LWRLife - Spring 2015

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

BARN RAISING From rustic to refined, these stables house the area’s equine roots. 70

139736

139765

#1 Real Estate Group in Lakewood Ranch

Laura Stavola

941- 447 - 4875 laura@thepascarellagroup.com

Holly Pascarella

941- 225 - 3218 holly@thepascarellagroup.com www.ThePascarellaGroup.com

Real Estate • Mortgage • Finance

Giving our clients the Edge!

Mark Pascarella | 941- 894 - 6565 | San Marco Plaza, 8235 Natures Way Florida’s Premier Mortgage Lender With Over 50 Years Experience. We Offer the Best Rates and Terms Available While Providing our Clients with an Exceptional Level of Service!

Come In and RegIsteR to

Win $1,000

FRee LIghtIng!

16 0

68

8

In

3909 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, FL 34233 | 941.922.2626 | www.BeeRidgeLighting.com

Someone in London wants to buy your home.

Florida real estate is in high demand internationally, but these buyers are out of reach for most area brokerages.

Coldwell Banker® will showcase your property using offices in more than 50 countries and 725+ websites, including those of leading U.K. brokerage Hamptons International. The result? Your home will receive truly global marketing – from Sarasota to Soho and Naples to Notting Hill – and someone in London might just find their dream home.

Reach buyers everywhere.

FloridaMoves.com Lakewood Ranch 941.907.1033 | East Manatee 941.739.6777

©2015 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Coldwell Banker is a registered service mark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Operated by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. 10171FL_1/15 160578

DILLARD’S

•

MACY’S

•

S A K S F I F T H AV E N U E

SHOP, DINE

AERIE ALDo AMERICAN EAgLE oUTFITTERS ANN TAYLoR ANTHRopoLogIE AppLE ARHAUS* BANANA MooN* BANANA REpUBLIC BCBgMAXAZRIA BEBE BoSToN pRopER BoSE BRIgHToN BRooKS BRoTHERS BRooKS BRoTHERS WoMEN CACHé CALYpSo ST. BARTH CAMICISSIMA CELLAIRIS CHAMpS SpoRTS CHARLoTTE RUSSE CHICo’S CLAIRE’S CLARKS CRATE & BARREL EDWARD BEINER EVERYTHINg BUT WATER EXpRESS EXpRESS MEN FAST FIX JEWELRY REpAIR FIT2RUN* FooT LoCKER FooT gEAR* FoREVER 21 FRANCESCA’S* FREE pEopLE* gAp gAp KIDS gYMBoREE H&M ICINg INVICTA J. CREW J. JILL

JACKIE Z JANIE & JACK JoHNSToN & MURpHY JoURNEYS J.S. TRUNK & Co. KATE SpADE NEW YoRK KAY JEWELERS LENSCRAFTERS LILLY pULITZER LoFT LoVESAC LUCKY BRAND* LULULEMoN ATHLETICA MAYoRS/RoLEX MICHAEL KoRS MoLESKINE MoTHERHooD MATERNITY NARACAMICIE* NATURAL CoMFoRT FooTWEAR oAKLEY oNDADEMAR pACSUN pANDoRA pApYRUS pINK poTTERY BARN RoBERT gRAHAM SEE SoLSTICE SoMA INTIMATES STUART WEITZMAN SUNgLASS HUT SWARoVSKI TALBoTS TESLA THINgS REMEMBERED TINA STEpHENS T-MoBILE ToMMY BAHAMA TUMI VERA BRADLEY VICToRIA’S SECRET VINCE CAMUTo* THE WALKINg CoMpANY WHITE HoUSE | BLACK MARKET WILLIAMS-SoNoMA YANKEE CANDLE ZALES JEWELERS Z gALLERIE

THE ART oF SHAVINg AVEDA BATH & BoDY WoRKS BRoW ART 23 DIVENTI BELLA FoREVER FLAWLESS gNC LIVE WELL KIEHL’S SINCE 1851 L’oCCITANE EN pRoVENCE LUSH MAC oRgANIC NAIL BAR SEpHoRA SoAp SToRIES TRICHo SALoN* VENUS MED SpA

4D gELATERIA* AUNTIE ANNE’S pRETZELS BRIo TUSCAN gRILLE BURgER AND BEER JoINT* THE CApITAL gRILLE THE CHEESECAKE FACToRY CoLD SToNE CREAMERY goDIVA BELgIUM 1926 gREAT AMERICAN CooKIES KoNA gRILL LE MACARoN FRENCH pASTRIES MANDARIN EXpRESS oIL & VINEgAR RISE pIES HANDCRAFTED pIZZA SEASoNS 52 SMooTHIE KINg SopHIE’S AT SAKS FIFTH AVENUE STARBUCKS SWEET DoCToRS TEAVANA Yo! SUSHI*

*coming soon

I-75 and University parkway • MallatUTC.com 160580

LWR LIFE

7

CONTENTS

SPRING 2015

FEATURES

50

ON THE FARM U-pick farms within driving distance provide a fun and pleasant way to source fresh, local produce.

8

LWR LIFE

56

CRANES AHEAD Sandhill Cranes are some of Lakewood Ranch’s most peculiar — and endearing — residents. Here’s all you need to know about our curious and comedic friends.

62

BAD GOLFERS WANTED For a relaxing day on the links, who wants to stress out over a score? These guys have built a whole club out of the camaraderie that comes with being no good at golf.

T H E

R A RE

C A R I BBE A N

GE M STONE

Monday - Saturday 9:30am - 5:30pm • (941)751- 6600 Creekwood Crossing - just west of 1-75 on S.R. 70 139756

22 DEPARTMENTS 14 FROM THE EDITOR 19 BUZZ Gold Coast Eagle has a Bud for you; WinterFest preview; stories from Bob Delaney’s storied past; and all the essentials you need to tailgate like a pro at polo.

33 PULSE Resident Bruce Rodgers shares his work overseeing a retreat for artists; tips for a stylish spring break; and how Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue sets the bar for animal shelters.

34

34 CALENDAR Check out must-attend events for the spring, including Music on Main, the Sarasota Open, Eggstravaganza and the annual Memorial Day parade.

69 HAVEN See the impressive quarters of a few of the area’s polo ponies.

76 GARDENING Florida is home to 16 native bromeliads. Do you know which ones are in your yard?

82 RANCH SCENE Party pictures from the latest events.

10

LWR LIFE

48

90 PARTING GLANCE

76

“CREATING RELATIONSHIPS FOR LIFE”

THE CONCESSION

Stacy Haas-Goodwin 941.587.4359

stacy.haasgoodwin@sothebysrealty.com

THE LAKE CLUB

Jim Soda 941.809.7759

jim.soda@sothebysrealty.com

LAKEWOOD RANCH COUNTRY CLUB

Donna Soda 941.961.5857

donna.soda@sothebysrealty.com

Exceptional Service. Proven Results.

The Soda Group is the most dynamic real estate team in the Greater Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch and Manatee areas.

TheSodaGroup.com 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.

142885

LWRLIFE

GRAND OPENING of our 3rd showroom

LAKEWOOD RANCH AREA’S COMMUNITY, NATURE, STYLE

In celebration of our 3rd showroom we are offering up to

Publisher and CEO — Matt Walsh

50% off

EDITORIAL

storewide and giving you a leather area rug with any leather purchase.

Executive Editor — Kat Hughes Managing Editor — Heidi Kurpiela Design — Pegie Stark

(1 per family, until March 15, 2015)

Contributors Shellie Terry Benson, Stephanie Hannum, Robin Hartill, Heather Merriman, Jessica Salmond, Lori Sax, Amanda Sebastiano, Kurt Schultheis and Mark Wemple

ADVERTISING Director of Advertising — Jill Raleigh Advertising Managers — Kathleen O'Hara, Lori Ruth, Penny DiGregorio Advertising Executives — Robyn Didelot, Austin Holmes, Beth Jacobson, Bob Lewis, Suzanne Munroe, Richeal Parisi, Toni Perren and Laura Ritter

The same luxurious quality at 40% less

PRODUCTION TAHOE

Director of Creative Services and IT — Kathy Payne Creative Services Assistant Manager — Brooke Schultheis

VEGAS

Graphic Designers — John Day, Monica DiMattei, Marjorie Holloway, Shawna Polana, Luis Trujillo and Allison Wampole

HARTFORD

CONTACT LWR LIFE

SAVANNAH

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

For advertising inquiries, call 366-3468.

www.LeatherGallerySarasota.com

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

5251 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34231

941-993-1057

WE SHIP ANYWHERE • FREE FINANCING • SINCE 1984 12

LWR LIFE

160687 1645476

Located 1.5 miles south of Bee Ridge Road

lwrlifemagazine.com

CONTEMPORARY CABINETRY & CLOSET CONCEPTS

Celebrating 28 years as Sarasota’s Premier Closet Company OFTEN COPIED NEVER DUPLICATED • Design, Manufacture and Installation • Custom Closet Systems • Home Offices

• Hand-crafted Kitchen and Bath Cabinetry • Wall Units and Murphy Beds

Featuring the finest custom cabinetry and Closet systems to please all tastes and budgets.

153256

Visit the showroom to discover the perfect design solution, reflecting your individual style and personality.

3,000 sq.ft. showroom • 1312 N. Lime Ave., Sarasota, FL 34237 (941) 951-6400 • www.contemporarycabinetssrq.com

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

At home in the great outdoors

W

hen you read about Lakewood Ranch, it seems like most of the press is about traffic or development or growth. It’s a rarity to read about the very thing that brought all of those things to the area — its stunning beauty and natural surroundings.

This issue focuses on the latter. Although we didn’t plan it with a theme in mind, this issue turned into an appreciation of Lakewood Ranch’s great outdoors.

From the citrus groves and farms that lie in rural settings to the majestic horse barns that overlook meadows of land just a few miles from the hub of suburban life, these are things that make our area so unique.

And, speaking of unique things, we couldn’t write about LWR’s nature without including perhaps its quirkiest character — the sandhill crane.

As a person whose family hails from

14

LWR LIFE

Kearney, Neb., near the North Platte River where these migratory birds travel in the spring by the hundreds of thousands, I can say that once you’ve heard the honking, squawking call of this bird, you truly will never forget it. They are a peculiar bunch, which you may have had the pleasure of witnessing on a day on the golf course — or perhaps you’ve had a not-so-pleasurable encounter with one who stubbornly refuses to move from the center of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.

In Robin Hartill’s story on page 56, she explores the habitat and habits of this curious bird, as well as the “craniacs” — the bird’s dedicated followers. That following includes Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, developer of Lakewood Ranch, which recently chose the bird for its mascot. That one’s named Cranky the Crane.

Another thing that makes the Ranch unique is its many equine enthusiasts. Scattered near the polo field you’ve probably noticed the beautiful barns nestled back from

the road. Contributor Shellie Terry Benson’s story on page 69 gives you an inside look at four of these amazing abodes that house horses and humans. Each barn was designed as a blend of function and style — and make no mistake, the inside of these buildings are quite stylish.

But if your idea of enjoying the outdoors consists of hitting around a small dimpled ball, Managing Editor Heidi Kurpiela has the story for you on page 62. Kurpiela profiles a group of golfers who shoot in the 90s and are darn proud of it. In fact, a high score is a requirement to play with this group, the American Academy of Challenged Golfers. They value personality more than talent when it comes to their golf game.

As one who also lacks prowess on the links, I think we can all learn an important lesson from these guys: Don’t let a little thing like a score get in the way of enjoying a perfectly beautiful day outdoors.

Kat Hughes Executive Editor

Here From The Beginning. Here for Life.

M ichael Saunders & Company has been successfully helping homebuyers and

sellers achieve their real estate goals on Florida’s Gulf Coast for the past 40 years.

Almost 20 years 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-the-art real estate office— custom-designed for Lakewood Ranch residents— to enhance the award-winning service we provide throughout the East County area.

139753

As a locally owned and operated company with strong roots in this community, Michael Saunders & Company is very much at home at Lakewood Ranch, and we look forward to assisting you with your real estate needs.

W W W. M I C H A E L S AU N D E R S .CO M 8325 Lakewood Ranch Blvd. • Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 • 941.907.9595

160630

A S P E CTAC U L A R V I E W

of Living

Once you see Plymouth Harbor and meet the people who call it home, you will change the way you think about your future.

You’ll meet active, independent-minded people from around the world — who share a love of boating, a passion for helping others, and a natural spirit of friendship.

Our view on whole person wellness emphasizes a multi-dimensional approach of continuing broad interests and a healthy lifestyle for an active mind and body. Residents treasure the time they spend in their lovely, spacious apartment homes

A

S P E C TA C U L A R

– yet appreciate all of the thoughtful services and amenities that are part of the Plymouth Harbor lifestyle. And they love the beautiful setting that looks like a first-class resort, but feels just like home.

If you love gracious living and the finer points of a sunrise and a sunset over Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, then Plymouth Harbor is the place for you.

Come see for yourself – and get a new perspective on retirement living. Call us today for a tour of our award-winning campus, luxury accommodations and amenities.

V I E W

O F

R E T I R E M E N T

160630

Call Today to Schedule a Personal Tour 700 John Ringling Blvd. Sarasota, FL 34236 • (941) 365-2600 • www.PlymouthHarbor.org A Not-For-Profit Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC). OIR #88039

139775

BUZZ

NEWS, HAPPENINGS AND PEOPLE

Rain may have dampened the mood at last year’s Winterfest, but with an all-star lineup including hometown star Sam Woolf, this year’s festival is sure to be fun in the sun. PAGE 22

BEER BY THE NUMBERS 6,800

Kegs of beer fit in the warehouse

1,984

Ounces of beer (about 124 pint glasses’ worth) in each keg

7,500

Cases of beer donated each year to charitable causes and local events

10

Lifts needed to move beer kegs around, plus the use of several electric jacks to help transfer kegs onto lifts and delivery trucks.

100,000

Square feet of the beer warehouse

170,000

Square feet of the combined warehouse and administrative offices

155

Beer warehouse employees

40

Local truck routes

20

LWR LIFE

BREWHAHA

BY KURT SCHULTHEIS | CONTRIBUTOR PHOTOS BY MARK WEMPLE

W

hile you’re nursing a hangover, Gold Coast Eagle is counting its revenue. Here’s what a beer boom looks like in East County. Beer volume at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing is growing faster than you can pour a cold one.

The Lakewood Ranch-based beverage giant distributes everything from Budweiser and microbrews to vitamin water and tea.

It uses a 100,000-square-foot warehouse located on Wireless Court to move approximately 450,000 cases of beer each day.

In 2013, the distributor reported $97.4 million in sales, up 3.1% from $94.5 million in 2012.

Although the company’s 2014 sales figures have yet to be released, marketing administrator Hugh Shields says sales have spiked and the company is likely to announce a six-figure record, as well as a new acquisition — Monroe, Ohio-based Dickerson Distributing Co. The companies’ combined portfolios will include 9 million cases of sales and 228 employees.

Take a peek behind the scenes at some of the facts and figures that give Gold Coast its golden touch. Oh and if you think you’re seeing double, your vision is probably fine.

These numbers are staggering whether you’re wearing beer goggles or not.

LWR LIFE

21

WINTERFEST AT LAKEWOOD RANCH

Renewed spirit AMANDA SEBASTIANO CONTRIBUTOR

W

interFest organizers are holding out for an unforgettable day of rock ’n’ roll and clear skies. Antonio Saviano is planning to wear his sunglasses to this year’s WinterFest.

Last year, a torrential downpour dampened Premier Sports Campus and the mood of the inaugural WinterFest at Lakewood Ranch.

Not to Saviano’s surprise, attendees didn’t enjoy the complimentary shower that came with admission.

“We didn’t really have any kinks last year other than weather,” says Saviano, a WinterFest committee member. “We were happy with the amount of people we had. We just hope the weather cooperates this year.”

Last year’s estimated 4,000-person turnout motivated organizers to launch a bigger and more eclectic festival this year. Saviano hopes this year’s festival, which kicks off Feb. 28, will draw at least 6,000 people.

To help ensure that, Saviano and company booked a diverse lineup that’ll resonate with fans of all genres and ages. “I would say we definitely took the festival up a notch this year,”

THOMPSON SQUARE Saviano says.

This year’s roster of artists includes the four-time Grammy Award-winning Doobie Brothers, funk/jazz/rock legends WAR (“Low Rider,” “Why Can’t We Be Friends”), husband and wife country duo Thompson Square (“Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not,” “If I Didn’t Have You”), Canadian smooth jazz guitarist Les Sabler and 18-yearold “American Idol” finalist Sam Woolf, a Bradenton native with an Ed

THE DOOBIE BROTHERS 22

LWR LIFE

Sheeran sound.

Woolf, a Braden River High School graduate, is the festival’s youngest performer. While the seventies rockers are sure to attract Lakewood Ranch’s middle-aged denizens, Woolf will pull in teens and 20-somethings.

The teen’s performance will be his last hometown gig before heading to Nashville to further his music career.

“Having Sam Woolf will definitely give the festival a different feeling this year,” Saviano says. “He has a younger following and that will help give us a good mix alongside The Doobie Brothers and WAR fans.”

If you’re looking for a quiet afternoon, this isn’t your scene. The show will begin at 1 p.m. with Les Sabler and continue into the night with The Doobie Brothers.

Fans of budding musicians can catch student performances hosted by the Palmetto-based Del Couch Music Foundation on the community stage.

According to Saviano, there will be no down time between sets.

“There will be a little bit of something for everyone,” he says.

IF YOU GO When: Gates open at noon, music starts at 1 p.m. Feb. 28 Where: Premier Sports Campus, 5895 Post Blvd., Lakewood Ranch Cost: Tickets are $45 for adults and $30 for seniors and veterans.

VIP packages are also available.

Info: The all-day music festival features food, games and performances by The Doobie Brothers, Sam Woolf, Les Sabler, Thompson Square and more. For more information, visit lwrwinterfest.com HERE’S THE LINEUP 1 P.M. Les Sabler: Smooth jazz guitarist and vocalist 2:15 P.M. Sam Woolf: 18-year-old Bradenton pop/folk “American Idol” sensation 3:45 P.M. Thompson Square: Grammy-nominated, radio-friendly country duo 5:45 P.M. WAR: 1970s funk rockers responsible for “Low Rider” 7:30 P.M. The Doobie Brothers: 1970s rock legends with hit “What a Fool Believes”

Your personal friend in jewelry

YOUR JEWELRY SHOULD BE

AS UNIQUE AS YOU!

Specializing in Custom & One-of-a-Kind Jewelry Custom Designs | Exceptional Selection | Jewelry Repair While You Wait (941) 373 - 6311 | Lakewood Ranch Main Street WWW.VANESSAFINEJEWELRY.COM 139742

BOB DELANEY

Tales from the court The NBA ref shares his favorite stories from the sidelines and explains why he feels like George Bailey when he’s at home in Lakewood Ranch.

24

LWR LIFE

HEIDI KURPIELA | MANAGING EDITOR

N

ext to Dick Vitale, Bob Delaney is Lakewood Ranch’s second most famous basketball insider. The 63-year-old New Jersey native served as an NBA referee for more than two decades, taking heat from every basketball great from Michael Jordan to LeBron James.

If that weren’t fascinating enough, Delaney’s first career as an undercover officer for the New Jersey State Police played out like a season of “The Sopranos.” During the height of “The Godfather” era (the mid-1970s), Delaney spent three years masquerading as the seedy president of a trucking company in an effort to bust the Genovese and Bruno crime families. The riveting details of this experience (and Delaney’s subsequent PTSD) can be found in his memoir, “Covert: My Years Infiltrating the Mob.” After hanging up his referee stripes in 2011, Delaney launched his consulting business — a vehicle for corporate motivational speeches and leadership seminars inspired by his time on the

court and in law enforcement.

In 2014, Delaney was rehired by the NBA to serve as vice president of referee operations.

The job has plucked him out of his serene Lakewood Ranch neighborhood and put him back into the high-energy basketball world.

“I’m at a ball game 12 to 15 nights out of the month,” Delaney says. “If I’m not at a game, I’m at the NBA Replay Center in Secaucus, New Jersey. I don’t have a lot of downtime in Lakewood Ranch anymore.” LWR Life managed to grab 20 minutes with the jetsetter while he was on route to a Brooklyn Nets game in January. He shared some snippets from his inimitable careers.

I can play basketball, but I chose not to. I was an all-state basketball and baseball player in high school and played in college. Once I started refereeing, my playing days were over.

I still shoot baskets at carnival games or on the boardwalk in Jersey, but that’s the extent of it.

Continued on Page 26

160686

Continued from Page 24 I challenged Lt. Gen. Robert Brooks Brown to a shoot-out in Northern Iraq in 2009. We were visiting a base along the Syrian border and happened upon an old basketball hoop on the side of a building. We both shed our body armor and it was on. He won. That was the last serious competition I had as a basketball player. The troops enjoyed it.

The basketball court is a very peaceful place for me. The focus and concentration level has to be high. No matter what you have going on in your life, the only thing you can concern yourself with is what’s going on between those two lines. It’s actually a very quiet place. Emotionally all you’re dealing with is the game. There’s nothing else.

Lakewood Ranch has that small-town feel.

There’s an openness to say hello. You always run into people you know. During the Christmas holiday season, whenever I’m on Main Street I feel like I’m in “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

I believe we owe a debt to the men and women who serve this country. I’m from the Vietnam War generation, when a ping-pong ball decided whether you were drafted. My number came up 243. It was the back half of the war. I was in college. I didn’t have to serve, but I had friends who served and they came home changed. We live in the land of the free because of the brave.

I could go on and on for hours talking about all the great things I’ve seen players in the NBA do. God gave these guys big bodies so he had a place for their big hearts. For some reason only the negative stuff comes out in our society.

Shaquille O’Neal has a tremendous sense of humor. He’s one of the funniest guys in the NBA and by far one of the largest. One night Shaq came to me before the opening jump ball and said, “I know you know FBI Director Louis Freeh. Tell him I want to be an FBI agent.” I told him he’d be excellent on surveillance.

I’ve never been a good judge of talent. I refereed Charles Barkley during his rookie year in the NBA. I had six offensive fouls on him in the first half of a scrimmage game.

I said to the other ref, “This guy will never make it in the NBA.” It goes to show you I didn’t know what the hell I was talking about.

For a while the NBA kept my undercover work low-key. After the story went public, Grant Hill came up to me and asked if I was still wired.

He patted me down, and I was still wired — for TV. One night, Karl Malone said to me, “Damn, you’re the man off the floor and on the floor!’”

Word got out that Dick Vitale and I live two miles apart in Lakewood Ranch. Marv Albert, who heard we were neighbors, asked before a game, “How far are you from Dickie V?” I said, “About eight-anda-half million dollars, that’s how far.”

Photo courtesy of the NBA

As an NBA referee from 1987 to 2011, Bob Delaney took heat from many players, including Michael Jordan.

26

“

LWR LIFE

Coaches do not get angry with referees as individuals. They get upset with what they believe is getting in the way of their will to win.

They get upset with the calls, not the people.

I refereed Charles Barkley during his rookie year in the NBA. I had six offensive fouls on him in the first half of a scrimmage game.

I said to the other ref, ‘This guy will never make it in the NBA.’ It goes to show you I didn’t know what the hell I was talking about.”

©2014 California Closet Company, Inc. All rights reserved. Franchises independently owned and operated.

160535

bedroom

garage

e n t r y way

wa l l b e d

media center

kids

office

storage

craft

Let California Closets help you create the home you’ve always dreamed of with our exclusive finishes, beautiful custom accessories, and exceptional designs. Whether it’s a smaller project or full home remodel, our designers will design a solution just for you and the way you live. Call us today or visit our showroom for a free design consultation.

SHOWROOMS TAMPA 2906 West Kennedy Blvd. SARASOTA 4049 Clark Rd. 727.573.0700 CaliforniaClosets.com

pa n t r y

TAILGATING WITH CLASS

Partying before a polo match is frou-frou fun.

So grab your wine, hat and dog and head to the polo fields to enjoy a great day in the sunshine.

SHELLIE TERRY BENSON CONTRIBUTOR

I

f you’re looking for a barbecue-and-beer-chugging, cargo shorts-and-sflip-flops-sporting shindig, you might want to head north to Raymond James Stadium. In Lakewood Ranch, pre-gaming is much more, shall we say, civilized? Think white tablecloths, Prosecco and caviar canapé, men in crisp pastel plaid pants and Kate Middleton-types in Stella McCartney frocks paired with nude wedges.

Yes. This is polo tailgating. In America, the tailgating tradition goes back to the mid-1800s when Civil War spectators brought wine, whiskey and vittles to the sidelines of a battlefield.

Over the last century and a half, the pastime has evolved, mostly thanks to football fans, who like to kick off their worship of the sport at rowdy pop-up parties in stadium parking lots.

Unlike the debaucheries of football tailgating, pre-match polo fêtes are sophisticated, heavily organized and involve decorations. The tailgating parties before Sunday matches at the Sarasota Polo Club are no exception.

“The general theme? Champagne,” says Stuart Bailey, a Sarasota real estate professional who has attended polo for three seasons. “But everybody behaves themselves, whether they’re lit or not. This is definitely the low-key, more dressed up version of tailgating.

Plus, you can wear your funky pants.”

28

LWR LIFE

Before you head to the field, make sure you’re properly schooled on your polo essentials.

POLO ESSENTIALS STYLE POINTS

Fashion on the polo field sidelines is a high priority. Even in warm, relaxed Southwest Florida, jaunty hats, pressed slacks, pleated skirts and oxford shirts make up the polo tailgater uniform.

“It’s very dressy,” says Sunit Pathak, who drives from Palm Harbor each weekend to watch matches in Sarasota. “In January and February, I’ll be in a blazer.”

Yet the beauty of the sport is people in jeans and, well, polos, are welcomed just as warmly.

THEMES

Polo Club staffers, together with tailgate sponsors, carefully choose each theme. They vary from “Black and White” and “Let It Snow” to “Go Green” for St. Patrick’s Day. This season’s sponsors include Saks Fifth Avenue and Asolo Repertory Theatre. Awards are given to the best attire, dish, décor and cocktails.

“St. Patrick’s Day by far is the most popular,” says Sherri Sweeny, events and promotions manager at the Polo Club. “Everyone is in green; the food and the drinks are green. It’s just green everything.”

Continued on Page 30

Hunter Douglas Window Coverings • Fine Furniture Custom Window Treatments • Artwork Wallcoverings • Unique Accessories and Lighting Florals • Fans • Bedding and Rugs

DIVINE INTERIORS GROUP 8205 Natures Way, Suite 101 | Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202

941.907.9759

160655

Creating Beautiful and Unique Custom Interiors for Over a Decade

The typical tailgate features fun food with a fancy touch. The best part? You get a front-row seat to the action right from your parking spot.

Continued from Page 28 PARK FIELD-SIDE

Cars pull up to park along the entire stretch of the polo field, which is the length of three football fields. The north side is for general admission. The south side is for season ticket holders, who are guaranteed to secure the same prime spot at each match.

The beauty of the set up is that spectators don’t have to pack up the party when the game begins.

They can stay right where they’re tailgating to watch the match.

KNOW THE SPREAD

For polo panache take a look at the tailgate tables. Some tailgating posts are so expertly decorated they look like something from out of Town & Country magazine.

Tables are swathed in white cloths, decorated to honor the week’s pre-chosen contest theme and covered with tastes from brunch’s best bites, trendy greens, savory dips and finger foods.

You’ll even find the occasional candelabra, crystal stemware and silver set to impress.

30

LWR LIFE

ARRIVE EARLY, STAY LATE

GET ON THE FIELD

Scoring a good tailgating spot in general admission is tough.

The competition is fierce.

Gates open at 10 a.m. and by 9:15 a.m. there’s a line.

Tailgaters G. Dennis O’Brien and his wife, Maggie, like to arrive early. They set up their tent in the general admission side of the field, displaying the various awards they’ve earned over the years: first place for best dessert, best burger, best décor and best costume.

“Everyone out here is family,” Bailey says. “We stay out here well after the game. We’ve been out here well after dark many a time.

You’ve got everything you need.

Why would you want to leave?”

During halftime, spectators engage in the time-honored divot-stomping tradition (replacing grass dug up by the players’ mallets) while a team of Clydesdales do three loops around the field with a trailer full of giddy kids — the next generation of polo tailgaters.

BYOC

Along with your refreshments, don’t forget chairs. There’s a midfield “patio” in general admission with about a dozen Adirondack chairs, as well as two food trucks.

The south side has a gift shop, clubhouse, grandstand seating and a playground. Kids are permitted to run on the field before each match, so bring soccer balls, Frisbees, etc., to keep them entertained. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.

IF YOU GO SARASOTA POLO CLUB When: Polo matches are open to the public every Sunday at 1 p.m. through April 5.

Gates open: 10 a.m.

Tickets: $12 per person for general admission.

Season tickets are $1,300 a year and spots are limited. The club is located at 8201 Polo Club Lane in Lakewood Ranch.

For more information: Call 907-0000.

Upcoming tailgate themes and lots of other information, including sponsorship opportunities, can be found at sarasotapolo.com.

Don’t forget to bring your wine, a Kentucky Derby-caliber hat and, of course, your manners.

FROM EVERY POINT OF VUE, LIFE KEEPS GETTING BETTER

VUESarasotaBay.com

Conceptual Rendering

Discover Sarasota’s #1 selling waterfront community.

Panoramic southern waterfront views that will remain forever Contemporary living with dramatic floor-to-ceiling glass Private elevators, gourmet kitchens and spa-like baths Oversized terraces large enough for alfresco dining An enviable, walkable downtown Sarasota lifestyle

160133

ASK A VUE SALES REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT OUR CURRENT MEMBERSHIP INCENTIVE AVAILABLE FOR A LIMITED TIME

Access to the new Westin Sarasota with resort amenities including spa, café, dining and lounge

Tower Residences from the $800s Penthouse Residences from $2 million

Your VUE starts at our Sales Gallery, hosted by Michael Saunders & Company.

Schedule your appointment today.

100 South Washington Boulevard • 941-363-9700 This is a limited time offer, Developer may withdraw offering at any time. ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING REPRESENTATIONS OF THE SELLER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, MAKE REFERENCE TO THIS BROCHURE AND TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A SELLER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. This project has been filed in the state of Florida and no other state. This is not an offer to sell or solicitation of offers to buy the condominium units in states where such offer or solicitation cannot be made. Prices and availability are subject to change at any time without notice. Purchase of a residence includes a Ritz Carlton gold membership Initiation fee.

Don’t worry,

Don’t worry,

I T ’ S S M A R T S T R A N D.

I T ’ S S M A R T S T R A N D.

Only SmartStrand® can handle the 747 lbs of ice cream a family will eat in a carpet’s lifetime.

Only SmartStrand® can handle the 747 lbs of ice cream a family will eat in a carpet’s lifetime.

Other carpets use stain protection that has to be reapplied. But only SmartStrand’s stain resistance is built right into the fibers. So it never wears or washes out. Even after multiple cleanings. Even better, It’s on sale now!

To learn more about what makes SmartStrand® with DuPont™ Sorona® #1 in customer satisfaction, visit MohawkFlooring.com/SmartStrand.

Other carpets use stain protection that has to be reapplied. But only SmartStrand’s stain resistance is built right into the fibers. So it never wears or washes out. Even after multiple cleanings. Even better, It’s on sale now!

To learn more about what makes SmartStrand® with DuPont™ Sorona® #1 in customer satisfaction, visit MohawkFlooring.com/SmartStrand.

So Many Possibilities Worth Exploring!

Locally Owned for 40 years!

Awarded 2014 National MOHAWK Dealer of the Year!

Karastan is now at all locations 4551 N. Washington Blvd.

Sarasota, FL 34234 (941) 355-8437 2510 1st Street West Bradenton, FL 34208 (941) 748-4679 1734 South Tamiami Trail Venice, FL 34293 (941) 493-7441

www.manasotaonline.com *DuPont Sorona contains 37% renewably sourced ingredients by weight. The DuPont Oval logo, DuPont, Renewably sourced and Sorona are registered trademarks or trademarks of DuPont or its affiliates and are licensed to Mohawk. *DuPont™ Sorona® contains 37% renewably sourced ingredients by weight. The DuPont Oval logo, DuPont™, Renewably sourced™ and Sorona® are registered trademarks or trademarks of DuPont or its affiliates and are licensed to Mohawk. ®

™

™

®

160646

™

J.L. BAINBRIDGE &

C O M PA N Y,

I N C .

THE PURE ART OF INVESTING

*DuPont™ Sorona® contains 37% renewably sourced ingredients by weight. The DuPont Oval logo, DuPont,™ Renewably sourced™ and Sorona® are registered trademarks or trademarks of DuPont or its affiliates and are licensed to Mohawk.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE AND SEE HOW

A fee-only Registered Investment Advisor helping clients achieve their investment goals. Locally owned and operated to helping clients grow their wealth since 1981. Payment of fees contingent on client’s complete satisfaction. Every client relationship has a dedicated portfolio manager. Offering both growth and income investing. For investment philosophy and results please visit our web site.

Sign up for our free monthly newsletter.

Expires 6-1-15 146805

LWR-L F15

1582 Main Street | Sarasota, Florida 34236 (941) 365-3435 | (800) 899-5171 www.jlbainbridge.com 32

LWR LIFE

160645

To learn more about J.L. Bainbridge’s unique commitment to client satisfaction and the payment of our fees, call for a free investment review.

PULSE

THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY

Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue reaches a new milestone in its mission to find homes for animals.

PAGE 48

LWR LIFE

8

calendar spring 2015 MARCH MARCH 1 10K/5K/FUN RUN Take Stock in Children of Manatee County’s 6th annual Take Stock 10k/5k/Fun Run will start and finish on Main Street in Lakewood Ranch. The 10k and 5k are scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m. and the fun run starts at 8:30 a.m. (registration begins at 6:30 a.m.) The post-race party will feature food, entertainment, raffles, age group awards and kids activities. All proceeds from this event benefit Take Stock in Children of Manatee County. n For more information, call 713-8935.

MARCH 6 MUSIC ON MAIN Come to Lakewood Ranch Main Street from 6 to 9 p.m. for a free concert featuring Melanie Massell & Hot Item. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance. 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.

MARCH 7 POLO UNDER THE PALMS Enjoy a beautiful day on the polo fields watching a match (gates open at 3 p.m. for a 4 p.m. match), and then gather for cocktails and dinner (starting at 6 p.m.). The event, chaired by Mary and Jamie Uihlein and Christie and James P. Uihlein, benefits The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and cancer and biomedical research at Mote Marine Laboratory. n Tickets $250. Call 356-8048.

Music on Main, held the first Friday of the month on Lakewood Ranch Main Street, features a variety of musical groups throughout the year.

MARCH 8 PEDAL FOR PUPS Bring your bike and participate in this ride and run event to benefit Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue. The pet-friendly event offers a choice of three routes and a kids route.

An after-party follows the event. n For more information, call 538-6206.

MARCH 14 MS WALK Join more than 400 people to walk in the MS Walk on Main Street at Lakewood Ranch in support of the National MS Society. Opening ceremony begins at 9 a.m. n For more information, call 407-478-8882.

This year’s Pedal for Pups, held March 8, features several options for bike rides and runs. Proceeds benefit Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue.

34

LWR LIFE

IRISH CELTIC FESTIVAL & LUCKY DOG PARADE This is the perfect event for those of Irish Celtic descent or those who want to be Irish for the day.

The festival takes place 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Adventure Park. Proceeds for the parade benefit the Humane Society of Lakewood Ranch. Free admission and parking on site. n For more information, visit lwrcac.com.

MARCH 21 PONIES FOR PUPS Join Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue for its 6th annual Charity Polo Match starting at 1 p.m., at the Sarasota Polo Club. Gates open at 11 a.m. General admission costs $10 per person for individuals 12 and older. Premier seating and a catered lunch costs $45 per person. Parking is free. Reserved fieldside tailgate slips, which accom-

modate two vehicles, cost $40. n For more information, call 545-4118.

MAD HATTER GALA Don’t be late for a very important date. The Lakewood Ranch Community Fund’s annual gala, themed “The Mad Hatter,” takes place at 6:30 p.m., at Lakewood Ranch Country Club. n Tickets $175. For more information, call 556-5442.

MARCH 21 AND 22 ART AT THE RANCH FINE ART FESTIVAL ArtCenter Manatee and LWR Communities’ 15th annual Art at the Ranch Fine Art Festival takes place 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Main Street at Lakewood Ranch. Free admission and parking. n For more information, call 746-2862.

MARCH 28 EGGSTRAVAGANZA! Bring your baskets and children to the longest-running egg hunt in Lakewood Ranch, taking place 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at 13400 Adventure Place, Lakewood Ranch. More than 12,000 eggs will be spread across the field and separated by children’s age groups to maximize the thrill of scooping as many as possible. The event is for children ages 2 to 13. The egg hunt for children 2 and younger will be held in the skating rink so families can enjoy the moment of their child’s first egg hunt. The egg hunt will start at 10:15 a.m. Cost is $5 for adults; $3 for children; and free for children 2 and younger. Families should register in advance at lwrcac.com. n For more information, call 757-1530.

FARMERS MARKET ON MAIN Shop for fresh fruits and vegetables, wild-caught seafood, local honey, fresh-baked bread, flowers and more from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Lakewood Ranch Main Street. n For more information, visit lakewoodranch.com.

APRIL 12 TOUR DE CURE 2015 This year’s Tour de Cure, themed “Rockin’ for a Cure and Rollin’ Out,” will take place on Main Street at Lakewood Ranch. The Tour is a ride, not a race, with routes designed for everyone from the occasional rider to the experienced cyclist, and benefits American Diabetes Association. n For more information, call 813-885-5007.

FIREFLY GALA Forty Carrots Family Center’s annual gala takes place at 6 p.m. at The Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club. This year’s entertainer is Bret Michaels. Tickets $300. n For more information, call 365-7716.

APRIL

This year’s Tour de Cure is themed “Rockin’ for a Cure and Rollin’ Out.”

APRIL 3 MUSIC ON MAIN Come to Lakewood Ranch Main Street from 6 to 9 p.m. for a free concert featuring Shaman. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Alzheimer’s Association of the Gulf Coast. 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.

APRIL 11 THROUGH 19 SARASOTA OPEN The Sarasota Open is the premier Men’s Professional Tennis Tournament in Southwest Florida, attracting some of the top players on the ATP World Tour. It has moved to the Lakewood Ranch Tennis Center and will now feature two stadium courts in addition to the convenience of day and night session ticketing. n For more information, call 444-3952.

APRIL 18 JDRF WALK TO CURE DIABETES The JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes is a fun, happy, healthy and effective way to show your support for all those living with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) and to raise funds for JDRF. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the walk starts at 9 a.m. n For more information, call 685-6875.

APRIL 25 FARMERS MARKET ON MAIN Shop for fresh fruits and vegetables, wild-caught seafood, local honey, fresh-baked bread, flowers and more from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Lakewood Ranch Main Street. n For more information, visit lakewoodranch.com.

The Eggstravaganza hides more than 12,000 eggs for kids under 13 to find.

LWR LIFE

35

APRIL 25 HEALTH AND WELLNESS EXPO Runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.

This health expo includes more than 50 exhibitors in the health field. The exhibitors’ focus will be on preventive medicine, the heart and circulatory system and the importance of physical activity and proper nutrition. n For more information, visit lwrcac.com.

RELAY FOR LIFE OF LAKEWOOD RANCH This walk, benefiting the American Cancer Society, takes place at 2 p.m., at Premier Sports Complex at Lakewood Ranch. n For more information, call 328-3761.

MAY MAY 1 MUSIC ON MAIN Come to Lakewood Ranch Main Street from 6 to 9 p.m. for a free concert featuring Big Night Out. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Family Network on Disabilities. 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.

Join in the fun of working together at this year’s Relay for Life April 25 at Premier Sports Complex at Lakewood Ranch.

36

LWR LIFE

MAY 2 DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL Enjoy being a spectator at the inaugural Suncoast Dragon Boat Festival at Nathan Benderson Park.

Opening ceremonies begin at 8:30 a.m., with racing running 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Organized by SANCA, In the Pink, and Pan Am Dragon Boat Association, the festival will host 50 teams with more than 1,000 athletes. Proceeds from the event benefit In the Pink, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping men, women and children heal, cope and survive the effects of cancer. n For more information, visit suncoastinternationaldragonboatfestival.com.

MAY 23 FARMERS MARKET ON MAIN Shop for fresh fruits and vegetables, wild-caught seafood, local honey, fresh-baked bread, flowers and more from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Lakewood Ranch Main Street. n For more information, visit lakewoodranch.com.

MAY 24 MEMORIAL DAY ‘TRIBUTE TO HEROES’ PARADE This year’s Memorial Day parade has a new longer procession and location. The community celebration takes place 5 to 10 p.m. from Greenbrook Boulevard to Adventure Park. Floats, marching bands, ponies, Miss Lakewood Ranch, vintage cars and the local Hit Crew of Manatee County will be featured.

The street festivities will continue until 9 p.m. and include music, face painting, refreshments and vendor booths. Proceeds from the parade benefit the Manasota Operations Troop Support (MOTS). n For more information, visit lwrcac.com.

POLO SUNDAYS Who can come: Polo matches are open to the public When: Every Sunday at 1 p.m. (gates open at 10 a.m.)

When: Now through April 12 Tickets: General admission is $12 per adult and children 12 and under are free.

Pets: Dogs are welcome on a leash.

For more information: Call 907-0000.

Live

Lifestyle

THE COUNTRY C L U B E A S T

With exceptional golf, water and preserve views surrounded by lush landscaping and exquisite, timeless architecture, this “green community” offers abundant first-class resident-only amenities that focus on a social and active lifestyle.

The groundbreaking of the brand new 10,000+ square-foot clubhouse and golf practice facility continues to reinforce the luxury lifestyle that accompanies living in Country Club East. Pair that with the upcoming resort-style aquatic and fitness facility and living everyday like you are on vacation can be a reality.

Country Club East has single family homes and maintenance-free neighborhoods and golf course condominiums built to suit every lifestyle — stop in and tour one of our many furnished models today!

146808

homes with homesites from the $ 400 s 941.907.6000 | www.LakewoodRanch.com | 6220 University Parkway, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34240 Models open Mon. - Sat. 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. & Sunday Noon – 5 p.m.

Class acts An

artist’s

ARTIST Bruce Rodgers, executive director of The Hermitage Artist Retreat on Manasota Key, has been a Lakewood Ranch resident for 10 years.

Lakewood Ranch artist Bruce Rodgers put his passion for playwriting and music on hold so he could nurture The Hermitage Artist Retreat on Manasota Key.

38

LWR LIFE

AMANDA SEBASTIANO CONTRIBUTOR

B

ruce Rodgers knew he was meant to be an artist when he was in fourth grade.

“It wasn’t long before I was one of those kids who never left the band room,” Rodgers says. By the time he was in high school, he planned to live his life as a musician. He played as a percussionist in West Point’s band in the early 1970s. When he returned from the Vietnam War after serving for three years, he was faced with a decision: pursue a career in writing or music. He chose writing.

To date, Rodgers, 65, has written four plays, all of which have been performed on stages across the country. In 2005, he joined the founding board of the Hermitage Artist Retreat, where

Amanda Sebastiano

he now serves as executive director. The historic beach sanctuary, located on tranquil Manasota Key, not only inspires visiting artists, it’s quite possibly the coolest place to work.

A Lakewood Ranch resident for 10 years, Rodgers has cultivated an Old Florida refuge for world-renowned poets, playwrights, composers, painters, choreographers, sculptors and performance artists. The Hermitage’s six-week residency program is one of the country’s most sought after creative respites.

In an interview with LWR Life, Rodgers details his transition to creative writing from the music world, his favorite play characters he has written and his hopes for The Hermitage Artist Retreat.

Continued on Page 40

Linda Apple

158984

Luxury Real Estate

941.586.0553 Linda.Apple@Sothebysrealty.com

Do you have a favorite character you’ve written?

It’s probably Honey right now, from “The Gravity of Honey.” She’s a person who can get away with saying anything to anybody because of the strength of her character. She’s flip with everybody, but everybody loves her. She’s blunt and to the point, but you can take it from her.

Continued from Page 38 What sparked the transition from musician to playwright?

Coming out of the military in 1974, I had to make a decision: Would I make music my life and go further with my education in that or not? I decided to go back to graduate school for English and creative writing.

That’s when I started to make the transition from being a musician to being a writer.

I understood that I was a good musician because I worked hard and practiced a lot. I met musicians for whom all this stuff was so intuitive. That’s the difference between talent and ability. I felt like I was more talented as a writer. I didn’t have that innate talent as a musician, and you have to face that. It’s a hard thing to face.

What makes a successful musician?

Skill level is a given. There has to be a fundamental skill level, but to be a successful musician on top of that exceptional skill level, you have to be a person who can collaborate well. There are many different kinds of musicians. There are so many people who are (playing music) that you have to really excel and be special. That’s kind of what I saw. For me, it went back to where my talent lies.

What’s on your playlist?

If you looked at it, you’d see every different type of music, from classical music to Rascal Flatts. There’s some contemporary music, like some of our artists at the Hermitage. I’m a big fan of Eva Cassidy. My playlist is very eclectic because I love all different kinds of music.

“

What’s your ideal writing space like?

I write in my office and I use music when I’m writing. I guess that’s an integration of my backgrounds. I use music that somehow reflects the feeling of what I’m writing. I used the soundtrack from the film “The Mission” to write “The Gravity of Honey.”

It was music that reflects love. I played that almost every day I was writing.

How has your writing evolved from your first play to your most recent?

I’d like to think I’m able to explore a character more deeply. And that I have an understanding of my characters and use that understanding to choose what these “people” do and say. That’s really how we get to know anybody — by what they do and say. That’s why people relate to characters, because that’s how it works in real life, too.

Where do you get your ideas for plays?

Ideas come from time alone, thinking time; you marry all your experiences in the process.

Honey began as a screen board character; someone that you know that you begin with.

But then the character isn’t about that person anymore and evolves over time.

Honey began with someone I played in a band with. She’s nowhere near that person now. Honey also began with an article in The New York Times Magazine about physicist Stephen Hawking. When I read that article about him and Lou Gehrig’s Disease, it struck me that here is a person who is the world’s expert on black holes, and ALS creates human black holes. A light is still there, but can’t get out. I thought I wanted to write about him, but it didn’t work out, so I thought, what’s the opposite of Stephen Hawking? That’s where Honey came in.

How do you hope the Hermitage evolves?

We want an invitation to our little beach acreage to be an honor. We’re always going to be small and boutiquey, rather than allowing 40 artists here at a time. I hope the Hermitage will be a significant place where artists continue to come to write the art of our time and interact with the community and share the work they’re writing at the Hermitage. We hope to eventually offer live streaming from the retreat, so artists can communicate (in real time). That’s where the world is going.

Coming out of the military in 1974, I had to make a decision: Would I make music my life and go further with my education in that or not? I decided to go back to graduate school for English and creative writing.”

40

LWR LIFE

160628

160625

160626

Style

Spring break essentials

BY HEATHER MERRIMAN | CONTRIBUTOR

T

he spring months are coming, and we Floridians love a good spring break, whether we are

staying here or going on vacation.

To help you relax in style, LWR Life stopped in a few new places to see what they have in store for spring.

LET’S EAT OUT

Pack up a picnic basket and head out to the park, the polo grounds or the beach and enjoy a nice day with homemade food and drinks. This classic picnic basket with the doublelid design is available at Williams-Sonoma.

Rattan Woven Picnic Basket, $99.95

44

LWR LIFE

LET’S DRINK

A cool glass of lemonade is an essential refresher on a warm spring day, and these classic drink dispensers from Pottery Barn are perfect for a nice day outside.

PB Classic Glass Drink Dispenser, $79 (also available in shatter proof, $69)

2

S

0

E

1

4

-

A

S

2

0

O

1

5

N

Jazz Calendar - Sir Frederick Ashton

158763

Company B - Paul Taylor

Victoria Hulland Raymonda Act III - Rudolf Nureyev

Petrushka - Michel Fokine

“Extraordinary level both of Mr. Webb’s ambition and his company’s level of achievement.”

– Alastair Macaulay, The New York Times

Apollo - Balanchine, Jazz Calendar - Ashton, Raymonda Act III - Nureyev World Premiere - Ricardo Graziano, Company B - Taylor

|

|

27 - 30 March 2015

Les Slyphides - Fokine, L’après-midi d’un Faune - Nijinsky, Petrushka - Fokine

THE SARASOTA BALLET BOX OFFICE

www.SarasotaBallet.org

|

27 - 28 February 2015

941-359-0099 x 101

|

1 - 2 May 2015

Spring break essentials

Style

SHADES FOR ALL

Saks Fifth Avenue has a plethora of options to help you shield your eyes from the sun in style, such as these from Miu Miu (from top to bottom).

HIT THE BEACH

A good beach towel is always a must — whether you’re using it for a picnic, lounging on the beach or the pool, this striped beach towel from Pottery Barn will keep you high and dry.

Casual Stripe Beach Towel, $39.50

Miu Miu Round Sunglasses, $360 Teardrop 53mm Aviator Sunglasses, $390 Semi-Rim 50mm Cat’s Eye Sunglasses, $465

46

LWR LIFE

PINEAPPLES PLEASE

Nothing says it’s spring like this Tory Burch tee at Saks Fifth Avenue. Dress it up or down, but make a bold Sunshine State statement with this pineapple pattern.

Tory Burch, Sun Pineapple Cathy Tee, $95

SUNNY LIDS

LILLY PULITZER

Sarasota has always had a Lilly Pulitzer, but now the East County doesn’t have to go far to get those colorful patterns we all love. This ‘Beach Please’ sweatshirt from Lilly Pulitzer says it all.

Looking for a hat to keep the sun’s rays at bay?

This Eugenia Kim ‘Honey Splatter Paint’ widebrim hat from Saks Fifth Avenue is a fun twist on the traditional wide-brimmed hat you’ll spot on the beach.

Eugenia Kim, Honey Splatter Paint Wide-Brim Hat, $390.

Lilly Pulitzer Sybil Intarsia Sweater, $118

PRETTY NAILS

Don a fresh manicure with the latest spring colors for your spring break. Book an appointment at Nuovo’s new Lakewood Ranch location, 8231 Cooper Creek Blvd., and try one of Zoya’s spring 2015 colors, described as a flirty way to wear pastels.

Zoya Delight, Spring 2015

LWR LIFE

47

Charity snapshot

Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue LWR Life toured Nate’s Lorraine Road adoption center to find out more about this renowned, resort-caliber animal rescue.

Rob and Dari Oglesby

48

LWR LIFE

HEATHER MERRIMAN CONTRIBUTOR

M

ake no bones about it; Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue is the hottest pet adoption organization in town. From its impressive facilities to the unprecedented amount of money it raised during the country’s 24-hour Giving Challenge, it’s obvious this nonprofit is top dog.

It started in 2008, when three women — volunteers at a local humane society — decided to launch a dog rescue of their own called Honor Sanctuary.

“Dari and I got involved when our daughter was 12, about seven years ago,” Rob Oglesby says. “She was taking a photography class at Ringling and wanted to photograph animals, so we came to Honor Rescue.”

Dog-lovers and natural leaders, it didn’t take long for the couple to step in to help steer the organization’s heartwarming mission.

“We ended up being there all the time,” Oglesby says.

About four years ago, Lakewood Ranch developer Nate Benderson

gave the organization a piece of land on Lorraine Road. The property was sparse. There was a building, a barn and not much else, so the Oglesbys got resourceful. They scored building supplies off Craigslist and tracked down a builder who could construct hurricaneproof cottages to house animals.

The eight-acre ranch now has 13 animal cottages. These homey bungalows are the piece de résistance of Nate’s Honor.

Brightly painted with indoor and outdoor kennels, the cottages are what set the nonprofit apart from other animal rescues. The buildings are cross ventilated and equipped with solar panels to run indoor ceiling fans. Much like a doggy dorm, these bungalows can accommodate up to six dogs.

With its approach, Nate’s Honor is changing the way people view animal shelters.

The manicured property, the army of cheerful volunteers, the Key West-style cottages, the tropical courtyards, the agility courses and family fun areas are designed

to not only woo animal-lovers, but also attract volunteers.

More than 500 volunteers work with the shelter each year, logging 800 hours per week.

“We are only here because of the support of our local community,” Oglesby says.

The number of rescues is also rising. On Jan. 3, the nonprofit placed 24 dogs in less than 24 hours. Nate’s found homes for 1,201 dogs in 2014, up from 1,013 in 2013 and 680 in 2012.

“It’s the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done,” Oglesby says. “It’s fun, exhausting and rewarding. It fuels you. We can only put a dent in this whole thing, but at least it’s something.”

Everyone loves a bright smile.

THE LECOM SCHOOL OF DENTAL MEDICINE Convenient

LECOM LAKE ERIE COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE SCHOOL OF DENTAL MEDICINE

•

Cost-Effective

•

High-Quality Dentistry

The LECOM School of Dental Medicine is now accepting patients at its on-campus group dental practice offices in Bradenton, Fla. We accept most insurance plans.

4800 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Bradenton, Florida 139687

•

941-405-1600

•

lecom.edu

Photos by Jessica Salmond

Teresa Hencye brings her kids Drew, 7, and Erin, 10, to Obrien’s to pick fresh food. “We know there’s no crazy pesticides,” she says.

Food for thought No matter the season, handpicked produce grows community commerce and family fun.

50

LWR LIFE

JESSICA SALMOND CONTRIBUTOR

S

helby Price gazes into her full bucket of perfectly ripe, juicy strawberries. She’s just finished picking them from rows at O’Brien Family Farms, but doesn’t think she can wait to eat one until her family has paid.

Sheepishly, she looks at the farm manager. “Can I eat one?” she asks, before biting into the soft fruit. Her parents — Lakewood Ranch residents Catherine and Steve Price — are regulars at O’Brien’s. The first time they came to pick strawberries, they devoured the juicy fruit in an hour.

Shelby, who goes to college in South Carolina, doesn’t come as often as she once did, but her parents usually visit every Friday.

When their daughter is home, they make it a family outing.

Gray Bergquist, father-in-law to Tom O’Brien, the president and owner of O’Brien Family Farms, sits outside the O’Brien market shop, slowly swaying in

the country-style rocking chair.

Customers greet him by name as they enter and exit the farm, and he introduces himself to those who are new to the business.

“It’s a nice family operation,” Bergquist says. “When we say we’re a family farm, we really are.”

The 2,500-square-foot farm stand may feel like a throwback to quainter times, but its u-pick operation is far from small potatoes. Spread out over half an acre, the u-pick portion of the property consists of more than 56,000 plants, hydroponically grown using special fibers and a slow-trickling water system.

Visitors looking to reap their own harvest can pick strawberries, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, cabbage, celery, red and green leaf lettuce, carrots, radishes, fresh herbs and more based on season and availability. The farm’s greenhouse turns out hydroponic bell peppers and tomatoes.

O’Brien provides 15 varieties of tomatoes and grows them in two ways: in a traditional row

and in elevated vines to make picking easier for customers who have difficulty stooping.

Pre-picked fruits and veggies are always available for the same price inside the farm stand if you don’t have the time or patience to pick your own.

For u-pick first-timers, the experience can be overwhelming, but the staff makes newbies feel at home. According to Bergquist, the farm’s sales are nearly doubling each year, thanks in part to its mostly word-of-mouth u-pick business.

“If you treat people right, what goes around comes around,” Bergquist says.

O’Brien’s u-pick field, which is typically open Wednesday through Sunday, gets anywhere from 500 to 1,000 visitors a day, including out-of-state tourists.

According to field manager Raul Vasquez, one family from Iowa swings by the farm every year when they’re on vacation. They make it their last stop, so they can take the produce home.

They’ve upheld this tradition for so many years that Vasquez feels like he knows them. “People like the hands-on (aspect),” he says.

“And they like fresh quality.”

Continued on page 52

WHERE TO PICK

“

If you treat people right, what goes around comes around.”

GRAY BERGQUIST, father-in-law of owner Tom O’Brien

O’BRIEN FAMILY FARMS 16505 E. State Road 64 Bradenton, 34212 941-896-4811 Season: November through May Open: Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Fun fact: There’s a deli inside the farm stand where customers can order lunch. Some menu items include black bean soup, hot dogs, barbecue pulled pork and BLT sandwiches.

HUNSADER FARMS 5500 Country Road 675 Bradenton, 34211 941-322-2168 Season: Mid-September through mid-June Open: Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fun fact: The farm’s on-site ice cream shop, The Farmer’s Wife, serves a famous strawberry shake made from berries picked on the property.

PLESSCHER GROVES 3350 Country Road 675 Bradenton, 34211 941-322-2030 Season: December through March Hours: Anytime during daylight hours Fun fact: Plesscher Farms is so laidback, an honor system is used for payment if no one is at the grove.

LWR LIFE

51

Continued from Page 51

HUNSADER FARMS Hunsader Farms is the granddaddy of East County u-picks.

For pickers who want to work their way down long rows of fruits and vegetables, Hunsader is the place to be. The farm’s produce is traditionally planted and not grown hydroponically.

At 1,000 acres, the farm is mammoth, expertly managed and a virtual tourist attraction thanks to its petting zoo, playground, picnic area and decades-old Pumpkin Festival, which each year draws thousands of people to East County.

If that’s not enough, the Hunsader property has a feed store, ice cream parlor, gift shop and banquet barn for private parties. Its reputation for down-home family fun is so well known that people drive up from Miami to experience it.

Its u-pick produce is a dietary staple among local market goers.

Farm manager Kim Hunsader, a former cosmetologist who married into the business, says certain fruits and veggies seem to attract certain types of people.

Ripe tomatoes attract Italian cooks and older folks. Seniors flock to the fields at 8 a.m. to gather the vegetable for canning and making sauce. Strawberry plants are kid magnets. The fruit is easy for children to identify and parents don’t have to worry about thorn pricks. Black-eyed peas appeal to patient, discerning buyers with the perseverance to dry and shell them.

U-pickers are not allowed to pick leafy greens, although they can purchase these vegetables (Swiss chard, collards, romaine lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, etc.) at the farm market.

No matter the health food industry’s fruit of the year, tomatoes and strawberries are still Hunsader’s top sellers.

“People just go crazy for tomatoes,” Hunsader says. “They make a lot of salsa and sauce. Being able to pick it yourself is a huge draw.”

52

LWR LIFE

“

People just go crazy for tomatoes. They make a lot of salsa and sauce.

Being able to pick it yourself is a huge draw.” KIM HUNSADER Shelby Manson, Kim Hunsader and her mother, Barbara Dittman, staff the market at Hunsader Farms on the weekends.

After almost 60 years of managing one of the few remaining u-pick citrus groves in Manatee County, Eugene Plesscher sold the grove in March 2013. He’s keeping his home on the property, and will help the new owner learn the tricks to citrus care.

PLESSCHER GROVES Quiet, unassuming Plesscher Groves is one of only a handful of u-pick citrus groves in the area. It’s tucked away on quiet Country Road 675 with nary a sign or post marking its existence.

Most motorists wouldn’t even know it’s there if not for the telltale orange globes dangling from the trees along the road.

Here you will find trees bearing different varieties of oranges and pomelos, tangerines and grapefruits. The navel oranges just finished producing, the Valencia crop will be ready in March, and new owner Chris Oslobanu plans on planting some new trees in the coming months.

The farm runs a successful commercial operation, but leaves about 200 trees open to the public for picking. The grove used to grow Honeybells and tangelos, but lost those crops last year to disease.

Its namesake, Eugene Plesscher, is older than some of the citrus trees on the property. Like many East County growers, he started the business with his family.

After vacationing in Florida for several years, the Michigan native,

along with his three brothers and father, bought 105 acres of heavily wooded citrus land and started making money off the state fruit.

“My money’s always been in trees,” jokes Plesscher, who over the last 50 years has sold off much of his land piece by piece.

Now down to 26 acres, the grove is under new ownership.

Plesscher, who lives on the property, recently sold the business to Oslobanu, a local beekeeper whose raw honey is popular fare at the grove’s farm stand.

“The trees are getting old and I’m getting old,” Plesscher says.

Reaching his calloused hands into a tree, he pulls out a green orange and carves the rind away using his pocketknife.

Succulent juice shoots out of the flesh. “They only turn orange if the weather gets cool enough,” he says.

Plucked from one of 12,000 trees on the property, the orange represents the best of the area’s u-pick produce. Why? Because you can pick strawberries and tomatoes at almost any veggie farm in the country, but there are few places where you can fill a bucket full of oranges for eight bucks.

Continued on Page 54 LWR LIFE

53

WHAT’S IN SEASON? SEPT.

OCT.

These are the “U-Pick” fruits and vegetables found at area farms throughout the year.

NOV.

DEC.

JAN.

FEB.

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

Blackeyed peas

Blackeyed peas

Eggplant

Eggplant Navel oranges

JUNE

Valencia oranges

Green beans

Green beans

Lima beans

Lima beans

Okra

Okra Purple hulls peas

Purple hulls peas Blueberries Tomatoes

Zipper peas

Zipper peas Rhubarb

139759

Strawberries

54

LWR LIFE

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 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.

Lakewood Ranch’s orthopedic program includes pre-op classes and presentations that help prepare you for your surgery. The day after surgery, you wear your own clothes and begin your personal rehab with specially trained therapists. Your family is encouraged to participate in your group activities and meals.

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

Our goal is getting you there!

8330 Lakewood Ranch Boluevard Bradenton, FL 34202

For more information, call 941.782.2663.

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.

149229

www.lakewoodranchmedicalcenter.com

Photos by Ron Mayberry

Although they’re somewhat strange birds, sandhill cranes have become the wildlife darlings of Lakewood Ranch.

CRANE country DID YOU KNOW?

Despite their slow gait, gray feathers and attraction to golf courses, most Florida cranes are not snowbirds.

The Florida sandhill crane is a non-migratory year-round breeding resident. Greater sandhill cranes, however, migrate in the winter from northern states such as Minnesota, Wisconsin and Indiana.

56

LWR LIFE

ROBIN HARTILL | CONTRIBUTOR

Sandhill cranes have lived in East County for 2.5 million years. Rapid development in Lakewood Ranch has created a complex relationship between birds and residents.

S

andhill cranes aren’t afraid to dance like no one is watching.

They bop their heads. They do the hop. They move like Jagger.

They stretch their wings. They shake their tail feathers. It’s mostly a mating ritual, although they boogie even when breeding season is over. It’s thought to be a way to thwart aggression, relieve tension and strengthen the bond between pairs. Sometimes, it’s accompanied by calls of “KAR-R-R-R-R-R-ROO!” “The way they call and dance and jump up and down makes them really fun to watch,” says Ron Mayberry, a lifelong nature enthusiast.

Continued on Page 58

161135

Largest Selection of Coastal Chic and Transitional Furniture

Always something new!

Edgardo J. Aponte, MD, FACOG • Jorge E. Alvarez, MD, FACOG • Jennifer R. McCullen, MD,FACOG

OB-GYN Women’s Centre of Lakewood Ranch is pleased to welcome back Nurse Practitioner

Jill S. Miller, ARNP Now Welcoming New Patients Evening Hours Available

European Traditions

8340 Lakewood Ranch Blvd.

Suite 240 Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202

160657

139241

(941) 907-3008 www.obgynwc.com

Since 1993 www.European-Traditions.com 7488 S. Tamiami Trail 6030 Clark Center Ave. Sarasota, FL 34231 Sarasota, FL 34238 941.921.5616 941.921.5616 LWR LIFE

57

Continued from Page 57 Mayberry, who became a wildlife photographer when he retired 10 years ago, has photographed birds on all seven continents, plus the North Pole. Of all the birds he’s captured with his lens, cranes are his favorite. Mayberry, who used to own an East County computer business, is such a crane worshiper he referred to himself as a “craniac” during a photo presentation several years ago.

He unofficially became a craniac about a decade ago, when he spotted a group of cranes roosting in a wetland area during sunrise at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico.

“It was the most magical thing I

58

LWR LIFE

had ever seen,” Mayberry says. “You can feel the compression of all these birds taking off at once.”

Although the local population of sandhill cranes is stable, the birds are still living large in Lakewood Ranch, where their quiet habitat is now packed with people, cars and houses. This encroachment has created a delicate dance between bird and man.

In 2014, Sarasota-based Save Our Seabirds received 32 calls for sandhill crane rescues in Lakewood Ranch. Threats are everywhere.

Heavy traffic, power lines, domestic pets, litter and wayward golf balls have wounded cranes.

Robin Hartill “They’re very docile and they’re very trusting,” says David Pilston, Ron Mayberry, a lifelong wildlife enthusiast, says he became a “craniac” after spending time photographing the birds.

CEO of Save Our Seabirds.

FREE BIRD Karen Bennett, who handles most of Save Our Seabirds’ sandhill crane rescues in Lakewood Ranch, feels like a military insurgent when she executes a rescue. When a bird got a paperclip stuck in its beak at Kaiser University’s Lakewood Ranch campus, Bennett assembled a makeshift team of nearby strangers to help “ambush” the bird.

The act of goodwill quickly took a comical turn when the startled crane suddenly took flight, causing one of the good Samaritans to fall in the mud.

According to Bennett, rescuing a sandhill crane typically takes three to four hours.

Cranes are strong and like to kick. Rescuers will get close enough to grab the bird, only to have it dart up in the air or attempt to kick itself free.

“They don’t understand the word ‘fore,’ so they don’t clear out of the way for golfers.”

Karen Bennett, who handles most sandhill crane calls for Save Our Seabirds, once attempted to rescue a sandhill with a paperclip stuck on its beak at Lakewood Ranch-based Kaiser University.

(The bird eventually used its foot to pry off the clip.)

East County was sandhill crane territory long before Lakewood Ranch was sketched out in a developer’s drawing pad. In the 1980s, crane fossils estimated to be 2.5 million years old were unearthed in the Macasphalt Shell Pit, just east of Sarasota.

“They’re not invading our territory,” Pilston says. “We’re invading their territory.” Despite the melee, in 2014 Schroeder-Manatee Ranch declared the sandhill crane the official mascot of Lakewood Ranch. It even held a naming contest. The winner: Cranky the Crane.

CRANE MANIA The number of craniacs like Mayberry is on the rise.

Lakewood Ranch Town Hall receives phone calls on a weekly basis from locals who want to learn more about the peculiar bird.

Cranes are often seen hanging out along Lakewood Ranch Boulevard or in the roundabout at the new Mall at University Town Center.

They like to hide their nests in low-lying, reedy areas, which is why the runoff area near State Road 70 and I-75 is such a crane magnet.

“They’re very stately, and they walk very slowly,” says Lori Roberts, Manatee County Audubon Society board member. “They’ll cross the road and they don’t care if you’re going 50 mph.”

Cranes are more than just oblivious birdbrains. Like many modern suburbanites, they lead complicated love lives. They’re devoted partners until breeding begins. Some

cranes mate for life and go on to successfully reproduce. Other pairs split up after a season or two due to unsuccessful breeding.

“They get married, but sometimes that doesn’t work out,” Mayberry says.

Divorce is not the only thing sandhill cranes have in common with their human neighbors. They’re also overly protective parents. On average, cranes hatch two eggs at a time and then keep the baby birds, called colts, under their wings for as long as two seasons — much longer than most bird species.

Mayberry used to watch a mated pair in a vacant lot across the street from his business.

One day, after the couple had nested, Mayberry got a surprise visit.

The pair, along with their young colts, had dodged traffic on State Road 70 in an attempt to reach his office. Typical new parents, showing off their young.

Colts also experience sibling

rivalry. If more than one baby bird shares a nest, you can expect the colts to squabble and smack each other around. This is nature’s way of making the birds stronger.

Two years ago, Mayberry filmed two chick siblings locked in battle and uploaded the video to YouTube.

In a nod to the WWF, he named the clip “Wildlife, Wrestling and Fighting.” It’s up to 256 views.

“I watched the two brothers pretty much bang themselves to death as they came off of the nest,” Mayberry says. “I watched them pretty much every day for a month.”

Typically, if an injured crane can still fly and feed itself, rescuers will keep it in the wild in part because the birds have such strong family ties.

“They can often do just fine for a long period of time,” Pilston said.

“Because they tend to mate for life and the babies stay with them, we try not to break up the families.”

Continued on Page 60 LWR LIFE

59

Continued from Page 59

HOW TO COEXIST WITH CRANES

TOUGH OLD BIRDS

NEVER FEED CRANES.

Fortunately, cranes are adaptable, although Mayberry suspects the animals might be moving further east due to development.

Wildlife officials say certain precautions can be taken to protect the birds. Audubon Society members would love to see more crane crossing signs to alert drivers.

You don’t have to be a birdwatcher to keep an eye out for cranes.

You might even pick up a few dance moves. Mating season is upon us and sandhill cranes across Lakewood Ranch are turning heads with their endearing bird tango. Soon longlegged baby cranes will be pecking the ground outside your home.

It’s like they say: first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby cranes blocking the 18th hole.

“They were here long before anyone else was here,” Mayberry says. “I suspect they might be here long after everyone else is gone.”

Source: Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission

Cranes will inhabit urban areas if they’re getting takeout from people around the clock.

COVER OR MOVE YOUR CAR. Cranes are easily confused by their own reflection, which is why they often attack shiny surfaces. Windows or glass doors can be temporarily covered so birds are less likely to spar with their own mug.

BUILD A CRANE TRIP LINE. Mount a string on stakes about 2-and-a-half feet off the ground and run it around the areas of your home (windows, pool screens, etc.) that are crane magnets.

LET THE CRANE EARN ITS KEEP. Sure, cranes damage lawns and gardens when they dig for mole crickets and beetle grubs. Albeit annoying, cranes can provide natural biological control of common turf pests.

BE BLONDE. BE RADIANT.

941.907.2674 San Marco Plaza 8225 Nature’s Way Suite 103 Lakewood Ranch

Discover your shade of healthy-looking blonde.

From luminous platinum to the purest gold, certified organic plant oils condition for luminous color.

Ready to see yourself shine? Book your appointment today.

©Aveda Corp.

enlightener ™ blonding

CHE of Lakewood Ranch chebellasalonandspa.com

60

LWR LIFE

160648

SALON SPA

P E R S O N A L | CO M M E RC I A L | H I G H N E T W O RT H We take pride in ALWAYS being there for our clients.

Founded in 1985 and backed by an ownership team with five generations of insurance industry experience, expertise and services to its clients, Al Purmort Insurance has established itself as one of the largest and most respected independent insurance agencies in all of Florida. We see every relationship as an opportunity to personally provide value, education, and customized solutions...that exceed expectations.

C o n t a c t u s to d a y to d i s c o ve r h o w o u r p rof e s s i o n a l a n d re l i a b l e s t a f f c a n p ro v i d e yo u w i t h t h e p e r s o n a l s e r v i c e , e x p e r t i s e , a n d c o ve r a g e yo u n o t o n l y e x p e c t , b u t d e s e r ve .

160987

PAR FOR THE COURSE “I bring a little discipline to the group, which they need so badly,” jokes Mike Gaffney, a retired naval officer.

62

LWR LIFE

Lakewood Ranch’s American Academy of Challenged Golf is short on ability and big on personality.

HEIDI KURPIELA MANAGING EDITOR

I

t’s a bustling Tuesday morning at the Serenoa Golf Club in east Sarasota County. Serious-looking men in flashy golf attire are everywhere, hoisting heavy Callaway clubs out of sports cars, taking sharp corners in golf carts, teeing off and then taking off at a good clip for the next hole.

Thwack. A ball soars overhead.

Thwack. Another ball soars overhead.

Thwack. Thwack and so on. Every ball, every stroke, every hole is accounted for. In a game that requires skill, discipline and intense focus, it’s no wonder everyone looks so serious.

For all its superstar players, lore and etiquette, golf has always had a relatively staid reputation. Even Tiger Woods’ scandal couldn’t sully the game’s polite and predictable image.

That is, until Barry Clarkson came around.

At 77, Clarkson looks like any other golfer his age: white Nike ball cap, periwinkle sweater, purple golf shirt, pressed pants — the quintessential Lakewood Ranch retiree on a Bermuda green.

Yet under all that pastel and khaki is a man who was so unsure of his golf game that three years ago he formed a club to which only bad golfers could belong: the American Academy of Challenged Golf.

“I love to golf, but I’m a lousy golfer,” Clarkson says. “I’ve been a lousy golfer for 50 years. When your game isn’t very good, you don’t want to play with a group of strangers. You’ll mess up their game … and you won’t have any fun.”

Photos by Heidi Kurpiela

WHO’S WHO IN THE AACG? Pictured from left: Dick Caudle, Mike Gaffney, Syd Sawyer, Bob Ziegler, Carl Cooper, Barry Clarkson, David Rost, (bottom) Glenn Welcher, John Oakes and Roland Shumate. Not pictured: Stu Auslander, Bill Thomas, Joel Garson and Art Cavazzi

AN ACE IN THE HOLE The American Academy of Challenged Golf — or the AACG as Clarkson refers to it — started out with a handful of guys, mainly men who Clarkson says were encouraged by their wives “to get out of the house and do something.”

Clarkson came up with the club’s name. He expected people to find it offensive. The opposite happened.

They found it endearing. Men with no interest in joining the area’s highpriced competitive clubs began to inquire about memberships to the AACG. Some were veteran golfers; others were rookies.

Much like Clarkson, who had recently relocated from Sun City Center to Lakewood Ranch, all of them were looking for camaraderie and a good time.

“I was traveling back and forth to Sun City to hang out with my old buddies,” Clarkson says. “My wife said, ‘It’s time you start meeting people

down here,’ so I called up my friend, who was sitting at home all day reading books, and I said, ‘Let’s play golf,’ and he said, ‘I don’t know how,’ and I said, ‘I’ll teach you.’”

The rest is AACG history.

In three years, the club has evolved from a ragtag group of middling golfers into a well-run “academy,” with more than a dozen members who gather for regular social outings and twice-a-week games at clubs across Sarasota and Manatee County.

There are no dues, no initiation fees and no betting. The only real qualification for membership is personality and the only real gatekeeper is Clarkson, a retired General Electric executive who spent most of his career assembling and disassembling teams of people.

The dynamics of the group were important to him. Like any good manager, Clarkson wanted to make sure his team clicked.

“

I love to golf, but I’m a lousy golfer. I’ve been a lousy golfer for 50 years. When your game isn’t very good, you don’t want to play with a group of strangers. You’ll mess up their game … and you won’t have any fun.”

BARRY CLARKSON

Continued on Page 64 LWR LIFE

63

BY THE NUMBERS

77

Oldest member of the AACG

62

Youngest member of the AACG

$50

The cost of a round of golf before noon at Serenoa Golf Club

$100

The cost of a round of golf before noon at Legacy Golf Club

95

Barry Clarkson’s average score

70.4

PGA Pro Rory McIlroy’s average career score “I would not be golfing if I didn’t meet this group,” says Carl Cooper (pictured left with Dick Caudle). “They celebrate the successes, rather than worry about the failures.”

Continued from Page 63 “No one wants to be around the guy who brags about what he did for a living, or how big his house is or how well he golfs,” he says.

“None of us give a hoot about that.

I wanted the club to have spirit, so I looked for guys with personality.”

If personality were crucial to the game of golf, Clarkson would shoot 60s on every course.

A blunt New Englander who has published two books narrated entirely by his dog (“The Life of Duchess” and “The Loves of Duchess”), Clarkson never intended to unite disenfranchised golfers. His goal was to gather a regular foursome with whom he could hit a few balls and “shoot the bull.” However, as more men jumped on board, the foursome turned into a 10-some.

Soon Clarkson was running a fullfledged club, or rather a mock academy with a mock chairman emeritus named Sam Duffer and a mock headquarters in Augusta, Ga. — all fictional and invented by Clarkson.

“He has a wild imagination,” says AACG member Dick Caudle. “The

64

LWR LIFE

first time I golfed with him he asked me if I wanted the $10,000 membership or the $20,000 membership. I thought he was serious.”

When Caudle was officially accepted into the club he received a letter from Sam Duffer stating that the academy’s board of directors had unanimously approved his membership.

“We take membership in the academy very seriously,” the letter explained. “To maintain good standing you must continue to regularly shoot slices and hooks and continue to score in the high 90s. I suggest you closely watch Mr. Clarkson’s play to hone your challenged golf skills.

“As a member of the academy, you are eligible to play in all AACG sanctioned play. You will also receive AACG instruction videos from my son, Sam Duffer Jr. and sports commentary from my daughter and AACG sports anchor, Betty Duffer Putter Putter. I am thrilled you are now a member of this fine old academy. If you are ever in Augusta, stop in our Slice Lane headquarters to say hello.” Caudle was relieved to

discover there was not a $10,000 membership fee.

A FRATERNITY OF PUTTERS “I created this fictitious structure around the club,” Clarkson says.

“It’s all a bunch of bologna and foolishness. The club is a reflection of my personality, and I’m sure the guys would agree.

“It could definitely exist without my imagination and organization, but it would be a little drier, a little more mechanical.”

If you ask the guys what they had hoped to gain by joining a club for second-rate golfers, they all tell you the same thing: friendship.

Even the really skilled players could care less about shooting a perfect game.

Continued on Page 66

“I’m the guy who gets up at 5:30 in the morning,” says AACG founder Barry Clarkson. “My feet hit the floor and I’m off. I’ve got a lot of energy and I’m an instinctive leader.”

Syd Sawyer taught the guys how to play by the rules. “Before Syd came along we were a wild and wooly bunch,” Clarkson says.

“

We take membership in the academy very seriously.

To maintain good standing you must continue to regularly shoot slices and hooks and continue to score in the high 90s.”

DICK CAUDLE

Above: David Rost tees off at the Serenoa Golf Club.

Left: Roland Shumate joined the AACG two years ago. “He’s the strong, solid, quiet type,” Clarkson says of Shumate.

LWR LIFE

65

Continued from Page 64 There’s Carl Cooper, a saltof-the-earth Midwesterner who spent 25 years golfing twice a year at obligatory work functions, and Mike Gaffney, a retired naval officer who’s tied with Caudle for the club’s lowest average score.

There’s John Oakes, a retired software developer from California who marks all his golf balls with the symbol for Pi, and Syd Sawyer, a retired restaurateur from New Orleans, whom Clarkson describes as the group’s “rules meister.”

There’s outgoing Stu Auslander, a court reporter from The Bronx, and soft-spoken Roland Shumate, a former computer consultant from Baltimore.

“Frankly, I never had the time to pal around with a group of guys like this before,” says Shumate, 75.

“Eighteen holes can take a good four hours to play. In my earlier life, I was raising a family and building a career. I’m in a place now where I

can spend a day on a golf course and not feel guilty about it.”

It took Clarkson three years to assemble the perfect motley crew.

At 14 members, he says the club has just about reached its cap. Scheduling games, communicating with members, negotiating rates and yes, firing off sarcastic missives about the Duffer family can get te-

dious, even for someone as tireless as Clarkson.

“I don’t mind doing the work,” Clarkson says. “It gives me a real sense of fun and purpose. My hope is that it’ll continue after I stop playing. I have my eye on Syd or Stu to keep it going after I retire. The AACG isn’t just a golfing club. It’s a fraternity.”

Let’s Keep

GR WING

Roses, Citrus, Spring Annuals and More!

HUGE VARIETY & SELECTION

Over 20 Acres of Trees Shrubs and Plants Exotic Orchids and Unique Tropical Plants

GARDENING SUPPLIES

Fountains, Statuaries, Pots & Outdoor Ornaments

VISIT OUR TWO STORY GIFT SHOP • Decor for Inside and Outside your Home • New Inventory Arriving Daily!

EXPERIENCED STAFF ON HAND for FREE Consultation To Help with All your Gardening and Fertilizer Questions

LWR LIFE

70

East of I-75 off SR 70 or SR 64 • 5020 Lorraine Rd • Bradenton, FL 941 .747 .0499 Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm • Saturday 8am - 4pm Sundays 10am-3pm (March 8th-May 3rd) Go to our website for our monthly newsletter filled with special pricing & seasonal gardening tips. www.mariposanursery.com

160834

✿

Lorraine Road

66

Lakewood Ranch Blvd.

64

5409 Manatee Ave W. Bradenton, FL 34209 941-795-2442

2401 Lakewood Ranch Blvd.

Lakewood Ranch, FL 34211 941-744-2442

160836

www.crowdersgifts.com

Custom Builder

« r e m o d e l i n g « i n t e r i o r s «

Entrust your home building or renovation to our team of professionals who are committed to excellence.

Design/Build • Remodeling Full Service Interior Design Call us today for your personalized home analysis!

160533

online Virtual tool Imagine the possibilities and take the guess work out of your next custom home or remodeling project with Legacy’s new cutting edge virtual tool. Our user friendly software has hundreds of finishes and selections for you to try before you buy.

941.412.4901 www.builderssarasota.com LIC. CGC#1514144

HAVEN

SPOTLIGHTING LIFE ON THE RANCH

A peek at the properties of the Ranch’s top equine enthusiasts.

PAGE 70

BARN RAISING The haute horse stables inside the Sarasota Polo Club will make your grandpa’s barn look like a shed.

70

LWR LIFE

I

SHELLIE TERRY BENSON | CONTRIBUTOR

f you were to ask the average local where you’d find the closest million-dollar horse barns, chances are they’d point to Ocala. It’s hard to believe there’s room in Sarasota or Manatee County for a 30-acre horse ranch. Yet during polo season an estimated 1,000 horses live in the bucolic Sarasota Polo Club at Lakewood Ranch. Drive out to where University Parkway meets Deer Drive and you’ll find the kind of panorama you’d expect to see in Montana — impressive barns and picturesque ranches stretching out across beautiful and unspoiled pastures.

More than 35 multimillion-dollar ranches are inside the bounds of this exclusive 600-acre community.

Many of the well-hooved residents of these facilities have competed, or will compete, in matches held at the prestigious grounds of the Sarasota Polo Club. Once home to exclusively polo barns, this equestrian oasis is now a mecca for championship and novice riders, including dressage competitors, show jumpers and English and Western riders.

LWR LIFE

71

In 2013, the barn was used as a scene for a movie.

Sue Brielmann with Charlie

JOSEPH AND SUSAN BRIELMANN When the Brielmanns tried to retire to Siesta Key in 2001, it lasted nine months. New York natives, they decided to resurrect their earlier careers as importers by launching Rudolph and Me Inc., a personalized Christmas ornament company.

They spent years expanding the business until a health scare prompted Susan to start checking items off her bucket list. At the top of the list: horseback riding.

“It almost made me feel like I had a second chance,” she says. “I always wanted to ride, and I realized there may not be enough tomorrows.”

In 2010, the couple purchased and cleared an empty lot on Cow Camp Lane. Susan, a former interior designer, and Joseph, a former builder, educated themselves about the barn-building process.

They asked themselves: What do horses need to be comfortable?

What do equestrians look for in a barn? They built every structure from the ground up, investing well more than a half-million dollars into the 13-acre property.

They opened their stateof-the-art boarding facility — dubbed Shady Oaks Farm

72

LWR LIFE

— in April 2011, making it the community’s newest property.

The Shady Oaks center-aisle barn is a 4,300-square-foot cement structure built to hurricane code and outfitted with the latest advancements in horse technology, including rubber matting over a sand-and-grid drainage system, which gives the barn its clean, odorless, youcan-eat-off-the-floors charm.

All 12 box stalls are equipped with automatic water, individual fans lights and salt licks. The barn’s wooden stall doors are

richly stained, lined with black metal accents and topped with a gold placard for each horse’s name. In lieu of customary trunks, the air-conditioned tack room has custom-made wood lockers, bridle hooks and saddle racks. The space is crisp and classy and gives a modern twist to the age-old horse barn.

The Brielmann barn is so striking, movie director Steve Tatone opted to shoot a portion of his 2013 film “Blind Pass” on the property. Actor Armand Assante, who plays the protagonist’s father

in the movie, meets his demise in the Brielmanns’ barn breezeway.

“It was a lot of fun,” Susan says of her ranch’s Hollywood close-up.

Shady Oaks attracts a variety of equestrians, including English riders, jumpers and polo hobbyists. For the most part, the Brielmanns, who live in The Lake Club, say the facility is more of a “pleasure barn” than a polo barn.

To help support the sport, the couple recently purchased and rehabbed a nearby polo barn, which they’ve leased to a polo player for the past two seasons.

Photos by Heidi Kurpiela

The Brielmanns’ center-aisle barn features 12 box stalls and about 4,300 square feet in the main building.

Stairs lead to a loft-style apartment.

“

It’s a place where you feel removed from the every day.”

JOHANNA SHARP

The Sharps bought their barn shortly after moving to Sarasota in 1999. They fully renovated the building, which features 17-by-17-foot stalls, to customize it for their horses.

JOHANNA AND LEM SHARP Approaching the Sharp barn, visitors get an immediate sense of what it’s like to hang with the cool kids. An olive green Jeep is parked at a rebellious angle, matching the shade of the barn’s exterior. While most folks play country music in barns, the Sharps play pop. A Rihanna song thumps in the center-aisle barn, giving more swag to an already swaggy building.

Four horses call it home, in their stunning 17-by-17-foot stalls. Deep mahogany-stained hardwood accented with brushed-metal doors and bars give the barn a rich velvety touch. A small, modern apartment wrapped in wood paneling, complete with a black wrought iron spiral staircase is attached.

Johanna and her husband, Lem, moved to Sarasota in 1999 when there was just a gate and a dirt road east of I-75. The barn was already built, but the couple, construction industry veterans, gutted and customized it for their horse and a friend’s horse.

The Sharps, who live in The Meadows, initially rented the space to polo players, but now that Johanna competes in the U.S. Dressage Championships, she spends nearly every day on the property.

Although the couple has watched Lakewood Ranch go from rural to roaring, they still say they get that peaceful middle-of-nowhere feeling when they retreat east to horse country.

“It’s a place where you feel removed from the every day,” Johanna says.

LWR LIFE

73

Jaymie Klauber, a polo player, loves the proximity of her barn to the heart of Lakewood Ranch. “It’s two miles from my work,” she says. “That just doesn’t happen.”

Although the Klaubers originally wanted to tear down their existing building and rebuild it as a centeraisle barn, they rethought that decision when they realized how functional it is in its current design.

74

LWR LIFE

JAYMIE AND TOMMY KLAUBER When Polo Grill owners Tommy and Jaymie Klauber bought a rustic polo barn on Whiskey Pond Lane, Jaymie had visions of converting it into a darling equine showcase — until function won out over image.

“When I first bought it, it was like, I’m going to tear it down and build a cute center-aisle barn,” she says.

“Once I started using the barn, I realized how efficient it is and how spacious the stalls are. Most people don’t have 12-by-12-foot stalls. So much wind and air comes through it, and it’s got this awesome overhang.”

The Klaubers, who live in the home adjacent to the barn, gave the old bones and its 14 stalls a small makeover, keeping much of its original look intact. The couple’s four-legged tenants, many of them rescues, don’t seem to mind, including Ice Ice Baby, who was born in the barn two years ago.

Its charm is in its utility and location, says Jaymie.

“There’s nothing fancy about it, but for me and for a lot of the polo players, it’s just a super handy, easy barn,” she says. “It’s really, really unique because you can never find an equestrian area that’s this close to town. It’s two miles away from my work. That just doesn’t happen.”

JAMES MILLER AND MISDEE WRIGLEY MILLER It took some persuading to get Misdee Wrigley Miller to leave her beloved Hillcroft Farm in Lexington, Ky. Her husband, James Miller, begged her to head south for a season to survey Lakewood Ranch’s polo scene. Eventually, Miller, an heiress to the Wrigley chewing gum fortune, relented.

“I said to him, ‘I can’t possibly leave my farm in Kentucky for a season. Are you crazy?’” Misdee says.

“But then we toured Sarasota and I immediately fell in love with the area.

The next year we made a commitment to come down for the season.”

A fourth-generation horsewoman, Misdee is the 2014 U.S. Equestrian Federation National Champion in pairs driving. Both she and James — a star polo player — are major players in the horse sport industry.

After renting a barn for two years, two adjoining Polo Club properties hit the market with a center-aisle barn perfect for Misdee’s driving horses and a sizable polo barn for James’ ponies.

Although the facilities and grounds were practically turnkey when the couple arrived five years ago, they’ve done plenty of work to make the place their own. Stone columns fashioned out of limestone from the couple’s Kentucky farm were added to the entrances to both barns. Stall doors with hunter green bars were installed in the driving barn. A full-sized dressage ring was added to the ranch.

The Millers, who live across the street at the Lakewood Ranch Country Club, named their 20-acre estate Hillcroft South after their sprawling Kentucky homestead. In season, the property houses seven Dutch-bred driving horses, 14 polo ponies and seven full-time staff.

“This property was perfect because it used to be part of the Outback polo team,” Misdee says. “[Outback founder] Tim Gannon had his own polo field here. The area was pretty level. I didn’t have to do any work, just laid out the area and said, here’s my dressage ring!”

Misdee Wrigley Miller is a fourth-generation horsewoman.

“

This property was perfect because it used to be part of the Outback polo team.”

MISDEE WRIGLEY MILLER

The Millers named their 20-acre estate in Lakewood Ranch Hillcroft South, after their homestead in Lexington, Ky. LWR LIFE

75

Gardening

No soil no problem Florida has 16 native bromeliads that can thrive without being planted in soil.

How many are in your backyard?

76

LWR LIFE

LORI WALKER CERTIFIED MASTER GARDENER

R

ecently, I gave an educational tillandsia wreath workshop at the Manatee County Extension Office in Palmetto.

The participants learned about Florida’s bromeliads and then were provided with about eight bromeliads and/or tillandsias and a grapevine wreath. They learned how to construct a tillandsia wreath, suited to their style. There was a lot of creativity in that room!

A follow-up workshop is scheduled March 14 (see box on Page 77) but in the meantime, here is some of the important information the class learned about these epiphytes below.

Epiphytes, familiarly known as “airplants,” do not need soil to thrive.

But even though they don’t need soil, what they do need is a substrate on which their roots can become attached. Typically, these are other plants, such as trees or shrubs.

These airplants do not harm their host plant, contrary to what some people think. Epiphytes lack woody stems and sometimes are incorrectly called mosses. In fact, they are part of the bromeliad family botanically.

Some of Florida’s 16 native bromeliads are of the tank variety.

Bromeliad guzmansia is a perfect example. You see them at the big-box stores in their garden departments.

Tank varieties are referred to as such because they hold water in their tanks. Plant material and drowned insects trapped in these tanks then decay. The nutrients of this decomposing material is then absorbed by disc-shaped trichomes lining the tank walls. Because of this, bromeliads have important ecological roles in nutrient recycling and providing habitat for breeding mosquitos.

So what’s in your backyard? I know you’ve seen at least three tillandsias.

How about Spanish moss? Remember, it is not a moss and, no, it does not kill the tree or shrub. And how about the ball moss? Look up at the telephone/electrical cables around town. Occasionally you’ll see what looks like a perfect ball of moss attached to it. That’s ball moss.

(It is not a moss, either.) And then there is the southern needleleaf.

It looks like a disorganized ball moss, only larger. These are all tillandsias. Check out your own backyard. You, too, may be playing host to some of Florida’s epiphytes.

Sadly, 10 out of 16 of Florida’s native bromeliads are on the threatened or endangered list. This is because of a loss of habitat, illegal collection of specimens from natural areas and the non-native Mexican bromeliad weevil larvae (metamasius callizona). These larvae will decimate a bromeliad.

Check out the Save Florida’s Native Bromeliads project by visiting this website. There you will see how to identify the 10 bromeliads that are threatened and/or endangered. http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/frank/ savebromeliads/

MAKE YOUR OWN TILLANDSIA WREATH Learn about these lovely epiphytes that only require air and water to live.

This is a “make and take it” workshop where you will make a wreath out of tillandsia plants. Please bring wire cutters and pliers.

When: 1 - 3 p.m., March 14 Where: Manatee County Cooperative Extension Service, 1303 17th St. W., Palmetto Cost: Registration and advance payment of $35 for materials are due

by March 6. They will guarantee your spot in class. Check or cash only, checks made payable to Friends of Extension, mailed to attention of C. Mozeleski, 1303 17th St. W., Palmetto, FL 34221.

Info: Call the Extension Master Gardeners at 722-4524 For a complete list of upcoming classes and workshops at the Manatee County Extension Office call 722-4524 or visit http://manatee.ifas.ufl.edu

139683

Save the bromeliads

LWR LIFE

77

Sports

Hitting a MILESTONE The Lakewood Ranch Athletic Center marks 17 years of growth by hosting its first men’s professional tennis tournament.

Nick Kyrgios won the Sarasota Open in 2014. He went on to beat Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon.

78

LWR LIFE

PAUL LEDERMAN

I

n 1998, Lakewood Ranch looked a little different. The closest grocery store or gas station was on University Parkway and Lockwood Ridge Boulevard. When you drove through town, the first thing you noticed was a sign showing the current number of residents. When the Tennis Center at the Lakewood Ranch Country Club opened April 9, 1998, only 200 people lived in the community.

In 17 years, the center has grown from nine courts to 18 and spawned a 13,000-square-foot Aquatics & Fitness Center. Thanks to the area’s rising population and a growing interest in the sport, tennis memberships are at an all-time high: 475 members, up from 47 in 1998.

The center is a hotbed for tennis players — Maria Sharapova played her first professional tournament here when she was just 14 years old. Our facilities have improved and expanded to allow the tennis center to attract marquee events, such as the country’s first Intercollegiate Clay Court Classic, which features players from top Division I programs at the University of Florida, Miami, Pepperdine, Virginia, Duke, Alabama and many others.

The tournament has been incredibly successful and last year raised $42,000 for the V Foundation.

This April, we’ll host our biggest competition to date: the Sarasota Open (April 11-19). The ATP/Chal-

lenger Series will be the first men’s professional tournament to be held at the club and will cast a national spotlight on Lakewood Ranch.

The winner of last year’s tournament, Nick Kyrgios, went on to beat Rafael Nadal at the 2014 Wimbledon Championships. We’ve reached out to big names in the tennis world — Tommy Haas and Juan Martin Del Potro for example — and expect to sell 35,000 seats for the week. We’ve rounded up close to 900 volunteers to help with the event, which goes to show you how fervent our local tennis fan base is.

We’re building two stadium courts, installing USTA-approved lighting and lining up food and beverage tents.

It’s a major commitment and we’re thrilled to take it on.

Continued on Page 80

ATHLETIC CENTER FUN FACTS n The club opened with nine courts, but learned it needed a 10th to become eligible for a liquor license.

Construction of a 10th court was put into action to secure the muchdesired liquor license. n One year after the club began, the Fitness & Aquatics Center opened.

This pushed the five-year plan to expand the tennis facility ahead of schedule.

PREMIER LAUNDRY

Dry Cleaning, Alteration and VIP Valet Service Express Center Full Services Retail Laundry & Dry Cleaning Express Stores.

Pickup and Delivery to Your Home or Business.

Linen Cleaning, Ironing & Rental Service, Hotel, Restaurant, Country/Golf, Spa, Bridal and Medical Industries.

Exclusive V.I.P. Valet Services.

62 Lake Osprey Drive Next to Lucky Pelican Bistro Mon-Fri 8am-7pm Sat 8am-3pm

148527

139677

941. 921.1258 • ALLSTARLAUNDRY.COM

CALL NOW FOR THIS UNBEATABLE OFFER! 18 SEER Super High Efficiency AC System for only $29.66* per month!

Get an

Only for a limited time!

14306 COVENANT WAY BRADENTON, FL 34202 941.907.3939 WWW. ONTHECORNER. ORG

Serving Florida for over 60 years LIC# CMC041072

941 - 315 - 6377

www.uniqueservices.com LWR LIFE

139235

160650

*Monthly investment represents the purchase price and all associated savings over the life of the system

79

Continued from Page 78 We believe both the Intercollegiate Clay Court Classic and the Sarasota Open are an excellent fit for the club, and we look forward to hosting them in the future as we continue to grow. In the meantime, here’s more information on the upcoming Sarasota Open with all the details you need to attend.

SARASOTA OPEN When: April 11 - April 19 Cost: General admission all-week passes are $50, all-week tickets for the center court stadium range from $350 to $700 for VIP box seats.

Andrew Carter returns a deep shot at the 2014 Sarasota Open.

SCHEDULE OF PLAY Men’s ATP Schedule: All feature night matches will be played only in James T. Driscoll Centre Court Stadium April 11 and April 12: Qualifying Rounds (Saturday matches begin at 10 a.m., Sunday matches begin at 11 a.m.)

April 13: First Round of Main Draw begins (feature night match begins at 6:30 p.m.). Matches begin at 11 a.m.

April 14: First Round of Main Draw continues (feature night match begins at 6:30 p.m.) Matches begin at 11 a.m.

April 15: Round of 16 (feature night match begins at 6:30 p.m.).Matches begin at 11 a.m.

April 16: Round of 16 (feature night match begins at 6:30 p.m.)

Matches begin at 11 a.m.

April 17: Men’s Quarterfinals (feature night match begins at 6:30

p.m.) Matches begin at 11 a.m.

April 18: Men’s Semifinals (feature night match begins at 6:30 p.m.)

Matches begin at 11 a.m.

April 19: Men’s Finals (doubles to be played first) Matches begin at 1 p.m. * All feature night matches will not be held until at least 6:30 p.m. to allow spectators time to arrive

NICK BOLLETTIERI WOMEN’S INVITATIONAL MATCH SCHEDULE: UP AND COMING WTA STARS

APRIL 17: Women’s Quarterfinals (Stadium 2 and outside courts) Matches begin at 11 a.m.

APRIL 18: Women’s Semifinals (Stadium 2) Matches begin at 11 a.m.

APRIL 19: Women’s Finals (James T. Driscoll Centre Court Stadium) Match time TBD

Make First Federal Your First Stop for financing your home!

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

First Federal Community Bank

has been helping families for 126 years.

Now in Lakewood Ranch, we offer many unique mortgage loan options to fit your financial needs.

We Never Charge A Fee To Apply Loan Programs include: •FHA •USDA •VA •Federal Home Loan Portfolio •Jumbo •Purchase •Refinance •Conventional

Schedule your appointment today.

941-907-1113

Call Us Today! 941-702-9551

LakewoodCardiovascular.com

6151 Lake Osprey Drive, Suite 337 | Sarasota, FL 34320

Erick E. Calderon, M.D., FACC, FSCAI

80

LWR LIFE

NMLS#407115 | NMLS ORG # 419803

139749

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

Member FDIC

Greg Braun, Lending Specialist gbraun@ffcb.com | www.ffcb.com

159077

139745

6310 Health Park Way • Suite 230 Lakewood Ranch, FL

PURSUE YOUR PASSION

Meridian College invites you to learn more about how we can help you find the career that you’ve been looking for!

We offer Diplomas and/or Associate Degrees in the following programs:

Cosmetology • Business Administration Dental Assistant • Medical Administration Medical Assistant • Medical Insurance Billing and Coding Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound

“HANDS-ON TRAINING” SMALL CLASS SIZE

Start Your New Career In As Little As 9 Months!

Financial aid is available to those who qualify, and we offer placement assistance to graduates CALL 941 - 377 - 4880 or visit our website

Meridian College is Accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools & Colleges

Meridian College 7020 Professional Pkwy E., Sarasota, FL 34240 | www.Meridian.edu

Cold Water Is For Penguins, Not Your Family!

139151

www.Meridian.edu

There Has Never Been A Better Time To Go Tankless If you’re considering a tankless water heater for your home, contact Aqua Plumbing & Air for expert advice.

We provide complete HVAC and plumbing services including system design, installation, repairs and maintenance services to homeowners in and around Sarasota, Manatee, and Bradenton.

Save

100 ON A NEW

$

WATER HEATER Originally priced at $749. Valid on 40 or 50 gallon American brand tall or medium models. Similar savings apply on other models.

Call for complete details. Permit fee if required not included.

AQUA Got Your Back!

PLUMBING • Air Conditioning • Electrical • Water Treatment

941 - 866 - 6210 www.aquaplumbing.com LWR LIFE

160127

’S

81

PROGRESSIVE DINNER ‘BUILDING HER FUTURE’ BENEFITING: GIRLS INC. SATURDAY, NOV. 15, AT THE CONCESSION GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB PHOTOS BY HEATHER MERRIMAN

Kay Mathers, Chairwoman Candice McElyea and Patti Eisemann

Nancy Cason and Erika Quartermaine

152583

Rick Helbind and Phyllis Kessler with Tracy and Seth Spalsbury

Patrick Duggan, Kevin McElyea and Sam Quartermaine

82

LWR LIFE

ART + REDESIGN E AST

ther 12 Wea l Estate 16 Rea Games

Obser v

16

RS O B H EIG N R U YO uper 5, 2015

TATE REAL ES

S Y SUNDA

triots gland Pa red for New En ks chee both the Super Seahaw ans of Seattle s the island at ngboat and the Lo ros ac at ay, ms ins Sund their tea condom , rtie e pa lac IX watch and Beachp ts won 28-24 Bowl XL ore trio Sh Pa e , the e, Th n at the Terrac se match interceptio clo game. a h an t of the iums. In tory wit nds lef vic co a g se h 25 sealin line wit half-yard OLD

F

ETT

RM

RFO

E RS P -STA ALL

SS’ RLE

22 ics. s’ polit a Kis ance Me enaiss k c R o ‘Kn Harlem IEW s REV tackle e Shore T T to at Th B th Capu W Elizabe Otto and

‘FEA CUS CIR

TS R A

Love a little co okie sla in caram thered el, choc ola coconu t? The a te and Girl Sc es do! Mo do giv outs re than ing ce con pla 130 Gi Scoutsme to return Beach rl lco from at we rm La nts wa Ranc reside kewood wbirdh and Br sno adento ered Ja ion. n gath n. celebrat 8B 10, at Braden Ele GE me PA ntar River Samoa’s y to celebrat e the 40th bir and co thday okie ral bash ly.

The gir had fun ls learning help th sk em in th theills to CookTh e sky’se Girl Sc ot ie Pr og our photou . it inram

Photos

ARY BRU

015

5, 2

place Beach nska at cheer on ncy Bro l Ahem and Na and Pau Buddy ce. ry Cronin Left: Jer ts at Beachpla rio the Pat

lim t. 16B contes

T

READIN

G TIME

Manatee County’ servato s Conry Park has a ne attractio w n Library. — a Little Fre e Th is the six e wooden lib rary th Manatee of its kind in County program parks.

The follows of “take the ma ntra a book , return book.” a Randy Cooper, longtim a e parks hert and vo teer, cra lun- Nick Reic fte cedar bo d the libraryPhoto by with ards an d recycled d. a handle froer msean old ches imm t. es m

on Wils ollege han ew C s the

Nat recent Nrad fusescience

all offici

PAM EU

SENIOR

H TLIG SPO

e h t f o r e t s Ma

BLISS

BANK S

EDITO

als seek

eks gat or perm

more co

R

ntrol ov

er gator

re

it

a targ moval to LAKEW et prevent throug ed harvest wood OOD RANC h Flor area pe poaching Ra id H policy nch won’t ad — Lake- life Conserva a Fish and rmit allow .

Wildoperatio tion Co If rece gators, on handlin opt a new g nuisa low th ived, the pe mmission. the trappers ns staff to co against but it will e rm ntac dire nc re di it will stricts e see take a unnece al- di strict which tra ctly and co t to co di nt re bi ac ss Followi ct te pe uld strict pr pp ng mee ary trappin rs. Curre t with alliga ly overoperty, ers come on superv tings g. to “T to ntly, th if iso e FWC r trap- lat his allows us it so choose commun rs of Lakewo last week, a nuisance all ions rece s. iga to build agreed ity developm od Ranch es trappers an tor call, disp ives we truhip with a CDD sta en at few tra a red then Operat ions Town Hach- Ryan st,” Operatio ppers ff shou t districts Heise Departm trapper ld appl ns Dire ll’s try sa y for s to co id en ct . “Wha or ing to t OK me The ne w perm on the proper s pers wh do is elim t we are inat o are po it, thou ty. gh, wo aching e trapuld . This alSEE GA TOR PA A new GE 2A perm

THE G ATE D EBAT E

specify

eco

The rida g elds of his lo of F arate fi re into gling in disp sculptu n at R plex w and s, sho d. Comork is an n work ergrou , his w AGE 15 P al Und ractic tion. lu p o t ev ye stic arti

HTS

id P.

HLIG

Wh

av ts, D

on

Gord

es scen

e th wher

E S OU

se era

g op

ignin

es en d

eate to cr

ota aras ter S llery f

Cen nity ga its o Art commufirst exh,ibdrink

The ed its h food The l open ar wit ances. loca ye ed the perform show ow. and gallery ried sh n ju mai s in a st arti E 18 G PA

D FOO

b ience

H

PALM A GOLF 7 IRE A

MANAT COUNT EE Y FA

IR

LPGA Le gends To ur champi onship is head For East ing County.

igns

it allow s the Ra which nch to gators stay pu t.

d

e au

s aim

LIBRAR STUDE Y HELPS NTS 6A

Ranch s e

Town H

OWL PERB 3B RE SU GE SEE MO OS ON PA PHOT

er

PAGE 3A

ER

TH

O O D.

East Co unty resi dents w have th ill soon eir first facility vides sh that proelter fo r in ju red, aban doned or surrende red bird confiscat s. Birds ed from hoarding tions ar situae also w elcome.

WEATH

E Y, F SDA UR

hold

ten Her

by Kris

BORH

New Neighbo r

ME BACK

16

N E IG H

BIRD

N

WELCO

RE U LT U +C

s d house and ilies ha Bowl, Many fam the Super d for ory an divided rine Laborat erent.

Mote Ma was no diff ffett m Bu Aquariu s Hugh and for SuManatee ir predictions , with . 29 made the winners Jan triots wl g the Pa per Bo choosin g the Sesin Buffett gh choo and Hu ans ahawks. ts’ victory me and trio rs old The Pa 27 yea is ck on o wh ds, is ba Buffet, 55 poun incorrectly 1,8 s . He t weigh g streak ncos las a winnin Denver Bro rs, endne the r’s win now 7-1. chose yea t las t is year as ord bu old and 6-0 rec ing his o is 30 years s corha wh ds, un re Hugh, for mo 1,199 po weighs ked the team ht Super rectly pic of the past eig .

5-3 lf than ha h a record of wit Bowls

HIG

SAMOA SENSA TIO

l-

N BUFF

. YO U R

N

A home de tops all lfsi Key Gu ons in this cti transa ate. real est week’s PAGE 12B

RH

B O RS

YOUR T OW

Anne Ne

all and h Marsh e Fluke wit Jo Ann at Terrac Longbo son at

BET O

N E IG H

illion $5.3 min Longboat

EN HE

— KRIST

YO U R

147846

RY FEBRUA

YO U .

TY

es on d Gord gs in id P. Dav pic sett ta n. e the e Saraso r seaso e of th ’s wint ra e p O

3 IDA supeon was a r, rd rvisor thes ho . Go dfa n id P hia pe to put Dav his gra adelp the issu n he e to rest hil n ld, P o io e rs v li m . h ed yea ist in t iz fro s n dme is a h violi t a chil c on s— s n rd ru o ia h s. G music delphia ra, t d t n s ha he ical e Phila s Orc is tiny lass h wa h of c ist in t ncle into line cell great u String ng t a lo r was a is s h e p e a nd fath stra a Bud the 2 he 1 Orc nist in li GE a vio et. PA rt a Qu

Steer sales, fried foo enterta d, live inmen t and ga attracte mes d attend the 99 th annu ees to al Mana County tee Fair in Palmet to.

RT HE EIC R KR NIC EDITO E A&

W

. y Co onevica Has a a sotte into d ar turned r one Sara fo at st

Wh garden ness ucts si d tory ing bu ey pro en n buzz le. Ho is an ev ind the p e cou e, ther se beh u asid ter ca AGE 19 swee ness. P si bu

YOUROBSERVER.COM

PAGE 3 A

INSPIR FILM FEATION ST

Inspirat ion Ac ademy its first hosted Inspirat ion Fil m Fest.

INSID

E

A GALLERY EXPERIENCE DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR DOOR ENJOY OUR REDESIGN BY ACCLAIMED DESIGNER, PEGIE STARK.

160977

s 17

ed Classifi

CO U N

3RD ANNUAL FASHIONISTAS FOR A CAUSE BENEFITING THE CENTER FOR BUILDING HOPE THURSDAY, JAN. 29, AT MICHAEL’S WINE CELLAR PHOTOS BY HEATHER MERRIMAN Beth McNally and Banan Medico

Sandy Keir and Darci Jacob Geoffrey Michel and Evan Reynolds Mary and Ryan Heise with Jessica Papineau

Richard’s FoodPorium

Affordable Natural & Specialty Foods

EXCEPTIONAL Service EXTRAORDINARY Care

Richard’s has been pioneering the way natural and specialty foods are sold in Florida since 1979. ®

celebrating

35

Our smaller, locally-owned, intimate stores offer unparalleled customer service.

Visit us online at RichardsFoodporium.com for specials and coupons.

17 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU! RichardsFoodporium.com All Richard’s Foodporium® franchise locations are independently owned & operated.

84 LWR LIFE SPMF_OG-Adv1014_MECH.indd

1

10/16/14 4:08 PM

161130

152354

YEARS

Hand-selecting each item with our customer in mind - bringing great quality and great value together each and every day.

Cheryl takes care of people everyday... we thought it was time to take care of her.

Watch Cheryl’s Story at TCPToday.com

JOIN US IN OUR CELEBRATION OF

TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE AT

Cool Today is Now Offering a Pre-Season AC Tune Up for $79. Ensure your AC is ready for the season!

160647

TCPToday.com

Alustra® Silhouette® Window Shadings

Pirouette® Window Shadings

Heritance® Hardwood Shutters

Alustra® Luminette® Privacy Sheers

Our focus and specialty is compassionate care. We select qualified, expert caregivers who provide meaningful care in any setting. Locally nurse owned and family operated since 1995.

Your home deserves Hunter Douglas

Across from The Landings (941) 925-7800 mmwallcoveringsblinds.com

160685

Janet and Curt Mattson Owners

4801 S. Tamiami Trail, Across from The Landings (941) 925-7800 mmwallcoveringsblinds.com 4801• S. Tamiami Trail

160659

www.TakeCareHomeHealth.com Lic. #HHA 21657096

(941) 752-7500

Lic. #HHA 299991405

LWR LIFE

85

CIRCUS ARTS GALA

honoring Tana Sandefur BENEFITING THE CIRCUS ARTS CONSERVATORY SARASOTA FRIDAY, JAN. 30, UNDER THE BIG TOP AT NATHAN BENDERSON PARK

Gabriel and Kim Dominguez

Gigi Simpson and Liz Donato

EVERYONE HAS A STORY

LET US HELP YOU TELL YOURS

153289

.com

86

941-366-3468 160978

LWR LIFE

Elisabeth and Gil Waters Honorary Co-Chair Betty Schoenbaum

Jonathan McCague with Bob and Joan Tufts

2 ANN ROSE

Curtis Jordan and Paige Peterson

John Saputo and Pedro Reis

nd

Designer Consignment Boutique PRIMARY CARE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

Great Selection!

Oscar Espinosa, MD

New & Almost New Designer Clothing sizes 0 - XXXLG Home Goods & Furniture • One of a Kind Jewelry Everyday Low Prices 20% to 95% Off!

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

Supporting Your Local Charities

San Marco Plaza 8225 Natures Way, Suite #107, Lakewood Ranch 34202 941 - 893 - 5959

Visit Our Website For Extra Savings www.2ndannrose.com

Mary J. Mott, MPAS, PA-C

139781

Hours Subject to Change: Mon. - Fri.10:00am - 5:00pm Sat. 10:00am - 4:00pm Sun. 10:00am - 1:30pm

Adult & Family Care Physician Assistant Specializing in Allergy & Asthma

Physicals Vaccinations Weight Loss Programs Botox & Juvederm Flu Shots 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 LWR LIFE

140376

Owner Barb Smith

87

dining out

Ed’s Tavern - 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 LV9463

Mon. - Thur.11am-12am • Fri. -Sat. 11am-2am • Sun. 11am-11pm

10719 Rodeo Drive, Lakewood Ranch 941-907-0400 • www.facebook.com/edstavernlwr

LV9475

Erbelli’s - Gourmet Pizzeria, Italian Bistro & Pub Over 19 years ago we started a little restaurant with the sole intention to make people happy. 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. Our promise is to never cut corners and to continue to experiment with new ways to test the palette pushing the Italian experience to the highest level! Looking for Gluten free? We’ve got you covered. We look forward to seeing you soon! Grazie!

8744 E. State Road 70 #301, Bradenton 941-567-6177 www.erbellis.com

Hana Sushi Lounge

LS OU US N HG I EL O U N G E

LV8597

S U S H I

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 Sspecial U S every H I time.

L O U N G E

8126 Lakewood Main Street, Lakewood Ranch 941-907-1290 www.facebook.com/HanaSushiLounge

Linger Lodge Restaurant

Main Street Trattoria

139925

Tandoor Fine Indian Cuisine Tandoor Indian Restaurant opened in 2001 in south Sarasota. Since then, we have been offering authentic Indian food to the Sarasota community. Come in and enjoy our All You Can Eat Lunch Buffet every day from 11:30am – 2:30pm. Dinner is served Mon. – Thurs. 5-9:30pm; Fri. – Sat. 5-10pm and Sun. 5-9pm. We also offer Vegan and Gluten Free menu options. We use only the finest ingredients to prepare dishes that are as healthy as they are delicious.

Relax and enjoy an exquisite dining experience not just as our guests, but as our friends.

Catering available for all occasions.

8453 Cooper Creek Boulevard, Bradenton 941-926-3077 www.tandoorsarasota.net

Tandoor FINE INDIAN CUISINE

DINNER • LUNCH BUFFET • TAKE OUT • DELIVERY • CATERING

LV8632

LV8602

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. 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 also available.

8131 Lakewood Main Street, Lakewood Ranch 941-907-1518 www.mstrattoria.com

LV8600

Restaurant

dining out

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.

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

PARTING GLANCE

DISTINCTIVE HOMES. EXCEPTIONAL NEIGHBORHOODS.

DI S COV E R N E A L S IG N AT U R E I N T H E H E A RT OF L A K E W O OD R A N C H Golf Course Road

Ft. Hamer Road Upper Manatee River Road 51st Street SE

Rye Road

2 3

El Conquistador Parkway

2. Bellevista in Highlands at Country Club East 7327 Haddington Cove, Lakewood Ranch, FL | From the Longboat mid $400s Key 3. Collingtree at Country Club East 7327 Haddington Cove, Lakewood Ranch, FL | New Model Now Open!

1

4

Sarasota Bradenton International Airport

Ho

no

re Av e

11

1

Legacy Blvd

Lorraine Road

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

Terra Ceia Bay

Arnold Palmer Green

SEE FOR YOURSELF BY VISITING:

675

12

The Masters Ave

3102

Lakewood Ranch Country Club

144485

CALL. CLICK. VISIT TODAY!

NealSignatureHomes.com | 941.225.2342 | CBC 1257901 Casey Key

681 OSPREY

EXIT 193

Edmondson Road

d

» »

Estate-style homes in both single and two-story layouts Generously-sized home sites with lush landscaping Picturesque natural settings Audubon-certified King’s Dunes golf course World-class 13,000 square foot fitness center with two heated outdoor pools 18 lighted clay tennis courts Free Gold Membership to the Prestigious LakewoodAnna Ranch Golf Maria and Country Club Island

Rye Road

» » » » »

Best Residential Community design Plus America’s Best Builder Equals yOUr bEST OPPOrTUNITy! *

Building.

Home. life in a gated community.

new flooR plAns AvAilABle! Homes from the $300s to low $500s sAles CenteR & models open dAily 11803 gramercy park Avenue lakewood Ranch, fl 34211

CALL. CLICk. VISIT. TODAy! 877.451.6739 | NealCommunities.com

139780

FINAL PHASE HOMES ALMOST SOLD OUT!

• Awarded Best Residential Community design in southeast u.s.* • Private, gated entries • 10-acre park including 2 dog parks • Tennis courts, ball field, kid’s adventure park & splash park • Nearby attractions, shopping, dining & 2 top-rated schools • Covered pavilion & meandering trails

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