To celebrate summer and give a boost to the local business community, shops on St. Armands Circle participated in the first “Circle the Date” promotion of the season on July 17.
Denoted by metallic purple and blue balloons, participating stores offered special sales, cookies, food samples, live music and more.
Café on St. Armands, one of the main proponents of the event, brought to the stage Bri Rivera and her band. The summer shopping days are scheduled for the third Thursday of the month for the summer. Future opportunities include Aug. 21, Sept. 18, Oct. 16 and Nov. 20.
Christ Church holds get-together
As summer falls into its postFourth of July pace on the island, members of Christ Church of Longboat Key took the opportunity to catch up at a luncheon.
Pastor Julia Piermont welcomed members to a gettogether on July 16 at Lo’ Key Island Grille. The gathering included several first-time attendees looking to socialize.
Next month’s member lunch takes place at 5 p.m. Aug. 28 at Fellowship Hall at the church at 6400 Gulf of Mexico Drive. George and Sally Rauch will be organizing a classic fish fry with her signature tartar sauce. Visit ChristChurchOfLBK. org or call 941-383-8833 with questions about the church’s social calendar.
THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2025
Dana Kampa
Eleni Sokos and Jared Fairley hand out beverages and small bites.
Dana Kampa
Christ Church of Longboat Key
Pastor Julia Piermont welcomes members.
Gillen
Dana Kampa
Longboat Island Chapel the Rev. Brock Patterson helps pack donations from congregation members. Donations from the event went to the Stillpoint Mission.
WEEK OF JULY 24, 2025
BY THE NUMBERS
“Our father and his father have grown such deep roots here that it would feel foolish to move somewhere else and completely start over.”
Brendan Telfair on his family’s legacy Read more on page 16
Achain specializing in chicken tenders has opened at the SarasotaBradenton International Airport. Huey Magoo’s is beyond security at Terminal B.
The chain that offers handbreaded or grilled chicken tenders now has 77 locations across 12 states.
“Opening our first airport location allows us to introduce the brand to an even broader audience while delivering the same high-quality experience our guests have come to love,”
Huey Magoo’s President and CEO Andy Howard says in a statement.
In addition to being the brand’s first restaurant in an airport, the Huey Magoo’s at SRQ is the first for the chain to offer breakfast. Served from 5-10 a.m., the breakfast menu includes a breakfast burrito or bowl with chicken tenders, scrambled eggs and melted cheese along with breakfast potatoes and choice of hot honey, gravy or hot sauce as well as the option of bacon; also available
Stay away from boat on beach, town says
The town said this week it was working with state and local law enforcement agencies to have an abandoned boat removed from the beach of Greer Island.
The 31-foot Bayliner was aground on the north-facing beach west of the Longboat Pass Bridge.
Manatee County Sheriff’s Department and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission were working with Longboat Police on having the vessel, which carried the name “Double Trouble” removed.
Town police asked curious boaters or beach visitors to stay away from the boat.
Sales tax breaks on the way, some forever
Beginning Aug. 1, sales tax will no longer be charged on the purchase of a range of storm-preparation gear, The new-for-2025 permanent taxexemptions on these items replaces a previous limited-time exemption. The items n Batteries in
are three- and five-piece tender meals with breakfast potatoes.
For lunch and dinner, diners can order a three- or five-piece tender meal with fries, Texas toast and a choice of housemade dip, as well as a sandwich, salad or wrap containing hand-breaded or grilled chicken tenders.
Spanning 842 square feet, Huey Magoo’s at SRQ — called Huey Magoo’s On the Fly — is operated by Lauren Mitchell, who has 20 years of restaurant industry experience.
STAYIN’ ALIVE
By teaching a simpler form of CPR, Longboat Key Fire Rescue aims to up the odds for people who suffer heart attacks.
CARLIN GILLEN
OBSERVER INTERN
ERIC GARWOOD
DIGITAL NEWS EDITOR
It’s lunchtime, and the restaurant is bustling. New customers arrive, some head out. A lot more chat at tables while wait staff dash back and forth between the kitchen and dining room.
It’s chaotic and a bit loud, but in a jovial way.
Then a crash of a glass, plate and silverware. A gasp. In an instant, silence.
“I think it’s his heart,” someone yells.
It’s also Longboat Key, so an ambulance and a team of professionals are probably eight minutes away after 911 is called. Maybe less.
But in the interim ...
It’s those few minutes that Longboat Key Fire Rescue for the last decade or so has been trying to address through education and, perhaps more important, inspiration. To train everyday people not only how to help, but to overcome the anxiety of doing just that.
“You’d be surprised how much of the population has never witnessed an event like that,” Assistant Fire Chief Jentzen Barton said. “So when they actually see it, they just don’t know what to do.”
To that end, a group of about a dozen residents recently took the department’s class to learn the basics of a stripped-down version of CPR that involves chest compressions, aptly timed to follow the disco beat of the Bee Gees’ 1970s hit “Stayin’ Alive.”
Can any of them make a difference?
They already have, said Lt. Ron Koper of Longboat Key Fire Rescue, one of the instructors. He said recently two or three people on the island have been saved through hands-on CPR, which eliminates the TV drama staple of mouth-tomouth resuscitation and focuses on heart compressions that keep blood moving. In 2024, the department responded to more than 2,200 calls, with about half medical, while the rest ranged from fire alarms, fires, gas leaks and more.
“It just gives people a level of confidence that they can do something, no matter who they are or where they are,” Koper said.
The department conducted a series of classes this year, with another installment scheduled in mid-August. More are likely.
LEARNING
Beth Mclaughlin has been going to CPR courses since she was 14 and doesn’t plan to stop.
“It’s very easy to do. It’s something you may never use, but it’s like insurance,” she said in an interview at the July session last week. “You may never use it, but it’s a peace of mind to have it there and to be comfortable knowing that you have that knowledge.”
The class was full of ready-tolearn attendees, full of questions. Many wondered what to do if someone goes into cardiac arrest in a swimming pool or has a pacemaker. The instructors were attentive, patient, encouraging and were sure to leave no stone unturned.
They practiced on simulators that delivered a clicking-sound based on the depth and force of their CPR heart compressions, all the while listening to encouraging feedback from instructors.
Beyond questions and answers from class participants and firefighter trainers, the sounds of electronic voices from Automated External Defibrillators made clear there was more to learn than just chest compressions.
Placed around the island in public spaces such as Town Hall, Bayfront Park, the Public Tennis Center and more, AEDs are in plenty of private businesses and condo lobbies, too. A far cry from, again, the TV drama of someone yelling “Clear!” before an electric shock is delivered, AEDs largely talk users through their operation and are programmed to monitor a patient and make decisions.
All they need is a human to retrieve it and put it into action.
“Don’t be afraid,” Koper said. “We have a lot of individuals come through, either couples or singles. And the class, it’s open and friendly and that’s the purpose that we’re here to communicate with the public and give them a chance to ask questions. And it’s a very safe environment to do it.”
The course also provides an introduction to people who are either curious about or are unable to go through all the steps it may take to get Red Cross certified in CPR.
“It’s easy; it’s quick,” McLaughlin said. “It was what, maybe half-anhour, 45 minutes? And you’ll leave more comfortably. If an emergency did happen that you would be comfortable stepping in and doing something that may help.”
KEEP ON LEARNING
The next CPR and AED Training course is Aug. 13. To go beyond that training toward formal certification, the fire-rescue personnel can contact residents with local resources for education and other classes. For more information, contact the administrative office at 941-316-1944.
THE SCIENCE
Blood circulation is the means by which oxygen is carried to vital organs. In the case of a heart stoppage, that delivery system’s pump fails.
Barton said damage can begin in just a few minutes after a heart stops, even though blood may retain a level of oxygen for minutes without breathing taking place.
That, he said, is the basis for hands-on CPR.
“Without the pump, it’s stagnant blood,” Barton said. “It doesn’t filtrate through the membranes and arteries and capillaries and things where the oxygen exchange takes place. Damage can begin to take place.”
He said the department’s training is designed to deliver enough knowledge to keep bystanders or family members from freezing in the moment while still delivering a benefit over simply waiting anxiously for
“It just gives people a level of confidence that they can do something, no matter who they are or where they are.”
— Lt. Ron Koper
paramedics to arrive.
Research in the last few years has shown even the basic form of CPR taught by the department can make a difference.
“Let’s concentrate on what the most important thing is and that’s circulation of oxygenated blood,” Barton said. “They’ve realized there’s enough oxygen left in your blood to give you X amount of time if you’re circulating it, you’re still kind of getting that oxygen to tissues and cells.”
When paramedics arrive, they will likely immediately administer oxygen.
The department also delivers information on the PulsePoint smartphone app. In addition to displaying for users the locations of nearby AED machines, it also has a sign-up feature that alerts CPRtrained registered users to reported heart-related cases nearby, based on 911 dispatches. It’s just another way to broaden the field of those willing and able to help.
“Think of it like drops in a bucket,” Barton said. “Sooner or later, that bucket is full. It really would help. It’s really something everyone should know how to do, whether it’s saving your loved one or just someone on the street. Sometimes, we get caught turning our heads when something happens that doesn’t involve us. This is something we shouldn’t do that to.”
Photos by Carlin Gillen
Class participant Michael Hartman begins to put on the AED pads on the CPR mannequin.
Firefighter Paramedic David Oliger helps out attendees Stephanie Stone, Irma Zunz and Zuleika Zunes on applying the AEDs.
Lt. Ron Koper gives an indepth demonstration on compressions.
One more suspect charged in 2017 Longboat Key homicide
Damien Garvin is charged with first-degree murder of Zota Beach hotel clerk and security guard eight years ago.
OBSERVER STAFF
Manatee County prosecutors have charged Damien Jarmard Garvin with first-degree premeditated murder in a 2017 incident at Zota Beach Resort on Longboat Key that left two people dead.
Manatee County Sheriff’s officers booked Garvin, 40, July 10 and formally charged him on July 18.
The town of Longboat Key and Longboat Key Det. Capt. Robert Bourque confirmed the charges in a press release on July 18.
Garvin is accused in the Aug. 4, 2017, homicide of a hotel clerk and security guard at the Zota Beach Resort.
Garvin was convicted of a 2020 North Miami Beach murder and was in prison as of a Manatee County court filing in May.
On Aug. 9, 2017, Darryl Hanna Jr. was the first arrested in the case but died in custody. As reported in a 2024 Observer article, Hanna Jr. fell into a stroke-induced coma and died in 2021.
In a court filing dated May 25, a 2020 investigation, led by Bourque, suspected Hanna had accomplices in the murder. Hanna’s sister, Latoya, and Gernichia Davis were subjects of an investigat ion.
Court records show on Jan. 8 2020, while searching a law enforcement database, Bourque found that Garvin had been arrested for second degree murder in North Miami Beach. At the time Garvin had a romantic relationship with Latoya Hanna as well as at the time of the 2017 murders.
The North Miami Beach murder was committed with a 9mm pistol, which is the same kind of weapon used in the Zota Beach murders, court records show. According to the filing, ballistics testing showed a
link between the shell casings of the pistol of the Zota Beach murders and the North Miami Beach murder.
On Sept. 24, 2020, investigators interviewed Davis, who confessed her involvement. She stated she, along with Hanna Jr., Latoya Hanna and Garvin went to the Zota Beach Resort to commit an armed robbery. Security guard Kevin Carter and clerk Timothy Hurley were killed during the early morning hours. According to Davis’ confession, Garvin ordered Hurley to open the safe. Hurley said he did have the combination to the safe, to which Garvin responded that if he did not open the safe he would kill him.
File image
Authorities speak to guests outside the Zota Beach Resort on Aug. 4, 2017, after a double homicide took place at the resort.
Courtesy image Damien Garvin
New site of Paradise
After the community center needed a new headquarters, the north-end church stepped in to offer space for its programs.
KAMPA STAFF WRITER
eaders from The Paradise Center and Longboat Island Chapel announced on July 20 the church is set to become the community center’s new home.
In May, the center shared it would likely need to relocate from its headquarters at 546 Bay Isles Road, its home since 2019, with the sale of the larger Tidewell building.
Over the past few months, leaders at The Paradise Center have been determining the best way forward.
This move is a bit of a homecoming for the center, which began as an outreach program at the chapel in 2008 under the name “Aging in Paradise Resource Center” and grew to become an independent nonprofit located centrally on the island.
On Sunday, Executive Director Amy Steinhauser said she, board members and instructors are all excited to still have a home on Longboat Key.
“It really is a godsend,” she said. “I’m so grateful that Reverend Brock (Patterson) approached us and said we have space, because we were really concerned.”
Steinhauser said she and her team searched the island extensively, but few locations could fit the community center’s space needs while still being affordable for a nonprofit.
The chapel has been in the midst of extensive renovations this summer, primarily prompted by hurricane damage from October.
Patterson explained the church was happy to step up and offer the space if it meant keeping such a valuable on-island service available, one that means so much to residents.
“The work they do is invaluable,” he said. “When we first heard about what was happening at The Paradise
Center, we said it makes sense.”
He continued, “Community center activities, a lot of times, are the only way people stay active and socialize. It’s their only opportunity, especially for folks who can’t afford to join a country club or able to easily leave the island.”
This summer, The Paradise Center has continued to maintain its programming, which ranges from exercise classes to discussion groups.
Steinhauser said it will continue to offer its regular classes until the last week of August at the Tidewell building. It will reopen at the chapel Sept. 29.
The center is also closing at 1 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays while staff work on move preparations.
To help facilitate, the center is calling on community members to lend their support.
Louis and Gloria Flanzer Philanthropic Trust is matching donations between $5 and $500, through Donate.FlanzerTrust.org. Donations exceeding $500 are tax deductible through GiveButter. Visit GiveButter.com/ROKNO6.
Final remodeling at the church and other factors will determine the opening date at the chapel.
“If we can start right away in September, we will, but we have a few last things to work out,” she added.
They noted the community center will remain open to the public, not solely for congregation members.
Next up to find a new home is Reed Medical Group, which had been using the Tidewell Building as a temporary home after Hurricane Helene.
Director of Operations Sara Lilly said Reed Medical Group will move to a new location soon.
“We have been here since a week or two after Helene hit,” she said. “We were at 6350 Gulf of Mexico Drive — that was our home base. Then Helene came, and we got four and a half feet of water.”
She said the original church leasing the space recently was bulldozed to become a parking lot.
But the group is looking forward, preparing to move to a location at the
Publix plaza.
Lilly added they always intended the Tidewell location to be temporary. They are still working to determine the exact opening date.
“We are excited for the expansion, especially after we just opened a new space in Lakewood Ranch,” she said.
“We’re also doing a buildout in an office near the hospital in Bradenton. That’s expected to open in early to late fall.”
Tom Simonian, a Longboat Key resident, purchased the Tidewell property in March.
He said he planned to renovate the property, making it an up-to-date asset to the community.
“Unfortunately, the building and the grounds — really most of the exterior and mechanical systems — have been neglected over the years,” he said in an interview after the sale.
“It’s going to need some investment to get it back to a level A building.”
Simonian said he planned to update everything, from the parking
lot to landscaping to painting to air conditioning and electrical systems.
Simonian extended residents’ leases through August, and he planned to first offer current tenants the opportunity to stay, at the new rates, before marketing to other businesses.
“We’ve had a number of folks contact us, interested in taking up occupancy if anyone leaves,” he added.
“It’s a fantastic location.”
He explained, “Office space on Longboat Key is limited to begin with. Given the limited inventory and location, it makes for an ideal opportunity.”
Simonian said the increase in rent both offsets the renovation costs and brings it more on par with rising property costs across the island.
“It’ll be a more attractive, professional, higher caliber look,” he said, noting how the area is essential to everyone who does their shopping, banking and business with town hall at the hub that is Bay Isles Road.
DANA
Dana Kampa
Amy Steinhauser, executive director of The Paradise Center, and the Rev. Brock Patterson, from Longboat Island Chapel, officially announced that the community center will be moving to the church after August.
Veteran urges town to take a drive toward Gulf of America
Uncertainty remains over how to rename Gulf of Mexico Drive, how much it might cost and who’d pay.
ombay became
follow the same route?
At least one Longboat Key resident has raised the issue with town leaders, and others have expressed support. Even if the process takes time and winds its way through legal and governmental swerves, George Reenstra says it’s worth taking.
Other residents say it’s unnecessary and would likely lead to costly spending. Mayor Ken Schneier said it’s not totally clear yet how the island’s main drag could be renamed, what the costs might be or who’d be responsible for them.
“But it would not be inexpensive, you know,” he said. “And we have a little bit of information, more than a little bit, having done the undergrounding project and done all the new street signs with it. It’s not an inexpensive process, especially with our budget what it is now, and
reserves down from the storms.” Reenstra, a Longboat Key resident for 12 years, a military helicopter pilot in Vietnam and an aviation executive ever since, wants to make one thing clear from the outset.
This isn’t a case of inside-TheCapital-Beltway follow the leader. He said he’s supported recent candidates from both parties and isn’t always eye to eye with them. This, he said, is a simple matter of changing with the times.
“I just don’t want to get into a political argument with somebody, because that is not my intent,” Reenstra said in a recent interview. “Gulf of America is what I would see out my front window. I don’t see the Gulf of Mexico anymore.” So, he said, it’s partly an argument
Photos by Carlin Gillen
The Gulf of Mexico Drive sign along Bay Isles Parkway
Stores on St. Armands Circle sell souvenirs of the Gulf of America.
of
and
It’s
a matter of honoring the nation.
“Why not make America stand up again like we used to be?” he said.
“You know, after the Second World War, this country was the idol of the world. But more to the point, what’s the harm in changing it? I think it’s a patriotic thing to do.”
Is it that simple?
As far as FDOT is concerned, the main strip of blacktop through Longboat Key is called State Road 789, all the way from the eastern base of the John Ringling Causeway in Sarasota to the middle of the town of Anna Maria. And that’s not going to change. To connect a name to state property, like a highway or a park, the Florida Legislature needs to grant permission, Reenstra says he’s been told.
In an email, FDOT spokeswoman Janella Newsome wrote: “Aside from an act of the Legislature specifically providing for such action, an actual naming or renaming of a state road is accomplished by cooperation of the affected local jurisdiction, the FDOT and other affected parties.
The process requires concurrence of the U.S. Postmaster, public meetings to obtain concurrence of local stakeholders (businesses and residents that would undergo a change of address), a local ordinance, and notification by the local jurisdiction to other parties, such as law enforcement, 911 responders and utility providers.”
Reenstra has been connecting this summer not just with town officials but also state legislators.
Town Attorney Maggie Mooney also isn’t so sure the town is compelled to make the switch based on the wording of an order from Gov. Ron DeSantis directing state offices to match up with January’s White House directive changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico itself to the Gulf of America.
A memo from her to Schneier on July 15 in part says: “The legislative analysis summary is intended to point out, that while the legislation does not specifically include a requirement on a municipality, the legislative analysis seems to indicate an implied assumption that general purpose governments (i.e., cities and counties) would be impacted and would absorb costs associated
HONORING PILOTS
George Reenstra, who flew helicopters in Vietnam, says he’d also like to someday see a plaque installed on the New Pass bridge honoring what he said was one of the war’s most dangerous roles.
with things like signage changes. So the analysis, which is not law, creates confusion.” Research continues.
Gulf of Mexico Drive was not always so named. It had been Ringling Drive during a time when circus magnate John Ringling envisioned but never finished a lavish resort on the island. When and who renamed the road, and under what circumstances, is also something the town is looking into this summer. For what it’s worth, a 1958 map of Longbeach Village notes the presence of Gulf of Mexico Drive in its present location, but the same map also labels Broadway Street “Main Street.”
Aside from maps and other officialdom, property records for Manatee and Sarasota counties indicate nearly 5,000 privately owned residential and commercial properties on Gulf of Mexico Drive, from the Aquarius condominium complex to the Zych family.
Aside from private driveways, there are at least 55 public streets that intersect with GMD, each with at least one street sign of its own — 40 of them recently updated with backlighting fed by recently undergrounded power lines. That sign project cost about $480,000.
Schneier said because the issue is so new, it’s hard to see all the angles without more facts. But “if the right body with the power tells us to make the name change, then we will go about doing that. I presume. Unless there’s some good reason not to.”
There’s more to consider beyond address changes, dollars and cents, Reenstra said.
“Well, names have changed,” Reenstra said. “California wasn’t California until 1848. And it got changed when the Mexican government no longer controlled it. I mean, we have changed names and there’s no reason not to. We’ve changed names of sports teams. I mean, I guess rather than ‘Why change it?’ ‘Why not change it?’”
What’s best for NCF, USF?
The governor should appoint a commission to determine what the best long-term structure should be for the Ringling, New College and USF.
Editor’s note: This is part two on the future of New College of Florida, University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee and the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art.
As is often the case, perception and reality are Mars and Venus.
Anna Lazzara, a Sarasota High Bright Futures scholar, will be a senior this coming fall at New College of Florida. She has lived on campus since 2022, the year before former Florida Speaker Richard Corcoran was appointed president.
Asked to rate on a scale of 1 to 10 the overall atmosphere of New College today versus her freshman year, Lazzara told us:
“Today, I’m going to go with a nine. A lot more things feel lighter on campus. It’s nice that the place where you’re studying and living every day you have camaraderie between the students.
“Everything is not so heavy all the time like before,” she told us. “How it was before I would say maybe between a four and five, probably leaning lower.
“It was not like ‘Oh my gosh, I can’t stand this place, but there was definitely a kind of funk in the air. There was just this expectation to be a certain kind of student and a certain kind of viewpoint. It could be kind of discouraging at times and give you the feeling that you couldn’t be your full self.”
Roy Quest, a soccer player in the inaugural class of New College athletes, will be a junior this fall. He has lived on campus two years. His 1-to-10 rating of the New College atmosphere?
“I’d give it an eight when I got there. Today, I give it a nine or 10. There has never been a huge divide between athletes and nonathletes. Personally, I see it as tight knit. I’ve made great connections, met great people and lifelong friends.”
Lazzara and Quest both said the most noticeable, tangible improvement at New College since Corcoran’s arrival is the campus’ physical appearance and amenities.
Admittedly, we know Lazzara and Quest’s comments are those of only two of 900 students. But you cannot discount them; their beforeand-after assessments are 100% honesty.
Lazzara and Quest are passionate New College advocates. They help illustrate the turnaround underway at New College and how Corcoran is exorcising the demon that has nagged New College for the past decade: Its inability to grow enrollment.
Earlier this year, Corcoran told us that was one of the raps he heard repeatedly coming into and during his start at New College. He quickly concluded that had to be one of his first and top priorities as president.
“As a parent of six children, three who are in college, I did the parent tour,” he said, recalling his start. “OK, if I brought Kate or Jack or Caroline (his children) to this campus, what would I be saying afterward?”
He didn’t say it, but his implication was: “What a dump.”
Corcoran concluded that if New College was to have a chance at growing enrollment, the place had to improve dramatically its physical appearance and student amenities. With a $15 million infusion from the governor in early 2023, that’s
NEW COLLEGE WEST CAMPUS MASTER PLAN
what he did. In fact, in his first two years Corcoran has worked at a breakneck pace making the campus a place where students want to be and go.
Some of the results: A new grass park on the bayfront for outdoor events; six new beach volleyball courts nearby. Students rave about the jumbotron at the pool and the improvements at the fitness center. The entire campus is adorned with fresh landscaping.
Dormitories inside and out were renovated: Restuccoed and repainted on the outside; mildewed popcorn ceilings removed; new counters in the dorm bathrooms; new refrigerators and cabinetry; new flooring.
“I wanted it so when parents walked in, they’d go: “Wow, this is a beautiful dorm.”
More improvements:
■ The Charles Ringling mansion was repainted, industrial carpet removed from the historic tile floors, chandeliers replaced, paintings hung on the walls.
■ Renovated Pritzker Marine Biology building.
■ Opened a new campus bookstore.
■ Added soccer, baseball, softball, basketball, lacrosse, volleyball and golf and obtained admittance to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. (Admittance to the NAIA was at such a speed that it triggered calls from other colleges asking how Corcoran did it.)
■ Repaired all nonoperational cameras throughout the campus and added additional cameras for campus safety.
■ Purchased and implemented tasers and body cameras for the campus police and added two new police vehicles.
■ Conducted vulnerability assessments for all buildings on campus.
One of the most talked-about changes among the students has been the dining hall. It, too, was fully renovated, along with hiring a new food service vendor.
Says Lazzara: “The way I could
tell New College was changing for the better was the difference that I saw from when I was a freshman and going in to eat my lunch or my dinner in the dining hall. Everyone had their little cliques that they went and sat with. It kind of felt like high school.”
Today, she says, “Coming into the dining hall, it’s always jam-packed … The good vibes and the good energy in that dining hall — that really speaks to how the campus life and student life are going.”
FACULTY CHANGES
Beyond the physical environment, there is the academic side. Corcoran has brought in about 60 new faculty members for the most recently completed term and next year. What’s more, as noted in his 202425 job evaluation, “for the second year in a row, negotiated the largest cost of living adjustment in New College’s history.” Fifty of the new faculty members carry doctorates. The college is negotiating to have famed lawyer Allen Dershowitz on next year’s faculty.
When we asked a long-time faculty member for comments on the difference at New College from preand post-Corcoran, he declined. Understandably. It’s a touchy subject for sure.
Every corporate board knows when it brings in a new CEO, he or she has a way of operating that disrupts the status quo. Predictably, there are personnel who like the changes and those who don’t. There are personnel who choose to stay, and those who don’t. There are personnel who buy into the new mission and those who resist, complain and criticize, eventually leading to their departures or firings.
The faculty member contacted made those points, acknowledging Corcoran has made improvements, but he also has made changes the faculty member considers damaging and, to be sure, controversial. One example of the latter:
When Corcoran and his staff proposed a new regulation requiring that faculty members must attest
“If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.” Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944
President and Publisher / Emily Walsh, EWalsh@YourObserver.com
Executive Editor and COO / Kat Wingert, KWingert@YourObserver.com
Managing Editor / Michael Harris, MHarris@YourObserver.com
Staff Writers / Dana Kampa, DKampa@ YourObserver.com
Digital & Engagement Editor / Kaelyn Adix, KAdix@YourObserver.com
Digital News Editor / Eric Garwood, EGarwood@YourObserver.com
Regional Sales Director / Penny Nowicki, PNowicki@YourObserver.com
Regional Digital Director / Kathleen O’Hara, KOHara@YourObserver.com
they have reviewed all materials to be presented prior to the start of the semester and confirmed the material is appropriate, that generated a flood of opposition from faculty and others. The board adopted the regulation to comply with the state board of governors. To be sure, it’s too soon to tell whether Corcoran’s academic direction and the new faculty members can be considered successes. But on the faculty front, if you’re so inclined, you can read the names and biographies of the new faculty members for the fall semesters starting in 2024 and 2025 and judge their caliber. (See YourObserver. com/Opinion)
And in line with Corcoran’s strategy that to increase enrollment you must have attractive curricula, New College’s spending on faculty and staff has increased 41% since he arrived — from $22.4 million to $31.6 million in the 2024-25 school year, according to the State University System of Florida.
The school’s faculty ranks have increased 32%, from 95 to 125.
Which means course offerings — a key recruiting feature — also have increased 25%, from 392 to 493.
RECORD ENROLLMENT
All of Corcoran’s efforts are producing positive results — at least from the standpoints of enrollment, attracting donors and securing state funding.
Here were Corcoran’s opening remarks in his June report to the New College Board of Trustees:
“We’ll have our third class in a row of over 300 students, a number that had never been achieved in New College’s history for a single class, let alone three in a row.
“This class will put us at the highest enrollment ever in the history of New College, somewhere between 900 and 950, also a number never achieved before in New College history.”
When Corcoran arrived, enrollment was 609. His target is to reach 1,500. But one of the inhibitors to expanding enrollment even more now is a lack of housing.
Academically, Corcoran told trustees in June: “Our SAT score is up to 1,200, and our GPA is hovering right around 4.0. Right now, it’s about 3.97.” And for those who scoff at Corcoran’s efforts to have NAIA athletics, Corcoran told us next year’s incoming freshmen athletes produced higher SAT scores than the incoming nonathletes.
Much has been reported about Corcoran and the trustees’ handling of the New College Foundation endowment. But for the first time, its asset value topped $50 million, up from $42 million when Corcoran started. In two-and-a-half years, Corcoran has raised $10,440,652 from donors, an annual average of $4.4 million, 30% more per year than his predecessors.
Corcoran’s best fundraising has occurred in Tallahassee. In the past two legislative sessions, New College has received appropriations
Senior Advertising Executive / Laura Ritter, LRitter@YourObserver.com
Advertising Executives / Richeal McGuinness, RMcGuinness@ YourObserver.com; Jennifer Kane, JKane@ YourObserver.com; Honesty Mantkowski, HMantkowski@YourObserver.com; Toni Perren, TPerren@YourObserver.com; Anna Reich, Anna@YourObserver.com Brenda White, BWhite@YourObserver.com
Classified Advertising Sales Executive / Sydney Shunk, SSchunk@YourObserver. com
Head of Sales Operations / Susan Leedom, SLeedom@YourObserver.com
Advertising Graphic Designers / Luis Trujillo, Taylor Poe, Louise Martin, Shawna Polana Digital Developer / Jason Camillo, JCamillo@YourObserver.com
Information Technology Manager / Homer Gallego, HGallego@YourObserver. com
Chief Financial Officer / Laura Strickland, LStrickland@YourObserver.com
Controller / Rafael Labrin, RLabrin@ YourObserver.com
Office and Accounting Coordinator / Donna Condon, DCondon@ YourObserver.com
Observer Media Group Inc. is locally owned.
Publisher of the Longboat Observer, East County Observer, Sarasota/Siesta Key Observer, West Orange Times & Observer, Southwest Orange Observer, Business Observer, Jacksonville Daily Record, Key Life Magazine, LWR Life Magazine, Baldwin Park Living Magazine and Season Magazine
CEO / Matt Walsh
MWalsh@YourObserver.com
President / Emily
MATT WALSH
Courtesy photo
A jumbotron informing students of what’s happening on the New College of Florida campus is one of the most popular campus improvements.
totaling $156,525,809. Never in New College history as part of the state university system has a New College president been able to woo that much funding.
RAT-A-TAT OF ACTION
For all of the changes that have occurred in two-and-a-half years, c’mon, you have to credit Corcoran.
When have you ever seen anyone move an embedded bureaucracy as quickly and effectively in such a short time and in a direction that is producing positive results?
Since New College’s becoming independent in the state university system in 2001, none of Corcoran’s predecessors was able to generate the support of the governor and Legislature the way Corcoran has.
To be sure, you can say Corcoran has leveraged and benefited from the old saw: It’s who you know. After all, Corcoran was DeSantis’ commissioner of education from 2018 to 2022, and one of the governor’s close advisers. He was Florida speaker from 2016-18 and still has deep connections with legislators present and past.
So when DeSantis decided he wanted to change New College’s deteriorating trajectory, he knew exactly the kind of passion and action that would come with Corcoran as the New College president.
You cannot deny Corcoran has delivered a lightning speed transformation in two-and-ahalf years, more than any other New College president in the past 25 years.
Spend a half-day with Corcoran, and it’s a nonstop rat-a-tat of action and explanations of what has been accomplished and what’s about to happen.
He has big plans. The college just released its state-required master plan. It covers how the administration envisions the school’s physical environment will change to meet its academic vision over the next 10-20 years.
Just take a look at the rendering of the vision for New College’s west campus. It shows the college adding 19 buildings — 11 of them
for student housing — and nearly tripling its total square footage to 750,664 square feet. That’s the equivalent of four Walmart supercenters.
The college’s five-year capital improvement plan shows the state committing $63,473,493 on top of the $150 million it already has invested.
WHAT’S BEST LONG TERM?
Having seen (or read) all of what Corcoran has ignited and transformed, go back to our first installment: Once you finish the tour of New College, the Ringling Museum campus and the USF-Sarasota-Manatee campus, Cocoran’s vision — one unified campus under one, on-site leader and board — makes practical, and likely long-term economic, sense. Or does it?
We don’t really know. And that’s the point. We should find out.
What we do know is that many people’s efforts over the decades have produced successes. The trustees of the Ringling Museum can list the many additions to its campus, while the trustees of USF can point to its new student center and dormitory and that USF has grown to offer more than 40 different degrees.
But we’ll pose again: Are the three institutions that comprise 200 of the most historic and valuable acres in Sarasota-Manatee — all owned by the state — operating at the level they could or should?
They haven’t been.
Yes, there is some cooperation among the Ringling/FSU, New College and USF. But they all have separate boards of trustees, campus CEOs and leaders; fundraising arms and foundations; business operations and visions.
What’s more, in their current leadership arrangements, the Ringling and USF are hampered with absentee landlords. Yes, the Ringling has Steven High as its on-site executive director. But what ultimately happens falls under FSU’s president and board.
(Remember the dehumidifiers in the Rubens gallery?)
Likewise, USF has its chancellor, currently an interim chancellor. That person reports to the USF
president in Tampa. At the risk of offending, these arrangements make those institutions branches of bigger operations and relegated to less attention and resources.
In contrast, the buck stops at New College with the president. Corcoran is on-site every day, pushing initiatives; lobbying and cultivating trustees, the governor, legislators and the State University Board of Governors for the funding to build short- and longterm success; making sure mold and mildew are not damaging the campus.
That makes a big difference. All CEOs know that no matter how hard they try, they cannot duplicate the home-office culture in their satellites. When the CEO is on-site and pumping the troops every day, much more is accomplished and more quickly than if he or she is 300 miles away or even 60 miles away.
In fact, this should tell you something about the effects of the absentee landlord: After word surfaced that New College wanted to take over the physical assets of the USF-Sarasota-Manatee campus, USF’s Tampa lawyers wrote the proposed legislation — unbeknown to Sarasota and Manatee. If the home office was so opposed to such a transfer, that likely would not have occurred.
The fact is the ideas of New College taking over the physical campus of USF-Sarasota and becoming the steward, overseer and operator of the Ringling Museum campus are not going away. They will be on the agenda for the 2026 legislative session.
But rather than endure the inevitable angst, anger and fighting that will surface between now and then, this community and Florida taxpayers deserve better.
Gov. DeSantis and the Legislature should appoint a special, independent commission to analyze, explore and recommend the best long-term structure or structures to maximize the assets of the Ringling, New College and USF and bring a vision to life that makes sense and suits those 200 acres of historic and priceless bayfront.
Home Discover
SHELLSTONE AT WATERSIDE
Sarasota, FL
Approx. 1,692-3,733 sf
From High $500's 2 Amenity Centers Quick Move-Ins Available
MODEL CENTER
792 Blue Shell Loop Sarasota, FL 34240 941-361-2536
PALMERA AT WELLEN PARK
Venice, FL
Approx. 2,375-3426 sf
From High $700's Gated with Amenity Center Quick Move-Ins Available
MODEL CENTER
18188 Foxtail Loop Venice, FL 34293 941-361-2537
SATURDAY, JULY 12
SUDDENLY ASHORE
9:05 p.m., 400 block of Firehouse Court
Citizen assist: Officers assisted two out-of-town women who found themselves put ashore by a boating acquaintance for, as they reported to police, “talking too much.” Officers encountered the pair after they had flagged down a passer-by for help. The women told police they had been aboard the boat of a man they had met a few days prior, and he became agitated with their conversation while offshore near Longboat Key. They said he beached the boat, threw many of their belongings overboard and ordered them off the vessel. He then motored away. The women’s cell phones were dead and the rest of their nonoverboard belongings, including their vehicles, were at the Tampa marina from which the boating trip originated. Police brought them back to the station, allowed them to charge their phones and to summon a ride back to Tampa. Police determined no crime had taken place.
JUST WAITING ON A FRIEND
9:50 p.m., 3400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive
Suspicious vehicle: A sharp-eyed officer spotted an out-of-place car parked in the driveway of a home under construction and stopped to investigate. The car’s Sarasotaarea driver said she was expecting to pick up a friend from the beach. The driver left without incident.
SUNDAY, JULY 13
GONE
7:38 p.m., 400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive
Suspicious incident: A passer-by initially noticed a car, a woman, a child and two men parked in a commercial lot and reminded herself to look again when she returned 15 minutes later. Upon the time elapsing, she said the woman was still present, as was the car. The men were gone, so she followed through on her selfreminder and called 9-1-1. When police arrived, everyone was gone. Police determined no further investigation was warranted.
Parkway Juvenile disturbance: A gate attendant adjacent to a private golf course pointed out to police a pair of young anglers trying their luck in a nearby water hazard. The attendant asked police to ask them to leave. The youngsters said they were just trying to get some fishing in before the course opened for play. They left when asked.
MONDAY, JULY 14
WORKERS PRESENT
12:10 p.m., 500 block of Putting Green Lane
Suspicious person: A resident who spotted suspicious people on or near their property through a front-facing security camera sought police help to investigate. Officers determined the workers were there properly, and they told officers the callers’ property was not involved in their task.
NOT BUSINESS
2:55 p.m., Schooner Lane and Gulf of Mexico Drive
Vehicle stop: A vehicle determined by laser speed detection to be traveling 48 mph in a 35 mph zone was stopped. Its driver held a Business Only restricted drivers’ license. The driver had two passengers in the vehicle and told the officer he was showing them around the area. The driver was cited for speeding and failure to obey a driver’s license restriction.
TUESDAY, JULY 15 PLEASE LEAVE
4:51 p.m., 6800 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive
Trespassing: A business proprietor sought help in ensuring his request to leave was heeded by the man to which it was directed. The proprietor did not want to formally seek a trespassing complaint.
Another brick in the wall
Anew little city is coming to Longboat Key, though it won’t be obvious to passersby. Just underneath the waterline on the shore of Bayfront Park, a “living wall” is going in this week, hopefully providing the perfect home to a collection of oysters, little crabs, barnacles and other essential filter feeders.
Work on the $500,000 project officially got underway this week installing the pioneering paneling on the bay side of the park. Previously, smooth vinyl paneling lined the wall facing the water.
Charlie Mopps, director of Public Works for the town of Longboat Key, explained how the texturized wall will provide a surface where wildlife can more easily attach.
“This is one of the first runs on the west coast,” he said. “There is a lot of seagrass and other great habitat out there, but this is to provide another
Mangrove-inspired seawall comes to Bayfront Park.
resource and habitat for more filtering organisms.”
Terri Driver, a member of the Longboat Key Green Team and new president of the Rotary Club of Longboat Key, toured the park with Mopps this week, and she pointed out how the only place along the shore with any signs of shellfish was the more abrasive drainpipe.
Mopps said the town and Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, which provided grant funding, finalized the panel design modeled after red mangroves in December. Cummins Cederberg, a coastal and marine engineering firm, handled the initial design.
The Miami-based manufacturer, KindDesigns, set to work crafting the 3D concrete panels, each numbered to ensure the pattern of flowing roots matches up and properly withstands waves.
“They made samples of this wall and put it in a wave tank,” Mopps said. “Then they started playing with the mounting hardware and where the holes needed to be. They exam-
the filming of a documentary about the living wall, under the direction of Alison Alexander of Florida Eco Films. Alexander formed the nonprofit production company to act as an umbrella organization for the nature-based short films. She focuses on giving students from the film program at Ringling College of Art and Design opportunities to gain experience out in the field.
ined the anchor points and came up with the best design. It’s all done with digitally printed concrete.”
This week, crew members from Kearns Construction Co. started the work of cleaning off the current wall and received the shipment of panels.
The Rotary Club plans to fund
Besides offering an artistic flair to the park, the wall should ideally help improve water quality as filter feeder populations grow. Along with other efforts to protect seagrass beds and properly manage wastewater and regulating fertilizer runoff, this marks another step forward in improving Sarasota Bay’s waterways, Mopps said.
The project initially focuses on 300 feet of seawall. If all goes well, similar projects could extend to other shorefronts along the island.
“This
is one of the first runs on the West Coast. There is a lot of seagrass and other great habitat out there, but this is to provide another resource and habitat for more filtering organisms.”
DANA KAMPA STAFF WRITER
Alex Burgos, a diver with Kearns Construction Co., gets started on installing new “living wall” paneling at Longboat Key’s Bayfront Park.
Photos by Dana Kampa
The “living wall” design is modeled after mangroves, which play a vital role in providing habitat to juvenile fish and other key species in Florida’s aquatic ecosystems.
Each 3D-printed panel is numbered so the finished wall will have a flowing pattern inspired by mangrove roots.
— Charlie Mopps, director of Public Works for the Town of Longboat Key
ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
Raising the barre
MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER
ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
When an interviewer calls Liesl Kraft “Lisa” by accident, Sarasota Ballet Education Director Christopher Hird gently corrects her.
“Oh, Liesl, like in ‘The Sound of Music,’” the interviewer responds. But the parallel goes a bit further than that.
Liesl, age 17, is one of three siblings studying at the Sarasota Ballet Summer Intensive this summer. The other two are Johnston (Jack) Kraft, age 15, and Rosemarie Kraft, age 13. Back home in Toledo, Ohio, there are five other Kraft kids, some of whom are also studying ballet.
So, as Sarasota Ballet Marketing Director Jess Abbott observes, the Krafts could be American ballet’s answer to the singing von Trapp family of Austria. The von Trapps were made famous by Rodgers and Hammerstein’s hit Broadway musical “The Sound of Music,” also made into a movie. Its soundtrack, including such songs as “The Hills Are Alive” and “Climb Every Mountain,” forms part of the bedrock of 20th century American popular culture.
But there are no hills to be found in this tale of the dancing Kraft siblings, only ballet barres and Sarasota beaches. Along with their fellow Summer Intensive student Broc Stull, age 17, of Novi, Michigan, they sat down with a reporter to discuss life in the Sarasota Ballet’s five-week Summer Intensive.
This year, the prestigious program attracted 189 students ages 12-21 from all over the U.S. Some, like the Krafts, learned about the Sarasota Ballet Summer Intensive from their ballet teachers, while others, such as Stull, found out about the program by competing in dance competitions.
Hird was a judge in the semi-finals of the Youth America Grand Prix in Chicago, where Stull competed. After seeing him perform, Hird awarded him a scholarship.
Back in Michigan, Stull studies ballet with a man, but he is the only male student in his classes. One of the things he likes about the Sarasota Ballet Summer Intensive is taking class with other male dancers in the company’s Tallevast Road studios.
According to Hird, in his ninth year as Sarasota Ballet’s education director, just 10% of the dancers in the program are male. But that’s still an improvement as far as Stull is concerned. “I’ve been able to learn faster in terms of the steps and the positions by having other guys there around me,” he says.
In addition to ballet, Stull also studies gymnastics and freestyle dancing. “Flips and tricks: I love that stuff,” he says. “That adds to my dancing abilities.” Having those moves in his repertoire could help him stand out in an audition and land a role that he might not otherwise get, is his thinking.
Like the Krafts, Stull comes from a dancing family. His sister is a member of a Christian dance company in the Chicago area and has been supportive of his ambition to be a professional dancer, as have his parents, he says.
Like Stull, Jack Kraft followed his sister into the dance studio. Liesl, the oldest in the family, recalls announcing to her mother before she turned 2 that she wanted to take ballet lessons. She can’t recall how she got the idea. Both her parents played serious basketball when they were young and didn’t try to steer her toward dance, she says.
Before Liesl’s mom enrolled her in dance class at the age of 2 1/2, she showed the toddler documentaries and videos about ballet to make sure the toddler understood what she was getting into. “See, it’s hard. This isn’t something you have to do,” Liesl remembers her mom telling her.
But there was no question in Liesl’s young mind that ballet was her destiny. Fifteen years later, she still has her sights on becoming a professional dancer. She will perform in an excerpt from “Swan Lake” in the Summer Intensive’s InMotion recital, as well as an original contemporary and jazz piece, which was choreographed by Sarasota Ballet faculty Kaylin Carrera, Sea Lee and Drew Travis Robinson.
She’s also learning a key role from “La Sylphide,” but she’s not sure she will be tapped to dance it, she says.
FOLLOWING IN HIS SISTER’S FOOTSTEPS
Given gender stereotypes, it’s no surprise that Jack Kraft’s parents wanted him to be sure that ballet was his calling. He’s tall, so basketball was definitely a possibility. But Jack set his heart on ballet after seeing Liesl perform in “The Nutcracker” because it “looked like a lot of fun.”
Jack began taking ballet between the ages of 5 and 6, but he also studied gymnastics and karate. “In the beginning, they were fine with us dancing, but they wanted us to try out other things,” he says. “We dabbled in some other stuff, but eventually, we went all in on ballet.”
So it probably wasn’t a shock to the Krafts when Rosemarie decided to follow in her siblings’ footsteps and
Students of the Sarasota Ballet Summer Intensive aim for new heights with the InMotion recital.
take ballet lessons. When all three were accepted into the 2025 Sarasota Ballet Summer Intensive, the family decided to rent an Airbnb rather than have the kids stay in a dorm at the nearby University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee campus, like most of the students in the program. Their mom stays with them all week long while their dad comes on weekends. For Rosemarie, being surrounded by family when she isn’t dancing — from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (excluding a lunch break) — makes all the difference. It’s the first time the Kraft kids have been away from home for an extended period.
“I’m having a really good time,” Rosemarie says. “I don’t know if I’d
IF YOU GO INMOTION
When: July 24-26
Where: FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail.
Tickets: $30 and up Info: Visit SarasotaBallet. org.
Sarasota Ballet Summer Intensive student Madelyn Murphy shows off her flexibility.
About 190 students from all over the country studied at the Sarasota Ballet Summer Intensive this year. Courtesy images
Sarasota Ballet Summer Intensive student Elin Mulock demonstrates an arabesque. Students hone their technique as they dance from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day.
Monica Roman Gagnier
Johnston (Jack) Kraft, Rosemarie Kraft, Broc Stull and Liesl Kraft relax between rehearsals for InMotion, the recital of the Sarasota Ballet Summer Intensive.
CAC board elects new leadership
The board of trustees of the Circus Arts Conservatory unanimously elected new officers during its June meeting, the arts nonprofit recently announced. Julie Harris becomes the new chair of the board, succeeding Shari Ashman, who held the post for three years. Ken Woodworth will serve as vice chair, a post Harris filled for the past year.
Ashman will continue to be involved with the board as immediate past chair.
During Ashman’s term as chair, the board launched several committees, one focused on facilities and one to manage investments.
Several of the board’s committees updated their bylaws during Ashman’s tenure, which also included recovering from three hurricanes and acquiring a new home for the CAC administrative offices.
In addition to maintaining financial stability, the board oversaw the expansion of programs, including the Sailor Circus and the CAC’s inschool circus arts education.
While Ashman was board chair, the CAC celebrated its 25th year and the Sailor Circus Academy marked its 75th year.
Harris was born in Fort Lauderdale and has lived in Sarasota for 36 years. Harris, who studied art at Andrews Osborne Academy in Willoughby, Ohio, and attended Jacksonville University, is a fierce champion of the arts.
Harris currently serves on the executive and governance committees of the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation and is secretary to SPAF’s board of trustees. She also sits on the boards of the Sarasota Ballet and Ringling College of Art and Design.
Woodworth brings a wealth of professional management experience. He studied mechanical engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and project management at George Washington University, and oversaw major operations domestically and internationally for Marathon Oil.
With Harris and Woodworth in their new positions, the CAC board plans to advance the mission es-
tablished by CAC’s founders, Pedro Reis and Dolly Jacobs, who stepped down from day-to-day operations in 2024. At that time, Jennifer Mitchell became CEO and president, moving up from managing director, a post she held since 2013. Reis remains production and artistry strategist for the CAC, while Jacobs is vice president.
Joseph Caulkins renews contract with Key Chorale
Key Chorale announced that Artistic Director and CEO Joseph Caulkins has signed a 10-year contract extension, ensuring that the symphonic chorus’ bold programming and community impact will continue.
At the same time, the chorus welcomed four new vocalists to its professional ranks: tenor Erick Crow, soprano Heather Weiskerger, baritone Stephen Lusmann and soprano Emmy Grate.
Key Chorale also announced two promotions. Trish Ivey, previously director of marketing, steps into the expanded role of general manager, while Lori Maxwell has been promoted to education and curriculum specialist.
“This moment is a celebration of everything we’ve built and a vision of where we’re headed,” said Caulkins in a statement.
This past season, Key Chorale celebrated its Ruby Anniversary, marking 40 years of presenting innovative and high-quality choral programming. During his tenure, the group has become known for its collaboration with other arts organizations.
The 2025-26 season will be Caulkins’ 19th at the helm of Key Chorale.
CORRECTION
Sarah Durham is associate improv director at Florida Studio Theatre. Her title was incorrect in the July 17 edition of The Observer.
Raising the barre
do too great if I were alone. I like having my family around me.”
Asked what they talk about when they don’t discuss ballet, the Krafts say they talk about food. “We have a lot of food allergies. I eat ‘clean’ all the time, but Jack eats meat and dairy. Still, we have to watch what we’re eating,” Liesl says.
Hird notes that even those Summer Intensive students living in a dorm can have their dietary needs met, whether they’re vegetarian, vegan or have food allergies.
Despite the rigorous class schedule, Jack Kraft says what he values most about his Summer Intensive experience isn’t training; it’s communication. “Talking with partners, asking questions, being able to be social with people — I’ve improved a lot personally,” he says.
As the reputation of the Sarasota Ballet has grown under the leadership of Director Iain Webb and his wife, Assistant Director Margaret Barbieri, the caliber of students applying to the Summer Intensive has grown, Hird says. Promising students in the Summer Intensive can make their way to the preprofessional program in the Margaret Barbieri Conservatory, he notes, and maybe eventually the Sarasota Ballet itself.
One big draw is that the closing recital of the Summer Intensive is held in a real theater, not a studio. In Motion will take place July 24-26 at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts.
Abbott notes that when she was a dancer, many of the summer programs that she attended didn’t even have a recital.
There’s something new at the Summer Intensive’s InMotion recital this year. In addition to the traditional lineup of classical ballet and contemporary dance performances, there is a musical theater number. Former Broadway dancer Savannah Holds, whose two children studied in the Summer Intensive, volunteered to stage an excerpt
from “Gypsy.”
Hird admits he’s biased, but he thinks the recital is something special. “I think it’s lovely for the families to see the improvement in their child’s ballet,” he says. “It’s also a chance for the community to see some really nice dancing in the summer, when there’s not much going on. Plus, you get to see the stars of tomorrow.”
You can be pretty sure one or more of those future stars is going to have Kraft as their last name. While Liesl, Jack and Rosemarie were in Sarasota, their sister, Laurelyn Kraft, traveled to New York City for the School of American Ballet’s Junior Summer Intensive, a weeklong program, a recent Instagram post from Toledo Ballet reveals.
The dancing Krafts are the stuff reality TV shows are made of, though no doubt a little more wholesome than some of the programs.
One big draw is that the closing recital of the Summer Intensive is held in a real theater, not a studio.
Courtesy image
Sarasota Ballet Summer Intensive students Greg Dempsey and Macie Miersch prepare for their pas de deux.
Sarasota foodie bestows her birthday honors
To celebrate her special day, Emma reveals her favorite dishes in Sarasota and Manatee counties.
EMMA BURKE JOLLY CONTRIBUTOR
Food is one of the best ways to celebrate life’s big and bitesized moments, and I get to celebrate my birthday on the tastiest holiday of all: National Culinarians Day.
Every July 25, this delicious day honors the chefs, cooks, bakers and culinary creatives who turn simple ingredients into unforgettable experiences. It’s about more than just plating pretty meals; it’s the heart, hustle and flavor they bring to our tables and our communities.
So, in the spirit of celebration (and maybe a little personal indulgence), I’m shouting out some of the incredible dishes that have truly opened my eyes and tastebuds to what our local food scene is all about. From spicy to sweet, comforting to creative, here’s how I’d spend my ideal foodie birthday if stomach size wasn’t an issue. Each of the five unforgettable restaurants on my list serves up a totally different cuisine, but they share one key ingredient: culinary excellence. Forks up, friends. Let me eat cake ... and a few other things.
NEW PASS GRILL & BAIT SHOP
1505 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota; 941-388-1618; NewPassGrill. com
Birthday Girl Breaky: I’ve been gatekeeping my favorite breakfast sandwich in town because, well, I don’t want to give up my weekend spot. On boat days or lazy Sunday mornings when I want a bite of comfort, a bacon, egg and cheese
($8.99) on white bread hits the spot. Some of my friends argue the BEC is better on croissant with hash browns ($3.99), but I know what I like. Starting my special day with this greasy, toasty and delectable breakfast sandwich inches from the Gulf waters? Party in paradise. Birthday Wish: That this eatery, originally founded in 1929, remains open until my 96th birthday. Between the breakfast, burgers and beautiful views, there’s a bounty of boasts to give the grill. I hope to spend many more boat days by the Pass.
EATALIA MARKET
1561 Lakefront Drive, Unit 100, Sarasota; 941-413-5945; EataliaMarket.com
Birthday Lady Who Lunches: The first year we were dating, my future husband asked me what my favorite meal was — the answer is and always will be chicken Parmesan. Being the great guy that he is, he made enough chicken parm to last until my next birthday. The mounds of chicken cutlets could have replaced sandbags during Hurricane Irma. This year, we’re headed to the new Eatalia Market in Waterside so we can get my birthday fave made to order and not let anything go to waste. Follow my lead and order a chicken parm entree ($18.99) or make your own grinder with a juicy, crunchy chicken cutlet ($5.99) and toppings of your choice on one of seven types of bread (including a gluten-free wrap).
Birthday Wish: The inner tristate (New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, of course!) girlie in me wishes I had enough room left in my stomach to devour the pistachio cheesecake ($5.99) or nibble on the sausage and broccoli rabe arancini ($5.99).
KOJO
1289 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota; 941536-9717; EatKojo.com
Happy (Birthday) Hour: Next, you’ll find me sitting downtown at KOJO trying to not order the entire menu at this hot spot, which is as chic as its dishes are delicious. This birthday girl will be snacking on at least one order of the yellowtail with jalapeño ($19), accompanied with house ponzu and micro cilantro plus an order of the spicy tuna nori tacos ($20) with pickled Thai chile, shiso, scallion and sesame. I’ll be sipping at least one Fujiyama Mama ($13), made with my absolute favorite Aperol, some St. Germain, sake and yuzu, a slice of cucumber and topped with sparkling rosé.
Birthday Wish: That my newly engaged sister joins me in finishing a plate of the cured salmon and caviar nigiri ($15) and perhaps a lychee martini ($15) made with vodka, grapefruit, lychee blend, Peychaud’s bitters and rose water.
Tini Bit Older: This delectable café holds a special place in my heart. It was the last restaurant we took my dad to as a family. It’s also the scene of our first date night after my husband and I got married. (Did I mention the Birthday Girl can get just a little sentimental?) To
choose just one appetizer is a nearly impossible task, but the burrata and fresh fennel ($18) transports me to the Mediterranean, so I’ll start there. Next up, the jumbo black tiger shrimp and peanut noodle salad ($34) with broccoli slaw, spinach, crispy shallots, Thai basil and mint. Meanwhile, I’ll beg my husband for a bite of his beef short rib fettuccine ($27).
Birthday Wish: The cucumber basil gimlet ($9) made with CROP organic cucumber vodka, fresh lime juice, muddled with basil and cucumbers and strained into a martini glass — becomes a staple at all my favorite bars.
C’EST LA VIE 1553 Main St., Sarasota; 941-9069575; 9118 Town Center Parkway Unit 102, Lakewood Ranch; 941961-0111; CestLaVieSarasota.com
Another Year, Another Treat: I was privileged to spend a week in Paris earlier this summer (yes, during the heat wave), and I was worried I wouldn’t taste another decadent Parisian dessert when I got back home. But then I walked into C’est La Vie, and my worries faded into the Sarasota heat. By all means, take a long look at their pastry case, but some of my favorites are: the opera (coffee mousse and dark chocolate ganache), the Tarte Madame ( raspberry jam and caramelized chiboust cream) and of course, macarons.
Birthday Wish: To wake up tomorrow hungry enough to come back and try the Croque Madame ($14.95). The toasted bread, ham, covered with melted Swiss and a sunny-side-up egg is chef’s kiss.
Courtesy images
Here’s hoping my newly engaged sister can join me on my birthday at KOJO for some cured salmon and caviar nigiri ($15) and cocktails!
Thinking about my birthday present? I’ll take the cucumber and basil martini from Baker & Wife, please.
THIS WEEK
THURSDAY
SUMMER CIRCUS SPECTACULAR
11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at The Ringling’s Historic Asolo Theater, 5401 Bay Shore Road
$20 adult; $13 child Visit CircusArts.org.
This thrilling, 60-minute circus of fresh new acts is perfect for people of all ages with short attention spans. Make it a circus day by adding a ticket to The Ringling’s famed Circus Museum for just $5 on the day of the show. Runs through Aug. 9.
BASILE
7 p.m. at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd.
$26 Visit McCurdysComedy.com.
Basile has appeared on HBO, Showtime, Comedy Central and “The Tonight Show.” He’s visiting Sarasota as part of his Greek Mystique World Tour, which is taking him everywhere from Nevada casinos to cruise lines to Greek Orthodox churches. Runs through July 27.
‘HOW SWEET IT IS’
7:30 p.m. at FST’s Goldstein Cabaret, 1239 N. Palm Ave. $18-$42 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
Led by dynamic vocalist and songwriter Luke McMaster, an energetic trio demonstrates the enduring appeal of hits like “Tracks of My Tears,” “You Can’t Hurry Love” and “Stop! In the Name of Love.” Runs through Aug. 3.
DON’T MISS
‘VICE & VIRTUE’
Art Center Sarasota is one of Sarasota’s best kept secrets, even though it’s about to celebrate its 100th birthday in 2026. Located in The Bay, the center offers free admission to its galleries, where the artwork on display is for sale. Its annual juried regional show, “Vice & Virtue,” features artists from across the Southeast charged with exploring the dualities of the human condition. Runs through Aug. 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
IF YOU GO
When: 10 a.m. Friday, July 25
Where: Art Center Sarasota, 707 N. Tamiami
Trail Tickets: Free Info: Visit ArtSarasota.org.
FRIDAY IN THE ROUND
7 p.m. at SCD Home Studio, 1400 Boulevard of the Arts, Suite 300
$20 Visit SarasotaContemporaryDance. org.
In the Round gives rising choreographers from across the country a chance to set a work in progress during Sarasota Contemporary Dance’s Summer Intensive. Choreographers are given feedback from audience members, led by SCD Artistic Director Leymis Bolaños Wilmott. Repeats July 28.
CLASSIC MOVIES AT THE OPERA HOUSE: ‘THE BIRDCAGE’
7 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave. $12 Visit SarasotaOpera.org.
The 1996 remake of the French farce “La Cage aux Folles” stars Robin Williams as a Miami drag club owner and Nathan Lane as his partner and the club’s headliner. Dan Futterman and Calista Flockhart play an engaged couple introducing their future in-laws, one of whom is a Republican senator played by Gene Hackman. Watch the feathers fly!
THE SILVER SCREEN SINGS CABARET
7:30 p.m. at Tree Fort Productions, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 136 $40 Visit TreeFortProductionsProjects. com.
Tree Fort Productions founder and multihyphenate Katherine Michelle Tanner teams up with singer Martina Long to present their favorite songs from four decades of film.
SATURDAY
‘THE HIGH LIFE: CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHY AND THE BIRDS’
10 a.m. at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 1534 Mound St. $28; $23 online Visit Selby.org.
This eye-catching exhibition features about 70 breathtaking works of birds by more than 50 photographers from around the world. The photos are displayed in the Museum of Botany & the Arts and outside throughout the gardens, where some of the birds look like they just flew in. Go early for an optimal experience. Runs through Sept. 14.
MONDAY
RAUSCHENBERG: A CENTENNIAL
CELEBRATION
10 a.m. at The John and Mable Ringling Art Museum, 5401 Bay Shore Road Free with $25 admission; Mondays free Visit Ringling.org.
The Ringling joins museums around the world in honoring the centenary of maverick artist Robert Rauschenberg, who burst onto the art scene in the mid-20th century with collages he called “combines.”
The first American to win the grand prize at the Venice Biennale, Rauschenberg set the stage for the Pop Art movement. The exhibition includes works that The Ringling has in its collection, including pieces Rauschenberg created during his time on Captiva Island on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Runs through Aug. 3.
Alex Hatcher and Will Westray star in Asolo Rep’s “A Year With Frog and Toad,” which runs through Aug. 3 at FSU Center for the Performing Arts.
OUR PICK
‘A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD’
Asolo Repertory Theatre rolls out a fun, family-oriented production that’s priced right. Most people looking at the title of the show assume it’s based on Kenneth Grahame’s classic tale, “Wind in the Willows,” but that is not the case.
Adapted from Arnold Lobel’s beloved children’s stories, Robert and Willie Reale’s musical is structured as a series of vignettes that follow the friendship of Frog and Toad through the seasons. Scott Keys directs. Runs through Aug. 3.
IF YOU GO When: 7 p.m. Thursday, July 24
Where: FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail Tickets: $15-$19 Info: Visit AsoloRep.org.
TUESDAY
‘LILLIAN BLADES: THROUGH THE VEIL’
10 a.m. at the Sarasota Art Museum campus of Ringling College, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail Free for museum members; $20 Visit SarasotaArtMuseum.org.
Award-winning artist Lillian Blades invites visitors to get lost in “veils” that combine handcrafted and found objects to create a mesmerizing effect. Blades attributes her use of dazzling color to her childhood in The Bahamas and her process of creating large-scale assemblages to her late mother, an accomplished seamstress. Stop at the Bistro for a cold beverage or a tasty tartine. Runs through Oct. 26.
WEDNESDAY
‘THE ART OF JAZZ IMPROVISATION’
6-7 p.m. at Selby Library, 1131 First St. Free with registration Visit SarasotaMusicArchive.org.
Sarasota Music Archive presents the second of three installments of its summer jazz happy hour, featuring The Jazz All-Stars. Led by bandmaster Jack Berry, some of the area’s best jazz players use saxophone, vibes, piano, trumpet, bass, guitar, vocals and more to explore jazz improv.
Image courtesy of Adrian Van Stee
Courtesy image Joseph Locala’s “The Shadow of Virtue”
‘Dorothy’s Dictionary’ defines redemption
The production is an odyssey set on the oceans of language at Florida Studio Theatre.
MARTY FUGATE
CONTRIBUTOR
.M. Lewis’ “Dorothy’s Dictionary” is a story of reading, imagination, aspiration, healing and human connection. There are only two characters. But they stand for all of us.
Zan (Ethan Jack Haberfield) is an angry young man. Understandably. His father’s emotionally dead; his mother is literally dead. One day, he snaps — and beats the living daylights out of another kid.
The judge sentences Zan (short for Lyzander) to community service at a convalescent home. He serves his sentence by helping Dorothy (Alice M. Gatling), a reluctantly retired librarian. She’s only 45 years old — and sidelined by an unnamed degenerative illness that’s weakening her heart and eyes.
Dorothy can no longer read the books she loves, so she asks Zan to read them aloud to her. The sullen kid resents it, but he does as told. As the days go by, Zan’s reading gradually stops being a chore and becomes a joy. That’s been Dorothy’s plan all along.
Once a librarian, always a librarian. Dorothy is in love with books. Her nursing home room’s stuffed with them. When Zan begins reading to her, she shares her bibliophilia with evangelical zeal.
Zan reads snippets of “The Old Man and the Sea,” “Hamlet,” “Moby-Dick,” “Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary” and Dorothy’s private dictionary of her own favorite words.
When Zan mentions he’s never been to the ocean, which is only a short bus ride away, Dorothy promptly provides a stack of nautical reading material. Zan’s universe of possibility expands.
Director Kate Alexander guides this short, sweet production with a deft, delicate touch. It’s a quiet play. The hero is a librarian, after all. The scenes are intimate moments, not shouting matches.
Gatling’s Dorothy is a quiet force of nature. Her characterization is nuanced, sharp, funny and never sentimental. She’s got a love affair with language — and a private war with digital devices. “Look it up,” is her mantra.
Her indomitable personality will share her literate loves (and hates)
IF YOU GO ‘DOROTHY’S DICTIONARY’
When: Through Aug. 10
Where: FST’s Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St.
Tickets: $25-$42
Info: Visit FloridaStudioTheatre. org.
with Zan. (In the process, she becomes the mother he never had.)
Haberfield’s Zan is locked inside himself. Beneath his hoodie, his character’s a gumbo of hurt and anger. The kid’s not hostile — but his words can be cutting. His disgusted description of the care center? “The whole place smells like bleach and sick people.”
But when Zan reads Hamlet’s “To be or not to be” soliloquy, the words catch in his throat. As if he’s considering these alternatives for the first time.
The action unfolds in Isabel and Moriah Curley-Clay’s nursing home set. It resembles a massive diorama or a cut-away model in a Wes Anderson movie. They evoke the sterility with implied drop ceilings and an angular wall in forced perspective.
Chelsea Allen’s costumes clue you into the characters. Dorothy’s decked out in decorative shawls of pink or purple. Zan’s decked out in a hoodie like a teenage version of the Unabomber. It’s body armor — his own wearable hiding place.
Lewis’ script is elegantly simple and highly original. A bare synopsis sounds formulaic. But the playwright reinvents the narrative recipe. Lewis avoids after-school special clichés and stock characters. And she’s happy to leave big questions hanging.
What’s Dorothy’s illness?
How did a classmate trigger Zan’s rage?
The playwright doesn’t say. She has bigger questions to answer.
Why do books matter?
Dorothy (and presumably the playwright) loves books and the power of words. Not only for the mental trips that reading provides. She also loves the human connections it sparks.
When used for good, words bring people together. Which they do, for Zan and Dorothy. And the FST audience all around me. Their wordless reactions spoke volumes. They all were touched by this gentle, witty, smart, literate and moving play.
YOUR NEIGHBORS
Constructing a family legacy
Three brothers pursue entrepreneurial goals.
DANA KAMPA STAFF WRITER
Entrepreneurship runs deep in the Telfair family. Brothers Alexander, Brendan and Charles Jr. drew inspiration from their father, Charles Sr., who started a law practice in Sarasota.
The trio have started their own businesses, serving communities in Longboat Key, St. Armands and Sarasota.
Their grandfather started the trend, operating as a business owner up north. He worked in the arcade and landscaping fields and, even after retiring, dabbled in flipping properties.
“We come from a very entrepreneurial family,” Brendan said. “Both instilled a sense of pride in us, a sort of ‘eat what you catch’ mentality.”
Last September, Alexander started Telfair Chiropractic at The Paradise Center building. In June, he moved from the Paradise Center to downtown Sarasota, where he continues to
treat many of his Longboat patients.
Charles and Brendan recently teamed up to launch Telfair Building Co., tackling eight major projects on Longboat Key in the first two years of business. The brothers have worked on well over 20 projects on the island before starting their venture.
“Between Brendan’s high-end commercial experience and my high-end residential experience, we’re able to bring quite a bit to the table that, I don’t think, other firms our size are able to do,” CJ said.
All born a few years apart and raised in the Oak Ford area of Sarasota, the three brothers cherished the chaotic fun of growing up together. They were imbued with a solid work ethic from a young age as they helped maintain the 7-acre property.
Their parents, Charles Sr. and Valerie, were a big inspiration for keeping the family together here, Brendan said.
“Our father and his father have grown such deep roots here that it would feel foolish to move somewhere else and completely start
over,” he said. Alexander added, “We’re about as tight-knit as families get these days. We lean on each other and pick each other’s brains regarding work or anything else. We think alike, but we also help fill in the gaps.”
Alexander drew inspiration for his chiropractic career from his background in sports, specifically basketball.
“Growing up, I was an athlete, and I experienced my own injuries and woes,” he said. “I got the best results from chiropractors, and I became very interested in what they did and the nature of healing, particularly through rehab and nutrition.”
He graduated as salutatorian from the National University of Health Sciences.
Once he knew the career path he wanted to pursue, Alexander decided he wanted to do it through his own business.
“I didn’t want to conform to a practice model that wasn’t what I wanted to do with my practice, not that any others are better or worse,” he said. “I wanted to treat patients in a certain way, spending the time with them that they need, and I wanted to have my own reign with that decision making.”
His practice focuses on sportsrelated injuries, chronic pain and long-term biomechanical health.
“My focus is to make sure that people can go to the gym or go fishing or whatever they love without pain,” he said.
Brendan and CJ have gotten to know the local market well over the years, and they appreciate being able
“We’re
about as tight-knit as families get these days. We lean on each other and pick each other’s brains regarding work or anything else
... ”
— Alexander Telfair
to consult one another on various aspects of the business. Brendan credited his brother for his previous experience, adding, “CJ has a good idea of the trending designs and looks of the time.”
CJ explained, “My first foray into construction was in concrete countertops, which exposed me to nothing but high-end clientele. It’s not only fun and exactly the kind of work I want to be doing, but there’s also a lot of demand for it around here.”
Particularly on Longboat Key, a clean aesthetic continues to rise in popularity, with many white-onwhite features, complemented by blue and gray accents. Lines tend to be sleek, rather than curved, and many people are favoring waterfallstyle counters, flat cabinets with hidden handles, and lots of recessed lighting.
While there have been plenty of highlights since starting the company, Brendan and CJ said they’ll never forget the satisfaction of completing their first build that they tackled from initial design to finished structure.
BUSINESS WITH THE TELFAIRS
TELFAIR BUILDING CO.
1023 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton. By appointment only. Call Brendan at 941-894-7985 Charles at 941-306-7311. Visit TelfairBuildingCo.com.
TELFAIR CHIROPRACTIC
630 S. Orange Ave., Suite 300 B. Open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 941-685-2415 or visit TelfairChiropractic. com.
LUTZ, BOBO & TELFAIR TRIAL LAWYERS
2 N. Tamiami Trail, fifth Floor. Call 951-1800 or visit LBTLaw.com.
They agreed that they enjoy working with Longboat Key clients because they often have a clear vision of what they want for a project and the means to realize a beautiful project to its fullest.
“It’s a blessing to get to work with folks like that,” he said.
To future fellow entrepreneurs, they advise having a concrete plan, constantly learning and networking, and staying the course, no matter what.
“You can prepare as much as you want for your venture, but at some point, you just have to jump,” Brendan said.
CJ, the eldest, welcomed baby Charles, nicknamed JJ, to the world last month. Time will tell if the newest addition to the Telfair family will continue the entrepreneurial legacy.
“We’ve already been talking construction in front of him,” CJ said. Alexander said all three of them appreciate carrying forward the family legacy.
CJ added, “When Brendan and I were just college kids talking about starting a business, I never realized what a big, gratifying portion of it would be continuing to carry the torch.”
At the latest project site on St. Armands Circle, Telfair Building Co. is bringing new life to an older building. Brothers CJ and Brendan Telfair run the company, tackling highend commercial and residential projects.
Courtesy image Alexander Telfair started at the Medical Suite at the Paradise Center in September.
Dana Kampa
BEST BET
WEDNESDAY,
JULY 30
BATHE IN RELAXING SOUNDS
2-3 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Amy Steinhauser, reiki master teacher and sound healing practitioner, offers a relaxing sound bath experience with crystal, Tibetan bowls, gongs and chimes. Free, with donations welcome. Call 941-383-6493 or email Amy@ TheParadiseCenter. org.
SATURDAY, JULY 26
Dana Kampa Amy Steinhauser, executive director of The Paradise Center
TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS
QIGONG
FINAL CALL FOR TURTLE WALKS
6:45 a.m. at the beach access at 4795 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Longboat Key Turtle Watch is hosting its last free educational turtle walk for the summer. Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium-trained volunteers lead public talks for participants of all ages, though an adult must accompany children. Walks may be up to a mile-and-a-half in the sand and only canceled amid thunderstorms. Visit LBKTurtleWatch.com for details and information about ongoing monitoring efforts.
RECURRING EVENTS
TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS
LONGBOAT LIBRARY
10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 555 Bay Isles Road. Call 941-383-6493.
SUNDAYS AND MONDAYS
YOGA
10-11 a.m. Sundays and 6-7 p.m. on Mondays at St. Armands Circle Park, 1 St. Armands Circle. This slow-flow yoga class is free to those 18 and older or accompanied by an adult. Bring a mat or towel and water. Register at Paige@YogaWithPaige.us or visit YogaWithPaige.us to learn more.
10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Learn all about this ancient healing art of movement and meditation. Fee is $20. Walk-ins welcome. Call 941-3836493.
YOGA
11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Debby Debile of Feel Good Yoga & Massage leads a gentle yoga class that can be done on a mat or in a chair. Cost is $20. Call 941-3836493.
FRIDAYS UP YOUR TAI CHI SKILLS
10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Certified instructor Reuben Fernandez leads a weekly intermediate tai chi class, held outdoors when weather permits. Fernandez also leads a beginner class at 10 a.m. on Wednesdays, but builds off those skills with a focus on Chen Style, Lao Ca Dija. It’s recommended to wear close-toed shoes with low heels rather than running shoes. Cost is $20. Call 941-383-6493.
From criminology to chemistry
Students impress Longboat scholarship committee.
DANA KAMPA STAFF WRITER
Judy Govalet, a member of Longboat Island Chapel’s scholarship committee, said all seven of this year’s recipients are previous award winners. She said it just goes to show how sincerely devoted those students are to keeping up their grades, working toward their career ambitions and making time to give back to others.
“The requirements are quite stringent in terms of character, integrity and community service,” she said, noting that the committee focuses particularly on those attending schools in Florida.
This year’s recipients are Ty’Anna Ash, Jessica Burdette, Jacob Burdette, Kage Jones, Grace Lucas, Samantha McLead and Danae Tran.
Ash, Jones and McLead joined in a post-Sunday service celebration on July 20 at the chapel, where they thanked congregation members for their support over cake.
McLead, a rising senior at Florida State University, said she is immensely proud to have earned scholarships for four years, aiding her in pursuing a future in criminal justice. She is majoring in psychology and criminology, and she is considering a career in law.
“I’ve always been interested in how the mind works and getting to know people, and I love true crime documentaries,” she said. “I put the two together and thought it would be a great foundation for law school.”
She is currently interning with the Sarasota law firm Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick. After graduating law school, she hopes to bring her experience back home.
“I want to help people who aren’t
capable of advocating for themselves or don’t necessarily have the funds to do so,” she said.
Ash, a Florida State University attendee from Sarasota, is studying exercise physiology. Inspired by a challenging recovery from a sports-related injury, she hopes to one day open her own physical therapy practice.
“I played point guard in basketball and ran track, but I tore my ACL,” she said.
She is set to graduate after the upcoming fall semester.
Jones is studying chemical engineering at the University of Florida.
His particular focus is environment-based work, examining how direct air capture technology catches carbon dioxide and pollutants from the air.
This isn’t the only accomplishment he’s celebrating this summer. He and a team of fellow student scientists earned the opportunity to present this past November at an chemical engineering conference in Boston.
Jones continues a family tradi-
tion of earning scholarships from Longboat Island Chapel. Both his sister and mother are previous award winners.
All three recipients that day offered words of encouragement to incoming college freshmen, including those of Ash, who said, “Never stop chasing your dreams.”
The scholarship committee works closely with regional schools on student selection for the awards, and every recipient must first interview with the committee and demonstrate meeting all the criteria.
Govalet said even with the financial strain of rebuilding the hurricane-damaged chapel this year, members made funding the scholarships a priority.
Each awardee received $1,500 to support their studies.
“We decided to set a uniform amount awhile back, honestly, because these kids are all so highly qualified,” she said. Typically, the application deadline is around April.
Dana Kampa
Judy Govalet, a member of Longboat Island Chapel’s scholarship committee, joins students Samantha McLead, Kage Jones and Ty’Anna Ash in celebrating this year’s awards.
Local Roots, Legacy of Experience: One Family, Two Generations
ON A ROLL
Longboaters filled two vehicles driven by Stillpoint Mission President Gary Scott and board member
Linda Berman with donated rolls of toilet paper July 15 as part of parishioners’ latest charity drive.
Longboat Island Chapel and the Bradenton-based nonprofit have worked together many times over the years, most recently organizing a food drive at the church in April.
Stillpoint Mission supports the community by providing food, hygiene items and some essential utility bill support to those in need.
Scott and Berman shared updates on the nonprofit’s efforts to support residents, including an upcoming back-toschool backpack drive.
The group is distributing 800 supplyfilled backpacks to students on July 28, along with $25 vouchers for children to get new shoes before starting the semester.
“All our activities are possible with your help,” said Scott, who, on July 9, celebrated the 37th anniversary of marrying his wife at Longboat Island Chapel.
But the focus of the July 15 meet-up was collecting as many toilet rolls as possible.
Scott said some people seeking assistance get in line as early as 4 a.m. on dis-
tribution days, highlighting the significant need for resources in the community.
“We serve food to anyone who needs it,” he said. “We don’t ask for IDs for the food pantry or have any other requirements. If they’re there, we feed them.”
Stillpoint only requests identification for those requesting assistance with water and electricity bills.
Volunteers dole out frozen dinners from Meals on Wheels, as well as shelf-stable staples from other organizations and individuals, toilet paper, bread, bags of rice and beans, juice, fruit and vegetables.
The nonprofit distributes everything it can, especially focusing on the needs of area families. While it does distribute infant formula, Scott said volunteers end up giving out donations as quickly as they receive them.
Berman and Scott invited Longboaters to pay a visit to the facility at 1608 14th St. W., in Bradenton, and lend a hand to see the impact donors have in the community. For more information about the nonprofit’s mission and volunteer opportunities, visit StillpointMission.org.
— DANA KAMPA
Photos by Dana Kampa
Linda Berman, board member at Stillpoint Mission, fills her car with donated toilet paper from members of Longboat Island Chapel on July 15.
Stillpoint Mission President Gary Scott shares how working with the entirely volunteer-run nonprofit has enriched his life.
This month’s Gather and Give charity drive focused on collecting toilet paper for Stillpoint Mission. Even with many members away for the season, Longboat Island Chapel filled two cars with donations.
Sleepy Lagoon Park home tops week’s sales at $3.3 million
ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR
Michael and Lillian Carroll, of Boise, Idaho, sold their home at 750 Penfield St. to Anton Rx LLC for $3.3 million. Built in 1977, it has five bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,710 square feet of living area. It sold for $3 million in 2022.
LONGBEACH
Amy Bressler Drake and Michael Drake, of Sarasota, sold their home at 6821 Longboat Drive S. to Stephen and Lisa Dalkert, of Rochester Hills, Michigan, for $2 million. Built in 1996, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,834 square feet of living area.
JOHN RINGLING ESTATES
Gerald and Kristztina Gilmartin, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 355 N. Washington Drive to Michael and Kelly Van Vliet, of Lakewood Ranch, for $1,875,000. Built in 1955, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,501 square feet of living area. It sold for $305,000 in 2009.
C. Ross and Katherine Morrison, of Sarasota, sold their home at 439 Madison Drive to 439 Madison LLC for $1.3 million. Built in 1952, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,020 square feet of living area.
253 Coolidge Dr LLC sold the home at 253 Coolidge Drive to Stephen Petersheim, of Gap, Pennsylvania, for $1,185,000. Built in 1947, it has
one bath and 837 square feet of living area. It sold for $157,000 in
SPANISH MAIN YACHT CLUB
John Elliot, of Charleston, West Virginia, sold his Unit 215 condominium at 679 Spanish Drive S. to Amanda Boe, of Darien, Connecticut, for $250,000. Built in 1969, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,361 square feet of living area. It sold for $780,000 in 2022.
TOP BUILDING PERMITS
Courtesy image
The Sleepy Lagoon home was built in 1977 and has five bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,710 square feet of living area.
2012.
Image courtesy of Douglas Elliman Real Estate
The Longbeach home at 6821 Longboat Drive S. sold for $2 million.
NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH
FORECAST
MOON PHASES
TIDES
CHANGES OF SCENERY by Sam Cordes, edited by Jared Goudsmit
By Luis Campos Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past
