 14 bed requests for the nonprofit.

“We’re so lucky to have this resource — not everybody does,” Godfrey said. “They’re an amazing group of people.”

Godfrey said people who are homeless or on the verge of becoming homeless are already bogged down by stress. Getting them moved in and stabilized requires coordination between several different resources.

East County resident Kari Shear, whose husband, Todd, is the nonprofit’s vice president, takes the bed requests, schedules deliveries, makes deliveries and manages the Bed for Kid’s Facebook page.

Among those resources that work with Help to Home, Shear’s communication stands out. Not every nonprofit provides updates the way Beds for Kids does.

Godfrey said she and those she helps never have to deal with the

File photo

Volunteers are given an introduction by Beds for Kids founder Mark Coates before heading into the workshop to build beds.

“undue stress” of not knowing if or when a bed request will be fulfilled because of Shear’s diligence and the nonprofit’s reliability.

“It’s kind of like a mom-and-pop type, compared to nationwide (nonprofits),” Shear said, “But we’ve never turned anyone away.”

Beds for Kids delivers anywhere between 30 and 50 beds per month. They fill orders within a week or two of receiving them.

Recipients must live in either Sarasota or Manatee county and be referred by a school, nonprofit or government agency. An individual cannot make the referral.

Shear said the beds are easy enough to make that most anyone can volunteer when it comes to constructing them. The nonprofit takes the summer off from building because it’s too hot, but during the fall and winter months, residents can volunteer to build the first Saturday of each month.

The beds are built in pieces for delivery purposes, and stations are set up to simplify the process.

One person can be drilling holes through a headboard for screws at one station, while someone else is wrapping the bed slats together at another station.

On painting days, kids can also volunteer. However, they need to be old enough to follow directions and stay focused enough to paint for several hours.

The wood beds are kept natural, but each bed is delivered with a sleep scripture painted on the slats that hold the mattress.

Proverbs 3:24 says, “You can go to bed without fear; you will lie down and sleep soundly.” That’s one of six scriptures the nonprofit uses.

Anywhere up to 60 volunteers attend the first Saturdays. Shear said when volunteers help once, they usually want to help again.

When delivered, each bed comes with a mattress, bedding, a Bible and a prayer rug.

The wood and mattresses are donated by large suppliers, but the rest is provided by the community.

Local church groups hand make the prayer rugs and quilts, although not every bed gets a quilt because it’s tough to keep up with the demand.

Bayside Church provides most of the Bibles, which are tailored to children and are also available in Spanish.

The community at-large helps buy bedding. The nonprofit created an Amazon wishlist to make it easy.

The list contains twin size bed-in-abag comforter sets for boys and girls of all ages that cost $50 or less.

Children ages 3-17 are eligible to receive a bed, but most of the children receiving beds are ages 10 and under. A stuffed animal is added to the delivery when the kids are little.

For the children Godfrey serves, the beds delivered by Beds for Kids are often the first beds those children can call their own. If they slept in a bed, they were most likely co-sleeping with their parents or siblings, and many of them have been sleeping on floors or in cars.

The families are moving in with mainly just the clothes on their backs. Godfrey used one of the mothers who received a key July 1 as an example; she brought a pot and a frying pan.

While the housing at Hope Village is temporary for up to two years, the beds are for keeps. When that family is back on its feet, that child’s bed will move with them into permanent housing.

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Courtesy image

Volunteers paint scriptures on the bed slats.

Giving the boot to bad business

LWRBA sets up Small Business Bootcamp to teach important business skills.

JAY

HEATER MANAGING EDITOR

When the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance decided to plan its 2025 Small Business Bootcamp, it was fitting it decided to recruit Eric Konovalov to speak at one of the sessions.

First of all, Konovalov, a refugee from the former USSR, served in the U.S. Marine Corps for eight years, so he is familiar with how effective a boot camp can be.

Next, unlike the other speakers, Konovalov’s business, The Goal Guide, is focused on helping businesses learn sales, leadership, communication and mindset skills that will help them optimize their potential. He also created Relentless Goal Achievers, a private coaching community for business leaders from around the world.

The boot camp, which is open to LWRBA members and the public, begins July 10 with the first of three sessions — Foundations for Growth. Konovalov joins Wayne Parrish of Rite Technology and Chris Williams of Aginto in teaching the seminar.

Foundations for Growth will deal with personal branding, networking and targeted sales outreach.

The second session on July 17 is Scaling Smart, which will be led by LWRBA’s Tim Estep, Annemarie Graff of Bank OZK and Amanda Parrish of Fawley Bryant Architecture. The session focuses on assessing a business’s readiness to scale, implementing effective systems and leveraging resources and funding to amplify reach and impact.

The third session July 24 is Pro-

IF YOU GO

What: Small Business Bootcamp Where: Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance Office, 5391 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., N., Lakewood Ranch

When: 7:30-9 a.m. July 10, July 17, July 24

Cost: LWRBA members $99; nonmembers $119

Sign up or more information: Go to LWRBA.org.

tecting Your Progress, which features Henry Decoo of Entech, Kaitlyn Perez of KPC Strategies, and Zachary Schumacher of Brown and Brown. Those speakers will concentrate on mitigating risks to safeguard a business and to ensure long-term success.

Besides gaining some pearls of business wisdom, Konovalov said those who attend will be “surrounded by like-minded, growth-minded individuals” who will make it an excellent networking opportunity.

“When you start a business, information comes at you like water out of a fire hydrant,” Konovalov said.

“If you don’t know what to do when somebody is ready to buy, your business won’t grow.”

Konovalov is donating his expertise to the seminar for free when normally business owners hire him.

“There is no such thing as speaking for free,” Konovalov said. “And I want to add value to the community. I want to raise awareness. I am out there every day selling. I am not teaching things that I learned 30 years ago.”

Konovalov remembered wisdom that has helped him throughout his business career.

“I was told, ‘Go to where your

clients are,’” he said. “It came from someone who was way ahead of me in his career. I started looking at the places I was spending time. My clients weren’t there. I started hanging out at country clubs. His advice was so profound.”

Each of the nine speakers has a few areas of expertise they will discuss with those who attend. For example, Perez is the former Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office Community Affairs director. She communicated on behalf of the Sheriff’s Office during critical incidents.

She will focus on helping businesses and organizations navigate crisis situations.

But she also will offer tips in other practices, such as pitching a business in person, face to face.

“Business is about relationships,” she said. “It’s about listening to people, and listening to what their issues are.”

She said one of the best pieces of advice she has received over the years is “define rather than defend.”

“Instead of defending yourself, define what kind of company you are,” she said. She said other factors she will

address are “Stay in your lane,” and “Don’t be the loudest person in the room.”

Perez said it makes sense that the LWRBA offers such a boot camp.

“We have an awesome blend of smart business people who want each other to succeed,” she said.

Parrish will talk about topics such as “not being a yes man.”

“If you are a ‘yes man’ and you agree all the time with your boss, one of you isn’t worth your salary.”

She said navigating the business world often means understanding that there is an important place and time to share your voice.

Parrish said it is important to find an environment where you can be “a catalyst of growth.”

Another topic Parrish will address is “scaling smart” or how to growth effectively. How to amplify strengths.

While Konovalov has firsthand knowledge of the theme, boot camp, neither Perez or Parrish were in the military.

Nevertheless, all three agree there “will be no swearing,” during this boot camp.

Jay Heater Eric Konovalov, of The Goal Guide, accepts the 2024 Volunteer of the Year award, the top award at the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance’s Sandies.

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OBSERVER IS POPULAR IN PARIS: Patrick and Debbie Johnston took the East County Observer on a trip to the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Asolo Rep’s ‘A Year With Frog and Toad’ explores the seasons of friendship.

WILD, WHIMSICAL, WOODLAND

MARTY FUGATE CONTRIBUTOR

Scott Keys says some of his favorite characters are frogs and toads. “A Year With Frog and Toad” introduced him to those amiable amphibians; he’s directing the Asolo Repertory Theatre production of Robert and Willie Reale’s musical. This heartwarming, hilarious show follows the yearlong adventures of Frog and Toad. Adapted from Arnold Lobel’s beloved children’s classics, the musical odyssey is structured as a series of short vignettes. According to Keys, the theatrical journey is well worth taking.

As a director, you’re focusing your adult brain on “A Year with Frog and Toad.” Has that changed your take on Arnold Lobel’s original children’s stories?

No. Before directing this show, I didn’t have a take. I hadn’t actually read those stories as a child.

I’d heard of “A Year With Frog and Toad,” but I assumed it was a musical adaptation of “Wind in the Willows.” But Peter Rothstein, Asolo Rep’s producing artistic director, is big on children’s theater. He reached out to me and asked if I’d like to direct a summer production, and I said “yes.” Once I did my research, I realized this musical has nothing to do with Kenneth Grahame’s classic. It’s an adaptation of a very American, very popular set of children’s books. After I read the source material, I fell in love.

How do you balance musical entertainment and faithful storytelling?

Well, Willie Reale’s script does that — it follows Lobel’s stories very closely. His books definitely do have a story arc — the friendship between Frog and Toad ties everything together. But it’s not a linear narrative. The original stories are self-contained and go from one vignette to the next. The musical echoes that — and it bounces from one novelty number to the next. I describe it as “wild, whimsical, woodland vaudeville.”

So, it’s kind of like “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.”

That movie was officially a story about the grail quest. But it was really sketch, sketch, scene, scene. Each bit stood on its own.

Yes, exactly. In “Frog and Toad,” it’s sketch, song, sketch, song. But the structure’s very similar.

Is directing at Asolo Rep a big step up for you?

It’s been an incredible step. It’s kind of a bucket-list moment for me. I’ve directed all over Florida and have known the Asolo folks for years, but I’ve never had the chance to direct there until now.

You’ve literally reached a new stage in your career. How does it feel?

Asolo Rep offers a much bigger theatrical sandbox to play in — more people, more resources and a very professional environment. You get your set and props on day one, and the support is amazing. It’s creatively energizing — and it feels great. Does working with student actors impact your direction? No. But “student actor” really gives the wrong impression. They’re all

process is collaborative and communicative — there’s a real “yes, and” energy. We’re having a blast. Does that apply to your other creative collaborators? Absolutely. They’ve all been a blast.

Carl Haan, our brilliant music director, has been a joy to work with. And Cat Brendisi, our choreographer, has become a dear friend. We’ll sit through rehearsals and talk about style. Or I’ll call her out of the blue with a brainstorm. Just the other day, I had an idea for “I’m Coming Out of My Shell,” Snail’s big vaudeville number. I said, “What if we do it as a striptease — but family friendly? Snail’s in gloves and a scarf for most of the year. He delivers this letter in winter and finally feels fulfilled — and comes out of his shell!” Cat loved the idea. That’s how we work — lots of shar-

IF YOU GO ‘A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD’ When: July 16 -

Where: FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami

Tickets: $15-$19

AsoloRep.org.

Will Westray and Alex Hatcher star in Asolo Repertory Theatre’s “A Year With Frog and Toad.”

Images courtesy of Adrian Van Stee

How do the designers capture Lobel’s whimsical tone?

Set designer Natalie Eslami has been incredible. She loved the “Frog and Toad” books as a kid. (The original) illustrations were very simple. She references them, but we wanted to go more stylistic. For spring, she suggested vintage lampshades as flowers. She plays with scale — like big blades of grass and oversized props. Natalie also plays with duality. Downstage, it’s a slatted wood floor. Upstage, it becomes a grassland. Costume designer David Covach has also been very inventive. So, our birds are 1920s flappers with feather boas and headpieces. Snail is a little bumpkin with a big backpack roaming the forest. He dressed Frog in all greens — very dapper and debonair. Toad’s costume is in browns and oranges with polka dots.

Are the actors in amphibian makeup?

No, the characters are very anthropomorphized. We’re suggesting their animal natures through color and texture, not their costumes. They hop into place sometimes. But no makeup and no frog suits. How do design and performance evoke the passage of the seasons?

In autumn, leaves fall from the ceiling. Frog and Toad rake each other’s

leaves — then squirrels mess them up. As winter approaches, snowflakes fall. Frog and Toad hibernate in winter, wake up in spring. The whole year is a cycle of friendship. Just very playful little vignettes.

This show is part of Asolo Rep’s educational outreach. Does that influence your directorial choices?

Yes. Having been a teacher and director, I’m keenly aware of the educational dimension. We’re targeting a younger audience and hoping their parents or grandparents will come too. Asolo shows are typically more mature — “Frog and Toad” is specifically for young people. Our dramaturg, James Monaghan, is putting together some wonderful activities — like mazes, word searches and a gallery of famous amphibians. There’s even a “Write a letter to your best friend” prompt. It ties into the show’s throughline of Frog writing Toad a letter. Ideally, the students will write and mail an actual letter, not just an email.

Why is that important?

Because a letter in the mail is real human contact. That’s what “Frog and Toad” is all about. They’re friends together in the real world — they’re not communicating through

SCOTT KEYS: A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS

After a productive decade in New York City, Scott Keys moved to sunny Sarasota with his partner, David Covach (now head of costumes at Asolo Rep) in 1993. In the years that followed, he’s made his mark across the area’s performing arts scene. A big impact, in more than one field. This multitalented man of many hats is an educator, actor and director. Keys has directed more than 150 local shows, including “Ruthless!” for Sarasota Players in 2023 and “Parade” for Manatee Players in 2024.

This tireless talent is also a published composer, lyricist and playwright. Keys lit up the stage with his original one-man shows at the 2023 and ’24 Squeaky Wheel Fringe festivals.

But his warm, witty adaptation of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” is Keys’ local claim to fame (a collaboration with composer E. Suzan Ott and others). Like the

screens. I was listening to an NPR talk about how in-person connection is vital to mental health — and I agree 100%. An actual physical letter you take the time to write creates that personal connection. Hitting a “like” or sending an emoji just isn’t the same. Live theater is another deeply human connection. Being in a room with other people, sharing an experience — kids need that. What’s your ideal audience takeaway?

At its heart, “Frog and Toad” is the story of an enduring friendship. It’s about two friends coming together. Despite their different temperaments, they’re deeply connected. And they’ve both left their comfort zones.

How so?

Because they’re amphibians! Frog and Toad are creatures of two worlds. They’ve both adapted to the land — but they both grew up in the water. Now they’re off on a

ever-returning Spirits of Christmas, it’s become a holiday tradition at Venice Theatre. Tradition, yes — but no relic. It’s not your grandma’s Dickens. Regional audiences know it — which is why the show’s a perennial sell-out. Along with his own creative output, Keys is equally devoted to empowering other talented people. He taught classes in theater and led Booker High School’s Visual and Performing Arts Theatre program from 2000 to 2021. His students applauded when he was named Sarasota County Teacher of the Year in 2008-09. On the national level, Keys’ successful graduates include Charlie Barnett, Drew Foster and Syesha Mercado. He also mentored stellar local talents like Brian Finnerty, Sarasota Players’ artistic director. (Finnerty says he was “thrilled” when his former teacher played the narrator in Stephen Sondheim’s “Into the Woods” in April, which Finnerty directed.) Keys safely came out of those woods, but his

is far from

he’s directing “A Year With Frog and Toad” on the Asolo Rep stage. His creative fingerprints are all over this inventive, irreverent, energetic production.

new journey. They go from hibernation to hibernation across four seasons. Along the way, Frog pushes Toad to try new things. Toad is more timid. They have little spats, but also share big adventures. Together, they make each other better. That’s the essence of a realworld friendship.

theatrical journey

over. This summer,

Janet Combs Scott Keys

THURSDAY

MR. SHOWTIME

7 p.m. at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd. $26 Visit McCurdysComedy.com.

Leave your assumptions about stand-up comedy at the door when David Scott, aka Mr. Showtime, takes the stage at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre. The host of his own nationally syndicated radio show, “Mr. Showtime” holds the Guinness World Record for Longest Stand-Up Comedy show by an individual, at 40 hours and 8 minutes. He’s got props such as a straitjacket, performs tricks such as mind reading and wraps his performance with a funny tour of four decades of music. Runs through July 13.

‘TOO DARN HOT: SONGS FOR A SUMMER NIGHT’

7:30 p.m. at FST’s Court Cabaret, 1265 First St. $39 and up Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

Songstress Carole J. Bufford easily skips eras and genres in this showcase of stories and songs featuring the months June, July, August and September. Whether she’s singing songs made famous by Janis Joplin or Randy Newman, she

DON’T MISS

‘DAMES AT SEA’

Fresh from his success with Florida Studio Theatre’s “Jersey Boys,” Ben Liebert directs and choreographs “Dames at Sea.” A parody of 1930s musicals, “Dames at Sea” first debuted Off-Off Broadway in 1966 starring Bernadette Peters. With the help of sailor/songwriter Dick, Utah chorus girl Ruby lands a role in a musical that’s trying to find its footing. FST’s Ruby is Emily Ann Brooks, making her FST debut. Runs through July 13.

IF YOU GO

When: 8 p.m. Thursday, July 10

Where: FST’s Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St.

Tickets: $42 and up

Info: Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

leaves the audience with something they never knew before. What’s more, her cool costumes evoke everything from flappers of the 1920s to the neo-swing era of the 1990s. Runs through Sept. 14.

‘HOW SWEET IT IS’

7:30 p.m. at FST’s Goldstein Cabaret, 1239 N. Palm Ave. $18-$42

Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

As the mercury rises, locals know how to escape the heat — with Florida Studio Theatre’s Summer Cabaret. The series kicks off with a Motown tribute called “How Sweet It is.” Led by dynamic vocalist and songwriter Luke McMaster, an energetic trio demonstrates the endurance of hits like “Tracks of My Tears,” and “You Can’t Hurry Love.” Runs through Aug. 3.

‘DOROTHY’S DICTIONARY’

8 p.m. at Florida Studio’s Keating Theatre, 1241 N. Palm Ave. $42 and up Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

Alice M. Gatling stars as Dorothy, an older woman who introduces a troubled teen, played by Ethan Jack Haberfield, to the healing power of books. Directed by Kate Alexander, the tale explores memory, identity and how relationships can transform our lives. Runs through Aug. 10.

FRIDAY

CLASSIC MOVIES AT THE OPERA

HOUSE: ‘FOUL PLAY’

7 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave.

$12 Visit SarasotaOpera.org.

Sarasota Opera presents “Foul Play,” Colin Higgins’ 1978 film about a librarian (Goldie Hawn) who finds herself in the middle of a plot to kill the pope. When a bumbling detective (Chevy Chase) is assigned to the case, romance blooms. Meanwhile, the assassin (Marc Lawrence) is determined to keep the lovebirds from foiling his plot.

Pack up the car with Grandpa and the kids and head for the Circus Arts Conservatory’s annual Summer Circus Spectacular at The Ringling’s Historic Asolo Theater, a jewelbox venue that elevates any show. This thrilling, 60-minute circus of fresh, new acts is perfect for people of all ages with short attention spans. Runs through Aug. 9.

IF YOU GO

When: 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Thursday, July 10

Where: The Ringling’s Historic Asolo Theater, 5401 Bay Shore Road

Tickets: $20 adult; $13 child

Info: Visit CircusArts.org.

SATURDAY

‘ALICE IN BOOGIE WONDERLAND’

2 p.m. at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 N. Orange Ave.

$30; students 25 and younger, $10 Visit WestcoastBlackTheatre.org.

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s Stage of Discovery summer musical theater camp is celebrating its 10th anniversary with its most ambitious production to date. An original musical written by WBTT Education Director/Artistic Associate Jim Weaver, “Alice in Boogie Wonderland” features characters from Lewis Carroll’s classic children’s tale and disco favorites such as “Boogie Ooggie Oogie” and “Boogie Nights” as well as ballads such as “That’s What Friends Are For.” Repeats Sunday, July 13, at 2 p.m..

FST IMPROV: ‘FREEDOM! THE MUSICAL’

7:30 p.m. FST’s Bowne’s Lab, 1265 First St. $15-$18 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

Feeling patriotic but looking for a laugh? Florida Studio Theatre Improv explores “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Laughter” in this comedy musical with a promise

to share an untold story of the American Revolution.

SUNDAY

HARD HEART BURLESQUE

11:30 a.m. at The Mable, 2831 N. Tamiami Trail

$25 Visit EventBrite.com.

Grab your friends, your dollar bills and your appetite for glitter and breakfast. Join Swanky Valli, Karma Kandlewick and Marina Elaine as Burlesque Brunch returns to the Mable Bar and Grill. Step into Hard Heart Burlesque’s little cabaret, where the mimosas flow, the music sizzles and the performers … Well, they don’t just light up the stage — they set it on fire.

HD AT THE OPERA HOUSE: ‘L’ELISIR D’AMORE’

1:30 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave. $20 Visit SarasotaOpera.org.

Sesto Quatrini makes his house debut in this Royal Opera performance of Donizetti’s opera about a country boy, Nemorino (Liparit Avetisyan), who seeks to win the affections of the high-falutin’ Adina (soprano Nadine Sierra). Can the “elixir of love” concocted by Doctor Dulcamara (Bryn Terfel) help Nemorino win his reluctant lover’s heart? You’ll have to find out for yourself.

MONDAY

RAUSCHENBERG: A CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

The John and Mable Ringling Art Museum, 5401 Bay Shore Road Free with $25 admission; Mondays free Visit Ringling.org.

The Ringling joins museums around the world in honoring the centenary of maverick artist Robert Rauschenberg, who burst onto the art scene in the mid-20th century with collages he called “combines.”

The first American to win the grand prize at the Venice Biennale, Rauschenberg set the stage for the Pop Art movement. The exhibition includes works that The Ringling has in its collection, including pieces Rauschenberg created during his time on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Runs through Aug. 3.

TUESDAY

‘LILIAN BLADES: THROUGH THE VEIL’

11 a.m.. at the Sarasota Art Museum campus of Ringling College, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail Free for museum members; $20 Visit SarasotaArtMuseum.org.

Award-winning artist Lillian Blades invites visitors to get lost in her first solo museum exhibition at Sarasota Art Museum. Her installation of “veils” combine handcrafted and found objects to create a mesmerizing display. Blades attributes her use of dazzling color to her childhood in the Bahamas and her process of creating large-scale assemblages from a hodgepodge of materials to her late mother, an accomplished seamstress. Runs through Oct. 26.

Courtesy image

“America’s Got Talent” star Aidan Bryant performs on the aerial straps at the Summer Circus Spectacular, which runs through Aug. 9 at The Ringling.

Sarasota Ballet

names Jess Abbott as its marketing director

The Sarasota Ballet has named Jess Abbott as its marketing director, filling a vacancy created with the death of Jeanne Leo in January after a long illness.

Abbott brings a strong background in arts leadership and a personal passion for dance to the Sarasota Ballet.

She previously was chief executive officer of Greenville Center for Creative Arts in South Carolina and executive director of Dogtown Dance Theatre in Richmond, Virginia.

Abbott’s background in creative marketing and her experience in building engagement between artists and audiences should prove valuable as the Sarasota Ballet continues to expand its reputation under the leadership of its director, Iain Webb, and his wife, Margaret Barbieri, the company’s assistant director.

“We’re delighted to have Jess join the Sarasota Ballet’s marketing team,” said Executive Director Joseph Volpe in a statement. “Her extensive experience in both the nonprofit sector and the dance world has consistently demonstrated her ability to elevate organizations with creativity, insight and strategic vision.

“Jess is a mover and shaker, and we look forward to seeing how her leadership will further strengthen and expand the reach of the Sarasota Ballet brand.”

As a former dancer, Abbott brings a unique understanding to her new job and can also leverage her leadership and development skills as she elevates the Sarasota Ballet’s marketing efforts.

“I am thrilled to join the Sarasota Ballet and contribute to its

remarkable legacy,” Abbott said in a statement. “Dance has always been a central part of my life, and returning to this world with such a respected company is a dream come true. I look forward to helping share the artistry and stories of the Sarasota Ballet with audiences new and old, and to being part of a team that values creativity, excellence and community.”

Choral organizations merge into new ensemble

Choral Artists of Sarasota and Via Nova Chorale are combining to create a single musical ensemble.

If the names don’t seem immediately familiar, both groups were founded under different monikers.

Choral Artists, which recently celebrated its 46th season, was known as Gloria Musicae in its early years. Via Nova was originally founded in 2008 as Musica Sacra Sarasota.

With the retirement of longtime Artistic Director Joseph Holt, Via Nova’s artistic director, Steven Phillips, assumes the same role at the combined choral group.

The move “ensures the continuation of Choral Artists’ legacy of artistic excellence, professional engagement and community-centered programming,” according to a statement announcing the merger of the two groups.

Bill Kimbell, board president of Choral Artists, said, “Via Nova is uniquely positioned to build on the foundation Joe Holt created: a deep commitment to musical integrity, thought-provoking repertoire and a belief that choral music can be a voice for the community.”

Via Nova Chorale will take over Choral Artists’ music lending library. The ensemble will also continue Choral Artists’ tradition of engaging professional singers, a hallmark since its early years as Gloria Musicae.

Known for his innovative programming, Phillips will curate concerts that give voice to the community, often through works that explore pressing social issues.

“Steven brings both artistry and purpose to his work,” says Holt.

“I’ve admired the integrity of his programming and the clarity of his vision. He understands how to create music that resonates — with audiences and with the times. It’s reassuring to know that the next chapter of choral excellence continues in such capable hands.”

Performance dates for the 202526 season are expected to be finalized over the summer.

BRIEFS

Courtesy image

Former dancer and nonprofit arts leader Jess Abbott has joined the Sarasota Ballet as marketing director.

CAN’T STOP THE POP YOUR NEIGHBORS

As other area fireworks organizers discussed delaying their displays because of rainy weather forecasts, staff and about 50 volunteers at Nathan Benderson Park forged ahead.

The annual July 3 Fireworks on the Lake celebration offered more than just fireworks.

Twinkle & Rock Soul Radio performed live on stage. Two rows of food trucks and vendors were lined up on both sides of the park and Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium set up a Kids Zone filled with inflatable slides and bounce houses.

Sarasota’s Dawn Eggeman laid a mat over the grass in front of the stage. A little rain wasn’t going to stop her from enjoying the music and fireworks. She brought a friend from Missouri, Brad Scrogham, and two umbrellas.

One attraction that was not part of the official lineup, but has entertained the crowd two years in a row, is Taco the parrot.

Taco perched on fingers, arms and even heads. The crowd kept growing around the parrot and her

owner, Parrish’s Lyle Pohlen. “Taco makes so many people smile,” Pohlen said. “I let everybody hold her.”

— LESLEY DWYER

Photos by Lesley Dwyer

Best friends Olivia Geler and McKenna Bonura snap photos from the finish tower July 3 at Nathan Benderson Park during Fireworks on the Lake.

Sarasota’s Finley Raber, Grace Carr, Aranza Gomez and Giovanna Pisano hang out by the stage for the live music.

Fireworks light up the sky and the lake at Nathan Benderson Park on July 3 during the annual Fireworks on the Lake.

Missouri’s Brad Scrogham visits Sarasota’s Dawn Eggeman and takes in Fireworks on the Lake during his trip.

John Geraci holds his 4-year-old daughter, Luna, and Luna holds Taco the parrot during Fireworks on the Lake. Luna said she fed a bird once, but this is her first time holding one.

The Williams family, from Port Charlotte, gathers in the Kids Zone presented by Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium.

The circus comes to town

It was 5 p.m. on July 4, and the parking lots were empty at Waterside Place.

That was a somewhat anxious moment for Lakewood Ranch Communities’ Grace Flowers, Nicole Hackel and Taylor Riffle, who had worked so hard to present the first Star-Spangled Spectacular at Waterside Place. Then the floodgates opened, at least in terms of people.

Over the next 60 minutes, Waterside Place was filled to capacity, families navigating through the masses to enjoy the food, festivities and fun that Lakewood Ranch’s first July 4 festival provided.

Lakewood Ranch’s Steve Harris commented on what many of those in attendance had to be thinking. Watching his 4-year-old daughter, Collette, play in a bounce house, he said he had taken his family to Anna Maria Island the past two years looking for a family-friendly event, but things were rained out both times. He was thrilled to have something like Star-Spangled Spectacular right in his backyard from now on.

The Circus Arts Conservatory provided a thrilling performance toward the end of the event, which was capped by a drone show.

Hackel, who said she had never seen so many people in Waterside Place, estimated the crowd to be more than 4,000 people, although she didn’t expect the actual count for about a week.

Lakewood Ranch Communities’ Grace Flowers, Nicole Hackel and Taylor Riffle led the effort to present Star-Spangled Spectacular to the community July 4 at Waterside Place.

The thousands who attended Star-Spangled Spectacular July 4 at Waterside Place probably would have agreed with the image created during the drone show.

Master of Ceremonies

Jared Walker opens the Circus Arts Conservatory show at StarSpangled Spectacular on July 4 at Waterside Place.

Lakewood Ranch’s Lezirie DeJesus was having a little fun at Star-Spangled Spectacular with the Statue of Liberty and Uncle Sam.

Lakewood Ranch 4-year-old Collette Harris was bouncing off the walls of an inflatable at Star-Spangled Spectacular.

Photos by Jay Heater

Parrish’s Kay Arens and her 3-year-old daughter, Amelia Sulkowski, had a little patriotic face painting done at Star-Spangled Spectacular.

LWR Girls Who Walk creates a sense of community through fitness

The Lakewood Ranch club began in March and has 140 members.

Erin Mason, a 27-year-old Waterside resident, was living in Washington, D.C., working at a law firm until 11 p.m. each night. She hated it. Mason wanted a change of pace and scenery, so she moved to Waterside on June 9.

Just three days after moving to the area, she joined a group of females, LWR Girls Who Walk, for a mixer at the Good Liquid Distilling Co., where they gathered instead of walking that

particular day due to rain.

There she met Paige Venuto, founder of Lakewood Ranch Girls

Who Walk, and it was immediately evident that every person in the group was important.

“It wasn’t that feeling when you’re in high school and all the cool girls sit at the table,” Mason said. “There was a seat for everyone.”

Mason left the mixer with phone numbers of six women she met. She appreciated that her first meeting with the members felt intimate and casual. She said without the group, her social life would likely be made up of her husband, Brendan, and her dog Finn, a 4-year-old golden doodle.

The group just feels comfortable to her.

“There’s no pressure; there’s no financial component,” Mason said.

“It’s just a bunch of girls getting

together and having fun. I want to see the sun. I want to see the beach. I want to work less hours. I want to actually enjoy life and get out and do things like this.”

LWR Girls Who Walk meets every Monday at 6 p.m. and every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. It was founded by Venuto, 25, who works as the community programs manager for Lakewood Ranch Community Activities. She moved to Lakewood Ranch when she was 11 years old and has planted roots in the community.

“I see the need for connection, especially working hybrid, it’s hard to meet people,” Venuto said. “I just figured that there’s so many young women in this area, like, where are they all hiding? I wanted to find where we could meet up.”

Venuto started the group with the age range of 20s to 30s in mind, but said women of any age are welcome.

INTERESTED IN JOINING OR CREATING A CLUB?

Visit MyLWR.com/CMS/ Community-Activities.

To create a club, the club lead must be a resident of Lakewood Ranch, and 51% of the members must be, as well.

The group had its first walk on March 3 with seven participants. It has grown to an average of 15 to 25 girls per walk.

There are 140 members in the GroupMe chat and they have 500 followers on Instagram (@LWRGirlsWhoWalk).

At the beginning of each walk, the group is asked an “icebreaker question” to help introduce all the members to each other. The questions can be factual and fun, such as what superpower each woman would want or what their new name would be if they could change the one they have.

Venuto said the club has been embraced by those who are fairly new to the area.

“I love how open everyone is about literally just wanting to meet new people and wanting to make new friends,” Venuto said. “It’s been fun.”

Jada Carter, 21, and Sophia Dipietro, 22, traveled 45 minutes from Punta Gorda to try out the club June 30.

Dipietro discovered the group via

social media and said being in the group chat and seeing the posts on Instagram persuaded her to try it out.

“It looked very friendly and very easy to come to,” Dipietro said. She said she was anxious about meeting new people but appreciated the ice breaker that was done to break down the initial awkwardness of strangers meeting for the first time.

“Everyone came up to us and they had big, old smiles on their faces,” Carter said.

Both Carter and Dipietro said they would be back, and Carter said she might just move to Lakewood Ranch.

Venuto said she was inspired by other walking groups in Sarasota, St. Petersburg and Tampa. She felt Lakewood Ranch needed something like it as well.

She said there is definitely a fitness component to the walks, but socialization is the main point. Venuto said likes that walks are held on Mondays to start off the week on a good note. Their walks are a three-mile loop at Waterside that takes an hour.

“Every time when we come back, everyone’s always like, ‘Wow, that flew by’ and that’s kind of the hope,” Venuto said. “We’re really just hanging out and the three miles is just a bonus.”

Venuto is pleased that members have taken their new friendships beyond the club.

“Nothing makes me happier than when I’m on Instagram and I’ll see other girls at the beach or doing a happy hour and knowing that they met because of this,” Venuto said.

Three days after moving to Lakewood Ranch, Waterside resident Erin Mason found the LWR Girls Who Walk club, which was started by Paige Venuto of Lakewood Ranch Community Activities.

Photos by Madison Bierl

LWR Girls Who Walk meets

connections.

COMMUNITY

THURSDAY, JULY 10 THROUGH

SUNDAY, JULY 13

LIVE MUSIC AT JIGGS LANDING

Runs from 5-8 p.m. each day at Jiggs Landing, 6106 63rd St. E., Bradenton. The live music lineup at Jiggs Landing includes Casey Jones (Thursday), Mike Davis (Friday), Mike Sudderth (Saturday) and Flip Flop Dave (Sunday). All the music this week is free. For information, go to JiggsLanding.com.

FRIDAY, JULY 11 AND

SATURDAY, JULY 12

MUSIC AT THE PLAZA

Runs from 6-9 p.m. at Waterside Place, 1561 Lakefront Drive, Lakewood Ranch. Acoustic rock/pop artist Frankie Lombardi takes center stage to entertain the Waterside Place crowd Friday in the free music series, while singer-songwriter Justin Layman entertains the crowd on Saturday. For information, go to WatersidePlace.com.

SATURDAY, JULY 12

PARADISE SOCCER

Begins at 7:30 p.m. at Premier Sports Campus Stadium, 5895 Post Blvd., Lakewood Ranch. The Sarasota Paradise finishes the season by hosting FC Miami City in a USL League II game. Tickets begin at $10. For more information, go to SarasotaParadise.us.

ROOFTOP YOGA

Begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Lakewood Ranch Library, 16410 Rangeland Parkway, Lakewood Ranch. Adults (18 and older) can participate in the Rooftop Yoga program. Those who participate are asked to bring a yoga mat. For information, go to MyLWR. com.

CARS AND COFFEE

Runs from 8-10 a.m. at the Mall at University Town Center, 140 University Town Center Drive, Sarasota. Sarasota Cars and Coffee will be held in Lot 5 (the east side of Dillard’s near PopStroke). The event features hundreds of exotic, sports and classic cars, live music and complimentary coffee from Mademoiselle Paris and Chick-fil-A. The event supports Take Stock in Children of Sarasota.

BEST BET

FRIDAY, JULY 11

MOVIE IN THE PARK

Begins at 7 p.m. at Waterside Park, 7301 Island Cove Terrace, Lakewood Ranch. Join the crowd for a free outdoor, family-friendly movie. This month’s feature is “Trolls Band Together.” The event is sponsored by Grace Community Church. Showtime begins at sunset. The first 160 people to attend will receive a free two-piece chicken tender basket with fries from Chick-N-Nooga. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs. Concessions are available from We B’ Poppin Popcorn and Kettle Corn. Inflatables for kids will be available starting at 7 p.m.

SATURDAY, JULY 12 AND

SUNDAY, JULY 13

MUSIC AT THE LODGE

Runs 6-9 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday at Linger Lodge, 7205 85th St. Court E., Bradenton. Linger Lodge’s live music schedule includes Steve Cherubino on Saturday and Scotty Yakes on Sunday.

SUNDAY, JULY 13

FARMERS MARKET

Runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Lakefront Drive in Waterside Place, Lakewood Ranch. Vendors offer seafood, eggs, meats, dairy products, pastas, bakery goods, jams and pickles, among other items. Other features are children’s activities and live music. For information, visit MyLWR.com.

YOUR CALENDAR

Lesley Dwyer

Inflatables are set up at Waterside Park for Movie in the Park.

ADOPT

PET PICS

Have

SLEEPYHEADS: Sofie and Summer go into naptime mode in Lakewood Ranch.

Where Your Child Will Thrive

PRIMARY CARE

Dr. Austen is a board-certified family medicine physician who provides comprehensive outpatient

includes:

• Management of acute injury and illness

• Minor in-office surgical procedures

• Annual physical and wellness exams

• Preventive screenings and immunizations

• Medicare wellness visits

Dr. Zapotocky is board certified in internal medicine and brings more than two decades of experience. She treats patients ages 18 and older, and her areas of specialty include:

• Chronic disease management

• Preventive medicine (including well-woman exams, school and work physicals, and Medicare wellness exams)

• Urgent care

• Young adult and geriatric medicine

Both Dr. Austen and Dr. Zapotocky are accepting new patients

Michael Austen, MD

Country Club home tops sales at $2.85 million

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

ACountry Club home on Palmers Creek Terrace topped the week’s sales. Michael Weisenberg, of Long Beach, New York, sold his home at 13315 Palmers Creek Terrace to Karen Nejdawi and Bashar Nejdawi, trustees, of Lakewood Ranch, for $2.85 million. Built in 2006, it has five bedrooms, fiveand-a-half baths, a pool and 6,171 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.8 million in 2023.

SHOREVIEW

Jason and Melissa Weinandy, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 7717 Mainsail Lane to Bradley and Rebecca Junco, of Voorheesville, New York, for $1.82 million. Built in 2021, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and is 3,968 square feet. It sold for $1,017,600 in 2021.

RIVERDALE REVISED

David and Marie Monderer, of Venice, sold their home at 581 Mast Drive to Jessica and Joseph Weiss, of Bradenton, for $1,475,000. Built in 2016, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,974 square feet of living area.

Keith and Christina Nierodzinski, of Sarasota, sold their home at 4715 Spinnaker Drive to Ronald Lee Marshall and Deanna Lynn Marshall, of Bradenton, for $810,000. Built in 1999, it has three bedrooms, twoand-a-half baths, a pool and 2,051 square feet of living area. It sold for $828,000 in 2024.

AZARIO ESPLANADE

Karen Hernandez sold her home at 4735 Trento Place to Vaughn Curtis Dickinson and Donna Mary Hagen, of Bradenton, for $1.25 million. Built in 2022, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,082 square feet of living area. It sold for $786,300 in 2022.

ROSEDALE ADDITION

Jose and Susan Berrios, of Venice, sold their home at 4857 Tobermory Way to Karren Allen, of Overland, Park, Kansas, for $1,125,000. Built in 2015, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and is 3,189 square feet. It sold for $696,200 in 2015.

GREYHAWK LANDING

Timothy and Diane Rivas, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 13115 Harriers Place to Mike and Deborah Maneval, of Wauconda, Illinois, for $980,000. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, twoand-a-half baths, a pool and 3,217 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,085,000 in 2022.

Robert and Colleen Murphy, of Plymouth, Minnesota, sold their home at 12810 Kite Drive to Jeffrey Dean Fox and Roberta Vangundy Fox, trustees, of Bradenton, for $627,000. Built in 2005, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,417 square feet of living area. It sold for $394,100 in 2005.

BRIDGEWATER

Jeffrey and Jessica Bouthillier, of Sarasota, sold their home at 13408 Swiftwater Way to Jessie Lee Harrell and Alanna Ali-Harrell, of Bradenton, for $950,000. Built in 2015, it has six bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,930 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,025,000 in 2023.

COUNTRY CLUB EAST

Robert Peck, trustee, sold the home at 14636 Newtonmore Lane to Sherril Chatham-Brenner and Jon Brenner, of Lakewood Ranch, for $950,000. Built in 2011, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and is 2,575 square feet.

GREYHAWK LANDING WEST

Shawn Hicks and Deena Margaret Hicks, of Milan, Illinois, sold their home at 437 Chantilly Trail to Christopher Maertens and Erin Maertens, trustees, of Bradenton, for $942,500. Built in 2015, it has five bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,060 square feet of living area. It sold for $970,000 in 2022.

Nicholas Bonnici, of Cape Coral, and Erin Hess, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 12514 Goldenrod Ave. to Lionel Lee Guerra Jr. and Carrie Guerra, of Bradenton, for $559,000. Built in 2016, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 2,203 square feet of living area.

MOTE RANCH

Robert Sichta and Pia Gallo-Sichta, of Sarasota, sold their home at 6828 Coyote Ridge Court to Michael Jay Watson and April Michelle Watson, of Bradenton, for $760,000. Built in 2002, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and is 2,357 square feet. It sold for $301,000 in 2012.

PRESERVE AT PANTHER RIDGE

John and Teresa Mercer, of Bradenton, sold their home at 22435 Panther Loop to Anthony and Lela McCauley, of Bradenton, for $745,000. Built in 2001, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,560 square feet of living area. It sold for $415,000 in 2016.

RIVER CLUB SOUTH

Mark Brown and Virginia McCallum, trustees, of Haslett, Michigan, sold the home at 7602 Partridge St. Circle to John Theodore Esler and Annette Lenz Esler, of Bradenton, for $720,000. Built in 1997, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and is 2,449 square feet. It sold for $393,000 in 2014.

COUNTRY CREEK

Edward Goetting and Erin Goetting, trustees, of Bradenton, sold the home at 622 147th St. E. to Craig Lee Groves Jr. and Gabriela Perez Pedrianes, of Bradenton, for $650,000. Built in 1999, it has four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,481 square feet of living area. It sold for $392,000 in 2017.

HERITAGE HARBOUR

Christopher and Beth Baxter, of Mason, Ohio, sold their home at 438 Grand Preserve Cove to James and Laurie Pyjas, of Bradenton, for $632,500. Built in 2008, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,195 square feet of living area. It sold for $400,000 in 2019.

John and Diane Rodgers, of Ellenton, sold their home at 6933 Quiet Creek Drive to Christopher Alan Davis and Victoria Damiani Davis, of Delaware, Ohio, for $535,000. Built in 2014, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,006 square feet of living area. It sold for $370,000 in 2018.

GREENBROOK

Steven Hart and Beverly Adkins, of Sarasota, sold their home at 14205 Nighthawk Terrace to Amy Saltsman and Joshua Ellars, of Lakewood Ranch, for $600,000. Built in 2002, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,042 square feet of living area. It sold for $325,900 in 2002.

Sima Tamaddon, of Bradenton, sold her home at 6523 Blue Grosbeak Circle to Taylor and Lauren Violette, of Lakewood Ranch, for $578,000. Built in 2003, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,073 square feet of living area. It sold for $592,000 in 2023.

Rosvita Gewehr and Oswaldo Suarez sold their home at 15327

Skip Jack Loop to Wanderley Silva Gonclaves Marcelino and Williane Campos Marcelino, of Bradenton, for $405,000. Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,536 square feet of living area. It sold for $304,000 in 2006.

Joshua Bazata, of Dade City, sold his home at 15230 Searobbin Drive to Diana Pizarro Proenza, Norma Proenza and Orlando Gonzalez Mendoza, of Lakewood Ranch, for $372,000. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,678 square feet of living area. It sold for $266,000 in 2019.

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS JUNE 23-27

PALM AIRE AT SARASOTA

Christina Branica, of Myakka City, sold her home at 5750 Timber Lake Drive to Nichole Branica, of Sarasota, for $600,000. Built in 1983, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,434 square feet of living area. It sold for $382,000 in 2019.

SOLERA

Michael Jay Watson and April

Michelle Watson, of Bradenton, sold their home at 5277 Grove Mill Loop to Gillon and Kelly Marchetti, of Lakewood Ranch, for $590,000. Built in 2022, it has four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,056 square feet of living area. It sold for $590,000 in 2022.

WINDWARD

Neal Communities of Southwest Florida LLC sold the home at 2605 Star Apple Way to Edward Frank Koren and Linda Ann Koren, of Sarasota, for $552,000. Built in 2024, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,862 square feet of living area.

Courtesy image

A Shoreview home at 7717 Mainsail Lane sold for $1.82 million. Built in 2021, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,968 square feet of living area.

SPORTS

FAST BREAK

Lakewood Ranch’s Kevin Roy recorded the best performance of his PGA Tour career in the John Deere Classic from July 3-6. Roy shot a 67-65-70-65 (17-under par) to tie for third place, one shot out of a playoff. He earned a career-high $495,600. He has finished 18th, eighth and tied for third in his last three tournaments.

... Class of 2025 Lakewood Ranch High graduate Parker Severs tied for ninth place in the Florida State Golf Association 71st Boys’ Junior Championship from July 1-3 at Streamsong Resort. Severs, a University of Florida commit, shot a 66-75-64 (11-under par).

... MLB Pipeline, the prospect ranking service of Major League Baseball, released an updated list of its top 100 prospects on July 1, and former Braden River High baseball player Ryan Waldschmidt made the cut. Waldschmidt now ranks as the No. 85 prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline. The site lists his expected MLB debut to come in 2027.

... University Park Country Club hosted a pair of golf events from July 3-4. The teams of Susan Duger and Gina Seffrin, and Beverley Kennedy and Carolyn Kluding, tied Mary Ann Murphy and Kim Huebner at 35 points apiece in the Step Aside Scramble — a nine-hole event. The team of Jean and Dick Crouch and Pat and Steve Cerjan won the Fourth of July Team Low Net event with a 98. ... Sarasota Paradise defeated Miami AC 16-0 on July 5 at Pace High School in Miami to secure a spot in the US League Two playoffs. Seven players scored for Sarasota, led by Andres Freire who scored five goals and added five assists. The Paradise will host their regular season finale on July 12 at 7:30 p.m. against FC Miami City at Premier Sports Campus.

OLYMPIC DREAMS

Lakewood Ranch’s Sean Laureano hopes his play at the World Lacrosse Men’s U20 Championship helps him earn a roster spot on Puerto Rico’s Olympic lacrosse team.

Sean Laureano is a numbers guy, which means he knows time is of the essence if he wants to play lacrosse in the Olympics.

The East County resident and Cardinal Mooney Catholic High graduate is one of the oldest members of the Puerto Rico men’s lacrosse team that will travel to South Korea to compete in the 2025 World Lacrosse Men’s U20 Championship Aug. 15-24.

Laureano is currently a rising junior at Rollins College in Winter Park, majoring in business and minoring in data analytics. He has been working an internship this summer with S-One — an imaging, design and printing company in Sarasota.

He is making his case to be sent to the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

Laureano was 18 when the International Olympic Committee announced in October of 2023 that lacrosse would return as a medal sport for the first time since 1908.

By 2028, he will have nearly a decade of experience with the Puerto Rican lacrosse team and a full four years of lacrosse at Rollins.

Even if a spot on the Puerto Rican Olympic team doesn’t materialize, Laureano already has had the opportunity to travel to new places, embrace his heritage, and play his favorite sport at the collegiate level.

PUERTO RICAN ROOTS

Laureano was born in Orlando and wanted to play baseball until his older brother, Christian Laureano, started playing lacrosse when Sean was in the first grade.

Sean tagged along with Christian, started playing himself and hasn’t stopped playing since.

It was during eighth grade in 2019 when Laureano heard of a tryout for Puerto Rico’s Men’s U21 Lacrosse team being held at Premier Sports Campus.

“I’m now one of the oldest after being the youngest, so I have to show I can step up in that moment and be that guy, if I need to, take control of the game or put someone in the right spot.”

Sean Laureano

“I want to lead my team and make a friendly environment for the freshmen and sophomores.”

SEAN LAUREANO FAST FACTS

■ Laureano broke his jaw when colliding with an opponent in a preseason match in 2019 and had to have his jaw wired shut, limiting him to drinking smoothies and talking through gritted teeth for six weeks.

■ Laureano is still close with his older brother, Christian Laureano, who motivated him to start playing in the first grade. Christian Laureano recently graduated from Mercer and moved to Memphis.

■ Laureano was the lone senior on his Cardinal Mooney team in 2023. He led the Cougars with 64 goals and 34 assists during a 12-7 season.

After he made the team, he has traveled to destinations such as Indianapolis for the USA Lacrosse Experience and to Limerick, Ireland, for the 2022 World Lacrosse U21 Men’s Championship.

In June, Laureano went on a trip to Puerto Rico, organized by his team, to experience the heritage given to him by his father, Jason Laureano.

While in Puerto Rico, Laureano tried local cuisine such as alcapurrias — meat inside a fried dough and plantain shell — and bacailito — codfish fried into a pancake shape.

He toured Ponce, Puerto Rico, and met the mayor, Malrese Sifre, before practicing and playing in front of the locals.

Laureano also spent this summer taking a Spanish course to further immerse himself in the culture — something that could be an advan-

tage if he makes the Olympic team.

While watching the Czech Republic communicating in Czech at the 2022 Men’s U21 Championship in Ireland, he saw how the players could strategize during the match, and also get away with “talking a little bit of trash.”

A CHAPTER ENDS

Laureano will turn 21 in December, which means his time on Puerto Rico’s Men’s U20 lacrosse team is coming to an end following his trip to South Korea.

As much as he hopes to further his position to make the Olympic roster, he said he wants Puerto Rico to finish in the top six, or even medal, after finishing eighth at the 2022 U21 Championship.

“First and foremost, it’s about being a leader to that team,” Laureano said. “I’m now one of the oldest after being the youngest, so I have to show I can step up in that moment and be that guy, if I need to, take control of the game or put someone in the right spot. In terms of play, it’s just not being too selfish and not forcing things and making the right play.”

He said that USA and Canada are the two undisputed top lacrosse teams, but third place could be up for grabs between Japan, Australia, Great Britain and Puerto Rico.

His approach to the game has come down to numbers. He monitors his cardio and weightlifting numbers to stay in shape during the season, as well as his shooting. He said he needs to be making at least 25% of his shots to be considered good, but he is aiming for at least 30%.

Sometimes, the numbers take a backseat, like when he occasionally pulls up lacrosse highlights in class. And sometimes, the numbers get lost in the shuffle when the match begins.

“I like the fast-paced aspect of the game, so I think when it’s chaotic and unorganized, that’s where I thrive,” Laureano said. “I’d describe myself more as a facilitator. Someone who’s dodging to get someone else open or passing to someone to score, but I can definitely take it to the rack if I need to.”

try

— Lakewood Ranch High’s Caua Magno de Almeida SEE PAGE 30

Lakewood Ranch resident Kevin Roy finished tied for third at the John Deere Classic from July 3-6.

VINNIE PORTELL STAFF WRITER

East County resident Sean Laureano will play for Puerto Rico’s U20 men’s lacrosse team in the World Lacrosse Championship in South Korea from Aug. 15-24.

Sean Laureano, Matt Cassalia and Christian Laureano were brought together through lacrosse. Cassalia coached the Laureanos at Cardinal Mooney and encouraged them to

out for Puerto Rico Lacrosse in 2019.

Courtesy images

Sean Laureano started playing lacrosse in first grade to play alongside his older brother, Christian Laureano.

Her marathon quest:

Check off all 50 states

It takes a special kind of person to run a marathon, and Lakewood Ranch resident Regina Morris has taken that to another level.

When the 64-year-old Morris crossed the finish line at the Bay of Fundy International Marathon in Lubec, Maine, on June 22, she had officially completed a marathon in each of the 50 states.

At the peak of my running phase, I would run a 5K four to five times a week. By the end of those 3.1 miles, I was ready to call it a day.

For Morris, that’s a warm-up, which is just one facet of her inspiring mentality.

To understand why Morris would set out on such an arduous journey, one first has to understand her background.

Morris was raised in Sarasota by her mother, Lillie Morris, who worked long hours and was a nononsense disciplinarian.

She might have found her passion for running in cross-country or track at Sarasota High School, but she couldn’t stay for practices because she had no transportation home.

After graduating high school, Morris enlisted in the Marine Corps as a way to pay for college, but wound up staying for 20 years as a court stenographer.

Though Morris had to run when she was in the Marines, she disliked it because she struggled to keep up with her male counterparts, who had far longer strides than her 5-foot-2 frame could produce.

Once she retired from the Marines in 1999, Morris was living in California and needed a new challenge. A newspaper ad for a local marathon in San Diego piqued her interest, and she felt she had

to commit to it when her husband, John Annis, questioned if she would follow through.

Morris ran that marathon, and the next year ran the Marine Corps Marathon. Then she took off six years before running another marathon. Once she started again, she was hooked.

After she ran her 12th marathon, Morris set a goal of running one in each state, something she wasn’t sure she could complete.

BUMPS AND BRUISES

Running is a noncontact sport, but that doesn’t mean that runners are immune to injury.

Once while running a marathon in Oregon, Morris felt a pain in her foot with two miles left in the event. She tried to walk instead, but that didn’t ease the pain, so she ran the final two miles on what she later discovered was a broken bone in her foot.

“I didn’t want to regret it, because what if I had stopped?”

Morris said. “I’ve never not finished.”

In 2020, Morris was running in Lakewood Ranch to stay in shape after COVID-19 had paused her marathon quest. While daydreaming and looking up at the stars in a fatigued state, she tripped over raised concrete in the sidewalk and broke her ring finger, catching herself on the fall.

Morris simply straightened out her finger and kept on running, though the bleeding became so severe she eventually had to cut her run short. She shrugged off questions about her pain tolerance, but her husband was quick to say how remarkable she can be in the face of discomfort.

“If I get a little headache, I have to go to a room in the back (of the house), and I don’t want anyone to talk to me,” Annis said. “She would get migraines way back when, and I’d come out to the kitchen and she’d be cooking, and I’m like, ‘What are you doing?’ And she’d be like, ‘Well, it has to get done.’”

The most challenging marathon Morris has run came in Huntsville, Utah, in September 2018.

After spending much of her time running in the heat and humidity of Florida, Morris didn’t give much thought to how much elevation would affect her breathing. But her run in Utah covered elevation from 4,900 feet to 8,700 feet.

A fellow runner approached her during her run and suggested she take a break because she was visibly leaning to the side. Morris kept going.

“I was like, ‘I’m good, right? And then a couple of miles later, I saw a lady on the ground with folks around her, and I thought, ‘OK, I’m going to walk now,’” Morris said. “I don’t want to be in that situation.”

Another time, Morris dealt with a hip injury and said one doctor

told her it was time for her to stop running. Then, Morris sought out a second opinion from a doctor who also ran, and they made a plan for her to get back to running marathons.

SEEING THE STATES Morris had to carefully map out her marathon quest to make it as efficient as possible.

Sometimes that meant making solo trips to states and finding marathons close to airports and hotels for ease of travel.

Other times, that meant running multiple marathons in a few days’ time to cross off as many states as she could.

Her first marathon trip by herself came in the Boston Marathon in 2007. She had planned to run it with a friend, but when her friend was injured shortly before the race, Morris didn’t back out.

“I didn’t realize at the time the esteem people put on it,” she said. “It was just, ‘Oh, look, they let me in, and I’m going to run.’ That took me out of my comfort zone because there was a Nor’Easter coming through and I was running through

the rain and sleet. I just kept my head down to keep the rain off me and someone said, ‘Hey, you made it up Heartbreak Hill,’ and I was like, ‘Oh?’”

Another unique challenge came in the Anchorage Mayor’s Marathon in Alaska in June 2017. Morris had arrived early for the race to train, but once she heard that a local runner had been chased and killed by a bear, she decided to call off any pre-race runs. Now that Morris has completed her journey of running a marathon in each state, she’s fulfilled, but she also is questioning what’s next. She said she needs to run three more marathons by next year to have run 65 marathons by her 65th birthday, and might expand her travels beyond the United States.

Vinnie Portell

Vinnie Portell is the sports reporter for the

Lakewood Ranch resident Regina Morris has kept medals and running bibs from each of the marathons she’s run in all 50 states.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Caua Magno de Almeida

Caua Magno de Almeida is a center for the Lakewood Ranch High boys basketball team, a defensive end and punter for the Mustangs football team and a goalkeeper for the Lakewood Ranch Chargers.

When and why did you start playing sports?

I started playing soccer when I was 2 years old, and I started playing basketball and football my sophomore year in high school. One of my teachers dared me that I wouldn’t be able to play football. He said, “Soccer players can’t play football,” so I said, “Well, I’m going to prove you wrong.”

What has a typical day been like for you this summer?

Usually, my day is pretty stressful. I wake up at 6 a.m. and go to basketball at 7 a.m., then go to football practice straight after that. After football, I go home to eat and practice (soccer) by myself. From 6-8 p.m., I go to L.A. Fitness and work out.

What’s been the most memorable moment for you in each sport?

In football, we played Braden River last year and beat them 41-3. It was the first time we’d beaten them in 13 years. In bas ketball, it would be against Braden River as well. They were ranked way above us and we had almost no chance, but we beat them 78-67. In soccer, we were playing against Orlando City (Academy), and I saved a PK and right after that I made a triple save and won player of the game.

What do you want to make of your senior season? I want to make it as fun as I can. I want to

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

try to enjoy myself and not overload myself with school. I want to lead my team and make a friendly environment for the freshmen and sophomores.

What’s been your most humbling moment in sports?

In soccer we lost a game 8-0, and I’m a goalkeeper. It was one goal after another after another. I thought I was the best, but that humbled me.

What’s your favorite meal?

It’s 100% sushi. My favorite roll is the California roll. I like to go to a Brazilian sushi house in Tampa — that’s all-you-can-eat.

What is your go-to warm-up song? I usually only listen to Brazilian music, but an American one is “Fly Sosa.”

If you’re not playing sports, what are you doing?

Spending time with my family, and I work, as well. I worked at McDonald’s and Pacific Counter.

What is your favorite TV show or movie?

My favorite movie is “Jurassic Park” because of the dinosaurs, I guess.

Finish this sentence.

Al-

Caua Magno de

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

UNDERGROWTH by Jim Heane, edited by Jared Goudsmit

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