Longboat Observer 5.11.23

YOUR TOWN

Could seaweed blob head this way?

The perfect bouquet for Mother’s Day

As Mother’s Day approaches, the perfect bouquet to celebrate will undoubtedly be filled with timeless garden roses and Asiatic lilies, with stock flower as the filler, said Christy James, the owner of Longboat Key Flower Shop.

James explained that garden roses open so fully that they can even show a heart in the center of the flower.

“Asiatic lilies have such a high fragrance, and it’s such a wonderful flower for Mother’s Day. They are my most used premium flowers by everybody who orders,” said James.

James cautioned those who’d like to buy a bouquet for their mothers: Stay away from tropical flowers.

“They will get black spots immediately. Unless you’re getting them for just the day of, I’d stay away from them,” said James.

James has owned her flower shop business for more 35 years after moving to Longboat Key from Indiana.

“I also customize the order with gifts upon request if they let me know 24 to 48 hours in advance.”

The Longboat Key Flower Shop’s new location is 522 Cedar St. For more information, visit LongboatKeyFlowerShop. com.

A celebration of Jewish heritage

The town of Longboat Key proclaimed May 2023 Jewish American Heritage Month at its May 1 regular meeting.

“Jews have been in this country for 369 years, and we’re proud Americans,” Regional Director for the American Jewish Committee West Coast Florida Brian Lipton said. “This proclamation is so important. There are many different groups that have different heritage months, history months and they’re all important. With each one of these months, we get to learn about each other. We get to embrace each other, and we get to understand the richness of this country, which is based on its diversity.”

Commissioner BJ Bishop read out the proclamation and played a key role in its inception.

Lauren Tronstad

American Jewish Committee Regional President Anne Virag and Regional Director Brian Lipton attend the proclamation.

Sidra Wali Longboat Key Flower Shop’s bouquet is filled with roses.

Sidra Wali

The Tropical Blue is a 2022 Corvette coupe owned by Martin Dewey from Nokomis.

Mainland sewer replacement complete

The costlier portion of the pipe, which will run under Sarasota Bay, still awaits construction.

LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITER

After six months of construction, Murphy Pipeline Contractors has fully replaced the mainland portion of the town of Longboat Key’s subaqueous force main, and the pipeline is now operational.

The force main conveys wastewater to Manatee County’s treatment facility four miles away.

The old pipe remains in place because the town opted to slip-line the new pipe into the existing one, which was more economical and efficient than running a new pipe parallel to the old one. The newly installed pipe is expected to last between 75 and 100 years.

The old pipe measures about 20 inches in diameter, whereas the newly inserted one is 18 inches in diameter.

About 1.2 miles of the pipeline have been relined with the new, upgraded material. The mainland portion started at the June 2020 leak repair point, which is about 400 feet north of Sarasota Bay, to the Manatee County meter located at the county’s Southwest Water Reclamation Facility.

The project’s cost came in at about $2.6 million. The majority of those costs, $2 million, was covered by state appropriations received over the past two years as part of a broader effort to improve the sewer main.

The project kept on schedule, with initial work starting in November 2022. The most recent phase was started in March, following an access agreement that allowed the town to complete the slip-lining process to the Long Bar Pointe property.

The mainland portion of the sewer project is one of two projects working toward replacing the town’s sewer main after a break occurred in June 2020, spilling millions of gallons of effluent in Manatee County.

Originally, town staff planned for

a brand-new pipe to run parallel to the existing pipe, which went into service in the 1970s. The original pipe was built with the expectation of Longboat Key’s population one day exceeding 50,000 residents. A 1984 decision to rezone the island changed the trajectory of island growth, limiting peak season population to about half that number.

UNDER SARASOTA BAY

The final portion of the pipeline has not been started yet because the town is awaiting additional funding. The last section will be the most expensive and difficult portion of the project because the remainder of the pipe runs under Sarasota Bay.

A few approaches have been considered to build a redundant pipe

across the bay; the town has chosen the most aggressive approach, open cutting. Open cutting is a method of pipeline installation that requires digging up the underwater bed of Sarasota Bay to the required depth for installing the pipe.

According to the American Concrete Pressure Pipe Association, installing a pipe underwater includes three steps that are also used on land, including trench excavation, pipe laying and backfilling. Going through water is more difficult than traditional land installation.

When excavating, a backhoe can be used if waters are relatively stable and depths are not excessive. Then bedding material such as sand or crushed stone is placed in the excavated trench to ensure the pipe will

stay where it is placed and maintain the required height.

Finally, the pipe is placed with the help of construction divers to guide it into position.

The town received $3 million in federal grants in February toward the project. The total project, including the mainland portion, is anticipated to cost about $21.7 million. The subaqueous portion will make up about $19 million of the total cost.

Final permits for the project have already been acquired from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and United States Army Corps of Engineers. The final design of the project is anticipated in fiscal year 2024, which starts in October. A final construction schedule for the remaining portion has not been set.

The red line running from the Key to the orange dot represents the town-owned wastewater pipeline.

A CHANGING LANDSCAPE

After nearly 44 years, Stewart Landscape Management owner Jeb Stewart merged his company and clients with Grant’s Gardens before retiring.

LAUREN TRONSTAD

STAFF WRITER

The demand for landscaping services means some potential clients of Grant’s Gardens find themselves on a waitlist. But the longtime landscaper hopes to change that with its recent purchase of Cortez-based Stewart’s Landscape Management.

Grant’s Gardens is based in Sarasota but serves many clients on Longboat Key, Lido Key and Anna Maria Island, in addition to those in Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch. Not only is the company taking over Stewart’s clients, but they are also taking on the employees.

“We are fortunate to have a lot of great clients and great word of mouth around the kinds of services that we do offer,” Grant’s Gardens partner Jeff Kelley said. “There’s a long waitlist of folks that want to become part of the Grant’s Gardens family, so with that additional bandwidth, we’ll be able to start to bring in some of those additional properties.”

Over the years, the landscaping company has grown and acquired other similar businesses, starting with the procurement of Young’s Landscaping.

“It’s more opportunity to connect with more customers, to expand our reach into the community and service more people in the region,” Kelley said. “Our goal is to add value to the community, work with great clients on properties that they own and that they want to maintain in the way that we do our business, which is an ‘easy button’ for creating beautiful spaces that people can enjoy. That’s what we are going to be able to do with the addition of those team members, his current client base and the places that he services within the region.”

A CHANGING LANDSCAPE

Like many parts of life, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed elements of the landscaping business, too. Whether it was in the early stages of the pandemic, where a walk outside was the only reprieve from reality, or now when many people use the time outside as a break from their home office, outdoor spaces have received extra attention.

“So many people were home and had to work from home,” Kelley said. “A lot of folks didn’t return to the office; they’ve continued to work

remotely. A lot of folks moved to Florida during that time as well, and that combination of influx of people, having to be home and continuing to work from home has led to a big focus on outdoor spaces. If you’re at home a lot, you don’t necessarily want to be cooped up inside.”

The overall point remains the same — clients want their outdoor spaces to be beautiful, welcoming and relaxing.

“If you look historically, at least in the last few decades, I don’t know if there’s been such a definitive thing that happened where it shifted perspectives on how you use your space,” he said.

Another change Kelley has noticed is that more people are staying in the area. Previously, more of his clients were seasonal residents, but some former snowbirds have deciding to stick around through summer.

Properties on Grant’s Gardens waitlist will get an opportunity for service, with the addition of Grant’s Gardens employees.

A LANDSCAPING LEGACY

Stewart’s Landscape Management is a legacy roughly 44 years in the making, with clients throughout the area continuing to trust owner Jeb Stewart and his employees with their outdoor spaces whether residential or commercial.

For property owners and fellow landscaping business owners alike, Stewart has made a name for himself for his commitment to his clients and his craft.

Stewart started his landscaping career at West Bay Point Moorings. After spending time getting to know the business, he decided he wanted to start his own company, which he did in 1980.

After more than four decades in the business, he decided retirement was the right move and has been working with Kelley and the Grant’s Gardens team to ensure a smooth transition of leadership and clientele.

“Jeb’s been a staple in the community for 40 years,” Kelley said. “When he started talking about (retiring), we just started a conversation about whether or not there was a good fit there. The way he runs his business and the types of customers he’s worked with and properties that he services, the way he services, it is very much aligned.”

Kelley and fellow employees are committed to serving Stewart’s customers, new and old, in the same fashion they experienced under his care.

“I sold the business to Grant’s so that we could merge and they can keep my legacy going,” Stewart said.

“(Grant’s Gardens) has some of the same goals that I did with my company about quality work and creating inviting spaces for people.”

Stewart’s service area is similar to Grant’s, with much of west of U.S. 41 in his service area, including Anna Maria Island to the middle of Siesta Key.

“He really cares deeply about those customers,” Kelley said. “He’s run his business for a long time, so the legacy there is really important to him. The way that we handle our business, which is really all-inclusive maintenance services, is comparable. Our standards, our approach are very aligned.”

Before the transition of his clients and employees to Grant’s, Stewart notified customers at the end of April of the change.

“I’ve got a bunch of congratulations, tons and tons,” Stewart said. “They get it. They’re sad, but they’re happy for me.”

Stewart still has a few more months ahead of him before he lets go of the reins for good. Come August, he plans to move to Costa Rica. Until then, he will continue with client consultations.

Grant’s Gardens will have a wider reach after a merger with Stewart’s Landscape Management clientele.

Weekly Activities in May:

Monday ~ 10am Stretch & Strengthen 1pm Thinking Out Loud Discussion Group

Tuesday ~ 10am Qi Gong, 11:15 Yoga, 1pm Mah Jongg (must RSVP!)

Wednesday ~ 10am Tai Chi, 1pm Special Activities! (see below)

Thursday ~ 10am Zumba/Pilates, 1pm Open Mah Jongg

Friday ~ 10am Tai Chi, 11:15am Qi Gong & Meditation

Medical Professionals Here on LBK Call each practice directly for appointments.

Primary Care (941)225-2258

Dermatology (941)926-6553

Daren Spinelle, MD Longboat Key Physicians Cary L. Dunn, MD Luminary Dermatology

Acupuncture (603)986-7366

Chiropractic (941)210-3637

Dorian Kramer, DACM, LAc Acupuncture & Chinese Medicin e Rhett Bogacz, DC Bee Ridge Chiropractic

Special Activities in May (please RSVP!):

presents Improv for Everyone!

Wednesday, May 17 & 31

Lots of fun and great for your brain. No experience needed!

$10 Members ~ $20 Non -Members

Veterans’ Canteen

Wednesday, May 10 Connect, relax and gather with fellow U.S. Veterans.

FREE ~ Sponsored by Rotary Club of Longboat Key

Reed Medical Group on Longboat expands

The medical group has added a variety of services on the island since it opened.

SIDRA WALI CONTRIBUTOR

Reed Medical Group, located at 6350 Gulf of Mexico Drive, has expanded its concierge service since opening in March 2021. It can now accommodate a panel of 300 patients.

In addition to primary care, the medical group now offers services such as physical therapy, clinical psychology, hormone replacement therapy, health and nutrition, diagnostics, ultrasound-guided joint injections for pain and wound care.

“I was a medical director for fourand-a-half years before opening this practice. I’ve always wanted to open my own practice,” said Dr. James Reed, board-certified family medicine physician. “My grandfather was a fighter pilot and afterwards he went to school and opened a rural practice in Indiana. I watched him do it, and it made me want to do the same thing in terms of owning my own practice.”

After working for other institutions, Reed realized he could give better care as an independent provider.

“I saw the deficiencies in the system and in the last 30 years, physicians have lost their autonomy because of insurance and corporate interest,” said Reed. “I get to sit down with my patients and get to know their personality, medical history and get to know them as people so I can provide the highest level of care close to home instead of rushing them.”

Reed explained that if any of his patients has an urgent matter over the weekend, they can call him on his personal phone.

“They have my cellphone number,

so they have a direct line with me. There’s a huge need for correct diagnoses. I want to help keep my clients out of the hospital as well as network with specialists so they can get the best treatment,” said Reed. “Since we’ve opened, I’ve hired a full team here and it’s been great.”

One of the team members, Elizabeth Cole, director of clinical operations, explained that with a concierge system, most patients can get an appointment with Reed on the same day in many cases.

“I love it because I love the time we can give to patients with the limit of our panel and we can offer specialized care that people deserve,” she said. “You deserve more than 15 minutes with your doctor twice a year.”

During offseason, Reed Medical Group is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Ballroom Dance Lessons

Friday, May 19 with Amber Austin Singles & couples welcome!

$15 Non-Members

Meditative Sound Bath

Thursday, May 25 ~ 4-5pm Emerge feeling renewed & repaired.

$25 Members ~ $40 Non -Members

gigi SILVERBERG

Elizabeth Cole, director of clinical operations, and Angie Weaver, director of patient operations, work to provide concierge care.

Dr. James Reed is expanding his group’s services.

Photos by Sidra Wali

Out of weed’s way?

Climate Adaptation

LAUREN TRONSTAD

STAFF WRITER

Even as the 5,000-mile-long sargassum chain inches toward landfall on the Florida Keys, Sarasota is not quite out of the woods — or seaweed — yet.

Sargassum is a genus of large, brown seaweed that floats in islandlike masses and never attaches to the seafloor, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Bob Bunting, CEO of the Climate Adaptation Center, compared sargassum to bubble wrap because of

the presence of air bubbles in it that keep it floating, but it can be popped, sending the mass to the ocean floor. Once it sinks to the ocean floor, it serves as a provider of carbon to fish and invertebrates in the deep sea.

Even though what is being called the “Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt” only recently floated into headlines, the seaweed blobs are naturally occurring. What makes this one special is its size. A 5,000-mile-long grouping has been making its way onto Florida shores.

“There’s always been some,” Bunting said. “I remember swimming in it as a kid even up in New England at times. It would come and go; you’d see it here and there. It’s not like it hasn’t been around. The quantity of it now is enhanced by the fertilizers and CO2, which we are putting into the atmosphere as we live.”

Sargassum feeds off carbon dioxide, which is at levels that have not been seen in hundreds of thousands of years.

“That’s part of the reason why the atmosphere is warming, but it’s also part of the reason the sargassum is having such a field day,” Bunting said.  Another important note is that while the current sargassum mat is large, it is not one continuous thing but rather “blobby.”

The sargassum belt, which is the largest on record this early in the year, is hitting Key West. With hurricane season approaching, the Sarasota area may be in the clear from the belt hitting our shores if a hurricane reaches the area early in the season. Sargassum is largely seasonal with its peak occurring in June, Bunting said.

“The problem is it’s so prolific that when it washes up on a beach it can pile up several feet deep,” he said. “It’s a living thing, so it decomposes, and when it does, it stinks to high heaven.”

The hydrogen sulfide emitted when it decomposes causes a rotten egg smell and in large quantities can be a lung irritant. It does not have the same toxicity as the harmful algal blooms of red tide, but the smell alone makes it unpleasant.

Sargassum can have its benefits, too. Because it feeds on carbon dioxide, it also helps regulate the amount in the atmosphere.

ABOUT CLIMATE ADAPTATION CENTER

The Climate Adaptation Center was founded in 2019 by Bob Bunting. The center is a unique organization.

“We are trying to get our name out because we are the only center of its kind in the world,” he said. “It’s the only center in Florida that is 100% focused on the impacts of a warming climate on our lives.”

According to the center’s website, the center, headquartered in Sarasota, is an independent nonprofit organization. “CAC is bridging the gap between stateof-the-art scientific research and public sector understanding of our changing climate,” it stated.

The center focuses on addressing immediate issues of the present and future of Florida’s warming.

Among the most pressing are sea level rise, hazards to human health, red tide, changing hurricanes and threats to the natural environment.

“Our hope is to stimulate the creation of adaptation strategies and actions to protect the Florida way of life in a time of global climate change,” Bunting said on the website.

Lauren Tronstad

Sargassum is a "blobby" seaweed that floats on top of the water.

Center CEO Bob Bunting said an early season hurricane could push the sargassum farther north into the Gulf of Mexico.

Courtesy photo

Climate Adaptation Center CEO Bob Bunting

With money in the bank, work begins on The Bay Phase 2

With city and county commissioners approving $4 million in TIF transfers, work on the $65 million Phase 2 of The Bay is underway.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

Now that the Bay Park Conservancy has secured more than $4 million in city and county deposits into its trust fund, it can officially begin planning and design for Phase 2 of The Bay.

Following the Sarasota City Commission’s prior unanimous approval, the BPC on April 25 secured an identical deposit of just more than $2 million by a 3-1 vote of the County Commission, with Commissioner Mike Moran dissenting. Moran didn’t voice his objection prior to the vote, which was otherwise supported by commissioners Mark Smith, Joe Neunder and Chairman Ron Cutsinger.

Those deposits will more than meet the annual payment for a $48 million city bond, set to close on May 11.

The Bay, planned for 53 acres of city-owned land on Sarasota Bay, is a 10-year, $200 million buildout to create a multifaceted public park financially supported equally by city and county government and private philanthropy and grants. City and county funds come from a tax increment financing district that surrounds the park — tax revenue resulting from the increased value of property as it is developed and improved.

The city and county make identical annual payments with revenues from the TIF district to the trust fund, provided the approval of the commissioners. The BPC will have collected $8.7 million combined after the fiscal year 2024 payments are made,

estimated at just more than $2 million each, based on a projected 7.2% increase in subject property values. The actual payment, though, will be based on the assessed value as of July 2023, which could be significantly higher according to the county.

The Bay serves the dual purpose of public passive and active park and water conservation.

“This site, which was all built before the Clean Water Act in the late ’70s, drains about 300 million gallons of polluted stormwater every year directly into Sarasota Bay,” BPC Chief Operating Officer Bill Waddill told county commissioners. “As we build each phase of our park we put every drop of that rain through our stormwater treatment train to pre-treat it and quit polluting the environment, and then restore the environment as we go.”

The 10-acre first phase of The Bay opened in October 2022 on the southern end of the site. Phase 2 will focus on the Canal District, the public boat launch area on the north side of the park, and will include rebuilding some 800 feet of failing sea wall on the south side of the canal and adding 20 to 25 day docks.

It will also include improvements to the Cultural District along U.S. 41, western shoreline improvements and the Sunset Pier. That all comes at a projected cost of $65 million, $48 million of which is covered by TIFbacked city bonds.

The $30.5 million first phase received 90% of its funding from private philanthropy.

Although it took 10 years from conception and six years of planning and development to open the first 10 acres, Waddill said the 14-acre Phase 2 will be completed much more quickly.

“We're going to design and build all of this within about three years,” Waddill said. “A lot of times for these sorts of initiatives, getting past the initial inertia is one of the hardest things to do. It took us six years to get

10 acres of park at $35 million built. We’re going to build twice as much park in half the time.”

The first two phases effectively encircle the parking lot and the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, with parking lot and roads covering 35 of the 53 acres. That impervious space will be addressed in future phases, with planning currently including preservation of the Van Wezel on the southwest corner of the site and a proposed new Sarasota Performing Arts Center on the northeast corner.

“We’re going to be transforming that from two-thirds parking and paving to two-thirds green park

THE BAY PHASE 2

Estimated project costs for the second phase of The Bay.

n Dockside/South Canal District: $15 million

n Cultural District: $20 million

n Sunset Pier: $15 million

n Western Shoreline: $15 million

Subtotal: $65 million

with all of the focus on water quality,” Waddill said. Phase 2 work in the Canal District will primarily focus on the south side of the canal. In addition to the day docks, plans include some structures to serve light retail, create shade and a staging area for portable food service. The BPC has proposed future permanent restaurant sites for waterfront dining intended to supply revenue streams to help meet future operation costs of the entire park.

In the Cultural District, there will be an event lawn and recreation lawn to the north of the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium, and 5,600-square-

foot and 5,200-square-foot areas identified as North Plaza and South Plaza will flank the auditorium. That’s in addition to heavy landscaping throughout the area.

Currently, the Bay Park Trust Fund balance is $4.68 million, which includes the $1.7 million from last year’s county and city TIF deposits. With the projected $4 million for fiscal year 2024, minus the bond payment of $2.77 million, that leaves a balance of $5.91 million.

“That’s plenty of coverage to make sure that there’s plenty of money in there for the bond payments moving forward,” Waddill said.

A rendering of the Canal District at The Bay at the 10th Street boat launch.

A rendering of The Bay Cultural District along U.S. 41 between 10th Street and Boulevard of the Arts.

Courtesy renderings

To the first-time mother looking for assurance before the big day. To the child spending their first night in the hospital and searching for a friendly face. To the fighter who needed encouragement and the survivor who needed a coach. To all the friends and family members who rest easier knowing their loved ones will always be safe in your care.

Being a nurse isn’t easy, and some days it might seem like too much. But to every patient in need of your strength and your support, You make a world of difference.

A law to aid prison reform

The Legislature unanimously approved legislation that will eliminate jail time for technical probation infractions.

supervision. When a person’s probation is revoked, a judge may impose any sentence that was permissible at the offender’s initial sentence.

Often, that means some time in jail or prison.

According to a recent report from the Crime and Justice Institute, 48% of annual community supervision exits in Florida are because of revocation rather than successful completion of sentences.

Approximately 57% of revocations in Florida are because of technical violations rather than new felony or misdemeanor offenses.

These data suggest that revocations resulting from technical violations of community supervision substantially contribute to Florida’s incarcerated population.

Florida’s ASP to address certain technical violations of community supervision.

Probation officers would be required (rather than allowed) to resolve an offender’s first or second low-risk violations through the ASP. This would help avoid disproportionate responses to technical violations. However, if a court finds a specific, identified risk to public safety, the court may instruct the probation officer to submit an affidavit of violation.

LONGBOAT

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Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944

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Probation is intended to provide a more constructive alternative to incarceration by rehabilitating lowrisk criminal offenders in their communities. But in Florida, minor technical violations of probation send many probationers to incarceration each year — even if they haven’t committed a new crime.

Punishing small matters, like missing a meeting with incarceration, is out of proportion and helps neither the offender nor society because disproportionate sanctions for technical violations do not improve public safety and waste precious taxpayer dollars.

Fortunately, the Legislature unanimously voted this past session in favor of Senate Bill 1478 to help address this problem. The bill is awaiting Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signature.

People on probation are typically subject to a variety of conditions, including regular check-ins, drug testing, mandatory treatment or counseling and the payment of fines and fees. In Florida, violations of these conditions may result in the revocation, modification or continuation probation

In recent years, lawmakers, agency leaders and courts have pursued reforms to reduce revocations and incarceration attributed to technical violations of community supervision. In 2016, the Legislature passed legislation authorizing the chief judge in each of the state’s 20 judicial circuits to establish Alternative Sanctioning Programs to resolve technical violations without revoking supervision. Three years later in 2019, the Legislature created a standardized statewide ASP that allows probation officers to resolve low- and moderate-risk technical violations without initiating the court process or arresting and booking the offender.

SB 1478 builds on these prior reforms to address some of the many remaining pitfalls associated with Florida’s probation program. The bill makes targeted changes to Florida’s sentencing policies related to violations of probation. Technical violations resolved through the Florida’s Alternative Sanctioning Program would not be factored into the point system used by courts to determine the lowest permissible sentence in each case. This would help avoid unnecessary incarceration because of technical violations.

The bill also expands the use of

Finally, SB 1478 provides for the timely resolution of violations. In cases where a probationer is arrested for a low-risk violation, a court must hear the case within 30 days of the probationer’s arrest. If a hearing is not held within the 30-day period, the probationer must be released without bail, but the court may impose nonmonetary conditions of release. This requirement would avoid situations where people are needlessly stuck in jail because of court delays.

As the latest in a series of legislative reforms, SB 1478 offers Gov. DeSantis a great opportunity to further improve Florida’s parole and community supervision programs.

Adrian Moore is the vice president of Reason Foundation and lives in Sarasota. Vittorio Nastasi is director of criminal justice policy at Reason Foundation.

‘VECTORS’ PART II: Q&A WITH AUTHOR

As a follow-up to last week’s review of “Vectors,” an Amazon bestseller, author and Former Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas B. Modly discusses some of the intricacies of how “Vectors” came to be and illuminating details of the workings of the Navy and Pentagon in a Q&A with Observer founder Matt Walsh. Go to: YourObserver.com/ Opinion-Modly

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ADRIAN MOORE AND VITTORIO NASTASI

“Punishing small matters, like missing a meeting with incarceration, is out of proportion and helps neither the offender nor society ...”

Is the Lo’ Key in the right location?

As

The

from the previous ones.

Despite claims to the contrary, congestion, traffic, noise, lighting, safety, potential unlawful beach access and other quality of life issues for residents nearby, although somewhat mitigated by zoning restrictions, are major problems. Common sense would dictate that adding several hundred people gathering indoors and out in a party-like atmosphere, probably from early morning to 10 p.m., on a narrow street is not going to create a good experience for those living in

the area.

I personally like bars, restaurants and businesses in general. As with anything, they should be located appropriately and, if so, supported by the local population. And yes, the small parcel where this bar/ restaurant and required parking is located at the entrance to Tarawitt Drive is commercially zoned. It does not, however, permit a bar or restaurant. We knew this when we purchased our home some 40 years ago. The individual who purchased this property recently was also well aware of the zoning restrictions.

There is a world of difference between a bar/restaurant and a barber shop, beauty salon, art studio, offices, etc. That is why an exception had to be granted.

Even though P&Z stated that the initial decision to put any form of commercial zoning on a residential street made no sense, the board decided to double down on a dumb idea and potentially create a much worse situation.

There were many people, including neighbors and friends, at the hearing who spoke out in favor of approving this exception. Most only spend a few months or less on Longboat and are basically here on vacation. They spoke of the perceived convenience of and dire need

for more bars and restaurants. They may be right, and their opinions are certainly respected. There are currently no fewer than 10 establishments within a quarter-mile radius of Tarawitt Drive where people can obtain food and alcoholic beverages.

During the season, virtually all the restaurants and bars on Longboat are filled, including the really poor ones. Many of the seats in these places are not filled by Longboat Key residents or guests. A very high percentage come from off the island because getting on Longboat during the late afternoon or evening is easy. It is highly doubtful that more restaurants and bars will create less traffic as some have suggested.

The P&Z Board has a very difficult job to perform, and quite often it comes down to balancing the needs of the whole community with the needs of some individuals. Most of the time they are correct in their decisions, and they are to be thanked for their hard work.

In this case, in my opinion, they chose to ignore their sworn oath to be unbiased and impartial when voting. It was clear before, during and after that there was a desire to push this for approval. It is doubtful that if any member of this board had to vote on a measure that would place a bar/restaurant either next to or adjacent to their homes that they would have voted affirmatively.

As mentioned earlier, I do not object to bars or restaurants and certainly not the individuals who are going to open the Lo’ Key Island Grille. They are to be congratulated for their vision and tenacity.

Hopefully, all those who have cheered on this approval are correct, and I am wrong in believing that placing a bar/restaurant on a residential street is a negative measure.

Important conviction for all Sarasota

The recent conviction by a federal court jury of four Proud Boys on charges of seditious conspiracy

in the attack on the U.S. Capitol should resonate with every parent, student, teacher, voter and citizen in Sarasota County.

Three Republican members of the current Sarasota School Board ran for election last August, with the visible and vocal support of the Proud Boys, now revealed for what they are: a domestic terrorist organization and one of the country’s most notorious far-right extremist groups.

We should note that the sedition charge is rarely used and harks back to the Union’s efforts to protect the federal government against secessionist rebels during the Civil War.

The four defendants, including their former leader Enrique Tarrio, were also convicted of conspiring to obstruct the certification of the 2020 presidential election. They, alongside a fifth defendant, were further convicted of a third conspiracy count. They could face a maximum of nearly 50 years on the conspiracy counts alone.

Every Sarasotan who believes in our democracy, the rule of law, and the importance of our public schools should demand that School Board Chair Bridget Ziegler and members Tim Enos and Robyn Marinelli publicly denounce the Proud Boys.

We demand they reject any future cooperation or support from the Proud Boys and assure the citizens of this county that they will no longer have any influence or role in their deliberations.

DANIEL KUETHER SARASOTA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR

CORRECTION:

An article on Page 4 of the April 27 Longboat Observer, “Parking changes move to commission,” incorrectly stated Planning and Zoning Board member David Lapovsky’s vote. He voted in opposition to the proposal.

Courtesy photo

Proposed Lo’ Key Island Grille property looking southeast from the corner of Gulf of Mexico Drive and Tarawitt Drive.

Make Some Memories

Key officer moves on up

Longboat police officer made sergeant.

LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITER

After less than two years with the department, Longboat Key Police officer Adam Montfort was recently promoted to sergeant.

However, his service did not start on Longboat Key. Before moving to the barrier island, Montfort worked in New York, where he served in a number of departments and took on a handful of roles including emergency dispatcher and investigator.

From 2010 to 2016, he served as a sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps.

His time with the department started December 2021 after a mutual friend of Chief George Turner told him about the potential for position openings.

“I was frustrated with how expensive New York was and the cold weather,” he said of the initial draw to the area.

After less than two years with this department, because of his law enforcement background service in the Marine Corps, he decided to pursue the written test needed to be considered for promotion. Like in New York, he has taken on numerous assignments, including patrol officer, field training officer and shift supervisor.

“We have a very strict process for promotions that requires a certain minimum qualifications that all officers have to meet,” Turner said.

“It has to do with their past training, years on the job, education, military experience.”

After passing the written portion, he went in front of a board for an oral interview to gauge if he would be a good fit and desired to take on extra responsibility.

After Sgt. Craig Smith retired from the department, Montfort was the next in line based on the department’s eligibility list.

“We’re very happy to have him on board here,” Turner said. “He’s already doing a great job as a sergeant.”

The department tends to hire experienced officers, with many coming from New York to work, live and eventually retire in the area.

A frequent standout part of the job for Longboat Key officers, Montfort included, is the people they serve and their kindness and appreciation toward officers.

“Here, everyone’s so friendly,” Montfort said. “It’s not something I am used to from working up in New York. You didn’t get people coming up, approaching you to say ‘Hey, how’s your day?’ and thanking you for your service. It makes you feel good about what you’re doing because it’s not an easy job.”

This kindness from residents and visitors to the barrier island keeps up the appeal of the area and the job.

“I don’t plan on going anywhere for a very long time,” he said.

TOWN OF LONGBOAT KEY NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING & HEARING ORDINANCE 2023-01

TOWN OF LONGBOAT KEY

MAY 16, 2023 – 9:15 AM

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING & HEARING

ORDINANCE 2023-01

TOWN OF LONGBOAT KEY NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING & HEARING ORDINANCE 2023-01

MAY 16, 2023 – 9:15 AM

MAY 16, 2023 – 9:15 AM

Please take notice that a public meeting and hearing of the Town of Longboat Key’s Planning Zoning Board will be held to consider proposed modifications to Title 15, Land Development Chapter 160, Comprehensive Plan, of the Code of Ordinances of the Town of Longboat Key, particularly set forth in Ordinance 2023-01:

Please take notice that a public meeting and hearing of the Town of Longboat Key’s Planning and Zoning Board will be held to consider proposed modifications to Title 15, Land Development Code, Chapter 160 Comprehensive Plan, of the Code of Ordinances of the Town of Longboat Key, as more particularly set forth in Ordinance 2023-01:

Please take notice that a public meeting and hearing of the Town of Longboat Key’s Planning and Zoning Board will be held to consider proposed modifications to Title 15, Land Development Code, Chapter 160 Comprehensive Plan, of the Code of Ordinances of the Town of Longboat Key, as more particularly set forth in Ordinance 2023-01:

ORDINANCE 2023-01

ORDINANCE 2023-01

AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF LONGBOAT KEY, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE 2022 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF THE TOWN OF LONGBOAT KEY, PURSUANT TO SECTION 163.3184, FLORIDA STATUTES AMENDING, DELETING, REPLACING, AND ADDING OBJECTIVES, POLICIES, AND STRATEGIES PROVIDED FOR WITHIN THE CONSERVATION & COASTAL MANAGEMENT ELEMENT AND THE RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE ELEMENT; PROVIDING FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE COMMUNITY PLANNING ACT; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

ORDINANCE 2023-01

AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF LONGBOAT KEY, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE 2022 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF THE TOWN OF LONGBOAT KEY, PURSUANT TO SECTION 163.3184, FLORIDA STATUTES AMENDING, DELETING, REPLACING, AND ADDING OBJECTIVES, POLICIES, AND STRATEGIES PROVIDED FOR WITHIN THE CONSERVATION & COASTAL MANAGEMENT ELEMENT AND THE RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE ELEMENT; PROVIDING FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE COMMUNITY PLANNING ACT; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF LONGBOAT KEY, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE 2022 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF THE TOWN OF LONGBOAT KEY, PURSUANT TO SECTION 163.3184, FLORIDA STATUTES AMENDING, DELETING, REPLACING, AND ADDING OBJECTIVES, POLICIES, AND STRATEGIES PROVIDED FOR WITHIN THE CONSERVATION & COASTAL MANAGEMENT ELEMENT AND THE RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE ELEMENT; PROVIDING FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE COMMUNITY PLANNING ACT; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

The public hearing before the Planning and Zoning Board on proposed Ordinance 2023-01 will be held on May 16, 2023, at 9:15 a.m., or as soon thereafter as may be heard, in the Town Commission Chambers at Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key, Florida.

The public hearing before the Planning and Zoning Board on proposed Ordinance 2023-01 will be held on May 16, 2023, at 9:15 a.m., or as soon thereafter as may be heard, in the Town Commission Chambers at Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key, Florida.

The public hearing before the Planning and Zoning Board on proposed Ordinance 2023-01 will on May 16, 2023, at 9:15 a.m., or as soon thereafter as may be heard, in the Town Commission Chambers at Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key, Florida.

All interested persons may appear and be heard with respect to proposed Ordinance 2023-01 Copies of Ordinance 2023-01 and related material associated with the amendment may be viewed at the Planning, Zoning & Building Department, 501 Bay Isles Road, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. weekdays prior to the hearing. Questions may be directed to the Planning, Zoning & Building Department at 316-1966. The proposed amendment will affect property within the corporate boundaries of the Town of Longboat Key as shown on the map appearing at the bottom of this advertisement. No verbatim record by a certified court reporter is made of these proceedings. Accordingly, any person who may seek to appeal any decision involving the matters noticed herein will be responsible for making a verbatim record of the testimony and evidence at these proceedings upon which any appeal is to be based (see Section 286.0105, Florida Statutes). In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 286.26, Florida Statutes, persons needing a special accommodation to participate in this proceeding should contact the Town Clerk’s office at 941-316-1999 seventy-two (72) hours in advance of this proceeding. If you are hearing impaired, please call 941-316-8719.

All interested persons may appear and be heard with respect to proposed Ordinance 2023-01 of Ordinance 2023-01 and related material associated with the amendment may be viewed Planning, Zoning & Building Department, 501 Bay Isles Road, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 weekdays prior to the hearing. Questions may be directed to the Planning, Zoning & Department at 316-1966. The proposed amendment will affect property within the corporate boundaries of the Town of Longboat Key as shown on the map appearing at the bottom of this advertisement.

David Green, Chair Planning and Zoning Board

All interested persons may appear and be heard with respect to proposed Ordinance 2023-01 Copies of Ordinance 2023-01 and related material associated with the amendment may be viewed at the Planning, Zoning & Building Department, 501 Bay Isles Road, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. weekdays prior to the hearing. Questions may be directed to the Planning, Zoning & Building Department at 316-1966. The proposed amendment will affect property within the corporate boundaries of the Town of Longboat Key as shown on the map appearing at the bottom of this advertisement. No verbatim record by a certified court reporter is made of these proceedings. Accordingly, any person who may seek to appeal any decision involving the matters noticed herein will be responsible for making a verbatim record of the testimony and evidence at these proceedings upon which any appeal is to be based (see Section 286.0105, Florida Statutes). In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 286.26, Florida Statutes, persons needing a special accommodation to participate in this proceeding should contact the Town Clerk’s office at 941-316-1999 seventy-two (72) hours in advance of this proceeding. If you are hearing impaired, please call 941-316-8719.

Published: 05/11/2023

David Green, Chair Planning and Zoning

Published: 05/11/2023

David Green, Chair Planning and Zoning Board

Published: 05/11/2023

Board

No verbatim record by a certified court reporter is made of these proceedings. Accordingly, any who may seek to appeal any decision involving the matters noticed herein will be responsible for a verbatim record of the testimony and evidence at these proceedings upon which any appeal based (see Section 286.0105, Florida Statutes). In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities and Section 286.26, Florida Statutes, persons needing a special accommodation to participate proceeding should contact the Town Clerk’s office at 941 two (72) hours in advance of this proceeding. If you are hearing impaired, please call 941

Courtesy photo

Capt. Robert Bourque, Capt. Rick Hankins, Deputy Chief Frank Rubino, Chief George Turner, Sgt. Adam Montfort, Officer Joe Ferrigine, Sgt. Lee Smith and Officer Dexter Nazareno at Montfort's promotion ceremony.

EARLY MEMORIAL DAY DEADLINES

FRIDAY, APRIL 28

A LATE DATE

11:38 p.m., 3400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Suspicious vehicle: Two vehicles were observed at the beach access parking lot after hours. As the officer was investigating the scene, the pair emerged and said they had not realized it had gotten so late. Each vehicle was issued a citation and warned about being on the beach after hours.

SATURDAY, APRIL 29

A DRAMATIC ESCAPE

9:30 a.m., Longboat Pass Bridge

Suspicious person: Police were dispatched to the area after reports of two juveniles jumping off the bridge. Upon arrival, the officer investigated the area but did not locate any juveniles near the bridge or in the water. The Bradenton Beach Police officer that was also on the scene told Longboat Key police the two male juveniles had jumped off the bridge, boarded an unidentified water vessel and left the scene.

FLAT TIRE

10:27 a.m., 6200 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Traffic hazard: While traveling southbound, the officer noticed a disabled vehicle with the left tires partially in the bike lane and a flat right front tire. The driver requested assistance with replacing her tire, and because of her inability to do it herself, the presence of the vehicle in the bike lane and approaching inclement weather, the officer decided to help.

SUNDAY, APRIL 30

EXTRA AID

5:26 p.m., 2000 block of Harbourside Drive

Rescue assist: An officer was dispatched to help the fire department with an occupied stuck elevator. The fire department was already on the scene, and police were released from the scene to respond to another issue.

MONDAY, MAY 1

NOT A DISTRESS SIGNAL

8:42 p.m., 2600 block of Harbourside Drive Citizen assist: Police were sent to a marina for a report of a boat near a restaurant that appeared to be sending S.O.S. signals. Upon arrival, the officer noticed the boat’s bow light

flashing, but nothing came of investigating the area. No one responded or came outside, no lights were on and tables and chairs were covered with tarps. A nearby boat owner said he had been out on the deck of his boat and had not observed anything out of the ordinary.

TUESDAY, MAY 2

FORGOT TO LOCK UP

11:19 p.m., 6800 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Unsecure premises: While conducting business checks at Whitney Plaza, the officer noticed a rear door was unlocked. No one was found inside, and there were no signs of forced entry. The officer was unable to secure the business and called the owner to alert him of the issue.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 3

UNWANTED CONTACT

12:46 p.m., 700 block of Broadway

Citizen assist: The caller requested an officer come to her home to assist in filing a police report in regard to harassment via text message. The woman stated she and her significant other had been receiving unwanted, offensive text messages from the same person. She said no threats had been made, and she was not in fear for her life but wanted to report the incident to the police.

THURSDAY, MAY 4

MINOR LEAK

7:45 p.m., 2100 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Citizen assist: Dispatch reported a water leak at the address. Officers arrived on the scene and observed a minor water leak; the town’s Public Works staff was notified.

TUESDAY, MAY 2 INJURED RACCOON

12:23 p.m., 600 block of Ranger Lane Animal complaint: The officer was sent to the scene after word of an injured animal. An injured raccoon was spotted at the address near a work trailer parked in the driveway. Sarasota Animal Control was requested to respond and pick up the animal.

R

W B A C

See you next season

One of the hardest things to do is say goodbye.

To take some of the sting out of seasonal farewells, the Longboat Island Chapel hosted a dinner for members on April 25 before some returned north.

“This is a way we can say goodbye to our friends. We’ve been doing it each year,” said Valerie Evanko, events coordinator. “We get to talk about all the plans we have for the summer, and it’s a really great time.”

The chapel’s hall was decorated with balloons and was filled with laughter, smiles and hugs.

Evanko explained that the theme of this dinner was “travel.” Toy trailers and cars were the centerpieces for each table.

Chef David Stone prepared a curated menu for the evening, comprising ravioli in a tomato sauce with olive pesto and grilled chicken, baked lasagna, garlic bread, rustic bread and an Italian harvest salad.

“The dessert is a lemon cake with vanilla ice cream drizzled with limoncello,” said Chris Johnson, a member who helped prepare the salad.

Inge and Alan Boudreau, members of the church, explained how they felt leaving their beloved community to go up north.

“We’ll be going to Holland, Michigan, and I’m so very sad leaving the church because it’s a part of our family. But, we’ll be returning in November,” said Inge.

As the night progressed, Jim Scherz, who has been an accordion musician for 60 years, started to play Italian music.

“It’s fun to have everyone together sharing a meal. It’s our last hurrah,” said Karen Pashkow.

—SIDRA WALI

Lois Finley-Shook and the Rev. Charlie Shook

Jim Scherz plays Italian tunes for the group.

Photos by Sidra Wali

Valerie Evanko and Rick Skerrett prepare for the party.

Karen Pashkow and Chris Johnson prepare a salad for the dinner party.

Inge and Alan Boudreau

Lemon cake drizzled with limoncello

Chef David Stone checks on the baked lasagna.

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

KT Curran builds a bridge of

EMPATHY

Local director’s film shines a light on ‘compassion fatigue’ among first responders.

MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Director KT Curran is no stranger to the film festival circuit.

For the past eight months, she’s shown her stunning feature, “Bridge to the Other Side,” at about a dozen festivals, including the Sarasota Film Festival, where the film won two awards in April, and the Fort Myers Film Festival, where it will be presented on May 18.

But the May 2 presentation of “Bridge to the Other Side” at Resilient Retreat, a lush 84-acre compound down Fruitville Road, was different than the other screenings.

Curran’s emotional antennae were more attuned than usual and with good reason: It was the first time the director had shown her film to an audience of first responders, the subject of her film.

There were no visible tears shed after the screening, though there may have been when the lights were down. But there was a palpable sense of discomfort as the film unspooled to the sounds of coughing, bodies shifting in chairs and nervous fidgeting in the audience.

“Bridge to the Other Side” is a raw, emotional journey that follows Max Toussante, a former high school guidance counselor who is drowning in alcohol and grief after losing her firefighter husband to COVID. On a whim, she decides to join a crisis response team being formed by her late husband’s fire department. Her partner is Jake Monroe, a firefighter who has given up rescue diving because of the toll it has taken on his psyche and his family; he is divorced.

Curran wrote and directed “Bridge to the Other Side” after interviewing 150 first responders and their family members. She spent mornings writing her script and put a producer’s hat of sorts on in the afternoon, she says, although the film had a real producer in the form of Jerry Chambless.

The firefighters, police officers, chaplains and other first responders who gathered at Resilient Retreat to watch Curran’s film may not have experienced the exact losses suffered by Toussante (Valerie LeBlanc) and Monroe (Chase Garland) or had their community outreach efforts

“I knew there was a high level of depression, divorce and other serious issues among our most heroic members of society. But until COVID, I hadn’t realized how much firefighters and police officers can be affected by compassion fatigue. I wanted to celebrate the efforts of first responders and try to destigmatize mental health issues for them.”

KT Curran

In search of the perfect 10

“The play’s the thing,” Shakespeare once wrote. With all due respect to The Bard, the 10-minute play will be the thing in Sarasota from May 11-14.

Now in its 18th season, Theatre Odyssey’s Ten-Minute Play Festival will feature eight plays in competition and will take place at the Jane B. Cook Theatre at the FSU/Asolo Center for the Performing Arts.

“The beauty of the 10-minute play is if you don’t like it, you only have to sit through 10 minutes,” says Michael Bille, president of Theatre Odyssey.

But this is no amateur hour — or sixth of an hour. Everyone involved in the plays gets paid, Bille says. That includes playwrights, directors, actors and production professionals. “They’re not going to get rich, but they’re going to be compensated for their time and talent.”

One could be forgiven for assuming the phenomenon of the 10-minute play has something to do with the internet and the shorter attention spans it has spawned.

But the genre actually got its start back in 1977 at the Actors Theatre of Louisville’s Humana Festival of New American.

These days, the guru of the genre is none other than Gary Garrison, author of “A More Perfect Ten: Writing and Producing the Ten-Minute Play.” Garrison’s 10-minute street cred also derives from an earlier book, “Perfect 10: Writing and Producing the Ten-Minute Play,” as well as an award in his name for university playwrights of 10-minute plays the Kennedy Center instituted in 2014.

Garrison was the executive director of the Dramatist Guild of America from 2007-17 and was associate chair, artistic director and master teacher of playwriting in the Goldberg Department of Dramatic Writing at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Sarasota’s Ten-Minute Play Festival will feature a Q&A; session with Garrison, who also will serve as one of the fest’s “adjudicators.”

The other three individuals judging the 10-minute plays will be playwright and TV host Gabe Ortiz, founder of the Take Theatre Ensemble for inner-city youth; Blake Walton, who has directed seven plays for Theatre Odyssey and has appeared in award-winning performances at Florida Studio Theatre, and Carolyn Michel, who just completed a sold-out run of “Family Secrets” at the Sarasota Jewish Festival.

Here’s how the festival works: Once the eight plays have been selected, Theatre Odyssey assigns each of them a director,

< Q+A: An impossible dream comes true for ‘Man of La Mancha’ star Mauricio Martínez. 17

FOOD: Matriarchal traditions take center stage in the Mother’s Day ‘Eating With Emma.’ 18 >

Courtesy photo Gary Garrison

Courtesy photos

Above: Valerie LeBlanc stars in KT Curran's “Bridge to the Other Side,” a feature about first responders that has been making the film festival circuit. Below: Director KT Curran attends the opening night of The Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Nov. 4, 2022.

threatened by government cuts, it was obvious that they identified with the film nonetheless.

A reporter attending the Resilient Retreat screening promised to be a fly on the wall, lest any questions act as a trigger for the first responders who watched the film. But it can be observed that the most honest and emotional responses came from older audience members who were retired from protecting the public and, as a result, were not jeopardizing their livelihoods by talking about their feelings.

During a Q&A session after the film, Curran and members of Resilient Retreat’s board, including Chaplain Kelvin Foster, a former firefighter and EMT, discussed the challenges that face first responders and health care professionals following the onslaught of COVID and the stigmatism facing those who reach out for help.

One former firefighter at the Resilient Retreat screening described being led away in handcuffs by the police, who were called to escort him from his firehouse after he told his boss that he was no longer up to the job emotionally.

One of the characters in Curran’s film who contemplates ending it all by jumping off the bridge is a nurse who has lost patients to COVID and feels like a failure because she wasn’t able to save their lives.

Resilient Retreat offers workshops and weekend programs free of charge for first responders and health care professionals who need to recuperate from trauma and strengthen their emotional well-being.

Curran used real actors and places in “Bridge to the Other Side,” which was filmed in and around Sarasota during December 2021. The bridge in “Bridge to the Other Side” is the Ringling Bridge, but the small city in the film is named Sunrise, not Sarasota. The panoramic shots delivered by a drone give the film a high-quality feel that is typically found in a high-end, Hollywood production.

Some of the performers in Curran’s film were real-life responders.

She credits the participation of the Cape Coral Fire Department with helping to make the film a reality.

When Curran started thinking about her script for “Bridge to the Other Side,” she was focused primarily on the daily traumas experienced by public safety and health care professionals.

But with the pandemic, she began hearing more and more about the burnout on the front lines among doctors, nurses and others being overwhelmed by the physical burdens of caring for the sick and dying and the emotional pain of being separated from loved ones to prevent the virus from spreading.

“I knew there was a high level of depression, divorce and other serious issues among our most heroic members of society. But until COVID, I hadn’t realized how much firefighters and police officers can be affected by compassion fatigue,” Curran said. “I wanted to celebrate the efforts of first responders and try to destigmatize mental health issues for them.”

A former actress, Curran is a playwright who has published 20 plays primarily dealing with social issues. She’s also skilled at improvisation, a requirement for any successful independent filmmaker.

Prior to forming the nonprofit Wingspan three years ago, Curran was best known for a 2019 film about high school called “Surviving Lunch.”

Her experience telling the stories of troubled teens shines through in “Bridge to the Other Side,” when Max and Jake answer a call for help at Max’s former school, where a student is distraught because her father has succumbed to COVID.

“Bridge to the Other Side” may be the first feature from Curran’s company, Wingspan Productions, but it is just the latest example of how Curran uses art to educate filmgoers about mental health and break down cultural barriers deterring survivors of abuse and trauma from seeking help.

During the production of “Bridge to the Other Side,” Curran and her cast and crew were caught in the crosshairs of COVID themselves.

Curran thought the coast would be clear when she and her cinematographer Ryan Patrick Dean were scheduled to start shooting the film during the first week of December 2021. But

that’s when the Omnicron variant of COVID hit Sarasota.

“We formed a bubble. We had nurses coming on the set and testing everyone. A magical muse was following us. Nobody tested positive until the end,” Curran recalled.

After eight months of nonstop engagements and travel to support “Bridge from the Other Side,” Curran is ready to take a breather.

After being the recipient of an impromptu birthday party at Resilient Retreat, replete with cupcakes for the audience and one with a candle for Curran, the director drove into Sarasota for a celebration hosted by friends. The next day, she was scheduled to fly to Los Angeles to visit family.

Curran’s not ready to talk about her next project, but she promises it will stay true to Wingspan’s mission, which is nothing less than producing films that “deal with life-altering issues, have high production values and help the world.”

Curran wants to save the world, one film at a time.

In the meantime, her goal is the same as that of every indie filmmaker: maximizing exposure for her production in the hopes of getting a distribution deal of some kind.

CONGRATULATIONS

PLAYS FROM PAGE 15

who does casting and sets up their own rehearsals. But they aren’t allowed to change the words.

A playwright is allowed to attend rehearsals and give notes, but that’s the extent of their involvement in the production.

The plays selected for this year’s Ten-Minute Film Festival are “15 Seconds” (Bruce Karp), “Back to One” (Keith Whalen), “Eternity” (Elan David Garonzik), “In Remembrance” (Michelle Pascua), “Paradise Breakup” (Risa Lewak), “Pity Mourner” (Paul Donnelly), “A Squad of Their Own” (Bethany Dickens Assaf) and “Steam Fog” (John J. Kelly). During Covid, the festival used a radio play format from 202021 but has been back with live performances since last year.

Bille says he expects to fill most of the 160 seats in the Cook Theatre for this year’s festival. He warns that tickets for the Sunday performance will sell out quickly because that’s when the winners are announced and family members attend the festival.

Joseph Antonelli-Pike

David Bailey

Maria Ballesteros

Ashley Balot

Valentina Baretta

Sage Barger

Rachel Benson

Lance Blackwell

Rebekah Bourque

Jacob Burns

Addie Butler

Jordyn Byrd

Peter Carlo

Joseph Carlo

Madeline Carson

Andrew Carter

Jacob Charles

Aidan Cheperka

Owen Clough

Micaela Coluzzi

Matthew Compa

Kyle Cooke

Blakeley Coyne

Cameron Curran

Ella Curran

Marc Dalmau

Taylor Daly

Madelyn Davenport

Olivia Davis

Cameron de Boer

Brennan Dearing

Mallory DeBlauw

Matthew Delzer

Kayla DesJardins

Sawyer DeYoung

Abigail Duplissey

Anna Farley

Abigail Fayette

Cooper Flerlage

Kendall Flury

Trinity Forgét

Erin Galvin

Hayden Garriott

Noah Gregory

Bryanna Gropo

Luke Halfpenny

Zoe Halfpenny

Leah Hamilton

Mason Handloser

Chloe Harpsoe

Celeste Harrell

Gage Hassler

Lucas Hassler

Terry Higgins

Jonathan Howard

Isabella Iglesias

Dylan Ittig

Nathan Johnson

Gabrielle Joyce

Paige Judson

Joseph Jurgielewicz

Charles Justus

Jessica Kaszubski

Kate Kochis

Sally Koscho

Amy Kurinets

Carter Lambert

Sean Laureano

Justina Lekaj

Alexander Liebel

Finley Linehan

Ophelia Linger

Mallory Lumpkin

Jack MacKinnon

Matthew Maloni

Scott Martz Jr.

Luca Mascaro

Thomas Matt

Michaela Mattes

Simon Maun

Joseph McCoy

Erin McCusker

Liam McDonough

Sofia McFadden

Stuart McFall

Andrew Mellon

Macy Meshad

Pearson Miller

Taylor Milligan

Annika Miltenberger

Allie Moore

Christina Mroczkowski

Luke Nelson

Cade Norman

Austin Olander

Easton Olthoff

Sydney Opstal

Anna Page

Malcome Paine

Christopher Palmer

Nathaniel Parker

Mary Patterson

Perla Pelegrin-Santos

Alyssa Prima

Michael Ramsamooj

Zachary Redgrave

Connor Reindel

Niti Romeri

James Rosenberg

Mariclare Ruben

Katherine Ruona

Taden Russell

Giulia Saccani

Cecilia Sanchez

Ella Schaefer

Christopher Schultz

Norah Secord

“Sign Here” was the winner of last year’s festival.

IF YOU GO

When: 7:30 p.m. May 11-13, 2 p.m. on May 14

Where: Jane B. Cook Theatre, FSU/Asolo Center for the Performing Arts

Tickets: $29

Info: Visit TheatreOdyssey.org.

Aiden Shea

Ava Shields

Gracie Simons

Bianca Smith

Grace Smith

Rhiann Soucek

Tyler Stonebridge

Peyton Strand

Nathan Sutthoff

Daniel Taylor

Caroline Teto

Garrett Towsley

Caroline Troiano

Anne Van Pelt

Madison Vavra

Mariela Via-Reque

Caryn Violette

Harrington Waldrip

Nathan Weitzner

Peyton White

Ryon White

Randy Wilson Jr.

Piper Yeagley

Michael Yencik

CMHS

CMHS

Director KT Curran on the set of the film “Bridge to the Other Side,” which was filmed in and around Sarasota in December 2021.

Courtesy photos

‘Man of La Mancha’ is a dream come true for Mauricio Martínez

The noted Latino actor/singer stars in Asolo Rep’s twist on the classic Don Quixote musical.

MARTY FUGATE CONTRIBUTOR

Mauricio Martínez is a dreamer. He’s also a versatile actor/singer with an enviable track record in Mexico and the U.S. He’s appeared in plays, musicals, concerts, films and television in both countries — and released two Latin pop albums in his spare time. He’s earned a shelf full of awards, including a Mexican Emmy.

None of those honors came easily. Martínez is a fighter, though his easygoing nature makes that easy to miss. He fought cancer and won — four times. His creative quest now continues in the U.S.  Martínez is fiercely proud of his Mexican heritage. His fighting spirit is part of it; his impossible dreams are, too. Those dreams are what drive him. Many became realities.

His dream of playing Don Quixote remained impossible for decades. But it recently came true. “Man of La Mancha” is coming to the Asolo Rep stage. Martínez will bring the musical’s quixotic hero to life. He’s one dreamer playing another. And he was happy to share what that means to him.

“Man of La Mancha” takes many twists and turns. What’s the heart of the story?

In the musical, it’s the story that the old Don Quixote tells in a prison. It begins in his younger days, when he was a country squire named Alonso Quixano. He’s very literate and he reads romantic novels from dawn

to dusk. Alonso gets lost in dreams of knights and daring deeds in the Middle Ages. He wants to live in those dreams. Alonso wants to turn back time — to a golden age that never existed. Yes, exactly. Alonso decides to bring back the age of chivalry. So, he reinvents himself as “Don Quixote,” a knight-errant who longs to be a knight. To prove himself worthy, he goes on a quest to battle the forces of evil and right all the wrongs in this world. Unfortunately, Don Quixote lives in a dream world, not the real world. He doesn’t see things as they are. He thinks windmills are giants. Yes. Don Quixote is missing a few marbles upstairs. In his heart, he’s still a heroic, noble soul and one of the greatest characters in all of literature.

How’d he wind up in a Broadway musical?

That’s very, very complicated. You want the short version?

That’d be great. OK … In 1605, Miguel de Cervantes wrote “Don Quixote” — one of the greatest stories of all time. In 1959, Dale Wasserman adapted his beautiful epic novel as a beautiful teleplay. In 1965, Mitch Leigh and Joe Darion added music and lyrics, and turned it into “Man of La Mancha.”

The musical we all know and love. Yes. And it deserves our love! It has some of the most unforgettable songs in Broadway musical theater history. I sang them as a teenager while studying musical theater in New York City. Those songs have really stood the test of

time. I feel so honored to be singing them again as an adult in my time. What do you love about this musical? What’s the hard part?

I love so much about it … the language, the poetry, the story and the courage it gives you to dream. And “La Mancha” has so many great characters. But Don Quixote is my favorite. I love him. But he’s not so easy to play. I’m on stage for most of the time without taking a break.

I play the same person — but it’s like playing three different characters. In “La Mancha,” Don Quixote is a younger man, a middle-aged man and an old man. That’s all me. So, I literally transform myself in front of the audience. I bounce back and forth in time, shift accents, change costumes. The role is also physically demanding. I wrestle with giants and windmills, get thrown off the stage, wave my sword and ride a horse. Don Quixote’s language is also very flowery and Shakespearean. For an actor, his dialogue is tough to speak. If you don’t get it right, you sound unnatural or phony.

You’ve played gangsters, scientists and Mayan priests. What inspired you to play Don Quixote?

Because it’s always been my dream.

I’m not alone. For any Latino musical performer, Don Quixote is the role of a lifetime. In American musical theater, there are few iconic Spanish characters and very few leading roles for male performers with a Spanish heritage. Right now, Molina from “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” Ché from “Evita,” and Bernardo from “West Side Story” are the only ones I can think of. But Don Quixote will always be the most iconic Spanish hero.

What are your favorite songs in this musical?

All of them.  But “Impossible Dream” is my absolute favorite.

What else could it be?

Is “Man of La Mancha” still relevant in 2023?

I think it’s more relevant than ever.

The world of today can kill your dreams. You go on Twitter or just open the newspaper — and there’s war, racism, homophobia, exploitation, climate change. It’s all so hopeless and depressing. It’s so easy to give up.

Nothing to be done. Don Quixote wouldn’t agree. He didn’t give up. He wanted to inspire people to see the world as it should be. He was crazy enough to try to change the world. That’s a good kind of crazy.

What’s Director Peter Rothstein’s take on this musical?

“Man of La Mancha” is a beautiful dream. Peter honors that dream. But he’s reimagined it with a brilliant creative choice. The original musical is set in 1605. And Don Quixote tells his story in a Spanish prison. Rothstein shifts it forward to 2023. Don Quixote is now in a modern Ameri-

can detention center — and surrounded by “Dreamers” (immigrants brought to the U.S. as children who have been caught in an American regulatory battle). He tells the same story — but you see it with new eyes. It’s so amazingly relevant and timely. What’s your advice to any readers with impossible dreams?

“Man of La Mancha” dares you to dream. Your dream may be impossible today. In the future, your dream may come true. I know that from my own experience. I’m a Mexican immigrant, and I’m living the American Dream. I’ve also found acceptance for my gay orientation. That’s been an impossible dream for centuries around the world. Impossible dreams do come true!

IF YOU GO

‘MAN OF LA MANCHA’

When: May 13 through June 11

Where: FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail

Tickets: $33-$93

Info: Visit AsoloRep.org.

Courtesy photo

Mauricio Martínez stars in "Man of La Mancha," which opens May 13 at the Asolo Rep and runs through June 11.

Mangia with Your Mama

feeling we locals get when we spy multiple parking spots in multiple quadrants on St. Armands Circle. That’s why I know Mimi would be walking into Speaks with coiffed hair, pink lipstick and dressed to the nines ordering the shrimp cocktail ($12). This appetizer is served in a chic martini glass with savory cocktail sauce tucked beneath each deliciously chilled crustacean. I can see her smile between each bite — because ladies never talk, or smile, with their mouth full.

Cat Mom’s Choice: Next up, sweet treats. Any mama on a “I’m watching what I eat” diet can devour these delicate dessert shooters free of any guilt. Options include four flavors: tiramisu, deconstructed peanut butter pie, chocolate hazelnut mousse and key lime. There are also two rotating flavors of Oreo cheesecake and strawberry cheesecake. But why stop at one flavor when you can get an entire desert flight? No one should count calories on Mother’s Day.

MICHAEL’S ON EAST

1212 S. East Ave., Sarasota; 941-366-0007, BestFood.com

Just in time for Mother’s Day, here’s an ode to the favorite restaurants of my family’s matriarchs.

My mom is my best friend.

While it wasn’t always that way (high school hormones, boyfriends of yore monopolizing my free time, moving nonstop to evolve, etc.), at 26 I learned that I couldn’t go a day without talking to my mom.

Whether it’s a text asking how the dogs are handling another Connecticut winter, an hourlong Facetime discussing the weather and my outdoor plants or a too-long-toadmit phone call to ask whether my latest ailment is normal — Amy and I are in constant communication.

My mother was taught how to be a strong soul by her mother, Barbara, my late Mimi. I would not be writing these words without their guidance, compassion and love.

So on Mother’s Day, I wanted to share the matriarchs’ favorite restaurants. Since our family started coming to Longboat Key in 1974, we’ve eaten at a place or two over the years. Here are three tasty spots where you should mangia with your mama

TOASTED MANGO CAFÉ

430 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, 941-388-7728; 6621 Midnight Pass Road, Sarasota, 941-5526485, ToastedMangoCafe.com

According to Amy: My mom has recently added this diner destination to her must-stop-eats after dining here the day after our hurricane wedding. Order up! French toast ($9.99) and an iced tea ($3.29) for Amy, who has officially entered her sweet tooth era. Seriously, if the Mango was open for dinner, you’d find my mom snacking on French toast as an evening entrée. Before embarking on her you-only-liveonce eating habits, my mother typically ordered two eggs sunnyside up with a side of Rye toast. Now, she lights up like the Ringling Bridge at sunset when she even hears the words, “French toast.” She might even swap out the iced tea for a mimosa ($10.99) depending on her sun-seeker mood.

A Bite for Barbara: Mimi wasn’t a huge breakfast gal, but she loved a classic bowl o’ oats or yogurt. She would have either ordered the slowcooked homemade oatmeal (cup, $5.29 or bowl, $6.99) and added seasonal fruit or nuts for $2 or the breakfast banana split ($11.99). No chocolate or ice cream with this split but rather yogurt with strawberries, blueberries, mango sliced

banana and granola crumbles. While these light breakfast offerings would get Mimi in the door, it’s the fact that the Toasted Mango Cafe is a dog-friendly eatery and that alone would get her to sit — and stay for a while.

Cat Mom’s Choice: Count me among millennials that, if given the chance, would give birth to fur babies. Taking care of two 20-pound dog-like cats makes me a mom, too, so I’ve included myself in this Mother’s Day extravaganza. My pick pulls in the greatness of my mom’s go-to, but adds fresh mango, house toasted coconut (to die for!) and real whipped cream for Toasted Mango French toast ($12.99). The bread is fluffy, the powdered sugar is the muse all nonsavory breakfast food items should be seeking and the fresh fruit makes you feel fitish. Skip the syrup when slurping up this bountiful breakfast creation because it’s sensational as is and a sweet start to any day!

SPEAKS CLAM BAR

29 N. Boulevard of the Presidents, Sarasota; 941-232-7633, 8764 State Road 70 E., Lakewood Ranch; 941232-7646, SpeaksClamBar.com

According to Amy: “One order of broccoli rabe and sausage rigatoni” ($18) are eight words my mother says at least once every time she is in town. Who can blame her? If this mouthwatering meal wasn’t her top choice, it certainly would be mine.

A trifecta of ingredients makes the house-made rigatoni rather remarkable. The mild sausage leaves subtle sweet notes and hints of heat, the bites of broccoli rabe are bitter yet buttery and the cream sauce is so luscious that you’ll want to keep it in your fridge. (My mom does because it’s available for purchase.) Gluten-free pasta is also an option. You dairy-free peeps can ask for oil instead of cream and each bite is just as iconic.

A Bite for Barbara: During the summer, Mimi would drive over and sit on our porch with a plate of shrimp, my mother’s homemade cocktail sauce and Dewar’s on the rocks. I remember watching simple happiness overcome her — that

According to Amy: My mom used to go to The Colony with her parents, then with my father and then her girlfriends on weekend getaways for years. In fact, I had my first adult-style piña colada to go with my mom on our way to SRQ airport when we had a girls’ trip of our own. So, when she saw that Michael’s On East had the Colony snapper ($58) on the menu, I watched her travel back in time to the days both her parents danced around the Monkey Bar — the same bar where my mother accused one of the Beach Boys of stealing her purse. But I digress. The snapper is superbly stacked with lump crabmeat that melts in your mouth instantly, basil and sun-dried tomato beurre blanc, sweet potato planks that I wish were part of every meal and haricots vert that elevate your foodie senses in all the best ways.

A Bite for Barbara: My grandmother knew what she liked: singing in church on Sundays, picking the pink and purple hydrangeas that bloomed outside her kitchen window and being in the front row at her grandkids’ extracurricular activities. But truth be told, she loved a rare steak. I’m sure she would have loved what’s served by Michael’s. The USDA Prime New York Strip, 14 oz. (Market Price) is hand-cut, handpicked and aged a minimum of 25 days. Don’t miss adding sides like the roasted Brussels sprouts, Molly’s truffled mac and cheese and creamed spinach.

Cat Mom Choice: Do I mention the magnificent Mezze spread appetizer with spicy Greek feta? Do I showcase Michael’s seasonal salad with fantastic figs? Do I choose the Chilean sea bass with lemon lobster risotto? All great, but one thing reigns supreme. No one makes an Espresso Martini ($17) like Michael’s. Mixed with Smirnoff vanilla vodka, dark crème de cacao, Kahlua, espresso and finished with a chocolate/sugar rim. You can find me sipping these dangerously delicious drinks any day Tuesday through Saturday at the piano bar around 6:30 p.m. while enjoying the sounds of the talented Joe Micals.

Treat Your Mom: Michael’s is hosting a brunch buffet on Mother’s Day, May 14, at 10:30 a.m. in its ballroom. For $84.95/adults and $44.95/kids, enjoy salads, omelet, pancake and carving stations, an endless dessert display and more. Plus mimosas and bloody mary’s!

To mothers who have lost children and to those who have lost their mother, to the foster moms and the stepmoms, to the not-yet moms and the fur baby mamas, to the single moms and new moms and to my mom and all the other moms out there — I hope you treat yourself or get treated to one, if not all, of these three tasty spots.  Happy Mother’s Day.

Colony snapper ($58) takes my mom right back to her day at the Monkey Bar. Courtesy photo

EMMA JOLLY CONTRIBUTOR

Emma Jolly

My mom has been eating at, I mean coming down to, Longboat Key since 1974.

Emma Jolly

Toasted Mango French toast ($12.99) with powdered sugar — a muse all nonsavory breakfast food items should be eyeing.

Courtesy photo Little dessert shooters at Speaks are sweet treats sans guilt.

THIS WEEK

FRIDAY

‘BLACK WOMEN IN OUR COLLECTIVE CULTURE’

6:30 p.m. at Hermitage Beach (entrance at 6660 Manasota Key Road, Englewood)

$5 per person. Registration required Visit HermitageArtistRetreat.org.

Two acclaimed Hermitage Fellows – visual artist Delita Martin and author Imani Perry – have a common goal: redefining the role and representation of Black women.

SPRING SHOWCASE WITH GIUSEPPINA CARLA

7 p.m. at Sarasota Contemporary Dance, 1400 Boulevard of the Arts

$20; students with ID $10 Visit SarasotaContemporaryDance. org.

Sarasota Contemporary Dance’s InStudio Series serves as an incubator for artists at different stages in their career. This performance features a harpist and dancers. Continues Friday and Saturday.

ABBY POSNER + BABYL

8 p.m. at Fogartyville, 525 Kumquat Court

$15 members; $18; $9 students Visit WSLR.org/Fogartyville.

Abby Posner is best known for her ability to play nearly any instrument that she can get her hands on and pushing the definitions of folk, roots, electronic, and pop music, making her “genre fluid.”

SATURDAY

CELEBRATING YOUNG TALENT

3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Sarasota, 2050 Oak St. Free Visit SarasotaMusicClub.org.

Six talented Suncoast Music Scholarship 2023 winners will perform a free concert to celebrate their earning a music scholarship. The young musicians selected to receive scholarships will be featured in voice, piano, violin, cello, flute and French horn performances.

PRIDE: BE FABULOUS FESTIVAL

3 p.m. at Fogartyville, 525 Kumquat Court Free Visit FabAF.org.

For over a decade the Pride: Be Fabulous Festival has been known as the Harvey Milk Festival. It recently changed its name to provide greater support for the LGBTQ+ community. As in previous years, the 13th edition of the fest includes arts and music.

TOM JONES: AGES & STAGES TOUR

7:30 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail Regularly priced tickets are sold out, but private vendors have seats available online.

Visit VanWezel.org.

With a career spanning over 50 years, Tom Jones has recorded enduring hits such as “It’s Not Unusual,” “Kiss,” “Delilah” and “What’s New Pussycat?” and more. The Welshman continues to garner critical acclaim with the release of his 2022 album, “Surrounded By Time,” his latest collaboration with producer Ethan Johns.

DISCOVERIES: ‘MUSICAL

POSTCARDS’

7:30 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave.

$32-$70

Visit SarasotaOrchestra.org.

Sarasota Orchestra’s final concert of the season takes listeners on a whirlwind journey guided by guest conductor Joseph Young. Villa-Lobos traces connections between the German composer J.S. Bach and the music of Brazil in his “Bachianas Brasileiras.” Korean guitarist Bokyung

Byun brings Joaquín Rodrigo’s “Concierto de Aranjuez” to life, while Mendelssohn’s vacation to Italy spawned his joyful “Italian” Symphony.

SUNDAY STILL FRIENDS

2 p.m. at Fogartyville, 525 Kumquat Court

$15 members

Visit WSLR.org/Fogartyville.

On Mother’s Day, why not treat mom to a performance by Still Friends, an acoustic group that combines strong songwriting with elements of folk, rock, bluegrass, jazz and soul?

VIOLA ROYALE

4 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 2050 Oak St. $40 Visit ArtistSeriesConcerts.org.

Brothers Paul and Steven Laraia are both world-class violists. Paul is with the Grammy Award-winning Catalyst String Quartet, while Steven is with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, having previously been principal violist of the Sarasota Orchestra. Their program features music by composers who played the viola, including a viola quintet by Mozart..

‘CINDERELLA’

4 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail

$27-$86

Visit VanWezel.org.

Professional dancers and students of the International Ballet of Florida will perform the timeless classic “Cinderella.” IBF welcomes principal guest artists from the National Ballet of Ukraine, Lithuanian Ballet, Dance Alive National Ballet and more.

THE TEENYBOPPERS TEEN IMPROV TROUPE

7:30 p.m. at Venice Theatre’s Raymond Center, 140 Tampa Ave. W., Venice $15

Visit VeniceTheatre.org.

Members of the 2023 edition of The Teenyboppers include Delaney Lockwood, Hannah Randi, Haley Fadley, Julia Whittaker and Anika Hulshoff. They are directed by Natalia Mock.

‘ANNIE KIDS’ PENGUIN PLAYERS

7:30 p.m. at Manatee Performing Arts Center, Third Avenue W., Bradenton

$11.50-$20

Visit ManateePerformingArtsCenter. com.

This adaptation of the Tony Awardwinning musical follows little orphan Annie as she searches for the parents who left her years ago at an orphanage. Continues Monday.

TUESDAY BEHIND THE CURTAIN: EXPLORING THE VAN WEZEL FROM THE ART TO THE STAGE

1:30 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail $15

Visit ArtsAdvocates.org.

In this two-part tour, a docent will guide you through the paintings and sculptures within the Van Wezel on loan from Arts Advocates. And that’s just the beginning of the show!

OUR PICK

MIKE PARAMORE

A featured comedian on FOX’s hit show

DON’T

MISS

‘THE CONCERT: A TRIBUTE TO ABBA’

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 11, at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail Tickets: $52-$72

Info: Visit VanWezel. org.

“The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA” will present the Swedish superstar group’s most iconic hits, including “Mamma Mia,” “Waterloo” and “Dancing Queen.”

“Laughs,” Mike Paramore has performed at the Just for Laughs Festival and the Cleveland Comedy Festival. He was the winner of Laughing Devil Festival in New York City, the Laugh Fest’s Best in the Midwest competition and the Best of the Fest Big Pine Comedy Festival. Runs through May 21.

IF YOU GO

When: 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 17 through May 21

Where: McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd.

Tickets: $25 Info: Visit McCurdysComedy.com.

Courtesy photo

“The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA” will feature the Swedish supergroup’s iconic hits May 11 at the Van Wezel.

Mauricio Martinez in Asolo Rep’s Man of La Mancha

Photo SRQ Headshots.

YOUR NEIGHBORS

FORGOTTEN HISTORY

Longboat author Al ‘Mifflin’ Lowe celebrates unsung historical figures in children’s books.

Children’s book author and Longboat resident Al “Mifflin” Lowe’s best review wasn’t published.

“A mother once came up to me and told me that she read one of my books, ‘The Cuddle Book,’ to her son, who wanted her to read it every night to him. Then her son told her that he wanted to take that book in the shower with him so he could read it in there. Can you get a better review than that?” said Lowe.

Lowe has written 13 books over the years. After publishing “True West” in 2020, a book about builders and heroes that shaped the American West, the success led to another historical book.

Lowe’s most recent book, “Forgotten Founders,”  was published last year, and he’s working on two more.

“I wrote (‘Forgotten Founders’) because it’s important. Before starting my research for the book, I confess I didn’t know much about the women and people of color who were part of the American Revolution. Make no mistake. They were not historical footnotes. These men and women were brave patriots,” said Lowe. “The point of this book was not to rewrite history or dismiss the people long known as our Founding Fathers, who were brilliant, courageous and justifiably famous, but to broaden our perspective and celebrate those who have yet to be sufficiently recognized. It’s about honesty and accuracy.”

The hardbound book features Sybil Ludington, who rode 40 miles to warn American colonists about British soldiers, and Cuffee Wells Saunders, who rose from slavery to become a respected physician, and many others.

“The contradictions, the gaps between the ideal and the reality, are what make these stories all the more compelling to me.”

WRITING ON THE SIDE

Lowe started his professional career as a creative director for an advertising agency.

“Very few people want to be advertising writers,” said Lowe. “I was always thinking about other projects.”

Lowe has won several awards for his work in the advertising field, including One Show, British Design and Art Direction, Cannes and Clio.

“I’ve been able to write since the seventh grade. I had a paper I needed to write for school, and after finishing it, I was so tired. My teacher thought my mother wrote it, and that’s when I knew I could write,” said Lowe.

“Beast by the Bunches,” which was published in 1983, was his first book.

Lowe owned his own jingle company for four years in Rhode Island, but at the time, he had been writing and freelancing on the side.  He was told breaking into the world of writing children’s books was going to be tough.

“I didn’t quit. I actually wrote music for ‘Beast by the Bunches,’ too, which I performed with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra and the Missouri Symphony,” said Lowe.

Lowe’s love of the arts eventually inspired him to move to Sarasota in 2012, because he loved the culture

and community — where he’s since become a member of the Bird Key Yacht Club.

CLOSE CALLS

Along with writing books, jingles and music, Lowe has written two short stories, “Adam on Eve” and “American Jugs.” One short story, yet to be published, still sits on his shelf. Asked why he hasn’t published “Tin Windows,” Lowe looked out onto the bay.

“It’s my wife’s favorite story. I write for style and humor, and this one is different,” said Lowe.

When Lowe was 8 years old, he lived in Philadelphia. He was out with some friends, playing on a warm August afternoon. They were nearly abducted in broad daylight.

“We got away, but if we hadn’t run, who knows what could have happened. (‘Tin Windows’ is) a fictionalized version of what actually happened,” said Lowe.

Lowe’s biggest regret as a writer was turning down the opportunity to appear on Oprah Winfrey’s show for his book, “The Cheapskate’s Handbook,” which was originally published in 1992 and sold more than 230,000 copies in several languages.

This was before Oprah launched her book club.

A mother’s love is forever Happy Mother’s Day from our family to yours

“Her producers called me on a Monday around 2 p.m. and asked if I could be in Chicago on Tuesday from Rhode Island. I would have had to scramble to make flying arrangements, and I asked, ‘tomorrow?’ I ended up telling them I couldn’t do it. I was doing ‘Drive Time Radio’ at the time,” said Mifflin. “That was the biggest professional mistake of my life.”

Lowe has another unfinished project, this one on the lighter side, that he’d love to see come to fruition.

Lowe hopes to see “Cowboy Howie,” a self-published picture book, become an animated film.

“I’ve written a script for it. The illustrator for the book version, Martina Crepulja, who is terrific, graduated from the Ringling College of Art and Design,” he said.

In the meantime, Lowe is working on a book called, “50 Famous Artists Every Child (and Adult) Should Know,” which will be released in September of this year.

Lowe said he writes constantly and has never had writer’s block.

He explained that he creates a world that captivates young readers and then simply writes it down.

“It’s just so cool to see kids having fun with my work,” said Lowe.

BY THE BOOK

“Isn’t it nice to curl up and cuddle and melt down inside like a big, muddy puddle?”

SIDRA WALI CONTRIBUTOR

Author Al “Mifflin” Lowe recently published “Forgotten Founders.”

Photo by Sidra Wali

Pen Women award scholarships to area high schoolers

Students won scholarships for their art, music and writing. SIDRA WALI CONTRIBUTOR

The Sarasota Chapter of the National League of American Pen Women awarded scholarships to 11 students from area high schools at a luncheon on April 26 at the Bird Key Yacht Club.

Students from Booker, North Port, Pine View, Southeast, Sarasota and Manatee School of Fine Arts high schools accepted their awards from the Pen Women.

“This is our 36th year doing this,” said Wilma Davidson, director of the Sarasota chapter of Pen Women.

Davidson explained that the award program started with Betty Altman, who was an art member for 30 years. She served for 16 years as the chair for the award program and after she died, her children continued supporting the program.

“This is our biggest outreach with over 17 high schools (submitting candidates) in Sarasota and Manatee counties,” said Davidson. “There are three categories for the awards, which are music, letters and art. The awards are judged based on the quality of the work, and we’ve also invited teachers from the students’ high schools as well.”

The NLAPW was founded in 1897 when women journalists were not permitted to join men’s-only organizations and press clubs.

Twenty years before women were granted the right to vote, a group of 17 women who were writers, artists and composers, poets and teachers gathered together to start the professional organization where they could be recognized for their talents.

Eleanor Roosevelt, Vinnie Ream, Eudora Welty and Pearl Buck are just a few of the women that were part of the NLAPW.

There are more than 1,600 members across the nation with over 80 branches spread out across the

country.

“This is the oldest women’s art organization in the United States and it’s not just limited to writers, musicians, and artists. There are sculptors, dancers, choreographers, and film directors that make up the organization. Our branch here in Sarasota was founded in 1957, and Florida has the most branches,” said Davidson.

At the luncheon, after the awards were handed out, students performed or showcased the work that won them the award.

“It’s a bit of a performance luncheon where the students played their music, the letter winners read their writing out loud and the art winners displayed their work at the front for members and friends,” said Davidson.

Polly Curran, art chair, explained the importance of the NLAPW award program.

“It all centers around creativity for the students and their futures. We’re honored to help in launching them in whatever endeavor they choose,” said Curran.

Danae Tran, music winner, performed her piece at the luncheon.

“My music is violin and piano together; it’s inspired by the classical period,” said Tran. “I feel absolutely amazing because I feel that I’m able to express my music to a community that supports the arts.”

Kalie Martin, winner of the ABC Books Special Award, read aloud her fiction interpretation of the day she got her ferret.

“Planning what to write took awhile, but writing it actually took less than 30 minutes,” said Martin. “It’s a positive interpretation and uplifting story.”

Alanna Hutton, winner of the Betty Altman Special Awards, showcased her painting called “American Toys.”

“It was part of my AP art portfolio centering around cultural and social issues. It took about 30 hours to finish.”

Another winner of the Betty Altman Special Award, Gabriela Sanchez-Gomez, explained how she

THE WINNERS

ART Betty Altman Award of Excellence

n Samantha Tanelli

found inspiration for her painting.

“My piece is based on the narrative acne of Soupy and his band in Cortez Village in 2016,” said SanchezGomez. “I met him a few weeks ago at a community picnic, and he and his band signed my work.”

Samantha Tanelli is the winner of the Betty Altman Award of Excellence for her painting, “The Cat and the Monkey.”

“My work is based on stories, folklore and fables centered around animals,” said Tanelli.

Many students shared the sentiment of tremendous support in their creative pursuits because of the award program, which inspires them to create even more.

“I think it’s important to be recognized for your talents at a young age,” said Davidson.

Betty Altman Special Award

n Jaden Osborne

n Gabriela Sanchez-Gomez

n Mehak Sandhu

n Alanna Hutton

MUSIC

2023 Music Winner

n Danae Tran

LETTERS

Cornelia T Bailey Award of Excellence

n Pailey Riesgo

Cornelia T Bailey Special Award

n Liv Doura

n Aleksandra Masiulis

ABC Books Special Award

n Kalie Martin

Anonymous Donor Special Award

n Ocean Bruinius

JUNE 29

Photo by Sidra Wali Danae Tran, Kalie Martin, Jaden Osborne, Alanna Hutton, Gabriela SanchezGomez, Liv Doura, Mehak Sandhu, Aleksandra Masiulis, Ocean Bruinius, Pailey Riesgo, Samantha Tanelli

SIDRA WALI CONTRIBUTOR

Mother’s Day is an occasion to honor the women in your life and show appreciation for all they have done and continue to do.

The Longboat Key Club will ensure it’s the place to do just that when it holds special brunches for the holiday on May 14 at the Harbourside Ballroom and Latitude restaurant.

The ballroom will be elegantly decorated with floral arrangements, and members can expect to see a lavish spread of traditional favorites and gourmet dishes.

“That day, we’ll probably feed about 1,700 people,” said Bob Weil, food and beverage director. “Mother’s Day is interesting because it’s catered to our year-round members.”

Weil explained the restaurants on the 470-acre property will also be featuring Mother’s Day specials for its members.

“We’ll have a very large buffet menu with cracked crab, shrimp, oyster, cheese boards and 10 or more composed salads,” said Weil. “We’ll of course have smoked meats and fish, pastries, bloody marys and mimosas.”

The Longboat Key Club is known for its impeccable service and attention to detail, explained Weil.

Mother’s Day brunch is no exception.

“It takes a myriad of people to make this happen. We’re fortunate because we have a very engaged membership, and we’re glad to provide services and events like this,” said Weil. “It’s the camaraderie between our staff. Some of our staff members are mothers, and we recognize that they are away from their family when they’re

working that day. The camaraderie shows. The staff very much want to take care of people.”

Weil explained that in total, 350 events are held at the Longboat Key Club for its members.

“While Mother’s Day is important, it’s just as important to us as a tennis or golf event or Valentine’s Day. They’re all important because it allows access for members to utilize their club fully,” said Weil. “For me, I’ve been doing this for 22 years, and it’s about seeing the grandkids growing up to become adults and bringing their children to the events we hold here.”

The brunch at Harbourside Ballroom will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the brunch at Latitude will be held from 8 a.m. to noon.

Weil, food and beverage director at the Longboat Key

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KEY

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’Vettes take over circle

Corvette show dazzles on St. Armands Circle on Saturday.

Cherry reds, banana yellows and tropical blues sparkled on the green lawn of St. Armands Circle on May 6 for the 25th annual Corvettes on the Circle car show.

It was another near-capacity turnout with 174 Corvettes on display, explained Allen Harmsen, vice president and show chairman for host Skyway Corvette Club of Sarasota and Manatee counties.

The beautiful weather was a key component to drawing the large crowd of car owners and spectators. The brightly polished Corvettes had nothing to fear from above, with hardly a cloud in the sky.

The show awarded a number of prizes, including Best by Corvette Generation, Club Participation, Best of Show and Skyway Corvette Club Favorite. The award statuettes are modeled after the Unconditional Surrender statue on Sarasota’s bayfront. This year, the awards were painted silver to commemorate the car show’s 25th anniversary.

The cars on display spanned every decade of the vehicle’s history from the 1950s onward.

“It’s the largest Corvette-only show on the west coast of Florida,” said Harmsen. “And the most scenic.”

Harmsen explained that most car shows are held in parking lots.

“This is the big show,” said Paul A. Budick, a Bradenton resident and owner of a 1962 Corvette convertible.

His silver ride is one of the rarest Corvettes, because it features a golden grille on its front end.

Budick explained that only 50 Corvettes were factory produced that had the combination of a highhorsepower engine and the golden grille. Of those 50, only a handful are around today. Budick said that many have likely been destroyed in wrecks or were mistreated.

Budick has owned the car for 42 years after buying it from a friend. Budick said that it’s hard to find fuel for his classic car. Thanks to its powerful engine, the Corvette with the golden grille requires high-octane racing fuel, to the tune of $9 per gallon.

While the event was free for

visitors, proceeds from the Corvettes’ registration fees and the event will be donated to The Honor Flight of West Central Florida, as has been the case for the past eight years. The nonprofit flies World War II veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit the war memorials that honor their service. Harmsen said that the Skyway Corvette Club show has sponsored 30 World War II veterans so far.

JAMES PETER MANAGING EDITOR

James Peter

Paul A. Budick, of Bradenton, shows off his rare 1962 Corvette convertible, complete with its original golden grille.

DJ Johnson, from Apollo Beach, poses next to his 2021 C8 Corvette.

David Baxter, from Sarasota, stands next to his 1959 Corvette.

Photos by Sidra Wali

Outrigger Lane home tops this week’s sales at $7 million

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

Ahome in Country Club Shores tops

all transactions in this week’s real estate. Eric Van Severen, trustee, of Davenport, Iowa, sold the home at 596 Outrigger Lane to Michael and Christine Ellis, of Longboat Key, for $6,995,000. Built in 2004, it has six bedrooms, six-and-a-half baths, a pool and 5,892 square feet of living area. It sold for $3.8 million in 2019.

COREY’S LANDING

Sherry Winn Howell, trustee, of Nashville, Tennessee, sold the home at 3482 Mistletoe Lane to Scott Yinger and Emily Yinger, trustees, of Potomac, Maryland, for $3.05 million. Built in 1989, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,323 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.75 million in 2013.

THE PIERRE

David and Linda Hargreaves, of Sarasota, sold their Unit 603 condominium at 455 Longboat Club Road to Marika Tsigounis, trustee, of Cresskill, New Jersey, for $2.2 million. Built in 1990, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,470 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.65 million in 2005.

VEINTE

Peter and Ellen Zane, of Hingham, Massachusetts, sold their Unit 502 condominium at 2675 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Finances Made Simple LLC for $2.05 million. Built in 1979, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,896 square feet of living area. It sold for $985,000 in 2018.

THE TIDES OF LONGBOAT

Laura Wellington, Richard Baller and Monica Wellington, trustees, of Longboat Key, sold the Unit 302 condominium at 5555 Gulf of Mexico Drive to John Hantz,

This home, with six bedrooms and six-and-a-half baths, at 596 Outrigger Lane on Longboat

trustee, of Southfield, Michigan, for $1,725,000. Built in 1980, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 1,828 square feet of living area. It sold for $390,00 in 1996.

COUNTRY CLUB SHORES

Anne Marsland Fousse, of London, England, sold her home at 542 Ranger Lane to Robert Clarke Harris and Sharon Marie Harris, of Longboat Key, for $1,699,000. Built in 1965, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,649 square feet of living area. It sold for $700,000 in 2013.

THE WATER CLUB AT LONGBOAT KEY

David and Nicole Maus, trustees, of Odessa, sold the Unit PH08 condominium at 1241 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Minnelli Family 1241 GOM LLC for $4.6 million. Built in 1996, it has four bedrooms, four baths and 2,965 square feet of living area. It sold for $4,385,000 in 2022.

LONGBOAT SHORES

Mary Dwyer, of Wilton, Connecticut, sold her home at 621 Buttonwood Drive to Vito Paul Giannini and Matthew Pifer, of Longboat Key, for $1,625,000. Built in 1967, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,530 square feet of living area. It sold for $599,900 in 2003.

TOP BUILDING PERMITS

QUEEN’S HARBOUR

Marcia Bardos, of White Plains, New York, sold her home at 3637 Fair Oaks Place to LBK Theiss Holdings LLC for $1.35 million. Built in 1999, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,724 square feet of living area. It sold for $920,000 in 2002.

THE SHORE Andy Weiland and Lisa Weiland, trustees, of Jacksonville, sold the Unit 307 condominium at 5757 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Anthony Valencia and Mary Justin, trustees, of Santa Rosa, California, for $1.2 million. Built in 1974, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,561 square feet of living area. It sold for $550,000 in 2011.

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

APRIL 24-28

BAY HARBOUR APARTMENTS

Kathleen Wingate, of Longboat

Key, sold their Unit 206 condominium at 448 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Jason Heckendorn and Meghan Minnehan, of Longboat Key, for $805,000. Built in 1970, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,250 square feet of living area. It sold for $700,000 in 2022.

FIRST LONGBOAT HARBOUR

Joyce Bowers, trustee, of Orlando, sold the Unit 101 condominium at 4310 Falmouth Drive to Samuel Yudkin and Denise Simmer, of Bellaire, Texas, for $705,000. Built in 1969, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 1,092 square feet of living area. It sold for $345,000 in 2018.

Linda Scott, trustee, of Englewood, sold the Unit 308 condominium at 4360 Chatham Drive to Robert Jeff and Ellen Jeff, trustees, of Whitesboro, New York, for $555,000. Built in 1969, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 1,316 square feet of living area.

LONGBOAT HARBOUR

LONGBEACH VILLAGE John and Ann Marie Iwanicki, of Tampa, sold their Unit 21 condominium at 7175 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Andrew and Janet Aronson, of N. Falmouth, Massachusetts, for $1.11 million. Built in 1974, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,170 square feet of living area. It sold for $200,000 in 1988.

David and Gretchen Bowker, of Indianapolis, sold their Unit 23 condominium at 7125 Gulf of Mexico Drive to William Michael Montgomery and Mary Lynn Montgomery, of Lutz, for $900,000. Built in 1974, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,170 square feet of living area. It sold for $895,000 in 2022.

Darryl and Kathleen Marshall, of Centerville, Ohio, sold their Unit 202 condominium at 4310 Falmouth Drive to Jackie Shaw, trustee, of Traverse City, Michigan, for $660,000. Built in 1969, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 928 square feet of living area. It sold for $262,000 in 2015.

THE PRESIDENTIAL

Scott Edison and Carla Zimmerman-Edison, trustees, of Cazenovia, New York, sold the Unit 204 condominium at 845 Benjamin Franklin Drive to Thomas Mallouk and Eileen Engle, of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, for $635,000. Built in 1974, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 991 square feet of living area. It sold for $467,000 in 2005.

Photo courtesy of Bill Kelly, The Real Estate Store

Key sold for $6,995,000.

TUESDAY, MAY 16 YOGA BY THE BAY WITH ERIN 6 p.m. at Bayfront Park, 5 Bayfront Drive, Sarasota. Free outdoor (weather permitting), socially distanced yoga by the water, just beyond the children’s playground at Bayfront Park. Just bring a yoga mat, a water bottle and friends. All levels of experience are welcome to participate.

Visit the Yoga By The Bay with Erin Facebook page to receive updates. Enjoy deep stretching and relaxation in a beautiful waterfront setting.

RECURRING EVENTS

WEEKDAYS

LONGBOAT LIBRARY

From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday, 555 Bay Isles Road. On Wednesdays, most books are on sale for $1 or less. Call 383-2011.

MONDAYS STRETCH AND STRENGTHEN

From 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. This class is mostly seated and great for all fitness levels Focus is on strength training and flexibility for balance. Suzy Brenner leads the class. Fee is $15. Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.

THINKING OUT LOUD: TIMELY TOPICS WITH MIKE KARP

From 1-2:30 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Topics will include U.S. and world current affairs, popular culture and topics relevant to seniors. Cost is $15. Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.

MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS

LORD’S WAREHOUSE THRIFT STORE

The thrift store will be open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 6140 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Donations are accepted during business hours. Call 383-4738.

TUESDAYS QI GONG

From 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Qi gong is a mind-body-spirit practice designed to improve mental and physical health. Class is outdoors, weather permitting. Cost is $15. Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.

YOGA

From 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road.

BEST BET

WEDNESDAY, MAY 17

IMPROV FOR EVERYONE

1-2 p.m. at the The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Will Luera of Florida Studio Theatre will lead this fast-paced class that will teach participants how to think quickly on their feet, explore their creativity and build their self-confidence. The focus of this class will be on the fundamentals of improv. Register by Monday, May 15 for the first class. A second improv class will be held May 31. Ticket price is $10 for members; $20 for nonmembers. Call 383-6493 to register.

Debbie Debile of Feel Good Yoga & Massage leads a gentle yoga class that can be done on a mat or in a chair. Cost is $15; free for members. Call 383-6493.

MAHJONG

From 1-3 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Fun time for experienced players. To check availability at the tables, email MaryAnnBrady@TheParadiseCenter.org.

ROTARY CLUB

Meets at 5 p.m. on first and third Tuesdays in All Angels Parish Hall, 563 Bay Isles Road. To learn more, call Nancy Rozance at 203-605-4066 or email Info@LongboatKeyRotary.org.

WEDNESDAYS BEGINNER TAI CHI

From 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Class is outdoors, weather permitting. Cost is $15. Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.

MARIACHI MUSIC

From 5-8 p.m. at La Villa Mexican Grill, 5610 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Enjoy dinner and a serenade by Mariachi Contemporaneo. Call 383-8033.

THURSDAYS

KIWANIS CLUB OF LONGBOAT KEY

At 8:30 a.m. at Lazy Lobster, 5350 Gulf of Mexico Drive. This service organization meets every first and third Thursday of the month for breakfast and a speaker. Breakfast is $15. Email Lynn Larson at LynnLarson@comcast.net to register.

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

FORECAST

SUNRISE /

TIDES

MOON PHASES

Genetic messenger (Abbr.)

89 Switch from a GR86 to a Prius, say

90 Agent Jimmy Woo’s org.

91 One can be drawn, figuratively or literally

93 Baking soda amt.

98 Gumbo vegetable

99 Composure

100 Chip dips

101 Bit of ink

103 Operatic solos

107 Stockholm citizen

108 Hathaway and Rice

109 Constellation component

110 Word before “vault” or “dance”

111 Slid into an inbox (Abbr.)

112 One of the seven deadly sins

113 “May It Be” singer

114 ___ in (join a Zoom call)

116 Actress Moore

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

“UOXWBABK DGC ZG WG FXHL ECTTBEE, DGC OXAB WG OXLF HL WOBKB XLZ

OGJB FGGZ WOHLFE OXJJBL. XVUXDE WOHLI JGEHWHAB.” ZGL KHTIVBE I

“K’T EVARORPN YVKZKSF THGKJ SAY UAV ZXB GOTB VBOGAS OG K GZOVZBC YVKZKSF GASFG YXBS K YOG 14 -- ZA TBBZ YATBS.” MSLXNPCJ MKLLANN

“KD SHDHPTR CHBCRH COI IBB WOZX VTKIX KD IXH PKZX, IXH VTWBOF, IXH CBRKIKZKTDF, TDJ DBI HDBOSX VTKIX KD IXHWFHRNHF.” MBDB ©

COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS by May Huang, edited by Jeff Chen

By Luis Campos

ROGER SELLS LUXURY WATERFRONT PROPERTIES

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3030 GRAND BAY BOULEVARD #346

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