Sarasota Observer 02.23.12

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Rod Rawlings walks in the shoes of a literary giant.

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Boxer China Smith plans his return to ring.

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OUR TOWN

Thursday, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

hotel happenings

Sarasota’s John Pyle plans to run across the nation.

PAGE 1B

by Kurt Schultheis | City Editor

Two developers; two visions The chief executive officers of Sarasota-based Floridays Development Co. and Atlanta-based Jebco Ventures Inc. have different visions for a downtown Sarasota hotel.

Rachel S. O’Hara

Evan Collinsworth, Dan Sweeney and Bob Peterson

+ Brain Trust honors Bob Peterson A group of men known as “The Brain Trust” work on solving the world’s problems as they dine together every Tuesday afternoon.

The men recently held a special meeting to honor long-time member Bob Peterson, who will be “stepping down” from the group, along with another long-time member, Bob Tate.

Peterson has been a member of the group for 15 of the 20 years it has been in existence.

Peterson is known in Sarasota for a variety of achievements and for his charitable contributions.

Jim Bridges

Angus Rogers

CEO, Jebco Ventures Inc.

Courtesy photo

Claire Levin, Carolyn Ratner and Sondra Zemmel

+ TBS hosts sisterhood fashion show The Sisterhood of Temple Beth Sholom held its annual fashion show and luncheon Feb. 8.

The theme was “Sophisticated Ladies.”

The event raised money for scholarships to The Martin & Mildred Paver Religious School as well as funds for Temple Beth Sholom children wanting to attend Camp Ramah Darom.

When Jim Bridges, CEO of Jebco Ventures Inc., looks at the downtown parcel adjacent to the Palm Avenue parking garage, he envisions something unlike any other project he’s handled.

A longtime commercial builder, Bridges wants to erect a hotel on the site, with the help of the well-known McKibbon Group, which either manages and/or has helped build more than 60 hotels.

In a career spanning more than 40 years, Bridges started out as an apartment developer. He founded Jebco Ventures in 1975 and branched out, constructing shopping centers, grocery stores, office buildings and some residential complexes. Among them has been a 225,000-square-foot facility for Caterpillar Inc. But Bridges is eager to try something new.

“We are a diversified company, and we

SEE BRIDGES / PAGE 2A

CEO, Floridays Development Co.

Jim Bridges Age: 64 Occupation: CEO of

Atlanta-based Jebco Ventures Inc.

Birthplace:

Manchester, Ga. Hometown: Atlanta Current residence:

Sarasota Hobbies: Golf, developing properties Sarasota Impact:

Jebco has built Family Dollar stores; the Lido Key home Pal Azzi Almare; and The Phoenix and Vista Bay Point communities

Floridays Development Co. CEO Angus Rogers is convinced the city he has called home for the past 19 years needs the type of hotel that can draw significant attention.

He already knows how to make a property stand out: His 432-room Floridays hotel in Orlando is ranked the No. 1 hotel destination in that area, despite the fact it is surrounded by a slew of franchise hotels. In Sarasota, Rogers wants to build a 180-room boutique hotel on Palm Avenue; his management firm would operate it independently.

“We have already designed one hotel that didn’t fit into the proverbial hotelbrand box, and it became a big success,” Rogers said, referring to the Orlando property. “It’s a testament to our team and how we take care of guests. It can be done here.”

SEE ROGERS / PAGE 2A

Angus Rogers Age: 53 Occupation: CEO of Sarasotabased Floridays Development Co. Birthplace: Bristol, Conn.

Hometown: San Juan, Puerto Rico Current residence:

Sarasota

Hobbies: Martial arts,

travel and automotive racing Sarasota Impact:

Floridays built the Grande Riviera and Sarasota Bay Club communities

Editor’s note: Deputy City Manager Marlon Brown told the Sarasota City Commission during its regular meeting Tuesday that city staff will prepare the financial aspects of both hotel proposals for commission review during the March 5 regular meeting. City Attorney Bob Fournier also will take time during the session to discuss legal concerns related to the proposals. Both applicants will have a chance to respond to the commission and staff comments when the commission conducts its March 19 regular meeting.

INDEX Briefs.................... 4A Classifieds..........11B

Cops Corner........10A Crossword...........10B

Opinion................. 8A Real Estate.........19B

Sports...................7B Vol. 8, No. 16 | Three sections Weather..............10B YourObserver.com

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BRIDGES / FROM PAGE 1A change when the market changes,” Bridges said.

The market has changed so much that Bridges hopes not only to build a hotel on Palm Avenue, if the city selects his proposal, but he also is under contract for a project on Ringling Boulevard (the location of the former Atrium project). There, he hopes to construct 75 apartments and a mix of low-rise office buildings.

“I haven’t done rental apartments in quite a few years,” he said, “but there’s a need for them in downtown Sarasota.”

Bridges, who lives in the Jebco-built Vista Bay Point on Golden Gate Point, has been a full-time Sarasota resident for seven years. He steadfastly believes a flag hotel is what the city needs to attract more people downtown.

The hotel plan isn’t the first time Bridges has focused on Palm Avenue.

He wanted to construct the parking ga-

ROGERS / FROM PAGE 1A Rogers and his partner, Marco Manzie, formed a company called Paramount Management that already is managing other hotels successfully.

In 1993, Rogers moved to Sarasota full-time, after living for years in Orlando. Locally, his company has built the Grande Riviera, where he lives on Golden Gate Point.

A couple of years ago, Rogers met with Sarasota architect Jonathan Parks, who had sought him out to discuss the Palm Avenue hotel site.

Ever since that meeting, Rogers has thought of building a hotel in Sarasota.

“There is a synergy with team members, many of whom I worked with already,” said Rogers, who notes that team already has designed every detail of this new hotel project, where

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

rage, though the city did not choose his company for that work.

“But I took a very serious look at the hotel site and decided I wanted to do something I hadn’t done before,” Bridges said.

Although he doesn’t have a letter of intent from Embassy Suites to construct a 175-room hotel with its name, Bridges said the Hilton-based chain is willing to partner with him, if Jebco wins the city’s nod this time.

“It’s a done deal if we are selected,” Bridges said. “In this market, I believe it’s very important to have a flag hotel to attract guests, and we have one of the best.”

Bridges said he wouldn’t call the hotel an exclamation point on a career that spans more than four decades.

“But I am in the beginning stages of starting to wind down a career and would like to build something in the city where I live that I think Sarasota would be proud of,” Bridges said.

utilities need to be relocated.

Rogers added that when he moved to Sarasota, “you could shoot a cannon down Main Street after 5 p.m. without hitting anyone.”

The man who calls Sarasota “a hidden gem” wants to enhance its glimmer.

“Today, Sarasota has evolved, and the hotel I want to build involves the community, involves the arts community and is an economic driver for the area,” Rogers said. “We need a boutique hotel here that delivers a lifestyle our city wants.”

Rogers envisions not just tourists, but also city residents using his hotel and its first-floor restaurant.

“We are all about exposing Sarasota to everyone else,” Rogers said. “I’m compelled to do something here locally that’s noteworthy, and I believe the city will embrace it as part of the fabric of downtown.”

meeting recap

by Kurt Schultheis | City Editor

Commission approves search for new manager The Sarasota City Commission has approved a $28,500 contract to start a national search for a new city manager.

Wellington-based Colin Baenziger & Associates will undertake the effort, at the recommendation of city of Sarasota Human Resources Director Kurt Hoverter.

The process will be watched closely by the commissioners, who made it clear during their regular meeting Tuesday that they hope to have strong community input. They also said they wanted the firm to look outside the proverbial city manager box.

“The consultant should engage in active recruiting, not a passive approach, where you only receive applications,” said Mayor Suzanne Atwell. “The consultant should not define his search to just experienced city managers, either.”

Vice Mayor Terry Turner and others agreed.

“We want to discover whether we are interested in a retired colonel or a retired businessman, as well,” Turner said.

Once a pool of applicants has been developed, a committee comprising 10 residents will help whittle the candidates to a group of finalists, who will be interviewed by both the commission and the public before a final decision is made.

Although the process is expected to take 90 days or longer, depending on how involved the public engagement becomes, commissioners made it clear they are more interested in the results than the time frame.

“I would prefer to see community input on what type of person they want,” said Commissioner Paul Caragiulo. “We’re not in any hurry to rush this process.”

Also during its regular meeting, the commission:

Accepted:

• A list of downtown projects that it will review further during a Feb. 28 budget workshop. Those projects include the following: — $1.9 million in upgrades the Downtown Improvement District is willing to fund from Bayfront Avenue to Osprey Avenue, along with Palm Avenue upgrades for which the DID is willing to contribute $10,000.

— $224,000 in Palm Avenue streetscape efforts the City Commission, acting as the Community Redevelopment Agency, would fund.

— A First Street streetscape project from Pineapple Avenue to U.S. 41, costing $1.3 million.

— A roundabout at Main Street and Orange Avenue costing $1 million.

Agreed:

• To have city staff produce pension liability reports for the Feb. 28 budget workshop, which would allow the commission to review losses for the plans, moving forward and assuming a 6% portfolio return.

• To have city staff produce parking-meter program revenue reports for the budget workshop, showing cost estimates for continuing the meter program in 2013. The commission also wants to learn whether the city would operate its parking-enforcement program at a loss if the meters were terminated and downtown returned to its former situation, with signage indicating how long vehicles could remain in spaces without being ticketed.

Approved:

• A proposal to build a nine-hole disc golf course within Payne Park.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

northwest sarasota

by Kurt Schultheis | City Editor

Revitalization plan pitched Engaging residents about their visions for U.S. 41 north of downtown is the key to creating a master plan that will spur economic development, city commissioners say.

Nothing pains Vice Mayor Terry Turner more than agreeing to spend money, he says, especially with the city facing severe budget cuts again this summer.

But there he was during the City Commission meeting Tuesday, explaining to the rest of the board members that the only way to revitalize the U.S. 41 corridor through Northwest Sarasota is to spend at least $250,000 over the next 30 years on elements of a master plan crafted with community input.

“Our only hope is to create a regulatory environment in which private development can flourish in this area,” Turner said.

Near the end of the commission meeting Tuesday, Turner pitched a threetiered proposal for the area: • Convert U.S. 41 from a suburban highway to a 30 mph urban street; • Convert the Seminole Railway to a bus rapid-transit roadway; • Enhance the street grid and make it more pedestrian-friendly.

“A land-use proposal can lead to significant revitalization in northwest Sarasota,” Turner said.

An earlier revitalization concept for U.S. 41, called Innovation 41, was estimated to cost $45 million, he said. It won the support of both Sarasota County, which pledged about $170 million for it, and Manatee County, which committed approximately $70 million.

“We pushed hard to get it completely funded, but the concept was only deemed partially acceptable by the state, and it fell to the wayside,” Turner said.

However, Turner is not willing to give up on Northwest Sarasota. He said the city needs to work with both counties again, and it needs to search out grants to help spur changes in the depressed area. He wants a master plan that can achieve success by 2040.

“We have our work cut out for us,” Turner said.

Turner proposes the city first schedule meetings with community residents and local neighborhood groups, to find out what changes they can suggest to help stimulate roadway improvements and

WISH GRANTED

DIRECT DEPOSIT

by Mark Gordon Gulf Coast Business Review

Big bank shifts its downtown presence Bank of America will vacate its Main Street location. A space for a sign above the building soon will be available.

File photo

North Tamiami Trail will see an economic boost south of University Parkway when a Walmart grocery store is built along the trail this summer. attract private development.

In the past, Turner noted that developers’ efforts to gain approval for projects and land-use changes in the area had failed because resident input came last.

He cited the Payne Park Village proposal by developer Ron Burks as an example.

Just last week, Burks put that 9.5-acre parcel on the market. It is just east of Payne Park and adjacent to the Alta Vista neighborhood.

“There’s broad frustration with U.S. 41 and a willingness to change by the residents, to create a better atmosphere,” Turner said.

Asking both Sarasota and Manatee counties to include their neighboring jurisdictions in the master plan, Turner said, also could lead to more funding for the plan and enable the counties to increase their tax rolls, after properties have been revitalized.

Turner suggested the city start the process by hiring a facilitator for community meetings and enlisting the aid of new Florida Department of Transportation District 1 Secretary Billy Hattaway, whose previous career included acting as a consultant for large-scale roadway revitalization projects.

Turner also noted that Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport officials are supportive of their property north of

Turner’s Northwest Sarasota Revitalization Plan Vice Mayor Terry Turner proposes to revitalize Northwest Sarasota by 2040 through the following actions: Roadway changes • Convert U.S. 41 from a suburban highway to a 30 mph urban street • Convert the Seminole Railway to a bus rapid transit roadway • Enhance the street grid Land-use changes • Create a Northwest Sarasota Master Plan that’s supported by residents, compatible with roadway changes, flexible, responsive to changing market demand and able to stimulate private investment/development.

• Engage the public at the beginning of the process through community meetings designed to help identify desirable land-use changes.

University Parkway being included in the revitalization efforts.

Both the residents of Indian Beach Sapphires Shores and Bayou Oaks community associations have voiced support for the project.

by Rachel Brown Hackney | Staff Writer

County partnering with Chalk Festival grant process The Sarasota County Commission this week agreed to partner with the Chalk Festival in applying for a highly competitive National Endowment of the Arts grant.

Without comment Tuesday, the Sarasota County Commission agreed to a partnership with the Sarasota Chalk Festival on an application for a $50,000 National Endowment for the Arts grant to help fund the 2013 event.

According to the stipulations of the process, the county could support only one applicant for the funding through the NEA’s Our Town program.

“It’s a hugely competitive grant,” Burns Square businesswoman and Chalk Festival founder Denise Kowal said Wednesday.

Of the 450 applications submitted for Our Town grants last year, the NEA approved only 50.

Still, Kowal said the funds would be a welcome aid to her budget for the annual fall event. In 2011, Kowal said, the Chalk Festival cost about $1 million to produce, though less than half of that was in cash — $400,000. This year, her budget is about $1.1 million. Contributed goods and services cover the rest of the festival’s expenses, she said.

“The festival could not happen but for the generosity of our in-kind sponsors,” she said.

The deadline for the NEA grant applica-

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tion is March 1. Kowal said she probably would learn in July if she would receive the funding.

According to stipulations of the grant, projects funded in this year’s cycle must be held between Sept. 1, 2012, and Dec. 31, 2014.

The county’s memorandum of understanding with the Chalk Festival — officially, Avenida de Colores Inc. — says the county agrees to be the local government partner for the application “provided that (the county’s) partnership responsibilities are limited to a letter of endorsement as required by the NEA.” Kowal had contacted then County Commission Chairwoman Nora Patterson Dec. 2 to ask for the board’s support.

When Patterson discussed the matter several days later with her fellow board members, she said she was not certain county policies would allow the commission to enter into the partnership with Kowal because of the exclusivity factor. Nonetheless, Patterson pointed out that the Chalk Festival “has continued to grow and attract a lot of folks.”

Jim Shirley, executive director of the Sarasota County Arts and Cultural Alliance, said Tuesday that county officials

had checked with him before deciding to enter into the partnership with Kowal.

“I told them I was not aware of anybody else (in the county) being involved (in an effort to apply for the grant),” Shirley said.

“It’s a big grant. It’s a lot of work (to apply).

If one of our groups can qualify for it, that would be great for the community.”

Kowal agreed with Shirley about the undertaking on which she is embarking.

“It’s one of those incredibly tedious grants … and we know it’s a long shot, but it’s definitely worth a try,” Kowal said.

The Chalk Festival readily qualifies for the criteria set forth for the Our Town grants, Kowal added.

In December, she said, “We can hit all the potentials they’re looking for.” She pointed out that the event draws artists of international reputation, and it represents “all nationalities and all demographics.”

According to the NEA, the grants are investments in creative and innovative projects in which communities, together with their arts-and-design organizations and artists, seek to improve the quality of life, encourage creative activity, create community identity and a sense of place and revitalize local economies.

The Bank of America name perched on one of the more identifiable downtown Sarasota buildings will be coming down — likely by early next year.

The bank will move from 32,000 square feet on the ground floor of the building, at 1605 Main St., to a 5,000-square-foot branch a few blocks away. The Bank of America name has topped the tower, the Ellis Building, since at least 2005.

The building was constructed in 1972.

Sarasota-based Ruben-Holland Development has signed a contract to develop the new Bank of America branch, which will double as the bank’s local headquarters. The building will go next to a newly completed Staples office supply store at the intersection of Fruitville Road and U.S. 301. Ruben-Holland also developed the Staples.

Local Bank of America officials couldn’t be reached for comment about the bank’s dwindling local presence, at least from a square-foot perspective. But Bank of America spokeswoman Christina Beyer Toth said Bank of America is “always looking for retail banking centers that make sense for us and we continue to look at that site as a possible location.”

Ruben-Holland founder Wayne Ruben said the Bank of America branch, which could be completed by early 2013, is another nugget in a Sarasota recovery story.

In addition to Staples, restaurant chain P.F. Chang’s and grocery chain Trader Joe’s recently committed to the area.

“It’s incredible what’s going on,” Ruben said. “People are saying, ‘Woe is me,’ but that’s not the reality. I feel real positive about downtown.”

Meanwhile, Larry Fineberg, an official with Benderson Development Co., which owns the Ellis Building, said Bank of America’s departure isn’t as bad as it might appear. Fineberg concedes the loss of a ground-floor tenant with its name on the building, in a recession, no less, poses a large challenge.

However, Fineberg said University Parkbased Benderson can move ahead with a much-needed first-floor renovation. The firm also will leverage the marketing of the space with the ability for a new tenant to put its name at the top of the building.

Benderson will target a bank for the space, though Fineberg is open to other tenants.

“It certainly creates an opportunity,” Fineberg said. “It’s one of the most prominent buildings downtown, if not the most prominent.”

Sarasota Observer City Editor Kurt Schultheis contributed to this story.

Kurt Schultheis

Bank of America at 1605 Main St. will likely close next year for a new Fruitville Road location.

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NEWSBRIEFS

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

+ Jury scam reported Sarasota County residents are being urged not to fall for a new scam attempting to lure people into thinking they have been summoned for jury duty.

A caller, who claims to be a jury coordinator, asks for the person’s Social Security number and date of birth to verify why the person has not been notified of jury selection through the mail.

The information, the scammer says, also is needed to cancel an arrest warrant for the person’s failure to appear for jury duty.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is urging people to hang up on such a caller and not to give out any personal information.

The scam has been reported so far in 11 states.

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TOP FIVE

The most read stories online last week were: 1. “Crime spree ends in stand-off and arrest” (Feb. 13) 2. “Food truck offers lunch alternatives downtown” (Feb. 16) 3. “More hotel details emerge” (Feb. 16) 4. “New Sarasota Staples now accepting applications” (Feb. 14) 5. “PHOTO GALLERY: Smooches for Pooches and Kisses for Kitties” (Feb. 12)

wrecking ball, according to city staff.

A slight increase in truck traffic and noise in the area should be expected, with work occurring from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The contractor will spray the demolition area with water, to help keep dust to a minimum.

Built in the 1950s, the Sarasota Police Station served police officers, administrative staff and the public until 2010, when the current Sarasota Police

Department Headquarters opened adjacent to it.

For more information, contact Project Manager Tony Russo at 365-2200, Ext. 6367.

+ Detert reappointed to education board Gov. Rick Scott has reappointed state Sen. Nancy C. Detert of Venice to the Southern Regional Education Board.

SREB is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works with 16 member states to improve public education from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, as well as higher education.

SREB is governed by a board that includes the governor and four gubernatorial appointees from each member state, including at least one state legislator and one educator.

Meetings agendas

&

 Alta Vista Neighborhood Association Meeting — 7 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 23, Concordia Lutheran Church, 2185 Wood St., Sarasota.  Sarasota City Commission/Hospital Board Special Meeting — 4 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 27, Plaza Auditorium, Second Floor, 1921 Waldemere St., Sarasota.  Sarasota City Commission Budget Workshop — 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28, City Hall, Commission Chambers, 1565 First St., Sarasota.  Sarasota City Commission Regular Meeting — 2:30 and 6 p.m. Monday, March 5, City Hall, Commission Chambers, 1565 First St., Sarasota.  St. Armands Neighborhood Association Meeting — 4:30 p.m.

Monday, March 5, St. Armands Fire Station, 47 N. Adams, Sarasota.

O

+ Old police station demolition set for Feb. 28

Demolition of the former Sarasota Police Station, at 2050 Ringling Blvd. is expected to begin Feb. 28.

The building will be torn down over the course of 60 days through use of a

What makes a good physician a GREAT physician?

+ Correction

A Feb. 19 article titled, “BID board proposes 10-year extension,” should have said that Marty Rappaport suggested that two Business Improvement District board members sharing ownership of one or

more properties within the district should not serve on the BID board.

This week on

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

budget crunch

5A

by Kurt Schultheis | City Editor

Turner expects at least 40 city employee cuts Another 40 city employees might have to be laid off, and employee benefits cut further, to balance the city’s next budget, Vice Mayor Terry Turner has let Interim City Manager Terry Lewis know that he expects as many as 40 more city employees will have to be laid off, and further employee benefit cuts will be necessary, to make the city’s 2013 fiscal year budget balanced.

Turner made the point in an email he sent Lewis Feb. 6, more than three weeks before the City Commission’s first budget workshop of the year — Feb. 28.

Using “Ongoing Budget Crisis” as his subject line for the email, Turner explained that nothing was more critical for Lewis to grasp than the upcoming budget picture.

“I believe that the budget needs to be among your highest, if not your highest priority,” Lewis wrote.

“City budget trends have been very unfavorable (even more unfavorable than at the county) and are likely to get much worse in 2013.”

Turner attached a spreadsheet that he used to explain the gravity of the problems. (See sidebar.)

In the email, Turner wrote, “You will note that we have reduced headcount by 24% (an average of nearly 37 people in each of the last five years).” Turner added, “I think it is extraordinarily unlikely that you will be able to present a balanced 2012-2013 budget which does not rely on another 30- to 40-person reduction in headcount.”

LBK2010 H

Turner’s Budget Crisis Numbers

But that’s not the biggest problem, according to Turner.

“The fundamental problem is that the painful headcount reductions have been more than offset by increases in compensation per employee,” Turner wrote.

For example, Turner pointed out that salary and wages per employee had increased 19% over the past five years. Further, the total compensation per employee has increased 34% over the past five years.

“The biggest driver is pension cost, and as the most recent actuary reports make clear, the growth in employee pension costs will accelerate next year,” Turner wrote in his email.

With city revenues not expected to climb in the next budget cycle, and taxable property values predicted to fall at least another 5%, Turner noted that cutting the number of employees and reducing employee costs are the only ways the city can get ahead of expected shortfalls.

“I encourage you to engage the 2012 and 2013 budget challenges aggressively and as soon as possible,” Turner wrote Lewis.

The Sarasota City Commission will hold its first budget workshop at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28, at City Hall, Commission Chambers, 1565 First St., Sarasota.

Budget Items

2007

2012

Employees Sworn police officers All other employees Total Employees

200 577 777

176 418 594

Revenue Ad Valorem Tax Revenue Other Revenue Total Revenue

$22,225,365 $37,701,367 $59,926,732

$16,068,033 $37,829,476 $53,897,509

Expenditures Salaries and Wages City Pension Contributions Other Benefits Total Personnel Expenses

$25,751,375 $5,979,424 $11,342,149 $43,072,948

$23,461,712 $9,586,091 $11,021,419 $44,069,222

Operating Expenses Capital Expenditures Other Expenses Total Non-Personnel Expenses Total Expenditures

$10,879,738 $1,262,294 $3,047,304 $15,189,336 $58,262,284

$10,640,339 $213,853 $161,910 $11,016,102 $55,085,324

Expenses Per Employee Salaries and Wages City Pension Contributions Other Benefits Total Employee Compensation

$33,142 $7,696 $14,597 $55,435

$39,498 $16,138 $18,555 $74,191

% Change

(-24%) (-28%) (-10%)

60% 2%

(-27%) (-6%) 19% 110% 27% 34%

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

double duty By Rod Thomson | Editor at Large

Candidate Fitzgerald: Can he teach and run?

New College professor Keith Fitzgerald’s candidacy for Congress has raised questions among administrators and trustees about his ability to maintain his teaching duties.

Keith Fitzgerald is a full-time, tenured as he does not inject his campaign into professor of political science at New Col- the college, I’m not concerned about the lege of Florida in Sarasota. He is also run- quality of his work,” Johnson said. “I’ve ning for Congress, which is generally ac- talked to Keith. He’s pledged a positive cepted as a full-time job as well. campaign.”

The combination has caused some State Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, New College trustees to question whether holds a similar view.

Fitzgerald should retain his full-time state “My personal feeling is that teaching job and salary while running a campaign college is not really a full-time job anyfor national office — particularly as Gov. way,” Bennett said. “But he’s entitled to Rick Scott has urged universities (run). I wish more people would to be more careful and accountrun for office.” able with their financial resourcBut state Rep. Ray Pilon, Res and student outcomes.

Sarasota, sees it differently. Pilon So Fitzgerald is discussing with defeated Fitzgerald in 2010 to college administrators the poswin the House seat he now holds sibility of reducing his teaching and questioned at the time how role in the fall semester, or even Fitzgerald could be a paid state go so far as to choose teaching legislator and full-time state color the campaign, at least for the lege professor at the same time. duration of the campaign.

“When he was in the Legisla“Professor Fitzgerald’s … deci- Keith Fitzgerald ture being paid, he was also besion to curtail some of his teaching paid by New College,” Pilon ing obligations and run for a seat said. in the U.S. Congress is a disappointment Further, Pilon also was a state employto me,” said New College Trustee John ee as the director of communications for Saputo in a written statement. “Running the Peace River Manasota Regional Water for U.S. Congress is a demanding, dis- Supply Authority. During his first session tracting and time-consuming task. I was last year, Pilon took an unpaid adminishoping that when Keith decided to run for trative leave from his state job because he political office ‘again’ that he would take a could not do both at once. He has since six-month sabbatical without pay … This resigned from the state job and is an indewould have been the best course of action pendent consultant. for New College and Keith’s students.”

“I did not get paid for two state jobs,” But Bob Johnson, chairman of the New he said.

College Board of Trustees and a former Fitzgerald, a Democrat who is paid an Republican state senator, said there is annual salary of $70,077 at New College, nothing the college can do, and it is a no- declined to be interviewed, but issued the win for it to try to force anything. following statement: “Keith Fitzgerald has tenure,” Johnson “Keith Fitzgerald, Ph.D, continues said. “He has a union agreement. As long teaching in the Political Science Depart-

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SARASOTA Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

ment at the New College of Florida as he has since 1994. In addition to his course load, he maintains regular office hours, assists colleagues and consults with his advisees.”

Fitzgerald, during his time in the Legislature, had students go to Tallahassee for some part of the nineweek session when he had to be there full time, having them write papers on what they saw. He did not have formal class sessions for those months.

Some of the concern about Fitzgerald’s duties has been prompted by an Oct. 11, 2011, letter to all state university and college presidents, in which Gov. Scott requested a list of measurements to determine how well professors are teaching, students are learning and young people find employment in their field.

“I want Floridians to have the opportunity to obtain the best education for which Florida taxpayers are willing to pay,” Scott wrote to the universities and colleges. “I have always believed the only way to ensure increasing levels of performance is by measuring outcomes using objective, data-driven criteria in a fully transparent environment.”

The letter is part of the governor’s drive to improve state universities and ensure accountability. Saputo said he thinks Fitzgerald’s decision to keep teaching while running for Congress is counter to the governor’s goals.

Fitzgerald, who is running against incumbent U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Longboat Key, is not the only college teacher who is, or has been, in the Legislature.

Rep. John Tobia, R-Melbourne, is a professor at Valencia Community College. Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, D-Tallahassee, is a professor at Tallahassee Community College. And Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, is an

We expect him to fully discharge his duties.

9, 2009 • PelicanPressOnline.com

y exciting

LEGISLATURE CONSIDERS BAN

New College Provost Steve Miles instructor at the University of Florida.

Haridopolis was, for a few months last year, in the same situation as Fitzgerald now. The Merritt Island Republican was hired in 2010 by the University of Florida to be a general education lecturer. After starting his Senate campaign, he dropped out of the race last June so he could focus on being Senate president.

“I truly believed I could handle both jobs. But I was wrong,” he said in a video announcing the end of his campaign.

But as long as Fitzgerald can show up to teach his classes and any other duties, he must be allowed to keep his position and salary under his union contract.

Professors at New College and Florida’s other 10 universities are unionized, represented by the United Faculty of Florida, which is part of the American Federation of Teachers under the AFL-CIO. Sarah Hernandez, head of the New College chapter of United Faculty, was adamant that neither Fitzgerald nor anyone else should get special treatment.

“The union would object to any special deal for individuals,” said Hernandez, a professor of sociology at New College. But she added that the union is there to protect Fitzgerald’s rights under the contract.

Under the union contract, Fitzgerald must teach his two courses and any tutorials each semester to retain his full salary. As long as he does that, he is free for other pursuits.

New College administrators are looking for a way to make sure students get appropriate attention while allowing Fitzgerald the freedom to pursue Congress in accor-

7A

dance with his union contract.

“We expect him to fully discharge his duties,” said Steve Miles, New College provost and vice president for academic affairs. “It will be a great amount of work for him.”

Miles has been in discussions with Fitzgerald and said the professor is continuing his normal teaching courses in the spring semester, is off for the summer as normal and then may cut his teaching in half for the fall semester running up to the November election. That fall reduction would include some sort of reduction in salary also.

But Fitzgerald is not just a unionized state employee, he is a tenured college professor. “Tenure’s importance is that you will not lose your job unless you do something so outrageous it does not warrant continuing your employment,” Hernandez said. Tenure, she said, is designed to protect free speech for professors.

Plus, the union contract allows for professors to take time off for other pursuits. For instance, every six years, professors are given six months of paid leave called research assignments, or sabbaticals, to pursue some study in their field. As a political science professor, Fitzgerald could consider his work in Congress — or perhaps even running for Congress — as research for political science. He has not said he will do that.

Miles said that while Fitzgerald’s tenured position would have to be renewed every two years if he is in Congress, it could be renewed continually. While he would be in Congress, New College would hire a temporary replacement professor to teach those courses until Fitzgerald returned.

This is not the 55-year-old Keith Fitzgerald’s first foray into politics.

In 2005, he won the Florida House District 69 seat by beating Republican Laura Benson 51% to 49%. He won one re-election before losing to Ray Pilon in 2010.

That arrangement also required altered treatment by New College for Fitzgerald because the Legislature meets full-time for nine weeks in the spring each year.

Provost Miles said that Fitzgerald took a 25% reduction in duties and pay during the spring semesters while he was in the Legislature. Then in the summer, he was given a temporary administrative appointment assisting the provost (not Miles at the time) with curricular planning. In one year, the summer work allowed him to maintain his full-time salary, in another year it did not, Miles said.

This type of situation — and others that appeared to be quid pro quos — prompted the Legislature to look at banning university employees from being legislators.

A Senate ethics bill doing that recently passed the Senate Rules Subcommittee on Ethics and Elections on a 7-6 vote. The bill bars lawmakers from taking positions with universities within two years of leaving the Legislature.

The bill is in response to several years of news stories on legislators and their state college jobs.

The most controversial stories were on Rep. Ray Sansom, a Destin Republican who helped funnel millions of dollars to Northwest Florida State College and then left the Legislature to work for the college.

The bill is sponsored by Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, who thinks having lawmakers on the payroll of colleges creates the perception of a conflict of interest because the Legislature funds the colleges. “It’s been the subject of a lot of concern,” Thrasher said during the subcommittee meeting.

Members of the Legislature are already prohibited from lobbying lawmakers for two years after leaving the Legislature.

The bill does not affect Fitzgerald’s run for Congress.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

Observer opinion | 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

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County subsidies: immoral Maybe a a good roundhouse to their proboscises might knock some sense into them and awaken them.

We’re speaking of the Sarasota County Commission members. Over the past two years, they have confiscated $10 million of your money (called tax dollars), and, in exchange for promises by business owners to create new jobs, the commissioners have passed your money into the hands of those business owners.

They’re almost out of that money now and want to replenish it with another $6 million of your money.

These five commissioners, along with their “economic development” experts — none of whom, by the way, has achieved any venture capitalist or business status of remarkable merit — have decided which companies among many have the best ideas, plans, products and services to be worthy of your money.

In some places they call this process “government picking winners and losers.”

And always (i.e. Solyndra), the taxpayers are the losers.

There is no moral or economic justification whatsoever for government to take your wealth (by force of a gun, mind you, aka taxation) and transfer it to a privately owned enterprise that competes in the free marketplace.

People such as Commissioners Christine Robinson and Nora Patterson and Mark Huey, president of the Economic Development Corp. of Sarasota County, see this as “economic development” — providing subsidies under the guise of “public policy” to improve the local economy. The idea, of course, is to hand out capital to companies so the businesses can expand and hire more people — obtaining an (alleged) advantage over their competitors. This in turn is expected to create a spillover effect that will result in the creation of more new local jobs.

The economic development experts say this process is executed under rigorous examinations and follow-up to make sure taxpayers are receiving the proper “return on investment.”

But as we have seen in Sarasota County, it’s a “learning” process. The expected ROI is often mythical. Our version of Solyndra was Sanborn Studios, one of the county’s more notorious economic development flubs. The county gave Sanborn $650,000 with the expectation that Sanborn would create 117 movie-production jobs in three years.

Sanborn outfitted a 20,000-square-foot studio in Lakewood Ranch, but has since abandoned it, laid off several employees and doesn’t exactly appear to be on its way to becoming the next MGM. When it applied for another $500,000 in taxpayer money, the county’s economic development officials had enough sense to turn it down.

There were other losers — Sunovia Energy Technologies, for one ($50,000). And the jobs created from 28 “grants” to various companies have totaled 1,039 compared to 2,323 promised (44%). It’s still early in some cases. Companies received their money in just the past few months.

Truth be told, taxpayers should be out-

raged by this stuff. Consider this one: Commissioner Robinson is all excited about the $400,000 the county promised recently to an out-of-state medicall billing company that employs 148 people and “is expected” to hire another 215 more over the next two years, according to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. The company was deciding between Sarasota and Hillsborough County.

Now let’s say you own a medical billing company in Sarasota County, you’ve been operating here for more than a decade, you’ve paid property, tangible and intangible and corporate income taxes all that time and you haven’t taken one dime from the government.

How can Robinson, Patterson and Huey possibly justify a handout to the out-ofstate company?

There’s more: With the typical arrogance of government do-gooders, Robinson & Co. are presuming they are smarter than all of us on how best to spend or invest the $16 million they are confiscating from you, the taxpayer.

In effect, they are saying: “If we let you control your own money, you are not as smart as we are creating new business ventures that will generate as many jobs as we will or the kind of jobs we want when we take your money and invest in, say, Sanborn Studios.”

They can see the companies that come to them for a welfare check. But they cannot see the unknown entrepreneur, maybe even the next Steve Jobs, who is denied capital because of the taxation that occurs.

This may sound far-fetched. But it reminds us of the often told story by the late, great economist Milton Friedman. After Mercedes Benz won a $350 million subsidy to build an auto plant in Tuscaloosa, Ala., from the Alabama Legislature, Friedman was asked whether this was a wise investment. Think of all the new jobs being created, he was told.

Responded Friedman: “Think of all of the jobs not being created by the Alabama people who had to give Mercedes that $350 million. Ask the widow on the fixed income in little Chicasaw, Ala., on the Gulf Coast if she cares about the Mercedes jobs in Tuscaloosa.”

One more time: Stop the corporate welfare. It’s wrong. It’s immoral. Focus instead on reducing the burdens of taxation and regulation. Create a climate where it’s a joy and easy for all to do business.

+ St. Armands BID works

The nature of news is to focus on the unusual and extraordinary. And as we all have learned in this modern media era, that usually means the bizarre begets the biggest headlines, or the badder the news the bigger the story.

But a lot of media outlets, including ours, have gotten the message: Celebrate the good.

Here is one of those good-news stories: the St. Armands Business Improvement District.

This is the special taxing district that St. Armands landowners created, via the Sarasota City Commission, to impose an

THE CASTAWAY by Jorge Blanco

extra tax on themselves to fund physical improvements around St. Armands Circle.

It’s not a sexy story — full of dramatic heroism and feats. But it’s a story of Aesop’s famous race, “The Tortoise and the Hare” — slow and steady wins the race.

You may have seen last week in the Longboat Observer the long list of the BID’s accomplishments over the past 10 years, the most noticeable, of course, being the most recent — the four lushly re-landscaped medians. It was also behind the installation of new street lights and 122 outdoor Bose speakers, new and repaired sidewalks, brick-paved crosswalks and the funding of a long-range master plan for the Circle.

All of this may not seem like much, but if you think back 10, 12, 15 years ago, slowly and steadily a ragged-around-the-edges St. Armands Circle has been showing continued improvements.

The BID was a smart idea, and its three board members — Marty Rappaport, clearly its champion, Michael Valentino and Gavin Meshad — should be recognized for their positive contributions. We know merchants feel they are ultimately responsible for providing the property-tax dollars to the BID via the merchants’ rental payments.

But another way to view that is this: The landowners could eliminate their taxing district and divert that BID money to other uses than the Circle. With the BID, dollars are forced to flow back into the Circle. Everyone benefits — landowners, merchants, the city and surrounding property values.

Clearly, it would behoove the landowners to extend the BID another 10 years. That is especially so because the work of the BID is not finished. There are two more crucial projects that need to be accomplished: • A parking garage, with public restrooms; • And, an extension of the new landscaping to create dramatic entrances to the Circle from Sarasota and Longboat Key. Knowing how the city of Sarasota operates, no one can expect instant miracles.

But if the St. Armands Business Improvement District, St. Armands merchants and St. Armands residents continue in the vein they have over the past 10 years, to be sure, slow and steady will win the race.

+ A bum victory

Irony: A Sarasota city commissioner told us last week the city has received complaints about loitering vagrants from residents near School Avenue and the old industrial area near Payne Park.

This, you may recall, is the area where Sarasota businessman Ron Burks had proposed his mixed-use development, Payne Park Village. As noted in the Sarasota Observer last week, however, Burks has put his 9.5-acre site up for sale, apparently calling it quits.

The irony here should be obvious. Former Sarasota Mayor Kelly Kirschner and his friends in neighborhood associations fought vigorously (that’s being polite)to try to force Burks to reduce the size and scope of his project, complaining that it would ruin the character of the adjoining neighborhood.

But instead of new housing, offices and retail stores, Kirschner won. He got bums.

SARASOTA Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

Mortgage settlement is hardly ‘landmark’ While President Obama is hailing million mortgagors under water, his $26-billion mortgage servicing the settlement will at best accord settlement as “a landmark settlerelief to 2 million borrowers. What’s ment” that will “speed relief to hommore, while $26 billion in damages eowners” and “begin to turn the page may seem huge, it pales against $700 on an era of recklessness,” in truth, billion authorized under the Toxic Asthe deal affords only modest sets Review Program (TARP), relief to homeowners and $700 billion of aggregate fails to address systemic borrower negative equity and flaws that precipitated the $7.77 trillion in newly uncov2008 financial meltdown. ered bailouts by the Federal Bank of America, Wells Reserve (netting banks $13 Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, billion in profits).

Citigroup and Ally Financial Moreover, the settlement handle about 27 million or releases the banks from civil 55% of outstanding home liability to states for “roboloans. The $26 billion settle- Schneider signing” (producing false ment with these “big five” and forged mortgage instruwill be accomplished over three ments) and other claims. While not years, and the payout could increase realizing their full goal of discharge if the next nine servicers sign on. from criminal liability and private Of the $26 billion, no more than $6 lawsuits as well, the banks may well billion represents direct cash outflow. get far more than they give.

This includes $1.5 billion for payAlso disappointing is how this ments around $2,000 to 750,000 borsettlement does not address underlyrowers improperly foreclosed upon ing causes or prevent future abuses from 2008 to 2011. by financial giants deemed “too big The banks will pay out another to fail.” $3.5 billion to states, including for One suggested remedy is to revive legal aid to homeowners. Also, to provisions of the Glass-Steagall settle fraud charges against subsidBanking Act of 1933. Glass-Steagall iary Countrywide Financial, Bank of followed the 1929 stock-market America will pay up to $1 billion to crash and ensuing failure of nearly the Federal Housing Administration.

5,000 banks. Among other things, it For the rest, the banks are to comrequired separation of commercial mit $17 billion to principal reducbanking from investment banking. tion and other loan modification for Unfortunately, this restriction was underwater borrowers behind on repealed in 1999. mortgage payments, with an averThe “Volker Rule,” banning propriage reduction of $20,000. Another $3 etary trading using depositor funds, billion will go toward refinancing for was supposedly a substitute. But not those current on payments. scheduled to come into force until Nevertheless, with 4 million homes next July, it has already morphed lost since the beginning of 2007, 3.4 into a 298-page nightmare regulamillion facing foreclosure and 12 tory proposal riddled with loopholes,

uncertainties and gibberish.

A similar fate threatens its parent, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Dodd-Frank has only been minimally implemented and is under enforced.

Wall Street forces are fielding legions of lobbyists to demolish it, while big banks and their executives are hedging by bankrolling both major political parties.

Resurrecting Glass-Steagall is scarcely a radical notion. In 2009, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) introduced such a bill, with co-sponsors as diverse as John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) voted against the 1999 repeal. Even former Speaker Newt Gingrich has conceded that “in retrospect, repealing the Glass-Steagall Act was probably a mistake” and “[w] e should probably re-establish dividing up the big banks into a banking function and an investment function and separating them out again.”

More far-reaching reform may be warranted. Some experts recommend breaking up and limiting the size of mega-financial institutions.

This country has antitrust laws to preserve competition and protect consumers, and yet we condone financial behemoths powerful enough to wreak havoc on the economy and extract ransom from taxpayers. To quote former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, “… if they’re too big to fail, they’re too big …”

Jan Schneider holds a law degree and a doctorate in political science.

A former Democratic candidate for the District 13 congressional seat, she practices law and lives on Bird Key.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR + If you want change, add beach parking spaces Dear Editor: I have been a resident of Sarasota for more than 50 years. I cannot imagine anyone wanting to make any changes to downtown Sarasota. I feel it has as much charm as any city in the United States.

If the City Commission wants to do something constructive and sensible, it should remove the unwanted parking meters. I am sure local government officials can find money for something else. For example, all of us know that putting more parking spaces at Siesta Public would be a great idea.

Putting decorative parking spaces with curbs in the beach parking lot is just foolishly putting good money to waste! Anyone with an ounce of intelligence knows that.

Besides, those decorative changes would remove space for much-needed parking. That would be the equivalent of saying to people, “Just stay home; don’t dare to go to Siesta Beach. We don’t want you to find a parking spot and enjoy a nice day, because it is supposed to be there for the pleasure of government officials.”

Joan Mastrandrea Sarasota

+ Dorfman wrong about Main Street Dear Editor: I am sorry to tell Richard Dorfman, but Main Street is drab (Feb. 15 guest column).

We have been vacationing here for the past five years and have seen no change for the better on Main Street. If it weren’t for the special events held downtown, the streets would be empty, or nearly so.

The Selby Public Library/Sarasota Opera area is lovely, and Burns Square is great. In fact, Burns Court is funky. Main Street is just old and unappealing. Without some updating for Main Street, I think Dorfman will be waiting a long while for, as he said, “the time when our sidewalks are overcrowded with shoppers, etc.”

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12:46 a.m. — 1400 block of Main Street. Noise Violation. Nearby residents complained about loud music coming from a nearby restaurant, but officers determined the music was within legal decibel levels.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

police that when she returned to her car, she found a tree limb on top of it.

The limb apparently had dented the front passenger-side quarter panel, above the tire, and its fall had damaged the roof and the passenger-side door, as well.

Thanks for the lift 6:23 p.m. — 1500 block of Main Street. Disorderly Intoxication. A man who was too drunk to ride his bicycle home accepted a ride home in a squad car.

Feb. 15 Making it worse 1:58 a.m. — Intersection of Main Street and Gulfstream Avenue. Arrest.

A man was arrested after police pulled him over and spotted marijuana on the floor of the car. Officers also discovered he was driving with a suspended driver’s license.

Fast on her feet 9:18 a.m. — 500 block of North Washington Boulevard. Suspicious Person. The manager of a convenience store complained that a homeless woman was panhandling outside her store. The woman fled before police arrived.

Bus-stop blues 9:42 a.m. — Intersection of First Street and Lemon Avenue. Theft. A woman reported that someone had stolen her brown wallet while she was at a bus station. The wallet contained $35 in cash, plus food stamps and credit cards.

It all adds up 1:45 p.m. — 500 block of North Washington Boulevard. Suspicious Person. A convenience store manager told police that two men and a woman keep

buying pre-paid credit cards, putting $10 on each card at a time. He found the behavior suspicious, he said.

After-hours research 11:13 p.m. — 1300 block of First Street. Loitering. A man was reported to be using his computer near the steps of the Selby Public Library after it had closed. Officers told him to go home.

Scary-movie syndrome 11:40 p.m. — 1900 block of Main Street. Suspicious Circumstance.

An electronics store employee told police she had become frightened upon opening a drawer in her office and finding a large silver knife.

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park popularity

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

cleaning downtown

By Kurt Schultheis | City Editor

by Kurt Schultheis | City Editor

Celery Fields popularity grows Street Teams to start The Celery Fields, a 300-acre Sarasota County stormwater collection zone that has morphed into one of the county’s most beloved parks, is becoming so popular that residents are clamoring for even more amenities.

The man-made stormwater site has become home to more than 200 diverse bird species, allowing the county to turn it into a recreational facility.

Over the years, the county has created a 100-acre wetlands restoration area on the site, planted more than 20,000 aquatic plants, added a gazebo, walking/biking trails and boardwalks for visitors, so they can get closer to the bird habitats. County workers also have added tons of dirt to the site, to create what some residents refer to as “Sarasota Mountain.” Walkers and bikers trek to the top of the hill, so they have a high vantage point from which to observe the birds and other wildlife.

The park has become so popular that the county has future plans for additional walking and biking trails, fishing, kayaking and wildlife-viewing centers.

The site became part of the Sarasota Fruitville Drainage District in 1921. Celery was grown on the site until 1995, when the county purchased the property to make way for its stormwater project.

Enclaves resident Tom Rigby, who lives a half-mile from The Celery Fields, sent an email to the Sarasota County Commission Feb. 8, praising the park and asking for more features to accommodate the park’s popularity.

“As more people discover how wonderful the park is, parking has become a problem,” Rigby wrote. “Vehicles are parking off the road or wherever they can find space.”

The park has only a 15-space lot off Palmer Boulevard to accommodate motorists. However, visitors are allowed to park their cars along the rights of way near The Celery Fields,

cleanup in March

An agreement between the city of Sarasota and The Salvation Army should allow members of the homeless population to help clean up the city starting next month.

Kurt Schultheis

With The Celery Fields gaining in popularity, residents are requesting more amenities.

which sits just east of Interstate 75, between Fruitville Road and Palmer Boulevard.

Rigby suggested in his email that the county could create more vehicle spaces by opening up a fence on the east side of the parking lot.

He also suggested the county add a crosswalk on Palmer Boulevard, to provide safer pedestrian access from Sarasota Mountain to The Celery Fields boardwalks.

George Tatge, a manager of the Sarasota County Parks and Recreations Department, said county staff was open to all suggestions, adding that the facility is looking more like a regular park.

“People have to remember this is a regional stormwater facility that has also morphed into a world-class birding location and a very popular park over the past year,” Tatge said.

“All the water, grasses and natural resources make it a popular place for birds and birdwatchers alike.”

The city of Sarasota and The Salvation Army’s joint Street Teams effort is scheduled to start in early March, three months later than originally planned.

The delay resulted from the reluctance of The Salvation Army to turn over records regarding private contributions, city staff reported, even though city policy calls for a full disclosure of an organization’s financial situation before the city can enter into an agreement with the organization.

City staff explained the situation to the City Commission during its Feb. 6 regular meeting. After the commissioners conceded the city didn’t need the private donor information, staff was able to move ahead with negotiations.

The program, which had been expected to begin in December, will put members of the homeless population to work, cleaning the city’s streets while working to find gainful employment.

Street Teams is modeled on an initiative that has been under way since January 2009 in Daytona Beach.

In October, the Sarasota City Commission, acting as the Community Redevelopment Agency, agreed to allow city staff to work with the Salvation Army to form an alliance for

Street Teams.

“We are working through the contractual agreement now,” said Director of Public Works Doug Jeffcoat.

City Public Information Officer Jan Thornburg said the document had been revised and sent to Salvation Army officials for their review and signatures.

The agreement calls for 15 people — three teams of five each — to work specifically in the Community Redevelopment Agency corridors of downtown and North Sarasota. The people selected to participate will work four hours a day, five days a week.

“Each day would be different, with different assignments that could include everything from cleaning graffiti to collecting trash and litter,” Jeffcoat said.

Other work could include sprucing up parks and cleaning up vegetation in public rights of way.

City staff was still undecided this week about the type of uniform the workers would wear, to distinguish them from regular city employees.

“We are really excited about the partnership and to be able to give these individuals an opportunity, while they are able to help the community at the same time,” Jeffcoat said.

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Susan Roberts’ students have built robot bugs, rockets and five-gallon showers — all in the name of science.

Brookside Middle School teacher Susan Roberts rarely experiences a dull moment in her classroom.

Over the years, her students have built robotic soda-can bugs, crafted hand-made rockets, carved pumpkins and attempted to take a shower with only five gallons of water — all in the name of science.

Most recently, to conclude their chemistry unit, they studied water purification, complete with a water-tasting experiment that demonstrates the importance of environmental awareness. Roberts compiled seven different types of water for her students to sample in a blind taste test and then had them record the differences they tasted in their lab reports.

“Water is just another chemical compound,” she said. “The different elements in it are affecting the taste, but it’s the same water that’s been on the Earth forever. The dinosaurs drank this same water.”

Roberts fielded questions and did her best to steer conversations back to chemistry amidst students’ mixed reactions.

“This is just Publix water,” guessed one student.

“Ew, this one tastes like dirt,” another remarked.

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SARASOTA Observer

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

by Nick Friedman | Community Editor

Sarasota council hosts former ABC president The Literacy Council of Sarasota held its fifth annual author’s luncheon Feb. 17, at Michael’s On East.

James Duffy, former president of ABC Televsion Network, was the featured speaker at the event, which was a fundraiser to benefit the council’s adult literacy programs. Duffy, who founded ProLiteracy U.S. with Barbara Bush, addressed the issue of illiteracy in America.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

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15A

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Linda Hugues works on a painting at her booth.

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Annual art festival draws thousands to downtown Thousands of art-lovers flocked to the 24th annual Sarasota Downtown Art Festival Feb. 18 to 19, on Main Street and in Five Points Park.

There were a variety of different artists from all over the state and country who participated in the weekend art show.

Photos by Rachel S. O’Hara

Kate Jones and Meshele Merchant

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16A

SARASOTA Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

NEIGHBORS

CHINA SMITH

against the guy who had beaten him.

This caught the attention of the media, the boxing community and Tampabased boxing trainer Henry Grooms.

“I told him (Grooms) I didn’t want to leave my family, and the guy liked that about me.”

In 1998, at age 18, Smith moved to Tampa to start his professional career.

“Tampa was the biggest fight area other than Vegas,” Smith says. “We had myself, Antonio Tarver, Winky Wright,

Roy Jones and Jeff Lacey all in the Bay Area.”

Smith won his first professional belt in 2001 after defeating Darrel Dixon in the Nation Boxing Association Continental Championship. To date, Smith has won two NBA Continental Championships and two NBA World Championships.

In 2007, he decided to take a break from the world of boxing and return to Sarasota.

“There was a lot going on, and I was

Five Things You Didn’t Know About China Smith www.YourObserver.com

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China Smith stopped boxing in 2007 to launch his non-profit, China Smith and Friends Inc. This year, he hopes to return to the ring.

still young and I wanted to relax and go do some community work.”

Smith started up his own non-profit, China Smith and Friends Inc., to work with kids in the community and become a mentor on a variety of levels.

Smith also helped put on a five-week summer boxing fitness camp at Sarasota Military Academy and is running a similar organization and boxing program at the Police Athletic League of Manatee County.

“It is a different gym from most gyms,” he says. “My kids don’t ever have to fight. They can just work out and get in shape in a safe environment.”

These days he is known by many as “The People’s Champ,” a name he gained from area residents who have been touched by his compassion.

This year, Smith will return to professional boxing. His first fight since 2006 is set to take place in April in Detroit, Mich., and he’s hoping to get some fighting time in China in the near future.

“I always tell kids, ‘Never give up on your dreams,’” he says. “You don’t want to wish ‘I coulda, shoulda.’ By doing this, I am practicing what I preach, and I’m not just talking about it but pursuing it.”

— Rachel S. O’Hara

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In Chinese culture, 2012 is the year of the Dragon — one of the luckiest years in Chinese history. Which is why it is perfect that China “The Dragon” Smith Jr. is coming out of retirement to make a comeback in the world of boxing.

Born and raised in Sarasota, Smith grew up boxing with his father, China Smith Sr., and playing football.

“My dad had me going around running and doing (boxing) drills when I was 3,” Smith remembers.

Although Smith’s father, who boxed for a hobby, pushed for him to focus more on boxing, Smith had success in a different field. He made the varsity football team as a freshman at Riverview High School and quickly became a star. By the time he was a senior, Smith was offered football scholarships from the University of Florida, Florida State University, University of Miami, Michigan, and Notre Dame.

When the time came to decide what he would do once he graduated high school, he surprised everyone by turning down all the scholarships in hopes of becoming a professional boxer. He entered the amateur ranks and found success quickly.

“When I was 17, I took on a 26-yearold guy and won the fight,” he says.

“My dad and I were like, ‘Might as well go pro and get paid.’”

Smith went to spar in Tampa the summer after high school in hopes of getting noticed. He lost his first fight but came back the next day and won

‘The People’s Champ’ talks about growing up in Sarasota, giving back to his community and his plans to return to the boxing ring.

lBk

SARASOTA Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

education

17A

re

ns A Sports Fa You Listening?

by Rachel S. O’Hara | Staff Photographer

Mon-Sat 11:30am-midnight Sunday Noon-11pm

g i m e u e Stev D Students at Sarasota Military Academy stand at attention.

Photos by Rachel S. O’Hara

Gov. Rick Scott inspires students during SMA visit Gov. Rick Scott visited students and staff at Sarasota Military Academy Feb. 17.

Scott received a medallion with SMA’s school crest during his visit. He also spent time in several classrooms speaking to students.

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18A

SARASOTA Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

COMMUNITYCALENDAR

DON’T MISS 37th Annual Plant and Garden Festival This event takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 900 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota; also Feb. 26. Event will feature orchids, bromeliads, ferns, palms, flowering trees, native plants, herbs, tropical fruit plants, succulents, aquatics and other plants for purchase. Concerts and free horticultural demonstrations will be offered both days. Cost: $9 for

FRIDAY, FEB. 24 Author Leah Wilson at Selby Public Library — takes place at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, at Selby Public Library, 1331 First St. Leah Wilson, author of “The Girl Who Was On Fire,” will appear at the library as part of the final celebration for the One Book, One Community program. Call 861-5475.

Phoenix Academy Celebrates Black History Month — takes place at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, in the Sarasota High School auditorium, 1000 S. School Ave. Call 316-8101.

adults; members and children under age 11 admitted free. For more information, call 366-5731 or visit www.selby.org.

Easter Seals Southwest Florida Design and Wine — takes place from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, at Dolphin Aviation, 8191 N. Tamiami Trail. This event celebrates the winner of the Design Sense Challenge. Cost is $35. Call 355-7637, Ext. 410.

Patterson Foundation ‘The Journey Unfolds’ — takes place from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 24, in the Ringling College

Women &Investing Take Steps Today to be Prepared for Tomorrow

of Art & Design Academic Center, 2700 N. Tamiami Trail.

Debra Jacobs will update the community on the work of The Patterson Foundation locally, regionally, nationally and globally. Registration required. Call 952-1413.

Jazz at Two: Bob Seeley — takes place at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota, 3975 Fruitville Road. Cost is $5 for Jazz Club members and $12 for non-members. Call 366-1552.

SATURDAY, FEB. 25 Kayak Tour — takes place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, in the Little Sarasota Bay. John Sarzoky guides a kayak tour of Little Sarasota Bay. All kayak equipment, as well as an optional training session is provided. Cost is $20 for American Littoral Society members and $25 for non-members. Call 966-7308.

Silent and Live Auctions at Temple Sinai — takes place at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at Temple Sinai, 4631 S. Lockwood Ridge Road. Cost is $75. Call 924-1802.

MONDAY, FEB. 27 Law at the Library — takes place from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 27, at the Selby Public Library, 1331 First St. Attorneys Amanda King, and Sherry Edwards will provide information on dissolution of marriage issues. Free. Call 8615000.

TUEDAY, FEB. 28 Cooking with the Zildjians at Temple Sinai — takes place at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28, at Temple Sinai, 4631 S. Lockwood Ridge Road. Learn to cook various dishes at this course taught by the Zildjians. Cost is $25 for Temple Sinai members and $30 for nonmembers. Reservations required.

Call 363-1709.

Scrub Away Cancer Celebrity Bartending — takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28, at Libby’s Café and Bar, 1917 S. Osprey. This celebrity bartending event is a doctors’ edition featuring area doctors. Cost is $35 in advance and $45 at the door. Call 921-5539.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 29 Propogation Methods in the Garden Class — takes place at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 29, at Twin Lakes Park, 6700 Clark Road. This class will show how to make multiple plants from your favorite existing plants. Various examples and methods will be given to students. Registration required at http://sarasota.ifas.ufl.edu. Class is free. Call 861-9801.

St. Michael The Archangel Women’s Guild Fashion Show — takes place at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 29, at Michael’s On East, 212 East Ave. This fashion show and luncheon will feature Fashions by Chico’s at Southgate Mall. Tickets are $40.

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SARASOTA Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

19A

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Hawthorne Clinic and Research Center is a new multi-specialty medical practice which offers a full spectrum of dermatologic care in addition to oculofacial plastics, allergy and asthma. Our board-certified physicians are dedicated to patient care and scientific innovation. To learn more about Dr. Montgomery and her colleagues, please visit www.hawthorneclinic.com or call 941-953-5050.

20A

SARASOTA Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

inside

sports

weather See this week’s Cool Today contest winner.

PAGE 3B

Little League welcomes new season.

PAGE 6B

SASSY swim teams showcase synchronicity.

BORN TO RUN

By Nick Friedman | Community Editor

GOING THE

DISTANCE Ultra-distance runner and Sarasota resident John Pyle will run from San Francisco to Key West as part of the Patriot Run Across America.

A

s a general rule, John Pyle believes anything worth doing is worth overdoing. He doesn’t just grow a mustache; he grows a grizzly handlebar mustache fit for a turn-of-the-century strongman.

And when he runs, he doesn’t just go for a leisurely jog over the Ringling Bridge.

Instead, he laces up for 100mile marathons and carries a 3-foot-by-5-foot American flag with him.

In just two weeks, the 55-year-old, ultra-distance runner will push himself even further. Beginning on March 1, the Sarasota resident will embark on the biggest challenge he’s faced so far in his career. As part of the Patriot Run Across America, he’ll run — literally cross country — from San Francisco to Key West. His goal is to raise $1 million for the Wounded Warrior Project, which benefits injured veterans. Pyle will average 40 miles a day for 80 days, finishing his trek with the Keys 100 Mile Race from Key Largo to Key West on May 20.

TROUBLED TIMES

Loren Mayo

OLD GLORY Even more recognizable than John Pyle’s moustache is perhaps his running partner — a large American flag.

Five years ago, on his way to a 9/11 run, Pyle grabbed the flag from his porch as a show of patriotism and was surprised by the reactions it drew.

“You wouldn’t believe how inspirational it is to see that flag running down the road,” Pyle says. “And there’s no slacking on my end when I’m carrying it.

As long as people are looking at that flag, running is effortless.”

PAGE 10B

Pyle always has been an athlete. He had dreams of playing professional baseball, and he played football and ran track at Manatee High School. However, his athletic days came to an end when he decided to drop out of school and pursue work as a carpenter.

Soon, Pyle found himself drifting farther away from the life he imagined for himself.

“I worked hard, and I made a lot of money,” he says. “But I started partying a lot, and I got into a lot of trouble.”

By the time he was in his mid-20s, Pyle’s life devolved into full-fledged alcoholism.

“My friends would say, ‘John, you’re a nice guy, but you drink too much,’” Pyle says. “I realized that once I started drinking, I had no control over my actions. I’d been hitting it really hard, and I looked at myself in the mirror and had a wakeup call.”

On Feb. 28, 1987, Pyle decided to make a change. He entered a treatment center, started exercising and got sober.

“I became a better husband, a better son, a better everything,” he says. “I don’t think I give

my wife enough credit for all her support. When I got sober, I became worthy of her again.”

Pyle and his wife, Toni, met while working together in the 1970s and have been married for 32 years. Even after John was sober, he continued to face struggles in the form of financial woes. He and Toni ran a successful clothing store on St. Armands Circle that fell victim to a poor economy, and Pyle’s subsequent venture into real estate met a similar fate.

“I’ve made and lost three fortunes in my life,” he says. “As quickly as the money came in, it disappeared. It was a lot of fun, and it touched a lot of lives, but it wasn’t anything like running.”

PERSEVERANCE

Feb. 28 will mark Pyle’s 25th year of sobriety — a fitting way to start his 3,200-mile journey. To prepare, he’s enlisted the help of famed adventure runner and coach Ray Zahab, who has had Pyle on an intense training regimen, which in-

cludes running 200 miles per week and dragging a tire around a track for three miles.

As the run approaches, his training has tapered off. Now Pyle is focused on resting and packing on some fat to get him through the first two weeks of the run, which he thinks will be the hardest.

“In the back of my mind, I’m thinking, ‘Wow,’” Pyle says.

“There’s going to be a lot of pain, but I feel like I’m ready.

You have to be a little bit crazy to do this.”

Pyle is no stranger to overcoming obstacles. Part of what drives him to push through the pain is the spiritual experience he gets from a grueling, longdistance run.

“The farther you push yourself, the more profound the experience is,” Pyle says.

“Running spills into all aspects of life. We’re capable of so much more than we think we are. It’s about transcending pain and rising above it.”

Pyle’s story is inspiring, not only because

By the numbers 25 — the number of

years Pyle has been sober.

70 — the number of

marathons and ultras John Pyle has run.

80 — the number of days it will take Pyle to complete the run.

200 — the number of

miles Pyle ran each week to train for the Patriot Run Across America.

3,273 — the number of miles from San Francisco to Key West.

10,000 — the number of calories Pyle expects to consume each day during his cross-country run.

of his incredible accomplishments and tenacity but also because of the everyman quality that he possesses. His personality strikes an interesting balance between intensity and an easy-going innocence that makes him instantly relatable.

Even though he’s well known and admired by runners across the country, he isn’t an untouchable celebrity; he’s more like a friendly neighbor who just happens to be running thousands of miles across the United States. His outlook on running is similar to his outlook on life.

“If you watch children run, they don’t think about it, they just do it,” says Pyle. “They’re happy, joyous and free, and that’s our natural state before life gets too serious. That’s what I strive for when I’m running: to be happy, joyous and free.”

For more information, visit www.patriotrunacrossamerica. com.

Photo by Nick Friedman

2B

SARASOTA Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

BUDDING NOBEL WINNERS

By Rachel S. O’Hara | Staff Photographer

Science takes center stage at Southside

Photos by Rachel S. O’Hara

Andrew Harshman froze a rose with liquid nitrogen.

Students and parents enjoyed an evening of experiments and inventions, Thursday, Feb. 16, during Southside Elementary School’s fourth annual Science Night.

The fifth-grade students captured special attention on the stage, thanks to the Rube Goldberg-style projects they had created with help of YEA! Arts.

Sarasota Jungle Gardens, the Sarasota Police Department, the Sarasota County Fire Department and G.WIZ the Science Museum, among other organizations, also presented tables showcasing science experiments, projects and demonstrations.

Mya Graham, 7, got a close-up look at a snake from Sarasota Jungle Gardens.

Shane Alba, 6, has fun playing at the worm-composting table.

Christine Sciarrino, of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, talked to students about watersheds.

Right: Heather Garcia, 9, was able to put 204 marbles on her “boat” before it sank.

Kaes, 6, and Kean Ver Hagen, 8, showed off their own version of Silly Putty.

Grace Menke, 10, set up her group’s, “Epicly Easy,” Rube Goldberg type of project.

FREE JOINT PAIN SEMINAR Local orthopaedic surgeon

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Date: Tuesday, March 13, 2012

“Best Public/Semi Private Golf Course in Sarasota”

Bobby Jones Golf Club is a 45 hole municipal facility named for the legendary Robert Tyre Jones, Jr., who personally dedicated the facility on Sunday, February 13, 1927.

Time: 12:00 pm (light refreshments will be served) Location: Sarasota YMCA Frank G. Berlin, Sr., Branch Bari Brooks Center 1075 South Euclid Avenue Sarasota, FL 34237

Tee Times 7:00 AM - 5:30 PM 46 Exp. 3/7/12

Space is limited! So, register today!

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SARASOTA Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

GRACE UNDER PRESSURE

3B

by Rachel S. O’Hara | Staff Photographer

SASSY swimmers shine at performance

Colleen Brasacchio performed a solo piece.

Photos by Rachel S. O’Hara

S a r a s o t a’s SASSY synchronized swimming team wowed its audience with precision and grace during a fundraiser performance Feb. 19, at the Selby Aquatics Center at the Sarasota Family YMCA. SASSY invited Cape Coral’s Sunshine Synchro Splash to also be part of the performance.

SASSY and Sunshine Synchro Splash, from Cape Coral, all joined together to perform a group finale to the song ‘YMCA.’

Carmella and Camille Swencki, the youngest members of SASSY, love performing.

Elaine Borges received some help with her headpiece.

Gracie Brassacchio loves performing for an audience.

Left: The 13-15 group performs one of its group acts, Sunday, Feb. 19, at the Selby Aquatics Center.

Debbie Robertson and Laura Cleary performed a duet.

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4B

SARASOTA Observer

YourObserver.com

fun run

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

By Nick Friedman | Community Editor

Students break sweat, raise money for school Students laced up their running shoes for Phillippi Shores Elementary School’s jog-a-thon Feb. 17.

Parents and teachers cheered on the young Falcon runners as they made their laps around the school playground.

Photos by Nick Friedman

Sofia Barron

Colby Kaighin, Sophia Buchmeier, Cooper Schrock and Julia Repassy

Destiny Obioha

Alyssa Wright and Jamie Demert

Bradley Willliams and Bency Gustave

Hunter Byrne, Ryne Sutherly and Cooper Schrock

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Plus, join us for a free Healthy Heart Expo on Friday, February 24 at one of the banking centers below:

SARASOTA Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

honoring our heroes

5B

By Rachel S. O’Hara | Staff Photographer

School rededicates Veterans Memorial Students, veterans and city officials celebrated the re-dedication of the Veterans Memorial Feb. 17, at Alta Vista Elementary.

The ceremony included

a performance by the Alta Vista Chorus, a presentation of colors by the Sarasota High School JROTC and speeches by several veterans and officials.

Lt. Scott Lempe, COO of Sarasota County Public Schools Anthanasios Efthimiades, 16, restored the memorial for his his Eagle Scout Project.

New Maintenance-Free Townhomes from mid $200s

Photos by Rachel S. O’Hara

Principal Dr. Barbara Shirley

Carolyn Mason and Commissioner Paul Caragiulo

Cat’sino Catsablanca Gala

Includes home and homesite with golf course views, on one of the most prestigious courses in Lakewood Ranch!

“As Time Goes By”

An elegant evening reminiscent of the 1940s

When: Saturday, March 24, 2012, 6p.m. to 10:30p.m.

Where: Laurel Oak Country Club 2700 Gary Player Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34240

Tickets are $125 until Feb. 29, $150 after Visit their website for more information A Rescue, Adoption, Education & Resource Center

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6B

SARASOTA Observer

YourObserver.com

PLAY BALL!

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

by Rachel S. O’Hara | Staff Photographer

Little League welcomes 2012 season Sarasota Little League kicked off its 2012 spring season with Opening Day festivities Feb. 18, at Twin Lakes Park.

All the teams were introduced as they crossed home plate.

The Riverview color guard presented the colors, and Alyssa Christensen, 17, sang the national anthem.

Joey Terdoslavich, a Sarasota native and player for the Atlanta Braves, spoke to the crowd and threw out the first pitch.

Kayla Rogers, 5, and Sophia Gillespie, 5, sold Girl Scout cookies at Twin Lakes Park.

Achieva Maroon trots toward home plate during the Opening Day ceremony.

Joey Terdoslavich, 23, and Steele Brander, 12

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Meagan and Heather, 12, with their brother, Craig Schwier, 8

Superior Cleaning

of Sarasota

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Roman Solomon, 5, and Nathan Honhart, 7, had fun eating sunflower seeds.

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A presentation by Jeanne Dubi, President of Sarasota Audubon St. Boniface Church • 5615 Midnight Pass Rd., Room F

Saturday, March 10, 2012

SKA Members Breakfast Meeting starting at 8:30AM

8954 Misty Creek Drive | 941.921.5258 | mistycreek.net

St. Boniface Church • 5615 Midnight Pass Rd., Community Center Join our top Leaders and honored guests for a unique program.

Join SKA for $2500 by March 1 receive 2 Breakfast tickets worth $2000. Reservation required. Email SKA

8954 Misty Creek Drive | 941.921.5258 | mistycreek.net 76309

The public is always welcome with your questions for our guests.

www.siestakeyassociation.com

71720

Ryleigh, 12, and Reece Taylor, 8

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

athlete of the week

By Rachel S. O’Hara | Staff Photographer I thought I didn’t. I thought I liked the solitary life with cats or something. I like all the friends I meet through crew.

Do your parents come out and support you?

My dad has Lou Gehrig’s disease and is pretty much immobile. ALS is a tricky situation but they love to see me race when they can. When I come home from races I always get hugs and “good jobs.” They will be coming out this Saturday to see me race in the Sarasota Invitational, and they got me into it in the first place and have kept me going.

Rachel S. O’Hara

ISAAC MINGUS

Issac Mingus, 14, was never able to play a sport such as baseball, basketball or football as a young child. Born prematurely, Mingus had to have an IV shunt placed in his head, which prevented him from participating in contact sports. Life changed for Mingus, when his family saw an advertisement looking for kids to join the Sarasota Scullers. Mingus has been involved with the Scullers since the sixth grade and has been rowing competitively for the last two years. He and the rest of the Scullers will compete in the third annual Sarasota Invitational Rowing Regatta this weekend at Nathan Benderson Park.

How did you get into rowing?

I needed a sport kind of badly. I was really unfit, and we saw an ad in the paper. I showed up and met coach Alex (Dragos Alexander) and signed up.

What is a typical practice like?

I am in the Freshman 8, so usually we practice together, but I don’t always row with the same group. Sometimes, I row with the varsity, sometimes I

am in a girls’ boat, because they need another person.

Can you talk a little about getting gold recently?

It was a novice regatta in Orlando hosted by Lake Brantley.

I rowed with the Freshman 8, and it was a good race. We got out and started that race at 36 strokes per minute — that is fast! We were edge and edge with another boat the whole time, and I couldn’t even tell if they had won or we had won.

Have you learned anything about yourself from being involved with the Scullers?

Over the years I’ve realized that I do love to talk to people and interacting with others.

Do you hope to continue this sport in college?

I think I will try to row in college, and if I stop competing, I will buy myself a boat and keep rowing. Being out on the water when that boat is moving full speed, it is like you are flying.

I’m not going to drop it.

Do you have a favorite memory?

This sport has taken me all over the place. In November of last year, I got to go back to my hometown, Chattanooga, Tenn., and I got to see my old friends and race on hometown water.

What do you keep yourself going?

If you keep training, you are going to do well, anyway. A medal is nice, but at the end of the day, I have had races where I have given my all and didn’t have a medal, and that was fine by me. You are never truly alone out there, even in a one-man boat, people are rooting for you onshore.

7B

JUSTTHE

STATS

2

The number of RBIs Sarasota High senior Danny Mars notched in the Sailors’ 8-5 win over Riverview Feb. 21.

10

The number of medals the Sarasota Scullers brought home from the Novice Regatta Feb. 11, in Orlando. The hardware included three gold, give silver and two bronze.

6

The number of runs Booker High’s baseball team scored against Sarasota Christian Feb. 21.

Booker won the game 6-4.

4

The number of times the Riverview High School boys basketball team defeated Tarpon Springs East Lake this season.

The Rams earned a 49-42 victory Feb. 21, in the Class 8ARegion 2 semifinals.

76164

SARASOTA Observer

8B

Local Organic Sustainable

Peruvian Specialties

BUSINESSOBSERVER Peruvian American Cuisine South American Tapas

Four Course Tapas Dinner $24

American Favorites Seasonal Specials Gluten Free Choices

Sunset Special 20% OFF

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when seated by 5:45 pm

Takeout & Catering

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72520

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Longtime Florida resident Debbie Gonzalez was announced as a new sales associate at Signature Sotheby’s International Realty.

Gonzalez, who has been a licensed real estate professional for 17 years, will focus on luxury real estate sales.

or

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+ Aimee Cogan receives promotion Morgan Stanley Smith Barney announced Aimee Cogan has been promoted to executive director in the firm’s wealth management office in Sarasota.

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney provides brokerage and investment advisory services, financial and wealth planning, credit and lending, cash management, annuities and insurance, retirement and trust services.

+ Zwiwwel opens in downtown Sarasota

941-349-1311

Zwiwwel, a fine dining restaurant featuring traditional German cuisine, recently opened on North Palm Avenue in downtown Sarasota.

The locally owned business currently is open from 5 to 9 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays; and 5 to 10 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays.

Read more about Zwiwwel on page 9 of Diversions.

Full service bar & drive thru package window

(Located on south side of building).

Open 7 days a week ~ 365 days a year 10:00 A.M. ~ 2:30 A.M. Weekly Sunday 12 noon ~ 2:30 A.M. 62103

62103

Free hot dogs steamed in Sauerkraut ready at noon every Saturday!!!

AWARDWINNING WINE LIST

+ Signature Sotheby’s adds new sales associate

+ Signs Now Sarasota sponsors scholarship Signs Now Sarasota owners Brian

and Debbie Lamb recently announced the signage and graphics company’s sponsorship of a $2,000 graphic arts Debbie and Brian Lamb scholarship for a student at the Ringling School of Art and Design.

The scholarship is part of a program organized by parent company Signs Now, a division of Allegra Network LLC. To inquire about the scholarships, email brenda.kai@edsf.org.

+ Nuevo Advertising wins American Package Award Graphic Design USA presented Nuevo Advertising Group the 2012 American Package Design Award for its redesign of the packaging of WellSpring Pharmaceutical’s Micatin cream.

The redesign was intended to reposition Micatin within the Hispanic market.

+ Kerkering Barberio welcomes supervisor Kerkering, Barberio & Co., announced Lindsey Schuster as the firm’s new tax supervisor.

Schuster received her bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of South Florida and is a Florida CPA. “With Lindsey’s education and

Join our club at wingsnweeniessrq.com and receive a

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Captain Curt’s Crab & Oyster Bar ✦ The Very Best in Florida Seafood, Traditional Fare & Specialties served in a Casual, Fun Atmosphere! Voted #1 Clam Chowder in the World! Nightly entertainment in the Backroom Saloon & great drinks & snacks at the Sneaki Tiki Bar. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Kids Menu available. • 1200 Old Stickney Point Rd. • 941-349-3885 • www.captaincurts.com

Daiquiri Deck Raw Bar ✦ Featuring an extensive menu of Snacketizers, Soups, Salad Sensations, Bodacious Burgers, Specialty Sandwiches, Wraps, Pizzas and of course daiquiris. Happy Hour daily, 2-for-

Lobster Pot ✦ In the Center of Siesta Key Village, Lobster Pot is Siesta Key’s New England Seafood Restaurant.

Open for lunch & dinner Mon.-Sat. and dinner seasonally on Sundays. They offer everything from fresh fish cooked the way you want it... to Steak, Chops, & Chicken... to Homemade Soups and more... Premium Wine & Beer. • 5157 Ocean Blvd. • 941-349-2323

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✦ Serving “Award Winning” food for over 24 years.

Indoor & outdoor dining, catering and take-out available. Siesta Key open daily 7:30am-2:30pm • 140 Avenida Messina • 941-346-2750. Lakewood Ranch location open Mon. 7:30am-2:30pm and Tues.-Sun. 7:30am-9pm. Now Open at the Expo on Clark!

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Broken Egg

experience, she will add a great deal of value to our tax practice and our clients,” said Rob Lane, managing shareholder. “We are very happy to have Lindsey join the firm” Kerkering, Barberio & Co. is one of the largest independent CPA firms in Southwest Florida. Kerkering, Barberio & Co. has two locations: one at 1990 Main St., Suite 801, Sarasota, and a second at 6320 Venture Drive, Suite 203, Lakewood Ranch.

BEST CHICKEN WINGS - 13 yr s +

marina restaurant tavern

Siesta Key

New College of Florida announced poet Shira Dentz as the 2012 writer-inresidence.

The 11-yearold program brings a published writer to campus each spring to teach Shira Dentz classes and hold workshops for students interested in creative writing and give public readings in the community.

“The college is truly lucky to have Shira as our Visiting Writer this year,” said Robert Zamsky, assistant professor of English at New College. “She has an impressive range of expertise, and her own work is singularly exciting. I’m already hearing great things from students, and the semester’s just started.”

Party SPecial!

30 Wings & 2 Lg Fries

V E N I C E ’ S WAT E R F RO N T L A N D M A R K SINCE 1976.

Thanks Sarasota for voting us

SHIRA Dentz named writer-in-residence

20% OFF THE ENTIRE CHECK!

3701 Bee Ridge Rd. 927-3080

Not Valid On National Holidays • Not Valid With Any Other Coupon Or Offer • One Coupon Per Check Per Visit • Taxes And Gratuity Not Included • No Change Returned • Certificate Has No Cash Value • Expires 2/29/12 • Not Valid Without Coupon

SW

BEE RIDGE LOCATION ONLY

Now Open Until 1PM for the Winter Season!

Venice Crow’s Nest

✦ Venice’s waterfront landmark since 1976, Featuring casual fine dining overlooking the Marina & Venice Inlet. Voted ‘Venice’s “Best Overall Restaurant”’ seven years, and “Best of Award of Excellence” from the Wine Spectator.

Fun casual atmosphere in The 1st Floor Tavern • Boat or car • Lunch and dinner • Open daily • 1968 Tarpon Center Dr. • 941-484-9551

76183

Lemon Avenue & Main Street New Hours: 7am-1pm every Saturday Fresh Produce • Plants & Flowers Local Seafoods • Prepared Foods • Baked Goods Cheeses & Meats • Local Crafts and more...

941-225-9256 • www.sarasotafarmersmarket.org

76279

Tapas Specials

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

69625

Fresh Seafood

SARASOTA Observer

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SARASOTA Observer

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

real estate | transactions

By Adam Hughes | Research Editor

Vista Bay Point condo sells for $1.15 million The following residential real-estate transactions took place between Feb. 6 and Feb. 10.

A condominium in Vista Bay Point tops all transactions in this week’s real estate.

Mark Gerszewski and Patricia Wunderlin, trustees, Sarasota, sold the Unit 602 condominium at 128 Golden Gate Point to Sandra Young and Patrick McNamee, trustees, St. Louis, for $1.149 million. Built in 2004, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 3,317 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $1,431,600 in 2004.

TOP BUILDING PERMITS These are the largest city of Sarasota and Sarasota County building permits issued by Sarasota County and city of Sarasota for the week of February 6 through February 10, in order of dollar amounts.

CITY OF SARASOTA Address

Permit

Applicant

5311 Winchester Drive 1658 Hawthorne St. 50 Central Ave. 1601 Prospect St. 97 Sunset Drive 1064 N. Tamiami Trail 750 N. Tamiami Trail 2324 Hickory Ave. 2882 Browning St. 1390 Harbor Drive

Addition Addition Alteration Pool Windows Windows Remodel Remodel Re-roof Deck

Cris Hassold, trustee Victor Motto Robert Coswell Gary Spencer Joan White, trustee Warner Tillack Amy Fields Amber Gracey Radamez Gonzalez John Cannon III

A condo at 128 Golden Gate Point sold for $1.149 million. previously sold for $286,000 in 2009.

Homecroft

Elmer and Rachel Stoltzfus, of New Holland, Pa., sold their home at 3546 Estrada St. to Ray and Dorothy Schrock, of Arthur, Ill., for $220,000. Built in 1973, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 1,559 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $230,000 in 2008.

Pier 550

WF Pier 550 LLC sold the Unit 1 condominium at 590 Golden Gate Point to Max and Carol Bloom, trustees, of Baltimore, Md., for $300,000. Built in 1948, it has one bedroom, one bath and 570 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $485,000 in 2007.

PALMER RANCH La Vista

Strom

Eye Center When you want to see your best.

941-365-9700

Paul J Strom, Jr., M.D.

Sarasota, Florida 34239

59939

Paul Robson, Sarasota, sold his home at 2318 River Ridge Drive to Jacqueline Burns, Sarasota, for $287,000. Built in 1972, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,958 square feet of living area. It

2020

Jack and Sheila Greber sold their home at 7714 Calle Facil to Michael and Bianca Mueller, of Gauthierstr, Germany, for $465,000. Built in 1988, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,574 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $565,000 in 2008.

South Gate

6631 Midnight Pass Rd. Crescent Plaza (1/4 Mile So. of Stickney Pt. Rd.)

Source: Sarasota County; city of Sarasota

Palacio

U.S. Bank, N.A., trustee, sold the home at 4219 Palacio Drive to Ryan Taylor, Sarasota, for $450,000. Built in 1994, it has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,966 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $675,000 in 2004.

Melva Eidelberg, trustee, New York, sold the home at 4594 Las Brisas Lane to Bon-

Fish Market 6641 Midnight Pass Rd • Crescent Plaza

FRESH LOCAL FISH • SHELL FISH • CRAB CAKES SMOKED FISH • FISH DIPS • STONE CRABS • SMOKED MULLET www.bigwaterseafood.com • 941-554-8101

All Include Appetizer, Salad, Dessert & Beverage From $15 95

We Have Golf Logix GPS Ask about our Seasonal Membership

WINTER Rates • Book a Tee Time • 941-751-4211 7am-8am / After 12 pm

with coupon or BSc REguLAR $58

72522

Daily 5-6 pm Open Daily

www.YourObserver.com

Big Water

W

NE

48

Celebrating our 28th Year!

Visit our website to read more transactions and to see a map.

Villa D’Este

$

14 ChoiCEs of main CoursEs:

nie Hauser, Sarasota, for $330,000. Built in 1987, it has two bedrooms, two-anda-half baths and 2,370 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $303,800 in 2003.

accepting Golf outings for 2012

Daily 5:00-6:00 pm

happy hour:

$60,800 $47,422 $43,000 $32,000 $29,849 $20,750 $15,000 $13,500 $11,975 $10,000

We’re Now

“Early� DinErs’ ComplEtE mEnu

âœśCaesar Salad âœśRoast Duckling

Amount

James Vett Norma Hansen Ralph Thompson Diane Weeghman, trustee Dale Kutter Ramon Cannavo, trustee Marisa Marino Michael Krumholz Matthew Schulz Elidia Bia-Lowas

available thru our head professional

349-4024 French & Continental Cuisine

âœśVeal Specialties âœśRack of Lamb âœśDover Sole

Applicant

Pool/Spa Addition Pool/Deck Re-roof Re-roof Re-roof Boatlift Winddow/Door Demolition Re-roof

Golf Lessons

www.miguelsrestaurant.net

a la CartE:

Permit

458 E. Mac Ewen Drive 2054 Roselawn St. 293 Lookout Point Drive 8323 Cypress Hollow Drive 236 Four Knot Lane 452 S. Shore Drive 145 Puesta Del Dol 1255 Flying Bridge Lane 1627 S. Lake Shore Drive 112 Villa Drive

8:04am to 11:56am

53

$

with coupon or BSc REguLAR $68

AFTER 2pm

30

REguLAR $58

Siesta Key’s Corner Grocery & Epicurean Oasis

Boar’s Head Deli Meats and Cheeses

Up 5 qts premium oil to

Cannot be combined with other offers Coupon Expires on March 7, 2012

1211 Old Stickney Pt. Rd., Siesta Key, FL • 312-0472 www.crescentbeachgrocery.com

71500

(on most cars)

OIL CHANGE

6:30am-dark

6600 River Club Blvd. Bradenton, FL 34202 • 751-4211

76320 67825

9

$ 95

NOW OPEN

Breakfast & Lunch

coupon Expires March 31, 2012

BAr & GriLL

with coupon or BSc

Caddy Shack

$

!

72951

Nick Friedman

Becky Pomfret sold her home Unit 42 condominium at 350 Golden Gate Point to John and Susan Kline, Indianapolis, for $420,500. Built in 1969, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,467 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $166,000 in 1998.

Address

• Deli Salads & Sandwiches • Quality Meats • Gourmet Foods • Ready-to-Go Meals • Party Trays & Platters • Gift Baskets • Premium Cigars • Full Service Grocery • Florida Lottery

WE DELIVER!

71667

Bay Point Apartments

Amount $210,000 $111,200 $69,840 $59,033 $28,493 $12,481 $9,070 $8,500 $8,000 $7,860

SARASOTA COUNTY

SARASOTA

2020 S. Tamiami Trail

9B

10B

SARASOTA Observer

YourObserver.com

RAINFALL

MOON PHASES

Sarasota

Wed., Feb. 15 Thurs., Feb. 16 Fri., Feb. 17 Sat., Feb. 18 Sun., Feb. 19 Mon., Feb. 20 Tues., Feb. 21

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Feb. 29 First

March 8 Full

March 14 Last

March 22 New

Weather Photo Contest Winner

Month to date: 2012 2011

0.74 in. 0.78 in.

Year-to-date:

2012 2011 1.73 in. 3.59 in.

TemperatureS

Temps.

High Low 77 59 79 60 75 65 76 63 77 65 75 57 78 53

Wed., Feb. 15 Thurs., Feb. 16 Fri., Feb. 17 Sat., Feb. 18 Sun., Feb. 19 Mon., Feb. 20 Tues., Feb. 21

Record Temps.

High Low 88 (1975) 31 (1971) 86 (1995) 28 (1943) 85 (1986) 32 (1996) 85 (1918) 35 (1977) 86 (1990) 32 (1958) 85 (1977) 32 (1916) 87 (1977) 32 (1958)

Average Gulf water temperature: 65

RED TIDE

Sunrise/sunset

Thurs., Feb. 23 Fri., Feb. 24 Sat., Feb. 25 Sun., Feb. 26 Mon., Feb. 27 Tues., Feb. 28 Wed., Feb. 29

Sunrise 7:01 7:00 6:59 6:58 6:57 6:56 6:55

Sunset 6:26 6:27 6:28 6:28 6:29 6:29 6:30

Charles Preston Rawls submitted this sunrise photo, taken near downtown Sarasota.

Karenia brevis, the red tide organism, was not detected onshore or offshore Sarasota County, Friday, Feb. 17, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute.

PHOTO CONTEST: Win an iPad 2 or Canon EOS T3 camera. Enter your sunset, sunrise or weather-related photos for The Observer’s weather photo contest, sponsored by . To enter your photos, visit YourObserver.com, and click on the “Contests” tab in the upper-right corner. Weekly winners will have their photo printed in the paper and will be entered into a drawing for that month. The monthly winner will choose between an iPad 2 or Canon EOS T3 camera.

O B S E RV E R C RO S S WO R D

AROUnd THE wORLd by Gary Cooper

Edited by Timothy E. Parker

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ACROSS 1 Excited with anticipation 5 Faberge egg insets 9 Aphrodite’s consort 13 Eastern nanny 17 Short preamble 19 Conical home 20 In possession of one’s faculties 21 Alien-seeking grp.

22 Desire for wealth and possessions 24 Current 25 Your scalp grows it 26 Work-boot feature 27 Lo mein unit, perhaps 30 Glacial sand deposit 31 Length X width 32 Composed prose 33 Fujifilm competitor, once 36 Members of a flock 41 Extend, as a library loan 43 Fly like an eagle 44 Done in, as a dragon 45 USNA students 46 Back muscle, for short 49 Girl’s bent-kneed gesture 52 Respiring 55 Distance unit in duels 56 Lyrical poem 57 Prized cigars 59 Calvinist scholar Charles 60 Ending for “West” 61 Frog-to-be 63 Words from Fat Albert 64 Some toy dogs, for short 65 Delectable spheroid 71 They made the Mamas a quartet 74 Awards night

platform 75 Strange 79 End of the Jewish calendar 80 Contempt 82 Feelings of anxiety 85 Large African antelope 86 Bit of bait 87 Word with “correctness” or “science” 89 Great white and tiger 91 “Hang on a ___!”

92 ___ serif (type style) 93 Olympian’s prize 95 River deposit 96 What ghosts do 98 On-again-off-again 101 Decorates a cake 102 TV studio sign 104 Very small amount 106 Madrid munchie 108 The Bolshoi, e.g.

113 Genetic duplicates 116 Adam and Eve’s son 117 Winter bird food 118 Beverage with whiskey and whipped cream 121 They were once spent in Salerno 122 “___ On Down the Road” 123 “I’m so bored” feeling 124 Parade vehicle 125 Disrespectful talk 126 Brewpub fare 127 Make judgments 128 Addresses in a browser

dOwn 1 Command to a firing squad 2 Pest you might slap at 3 “Beetle Bailey” canine

4 Hellenic masterpieces, e.g.

5 Hair goop 6 Cast-of-thousands movie 7 Engage, as gears 8 CBer’s vehicle, often 9 To the rear, at sea 10 Salary increase 11 Lovable 12 Viewed 13 Not at sea 14 Montana’s state bird is one 15 Leaning a bit 16 New staffer 18 Killer whale 19 Narrows to a point 23 Two-syllable foot 28 Scot’s “not” 29 Has the legal title to 33 Broad necktie 34 Cheese choice 35 Got along 37 Napoleon’s exile isle 38 Small glacial lake 39 Goes quickly 40 Genetic transfer material (Abbr.)

42 Border line 45 In the ___ of (surrounded by) 47 Teenage skin condition 48 D’Urberville damsel 50 Flat-bottomed boats 51 Christmas season 53 “Of ___ I Sing” 54 Georgetown player 55 Banana skins 58 Resting place 62 Holy hymn 63 “Pinafore” letters 64 Deeply piled 66 Kelly Clarkson and Fantasia 67 Bollywood costume 68 Aid to the stumped 69 Large yellow vehicle 70 ___ in Your Pants (game)

71 Benches for the masses?

72 Cosmetic plant 73 Buyers 76 Hungarian language group 77 A sock might cover it 78 Commits one of the deadly sins 80 Extend across 81 Steady 82 Excellent server, in tennis 83 Zilch, in Tijuana 84 Contented 88 “If you ask me,” in texting lingo 90 Eastern bug 92 Daughter of Tom Cruise 94 Chinese fruit tree 97 Theater walkways 98 The contiguous 48, e.g.

99 Close friend 100 Brief math course?

102 Verbal exams 103 Ancient Nile kingdom 105 Like most sumo wrestlers 107 Magic show exclamation 109 Aboard an ocean liner 110 Told a fish story 111 Shore eagle 112 Fork piece 114 Get an ___ effort 115 Flippered mammal 119 Math total 120 Sci-fi invaders, for short

Thursday, February 23, 2012 Thursday, February 23, 2012

The Sarasota Observer reserves the right to classify and edit copy, or to reject or cancel an advertisement at any time. Corrections after first insertion only. *All ads are subject to the approval of the Publisher. *It is the responsibility of the party placing any ad for publication in The Sarasota Observer to meet all applicable legal requirements in connection with the ad such as compliance with town codes in first obtaining an occupational license for business, permitted home occupation, or residential rental property.

INFO & RATES: (941) 955-4888 • Fax: (941) 362-4808 • Email: classified@yourobserver.com HOuRS: Mon.-Fri. 8:30am-5pm • DEADLINES: Classifieds: Tuesday at Noon • Service Directory: Friday at 3 pm

Items Under $200 For Sale ADVERTISE YOUR MERCHANDISE with the total value of $200 or less in this section for FREE! Limit 1 ad per month, 15 words or less. Price must be included. No commercial advertising. Ad runs 2 consecutive weeks.

Email ad to: classified@yourobserver.com (Please provide your name and address) Or Online at: www.yourobserver.com/classifieds (No phone calls please.)

Garage/Moving/Estate Sales

Help Wanted

FLEA MARKET: Venetian Park Estates. 8885 S. Tamiami Trail. Friday & Saturday, 2/24-2/25 8a.m.-2:00p.m. Antiques, furniture, tools, much misc. Great bargains from 197 homes. Located in the big tent and clubhouse.

MARKET RSRCH Analyst-MBA Req’d Sd res: M. Fochi, Peperonata Pasta, 4463-F Ashton Rd, Sarasota, Fl 34233. Job Duties include: Research market conditions in local area to determine potential sales of our services. Gather info. on competitors, prices, sales, and methods of marketing and distribution. Create marketing campaigns based on regional preference. Assist in preparing fiscal strategic plan reports, etc.

PALM ISLAND ANNUAL YARD SALES: Saturday, February 25th, 8a.m.-noon. Beach Rd. to Calle Del Invierno to Palm Island.

Condos For Sale PALMER RANCH The Isles, Villa 2BR/2BA/2gar., beautiful home many upgrades & built-ins, lanai and pool overlook tranquil pond.

REDUCED -- $279,900 Stoneybrook Golf Veranda Condo 2BR/2BA/garage, 1st fl with panoramic golf and lake view, immaculate and turnkey furnished.

--REDUCED-- $194,900.

BLOWER: BLACK & decker, $55. TV, 27”, color antenna/cable, $75. Set of dishes, $12.

913-269-1857.

SIESTA KEY GARAGE SALE Saturday, February 25th, 9a.m.

669 Avenida De Mayo.

CHICKEN SOUP For The Soul: 1 book or box of 31. Mint. $3/ea. 941-360-3557.

Like new Bassett couch, lovely decor items, chainsaw, tools and garden, nice women's clothing, boat tubes brand new, 280 sq.ft. wood flooring in boxes, topline small kitchen appliances and more.

Good stuff cheap.

Stoneybrook Golf Villa 2BR/2BA2gar., immaculate with expanded lanai overlooking golf course and pond.

REDUCED-- lowest priced villa in Stoneybrook $289,900

YARD SALE at Lake Tippecanoe Clubhouse: McIntosh & Wilkinson Rds. 7:30a.m.-3p.m., Saturday, February 25th.

NANCY CASEY Coldwell Banker 941-966-9072

DOG HOUSE for small to medium dog. Redwood, easy clean removable floor. $25. 941-773-0713.

FREE KILN for ceramics or china painting.

817-938-5959.

LOVE BUG screen for Honda Accord. Full cover.

For years 2007-2010. Used one season. $100.

941-377-0876.

HOT TUB: seats 5 with lounger, 24 jets, 5HP. Never used. $1695. 941-462-0633.

PORTA CRIB: Costco, $35. King sage green bedspread, shams, pillows, skirt, all like new, $45.

941-918-0737.

SARASOTA OPERA ARTIST CONCERT March 18th, 2 seats, 5th Row Center. Lucia Di Lammermoor, March 23rd, 2 seats, 4th Row Center. Illness prevents attendance, Phone 941-383-4460.

TV & Entertainment Center Sony 32" TV and Oak Entertainment Center, $200. 941-927-0164 after 4PM.

VENTO MOTOR SCOOTER: 2008 150CC, Pristine condition! Windshield and Storage compartments, $1,200. 941-966-0614.

Antiques/Collectibles

Health/Fitness/Beauty

ALWAYS BUYING: Fine antique 18th & 19th Century Furniture, Art and Collectibles. Call Ren Selby, 941-822-9092.

MASTER THE ART of Permanent Makeup for eyebrows, eyeliner and lip color. 561-886-7863.

Autos For Sale 1989 CADILLAC SEVILLE: Like new!! Garage kept, 1 owner, 65,000 original miles. Must see to believe! $4,995. 941-966-0614 or leave msg.

2009 PORSCHE Boxster, 15,000 miles, Midnight Blue/Tan Interior, Loaded. Navigation, SportCrono, Bose System. $40,500. Original price, $64,000. 941-387-1323.

Autos Wanted AUTOS WANTED! Let me take the hassle out of selling your car. Cash offered today! Call Mike, 941-713-2277.

Consignments ALWAYS BUYING: Fine antique 18th & 19th Century Furniture, Art and Collectibles. Call Ren Selby, 941-822-9092.

Furnishings DINING ROOM Chairs 6 Parsons style medium, lite fabric $180. Table lamp, $20. Man's Recliner + Stool, cream, $175. 941-922-2471 Turtle Rock.

Garage/Moving/Estate Sales *******THREE ESTATE SALES THIS WEEK*********

BY NANCY DUNN LLC 941-925-1993 FRIDAY 9AM-2PM 2218 Pine View Circle, Sarasota SATURDAY 9AM-2PM 3668 Carol Lane, Sarasota FRIDAY & SATURDAY 9AM-2PM 2927 61st Street, Sarasota Please visit my Website for Pictures & Information: www.estatesalesbynancydunn.com ALWAYS BUYING: Fine antique 18th & 19th Century Furniture, Art and Collectibles. Call Ren Selby, 941-822-9092.

ANNUAL COMMUNITY SALE. Friday, 2/24 at 8a.m.-?. 3901 Bahia Vista at the clubhouse.

ESTATE AUCTION ART & ANTIQUES SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH @ 1PM Inspection Sunday Day of Sale 11am-1pm The sale will be held at our Auction Gallery located on the Southwest corner of 301N & University Parkway.

Quality Estate Auction Featuring: Victorian and Custom Furniture, Art, Pottery, Collectible Glass & China, Sterling Silver, Jewelry, Oriental Rugs, & More!

13% Buyer’s Premium 3% Discount for Cash or Check Elliott Bernstein Auctions AU3504 - AB2545 Gallery Phone: 941-351-3002 Photos & more: www.auctionzip.com Auctioneer ID#8290 FLEA MARKET. Sarasota Municipal Auditorium.

Saturday, Feb. 25th, 10a.m.-5p.m. & Sunday, Feb. 26, 10a.m.-4p.m. For info: 954-4165.

Now hiring for the following positions

General Merchandise

Merchandise Wanted SENIOR LOOKING to purchase precious metals, time pieces, coins, jewelry and antiques. Please call Marc, 941-321-0707.

Pets FREE GREAT Cat to a good home. Includes $100 Petsmart Gift Certificate for Food. Cat Condo & All Supplies. All shots up to date. Call 941-809-6760.

Sporting Goods STATIONARY SCHWINN Spinning Bike (Evolution - SR). Like new. $350. 941-387-0496.

Announcements NEW NAME Gulf Coast GreenCo will use the name Earth Works Landscape Management. gulfcoastdesigns@gmail.com

Events

• • • • • • • • • •

Homes For Rent

Accounting Clerk/temporary full-time Housekeeping Staff Safety Officer Banquet Servers Engineering Supervisor Cooks, Servers, Bussers Event Manager/Banquet Captain Front Desk Agent Bell Staff, Door Person Spa Nail Technicians

Annual, Seasonal & Vacation Rentals Available

Basic English is required for all employment consideration.

To apply, visit 442 Gulf of Mexico Drive, 1st Floor Longboat Key, FL 34228 Open Mon – Thurs from 9am to 4pm www.longboatkeyclub.com/career PHONE FACILITATOR & other office skills, 20 hours. Good people, phone and computer skills required. Hours: 9AM-2:30PM. 941-359-4296.

TERRITORY SALES SPECIALISTS needed to sell Internet, phone and TV in the Sarasota/Bradenton Market. High Commissions plus Bonuses. Prior exp. not needed, training provided. 941-747-6813 Email: careers@ustci.com to apply.

HIRING NOW!

Positions Wanted CAM WITH CMCA, AMS, PCAM designations seeking Condominium Association to manage.

Excellent references.

Please contact: resumepnb@yahoo.com or 941.685.0500

Dependable rental & property management services.

Sarasota/Siesta Key 941.966.8000 Heritage Oaks 941.926.8844 Venice & Punta Gorda 941.485.5421 Palm Island 941.769.0313 Boca Grande & Englewood 941.964.2000

74516

DAYBED AND trundle with mattresses, ivory eyelet comforter, ruffle, shams. Excellent condition. $200. 918-0176.

ANNUAL MCA PHOTO EXHIBITION. Friday, Feb. 24 through Sunday Feb. 26, 10a.m.-4p.m. daily.

Meadows Community Center, 2004 Longmeadow, off 17th St.

EXPERIENCED TELEMARKETER: Seeks part-time position. Flexible hours. 30+ years experience. You have it. I sell it! 941-780-3958.

michaelsaunders.com/rentals

Storage

Condos/Apts. For Rent

$425mo-1 bed/bath mobile homes.

55+ community. No Pets.

5811 14th St. W. Bradenton.

Sarasota Real Estate Assoc, Inc. Greg Nowak 941-809-6034

STORAGE FACILITY Boat/ RV/ Trailer. Secure facility, low monthly rentals, Clark Rd area.

941-809-3660, 941-809-3662.

Things To Do HUGE NEIGHBORHOOD TRASH TO TREASURE SALE 8500 Turtle Rock Blvd. Turtle Rock Community Sale - something for everyone! Sat., Feb. 25th 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. (rain date Sun., Feb 26th). Enter through gate on Central Sarasota Blvd. between Honore & McIntosh. NO EARLY ENTRY!

Business Opportunities ABBEX, INC 941-365-3833

LONGBOAT KEY CONDO FOR RENT. Penthouse 1,482 sq/ft. 2BR/2BA, Bay and Gulf views, Boat Access, Pool, Tennis Courts and Fitness. On the water, across from beach. Call Jon at 908-727-4275.

Affordable Senior Housing

JEFFERSON CENTER

This week’s Crossword answers

941-953-9585 800-955-8771 TDD/TTY Rentals from $427-$588

First 15 words ............................ $15 per week Each Add’l word ........................................ 50¢ 15% discount for 4 week Run

WWW.ABBEXINC.COM Steve Alexander

Yellow color $5 per Week • Border as low as $3 per Week Reserved Space Ad runs in the Pelican Press at no extra cost

Utilities & Cable Included

cLAssifiEd LinE Ad PricE

LP Reserved Space

call: 955-4888 Email: classified@yourobserver.com online: www.yourobserver.com

Help Wanted DRIVERS-EXPERIENCED OTR: $1500 Sign-On. 7-10 days out. Apply Online: www.heyl.net 800-973-9161. Heyl Truck Lines, Inc.

SARASOTA RANCH CLUB: 3BR/4BA, Brand New! Turnkey Furnished, 5,000 sq/ft., 4/5CG, Theater Room, 10 Acres, Call for more details! $2,950/mo. Call 941-928-1542.

930 N. Tamiami Tr., Sarasota, FL 34236

Service Co. - Absentee Owner 1 Full Time Employee Nets: $79,000 Price: $200,000 Distributor Nets: $120,000 Price: $250,000 Sales/ Service Plus Inventory Nets: $210,000 Price $400,000 Service Company Nets: $12,000/mo. Price $150,000

JAN PRO CLEANING FRANCHISE: $950 Down Required, Financing Available for growth, Includes customers. Earn up to $10,000 Month+ Call 941-907-8141

LUXOR MHP

76419

COMPUTER 2.0 GHz with newly loaded Windows XP-PRO, $75. 756-6728.

Your sourcE for LocAL cLAssifiEd Ads

HOUSE CLASSIFIEDS LP # 56733

2012

This week’s Cryptogram answers 1. A man stole a few watches from a jewelry store.

After being put in jail, he came before the judge and said his defense was he was only a small time operator.

2. House hunters passed on several homes, as they wanted a really small place. Their realtor recommended they view a condominimum.

12B 12BYourObserver.com Classifieds

SARASOTA Observer THETHURSDAY, SARASOTA OBSERVER/ FEBRUARY 23, 2012 Thursday, February 23, 2012

www.yourobserver.com

Homes For Rent

Real Estate Wanted

Waterfront Property

WANTED LUXURY ANNUAL RENTALS For Qualified Waiting Clients Contact - Sarasota Luxury Rentals 941-356-5610 email: info@sarasotaluxuryrentals.com Camino Real Home in Oyster Bay Subdivision: Wonderful Home in Quiet Neighborhood. 3 Bedroom, 3 Bath. Caged Swimming Pool with Large Backyard. Very Private and Completely Fenced-In. Washer and Dryer with 2-Car Garage.

Pool and Lawn Service Included. Available in April, 2012. $2,100 Monthly; Long Term Lease Only.

References Required. 941-302-2960.

OYSTER BAY LANDING

Visit us online at www.yourobserver.com

WATERFRONT HOMESITES Sarasota's Most Exclusive Gated Waterfront Community

Vacation/Seasonal Rentals

Open Saturday & Sunday - 2p.m.-4p.m.

112/2/

WEST OF TRAIL. Grove St. - 2479 sq.ft., bright, open, newer upscale home, 3BR/2BA. Many builtins, walk to Southside Elementary, shops & restaurants, 5 min. to Siesta Key. $2900/mo. Call 941-926-2915.

Completely Private Priced from $1.250 Dock Included Non-waterfront from $600k w/dock.

14 community homesites. Only 6 remaining.

Homes For Sale

Direct Bay Access Appointment Only Rita Ferrell Lasky 941-780-3579 Ferrell-Lasky-Team Prudential Lakewood Ranch Realty

RESERVE YOUR VACATION NOW!!

LUXURY BEACH RENTALS…COTTAGES TO CONDOS…ONE TO FOUR BEDROOM…LOOK NO FURTHER THAN FLORIDARENT.COM DISCOUNTED RATES 20-40%...CALL TODAY!!

PLEASE MENTION CODE OBS2011 941 383 3117 800 331 7293 FOR SALE BY OWNER $269,000 Perfect Retirement/Winter home, 1750/sq.ft., 3BR/2BA. The Hamptons on Palmer Ranch! A Maintenance Free Community, w/heated pool.

Meticulously kept home w/screened lanai, barrel tile roof, rich paver brick driveway, beautifully landscaped, adjacent to Legacy bike/walking trail.

Dupont Corian kitchen countertops, 42” cabinets, all appliances including washer & dryer.

Generously ceramic-tiled floors. Both bedrooms have walk-in closets, master bath has corner tub and separate glassed-in shower. Great room/DR has 3 large sliding glass doors opening to lanai.

Ceiling fans throughout. Minutes to Siesta Key Beach, Shopping, Restaurants, Golf & I-75. Call Bill 618-978-5196 cell or 941-921-3961.

RENTALS 4 NIGHT MIN. GULF FRONT/ GULF VIEW Reservations: 941-383-5549 Visa/ MC Fax: 941-383-7925

Office Open 7 Days, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

4621 Gulf of Mexico Drive Longboat Key 34228

One Site for All Your Needs!

Property Search Homes - Condos - Golf Communities Foreclosures - Short Sales Real Estate Questions?

Go to my website and Ask Larry

www.LarrySellsSarasota.com

HOME CARE COMPANION seeking P/T position.

Please call Ellen, 941-924-8443.

FREE Wireless High Speed Internet

“Where People Return Year After Year”

Thinking of Selling?

“INTENTIONALLY BETTER”

Call Me for an aggressive Internet plan to market your home.

LARRY BRZOSTEK RE/MAX Alliance Group 941-993-3125

Manufactured Homes LET’S MAKE A DEAL SHORT SALE!! $12,000/OBO. Camelot Lakes (off Clark Rd. near I-75): 55+ Community with Clubhouse & Heated Pool. 2BR/2BA, Lanai, Shed & Covered Parking, Partially Furnished & Applianced, Lot Rent 755 incl. Water & Lawn Care.

Rentals allowed. Call Elliot 941-284-7917.

MOTIVATED SELLERS!

Out-Of-State Rentals LOG CABINS for rent on a 700 acre lake in Minocqua, Wisconsin. Each housekeeping cabin rents weekly or monthly. Also, comes with a fishing boat. More information, call 941-918-8569 or E-mail: pbmelbs@comcast.net

ADULT CARE. Let us take care of your elderly loved one in our family care home. Licensed by the Sate of Florida. Nice clean family home.

Reasonable price. 941-922-8340.

CNA with 20 years experience. Cleaning, Bills, Errands, Assisting Appts. Equipment experience.

Good references. Call Gerri for more details, 941-780-1014.

WASHER/ DRYER IN EVERY UNIT BEAUTIFUL KITCHENS LARGE HEATED POOL GULFSIDE

EFFICIENCY APARTMENT: Siesta Key, walk to beach and village, private heated pool, canal and dock. All utilities included. $1900/mo. Available March or April. 941-812-4841.

LANDLORD ALERT!! We have Tenant’s!!!

Wanted: 3BR Homes & Larger Homes 3,000 sq/ft. and Up! Siesta Key Realty Incorporated, 941-349-8900, www.siestakeyrealtyrentals.com LBK: BAYFRONT, 2BR/2BA, clean turnkey furnished condo, recent upgrades. Spectacular water views from every room, ground floor, end unit. Covered parking, 5 pools, tennis, fitness center. Gulf/ private beach house access. No trucks/ pets/ smoking. LB Harbour, 4440 Exeter.

Mid April through November: 8 months $800/mo. +utilities. Also, 1BR unit, $700/mo. or $12,000 year round. 734-216-6622.

SAPPHIRE SHORES: 3BR/2BA Centrally located near Museum Area. Fully Furnished with Pool, Fenced Yard, Granite & Stainless Steel appliances. All utilities included. 3 month minimum. $2,500/mo. 941-321-6674.

IN-HOME CARE/ COMPANIONSHIP/ HOMEMAKING available all hours; days, nights, weekends.

Call 377-4465 for more information or visit our website @ www.eldercaresarasota.com Lic. #30211372 Bonded & Insured.

MATURE, RELIABLE, caring, friendly woman available as companion, aide, nanny for your needs. Experienced. Reasonable. Let me help.

Marcia, 941-955-2225.

Auto Service AUTO STORAGE New facility in Sarasota storing classic and exotic cars, motorcycles, boats and more. Over 11,000 sq. ft. Climate Controlled. 24 Hour Surveillance. Call (941)404-9676.

WE WANT TO BUY YOUR VEHICLE!!!

Any Make, Any Model, Any Condition.

No Title - No Problem! Bank Lien - No Problem!

Paying up to $30,000 for Vehicles. Call AJ now at 813-335-3794 for a Free Quote or 813-531-4298.

Cleaning A CLEANING EVEN YOUR MOTHER-IN-LAW WILL APPROVE! Every time, guaranteed! Lic./Ins. Bonded. Pamela, 941-320-0023. www.CleanTimeServices.com AMANDA’S CLEANING up to 3 1/2 hrs, $65. LRG Homes $85, up to 5 hrs. 941-357-3296.

BETTY’S HOUSECLEANING Service. High quality cleaning. Reasonable rates. Licensed.

References. Call 941-650-6180.

CLEANING CHANGES LIVES. Local charity, Light Under The Bridge, raises funds by offering cleaning services to you. Get your home cleaned and help women in crisis get their lives back on track from Human Trafficking, Domestic Violence, Homelessness, Addictions, and more. Call for more info 941-567-4007.

Reserved Space LP Reserved Space

CLEANING SERVICE Residential, Commercial, Vacation Rentals, Move-in/Move-outs. We do it all. Inside and out. Pressure washing on request. www.cleanfreakes.com, 941-587-1258 Cash/Check/Visa/MC LV2654

Go online to place your classified ad. www.yourobserver.com Ready When You Are – Classified Ads, The Way to Sell

Financial Services GOOD CREDIT? Bad credit? No credit?

No problem! Are you currently employed? Are you living paycheck to paycheck? Do you need cash? We can help! Apply for a loan today! Call 1-888-823-8766.

Furniture Repair ALBERTO’S REFINISHING Of Fine Furniture, Antiques, Gold Leaf, Cane, Rush, Upholstery.

Quality Work. Call: 941-296-5427.

Health Services

Adult Care Services

ALTERNATIVE TO NURSING HOME Beautiful room and bath available in a private care home in Sarasota. Bed bound, Alzheimer’s & Hospice patients welcome. Also offering Respite Care, daily and weekly. Excellent local references.

941-720-8840.

“Take our video tour at” www.casadelmar.net

LIDIA’S PROFESSIONAL CLEANING. Licensed and insured. 20 years experience with excellent references. Res. or Com. 941-376-0920.

QUALITY CLEANING Service. 10 years experience. Residential & Commercial. Call Anghelika, 941-204-3589.

WILL CLEAN homes, windows, offices. Also, can transport people to appointments. First cleaning discounted. 941-993-4375.

PALMA SOLA BAY LAND: 3.9 acres of waterfront approved for 7 homes and 5 docks or use as a single estate. $1,499,000. Will consider exchange for income property or Sarasota waterfront home.

Marcia Wood, Broker, 941-350-2285.

A LENDING HAND, INC. Caregivers/Companions, Hourly 24/7 Care, Transportation, Social Outings, Dr. Appts., Housekeeping, Meal preparation, Respite Care.

Phone: 941-809-3725

CASA DEL MAR BEACH RESORT

Cleaning EDLA’S CLEANING SERVICES: Residential Commercial, New Construction. Meticulous, deep cleaning top to bottom. We Guarantee. Affordable & Reliable. Excellent References. Free Estimates.

Licensed & Insured. 30% off first cleaning.

371-9869.

FRESH BREEZE HOME CLEANING SERVICE: Family Owned business, Residential & Commercial. Excellent references, Licensed & Insured. Free Estimates, 941-404-0104.

CLEANING: 15 years experience. Licensed and Insured. References available. 941-223-0411.

WELLNESS WORKS owner, Susan Staten MA 46431, is a Licensed Massage Therapist who integrates Swedish massage and Pain Management to eradicate pain and discomfort and leave you feeling younger. She helps clients have more mobility and energy. Susan has alleviated clients' pain who struggle with TMJ, spinal and hip, shoulder and knee problems, carpal tunnel, sprained ankles, post surgical pain and offers non-invasive face lifts. Or just come in for her firm and yummy massage. Call 941-504-5958 for $49.00 Intro., Wellness Works is located at Siesta Key Sport and Physical Therapy: 5147 Ocean Blvd. Siesta Key massagemps@gmail.com

Home Improvement/ Remodeling HANDYMAN EXTRAORDINAIRE Reliable & Prompt. 25 Years Experience 5 Years in Bradenton Area. Flooring, Masonry, Doors, Carpentry and Water Damage ... etc. Call Scott at 941-536-1770. scottmwoolf1@gmail.com R.J. DAVIS WHOLESALE FLOORING, LLC. 20 Years Licensed and Insured. 941-586-8996.

Home Services 120 CHANNELS + Locals, $29.99/mo. Rocky Satellite Sales & Service Authorized Dish Network Retailer, 941-554-8078.

Painting/Wallpapering CARLO DATTILO PAINTING. Licensed & insured.

Interior/ Exterior painting including drywall repair and retexturing. Wallpaper installation & removal, pressure washing. Residential & commercial, condos. Honest & reliable. Free estimates.

941-744-1020. 35+ years experience.

STEAKLEY PAINTING. Interior/ Exterior. Pressure Washing. Wallpaper Removal. Drywall Repairs.

Reasonable. Reliable. Professional. 30+ years experience. References available. Free Estimates.

Lic./Ins. 941-228-7605, rlsteakley@comcast.net

Personal Services NEED HELP?? Shop, Errands, Drive, House-sit, Computer aid. Mature, Multi-tasker. Call Peter 941-330-9120.

Pet Services DOGGY HOTEL. 24 Hour Daycare. Brown Avenue near Bee Ridge and 41 behind Sleep King (new owner). First day FREE. Grooming by Mark.

Meet and greet and get a treat. 941-554-4620.

Tile STEVE ALLEN FLOOR COVERINGS PROFESSIONAL TILE & MARBLE INSTALLATION 20 YRS. EXPERIENCE CALL FOR FREE ESTIMATE 726-1802 LIC/ INS TILE WORKS for Bathroom, Kitchen & Floor.

Licensed and Insured, accurate and detailed jobs by an Italian. Call Maurizio at 941-586-8641.

THE SARASOTA OBSERVER/PE SARASOTA Observer Thursday, February 23, 2012 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

ACCOUNTING

TAX RETURNS (941) 556-9090

941-921-7552

Classified Ads Bring Results 941-955-4888

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Peg’s Peg s EZ EZ Computer Computer Instruction Instruction

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Computer Problems?

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75048

941-735-3362

Lic. #ER0013984

ATTORNEY

Mike 941-266-5184

mail@sarasotapersonalcomputer.com

Your Palmer Ranch Computer Experts sarasotapersonalcomputer.com

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Sharon M. Guy, P.A.

941-727-0272

552-5766 74487

PATIO REPAIRS Furniture Repairs FurnitureSales Sales &&Repairs 74908

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Custom Surfaces Inc.

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Michael Koch Concrete, Inc.

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DECORATIVE SURFACES FOR: PATIOS, POOL DECKS, DRIVEWAYS, ENTRYWAYS

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75434

Lic. # 46264

Residential Concrete Specialist Patios - Driveways - Sidewalks

â&#x20AC;&#x153;OUR ESTIMATES & ADVICE ARE FREEâ&#x20AC;?

STEVE PANEBIANCO

Since 1967

Free Estimates

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LACIVITA CONCRETE

75437

Unique Cleaning Service

SINGLETURTLE

Licensed Lic. #38333 References

CONCRETE State Lic. CR CO25291

) Carpentry ) Indoors ) Remodeling ) Ceramic Tile ) Water & Fire Damage ) Kitchen/Baths 74913

Team Up Today With Classifieds 941-955-4888

75439

CERTIFIED & INSURED

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31 Years Experience, Prompt, Reliable Service, I Call Back My Customers, Keep My Appointments, AND Your Satisfaction is My Goal.

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76051

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DOCKSIDE BOAT REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE

941-504-0903

75445 38056

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941-724-4278

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FURNITURE REPAIR

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Call Liz for the Best Price

75969

Mark 941-993-4784

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74455

FREE INSPECTION

WILLS, TRUSTS, PROBATE, ELDER LAW

We Use Organic Products

377-2272

Repairs, Virus-Malware Removal, Upgrades, Software-Hardware Installation Networks, Enhanced Performance Security Issues, Consultation and Training.

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75941

what you are missing...

Local News thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s LOCAL NEWS!

LV1403

74453

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74991 74991

74922

Reasonable Rates 2425 Fruitville Road

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75990

PLEASE CALL

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75989

6150 State Road 70 E., Bradenton, FL

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REFACE OR NEW IN BAMBOO

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CUSTOM WOODWORKING

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YourObserver.com

COMPUTER

L.K. ACCOUNTING & TAXES, INC.

3947 Clark Road, Sarasota, FL

Classifieds 13B 13B

www.yourobserver.com

YourObserver.com

THE SARASOTA OBSERVER/ SARASOTA Observer THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23,2012 2012 Thursday, February 23,

www.yourobserver.com

HANDYMAN

LAWN CARE

Frustrated depending on unreliable servicemen?

CURTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lawn Service

3687676-01

Pet Care

Free Estimates Lawn & Landscape Maintenance

373-9299

HOME SERVICES

s 0ET 3ITTING

724-2945

Lic. & Ins.

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MOVERS

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PLUMBING

75441

Independently Owned and Operated Franchise

359-1904 941-755-6300

We sell boxes!

74924

Sarasota.MrRooter.com U.S. DOT No. 1915800

INSURANCE

Fully Licensed and Insured

MO V I N G

Licensed Insurance Agent

) # # s $/4 &, -/6%23 )-

Dave McCarthy Operator/Owner

941-923-8140

All Major Credit Cards Accepted

Check our Web Page! www.Generalplumbingservices.com

Phone (941) 704-4278 Fax (941) 538-3781 dmccarthy114@hotmail.com

75450

941.726.1560

HUSBAND & WIFE PAINTING TEAM

DRAIN

INTERIOR/EXTERIOR/INSURED

LANDSCAPING & LAWN

74925

PROMPT

Painting

COMPANY

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Quality Workmanship for Over 25 Yearsâ&#x20AC;?

75148

Faulknerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

484-4576 Painting & Pressure Cleaning

Driveway and Deck Staining

Free Estimate 941-922-3996

Judith A. Merkt (Bonded & Insured)

Make Your Phone Ring

Team Up With Classifieds â&#x20AC;˘ 941-955-4888

941-928-4845 jjdc3@msn.com

74918

RONALD FRANK American Philatelic Society Dealer Since 1969

FREE Appraisals Throughout Sarasota Until April 30, 2012 Will travel Florida to Maine and all points in between phone 941.554.4657 email LFrankRonald@aol.com

1 FREE Gutter Clean

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75174

365-2407

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Providing personal and administrative assistance to individuals & small businessesâ&#x20AC;Śa reliable and skilled resource ready and able to attack your â&#x20AC;&#x153;to-doâ&#x20AC;? list.

Let me help you get things done!

Hire â&#x20AC;&#x153;Your Very Own Assistantâ&#x20AC;?

74893

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Take Control of Y our Life!

Call Sam 600-4169

BUYER OF ALL STAMP COLLECTIONS

PERSONAL SERVICES

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DRAIN CLEANING

40-year resident of Sarasota

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COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL Interior & Exterior Pressure Washing Pool Decks Drywall Repair Family Owned & Operated

Native Son Landscape Services, Inc. GO GREEN!

400-4864

Licensed & Insured

or PaintJobBoys@AOL.com

FREE

PROS

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24 HR. EMERGENCY SERVICE

Septic Tanks should be pumped once every two or three years to avoid total system and drain ďŹ eld failure. A replacement cost of thousands of dollars.

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ANY SERVICE W/THIS COUPON

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THE

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LET US PUMP YOUR SEPTIC TANK AND SAVE MONEY!

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Licensed & Insured State Lic CFC056748

Disposal Special $179.95 Installed Reg. Price $229.95 Installed

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75150

INTERIOR DESIGN

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Medicare Supplement Plans are underwritten by Colonial Penn Life Insurance Company, an afďŹ liate of Bankers Life and Casualty Company. Colonial Penn Life Insurance Company, Bankers Life and Casualty Company and their licensed agents are not afďŹ liated with or sponsored by the US Government or the Federal Medicare Program.

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A Private Company Serving the Palmer Ranch Area Since 2007

s &ULL PLUMBING SERVICES s &2%% PLUMBING CHECK s .O TRIP CHARGES s 3EPTIC TANK PUMPING

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w/150 ft. purchase during 1st year Free Estimates & Quick Service Licensed & Fully Insured Family Owned & Operated

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

75974

THE SARASOTA OBSERVER/PE 23, 2012

SARASOTA Thursday,Observer February

TREES

Licensed & Insured

Residential & Commercial

75461

Call Bob 780-2267

Cherokee Tree Service

s )MPACT 7INDOWS $OORS s (URRICANE 3HUTTERS s 2OLL $OWN s !CCORDIANS s 0ANELS s (URRICANE 3CREENS s 3ERVICE !LL "RANDS 7INDOWS $OORS 3HUTTERS

,ICENSED )NSURED s #ALL FOR &REE %STIMATE

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Licensed and Insured

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Insured

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75943

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$ALE 3UGGS

cherokeetreeservice@yahoo.com

929-9309 or 356-5616 Cell

SCREENING

(941) 536-5971

74919

SALONS

s 3TUMP 'RINDING s ,ANDSCAPING s $EBRI 2EMOVAL s 4REE 2EPLACEMENT

74308

75206

30 Years Experience

s 4REE 2EMOVAL s $E -OSSING s 4REE 3HAPING s $EAD 7OOD 2EMOVAL

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74920

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Insured and Licensed Professional Service Since 2005

Licensed & Insured

10 Years Experience

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Ask us about Superscreen Rescreening pool cages, lanais, etc.

75515

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16B

SARASOTA Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

BROKERS & REALTORS

➧

jenna c ar ver | Integrity . Service . Results

Use these pages

to promote your:

Siesta Key. Just Listed- This is the best value for a beachfront condo on Siesta Key. Directly on Crescent Beach with a beachfront heated swimming pool and private beach chairs. This 2 Bedroom Condominium in Crystal Sands has over 1,200 square feet of living area with great gulf views. This spacious split bedroom floor plan has a large screened lanai and is being sold turnkey furnished. The recent updates include fresh paint and new carpet. $639,000.

Call Jenna to arrange a showing 941-343-7953

Ranked #1 in the Siesta Key Sales Office for 2010

j e n n a c a r ve r

Siesta Key. Panoramic Wide-Open Gulf Views Enjoy the amazing sunset views from this 2400+ sq. ft.

Siesta Key home. Chef’s kitchen, three en-suite bedrooms, open floor plan with stone fireplace and multiple balconies.

Fully finished lower level with bath and private entrance.

Community tennis courts and heated lap pool. Seller financing w/as little as 5% down. TBD. $1,700,000 Call Jenna to arrange a showing 941-343-7953

Michael Saunders & Company

Realtor®

941-343-7953

jenna@jennacarver.com

Licensed Real Estate Broker

5100 Ocean Blvd., Siesta Key

✔ New Brokerage Affiliation ✔ New Listings ✔ Move-In-Ready Listings ✔ Water Views ✔ Open Houses ✔ Price Reductions ✔ Sold Properties ✔ Seasonal Rentals Ads start as low as $62.50

Call Bob Lewis at 941-366-3468, ext 357 or e-mail: blewis@yourobserver.com

Meet Your Local Realtors Iva Fadley Dane PA,TRC Cell: 941.350.8001 Office: 941.955.1500 Wagner Realty

“Service With Excellence”

Marianne LeBar

Helene Hyland

“Raising the Bar in Real Estate Services”

Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate, Inc

Realtor®, PA, AHWD, CIPS,PMN, SRI,TRC

Owned And Operated By NRT Incorporated

941.650.0337 Direct

www.SarasotasBestHomes.com

IvaFadley@comcast.net

Bob Schult Realtor 941.915.9797

Stacy Liljeberg

®

Realtor®, GRI

bobschult10@gmail.com

941.544.6103

KEY SOLUTIONS

stacyliljeberg@michaelsaunders.com Voted Five Star Best in Client Satisfaction For Six Consecutive Years

REAL ESTATE GROUP

6021 Midnight Pass Rd.

www.SarasotaHomeLinks.com

®

ABR, CIPS, GRI, TRC

My Priority is your satisfaction!

“Je Parle Français / Jag Talar Svenska!”

941.376.1348

Tropical Sands

www.CondosOnSiestaKey.com

Patricia Clouser Realtor 941.232.8579

®

patclouser@yahoo.com

KEY SOLUTIONS REAL ESTATE GROUP

6021 Midnight Pass Rd.

“Service Without Limits, Standards Without Compromise” SusanMatteoli@michaelsaunders.com

www.sarasota4you.com

Wagner Realty

Margo@MargoMackenzie.com www.FloridaSunshineLiving.com

helenehyland@comcast.net www.SheSellsSiestaKeySarasota.com

Teresa M. Fellows Broker Associate

ERA Waterside Realty

Direct: 941.350.4297 Fax: 866.256.4091

Email: tmf4257@mac.com Web: www.floridawestproperties.com

anita@anitaboakes.com

Specializing in Island Properties

FIVE-STAR: Best in Client Satisfaction for last 5 years

jangillett@michaelsaunders.com

941-809-2429

Irene Jurnack, PA, Realtor® Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate, LLC

941.350.9408

941.320.5558 (Cell) 941.349-4411 (Office)

Annemarieboerner@michaelsaunders.com

Need Help?

Owned And Operated By NRT Incorporated

Full-time Realtor specializing in waterfront, mainland, condos, homes, short sales and foreclosures irenejurnack@floridamoves.com

Expert in Condo Sales for Absentee Owners & Estates and 55+communities Completing The Sale While You Stay Home!

Michael James 941-724.4034 Serving Sarasota since 1998

Coldwell Banker on the Key

michaeljames@michaelsaunders.com

Pat Reid

941.586.9766

941.924.9000 Virginia M. Hansel,Realtor® Coldwell Banker - Siesta Key Residential Real Estate, Inc

Owned And Operated By NRT Incorporated

Building Bridges...between European and U.S. Buyers and Sellers

941.685.6649

Gabi@RealtyinSarasota.com www.RealtyinSarasota.com CHARITY & WEISS International Realty LLC

Annemarie Boerner Realtor®

For Experience, Integrity and Patience, Call:

Gabriele Charity

Senior Real Estate Specialist, Realtor®

Owned And Operated By NRT Incorporated

www.SarasotaHomeLinks.com

Susan Matteoli, GRI, ABR 941.356.1335

941.349.4411 (Office) 941.685.2274 (Cell)

Jan Gillett

Anita Boakes

Susan Kirk Realtor 941.685.7594

Margo MacKenzie PA Matching People & Properties Worldwide Cell: 941.350.2349

Sales Associate

Juergen Stahl

Building Bridges...between European and U.S. Buyers and Sellers

941.928.4847

Juergen@RealtyinSarasota.com www.RealtyinSarasota.com CHARITY & WEISS International Realty LLC

Anne-Marie Tardif Realtor®

941.350.3077 941.349.3444 annemarietardif@michaelsaunders.com

Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate, Inc Owned And Operated By NRT Incorporated

Sarasota Magazine 5 Star Professional SaraChester@michaelsaunders.com http//sarachester.michaelsaunders.com

Team Dunn

Lin and Maurice 941.809.2154 941.238-8119

lindunn@michaelsaunders.com Mauricemenager@michaelsaunders.com

Steven K. LaBell - Broker

SIESTA KEY BÜRGERMEISTER

www.StarRealtySarasota.com Tel/Fax: 941.349.0330

Bob Ruiz & Sheri Lasley

Siesta Key Specialists 941.544.3299 RobertRuizrr@aol.com

941.400.4186

SheriLasley@Aol.com

Visit our web site at www.SiestaKeyNow.com

S. Dudley Carson, Broker

Stephanie Kitsemble

GRI, CRB, REO, SFR

GRI, TRC, REOS, Broker Associate

Offices at 5140 Ocean Blvd. & 5700 Midnight Pass Rd., Siesta Key dudleycarson@remax.net

skitsemble@msn.com “I am pleased to announce my move to Michael Saunders & Company”

941.374.2245

Alliance Group

941.313-0874

Brian Dunn

George Miller

www.BrianDunnREALTOR.com New Construction & Remodeling Specialist Licensed Contractor CRC047939

941.374.1000

“Your Everything Real Estate Source”

941.650.0482

5218 Station Way, Sarasota, FL 34233

Coldwell Banker - Siesta Key Owned And Operated By NRT Incorporated

Buying or Selling on Siesta Key? Find current prices and trends at:

www.SiestaHomeValues.com www.SiestaHomeValues.com

76361

Sara Chester Realtor® 941.737.8234

SARASOTA Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

Vacation, Long Term and Annual Rental Properties Needed!

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Â&#x2021; (QMR\ 5HIUHVKPHQWV $SSHWL]HUV â&#x20AC;˘ Network with Our Real Estate Professionals Â&#x2021; 1HWZRUN ZLWK 2XU 5HDO (VWDWH 3URIHVVLRQDOV â&#x20AC;˘ Check Out Our Newly Remodeled OfďŹ ce Â&#x2021; &KHFN 2XW 2XU 1HZO\ 5HPRGHOHG 2IILFH Â&#x2021; 5HJLVWHU WR :LQ D &UHGLW 7RZDUGV &ORVLQJ â&#x20AC;˘ Register to Win a $1,000 Credit Towards Closing*

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The Dipinto Collection

6($5&+

Longboat Key â&#x20AC;˘ Lido Key â&#x20AC;˘ St. Armands Key â&#x20AC;˘ Bird Key â&#x20AC;˘ Siesta Key â&#x20AC;˘ West of Trail Market Your Property to the World

VWDWH 5HDO ( Longboat Key $8,450,000

Gorgeous Open Bay Front.

11,000 Total SF. The Epitome of Luxury awaits you. Sits on one full acre of pristine land.

Longboat Key $7,950,000

Siesta Key

Longboat Key

Longboat Key

Gulf Front. New custom crafted 9,000 Square foot residence.

Architecturally designed show home.

$

3,299,000

Magnificent 7,214 SF Masterpiece on Siesta Key situated on 3 Bay front lots totaling 151 ft. of waterfront.

$'9(57,

6(0(17

Search for local businesses in your

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Lido Beach

$

2,395,000

Bay Front with incredibly rare 240â&#x20AC;&#x2122; of Deep Waterfront.

5BR/5BA & 3-car garage. Built 2001.

$1,499,999

DIRECT GULF FRONT! Villa Di Lancia, Desirable â&#x20AC;&#x153;Walk Downâ&#x20AC;? residence. 3BR/3BA and 2,455 SF w/Gulf Views. Built 1996.

$

349,900

Big Bay Views! 2BR/2BA condo with covered parking. Deep water boat slips for $12 per foot per year.

Patrick DiPinto & Coldwell Banker Previews International â&#x20AC;˘ 20 years of sales experience â&#x20AC;˘ Top 1% of all Sarasota Realtors

â&#x20AC;˘ Aggressive home marketing plan â&#x20AC;˘ Superb negotiating skills

Coldwell Banker offers our sellers the power of more than 3,300 PHYSICAL Coldwell Banker offices worldwide. Our dominant market presence consists of 90,000 sales professionals globally, including nearly 5,000 sales agents and 90 PHYSICAL Coldwell Banker offices in Florida alone.

Direct: (941) 323-0033 Office: (941) 387-1866 | patrick@DipintoCollection.com

Residential Real estate OWNED AND OpERATED By NRT, LLC

Dedicated to Luxury Real Estate

Top 1% of All Sarasota Realtors 76345

LV2634

$'9(57,

Learn about businesses in the Sarasota & Manatee area.

6(0(17

18B

SARASOTA Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

Christy Neff

Voted Sarasota Magazineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Best in Client Satisfactionâ&#x20AC;?

SEVEN Consecutive Years

Family Home West of the Trail

ABR, GRI, RSPS, SRES RealtorÂŽ

christyneff@michaelsaunders.com I wanted to climb Mt. Kilamanjaro... I did.

I wanted to sky dive from 10,000 feet... I did.

I wanted to explore the depths of the Red Sea... I did.

Private Tropical Paradise

Now, I Want To Sell Your Home...

Call me today at 941.914.0896

Your Siesta Key Connection....

4BRâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and 3 baths with almost 3000 Sq. Ft. under air! Lap pool with waterfall, lushly landscaped, walled & gated. Kitchen and baths recently remodeled. Within walking distance to the #1 Beach-Siesta Key. Now Priced at $849,000 MLS#A3955184

Walk to Southside Village stores and restaurants. 4BR/2.5 bath home. Spacious backyard with room for pool. Excellent schools, close to Siesta Key and Downtown.

Now Priced at $499,000 MLS#A3945862

Steps to Beach

Bayfront Park

West of Trail

5966 Midnight Pass Road #G36 - Palm Bay Club Turnkey furnished 2BA, in Tower.

Nice upgrades.

MLS#A3953620 $459,000

870 Indian Beach Dr. Rarely available. 3/4+ Acre lot in historic Indian Beach.

MLS#A3952439 $1,100,000

6027 Crestwood 2BR/2BA on 1/3 acre, minutes to Siesta Beach, shopping & dining.

MLS#A3930093 $165,000

Enjoy One of These Waterfront Views at Pelican Point...

RealtorÂŽ

1503 Clower Creek Dr. #HA259 Updated 2BR/2BA condo with water views from almost every room, PLUS fabulous sunsets!

MLS#A3952079 $379,000

Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate, 5145 Ocean Blvd., Sarasota, FL

office: 941-349-2922

Judycell: Arreola,941-914-5540 GRI, CRS, LTG, BROKER/ASSOCIATE 941.349.3444

betsy@betsydemanio.com judyarreola@michaelsaunders.com Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate Owned and Operated by NRT,LLC

1603 Bayhouse Point Dr. #BA212. 2BR/2BA 2nd Floor end unit with stunning views of Little Sarasota Bay and ICW Ip et, sIt nullamc MLS#A3951185 $264,000

kristinatalkie@michaelsaunders.com

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We Start With Listeningâ&#x20AC;?

941.349.3444

www.judyarreola.com

GRI,GRS,LTG,Broker Associate

judyarreola@michaelsaunders.com

Because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s NOT ABOUT us, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about you...

Kristina Talkie, /CEAN "LVD s 3IESTA +EY &, s 941.266.8658 GRI,Realtor

OPEN HOUSE - SUNDAY 1-4 225 HOURGLASS WAY #101 Ip et, sIt nullamc onsequis

kristinatalkie@michaelsaunders.com www.judyarreola.com

Your

Golf to Gulf Real EstateIpProfessionals ...The ARREOLA/TALKIE et, sIt nullamc Team onsequis THEY KNOW YOUR ad NEIGHBORHOOD magna aut

Full Gu lf & Bay Views

Full Gu lf View s

9393 Midnight Pass Rd. Unit #907 $669,000 This highly sought-after 9th floor 2BR/2BA corner unit condo at â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Pointeâ&#x20AC;? has full Gulf and Bay views.Unit completely renovated to the highest standards, amenities inc.boat docks,tennis kayaking & so much more.

MLS#A3952666

4712 Ocean Blvd.

Unit #W5 $674,900 Full gulf views await you from this 2BR/2BA updated, (Tommy Bahama style) furnished condo! Views from nearly every room, plus an oversized 1-car garage.

Absolutely perfect!

MLS#A3951817

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GREAT VALUE at $690,000

BEST BUY at $329,900

5135 Peppermill CT. 605 Indian Beach $1,799,000 $267,500 Rarely available estate sized bayfront Spectacular maintenance lot (1.07 acres) and 137 ft. on the water! free 2BR/2BA+den on 15th Add 3 boat lifts, newer seawall and Ip lake et,andsIt onsequis Fairway with golf nullamc dock and you can have it all. There is a course views.

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Gulf & Bay Views

1601 Pelican Point Dr. # HA211 Great Harbor & Marina views!

Excellent rental potential, 2BR/2BA - Move-In-Ready! onsequis MLS#A33953008 $249,000

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Kristina Talkie, GRI, REALTOR 941.266.8658

Judy Arreola,

Ethel Lovelace 941-586-7390

Harvey Lovelace Ip et, sIt nullamc 941-586-6133

3726 Spyglass Hill Rd. $439,900 Located in the Country Club of Sarasota, this custom built 3bed/3ba+loft, 3125 sf home is fabulous. Kitchen completely remodeled in 2010. Gorgeous lake and golf course views,and a 3car garage! Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss this one!

MLS#A3953854

Ethel Lovelace Group P.A.

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Ip et, sIt nullamc onsequis 1175 Coquille Street 7389 Ballantrae Pl. Unit #301 $425,000 $325,000 ad magna aut adionulla consequ This furnished 2BR/2BA + 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath+ Den, ipsumsandre del doLoft, Gulf-side Townhouse 2,258 s.f. End unit villa with conummolore will take your away! the most incredible views inin henibh lore eleniat eumbreath eugiam Unit is bright and spacious, all of Ballantrae. Owner has quipit wisl utatetummy nonsectet kitchen updated with completed a major renovasolid surface counters tion and volor the end incillandre result is dui tie feugiating and wood cabinets. phenomenal!

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See the latest Sarasota Area Real Estate Transactions at: yourobserver.com Click on the REAL ESTATE Tab

Darcy Jahn

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Surprising Bay Views on Siesta Key...

9042 Midnight Pass Rd. #1B $289,000 Spectacular water views from this large updated 2BR/2BA End unit.

Enjoy beautiful sunset views over the Gulf from your private oversized lanai.

Includes a saltwater dock.

MLS#A3950700

Six Years Running

Golf Gulf

Walk to Beaches

Your To real estate Professionals

ArreolA/TAlkie

The Team Easy bike or walk just 3 blocks to world-famous They Know your neighborhood Siesta beaches, restaurants

and galleries. Move in ready Home in estate with den and art studio/guest house providing possible 3-4 2BR/2B turnkey furnished bedrooms on a large lot on a cul-de-sac at end of private road. 227â&#x20AC;&#x2122; frontage unit in bayfront community on newly dredged canal. Dock & Boat House in sheltered anchorage, 100 yards with tennis, fishing pier, two to ICW in Little Sarasota Bay with no bridges. Easy walk to #1 Beach in USA! pools & more.

Broker/Owner $1,250,000 $249,000

Call Stephen P. Stevens at 941.349.6636

Stevens & Salt, Inc. Realtor 76324

Mortgage Amortization Table (Monthly Payments per $1,000) %RATE

5-YEARS

10-YEARS

15-YEARS

20-YEARS

25-YEARS

30-YEARS

4.0

18.42

10.12

7.40

6.06

5.28

4.77

4.5

18.64

10.36

7.65

6.33

5.56

5.07

5.0

18.87

10.61

7.91

6.60

5.85

5.37

5.5

19.10

10.85

8.17

6.88

6.14

5.68

6.0

19.33

11.10

8.44

7.16

6.44

6.00

6.5

19.57

11.35

8.71

7.46

6.75

6.32

7.0

19.80

11.61

8.99

7.75

7.07

6.65

7.5

20.04

11.87

9.27

8.06

7.39

6.99

8.0

20.28

12.13

9.56

8.36

7.72

7.34

SARASOTA Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

Judie Judie Berger Berger

Trust Trust

THE REALTOR WITH PROVEN RESULTS THE REALTOR WITH PROVEN RESULTS

JUST LISTED JUST LISTED

y voted SARASOTA MAGAZINE’S FIVE STAR y voted MAGAZINE’S FIVE STAR “BEST SARASOTA IN CLIENT SATISFACTION” y yy y y y

145 Beach Road - $1,900,000 145Avenida Beach Veneccia Road - $1,900,000 146 - $1,000,000 Rare opportunity for Siesta Key gulf-views - call for details 146 Avenida Veneccia $1,000,000 Rare opportunity for Siesta Key gulf views - call for details

701 Treasure Boat Way - $1,500,000

Amazing Siesta KeyBoat two-story canal 701 Treasure WayMediterranean - $1,500,000 front pool home built in 2004 Mediterranean boasts over 3300 sf Amazing Siesta Key two-story canal front pool home built in 2004 boasts over 3300 sf

1240 Northport Drive - $950,000

5044 Faberge Place - $315,000 5044 Tuscana Faberge Drive Place -- $315,000 4555 $420,000 4555 Tuscana Drive 5300 Ocean Boulevard- $420,000 - $699,000 5300 Ocean - $699,000 1919 GroveBoulevard Street - $799,000 1919 Grove Street $799,000 757 Tropical Circle - $799,000 757Spoonbill Tropical Circle $799,000 524 Drive -$1,195,000 524 Spoonbill Drive $1,195,000 5153 Sandy Cove Avenue - $769,000 Rare Siesta mid-century boating water, walls 5153 Sandy Covemodern, Avenue - $769,000 of glass, bedrooms/3 baths, pool, boat dock lift Rare Siesta4 mid-century modern, boating water,&walls of glass, 4 bedrooms/3 baths, pool, boat dock & lift

941.479.3880 941.479.3880 Judie Berger, PA, ABR, GRI Judie Berger ,

PA, ABR, GRI Judie.Berger@sothebysrealty.com Judie.Berger@sothebysrealty.com

sold in 2012 sold in 2012

Your Your Expert Expert

9393 Midnight Pass Road #401 - $300,000 9393 Midnight Pass Road - $300,000 1245 Sea Plume Way #401 - $1,150,000 1245 Sea Plume Way - $1,150,000

Siesta Key Siesta Key

w w w . H O M E S O F S A R A S O T A . c o m w w w . H O M E S O F S A R A S O T A . c o m

Sarasota Sarasota Ǝ Ǝ Ǝ Ǝ

!/1(0/Ǝ/,! 'Ǝ"+.Ǝ0$!)/!(2!/ď !/1(0/Ǝ/,! 'Ǝ"+.Ǝ0$!)/!(2!/ď ēƎ 224 Tenacity Lane Pending

The Schemmel Property Group, The Schemmel Property Group, top sales team at luxury brokerage top sales team at luxury brokerage Signature Sotheby’s International Signature Sotheby’s International Realty, prides itself on successfully Realty, prides itself on successfully uniting extraordinary people with uniting extraordinary people with extraordinary Sarasota lifestyles. extraordinary Sarasota lifestyles. +!(Ǝ $!))!( +!(Ǝ $!))!( $ .+*Ǝ $%+ % $ .+*Ǝ $%+ 941.257.9861 %

941.257.9861 SchemmelRealEstate.com SchemmelRealEstate.com

üúûùƎ % !*Ǝ . +.ƎēƎŋûĎĀ÷üĎ÷÷÷ƎēƎNew Construction on Siesta Key ē Extraordinary Bayfront üúûùƎ % !*Ǝ . +.ƎēƎŋûĎĀ÷üĎ÷÷÷ƎēƎNew ConstructionOne on Siesta Property with Protected Private Bayou ē Approximately Acre Key ē Extraordinary Bayfront Property with Protected Private Bayou ē Approximately One Acre

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úûù÷Ǝ +1* !./Ǝ (1 Ǝ .%2!ƎēƎŋĀĀüĎ÷÷÷ úûù÷Ǝ +1* !./Ǝ (1 Ǝ .%2!ƎēƎŋĀĀüĎ÷÷÷ Short Sale ē Extraordinary French Country Inspired Short ē Extraordinary French Country Inspired HomeSale ē Luxurious Appointments Throughout Home ē Luxurious Appointments Throughout

“BEST IN CLIENT SATISFACTION” 7 YEARS IN A ROW 7 YEARS IN A ROW TOP PRODUCER SIGNATURE premier SOTHEBY’S TOP PRODUCER SIGNATURE premier A LEADER IN SIESTA KEY AND SIESTASOTHEBY’S ISLES AHOME LEADER IN SIESTA KEY AND SIESTA ISLES SALES HOME SALESIN LUXURY MARKETING SPECIALIZING SPECIALIZING IN LUXURY MARKETING AND NEGOTIATION AND NEGOTIATION

4568 Woodside Road - $1,150,000

140’4568 SiestaWoodside waterfront,Road 4 minutes to open bay, - $1,150,000 4140’ bedrooms/4 baths, high ceilings,to3 open car garage Siesta waterfront, 4 minutes bay, 4 bedrooms/4 baths, high ceilings, 3 car garage

UNDER CONTRACT UNDER CONTRACT

open sunday 12:30-3:30 open sunday 12:30-3:30

Siesta Key, Northport deep water, 650’ to the- $950,000 bay, no bridges.

1240 Drive Updated 3 bed/3.5 bath 650’ pooltohome, vaulted ceilings Siesta Key, deep water, the bay, no bridges.

Updated 3 bed/3.5 bath pool home, vaulted ceilings

19B

joel.schemmel@sothebysrealty.com joel.schemmel@sothebysrealty.com

Open Sunday 1-4pm Open Sunday 1-4pm

Ā÷øĀƎ %( (%"!Ǝ ++,ƎēƎŋĀúĀĎ÷÷÷Ǝ Ā÷øĀƎ %( (%"!Ǝ ++,ƎēƎŋĀúĀĎ÷÷÷Ǝ Tuscan Inspired Estate Home ē Premium Lake Tuscan Inspired Home ē Premium Location ē SilverEstate Oak On Palmer Ranch Lake Location ē Silver Oak On Palmer Ranch

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224 Lane 5770Tenacity Midnight PassPending Road, 201 Pending 5770 Midnight Road, Pending 385 North PointPass Road, 601 201 Pending 385 Point Road, 601Closed Pending 7572North Conservation Court 7572 Conservation Court Closed 1919 Grove Street Pending 1919 7466 Grove MonteStreet VerdePending Pending 7466 Monte Verde Pending 4219 Palacio Drive Closed 4219 Palacio Street Drive Closed 1910 Datura 1910 Street Closed 5050Datura Commonwealth Drive Closed 5050 Commonwealth Drive Closed 7359 Ridge Road Closed 7359 Road Way Closed 4150 Ridge Las Palmas Closed 4150 4248 Las Palmas Way Closed 4248 Palmas Drive Way Closed 510 ELas MacEwen Closed 510 MacEwen Drive Closed 7361ERegina Royale Closed 7361 Royale Closed 5288 Regina Descanso Court Closed 5288 Descanso Court Closed 555 Gulfstream Avenue, 1102 Closed 555 Avenue, 1102 Closed 6711Gulfstream Peacock Road Closed 6711 Road Closed 7662 Peacock Calle Facil Closed 7662 Calle FacilPass Closed 6512 Midnight Road, PH502 Closed 6512 Midnight Pass Closed Road, PH502 Closed 1716 Hansen Street 1716 Street Closed 7864Hansen Esperanza Circle Closed 7864 Esperanza Circle Closed 150 Givens Street Closed 150 StreetWay Closed 4233Givens Las Palmas Closed 4233 Las Palmas Closed 318 Island Circle Way Closed 318 Island Circle Closed 19441 Ganton Avenue Closed 19441 Ganton Avenue Closed

üøĀƎ !.*3 ('Ǝ *!ƎēƎŋýùüĎ÷÷÷Ǝ üøĀƎ !.*3 ('Ǝ *!ƎēƎŋýùüĎ÷÷÷Ǝ Classic Mediterranean Design in Private Classic Mediterranean Design in Private Setting ēƎThe Oaks Bayside Setting ēƎThe Oaks Bayside

Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal housing opportunity.

www.yourobserver.com www.yourobserver.com See the latest Sarasota Area Real Estate Transactions at: yourobserver.com Click on the REAL ESTATE tab.

72437

Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal housing opportunity.

20B

SARASOTA Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

Proudly Presenting The Best Of

SARASOTA + SIESTA KEY 361 South Boulevard of Presidents Lisa Morris 941.544.3332 sothebysrealty.com/id/A3948810 $3,275,000

1

2

3

1

3

1310 Hillview Drive Marty Benson

$2,975,000 941.232.9264

222 Morningside Drive Shellie Young

7475 Preservation Drive Cindy Migone

$1,175,000 941.812.7438

7025 Saddle Creek Circle $899,000 Brian Wood 941.928.8408

sothebysrealty.com/id/A3955386

sothebysrealty.com/id/A3937043

$1,600,000 941-713-5458

sothebysrealty.com/id/A3955762

sothebysrealty.com/id/A3942576

941.809.0380 $2,495,000

340 South Palm Avenue, 212 Cheryl Loeffler sothebysrealty.com/id/A3951387

941.302.9674 $1,999,000

8130 Perry Maxwell Circle, Open Sunday Feb. 26th 1-4 Jerry Zaback 941.350.6885 sothebysrealty.com/id/A3951836 $1,999,000

4

2

464 Golden Gate Point, 703 Sharon Chiodi sothebysrealty.com/id/A3939705

4

76 South Washington Drive $1,495,000 Lisa Morris 941.544.3332

765 Siesta Key Circle $1,410,000 Roberta Tengerdy & Carolyn Collins 941.321.2292

8810 Fishermens Bay Drive $1,300,000 Dennis Girard 941.809.0041

7311 Captain Kidd Circle Tamara & Todd Currey

$1,250,000 941.587.1776

4231 Palacio Drive Tonna Gruber

1212 Benjamin Franklin Dr., 401 $799,000 Perry Corneau 941.650.4626

5300 Ocean Boulevard, 903 $699,000 Judie Berger 941.928.3424

1616 Baywinds Lane Robert Sherman

$640,000 941.313.1301

sothebysrealty.com/id/A3945632

$874,900 941.232.8950

sothebysrealty.com/id/A3953511

sothebysrealty.com/id/A3945519

sothebysrealty.com/id/A3956081

sothebysrealty.com/id/A3954486

sothebysrealty.com/id/A3954409

Other Fine Properties

nOKOMIS 525 Bayview Parkway Melissa Caldwell

sothebysrealty.com/id/N5773286

LOnGBOAT KEY 681 Hibiscus Way Cheryl Loeffler

$1,200,000 941.302.9674

sothebysrealty.com/id/A3931424

ELLEnTOn 818 nancy Gamble Lane $689,900 Devon Davis 941.720.2053 sothebysrealty.com/id/M5821478

5008 64th Drive W Martha Marlar

LOnGBOAT KEY

$1,899,000 941.812.0455

455 Longboat Club Road, 2 $1,695,000 Mark Huber 941.356.2435

$1,175,000 941.809.8431

1819 Chadwick Road Courtney Green

sothebysrealty.com/id/A3955668

sothebysrealty.com/id/A3952723

vEnICE 700 El Dorado Drive Bradway Price Team

EnGLEWOOD

sothebysrealty.com/id/N5773638

sothebysrealty.com/id/A3955792

$679,000 941.896.2317

$999,999 941.809.8432

sothebysrealty.com/id/A3937754

unIvERSITY PARK 8223 Regents Court Toi Estes

sothebysrealty.com/id/A3950088

Scan to view all of our exclusive properties

BRADEnTOn $1,950,000 941.266.8829

sothebysrealty.com/id/A3955798

OSPREY 443 South Creek Drive Terry Herschberger

vEnICE $1,490,000 941.468.8439

sothebysrealty.com/id/N5772455

LOnGBOAT KEY 2600 Harbourside Dr., B-17 $834,200 Marty Benson 941.232.9264 sothebysrealty.com/id/A3941060

vEnICE

vEnICE

235 Ponce De Leon Avenue $649,000 Sandra Simic 941.504.0944 sothebysrealty.com/id/N5775311

419 Huntridge Drive Melissa Caldwell

428 Bayshore Drive Ann Keohan

PALMETTO $1,450,000 941.441.6867

sothebysrealty.com/id/N5774450

LAKEWOOD RAnCH 8111 Lone Tree Glen Craig Cerreta

sothebysrealty.com/id/N5774466

sothebysrealty.com/id/A3945325

BRADEnTOn 1933 Riverview Boulevard $725,000 Martha Marlar 941.812.0455

$595,000 941.468.8439

2301 Gulf of Mexico Dr., 81 $515,000 Teri Sax 941.228.5578

sothebysrealty.com/id/A3952320

424 Sorrento Drive Terry Herschberger

$1,300,000 941.224.8602

$799,000 941.993.2502

OSPREY $595,000 941.266.8829

712 Riviera Dunes Way Arnold DuFort

sothebysrealty.com/id/A3952889

LOnGBOAT KEY

sothebysrealty.com/id/N5775552

sothebysrealty.com/id/A3954872

Our Office Locations SARASOTA | 941.364.4000 50 Central Avenue, Suite 110 Sarasota, Florida 34236

LOnGBOAT KEY | 941.383.2500 546 Bay Isles Road Longboat Key, Florida 34228

vEnICE | 941.412.3323 230 South Tamiami Trail Venice, Florida 34285

CLEARWATER | 727.585.9600 321 Indian Rocks Road North Belleair Bluffs, Florida 33770

ALOnG THE GuLF COAST Clearwater, Sanibel, Captiva, Bonita Springs, Naples, Marco Island

©MMXII Signature Sotheby’s International Realty, licensed real estate broker. Each office is independently owned and operated. Sotheby’s International Realty® is a licensed trademark to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. Equal housing opportunity.

73545

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A R T S | E N TE R TA I N M E N T | S O C I ET Y | F OOD | F A S H I O N | D é C O R

Diversions YourObserver.com

double take

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

by Heidi Kurpiela | A&E Editor

Heidi Kurpiela

“I couldn’t think of any reason not to play Twain,” says Mark Twain impersonator Rod Rawlings. “I love to tell stories, so, my goodness. Why not swipe from the master?”

Twain Incarnate After devoting two years to getting into character, local Mark Twain impersonator Rod Rawlings is ready to take his act on the road.

His first stop: this weekend’s Chorus of the Keys concert.

Mark Twain would have a hard time calling Rod Rawlings’ bluff.

He’s got all the right moves, the right looks and the right attitude.

Fuzzy-white unkempt hair? Check.

Fuzzy-white unkempt moustache?

Check. Tailored ivory suit? Check. Red socks? Check. Corncob pipe? Check.

Tight-lipped smirk? Check. Slow, deliberate speech pattern? Check.

As far as Twain impersonators go, Rawlings is a dead ringer. Just being

in his company can make you feel like you’re dangling your feet in the Mississippi River, watching a riverboat chug out of sight.

Maybe it’s his low voice. It has a calming effect.

COVER STORY CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

INSIDE

BACKSTAGE PASS Ringling’s Rubens exhibit sheds light on the artist’s prints / 7

Black Tie THE SOCIAL OBSERVER

Animal Rescue Coalition’s Best In Show Gala PAGES 13-14

EDIBLES

Zwiwwel owners embrace their German heritage / 9

2 ■ Diversions >>

YourObserver.com

COVER STORY

IF YOU GO Rod Rawlings will appear as Mark Twain at the Sarasota Chorus of the Keys’ 62nd annual show, “Musical Voyage to Dixieland,” at 2:30 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Riverview Performing Arts Center. For more information, call 484-7589 or visit chorusofthekeys.org.

“People in their 50s and older have no trouble recognizing me,” Rawlings says. “Some of the younger ones, when they see me, they know I’m one of those dead writers whose books they had to read in school. Or they mistake me for Einstein.”

If you’ve ever adventured with Huck Finn or Tom Sawyer, you’d never mistake Twain for Einstein.

A real-estate broker by trade, Rawlings, 65, is sitting stoically under a canopy of imposing oaks at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.

As anticipated, he’s dressed in full Twain regalia, down to the suspenders holding up his Italianmade britches.

His hair, he reveals, is naturally brown. He started dying it two years ago when he decided to embody the famous author and humorist at the peak of his celebrity: age 70.

But why Twain?

“I found out late in life that I really like acting,” Rawlings says.

“And, to my surprise, I’m really good at it. I thought, ‘If this is what I’m going to do, I don’t have a lot of time to do it.’”

He scans the open lawn, where two Christmases ago he once stood as a 10-foot-tall oak tree

■

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

(continued from page 1)

named Obadiah Oak during Selby Gardens’ “Festival of Lights.”

It was around the same time that he landed his first stage role — as Benjamin Guggenheim in The Players Theatre’s “Titanic: The Musical.”

“I’m Medicare age,” he continues. “It’s too late to be a generalpurpose actor, so I decided to specialize.”

He chose Twain because the writer has an endless vault of material from which to pull: hundreds of stories and witticisms that Rawlings has cherished since he was a little boy.

Of course, it helped that he looked like the writer after he ditched his glasses and grew a white horseshoe moustache.

“Here’s what I looked like when I was Rod Rawlings,” he says, presenting a business card for Action Team Real Estate.

On the card is an image of a clean-cut real-estate broker in a black suit coat and tie.

“It’s just hair,” he shrugs. “I’m on my third hairdresser. The first two just couldn’t get the color right.”

The undertaking has been nothing short of a transformation.

To prepare for the role, he hired former Broadway director Bob D’Angelo and Sarasota acting coach and Florida Studio Theatre regular Jamie Day. He traveled to Twain’s home in Hartford, Conn., and to his hometown of Hannibal, Mo., the small riverside town that served as the setting for many of his most famous stories He read and re-read stacks of the author’s books and articles.

He memorized quotes and passages, mastering Twain’s sentence structure and ponderously slow delivery.

Heidi Kurpiela

“I don’t bleach it,” Rod Rawlings says of his hair. “It’s just a lot of highlighting. I have to use some smelly purple shampoo, and I can’t go in the sun because it’ll turn yellow.”

He assumed his mannerisms. (Twain rarely smiled with his teeth.) He brushed up on his trivia. (Twain smoked 40 cigars a day.) And he engrossed himself in the author’s attitude. (Twain held a grudge and loved revenge.)

He spent hours digesting the research of countless Twain scholars and in the process learned that he and Twain have a lot in common besides a hairline.

To test-market his act, he performed a 90-minute bit at a Manatee County Library in front of a small gathering of people.

Part performance art, part monologue, Rawlings strummed his guitar and sang a song, as Twain once did on the eve of his 70th birthday.

“I knew it was a success because people laughed and nobody left,” Rawlings says. “Some people even wanted pictures with me when I was through.”

A former hospital administrator

and Vietnam War veteran, Rawlings says he’s just beginning the third act of his life.

“Act One is: You do what you’re told,” he says. “Act Two is: You do what you must. Act Three is: You do what you like.”

The father of two daughters, Rawlings moved to Bradenton with his family as a teenager.

After serving two tours in Vietnam, he studied journalism at the University of Maryland and later worked as a reporter for a business newspaper in California.

A voiceover actor, he produced a nationally syndicated radio program that ran for a year-anda-half leading up to the 1984 summer Olympics. And as a fundraising consultant, he helped pad the coffers of many big nonprofit organizations.

“Twain was always trying to get rich, but he didn’t care much for money,” Rawlings says. “He wasn’t good at taking orders and he was

always steering his own course.”

Rawlings’ course is about to take a big turn. Earlier this month, he auditioned for “Senior Idol,” a talent competition at State College of Florida, and on Feb. 25 he’ll serve as the emcee of the Sarasota Chorus of the Keys concert at the Riverview Performing Arts Center.

He was hired by chance.

During lunch one afternoon at a tavern in the Hillview district, a member of the chorus spotted Rawlings in costume. He wanted to know if the actor would bring his Twain to the chorus’ Dixieland-themed concert.

Even if his genteel affectation didn’t show it, Rawlings was flattered and thrilled.

He said yes and immediately started gathering stories, letters and prose by some of the major players of that era, including Twain.

The concert, which marks Rawlings’ professional debut, will likely bring the impersonator a lot of visibility.

Not that he hasn’t already created a little stir at Selby Gardens, as curious visitors make their way to his table to ask Twain for advice and hard-earned wisdom.

Rawlings obliges, spilling forth with timeless quips until his fans smile and thank him for the commentary.

“The guy’s been dead for 100 years and we’re still talking about him,” he says of Twain. “It’s like what Thomas Edison once said: ‘The average American loves his family and if he has any love left over, it’s generally saved for Mark Twain.’”

Watch Rod Rawlings perform as Mark Twain. www.YourObserver.com

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

Diversions

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3

COLUMN

art scene HEARD

+ Jack Dowd kicks off Sarasota art tour

by Heidi Kurpiela | A&E Editor

+ Jazz Fest still grooving after 32 years Saxophones, trombones and clarinets, oh my!

I know you’ve all got busy lives and that you’re overscheduled as it is, but there’s a music festival next month that for 32 years has brought jazz legends to Sarasota.

The festival kicks off its weeklong lineup with an outdoor jazz concert from 1 to 4 p.m.

March 4, at Phillippi Estate Park, followed by evening concerts through March 10, at The Players Theatre.

This year’s artists include swing/jazz ensemble J.B. Scott’s Swingin’ Allstars, trombonist Bill Watrous, brothers Warren and Allan Vaché’s quintet and piano greats Dick Hyman and Derek Smith.

I recently asked Hyman, a Venice resident who has performed with the festival since its inception, if he’s ever grown tired of playing the same old standards.

Rather eloquently, he replied, “Jazz musicians have a clearer way of keeping fresh. We’re always improvising, so the songs are never really the same.”

Courtesy photo

Dick Hyman scored many of Director Woody Allen’s films.

Hyman and Smith, a former “Tonight Show” pianist, have played together for more than three decades.

On March 10, the duo will present its popular “Dick and Derek at the Movies” program, covering classic numbers from movies such as “Casablanca,” “Singin’ in the Rain” and “42nd Street.” The concert will also include a clip reel.

Who wouldn’t want to spend an evening with Ginger Rogers, Fred Astaire, Cary Grant and two of the country’s most revered jazz pianists?

+ Clarification The Sarasota Orchestra Association’s Pot O’Gold fundraiser benefits the Youth Orchestra.

It’s time to start programming your GPS. The Creators & Collector’s Suncoast Art Tour is here, and this year’s lineup is bound to make you rethink that factory print you bought two years ago at Pier 1.

Sarasota artist Jack Photo by Rachel S. O’Hara Dowd, whose studio was Nancy Turner, Giovanni Lunardi, Joseph Melancon, a highlight on last year’s Andrea Dasha Reich and Adam Todd tour, announced this fineartssarasota.com year’s participating artists studios from University Parkway to Clark Road. or hit up any of these at a luncheon last week On the map this year: locations: the Van Wezel at the Bird Key Yacht photographer Giovanni Performing Arts Hall Club.

Lunardi, painter Joseph box office, Art Center Sponsored by the Fine Melancon, multimedia Sarasota, Dabbert Art Society of Sarasota, artist Andrea Dasha Gallery, Davidson the self-guided driving Reich, sculptor Adam Drugstores, Galleria tour, which is now in Todd and printmaker Silecchia, State of the its 41st year, will run Nancy Turner.

Arts Gallery and Artists March 9 and March 10, For tickets, visit on the Court. encompassing five home

+ Choreographer showers praise on ballet aged to squeak out this comment Lynn Wallis, artistic direcregarding the work: “When I was tor of the Royal Academy a student in the graduate school of Dance in London, was so at the Royal Ballet, ‘Monotones excited to be back in the II’ had its premiere at a gala in company of longtime friends the Royal Opera House by the and colleagues Iain Webb and Royal Ballet. I watched the dress Margaret Barbieri, that she rehearsal with Maggie (Barbieri). lost her voice playing catchWe were absolutely mesmerized up.

Lynn Wallis by it. To have the opportunity now The former Royal Ballet to stage it with Sarasota Ballet is just School dancer-turned-teacher was in wonderful. It has a special place in my town last week to set the Sarasota heart.”

Ballet’s performance of “Monotones I The piece will be featured on a triple and II,” two parts of a plotless ballet by bill with Ashton’s “Valses Nobles et Sir Frederick Ashton.

Sentimentales” and “Façade.” The perWallis was nominated in 2004 for formance runs Feb. 24 to Feb. 26, at an Isadora Duncan Dance Award for the FSU Center for the Performing Arts. her restaging of the work with the San For tickets, call 359-0099 ext. 101 or Francisco Ballet.

Despite the hoarse voice, Wallis, man- visit sarasotaballet.org.

HOT TICKETS Olivia Thorning Little with Vintage Soul: Sarasota country darling Olivia Thorning Little will front the local teen band, Vintage Soul, at a fundraising concert Feb. 25 for the Myakka City Foundation.

The Cardinal Mooney freshman just returned from another trip to Nashville, Tenn., where she laid down two tracks with veteran songwriter Keith Follese. Little was just 12 years old the first time her name appeared in this column. Now she’s about to release two songs produced by the man who wrote some of Tim McGraw’s greatest hits. See her perform live at the Myakka City Homegrown Band Bash at the BP station at the corner of State Road 70 and Wachula Road in downtown Myakka. Little takes the stage at noon.

For more information, visit myakkacityfoundation.org or follow Little on Facebook.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

REVIEWS

>> Sarasota Opera: ‘Lucia di Lammermoor’

From the ominous opening of the overture, we knew many things about Sarasota Opera’s “Lucia di Lammermoor.” We knew the orchestra, under Anthony Barrese, was in good form. We divined from those first emotionally melodramatic chords something was operatically afoot. And, as the curtain rose on a scene of moors and mists, stony steps and bottomless wells, this was going to be heavy going.

What we didn’t immediately understand was how the gloom of an archaic tale by Sir Walter Scott and the dramatic music of Gaetano Donizetti, could become radiant because its namesake, Lucia, was being sung by a miniscule powerhouse of a singer named Kathleen Kim. Without question, this evening belonged to her.

Kim, familiar to Sarasota audiences from her days as an Apprentice Artist 10 years ago and her more recent stint, in 2005, as a Studio Artist, made a major splash a few years ago when she appeared in the Metropolitan Opera’s HD simulcast of “Tales of Hoffmann” as Olympia, the doll whose coloratura antics brought down opera and movies houses around the world.

Recently, this diminutive dynamo decided to take on the role of Lucia with all its maddeningly difficult acting and singing challenges. And what better place to do it the first time than Sarasota Opera? Kim’s decision to debut the role here was a gift to her audience and a great boon to the company, because with every appearance she made on stage, her colleagues rose to match her myriad abilities, setting a standard for the company that we hope will infuse future productions.

Kim taught many lessons. First, she showed us how a smaller voice can project and cut over an orchestra with power, precision and beauty. Yet this musically adept artist never sang beyond her capacity and, in doing so, she kept almost all the other voices in check. Joshua Kohl, as her forbidden and secret lover, Edgardo, sounded more brilliant than he’s managed in previous Sarasota Opera roles, including Tamino, in “The Magic Flute,” and Don Ottavio in last season’s “Don Giovanni.”

Her intensity and ability as a singing actress also brought up the standards of the cast in what would otherwise have been a static, inert production. Kim’s Lucia is so innocent and naïve, you sense before the fact

Listen to Kathleen Kim performing as Olympia in “Tales of Hoffmann” at the Met.

www.YourObserver.com

FILM >> Winning Performances Everyone loves the Academy Awards, especially the nominees. They get to strut their stuff and, most importantly, add the most coveted designation to their resumés, “Oscar-nominated.” This year’s race could be quite interesting in testing the academy’s ability and desire to honor true excellence in filmmaking. Let’s hope it doesn’t digress into a popularity contest and that Mrs. Streep doesn’t forget her glasses. My picks for this year’s recipients of the elusive golden statuette are as follow.

Best Actor

Demian Bichir, “A Better Life” George Clooney, “The Descendants” Jean Dujardin, “The Artist” Gary Oldman, “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” Brad Pitt, “Moneyball” Because Ryan Gosling (“Drive”), Michael Fassbender (“Shame”), Michael Shannon (“Take Shelter”) and Leonardo DiCaprio (“J. Edgar”) didn’t get the recognition they deserved, I’m going with Clooney. His performance is utterly flawless because he has the uncanny ability to wear his heart on his sleeve.

Best Actress

Glenn Close, “Albert Nobbs” Viola Davis, “The Help” Rooney Mara, “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” Meryl Streep, “The Iron Lady” Michelle Williams, “My Week With Marilyn” Rooney Mara’s portrayal of “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” was so boldly riveting that it cut to the quick. Her ground-breaking and brave performance as a severely damaged woman is shocking to behold. I’m looking forward to her two sequels with bated breath.

Best Supporting Actor

Kenneth Branagh, “My Week With Marilyn” Jonah Hill, “Moneyball” Nick Nolte, “Warrior” Christopher Plummer, “Beginners” Max von Sydow, “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” Once again, why isn’t Ryan Gosling on this list? His work in “Crazy, Stupid Love” was so superior to Jonah Hill’s in “Moneyball” (as was Albert Brooks’ in “Drive”). My choice is Christopher Plummer whose soulful portrayal of a man who embraces his homosexuality late in life is as touching as it gets. At age 82, Plummer is the poster boy for “hope.”

Courtesy photo

George Clooney deserves the Oscar for Best Actor for “The Descendants.” The 84th Academy Awards airs Feb. 26 on ABC.

Best Supporting Actress

Bérénice Bejo, “The Artist” Jessica Chastain, “The Help” Melissa McCarthy, “Bridesmaids” Janet McTeer, “Albert Nobbs” Octavia Spencer, “The Help” Hands down, Janet McTeer’s genderbending, cross-dressing Hubert (a woman), who’s blissfully married to another woman is mind-blowing. Her nuanced and joyous performance is a scene-stealer each time she occupies the screen with the brilliant Close.

How Melissa McCarthy was allowed to share this category with the other nominees is preposterous.

Best Director

Michael Hazanavicius, “The Artist” Alexander Payne, “The Descendants” Martin Scorsese, “Hugo” Woody Allen, “Midnight in Paris” Terrence Malick, “The Tree of Life” One of the best directors in filmmaking history, Martin Scorsese, most assuredly deserves this award. In “Hugo” he formulates the most poignant and insightful analysis of why we love films ... “they capture our dreams.” And through the eyes of a child he celebrates the adult child in all of us.

Best Picture

“The Artist” “The Descendants” “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” “The Help” “Hugo” “Midnight in Paris” “Moneyball” “The Tree of Life” “War Horse” It’s “The Descendants” because it’s magnificently directed, scripted and cast. It’s intimate, mischievous and marvelous. It’s not sentimental, but there’s no controlling the tears as you identify with every actor in this insightful film. It’s personal, and it’s perfect.

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of looming disaster, her vulnerability. Lucia is a tragic pawn, pulled apart in a royal chess game that can have no winners. Her character gave Kohl’s Edgardo a touching innocence, as well, so their individual demises make perfectly logical transitions.

Lee Poulis, as Lucia’s brother, Enrico, and Young-Bok Kim, as Raimondo, the solitary voice of reason in this tragic Romeo-andJuliet-type tale of warring families and factions from forgotten times, lent excellent credence to the goings on through their singing and character portrayals. Daryl Freedman’s Alisa made a sympathetic companion to Lucia; Steven Uliana was a take-charge Normanno; and James Chamberlain was a mightily hateful and obnoxious Arturo (succumbing at times to over-singing) whom we were almost happy to see Lucia dispatch.

Brian Robertson’s staging, while dormant and stationary, was about all one could do with this stilted tale of tragedy. Still, we’d like to have seen the kind of inner characterization displayed by Kim in each of the chorus members. Even standing-and-singing choruses can people a set with individuals if they have the proper motivation. As we saw, acting singers don’t have to move a muscle to convince us and tell us who they are.

Robert O’Hearn, whose scenic designs have given us dozens of important productions (with Nathanial Merrill) at the Met for more than a half-century, was another dynamic addition to Sarasota Opera this season. His sets, made available courtesy of the Utah Symphony/Utah Opera, brought vivid life to every act and scene from the cold, crumbling cathedral walls to the magnificent and opulent draperies in the chambers. Ken Yunker’s lighting was suitably dramatic, and Howard Tsvi Kaplan’s costumes, especially Lucia’s wedding gown, added depth to the singer’s already deep characterizations.

This “Lucia” was one of the finest presentations ever seen or heard in this town. The famous vocal sextet was positively gorgeous.

The impeccable matching of flute and voice in the legendary mad scene was breathtaking, as was Kim’s flawless coloratura and spot-on perfect pitch throughout the opera. Barrese, in the pit, seemed to breathe with the singers, leading while following, and making his orchestra sound rich but never overpowering.

We have no doubt that this production will set the tone for other productions and that, with insight and guidance, Sarasota Opera is opening still another door to the future.

— June LeBell

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

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HIGHLIGHTS

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

by Heidi Kurpiela | A&E Editor

Locals audition for Dance Fest Former American Ballet Theatre principal José Carreño leads another round of auditions for his Carreño Dance Festival’s summer program.

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Photos by Heidi Kurpiela

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José Carreño had his hands full Sunday afternoon as dozens of young dancers vied for a spot in his ballet classes this summer in Sarasota.

A teaching component of the Carreño Dance Festival, the 2012 Summer Intensive program runs Aug. 5 to Aug. 25, operating out of studios at the Sarasota Opera House and the newly opened Sarasota Cuban Ballet School on Beneva Road.

Last year, the school enrolled 56 students. In an effort to double that number, Carreño and festival CEO Robert de Warren have held auditions in cities all over the country, including Winston Salem, N.C., New York City and Los Angeles.

As clusters of nervous dancers streamed in and out of the Cuban Ballet School, Carreño, who retired in July from American Ballet Theatre, found a quiet place in the courtyard to slip into leg warmers and lace up his shoes.

“The most important thing,” Carreño says, “is to teach students how to move from the studio to the stage. The academic steps are the same everywhere. I teach students to not be tense, to loosen up and enjoy what they’re doing. If you’re stiff and suffering on stage, people will be stiff and suffering in the audience. It’s the most difficult thing for ballet dancers, learning how to move like a free bird.”

“You never stop learning to dance,” says José Carreño, pictured here leading an audition at the Sarasota Cuban Ballet School.

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Diversions

YourObserver.com

BACKSTAGE PASS

7

by Heidi Kurpiela | A&E Editor

Artistic Brilliance

Virginia Brilliant’s name suits her. She must hear it all the time.

She’s got a Ph.D. in art history from the University of London’s Courtauld Institute of Art in the field of late-medieval early Renaissance Italian art.

At 32, she’s already published numerous scholarly articles and written several art history texts and exhibition catalogues.

A native of St. Louis, she was educated at a Swiss boarding school and speaks French, Italian and German, although she claims her German could use some work.

As a child she recalls touring art museums, where even then she marveled at technique, brushwork and how things could feel more authentic in a painting than they were in real life.

Take, for instance, Edgar Degas’ famous ballerinas.

Like many little girls, Brilliant took ballet lessons. The first time she really studied one of Degas’ ballerinas, she remembers noticing that some of the dancers’ kneecaps didn’t make anatomical sense.

“On one hand, it looked absolutely real,” she says. “On the other hand, there was this disjunction between reality and art.

Sometimes it’s the artifice that makes something more real.”

Brilliant arrived at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art four years ago, having just come off a post-doctoral fellowship at the Cleveland Museum

■

The Ringling Museum’s associate curator of European art teamed up with the Belgian city of Antwerp to pull together a fresh new exhibit on a revered old master.

Heidi Kurpiela

“Rubens’ expressive brushwork is at once a high degree of control and complete freedom,” says Virginia Brilliant, associate curator of European Art at the Ringling Museum. of Art and a graduate internship at the J. Paul Getty Museum.

At an art museum such as the Ringling, where the galleries are home to hundreds of paintings by old masters, Brilliant’s title sounds especially impressive: associate curator of European art.

When you factor in the vast collection of major works by Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens, Brilliant’s job suddenly seems, frankly, overwhelming.

“His work has intimidated many curators throughout his-

tory,” Brilliant says. “When I got here, it was immediately apparent that if you’re going to be the curator of European art at this museum, you have to tackle Rubens.”

Her first major Rubens show proved a lot less daunting than she had imagined.

In fact, she says it fell into her lap.

At the suggestion of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp, Belgium, Brilliant curated “Peter Paul Rubens: Impressions of a Master Exhibition,” a collec-

tion of paintings and prints, half of which belong to the museum’s permanent collection and the other half of which is on loan from Antwerp.

The exhibition marks the first international collaboration between the Ringling Museum and Rubens’ hometown of Antwerp.

For the average person who might only identify Rubens as a painter of curvaceous women, the show is meant to shed light on the artist’s other work: his meticulous prints, which he began making as a way to discourage other artists from producing knockoffs of his work.

Brilliant had admired the prints for years, but it wasn’t until she started unpacking them from crates that she truly appreciated the artist’s dedication to detail.

“I felt like a kid on Christmas morning opening those crates,” Brilliant says. “The work is so crisp and clear. It looks like it was made yesterday.”

She’s right.

For work dating back to the 1600s, the prints look startlingly fresh. To begin with, the images are loaded with allegorical and mythological symbols, as well as the artist’s trademark sensual figures.

“You’ve heard of the term ‘Rubenesque,’” says Brilliant, pointing to an image of a fullfigured nude. “The naked ladies are still here.”

What’s surprising is how three-dimensional the prints

IF YOU GO “Peter Paul Rubens: Impressions of a Master Exhibition” includes more than 100 of the artist’s paintings and prints. The exhibition is up now through June 3 at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. For more information, call 3595700 or visit ringling.org. look.

At a time when Hollywood can’t seem to get enough of 3D animation, Rubens reminds us that the device has been around for 400 years.

“Trompe l’oeil,” Brilliant says.

“A trick of the eye.”

She’s doing exactly what she’s always wanted to do for a living: talk at great lengths about art.

“I love objects,” she says. “It’s why I became a curator. You can look at slides of Rubens’ work all day, but nothing compares to the actual object. There are so many stories that can be spun from it.”

Like what?

“Well, there’s the story about the person who made the art.

The story about the person who had it made. The story about the people pictured in it. The story about the person who collected it … ” She trails off in thought, oblivious to the fact that she left out one key figure: the story about the person who curates the art.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

EVENTS

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23 thursday Musical Morning featuring the Sarasota Wind Quintet Sarasota Orchestra Association 10 a.m. at Jacaranda Country Club Tickets $10. Call 496-8731.

Salon Series Mini-Lecture, Luncheon and Style Show featuring Poppy Spencer: ‘The Journey of Life-Long Learning’ 11:30 a.m. at Designing Women Boutique Tickets $16. Call 544-7612.

Simply Gourmet presents: ‘Nick Danger: Third Eye’ 7 p.m. at Powel Crosley Estate Tickets $45. Call 225-9122.

‘Blithe Spirit’ State College of Florida ManateeSarasota 8 p.m. at David S. and Anne V. Howard Studio Theatre Tickets $5 to $10. Call 752-5252.

24 friday Jazz at Two featuring Bob Seely Jazz Club of Sarasota 2 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota Tickets $5 to $12. Call 366-1552.

Masterworks Showcase – Encore Out East – Opening Sunset Reception Sarasota Orchestra Association 5 to 8 p.m. at The Lake Club Tickets $55. Call 685-0425.

Drag Queen Bingo Bonanza: The Show 6:30 p.m. at Golden Apple Dinner Theatre Tickets $5. Call 366-5454.

An Evening with Linda Eder and Tom Wopat

Tickets $25 to $85. Call 359-0099.

8 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Tickets $10 to $60. Call 953-3368.

Dick Fox’s ‘Golden Boys’ 7 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Tickets $30 to $80. Call 953-3368.

A Knight of the British Ballet: Sir Frederick Ashton’s ‘Valses Nobles et Sentimentales,’ ‘Monotones I & II’ and ‘Façade’ Sarasota Ballet 8 p.m. at FSU Center for the Performing Arts Tickets $25 to $85. Call 359-0099.

‘Blithe Spirit’ State College of Florida ManateeSarasota 8 p.m. at David S. and Anne V. Howard Studio Theatre Tickets $5 to $10. Call 752-5252.

25 saturday 37th annual Plant and Garden Festival 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Call 366-5731.

A Knight of the British Ballet: Sir Frederick Ashton’s ‘Valses Nobles et Sentimentales,’ ‘Monotones I & II’ and ‘Façade’ Sarasota Ballet 2 and 8 p.m. at FSU Center for the Performing Arts Tickets $25 to $85. Call 359-0099.

Beach Reading and Open House 5:30 p.m. at Hermitage Artist Retreat Free. Call 475-2098.

Jerry Seinfeld 7 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Tickets $50 to $92. Call 953-3368.

Side by Side: Thrill of a Lifetime Sarasota Orchestra 8 p.m. at Neel Performing Arts Center Tickets $10. Call 953-3434.

‘Love Is In the Air’ The Jazz Ambassadors 7:30 p.m. at Payne Park Auditorium Tickets $5. Call 907-0935.

Karl Jenkins Key Chorale 7:30 p.m. at Sailor Circus Arena Tickets **. Call 921-4845.

Courtesy photo

Linda Eder and Tom Wopat will perform Friday, Feb. 24 at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

‘Blithe Spirit’ State College of Florida ManateeSarasota 8 p.m. at David S. and Anne V. Howard Studio Theatre Tickets $5 to $10. Call 752-5252.

26 sunday 37th annual Plant and Garden Festival 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Call 366-5731.

Sunday at Neel Series: Greg Bonham State College of Florida ManateeSarasota 2 p.m. at Neel Performing Arts Center Tickets $30. Call 752-5252.

A Knight of the British Ballet: Sir Frederick Ashton’s ‘Valses Nobles et Sentimentales,’ ‘Monotones I & II’ and ‘Façade’ Sarasota Ballet 2 and 7 p.m. at FSU Center for the Performing Arts

The Kingston Trio 8 p.m. at Venice Theatre Tickets $42. Call 488-1115.

27 monday The Kingston Trio 3 and 8 p.m. at Venice Theatre Tickets $42. Call 488-1115.

The Irish Rovers 8 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Tickets $10 to $45. Call 953-3368.

28 tuesday ‘Enchanted Evening: A Salute to Strings’ The Artist Series of Sarasota 6 p.m. at Michael’s On East Tickets $116. Call 378-5619.

Moscow Festival Ballet Swan Lake 8 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Tickets $10 to $60. Call 953-3368.

SCF Wind Ensemble State College of Florida ManateeSarasota 8 p.m. at Neel Performing Arts Center Tickets $4 to $8. Call 752-5252.

OF SARASOTA SARASOTA

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

Sunday, Mar. 4 at 2:00 & 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Mar. 6, 7:30 p.m.

“It’s About Time” GAIL NELSON, singer HOWARD BEGUN, piano

Music of the Gershwins, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday and more...

SPONSORED BY

Wednesday, Mar. 14, 10:30 a.m.

“Dueling Pianos” JOSEPH HOLT, piano LEE DOUGHERTY ROSS, piano

A fast-paced one-hour performance featuring the “flying fingers” of two all-star favorites playing popular and light classical favorites.

Arrive early for compimentary pastries and coffee.

Presented by the Herald-Tribune Media Group.

Sunday, Mar. 18, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Mar. 20, 7:30 p.m. “ Va r i a t i o n s ” MARTINA FILJAK, piano

Music of Beethoven and Haydn

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

EDIBLES

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by Molly Schechter | Food Editor

‘Z’ is for Zwiwwel

Photos by Molly Schechter

Valerie Standor runs the front of the house while her husband, Viktor, runs the kitchen. instantly that they were at home.

The food at Zwiwwel is unique in Sarasota (and, one suspects, anywhere). It is the chef/proprietor’s personal and contemporary interpretation of German classics that both honors the intent and integrity of the traditional dishes and makes the experience of eating them completely new and different.

For example, Berliner Kartoffelsuppe or Berlin’s potato soup is here served with the hot soup poured over a scoop of salmon “ice cream,” reportedly much to the delight of diners. Another example is Matjes herring filet, presented with a mayonnaise-beet mousse, cumin bread chips and

Zwiwwel Address: 1213 N. Palm Ave. Phone: 362-0285 Hours: Dinner 5 to 9 p.m.

Monday through Thursday; 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Closed Sunday. celery-apple salad — the classic ingredients in an entirely new presentation. There is a traditional sauerbraten and a lighter one, made with beef tenderloin. For vegetarians: Gemusestrudel with seasonal vegetables, feta cheese, pea and carrot puree and cucumber-lime ice cream. Even the side

Unusually beautiful wine bottles

Matjes herring filet with mayonnaise-beet mouse, cumin bread chips and celery apple salad Beef roulade with Barolo jus, potato dumplings filled with prunes and red cabbage in three forms

The Black Forest Experience — traditional taste, new form

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When he was a young man growing up Germany, Viktor Standor was entranced by a restaurant named Zwiwwel in an old house just outside of Heidelberg, “Zwiwwel” being the German diminutive for “onion.” It was the beginning of his dream to someday own such a place, a dream that is coming true here and now; chef Standor and his wife, Natalie, recently opened their own Zwiwwel, also in an old house. The space recently was occupied by Zaks, and the Z’s on the wrought-iron fence suggest that the Standors have found just the spot that they were meant to be.

Standor’s journey to Sarasota began with his three-year apprenticeship in Germany, which he did at the restaurant at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, then the best in Heidelberg. His path led him to be a sous chef at a Michelin star restaurant in Switzerland, then back to school to earn a master’s degree in hotel and business administration, and then back to the stove in San Antonio, Texas.

After returning to Germany to plan, save and organize, the Standors came to Florida to look for a site. They knew they wanted to be in Florida without ever having seen the state. According to Valeria Standor, they lost their hearts in Sarasota on their first visit.

Their feasibility study indicated this was a growing market with the right clientele for the highquality, fine-dining establishment they dreamed of, and when they found the old house, they knew

dishes receive special attention: the red cabbage that accompanies the beef rouladen is in three textures — the classic shreds, mouse and foam.

Zwiwwel’s Schwarzwalder Kirsch dessert epitomizes the transformation of classic to contemporary. What was traditionally a chocolate-cherry cake is now the same tastes in entirely different form: a disk of “almond glass,” which is crisp, almost transparent caramelized almonds, plus layers of dark chocolate mousse infused with marinated cherries and white chocolate mousse, all topped with a white chocolate covered cherry dusted with … real gold flakes.

Also on the plate: red wine truffles and a colorful smear of raspberry powder.

The Standors spent four months fixing up the house before opening the restaurant, replacing virtually everything except the floors. They are presently shifting from their “soft opening” menu to a full dinner menu, and they expect to be offering lunch within a few weeks. Firstcourse prices are from $10 to $12.50; entrées from $23 to $32; and desserts from $12.50 to $16.

The multi-national wine list is mostly in the $30 to $50 range, including some German specialties in spectacularly beautiful bottles.

There are four German beers on draft.

The little onion seems to be attracting a loyal following; in only a little more than a month, there are customers who have been there four times.

(941) 383-2288

Sarasota

1960 Stickney Point road

(941) 922-4545

74523

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HOME & GARDEN

YourObserver.com

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

by Bobby Hill | Contributing Columnist

TRULY SPECTACULAR The next time you travel toward the south end of Siesta Key on Midnight Pass Road, you will not be able to miss the new real-estate office, Key Solutions Real Estate Group. Not only does the office include natural waterfalls, lagoons and ponds but also brick pathways and sitting areas underneath canopy oak trees with a rainforest atmosphere.

Driving by my first time, I watched Lucas Lagoons finish the waterfalls in front of the building. When clients get out of their car on the brick circular driveway, they walk over a rock bridge to get to the front door.

The overall plant design and selection was done by Erez Back, with Sarasota Secret Gardens, who brought in the tropical plants to go with the landscaping and pathways around the property.

Because the gardens are mainly shaded, Back picked the appropriate plants Calla lily that could thrive in shady conditions.

The front of the building features a bridge and pond.

Photos by Rachel S. O’Hara

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

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11

HOME & GARDEN

Desert rose

The side walkway is lined with plants.

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12 ■ Diversions >>

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

DÉCOR: MY FAVORITE ROOM By Loren Mayo | Black Tie Editor 3. SOFA

“It’s a mid-century modern sofa for entertaining. You can seat seven people on it. It has the original fabric, but I’m going to reupholster it.”

2

3

4

4. PILLOW

1

“This is a silk pillow from West Elm. I like the Chinese fu dogs.

It’s the one big bold pop of color in the room.”

6 1. VASE

“This is a Moroccan-style yellow onyx vase from the 1940s.”

5

2. LAMP

Photos by Loren Mayo

Mid-century chic Champion

“I picked this up in New York. It’s solid steel and has the human drawing figure used in all art classes.”

“This is from the Mood Fabric shop in New York where Project Runway is filmed. I wanted texture that was free flowing and the odd piece in the room.”

Ask Jason Champion about the latest trends in interior design, and he’ll tell you that gray is the new neutral.

Champion calls his family room look, which features furniture from Habitat for Humanity, artwork that has grown into a collection over the years and found objects from traveling, “mid century chic.”

“It’s an eclectic mix of high-end and creative budget products,” says Champion, the owner of Jason Champion Design. “Overall, my style is clean and comfortable with a little bit of funky.”

Lois Ross, Interior Design

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“This is like the one ‘found’ object. It shows somebody could have traveled. It’s the one piece that’s opposite of everything else — it’s sleek and contemporary.”

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THE SOCIAL OBSERVER

Black Tie YourObserver.com

INSIDE: Guest Fashion Editor Felice Schulaner PAGE 22 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

Co-Chairwomen Brenda Terris and Shelley Sarbey

Tom and Janet Rice Barbara Kelly with Molly Klauber and her father, Michael Klauber

Photos by Loren Mayo

BOW WOW — W W! Elisabeth Waters

by Loren Mayo BLACK TIE Editor

O

h this is the night, it’s a beautiful night, and we call it bella notte … doesn’t this bring you back to the shared spaghetti scene between a beautiful cocker spaniel and a playful mutt in the romantic tale, “Lady and the Tramp?”

Nearly 200 people attended the Animal Rescue Coalition’s Best In Show Gala “The ARCADEMY Awards: A Tribute to the Best Animal Films of All Time” Saturday, Feb. 18, at Michael’s On East.

Nominees for films included “The Aristocats,” “Hotel for Dogs,” “Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey,” “Lady and the Tramp,” “Marley & Me,” and “Beverly Hills Chihuahua.” Votes were tallied and the award — yep, you guessed it! — went to “Lady and the Tramp.”

Mark your calendars for ARC’s next event, Dog’s Night Out: “Run with the Big Dogs,” which takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 9, at Saks Fifth Avenue. Tickets are $75 for pet-lovers and $25 for dogs.

Call 957-1955, Ext. 8.

SEE MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE 14

Janet Hammer, Sandra Chororos and Michele Schlossberg

Mike Resnick, John Dumbaugh and Jeff Guy

Chris Voelker

14 ■ Diversions

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

Continued from page 13

Charles Githler purchased this sculpture, “Weekend in the Hamptons,” by artist Jack Dowd.

Bob Stobaugh and Sara Canright

Debbie Maltese and Kathye Faries

Jody Waters, Channing Hunker and Alex Hunker

Janice Shelton, Lynn Hobek Bates, Ben Bates, Billie Dahl, Dr. John Shelton and Dyrk Dahl

Jo Smith and Joanna Pace

MASHIAH Trunk Show

with Designer Personal Appearance Friday and Saturday

Feb. 24-25 10am-6pm Cocktail Reception with Designer Mashiah Thursday February 23 6-8pm

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364 St. Armands Circle • 941-388-1974 • www.dreamweavercollection.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

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15

GRAND

black tie tales

OPENING

by Loren Mayo and Molly Schechter | Observer Staff

+ BLACK TIE AFFAIR The Sarasota Ballet ‘Five Fabulous Years’

6 p.m. cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and 7 p.m. performance Monday, Feb. 27, at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts Tickets: Cocktail and performance only $125; full evening $300 to $750. Call 225-6510.

Photos by Loren Mayo

Jenna DiLorenzo and David Curran

Ed Sarbey and Elaine Meshad

+ ‘We’re newlyweds’ … just kidding!

I have a feeling that my picture will soon end up in the dictionary next to the word “gullible.”

At the Goodwill “Count Down to Mardi Gras” party Thursday, Jenna DiLorenzo and David Curran huddled together for a photo and when I asked for their names, David said, “We’re newlyweds!” I was so excited to put them in The Observer’s “Occasions” section and proceeded to tell them all about it. They played along until I asked for their contact information — then the two of them started to chuckle. Also over the weekend, non-couple Ed Sarbey (married to Shelley Sarbey, co-chairwoman of the ARC gala) and Elaine Meshad fooled me into thinking they shared “Sarbey” as their last name for a good 10 seconds until they gave in and told the truth.

In case you haven’t heard, tickets to the Sarasota Ballet’s Monday night gala have dropped in price for the cocktail hour and performance, and are now $125.

The performance will highlight excerpts from the past five years under Director Iain Webb. Guests attending the gala will get the first preview of the ballet’s upcoming season and a first-hand look at what’s in store in the coming years. The gala’s honorary Chairwoman is Mary Ann Robinson.

+ Get-Buy-Give-Give One of the most clever auction stories comes from Jane Icely and the Senior Friendship Center 2011 fundraiser. Jane solicited the donation of a mammogram from Dimensional Imaging, bought it herself at the party … then turned around and donated it back to the Center’s Medical Clinic to benefit a woman who would not otherwise be able to afford it.

This year’s Senior Friendship Center event is “You Bet Your Life” March 13, at the Sarasota campus.

Harold Ronson is chairman; Gerri Aaron and Marvin Albert and Victoria and Harry Leopold are honorary co-chairs. At $150 ticket for dinner, open bar, entertainment and a creative silent auction, this one sells out. Reserve now: Cheryl Pilch at 556-3205.

+ Tidbits The shoemaker’s child? … Rumor has it that social photog-actor-emcee-man-about-town Cliff Roles celebrated his 59th birthday at lunch Feb. 17 at Michael’s On East with three lady friends, two of them professional photojournalists. Incredibly, not one picture was taken … Well wishes … out of the few hundred guests who attended the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s Cooking For Wishes luncheon Feb. 15, Susan Jones was the first to raise her paddle, donating $7,000 to grant one child’s wish.

+ Yet another man in a fancy jacket Men are becoming better dressers by the minute. Forget the plain old classic black look — these guys have taken black tie to another level by stepping it up with patterns and colors.

George Adley wore this handsome vintage Lilly Pulitzer jacket from the 1970s to the ARC “Best in Show” gala Saturday.

Deborah Blue says she picked it out and bought it for him.

PLEASE vISIT OUR FURNITURE & DESIGN SHOWROOM ACROSS THE STREET AT 7557 S. TAMIAMI TRAIL

+ Parting is such sweet sorrow SARASOTA | 7522 SOUTH TAMIAMI TRAIL 941-924-7886

HOuRS | Mon. – Sat. 10AM-6PM Closed Sunday for Worship & Rest

www.baconsfurniture.com 72458

Maestro Leif Bjaland conducted his final concerts with the Sarasota Orchestra last weekend. Among the most heartfelt of the many farewells were those expressed at a post-performance Saturday night party in the Van Wezel foyer. Concertmaster Daniel Jordan, principal tubist Jay Hunsberger and principal flautist Betsy Hudson Traba spoke on behalf of the musicians.

The biggest laugh went to Traba, who listed all the things that Leif gets credit for, including building the Ringling Bridge, paving Fruitville Road, attracting the Baltimore Orioles to town and “being the father of my two beautiful children.” Leif responded in gentle kind, speaking of his first audition meeting with Bea Friedman, whom he described as “surprisingly sexy,” paying homage to his predecessor, Paul Wolfe, and ending with “I love you all very much … you are all a huge part of who I am as a person.” That feeling is entirely mutual.

16 ■ Diversions >>

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

CAMERA READY

Goodwill Count Down to Mardi Gras Thursday, Feb. 16 | Michael’s On East

Dr. Leon and Michelle Fournet

Co-Chairwomen Jenn McAlister and Tara Williams

Photos by Loren Mayo

Eleanor Williams and Antonette Cunningham

Tricia Powers and Michelle McKay with Julie and Rep. Bill Galvano Rochelle Currey Nigri

Marianne Hernandez and Randy Babb

Chelsea Veeneman, Kelly Klauber and Molly Klauber

Courtney Adams and Jonathan Whitney

SARASOTA ORCHESTRA ASSOCIATION PRESENTS

MASTERWORKS

A TOUR OF LUXURY HOMES

DESIGN: TOBY THOMPSON

ENCORE OUT EAST

73809

SHOWCASE

Friday, March 2, 2012 and Saturday, March 3, 2012 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Lake Club, The Concession, University Park Tour 5 magnificent homes in the area’s most prestigious neighborhoods and support our Sarasota Orchestra and its Youth Orchestra Program.

Tickets $30 pre-event at www.SarasotaOrchestra.org, 941.953.3434, the Sarasota Orchestra Box Office and other outlets.

Tickets $40 at the event.

For information and a list of ticket outlets, go to www.SOAssociation.org.

All proceeds benefit the Sarasota Orchestra and its Youth Orchestra Program.

TM

74132

73351

association

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

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CAMERA READY Ninth Annual Caring Hearts Luncheon and Silent Auction Honoring Emily Walsh | 2012 Caring Heart of the Year

Thursday, Feb. 16 | Michael’s On East

Amanda Riley and Keri Pope

Photos by Loren Mayo

Lenore Beesley, Brenda Asher, Richard Carlson and Joy Dropp

Mollie Cardamone and honoree Emily Walsh

Janie Evans and Khloe Nieves

Carol B. Green and Cindy Stuhley

Mary LeMay and Peter Abbott

Brittany Guido and Nancy Page

S A R A S OTA

POLO

CLUB

2012 SEASON TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE GATE Public Always Welcome Every Sunday at 1:00 pm Now through April 8th Gates Open at 10:00 am Admission: $10 each Under 12 Free

941.907.0000

sarasotapolo.com Take University Parkway 3.5 miles east of I-75 and turn right on Lorraine Road.

No riding experience needed to play. To learn more please call Juan Martinez-Baez at 314.496.5481.

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2 0 1 2 S A R A S O TA P O L O S P O N S O R S

Do you want a new and exciting experience?

18 ■ Diversions >>

YourObserver.com

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

CAMERA READY

Susan Jones and Sally Schule

Photos by Loren Mayo

Nicole Kaney and Beth Bobb

Mark and Bonnie Schlanger with Melissa and Brad Lerner

Cooking for Wishes Wednesday, Feb. 15 | Michael’s On East

Rochelle Currey Nigri and Beth Knopik

Co-Chairwoman Terri Klauber, Alene Fowler and Co-Chairwoman Denise Mei

Nate Brown and Chris Brandon

Observe

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what you are missing...

ER Mainstage V O LD E H

Barbara Broughton and David S. Howard. Photo by Maria Lyle.

“Perfect” -Sarasota Magazine

More than just

bOW tiES & bALLgOWNS!

By Joe DiPietro

“Charming, lovable and touching” -Sarasota Herald-Tribune

“Finely tuned performance” -Sarasota Magazine

Local News that’s

LOCAL NEWS! Richard Hopkins, Artistic Director

366-9000 floridastudiotheatre.org

IMPROV ON TUESDAY NIGHTS

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YourObserver.com You. Your Neighbors. Your Neighborhood.

1241 N. Palm Avenue Downtown Sarasota

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74968

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

20 ■ Diversions >>

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

CAMERA READY

Friends of the Sarasota Ballet Luncheon Monday, Feb. 13 | Michael’s On East

Kathy and Richard Stern

Judy and Jerry Rush

Photos by Loren Mayo

Town Hall Lecture Series featuring Gen. Stanley McChrystal Anne Roberts, Bob Griffiths and Melliss Swenson

Gen. Stanley McChrystal

Juanita Connell and Richard Herr

Kristine Nickel and Lindsey Nickel de la O

Thursday, March 1 7:00 PM

Glenridge Performing Arts Center Adults $26 Senior Discount Available - Call 941.552.5325

76168

America’s Premier Folk Ensemble Celebrating 75 Years with a Brand New Performance!

For more information, visit www.duq.edu/tamburitzans

February 29 - March 1

Enjoy the day at Warm Mineral Springs Resort with artists from around the world. Relax at the spa, eat & shop — enjoy the finer aspects of a community affair life.

Show Dates: February 29 - March 1 • March 21 - 22 • April 4 - 5, • April 18 - 19 2012 Wednesday and Thursday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm at Warm Mineral Springs, 12200 San Servando Ave., N. Port, Fl. 34287.

74756

Susan Davidson and Virginia Page

Monday, Feb. 13 | Van Wezel

Logan Learned and Sara Sardelli

69946

Photos by Loren Mayo

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

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21

CAMERA READY/ANNOUNCEMENTS

ENGAGEMENTS + WEDDINGS

The Newlyweds BRIDE AND GROOM: Justin Kyle Niemann and

Chastanna Taylor

BRIDE’S PARENTS: Margie Farwell and James

Taylor

GROOM’S PARENTS: Don and Cheryl Niemann

Tailgaters dressed the part for the Mardi Gras-themed day.

HOW THEY MET: Chastanna and Justin met April 2008 on Siesta Key. She had to the leave the next day for work in San Francisco.

They went on their first date an hour after she landed in Sarasota a week later, and they have been together ever since.

THE PROPOSAL: Chastanna had been running regularly in Island Park, where Justin would lend moral support from the tiki bar. On one of these afternoons, Chastanna started her jog, and Justin thought he would cleverly wait on one knee as she rounded the dolphin fountain. She came into view, pushed Justin’s hand out of the way, ran by and said, “Stop foolin’ around — I’m running!”

Justin had to wait while Chastanna ran a 10-minute mile before he could get the words out.

THE WEDDING: The vintage-style wedding took place just after sunset Nov. 11, 2011, at Hunsader Farms. Chastanna’s uncle, Jim Moore, performed a unique ceremony with everyone holding hands, creating a circle of more than 100 people. The trees were lit with strings of white lights, and the bride walked down the aisle to Scott Curts’ rendition of “I Wanna Hold Your Hand,” by The Beatles.

THE RECEPTION: After the ceremony the wedding party and guests made their way into the barn for dinner and a hootenanny. Walt’s

Photos by Rachel S. O’Hara

SRQ MAGAZINE CUP

Sunday, Feb. 19 | Sarasota Polo Club

Logan and Sarah Hatch, Jana and Chelsea Duchene and Bill Grewe

Dana and Judy Hanson

Marty Leise, Tanya, Adam and Levi Waxler, Pamela Conway and Paul Taylor

Photo courtesy of Lyssa Oberkreser

Fish Market catered the reception, providing everything from ceviche appetizers to seafood paella. The festivities ended with a trolley ride back to Siesta Key. THE DRESS: Chastanna, along with her mother, found her dress in a vintage shop, and it was only the second one she tried on. Her cream beaded dress was slightly covered by a cream fur bolero, also found at a vintage store. As the bride walked down the aisle, she held a light lantern instead of flowers.

BRIDE-AND-GROOM’S FIRST DANCE: “All You Need is Love” by The Beatles HONEYMOON: This summer, Justin and Chastanna will hike Machu Picchu, in Peru.

FUN FACTS: The bridal party arrived via hayride. One of the guests got lost in the corn maze behind the barn.

Submit your story Send your engagement and wedding announcements to Black Tie Editor Loren Mayo at lmayo@yourobserver.com.

FSU/ASOLO CONSERVATORY FOR ACTOR TRAINING PRESENTS

R o bbers b The

y Friedrich

Schiller

Feb. 21-March 11

FSU Center for the Performing Arts

Two brothers battle for love and power in this sprawling epic by a titan of German theater.

Saturday, April 14, 2012 • Festivities begin at 6 p.m.

Aquarium Courtyard • Casual or 50’s attire Featuring fine food by the Sarasota-Manatee Originals $75 per person

Pay What You Can Tuesday:

February 21

Please contact Stacy Alexander, 941-388-4441, ext. 509 or stacyalexander@mote.org for reservations or sponsorship opportunities.

Evenings: $28 • Matinees: $27 • Students: $14

J B Scott’s Swingin’ Allstars Tuesday, March 6 • Players Theatre

Bill Watrous & The Sarasota Jazz Project

Thursday, March 8 • Players Theatre

Warren & Allan Vaché Brothers Swinging Quintet Friday, March 9 • Players Theatre

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Other Festival Happenings: Jazz in the Park March 4 • Phillippi Estate Park www.jazzclubsarasota.com • 941-366-1552

72625 76016

Jazz Caravan by Trolley • March 7

Event Sponsors:

Dick Hyman

Audio Visual Services

22 ■ Diversions

FASHION

>>

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

by Molly Schechter | Contributing Columnist

One And Only

This is Schulaner’s red reptile retirement gift.

Reed Krakoff gave her sketches and a swatch card and the instruction to pick one of each and they would make it for her.

guestfashioneditor Felice Schulaner Calling her “the bag lady” is no offense. “I hear that a lot,” Felice Schulaner says. Schulaner was the head of human resources for Coach for nearly a decade before moving to Siesta Key. Now, she says, handbags (and shoes) are “a fun hobby but not important.” She is much more excited about her work for New College, where she is a member of the New College Board and the New College Foundation Board. She heads up the “Promise” campaign, which has a goal of raising $60 million for scholarships, faculty positions and more.

The Boxer

The Auction

Coach has a luxury brand named Reed Krakoff, the creative director for the company.

This is the alligator over pebbled leather “Auction.”

Icon Duffel

Another Reed Krakoff called “Boxer” for its strapping that is reminiscent of fighters’ gloves.

Snakey Stuart Exotic material elevates a classic peep-toe high heel

An iconic Coach shape, the duffel, elevated to elegance in alligator.

Ruby Stuarts

Shulaner’s ruby shoes are by Stuart Weitzman.

Poppy

This all-sequins bag was a gift from Reed Krakow to thank Schulaner for naming his Poppy Collection.

(She thought the bags were fun and happy just like her Poppy lipstick.)

Georgina Goodman

Felice does her shoe shopping online at the likes of Amazon.com and 6pm.com, which is Zappos’ clearance site. These sculptured heels are a Georgina Goodman signature.

Gold Carly

Schulaner says this gold Carly style is “very Miami.”

Note the signature Coach turn-lock hardware on the sides.

Leather Discs Birthday Louboutins Pour La Victoire

Color blocking goes to new heights in these Pour La Victoire sandals.

Friends bought these classic Louboutin pumps as a 50th birthday gift.

Felice Schulaner with a bag of leather disks that she found sitting on the floor when she was in the Coach offices on a consulting assignment in 2007.

Schulaner’s rules for shoe buying

1. It must be good value, preferably 80% off of original retail.

2. She must say “Ooh!” when she opens the box or back it goes.

3. A pair must go out for a new pair to come in.

Observe

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

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Diversions

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24 ■ Diversions

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012

\ȣȐȽ dɄɤ \ǸȽɜ ɜɄ ɤɴ Ʉɑ LȐȵȵ dɄɤɑ \ǸɜȐɑȘɑɄȽɜ @ɑɄɉȐɑɜɴѮ Ǹȵȵ ɜȣȐ ɰɉȐɑɜ ǸȽȇ ɰɉȐȃɜ ɜȣȐ XȐɑɴ Ȑɕɜ ȘɑɄȹ ȐǾɄɑǸȣѮ Ҩҫ ȝȐȽɜ Ҭҩҫҫ 4ȨȃȣǸȐȵ LǸɤȽȇȐɑɕ ѥ ɄȹɉǸȽɴѮ 0ɄȽȝǾɄǸɜ ,Ȑɴ

Previous Luxury Sales...

120 Osprey Point - The Oaks | Sold for $6,077,500

1304 Casey Key Rd - Active with Contract | List Price $5,295,000

552 S Spoonbill - Bird Key | Sold for $4,750,000

1143 Casey Key Rd | Sold for $4,500,000

623 Mourning Dove - Bird Key | Sold for $4,500,000

1500 Casey Key Rd | Sold for $3,650,000

3860 Casey Key Rd | Sold for $3,500,000

3206 Casey Key Rd | Sold for $2,600,000

3121 Bayou Sound Longboat Key | Sold for $1,100,000

“During an extremely difficult marketing period Deborah gave us valuable advise and ongoing support. She invested countless hours in developing creative marketing strategies, which with her boundless energy, dedication and tenacity, led to the successful sale of our home.”

– John and Linda Bohane “Giving it her all and going above and beyond to see that every detail was taken care of is just Deborah’s way. Our transactions were quite complicated and she handled them with grace and efficiency.”

– Robert and Shannon Warren “Deborah’s steadfast determination and dedication while always smilimg, upbeat, professional, is willing to think out of the box, and raring to go.”

76138

– Teri and Chuck Hiter