East County Observer 7.27.23

EAST COUNTY

Observer

Lakewood Ranch’s weekly newspaper since 1998

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

YMCA programs make splash. PAGE 20 FREE • THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023

VOLUME 25, NO. 35

YOUR TOWN

Rosedale residents turn to FDOT for help They say the stretch of S.R. 70 near their entrance is far too dangerous. SEE PAGE 3

Liz Ramos

Skunk education makes scents Aaron Sorbino, an education coordinator for Sarasota Jungle Gardens, debunked a myth to a group of children at Braden River Library on July 20.

While holding Maverick, a skunk, Sorbino (above) told children and their parents that tomato juice does not in fact help to rid someone of the smell after being sprayed by a skunk.

“You’ll just smell like a tomato dumpster,” he said.

Sorbino introduced a tarantula, alligator, opossum and skunk to the kids.

He shared fun facts about each animal, such as alligators grow about a foot every year until they are about 8 years old, at which point they grow about six inches per year. Most alligators grow to be 10 to 14 feet.

Nonprofits’ greatest feat The Lake Club Women’s Giving Circle and Twig hope to supply 400 pairs of shoes to foster kids for the opening day of school.

SEE PAGE 8

Jay Heater

Lindsey May, program coordinator for the Twig, will add the 212 pairs of shoes donated by The Lake Club Women’s Giving Circle on July 21 to the nonprofit’s collection. The Lake Club Women’s Giving Circle hopes to reach 400 pairs of shoes donated by the end of July.

Lesley Dwyer

Sip and shop schedule for the summer While Ranch Nite Wednesdays are on hiatus for the summer, Florida Provisions at Waterside Place is offering residents an alternative get together.

Initially slated for the summer only, Assistant Manager Tracey Pasha said the Wednesday night beer tasting from 6-8 p.m. has been so popular, it might become a year round staple.

Florida Provisions is a sip and shop retailer, a place where you can browse flipflops and six-packs. The tastings feature craft beers from local breweries.

Country Club resident Carol Skorulski and her daughter Annie heard about the event at the Farmers Market on Sunday.

Annie is the shopper of the two. She said she likes the shop’s clothing, so why not try the beer too?

A+E

Keeping them on their toes.

PAGE 12

A very special delivery Meals on Wheels Plus volunteers make magical connections.

SEE PAGE 17 Lesley Dwyer

Ronald and Marcia Owens set off on their first meal delivery of the day for Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee.

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YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023

Retired Marine Corps Sgt. Denise Jackson plants herbs in Operation Eco Vets’ medicinal herb garden and catalogues the benefits of each plant.

ABOUT OPERATION ECO VETS Navy veteran Camille VanSant started Operation Eco Vets five years ago to provide veterans opportunities to adjust to civilian life and address their PTSD through agriculture and horticulture.

The nonprofit provides various programs that give veterans a chance to learn how to care for and feed their families, as well as gain a sense of accomplishment as they decide what they want to do in their futures.

To donate, visit Donate.

FlanzerTrust.org/Donations/ Operation-Eco-Vets.

Courtesy photos

Navy veteran John Hynal shares Operation Eco Vets’ mission at a farmers market.

Rooted in service to veterans Operation Eco Vets supports veterans by providing opportunities to learn sustainability skills.

LIZ RAMOS SENIOR EDITOR

W

hile Operation Eco Vets helps veterans adjust to civilian life and address post traumatic stress disorder, the nonprofit itself is looking for a new home.

Operation Eco Vets is a nonprofit with the mission to help veterans

experience personal, educational and professional growth through “a focus on self-reliance, sustainability skills development and social connections in a scenic, natural environment that fosters overall healing and wellness.”

Anne Miller, the programs director for Operation Eco Vets, said the nonprofit was unable to raise the funds needed to purchase the property on Waterbury Road that hosted the nonprofit.

According to property records, the East County property sold for $375,000 in April.

The nonprofit has stopped most programming except for creating

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to look for a new place to host its programs, Miller said the nonprofit is looking for about half-an-acre of land to be able to farm and garden as well as have a classroom facility, an air conditioned facility for its medicinal herb garden, offices, a shed, a well and a parking area.

Miller said the nonprofit is looking into a variety of opportunities both public and private including possibly relocating to Mixon Fruit Farms, which is closing July 29, as Manatee County is working to turn the farm

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teas using herbs from its medicinal garden. It’s been too hot for outside work and the nonprofit is waiting to find its new home.

“We are looking to provide an agricultural setting where our veterans have an opportunity to learn how to grow as they transition either out of service or off the PTSD wheel,” Miller said. “There are a couple of very good research studies that show fresh air, sunshine and time with other veterans are all beneficial, especially with PTSD. It’s also the feeling of accomplishment when they harvest something they planted and continue to serve their community.”

As Operation Eco Vets continues

into a park. Miller said the nonprofit also is working with Sarasota County Extension to see what opportunities are available.

The nonprofit has a medicinal herb garden to make teas.

It also offers education opportunities through its edible landscaping internships and bootcamp that focuses on topics such as raising backyard chickens, composting, building a worm bin and bucket gardening.

“They can see how to take care of and feed their own families,” Miller said. “That’s why the bootcamp programs are successful — because they get to learn those skills.”

Another program Operation Eco Vets offers is a vet recreation program to give veterans and their families an opportunity to bond and participate in various activities, such movie nights, sports and barbecues.

“We have found that our veterans preferred small group events,” Miller said. “They don’t like crowds.

They don’t like lots of other people around, so we concentrated on having more events with fewer people at each so they had that opportunity.”

Once a week, veterans also can weed, harvest and water the nonprofit’s gardens. In 2022, the nonprofit started partnering with All Faiths Food Bank’s veterans-only food pantry. Operation Eco Vets provides food that it harvests from its farm and garden and donates it to support the food bank.

“Finally the collard greens and things they were harvesting had a way to get to the dinner table of fellow veterans,” Miller said. “That pantry serves 140 families. We have never harvested for 140 families, but we were happy to be a part of it.”

Miller said she loves to see the sense of accomplishment veterans have when they see something they planted bloom or be ready to harvest.

She said some veterans that served as interns have become entrepreneurs. While some went into horticulture, others went into other industries. For example, Miller said one veteran became a private chef and another is a sea captain.

“The idea is that we give them a place to grow and feel comfortable until they can get their feet under them and decide what they want to do,” she said.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023

Rosedale residents push for redesign of S.R. 70 Residents say S.R. 70 right-hand turn lane approaching Lena Road and I-75 is a hot spot for accidents.

Mike Zinn, president of the Rosedale Community Council, told FDOT officials that the stretch of S.R. 70 between the Rosedale main entrance and I-75 is not safe.

“I have seen two major accidents there already, and most of us either have seen an accident there or have been in an accident.”

— Mike Zinn, president of the Rosedale Community Council

Photos by Jay Heater

A right-hand turn lane begins just past the Rosedale entrance on S.R. 70. Aggressive drivers have made that lane an accident hot spot according to Rosedale residents.

JAY HEATER MANAGING EDITOR

I

t seemed to be a good decision at the time.

When the Florida Department of Transportation designed the far right-hand turn lane on State Road 70 that runs from its intersection with 87th Street and Ranch Lake Boulevard to Interstate 75, it didn’t consider the Billy Currington song.

“People are Crazy.”

At least many are when they get behind the wheel.

On July 19, FDOT officials Walter Brueggeman, John Kubicki and Brian Bollas explained to a group of concerned Rosedale residents about the intention of the design for that stretch of road, which is just outside Rosedale’s main entrance.

TURN-LANE WOES

They talked about how the first stretch of that right-hand lane was meant for those who wanted to turn right on to Lena Road, and the second stretch of the turn lane was intended for vehicles that wanted to access the I-75 ramps. Between the Rosedale entrance at 87th Street to Lena Road is about 2/10s of a mile.

Between Lena Road and the I-75 ramps is about 3/10s of a mile.

As the officials spoke about their intentions for that half-mile stretch, Rosedale residents interjected with stories of near crash experiences when they used that right-hand turn lane.

“When I am coming out of Rosedale and I turn right into that lane, cars will think I am turning (on to Lena Road) when I am actually headed toward the freeway,” said Mike Zinn, president of the Rosedale Community Council. “I have seen two major accidents there already, and most of us either have seen an accident there or have been in an accident.”

Most of the problem at that point is created by aggressive drivers.

The fact is that only a low percentage of drivers in that right lane actually do want to turn on Lena Road, but want to get over to the right early so they can get on I-75.

It’s what responsible drivers do.

But some drivers revert to the “People Are Crazy” school of driving, and they blast down the center and left-hand lanes of westbound S.R. 70, until the last moment when they jam their vehicles to the righthand lane to access the interstate.

It’s a free-for-all for position.

Manatee County Engineer Scott May talks about the Lena Road extension project at a meeting of concerned Rosedale residents July 19.

FDOT officials John Kubicki and Walter Brueggeman listen to Rosedale residents talk about unsafe driving conditions on S.R. 70 near the Rosedale entrance.

“We don’t want to solve one problem and create another.

We will go back and look at this one more time.”

— Brian Bollas, FDOT official

Aggressive drivers in the righthand turn lane know they are coming, so they tailgate to eliminate any opening.

But then there is that pesky Lena Road turn.

DANGEROUS SECTION OF ROAD

The Rosedale residents said they have seen cars plowed into from behind as they slowed down to turn on to Lena Road.

The temperature in the Rosedale Country Club’s Community Room was going up as residents talked about the design of the turn lane.

Bollas tried to assure those at the meeting that the FDOT knows that the intentions of a design don’t always work as planned. Sometimes that means FDOT must find solutions.

The problem at Rosedale is that a lot is happening all at once, with plans for the Lena Road extension.

And any alterations to S.R. 70 to accommodate more traffic and a better flow will be hard, and expensive.

The biggest factor, according to the FDOT representatives, is the distance between 87th Street to Lena Road, and then the interstate.

In approximately a year-and-ahalf, Manatee County plans to connect the north and south segments of Lena Road that will allow a clear shot from S.R. 70 to S.R. 64. Commissioners have talked about Lena Road becoming an important artery

for local traffic when the interstate backs up.

If that plan materializes, it should mean more traffic on Lena Road, which has been packed with new businesses over the past five years.

Rosedale residents are concerned how all the extra traffic on Lena Road turning on to S.R. 70 is going to affect them.

GETTING THE WRONG SIGNAL

Could a signal light at S.R. 70 and Lena Road solve many of the problems?

“It’s really not feasible,” said Brueggeman, who noted that traffic would back up into the interchange and wreak havoc on vehicles entering or exiting the interstate. “We don’t necessarily have great solutions.”

Kubicki noted that a signal at Lena Road and S.R. 70 would gridlock the other intersection simply because they are too close together. Many cars use the Ranch Lake turnoff to access the many businesses there, including Walmart.

Rosedale residents also brought up other safety issues for that stretch of road, when vehicles are headed east or are coming off the interstate to head east.

One resident said the signal lights on the eastbound exit off I-75 are hard to see. Another talked about how once on S.R. 70, vehicles going east that want to make a left on to Lena Road have to cross four lanes of traffic.

The FDOT officials said they would study all the issues brought up to see if they could find any solutions.

Kubicki deals with safety issues for the FDOT and he said the organization always is trying to reduce the possibility a vehicle will take a hit to its side, which are the most dangerous. The eastbound S.R. 70 lefthand turn onto Lena Road in front of speeding cars is an example.

The FDOT officials won’t be the only ones going to the blackboard after the July 19 meeting. Manatee

County Public Works representatives also attended the meeting.

Rosedale residents gave them some important topics to think about as well. For one, with so many new businesses being built on Lena Road and the north-south portions of the road expected to be connected in under two years, residents are worried that traffic, and especially heavy truck traffic, will be buzzing past their 87th Street entrance/exit into their community.

Anyone going south on Lena Road who wants to drive east on S.R. 70, must take a left onto 54th Drive East, which is a short connector road between Lena and 87th Street. Then they can use the S.R. 70/87th Street intersection signal.

Scott May, an engineer for the county, assured the residents the idea is to prohibit heavy truck traffic on that stretch of road. That seemed to appease many of them.

ROAD PROJECTS COMING

Manatee County has two different projects that will impact Rosedale, the 44th Avenue extension and the Lena Road extension. May said the 44th Avenue extension in that area will be finished before the two legs of Lena Road are connected.

He said vehicles are likely to use the new 44th Avenue extension as a main thoroughfare, making it unlikely the south end of Lena Road will see a significant increase in traffic.

May was asked if it made sense to alter the direction of the south end of Lena Road, having it take over 54th Drive East, then swing right in front of the Rosedale entrance to use the traffic signal on S.R. 70. That would eliminate the S.R. 70/Lena Road connection 2/10s of a mile to the west.

May said it didn’t make sense to think up a bunch of solutions for heavy traffic problems before knowing if they would even exist. He said the county would evaluate the situation once the 44th Avenue and Lena Road extensions are complete to access any needed changes.

“We would rather see than just react,” May said. “We have lots of options.”

Rosedale’s Fred Booth, who is the head of the Lena Road and 44th Ave Extension Committee, said while no solutions to any of the problems were figured out at the meeting, positive strides were made.

“The good thing is (FDOT and Manatee County officials) are hearing us,” Booth said. “I need to have faith in that.”

Booth said he was pleased both FDOT and Manatee County sent multiple representatives to the meeting, a sign they are serious about finding solutions.

May suggested to those in attendance that they follow the CIP on the county’s website because it is updated often with any changes made to the road projects.

Bollas noted that 60,000 to 70,000 vehicles a day use the S.R. 70 interchange with I-75.

“We don’t want to solve one problem and create another,” Bollas said.

“We will go back and look at this one more time.”

He also noted that on- and offseason traffic is much different and must be studied as well.

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YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023

Clear sailing Placement of two 15-ton acrylic tank windows serves as important milestone in Mote aquarium construction.

JAY HEATER

MAJOR STEP

MANAGING EDITOR

A

s a crowd gathered Tuesday at PopStroke to watch a crane place a 15-ton acrylic window into the Gulf of Mexico Gallery at the Mote Science Education Aquarium next door, Evan Barniskis was asked about the enormity of the moment.

Barniskis, a Mote vice president who will be the Mote SEA’s director when it opens late in 2024, said he gets excited just about every day as the aquarium takes shape.

He was speaking at a press conference held by Mote on the roof of PopStroke, which offers a perfect view of the construction.

“For me, every step we take is a big deal,” he said. “We are heading toward the finish line, and this is a dream come true. Not everyone gets to do something like this in their career path.”

Pushed a bit on the topic, Barniskis did say the placing of the two huge acrylic windows was an especially exciting development.

“It’s amazing,” Barniskis said.

“And we could feasibly put water in the tank right now.”

While no water will be put into that two-story Gulf of Mexico Gallery tank until 2024, the completion of Tuesday’s project was important to the exterior construction of the aquarium.

“Now that we are able to put these in, we will be able to move to the next level,” Barniskis said. “Those were the two largest (pieces of acrylic for tanks). We will have outdoor exhibits (with large tanks), but those pieces can be brought in from the top.”

Those attending the press conference were assured that if anything should happen to the Gulf of Mexico tank in, say, 100 years, they could bring four smaller pieces of acrylic in through the building and piece them

What: Mote Science Education Aquarium construction Where: Adjacent to the north end of Nathan Benderson Park, Sarasota Project announced: February 2018 Ground broken: November 2020 Expected completion: Winter 2024 Cost: $132 million Funds committed: $100 million Builders: Willis Smith Construction, Whiting Turner Size: Three stories, 110,000 square feet

together to form a replacement tank.

Willis Smith Construction and Whiting Turner, construction partners in the project, can now proceed with building the aquarium roof. And that means they can speed ahead on the exterior walls once the roof is complete.

“We will put up the steel to hold up the facade this October,” Barniskis said. “This fall, a lot of exciting things are going to happen.”

He said about six months after the exterior facade is built, the entire exterior of the aquarium will be finished. That means by next summer, those driving past Mote SEA will see basically a finished product, even though much interior construction still will need to be finished.

Approximately 120 workers were on site Tuesday, and that number will jump to 200 to 250 workers once the interior construction ramps up.

Barniskis said the entire $132 million project is on track for its winter 2024 completion schedule.

Mote, Willis Smith and Whit-

Photos by Jay Heater

A 15-ton acrylic window is lifted July 25 to be set into place in the Mote SEA’s Gulf of Mexico Gallery tank.

“We are heading toward the finish line, and this is a dream come true.

Not everyone gets to do something like this in their career path.”

— Evan Barniskis, Mote vice president

ing Turner executives attended the press conference, which only featured the 17-foot-by-22-foot Gulf of Mexico viewing window being placed. The other 15-ton acrylic window will form the bottom of the tank and a tunnel where visitors will walk through it and look up into the exhibit. That was placed Tuesday afternoon.

Willis Smith President John LaCivita said Tuesday offered a special milestone in the construction of the aquarium, and he brought his daughter, Lucy, along to enjoy the event.

“I am always excited about stuff like this,” LaCivita said. “This is a one-of-a-kind experience, and that

EAST COUNTY

is why I brought Lucy. And I love we can share this with the public.”

LaCivita said that construction has gone “extremely smoothly” to this point and he added that Whiting Turner has been a great partner.

“We work so well together,” he said.

Allan Gladstone of Whiting Turner explained the task to those who attended a Mote press conference at PopStroke.

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Gold Coast Eagle will supply World Champions Cup With the announcement July 20 that Anheuser-Busch has become the official beer partner of the World Champions Cup, comes a high level of excitement at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing of Lakewood Ranch.

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Manatee County seeks planning commissioner

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Manatee County is accepting applications for a planning commissioner.

The Planning Commission is a citizen’s advisory committee that makes recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners on land-use items.

The seat will be available in October.

According to a county release, the Planning Commission has responsibilities such as carrying out duties as described in the Comprehensive Plan, and initiate, review and make recommendations to the County Commission.

The term is four years and the Planning Commission has seven members. The county release said those with experience in the planning, engineering, environmental science, and development industries will be considered, although no particular expertise is required.

Applications are due to Aug. 25 and can be found online at MyManatee.org/AdvisoryBoardOpenings.

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East County Observer Sports Editor Ryan Kohn won two first-place awards in the Florida Press Association’s 2023 Weekly Newspaper Contest held July 21 at the Westin in Sarasota.

Kohn’s awards were two of 19 overall awards presented to the East County Observer.

His winning entries came in Best Sports Column and Best Spot Sports News Story.

Besides those awards, Kohn also took second place in the Best Sports Photo category.

He also teamed with staff writers Liz Ramos and Ian Swaby, and Managing Editor Jay Heater for a first-place finish in Hurricane Breaking News Coverage for their work in keeping the readers informed before, during, and after Hurricane Ian. Heater also won two first-place awards in the Best Headline and Breaking News categories. Heater won eight awards overall.

Besides her work in the Hurricane Breaking News Coverage, Ramos placed second with the “12 hours of Terror” feature in the Hurricane Feature category, and third in the Education Feature and Education News categories.

In addition to his work in the Hurricane Breaking News Coverage, Swaby took third places in the Feature Nonprofile and Spot News Categories.

Melissa Leduc, who designs the East County Observer, won awards for Page Design and Overall Graphic Design.

The staff combined for a second place in Hurricane General News coverage.

keting administrator at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing. “We are going to be the supplier, and it’s very exciting.”

The World Champions Cup is a new event sanctioned by the PGA Champions Tour that will be an international competition similar to the Ryder Cup. Team USA, Team Europe and Team International will compete Dec. 7, 8, 10 at The Concession.

“This is going to draw (golf fans) from Tampa, St. Pete, and Fort Myers,” Shields said. “It is going to be a nice economic impact for the area.”

Shields said Gold Coast Eagle Distributing owner John Saputo loves to get involved whenever a positive event comes into the community.

“John is just so passionate about anything positive,” Shields said.

The event will be covered by ESPN and ABC. The lineup of golfing legends will be impressive and already includes the captains of the three teams — Jim Furyk (Team USA), Darren Clarke (Team Europe), Ernie Ells (Team International).

Tickets go on sale on Labor Day.

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East County Observer wins 19 FPA awards

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023

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Dream camp benefits kids, parents

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The camp offers horseback riding, canoeing, swimming and many other opportunities for children with special needs.

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

Parrish resident Amanda Kukoda said she was terrified of sending her 9-year-old daughter to camp.

But that was three summers ago.

Now, Madison Kukoda is 12 years old and spending a week at Dream Oaks camp in East County has become a respite for Madison, her parents and her siblings.

“We get to do things with our kids that we can’t do when we have Madison with us,” Kukoda said. “It’s nice to be able to have that one-on-one

time with your other kids too.”

Madison is the youngest of four children. Her mother said she’s “on the spectrum,” has an intellectual disability and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

The camp is run by the Foundation for Dreams, a nonprofit that provides year-round programming. Camps run from June through August. From September through May, they offer a sleepaway weekend program. And for those who deem overnights still terrifying, day camp is available.

Day camp costs $400 a week. The price increases to $700 if campers want to stay overnight. Community Outreach and Healthcare Coordinator Diane Bartoszek said those prices don’t nearly cover the foundation’s expenses, but they try to keep tuition low because many of these families have excessive medical costs to cover. Scholarships are also available.

Kukoda said her daughter can

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be herself at Dream Oaks, and she doesn’t have to worry about her. She won’t get a call that Madison isn’t listening or being disruptive because the staff can handle it. That peace of mind allows the family to relax for that week, too.

They enjoy quiet time at home and dinners out, but they also look forward to seeing Madison return from camp feeling confident and independent. This year, she brought home a recipe for Hulk pudding to prepare because it was superhero week.

“We’ve been kicked out of so many camps. It gets frustrating,” Kukoda said. “At Dream Oaks, she doesn’t have to apologize for being how she is. She gets to be Madison, and they embrace that.”

Campers have fun while meeting goals. Madison’s goals were to work on her independence while giving others more space. She has a tenden-

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Madison Kukoda is a camper at Dream Oaks camp. This is her third year attending the sleepaway camp.

cy to burst into her siblings’ rooms unannounced.

“They don’t know they’re working on goals. The goals are set by their parents,” Bartoszek said. “For some of our children, it’s something as simple as making eye contact when talking to someone or trying a new food or asking before giving someone a hug. There’s a varying degree of goals, but they’re all outcome based and measurable.”

Campers are too busy having fun to realize they’re building skills. For them, it’s a week of horseback riding, canoeing, swimming and socializing. Campers perform a talent show at the end of the week for friends and family.

They also win awards. If a camper is a picky eater and they met a goal of trying bananas for the first time, then that camper is the Top Banana of the week and will be recognized as such.

Madison loves learning new recipes to bring home, but campers are also engaged with arts and crafts, scavenger hunts and yoga. They sing around a campfire and explore nature.

Dream Oaks operates in partnership with the Southwest Florida Boy Scouts. The seven cabins available to campers are located at Camp Flying Eagle off Upper Manatee River Road.

The 140-acre parcel was purchased by the Boy Scouts in 1929 for $2,000.

Each cabin has four bedrooms with bunk beds and two bathrooms that can sleep up to six campers and staff members per room. For safety reasons, the camp maintains at least two staff members for every three to four children, which causes a waiting list of up to 15 campers per week.

“It’s because of staffing. We wish we could take all 50 of them,” Bartoszek said. “With staffing and space, we’ve been accepting about 30 or so a week.”

While the Kukodas are lucky enough to live nearby, many campers have to travel from around the state and the country to spend a week at the camp.

“There was a mom from Miami that found Dream Oaks, but she was hesitant, so I offered to talk to her,” Kukoda said. “Her daughter had a great time, and for them, they never had their own time like that before.”

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YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023

EAST COUNTY

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

Friedrich Hayek

“Road to Serfdom,” 1944 Publisher and President / Emily Walsh, EWalsh@YourObserver.com Associate Publisher — East County Observer / Lori Ruth, LRuth@YourObserver.com Executive Editor and COO / Kat Wingert, KWingert@YourObserver.com Managing Editor / Jay Heater, JHeater@YourObserver.com Senior Editor / Liz Ramos, LRamos@YourObserver.com Sports Editor / Ryan Kohn, RKohn@YourObserver.com Staff Writer / Lesley Dwyer, LDwyer@ YourObserver.com Digital & Engagement Editor / Kaelyn Adix, KAdix@YourObserver.com Copy Editor / Gina Reynolds Haskins, GRHaskins@YourObserver.com Senior Editorial Designer / Melissa Leduc, MLeduc@YourObserver.com

Photos by Jay Heater

Lindsey May, Julie Swann, Kathy Hall and Jennifer Alokeh show off their favorite shoes donated to the Twig.

THE RIGHT FIT for foster children Lake Club Women’s Giving Circle holds Sneaker Drive to donate much-needed shoes to the Twig.

JAY HEATER MANAGING EDITOR

J

ulie Swann stood in front of the 212 pairs of shoes and hundreds of socks that the Lake Club Women’s Giving Circle had just dropped off at the Twig on July 21.

The Twig, at 9706 State Road 64, Bradenton, is a nonprofit that has served the foster care community since 2016, at first through its Venice store before adding its East County store in 2021.

The stores resemble a boutique where toddlers through young adults can come to “shop” once a month, receiving seven items of clothing and shoes absolutely free.

Swann was so touched by the Twig’s mission that she originally began hosting her own “Sneakers Drive” each year, before last year when she began sharing that responsibility with the 124-member Lake Club Women’s Giving Circle, of which she is a member.

From July 14-31, the giving circle will collect sneakers and donations for its “Sneakin’ Back to School” Sneaker Drive. Before the final day, the club hopes to donate 400 pairs of shoes.

“I saw a unique opportunity,’ Swann said of starting the sneaker drive. “Many of these kids have been in horrible circumstances. Some arrive in care with all their things in a trash bag.”

She knew a lot of foster kids can’t afford new shoes or sneakers to wear to school.

“Shoes are not cheap, and kids can outgrow them in three months,” Swann said.

She also knew that one of the most important times of year to have new shoes was at the beginning of the school year.

Swann was asked about her favorite memory when it came to finding shoes for the first day of school.

“I can literally remember my dad (Roger O’Donnell) taking me shopping when I was 14,” she said. “He didn’t like to shop. But there were these black leather velvet oxfords, a cool version no doubt.

“Even at that age, I was adamant.”

She explained that she had to wear a school uniform and that shoes were the only form of self-expression in terms of attire.

However, the particular pair of shoes they wanted couldn’t be found. Her father didn’t want to spend time in one store, and certainly not a string of stores.

“He sucked it up,” she said. “I wanted them, and he took me to stores to find them. We went into seven stores before we found them, and it was the best. When I went to school, I was rocking my uniform.”

Swann was accompanied to the Twig by Jennifer Alokeh and Kathy Hall of the Lake Club Women’s Giving Circle. They also remember their searches for popular shoes before the start of the school year.

“I was a cheerleader, so I wore red Converse,” Hall said. “But parents only bought dresses (to wear to school) so my favorite shoes were blue suede shoes. Oh my!”

Alokeh remembered searching for Nikes and Reeboks.

“The girls wore high-tops with velcro,” she said, smiling at the memory. “The first day, you always wanted to see what the girls were wearing.”

Lindsey May is the Twig program coordinator at the East County outlet. Like the Lake Club Women’s Giving Circle members, she knows the importance of shoes when school starts.

“I wore uniforms, so shoes were the only way to express myself,” May said. “I liked simple Keds in simple colors. They had no support, and they didn’t do anything, but it was a way to express yourself. When I was 14, it was about self-image. It is even more important in today’s world.”

May knows that children in the child welfare system want to express themselves as well. But she said the likelihood of those children bringing the things they need with them when they go into the care system is slim.

“When they are being placed, they grab their PlayStations or their phones,” she said.

May said when the children become more relaxed in a safe environment, their physical appearance begins to change, such as putting on some healthy weight, and they begin to care about their appearance.

“The financial impact of that can be huge,” May said.

The Twig helps them through the transition by providing them with the clothes they want and need. The

IF THE SHOE FITS What: Sneakin’ Back to School Sneaker Drive Who: The Lake Club Women’s Giving Circle Where: The Twig, 9706 S.R. 64 E., Bradenton When: The drive lasts until July 31 Benefits: The Twig, which serves the foster community How to donate: Go to TheTwigCares. com or call Julie Swann at 713-4432972.

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Twig served 403 children between the two stores in June.

“I assume 403 pairs of shoes went out the door,” May said. “Going back to school, they want school clothes and shoes.”

May said it is important they have some nice items when the school year begins.

“Make them comfortable and it helps their body self-image,” she said. “In confidence, new shoes can work wonders. We want them to feel they can conquer the world.”

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The Lake Club’s Kathy Hall loves to see Crocs among the donated shoes because she wears them herself.

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SIDE OF RANCH

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023

9

JAY HEATER

Little Free Libraries making a big impact The smallish libraries have a great impact to the communities they serve.

W

Lakewood Ranch Little Free Library founder Elizabeth Henderson, and Neel Menon dedicate the new library in Bob Gardner Park to Jai Menon, Neel’s brother who died in 2016.

Savana’s Ronan Knauf pulls a book from the Little Free Library that opened July 22 at Bob Gardner Park in Lakewood Ranch.

trating on the big thing, which is the new Lakewood Ranch Library, a $17.3 million, 50,000-square-foot facility.

The big library will open late this year, and it will be heralded with marching bands and proclamations.

And rightly so.

But that doesn’t diminish the worth of the Little Free Library, which often is the size of a very big medicine cabinet.

You’ve heard it before, it’s the thought, and the love, that goes into the construction and the maintenance of such a thing. Who would do it?

Certainly, the founder isn’t going to get a medal. There won’t be a Nobel Prize for Peace. You won’t increase your chance of hitting the lottery.

But ask Elizabeth Henderson, and she might be able to explain why she founded the Lakewood Ranch

Greenbrook Little Free Library was dedicated to Irene Farese, Monserez’s mother. Farese, an avid reader, died of pancreatic cancer in June 2022. Many of the books in the Greenbrook Little Free Library were owned by Farese.

On July 22, the appreciation flowed as well. This time, the Little Free Library had been dedicated to Jai Menon, who died in 2016. He loved science fiction books, and the new Little Free Library had been stocked with those.

His brother, Neel Menon, cut the ribbon for the new Little Free Library, and his parents, Girish and Raji Menon, of Magnolia Ranch, watched with knowledge that this place of joy would always honor Jai. After the ribbon cutting, little Ronan Knauf reached high to the bottom shelf of the Little Free Library, knocking over a container of pens, but securing a children’s

Photos by Jay Heater

Little Free Library club. Or better yet, go to Bob Gardner Park on White Eagle Boulevard in Lakewood Ranch and wait for a family to open the door of the Little Free Library that just opened there July 22.

Watch and see the smiles of children as they pull books off the shelves. See the satisfaction of parents, knowing this little pearl of a gift has brought joy to their children.

The morning after the fire destroyed the Adventure Park pavilion, I talked with several families as they walked up to use the park. Most said the Little Free Library always was included in their visit. They worried whether it would be rebuilt, and they talked about their appreciation of those responsible for building and stocking it.

Henderson and Arielle Monserez appreciated every comment. The

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

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e live in a community where we get used to some very great, big things.

By big, I mean really big.

Big parks, big festivals, big charity events.

Consider that much of it seems natural in an affluent community like Lakewood Ranch and vicinity.

It’s pretty darned nice, to be honest.

But your vision can become blurred to the point where it’s hard to recognize the little things. Perhaps it is your next-door neighbor bringing your trash can up to your garage door because you get home late from work.

Maybe it’s that little rock you found below one of your hedges that says, “Your smile is beautiful.”

It’s someone holding the door for you at the grocery store because you are loaded down. It can be those concerned calls you get because a loved one is in the hospital.

Or it can even be a library. A little library.

A fire early in the morning on July 5 consumed not only the Greenbrook Adventure Park pavilion but the Little Free Library that was placed under the pavilion by the Lakewood Ranch Little Free Library Club.

On a day-to-day basis, I doubt many people think of this club’s contribution to the community, with the exception of those families who have made a Little Free Library stop a part of their weekly routine.

I would admit, I haven’t given the Little Free Library much thought since the East County Observer ran a story about the new one in Greenbrook in April. I was concen-

book.

“We’re new to this area,” said his mom, Savana’s Kristen Knauf, but he loves a library. And here, he gets to play outside, too. This is such a great asset to the community.”

Henderson has experienced a lot of emotions since the Greenbrook library opened, then burned, and the Bob Gardner Park library opened.

“This is the true sense of community,” Henderson said as she looked around at about 50 people who came to celebrate the opening of another Little Free Library.

So onward she goes, with the plans for another Little Free Library to open in the Country Club East/ Edgewater park in August. She also noted that the Adventure Park Little Free Library already has been rebuilt and will be ready to open whenever the Adventure Park pavilion is rebuilt.

Considering what an important asset the pavilion was to Greenbrook residents, that shouldn’t be too long.

They only had a few months to fall in love with their Little Free Library, and now those who live in the neighborhoods surrounding Bob Gardner Park are likely to do the same.

When they do, they will see a little plague at the top center of the Little Free Library. It reads, “Jai. Always and Forever in our hearts.”

On second thought, perhaps it is not such a little thing.

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County should do checks on stormwater management Stormwater management and retention ponds are essential, but they have been neglected in my neighborhood in Lakewood Ranch.

The ponds are created to manage stormwater runoff from mainly roofs, as they are in my development. The stormwater runoff is carried by pipe to the pond. This guttering system, including the downspouts and the swale drain, are components of the system.

This water utilities system was built to function as a stormwater management plan. They won’t function, though, if you remove parts of the system, such as the swale pipe, which was removed in my system.

I’ve been told the swale pipe is a hassle to clean due to debris from the trees clogging it. However, when that is done, the stormwater system is unable to operate as intended. This problem has yet to be corrected at my home.

The water floods under my bedroom window instead of away from the foundation of my home.

My roof is 18 years old and it is not scheduled to be replaced until 2025.

On the east and west side of my building, there is no gutter along the top of the roof at all. Why the condo was built with rain gutters only on the north and the south side is a mystery.

That flaw in design likely affects the environment.

Stormwater runoff is required by the county to be routed and controlled.

In March 2020, my husband and I installed our own rain gutter system that included two down spouts.

This was done at our own expense and was at the entrance to our unit and approximately 20 feet from the pond. We were suffering from a large infestation of mosquitoes before we installed it. They were harboring in high bushes against my foundation wall.

Stormwater runoff had been pouring off the condo with no means of control or path since 2005. Our guttering contractor took pictures and noted a serious

problem. The aluminum fascia was not tall enough and funneling water into the building.

The main problem here is our environment, and water quality is being abused and damaged. There needs to be an overall assessment by a private independent engineering firm when it comes to building homes in our area. This is a very serious situation and our government agencies should oversee these systems.

EILEEN BOLLI SUMMERFIELD HOLLOW

Another idiot driver on our roadways I read your comments about drivers on State Road 70. I wanted to relay a S.R. 70 experience I had a few months ago. It was mid-A.M. on a middle-of-the-week day when I turned left onto S.R. 70 heading west from our Panther Ridge home.

Within a half-mile, I ended up behind half-a-dozen cars that were stacked up behind a slow moving truck. Within a few minutes, there were another six cars behind me. At the time, there were two or three cars heading east. I happened to look in the rear view mirror and saw yet another idiot in his dually pickup truck coming up fast behind all of us heading west in the eastbound lane. He was intent on passing all of us, when we saw a car coming in the eastbound lane.

I, and the car behind me, pulled completely off into the grass so the idiot would have a place to bail out in the westbound lane, which he did only very briefly before he quickly swerved back into the eastbound lane and passed all the rest of the cars/truck in front of me. He was going too fast to get a plate number, but I called the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office anyway. Not much they could do, so I’m sure that idiot is likely still out there. It took several minutes for my breathing to return to normal.

RICK SCHUKNECHT EAST COUNTY

397320-1

LETTERS

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023

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10

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023

11

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A+E INSIDE: < Q+A: Broadway flop became fodder for Annie Morrison’s one-woman show. 16 PAINTING MARATHON: Sarasota artist Beck Lane shows love for Frida Kahlo. 14 >

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT JULY 27, 2023

YOUROBSERVER.COM

Building a better ballerina A new principal takes the barre at the Sarasota Ballet School.

Jennifer Welch Cudnik is the new principal of the Sarasota Ballet School.

MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

‘W

e are artists. We have to give illusions. We have to give the illusion that we’re floating across the stage,” Jennifer Welch Cudnik tells the young women in leotards and pink tights elevated by toe shoes as they rehearse in a studio near the SarasotaBradenton International Airport.

Photos by Mikenna Bowers

Jennifer Welch Cudnik demonstrates a pose to students in the Summer Intensive session of the Sarasota Ballet School.

It’s 3 p.m. on a Friday summer day.

The Sarasota Ballet School’s Summer Intensive recital is still two weeks away, so it’s forgivable if the buzz in the building on Tallevast Road surrounds a student trip the next day to entertainment wonderland Orlando.

While Welch Cudnik plays classical music on her iPhone, her young students appear mature and sophisticated as they bourrée, taking tiny steps across the room with gracefully outstretched arms. The next minute, they look like children as they drop their ballerina masks, lean casually against the barre and await Welch Cudnik’s next instructions.

The new principal of the Sarasota Ballet School knows what it’s like to have one foot in the world of adolescent hijinks and the other clad in a toe shoe, ready to pirouette on stage in front of adoring audiences.

A native of St. Louis, Welch Cudnik was just 15 when she moved to New York City to study at the School of American Ballet, the education arm of the New York City Ballet. There she learned the repertory of iconic choreographer George Balanchine, or “Mr. B” for short, at the school that has produced ballet luminaries such as Suzanne Farrell, Jacques d’Amboise, Gelsey Kirkland and Darci Kistler.

At 46, Welch Cudnik is remarkably youthful. In her workout gear, she looks as slim and toned as her young students. Unlike the stereotype of the intimidating ballet mistress of yore, keeping time by rapping a cane and barking directions, Welch Cudnik comes across more like an older sorority sister.

She and her family, including a daughter studying at the Sarasota School of Ballet’s five-week summer session, have only been in town a few weeks. Welch Cudnik took over from the school’s previous principal, Sarah Krazit, who wanted to focus more on her family as they relocated from the Gulf Coast.

When Welch Cudnik was studying ballet in New York as a teen, she says she was in a “safe bubble” because she was living in a dorm with other dancers and had chaperones. The real test of her maturity came later,

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023

Jennifer Welch Cudnik prepares students at the Sarasota Ballet School for the recital performance of the Summer Intensive session.

IF YOU GO

‘IN MOTION,’ SHOWCASE OF SARASOTA BALLET SCHOOL SUMMER INTENSIVE When: 7:30 p.m. on July 27-28, 2 p.m. on July 28-29 Where: FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail Tickets: $30-$40 Info: Visit SarasotaBallet.org.

when she was 19 and moved to Philadelphia on her own to dance with what was then called the Pennsylvania Ballet. (The company rebranded in 2021 as the Philadelphia Ballet.)

“I wasn’t ready,” she confesses.

Nevertheless, she made it through, dancing with both the Pennsylvania Ballet and St. Louis Ballet for a decade. Given the level of professionalism that she embraced at such a young age, it’s not surprising to hear that Welch Cudnik took a break from dance for five years.

Originally, Welch Cudnik believed

she had quit but ballet called her back. She earned a master’s of fine arts in dance at Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia. She has been involved in arts education for more than two decades, teaching in universities, dance schools, charter and public schools and community arts centers. Along the way, she had two daughters, now 13 and 8, and also cofounded and directed the nonprofit Ballet Initiative.

Welch Cudnik came to the attention of the Sarasota Ballet and its education director, Christopher Hird,

and Deirdre Miles Burger, assistant education director, through her work at the Center for Creative Arts in St. Louis. COCA holds large auditions where students from the area can try out in front of representatives of dance companies and schools from all over the country.

“It was really through Dede that Jennifer came to Sarasota,” said Jason Ettore, Sarasota Ballet general manager, in an interview along with Welch Cudnik, in a computer lab where Sarasota Ballet School students do their homework during the academic year.

Timing and chemistry aside, one of the reasons Welch Cudnik landed her new job is that she is a certified teacher in the American Ballet Theatre national training curriculum. The program has been used by the Sarasota Ballet School since the 2020-21 season, pandemic notwithstanding.

Designed for all ages and skill levels, the ABT curriculum has been considered the gold standard for ballet training since 2006, when an act of Congress made the American Ballet Theatre the country’s national ballet company.

For students with their sights on a dance career, the Sarasota Ballet runs the Margaret Barbieri Conservatory.

It is overseen by Barbieri, a former prima ballerina with The Royal Ballet and assistant director of the Sarasota Ballet. During the 2023-24 academic year, 160 students in total are expected at the Sarasota Ballet School and the Conservatory.

While the nearly 200 students between 11 and 18 in the Sarasota Ballet School’s summer intensive get a rigorous training in nationally accepted ballet basics, they are also exposed to other dance styles like jazz funk and hip hop.

A partnership with Ringling College of Art and Design allows them to live in dorm rooms with fellow students, gaining some independence and allowing them to build social skills sometimes lacking in today’s tech-obsessed youth.

The daughter of two teachers — her mom taught English and her dad taught history — Welch Cudnik has

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strong ideas about who can study dance. Asked to define her philosophy, she declares, “Anyone can learn ballet, from 2 to 82.” To be sure, she’s not saying it’s easy; she’s saying it can be done.

In addition to teaching the ABT curriculum, Welch Cudnik has served as a consultant to families whose children want to pursue dance training and careers. She keeps in touch with dozens of students and their parents via text, phone and email.

Her view of the ballet community is expansive and inclusive. In their interview, both she and Ettore bemoaned the fact that many young men won’t pursue the discipline because of stereotypes about masculinity, despite the strength, grace and coordination it fosters.

Between the rigors of the ABT curriculum and the breakneck pace of the summer intensive, there’s still room for fun. Welch Cudnik encourages her students to have a playful streak. To teach one young dancer how the proper way to bend sideways, she tells them, “Just think, ‘I’m a little teapot,’” quoting the childhood nursery rhyme as she demonstrates the correct motion.

Welch Cudnik’s talents as a choreographer will be on display during “In Motion,” the recital for the Summer Intensive program on July 27-29, where one of her new works will be performed.

The show will include new choreography by Sarasota Ballet principal dancer Maximiliano Iglesias and Assistant Ballet Master Octavio Martin.

Also on the bill is “Concerto in D” by Ricardo Graziano, the ballet’s resident choreographer, and “An American Hymn” by Miles Burger.

Principal dancer Macarena Gimenez will perform excerpts from “Coppélia.”

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YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023

For the love of

Frida Beck Lane is painting 55 oil portraits of the famous Mexican artist.

MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

expression during convalescence; the act represented the determination to survive.

“I used to paint like this,” Lane says, holding a straw in the crook of her elbow to mimic how she inserted her brush into her braces because she couldn’t move her fingers. “I couldn’t do it for very long, maybe 15 seconds at a time. I had to plan how I was going to do it,” she says.

Like many female artists, Kahlo and Lane weren’t taken seriously.

During her lifetime, Kahlo painted primarily for her own satisfaction and for the enjoyment of her family and friends. In the public eye, her personal, self-referential art was eclipsed by the giant murals with political themes painted by her husband Diego Rivera, who was 20 years older.

Kahlo didn’t become a global sensation until decades after her death in 1954. Her fame gained momentum following the release of Hayden Herrera’s 1983 biography about Kahlo.

A 2002 Hollywood movie starring Salma Hayek brought Fridamania into full bloom. In 2021, Kahlo’s painting, “Diego and I,” set a record for a Latin American artist when it sold for $34.9 million at Sotheby’s.

For her part, Lane knew she wanted to be an artist when she was a child. “One of my earliest memories is of drawing a seagull and telling my mother I was going to be an artist,” she recalls.

While she was clear on her career path, Lane didn’t take herself or other women artists seriously for a long time. She bought into the misogynistic stereotypes that dominated the art world. “I didn’t think much of

www.manasotaonline.com

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Sarasota artist Beck Lane’s paintings of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo are on display at the Unitarian Universalist Church’s art gallery through Aug. 18.

IF YOU GO

BECK LANE’S ‘55 FRIDA PROJECT’ When: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sundays. By appointment Tuesday through Friday. Through Aug. 18 Where: Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota Tickets: Free Info: Call 941-371-4974.

Visit UUCSarasota.com.

women artists,” she says. “I thought they were second-class.”

Still, the art scene of New York City beckoned. Artists like Keith Haring, Kenny Scharf and JeanMichel Basquiat had taken their art to the streets and factory lofts, following in the footsteps of pop art pioneer Andy Warhol. Lane moved to the “City” when she was 48.

Lane exhibited her work in two solo shows in New York City and sold her paintings to far-flung collectors, thanks to a an international gallery.

But it wasn’t until she was injured that she made a vow to herself to become a full-time artist.

She’s had some help on her journey. Lane’s sister, Melissa Voigt, senior development officer for the Sarasota Opera, helps write press releases and get the word out about Lane’s art on social media platforms.

In a town filled with professional artists, Lane understands the importance of connecting with potential buyers in person. A self-described hermit who likes to walk at night when everyone else is home, Lane does emerge from seclusion to attend events at Art Ovation hotel and popup shows.

She lives simply, riding a newly acquired scooter she has dubbed “Speed Racer” from her live/work space near Stickney Point to and from downtown.

Mostly, she paints. “My purpose is painting,” Lane declares.

Right now, Lane’s working on No. 19 of her Frida project, which she began last year. The canvases are mosaic-like, with bold brush strokes of color forming images of Kahlo in various poses.

Lane’s excited because one of her Fridas may have found a buyer in Mexico. “Wouldn’t it be great if Frida got to go home?” Lane says.

In Florida, Lane’s work is on display at Chasen Galleries in Sarasota and blu Egg Interiors in Fort Lauderdale. You can also find videos of Lane painting on YouTube and other social media outlets.

While Frida is her passion right now, Lane is also fascinated with another female artist, 94-year-old Yayoi Kusama. A native of Japan, Kusama dyes her hair (or wears a

4551 N. Washington Blvd.

Sarasota, FL 34234 941.355.8437

Some of Beck Lane’s portraits of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo on display at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Sarasota.

wig) of red-orange and creates multimedia works, including sculpture, painting and performance.

Having packed up the Fridas she was working on for the painting demonstration in the back of a friend’s car, Lane pulls out her cellphone to reveal photos of her paintings of Kusama, including one of the artist as a child.

“She’s the jewel of Japan,” Lane exults, noting her goal is to have one of her Kusama portraits hanging in the Kusama Museum in Tokyo.

After years of tempering her expectations, Lane is thinking big.

What about a Frida exhibit in Mexico or Santa Fe, ground zero in the U.S. for Fridamania? Told that Santa Fe has more than 200 art galleries, many of them on Canyon Road, Beck pulls out a notebook and pen from her backpack. “Is that spelled C-AN-Y-O-N Road?” Lane asks before jumping on her scooter.

Then she heads down Fruitville Road toward her studio, where more Fridas are moving from the realm of Lane’s imagination to the canvas.

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ifty-five.

That’s the number of oil portraits that Beck Lane plans to paint of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.

Why 55? That’s the number of selfportraits that Kahlo created during her 47-year lifetime.

With prominent eyebrows and facial hair above her lip, her face framed by braids pinned to the top of her head and attired in her signature peasant grab, Kahlo would become one of the world’s most recognizable female artists. (Photographer Georgia O’Keeffe is also a contender.)

Along with Our Lady of Guadalupe, Kahlo is an icon of Mexico. Her likeness adorns everything from tote bags to T-shirts to a new line of shoes from Tom’s, the do-good footwear company.

“I’m not painting her because she’s famous,” volunteers Sarasota artist Lane in an interview at Starbuck’s on Fruitville Road.

Lane made time for coffee after holding a painting demonstration in the art gallery at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota, where some of the Frida paintings are on display until Aug. 18.

Lane said she chose Kahlo as a subject for her latest portrait series because she uses photographs to paint and likes those taken from 1850 to 1950.

According to Lane, there are about 5,000 photographs of Kahlo in the public domain, providing no shortage of inspiration.

Lane is a native of Cape Cod who came to Sarasota seven years ago; Kahlo died in the Mexico City house (“Casa Azul”) where she was born.

But the two artists have something in common.

After being impaled by a pole in a bus accident in 1925, Kahlo was confined to her bed as she underwent many surgeries. To pass the time, she began painting with the aid of a lap easel and an overhead mirror in the canopy of her bed.

Like Kahlo, Lane committed herself to art while bed-ridden.

After graduating high school, Lane studied art at the now defunct Vesper George School of Art in Boston.

She dropped out to work as a florist and in retail, which required heavy lifting. After her tendons tore away from her elbows, Lane had multiple surgeries to regain use of her limbs.

For both Kahlo and Lane, painting wasn’t merely a means of self-

YourObserver.com

DIVAS THREE 7:30 p.m. at FST’s Court Cabaret, 1265 First St. $18 and up Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

Three female vocalists present four decades of songs made famous

by Aretha Franklin, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston and others who have been dubbed “diva.” Runs through Sept. 3.

PATRICK GARRITY 7 p.m. at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd. $25 Visit McCurdysComedy.com.

A veteran of CBS “Comedy Night School,” McGarrity riffs on what it’s like to serve in the armed forces, growing up with a big brother and why the Irish don’t “trash talk.” Runs through July 30.

FRIDAY

‘FOLKTALE AND MOVEMENT’ 6:30 p.m. at Hermitage Palm HouseStudio, 6660 Manasota Key Road,Englewood

DON’T MISS

‘BLACK PEARL SINGS!’ “Black Pearl Sings” tells the story of an unlikely friendship between a Library of Congress musicologist who wants to record slave-era music and an African American prisoner who has the knowledge needed for her project.

IF YOU GO When: Through Aug. 6 Where: FST’s Keating Theatre, 1265 First St. Tickets: $25 Info: FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

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FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2023 RAIN OR SHINE 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM You are invited to a special intimate performance put on by the Sarasota Jazz Project.

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IF YOU GO When: Through Aug. 12 Where: Historic Asolo Theater, 5401 Bay Shore Road Tickets: $15-$20 Info: CircusArts.org.

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Enjoy listening to Jazz selections from this talented group either out in our gardens or indoors, depending on the weather.

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From the group that brought you “The Jersey Tenors” comes a tribute to the band that took America on a “Surfin’ Safari” in the early 1960s.

SUMMER CIRCUS SPECTACULAR Circus fans of all ages can experience the best of the circus arts, including hand balancers, clowns and aerial rope artists at affordable prices, thanks Courtesy photo to a partnership between The Circus Arts Academy and The Ringling.

Free with $5 registration fee Visit HermitageArtistRetreat.org.

Choreographer Christopher Williams and dance collaborator Caitlin Scranton hold an open rehearsal and a conversation about Williams’ current work, a twist on a classic folktale.

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LARRY & JEANNIE 7 p.m. at Centennial Park, Venice Free Visit VisitVeniceFl.org/Friday-NightConcert-Series.

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Larry & Jeannie bill themselves as Tampa Bay’s “premier classic acoustic folk/rock duo.” Find out why at this free concert.

TUESDAY

DIEGO FIGUEIREDO 7:30 p.m. at Fogartyville, 525 Kumquat Court $28 Visit WSLR.org/fogartyville.

Grammy award-winning Diego Figueiredo draws from his homeland of Brazil’s musical heritage and the eclectic history of jazz with his vocals and acoustic guitar.

WEDNESDAY ‘A COMEDY OF TENORS’ 8 p.m. at FST’s Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St. $25 and up Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

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Set in 1930s Paris, “A Comedy of Tenors” is a romp that follows a producer and an Italian superstar.

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THE SURFER BOYS 7:30 p.m. at FST’s Goldstein Cabaret, 1265 First St. $18 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

OUR PICK

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THIS WEEK

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023

ONLY TWO WEEKS LEFT!

Annie Morrison still rolling along

THE CIRCUS ARTS CONSERVATORY & THE RINGLING present

MARTY FUGATE CONTRIBUTOR

L

ook up“multitalented” in the dictionary and there’s probably a picture of Ann Morrison. The Sarasota powerhouse has entertained locally, nationally and globally in a host of performances. “Merrily We Roll Along” was one of them.

Morrison was part of the cast at the 1981 Broadway premiere. Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s time-bending musical seemed like the perfect equation. But it added up to a colossal flop.

Flop or not, Morrison had a blast.

She tells her tale and sings some of the musical’s songs in “Merrily from Center Stage,” her original, oneperson cabaret show, for which she’s seeking venues to continue performing. In the following conversation, which has been edited, she talks about it.

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Where’d you get the idea for “Merrily from Center Stage”?

(The documentary) “The Best Worst Thing That Ever Happened” is a treasure. But (it) ignored the six weeks of rehearsals. Blake Walton, my creative consultant, suggested that I create my own show.

Please set the Wayback Machine for 1981, New York City and “Merrily We Roll Along.” When did you come on board?

I was the last actor to be cast. The final part of my audition was for Stephen Sondheim on April 9 — which happens to be my birthday.

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At that point, the musical was still in flux, right?

Absolutely. When a show’s going straight to Broadway, the workshop process takes place during rehearsals. That’s the focus of my show.

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What was that like?

See my show! For now, let’s say it was just a joy working with two musical theater gods: Stephen Sondheim, the composer and lyricist, and Hal Prince, the director.

Courtesy photo

Annie Morrison

I’m picturing Stephen Sondheim walking around fizzing over with ideas. He was shaping the musical in real time.

Exactly! You get that from the documentary; he talks about how he goes into many shows with all the songs already written. In “Merrily,” they weren’t, and he needed more time. That’s why we kept postponing our rehearsals, previews and the opening date.

Why did “Merrily We Roll Along” flop?

I’d say script problems, which the musical inherited from the original 1933 play.

Where have you performed “Merrily from Center Stage”?

I did it at 54 Below in New York City and freeFall Theatre St. Petersburg, when it was 75 minutes. I took it to The Players in Sarasota and fleshed it out. I performed the longer version at Crazy Coqs in London and reprised it at freeFall.

What’s next for “Merrily from Center Stage”?

Right now, the goal is to take it to colleges and other theaters. There’s also talk of filming it. I originally thought my show at 54 Below was going to be one night only. I had no idea it was going to take off.

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JULY 27, 2023

YOUR NEIGHBORS Ronald Owens set out to simply deliver meals and do some good. The bond he’s built with clients since has been a welcome surprise.

Photos by Lesley Dwyer

Ronald and Marcia Owens say they do most things together, but they especially have fun delivering meals.

Delivery by ‘angels’ Lakewood Ranch residents Ronald and Marcia Owens have been making deliveries for Meals on Wheels Plus Manatee for 13 years.

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

A

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fter missing a connecting flight back from a vacation to North Carolina, Ronald and Marcia Owens got off a plane at 1 a.m. on July 18 in Tampa instead of the originally scheduled Sarasota.

They drove home to Lakewood Ranch, managed a few hours sleep and pulled into the Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee parking lot only 10 minutes late for their volunteer shift, both exhausted and smiling.

“We try — other than if we’re going to be away for a week or two — to plan our appointments around delivering meals,” Marcia said. “I’m not going to schedule a hair or doctor’s appointment for 11 o’clock on a Tuesday.”

Ronald just celebrated his 80th birthday a few weeks ago, and Marcia will join him the first week in August.

The couple said they wanted to redefine their retirement, so they’ve been making meal deliveries for over 13 years now.

Marcia is a former registered nurse, and Ronald was a city planner. Their former careers shine through when volunteering. On July 18, the couple allowed the East County Observer to

ride along with them on deliveries.

During the shift, Marcia, the caregiver, asked how everyone was feeling and cracked a few jokes. Ronald, the natural organizer, checked the clipboard full of addresses and kept the deliveries running on time.

Ronald said deliveries take anywhere from 45 minutes up to two hours depending on the conversations that day.

“We just went to deliver meals, and then we found that after you’ve been delivering the meals to people for a period of time, you build a relationship and you almost become like part of their family,” Ronald said. “Many times, they don’t have anybody else to talk to, so you get to learn their complaints and their aches and their ills and when things are good and when they are bad. That kind of surprised us after it happened.”

Every Tuesday and Thursday, the Owens load the back of their Subaru with boxes of meals, coolers full of milk and loaves of bread. They also fill in as needed when Meals on Wheels is short volunteers. The Owens have delivered to some of the same clients for up to five years.

The couple has been delivering meals to Geraldine Lewis for three

Marcia Owens and Zellie Saintinord share a few stories and a laugh. For Ronald and Marcia Owens, bonding with the clients is a bonus of the work.

years. After receiving her meals, Lewis showed the Owens a letter she’d received but didn’t quite understand. They couldn’t solve her problem, but they took time to read the letter and were able to guide Lewis in the right direction.

“They go away, but they always come back,” Lewis said, referring to the Owens’ recent vacation.

“They’re two angels.”

There’s a level of trust that builds over time.

“Years ago, we had a blind lady on our route, and she’d have us fill out checks for utilities,” Marcia said.

While on another stop in the parking lot of an apartment complex, a homeless man approached the couple after watching them take boxes out of their hatchback. A sticker on their SUV also identifies them as Meals on Wheels volunteers.

The man asked if they had more food. Without extra meals to offer, Ronald gave him a door hanger with a telephone number to call.

“We also operate the Food Bank of Manatee, and we distribute 3.2 million pounds of food into our community,” CEO Maribeth Phillips said. “We operate a half-day dining program for seniors over 60 who just

want to get out of the house, who might live alone, for socialization and meeting new friends.”

Phillips marvels at the kind of connections that are made. She told the story of two widows who happened to sit next to each other during a meal and realized their husbands used to work together in New York City.

The services aren’t limited to lowincome individuals.

“It might be the elderly man whose wife did all the cooking, and she has passed away or is in a nursing home,” Marcia said.

For the Owens’ regular inner city routes, money plays a part. Zellie Saintinord is 86 years old and has been receiving meals for 10 years.

“Everything is different. My generation is gone,” he said. “Everything is very expensive.”

Saintinord is a creature of habit.

He takes solitary walks every day regardless of the weather or how he’s feeling. He said it ensures his body stays limber. And once a week, when he hears the rap on his door and Marcia shouting, “Meals,” it assures him he’s cared for.

“Jesus says everyone has to love one another,” Saintinord said. “The Owens are nice people.”

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023

Courtesy photo

John Mcclain tours PGT Innovations, a custom windows and doors manufacturer. Students are learning about the manufacturing process, safety protocols and available jobs through The Haven’s vocational summer camp.

On the job at camp A four-week camp introduced students to job opportunities with local manufacturers.

students with disabilities to learn some basic vocational skills and see what possibilities exist in the local job market.

A dozen students attended the camp. They toured area LESLEY DWYER manufacturing companies and STAFF WRITER received hands-on training, learning how to screen a window at PGT he current unemployment Custom Windows and Doors and rate, according to the Bureau how to make a tumbler at Tervis. of Labor Statistics, is 3.6%, For the first two weeks, students but for people with disabilities, that worked on communication and number more than doubles to almost teamwork skills that built up to a 8%. two-week internship with PPi TechWhile The Haven cares for, edu- nologies Group. PPi makes stand-up cates and houses people with dis- pouches for food, drinks and other abilities, it also provides job oppor- products. tunities for any client who wants to “Campers worked with a few of the work through Haven Industries. employees at PPi to sort the product, “We’ve got a little over 120 people perform quality control, package the that we employ,” Chief Operating product and box the product,” said Officer Alison Thomas said July 20. Don Herndon, The Haven’s director “One of our biggest expenses here at of mission services. “I can tell you the agency is our client payroll.” this camp was the best summer camp But Haven Industries isn’t the only for students with disabilities that I place hiring, so staff members creat- have seen in all my years of working ed a four-week camp for high school with neurodiverse individuals. ” ai168987394827_Observer-newsletter-8-1-vrtcl-prnt.pdf 1 7/20/23 11:25 AM

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COMMUNITY

YOUR CALENDAR

BEST BET

FRIDAY, JULY 28 AND SATURDAY, JULY 29

THURSDAY, JULY 27 THROUGH SUNDAY, JULY 30

MUSIC AT THE PLAZA Runs from 6-9 p.m. at Waterside Place, 1561 Lakefront Drive, Lakewood Ranch. The Sights and Sounds series continues at Waterside with Rock the Spectrum, live music to benefit Easterseals. On Saturday, Dana Lawrence plays rock, blues and reggae. The entertainment is free.

For more information, go to WatersidePlace.com.

LIVE MUSIC AT JIGGS LANDING Runs from 5-8 p.m. at Jiggs Landing, 6106 63rd St. E., Bradenton. The live music lineup at Jiggs Landing includes Steve Sipes (Thursday), Soundwave (Friday), Gator Ridge Ramblers (Saturday) and Donnie Bostic (Sunday). The Friday and Saturday shows have a $5 cover; the rest are free. For more information, go to JiggsLanding.com.

SUNDAY, JULY 30

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.

TUESDAY, AUG. 1 THROUGH FRIDAY, AUG. 4

CANOE, KAYAK EVENT Begins at 8 a.m. each day at Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota. The ACA Sprint Canoe National Championships for canoes and kayaks features hundreds of paddlers from across the U.S. They will compete in various age and skill categories. The top paddlers in the country will include future Olympians competing on a nine-lane course. The event is free, but parking costs $10. For information, see NathanBendersonPark.org.

FRIDAY, AUG. 4

MUSIC ON MAIN Runs from 6-9 p.m. at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch. The Silverback Rock ’n’ Roll Band will fill the air with songs from the 1950s through the

Experience Fun and Fitness at The Pickleball Club •

File photo

•

Chuck Wilson and Donnie Bostic of the Donnie Bostic Duo will be performing July 30 at Jiggs Landing.

• •

1980s. The free monthly concert and block party series also includes food vendors, beer trucks and events for kids. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Bradenton Woman’s Club.

•

Improved cardiovascular health Enhanced balance and coordination Effective for calorie burning Positive impact on mental well-being Enhances hand-eye coordination and reflexes

SATURDAY, AUG. 5

BACK TO SCHOOL BASH Runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Mall at University Town Center, 140 University Town Center Drive, Sarasota. The annual event brings together top resources for families as they prepare children to return to school. Among the resources will be representatives from after-school programs, health care providers, pediatricians, optometrists and tutors. Also on hand will be Tampa Bay’s favorite sports mascots. More than 250 backpacks and thousands of school supplies will be given away though an interactive scavenger hunt. Parents must preregister online to get a backpack. For more information, go to MallAtUTC.com.

Secure Your Membership 941-271-4444 TPCLWR.US 1300 Sarasota Center Blvd., Sarasota, FL 407388-1

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.

19

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023

Cardiology

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YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023

Reading makes splash at YMCA M

iles Garvin and Luca Montovani gathered all the Dr. Seuss books they could find.

One by one, Garvin, who is 7, and Montovani, who is 8, read each of the books during the YMCA Summer Camp July 19.

“We want to read all of them,” Garvin said with a smile.

Garvin and Montovani decided their favorite was “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish,” but “Wacky Wednesday” was a close second. “‘Wacky Wednesday’ is just funny, but I like the rhyming words in ‘Red Fish, Blue Fish,’” Garvin said.

While Garvin and Montovani were reading, Kaytlyn Fleming, who is 7, was getting ready for her favorite camp activity — swimming.

She couldn’t wait to get outside and into the pool. She put on her goggles and immediately went under water.

Reading and swimming were just two of the many activities available during the camp, which runs through Aug. 4. Other activities include arts and crafts, sports, cooking, science experiments and more.

— LIZ RAMOS

Olivia Corbett, who is 6, holds on tight to the parachute before raising it above her head.

Photos by Liz Ramos

Brody Robinson, who is 4, runs to make it out of the parachute at the Lakewood Ranch YMCA Summer Camp.

Brooklyn Cutsinger, who is 8, reads one book after the other at the YMCA Summer Camp.

Kaytlyn Fleming, who is 7, makes the most of her time in the YMCA pool.

Fleming says swimming is her favorite activity at camp.

Miles Garvin, who is 7, and Luca Montovani, who is 8, collect as many Dr. Seuss books as they can. Their favorite is “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.”

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YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023

Silvia M. Ferretti, D.O. Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Senior Vice President, Provost and Dean, College of Medicine

Congratulations Dr. Silvia M. Ferretti On being awarded the Robert A. Kistner Award from the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) AACOM represents 40 accredited osteopathic colleges and 60 campuses which includes 35,000 students across the United States, and the Kistner Award is presented annually to one individual in recognition of their significant contributions to osteopathic medical education throughout their careers.

About Dr. Silvia M. Ferretti One of the founders of the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.

The first woman to hold the position of dean of an osteopathic medical college.

Longest serving dean in the history of the osteopathic profession.

Recipient of two Ebony Excellence awards from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania for outstanding community service and for academic/educational excellence.

Recipient of the Distinguished Pennsylvania Award from Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Honored by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives with an award for professional excellence and humanitarianism.

Named a Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania, an honor given to extraordinary women for their outstanding service and contributions to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

LECOM.edu

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Dr. Ferretti’s work in service extends to the boards of multiple charitable organizations and chapters in Pennsylvania and nationally; and she supports a bevy of private and faith-based initiatives.

21

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023

LAKEWOOD RANCH 16101 Baycross Drive 4 Beds 4/1 Baths 4,647 Sq. Ft. Stacy Haas 941-587-4359 A4575493 $3,650,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 16639 Collingtree Crossing 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,633 Sq. Ft. Stacy Haas 941-587-4359 A4573463 $1,550,000

MYAKKA CITY 7818 Verna Bethany Road 7 Beds 7/1 Baths 6,469 Sq. Ft. Bianca Dwyer & Jonnie Dwyer 941-209-2466 A4571029 $1,300,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 4926 Kiva Circle 3 Beds 3 Baths 3,000 Sq. Ft. Mark Boehmig 941-807-6936 A4575923 $1,175,000

BRADENTON 12103 Perennial Place 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,334 Sq. Ft. Carroll Couri 813-727-1630 A4573831 $864,999

BRADENTON 808 116th Court Ne 5 Beds 3/1 Baths 3,304 Sq. Ft. Jay Brock, III 941-218-3226 A4567004 $730,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 5438 Summit Glen 4 Beds 3/1 Baths 2,931 Sq. Ft. Kelly Quigley 941-356-9954 A4574393 $700,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 6430 Watercrest Way 203 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,916 Sq. Ft. Beth Ann Boyer 941-780-6606 A4565831 $637,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 6360 Watercrest Way 403 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,916 Sq. Ft. Beth Ann Boyer 941-780-6606 A4549533 $630,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 6647 Pebble Beach Way 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,774 Sq. Ft. Anja Deichmann 941-284-7987 A4573870 $625,000

BRADENTON 12712 Deep Blue Place 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,772 Sq. Ft. Jeffrey Hinrichs 941-456-1251 A4575113 $625,000

BRADENTON 12726 Coastal Breeze Way 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,766 Sq. Ft. Mackenzie Longueuil & Pat Mudgett 941-961-4023 A4567652 $575,000

BRADENTON 6926 Dorset Court 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,458 Sq. Ft. Ray Rausa 941-228-7614 A4575720 $559,000

PARRISH 7814 111th Terrace E 4 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,868 Sq. Ft. Christopher Van Vliet & Jamie Van Vliet, PA 941-993-7087 A4575795 $550,000

BRADENTON 2005 Crystal Lake Trail 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,525 Sq. Ft. Jonnie Dwyer & Bianca Dwyer 941-812-6283 A4563361 $514,500

BRADENTON 2068 Crystal Lake Trail 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,525 Sq. Ft. Hope Kocak 941-882-0592 A4566979 $475,000

PARRISH 4524 Forest Creek Trail 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,744 Sq. Ft. Sharon Ingram 941-224-6447 A4575761 $459,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 4506 Bedford Court E 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,706 Sq. Ft. Sharon Ingram 941-224-6447 A4572351 $439,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 7115 Boca Grove Place 104 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,552 Sq. Ft. Sally Piccolo 941-525-8295 A4573753 $435,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 5444 Chatham Square Way 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,525 Sq. Ft. Bernadette Caswell 941-320-8265 A4576458 $420,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 7156 Boca Grove Place 102 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,431 Sq. Ft. Laura Naese 941-350-3657 A4575695 $410,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 11847 Meadowgate Place 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,333 Sq. Ft. Timothy Carney & Laura Navratil 941-993-5025 A4574537 $404,900

BRADENTON 17704 Gawthrop Drive 403 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,121 Sq. Ft. Ray Rausa 941-228-7614 A4575159 $399,000

PALMETTO 5533 Los Robles Court 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,492 Sq. Ft. Stuart Lawrence & Laura Lawrence 941-894-4001 A4573062 $389,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 8869 White Sage Loop 1504 2 Beds 2/1 Baths 1,064 Sq. Ft. Victoria Beckham 941-544-6734 A4569653 $304,999

LAKEWOOD RANCH 8335 Lucerne Loop 4 Beds 4/1 Baths 4,002 Sq. Ft. Stuart Lawrence & Laura Lawrence 941-894-4001 A4569941 $3,500,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 19460 Ganton Avenue 4 Beds 4/2 Baths 4,476 Sq. Ft. Tina Ciaccio 941-685-8420 A4566700 $2,799,000

BRADENTON 4742 Mainsail Drive 6 Beds 5 Baths 4,639 Sq. Ft. Adam Cuffaro 941-812-0791 A4571725 $1,900,000

888.552.5228 | MICHAELSAUNDERS.COM

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22

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023

RESEARCH EDITOR

A

home in Country Club topped all transactions in this week’s real estate. Stone River Gliders LLC sold the home at 6919 Westchester Circle to Ronald White and Robin Ruhnke, of Lakewood Ranch, for $2.4 million. Built in 2002, it has four bedrooms, five baths, a pool and 4,737 square feet of living area. It sold for $500,000 in 2012.

SHOREVIEW

John and Stephanie Ann Dempsey sold their home at 7789 Mainsail Lane to Joel and Jennifer Tobiansky, of Sarasota, for $2 million. Built in 2021, it has three bedrooms, threeand-a-half baths, a pool and 2,892 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,250,200 in 2021.

LAKEHOUSE COVE AT WATERSIDE

John DeRisti III and David Dradransky, of Bradenton, sold their home at 753 Tailwind Place to John and Karin Koeppel, of Hamburg, New York, for $1.5 million. Built in 2021, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,675 square feet of living area. It sold for $802,100 in 2021.

COUNTRY CLUB

Charles Winston and Laura Ward, of Bradenton, sold their home at 7505 Rigby Court to Christopher Lance Bullock, of Bradenton, for $1.4 million. Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 4,535 square feet of living area.

It sold for $877,500 in 2016.

LAKEWOOD NATIONAL GOLF CLUB

Carolyn Reed Britton, trustee, and Larry Britton, of Lakewood Ranch, sold the home at 5537 Mulligan Way to Timothy James Smith and Cami Lynn Smith, of Bradenton, for $1.1 million. Built in 2020, it has four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,449 square feet of living area. It sold for $620,900 in 2020.

RIVERDALE REVISED

Sharon Haag, of New Orleans, sold the home at 4315 Fourth Ave. N.E. to Robert and Ilene Patrick, of Bradenton, for $1.05 million. Built in 2002, it has three bedrooms, twoand-a-half baths, a pool and 2,474 square feet of living area.

4616 Barracuda LLC sold the home at 4616 Barracuda Drive to Manuel Dominguez and Gina Alfonso, of Miami, for $950,000. Built in 1997, it has three bedrooms, two-anda-half baths, a pool and 2,389 square feet of living area. It sold for $625,100 in 2021.

William John Ernest, trustee, of Summerville, South Carolina, sold the home at 4707 Clipper Drive to James Gold and Kathleen Bennis Gold, of Kure Beach, North Carolina, for $800,000. Built in 1996, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,073 square feet of living area. It sold for $395,000 in 2013.

Tanner French, of Palmetto, sold his home at 4603 Third Ave. E. to Kadin Kerns and Dayle Hoffman, of Bradenton, for $777,000. Built in 1978, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,016 square feet of living area. It sold for $420,000 in 2020.

EDGEWATER

Charles and Barbara Cogen, trustees, of Bradenton, sold the home at 6522 Waters Edge Way to Brian Gahr, trustee, of Chisago City, Minnesota, for $1,035,000. Built in 2001, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,366 square feet of living area. It sold for $435,000 in 2017.

Dennis Harrison, of Lakewood Ranch, sold his home at 8432 Sailing Loop to Patricia Alice Ryan, of

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

JULY 10-14

Lakewood Ranch, for $650,000.

Built in 2002, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,934 square feet of living area. It sold for $250,600 in 2002.

BRIDGEWATER

Scott and Bea Spoerl, of Sarasota, sold their home at 13006 Ramblewood Trail to Paul and Christina Mulligan, of Rensselaer, of New York, for $985,000. Built in 2014, it has five bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,419 square feet of living area. It sold for $454,200 in 2014.

WILTON CRESCENT

Timothy and Dolores LaBeau, of Milford, Michigan, sold their home at 7829 Wilton Crescent Circle to Russell Hausman, trustee, of University Park, for $925,000. Built in 1993, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,227 square feet of living area. It sold for $850,000 in 2022.

EATON PLACE

Justyn Seeberger, trustee, of Boca Raton, sold the home at 7530 Eaton Court to Elizabeth Berry, of University Park, for $815,000. Built in 1993, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,488 square feet of living area. It sold for $310,000 in 1995.

ESPLANADE

Liz Ramos

This Country Club home at 6919 Westchester Circle sold for $2.4 million. It has four bedrooms, five baths, a pool and 4,737 square feet of living area.

CARLYLE AT THE VILLAGES OF PALM AIRE

Deborah Fredericks, of Mineral Bluff, Georgia, sold her home at 6742 Carlyle Lane to Emilia Fayerman, of Sarasota, for $649,900.

Built in 1999, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,554 square feet of living area. It sold for $375,000 in 2018.

Donald Haake and Patricia Phillips, trustees, of Bradenton, sold the home at 12822 Del Corso Loop to Madrid Capital LLC for $790,000.

Built in 2013, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths and 3,367 square feet of living area. It sold for $675,000 in 2021.

Delthia Vilasuso, trustee, of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, sold the home at 4948 Creekside Trail to Terry Forch, of Longboat Key, for $525,000. Built in 2001, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 2,148 square feet of living area. It sold for $193,000 in 2001.

TIDEWATER PRESERVE

Jason Roberts and Catherine Principe, of Independence, Oregon, sold their home at 11952 Brookside Drive to Alan and Carol Klingaman, of Lakewood Ranch, for $615,000.

Robert Factor, of Tampa, sold the home at 934 Mangrove Edge Court to Yancy and Susan Stermer, of Bradenton, for $779,000. Built in 2013, it has three bedrooms, three-anda-half baths and 2,791 square feet of living area. It sold for $361,700 in 2013.

RYE WILDERNESS ESTATES

Paul Gary Slavik and Melissa Bonilla, of Cumming, Georgia, sold their home at 322 167th Blvd.

N.E. to Arlene and Lester Ward, of Bradenton, for $760,000. Built in 2013, it has three bedrooms, threeand-a-half baths, a pool and 2,562 square feet of living area. It sold for $385,500 in 2013.

HARMONY

Built in 2015, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,553 square feet of living area. It sold for $400,000 in 2019.

CMFA LLC sold the home at 5715 Silverbridge Trail to Kara Marea Russo, of Sarasota, for $400,000.

Built in 2020, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,324 square feet of living area. It sold for $260,000 in 2020.

HERITAGE HARBOUR

Joan Olsen Clowser, of Varina, North Carolina, sold her home at 167 Wandering Wetlands Circle to Randy and Julia Henkle, of Bradenton, for $612,000. Built in 2016, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,006 square feet of living area. It sold for $314,300 in 2016.

SEE REAL ESTATE, PAGE 24

In with the new NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION

WATERLEFE

David Inman and Laurie StraussInman sold their home at 9826 Discovery Terrace to Olga WasowPatten and Troy Lee Patten, of Bradenton, for $740,000. Built in 2001, it has four bedrooms, threeand-a-half baths, a pool and 2,870 square feet of living area. It sold for $485,000 in 2021.

Downtown St. Petersburg

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COUNTRY CREEK

Simon and Amy Barton sold their home at 14831 Seventh Ave. E. to Brian and Rachel Gaines, of Bradenton, for $685,000. Built in 1999, it has three bedrooms, two-anda-half baths, a pool and 2,699 square feet of living area. It sold for $282,000 in 2011.

Longboat Key

STONEYBROOK AT HERITAGE HARBOUR

Susan Morrison, trustee, of Bradenton, sold the home at 7771 Camden Harbour Drive to Stephan Faine Strasser and Julie Kay Strasser, of Bradenton, for $680,000. Built in 2004, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,339 square feet of living area. It sold for $466,300 in 2004.

Wilson and Sherry Gill, of Griffin, Georgia, sold their home at 8416 Eagle Isles Place to Sharon Haag, of Bradenton, for $445,000. Built in 2004, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,870 square feet of living area. It sold for $251,400 in 2004.

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POLO RUN

Robert Furfaro, of Lakewood Ranch, sold his home at 17111 Blue Ridge Place to Roger Charles Dycus and Kathryn Louise Dycus, of Westfield, Indiana, for $679,000. Built in 2018, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,006 square feet of living area. It sold for $380,000 in 2018.

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

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REAL ESTATE

Country Club home tops sales at $2.4 million

23

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023

t

h t u r t he

VEIN DISEASE about

Real estate

of Lakewood Ranch, for $535,000.

Built in 2007, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,762 square feet of living area. It sold for $350,000 in 2021.

FROM PAGE 23

RIDGE AT CROSSING CREEK

WOODBROOK

GREENBROOK

SUMMERFIELD

Bobby and Jillian Burnett, of Bradenton, sold their home at 4727 Creekridge Court to Joshua and Amanda Cohol, of Canfield, Ohio, for $585,000. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,642 square feet of living area.

It sold for $562,800 in 2022.

Robert Ray Allen and Hope Allen, of Bradenton, sold their home at 6508 Pine Breeze Run to Judith Merkt, of Lakewood Ranch, for $520,000.

Built in 2012, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,744 square feet of living area. It sold for $202,000 in 2012.

David and Carole Luzio, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 14015 Nighthawk Terrace to William and Maria Gomez, of Lakewood Ranch, for $570,000. Built in 2003, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,239 square feet of living area. It sold for $350,000 in 2007.

Have you noticed the veins in your legs are

PAINFUL? BLUE? BULGING? This is not just part of the aging process!

Kevin and Gretchen Schreier, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 6631 Meandering Way to Dennis Harrison, of Lakewood Ranch, for $515,000. Built in 1996, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,728 square feet of living area. It sold for $288,000 in 2017.

Brent and Jennifer Barker, of Sarasota, sold their home at 6452 Fox Grape Lane to John Curington, of Lutz, for $510,000. Built in 1999, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,109 square feet of living area. It sold for $142,700 in 1999.

RIVER POINT OF MANATEE

Timothy and Sharon Colwell, of Taunton, England, sold their home at 3912 Fourth Ave. N.E. to Carol Anne Banks, of Flanders, New Jersey, for $565,000. Built in 1997, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,681 square feet of living area. It sold for $242,000 in 2013.

Problems with leg veins is a medical issue.

Once vein issues appear, no medication, supplement, or lotion can make them go away.

DEL WEBB

Gregory and Norine Minion, of Blawnox, Pennsylvania, sold their home at 6917 Hanover Court to David and Rosanne Schlein, of Williamsville, New York, for $547,500.

Built in 2020, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,395 square feet of living area. It sold for $303,600 in 2020.

Call to Schedule an appointment

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Old Grove at Greenfield Plantation Walter and Teresa Moss, of Bradenton, sold their home at 10441 Old Grove Circle to Paul Marrero and Brianna Garcia Marrero, of Bradenton, for $545,000. Built in 2000, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,910 square feet of living area. It sold for $318,000 in 2018.

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Mirabella at Village Green Ulrike Walker, trustee, of Bradenton, sold the home at 1316 Calle Grand St. to Keith and Denise Goebel, of Bradenton, for $497,500.

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COACH HOMES AT RIVER STRAND

Susan Card, of Gorham, Maine, sold her Unit 6401 condominium at 6814 Grand Estuary Trail to Paul and Dorothy Wiencek, of Bradenton, for $485,000. Built in 2015, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,786 square feet of living area. It sold for $294,900 in 2018.

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Patricia Wright, of Lakewood Ranch, sold her Unit F-402 condominium at 7604 Lake Vista Court to Stephen Gilman and Robert Mack,

See more transactions at YourObserver.com

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JULY 27, 2023

SPORTS Fast

Break

“To know that I was a week away from competing for a title, it was hard, mentally. It showed me how fast things can be taken from you.”

Ohio State wrestling Coach Tom Ryan and Lakewood Ranch rising senior Nate Smith trained together at the Buckeyes’ camp July 9-13.

Smith said his dream is to wrestle for Ohio State.

— Nate Smith

File photo

Grant McCray has been hot for the Eugene Emeralds.

F

ormer Lakewood Ranch High outfielder Grant McCray had a tough start to the 2023 season with the High A-level Eugene Emeralds (San Francisco Giants), but he has turned it around in July. Through July 23, McCray — who is ranked by MLB.com as the organization’s No. 5 overall prospect — is hitting .290, with six doubles, a triple and two home runs in 16 games this month. McCray, 22, is now hitting .246 for the season. … Michael Damiano sank a hole-in-one July 22 on the No. 4 hole of the King’s Dunes course at Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club. He used an 8-iron on the 122-yard hole. … UMR Sports is hosting a “Girls Night Out” pickleball event at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 6.

All skill levels are welcome.

Registration is $20 per player.

To register or for more information, visit UMRSports.com or text 737-0362. … Mary Gibbons (40) won the Nine Hole Women’s Golf Association individual low net event played July 20 on the front nine of Palm Aire Country Club’s Lakes course. Gibbons won a tiebreaker with Chris Dibble to take the event. … The Pickleball Club at Lakewood Ranch is hosting the Play for Life tournament series July 29. The event is for men’s and women’s doubles players at the 3.0 and 4.0 levels of the sports. The event starts at 3 p.m. Registration is $60 per player, with a portion of the proceeds going to Play for Life, an organization that serves local youth, veterans and first responders. Members can register in the Club app, while nonmembers can call 271-4444.

THE STRENGTH TO PERSEVERE After an injury shut down his state title dreams as a junior, Nate Smith is preparing for his last chance as a senior.

RYAN KOHN SPORTS EDITOR

I

t was over in a flash.

Lakewood Ranch High wrestler Nate Smith, then a junior, found himself in the school’s Class 3A regional finals match in the 285 pound division on Feb. 25. Smith (40-8) was taking on Palmetto Ridge High senior Austin Foye (41-3).

The two wrestlers were comparably skilled, but 57 seconds into their match, Smith suffered an injury to his ring finger. It would later be diagnosed as a slight compound fracture, requiring stitches and glue to fix.

Smith was forced to drop the match — and miss the state tournament, held a week later in Kissimmee.

“It hurt,” Smith said. “To know that I was a week away from competing for a title, it was hard, mentally.

It showed me how fast things can be taken from you.”

Smith, now a rising senior, said he’s determined to make the most of his final season of high school wrestling and is hopeful to continue in college upon graduation. To that end, Smith — alongside his Mustangs teammates — has been putting in extra work this summer against some difficult opponents.

Lakewood Ranch High took a trip to Ohio State University for some intense workouts July 9-13. It was Smith’s second time going to a Buckeyes camp. Smith said the 2022 camp taught him how to be a real wrestler, as opposed to simply being someone big and strong. But he also remem-

bers struggling when going against the Buckeyes’ best. It has been on Smith’s mind a lot, in fact. He was determined to make the 2023 camp different.

“I got ate up last year,” Smith said.

“They beat me up good. I remember waking up super sore every day.

I knew that if I wanted to compete with them, I’d have to have a great season and get better and then come back and show them.”

The 2023 camp didn’t start with one-on-one work each day. First, the wrestlers went for a mile-anda-half run from the athletic dorms, where the wrestlers stayed, to the school’s football stadium. Once there, Smith said, the wrestlers did eight laps around the football field, then six 100-yard sprints, then six 50-yard sprints. Once done, the wrestlers ran back to the dorms — where they had a few hours to recover before two afternoon sessions on the wrestling mats.

SOLID LESSONS

It was in those afternoon sessions that Smith showed everyone how much he had learned in the last 12 months. Smith only started wrestling as a sophomore, on the advice of wrestling Coach Pat Ancil, after a background in football.

For Smith, last offseason, including the OSU camp, was about learning technique.

THE TOP LEVEL

SENIOR SUCCESS PAGE 26

Getting to train with Ohio State University wrestlers and coaches means Lakewood Ranch’s wrestlers are getting top-level experience. Under head coach Tom Ryan, a two-time former All-American with the University of Iowa, for the last 17 seasons, Ohio State has become a powerhouse program. The Buckeyes won the NCAA title in 2015 and have finished as the runner-up five times (2008, 2009, 2017, 2018 and 2019), along with a third-place finish in 2016. Nate Smith loves the challenge of competing against the best.

Smith said he now feels comfortable with the details of wrestling and the flow of a match, going from one move to the next without having to think about what to do. That comfort level showed itself at the 2023 camp: Smith said that instead of getting beaten consistently like in 2022, he was able to hold his own.

Smith said the Buckeyes coaches would place each wrestler in a given situation that the wrestler would have to fight through, like needing to score a given amount of points, or having 10 seconds to get out of a hold.

Smith said these exercises were important training for scenarios the wrestlers will eventually experience in a live match. He said the coaches pushed the Lakewood Ranch students to their limits, which he appreciated. And as Smith promised to himself, he got revenge for being pushed around in 2022.

Smith wrestled well against Buckeyes rising senior Nicholas Boykin and rising sophomore Mike Misita.

“With a little hunger and drive, you can do a lot of things,” Smith said.

Smith said one of his dreams is to wrestle for Ohio State. While he has yet to be recruited by the Buckeyes, Smith said Ohio State coach Tom Ryan has been complimentary of his skills. Smith knows there is still more work to be done, as someone coming into the sport relatively late in his career.

“If I want to be recruited to (NCAA) DI, I’m going to need a better mindset,” Smith said. “I need to SEE SMITH, PAGE 27

File photos

Lakewood Ranch rising senior wrestler Nate Smith said the team’s trip to Ohio State showed him how much work it takes to get to the elite level of the sport and inspired him to work harder.

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023

PROSE AND KOHN

RYAN KOHN

Ryan Kohn

The NBP Dragon Women’s Senior B team took first place in the 2,000-meter sprint race on July 21 with a time of 53.638.

Paddlers share dragon boat passion Evelyn Silverthorn and Claire She speaks softer, in short bursts. tell you about the 2022 Club Keenan are among the local She’ll Crew World Championships, paddlers to compete at the during which she and her Nathan Benderson Park Senior B paddling 2023 Club Crew National teammates took first place in the Championships.

2,000-meter category (10:20.34),

A

sk Evelyn Silverthorn about the best moment from her dragon boat paddling career, and her expression changes.

She smiles, but also tries to stop the tears welling in her eyes.

among other strong performances.

It was not the race itself that stirred emotions in Silverthorn, but the ceremony afterward, when head coach Angela Long placed a gold medal around her neck.

“It brings a lot of pride,” said Silverthorn, who is 55. “We worked

hard for it. And she (Long) is amazing. That was definitely the highlight.”

The 2023 Club Crew National Championships, held July 21-23 at Benderson Park and hosted by the United States Dragon Boat Federation, does not have the global flavor of Club Crew Worlds, which are held every two years, but it is meaningful all the same. For lovers of the sport, the Club Crew Nationals is not only a chance to prove your boat’s strength against other top clubs, but it is also a chance to

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share and celebrate the sport that has come to mean so much to so many of them.

Silverthorn, for instance, only started in the sport three years ago on the recommendation of friends.

She considered herself to be a fairly athletic person before, having competed in sports in school growing up and following a workout routine as an adult. She also considered herself a “competitive spirit,” not just in athletics, but in all aspects.

Still, nothing in her life properly prepared her for the intensity of dragon boat.

“You have to learn the proper form,” Silverthorn said. “Our bodies are not equipped to start doing this right off the bat. It takes a lot of time on the water, a lot of practice with a lot of great coaches. It was more intimidating than I thought it would be.”

But Silverthorn is someone who likes to work toward a goal, so she did not quit. Small steps lead to big rewards, she said. For her, that reward she was chasing was a spot at Worlds. Three years after she started her journey, she got there.

That’s why this sport stirs emotions like it does in Silverthorn: All goals within it are achievable with practice and patience. It might not be easy, but that makes the rewards that much sweeter.

Claire Keenan has been in the sport for longer than Silverthorn, starting in 2013. Back then, there was only the Survivors in Sync breast cancer survivor team based out of Benderson Park, so Keenan joined the Anna Maria Island team, and she switched to Benderson Park once it added its NBP Dragons team.

Keenan was a runner in her youth but never expected to fall head over heels for a new sport at this point in her life. Keenan has been focused on her family, she said, and watching her children grow. Now that they have, she has time to spend on herself — but even she is surprised that this is how she’s spending it.

“I never expected to travel (for events) or for it to be so central to my life,” Keenan said. “It’s the

adrenaline rush that I like. You know, we’re not young chicks anymore. It’s great to be in your 60s and still be able to feel the power of your body. It’s a great buzz.”

Keenan said she tries to fit in practice on one of the park’s solo outrigger canoes three times a week, at least, to keep up her strength and cardio. For Keenan, a medal around the neck is a fine prize, but it’s not why she’s in the sport. She prefers to see her team’s time drop, and even when that does not happen, she can get satisfaction out of knowing she put in a good day of work.

Both Keenan and Silverthorn were part of the NBP Dragon Women’s Senior B team at the 2023 Club Crew Nationals. Among other results, the squad took first place in the 200 meter sprint race on July 21 (53.638). With coaches like Long and facilities like the ones offered at Benderson Park, it seems easy to take the success of the park’s teams for granted. But it’s paddlers will never do that. To them, this sport is more than the final results. It’s a journey to doing things they hardly thought possible.

“When you’re older, it can seem like your life is predictable,” Keenan said. “This sport gives you a new aspect.

“Take it slow. Take it easy. You can’t start and expect to be doing this (at a national level) on the first day. But take your time and persist, and you’ll make it.”

For full results from the 2023 Club Crew Nationals, visit IDBFChamps.org/2023Sar. For more information on dragon boat, visit NathanBendersonPark.org/Paddling.

e l a S

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

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YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023

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What if YOU could change the way tm you age?

Courtesy photo

Lakewood Ranch High wrestlers trained under Ohio State wrestling coach Tom Ryan (center) at a camp July 9-13.

BIG SENIOR SEASON

A stellar senior season could be what Smith needs to reach the DI level of the sport, which is motivating him even further. It remains to be seen in which weight class Smith will wrestle in 2023-24. Smith said he’s currently at approximately 250 pounds, and he and his coaches are deciding between going back up to 285 pounds or cutting even more weight to reach the 215-pound division. Smith said he’s open to either direction, though he believes staying at 285 would give him the advantage of knowing

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control my thought process when I wrestle. I can’t be thinking about other stuff. I need to focus. And if I mess up, I need to turn my gears and figure out another move, because the first move wasn’t working.”

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FROM PAGE 25

exactly how his body moves at that weight, giving him full control in every match.

Regardless of weight class, the only thing on Smith’s mind on Nov. 6 — the first day of official wrestling practice per the Florida High School Athletic Association — will be winning a state title.

No Mustang has ever taken home a gold medal in the sport, and only two East County wrestlers, both Braden River Pirates, have done so overall — Brendan Bengtsson in 2018 at 285 pounds and Jesse Colas last season at 182 pounds.

Smith is determined to give it his best shot in 2023. Now an experienced wrestler, Smith said his finger injury is behind him — and his best is still to come.

“I’m going for it,” Smith said.

“I want to put my name out there.

I want to be the first person from Lakewood Ranch to do it.”

397396-1

Smith

CLEAN PRIVATE APPOINTMENTBASED

28

YourObserver.com

WEATHER

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

FORECAST THURSDAY, JULY 27

SUNRISE / SUNSET Sunrise Sunset

High: 96 Low: 75 Chance of rain: 55%

FRIDAY, JULY 28 High: 94 Low: 77 Chance of rain: 58%

Thursday, July 27

6:49a

8:22p

Friday, July 28

6:50a

8:21p

Saturday, July 29

6:50a

8:21p

Sunday, July 30

6:51a

8:20p

Monday, July 31

6:51a

8:20p

Tuesday, Aug. 1

6:52a

8:19p

Wednesday, Aug. 2

6:52a

8:18p

MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, JULY 29 High: 95 Low: 79 Chance of rain: 57%

Aug. 1 Full

Aug. 8 Last

Aug. 16 New

Aug. 24 First

RAINFALL

SUNDAY, JULY 30 High: 95 Low: 78 Chance of rain: 58%

Monday, July 17

0.05

Tuesday, July 18

0.34

Wednesday, July 19

0.04

Thursday, July 20

0 0.11

Friday, July 21

Gordon Silver took this sunset drone shot above Country Club East in Lakewood Ranch.

Saturday, July 22

0

Sunday, July 23

0.11

*Rainfall totals from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport

Submit your photos at YourObserver.com/contests. All submissions will be entered for the 2023-24 Weather and Nature photo contest. In February 2024, you will vote for your favorite photo, and the submission with the most votes will win a $500 gift card.

YEAR TO DATE: 2023 11.08 in.

2022 23.46 in.

MONTH TO DATE: 2023 1.04 in.

2022 5.47 in.

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celebrity cipher

PAUSE FOR EFFECT by Chandi Deitmer, edited by Jeff Chen

1 Punctuation similar to a hyphen 2 Supplements

55 “___ Kleine Nachtmusik” 58 Bring on 59 ___-3 fatty acids 61 Oboe, for an orchestra 62 Wiped out, in slang 63 “I insist!”

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68 Word before “secret” or 3 Park for an easy departure “plan” 4 “Quiet, now!”

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figure drawings?

35 QVC alternative 36 Gold measurement 38 Board chairs, often (Abbr.)

39 White House staffer 40 Confess 41 TMI or LMK

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25 Sci-fi visitors 26 Opens the door to 28 “But really?”

29 RISD deg.

30 Chainsaw brand 31 *Inspiration for stick

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by AARP 92 Mars, by a different name 24 Apt name for a chef 95 Narrow land strips 67 *Self-effacing Solo 93 Sting 31 Lit-___ 96 Birds that eat bugs off words?

96 Quietly couple 32 Slow yogic practice bovines

71 People pushing product lines 73 Charged particle

adage?

105 Glittery headpiece 107 ___ Limon (2022 Poet

74 Sci-fi role for Keanu 76 Spot for a pupil

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77 Late Philbin, to friends 78 “___ Johnny!”

80 Earlier (to)

109 Rank smell 110 High-minded sort?

111 Goof

56 Monotonous pattern 57 “Dexter” channel

82 Say yes to 85 *Time during Picasso’s

112 No questions asked ... or how to read six answers

45 City home to the Musee d’Orsay 46 “Star Trek” character

106 Theta followers

60 Fete at the end of Ramadan

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89 Exposed

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played by Nichelle Nichols 47 Many a good conductor

114 Easily duped sort 115 French pronoun

52 ___ of the game 53 ___-garde 27 Carrie Fisher’s iconic role 54 TV group with Mr. T

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97 Pitchfork-wielding group 100 *The power of an

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70 Spice Girls song about feeling overworked

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20 Tract 21 *Museum visitors pan-

75 “Orpheus in the Under-

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116 ___-com 117 Office notes 118 Country known for espresso 119 Sunburn soother 120 Tough H.S. courses 121 20th-century weekly known for its photography 122 Recipe amts.

123 Lip

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

Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

Puzzle One Clue: D equals C

crossword

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cookie 99 Noble business partner?

40 Style alternative to MLA 101 Kitten’s cry 41 To no ___ (in vain) 102 Awaken 42 Return on an investment 103 Port-au-Prince summer 43 Classic sandwich (Abbr.) setting (Abbr.)

44 Jazzy singing style 104 Perfect game words 110 Eye affliction 113 “Yikes”

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7-27-23

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RED PAGES redpages@yourobserver.com • yourobserver.com/redpages DEADLINES: Classifieds - Monday at Noon The East County Observer reserves the right to classify and edit copy, or to reject or cancel an advertisement at any time. Corrections after first insertion only. *All ads are subject to the approval of the Publisher. *It is the responsibility of the party placing any ad for publication in the East County Observer to meet all applicable legal requirements in connection with the ad such as compliance with towncodes in first obtaining an occupational license for business, permitted home occupation, or residential rental property Notice: All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis..

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Email me at melissahelpmewith@gmail.com for a quote. Text me on 727-340-4918 for immediate service. I have served Sarasota, Bradenton, and the barrier islands for over 18 years. Allow Us to show you the true meaning and value of customer service!

SELL STUFF HERE! YourObserver.com/RedPages

Painting CARLO DATTILO Painting Licensed & insured. Interior/ Exterior painting including drywall repair and retexturing.

Wallpaper installation & removal, pressure washing. Residential & commercial, condos.

Honest & reliable.

Free estimates. 941-744-1020.

35+ years experience.

SARASOTA INTERIOR PAINTING HIGH-END INTERIOR PAINTING WE ARE THE BEST!!!

Fully Insured.

CALL or TEXT Don 941-900-9398

Professional Services KITCHEN &BATH DEMO, Junk Removal, Garage Cleaning.

We remove unwanted items and transform your clutter into an organized and efficient space.

Demo & removal of appliances, furniture and more. Shelving available. Contact Joe (941) 929-3000

Travel

PERSONAL CARE GIVERPrivate care: Meal preparation, errands, shopping, and more.

Affordable hourly rates, available weekdays, weekends, and holidays.

Minimal shift 5 hours can also provide overnight care.

Temporary or long term care.

Over 10+ years experience.

References available. No new faces, one consistent caregiver.

COVID Negative.

Call Kati: 941-536-7706.

Help Wanted

Auto Transport

HOME & Office Cleaners Wanted $620/Weekly Cleaning Position: Available Working Days: Mon-Fri Time Schedule: 11 AM - 2 P Minimum Requirement Email: candice75312@gmail.com

Use the RED PAGES to clean out your garage

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

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

Cleaning Visit the

RED PAGES

YourObserver.com/RedPages

CALL 941-955-4888

TREASURES FOUND HERE!

•Meal Prep •Daily routines •RT Background •Hospice Experience •Doctor appointments

EUROPEAN HOUSEKEEPING

BRAZILIAN CLEANING Service

by Maria. Residential. Meticulous Cleaning. Excellent References.

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

This week’s Crossword answers

LUXURY CRUISE CONSULTANT Sarasota/Lakewood Ranch Are you ready for an amazing cruise? From the first timer to a world cruise, I have over 35 years of cruising experience to help you plan and book your next cruise! Call, text, or email 7 days a week.

(941) 271-1539 www.SRQcruises.com

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers Puzzle One Solution: “Women need to be able to speak out if ... something happened in the past that they were not comfortable with.”

Elisabeth Moss Puzzle Two Solution: “As an actor, the biggest compliment you can get, in my book, is for someone to believe that you’re the character.”

Matt LeBlanc Puzzle Three Solution: “Every step that I’ve taken was a learning lesson.

Even to not think you’re so big and so bad you can’t fall.”

Darlene Love

This week’s Sudoku answers

©2023 Universal Uclick

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

©2023 NEA, Inc.

19 NUTCRACKERS for sale.

Large variety. $10 each.

(941) 730-3212

Homes for Sale

You’re only cheating yourself.

ADVERTISE YOUR MERCHANDISE with the total value of all items $200 or less in this section for FREE! Limit 1 ad per month,15 words or less. Price must be included next to each item. No commercial advertising.

Ad runs 2 consecutive weeks in 1 Observer.

Call 941-955-4888 Or Email ad to: classified@yourobserver.com (Please provide your name and address) Or Online at: www.yourobserver.com Or mail to: The Observer Group 1970 Main St. - 3rd Floor Sarasota, Fl 34236

Motorcycles

peekers’ place

Items Under $200

BEACH’ N RIDES Electric Bike Shop! eBike Sales and Rentals Ride easy on an eBike with as much exercise or assistance as you want.

Leave traffic and parking problems behind!

13 models available.

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

auto

stuff

Sporting Goods

real estate

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

home services

INFORMATION & RATES: 941-955-4888

Cleaning

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023

Computer

Health

Is Your Computer Feeling Sick?

GET YOUR LIFE BACK!

Let Us Fix It!

Call A Geek

Do You Have Neck or Low Back Pain?

Do You Want To Avoid Surgery?

Computer ServiCeS

Dustin Yoder

(941) 351-7260

Dustin Owner Yoder/ Operator

941.650.9790 941.650.9790 YoderAluminum.com

406510

Owner /Insured Operator Insured

YoderAluminum.com

Attorney

call-a-geek.net

Give Us a Call - We Can Help

407323

“Specializing inin6” Gutters” “Specializing 6” Seamless Seamless Gutters”

Computer Repair & Service Virus & Malware Removal / Protection New System Set Up / Data Transfer Networking: Wired/Wireless Installation Data Recovery / Remote Support One-On-One Tutoring / Training

FREE CONSULTATION 941.358.2224 Recognized Among the Best Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Physicians in America

Over 18 yrs serving Manatee/Sarasota Counties

Board Certified in the specialty of non-surgical spinal decompression

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

Divorce without Lawyers

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

Divorce is never fun, but it does not have to be nasty & hateful! Protect your family relationships and assets from expensive Court litigation. Consider Divorce Mediation, the peaceful alternative.

DR. DAVID CIFRA, DC

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

Midtown Medical Park 1215 S. East Ave. Suite 210 Sarasota, FL 34239

www.SarasotaDiscCenter.com DrCifra@SarasotaDiscCenter.com

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

Pegatronics.com 406036

941-735-3362

Call me for a free 30 minute consultation before you call a Divorce Lawyer!

Home Services

Doors

Sliding Glass Door Repair

We have mediated divorces involving up to 10 million dollars of assets over past 27 years.

Are You Having Dryer Difficulties?

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

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

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

Residential

William J. Leininger, JD

Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator 677 N. Washington Blvd Sarasota, FL 34236 SarasotaDivorceMediator.com 941-727-5555

SELL YOUR CAR! GROW FAST • EASY • SAFE

407325

FIRST RESPONDER OWNED & OPERATED

(941)544-0475 dan@shorelockhomewatch.com

YOUR BUSINESS

WE COME TO YOU

Commercial

406916

406914

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

941-705-5468 Home Watch

“FIX IT - DON’T REPLACE”

Auto Service

941.270.4400

406035

Aluminum

406925

30

www.shorelockhomewatch.com

Advertise as low as $85 per week.

5-Star Rated

406915

HoHoBuysCars.com Autos Wanted

DESPERATELY NEEDED Irrigation

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

ED’S RAIN MAKER IRRIGATION

Furniture Repair

RED PAGES

Patio Furniture Repairs.com Furniture Sales & Repairs Cushions • Slings • Re-powdercoating

941-504-0903

YourObserver.com/RedPages

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

FREE PICKUP / DELIVERY • FREE ONSITE QUOTES

Doors

Servicing LWR, Parrish and NE Bradenton

Window Repairs • Sliding Glass Door Repairs Sliding Glass Door Deadbolts

RED PAGES Bring Results | 941-955-4888 Kitchen/Bath Remodeling

Custom Granite Services, llc 941-400-4912

CustomGraniteServicesLLC@gmail.com 407326

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

Call us today! 941.628.8579 www.ezslider.com

FREE IN-HOM ESTIMATEE S

CJ COOLEY OWNER/OPERATOR

SHOWER & BATH MAKEOVERS Cleaned - Regrouted - Caulked - Sealed

406907

407324

406034

Made for where you live. Here!

406512

UNIQUE SPORT & IMPORTS 941-350-7993

406031

406513

Low Mileage, Cars & Trucks.

Also Rare or Unusual Vehicles.

Call John 941.377.2940

Free Estimates • Sarasota Resident Since 1974

www.showerandbathsarasota.com

YourObserver.com

Kitchen/Bath Remodeling

Painting

CALL BEFOREYOU YOU FALL CALL BEFORE FALL

COMPLETE INSTALLATION PACKAGE

INCLUDES22MOEN MOEN STAINLESS INCLUDES STAINLESS STEEL STEELANTI ANTISLIP SLIP CONCEALED PEEN CONCEALED SCREW SCREW GRAB GRAB BARS (16”BARS & 24”)(16” & 24”)

FULLY INSURED • OWNER OPERATED

CALL OR TEXT 941-900-9398 TODAY! OWNER: DON HUBIAK

406516

*DRILLING CHARGES MAY APPLY FOR MARBLE, GRANITE OR PORCELAIN. COUPON REQUIRED.

1/10/23, 10:25 AM

Plumbing

Mark’s Plumbing Service 406030

941-920-8221

Res./Com.

Eldridge Re-Screen

GARDENS

Licensed

by Allison

“No Job Too Small”

STANDARD WINDOWS

407343

UNIQUE PAINTING & PRESSURE WASHING SERVICES Complete Interior & Exterior Painting

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

406933

FREE ESTIMATES - Call Joel, Owner 30 Years Exp. Cell 619-405-7650 Home/Office 941-758-4840 Find anything in the RED PAGES | 941-955-4888

HEROES found here.

Relax. You’ve got better things to do.

Find a professional here in the Red Pages.

RED PAGES Made for where you live. Here!

Call 941-955-4888 or visit YourObserver.com/redpages

150

$

INCLUDING SCREENS, TRACKS, MIRRORS & FANS

5

$

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

senior citizen discount. www.sunsetwindowcleaningsrq.com

Purified water window cleaning available!!

Call Tibor for FREE ESTIMATES | 941- 284 - 5880

NEED HELP?

941-626-3194

Licensed & Insured CCC - 058059 CBC - 1253936

ows

SPECIAL 00

Kenneth Fuhlman Inc. Building & Roofing Contractor

Painting

25

UP TO

Roofing

Allison J. Abizaid

1/1

Lic./Ins.

Form Serving Longboat Key Since 2005

Insured

941-270-1561

Design • Garden Beds • Landscape • Courtyards Clean-Up • Makeovers • Weeds • Trimming

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=rm&ogbl#search/royaltreasurecasino%40yahoo.com?projector=1

ndow & Pressure Clea et Wi nin s n wn as Sunrise Win g Su erly kno d

406515

Landscaping & Lawn

All Airports, Hourly & Tours www.blacklabelcarservice.com

Windows

406910

407327

941-248-4734

Booked Referral Program Next Ride with Booked Referral

Rescreening & Repairs

Licensed & Insured

941-400-0431 • gbyallison@yahoo.com • gardensbyallison.com

Luxury for Less

10% off

RELIABLE • INSURED

954-1878 (cell) 780-3346

Personal Gardening Services | Designer

BLACK LABEL CAR SERVICE

Small plumbing repairs. Replace toilets, faucets, water filters, water softeners and repair leaks.

GLENN KROECKER

No Job is Too Small!

Transportation

406927

THE GRAB BAR GUY

chrome_qrcode_1671726737617.png

Find business and service professionals in the Red Pages.

YourObserver.com/RedPages

407344

DRGRABBARS.COM

406038

941.966.0333 LIFETIME GUARANTEE • LICENSED • BONDED • INSURED COVERAGEAREA: AREA:LAKEWOOD PARRISH TO NORTHPORT COVERAGE RANCH TO S. VENICE

High-End Interior Painting Services 364556 407342

249 235

* $ $235

Screening

SARASOTA INTERIOR PAINTING, LLC

GRAB BARS GRAB BARS $

31

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023

P.S. The Key to Your Real Estate Success Your Lakewood Ranch Neighbors and Home Experts #1 REAL ESTATE TEAM IN LAKEWOOD RANCH OVER

$650 MILLION

IN LIFETIME SALES

TOP 1 % OF AGENTS IN MANATEE AND SARASOTA COUNTIES

700+ HOMES

SOLD IN LAKEWOOD RANCH

PSLuxuryGroup.com

HOLLY PASCARELLA, PA 941.225.3218 Holly.Pascarella@CBRealty.com

KENNETH SHANAHAN, PLLC 941.702.0443 Kenneth.Shanahan@CBRealty.com

KATINA SHANAHAN, PLLC 941.702.0437 Katina.Shanahan@CBRealty.com

406287-1

32