Sarasota Observer - Thursday, January 6, 2011

Observer SARASOTA

EXCLUSIVE SEASON MAGAZINE Look inside for your guide to winter arts and social events.

DIVERSIONS: vocal point INSIDE | PAGE 1B

Jazz singer Katt Hefner pours out her soul.

SCHOOLS 16A

Principal Magician

Principal David Jones connects with kids through magic.

You. Your neighbors. Your neighborhood.

SLICE OF THE CITY PEOPLE, PICS & PLACES

Courtesy photo

Nate Provost, Stephanie Westrate and Linzy Wilson strut their Santa stuff.

Thursday, JANUARY 6, 2011

SE EN 2011

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+ Impersonators strut the streets There’s really no telling what would happen if 150 people dressed as Santa Claus came storming through Sarasota at the same time. However, this so-called phenomenon, SantaCon, is a reality every year in Lakeland, and it looks like a whole lot of fun.

Sarasota resident Linzy Wilson — that’s her sporting the neon green Shake Weight above — attended the event with her friends in the finest Santa suits they could find.

Anyone dressed as Santa, whether it be a ninja Santa, pirate Santa, cowboy Santa or painted Santa, is welcome.

We’ll make sure to suit up for next year!

From local politics to new business ventures and charitable donations, these seven leaders will impact Sarasota life in the new year.

SEE SLICE / PAGE 15A

INDEX Black Tie.................................7B Classifieds..............................20A Cops Corner..........................17A Crossword.............................19A Opinion....................................6A Real Estate...........................18A Weather................................19A Vol. 7, No. 9 Three sections www.YourObserver.com

WHY THEY MATTER: Read profiles on pages 2A through 8A

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METAL MAN

Scott Gerber 7

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Age: 52 Hometown: Panama City Family: Married to Alex Miller; two sons, Cannon and Steele Miller Education: Texas A&M University, Moody College Occupation: Entreprenuer, founder and president of Tube Dudes

Some people seek antidepressants when they slip into a funk.

Others, like Scott Gerber, find that true happiness lies within building stick men. Tube Dudes, to be exact.

“I was slowly approaching the imminent demise of my company because the yachting industry was horrible due to the tremendous number of boats being repossessed,” Gerber said. “On my way to work at five in the morning, something just hit me. It said, ‘You are going to make a stick man, and nothing is going to interfere or stand in the way.’”

When Gerber arrived at work July 1, he grabbed his foreman and asked whether he’d like to make a stick man or grind fiberglass that day. Two hours later, a sculpture with a fishing rod in one hand and a beer in the other hand stood before them wearing a large smile.

“Before we had finished the stick man, I kept saying, ‘That’s a horrible name,’” Gerber said. “‘Tube Dude’ came to my head and stuck immediately.”

Why the smile on the Tube Dude’s face? Gerber was thinking of the five-year-old company that he’d sacrificed his family and happiness for, working 20-hour days.

It seemed there was nothing he could do to turn it around, thus, he searched for something to put a smile on his face.

“He’s got big bright eyes and a smile that takes up 50% of his head,” Gerber said. “The smile was all that mattered to me and the op-

The sarasota Observer THURSDAY, january 6, 2011

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by Loren Mayo | Community Editor

After realizing his 20-hour-a-day job was not for him, Scott Gerber found something that put a smile on his face.

Scott Gerber’s Tude Dudes company has made 120 different aluminum dudes since July 1. timism in the eyes. On July 4, Alex (my wife) and I had a giant party with 250 people. We had the Tube Dude out on the dock and everybody loved him. I started building them for my friends, and it got to the point of me going broke, so I turned it into a company Sept. 1.”

Gerber has built more than 120 Tube Dudes to date. He’s built dudes holding footballs, dudes playing tennis, dude musicians and a female version holding a wine glass and shopping bag. He

even got a request for a pug.

“It’s definitely the greatest job in the world,” Gerber said. “The original goal was to spread some happiness, and the dudes are doing that 24 hours a day, all day long.

As tough as times are right now, if it wasn’t for those tough times, he wouldn’t have been born. People are saying, ‘You’re not selling art, you’re selling emotion.’”

The dudes have made their way to Texas, New Jersey and Kentucky. Made out of thick aluminum

Rachel S. O’Hara

that’s powder-coated, painted and baked at 600 degrees, the dudes are whimsical, but durable.

Gerber says the secret is simplicity. He could have added ears and a nose, but the basic dude is just the thing that makes you smile.

“Your imagination, which I think is the strongest entity you have in your body, takes over and fills in the gaps,” Gerber said. “There’s nothing in the world like delivering something to somebody, and they say, ‘I love it.’”

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The sarasota Observer THURSDAY, january 6, 2011

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LOCAL LEADER

Joe Gruters The miles keep adding up — 8,300 and counting. Lee County, Glades County, Brevard County, Madison County. Joe Gruters is visiting them all, driving to all 67 Florida counties to campaign.

But, this time, he’s not running a campaign for someone else, as he’s done for District 13 Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Longboat Key. Gruters is campaigning for himself.

“I’ve never been the guy to ask for money for myself or ask for votes for myself,” he said. “It’s interesting.”

Gruters, the chairman of the Republican Party of Sarasota County, is one of five candidates seeking to become the chairman of the Republican Party of Florida.

Gruters, 33, is by far the youngest (the next youngest is 58), and Gruters sees his youth as one of his biggest assets.

“I can bridge the generational gap,” he said. “If we don’t pull in the youth, the party is going to be in trouble.”

Gruters worked his way up the ladder within the party, starting out taking its message doorto-door, then joining the Young Republicans, leading that group, running campaigns for political candidates and then eventually becoming chairman of the local party.

His experience as a campaign manager is showing. Gruters has contacted many key voters to gain their support.

The Republican Party chair-

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by Robin Roy | City Editor

Joe Gruters has spent the last few months traveling Florida, pursuing his dream of leading the state’s Republican Party.

Rachel S. O’Hara

Joe Gruters has traveled more than 5,000 miles during his campaign for chairman of the Republican Party of Florida. man and committee members from each county will vote Jan. 15 for the new Republican Party of Florida chairman. The governor and Republican House and Senate members also have votes and choose others who get to vote as well.

Gruters has networked with Gov. Rick Scott, several state senators and key House members who have influence on many of the voters.

“You never know who will have a sphere of influence,” he said.

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He’s already received a verbal commitment from five of the counties he’s visited, and he’s counting on receiving more.

Gruters has enlisted the help of several campaign veterans, including the former campaign managers for U.S. Rep. Dan Webster, Attorney Gen. Bill McCollum and Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp.

If he’s elected, look for the state party to emulate the grassroots organization Gruters has cultivated in Sarasota County.

During the November election, the county generated 16% of the statewide Republican get-out-thevote phone calls, even though only 2% of Florida’s registered Republican voters live here.

Fearful that the Democratic Party has used technology to its advantage, Gruters said he would ensure all 67 county parties are upto-date on technology.

Under his leadership, he says the RPOF would pay for the creation of a website for all 67 counties. It would also encourage the use of email lists and social media.

“We can’t expect to flip a switch and with 90 days to go (before an election) expect people to pour in,” Gruters said. “It has to be a constant process. Giving (local parties) the tools and support gets us halfway there.”

For now, the campaigning continues.

Gruters took two days off at Christmas and two days off at New Year’s — but only because he knew he wouldn’t be able to meet with anyone then.

After the New Year’s holiday, it was back in the car.

Those hours on the road are not spent listening to the radio, either. From 7 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., it’s a constant juggling act between phone calls, e-mails and Facebook.

The state chairmanship is serious business for Gruters.

“I want to be able to say I had an impact in my life,” he said.

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DOWNTOWN DEVOTEE

J ohn S imon 11

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Age: 33 Hometown: Sarasota Family: Married Education: Bachelor’s degree in finance from Florida State University and MBA from University of South Florida Occupation: Accountant

by Robin Roy | City Editor

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BIO

Age: 65 Hometown: Washington, D.C. Family: Divorced with two children Education: Attended George Mason University and Warren Wilson College Occupation: Developer and planner

To John Simon, downtown Sarasota has something few other downtown areas in the country have.

“Enough of a critical mass of retail, arts, proximity to the water. Sprinkle in some neat neighborhoods, and you’ve got a really unique recipe,” he says. “An undiscovered gem.”

That recipe is why Simon and his Isaac Group Holdings development company chose to build here.

The firm is behind the Pineapple Square development — a two-phase project responsible for retail stores on Lemon Avenue and Main Street, such as clothiers Brooks Brothers and Eileen Fischer, which will open next month, Pastry Art and Sur la Table, and on State Street more retail and a possible hotel, condo units and/or office space.

Simon lists only a few other downtowns that are as “livable” as Sarasota’s — big names, such as New York City, Chicago, Seattle and Portland, Ore. “How lucky you are to have a hardware store downtown that is not chased out by Home Depot or Walmart,” he says. “There are no less than four barbershops. This is a community that uses its downtown. It’s unlike other downtowns that have burned out areas.”

When he was courting retailers for a development in Norfolk, Va., Simon had to employ artful tactics to keep company executives from seeing the undesirable places.

“As we drove, if there was something I didn’t want them to see on the right, I would point to the left,” he laughs. “I would only bring them between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., because that was when most people were on the street.”

Simon has none of those concerns in Sarasota.

“This is the only city that I don’t care what time of day (retailers visit),” he says. “I even

The man behind the Pineapple Square development sees nothing but potential in Sarasota’s future.

encourage them to walk around by themselves.”

The new year is going to be an important one for Pineapple Square. The City Commission last month granted a developmentagreement change Simon sought that allows greater flexibility for Isaac Group Holdings.

Whereas the original agreement strictly called for 157 condos and about 85,000 square feet of retail space, the revised agreement allows Pineapple Square to build condos if they’re in demand or more office space or a hotel if there’s interest.

Simon said he’s been discussing the Pineapple Avenue and Lemon Avenue location with a number of three-star hotel operators, although he declined to name any, as he always does, until a contract is signed.

Originally planned to be completed in 2009, Pineapple Square’s condos have been on hold during the downturn in the economy.

Simon said many times last year that he was ready to build as soon as the market turned around. Two specific events have to occur for Simon to receive a green light for construction: Banks begin lending again and demand builds for condos, offices or hotels.

“If banks start lending, we’ll begin to have plans developed by mid-year,” he said.

Simon didn’t just fly into town wanting to build, collect his check and leave. He lives here full-time and has signed on as a board member of several civic groups — the Downtown Improvement District, Downtown Sarasota Alliance and Greenspace Policy Committee.

After Pineapple Square is complete, Simon will continue to call Sarasota home — he will move into one of his condos.

“I will be able to look down from my balcony and watch the transformation of downtown,” he said.

Rachel S. O’Hara

John Simon, with Isaac Group Holdings, says he is ready to build on his Pineapple Square development as soon as the market turns around.

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The sarasota Observer THURSDAY, january 6, 2011

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BUILDING A COMMUNITY

Chris Gallagher 7

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Age: 51 Hometown: Lowell, Mass.

Family: Married with two children Education: Bachelor’s degree in environmental design from University of Massachusetts and master’s degree in architecture from the University of Colorado Occupation: Senior designer at Jonathan Parks Architect

Civic responsibility is a quality many people aspire to have. But not many put it into action as much as Chris Gallagher.

The senior designer at Sarasota firm Jonathan Parks Architect took a five-year sabbatical from his architectural career to become headmaster of New Gate School.

Not because he wanted to — he really didn’t.

And not because his wife thought it would be a good idea — she was dead-set against it.

“I was concerned about the school and felt a great sense of responsibility,” he said.

Gallagher designed New Gate. He sat on its board. His two children attended the school, and all his friends were other parents there. But he had no educational training. After a few months, the school’s board finally convinced him to take the job and sign a five-year contract.

“It was the toughest thing I ever did, but it was one of the most rewarding,” said Gallagher. “To go outside and see 20 2-year-olds together — it’s extraordinary.”

Gallagher has embarked on another one of his civic duties that he performs because he feels nobody else will: parking He volunteers his time advocating for paid parking and the deregulation of the city’s maze of parking requirements.

Gallagher believes in a free-market approach to parking code. Instead of the city dictating how many parking spaces each specific type of business needs, he prefers to let a business owner decide how much parking he needs. If he builds too few spaces and customers are chased away, that’s his own mistake.

“Why should a bureaucrat decide how much parking a business should own?” he asks. “In the end, you have a bunch of nonsense.”

Ahead of the expected spring implementation of downtown parking meters, Gallagher has been visiting groups such as the Downtown Improvement District, St. Armands Business Improvement District, Downtown Sarasota Alliance and Greater

<<<<<

by Robin Roy | City Editor

As a senior designer with Jonathan Parks Architect, Chris Gallagher shapes not only Sarasota’s facades but also its community.

Sarasota Chamber of Commerce to gauge their thoughts on a series of paid-parking questions: Should parking-meter revenue be reinvested into the area where the meters are?

Should paid parking only be implemented where there is a consistent lack of available parking? What time of day should paid parking begin and end?

Gallagher is not being paid for his efforts.

He’s not being asked by a particular group or entity to submit his questionnaire. He’s going it on his own accord. Civic responsibility.

“I want a vibrant downtown, and parking is overlooked as a factor in that,” he said.

The designer has a whole host of other duties he performs. He sits on the city’s Planning Board, chairs the chamber’s Governmental Issues Council, hosts a cabletelevision show and writes a blog on urbanplanning and architectural issues.

With all those extracurriculars, one might wonder how Gallagher is able to squeeze in time for his paying job.

As a senior designer at Jonathan Parks Architect, he is the man behind the Palm Avenue parking garage, which is drawing rave reviews.

“The reaction has been, ‘Wow,’” he says proudly.

Also on his design resume: the storefront for 1516 Main St., which is currently being built; the exterior of a swimwear store on First Street, which will soon be constructed; a historic home renovation on Siesta Key; and his personal favorite — Citrus Square.

The retail/condo development two blocks north of Fruitville Road on North Orange Avenue has a distinct European feel — a three-story building, set back just 10 feet from the road, with brightly colored storefronts, oversized doors and small wroughtiron balconies on the second- and thirdfloor residences.

Gallagher is so fond of the building that he and his wife live there.

Rachel S. O’Hara

Designer Chris Gallagher stands in front of Citrus Square — the project of which he’s most proud. The condo balconies are one of his favorite features. Gallagher says while he sits on his balcony, passersby call up to him to ask where the bakery is.

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The sarasota Observer THURSDAY, january 6, 2011

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GIVING INITIATIVE

Debra Jacobs Life has been an adventure for Debra Jacobs since she became president and CEO of The Patterson Foundation in 2009.

With a blank charter created by foundation founder Dorothy Patterson and no stipulations of geographic or issue focus for the corpus of her estate — $200 million — Jacobs says she’s in daunting territory, because the foundation is creating from scratch everything it’s doing.

“Dorothy knew what she was about and what she liked and didn’t like,” Jacobs said. “She knew she was wealthy but did not consider it her money, and she wanted her generations to decide how to use the blank charter. We are honoring her heritage and legacy through nine strategic initiatives and always want to let people know we’re paying attention to where the money came from.”

Rather than using grant cycles, the foundation will explore the initiatives — Roman Catholic faith, military, new media journalism, cultural connections with students, digital imagery, aging with dignity and independence and three debilitating diseases: arthritis, diabetes and dementia — during its three- to five-year learning journey.

“When you have to create and there’s not a book you can follow, it’s hard,” Jacobs said. “You hold yourself to a very high standard, learn from the best and brightest and understand you can’t do anything alone.”

Through these initiatives, and by partnering with various organizations, the foundation will focus on how to make the biggest impact and do work in a meaningful way. Jacobs hopes to inspire philanthropy and communication in others.

As the focus for its “military” initiative, the foundation is funding the design and construction of a permanent memorial for the National Shrine Assembly Area at Sarasota National

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by Loren Mayo | Community Editor

As CEO of The Patterson Foundation, Debra Jacobs will lead the foundation in giving $200 million in the next few years through nine strategic initiatives.

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Rachel S. O’Hara

Cemetery to honor not only those who have served this country but also to inspire patriotism.

For its long-term goals, the foundation will focus on “transform and relieve,” intended to help people who suffer from circumstances beyond their control. The foundation has partnered with Season of Sharing and made a challenge grant to match dollar per dollar donations made by new donors and match increased donations by current donors.

“I think our Season of Sharing is such an ex-

cellent example of collaboration and partnering because every media, although competitors, has come together for the greater good,” Jacobs said.

As the foundation matures, Jacobs hopes the community will be inspired to think of its own legacy.

“When you create things, it takes time,” Jacobs said. “So, as people watch this, it’s with understanding that, to do excellent work, you can do it with focus, with tenacity, but excellent doesn’t happen overnight. We’re learning how to do this the best way we possibly can.”

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Age: 60 Hometown: Rochester, N.Y. Family: Married to Bill Buttaggi; two children; four grandchildren Education: Graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree from Utica College of Syracuse University; M.B.A. from University of Rochester Occupation: President and CEO of The Patterson Foundation

Debra Jacobs became president and CEO of The Patterson Foundation in 2009. The foundation has identified nine initiatives that it will explore in the next three to five years.

is pleased to welcome Medical School: Residency: Fellowship: Asst. Professor:

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Fellowship-trained in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism, Wende M. Kozlow, M.D. brings a wealth of experience to our community.

Dr. Kozlow attended the Medical College of Wisconsin, completed an internal medicine residency at UNC-Chapel Hill, and an endocrinology fellowship at the University of Virginia (UVA). She then joined the UVA faculty and saw a wide variety of endocrine disorders, including bone and calcium disorders, thyroid disease, diabetes, adrenal disorders and polycystic ovarian syndrome.

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OPINION

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The sarasota Observer THURSDAY, january 6, 2011

Observer our view SARASOTA

“If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.”

Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944 Editor and CEO / Matt Walsh, mwalsh@yourobserver.com Publisher/Executive Editor / Lisa Walsh, lwalsh@yourobserver.com Associate Publisher-Multimedia / Emily Walsh Parry, ewalsh@yourobserver.com Managing Editor / Jessica Luck, jluck@ yourobserver.com Assistant Managing Editor/Design / Nancy Schwartz, nschwartz@ yourobserver.com City Editor / Robin Roy, rroy@ yourobserver.com Community Editor / Loren Mayo, lmayo@yourobserver.com Black Tie Editor / Stephanie Hannum, shannum@yourobserver.com Social Editor / Molly Schechter, mschechter@yourobserver.com Arts & Entertainment Editor / Heidi Kurpiela, hkurpiela@yourobserver.com Staff Writer / Maria Amodio, mamodio@ yourobserver.com Staff Photographer / Rachel O’Hara, rohara@yourobserver.com Director of Advertising /Jill Raleigh, jraleigh@yourobserver.com Advertising Executives / Tracy Bender, tbender@yourobserver.com; Louise Lewis, llewis@yourobserver.com; Suzanne Munroe, smunroe@yourobserver.com; Kathleen O’Hara, kohara@yourobserver. com; Laura Ritter, lritter@yourobserver. com; Lori Ruth, lruth@yourobserver.com; Wendi Simons, wsimons@yourobserver. com; Maria Witty, mwitty@yourobserver. com Marketing Manager / Sandy Young, syoung@yourobserver.com Marketing & Advertising Coordinator / Victoria Baga, vbaga@yourobserver.com Classified Advertising Supervisor / Pam Cooper, pcooper@yourobserver.com Classified Advertising Sales Executive / Maureen Hird, mhird@yourobserver.com Advertising-Production Operations Manager / Kathy Payne, kpayne@ yourobserver.com Advertising-Production Coordinator / Brooke Schultheis, bschultheis@ yourobserver.com Advertising Graphic Designers / Monica DiMattei, mdimattei@yourobserver.com; Shawna Polana, spolana@yourobserver. com; Marjorie Holloway, mholloway@ yourobserver.com Multimedia Production Manager / Caleb Stanton, cstanton@yourobserver. com

First job for Scott: Derail the train Congratulations to our new governor, businessman/entrepreneur Rick Scott.

As of Wednesday morning, the bigger test for Gov. Scott has begun. And if he wants to begin his term with the kind of bold action he promised on the campaign trail, he should pull a Chris Christie (the governor of New Jersey): Say “no” to accepting $2.4 billion in federal funds to construct the proposed 84-mile, high-speed rail line connecting Orlando and Tampa.

Mark these words: If built, this will be one of the biggest financial boondoggles and taxpayer drains in the history of Florida.

Here’s where this idea stands at the moment: In typical big-government fashion (i.e. print and borrow more money than the government has and saddle future generations with higher taxes and more debt), President Obama and the Pelosi-Reid Congress have committed to spending (borrowing) $2.4 billion and giving it to Florida to build this transportation black hole.

As of this writing, Scott has indicated he wants to study the matter before saying he would accept this federal largesse.

But at the same time, all sorts of special-interest groups — in particular, Tampa and Orlando business organizations and construction companies — say this project is just what Florida needs to put people back to work and ease traffic congestion on Interstate 4. What’s more, these groups, in typical American-entitlement fashion, say it’s about time Florida obtains its share of federal transportation dollars.

Add to these voices such venerable pro-government, socialistic institutions as the St. Petersburg Times and other leftist Florida newspapers that say: What a bargain and return on investment for Floridians! The federal government will contribute $2.4 billion of the $2.6 billion cost, with Florida taxpayers having to contribute only $280 million to build this first leg of the rail system. What a deal!

Au contraire.

This kind of thinking and action are exactly what have put the United States in the position we’re in today — printing money and borrowing more money from the Chinese to the point of devaluing the purchasing power of Americans’ dollars

FLORIDA’S FUTURE: CALIFORNIA HIGH-SPEED DISASTER Go to “www.reason.org/topics/trains” on the Reason Foundation’s website, and the list of articles below pops up. Peruse the list. The articles and reports focus primarily on California’s high-speed rail experiences, and the messages are clear: 1) High-speed rail has been a financial and ridership disaster for California taxpayers for 14 years.

2) There’s no reason to expect the outcome will be any different for Florida.

• “High Speed Rail Goes Loco,” Tim Cavanaugh, Dec. 3, 2010 • “Robert Samuelson on High-Speed Trains: ‘People prefer fashionable make-believe,’” Matt Welch, Nov. 1, 2010 • “L.A. Transit Spends $5 Billion to Decrease Ridership,” Tim Cavanaugh, Oct. 28, 2010 • “Gubernator Cuckoo for Chinese ChooChoo,” Tim Cavanaugh, Sept. 14, 2010 • “SF Chron: Put a Bullet In This Train!,” and sentencing future generations to higher and higher taxes. Indeed, have you noticed lately how much less your money is purchasing?

But the special interests are blind to the other side of the coin. They only see opportunity for themselves — a classic case of providing benefits to the few at the expense of the many. These groups disregard the unequivocal, undeniable facts. To wit: As Robert Poole, founder of the Reason Foundation and foremost expert on U.S. transportation policy, has written and proven many times: Every rail project in America has failed to live up to its ridership and revenue projections; has always cost more than projected; and has always become a drain on taxpayers, requiring endless subsidies from people who never, ever ride the trains.

Just take a look at the headlines in the above box. These are just a few of the stories staffers at the Reason Foundation wrote in 2010 about California’s disastrous high-speed rail system. That has been going on there for 14 years.

Or read below Poole’s blog that he

Tim Cavanaugh, Sept. 2, 2010 • “California Roundup: Would the Bullet Train Be Good for the Jews?,” Tim Cavanaugh, July 28, 2010 • “California Roundup: $8 Billion Rail Project Results In Fewer People Riding Public Transportation,” Tim Cavanaugh, July 23, 2010 • “California Still Going Off the Rails on a Crazy Train,” Tim Cavanaugh, July 1, 2010 • “Reason.tv: Reason Weekend 2010-Robert Poole and Adrian Moore on High-Speed Rail Boondoggles,” June 28, 2010 • “Silver Bullet Train! California’s LowFlying Rail Boondoggle Gets Off to High-Paying Start,” Tim Cavanaugh, May 7, 2010 • “Out-of-Control Bullet Train Destroys Hundreds of Homes, Businesses,” Brian Doherty, April 5, 2010 wrote a year ago, shortly after President Obama began committing federal dollars to Florida’s high-speed rail project. One of Poole’s points is the $2.6 billion estimate of Florida’s high-speed rail cost is more likely to be $4.28 billion. Who will cover that extra $1.6 billion? Floridians? Let’s not forget the Legislature will start its next session with a $3 billion deficit.

All too often the proponents of these taxpayer-subsidized projects like to say the United States needs to emulate the rail systems of Europe and Japan.

But here again, they are ignorant of the differences. European and Japanese central cities are far more dense than U.S. cities, and driving costs far more than it does here — Paris to Marseilles, France, costs $75 in tolls and $6 a gallon.

If we know Gov. Scott, he indeed will study all of these facts. And knowing what we do about his objections to government spending what it doesn’t have, there should be no doubt in his conclusion.

Our greatest hope is that he will pass his first big test: Say no to high-speed rail.

Floridians and American taxpayers can’t afford it.

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An insatiable ‘gift horse’

Florida’s high-speed rail: costly for taxpayers

By Robert Poole The old saying about not looking a gift horse in the mouth should be challenged

by Florida taxpayers, when it comes to the announcement of a $1.25 billion grant to start development of a high-speed rail line between Orlando and Tampa. If Florida accepts this money without figuring out how to pay for the rest of the project, there could be very serious consequences for hard-pressed taxpayers.

Unlike most of the other “high-speed” rail projects receiving federal grants, this one is not to upgrade an existing rail line for a top speed of 110 miles per hour (mph) vs. the current 79 mph trains. No, the Florida project is for brand new, truly high-speed rail on exclusive, new right of way, along the I-4 highway corridor.

This is by far the most expensive form of high-speed rail. A 2009 GAO report that looked at recent high-speed rail projects in France, Spain and Japan shows them averaging $51 million per mile (excluding one very high-cost Japanese line). For the 84 miles of the Tampa-Orlando route, that totals $4.28 billion. So merely to build

this project is going to require another $3 billion from somewhere. Florida is facing a several billion-dollar budget deficit this year, so it’s hard to see where the extra money could come from.

It definitely won’t come from private investors, since these kinds of projects do not make a return on their investment.

Indeed, a December 2009 report on high-speed rail from the Congressional Research Service (CRS) helpfully points out that of all the dozens of high-speed rail projects built worldwide over the last several decades, only two are “estimated” to have paid for their capital cost out of farebox revenues. All the rest, in Japan, France, Spain and elsewhere, have been largely paid for by general taxpayers.

Then there’s the little matter of operating and maintenance costs. Both GAO and CRS note that whether such a line can cover those costs out of passenger revenues is highly dependent on ridership.

The ideal situation is a corridor several hundred miles long anchored by two large, centralized metro areas. The federal fact sheet on the Florida line claims that both Tampa and Orlando are among the largest

20 metro areas; in fact, while Tampa ranks 17th, Orlando is 32nd in size — and both are very spread-out, low-density areas.

This corridor does not make CRS’s list of the top 12 city-pairs for potential highspeed rail ridership. In fact, CRS estimates that the train in this corridor would likely reduce traffic on I-4 by less than 2%.

That doesn’t bode well for high-speed rail ridership, especially since 84 miles is way too short for people to fly, so all potential riders must come from those who would otherwise drive.

Given all this, I estimate that Florida taxpayers will get stuck with an annual operating deficit that they will have to pay for, indefinitely.

Bottom line: This gift horse looks to me like a gift that will keep on taking.

Robert Poole is director of transportation policy and Searle Freedom Trust Transportation Fellow at Reason Foundation, the free-market think tank he founded. Poole, an MIT-trained engineer, has advised the previous four presidential administrations on transportation and policy issues. He wrote this article for the Reason Foundation one year ago.

The sarasota Observer THURSDAY, january 6, 2011

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Christine Robinson

Rachel S. O’Hara

by Robin Roy | City Editor

A month before her first day on the job, County Commissioner Christine Robinson was meeting with citizens groups to prep for her new role.

It didn’t take long for Christine Robinson to get to work on her new job. Less than a week after thenGov. Charlie Crist appointed her to the Sarasota County Commission in November and nearly a month before her actual first day in the office, she began scheduling meetings with citizens groups and different departments within county government.

“I am going to (county staff ) to see firsthand how they work,” Robinson said. “I won’t be in my office much. I want to see how things get done.”

A desire to study the inner workings of county government is probably not a surprise to those who know Robinson.

The 36-year-old attorney and her husband, Eric, former chairman of the Republican Party of Sarasota County, did quite a bit of studying before they made Sarasota County their home.

The two had just gotten married in Miami, where she worked in the state attorney’s office handling child-support enforcement cases. It was 2001, and the couple wanted to find somewhere within the state they thought was a great place to raise children.

They analyzed a statistical book that ranked all of Florida’s counties in terms of median income, crime, etc.

“We’re such nerds,” she joked.

The Robinsons zeroed in on Sarasota County. But, before they arrived, they began attending Sarasota 2050 meetings, which plan and shape growth for the next four decades.

“We were interested in finding out about the community before we moved here,” she said.

After moving to Venice, Robinson joined the state attorney’s office in Sarasota. She quit in 2004, however,

County Commissioner Christine Robinson was sworn into office Dec. 17. She replaced Shannon Staub, who retired after 14 years.

to stay home with her newborn son — the first of three children.

Four months later, she began her own private practice, securing clients such as the Republican Party of Sarasota County, Rep. Vern Buchanan and now Gov. Rick Scott.

As she begins her own political career, Robinson plans to focus on one main goal — economic development.

“It’s the burning issue right now,” she said.

One way she plans to accomplish that goal is to streamline the county’s regulations and permitting process for businesses.

“We need to get as aggressive as we can with that,” Robinson said. “As an attorney who’s helped businesses through the permitting process, it would be great if business owners could spend less on attorneys and more on their business.”

Targeting county government’s inefficiencies is another goal.

An example Robinson cites as a good move in that direction is the recent purchase of iPads for each commissioner on which thousands of pages of documents for each County Commission meeting are now placed.

No longer will each commissioner and administrator get a massive book filled with the meeting’s paperwork.

Twelve thousand pages of paper were saved at just one meeting in early December.

As to the type of commissioner she will be, Robinson says she will give every resident a chance to speak his mind, emulating the commissioner she replaced, Shannon Staub, who was well regarded in that respect.

“I want to make sure people are heard,” said Robinson. “(Staub) was good at that. I hope I can follow in her footsteps.”

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Age: 36 Hometown: North Tonawanda, N.Y. Family: Married with three children Education: Bachelor’s degree in criminology and criminal justice from Niagara University; law degree from University of Miami Occupation: County commissioner and attorney

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MODERN MIX

11 IN

BIO

Age: 60 Hometown: Cedarhurst, Long Island, N.Y. Family: Peppi Elona, significant other of 30-plus years; three nephews and their families; Elona’s four children and their families Education: Bachelor’s degree from University of Maryland; master’s degree from University of Louisville Occupation: President and founding member of SMOA; 25 years in the advertising business growing a one-office advertising agency into an international firm with 18 branches

Wendy Surkis Wendy Surkis watched as the artist pulled the fragile corners of Japanese paper through the printer, red ink streaming across it.

Last year, Surkis and the founding members of the Sarasota Museum of Art brought in internationally renowned artist Judy Pfaff to talk about her creative journey for its ARTmuse program.

“Judy does many things but is known for her gigantic prints that are 8 feet by 3 feet,” Surkis says. “You saw the red print before your eyes, and it was amazing, like watching a dance. It was a fascinating learning experience to see how the ink was put down, how the actual print was pulled and to hear Judy talk about it.”

Surkis has been president of the SMOA project since its inception in 2003, when 13 people discussed Sarasota’s need for a modern- and contemporary-art museum. When she retired 10 years ago and moved to the area after spending 25 years in advertising, Surkis planned to prop her feet up and take it easy. But the workaholic realized she couldn’t change her ways and decided to give back to the community by getting involved with SMOA. “We do not have an art museum that is totally devoted to 20th- and 21st-century art,” Surkis said. “The rebirth of the historic Sarasota High School by transforming it into a new, vibrant visual-arts destination will have wonderful benefits for the entire community.”

In the past three years, SMOA has met half of its fundraising goal of $22 million. Ideally, Surkis would like to raise the remainder of the money in the next year or two. Because the design and development drawings for the renovation are already completed, construction, anticipated to take 14 months to 18 months, can begin as soon as funding is secured.

In the meantime, SMOA is keeping busy with ARTmuse. This month, the museum will bring in glass sculptor Seth Randal.

Wendy Surkis is at the helm to combine modern and contemporary art in one Sarasota space.

Rachel S. O’Hara

Wendy Surkis is looking forward to Sarasota Museum of Art’s opening day, when the Sarasota community will be able to witness art in the making at the city’s first modern- and contemporary-art museum.

“He began by working at Tiffany and mastered color and light to create unique glass sculptures,” Surkis said. “He’s going to do a hands-on demonstration of the lost wax process, and pieces from his New York City gallery will be on display here at the high school, which will be a learning experience for our audience.”

The second floor of the three-story building will be the centerpiece of SMOA. With an airy, open feel and glass windows for walls, museum-goers will have the opportunity to look

down into the sculpture garden and see art in the making.

“We hope to have collaborations with nonprofits and use the auditorium for rental revenue,” Surkis said. “We will have space available to organizations and to people for private functions. SMOA will be created both as a cultural asset and a new cultural destination. It will be the new bustling space in Sarasota. I look forward to opening day — it will be a moment in time I will never forget.”

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Roadshow Comes to Sarasota!

By Jason Delong

Treasure Hunters Roadshow STAFF WRITER

Clean out your attics, closets and lock boxes because the Roadshow is coming to Sarasota. Roadshow experts are in town examining antiques, collectibles, gold and silver.

While the Roadshow will accept anything that’s old, they will be focusing on gold and silver coins made before 1964, military items, toys and trains, musical instruments, pocket and wrist watches. Scrap gold

“U.S. coins made before 1964 are most sought after by collectors. Coins made before 1964 are 90% silver and valuable because of the silver content or could be worth even more if one happens to be a rare date.” is expected to be a popular category this week due to soaring gold prices.

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Other types of items Roadshow experts hope to see include old toys and train sets. Archie Davis, roadshow toy expert spoke about some of the top toys getting great offers. “Old tin windup toys from the late 1800’s through the 1960’s are in great demand now,” said Davis, “Especially those that are character related.

Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, the Flintstones or any character toys are sought. Old Buddy L toys from

the 1920’s to 1960’s are in demand.”

Basically any toys made before 1965 are wanted. Train sets made by Lionel, American Flyer, Marklin and others have the potential to fetch a large sum. Davis also stressed, “Toys with boxes and in mint condition bring sensational prices. Most of the toys that come to the Roadshow are not

in perfect shape but can still bring good prices from collectors.”

When expert Tom Fuller was asked what he enjoyed most about working at the Roadshow, he was quick to answer, “Old coins and paper currency. For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated with collecting coins. I would go

Above • A Gentleman sits with Mike Delong with anticipation as the Roadshow Expert examines his collectibles.

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through the change in my parents grocery store looking for rare dates and errors. Once, I found a silver quarter that I sold for $300.00. Not bad for an 8 year old.”

Fuller went on to explain that any U.S. coins made before 1964 are most sought after by collectors. Coins made before 1964 are 90% silver and

“If you go to the Roadshow, you can cash-in your items for competitive prices.

Roadshow representatives will be available to assess and purchase your items at the Sarasota Bradenton Int. Convention Center, next Tuesday through Saturday in Sarasota.” valuable because of the silver content or could be worth even more if one happens to be a rare date. “We help people sort through their coins for unique dates. We buy all types of coins at the Roadshow from wheat pennies to buffalo nickels, which are valuable from one coin to an entire truckload.

See you at the Roadshow.” said Fuller.

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“It’s a modern day gold rush,” said Roadshow President, Jeff Parsons.

Gold is now trading near 40 year highs, and you can cash in at the Treasure Hunters Roadshow. All types of gold are wanted, including gold coins, Krugerrands, Maple Leafs, and other gold bars, etc.

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report card

Bartolotta yields higher grades in evaluation Three of five commissioners said the city manager met or exceeded all expectations, while one commissioner felt Bob Bartolotta came in below expectations in 11 of 19 job-related categories.

By Robin Roy | City Editor

City Manager Bob Bartolotta received an improved job evaluation this year from a majority of commissioners. However, one commissioner, Mayor Kelly Kirschner, continues to be Bartolotta’s harshest critic.

Sarasota’s city managers are graded on 19 job-performance duties, including leadership, communication, professional knowledge and team approach.

Commissioners assign one of three numbers to grade his performance — a “three” exceeds expectations, a “two” meets expectations and a “one” is below expectations.

For the second Bartolotta consecutive year, Kirschner ranked Bartolotta “below expectations” in 11 of 19 areas.

The next-highest number of “below expectations” that he received was in three areas, from Commissioner Terry Turner.

Vice Mayor Fredd Atkins and commissioners Suzanne Atwell and Dick Clapp did not give the city manager any of the lowest grades.

Although it is not customary, Kirschner wrote in the margins of his evaluation form detailing the reasons for his sub-par

CHARTER OFFICIAL EVALUATIONS Grading scale: Exceeds expectations..........................................................................................3 Meets expectations..............................................................................................2 Below expectations..............................................................................................1

City Manager Commissioner Rating Fredd Atkins 2.00 Suzanne Atwell 2.72 Dick Clapp 2.84 Kelly Kirschner 1.48 Terry Turner 2.02 Aggregate rating 2.21

City Auditor and City Attorney Clerk Rating Rating 2.00 2.07 2.65 2.93 2.22 2.88 2.69 2.93 1.92 2.07 2.30 2.58

ratings.

Under quality-of-life issues, the mayor wrote that Bartlotta was below expectations in dealing with events, the waterfront and homelessness.

In the area of economic development and recovery, Kirschner cited the Palm Avenue parking garage retail space and parking meters as reasons he thought the city manager performed below expectations.

Kirschner and Bartolotta were at odds over how to treat the eight storefronts built into the parking garage.

The mayor wanted the city to retain ownership of the space and lease it, while the city manager advocated selling, saying the city is not in the commercial real-estate business.

The majority of the commission chose to sell.

Kirschner had been critical publicly of the city manager several times over the past year, including the most heated confrontation July 19 concerning the Police Advisory Panel.

At the time, Bartolotta accused the mayor of setting city staff up for failure, and the mayor shot back: “If you’re concerned about setting yourself up for failure, perhaps we need someone else in management.”

Atkins said the city manager met expectations in all 19 scoring areas this year.

Last year, he gave two “below expectations.”

Turner gave the same number of lowest and highest scores (four) in 2009 and

2010.

Last year, Bartolotta received 14 “exceeds expectations” from Clapp. That number rose to 15 this year.

Atwell’s scores showed the biggest change year-to-year. Last year, she gave Bartolotta three “below expectations” grades and two “exceeds expectations.”

This year she gave no “below expectations” and 13 “exceeds expectations.”

The commissioner said she talked to many citizens this year to help her with the evaluation.

“Overwhelmingly, they said he seems to be everywhere,” she said. “He has great negotiation skills. He has the commission’s back.”

One of the biggest criticisms of the city manager last year was that he did not appear in public much. Bartolotta vowed to work on that, and he is now a regular fixture at community meetings, such as the Downtown Improvement District and Downtown Sarasota Alliance.

For the second year, Atwell lobbied for a different system in which to evaluate the three charter officials, which include the city auditor and clerk and city attorney.

“This one-size-fits-all process doesn’t do our officials justice,” she said.

Atwell objects to the simplistic grading system that doesn’t allow the commissioners to explain why they gave the grades they did.

She suggested a new system, in which each commissioner would produce a narrative evaluation and a consultant would be hired to gain sentiment from the charter officials’ employees and the public.

For the second year, Atwell’s suggestion received no support from the other four commissioners.

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City Hall seeks federal earmark cash The city hopes Congress will attach onto House and Senate bills several spending requests to help pay for more than $100 million in local projects.

By Robin Roy | City Editor

The city is nearly doubling the number of federal earmarks it is requesting this year from Congress.

Through its Washington, D.C., lobbyist, Marlowe and Co., City Hall seeks federal funding for nine projects this year. The combined cost for those projects could reach more than $100 million. (See box.)

Last year, the city requested funding for five projects.

The earmark request is an annual exercise City Hall undertakes in January.

Because a transportation bill is likely to work its way through Congress in 2011, Marlowe and Co. suggested the city go heavy on transportation-related requests.

The improvement projects that the lobbyist will try to attach onto a transportation bill include: • Downtown circulator — a streetcar-type transit system with frequent stops at Sarasota’s most popular business and cultural attractions.

• Bayfront-connectivity plan — a newly designed roadway, which would include roundabouts and

Rachel S. O’Hara

The city’s Washington, D.C., lobbyist, Marlowe and Co., will ask Congress to include a $500,000 earmark for Lido Beach renourishment, possibly on a Water Resource Development Act bill. extra room for transit, bikes and pedestrians.

• Advanced traffic-light management system — upgrades of 43 city traffic signals to integrate the city’s signal system into Sarasota and Manatee counties’ regional system.

• U.S. 41 and Main Street roundabout — The project not only would create a roundabout but includes possible retail opportunities along the route from downtown to the bayfront.

With U.S. Rep. Vern Buchan-

an, R-Longboat Key, now sitting on the House Transportation Committee, commissioners are hopeful that he might be able to provide a little extra influence for those requests.

The congressman will be invited to a City Commission meeting in the near future, so commissioners can pitch him their projects.

The city will also seek money to help pay for the renourishment of Lido Beach, an upgraded record-management system for the

PROJECT PROPOSALS 2011 earmark requests Project Estimated cost $53 million Bayfront connectivity $20 million Lido Beach renourishment $13 million Downtown circulator $6 million U.S. 41 and Main Street roundabout up to $3 million Marion Anderson brownfield site cleanup $2 million Traffic-signal management system $1 million Homeless day center Newtown medical center $1 million $500,000 Police-records system upgrade $99.5 million Total 2010 earmark requests Project Estimated cost $20 million Lido Beach renourishment $13 million Downtown circulator $1 million Homeless day center $500,000 Police-records system upgrade $500,000 Robert L. Taylor after-school program $35 million Total Sarasota Police Department, a new public/private medical center for Newtown and the cleanup of contamination at the Marion Anderson brownfield site.

Lido Beach renourishment was on last year’s earmark list.

Congress provided $250,000 for that project, but the city is requesting $500,000 more this year for permitting and design work.

The city’s lobbyist suggested

not including a request that went unfulfilled last year, because it would likely not be met in 2011 either.

The creation of a homeless facility to provide daytime programs for the city’s homeless would cost an estimated $1 million.

A unanimous City Commission wanted Marlowe and Co. to request money for the project this year.

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12A

The sarasota Observer THURSDAY, january 6, 2011

NeWS

www.YourObserver.com

MOVIN’ ON UP

Observer moves its offices to Main Street The Observer and its sister publication, Gulf Coast Business Review, opened their new offices at 1970 Main St., in downtown Sarasota.

By The Observer Staff

After five years in the Enterprise Building at 1517 State St., The Observer Group made a move to Main Street while closed for the holidays from Dec. 27 to Dec. 31. Employees started off the New Year Jan. 3 at their new digs on the third and fourth floors of the Crisp Building, 1970 Main St. The Observer Group’s neighbors in the Crisp Building include Italian restaurant Mediterraneo and First Step of Sarasota.

The Observer still maintains offices on Longboat Key and in Lakewood Ranch, but the down-

town office space is The Observer’s flagship, which houses its administrative offices, sales and production staffs and The Sarasota Observer’s editorial staff.

The Observer staff resides on the fourth floor, while the Gulf Coast Business Review staff is located on the third. In total, approximately 50 people work out of the office.

Demolition on the new space began in December 2009 after The Observer Group contracted with architect Barron Schimberg, of The Schimberg Group Inc., and contractors Youbar Builders.

Schimberg’s goal was to create

on tape Not only were hundreds of boxes taped up for The Observer’s big move, but Barron Schimberg and his staff were busy taping up the new entrances to both The Observer and Gulf Coast Business Review.

Taping, you ask?

Schimberg created dramatic entrance walls using a form of tape art. Watch a video of Schimberg in action on YourObserver.com.

an urban space.

“We wanted to keep it industrial, but give a feeling of home in an urban industrial setting,” says Schimberg. “The glass walls function to get as much natural light into the middle of the office, and we tried to keep things exposed and as industrial as possible but not cold.”

The new office space now has a mix of old and new: The original hardwood floors are restored, and exposed clay brick walls combine with sleek, contemporary, glass-walled offices and conference rooms that feature state-of-the-art technology.

“It was definitely a challenging project,” said Knickole Barger Curtis, vice president of Youbar Builders. “We had to be creative as far as conforming the old building to the needs of new technology and energy-efficient products. “ To visit The Observer and Gulf Coast Business Review during office hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, you can access each office via the Crisp Building elevator on Main Street. Parking is available on Main Street, or visitors can park in the Courthouse Centre – Synovus Bank parking garage on the second, third or fourth floors in parking spaces marked for visitors.

Today, my mom lost her job and I might have to go live with my grandma.

Photos by Rachel S. O’Hara

The Observer and Gulf Coast Business Review occupy the third and fourth floors of the Crisp Building, 1970 Main St.

The Observer’s office design combines the old and new. On the fourth floor, the building’s original hardwood floors are paired with contemporary glass-walled offices.

Today, I helped families stay together.

Today, the need is great.

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All of the money – 100% – goes directly to those who need it most.

You can help.

Your donation to Season of Sharing helps others stay in their homes and care for their families. It helps them get through extraordinarily difficult times.

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Economic recovery is slow, while community needs continue to grow. Your assistance is needed more than ever. Today, please make your donation at www.CFSarasota.org.

THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SARASOTA COUNTY, INC. MEETS ALL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED BY THE FLORIDA SOLICITATION OF CONTRIBUTIONS ACT. A COPY OF OUR OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES

BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-435-7352, WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. ONE HUNDRED PERCENT (100%) OF EACH CONTRIBUTION IS RECEIVED BY THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION. REGISTRATION #SC02471.

The sarasota Observer THURSDAY, january 6, 2011

www.YourObserver.com

13A

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The United States Rare Coin and Bullion Reserve Vault Facility today announces the final release of U.S. Gov’t Issued Gold Coins previously held in The West Point Depository/ U.S. Mint. For a limited time, U.S. citizens will have the opportunity to purchase these $5 Gov’t Issued Gold Coins for the incredible at-cost price of only $159.06 per coin. An amazing price because these U.S. Gov’t Issued Gold Coins are completely free of dealer markup. That’s correct, our cost. This may be your final opportunity to buy U.S. Gov’t Issued Gold Coins at-cost. The Gold market, which recently skyrocketed past $1,400 an ounce, is predicted by experts to have the explosive upside potential of reaching up to $5,000 an ounce in the future. Please be advised: our U.S. Gov’t Gold inventory will be priced at $159.06 per coin for 30 days only. These coins may sell-out. Call Today! The United States Rare Coin and Bullion Reserve will release these U.S. Gov’t Issued Gold Coins at-cost on a first-come, first-serve basis. Orders that are not immediately received with the order center could be subject to cancellation and your checks returned uncashed. Good luck. We hope that everyone will have a chance to purchase this special U.S. Gov’t Issued Gold at-cost. Order your Gold immediately to avoid disappointment. Special arrangements can be made for Gold orders of $50,000.

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14A

www.YourObserver.com

INBRIEF

The sarasota Observer THURSDAY, january 6, 2011

NeWS

Meetings & agendas

+ Downtown parking meters to sprout by spring

+ Two more candidates enter City Commission races

Beginning in the spring, drivers will have to pay to park in more than 600 downtown parking spaces.

The City Commission approved Jan. 3 a $510,000 contract with contractor Duncan Industries to install parking meters by May. The high-tech meters strategically placed downtown will allow for coin, credit-card and even cell-phone payment.

The meters will be installed within a quarter-mile of three public parking garages — Palm Avenue garage, Second Street garage at Whole Foods and the Ringling Boulevard garage across from the police department and sheriff’s office.

The theory behind placing meters near the garages is to encourage more people, especially downtown employees, to use the parking structures and leave the on-street spaces for diners and shoppers.

Metered parking is believed to increase turnover in those spaces, which allows consumers to more easily find an open spot.

The commission will discuss next month how much to charge and how long a driver can park in a single space.

City Commissioner Dick Clapp now has an opponent in the spring election. Restaurateur Paul Caragiulo has announced that he will run for the District 2 commission seat.

Also joining entering a City Commission race is Diana Hamilton, who will run in District 3.

It’s the second City Commission campaign for each candidate.

Caragiulo ran for one of two at-large seats in 2009. He lost in a runoff to Suzanne Atwell and Terry Turner.

Hamilton also tried for an at-large seat but lost that 2005 election.

“I want us to be more of a can-do government,” said Hamilton, a garden designer who lives in Laurel Park. “We say we’re open to business but make it hard for (businesses).”

She will face two other candidates, Shannon Snyder and Pete Theisen, who are running for the District 2 seat, which Mayor Kelly Kirschner is vacating.

Caragiulo is also running on a platform of improving business conditions in Sarasota.

“I want to make this place more attractive (to businesses),” he said. “It’s very com-

plicated and cumbersome to get something done here.”

Since he last ran for commission, the Caragiulo family opened one new restaurant, Owen’s Fish Camp, and plans to open another one soon, Nancy’s Bar-B-Q.

+ Nine women arrested in prostitution sting The Sarasota Police Department conducted an undercover prostitution sting Jan. 3 in Indian Beach/Sapphire Shores and other north Sarasota neighborhoods.

Nine suspected prostitutes, ranging in age from 22 to 52, were arrested.

+ Selby Five Points Park lights will be illuminated With the flick of a switch, Selby Five Points Park will become the first known public park to be lit with color-changing LED lights.

An elaborate computerized lighting system will be draped in all of the park’s 26 trees, each of which will have 200 small lights in its canopy.

It will be lit for the first time at 7 p.m.

 Parks Advisory and Recreation Council — 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 6, County Administration Center, 1660 Ringling Blvd.  County Commission — 9 a.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 11, Robert L. Anderson Administration Center, 4000 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice  Charter Review Committee — 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 11, City Hall, 1565 First St.  County Commission — 9 a.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 12, County Administration Center, 1660 Ringling Blvd.

Friday, Jan. 7.

The system is capable of creating 60 million different color tones, which will give the park the ability to feature different colors for different occasions, such as red, white and blue on the Fourth of July or red and green at Christmastime.

John Moran, the project coordinator for the Downtown Improvement District and Downtown Sarasota Alliance, helped secure the $81,000 in grants and contributions to fund the system’s purchase.

11 — Number of job-performance categories for which Mayor Kelly Kirschner rated City Manager Bob Bartolotta as “below expectations.” Page 10A

Dalton Kevin A. DAlton, Realtor® 941-918-0570 | 941-928-9106 cell stoneygolf@verizon.net

RemAx AlliAnCe GRoUP | 2000 Webber Street | Sarasota

STONEYBROOK GOLF & C.C. Wonderful 4Bd/3BA home With spectAculAr vieWs of the 18th fairway featuring a fantastic kitchen with granite and,new stainless steel appliances. Home has plantation shutters, spacious master-suite,built-ins, pool bath,hurricane shutters,heated pool & spa,newer ac system and 3 car garage. $529,000 Paver brick drive & walk, lush landscaping. Golf equity included. shoWs like A model! Carlton Veranda overlooking lake & 17th fairway.Beautiful neutral large tiled floors, enclosed lanai, cathedral ceilings,gorgeous furnishings and beautifully decorated. New AC system, 1 car garage,steps frrom heated pool. Golf equity included. Renovated fitness center & Clubhouse. $219,000 sensAtionAl Golf & WAter vieWs overlooking the 3rd green and lake. 2BD + den 1st floor.

Veranda in excellent condition with tiled flrs. 2 lanais, new ac system, turn-key, near heated pool, 1 car ga$249,000 rage, full golf equity incl. renovated fitness ctr. + clubhouse.

GreAt mAintenAnce free villA in Pebble Creek section, 2BR+den, crown molding, tiled flrs, huge walk-in closets, tropical setting, tiled lanai, heated pool + spa. Full golf equity included, stable commu$335,000 nity, debt free, fabulous clubhouse. fABulous 1661 sq.ft turn-key.end unit verAndA overlooking 7th fairway.

2/3BR+Den,encl. tiled lanai,plantation shutters,cathedral ceilings,wet bar,built-ins,upgraded $313,000 tiled flrs.,garage. Full golf equity incl.renovated fitness ctr & clubhouse.

BeAutifully decorAted And furnished 1661 Sq. Ft. End Unit veranda overlooking 7th fairway, 2/3BR + Den, chair rails, mirrored dining room, tiled flrs., walk-in closets, near pool + tennis. Golf equity $315,000 incl. Financially stable + debt free community. fABulously priced 2nd flr, turn-key furnished 2BD/2BA corner unit with a ”complete makeover”, fresh paint, new carpet, new appliances, new furniture, tiled lanai & much more. Full golf equity incl. stun$187,000 ning new grill room, renovated clubhouse. Assumable annual lease in place for 2010. fAntAstic 2/3Bd Veranda with outstanding water & golf views of the 7th green & lake.Features granite counters, upgraded cabinets,tiled flrs.,enclosed lanai, den with built-ins,new AC system close $249,000 to heates pool. Full golf equity incl.Debt free/financially stable community.

BriGht & cheery 2BD/2BA true/end/corner unit on ground flr with golf views. Condo has brand new above average furnishings, newer carpets& AC system, freshly painted, extra windows for more light. Full golf equity incl. Renovated clubhouse with stunning new grill room. Assumable rental in$178,000 come in place for 2010 season. country cluB livinG At its Best!! Well maintained 2BR/2BA furnished Condo overlooking the 2nd fairway, tiled flrs, new upgraded carpeting, dry bar, steps from pool, golf $168,900 equity incl. renovated fitness Ctr. & clubhouse. Debt free community Wonderful home w/ beautiful lake views, featuring sprawling tiled floors, cathedral ceilings, huge family room, spacious kitchen, corian counters, new fixtures, freshly painted, new carpet, hurricane shutters and large lanai. Golf equity incl. renovated fitness center & clubhouse. Debt free & financially stable community. $374,900 enJoy Golf & WAter vieWs plus morning sun & evening sunsets from this 1661 sq. ft. 2/3 with den Abbey Veranda enJoy fABulous Golf & WAter vieWs from this well maintained 2BD/2BA top floor Condo on 3rd fairway. Beautifully furnished & decorated, tiled floors,cathedral ceilings,berber $183,900 carpets,fresh paint,new appliances,enclosed lanai. Golf Equity incl.

A sensAtionAl end unit ABBey verAndA overlooking the 17th fairway, 2BD + Den with encl. tiled lanai,crown molding, wet bar,built-ins.beautifully decorated & furnished,mirrored dining, new ac, new appliances,hurricane shutters, full golf equity incl. renovated clubhouse & fitness Ctr. $313,900

YourObserver.com You. Your Neighbors. Your Neighborhood.

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on 18th fairway. Turn-key, cathedral ceilings, enclosed lanai, well maintained. Full golf equity incl. Assumable rental income for 2011 season. Renovated fitness center and clubhouse. open house sundAy 9480 High Gate Dr. #2121 $304,000

The sarasota Observer THURSDAY, january 6, 2011

BUSINESS â&#x20AC;˘ NeWS

www.YourObserver.com

15A

BUSINESS SLICE Continued from Page 1A Professional of OBSERVER +theYoung Year finally lands job >>

Courtesy photo

Alice Abernathy graduated from New College in the spring. A biochemistry major, Abernathy received a prestigious Fulbright grant and is currently in Madrid studying molecular probes alongside Dr. Victor Parro Garcia at Centro de Astrobiologica.

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Frank Maggio in his favorite floral shirt, showing The Sarasota Observer his pearly whites during an interview for Young Professional of the Year last June. Although he was seeking employment at the time, Maggio managed to dazzle the judges for the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Small Business of the Year Awards and nab the title of Young Professional of the Year.

Ten months later, after networking his booty off while meeting with young Maggio

professionals and business leaders, in addition to scoring contract gigs in credit writing and loan analysis, Maggio, 35, accepted a position in credit administration with Insignia Bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s downtown office. A graduate of Florida State University and the Florida School of Banking, he is active in numerous professional organizations, including the Sarasota Chamber, Leadership Sarasota, YPG and the Risk Management Association.

Maggio says his future goals are to run for city commission and become File photo mayor.

Courtesy photo

+ USF students and staff get into the giving holiday spirit

Students and staff at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee recently donated holiday toys to 47 local elementary children in need, along with food baskets for 30 families.

Starting in November, an angel tree was placed on campus that listed the names of students in need from two local elementary schools and included their holiday wish lists. After several weeks of gathering bikes, dolls, video games and food, the gifts were donated. The USF Student Government Association organizes the project.

+ New College ranked No. 11 among top public colleges

+ Doctors Express opens urgent care center Community residents and neighbors are invited to an open house from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 15, at the Doctors Express neighborhood urgent care center, located at 2901 S. Tamiami Trail. The open house will feature complimentary health screenings and a tour of the new center, which opened Jan. 3 and is the first Doctors Express in Sarasota. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At Doctors Express, we understand the health-care challenges facing Americans, and our goal is to provide solutions that make health care more accessible and affordable to the Sarasota community,â&#x20AC;? said co-owner Richard Kimsey in a prepared statement. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We want people to be seen by compassionate physicians and health-care workers who feel that high-quality health care and kindness work hand-in-hand for the best possible patient care.â&#x20AC;? Doctors Express is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. For information, visit www.

DoctorsExpress.com/Sarasota or call 3644379.

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Snaith, director of the Institute for Economic Competitiveness at the University of Central Florida, and panelists Al Carlson, president of Sun Hydraulics Corp.; Shaun Merriman, president and CEO of Gateway Bank of Southwest Florida; and Ken Sanborn, CEO of Sanborn Studios LLC; will engage in a panel discussion moderated by EDC Chairman David Sessions. Tickets are $65 and may be reserved online at www. edcsarasotacounty.com/calendar.asp. For information, call 309-1200, Ext. 103.

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Kiplingerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Personal Finance Magazine ranked New College of Florida No. 11 on its annual ranking of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;100 Best Values in Public Collegesâ&#x20AC;? for 2011. This year marks the eighth consecutive time that New College has placed among the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top-20 public colleges overall on the Kiplingerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s list of schools. Schools are ranked according to cost and financial aid, as well as academic quality, admission and retention rates, student-faculty ratios and four- and six-year graduation rates. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For 50 years since our founding, New College has consistently provided a studentcentered education focused on academic excellence, strong faculty mentoring and independent study,â&#x20AC;? said New College President Mike Michalson in a prepared statement. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re delighted that Kiplingerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s continues to recognize the high caliber and affordable education New College offers its students.â&#x20AC;?

Complete rankings are available online at http://www.kiplinger.com/tools/colleges.

*Financial Planning Magazine Annual Broker Dealer Survey; June 2009 **STFP is not in the business of providing tax advice and this information although taken from public sources believed to be reliable, may not be accurate and complete. You should consult your CPA to fully understand how these tax issues could affect you. Investment Advisory Services offered through Southern Trust Financial Planning, Inc. Securities offered through Securities America, Inc. Member FINRA, SIPC. Southern Trust Financial Planning Inc. is not affiliated with Securities America Companies.

16A

The sarasota Observer THURSDAY, january 6, 2011

SCHOOLS

www.YourObserver.com

MCINTOSH MAGICIAN

Principal performer

By Loren Mayo | Community Editor

When David Jones married his wife, Kathy, it never dawned on her that she might wind up stuffed inside a box while more than a dozen swords sliced precariously past her body.

“We rehearsed the night before the show, and she let out the biggest scream,” Jones said. “I said, ‘Honey, you’ve got to keep that up for the show, and she said, ‘I’m not kidding, let me out of here!’ She had a huge gash on her neck.”

Jones got his first magic set in the 4th grade and was hooked immediately. The following year, he took a six-session magic class at the YMCA with Chicago magician Dave Mayer, and by the start of junior high, he was entertaining at birthday parties.

Following their wedding, the Jones started their own traveling stage show in Colorado, in which they performed anti drug-abuse assemblies for schools.

Seven years ago, when the 800 pounds of illusions became too much of a hassle to cart around, the couple sold everything. But Jones continued doing what he does best — inspiring children.

A teacher for more than 19 years, Jones was selected as principal of McIntosh Middle School in April. He transferred from Sarasota High School, where he held the position of assistant principal for the past three years.

McIntosh Middle Principal David Jones builds relationships with students by enchanting them with his magic prowess.

Loren Mayo

McIntosh Middle Schools students are mesmerized as Principal David Jones performs a card trick.

Inside his new office sit hundreds of books and DVDs on magic. Although he’s learned tons of tricks, he keeps about 30 active ones in his repertoire. His favorite trick is called the “Three Card Monte,” and his favorite place to perform is in the school cafeteria.

“I’ve always used magic in the cafeteria,”

Jones said. “It’s such a great way to connect with kids and, really, with anyone. If it’s done to entertain and build relationships, it’s a great thing.”

You’ll rarely see Jones without a deck of cards. During lunchtime, he moves from table to table, meeting with kids and getting to know them while astonishing them with

Magic principles  “Don’t be a smart aleck,” David Jones says. “The entertainment value is first and foremost. If it blows the mind, that’s fantastic. Let them be entertained and always wanting more.”  “I use mental magic. It’s the illusion that I’m able to read minds or anticipate what you’re thinking.”  “I like the ‘Magician in Trouble’ (trick). It looks like a trick has just been blown to heck and is not working out, but it has an amazing climax where everything does come together.

It’s among my favorite styles because it allows you to do some acting on top of it.”

slight of hand. He also runs the school’s magic club, where students learn three or four tricks and practice with each other to work out the kinks. He ran a similar magic club in the Colorado school system for about five years.

“I’m not the guy who’s going to be able to show you the latest move or going to impress a lot of magicians,” Jones says.

“Rather, I’m the guy who’s going to be able to connect with a lot of people and enjoy the experience.”

Visit our website to watch a video of Jones performing a magic trick. www.YourObserver.com

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The sarasota Observer THURSDAY, january 6, 2011

Dec. 29

Christmas spirit

I’ll take this to go

4 a.m. — 100 block of Central Avenue.

Suspicious Person. A woman was flagging down cars in the area. Once a driver stopped for her, the woman would signal someone in another nearby car, presumably to help her rob the driver she stopped. When a resident confronted the woman, she ran away and yelled frantically for her backup car to pick her up.

The woman was wearing a pink jumpsuit.

11:30 a.m. — 1600 block of Ringling Boulevard. Theft. A sandwich-shop owner said one of his delivery bicycles was stolen. It was parked in front of the shop at the time of the theft. Two other bikes were stolen the day before, but those suspects were caught and taken to jail. The bike was valued at $600.

9:01 p.m. — 2500 block of East Milmar Drive. Dispute. A homeowner got in an argument with the neighbor to the rear of his yard. He told police that the woman behind him was cussing at him and threatening him. When officers knocked on her door, she began to yell. But when she saw it was a police officer, she began to talk weakly and hold her side, saying she had just broken three ribs. The woman appeared to be drunk, and the officer told her to leave her neighbor alone.

Dec. 27

Juggling act

Forgetful parent 4:12 p.m. — 1600 block of North Lodge Drive. Suspicious Incident. A 4-month-old child was locked in a van, which was still running. The child was rescued and was unhurt.

5:48 p.m. — 5700 block of Bronx Avenue. Disturbance. A young woman told a sheriff ’s deputy that she had recently begun a relationship with a married man.

She said she had seen the man’s wife driving by her daughter’s day care facility several times, and she feels the wife may pose a danger. Later that day, the deputy was called to a disturbance at a home, which turned out to be the married couple’s home. The husband and wife were arguing over the fact that he was having an affair. The deputy told the husband to find a solution quickly, so that the sheriff ’s office was not called to intervene on a daily basis.

Free syMposiuM

Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Saturday, January 8, 2011 9 am – 1 pm

Thief trashes car 8:05 a.m. — 2100 block of Washington Boulevard. Stolen Vehicle and Vehicle Crash. Someone stole a car from a used car lot but didn’t realize the car had a kill switch on it, which shut down the engine.

A short distance from the business, the thief was not able to control the car and drove on the shoulder into a city garbage truck and a trash can. The driver left the scene.

Doors open and CEU registration begins at 8 am Community Information Tables 8 am - 1 pm

Bill Gates in training 5:55 p.m. — 5600 block of Clark Road.

Suspicious Person. A deputy responding to a report of a suspicious man had to determine whether the man was, in fact, suspicious. The evidence: A. He was selling laptops in a convenience-store parking lot. B. He seemed nervous and overly eager to please the deputy. C. The man supplied a Florida driver’s license number but had no actual driver’s license. He told the deputy he bought refurbished computers from a mobile-phone store for $20 to $30 and sells them for as much as he can. The deputy noted that the computers looked brand new, but the serial numbers did not come back as stolen. So, no crime was committed.

Dec. 28

Up on the rooftop 6:08 p.m. — 1000 South School Avenue. Juvenile Problem. The pilot of the sheriff ’s helicopter noticed four teens on the roof of a high school and called the police department. Officers caught up with the boys on the ground and asked them what they were doing. The teens said they were performing parkour — a freestyle activity in which the participants jump and flip off of high structures. The officer didn’t think the teens were doing anything criminal and just warned them to stay off the roof.

Cruise control 12:01 a.m. — 3900 block of Clark Road. Grand Theft. The former office manager at a medical business is accused of using a company credit card for his personal use. The man allegedly made $19,000 worth of personal purchases, including a cruise, and he hired his daughter to do some of the billing. When the business owner told the man to fire his daughter and take her off the payroll books, he never did. He continued to pay her under the table. The daughter is refusing to return a company computer that has confidential patient information on it.

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It’s taken me a long time to not be

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In case of inclement weather valet service will be provided at the front door of the Van Wezel.

Out of luck 2:56 p.m. — 4800 block of South Tamiami Trail. Civil Disturbance. A gambling business, which pays slot-machine winners in Visa cards, is accused of trying to avoid paying its winning customers. A woman said she is owed more than $200 and knows another woman in the same circumstance. She said every time she asks an employee for her money, he comes up with a different excuse. Another employee told her the business has no more money or cards to distribute and is still allowing customers to play the slots, while knowing that it will not be able to pay them if they win.

17A

CORNER

Dec. 25

Like a good neighbor

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Dr. SuSAn VoglMAier

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18A

The sarasota Observer THURSDAY, january 6, 2011

REAL ESTATE

www.YourObserver.com

REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

Casey Key home sells for $1.7 million

By Adam Hughes | Research Editor

The following residential real-estate transactions took place between Nov. 30 and Dec. 13. A home on Casey Key tops all real-estate transactions this week.

David and Susan MacRae, of Nokomis, sold their home at 621 Casey Key Road to Norbert and Ann Donelly, of Osprey, for $1.76 million. Built in 1950, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,140 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $950,000 in 1999.

SIESTA KEY Siesta Revised

Elevation 5-3740 Bayou Louise Lane LLC sold the home at 3740 Bayou Louise Lane to Pelican Dock Properties Inc. for $1.07 million. Built in 1995, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 1,606 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $613,500 in 2010.

Teresa Toole, of Nokomis, sold her home at 252 Garden Lane to Christopher Jessen and Laura Goldblatt, of Sarasota, for $260,000. Built in 1948, it has one bedroom, one bath and 628 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $195,000 in 2000.

Siesta Beach

Jonathan and Paula Stein, of Sarasota, sold their home at 5175 Oxford Drive to Lawrence and Cindy Hersom, of Sarasota, for $1 million. Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 3,309 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $262,300 in 1998.

the Unit 303 condominium at 5912 Midnight Pass Road to James Boschert, of Cincinnati, for $340,000. Built in 1971, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 830 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $363,000 in 2003.

Siesta Isles

Helen Gorecki, of Sarasota, sold her home at 5207 Cape Leyte Drive to Karen MacLellan, of Sarasota, for $616,000.

Built in 1974, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,269 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $321,000 in 1998.

Anna Pech, of Sarasota, sold her home at 821 Idlewild Way to John Desideri and Kim Miezok-Desideri, of Saint James, N.Y., for $425,000. Built in 1975, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,008 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $62,200 in 1975.

Siesta Manor

Michael Major, of Occoquan, Va., sold the home at 345 Avenida Leona to James and Michelle Driggers, of Maitland, for $265,000. Built in 1968, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,152 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $500,000 in 2004.

La Siesta

Polynesian Gardens

Lonnie and Judith Collins, of Madison, Ind., sold their Unit B-11 condominium at 1320 Moonmist Drive to Glenn DuVall, of Sarasota, for $615,000. Built in 1968, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,790 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $885,000 in 2007.

Terrace East

Edward Solecki, trustee, sold the Unit 601 condominium at 5300 Ocean Blvd. to Timothy Haake, of Sarasota, for $545,000. Built in 1973, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,446 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $162,000 in 1983.

Harbour Towne

Guy and Karen Warren, of Lake Success, N.Y., sold their Unit 205 condominium at 1219 Dockside Place to Robert Ruiz and Sheri Lasley, of Sarasota,

Rachel S. O’Hara

This home at 3740 Bayou Louise Lane has three bedrooms, three baths and 1,606 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.07 million.

for $425,000. Built in 1982, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,326 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $465,000 in 2001.

Princes Gate

U.S. Bank NA, trustee, sold the home at 1279 Whitehall Place to Paul and Dolores Gamarello, of Sarasota, for $342,500.

Built in 1962, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 3,134 square feet of living area.

It previously sold for $875,000 in 2005.

Sarasota Surf and Racquet Club

Siesta Key Beach Property LLC sold

David Smith, trustee, sold the Unit 105 condominium at 901 Beach Road to Dayal and Jayanthi Kiringoda, of Akron, Ohio, for $255,000. Built in 1972, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 753 square feet of living area.

SARASOTA 100 Central

A. Alexander and Marilyn Fungaroli sold their Unit K817 condominium at 100 Central Ave. to Ronald and Joan Huebner, of Sarasota, for $600,000. Built in 2005, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,707 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $606,000 in 2006.

Cottage Walk

Gulfside Homes Twin Oaks LLP sold the Unit 1 condominium at 1829 Laurel St. to Brett and Shivaun Buggeln, of Sarasota, for $400,000. Built in 2009, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 1,537 square feet of living area.

Lake Park

JP Morgan Mortgage Acquisition Corp. sold the home at 1666 Spring Creek Drive to Mark and Elizabeth Baldwin, of Sarasota, for $340,000. Built in 1962, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,691 square feet of living area.

Free Joint Pain Seminar

Phillippi Landings

Edward and Elvira Tkach sold their Unit 506 condominium at 5591 Cannes Circle to Gennaro Villella, of Niagara Falls, N.Y., for $286,000. Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,024 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $604,000 in 2006.

PL Development A LLC sold the Unit 504 condominium at 1921 Monte Carlo Drive to Lawrence Morse, trustee, for $223,000.

Built in 2006, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,706 square feet of living area.

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Taylor Scott, of Sarasota, sold his home at 1716 Hawthorne St. to Michael and Tracey McIntosh, of Sarasota, for $265,000. Built in 1925, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,855 square feet of living area.

YMCA Frank G. Berlin, Sr., Branch 1075 South Euclid Avenue Sarasota, FL 34237

When:

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Time:

12:00 Noon (light refreshments will be served)

Ashley Oaks

Tricia Fulton, of Sarasota, sold the home at 3204 Woodberry Lane to Helen Gorecki, of Sarasota, for $220,000. Built in 1998, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,732 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $232,000 in 2005.

South Gate

Nicholas Rockwell, of Bancroft, Maine, sold his home at 3513 Mineola Drive to Kyle Hembree, of Sarasota, for $220,000. Built in 1956, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 2,680 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $220,900 in 1998.

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Visit our website to read more real-estate transactions www.YourObserver.com

The sarasota Observer THURSDAY, january 6, 2011

RAINFALL

MOON PHASES

Sarasota

Mon., Dec. 27 Tues., Dec. 28 Wed., Dec. 29 Thurs., Dec. 30 Fri., Dec. 31 Sat., Jan. 1 Sun., Jan. 2 Year-to-date:

WEATHER 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01

2011 .01 in

2010 1.19 in.

Month to date: 2011

.01 in

2010 1.19 in.

Jan. 12 First

Jan. 19 Full

Jan. 26 Last

Feb. 3 New

www.YourObserver.com

19A

WEEKLY WINNEr: BRIDGE BEAUTY

TemperatureS

Temps.

Record Temps.

Low High Low High Mon., Dec. 27 51 35 86 (1988) 24 (1983) Tues., Dec. 28 55 27 84 (1991) 27 (2010) Wed., Dec. 29 59 31 85 (1990) 31 (2010) Thurs., Dec. 30 73 43 86 (1990) 31 (1961) Fri., Dec. 31 78 57 87 (1990) 29 (1926) Sat., Jan. 1 77 57 85 (1991) 30 (2001) Sun., Jan. 2 72 57 84 (1989) 28 (1918)

Albert Horrigan submitted this sunset photo overlooking the John Ringling Causeway. Enter your local sunset or sunrise photos for The Observer’s weather photo contest, sponsored by Cool Today. Each week’s winner will receive a $50 restaurant gift card. Please send your photos to The Sarasota Observer, 1970 Main St., Sarasota, Fla., 34236, or e-mail them to nschwartz@yourobserver.com.

Average Gulf water temperature: 54.6

Sunrise/sunset

TIDE CHART

Highs 2:21p — 12:33a 2:38p 1:16a 2:58p 2:04a 3:23p 3:00a 3:52p 4:11a 4:26p 5:49a 5:05p

Thurs., Jan. 6 Fri., Jan. 7 Sat., Jan. 8 Sun., Jan. 9 Mon., Jan. 10 Tues., Jan. 11 Wed., Jan. 12

HVAC # CACO55539 • Plumbing # CFC1428238 • Electrical # EC13004000

Lows 8:07a 7:07p 8:35a 8:01p 9:03a 8:59p 9:31a 10:02p 9:59a 11:11p 10:28a — 12:27a 10:56a

Thurs., Jan. 6 Fri., Jan. 7 Sat., Jan. 8 Sun., Jan. 9 Mon., Jan. 10 Tues., Jan. 11 Wed., Jan. 12

Sunrise 7:22 7:22 7:22 7:22 7:22 7:22 7:22

RED TIDE

Sunset 5:51 5:52 5:53 5:53 5:54 5:55 5:56

Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism, was not detected alongshore or offshore Sarasota Friday, Dec. 31, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute.

Get your daily weather conditions at Yourobserver.com

HVAC # CACO55539  Plumbing # CFC1428238  Electrical # EC13004000

cooltoday.com

cooltoday.com (800) 940-9297

Air Conditioning • Heating & More facebook.com / GetTheBestFromTODAY

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T H E O B S E R V E R C R O S S WO R D Edited by Timothy E. Parker

22 24 25 26 27 29 30 32 33 34 37 38 39 43 45 48 49 51 52 53 54 55 57 58 59 61 65 67

1.

68

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a division of Cool Today Electrical, Solar and Energy Solutions

In A STEw by Gary Cooper

ACROSS 1 Have one’s eyes 6 12 18 19 21

C R Y P T O G R A M S by Myles Mellor

a division of Cool Today

50020

76

77 79 82 85 87

fixed?

Love song Fix a program Enjoy immensely 88 Just plain dumb 89 Belushi character on “SNL” 90 Black-and-white 92 shorebird 94 Inform (of) 95 Subtle chuckle 98 Debater’s position Diplomatic asset 99 D-J connection 101 Appointment book 102 entry 104 Art ___ (style of the Chrysler Building) 105 Anger Hairy arm-swinger 106 Not all Places to picnic 107 Fraidy-cat ___ Del Rey, Calif.

108 Silky-coated hunter Maiden name 111 indicator 112 High-tech eatery, once Nada They’re often caught 113 119 on the beach 121 Chew like a beaver Regatta rowers 124 Pair 125 ___ Lanka 126 Fatigued 127 Home of the 128 Globetrotters Lord of the manor Without a hair out of 129 place Cambridgeshire 1 cathedral city 2 Advice after a bad golf shot Mention as an 3 afterthought 4 Pueblo tribe of New Mexico 5 Rejected draftee’s 6 condition

Letter getter Vietnam’s capital Attorney’s area Apple center Shape of the president’s office Toledo’s state French artist Bonheur “___, humbug!”

GQ rival Japanese currency Exaggerated tales Not mounted, like some gems Aviator Earhart Use a crib sheet Badlands formation Two-way poetic preposition Last word in the Pledge of Allegiance Encourage criminally Early software version Search stealthily, as for prey Sheepshank, e.g.

Ending for “pamphlet” or “racket” Cascades mount Alfresco Memorable Clara Peller ad line Baltic republic Restraint for Houdini Less speculative Risque beachwear “Alice ___ Live Here Anymore” Gregg expert dOwn Mail-chute opening Diggs of “How Stella Got Her Groove Back” Semicircular area Hitter of 60 homers in 1927 Sport blade Big name in lighters and pens

7 AC-to-DC device 71 Much-watched judge 8 British volume in 1995 measure 72 Give counsel to 9 Off one’s trolley 73 More cherished 10 Part of NCAA (Abbr.)

74 Erase with a 11 They have keystroke something to lose 75 Chaotic place, so to 12 ___ sheet (arrest speak record) 78 Person, place or 13 Butterfly or penguin thing, in grammar 14 Time for a teen to 79 Georgetown athlete come home 80 “Pay attention to 15 Not a dupl. me!”

16 Smidgen of salt 81 Full complement of 17 ___-O (“Old baseball players MacDonald” refrain) 83 ___ School (early 20 Saltines 20th-century art 21 Utilized a stool group) 23 Give a face-lift to 84 Bathroom sink 28 Hepburn, to Tracy, 86 Odometer button often 89 100 dinars, in Iran 31 Friendly relations 90 Dory or ferry 32 “Matilda” author 91 Guggenheim stuff Roald 93 Sine ___ non 33 Boardwalk coolers 95 Like fattening foods 34 Geronimo’s tribe 96 Cut canines 35 Like mice, men and 97 “Nature” writer geese?

Ralph Waldo 36 Casual restaurant 100 “Rabbit Hill” author 37 Frodo’s companion Robert 38 Pressure meas.

103 Band worn at a 40 Christie or Quindlen beauty pageant 41 Place for the 107 Contents of some caboose six-packs 42 Like a morning 108 Frost or Longfellow meadow 109 Campus recruitment 44 Mournful wail event 46 Calcutta’s country 110 Germany’s “Iron 47 Evening up the score Chancellor” von 50 Professional pitcher Bismarck 53 Come by 111 Mauna ___ (Hawaii’s 56 Yard filler highest peak) 58 Diminish gradually 112 Great Lake 60 Place for 114 Rudolf or Myra embroidery scissors 115 Share a border with 62 Animal on the 116 Moistureless 117 Human between 12 Australian 50-cent and 20 coin 118 Woodstock do 63 Firearm 120 Show a lack of 64 Keebler character respect, in slang 66 Slackens 122 Cause of team 69 Alternative to pounds (Abbr.) discord, sometimes 70 Chinese fruit (Var.) 123 Dynamite

Last weeks Cryptograms 1. What do a very good high wire troupe and an accountant have in common? It’s simple. They are both balancing pros.

2. Even though my dinner at the club was just wonderful, I suddenly had a big craving for Dijon Vu, the same mustard as before.

24A

The sarasota Observer THURSDAY, january 6, 2011

www.YourObserver.com

Getting Ahead Of The Market In 2011 As 2011 kicks off, there’s ample reason to feel upbeat about the New Year. Buoyed by the strongest holiday spending since 2006, retail sales will end 2010 on a high note. Meanwhile, corporate earnings are up, there’s growth in the manufacturing sector; and the number of people applying for unemployment benefits fell last week to the second-lowest level since July 2008.

Investor confidence is also up. Since the bull market began in March 2009, the S. & P. 500 has risen more than 86 percent; with a strong year-end surge pushing it up 20 percent since September alone.

Consumer confidence is at its highest level in five months, suggesting that people not only feel better about the economy but also more secure in their own circumstances. The extension of the Bush tax cuts will also give a welcome boost to everyone’s discretionary spending.

Locally, foreclosed properties will continue to challenge the pace of our housing recovery. Still, with much the same selling environment present throughout 2010, the agents of Michael Saunders & Company managed to finish the year with unit sales up 30.3% and dollar volume up 23.1%, versus 2009. By comparison the overall market was up 3% in units and .5% in dollar volume.

Forecasts from such closely-watched sources as Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s, Wells-Fargo, the Mortgage Bankers Association, Forbes, Morgan Stanley, Bloomberg News and the Wall Street Journal call

for an increase in home-buying activity during 2011, if only a modest one. The past few years have been fraught with tough economic lessons, prompting most of us to save more and spend judiciously.

The world goes on, however; and in a Florida, whose on-going growth has just earned it two more seats in the House of Representatives, new arrivals (along with those trading up, down or sideways) will help further diminish our inventory of properties.

Still, with foreclosures keeping these inventories out of balance with demand, prices nationally could recede on average by as much as 6 – 9 percent in 2011. Whether or not they do in Florida, remains to be seen. But one thing is known for sure. Local home prices are at levels not seen since 2001, well before the housing bubble sent them soaring. At this point, the savviest buyers are paying closer attention to what the home will cost over the life of the mortgage; as a modest up-tick in interest rates could potentially blunt the benefit of any additional price declines.

Mortgage rates should remain historically low—for now—but are forecast in many circles to increase between now and the end of the year. For this reason, buyers should think about securing a mortgage closer to the beginning of 2011, rather than later on in the year.

Meanwhile, if your goal is to sell your home in 2011, here’s why you should think of listing it within the next 90 days:

• Interest rates have spiked recently, jumping over ½ point in the last several weeks. Such volatility is causing many buyers to act now for fear that rates could climb later in the year. Plus, if rates do go up, the number of buyers who qualify to purchase homes at each price point—including yours—will diminish proportionately.

• If your goal in selling is to trade up to a larger, more deluxe or even smaller property, the time is now to take advantage of the widest section of buying opportunities currently available at below-market values.

• Now is the busiest time of year in our market, with seasonal buyers in town actively combing the market for the unprecedented values they’ve been hearing about all year long in the local, national and international media. That means MORE potential showings to MORE eager and motivated buyers.

• Whatever your true reason is for wanting to sell, once you become a buyer again you too can enjoy today’s unprecedented values.

The best environment for buying or selling in 2011 will likely occur between now and the end of March. Talk to an agent from Michael Saunders & Company to explore how you can maximize your buying or selling opportunities by acting now and getting ahead of the market.

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AR T S | E N T E R T A I N M E N T | S O C I E T Y | F O O D | F A S H I O N | D é C O R

mood music

The Observer www.YourObserver.com

thursday january 6, 2011

by Heidi Kurpiela | A&E Editor

Heidi Kurpiela

“I’m really honored to have been accepted for my music,” Katt Hefner says. “There are fans and friends all over the place, and I’m utterly grateful for their support.”

Vocal point

The leading lady of the Katt Hefner Trio talks about her confidence, her shyness, her voice and all that jazz.

K

att Hefner is running late for her Thursday night gig at The Loft Ristobar. She’s stuck in traffic and getting over a cold, the tail end of

which has not affected her voice: a honeyed, four-octave purr that Sarasota jazz-lovers have swooned over for years.

By the time the singer walks into the east Sarasota lounge,

a crowd of friends has already gathered to see her. Her keyboardist, Kenny Drew Jr., and bass player, Joe Porter, have set up their instruments on stage.

HEFNER CONTINUED ON PAGE 3B

INSIDE

BLACK TIE THE SOCIAL OBSERVER

Black Tie’s picks for seven events to attend in 2011 PAGE 7B

GUEsT FASHION EDITOR Lynn Barrie’s worldly travels influence her fashion choices / 10B

BACKSTAGE PASS

Choreographer Jimmy Hoskins / 4B

2B

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THE FSU/ASOLO CONSERVATORY FOR ACTOR TRAINING PRESENTS

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Another swell season begins at

Mic hael’s On Eas t

After three years of lying low on Bird Key, retired Sarasota Ballet Director Robert de Warren ended 2010 with a bang.

The Carreño Dance Festival, which de Warren founded earlier this year with American Ballet Theatre (ABT) dancer José Manuel Carreño, debuted before a full house Dec. 21 at the Sarasota Opera House.

Dancing the balcony scene from “Romeo and Juliet,” Carreño and longtime ABT partner Julie Kent wowed the crowd with their chemistry and elegance in a program packed with a mixed

Heidi Kurpiela

Carreño Dance Festival founder Robert de Warren

bag of performances, including provocative solos by New York City-based modern dancer Drew Jacoby and romantic duets by former Sarasota Ballet principal Lauren Strongin-Ciobanu and her fellow Houston Ballet dancer Joseph Walsh.

The muscled 5-foot-11

Jacoby, whose partner, Rubinald Pronk, was stuck in Amsterdam due to bad weather, gave edge to the inaugural dance festival with eerily powerful performances, one of which involved Jacoby dancing while trapped inside a wooden box (“Softly As I Leave You”).

And then there was 21-year-old New York City Ballet ingénue Tiler Peck, who danced Balanchine’s “Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux” with boyfriend and partner Joaquin De Luz. “Tiler does everything dancers strive to do so naturally and with such effortlessness,” says 17-year-old Sarasota dancer Dara Nicole said. “She’s amazing. She’s perfect. I just had to see her.”

+ The stiletto secret behind our SEASON shoot It should come as no surprise that running in high heels is no small feat, much less running in high heels down a flight of stairs.

In honor of the Sarasota Ballet’s 20th anniversary season, The Observer asked six Sarasota Ballet dancers (and Sarasota Ballet founder Jean Weidner) to pose for the cover of our winter SEASON Magazine with one simple request: They run down the steps in the courtyard at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art dressed in evening gowns and high heels.

Who better to skip down stairs in stilettos than ballerinas?

Oh, wait. Pointe shoes are flat.

It was painful to watch. As photographer Barbara Banks snapped photo after photo, advising the girls to “prance more,” it became glaringly obvious that the heels needed to go.

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Heidi Kurpiela

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3B

COVER STORY

HEFNER from 1B Her son, Todd, whom Hefner lovingly refers to as “her right arm” and unofficial road manager, has assembled music stands and sound equipment.

Not only does the singer have groupies, she has an entourage.

Dressed in a black trench coat, black dress, long gloves, leggings and thighhigh boots, Hefner is the picture of seductive cool, down to the glittery ring on her gloved pinky finger.

Even the people at the bar who were oblivious to the commotion 10 minutes ago turn their heads as the singer passes.

It’s hard to believe the singer just came from work as a surgical technician at Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s Cape Surgery Center.

She steps on stage, removes her ruffled scarf, adjusts her microphone and begins swaying to Porter and Drew’s music.

As she starts to sing a slow, mesmerizing jazz song, the entire restaurant is cast in a warm dark glow.

“There are so many facets to jazz,” the singer will later say of her performance.

“I love the melodic feeling, the way you can express yourself with words. I’m a romantic when it comes to songs. With jazz, it’s not like there’s a pattern or one single way to sing it. You put your own phrasing in there. You put different rhythms to it.”

Hefner likes to make things her own — especially songs.

A Pennsylvania native, Hefner grew up in a small town outside of Pittsburgh, where her father sang bass in a doo-wop band called the Pacers and her mother still serves as the music director and pianist at her hometown church.

“Music has been around me since I was a little girl,” Hefner says. “But it wasn’t until I became a teenager that I could really see the love and good vibes people felt from it.”

She used to spend hours rummaging dreamily through her mother’s record

IF YOU GO

The Katt Hefner Trio performs from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. every Thursday at The Loft Ristobar, 5911 Fruitville Road. Next month, she and her brother, Stan, join the lineup for the 31st annual Sarasota Jazz Festival. Catch the duo performing “Two Jims & A Nancy,” a tribute to jazz singers Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff and Nancy Wilson, at 3 p.m. Feb. 2, at The Players Theatre.

For more information, call 316-9207 or visit www.jazzclubsarasota.com. collection, enamored with the stacks of vinyl and how just one song could transport her to a different place.

She discovered her idol, jazz singer Nancy Wilson, this way.

“I didn’t realize Nancy was singing jazz,” Hefner says. “To me, she just sang love songs that told a story.”

It’s no coincidence that three songs into her first set at The Loft Hefner breaks into the schmaltzy Wilson ballad “Call Me.” The lyrics slide off her tongue in a familiar and artless cadence.

“At a concert once at Ruth Eckerd Hall, I personally thanked Nancy for teaching me how to sing,” Hefner says. “I waited until her show let out.”

Hefner, who has four albums to her name, has been covering Wilson tunes since she toured with a six-piece show band in the 1970s — a gig that eventually landed her in Sarasota, where she’s been a fixture on the Sarasota jazz scene for more than 20 years.

“She always engaged the crowd,” says D’Arcy Arpke, owner of the Longboat Key restaurant Euphemia Haye, where Hefner had a five-year residency in the early 2000s. “She was a virtual wealth of jazz and show numbers. So many years later, people still ask about her. She’s got that sultry, swanky presence.”

Heidi Kurpiela

Katt Hefner and bass player Joe Porter take the stage at The Loft Ristobar.

Hefner’s top three songs by beloved jazz singer Nancy Wilson ‘When Did You Leave Heaven?’

“It reminds me of the first time I listened to my mother’s vast record collection.

The way she delivers it, it’s like you’re really there. It’s like you’re wondering the same things: ‘When did you leave heaven? And how

could you?’”

‘Suzanne’ “It’s a soft-spoken song, but it pulls you in and takes you down.”

‘Save Your Love For Me’ “It was one of the first songs I sang of hers. It

Like all entertainers with presence, Hefner, a former model, knows when to turn the swank factor on and off.

“Believe it or not, though, there’s a bit of shyness about me,” Hefner says. “I’ve got friends who come to my shows and they tell me, ‘Katt, you’re the best. You can pack a place,’ and all that, and you

was the 1960s, and I was still a teenager. There’s so much artistry in it. You’re holding notes. You’re dropping down and coming back up.

You’re playing with the words. It’s sensuous.”

know, it doesn’t go to my head. It goes to my heart.”

Case in point: Hefner saved a cocktail napkin on which one Euphemia Haye patron scribbled a thank-you note for a performance she gave nearly eight years ago.

“I will probably keep it forever,” she says.

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by Heidi Kurpiela | A&E Editor

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Choreographer Jimmy Hoskins’ life story could be a Broadway musical, which is why after 400 shows the theater veteran is publishing his memoir.

When Jimmy Hoskins recounts his life adventures, you can’t help but think, “This guy needs to write a book.” He’s got the kind of backstory that reads like a script.

Hoskins, a staff choreographer for the Asolo Repertory Theatre and an adjunct faculty member for the Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training, grew up in St. Louis, where he studied tap dancing as a child and spent countless hours at the movie theater.

“I’d walk two miles home from the theater practicing my dance moves,” says Hoskins, 76. “I fantasized a lot. Being so in love with the movies, you’d have thought I’d move out to Hollywood and stay forever, but what I loved about movies were the big-screen musicals.”

Hoskins attended Drury University, in Springfield, Mo., where he majored in art and continued to study jazz, tap and ballet. He would later use these skills to become a ballroom dance instructor at a studio in St. Louis.

While working as an instructor, Hoskins partnered with Reina Queen of the Mambo, one of the hottest dancers in St. Louis. The two developed a Latin dance act that toured hotels and nightclubs throughout the city.

The endeavor led to one of Hoskins’ most fortuitous opportunities to date — joining the all-male cast of Mae West’s bawdy “Muscle Men” revue.

DID YOU KNOW?  Jimmy Hoskins choreographed this season’s “The Wanderers” at Florida Studio Theatre.  Hoskins has seen “Singin’ in the Rain” 32 times. He took a job as an usher in a movie theater so he wouldn’t have to keep paying to see the film.  Hoskins has choreographed four Designing Women Boutique fashion shows, including this year’s runway show at Michael’s On East.  Hoskins draws all the cartoon artwork in the lobby at the Golden Apple Dinner Theatre.  Hoskins 2005 book, “The Dances of Shakespeare,” is a how-to guide to dances dating back to Shakespeare’s era.

After nailing an audition to be a swing dancer with the stage show, Hoskins headed to California to perform with West, whom he remembers as “very businesslike and very witty.”

When the tour was over, he hitchhiked home and joined the Army. He was only 19 years old.

Not surprisingly, Hoskins spent most his time in the military dancing.

Less than a year into his tour, Hoskins landed a spot performing on the “Fifth

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BACKSTAGE PASS

Army Soldier Show,” a variety program filmed in Chicago that was used for recruitment purposes.

The gig led to a third-place victory in the 1956 All-Army Talent Contest, which led to performances in Quantico, Va., before President Dwight Eisenhower, an appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” and a seven-month stint entertaining troops all over the world.

Hoskins was 22 years old when he got out of the Army. At the suggestion of a friend, he moved to Paris, where he worked as a nude dancer at a club called La Nouvelle Eve. “I was painted gold with a little gold cup covering my essentials,” he says. “I had a wonderful time until I dropped my partner and they fired me.”

Hoskins could go on for days, bouncing from story to story, city to city, job to job. From his days working as a choreographer in New York City to his time teaching period movement and dance at Pennsylvania State University, Hoskins’ resume as an entertainer is so colorful and varied, he recently penned a memoir — “Our Hearts Were Cacky and Gay,” which is currently being optioned by several publishing houses.

“I’ve been fortunate to dip my hand in many parts of this art,” he says of theater.

“I never thought about being anything else. Maybe an architect … or, God forbid, a minister!”

Hoskins has worked on more than 400 shows, many of which have been performed at the Asolo Rep, where for more than 25 years he’s worked as a choreographer and theater professor. Last season’s “Galileo” marked his 75th Asolo Rep production.

To honor his silver anniversary, the company announced earlier this month that it had established the Jimmy Hoskins Visiting Artist Chair for Stage Movement and Dance.

Hoskins pulls a square of paper out of

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. . . engaged! . . . inspired! . . . there on January 12!

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Heidi Kurpiela

“I have such respect for talent,” Jimmy Hoskins says. “I cry when I see a brilliant performance that moves me or when someone wins an award and I know what they’ve gone through to get to that point.”

his pocket describing the tribute.

“It’s an honor,” he says humbly. “You know, sometimes choreographers’ noses get bent out of shape when we’re not mentioned in a review or something, but that’s just ego. The show should be so seamless you shouldn’t be able to tell where the director and choreographer leave off. It’s like Shakespeare said, ‘The play’s the thing.’”

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EDIBLES: Favorite Restaurants by Molly Schechter | Food Editor

When you want to eat light …

The question was, “What is your favorite restaurant when you want to eat something light (like right after the holidays)?” The varied answers celebrate the diversity of eating places with which our community is blessed.­

Citrus Café — 543 S. Pineapple Ave.; 9570432

“My favorite in downtown Sarasota is Utamaro. It is such a delightful change of pace. For more traditional fare, I like Owens’s Fish Camp and the Dry Dock Waterfront Grill. Both restaurants are worth the wait for a fun evening.”

—Lou Schultz, advertising, marketing communications and media consultant and former restaurant owner “My favorite lunch spot for fresh, light, healthy and classic (but laid-back) downtown Sarasota ambience is Citrus Café. To me, it is quintessential Sarasota!”

—Jennifer Grondahl, proprietor, Maestro Events

“When I want to be close to home and in jeans and a T-shirt, my husband Dean’s and my favorite place is Phillippi Creek Oyster Bar. We like their grouper sandwich, which is the best I’ve ever had, and the feel of Old Florida.”

—Alex Quarles, president and CEO, Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation “My wife, Katie, and I love Lan. It’s never too busy, the food is fantastic, and the people are friendly.”

—Jesse Biter, president/ CEO, Biter Enterprises, LLC

“Simon’s Coffee House is my favorite place for lunch in Sarasota. There is a great variety of menu selections for a vegetarian.”

—Ilene Fox, women’s development coordinator, Jewish Federation of SarasotaManatee

READER PICKS

Dry Dock Waterfront Grill — 412 Gulf of Mexico Drive; 383-0102 Lan — 1568 Main St.; 953-7111 Mediterraneo — 1970 Main St.; 365-4122 Owen’s Fish Camp — 516 Burns Lane; 951-6936

“When I want something light and healthy and don’t want to sacrifice taste, Pacific Rim is the perfect spot. This destination is always a request by my out-of-town guests; no visit to Sarasota is complete without a stop there.”

—Montana Ross, senior account executive, MoneyShow

“For light bites, I would have to say Yume Sushi for some sashimi and cold saki. They have beautiful fresh fish, and the saki is so light and refreshing to wash it all down with.”

—Peter Acker, owner, Peter Acker Photography; director photography, The Heart Gallery

“Mediterraneo is our favorite restaurant in town. The owners are so friendly, and the staff is incredible — we don’t even need to order. They bring us our food and drink because they know what we like.”

—Ivana Lucic, president, New Chapter Publishing, and Renzo Rivolta, architect designer

“Tandoor for chicken tikka — tasty and my wife says it is healthy, and the eggplant or the lentils are terrific. Pattigeorge’s at the bar for lettuce cups and tuna tacos, and I can watch sports on the bar TV.” —Howard Millman, retired producing artistic director, Asolo Rep Theatre

Exceptional musicians from around the world, performing for you in American’s only 18th Century Opera House.

A rtist S eries

The Observer

WEathER paGE

O F SARAS OTA

Pacific Rim — 1859 Hillview St.; 330-8071 Pattigeorge’s — 4120 Gulf of Mexico Drive; 3835111 Phillippi Creek Oyster Bar — 5353 S. Tamiami Trail; 925-4444 Simon’s Coffee House — 5900 S. Tamiami Trail; 9267151 Tandoor — 3440 Clark Road; 926-3077 Utamaro — 1900 Main St.; 366-0095 Yume Sushi — 1537 Main St.; 363-0604

CominG

January 6

PhotoContest

In the Historic Asolo Theater at the Ringling Museum of Art 5401 Bay Shore Road – Sarasota

JANUARY 2011 PERFORMANCES CLASSICAL CONCERT

ALL REMAINING SEATS THESE CONCERTS ONLY – $10 OFF (phone/in-person only – reg. price $30-$40)

January 9 (Sunday) at 2:00 & 7:30 p.m.

January 11 (Tuesday) at 7:30 p.m.

TRIO CAVATINA, piano, cello, and violin Brahms, Schumann and more POPULAR CONCERT

January 23 (Sunday) at 2:00 & 7:30 p.m.

January 25 (Tuesday) at 7:30 p.m.

LIZ CALLAWAY, singer/actress

Popular songs by Sondheim, Gershwin and others CLASSICAL CONCERT

January 30 (Sunday) at 7:30 p.m.

February 1 (Tuesday) at 7:30 p.m.

JOYCE YANG, piano STEFAN JACKIW, violin Brahms, Copland and Stravinsky

Submit your favorite sunrises, sunsets or any weather related photo to be featured on our weather pages now appearing in all the Observers. Winners from each Observer will be chosen each week and receive a $50 Restaurant Gift Card.

Submit photoS to

AND, our new Coffee Concert Series which opens on January 12th with baritone TODD DONOVAN – look for that ad also in this newspaper.

SaRaSota & LonGboat nschwartz@yourobserver.com

Tickets and information online at www.artistseries.net, in person at the Historic Asolo Theater box office, or

EaSt County jeng@yourobserver.com

CALL 941.360.7399

50235

Artist Series programs are made possible in part by generous support from Herald-Tribune Media Group, WUSF Public Media, Sarasota Magazine, The Observer Group, Spotlight Graphics, and Kirk-Pinkerton Attorneys

sponsored by…

THE SOCIAL OBSERVER

Black Tie

The Observer www.yourobserver.com

thursday JANUARY 6, 2011

SUNSHINE FROM DARKNESS GALA HONORING DOROTHY HAMILL When: 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 8 Where: The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota

The gala includes cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and a fabulous feast by The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota culinary team, as well as an exclusive jewelry bar, presented by Judith Ripka, as the silent auction. One lucky winner who participates in the raffle drawing will win a Judith Ripka piece valued at $3,000. Finally, guests can dance the night away to the sounds of Scott Blum & Friends.

Proceeds benefit mental-health research through the International Mental Health Research Organization. Chaired by Lee Peterson and Emily Walsh Parry. Honorary chairs are Bob and Joyce Tate and Bob Peterson. Tickets are $250 and available by calling Marlene Hauck at 308-MIND.

This year’s Sunshine from Darkness Gala includes a winter wonderland surprise of Olympic proportions — Dorothy Hamill.

The 1976 Olympic gold medalist ice skater and recent author of “A Skating Life” will be honored with the annual Luminary Award, which is presented to those who have done outstanding work combating the stigma associated with mental illness. Also appearing at the gala are special guests 2010 Winter Olympics pairs skaters Amanda Evora and Mark Ladwig, who will present their latest ice performance in honor of Hamill.

ASOLO REPERTORY THEATRE GALA ‘STUDIO 54 DISCO PALACE’ When: 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26 Where: Hyatt Regency Sarasota Co-Chairwomen Beverly Bartner, Helen Sosso and their committee are taking you back to 1977 Manhattan to experience the worldfamous and exclusive Studio 54 nightclub.

The Hyatt Regency Sarsaota’s pre-function area will be transformed into the outside of the “club.” Guests will enjoy a cocktail hour and then line up outside of the club (ballroom) doors as a bouncer checks them into the party. VIP guests will enter first. Once inside, guests will enjoy a three-course meal and an evening of entertainment.

Be prepared for bright colors, outrageous outfits and authentic disco music from live band Melanie Massell & Hot Item. This extravagant party will feature guest appearances, private rooms, great entertainment, a VIP lounge, an auction, plus plenty of other surprises. Tickets range from $275 to $1,000 and are available by calling Laura Wood at 351-9010, Ext. 4712.

Save the date! Saturday, February 26, 2011

6:00pm | Hyatt Regency Sarasota

Guest appearances. Private rooms. ViP lounge.

Exclusive auction. Cutting edge entertainment.

Bob and Lee Peterson with Joyce and Bob Tate at the Sunshine From Darkness Gala in January 2010.

72011 events

in

By Stephanie Hannum | Black Tie Editor

Because there are so many great causes and fun parties to choose from among Sarasota’s social and charity events, BT has put together an abbreviated 2011 Black Tie social calendar for you — here are seven events that we’re looking forward to in 2011.

NEW COLLEGE 50th ANNIVERSARY TRIBUTE DINNER When: 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 11 Where: The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota Spend an evening celebrating a community treasure.

On Oct. 11, 1960, a small liberal-arts college was founded on the banks of Sarasota Bay. Fifty years later, New College of Florida stands out as a national leader in liberal-arts education. The 50th Anniversary Tribute Dinner is the time to celebrate the college’s remarkable accomplishments. The evening is for everyone, and the program includes dinner, dancing and live music to the band Beatlemania. Host for the evening will be college President Mike Michalson. There won’t be many speeches, but you’ll hear a few words from prominent alums and individuals who have shaped the college over the years. Tickets are $250 and available by calling 487-4800.

SARASOTA OPERA OPENING NIGHT GALA When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5 Where: The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota

File photos

Carol and Larry English at Sarasota Opera’s Opening Night Gala in February.

Sarasota Opera’s 2011 Winter Opera Festival kicks off Feb. 5 with one of the must-attend galas of the season. This year, the grand event will be held at the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, and will combine all the glamour of an opera ball with the excitement of an opening night.

Those attending the opera may park their cars with the valet at the Sarasota Opera House prior to the 4 p.m. opening performance of Puccini’s beloved “La bohème.” While enjoying the performance, the cars of those also attending the gala will be whisked away to the Ritz-Carlton, and following the performance, patrons will be transported by luxury coach to

2011 Gala Patrons

Momus

Montmartre

Quartier Latin

Mrs. Betsy Bagby Mr. & Mrs. Robert G. Bartner Mr. & Mrs. Edward Bavaria Mr. & Mrs. Les Brualdi Mr. A. Scott Bushey Mr. Murray Bring & Ms. Kay Delaney Ms. Syble Di Girolamo Mr. Max Eisenbarth Mr. John Elliot Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence English Mr. & Mrs. Henry Foster Mrs. Elayne Kalberman Mr. & Mrs. Per-Erik Lindqvist Mr. & Mrs. David Morton Dr. Gerry Shaikun & Ms. Laurie Smith Mr. & Mrs. Bud Shapiro Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Tanenbaum Mr. & Mrs. Donald Worthington

Mr. & Mrs. J. Sumner Bagby Ms. Marilyn Bezner & Mr. Douglas Crossan Mr. & Mrs. Raphael Broth Mr. & Mrs. William Chapman Ms. Jo Anne Frye Mr. Martin Martel & Ms. Bonny Heet Dr. & Mrs. George Kane Mr. & Mrs. Stanley Siegel Mr. & Mrs. Joe Stephan Mr. Paul Welch Mr. & Mrs. Louis Wery

the hotel, where they will start with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at 7 p.m. A lavish dinner in the ballroom begins at 8 p.m., with music provided by the Cigar City Band. For those who want to prolong the fun, the Ritz-Carlton has provided special room rates just for opening-night attendees. Chaired by Henry and Suzanne

Cafe'

61 North Pineapple Avenue Sarasota, FL 34236 (941) 366-8450 www.sarasotaopera.org

Foster. Performance tickets range from $19 to $120, and gala tickets are $225 (does not include cost of performance ticket). For more information, contact Jennifer Simms at 366-8450, Ext. 402.

MORE 2011 EVENTS ON 9B

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COLUMN

black tie tales

by Molly Schechter | Social Editor

BARBARA WELLS TRUNK SHOW

+ Lady in red

Her favorite colors are red, white and black, and her daughter Karyn Henschel saw to it that every single detail of Rosalie Krone’s 90th birthday party was executed in that color scheme. Family gathered from far and near for the Dec. 26 celebration at Michael’s Wine Cellar. Attendees included grandson David Krone, his wife, Amy, and Rosalie’s great-grandchildren Guy, Abigail, Grant and Rachel, from Portland, Ore.; daughter Karyn Henschel and her husband, Jeff, from Bedford, N.Y., and their children Geoffrey and Kelly, both from New York City; son Ken Krone, his wife, Jeanette, granddaughter Kristy, of San Francisco, and granddaughter Jackie, from Los Angeles; and the son and daughter-in-law of Rosalie’s partner, David Young: Mark and Rachel Young, from Washington, D.C.

Thursday, Jan. 13 Friday, Jan 14 Saturday, Jan. 15 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Meet the designer, Barbara Wells with her Spring Collection of Hand Knitted Vests and Jackets

+ Black Tie Affair Circus Sarasota 2011 Gala “Under the Big Top” Honoring Michael Klauber and Phil Mancini 6:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21 • Under the Big Top at Tuttle Avenue and 12th Street • Tickets $175 guest, $250 patron • Reservations 355-9335

Phil Mancini and Michael Klauber

Photos by Molly Schechter

Three beautiful generations: birthday girl Rosalie Krone, center, daughter and party planner Karyn Henschel, left, and granddaughter Kelly Henschel

+ Copa for a Copa Girl

Given that honoree Gloria Moss is widely known for having been a Copacabana girl, the co-chairs of the Generations gala benefiting the Jewish Housing Council Foundation didn’t have to go far to find a theme. Carolyn Michel, Michael Sheldon and Chris Jennings are overseeing the transformation of Michael’s On East ballroom into a nightclub. The Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe will entertain; the Notables will play for dancing; and Gloria, herself, will perform with her ballroom partner, Jim Helmich. Tickets to the Jan. 16 affair are $175 and available by calling 377-0781.

48302

50059

354 St Armands Circle | 941.388.3706 | Dreamweavercollection.com

50170

American Original Art Couture

This year, one of Sarasota’s favorite events will honor two of Sarasota’s favorite men when the Circus Sarasota gala salutes Michael Klauber and Phil Mancini on the 25th anniversary of their restaurant, Michael’s On East. And how fitting: The honorees are alimentary acrobats, social strong men and the ultimate quickchange act. Just watch them transform their ballroom from a children’s candy land in the afternoon to a sophisticated soiree in the evening. Why, it’s almost magic!

Proceeds from the event will be dedicated to completing Circus Sarasota’s capital campaign, which is purchasing the show’s own Big Top, named for Ulla Searing in honor of her generous bequest.

Wardrobe call for guests is “circus glamorous with sensible shoes” — costumes, as always, are welcome.

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7 EVENTS IN 2011

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(Continued from page 7B)

THE FIREFLY GALA

ELEMENT AU: ‘CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF GOING FOR THE GOLD’

When: 6 p.m. Saturday, March 26 Where: The Concession Golf Club It’s being called “one luminous evening with friends,” and it seems the inaugural Firefly Gala will be an enchanting evening at The Concession Golf Club. Benefiting Forty Carrots Family Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening families through educational programs for parents, their children and professionals in the field, the Firefly Gala will not disappoint with either the culinary or entertainment factor. Dinner, presented

When: 6 p.m. Saturday, May 7 Where: Frank G. Berlin Sr. YMCA Twenty years is a long time for a fundraising event to survive in Sarasota, and not only has the YMCA Foundation’s “Going for the Gold” survived, but it has grown, changed and improved over the years. This year’s event, themed “Element Au: Celebrating 20 Years of Going for the Gold,” is said to showcase “experiences.” Chairwoman Debbie Seitl will be supported by many of the former cochairs (some of whom have served two and three times in the past), who have signed on as honorary co-chairs to help execute a wonderful evening.

In addition to fine dining, dancing to a big band and entertainment at the Frank G. Berlin Sr. YMCA branch, there will be a silent and live auction offering experiences that will fulfill fantasies and heighten experiences — whether it’s a special honeymoon package at Caesars Palace, a Chinese excursion planned by Kim Githler, a hot-air balloon party over Sarasota or a stunning piece of Janet Kane jewelry, the event promises to intrigue and engage all guests. Tickets are $250 and available by calling Karin Gustafson at 951-1336.

by award-winning chef Sean Murphy, will be followed by a concert on the lawn featuring KC and the Sunshine Band, an 18-member band and then late-night dancing to the sounds of DJ Carey Culp.

Chaired by Ariane Dart. Tickets are $225.

For more information, call 365-7716.

SARASOTA BALLET 20th ANNIVERSARY GALA When: 5:30 p.m. Friday, March 25 Where: FSU Center for Performing Arts

a celebration of Sarasota Ballet’s Victoria Hulland & Octavio Martin. Photo by Frank Atura

Sarasota Ballet’s muchanticipated 20th anniversary season will be celebrated at its anniversary gala this spring.

The evening, themed “Bravo!

The Best of Sarasota Ballet,” will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a champagne reception followed by a surprise collection of ballets, chosen by Iain Webb, which is rumored to feature several guest performers of international acclaim.

Guests will then enjoy dinner in a tent, catered by Mattison’s, and an evening given in tribute to the ballet’s founder, Jean Weidner. Chaired by Elaine Keating, Sydney Goldstein, Hillary Steele and Chris Pfahler. Tickets are $275 and available by calling Michael Scott at 359-0099, Ext. 106.

■

Jean Weidner’s dream

A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME gALA pErFOMANCE ANd dINNEr

sarasotaballet.org

941.359.0099 x 110

File photo

Charles and Deb Knowles at YMCA’s “Element Au” Gala in May.

Current

The Artist Series of Sarasota invites you to enjoy

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Tickets and information online at www.artistseries.net or call the box office 941-360-7399. All seats reserved $20.

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singing favorites from Carmen, Don Giovanni - and Broadway’s Showboat, South

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Earn and Redeem Connoisseur Club Points Every Time You Travel

FASHION

■

THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2011

by Stephanie Hannum | Black Tie Editor

guestfashioneditor LYNN BARRIE

Lynn Barrie, a former model and competitive rower, loves fashion (especially accessories) and sports. Barrie’s home and fashions are influenced by her frequent travels, especially her favorite destination — Africa.

CUFF BRACELET

“I saw this at Le Tennique at The Colony and knew it was for me; it screamed at me.”

MARC JACOBS HANDBAG “If I’m going to wear a casual bag, like this crossover handbag, it still has to be stylish.”

are you a Member of the Gulf Coast Connoisseur Club? admiral travel is celebrating its one-year Connoisseur Club anniversary with 25,000 Points to sPEnd on dininG, winE and futurE travEl!

“I have an eclectic style. I like to mix expensive things with great finds.”

AFRICAN BELT

“I bought this in Nairobi — it has a great look and a great African flavor. I wear it low on the hip.”

Earn 25,000 Points whEn you book with our toP 25 travEl PartnErs Visit www.admiraltravel.com/travelconnoisseur for a complete listing of our partners along with terms and conditions. Be sure to sign up for our e-newsletter to stay on top of your Connoisseur Club travel benefits.

GUCCI HANDBAG

“This is one of my golden oldies — it will never go out of style or be dated.”

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the spirit of Europe with Celebrated hosts

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the Champagne houses of france Prestige cuvées with Olivier Krug at Krug’s Tasting Room JuNe 4 -10, 2011

il Palio: window views of sienna’s historic horse race

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A collage of exciting music with a Spanish accent

Award-winning Super Tuscans with Salvatore Ferragamo JuNe 29 - JuLy 5, 2011

Jan. 7 & 8, 8:00 pm; Jan. 9, 2:30 pm | Van Wezel A lone flutist stands and performs a passage of breathtaking beauty. Aguila’s sizzling Conga brings the entire Orchestra to life. The Spanish theme continues with spicy renditions of Carmen, Espana and the Last Tango in Bayreuth. Three young, virtuoso artists – violin, classical guitar, soprano – perform solos. This musical tapestry comes to a stunning close with the popular Bolero.

VIP brewery access with Anheuser-Busch Brew Meister George Reisch SePteMBeR 12 - 20, 2011

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2011

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FASHION MARC JACOBS HANDBAG

“This is different than what everyone else would wear. I can wear it dressy or sophisticated — very fashionable.”

MIU MIU DRESS

“It has great lines. I am not a big bright-color person, but I made an exception because the cut is fabulous.”

VINTAGE NECKLACE JEAN PAUL GAULTIER DRESS

“Jean Paul Gaultier is my favorite designer.

I wear this to dinner parties or black-tie events. It’s different than what everyone else would wear.”

“I saw this in a store in San Miguel, Mexico, and my husband went back and got it for my birthday. It has lions, tigers and elephants and the African feel I’m drawn to.”

TOP SHOP SHOES

“I don’t care if something is expensive or not, it just has to have great style. These shoes are really stylish and very comfortable, too.”

ROBERTO CAVALLI DRESS

“This is my sexy, showstopper dress. It fits fabulously. When I want some ‘pow,’ I wear this.”

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN SHOES “These have a great modern look to them.”

SAVE THE DATES! Our Winter Season opens with Celebrate the Season at Longboat Key Center for the Arts!

THE HUMAN FIGURE: REVERED AND REVEALED Durante Gallery sponsored by Ed Brickman “Legal Forging” December 2 – 16, 2010 Opening Reception | Thursday | December 2 | 5 -7 pm Durante Gallery Please rsvp to 941.383.2345 by November 30 for the Dec 2 reception.

LIFE AND STILL LIFE Artist: DavidofLeffel A selection Ed’s work will be for sale to benefit the Longboat Key Center January for the13ArtsFebruary 24 Opening Reception: Thursday, January 13 5-7 pm Ed Brickman has been making jewelry since he was a teenager and has never World renowned painter, writer and “20th Century Old Master,” lost his enthusiasm for the creative process. His work can be found in the Leffel’s portraits and still lifes illuminate their subject creating permanent collections of the Newark Museum in Newark, New Jersey, and dimension, mystery and atmosphere. the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City. Ed has been teaching

David Leffel Workshop February 9:30 amEd– will 4 pm jewelry for many years at–LBKCA. This21-25 is the first time be showcasing $850 over 200 pieces from his collection. You’ll not want to miss this show!

David Leffel Demo – February 23 5:30-8 pm $15 Cultural Media Room

Cultural Media RoomSale by ‘Open Trunk’ Holiday THE EXPRESSIVE FIGURE December 2 - 16, 2010 Artist: Bill Buchman Find that unique holiday January 13-February 24 gift for your loved ones made by Ringling College students and alumni.

You’ll find January paintings,13 sculpture, Opening Reception: Thursday, 5-7 pm jewelry, crafts, and much, much more!!

Nationally recognized faculty at LBKCA, Buchman’s vibrant abstracts andHours expressive figure drawings convey palpable motion and for the Sale: Monday through Friday,a 9 am to 4 pm rhythm that dance off the surface.

Special Saturday hours!!

Saturday, December 4, 11“Expressive am to 3 pm &Figure Saturday, December 11,Demo 11 am to 3 pm Buchman Book Launch Drawing” and Tuesday, 18and Sale 5-7 pm OpeningJanuary Reception | Thursday | December 2 | 5 -7 pm $15Please rsvp to 941.383.2345 by November 30 for the Dec 2 reception.

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6860 Longboat Drive S | Longboat Key, FL 34228 www.lbkca.ringling.edu | 941.383.2345 Hours: Monday – Friday | 9 am to 4 pm

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RSVP required, please call 941.383.2345

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2011

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Craftsman 5BR/5.5BA home w/Chef’s kitchen, gym, loft, bonus room + 2 fireplaces. Jackie Robertson 441-7223

LaKewooD ranch

MAInLAnd Header: Mainland $534,000 E. Sarasota – Serenoa Exceptional Value, priced under appraisal. 3,200SF Masterpiece. 4BR/4BA + Bonus Room, Amazing sunsets & golf course view. Rayman/Tan 504-9232 Reduced $60,100 $508,900 Lakewood Ranch – Country Club Village Former model. 3BR/2BA home w/ private courtyard. Tile,granite , Pool/Spa w/pavered lanai & drive. Private setting. Jim Soda 961-5857 Reduced $60K $499,000 Osprey – South Creek Gated Waterfront Community & West of the Trail. Minutes to Pine $1,273,500 Country Club Village $1,195,000 Pierre ½ acre lot with golf & lake views. 4BR/3/5BA + office., 8th floor residence, 2 lrg terraces, 3BR/3BA. Gulf, golf & city views.. Gulf View School. Pool home w/ French doors & fireplace. JoEllyn Yturraspe 587-9539 front pool & spa, guest suite & more. Bruce & Jenine Meyer 266-8152 $400,000 Lakewood Ranch – Country Club Village Stunning model like Neal home. Tastefully appointed 2BR/ fireplace, pool/spa, sum kitchen. Jim Soda 961-5857 Den. Hand crafted wood beam ceiling. Tile & wood flooring. Jim Soda 961-5857 $379,900 Manatee- Water Oak 4BR/3BA home with lake views. Many upgrades, pool & walk to river. Close to reDuceD $250,000 LongBoat reDuceD $104,000 shopping, restaurants, beaches & golf. No CDD fees. Prudential Lakewood Ranch Realty, Victoria DeRosier 962-7515 $359,900 Sarasota- Riverwood Close to Riverview High ,up to 6BR & 3BA home. Potential mother-in-law apartment.

Garage for RV/boat. Caged pool. Sep. workshop /storage shed. Warren Hickernell 232-5738 $229,900 Manatee- Stoneybrook @Heritage Harbour 3BR/2.5BA pool home with main flr Mstr. Suite. Upgrades thru out + 1 year warranty. Candria Crisp 726-5822 $140,000 Sarasota- Pelican Cove End unit set in a quiet corner w/ updated kitchen, extra living space in enclosed Florida room, and terrace off kitchen. Rayman/Tan 504-9232 Header: Rentals

REnTALS

$3000/mo. Lakewood Ranch Annual/unfurn. Country Club home with 3BR/3BA + office w/built-ins & a bonus room! $995,000 Tangerine Bay 3-car garage, gourmet kitchen, heated pool & spa. Pets welcome. Prudential Lakewood Ranch Realty, Cliff Kaplan739-3220 $950,000 The Inlets 4BR/4.5BA condo on Longboat, exquisitely turnkey furnished, $1200/mo. Carolina Landings Annual/unfurn. 2BR/2.5BA condo has 1-car garage, in-unit laundry & screened lanai. Estate Lot and home on Manatee River. Deep water dockage for up to a 70’ boat. Courtney Campbell 806-7238 2 car garage beautiful views. Michael Granston 504-8018 Gated community close to I-75, shopping & fine dining. Cassie Lupinacci 320-0053

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From Gulf to Golf rental properties in all price ranges • Short-term • Vacation Rentals • Seasonal Rentals • Annual Rentals

$897,000

Meridian From $20,000

Panama

Almost 2,800SF. Water views, 3BR/3BA + den; 2 semi private eleva- Las Tierras Altas Planned community in Volcan, Chiriqui. tors, one car garage + 2nd flr park. space. Shirley LaGrange 894-4297 Full or fractional owner ship. Rayman/Tan 724-0519 © 2011, An independently owned and operated member of The Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc.

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