LWR Life | Winter 2015

LWRLIFE LAKEWOOD RANCH AREA’S COMMUNITY, NATURE, STYLE WINTER 2015

WHAT’S A

WICKET?

The surprising sport that’s a hit in the Ranch.

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CONTENTS

WINTER 2015

FEATURES

52 10

LWR LIFE

HELP LINE When it comes to helping other firms manage their IT needs, business is good.

56

WHAT’S A WICKET? Learn that and lots of other things about the game of cricket — and how it came to develop a haven in Lakewood Ranch.

62

TOP CHEFS These college students can cook way more than microwave mac and cheese.

Engage in the

Holiday Season

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engagement - wedding - anniversary

Your Trusted Jeweler Since 1973

Creekwood Crossing 1-75 & S.R. 70 | Bradenton, FL 941.751.6600 Mon-Sat 9:30am-5:30pm

48 DEPARTMENTS 16 FROM THE EDITOR 21 BUZZ From the Mall at UTC’s one-year anniversary to the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance celebrating a decade, Lakewood Ranch continues to boom.

31 PULSE The Food Bank of Manatee thrives in its mission of feeding those in our community most in need.

36

40 CALENDAR What to see, hear and do around the Ranch in the coming months.

48 STYLE Every woman loves a gift that glitters, but the latest jewelry trends have something for the men, too.

73 HAVEN Think you have a lot of Christmas decorations? You’ll think again when you see this home for the holidays.

86 GARDENING How to select show-stopping greenery this holiday season.

90 RANCH SCENE Check out the highlights of fall’s top events.

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LWR LIFE

98 PARTING GLANCE

90

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Sotheby’s International Realty® and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity. Property information herein is derived from various sources including, but not limited to, county records and multiple listing services, and may include approximations. All information is deemed accurate and neither suggests nor infers that Sotheby’s International Realty participated as either the listing or cooperating agent or broker in the sale or purchase of the properties depicted.

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LWRLIFE

HOLIDAY SALE

LAKEWOOD RANCH AREA’S COMMUNITY, NATURE, STYLE Publisher and CEO — Matt Walsh

EDITORIAL Executive Editor — Kat Hughes Managing Editor — Heidi Kurpiela Design — Pegie Stark and Nicole Thompson Contributors Robin Hartill, Kristen Herhold, Mark Gordon, Jessica Salmond, Lori Sax, Kurt Schultheis Amanda Sebastiano and Mark Wemple

ADVERTISING Director of Advertising — Jill Raleigh Associate Publisher — Lori Ruth Advertising Managers — Kathleen O'Hara and Penny DiGregorio Advertising Executives — JP Clayton, Beth Jacobson, Bob Lewis, Rachel Livingston, Suzanne Munroe, Richeal Parisi, Toni Perren, Mike Petruzzi and Laura Ritter

PRODUCTION Director of Creative Services and IT — Kathy Payne Creative Services Assistant Manager — Brooke Schultheis Graphic Designers — Chris Brock, Marjorie Holloway, Shawna Polana, Luis Trujillo and Allison Wampole

40.00 Value

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(1 per family) • No purchase necessary • Exp. 12/24/15

CONTACT LWR LIFE 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.

*Sale Ends 12/24/15

14

LWR LIFE

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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

Close to Home Sarasota Memorial has been taking care of our community for nearly 90 years, providing the region’s greatest depth and breadth of services.

We’ve now added trauma care, should you or your loved ones ever need it.

Take comfort knowing we are here for you, close to home, as we’ve been for generations.

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Cricket, anyone?

R

emember snow shovels? Or ice scrapers? Ugh. I think I have one stashed in my car just as a reminder of what I’m missing.

Unlike our compatriots up north who will be hunkered down the next few months, this is the time of year us Floridians delight in the simpler things of life: opening the windows, turning off the air conditioning, and attending functions outside without feeling like you’re melting into a pool of sweat.

Whether it’s tailgating at polo, chasing your ball around a golf course or just going for a walk to take in some nature, Lakewood Ranch is a mecca of the outdoors.

This is not by accident. The developers of Lakewood Ranch, Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, have always taken the stewardship of land seriously. Whether it is because the company has grown

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LWR LIFE

out of agriculture — an industry in which caring for the land also means caring for your bottom line — or because its leaders knew that people would find living amongst nature most desirable, the result is a plethora of diverse things to do outside.

Point in case is the Sarasota International Cricket Club.

When a group of men wanted to bring the sport to the area, they began playing wherever they could, including leasing land in the early 1990s from Schroeder-Manatee Ranch near the Legacy Golf Club.

But then, in 2002, SMR decided to set aside some land for the use, and the developer offered to lease the club 5.5 acres of pasture off University Parkway.

Four years later, the club purchased the land. Today, it has grown to become one of the premier cricket clubs in the country, partially because it’s one of the few that owns its land, which means it has

the amenity of a clubhouse often lacking at other facilities.

As you can read about in Robin Hartill’s story on page 56, the club is a unique place where many generations and ethnicities come together to play a sport that most Americans are only vaguely aware of.

Yet it’s just one of the things that makes Lakewood Ranch unique.

Who else has a cricket club, of all things?

If cricket is not your thing (as Hartill learned, sometimes matches can last for days), there is still plenty to do here.

So don’t be a couch potato this winter. Get out, get involved and enjoy as much as possible this season.

It makes for great health and great memories, but be careful: Too much bragging might inspire some visitors from up north.

Kat Hughes Executive Editor

CONGRATULATIONS LAKEWOOD RANCH Two decades ago, we watched with delight as Lakewood Ranch began to flourish into the unparalleled master-planned community it is today, and ever since we have taken great pride in helping our customers find their place here. In 2006, we opened a state-of-theart real estate office — custom-designed for Lakewood Ranch residents — to enhance the award-winning service we provide throughout the East County area.

Michael Saunders & Company has been successfully helping homebuyers and sellers achieve their real estate goals on Florida’s Gulf Coast for the past 40 years. As a locally owned and operated company with strong roots in this community, we are very much at home at Lakewood Ranch, and we look forward to assisting you with your real estate needs.

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Here you will find a rich myriad of activities surrounded by spectacular views of Sarasota Bay. Start your day with a workout in the fitness center, a soothing Tai Chi class, or a dip in the pool. Maybe you prefer the creative outlet of our woodworking shop or art studio. Join in on a game of bocce or a sit in on an educational lecture.

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May Lose Value AR3XQDFQ | AD-04-15-0310.B | 470949PM-0315 | 04/2015 184415

BUZZ

NEWS, HAPPENINGS AND PEOPLE

A year after its opening, the Mall at UTC continues to transform the area.

PAGE 22 LWR LIFE

21

UTC: BY THE NUMBERS

421

Average-sized single-family homes would fit inside the mall’s footprint, with 880,000 square feet.

70

Acres the mall spans, which is four times the size of Sarasota’s Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

4,100

Parking spaces

>40

Cell phone charging stations available at the mall

1 mile

The length of the mall from a loop around the upper and lower levels

250

Number of walkers who use the mall as a venue for exercise

Call of the Mall

BY HEIDI KURPIELA | MANAGING EDITOR

L

ast year, The New Yorker ran a think piece that asked an almost unthinkable question: Are malls dead?

Has Amazon really rendered the mall obsolete? Are the Gap-obsessed shopaholics of the 1990s all pajama-clad Internet shoppers now? Not in this area. Not inside the meticulously designed, naturally lighted, 70-acre, $315 million Mall at University Town Center.

A commercial mecca anchored by Macy’s, Dillard’s and Saks Fifth Avenue, The Mall at UTC opened in 2014 to much fanfare. In an age of digital storefronts, the Mall at UTC unveiled a whopping 100 specialty retailers, many of them unique to Sarasota and Manatee counties. On Oct. 16, it celebrated its one-year anniversary with the kind of highlight reel other regional shopping centers can only dream about.

The mall strikes an impressive (and convenient) presence at University Parkway and I-75. It has created more than 2,000 permanent jobs — about the same number of full-time government positions in Sarasota County — while providing an upscale onestop shopping destination for consumers from as far away as Fort Myers and Tampa.

The project, which was developed through a partnership between mega mall juggernaut Taubman Centers Inc. and Benderson Development Co., can now add the line “award-winning” to its rising profile. On Oct. 23, the International Property Awards (IPA) recognized it as the Best Retail Development in Florida. This accolade puts the mall in the running for IPA’s Best Retail Development in the United States, further proving that if malls are dead, The Mall at UTC is resurrecting them.

Mary and Newt McCollough at the 2014 boat parade.

Glow with the flow East County’s favorite Christmas boat parade returns for a third season of merry motoring on the Braden River.

BY JESSICA SALMOND | CONTRIBUTOR

T

he Old Braden River Historical Society may have dissolved as a nonprofit, but that isn’t sinking its popular Christmas boat parade. The group’s most ardent members are still planning to set sail this December — without the added pressure of having to run a tight ship.

Resurrected in 2013 after a roughly 20-year hiatus, the lighted boat parade served as the society’s biggest moneymaker, generating revenue through raffle sales and dinner tickets. It was a welcome holiday tradition in East Manatee County, drawing a large crowd of Lakewood Ranch residents in its first two years.

“It was one of the things we did flaw-

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LWR LIFE

lessly, and we had fun,” says Denise Kleiner, founder of the Old Braden River Historical Society.

The historical society was launched in 2007 to help preserve the river. The group held regular meetings, organized community cleanups and fought to restore Jiggs Landing Preserve, a rundown fish camp off State Road 70 and Caruso Road. After the organization lost its tax-exempt status last spring from a lack of board members, the event is free from some of the regulations that guided it as a fundraiser.

“Most people won’t care if we do it off the cuff this year,” says Kleiner. “Last year was very restrictive. We worked our butts off.”

Last season’s event drew around 15 boats, which Kleiner says was a nice, manageable number. However, without preregistration there’s no telling how many “floats” will show up this year.

Boats will convene in the reservoir, by launching into the water just off Braden River Road between Linger Lodge Road and State Road 70. For the first time, kayakers will be allowed to join the cavalcade.

“It’s exciting, and different,” Kleiner says. “How many boat parades do you see in fresh water? Not many.”

This year’s parade will be a cut more casual, though. There will not be prizes or raffle tickets.

“It’s not an official event,” Kleiner says. “It’s a community/neighborhood event.”

As for the organization, it has been rebranded as The Friends of Braden River. The all-volunteer group of dogooders will no longer raise money for the Braden River, but will still hold regular cleanups along the water.

“This is what it means to be a part of a community, doing something that brings everyone together,” says Kleiner, whose crew will lead this year’s holiday fleet in a decorated pontoon boat. “It’s just raw fun. I love it. The parade is kicking off the season.”

PARADE ROUTE Start: The reservoir on Braden River Road between Linger Lodge Road and State Road 70 End: Linger Lodge

IF YOU GO

The Braden River Boat Parade will begin at 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6 at Jiggs Landing Preserve, 6106 63rd St. E., Bradenton.

For more information, visit oldbradenriver. org.

Linda Apple

LUXURY MARKET SPECIALIST

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E xquisite Custom Built Home in Highfield of Lakewood Ranch 5,728 Square Feet | 27 Ft. Ceilings Four Bedrooms | Four Full Baths | Two Half Baths Professional Gourmet Kitchen Oversized Private Lot Architectural Details

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12539 Highfield Circle | The Country Club at Lakewood Ranch | MLS# A4114154 Premier Sotheby’s International Realty 8141 Lakewood Ranch Main Street | Lakewood Ranch, Florida 34202 Sotheby’s International Realty® and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity. Property information herein is derived from various sources including, but not limited to, county records and multiple listing services, and may include approximations. All information is deemed accurate and neither suggests nor infers that Sotheby’s International Realty 158988 participated as either the listing or cooperating agent or broker in the sale or purchase of the properties depicted.

Photos by Lori Sax

“It took courage for a group of people to come together and put themselves out there,” says Heather Kasten of the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance’s original founders. “To witness the fruits of that labor is amazing.” Kasten, right, is pictured with founders Barbara Jones and Dave Minton.

Business as usual Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance’s grassroots run deep. The organization celebrates 10 years of forging local connections.

BY KURT SCHULTHEIS | CONTRIBUTOR

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I

n the fall of 2004, five Lakewood Ranch business officials met for coffee at the old Central Perk on Town Center Parkway. Fueled by caffeine and a common zest for local commerce, they formed a loose business alliance — a leaner, meaner alternative to the Manatee Chamber of Commerce with a clear vested interest in Lakewood Ranch.

They had no idea their informal coffee klatch would give rise to the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance (LWRBA), an economic advocacy powerhouse with more than 500 local business members and connections.

“It all started at that coffee shop,” says Dave Minton, president of D&D Wines. “We wanted an

organization with a little clout that focused just on the Lakewood Ranch business community.”

Minton, then the owner of a successful real estate company, was LWRBA’s first board chairman. His founding cohorts included Lakewood Ranch business impresario Lou Marinaccio, president of Gallagher MGA; Craig Cerreta, a Realtor with Premier Sotheby’s; Barbara Jones, a shareholder at Kerkering Barberio; and Bob DeCecco, then-CEO of OmniReliant Holdings.

In the late 1990s, East Manatee County had more cows than houses, but that landscape was changing fast. Businesses were cropping up as Continued on Page 28

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“

The days of ripping cellophane off a plate of cheese cubes and crackers, then setting out a bowl for people to put their business cards in are over.”

– HEATHER KASTEN, LWRBA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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Continued from Page 26 quickly as developments. By 2005, the area had become more than just an outpost for rural living. According to Cerreta, it had become, “a business community, not just a bunch of houses.” The friends and associates agreed that the community’s burgeoning residential growth directly influenced the success of each of their companies.

“It was a commitment on the future of the Lakewood Ranch business community with no direct financial incentive for any of us,” Cerreta says.

As Lakewood Ranch blossomed, interest in the business alliance ballooned. The group moved from Central Perk to a rented meeting room.

“Before you knew it, 70 people started showing up just from word of mouth,” Minton says.

“That’s when we decided we needed some structure.”

The five founders spent 15 to 20 hours a week drafting the framework for the alliance and its board of directors. In 2005, the organization became an official agency. In an effort to drive membership participation, Marinaccio funded social events and popular LWRBA-hosted happy hours.

The group’s budget grew from petty coffee shop tabs to roughly $500,000 a year. Annual membership fees jumped from $50 to $325.

“We knew it could flourish with networking,” Cerreta says. “The businesses are the lifeblood of your community. Even in Florida where there are retirees and snowbirds, job growth is critical.”

For Marinaccio, forming the grassroots alliance was a labor of love.

“We buried egos and worked for the good of the business community,” says Marinaccio, whose company was acquired in 2014 by the thirdlargest insurance broker in the United States.

“We created a dynamic group of associates who continue to share ideas and drive business initiatives.”

Jones, who still serves as the organization’s accountant, says the reason LWRBA continues to thrive is simple: The alliance has flexibility and a laser focus on the community.

“There’s so much growth in Lakewood Ranch and in the business community that I expect the alliance to keep growing,” Jones says.

In May 2014, LWRBA handed over the reigns to Executive Director Heather Kasten, a former Sarasota Chamber of Commerce executive.

Kasten and her team recently moved the organization’s headquarters from a cramped 200-square-foot office space to a 2,000-squarefoot suite on Enterprise Circle. Under Kasten’s leadership, the organization has overhauled its image, unveiled a new logo and developed fresh marketing strategies. Today, the alliance employs three full-time staff members and one part-timer.

It runs about 50 meetings and events each year,

BY THE NUMBERS 2005 vs. 2015 Employees 0 vs. 3.5 Memberships 0 vs. 500-plus Volunteers 0 vs. 100-plus Office 200 square feet vs. 2,000 square feet Budget $0 vs. $500,000 Membership fees $50 and $75 vs. $225 and $325

many of them in conjunction with community partners, such as Lakewood Ranch Community Activities, Lakewood Ranch Commercial Realty and Lakewood Ranch Main Street.

Kasten says professionals expect more from networking groups than they did 10 years ago.

They favor interactive events with intense oneon-one connections over casual mixers with wine and hors d’oeuvres.

“The days of ripping cellophane off a plate of cheese cubes and crackers, then setting out a bowl for people to put their business cards in are over,” Kasten says. “Members want and crave a deeper business relationship.”

Alliance events have become more memorable and inventive. Members now bond over collaborative cooking demonstrations and dinners at the University of South Florida’s Culinary Innovation Lab on Main Street.

“We’re thinking outside of the box,” Kasten says. “We’re more cutting edge in terms of how we interact with our members.”

That doesn’t mean Kasten doesn’t still fall back on the group’s old-school recruitment tactics. In September, she and membership coordinator Amy Gonzalez hit the pavement to hand out alliance-inscribed sugar cookies to existing members and new businesses.

“We flat out cold-called,” Kasten says. “It felt great, and it reminded me of what the alliance was founded on 10 years ago. We’re going to do more of that. You can’t ever forget where you came from, or why you started.”

49

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Each student has an individual treatment room where they will provide comprehensive, restorative dental care services. This includes: cleanings, periodontal treatments, crowns, root canal therapy, extractions, dental restorations and full and partial dental prostheses.

THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY

PULSE The Food Bank of Manatee fills more than empty bowls through its mission.

PAGE 36

LWR LIFE

31

Class acts

IN GOOD

SPIRITS Silvia Engel-Suarez’s jewelry brings solace to people grieving the loss of a loved one.

AMANDA SEBASTIANO CONTRIBUTOR

G

rowing up in a family of artists, Silvia Engel-Suarez had no choice but to be creative. A native of Mexico, Engel-Suarez was raised in the company of oil painters, singers and potters. When she moved to the United States 25 years ago, she continued to nurture her innate passion for art.

She moved to Iowa and began importing silver from her home country. She crafted custom jewelry out of the malleable metal, selling the pieces until the price of silver skyrocketed.

Her business, Love Ashes, was born in 2007, when her 1-year-old West Highland terrier, Kiki, was hit and killed by a car. Heartbroken, EngelSuarez Googled ways to memorialize her pet and discovered a technique that allowed her to fuse cremated ashes with dichroic glass — a special kind of color-changing glass developed by NASA. Eight years later, the 47-year-old mother of three is still handcrafting pendants with ashes.

She runs her business out of a small workshop in her Lakewood Ranch home, where she designs, hand-cuts and fires her line of keepsakes.

“The pieces are bright and beautiful,” EngelSuarez says. “They represent a person and who they were in life.” LWR Life sat down with EngelSuarez to learn more about her craft.

Photos by Amanda Sebastiano

Silvia Engel-Suarez wears her heart on her sleeve — and around her neck.

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LWR LIFE

Continued on Page 34

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LWR LIFE

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33

Continued from Page 32 How is Love Ashes different from other pieces of memorial jewelry?

I knew I wanted to memorialize Kiki, so I searched for jewelry, and all I found were little vials you could put your pet’s ashes in. They weren’t cute. I knew I could make glass jewelry.

I had been doing it for a while, so I created a few pieces through trial and error. I learned how to fuse ashes with glass. It wasn’t a perfect technique in the beginning, but it worked.

Why did you turn the idea into a business?

When my friend’s cat died, she wanted a piece. Word of mouth got around about what I was doing and I thought, “I have a business here.” I went to a funeral expo, where vendors presented caskets, urns and other items. I received a great response. Big organizations encouraged me to attend an international convention, so I hauled tables, decorations and jewelry from Iowa to Texas, and I won the Best of the Best New Product Award. From there, my idea just took off.

Engel-Suarez at work in her small home studio.

after I’ve left a piece in the kiln overnight.

I can’t wait to see what it looks like. It’s like opening gifts on Christmas morning.

What does your workspace look and sound like?

Well, I don’t work at a set time of day. Sometimes, you can find me hunched over at 2 a.m. on a Saturday. My schedule is flexible.

My Pandora stations are always playing. I love Dave Matthews Band and John Mayer.

Some days I listen to salsa; my music depends on my mood. I also like to workout before I start on pieces. I feel refreshed after, and I get rid of any bad energy built up throughout the day. Once I close the door and turn my music on, I’m good. I’ll work until 6 p.m. and realize I never ate lunch. This is my therapy.

How difficult is it to work with ashes?

The texture is like powdered sugar when you’re baking. I use one-quarter teaspoon of fine ashes for each piece. Ashes come in different colors and textures. Animal ashes are different than human ashes. The process isn’t easy. I work with grinders and saws to shape the glass. Most glass starts as a pancake shape until I cut out the shape I want. Custom pieces are hard. The customer doesn’t know what the piece will look like until the very end, which is different from picking out a design in my catalog. I sketch as much as I can and send them pictures to keep them updated in the process.

You work in a sensitive industry.

How do you handle working with clients who are grieving?

It’s a hard business. You’re dealing with someone who lost a loved one. The stories are hard to hear. A woman lost four pets in a house fire. My neighbor’s husband died and she wanted a piece to remember him by. I watched the couple’s whole journey. A husband of a good friend in Mexico died a couple months ago and I created a piece for her. Those were difficult pieces to make.

There comes a point where you have to accept death as a natural process, but it’s still hard.

What’s most rewarding about your work?

I have a scrapbook full of letters of appreciation. I get to create something that brings a little peace and closure to people. That’s special to me. I love waking up the day

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Do you have a favorite piece?

I don’t think so. Each piece is different. I made a piece for someone whose bird, Ginger, died.

The bird was gray, yellow and orange, and I was able to incorporate those colors into the work. The owner told me I had no idea how special the finished product was to her.

My neighbor has a blue heart to remember her husband. That was another special design. I’ve made thousands of pieces.

Engel-Suarez offers a variety of memorial pendants at loveashes.com, in addition to custom designs.

Why did you start working with glass?

I met an artist doing similar work. She gave me a two-hour class. I was self-taught otherwise. I’ve ruined a lot of glass over the years, but I love experimenting and seeing what I can make. I Google a lot. I’ve developed my own unique style and sense of color. I blame my color preferences on my culture.

I love greens and blues. I love red too, but it’s hard to achieve that color with glass.

Sometimes I have no clue what to make until I use the glass cutter. It just happens.

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AN INSPIRED LIVING EXPERIENCE FROM

Charity snapshot

Photos by Heidi Kurpiela

Food for thought The Food Bank of Manatee has been stocking pantries and filling bellies for 30 years.

KRISTEN HERHOLD | CONTRIBUTOR

T

he Food Bank of Manatee knows the way to people’s hearts is through their bellies. Last year, the organization dished out 4.5 million pounds of food to hungry families. Those are pretty good rations, considering that 33 million tons of food makes its way into landfills each year.

Established in 1985 under the umbrella of Meals on Wheels Plus, the food bank serves 25,000 families and 125 pets each month at more than 60 pantries across Manatee County.

“In the eight years I’ve been here, we’ve grown so much,” says Cindy Sloan, director at the Food Bank of Manatee.

“When I got here we weren’t even at 1 million pounds yet.

It’s amazing.”

The food, which amounts to 10 to 15 pounds per person, typically lasts families seven to 10 days, providing a stopgap measure in the wake of a financial setback, sickness and tragedy. It would be impossible to meet these needs without Continued on Page 38

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Continued from Page 36

On Page 36: Food Bank volunteer Valerie Basova sorts through heaps of donations.

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Maribeth Phillips, CEO of Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee and Cindy Sloan, director of the Food Bank of Manatee

We don’t want these people to have boxed macaroni and cheese every night. We’re trying to get them produce and fresh, nice meat.”

CINDY SLOAN, Director of the Food Bank of Manatee

donations from retail stores. More than half of the organization’s food supply would end up in dumpsters if the food bank didn’t step in. Last year, 35 stores, including Target, Publix, WalMart and Winn-Dixie, donated 2 million pounds of food.

“The USDA says canned food can last 12 to 18 months past its expiration date,” says Maribeth Phillips, CEO of Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee. “Some food can last two to five years (past an expiration date), but people won’t buy it, so instead of stores throwing it away, they give it to us.”

That’s not to say the food bank doesn’t rely on single contributions. More than 2.5 million pounds of food collected last year came from individual donations and food drives — and we’re not just talking about Spaghetti-O’s and Campbell’s Soup.

In addition to the usual boxed and canned fare, each year the nonprofit distributes about a million pounds of produce, meat, bread and other perishables. It offers crisis support to people in need and donates weekly “baby bags” that contain diapers and food to children under the age of 2.

“We don’t want these people to have boxed macaroni and cheese every night,” Sloan says.

“We’re trying to get them produce and fresh, nice meat.”

The organization has eight staff members but runs mostly on volunteer manpower. Last year, 325 unique volunteers logged a total of 600 to 700 hours per month.

Although Sloan and Phillips see an outpouring of support over the holidays, food donations tend to peter out in the spring and summer, making it difficult for the food bank to keep pantries full, especially when kids are on break.

“People are in the charitable mindset during the holidays,” Phillips says. “In the summer, we have so many people not in that mindset. The demand goes up when these kids are home and not getting food at school, but supplies go down.”

To help stock its pantries during the off season, the food bank asks snowbirds to donate extra food instead of throwing it away before heading north for the summer. At special events, such as Lakewood Ranch’s recent 20th anniversary celebration, volunteers solicit nonperishable goods from attendees. It helps pad out the cupboards between holidays.

“When you look at Lakewood Ranch, it’s hard to imagine how many people nearby still need help,” Phillips says. “Too many people here have to decide whether to put gas in their car, pay the electric or buy food. They can’t do it all, and food is such a basic need. We’re making a difference in Manatee County for people in need, from babies to seniors.”

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calendar winter 2015 DECEMBER DEC. 2 CLASSIC CAR SHOW Ed’s Tavern welcomes “the classics.” Enjoy classic cars, food, music, prizes and the thunderous roar of engines from 5 to 8 p.m., at Lakewood Ranch Main Street. n For more information, call 907-0400.

LWRBA / YLA HOLIDAY SOCIAL Enjoy the 8th annual holiday social hosted by Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance and LWR Young Leaders Alliance. Don’t forget the holiday cheer competition — wear your craziest holiday hat, sweater and/ or tie for great prizes. Event takes place 5 to 7 p.m., at Murray Homes in Lake Club. n For more information, call 757-1664.

DEC. 3, 10, 17, 18 MAIN STREET CELEBRATES THE CHRISTMAS SEASON The holidays will take over Lakewood Ranch Main Street with carriage rides, carolers and Santa strolls from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. n For more information, visit lakewoodranch.com.

DEC. 4 MUSIC ON MAIN Come to Lakewood Ranch Main Street from 6 to 9 p.m. for a free concert. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Asolo Repertory Theatre. Guests are welcome to bring chairs but no coolers. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a short leash. n For more information, call 907-9243.

HOLIDAY DINNER DANCE Attendees are invited to dance and dine at the annual event, which takes place at 7 p.m., at Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club. A DJ

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Above: Bruce Sherwood and his Labradoodle, Jackson, attend a recent car show with his 1927 Ford Model T. Below: Grab your bells for the Jingle and Jog 5K, benefitting Community Haven, on Dec. 5.

will provide diverse musical choices, while guests dine on their choice of three entrees. n For more information, call 757-1530.

DEC. 5 JINGLE AND JOG 5K AND 1-MILE RUN/WALK Participants have the option of participating in the 5K and 1-mile run/walk, benefiting Community Haven for Adults and Children with Disabilities. Registration starts at 7 a.m. and the race starts at 8 a.m., at Community Haven. n For more information, visit communityhaven.org.

Continued on Page 42

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DEC. 7 CHANUKAH CELEBRATION Chabad will celebrate Chanukah from 6 to 10:30 p.m. on Lakewood Ranch Main Street. Everyone is welcome. Admission is free. Some food fees may apply. A Menorah made from cans of food will be lit at Main Street. Bring cans to the event or to the Chabad House, 5712 Lorraine Road, prior to the event.

DEC. 9 CHRISTMAS PHOTOS WITH SANTA Come to Main Street Cinemas for a photo with Santa from 6 to 9 p.m. n For more information, visit lakewoodranch.com.

Holidays Around the Ranch, held Dec. 11, is always a family favorite to get in the Christmas spirit.

Continued from Page 40 DEC. 6 BREAKFAST WITH SANTA AT MACALLISTERS Join MacAllisters for breakfast with Santa from 8:30 to 11 a.m. It’s a great opportunity for pictures, fabulous food and family fun. n For more information, call 359-2424.

CHRISTMAS BOAT PARADE The Old Braden River Historical Society hosts its Christmas boat parade on the Braden River. The parade will begin at dusk at Jiggs Landing Preserve and end at Linger Lodge, where awards and a raffle will take place. Linger Lodge will also offer a special menu for $18. n For more information, visit oldbradenriver.org.

DEC. 11 HOLIDAYS AROUND THE RANCH Holidays Around the Ranch is presented by LWR Community Activities and is its annual holiday sensation of magical charm for all to enjoy. This year’s event takes place 6 to 9 p.m. on Lakewood Ranch Main Street. Join the notable Harvest Methodist church choir as they sing carols around the fountain leading up to the lighting of the spectacular tree. Children can experience outdoor skating on the acrylic rink, and have a DVD made with Dance Heads Florida. Sip on hot cocoa and egg nog from street vendors while enjoying the annual line up of stage performances by many local dance and music studios. n For more information, call 757-1530.

DEC. 18 JINGLE 5K RUN/WALK Kick off the holidays with a 5K event, with proceeds benefiting Lakewood Ranch Auxiliary fund children’s charities. Registration is available at active.com; registration costs vary.

Run starts at 7 p.m., at Lakewood Ranch Main Street.

DEC. 19 BREAKFAST WITH SANTA Visit with Santa from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Fete Ballroom at Polo Grill. n For more information, call 782-0899.

Continued on Page 44

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Reduce your pain.

Restore your lifestyle.

The Orthopaedic Spine and Joint Center at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center If you’ve been suffering with orthopedic problems, Lakewood Ranch Medical Center offers a range of surgical and nonsurgical treatment options, including total joint replacement. Our hospital’s comprehensive approach to treatment brings together a team of surgeons who specialize in orthopedic injuries and sports medicine, along with orthopedic-trained nurses, therapists and technicians.

A rehabilitation program centered on your special needs The Orthopaedic Spine and Joint Center is more than a surgery and rehabilitation program – it’s a culture of care that empowers patients with motivation and education. We are committed to getting you back to the activities you love as quickly as possible, with a high-quality program that’s tailored to your needs, including pre-op classes and presentations that will help prepare you for your surgery and rehabilitation.

For more information, call 941.782.2663.

Then, before you know it … you’ll be on your way home.

8330 Lakewood Ranch Blvd.

Bradenton, FL 34202 www.lakewoodranchmedicalcenter.com 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. 150122 10/15

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Our goal is getting you there!

Continued from Page 42 DEC. 20 LUNCH WITH SANTA Enjoy lunch with Santa from noon to 2 p.m., at Main Street Trattoria. n For more information, visit lakewoodranch.com.

JANUARY JAN. 1 MUSIC ON MAIN Come to Lakewood Ranch Main Street from 6 to 9 p.m. for a free concert.

Guests are welcome to bring chairs but no coolers. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a short leash. n For more information, call 907-9243.

JAN. 16 SIDEWALK ASTRONOMY At dusk, the parking lot behind Lakewood Ranch Town Hall will become an outdoor planetarium for space-lovers.

Organizers may have telescopes available for better viewing. n For more information, email LGDSO@ aol.com.

JAN. 24 SUNCOAST HALF MARATHON Start and finish the Suncoast Half Marathon at Lakewood Ranch Main Street with a scenic 13.1-mile certified course through Lakewood Ranch’s Country Club West communities. n For more information, call 312-4955.

FEBRUARY FEB. 5 MUSIC ON MAIN Come to Lakewood Ranch Main Street from 6 to 9 p.m. for a free concert.

Guests are welcome to bring chairs but no coolers. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a short leash. n For more information, call 907-9243.

FEB. 6 LEARN TO FISH SEMINAR To prepare youth anglers for the Youth Fishing Tournament on Feb. 27, attend the learn to fish seminar at 10 a.m. or 1 p.m., at Summerfield Lake. The Angler volunteers will teach casting, knot tying, bait use and being a good angler. n For more information, call 757-1530.

FEB. 27 YOUTH FISHING TOURNAMENT Anglers can plan to cast their lines for the annual tournament, which takes place from 9 a.m. to noon, at Lake Uihlein. Children ages 5 to 15 are invited to enter, whether you’re an experienced angler or interested in learning the sport. The Lakewood Ranch Angler’s Club will be on hand to give each participant guidance. Cost is free to participate, but space is limited. n For more information, call 757-1530.

IT’S POLO TIME

SARASOTA POLO Polo matches are open to the public every Sunday at 1 p.m. (gates open at 10 a.m.) through April 3. General Admission is $12 per adult and children 12 and under are free. Dogs are welcome on a leash. n For more information, call 907-0000.

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The Islands that once stood alone

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Gifts that glitter THE HOLIDAYS ARE UPON US. If you’re a procrastinator (like most of us), have no fear. Our great local jewelers are happy to help you in your gift-giving plight. The following are a few of their samplings, just in time for the holidays. From chunky pearls and chic necklaces for the ladies to manly accessories for your guy, check out the latest jewelry trends of the season.

KAT HUGHES | EXECUTIVE EDITOR

FEEL THE BEAT

As if featuring a stunning set of diamonds isn’t enough, the Heartbeat Collection features a solitary diamond set in the middle of the pendant that moves when you do for extra sparkle.

Bartlett Jewelers Necklace: Starting at $599 Earrings: Starting at $599

BIG AND BEAUTIFUL

These baroque pearls can be worn with just about anything, making them a versatile piece that can dress up a casual outfit or be layered with other long necklaces. Although shown in 14 karat white gold, they can be made to your length preference and with yellow gold.

Vanessa Fine Jewelry Price: $2,190 as shown

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COLOR ME PRETTY

Looking to add some color to your accessories? This matching necklace and earrings set features multicolored semiprecious stones with 14 karat yellow gold. The necklace can be layered with other pieces, or can be made long enough to double up.

Vanessa Fine Jewelry Necklace: $2,199 as shown Earrings: $599

SHOW-STOPPER

If your style is more modern, yet still uber sophisticated, this is the set for you.

This triple-hoop drop necklace features 1 carat of diamonds in 18 karat white gold. Matching earrings complete the set for a noticeable bling that you can wear with anything.

Vanessa Fine Jewelry Necklace: $5,500 Earrings: $5,500

SEE MEN’S GIFTS ON PAGE 50

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49

For the men Who says jewelry is just for the ladies?

Here are few options to dress up your fella.

Carbon fiber cufflinks: $165

TOUGH LOVE Insets of carbon fiber and black steel give these bracelets a rugged yet fashionable look.

Vanessa Fine Jewelry Right: Titanium cufflinks: $180 Below: Titanium bracelet $480

WHAT TIME IS IT? This Seiko watch melds form and function: Charged by light, it makes battery replacements something you won’t need to make time for.

Bartlett Jewelers Watch: $495

Carbon fiber inlay bracelet: $270

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TECH WIZARDS Fast-growing Datum Corp. could be located anywhere in the country. The company chose Lakewood Ranch.

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MARK GORDON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

T

he staff at Denny’s in Venice on a morning last spring was thrilled to see Tom Frost. Not only because Frost was hungry. Frost’s dad and breakfast companion, a retired New York cop, got there early. And the elder Frost bragged to all the employees about the successful, high-tech company his son runs, Lakewood Ranch-based Datum Corp.

Datum handles information technology services and software consulting for businesses, with a focus on restaurant chains. Clients include all the First Watch locations nationwide, Stonewood Grill & Tavern and Hurricane Grill & Wings. The company is basically a mobile IT firm for other businesses, and it does everything from setting up computers to training employees.

The client list, it turns out, also has some Denny’s franchises — including the one father and son sat down at for breakfast. So when Tom Frost walked in, several employees rushed up to him to ask about this feature and that component. Others saw what they thought was the IT guy, and bugged him for help.

The affable, yet low-key Frost smiled and shook some hands. He later chided his dad for the unexpected welcome committee.

Continued on Page 54

Left: Tom Frost’s company handles IT for Fit2Run, a running store chain Above: Frost with Datum’s director of finance, Lori Robinson

Photo by Mark Wemple

LWR LIFE

53

“

We found Lakewood Ranch to be the best of everything.”

TOM FROST

Photos by Heidi Kurpiela

Tom Frost’s Lakewood Ranch office is outfitted with a standing desk, vintage surfboards and a bicycle pump.

Right: Family photos are front and center in Frost’s office.

Continued from Page 53 Frost could receive more greetings like that in the near future, if Datum Corp. maintains its torrid growth rate.

Founded in 2003, Datum is a rising star among privately held companies in the Sarasota-Bradenton region. Annual sales are well into the millions, and Frost projects the firm will grow revenues by at least 60% in 2015.

Datum has 100 employees, up from 45 in 2013, and has plans to hire at least 40 more people this year. It serves more than 3,700 locations, where it supports 162,000 employees. The company has satellite offices in Dallas, Los Angeles and Phoenix.

“Datum has been one of the fastest growing companies in our community,” says Economic Development Corp. of Sarasota County President and CEO Mark Huey. “It’s terrific to see they are winning clients across the state and the country.”

‘ODD MODEL’ One of the key points that makes Datum different, and the linchpin of its success, is its business model. The company charges clients a flat monthly rate, much like an insurance company charges clients. In industry

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lingo, it’s a technology-as-a-service model.

That’s a shift from the break-fix model, the normal IT services industry pay structure where companies charge clients each time something is fixed.

Frost, 37, sought a monthly fee model to avoid the adversarial relationship trap common in IT. That trap happens when the client gets annoyed with being at the mercy of the tech wizards who hold the key to all the solutions, even minor ones. That leads to higher costs and delays, which leads to frustration.

But the Datum method isn’t without flaws.

Frost, for one, says the firm was a pioneer in this area, which means there have been some challenges no others have addressed.

One of those challenges is client education, that there’s a better and different way to do things in IT. Datum has to persuade clients to give up control of IT, and then assure executives there that paying per month, over time, is less than paying per service call.

“It can be an odd model,” to some, says Frost. “We are outsourcing the internal functions of IT and taking out the people with the legacy information.”

That model works for University Parkbased First Watch, which operates more than 260 restaurants in 26 states, 135 First Watch locations and 116 The Egg & I loca-

tions. “They save us valuable time and money by allowing us to focus on operating restaurants,” First Watch CFO Paul Hineman says in an email response to questions. “Our Datum partnership has allowed us to grow more rapidly, handle complicated acquisitions and implement many successful initiatives.”

FIND THE RAINBOW Datum began its rise in a place far from Lakewood Ranch: The surfing waters of Hawaii.

A native of Long Island, N.Y., Frost headed west soon after high school to pursue a dream of becoming a professional surfer. After realizing that dream was shared by many other talented would-be pro surfers, Frost, a studious learner with a curious streak, attended the University of Hawaii.

A few years later, Frost was selling software for printing and copying firm Ikon when he met a young chef named Roy Yamaguchi.

The same Yamaguchi who went on to launch

Roy’s, a chain of high-end Pacific Rim restaurants with 29 locations worldwide. Tampabased Bloomin’ Brands, the parent company of Outback Steakhouse, owned Roy’s from 2000 until late 2014.

Frost and Yamaguchi hit it off back in the early 1990s, when the restaurant chain was just getting started. Yamaguchi hired Frost to oversee technology, and Frost realized he liked that kind of behind-the-scenes work.

When Bloomin’ Brands bought the chain, and set it on a path for national expansion, Frost decided to move to Florida and start Datum.

He soon wanted to grow the business past Roy’s. He looked all around Florida for a headquarters, considered Daytona and Tampa, and Miami and Orlando. He found out about Lakewood Ranch, checked it out and loved it. He considered Lakeland, too, but decided it didn’t have the same “curb appeal” as Lakewood Ranch. Says Frost: “We found Lakewood Ranch to be the best of everything.”

The next step: Frost set out to find clients in the Sarasota-Bradenton market.

He looked for firms about to grow fast,

where Datum could handle all the technology. He found a business just like that, outside hospitality, in Fit2Run, a chain of athletic apparel and running gear stores. Parrish-based Fit2Run has grown from one store in 2005 to 16 today, including four in Miami and one in Los Angeles. Datum does all the technology for every store.

Fit2Run, in addition to a fine dining restaurant in Hawaii called the Beach House, were client tipping points for Datum, and a signal to Frost that he was on to something.

“We thought, ‘Wow, we can make money on this,’” Frost says. “But our customers see it as a good deal, too.”

HIGH PRESSURE The biggest growth period at Datum has occurred over the past three years.

The first sign is the jammed parking lot of the firm’s offices, just off University Parkway in the Lakewood Ranch corporate park.

Frost paid $975,000 for the 11,365-squarefoot building, the former headquarters for Lee Wetherington Homes, in the summer

of 2012. He has since turned a garage and storage space behind the property into more offices. Frost also added a workout room and game room for employees.

One of the biggest challenges Datum faces, something common to any fast-growth business, is finding and retaining top talent. Some Datum employees served in the armed forces, and bring a value Frost and the other executives covet: the ability to thrive in high-pressure situations. The firm also seeks people with creativity, and the desire to use that side of their brain every day.

The growth in payroll has required a new layer of management. Earlier this year Datum hired four new managers, including one executive who previously ran technical support services for Bloomin’ Brands, where he oversaw a department of 60 people.

Frost anticipates there will be a lot of work for the employees and executives in the coming months and years.

“We think the opportunity in the restaurant market is bigger than anything else,” says Frost. “This market is big, and we are going to double down on it.”

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55

FOR BATTER OR WORSE ROBIN HARTILL CONTRIBUTING WRITER

B

efore we noshed on hot dogs in ballparks and watched ripped hitters in dirty jerseys crack 95 mph fastballs over the outfield, we had cricket. Before we had Barry Bonds, we had Bart King. Don’t know Bart King, the best American cricketer in the history of the sport?

That’s OK. Cricket isn’t exactly my ball of whacks, either.

To the average person with a basic understanding of sports, cricket is the more gentlemanly version of baseball; a ball and bat game defined by myriad rules, puzzling British terminology, two bases and starched white uniforms. To me, a sports neophyte with little interest in anything ever aired on ESPN, the game is as nebulous as Quidditch.

Cricket originated during the Dark Ages in Northern Europe, and then popped up in Sarasota some five centuries later. According to local lore, the Sarasota International Cricket Club took root in 1983 in a bar on Siesta Key after a group of British friends bandied about which sport was better, baseball or cricket.

“It might be an apocryphal story, but it probably has a grain of truth,” says Richard Lawrence, president of

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the Sarasota International Cricket Club (SICC).

Cricket trumped baseball in that debate, and 32 years later I’m about to find out why.

THE SWING OF IT On a muggy day in late August, I pull up to the eight-acre cricket club at the end of University Parkway to participate in a casual SICC game. I’ve had no training, no coaching and no previous experience hitting a ball with a bat other than off a tee in my middle school gym class.

I’m suited up in the standard cricket safety gear: bulky white leg pads and a carbon fiber helmet. I catch a glimpse of my reflection in the clubhouse window. I look like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man crossed with a bobble-

head doll.

SICC captain Chris Thakoopersad shows me how to hold the cricket bat, which is actually closer to the way you’d hold an ax, top hand resting on the inside of the front thigh and shoulders pointed down the pitch line.

“Didn’t you ever play softball?”

Thakoopersad asks when he spies my awkward stance.

“No,” I say, flashing back to school PE. We step out onto a lush field, where two teams of men dressed head-to-toe in white patiently fold me into their game.

Fabled players have trampled this Bermuda grass. Renowned Guyanese cricketer Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who captained the West Indies cricket team, is an honorary member of the club.

CRICKTIONARY

Bail: One of the two small pieces of wood that stand on top of the stumps Stumps: Three vertical posts, on which the two bails sit.

Batsman: The batter Bowling: The act of pitching the cricket ball to the batter.

Bunny: A player who bats at No. 11 and is usually considered an easy out.

Duck: When a batsman scores zero points, also known as a “Blob.”

Jaffa: A bafflingly perfect wicket pitch that should have gotten the batsman out.

Slog: A shot that is so powerful and exceptional it defies technique.

Wicket: This overworked cricket term has several meanings. It can refer to the 22 yards between stumps, the stumps collectively, the act of getting out a batsman or the cricket pitch.

Zooter: A ball bowled with little or no spin in an effort to trick the batsman.

Author Robin Hartill takes a swing at the ball. “Cricket is a game that can be played by people of all skill levels,” says Richard Lawrence, president of the Sarasota International Cricket Club. “It’s not something you have to train excessively for. You don’t have to be really good at it to enjoy it.”

The late Richie Benaud, an Australian player who gained international fame in retirement as a commentator, was a patron of the club until his death last spring. Ties and caps of teams from across the globe litter the clubhouse, serving as tangible evidence of SICC’s ranking among U.S. cricket clubs. The place is legendary. The only legendary qualities I have to offer are a lack of athleticism and eye-hand coordination.

I take my place in front of the wicket.

Thakoopersad bowls the ball. I swing and miss twice. A trio of sandhill cranes wanders nearby, to heckle me, I presume. Thakoopersad bowls the ball again. Another whiff.

The ball is harder and heavier than a baseball. At 5.5 ounces it feels more like a billiard ball than a baseball, which is why cricket players

wear pads, helmets and an abdominal guard, otherwise known as a cup in any other male-dominated sport.

The bat — an expensive piece of equipment meticulously fashioned out of rare English willow wood — is wider and flatter than a baseball bat and resembles those old paddles wielded by teachers in the days of corporeal punishment.

I’m getting my butt whooped.

“Pretend that ball is the person you hate more than anyone in the world,” Thakoopersad says.

The fielding team, bored at this point, begins to offer colorful words of encouragement.

“That ball is your ex-boyfriend,” one of them quips.

I make contact. The ball flies straight into the ungloved hands of a fielder, who congratulates me on the

hit. Even thought it’s an out, it feels like a victory. I can hit!

Next, Thakoopersad surprises me by bowling to my left side. I swoop to the left, twist my bat and nail the ball with the reverse side of the paddle.

The fielders erupt into cheers. One of them looks visibly dumbfounded. It turns out I unintentionally pulled off a skilled maneuver called a reverse sweep. I’m a natural!

“It’s a complicated shot,” Thakoopersad tells me later. “Not everyone can execute it.”

My masterful move gives me swagger. My fellow cricketers flash me approving grins. A few hits later, I score a single run. The gaggle of sandhill cranes disperses. Their heckling is wasted on me. I’m a slugger.

Continued on Page 58

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A STEEP SWING

Cricket bats weigh 2.5 pounds and can cost cost as much as $700. Why the hefty price tag? Cricket bats are precision engineered and flawlessly constructed by a master craftsman. They’re made from a rare English willow wood that takes years to treat. The wood grain must be straight and evenly spaced with no blemishes or knots. The slightest change in the bat’s weight and shape can drastically alter a player’s game.

Author Robin Hartill makes a run after crushing the ball down the pitch line.

Continued from Page 57 I move onto bowling, which in cricket-ese means pitching.

I learn that my goal is to get the ball past the batter and knock over two wooden targets called bails.

With Thakoopersad at my side, I take my position and let go of the ball.

It wobbles in the air and loses momentum well before it reaches the wicket. I joke that I’m going easy on the batter.

The batter politely chuckles.

Then, just as I’m about to call it a day, I pull out another surprise power play. I hurl the ball with such intensity and purpose I knock over the wicket and break one of the bails. No one saw that coming, especially not me. Before I leave the club, one of the members hands me the broken wicket as a souvenir.

“Do you feel like you’ve got a good understanding of cricket?” Thakoopersad asks.

“Oh yeah,” I say.

“Better than softball.”

FIELD OF DREAMS If I were learning cricket in any other part of the country, chances are I would have to go to a country club or public park. As far as Lawrence is

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When a player scores zero points, he’s coerced into wearing this Donald Duck hat (the cap of shame) out on the field.

aware, SICC is the only club in the nation that owns its own facility.

In the beginning, the SICC played wherever it could, including the Lions Club, the Elks Club and a field off Wilkinson Road. In the early 1990s, it leased land from Schroeder-Manatee Ranch (SMR) bordering the Legacy Golf Club.

Lakewood Ranch’s far-sighted developers knew that making permanent space for a cricket club in a burgeoning community would be a smart move. In 2002, SMR offered to lease the club 5.5 acres of cow pasture off University Parkway.

Four years later, SICC purchased the property, bonding money from deep-pocketed members, many of whom work in high-paying industries such as medicine, engineering and information technology.

In 2014, the organization bought two more acres adjacent to the property to accommodate its growing rugby program. (SICC hosted the 2015 Florida Cup Rugby Tournament in November.)

“Most clubs play on grounds they don’t own, so they don’t have the ability to put in things like clubhouses,” Lawrence says.

“Other clubs know that we have something special. They come from far away because they know we have one of the better facilities, not just in Florida but in the entire United States.”

Like me, the SICC might have also had a touch of beginner’s luck. Sarasota hotelier and SICC Chairman Laurence Parry, a South African native, developed a close bond with cricket legend Benaud and his Australian cricket team after they stayed in one of his hotels nearly four decades years ago. When Parry invited Benaud to become a patron of SICC, he obliged, casting a national spotlight on the club.

Continued on Page 60

“

Pretend that ball is the person you hate more than anyone in the world. That ball is your ex-boyfriend.�

CHRIS THAKOOPERSAD, SICC CAPTAIN

Top: The SICC has about 40 playing members and 50 associate members, mostly hailing from Australia, India and South Africa.

Middle: The author bowls the ball and successfully knocks down a bail.

Right: Cricket balls are harder and heavier than baseballs.

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Continued from Page 58 With Benaud — then regarded as the doyen of cricket commentators — in their corner, the SICC was able to reach a global audience.

“For many years Richie wore a cream jacket to cricket matches,” Parry recalls. “He was so loved and respected that fans bought similar outfits. When there were intervals in the game, the Cream Jacket Brigade would all disperse in different directions.”

Without Parry and Benaud’s friendship, Lawrence says some of the club’s early star cricketers may not have landed in Lakewood Ranch.

“Whenever Richie commentated at these big matches he’d mention Sarasota as one of his favorite places to go,” Lawrence says. “We’re a relatively small club, so that probably helped make us well known.”

Yet the club still remains a mystery

to most young athletes. The SICC is hoping to change that. To help spread the word, club members are encouraging athletic directors to offer the sport in school. They’re traveling to football fields to perform demonstrations and forging a close relationship with the The industry’s most expensive cricket bats can cost as much as $700.

Sarasota Surge Rugby Club, which plays on 2.5 acres of SICC property GAME CHANGER and offers youth rugby training.

Although predominately played in England, Thakoopersad wants to relaunch Australia and India, cricket was once a popular the club’s defunct youth cricket league. pastime in the United States, particularly in the As with most sports, he says the best Northeast. That is, until baseball came along. place to start is in “the schoolyard.”

Baseball, a derivative of cricket, gained a lot of Lawrence agrees. traction with turn-of-the-century fans for two sim“The United States is an anomaly,” ple reasons: it required less space and time (crickLawrence says. “Cricket is the second et matches can span several days). The formation most popular sport in the world. of the International Cricket Club in 1909 hastened “It’s played by billions of people, the decline of cricket in the U.S., for only counyet most Americans still do not untries that were part of the British Empire could derstand it. The people involved with participate. The sport has enjoyed an American the sport realize that if it’s to have renaissance over the last decade, however, thanks long-term prospects, we’ve got to get an influx of immigrants from former British terriyoung Americans to play it the same tories such as Pakistan, India and the West Indies. way they play baseball and football.”

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Class Cooks HEIDI KURPIELA | MANAGING EDITOR

A

h, college. Long regarded as a time of experimentation, exploration and eating junk food.

Studying while subsisting on potato chips, Hot Pockets and energy drinks is practically a rite of passage for the average American undergrad — or maybe not. The hospitality students slaving over pots and pans inside the Culinary Innovation Lab in Lakewood Ranch are debunking that myth. Owned and operated by the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee, this 4,000-square-foot kitchen, tucked inside a strip of boutiques along Main Street, is turning microwave cooks into culinary gurus thanks to its new and improved Intro to Food Production class. The lab, which serves as a teaching facility for the university’s Hospitality Management program, is home to Chef Joe Askren, the lab’s director, and Chef Garry Colpitts, the facility’s culinary services manager.

“Most of our students will probably work in the front of the house, managing hotels, resorts, country clubs or maybe cruise lines,” Colpitts says. “We’re trying to give them a little empathy for what happens on the other side of the door.”

To get a better taste for these skills, we stepped into the lab to watch (and devour) some serious student cooking.

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4

USFSM students ta

DANBEE CHOI

IZZY SORATHIA

ANGAD SINGH

ts take college cuisine beyond Ramen noodles and cold pizza.

CONRAD POSTON

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DANBEE CHOI Age: 24 Hometown: Incheon, South Korea Culinary inspiration: Protein-rich workout fuel Key ingredient: Beef Dish: Bulgogi (Korean marinated beef)

PROFILE Danbee Choi has always been fiercely independent, both in and out of the kitchen. An only child with busy working parents, Choi was preparing meals before most children even touch an Easy Bake Oven. She was in second grade the first time she made fried rice and chicken for dinner. From there, her love of food grew.

On the weekends, she and her parents would stage impromptu cooking competitions. Choi’s go-to dishes were what she describes as “Korean kiddie comfort foods,” such as French toast with kimchi, a spicy side dish made with cabbage.

At 15, she left her native South Korea to live as an exchange student in Oklahoma before moving to Georgia to live with two other host families.

After high school, she moved to Tampa to study international business at the University of South Florida, and four years later enrolled in USFSM’s graduate hospitality program. The 24-year-old says she plans to use her degrees to work in revenue management at an exotic resort destination.

Choi works part-time alongside Angad Singh as a graduate assistant in USFSM’s Culinary Innovation Lab, where she prepares dinners for internal and external events. An avid weight lifter, she’s a glutton for hearty proteinpacked dishes, such as her favorite post-workout grub: Bulgogi, thinly sliced marinated beef that’s standard fare in Korean barbecue restaurants.

“I’ve lived away from my family for a third of my life,” Choi says. “I had to learn at an early age how to take care of myself. Cooking is important. It’s survival — and I treat my nutrition very well.”

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KEY INGREDIENT: BEEF

BULGOGI RECIPE INGREDIENTS 3 pounds of thinly sliced beef (sirloin, tenderloin or skirt steak) 2 cups of soy sauce 1 tablespoon of sesame oil 1 tablespoon of minced garlic 1/2 tablespoon of minced ginger 1/4 cup of brown sugar 1/2 onion, pureed 1/4 apple, pureed 1/2 teaspoon of ground pepper A handful of sliced mushrooms, onions and edamame INSTRUCTIONS 1. Thinly slice beef. 2. Mix soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, sugar, apples, mushrooms and onions in one bowl.

3. Add sliced beef to the marinade. 4. Grill, pan fry or barbecue the beef. 5. Serve on red looseleaf lettuce and garnish with snack sprouts.

“I’ve lived away from my family for a third of my life. I had to learn at an early age how to take care of myself. Cooking is important. It’s survival — and I treat my nutrition very well.”

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ANGAD SINGH Age: 25 Hometown: New Delhi, India Culinary inspiration: His favorite childhood sweet Key ingredients: White bread and milk Dish: Shahi Tukda (Indian bread pudding)

PROFILE A graduate student in USFSM’s Hospitality Management program, Angad Singh pulls double duty in the classroom and the kitchen. Fans of the school’s demo dinners in Lakewood Ranch might recognize Singh for his meticulous work in the Culinary Innovation Lab, where he leads interactive cooking presentations every Thursday and Friday evening for members of the community.

The 25-year-old Sarasota resident is one of the more seasoned cooks at USFSM. He moved to Sarasota last January after spending four years as a professional chef at two of the best luxury hotels in his native India. As a child, he grew up eating most vegetarian meals. He spent his formative years cooking alongside his grandmother, whose dishes would constantly change depending on whatever produce was in season. As Singh likes to points out, his grandmother cooked “farm-to-table” well before anyone ever used that catchphrase. Whenever he returns home for a visit, Singh likes to walk the streets of Old Delhi, an ancient district where the vendors still peddle his favorite dessert — Shahi Tukda, an exotic Indian bread pudding that tastes as rich today as it did when he was a boy.

Singh plans to stay in Sarasota, where he hopes to open an intimate restaurant specializing in Indian/ European fusion cuisine.

“My belief is you either do something with passion or not at all,” Singh says.

“I take the time to cook exactly as I would for my family. The more love you put into something, the better it tastes.”

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“I take the time to cook exactly as I would for my family. The more love you put into something, the better it tastes.”

TRUST YOUR SMILE

SHAHI TUKDA RECIPE 4 whole pieces of white bread 1/2 gallon of whole milk Oil for frying 2 cups of sugar Green cardamom powder Pistachios for garnish Almonds for garnish 1. Pour milk in a pan and start reducing over heat. 2. Once the milk is almost reduced to 1/3, slowly add 1/2 cup of sugar.

3. Add green cardamom powder to taste, careful not to overpower the dish. (In India, this pudding-like dish is called Rabdi.)

4. Slice the crust off the bread, then cut the pieces diagonally. (Four slices of bread should yield 16 pieces.)

5. In a separate pan, heat oil for frying and fry the bread to golden brown.

6. Make sugar syrup by dissolving 3/4 cup of sugar in 1 cup of water until you get a stringy consistency.

7. Dip the fried bread in the sugar syrup and arrange on a plate.

8. Heat the Rabdi to a warm temperature and pour over the bread.

9. Garnish with finely chopped pistachios, almonds and a dash of saffron.

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CONRAD POSTON Age: 21 Hometown: Anchorage, Alaska Culinary inspiration: His vegan girlfriend Key ingredient: Portobello mushrooms Dish: Quinoa and sweet potato stuffed mushrooms

PROFILE Most students juggling college and a full-time job would live on fast food. Not Conrad Poston.

Despite his full-time schedule as a housekeeping supervisor at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota and his responsibilities as an on-call banquet server at the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, the 21-year-old hospitality student still manages to carve out time for home-cooked dinners.

A resourceful and health-conscious cook, Poston routinely whips up meatless dishes that both he and his vegan girlfriend can share. He discovered one of his favorite recipes for quinoa and sweet potato stuffed mushrooms while trolling the Web one night for what he calls “easy breezy vegan meals.”

A native of Anchorage, Alaska, Poston relocated with his mother to St. Augustine, when he was 17 years old. In 2014, he moved to Sarasota to study at USFSM and work his way up the ranks at the city’s most posh hotels. A natural go-getter and gregarious people person, Poston has always had a love affair with hotels, tourism and travel. When he graduates in 2017, he plans to begin his corporate ascent to general manager at a five-star resort. While he enjoys Sarasota’s warmth and cosmopolitan vibe, Poston admits he misses his home state’s rugged terrain and seasonal cooking.

“My mom always had me in the kitchen, slicing or stirring something,” Poston says. “Some of our best recipes came from out of nowhere, like when we picked wild low-bush cranberries and baked them into cookies and cupcakes — so delicious.”

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“My mom always had me in the kitchen, slicing or stirring something,” KEY INGREDIENT: PORTOBELLO MUSHROOMS

Welcome Home!

QUINOA & SWEET POTATO STUFFED MUSHROOMS RECIPE 4 sweet potatoes cut into 1/2-inch cubes 2 tablespoons of olive oil, plus extra for drizzling Salt Pepper Garlic cloves, minced 3 cups of spinach 2 cups of cooked quinoa 6 Portobello mushroom caps Fig balsamic reductionÂ

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1. Heat oven to 450 degrees.

2. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.

3. Toss sweet potatoes with oil, garlic, and salt and pepper to taste.

4. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, flipping halfway through until pieces are golden brown and cooked through.

5. Just before the potatoes are done cooking, remove the sheet from the oven and top with spinach.

6. Place the potatoes back in the oven for 2 to 3 more minutes.

7. Once spinach has wilted, remove the pan and let it cool until the veggies can be handled.

8. Lower oven to 400 degrees.

9. In a medium bowl, mix quinoa, sweet potatoes, and greens. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.

10. Brush both sides of the mushrooms with olive oil and place them gill side up on a baking sheet.

11. Spoon quinoa and sweet potato mixture into caps, mounding slightly in the center.

12. Drizzle with olive oil and fig balsamic dressing.

13.Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and bake for 15 to 25 minutes or until mushrooms are cooked through.

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IZZY SORATHIA Age: 20 Hometown: Queens, N.Y. Culinary inspiration: Her mother’s sick-day staple Key ingredient: Chicken Dish: Chicken Soup for the Soul (Pakistani chicken rice soup)

PROFILE Growing up in Queens, N.Y., Izzy Sorathia logged a lot of sick days.

Diagnosed with a rare liver disease as a child, the 20-year-old selfproclaimed “Pakistani Princess” spent many afternoons soothing her stomach with her mother’s chicken soup. A spicy chicken/rice medley with hints of cardamom, turmeric, garlic and red pepper, the soup warmed Sorathia from the inside out.

The youngest of three siblings, she relished her time in the kitchen, serving as her mother’s devoted sous chef and taste tester. Unlike her older brother and sister, who were drawn to careers in finance and art, Sorathia always wanted to make a living doing the thing her mother did for free — cook. During her junior year of high school, she moved with her family to Lakewood Ranch, where she attended Lakewood Ranch High School and the Culinary Arts program at Manatee Technical Institute, earning a first place win at the 2012 Mixon Fruit Farms Citrus Competition for her peach chutney samosas.

Now a hospitality management student at USFSM, Sorathia, who works part-time for Sugar Cubed Catering in Bradenton, has broadened her aim. Her dream job is to own and operate a bed and breakfast or an intimate inn with a gourmet kitchen.

“I want to have a hand in everything,” Sorathia says. “I love the hospitality industry because it makes me happy to make other people happy.”

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KEY INGREDIENT: CHICKEN

“I want to have a hand in everything ...

It makes me happy to make other people happy.”

CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL RECIPE 1/4 roughly chopped onion 3-4 cloves of minced garlic 1 piece of thickly sliced ginger 1 tablespoon of oil 1 diced tomato 1 pound of chicken cut into large chunks 6 cups of water 1/2 cup of chopped assorted veggies 1 small diced potato 1 tablespoon of rinsed long grain rice 2 whole cloves 4-6 whole black peppercorn 1 black cardamom 1 green cardamom 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon 1 teaspoon turmeric Salt and pepper

HOT OIL GARNISH RECIPE Half a head of garlic, grated 1/4 cup finely crushed red pepper flakes 1/2 cup oil 1 tablespoon vinegar

1. Sauté onion, garlic and ginger in oil in a stockpot.

2. Add tomato, chicken and assorted spices and sauté for about a minute.

3. Add the 6 cups of water and let the mixture boil for 10-15 minutes or until the chicken is cooked. Add salt and pepper to taste.

4. Drain the soup and separate the big pieces of chicken from the spices and aromatics, but keep the stock.

5. Pick out the chicken.

6. Add the stock and chicken to the same cleaned stockpot with the potatoes, vegetables and rice.

7. Boil until cooked.

8. Once fully cooked, remove from heat and garnish with your choice of fresh herbs.

9. To prepare the hot oil, add oil to saucepan and sauté garlic until soft.

(This takes less than a minute.)

10. Add crushed pepper and remove pan from heat.

11. Once the oil cools, add vinegar.

Serve with toast.

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Decorating is part of a family tradition in this Country Club home. PAGE 74 LWR LIFE

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Photos by Detlev von Kessel

Rhonda Maule’s dining room is home to her favorite piece — a nativity set she purchased years ago at Annabelle’s inside Morton’s Market.

Home for the holidays The North Pole has nothing on Rhonda and Keith Maule’s winter wonderland.

HEIDI KURPIELA MANAGING EDITOR

I

f Santa is looking for a place to retire in Florida, he should set his sights on Rhonda and Keith Maule’s home.

Their two-story holiday haven in the Lakewood Ranch Country Club is prime yuletide real estate. At 5,000 square feet, the house serves as a showroom for the couple’s vast collection of Christmas decorations, amassed over the course of their 38-year marriage.

The hard-working elf behind the spread is Rhonda Maule, an Oklahoma native whose infatuation with holiday cheer began when her mother-in-law — the original Maule family Christmas decorator — would accompany her on after-holiday sales. Together the women would select special marked-down pieces for their homes, a tradition Maule continued when she moved to Lakewood Ranch in 1999 and her mother-in-law moved to Venice.

Continued on Page 76

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The Maules purchase all their Christmas trees from Lux-Art Silks off U.S. 301. The couple’s tallest faux pine measures 12 feet tall. The Santa that looms over the fireplace in their living room is 7 feet tall.

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“

I’m a very sentimental pack rat. The closets are full. The garage is full, and I just had shelves built to hold more stuff. I realize some of it needs to be culled out, but I’m not there yet. If I love it, I keep it.” RHONDA MAULE

Continued from Page 74 “She’s 89 and she’s still decorating,” Maule says. “Her house is smaller now, and she doesn’t have all the big pieces anymore, but she still loves to garage sale. She’ll call me whenever she finds a treasure.”

Every year before Thanksgiving, Maule pulls out totes and totes of twinkly trimmings. Over the course of what she calls “a good hard week,” she transforms her five-bedroom home into an enchanting Christmas village, complete with trees of various shapes and sizes, nativity sets, poinsettias, nutcrackers, piano-playing Santas, angels, trumpeting soldiers, reindeer, elves, faux snow and of course all the handmade ornaments her sons, Ryan, 33, and Kyle, 29, made when they were in school.

Some of her pieces are larger than what you’d find in a Christmas display at the mall, including the 7-foot-tall Santa towering over the fireplace in her living room and the life-size elves that her 4-year-old granddaughter, Summer, likes to talk to.

“No matter what house we’ve had, I’ve always decorated it as much as I could,” says Rhonda Maule. “I put a few things out at Halloween and Easter, but nothing compares to Christmas.” The couple doesn’t go above and beyond decorating the outside of their house. The majority of their adornments are found inside.

Continued on Page 78

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Continued from Page 77 “It’s magical to experience it through her eyes,” says Maule, whose favorite decoration — a nativity set in her dining room — came from the back of Morton’s Market in Lakewood Ranch years ago. While some men would grouse over losing their countertops to reindeer and snowmen baubles, Keith Maule embraces the whimsy.

Whenever he spots a new kitschy trinket, he buys it for his wife. The decoration infatuation is mutual. Every few years, the Maules, who run a chiropractic management firm based in Lincoln, Neb., host a company Christmas party for 200 people in their merry mecca.

“I’m a very sentimental pack rat,” Maule says.

“The closets are full. The garage is full, and I just had shelves built to hold more stuff. I realize The couple’s 4-year-old granddaughter loves to hang out upstairs with the life-size elves. “It’s added a ton of some of it needs to be culled out, but I’m not there magic having her here to take it all in,” says Rhonda Maule. yet. If I love it, I keep it.”

Tropical Gardens Canopied Pathways Native & Exotic Animals Bird & Reptile Shows Petting Zoo

Sarasota’s Favorite Family Attraction!

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SarasotaJungleGardens.com

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185141

Open Daily 10am - 5pm | 941-355-5305

Closed Mondays & Tuesdays from September 15 to November 30, Thanksgiving & Christmas Days

I M AG I N E YO U R D R EAM H OM E A N D E S CA P E TO I N D I G O !

CALL US TODAY FOR MORE INFORMATION!

941.200.0019

Join us for the GRAND OPENING

of our new, larger floor plan models and Club Indigo!

Saturday, December 5 | 10am-2pm

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

64

N

LORRAINE RD

E S CA P E TO

LAKEWOOD RANCH BLVD

Model Homes | Refreshments | Prizes & Giveaways

44TH AVE

70

12916 Deep Blue Place Lakewood Ranch | FL 34211

I-75, exit 217A. Route 70 East. Left on Lakewood Ranch Blvd. Right on 44th Avenue.

Wind Star

2,379 sq. ft.

3 bedroom 2 bath 3-car garage

2,878 sq. ft.

4 bedroom 3.5 bath 3-car garage

.COM SOUTHWEST FLORIDA’S MOST EXPERIENCED HOME BUILDER FOR OVER 40 YEARS Prices and availability subject to change without notice. CBC1256375

169371

Sea Star

FISH HOLE

8111 Lakewood Main Street 941-306-5891 • thefishhole.com OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 10-10 A 3,000 gallon koi pond with fish of all sizes and colors sits at the center of The Fish Hole, where schools of golfers putt their way across the 18-hole course. At night, lights flicker to life, casting an enchanting island vibe across the entire course.

ARTS A BLAZE

8111 Lakewood Main Street #107 941-306-5840 • Mon-Sat 10-8 & Sun 12-5 It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

Whether looking to spend quality time around the holidays with family and friends, or looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the holidays, we welcome you to join us and create in a warm, welcoming, relaxing atmosphere. An artist or a first timer with no artistic background, once you step through the door, you will feel inspired!

There is no better gift than one made with your own hands!

MAIN STREET BAZAAR 8111 Lakewood Main Street 941-907-9243 Open daily 10-9 and Sunday 10-5

Looking for a gift for that hard to please person in your life? Visit The Main Street Bazaar where we have everything from toys to sandals and shirts to sunglasses. And the smiles are always free!

185171

WHITE ROSE INTERIORS 8141 Lakewood Main Street Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 941-907-6868

White Rose Interiors invites you to shop for your home decor, gifts and special one of a kind items. We ship, deliver, gift wrap and special order. Come Celebrate the Christmas Season with our fully decorated showroom of ideas!

Shop today.

JD BARBARY SHOPPE 811 Lakewood Main Street #104 941-907-6068

Gentlemen, if you’re looking for a traditional barber shop that prides itself in the tonsorial arts and worldly fragrances and grooming products, you’ve found it!

Our barbers are just that, true licensed Barbers who the use straight razors and other tonsorial implements.

Additionally, we offer discerning services such as massage therapy and skin care treatments.

AMERICAN SHORE 8131 Lakewood Main Street #106 941-907-1122 • Mon- Sat 10-8 & Sun 12-5

Explore all your favorite resort and surf/skate brands in one place for men, women and teens from Tommy Bahama and Escapada, as well as Rip Curl, Volcom, and O’Neill. Featuring shoes from Sperry and Vans.

Sandals from Olukai and Rainbow!

Golf

Amateur golfers can learn a lot by mimicking the practice habits of PGA Tour players.

Set up for success

JON BULLAS DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTION AT LAKEWOOD RANCH GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB

A

ll golfers tune into PGA Tour events on game day, but what about on practice days? Watch-

ing these dress rehearsals can help you prepare for your game. The players put in a full day’s work each day in the week leading up to the main event. Each golfer has a different routine for preparing himself for that first round. There is structure and purpose to their sessions, whether they’re working on a new swing, shaping shots or maintaining the fundamentals.

FACE ON This series of photos displays proper swing technique, from setup to follow through.

TAKE AWAY 82

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There is a saying: Failing to plan is planning to fail. If you want to play better golf you need to watch and copy the best players in the world — from practice rounds to warm-up routines to game time performance.

Many club golfers will spend hours mindlessly chipping and putting balls around the practice green. These practice habits lack intention.

There’s no physical reason why an amateur can’t practice with the same focus and intensity as a tour professional. It simply takes planning, discipline and execution.

I would recommend using 70% to 80% of your range time improving and maintaining your fundamentals. The remainder of your time should be devoted to hitting a variety of shots at random targets. Here are some of the practice tips you should implement to maintain game consistency: Continued on Page 84

Photography Frank Atura

ASHTON & BALANCHINE

8 - 9 April 2016

Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall accompanied by the Sarasota Orchestra

Sir Frederick Ashton’s

ENIGMA VARIATIONS Music - Sir Edward Elgar

George Balanchine’s

STARS AND STRIPES

Music - John Philip Sousa Stars and Stripes Choreography by George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust

184417

Production Media Sponsor

For Tickets and More Information On Our Full Season Visit

www.SarasotaBallet.org | 941 . 359 . 0099

Continued from Page 82

BACKSWING

FOLLOW THROUGH

KEEP YOUR CORE STRONG

MAKE THE FIRST MOVE COUNT

Starting with the photos on Page 82, let’s look at the setup position for a full swing with an iron.

The feet should be approximately shoulder-width apart and your lower body should slightly favor the lead foot. Your upper body will naturally tilt away from the target.

I like to see the ball played just in front of center, with a slight shaft lean toward the target.

This puts you in an athletic position and allows you to quickly move the club head back in sequence. Great posture is one of the keys to a consistent and synchronized swing.

The player should bend forward from the hips (not the waist) and soften the knees slightly.

Bad posture leads to weak swings, swing faults and an increased chance of injury. Your arms should hang naturally under your shoulders. If you’re still unsure of your posture, watch a few YouTube videos of the pros getting into address position. Mimic their alignment. Remember, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and a surefire way to improve your golf game.

Correctly setting up the ball is paramount to pulling off a successful first swing. Amateurs often ask me how they to start their swings. The bottom line is this: the clubhead has the longest journey to make in the backswing, therefore I like to see the clubhead moving early and not dragging back at the same speed as the handle.

That’s not to say the body shouldn’t move.

Move your body! Sequence it with your arms and club, but let the clubhead lead the charge. And by all means, relax! Tight shoulders and hands make it difficult to swing in sequence.

As for your swing style, that’s another topic for another day. There are so many different swing types and theories, I could write a book on the fundamentals of each one. No matter your style or preference, try to complete your backswing without physically overextending yourself.

I would rather have a slightly short and coiled backswing, than a long stretched-out one.

However you start, be sure to finish in style.

Hold a well-balanced follow through, and then repeat it with consistency — like a pro.

ROBERT DAVIE

Caring for the Hearts

SPECIALIZES IN INNOVATIVE LANDSCAPES OF COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES.

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

LV10992

For more than 35 years, he has transformed landscapes into creative works of aesthetic and sustainable design.

Call Robert Davie to transform your project.

941-924-6629

941- 907 - 1113

6310 Health Park Way • Suite 230 Lakewood Ranch, FL

Erick E. Calderon

LakewoodCardiovascular.com

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ROBERTDAVIE.COM

184733

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

169704

M.D., FACC, FSCAI

Independent Living

Assisted Living

Memory Care

we make senior living personal At Inspired Living at Lakewood Ranch, we create a lifestyle that’s perfect for you by offering a range of senior living options. Here residents are at the center of everything we do. Whether you are active and independent or need some assistance, you can be assured that we will meet your needs and exceed your expectations.

Nutritious chef-prepared meals Private dining with flexible hours Fitness center and exercise classes Swimming pool, patio and tiki bar Licensed nursing available 24/7

• • • • •

Dog park with off-leash areas Lakeside fishing pier with boardwalk Happy hours and social events Arts, music and cultural programs Transportation within Lakewood Ranch

Call to learn more

(941) 893-3441 InspiredLivingLakewoodRanch.com 5424 Lena Road | Bradenton, FL 34211 Facebook “f ” Logo

Connect with us on

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• • • • •

A Validus Senior Living Community

CMYK / .eps

ALF Lic. #12727

11/5/15 1:35 PM

C A b i n e T Ry | C o U n T e RTo p s | C L o s e T s ™

When Quality Comes First.

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U LTRAC RAFT ® | s i Le sTon e ® | G RAn iTe | QUARTz | CAm b RiA ® mARb Le | ReCyC Le d G LAss | bAU FoRmAT ®

Call 941.953.3240 to schedule your complimentary design consultation.

1035 N Lime | Sarasota | www.Affinity-Kitchens.com LWR LIFE

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Gardening

Oh, Christmas Tree Deck your halls with the healthiest holiday plants.

LORI WALKER CERTIFIED MASTER GARDNER

P

ine trees and poinsettias are as abundant in December as exhausted shoppers and Salvation Army bell ringers. They’re more than just hackneyed holiday flora, though. Stick one in your house and you instantly summon the wintery warm and fuzzies.

Poinsettias have long delighted the eyes and noses of children and adults. However, just because they’re a dime-a-dozen at big-box retail stores doesn’t mean they’re all equal. As with any live plant, certain features bode health and longevity. In other words, don’t pick your poinsettia blindly.

Not all plants are red. They also come in pink, white and marble shades. The plant’s colorful, showy “flowers” are not actually flowers. They’re called bracts. The true flower is the small green button-like cluster at the center of the bracts.

When purchasing your poinsettia, make sure to select one with tightly closed flowers. Look for green leaves that are almost to the soil line and avoid plants with leaves that have already turned yellow. Inspect the underside of the bracts for whiteflies. Nothing says bah humbug like a poinsettia infested with flies.

If properly watered and kept in a cool dry place, your Christmas plant will look beautiful until Valentine’s Day. If you really want to put your green thumb to the test, stick it in the ground.

Poinsettias make great landscape shrubs in sunny Southwest Florida.

If you think I’m a finicky poinsettia picker, you should see me shop for a Christmas tree. A fresh-cut pine invokes instant holiday cheer, but how do you select the right one for your space?

First, get out a tape measure and record the Continued on Page 88

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DID YOU KNOW? Poinsettias are not toxic to kids and pets. Researchers at Ohio State University debunked that myth years ago. (When fed high doses of the plant, rats developed little to no symptoms.) Poinsettias produce a milky white chemical-laden sap will trigger an upset stomach — not death. Mistletoe, on the other hand, is not so innocent. Eating the plant’s berries or leaves can cause cardiovascular and neurological issues, so be careful where you plant your pucker.

Always something new!

Largest Selection of Coastal Chic and Transitional Furniture

European Traditions Since 1993 www.European-Traditions.com

6030 Clark Center Ave. Sarasota, FL 34238 941.921.5616

184410

7488 S. Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34231 941.921.5616

8340 Lakewood Ranch Blvd. • Suite 240 • Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202

Dedicated to a lifetime of women’s health care Jorge E. Alvarez, MD, FACOG Jennifer R. McCullen, MD, FACOG Edgardo J. Aponte, MD, FACOG M. Joanne Bevers, CNM Jill S. Miller, ARNP

PRIMARY CARE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY Walk-In Sick Visits

Diplomates of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Physicals Vaccinations Weight Loss Programs

Mary J. Mott, MPAS, PA-C

Adult & Family Care Physician Assistant Specializing in Allergy & Asthma

Monday - Friday 8am - 6pm Saturday 10am-2pm 941.896.3900 10910 State Road 70 E. Suite 102 Lakewood Ranch

Located 1 ½ mile East of I-75 on SR70

Accepting New Patients

No Appointment Necessary Most Insurance Accepted

Caring for women throughout their lives

We believe that women of our community deserve the finest medical care from adolescence through pregnancy and beyond menopause and that all medical care should start with caring.

Gynecology Obstetrics - Pregnancy Menopause & Hormone Replacement Hospital Surgery

Urogynecology - Incontinence In-Office Procedures: Essure Permanent Birth Control & Endometrial Ablation On-Site 3D & 4D Ultrasounds Se habla Español & Portuguese

Call: (941) 907-3008 • Visit: www.obgynwc.com LWR LIFE

159929

Family Healthcare Physician Minor Office Surgery, Internal Medicine (Habla Español)

Botox & Juvederm

168552

Oscar Espinosa, MD

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Continued from Page 86 maximum height and width you’re willing to take up in your room.

Next, bone up on your pine and fir species. A wide variety of types are grown as Christmas trees. The most popular tree on the market — the lush Douglas fir — has soft, dark green needles that smell sweet and fan out from the branch in all directions. The Scotch pine, noble fir and Frasier fir hold their needles for a long time and have stiff branches that are ideal for decorating. For more guidance, visit realchristmastrees.org, the official website of the National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA).

Most Christmas tree tents hawk a variety of evergreens. As an informed buyer, you should ask where your tree was grown. Do a freshness test: a green needle from a fresh fir will break crisply when bent sharply. Pine needles break only when they’re dry. Remember, nothing but ornaments should fall off your tree when you brush up against it, and no matter your tannenbaum, saw off several inches of stump to allow for adequate water intake. Water keeps your tree fragrant for a long time, so you’ll never need to

“

Do a freshness test: A green needle from a fresh fir will break crisply when bent sharply.”

MAKE FIRST FEDERAL

YOUR FIRST STOP FOR FINANCING YOUR HOME!

First Federal Community Bank has been helping families for 126 years

Not valid with any other discounts or special events.

Expires 2-27-16

Planetarium shows & manatee presentations daily Flori�a's�toryfromthe Preh1stor1c to the Present. •

Enjoy shows in the all-digital Bishop Planetarium Theater and meet Snooty™ the manatee.

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SOUTH FLORIDA MUSEUM BISHOP PLANETARIUM· PARKER MANATEE AQUARIUM

201 lOth StreetW.,Bradenton, Rorida 34205 941.746.4131 I www.southfloridamuseum.org

159081

169826

LWR-L WR15

Call Our Residential Lending Specialist Today!

Greg M. Braun 941.702.9551 gbraun@ffcb.com NMLS #407115

Cameo E. Braun 941.702.9554 cbraun@ffcb.com NMLS #1377113

Member FDIC

FIRST FEDERAL Community Bank

184265

Picking the right school at the start can lead to some colorful choices.

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.

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

T h e F a c e s of e x c e l l e n c e

SAR ASOTA / LAKEWOOD R ANCH / VENICE

W W W. S OA . M D

( 9 41) 9 51-B ON E ( 2 6 6 3) LWR LIFE

176990

3 LOC ATIONS

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LAKEWOOD RANCH 20TH ANNIVERSARY FRIDAY, OCT. 23, AT PREMIER SPORTS CAMPUS

Photos by Amanda Sebastiano

Above: Sera, Elliott and Ava Nelson snack on snow cones.

Right: Rick Lipro and his daughters, Autumn and Anya, enjoy the festivities

Giovanni Vesia shows he’s a heavy hitter.

IT LIFE’S TOO FIX THE $ SHORT. RIGHT FIRST TIME.

OFF

30

ANY SERVICE REPAIR 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.

I am so glad Aqua has an electrical department. Andrew has done work at my condo on more than one occasion. He knew exactly what needed to be done. He did an excellent - 5 star - job. I was very comfortable having him come into my home. I will continue to use Aqua and Andrew for all my electrical issues.” Ms. R.B. Payment options for all credit levels.

License #: CAC1816020; CFC057648; EC13005269

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Valid on repairs over $250. Service repair include plumbing, air conditioning, electrical, or water treatment. Cannot be used for maintenance or combined with other offers. Please present ad at time of service. Offer expires 12/31/2015.

941- 866 - 6210 aquaplumbing.com

AQUA’S Got Your Back!

Plumbing • Air Conditioning • Electrical • Water Treatment 184418

Skip Stanton, John Miller and Chuck Jacobson | Owners

rooms come together one beautiful detail at a time.

Come visit Venice Living and discover a wonderful selection of distinctive furniture, ‘that great lamp’, and fabulous accessories for all design styles. You will always find the perfect embellishments for every room. And please shop our unique gift selections.

Design services available by Ralph’s Interiors

528 East Venice Ave | Venice, FL | 941-488-3991 185176

R A L P H S I N T E R I O R S . C O M

Located In The Heart Of Lakewood Ranch

Let’s Keep

GROWING WINTER ANNUALS, VEGETABLES & HERB GARDENS ARRIVING WEEKLY!

Plants | Mulch | Pottery | Fountains | Statuary & 4,500 sq ft Garden Gift Shop

70

Friend us for our weekly specials

Experienced Staff on hand for FREE Consultation to Help with All your Gardening and Fertilizer Questions LWR LIFE

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✿

Lorraine Road

64

Lakewood Ranch Blvd.

East of I-75 off SR 70 or SR 64 5020 Lorraine Rd, Bradenton, FL www.mariposanursery.com | 941 .747 .0499 Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm | Sat 8am - 4pm

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BEER, BOATS & BACON SATURDAY, OCT. 10, AT NATHAN BENDERSON PARK

Above: Jane and Bobby Weber toast to a fun afternoon.

Left: Corn bread is served with a special ingredient — bacon.

Photos by Amanda Sebastiano

Amanda Pombar, of the Plant High rowing team, carries equipment off the docks after a race.

Solid Handcrafted Furniture Always made in the USA! LEASING DISTINCTIVE PROPERTIES TO EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE

We carry Murphy Beds!

Visit our website at: www.dutchhausfurniture.com Bedroom-Dining-Office-Custom-Outdoor-Murphy Beds-Gift Items-Living Room

(Excludes custom)

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185087

Bring in this ad for 5% off a regular priced purchase.

*3737 Bahia Vista Street Sarasota, FL 34232 (941) 952-5646 *6100 N. Lockwood Ridge Rd Sarasota, FL 34243 (941) 960-2942

You Play. We Property Manage. quality rentals needed.

University Pkwy/LWR

West Bradenton

941.359.3435 941.792.6900 www.JennetteProperties.com

185085

Now with TWO locations!

Proudly Serving our

184305

Community since 1985

Finally... a garage your car is Happy to call Home.

Give your garage the space-saving organization it needs, and your floors a beautiful textured surface with a lifetime of durability that’s always attractive.

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

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.

Expires Dec. 31, 2015

Get Rid of the Cluttered, Oil-Stained Mess in Your Garage.

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

183585

Call Us Today For A Free Estimate.

Ask About our referrAl progrAm! LWR LIFE

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PAYTON WRIGHT FOUNDATION GALA SATURDAY, OCT. 3, AT HYATT REGENCY SARASOTA

Carrie and Marc Morales

Photos by Kristen Herhold

Payton Wright Foundation founders Patrick and Holly Wright with artist Michael Israel

Karen White and Maisey Tulla, 9

Payton Foundation board member Dr. Robert Morelli and Bill Porter

Thank you

for allowing us to assist in your financial needs.

J.L. BAINBRIDGE & C O M P A N Y, I N C .

1582 Main Street | Sarasota, Florida 34236 (941) 365-3435 | (800) 899-5171 To learn more about J.L. Bainbridge’s unique commitment to client satisfaction check out our website.

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www.TakeCareHomeHealth.com Discover the difference with a Registered Investment Advisor.

Lic. #HHA 21657096

LWR LIFE

(941) 752-7500

Lic. #HHA 299991405

181641

184413

www.jlbainbridge.com

For 20 years, clients have depended on us for our expertise in care & our superior caregivers. Care can be provided in any setting from one hour up to 24 hours. Locally nurse owned and family operated since 1995.

BLU MANGROVE

LV11419

New Ownership...New Look...New Menu...A Must Visit! Bradenton/Palmetto’s foremost dining destination, located at Riviera Dunes Marina, along the beautiful Manatee River.

Seafood Lovers will enjoy the many Exotic Seafoods, Raw Bar & hand rolled Sushi...while the Land Lover can choose from a variety of dishes including certified Black Angus handcut steaks. Come by land or water, dockside boat parking is available! Happy Hour Mon- Fri, daily specials, live nightly music, large outdoor patio dining, indoor dining, indoor & outdoor bar and lounge. Also available for private or semi private events. Open Daily 11am to close.

102 Riviera Dunes Way, Palmetto 941. 479. 7827 blumangroveevents@gmail.com blumangrovegrill.com

ERBELLI’S

8744 E. SR 70 #301, Bradenton 941. 567. 6199 erbellis.com

LV10757

Celebrating 20 years! Gourmet Pizzeria, Italian Bistro & Pub. We take enormous pride in providing “WOW” service and innovative premium gourmet pizzas, submarine sandwiches, pastas and salads. We also serve gourmet craft beer and excellent wines.

“Gourmet” is not a word we use lightly...it is in a single word our mission statement when talking about food. Looking for Gluten free?

We’ve got you covered. Voted Best Pizza and Best Restaurant on Channel 3 WWMT News in Michigan and Best Gourmet Pizza at the 2015 Postage Pizza Fest. We look forward to seeing you soon! Grazie!

TRUMAN’S TAP & GRILL

11161 E. SR 70 #100, Bradenton 941.755.1800 trumanstap.com

LV11439

184389

With an inviting, warm atmosphere and neighborhood feel, Truman’s is the ideal casual setting to enjoy a sports game with drinks and appetizers with friends or a delicious meal with family. Truman’s is a one-of-a-kind space. The sprawling, custom-made bar is just right for sipping a classy cosmopolitan or frosty mug of brew. The dining room is separated from the bar by a curved rustic brick wall. Open for lunch and dinner daily, Truman’s offers a delightful selection of appetizers, sandwiches, salads, pastas, and hearty entrees. Check out the daily chalkboard specials for seasonal fare. The staff at Truman’s looks forward to your visit!

dining out

EXPERIENCE THE NEW

BLU MANGROVE

ED’S TAVERN

LV9463

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 20 flat screen TV’s. Daily Specials, Trivia every Wednesday & Thursday and Live Music every Friday & Saturday night.

Mon. - Thur.11am-12am Fri. -Sat. 11am-2am Sun. 11am-11pm 10719 Rodeo Dr., LWR | 941.907.0400 facebook.com/edstavernlwr

HANA SUSHI LOUNGE

LWR LIFE

LV10118

Nestled along the lazy Braden River, Linger Lodge Restaurant is quintessentially “Olde Florida” at its best. Established in 1945 as a fishing and hunting camp, the Lodge has evolved into a great place to dine, listen to live music and enjoy the great views. Two outside covered and screened decks provide picturesque water views. A full liquor bar and an inside air-conditioned Dining room complete the setting. Dishes range from the ever popular Catfish to the elegant Linger Ettoufee’. Also serving Florida Grouper sandwiches, Burgers, Rueben’s, Alligator Bites, Gator Chowder and our award winning Gumbo.

Restaurant

7205 85th St. Ct. E, Bradenton 941. 755. 2757 lingerlodgeresort.com

184560

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8126 Lakewood Main St., LWR 941. 907. 1290 facebook.com/HanaSushiLounge

LINGER LODGE RESTAURANT

LV8600

dining out

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.

dining out

MacALLISTER’S

Step into MacAllisters Grill and Tavern and meet the new owners Greg and Tina Bliss. With over 25 years 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. MacAllisters is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week 11:30am-10pm Sunday-Thursday and 11:30am-11pm Friday & Saturday. We also offer patio dining. Kids welcome!

LV10810

8110 Lakewood Main St., LWR 941.359.2424 macallisters.com

MAIN STREET TRATTORIA

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, just to name a few. Mr. Fennessy wanted to create a place where friends and family alike can gather for a one of a kind dining experience. Make sure to save room for their homemade tiramisu and a cappuccino for dessert. One of the best features is their inside/outside bar that opens up to a great outdoor dining area, where you’ll find live music Wed.- Sat. from 6-10 p.m. and Sundays 4-8 p.m. Offering happy hour daily 3-7 p.m. Kids menu and take-out menu also available.

LV11423

8131 Lakewood Main St., #101, LWR 941.907.1518 mstrattoria.com

PARIS BISTROT

8131 Lakewood Main St., #103, LWR 941.388.0564 bistrotfl.com

Paris Bistrot

LV10760

184384

From France to Florida … Paris Bistrot is an authentic French bistro like in Paris ! Over 27 years of experience they are serving crepes (sweet or savory), salads, sandwiches, quiches at breakfast-lunch time and dishes as Beef Bourguignon or Pork tenderloin in black pepper and Cognac sauce directly from Grandma’s recipes book for dinner. Don’t miss out the weekly specials and the delightful desserts what makes the dinner even more unique. For a romantic and intimate dinner or a nice gateway with friends, Pierre and Christopher will be glad to welcome you Mon-Fri 11:30 to 2pm (Sat-Sun 8:30 to 2pm) for Breakfast-lunch and everyday 5:30 to 9pm (Fri-Sat 5:30 to 9:30) for dinner.

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PARTING GLANCE Photo by James DeBlasio

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ARCHITECTURAL STYLE. CONTEMPORARY DESIGN. SUBLIME SETTING. THE MARKS OF DISTINCTION IN A NEAL SIGNATURE HOME.

CHOOSE FROM ELEVEN EXCEPTIONAL NEIGHBORHOODS RIGHT NOW. A remarkable thing happens when a breathtaking landscape is adorned with an exquisite home— you discover a wondrous new setting for your everyday life. With this in mind, Neal Signature Homes proudly invites you to visit our homes at these outstanding communities.

1. Siesta Key Model at The Inlets 657 Regatta Way, Bradenton | From the mid $500s New Santa Cruz Model Coming Soon!

2. Barbados II Model in Highfield at Country Club West 12435 Highfield Circle, Lakewood Ranch | From the low $900s

CALL TODAY FOR A PERSONAL TOUR! 941.225.2247

3. Palmavera Model in Collingtree at Country Club East 16615 Collingtree Crossing, Lakewood Ranch | From the high $400s New Montecito Model Coming Soon!

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4. Bellevista Model in Highlands at Country Club East 16615 Collingtree Crossing, Lakewood Ranch | From the low $400s 5. Dominica II Model at The Concession 8317 Lindrick Lane, Bradenton | From the low $800s

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6. Costa Mesa Model at Wildgrass 8117 Flax Drive, Sarasota | From the low $400s

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7. The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch 9480 Swaying Branch Road, Sarasota | From the high $700s 8. Fenwick Model at Boca Royale Golf & Country Club 1 Golf View Drive, Englewood | From the high $400s 9. Carmel Model at River Wind 931 River Wind Circle, Bradenton | From the high $300s 10. Siesta Key 2 Model at MiraBay 713 Manns Harbour Drive, Apollo Beach | From the low $600s

NEALSIGNATUREHOMES.COM

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LIVE IN ONE OF THE MOST AFFORDABLE & HIGHLY RATED NEIGHBORHOODS

BY NEAL COMMUNITIES!

The final opportunity to buy at Central Park is NOW!

CENTR RE A O

CALL 844.305.9950 NOW FOR ADDITIONAL INCENTIVES!

NealCommunities.com Visit our Sales Center & Models - Open Daily 11803 Gramercy Park Avenue | Lakewood Ranch | FL 34211

Opportunities to make this family-friendly community home remain—but they’re going fast.

Don’t delay buying at Central Park! Visit our website or stop by the sales center today!

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Close to schools, recreation, shopping and more Wide choice of home styles and floor plans True sense of a friendly community neighborhood

Reasonably priced from the mid $300s!

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MORE H Southwest Florida’s Most Experienced Home Builder For Over 40 Years Prices and availability subject to change without notice. CBC1256375