Lwr fall 2017

LWR LIFE LAKEWOOD RANCH AREA’S COMMUNITY, NATURE, STYLE FALL 2017

Sweet Savior The story behind Lakewood Ranch’s bees — and the man who keeps them safe.

246498

WHEN YOU COME HOME,

COUNTRY CLUB EAST

THE INLETS

THE COUNTRY CLUB

RIVER WIND

Lakewood Ranch

Bradenton

Lakewood Ranch

Bradenton

From turning the heavy brass knob of your front door to feeling the sumptuous carpet on your bare feet, we believe every moment of life should be enjoyed.

Through unmatched integrity, personalized service, and unique custom options, we strive to fulfill the vision of every Neal Signature Home owner. It’s called Living Well, and it’s a luxury you’ll enjoy around every corner of your new Neal Signature home.

FEEL LIKE YOU’VE ARRIVED.

NealSignatureHomes.com 941.254.2969

WILDGRASS

PROVENCE

MIRABAY

Sarasota

Sarasota

Tampa CBC1257901 LWR LIFE

3

246610

mallatUTC.com/tasteofUTC

October 1-31 Savor delights from your favorite Mall at University Town Center eateries this October.

Choose from the distinctly delightful options of Lunch, Dinner or Sweet Treats, or indulge in them all! For complete promotion details and menus, visit mallatUTC.com/tasteofUTC

LUNCH

DINNER

Three Course Lunch - $15 Brio Tuscan Grille, Burger & Beer Joint, Kona Grill, Seasons 52, Sophie’s at Saks 5th Ave.

Three Course Dinner - $29 Brio Tuscan Grille, Burger & Beer Joint, Kona Grill, Seasons 52, Sophie’s at Saks 5th Ave.

Lunch Plates Special - $20 The Capital Grille

Three Course Dinner - $49 The Capital Grille

SWEET TREATS

Visit these delightful eateries for exclusive offers Great American Cookie Co. and Sweet Doctors

LWR LIFE

5

There’s club living.

And then there’s

living.

G r a n d

MATERA from the $700s

MAKE IT YOURS

from the 700s $

VINEYARDS from the $800s

O p e n i n g

LAKE VIEW ESTATES from $1 million

CUSTOM ESTATE HOMES from $1.4 million

Discover luxury and lifestyle beyond compare at Lakewood Ranch.

The Lake Club offers expanded amenities and activities, concierge services, a refreshed clubhouse underway, and a wide selection of homes and homesites in four distinctive neighborhoods.

Visit our Model Preview Center today | 8307 Lake Club Blvd., Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 | (866) 498-5253 | thelakeclublwr.com ANCHOR BUILDERS | ARTHUR RUTENBERG HOMES | JOHN CANNON HOMES | LEE WETHERINGTON HOMES LONDON BAY HOMES | MURRAY HOMES | NUTTER CUSTOM CONSTRUCTION | STOCK SIGNATURE HOMES BROKER PARTICIPATION WELCOMED. ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS REFERENCE SHOULD BE MADE TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. NOT AN OFFERING WHERE PROHIBITED BY STATE LAW. PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. 247106

LIVE A LITTLE. THEN FIND Y O U R L O T. MEET WITH COMMUNITY EXPERTS. TAKE A GUIDED TOUR. HAVE FUN AT COUNTLESS EVENTS. DISCOVER YOUR DREAM HOME.

ONE MONTH. ENDLESS EXCITEMENT.

OCT 20 - NOV 19 LWRTOUROFHOMES.COM START YOUR VISIT AT ONE OF OUR INFORMATION CENTERS.

LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL 34211

INFORMATION CENTER - SOUTH 6220 UNIVERSIT Y PKWY. LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL 34240

247337

11506 RANGELAND PKWY.

.......

INFORMATION CENTER - NORTH

THE HOME OF TTHHEE HHOOMMEE OOFF

MORE QUALITY TIME WITH GIRL’S BEST FRIEND. Every Meritage home has EPA-recommended Every EPA-recommended Every Meritage home has EPA-recommended clean air management that means you’ll clean you’ll live live clean air management that means you’ll live in aa cleaner home with allergy-, danderin dander- and and in a cleaner home with allergy-, dander- and dust-reducing freshness coursing through dust-reducing through dust-reducing freshness coursing through every vent and every room. So you can every can rest rest every vent and every room. So you can rest easy knowing every breath you take easy take is is aa easy knowing every breath you take is a cleansing one. Visit us today, and let’s cleansing let’s start start cleansing one. Visit us today, and let’s start building something something great for you and yours. building greatfor foryou youand andyours. yours. building something great

®.® L I F E .

B U I LT. B E T T E R L I F E . B U I LT. B E T T E R . visit IITAG TAG TA PA visit MMM MEEEERRRRIITAG TAGEEEEHHHHOOOOM MEEEESSS. ..CCCOOOMM M///TA TAMM MPA PA visit visit MM

Call: 88 55 55 -- 66 77 99 -- 99 99 444 111 Call: Call: 8 5 5 - 6 7 9 - 9 9 4 1

243494

Features performance claims are created exclusively by applicable governmental agencies, third party suppliers, rating services, utility companies, and/or certified auditors, and are based on U.S. Department of Energy Features performance claims are created exclusively applicable governmental agencies, thirdparty partysuppliers, suppliers,rating ratingservices, services,utility utility companies,and/or and/orcertified certifiedauditors, auditors,and andare arebased basedonon onU.S. U.S. Department Energy Features performance are created exclusively applicable agencies, third rating services, utility companies, and/or certified auditors, and are based U.S. Department ofclean Energy methodology (whereclaims applicable) and average usageby and scores. governmental See, for example, http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/airclean.html and http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/residential/hvac.html, with respect toofof air Features performance claims are created exclusively byby applicable governmental companies, Department Energy methodology (where applicable) andaverage averageusage usageand andscores. scores.See, See,for example,http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/airclean.html http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/airclean.html andhttp://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/residential/hvac.html, http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/residential/hvac.html, withrespect respecttoto clean methodology (where applicable) and and http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/residential/hvac.html, with respect toclean cleanairair air management, http://www.energystar.gov/ia/new_homes/features/Appliances_062906.pdf, with respect to ENERGY STAR®, and http://epb.apogee.net/res/reevair.asp, http://web.ornl.gov/info/reports/1993/3445605888000.pdf, methodology (where applicable) and average usage and scores.

See, forforexample, example, http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/airclean.html and with management, http://www.energystar.gov/ia/new_homes/features/Appliances_062906.pdf,with withrespect respecttotoENERGY ENERGYSTAR®, STAR®,and andhttp://epb.apogee.net/res/reevair.asp, http://epb.apogee.net/res/reevair.asp,http://web.ornl.gov/info/reports/1993/3445605888000.pdf, http://web.ornl.gov/info/reports/1993/3445605888000.pdf, management, http://www.energystar.gov/ia/new_homes/features/Appliances_062906.pdf, STAR®, and http://epb.apogee.net/res/reevair.asp, http://web.ornl.gov/info/reports/1993/3445605888000.pdf, and http://www.sprayfoam.org/ management, http://www.energystar.gov/ia/new_homes/features/Appliances_062906.pdf, and http://www.sprayfoam.org/ and http://www.sprayfoam.org/ and http://www.sprayfoam.org/

The ER at LAKEWOOD RANCH MEDICAL CENTER

is here for your family.

We offer prompt, comprehensive emergency treatment around the clock. Our emergency medical team is highly experienced in managing health emergencies in children of all ages, as well as adults.

• Rapid response

• Medical expertise

• Quality care

• Private treatment rooms

Advanced, accredited chest pain and cardiovascular treatment.

Certified by the Joint Commission as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center.

8330 Lakewood Ranch Blvd.

Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 www.lakewoodranchmedicalcenter.com

224785

Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke SILVER PLUS Achievement Award Hospital.

For more information about the ER at our hospital, please call 941.782.2100.

Physicians are on the medical staff of Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, but, with limited exceptions, are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Lakewood Ranch Medical Center. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians. 171123

A Century of American Stability Est.1898 – England, Arkansas

A Century of American Stability Est.1898 – England, Arkansas

MORTGAGES MADE EASY

Southwest Florida’s Most Trusted Direct Lender

LOCAL IN-HOUSE

Underwriting and Loan Processing Conventional Mortgages FHA | VA | USDA | JUMBO

Reverse Mortgage Purchase or Refinance | Bridge Loans Give us a call and you’ll see the difference (941) 361- 1280

Ray Vanacore Sales Manager NMLS #155933

Oday Marogi Area Manager NMLS# 457582

Dusty Meshberger Area Manager NMLS #412459

OVER 2.6 BILLION FUNDED IN 2016 Oday Marogi and Dustin Meshberger are not loan originators. This is not a commitment to lend or extend credit. All loans are subject to credit approval including credit worthiness, insurability, and ability to provide acceptable collateral. Not all loans or products are available in all states or counties. Bank of England is not affiliated with any government agency.

Bank of England Mortgage is a division of Bank of England. NMLS 418481. Member FDIC.

246496

(941) 361-1280 | 235 N. Orange Ave, Suite 200 Sarasota, FL 34236 | www.BOEFlorida.com

228364

CONTENTS

FALL 2017

FEATURES

60 12

LWR LIFE

SHUTTER BUGS Lakewood Ranch residents show why living here is picture perfect.

66

BIG SPLASH Your primer on the area’s top event this fall: the World Rowing Championships.

74

SWEET STUFF A Lakewood Ranch planner takes the plight of bees seriously.

One sting at a time.

CREEKWOOD CROSSING 1-75 & S.R. 70 BRADENTON, FL 941-751-6600 Mon-Sat: 9:30am - 5:30pm 246495

DEPARTMENTS 18 FROM THE EDITOR

46 50

23 BUZZ Fort Hamer bridge narrows the gap, film festival scouts seek powerful stories, a new preschool brings science to life and meet the dean driving SCF’s growth out east.

39 PULSE Two local wine shop owners celebrate nearly a decade of success.

We’ll drink to that.

40 CALENDAR From pumpkin patches to storytime, don’t miss the best events of fall.

50 CHARITY SNAPSHOT Dreams really do come true for the kids at this camp.

30 83

56 STYLE Looking to add a little sizzle to your style? Check out these most-wanted manicures.

83 HAVEN For Jim and Patty LeMay, this model home meant ready-made living.

94 BACK AT THE RANCH Pack Pinterest-perfect lunches — that your kids will actually eat.

99 RANCH SCENE See who’s who at the area’s top events.

106 PARTING GLANCE

14

LWR LIFE

247627

LWRLIFE

WE Have YOUR Leather!

LAKEWOOD RANCH AREA’S COMMUNITY, NATURE, STYLE Publisher — Emily Walsh

EDITORIAL Executive Editor — Kat Hughes Managing Editor — Heidi Kurpiela Design — Nicole Thompson Contributors Pam Eubanks, Katie Johns, Ryan Kohn, Niki Kottmann, Eric Snider and Shellie Terry

ADVERTISING Director of Advertising — Jill Raleigh Associate Publisher — Lori Ruth Advertising Managers — Kathleen O’Hara and Penny DiGregorio UP TO 50%

Advertising Executives — Diane de Spirlet, Shelly Grant, Abby Hincker, Beth Jacobson, Bob Lewis, Richeal Parisi, Toni Perren and Laura Ritter

OFF FLOOR MODELS & CUSTOM ORDERS

Delivered in WEEKS not months! | Lifetime Warranty 100’S OF COLORS... leathers, fabrics & microfiber

CREATIVE SERVICES Director of Creative Services and IT — Kathy Payne Creative Director — Caleb Stanton Creative Services Coordinator — Marjorie Holloway Graphic Designers — Thom Gravelle, Shawna Polana, Luis Trujillo and Allison Wampole

CONTACT LWR LIFE

Visit our Showroom today to view our latest inventory!

LEATHER GALLERY

To submit story ideas, calendar listings or have your event considered for coverage, contact Kat Hughes at khughes@yourobserver.com.

For advertising inquiries, call 366-3468.

and

BEDDING CENTER

www.LeatherGallerySarasota.com

941-993-1057

(1.5 miles South of Bee Ridge Road) Mon.-Fri. 10-7 • Sat. 10-6 • Sun. 12-5

16

LWR LIFE

247455

5251 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, 34231

LWR Life is a quarterly publication of the Observer Media Group published in May, August, November and February in partnership with Schroeder-Manatee Ranch.

lwrlifemagazine.com

Boundless Envelope pushers, barrier breakers, odds defiers. We couldn’t feel more privileged if they were astronauts, but they’re not. They’re our patients.

Rehabilitating from stroke, spinal cord injury and other serious conditions, these individuals have strength and courage and now they’ll have state-of-the-art resources, too.

Sarasota Memorial’s new 74,000-square-foot, 44-bed Rehabilitation Pavilion is high-tech, high-touch, empowering patients to forge their own boundless path to mobility and independence.

smh.com/boundless

222226

REHABILITATION PAVILION

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

What the buzz is all about

The U.S. Women’s 8+ team is the one to watch at the World Rowing Championships.

I

t’s nearly here. The event we’ve been hearing about for years. The event heralded as a boon for our sports tourism industry. The event partially responsible for the expedition of our shiny new intersection at University Parkway and Interstate 75. It’s nearly here: The World Rowing Championships.

For those involved in the sport, Sept. 24 through Oct. 1 will be like a dream come true.

They will get the chance to see some of the world’s best rowers rowing through the same waters they do at Nathan Benderson Park.

For those of us who are not part of the sport, I keep hearing the phrase “Super Bowl of rowing” being thrown around. Sounds like a big deal.

I first learned about rowing in a book. Typical journalist. But it was a good book, and one I would recommend you put on your list before the championships arrive: “The Boys in the Boat,” by Daniel James Brown.

Not only will you get an intimate

18

LWR LIFE

Rather than exterminate nuisance bees, SMR’s Bob Simons saves them.

snapshot of how a scrappy University of Washington team changed the sport’s landscape in the 1930s, you’ll also learn about what rowers are needed in a shell of eight, what their jobs are and what they’re doing during a race. Trust me, if you plan on taking in any of the competition next month, this book will be a pleasurable primer to help you learn enough to make you understand — and really enjoy — what you’re watching.

If you don’t have time to read before the event, (and who has the time?), don’t fear. You can turn to Page 66 for sports guru Ryan Kohn’s overview of the championships. From how Nathan Benderson Park evolved from a borrow pit to a world-class rowing facility to what a coxswain is and does, he’s got you covered. He even throws in a few phrases so you can sound smart talking about rowing at parties.

If you’re more of an armchair enthusiast, Managing Editor Heidi Kurpiela explores an activity you’ll be glad you’re not experiencing in person: beekeeping. We discovered the president of Lakewood Ranch Development

practices what the community preaches: good stewardship of the land.

As a hobby, Bob Simons extracts wayward bees who have made their home in underground utility boxes and places them in proper hives. The result is the honey served in the Lodge at Country Club East, the preservation of bees on the property and an activity that Simons finds strangely cathartic — despite the occasional sting. It’s a story you won’t want to miss (Page 74).

As bees’ populations across the nation have plummeted in recent years, Simons is serious in his dedication to saving the creatures and ensuring their hives thrive in the area.

“He’s trying to save the bees one hive at a time,” Simons’ wife, Leigh, told Kurpiela. “He’s like the bee whisperer.”

He has tried to avoid the limelight for years, but, braving a rainstorm and a few stings of her own, Kurpiela got the story. We hope you find Simons’ commitment to his ladies (most bees in the hive are female) as touching and inspiring as we do.

Kat Hughes Executive Editor

EXPECT THE EXCEPTIONAL IN LAKEWOOD RANCH REAL ESTATE

Since 1976, Michael Saunders & Company has been focused on the exceptional: exceptional people, proper ties and service. Known for selling homes of distinction, respected for our outstanding agents and trusted for our commitment to ser vice excellence, you can be sure of a rewarding experience when you choose us as your real estate partner.

For all of your real estate needs in Lakewood Ranch and beyond, we invite you to contact us — and to expect the exceptional.

MICHAELSAUNDERS.COM | 8325 Lakewood Ranch Blvd. | Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 | 941.907.9595 228379

A S P E CTAC R V I EUW A SU P LEACTAC LAR VI E

of Friendship of Friendship O

nce the you see Plymouth Harbor andameet Start your day with workout in the fitnessStart your day with a workout in Once you see Plymouth Harbor and meet Tai Chi class, or a dip i thechange peoplethewho call itcenter, home, you will Tai change a soothing Chi class, or a dip insoothing the people who call it home, you will pool.

Maybe of prefer the creative outlet of way you think about your future.the way you think about your future.you prefer the creative outletyou our woodworking shop or art studio. Join in on or art studio. Join in on a shop You’ll meet active, vibrant, independent-minded a game of bocce or a sit in on an educational You will meet active, vibrant, independent-minded a sit in on an educational lecture people – who share a love of boating, a passion lecture people – who share a love of boating, a passion for to choose from, the possibilitie for helping others, and a natural spirit of helping others, and a natural friendship.

Therespirit is soofmuch to choose from, the possibilities friendship. it is not just a possibility, but ev are endless. And it is not just a possibility, Plymouth but Harbor. Enjoy a rich m the you proximity everyday to downtown Sarasota, With the proximity to downtownWith Sarasota, life here at Plymouth Harbor. surrounded by spectacular view can just as easily enjoy a night you out on thejust town can as comfortably enjoy a night out Come seeinfor yourself – and get a new as you can stay in and entertainon friends.

You will the town as you can stay and entertain Come see for yourself – and get perspective on retirement living. Call us today love the beautiful setting that looks like a firstfriends. You will love the beautiful setting that on retirement living. Call us tod for a tour of our award-winning campus, luxury class resort, but feels just like home. Enjoy a rich like a first-class resort, but feels just accommodations and amenities. myriad of activities surrounded looks by spectacular award-winning campus, luxury like home. And there is always plenty to do. views of Sarasota Bay. and amenities.

S A R A S O TA’ S P R E M I E R L I F E P L A N C O M M U N I T Y

236821

247450

CE L E B R A T Florida I N G 5 34236 0 Y E A R S O F S P E C TA C U L A R V I E W S 700 John Ringling Blvd • Sarasota, (941) 365-2600 • www.PlymouthHarbor.org 700 John Ringling Blvd • Sarasota, Florida 34236 (941) 365-2600 • www.PlymouthHarbor.org A as Not-For-Profit Continuing Retirement Plymouth Harbor, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation which operates a Continuing Care RetirementCare Community (CCRC)Community regulated under Chapter 651, Florida Statutes.”/OIR#88039

(CCRC) / OIR #88039

M ark e t i n g a d ist i nctiv e h oM e Presenting your home requires market knowledge and resources.

the Linda aPPLe teaM covers a wide range of lifestyles, and is committed to showcasing properties that appeal to buyers.

Our goal is luxury at all price points.

228539

BUZZ

NEWS, HAPPENINGS AND PEOPLE

Science springs to life in this STEM-focused preschool.

PAGE 30

Bridging the Divide

BY LWR LIFE STAFF

A

fter years of planning, meetings and construction, the Fort Hamer Bridge spanning the Manatee River is scheduled to open by the end of August.

The 2,300-foot bridge will connect Fort Hamer Road north of the river with Upper Manatee River Road south of the river. Aside from giving the area a major north-south connector east of Interstate 75, the bridge will also act as a gateway to bring the communities north and south of the river together: primarily, Parrish and Lakewood Ranch.

In June, Manatee County District 5 Commissioner Vanessa Baugh told our sister publication, the East County Observer, that the residents in the Parrish community seem to be most excited about the project, for they are probably the ones who benefit most.

“They feel like it’s going to cut the time going south,” she says.

But, not to worry. Baugh adds that traffic studies don’t predict the bridge bringing more traffic onto Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.

Instead, they indicate most travelers will turn on State Road 64 to get to Interstate 75.

24

LWR LIFE

BY THE NUMBERS

30

Months of construction the bridge has taken. The project started in March 2015.

$32.69 million

Project cost, including improvements to Upper Manatee River and Fort Hamer roads.

4

Environments the contractor had to pour foundations in: on land, shallow water, in marshland and the river channel.

10-12

In feet, the depth of the river at its deepest part in the channel.

LWR LIFE

25

Magida Diouri uses a four-pronged approach to select films to screen.

Films for Thought For 10 days in November,

the Cine-World Film Festival strives to serve up movies that move.

BY KATIE JOHNS | CONTRIBUTOR

26

LWR LIFE

Katie Johns

F

or Magida Diouri, a film needs four components to be considered good: a good cast, a good story, good cinematography and good songs.

It’s a bonus if it is a little unsettling or takes viewers out of their comfort zone.

“I like films that grab you by the gut,” she says. “I know I can’t present too many of these because it’s gutwrenching, but I try to find a balance.”

For years, Diouri used this criteria to choose which films to show at the Cine-World Film Festival.

Every year since its inception by Dick and Sue Morris in 1990, the Cine-World Film Festival has brought international and independent films to Lakewood Ranch Cinemas and Burns Court Cinema. The Sarasota Film Society, a nonprofit, organizes and hosts the festival each year.

On average, the festival sells 8,000

tickets annually. This year, the festival, which is the oldest film festival in Sarasota, runs Nov. 3-12.

A programmer has yet to be named for this year’s festival. But Diouri, who was its programmer for eight years, gives some insight into what goes into planning the 10-day affair.

Diouri starts with the obvious: “The main goal of a film is to be seen,” she says. But how and where films are screened has changed throughout the years. Everything from who produces the film to how it’s distributed depends on whether it’s corporate-owned, independent or comes to life some other way.

Diouri, who lived above a movie theater her father owned growing up in Brussels, has viewed this change in how films are shown firsthand. Because of technology, movies have gone Continued on Page 28

228374

Continued from Page 26 from film to VHS to DVD to online through Vimeo, YouTube, Netflix and other various outlets.

“That allows for interesting little gems to show up,” she says.

To find these gems, as programmer Diouri took inventory of what films came out at festivals like Cannes and New York. She researched what films had distributors and release schedules. She often attended the Toronto Film Festival and kept a list of films she wanted to bring to Lakewood Ranch.

Identifying films to screen is one thing. Actually securing the rights to show them is another.

For the most part, there are three reasons Cine-World may not be able to show a film: the distributor, companies like Warner Bros. and 20th Century Fox, have a specific release plan that Cine-World doesn’t meet; the film has not yet reached a distribution negotiation and the seller is holding off until the deal is complete; or a seller doesn’t have a negotiation but hopes there will

be one.

“It’s like selling T-shirts, but the product is more fun than a T-shirt,” Diouri says.

Often, for every five films she pursues for the festival, she might get one.

Three film producers might say no because they are in negotiation with a distributor. Two might say no because it doesn’t fit in their release schedule.

“My favorite part is when I get a film I really want, and I was told ‘no’ 10 times, and on the 11th time they say, ‘OK,’” Diouri says.

That happened to her last year with the film “Jackie.” She found out the film was approved for the festival the day the schedule was being printed.

But for that one in five chance, Diouri still fought for the movies she thought were strongest. During her tenure as festival programmer, CineWorld would show between 35 and 75 films. It was important to her to have films from all over the world to show different perspectives.

In the end, she looks for films that have not yet been seen in Florida and

IF YOU GO The Cine-World Festival runs Nov. 3-12 at Lakewood Ranch Cinemas and Burns Court Cinema.

For members of the film society, prices range from $10.50 for an individual ticket to $340 for a 40-movie pass, based on 2016 rates. For nonmembers, tickets range from $13.50 for an individual ticket to $460 for a 40-movie pass.

For more information, visit filmsociety.org.

also encompass strong story lines with even stronger characters, songs and cinematography. She makes a quick comparison of film festivals to fashion shows.

While both highlight new products, it’s the emotion they evoke that stays with their audiences.

“They present something we all want, need and love,” she says.

Kindergarten & First Grade Here in Lakewood Ranch!

BROWN

Choose the right school and put your kid on a roll from the start.

Our K/1 provides a convenient alternative for area families who value the safe environment and academic rigor that characterize Saint Stephen’s. While serving as a satellite, the East County campus retains all of the elements that make a SSES education so valuable:

a florid e

tulan

duke l

cornel

Saint Stephen’s is an independent, college-preparatory school providing a world-class education for students in grades Pre-K3 to12. Schedule a tour today.

247346

28

• Small class sizes • Academic excellence • Global education • Art, music, drama, library, science, technology, chapel • Daily foreign language • Daily physical education • Direct connections with main campus activities

315 41st St. W., Bradenton, FL 34209 | (941) 746-2121 | www.saintstephens.org LWR LIFE

At SOA, we’re just as proud of the surgeries we NEVER do.

PRIMARY CARE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

WELCOME DIEGO FALLON, MD

NOW Accepting New Patients!

Diago Fallon, MD (Habla Español)

Allergy Care • Immunizations Strep Throat & Mono Testing

Board Certified Geriatrics and Internal Medicine.

Mary J. Mott, MPAS, PA-C Adult & Family Care Physician Assistant

Oscar Espinosa, MD (Habla Español) Family Healthcare Physician

When you arrive at

Are You Ready to Get Serious About Weight Loss?

We Can Help!

SARASOTA ORTHOPEDIC ASSOCIATES

Monday - Friday 8 am - 5 pm | 941.896.3900 10910 State Road 70 E. Suite 102, Lakewood Ranch

Accepting New Patients • No Appointment Necessary • Most Insurance Accepted

228370

Located 1 ½ mile East of I-75 on SR70 - Spring Forest Office Park between River Club Blvd. & LWR Blvd.

we explore all options available for your specific needs. Our conservative approach is to free you of discomfort without invasive surgery.

When surgery does become the required option, you have the security of knowing you are in the care of Board Certified and Fellowship Trained physicians with a combined total of over 170 years of expertise and skill.

Wedding & Custom Cakes, Pies and Tarts, Cupcakes, Cookies & Sweet Treats, Specialty Desserts...

(941) 907 8222 info@pastriesbydesign.com

www.SOA.md

941-951-BONE (2663) Same Day Appointments Available

Sarasota | Lakewood Ranch | Venice 246620

224754

Downtown Lakewood Ranch

LWR LIFE

29

WHIZ KIDS Lakewood Ranch’s newest

preschool is turning everyday tots into science savants.

BY SHELLIE TERRY | CONTRIBUTOR

A

ny parent who has ever battled with their child during day care drop-off knows the mark of a good provider is in the ease of the hand-off.

“At her old day care, it would take 15 minutes to drop her off,” says Tiffanie Mattiocco, mother of 3-year-old

Matilyn. “On her first day at Little Geniuses, it was like, ‘Bye, Mom!’” Before landing at Little Geniuses, an innovative new science and technology-based preschool on Professional Parkway in Lakewood Ranch, Mattiocco struggled to find suitable care for her daughter. At other facilities, Mattiocco was repeatedly asked to pick Matilyn up early due to bad behavior and biting. “Every day I would just dread another bad day,” Mattiocco says. “I was really starting to question what was going on.”

That’s when she and Matilyn, a spirited only-child, toured Little Geniuses.

The facility, which opened in February

to rave reviews, caters to children ages 2 to 5 and offers after-school care for kids up to age 12. It is locally owned and not part of a larger chain of franchised preschools, despite the fact that the concept certainly feels franchisable.

The brainchild of Lakewood Ranch husband-and-wife duo Tonya and Bryan Green, Little Geniuses was cooked up after their third and youngest child entered elementary school.

The Greens, who moved to Lakewood Ranch from Union, Ky., two years ago, came here with a plan. Bryan, a software engineer, CTO and innovator, Continued on Page 32

Little Geniuses founder and former social worker Tonya Green began her career working with children in northern Kentucky’s foster care system.

30

228384

Continued from Page 30 founded ID8, a software firm focusing on mobile apps, cloud migration and corporate IT strategies. The business, which shares a building with Little Geniuses, helped inspire the couple’s preschool concept.

The concept is simple. STEM — science, technology, engineering and math — has become the major focus of American education. Little Geniuses exposes preschoolers to STEM before they enter the school system.

Tonya’s background as a social worker and her experience with foster child placement served as the foundation for developing the school’s structure and lesson plans. Bryan’s work as an engineer inspired the curriculum.

Melding these two areas of expertise seemed like the next logical step for the family. The formula is working.

Kids like Matilyn have responded well to the program. They sense Tonya’s patience and love of learning — and they like having projects on their plate.

“She is completely dedicated,” Bryan says of his wife. “The kids feed off that.

She started helping kids at a young age, then transitioned into raising kids and is doing an awesome job at that. The conclusion she and I came to as a hus-

band and wife was that we can impact more kids through this program than we can through social work.”

The school’s daily routine revolves around learning disguised as play in dedicated classrooms and a special STEM room equipped with a ball house, foam blocks, kinetic sand and more. The kids focus on letters of the week, classroom “jobs,” learning colors and spelling their names. A daily science experiment caps off their afternoons, with the youngest students making things like modeling clay and the older kids discovering the wonders of Oobleck, a fun green liquid made of cornstarch and water named after the green goo in a Dr. Seuss book.

Much like at a Montessori school, kids are grouped by ability and interest, rather than age. “It’s similar (to the Montessori philosophy) in that we want to expose them to everything, but if they don’t want to do something, we still try to get them to do it,” Tonya says. “There are two reasons for that.

First, they don’t really know what they’re going to like if they don’t try.

Second, in life, you don’t always have a choice in what you get to do.”

Tonya is a straight shooter. Parents respect that.

“I tell the parents this is what it is;

there’s no gray area,” she says. “We have their kids for eight hours a day.

When you drop your kids off somewhere, you don’t just want them to free play and tear rooms apart.”

The approach is working for Mattiocco and Matilyn. The child’s “bad days” have tapered off, and there’s not a bite mark in sight. “The supervision and structure have made a difference,” Mattiocco says.

“Matilyn has progressed. She knows her days of the week and months. I don’t know if that’s normal for her age, but she’s learning and not just playing all day,” she says.

With more than 20 students enrolled, the Greens have added more teachers, and Tonya is eyeing her husband’s next-door office space for a future expansion. Her main goal, she says, is to positively influence kids when they're still young and malleable, so that by the time they enter grade school they’ve already laid the foundation for solid learning and good behavior.

“With the right education and passion, every kid could be reading by kindergarten, or at least close to it,” Tonya says. “If you’re positive and excited about them making good choices, they’ll get excited about doing it, too.”

Photos by Heidi Kurpiela

Four-year-old Sophia Benish and 3-year-old Matilyn DiBartolomeo work on an experiment using food coloring, baking soda and vinegar.

32

LWR LIFE

Three-year-olds Alexa Stephens and Amar Suwaity start a science experiment in their classroom.

Award-Winning Interior Design Studio Offering Award-Winning Full-Service Interior Design and Renovations Interior Design Studio Offering Full-Service Full-Service Interior Interior Design Design and and Renovations Renovations Offering

Fine Furniture, Furniture, Area Area Rugs, Rugs, Custom Custom Window Window Fine TreatmentsArea and Bedding, Bedding, Wallcoverings & Fine Furniture, Rugs, Custom Window Treatments and Wallcoverings & Unique Accessories Treatments andUnique Bedding, Wallcoverings & Accessories

Unique San Accessories San Marco Plaza Plaza Marco

8205 Natures Natures Way, Way, Suite Suite 101 101 8205 San Marco Plaza Lakewood Ranch, Ranch, FL FL 34202 34202 Lakewood

8205 Natures Way, Suite 101 941-907-9759 941-907-9759 Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202

www.divineinteriorsgroup.com 941-907-9759 228353

Higher Ground Dean Daisy Vulovich took SCF Lakewood Ranch from

a far-flung satellite site to a bona fide college campus.

BY HEIDI KURPIELA MANAGING EDITOR

L

ast February, when Daisy Vulovich was named dean of State College of Florida Lakewood Ranch, the promotion came as no surprise to campus faculty and students. Vulovich, a longtime SCF administrator and Lakewood Ranch resident, helped plant the seeds for academic growth in East County in the early 2000s, a year before LECOM opened its doors on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.

Hired in 2001 to run SCF’s popular continuing education program, Vulovich, 59, was quickly tapped to lead the college’s expansion into Lakewood Ranch. In 2003, Vulovich — then SCF’s executive director — presided over the opening of the Center for Innovation and Technology on a 10-acre parcel in Lakewood Ranch Corporate Park.

A native New Yorker, she has spent her career working in higher education. She found her calling in tiny Knob Noster, Mo., where, after following her then-husband on a ROTC assignment, she landed a job in the Department of Residential Life at the University of Central Missouri. “I learned that I was adaptable,” Vulovich says, “and that I loved working at a college.”

Over the past few years, she’s served as SCF’s associate vice president of corporate and community development, earning accolades from local chambers of commerce and economic development organizations for her ability to help grow the local workforce.

Continued on Page 36

Photos by Heidi Kurpiela

Daisy Vulovich oversaw the design, construction and opening of SCF’s first Lakewood Ranch building. “It has been very fulfilling to see how we’ve evolved,” she says.

34

LWR LIFE

BACK TO

L O O H C S WITH THE ET L L A B A T O S SARA FREE CLASSES!

REGISTER FOR THE FALL

246746

941.225.6520 | www.SarasotaBallet.org

Proudly Sponsored By

Continued from Page 34

dum passed so we could open a real campus. For years, I ran a satellite You were on the ground floor of SCF’s campus in a storefront. If you wanted expansion project 15 years ago. What’s it to tell people in the community where been like to watch the college grow? you were located you said, ‘We’re in the There isn’t a day I don’t come to work old drug store.’ and go, ‘Wow. This is a real campus.’ I remember our first meeting with the Did you find that work to be exciting architect. Now we’ve got two buildings or exhausting? and students earning their associate It was thrilling! When we finally did of arts degrees. To see it grow from open a campus it had three buildings. something that was initially conceived By the time I left, we were getting as a satellite site into a full-blown cam- ready to open twice as many buildings. pus has been wonderful.

I’ve had the experience of blazing the trail for a new college, which was part What program attracts the most stu- of the reason why I came out here to dents to Lakewood Ranch? work for SCF. Our nursing program is the biggest.

Opening a second building (in 2010) You knew you’d be leading the charge enabled us to become a full-service for a new campus in Lakewood Ranch? campus. We added a science lab and Yes. A lot of visionary people who a learning common that functions as were here before I got here spent a library and academic support cen- time working with [Schroeder-Manter. We offer anatomy and physiology atee Ranch] to get us a location. The courses. Before the second building, feeling was there would be so much you had to go to Bradenton or Venice growth in this area, that there would for science classes. be a demand for credit classes, noncredit classes and workforce training.

How did you get your start in higher I had experience building campuses education? and satellite sites. The opportunity to I got a unique opportunity to start a help guide the development of a new college back in 1987, in St. Louis, Mo. site attracted me to the position.

At the time, it was called St. Charles County Community College. We didn’t As the new campus on the block, what’s even have enough employees to qualify your biggest challenge? for group health or dental insurance.

We’re not on Lakewood Ranch BouleWe literally started from scratch. We vard. We’re in a corporate park. People put together the curriculum, the ad- aren’t driving by us because we’re not ministration and faculty. It took us on the beaten path. It’s been a challenge about five years to get a tax referen- letting people know we’re back here.

What makes you such a good fit for this job?

I’ve always had a pioneering spirit.

I’m a risk-taker and I’m willing to think outside of the box, or at least that’s what my faculty and staff tell me. I’m passionate. I feel my major role is to make it as easy as possible for a student to come in and gain a skill set or enhance their life in some way.

You spend a lot of time courting new companies and working with economic development organizations. What’s more important: getting companies to relocate or keeping grads in the area?

It’s the chicken or egg theory. You have to have a community that’s constantly engaged. There needs to be collaborative efforts in planning and development. You must always look at a business’s need to grow. And, as you address those issues, other companies go, ‘Wow, this is a place that helps businesses develop.’ You become a magnet for prospective clients. You create more opportunities for students. Having lived in other communities, I can say we’re much more intermingled with our workforce development partners than other communities.

What stresses you out the most at work?

I think because I see the potential of so many things, sometimes I have to say, ‘Enough Daisy, go home.’ Sometimes my friends will laugh because my fun is interwoven with my work.

I have to watch my work-life balance.

If you hadn’t pursued this career, what would you be doing?

I’d be an actress. I like to do accents, so I’d be good at portraying people from other cultures. I would have loved to become a singer, but I can’t carry a tune.

You’d be OK with performing in front of an audience?

In some respects, I probably perform at SCF every day.

In 2010, SCF Lakewood Ranch opened its second building, a 42,000-square-foot medical technology and simulation center that houses state-of-the-art nursing and intensive care unit labs.

36

LWR LIFE

Our goal is to help you pursue yours.

It’s that simple.

Your goals are what really matter. That’s why we’ll take the time to understand what’s most important to you: your family, your work, your hopes and dreams. Then we can help you get ready for the future with a financial strategy that’s designed just for you.

Adamchak, Bordes & Associates Wealth Management Joseph M. Adamchak Senior Vice President Senior Financial Advisor Portfolio Manager

Merrill Lynch 1819 Main Street 12th Floor Sarasota, FL 34236

Steven F. Bordes, CIMA® First Vice President Wealth Management Advisor Senior Portfolio Advisor

1401 Manatee Avenue West 7th Floor Bradenton, FL 34205

Ryan D. Adamchak Financial Advisor

941.364.5654 fa.ml.com/abwm

Mary Erin McGloin Client Associate Carol M. McNamara Registered Client Associate

Life’s better when we’re connected®

Investment products: Are Not FDIC Insured Are Not Bank Guaranteed May Lose Value The Bull Symbol, Life’s better when we’re connected and Merrill Lynch are trademarks of Bank of America Corporation.

CIMA® is a registered certification mark of Investment Management Consultants Association, Inc. © 2017 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.

247138

Merrill Lynch Wealth Management makes available products and services offered by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, a registered broker-dealer and Member SIPC, and other subsidiaries of Bank of America Corporation.

ARQQX6X3 | AD-07-17-0303 | 470949PM-1016 | 07/2017

247134

PULSE

THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY

This local wine shop pours without the pretense.

PAGE 46

LWR LIFE

39

calendar fall 2017 SEPTEMBER

40

SEPT. 1 MUSIC ON MAIN This monthly event takes place on Lakewood Ranch’s Main Street from 6-9 p.m. Enjoy a free concert by The Oceans Eleven Big Band. Proceeds will benefit the local nonprofit Chargers Soccer Club. n Call 907-9243.

SEPT. 9 SUNCOAST HEART WALK This annual American Heart Association walk traverses 2.5 miles at Nathan Benderson Park. Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m., with the walk beginning at 8 a.m. Join as an individual fundraiser or as part of a team. n To register, visit heart.org, or for more information, call Monica Clifford at 727-563-8083.

SEPT. 2-4 LABOR DAY WEEKEND SOCCER TOURNAMENT The annual Labor Day soccer tournament will take place at Premier Sports Campus with games starting at 8 a.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday. More than 280 youth teams, ages 8 to 18, will come from around the state and country to compete. n Call 757-1582.

STORYTELLING THEATRE AT THE RANCH This children’s storytelling theater is presented by The Players Centre for Performing Arts. From 10 a.m. to noon at the Sarasota Polo Field Club House, characters Jack and Annie from “The Magic Treehouse” book series will share their story live. Cost is $10 without book, $15 with book. n Call 365-2494.

LWR LIFE

SEPT. 23 THROUGH OCT. 1 WORLD ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS Nathan Benderson Park will host the World Rowing Championships with special events throughout the week of competition. n Visit wrch2017.com to see a full schedule and learn more.

SEPT. 29 TASTE OF MAIN Come experience the American and international flavors of Main Street at Lakewood Ranch, served from 2-8 p.m. by local restaurants. Also enjoy a stroll through the plaza’s boutiques.

Free. n Call 907-9243.

Continued on Page 42

File photos

Live music keeps the crowd entertained during the monthly Music on Main concert series.

GLOW GLOW GLOW

WITH THE BEST LANDSCAPE LIGHTING FROM ENERGY TODAY WITH THE BEST LANDSCAPELIGHTING LIGHTINGFROM FROMENERGY ENERGY TODAY WITH WITHTHE THEBEST BESTLANDSCAPE LIGHTING FROM ENERGY TODAY TODAY

L AND S C APE LI G H T I N G

LLANDSC AN L AN DS DS CA CA PE PELIG H TING TING APE LLIG I GHHT I NG

BOGO! BOGO! BOGO!

FREE FREE LANDSCAPE LANDSCAPELIGHTS LIGHTS FREE LANDSCAPE LIGHTS FREE LANDSCAPE

$150OFF OFF $150 $150 OFF OFF

WHOLE WHOLE YARD WHOLEYARD YARD WHOLE YARD

UP UP TO TO DEALS PER PERCUSTOMER CUSTOMER CUSTOMER UP TO 33DEALS PER UP TO 33DEALS DEALS PER CUSTOMER BUY BUY LIGHTS GET GET3 FREE! BUY 33LIGHTS GET 333FREE! FREE! BUY 33LIGHTS LIGHTS GET FREE!

LANDSCAPE LANDSCAPE LIGHTING LIGHTING PACKAGE PACKAGE LANDSCAPE LIGHTING PACKAGE LANDSCAPE LIGHTING PACKAGE

Cannot Cannot bebe combined becombined combined with with other other offers. offers.

Expires Expires month month fromfrom datedate of publication. of publication. publication.

Cannot with other offers.

Expires 11month Cannot be combined with other offers.

Expires 11month fromfrom datedate of of publication.

Cannot Cannot be combined be withwith otherother offers. offers.

Expires Expires 1 month 1 1month from date ofdate publication. ofofpublication.

Cannot bebecombined combined with offers.

Expires month fromdate Cannot combined withother other offers.

Expires 1from month from datepublication. of publication.

Never Never anan overtime overtime charge charge • 7• 7 days days aa week!

Never aweek! week!

Never an anovertime overtimecharge charge• 7• days 7 days a week!

941-882-1325 941-882-1325 941-882-1325 941-882-1325 /GetTheBestFromToday //GetTheBestFromToday GetTheBestFromToday

/GetTheBestFromToday

246571 246571

246571

246571

Continued from Page 40

OCTOBER

OCT. 6 MUSIC ON MAIN This monthly event takes place on Lakewood Ranch’s Main Street from 6-9 p.m. Enjoy a free concert by Kim Betts and The Gamble Creek Band.

Proceeds will benefit the Lakewood Ranch YMCA. n Call 907-9243.

OCT. 14 STORYTELLING THEATRE AT THE RANCH This children’s storytelling theater is presented by The Players Centre for Performing Arts. From 10 a.m. to noon at the Sarasota Polo Field Club House, characters Jack and Annie from “The Magic Treehouse” book series will share their story live. Cost is $10 without book, $15 with book. n Call 365-2494.

OCT. 14 THROUGH OCT. 29 HUNSADER FARMS PUMPKIN FESTIVAL Hunsader Farms hosts its yearly pumpkin festival from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 14 and 15; Oct. 21 and 22; and Oct. 28 and 29. In addition to pumpkins, the festival features crafts, live music, hayrides, food and displays.

Admission is $10 for adults, free for children 12 and under. Parking costs $5. The corn maze and kids’ train ride cost an additional $2. n Call 322-2168.

OCT. 15 TEAM TONY FINISH LINE PARTY Each October, Team Tony Foundation runs a two-day cycling ride covering more than 200 miles across Florida.

Riders will be welcomed with a finish party and a second annual Fun Run and Walk at Nathan Benderson Park. n Visit teamtony.org.

OCT. 20 CLUB DAY Club Day, located on Main Street from 6-9 p.m., provides an opportunity to learn about the more than 50 social clubs in Lakewood Ranch. Refreshments will be served. n Call 757-1530.

42

LWR LIFE

OCT. 20 THROUGH NOV. 19 TOUR OF HOMES Lakewood Ranch’s annual open house extravaganza, featuring more than 70 home models, runs through Nov. 19. Tour is open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. n Call 907-6000 or visit lakewoodranch.com.

OCT. 21 SARASOTA CELTIC MUSIC FESTIVAL New World Celts Sarasota presents its Celtic Music Festival from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Nathan Benderson Park. Enjoy live entertainment, local dance teams, traditional Celtic food and dancing, kids demonstration, a dog parade and more. n Visit celtoberfest.org.

OCT. 27 THEATRE IN THE FIELD The Players Centre for Performing Arts presents “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” in a unique and immersive outdoor theater experience. The show will take place Oct. 27 -28 on the grounds of the Sarasota Polo Club. n Call 365-2494.

BOO FEST The Boo Fest will take place from 6-9 p.m. on Lakewood Ranch Main Street. Come dressed in costume and enjoy trick-or-treating, music and face painting. A variety of food and beverages will be available for purchase. n Call 757-1530.

OCT. 28 MAKING STRIDES AGAINST BREAST CANCER Walk to help the American Cancer Society fight breast cancer. Registration starts at 7:30 a.m. and the 5K starts at 9 a.m. at Nathan Benderson Park. n Call 328-3756.

BOO RUN The Lakewood Ranch Running Club hosts the 14th annual Boo Run on Lakewood Ranch Main Street. The family-friendly race, which starts at 8:30 a.m., features a costume contest with awards in four categories. The event benefits Another Day for Gray. n Visit lakewoodranchrunningclub. com/boo-run-5k/.

MOVIE NIGHT Nathan Benderson Park hosts a community movie night at the park. n Visit nathanbendersonpark.org.

OCT. 29 PUTTS FORE MUTTS The annual golf tournament to benefit the Humane Society at Lakewood Ranch begins at 12:30 p.m. at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club. The tournament concludes with dinner, live music and dancing. Cost is $250 per golfer. n Call 779-3457 or email puttsforemutts@lwrhs.org.

RACQUETS FOR RESCUES This charity tennis tournament raises funds for the Humane Society of Lakewood Ranch. n Call 908-672-2167 or visit hslwr.org.

Continued on Page 44

Sophie Duell,of River Club, dressed as the character Dynamite from the children’s program “Lalaloopsy” during the 2016 Boo Fest.

246798

nch Lakewood Ra St. Armands /

8141 Lakewood Main St. N-102 941.351.9218 / influencestyle.com / @influencestyle

Continued from Page 42

NOVEMBER NOV. 3 MUSIC ON MAIN This monthly event takes place on Lakewood Ranch’s Main Street from 6-9 p.m. Enjoy a free concert by Yesterdayze Band. Proceeds benefit the Humane Society of Manatee County. n Call 907-9243.

NOV. 4-5 ROWING FESTIVAL Nathan Benderson Park will host this festival offering opportunities for rowers and paddlers alike to explore the venue. The Sarasota-Bradenton Chase Race provides the course, starting and finishing with 700 meters of launch and recovery dock. The event will coincide with the Beer, Boats and Bacon festival. n Visit nathanbendersonpark.org.

44

LWR LIFE

NOV. 4-5 BEER, BOATS AND BACON Brewed Life presents the sixth year of this event, which features baconcentric dishes from local restaurants and a sampling of more than 60 craft beers. The event runs from noon to 6 p.m. at Nathan Benderson Park. n Tickets are available for purchase online. Visit beerboatsandbacon.com.

NOV. 5 GULF COAST CYCLEFEST The Sarasota Manatee Bicycle Club offers an opportunity for riders to enjoy bicycle routes through Manatee County. This is a family-friendly event, not a race, and riders can choose fully supported routes of 20, 35, 62 or 100 miles. Registration opens at 6:45 a.m. on Main Street in Lakewood Ranch, and the routes are open until 3 p.m.

Advance registration recommended. n Visit smbc.us.

NOV. 11 SUNCOAST FOOD AND WINE FEST The Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch hosts the 16th annual edition of this

event, from 1-4 p.m. at Sarasota Polo Club grounds. A $75 ticket includes a sampling of wine and food from more than 35 of the area’s finest restaurants. Proceeds to benefit charity. n For tickets or information, visit suncoastfoodandwinefest.com.

NOV. 12 EPILEPSY AWARENESS WALK The nonprofit JoshProvides, which helps families impacted by epilepsy, will hold this awareness walk at Nathan Benderson Park. n Visit joshprovides.org.

NOV. 19 PONIES UNDER THE PALMS MUSTANG AND FORD SHOW The Mustang Club of West Central Florida presents this 26th annual car show that benefits Take Stock in Children and Southeastern Guide Dogs.

Ford car and truck owners can enter their vehicles for judging, or come see other vehicles. n Call 920-944-8137.

Ben Tollin of Signature Luxury Wine and Spirits pours Lakewood Ranch’s Jeff and Utahna Smith a glass of white wine during the 2016 Suncoast Food and Wine Festival.

T H E N E X T G E N E R AT I O N O F C O U N T RY C L U B L I V I N G PURSUE YOUR PA SSIONS AND EXPERIENCE UNM ATCHED LUXURY AT A MODERN CLUB DESIG NED FOR THE WHOLE FA MILY. NE VER A BE T TER TIME TO JOIN Apply before December 31, 2017 and enjoy an $11,000 savings on a Premier Golf Membership.

You’ll also receive a golf package that includes:

A personalized golf bag

A full set of golf clubs from Callaway, TaylorMade or Titleist

A one-hour custom fitting session at our new Golf Academy

ODELLPHOTOS .COM

BENEFIT S AT E VERY TURN A Prem ier Gol f Member sh ip opens t he door to t he ver y best of t he L a kewood R a nch Gol f a nd Cou nt r y Club.

Yea r -R ou nd G ol f on T h r ee 18 -Hole G ol f Cou r se s • G ol f Ac ademy a nd P r a ct ice Fa ci l it ie s 20 - Cou r t Ten n i s Cent er • 1 2 P ick leba l l Cou r t s • 2 4 -Hou r F it ne s s Cent er • T wo Heat ed Pool s B occe B a l l Cou r t • Tou r n a ment Cr oquet Cou r t • T wo Aw a rd-Wi n n i ng C lubhou se s

CONTAC T OUR MEMBERSHIP TE A M BEFORE DECEMBER 31 TO QUALIF Y FOR THIS INCENTIVE .

M AUREEN L ATESSA Mau reen. L aTessa@L a kewood R a nchGol f.com O: 9 4 1 .757.18 46

A M ANDA ARNOLD A m a nd a .A r nold@L a kewood R a nchGol f.com O: 94 1.757. 1878 • C: 94 1. 812 . 8166 247448

Photos by Heidi Kurpiela

“We take the pretense out of wine drinking,” says Carmen Spagnola, owner of Cheers to Wine. “We offer hands-on, face-to-face service that elicits what people really want.”

TOAST OF THE TOWN Cheers to Wine owners Carmen and Robin Spagnola raise a glass to their customers.

BY HEIDI KURPIELA MANAGING EDITOR

46

LWR LIFE

C

armen and Robin Spagnola’s business is aging like a fine wine. OK, bad pun. Not all wines need to be aged to be fine. Carmen clears up that misconception immediately over a glass of Soda Canyon Cellar’s 2011 Wagon Wheel Red, a classic Bordeaux blend.

“Every wine has an aging bell curve if you will,” Carmen says. “Some wines, especially whites, are aged one or two years before you drink them.

Others you might want to wait five years to touch them. Each wine has its own story.”

This is the Spagnolas’ story: They

opened their cozy Lakewood Ranch wine bar in August 2008, two years after relocating to Lakewood Ranch from Connecticut’s Fairfield County.

After devoting 30 years to high-powered careers — ­ Robin as a senior executive project manager with IBM and Carmen as an FBI agent — the couple were ready for their second act, or as Carmen says, “their passion project.”

When they opened the 1,600-squarefoot wine bar and retail store in the San Marco Plaza, it was the only momand-pop owned wine joint in Lakewood Continued on Page 48

The Islands that Once Stood Alone

ARE NOW WITHIN REACH

A Gated Golf & Boating Community on the Manatee River

With the new Fort Hamer Bridge, The Islands is now just a few minutes away from Lakewood Ranch and I-75. It’s the lifestyle you’ve always imagined, without compromise. Gated community with huge waterfront estate homesites. Individual private boat docks with nearly every home.

Waterfront Estate Home & Homesites from the $900’s Featuring Models by: Arthur Rutenberg Homes John Cannon Homes Lee Wetherington Homes 246800

11831 River Shores Trail

Parrish, FL

941.752.5866

info@LiveatTheIslands.com

www.LiveatTheIslands.com n

n

n

Continued from Page 46 Ranch. Not surprisingly, locals instantly embraced it, not just for its selection of independent, family-owned, artisan labels, but also for its $5 tastings, a standing Friday night ritual among neighborhoods and friends.

“We’re the neighborhood Cheers,” Carmen says. “People walk through the door and say they feel like they’re at home.”

Carmen is the Sam Malone of the operation. An easily excited, gregarious storyteller, the 61-year-old is the quintessential wine bar proprietor. Like a lot of Italian-American kids, he grew up drinking wine. A native of Bethlehem, Pa., he was sipping wine cut with ginger ale back when his schoolmates were still drinking Ovaltine.

“I remember sitting at the dinner table with my grandparents and reaching for a glass,” Carmen says. “It was cultural. No one in my family ever got drunk. We didn’t sit around banging wine. We paired it with food.”

His family loved wine so much they bottled their own. Carmen didn’t start dabbling in the family hobby until the mid-1990s, when he and another FBI agent started making wine in the basement of his two-story colonial.

At first a frivolous escape from law enforcement, Carmen’s dabbling soon ballooned into a serious preoccupation, complete with a stainless steel grape crusher and destemmer from Italy, a water-bladder press from Germany and a hefty assortment of holding tanks. At the peak of his hobby, the winemaker was ordering 50 to 60 gallons of Italian grape juice and 3 tons of grapes a year. For a while, he judged winemaking competitions and served as a chapter chairman and regional vice president of the American Wine Society.

“I know what it takes to make grapes into wine,” Carmen says. “Don’t ask me about grape growing though, that’s a story for someone else to tell.”

Cheers to Wine has become Lakewood Ranch’s de facto watering hole for amateur and seasoned sommeliers.

Most of its patrons live within a fivemile radius of the San Marco Plaza, and some of them have been to every wine tasting since the store opened nine years ago. This loyalty, together with

48

LWR LIFE

Above: “The friends I’ve made here have become the family I wish I had,” says Connie Nall, a longtime customer and Lakewood Ranch resident.

Left: The store’s inventory comes from small, independent wineries, not massmarket labels. “I’ve tasted and evaluated every one here,” Carmen Spagnola says.

the Spagnolas’ persistence, has kept the business afloat through a recession, a rebranding and intense competition from the omnipotent big-box liquor store and supermarket wine aisle.

“We have the ability to be nimble,” says Robin. “We personally select everything we bring in. The big-box stores don’t have that luxury because buying decisions are made at a higher level. They can’t be as responsive to what customers are looking for.”

During its first seven years, the store was part of the WineStyles franchise, a chain of locally owned boutique wine stores designed to look and feel like an old world wine cellar.

Two years ago, the Spagnolas broke away from the franchise. In a nod to their reputation as the neighborhood

Cheers, they renamed the business Cheers to Wine, replacing the store’s ancillary merchandise and cabinets with more tables and lounge chairs.

“We’re now much more of a wine bar in the evenings,” Carmen says. “It was our way of responding to what the customers wanted.”

It turns out customers want more places to sit and swill.

Lakewood Ranch resident Connie Nall frequents the wine bar at least twice a week, often with her husband or a group of friends in tow. “The friends I’ve made here have become the family I wish I had,” says Nall. “It’s my hangout after work. Carmen has challenged me to develop my palate and pushed me to try new things.”

LIMITED TIME PRE-CONSTRUCTION PRICING 4 9 S PA C I O U S T O W E R R E S I D E N C E S F R O M $ 1 . 6 M I L L I O N

FROM THE DEVELOPER OF THE RITZ-CARLTON SARASOTA AND THE CONCESSION

ROOFTOP ZERO HORIZON POOL

EXPANSIVE FLOORPLANS & ULTRA-WIDE TERRACES

SWEEPING VIEWS OF DOWNTOWN & THE BAY

LARGE WINE CELLAR & INDOOR DRIVING RANGE

VIRTUAL REALITY SALES STUDIO NOW OPEN

R I G H T I N T H E H E A R T O F S A R A S O TA ’ S F A M E D B O U L E V A R D O F T H E A R T S

500 Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34236

BLVDSarasota.com | 941.316.1499 ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, MAKE REFERENCE TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES,TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. NO FEDERAL AGENCY HAS JUDGED THE MERITS OR VALUE, IF ANY, OF THIS PROPERTY. ALL PRICES AND FEATURES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. ALL DRAWINGS ARE CONCEPTUAL RENDERINGS AND DEVELOPER EXPRESSLY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MAKE MODIFICATIONS. 243144

charity snapshot

Photos by Mark Wemple

Above: Camper Emma Pringle enjoys time outside.

Left: Counselor Joseph Randolph with camper Caleb Ford

E

Dream Weaver East Manatee’s Dream Oaks Camp has a lot of spirit — just like its founder.

BY ERIC SNIDER | CONTRIBUTOR 50

LWR LIFE

ddie Mulock is 73 and feeling really good. That’s saying something for a man who had a heart transplant in 1995, a simultaneous liver and kidney transplant in 2006, and beat carotid gland and prostate cancer just last year.

“My doctor told me, ‘You’re a new man,’” Mulock says with a laugh. “And I said, ‘Yeah — again.’”

Mulock’s irrepressibility is a major reason why his nonprofit, Foundation for Dreams, is thriving as it approaches its 20th year. Dream Oaks Camp, which operates in East Bradenton off Rye Road, serves children ages 7 to 17 with special needs and chronic illnesses. The camp runs seven weeklong sessions during the summer and weekend camps throughout the year. The campers have Down syndrome, autism, ADD, cerebral palsy, Tourette’s syndrome and other conditions.

The kids come for fun, adventure and fellowship, but it’s far more than that. The camp uses research-based techniques to identify and facilitate targeted goals in four areas: social interaction, activities of daily living, health and hygiene skills and behavior strategies. “A lot of these kids won’t hold typical jobs, won’t go to typical schools,” says Elena Tomeo Cassella, the foundation’s executive director.

“Part of the camp’s aim is to make Continued on Page 52

Now, that’s a ONE LEADING BUILDER. 12 MODELS NOW OPEN. You can tell just by looking it’s a Stock Signature Home. For 15 years, we have created exceptional award-winning residences along the Gulf Coast that make masterful statements and are irresistibly inviting to live in.

Now building in Lakewood Ranch and at The Concession. Come experience our luxurious furnished models.

COUNTRY CLUB EAST from the $600s | LAKE CLUB from the $700s ESPLANADE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB AT LAKEWOOD RANCH from the $700s | THE CONCESSION from $1.5 million DIRECTIONS TO SALES CENTER: Exit-I-75 at University Parkway East. Left on Lorraine. Follow the signs to Country Club East to 16703 BERWICK TERRACE | LAKEWOOD RANCH, FLORIDA 34202

941.208.3940 | StockDevelopment.com

STOCK REALTY, EXCLUSIVE SALES AGENT, LICENSED REAL ESTATE BROKER

NOW BUILDING IN: BABCOCK RANCH | BONITA SPRINGS | FORT MYERS | MARCO ISLAND | NAPLES | SARASOTA | PALM BEACH BROKER PARTICIPATION WELCOMED. ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS REFERENCE SHOULD BE MADE TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER 217818 OR LESSEE. NOT AN OFFERING WHERE PROHIBITED BY STATE LAW. PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.

FLStockDevelopment

Dream Oaks campers Dakoda Huntington and Blaise Chevrette with counselor Dajah Berry

Continued from Page 50 them more successful at home, to enable the kids to give something back to the family, to lighten the load.”

For each camper — about 40 during the summer and 20 to 25 during weekend sessions — there is a corresponding counselor. It’s a difficult job but a fulfilling one, fraught with frustrations but also with the feel-good outcomes that make it worthwhile. One 8-yearold boy’s autism was so severe that his mother was ready to put him in a residential group home.

“She was exhausted. She had two other children she was paying basically no attention to,” Tomeo Cassella says. “When the boy first started, he couldn’t sit still, couldn’t engage. He was nonverbal; couldn’t even acknowledge the activity. He had outbursts. He was a runner. At the end of the session, he was sitting front row center, involved. His mother started crying when she saw that.”

The boy, now 11 and still a regular camp participant, has advanced in his communication skills. Best of all, he’s living at home, contributing to family life.

“We provide a really important respite for the parents,” Mulock says.

A Bradenton native and high-profile lawyer, Mulock is one of those good ol’ boys you can’t help but love from the get-go. His heart failure was traced to a virus from water he drank in Idaho

52

LWR LIFE

Photo by Lydia Gartner

Bradenton lawyer Eddie Mulock used his second lease on life to start a camp for special needs kids.

while on a fly-fishing trip with his sons.

Nearing death at Shands Hospital in Gainesville, he received a new heart from a 20-year-old female donor. It turned out to be an ideal match. Over time, though, the anti-rejection medications damaged his liver and kidneys, and eventually, they too had to be replaced.

Cooped up and recovering at Shands, Mulock says he saw “all these beautiful kids,” who had lived in the hospital for months, walking around with portable IV poles. Disheartened, Mulock was motivated to do something about it. He hatched a plan for a “dream camp,” a place where kids with special needs could escape reality. When he returned to Bradenton, he

soon realized his hometown was in dire need of this type of resource.

Once healthy, Mulock got to work.

Determined to create an oasis for sick and special-needs children, he started by writing checks. “I’ve never added it up,” he quips. He also did what he does best: talk. He gave speeches to service clubs, called in favors and generally went around “twisting everyone’s arm to pitch in.”

“The joke got to be, ‘If you go to a party, stay away from Eddie,” Mulock says.

Fundraising never wore him down.

Life had already tried to do that more than once. Launching the foundation lifted him up.

In 2000, the Foundation for Dreams entered into a long-term lease agreement with the Southwest Florida Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

One year later, it held its first summer camp on a 170-acre tract 15 miles east of downtown Bradenton. Mulock’s arm-twisting led to donated landclearing, construction material for cabins, a pool, an infirmary and other amenities. “You can’t be afraid to ask for money,” he says.

Tomeo Cassella, who signed on as the foundation’s development director in 2010, became its executive director in 2016. She runs the organization with two other full-time employees, several paid counselors, two intervention specialists and a handful of other staff. Last year’s operating budget was $576,000.

Under Tomeo Cassella’s leadership, the camp has grown into a sought-after sanctuary for area parents whose lives and children are fundamentally more difficult to manage. “We figured out with our program what makes children different makes them beautiful,” Tomeo Cassella says.

She and Mulock would like to stake out a permanent home on foundationowned acreage. “If we had our own property, we would run every single weekend,” Tomeo Cassella says. “We have a great relationship with the Boy Scouts, but if we had our own land and a multipurpose building we could do a lot more.”

Growing pains aside, the camp is still a dream come true for Mulock. He visits the campus every week, usually on Fridays to watch the kids’ talent show. He says the visits touch his heart and help keep it pumping.

EYE CARE to Our Specialists

Coastal Eye Institute is the only comprehensive ophthalmology practice in Lakewood Ranch.

Murray Friedberg, M.D. Robert Edelman, M.D. Scott Silverman, M.D. Robert Sambursky, M.D. Pooja Khator, M.D. Allison Menezes, M.D. Jeffrey Davis, M.D. Anita Shane, M.D. Jody Abrams, M.D. Paul Brannan, M.D.

Laser Cataract Surgery Micro-Incision Cataract Surgery Advanced Lens Implants Glaucoma Care Macular Degeneration LASIK Surgery Pediatric Eye Care Neuro-Ophthalmology Dry Eye Treatment Diabetic Eye Care

1427 S. Tamiami Trail • Sarasota 6310 Health Pkwy., Ste. 340 • Lakewood Ranch 217 Manatee Ave. E. • Bradenton

CoastalEye.com • 941-748-1818 • Most Insurance Plans Welcomed 243322

231139

LWR LIFE

55

style

Pop of Color Three area salons tell us what hues you need on your nails now.

BY NIKI KOTTMANN | CONTRIBUTOR

S

tyle can manifest in many ways — through clothing, through decor or even through the stroke of a foundation

brush — but there’s another way that Lakewood Ranch fashionistas show off their personal style.

All it takes is a closer look at the hand holding that trendy Balenciaga striped shopper to understand: It’s all about the nails.

And recently, it’s all about color. We stopped by three Lakewood Ranch nail salons to see what shades people are sporting, and what trends you should consider for fall.

Photos by Niki Kottmann

56

LWR LIFE

ANA MOLINARI Ana Molinari Nail technicians Jennifer Watson and Kara Nally agree that many color trends have a strong tie to the season, such as deep reds around Christmas.

At their salon, Nally says most of their customers have more conservative taste and stick to solid, singlecolor designs. Lately she’s gotten many requests for corals and other bright pinks.

Occasionally, Nally says children will come in with parents or grandparents and ask for a more intricate design.

The salon uses stamps in a variety of shapes for this, paired with final touches like rhinestones and glitter.

“I love doing it,” Nally says of using the stamps for her designs. “It’s so simple — instant gratification.”

IF YOU GO Ana Molinari Address: 8120 Main St., Lakewood Ranch Phone: 373-3900 Website: anamolinari.com

Left: Nail technician Kara Nally painted fellow employee Jennifer Watson’s nails with OPI’s Strawberry Margarita color and finished the look with a sampling of different stamp designs.

LEMON BLOSSOM SALON & SPA Walking into Lemon Blossom, there’s a noticeable difference in the air — no chemical fumes. This salon doesn’t do acrylics, so employee (and mother of the salon owner) Quinn Austin says clients love the natural smell.

Nail technician Irina James says she mainly focuses on shellac and gel nails as less chemically harmful alternatives to acrylics, and the most popular color requests she gets are blue, pale pink and white.

“You’d be surprised with the older

women who want a bright pop of color,” Austin says.

James’ picks for some of the most popular colors right now are OPI’s Suzi Shops and Island Hops (light pink), That’s Hula-rious! (mint), Let’s Be Friends (pale pink) and Cajun Shrimp (bold red).

Left: Nail technician Irina James gave herself a manicure using CND Shellac’s Digi-teal color, one of many bright blues that are popular with clients.

IF YOU GO Lemon Blossom Salon & Spa Address: 8318 Market St., Lakewood Ranch Phone: 907-2247 Website: lemonblossomsalonspa.com Price: $26-$58 for manicures, $35-$65 for pedicures

Continued on Page 58

LWR LIFE

57

Continued from Page 57

THE NAILZ PLACE & DAY SPA Ombre is no longer just a hair color trend. The Nailz Place & Day Spa owner Lyanne Ly says the technique, which is the casual blending of a single color in various hues, is one of the most popular requests she and her employees get from clients.

Although acrylics are still requested, she says gel nails and dip powder, which is a technique that can be used on natural and acrylic nails, are gaining more popularity. Her salon also gets a mix of clients wanting both traditional single-color manicures and pedicures to the intricate nail art the salon is known for, which

58

LWR LIFE

uses unique elements such as dried flowers and glitter gel “aquarium” effect that goes inside the artificial nail itself.

Ly says the most popular color requests they get are light blue, gray, taupe, off white and dark purple, with OPI’s Lincoln Park After Dark, a deep burgundy, being the hands-down most popular.

Above: The Nailz Place & Day Spa owner Lyanne Ly used Chisel’s OM23B white dipping powder mixed with a pink glitter to create this ombre effect, finished off with a hand-drawn rose design, on her employee’s acrylic nails.

IF YOU GO The Nailz Place & Day Spa Address: 8241 Cooper Creek Blvd., University Park Phone: 358-6400 Website: facebook.com/ TheNailzPlaceDaySpa

There are better ways to protect your skin.

LAKEWOOD RANCH – SOUTH 8926 77th Terrace East, Suite 101 Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 P: (941) 907–0222

BRADENTON 5857-A 21st Avenue West West Bradenton, FL 34209 P: (941) 907–0222

LAKEWOOD RANCH – NORTH 5860 Ranch Lake Blvd, Suite 103 Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 P: (941) 907–0222

www.ArsenaultDermatology.com

Voted “Favorite Dermatologist” 2009–2017 247452

Medicare and most other insurances accepted

RANCH SCENES Lakewood Ranch developer Schroeder-Manatee Ranch asked to see Lakewood Ranch through your eyes in its community photo contest. A few months and 221 photos later, the winners prove that when it comes to where we live, this place is picture perfect.

60

LWR LIFE

OVERALL WINNER: TATIANA CHAPUT (left) That day, I decided to go to Adventure Park with my husband and son. On the way home we were crossing the bridge, which is one of the most remarkable places in Lakewood Ranch. Seeing my husband and son walking on it after an amazing day made me think of capturing the memory forever. This is one of my favorite shots. Happy to live here!

RECREATION: TATIANA CHAPUT We had a great day at the polo games in Lakewood Ranch. It was pure pleasure to watch those amazing powerful animals and the professional polo players working as a team.

RUNNER UP: JAMIE VEERKAMP During my son’s I9 Soccer game at Premier Sports Complex, I caught him and his teammates doing this high-five after they worked as a team and scored a goal! It was totally cute because they did it all on their own, and it shows how close they had gotten through the season!

LWR LIFE

61

FAMILY, FRIENDS & PETS: JAMIE KAUFFOLD We often take our three boys, Carter, Quinn and Chase for ice cream at Big Olaf’s in downtown Lakewood Ranch. You can see our dog J loves their doggie ice cream too; that particular night we were celebrating J’s second birthday!

RUNNERS UP: REBECCA KIMMITZ (left) With five kids 8 and under, we needed a community with not only plenty of green space and trails, but also a place where neighbors become friends.

We have found the perfect balance in Greenbrook.

SUSAN DEVICTOR

Go home after school, get right in the pool!

We love the year-round great weather and fun times in our pool!

62

LWR LIFE

HONORABLE MENTION: SUSAN DEVICTOR Our family walks around Lake Summerfield frequently. We enjoy the green space, nature and sunsets just steps from our Summerfield home.

We love the dog friendliness of Lakewood Ranch!

Make it Last.

Make it Distinctive.

Discover Limitless Possibilities for Endless Enjoyment.

Quartz, Granite, Marble & More!

At Distinctive Surfaces, we understand that when you bring your dream design to life, you want it to last. Choose from the state’s largest selection of natural, top-quality solid surfaces and textures for luxury you can feel with every touch for years to come.

• Quality Design & Installation Services • Fast Turnaround with Every Project • Competitive Pricing on All Surfaces • Serving Florida's Gulf Coast for Over 25 Years • Impeccable Craftsmanship

Smooth. Solid. Beautiful.

941.377.7747 dsiflorida.com n

n

8272 Vico Court

n

Sarasota, FL 34240 LWR LIFE

231212

Call today for a design that’s Visually Powerful, Intellectually Elegant and Above All… Timeless.

63

NATURE: LARRY GEORGE This beautiful purple gallinule is striding on the lily pads nicely.

RUNNERS UP

64

STAN JERNIGAN

ANNE GOYER

MICHAEL DAVENPORT

While riding my bike in late afternoon I was able to capture this image of the trees, Spanish moss, sun, and solitude...I titled it ‘Southern Comfort.’

I’m a sunset freak but can’t get to the beach often so I head to my new favorite spot — the Lodge at Country Club East. Fantastic sunsets ...

I love the different bird species you can find in Lakewood Ranch.

LWR LIFE

A beautiful home inspires a beautiful life.

A true Sarasota address with a modern, innovative collection of new homes by Kolter.

N E A R LY A L L H O M E S I T E S O N WAT E R O R P R E S E RV E • F I T N E S S C E N T E R & R E S O RT- S T Y L E P O O L • 1 1 O P E N - D E S I G N F L O O R P L A N S G E N E RO U S O U T D O O R L I V I N G S PAC E S • M I L E S O F N AT U R E T R A I L S & WA L K WAY S • G R E E N B U I L D I N G F E AT U R E S • L OW H OA & N O C D D N E W G AT E D C O M M U N I T Y 1 0 M I L E S O R L E S S F RO M S A R A S OTA ' S B E S T

NEW HOMES FROM THE $400s T O U R O U R S I X D E S I G N E R - D E C O R AT E D M O D E L S T O D AY !

VISIT ARTISTRYSARASOTA.com | 888-395-4125 | 8900 BERNINI PLACE, SARASOTA Realtors Warmly Welcomed. Pricing, availability, specifications and amenities are subject to change without notice.

246857

POWER BOAT On Sept. 24, the best rowers on earth will converge on the waters of Nathan Benderson Park. From where to watch to rowing lingo (what the heck is ‘catching a crab’ anyway?), read on to ensure you get the most out of this world-class event.

BY RYAN KOHN | CONTRIBUTOR

66

LWR LIFE

LWR LIFE

67

N

early four years after the Federation of Rowing Associations awarded the 2017 World Rowing Championships to Nathan Benderson Park, the event is almost here, with the first race beginning at 10 a.m. Sept. 24.

In case you’re wondering what all the hubbub is about — from redoing an entire intersection to finishing a $5 million finish tower — this is the Super Bowl of rowing. Which means for those eight days, we’re kind of a big deal.

Everyone can find something to love about rowing, but it can be tedious if you don’t know what you’re watching.

We’re here to help. We’ve put together a handy guide to the World Rowing Championships, including what to watch and where, a quick dive into the sport’s global history, and a breakdown of the event’s can’t-miss races. Read on to brush up on your knowledge and talk like a true sculler.

HOW WE GOT HERE The beautiful lake before you at Nathan Benderson Park got its start as something a little less glamorous than a world-class rowing facility. It was a borrow pit for construction. Which means it was basically the remnant of digging to provide fill dirt for the area’s development. Sexy, huh?

In the early 1990s, the area, then known as Cooper Creek Park, was purchased by Sarasota County for

2007

The Benderson family donates $1 million to Sarasota County to transform the park into a health and wellness destination. The park is subsequently renamed Nathan Benderson Park.

68

LWR LIFE

parkland. There it remained until 2007, when the Benderson family (which runs the development company sharing the same name) donated $1 million to the county to transform the park into a health and wellness destination. Voila, Nathan Benderson Park was born, named after the family’s patriarch.

For the past 10 years, the park has attracted more and more rowers, leading to the more developed vision it has today. Check out the timeline below to see how it progressed.

NATHAN BENDERSON PARK TIMELINE

2009

The park holds two regattas as a test. They go swimmingly.

2010

Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center Associates Inc. (SANCA), a not-for-profit 501c3, is created to manage Nathan Benderson Park.

2011

Sarasota County commits $19.5 million of Tourist Development Tax funds to the park’s development. This includes extending the race course from 1,500 meters to 2,000 meters (FISA-regulation size). Development of the park begins, with the goal of becoming FISA-approved.

HISTORY OF ROWING HOW THEY GOT HERE How athletes qualify for the championships isn’t as complicated as you may think. FISA rules state the event is open to any elite-level rower/team of rowers from a FISA-member nation, meaning there aren’t traditional qualification events like there are for the Olympic games. Any member nation that wants to submit a team for an event is welcome to do so.

The trick, then, is getting selected by your country. There are two ways to be selected for Team USA: trials, and selection camps. All boat classifications, except the men’s and women’s pairs, had their trials Aug. 6-9 in Princeton, N.J. The winning boats at these trials automatically qualified for the WRC. Pairs qualify for the WRC by winning their race at the National Selection Regatta, then finishing in the top-four at either the second or third race of the 2017 World Cup Series, the latter of which was held July 7-9 in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Then, there are the selection camps. National team coaches can send out invites to these camps for myriad reasons, including past international performance, training camp performance, a style or attitude fit, or even a “coach’s recommendation,” which really could mean anything. Some rowers also earn automatic invites to the camps.

These camps are also held in Princeton, and will continue until coaches figure out the combinations they want. They’ll test different combinations and orders of rowers, trying to maximize a boat’s speed. Coaches will make team recommendations to a selection committee, and the committee has final say in who comes to Nathan Benderson Park and who stays home.

Selection camps can potentially run until Aug. 28, the day USRowing will name its full WRC roster. The roster will be a combination of boats from the two qualification routes.

Rowing is one of the oldest sports in the world, with its history tracing back … well, we don’t know its exact origin, but there’s record of the Egyptian warrior Amenhotep II’s feats as an oarsmen on his 1430 B.C. funerary inscription. In other words, it’s ancient.

In the 13th century, the Venetians threw festivals called “regatas” (with one “t”) which included boat races on the city’s canals. Those festivals slowly evolved into the regattas we know and love today.

The oldest annual rowing race in the world, Doggett’s Coat and Badge, was first held in 1715 on Thames River in London.

It ran, as it still runs today, from London Bridge to Cadogan Pier in Chelsea. The race is named after the prize awarded to the winners: a traditional red coat, with a silver badge depicting the horse of the House of Hanover and the word “Liberty,” both references to King George I taking the throne.

The first big American race took place in 1762, on Pennsylvania’s Schuylkill River, and in 1823, the Knickerbocker Club became the first boat club in the United States. The Narragansett Boat Club, the oldest rowing club (and oldest athletic club, period) still active in the U.S. today, was founded in 1838. The club sent six boats to the 2017 USRowing Youth National Championships, held at Nathan Benderson Park in June.

The Federation of Rowing Associations, or FISA, was established on June 25, 1892, in Turin, Italy, and was the first international sports federation to join the Olympic movement. Rowing has been featured at every iteration of the modern Olympic Games, except in 1896 — it was on the docket, but strong storms forced a cancellation. Women’s rowing didn’t enter the Olympics until the 1976 Games in Montreal.

File photos

2012

Phase I of development (dredging and filling the lake) is completed in July.

2013

The park is awarded the 2017 World Rowing Championships in September. Phase II of development (installation of park amenities, hardscaping and landscaping) is completed in December.

The park is FISA-approved.

2014

The International Breast Cancer Paddlers Commission Dragon Boat Festival comes to NBP. It’s the first international competition the park has hosted.

2017

The park’s five-story finish tower, left, opens just in time for the USRowing Youth National Championships in June.

Sept. 24: The park will host the daddy of ’em all, the World Rowing Championships.

LWR LIFE

69

IN SYNC

The more people in the boat, the greater the chance for error. Here’s how rowers in the eight keep it together.

1,2. Bow pair: These two rowers affect the stability and direction of the boat. Therefore, they need to be technically sound and adaptable. They are usually the smallest rowers in the boat.

1

2

3

4

8. Stroke: The rower who sits closest to the stern and in front of the coxswain. Communicates with the coxswain and sets the cadence for other rowers to follow and the rate of strokes for the boat. This position requires great responsibility and leadership.

5

6

7

8 Coxswain

3,4,5,6. Engine room: Rowers in the middle affect the steering less, so they’re counted on for power. As the biggest and strongest rowers, their job is to simply to pull — as hard as they can.

7. Buffer: Sits behind the stroke. Follows the stroke carefully to make sure the cadence is followed by the crew behind her. Needs to be technically sound.

SOUND LIKE A ROWING PRO Catch: Part of the rowing stroke in which the oar blade is set in the water.

Catching a crab: When an oar gets stuck in the water at the finish of a stroke.

Check it down: A call from the coxswain for all rowers to square their blades and drag them through the water to slow down or stop the boat.

Missing water: Failing to get the blade in the water soon enough, missing part of the beginning of the stroke.

Oars: Used to drive the boat forward. Don’t make the mistake of calling them paddles.

Power 10: A call from the coxswain for rowers to do 10 strokes in a row with full power.

Repechage: “Second chance;” the second round of competition that ensures everyone has two chances to advance from the preliminary heats.

Run: The distance the shell travels during one full stroke.

Rushing the slide: Returning to the catch too quickly, causing one's weight to be thrown toward the stern. This forces the boat to slow down.

Shell: The boat. The two words are used interchangeably.

Stern: The rear of the boat, and the direction the rowers face.

Sweep: Type of rowing in which rowers use one oar.

Swing: When all rowers in a shell are perfectly synchronized and the shell’s speed is maximized.

Washing out: Raising the blade out of the water before finishing the stroke.

KINDS OF RACES

Scull: Type of rowing in which rowers use two oars.

Double (2x): One scull rower per shell.

Pair (2+/2-): Two sweep rowers per shell. Can either have a coxswain (2+) or not (2-).

Quad (4x): Four scull rowers per shell.

Four (4+/4-): Four sweep rowers per shell. Can either have a coxswain (4+) or not (4-).

Eight (8+): Eight sweep rowers per shell. Will always have a coxswain.

70

LWR LIFE

*Coxswain: Position which steers the shell and acts at the crew’s coach during the race.

*A NOTE ON THE COXSWAIN It’s easy enough for spectators to see what rowers are doing during races. It’s more difficult to parse what the coxswain is doing.

In reality, this is perhaps the most difficult job, says David Wyant, a local attorney and former Sarasota Crew member who will be announcing races at the World Rowing Championships.

“The coxswain is the ultimate sports multitasker,” Wyant says, kind of like a quarterback in football. The position’s main job is to keep the boat straight. Traveling a degree or two off-kilter can be the difference between first and second place. Beyond that, the coxswain is also the on-board coach. In rowing, coaches can’t be in direct contact with their teams during races, so it’s up to the coxswain to keep rowers motivated and execute the boat’s race plan, mostly by yelling. The coxswain is also the team’s eyes and ears. If a boat port side passes them, the coxswain lets them know how much water they must regain.

While you won’t be able to physically see their impact at the WRC, know that the people crouched down in the stern of the boat are working hard, too.

WHAT TO WATCH If you want to know the ins and outs of rowing, there’s no better person to listen to than David Wyant. The attorney at Schumaker, Loop & Kendrick LLC was a coxswain for Sarasota Crew in his younger days. He now helps coach coxswains in his free time (rarer these days) and is also an in-house announcer for rowing events at Nathan Benderson Park.

He’ll be calling races for the WRC. There are a few things Wyant says people new to rowing can watch for during races, the biggest of which is how the teams physically row. Their legs compress then fire back with each stroke. Some teams prefer rowers sit upright, while others will have their rowers’ upper halves at an angle. The reasons for that decision vary: Sometimes a shell simply feels more comfortable rowing a certain way, and sometimes the boat classification plays a part (a single scull versus a quad, for example). There’s no “one way” that’s certifiably better, Wyant says, but the differences by country and team give each race a unique flavor.

A smaller thing to observe: How rowers get their oars in and out of the water. At the end of a stroke, rowers will turn the blades of their oars parallel to the water, in a technique called “feathering.” This allows the blade to slice through the air, creating less wind resistance. The rub, though, is rowers have to get the blade perpendicular to the water before the start of the next stroke.

If they mess up the timing of the maneuver, it can ruin the stroke for the whole boat.

“It’s fascinatingly complicated,” Wyant says. “Coaches are trying everything to maximize boat speed.”

Shells implement different strategies during races as well. Some prefer to get a big lead early and hold on at the end, while others only attempt to stay competitive early, and give a big push as the race comes to a close. All of these strategies depend on what other shells do as well, and thus can change on the fly. Unfortunately, unless you know a shell’s plan beforehand, it’s difficult to decipher them while watching a race.

TEAMS TO WATCH

WHERE TO WATCH

If there’s one category, and one team, spectators will not want to miss, it’s the U.S. Women’s 8+. The United States has won the category at the World Rowing Championships (or the Olympic Games) 11 years in a row. Yes, 11. The last time the U.S. lost this event at a major competition, the 2004 Olympics in Greece, Facebook was 6 months old.

This year’s World Rowing Championships might find the U.S. in its most precarious position since those Olympics, however. The rosters for the WRC are not yet set, but it’s expected that a at least a few members of the 2016 Gold Medal shell will not participate in the championships. If that does turn out to be the case, the U.S. could find itself tested, or worse. The event is closing out the championships on Oct. 1, at approximately 11:42 a.m.

Great Britain, New Zealand and Germany are other recent rowing powers to watch to see if they can continue their success. Really, though, every race will be contested at a high level. Spectators will never see better rowing than this, in terms of both technique and pure drive.

If you’ll ever enjoy the sport, you’ll enjoy it here, no matter who is in the water.

Often, rowing spectators get frustrated by not being able to see the whole race, and it’s an understandable complaint. Wyant is adamant about one thing: Make sure you watch a few races from the starting line. It’s his personal favorite section to watch.

Shells go from a dead stop to top speed in five strokes, and it’s incredible to watch, he says. You can hear the coxswain, yelling his or her commands to the rest of the crew. The energy of the moment is palpable.

Conversely, the middle section of the race is the least interesting, Wyant admits. Spectators are fine to simply catch a gaze of that section while walking from the finish line to the start, or vice versa. Once you’ve seen a few races from the beginning, you’re probably fine to spend the rest of the afternoon at the finish, he said.

Up for a more athletic viewing challenge? Try bringing a bike, roller skates, skateboard or scooter with you, and ride along the park’s westside pathway, keeping pace with the rowers. You’ll get to see the whole race, and watch teams implement their strategies. You’ll also be farther away, so noticing little things like feathering may be hard to do (and you won’t be able to hear Wyant’s vibrant vocals on the race call), but it makes for a unique experience.

LWR LIFE

71

SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS SATURDAY, SEPT. 23

OPENING CEREMONY Enjoy the kickoff celebration to start the WRC, including live music, familyfriendly activities, food from local restaurants, and more.

Starts at 5:30 p.m. at Nathan Benderson Park. Free.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 24 TO WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 27 n Men’s and women’s heats begin Sept. 24-25. n Para-rowing heats begin Sept. 26. n Repechage begins Sept.

26, runs through Sept. 27.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 28

n Finals for all men’s, women’s and lightweight races n Races start at 9 a.m.

Saturday and Sunday

*Races start at 10 a.m., unless otherwise noted. All races take place at Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota. For a full schedule, visit wrch2017.com

FOLLOW FROM HOME n NBC Sports will broadcast some of the championships, starting on Sept. 28. n Live audio commentary and live race tracker will be available for all races on worldrowing.com, along with some video streaming for select races.

241499

n Semifinals begin n Finals for para-rowing n Men’s and women’s 8+ repechage

FRIDAY, SEPT. 29 TO SUNDAY, OCT. 1

72

LWR LIFE

J.L. BAINBRIDGE & COMPANY, INC.

Trusted advisors. Open communication. Expert insight.

J.L. Bainbridge’s legacy of fiduciary responsibility dates back to 1981. So whether the financial future you envisioned is here, close at hand or still in the distance, trust us to help you get there safely.

If we sound a little different, it’s because we are.

• We sell no products and receive no commissions.

• Our fiduciary duty binds us by law, as well as personal ethics, to put your interests first.

• Our conservative investment approach minimizes risk and promotes long-term gains.

• Our investment portfolio managers speak with clients personally, and we also provide straightforward monthly communications that track investments and share expert insight.

• Our minimum makes professional money management available to a variety of investors across a spectrum of needs.

• And you have no obligation to pay our fee unless you are completely satisfied with our services.

YOUR BRIDGE TO FINANCIAL SECURITY

JLB is a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) specializing in the portfolio management of investment, trusts and retirement accounts. Including IRA’s, SEP-IRA’s, SIMPLE -IRA’s, 401K’s, PCRA’s, as well as, pension, profit sharing and charitable foundation accounts. All managed assets are held in client owned accounts with Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

246577

Contact us today to take the next step into your financial future.

Discover the difference with a Registered Investment Advisor.

1582 Main Street, Sarasota, FL 34236 | (941) 365-3435 | (800) 899-5171 | www.JLBainbridge.comLWR LIFE

73

Land of Hives and

Honey Lakewood Ranch land planner

Bob Simons is single-handedly keeping East County’s bee population buzzing.

BY HEIDI KURPIELA | MANAGING EDITOR

T

he air in Lakewood Ranch is thick with afternoon rain and stifling heat. Creatures everywhere are running for shelter. In The Lake Club, a luxury develop-

ment east of Lorraine Road, residents are coming home from work, their wipers on high and their lights on low, steam rising up from the concrete. It’s 5:30 and everyone wants to be inside and dry, even the bees.

Bob Simons waits for a break between showers, steps out of his truck and into his bee garb. The ensemble is a cross between hazmat suit and auto mechanic’s uniform: Dickies coveralls, white hood, requisite bee veil and goatskin gloves that don’t protect against stingers when they’re wet. He moves toward a 4-foot-high bee box, a nondescript white dresser obscured by faux Tuscan scenery and a few rows of novelty grapevines. He lifts the lid. The bees come in dribs and drabs.

Continued on Page 76

74

LWR LIFE

Photos by Heidi Kurpiela

Bob Simons designed the landscaping in The Lake Club, which is home to grapevines and more than a dozen bee boxes. “The Lake Club is central to a good mix of wild and domesticated flowers,” Simons says. “Bees typically forage 2 miles out from the hive.”

LWR LIFE

75

“The girls aren’t too pissed,” he mutters through his veil. “I’m surprised.

They don’t like rain or low-pressure weather.”

Like a dairy farmer talking about his cows, Simons refers to the bees as his girls, which is largely accurate. For every one male drone in the hive, there are 100 worker bees — all of them female and none of them pleased about having her roof ripped off in the rain.

With the ease of an office worker pulling a manila folder out of a filing cabinet, Simons slides a hive frame out of the box and holds it out in front of him. The frame is dense with capped honeycomb in perfect hexagonal cells that took thousands of bees thousands of hours and thousands of flights to and from nearby wildflowers to collectively build. “Hold this,” he says, brushing off a few hangers-on. “You wont believe how heavy it is.”

SECOND NATURE

Some people run away from bees.

Simons runs toward them. Beekeeping, he says, is therapeutic. It requires focus and stillness. It quiets his mind and zaps his stress. When he’s working with bees he feels nothing but respect and amazement. His worries dissipate … like pollen.

“I started in the business when there were very few threats to bees,” Simons says. “Today is different. Today I feel like you look at the bees and you look at yourself.”

He’s worked with bees for so long the stings don’t even bother him. Like most beekeepers, the Florida native has developed a tolerance to the venom. If he goes too long without beekeeping, he plucks two “girls” out of a bee box and sticks one in each of his thighs to help rebuild his immunity. “They say bee stings help with arthritis by increasing circulation,” Simons says. “I tried it on my knuckles. It didn’t work.”

The 65-year-old Braden Woods resident is something of an unlikely beekeeper. A landscape architect and veteran land planner, Simons has worked for Schroeder-Manatee Ranch for 23 years. As president of Lakewood Ranch Development, he looks like every other seasoned developer in SMR’s headquarters — button-down shirt, dress pants, irksome cell phone. Get him out of the office, however, and talk-

76

LWR LIFE

Above: Underground valve and telecom boxes have become major bee real estate in Lakewood Ranch.

“European honeybees are not ground dwellers,” Simons says. “I don’t know why they’re going down instead of up. It could be interbreeding.”

Left: A piece of fallen honeycomb reveals the formation of a new queen cell in an underground hive.

Continued on Page 78

I LIVE HERE, I LOVE IT HERE

LAKEWOOD RANCH Lifestyle Specialist I have been representing the finest proper ties in Lakewood Ranch and beyond for over 15 years. Customers appreciate my affinity for exceptional service, attention to detail and negotiation skills, which have enabled me to establish a true tradition of excellence in real estate.

7115 Teal Creek Glen | The Lakewood Ranch Country Club | $2,299,000

It decompresses him.

Everybody needs an outlet, the bees are Bob’s.”

LEIGH SIMONS ON HER HUSBAND’S BEEKEEPING

23006 73rd Avenue East | Pomello Park | $695,000

7739 Westmoreland Drive | Sarasota | $544,900

Contact me today to find out more about these exceptional properties, or to discuss your personal real estate goals.

Barbara Najmy CLHMS REAL ESTATE CONSULTANT

941.705.1158

BarbaraNajmy@michaelsaunders.com

8325 Lakewood Ranch Blvd | Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 941.907.9595 | michaelsaunders.com LWR LIFE

247474

ing about bees, and his Southern drawl (he’s a native of Zephyrhills) gets more languid and his language more salty.

“No way in hell did I want to be a beekeeper,” he says. “My uncle dragged me into it.”

The story of how Simons got into beekeeping plays out like a layered coming-of-age tale. It starts with the loss of his father, whom Simons says, “hung the sun, the moon and the stars.” When he died from spinal cancer, Simons — one of four children, including a twin brother — was only 15. In the wake of his death, Simons’ mother turned to his uncle for help.

“I had lost myself,” Simons says. “And my uncle lived half a mile up the road.

She said, ‘You need to do something with Bobby.’ So there I was, hanging out with my Uncle Bill, who was not a warm and fuzzy kind of guy.”

A gruff, rigorously scheduled retired millwright, his uncle was also a hobby beekeeper with 75 hives scattered from Ocala to Sarasota. When school let out for the summer, Simons was tasked with helping him tend to the far-flung colonies. This exercise in bonding was not exactly a teenager’s idea of fun.

The first time he suited up in the bee garb, his aunt sealed the suit shut with duct tape. “I looked like the Michelin man,” Simons recalls. “My uncle laughed and said, ‘There’s not a bee known to man who can get through that suit.’”

The following weeks unrolled like a master class in honey farming, Simons dutifully splitting hives, moving hives, re-queening hives and extracting honey with his uncle. One day, to test his commitment to the job, Uncle Bill showed up at Simons’ house with a box

77

of bees. He backed up his El Camino to the family’s pump house, set an empty hive on four concrete blocks, placed nine frames into the hive and dumped the bees inside. “Here’s your first hive,” he said. “Take care of them.”

Simons was befuddled. He told his uncle he didn’t ask for a hive. To which his uncle replied, “I didn’t ask if you wanted one. Their survival is up to you. If you have questions, you know where I am.”

The teen relented and the colony thrived.

“There was no way I was letting them die,” Simons says. “Shoot, if I did, I’d have to deal with my uncle’s wrath for the rest of his life.”

HONEY-DO LIST

Simons has spent most of his career working for contractors and developers, first for Taylor Woodrow helping build out The Meadows in Sarasota and now for SMR. In between these two endeavors, he ran a company that specialized in golf course design and construction management. After

5

th

Annual

Simons calls his B-Works Honey “a boutique business at best.” He produces just enough to share with family and friends and stock the Lodge at Country Club East.

working with bees with his uncle for 10 years, he abandoned the practice to focus on his career, storing all the equipment he inherited in a barn in Zephyrhills.

Fifteen years ago, he dusted off his uncle’s old poplar hives when maintenance workers in Lakewood Ranch started exterminating bee colonies in

underground irrigation valve boxes.

“Knowing the plight of bees, I felt obligated to extract the colonies so they would not be destroyed,” Simons says.

The extractions turned into a fullfledged second job — or as Simons likes to call it, “an overzealous hobby.”

He now devotes many of his weekends and evenings to vacuum extracting unwanted bees. He has six bee boxes behind his home, 14 boxes in The Lake Club and at least half a dozen hives that need to be pulled out of underground telecom and valve boxes around Lakewood Ranch.

“He’s trying to save the bees one hive at a time,” says Simons’ wife, Leigh. “When he’s with them, his focus isn’t on anything else. He’s like the bee whisperer.”

If Lakewood Ranch is a hive, Simons helped make the honeycomb cell by cell. Rex Jensen, SMR president and CEO, says his colleague’s imprint can be seen on much of the community’s built environment, as well as in the areas reserved for natural habitat and environmental stewardship. Beekeep-

Humane Society at Lakewood Ranch

&

Scramble

RACQUETS FOR RESCUES

Tennis Tournament

SUNDAY OCTOBER 29TH at The Ritz Carlton Golf Club Registration: 11:00am Shotgun Start: 12:00pm | Dinner: 5pm Includes: Golf, Prizes, 50/50 Raffle, Silent Auction, Dinner, Live Music & Dancing

at Lakewood Ranch Country Club Registration: 1:30pm | Start Time: 2pm Dinner: 5pm at The Ritz Carlton Golf Club Includes: Tennis, Prizes, 50/50 Raffle, Silent Auction, Dinner, Live Music & Dancing

Register Online by Oct 15th: HSLWR.ORG For More Information Call: 941.779.3457 Email: Puttsformutts@HSLWR.org

78

LWR LIFE

TENNIS TOURNAMENT

Twenty-two years of caring in our community. Locally nurse owned and family operated since 1995.

Susanne S. Wise, RN, MBA, CEO & Owner

(941) 927-2292

www.TakeCareHomeHealth.com 247477

GOLF TOURNAMENT

Lic. # HHA 21657096 | 299991405

247140

PUTTS FOR MUTTS

ing, says Jensen, “is a natural extension of Bob’s interests and his work.”

Simons produces about 20 gallons of honey a year, enough to give away as presents and keep the Lodge at Country Club East fully stocked. (In exchange for keeping hives on SMR’s property, Simons supplies the clubhouse restaurant with his B-Works Wildflower Honey.)

The developer would retire and step up his honey operation if there wasn’t so much work to do in Lakewood Ranch. It’s boom time again. More neighborhoods are breaking ground.

More parks are cropping up. More families are moving in. More roads are being cut. More bees are burrowing underground.

Simons doesn’t understand why this is happening. European honeybees like their hives high and dry. He wonders if something has changed in the insects’ genetics to make them colonize underground. “Who knows?” Simons says.

“Bees find a way.”

But sometimes they don’t. Several years ago, Simons lost nearly half his

hives due to colony collapse, a vague term used to describe the dramatic disappearance of honeybees across the globe. Simons, like many beekeepers, blames colony collapse on the rise in systemic pesticides on food crops. To prevent further loss, he began splitting his hives and re-queening them each spring, in effect doubling the number of bees in each colony. Similar adjustments have been made by commercial beekeepers with great success. Bee loss has leveled out across the country.

A bee-pocalypse certainly seems less imminent in Lakewood Ranch, where bees are crawling out of the woodwork. As Simons drives from hive to hive checking on his girls, one Photo courtesy of Bob Simons thing becomes increasingly clear: The “After a certain amount of time they realize the hive bees are perfectly managed out here. is being changed, not destroyed,” Simons says of the They’re cool with Simons, obliviextraction process. “They go into repair mode and I ous to the fact that without him they become the host.” wouldn’t have a home. Not unlike the residents of Lakewood Ranch.

Simons seems to draw a similar comparison. munities the bees build,” he says, turn“I can only hope the communities ing his truck out of The Lake Club. “It I build are as successful as the com- doesn’t get more organized than that.”

Palm Aire Country Club is your event destination! We can host groups as large as 250 and as intimate as 25.

Palm Aire is perfect for formal events such as weddings, banquets and anniversary parties. We also love to host cookouts, business meetings, family reunions and celebrations of life. Palm Aire Country Club’s Banquet Team will work closely with you to create the right menu, the right room design and the right decorations for your special occasion.

Whatever your occasion, Palm Aire Country Club can accommodate.

227456

For more information on booking your next event, please contact Marisa Merlino, Director of Catering & Banquet Sales at (941) 556-0787.

www.palmaire.net 5601 Country Club Way Sarasota, FL 34243 LWR LIFE

79

“Enjoy Grande Living on an Intimate Scale� in Arbor Grande.

Arbor Grande is a gated residential enclave of homes and luxury villas that offer private, resort-style amenities to residents of Arbor Grande.

PRICED FROM THE LOW $300S Lower-maintenance Luxury ViLLas • Premier and estate Homes • Tile roof, pavers and front impact resistant windows all included

• Luxury villa owners also have a private pool, pickleball and tennis court amenity center

• Fitness center and zero-entry pool with lap lanes at Arbor Grande Club

• Lifestyle Club Director on staff

For More Information call 941-212-0442 Visit us at CalAtlanticHomes.com/ArborGrande Prices, plans and terms are effective on the date of publication and subject to change without notice. Depictions of homes or other features are artist conceptions. Hardscape, landscape and other items shown may be decorator suggestions that are not included in the purchase price and availability may vary. Ryland Homes of Florida Realty Corporation CQ268118. Standard Pacific of Florida CQ1038741.

246911 LWR LIFE

81

AQUA’S GOT YOUR BACK WITH SAVINGS. CALL US TODAY!

0

Whole Home AC & Plumbing Maintenance Plans starting at $99

% Financing Available

EXTEND THE LIFE OF YOUR AIR CONDITIONING AND HOME’S PLUMBING SYSTEMS. RECEIVE PRECISION TUNE-UP AND PROFESSIONAL CLEANING.*

WITH APPROVED CREDIT.*

*Call Aqua Plumbing & Air at 941-306-3715 for complete details.

Expires on 12/31/2017.

*Call Aqua Plumbing & Air at 941-306-3715 for complete details.

Expires on 12/31/2017.

“Thank you for the excellent service you sent our way on August 1st. The 100 degrees in our house was miserable!

Your technician was awesome and knowledgeable and had us fixed up in less than one hour.

I have already told the neighbors how great you are! Thanks.” Ms. J.C. PLUMBING • Air Conditioning • Electrical • Water Treatment

AQUA Got Your Back! ’S

For over four decades, residents in Sarasota and Manatee Counties have trusted Aqua Plumbing & Air to meet a full range of services with 100% dedication to your satisfaction.

Payment options for all credit levels.

aquaplumbing.com 246799

Call Today! 941-306-3715

License #: CAC1816020; CFC057648; EC13005269

HAVEN

SPOTLIGHTING LIFE ON THE RANCH

For Jim and Patty LeMay, the Pescara model was the ready-made home of their dreams. PAGE 84

The Pescara had everything the LeMays didn’t know they needed, like a large wine cellar and dozens of other custom wood built-ins.

MODEL

84

LWR LIFE

MAGIC

This award-winning Lakewood Ranch Country Club home is as flawless today as it was in its modeling days.

BY SHELLIE TERRY | CONTRIBUTOR

LWR LIFE

85

Photos by Bob Dennison of SRQ360

With a lanai that overlooks 50 yards of nature preserves, the LeMays’ outdoor living space has enough seating for 34 guests.

H

ave you ever wondered what happens to picture-perfect model homes? The ones meticulously built, smartly furnished and expertly decorated? The ones you tour when you’re looking at spec homes? Eventually they get purchased — lock, stock and barrel. And in some cases, they change little from their original incarnation.

Jim and Patty LeMay can give you a first-person account of what it’s like to move into one of these ready-made beauties. For nearly a decade, they’ve lived in the Lakewood Ranch Country Club in Peregrine Homes’ Pescara model, winner of multiple 2008 Parade of Homes awards.

This 5,310-square-foot Tuscan showcase is still considered Peregrine’s crown jewel. In addition to being named Best Overall in its Price Range by the Manatee-Sarasota Building In-

86

LWR LIFE

dustry Association, the property received top honors for its master suite, floor plan and architectural details.

The LeMays — Boston natives who landed in Lakewood Ranch by way of Cincinnati — were at first drawn to the Pescara’s modern Mediterranean feel.

After touring so many stuffy Mediterranean Revival homes, the bright, open model was a breath of fresh air.

“The thing about this home that we loved more than some of the others was that it didn’t have all the golds and

reds, and the heavy, heavy draperies, which was not our style,” Patty says.

The couple stumbled upon the Pescara by chance. Five years earlier they had purchased a place in The Masters with the intention of being snowbirds.

When the market turned south in 2008, they started combing Lakewood Ranch for a larger, more full-time residency.

They found their dream home the Continued on Page 88

AN EPIC HOMESTORE

Fine Resale

We accept Consignments daily. No appointment necessary.

Join The FIFI’S Frenzy

In the San Marcos Plaza 8225 Nature’s Way #115 Lakewood Ranch • 941.210.4713

handbags

OSPREY: APPAREL

5477 US Hwy 41 Apollo Beach

6410 North US 41 Apollo Beach, FL 33572

(941) 451- 8298

M,W-Friday 10am-5pm Tues 10am-4pm Sat 10am-4pm Closed Sun

Furniture Paintings 246631

EPICHomeDecor.com

APPAREL

(813) 641- 8444

Mon-Sat 10am - 6pm Sun 11am-4pm

11 South Tamiami Trail Osprey, FL 34229 Mon - Sat 10am - 6pm Closed Sun

SR 70: FURNITURE

LAKEWOOD RANCH:

TAMPA: APPAREL

(941) 758 -7222

8322 Market St. Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202

813-251-2800

7343 52nd Place East Bradenton, FL 34203

Lighting

furniture too!

APOLLO BEACH:

(813) 641- 0055

Accessories

jewelry

APOLLO BEACH: FURNITURE

Small Gifts

shoes

Mon - Sat 10am - 6pm Sun 11am - 4pm

APPAREL

(941) 907- 8900

Mon - Sat 10am - 7pm Sun 11am - 4pm

1732 S.Dale Mabry Hwy Tampa, FL 33629 Mon - Sat 10am - 6pm Sun 11am - 4pm

247290

Apparel

WITHOUT THE EPIC PRICE!

www.fifisconsignment-apparel.com / www.fifisconsignment-furniture.com

Shop, Relax Shop,Dine, Shop, Dine, Relax Relax Shop, Dine, Relax

ST. ARMANDS CIRCLE. THE JEWEL OF SARASOTA. You don’t have travel farCIRCLE. to find the world’s shopping and dining treasures– ST. to ARMANDS THE OF SARASOTA. ST. CIRCLE. THEJEWEL JEWEL SARASOTA. theyARMANDS are all here...on St. Armands Circle in OF Sarasota, Florida.

You don’t have to travel far to find the world’s shopping and dining treasures– You don’t have to travel far to find the world’s shopping and dining treasures– are all here...on St. Armands Circle calendar in Sarasota, Florida.

Visitthey StArmandsCircleAssoc.com for a complete of events and more.

they are all here...on St. Armands Circle in Sarasota, Florida.

247272

Visit StArmandsCircleAssoc.com for a complete calendar of events and more.

Visit StArmandsCircleAssoc.com941-388-1554 for a complete calendar of events and more.

941-388-1554 941-388-1554

941-388-1554

LWR LIFE

87

moment they set foot in the Pescara.

“It was the day after Thanksgiving, and the second we opened the door, we knew,” says Jim, who retired three years ago after a 40-year career in the auto retail industry. “It had this ‘wow’ factor. Everything worked for us.”

Peregrine decidedly turned up the charm in its four-bedroom, three-car garage model. In every room, the ceilings, some of which are 25 feet high, are finished with faux painting and sweet floral medallions, patterned wood beams and dreamy frescos.

“Because it was a model, Peregrine showed off everything they can do,” Jim says. “You get different wall and flooring treatments in each room; bathrooms with faux finishes and 12-foot mirrors … things you just wouldn’t think to do on your own.”

For instance, the kitchen is a showstopper, with its light cream, distressed and rustic-glazed cabinetry Peregrine Homes won the Best Master Suite award in the Parade of Homes for this design. The only significant change the LeMays made was installing the hardwood floors and plantation shutters on the windows. The cabinetry in the master bath

Continued on Page 90 was a key selling feature.

88

LWR LIFE

L S

Lisa Shepard, P.A. LEADER IN LUXURY REAL ESTATE SALES

Lisa Shepard, P.A. realtor 6910 Dominion Lane Lakewood Ranch Country Club

$789,000 3,332 sq. ft.

Leader in Luxury Real Estate Sales (941) 915-2609 shepardsells@gmail.com “Five Star Realtor Award” 2006-2016 Over $20M sold in 2016—thanks to my wonderful customers!

Elite Emerald Award Winner 2016 Successfully serving Sarasota, Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch since 2005

14928 Bowfin Terrace Greenbrook

$685,000 4,039 sq. ft.

14430 Sundial Place Greenbrook

$564,000 3,294 sq. ft.

8030 Bowspirit Way Lake Club

$439,000 Estate Lot

Lisa Shepard, P.A. realtor | Better Homes & Gardens | Atchley Properties 6113 Exchange Way | Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 246758

Inspired b y

you offering

0

% FINANCING

Created b y

for 15 months,rs qualifiedlybuye on

us

Over the years, the LeMays say they’ve considered switching out the distressed cream cabinetry in the kitchen with a brighter white version. But they decide to stick with the original every time the topic comes up.

and seeded glass doors. At the center of the kitchen is an oversized island that at 16 feet dwarfs most ordinary kitchen islands. “Who does that?” Patty asks with a giggle, still seemingly pinching herself over the find.

Tall, cast stone columns lead the way from room to room. The first floor wanders from the stately living room, with its floor-to-ceiling aquarium glass windows, to the family room, home to a cheerful stained-glass window.

The award-winning master suite — the only bedroom on the first floor — boasts dark, distressed wood flooring and plantation shutters, both of which the LeMays added after moving in. A cozy, elevated reading nook provides the perfect place to curl up with a book, and the master bath seems to go on for acres.

For all the loveliness on the lower level, the LeMays’ upstairs is even more welcoming. Mosaic-lined stairs lead to a small, domed rotunda — the perfect space to sip a cocktail and overlook the downstairs foyer. The upper level is home to an activity room, bar lounge and three bedrooms, one of which has a West Indies bungalow feel and is reserved for Patty’s mother’s

8205 natures way suite 115 san marco plaza lakewood ranch, fl 34202

941-306-5950 246601

90

LWR LIFE

Continued on Page 92

amy & filipe piumbini

0%

Welcome Home!

86.72%

0%

0%

67.58% 86.72%

0%

0%

78.13% 98.05%

0%

9.77%

80.86% 100%

1.56%

26.56% 85.16% 100%

221%

136%

24.22%

65%

EXERCISE YOUR HEART

Pantone 322 C Pantone 179 C

246574

80% 50% 30% 50% 80%

TOWN CENTER AT MARKET STREET

243624

MM#36401

Prenatal Massage or LuXe Facial. Normal rate $74. First time customers only. See spa for details.

45%

189%

86%

46%

132%

62%

39%

you’re committing to more than simply becoming healthier. You are supporting the families, the programs, and the values that strengthen our community.

.. .. .. .. ..

“12 Weeks to a New You” program Access to all branches Pantone 322 C Special events hosted by the YMCA 100+ FREE group exercise classes per week State-of-the-art cardio fitness centers Swimming Pools Saunas/Locker Rooms FREE supervised Kid Zone (child care while parent works out) Water Aerobic Classes Reduced fees for youth sports, swim lessons, camp and more!

MANATEE YMCA

941-229-1225 • 8378 Market St. • Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 *Consists of 50-minute service and time for consultation and dressing. Valid for Swedish, Deep Tissue,

95%

A MEMBERSHIP TO THE Y INCLUDES:

1 Hour Standard Massage or LuXe Facial*

CE#10008101

212%

The YMCA has a variety of activities available to keep you and your family healthy, active and happy while spending time together.

48

$

Pantone 179 C

62%

50% Black Lakewood Ranch Branch (941) 798-9622

manateeymca.org 247135

Mon-Sat 10:00 to 6:00, Sun 12:00 to 5:00 7211 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota copenhagen-imports.com • 923-2569

Intro Special!

116%

When you join the Y,

HOME INTERIORS

03% 45%

216%

In More Ways Than One

copenhagen imports

100% Black

56%

LWR LIFE

91

Stone River

The formal living room of the Pescara features 25-foot ceilings found in many Tuscanstyle homes. Patty LeMay says the warm cream colors throughout the home combat the feeling that it’s too vast and overwhelming, like some of the other homes she visited.

Bradenton’s New All-Inclusive, Resort-Style Independent Living Community

Your new luxury lifestyle at Stone River means all services and amenities are included for one monthly price. Get peace of mind and say goodbye to the tedious surprises of home ownership.

Stop by our Rental Office or call to schedule an appointment to learn about our priority list today at:

941-538-7837 Stone River

StoneRiverRetirement.com 92

LWR LIFE

247473

7360 55th Ave. East Bradenton, FL 34203

visits. An upstairs lanai — a rare find in Lakewood Ranch given the community’s revised zoning codes — looks out at 50 yards of sanctuary and a rock waterfall that trickles into the pool.

“It’s a magnificent home,” Patty says.

“It’s always been a crowd pleaser.”

The property has been tweaked slightly since its days as a model. The exterior, once a dark cream, is now a bright off-white with white trim and dark brown soffits. The formal living and dining rooms were made sleeker by swapping out the home’s traditional furniture with fresh contemporary pieces and a handful of art deco accents.

The LeMays, however, are finding that their sprawling retirement pad is no longer the vacation destination it once was now that their two adult children and three grandchildren are getting older. Jim says the couple is pondering downsizing to a “less extravagant house,” confessing that sometimes an entire month goes by before either one of them walks upstairs. Patty, on the other hand, isn’t so eager to give it up. “If it’s meant to be, it will be,” she says. “But I could live here forever.”

226998

Back at the Ranch

Outside of the Box M

JESS MCINTYRE GREENBROOK RESIDENT AND WORKING MOM TO SONS GAVIN, 3, AND JACKSON, 2

y kids love summer. They get to sleep in. They aren’t required to wear shoes (or even pants). Swimming counts as bath time and lunch consists of Popsicles.

FYI, you can’t pack Popsicles in a lunchbox, which brings me to the point of this column: I don’t like packing lunches. Summer means freedom from sandwich baggies! Freedom from halfeaten PB&J’s! Freedom from rotten bananas at the bottom of a backpack!

When August hits and summer screeches to a halt, I’m back in my hairnet, counting out baby carrots and spooning old pasta salad into GladWare.

They say a mother’s work never ends.

Neither does the lunchbox assembly line. Kids need lunch. Every. Single. Day. Remember when parents used to just slap some bologna and processed cheese on a slice of Wonder bread and call it a day — or better yet, send their kids to school with a couple quarters for a tray of tater tots and sloppy Joes?

Not today. Not in the age of Pinterest.

Every fall I hit up Pinterest thinking this will be the year I get it together.

This year I’ll pack baked tofu and barley salad, quinoa lettuce wraps and homemade granola bars in nontoxic, stainless steel Bento boxes. This year I’ll artfully arrange tomatoes, corn, peas, broccoli and ham into the shape of a bunny. This year I’ll be that mom.

Sadly, I don’t have a degree in culinary arts or graphic design, so the truth is I’m not going to reinvent the turkey sandwich. Also, I don’t have that much time. But guess what? There’s a perfectly acceptable middle ground between soggy bologna sandwiches and vegetable bunnies. In my quest for kid-friendly grub, I found a few simple (and locally sourced — yea me!) ideas that won’t cramp your style, break the bank or end up in the cafeteria garbage.

Continued on Page 96

94

LWR LIFE

You don’t have to be a dietician or a Pinterest fanatic to pack a good school lunch.

Every fall I hit up Pinterest thinking this will be the year I get it together.

This year I’ll pack baked tofu and barley salad, quinoa lettuce wraps and homemade granola bars in nontoxic, stainless steel Bento boxes. ...

This year I’ll be that mom.”

Caring for the Hearts

Dedicated to a lifetime of

WOMEN’S

of Lakewood Ranch

HEALTH CARE

A proud Lakewood Ranch resident, Dr. Calderon provides state-of-the-art cardiology care with a minimally invasive approach.

Gynecology / Cosmetic Gynecology • Obstetrics - Pregnancy • On-Site 3D & 4D Ultrasounds • Menopause & Hormone Replacement • In-Office Procedures: Hysteroscopy, Endometrial Ablation & more. • Hospital Surgery

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: M. Joanne Bevers, CNM | Therese E. Goode, PA-C | Edgardo J. Aponte, MD, FACOG Jennifer R. McCullen, MD, FACOG | Jorge E. Alvarez, MD, FACOG | Jill S. Miller, ARNP

941- 907 - 1113

6310 Health Park Way • Suite 230 Lakewood Ranch, FL SE HABLA ESPAÑOL & PORTUGUESE

Erick E. Calderon 228366

Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease, Interventional Cardiology & Nuclear Cardiology

LakewoodCardiovascular.com

227695

M.D., FACC, FSCAI

8340 Lakewood Ranch Boulevard, Suite 240 Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 (941) 907-3008 | www.obgynwc.com

KIDS UNDER

2

Receive a FREE dental exam. Mention offer code: LWRLIFE

239113

Mon - Thurs: 8am-5pm Fri: 8am-1pm

Up to 6 guests.

Board Certified Pediatric Dentist Themed Rooms for the Kids Friendly Dental Team State of the Art Dental Office in Lakewood Ranch We accept most PPO insurances

LoanAnh T. Bui, DDS (941) 210-4399 8936 77th Terrace East, Suite #105, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202

LittleTownSmiles.com LWR LIFE

228933

1

$

Now Accepting New Patients

95

Continued from Page 94

MINI CORN DOGS AND WATERMELON Fill a mini-muffin tin with cornbread mix. Cut hotdogs into sixths and put one piece in each section of the tin. Bake for 14 to 16 minutes and, voila, you’ve created pint-sized versions of a kid classic! Add some nutritional value by pairing the dogs with fresh watermelon and sliced cucumbers from Hunsader Farms, which reopens in September. If you’re feeling generous, pack a cup of ranch dressing, because seriously, who doesn’t like dipping things in ranch?

TURKEY ROLL-UPS AND CORN ON THE COB There’s no need for explanation here.

This is literally what it sounds like: rolled up slices of turkey. Ditch the bread, roll up the turkey and hold it together with a toothpick. If your kid loves cheese, roll it up with a slice of American or provolone. (Local tip: The deli meats at Detwiler’s Farm Market on Palmer Boulevard are usually cheap-

be pricey, so I suggest ordering a large one to portion out over a couple days.

SWEET POTATO WITH HONEY er than the stuff at the supermarket.)

Finish it off with an ear of boiled corn fresh from O’Brien Family Farms or a less wholesome bag of Pirate’s Booty.

Bonus points go to the kids who use their turkey roll toothpicks to get corn out of their teeth.

RAW VEGGIE MEDLEY AND A SMOOTHIE

Microwave a sweet potato until it’s cooked (about 4 to 5 minutes). Allow it to cool, cut it in half and top one half with local honey (Richard’s Foodporium sells four different kinds of locally sourced honey, including Bee Naked Honey from Palmetto). Add a hardboiled egg and a handful of strawberries for added protein and Vitamin C.

GRAB-BAG GOODIES

If you’re one of those rare parents whose child loves fresh vegetables, then I recommend simply packing a smorgasbord of sliced veggies with hummus.

Healthy Living Organic & Natural Market on Lakewood Ranch Main Street carries a great selection of fresh vegetables — all of them organic, of course.

The store’s juice bar makes delicious, antioxidant-rich smoothies. They can

If you’re not much of a planner, I suggest adding these ready-made lunchbox staples to your grocery list: pickles, baby carrots, grapes, yogurt, blueberries, granola, almonds, cheese, raisins, veggie straws, bananas, pretzels and good old-fashioned lunch meat. These go-to eats turn any ordinary piece of Tupperware into a well-balanced, artfully arranged Bento box. I promise you’ll never have to sign onto Pinterest again.

T H E I S L A N D ’ S M O ST E XC LUS I V E C LU B M E M B E R S H I P

A membership at Longboat Key Club puts you at the center of the island’s vibrant social scene with countless amenities, exclusive events and a social calendar full of exciting activities.

members.longboatkeyclub.com 96

LWR LIFE

LBKC_LWRLife-1/2 page_FALL_2017.indd 1

|

941.387.1661

|

membership@longboatkeyclub.com

247100

We invite you to experience Longboat Key Club. Call Juliette Valin to arrange your personal tour.

7/27/17 5:38 PM

DIVORCE

ALIMONY

Eliminate Your Pain . . .

Increase Your Quality of Life!

CHILD CUSTODY

BECAUSE it’s not always HAPPILY ever after

K-Laser Therapy is the latest technology, allowing the body to heal naturally and reduce pain associated with these common conditions.

Everyone’s situation is unique and you deserve to be educated on your options.

Head TENSION HEADACHE MIGRAINE HEADACHE SINUS HEADACHE/INFECTION BELL’S PALSY

Our goal is to secure your financial future and protect your time with your children.

216983

Paul McDermott, Esq.

941.225.2550

McDermottLawOffices.com

6151 Lake Osprey Drive, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34240

Marital & Family Law Attorney

Neck ACUTE INJURY CAR ACCIDENTS TORTICOLLIS SPORTS INJURIES CHRONIC PAIN DISC DEGENERATION

Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Law Mediator

Arm ACUTE INJURY BICIPITAL TENDONITIS POST-EXERCISE MUSCLE SORENESS EPICONDYLITIS

TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA EAR INFECTION TMJ DISORDERS TOOTH AND JAW PAIN Shoulder ACUTE INJURY ROTATOR CUFF STRAINS & TEARS A-C JOINT SPRAIN BRACHIAL PLEXUS INJURIES BURSITIS

Wrist and Hand ACUTE INJURY CARPEL TUNNEL SYNDROME DUPUYTREN’S CONTRACTURE TRIGGER FINGER ARTHRITIC JOINTS

Low Back DISC DEGENERATION SPRAIN/STRAIN SCIATIC PAIN FACET JOINTS Hip and SI Joint BURSITIS SPORTS INJURIES ARTHRITIS ILIOTIBIAL BAND SYNDROME

THE POWER OF CONNECTION Connecting, educating, and strengthening the business community in the Lakewood Ranch region.

Knee SPORTS INJURIES BAKER’S CYST MENISCUS/LIGAMENT INJURIES ACL/PCL INJURIES OSGOOD-SCHLATTER’S ARTHRITIS POST-KNEE REPLACEMENT

Ankle and Foot SPRAINS & SPORTS INJURIES ARTHRITIS PLANTAR FASCIITIS HEEL PAIN

ADVANCED Join today at LWRBA.org or call our office at 941-757-1664

Healing Lakewood Ranch Residents for Over 17 Years!

8430 Enterprise Circle, Suite 120 • Lakewood Ranch 941-907-9663 • www.perfectposture.net LWR LIFE

239058

246805

CHIROPRACTIC & PHYSIOTHERAPY FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC CENTER

97

St. Martha Catholic School

Bradenton East Integrative Medicine

NOW ENROLLING

Family Practice with an Integrative Approach

Pre-K (3) through 8�� Grade

When choosing your healthcare provider, consider a physician who sees YOU as a Whole Person, NOT A SET OF SYMPTOMS.

Experience the Difference of Exceptional Catholic Education Call (941) 953-4181 to schedule a tour

Integrative medicine practitioners

www.stmarthaschool.net

234680

4380 Fruitville Road, Sarasota, FL 34232

spend time with their patients, listening to their histories and looking at the interactions among genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that can influence long-term health and complex, chronic disease.

Now Offering a non hormonal laser treatment for women dealing with intimacy problems due to menopause and breast cancer CALL US FOR MORE INFORMATION

Our Practitioners: Karen O. Brainard, M.D. Samantha L. Notman, D.O. Roberta James, ARNP Deb Coupland-Porter, ARNP

Carol Lewis, ARNP Susan D’Orazio, DOM Kahla Zeimis, LE, LMT (MM2552 MA73603)

LEASING DISTINCTIVE PROPERTIES TO EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE Lakewood Ranch

(941) 727-1243

98

LWR LIFE

247446

8614 State Rd. 70 E., Ste. 200, Bradenton, FL 34202

West Bradenton

941.359.3435 941.792.6900 www.JennetteProperties.com

223371

check us out at beimonline.com

PINTS FOR PUPS

SATURDAY, JULY 8, AT OAK AND STONE

East County residents Bonny and Glen Edwards brought their adopted dog, Hope.

Photos by Pam Eubanks

Above: Wolf Gang Bakery owner Dottie DeCarlo gives a hug to some of her favorite patrons, Hazel and her owner, Sadie Barbour, of University Place.

Left: East County residents Steve and Cher Grossman volunteer at Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue. They showed off Jack, a pup available for adoption at Nate’s.

John and Jenna Maye with their rescue, Champ. The event benefited Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue.

Luxury From the FLoor up!

FlooRiNg • CAbiNEts • stoRAgE RACks Give your garage the space-saving organization and the durable floor coating it deserves.

• Hot tire and chemical stain resistant • Elegant and easy-to-clean advanced epoxy coating • No-slip, high-quality textures • Full range of color and design options • Heavy-duty storage units, cabinets and racks • Residential and Commercial

VIP SEASON SPECIAL!*

Purchase a floor coating and a cabinet package and we will: • Clear out your garage • Coat floor and install cabinets • Neatly return your things! A value over $200.

*Min. $1,200 cabinet package required for special. Not redeemable for cash.

Beautiful Floor Coatings That Last A Lifetime!

941.223.2084 • www.GarageKingInc.com Serving Sarasota, Manatee & Charlotte Counties Since 2006

222161

Call Us Today For A Free Estimate.

Ask About our referrAl progrAm! LWR LIFE

99

SALT OF THE EARTH TUESDAY, JULY 11, AT GOLD COAST EAGLE DISTRIBUTING

East County's Jim Grace, Sharon Miles and Jim Miles

Photos by Berkley Mason

Above: Lakewood Ranch's Yardena and Ron Babcock attend the event, which benefits the 9/11 Fallen Heroes Memorial at Patriots Park in Venice.

Right: East County’s Richie Evers and Garrett Lindgren Far right: East County’s Rick Buchanan and Venice’s Dennis Turner

MODELS NOW OPEN WATERFRONT VIEWS | FROM THE HIGH $300’s 1,337 - 2,607 SF | 2 or 3 bedrooms | 2 - 3 baths Amenities include pool, spa, fitness center, lakeside fire pit, & clubhouse with outdoor kitchen

Contact Lee Trompke at 941-737-8538 SALES CENTER 228639

10530 Boardwalk Loop, Unit 203 | Lakewood Ranch, FL 941-907-3799 | www.homesbytowne.com

100

LWR LIFE

WF_LWR Life_8.125x4.85_0817_LS-1_7810.indd 1

7/28/2017 3:16:08 PM

Luxury Listings by Renée Prieninger

7045 Portmarnock Pl., Lakewood Ranch Country Club

7211 Pasedena Glen, Lakewood Ranch Country Club

8663 sq. ft.• 6 Ensuites • 5 Car Garage • 2 Master Suites • Media • Gym • 9 ft. deep pool MLS #A4137367 www.7045PortmarnockPlace.com

5541 sq. ft. • 5 Bedrooms • 5 Baths • 3 Car Garage • Fenced Yard • Premier cul-de-sac location MLS #A4185988 www.7211PasedenaGlen.com

12563 Highfield Circle, Lakewood Ranch Country Club

1537 Oak Street, #12, Burn’s Court, Sarasota

5976 Sq Ft • 5 Bedrooms • 5.5 Baths • Elevator Space • 2 Story Pool Cage MLS#A4147910 www.12563highfieldcircle.com

2013 Sq Ft • 3 Bedrooms • 3 Baths • Desirable end unit Townhouse • 2 parking spaces under building MLS#A4189448 www.1537BurnsCourt.com

7804 Lake Vista, #305, Lakewood Ranch

W 225th Street, Bradenton $199,900

$2,850,000

$1,395,000

$1,425,000

$995,000

$289,950

1762 Sq Ft • 3 Bedrooms • 2.5 Baths • New Kitchen • New Floors & Paint • Amenities MLS#4172352 www.7804LakeVista305.com

10 Acre vacant lot

MLS#A4190657

Renée Dedio Preininger 941.400.4235 246575

reneeworks4u@gmail.com www.ReneePreininger.com Sarasota Trust Realty Company 401 Burns Court · Sarasota, FL 34236 www.sarasotatrustrealty.com

www.W225thStreet.com

SarasotaTrust Realty Company,LLC

SPYDER BROUSSARD LOW COUNTRY BOIL SATURDAY, JULY 15, AT POLO BAR AND GRILL

Photos by Jay Heater

Above: Polo Grill and Bar owner and chef Tommy Klauber and Spyder Broussard get ready to serve up Cajun delights.

Left: Lucius Bonner of East County serves himself some gumbo. It was his third year at the event.

Lakewood Ranch’s Nancy Morningstar and Bradenton’s Sheila Noyes

WE ARE HERE FOR YOU!

Whole Child Pediatrics Whole Child Pediatrics Pediatrics Call To Schedule Your Appointment

941-366-2273 mcrhs.org f 228381

A Manatee County Rural Health Services Company.

Most insurances accepted including Medicare & Medicaid 102

LWR LIFE

6040 53rd Ave. East, Suite B Bradenton, FL 34203

BLU MANGROVE

BLU MANGROVE

A slice of upscale tropical heaven! Located in Riviera Dunes Marina along the beautiful Manatee River.

Visualize yourself sipping on a fabulously crafted cocktail while your eyes are mesmerized by the panoramic marina views of yachts, swaying palm trees and beautiful sunsets.You have arrived in PARADISE! Feast on the FRESHEST seafood, chef-prepared entrées, super-fresh raw bar, hand-rolled sushi and so much more. From lite bite snacks to a full course meal, BLU MANGROVE has something to satisfy everyone’s craving!

Excellent to host your next social or family celebration, cocktail party, fundraiser or business meeting. Daily Specials, Live Nightly Music, Indoor & Outdoor Dining, Bars & Lounge Areas.

102 Riviera Dunes Way, Palmetto 941. 479. 7827 | blumangrove.com

ED’S TAVERN

239206

10719 Rodeo Drive, Lakewood Ranch 941.907.0400 | facebook.com/edstavernlwr

FULL BELLY STUFFED BURGERS

8742 SR 70 East, Lakewood Ranch 941.727.7111 | fullbellystuffedburgers.com

LV14448

Come check out this family owned & operated “foodie” joint. A one-of-a-kind concept serving up Award Winning STUFFED Burgers like the acclaimed maple bacon & peanut butter burger, unique appetizers such as the belly buster & side dishes (truffle tots anyone?) alongside local cold craft beersit’s a can’t miss! Proudly voted “Best Burger”,“Best New Restaurant” & “Best Kept Local Secret” in our first year, now 4 years later, we continue to bring fun back to the bun. Visit us today or we can come to you with our new full service FoodTruck.

It ain’t a party ‘til someone has a Full Belly!

Open 7 Days: Mon-Thu 11am-9pm, Fri & Sat 11am10pm, Sun 12-8pm. HAPPY HOUR: Mon-Fri 4-7pm

DINING OUT

A Jersey Joint in Lakewood Ranch, Ed’s Tavern is the perfect blend of local neighborhood sports bar and family friendly restaurant right in the heart of Main Street (next to the movie theater). The only lakefront dining in Lakewood Ranch! The menu has something for everyone! From Southern favorites like pulled pork and fried pickles to our authentic New Jersey classics like open-faced sandwiches and disco fries. Our newly remodeled full-service bar now includes 20 ice cold draft selections plus over 26 flat screen TVs. Daily Specials, Trivia every Wednesday and Thursday. Live Music every Friday & Saturday night. Mon - Thur 11am - 12am, Fri - Sat 11am - 2am, Sun 11am - 11pm.

247462

OPEN DAILY AT 11AM • Lunch • Dinner • Happy Hour • Special Events Live Music Nightly! | Come by Boat - Slips Available!

247133

RAW BAR • SUSHI BAR • FRESH EXOTIC SEAFOOD • HAND SELECT STEAKS

HANA SUSHI LOUNGE Combining art with traditional Asian cuisine and service to create a unique culinary experience in Lakewood Ranch is what we at Hana Sushi Lounge strive for each day.

With a fusion of artful sushi, inspired kitchen items and handcrafted cocktails, there is always something for everyone to enjoy.

No matter the occasion, our friendly and knowledgeable staff look forward to making your visit special every time.

228887

Happy Hour Every Sun - Thurs, 4pm - 7pm.

8126 Lakewood Main Street, Lakewood Ranch 941.907.1290 | facebook.com/HanaSushiLounge

243524

Keke’s Breakfast Cafe is a full-service restaurant dedicated to providing an outstanding breakfast and lunch experience; a meal where everything is handmade, using the best ingredients available, with fresh fruit, vegetables, bread and dairy products.

Some favorite Keke’s dishes are the Florida Pancakes, topped with fresh strawberries, banana, blueberries and powdered sugar, the Banana, Nut & Caramel Waffle, which features banana and pecans baked in the waffle, topped with more banana, pecans, caramel and powdered sugar, an extensive amount of omelet options such as Greek,Three Meat, and Hawaiian omelets, as well as a complete lunch menu. Additionally, a must-have at every Keke’s visit is a serving of our fresh, hand cut, redskin potato home-fries.

5405 University Pkwy #104, University Park 941.388.8953 | kekes.com

LITTLE GREEK FRESH GRILL At Little Greek Fresh Grill, we start each day focused on preparing the most flavorful Greek food possible.

We offer a variety of tasty and affordable Greek menu items to suit any appetite.

Each dish is lovingly made to order using fresh, high-quality ingredients and served with our warm and attentive customer care.

Although we are best known for our amazing Greek salads and gyros, we also have some of the best Greek desserts found anywhere!

Visit us for our fresh, flavorful and fabulous Greek cuisine.

246500

8310 Market Street, Lakewood Ranch 941.210.4560 | littlegreekrestaurant.com LV14449

DINING OUT

KEKE’S BREAKFAST CAFE

MACALLISTERS Owners Greg and Tina Bliss invite you to experience their newly renovated Tavern. With over 26 years of experience, they are committed to fresh ingredients and quality service.

Their new menu features local favorites: Fish n’ Chips and Shepherd’s Pie, plus new dishes sure to please everyone!

From the bar, enjoy a large selection of Scotch and local craft brews on draft. Daily happy hour.

246497

MacAllisters is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. 11:30am - 10pm Sun - Thurs and 11:30am - 11pm Fri & Sat. We also offer patio dining. Kids welcome!

8110 Lakewood Main Street, Lakewood Ranch 941.359.2424 | macallisters.com

MAIN STREET TRATTORIA

8131 Lakewood Main Street #101, Lakewood Ranch 941.907.1518 | mstrattoria.com

PINCHERS Since 1997, Pinchers has local fishermen and crabbers leave our shores and guide their boats out into the Gulf of Mexico each morning. They return each night with the best that the Gulf has to offer and bring this precious catch to our local seafood facility - The Island Crab Company located on Pine Island. From there it is delivered to our Lakewood Ranch restaurant.

We deliver the best seafood in town to your table each and every visit. “You Can’t Fake Fresh!®” Hours: 11am-10pm 7 days a week.

Happy Hour: 2 for 1 All Day, All Night KIDS EAT FREE!

LV14450

248601

10707 Rodeo Drive, Lakewood Ranch 941.922.1515 | pinchersusa.com

DINING OUT

228891

Opened in 2010 by owner Gary Fennessy, Main Street Trattoria in Lakewood Ranch features fresh Italian cuisine including their signature bruschetta focaccia, chicken milanese and hand-tossed thin crust pizza. Make sure you save room for homemade tiramisu and cappuccino for dessert.

Mr. Fennessy created a one-of-a-kind experience for friends and family to gather and dine together. Enjoy our inside/outside bar including our outdoor dining area. You will find live music every Wednesday-Saturday 6-10pm and Sunday 4-8pm. Happy Hour Daily 2-7pm. Takeout and Kids menu also available.

PARTING GLANCE

Phil Pape took this photo in the lake behind his River Club home. “We call him Charlie, Pape says. “I am sure the neighbors all have different names for him, but being a New York transplant, the sight of one of these beauties is still exciting.”

SOLD IN 97 DAYS GUARANTEED OR I’LL SELL IT FOR

YOUR HOME

FREE!

*

As a Keller Williams Global Properties Specialist agent, Bruce Abramson can unleash the power of global real estate to make more sales for his clients.

BRUCE ABRAMSON HAS THE EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE TO FIND THE RIGHT BUYER FOR YOUR HOME!

*Some restrictions apply, please contact Bruce for more details.

BRUCE ABRAMSON, ABR, CIPS, CRS, GRI, SRES Keller Williams Global Properties Specialist agent, reaching further to make more sales for his client.

247246

8210 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Lakewood Ranch Mobile 248.330.1800 | Office Direct 941.907.8110 TheAbramsonTeam.com

LAUGH SPLASH UNWIND PLAY Where you LIVE matters.

CONNECT THE HOMES AT INDIGO: Lakewood Ranch is one

of Southwest Florida’s most thoughtful and connected communities—and Indigo is one of its most sought-after villages!

With gated entry, a community pool, an array of activities and amenities, and a variety of stunning Neal homes, you’ll find everything that matters to you at Indigo. And that matters a lot.

AT L A K E W O O D R A N C H

12916 Deep Blue Place Lakewood Ranch | FL 34211

• Floorplans from 1,407 to 2,980 sq. ft.

• 3-5 Bedrooms and 2-3.5 Baths • 2 & 3 – Car Garages • Recreation Center with Spa, Fitness Room and Classes

64

N

LORRAINE RD

LAKEWOOD RANCH BLVD

• Low Community Fees, with Maintenance Included

44TH AVE

70

I-75, exit 217A. Route 70 East.

Left on Lakewood Ranch Blvd.

Right on 44th Avenue.

• Pickleball and Bocce Ball Courts

TOUR 4 MODELS TODAY! INDIGO AT LAKEWOOD RANCH

Southwest Florida’s Most Experienced Home Builder For Over 40 Years

Single-Family Homes from Prices and availability subject to change without notice.

CBC1256375

246499

Call 941.229.1197 or visit NealCommunities.com

the Low $300s – Low $400s