East County Observer 6.27.24

EAST COUNTY

Observer

Lakewood Ranch’s weekly newspaper since 1998

Big dreams

PAGE 29

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

FREE • THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2024

VOLUME 25, NO. 52

YOUR TOWN

Twice-denied Concession project approved

Developer drops lawsuit against Manatee County after 15 homes are approved near The Concession’s north entrance. SEE PAGE 3

Courtesy image

Heartwarming camp activity Charlie Morton (above), a rising eighth grader at The Out-ofDoor Academy, had the opportunity to work one-on-one with a dog from Dogs Inc., formerly known as Southeastern Guide Dogs.

He learned about training service animals during Dogs Inc.’s visit to the upper school campus in Lakewood Ranch.

Morton’s time with Dogs Inc. was a part of ODA’s newest summer camp, Hearts of ODA. Campers were encouraged to engage in different acts of community service throughout the week.

Campers played bingo with residents at Grand Living at Lakewood Ranch, read to Gocio Elementary School students, sorted non-perishable food items for All Faiths Food Bank, cleaned up a beach, and more.

ROAD WORK AHEAD Improvements on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard have led to slight delays expected to end soon. SEE PAGE 4

Lesley Dwyer

Lane closures at the Lakewood Ranch Boulevard-Clubhouse Drive intersection are expected to last two more weeks.

Lesley Dwyer

Foodie friends

Isabel MacGloan and Jana Marra (above) are friends, coworkers and neighbors at Lakewood National.

The pair work at Elite IV Hydration, where Marra is the owner.

On June 19, the neighbors celebrated the summer solstice at Waterside Place because Agave Bandido threw a launch party for its speaktiki Maya, a cross between a speakeasy and a Tiki bar.

“We have a Tiki bar at Lakewood National, but we like to go out,” MacGloan said.

MacGloan and Marra have an active after-work routine that includes a favorite spot in every entertainment hub in the area.

The foodies love Osteria 500 at Waterside Place, Georgie’s Garden Cafe at UTC and the Grove on Main Street. They say it’s a toss up between Fuego and Tsunami when at The Green.

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An artist who raises the bar.

PAGE 15

Setting the standard for charity Sisterhood for Good presents record $156,036 to area nonprofits.

SEE PAGE 8

Liz Ramos

Jessica Ryherd, the director of marketing operations for Feeding Empty Little Tummies, is grateful for the support of Sisterhood for Good members like Peggy Kronus and Darci Jacob.

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YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2024

District 5 candidate loves a challenge Joseph Di Bartolomeo says citizens should stop voting against their interests because of a party affiliation.

MANAGING EDITOR

J

oseph Di Bartolomeo describes himself as a cerebral type person who enjoys being challenged.

Boy, did he pick a whopper of a challenge.

Tara’s Di Bartolomeo, who has no party affiliation, is running for the District 5 seat on the Manatee County Commission.

He said he no longer could sit on the sidelines — with those he calls bleacher screamers — and do nothing.

“I can’t sit by and watch what is going on,” he said. “No one in the county has any solutions. We have Republicans who hone succinct messages, and then just repeat them.

So I am suiting up and getting on the field.”

He admits it will be a tough campaign.

“There is no way for me to compete with developer and special interest money,” he said. “But there are NPAs out there looking for a home. People are looking for moderate candidates with their best interests in mind. I never have been a politician.”

But that will mean stirring the pot enough to get voters to do their due diligence and not just mark a letter on their ballot.

“There is a level of complacency in the county in terms of being informed,” he said. “The problem I see is the focus on the commission. They are trying to find answers of problems that don’t exist in our community. I am focused on the property owners. They have a vested interest in my being elected.”

Di Bartolomeo makes it clear that he is not against growth.

“There is this focus that we are overdeveloping,” he said. “That is just a symptom of the underlying issue. A community needs to grow or it withers and dies.”

DISTRICT 5 CANDIDATE District 5 candidate for the Manatee County Commission Who: Joseph Di Bartolomeo Lives: Tara Family: Wife, Helen; three children (grown), and three grandchildren Party: No party affiliation Political experience: Currently serving the second term as the chairman of the Tara Preserve Community Development District; member of the Tara Master Association

He said commissioners provide sweet deals for developers instead of guiding proper growth.

“The way they normally build infrastructure here, the schools are overcrowded and there is traffic everywhere you go,” he said. “We need an economic plan that makes sense. We need to follow a viable growth trajectory. We need to pay as we go, and we are not doing that.

This board is not fiscally conservative.”

He said the county is overextending itself with bonds, and that eventually will lead to higher taxes.

“I am a capitalist,” he said. “But not at the expense of the people of the county. I hope people will get behind me, a businessman who understands how to make money.

And I am not tied into the development community. Everything is on the up and up.”

Di Bartolomeo grew up and lived in New Jersey for much of his life, before moving to Manatee County 19 years ago.

“We were not a political family,” he said of his youth. “I was born traditional Italian Catholic and I attended

Courtesy image

Joseph Di Bartolomeo is running for District 5 commissioner in Manatee County.

Catholic high school.”

He earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s in finance from Rutgers University. He earned a second master’s in information technology from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Di Bartolomeo has worked in both the public and private sectors as well as owning several small businesses.

Among the businesses he has owned are landscaping, transportation, staff augmentation and professional consulting businesses.

He has not hired a campaign manager and is planning to knock on as many doors as possible.

Spending two terms on the Tara CDD helped prepare him for a run at a commissioner’s seat.

“It was about protecting the assets of the community,” he said of his role with the CDD. “It was about cost

“No one in the county has any solutions. We have Republicans who hone succinct messages, and then just repeat them. So I am suiting up and getting on the field.”

— Joseph Di Bartolomeo

control and taxation. You need the same core competencies as a commissioner.”

As a manager, director or CFO, he said when your people come to you with problems, you tell them to simultaneously come with solutions as well.

“I am a problem solver,” he said.

Di Bartolomeo said if he was running Manatee County as a normal business, he would be trying to find

an untapped revenue stream. For instance, could there be untapped cruise ship capabilities at the Port of Manatee?

“Or you could get together small business owners and ask them what the county is doing right, wrong, or not doing at all,” he said.

He believes the citizens of Manatee County’s District 5 will be open to a candidate without a party affiliation. He will find out in the Nov. 5 general election. He will face the primary winner between incumbent Ray Turner and challenger Robert McCann.

“Our issues are not red or blue, or right or left. I am going to reach people by using social media and by knocking on doors. I will speak to anyone about anything. People have to break the cycle of voting against their best interests.”

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JAY HEATER

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2024

TIMELINE TO APPROVAL

Bill Galvano, attorney for The Concession Golf Club, argues the developer is entitled to develop 18 more housing units on its property.

MAY 2020: The Planning Commission voted 6-0 to approve the transfer of 16 single-family detached villas within The Concession’s general development plan to 22 single-family home lots on the 17-acre parcel. However, the meeting was not properly noticed.

JUNE 2020: Residents argued their case, and the Planning Commission denied the project in a 4-2 vote.

JULY 2020: Commissioners denied the project in a 6-1 vote.

JANUARY 2021: After Concession Land Development filed a petition for dispute resolution, mediation was held before a special magistrate. Concession Land Development agreed to modify its development plan.

Lesley Dwyer

County backs down after threat of $8.9 million lawsuit

Lawsuit played a role in commissioners reversing their position on the project.

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

A

proposal for 15 homes on a 17-acre parcel at the State Road 70 entrance to The Concession was approved June 20, but some Panther Ridge and Concession homeowners who are opposed to the project said they won’t back down because one vote by Manatee County commissioners didn’t go their way.

Those homeowners have vowed to continue with a battle that began four years ago over a patch of green space and a horse trail. They hope to raise funds to file a lawsuit against the county.

“Our boards, our residents, there are many of us who have a greater resolve than what I think The Concession (representatives) would like us to have,” said Nikki Olarsch, vice president of the Foxwood at Panther Ridge Homeowners Association.

“They can expect to see us again.”

The Concession developer Kevin Daves had an equally strong resolve to reallocate the 22 remaining units out of the 255 housing units that were approved in The Concession’s General Development Plan in October 2000.

Daves’ proposal was denied twice by commissioners in 2020 and 2021.

In 2022, Daves filed a lawsuit against Manatee County claiming an estimated $8.9 million in damages for not being able to reallocate the units.

Commissioners, in their first two votes, along with residents in Panther Ridge and The Concession, found The Concession’s proposal to be incompatible with the county’s Comprehensive Plan. Most of the surrounding homes sit on five to 10 acres. This project would be clustered on a 17-acre parcel that sits 1,500 yards from the gates that lead into The Concession.

In 2000, commissioners turned down the project for the first time, voting 6-1 against it. Another reason for the denial was that the property was home to a trail — an abandoned railroad easement from the 1930s — that had been used by Panther Ridge residents for horseback riding, biking and walking for 20 years.

Residents also said that the open area has helped the two communities in terms of flood control.

Bill Galvano, attorney for The Concession Golf Club and former state senator, said the developer had considered environmental effects.

“This proposal doesn’t represent any significant environmental negative impact,” Galvano said. “They’re not impacting wetlands. They fit neatly into this existing development. And frankly, they’re consistent with the trends that are going on in this area.”

Since being rejected in 2000, the Concession’s plan was modified from 22 units down to 18, three of which will be moved to a separate parcel.

At the June 20 land use meeting, the current board approved the proposal to transfer the units from the original General Development Plan in a 5-1 vote.

The staff’s analysis was that the proposal “can be found to be” consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and in compliance with the

Land Development Code, and Daves will now drop his lawsuit against the county.

“It can be found to be consistent — I can drive a truck through that language,” Foxwood resident Mark Lyons said. “How many at-bats do these people get?”

“We have been advised by the county attorney’s office that we don’t have much of a legal path forward,” Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge said. “Our odds of winning this are slim to none.”

IN THE TRASH

Dan Lobeck, attorney for the Foxwood at Panther Ridge Homeowners’ Association, provided a packet of information for each commissioner that laid out an opposing argument to those odds. The moment the packet reached Van Ostenbridge’s hands, he stood up, walked over to the garbage can, threw the packet in and returned to his seat.

Residents, their attorneys, Commissioner George Kruse and county documents offered reasons as to why the odds were not slim to none.

“This is not my opinion. This is the county attorney office’s statement in the record of the lawsuit (filed

by The Concession),” resident Rich Williams said as he read from the statement. “Denial did not deprive the plaintiff of the ability to make reasonable economic use. Plaintiff’s complaint fails to state a cause of action for inverse condemnation.”

The Florida Bar Journal defines inverse condemnation as “a claim made by a property owner that the effect of a governmental action on its property is so devastating that it is the equivalent of the direct exercise of eminent domain, and thus requires just compensation under the Fifth or 14th amendments.”

Attorneys for The Concession argued that they’ve had the right to build 22 more homes for 24 years, but Kruse said that doesn’t matter because Daves profited on the land twice already in that time.

“There may not be 255 physical structures, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t make a reasonable expected return on the land itself,” Kruse said. “They also subsequently sold the golf course, and part of that was with the cottage rights. There were 16 of them, and now they’re trying to take those 16 away that they already sold, and take them back after they profited from selling them the first time with the golf course.”

The Concession sold all 255 lots, but many to the same owners for single homes. Olarsch said the developer’s “stupidity” should not be the public’s problem.

“As the developer, you made that choice,” she said. “Now, it’s become the public’s problem that you think you’re entitled, like some child, to get whatever you want just because you have money to keep pushing the issue.”

FILED UNDER BERT HARRIS

Daves’ lawsuit was filed under the Bert J. Harris Jr. Private Property Rights Protection Act. To summarize the act, the government can’t inordinately burden a piece of private property with laws and regulations.

When passed in 1995, the focus was on farmers. Now, the act is often used by developers when their projects are denied. “(The Harris Act) has taken away all subjective opinions of a board to do what’s in the best interest for the community,” Kruse said. “It’s tried to quantitatively analyze things that, in some cases, just have to be qualitatively analyzed.”

Commissioner Ray Turner said the commission has to try to avoid litigation if the county attorney says the case has merit.

“We can’t take the approach of — it’s only $9 million and it serves this small number of people,” he said.

“It’s the rest of the county’s money, too.”

Kruse said there’s no way The Concession has a viable Bert Harris claim because the act doesn’t state how

AUGUST 2021: Another board that included current commissioners George Kruse, Kevin Van Ostenbridge and James Satcher, voted to deny the modified plan of 15 single-family houses in another 6-1 vote.

OCTOBER 2022: Concession filed an $8.9 million lawsuit against Manatee County.

SEPTEMBER 2023: Commissioners agreed to hear the proposal for a third time in accordance to a settlement agreement with The Concession. The number of proposed homes was 22.

JUNE 2024: The number of proposed homes was reduced to 18. Commissioners approved the request in a 5-1 vote.

much profit has to be made. The act simply states that a property owner is entitled to make a return that he or she could reasonably expect to make, which was accomplished when all 255 lots were sold for profit.

“What’s disturbing about this scenario is that, as Commissioner Kruse indicated, nothing has been taken away,” said Maggie Mooney, resident and legal representation for The Forest Homeowners’ Association. “The only thing ever denied was the right to place those units in a particular spot.”

Residents were calling the lawsuit frivolous and nothing more than a threat back in September 2023 when commissioners signed off on a settlement agreement that didn’t actually settle anything. The agreement stated that if the proposal wasn’t reheard for a third time, the lawsuit would continue. If the proposal was reheard and approved, the lawsuit would be dropped.

Galvano reiterated that message to start off the presentation.

“Commissioners, what you have before you today is a proposed ordinance that represents an opportunity for you to resolve, once and for all, costly, active, pending litigation impacting the taxpayers of Manatee County,” he said.

County attorney Christopher DeCarlo backed up Galvano saying that the lawyers and residents for the opposition group are asking the county to absorb the risk of a multimillion-dollar lawsuit because they don’t want to see a piece of property developed.

Courtesy image

The proposed project site is marked in the hashed area, at the entrance to The Concession and near Panther Ridge.

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YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2024

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by Manatee County, more than 20,000 cars a day drive through the intersection of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard and Clubhouse Drive.

That is the biggest reason motorists have experienced a backup while intersection improvements are being made there.

However, Manatee County spokesman Bill Logan said the biggest delays are just about finished as intermittent lane closures are only expected for two more weeks.

The improvements at the intersection include the addition of a traffic signal, northbound and southbound right turn lanes, eastbound and westbound left turn lanes, new crosswalks with crosswalk signals, fiber optic communication related infrastructure, and advanced traffic management system devices.

Motorists also had to deal with other slight delays along that stretch of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard in the last week as a “scratch course,” was applied to reduce the effect of potholes.

That repair to the roadway, on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard between Switchgrass Trail and State Road 70, is not a long-term solution but a temporary fix until a major paving project begins.

Logan said the finished surface won’t be aesthetically pleasing, but the goal is to patch holes and shore up the surface so that the asphalt crews don’t have to make so many site visits.

For residents, it could mean less trips to the mechanic. AAA estimates the average pothole repair costs $425 in Florida.

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vard began on June 21 and was completed by the time rush hour traffic began on June 24. Drivers negotiated through lane shifts, but no full-lane closures.

Manatee County put down a scratch course because that stretch of the road was in particularly poor condition. A scratch course is a thin layer of asphalt that will level the road.

The $16,448,575 major paving plan on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard is due to start construction in October 2025. The base and asphalt will be reconstructed on the 2.9-mile corridor of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard from University Parkway to State Road 70.

Traffic signals will be upgraded with Microwave Vehicle Detection Systems, which detect roadway data like the speed and volume of cars.

Originally split into three separate projects that would have extended the completion date, the corridor is now expected to be finished by December 2026.

“Instead of stepping it out over a few years, I had (staff) prioritize doing the 70 to University stretch right away,” Commissioner Ray Turner said. “We’re not cutting that into sections. We’re not cutting anything. We’re funding the whole thing.”

If all goes according to plan, construction will then start on the inside lanes of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard from State Road 70 to State Road 64 in October 2027.

Manatee County laid down a thin layer of asphault to temporarily smooth the worst sections of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard until a complete resurfacing can be done next year.

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YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2024

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Jay Heater

Tom and Diane Carter say a county commissioner has told them the county will no longer be taking part of their Creekwood backyard to build a roundabout.

Creekwood roundabout hits road block The $6.9 million project is headed toward a deferred list due to lack of funds.

JAY HEATER MANAGING EDITOR

T

homas Carter knows it isn’t completely official, but he and his wife, Diane, went out to celebrate nonetheless.

The Carters have been in a battle with Manatee County for the past two years over a proposed roundabout on Creekwood Boulevard and 73rd Street East that would cut off much of their backyard if constructed.

The roundabout was part of a

$6,890,115 Creekwood Boulevard improvement plan to ease traffic concerns at the 52nd Place East intersection with Creekwood that serves the shopping center there. Those using the Creekwood Crossing shopping center have encountered long delays trying to exit the shopping center to turn left onto to Creekwood Boulevard to head to State Road 70. It has created unsafe conditions as motorists dart in front of each other trying to get into traffic.

The idea was to force all traffic out of the shopping center, at that point, to turn right, then proceed to the proposed roundabout at Creekwood and 73rd Street East.

Last week, Carter received a call from Manatee County Commissioner George Kruse who said a county

why is Treating

staff report indicated an expanding proposed budget and limited resources forced it to recommend that certain projects be placed on a deferred list, and the Creekwood improvements project was one of them.

Asked for comment from the staff about projects that were being pushed toward a deferred list of projects, Information Outreach Manager Bill Logan sent an email that said, “It is important to note that while deferral has been recommended, nothing has been decided or finalized. At present, there is no list of deferrals.

This topic won’t be discussed by the BOCC until Aug 1.

“It is also important to remember that these are still being considered, and regardless of what projects end

What: Creekwood Boulevard improvements Scope: Reconstruct median at 52nd Place East to restrict the left out movements and construct a roundabout at the 73rd Street East intersection.

Rationale: Creekwood Boulevard at 52nd Place East has a full median opening that serves the shopping center to the east of Creekwood Boulevard. During the peak periods and peak season, traffic has been observed to queue from the S.R. 70 intersection to the 52nd Place East intersection. Also, traffic is observed to queue on the east leg of 52nd Place East to wait for a gap in the traffic on Creekwood Boulevard. Staff recommends restricting the left out movements at the 52nd Place East intersection and constructing a roundabout at the 73rd Street East intersection.

Estimated cost: $6,890,115 Expended to date: $412,693 Original completion date: Summer 2024

up on the deferred list, no projects are being canceled. The intent is for deferred projects to come back in future CIP years.”

Kruse, who said he never liked or supported the project, said while that might be true, it is unlikely the project would come back in the next five years, if at all.

Carter is convinced he can now live in peace.

“I don’t mind when a county does a project,” he said. “But I do mind when they don’t do it right.”

He did say that Kruse warned him that a commissioner could move to take the project off the cut list, but that is unlikely since the project’s main proponent, former Commissioner Vanessa Baugh, has retired.

Carter said many other parcel owners affected by the project “would have a fit” if it was taken off a cut list.

5

He said county taxpayers also should have a fit if the project comes back.

“The project had gone to ‘regulatory takings,’” Carter said. “That means it would be more expensive.

With regulatory takings, you can take the cost (of acquiring land) times two. That happens when the project hasn’t been done right. And part of that is that the county has to apologize to you.”

Under the Fifth Amendment in the U.S. Constitution, a regulatory taking occurs when a landowner is deprived by a government action of economically reasonable use of value of the property. Carter said the county never notified homeowners of the project and instead worked only through the HOA. Kruse said he recognizes that the stretch of Creekwood Boulevard is a problem area and needs to be addressed, but he said there are solutions other than “cramming it in someplace and encroaching on people’s neighborhoods and homes.”

He also noted that many other road projects were suggested by the staff to be placed on a deferred list due to lack of funding, such as three intersection improvement plans on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard. He said the staff report suggested deferring $38 million in improvements to the planned Lena Road extension and $76 million in improvements to the Lorraine Road widening and improvement project.

Carter said, apparently, the county is not rolling in bucks to do such projects, and that has been good news for him.

He called the county’s plan to take part of his backyard to build the roundabout “a land grab.”

Carter, a retired Army captain, put together several Power Point presentations that he sent to the county and he hopes that “tipped the iceberg.”

“The county does not like me,” he said. “I was a contracting officer in the military. I would have courtmartialed some people if this was my project. They just showed up with some stakes one day and put them on my backyard.”

The Carters’ home has been in the family for 19 years.

Construction on the project originally had a 2024 finish date.

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YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2024

County streamlines Premier management Sports and Leisure will handle most day-to-day operations at Premier Sports Campus and Premier Park.

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

A

s Manatee County begins to develop its Premier Park land to the north of the Premier Sports Campus, it is looking to streamline its operations that oversee both sites.

“We have three departments that have their hands in the oversight of Premier,” County Administrator Charlie Bishop said. “So the events will be run by Sports and Leisure, and the day-to-day maintenance operations will be run by Property Management.”

The move will need to be approved by the Manatee County Commission.

The third department was the Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Elliott Falcione said the updates will optimize operations at a facility that stimulates about $40 million in economic impact each year.

As a former assistant director of operations for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Falcione said he was a good fit to run the events at the Premier Sports Campus when it was first purchased by the county from Schroeder-Manatee Ranch in 2017.

“What we didn’t want to do was just make it another community park and then lose that annual impact to the community, especially when tourism tax proceeds were used to buy it,” Falcione said.

As more amenities at Premier Park begin to open, Sports and Leisure will have full-time staff on-site to manage the facilities, so Falcione said it makes sense for that department to also oversee the Premier Sports Campus.

Locker rooms and a permanent event tent are currently under construction at Premier Sports Campus, and the parking is being expanded to include a drop-off circle and overflow parking.

The event tent is climate controlled and includes restrooms and a backup generator. The overall project, which costs $3,746,949, includes lighting and additional parking. It’s anticipated to be finished in February 2025.

Information Outreach Manager Bill Logan said the county is expected to break ground on the Racquet and Aquatic Complex at Premier Park in early 2025.

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These are the only amenities that have plans with estimated dates of completion. A baseball/softball campus, playground and recreation trail are in the park’s more distant future.

Pickleball courts: Summer 2026 Aquatics center: Summer 2026 Manatee County Sheriff’s Office substation: Spring 2026 Parking garage: Summer 2027 or after

The Premier Park Racquet and Aquatic Complex will feature a competitionsized pool to host events.

The plans for the complex were sent back for a third revision in December 2023 to eliminate the 25-meter-by-25-yard pool and stay within the $39 million budget. The plans for the complex are now 90% complete.

Tom Yarger, the division manager of Construction Services, said once construction starts, the complex will take about 18 months to finish.

Bishop said the county is exploring public-private sports partnerships at Premier Park that would be “game-changing.” He said details of such a partnership are not available to the public because the county signed a non-disclosure agreement, but should be making an announcement within the next six months to a year.

The county has yet to build a park amenity on the land it purchased seven years ago with the promise of park amenities. Commissioner Ray Turner, who represents District 5, said that is about to change.

“We just needed to get out of our own way with Premier Park,” Turner said. “We’re pressing on the gas now.

We’re going to see a lot of this stuff rolling out a lot faster in the fall.”

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2024

EAST COUNTY

“We make our events so interactive and enjoyable that people want to come back, so it’s not pressure, it’s a pleasure.”

— Angela Massaro-Fain

Photos by Liz Ramos

Angela Massaro-Fain, the founder of Sisterhood for Good, presents a grant check to Beth Grogran, the founder of Magic of Mittens, which provides holiday gifts to families in need.

Sisters produce another record year Sisterhood for Good raises $153,036 in grants for 40 Sarasota and Manatee nonprofits.

GRANT RECIPIENTS ■ A Door of Hope ■ Baby Basics of Sarasota ■ Beds for Kids ■ Beyond the Spectrum ■ Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Suncoast ■ Breaking Chains Foundation ■ Bridge a Life ■ Bring on the Ministry ■ CenterPlace Health ■ Children First ■ Child Protection Center ■ The Haven ■ Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota ■ Easterseals Southwest Florida ■ Everyday Blessings ■ Feeding Empty Little Tummies ■ Foster the Family ■ Girls Inc. of Sarasota County ■ Habitat for Humanity of Sarasota ■ Harbor 58 ■ Humane Society of Manatee County ■ Kids Against Hunger ■ Liquid Castles Inc. ■ Manatee Children’s Services ■ Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee ■ Prodigal Daughters Journey Home ■ Resilient Retreat ■ Resurrection House ■ Saving Our Seniors ■ St. Joseph’s Food Pantry ■ Suncoast Aging Network ■ Take Stock in Children of Manatee County ■ Team Tony Cancer Foundation ■ The Florida Center for Early Childhood Development ■ The Magic of Mittens ■ The Mark Wandall Foundation ■ The Players Theatre ■ The Police Athletic League of Manatee County ■ The Twig Cares ■ We Care Manatee

LIZ RAMOS SENIOR EDITOR

W

hisper Bend’s Melissa Wandall was filled with gratitude.

She held a check for $4,360 from Sisterhood for Good on June 20 as she shared how the money would help four local children who have lost a parent, sibling or guardian go to camp.

Wandall said her nonprofit, The Mark Wandall Foundation, usually takes 50 kids to a three-day camp that provides therapeutic services and more to help them through the grieving process.

This year, Wandall said the foundation sent 64 kids to camp, and there were still 24 kids on the waitlist.

“We cannot do this without our community,” Wandall said. “The collaboration we have with Sisterhood for Good is phenomenal. You can’t put a price tag on it. … The most important part (of camp) is they are connecting with other kids so they know they’re not alone in their grief.”

Angela Massaro-Fain, the founder of Sisterhood for Good, tried to hold back tears as each of the nonprofit’s grant recipients came forward to accept a check and then share how the money would impact their nonprofits during Sisterhood for Good’s annual grants presentation at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing in Lakewood Ranch.

Massaro-Fain was in awe hearing how the funds would help hundreds of individuals in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

Thinking back on how Sisterhood for Good started in 2011 with only 10 members and two $500 grants, Massaro-Fain said she’s filled with pride and humility to see the nonprofit expand to more than 275 members raising $153,036 to provide 40 grants for nonprofits.

“Taking care of our community, for me, is key,” she said. “Not everybody

BY THE NUMBERS 2011 Inception of Sisterhood for Good 10 Members when Sisterhood for Good started $1,000 Total raised in 2011 2 Grants given in 2011 275 Members in 2024 47,205 Individuals assisted since 2011 183 Grants given since 2011 $472,277 Amount in grants since 2011 40 Grant recipients in 2024 $153,036 Amount given in grants in 2024

has what everybody else has. Some people struggle, some people don’t, but for the people that struggle, they really need our help.”

The grants will help in various ways, from providing basic supplies, to care for babies, to helping children in foster care, to feeding families, to assisting animals.

Jill Gass, the vice president of philanthropy for Easterseals Southwest Florida, said the $2,500 grant Easterseals received will pay for communication devices for children who are nonverbal.

“Most of us can’t imagine not being able to communicate, but we have moms and dads sending their kids to us every day who have never heard their voices,” Gass said. “This grant will provide the opportunity for eight moms to hear their chil-

dren’s voices for the first time.”

Nonprofits like Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee and Baby Basics of Sarasota will use their grants to provide diapers, wipes and other baby supplies to mothers.

Jessica Ryherd, the director of marketing operations for Feeding Empty Little Tummies, said the $5,000 grant the nonprofit received will provide 3,000 weekend meals for approximately 500 children.

Ryherd said FELT served more than 377,000 meals in the 2023-2024 school year, and the nonprofit delivers meals to every school in Manatee County. For the first time, Ryherd said there was a wait list of people wanting to receive food.

Anna Crowe, who receives assistance from Harbor58, and her mentor, Annie Wilson, are grateful for Sisterhood for Good. The grants presentation event allowed them to spread awareness of Harbor58 and connect them with other nonprofits with which they can partner.

“Donations like this help us get a little bit closer to not having a waitlist because at the end of the day, we don’t want anyone to go without,” she said.

Nonprofits such as The Twig, Harbor 58 and Liquid Castles will assist children in foster care.

Stacey Maloney, the founder and chief executive officer of Liquid Castles, said its ultimate is to help those aging out of foster care be able to put down a deposit on their first home.

The nonprofit received $4,000.

Harbor58 is focused on providing life skills to teenagers in foster care and those aging out of foster care.

Annie Wilson, a mentor for the nonprofit, said receiving a grant from Sisterhood for Good is encouraging.

Wilson said attending the grants presentation allowed Harbor58 to spread awareness of the nonprofit.

She said she was able to educate others on the mission of Harbor58 and strike up conversations with other nonprofits that could lead to future partnerships.

Every year since 2014, Sisterhood for Good members have been able to out-do themselves, raising more money than the year before. Massaro-Fain said it’s a result of the passion of the members.

“Nothing can take the place of being passionate about something you believe in,” she said. “We’re passionate about female group philanthropy and affordable philanthropy.

Our philanthropy is affordable to the women who want to be able to write a small check and be able to participate in helping elevate our community.”

Massaro-Fain said she doesn’t feel pressure to have the nonprofit raise more money than the previous year but rather there’s a desire among members to do so. They work to make their fundraising events, such as Designer Bag Bingo and the nonprofit’s annual gala, so much fun people want to return year after year.

2019: $21,000 2018: $9,500 2017: $7,252 2016: $3,010 2015: $2,500

Friedrich Hayek

“Road to Serfdom,” 1944 Publisher and President / Emily Walsh, EWalsh@YourObserver.com Associate Publisher — East County Observer / Lori Ruth, LRuth@YourObserver.com Executive Editor and COO / Kat Wingert, KWingert@YourObserver.com Managing Editor / Jay Heater, JHeater@YourObserver.com Senior Editor / Liz Ramos, LRamos@YourObserver.com Sports Editor / Ryan Kohn, RKohn@YourObserver.com Staff Writer / Lesley Dwyer, LDwyer@ YourObserver.com Digital & Engagement Editor / Kaelyn Adix, KAdix@YourObserver.com Digital Content Producer / Jim DeLa, JDeLa@YourObserver.com Copy Editor / Gina Reynolds Haskins, GRHaskins@YourObserver.com Senior Editorial Designer / Melissa Leduc, MLeduc@YourObserver.com A+E Editor / Monica Roman Gagnier, MGagnier@YourObserver.com Director of Advertising / Jill Raleigh, JRaleigh@YourObserver.com Regional Sales Director / Penny Nowicki, PNowicki@YourObserver.com Regional Digital Director / Kathleen O’Hara, KOHara@YourObserver.com Senior Advertising Executive / Laura Ritter, LRitter@YourObserver.com Advertising Executives / Richeal McGuinness, RMcGuinness@ YourObserver.com; Lexi Huelsman, Lexi@ YourObserver.com; Jennifer Kane, JKane@ YourObserver.com; Honesty Mantkowski, HMantkowski@YourObserver.com; Toni Perren, TPerren@YourObserver.com; Brenda White, BWhite@YourObserver.com Classified Advertising Sales Executive / Anna Reich, AReich@YourObserver.com Sales Operations Manager / Susan Leedom, SLeedom@YourObserver.com Sales Coordinator/Account Manager Lori Downey, LDowney@YourObserver.com Advertising/Marketing Coordinator / Caitlin Ellis, CEllis@YourObserver.com Digital Fulfillment Specialist / Emma B. Jolly, EJolly@YourObserver.com Tributes Coordinator / Kristen Boothroyd, Tributes@YourObserver.com Director of Marketing / Robin Lankton, RLankton@YourObserver.com Marketing Specialist / Melanie Melone, MMelone@YourObserver.com Director of Creative Services / Caleb Stanton, CStanton@YourObserver.com Creative Services Administrator / Marjorie Holloway, MHolloway@ YourObserver.com Advertising Graphic Designers / Luis Trujillo, Taylor Poe, Louise Martin, Shawna Polana Digital Developer / Jason Camillo, JCamillo@YourObserver.com Information Technology Manager / Homer Gallego, HGallego@YourObserver. com Chief Financial Officer / Laura Strickland, LStrickland@YourObserver.com Controller / Rafael Labrin, RLabrin@YourObserver.com Office and Accounting Coordinator / Donna Condon, DCondon@ YourObserver.com

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MORE MONEY RAISED 2024: $153,036 2023: $110,800 2022: $76,850 2021: $44,359 2020: $41,930

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Sisterhood for Good presents grants totaling $153,036 to 40 nonprofits in Manatee and Sarasota counties.

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SIDE OF RANCH

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2024

9

JAY HEATER

Local author stirs up his own ‘mob’ S o I was tipped about a local author, East County’s Mike Sisti, who has written a series of novels and developed an impressive following along the way.

Well, la...de...da...de...da.

I often talk to local self-published authors, who are basically in the pay-to-play system.

If you have the bucks, you, too, can be an author.

Even so, I respect the dedication it takes to put together any book, so I figured I would check out Sisti’s story.

What I found was not so much a story about novels, but a story of inspiration.

You see, Sisti is a very young 84 years old.

That is not the clincher, though.

I have met many of those latechapter-in-life authors, who finally have time on their hands, so they sit in their living rooms typing instead of watching Perry Mason reruns. I might be there myself one day.

No, Sisti’s story is different. It’s about innovation.

And that’s what inspires me.

Whether you are 8 or 80, you can tap an area heretofore untouched.

But it takes daring, and perseverance.

Sisti’s idea was to recruit a legion of followers — he calls them “mobsters” — who care enough about his writing to spend their precious time reviewing his work, and giving him tips about his writing, book titles, or even art for the book covers.

His “Flash Mob” has grown to more than 550, what social media would probably call “followers,” and continues to grow even though none of his nine novels, although heralded with awards, have made their way to a best-sellers list. The mob has become a bigger story than the story.

It could be argued that his process is more rewarding than the outcome.

“I started with six friends who

loved to read,” Sisti said. “They were fascinated by my writing process. They became immersed in what I was working on and they became a group of advisors. I am the author, and they submit ideas.

They read my early drafts, and they don’t sugarcoat anything.

“They will tell me, ‘The book starts great, then drops dead.’ But they always are encouraging.”

In general, being an author is a solitary pursuit. Why would Sisti want to involve the masses?

“It’s much more fun,” Sisti said.

“Writing is a lonely business. When I start writing, the story starts to write itself and I just know what is going to happen. I do it myself in my office at 6 a.m., and I don’t know whether it is any good.

Other people start looking over my shoulder. It’s great. Some authors have a mentor or an advisor, or two.

Nobody has a group like this.”

Rhode Island’s Lucy Svagan is a proud mobster. She met Sisti when he ran the marketing department at Blue Cross Rhode Island.

“In essence, this is his own focus group study,” Svagan said. “And creative people jump at the chance to be creative. It’s nice to know we are part of something.”

When they worked together at Blue Cross, Svagan said Sisti would send out emails to his employees that were business related, and yet they always included some humorous story he had made up.

“He always entertained us,” she said. “And we liked him, so that goes a long way.”

Now he sends newsletters about his work to his “mobsters” and besides asking their opinions on his writing, he includes other bits of humor. She said she looks forward to the newsletters that come about once a month along with checking out his blog.

Has he taken any of her suggestions?

She said she voted on the best

design for the cover of his newest book, “On the Brink,” and also nixed a couple other titles that she considered kind of silly before he settled on the current one.

While many of Sisti’s original members of his “Flash Mob” were former coworkers, the group grew as they contacted their friends and word spread across social media. He has members all over the U.S. and one in Bordeaux, France.

“They all read, and they love getting involved,” Sisti said. “My open rate (for his newsletter) is 70%.”

Sisti’s current publisher, John Koehler, posted this on his site.

“My firm has published nearly a thousand books for 940 authors with sales of over 900,000 books.

While most authors have a fan base, Michael Sisti has a large, dedicated organization. Sisti’s first book with us is the product of this synergetic collaboration, and why we signed him.”

As far as his writing, Sisti bases his topics on actual events, but strays from the facts so they are considered fiction and therefore, not open to lawsuits. He is publishing “On the Brink,” through Koehler Books of Virginia Beach, Virginia. It already has won the International Firebird Award.

His first book was “Executive Crumple Zone,” published in 2008.

To find out more on his books, go to MichaelSisti.com.

Executive Crumple Zone involved his experience at Blue Cross Rhode Island, which began in 1996 when he was hired to be a consultant and then later hired full time, which lured him away from a marketing company he owned in Bergen County, New Jersey. He wouldn’t have left his company, but he said his wife, Sara, had breast cancer at the time, and he liked the benefits that Blue Cross would provide.

Changes in upper management caused him to leave the company and in 2002 he and Sara moved to

Jay Heater

East County author Michael Sisti’s newest book is “On the Brink.”

Sarasota.

In 2004 he decided to write a “little tribute” to his staff at Blue Cross.

“They were amazing people,” he said. “I still had my company laptop.”

He started looking back at some of the “zingers” he sent to his coworkers in the internal email account. “The department didn’t like the water in our water fountains so we — 25 of us — all paid for a water color, about $2.75 each a month. I wrote to them that I had been in meetings all month and had only two sips, so I only owed 25 cents.”

Eventually, he wrote his first book using emails to tell the story, another innovation. The story was loosely based on the true story of a state senator going to prison for his dealings with Blue Cross, and with Sisti, who was indirectly involved.

Sisti said he has been writing — “mostly essays and stuff” — since

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he was a kid growing up in Brooklyn, New York.

His mother, Mary, was a disciplinarian and his dad, Michael, ran a printing plant. He was first generation American and his mom wanted him to become “a perfect kid,” sending him to Catholic grammar and high schools with nuns and priests.

He said more books are on the way.

“Writing is my drug habit,” he said. “And I need to support my habit.”

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

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2024

Celebration uncorked Fiorelli Winery to host holiday event to benefit Suncoast Charities for Children.

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Whether you’re seeking preventative care or battling an eye condition, Dr. Kansara’s expertise and compassionate care can guide you towards improved vision and a healthier lifestyle. He is dedicated to staying at the forefront of ophthalmic advancements, offering the latest treatments and technologies to deliver the best possible outcomes for his patients.

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o Kristin Hokanson, celebrating Fourth of July means coming together with family and friends.

Even if it’s a few days early.

So that’s what makes the third annual Red, White and Blueberry Celebration on June 29 extra special for Hokanson, who owns Fiorelli Winery with her husband, John Hokanson.

“We’re excited to bring people into our family by hosting this event with great music and a great charitable organization,” Hokanson said.

For the first time, Hokanson said the Red, White and Blueberry Celebration will feature a band rather than a solo act. The country band One Night Rodeo will take the stage.

The event also includes food trucks, such as Southern Smoked by JP, as well as a variety of craft vendors.

Hokanson said the celebration will be family friendly with kids activities as well as the winery’s playground.

The night will end with fireworks at 9:45 p.m.

Hokanson said 10% of sales will go to Suncoast Charities for Children, which she said is dear to her heart.

Suncoast Charities for Children supports other nonprofits that serve children, teens and adults with special needs. Those nonprofits include Children First, Special Olympics Florida, The Florida Center for Early Childhood, Loveland Center, The Haven, Venice Challenger Baseball League and Suncoast Foundation for Handicapped Children.

Hokanson said Suncoast Charities for Children is important to her because her 46-year-old brother Shawn White receives services at The Haven. Hokanson said White

Courtesy image

IF YOU GO

RED, WHITE AND BLUEBERRY CELEBRATION When: 7-10 p.m. June 29 Where: Fiorelli Winery, 4250 Waterbury Road, C.R. 675 Bradenton Cost: Free; Parking $10 Details: Enjoy food trucks, craft vendors, live music and fireworks while supporting Suncoast Charities for Children More information: FiorelliWinery.com/event/redwhite-blueberry-celebration

The Red, White and Blueberry Celebration returns to Fiorelli Winery June 29 in East County.

lost oxygen at birth, causing developmental delays.

“I’m sure everybody can think of a friend or family member who has some form of special needs,” Hokanson said.

Lucy Nicandri, the executive director of Suncoast Charities for Children, said the nonprofit is grateful for Fiorelli Winery’s support.

Nicandri said the population growth in Sarasota and Manatee counties is resulting in an increase in need of services for individuals with special needs. She said the rising cost of health insurance is causing parents to stop sending their children to therapy and other services.

“We are appreciative of anything that comes our way financially because it goes toward the bottom line and helps reduce the wait list too,” she said.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2024

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2024

Driven to succeed Manatee Technical College student says his MTC degree has given him power in the job market.

LIZ RAMOS SENIOR EDITOR

E

ast County’s Evan Bouthillier always wanted to fix issues with his Ford F-150, but he didn’t know how.

As a senior in high school, he started working at Valvoline as a lube technician in 2019. He appreciated the experience and the opportunity to learn about multiple types of makes and models of vehicles.

But he wanted more.

After doing some research and hearing positive feedback regarding Manatee Technical College’s diesel systems technician program, Bouthillier decided to enroll.

When MTC hosts graduation for its programs June 26 and June 27 at its main campus, Bouthiller will be celebrating his ability to now fix not only his own car but other mediumand heavy-duty vehicles as well after completing the diesel systems technician program.

Bouthillier said he’s grateful for the experience he gained.

“Knowledge is power, and the connections get you there faster,” Bouthillier said.

Although between jobs at the moment, Bouthillier said the connections he has made through Adam Green, the diesel systems technician program instructor, has opened doors for him. He is taking the time to find the job that is the best fit for him because diesel mechanics are in high demand.

Bouthillier’s on-the-job training with Sun State International in Sarasota gave him hands-on experience to prepare him for his next job. “(Sun State International) is never doing the same thing twice,” he said.

“I loved the jack-of-all-trades kind of work I was doing. If I do the same

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Liz Ramos

thing repetitively, I get bored quickly. I constantly want to be working and learning new things.”

Bouthillier said he was confident knowing that Green was working to get him a job.

“It gives you a sense of security,” he said. “I’m in the process of finding a job that fits me. There’s always going to be work, and I will always have a place to go. Because of how I performed as a student and the amount of certifications I built up on top of my (Commercial Driver License), I’m coming out in the top echelon of this group. I have so much available to me, it’s honestly a little bit mind boggling.”

Throughout his training in the program, Bouthillier worked on various vehicles, including light medium tactical vehicles from Manatee County Search and Rescue. He said working on the light medium tactical vehicle was one of his favorites because of its “phenomenal power.”

“The power that vehicle holds is absolutely invigorating,” he said. “It is so cool to understand how each one of these vehicles takes a diesel

East County’s Evan Bouthillier receives hands-on experience in Manatee Technical College’s diesel systems technician program by working on Manatee County Search and Rescue vehicles.

Bouthillier hopes to become a master mechanic.

July 27, 2024 Robarts Arena FREE Admission!

FREE Local Amish Pie!

Doors open at 10 a.m.

Speeches begin at 11:30 a.m Invited Speakers:

U.S. Senator Rick Scott Congressman Greg Steube (District 17) Congressman Vern Buchanan (District 16) State Senator Joe Gruters (District 22) Now with Rumble on site!

And Salem Radio!

Salem Radio Host Bill Bunkley will be live broadcasting!

Come meet OVER 50 LOCAL CANDIDATES who will be participating in the Rally

Paid for and approved by the Republican Party of Sarasota County

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There will be over 50 candidates from Sarasota County, including Legislators, County Commission, and School Board Candidates. Municipal candidates from Sarasota, Venice & North Port.

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BY THE NUMBERS Manatee Technical College will celebrate the graduation of nearly 600 students in its programs June 26 and June 27. The ceremonies are not open to the public. Here are how many students are graduating in each program: Accounting operations: 5 Advanced manufacturing and production technology: 12 Applied cybersecurity: 16 Automotive collision technology: 8 Automotive service technology: 18 Baking and pastry arts: 7 Barbering: 10 Building trades and construction design technology: 14 CNC production specialist: 3 Computer aided drawing and modeling architectural: 5 Computer aided drawing and modeling mechanical: 5 Computer systems and information technology: 14 Cosmetology: 32 Dental assisting technology and management ATD: 8 Diesel systems technician 1: 15 Digital design technology: 4 Digital photography technology: 2 Digital video technology: 9 Early childhood education apprenticeship: 2 Electrical and instrumentation 1: 5 Electrician: 3 Emergency medical technician- ATD: 15 Facials specialty: 67 Fire fighter I/II: 20 Fire fighter/EMT combined: 33 Florida law enforcement academy: 19 Fundamental food service skills: 6 GED: 18 Heating, ventilation, air-conditioning/ Refrigeration: 27 Machining technologies: 1 Marine service technologies: 15 Massage therapy: 8 Medical assisting: 9 Medical coder/biller: 8 Nails specialty: 49 Nursing assistant-articulated: 1 Paramedic- ATD: 12 Patient care technician: 8 Pharmacy technician: 8 Practical nursing: 22 Professional culinary arts and hospitality: 3 Surgical technology: 11 Welding technology: 32

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engine and uses it for its own benefit. … All the vehicles at our disposal really open the mind. It’s so fantastic to learn about so many different types of systems.”

Bouthillier said working on the various engines available in the diesel program and figuring out how they work was like magic.

“I’ve come to appreciate the amount of work it takes to put these magic boxes together,” he said, referencing the engines.

Bouthillier’s skills were put to the test during the SkillsUSA competition in April in Jacksonville. He was one of six diesel systems technician program students who participated in the competition. Bouthillier placed third at the state level.

MTC diesel students were competing against students from diesel programs across the state that have been running for years. MTC started its diesel program in October 2022.

With graduation around the corner, Bouthillier is focused on the future. He wants to continue to expand his knowledge and experience.

He said one of his goals is to pursue his automotive service excellence certifications, which are certifications to work on medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. The diesel systems technician program provides the opportunity for students to earn two of the eight potential certifications. Bouthillier wants to pursue at least five of the other six certifications.

With seven of the eight certifications, Bouthillier can become a master mechanic.

“If you have the master mechanic certification under your belt, you can go pretty much anywhere and ask for pretty much anything,” he said.

He said he would like to become a mobile mechanic because that can lead to him starting his own business. He said mobile mechanics have to be “the best of the best” as they can’t rely on the resources and safety of a shop.

“I definitely want to get to that type of status and be able to handle myself regardless of what I’m doing,” he said.

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2024

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2024

IT’S READ EVERYWHERE Headed on a trip? Snap a photo of you on vacation holding your Observer, then submit your photo online at YourObserver.com/ ItsReadEverywhere. Stay tuned for this year’s prize, and happy travels!

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READING THE OBSERVER AT THE LIBRARY: Bruce and Charlene Spranger hold the East County Observer in front of the Library of Celsus ruins in Ephesus, Turkey.

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ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

A toast to the corner bar

Jack Dowd’s ‘Last Call’ gets another round at Ringling College’s Stulberg Gallery.

MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

B

esides home and work, humans need what urban sociologist Ray Oldenburg dubbed a “third

place,” where people of different backgrounds can mingle and get to know each other. Historically, that place has

IF YOU GO

Jack Dowd’s ‘Last Call’ When: Noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday through Aug. 16 Where: Lois and David Stulberg Gallery, Ringling College of Art & Design, 1188 Dr. Martin Luther King Way Tickets: Free Info: Visit RinglingCollege.

Gallery

been a church, a coffee shop or a bar. However, thanks to the internet, social media platforms have become a popular watering hole.

Still, pandemic lockdowns — government or self-imposed — were a sometimes lonely reminder that there’s no substitute for commun-

ing in real life. That’s why Ringling College of Art & Design’s encore of Sarasota artist Jack Dowd’s installation, “Last Call,” comes at the right time.

Some people will remember “Last Call,” a mythical New York City tavern, from its 2001 exhibition at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, where it attracted 40,000 visitors in 10 weeks.

Like the art itself, the June 7 opening reception for “Last Call” at Ringling College’s Lois and David Stulberg Gallery brought together people of varying ages from different walks of life. Some visitors, no doubt, were enticed by the offer of free food for the first 250 guests.

But most were there to hobnob with the artist and to get up close and personal with the installation, which was protected by a barrier but was surrounded by bistro tables with snacks. Just outside the gallery entrance, a bar sold drinks.

As one patron exclaimed, “Everybody’s here!” Where else could you see Sarasota philanthropist and socialite Graci McGillicuddy ordering a bottled water from the Dawg Pound’s food truck?

In an interview, Ringling College Chief Curator and Director of Galleries Tim Jaeger says he considered holding the show during season but decided against it.

“A lot of people would have enjoyed this just as much or more in season, but it makes great sense to have this during the summer months because of how local Jack is,” Jaeger says.

SEE DOWD, PAGE 16

Courtesy image

Artist Jack Dowd, creator of “Last Call,” has been a Marine, a musician, a high school teacher and a bar owner.

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2024

Dowd FROM PAGE 15

Dowd discovered the inspiration for a waitress he dubbed “Courtney” after singer Courtney Love, when he saw a woman walking across Tompkins Square in New York City while he was installing one of his artworks there.

According to her bio, Courtney “spends time in the East Village, where she looks normal surrounded by hard people.” Dowd paid the model $25 to pose for him.

WORKING AT THE CAR WASH

Some of the characters in “Last Call” may look familiar because they are based on local personalities. The bartender is modeled on Jack Fehily, co-founder of Patrick’s 1481 restaurant on Main Street.

Another local in “Last Call” is Reggie, whom Dowd discovered working at Johnny’s Car Wash on Tamiami Trail.

It took Dowd two years and $200,000 to build “Last Call,” where a clock behind the 22-foot mahogany bar reads 3:55, just five minutes before the mandated 4 a.m. closing time in New York.

To make each figure, Dowd first photographed and measured his model. Jon Dowd would create a “skeleton” out of metal that would be covered with bendable wire lath.

Dowd put meat on the bones of his characters with oil-based clay that wouldn’t dry out if it was left for a time. Jill Dowd helped paint the resin sculptures that were made by a

foundry. “She has the patience of a saint,” her husband notes.

If you like “Last Call” so much that you want to take it home, you can: It’s for sale for $2.5 million, Dowd says.

Look at it this way — it’s cheaper than owning a real bar and you won’t have to throw rowdy patrons out.

This character in Jack Dowd’s installation, “Last Call,” is named “The Captain.” He likes motorcycles and billiards.

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Jaeger says he wanted to give “Last Call” another exhibition so newcomers to Sarasota’s arts scene would have the opportunity to view Dowd’s work and meet the artist in person. Dowd is going strong in his mid-80s.

In many ways, “Last Call” is the culmination of its creator’s artistic and life experience. A former Marine, Dowd is an artist and musician who taught high school on Long Island and ran bars there and in Vermont before moving to Sarasota in 1984.

“We found Sarasota by accident. I did an art show, and we thought we would like it here,” recalls Dowd. “We found a nice house on the beach on

Siesta Key. It was $100,000 for the house with two bedrooms and two baths. That’s when I really started working on my sculpture.”

The Dowds lived on Siesta Key for seven years before moving to Gator Creek, a community east of I-75 between Bee Ridge Road and Lorraine Road. “It’s not pretentious,” Dowd says. “Everybody has five acres or more. There are about 70 homes, and we don’t have a lot of rules.”

Before moving to Sarasota, Dowd reckons he owned 11 bars and nightclubs over a 15-year stretch. They ran the gamut — from Jack’s Backyard and The Canterbury Pub, both on Long Island, to a joint called Texas in Burlington, Vermont.

The assortment of 13 characters who inhabit “Last Call” is inspired by people whom Dowd met along the way in bars and on the streets of New York and Florida.

For those who want to get to know all of them, the wall of the Stulberg Gallery contains portraits of each character, with a painting by Dowd, a photograph and a brief biography that includes their favorite drink, fashion style and motto.

A character called Murphy, wearing roller blades, was inspired by the late John F. Kennedy Jr. during his bachelor years in New York City.

His personality traits: “Looking for the right girl. Hangs out on the Cape, loves to surf. Mode of transportation is bicycle or roller blades,” says Murphy’s bio.

ADULT

CAPTURING A LIFETIME OF EXPERIENCE

Courtesy images

Jack Dowd’s “Last Call,” a life-sized installation of a New York City tavern, is on display through Aug. 16 at Ringling College’s Stulberg Gallery.

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“Furthermore, we’re not competing with other venues and other exhibitions for coverage. Also we could commit to a longer period of time,” he adds. The show runs through Aug. 16.

Jaeger, who hires Dowd’s son, Jon, to install artworks at The Ringling’s seven on-campus galleries, first met Jack Dowd around 2007-08. At the time, Jaeger had a studio on 10th Way near where Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe is today.

“I was working on a series of chickens,” Jaeger recalls. “Jack coldcalled me and asked if I wanted to do a trade. I picked out one of his Andy Warhol statues, which is in my office today.”

Over the years, Jaeger and his wife, Cassia, began to socialize with Dowd and his wife, Jill. Jaeger also worked with Dowd on the artist’s “27 Club” exhibition at Ringling College in 2012. The show consisted of pastel drawings of performing and visual artists such as Amy Winehouse, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Jim Morrison and others who died at age 27.

“The ‘27 Club’ was one of the last exhibitions I did with Kevin Dean, who was my mentor and the director of Selby Gallery,” Jaeger says. Dean died in 2014 after curating more than 250 shows for Ringling College’s Selby Gallery.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2024

17

THIS WEEK THURSDAY

SUMMER CIRCUS SPECTACULAR 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Historic Asolo Theater, 5401 Bay Shore Road $20 adults; $15 kids Visit Ringling.org.

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

The son of a religious woman and a Green Beret, Danny Bevins walks the tightrope between the sacred and the profane. Bevins has been seen on Showtime’s “Live From Amsterdam,” “Road Dogs with Billy Gardell” and “Sullivan and Son” on TBS. Continues June 30.

Image courtesy of Sorcha Augustine

‘RHINESTONE COWGIRLS’ 7:30 p.m. at FST’s Goldstein Cabaret, 1239 N. Palm Ave. $18-$42 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

‘A NIGHT TO REMEMBER’ 7:30 p.m. at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 N. Orange Ave. $50-$100 Visit WestcoastBlackTheatre.org.

Created by Nancy Allen Productions, this musical tribute to some of the first ladies of country features such classics as Patsy Cline’s “Crazy,” Tammy Wynette’s “Stand by Your Man” and Carrie Underwood’s “Last Name.” Runs through July 28.

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe presents “A Night to Remember” – three nights, actually. The benefit concert by the Soul Sensations and special friends runs through June 30.

‘OAK’ 7:30 p.m. at Urbanite Theatre, 1487 Second St. $7-$44 Visit UrbaniteTheatre.com.

Urbanite Theatre wraps its 10th anniversary season with the Southern Gothic horror-infused “Oak.” Written

by Terry Guest and directed by Mikael Burke, “Oak” is a National New Play Network rolling premiere. Runs through June 30.

‘THE MUSIC OF LAUREL CANYON’ 8 p.m. at FST’s Court Cabaret, 1265 First St. $18-$42 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

Image courtesy of Sarasota Opera

OUR PICK

CLASSIC MOVIES AT THE OPERA HOUSE: ‘MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS’ Watch a classic movie in the beautiful, air-conditioned Sarasota Opera House as MGM’s “Meet Me in St. Louis” unspools. Starring Judy Garland, Tom Drake, Marjorie Main and others, the 1944 musical follows a year in the life of the Smith family of St. Louis, beginning in summer 1903. The film’s “Trolley Song” became a standard for Garland, who married the director, Vincente Minnelli. The two later became the parents of “Cabaret” star Liza Minnelli.

IF YOU GO When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday Where: at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave. Tickets: $12 Info: Visit SarasotaOpera.org.

www.manasotaonline.com

If you know, you know. But not everyone knows about Laurel Canyon, the neighborhood above West Hollywood’s Sunset Strip that became home to folk musicians such as Joni Mitchell, Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young and The Mamas and the Papas. Runs through Aug. 25.

FRIDAY KEITH ALBERSTADT 6:30 and 8:50 p.m. at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd. $26 Visit McCurdysComedy.com.

Nashville boy Keith Alberstadt brought his comedy routines to New York City, where he made a name for himself with performances on “The Late Show with David Letterman,” “Late Night with Seth Myers,” “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and more. Runs through June 29.

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DISNEY’S ‘FINDING NEMO KIDS’ 7:30 p.m. at Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Ave. W., Bradenton $20 Visit ManateePerformingArtsCenter. com.

DON’T MISS

‘THE WORLD GOES ’ROUND’ Florida Studio Theatre kicks off its Summer Mainstage Series with “The World Goes ’Round,” a musical revue celebrating the works of John Kander and Fred Ebb. The show features memorable songs from hit Broadway shows such as “Chicago,” “Cabaret” and more. Runs through June 30.

IF YOU GO When: 8 p.m., Thursday, June 27 When: at FST’s Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St. Tickets: $39-$59 Info: Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

What makes this musical adaptation of “Finding Nemo” a kids’ show besides its family friendly material?

Its length: just 30 minutes. Based on the popular 2003 Pixar movie, the musical follows Nemo, whose overprotective father, Marlin, conquers his fears when his son is kidnapped.

With the help of the ever-optimistic Dory, the Tank Gang and others, Marlin and Nemo are reunited.

SATURDAY

Image courtesy of John Jones

CABARET ON THE BOULEVARD: CIRQUE 8 p.m. The Original Wolfie’s Rascal House, 1420 Boulevard of the Arts $50-$60 Visit CabaretOnTheBoulevard.com.

Grae Productions is teaming up with The Original Wolfie’s in the Rosemary District to launch a monthly cabaret series. The first event has a Cirque theme featuring an ensemble cast of vocal, burlesque, drag and circus artists, including Brian Craft, Ashley Figlow, Carmen Lai Garden, Mr. Gripp and Daly Santanta.

MONDAY MONDAY NIGHT JAZZ AT THE CABARET 7:30 p.m. at FST’s John C. Court Cabaret, 1265 First St., Sarasota $34-$39 Visit JazzClubSarasota.org.

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Season has ended, but it’s not over for Monday Night Jazz at the Cabaret as the Jazz Club of Sarasota presents the Rod Alnord Quartet.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for dinner and drinks.

WEDNESDAY ‘DEAR JACK, DEAR LOUISE’ 8 p.m. at FST’s Keating Theatre, 1241 N. Palm Ave. $29-$46 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

Acclaimed playwright Ken Ludwig tells the story of his parents’ courtship during World War II. The play follows U.S. Army Capt. Jack Ludwig, a military doctor stationed in Oregon, who begins a life-changing pen-pal relationship with Louise Rabiner, an aspiring actress living in the Big Apple. Runs through Aug. 11.

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If you’ve never seen a performance in The Ringling’s jewelbox venue, the Historic Asolo Theater, here’s your chance. Presided over by Ringmaster Jared Walker, the Summer Circus Spectacular includes contortionist Uranbileg Angarag, acrobatic hand balancers The Bello Sisters, hair hang artist Camille Langlois, slack wire performer Antino Pansa and clown Renaldo, a veteran of the Big Apple Circus. Runs through Aug. 17.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2024

EATING WITH EMMA

Battered bliss: Comfort food never tasted so good Where to find the best fish and chips in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

EMMA BURKE JOLLY CONTRIBUTOR

T

here are a few things that no one prepares you for when you lose someone you love: the unexpected stream of tears when you’re listening to a happy song that reminds you of a moment in time, the brain fog that seeps into your everyday functionality and the fact that the term “comfort food” takes on a whole different meaning.

I’ve learned so much about my mother in the last year (including just what a strong cookie she is and how chic she looks with her cute new bob haircut), but one thing that has never faltered is her reliable sense of where to find satisfaction in a fish and chip entree.

If it’s listed on the menu, my favorite woman on the planet is without hesitation ordering the crispy golden platter of fish and fries that originates from her favorite place in the world — England.

So let’s dig into some of the culinary comfort food that made its way across the pond and into our Gulf-side community.

STAR FISH COMPANY

12306 46th Ave. W., Cortez; 941794-1243; StarFishCompany.com Recently recognized by USA Today, this historic Cortez Village foodie paradise has been standing since the 1920s, with a market added in the 1960s. With so few waterfront restaurants in the area (always a shock to our visitors), Star Fish not only has a fantastic Floridian view, its simple yet sensational menu makes the combo (water and food) as spectacular as the fish and chips.

You’re So Golden: Georgie’s fish and chips ($24) is compiled of beerbattered Dover sole, crispy chips, lemon and, to quote the menu, “UTC’s best house made tartar.”

Order truffle fries ($8) and feel like late Queen Elizabeth herself.

You’re So Golden: You have lots of options for which fish you want fried alongside your chips here.

They include grouper (market price), mullet ($9.95+), swordfish ($21.95) and so much more.

Oh My Cod: Make way for the Cortez special ($26.95) served with the best hush puppies this foodie has ever noshed on, homemade coleslaw and your choice of broccoli, fries or cheese grits. But it doesn’t stop there. Choose two of the following: shrimp, mahi-mahi, oysters, scallops, grouper, crab cake or clam strips.

Oh My Cod: Talk about innovating and elevating — treat yourself to the Gulf grouper ($39) lightly blackened with truffle risotto, asparagus and lemon butter. Who needs chips when you can get truffle risotto?

SHAKESPEARE’S CRAFT BEER AND GASTRO PUB

3550 S. Osprey Ave., Sarasota; 941364-5938; ShakespearesEnglishPub. com

OWEN’S FISH CAMP

6516 University Parkway, Lakewood Ranch, 941-951-5052; 516 Burns Court, Sarasota, 941-9516936; OwensFishCamp.com Call me a repeat offender, but the foodie gods keep pointing me in the direction of Owen’s (the original in Sarasota or the LWR location). They know exactly how to dish out a plate of fish — no matter whether it’s fried, blackened or grilled.

You’re So Golden: Plated in Burns Court is the fish ’n’ chips basket with fries and slaw for ($18.99) that pairs perfectly with a nice Jack Daniel’s iced tea. Dig into the fish ’n’ chips made from Atlantic cod served with fries and slaw ($24.99) — with full bar access at all times.

Oh My Cod: No matter how influenced I may be by patrons around me, I will be a naked-fish girl (market price) until my last bite.

Any locally caught fish of the day with lemon-caper butter is my first recommendation to any newbie at Owen’s. Sides? Slap on some cheesy grits and collard greens and I am the happiest version of myself.

Image courtesy of Georgie’s UTC Restaurant & Bar / Facebook

Drive over to UTC and bite into Georgie’s fish and chips ($24).

THE OLD SALTY DOG

1601 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota; 941-388-4311; TheOldSaltyDog.com What better way to bite into a beautifully battered meal than on the water at City Island’s Old Salty Dog? Serving Sarasota since 1985, with this location opening its doors in 1991, this stop is a must for locals and visitors alike. My family has been frequenting this restaurant since its debut.

You’re So Golden: Order the traditional English fish ’n’ chips ($18.99) and ask, “Can I get that extra crispy?” Trust me, it made the world of difference for the connoisseur of chips, Amy Burke. Filet of cold water fish, deep fried (and extra crispy, remember!) with fantastic French fries. Be like a Burke and order a side of boom boom

sauce to change up the ketchup game.

Oh My Cod: Want to wrap up the fish in a different way? Order the firecracker wrap with grouper ($19.99) in a chipotle tortilla with lettuce, tomato, tortilla strips and that bonkers boom boom sauce. If you’re like me, hold the tomato.

GEORGIE’S UTC RESTAURANT & BAR

229 N Cattlemen Road, Suite 69, Sarasota; 941-952-5001; GeorgiesGardenCafe.com This UTC dining destination definitely elevated the cheap and hearty 19th century English meal wrapped in newsprint to a modernday entree served in a fabulously decorated ready-for-Instagram foodie bistro.

You didn’t think I would leave off Shakespeare’s when rounding up the perfect fish and chips, did you?

I remember one of the last conversations I had with my dad, when I asked, “Do you think the owners know how much our family loves it there?” He smiled and wrote, “You are like their own PR team.”

You’re So Golden: Once you’ve ordered your pint, go ahead and order the recommended English fish and chips ($16.95) made with flaky white fish dipped in the pub’s English-style batter that tastes like it crossed the pond on a ship itself. Fries piled high accompany the crispy fish, and you can choose from the authentic side of peas or cole slaw. Or do what I do and ask for both.

Oh My Cod: While I could never understand my parents’ obsession with fish filet from Micky D’s, I can definitely get down to clown with Shakespeare’s crispy cod sandwich ($15.95). Dipped in that delectable batter, this cod is accompanied with lettuce, (no) tomato, onion and tasty tartar sauce.

THURSDAY, JULY 4 | 7PM WATCH THE FIREWORKS FROM THE BISHOP’S RIVERSIDE PLAZA! VIP Ticket $35 per guest General Admission $25 Children (4-10) $20 Add-On Laser Light Experience $5 (Laser Light purchase onsite)

ON THE ROAD Photographs of the Traveling Circus and Carnival

by Jill Freedman and Randal Levenson

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Randall Levenson (American, 1946-2022), Morris the Trick Dog, 1977. image 20 x 16 in. Gelatin silver print,

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JUNE 27, 2024

YOUR NEIGHBORS Courtenay Smith, an owner of Shack Yoga and a Rooftop Yoga instructor, says the setting of Rooftop Yoga allows people to connect with nature as there are nature preserves around the Lakewood Ranch Library.

ON TOP OF THE WORLD

Photos by Liz Ramos

Sarasota’s Amy Stine attends Rooftop Yoga to support Courtenay Smith, an owner of Shack Yoga, who led the class. “Courtenay is an amazing teacher. The experience and energy she brings is incredible,” Stine says.

L

akewood Ranch’s Denise Equinda took a deep breath and brought her hands together above her head.

She followed along as Courtenay Smith, an owner of Shack Yoga, guided Equinda and 17 other people through a yoga class during Rooftop Yoga on June 20 at the Lakewood Ranch Library.

“It was wonderful,” Equinda said.

“My blood pressure just dropped to like zero.”

Participants and Smith said they loved Rooftop Yoga because it connected them with nature as they worked out on the roof of the $17.6 million library, which opened in January and now offers many programs to the community.

With a slight, constant breeze, Equinda said she was happy to spend the morning outside.

Smith, a Lakewood Ranch resident, said Rooftop Yoga was an opportunity for her to connect with other people in the community and an opportunity for her to give back to the community with the free class.

Courtenay Smith enjoys leading Rooftop Yoga at the Lakewood Ranch Library because she can connect with other Lakewood Ranch residents. As an owner of Shack Yoga, she says it also gives her an opportunity to give back to the community through the free class.

Rooftop Yoga participants take in the peace and quiet and focus on their breathing.

— LIZ RAMOS

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Jan Morris enjoys Rooftop Yoga at the Lakewood Ranch Library. She was among 18 people participating in the class.

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2024

FOURTH OF JULY

YOUR CALENDAR

SALE

UP TO

35% OFF STRESSLESS

SALE PRICES

ROOFTOP DANCE Begins at 10 a.m. at the Lakewood Ranch Library, 16410 Rangeland Parkway, Lakewood Ranch. The Lakewood Ranch Library hosts a free rooftop recreational dance for tweens and teens. The program is for kids 8-12 and 13-18. Join other kids and learn a variety of dance styles like jazz, Latin, hip-hop and more. The event is open to all dancing abilities. No dance experience is required. For information or to register, go to MyManatee.org/Departments/Manatee_County_Public_Library_System.

THURSDAY, JUNE 27 THROUGH SUNDAY, JUNE 30

CHAIRS THAT WERE FROM $3,095

LIVE MUSIC AT JIGGS LANDING Runs from 5:30-8:30 p.m. each day at Jiggs Landing, 6106 63rd St. E., Bradenton. The live music lineup at Jiggs Landing includes Stumpy Joe (Thursday), Soundwave (Friday), Bluegrass Pirates (Saturday) and Flip Flop Dave (Sunday). The Friday and Saturday concerts have a $5 cover; the other concerts are free.

For more information, go to JiggsLanding.com.

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FRIDAY, JUNE 28 AND SATURDAY, JUNE 29

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“I’m not afraid to smile anymore!”

AFTER

THURSDAY, JUNE 27

‘SHOWTIME FOR KIDS’ Begins at 2 p.m. at the Braden River Library, 4915 53rd Ave. E., Bradenton. The Braden River Library presents “Showtime for Kids,” which will feature Wally the Wacky Bird, who is on a mission to find the most spectacular words ever. The interactive comedy is filled with puppets, balloons, magic and laughter. Sponsored by Friends of the Braden River Library. The free show is aimed for children ages 4-7. For more information, call 727-6079.

PLUS Extra Storewide Savings!

BEFORE

COMMUNITY

BEFORE

MUSIC AT THE PLAZA Runs 6-9 p.m. at Waterside Place, 1560 Lakefront Drive, Lakewood Ranch. On Friday, singer/songwriter Paul Fournier will entertain those who stroll through Waterside Place as part of the free music series. On Saturday, Dana Lawrence will perform rock, blues, reggae and soul.

For more information, go to WatersidePlace.com.

BEST BET WEDNESDAY, JULY 3

FIREWORKS ON THE LAKE Runs from 5-10 p.m. at Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota. Fireworks on the Lake returns to Nathan Benderson Park, highlighted by a concert featuring Twinkle & Rock Soul Radio. The event also includes a Kids Zone, presented

by Mote Marine, food trucks and other family friendly activities. The fireworks, which will last approximately 15 minutes, will begin shortly after 9 p.m.

Parking on Regatta Island is $35 per vehicle. The South Lot parking will cost $25 for cars and $55 for recreational vehicles. A special event lot (next to Homewood Suites) will be available for $25. A VIP Viewing Experience will be available for $100 per person (including complimentary food and beverages, premium parking, and exclusive access to the air-conditioned finish tower). Go to FireworksOnTheLake.com to purchase parking tickets in advance.

SATURDAY, JUNE 29

FIT WITH FABLETICS Begins at 9 a.m. at the Macy’s court at the Mall at University Town Center, 140 University Town Center Drive, Sarasota. The Fab and Fit Fabletics Zumba class, led by Juan Baquero, is a free workout sponsored by Lakewood Ranch Medical Center and UTC retailers. For more information, go to MallAtUTC.com.

SUNDAY, JUNE 30

FARMERS MARKET Runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Lakefront Drive in Waterside Place, Lakewood Ranch. The Farmers Market at Lakewood Ranch will run year-round every Sunday. Vendors will be offering seafood, eggs, meats and dairy products. For information, visit MyLWR.com.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 3

BINGO Begins at 10 a.m. at James Patton Park, 7525 White Eagle Blvd., Lakewood Ranch. Bingo under the pavilion is hosted by Lakewood Ranch Community Activities. For information, go to LakewoodRanch.com.

BRINGING JOY BY CREATING SMILES

AFTER

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WITH

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2024

PURPOSE

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State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate and baccalaureate degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota. State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota does not discriminate on the basis of sex, pregnancy, race, religion, age, national origin/ethnicity, color, marital status, disability, genetic information or sexual orientation in any of its educational programs, services and activities, including admission and employment.

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YourObserver.com

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2024

J U LY 3 , 2 0 2 4 DRIVEN BY

LIVE MUSIC ALL NIGHT TWINKLE & ROCK SOUL BAND

MOTE MARINE LABORATORY AND AQUARIUM KIDS ZONE

Navigating grief with the Butterfly The Blue Butterfly Family Grief Program is part of Tidewell Hospice and Empath Health and is free for families in need.

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

A

fter Dan Powers’ son Matthew died in a car crash, it never crossed his mind to ask his other two children if they were being bullied because of their grief.

The topic came up during a support group run by the Blue Butterfly Family Grief Program. It turns out both his son and daughter had been bullied at school.

“I have this shirt that says, ‘My brother was so amazing that God made him an angel,’” Katie Powers said. “I wore it to school, and people were laughing at me.”

The kids didn’t understand what the shirt meant. Some confused Matthew with her brother, Robert.

Others didn’t know the story and said Matthew shouldn’t have been driving at 15 years old.

Matthew Powers was 15, but he was the passenger. He and Chase Coyner, 17, died in a car crash at the intersection of State Road 64 and Pope Road on their way to a homecoming dance in 2018. He was a sophomore at Lakewood Ranch High School.

Katie Powers was 11 years old at the time. She just turned 17 and volunteers for the same program that helped her navigate grief.

The Blue Butterfly Family Grief Program serves children ages 5-18 who have lost a loved one. The program also offers support groups to the caregivers. Beyond Lakewood Ranch, there are three more locations in Palmetto, Sarasota and Port Charlotte. Each location serves

Courtesy images

Kids in the Blue Butterfly Family Grief Program find their inner superheroes on June 11.

ABOUT THE NONPROFIT Blue Butterfly Family Grief Program. 6800 Professional Parkway W. Visit TidewellHospice.org/ BlueButterfly or call (941) 8936610.

Mission statement: To serve children ages 5-18 and their caregivers by providing a safe space to grieve and process after a significant death in their lives.

about 50 families a year.

Blue Butterfly is a program of Tidewell Grief Care. The services are free for families. Thanks to grant money, the program was offered in 10 Manatee County schools last year.

The pilot program was successful, so the program will be offered at more

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2024

23

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Kids between the ages of 5 and 11 created superhero costumes as part of their grief therapy on June 11 for “Find Your Superhero Day.”

schools as it grows.

Program Manager Danielle Wondrak said grief can cause symptoms in children that parents don’t always pick up on right away. Often, grief manifests through behavior — acting out in school or a decline in grades.

“We train the counselors at the schools,” Wondrak said. “It’s very cool because there are adults at the school that the student already knows, and they feel safe with them.

But they’re doing our evidencebased curriculum and model.”

Clinical professionals lead all the support groups and activities at Blue Butterfly. Art, music, books and games are used to engage the children. Each semester is eight weeks, but families often enroll for multiple semesters.

Wondrak said it’s common for younger children to finish the program and then come back again at an older age when they can process more.

The Powers family members were enrolled for about three years. Dan and Katie Powers have both transitioned into being volunteers.

During a recent event centered around finding an inner superhero, Katie Powers unveiled her own superpower when asked to sit with a little boy who had never been away from his mom before. Katie read books with him until he felt comfortable enough to join the group.

“It made me realize that I do have an impact when I’m volunteering,” she said. “I’m not just moving chairs.

I’m not just helping bring food to them. I’m helping them come out of their shells and work through their grief.”

Katie Powers had to work through her own grief first. One activity in particular stays with her. Participants are asked to paint face masks using different colors. They paint the colors according to how they’re feeling on the inside and also what they’re portraying on the outside.

“It helped me realize that I really needed to get help to work through those emotions that I was dealing with,” she said. “I did that project many times over the years. It was very cool to see how it changed after I got the help I needed.”

Robert Powers was 13 years old at the time of the crash. He’s 18 now and just graduated from Lakewood Ranch High School. The face mask painting was one of his favorite projects, too.

Overall, he said the program helped him to simply feel normal again.

“Before Blue Butterfly, I felt like I was different,” he said. “I felt like people didn’t understand how I was feeling. But when I joined, I learned that there were people like me, who were going through the same thing I was going through.”

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YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2024

ADVERTISEMENT

Local man opens his heart, and toolbox Country Creek’s Dudley Waters donates the tools he collected during his lifetime to help the community.

LIZ RAMOS

401k Plans: Set and Forget?

SENIOR EDITOR

A

s usual, Lynn Howell, pastor at Myakka Family Worship Center, was helping a Myakka City resident with roof repairs June 21.

Helping residents and church members with maintenance and building items has become customary for Howell.

But after a fire burned down Howell’s barn and destroyed all the tools inside on Feb. 25, he was unsure how he would continue to support community members in any of their home projects or conduct maintenance on the Myakka Family Worship Center.

Then he received a call from Country Creek’s Dudley Waters.

Waters read about the fire and how it impacted Howell and his family and wanted to help.

He said he already was contemplating what he would do with his large collection of tools and parts from three generations in his family because he’s moving into independent living. His collection included circular saws, chop saws, table saws, jigsaws, hammers, screws, lightbulbs and irrigation supplies.

Howell was the solution.

Waters invited Howell to his home to collect almost all the tools to donate to him and the church.

“I joked I had every tool known to man,” Waters said. “I hope it’ll be put to good use for the rest of (Howell’s) life and can be used to benefit the people around Myakka City.”

Besides the tools, which took two days and a U-Haul to collect and transport, Waters also sold Howell six 6-foot metal cabinets.

Howell said the donation was a blessing. Without the donation, Howell would have to either purchase tools or borrow from others.

Five Common Mistakes That Lead to Disappointing 401k Experiences

401k plans are often touted as a reliable way to secure your retirement, but a “set and forget” mentality can lead to several pitfalls. Here are five common mistakes investors make with their 401k plans and how smart investors can avoid them.

With 401k plans, set and forget often turns into set and regret.

– John B. Leeming, CFP® President at JL Bainbridge

1. Ignoring Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) Starting at age 73, account holders must take RMDs. Missing these withdrawals can result in penalties of up to 50% of the required amount. Set reminders or consult a financial advisor to ensure compliance and avoid penalties.

2. Overreacting to Market Fluctuations Market volatility can be unsettling, but changing 401k investments in response to short-term shifts can harm long-term goals. Stick to a long-term strategy and avoid reacting to temporary market dips.

3. Missing Catch-Up Contributions To “top off” 401k plans, those aged 50 and older can contribute additional dollars beyond standard limits—every year.

4. Overlooking Roth Options A Roth 401k allows for tax-free withdrawals in retirement. If you expect to be in a higher tax bracket later, paying taxes now with a Roth 401k might be beneficial.

Roth decisions may be related to catch-up contributions, too.

5. Using Target Date Funds Target Date Funds (TDFs) automatically rebalance as you approach retirement, but they can involve complex fees and may not align with changing retirement dates. Review your investment choices periodically and consider alternatives that might better fit your actual retirement plans.

Your financial advisor should help you with your 401k plans. In fact, some financial advisors have tools to help manage your “held away” assets like employer-sponsored 401k plans. Actively managing your 401k is always better than using the set-it-and-forget-it approach to funding your welldeserved retirement.

JL Bainbridge family wealth advisors are fiduciaries with a duty to act first and foremost in their clients’ interests.

To learn more about JL Bainbridge or to set a time for your Free Financial Review, call (941) 3563435 or visit jlbainbridge.com.

File photo

TOOLS IN THE TOOLBOX ■ Circular saws ■ Chop saws ■ Table saws ■ Jigsaws ■ Hammers ■ Screws ■ Lightbulbs ■ Irrigation supplies

“We don’t have to run to the hardware store anymore. It’s right there for us, thanks to Mr. Waters,” Howell said.

He said he’s already used or has plans to use the tools to conduct maintenance work around the church, make minor repairs at a senior citizen’s home, build a ramp at a family’s home and repair a deck at another family’s home.

Although it might not seem like a big deal, one tool in particular from the collection is special to Howell — a 16-inch framing hammer.

“It was a hammer his dad had given him,” Howell said. “To me, that was the most treasured gift because that was something he gave to us he could have handed down in the family or kept it, but he decided to give it to us.”

Lynn Howell, pastor of Myakka Family Worship Center, says the donation of tools from Country Creek’s Dudley Waters will help him support the community and the church.

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Disclosure: This information is for educational and informative purposes and should not be considered a recommendation. Investment advisory services are only available to those who become our clients through a written agreement. JL Bainbridge is a registered investment adviser. J.L. Bainbridge & Co., Inc., is not a broker dealer and does not offer tax or legal advice. Please consult your tax or legal advisor for assistance regarding your individual situation. Registration of an Investment Adviser does not imply any level of skill or training. It should neither be assumed that future results will be as profitable or that a loss could not be incurred. For more information on our firm and our investment advisor representatives, please review our Form ADV, Privacy Notice, and Form CRS at jlbainbridge.com and reference the SEC website for more information on the firm and its advisors: https://adviserinfo. sec.gov/firm/summary/108058. Identifying the SEC as our regulator does not imply any level of skill or training.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2024

25

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YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2024

LAKEWOOD RANCH 8433 Pavia Way 4 Beds 4 Baths 3,707 Sq. Ft. Stacy Haas 941-587-4359 A4604286 $2,500,000

BRADENTON 6307 Pigeon Plum Way 2 Beds 2 Baths 2,304 Sq. Ft. Adam Cuffaro 941-812-0791 A4613467 $999,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 14220 Woodhall Place 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,312 Sq. Ft. Mark Boehmig 941-807-6936 A4604903 $989,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 7167 Whitemarsh Circle 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,616 Sq. Ft. Tina Ciaccio 941-685-8420 A4612966 $979,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 13876 Siena Loop 3 Beds 3/1 Baths 2,610 Sq. Ft. Sandi Dietrich 941-704-0697 A4608147 $975,000

BRADENTON 287 Compass Point Drive 201 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,994 Sq. Ft. Betsy Hagen & Laura Rulon 513-543-3228 A4605619 $955,000

BRADENTON 535 Honeyflower Loop 4 Beds 4 Baths 3,298 Sq. Ft. Heidi Cox 941-685-1529 A4610622 $915,000

BRADENTON 14021 Florida Rosemary Drive 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,448 Sq. Ft. Barbara A Milian, PA 941-504-0660 A4612988 $825,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 6430 Watercrest Way 201 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,134 Sq. Ft. Thomas Arthur 941-400-7970 A4608570 $749,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 7018 Honeysuckle Trail 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,631 Sq. Ft. Heidi Cox 941-685-1529 A4604566 $729,000

BRADENTON 10202 Marbella Drive 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,217 Sq. Ft. Marci McFarland 941-961-3390 A4585717 $712,000

ELLENTON 5539 70th Drive E 5 Beds 3/1 Baths 3,201 Sq. Ft. Susan Katanic 941-400-0601 A4609489 $695,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 12141 Forest Park Circle 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,744 Sq. Ft. David Mchugh 941-241-6170 A4611488 $619,500

LAKEWOOD RANCH 11242 Primrose Circle 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,802 Sq. Ft. Barbara A Milian, PA 941-504-0660 A4607817 $488,000

APOLLO BEACH 7704 Nottinghill Sky Drive 4 Beds 3 Baths 2,208 Sq. Ft. Estraica Grayson, Llc 941-914-4819 A4612024 $460,000

BRADENTON 4609 50th Avenue W 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,689 Sq. Ft. Leah Secondo 941-545-4430 A4606465 $459,995

BRADENTON 5004 45th Street W 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,386 Sq. Ft. Leah Secondo 941-545-4430 A4589817 $459,000

UNIVERSITY PARK 7962 Tybee Court 7962 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,623 Sq. Ft. Tim Koons-McGee 941-320-7073 A4602165 $439,900

BRADENTON 1010 Tidewater Shores Loop 403 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,121 Sq. Ft. JJ Williams 941-412-6355 A4596616 $385,000

ELLENTON 4241 Day Bridge Place 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,656 Sq. Ft. Kathy Valente 941-685-6767 A4610653 $360,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 6320 Rosefinch Court 102 2 Beds 2/1 Baths 1,691 Sq. Ft. Barbara A Milian, PA 941-504-0660 A4607902 $354,000

BRADENTON 2109 18th Avenue W 2 Beds 1 Baths 1,012 Sq. Ft. Louise Hollander 941-224-4483 A4612760 $315,000

BRADENTON 2710 51st Avenue W 2 Beds 2/1 Baths 1,582 Sq. Ft. Cheryl Roberts 941-266-1450 A4600786 $275,000

BRADENTON 3834 59th Avenue W 2 Beds 2 Baths 912 Sq. Ft. Adam Cuffaro 941-812-0791 A4586067 $187,500

ELLENTON 8310 Marie Lane 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,299 Sq. Ft. Sheri Adams 317-590-6469 A4613727 $175,000

BRADENTON 1523 1st Avenue W 4 Beds 5 Baths 3,382 Sq. Ft. Cathy Palmer 941-920-2247 A4610531 $1,500,000

BRADENTON 115 65th Street Court NW 5 Beds 3 Baths 2,968 Sq. Ft. Patty Brooks 941-545-1194 A4599428 $1,195,000

BRADENTON 3523 Santa Caterina Boulevard 3 Beds 3 Baths 3,084 Sq. Ft. Mark Boehmig 941-807-6936 A4613539 $1,050,000

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2024

RESEARCH EDITOR

A

two-property sale in Pomello Park topped all transactions in this week’s real estate. John and Dorinda Maben, of Bradenton, sold two properties at 6605 189th St. E. to Jason and Amanda Koplin, of Golden, Colorado, for $4,295,000. The first property was built in 2000 and has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,474 square feet of living area. The second property was built in 2007 and has two bedrooms, one bath and 864 square feet of living area. They sold for $810,000 in 2014.

LAKEHOUSE COVE AT WATERSIDE

Armin Kamyab and Amanda Nicole Mindlin sold their home at 8088 Grande Shores Drive to David Van Ess and Diane Gallo-Van Ess, of Sarasota, for $2.05 million. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, threeand-a-half baths, a pool and 3,674 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.25 million in 2021.

LAKE CLUB

Christopher and Rachel Darling, of Bradenton, sold their home at 7920 Matera Court to Michael Bruce Schonberg, of Jersey City, New Jersey, for $1.92 million. Built in 2020, it has three bedrooms, threeand-a-half baths, a pool and 2,964 square feet of living area. It sold for $973,000 in 2020.

Patricia Notarianni, trustee, of Lakewood Ranch, sold the home at 7814 Bowspirit Way to Robert and Kimberly Burns, of Lakewood Ranch, for $1,895,000. Built in 2023, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,734 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,580,600 in 2023.

Rhonda Wyatt, of Fort Myers, sold her home at 7993 Bowspirit Way to Robert and Jill Hamilton, of Bradenton, for $1.8 million. Built in 2023, it has four bedrooms, four baths and 3,734 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,744,200 in 2023.

SHOREVIEW

Vasilios and Jennifer Kiritsis, of Sarasota, sold their home at 8052 Grande Shores Drive to Zbynek Knoll, of Sarasota, for $1.85 million.

Built in 2021, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,027 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.7 million in 2022.

Waterlefe Golf and River Club Brad and Lisa Hantverk, of Sarasota, sold their home at 10510 Winding Stream Way to Lee David Freedman and Elise Bolasny Freedman, trustees, of Bradenton, for $1,265,000. Built in 2001, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,132 square feet of living area.

It sold for $600,000 in 2014.

ESPLANADE

Earle and Candice Benjamin, trustees, of Lakewood Ranch, sold the home at 4815 Cabreo Court to Thomas and Sally Purtell, of Honeoye Falls, New York, for $1,235,000. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 3,042 square feet of living area. It sold for $623,100 in 2017.

Ricky and Joyce Hudson, trustees, of Bradenton, sold the home at 13838 Messina Loop to Alan Gracie and Renee Elizabeth Gracie, of E. Amherst, New York, for $1,025,000.

Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,397

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

JUNE 10-14

square feet of living area. It sold for $518,000 in 2020.

DEL WEBB

Scott and Kellie Bartholomew, of Bradenton, sold their home at 17819 Northwood Place to Norman Allen Murray and Susan Murray, of San Antonio, for $1,085,000. Built in 2022, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,082 square feet of living area. It sold for $950,000 in 2022.

RIVER WIND

James and Janet Doherty, of Perkasie, Pennsylvania, sold their home at 983 River Wind Circle to Karen Lynnette Brian, trustee, of Bradenton, for $1,027,500. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,080 square feet of living area.

POMELLO PARK

Hunter Williams and Cathleen Muzzey Williams, of Lake City, sold their home at 7015 225th St. E. to Bobby Buntin and Edward Phung, of Bradenton, for $930,000. Built in 2001, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,180 square feet of living area.

BRADEN WOODS

Nathan Jay Guess and Sarah Richele Guess sold their home at 6310 95th St. E. to Colin Daniel Thomas, trustee, of Lovettsville, Virginia, for $910,000. Built in 1985, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,196 square feet of living area. It sold for $485,000 in 2021.

GREYHAWK LANDING WEST

Jimmy Day and Kristin Day, trustees, of Sarasota, sold the home at 433 Chantilly Trail to Tomasz Wasik and Aleksandra Ginzburg, of Bradenton for $827,500. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, twoand-a-half baths, a pool and 2,632 square feet of living area. It sold for $522,200 in 2017.

Courtesy image

This Lakehouse Cove at Waterside home at 8088 Grande Shores Drive sold for $2.05 million. It has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,674 square feet of living area.

three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,597 square feet of living area.

It sold for $260,000 in 1997.

RIVA TRACE

Carol Melendy and Christopher Tabb, of Charlotte, North Carolina, sold their home at 8045 Rio Bella Place to Ceclia Routh Hooper, of Bradenton, for $640,000. Built in 2013, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,961 square feet of living area. It sold for $375,900 in 2013.

GREENBROOK

Angelica Damaris Oquendo and Jonathan Michael Joyner, of Lakeland, sold their home at 15612 Lemon Fish Drive to Christian Michael Porter and Caitlyn Lykins, of Lakewood Ranch, for $639,000.

Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 2,572 square feet of living area. It sold for $362,000 in 2006.

SEE REAL ESTATE, PAGE 28

COUNTRY CLUB

6615 Muirfield Village LLC sold the home at 6615 Oakland Hills Drive to William McDonald, of Lakewood Ranch, for $825,000. Built in 1998, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,098 square feet of living area.

It sold for $742,500 in 2023.

Richard Colby Hill, trustee, of Myakka City, sold the home at 6525 Oakland Hills Drive to Ann Elizabeth Schlicht, of Lakewood Ranch, for $620,000. Built in 2001, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,972 square feet of living area. It sold for $319,000 in 2004.

In with the new NOW TAKING CONTRACTS

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SAVANNA

Brandi Watts Mowles and Austin Wesley Mowles, of Bradenton, sold their home at 3321 Big Sky Way to Evan Matthew Keats and Michelle Keats, of Bradenton, for $810,000.

Built in 2022, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,778 square feet of living area. It sold for $595,800 in 2022.

Arielle Bell, of Lake Grove, New York, sold her home at 3320 Big Sky Way to Alexander and Natalya Koval, of Bradenton, for $590,000.

Built in 2021, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,192 square feet of living area. It sold for $485,100 in 2021.

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Robert Hrabovecky, of Aberdeen, North Carolina, sold his home at 6775 Wild Lake Terrace to Kim Calhoun and Jill Calhoun, trustees, of Bradenton, for $784,000. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,455 square feet of living area. It sold for $379,800 in 2017.

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Oleg and Mariya Kulyk, of Bradenton, sold their home at 5381 Grove Mill Loop to Gregory Szarnecki, trustee, of Bradenton, for $745,000.

Built in 2021, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,537 square feet of living area. It sold for $528,600 in 2021.

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Michele Weisblatt, trustee, of Ronkonkoma, New York, sold the home at 6615 Hunter Combe Crossing to Southern Property Group Inc. for $730,000. Built in 1992, it has

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REAL ESTATE

Pomello Park property tops sales at $4,295,000

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2024

LAKEWOOD RANCH DELI

Real estate

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OPENING LAKEWOOD RANCH DELI IN JULY! I EL

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FROM PAGE 27

WENTWORTH

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Margareta Carmen Stanciu, trustee, of Avon Lake, Ohio, sold the home at 7353 Windemere Lane to CSDANC LLC for $620,000. Built in 1997, it has three bedrooms, twoand-a-half baths, a pool and 2,059 square feet of living area. It sold for $337,000 in 2001.

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Neal Communities of Southwest Florida LLC sold the home at 8510 Frangipani Terrace to William Allen Hunter and Barbara Bradlee Hunter, of Sarasota, for $620,000. Built in 2023, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,862 square feet of living area.

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Michael Gerard Waters and Ninoska Yadira Waters, of Winder, Georgia, sold their home at 11235 Spring Gate Trail to Christopher and Alison Hatton, of Bradenton, for $599,000.

Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,367 square feet of living area. It sold for $352,100 in 2018.

WAREHOUSE INVENTORY SALE!

MOTE RANCH

Robert Hukezalie sold his home at 5774 Carriage Drive to 5774 Carriage Dr. LLC for $595,000. Built in 1993, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,203 square feet of living area. It sold for $288,000 in 2013.

FURNITURE - TABLES - CHAIRS - LAMPS - RUGS - MIRRORS - ACCESSORIES

Ronald Coleman and Sandra Coleman, of Jacksonville, sold their home at 5303 Ithaca Lane to Craig and Terra Bache, of Hayden, Idaho, for $570,000. Built in 1992, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,331 square feet of living area.

It sold for $179,500 in 2000.

AZARIO ESPLANADE

Joseph and Laura Schnaufer, trustees, sold the home at 15672 Sacile Lane to Debra Jean Plourde and Douglas Ross Plourde, of Bradenton, for $560,000. Built in 2022, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,558 square feet of living area. It sold for $328,900 in 2022.

COACH HOMES AT RIVER STRAND

Loretta Kiara Kalamaroff and George Kalamaroff, of Clarence Center, New York, sold their Unit 4502 condominium at 415 Winding Brook Lane to Richard Gran, of Bradenton, for $500,000. Built in 2011, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,108 square feet of living area.

It sold for $259,000 in 2014.

NAUTIQUE AT WATERSIDE

M/I Homes of Sarasota LLC sold the home at 2004 Pulpit Lane to Nolan Wiggs, of Sarasota, for $500,000. Built in 2023, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,743 square feet of living area.

Stuart and Arlene Samet sold their home at 5809 Carriage Drive to Mikhail and Marina Plotkin, of St. Petersburg, for $530,000. Built in 2004, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,189 square feet of living area. It sold for $299,900 in 2007.

NOTTING HILL

for

up to

John Wojcik, trustee, of Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, sold the home at 7322 Kensington Court to Bianco Realty Associates LLC for $584,000. Built in 1999, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 2,196 square feet of living area. It sold for $335,000 in 2003.

ONLINE See more transactions at YourObserver.com

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28

JUNE 27, 2024

SPORTS

“I enjoy the individual aspect of tennis. It’s all on me. I get the glory when I win and I feel all of the pain when I lose.”

— GreyHawk Landing tennis player, Hayley Roberts SEE PAGE 31

Fast

Break

Courtesy image

Lakewood Ranch High rising senior running back CJ McRae II received an offer from Webber International University.

L

akewood Ranch High rising senior running back CJ McRae II received an offer from NAIA school Webber International University (Babson Park) on June 21.

McRae had 62 carries for 311 yards and two touchdowns in 2023. … The Out-of-Door Academy football rising senior offensive guard Marvin Palominos and rising senior defensive back Frankie Clark announced they would play for NCAA Division III school Wabash College (Crawfordsville, Indiana) on June 12. … Former Lakewood Ranch High and NFL defensive back Dominique RodgersCromartie finished his season with the Tampa Nightcrawlers of the A7FL, a seven-on-seven tackle football league, on June 23. The Nightcrawlers (5-1) qualified for the league’s postseason and reached the conference semifinals before losing 50-13 to New Jersey’s Paterson U (7-1). … Former Lakewood Ranch High baseball pitcher Colton Gordon, a member of the AAA-level Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Houston Astros), pitched six innings and allowed two runs on five hits June 23 against the El Paso Chihuahuas (San Diego Padres), picking up the win in a 6-2 victory. Gordon holds a 4.67 ERA this season. … Jessica Nguyen (33) won the 19-27 flight of University Park Country Club’s Ladies Golf Association Individual Best Nine event held June 18. Charlene Creel and Susan Blackmore (36) tied for first place in the 1-9 flight. … Professional softball player Taylor Pleasants, a former U.S. National Team representative, will hold a clinic at UMR Sports at 9 a.m. June 29. Registration is $100 and spots are limited.

For more information, visit UMRSports.com.

THE STARS OF SUMMER The Lakewood Ranch Little League U12 All-Star team has the experience and talent to go far.

RYAN KOHN SPORTS EDITOR

I

f his head coach is to be believed, the best 12-year-old baseball player in Florida plays for Lakewood Ranch Little League.

That 12-year-old and his teammates are now hoping for a special summer.

Gustavo Omana stands like a bigleaguer in the field and at the plate.

He’s never distracted or lackadaisical, instead thinking about where he should throw if the ball comes to him on defense, or focusing on getting his timing right on the next pitch.

This summer, Omana plays on LWRLL’s U12 All-Star team, which has aspirations of reaching Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and the Little League World Series. Every player on the team is considered elite for their age. Even so, Omana’s smooth play makes him unique.

“The kid is unbelievable,” Gustavo Omana U12 Head hits leadoff Coach Josh and can play Batey said. any defensive “It does position for not matthe Lakewood ter where Ranch Little you put him. I League 12U AllStar team.

strongly believe he would be the best player on the field at every position.

He’s that good.”

In the team’s first district game June 21 against Buffalo Creek Little League, Omana hit leadoff and went 2-3 with two RBIs in the team’s 12-1 win, which was ended after four innings. It’s not just his play that makes him special, Batey said, but his attitude. He’s a charismatic figure in the dugout, egoless despite his talent. He’s loved by his teammates, Batey said.

In Omana’s mind, if the players perform to their abilities, they will be headed toward Williamsport.

“It’s going to take effort and work,” Omana said. “We need more practice and we need to not be lazy. We need to stay focused on the game.”

The U12 team has the same roster from a season ago, when it reached the state level of the All-Stars tournament. Everyone involved believes it has the talent to get there again, and perhaps advance into the regional stage.

“It’s going to take effort and work. We need more practice and we need to not be lazy. We need to stay focused on the game.”

— Gustavo Omana

SPRINT STAR PAGE 30

The importance of the experience the kids received a season ago is incalculable, Batey said, and many of the kids have played together longer than that, some for as long as four years. The league has also made All-Stars a priority this year, with high-level clinics held starting in January as a way to get kids ready.

Against Buffalo Creek, the team looked ready. Seven players had hits over the four innings, and three players who went hitless still reached base via a walk. Omana, Austyn Murphy, Charlie Springstead and Landon Rosenberg all had RBIs. Though Buffalo Creek did score

Photos by Ryan Kohn

LAKEWOOD RANCH LITTLE LEAGUE 12U ALL-STARS ROSTER ■ Jude Batey ■ Benjamin Caldera ■ James Clark ■ Levi Johnson ■ Wyatt Kimble ■ Austyn Murphy ■ Gustavo Omana ■ Lucas Powers ■ Mario Reyes ■ Landon Rosenberg ■ Ethan Snyder ■ Charlie Springfield ■ Eddy Thomas ■ Head Coach Josh Batey ■ Assistant Coach Jim Johnson ■ Assistant Coach James Clark

one run via a pair of walks and some heads-up base running, Lakewood Ranch pitchers James Clark and Ethan Snyder, who pitched two innings each, did not allow a hit.

The team’s patience at the plate stems from the players’ ability to listen to coaches and put their advice into action. Batey said the team’s buy-in is an advantage over other talented teams.

“This is the best team I’ve ever coached,” Batey said. “They are gamers.”

The team also limits its mistakes.

While Buffalo Creek walked eight batters and made defensive errors that gifted Lakewood Ranch runs, Lakewood Ranch pitchers walked just two batters while the position players behind them were calm and made throws on time and with accuracy. Lakewood Ranch has the talent to beat other teams, and is unlikely to beat itself, which is a fatal flaw for many teams in its age category.

It is not lost on the players how important that is.

“You need communication,” Jude Batey, Josh Batey’s son, said. “Otherwise you cannot bond and you won’t know what is happening.”

The players unanimously said they watch the Little League World Series each summer. They know the quality of teams that reach that stage. So do the adults at LWRLL. The league’s 1997 team reached Williamsport and is still the only Manatee County team to do so. In February, the team was honored with a plaque at the Lakewood Ranch Park fields.

Getting another team to Williamsport would beat the odds, but no one is counting this team out. Josh Batey said the team can accomplish anything as long as it continues to believe it can do it.

No matter where the team’s story comes to a close, the players won’t let results affect the bonds they have made during the All-Star process.

“When we step off the field (after a game), we’re friends no matter what,” Omana said.

The Lakewood Ranch Little League 12U All-Stars have dreams of reaching Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and the Little League World Series.

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2024

PROSE AND KOHN

RYAN KOHN

Courtesy image

Braden River High alumnus Conner Morrell, 20, is making a name for himself on the 410 Sprint Car circuit.

Local driver impresses at Ohio Speedweek Sprint Car driver Conner Morrell said the nine-night Ohio Speedweek event was a test of endurance for him and his team.

T

he only thing that disappointed Conner Morrell about his Ohio Speedweek performance was the rain.

Morrell, a Braden River High alum, is a 410 Sprint Car driver. He has broken onto the national Sprint Car scene after starting his racing career while still a student at Rowlett Elementary Academy. Now 20 years old, Morrell made perhaps his biggest splash yet during Speed-

week, an event that has thrilled racing fans for 42 years.

Held June 7-15, drivers compete night after night for nine nights, each at a different race track. The drivers tally points each night based on their finish before an overall winner is declared on the final night. More than 100 drivers participated in at least one Speedweek event this year.

When the dust settled on Speed-

week, Morrell stood in sixth place in the overall standings. He qualified for seven feature races — only two drivers qualified for more — and had an average feature finish of 11th place, with three top-10 finishes.

In an event like Speedweek, consistency pays off. Morrell earned $4,340 for his effort.

Morrell’s week could have been even better. He qualified for the event’s June 8 feature race at Fre-

mont Speedway in Fremont, Ohio, in third place. Seven laps into the race, a deluge of rain hit the track, and the race was canceled.

“You can tell if you have a chance to win within the first five laps, because you feel out your car,” Morrell said. “We were fast (at Fremont). I think we could have won that race. I like a stable race car, one that I can finesse, and it was just perfect.”

The rain at Fremont aside, Morrell’s sixth-place finish in Speedweek is a sign of how far he has come.

In many ways, he has beaten the odds. He said Florida does not have much of market for 410 Sprint Car races anymore. The only big 410 races come in February, when Volusia Speedway Park hosts the DIRTcar Nationals and East Bay Raceway hosts a few High Limit races.

Otherwise, Morrell said, Florida is bereft of opportunities for drivers in his class. He and friend Danny Sams, a driver from North Port who finished 11th at Ohio Speedweek, were good enough in their teenage years to earn opportunities out of state.

As a result, Morrell spends most of his time on the road, traveling across the midwest with his team.

He comes back to Bradenton toward the end of November, once the racing season is over, to recharge.

Last year, that recharge was much needed. Morrell said he felt like he “hit a wall” in the second half of 2023, not finding much success after racing in some bigger events.

That has changed in 2024. Morrell said he can feel himself improving as a driver, getting better at telling his team how he wants his car to feel instead of trying to adjust to his car on the fly.

“Some of these guys (other drivers) like to go bang the wall down,” Morrell said. “I’ll go and do that, too, but I would prefer to be more finesse and get the car where I want it to be on the track.”

This year, Morrell is not thinking about recharging any time soon. He still has half a season of racing to go, and he wants to make it count while

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on an upswing. His next big race is the Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, on July 20. A World of Outlaws-sanctioned event that will hold its 41st-annual edition this year, there will be $175,000 up for grabs at the event.

Race car driver is not the most glamorous job in the world, especially early in a driver’s career. The road to the big time is full of challenges, not the least of which is the financial side of the sport. Asked where he’d like to be in a few years, Morrell said he either wants to be one of the top sprint car drivers in the country or he wants to be a part of NASCAR on the stock car side of the sport.

Either way, he said, getting there will require a lot of funding. Morrell said money is the biggest obstacle to a racer’s success. Morrell said he believes he has the talent as a driver to reach those levels, but to upgrade his car and compete in bigger events, he’ll need financial support.

That support will come the more he keeps having success like he did at Speedweek. By racing at different events and traveling the country, Morrell can make relationships with sponsors. Right now, Morrell is sponsored by Tub O’ Towels and Amalie Oil Co., and he hopes to make those relationships bigger and better as the years progress.

Through it all, Morrell said he would never want to be doing anything else.

“It’s an addiction,” Morrell said.

“I love the community and I love the people I work with every day. I just love racing.”

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, JUNE 27, 2024

When did you start playing tennis?

I started when I was 5 years old. My family put me into a lot of different sports and tennis was the one that stuck.

What is the appeal to you?

I enjoy the individual aspect of tennis. It’s all on me. I get the glory when I win and I feel all of the pain when I lose.

What is your best skill?

I have worked a lot on the mental side of the game. At the Bobby Curtis event, I handled all of the big moments well. I was able to think clearly even though it was hot and we were playing two matches a day.

I’m also consistent. Now that I can drive myself to practice, I can go a lot more and get in more hits, and that has helped.

Do you get nervous to play in those bigger events?

I try to push it out of my mind when I’m competing. At this point I have matured enough that I know how.

There are coaches there, but I still need to focus on the matches. If a coach sees what I can do, that’s great. They are not going to cross me off their list if I make one error.

I just focus on what I need to do on the court.

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What is your favorite food?

Sushi, especially California rolls.

What is your favorite TV show?

That’s tough. I like ‘The Vampire Diaries’ a lot.

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What are your hobbies?

I enjoy doing things outside.

I like to go fishing with my brother (Todd Roberts) or go to the mall with my friends.

I like to try new food at restaurants.

What have you been working to improve?

My shot selection. I am trying to use my forehand as much as I can, and I don’t want to let my opponents get into a rhythm. I’ll mix in slices or drop shots or loopier shots to do that.

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What is the best advice you have received?

Trust yourself and take accountability for your decisions. And that’s on and off the court.

What is the status of your recruiting process?

I’m still pretty open. I’m looking forward to this summer and competing in front of more coaches.

I’ll be at the Clay Court Nationals in Delray Beach in two weeks, and then I’ll be at the Hardcourt Nationals in San Diego in August.

It will be the best players in the country coming together,

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Hayley Roberts is a tennis player from GreyHawk Landing. Roberts finished fourth in the Girls’ 18s division of the Bobby Curtis junior sectional championships, held June 8-12 in Orlando. Roberts is a fourstar recruit and the No. 120 player in the national class of 2025 according to the Tennis Recruiting Network.

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.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Hayley Roberts

COME FLY

LET OUR HAND SURGEONS HELP!

FOR

FOURTH OF JULY

Same/ Ne Appoin xt Day tme Availa nts ble!

Dupuytrens Contracture Hand and Wrist Arthritis Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

5 STARS

Zip•Climb Swing•Soar The Ground Is Overrated BRADENTON

Text 941-322-2130 Sara P. Simmons M.D. Board Certified and Fellowship Trained Orthopedic Surgeon

www.TreeUmph.com

Call 941-792-1404 to schedule your appointment or visit CoastalOrthopedics.com

ON ADVENTURE TICKETS AND APE UP TICKETS TO CLIMB THIS 4TH OF JULY

WEST BRADENTON

EAST BRADENTON

– Google Reviews

SAVE 15%*

COVENIENT LOCATIONS IN: 8000 SR 64 East Bradenton, Florida 34212

“This place is awesome.

My teens loved it, the courses progressively get harder. It is definitely a workout!”

6202 17th Ave. West Bradenton, Florida 34209

Valid only for Adventure and Ape Up Tickets June 22 – July 8.

Use promo code Fourth2024.

LAKEWOOD RANCH 422911-1

8340 Lakewood Ranch Blvd. 3rd Floor, Lakewood Ranch, Florida 34202

*Cannot be combined with any other offer.

424730-1

Melissa M. Boyette M.D. Board Certified and Fellowship Trained Orthopedic Surgeon

Hand and Wrist Injuries Finger Reduction/ Dislocation Trigger Finger Carpal Tunnel

32

YourObserver.com

WEATHER

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2024

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

FORECAST THURSDAY, JUNE 27

SUNRISE / SUNSET Sunrise Sunset

High: 89 Low: 77 Chance of rain: 45%

FRIDAY, JUNE 28 High: 89 Low: 76 Chance of rain: 37%

Thursday, June 27

6:36a

8:28p

Friday, June 28

6:37a

8:28p

Saturday, June 29

6:37a

8:28p

Sunday, June 30

6:37a

8:28p

Monday, July 1

6:38a

8:28p

Tuesday, July 2

6:38a

8:28p

Wednesday, July 3

6:39a

8:28p

MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, JUNE 29 High: 90 Low: 76 Chance of rain: 55%

June 28 Last

July 5 New

July 13 First

July 21 Full

RAINFALL

SUNDAY, JUNE 30 High: 92 Low: 75 Chance of rain: 58% Gordon Silver captured a photo of this bromeliad showing off its colors in Del Webb.

Monday, June 17

0

Tuesday, June 18

0

Wednesday, June 19

0

Thursday, June 20

0

Friday, June 21

0

Saturday, June 22

0

Sunday, June 23

0.35

*Rainfall totals from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport

Submit your photos at YourObserver.com/contests. All submissions will be entered for the 2024-25. Weather and Nature photo contest. In February 2025, you will vote for your favorite photo, and the submission with the most votes will win a $500 gift card.

YEAR TO DATE: 2024 23.88 in.

2023 10.04 in.

MONTH TO DATE: 2024 14.19 in.

2023 2.38 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

Daily crossword puzzles available at YourObserver.com/crossword

INCLINED NOT TO BELIEVE YOU by Daniel Hrynick and Jeff Chen, edited by Jeff Chen 112 *Ark man / Classic “Is

49 Fragrant flower

that a 99-Across?” line

51 Unsure person’s words

113 Delivers

53 Fred Durst usually wears

114 Formal Spanish address

his backward

115 Fashion monogram

55 Wordle co.

116 What zero factorial

58 Civil unrest responder

equals

59 ___ Meg (family member

DOWN

in “Twister”)

2 Speech fillers 3 Feigns a strong hand, maybe 4 Lee’s competitor 5 Gulf nation 6 What some do in the shower 7 ___ Alley (“Harry Potter” locale) 8 “Bless you!” preceder 9 Org. whose tents were at 2017’s Fyre Festival 10 Nathan of HBO’s “The Rehearsal” 11 Pay stub abbr.

12 Jacket’s flourish 13 “Snap the pigskin!”

14 Homer’s tale 15 “I’ll do it” ©2024 Universal Uclick

ACROSS 1 *Yank / Classic rent line 4 ___ Lobos (band) 7 Cartoon duck 12 Santiago’s land 17 Kaput 19 Big rig 20 *Clinch a win / Classic car trouble line 21 Crude ship 22 On the ocean 23 ___ Drago (“Rocky IV” foe) 24 “Arabian Nights” prince 25 Japanese dog

33 “Blast!”

59 Like creative types

“Kung Fu Panda 4”

35 “Zip-A-___-Doo-Dah”

60 “Won’t be in for a while”

88 “Already?”

36 “Here’s my number”

64 Knock response

89 Extra pay, in a way

37 Caution

66 Type of spud

90 Udderly white in color?

39 Pacific Northwest hub

67 Settle debts

91 Wad

41 Stirs

68 Speck

94 Singer Simone

42 Mixer for rum

69 Brian of 1984’s “Dune”

95 “Told you!”

43 Removed contaminants

soundtrack

96 Applying caulk

45 Hertz competitor

70 Quarter-___ pickup

97 “Yeah, sounds likely!”

46 Tennessee town with a

71 PSP Go maker

noted national lab

72 Luchador’s uncle

48 Circuit board alloy

73 Glaswegian

50 Retirement plan

74 Tot’s toys

52 Thought

79 *Siege ___ / Classic

53 “On ___ Majesty’s Secret

fault line

26 Putting the biscuit in the Service” 54 Message board rando basket, in hockey 29 Backup squads 30 Swaddles 32 ___ Fighters (band)

81 ___ Wieners (Lacey Chabert’s “Mean Girls” role)

56 *Got together / Classic

83 Dice turn

homework line

84 Licorice brew

57 “Family Feud” airer

86 Ripped

58 “Gnarly!”

87 Davis voicing a role in

16 Return to nothingness 18 Undiplomatic 19 Word after “yes” or “no” 27 ___ law (electrical concept) 28 “Sorry, it’s true” 29 Replace at home plate 30 Junkyard junk 31 Forgo 34 Upped the ante

60 Org. busy in April

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

Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

“P.V.X. PJWBP KJPNGU. G WPBGF NJEVB NGRBP GUI NBUFJP. AZBU V AGC 23 ZB WGEB NB ND MVPCF CZJF GF IVPBKFVUW.”

61 Persian utterance 62 Sleep study subject 63 Actor Keenen Ivory or Damon 64 Ric Flair shout 65 More conceited 66 Reddish horse 68 Make a meal of

“C KN IKEETLTE AW STKGL WP GWFTG OWGNKL’I VKIICLF. ... C OWJLA NBITSP SJORB AW UKHT XTTL KXST AW DWGR DCAU UCN.”

70 Ash or elm 72 Spring cleaning utterance 73 Tabasco lady (Abbr.)

75 A thousand billion 76 Gawker 77 Sue ___ Mischke (“Seinfeld” character) 78 Informal words 80 Leads the way, as in high tech 81 Preceder of “X” or “Alpha” 82 MLB taters 85 Sycophants 87 Small glass tube 89 Clenched, as muscles 90 NHL division with Pens

PJU ZJAGPI

DCSSCKN IUKALTG

“ZBPDP MNH’Z X VJOPDH BJIITFJJO FMZBJGZ IPLPHOXDT FDMZPD, OMDPRZJD XHO UDJOGRPD DJLPD RJDVXH.”

FDMZPD EJP DGNNJ Puzzle Three Clue: V equals M

1 LAX group

celebrity cipher

Puzzle Two Clue: V equals P

crossword

Come Shop our Showrooms!

Puzzle One Clue: W equals G

426191-1

at MANASOTA FLOORING INC

© 2024 NEA, Inc.

sudoku

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

and Caps 91 Plays nine holes 92 Chicago hub 93 POTUS 46

95 Wild boars, e.g.

99 Utter fabrication ... or any 37 Biang Biang noodles pan 96 Bob Dylan’s “I ___ Be of five lines in this puzzle 38 “The Kids Are ___” (hit by Released” 103 Punch server the Who) 98 Ran, as colors 104 Small crosswords 39 Go after in court 100 “Wilco!”

105 It gives Mario invinci40 Scaly-leaf conifers 101 Road trip game bility 42 “Sorry, won’t be able to” 102 Classic Pontiacs 106 Cutlass Supreme, e.g.

43 Org. competing with LIV 104 NCAA Spartans 109 Less restrained 44 Panel dings 107 Author Brown 110 River through Paris or 46 ___-gooey (chewy) 108 Pronoun containing Winnipeg 47 Williams who sang “Let’s another pronoun 111 Sport with much horsing Hear It for the Boy” around?

©2024 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

6-27-24

Made for where you live. Here!

THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2024

RED PAGES DEADLINES: Classifieds - Monday at Noon

for July 4th edition CLASSIFIED ADS East County/ LBK: Deadline Thursday, May 27th, 12:00pm Sarasota/Siesta Key:

will

4300 Timberline Bay Blvd Venice, FL 34293

be

CLOSED Thursday, July 4th, for the Independence Day Holiday. We will reopen Friday, July 5th for normal business hours.

Call 941-955-4888 To Place Your Ad

Magnificent estate sale with a house full of Havertys furniture, including a gray leather sectional sofa designed by Saturn.

Matched leather blue recliner chairs by Havertys. Midcentury modern bedroom suits, dining room table & 6 chairs, antique furniture, listed artist artwork, baseball enthusiast collection, office equipment including computer desk. Beautiful sets of China including kitchen items and crystal. Beautiful breakfast bamboo style table & chairs, flat screen tvs, brand new Skye by Havertys electronic king sized bed & mattress, women’s clothing including Chicos, same brand shoes, as well as men’s name brand clothing and shoes by Lands In. Native American pottery, Ninja grill & blender, and all clad pots & pans.

Huge collection of plants in pots as well as fountains & garden statues. Books. Lots of garage items & bric a brac.

stuff

For more information call Ken at: 941-356-3318

Items Under $200 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

Or Visit: AntiquesandChatchkes.com Estate Sales Conducted by: Antiques & Chatchkes

General Merchandise SIZZLING SUMMER SALE at Emiline’s Antique Mall!

Our new and existing dealers are excited to offer special pricing during June. Special savings on unique gifts & antiques for yourself or someone special.

Visit us at 1415 10th St. W. Palmetto. Mon-Sat 10a-5p, Sun.12a-5p

TRANSPORT CHAIR, used once.

Paid 239. Sell for $150.

Call Dave 941-928-3211 WINE BOTTLE RACK (32”h x 32” w) Holds 72 bottles. $50 941-755-3427

GARAGE SALE

As low as $17.50 per week!

941-955-4888

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.

Motorcycles ‘09 YAMAHA 650 VStar Classic Motorcycle. 30,000 mi. $8,000 941-241-9014

Want Some Mad Money?

Sell Your Item for Free! $200 or less

Help Wanted THE BUSINESS OBSERVER newspaper is seeking a fast-paced, detail-oriented Proofreader / Typist for a part-time position in Sarasota, Florida.

Hours are 9am-2pm, Mon-Fri. Candidates must be able to type at least 75 WPM with great accuracy and proofread typed material and make corrections. Attention to detail is a MUST. Proofreading entails finding errors in the typed print that varies from the original document, not actually editing the documents for errors.

The ideal candidate will have strong computer software and hardware skills. Familiarity with Adobe InDesign and Filemaker Pro is a plus. Florida notary certification is also a plus.

Please email your resume and WPM typing speed for immediate consideration to kboothroyd@businessobserverfl. com. Please also specify your available date to start. *This position must be performed in the office. No remote work is available.

Competitive pay, paid time off and health insurance available

Sporting Goods

941-955-4888 YourObserver.com/RedPages

SARASOTA PAINTING, LLC INTERIOR & EXTERIOR PAINTING WE ARE THE BEST!!!

Residential & Commercial.

Fully Insured.

CALL or TEXT Don 941-900-9398

Professional Services

Adult Care Services CAREGIVER - LICENSED CNA 6 years experience w/ dementia & other ailments.

4-12 hrs, 5 days/ week & some weekends. $25-$30/ hr.

Best care for your loved one.

References avail. Marina 786-906-8103 GREAT FINDS LOCATED HERE!

UBA PRESSURE WASHING AND SEALER (941) 320-6172 www.ubapressurewashing.com

Transportation TOP NOTCH TRANSPORTATION Airport Taxi Service

Auto Transport

Island to SRQ- $45 Island to Tampa- $90 Add XL- $20

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

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

Luxury cars • Over 8,000 trips Regular Hours • Never Late!

Doctors Appts. • All Rides on the Gulf Coast

Cleaning

941-718-9933

BRAZILIAN CLEANING Service

by Maria. Residential. Meticulous Cleaning. Excellent References.

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

Moving NATIONWIDE BEST RATE MOVERS For only $140 / hr get 2 men & a truck plus FREE boxes.

Call 941-465-3000

www.topnotchtransportation service.com

FIND BUYERS & SELLERS HERE! 941-955-4888

©2022 Universal Uclick

OLD MOTORCYCLES WANTED *1920-1999* ALL Makes & ModelsAny Condition! $ CASH PAID $ Call 845-389-3239 cyclesndmore10@gmail.com

RED PAGES AD RATES First 15 words ................. $ 17.50 per week Each add’l word .......50¢ BEACH’ N RIDES Electric Bike Shop! eBike Sales and Rentals Ride easy on an eBike with as much exercise or assistance as you want.

Leave traffic and parking problems behind!

13 models available.

Daily and weekly rentals available.

We also repair other Brands.

Open 9 to 5 daily except Sundays and holidays.

12208 Cortez Rd, FL 941-251-7916 Ext. 1

FIND IT IN THE RED PAGES

This week’s Crossword answers

YourObserver.com/RedPages

DANSK DISH set, white, 48 pcs.

Must See, beautiful set! $200 941-351-2040

NEW ARTOGRAPH Prism art projector adjustable stand. $25.

New Sports Knee Brace "DonJoy" full universal/telescoping. $35.

941-776-0034

Autos Wanted

941-729-5282 5 mi. west of I75 at Ellenton exit

APPLIANCES MINI Fridge for Sale. Great for dorms. $50 (941) 228-6134

MARLBORO MENTHOL cigarettes. 4 cartons. $100 919-667-7609 or 941-351-2149

auto

12:00 pm Observer

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

Numbers out at 8am

Deadline Friday, May 28th

The

MAGNIFICENT ESTATE SALE June 28th, 9 am to 5 pm June 29th, 9 am to 5 pm June 30th, 9 am to 3 pm

Merchandise Wanted

15% DISCOUNT FOR 4-WEEK RUN Color background: $ 5 per week Ad border: as low as $3 per week

PLACE YOUR AD: Call: 941-955-4888 Email: RedPages@ YourObserver.com Online: YourObserver.com /RedPages

Commercial Property for Rent FOR LEASE: 1,750 Sq. ft. in Bradenton. Office or Medical. Call Frank 941-720-2199

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 Sarasota: Pool home, 4 bed. $649,900 Venice: 2/2 Condo Plantation Golf Club. Call for Price Bradenton: Pool Home, New windows, hvac, Completely Updated $689,900

You’re only cheating yourself.

EARLY DEADLINES

Garage/ Moving/ Estate Sales

peekers’ place

4th OF JULY

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.

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..

jobs

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

home services

INFORMATION & RATES: 941-955-4888

redpages@yourobserver.com • yourobserver.com/redpages

Painting

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers Puzzle One Solution: “R.I.P. Roger Corman. A great movie maker and mentor. When I was 23 he gave me my first shot at directing.” Ron Howard Puzzle Two Solution: “I am saddened to learn of Roger Corman’s passing. ... I count myself lucky to have been able to work with him.”

William Shatner Puzzle Three Solution: “There isn’t a modern Hollywood without legendary writer, director and producer Roger Corman.”

Writer Joe Russo

This week’s Sudoku answers

Longboat Key: 4 pools, beach access. $465,000 Gulf Beachfront Home coming soon: 6.9 million

FIND BUYERS & SELLERS HERE!

Brooke O’Malley | Club Realty Call 941-726-2677

©2022 NEA, Inc.

34

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2024

Aluminum

Blinds/Window Treatments

Contractor

Professional Contractors Network, Inc.

Fabrics · Draperies · Pillows · Bedding · Wall Coverings Valances & Cornices · Shutters & Shades · Upholstery · Motorized Systems

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

Call Us for a FREE Estimate Today 941.650.9790 941.650.9790 YoderAluminum.com

YoderAluminum.com

Attorney

Brick Pavers

Doors

Business in Christ

• Paver Sealing • Pressure & Soft Washing • Concrete Coating • Painting

“FIX IT - DON’T REPLACE”

Call or text today for a FREE estimate:

941-321-2859

Over 100 Reviews Award Winning Services

www.BIC - CC.COM

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

Cleaning

We have mediated divorces involving up to 15 million dollars of assets over past 30 years.

Cleaner Than Clean Window Company Crystal Clear Windows in Southwest Florida Since 2023

Residential & Commercial Cleans

941-504-9787 425487

Knowledgeable & Uniformed | Trained & Certified | Licensed, Bonded & Insured

Auto Service

Indoor • Residential • Commercial Windows, Pressure Washing, Gutters

423.251.2368 / 863.473.1069 Computer

FAST • EASY • SAFE

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

WE COME TO YOU

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

425488

5-Star Rated

HoHoBuysCars.com

Find anything in the RED PAGES

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

Pegatronics.com 425482

941-955-4888

941-955-4888 Handyman

GG1 Cleaning Services Call Today for FREE Estimate

SELL YOUR CAR!

WITH THE RED PAGES Call to reserve your ad space

Ask about Community Discounts!

425463

Call Today!

GROW YOUR BUSINESS

941-735-3362

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

425498

William J. Leininger, JD

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

425489

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.

941.270.4400

Trades welcome to join our network! Please send email

Sliding Glass Door Repair

Divorce without Lawyers

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

Email Project Information: PCNestimating@gmail.com 941-527-9414

JOE DAVIS HD LLC • Doors & Trim Licensed & Insured • Laminate & Wood Over 30 Years Flooring FREE ESTIMATE • Tile Cabinets & Drywall • Texture Paint & Wood Rot 941-929-3000

KEENS HANDYMAN SERVICES INTERIOR RENOVATIONS & ANYTHING FROM THE GROUND UP

TEXT OR CALL 574-354-7772 KEENS HANDYMAN SERVICES

425477

425481

Owner /Insured Operator Insured

941.879.6310 · designingwindowsbyisabel@gmail.com designingwindowsbyisabel.com

426473

Dustin Owner Yoder/ Operator

426474

Dustin Yoder

Construction Estimating • Custom Homes Design Build • Restaurants-New/Remodels Office Remodels • Financing

426471

Isabel M. Perez, Certified Designer

Let our Network Handle All your Building Needs

YourObserver.com

35

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2024

Kitchen/Bath Remodeling

Roofing

CALL BEFOREYOU YOU FALL CALL BEFORE FALL

GET YOUR LIFE BACK!

GRAB BARS GRAB BARS

Do You Have Neck or Low Back Pain?

Do You Want To Avoid Surgery?

Kenneth Fuhlman Inc. Building & Roofing Contractor

COMPLETE INSTALLATION PACKAGE

Give Us a Call - We Can Help

FREE CONSULTATION 941.358.2224

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

941.966.0333

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

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

• Aluminum, Vinyl, & Wood Soffit & Fascia Repair & Installation • Roofing Repair & Installation • Metal Roofing & Tile Roof Repair Specialists 364556 426478

249 235

* $ $235

$

941-626-3194

Licensed & Insured CCC - 058059 CBC - 1253936

DRGRABBARS.COM

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

Board Certified in the specialty of non-surgical spinal decompression

Screening

THE GRAB BAR GUY

DR. DAVID CIFRA, DC Midtown Medical Park 1215 S. East Ave. Suite 210 Sarasota, FL 34239

www.SarasotaDiscCenter.com DrCifra@SarasotaDiscCenter.com

GLENN KROECKER

954-1878 (cell) 780-3346

Home Services

425462

Licensed & Insured

426477

425478

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

Landscaping & Lawn 1/10/23, 10:25 AM

GARDENS

941-705-5468

Commercial

426476

No Job is Too Small!

BLACK LABEL CAR SERVICE

Luxury for Less

by Allison

Personalized Full Service Gardening & Landscaping

Concierge Gardening | Designer

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

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

Windows

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

1/1

Serving Longboat Key Since 2005

Painting

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

425483

10% off

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

426984

Design • Maintenance • Cleanup Allison Abizaid, M.A.

941-248-4734 410036

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

chrome_qrcode_1671726737617.png

Transportation

425493

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?

Residential

425491

Health

Res. | Com. | Lic. | Ins.

GULF TO BAY P REMIER P AINTING

Home Watch

Licensed & Insured

Formerly known as Sunrise Windows UP TO

Randy Schmidt | 941-702-3262 gulftobaypremierpainting@gmail.com | lwrpainting.com

Plumbing 426464

Mark’s Plumbing Service Small plumbing repairs. Replace toilets, faucets, water filters, water softeners and repair leaks.

Kitchen/Bath Remodeling

941-920-8221

425461

SHOWER & BATH MAKEOVERS

RELIABLE • INSURED

425499

Cleaned - Regrouted - Caulked - Sealed

Call John 941.377.2940

Free Estimates • Sarasota Resident Since 1974

www.showerandbathsarasota.com

NEED HELP?

Find business and service professionals in the Red Pages.

To advertise: 941-955-4888

HEROES found here.

Relax. You’ve got better things to do.

Find a professional here in the Red Pages.

RED PAGES Made for where you live. Here!

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

426480

Lifetime Sarasota Resident & Owner

150

25 $

STANDARD WINDOWS

INCLUDING SCREENS, TR ACKS, MIRRORS & FANS

SPECIAL 00 5

$

senior citizen discount. www.sunsetwindowcleaningsrq.com

PURIFIED WATER WINDOW CLEANING AVAIL ABLE!!

Call Tibor for FREE ESTIMATES 941- 284 - 5880

425494

Complete exterior & interior painting Kitchen Cabinet Painting • Deck Stains & Coating Garage Floor Epoxy Coating

YourObserver.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2024

941.702.0437 | ShanahanLuxuryGroup@CBrealty.com | ShanahanLuxuryGroup.com

2024 Leaders in Luxury

Family Business | Concierge Service | Proven Results

Kenneth Shanahan, PLLC

Katina Shanahan, PLLC

Tyler Shanahan, PLLC

941.702.0443

941.702.0437

941.961.8205

7912 Grande Shores Drive Shoreview

New Listing

1095 Blue Shell Loop Wild Blue

New Construction

4129 Butte Trail Star Farms

Pre-Construction

$2,095,000 | 3,894 Square Feet 4 Bedrooms | 4.5 Bathrooms | Bonus Room Office | 3-Car Garage | Pool

$2,869,875 | 3,474 Square Feet 3 Bedrooms | 4 Bathrooms Flex Room | Pool/Spa | 3- Car Garage

$1,457,000 | 2,800 Square Feet 4 Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms Den | 3-Car Garage

16123 Fortezza Drive Azario Esplanade

3331 Chestertown Loop Mallory Park

16435 Paynes Mill Drive Park East at Azario

New Price | Open House June 30th 1pm-4pm

Under Contract

$775,000 | 1,926 Square Feet 3 Bedrooms | 2 Bathrooms | Den Golf-Deeded | Resort Amenities

$445,000 | 1,836 Square Feet 3 Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms Private Courtyard | 2-Car Garage

$575,000 | 2,422 Square Feet 4 Bedrooms | 2.5 Bathrooms Lake Homesite

17065 Polo Trail Polo Run

1213 Blue Shell Loop Wild Blue | New Construction

5473 Silverside Pine Court Sapphire Point | New Construction

Under Contract

$1,050,000 | 3,520 Square Feet 5 Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms Pool/Spa | 3-Car Garage

Sold

Under Contract

3,222 Square Feet 3 Bedrooms | 3.5 Bathrooms Den | Bonus Room

$934,415 | 4,273 Square Feet 5 bedrooms | 5 bathrooms 3-Car Garage | Pool/Spa

The Right Representation Makes the Difference.

Contact Us to Learn the Benefits of Working With Our Team.

941.702.0437 413844-1

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