East County Observer 5.12.22

EAST COUNTY

Top firemen honored

Observer

Lakewood Ranch’s weekly newspaper since 1998

PAGE 6

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

FREE • THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022

VOLUME 24, NO. 26

YOUR TOWN

Basketball tops boathouse project Sarasota Commission votes to spend $20 million on sports complex. SEE PAGE 4

Ian Swaby

Main Street offers side of culture Palmetto’s Yajahira Galindo, who came to the United States from Mexico in 2004 at the age of 14, has long had a passion for helping others learn about her culture.

During a Cinco de Mayo celebration at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch, she had the perfect platform.

In the street in front of Casa Maya Mexican Restaurant, Galindo performed songs from the mariachi genre which originated in the state of Jalisco in Mexico. She said often music played during Cinco de Mayo consists of Latin American styles such as salsa, bachata, or merengue, and that some shows have no Mexican music at all.

Her performance included dancing and attire associated with mariachi — colorful dresses from the city of the capital of Jalisco, Guadalajara.

“I feel what I sing, and probably someone else can feel it too,” she said.

TEE OFF TIME Heritage Harbour Golf Resort moves forward with course renovation, resort construction.

SEE PAGE 3

Jay Heater

Heritage Harbour Golf Club Managing Partner Mark Bruce says the course will be a par 71 when it is finished. It will be 6,900 yards from the back tees.

A+E

Courtesy photo

Schools finds harmony with student in charge Gene Witt Elementary second grader Harmony Johnson (above with Beckett Johnson) found out what it means to be in charge.

In this case, her hard work as a student earned her the right to take control April 27.

She followed Principal David Marshall around as Principal for the Day, overseeing all aspects of the school, even the air conditioning and electrical systems. She visited classrooms and was able to see what her teachers and staff were doing.

Beckett Johnson, a student in pre-K, served as Assistant Principal for the Day. “I liked when I visited classrooms,” Harmony Johnson said. “I enjoyed seeing what the kids were doing and what the subject was, and I learned a little bit more, too.”

File photo

Dave Daily of Braden River VFW Post 12055 was the grand marshal in 2019, the last time the Tribute to Heroes Parade was held.

Tribute returns to Main Street After two-year layoff due to pandemic, Tribute to Heroes Parade is back.

SEE PAGE 8

Night of unity.

PAGE 15

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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STAFF WRITER

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ast County’s Connie Dixon had been hoping to be a part of the administrative team at Gene Witt Elementary School for the past two decades.

When she applied to be an assistant principal at Gene Witt 20 years ago, she fell in love with the school.

“Witt has been my heart school,” Dixon said. “When you walk in, it has that family feeling, even back then.

It is a collaborative family of educators who love children. I want to be somewhere that feels like a family. I want to be able to engage with extended family, which (is what) I call our parents.”

Although Dixon wasn’t hired 20 years ago, Myra Russell, the Gene Witt principal at the time and one of Dixon’s heroes, gave her encouraging words.

Twenty years later, Dixon has been named the new principal of Gene Witt Elementary School, replacing David Marshall, who is retiring at the end of the school year.

“I am joining a well-oiled machine,” Dixon said after meeting Gene Witt’s teachers and staff April 22. “It doesn’t need fixing. My job is to go over there and to bring the community and school together tighter than it already is, if that is even possible.”

Dixon said her meeting with Gene Witt’s teachers and staff was “warm and authentic.”

The current principal at Annie Lucy Williams Elementary School in Parrish, Dixon started there in 2014 and said it’s time to move to a new school.

Outside of her job, Dixon has hiked Mount Vesuvius, skydived from 13,500 feet, and scuba dived off the coast of Mexico.

She spends at least six weekends a year traveling the southeastern part of the country, showing horses in competitions. She has loved horses since she was 18 months old, since riding and caring for them was a family activity.

She had taken time off from riding, but five years ago her husband, Jack,

Liz Ramos

CONNIE DIXON Residence: East County Age: 54 Years in education: 33 Degrees: Bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of South Florida and a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of West Georgia Family: Husband, Jack Dixon, and son, Chris Dixon Favorite subject: Reading and writing Favorite grade to teach: Third grade Favorite time of the school year: August Favorite animal: Horse

Connie Dixon has been waiting 20 years for an administrative position at Gene Witt Elementary School.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022

Commission OKs resort project Hotel, resort villas will give Heritage Harbour a stay-and-play identity.

JAY HEATER MANAGING EDITOR

A

t the land use meeting May 5, Manatee County Commissioners unanimously gave the Heritage Harbour Golf Resort and Lodge its stamp of approval, clearing the way for the ambitious project to become reality.

Mark Bruce, the club’s managing partner, announced plans in January 2020 to build villas and a lodge that would fill a void in the area’s lack of “stay-and-play” golf courses. The project would cover 15 acres and would basically be located where the No. 1 and No. 2 holes currently run along River Heritage Boulevard and Heritage Green Way. In October 2021, Bruce introduced ResClub as a development partner in building Heritage Harbour Golf Resort and Lodge. The plan had changed slightly to allow people the opportunity to own or rent time in the furnished vacation villas or lodge suites.

The commissioners were impressed with the project, which was designed to pump much-needed funds into the Heritage Harbour Golf Course, which was in need of upgrades.

“I’ve been on this board for 10 years, and I can only remember only one other time that something came before this board when everyone in the crowd was in favor of the project,” said Commissioner Vanessa Baugh, who now represents Heritage Harbour in her District 5 because of redistricting. “This is an exciting project and I am anxious to see it.”

HOTEL, VILLAS ON WAY

The approvals at the land use meeting were for a 100-room hotel and 74 villas. The excitement in the project is evident as 24 of the 30 paired villas in Phase 1 already have been reserved. Bruce said if construction proceeds as expected, people could begin staying in the villas in the second half of 2023.

Twenty of the 74 villas will be owned by ResClub. Those will be available for vacation rental while the other villas will be for purchase as a seasonal residence or an investment asset.

“PGA Professionals all start their career in golf, dreaming about winning big tournaments,” Bruce said.

“As a 25-year member of the PGA, I certainly don’t stand a chance at winning a major championship, but this accomplishment certainly feels like it.”

Bruce said the course opened in 2001 as Stoneybrook and changed its name to Heritage Harbour Golf Club in 2018.

RESORT LIVING

Construction will begin soon on this new hotel and these new villas that replace the No. 1 and No. 2 holes at Heritage Harbour Golf Club.

ON THE WAY

What: Heritage Harbour Golf Resort and Lodge plans approved by Manatee County Commission Scope: The project includes a 100-room hotel and 74 villas, along with a major golf course renovation Who: Owners of the Heritage Harbour Golf Club and ResClub Course renovation: The golf course closed May 1 and will reopen Nov. 1 Cost of golf course renovation: $2 million Golf course renovation architect: Nick Campanelli Commissioner quote: “I’ve been on this board for 10 years, and I can only remember only one other time that something came before this board when everyone in the crowd was in favor of the project,” said Commissioner Vanessa Baugh First phase of villas to open: Middle to late 2023 More information about villas: ResClubs.com

Courtesy photo

Heritage Harbour’s Rick Nelson and Mark Bruce, and their attorney Kyle Grimes, are all smiles after their Heritage Harbour Golf Resort plan was approved by the Manatee County Commission.

“When it opened in 2001, it was the talk of the town,” Bruce said. “In 2018, it was on life support.”

Bruce was trying to find a way to bring in the revenue that would allow investment into the course to bring it back to its championship course level. The process is about to begin.

The course will be closed from May 2 to Nov. 1 as a $2 million renovation will take place.

COURSE ARCHITECT CHOSEN

Landscape and golf course architect Nick Campanelli, 38, of Glastonbury, Connecticut was chosen for the design job. The original architect, Arthur Hills, died May 18, 2021.

“When this course first opened, it was built to be dramatic,” Bruce said.

“It had big, deep bunkers that would penalize the golfer for a bad shot.

That doesn’t bode well for common golfers.”

Bruce wanted to find an architect who would allow Hill’s original design to live on and be recognizable, but he also needed a design that would fit with a modern, championship level of play and yet be friendly to the resort golfer.

“We wanted to go with an upand-coming architect with fresh thoughts,” Bruce said. “We needed someone who had the ability to see how every player would see a hole — women, children, good players, and bad players.”

That person was Campanelli, who found out about the project because his parents were renting a home in the area and they had heard about the project.

“I tend not to follow the mold,” Campanelli said. “I focus on strategy and playability. And this is not going

Jay Heater

The redesign of the Heritage Harbour Golf Course will mean fewer and smaller sand traps.

to be a punishing design.”

With the resort golfer in mind, and five tee complexes on each hole, Campanelli designed a renovation that would remove the equivalent of 50 bunkers from the course, and would allow recreational golfers to use the ground more instead of being forced to carry shots to the target all in the air.

He also lost 300 yards from the length of the former design because the construction of the villas and resort would sit approximately where the No. 1 and No. 2 holes were.

The course now will have five par 5s, six par 3s and seven par 4s.

Bruce fell in love with Campanelli’s design as soon as he submitted it.

“Nick did a fantastic job of protecting the natural integrity of the design, but he changed the penalty

New Villas

New Villas

Existing clubhouse

Existing parking lot

New hotel

aspect.”

The course, which was a par 72 in the past, will be a par 71. It will play 6,900 yards from back tees.

“Honestly, it was perfect,” Bruce said. “And it will be just as difficult.”

Bruce said he offered Campanelli the job, with the agreement he could have some input on the final design.

“I’ve played all over the U.S. and on dozens of the greatest courses in the United Kingdom,” Bruce said.

“So let me have 15% input. He did.”

Campanelli said bunkers still will be in play, but if beginner golfers land in them, they are not so difficult it is going to ruin their round.

EXCITEMENT GROWS

Of course, the golf aspect is just part of the project. ResClub CEO Craig Williamson is excited about the resort side of the project.

“We fully intend to be sold out before the end of the year,” Williamson said. “We’re about to launch (similar projects) in eight cities.”

Williamson heaped praise on Bruce for guiding the project through the permitting and planning stages without a hitch.

“The team here did a fantastic job, step-by-step,” he said. “You always leave yourself with the expectations of hiccups, but Mark hasn’t had any.

Everything the guy says he will do, he does. That is very rare.”

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

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

This is the evolution of it.”

Williamson said participation in ResClub leads to a revenue stream.

He said an explosion in the amount of vacation rental properties like VRBO and Air BnB has made the market ripe for ResClub.

3

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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ith four major rowing or paddling events on the horizon, Nathan Benderson Park Conservancy CEO and President Stephen Rodriguez is excited business is returning to normal at the park in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

But as the Sarasota County Commission went into session May 10, it was anything but business as usual for the park.

Commissioners voted 5-0 to commit $20 million in tourist tax money toward a new boathouse and indoor sports event center. The event center would be 100,000 square feet and would be the second floor of the boathouse.

Nicole Rissler, director of parks, recreation and natural resources for Sarasota County, made a presentation to county commissioners in which the county’s staff recommended to dedicate the funding from the third additional 1 cent levy of tourist development tax to the boathouse and indoor sports complex.

Rissler said “in round numbers” she estimated the project would cost approximately $40 million. She estimated the boathouse on its own would have been approximately a $10 million project.

She said other than the $20 million committed by Sarasota County, the other funds would need to be raised privately.

Nathan Benderson Park Board Chair Michael Taaffe said in March his nonprofit had raised about $7 million toward the boathouse.

Rissler said donations and naming rights would be part of the fundraising effort.

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sioners approving the 2022 Sarasota County Strategic Plan Jan. 11. That plan recognized the importance of the boathouse and indoor sports complex.

Rissler said Sarasota County’s staff would develop a new Capital Improvement Project and would work with Nathan Benderson Park Conservancy on conceptual plans, a budget and an analysis on operations and maintenance.

She said those plans and concepts would be presented to the commision late this year.

“This is the beginning of a lot of work to determine what will go into this building,” Rissler said. “All the programming is yet to come.

Although Commissioner Nancy Detert voted in favor of the monetary commitment, she said the commission session was like talking about how much you love baseball “when the thing before us is a baseball stadium.”

But the rest of the commissioners all showed enthusiasm for the idea.

“This is an absolutely wonderful thing,” Commissioner Alan Maio.

“This is a long time coming.”

Commissioner Mike Moran told his fellow commissioners to remember when the park was “an empty hole in the ground ... a borrow pit.”

“This is a no brainer to me. This opens the door to some extraordinary possibilities,” he said.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022

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SELLING POINTS

Main points from the Johnson Consulting (Chicago) feasibility study for a 100,000 square foot indoor sports complex n Demographic analysis demonstrates a strong and growing market demand for indoor sports complex utilization n Significant void of available indoor sports complex space in the marketplace n Full calendar utilization and booking is anticipated n Emerging demand for indoor space from existing and prospective customers

File photo

The boathouse would be constructed just behind the docks on the shore at Nathan Benderson Park.

COVID-19 IMPACT FY 2018 (2017–18)

NUMBER OF EVENTS

FY 2014 (2013–14)

FY 2015 (2014–15)

FY 2016 (2015–16)

FY 2019 (2018–19) FY 2020* (2019–20)

FY 2021* (2020-21)

FY 2017 (2016–17)

*FYs 2020 and 2021 were affected by COVID-19 cancellations. 2020 saw a loss of 40 events already contracted and 2021 lost 13 contracted events (although many others were never signed due to the pandemic).

He said he sees the time when the indoor sports event center would host a national tournament and the families visiting would visit the Mote Science Education Aquarium, play at PopStroke and spend a day at Siesta Key. Besides visitors, Moran said a sports events center would fill a gap in the community in the ability to host national events.

The push toward an indoor sports event center comes at a time when Nathan Benderson Park continues to develop its image as a community park with many assets.

It had developed its reputation

as the top rowing facility in North America and enhanced that reputation by hosting the 2017 World Rowing Championships.

The plans for a new boathouse and event center also come at a time, as Rodriguez said, when the park’s events schedule is picking up.

The International Dragon Boat Federation Club Crew World Championships July 18-24 is expected to have competitors from 12 nations and more than 3,500 participants.

The park in the past month has signed agreements to host 13 national and international rowing, canoe and dragon boat events.

Sarasota County staff recommended the tax commitment after a feasibility study on the indoor sports facility was completed by Johnson Consulting of Chicago.

That study estimated an initial economic impact of $20 million a year connected with the new facility.

Rodriguez emphasized the proposed indoor sports complex was “the county’s project.”

In 2018, Suncoast Aquatics Nature Center Associates, now the conservancy, said it had two plans for either a one-level boathouse that would include boat storage, locker rooms and a fitness facility; and a two level

plan for a banquet hall on the second floor for hosting weddings, community events and park programming.

Estimates for the two-story facility were $10 million at the time.

Rodriguez agreed with Rissler that citizens should be patient as they wait for details about the project. He said the project is in its infancy and at this point is a developing concept.

He said the county’s action May 10 is one step in the process, and not a business plan.

He said the feasibility study was not about construction.

The study told the county that it had a need for indoor competi-

tion space for basketball, volleyball, pickleball, cheer competitions, dance competitions, martial arts and more.

Rodriguez said obviously the pursuit of a new boathouse/indoor sports event center would be the most exciting news coming out of the 2022 calendar year, but he noted that right behind it in the top three would be the International Dragon Boat Federation Club Crew World Championships and the USRowing Masters National Championships Aug. 11-14l.

Rodriguez also is excited about the park’s training programs filling up once again, which means increasing revenue for the park.

He noted the need for the boathouse is more about programming than it is about hosting rowing or paddling events. He said the park already can host those events.

Programming numbers over the past five years at the park are up 1,800% to more than 7,000 participants.

The park received $10,750 in donations during the Giving Challenge, and that money will support programming to create opportunities for children who can’t afford the fees.

“We will serve the underserved,” Rodriguez said.

During the 2020-21 Fiscal Year, the park received $1,189,000 in funding from the county. Rodriguez said the conservancy and the county are negotiating to keep the funding the same over the next two fiscal years.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022

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Ian Swaby

Lt. Shawn Battick and firefighter Ryan Berggren are the winners of the Fire Officer of the Year and Firefighter of the Year awards.

Passion key to fire service awards Firefighter Ryan Berggren and Lt. Shawn Battick go above and beyond for the department.

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IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

When firefighter Ryan Berggren of East Manatee Fire Rescue received a call about a residential fire in Mill Creek, where he lives, the fact he was off duty didn’t stop him from rushing to the scene.

Berggren met two other off-duty firefighters at the residence, and they were able to find a rear door open to get into an unoccupied home to save three dogs trapped inside.

Before the trucks arrived, they extinguished the majority of the fire using a hose found at the house and trash cans they filled with pool water.

Our vision is everyone deserves a decent place to live.

Berggren said that kind of passion is needed to excel as a firefighter.

Both Berggren and Lt. Shawn Battick spoke about passion as they received awards during East Manatee Fire Rescue’s Annual Promotions, Awards and Recognition Program April 18.

The event recognized Berggren as Firefighter of the Year and Battick as Fire Officer of the Year. The Board of Fire Commissioners voted on the honors after taking nominations from East Manatee Fire Rescue members.

The other major award went to firefighter Jared Hoopingarner, who was named Rookie of the Year.

Battalion Chief Matt Talaska said of Berggren and Battick, “Both of them are very active and involved in training. They’re very active and involved in operations. They’re two of our best employees, and we felt they should be recognized.”

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Q: How do you diagnosis spine and back conditions?

A: Advanced diagnostic tests help to locate the exact source of a patient’s spine or back pain. Doctors use imaging, such as CT scans and MRIs, to determine a precise diagnosis. They also use X-ray-guided injections to diagnose conditions.

Eric Sundberg, MD, of Coastal Orthopedics, answers some of the most common questions about conditions affecting the spine and spinal surgery.

Q: What are some of the common procedures you perform on patients with back and spine issues?

Q: How common is it for people to suffer from spine/back pain at some point in their lives?

A: • Lumbar laminectomy - removal of the back portion of a vertebra in your lower back to create more room within the spinal canal

A: Back pain is very common and can be the result of an injury. Many injuries can be due to overuse during exercising and sports, or awkward movements. Overthe-counter pain relievers and balms can usually help alleviate the pain within a few days.

Q: What is chronic low back pain?

A: Low back pain impacts nearly 80 percent of adults at least once during their lifetime, according to the National Institutes of Health. Most low back pain is short-term, lasting between four and 12 weeks. However, chronic back pain lasts more than 12 weeks. Pain in the low back can include pain that goes into the buttocks, hips or legs (commonly referred to as sciatica).

Although low back pain is a common occurrence, some features warrant evaluation from a medical

• Lumbar discectomy – removal of a herniated disc • Lumbar fusion - surgical joining of two vertebrae in the lumbar spine or lower back.

• Cervical discectomy – removal of one or more discs from the neck • Cervical fusion - links together vertebrae in the neck

If you are experiencing back or spinal pain, call our free physician referral service at 800-454-8215 or visit lwrmc.com.

Q: What are the recovery times for these surgical procedures and is physical therapy recommended?

A: Depending on the procedure, spine surgery recovery can take between six weeks to 12 months to fully recover.

With minimally invasive spinal surgery, recovery times can be significantly reduced. Physical therapy is usually recommended for patients following their procedure to help strengthen the neck and back muscles and to improve range of motion.

Physicians are on the medical staff of Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, but, with limited exceptions, are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Lakewood Ranch Medical Center. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians. For language assistance, disability accommodations and the nondiscrimination notice, visit our website.

374658-1

6

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

EAST MANATEE FIRE RESCUE AWARDS Rookie of the Year: Jared Hoopingarner Firefighter of the Year: Ryan Berggren Fire Officer of the Year: Shawn Battick LENGTH OF SERVICE AWARDS 5 Years of County Service: Firefighter Brandon Hiott 10 Years of County Service: Receptionist Donna Hartford, logistics technician Matt Lawson, firefighter Larry White 15 Years of County Service: Lt. Jason Henderson, Commissioner Richard Jacobs, firefighter Derek Parker 20 Years of County Service: Commissioner Derek Foss, Lt. Joe Griffith, Deputy Chief William Hall, Lt. Jacob Lilly 35 Years of County Service: Training officer Bob Mikulski Phoenix Award: Lt. Josh Dillard, firefighter Garret Arth Unit Citation: Lt. Steve Baker, firefighters Larry White and Michael Guard Phoenix Award and Unit Citation: Battallion Chief Kyle Taylor, Lts. Chad Gamble and Eric Hoying, firefighters Ben Guth, Bret Kanapaux, Michael Kish, Kyle Powers, Brian Purdue and Jordon Rogers Phoenix Award, Unit Citation, and Lifesaving Award: Engineer Daniel Lane Manatee County Fire Chiefs’ Unit Citation: Training officer Bob Mikulski, firefighter Larry Haymore CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION A Shift: Engineer Daniel Dunkum, firefighter Daniel Armstrong B Shift: Firefighters Jason Morrow and Larry Haymore C Shift: Capt. Craig Madsen, firefighter Adam Butler

“I’m grateful for it,” Battick said.

“I definitely don’t feel that I’ve done anything extra to deserve it. But somebody nominated me, and I do appreciate it.”

Battick, who has been with East Manatee Fire Rescue for 18 years, said that he believes he was selected for the awards because he fills a current void, as issues have resulted in the administrative role of captain being unoccupied for the past year. As a result, he has been trying to assist Talaska with supervisory duties.

He said his management style is to avoid micromanaging.

“I’d much rather have trust in my people,” he said. “If I have a good crew here, and I meet their needs, they are going to make me look good.”

Berggran, a Sarasota native who has been with East Manatee Fire Rescue for two years, worked the six previous years as a firefighter in Hillsborough County. He said maintaining a sense of positivity throughout his shifts has been important to his success. He noted that the duties of a firefighter can be intense, and scenes that firefighters must respond to can be emotionally challenging.

He said his fellow firefighters help him move beyond those calls.

“We don’t want to take it home to the family,” Berggran said. “We don’t want to share (with family) what we see. So, we rely on (fellow firefighters) to help take that off us, or at least help with relieving what we see, especially when it comes to the bad calls and the ones involving children.”

“You need that good core group of people that you’re working with,” Battick said. “Ryan always, always has a smile on his face. I’ve never seen him mad. When you do run the serious calls, including the deaths, it is much easier to come back to the station and have that good positive attitude. We always need shoulders to cry on or somebody to talk to.”

Battick said if you don’t have great communication skills, you are failing. In the field, Battick said communication is key because “you are trying to manage chaos.”

He estimated that of their field duties, about 70% consists of medical incidents, but a large portion is also vehicle accidents. Some of the challenges they face include blocking off roads so cars can be removed while they also attend to the passengers of the wrecked vehicles.

“Cars never just crash off the road,” said Berggren, noting that when they are seen along the side of the road, it is usually because they have been moved. Battick said numerous fire engines have been hit by rush hour traffic, as many drivers become frustrated when roads are blocked off, and they attempt to keep traveling.

Berggren said extricating passengers from vehicles is a difficult process that requires careful analysis he wouldn’t be able to accomplish without the help of former Firefighter of the Year Dave Manning.

Battick cited “constant training” as essential in making the firefighters who they are, and said training exercises are always part of the job.

Even with the demands, Battick loves the job.

“For me, it’s the greatest job in the world,” he said. “I cannot see myself doing anything else. I know talking to other friends in fire services that once they retire, the one thing they miss is having the guys around them.”

Battack said he doesn’t want to be called a hero and just wants to do his job.

“What we’ve gotten into the job for is to save lives,” he said. “Life safety is our No. 1 goal. Whatever we can do to accomplish that makes us better people.”

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022

EAST COUNTY

May’s annual march is back More than 75 groups expected to march in the Tribute to Heroes parade at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch.

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

Friedrich Hayek

“Road to Serfdom,” 1944 Publisher and President / Emily Walsh, EWalsh@YourObserver.com Associate Publisher — East County Observer / Lori Ruth, LRuth@YourObserver.com

LIZ RAMOS STAFF WRITER

E

ast County’s Gill Ruderman, a retired Army colonel, remembers the enthusiasm generated by the crowd at the last Tribute to Heroes parade in Lakewood Ranch.

Girl Scouts were walking with flags, children were riding their decorated bikes, and veterans were riding in cars being recognized for their service.

“It’s just a feeling that their appreciation is sincere, and when we’re waving back, we’re being just as sincere,” said Ruderman, a trustee of VFW Post 12055.

That was three years ago.

Lakewood Ranch Community Activities hasn’t been able to have the Tribute to Heroes Parade since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But the parade is back, and Ruderman and other members of the VFW can’t wait.

“We can honor not only the past veterans but today’s veterans as well,” said Central Park’s Chuck Slenker, a service officer for the VFW. “If you were in Vietnam, no one ever cared what happened over there with you, and now, this is a tribute to those people and to all the veterans.”

Aliye Presley, communications coordinator and executive assistant for Lakewood Ranch Community Activities, said the parade, which traditionally runs the weekend before Memorial Day weekend, will look similar to past parades.

“I am so excited to be bringing it back,” Presley said. “This is my first time being involved in the parade, and I can tell how anxious everyone is to get back to it and to honor veterans. It’s cool to be able to give this back to the community.”

Presley said Lakewood Ranch Community Activities is expecting between 75 and 100 groups to participate in the parade and 1,000 to 2,000 people as spectators.

“Lakewood Ranch is full of events and things to do, but this is so unique from all of that,” Presley said. “This is the biggest thing we do, and it’s so important to recognize these people who have put so much on the line for us.”

The Tribute to Heroes block party and parade will include a parade down Main Street at Lakewood Ranch, a DJ, a bike decorating contest and food trucks.

Members of the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble will kick off the parade with a performance.

Organizations will gather at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center before making their way down Main Street at Lakewood Ranch. “(Main Street at Lakewood Ranch) is sort of the heart of Lakewood Ranch, and it’s the perfect location for (the parade),” Presley said.

The VFW will be the first organization marching in the parade with its banner out front and veterans walking on foot behind it. Then the VFW will have about 11 members driving in Corvettes with the veter-

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

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Lindsey Hyer and Kyla Munoz, who were Lakewood Ranch High Key Club members, placed American flags along the parade route the last time it was held in 2019.

ans’ names on a sign on the windshield to receive recognition.

“It’s just good to be appreciated more than anything else,” Ruderman said. “Sometimes people say, ‘Thank you for your service,’ and I think they say it because everybody else does it, but this is an overt act on the public to recognize veterans and say thank you.”

The Del Webb Association of Veterans and Military Supporters will follow the VFW on the parade route.

Both organizations will have a color guard march in the parade.

Rich Greenberg, president of the Del Webb Association of Military Supporters, said a donation from Lakewood Ranch Community Activities from the parade revenues will help with the organization’s mission of donating to at least five charities that support veterans and their families in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

“It’s a win-win all the way around,” Greenberg said. “We get to honor our veteran residents, and then at the same time, we get to benefit from the revenue so we can continue to support veterans.”

Greenberg said most Vietnam veterans, who weren’t honored when they came home, now appreciate being honored for their service.

“Most of us have put the bad feelings behind us,” he said. “I, in particular, feel it took the wars in the Middle East to help the non-military community understand there’s a difference between the war and the warrior. It’s like the bumper sticker, ‘You can hate the war, but you have to love the warrior.’”

IF YOU GO TRIBUTE TO HEROES BLOCK PARTY AND PARADE When: 6-8 p.m. May 22 Where: Main Street at Lakewood Ranch Cost: Free What: More than 75 organizations will parade down Main Street at Lakewood Ranch to honor veterans, fallen soldiers and active duty military personnel More information: LWRCA.org

GET INVOLVED

For-profit, nonprofit and veteran organizations can be involved in the Tribute to Heroes parade. Groups can build their own float, ride in a vehicle or participate on foot. To register, visit LWRCA. org.

Booth: $250 donation For-profit organizations: $50 minimum donation Nonprofits: No cost

Lakewood Ranch’s Alex Stark shows off his entry in the decorated bicycle contest in the 2019 parade.

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HOLIDAY WARM-UP n Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day n It’s celebrated on the last Monday of May n Waterloo, New York is considered the birthplace of Memorial Day n Memorial Day is known as the unofficial start to summer n A national moment of remembrance takes place at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day

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Herman Martinez of the Del Webb Association of Veterans and Military Supporters rides in the 2019 parade.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

SIDE OF RANCH

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THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022

9

JAY HEATER

Fatal crash illustrates pursuit’s difficulty

T

he May 1 accident resulted in death, and a short story for our website’s readers, but it eventually hit me hard.

The lead of my story noted, “A 55-year-old Manatee County man died early Sunday morning (1:50 a.m.) in a one-car crash after the pickup he was driving east on University Parkway left the roadway and struck a tree.”

Actually, I write these kind of stories much too often, but anyone who lives in our region understands the roads are a dangerous place to be.

Then I found out this particular accident was quite different in nature.

One of our readers called me to see if I had any additional information about the accident. He is an Uber driver who was making a delivery about 1:45 a.m., and was coming up to University Parkway on a side street. He said a dark colored pickup that was hauling a dark colored trailer ran a red light and almost “T-boned” his car.

He said the truck swerved to avoid him and then continued driving down the wrong side of the road. A few seconds afterward, he said two police cars passed, one with its lights on and neither with a siren blaring. He said those cars were “kind of chasing” the pickup.

The caller said it seemed very odd because the driver obviously was a danger on the road.

I looked back to the Florida Highway Patrol report to see that the man driving the pickup eventually crashed at University Parkway just west of Medici Court. He drove off the roadway into the center median where he hit the tree and his truck was engulfed in flames. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

FHP informed me that it was an open investigation and therefore they couldn’t provide any additional information.

Because the Sarasota County

Courtesy photo

When a driver on the road is driving recklessly, law enforcement often turns to a helicopter so its mobile units can back off.

Sheriff’s Office was involved with the case and shut down the road afterward, I contacted its public information officer to see if I could get more details.

“At 12:30 a.m. May 1, Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office deputies were notified by the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office of a black truck traveling northbound on Interstate 75. The driver had “made indications he might be a danger to himself or others, so Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office deputies attempted a traffic stop to check his welfare (on I-75).”

Unfortunately, the driver didn’t stop and continued northbound into Manatee County, where he exited the interstate.

The information from the public information officer continued: “The driver did not stop and continued northbound into Manatee

County where he exited the interstate. In an abundance of caution, SCSO deputies canceled the pursuit while maintaining visual contact from a safe distance with assistance from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. The driver eventually reentered Sarasota County, however when he began traveling northbound on Tuttle Avenue from Bahia Vista Street just after 1:30 a.m., SCSO deputies completely stopped following and were no longer involved. For actions taken by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, please contact their PIO for details.”

OK, so I then called Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Public Relations Officer Randy Warren, who sent me the following email.

“MSO’s Aviation tracked the driver allowing ground units to safely follow at a distance without endangering others west on SR 70

past U.S. 301. The vehicle ran several red lights without slowing as well as straddling lanes. After crossing U.S. 301, the vehicle made a U turn by jumping the curb and then proceeded south on U.S. 301 into Sarasota County. The vehicle continued reckless driving and running stop lights without reducing speed.

At no time was a MCSO vehicle in pursuit or had blue lights activated.

As MSO’s aviation unit followed, the driver continued to drive recklessly by running red lights without slowing, erratic lane changing and pulling in front of vehicles.”

At this point, I thought about writing a column about the difficulties in obtaining information about accidents, especially those that obviously endangered anyone on the roads at that time. I know some law enforcement agencies tip-toe through laws that prevent them from issuing basic facts and simply are prevented from telling reporters like myself things they would love to reveal to the public.

Of course, some use current privacy laws to completely shut down the flow of information.

But then I started thinking about the law enforcement supervisors who had to make decisions about whether to chase down a suspect in cases similar to the May 1 incident.

Wow. I thought I could go right to the law enforcement officers themselves, but FHP and the Sarasota Sheriff’s Office didn’t have time for an interview.

Thankfully, Warren wanted to help. He put me in touch with Lt. Brad Johnson, who said he has been the supervisor who has had to make such a call many times.

He first talked about how pursuits had to be evaluated through policy and tactical evaluations. Decisions are made in what is determined to be minimal risk to public safety. As a supervisor, Johnson said, you have to collect as much information as

possible from deputies at the scene.

“Do we allow it to continue or do we shut it down?” he said. “For us, we don’t chase anything other than a felony. It has to be something much more serious. Then it involves time of day, the volume of traffic, is there a school zone? If we know who it is, we call it off so we can go after him or her in another way.”

The “Watch Unit” or helicopter is one other way and that strategy was deployed by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office on May 1. Once the helicopter had eyes on the reckless driver, the mobile units backed off.

“If it is reckless driving, we are going to terminate,” Johnson said.

“Our folks encounter that all the time.”

But what if a driver lets it be known he or she intends to injure himself? It is a decision I certainly wouldn’t want to make. How do you know the driver won’t pick out another motorist, such as the Uber driver, and cause a head on? How do you know it is less of a risk to close in? In the case of the May 1 incident, the driver died. Could he have been saved? Could you imagine having to live with those kind of decisions? Thank you, Lt. Johnson.

“We don’t know what he or she is going to do,” Johnson said. “We can’t foresee the future. We take an educated guess. You err on the side of caution.

“Afterward, we do a lot of Monday Morning Quarterbacking. We do pursuit reports. It can weigh on you, but when I make a decision, I know I did it to try to save lives.”

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

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022

Education on the menu Josephine Johnson’s students run a one-night restaurant to test their math, science and social skills.

LIZ RAMOS STAFF WRITER

Joey Jobst, a Tara Elementary kindergartner, took his job as chef at the Banana Leaf Restaurant seriously.

Wearing his chef’s coat and hat, Jobst used tongs to carefully place spring rolls on plates to be served to family members of Josephine Johnson’s kindergarten class.

“It was so adorable,” said Lisa Jobst, Joey’s mother. “Joey wanted to be the chef because he likes cooking at home, and he just thought that would be the perfect job for him.”

The Banana Leaf Restaurant, held April 29, is an annual one-night event run by Johnson’s kindergarten class.

Johnson’s students become cashiers, servers, busboys and busgirls, chefs and managers. On April 29, they served three types of soup and spring rolls.

Angelica Pardo, whose kindergartner Kai Tyquiengco was a server, loved the idea.

“I grew up through my teenage years working in restaurants, so I knew it would be a good experience,” Pardo said. “It melted my heart because it was such a big-boy thing.

You don’t realize how big your kids are getting and then you see them doing something like that.”

Pardo said she noticed the kindergartners worked better together than some service workers she has seen.

“Honestly, they did a lot better,” Pardo said with a laugh. “I noticed that right away. I was like, ‘Wow, there’s virtually no complaining.

Everyone’s cleaning up well; the service is really good.’”

Johnson started the event as a way for the students to learn about science, math, economics, social skills and more.

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Courtesy photo

ON THE MENU n $2 each for spring rolls with spicy sauce n $5 miso soup n $5 chicken and rice soup n $5 creamy chicken sopas n $5 noodles bowl

The students grow produce in the school’s garden that is used in the event. They learn to give the right amount of change as people pay for the meal, and they gain social skills as they deal with their customers.

“I loved getting to see the kids apply what they’ve learned in class to the restaurant,” said Bob Sloman, whose daughter Brynlee is in Johnson’s class. “It was fun getting to see her interact with her classmates because we don’t get to see that as parents. We drop them off and entrust them to the school. Getting to see them actually interact with Ms. Johnson and interacting with their classmates with excitement was really cool.”

Johnson said the event raised $1,108, which will go toward buying books, math and reading games and a new carpet for the classroom.

Tara Elementary kindergarten teacher Josephine Johnson is proud of her students, like Joey Jobst, for their work at the Banana Leaf Restaurant event.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022

11

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022

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County prepares for hurricane season with expo Manatee County residents are urged to attend the Hurricane Preparedness Expo.

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teve Litschauer, the Manatee County Emergency Management chief, said that during hurricane season the public often doesn’t realize how quickly a seemingly unremarkable situation can become a serious threat.

“If a storm gets in the Gulf of Mexico, it can go from what I call an afternoon thunderstorm to a Category 3, to a Category 5, in three days,” he said. “And three days is not time enough to come up with a plan, to come up with your supplies.”

Helping to prepare for such a scenario is the Manatee County Hurricane Preparedness Expo, presented

by Emergency Management from 4-7 p.m. May 17 at the Bradenton Area Convention Center at 1 Haben Blvd., Palmetto.

He said even though some areas, such as Lakewood Ranch, might not be located along the coast, hurricanes can still impact them.

“If people lose power, then what will they have?” he said.

A previous expo took place in March 2020, and Litschauer said he was glad to return to the event. The expo will feature 45 displays and more than 20 emergency vehicles.

The event is designed to help those who attend to form a plan.

He said one part of the event will emphasize the importance of supplies.

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS EXPO When: 4-7 p.m. May 17 Where: Bradenton Area Convention Center, 1 Haben Blvd., Palmetto Purpose: To educate Manatee County residents on preparing for hurricane season, including learning their evacuation level, the strength of their home, options for hurricane insurance and how to build a hurricane kit For more information, visit: MyManatee.org

“When you go grocery shopping now, the grocery store will have 100% of the items you want on a given day,” he said. “Above all, stock up on your supplies now. Even if a storm is coming in five days, those grocery store shelves are going to be empty.”

He also said the expo will help people understand whether they should leave their home based on their evacuation level as well as the home’s construction quality. During Hurricane Irma in 2017, Litschauer said the county saw many people visiting shelters even though they did not need to do so. He said that can take space away from those who actually require it.

“Some people live in brand-new homes that have wind ratings of 130 to 150 mph in low or non-evacuation

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A variety of vendors will be on site, including Manatee County’s 3-1-1, Animal Services, Beach Patrol Division, Emergency Management Division, Sheriff’s Office and Public Works. Bradenton and Palmetto Police departments and East Manatee Fire Rescue will also be on hand.

Some other private organizations being represented include WrightWay Emergency Services, the Salvation Army, the Red Cross, Manatee County Search & Rescue (SAR), Florida Power & Light, Peace River Electric, Mr. Handyman and multiple insurance companies.

Displays will include information on stocking up on batteries and how to have shutters installed.

Vehicles on display will include jet skis from Beach Patrol, canteen trucks from the Salvation Army and the Red Cross, and the Rapid Activation Patient Treatment or Rehab (RAPTOR) ambubus from Emergency Services, an ambulance bus for transporting large numbers of people.

Litschauer emphasized his point about preparedness. “Well, my catchphrase is, know your home and how well it’s constructed. Know your evacuation level. Have a kit, and have a plan.

“Some people have said there hasn’t been a storm here, but it only takes one. Ask Mexico Beach, or ask Port Charlotte, or ask Miami, or ask the East Coast. It only took one to devastate their community.”

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areas,” he said. “We want for them to know that at their level, they don’t need to go to a shelter.”

He said shelters are not comfortable places to spend time.

“It’s a safe place, and you get fed, but you have to take your own bedding, you have to take your own chair, and you’re in there with hundreds of people that you may not know,” he said.

Jim Emanuelson, president of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) branch in Lakewood Ranch, who is attending the expo as part of a countywide CERT coalition, said preparedness is important for residents from his area for multiple reasons.

Hurricanes create high winds, which can also produce small tornadoes, and they can bring storm surge.

He said parts of Lakewood Ranch are in the A-level evacuation zone because storms could carry water up the Manatee and Braden rivers.

Emanuelson said that in the week before Hurricane Irma arrived in 2017, he observed 3 feet of water in Greenbrook Adventure Park.

He said if a storm does turn out to be serious, evacuation will prove difficult.

“You seen what traffic on I-75 is like on a Friday afternoon,” he said.

“Imagine when you’ve got a million or more people trying to evacuate a storm from our south, and add that to what we normally see on a Friday.

It’s going to be hard to get around.”

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THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022

Gabriel Meneses and girlfriend Laura Gomez relax with tacos and maracas.

Photos by Ian Swaby

Dewitt Scott and Joan Scott of Lakewood Ranch are energized by the music.

New spin on Cinco de Mayo UTC event uses headphones to allow participants to be in the moment.

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

W

hile passersby might not have understood the energy and enthusiasm that was taking place at the Silent Disco Cinco de Mayo celebration May 5 at the Green at University Town Center, those participating were feeling the beat.

“Look at the lights. Look at the trees. Look at the atmosphere. I mean, come on. It doesn’t get any better than this,” Lakewood Ranch’s

Joann Scott said.

The UTC event drew a capacity 200 participants and was held in partnership with Silent Vibes, which offered participants headphones they could use to personalize the volume of the disco music.

Also featured were tacos from Poppo’s Taqueria, beer and margaritas from Origin Craft Beer & Pizza Café, and boba and other teas from Tea Days, all available as purchases or free samples.

The founder of Silent Vibes, Alicia Waldner, said that the services of her Tampa-based company were driven by her own experience with her first silent disco in Los Angeles. A selfdiagnosed workaholic at the time, she said she suddenly felt transformed in what she called “a breakthrough of being present in the moment.”

“All of a sudden, I cried,” she said.

“I hadn’t cried in years… . So, now I’ve kind of restructured how I live my life and built my businesses off of that, and I’m so much happier.”

Waldner said the company offers events nationally, having just hosted one in Utah. “I’m hoping that UTC calls us back,” she said.

Ashley Cooper, a public relations and marketing coordinator for Benderson Development, said it was fitting that the organization was able to team up with Silent Vibes and offer a different spin on a Cinco de Mayo celebration.

“I think everyone kind of has their own idea of how they really want to celebrate Cinco de Mayo,” she said, noting that the holiday does not necessarily follow a strict set of traditions. “That’s why giving people an

alternative option was really something that we wanted to try out.”

Waldner said the headphones offer a different experience.

“It allows them to be in their own world that lets them focus,” she said.

“So when you’re here, you’re in your own element, and it lets you just sink in more.”

Feedback from attendees, who varied widely in age, echoed Waldner’s comments.

“It was something that I always wanted to do, so I was excited when they posted it on Instagram,” said Lakewood Ranch’s Laura Gomez, who is 25. “It’s cool, because you hear the music, but you can’t hear anything beyond the headphones, so you let go and dance the night away.

It’s a good idea, and hopefully we continue to do things like this.”

Lakewood Ranch’s Carol Botts watched the dancing from a chair with her husband, Ron. “I’m always interested in having a new experience,” she said. “It’s fun watching people enjoying Cinco de Mayo.”

A dance-off competition was held late in the event, with results decided by audience applause. The winner was 12-year-old Vincenzo Pino.

“I felt the freedom of having lots of creativity,” he said. “I had a lot of support from the people here. This was a great experience overall.”

DID YOU KNOW? Cinco de Mayo celebrates the anniversary of Mexico’s victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, led

by Gen. Ignacio Zaragoza.

The conflict took place when the emperor of France, Napoleon III, attempted to seize Veracruz, hoping to drive Mexico’s president, Benito Juárez, into exile. The conflict did not win the war against France, but the victory of 2,000 Mexican soldiers over 6,000 French soldiers served as an important rallying point.

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A NIGHT OF

UnidosNow is celebrating its belated 10th anniversary with an event that aims to celebrate the union of culture and tradition.

SPENCER FORDIN A+E EDITOR

W

hat happens when you take a classical art form and merge it with something equally distinctive from a different culture?

They make beautiful music together.

That’s the lesson UnidosNow has been preaching for 12 years as it seeks to level the playing field for the Latino population of Sarasota and Manatee counties, and it’s the recipe for success that it designed for its longdelayed 10th anniversary celebration.

Held over two “For us, as an days at Van Wezel organization Performing Arts Hall and Venice Perthat seeks to forming Arts Center, NocheUnidos will integrate our merge the talents of an orchestra and a immigrant world famous mariachi band. community Kelly Kirschner, co-founder of Uniinto the fabric dosNow, said he had seen a similar perof our region formance a decade ago with Mariaculturally and chi Cobre and the Philharpolitically and Orlando monic Orchestra.

Now it’s Mariaeconomically, chi Cobre and the 72-piece Venice it’s really such Symphony combining their talents. a beautiful “From the moment we saw it, it genermetaphor of ated goosebumps,” said Kirschner, the our work.” mayor of Sarasota from 2010 to 2011.

— Kelly Kirschner “When you think about it initially, it’s like, ‘How in the heck is that going to work?’

“But then when it happens, it’s just such a rich sound. For us, as an organization that seeks to integrate our immigrant community into the fabric of our region culturally and politically and economically, it’s really such a beautiful metaphor of our work.”

UnidosNow was born to confront a simple reality: The Latino population of Sarasota and Manatee counties was exploding, but representation was not moving along with it. Kirschner said he initially was moved by the 2010 census, which showed that the local Latin American community had grown by 300%

UNITY

Courtesy photos

SEE NOCHEUNIDOS, PAGE 16

At top: Mariachi Cobre is one of the world’s foremost ambassadors of mariachi music. Above: This painting by Yulner Diaz will be auctioned off at the May 20 performance at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

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THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022

JOIN US THIS JUNE AND JULY FOR

NocheUnidos

SUMMER TEEN STUDIOS

FROM PAGE 15

Photos: Daniel Perales

THE STUDIOS @ SAM Let’s Make Some Art!

SarasotaArtMuseum.org/studios-at-sam Photo: Ryan Gamma

Photo: Matt Holler

Photo: Rich Schineller

IF YOU GO

ART + SHOP + BISTRO

NOCHEUNIDOS When: 7:30 p.m. May 20; 2:30 p.m. May 21 Where: Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on 5/20, Venice Performing Arts Center on 5/21 Tickets: $30-$120 Info: UnidosNow.org/NocheUnidos

BECOME A MEMBER

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over a 20-year span. And as far as Kirschner could tell, there was no nonprofit organization dedicated to nurturing that demographic.

UnidosNow filled that niche and has assisted more than 3,000 students over the last 12 years.

It’s helped its students earn more than $8 million in scholarships to higher education, paving the way for a generational shift in Sarasota over the coming decades.

“If you look downstream at where we’re headed and the future of this community, many of the Manatee County elementary and middle schools are already at majority Latin populations,” said Kirschner. “High school is getting that way. As a community, we have to start looking at that and make sure that this is not an isolated and segregated community.

“We have to make sure we’re working very closely with them to push engagement across all sectors.”

It isn’t just about education, but that’s an important place to start.

One of the signature achievements of UnidosNow is its Future Leaders Academy. Kirschner said that it’s like a college prep program that prepares students for their lives at a major university and beyond, and he hopes that many of its alumni will someday come home and pay it forward.

For Christina Unkel, the honorary chair of NocheUnidos, that’s an amazing development.

Unkel, a local attorney, said that her parents immigrated to America with the hope of giving her a better future, and UnidosNow is providing a road

“When I learned what UnidosNow is doing with all their programming and helping to fill those gaps, I was like, ‘Shoot, my family could’ve used that.’”

— Christina Unkel

map to success for the next generation.

“It’s knowing what opportunities are out there and how to go about those opportunities,” she said.

“When I learned what UnidosNow is doing with all their programming and helping to fill those gaps, I was like, ‘Shoot, my family could’ve used that. Families now can use that. Families moving forward can use that.’ This can launch our current generation and our next generation to do so much more and to truly have a seat at the table. If you see someone that looks like you succeeding, consciously or subconsciously, you believe you can fill that position at some point in the future. You can be that person.”

Unkel, a groundbreaking soccer referee in her spare time, said that phenomenon was hammered home for her at an event sponsored by The Florida Bar. Law Day exposes students to practicing attorneys who tell them about their career. The first question that day, said Unkel, came from a young Hispanic boy who didn’t know that Hispanic women could be lawyers.

The teacher looked mortified, said Unkel, and then a young Hispanic girl spoke up and said that she also didn’t know about the possibility.

“That’s when it hit me. For me, I’m just doing my thing,” said Unkel. “This generation of kids — and they’re probably now 10 or 11 years old — didn’t know Hispanic women could be attorneys because their moms and aunts are working jobs in the service industry. They’re not seeing women in professional capacities; they’re only seeing men in professional capacities. I want to make sure those kids get it and do it.

And then there’s another generation

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THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022

A NEW MUSICAL!

Courtesy photo

Local attorney Christina Unkel has warmed to being a part of the NocheUnidos mission.

e n a e B r K BY e O t O r B a C s BY a l S g C I u Do S I C A N D LY R n MU n i l F Lewis

“They’re not seeing women in professional capacities; they’re only seeing men in professional capacities. ...

I want to make sure those kids get it and do it.”

— Christina Unkel

of the audience,” he said.

“What we saw in Orlando — and what we expect to see on May 20 and 21 — is a wide range of our Latin American community that will be there. But we also hope that the people who love orchestral music and go to Sarasota Orchestra or the Venice Symphony will attend as well. On the stage, it’s going to be a reflection of that rich diversity, but hopefully it will also be one in the seats in both the Van Wezel and the Venice Performing Arts Center.”

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behind them. That’s what UnidosNow is really doing. When I learned that there was not just their mission but truly what they’re practicing, I wanted to be a part of it.”

That same mindset — wanting to be part of the change in the making — is what inspired artist Yulner Diaz, who designed the poster for NocheUnidos. Kirschner said that Diaz arrived in Sarasota as an undocumented immigrant with a dream of making it as an artist.

He attended Ringling College of Art and Design and ultimately moved to Europe, but he’s been active in Sarasota’s community and was thrilled to be a part of NocheUnidos.

His poster, which fuses the elements of the upcoming performance, speaks volumes.

Kirschner went through just a few of the images portrayed; there’s the Sarasota Bay at sunset and the iconic Ringling Bridge.

Then there’s a piñata, shaped like a cello, flanked by mariachi band members and an image of guest conductor Michelle Merrill.

The cello is emblazoned with the colors of the American flag, and the knot fastening it consists of red and blue threads symbolizing political divisions in America.

But the hope behind it all, said Kirschner, is that these disparate elements strengthen one another.

“Immigration can be additive,” he said. “It’s not a zero-sum game that it steals jobs and leads to issues of crime in a community. It builds upon what a community already has.

“You have that Old World genre of music in your classical orchestral music, and you have this New World genre of the iconic Mexican music that’s celebrated all throughout Latin America. You’re bringing them together to create something that’s really new. It has both aspects but is something unique and beautiful.”

At root, said Kirschner, NocheUnidos is all about improving access and strengthening the community.

He hopes this festival will become an annual tradition, and over time, he wants to help Sarasota and Manatee counties do a better job of strengthening the figurative knot imagined by Diaz.

“What I think will be really unique and rewarding is to see the diversity

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THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022

THIS WEEK Derric Gobourne Jr. will perform songs from his album “SH!NE” on Monday, May 16, at the Donelly Theatre.

THURSDAY MATT HOLT 7 p.m. at McCurdy’s Comedy Theater, 1923 Ringling Blvd. $25 Visit McCurdysComedy.com Matt Holt isn’t going to let you leave without laughing. Holt has been touring comedy clubs for two decades, and his schtick is only getting richer. Holt will bring jokes, but he’ll also spend some time just riffing on the audience. Show up and settle in for an evening of conversational comedy. Runs through May 15.

JAZZ THURSDAYS AT THE SAM 5:30 p.m. at Sarasota Art Museum.

Members free, non-members $20 Visit JazzClubSarasota.org The Paul Gavin Quartet will rock the Marcy and Michael Klein Plaza, bringing smooth jazz sounds to one of the most-scenic settings in Sarasota. Gavin will be supported

by James Suggs, Zach Bartholomew and Brandon Robertson.

‘LEGALLY BLONDE’ 7:30 p.m. at Rise Above Performing Arts Center, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 1105 $15-$30 Visit RiseAboveArts.com.

Don’t underestimate Elle Woods.

The impeccably attired law student, brooking no backtalk from skeptics, is determined to make her dreams of becoming an attorney come true no matter the cost. Runs through May 22.

FRIDAY ‘HAMLET’ 7:30 p.m. at Pinkerton Theatre, 140 Tampa Ave. W. $25 adult, $20 college, $12 youth Visit VeniceTheatre.org.

www.manasotaonline.com

Shakespeare’s beloved drama about murder, betrayal and family intrigue has thrilled worldwide audiences for four centuries and will come to the Venice Theatre for a fortnight. Vera Samuels stars as the titular Prince of Denmark, and Murray Chase directs. Runs through May 29.

TONY MONACO HAMMOND B3 ORGAN TRIO 8 p.m. at Fogartyville, 525 Kumquat Court $20 members, $22 non-members Visit WSLR.org/Fogartyville He’s billed as the best organ player you haven’t heard of, and he’s coming to Fogartyville. Tony Monaco has been tickling the ivories since age 8 and began working jazz clubs while still a teenager in Columbus, Ohio.

Monaco will be supported by guitarist LaRue Nicholson and drummer Rick Costa.

SATURDAY BROADWAY MEMORIES 11 a.m. at Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Ave. W., Bradenton $9.80-$20 Visit ManateePerformingArtsCenter. org.

This show will feature kids and young adults ages 7 to 17 who have trained for months. The youngsters will take on songs from hit shows like “Pippin,” “Gypsy,” “Chicago,” “Frozen,” “Matilda” and more.

SUNCOAST MUSIC SCHOLARSHIPS 2022 WINNERS CONCERT 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Sarasota, 2050 Oak St. Free Visit SarasotaMusicClub.org See Sarasota’s best and brightest before they embark on their careers.

Talented musicians from seven area

1734 South Tamiami Trail Venice, FL 34293 941.493.7441

high schools will perform works by Beethoven, Bach, Vivaldi, Chopin and other masters in this celebration of local students.

‘OOPS UPON A TIME’ 7 p.m. at Studio 1130 – Crossings at Siesta Key $15 Visit ThePlayers.org.

The Players Kids presents this play about a young writer attempting to write a story for her sister. The nascent playwright pulls out all the stops and receives assistance from her fairy godmother in this comingof-age tale.

POETS UNPLUGGED: AN EVENING OF SPOKEN WORD & MUSIC 7 p.m. at Fogartyville Community Media & Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court $5 Visit WSLR.org/Fogartyville.

It’s the final episode in a four-part series hosted by spoken word artist Melanie Lavender, and many of the area’s top poets will be coming down to get back on the mic. Lavender will also present a segment highlighting students from Booker Middle School who participate in a spoken word program of their own.

DON’T MISS ‘DISCOVER MOZART 3: GENIUS OF YOUTH’ Genius is stunning enough, but it’s even harder to comprehend when it comes from a prodigy.

Sarasota Orchestra will celebrate the early works of Mozart at this concert conducted by Stephen Mulligan, formerly associate conductor of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

Violinist Maria Ioudenitch and viola player Jordan Bak will play on Mozart’s Sinfonia concertante for Violin and Viola, written when the phenom was just 23 years old.

The orchestra will also play Benjamin Britten’s “Sinfionetta,” written when he was just 18 years old, and Mozart’s Symphony No. 25, composed when the master was 17 and making his mark on the world.

IF YOU GO When: 7:30 p.m., May 14 Where: Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave. Tickets: $27-$65 Info: SarasotaOrchestra.org

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IN-STUDIO PERFORMANCE SERIES FEATURING SCDE: SPRING SHOWCASE Settle in for the Spring Showcase, which will feature choreography by Sarasota Contemporary Dance Ensemble codirectors Melissa Rummel and Xiao-Xuan Yang Dancigers. The ensemble consists of aspiring student dancers who are afforded not just top-notch tutelage but

IF YOU GO When: 7 p.m. May 13; 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.

May 14 Where: SCD Home Studio, 1400 Boulevard of the Arts Tickets: $20 Info: SarasotaContemporaryDance.org

GARDEN MUSIC SERIES — HALIE LOREN 1-3 p.m. at Selby Gardens Spanish Point Campus, 337 N. Tamiami Trail, Osprey Free; included with general admission for non-members Visit Selby.org

BROADWAY ON THE BAY — SARASOTA DIVAS 6:30 p.m. at Selby Gardens, 1534 Mound St. $25 Visit ThePlayers.org

DERRIC GOBOURNE JR. — SH!NE 7:30 p.m. at the Donelly Theatre, 1012 N. Orange Ave. $27 Visit WestcoastBlackTheatre.org Derric Gobourne Jr. will hit the stage as part of Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s Young Artist Program and play through many of the tracks on his album “SH!NE.” Gobourne, who will be joined by several guest artists, will play several instruments during the show. He’ll be supported by drummer Fancy Karema.

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also the opportunity to dance alongside professional dancers.

SUNDAY

Halie Loren, the pride of Sitka, Alaska, is performing about as far as she can get from home without leaving the continent. Loren, now based in Oregon, will bring her rich timbre and deep catalogue of jazz-inflected songs to the lovely backdrop of Selby Gardens’ Spanish Point Campus for one performance only.

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022

An

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A number of talented local performers, including Kathryn Parks, Berry Ayers and Eve Caballero, will take on some familiar Broadway tunes right in the shadow of Sarasota Bay, and the lush and fertile backdrop of Selby Gardens will serve as a perfect sounding board for their voices. Performances will run through Friday.

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WEDNESDAY WORLD SERIES OF COMEDY 7 p.m. at McCurdy’s Comedy Theater, 1928 Ringling Blvd. $25 Visit McCurdysComedy.com

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This traveling comedic showcase is going around the country and trying to find talented performers to compete on a grand stage. Forty professional comedians will be hitting the McCurdy’s stage as part of this event, which runs through Saturday, and a spot in the finals in Las Vegas will be on the line.

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THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022

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DICK VITALE GALA

Kevin Negandhi, honorees Scott Drew and Rod Gilmore, Dick Vitale, honoree Keyshawn Johnson and V Foundation CEO Shane Jacobson

Friday, May 6, at The RitzCarlton, Sarasota | Benefiting V Foundation for Cancer Research

S

ports celebrities made their way to The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota for the annual Dick Vitale gala on May 6.

Around 900 guests attended this year’s event benefiting the V Foundation for Cancer Research. The annual fundraiser has brought in more than $40 million for pediatric cancer research.

This year’s event honored NFL player and ESPN host Keyshawn Johnson, tennis hall of famer and analyst Chris Evert and Baylor University men’s basketball coach Scott Drew. ESPN college football analyst Rod Gilmore also received the V Foundation John Sanders Courage Award.

Vitale, V Foundation CEO Shane Jacobson and other figures spoke about the importance of ending pediatric cancer at a pre-event news conference.

Vitale and other celebrities then mingled with guests during the cocktail hour before it was time for the dinner and the program to start.

Pat, Josh and Jessica Fisher and Brian Ford

Above: Bryant Young autographs a helmet.

Left: Elizabeth Holland, Jeane Bowman and Jammie Serrano

—HARRY SAYER Chris Sforzo and Ryan Sforzo with Lorraine and Terri Vitale

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022

21

The C rys Tal G a la Celebrating Iain Webb’s 15 th Season as Director

Thanks to the generosity of our table sponsors and paddle raise participants, we were able to achieve and surpass our goal of $1 Million to support The Sarasota Ballet’s artistic, education, and community programs for the upcoming Season.

Bud and Betty Shapiro

DIAMOND PATRONS

Karol Foss Patricia A. Golemme and Timothy Fullum Julie A. Harris Frank and Katherine Martucci

EMERALD PATRONS

Sydney Goldstein Joe and Mary Kay Henson Richard Johnson Harry Leopold and Audrey Robbins Jean Weiller

SAPPHIRE PATRONS

George Allison, ASID and Alan Watkins, ASID Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation BMO Wealth Management Community Foundation of Sarasota County Jan and Bill Farber Marnie and Stephen Grossman Gulf Coast Community Foundation JoAnn Heffernan Heisen Pat and Ann Kenny Phil and Kim Lombardo Richard March Bill and Linda Mitchell Stu and Gini Peltz Kimberley Anne Pelyk Micki Sellman Alison Gardner and Jan Sirota Hillary Steele Melliss Swenson Marcia Jean Taub and Peter Swain David Welle and Rosemary Reinhardt Anonymous

RUBY PATRONS

Bob and Ginger Cannon Bailey Neil and Sandra DeFeo Fred and Lynda Doery Richard and Cornelia Matson Peter B. Miller and Dr. Martha Harrison Rosemary and Lou Oberndorf Mercedita OConnor Rich and Clare Segall Maureen and Tom Steiner Robin Klein-Strauss and Michael Strauss

PEARL PATRONS

Peggy and Ken Abt Carol Arscott Ronelle Ashby Shari and Steve Ashman Sumner and Irene Bagby Ruth Barker Maria Beck Isabel Anchin Becker Patricia Belote Marty and Barbara Bowling James Brooks Bonnie and William Chapman Katie Couchot Cumberland Advisors Robin and Chase Curtis Sona and David Degann Kay Delaney and Murray Bring Rosalyn and Joel Ehrenpreis Laura Feder Frances D. Fergusson and John Bradbury Geoffrey W. Fulton Martine Flamen Patsy and Ed Garno Valerie Gill Suzanne Gladfelter

Jane C. Gould and Stephen W. Fillo Gerald and Deborah Hamburg Family Foundation Amy Harding Charlie Huisking D’Anne Hurd and George Forsythe Ann and Robert Jackson Barbara Jacob Andrea Justiniano Merrill Kaegi Erika Kahwaty Henry Kahwaty and Mary Dooher Linda Klein Vivian Kouvant Waldron Kraemer and Joan Lovell Peter E. Kretzmer Joan Switt Langbord Ron and Katherine Lee Alan Lenowitz Melvy Erman Lewis Tina and Rick Lieberman Dr. and Mrs. Louis Marquet Joan Mathews Donna Maytham Dorothy O’Brien and Richard Antoine Rose Marie Proietti Pamela Revels Arthur Siciliano and B. Aline Blanchard Barbara Staton Michael Thompson and Cindy Thronson University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee Campus Joan Volpe and Ronald Kluck Lauren Walsh Thomas and Gwendolyn Watson Anonymous 1st Source Bank Williams Parker Attorneys at Law

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PRODUCTION PATRON

MAY 12, 2022

SPORTS

“I like hitting in big spots. Having my teammates behind me wanting me to do it fuels me.”

— Lakewood Ranch High’s Amanda Lee SEE PAGE 24

HIGH

“For us to be competitive, we need this. We feel like our athletes need to get stronger.

It’s why we hired Andrew (Shackleford).

He’s talented, and he’s going to help us get there, but we need the equipment, too.”

5

2

The Out-of-Door Academy senior boys track and field runner Tristan McWilliam won the 800-meter run (1:56.93) and the 1,600-meter run (4:22.85) at the Thunder’s Class 1A regional meet May 4 in Naples.

3

Randy Edington, John Haddock, Lee Underwood and Dick Farrer (96) won the Men’s Golf Association Best Ball event May 4 at University Park Country Club.

4

Jill Hendren, Fran Hauser, Franci Dunderdale and Olga Tefft (14 under par) won the Women’s Golf Association Best Ball event May 3 at Palm Aire Country Club.

5

Lakewood Ranch High senior softball catcher Grace Hogie went 2-2 with a double and two RBIs May 3 in the Mustangs’ 9-0 home win against Gulf Coast High.

SHAUN J. LIMON DPM

Diplomate, American Board of Multiple Specialties in Podiatry Board Certified in Primary Care in Podiatric Medicine

FACE LIFT Lakewood Ranch High hopes to revamp its weight room with personalized workout-tracking technology.

RYAN KOHN SPORTS EDITOR

A lot can happen to a weight room in 24 years.

Pads on benches crack and wear away. Dumbbells get beat up, and their grips dig into users’ palms.

Technology that was once state of the art becomes obsolete. All of that and more has happened to the weight room at Lakewood Ranch High since the school opened in 1998. The 3,100-square-foot room’s equipment has not been updated since the opening.

Mustangs Athletic Director Kent Ringquist decided the school needed an upgrade, so he created a plan to built the most-advanced weight room in the region.

Ringquist and Lakewood Ranch High have started fundraising for a total revamp of the school’s weight room equipment, setting a goal of $100,000. The school is not getting any money from the School District of Manatee County for the weight room improvements.

The revamp is happening for a number of reasons, including safety and even aesthetics.

No one likes using equipment that looks worn down, Ringquist said.

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ing the equipment will make the weight room safer. Currently, the room contains 15 single-use power cages, where athletes perform squats, bench presses and other activities. Each cage stands on its own large platform raised off the ground. The platforms are a hazard, Ringquist said. A student can trip over them while walking or fall off them when done using the cages.

These 15 single-use cages would be replaced by eight twin-use cages at a cost of $70,000. Those cages can be placed directly on the floor.

Besides being safer, they will allow more people (16) to use the cages at once while simultaneously creating more space for other activities in the room.

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Along with safety, the new room will give the Mustangs advantages other schools do not have. Andrew Shackleford, who was hired as Lakewood Ranch’s director of sports performance in 2021, said each of the new cages will come with a digital tablet ($250 each) attached.

On these tablets, Shackleford can install a program called “TeamBuildr” in which he can track individual athlete’s weight training progress in different exercises while writing them personalized training plans.

Shackleford said he gained access to the software through his work as a graduate assistant at Western Illinois University, but the program is also used by professional sports teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Nuggets and Philadelphia Flyers.

Shackleford said Lakewood Ranch would be the first high school in the area to use the technology.

“Athletes are being more specialized in one sport,” Shackleford said.

“They develop poor (training) patterns when they do that. They are using the same muscles in the same way over and over. It causes overuse injuries. That’s what we have to address. We need to help them prevent injuries. Seeing how they are training and giving them plans to vary it can help with durability.”

The news cages and the “TeamBuildr” technology will be the biggest changes to the room but not the only ones. Shackleford said all of the school’s dumbbells will be replaced with new models, as will the barbells and weight plates if there is enough money raised.

If the $100,000 goal is surpassed, he said, the school could invest in safety bars for the power cages, which make squats easier on people recovering from upper body injuries, as well as trap bars (also known as hex bars), which put less pressure on a user’s back when deadlifting than a traditional barbell.

Ringquist said he hopes to begin purchasing the new equipment and moving it into the room by late August. He said the upgrades can take Lakewood Ranch High’s sports programs to the next level.

“For us to be competitive, we need this,” Ringquist said. “We feel like our athletes need to get stronger. It’s why we hired Andrew (Shackleford).

He’s talented, and he’s going to help us get there, but we need the equipment, too.”

A GoFundMe page has been created for donations. Go to GoFundMe and search for “Lakewood Ranch weight room improvements.”

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Top: Andrew Shackleford was hired as Lakewood Ranch High’s director of sports performance in 2021.

Shackleford and Athletic Director Kent Ringquist are leading the school’s efforts to renovate the weight room after 24 years.

Above: Ringquist said the school wants to renovate its weight room in order to compete with the elite programs in all sports statewide.

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Former Lakewood Ranch High softball outfielder Jillian Herbst, a freshman at Colgate, hit a walk-off single May 8 in the Raiders’ 2-1 home win against Army. Herbst leads Colgate with a .371 average and 15 extra-base hits (nine doubles, four triples and two home runs) and has been named the Patriot League Rookie of the Week five times.

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PROSE AND KOHN

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

|

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022

23

RYAN KOHN

Personal challenges set gala stage

Ryan Kohn

Kevin Negandhi, Rod Gilmore, Dick Vitale, Scott Drew, Keyshawn Johnson and V Foundation CEO Shane Jacobson stand together at the Dick Vitale Gala. The 2022 gala raised $11.1 million for the V Foundation, an event record.

seen in the treatments is amazing. It’s only happening because of the support of places like the V Foundation and what Dick Vitale is doing. It tells me that we are going to solve this problem. We’re on the right track. As someone who is fighting a cancer that does not have a known cure, I am incredibly optimistic and hopeful because of all the work being done.”

Everyone who spoke at the gala, including honorees Scott Drew, the Baylor men’s basketball coach, and Keyshawn Johnson, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver, pointed out Vitale’s resistance to rest during his treatments.

Every time they spoke to him, he would want to talk about fundraising efforts.

“He was texting me about this during one of his (chemotherapy) sessions, and I told him, ‘Stop texting me! Just chill,’” Johnson said.

Texting became one of Vitale’s

primary methods of communication. Vitale had surgery on his vocal cords in February to remedy dysplasia and ulcerated lesions. He went on complete vocal rest for four weeks, using a notepad or whiteboard to communicate in person.

While Vitale’s vocal cords are healing well, his treatment of them is not quite finished. Vitale said he will have a final surgery on them in June, which should get him back to 100%. He hopes to be calling college basketball games full time again in the fall.

Vitale’s voice was raspy but no less full of enthusiasm for his family, his friends and his cause. He spoke only at the gala’s press conference and dinner, skipping the cocktail party and one-on-one interviews to save his voice. At the dinner, he spoke of his treatment process and sounded exasperated by it.

“I’m tired of those needles, man,” Vitale said. “All the scans, oh my

god. And there’s always the fear, waiting for that phone call after blood work. What’s the call going to be? Please don’t tell me that cancer is back. Now I know what these families go through. It is tough.”

Vitale then shed light on his decision to share the inner workings of his cancer fight. It came down to one reason, he said: selfishness.

“I wanted to raise more dollars,” Vitale said.

Even Vitale’s “selfish” reason is selfless in the end.

I have been fortunate to attend the gala five times. Each time I get goosebumps, even though the information presented does not change much from year to year.

Such is the slow flow of cancer research. It takes time and a ton of money to make a difference. As Gilmore said, though, progress is being made. I am hopeful that one day there will be no need for galas like this one, but until that day

comes, I am happy that pediatric cancer patients have a role model like Vitale in their corner.

Seeing him talk about his experiences was eye-opening, but so were his emotions. Vitale talked to the gala crowd about his treatments and never shed a tear. When talking about his All-Courageous Team — a group of kids fighting cancer with the same spirit as Vitale — he couldn’t help himself, even though, as he told the crowd, he promised his wife, Lorraine, that he wouldn’t cry.

If you have never met Vitale, you should know it is not an act. Vitale cares about this cause more than anything else.

Apparently the gala’s attendees were as touched as I was. Every year Vitale tries to top his own fundraising record. This year, the goal was $7 million, which would put the event’s 17-year total north of $50 million.

Vitale blew his goal away.

By the end of the evening, it was announced that the gala had raised $11.1 million, putting the 17-year total close to $55 million.

No matter what life throws at Vitale, he keeps going. At the gala, Vitale set out a new challenge: He wants to become the first broadcaster to call a college basketball game at age 100.

“That’s only 17 more years,” Vitale said with a laugh. “I may be in the fourth quarter (of life), but I’m going to overtime, baby.”

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

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T

he Dick Vitale Gala is always a special event, but this year’s edition May 6 at the Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota held an even greater importance for its namesake.

The 17th annual gala, which benefits The V Foundation for Cancer Research, was the first since Vitale, 82, was diagnosed with melanoma in August 2021.

In October 2021, Vitale announced he had been diagnosed with lymphoma. Thankfully, Vitale rang the bell at Sarasota Memorial Hospital April 14, signaling that he was finished with chemotherapy treatment and is cancer free. Throughout the process, Vitale shared photos and videos of himself on social media.

He showed himself in the hospital post-chemotherapy. He showed himself going for blood work and various scans. In other words, he showed himself fighting, which is something he has vowed to never stop doing.

The sharing of those intimate moments is something that meant a lot to Vitale’s ESPN colleague Rod Gilmore, a college football analyst.

In 2016, Gilmore was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a cancer that forms in specific white blood cells called plasma cells. There is no known cure for Gilmore’s cancer. At the gala, Gilmore received the John Saunders Courage Award for continuing to persevere in the face of the disease. Gilmore said Vitale’s sharing of the treatment process took bravery and gave the public a glimpse into what the disease does to people, a knowledge that most people do not have firsthand. Gilmore said he is hopeful Vitale’s documentation will lead to more donations.

“We keep talking about fighting cancer — and I do believe that we are fighting it — but I think what is lost is we have cancer on the run,” Gilmore said. “In my six years as a cancer patient, the difference I have

YourObserver.com

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

Amanda Lee Amanda Lee is a junior on the Lakewood Ranch High softball team. The infielder had the game-winning RBI May 6 in the Mustangs’ 1-0 Class 7A District championship win over Venice High at home. Lee is hitting .400.

The Mustangs (25-2) will host West Orange High (17-8) in the regional quarterfinals at 7 p.m. May 12.

When did you start playing softball?

When I was 7. Before that, I played tee-ball and baseball, but when I moved to softball, I started taking it seriously.

What is the appeal to you?

I love the competitiveness of it. I am a competitive person, so anything that lets me compete, I love.

What is your best skill?

My best skill is my hand-eye coordination, making contact with the ball and putting it in play and then making stuff happen.

What have you been working to improve?

It has mostly been my reaction time on defense and working on my glove side, especially at third base.

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What is your favorite memory?

It has to be winning the state championship last year. The experience was awesome, traveling as a team and going out to eat each day before and after the games and then winning it all.

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What is the team’s mindset heading into the regional round?

Last year we also had a close game in our district championship (2-0 over Newsome High), and then we broke it open the rest of the way. I think we are going to keep this thing going just like last year.

What are your hobbies?

I like going to the beach. It’s relaxing for me and a way to get away from school and softball and other things for a bit.

Which super power would you pick?

I would want to be able to fly. You could get everywhere so much easier.

What is the best advice you have received?

Do not take anything for granted.

With softball, after COVID, you never know when a game might be your last game.

Finish this sentence: “Amanda Lee is …” … Competitive. I want to be the best in everything I do.

What was it like getting the lone RBI against Venice?

I like hitting in big spots. Having my teammates behind me wanting me to do it is something that fuels me.

I envision something good happening, so when it does happen it’s like, ‘Oh yeah, I knew I could do that.’ It gives me confidence. That’s what I did against Venice. It was cool.

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MAY 12, 2022

YOUR NEIGHBORS

Left: The audience fills out Main Street as the music begins.

Above: Donna and Larry Euston of Boca Grove watch the performance. The couple, who come to Music on Main every month, call the band “different but very entertaining.”

Keep the Wheels turning

Photos by Ian Swaby

Lakewood Ranch’s Tim Mildren makes his first visit to Music on Main with his neighbors Bennett, Bridget and Tim Prichard.

Above: Philip “Squeak Walker” plays drums for Paul Fournier.

Right: Sara Byers, who is visiting from Atlanta, dances with her sister Leisa Frye, who lives in Lakewood Ranch, at Music on Main.

“Something like this helps to supplement us,” Phillips said of the special event.

Live entertainment at Music on Main was provided by Paul Fournier, whose band also included bassist Trevoris Scott and drummer Philip “Squeak” Walker.

“It’s been absolutely amazing,” Fournier said. “The energy here is a lot of fun. People can bring their family, they can bring their friends, and they can have kind of a late-night crowd, too. Everybody seems to mingle perfectly together.”

— IAN SWABY

Maribeth Phillips is the president and CEO of Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee, the benefiting nonprofit.

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iverwalk Ridge resident Joanne Terwilliger said she loves all of the entertainment Music On Main offers each month in Lakewood Ranch but also noted the bonus May 6.

The event benefited Meals on Wheels Plus.

Terwilliger said Meals on Wheels Plus does a good job of taking care of people in need.

“I think they’re organized and are just a responsible organization to give to,” she said.

Maribeth Phillips, the president and CEO of Meals on Wheels Plus, said that the event would be a significant help to the hungry. She said the organization serves 85 pantries in Manatee County but donations and volunteering typically decrease in the summer.

26

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

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

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 18

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

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

SUNDAY, MAY 22

TRIBUTE TO HEROES PARADE Begins at 6 p.m. at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch. The annual parade attracts thousands of spectators to honor veterans and heroes.

Pre-parade block party begins at 6 p.m., and the parade begins at 7 p.m. Floats, vehicles and groups participate to honor veterans. All event proceeds benefit veterans groups and organizations. A decorated bike contest will be judged between 6:15 and 6:30 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for Best Float, Most Patriotic Bike, Most Original Bike and Cutest Bike. For more information or to participate, send an email to info@lwrca.org.

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ROWING EVENT Begins at 8 a.m. at Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota. The USRowing Southeast Youth Championships serve as a qualifier for the USRowing Youth National Championships, which will be held at Benderson Park June 9-12. Sarasota Crew won the team trophy at last year’s event. The championships are free to attend.

For information visit USRowing.org.

DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL Begins at 8 a.m. at Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota. The Sarasota International Dragon Boat Festival offers racing for established and entry-level teams looking to gain competitive experience. Sport Division teams will compete in races of 200 meters, 500 meters and 2 km, while Community Division teams will race 3x500 meters. The event, free for spectators, is a precursor to the International Dragon Boat Federation 13th Club Crew World Championships, held at Benderson Park July 18-24. For more information visit GWNDragonBoat.com.

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

|

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022

27

The Tallest Trees Have The Strongest Roots And at Sarasota Memorial, we stand tall thanks to the tireless efforts of the finest nurses in the profession. They are the living foundation of what we do and the source of our greatest strength. When they dig deep, we all rise to the challenge.

And when the storm hits, they are the ones who keep us upright through the worst of it.

To all of our extraordinary nurses, we see you and we thank you.

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YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022

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

SARASOTA 105 N Isle Drive 3 Beds 4/1 Baths 4,258 Sq. Ft. Phyllis Garfinkel 941-302-6400 A4530323 $3,599,000

SARASOTA 7612 Donald Ross Road W 5 Beds 4/1 Baths 3,973 Sq. Ft. Jackee Schulz 941-320-4991 A4530347 $2,550,000

BIRD KEY 628 N Owl Drive 3 Beds 2 Baths 2,534 Sq. Ft. Kathy Valente & Gregory Zies, LLC 941-685-6767 A4526783 $2,495,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 12621 Deacons Place 4 Beds 5/1 Baths 4,317 Sq. Ft. Jackee Schulz 941-320-4991 A4531044 $2,250,000

SARASOTA 3224 Signet Court 4 Beds 3/2 Baths 4,008 Sq. Ft. Linda Driggs & Sara Boudarga 941-374-2920 A4530120 $2,250,000

TERRA CEIA 109 Michiana Drive 2 Beds 2/1 Baths 1,818 Sq. Ft. Debbie Vogler 941-705-3328 A4527498 $1,999,000

SARASOTA 8188 Grande Shores Drive 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,797 Sq. Ft. Stacy Haas 941-587-4359 A4532966 $1,795,000

UNIVERSITY PARK 8171 Abingdon Court 2 Beds 2/2 Baths 2,609 Sq. Ft. Rachel Benderson 941-376-0218 A4525357 $1,650,000

SARASOTA 8149 Grande Shores Drive 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 3,214 Sq. Ft. Drew Russell 941-993-3739 A4529184 $1,445,000

PARRISH 16003 39th Glen E 4 Beds 3 Baths 3,225 Sq. Ft. Laura Navratil & Mary Pat Pihl 941-806-7436 A4532572 $1,295,000

BRADENTON 3628 Scrub Creek Run 6 Beds 4/1 Baths 3,899 Sq. Ft. Stacy Haas 941-587-4359 A4533220 $1,045,000

BRADENTON 2112 51st Street W 4 Beds 3 Baths 3,805 Sq. Ft. Jodene Moneuse 941-302-4913 A4529879 $998,000

BRADENTON 12741 Del Corso Loop 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,888 Sq. Ft. Izzy Pollack 941-404-0403 A4533041 $950,000

BRADENTON 15737 High Bell Place 5 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,868 Sq. Ft. Stacy Hanan 941-266-0529 A4533236 $649,000

BRADENTON 2525 Avolet Court 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 1,926 Sq. Ft. Carroll Couri 813-727-1630 A4532679 $599,999

SARASOTA 11628 Garessio Lane 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,693 Sq. Ft. Tracy Jones 941-376-3405 A4530698 $575,000

BRADENTON 107 64th Street Court Nw 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,509 Sq. Ft. Erica Thomas 941-799-9365 A4533363 $565,000

BRADENTON 11523 Rolling Green Drive 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 1,807 Sq. Ft. Sandi Dietrich 941-704-0697 A4531465 $550,000

SARASOTA 4333 Charing Cross Road 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,336 Sq. Ft. Kelly Quigley 941-356-9954 A4528705 $475,000

PARRISH 11203 77th Street E 4 Beds 3 Baths 2,655 Sq. Ft. Erica Thomas 941-799-9365 A4530113 $450,000

BRADENTON 4918 Boston Common Glen 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,156 Sq. Ft. Amy Tupper 941-413-6898 A4532711 $439,000

SARASOTA 3523 Trebor Lane Connie Lyke Brown 941-302-1214 A4488191 $425,000

SARASOTA 189 Oak Hill Drive 5 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,024 Sq. Ft. Christopher Van Vliet & Jamie Van Vliet, PA 941-993-7087 A4532208 $299,000

SARASOTA 5405 San Juan Drive Beth Ann Boyer 941-780-6606 A4509104 $285,000

BRADENTON 5708 Inspiration Terrace 4 Beds 5/1 Baths 6,326 Sq. Ft. Fran DeDona & Pam Goodwin 941-812-5023 A4528037 $4,995,000

ANNA MARIA ISLAND 820 N Shore Drive 4 Beds 4/1 Baths 3,953 Sq. Ft. Kathy Harman 941-900-9828 A4524887 $4,350,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 20706 79th Avenue E 4 Beds 4/1 Baths 5,077 Sq. Ft. Chris Baylis 941-735-4713 A4531620 $3,650,000

888.552.5228 | MICHAELSAUNDERS.COM 379140-1

28

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022

REAL ESTATE

Country Club East home tops sales at $1,575,000

|

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

APRIL 25-29

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

A

POMELLO PARK

David and Frances Thompson, of Norman, Oklahoma, sold two properties at 7520 213th St. E. to Stephane and Delphine Nadal, of Surfside, for $2,825,000. The first property was built in 2007, it has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,501 square feet of living area. The second property was built in 2007, it has one bedroom, one bath and 2,040 square feet of living area. They sold for $1.05 million in 2018.

Tommaso Pusateri and Elizabeth Gordon Pusateri, of Bradenton, sold their home at 19005 69th Ave. E. to Todd and Jennifer Rittle, of Bradenton, for $1.15 million. Built in 1999, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 4,448 square feet of living area. It sold for $450,000 in 2013.

COUNTRY CLUB

Chandler Shaw and Candace Vespoli, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 8009 Royal Birkdale Circle to James Charles, of Lakewood Ranch, for $1.42 million.

Built in 2000, it has six bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 4,367 square feet of living area. It sold for $705,000 in 2016.

Gregg and Molly Van Lue, trustees, of Bradenton, sold the home at 7016 Brier Creek Court to Sarah Page and James Burgess, of Bloomfield Township, Michigan, for $1.25 million. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,649 square feet of living area. It sold for $450,000 in 2011.

Jerome and Mary Morreale, of Eastport, New York, sold their home at 6926 Woodmore Terrace to William Gardner and Crispina Gardner, of Severna Park, Maryland, for $515,000. Built in 2000, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,544 square feet of living area. It sold for $230,000 in 2011.

WATERFRONT AT MAIN STREET

Leon and Patricia Chaplin, of Sarasota, sold their Unit 2-403 condominium at 10520 Boardwalk Loop to Carlisle Perkins and Linda Kacmarynski, of Lakewood Ranch, for $1,301,000. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 2,557 square feet of living area. It sold for $905,600 in 2018.

UNIVERSITY PARK

Jane Ann Savage, trustee, and James Savage, sold the home at 6919 Langley Place to Roy Hoke and Helen Hoke, trustees, of University Park, for $1,225,000. Built in 2001, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,829 square feet of living area. It sold for $530,000 in 2003.

BRADEN WOODS

Deidre Olson, trustee, of Ruskin, sold the home at 6416 98th St. E. to Peter and Andrea Gangi, of Bradenton, for $1.2 million. Built in 1999, it has five bedrooms, fiveand-a-half baths, a pool and 5,174 square feet of living area. It sold for $329,000 in 2000.

COUNTRY CLUB EAST

Reva Lynn Milhoan and Paul Richard Milhoan, of Venice, sold their home at 7162 Whittlebury Trail to Jeff Colton, trustee, of Henderson,

Ian Swaby

This Country Club home at 8009 Royal Birkdale Circle sold for $1.42 million. It has six bedrooms, four bathrooms, a pool and 4,367 square feet of living area.

Nevada, for $1,145,000. Built in 2019, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,232 square feet of living area. It sold for $550,000 in 2019.

and 2,757 square feet of living area.

It sold for $478,900 in 2015.

RIVER FOREST

Virginia Limardi, of Clearwater, sold her home at 509 Sand Crane Court to George and Sheryl Martinez, of Bradenton, for $900,000.

Built in 2002, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,562 square feet of living area. It sold for $447,000 in 2003.

Edward Andrew Sullivan and Anna Marie Trujillo-Sullivan, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, sold their home at 5903 River Forest Circle to George Kozma and Sharon Eis, trustees, of Bradenton, for $1.09 million. Built in 2003, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,492 square feet of living area. It sold for $635,000 in 2019.

GREYHAWK LANDING

Stephen and AnnaMarie Rioux, of Bradenton, sold their home at 12423 Daisy Place to Aaron Wayne Cavanaugh and Jessica Mary Cavanaugh, of Shakopee, Minnesota, for $1,085,000. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,081 square feet of living area. It sold for $575,000 in 2017.

WATERLEFE GOLF AND RIVER CLUB

Robin Lane and Robert Browning, of N. Haven, Connecticut, sold their home at 9415 Portside Terrace to James Michael Peeples and Sherry Lynn Marie Peeples, of Ontario, Canada, for $627,500. Built in 2002, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,885 square feet of living area. It sold for $325,000 in 2016.

MAGNOLIA HAMMOCK AT UNIVERSITY PLACE

Shelly and Jason Bishop, of Bradenton, sold their home at 7708 Heyward Circle to Jonathan David Moreland and Courtney Wilson Moreland, of Bradenton, for $850,000. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, four baths and 3,194 square feet of living area. It sold for $295,000 in 2012.

ESPLANADE

Rose Ragnon, trustee, of Acworth, Georgia, sold the home at 5202 Napoli Run to Lisa and Jeffrey Martin, of Flower Mound, Texas, for $830,000. Built in 2015, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,920 SEE REAL ESTATE, PAGE 30

In with the new

Stoneybrook at Heritage Harbour Kathryn Thomas sold her home at 7747 Camden Harbour Drive to Magnus and Nina Lundberg, of Bradenton, for $1 million. Built in 2006, it has six bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,897 square feet of living area.

It sold for $477,000 in 2019.

NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Rawlyco Inc. sold the home at 8977 Stone Harbour Loop to Benjamin and Renee Maggio, of Bradenton, for $539,000. Built in 2005, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,951 square feet of living area.

It sold for $178,900 in 2011.

Longboat Key

Thomas Lyle Birt Jr., of Trinity, sold the home at 8319 Summer Greens Terrace to Carroll Barrett, of Bradenton, for $421,000. Built in 2005, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,870 square feet of living area. It sold for $255,000 in 2018.

The Residences at the St. Regis | 941.213.3300 | From $2.4MM to $10.9MM | Call for appointment | SRResidencesLongboatKey.com NOW TAKING CONTRACTS

RIVERDALE REVISED

Gregory Fox, of Bradenton, sold his home at 3723 Fourth Ave. N.E. to Craig and Jennifer Wolfgram, of Carmel, Indiana, for $975,000.

Built in 1999, it has four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,766 square feet of living area. It sold for $460,000 in 2013.

Downtown St. Petersburg

400 Central | 727.209.7848 | From the $1MM’s | Call for appointment. | Residences400central.com

Carolyn Phillips, of Blue Springs, Missouri, sold the home at 181 Americas Cup Blvd. to Craig and Jane Snyder, of Bradenton, for $595,000. Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 1,784 square feet of living area. It sold for $215,000 in 2011.

2 UNITS LEFT

Downtown Sarasota

RIVER CLUB SOUTH

Donald and Janice Doede, trustees, of Orland Park, Illinois, sold the home at 9992 Cherry Hills Ave. Circle to Robert Caldwell and Joseph Montalbano, of Bradenton, for $950,000. Built in 1997, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,919 square feet of living area.

It sold for $480,000 in 2012.

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

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

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

ENCLAVE AT COUNTRY MEADOWS

David and Patricia Ramos, of Palmetto, sold their home at 981 145th St. Circle N.E. to David Paterson Jr. and Joanna Redding, of Bradenton, for $925,000. Built in 2015, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool

373585-1

home in Country Club East topped all transactions in this week’s real estate. Guy and Donna Gilmore, of Bradenton, sold their home at 16723 Berwick Terrace to Michael Wayne Stokes and Deborah Stokes, of Lakewood Ranch, for $1,575,000. Built in 2016, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,033 square feet of living area.

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

Licensed Real Estate Broker

29

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

|

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022

YourObserver.com

Cardiology

Real estate Cardiology Cardiology

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FROM PAGE 29

square feet of living area. It sold for $422,800 in 2015.

William and Gail Beardsley, trustees, of Green Valley, Arizona, sold the home at 12729 Del Corso Loop to Richard and Mary Jo Petschke, of Alden, New York, for $825,000. Built in 2013, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,874 square feet of living area. It sold for $449,000 in 2017.

MAGNOLIA MANOR

Peter Proll, of Bradenton, sold his home at 2110 67th St. Court E. to Patrick Michael Cucci II and Shannon Mara Cucci, of Bradenton, for $775,000. Built in 1978, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,665 square feet of living area. It sold for $225,000 in 2016.

INDIGO RIDGE AT UNIVERSITY PLACE

Joseph and Katherine Snow, of Bradenton, sold their home at 8215 Indigo Ridge Terrace to Todd Steven Yuffee and Jan Ellen Yuffee, of Bradenton, for $735,000. Built in 2004, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,073 square feet of living area. It sold for $285,000 in 2015.

INDIGO

Andrea Taylor, of Bradenton, sold her home at 12656 Coastal Breeze Way to Alex and Jen Gialanella, of Bradenton, for $699,000. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,766 square feet of living area. It sold for $342,600 in 2018.

Lori Ann Lazarescu and Ronald Victor Lazarescu Jr., of Belleville, Wisconsin, sold their home at 12918 True Blue Circle to Dennis Paul Morgano and Olga Iris Morgano, of Bradenton, for $675,000.

Built in 2021, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,766 square feet of living area. It sold for $385,800 in 2021.

CHARLESTON POINTE AT UNIVERSITY PLACE

CLUBSIDE AT COUNTRY CLUB EAST

Robert Emmanuel Aquilina and Mary Elizabeth Aquilina, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their Unit 13-D condominium at 7334 Divot Loop to Bradley Guillerm, of Bradenton, for $670,000. Built in 2020, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,332 square feet of living area. It sold for $352,300 in 2020.

WATERCREST

Bruce and Sheila Baldwin, of Erie, Pennsylvania, sold their Unit 204 condominium at 6465 Watercrest Way to Susan Cooling and J. Phillip Cook, trustees, of Lakewood Ranch, for $655,000. Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,134 square feet of living area. It sold for $405,000 in 2020.

WATER OAK

Tyler and Diana Fowler sold their home at 6610 63rd Terrace E. to Guillermo Fernando Florian and Lizbeth Yajaira Florian, of Bradenton, for $610,000. Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,584 square feet of living area. It sold for $365,000 in 2017.

HARMONY

David Christopher Wensinger and Caroline Elizabeth Wensinger, of Bradenton, sold their home at 5237 Bentgrass Way to Laura Webber and Jason Riffer, of Tustin, California, for $600,000. Built in 2015, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,892 square feet of living area. It sold for $327,500 in 2016.

ONLINE See more transactions

John and Anita Palazzolo, of Cincinnati, sold their home at 8207

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Planters Knoll Terrace to Anthony Rodney Grace and Lauren AnninaPicozzi Grace, of Bradenton, for $679,000. Built in 2003, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,443 square feet of living area. It sold for $365,000 in 2014.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

|

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022

31

Thank I am honored and most humbled to accept this lifetime achievement award.

It has been my privilege to serve the Sarasota community.

48 CAR CENTEDIOVASCU LA R OF SARA R SOTA

YEARS

SERVING THE SARASOTA COMMUNITY The City of Sarasota proclaims February 4, 2022 as Dr. El Shahawy Day in recognition of his 48 outstanding years of dedication to our community healthcare and cardiovascular disease prevention.

380810-1

DR. MAHFOUZ EL SHAHAWY

32

WEATHER

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

FORECAST THURSDAY, MAY 12 High: 85 Low: 64 Chance of rain: 19%

FRIDAY, MAY 13 High: 85 Low: 66 Chance of rain: 24%

SUNRISE / SUNSET Sunrise Sunset Thursday, May 12

6:42a

8:09p

Friday, May 13

6:41a

8:10p

Saturday, May 14

6:41a

8:10p

Sunday, May 15

6:40a

8:11p

Monday, May 16

6:40a

8:11p

Tuesday, May 17

6:39a

8:12p

Wednesday, May 18

6:39a

8:12p

MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, MAY 14 High: 88 Low: 68 Chance of rain: 15%

SUNDAY, MAY 15 High: 89 Low: 71 Chance of rain: 12% Gordon Silver snapped this polka dot wasp moth on lantana in Del Webb at Lakewood Ranch.

June 14 Full

June 20 Last

June 28 New

July 6 First

RAINFALL Monday, May 2

0.25

Tuesday, May 3

0

Wednesday, May 4

0

Thursday, May 5

0

Friday, May 6

0

Saturday, May 7

0.73

Sunday, May 8

0.04

*Rainfall totals from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport

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

YEAR TO DATE: 2022 6.82 in.

2021 8.82 in.

MONTH TO DATE: 2022 1.19 in.

2021 0.00 in.

The Observer’s

Weather ENTER: &Nature

Sponsored by

YourObserver.com/contests KITCHEN | CABINETRY OUTDOOR PAVERS

381856-1

2022-23 PHOTO CONTEST

A REFLECTION OF NATURE’S BEAUTY

celebrity cipher

©2022 Universal Uclick

ACROSS

38 Prefix for “nautical” 39 Make a typo, say 1 Of the mouth 40 Chophouse cut 5 Caribou’s kin 41 ... about contestants 8 At the ready navigating a gigantic corn 14 Sickly white maze?

19 Mani’s mate 48 Forty winks 20 “I’ll be!”

49 Zombie’s sound 21 Heath bar base 50 Photo finish?

22 Concave navel 23 Reality show “remake” 51 Tree with acorns about aspiring actors who 53 Rambunctious 57 Binary digits won’t settle for bit parts?

59 One may wear black 26 Add sequins to, say lipstick 27 Black Friday events 61 Sombrero features 28 In favor of 63 Shade 29 Follow, as a tip 64 Dolphins’ home 31 Cheerios grain 67 Lasagna cheese 32 They rarely pass to 69 Chick’s chirp teammates 70 ... about choreographic 35 ... about a single guy whose dates aren’t private? pairs dressed like Romanov

rulers?

74 Muppet with a unibrow 75 Fall sign 76 English county 77 Tats 78 Cheese that may be smoked 79 Boxing bout enders, briefly 82 ___ fright 85 How ocean liners travel 87 Go bad 88 Words on Alice’s cake 91 Congresswoman Ilhan 92 Umami enhancer, for short 94 ... about people investigating an Area 51 conspiracy theory?

98 Make no changes 101 Beatle’s hairdo

102 “Frozen” queen 103 ... about meetups at a Hoboken sub shop?

106 Protected against competitors, in a way 110 Environmental prefix 111 “Till ___ do us part” 112 Kid-lit’s Sam-___ 113 Was broadcast 115 Jazz great who claimed to be from Saturn 117 ... about a superhero’s crusade to teach ASL? 122 Test run 123 The Onion genre 124 Same old routine 125 Bring on board 126 Splinter groups 127 Punctual 128 Tempeh protein 129 Ticked (off)

“L IVAY KIY MYXK SNM LW KIY ENJHO: L FJYKYWO CNJ V HLALWU. TNB DVW’K UYK KNN FJYDLNBX VMNBK KIVK.” – JNXVJLN OVEXNW

“GPX LSRPG GM AX SLLXEDMBESAFX TBO EGZDSO SE EMJXGPSBR S PMFO WXLC OXTL. TBO FZNVSFC SG SE EMJXGPSBR S OM IXFF.”

– AMBM

“NVXXYRBFNJ FN IYNKXVSKFPY, AVK FK IYNKXHCN HZBC DURK FK SHZNFIYXN KH AY NURSLBYN BFJFKFZT HVX – NRBPRIHX IRBF

PFNFHZ.”

Puzzle Three Clue: T equals G

62 The “M” of STEM 65 Paste in Japanese 1 Decides (to) cuisine 2 Building restoration, for 66 Rack up short 68 Get very emotional 3 Screenwriter ___ Rogers 69 Integral to St. Johns 70 Turn down 4 Written defamation 71 “Waiting for ___” (Beck5 One might be poached ett play) 6 Triangle side 72 Intense anger 7 “Continue!”

73 Venus, to Serena, 8 Palindromic Italian informally number 74 Crab shack wear 9 Here-there link 78 Accelerators 10 Corp. $$$ overseer 80 Rower’s implement 11 Insurer with a spokes81 They’re seen hanging at duck some parties 12 Freeloader 83 ___ pal (female friend) 13 NBC anchor Holt 84 Before, to a bard 14 Establishments with 86 Accident responders benches and stools (Abbr.)

15 Fish-chips link 89 Hot sandwich 16 “Peanuts” pooch 90 Lessen, as pain 17 Angry tweetstorm 93 “Marvin ___” (2015 hit) 18 Shtetl busybody 95 Angsty music genre 24 Quran’s religion 96 Distress call letters 25 Some ACT takers 97 Island west of Maui 30 Lena of “Chocolat” 98 Clinch 33 Recover 99 Like a driving instructor 34 Minestrone pasta, getting ticketed perhaps 100 “For real?”

35 It may be wireless 103 Kids around 36 Sun’s path, seemingly 104 Actor Hawke 37 Seized property, slangily 105 “Country Again” singer 39 “Journey” you take by Thomas yourself 106 Neighbor of India 41 Celebrity news site (Abbr.)

42 Clod-busting tool 107 Word before “squeeze” 43 Appropriates, as funds or “schedule” 44 Bless with oil 108 74-Across’ bestie 45 Grp. such as World 109 Big name in tractors Vision India 112 “Got it!”

46 Roomba, e.g.

114 Scott who sued for 47 Mother ___ (our home) freedom 52 High flyers 116 Snitch 54 Lost person’s question 118 Personal racer in 55 Union fees “Mario Kart 8” 56 “Uh-huh!”

119 Humerus’s limb 58 Cul-de-___ 120 Wayne and Garth, for 60 “Start playing,” to a one bandleader 121 Pigs’ digs

DOWN

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

Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

Puzzle Two Clue: N equals C

UNREAL! by Tracy Gray and Tom Pepper. Edited by David Steinberg

Puzzle One Clue: C equals F

crossword

© 2022 NEA, Inc.

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

©2022 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

5-12-22

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

Comic alliance leads to Snickers LIZ RAMOS STAFF WRITER

Have you ever wondered what a conversation between snacks in a vending machine might sound like?

Well, Jacob Ranke, a Braden River High School sophomore, and his brother Logan Ranke, a senior, have put a lot of thought into it.

Maybe a bag of Lays potato chips is frustrated it has been in the vending machine for three weeks and takes it out on a Twix candy bar. Maybe a bag of peanuts won’t keep its comments to itself.

The Rankes took those ideas and put it into a play titled “Vending Machine Envy.”

Their play was named a winner in the middle and high school category of the Florida Studio Theatre’s Write a Play program.

Florida Studio Theatre looks at thousands of plays from students in kindergarten through 12th grade and chooses plays with “an imaginative plot and character(s), a strong sense of rhythm in the dialogue, innate wisdom and diverse themes” as its winners.

Braden River sophomore Roman Blankenship’s play “Worst Day Ever?” received an honorable mention.

In addition to the students’ recognition, Ricardo Robinson-Shinall,

TAKE A BOW

The Florida Studio Theatre will recognize Braden River High School students and a teacher for their theatrical work at the May 14 Young Playwrights Festival.

Write a Play Educator of the Year: Ricardo Robinson-Shinall Winner in middle and high school category: Sophomore Jacob Ranke and his brother Logan Ranke, a senior Honorable mention in middle and high school category: Sophomore Roman Blankenship

the theater director at Braden River High, was named Florida Studio Theatre’s Write a Play Educator of the Year. He called the award an honor.

“You don’t get into teaching for awards,” he said. “You get into teaching because you love kids. To be recognized for something that I didn’t even think I was that good at, but something I love to do, feels great.”

Robinson-Shinall, the Rankes and Blankenship will attend the Florida Studio Theatre’s Young Playwrights Festival on May 14. Robinson-Shinall will be honored and all of the student plays will be put on by Florida Studio Theatre performers.

“I’m looking forward to seeing and hearing some of the other plays,”

Courtesy photo

Braden River High School’s Ricardo Robinson-Shinall is Florida Studio Theatre’s Write a Play Educator of the Year.

Robinson-Shinall said, adding that the Educator of the Year award provides validation that 12 years of dedicating his life to teaching artforms has made a difference.

Growing up, he didn’t set out to be a theater teacher. Although he had a passion for theater, he didn’t take theater in high school and became involved in community theater only when he went to college and started choreographing and directing shows. After college, he decided to put theater to the side so he could pursue teaching color guard. Eventually, he took over Braden River’s theater program.

“Winning this award feels validating that I do understand the art form.

All the respect I have for it is being paid back,” he said.

Robinson-Shinall discovered the Florida Studio Theatre’s Write a Play program in 2018 and made it part of

Made for where you live. Here!

his curriculum each year.

The Write a Play program gives his students an opportunity to unleash their creativity because there are few restrictions on length, number of characters and format.

“As we go through schooling, and especially with testing and things we do with the kids, we tend to force out a lot of that creativity so they can fit into a box,” Robinson-Shinall said.

“It’s fun to see what some of them come up with, because you learn a lot about the kids’ personalities through the way they write and the stories they create.”

For example, the Ranke brothers let their imaginations run wild with their comedic play. “(The snacks) get jealous over one snack getting picked over the other because to them, they see it as this glorious thing to be picked,” Logan said. “It reminded me of the claw

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from ‘Toy Story’ a little bit, where the aliens all want to be picked.”

The process of writing “Vending Machine Envy” wasn’t easy. They faced writer’s block trying to brainstorm ideas, so they decided to reach out to their older brother, Hayden Ranke, and somehow came upon the topic of vending machines.

Then came the challenge of writing something funny to a large audience. They continually read what they had to classmates and friends to see if their jokes would land well.

When a few of their classmates performed their play in front of the class and the class laughed at various parts, they knew they had accomplished their comedic goals.

“We found the best way to do it was we had a bunch of different things that were funny to different people,” Logan said. “We had a bunch of smaller jokes that could fly under the radar if someone was listening for them, or we had much more ‘in your face this is supposed to be a joke’ kind of thing. Everyone’s humor is so different, so finding that happy medium was a lot of trial and error.”

Logan favorite part of the play is when a Haribo gummi bear steps up to try to settle an argument but there’s one problem: the gummi bear speaks only German. Logan used the fact that Haribo was founded in Germany as comedic relief in the play.

While the Rankes’ play took a comedic tone, Blankenship’s play was on the more serious side.

He wrote about a boy who swapped bodies with his sister. The boy starts out thinking his life isn’t the best while his sister has a perfect life.

The body swap teaches him his sister doesn’t have it that easy, either.

Blankenship was ecstatic to find out his play received an award.

“Knowing that others thought it was that good definitely made me feel better about it,” he said.

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home services

34

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This week’s Crossword answers Warranties

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This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers Puzzle One Solution: “I have the best job in the world: I pretend for a living. You can’t get too precious about that.”

Rosario Dawson Puzzle Two Solution: “The right to be irresponsible and stupid is something I hold very dear. And luckily it is something I do well.”

Bono Puzzle Three Solution: “Surrealism is destructive, but it destroys only what it considers to be shackles limiting our vision.”

Salvador Dali

This week’s Sudoku answers

©2022 Universal Uclick

©2022 NEA, Inc.

249 235 235

$$

$

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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36