East County Observer 6.8.23

Observer

YOUR TOWN

S.R. 70 project targeted for acceleration

‘Moving Florida Forward’ program expected to begin construction on first phase of the project in 2024. SEE PAGE 3A

Forked owner needs scissors

Forked at Waterside opened Feb. 27, but the ribbon wasn’t cut until May 31.

“I needed to get all the craziness out of here, and now the dust has settled,” said owner Michael Kemsley (above). “The customers – they’re rolling in and out now.”

Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance members, customers and staff gathered around while Kemsley wielded the golden scissors to make it official.

Forked’s hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The restaurant is open until 3 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Kemsley is already working on a second location on Orange Avenue in downtown Sarasota.

Almost finito

After a year of construction delays, Osteria 500 at Waterside Place hopes to open to the public by July 1. A soft opening is planned for the last week of June.

“This week, we should be done with all the inspections, which means next week we can start putting everything together,” co-owner Andrea De Dominicis said. “Until the inspection, we can’t have anything inside the restaurant, not even tables and chairs.”

The new chef will be Salvatore Scaccino (above).

Once opened, the restaurant will be serving homemade, rustic Italian cuisine. All the pasta and sauces will be made in house. De Dominicis describes the restaurant itself as “old school with an industrial twist.”

line up as Owens

Camp opens its doors after construction delay. SEE PAGE 6A

Lesley Dwyer

Patrons

Fish

Lesley Dwyer

PRIZED CATCH IN LAKEWOOD RANCH

New schools on the way

An elementary school, K-8 school and high school are planned to help alleviate over-capacity schools and address growth.

LIZ RAMOS SENIOR EDITOR

The School District of Manatee County’s draft of its five-year capital plan is focusing on growth in East County.

The district has plans for three new schools to be constructed in the next five years to help relieve Lakewood Ranch-area schools that are over capacity or nearing capacity, including B.D. Gullett Elementary School, Dr. Mona Jain Middle School and Lakewood Ranch High School.

PROPOSED NEW SCHOOLS

land Road and north Rye Road. Ranaldi said the district is under contract for the property and anticipates closing in late 2024.

“At this point, the infrastructure is not in place in order for us to undertake the construction,” he said.

Braden River High School

The school will help alleviate overcrowding at Barbara Harvey Elementary School, which already is over capacity after opening in 2019. In the 2022-23 school year, Harvey Elementary had approximately 1,080 students, which is 242 students over the school’s capacity.

Mike Pendley, an executive planner for the school district, said it is projected to have 7,077 additional students over the next 10 years, with the most students coming at the elementary level at 3,255 students.

“If we fail to provide the new schools, then all of our north and east county schools will be over capacity,” Pendley said.

The new schools are projected to cost millions of dollars more than past new school construction. For example, the district spent approximately $97 million to build Parrish Community High School, which opened in 2019.

The new K-8 school planned for Lakewood Ranch is estimated to cost the same as Parrish Community High, while the new high school is estimated to cost $150 million.

Joe Ranaldi, the chief operations officer for the district, said it previously included a 7% escalation in the cost of a construction project, but with inflation not slowing down, the district is adding 10% to 12% to project costs.

“Square footage wise, we’re not building anything extravagant,” Ranaldi said. “It’s inflation, labor costs, material costs.”

The elementary school on Rye Ranch will be located on approximately 18 acres and will be located a mile south of the intersection of Rut-

Ranaldi said there are several homes and neighborhoods being constructed around Gene Witt and Annie Lucy Williams Elementary School, so the Rye Ranch school will be able to pull students from those attendance areas as well.

The Rye Ranch elementary school is projected to have space for 964 students. Ranaldi said the district will be requesting architects to submit prototypes rather than the district using models of previous elementary schools.

“We’re estimating 964 student stations, and we really don’t have a prototype of that makeup right now,” Ranaldi said. “We’re thinking there are other things out there that will give us that type of student capacity.

Harvey has a capacity of 849 (students) and that was the most recent one, so we’re looking to increase the size of this.”

The design for the project is tentatively funded in fiscal year 2024, with potential occupancy in August 2026.

The estimated cost of the project is $56 million.

A new K-8 school, which will be the first traditional public school of its kind in East County, is projected to open on approximately 40 acres south of Academic Avenue and a quarter-mile east of Uihlein Road in August 2025.

The school is projected to have 750 elementary students and 750 middle school students. The goal is to provide relief to Gullett Elementary and Mona Jain Middle.

Ranaldi said the district is looking to phase the K-8 project, possibly starting with the elementary portion of the school to help alleviate capacity at Gullett Elementary, which was approximately 187 students over the school’s 927-student capacity in the 2022-23 school year.

Once the elementary portion of the school is complete, Ranaldi said the district could move forward with the middle school wing followed by the gymnasium and the middle school athletic facilities.

The district has hired HKS Architect and Williams Design Group to design the school and NDC Construction as the construction manager. Ranaldi said the contracts

will go before the School Board of Manatee County in June.

The district projects the elementary portion of the school could open in August 2025 followed by the middle school portion in August 2026.

The estimated cost for the K-8 school is $97 million.

To address growth at the high school level as well as alleviate Lakewood Ranch High School’s over capacity, the district plans to construct a high school on approximately 103 acres south of Rangeland

Parkway and west of Post Road near Premier Sports Campus.

The high school would have a capacity of at least 1,987 students. Lakewood Ranch High’s enrollment in the 2022-2023 school year was approximately 2,412 students, which is 224 students over the school’s capacity.

The estimated cost of the high school is $150 million, and the school could open in August 2027.

Round and round S.R. 70 project goes

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

With the “Moving Florida Forward” program receiving partial funding in the Legislature in May, East County is a year away from seeing construction begin on State Road 70 between Bourneside Boulevard and Waterbury Road (C.R. 675).

The project points toward making that stretch of roadway safer in the $49 million first phase of a twophase project in which the second phase continues west on S.R. 70 to Lorraine Road. The entire project will see S.R. 70 widened to four lanes with a series of seven roundabouts.

In January, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a new infrastructure initiative called “Moving Florida Forward.” The corridor of S.R. 70 between Bourneside Boulevard and Waterbury Road was among the list of 20 statewide congestion relief projects to be funded by the $4 billion initiative.

“Some of these items (might have taken) 20 years,” DeSantis said in a press release. “I want to accelerate that to get it done much sooner. And the Legislature responded.”

The goal of the four-year plan is to complete these 20 high-priority projects “a decade ahead of schedule.” While the entire project runs from Lorraine Road to C.R. 675, the initiative only covers S.R. 70 from Bourneside Boulevard to C.R. 675.

The finished project will result in a four-lane divided highway with the expectation of reducing crashes and congestion.

According to data collected from 2010 to 2014 by the Florida Department of Transportation Safety Office, “The five-year average crash rate for the S.R. 70 project corridor is significantly higher than the fiveyear statewide average crash rate for similar facilities within the state.”

Car accidents have caused 26 deaths in Manatee County so far this year. District Five Commissioner Vanessa Baugh has lobbied hard to see improvements along S.R. 70. Baugh is also the chair of the Florida Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council, a statewide transportation planning and policy organization.

“(S.R. 70) is a terrible, terrible, dangerous road,” Baugh said. Traffic lights were considered first for that stretch of road, but Baugh went back to the Legislature to rally for roundabouts. The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration identified roundabouts as one of 28 proven safety countermeasures that substantially reduces crashes resulting in serious injury or death.

A Federal Highway Administration study conducted in 2014 found, “Roundabouts constructed at intersections along high-speed, twolane rural highways reduced overall

LOCAL SCOPE OF “MOVE FLORIDA FORWARD”

Not one, but two local projects made the list of priorities under the Move Florida Forward initiative – one in Manatee County and one in Sarasota County.

MANATEE — STATE ROAD 70 FROM BOURNESIDE BOULEVARD TO WATERBURY ROAD

Funding: $49 million

Construction year: 2024

Project summary: The corridor will be widened from two lanes to a four-lane divided roadway to include four roundabouts as well as bicycle and pedestrian enhancements.

SARASOTA — INTERSTATE 75

AT FRUITVILLE ROAD INTERCHANGE

Funding: $192 million

Construction year: 2024 Project summary: The interchange will be reconstructed from the existing partial cloverhead configuration to a diverging diamond interchange, like the one on University Parkway.

Two miles of I-75, from Palmer Boulevard to north of Fruitville Road, will widen to a six-lane highway with three through lanes per direction, and the existing bridges over Fruitville Road will be replaced. About

1.6 miles of Fruitville Road from Honore Avenue to east of Coburn Road will also be widened.

crashes by up to 68% and reduced injury crashes by up to 88%.” Baugh said widening the stretch of road to four lanes also will improve safety. She’s been lobbying to have the road widened from Premier Park all the way across the state.

“In Manatee, we don’t have any great evacuation routes,” Baugh said.

“I lived it in the last hurricane that we thought was going to come through. Once people evacuated south of us, I-75 was clogged. We couldn’t go anywhere. We were stuck.”

CONSTRUCTION AND FUNDING

The overall plan for S.R. 70 between Lorraine Road and C.R. 675 was broken into two phases for construction and funding purposes.

First up is the corridor of S.R. 70 between Bourneside Boulevard and C.R. 675. Planning for the project is currently about 60% complete and is expected to be finished in March of 2024. An FDOT spokesperson said construction is expected to begin late next year, but some projects could be delayed if the “Moving Florida Forward” initiative isn’t fully funded.

“(DeSantis) wanted $7 billion for the project, but (the Legislature) only gave him $4 billion,” Baugh said. “But it’s my understanding that (the S.R. 70) project will get done anyway.”

As of now, there is no firm date scheduled for the start of construction.

The four roundabouts to be completed during the first phase are slated for the intersections at Lindrick Lane/197th Street, 213th Street, Panther Ridge Trail/225th Street and Meadow Dove Lane/79th Avenue.

The remainder of the corridor from Lorraine Road to Bourneside Boulevard is currently under procurement.

“The (second phase of the) project is set to be awarded to the winning design-build team on July 5,” FDOT Communications Specialist Tricia Pichette said. “Once the project is executed, the department will be working with the winning team to set a tentative construction schedule and anticipated start date.”

Construction costs for that corridor are estimated at $72 million. Three roundabouts will be installed at the intersections of Uihlein Road, Del Webb Boulevard and Bourneside Boulevard.

WHY SO MANY ROUNDABOUTS?

Drivers don’t always like the idea of roundabouts. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety conducted a survey on public opinion.

“Before construction, the number of drivers in favor of roundabouts was only 31%, and those strongly opposed was 41%. After driving them, this shifted to 63% in favor and only 15% strongly opposed.”

Here are FDOT’s reasons for using roundabouts:

n Lower speeds and 75% fewer conflict points than four-way intersections

n 30% to 50% increase in traffic capacity

n Nationwide, 78% to 82% reduction in severe crashes.

n In Florida, 15% to 47% reduction in all crashes, 80% reduction in serious injuries and fatalities

Seven roundabouts will be built on S.R. 70 from Lorraine Road to C.R. 675.

Lesley Dwyer

A roundabout at the intersection of State Road 70 and Del Webb Boulevard is one of seven planned for that busy and dangerous stretch of road.

Neal announces new project

Waterbury neighborhood will offer 21 homes, starting at $1.5 million.

JAY HEATER MANAGING EDITOR

Although construction has yet to begin on more than 15,000 homes planned for Lakewood Ranch in Waterside, Lakewood Ranch Southeast, Taylor Ranch and areas east of Lorraine Road, most of SchroederManatee Ranch’s original 48 square miles of land holdings are committed. That could leave builders scrambling to buy smaller parcels of what remains.

In March, John Cannon Homes announced plans to build the small neighborhoods of Monarch Acres (eight homes) and Kingfisher Estates (13 homes) on smaller tracts of land.

Now, Neal Signature Homes has announced plans to build the Waterbury neighborhood of 21 homes on a 23-acre parcel across Bourneside Boulevard from Monarch Acres.

Carlos Puente, the division president of Neal Signature Homes, said builders will be competing for “scraps of land” that are left over in Lakewood Ranch.

Make that exclusive scraps of land.

While Waterbury Park will not approach the $3 million to $8 million homes that Monarch Acres will offer, it will be a neighborhood with most of the homes being listed for $1.5 million to $2 million, depending on which of the four models they choose. Then, Puente said, home buyers will have a lot of “flex options” and “elevated interior finishes” to personalize their homes, so the cost of the home could go higher.

A Neal Signature Homes release said, “The floor plans and lot sizes will be unlike anything we’ve offered in Lakewood Ranch.”

“We’ve seen a demand for that higher-end buyer,” Puente said. “Historically, we’ve seen that demand in eastern Florida, the

NEW NEIGHBORHOOD

What: Waterbury

neighborhood planned for

2024

Who: Neal Signature Homes

Where: Bourneside Boulevard, Lakewood Ranch

Number of homes: 21

Neighborhood acreage: 23

Price range: $1.5 million to $2 million

Models available: 4

More information about the project: 877-781-4825

demand for a significantly larger home. (In this region) we’ve had a shortage of that particular space. Ours will get into the high 3,000s to 4,000s square feet.”

Davis Bews Design of Tampa was hired in 2022 to design the model plans. Construction is expected to begin in 2024 with a “Palm Bay” model opening on site with a casita option. Puente said 3D renderings will be available soon for potential buyers.

Puente said builders will be looking at other possibilities in terms of small neighborhoods in Lakewood Ranch.

“There has been an evident success in Lakewood Ranch,” he said. “Everything is expanding out, but have we ever looked at this little piece? Can we try it?”

County sets course to buy Mixon Fruit Farms

County execs say Mixon Fruit Farms fulfills requirements for purchase set by 2020 referendum.

HEATER MANAGING EDITOR

While Manatee County is examining the purchase of the majority of Mixon Fruit Farms as recommended by its Environmental Lands Management and Acquisition Committee, time could be a factor.

Charlie Hunsicker, the county’s director of natural resources, told the Bradenton City Council on May 24 that the due diligence in researching the purchase could take up to 18 months before the purchase is brought to the Manatee County commissioners for approval.

“I just about choked at that moment,” Janet Mixon said June 2. “But Charlie told us afterward he doesn’t think it will take that long.”

However, Manatee County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh said the process is likely to be a long one.

“We have certain criteria we have to meet,” Baugh said. “This has to be looked at and examined.”

RESULT OF REFERENDUM

Manatee County voters overwhelmingly passed a referendum in 2020 to acquire land for the purpose of environmental protection.

The referendum, approved by 71.27% of county voters, is dedicated to “finance the acquisition, improvement and management of land to protect drinking water sources and water quality, preserve fish and wildlife habitat, prevent stormwater runoff pollution and provide parks.”

Approximately $7 million per year is being generated through a 0.15 mill ad valorem tax over 20 years, and the county also can tap into $50 million in bonds if needed.

Janet and Dean Mixon put their 39 acres, located at 2525 27th St. E., Bra-

denton, on the market in February for $15.8 million. The business opened in 1939, and the property includes a home, a store, a warehouse, a barn, a pavilion and pastures.

Janet Mixon said they have received offers from developers but she and her husband would like to be able to sell to Manatee County. She noted that it also is likely to take any developer almost as long to do due diligence on the property before finalizing a sale.

Hunsicker and Debra Childs Woithe, the county’s Environmental Lands Division manager, have outlined possible uses for the property that would benefit the citizens.

SPECIAL USES

Among the uses would be a site for environmental education, special events, bird watching and hiking. The county could ensure the Mixons’ family history was preserved along with their relevance to the area’s agricultural sector. The playground

and wedding areas could continue to be used for those purposes. An animal rescue that operates on the grounds could continue to operate as a “small zoo.”

The city of Bradenton’s River Run Golf Course could expand to the property by building a driving range.

“We have to draft a concept map and initiate an appraisal soon,” Hunsicker told the city council.

The Mixons are excited about the

possibilities. “We were surprised (about the county’s interest),” Janet Mixon said. “We had been getting offers from the developers, and we had the feeling that was our only option.”

Another key part of the possible sale is that Bayside Community Church would be able to purchase the 3.6 acres in the southwest corner that holds the warehouse and the parking lot for its CityServe program.

“We like being a part of that,” Janet Mixon said. “It is a good thing for the community. They needed a 45,000-square-foot building and our (warehouse) is 60,000 square feet.”

Janet Mixon said she wasn’t sure if they had to sell to a developer whether they could have sold that part of the land to the church. But now they are going forward with that sale to the church with the hope that Manatee County comes through with its purchase of their land.

Although she expects the developers’ offers will be greater than Manatee County can offer, she is hoping the county will come close.

She noted that it makes sense for the county to keep the pavilion and playground areas intact because those areas “are worth $4 million alone.”

She also is glad to hear the county will consider allowing Damen Hurd to continue his animal rescue on the property.

“We were hoping,” she said. “People love seeing the animals.”

BUSINESS SHUTS DOWN

Mixon Fruit Farms will close July 29, although it will continue to do weddings into 2024.

Janet Mixon said it made sense.

“It is slow now, and August and September are our slowest months,” she said.

She is hoping that any move the county makes to preserve the historical significance of the property will include much of the antique machinery on the property.

“We have a lot of stuff,” she said.

A key to the sale meeting the requirements of the referendum could be the property’s 1,500 foot frontage along Glenn Creek. Manatee County maintains its importance to local water resources is high in preventing stormwater runoff.

Janet Mixon said that she and her husband are optimistic their property will continue to be a valuable resource to those living in Manatee County. “Oh my gosh, we couldn’t imagine the idea of them bulldozing everything,” she said.

JAY

File photos

Janet and Dean Mixon are hoping to sell Mixon Fruit Farms to Manatee County instead of a developer.

Manatee County is considering the purchase of Mixon Fruit Farms, which went on the market in February for $15.8 million.

VacuumandSewing carries ahuges onofsewing machinesandsergers.

Trophy catch at Center Point

A second Owen’s Fish Camp location opens, this time in Lakewood Ranch.

The wait is over — and also just getting started.

Owen’s Fish Camp in Lakewood Ranch opened May 26 to a full house. Wait times for tables ran up to two hours throughout the weekend.

The new location in Casto’s Center Point development has 180 seats, twice what the original Burns Court restaurant in Sarasota can accommodate. There’s also a larger kitchen that can offer more menu options, including a vegan heirloom tomato tart and co-owner Mark Caragiulo’s personal recommendation, seared sea scallops and pork belly.

The newness of the location is apparent when pulling in, as the restaurant is surrounded by construction. But step onto the Fish Camp, and some purposeful seasoning already is in place.

“With a new building, it’s tough, but you try to get some soul into the place,” Caragiulo said. “We had a Dremel tool out for the last five nights so people could carve their names into the pylons out back.”

Upon opening the door, guests are greeted with a crystal chandelier peeking through an open wall behind the hostess stand. The crystals are paired with more than a hundred antique fishing lures and two preserved blowfish.

The bar takes over an entire wall, and the size alone says this was never an actual fish camp. But to reach the bar area, guests walk under a flat archway of vintage glass nautical lanterns. Inside the room, old wooden canoes hang from the ceiling.

Family and staff photos, plus a headshot of Johnny Cash, take over the hallway leading to the restrooms. Whoopie Goldberg’s photo graces the wall, too. Caragiulo said Gold-

berg isn’t the most famous person to eat at the original fish camp restaurant, but she is the celebrity who ate the most crab legs.

The paintings and drawings on display are mostly originals. Two of the drawings were particularly exciting finds for Caragiulo. When he first opened the Fish Camp downtown 14 years ago, he had found two original drawings by Lionel Barrymore, who played Mr. Potter in “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Four months ago, he found two more while shopping in Mount Dora. They’re mounted on the back wall when first entering the restaurant.

Chef Collin Blakeman in the kitchen of Owen’s Fish Camp in Lakewood Ranch.

Photos by Lesley Dwyer

Anthony Caragiulo is transitioning from the location downtown to Lakewood Ranch because it’s closer to his home in Parrish.

Once completed, the yard will feature an oyster grill, a stage for live entertainment and remote control boats to play with on the pond. For now, tarps shade the picnic tables to give the newly planted oak trees time to grow.

“Fish Camp is a layered experience. We’ll keep layering forever. That’s what’s kind of fun about a place like this. It’s never been about just going out to eat a piece of fish,” Caragiulo said. “It should be a soul-

ful destination, where you get a surprisingly good deal and you feel like people took care of you. And you feel like maybe you got a little piece of Florida from it, a time passed.”

With an original Fish Camp downtown, Caragiulo said the biggest challenge was connecting the dots without duplicating, so they decided to make the Lakewood Ranch location more of a “lake culture fish camp.”

With fishing poles adorning the ceiling and a cozy seating area on one end, the back porch feels like a family lake house, a place to linger versus wait.

Currently, the restaurant is open Monday through Saturday. Sunday is a chance for management to take a breath and see what’s working and what’s not.

Once in full swing, there will be live music seven nights a week.

The back porch at Owen’s Fish Camp feels like a lake house.

The bar at Owen’s Fish Camp in Lakewood Ranch takes over an entire wall.

PASS THE BATON

JAY HEATER MANAGING EDITOR

It was the days of Lawrence Welk, and Joe Martinez made no apologies when he told the story of being a 7-year-old glued to the television along with his mom, Shirley.

Martinez, now 66, already had an appreciation for music at a young age because his mother taught piano, violin and accordion.

So while the “Lawrence Welk Show” might not have been hip programming for a kid, it was fascinating to young Joe.

For much of the “Lawrence Welk Show’s” run on ABC from 1955 through 1971, Myron Floren was a featured performer on the accordion, and while intrigued by Floren’s ability to play an instrument that his mom taught, it was another instrument that captivated Martinez.

“I saw a baritone sax,” Martinez said. “I was about the same size as that sax. But my mom steered me toward the trumpet.”

A NEW CHALLENGE

Martinez, who just has been named the primary conductor of the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble, said his appreciation for the skill of musicians started by watching that “Lawrence Welk Show” and has continued through his life.

It is one of the reasons he is transitioning into a different role with the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble.

Founder, Music Director and Conductor Joe Miller, at 81, has decided to step away from most of his conducting duties. Miller will remain music director.

Martinez stepped into his new role on Memorial Day during the “Remember and Honor” concert by the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble at the Sarasota National Cemetery.

Age also has crept into Martinez’s thoughts when it comes to playing the trumpet. While he enjoys performing, he said he can’t quite reach the same level as he did in his younger days.

He said he plays mostly these days “to keep the neurons firing.”

Conducting, however, opens new possibilities for him. It heightens his

DID YOU KNOW

Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble founder Joe Miller will continue to conduct at times but, at 81, will step back and allow Martinez to do the bulk of the conducting. Miller will continue to be the nonprofit’s music director.

appreciation for the abilities of each individual musician and how it all comes together, much like his favorite music program did on a weekly basis during his childhood.

WEALTH OF MUSICIANS

At his fingertips will be a wealth of professional musicians who play together in the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble.

Having performed with the Sarasota Orchestra for 18 years, the Venice Symphony for 38 years and the Strauss Symphony of America for 25 years, he knows the top levels well.

“The level of our musicians (in the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble) is definitely not like a community band or a high school group,” he said.

His joy will come from bringing those musicians together to offer patrons not only a high-level performance, but sometimes one with a twist.

“You try to incorporate new ideas, and make it more exciting than what the audience has heard,” he said. “I will listen to groups play the same piece.”

He will challenge his musicians to follow his interpretation.

“That is the fun of leading a group, adding your interpretation of a piece,” he said. “Being a conductor, you can look at all the different parts, watching a score, identifying all the parts.

“I get to relate to the musicians, build a rapport with the musicians, build a deep understanding of the music.”

However, since none of the musicians get paid, their rehearsal time is limited.

“The limit of expectations is there,” he said. “We present at the best level we can based on time.”

Fortunately, many of the musicians in the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble are pro musicians, and they can do a lot of rehearsing on their own. He credits the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble’s librarian Jim Hill for getting the musicians access to upcoming concert music long before the first group rehearsal.

NO ORDINARY JOE

Who: Joe Martinez

Lives: Lakewood Ranch

NEW CHALLENGES

Martinez said “Hymn of the Fallen,” a John Williams piece that appeared on the “Saving Private Ryan” soundtrack, can be a stressful number for those who are not accomplished musicians. However, he put it on their Memorial Day concert playlist because he knows his musicians want to be challenged.

As a kid, he wanted to be challenged as well. Living in Miami, he started taking music lessons at 9. He noted that while his mother gave music lessons for several instruments, his dad, Joe, “couldn’t carry a tune to save his life.”

The younger Joe remembered his first public concert as a sixth grader.

“Beforehand, I literally was shaking like a leaf.”

His mother also was a biology teacher, and he said when it came to music and studies, “there was no messing around.”

Although he wanted to join the Navy after high school, he instead attended junior college and then Florida State University, where he studied to become a K-12 music teacher. Meanwhile, he played in jazz bands and took lessons from noted Broadway (New York) trumpeter Jack Pinto. He actually landed gigs on Broadway and with the Miami Symphony but eventually pursued his love of teaching.

During his long teaching career at Gulf Gate Elementary, he received a taste of conducting when he led the Sarasota Community Band from 1990-97.

He said now he looks forward to conducting the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble.

“I am looking forward to the level of music we can accomplish,” he said.

What: Assuming main conductor duties with the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble

Plays: Trumpet/cornet

Occupation: Retired after 35 years teaching K-12 music, all but a year of it with the Sarasota County School District; also has owned JMP Talent Agency (booking agency) for 25 years; music education software creator and developer

Music connections: Has performed with the Sarasota Orchestra for 18 years; has performed with the Venice Symphony for 38 years; performed with the Strauss Symphony of America for 25 years

Wife: Melissa

Daughter: Andrea Houchin (She and her husband Nathan have a 2 1/2-year-old daughter, Evalyn Jo.)

Joe Martinez will take over

most of the conducting

duties from Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble founder Joe Miller.

Jay Heater

Joe Martinez, the new main conductor of the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble, had a long career as a music teacher for the Sarasota County School District.

At 81, Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble founder Joe Miller will step away from much of his conducting, but he will continue to be the nonprofit’s music director.

Community Fund president works to continue momentum

It was early in 2020, and Mark Clark, the managing partner at Prestige Planning, had joined the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund Board.

Admittedly, he didn’t know a lot about the LWRCF until he was introduced to it by East County Observer Associate Publisher Lori Ruth, who, at the time, was a board member.

Clark was asked what prompted him to actually join the LWRCF.

“Lori Ruth,” he said quickly. “She didn’t just tell me I needed to join.

She told me I had to join.”

Clark, who on June 1 became the nonprofit’s president, taking over from Nicole Ryskamp, is glad he listened.

It wasn’t long before he saw the LWRCF break with its own tradition by awarding $150,000 to local nonprofits — outside of its normal grant cycle —  that were involved in COVID-19 response and recovery.

Among the recipients was Tidewell Hospice, which was given $10,000 to buy electronics equipment that was used to allow family members who couldn’t have an in-person visit during COVID-19 to have a 3D virtual experience with their ill relative.

Clark was struck by the compassion of his new nonprofit, and it made him want to become even more involved.

That desire increased as he began to visit nonprofits that benefited from LWRCF grants. He would talk with family members of the nonprofits’ clients about what those grants meant to them.

“Whenever I join something, I am all-in,” Clark said. “I was all-in.”

Now he is all-in as president, and he agreed this will be one of the most important years in the LWRCF history.

Under Ryskamp, the LWRCF made some bold moves, such as adding two major annual events

— the Wine and Giving event and the Run for the Beads 5K — to raise money to add to its grant fund. The LWRCF also started the “Builders Give Back Program,” where seven builders operating in Lakewood Ranch agreed to be a fund partner.

Upon the sale of a home, the builders will make a $100 donation to the LWRCF in the buyers’ names.

The new owners also will receive a welcome to the community letter, explaining the mission of the LWRCF.

Clark understands the importance of the latter.

“I didn’t know the fund was here,” he said of his time in the community before 2020. “It probably was the best kept secret in Lakewood Ranch.”

He said it is essential to continue marketing the LWRCF so that the area’s residents know how to connect with nonprofits.

“People are looking for the

opportunity to connect with a nonprofit organization, and the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund is one of the most valued resources to help them do that,” he said.

During his work as a financial planner, he said his clients often want to be connected to charitable support.

“I didn’t realize we had an organization with boots on the ground in Lakewood Ranch that would help them with that connection.

“And I was not aware of the depth of the need.”

He said he finds people continue to move to the area because of a family culture. Supporting nonprofits is part of that culture.

“To have a healthy community, you need to have relationships with its nonprofits,” he said.

Clark said he doesn’t feel stress trying to continue the momentum built by Ryskamp.

“Absolutely, this is an exciting

time,” he said. “If you are not growing, you are dying. And I am excited because of the great leadership, and great people, we have on our board. These are people who aren’t just looking for something to put on their resume. They are committed to being involved.”

He said one of his main goals is to get more people involved in the effort. Building a volunteer corps will be key, and he said that was proven by the formation of subcommittees for both the wine event and the 5K run.

“We are going to need volunteers for other events, and we need to find ways to making committees fun. As important as (monetary) contributions are, we need those volunteer contributions. You’ve heard the saying, ‘Time is money?’”

Another huge goal for Clark is to expand community partner programs, such as “Builders Give Back.” He is hoping to connect with

Lakewood Ranch Medical Center MATERNITY PATIENT SHARES HER STORY

In her profession as a pelvic floor physical therapist, Anjelica Yoder spends a great deal of time helping women understand their bodies – especially in pregnancy and postpartum. As someone who has spoken to countless women about their childbirth experiences and teaches birth preparation, Anjelica knew that she wanted a healthcare team that would listen to her wishes and work with her through the birthing process. Many women are left feeling pressured into certain methods of birth or feel rushed.

After speaking to two friends who assist women during childbirth, called doulas, about what she did and didn’t want, they recommended Dr. Joel Hallam at Lakewood Ranch.

“My friends told me that as long as mom and baby stayed safe, he honored the birthing plans of his patients. I found this to be true,” says Anjelica.

Dr. Hallam, DO, FACOOG, is a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist with the Lakewood Ranch Medical Group OB/GYN team. The team delivers babies at the beautifully appointed, spa-like Women’s Center at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.

A Positive Experience from Prenatal to Postnatal Care

“From the beginning, I had a wonderful experience with Lakewood Ranch Medical Group,” Anjelica says. “I never had to wait in the waiting room for more than a few minutes. The receptionists and nurses were very friendly and attentive to my questions, and Dr. Hallam and Dr. [Terrell] Martin always took their time when responding to my concerns. I never felt rushed. I also loved when Dr. Hallam shared reallife experiences of his wife’s story from the births of their two boys. It made him very relatable and easy to connect with.”

Along with Dr. Hallam, midwife Angie Scarpa, CNM, ARNP, also of Lakewood Ranch Medical Group, was an integral part of her birth experience. Anjelica credits her birth doula, Laura Meyer with Sarasota Birth, as a key part of her support system, from start to finish.

Anjelica gave birth to a baby boy named Silas Kai Yoder. Being born three weeks early, his stay was extended. Both Dr. Hallam and Dr. Martin checked in on her and baby Silas each day of their stay until they were ready to go home.

other businesses that have flourished as the Lakewood Ranch community has grown.

“Our community is made up largely of service-based companies,” he said.

The education component, telling residents of the need of those utilizing the nonprofits and how to support them, again will take a concentrated effort.

“People need to know things like autism touches all socioeconomic economic classes,” he said.

Once people learn about the need, he said it is likely they will help the effort.

“We all are so busy, and we all have our heads down,” he said. “People just need to be plugged into the needs of the community.”

He is optimistic the LWRCF will continue to grow.

“I want to treat this like a business, with marketing and connections. We need education resources, funding resources and passion resources. We need more videos, more blogs.”

He has great hope with the builders embracing the partnership with the LWRCF, saying it shows their passion is about building communities and not just homes.

And he has another reason for wanting to succeed in his one-year term as the LWRCF president.

“Nicole set the tone for this,” he said. “I don’t want to let her down. I don’t want to let the community down. We are going to continue to connect.”

It was a huge perk that I got to have

same doctors in the birthing room with me that I worked with during my time in prenatal care. I felt comfortable because I already trusted them, and they were already familiar with my birthing concerns and desires.

Mark Clark took over June 1 as the new president of the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund.

Jay Heater

LETTERS

Unsafe drivers will lead to disaster

On too many occasions, Lakewood Ranch residents, especially those who live at the Moorings, are observing unsafe driving on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.

Specifically, and too often, people are driving the wrong way on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard near Main Street. I personally observed this twice in the same week  — both during daylight. Ten other such daylight incidents were reported to me by Moorings residents.

The primary source of the problem is at the Lakewood Ranch Boulevard/Lakewood Main Street intersection. Occasionally, drivers who are leaving Lakewood Ranch Main Street, and who are attempting to head south on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard by turning left, are turning into the northbound lane.

They should be driving past the central median. An easy fix would be white, dashed curved lines painted onto the intersection’s roadway.

Less often, at the Lakewood Ranch Boulevard/Rodeo Drive intersection, drivers who are leaving the Main Street area using Rodeo Drive and who are hoping to head southward turn sharply left into the northbound lane.

An easy fix would be a dividing sign or a raised concrete slab that would divide the left-curving pavers from the right-curving pavers.

The problem at the third intersection (Lakewood Ranch Boulevard/hospital entrance/exit) might be occurring on an hourly basis. People leaving the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center parking lot and who are hoping to head north sometimes cross the southbound lanes and enter into the curved section of roadway that passes through the median. (That short curved roadway section is intended for northbound cars who are attempting to enter the Medical Center parking lot). Then, the errant drivers turn left heading north. An easy fix would be an additional arrow or two that could be painted onto the asphalt, with those arrows positioned closer to the southbound lanes.

Regarding the problem at the hospital entrance/exit, there is another cause — a surprising one. There is a very smart traffic light at the first intersection. Some of the cars on Health Park Way that are stopped at that light and which are facing east are attempting to cross Lakewood Ranch Boulevard and enter Main Street.

On some occasions, after the left turn arrow comes on and goes off, the “go straight” solid green lights do not come on. Out of frustration, those drivers turn right on red and do an illegal U-turn at the third intersection through the curved section of roadway that passes through the median.

An easy fix would be to reprogram or replace the traffic lights at the Lakewood Ranch Boulevard/Lakewood Main Street Intersection. And lastly, it sometimes happens that drivers leaving Moorings Point Circle at the Lakewood Ranch Boulevard/Moorings Point Circle intersection are not seeing the large sign with the curved arrow and the word “ONLY.”  If they would see the sign and understand it, they would understand that left turns onto LWR Boulevard are wrong and dangerous.

I believe that wrong-way driving on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard is occurring more often, especially as the population of Lakewood Ranch increases. I am worried that significant accidents will occur. A fatal accident occurred in March of 2018 when a driver drove down Lakewood Ranch Boulevard in the wrong direction near the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.

Traffic accidents sometimes occur because of “too-quick” or “reckless” driving decisions. Some occur because of a lack of focus or cell phone usage. Others occur because of a lack of familiarity with the roads. The complete elimination of traffic accidents is impossible, of course. But on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard, some simple traffic engineering changes will make that road more safe.

MIKE RESETARITS

MOORINGS AT EDGEWATER

A+E INSIDE:

< ART: Stephanie J. Woods brings her eye-popping installation to Sarasota Art Museum. 13A

FOOD: Eating with Emma pays tribute to her dad with a sampling of his favorite eateries. 14A >

SARASOTA MUSIC FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

‘Romance and the City’

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT WRITING A NEW CHAPTER

The 2023 Sarasota Music Festival devotes its program to storytelling.

MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER A+E MANAGING EDITOR

Back in 2020, Jeffrey Kahane had an idea for the Sarasota Music Festival. Kahane, who has been the festival’s music director since 2016, wanted to organize concerts around storytelling. Along with many other people, he was forced to put his idea on hold by the pandemic.

But like an exotic mushroom that grows in darkness, the theme of storytelling took on a life of its own. Three years later, it has come to fruition — with lots of hard work. The result? The 2023 Sarasota Music Festival brings together 60 student musicians and 45 faculty members from all over the country to study and perform.

“One of the most fascinating aspects of music history is that music eventually developed into a language with the capacity to tell stories and evoke images without using words,” said Kahane.

A renowned conductor and pianist who has appeared with many of the world’s great orchestras, Kahane is now conductor laureate of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, where he spent 20 seasons as music director.

The Sarasota Music Festival, which takes place from June 5-24, features 12 concerts, as well as coaching sessions, master classes and rehearsals. Many of the classes and rehearsals are open to audiences, giving a behindthe-scenes view of the event.

As an example of the festival’s emphasis on storytelling, Kahane points to “Pastorale,” the first orchestral program of the festival. Conducted by Yaniv Dinur, the program includes Mendelssohn’s incidental music to “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” the tale of young love that unfolds in an enchanted forest full of elves and fairies. (Dinur is one of two visiting conductors at the festival; the other is Kazem Abdullah.)

Pianist and festival alum AnneMarie McDermott will perform Schumann’s Piano Concerto in the “Pastorale” concert. This year marks McDermott’s debut as a faculty member. “Pastorale” concludes with the Beethoven symphony that gives

SEE MUSIC ON PAGE 12A

Music

4:30 p.m. on June 8 at Holley Hall, 709 N. Tamiami Trail Beach, Schumann, Valerie Coleman, Brahms

‘Scenes and Seasons’

7:30 p.m. on June 9 at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave. Vivaldi, Janacek, Gabriela Lena Frank, Dvorak

‘Pastorale’

7:30 p.m. on June 10 at Sarasota Opera House

Mendelssohn, Schumann, Beethoven

‘Rising Stars’

2:30 p.m. on June 11 at Holley Hall

Previn, Schulhoff, Beethoven, Franck and more

‘Gold Standard’

4:30 p.m. on June 15 at Holley Hall

Weinberg, Sato Matsui, Caroline Shaw, Ravel

‘Appalachian Spring’

7:30 p.m. on June 16 at Sarasota Opera House Mozart, Copland, Brahms

‘Sound Stories’

7:30 p.m. on June 17 at Sarasota Opera House Respighi, Tchaikovsky, Mozart

‘Rising Stars’

2:30 p.m. on June 18 at Holley Hall

Dvorak, Brahms, Ibert, Faure and more

‘Fairy Tale’

4:30 p.m. on June 22 at Holley Hall

Dutilleux, Janacek, DeFalla/Reisler and more

‘Rising Stars’

2:30 p.m. on June 23 at Holley Hall

Fanny Mendelssohn, Brahms, Strauss, Ravel and more

‘Traditions and Trans-

formations’

7:30 p.m. on June 23 at Sarasota Opera House Debussy, Ligeti, Beethoven, Mendelssohn

‘Kahane Plays Beethoven’

7:30 p.m. on June 24 at Sarasota Opera House Beethoven, Emily Cooley, Schumann

music history

that music eventually developed into a language with the capacity to tell stories and evoke images without using words.”

Jeffrey Kahane, music director, Sarasota Music Festival

Tickets: $32 and up

Information: Visit SarasotaOrchestra. org/Festival/ConcertSchedule.

Courtesy photo

Director Jeffrey Kahane will conduct and play piano at the Sarasota Music Festival.

“One of the most fascinating aspects of

is

the concert its name, replete with the sounds of bird calls, gurgling streams and a dramatic thunderstorm, exemplifying how instruments can capture the sounds of nature.

MORE NEW

Along with McDermott, there are several newcomers to the festival’s faculty roster, including violinist Melissa White and oboist Marion Kuszyk. White will appear in the artist showcase “Romance and the City” on June 8 and in “Scenes and Seasons” the following night, when she will perform “Summer” from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.

Kuszyk, who is associate principal oboe of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, will join faculty hornist Michelle Reed Baker and six fellows in Mozart’s serenade for wind octet.

The serenade is part of the “Appalachian Spring” program on June 16 featuring the Aaron Copland work of the same name about a young pioneer couple just starting out in their marriage. The concert will feature Grammy-winning Attacca Quartet and Kahane playing in one of chamber music’s crown jewels— Brahms’ Piano Quintet in F Minor. Attacca will also appear on June 15 in

“Gold Standard,” a program featuring a composition by Caroline Shaw, whose works the quartet is known for performing.

In addition to members of Attacca Quartet, another artist guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser is Jasmine Choi, dubbed “the goddess of flute” by the Korea Times. Choi will play Dutilleux’s Sonatine for Flute and Piano alongside pianist Michael Adcock in the artist showcase “Fairy Tale” on June 22.

SUMMER SPECIAL

Many of Sarasota’s world-renowned festivals, whether they be jazz or film, take place during the Gulf Coast arts capital’s season. Not so for the Sarasota Music Festival, founded nearly 60 years ago as a one-week event by Paul Wolfe.

But Kahane doesn’t see the June timing of the festival as a handicap.

“We have lots of locals in the audience, and there are snowbirds who come back for the festival,” he says. It goes without saying that the festival’s two performance venues — Holley Hall and the Sarasota Opera House — are air-conditioned. Who cares if temperatures outside are in the 80s?

Asked to define what sets the Sarasota Music Festival apart from its peers, Kahane responds without

STARTS TOMORROW!

hesitation: “Intimacy.” The casual, welcoming backdrop of Sarasota lends itself to increased interaction between fellows and faculty and even between audience members  and artists, he says.

“There’s lots of opportunity to interact between fellows and faculty that you don’t necessarily have in other situations,” Kahane says. “There’s a wonderful atmosphere of collegiality among the faculty,” all of whom are selected by Kahane himself.

Paige Stafford, an oboist who is a returning fellow, agrees with Kahane’s assessment. Stafford notes the fact that all faculty and fellows stay at the same hotel, the Hyatt Regency, and eat breakfast and lunch together creates a fraternal environment.

“There’s really a great social aspect,” says Stafford, who will be entering her second year of a graduate program at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music in the fall. She made a few friends during last year’s festival and has kept in touch via text and social media. “It will be fun to see whether our paths cross in the future,” she says.

At last year’s festival, Stafford didn’t get to perform at the same time as faculty members, but this year she will. She can’t wait. Stafford will be part of the orchestra for the

“Pastorale” concert and will play in chamber music performances.

“It’s really inspiring to be able to hear the faculty concerts,” she says. “All of the chamber groups have coaches. It helps you rehearse when you play alongside them. They lead by example.”

Last year’s festival marked the first time Stafford, a native of Jamestown, N.Y., visited Sarasota. Among extracurricular activities for festival fellows, kayaking in the bay through the Hyatt’s rental service was her favorite. Other off-campus highlights were trips to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium and the downtown farmers market.

“I really liked the climate and seeing the wildlife, although those little lizards scared me,” says Stafford.

Not all of the fellows who participate in the Sarasota Music Festival will go on to become professional musicians, but the majority do, according to Kahane. Over the past 60 years, the program has enriched the careers of thousands of musicians.

“Every major orchestra has at least one Sarasota Music Festival  among its ranks,” says Kahane, who will close the festival on a high note on June 24 with the concert “Kahane Plays Beethoven.”

MUSIC FROM PAGE 11A

Courtesy photos

Oboist Paige Stafford is a returning SMF fellow.

Grammy-winning Attacca Quartet will perform in “Gold Standard.” Festival vet Anne-Marie McDermott is a new faculty member.

“There’s really a great social aspect. It will be fun to see whether our paths cross in the future.”

Paige Stafford, oboist and returning SMF fellow

Checking in on Stephanie J. Woods

Childhood memories of board games with her grandpa suffuse Woods’ Sarasota Art Museum show.

MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER

A+E EDITOR

Be there or be square. The Beatnik-era saying needs a makeover in light of a bold new exhibition at the Sarasota Art Museum: Be there and see squares. Lots of them.

“Stephanie J. Woods: my papa used to play checkers” is filled with black and red squares like the ones on a checkerboard. Woods’ first onewoman show runs through Sept. 17.

The name of her installation in Sarasota is also the title of a 2022 work, an inkjet print of a watermelon, hand-dyed cotton fabric, hair beads, barrette bows and afro hair.

A visitor to the gallery that houses Woods’ exhibition soon discovers that there are no mistakes or oversights. Even the smallest detail, like including her full name in the title of her show, is intentional.

Woods is an assistant professor of interdisciplinary art at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. In 2021, she was awarded the 1858 Prize of Contemporary Southern Art by the Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, South Carolina, for her personal yet culturally resonant art.

Family is a dominant theme in the works of Woods, who was born in Seneca, South Carolina, and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Encouraged to learn sewing by her mother, Woods weaves childhood memories into her art.

Plastic evokes the slipcovers used to protect furniture in her grandparents’ home (and many others during that period).

Black hair, food, water and dirt are some of the other elements that play starring roles in Woods’ creations.

Asked how she is able to suspend part of a sandcastle she built by

hand on a beach in Galveston, Texas, within a hollowed-out melon without it disintegrating, Woods smiles and says, “I can’t give away all my secrets.”

Pressed further, she confesses, “Water.”

In a crowded talk on May 27 at SAM to discuss her installation and other works in her oeuvre, Woods cited a 2021 artist residency at Black Rock Senegal in Dakar as a life-changing

IF YOU GO

experience, in terms of her art and her perceptions of herself, her family and her heritage.  She said she hadn’t thought about playing checkers with her grandfather (who she calls her “papa”) in a long time until she took a batik class in Senegal where she learned to create fabric with different colored squares using wax and dye.

A shopping trip to a local market in Dakar yielded a red-and-black

‘STEPHANIE J. WOODS: MY PAPA USED TO PLAY CHECKERS’

When: Through Sept. 17

Tickets: Free with $15 museum admission

Where: Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail

Info: Visit SarasotaArtMuseum.org

checked fabric that she bought and fashioned into a jumpsuit.

An idea was germinating, and it was full of squares.

The ultimate manifestation also has a rectangle. It was inspired by the infamous “Door of No Return” located in a museum on an island near Dakar that is a memorial to the victims of the Atlantic slave trade.

But rather than being a symbol of departure, exile and even death, the door-like structure in Woods’ installation at SAM is about return.

It is a testament to her exploration of the land of her ancestors and the connection she felt with people living in Africa today.

During her residency, Woods found joy in discovering how African traditions like making gumbo and playing checkers (known as “draughts”) sur-

vive in the U.S. today.

“I spent the past year wondering why I was so drawn to the checker pattern,” said Woods. “My interest in checkers stemmed from the time I spent with my papa and the memories we shared around this game.”

But that was only a starting point. Woods was in her studio in New Mexico one day listening to a podcast of a conversation between Helga Davis and artist Arthur Jafa on actualizing Black potential when she heard a snippet that hit home.

She shared it with those attending her talk at SAM. “If you sit down and you play chess or checkers, the board is flat. It’s a 2D thing, but fundamentally, it is a symbolic enactment of human conflict and opposing interests,” she quoted Jafa as saying. “That’s why we find chess or checkers interesting, because they are lifelike in that way.”

The game of life, some might say.

While Woods has mastered many art forms; she uses the talents of others to help create her work. She draws on the poems of her frequent collaborator, Laura Neal, and the musical compositions of her husband, Johannes Barfield.

Perhaps because her fellow artists know her well, these contributions don’t seem to be intrusions or afterthoughts; they are seamlessly integrated into “Stephanie J. Woods: my papa used to play checkers.”

“I have long wanted to bring poetry into the gallery space and have others’ voices respond to visual arts,” said Rangsook Yoon, senior curator at the Sarasota Art Museum in a statement. “Woods’ stunning, spare installation opens up a contemplative space with colors, sound, words and images.”

The dominant piece in Woods’ SAM installation is a huge moving “audio photograph” called “your destination is in a different time zone.”

A rear view of the artist dressed in her black-and-red checked jumpsuit is superimposed on a seascape. It is accompanied by an original score by Barfield and a poem by Neal. The overall effect is haunting.

Even though you are in a dark gallery in Sarasota, you are indeed transported to a different time zone.

Courtesy photo

Stephanie J. Woods’ artist residency in Dakar, Senegal, helped inspire her one-woman show at the Sarasota Art Museum.

Here’s to the father of the foodie

These Sarasota spots are great to take Dad for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert.

EMMA JOLLY CONTRIBUTOR

Dear Dad, You are the first man that I ever loved.

You’re the mentor who taught me life lessons such as people are like plants and need to be repotted once in awhile to grow. You’re the coach who guided me on and off the field, the role model who continuously inspires my work ethic, the king who built a castle for his princesses and queen.

You encouraged me to learn twice as much from failure as from success. The list of your influences on the world, our family and me goes on and on. In short, you’re the dad every daughter deserves.

This Father’s Day, I planned a day around your favorite dishes. Simple yet special, salty and sweet, significant and sensational — just like you.

Let’s dig in for old times’ sake, shall we, Dad?

Love always, Your Little Girl PERQ COFFEE BAR 1821 Hillview St., Sarasota; 941955-8101; PerqCoffeeBar.us

When I reached out to owner Erin Zolner, who has run the shop with her husband for 10 years, she said, “We are closed on Sundays (including Father’s Day). We have a bunch of kids, so we’re definitely letting my husband have Father’s Day off,” and laughed. I knew you’d like her family-first mantra, Dad. So while we can’t ride our bikes over and grab a cup of joe at this shop on Father’s Day, we can go any other

day, Monday through Friday (until 2 p.m.) and Saturday (noon). Fun fact: They serve soft ice cream made from their own coffee.

The JKB Special: Dad, I know your appetite has evolved, but there is one dish that dominates all meal decisions: breakfast sandwiches (and not just for breakfast). My guess is you would order Perq’s egg sammy ($11) but add nitratefree ham and organic New Zealand cheddar to the baked egg and secret sauce on a tasty ciabatta. Or we could split the hash brown sammy ($15) with Parmesan baked egg, thick-cut bacon (extra crispy, just the way you like), pimiento hash browns, a dab of the shop’s secret sauce on griddled brioche, and the biscuit sammy ($8-plus) with parmesan baked egg and thick-cut bacon with special sauce on a flaky, fluffy and fantastic biscuit. Eat and repeat for the weeks to come.

Your Little Girl’s Order: As you know, there was a time in my life when I was gluten-free. Perq has the most attractive and appetizing GF doughnuts ($5) around town. Choose from flavors like cinnamon sugar, blueberry, chocolate peanut butter cup, maple pecan pancake and my delightful, delicious and destined-to-devour-in-one-bite favorite, the lemon poppy crumble. I do not know how these are sugarfree as well, but my mind, body and foodie soul thank the chef for creating guilt-free choices to start the day.

OWEN’S FISH CAMP

516 Burns Court, Sarasota; 941951-6935; 6515 University Parkway., Lakewood Ranch; 941-9515052, OwensFishCamp.com

We know it, we love it, we wish they took reservations. Unless this is the first Sarasota food column you’ve read, you’re aware of the delicious destination located in Burns Court (and now Lakewood Ranch too!).

Open at 4 p.m. daily, the landmark eatery is loved by locals and visitors alike. In Sarasota, the larger-thanlife banyan tree that dangles over the eclectic and homey backyard, the talented live musicians and the Southern hospitality are three reasons why my family will wait for hours during season to smash some of our favorite savory spreads — not to mention the mouthwatering menu inside.

The JKB Special: If you need to know one thing about the Burke family, it’s that we’re a big fishand-chips tribe. We’ve tasted them in England, Ireland and all over the United States. One of my father’s favorite renditions of the simple fried fish basket is found right here in Sarasota, at Owen’s. When we’re at certain restaurants, we have to make sure to order the meal “extra crispy.” At Owen’s, they have perfected the proportion of locally caught fish to crispy, crunchy beer batter. The best part, Dad? They now have Jack Daniel’s on the rocks.

Your Little Girl’s Order: If you told me 20 years ago that our table would be ordering the chargrilled oysters, I would have guessed it was a choice made by you and my little sister, Maddie. But nope, these are for me. I will share if we get at least two orders (maybe three). Head out to the backyard of the Burns Court location and order the out-of-thisworld oysters (three for $8) that are hidden under a beautifully decadent blanket of jalapeno bacon butter. Continue the Jack Daniel’s by ordering a Bourbon Tea and Lynchburg Lemonade ($9).

SHAKESPEARE’S CRAFT BEER AND GASTRO PUB 3550 S. Osprey Ave, Sarasota; 941365-5938; ShakespearesEnglishPub. com

I warned you foodies that I would be speaking about Shakespeare’s frequently. Like I’ve said before, Shakespeare’s is a place where you go when you’ve had a bad day to make it better and a place you go to continue celebrating the wins, big or small. Our family has sat at these tables for nearly seven years, and I wouldn’t change a thing about any meal we’ve ever had.

The JKB Special and Your Little Girl’s Order: My Dad and I have a lot in common. We’re both Leos. We both will fight to the nail that Michael Jordan was a better basketball player than Lebron James ever could be. We plan our work and work our plan. If there is bread pudding on the menu, we order it — especially if we’re sitting at Shakespeare’s, our favorite place to dine in Sarasota. This dessert defines decadence, delightful and dynamite. Traditional English bread pudding ($6.25), made with rai-

sins and cinnamon, paired with a velvety custard and topped with a pile of whipped cream. The perfect ending to a dreamscape meal.

Happy Father’s Day to the man, the myth, the legend—my hero John Kelly Burke.

Photos by Emma Jolly

Perq’s egg, ham and cheddar on a tasty ciabatta.

Cat Pennenga

Dad and me on my wedding day in November 2022.

The best chargrilled oysters in town, three for $8.

Like father, like daughter: Always order the bread pudding.

THIS WEEK

THURSDAY

JAZZ THURSDAY AT THE SAM

5:30 p.m. at Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail

Free-$20

Visit SarasotaArtMuseum.org.

Enjoy a performance by La Lucha on the Marcy & Michael Klein Plaza. Check-in begins at 4:30 p.m., and galleries remain open until 7 p.m.

SQUEAKY WHEEL FRINGE

FESTIVAL

8 p.m. at Cook Theatre at FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail

Up to $12 per show plus a $5 festival button Visit SqueakyWheelTheatre.org.

Sarasota’s first fringe festival shines a spotlight on affordable, no-holdsbarred theater, dance, puppetry, music, visual arts and spoken word. Runs through June 11.

‘SHEAR MADNESS’

8 p.m. at FST’s Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St.

$25

Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

There’s been a murder in a local hair salon, and it’s up to Sarasota audiences to catch the killer. Runs through June 25.

‘MAN OF LA MANCHA’

8 p.m. at FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail $35

Visit AsoloRep.org.

Peter Rothstein directs a modernday version of the musical hit starring Mauricio Martínez. Runs through June 11.

FRIDAY SUMMER CIRCUS SPECTACULAR

2 p.m. at Historic Asolo Theater, 5401 Bay Shore Road

$15-$20

Visit CircusArts.org.

Circus fans of all ages can experience the best of the big top at affordable prices, thanks to the ongoing partnership of The Circus Arts Academy and The Ringling. Runs through Aug. 12.

KEITH ALBERSTADT

6:30 p.m. and 8:50 p.m. at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd.

$25

Visit McCurdysComedy.com.

A native of Nashville, Keith Alberstadt couldn’t wait to move to New York City, where it didn’t take him long to land in the national spotlight. Runs through June 10.

SUNDAY LES VIXENS BURLESQUE

8 p.m. at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre

$37

Visit McCurdysComedy.com.

Voted Orlando’s best burlesque troupe four years in a row, these sultry seductresses are ready to rock Sarasota’s world.

TUESDAY THE SURFER BOYS

7:30 p.m. at FST’s Goldstein Cabaret, 1265 First St.

$18

Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

From the group that brought you The Jersey Tenors comes a spirited tribute to the band credited with creating pop’s iconic “California Sound.” Runs through Aug. 13.

WEDNESDAY INTRO TO PLEIN AIR PAINTING

10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Selby Gardens, 1534 Mound St.

$84 Visit Selby.org

In the style of the French Impressionists, this open-air course focuses on the techniques of watercolor painting in nature.

Continues July 12 and Aug. 9.

DEREK RICHARDS

7 p.m. at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd.

$25 Visit MccurdysComedy.com.

A veteran of several Armed Forces Entertainment tours, Derek Richards has performed at U.S. base camps in Iraq, Afghanistan and 15 other countries. Runs through June 18.

OUR PICK

8-TRACK: THE SOUNDS OF THE ’70S IN CONCERT

DON’T MISS ‘THAT MUST BE THE ENTRANCE TO HEAVEN’

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 9

Where: Urbanite Theatre, 1487 Second St.

Tickets: $39

Info: Visit Urbanite Theatre.com

In this world premiere by Franky D. Gonzalez, four Latino boxers all chase a world title to achieve their personal versions of heaven. But to get there, they must battle each other, their own battered bodies and the universe itself. Runs through July 9.

adoption promotion happening now through the end of the year. Seniors who are 60+ looking for a kitty companion can now adopt one of our amazing senior cats (8 years old and up) and the adoption fee is only $25! Thank you to “Pets for the Elderly” for their support and offering of the reduced adoption fee.

It’s time to get up and boogie as The Players present a fast-paced musical romp of a muchmaligned decade. Runs through June 18.

IF YOU GO

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 8

Where: 3501 S. Tamiami Trail

Tickets: $30 Info: Visit ThePlayers.org.

YOUR NEIGHBORS

THE DREAM JUST BEGINS

LIZ RAMOS SENIOR EDITOR

Growing up, Cynthia Medina always remembered how her grandmother, Antonia Juarez Balboa, wanted to visit the U.S. She said her grandmother, who lived in Mexico, fantasized about America and thought it was the “most beautiful place.”

Juarez Balboa had all her paperwork ready and was excited for her first visit to the U.S when she was diagnosed with lung cancer two months before her trip in 2015.

Before she could make her dream a reality, Juarez Balboa died of cancer.

“She never got to actually achieve her dream and visit America,” said Medina, who is a rising senior at Braden River High School. “It was heartbreaking.”

Medina said her grandmother wasn’t able to access the resources and medical care she needed.

With her grandmother in mind, Medina wants to enter the biomedical field and work as a doctor for an organization, such as the United Nations, so she can help people around the world like her grandmother.

Medina said she’s closer to achieving her goal after attending the Disney Dreamers Academy March 23-26.

Medina was one of 100 students

selected to be a part of the Disney Dreamers Academy, which provides mentors, career workshops, skills opportunities and a behind-thescenes look at Walt Disney World.

Thousands of high school students between the ages of 13 and 19 applied to be a part of the academy.

Medina was at Disney World learning skills such as interviewing and networking. She heard from alumni of Ivy League universities, people who have overcome adversity, and professionals of various industries. She walked in a parade at Magic Kingdom and got a behindthe-scenes look at the theme park.

“We were able to see how everything works and why Disney is Disney,” she said.

While at Dreamers Academy, Medina focused on veterinary sciences, as it was the closet topic to the biomedical field.

Medina said the seminars were fun because she was grouped with other students interested in the sciences, giving her a chance to talk with people who share the same goal as her.

Medina was grateful for the experiences she had at the academy, especially since she didn’t expect to have that opportunity as a minority living in a low-income neighborhood in Bradenton.

Medina started learning how to speak English when she was a 6-year-old student at Robert E. Willis Elementary School. At home,

she and her parents, Silvia Juarez and Carnelio Medina, who are from Mexico, always spoke Spanish.  She recalled being in the cafeteria one day when an incident happened and she was sent to the office. Although she couldn’t remember what she did wrong, she remembered being asked if she did it on purpose. Because she didn’t speak or understand English well, she said yes and was given a referral.

From that moment, Medina said she’s been working hard to learn English, do well in school and earn opportunities such as the Disney Dreamers Academy.

As a soon-to-be first-generation high school graduate in her family, Medina said education has become pivotal in her upbringing. Her parents immigrated from Mexico to the U.S. in 2000 in hopes of providing their daughter a better life.

“The reason why I’m here is because of what happened in their lives and the struggles they went through and (the fact) they migrated here,” Medina said of her parents. “I can’t ignore that part of me … I want to get a job that represents who I am and brings all the elements of my life into the picture. I want to make that a reality.” Medina said she was one of few Hispanic girls at Dreamers Academy, giving her the opportunity to

ABOUT THE DREAMER

CYNTHIA MEDINA

School: Braden River High School

Year: Rising senior

Dream job: Doctor working for an organization like the United Nations Extracurricular activities: Health Occupations

Students of America, Junior Advisory Board and Mu Alpha Theta

Favorite school subject: Science and history

Favorite Disney movie: “Princess and the Frog” or “Ratatouille”

Favorite Disney World ride: Tower of Terror

share her perspective and diversify the representation of the dreamers.

“I feel like representation matters so much because I don’t see a lot of people from my community achieving these things,” she said.”

Since returning from Dreamers Academy, Medina has been inspired to speak up and to get involved in activism, such as helping lead a protest about the attempt to ban books in local libraries.

“For me, I’ve struggled with speaking about how I feel sometimes, especially in a public setting,” Medina said. “Sometimes I’m scared of what other people think, but Disney Dreamers has helped me a lot with speaking up.”

Cynthia Medina hopes to enter the biomedical field using the skills she learned and connections she made at Disney Dreamers Academy.

Courtesy photo

Cynthia Medina, a rising senior at Braden River High School, has made several friends at Disney Dreamers Academy, including Makayla Joaquin.

Braden River High School rising senior Cynthia Medina says Disney Dreamers Academy has given her the confidence to participate in activism and pursue her dreams.

Liz Ramos

COMMUNITY

FRIDAY, JUNE 9

MOVIE NIGHT AT WATERSIDE

The event begins at 7 p.m. at Waterside Place, 1561 Lakefront Drive, Lakewood Ranch. “Finding Nemo” will be the free movie offered at the Movie in the Park series, which will run the second Friday of each month. The movie will begin approximately 8 p.m. The event is sponsored by Grace Community Church. The first 300 to attend will be given a free popsicle from Siesta Pops. Mote Marine will present information about its Exploration Stations at the event. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Those who attend are welcome to bring a blanket and lawn chairs. Concessions will be available from We B’ Poppin Popcorn and Kettle Corn. Face painting and inflatables for the kids will be available from 7-9 p.m.

FRIDAY, JUNE 9 AND SATURDAY, JUNE 10

MUSIC AT THE PLAZA

Runs from 6-9 p.m. both days at Waterside Place, 1561 Lakefront Drive, Lakewood Ranch. On Friday, Singer/songwriter Justin Layman will entertain those who stroll through Waterside Place’s selection of restaurants and businesses. On Saturday, singer/songwriter Kimi Tortuga will offer the live entertainment. The entertainment is free. For more information, go to WatersidePlace.com.

FRIDAY, JUNE 9 THROUGH

SUNDAY, JUNE 11

LIVE MUSIC AT JIGGS LANDING

Runs from 5-8 p.m. at Jiggs Landing, 6106 63rd St. E., Bradenton. Soundwave offers the live music on Friday, the Divebombers play on Saturday and Al Fuller performs on Sunday. The concerts are free. For more information, go to JiggsLanding.com.

SATURDAY, JUNE 10

GOLF FUNDRAISER

Begins with an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start at Legacy Golf Club, 8255 Legacy Blvd., Lakewood Ranch. The Drive Away Hunger Golf Classic will benefit Meals on Wheels Plus Manatee. The cost is $130 per player or

BEST BET THURSDAY, JUNE 8 THROUGH SUNDAY, JUNE

11

USROWING YOUTH NATIONALS

Begins at 7:30 a.m. each day at Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota. The USRowing Youth National Championships will hit Nathan Benderson Park for the fourth consecutive year. The best youth rowers in the country will compete, including competitors from local clubs like Sarasota Crew. Admission is free for spectators, but parking is $10 per day. For more information, visit USRowing. org.

$500 for a foursome. Go to MealsonWheelsPlus.org to register.

SUNDAY, JUNE 11

FARMERS MARKET

Runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Lakefront Drive in Waterside Place, 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. For more information, visit MyLWR.com.

YOGA IN THE PARK

Begins at 9 a.m. at Waterside Place Park, 7500 Island Cove Terrace, Lakewood Ranch. Lakewood Ranch Community Activities offers yoga that is free to residents; $10 for nonresidents. For more information, go to MyLWR.com.

File photo

The USRowing Youth Nationals returns to Nathan Benderson Park.

Singer finally gets a dry run

When it came to performing at UTC’s Live on the Green music series, Tenille Arts appeared to be jinxed.

She was scheduled to sing in December, and the area was under a tornado watch. Then, on May 31, when she was rescheduled, the area was hit with a downpour.

Fortunately, the wet artificial turf didn’t stop her fans from putting out blankets and chairs that evening, which was clear, and Arts went ahead as scheduled.

It was a special treat in the series as she registered a No. 1 hit with “Somebody Like That” in 2019 on the Mediabase/Country Aircheck country radio chart, The free concert was presented by 92.1 CTQ in partnership with UTC.

Nashville recording artist Kevin Mikula opened the show.

Lakewood Ranch’s Lacey Grace attended the music series for the first time, however, she has seen Arts sing live before.

“We’re big Tenille fans,” Grace said. “We saw her at the Hard Rock in Hollywood last May.”

resort-style

tennis, pickleball, dog park, basketball court, parks, trails, and so much more!

— LESLEY DWYER

Tenille Arts performs at Live on the Green May 31.

Photos by Lesley Dwyer Rocco’s Tacos employee Emily McCalla brings her Sarasota friends Renee Hoos, Melody Martin and Rosanne Holton to the show.

Nashville recording artist Kevin Mikula opens the show.

Concession home sells for $4.28 million

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

AConcession home topped all transactions in this week’s real estate. Kemick Builders and Consultants LLC sold the home at 8476 Lindrick Lane to Robert Whitehead and Karen Silver, of Bradenton, for $4,275,000. Built in 2022, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,339 square feet of living area.

LAKE CLUB

Juergen Schuchmann and Susanne

Schuchmann, trustees, sold the home at 16222 Daysailor Trail to Rony Kordahi and Helen MarzoukKordahi, of Lakewood Ranch, for $2.7 million. Built in 2017, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,585 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,318,200 in 2018.

Dilip Mathew and Cynthia Adams, of Sarasota, sold their home at 16223 Daysailor Trail to Coy and Diane Peterson, of Lakewood Ranch, for $2.2 million. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and is 2,950 square feet. It sold for $2.2 million in 2022.

COUNTRY CLUB

Aleene Crognale, of Sarasota, sold her home at 7119 Ashland Glen to Donald and Dinah Henderson, of Lakewood Ranch, for $1.3 million. Built in 2003, it has five bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,843 square feet of living area. It sold for $840,000 in 2010.

COUNTRY CLUB EAST

Dominick and Mirta Donato, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 15324 Helmsdale Place to Mr. T’s Onnon Building LLC for $1.25 million. Built in 2013, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,478 square feet of living area. It sold for $647,000 in 2015.

Thomas and Susan Hood, trustees, of Lakewood Ranch, sold the home at 15319 Leven Links Place to Mark and Peggy Woloveck, of Westerville, Ohio, for $705,000. Built in 2013, it has two bedrooms, two baths and is 1,975 square feet.

LAKEWOOD NATIONAL

Greggory Mark Brandt and Renee Lynn Brandt, of Nolensville, Tennessee, sold their home at 5549 Mulligan Way to Francis and Rosaleen Byrnes, of Bradenton, for $1.14 million. Built in 2020, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,776 square feet of living area. It sold for $760,000 in 2020.

ESPLANADE

David and Lisa Kidd sold their home at 4544 Terrazza Court to Mark and Lorraine Fulks, of Bradenton, for $1.1 million. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,289 square feet of living area. It sold for $618,900 in 2018.

PRESERVE AT PANTHER RIDGE

Rafael and Mayra Garcia, Nicholas Garcia and Brianna Marrero, of Bradenton, Raphael Garcia, of Sarasota, sold their home at 22415 Panther Loop to Robert and Ruth Hochman, of Bradenton, for $1.1 million. Built in 2001, it has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,076 square feet of living area. It sold for $650,000 in 2021.

RYE WILDERNESS ESTATES

Robert and Christine Gutowski, of White, Georgia, sold their home at 17005 First Drive E. to Robert and Tina Lammon, of Centerville, Michigan, for $1,076,000. Built in 2014, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and is 3,969 square feet. It sold for $495,200 in 2014.

Arlene Barrett, of Johns Creek, Georgia, sold the home at 16502 Seventh Ave. E. to Jeremy and

Brandi Frost, of Bradenton, for $1,035,000. Built in 2017, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,118 square feet of living area. It sold for $500,600 in 2017.

Jolene Montano, trustee, of Las Vegas, sold the home at 203 166th St. N.E. to Richard Linkiewicz and Wilma Tate, of St. Petersburg, for $750,000. Built in 2008, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,466 square feet of living area. It sold for $437,500 in 2014.

ROSEDALE ADDITION

Michele Thomas, trustee, of Parrish, sold the home at 9711 Carnoustie Place to Thomas and Karen Poliganani, of Estero, for $939,000. Built in 2021, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,448 square feet of living area. It sold for $475,000 in 2021.

KENWOOD PARK

Robert and Nancy Lindeman, of University Park, sold their home at 8234 Abingdon Court to Theodore Graff and Elizabeth Graff, trustees, of University Park, for $889,000. Built in 2005, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,244 square feet of living area. It sold for $515,000 in 2020.

MALLORY PARK

Jason and Sarah Cundiff, of Columbia, South Carolina, sold their home at 12124 Seabrook Ave. to Jay and Caitlynn Mitchell, of Bradenton, for $860,000. Built in 2020, it has five bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,583 square feet of living area. It sold for $538,700 in 2020.

Stoneybrook at Heritage Harbour

Dennis and Margaret Colletti, of Bradenton, sold their home at 7511 Camden Harbour Drive to Rafael and Mayra Garcia, Nicholas Garcia and Brianna Marrero, of Bradenton, Raphael Garcia, of Sarasota, for $840,000. Built in 2002, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,902 square feet of living area. It sold for $820,000 in 2005.

Robert and Delia Valente, of Sarasota, sold their home at 304 Heritage Isles Way to Isaac and Heather Morehouse, of Bradenton, for $799,000. Built in 2003, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,817 square feet of living area. It sold for $477,500 in 2016.

Derek and Julie Manquen, of St. Pete Beach, sold their home at 275 Heritage Isles Way to Ryan and Allison Gottermeier, of Bradenton, for $717,500. Built in 2003, it has four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,771 square feet of living area. It sold for $679,900 in 2022.

Thomas Hynds Jr., of Sarasota, sold his home at 8668 Stone Harbor Loop to George and Olga Landkas-Coronas, of Bradenton, for $582,000. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,042 square feet of living area. It sold for $305,000 in 2017.

EDGEWATER

Corrine Wagner, of Lakewood Ranch, sold her home at 8471 Sailing Loop to Carlos Rodriguez, of Lakewood Ranch, for $835,000. Built in 2002, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,617 square feet of living area. It sold for $435,000 in 2014.

DEL WEBB

Jodi Ann Wooten, of Lakewood Ranch, sold her home at 7612 Viola Loop to Thomas and Laura Lindsay, of Ramsey, New Jersey, for $815,000. Built in 2020, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 2,033 square feet of living area. It sold for $548,200 in 2020.

SADDLEHORN ESTATES

Kevin and Shelby Whiteleather, of Live Oak, sold their home at 2611 221st St. E. to Tammi Gustafson, of Hibbing, Minnesota, for $810,000. Built in 1995, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,785 square feet of living area. It sold for $350,000 in 2019.

COUNTRY MEADOWS

Cheryl and Oscar Holloway, of Parrish, sold their home at 519 147th Court N.E. to Cynthia and Salvatore Piazza, of Bradenton, for $775,000.

Built in 2010, it has four bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,635 square feet of living area.

CRESSWIND

Randy Korba and Pearl Chang, of Los Angeles, sold their home at 4968 Surfside Circle to Monica Sandifer Hart, of Lithia, for $770,000. Built in 2022, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,555 square feet of living area. It sold for $525,900 in 2022.

HERITAGE HARBOUR

Karyn Krause Cumberland, trustee, of Stratham, New Hampshire, sold the home at 526 Grand Preserve Cove to George and Marybeth Fede, of Cromwell, Connecticut, for $765,200. Built in 2007, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,445 square feet of living area. It

sold for $415,900 in 2007.

Kristy and George Redd-Hachey, of Bradenton, sold their home at 323 River Enclave Court to Robert and Cheryl Loupee, of Waterford, Michigan, for $585,000. Built in 2009, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and is 2,036 square feet. It sold for $324,900 in 2015.

GREYHAWK LANDING

Frances Clare, of Parrish, sold her home at 12818 Kite Drive to Robert Herman Esslinger and Lisa Reynolds Panigoni, of Bradenton, for $730,000. Built in 2005, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,463 square feet of living area. It sold for $425,000 in 2018.

Courtesy photo

This Concession home at 8476 Lindrick Lane sold for $4,275,000. It has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,339 square feet of living area.

Kenneth and Kim Ward, of Parrish, sold their home at 388 Snapdragon Loop to Brian and Angela Morel, of Bradenton, for $715,000. Built in 2005, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and is 2,466 square feet. It sold for $340,000 in 2017.

PALM AIRE AT SARASOTA

Sheila Lapides, of Sarasota, sold her home at 6997 Country Lakes Circle to Seth Stevens and Scott Stanton, of Sarasota, for $725,000. Built in 1990, it has three bedrooms, twoand-a-half baths, a pool and 2,443 square feet of living area. It sold for $246,500 in 1994.

ARBOR LAKES

Jean Marie Hitchen Thompson and Ralph Patrick Hitchen, trustees, of Williamsburg, Virginia, sold the home at 7215 Coachlight St. to 7215 Coachlight St LLC for $720,000. Built in 1998, it has four bedrooms, three baths, and is 2,884 square feet. It sold for $263,500 in 2009.

MILL CREEK

Robert and Shannon Dodge, of Bradenton, sold their home at 13506 Fourth Plaza E. to Diana and James Erickson, of Bradenton, for $669,000. Built in 2020, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 2,045 square feet of living area. It sold for $430,000 in 2020.

RIVERWALK

Mario Dube, of Malaga, Spain, sold

his home at 10914 Water Lily Way to Sarvinder Singh Kandhari and Hope Marie Bartgis-Kandhari, of Weston, for $644,000. Built in 2000, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,837 square feet of living area. It sold for $338,000 in 2007.

Wayne Fawber, of Yardley, Pennsylvania, and Carol Henderson, of Jessup, Maryland, and Lynne Van Sant Noel, of Boyertown, Pennsylvania, sold their home at 7436 Arrowhead Run to Bruno and Genowefa Kowalczyk, of Lakewood Ranch, for $535,000. Built in 2001, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 2,041 square feet of living area. It sold for $207,000 in 2001.

BRADEN OAKS

Debra Gray, of North Augusta, South Carolina, sold her home at 4305 65th St. E. to Heidi Delgado, of Bradenton, for $600,000. Built in 1981, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 2,652 square feet of living area. It sold for $105,000 in 1983.

WATERCREST Walter and Catherine Paulsen, trustees, sold the Unit 203 condominium at 6330 Watercrest Way to Corrine Wagner, of Bradenton, for $585,000. Built in 2005, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,742 square feet of living area. It sold for $340,000 in 2020.

Fast Break

The Florida Gulf Coast League, a summer collegiate softball league, will begin its 2023 season June 15, with the regular season running through July 2, followed by a postseason tournament that runs July 10-14. All games will be played at the Miss Manatee Softball League fields. Rosters for the 2023 season are still being announced, but past players include former Lakewood Ranch

High players Avery Goelz (University of Florida), Claire Davidson (Duke University) and McKenzie Clark (Clemson University). For more information, visit FGCLSoftball. com.

… Former Lakewood Ranch

High track and field athlete

James Rivera, a junior at Florida State University, earned a spot in the NCAA National Championships by finishing fifth in the 400 meter hurdles (50.74 seconds) at the NCAA East Regionals on May 27 in Jacksonville. The National Championships will be held June 7-10 in Austin, Texas.

Dolores Andrew (35) won the Nine Hole Women’s Golf Association individual low net event held June 1 on Palm Aire Golf Club’s Lakes course, while Bernie Somoza and Bob Webb (64) won the Men’s Golf Association best ball event held May 31 on the club’s Champions course.

… Manatee County commissioners declared June 6 to be Parrish Community High Bulls Girls Softball Day. The Bulls went 24-3 and won the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 5A state championship 5-0 over Deltona High on May 25 at Legends Way Ball Fields in Clermont.

NEW GOALS

Area ball hockey league players want to test their ability by competing at a higher level.

RYAN KOHN SPORTS EDITOR

It didn’t start well.

In the Lakewood Ranch Manatees’ first two games in the National Ball Hockey League, the team suffered back-to-back losses, a 7-0 defeat to the Tampa Bay Thunder and an 8-1 loss to the Orlando Mutiny.

The Manatees, made up of players from the Manatee Ball Hockey League, which hosts games at Lakewood Ranch Park, had yet to come together as a team, according to defenseman and goaltender Bradley Gustafson.

Gustafson said some Manatee players had wanted to start an NBHL team since it began in 2021, but until 2023, the league didn’t have the numbers — or the talent — to make it reality.

The NBHL, which also began in 2021, is rapidly growing and considered to be the top ball hockey league in the country. The league has three tiers, with the top tier containing players from the USA Ball Hockey national team among its ranks. The Manatees play in the Florida division of the second tier league; a step down from the top tier, but still quite competitive, Gustafson said. The NBHL is not a paid league, and any group can create a team if they wish, but since its inception, it has become the proving grounds of the sport. When it started in 2021, the league had 76 teams across 15 states, and in 2023, it has 165 teams across 30 states and Canada.

The Lakewood Ranch team decided to form because, like the NBHL itself, there has been an explosion of interest in the Manatee league in the past 18 months. In December 2021, the league had approximately 40 members, and the league currently has 156 members, getting close to its maximum capacity of 192 players for a given season. Some of those members were talented enough that Gustafson and other veteran players decided to try their hand at the NBHL to see how good they actually were.  It wasn’t a huge surprise that the Lakewood Ranch team lost its first two games in the NBHL. It wasn’t only a talent-level adjustment that caused the Manatees’ slow start, but a rink adjustment.

WHAT IS THE NBHL?

The National Ball Hockey League, which began in 2021, is a league for amateur ball hockey players to play against teams from other parts of their state and, if they are good enough, across the country. For its 2023 season, the league has 165 teams across 30 states and Canada, with 1625 players on each team roster. Those teams are broken down into 27 divisions across three skill-level tiers. Tier one is the closest thing the sport has to a professional level. Tier two is competitive, but a step down. Tier three is the lowest level, including some players who have not previously played ball hockey. The Florida division, which has five teams, including the Lakewood Ranch Manatees, is a tier two league.

The NBHL states a goal of making every athlete in the league feel like a professional athlete. To that end, every NBHL game is taped, and the league creates highlight packages so players can relive the games. Stats are kept at TheNBHL.com, and video, including some full games, is shared to the league’s social media channels and YouTube page.

At Lakewood Ranch Park, the Manatee Ball Hockey League holds games on a 120-by-60-foot rink, which is smaller than average. In the NBHL, Lakewood Ranch is playing on 180-by-90-foot rinks. Gustafson said the larger space opens up the game, giving players more time to think and execute plays, but it also creates challenges, like creating new angles off the boards and requiring precise accuracy on long passes down the field of play. It is also played five-on-five, while the Manatee league plays four-on-four.

After those first two games, the Manatees began to adjust to the rink and pace of the game, and the players’ speed became an advantage. In the team’s third game, against the Daytona Ducks, the Manatees pulled out a 5-2 win.

“That’s when we started to click,” Gustafson said.

The team has won three of its last five games and now has an overall 3-4 record. Gustafson said they want to get better in the inaugural season.

The team plays its NBHL games in Fort Myers at the Fort Myers Skatium, with three to four games being played in a single day to cut down on travel.

The Florida division features a 10-game regular season plus a postseason tournament to crown a champion. If the Manatees were to win that tournament, they would earn an invitation to the Mylec Cup, a

tournament between all the national division winners in their given tiers, held Sept. 22-24 in Buffalo, New York.

As the sport of ball hockey grows, so do the ambitions of the people who love it. It is Gustafson’s dream to one day hold a similar tournament to the Mylec Cup in Lakewood Ranch — on a full-sized rink.

“I want it more than anything in entire the world,” Gustafson said. “One of the reasons why we’re about to hit capacity (in the Manatee league) is that we play on a smaller rink and we don’t have lights. We also don’t have a cover, so we can’t really play in the summer (because of the heat). The goal is to be able to play year-round and at night so we can do more things.”

Those things include weeknight clinics and a more recreational league that plays during the week, while a competitive league plays on Sundays.

Those changes may be years away. For now, Gustafson and the league’s other players are having fun getting experience against the best the sport of ball hockey has to offer. And the more it grows, the more it makes things like rink improvements a viable option. But you don’t have to be a pro player to try your hand at the sport.

“The Manatee league is a great place to start playing,” Gustafson said. “We have a healthy mix of skill levels. I think it’s enjoyable for everybody.”  For more information on the Manatee Ball Hockey League, visit MBHL.org. For more information on the National Ball Hockey league, visit TheNBHL.com.

“I drive the ball pretty well. I would say it is in the 225- to 230-yard range on average.”

— University Park Country Club’s Marc Loundy SEE PAGE 11B

File photo

McKenzie Clark, Claire Davidson and Avery Goelz played for the Lakewood Ranch Rodeo of the Florida Gulf Coast League in 2022.

Courtesy photos

The Lakewood Ranch Manatees are 3-4 in the National Ball Hockey League as of June 3.

Bradley Gustafson plays defense and goalie.

AND KOHN RYAN KOHN

Lakewood Ranch could use these niche sports

The Lakewood Ranch area is a great place for a sports fan.

Premier Sports Campus hosts all sorts of soccer events, and even the occasional special event, like the Ultimate Long Drive Championships. Nathan Benderson Park holds the best events that rowing and dragon boat have to offer, plus things like triathlons. UMR Sports has state-of-theart beach volleyball and pickleball courts. There are plenty of great places to hold baseball and softball tournaments, like Lakewood Ranch Park. There are two race tracks. All of those things contribute to a healthy and engaged sports community. All of those things are also traditional. There are plenty more niche sports that you can’t find here. It’s baffling why some are missing, and others, well, they’re more understandable.

I’ve decided to make a pitch for them all. Here’s a list of sports I’d like to see come to the area, along with reasons why they would make sense — or half-sense, anyway.

BOWLING

This one’s obvious, and I’m not alone in wanting to see it come to Lakewood Ranch.

MVP Sports and Social hosts a bowling league, but its members have to drive 15 miles to Bowlero in west Bradenton to participate. Imagine how fun a bowling alley closer to Lakewood Ranch would be — at University Town Center, for instance. Teams could play a league match on a Thursday night before walking over to Yard House to continue the fun. Or, if they’re tired, they could take a short ride home instead of sitting in traffic on the way back from Bradenton.

Even putting league players aside, bowling is a staple activity for family hangouts, kids birthday parties and company team-building outings. You don’t have to be a serious athlete to throw a ball down a lane a handful of times.

It’s fun for everyone.

Of all the sports on this list, bowling makes the most sense and feels the most attainable. It’s also, by far, the most normal. Fortunately, the developer Casto currently is in negotiations to bring a bowling center to the area.

FENCING

A sport that has both competitors handling swords, fencing feels like it would fit right in the Lakewood Ranch community’s area of interest. It’s competitive, but at the same time, participating in it almost feels like a history lesson. There’s something about the rules that is a bit nerdy and a bit academic. If the sport was invented in America, it would involve swinging swords freely, not aiming for specific parts of the body with just the tip of the blade.

Still, not many sports involve swords, and I think that tradition should remain alive. There used to be a fencing academy in Sarasota, but it has closed. Lakewood Ranch

feels like a place that could bring it back, even if only at the 101 level. If ultimate Frisbee, another culturally nerdy sport, can thrive at Bob Gardner Park, and the Sarasota International Cricket Club — another sport that is mainstream overseas — can be going on its 40th year in the area, there’s no reason Lakewood Ranch can’t also have a thriving fencing scene with the right instructor.

CHESSBOXING At first glance, chessboxing can seem a little too out there. It is exactly what it sounds like, after all — alternating rounds, players play a round of chess followed by a round of boxing, with the times of the rounds varying by event. Players can win by checkmate, in chess, or by knockout/TKO, in boxing. After 11 rounds (if still standing), the player with the most boxing points on the scorecard wins.  Make no mistake, this is a real sport, and the demand to watch it is out there. In December, social media star Ludwig Ahgren hosted

the Mogul Chessboxing Championship in Los Angeles. The event received 315,000 live viewers on YouTube, and in the months since, total views have reached 3.8 million.

Is the demand to participate in it as strong? It may not be for everyone, but I think chessboxing is a sport that would appeal to the most competitive athletes in the area, people who go to CrossFit gyms and run ultramarathons. It’s a chance to not flex not only your muscles but your brain. To win, you have to have both. I think there are people here would want to show their dominance in this arena.

KANINHOPPNING

Myakka City has the TerraNova Equestrian Center, a state-of-theart equestrian center that in April hosted some of the best eventing riders in the world at The Estates at TerraNova. Lakewood Ranch has the Sarasota Polo Club, where for four months of the year, top polo players gather on Sundays and battle it out atop their steeds.

The area has conquered the world of horse-based sports, in other words. Maybe it is time to pivot to

the next animal-based sports category — bunnies.

Kaninhoppning, a sport that started in Sweden in the 1980s, is essentially show jumping, but for rabbits. Like horses, the rabbits jump over obstacles like fences, but on a smaller scale. Some of these rabbits can do amazing things; the world record for the highest rabbit jump is 43 inches, set in March by Holloway Tennessine, a rabbit owned by Marie Kozubková of the Czech Republic.

I think there’s a chance for Lakewood Ranch to get in front of a trend here. The sport already has a few fans in the United States, mostly in places like Pennsylvania. If the area acts now, it can get skin in the rabbit-hopping game before it becomes big-time.

FOOTGOLF

I’m not much of a golfer, but I can kick a soccer ball a fair ways, and I don’t like wearing polo shirts all that much. FootGolf sounds more my speed. It uses the scoring rules of golf and is played on a golf course. Instead of a golf ball and club, you use a soccer ball and your foot. It’s a more casual game, with players mostly there to chat with friends and have a good time. Holes are shortened and given cups with a 21-inch diameter to accommodate the larger ball.

There are so many golf courses in this area, surely one could afford to make the adjustments and become a FootGolf course instead. There are three FootGolf courses in Tampa if you want to check it out.

PROSE

File photos

Ed Kelly bowls at Bowlero in Bradenton through MVP Sports and Social.

Tomasin Brennan was a student at Sarasota Fencing Academy before it closed.

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by Sam Koperwas and Jeff Chen, edited by Jeff Chen

By Luis Campos

Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.