East County Observer 2.15.24

EAST COUNTY

The big boys are back. PAGE 14A

Observer

Lakewood Ranch’s weekly newspaper since 1998

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

FREE • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024

VOLUME 25, NO. 33

YOUR TOWN

Agriculture ‘legends’ offer warning Manatee County agriculture experts say overdevelopment will lead to terrible consequences.

SEE PAGE 3A

Lesley Dwyer

Living the dream in Lakewood Ranch The couple doesn’t actually take the water taxi to work, but the mere idea of it led Joe and Alyona Cileone (above) to leave Philadelphia and open a jewelry store at Waterside Place.

“The idea of an outdoor mall was appealing to us, too,” Joe Cileone said.

Cileone Jewelers has been quietly open on Lakefront Drive for a month but celebrated its grand opening with the Manatee Chamber of Commerce and a ribbon cutting on Feb. 9.

The couple said the reception from customers has been “extremely positive” so far.

“They love the merchandise we carry because it’s not something you see in every jewelry store,” Joe Cileone said.

Joe Cileone said that while the store carries items you would find in another jewelry store, the one-of-a-kind pieces date from the Victorian era to modern day.

Get a grip on charity

Hundreds show up at Waterside Place to participate in the second Run for the Beads. SEE PAGE 1B

Jay Heater

Run for the Beads Co-chair David Ahrens is ready to present medals at the finish line of the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation event.

Local student’s ‘Dogumentary’ earns College Television Award

Courtesy image

Smooth attitude leads to freebies Lakewood Ranch’s Ryan Rothhaar had a plan.

Rothhaar, who is 12, loves Smoothie King, so he wanted to be one of the first 50 people in line at the grand opening of the Smoothie King on University Parkway and Lorraine Road on Feb. 3.

Rothhaar and his dad, Mark Rothhaar (above with Ryan), arrived at Smoothie King by 8 a.m. They were first in line.

His dedication to his favorite place to get smoothies paid off as being first in line meant he would receive seven free smoothies.

To top it off, Ryan Rothhaar won a raffle for a year of free smoothies. He’s been to Smoothie King every day since Feb. 3.

Keith Cohen’s short film ‘Healing Paws’ has been nominated in the Nonfiction Series category.

SEE PAGE 8A Photo courtesy of Keith Cohen

Keith Cohen visits with one of his “Healing Paws” film subjects.

A+E

The ‘Carmen’ we know.

INSIDE

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024

Photos by Liz Ramos

Congressman Vern Buchanan talks to R. Dan Nolan Middle School students about what he does.

Congressman urges students to ‘get involved’ Students receive encouragement from Vern Buchanan to be part of the political process.

LIZ RAMOS SENIOR EDITOR

W

ith children under 18 making up 22% of the U.S. population of more than 336 million people, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan let R. Dan Nolan Middle School students know they will be part of a powerful group in the future.

“They’re 100% of the future, so whatever we can do to encourage them to realize their full potential, that’s my mission,” Buchanan said.

Buchanan stood in front of students in Nolan Middle School’s Student Government Association as well as pre-Advanced Placement History students Feb. 9 and shared his story of how he went from a suc-

ABOUT CONGRESSMAN VERN BUCHANAN

cessful businessman to serving in Congress for 17 years.

For many of the students, Buchanan’s visit was the first opportunity they had to meet a politician.

Eighth grader Emilia Kulikowski said Buchanan’s talk was inspiring because he emerged from the local community.

Macoy Kmetz, a seventh grader who met Buchanan when he was 11 years old, said it was a privilege to have him at his school and to hear how the government works firsthand. Metz had a photo of him meeting the Congressman when he was younger, and Buchanan was happy to sign it.

Buchanan said he wasn’t invested in learning about politics and the

Hometown: Detroit, Michigan Age: 72 Years in congress: 17 District serving: Florida 16th District, which encompasses Manatee County and southern Hillsborough County Family: Wife, Sandra Buchanan; sons Matt and James Buchanan; nine grandchildren and two Goldendoodles named Jack and Jill

government when he was the same age as the middle school students, but it’s important for them to eventually be involved in politics.

He encouraged students, if they’re interested, to intern at his office in Lakewood Ranch or in Washington, D.C. He said students can volunteer to help a politician during the campaign process.

He stressed that every vote counts, and noted he won his first election by 369 votes.

Students said they recognize the importance of their vote.

“It’s important we as citizens get to use our right to vote to make our country what we want,” said seventh grader Katie Kuhlmann.

Buchanan said his most important message was to let the students know they will have a plethora of opportunities, and it’s their hard work that will make the best out of the “cards they are dealt.”

“Kids need to have a positive vision for the future,” Buchanan said.

“If they do, there’s a high probability they’ll be successful. If you don’t feel you will have a good future, you probably won’t do half of what you could do.”

Buchanan spent most of his visit answering questions, such as: Do representatives of opposing parties work together or do they find it a difficult to progress in the law-making process?

“That’s the way it’s supposed to work, but it doesn’t necessarily work that way today. I’m probably one of the most bipartisan members because once you get elected, you work for everybody. Even though this district (16th Congressional District) might be half Democrats and half Republicans, I don’t even care whether they’re Democrats or Republicans. What I care about is helping them with their issue. You can only get things done with the other party. You can’t get anything done otherwise, especially under the current circumstances. That’s basically the attitude I have. I tell people I’m humbled as a blue collar kid to be a member of Congress, but at the end of the day, I’m a Representative and I work for everybody. It’s not my agenda. It’s your agenda.”

What surprised you most about the job?

“I think it’s just how tough it is to get things done. The way they

KID ON THE STREET Students were asked what they think about when they hear the word “politician.”

“U.S. Congress and how their jobs are important for the United States.”

— Macoy Kmetz, seventh grade

“A leader in government policies and topics.”

— Addison Gentz, eighth grade

“Kind of a wellspoken, welldressed person who is good at speaking publicly and who is just a really kind individual.”

— Katie Kuhlmann, Seventh grade

set up the Constitution, it’s very impossible to pass a bill because we have to get through the House and get it through the Senate and get the president to sign it. That being said, I’ve had, I think, 30-35 bills that I passed on a bipartisan basis, and most of them were signed into law.

How do you balance your personal beliefs with the opinions of the citizens?

“I try as best I can to focus on who I represent. I do polling every Sunday and I ask people their opinion. The polling we do is mainly Manatee and Hillsborough counties. Most people who vote for me, they know where I stand on a lot of the issues.

I have to look at all the facts and different sources and try to make a decision.”

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024

WILL AGRICULTURAL LAND BE PLOWED UNDER?

Photos by Lesley Dwyer

Moderator Katie Close asks questions of the panel. From left to right: Jerry Dakin, Jim Strickland, Gary Reeder and Luke Davis.

The East Manatee Preservation group organized the ‘Future of Agriculture in Manatee County’ event.

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

D

espite a bleak forecast for agriculture in Manatee County, a panel of experts representing the industry’s concerns came together Feb. 10 at Dakin Dairy Farms in Myakka to suggest actions that would counter urban sprawl.

The “Future of Agriculture in Manatee County” panelists were Myakka rancher Jim Strickland, Dakin Dairy Farm owner Jerry Dakin, Manatee County Farm Bureau President Gary Reeder, and Manatee County Cattlemen’s Association President Luke Davis.

District 72 Rep. Tommy Gregory described the panelists as agricultural legends in the county.

The panel suggested county residents can slow down the destruction of agricultural land by voting for Manatee County Commission candidates who see the value in preserving agricultural land, by voting for legislation that preserves the land, by getting young people involved in agriculture through programs such as 4-H, and by purchasing products from local farmers while asking grocers to stock local products.

Strickland noted to more than 100 people in attendance that Manatee County ranchers have contributed to the growing problem by selling to developers.

“We’re to blame because every single house and road and supermarket used to be a cattle ranch,” said Strickland, whose holdings include Strickland Ranch.

He said the purpose of the “Future of Agriculture in Manatee County” was to draw more awareness to disappearing agricultural land, and to educate the public about the situation.

Commissioner George Kruse was the lone commissioner to attend the panel discussion on Feb. 10.

SEEKING SOLUTIONS

Charlene Kow attended the event because she lives near the up-andcoming Lake Flores community in west Bradenton and wants to see the end of what she said is overdevelopment in Manatee County.

“We’ve lost that nice, little tomato farm (in west Bradenton) for what’s going to be urban sprawl,” she said.

“Urban sprawl out (east) is a big problem, too, because as they push the development boundaries, now the county is committed to provid-

District 72 Rep. Tommy Gregory and rancher Jim Strickland are at Dakin Dairy Farms in Myakka City on Feb. 10 for a panel discussion on the “Future of Agriculture in Manatee County.”

ing services for these people.”

Lake Flores bills itself as a walkable neighborhood of 6,500 homes on 1,000-plus acres of land that borders the IMG Academy. It’s been owned by the same family since 1892.

Whiting Preston is the fourth generation heir and also the developer.

Strickland said there are two reasons farmers and ranchers sell agricultural land. One is money, and the other is because their heirs don’t want to be ranchers or farmers. He said those heirs might not want to go into agriculture because it requires long, hard hours. And he said some farmers and ranchers are forced out of their industry because they simply can’t afford to farm anymore.

When moderator Katie Close asked how much impact county commissioners have on agricultural land, Davis turned to the only commissioner in the crowd, George Kruse. His answer was simply “a lot.”

Commissioners decide which, and if, lands are rezoned. Kruse was the sole vote against Carlos Beruff’s East River Ranch that will build over 5,000 homes east of the Future Area Development Boundary.

“I’ve tried to get 2.1.2.8 (which allows, in certain cases, for development east of the FDAB) out of our Comprehensive Plan, which I think would have a meaningful impact,” Kruse said. “To be fair, that would have a negative impact on people like Jerry (Dakin) because they couldn’t market this as a development.”

Dakin is selling his dairy farm, but he is hoping to sell to a buyer who will maintain the land’s agricultural zoning.

“The people who are looking at my place are in New York,” Dakin said.

“They have big farms and they’re wanting to expand, so they’re looking to come down here.”

He said that while the eventual buyer might not be from Manatee County, the buyer would be from the United States, and would continue to farm the land.

Other ranchers and farmers aren’t as committed to Dakin’s dedication to agriculture, especially when the offers from developers can be significantly higher. The panelists said developers know most current county commissioners are keen on development, so the likelihood of the needed rezone is good.

“All the properties around here, you’ll notice they all say ‘develop-

“The last study that was done in Manatee County showed that for every dollar agricultural land contributed into the county coffers, it only took about 60 cents to service those people. Basically, agriculture was helping to subsidize everybody in town.”

— Jim Strickland

ment opportunity,’” Myakka City resident Kim Seery said. “They think they’re going to get the permitting and build.”

That’s for a good reason.

In an interview, District 5 Commissioner Ray Turner said the county is dealing with a “population explosion.”

“My question to everybody is, ‘Where do we go?’” he said. “It’s east or infills, and neither one is popular.”

Lake Flores is an example of an infill development because everything around it is already built up.

District 1 Commissioner James Satcher has Parrish and Myakka in his district, and he lives in Parrish, where homes are being built by the thousands. The Lazy C. Ranch is one more large parcel that has been sold recently. On Jan. 18, commissioners passed a Comprehensive Plan amendment to allow for 1,100 homes on 404 acres that were previously zoned for agriculture.

In an interview, Satcher equated the situation in Parrish to baby boomers coming home after the Second World War to start families.

“That’s what’s happening in my part of the county,” he said. “People are starting their lives and they need the bedrooms, and they need a place they can work, as well, so Bradenton, Sarasota and Tampa offer those jobs, and North River and Parrish offer the square footage and the right feel to where people enjoy raising their families here.”

Lakewood Ranch was like Parrish as it was mostly agricultural land.

Now it is the best-selling, multigenerational, master-planned community in the country.

MORE THAN A COUNTY ISSUE

Panel members stressed that a decline in agriculture is not just a Manatee County problem, but a

national issue in which Florida plays a major role.

Reeder said much of the country depends on Florida for fresh vegetables in the winter. So what happens if there’s no land left to farm on?

“We’re going to become slaves to somebody else,” Davis said. “That’s where we’re headed.”

He said when food comes from other countries, whatever happens in those countries, whether it be a war or a natural disaster, the conditions impact Americans.

Since taking office in January 2023, Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson has made the argument that agriculture is a matter of national security.

He’s stated that through recessions and the COVID-19 pandemic, agriculture has been the driving force of Florida’s economy. Overall, its $180 billion impact is only second to its tourism, and it supplies more than 2 million jobs.

The panelists stressed that programs like the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program offer agricultural easements to farmers.

Easements allow farmers to maintain their operations and receive tax benefits. In exchange, the state buys the future development rights and limits non-agricultural uses.

Locally, Manatee County has the Environmental Lands Management and Acquisition Committee that allows for the purchase of agricultural easements.

Out of 22 projects on Manatee County’s Environmental Lands Management and Acquisition committee dashboard, only two are classified as agricultural easements, and both have been ruled out.

The only property the county has purchased through ELMAC is Crooked River Ranch, which will eventually offer the public a new preserve to enjoy. But no other ranch lands are on the horizon.

Ranchers can be drawn to agricultural easements that don’t have to allow for public access, but the public benefits in other ways.

Davis grew up in Pinellas County riding dirt bikes through orange groves that no longer exist.

“They can’t bring it back,” he said.

“That’s what I’m fighting for here in Manatee County. You can save it, and you can preserve it.”

Pinellas County has moved away from preserving agricultural lands.

In the last United States Department of Agriculture census from 2017, which is due to be updated this year, a stark contrast is shown between the market value of agricultural products sold out of each county.

Manatee ranked fourth with a value of $360 million, and Pinellas ranked second to last with a value of $1 million. Size accounts for some distance between the two numbers because Manatee is more than twice the geographical size of Pinellas, but a $359 million difference offers a hint as to what could be lost.

Turner said agricultural concerns are taken into consideration when commissioners make decisions.

“Agriculture is important for economic development,” he said. “It’s not taken lightly. Because we’re pushing east doesn’t mean we don’t care about it.”

Out of 572,000 total acres, Manatee County has 220,000 acres of agricultural land left.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024

SARASOTA INSTITUTE OF LIFETIME LEARNING

2024 PROGRAMS

Monday, January 8–Friday, March 29, 2024

SARASOTA • VENICE • LAKEWOOD RANCH

MUSIC MONDAYS

Monday, Feb 19: 10:30 am Church of the Palms, 3224 Bee Ridge Rd, Sarasota 3:00 pm Venice Presbyterian Church, 825 The Rialto, Venice

Doug Wright, Playwright/Librettist

Doug Wright is a Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning playwright and librettist. He is currently represented on Broadway with his play Good Night, Oscar. Wright is a proud Hermitage alumnus and a member of the Hermitage Board of Trustees.

In conversation with Doug Wright will be Hermitage Artistic Director and CEO Andy Sandberg or Programs Director James Monaghan.

GLOBAL ISSUES I

Tuesday, Feb 20: 10:30 am First United Methodist Church, 104 S Pineapple Ave, Sarasota 2:30 pm Venice Community Center, 326 S Nokomis Ave, Venice Wednesday, Feb 21: 11:00 am Cornerstone Church, 14306 Covenant Way, Lakewood Ranch

Iran: The Women’s Rights Moment Roya Hakakian

When a 22-year-old Iranian woman came to Tehran to visit relatives, she was arrested for nothing more than hair peeking out of her headscarf. Beaten while in custody, she later died. Roya Hakakian will discuss why, while others have suffered a similar fate, this particular murder sparked the largest movement in Iran in 44 years.

GLOBAL ISSUES II Thursday, Feb 22: 10:30 am First United Methodist Church, 104 S Pineapple Ave, Sarasota 5:00 pm Cornerstone Church, 14306 Covenant Way, Lakewood Ranch Friday, Feb 23: 10:00 am Venice Community Center, 326 S Nokomis Ave, Venice

Adapting to the Ebb of U.S. Middle East Focus and Influence Ambassador Dennis Ross

Single Lecture Ticket at the door: $15 Tickets and information: sillsarasota.org OR 941-365-6404

LIFT & TIGHTEN Your Face Without Needles!

File photo

Vanessa Baugh, a Manatee County commissioner for more than 10 years representing District 5, retired in 2023.

State Attorney won’t pursue charges against Baugh, Rahn The State Attorney’s Office has announced it will not pursue charges against former District 5 Commissioner Vanessa Baugh or current District 4 Commissioner Mike Rahn after investigating a complaint about possible Sunshine Law violations.

The complaint was filed after a lunch meeting at a downtown Bradenton restaurant March 1, 2023 between then-interim Administrator Lee Washington, Jon Mast, Baugh and Rahn. Washington had reported a whistleblower complaint about the meeting. In the complaint, and during an interview with Manatee County Sheriff’s Office detectives, Washington gave a statement saying the topic of hiring Mast as a deputy county administrator took place.

Detectives were unsuccessful trying to obtain video surveillance of the meeting from the restaurant.

State Attorney’s investigators interviewed five people, including two patrons who were in the restaurant at the time, and Mast.

Investigators questioned Washington about why he waited three months (filed on June 15) to issue a whistleblower complaint.

Washington answered that he didn’t want to put the county through more chaos.

Upon being interviewed, the State Attorney’s report said Mast didn’t recall anything specific about the conversation during the lunch. He said the conversation was not about his possible employment with the county. Neither patron interviewed

could hear any of the conversation that was relevant to the case. The State Attorney’s report said the statements by Mast and Washington were inconsistent “with one party claiming the conversation occurred while the other party claimed it did not.”

Without any corroborating evidence, the State Attorney’s Office reported it had insufficient evidence to prove that a Sunshine Law violation had occurred beyond a reasonable doubt. Any prosecution was declined.

Charges filed against former county administrator The State Attorney’s Office announced that former Manatee County Administrator Scott Hopes has been charged with three felonies that occurred during the period he was employed by the county.

Hopes, 63, will face charges in the 12th Judicial Circuit Court for: Notary fraud, a third-degree felony; grand theft, a third-degree felony; and fraudulent use of public record, a third-degree felony.

The State Attorney’s Office made no other statements about the exact nature of each charge, although the grand theft charge involved overtime filings.

In November, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office had recommended charges be filed against Hopes and forwarded the case to the State Attorney’s Office.

Hopes, who was earning $215,000 a year, resigned under fire Feb. 7, 2023. He received 120 days of severance pay and six months of health benefits. Hopes worked for Manatee County 22 months. He had replaced Cheri Coryea, who parted ways with the county in March 2021. By May 2021, Manatee County commissioners took the “interim” wording off Hopes title and reneged on a promise to perform a national job search.

Manatee County commissioners had voted 4-3 on May 24, 2022 to extend Hopes’ contract even though Manatee County Clerk Angel Colonesso had told commissioners Hopes had mismanaged staff and abused his office.

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PUBLIC NOTICES The Sarasota/Siesta Key, East County and Longboat Observers meet the legal requirements to publish legal and public notices in Sarasota & Manatee counties, per F.S. 50.011.

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As America devotes less attention and resources to the Middle East and its friends and allies there, regional relations shift. Amb. Dennis Ross will examine how countries, notably Israel, are adjusting and what that portends for the region, for U.S. interests and shared values, and for our global competitors.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024

5A

Former SMR exec joins planning commission Monaca Onstad and Jeffrey Eslinger were appointed to the board on Feb. 1 by commissioners.

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

T

he Manatee County Planning Commission doesn’t make decisions, but it’s the first board to review land use proposals, many of which are located in East County.

As of Feb. 8, two new East County residents — Monaca Onstad and Jeffrey Eslinger — are making recommendations to county commissioners on which projects to approve or deny.

Onstad was the community relations director for Schroeder-Manatee Ranch. Residents can credit her for coming up with developing ideas such as the Lakewood Ranch Farmer’s Market and Ranch Nite Wednesdays at Waterside Place.

After six years of creating lifestyle programs for Lakewood Ranch, in 2022, Onstad launched her own lifestyle and amenity consulting firm, OnPlace.

Up until January, Onstad was traveling all over the country consulting with developers. She’s since hired someone to take on much of the national travel for her.

A planning commission position requires the member to review material and attend monthly meetings, one more responsibility for Onstad.

Besides being the CEO of OnPlace, she is on the Lakewood Ranch Community Activities board, and she has two children, 14-year-old Garrett and 2-year-old Alexander.

“The worst times for both of them — toddler and a teenager,” she said with a laugh.

But Onstad said she believes in giving back. On Jan. 11, she was named “Volunteer of the Year” by Lakewood Ranch Community Activities.

“If I’m going to give back, I want

Courtesy image

The current Planning Commission as of Feb. 8: Lorraine Prosser, Cindy Kebba, John DeLesline, Paul Rutledge, Richard Bedford, Jeffrey Eslinger and Monaca Onstad.

MEMBERS AT A GLANCE NAME RESIDENCE Richard Bedford Bradenton Paul Rutledge Braden Woods Cindy Kebba Lakewood Ranch

Jeffrey Eslinger River Strand John DeLesline Bradenton Lakewood Ranch Monaca Onstad Parrish Lorraine Prosser

to give back to the community, so I might as well give back to something that I really know about and care about,” she said. “I think (joining the Planning Commission) is a natural evolution for me. I’ve worked with a lot of plans and a lot of the developers around the country.”

OCCUPATION Architect Realtor Retired city planner and real estate analyst Realtor and builder Contractor Lifestyle planner Paint color designer and certified building contractor

Eslinger, on the other hand, was born in Sarasota County, and his grandparents lived in Bradenton.

He’s bounced between the two counties his whole life.

He’s a home builder and real estate broker. He’s a partner in E/M Custom Homes and owns Eslinger Real-

TERM EXPIRATION Oct. 14, 2024 Oct. 14, 2024 Oct. 14, 2025 Oct. 14, 2025 Oct. 14, 2026 Oct. 14, 2026 Oct. 14, 2027

ty. He also served on the Sarasota County Planning Commission about 20 years ago when he was in his 40s.

Now at 63, Eslinger says he appreciates the opportunity more.

“It’s a time commitment, but my first thought was ‘I’ll work my schedule around it. I want to be part

of that,’” he said. “I want to participate in our community.”

Onstad and Eslinger are aligned stepping into their new roles. Onstad said she wants to see “smart growth,” and Eslinger said he wants the county to stay “ahead of the game.”

While Onstad and Eslinger are the two latest members, over the past six months, the Planning Commission has turned over the majority of its members.

In August, the seven-person board welcomed former SMR executive Richard Bedford and Parrish building contractor Lorraine Prosser after Ray Turner was appointed to the commission and Bill Conerly stepped down when his term expired.

East County residents still fill a majority of the seats on the board.

Onstad and Eslinger took the place of David Roth and Bill Smock, both East County residents.

Cindy Kebba, Paul Rutlege and John DeLesline fill the remaining three seats. Kebba lives in Lakewood Ranch, and Rutledge lives in Braden Run. It could be considered a voting block, but the board only makes recommendations. Prosser lives in Parrish, while DeLesline and Bedford don’t live in East County, but they do live in Bradenton.

There are no representatives from the islands or Myakka on the board.

The seats aren’t divided up by district and the only requirement is to be a registered voter living in Manatee County.

Occupation isn’t a requirement either, but it weighs heavier than residence. The requirement states that no particular expertise is required, but “persons with experience or training in the substantive areas of planning, engineering, environmental science and the development industry shall be considered in the appointment process.”

“We’re bound to make our decisions based on the code,” Onstad said. “Although I live in Lakewood Ranch, I’m here to make sure the code is represented.”

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024

County hosts neighborhood summit The summit is scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Feb. 23 at the Lakewood Ranch Library.

Specializes in Hand & Wrist Reconstruction

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Dr. Gregory C. Farino is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine physician. He earned his medical degree at Temple University Medical School in Philadelphia. He completed his orthopedic residency at Penn State University, followed by an orthopedic fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Farino specializes in hand and wrist reconstruction, offering quality surgical developments and techniques.

He has treated the orthopedic needs of sports teams and athletes, including the Pittsburgh Pirates. He also worked with the Under-18 U.S. soccer team as well as student athletes at the IMG/Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton.

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ould your community use a garden? Do you have a question about your utility bill?

Manatee County staff members and Commissioner Ray Turner say they are ready to answer all questions from residents.

The county is hosting a Neighborhood Summit at the Lakewood Ranch Library 9:30 a.m. to noon Feb. 23. Only 60 spots are available and over half are filled already. Registration is required to attend. Visit MyManatee.org, call 749-3030, or email NeighborhoodConnections@ MyManatee.org to register.

The half-day program offers networking before and after a Q&A session. It’s a chance to meet people from other neighborhoods and interact with county staff. The school district, Manatee 311 and the Natural Resources Department, among others, will have booths.

“I’ll allot probably an extra hour at the end of this for a Q&A if people have bigger concerns,” Turner said. “Big concerns that residents have right now are the speed of the growth, the environment, things like that. It doesn’t matter what party they vote for, everybody has those same concerns.”

Since many East County residents want to know what’s happening at Premier Park, Director of Sports and Leisure Molly White will be at the summit talking about the latest developments. She’ll discuss upcoming events and programs at other county parks, too.

The summit is open to all Manatee County residents.

Staff members with Neighborhood Co n n e c t i o n s will p rov i d e information on neighborhood grants, and Whitfield residents

IF YOU GO

The Manatee County Neighborhood Summit. 9:30 a.m. to noon Feb. 23 at Lakewood Ranch Library, 16410 Rangeland Parkway. Light refreshments will be served. Visit MyManatee.org, call 749-3030 or email NeighborhoodConnections@ MyManatee.org to register.

will talk about how they used one of those grants to buy benches that enhanced a communal space in their neighborhood.

“The Neighborhood Enhancement grant is an up to $10,000 matching grant that we provide to neighborhoods,” Neighborhood Services Coordinator Makayla Lindecamp said. “It could be things like beautification or invasive species removal.

There are lots of different categories that this grant can cover.”

In East County, Del Webb was recently reimbursed for $1,000 that was spent on supplies for its Community Emergency Response Team.

Community partners will be on hand with information and resources. Staff members from the Community Gardens Program at the UF IFAS Extension will talk about how community gardens foster neighborly connections and promote sustainability.

After the Elwood Park Community Garden opened in January, Information Outreach Manager Bill Logan said the county would like to see a garden in every neighborhood.

While many Lakewood Ranch neighborhoods fall under the umbrella of a homeowners association, a group of neighbors could learn how to form a neighborhood at the summit.

“We will help them become a neighborhood organization,” Neighborhood Connections Division Manager Debbie DeLeon said.

“We tell people, ‘Get three people to start and designate an area.’ We work with anybody to get them organized because that’s the only way to bring about change in a neighborhood.’”

410808-1

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024

Braden River grad fetches honor for ‘Healing Paws’ The aspiring filmmaker has been nominated for a College Television Award for his short film on the therapeutic powers of dogs.

Friedrich Hayek

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

t was a lesson about filmmaking he

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always will take to heart.

Braden River High 2021 graduate

Keith Cohen was accumulating video for his nonfiction series film “Healing Paws.”

He had selected his topic of trying to explain the human-animal bond for his Florida State Film School assignment, and along with his crew, he went to the Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale to follow a group from Canine Assisted Therapy.

It was one of many trips to south Florida hospitals in March 2023 the FSU students made to gain information and footage for their 7-minute, 30-second film.

With all their hard work, planning and research, they weren’t prepared for what happened when they followed a dozen dogs — a few golden retrievers along with smaller breeds — into the children’s wing.

“We had access to accompany (Canine Assisted Therapy),” Cohen said. “When those children are in a hospital bed, in a wing, there is not much to do. TV. But we walked into the wing, and started going door to door. The children were from ages 5-14, and we would see their faces light up. We could see their moods change.

“These were children who were facing the worst of circumstances.

What kind? I don’t know. All of the above. They were fighting terminal illnesses. There were so many of them.

“Then we met this little girl ... we didn’t know their names or what their illnesses were ... the girl was dark-haired. She was maybe 4. They brought her into the hallway.”

The dogs are trained not to crowd the children, but to get up close so they can be touched and petted.

The little girl reached out to put her hands on the dogs.

For the next few moments, Cohen didn’t rely on college film class lessons, tips from former directors, or his study of film classics as the dogs cozied up to the little girl.

He went with his heart.

It told him to stay back, record the moment as it was, not to interfere, and let everything in that moment speak for itself.

“It was magical,” he said.

“The thing about filmmaking is that with all that magic right there in front of us, we had nothing to do but be present. It was so beautiful, and we had the privilege to be part of it.”

AWARD WINNER

It was just one scene from “Healing Paws,” but combined with the other emotional interactions between humans and dogs, the movie earned a nomination in the “Nonfiction Series” category for the Television Academy Foundation’s 43rd College Television Awards April 13 in Los Angeles.

“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.”

“Road to Serfdom,” 1944

JAY HEATER | MANAGING EDITOR

I

EAST COUNTY

Courtesy image

Images courtesy of Keith Cohen

The poster for the award-winning “Healing Paws.”

“The thing about filmmaking is that with all that magic right there in front of us, we had nothing to do but be present. It was so beautiful and we had the privilege to be part of it.”

— Keith Cohen

According to the Television Academy Foundation’s website, the awards program “recognizes and rewards excellence in studentproduced programs from colleges nationwide.” It is designed to emulate the Emmy Awards.

Twenty-one student-produced programs were nominated from 181 entries submitted by 37 colleges and universities nationwide. The website said, “Criteria for the College Television Awards reflect industry standards of excellence, imagination and innovation.”

“This means a lot to me, regardless of whether or not we win,” said Cohen, a junior at Florida State. “’Healing Paws’ now has a national

Florida State Film School student Keith Cohen’s short documentary “Healing Paws” has been nominated for a College Television Award.

audience. We have more eyes on the amazing work these dogs are doing.

With more awareness comes more respect.”

The “we” in the making of “Healing Paws” consists of Cohen (director, producer), and his fellow students Madeline Tremblay (cinematographer), Nico Wilcox (sound), and Mia Rae Sunday (animator).

“I will just say I am thankful to have good people around me to make it what it is,” Cohen said. “And all those amazing people and their dogs.”

He credits his mom, Lakewood Ranch’s Jennifer Cohen, for pointing him in his current career path.

“She is largely responsible for my passion about animal welfare and the environment,” he said. “She is a huge advocate for rescue dogs. It is a part of who I am.”

Besides watching therapy dogs, Cohen also concentrated on dogs who are brought to a family court setting. He visited with Brenda Kocher, whose dog Tibet became the first courthouse facility dog in 2014 to help abused and abandoned children who are in the dependency court system. Cohen went to the Hillsborough County Courthouse to video the interaction between dogs and children under intense pressure because they were about to testify against their abusers. The dogs offered the children a brief pause from the stress.

Cohen wanted to tell his audience about the therapeutic effects of being in the presence of such dogs.

“I would hope people who see “Healing Paws” gain a greater respect of the life-changing work that these dogs and their handlers do,” Cohen said. “I wanted to do what I could to further their work.”

Cohen and crew were out three weeks collecting the necessary data and video. When he put his film together, it originally was 40 minutes long. He finally paired it down to the assigned length, but not without some pain.

For himself, he said it was a valuable lesson.

“We learned to tell a story in a specific framework,” he said. “But there was so much I wanted to include.”

VERSATILE TALENT

His goal is to write and direct in the movie industry, although he said he wants to learn versatility.

“I love that (Steven) Spielberg makes movie magic in every genre,” he said.

He said he especially would like to do documentaries, feature length movies, series and animation.

All four team members for “Healing Paws” will be flown to Los Angeles and be put up in a hotel while they are there.

“We’re all excited,” Cohen said.

“We are going to be all dressed up.”

Then it is back to making films.

“There is so much untapped potential within the television and entertainment industry to raise awareness and resources to help those in need, to provide a voice for the voiceless,” Cohen said. “I believe that art can be one of the greatest catalysts for change, and if I can make something that positively impacts our world, I intend to do so.”

Laura Rogers of the Canine Assisted Therapy nonprofit poses with her dog Gracie and filmmaker Keith Cohen during the production of “Healing Paws.”

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SIDE OF RANCH

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024

9A

JAY HEATER

Don’t be a knucklehead, take an eBay class A couple of decades ago, I had a used tool store in Concord, California, which was a side business to earn a few bucks to go with my sportswriter’s salary.

It was a fun job, too, except for those 5 a.m. wakeup calls so I could be first at an area garage sale that promised to have “old tools” in its newspaper classified ad.

One morning, I grabbed my teenaged son, Billy, and headed out the door because I noted the advertised sale included “old hand planes.”

Those are tools that trim and smooth wooden surfaces.

Unfortunately, those planes rarely were identified in the garage sale ads, and since today’s hand planes look similar to those made 150 years ago, you didn’t know if you were wasting your time. Unfortunately, anyone who wanted to “turn over” such tools for a profit on eBay, had to show up because ... well ... you never know.

Call it a business, or a hobby, success often aligns with the earlybird-gets-the-worm principle.

Billy and I drove up to a home in the dark and positioned ourselves at the front right of the closed garage door. The homeowner came out in a bathrobe and told us that he wasn’t opening the door early, so we could have a long wait before the 8 a.m. opening. Billy and I chatted over the course of an hour as potential customers lined up behind us down the driveway and into the street.

You have to understand that regular garage sale shoppers have a code where you respect the people who arrived before you.

Not to abide by such a code causes chaos, and prompts the rest of the regular shoppers to plot against the offender at future sales. Once the regulars know an offender’s interests, everyone can work together to grab such items, even if they aren’t interested in them, and hold them for a nicer person.

Courtesy image

Mike Ivankovich will speak at the Braden River Library on Feb. 17 about how to use eBay.

Other strategies would exist, too.

Ever been caught behind the limping, old ladies brigade?

On this particular day, no one was going to pay attention to any code.

When the homeowner came out to open the door, several knuckleheads from the street rushed up to the front left side of the garage door.

Billy and I held firm on the right.

The door was lifted, and egads, the garage was packed tight except for an opening aisle way to the left. We were on the wrong side.

I peered inside the garage, and there on the right side were the hand planes, so close, but with no entry on that side.

Mr. Knucklehead scanned the contents and raced down the aisle on the left, then down the corridor at the back of the garage, before turning down the aisle on our side, and coming back toward us. This senior wasn’t sprinting, but he was at Mach speed for a 60-something.

I gave Billy a smile and a nod, and I leaned my body onto a table, stretching my arms as far as they possibly could go. Mr. Knucklehead saw what was happening, and his eyes grew large. Noooooo!

The very end of my fingertips pulled the four hand planes toward me, and I grasped them, pulling them to safety. Fortunately, Mr.

Knucklehead wasn’t armed, or surely he would have shot me. Some very nice early 1900s planes, and I was going to make a nice profit.

I soured, though, on this ritual, and left the garage sale, auction, estate sale shopping to others. I still love finding Goodwill bargains, but only for my own use, because I don’t want to deal with selling things on eBay. I know I couldn’t possibly figure it out.

Or could I? Now I know about Mike and Sue Ivankovich.

If you aren’t in the resale business, the couple are eBay gurus, who often travel the country making presentations about how to sell and buy on eBay. They will be offering a free seminar 1-3 p.m. Feb. 17 at the Braden River Library in an event sponsored by the Friends of the Braden River Library.

Now that we have our Lakewood Ranch Library open, we shouldn’t forget that the Braden River Library isn’t very far away, and the staff there is welcoming. Plus they have many interesting programs.

The Ivankovich couple is from Doylestown, Pennsylvania and they both have been involved in the market for decades.

“With the advent of COVID, libraries stopped having in-person programming,” Mike Ivankovich said. “We took it to Zoom. In 2022, we gave more than 600 programs on Zoom that (were focused) on 29 states. And now the in-person programming is coming back, too.”

This will be the couple’s 15th presentation in the region, but not all were in consecutive years. This will be their third stop at the Braden River Library.

“Our specialty is antique appraisals and we mostly deal with older people, some who are downsizing,” Mike Ivankovich said. “But we do get kids, who often know how to use eBay better than the older folks.”

At the Braden River Library, they

will teach those new to eBay how to sell or buy on the site.

“It’s eBay 101, the business of buying and selling,” Mike Ivankovich said. “We help with things such as how you register for an account.

We help with how to sell, and how to shop. What are the bidders looking for? What works, and what doesn’t? All the pros and cons.

“You don’t want to sell a bicycle there, because you are not going to want to ship it.”

The topics get more advanced depending on what the audience wants.

Those who want a taste of their expertise can go to WBCB1490.com on Fridays from 9:30-10:30 a.m. for the “What’s It Worth” show.

The show, based in Philadelphia, celebrates its 10th anniversary in July.

But when it comes to finding bargains, Mike Ivankovich likes a big score just like the rest of us. He talks about finding Elvis Presley photos three years ago in a Lambertville, New Jersey flea market. The photos were from an early concert in Tupelo, Mississippi that Elvis had taken with his parents. He paid $20 for the photos and put them up on eBay. Of course, eBay reaches millions all over the world, and he found a buyer in Sweden who paid him $1,200 for the set.

He didn’t even have to outrun Mr. Knucklehead.

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

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YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024

IF YOU GO ST. BARBARA GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH’S GREEK GLENDI When: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Feb. 16 and Feb. 17 and noon to 6 p.m.

Feb. 18 Where: St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church, 7671 N. Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota Cost: $5 for a three-day pass; children under 12 are free Details: Enjoy Greek dishes, pastries and live music as well as domestic and imported beverages. Watch the St. Barbara Hellenic Dancers perform.

More information: Visit StBarbaraFestival.org.

File photo

Eric Guimond and Paulina Whyte perform a dance with the St. Barbara Hellenic Dancers in 2023. Whyte is following in the footsteps of her mother, Tina Whyte, who performed in the first Greek Glendi 40 years ago.

Greek Glendi turns 40 Several Glendi volunteers have been dancing, cooking and serving for four decades.

LIZ RAMOS SENIOR EDITOR

B

radenton’s Tina Whyte remembered being 14 years old when Lakewood Ranch’s Maria Kirlangitis approached her and six other teenagers about performing a few Hellenic dances at St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church’s first Greek Glendi.

Whyte was excited to be a part of a new tradition.

“The funny part is the (dances) we were doing then, that we were

so excited about and thought were so fancy, are the ones we have our kindergartners do now,” Whyte said with a laugh.

Throughout the 40 years St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church has been hosting the Greek Glendi, the Hellenic dances have been a major source of entertainment and a tradition.

When that tradition began, Sarasota’s Paulene Soublis said the Greek Glendi wasn’t about their religion but rather all about food and dancing. She said that’s how people who

aren’t Greek could relate to them.

But the festival also became a way to raise money so a new church could be built where it’s now located off Lockwood Ridge Road.

The parish council wasn’t sure where to start when it came to hosting a Glendi. How were they going to raise money? What were they going to serve? What would be the entertainment?

As parish council members and congregants stepped up, answers to those questions began to form.

Lakewood Ranch’s Betty Karras

volunteered to sell raffle tickets.

Sarasota’s George Soublis offered to cook the food.

Kirlangitis said she would teach some of the teenagers in the congregation Hellenic dances they would perform as entertainment.

The first Greek Glendi in 1994 was starting to take shape, which came with excitement and anxiety.

The biggest question was: What if no one came?

But the volunteers’ concerns quickly dissipated as approximately 500 people attended the one-day event 40 years ago.

The parish council decided to expand the Glendi to two days the following year.

Soublis said the second festival was so popular they ran out of food after the first day. Her husband, George Soublis, spent the night cooking in the church kitchen and sleeping on the floor of the church office.

Over the years, Bradenton’s Connie Chaltis said the volunteers would be so busy it was difficult to keep track of how many people were attending the Glendi.

The festival grew to its height in 2019 when it was a four-day festival that drew thousands. However, in 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic forced the church to reduce the festival to a three-day event.

No matter how busy the festival

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has been, the volunteers always had a good time.

“Even though there’s so much always going on, a certain song will come on and suddenly there’ll be a dance line going from the food area and the workers are dancing along,” Whyte said. “Or the men are serving coffee or wine and they’re sitting there, enjoying themselves and sharing stories — while still serving the community.”

Soublis said friendships are made as volunteers get to know each other.

The Hellenic dance group has grown to include dozens of dancers. Whyte said her children, now 24-year-old Stephen Whyte, 22-year-old James Whyte and 15-year-old Paulina Whyte, all have participated in the dances since they were children.

The first time Whyte saw her children perform in the dance group, it brought tears to her eyes.

Whyte said Paulina Whyte looks forward to dancing in the Glendi every year as she’s proud to share her culture and history.

Kirlangitis said she loves when the alumni of the dance group are asked to join the group on the dance floor.

“It’s an emotional picture,” she said. “We have all these kids who are coming home from their universities for the weekend to be a part of this because they were part of it at one time. That’s the beauty of it.”

People of all ages volunteer at the Glendi.

“Starting with young kids to the older ladies, they’re making the salads and having a smile on their face as they’re doing it,” she said. “You might have a 20-year-old next to an 85-year-old. You tell the 85-yearold to please sit down and they say, ‘No, no, no, I’m going to do it.’”

Karras said each year the festival comes from the heart of the parishioners. Many volunteers spend 10-plus hours working.

“I remember we used to work three straight days, beginning to end ... crawling into bed telling (my husband) Alex, ‘I’m not going in there early tomorrow. I am not getting up,’” she said. “I would get up, and I would be here when it opened. You just do it.”

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East County educators honored SENIOR EDITOR

A

ny time Debra McCarthy’s name was announced at the School District of Manatee County’s Excellence in Education Awards, an uproar came from the back corner of the Manatee High School auditorium.

The applause and cheers came from at least 60 students of McCarthy, who is a language arts teacher at Lakewood Ranch High School.

McCarthy couldn’t help but smile every time she heard the cheering from her students along with Lakewood Ranch High School administrators and fellow teachers. They were giving her support for being one of the school district’s four finalists for Educator of the Year.

Although McCarthy and Jessica Spence, a first grade teacher at Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School, were not named Educator of the Year, the two teachers were grateful and honored to be named finalists and to be celebrated at the Excellence in Education Awards on Feb. 8.

The winner of Educator of the Year was Katie Bagley, a third grade teacher at Prine Elementary School.

McCarthy has taught in the school district for eight years and teaches Advanced Placement Literature and

Advanced Placement Language and Composition. She also serves as the advisor for Lakewood Ranch High’s Students Working Against Tobacco and Youth in Action clubs.

McCarthy said the support was overwhelming.

“I found it to be such a testament to all the hard work and energy I put into becoming a teacher and all the hard work I do on a daily basis for my students,” she said.

Spence has been with the school district for 16 years.

Two East County support employees — Patrice Cairo, a computer lab manager at Gene Witt Elementary School, and Patricia Pearson, a clerical assistant and attendance clerk at Braden River Middle School — were honored as finalists for the district’s Support Employee of the Year.

Cairo has been with the school district for 14 years and works with students, teachers and staff on their technology needs.

Pearson has been with the district for 19 years, with all those years at Braden River Middle School. She said she started at the school as a parent volunteering and loved the school so much, she decided to join its staff.

The winner of Support Employee of the Year was Denise Costello, a paraprofessional at Sea Breeze Elementary School.

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Katie Bagley, a third grade academy teacher at Prine Elementary, Joadie Durfee, a fifth grade teacher at Barbara A. Harvey Elementary, Debra McCarthy, a language arts teacher at Lakewood Ranch High, and Jessica Spence, a first grade teacher at Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary, wait in anticipation to find out the winner of Educator of the Year.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

12A

Raising reading levels, and confidence The Sea of Strengths Academy caters to children with languagebased learning disabilities.

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

D

aniel Fowl said he always knew he had a different “learning style.”

When frustrated because he couldn’t grasp a concept through reading, he would seek out audio and visual images to sort through it.

His difficulties didn’t hold him back. He started a medical residency at Sarasota Memorial Hospital six months ago, and at age 34, he wants to eventually become an emergency room physician.

After years of classroom education, it took becoming a father to finally unravel the mystery of Fowl’s learning style. He and his oldest son Scott, 9, were diagnosed with dyslexia within a year of one another.

Scott was 6, and Fowl was 31.

The Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity reports that 20% of the population has dyslexia, and it is the most common of all neuro-cognitive disorders.

“I actually found some comfort in (the diagnosis) like ‘OK, I do belong.’

It’s just not within the group I was trying to place myself,” Fowl said. “I would look at people who had normal learning styles and think ‘Why do I get confused and frustrated by lengthy paragraphs?’”

Fowl moved his family from San Antonio, not only for his residency, but for the Sea of Strengths Academy, too. His wife, Brooke Fowl, said the couple knew from their first visit that Sea of Strengths was the right fit for Scott.

Not only does Sea of Strengths work on academics using the OrtonGillingham approach (a highly structured approach that breaks reading and spelling down into smaller skills involving letters and sounds and then builds on those skills over time), Vice Principal Robin Hamilton said the staff works diligently to build their students’ confidence.

“A lot of the times, the kids come to us beaten down because they’ve had so many struggles, especially the kids that have come from public school into our middle school,” Hamilton said. “They’ve had years of people telling them they’re stupid or not trying hard enough. Meanwhile, they’re trying as hard as they possibly can.”

Hamilton described these students as the ones who are “falling through the cracks” in public schools because the most intervention they receive is being pulled from the classroom once a week for extra help.

In addition to dyslexia, the academy enrolls children with ADD, ADHD and additional languagebased learning disabilities.

By first grade, Scott was overwhelmed and had to repeat the grade.

He was already telling his parents, “I’m stupid,” and crying daily before school.

Scott’s diagnosis is what made Fowl seek his own. Everything Scott was experiencing — his struggle to read and the self doubt that followed — his father had experienced.

“If (Scott) can be spared some of that by learning the coping mechanisms early on, then he can do whatever he wants because he will know how to work with his own unique skill set,” the elder Fowl said.

The school serves children in grades 3-12 and currently has an enrollment of 33. The student to teacher ratio is typically 10-1 and about 5-1 for breakout groups.

Lesley Dwyer

Vice Principal Robin Hamilton and Principal John Hettler run the Sea of Strengths Academy.

ABOUT THE NONPROFIT Sea of Strengths Academy, 7313 International Plaza, Suite 90, Sarasota. Visit SOSAschool. com.

Mission statement: Sea of Strengths Academy specializes in working with children with learning differences such as dyslexia, ADD, ADHD, speech language impairment and other language-based disabilities.

“I know every student and every car that pulls up,” Administrative Assistant Tiffany Whitehead said.

“And the parents all have my personal cell phone number.”

A smaller school benefits both students and parents, but Principal John Hettler said it can be difficult to get the word out to the public about the school. It’s easier now since the sur-

rounding area has grown. In 2008, when Sea of Strengths opened, there were only six students.

The school can accommodate 40 students, so there are spots available.

On Feb. 9, Sea of Strengths held a purse Bingo fundraiser at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing.

About 60 people attended in an attempt to win Chanel and Kate Spade bags. Whitehead is already planning for another Bingo party and coming up with new ideas like Casino Night to draw in more guests and funding.

Proceeds will go toward the extras that a small school can’t always finance by itself. Whitehead said the administration wants to incorporate more social elements into its programming, starting with afterschool clubs.

Clubs or not, Brooke Fowl said her son no longer cries before school and comes home smiling.

“One of the great things about schools like Sea of Strengths is that they really emphasize the joy of learning,” Daniel Fowl said.

ADVERTISEMENT This time, Wiencek chose to have the procedure performed by orthopedic surgeon John Harkess, MD, at LWRMC. She says Dr. Harkess made her feel comfortable and confident with his abilities from the first appointment.

“Dr. Harkess was excellent and so was his assistant, Zoe,” says Wiencek.

Comprehensive education Wiencek credits LWRMC for being more thorough with its preoperative education in the orthopedic preoperative classes and postoperative recovery program, compared to her first knee replacement surgery.

“There is strong evidence which demonstrates that preoperative education leads to superior outcomes.

It adequately prepares the patient and family for surgery, helps to reduce anxiety levels, fosters greater engagement in the process and increases adherence to postoperative Wiencek had her right knee instructions,” says Caroline McGrath, replacement surgery at Lakewood APRN, care coordinator for the Ranch Medical Center (LWRMC), in April orthopedic program at LWRMC. 2023. She had her left knee replaced four years earlier at another facility.

On the Move After Knee Replacement Dottie Wiencek picked up the sport of tennis after relocating to Bradenton in 2001.

“I did not start playing tennis until I moved here,” she says. “When I was younger and raising six kids, I never had the time.”

Now a retiree, Dottie enjoys playing tennis year-round.

Even after her first knee replacement, she was playing an average of five days a week, but started to deal with a lot of pain. Eventually, she recognized she would need another knee replacement.

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“I’ll be 78, and I wanted to continue enjoying what I love,” says Wiencek.

Wiencek describes feeling supported and encouraged during the rehabilitation process. She credits the physical therapy team for providing thorough instructions and helping her recover more quickly this time, even though she was older. Wiencek is grateful to have returned to her active lifestyle after surgery at LWRMC. Award-winning care The Orthopaedic Spine and Joint Center at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center has achieved core certification by The Joint Commission for Hip Replacement and Knee Replacement and is proud to be recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a High Performing Hospital for Knee Replacement care.

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“I had better care and patient education at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.”

-Dottie Wiencek Knee replacement patient

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“You just know when it is time.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024

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ADVENTURE Hey Bud, here come the horses Get a close-up look at the Budweiser Clydesdales on Thursday at 5 p.m. at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch.

The famous Budweiser team of Clydesdales has several stops that include Siesta Key, North Port, Lakewood Ranch and Bradenton.

JAY HEATER MANAGING EDITOR

I

f you are a fan of horses and living in the Lakewood Ranch area, you must be happy that Spring Training is on the way.

What is the connection?

To help build excitement for the baseball season, Anheuser-Busch sends its Clydesdale teams to spring training parks.

That is the case again this year as the “Boys Are Back in Town” tour will visit Sarasota and Manatee counties.

Hugh Shields, marketing administrator at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing, said the 10-horse team (eight pull the wagon in each appearance while two rest) was expected to arrive in the area Monday. Unlike the last time Budweiser Clydesdales visited in 2022, the horses won’t be staying at the Sarasota Polo Club in Lakewood Ranch. The current polo season has been so popular, the polo club didn’t

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have enough stalls.

However, the Clydesdales are staying at a Sarasota ranch.

Their first appearance will be on Ocean Boulevard in Siesta Key on Wednesday at 5 p.m. On Thursday, the team will parade through Main Street at Lakewood Ranch beginning at 5 p.m.

On Friday, it is a visit to Rossi Park in downtown Bradenton at 5 p.m. before the team heads for CoolToday Park at 1 p.m. on Saturday in North Port.

On Sunday, the team, which is out of Merrimack, New Hampshire, has a 5 p.m. gig down Old Stickney Point Road in Siesta Key, right past Captain Curt’s Crab and Oyster Bar. On Feb. 20, one of the Clydesdales will make an appearance at Twin Peaks at 3060 Fruitville Commons Blvd., Sarasota. at 4:30 p.m.

Then it’s off to Daytona in their 50-foot tractor trailers.

All the appearances are free to the public.

The Clydesdales history with Anheuser-Busch started in 1933 when Adolphus Busch’s children surprised him with a six-horse Clydesdale team to commemorate the repeal of Prohibition of beer, according to the Anheuser-Busch website.

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At Sarasota Memorial, award-winning orthopedic surgeons and Magnet-recognized nurses join forces with a nationally acclaimed rehabilitation services program to form a comprehensive care team that gives every patient the individualized treatment they need to get back on their feet and back to their best life.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024

Make

A Plan.

Light pollution disrupts natural world Excessive artificial light at night changes wildlife ­behaviors, alters ecosystems and damages ­natural communities.

MIRI HARDY CONTRIBUTOR

I

n natural communities, cycles of light and darkness direct rhythms of life. Ecosystems depend on such cycles to govern life-sustaining behaviors such as rest, migration, reproduction and foraging.

But in the past century, with the advent and spread of electricity, artificial light at night, as a result of humans’ indoor and outdoor light sources, has become pervasive.

In 2016, 80% of the world was estimated to live under skyglow, a term used to describe brightening of the night sky in areas where people live. And importantly, research shows that the excessive use of artificial light at night, or light pollution, negatively impacts plant and animal species, as well as humans.

Light pollution can directly change ecosystems. For example, it attracts some organisms (like insects and frogs) to places where they shouldn’t be, concentrates them as a food source easily preyed upon, or simply acts as a trap that exhausts and kills them. And by repelling other organisms, light pollution excludes them from habitats where they could otherwise successfully live. It’s therefore considered a growing cause of habitat loss.

Light pollution also disrupts the growth cycle of plants and alters the migrating and breeding behavior of wildlife. For example, glare from artificial light can impact wetland habitats that are home to frogs and toads, whose nighttime croaking is part of their breeding ritual. Artificial light disrupts this nocturnal activity, interfering with reproduction, which reduces populations.

It Makes a Difference.

Miri Hardy

American bumble bees are important pollinators for food crops. Light pollution disrupts their day and night cycle, which affects reproduction.

Thanks to Myakka River State Park’s location in a mostly rural area, the night sky remains fairly dark. Dark skies delight park visitors, and help protect the park’s flora and fauna. Maintaining dark skies in and around the park has aesthetic, recreational and important ecological benefits. However, development is rapidly encroaching on the park and is increasing the threats associated with light pollution.

By using only shielded, dark-skyfriendly fixtures for outdoor lighting — where lights shine down, not up — turning off lights when not in use and working with our neighbors and local authorities to increase awareness about the importance of dark skies, together we can support natural darkness and help reduce the detrimental impacts of light pollution.

Friends of Myakka River exists to support Myakka River State Park and the Wild and Scenic Myakka River.

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SPORTS Fast

Break

“I have tried to become a better leader. I want to be a good example for the younger guys.”

— The Out-of-Door Academy’s Nolan Naese SEE PAGE 19A

RAISING THE BAR The Braden River High girls weightlifting team will compete Feb. 17 at the Class 2A state championship meet in Lakeland.

RYAN KOHN SPORTS EDITOR

Ryan Kohn

Braden River High senior Marcus Schade (11) drives to the hoop against Riverview’s Fabian Gomez.

Schade is averaging 22.1 points per game this season.

B

raden River High boys basketball senior Marcus Schade scored 23 points Feb. 10 in the Pirates’ 67-55 home district championship win against Sebring High. The Pirates are 18-8 and will host Port Charlotte High (13-11) at 7 p.m. Feb. 15 in the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 5A Regional quarterfinals. … Former Lakewood Ranch High softball star Claire Davidson, now a senior at Duke University, went 3-4 with a home run and six RBIs on Feb. 9 in the Blue Devils’ 16-3 win over Iowa State University. The game was part of the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge event held in Jalisco, Mexico. Duke went 3-1 at the event. … Lakewood Ranch hockey player Sasha Pastujov, a forward with the San Diego Gulls (Anaheim Ducks) of the American Hockey League, recorded his first AHL hat trick on Jan. 27, recording three goals and an assist in the Gulls’ 7-4 road win over the Iowa Wild (Minnesota Wild). Pastujov was drafted by the Ducks organization in the third round of the 2021 NHL Draft. … Ken Lapinski and Diane Allshouse each sank a holein-one Feb. 3 on Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club’s Cypress Links course. Lapinski used a 7-iron to sink one on the 145-yard No. 2 hole, while Allshouse used a driver to sink one on the 124-yard No. 13 hole. … Alynna Fricke (39) won the Ladies Golf Association “Just Golf” event (individual low net scoring) held Feb. 8 at University Park Country Club.

Fricke finished one stroke ahead of Connie Blair (40).

A

t the end of the Braden River High girls weightlifting team’s Class 2A District Meet on Jan. 25 in Port Charlotte, head coach Jordan Borges’ face was red.

Not with anger or embarrassment, but with icing.

The Pirates had won the district title, and to celebrate, they smashed a cake in Borges’ face. Rarely had victory tasted so sweet.

Braden River would follow up its district victory with a regional title on Feb. 2 in New Port Richey. It was the first in program history.

The Pirates took home the title despite none of its weightlifters finishing in first place as an individual.

Sophomore Ashlyn Henry finished second in the traditional 129-pound class with a 150-pound clean and a 130-pound bench; senior Jada Phillips finished second in the Olympic 139-pound class with a 155-pound snatch and a 190-pound clean; and sophomore Payton Mangay-Ayam finished second in the Olympic 154-pound class with a 140-pound snatch and a 190-pound clean.

The Pirates will now compete at the state meet Feb. 17 at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland.

Borges, in his second year as the program’s head coach, wants to make weightlifting as legitimate an option as any other sport. They might begin weightlifting to stay in shape for other sports, Borges said, but they will find that lifting is as competitive as anything else they might play.

For athletes willing to commit to it, weightlifting can become something of an obsession, he said. The team practices five days a week, and Borges will often send his athletes “homework,” which includes a new video about technique, or written tips on how they can further improve. Henry said Borges often loses his voice — not from being critical, but being a cheerleader, motivating his athletes to do their best.

It has resulted in a program where enthusiasm for the sport is spreading. That enthusiasm, in kind, convinces more people to join. This year, the program had 45 lifters, and 13 of those lifters qualified for the state meet.

The sport’s athletes all have differ-

Courtesy images

Braden River sophomore Payton Mangay-Ayam said she misses sweets like Jeremiah’s Italian Ice during the weightlifting season, but the sacrifices are worth the results she sees.

ent reasons for joining. Henry started lifting as a way to stay in shape for volleyball. Senior Ivy Nguyen joined the program before Borges became the head coach, when former coach Richard Lansky told her about it during a class. Nguyen was intrigued by the conditioning she could get.

Nguyen said did not know at the time how much she would grow to love it.

Sophomore Chloe Pogoda joined because her older sister, 2021 graduate Morgan Pogoda, was a lifter.

Chloe said she wants to be better than her.

Like in wrestling, weightlifters compete in various weight classes, which means participants must have precise control of their diet to keep their weight within their class’s limits. Phillips, who will play softball for Louisiana State University upon graduation, said she sticks to a diet mainly consisting of protein and vegetables, with carbs consumed before she lifts. Overnight oats are a breakfast favorite, Phillips said, as they provide enough protein to keep her full, and enough carbs to give her energy at practice.

There’s a lot of food lifters don’t get to have. Mangay-Ayam said she especially misses going to Jeremiah’s Italian Ice because that is one of her favorite spots. Giving up certain foods is one of many sacrifices lifters have to make. Another is free time. Lifters practice five days a week with the team. Between those sessions and their traditional high school workload, plus the occasional extra assignment from Borges, their schedule is full.

The results are worth the work.

“We are hitting PRs (personal records) every meet,” Phillips said.

“We just won regionals. Those things Braden River senior Jada Phillips is looking for a gold weightlifting medal in the 139-pound class after winning a silver medal in 2023.

MAJOR MARATHON PAGE 18A

BRADEN RIVER’S STATE MEET QUALIFIERS ■ Erika Garcia, sophomore, 101-pound class ■ Aubrey Barak, junior, 119-pound class ■ Alisson Gonzalez, junior, 129-pound class ■ Ashlyn Henry, sophomore, 129-pound class ■ Jada Phillips, senior, 139-pound class ■ Taylor Ford, sophomore, 139-pound class ■ Payton Mangay-Ayam, sophomore, 154-pound class ■ Alora Parcells, sophomore, 154-pound class ■ Ivy Nguyen, senior, 169-pound class ■ Chloe Pogoda, sophomore, 183-pound class ■ Hannah Townsend, senior, 199-pound class ■ Baylee Hinkle, junior, 199-pound class ■ Ericka Freeman, senior, unlimited class

are the reward.”

The growth Pirates lifters have made through the program is not limited to how much weight they can lift. For some, the improvements have been internal. It is seen in lifters like Henry, whom Nguyen said was timid as a freshman last season.

Henry said she had a hard time getting into the sport’s necessary mindset. As a result, she was not pushing herself as much as she could. But as time passed, and Henry started her sophomore training, she pushed past that mental barrier, Nguyen said.

“Just look at her now,” Nguyen said.

Henry blushed at the comment, then gave Nguyen a hug. The support the athletes show each other is a credit to the program’s atmosphere, Henry said. It’s easy to bloom as an athlete and as a person when you know everyone has your back, she said.

Borges gives the credit to his athletes when it comes to fostering that atmosphere. He said he doesn’t say they ‘buy in’ to the culture because that is too conservative of a term. He likes to say they believe in it, because belief is a powerful force, and one that allows people to do amazing things.

Whatever these athletes’ initial reason for joining the team, they are all glad they joined. Phillips said she still gets the occasional question from non-athletic classmates about why she wanted to join, but the perception of the sport is changing.

People have seen the results, and they want to be part of the success, Phillips said.

18A

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024

PROSE AND KOHN

RYAN KOHN

LWR runner receives gold-medal support Monika Oberer will complete her final Abbott World Marathon Majors race in Tokyo in March.

A

s she closes on her sixth and final race in the Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star series, Lakewood Ranch’s Monika Oberer wants people to know: She didn’t do this alone.

“This” being the completion of a prestigious accomplishment for runners. To gain an Abbott Six Star medal, runners must finish six of the world’s most renowned races: The Boston Marathon, the Chicago Marathon, the New York Marathon, the London Marathon, the Berlin Marathon and the Tokyo Marathon.

Oberer completed her first race in the series, the Chicago event, in 2014. She didn’t want it to take a decade to finish the others, but the COVID-19 pandemic threw a wrench into her plans. Regardless, she’s close to achieving her longterm goal, after a lot of time, money and work.

Although she will be the one with the medal around her neck when she finishes the 2024 Tokyo Marathon on March 3, she said it took a village to get her to this point. Oberer has been a member of the Lakewood Ranch Running Club for 14 years, and in that time, she’s realized the support of the running community is just as important as the running itself.

Take Oberer’s current situation.

It took her four attempts to get on the list for the Tokyo race, for the event gives most of its spots to Japanese runners. Weeks after learning she made the 2024 race, Oberer found out one of her hamstrings was torn. She can still run on it, but she cannot extend her leg like she normally does. That results in smaller steps.

Surgery? Forget about it, at least until after the Tokyo race. She has waited too long for a spot to stop now.

The injury has made training for Tokyo a frustrating experience.

Oberer typically runs 60-75 miles per week. With the injury, that has been cut to 45, and at a slower pace.

But she said the people in the running community have made it manageable.

Take Oberer’s training session on Feb. 3. She ran 21 miles, but “felt crappy” about them, she said, and was generally having a bad morning. Instead of letting Oberer finish in that mood, a friend convinced her to keep going for another two miles, talking about their respective weeks in the process. By the time the pair reached Starbucks for a post-run drink, Oberer said she had forgotten all her downer thoughts and instead finished on a high note.

It might seem like a small thing, but moments like those are part of why Oberer believes Lakewood Ranch is special.

“Everyone has a different use for running,” Oberer said. “I don’t care how fast you run. What brings people together is the mental push, when your legs say you can’t but your friends say you can. They have all been there before, so you trust them. You suffer together and get through it.”

Runners can enter the Abbott marathons in various ways. Some qualify based on their times, while others enter a lottery and wait to hear their name called. Still others get in through making a charitable contribution. For five of the six, including the upcoming Tokyo race, Oberer chose to qualify through charity as she likes to give back. This time, she pledged approximately $10,000 to Ronald McDonald House Charities. The one race she did not go the charity route was the Boston Marathon. For

Courtesy image

Lakewood Ranch Running Club’s Lorena Barona, Monika Oberer, Woodford Joseph and Alexis Dwyer pose after a run.

Oberer credits her club members for helping to motivate her and to help her train for the Tokyo marathon in March.

File photo

Lakewood Ranch’s Grayson Tullio helps to motivate Monika Oberer to run in marathons.

that one, she said, she wanted to qualify as a runner, for she believes that race should only have qualifiers to maintain its prestige. She made the field herself in 2016.

Even Oberer’s commitment to finishing the Abbott series has a communal component. Oberer is close with Grayson Tullio, who has

Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and his mother, Jennifer Tullio, who is a member of the Lakewood Ranch Running Club. Jennifer Tullio completed the Abbott series of races herself in 2018, in part to raise awareness of the genetic disorder, which is characterized by progressive muscle degeneration and weakness. When Tullio completed her final race, the 2018 Berlin Marathon, Oberer and other Lakewood Ranch Running Club members were running with her.

At the finish line, after Tullio received her Abbott medal, Grayson Tullio asked Oberer when she would be getting hers. Oberer did not want to disappoint. His query was the inspiration Oberer needed to finish the series, she said.

“I see (Grayson) in my head,” Oberer said. “He can’t do this, but I can.”

Oberer and her running club friends start their runs at 4 a.m.

They are often freezing, Oberer said, but they get to experience Lakewood Ranch when it is quiet.

They see deer and wild hogs, coyotes and sandhill cranes. It brings Oberer peace. She used to drink and smoke, she said. She does neither now as that’s not what life is to her anymore. Now it is about those quiet moments, the ones she spends with her people.

It’s those people who have her on the precipice of accomplishing a major goal.

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

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024

When did you start playing baseball?

I started when I was 5 years old. Everyone in my family played baseball.

My dad (Brian Naese) played in college at Chicago State University.

What is the appeal to you?

I like the team aspect of it all. It takes everybody to win a game. I have always just had fun playing it.

What is your best skill?

I can find a way to get on base. I’ll do what it takes to get on and help my team win a game. I’m a good base runner as well.

What have you been working to improve?

I’ve been getting faster and stronger this offseason. I have tried to become a better leader. I want to be a good example for the younger guys out there.

What is your favorite food?

I have to go with pepperoni pizza.

What is your favorite school subject?

I like all the business classes I have taken. I like learning about the stock market and real-life scenarios that have happened.

What is your favorite movie?

It has to be “Rudy.”

What are your hobbies?

I mostly hang out with friends and family. I just like to be outside.

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

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SAVE THE DATE

What is the best advice you have received?

Trust the process. Know that you are going to fail because it is part of the game. Just keep working hard and move forward from it.

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Finish this sentence: “Nolan Naese is …” … Determined. I set a goal and I work hard toward achieving it.

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8000 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice, FL 34293 A fundraiser for the SCF Foundation, featuring a concert by the Pops Orchestra, and a fireworks presentation.

What is your favorite memory?

It has to be winning the state championship during my freshman season. Celebrating with the team on the field, seeing our hard work pay off, that was special. (ODA defeated St. Johns Country Day 5-3.)

VIP cocktail hour begins at 5:30 pm General Admission gates open at 4 pm; program begins at 7 pm

What is the team’s outlook for the 2024 season?

We have a good group of guys. We’re all close. I think that’s our biggest strength, how tight we are. I think it is going to be another fun year, and I’m looking forward to it. (ODA finished 20-8 in 2023.)

Sponsorships available, contact Kenji Trujillo at 941-752-5398 For event tickets, go to www.scf-foundation.org/eveningunderthestars or call 941-752-5262

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Nolan Naese is a senior shortstop on The Out-of-Door Academy baseball team. Naese hit .258 with three home runs and 17 RBIs in 2023 and will be a team leader in 2024.

ODA begins its season Feb. 20 with a road game against the Imagine School at North Port. The Thunder’s first home game is Feb. 28 against Braden River High at 7 p.m.

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19A

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024

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20A

FEBRUARY 15, 2024

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YOUR NEIGHBORS

Besides the 5K race/walk, Run for the Beads also included a costume contest, and Jason Miller, Amy Lowrance, Sophie Lowrance, and Haley Hartman looked perfect for the Mardi Gras theme.

Sarasota’s Sabrina Scrivanich and Joan Scrivanich showed their Mardi Gras spirit before the race.

Photos by Jay Heater

Runners burst out of the gate for the start of the second annual Run for the Beads, presented by the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation.

WATERSIDE IS THE PLACE TO BEAD A

Lakewood Ranch’s Steve and Laura Saladino finish the Run for the Beads together. Steve says Laura, who married him 31 years ago, “is still trying to get away,” but she can’t run fast enough.

Ahrens, who competes in triathlons, said he expects the race to grow in the future to where it hosts 800-1,000 runners.

“As an athlete, I love this race because it has a grassroots feel, and that’s more personal,” he said.

Lakewood Ranch’s Steve and Laura Saladino finished the race holding hands, then said they expect to be back every year.

“We hope to be legacy runners,” Steve Saladino said.

“It’s local; it’s positive; it’s great,” Laura Saladino said.

Sarasota’s Abbie Forrest shows off his medal for winning the 9-13 age group race.

Race volunteer Bee Storm gets together with Run for the Beads Co-chair David Ahrens before they hand out medals to the runners.

— JAY HEATER

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fter crushing the field in 16:40, Lakewood Ranch’s David Proudfoot was asked why he decided to come back to the Run for the Beads on Feb. 10 at Waterside Place when he dominated the 5K race a year ago.

“I like that this race is specific to Lakewood Ranch,” Proudfoot said.

“We have so many races at Nathan Benderson Park, so it’s good that runners can mix it up and have something in their community, for the community.”

The race benefits the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation, which in turn grants funds to area nonprofits.

Run for the Beads Co-chair David Ahrens said he was thrilled to be a part of the event.

“First of all, this is about the pleasure of doing something that helps the community,” said Ahrens, who also helps to put together the Turkey Trot in the Lake Club. “This is truly a public event while the Lake Club event is more of a private event. This race helps the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation with its branding. It also raises some good awareness of Waterside Place, so it’s a winwin. It is just one more reason to come here and to experience this beautiful place.”

2B

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024

‘Frozen’ fans enjoy chilly night S

horeview 3-year-old Eleanor Tullidge normally can’t attend Movie in the Park at Waterside Place.

“We’re up here at the playground all the time, but movie night is a little past her bedtime,” mom Amanda Tullidge said.

An exception was made on Feb. 9 because the movie was “Frozen.”

“She brought her dress with her, and we’ve got multiple backup “Frozen” outfits just in case she needs to do an outfit change,” Tullidge said.

The 3-year-old squealed in delight at the sight of the Anna and Elsa characters roaming the park and she gleefully danced away after meeting them.

She was not alone. Miniature Annas and Elsas ran around Waterside Park with their faces painted and princess capes trailing behind.

Movie in the Park is a partnership between Lakewood Ranch Community Activities and Grace Community Church that’s held the second Friday of every month.

Lakewood Ranch set up a row of inflatables, and the church brought a face painter and 40 boxes of pizza.

On a chilly evening, about 600 people set up blankets and chairs to enjoy the movie and the pre-show of a gorgeous sunset.

— LESLEY DWYER

Photos by Lesley Dwyer

Hundreds of people attend Movie in the Park at Waterside Place on Feb. 9.

Brianna Hilliard, 11, brings blankets and Squishmallows to stay warm and cozy through the movie.

Twins Olin and Arleana Croce, 2, are painted to look like Sven and Anna from “Frozen.”

Elijah Pan, 2, hasn’t had his face painted yet, but he’s tried both the pizza and cotton candy.

Eleanor Tullidge, 3, is donning an Elsa T-shirt now, but the superfan brought backup “Frozen” outfits and a costume in case she changes her mind as the night continues.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024

3B

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YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024

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n a stage Feb. 8 at The Westin of Sarasota, University Park’s Kim Dixon danced with seven other University Park women.

While University Park’s Bart Schubert lip-synced to Robert Palmer’s “Simply Irresistible,” Dixon and the dancers, also known as the Dancing Queens, added to the entertainment that kicked off the University Park Women’s Club Fashion Show.

Dixon said choreographing the dance was a “simply irresistible offer” she couldn’t turn down.

She said the dance gave the Dancing Queens an opportunity to make new friends.

After the performance, nine women and four men from University Park modeled clothes from Evelyn & Arthur.

The proceeds from the fashion show and pop-up shops will go toward the Women’s Resource Center and the Bradenton Police Department’s Police Care and Publix Gift Card Program.

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She showcases every unique aspect of her outfit.

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University Park’s Bart Schubert lip-syncs to Robert Palmer’s “Simply Irresistible” while the Dancing Queens, a dance group from University Park, dances along with him.

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YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024

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University Park’s Bart Schubert takes his jacket off before stopping to pose halfway down the runway.

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Hop on, kick back and enjoy a scenic cruise. Then hop off to relax on beautiful beaches or explore the Bradenton Riverwalk, museums, galleries and more. It’s the fun and easy way to get around the beaches and downtown.

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You’re Invited to the 18th Annual

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SAVOR traditional English Tea | $25 / person Friday & Saturday, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

SUNDAY, FEB. 18

Church of the Nativity 5900 N. Lockwood Ridge Road 941.355.3262

LIVE MUSIC AT JIGGS LANDING Runs from 3-6 p.m. each day at Jiggs Landing, 6106 63rd St. E., Bradenton. The live music lineup at Jiggs Landing includes Steve Arvey (Thursday), Deadwood Dick (Friday), Bluegrass Pirates (Saturday) and Mike Sales (Sunday). The Friday and Saturday concerts have a $5 cover, and the others are free. An additional Sunday concert has been added with Keri Oke from noon to 3 p.m. For more information, go to JiggsLanding.com.

AMERICAN YOUTH CUP Begins at 8 a.m. at Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota. Admission is free for spectators. For more information, visit NathanBendersonPark.org or AmericanYouthCup.org.

HEAR the music | Free to the public Saturday, 12 noon - 1:00 p.m.

(just south of University Parkway)

THURSDAY, FEB. 15 THROUGH SUNDAY, FEB. 18

SATURDAY, FEB. 17 AND SUNDAY, FEB. 18

SEE the flowers | Free to the public Friday & Saturday, 9:30 am - 3:00 pm

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USROWING SPEED ORDER REGATTA Begins at 7 a.m. each day at Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota. The USRowing Speed Order Regatta will help USRowing coaches make determinations on the organization’s roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics in July.

Admission is free for spectators. For more information, visit NathanBendersonPark.org or USRowing.org.

MUSIC AT THE PLAZA Runs 6-9 p.m. at 1560 Lakefront Drive, Waterside Place in Lakewood Ranch. Acoustic rock-pop artist Frankie Lombardi will perform on Friday for those strolling the streets of Waterside Place in this free concert.

On Saturday, singer Mylon Shamble will entertain the crowd. Visit WatersidePlace.com.

Friday and Saturday February 23 & 24

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THURSDAY, FEB. 15 THROUGH SATURDAY, FEB. 17

FRIDAY, FEB. 16 AND SATURDAY, FEB. 17

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POLO Begins at 1 p.m. at the Sarasota Polo Club, 8201 Polo Club Lane, Lakewood Ranch. The Sarasota Polo Club runs every Sunday through April 7.

PRESIDENTS DAY

BEST BET THURSDAY, FEB. 15

CLYDESDALES ON MAIN Begins at 5 p.m. at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch. The world famous Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales visit Main Street at Lakewood Ranch during their “Boys are Back in Town,” tour of the region. Those who want to get up close to the horses are invited to line Lakewood Main Street for the free event. Among other stops in Sarasota and Manatee counties, one of the Clydesdales will visit Twin Peaks (3060 Fruitville Commons Blvd., Sarasota) on Feb. 20 at 4:30 p.m. For more information, go to MyLWR.com.

Tickets are $15, with VIP packages available. Gates open at 10 a.m.

Besides the polo action, enjoy the opening parade, halftime wagon rides, food and drinks. Enjoy the traditional divot stomping at halftime.

For tickets or information, go to SarasotaPolo.com.

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. For more information, visit MyLWR.com.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 21

RANCH NIGHT WEDNESDAYS Runs from 6-9 p.m. at 1561 Lakefront Drive, Waterside Place, Lakewood Ranch. The weekly event includes good trucks, live music, a night market, a vintage mobile bar, and a recreational cornhole league.

For more information, go to Events@ LakewoodRanch.com.

LENTEN SERIES Begins at 6:30 p.m. at Living Lord Lutheran Church, 11107 Palmbrush Trail, Lakewood Ranch. The community is welcome to a Wednesday Lenten Services event. The free series runs each Wednesday through March 28. For more information, call the church at 753-9365.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024

7B

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YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024

SARASOTA 378 Golden Gate Point 6 3 Beds 3 Baths 3,098 Sq. Ft. Melba Jimenez, Pa 941-356-3970 A4597552 $4,500,000

PALMETTO 2121 5th Street E 4 Beds 4/1 Baths 3,010 Sq. Ft. Debbie Vogler 941-705-3328 A4573707 $1,425,000

BRADENTON 12406 Daisy Place 4 Beds 4 Baths 3,913 Sq. Ft. Jennifer Warthling 716-698-4540 A4595884 $999,000

SARASOTA 852 Hudson Avenue 852 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,579 Sq. Ft. Ronald Greene 941-445-2985 A4597488 $915,000

BRADENTON 3704 4th Avenue Ne 4 Beds 2 Baths 2,227 Sq. Ft. Kathy Valente & Gregory Zies 941-685-6767 A4597750 $810,000

BRADENTON 5780 Bluestar Court 3 Beds 2 Baths 2,054 Sq. Ft. Laura Naese 941-350-3657 A4597110 $780,000

SARASOTA 322 Londonderry Drive 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,347 Sq. Ft. Deborah Angelo O'Mara 941-730-0777 A4596733 $689,000

PALMETTO 611 Riviera Dunes Way 308 3 Beds 2 Baths 2,115 Sq. Ft. Debra Pitell-Hauge 941-356-0437 A4588950 $685,000

SARASOTA 4457 Sage Green Terrace 4 Beds 3/1 Baths 3,044 Sq. Ft. Tina Ciaccio 941-685-8420 A4587728 $624,000

SARASOTA 8336 Canary Palm Court 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,698 Sq. Ft. JJ Williams 941-412-6355 A4597477 $599,000

BRADENTON 11558 11th Avenue E 4 Beds 3/1 Baths 2,822 Sq. Ft. Kristy Sommers 941-504-4247 A4595187 $575,000

BRADENTON 11946 Brookside Drive 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,575 Sq. Ft. Bianca Dwyer & Jonnie Dwyer 941-209-2466 A4597538 $569,900

SARASOTA 7271 Golf Pointe Way 2 Beds 2 Baths 2,156 Sq. Ft. Beth Ann Boyer 941-780-6606 A4597140 $525,000

BRADENTON 13737 Messina Loop 104 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,528 Sq. Ft. Deborah Angelo O'Mara 941-730-0777 A4596809 $525,000

BRADENTON 13823 Messina Loop 102 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,528 Sq. Ft. Stacy Haas 941-587-4359 A4596798 $515,000

BRADENTON 210 116th Street E 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,812 Sq. Ft. Bianca Dwyer & Jonnie Dwyer 941-209-2466 A4597142 $499,900

BRADENTON 17238 Blue Ridge Place 4 Beds 3 Baths 2,006 Sq. Ft. Jamie Van Vliet & Chris Van Vilet 941-993-8996 A4594941 $499,000

BRADENTON 1010 Tidewater Shores Loop 403 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,121 Sq. Ft. JJ Williams 941-412-6355 A4596616 $435,000

BRADENTON 12361 Trailhead Drive 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 1,675 Sq. Ft. Francoise Borel 941-228-3768 A4597926 $407,500

SARASOTA 2248 Spring Oaks Circle 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,220 Sq. Ft. Kristy Sommers 941-504-4247 A4597834 $400,000

PALMETTO 6239 Springmont Loop 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,592 Sq. Ft. Bianca Dwyer & Jonnie Dwyer 941-209-2466 A4598816 $384,900

BRADENTON 17902 Gawthrop Drive 204 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,121 Sq. Ft. Barbara A Milian, PA 941-504-0660 A4597126 $369,000

BRADENTON 4802 51st Street W 111 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,048 Sq. Ft. Stephen Strong 941-201-9662 A4561745 $268,000

PARRISH 7814 111th Terrace E 4 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,868 Sq. Ft. Christopher Van Vliet & Jamie Van Vilet 941-993-7087 A4583027 $3,300

BRADENTON 12340 Trailhead Drive 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 1,678 Sq. Ft. Christopher Van Vliet & Jamie Van Vilet 941-993-7087 A4598286 $2,700

LAKEWOOD RANCH 15003 Camargo Place 4 Beds 4 Baths 4,042 Sq. Ft. Tina Ciaccio 941-685-8420 A4598073 $2,595,000

BRADENTON 22230 E State Road 64 4 Beds 3/1 Baths 3,031 Sq. Ft. Stacy Haas 941-587-4359 A4596938 $2,200,000

UNIVERSITY PARK 7331 Saint Georges Way 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,631 Sq. Ft. Stacy Haas 941-587-4359 A4591031 $1,495,000

888.552.5228 | MICHAELSAUNDERS.COM 419904-1

8B

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024

REAL ESTATE

Esplanade home tops sales at $1,775,000

9B

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

JAN. 29-FEB. 2

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

A

home in Esplanade topped all transactions in this week’s real estate. Robert and Sharon McNutt, trustees, sold the home at 5222 Benito Court to Gilbert Benjamin Bosse Jr. and Toni Herold Yamin, trustees, of Bradenton, for $1,775,000. Built in 2015, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 3,665 square feet of living area. It sold for $732,000 in 2015.

ISLES

WINDWARD

Neal Communities of Southwest Florida LLC sold the home at 2580 Butterfly Jasmine Trail to Lisa Broome Browning, of Sarasota, for $1,235,000. Built in 2023, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,700 square feet of living area.

Neal Communities of Southwest Florida LLC sold the home at 2471 Star Apple Way to Styron Powers and Jacqueline Glanville, of Sarasota, for $1,182,700. Built in 2023, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,861 square feet of living area.

GREENBROOK

Gregg Stuart Carlson and Kari Sue Carlson, of Gainesville, Georgia, sold their home at 6639 Coopers Hawk Court to Sarvinder Singh Kandhari and Hope Marie BartgisKandhari, of Lakewood Ranch, for $1.2 million. Built in 2005, it has five bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,800 square feet of living area. It sold for $550,000 in 2020.

INDIGO

David Joseph Beesley and Patricia Lynn Bradbury, of Sarasota, sold their home at 13326 Indigo Way to Patti Powell, trustee, of Bradenton, for $1,067,500. Built in 2021, it has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,740 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.05 million in 2022.

COUNTRY CLUB EAST

Michael and Tina Willeford, trustees, of Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, sold the home at 15739 Seaton Place to Richard and Stefanie Black, of Bradenton, for $1,025,000. Built in 2020, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,231 square feet of living area. It sold for $541,000 in 2020.

MILL CREEK

Jeffrey and Ann Wall, of Sarasota, sold their home at 14909 17th Ave. E. to Jeffrey and Lori Devine, of Bradenton, for $877,000. Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,029 square feet of living area.

Technology Development Consultants LLC, trustee, sold the home at 1015 133rd St. E. to Jordan Richert Miller and Brittany Amber Distelhurst, of Bradenton, for $546,000. Built in 1992, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 1,996 square feet of living area. It sold for $335,900 in 2023.

DEL WEBB

Jeffrey and Susan Berenson, of Bradenton, sold their home at 7567 Viola Loop to Donald Robert Calkins and Marjorie Walton Calkins, of Bradenton, for $809,000. Built in 2020, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 2,102 square feet of living area. It sold for $467,400 in 2020.

Courtesy image

CENTRAL PARK

Ana Melendez sold the home at 4607 Seneca Park Trail to Joseph Palos Jr. and Sharman Kay Palos, trustees, of Richardson, Texas, for $700,000. Built in 2013, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,308 square feet of living area. It sold for $400,000 in 2020.

BRADEN WOODS

Patricia Franklin, of Bradenton, sold her home at 9231 66th Ave. Drive E. to Alison O’Neill and Matthew Moler, of Madison, Virginia, for $670,000. Built in 1986, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,159 square feet of living area. It sold for $164,000 in 1990.

ROSEDALE ADDITION

Mary Moore, of Bradenton, sold her home at 5112 Tobermory Way to Randall Abbs, of Palmetto, for $590,000. Built in 2020, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,016 square feet of living area. It sold for $381,000 in 2020.

Denise Tarutis, of Sarasota, sold the home at 4817 79th Ave. Drive E. to Jeffrey Vu Nguyen and Kathleen Quyen Dang and Johnny Bao Dang and Huynh-Nga Ba Nguyen, of Irvine, California, for $330,000.

Built in 1987, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,731 square feet of living area. It sold for $110,900 in 1997.

This Esplanade home at 5222 Benito Court sold for $1,775,000.

It has three bedrooms, threeand-a-half baths and 3,665 square feet of living area.

SEE REAL ESTATE, PAGE 10A

In with the new NOW TAKING CONTRACTS

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

SOLERA

Ngoc Huynh Nguyen and Hae Park, of Des Plaines, Illinois, and Thi Duyen Nguyen and Tan Dat Huynh, of Bradenton, sold their home at 17590 Cantarina Cove to Gilbert and Kate Bolivar, of Bradenton, for $575,000. Built in 2022, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 3,362 square feet of living area. It sold for $576,000 in 2022.

MIRABELLA AT VILLAGE GREEN

Marc Anderson, trustee, of Tualatin, Oregon, sold the home at 1219 Calle Grande St. to Jeffrey and Kristine Johnson, of Bradenton, for $560,000. Built in 2018, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,525 square feet of living area. It sold for $371,300 in 2018.

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Bill and Patti Phillips, of Parrish, sold their home at 12938 Nightshade Place to Michael Kent and Marcela Quinones-Avila, of Lakewood Ranch, for $475,000. Built in 1999, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,967 square feet of living area. It sold for $490,000 in 2022.

CREEKWOOD

Katie Vespa, of St. Petersburg, sold her home at 4945 79th St. E. to Robert Trebisacci and Samantha Webb, of Bradenton, for $460,000.

Built in 1996, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,702 square feet of living area. It sold for $275,000 in 2019.

COUNTRY OAKS

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Ronald and Sheila Bellamy, of Sarasota, sold their home at 4810 Country Oaks Blvd. to Rosa Isela Leija, of Sarasota, for $440,000. Built in 1985, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,622 square feet of living area. It sold for $120,000 in 1994.

MichaelSaunders.com/New-Homes | 844.591.4333 | Sarasota, Florida Prices as of November 2023

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Toll FL XIII Ltd. Partnership sold the home at 8130 Nevis Run to Albert Zoller, trustee, and Linda Zoller, of Lake Forest, Illinois, for $1,399,900. Built in 2023, it has four bedrooms, four baths and 3,207 square feet of living area.

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024

PENDING

7484 Ripetta Street Sarasota, FL 34240

Real estate

4 Bed · 4.5 Bath 4,017 Square Feet

FROM PAGE 9A

Welcome to your dream retreat

Ramesh and Shant Goyal, of Knoxville, Tennessee, sold their home at 11713 Brookside Drive to Mitchell Felker, of Bradenton, for $433,000. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,784 square feet of living area.

It sold for $384,400 in 2021.

HARMONY

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Gary and Virginia Johnson sold their home at 127 Babbling Brook Run to Lenka Cenovova and Petra Sudnicka, of Bradenton, for $425,000. Built in 2015, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,559 square feet of living area. It sold for $274,000 in 2020.

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George and Paula Humbert, of Bradenton, sold their home at 4925 Clubview Court E. to George and Judith Kartsounes, of Bradenton, for $415,000. Built in 1988, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,624 square feet of living area. It sold for $150,000 in 1999.

Friday, February 23 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM

Seminar Topics

Ted Peter Schellinger and Becky Lynn Schellinger, trustees, of Parrish, sold the home at 6513 Candlestick Drive to Luis and Heather Arce, of Bradenton, for $370,000. Built in 2014, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,525 square feet of living area. It sold for $208,000 in 2014.

PERIDIA

STONEYBROOK AT HERITAGE HARBOUR

Ronald and Danielle Stanton, trustees, of Hebron, Connecticut, sold the home at 9127 Stone Harbour Loop to Karen Marie Bershok-Dupree, of Bradenton, for $395,000. Built in 2005, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,328 square feet of living area. It sold for $123,000 in 2010.

PINE TRACE

Horst Kemp, trustee, and Bonnie Rae Kemp, of Murphy, North Carolina, sold the Unit 7 condominium at 7849 Pine Trace Drive to Peter Fredriksson and Traci Lynn Reynolds, of Sarasota, for $380,000. Built in 1988, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,605 square feet of living area. It sold for $213,000 in 2019.

TERRACE AT LAKEWOOD NATIONAL

Diann Constance Durack and Lawrence Durack sold their Unit 1027 condominium at 17626 Gawthrop Drive to Rick Binder, of W. Chester, Ohio, for $369,000.

Built in 2020, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,142 square feet of living area. It sold for $210,000 in 2020.

TARA

Justin Barker, of Bradenton, sold his home at 6167 Aviary Court to Lorenzo and Maria Gallegos, of Bradenton, for $360,000. Built in 2001, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,707 square feet of living area. It sold for $360,000 in 2005.

Michelle Kalanja, of Bradenton, sold the home at 4737 Peridia Blvd.

E. to Arthur Balser III, of Danvers, Massachusetts, for $402,000. Built in 1990, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,456 square feet of living area. It sold for $306,000 in 2021.

SEMINAR PRESENTER

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Bob Levy will discuss how the U.S. Constitution should be interpreted—analyzing the views of liberals and conservatives, and explaining how those views differ from the libertarian perspective embraced by legal scholars. Bob will compare two leading theories of constitutional interpretation, examine controversial constitutional questions, describe how the Supreme Court has occasionally subverted the document’s original design, and more.

Technology, the Individual and Society: What Do Advanced Technologies Such as Artificial Intelligence Portend for the Individual and for Society?

Peter B. Miller Friday, April 12 1-2:30 pm General Admission: $15 One of the most important recent technology developments is artificial intelligence (AI).

When ChatGPT was opened to the public, it immediately garnered over one hundred million worldwide users. AI has raced forward with increasingly powerful applications for creating images and video. What does this technology portend for the individual and for society? Will these benefit us or harm us?

at YourObserver.com

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2023-24 PHOTO CONTEST

A R E F L E C T I O N O F N AT U R E ’ S B E A U T Y

Plastics and Human Health Rick Tolin Wednesday, April 17 1-2:30 pm General Admission: $15 Production of plastic products has skyrocketed over the past 20 years. Microplastics are in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. Toxins from plastic have been found in the urine of nearly every human tested. This talk will include the reasons why there has been such a dramatic increase in plastic production in recent years, the life cycle of plastic products and sources of human exposure, the physiology of the epigenetic changes that are induced by plastic-associated toxins, human health harms, and solutions.

IT’S TIME TO

VOTE! NOW THROUGH

A Generational Look at Election 2024 Susan MacManus Monday, April 29 2:30-3:30 pm General Admission: $15

FEBRUARY 26 Remember you can vote up to once per hour.

The election is shaping up to be a “young v. old” battle, and there is no place like Florida in which to examine generational shifts. This lecture will focus on generational differences in party registration, voting patterns and turnout, along with divergent opinions about governance and specific issues. Successful campaigns are attentive to these differences and to voters’ primary sources of political information. Generational media reliance patterns will be examined, along with their role in micro-targeting.

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Toward a Better Constitution Robert “Bob” Levy Wednesday, April 3 2:30-3:30 pm General Admission: $15

ONLINE

The Observer’s

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Ringling College Announces its Spring Lecture Series Registration opens: Tuesday, March 5 All lectures take place at the Ringling College Museum Campus at Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail

Mark Perfetto and Lisa Perfetto, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 4411 Murfield Drive E. to Opendoor Property Trust I, trustee, for $360,700. Built in 1991, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,267 square feet of living area.

It sold for $222,000 in 2018.

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YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024

ADVERTISEMENT

Acclaimed Hamilton-Jefferson Presentation Will Visit Sarasota on March 7 at The Ora

11B

EXCLUSIVE OFFER FOR OBSERVER READERS

HAMILTON JEFFERSON VS

THE RIVALRY THAT SHAPED AMERICA BEFORE YOU SEE THE SHOW, HEAR THE HISTORY

Historian Louis Masur recounts rivalry between Hamilton, Jefferson during a recent lecture.

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Join renowned historian, Louis Masur, for a fascinating multimedia look at the conflict between America’s first political parties—Alexander Hamilton’s Federalists, and Thomas Jefferson’s Republicans.

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Most of us forget that less than a decade ago few Americans

TO ATTEND What: Hamilton vs. Jefferson: The Rivarly that Shaped America

knew the historical details above, although the name Alexander Hamilton was certainly familiar.

Of course, the musical Hamilton changed all that. In 2015 Hamilton received a record-breaking 16 Tony nominations and won 11 awards, including Best Musical, and then went on to receive the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

When: Thursday, March 7 10 am - Noon Where: The Ora Event Venue, 578 McIntosh Rd., Sarasota | Free Parking Cost: $49 per attendee To purchase tickets, visit: YourObserver.com/hamilton-tickets

The Jewish Federation of Sarasota -Manatee Campus 578 McIntosh Rd., Sarasota 34232

Observer Reader Special Offer

ONLY

49

$

Regular Price $79

FREE PARKING

Purchase Tickets At: YourObserver.com/hamilton-tickets Presented By

420571-1

foe Aaron Burr in a duel.

12B

YourObserver.com

WEATHER

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

FORECAST THURSDAY, FEB. 15

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.

SUNRISE / SUNSET Sunrise Sunset

High: 79 Low: 56 Chance of rain: 7%

FRIDAY, FEB. 16 High: 78 Low: 61 Chance of rain: 7%

Thursday, Feb. 15

7:06a

6:21p

Friday, Feb. 16

7:06a

6:21p

Saturday, Feb. 17

7:05a

6:22p

Sunday, Feb. 18

7:04a

6:23p

Monday, Feb. 19

7:03a

6:24p

Tuesday, Feb. 20

7:02a

6:24p

Wednesday, Feb. 21

7:01a

6:25p

MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, FEB. 17

Feb. 16 First

High: 74 Low: 57 Chance of rain: 76%

Feb. 24 Full

March 3 Last

March 10 New

RAINFALL

SUNDAY, FEB. 18 High: 64 Low: 53 Chance of rain: 70%

Monday, Jan. 31

0

Tuesday, Feb. 1

0

Wednesday, Feb. 2

0

Thursday, Feb. 3

0

Friday, Feb. 4

0

Saturday, Feb. 5

0

Sunday, Feb. 6

0

*Rainfall totals from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport

David Ondocin took this photo of a roseate spoonbill along Watercrest Way in Lakewood Ranch.

YEAR TO DATE: 2024 5.61 in.

2023 1.58 in.

MONTH TO DATE: 2024 1.30 in.

2023 0.15 in.

We have all of your luxury flooring needs carpet | hardwood | tile | stone | pavers | and more Sarasota 941.355.8437 | Bradenton 941.748.4679 | Venice 941.493.7441 | manasotaonline.com

The Grounded Feeling Everyone will Enjoy

crossword

celebrity cipher

HUES ON FIRST? by Zhouqin Burnikel and Tom Pepper, edited by Jeff Chen 124 Eyelid afflictions

64 Elton John/Tim Rice

DOWN

musical

3 Get out of bed 4 “Ridiculousness” network 5 Word after “tax” or “animal” 6 Greeting visitors?

7 “Wise” birds 8 Zip, on a pitch 9 “I just want a straight answer!”

10 Pluses on a balance sheet 11 French wine valley 12 Cheerleader’s cheer 13 One landing on an aircraft carrier 14 Is for you?

15 Like phones in church, hopefully 16 Power measure 17 Cheese that’s made backward?

18 Double-dog ___ 24 Regretted 26 Horned herbivore

©2023 Universal Uclick

35 Pride of Punxsutawney

65 It may be lent or bent

95 Frozen dessert brand

37 *Big players in little

66 *Detective’s heavenly

96 *Stoic stoolies?

bulbs?

helper?

99 Site with custom crafts

39 Blaze a trail

70 Pro wrestler Flair

100 Say without forethought

42 Racing toy with an

71 Said further

101 “That wore me out!”

antenna, for short

73 Made a choice

105 Tangy yogurt drink

45 Opening for a coin

74 Winter gutter blockage

108 Stays above water

46 *Quick trip for tavern

77 Pirate’s utterance

110 Massive in scale

supplies?

78 Lower in value

111 Old Saturn SUV

48 “We’re on ___ way”

80 *Guard shift in a cargo

112 *Cash crop?

49 Creative spark

boat?

114 *Warning that the

51 Unscripted comedy

83 “People Puzzler” host

campfire hasn’t been fully

53 Incredible story

Remini

extinguished?

54 *Not print the truth?

85 Select group?

117 Dull as dishwater

57 Speaks from a podium

87 Cries of discovery

118 Come to a halt

59 Morning moisture

88 Evian water

119 “Misery” actor James

29 In plain view

60 Gooey dessert sand-

89 *Sheen from shiny

120 Like the Vikings

31 “Another card!”

wiches

fabric?

121 British conservative

32 Make more attractive

61 Ancient Celtic priest

91 Lhasa ___ (dog breed)

122 Change for a dollar

34 Prepare some provolone

63 Part of a flight

93 Hindu social stratum

123 Puts into words

1 Shuts with a bang 6 Like an unfilleted fish 10 Tennis star Sabalenka 15 Had debts to pay 19 Planet celebrated on April 22 20 Baby’s boo-boo 21 Gather wool from 22 Diddly-squat 23 *Caption of actor Owen shooting craps?

25 *Crossword tournament champion?

27 Prof’s aides 28 “Despacito” singer Fonsi

30 Singer LaBelle 33 She, in Lisbon 34 Posh parties 36 Faun features 38 “Makes sense” 39 Pride celebration event 40 Completely wipes out 41 Stick with numbers 42 Move the boat 43 Mangy mutts 44 “NCIS,” for one 46 Parsley unit 47 State-of-the-art 49 Speck in la mer 50 ___ golf 52 Place for a pitcher 55 Polliwog’s parent 56 Flubbed 58 Scatter (about)

cart 69 “With You” singer McCann 71 Regions 72 New Jersey hockey team

“U’B XK NWOJ U’B AKP 20 FMOIX KWJ OAFBKIM. ... U JKA’P SOLXM JMXPILSPUKA DKI BFXMWD OAJ KPEMIX MZMIFGEMIM U NK.”

75 Some investments (Abbr.)

76 Future ENT’s exam 77 The whole shebang

SEIUXPUAO IUSSU

“AJ CBY RWAF WUNKADWVI W GAMAVP

79 Like a round of golf

ZWPN, XTNC ZBYGF SN WSGN XB RWC

with no blemishes on the

JBK RKBFYDXI UWFN SC WUNKADWVI AV

scorecard 80 Lacks

WUNKADW.”

81 “Huh, makes sense”

TNVKC KBGGAVI

82 Cry’s partner 84 “Let me explain” 86 French toast 90 “Carpe diem” language 92 Interstellar distance measures

“FYW CYK’J EYGP TYRPYKP NPXBWTP JVPF’AP LPAUPXJ, FYW EYGP JVPR OK TLOJP YU JVP UBXJ JVBJ JVPF’AP KYJ.” IYCO LOXYWEJ

93 ER diagnostic images 94 Cleopatra’s killer 96 Bits of grass

© 2023 NEA, Inc.

Puzzle Three Clue: G equals V

Becker and Ann Kelsey

68 Overturn, as an apple

Puzzle Two Clue: D equals C

2 NBC series featuring Arnie

67 Hate, and then some

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: G equals W

1 Religious offshoots

ACROSS

417953-1

at MANASOTA FLOORING INC

97 Shifts hue, in a way ... and what the set of circled letters does 98 Boy in “The Kite Runner” 100 Sing one’s own praises 102 Partner of each 103 Sip slowly

sudoku

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

104 Spots for chapeaux 105 Pride celebration letters 106 “Alice’s Restaurant” singer Guthrie 107 Ride the thermals 109 Stand against something 110 Site that sold the original Hollywood Sign for $450,400 in 2005 113 Covertly loop in 115 Goat’s bleat 116 Place to park

61 Discourage 62 Issa of “Barbie”

©2023 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

2-15-24

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024

13B

Wear your new hearing aids home today!

Wear your new hearing Wear your newtoday! hearing aids home aids home today!

hearing carevenience (noun): Caring and convenient hearing hearing carevenience (noun): hearing carevenience (noun): care, just the way you want it.

Caring and convenient hearing Caring andthe convenient care, just way youhearing want it. care, just the way you want it.

Rediscover the sounds of the season with our

FREE 2-WEEK TRIAL!

*

A TRwait! easy to get started, so don't RIAL It's easy to get started, so don't TIt's EXwait!

S! GS! U N I N V O A Begin your journey to better hearing today B Begin your journey to better hearing today S

It's easy to get started, so don't wait! byBegin using our quick and tools. using$100 our quick andconvenient convenient tools. your journey to better hearing today GIFT CARD by using our quick and convenient tools.ACCESS ONLINE CONVENIENT ONLINESCHEDULING SCHEDULING CONVENIENT ACCESS for completing your Easily Easilybook bookand andmanage manage online!

FREE appointments 2-WEEK TRIAL! appointments online!

ONLINE SCHEDULING

Virtual, in-person, or or Virtual, in-person, curbside appointments! curbside appointments!

Choose from a wide variety of vendors!

Easily book and manage FREE 2-WEEK TRIAL* * online! appointments FREE 2-WEEK TRIAL

Try your hearing aids Try your hearing aids with no strings attached! with no strings attached!

CONTINUOUS CARE CONTINUOUS CARE Questions? Concerns?

Questions? Concerns?

We're always here!

We're always here!

FREE 2-WEEK TRIAL* Try your hearing aids See forattached! special offers! withbelow no strings

See below for special offers!

Plus receive a Receive a FREE CONVENIENT ACCESS Plus receive a Receive a FREE

$25 GIFT CARDin-person, FREE or CARE KIT Virtual, $25 GIFTyour CARD CARE KIT See belowwithFREE for special purchase of a new offers! for completing tailor a pair of purchase Phonak We Lumity with ofcan a new forappointment!1 completing your curbside appointments! payment plan that works for you! Also, ask usaids!2 about your hearing pair of Phonak Lumity appointment!1

Receive a FREE

hearing aids!2

<<Location 1>> • <<Location 2>>

420101-1

$25 GIFT CARD

HURRY! THESE OFFERS EXPIRE 2/16/24!

HURRY! THESE OFFERS EXPIRE 2/16/24! for completing your CONTINUOUS CARE

*Certain types of hearing loss may require a hearing instrument model that is not appropriate for the trial. Hearing evaluation required. See clinic for details. Only available for selected hearing instruments. 1 Patient will receive $25 gift card upon completion of hearing appointment. Complimentary hearing evaluation required.

Must have a tested hearing loss. Open to adults 18+ years and older. One gift card per customer, per year. Not valid with managed care or state insurance plans. No cash alternative. Must provide a valid email address for gift card redemption. Please allow 2-4 weeks for delivery of the gift card. 2 Free Care Kit when you purchase a new Lumity hearing aid from Jan 1 - March 31, 2024. One Care Kit per person. Not valid with managed care or state insurance plans. 3 On in-store purchases of $200+ in with the CareCredit credit card through the end of the month. Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date if the promotional purchase is not paid in full within 24 months. Minimum monthly payments required. Subject to credit approval. Offers expire 3/1/24.

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024

SAME DAY CARE

LUMITY MAKES ALL OTHER HEARING AIDS OBSOLETE INTRODUCING

Lumity by

DELIVERING AN UNRIVALED HEARING EXPERIENCE ALL OF THE FEATURES YOU'D EXPECT FROM A PREMIUM HEARING AID AND MORE! • Most Natural Sound Quality with the Enhanced Autosense OS™ • Automatically Adjusts to Your Environment with the Revolutionary SmartSpeech™ Technology • Connects to Smartphones, TV’s and Other Devices • Effortless Rechargeability

RECHARGEABLE

REMOTE PROGRAMMING

A fast-charging ging option, a drying function via inductive charging, char and intuitive left and right LEDs for status information.

Remote programming to resolve issues and make adjustments from the safety and comfort of your home or office.

UNIVERSAL CONNECTIVITY

SMART PHONE APP

Connect your Lumity hearing aids to your smart phone for carefree streaming of TV shows, movies, phone calls, music & more!

Remote Control App can control your hearing aid from a smartphone without the need for other hardware!

TRY BEFORE YOU BUY! FREE 2-WEEK TRIAL NO COST, NO OBLIGATION!

420103-1

14B

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024

15B

5-DAY EVENT 5-DAY SPECIAL SPECIAL EVENT Wear your new hearing aids home today!

Monday, February 26th – Friday, March 1st

We make the journey to better hearing easier with

HEARING CAREVENIENCE hearing carevenience (noun): Caring and convenient hearing care, just the way you want it.

It's easy to get started, so don't wait!

Begin your journey to better hearing today by using our quick and convenient tools.

Unlike Any Other Hearing Aid!

YOU DECIDE! EASY ONLINE SCHEDULING

CONVENIENT ACCESS

Book and manage appointments online!

Virtual, in-person, or curbside appointments!

FREE 2-WEEK TRIAL*

CONTINUOUS CARE

Try Lumity

No commitment and no strings attached!

Questions?

We're always here to help you!

for 30 Days

WE ALWAYS PROVIDE PROVIDE THESE THESE SERVICES SERVICES FREE! FREE!

ABSOLUTELY FREE

NO OBLIGATION See belowNO forCOST, special offers!

Reprogram your current hearing aids with your new hearing prescription and up-to-date software improvements at no charge.

Receive a FREE It is important to have your hearing checked at least once a year.

Our Video Otoscope can detect if ear wax may be the reason you are experiencing hearing difficulty.

& CONSULTATION! NO OBLIGATION!

MAKES SURE IT’S NOT EAR WAX

$25 GIFT CARD

WE ALWAYS PROVIDE THESE SERVICES FREE! for completing FREEyour FREE HEARING EXAM VIDEO EAR SCAN FREE first appointment!1 HEARING AID CHECK UP

OTHERDIGITAL DIGITAL SPECIALS OTHER SPECIALS Plus receive a

$ FREE NOW 395 WAS $795

each HEARING AID CHECK UP (Up to 40 db Loss)

It is important to have your hearing checked at least 100% 100% once a year.

Digital CIC Digital ITE

Our Video Otoscope can detect if ear wax may be the reason you are100% experiencing Micro CIC hearing difficulty.

(Completely

FREE CARE KIT FREE (Completely -in-Canal)

(In-the-Ear)

with the purchase of a WAS 995 WAS 995 HEARING EXAM $495 $ of Phonak new pair 395 NOW&hearing NOW each each CONSULTATION! Lumity aids!2 $

(Up to 40 db Loss)

$

(Up to 40 db Loss)

NO OBLIGATION!

-in-Canal)

FREE

WAS $1995

$ VIDEO EAR SCAN 595 NOWSURE eachIT’S MAKES NOT EAR WAX (Up to 40 db Loss)

420105-1

Reprogram your current hearing aids with your new 100% Digital hearing prescription and Open-Fit BTE up-to-date software (Open Fit Behind-the-Ear) improvements at no charge.

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024

5-DAY SPECIAL EVENT INTRODUCTORY !

Monday, February 26th – Friday, March 1st

INTRODUCTORY

We’ll test you for

!

and fit you with

Lum y by Lum y by We’ll test you for

and fit you with

to try f

s s LY FREE!

to try f

LY FREE!

FREE FREE HEARING EXAM! HEARING EXAM! No Cost, No Cost, No Obligation!

No Obligation!

WEWE FITFIT & SERVICE WORLD’SBEST BEST HEARING AIDS & THE WORLD’S WORLD’S BEST HEARING AIDS WE FIT & SERVICE SERVICEONLY ONLY THE THE HEARING AIDS

Elite Hearing Centers of America of

of

OURPROFESSIONAL PROFESSIONALSTAFF STAFFOF OF DOCTORS AUDIOLOGY OUR DOCTORS OFOF AUDIOLOGY LICENSEDHEARING HEARING AID SPECIALISTS &&LICENSED AID SPECIALISTS OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF OF DOCTORS OF AUDIOLOGY

& LICENSED HEARING AID SPECIALISTS

erica

OVER 50 LOCO ERNS ATVIO 50 NATLIO ON CW ATID IOEN !S NATIONW O V!ER 50 IDE

erica

Rated

OPEN NOW:

LOCATION NATIONW S IDE

!

SARASOTA (941) 491-9309

BRADENTON (941) 491-9308

DELRAY BEACH (561) 728-1443

BOYNTON BEACH (561) 728-1446

JUPITER (561) 728-1454

2807 University Pkwy In Publix Plaza at University Walk

2001 Manatee Avenue E. Ste 104 (Bradenton Pain and Wellness Center)

4900 Linton Blvd #3 (In between Poppies Restaurant and Kristi Cleaners)

4739 N Congress Ave (In between Dollar Tree and Fon Shan Chinese)

6725 West Indiantown Rd Bay 39 (In Jupiter West Plaza)

SOUTH CAROLINA LICENSE NUMBERS: HTP-1029, HTP-1024, HTP-1031, HTP-1023, HAS-0573, HAS-0642, HAS-0637, HAS- 0638, HAS-0633

GEORGIA LICENSE NUMBERS: HADS000995, HADS000996, HADS001001, HADS001003

420108-1

16B

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024

RED PAGES INFORMATION & RATES: 941-955-4888

redpages@yourobserver.com • yourobserver.com/redpages DEADLINES: Classifieds - Monday at Noon

Boats 2022 NEXTRAIL Aluminum Boat Trailer 21'-23' 6000# GVWR, Torsion Axles, Disc Brakes, spare tire, used est. 500 miles. $4,500 (941) 704-0186

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 DAD’S ROOT BEER Mugs 3/$10.

Coke, 7-Up, Pepsi, 12 oz. pedestal glasses. All 3, $5.

941-741-9727

GARAGE / MOVING SALE Tools, misc. household items, some furniture. Community sale.

Feb. 17th, 8 am - 1 pm.

Westwinds Mobile Home Park 5316 53rd Ave. East, Bradenton

BEACH’ N RIDES Electric Shop!

BEACH’Bike N RIDES eBike Sales andShop!

Rentals Electric BEACH’Bike N RIDES Ride easy on an with eBike Sales andeBike Rentals Electric Bike Shop! aseasy much exercise orwith Ride on an eBike eBike Sales and Rentals assistance as you want. much Rideaseasy onexercise an eBikeorwith Leave trafficasand assistance youparking want. as much exercise or problems behind!

Leave trafficasand assistance youparking want.

13problems models available. behind!

Leave traffic and parking aily andavailable. weekly Dmodels 13problems behind! reanitlyalasnadvawileaebklely D 13 models available.

We also other Brands reanrepair D itlyalasnadvawileaebklely Open 9repair to 5 daily except We also rentals avother ailablBrands e Sundays and holidays Open 9 to 5 daily We also repair otherexcept Brands 12208 Cortez Road, Sundays and holidays Open 9 to 5 daily except Cortez, FL 12208 Cortez Road, Sundays and holidays Cortez, FL 12208 Cortez Road, Cortez, FL 941-251-7916, Ext 1 941-251-7916, Ext 1

Ext 1 SARASOTA ANTIQUE SHOW Saturday, February 24, 10:00 am-5 pm Sunday, February 25 10:00 am-4:00 pm, 801 N Tamiami Trail at the Municipal Auditorium: Booths of Beautiful Antiques, art, jewelry & more. adm $8.00/ $1.00 off one admission with this ad www.sarasotaantiqueshow.com

General Merchandise

DMI ROLLING shower chair, commode, transport chair, rolling bathroom wheelchair, new, assembled, never used. $75 OBO 410-507-4447

AWS HEAVY DUTY Aluminum Truck/Storage Tool Box Heavy Duty Diamond Plate Aluminum Tool or Storage Box for your Pick-up Truck. 20.5" x 69.5" x 14". Double latches with keyed lock. Like New Condition. $450 (941) 355-3339

GOLF BALLS Like New. Kirkland, Nitro, Noodle, Pinnacle, Vice.

50 balls bulk. $15 (941) 524-8489

Merchandise Wanted

Sofa 3 cushion, w/ matching toss pillows, very comfortable. $100.

941-355-9057

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

Please call Marc: 941-321-0707

VINTAGE MERSMAN Lamp/end tables (pair) faux bamboo, glass tops caned bottom shelves. $130.

941-351-3166

Autos Wanted

GARAGE SALE

Advertise as low as $17.50 per week!

9412517916,

Explore *Connect* Ride Explore *Connect* Ride

BUY STUFF HERE!

CASH FOR YOUR CAR We come to you!

Ho Ho Buys cars.

941-270-4400.

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

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

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

Call Hawley Motors: 941-923-3421.

FIND BUYERS & SELLERS HERE! 941-955-4888 YourObserver.com/RedPages

YourObserver.com/RedPages

Cleaning BRAZILIAN CLEANING Service

by Maria. Residential. Meticulous Cleaning. Excellent References.

Free Estimates. Reliable. Lic./Ins. 941-400-3342.

Homes for Sale 5 ACRES Lake Barn Near Fruitville I-75 Call for Price Bradenton: Condo, 2 bed, 2 bath$229,900 Pet friendly 55+ Sarasota: 3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1 Car Garage House $359,000

Handyman Services REMODELING CONTRACTOR. 30+ yrs experience - all phases remodeling. Working in & around Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota, Bradenton. Lic./Insured.

Call Joe: 941-929-3000

Painting

2/2 Condo Plantation Golf Club Venice, Call for Price Pool Home, New windows, hvac, Completely Updated $699,000 Brooke O’Malley | Club Realty Call 941-726-2677

Vacation/ Seasonal Rentals FAIRWAY BAY 1,300 SQ.FT., 2 bed, 2 bath (en suite) furnished condominium w/ w/d, sleeps 6. Extended patio. Direct water views of downtown Sarasota.

Pool, fitness room, beach club included. Available May - Nov 2024. $5,500/month. No Pets.

Call 941-545-4471

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 & EXTERIOR PAINTING WE ARE THE BEST!!!

Residential & Commercial.

Fully Insured.

CALL or TEXT Don 941-900-9398

Explore *Connect* Ride

You’re only cheating yourself.

Items Under $200

Garage/ Moving/ Estate Sales

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

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

www.braziliancleaningbymk.com

peekers’ place

stuff

DONATE YOUR OLD LAPTOP to Foster kids Children's Guardian Fund and Sarasota Technology Users Group have teamed to refurbish used laptops. Your hard drive is securely wiped with a Dept Defense software. Call for a pickup at your location. Over 20,000 processed since 2014.

(941) 374-1107 childrensguardianfund.org/ laptop-drive

Sporting Goods

Auto Transport

CALL 941-955-4888

This week’s Crossword answers

Puzzle Two Solution: “If you paid Americans a living wage, they would be able to pay for products made by Americans in America.”

Henry Rollins Puzzle Three Solution: “You don’t love someone because they’re perfect, you love them in spite of the fact that they’re not.”

Jodi Picoult

This week’s Sudoku answers

©2024 Universal Uclick

TREASURES found here.

Looking for something? Your lucky discovery is closer than you think.

RED PAGES Made for where you live. Here!

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

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers

Puzzle One Solution: “I’m so glad I’m not 20 years old anymore. ... I don’t cause destruction for myself and others everywhere I go.”

Christina Ricci

©2024 NEA, Inc.

Announcements

real estate

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..

auto

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

home services

Made for where you live. Here!

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024

Aluminum

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 call-a-geek.net YoderAluminum.com

418543

Owner /Insured Operator Insured

YoderAluminum.com

Attorney

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

Give Us a Call - We Can Help

419597

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

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

Over 19 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 418544

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

941-705-5468

Commercial

419930

419576

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

419590

“FIX IT - DON’T REPLACE”

Auto Service

ALL PHASES OF INTERIOR & EXTERIOR REMODELING Kitchen - Bathrooms | Windows - Doors - Floor Coverings | Repairs

SELL YOUR CAR!

Patio Furniture Repairs.com

WE COME TO YOU

941-504-0903

Furniture Repair 419313

941-526-5396 | tomtka@tampabay.rr.com www.tkahomeservicesinc.com Licensed & Insured | License #CBC1256062

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418540

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MC Organize Vange Solutions LLC

419598

941.270.4400

418541

18B

941.260.2744

Handyman

Celtichomewatch@4Him.cc Licensed, Bonded, & Insured

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER

celtichomewatch.com

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941-929-3000 418545

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Doors

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$

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Kitchen/Bath Remodeling

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THE GRAB BAR GUY

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419593

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Airports, Concerts, Dinners & Cruises www.towncarservicebradenton.com 410036

419941 391220

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419946

by Allison

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Italian American Owned

Windows

Roofing

Serving Longboat Key Since 2005

Kenneth Fuhlman Inc. Building & Roofing Contractor

Allison J. Abizaid

Res. | Com. | Lic. | Ins.

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

419939

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

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419925

CALL 941-302-3933

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Painting

150

25 $

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419600

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419594

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419592

419932

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1/1

RIGHT ON TARGET

954-1878 (cell) 780-3346 Licensed & Insured

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Luxury for Less

Houses | Cages | Decks Driveways | Roofs | Paver Sealing Douglas | 941.405.5615 | Over 1 5 Years Experience

GLENN KROECKER

419947

19B

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024

941.702.0437 | ShanahanLuxuryGroup@CBrealty.com | ShanahanLuxuryGroup.com

Our Experience is Your Best Asset. $100,000,000 Closed and Pending Sales in 2023 7036 Brier Creek Court Lakewood Ranch Country Club

14322 Tree Swallow Way Greenbrook

New Listing

New Listing

17065 Polo Trail Polo Run New Listing OPEN HOUSE February 18 from 12 PM to 3 PM

$1,195,000 | 2,742 Square Feet 3 Bedrooms | 2.5 Bathrooms Office | Pool/Spa

$550,000 | 1,674 Square Feet 3 Bedrooms | 2 Bathrooms Pool

$1,125,000 | 3,520 Square Feet 5 Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms Office | Pool/Spa

17236 Hampton Falls Terrace Del Webb

1095 Blue Shell Loop Wild Blue

14921 Derna Place Azario

New Listing OPEN HOUSE February 18 from 1 PM to 4 PM

New Construction

Under Contract

$1,030,000 | 2,734 Square Feet 3 Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms Den | Premium Lake Homesite

$2,787,075 | 3, 474 Square Feet 3 Bedrooms | 4 Bathrooms Flex room

$2,150,000 | 4,457 Square Feet 4 Bedrooms | 4 and 2 Half Bathrooms 3-Car Garage | Golf-Deeded Home

720 Crosswind Avenue Lakehouse Cove Waterside

17823 Northwood Place Del Webb

3315 Chestertown Loop Mallory Park

Under Contract

$2,750,000 | 3,508 Square Feet 3 Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms Office | Home Gym | Pool/Spa

Under Contract

$1,350,000 | 2,808 Square Feet 3 Bedrooms | 3.5 Bathrooms Office | Pool/Spa

Scan for your home valuation

Just Sold

$465,000 | 1,833 Square Feet 3 Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms

or call us at 941-702-0437.

Kenneth Shanahan, PLLC

Katina Shanahan, PLLC

Tyler Shanahan, PLLC

941.702.0443 Kenneth.Shanahan@CBRealty.com

941.702.0437 Katina.Shanahan@CBRealty.com

941.961.8205 Tyler.Shanahan@CBRealty.com

413825-1

20B