What exactly does an inspector general
Scoot thru There’s no time or place to dawdle at Scooter’s Coffee.
Owner Tom Simonian said the drive-thru only coffee shop delivers orders in under three minutes.
Baristas like Amber Davis (above) can serve a minimum of 120 cars per hour in the drive-thru at the new store, located at 6625 State Road 70 E. The drive-thru is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. The store opened on July 18 but will celebrate its grand opening with Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown at 11 a.m. Aug. 2. Simonian said those who pay with the mobile app on Aug. 2 will get a buy-one-get-one deal to celebrate.
Hit the stage Gracie Vajani (above) can’t get enough of musical theater, so for three years now, Vajani has participated in Ovation School of Musical Theatre’s summer camp. This summer was no different. Vajani shined on stage as she performed in “The Descendants.” Campers learned about various aspects of musical theater through weekly themed sessions. Other musicals and theater productions participants have explored are Disney’s “Encanto” and “Frozen” as well as “Matilda” and international hit “Hamilton.”
Lesley Dwyer
Candidate says he is an America-first Republican
Currently the District 3 commissioner, Kevin Van Ostenbridge is introducing himself to the rest of Manatee County.
LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER
Kevin Van Ostenbridge notes he is the only sitting commissioner who was born and raised in Manatee County.
“My grandmother used to say that Bradenton became a concrete jungle when they four-laned Manatee Avenue,” he said.
Van Ostenbridge currently represents District 3, or the islands, but has switched races to oppose Commissioner George Kruse in the Republican Primary for the at-large District 7 seat.
Van Ostenbridge has been accused by Kruse and many citizens of favoring developers. However, he says someone has to be a grownup.
“I can vote however I want, which is what my opponent sometimes does,”
Van Ostenbridge said of Kruse. “He gives a grandiose speech, and then he votes in a way that if three other people voted the same way, we would find ourselves in a courtroom.”
Van Ostenbridge said he misses the undeveloped Manatee County, too. He used to ride horses around Robinson Preserve before the Robinsons even owned the land.
“We’d get arrested now — full gallops through the mangroves, racing each other bareback, laying down flat because a branch would take your head off,” he said. “That was so much fun back then. There used to be a lot of horses up in northwest Bradenton.”
Van Ostenbridge was 11 years old in 1991 when the Sarasota Polo Club opened and Lakewood Ranch was on the horizon, which gives him a different perspective when people
complain about development heading too far east.
He said anything past Rosedale used to be the boondocks. Who was going to live in homes past the landfill on Lena Road?
Fast forward to 2020 during his first commission meeting as a member of the board, and residents living in Savannah at Lakewood Ranch were upset about a request to build a Walgreens off State Road 64.
To those residents, the whole area was being paved over. To Van Ostenbridge, it was a three-acre lot filled with Brazilian pepper trees.
“Lakewood Ranch is literally the best thing that’s ever happened to the county when it comes to the economy and jobs,” Van Ostenbridge said. “But Lakewood Ranch didn’t exist.
It’s all been paved over for homes. So for people in Lakewood Ranch to say they don’t want more development, it’s perplexing to me to hear that.”
Van Ostenbridge has been a real estate agent since the age of 21. He’s had to step back a bit since joining the commission in 2020, but he’s still an active agent with Boyd Realty in Bradenton.
As much as he loves the old days, he said he loves his work and believes wholeheartedly in the rights of property owners to develop their land as they see fit. However, he doesn’t like when development steps on the character and culture of Manatee County.
Other changes can irk him as well.
“I can’t stand that McKechnie Field is called LECOM now,” Van
Ostenbridge said. “No. It’s McKechnie Field; it’s always been McKechnie Field.”
There’s only one place that pulled Van Ostenbridge away from Manatee County for any length of time — Skagway, Alaska.
It was 2008, in the midst of the recession, when real estate had tanked. Van Ostenbridge was 28 years old, and a friend suggested he drive a tour bus in Alaska. It only seemed like a crazy idea at first.
With nothing going on at work, Van Ostenbridge decided it made perfect sense to goof off for a summer in Alaska.
“I’ve always been inquisitive, and I love nature,” he said. “When I travel, I don’t do manufactured tourism like Vegas and Orlando. I like natural wonders and history and that kind of thing.”
Van Ostenbridge drove a tour bus for Holland America that summer and made enough connections to return the following summer. He ended up managing Chilkoot Charters & Tours and spent seven summers in Alaska.
The tours were seasonal, so Van Ostenbridge started his own Manatee County company, Be Easy Tours, to stay busy during the winter. It was the same concept of traveling by tour bus. He targeted mobile home residents, and the buses would pick them up and take them to places as close as The Ringling and as far as New Orleans.
After COVID-19, Van Ostenbridge said he let the company go. Beyond the complications of a pandemic, he had started a new chapter on the commission, which he’s hoping to continue for another four years by unseating Kruse.
“I’m proud to be the only candidate in the race who has endorsed President (Donald) Trump and is truly an America-first Republican,” Van Ostenbridge said. “I want to lower taxes again and carry on our mission of being the board that keeps building roads because that’s what the county needs.”
CAMPAIGNING IN THE SUNSHINE
Florida’s Government in the Sunshine Law grants the public access to government board meetings. That poses a problem for two commissioners running for the same seat.
By allowing the public in, the law prohibits two or more members of a board from having private conversations about anything that could potentially be voted on.
“We were already facing off against one another and then the county attorney opined, ‘You guys can’t even be at a forum together. You can’t do anything together,’” Van Ostenbridge said. “I think it’s a disappointment for both of us. We have different viewpoints on some important issues, and I think we were chomping at the bit to get in there. I know I was.”
Two public officials discussing such topics must be treated like a government meeting, meaning they must be properly noticed and recorded.
The law applies to the Legislature, state agencies, county and city commissions, special district boards, advisory boards and quasi-judicial proceedings.
Lesley Dwyer
Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge at the Boyd Realty office. Van Ostenbridge is opposing Commissioner George Kruse for the District 7 seat in the primary election on Aug. 20.
Always analyzing
The Inspector General must determine whether complaints warrant an investigation or audit or if they fall under the jurisdiction of another agency.
LESLEY DWYER | STAFF WRITER
Commissioner George Kruse said every level of government should have some version of an inspector general, not because the government wants it, but because the people demand it.
“Government, and people in government, will always take more power and take more advantage of anything if you let them,” Kruse said. “An inspector general’s job is to look out for the people to make sure the government doesn’t overreach.”
The inspector general’s office is a division of the Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. Lori Stephens holds the title of inspector general. She started as an auditor in the office 30 years ago. Stephens oversees a staff of five auditors, who investigate fraud, waste, abuse and misconduct. The office’s jurisdiction includes the Board of County Commissioners, all departments under the board and any agency that receives funding from the board.
INVESTIGATIONS
The office fielded 109 complaints in 2023. Some were complaints without any proof, but more than half of the complaints were deemed to be outside of the office’s jurisdiction and were referred to other departments and agencies.
The office doesn’t deal with personnel issues or criminal cases. Clerk and Comptroller Angel Colonneso said if an auditor suspects anything criminal, that case is immediately handed off to law enforcement.
“We don’t want to interfere with a potential investigation,” Colonneso said.
As for personnel, Stephens said a code officer being rude is a management issue. When three employees in the department were accused of mishandling a case, that was investigated.
“We have no ability to control employees,” she said. “We can audit processes.”
Mitchell Teitelbaum is another example. He was accused of sexual harassment after he accepted a deputy county administrator role at the
$942,773
end of 2022. The office didn’t investigate the accusation, it investigated the process by which that complaint was handled by the Human Resources Department.
In Teitelbaum’s case, an outside law firm with expertise in sexual harassment was hired. Stephens said the auditors were not trained in sexual harassment. They’re certified accountants, fraud examiners and auditors. (In the end, Teitelbaum decided not to take the position and county commissioners rescinded their offer for it.)
While one rogue employee doesn’t fall under the purview of the inspector general, more than one employee engaging in fraud or abuse indicates a faulty process.
The Animal Services Department was accused of padding its timesheets with extra hours in 2015, and the Transit Division was accused of the same in 2019. Auditors interviewed staff and sifted through timesheets, key card data, computer logins, calendars and emails.
Stephens said usually something stands out when it comes to fraud. In the case of Animal Services, auditors found 380 instances of “irregular timekeeping” over an eight-month period.
When abuses are identified, the inspector general’s office creates a management action plan, as in the case of the timesheet problem. The department has a timeframe in which to comply with the plan, and auditors follow up to ensure proper steps have been taken to rectify the problem.
Instead of dealing with each employee, which is management’s job, the management action plan addresses the policies and procedures that made the abuse or fraud by the employees possible.
AUDITS AND PROJECTS
The inspector general’s office looks
at the efficiency and effectiveness of each department. Investigations take priority. Stephens said there were five investigations in 2023, but staff also performed nine audits and completed 15 projects. The work auditors perform is confidential until the final reports are issued and posted online on the clerk’s website.
A review of quarterly sales tax is a project. A review of a department is an audit. Audits fall under three categories: financial, compliance and operational.
A risk assessment of how autonomous a department is, how big the budget is and how many complaints have been received helps to decide which departments will be audited in a new year. Then, data analytics software helps to identify potential fraud and errors.
Data from various county systems is downloaded, and the software analyzes the data based on whatever criteria is entered.
“While tips continue to be the primary source for identifying potential fraud, periodically performing these types of tests ensures we remain proactive in our efforts,” Stephens said.
The software can search for duplicate vendor payments and identify when vendor addresses match employee addresses. When matches are found, auditors follow up to ensure the vendors aren’t fraudulent and that a conflict of interest doesn’t exist.
An audit of county purchase card expenditures is how Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge’s purchase of voter information was discovered.
Van Ostenbridge paid $1,609 to McShane LLC for District 3 voter data, which he said was for the purpose of distributing a districtwide informational newsletter. However, the data contained more than 200 fields of information beyond email addresses.
Once the purchase became public, Van Ostenbridge reimbursed the county. The Florida Commission on Ethics ruled in January that there was insufficient evidence to prove
HOW TO FILE A COMPLAINT
Citizens have five options, both anonymous and not, to file a complaint with Manatee County’s Inspector General.
1. Visit ManateeClerk.com/ Departments/Inspector-General/ Fraud-Waste-Abuse-And-Misconduct/
2. Call the 24-hour hotline at 742-5938.
3. Write a letter to the inspector general at P.O. Box 25400, Bradenton, FL 34206
4. Fax 741-4072.
5. Email Lori.Stephens@ManateeClerk. com.
“wrongful intent” by Van Ostenbridge.
Audits and projects work the same way as investigations in that if problems are found, then recommendations are made and followed up on.
Colonneso said oftentimes they find genuine human errors that are easily corrected. She used travel expenses as an example. An employee charged lunch to a purchase card thinking per diem would cover it, but lunch was provided through the conference. The employee pays back that money, and the issue is resolved.
FILING A COMPLAINT
There are several ways to file a complaint with the inspector general. The office provides an online form and a 24-hour hotline number. Letters by mail, email and fax are also accepted.
However, complaints are not the only way an investigation is started. Audits and auditors can also trigger investigations.
“We keep an eye on things,” Stephens said. “We read the news.”
When receiving a complaint, the process starts with a preliminary review of the complaint to determine if it should be referred to another agency and if there’s enough information to warrant an investigation.
Sometimes, an audit is more appropriate than an investigation. And oftentimes, the complaint simply doesn’t fall under the inspector general’s jurisdiction.
If an employee steals a county vehicle or drives it while drunk, those are criminal acts that should be reported to law enforcement. If an employee is suspected of using a county vehicle for personal use, that would fall under the jurisdiction of the inspector general because a process in the system somehow allowed that abuse to occur.
The best way to report something, such as the misuse of a county vehicle, is to provide a photo with the complaint.
It’s not always as easy as snapping a picture of someone driving a vehicle. However, Jen Hamey, a lawyer who’s running to be the next District 1 commissioner, said it’s not always difficult, either.
Hamey filed a complaint against former Commissioner Vanessa Baugh with the Florida Commission on Ethics, which Colonneso said is the agency to report to when a commissioner is suspected of misconduct.
Baugh was accused of prioritizing herself and friends for COVID-19 vaccines at a pop-up clinic in 2021 when the vaccines were supposed to be distributed by a lottery system.
One commissioner exhibiting misconduct was not a case for the inspector general because a procedural failing didn’t lead to the abuse. However, the proof required to open an investigation in either office is the same.
“You don’t have to have a ton of proof, but it can’t just be word of mouth,” Hamey said.
Hamey submitted references to board meetings, newspaper articles, emails regarding the VIP list for vaccines and statutes that Hamey felt Baugh violated. She noted that communications between commissioners are public record, even text messages. It was enough for the Florida Commission on Ethics to trigger an investigation, which resulted in Baugh paying an $8,000 fine for using her position to deviate from the county’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution policy.
Hamey offered a tip for anyone looking to file a complaint: Don’t inundate the office with 300 pages of information because it most likely won’t be read. Her complaint against Baugh was about 15 pages.
The inspector general isn’t immune to scrutiny either. The office is evaluated by independent auditors once every three to five years.
Lesley Dwyer
The inspector general’s office is located at 1115 Manatee Ave. W.
Courtesy image
Angelina “Angel” Colonneso is the Manatee County clerk of the circuit court and comptroller.
A pair of warriors
Special needs dog and American Ninja Warrior clear all the obstacles they have faced.
y
Sarasota’s Kyle McCreight was broken. Lonely and depressed after going through a divorce, McCreight decided in 2019 to adopt a dog — three-legged Tre from Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue in Lakewood Ranch.
He did so with the hope of focusing on something other than himself.
But months after adopting the black Labrador retriever, McCreight learned Tre might lose his other back leg as well.
“I noticed him falling a lot,” said McCreight, who is an occupational therapist at Doctors Hospital in Sarasota. “His hip was disintegrating. The vets removed a joint, so basically, there is no hip there. They pinned his knee.”
He treated Tre like he would a patients at Doctors Hospital, working with him each day. Pushing lightly against his back leg and allowing him to push back. It didn’t seem to be working, though.
“I started thinking, ‘Maybe this dog is falling apart,’” McCreight said.
The weeks passed and McCreight continued working with Tre, who couldn’t get off the floor. It was an interesting mix because McCreight had been training in the hope of landing a spot on “American Ninja Warrior,” the longtime NBC series that tests the fittest of athletes on what is billed as “the world’s most difficult obstacle course.”
McCreight was in peak physical condition, and he was paired with a dog who couldn’t walk.
Then one day, everything changed.
Working in his backyard, McCreight watched as Tre struggled to his feet, then walked 10 feet before collapsing.
A SIMILAR STORY?
What: Cato, a 3-year-old Lab mix who lost a leg after being hit by a car
Where: Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue, 4951 Lorraine Road, Lakewood Ranch
To see Cato: Call Nate’s Honor at 747-4900 or go to the website at NatesHonorAnimalRescue.org.
Kyle McCreight says: “I hope people adopting consider a dog with special needs. It will be that much more rewarding. Those dogs need a home, too.”
It was a heroic effort, and it let McCreight know things would be all right. He was consumed with emotion.
So he did a very un-Ninja Warriorlike thing. He cried.
“I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, he can walk again,’” McCreight said. “It was so motivating.”
FINDING TRE
While doubting the judiciousness of his decision to adopt Tre in those first few months after he brought him home, McCreight realized it was one of the best decisions he had ever made.
When he picked up Tre from Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue, he thought he was doing it mostly for the dog.
“As much as I needed a dog, he needed someone to handle his situation,” McCreight said. “But I needed a purpose, too. I remember thinking, ‘This just feels right,’ although I didn’t know what to expect.”
He had heard good reviews about Nate’s, and he had seen Tre’s photo on the website, so he made the trip to Lakewood Ranch, eventually playing with Tre in the grass for about an hour before making up his mind.
“They told me Tre was the sweetest dog ever,” he said of Nate Honor’s staff members. “They said no one had come to see him. He was thin, and you could see some bald spots on his skin. Nate’s (staff) loved him. They were just unsure how he would
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progress. A vet told
“But I remember his eyes. You could see love. His eyes were full of
Rob Oglesby, who is president of Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue, was not surprised that McCreight cherishes Tre.
“We always say we rescue people as much as we rescue animals,” Oglesby said.
He said potential adopters often come to Nate’s because they are going through a tough time in their life.
“We never know the reason (for their struggles), and they don’t tell us,” Oglesby said. “But they know this is unconditional love. Dogs and cats are there for you.”
While Tre took awhile to be adopted, Oglesby said there is always someone willing to connect with a pet who might have physical challenges.
“One time we had a dog for three years, and it was very difficult (to get interest from the public in him),” Oglesby said. “Then he lost a leg, and right away he got adopted. People want to help.”
THE TRE EFFECT
After Tre’s 10-foot stroll, he quickly began to recover from his surgery, and he and McCreight were just getting started. McCreight, who now is 36, would take Tre to City Island and wade out waist deep. He would hold Tre, who would doggy paddle around.
As Tre battled through adversity, McCreight figured that he should, too.
He picked up his efforts to land a spot on “American Ninja Warrior,” but besides getting rejection notes, he broke his wrist in training.
“I was thinking that I wasn’t cut out for this,” he said. “But Tre was getting through everything, and he always had such a good smile. You know, dogs live in the moment.”
Tre’s courage and determination inspired McCreight to rededicate himself to training for “American Ninja Warrior.” He kept applying, and on the fifth attempt, in 2022, he was accepted. He competed in 2023 and is back on the show this year, having qualified for the semifinals.
He doesn’t know when his next competition will air on the show, so people will have to watch each week. (The show airs on Mondays at 8 p.m.) While he knows how he did, he signed a contract to not divulge the outcome.
Those who win their way through to the finals and complete the final
course can win $1 million. In the show’s 16 seasons, only three competitors have claimed the grand prize. The show debuted in 2009. The show does have some regular competitors, and McCreight hopes to earn more appearances. He already has applied for season 17. His appearances have led to him
being somewhat of a celebrity in Sarasota. He and Tre speak to nonprofits and make appearances for DogPerfect owners Kyle Emery and Linda Ryan, who have Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota and University Park locations.
McCreight has taken Tre to the Sarasota Severed Society, which has a slogan of “Ordinary Amputees Living Extraordinary Lives,” and Ocala’s Never Say Never Foundation, which has a vision “to help children and young adults with challenges to overcome adversity with a positive attitude and to understand that you can do anything you want if you put your mind to it.”
McCreight has called those events “life changing.”
“We set up an obstacle course for the kids at a Never Say Never event, and one of the kids who had no arms was just having a blast on the obstacle course that I had put together. It was so inspirational. And they loved Tre.”
At Never Say Never events, McCreight said kids were called up at the end of the event and surprised
“Anybody who has the empathy to adopt dogs with special needs is amazing because there could be more complications and financial needs.”
Kyle Baker, DogPerfect’s senior nutrition specialist
with new prostheses. He now does a fundraiser (GoFund.Me/653c0d39) to raise money for prostheses for those kids.
“My ultimate dream is to own a Ninja gym,” McCreight said. “I could do therapy with kids. I could use my platform.”
STAYING HEALTHY
With more responsibilities and appearances, McCreight wanted to make sure Tre, who weighs 70 pounds, stayed trim and healthy. Emery and Ryan hooked him up with DogPerfect’s Senior Nutrition Specialist Kyle Baker.
Baker said dogs like Tre were the reason he got into the pet nutrition industry.
“When I came across Tre, the main thing was to add strength to the rest of his joints and increase his mobility and flexibility. We wanted to take out the inflamation,” he said.
He used hyaluronic acid in food and treats to add lubrication to Tre’s joints. DogPerfect now sells WildPaw Wonder Bites, which were developed by Baker and now is used by McCreight for Tre.
Baker hopes McCreight and Tre can inspire others to adopt dogs with special needs.
“Anybody who has the empathy to adopt dogs with special needs is amazing because there could be more complications and financial needs,” Baker said.
But Baker said the upside can be phenomenal.
“Kyle (McCreight) uses Tre to help motivate kids missing limbs,” Baker said. “It is an amazing story what he is doing with that dog ... a beautiful thing. It makes you tear up.”
Tre has made McCreight cry and smile again.
“This dog literally changed my life,” McCreight said.
Jay Heater
During an appearance July 19 at DogPerfect in Sarasota, Kyle McCreight and Tre pose with Heather Chase-O’Neill and her bernedoodle, Indi.
Courtesy image Tre’s journey to adoption was just one of many successful adoption stories that come out of Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue.
Welcome to the family
Four baby lemurs born at Lemur Conservation Foundation shake up family dynamics as they mature.
LIZ RAMOS SENIOR EDITOR
rchard, a 2-month-old ring-tailed lemur, sat quietly on a branch in her habitat at the Lemur Conservation Foundation. With the heat, she wasn’t in the mood to leap around or play.
Lately, Meredith Hinton, the curator at the Lemur Conservation Foundation, said Orchard has been spending the most time with her
father, Goose. Hinton is fascinated watching the dynamics among the four baby lemurs born at the foundation and their families as they’ve grown. Chandler, a collared brown lemur, was born April 12, followed by red ruffed twins Furry and Fuzzy, who were born April 20. Orchard, a ring-tailed lemur, made her grand entrance on May 3.
The collared brown and ring-tailed lemurs are endangered, while red ruffed lemurs are critically endan-
gered, one step away from extinction.
Hinton said the babies are crucial to ensuring the various species of lemurs don’t go extinct. The foundation and other zoos or conservation organizations are the “safety net” for the wild lemur population, she said. The foundation now is home to 55 lemurs of four different species.
NAME THAT BABY
The keepers who discover the baby lemurs are tasked with naming the babies. As long as they fit within the theme that each species has, Hinton approves the name. For the ring-tailed lemurs, the names come from beers and ciders.
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
The keeper who discovers the baby lemur names the lemur. Each species has a theme for all the names.
Ring-tailed lemurs: Beers and ciders Examples: Orchard for Angry Orchard, Natty for Natural Light
Collared brown lemurs: French names
Examples: Chandler, Percival, Voltaire, Jean Claude
Red ruffed lemurs: Malagasy names Examples: Zazabe, Ranomamy, Betsi Boka, Mangoky, Onilahy
Orchard was named in honor of Angry Orchard.
The collared brown lemurs are given French names, which is why Chandler was selected.
Red ruffed lemurs are given Malagasy names. Staff use a Malagasyto-English dictionary to help with selecting and understanding the meaning of the names.
When naming Furry and Fuzzy though, the conservation went a little off script. They were named after two characters in “Furry and Fuzzy the Red Ruffed Lemur Twins,” a book that is part of the Ako Series, Madagascar Lemur Adventures.
But Furry and Fuzzy’s parents’ and siblings’ names each carry a special meaning.
When the twins’ father, Ranomamy, came to the foundation, he had a name that meant “river.” But the foundation already had a lemur with a similar name, so it was decided he would be Ranomamy, which means “sweet water.” The new name stayed true to the original intent but was made to be unique.
To go along with the river theme, Ranomamy and Zazabe — which means “big baby” as she was the largest baby born at the foundation — had triplets who were named after the three longest rivers in Madagascar: Betsi Boka, Mangoky and Onila-
hy. Atody, Furry and Fuzzy’s brother, was born on Easter. His name means “egg,” paying homage to the holiday.
GROWING INTO THEIR OWN It’s only been two to three months since the babies were born, but every day has brought new and thrilling moments for the staff.
“When they’re babies, they’re super cute and they’re just trying to figure out where they are, what’s going on,” Hinton said. “But then as they get a little older, you start to see their personalities develop. Seeing them bond with specific individuals and their family groups is awesome.”
Hinton has noticed Orchard is daddy’s little girl, being with him any chance she can, but she is becoming more independent.
Chandler is more a “mama’s girl,” Hinton said, as she is constantly attached to her mother, Isabelle.
“As long as mom allows her to be on her, she will be,” Hinton said.
Like many twins — human or lemur — Furry and Fuzzy were difficult to tell apart. Staff depended on seeing the white ring around Furry’s tail to differentiate them. As they’ve grown though, Hinton said they’re features are becoming more defining. Furry has a longer nose with more wrinkles on it while Fuzzy’s face is smaller and more feminine.
Furry is all about dad, but with lemurs being a female dominant species, the male lemurs take a handsoff approach to parenting.
“The father of the female dominated groups are low-man on the totem pole, so it’s mom, kids, dad,” Hinton said. “(Ranomamy) is like, ‘I just don’t want to get in trouble.’”
Fuzzy can’t get enough of her sisters, but the twins’ brother, Atody, is not happy with the new additions to the family.
Hinton said Atody has become accustomed to being the baby of the family, so when the twins came along, he struggled with adjusting to being a big brother. He’s begrudgingly learning he can’t get his way and he’s not the baby anymore.
As a result, Hinton said Atody can occasionally have misplaced aggression toward the keepers, but it has not resulted in injuries.
Like any family with a new member, they’re learning how to get along.
Courtesy images
Orchard, a baby ring-tailed lemur, stays with her mom, Dalia. Although she’s becoming more independent, Orchard spends more of her time with her dad, Goose.
LEAPING AROUND THE FAMILY TREE
FURRY AND FUZZY
Mom: Zazabe
Dad: Ranomamy
Siblings: Betsi Boka, Mangoky, Onilahy and Atody
ORCHARD
Mom: Dalia
Dad: Goose
Siblings: Finch and Natty CHANDLER
Mom: Isabelle
Dad: Vincent
Siblings: Bernadette and Percival; half-siblings Voltaire and Jean Claude
•
• Vaginal delivery after cesarean section
• Diagnostic procedures and treatment of gynecologic conditions
• Robotics, minimally invasive and advanced laparoscopic surgery
• Pelvic pain and endometriosis management
• Family planning
Joel Hallam, DO, FACOOG
Angie Scarpa, CNM, ARNP
Terrell W. Martin, MD Eden Yelverton, MD, FACOG
Fuzzy and Furry are named after two characters in “Furry and Fuzzy the Red Ruffed Lemur Twins,” a book that is part of the Ako Series, Madagascar Lemur Adventures.
Chandler is “mama’s girl” and stays attached to her mom, Isabelle, as much as possible.
Zazabe gives birth to twins, Furry and Fuzzy.
Source of Manatee’s strife
The Manatee County Commission primary races are not elections between liberal and conservative. They are about whether to eliminate antagonizing behavior.
MATT WALSH
People do not like strife — in their families, with friends, in the communities in which they live. There is enough misery in the world. No one wants to be around people who create or whose narcissism fuels strife.
That is what the Manatee County Commission Republican primary election appears to be about — whether to eliminate the source of the strife that has fueled division and made the Manatee County Commission the leading dysfunctional public body in the region.
The four County Commission races are not elections between liberal and conservative or a fight over socialist or free-market agendas — in spite of the claptrap Manatee voters hear and see on TV ads and in election mailers.
For goodness sakes, as we have pointed out before, Manatee is one of the most conservative and Republican counties in Florida. Republicans outnumber Democrats nearly two-to-one. The primary is not about left vs. right.
Nevertheless, over the past four years, Manatee voters have watched and endured one commissioner whose antagonistic, disrespecting behavior has tarnished the commission and has hurt the community.
Voters know who that is: Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge. His behavior has crossed the line of proper public-service decorum to the point it has created the perception and believed reality that five of the six other sitting commissioners — with the exception of Van Ostenbridge’s opponent, George Kruse — are merely stooges and puppets for Van Ostenbridge and two noncommissioners, political consultant Anthony Pedicini and Manatee homebuilder Carlos Beruff.
There is good reason for that perception and belief. Beruff has been funding his preferred slate of candidates for years, especially in the past four years, to purge the commissioners he and Pedicini have dubbed liberal and RINOs. On the target list: past commissioners Misty Servia, Carol Whitmore and Priscilla Trace, as well as Democrat Reggie Bellamy.
In the 2020 elections, Beruff and Pedicini succeeded with the elections of Van Ostenbridge, James Satcher and Kruse and reelection of Vanessa Baugh — four of the seven commission seats. Check. Then in 2022, they completed the mission with the elections of Mike Rahn, Jason Bearden and Amanda Ballard.
Job done. Seven commissioners pretty much thought to be in lock step. But even before that 2022 victory, through 2021, it was clear Van Ostenbridge had ambitions and coveted the king’s throne — chairmanship of the board. At the end of 2021, the commissioners gave him his wish, electing him chair beginning in 2022 (a position he held in 2023 as well).
In 2022, Van Ostenbridge made this pledge: “My expectations are that this will be a year filled with accountability, civility and ethics at all levels of our government.”
OH, HOW POWER CORRUPTS
While our political philosophy of freedom for the individual, limited
CORRECTIONS
In last week’s sidebar editorial, “Speir takes issue with Buchanan’s votes,” the following was incorrect:
n The Observer incorrectly referred to H.R. 9, a bill on the Paris Climate Agreement, as “The Green New Deal Act.” The bill was not “The Green New Deal Act.” Congressman Buchanan has opposed the Green New Deal; he voted to block the U.S. from leaving the Paris Climate Agreement.
ELECTION ’24
MANATEE COUNTY COMMISSION; SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS; PROPERTY APPRAISER
OBSERVER RECOMMENDS
For the complete recommendations for the upcoming primaries, , go to: YourObserver.com/Opinion.
‘LACK OF RESPECT FOR VOTERS’
Here is more to sour you on election politics: Candidates declining to participate in candidate forums or ignoring media requests. This has now become standard practice, especially for incumbents. For the full text, go to: YourObserver.com/Opinion.
government, property rights, low taxes and population and economic growth aligns with Van Ostenbridge’s, it is not just the “what” that matters. It’s also the “how” — how the policies are achieved. Likewise, it is not just what the voters see. There is also the unseen — what occurs out of sight and earshot of the public.
The seen:
A month ago, when Sarasota attorney Dan Lobeck presented commissioners with a packet of information opposing development on a 17-acre parcel at The Concession, the Observer reported:
“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.”
Insulting, unbecoming.
During one of the contentious meetings on the county’s wetlands buffers, Van Ostenbridge opined to the citizens in the commission chambers: “We’re all Republicans sitting up here. We love President Trump. We support the greatest governor in America. It’s become clear that we have radical climate activists who are pushing the new Green Deal and brought a movement that is rooted in communism into Manatee County.”
So much for dignity.
Indeed, disagreements are part of policy making, but so is respect for the way your fellow citizens are treated — especially from the commission dais.
A true public servant is open to his constituents’ voices, but Van Ostenbridge also led the shutdown of public dissent, ending call-in and social media comments to commissioners.
The unseen: The Bradenton Times obtained telephone call logs between Van Ostenbridge and the Manatee chief of code enforcement, showing 17 calls between March 1 and May 1, with Van Ostenbridge initiating 11 of the phone calls.
That same report provided details on text messages between two code enforcement employees that directed one of the employees to “grab” an anti-Van Ostenbridge campaign sign off of private property and
n The Observer incorrectly stated Buchanan's votes on two bills. Here are the correct votes:
n H.J. Resolution 46 (2019) — A vote to support Trump and build the border wall. Buchanan: No. Freedom Caucus: Yes.
n H.R. 863 — Vote to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Buchanan: Did not vote. Freedom Caucus: Yes.
“hold on to it.”
The Bradenton Times reported that on the same day that the code enforcement officer was directed to remove the sign, Van Ostenbridge and a code enforcement supervisor exchanged four telephone calls.
Commissioners set policy; they are not to jump over the county administrator and involve themselves in day-to-day operations.
That’s just one case.
Indeed, if you put the current county commissioners on a witness stand, there would be disclosures of Van Ostenbridge maneuvering behind the scenes with the county staff. Such behavior prompted former Commissioner Satcher, at one point, to motion for a re-vote on Van Ostenbridge’s election as chair. Commissioners, we’re told, backed down, wary of repercussions.
Suffice it to say, Manatee voters know well Van Ostenbridge has not lived up to the pledge of “accountability, civility and ethics.”
And yet, in a show of more brass, Van Ostenbridge, Pedicini and Beruff are now targeting Commissioner Kruse as a “liberal” who has strayed out of bounds and needs to be ousted. And talk about conceit, Van Ostenbridge, apparently thinking his MAGA-ism will carry him to victory, switched from running in his home District 3 to run against Kruse for the District 7 At-Large seat.
FLICKING THEIR NOSES
One last point: It’s the equivalent of this united band essentially flicking their noses at taxpayers.
That would be the $841,340 they voted to transfer from the general fund to help the flagging candidacy of Pedicini-Beruff-backed Satcher in his supervisor of elections race. Disguised as necessary funds to shore up and expand the supervisor’s operations, stunningly, the request for this cash came from Satcher with not a lick of detail of exactly how the money would be spent. No detail on the cost of leasing space; no detail on what new employees will be paid; no details on exactly how money would be spent on IT software and hardware. It didn’t matter; no questions asked. The vote: 6-1 (Kruse: voting no).
So let’s summarize the Manatee County Commission primaries: The Pedicini-Beruff team: Steve Metallo (District 1); April Culbreath (District 3); and Kevin Van Ostenbridge (District 7, at-large).
The opposition: Carol Ann Felts (District 1); Talha “Tal” Siddique (District 3); Robert McCann (District 5); and George Kruse (District 7, at-large).
And a standalone, albeit still seen as one of the pack: Ray Turner (District 5).
A vote for the Pedicini-Beruff candidates is a continuation of antagonistic business as usual. A vote for the opposition can begin a course correction back toward respectable representation of taxpayers, where differing points of view can be and often are healthy. The American system is all about checks and balances. With differing views on the commission, may the best arguments win.
Manatee County Commission
District 1: Republicans Carol Ann Felts and Steve Metallo Carol Ann Felts, 66, is running for a third time; this may be the charm. Felts is a dedicated, familiar face in county government. A regular attendee at commission meetings, she knows the issues; she knows the county.
Indeed, between her opponent, first-time candidate Steve Metallo, and herself, Felts is far more versed for a seat on the commission.
An eighth-generation Floridian and resident of Myakka City, Felts has at times taken her three minutes of public comment to make catty remarks to commissioners. She also is often labeled as anti-development, a charge she says is wrong. “We can do it in a better way,” she says. “Myakka has an incredible opportunity to be part of growth without sacrificing the things that are important. We’ve got to protect our water and food sources for the rest of the county.”
Felts’ opponent, Metallo, has
been a resident of Manatee for 48 years and has been a Manatee public school teacher for 34 years. A freemarket advocate, he teaches economics and government at Manatee High School.
Metallo did not respond to the Observer.
Metallo’s website touts the standard conservative platform for Republicans — e.g. “cut taxes,” “fully funding the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office”; “continue record investments in traffic reducing infrastructure projects”; and “preserve our wetlands, pristine waterways and wildlife corridors.”
But oddly, to tout his Trumpsupporting bona fides, he also lists as his issues national concerns over which county commissioners have no vote: reverse inflation; secure our borders, deport illegal aliens; stop political prosecution of conservatives; drain the swamp; make America energy-independent again.
Nonetheless, even after nearly 50 years in Manatee, Metallo is an unknown in the county government scene. Felts, on the other hand, has proven her commitment to wanting good, fiscally responsible county government.
We recommend: Carol Ann Felts
District 5: Ray Turner and Robert McCann Turner and McCann are vying to succeed former Commissioner Vanessa Baugh, who resigned in June 2023, two years into her third term. Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Turner to complete Baugh’s term.
Turner, 60, an immigrant from Australia, became a U.S. citizen in 2011. “I came here for the American dream,” he says. “I didn’t have much when we started.”
A resident of Manatee for 21 years, over the past 12 years in Lakewood Ranch, Turner started and built the Turner Real Estate Network, a successful residential brokerage. He became involved in the community as a member of the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance and secretary of the Sarasota-Manatee Building Industry Association.
In 2022, commissioners appointed him to the Manatee County Planning Commission — often a training ground for the County Commission because of the way it exposes its members to the county’s complicated land-use laws and regulations.
McCann, 66, is an 18-year resident of Manatee and has the resume of a man of all things: osteopathic ER physician for 36 years (now retired), lawyer, business executive, educator, pilot and scuba diver. He and his wife live in the River Club.
If you speak to them separately, they have the similar themes on growth — that infrastructure and planning are crucial.
Turner: “If we don’t plan for this 20-year future, or 20 years in advance, we’re going to have more and more issues. Overall growth is going to be somewhere around halfa-million increase in population the next 20 years. That’s from every prediction. You can’t ignore that.
“Second, we’re going to have 45,000 new students, so we need to plan for schools, emergency services, etc. We can’t shut off our growth like the anti-growth people want us to do. We have to plan for it.”
McCann: Two of his top three priorities if elected are “prioritize building infrastructure” and “protect our natural resources.”
“Manatee County’s population expansion calls for a multifaceted strategy that takes the environment, society and economy into account,” McCann says. “Maintaining the county’s distinctive character while attaining sensible growth requires cooperation between local enterprises, government and citizens.”
The question for voters, then, is which of the two will be most effective representing them and Lakewood Ranch?
Unfortunately for Turner, he has been lumped in as one of the paidfor-by-developers on the commission. He signed on with political consultant Anthony Pedicini, whose clients are candidates with heavy developer backing.
Asked about this, Turner says: “What did I know about politics? All I knew is his candidates were successful. I’m not a politician.”
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Asked to respond to the criticism that he “caves in to developers,” Turner says: “I am nobody’s puppet. I’m not that guy. They can make those accusations, but I’m standing for what I believe in. I’m really trying to be responsive to people’s needs. I’ve met with most of the HOAs out here. They know me.”
Together, District 5 voters have two candidates who have proven their professional competence. But as development and the county’s challenges of addressing that growth continues, one way to summarize the choice is this: In the ER, you would want an ER doctor, McCann; for land-use and real estate issues, you would want a real estate specialist.
We recommend: Ray Turner
District 7/At-Large: George Kruse and Kevin Van Ostenbridge
When an organization loses its way and needs a course correction, the place to start usually is at the top. In this case, that’s the makeup of the commission.
Here is how a veteran of Manatee County politics — a conservative Republican, mind you — assessed the District 7 candidates:
“George is a good man with a good soul. He has made a lot of sense, and he always votes for what he feels is best for Manatee County as a whole, for the people. That is something his opponent is not about.”
We recommend: George Kruse
School Board of Manatee County
Thankfully, the School Board of Manatee County is no longer the county’s leading butt of disparaging jokes and embarrassment. That dubious distinction now belongs to the Manatee County Commission. Instead, the school board has been making an admirable — albeit bumpy — resurgence over the past eight years, overcoming the dysfunction and mismanagement that plagued it in the previous decade. Credit current board members. A big step: the hiring of a promising and so-far successful superintendent in Jason Wysong. And,
to top it off, board members and administrators are sensing the district’s forward momentum is making it realistic that Manatee public schools can achieve an A rating from the state. That would be remarkable.
Mind you, the board still is not quite all in sync by any means, on its mission and goals. Three of its members — Chad Choate, Cindy Spry and Richard Tatem, all new to the board in 2022 — are still learning the depths and demands of overseeing a huge organization.
But the bigger concern will be the loss of two of the board’s stalwart incumbents — Gina Messenger and Mary Foreman. They are retiring. Messenger says that after eight years “it’s time”; for Foreman, the challenges have been energy sapping. But the two of them deserve much credit for leaving the board and district far better off than when they were first elected. Job well done.
To fill their seats in Districts 1 and 3, there are six candidates. Because the school board races are considered nonpartisan and three candidates will be on the ballot for each district, a candidate must receive 50% plus one to win; or the top two finishers will compete in a runoff in the general election. Here are the races and our recommendations:
District 1: Heather Felton, Alexander “Alex” Garner, Mark Stanoch
The district encompasses northeast Manatee County down to State Road 64 and east of Interstate 75.
Voters have solid choices and good people in all three candidates, but Heather Felton and Mark Stanoch are the standouts in this race — each with skills and attributes that would make them effective board members.
Here’s the problem: They present a conundrum.
When building a board of directors, it’s important to have a variety of talents and skills. It’s much like building a basketball team. You need a shooter, playmaker, tall rebounder and defender, etc.
Similarly, on a board, it makes sense to have business leadership acumen; financial acumen; someone with people skills; big-picture
creativity and foresight; understanding of and experience in the industry; and someone to challenge conventional wisdom.
In this case, outgoing board member Gina Messenger has been the voice for teachers and students, while board member Mary Foreman has been taxpayers’ financial watchdog. And fortunately, they represented different districts.
In the case of District 1, Felton would be the new Messenger, while Stanoch would be the new Foreman (and much more). But they are running in the same district. Only one can be elected.
You have to love this — one of Felton’s responses to the Observer questionnaire: “With nine years as a teacher and 16 years as a parent in our Manatee County schools, I’ve experienced the best and worst of the school system from a personal and professional standpoint … From the first day of kindergarten for my eldest to the high school graduation for my youngest … I’ve done everything a parent can do.”
At the same, Stanoch’s 35 years of business experience as a leader, senior executive manager, IT analyst and implementer and incubator of startups for Dell/Microsoft makes him ideal for being able to decipher the people, process and technological needs of the School District of Manatee County with its $1.4 billion budget, 6,800 employees and 52,000 students.
This is a tough call for voters. It’s a loss they both cannot be elected, but the district still will benefit with whomever voters choose.
We recommend: Mark Stanoch Supervisor of Elections
Candidates: Scott Farrington and James Satcher
When Americans’ trust in government and confidence in its competence are falling into a black abyss (e.g. prima facie No. 1: Secret Service protection of Donald Trump), voters need candidates who are and will be competent and who are and will be trustworthy.
In the Manatee supervisor of elections race, voters have an indisputable and unequivocal choice of a candidate who embodies those qualities.
There really is no need to detail what we have already commented on twice and reported in our news columns about the differences between Scott Farrington, former 11-year chief of staff in the Manatee supervisor’s office, and the recently politically appointed incumbent supervisor, James Satcher.
If you are not familiar, take the time to go back and read these:
■ Feb. 21: “Clash of merit vs. politics”
■ May 8: “Shocker: DeSantis puts politics above competence”
We have seen these two candidates in action for years, and if we were to be charged with hiring Farrington or Satcher for this job, there would be no point interviewing Satcher. The difference in qualifications and character for the job is stark.
Let’s cite just the one, recent instance:
Only one month — one month — into his new job as supervisor, a job where his predecessor and chief operating officer had both left and a job for which he had zero experience, Satcher apparently was able to determine with certainty that he needed $841,340 “to expand safety and security measures and audit vital information and operations;” upgrade hardware and software “to perform a complete and full audit of certified election results;” add a polling site in the North River Ranch area “to expand voter access and ease Election Day lines;” and “open two satellite offices in the Lakewood Ranch and North River Ranch areas … as our county’s population center trends eastward.”
Anyone in a new, unfamiliar, totally new business leadership or management role knows there is no way he or she can possibly know in a month’s time with certainty whether to take such significant steps.
What’s more, how would Satcher even know all that was needed without ever having experienced firsthand how the supervisor’s office works through an election?
Even worse: He presented no proforma in his request for more money showing the cost of leases, salaries to be paid to new employees, how much computers and software would cost, etc., etc.
In the 12 years, former Supervisor Mike Bennett and his chief of staff, Farrington, operated the most cost-efficient office in the state with nary a voter complaint, the $841,340 that Satcher requested is more money than Bennett requested altogether in all 12 years he served.
Gov. DeSantis erred when he chose a political ally over competence. Manatee voters should correct this.
We recommend: Scott Farrington Property Appraiser
Candidates: Darin George and Charles Hackney It’s a logical thought: Charles Hackney is 74 and has been Manatee County’s property appraiser for 31 years. That is a long time, and many might say long enough. Anyone in the job that long is bound to fall behind a step or two.
Ahem. Hello? Donald Trump is 78. Moses parted the Red Sea when he was 80 and led his Jewish followers to the Promised Land at age 120.
Let’s drop the age thing. The issue is our standard litmus test for incumbents: Are they doing a good job, deserving to stay in office?
Hackney’s opponent, Darin George, of Ellenton, simply says: “Charles Hackney needs to retire. Change is needed, and change will be good.”
But everyone also knows change for change sake is not always good. If it ain’t broke …
What’s more, George doesn’t have a grasp of the job. (See the Observer candidate questionnaire, YourObserver.com/News/Elections.)
There is no debate: Hackney has demonstrated his commitment to serving Manatee County residents fairly and efficiently for three decades and continues to do a good job.
We recommend: Charles Hackney
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center earns quality care recognition
The local hospital is named on publication’s Best Hospitals’ list as a high performer for heart attack care, knee replacements and hip replacements.
LIZ RAMOS SENIOR EDITOR
r. Vivek Kumar had a followup in July with a 70-year-old patient who came into Lakewood Ranch Medical Center in 2018 with symptoms of a heart attack.
The patient was months away from retiring, but the stress of his job as an attorney had taken its toll, said Kumar, who is a doctor of osteopathic medicine at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.
Kumar said based on an electrocardiogram, he and his staff knew the patient was suffering from a myocardial infarction. Within 20 minutes of the patient coming into the hospital, he was in the cath lab, and Kumar had his artery open to remove the blockage.
Throughout the years, Kumar said he worked with the patient multiple times to address the patient’s multivessel disease.
Now six years later, the patient was talking about a whitewater rafting trip he was planning.
Kumar said through the care provided at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, doctors are able to get to know their patients on a personal level and become part of their lives.
Positive patient care and outcomes have contributed to U.S. News and World Report naming Lakewood Ranch Medical Center to its 20242025 Best Hospitals as a high-performing hospital for heart attack care, knee replacements and hip replacements. It is the highest distinction a hospital can earn for U.S.
News’ Best Hospitals Procedures and Conditions ratings.
Lyn Swann, a registered nurse and director of cardiovascular services at the hospital, said the quality of care for heart attacks starts in the field with local emergency medical services. She said when patients call 911, EMS workers are able to make a diagnosis based on an electrocardiogram and then can communicate with the emergency room about the patient’s status. That communication allows hospital staff to better prepare for patients when they come through the doors.
Kumar, Swann and Ma Lou Kaseta, a nurse and quality and accreditation director, said sometimes people don’t call 911 because they don’t want to be seen being put into an ambulance or an ambulance pulling up to their home. The medical professionals said people need to ignore any associated stigma and call 911 because it could save precious time.
Kaseta said the hospital’s goal is 60 minutes, from the time a patient sees EMS to when the patient is in the cath lab and the vessel is opened. That is 30 minutes less than the standard of 90 minutes.
“That’s critical time because we say, ‘time is heart muscle,’” she said. “We can save that patient’s heart
Liz Ramos
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center’s Lyn Swann, a nurse and director of cardiovascular services, Dr. Vivek Kumar, a doctor of osteopathic medicine, and Ma Lou Kaseta, a nurse and quality and accreditation director, say the staff’s synergy contributes to positive outcomes for heart attack patients.
within that time period.”
Swann said patients experiencing heart attack symptoms should never drive themselves to the hospital as anything can happen on the way.
Once at the hospital, Kumar said the synergy between the medical teams in the emergency room, cath lab, intensive care unit and others result in better outcomes for patients.
“If one piece goes wrong, that delays treatment,” Kumar said.
Kumar said on any given day, there might be 10 to 20 people being evaluated for a potential heart attack.
When it comes to knees and hips, Ellenton’s Jeffrey Katta first came to Lakewood Ranch Medical Center two years ago for a knee replacement. Working in retail for 45 years, always being on his feet, resulted in pain so intense he couldn’t sleep.
“I got my first (knee replacement) done, and things went so well, I decided to go for the second one because I was having issues with that,” Katta said. “I was treated like royalty when I was here. They did everything possible to take care of my pain.”
Katta said working with Dr. John Harkess, an orthopedic surgeon at Coastal Orthopedics who is on the medical staff at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, put him at ease when he was nervous about his initial knee replacement.
Then when he returned for his other knee replacement in May, Katta said he felt Harkess knew him on a personal level and that helped when he was given his options.
“Even though it’s been two years, I felt like he knew me,” Katta said. “From there, we set up a step-bystep plan of what was going to happen, and it just worked like clockwork.”
Katta said he couldn’t believe after his first surgery that he was able to walk the same day. Since his second knee replacement, Katta has been dreaming of walking through his neighborhood again and playing with his grandchildren.
Harkess said it’s gratifying to be able to help his patients return to doing what they love and see them go from not being able to walk around the block to hiking through the hills in Italy.
“Usually, that first visit turns into
HEART ATTACK SYMPTOMS
■ Chest pressure
■ Heaviness
■ Squeezing
■ Heartburn
■ Upper stomach pain
■ Shortness of breath
■ Jaw pain
■ Neck pain
■ Upper back pain
■ Arm pain
■ Extreme fatigue
Ma Lou Kaseta, a nurse and quality and accreditation director, said when in doubt, call 911.
PREVENTATIVE MEASURES
To avoid having a heart attack or needing a hip or knee replacement, doctors recommend:
■ Do not smoke
■ Exercise
■ Eat a healthy diet
■ Identify if there is a family history of heart problems
■ Maintain a healthy weight
kind of a lifetime of follow-up, which is really rewarding,” he said. “I love hearing about everything they do after they have their surgery.”
Harkess said joint replacements are becoming more common every year throughout the U.S.
Caroline McGrath, the orthopedic care coordinator, said the hospital is able to provide individualized care. The education provided before and after surgery allows the patients to recover in the best way suited to their lifestyle.
“Being a small hospital, we’re able to treat our patients like an individual,” McGrath said. “It’s not just about their joint replacement. It’s about their lives as a whole.”
Whether it’s heart attack care or a hip or knee replacement, Kaseta and Harkess said the hospital’s staff always is looking for ways to improve patient care.
Friday, aug 16 at 7:00pm Jazz daddyo’s (Garden
Tuesday, aug 20 at 7:00pm
Wednesday, aug 28 at 7:00pm Sarasota piano trio
Small actions, big impact
New Freedom Elementary School principal looks for any way she can make a difference in the lives of students, teachers and staff.
LIZ RAMOS SENIOR EDITOR
huljeta Gjini asked her students at Chickasaw Elementary School in Orange County what they wanted to see her do if they achieved their academic goals.
The request was to dye her hair pink or purple.
Gjini, who was principal, decided why not both?
In May, Gjini honored her promise and dyed her hair purple and pink after her students scored well on the science portion of standardized tests. She said her students were thrilled to see the end result, cheering her on in the process.
To Gjini, dyeing her hair was something small she could do that would have a big impact on her students. It was a moment they’ll never forget.
As the new principal at Freedom Elementary School, Gjini will ask herself every day what action she could take, no matter how big or small, to make an impact on students, teachers and staff.
“I find education a calling that I can put myself into students, into our teachers that are serving students and into our community,” Gjini said.
“Family is very important to me, so I come with the same approach in the workplace. This is our work family, and we support and lean on each other because we all serve the same goal of serving our students.”
Gjini will dress in costume, show off her secret talent of ballroom or salsa dancing, dye her hair and more to motivate her students and have them engaged in their learning. She’s dressed as Cat in the Hat, a princess, a cheerleader and of course, in pjs for
the classic Pajama Day.
She surprised her students during a cultural night in which she performed an Albanian dance with her 81-year-old mother, Mia Doci. It was a special moment to share with her students and her mother.
“You have to be present, and I’m not talking about just physically present,” she said. “You have to be present in students’ learning. Of course, the priority is students’ safety, and I’m not talking only about physical safety. I’m talking about the emotional safety of our students, as well, because everybody comes from different backgrounds, everybody
Liz Ramos
Xhuljeta Gjini wants to instill the love of reading in each student at Freedom Elementary School as she begins her new role as principal of the school.
ABOUT THE PRINCIPAL
XHULJETA GJINI
Age: 57
Family: Children Catherine Gjini and Kaltrin Gjini
Education experience: Served as principal at Chickasaw Elementary in Orange County since 2019, assistant principal at MetroWest Elementary from 2017 to 2019, instructional literacy coach at Riverside Elementary from 2016 to 2017, instructional literacy coach at Forest City Elementary in Seminole County from 2013 to 2016
Favorite subject: English, reading Secret talent: Ballroom and salsa dancing
has a different story.”
Her hopes are that dressing in costume or participating in a silly or outlandish activity will capture students’ attention, creating a memory they’ll hold onto for the rest of their lives. She said it’s moments like those that model not only leadership but also the need for unconditional love and kindness to be instilled in students as she is consistently present in students’ lives.
Gjini said she treats everyone in her school like family. She wants to make memories with them as she did while raising her children, Catherine Gjini and Kaltrin Gjini. As they were growing up, Friday nights were reserved for game nights, and the family traveled the world together.
Before starting with the School District of Manatee County in July, Gjini vacationed in Greece for the first time, experiencing the beauty of the country and exploring the beaches, food markets and more.
Any chance she has, Gjini said she tries to learn about various cultures, which includes the culture at Freedom Elementary School. She’s striving to develop relationships with teachers, students and their families as the Aug. 12 start of the school year approaches.
She said she’s impressed with all
that the school’s Parent-Teacher Organization plans and accomplishes throughout the year to bring the school community together and support the students and teachers. Events include the father-daughter dance and donuts with parents or the school’s annual Veterans Day event.
Gjini said she not only sees herself as a leader but as a coach, guiding teachers, staff and students to be their best. Wherever she is, she wants procedures and practices in place that will continue student success. Her legacy, she said, is leaving a school in better shape than when she started there and ensuring the school will continue success after she’s left.
Her passion shines brightest in literacy. She received a bachelor’s degree in applied linguistics in Albania and served as a literacy coach at the beginning of her career in education.
Gjini focuses on integrating literacy into all subject areas as she said it can make a “huge difference” in academic success. She encourages small group instruction because of its ability to reach students where they are and help them reach goals they’ve set.
“It’s about active engagement, meaning students take ownership of their learning,” Gjini said. “It’s not about me as a teacher or a leader telling them but really igniting that critical thinking process with our students to be active learners. If we ignite that with our students then we definitely have made a lot of progress of preparing our students to be independent thinkers.”
In her office at Freedom Elementary, a small corner has become a designated reading corner, complete with stuffed Dr. Seuss characters, pillows and decor resting on a blanket. Next to this cozy setup is a full bookcase.
Although she’s currently reading a book on the influence and impact of leadership, Gjini said she’s fond of mystery novels because they trigger creative thinking while she tries to predict what might happen next.
As the school year starts, she’ll have fun figuring out the mystery of how her first year at Freedom Elementary will go.
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At FLVC, we focus solely on vein disease. It’s not an add-on to our practice. It’s our specialty. Our providers offer compassionate and attentive care and have been trained by Dr. TC Lackey II, who trains other providers worldwide in the latest advancements in vein care. Our patients regain their active lifestyles and enjoy the life they once led. For more info about our patients’ journey, visit our website at ItsaNoVeiner.com. You’ll be glad you did!
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Engaged: Brian Mariash and Dara Vilar
Sarasota wealth manager and philanthropist Brian Mariash and his fiancé Dara Vilar are thrilled to share news of their recent engagement. Brian popped the question this summer at Sarasota’s iconic Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, a nod to the very beginning of their nearly 13-year friendship.
Brian and Dara were first introduced in Tampa shortly after Brian co-founded Mariash Lowther Wealth Management here in Sarasota. Dara was studying biomedical sciences at the University of South Florida when the two became connected through mutual friends.
The pair hit it off instantly, especially when Dara showed support for Brian’s daughter, Lexi, a then-9year-old with a love for sea turtles and a powerful desire to engage in philanthropy. Lexi made her mark by fundraising for Mote Marine, a passion project enthusiastically supported by Dara. It
only made sense for Brian to bring their journey full circle with an intimate proposal in front of Mote’s otter exhibit.
Dara is a licensed pharmacist passionate about diversity and inclusion, health equity, and animals. Throughout her career, Dara formed strategic partnerships with patient assistance programs, enabling her to counsel and dispense medications at no cost to patients with rare conditions across the country. Dara believes strongly in the value of diversity, which is one of many reasons she loves living in vibrant Sarasota
and traveling abroad. Dara’s explorations include Cuba, South Africa, Zambia,
and the Philippines.
Brian leads a private wealth management team in downtown Sarasota. His mission is to “educate, connect, and contribute” – a philosophy he lives by both personally and professionally. Brian is a familiar face to many in the local nonprofit community, having supported many philanthropic initiatives and previously serving on the boards of the Child Protection Center and Jewish Family and Children Services. A musician with a love for the arts, culture, and all things Sarasota, Brian is the proud father of Anthony, Zachary, and Lexi, as well as grandfather to Everly. Brian and Dara plan to celebrate with friends and family early next year.
Zimbabwe, Botswana, Egypt, Turkey, Indonesia,
PUBLIC NOTICE
Clerk of Court Operations to Cease at Local History Museums
The Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller announces its Historical Resources Department will discontinue operations of the Manatee Village Historical Park, Palmetto Historical Park, Manatee County Agricultural Museum, and Florida Maritime Museum at close of business on September 30, 2024.
Beginning October 1, 2024, Manatee County Government will be responsible for the operation of these four historical museums under the County’s Sports & Leisure Department.
The Clerk’s Office expresses its sincere gratitude to the Historical Resources Department staff, and the countless community leaders, volunteers, and local residents for the last forty years dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of Manatee County.
A Historic Legacy
Over the last four decades, in partnership with local municipalities and nonprofits, the Historical Resources Department of the Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller has led the restoration, preservation, and stewardship of numerous historical structures, boats, a steam locomotive, and the construction of several building replicas in its effort to preserve the material record of Manatee County’s development and history.
The Department has accumulated several awards from state and national associations for its outstanding work in preservation and heritage education. These achievements were made possible through partnerships with nonprofits who have contributed significantly to the stewardship of the historic structures and grounds at each site.
The Department’s staff are museum professionals trained in industry best practices and have served hundreds of thousands of people through site visits, outreach programs, field trips, and Manatee History Day, a thematic history competition that engages local students in historical research and the local affiliate of National History Day.
The Board’s Vote
Despite the Department’s many accolades, on September 12, 2023, the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners voted 6-1 to remove the four historical museums from the Historical Resources Department of the Clerk and terminate Clerk funding for staff and operations.
While the Clerk’s Office disagrees with the Board’s decision, the Office is committed to ensuring a smooth transition so that these museums will continue to serve the community for decades to come.
SEX, DRUGS & ROCK ‘N’ ROLL
The Sarasota Players stages Green Day’s explosive rock opera, ‘American Idiot.’
With its incendiary concept album
“American Idiot,” Green Day went straight to the explosive heart of the post-9/11 generation. Broadway director and playwright Michael Mayer (“Spring Awakening,” “Hedwig and the Angry Inch”) collaborated with Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong and distilled his Grammy Awardwinning album into a rock opera. Director/choreographer Brian Finnerty is bringing this multisensory experience to the stage in the Sarasota Players’ latest summer production. Expect a pulsating score, raw emotion and a snapshot of three lifelong friends traveling a long, hard road into a not-so-brave new American century. According to Finnerty, you’d be an idiot to miss it. He was happy to share what’s down the road …
Why did you decide to produce this musical?
The Players wanted an edgy show that college students on summer break would enjoy. We considered many options, but “American Idiot” excited this age group the most — and it would also appeal to adults. I also love Green Day, along with our director of education. (Many people auditioned simply because they love Green Day.) So, the decision was a combination of casting younger performers, attracting audiences who love this music and our own personal love for Green Day. Aside from all that, it’s a fantastic show.
How would you describe this musical to someone who has never heard of Green Day?
Pure chaos — and a great rock opera. Mayer adapted it from Green Day’s “American Idiot” concept album. They also drew on the journals of Billie Joe Armstrong — Green Day’s lead singer, guitarist, composer, lyricist, you name it. What they created is an hour-and-a-half of nonstop song and dance, with a relatable and timely story.
What’s the basic story?
The musical follows three friends who move to the big city to improve their lives—only to make their lives worse. One stays home due to his pregnant girlfriend; one gets depressed and joins the military; and another becomes a drug addict. Despite its sad moments, it’s fun, high-energy and honest, with smart
IF YOU GO GREEN DAY’S ‘AMERICAN IDIOT’ When: Aug. 7-18 Where: The Sarasota Players, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 1130 Tickets: $13-$30 Info: ThePlayers.org
orchestrations and beautiful harmonies.
What does the show look like?
In our production, it looks like a garbagy grunge-a-palooza. The floor features the heart hand-grenade symbol from the album cover; the walls are covered with posters, eviction notices, newspaper articles and magazine clippings. We also have pieces like scaffolding, spinning couches and staircases. It’s an immersive setting that draws you into this grungy world. David Walker’s costumes have the same punk feel.
Who’s your set designer?
Kelly Jar is doing scenic painting, and the cast and I are dressing the space.
It’s a collaborative effort.
What’s your take as a director/ choreographer? It’s a challenging show with nonstop, high-energy performances. I’m lucky to be working with such
a great cast. Directing this production has given me a greater appreciation for this musical and Green Day. Creating the choreography has also been rewarding. It’s more grungy than other rock musicals I’ve done — and I love its blunt attitude. This show says “Screw you” to traditional musicals and remains current and applicable. I’m thrilled for people to see it.
Who’s playing the lead roles?
Jason Ellis is Johnny, Judah Woomert is Will, Benjamin Eisenhour is Tunny, Vera Samuels is St. Jimmy, Caitlin Ellis is Whatshername, Amanda Heisey is the Extraordinary Girl and Lexi Lowther is Heather. The ensemble actors all get a chance to shine.
What’s the cast’s take on the show? They’re very excited — sometimes too much so. They love discussing Green Day even during choreography. Everyone is positive and supportive — and that’s made rehearsals a blast.
“Their story is relatable. It’s not a happyhappy story — but life is like that. The music might be a little loud for older audiences, but we have earplugs.”
— Brian Finnerty
MARTY FUGATE CONTRIBUTOR
Brian Finnerty is directing “American Idiot” at the Sarasota Players from Aug. 7-18.
The stars of “American Idiot” at the Sarasota Players get their grunge on in a local convenience store.
Images courtesy of Brian Finnerty
Well,
because it reflects the story’s reality. This is the story of an American Idiot, right? He should sound ignorant. Tech has a heavy reliance on lighting and projections, a wireless rig for guitars and a live band. That’ll be our biggest challenge, but we’re up for it.
I figured there’d be a live band. Will there also be a mosh pit?
Our live band is led by Michelle Kazanowski, with Tommy Bush on guitar, Dorian Boyd on bass and Aaron Downard on percussion.
(We’re in talks for more string instruments.) There won’t be a mosh pit. If audiences want that experience, they’ll have to find it elsewhere.
Is “American Idiot” this rock opera’s signature song?
It’s one of many great songs.
“American Idiot” is a protest song that sets up the story well, featuring the entire cast. It does go straight to the heart of the story.
Do you think baby boomer theatergoers will relate to the music, story and characters? I do. Every adult age group has seen
their friends and loved ones in similar situations. Their story is relatable. It’s not a happy-happy story — but life is like that. The music might be a little loud for older audiences, but we have earplugs.
Whatever the age demographic, why should people see this show?
Because “American Idiot” is not your usual musical. It’s darker, grittier, loud and unapologetic. The story is relatable and told through Green Day’s music. Even non-Green Day fans can love the show. The dancing, lighting, vocals and cast’s energy make it a really wild ride.
What’s your ideal audience take-away?
I hope they’ll see that life isn’t always cushy and comfortable. This show features sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll, but it’s more than that. It’s a showcase of talent, stamina and camaraderie. I read an article about walkouts during the original Broadway show. One critic said, “Some people fear hyper youth voicing their opinions through punk rock.” I’d like to think local audiences are fearless. If you go with an open mind, you’ll enjoy the show.
Hermitage Artist Retreat receives $238,000 in grants
The Hermitage Artist Retreat (pictured above) has been awarded nearly a dozen grants totaling more than $238,000. The awards will help support a variety of programs and initiatives, including residencies for Hermitage Fellows, arts education and program accessibility.
Among the organizations that each gave the Hermitage $50,000 grants or more are Sarasota County Commission’s tourist development/arts program, the Welles Murphey Fund at Gulf Coast Community Foundation, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County and the Koski Family Foundation.
In addition, the Hermitage received a $15,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and $10,000 from The Exchange to promote “Hermitage Sunsets @ Selby Gardens” and “Hermitage Sunsets @ Benderson Park.”
The Exchange also awarded the Hermitage a $5,000 Elizabeth Lindsay Arts in Education grant to support its work in bringing leading artists to Sarasota County public schools.
“We are deeply appreciative for these generous grants from both new and longtime supporters, all of which will provide invaluable support and resources to the diverse and accomplished Hermitage artists who are making a meaningful impact in our community and with audiences around the world,” said
Hermitage Artistic Director and CEO Andy Sandberg in a statement.
A leading national arts incubator, the Hermitage hosts artists on its Manasota Key campus for multiweek residencies where they create and develop new works of theater, music, visual art, literature, dance, film and more.
Key Chorale hires first event manager
Key Chorale appointed Tom Tryon as its event manager, a new position for the symphonic chorus. Tryon recently retired to Sarasota following a career of more than 30 years working in entertainment, special events and catering at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando.
Before joining Disney, Tryon worked at Busch Gardens, Tampa Bay, and in professional theater in Chicago, including the Goodman Theatre, Pegasus Theatre and Victory Gardens Theatre.
“Tom has been a member of our professional core for a number of seasons and has been a volunteer with our development team as well. When he said he was thinking about spending more time with Key Chorale, we were thrilled,” said Key Chorale Artistic Director Joseph Caulkins. Added Caulkins: “Being able to tap into his extensive work at Disney, presenting a number of major events, will really add that professional polish to our events. With this being our 40th anniversary season, the timing just couldn’t be better.”
Green Day’s
“American Idiot” gives its ensemble cast a chance to shine at the Sarasota Players.
Image courtesy of Barbara Banks
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.
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.
‘THE MUSIC OF LAUREL CANYON’ 7:30 p.m. at FST’s Court Cabaret,1265 First St., Sarasota
$18-$42
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
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 Sept. 1.
‘THE OUTSIDER’
8 p.m. at FST’s Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St.
$29-$46
OUR PICK
EMILIE-CLAIRE BARLOW
Canadian jazz singer EmilieClaire Barlow has released 12 self-produced albums and has picked up two Juno awards (Canada’s answer to the Grammy) along the way. She brings her considerable talents to Fogartyville to support her new album, “Spark Bird.”
IF YOU GO
When: 8 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 3
Where: at Fogartyville, 525 Kumquat Court
Tickets: $14-$34
Info: Visit WSLR.org.
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
After the past few weeks in politics, we could all use some laughs. Florida Studio Theatre serves up a comedy about the world’s least likely candidate for governor who just might be exactly what the voters want. Let’s hear it for democracy! Runs through Aug. 18.
‘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.
FRIDAY
OPENING RECEPTION FOR ‘METALLIC MIRAGE’
6 p.m. at Define Art Gallery + Studio, 68 S. Palm Ave.
Free
Visit DefineGallery.com.
Define Art Gallery and other downtown Sarasota galleries are keeping alive the tradition of the First Friday Artwalk. Define’s opening showcases metallic artwork in a variety of mediums, from gold and silver leaf to iridescent paints and metal. The gallery recently added three new artists to its roster: Eddie McClure, of Parrish, Robert Davis, of Orlando, and Odilia Iaccarino, of Dallas. On view through Sept. 27.
CLASSIC MOVIES AT THE OPERA HOUSE: ‘A STAR IS BORN’
7:30 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave. $12
Visit SarasotaOpera.org.
There have been several big-screen versions of “A Star is Born,” but this 1954 film is the one on the American Film Institute’s list of the Greatest Movie Musicals (No. 7) as well as the U.S. National Film Registry. Starring Judy Garland and James Mason, this musical drama follows a romance
SUNDAY
HD AT THE OPERA HOUSE: ‘IL TROVATORE’
1:30 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave. $12-$20
Visit SarasotaOpera.org.
In this film from the Metropolitan Opera’s 2015-16 season, Anna Netreboko plays Leonora, a young noblewoman in love with the titular troubadour (tenor Yonghoon Lee), but who is the object of desire of Count di Luna, sung by Dmitri Hvorostovsky. Rounding out the cast is Dolora Zajick in her signature role of Azucena, a gypsy woman.
between a movie star whose career is waning and a showgirl whose star is on the rise.
SATURDAY
‘FAST TIMES AT JOHN HUGHES HIGH’
7:30 p.m. at FST’s Bowne’s Lab, 1265 First St.
$15-$18
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
Inspired by classic 1980s teen movies such as “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” “The Breakfast Club” and “Risky Business,” FST Improv will create its own story of teenage angst and big hair in “Fast Times at John Hughes High.” (The high school’s name is a nod to the director who gave “Brat Pack” actors such as Molly Ringwold, Rob Lowe and Emilio Estevez their start.)
TUESDAY
‘THE FOUR C NOTES’
8 p.m. at FST’s Goldstein Cabaret, 1239 N. Palm Ave.
$18-$42
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
For fans of Frank Valli and the Four Seasons, the doo-wop sound never goes out of style. With “The Four C Notes,” Florida Studio Theatre continues the tradition of presenting summer cabaret shows inspired by doo-wop. Runs through Oct. 13.
WEDNESDAY
at the Opera House on Aug. 4 at the Sarasota Opera House.
SARASOTA MUSIC ARCHIVE JAZZ
HAPPY HOUR
6 p.m. at Geldbart Auditorium, Selby Library, 1331 First St. Free with registration Visit JazzHappyHour.org.
Sarasota Music Archive presents Synia Carroll, a local favorite who lit up the lobby at the Art Ovation Hotel during the Sarasota Jazz Festival singing “Water Is My Song: A Jazz Journey” with Mauricio Rodriguez on bass and Chuck Stevens on guitar.
GREEN DAY’S ‘AMERICAN IDIOT’
7:30 p.m. at The Sarasota Players, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 1130 $30/ Student $13 Visit ThePlayers.org.
Broadway director and playwright Michael Mayer (“Spring Awakening,” “Hedwig and the Angry Inch”) came together with Green Day lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong to translate and transform the band’s “American Idiot” album into a rock musical. Directed by Brian Finnerty, this show, filled with tunes from the Grammy-award winning album, is just the cure for the summertime blues. Runs through Aug. 18.
DON’T MISS MONDAY NIGHT JAZZ AT THE CABARET
The Jazz Club of Sarasota keeps the music going during the sizzling days of summer with the MJR Latin Project featuring Pablo Arencibia, Zach Bornheimer, Andy Fornet, Carlos Javier Navarro and Mauricio Rodriguez. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for dinner and bar service.
IF YOU GO When: 7:30 p.m., Monday, Aug.
5 Where: FST’s Court Cabaret, 1265 First St.
Ticket: $34-$39 Info: Visit JazzClubSarasota. org.
Image courtesy of Emilie-Claire Barlow
The Metropolitan Opera’s performance of “Il trovatore” plays at HD
Courtesy image
Did somebody say ‘doo-wop’?
‘The Four C Notes’ brings back the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.
MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
August 3 is a special day for John Michael Coppola. But it’s not his birthday or his wedding anniversary. It’s the anniversary of a Chicago bride who asked him to perform the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons at her 2013 reception.
That performance led Coppola to create his Four Seasons tribute show, “The Four C Notes,” which will play at Florida Studio Theatre’s Goldstein Cabaret from Aug. 6 through Oct. 13.
The bride-to-be got Coppola’s name from a wedding planner who had seen him in the Midwest production of the hit Broadway show “Jersey Boys,” which played in Chicago more than two years.
“We keep in touch every year on Aug. 3,” Coppola said in a recent telephone interview. “She’s got two little girls now.”
A native of New Rochelle, New York, Coppola moved with his wife to Chicago in 2007 to become part of the “Jersey Boys” Midwest production. “I’ve never looked back,” he says. “All of the guys from the Chicago ‘Jersey Boys’ tour moved back to the East or West coasts, but we stayed. We love it here.”
Coppola says he owes his livelihood to Frankie Valli, who is still on the road himself at age 90. (Valli performed a show in Sarasota in November 2023 at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.) “My entire adult life has been about Frankie Valli,” says Coppola.
Actually, that’s not exactly true, since Coppola is also the creator of a 2011 show, “A Jersey Voice: Sinatra to Springsteen ... and Everyone in Between.”
Coppola says his late Uncle Frankie would be proud of his role in keeping the tradition of doo-wop alive on stages throughout the Midwest and in Florida. The Four Seasons fan taught his nephews (Coppola has a twin brother) how to sing “I Wonder Why,” by Dion and the Belmonts, when they were growing up.
Following the success of “The Four C Notes,” which Coppola produces, directs and choreographs, he has stepped back from performing. Instead, he relies on a roster of 15 singer/dancers to appear in the show.
“I have a first-rate group of guys that I keep in rotation,” Coppola says. “It’s not like there’s an A team and a B team. Everybody is great.”
The four crooners making their FST debut in “The Four C Notes” are Max Trotter, Ethan Lupp, Tyler Meyer and Michael Ferraro.
Catherine Randazzo, FST associate artist/literary manager, will be the line producer for the show, which she has been trying to bring to the summer cabaret since she discovered it about five years ago.
The FST run is the longest residency to date for “The Four C Notes,” which mostly does one-night appearances, Coppola says.
Its Sarasota run continues FST’s tradition of presenting doo-wop shows in its summer cabaret series that began about two decades ago with “The Wanderers.”
“It was a huge hit,” says Ran -
IF YOU GO
‘THE FOUR C NOTES’
When: Aug. 6 to Oct. 13
Where: FST’s Goldstein Cabaret, 1239 N. Palm Ave.
Tickets: $18-$42
Info: FloridaStudioTheatre.org
dazzo. “The audience demanded more of this musical era, and FST developed two more shows.” One was “Unchained Melodies” and the other was an updated “Wanderers” that played two seasons ago.
Like Coppola, some of the performers in FST’s recent summer cabaret shows were veterans of “Jersey Boys.” Among the FST shows they have performed in were last year’s “The Surfer Boys,” “The Jersey Tenors” (2017) and “The Jersey Tenors Part II” (2022).
In the process of creating a 90-minute ode to the Four Seasons (cut down to 75 minutes for FST’s summer cabaret), Coppola has become an expert in all things Frankie Valli.
Fun fact: “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” the 1967 single released by a solo Valli and written by Four Seasons bandmate Bob Gaudio along with Bob Crewe, was actually three different songs before it was distilled into one.
It rose to No. 2 on the charts, freed Valli from the restrictions of always having to sing falsetto and was the singer’s biggest solo hit until “My
Eyes Adored You” in 1975.
Who knew that the Four Seasons did a cover of Carole King’s “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow,” which was a hit by the Shirelles? That song is in the long version of “The Four C Notes,” but ended up on the cutting room floor to whittle the show down to FST’s 75-minute requirement.
As the name “Jersey Boys” implies, Valli hailed from the Garden State, but the Four Seasons and other doo-wop bands were favorites in the Midwest, says Coppola, due to the efforts of the late Chicago deejay Dick Biondi.
Biondi, who died in 2023 at age 90, was a fast-talking deejay on WLS, was a huge promoter of doo-wop and is also given credit for being the first disc jockey to play The Beatles in the U.S.
Given the Chicago-Sarasota connection that has existed since Bertha Palmer arrived in Florida by train in 1910 from the Windy City, it makes sense to bring “The Four C Notes” to FST.
“Even after all these years, doowop never goes out of fashion,” Coppola says. “Having four guys sing in harmony brings out a certain reaction.”
Even if you’re not old enough to have been around in “December, 1963,” the Four Seasons song best known as “Oh, What a Night,” “The Four C Notes” is bound to bring back memories and make new ones.
“Even after all these years, doo-wop never goes out of fashion. Having four guys sing in harmony brings out a certain reaction.”
— John Michael Coppola
Courtesy images
“The Four C Notes,” an ode to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, plays at FST’s Goldstein Cabaret from Aug. 6 to Oct. 13.
Catherine Randazzo, FST associate artist/literary manager
A special ring to it
Joan Endler launched a small ring into the air and watched as it bounced off a bottle of root beer.
Endler tried a second time.
This time, the ring landed directly on the neck of the bottle, earning Endler a prize.
“Must be beginner’s luck,” Endler said.
Endler, a resident at Cypress Springs Gracious Retirement Living, went on to win more prizes during the retirement facility’s carnival-themed health fair July 25
Residents such as Nina Henderson walked away from six health vendors’ stations with at least three bags full of goodies and prizes.
Vendors, including HomeWell Care Services, Hedges Health Mart Pharmacy, The Center for Urgent Care, Florida Home Health, The Roots Chiropractic and Bright Star Care, shared information about services they are able to provide to Cypress Springs residents.
Residents ended the health fair with a healthy salad bar lunch.
—LIZ RAMOS
Christina Smith, with HomeWell Care Services, checks Jose Cadalzo’s blood pressure.
Photos by Liz Ramos
Joan Endler spins the wheel in hopes of winning a prize.
Susan McClure wins a prize in a ring toss for Bright Star Care. McClure walked away from the health fair with plenty of game prizes and goodies from vendors.
Bob Henderson tries his best to land a badminton birdie in a container.
Darin Jarosz, executive chef at Cypress Springs Gracious Retirement Living, prepares a salad bar for residents as part of the health fair.
East Manatee Fire Rescue’s Gabriel Yoder, Eric Hoying and Brett Burchenne interact with residents at Cypress Springs Gracious Retirement Living.
Fundraiser takes flight
Only two more months until Teresa Salinas’ husband, Nick Salinas, returns from a ninemonth military deployment in Iraq. Until then, she’ll continue to drive from Lithia to Myakka City to visit his salmon crested cockatoo at the Sarasota Parrot Conservatory once a week.
Salinas normally visits the conservatory to clean Puppy’s cage, but she made a special visit July 28 to attend the nonprofit’s third-annual Christmas in July fundraiser.
Nick Salinas has had Puppy since he was a chick, so the cockatoo is at least 40 years old. However, Teresa Salinas had never even touched a bird before meeting her husband five years ago.
“(Nick and Puppy) were incred-
ibly bonded together,” Salinas said.
“Greg (Para) will have coffee with her in the morning. Puppy nestles up to him and cuddles.”
Greg Para founded the conservatory, which is based out of his home. He cares for more than 70 birds.
The Christmas in July fundraiser proceeds went toward the purchase of bird toys.
Vendors served up everything from hotdogs to axe throwing.
Guests were free to roam the property, interact with the animals and take a swim in the pool. In addition to birds, the conservatory is home to dogs, donkeys, pigs, tortoises and Wallace the warthog.
— LESLEY DWYER
“I had no idea my teeth would look this good!”
“Dr. Jeffrey Martins and the team at Paradise Dental make you feel like you have known them your whole life. They are such warm and caring people.
My teeth were such a mess when I started going. It’s one of those things where life gets busy and you just don’t take care of your teeth as much. I’m 71 and I still work, but I realized I had bad teeth. I had a chip or two, and the teeth in the front were half the size that they are now. They were a mess! So getting them fixed was a major transformation, no question about it!
I chose Paradise Dental because I heard of Dr. Jeffrey Martins’ work and his passion for reconstructive dentistry - and that’s what I experienced. The result was like night and day! I had no idea my teeth would look this good!
Dr. Martins definitely knows what he is doing. He is incredibly knowledgeable, experienced, and friendly. Plus, his whole team is so warm and caring. They make you feel like you are the only one in the room. They are always smiling and making sure you’re doing ok. The whole process was smooth and pain-free.
I never recommend anyone if I don’t truly believe in them. Dr. Martins and his team are what I call HTP - Highly Trained Professionals. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them.”
The Cosmetic Dentist of Lakewood Ranch
Roy S. SMILE MAKEOVER PATIENT
Jeffrey Martins, DDS DENTIST AND OWNER
The Sarasota Parrot Conservatory hosts a Christmas in July fundraiser to buy new toys for the animals.
Photos by Lesley Dwyer
Greg Para, founder of the Sarasota Parrot Conservatory, has Puppy on his shoulder. He’s watching the parrot for a soldier deployed in Iraq for nine months.
Pasco County resident Raymond Hartfield gets a bull’s-eye in the axe throwing truck.
Ellenton residents Jay Walsh and Bonnie Sewell visit the Sarasota Parrot Conservatory regularly. Sewell’s parrot, Tiko, moved in after Hurricane Ian when he didn’t settle into their new home and became aggressive.
Siesta Key resident Martha Wells takes a selfie with a pig.
Cousins Jamir Brown, Reina Riley and Emeri Williams splash around the pool.
THURSDAY, AUG. 1
ROOFTOP SUNSET ZUMBA
Begins
6:30 p.m. at
Lakewood
16410 Rangeland
Lakewood
The Lakewood Ranch Library hosts a free Zumba class for adults 18 and older. The class is packed with happy vibes with a dash of classic and contemporary moves. Instructor Juan Baquero leads the high intensity class. For more information, go to MyManatee.org/Departments/ Manatee_County_Public_Library_ System.
FRIDAY, AUG. 2 THROUGH
SUNDAY, AUG. 4
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 Marko Coconut (Friday), Blue Grass Pirates (Saturday) and Al Fuller Band (Sunday). The Saturday concert has a $5 cover; the other concerts are free. For more information, go to JiggsLanding.com.
FRIDAY, AUG. 2 AND
SATURDAY, AUG. 3
MUSIC AT THE PLAZA
Runs 6-9 p.m. at Waterside Place, 1560 Lakefront Drive, Lakewood Ranch. Singer/musician Frankie Lombardi, who plays eclectic acoustic rock/pop, will entertain those who stroll through Waterside Place on Friday as part of the weekly free music series. On Saturday, Ektor Key will perform on saxophone, keys and vocals. For more information, go to WatersidePlace.com.
SATURDAY, AUG. 3
OLYMPIC ROWING WATCH PARTY
Runs from 1-4 p.m. at Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota. The park hosts an Olympic rowing watch party with the feature race featuring the U.S. Men’s Eight race on a Jumbotron. The race from the Paris Olympics features Sarasota rower Clark Dean. The free event is presented by Realtor Jimmy Dean, NBP Board Member Louis Kosiba, and Michael Saunders and Co. Sarasota Crew will offer learn-
BEST BET
FRIDAY, AUG. 2
MUSIC ON MAIN
Runs from 6-9 p.m. at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch. Country singer Jesse Daniels, who also performs rock and soul, is the featured artist at Music on Main, the monthly free concert and block party series that is presented by Lakewood Ranch Community Activities. The event also features food vendors, beer and wine trucks, sponsor booths, and games and activities for the kids presented by Grace Community Church. Proceeds from the event benefit the MVP Feel Good Fund. For more information, go to MyLWR.com.
YOUR CALENDAR
to-row demonstrations. Food trucks, beer and wine sales by Oak & Stone, a steel drummer and inflatable kids games also will be featured. Parking also is free, and there is no need to sign up for the event.
FAMILY LEGO DAY
Begins at 11 a.m. at the Braden River Library, 4915 53rd Ave. E., Bradenton. The Braden River Library presents “Family Lego Day,” which will feature fun with Legos, blocks and puzzles, plus an exciting craft activity. The event is geared for children ages 4-7. For more information about the free event, call 727-6079 or go to MyManatee.org/Departments/Manatee_County_Public_Library_System.
File photo
Jesse Daniels
Couple gets a slice of the lunch market
The Lakewood Ranch Deli opened in San Marco Plaza on July 29.
LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER
Terry Hamilton said sometimes she just needs to take a drive to get away from her husband.
She let out a hearty laugh after saying that. She and Brian Hamilton have been married and in business together for 30 years.
“We’re together all the time,” she said.
The couple’s latest venture is the Lakewood Ranch Deli in San Marco Plaza. The deli opened July 29.
One big bonus for the Hamiltons is location. They love driving their golf cart to work from their home in Riverwalk Grove.
IF YOU GO
Lakewood Ranch Deli, 8225 Natures Way, Unit 111. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 500-1082 or visit RanchDeli.com.
Locals might recognize the pair from the Premier Sports Complex, where they run the concession stand.
They also owned and operated Bandit’s Cafe in the Manatee County Judicial Center for four years. The couple said the cafe did well until court hearings were held over Zoom because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bandit’s closed in 2022, and the equipment went into storage.
Brian Hamilton said 70% of the equipment in the deli’s kitchen was
brought over from Bandit’s.
Not only are the Hamiltons starting a new business with the deli, but they’ll also be expanding their existing business, Hamilton’s Concessions.
Hamilton’s Concessions does a booming box lunch business that caters to teams and corporations. Right now, they can accommodate 250 box lunches at once. After the deli opens, they’ll be able to double that.
The box lunches include sandwiches made with Boar’s Head deli meat, which will be a staple of the Lakewood Ranch Deli, too.
“We want to bring something a little different to Lakewood Ranch in that we’re a lunch facility,” Brian Hamilton said. “There are thousands of restaurants around here to eat.”
The menu consists of breakfast sandwiches that are served all day,
WORKING TOGETHER
After 30 years of living and working together, the Observer wanted to know what advice the Hamiltons had for other couples who might consider joining their work lives.
The couple agrees it all boils down to passion.
“You both have to have passion for the same thing,” Brian Hamilton said. “For us, anything we’ve ever done together in business, we had a passion. We worked it. We understood it.”
“If he has a passion, and I don’t, then I’m going to hate coming to work,” Terry Hamilton said. “That would reflect down to the morale of the people that work for us.”
And those who work for the Hamiltons come to understand an argument between the couple means nothing after 30 years. It’s business as usual after about five minutes.
and classic lunch items, including soups, salads and sandwiches. It’s a simple menu with simple pricing. Order turkey on a wrap or roast beef on a sub roll, it’ll cost the same. “I wanted to make it easy,” Bri-
an Hamilton said. “Sometimes, a menu is so confusing that you don’t know what you’re getting.” He said sometimes menus resemble books.
The prices are still being finalized, but the menu is solid. Chili will be served daily, along with a soup of the day. A dozen soups will rotate in and out to offer a variety.
Since the couple is from Ocean City, Maryland, Terry Hamilton will be stirring up some Maryland crab soup.
“It’s a little spicy but delicious,” she said.
The list of specialty sandwiches includes classic lunch favorites like “Italians” and “Cubans.” There are four different ways to order a reuben depending on your favorite meat.
But behind the menu are a million little things that still have to be ordered and prepared before the deli’s grand opening.
“I woke up this morning and was like, I forgot the little cups for the French dip,” Brian Hamilton said.
At the end of the day, he said he wants people to enjoy their meal so much they come back, and he’s willing to take suggestions. The deli will have a suggestion box for feedback and requests.
The Hamiltons are starting off with the basics to please the masses. You can’t go wrong with ham and turkey, but liverwurst? They’ll wait to see if there’s a demand first.
Photos by Lesley Dwyer
Riverwalk Grove residents Terry and Brian Hamilton opened the Lakewood Ranch Deli in San Marco Plaza on July 29.
The Lakewood Ranch Deli menu consists of soups, salads, sandwiches and breakfast sandwiches that will be served all day.
Lake Club home tops sales at $3.8 million
ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR
Ahome in Lake Club tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. Richard Fembleaux and Dianna Henderson, of Bradenton, sold their home at 8559 Pavia Way to Jeffrey Fetters, of Excelsior, Minnesota, for $3.8 million. Built in 2023, it has five bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,162 square feet of living area. It sold for $2,229,900 in 2023.
LAKE CLUB
Gregory and Cynthia Leduc, of Litchfield, New Hampshire, sold their home at 17217 Verona Place to Ted Fredric Thomsen and Amber Kay Thomsen, trustees, of Lakewood Ranch, for $2,002,000. Built in 2023, it has five bedrooms, fiveand-a-half baths, a pool and 3,548 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,397,000 in 2023.
COUNTRY CLUB EAST
Bryan Atkinson, trustee, sold the home at 7236 Prestbury Circle to Jeffrey Shawen Clark and Patti Sue Clark, of Bradenton, for $1.72 million. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,425 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,245,000 in 2021.
Angela and Robert Stiner, of Parrish, sold their home at 14407 Whitemoss Terrace to Millicent Blume, of Lakewood Ranch, for $775,000. Built in 2014, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 2,176 square feet of living area. It sold for $499,900 in 2021.
James and Elaine Schipper, of Ankeny, Iowa, sold their home at 7250 Belleisle Glen to Patricia DeMartin, of Bradenton, for $575,000. Built in 2012, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,189 square feet of living area. It sold for $700,000 in 2022.
13TH AVENUE EAST
Michael and Latarsha Gullatte, of Bradenton, sold their home at 5912 13th Ave. E. to Seven Rivers Properties LLC for $1.5 million. Built in 1973, it has four bedrooms, five baths, a pool and 5,323 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,295,000 in 2022.
LAKEWOOD NATIONAL
Stephen Furry, trustee, and Leila Sakhai, of Longboat Key, sold the home at 5711 Mulligan Way to Kevin and Andrea Wessinger, of Bradenton, for $1.32 million. Built in 2021, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,587 square feet of living area. It sold for $594,000 in 2021.
DEL WEBB
Rebecca Garland, trustee, of Venice, sold the home at 7127 Chester Trail to Alan Laverson, trustee, of Bradenton, for $1.15 million. Built in 2016, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,523 square feet of living area. It sold for $650,800 in 2016.
Robert and Lilli Patterson, trustee, of Bradenton, sold the home at 7348 Chester Trail to Paul Michael Lovette and Joanne Valvano, of Bradenton, for $730,000. Built in 2018, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,872 square feet of living area. It sold for $510,000 in 2021.
CRESSWIND
John Manning and Mell Henderson, of Ashburn, Virginia, sold their home at 5051 Kiva Circle to John William Potocko and Michelle Davis Potocko, of Lakewood Ranch, for $1.1 million. Built in 2022, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,975 square feet of living area. It sold for $727,600 in 2022.
ESPLANADE
J. Carlisle Peet III and Linda Wawrzonek, of Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, sold their home at 13204 Sorrento Way to Charles and Cari Shapiro, of Bradenton, for $1.1 million. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,311 square feet of living area. It sold for $612,800 in 2017.
TIDEWATER PRESERVE
Ana Luiza Goncalves, of Bradenton, and Luiz Goncalves, of Parrish, sold their home at 1026 Kestrel Court to Anthony and Jaclyn Frangioni, of Bradenton, for $1.05 million. Built in 2012, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 2,781 square feet of living area. It sold for $500,000 in 2015.
COUNTRY CLUB
Marcia Dorfman sold her home at 6815 Bay Hill Drive to Jim Galvin, of Chicago, for $927,000. Built in 1999, it has five bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,964 square feet of living area. It sold for $490,000 in 2004.
Roulund Holdings 13820 LLC sold the home at 13820 Siena Loop to Aseem Om Rawal and Zohreh Laura Tabatabai, of Tiburon, California, for $620,000. Built in 2003, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,314 square feet of living area. It sold for $640,000 in 2021.
CENTRAL PARK
Marcel Martin Schmitt and Ashley Jane Schmitt, of Chester Springs, Pennsylvania, sold their home at 12038 Forest Park Circle to Molly and Ryan Nichols, of Bradenton, for $899,000. Built in 2014, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,084 square feet of living area. It sold for $515,000 in 2019.
SHEFLIN Properties LLC sold the home at 11746 Forest Park Circle to Steven and Kasey DeMeo, of Bradenton, for $440,000. Built in 2012, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,744 square feet of living area. It sold for $419,000 in 2021.
WOODLEAF HAMMOCK
Lisa Grace Stoddard sold the home at 11610 Apple Tree Circle to Randall Abbs, of Baraboo, Wisconsin, for $850,000. Built in 2021, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,333 square feet of living area. It sold for $850,000 in May.
SUMMERFIELD
Robert and Cheryl Eby, of Blue Ridge, Georgia, sold their home at 6815 Tumbleweed Trail to Steven Alan Dreyer, of Lakewood Ranch, for $845,000. Built in 1996, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,377 square feet of living area. It sold for $330,000 in 2013.
WATERCREST
Stanley and June Schuer, trustees, of Sarasota, sold the Unit 301 condominium at 6380 Watercrest Way to Thomas and Jolanda Moffit, of Lakewood Ranch, for $825,000. Built in 2005, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,376 square feet of living area. It sold for $553,000 in 2005.
LAKEHOUSE COVE AT WATERSIDE
Michelle DiCapua, of Sarasota, sold her home at 8023 Sandstar Way to Silvia Golueke, of Sarasota, for $722,000. Built in 2019, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,882 square feet of living area.
EDGEWATER
Abbie Rankin and Jennifer Patterson, trustees, of Portland, Oregon, sold the home at 8478 Sailing Loop to Sarah Moore and William Alex Watkins, of Lakewood Ranch, for $695,000. Built in 2000, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,638 square feet of living area. It sold for $387,000 in 2003.
GREENBROOK
Dennis McSherry Jr. and Allison Konick, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 6619 Chickadee Lane to Gerard Abajian, of North Port, for $670,000. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,559 square feet of living area. It sold for $350,000 in 2013.
RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS
JULY 15-19
Jose Guzman and Mildred RiveraOrtiz, of Palmetto, sold their home at 15043 Skip Jack Loop to Carlos and Claudia Molina, of Fairfax, Virginia, for $540,000. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,070 square feet of living area. It sold for $169,100 in 2010.
Jeff Quisenberry and Nicole Behar, of Sarasota, sold their home at 15356 Blue Fish Circle to Glenn and Anne King, of Lakewood Ranch, for $515,000. Built in 2005, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,034 square feet of living area. It sold for $308,000 in 2018.
HERITAGE HARBOUR
Tejal and Catherine Mehta, of Ontario, Canada, sold their home at 409 River Enclave Court to Lisa Schmitz, of Dousman, Wisconsin, for $625,000. Built in 2009, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,840 square feet of living area. It sold for $346,000 in 2015.
Eboom LLC sold the home at 354 River Enclave Court to Karl Joseph King and Olga del Socorro Cano, of Bradenton, for $485,000. Built in 2009, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,036 square feet of living area. It sold for $260,000 in 2010.
Courtesy image
This Lake Club home at 8559 Pavia Way sold for $3.8 million. It has five bedrooms, fiveand-a-half baths, a pool and 4,162 square feet of living area.
RIVERWALK VILLAGE CYPRESS
BANKS
Gregory and Leeann Deringer, trustees, sold the home at 11619 Water Poppy Terrace to Daniel and Kimberly Farrell, of Bradenton, for $620,000. Built in 2001, it has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 2,640 square feet of living area. It sold for $287,300 in 2001.
COACH HOMES AT LAKEWOOD
NATIONAL
Patricia Jean Hamilton, of Wimauma, sold her Unit 4612 condominium at 18103 Gawthrop Drive to Eric Joseph Debellis and Anita Marie Debellis, of Dublin, Ohio, for $605,000. Built in 2020, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,786 square feet of living area. It sold for $335,000 in 2021.
INDIGO
Irina Kobzar, of Sarasota, sold her home at 12718 Crystal Clear Place to Ladd Muzzy, of Bradenton, for $585,000. Built in 2016, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,743 square feet of living area. It sold for $357,000 in 2019.
PLANTERS MANOR AT GREENFIELD PLANTATION
Opendoor Property Trust I sold the home at 9617 Summer House Lane to David and Gwendolyn Timmons, of Bradenton, for $575,000. Built in 2002, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 2,673 square feet of living area. It sold for $574,500 in 2023.
ROSEDALE
Barry and Miriam Metz, trustees, sold the home at 8736 53rd Terrace E. to Gregory Deringer and Leeann Deringer, trustees, of Bradenton, for $565,000. Built in 1994, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 1,944 square feet of living area. It sold for $247,000 in 2000.
STONEYBROOK
Matt Uney and Ashley Lynn Seal, of Bradenton, sold their home at
9048 Willowbrook Circle to Jason Allen Feddeler and Betsabel Feddeler, of Hollywood, for $520,000. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 2,909 square feet of living area. It sold for $480,000 in 2021.
RIVER SOUND
Philippe and Kirsten Bui, of Bradenton, sold their home at 1639 White Breeze Cove to David and Hannah Muse, of Bradenton, for $460,400. Built in 2009, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,100 square feet of living area. It sold for $285,000 in 2019.
COACH HOMES AT TIDEWATER
PRESERVE
Brent Cohenour and Kelly Cohenour sold their Unit 111 condominium at 817 Tidewater Shores Loop to Marcia Frost, of Bradenton, for $440,000. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,769 square feet of living area. It sold for $500,000 in 2022.
RIDGE AT CROSSING CREEK
Andrea Klein sold the home at 4719 Creekridge Court to Stephanie Callaway, of Bradenton, for $440,000. Built in 2017, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,627 square feet of living area.
SPORTS
Fast Break
Former Braden River High and University of Kentucky baseball star Ryan Waldschmidt officially signed his contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks organization on July 23.
Waldschmidt, the No. 31 pick in the 2024 MLB Draft on July 14, signed for approximately $2.9 million, the full slot value of the pick. Waldschmidt hit .333 with 14 home runs and 25 steals as a junior at Kentucky this spring.
… On July 24, the Florida State Board of Education ratified a Florida High School Athletic Association plan to allow high school athletes to profit from name, image and likeness deals. Companies that sign athletes to name, image and likeness deals can feature them in commercial endorsements, promotional activities and social media content. The FHSAA initially approved the plan in June.
Billy Fisher sank a hole-inone July 24 on the No. 4 hole of Lakewood Ranch Gold and Country Club’s Royal Lakes course. Fisher used a 9-iron on the 144-yard hole.
Jean Arnold, Alynna Fricke, Kelly Ingalls and Kim Huebner (50) won the Nine Hole Ladies Golf Association “1-2-1 on 3-45” event (team low net scoring) held July 25 at University Park Country Club.
High school football practice (noncontact) began July 29. Teams can begin contact practices Aug. 3. The regular season begins Aug. 23: Lakewood Ranch High will host Lemon Bay at 7:30 p.m.; Braden River High will visit Gainesville High at 7:30 p.m.; The Out-of-Door Academy will host Faith Christian High at 7 p.m.; and Parrish Community High will visit North Port High at 7:30 p.m.
Alyssa Orgen said the thrill of completing a beam routine keeps her going through difficult times.
“I’m always trying to be better than I was the day before.”
EmmaGrace Kelly said her family put her in gymnastics at 4 years old because she was “bouncing off the walls” of their house.
LWR gymnasts vault to collegiate level
RYAN KOHN | SPORTS EDITOR
The paths to college gymnastics do not all look the same.
Some are more or less straight, like that of Alyssa Orgen, who started in the sport at 4 years old after her family noticed she was an easily excitable child.
Orgen started in dance but decided that was “too slow.” Gymnastics fit her better. Over time, she kept excelling and advancing until she reached Level 10, the highest level of junior gymnastics and began attracting interest from college programs.
Others’ paths are less straight.
EmmaGrace Kelly’s path was a slowbuilding one that took a sharp turn near the end. Kelly, like Orgen, started in gymnastics at 4, but she didn’t decide to pursue gymnastics at the college level until she was a freshman in high school. At that point, Kelly said, most gymnasts are already in Level 10, but she was not.
It took another two years for her to get there, and Kelly’s first year at Level 10 was hampered by a recovery from surgery, so she did not perform up to her standards. To impress a college enough to offer her a spot, a big senior season would be needed. She “worked double-time” to ensure that happened, she said.
Some paths, like that of Natalie Thomas, hit a snag. Thomas started in gymnastics at 4 years old, but only did it for fun. Thomas stopped the sport at 7 years old to try swimming. Her family had moved to Lakewood Ranch from Jacksonville, and she wanted a fresh start. But she eventually returned to gymnastics, and after she began to understand that she could earn a scholarship for her performance, she rededicated herself to being the best gymnast she could be. All three gymnasts, members
FAST FACTS
ALYSSA ORGEN Future school: University of Kentucky
Major: Psychology
Favorite gymnastics event: Beam
Favorite food: Pasta/Buttered
noodles
Favorite TV show: “The Vampire Diaries”
NATALIE THOMAS
Future school: George
Washington University
Major: Exercise science
Favorite gymnastics event: Vault
Favorite food: Chicken
Parmesan
Favorite TV show: “Grey’s Anatomy”
EMMAGRACE KELLY
Future school: West Chester
University
Major: Criminal Justice
Favorite gymnastics event: Beam
Favorite food: Sushi
Favorite movie: “Legally Blonde”
of Lakewood Ranch Gymnastics, achieved their end goal. This fall, Orgen is headed to the University of Kentucky; Kelly is headed to West Chester University (Pennsylvania); and Thomas is headed to George Washington University (Washington, D.C.).
Getting to their schools has been a challenge for all three, they said, for gymnastics has taken a lot of physical and mental energy from them. It’s a sport where one off-kilter attempt can result in serious injury.
“Even after all this time, my brain will still say, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m on a 4-inch-wide beam right now, what am I doing?’” Kelly said. “I sometimes have to go back to a lower beam and build myself back up when that happens.” Anxiety about competing affects
Lakewood Ranch Gymnastics’ Alyssa Orgen, Natalie Thomas and EmmaGrace Kelly put in the mental and physical work to reach the college gymnastics level.
gymnasts at every level. At the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, four-time Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles elected to bow out of the competition because she was suffering from “the twisties,” a term gymnasts use to describe the feeling of not knowing where they are relative to the ground during aerial maneuvers. Biles has returned to Team USA for the 2024 Paris Olympics, and younger gymnasts like Lakewood Ranch’s have learned to power through similar struggles.
“I use visualization when I’m stressed or I have a bad practice,” Thomas said. “I picture myself having good routines to distract myself, rather than sitting in bed thinking about the bad practice. Or I’ll go do something that takes my mind off gymnastics completely. This is not our entire lives. It’s OK to focus on other things, too.”
For the sport’s upper echelon, the final results are worth the mental challenges. Orgen recalled competing at the 2024 Women’s Development Program Level 10 National Championships in Daytona Beach in May. It was the last junior competition of her career before heading to Kentucky. Orgen said as soon as she finished the vault, her final event, she looked at Lakewood Ranch co-head coach David Parraga and immediately became teary-eyed.
“I thought about the last 10 years of my life,” Orgen said. “I could not believe how far I had come and the opportunities gymnastics has given me.
“I have a great support system here that has helped me on days when I wanted to quit. One bad day can make you rethink your whole career. You have to remember that you are worth it. You are strong enough to overcome it.”
Kelly, giving advice to young gymnasts, said self-reflection is the best way to get where you want to be. If you can pinpoint your flaws, Kelly said, you can put a spotlight on them during training.
Thomas was even more blunt.
“You need to mentally and physically fight,” Thomas said. “Just keep going, no matter what.”
— Colton Dempsey, running back at Lakewood Ranch High SEE PAGE 12B
Courtesy image
Former Braden River High baseball player Ryan Waldschmidt had a breakout junior season at the University of Kentucky, earning All-American Third Team honors from Baseball America.
Natalie Thomas said the best advice she received was to “fight mentally and physically” for what she wanted to achieve.
Did high school athletes make the most of their summer?
Lakewood Ranch-area coaches say summer workouts key to improved performance.
DANI HERNANDEZ
OBSERVER INTERN
All summer, high school athletes have been busy on local athletic fields and in gyms and weight rooms preparing for another high school sports season.
Will it pay off when the school year begins?
By most accounts, the summer is a crucial time to gain an edge on the competition. While summer fun and rest is important, too, most coaches say athletes who spend their unsupervised summer hours conditioning will turn good individual performances into great ones.
In the coming weeks, it might be apparent who worked the hardest in the summer, and it might convince underclassmen who spent the entire summer by the pool to think about changing their habits when next summer rolls around.
Nate Strawderman, the new associate head coach and pass game coordinator for The Out-Of-Door Academy varsity football team, emphasized how weights and endurance training are preparing his squad for the upcoming season.
“We prefer to push ourselves hard in and out of the weight room during our summer workouts,” Strawderman said. “Our primary goal is to work out in the weight room three times a week at a high intensity for strength training and four times a week for resistance and overspeed training. Preparing our boys for the fall is our main priority. On Friday evenings, we aim to be the quickest and strongest.”
ODA is coming off a Sunshine State Athletic Association Class 4A championship and is looking for a repeat.
Like ODA, the Lakewood Ranch High boys varsity soccer athletes have been getting fit, as well, with a mix of endurance and strength workouts.
Vito Bavaro, the Mustangs’ head coach, said being fit is the key.
“We work to increase endurance,” Bavaro said. “We advise (players) to use low weights for many lifts during the summer. The boys should hit the bleachers and perform at least three sets of ups and downs. They can jog gently for a half-mile or two loops around the track as a cool-down.”
The low weights prepare soccer players for the constant movement in a soccer match. Each sport has its own priorities. Football players, for instance, might be training more for short bursts of quickness and strength.
Lakewood Ranch High trainer
Sydney Suppa said preparing for the upcoming season means more than just physical training.
“Athletes should work out three to four days a week during the preseason, but they can do so much more to advance their (school) careers,” Suppa said. “This is the time to nourish the body, work on mental health, sleep and just find something to do outside of athletics.
“It’s also time to recuperate and rest. All these elements increase their proficiency, lower their chance of injury, lessen burnout and enhance both their mental and physical performance. I frequently teach athletes their bodies are like cars and they require premium gasoline to operate at their peak, aiming to consume proteins, fruits and vegetables by eating three meals a day and healthy snacks in between.”
She said resting can be a workout in itself. Many athletes tend to have
a hard time resting because they’re always on the go.
Nutrition often doesn’t rank high when it comes to athletes’ summer training, but it can be key in providing the necessary energy to get through workouts and support recovery, build and repair muscles and maintain overall health.
Suppa said athletes need to use common sense. She said it’s crucial for athletes to stay hydrated before, during and after exercise. They also should sleep eight to nine hours per night throughout the summer to establish healthy sleeping habits.
“I advise my pupils to put away their phones an hour before going to bed,” Suppa said. “Sleeping well is crucial for both mental and physical healing. Using the summer to enhance mental well-being is the most important lesson I learned. Aside from sports, finding a pastime means realizing you have other qualities that can help you succeed in life, such as forming enduring rou-
tines like writing, calling friends and setting aside time for mental health resets.”
Lakewood Ranch High senior soccer player Nicholas Desouza has been training this summer using the advice of his school’s coaches and trainers.
“Preseason training, in my opinion, entails more than simply hitting the field,” Desouza said. “It also entails taking proper care of your body while it’s at rest, eating the correct foods, clearing your mind and having confidence in God to guide you through everything. Overall, my preseason workouts have greatly benefited me both on and off the field.”
High school athletes will soon find out if they have done the work to have an improved performance during the 2024-25 school year and whether that work will help them be at their best when it matters most, setting the stage for a successful and rewarding sports season.
PRODUCTIVE SUMMER
Ohio’s Beacon Orthopedics and Sports Medicine of Ohio listed some do’s and don’ts for high school athletes on summer vacation:
■ Keep a routine — Keep to a schedule to help ensure success.
■ Don’t forget to warm up and cool down — Start out with a low intensity workout and integrate gentle stretching.
■ Emulate a favorite athlete
— Summer is a wonderful time to study what the greats have done and figure out what applies to you.
■ Don’t forget your rest intervals — Recovery between sets and reps is important and you will yield better results in the long run.
■ Use common sense — Stay hydrated and let someone know what you are doing and where you are going.
■ Remember balance in your workout — Workouts need a good balance of weight training, aerobic and anaerobic conditioning.
■ Don’t do a shortcut with supplements — Never start adding supplements such as protein powders and vitamins into your diet without the approval and supervision of a doctor.
The experts also say
■ Take notes — Write down workouts and track progress.
■ Get guidance for weights — Don’t assume you know the correct way to use barbells and weight machines.
■ Set goals — Work on parts of your game that are weakest.
■ Set reasonable workout times — If you find you have a hard time waking up early, don’t set your workout time at 5 a.m. You won’t be consistent.
■ Get out and run — Develop a reliable aerobic base.
File photo
At a 2023 practice, The Out-of-Door Academy quarterback Jackson Roth and running back Allen Clark run an option play.
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Colton Dempsey
Colton Dempsey is a rising junior running back at Lakewood Ranch
High. Dempsey, a transfer from Bradenton Christian School, led the Panthers with 123 carries, 628 rushing yards (5.1 yards per carry) and 10 rushing touchdowns in 2023.
When did you start playing football?
I started playing flag football when I was 5; then I started tackle football when I was in third grade. My dad (Nathan Dempsey) coached me on a pee-wee team.
What is the appeal to you?
There’s something about the work that goes into it. Not everyone can do it, you know? You can feel good about that. It’s exciting to be on the team. It takes hard work. Being a running back is so fun, scoring and making plays. But it’s also the teamwork. You get to play with your best friends out there.
What is your best skill?
My elusiveness and my vision. The elusiveness has come the more I worked at it, but the vision has come naturally.
What have you been working to improve?
My speed. That has been the biggest leap. I’ve gone from mediocre to one of the fastest guys on the team.
What is your favorite memory?
This past season (at Bradenton Christian), I was able to play with my brother, Landon. He played tight end. On one of my touchdowns, he blocked for me, and afterward he came over and picked me up. That was one of the coolest moments for sure.
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.
What is the feeling around the team as practice gets underway? We’re all excited and flying around. We’re ready to put on the pads. We’re underdogs going into the season. Lakewood Ranch has not (historically) been good, But we are ready to show everyone the new Mustangs. We have the right guys out there, and we have the right coaches in place. We’re ready to do our thing.
What are your personal goals for the season?
We’re going to have a dual-back situation here, but I’d definitely like to hit 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns and go from there.
What is your favorite food? Steak, medium rare.
What is your favorite school subject?
Science. I like working with the labs. History is fun too, learning about presidents and wars.
What is your favorite thing to watch? I like the (ESPN) 30 for 30 series or football documentaries. I’ve been watching the “Receiver” football series on Netflix and that is pretty good, too.
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OLYMPIC GAMES by Amie Walker and Rebecca Goldstein, edited by Jeff Chen
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Gordon Silver caught this blue and yellow macaw posing for
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