East County Observer 2.5.15

E A ST COUNTY

Observer

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. VOLUME 17, NO. 12

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

On the horizon

DESIGNED WITH YOU IN MIND Notice something different? No, we didn’t change our hair.

We rethought every inch of your Observer to make it more informative and more fun than ever. Look inside to learn more about our bold new look.

SEE PAGE 9A

BLACK

TIE

CIRCUS ARTS GALA

Attendees got into the circus act at the Big Top at Nathan Benderson Park.

With an infusion of development circling University Parkway, road projects are stacked up in the pipeline to help.

ARTS + CULTURE Go behind the scenes with Sarasota Opera’s set designer.

INSIDE

PAGE 3A Photo courtesy Ryan Hintze

YOUR TOWN RACING RANCHER

WOOF PACK Dogs and their owners are making a splash in East County by flying and belly flopping in a new sport. Learn more about what makes these doggies paddle. STORY CONTINUES ON PAGE 6A

Olympic planners use Benderson as row model Rowing officials say Benderson Park’s designs are a gold standard for the Tokyo Olympics.

PAM EUBANKS SENIOR EDITOR

Most people go to Bermuda to relax and sip margaritas.

But Lakewood Ranch’s Regina Morris used her Jan. 21 trip there to compete in the 2015 Bermuda Marathon.

Morris earned a personal congratulations from Bermuda Gov. George Fergusson on her third-place finish.

Says her husband, John Annis: “She will remind me again that it was in her age division.”

Tell that to the 24-year-old as she blew past at the finish line.

— Nathan Benderson Park is becoming a power house in the world of rowing.

That’s why officials who are planning the rowing portion of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo will use its rowing facilities as a model for a multiuse aquatic venue, said Matt Smith, president of the International Rowing Federation (FISA).

“We’re really pleased about the multiuse approach to all the facilities,” Smith said of the rowing and other facilities at the park. “I’m asking them to help us explain the approach to the 2020 games in Tokyo. (Tokyo is) preparing all their construction plans for their regatta. They are particularly good here at really creating a (sustainable venue).”

Smith, as well as Guin Batten, chairwoman of FISA’s Rowing For All Committee, spent Jan. 27

SEE OUR TOWN PAGE 20A

SEE BENDERSON PAGE 15A

EAST COUNTY

Regina Morris

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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Polo Club

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VILLAGES OF LAKEWOOD RANCH SOUTH

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

UNIVERSITY PKWY.

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Mall at UTC

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Tatum Ridge Golf Links

SMR PROPERTY LINE

2 FRUIT VILLE RD. N Maps by Nicole Thompson

TURNING POINT Development in East County is booming. Traffic is growing. Below are the projects planned to add to that growth — and the roads that are planned to help.

What: FDOT will install an adaptive signal system along University Parkway from Lakewood Ranch Boulevard to the entrance to the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.

Timeframe: Installation will begin in May; the system will be operational in November.

Details: The $161,654 system will adjust signal timings based on real-time traffic demand instead of relying on preprogrammed signal timings at the intersection.

This will help smooth traffic flow.

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UNIVERSITY PKWY.

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What: SMR must build Lakewood Ranch Boulevard as a four-lane roadway to its southern property boundary and a two-lane roadway from there to Fruitville Road.

SMR is encouraging Sarasota County to make the roadway four lanes all the way to Fruitville, but no decision has been finalized.

Timeframe: Construction will begin in late 2015 or early 2016 and continue for about 18 months.

Details: In January, SMR retained engineers to design the roadway, but the design is on hold; SMR is waiting for necessary approvals before proceeding.

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ADAPTIVE SIGNAL SYSTEM

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What: Sarasota County intends to build an overpass across I-75 either north or south of the main lake at Nathan Benderson Park.

If the overpass is constructed south of the park, the county is considering expanding the project to connect the overpass with Honore Avenue to the west.

Timeframe: Undetermined; Sarasota County does not have money allocated to the project currently, nor does it have a timeline for construction.

Details: SMR has pledged $7.5 million toward infrastructure improvements, as required per its approvals for the Villages project.

Likely, about $2.5 million would be applied toward the design of an overpass.

The county hosted a neighborhood workshop Jan. 29, during which some residents expressed concern about the proposed location of the overpass. The next step is for the proposal to go before the Sarasota County Planning Commission; no date has yet been set.

7 LORRAINE ROAD UNIVERSITY PKWY.

What: Like Lakewood Ranch Boulevard, SMR must construct Lorraine Road as four lanes to its southern property line and as two lanes to Fruitville Road.

Timeframe: Construction will begin in late 2015 or early 2016 and continue for approximately 18 months.

Details: SMR owns the right of way for the project and has retained engineers to design the roadway, However, it is waiting to obtain necessary approvals to proceed.

UNIVERSITY PKWY.

TARGET

What: SMR will extend Deer Drive southward to connect with Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.

Timeframe: Undetermined Details: SMR will complete the project as part of its Villages of Lakewood Ranch South development approvals.

TH OR N E

What: Lakewood Ranch developer Schroeder-Manatee Ranch is courting homebuilders to build within the 5,500-acre Villages of Lakewood Ranch South project, located along SMR’s southern property line. Sarasota County commissioners approved the project in May, after more than a decade of planning.

Timeframe: SMR will most likely break ground in the second quarter of 2015.

Details: The project, approved for 5,144 residential units spread across 12 villages, also includes 300,000 square feet of commercial/office/retail space; 90,000 square feet of neighborhood commercial; 90,000 square feet for civic/public space; and one elementary school site.

What: The Florida Department of Transportation will construct an $83 million diverging diamond interchange at the intersection of University Parkway and I-75. The new design allows for efficient movement of traffic by reducing the wait at traffic signals.

Timeframe: Construction will begin in late July or early August and end in September 2017.

Details: FDOT officials say most work will be completed at night and impact to daytime drivers will be minimal. The same number of lanes open today along University Parkway and I-75 will remain open during construction, except at a few specific, wellpublicized times.

Another first for the area will be a temporary structure utilized while construction is under way.

Use of the bridge will speed up the construction timeline by more than a year and will allow FDOT to keep all lanes of I-75 open.

ACROSS 6 OVERPASS I-75

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THE VILLAGES OF LAKEWOOD RANCH SOUTH

DIAMOND DRIVE 3 DIVERGING INTERCHANGE 4 DEER EXTENSION

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SENIOR EDITOR

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PAM EUBANKS

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MALL AT UTC

8 EXPANSION OF 8 UNIVERSITY TOWN CENTER What: Benderson Development Co. hopes to add 600,000 square feet of retail and 100,000 square feet of office space to its University Town Center project along I-75.

Timeframe: Undetermined, but the project will be developed in phases.

Details: Sarasota County commissioners voted Jan. 27 to change the county’s long-range plan to include the expansion and sent the proposal to the state for review. It delayed a final vote on zoning changes until May. Meanwhile, Benderson has committed to organize a Transportation Management Association, which seeks to entice 16% of Mall at UTC employees to use alternative means of transportation, such as car pools or buses.

Benderson will also introduce trolley service to its UTC projects later this year.

9 EAST-WEST CONNECTOR

What: As provided in approvals of The Villages of Lakewood Ranch South, SMR must build an eastwest connector road along its southern boundary.

Timeframe: Undetermined Details: The connector road will likely have two lanes, but specifics have not yet been determined.

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

Tara teachers help students add up 1.3 million math questions

HOW GOOD IS YOUR MATH? IXL offers online math and language arts programs to reinforce lessons. Can you solve these problems?

Four Tara Elementary School teachers ranked in the top 100 out of IXL’s 180,000 worldwide instructors.

FIRST GRADE: Question: Which is a better estimate for the weight of a rabbit?

A: 2 kilograms B: 2 grams (Answer: 2 kilograms) SECOND GRADE: Question: Which number makes this statement true?

5 + ? < 10 – 1 A: 3 B: 4 (Answer: 3)

PAM EUBANKS SENIOR EDITOR

THIRD GRADE: Question: A candy company puts 9 gumdrops in each bag. How many gumdrops will the company need to fill 744 bags?

(Answer: 6,696)

Pam Eubanks

Chuck Rogalla, Luci McGee, Tina Backhus and Andrea Klein say Tara Elementary announces the number of math problems each class has completed every Friday. The ongoing contest is a formula for motivation among many students.

So far this school year, children at Tara have already solved approximately 1.3 million math problems.

The teachers say they like the program because it not only allows children to work at their own speed, but also helps teachers identify any area where an individual student is having trouble with a math concept. It also keeps track of participation.

“It really reinforces everything

FOURTH GRADE: Question: The quotient of two numbers is 3, and their difference is 2. What are the two numbers?

(Answer: 3 and 1)

we teach right here,” Backhus said.

Tara Principal Steve Royce agreed, and said the program exposes students to national standards and provides feedback to teachers to make instructional decisions.

“I feel the awards are well deserved,” he said. “It represents the hard work they put in on a daily basis. It represents the hard work (we put in) as a school.”

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Blatnik said. Braden River Elementary School teacher Donna Nixon also received the honor.

Last year, Tara Elementary School teachers began using IXL’s math program in their classrooms after the school’s Parent Teacher Organization purchased the program for about $2,500. Each of the school’s 600 students has a subscription, so he or she can attempt problems from school or at home.

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EAST COUNTY — Chuck Rogalla, Luci McGee, Tina Backhus and Andrea Klein received their plaques last week. The glass awards have added an infinite number of smiles to the faces of the four Tara Elementary School teachers.

The plaques recognize the teachers for ranking in the top 100 educators of 180,000 worldwide

by IXL, a company that provides supplemental math and language arts programs that students use on the computer.

“We’re all really shocked and proud,” Backhus said.

IXL’s Jessica Blatnik, strategic marketing manager, said teachers earn the award based on an analysis of usage data, including the time spent per student and the number of problems completed by students during the 2013-14 school year.

Tara was the only school to have four teachers win the award, although a handful of schools had two to three teachers recognized,

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

Flying Dogs

SAVE THE DATES Florida West Coast Air Dogs (FWCAD), 5006 34th Ave. E., Bradenton, is hosting two events in February for its furry friends.

‘IT’ GAMES When: 9 a.m. Feb. 7.

What: Dogs will participate in three games — Fetch-it, Catch-it and Chase-it. The event isn’t open to the public for participation, but spectators are welcome to attend the daylong event for free.

Amanda Sebastiano

Pippin, a whippet, flys through the air after jumping off the ramp on his way to the water for a second time.

When dogs fly? It’s already happening in East County at Florida West Coast Air Dogs with some help.

AMANDA SEBASTIANO STAFF WRITER EAST COUNTY — Priscilla doesn’t

look like an athlete.

But after her owner, Barbara Lentz, boosted her forward and shouted “Go!”, the 5-year-old English bulldog ran as fast as she could off the dock into a 4-footdeep pool. Her oversized tongue flapping, she paddled forward and retrieved her toy.

Priscilla is one of more than 70 dogs who are learning to fly at Florida West Coast Air Dogs (FWCAD).

Other flying dogs, such as Zeke and Lucy, whimpered as they waited for the signal from their

owners to dive into the water.

They sprinted and soared through the air with a dogged attention toward their squeaky toys, seeming to believe they could fly.

Lentz and her husband, John Gattignolo, opened the East County business in 2013 off of State Road 70 to teach dogs the sport of dock diving. The facility is located adjacent to Dog Stars — a dog training and grooming facility where Lentz also works.

The couple opened the facility to give dogs a place to learn an “increasingly popular” sport that isn’t as taxing on the dog and owner as other competition sports, they said.

Each weekend, Lentz and Gat-

tignolo haul their nine dogs, along with their crates and water bowls, to the facility, from their home just minutes away. Although only six of the dogs dock dive, the couple’s whole troupe of canines comes out to support the rest of the family.

“Pets aren’t just something we have on the end of a leash,” Lentz said. “They mean more to us.”

A lifelong dog-lover who trained dogs for 40 years, Lentz got her first dog when she was 5. The only time she didn’t have a dog was when she attended the University of Florida.

Now, she and Gattignolo teach a sport that has benefits for dogs and their owners. Dock diving teaches dogs discipline, increases their stamina and strengthens their swimming and running abilities. Owners benefit from

FURRY FRO-LICK When: 9 a.m. Feb. 28 and March 1 What: All dogs are invited to participate in the Furry Fro-lick. The event includes the Fetch-It, Catch-It and Chase-It games. Cost is $25 for pre-registration online and $30 the day of the event.

spending an afternoon outdoors while they watch their dogs learn tricks and have fun.

The concept dates back to 1997, when it appeared as part of the Incredible Dog Challenge produced by Purina.

Since then, various organizations now run dock diving events, such as Ultimate Air Dogs (UAD) founded by former Major League Baseball player Milt Wilcox. In 2008, UAD partnered with United Kennel Club (UKC) to add dock jumping as a recognized UKC sport.

The sport has been gaining popularity over the last few years because it’s user friendly, Lentz said.

“A range of people can do it,”

OLD DOG, NEW TRICKS Whoever said you can’t teach an old dog new tricks never met Ranger.

Jumping off a dock into a 4-foot pool of water came naturally to the 11-year-old whippet, who started his dock diving career when he was 8. Today, he holds a Grand Master Championship title and has a personal best jump of 22.8 feet.

“After I showed him what to do, it was like he had been diving his whole life,” Florida West Coast Air Dogs co-owner Barbara Lentz said. “When you get him on that dock, a switch goes on.”

Training older dogs to participate in the sport isn’t impossible, but it takes commitment on the owners’ and dogs’ behalf, according to Lentz.

“You can’t take a dog that has sat on the couch until it was 7 or 8 years old and throw them in a pool,” Lentz said. “It takes being in good physical shape to do (dock diving). If Ranger wasn’t kept in good shape, he’d never be able to do this at his age.”

Lentz said. “Dogs can pick up on it usually; it’s the owners who need the work.”

FWCAD has two events planned for February (see sidebar). When those events are over, the couple and their nine dogs plan to squeeze into an RV and plunge into competitions across the country in states such as Indiana, Michigan and Tennessee.

“The dogs love it,” Gattignolo said. “We do this for the joy the dogs and their owners get when they dive.”

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

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Couple battles stereotypes about Alzheimer’s Robin and Mike McCormick are lobbying legislators to fund research for a cure to Alzheimer’s disease.

AMANDA SEBASTIANO STAFF WRITER EAST COUNTY — At 58, Robin McCormick doesn’t fit the stereotype of an Alzheimer’s patient.

But one year ago, the East County resident was diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer’s, which refers to the disease when it strikes individuals younger than 65. She is the third generation in her family to have the progressive brain disorder that causes memory loss and changes in cognitive abilities.

Now, McCormick and her husband, Mike, are determined to break common stereotypes about Alzheimer’s to generate awareness about the disease and funding for a cure.

On Jan. 21, the Lakewood Ranch couple traveled to Tallahassee, alongside 50 other advocates who are members of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Florida Gulfcoast chapter. The McCormicks were the only East County residents to attend the two-day “Rally in Tally” event.

“It’s this dirty word — Alzheimer’s,” Robin McCormick said. “As a society, we don’t talk about it.

We just don’t; people think it’s just ‘an old person’s disease.’”

Alzheimer’s isn’t a disease specific to the elderly as part of the aging process, Mike McCormick said. Slowing down physically is

part of growing old, not forgetting what you did last week, he added.

Members of the Gulfcoast branch have attended the statewide event the last four years.

“This event generates a lot of excitement with advocates because they get an opportunity to meet with legislators on the behalf of people who don’t have a voice and can’t go to Tallahassee to lobby,” said Natalie Kelly, of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Florida Gulfcoast Chapter. “They advocate on their behalf.”

After traveling five hours to the state’s capital, the Ranch couple

ALZHEIMER’S RESOURCES Windsor Reflections at Lakewood Ranch, 8320 Natures Way, offers a variety of classes for individuals with Alzheimer’s and their families or caretakers: n Younger-Onset Support Group meets at 11 a.m. the second Tuesday of each month. n Navigating Life Changes Support Group meets at 1 p.m. Mondays.

Call facilitator Sue Fox at 365-8883 or email foxs@ alzflgulf.org.

met with five state senators to discuss the need for more funding to help find a cure for the braindebilitating disease.

Robin McCormick shared her story of how she went from being an “Energizer Bunny” mother of two who took care of everything to being the one who required care.

She saw the power of her words when she spoke to Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, of Fort Myers, who has a friend recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

“She was crying, I was crying and we were just talking about things,” Robin McCormick said.

“That’s what the trip was about.

It was perfect.”

The McCormicks and other advocates are building a rapport with state leaders, said Sue Fox, Manatee County program specialist for Alzheimer’s Association’s Florida Gulfcoast chapter.

The McCormicks and the Alzheimer’s Association’s Florida groups hope to persuade state officials to increase funding by $2 million, for a total of $6 million annually.

The seemingly slow advancement in Alzheimer’s research in comparison to other diseases, such as cancer, prompted the McCormicks to attend the event.

“Nothing has changed since my dad had Alzheimer’s,” Robin McCormick said.

“I’m sitting here, on the same medications my dad was on and most likely the same ones my grandmother took. That’s a truth and a reality,” she said.

For Robin McCormick, lob

Amanda Sebastiano

Robin McCormick (right) and her husband, Mike, hope to enact change by challenging stereotypes about Alzheimer’s disease.

bying officials isn’t solely about requesting more money to study the disease. It allows her to make a difference against the disease that often leaves her feeling helpless, she said.

“It’s hard to know that day to day, there’s nothing I can do,” Robin McCormick said. “But going on this trip made me feel like I was doing something. It gave me hope that we’ll be able to find a cure.”

Contact Amanda Sebastiano at amandas@yourobserver.com.

“It’s this dirty word — Alzheimer’s. As a society, we don’t talk about it. We just don’t; people think it’s just ‘an old person’s disease.’”

Robin McCormick East County resident

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OPINION / OUR VIEW

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

NEVER AGAIN?

EAST COUNTY

Observer “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

ISIS execution in Iraq.

This symbol is the Arabic letter N for Nasrani, or Christians. In Mosul, Iraq, the letter was placed on homes to mark the Christian occupants.

ISIS crucifies Christians in Iraq.

Iraqis prepare to bury their children.

If not we, then who will stop them?

Dear Readers: All of the associates in our company, Observer Media Group Inc., live by a mission statement that says we are committed “to inspire our communities with extraordinary local content and to help our partners prosper.”

Week after week in our newspapers and on our websites, we focus on local news, events and people, attempting to inform and sometimes entertain you on what is happening to “you, your neighbors and your neighborhood.”

We know you don’t look to us for national or international news and commentary.

But this week, we are departing from our mission, with the hope and intention to inspire you to act: To urge our nation’s elected public servants in Washington to execute overwhelming decisive force from the United States against an enemy that has proven to be as evil, if not more so, than the Nazi exterminators.

For decades, millions around the world have said, “Never Again.” Never another Holocaust. Never another diabolical, megalomaniacal Hitler. Never again the atrocities against mankind that occurred under the Nazi regime.

But they are back. Different, but just as horrific. And despite the president’s refusal to identify them, all of America and the world know who this enemy is and what its objective is: radical Islamic extremists who want to annihilate all Jews and Christians and establish a Muslim-ruled world that exterminates modernity.

Day after day, we see in newspapers and on TV, websites and social media, gruesome videos and photos, like the ones above, of the most heinous, barbaric crimes against humanity. And yet little

seems to be done to stop the perpetrators.

Go down the list: Boko Haram, Al Nusra, al Qaeda, ISIS, Assad, Hezbollah, Hamas, Iran, Putin in Ukraine. Relentless in their determination and destruction. Retired Army Vice Chief of Staff and four-star Gen. Jack Keane told Congress last week al Qaeda has “grown fourfold in the last five years” and is “the major security challenge of our generation.”

And what is our response?

Little if anything to make a difference.

There is no urgency, no determination, no convincing commitment from the president. His response is so feckless,

it’s as if he is willingly letting the Islamic extremists advance their wicked cruelty and ideology.

Congress is no better — nattering politicians in their starched shirts and striped ties; disorganized, fractured; all talk no action; afraid to step out of political protocol.

Yes, we all have our reservations, misgivings and objections about sending our troops to battle and becoming entangled again in the Middle East. “We can’t be the world’s policeman,” so the line goes.

But here is what Americans should ask:

If not we, the United States, then who?

HOW TO STOP THEM “One: You accept that you are in a war. Two: You name the enemy, Islamist terrorists. Three: You get the lawyers off the battlefield […] you accept there will be collateral damage and you do not apologize for it.

You do not nation-build, you don’t try to hold ground. You go wherever in the world the terrorists are and you kill them, you do your best to exterminate them, and then you leave, and you leave behind smoking ruins and crying widows.

If in five or 10 years, they reconstitute and you’ve got to go back, you go back and do the same thing, and you never, never, never send American troops into a war you don’t mean to win.”

— Ret. Army Lt. Col. Ralph Peters

There is no one. No other nation with the might, the ingenuity or the ability to muster the will, courage and commitment to do whatever is necessary to end this slaughtering of innocents, to destroy this mortal enemy of western values and civilization.

And there is no one else to do it now.

You talk to your neighbors. You read and watch the news. You see how terrorism is spreading. You see history repeating.

The world is worried; you are worried.

You know, ultimately, it will be here.

We urge you then: Let your public servants in Washington hear from you. Their top priority is to protect you from harm and from being enslaved and slaughtered by foreign invaders.

The people of the Western World said, “Never Again.” We must show — now — we meant it.

— Matt Walsh, Editor/CEO Observer Media Group

Editor / CEO / Matt Walsh mwalsh@yourobserver.com Publisher / Lisa Walsh lwalsh@yourobserver.com Chief Digital Officer / Emily Walsh ewalsh@yourobserver.com Associate PublisherEast County Observer / Lori Ruth, lruth@yourobserver.com Executive Editor / Kat Hughes khughes@yourobserver.com Deputy Executive Editor / Jessica Luck jluck@yourobserver.com Managing Editor / Kurt Schultheis kschultheis@yourobserver.com Senior Editor / Pam Eubanks peubanks@yourobserver.com Sports Editor / Jen Blanco jblanco@yourobserver.com Staff Writers / Jason Clary, jclary@yourobserver.com Amanda Sebastiano, amandas@yourobserver.com Digital Editor Managing Editor/Design / Alex Mahadevan, alexm@yourobserver.com Managing Editor/Arts & Culture-Black Tie-Season / Stephanie Hannum stephanie@yourobserver.com Black Tie Editor / Heather Merriman hmerriman@yourobserver.com Arts & Culture Editor / Nick Reichert nreichert@yourobserver.com Director of Advertising / Jill Raleigh jraleigh@yourobserver.com Sales Manager / Penny DiGregorio pdigregorio@yourobserver.com Digital Sales and Business Development Manager / Kathleen O’Hara, kohara@yourobserver.com Senior Advertising Executive / Laura Ritter, lritter@yourobserver.com Advertising Executives / Robyn Didelot, rdidelot@yourobserver.com Austin Holmes, aholmes@yourobserver.com Beth Jacobson, bjacobson@yourobserver.com Robert Lewis, blewis@yourobserver.com Suzanne Munroe, smunroe@yourobserver.com Richeal Parisi, rparisi@yourobserver.com Toni Perren, tperren@yourobserver.com Sales Coordinator/Account Managers / Lori Downey, ldowney@yourobserver.com Susan Leedom, sleedom@yourobserver.com Rachel Livingston, rlivingston@yourobserver.com Classified Advertising Sales Executives/ Maureen Hird, mhird@yourobserver.com Deedie Parker, dparker@yourobserver.com Director of Creative Services and Information Technology / Kathy Payne, kpayne@yourobserver.com Assistant Creative Services Manager / Brooke Schultheis, bschultheis@yourobserver.com Advertising Graphic Designers / John Day, Monica DiMattei, Marjorie Holloway, Shawna Polana, Luis Trujillo, Allison Wampole Chief Financial Officer / Laura Keisacker lkeisacker@yourobserver.com Controller / Lisa Schwenk lschwenk@yourobserver.com Office Coordinator-Subscriptions / Donna Condon, dcondon@yourobserver.com

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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9A

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

We asked for unique; we got it: Mondrian awarded repeatedly in Florida and nationally for their design.

When we decided to freshen up, we turned to the best — Mario Garcia and Mario Garcia Jr., Tampa residents who are regarded among the world’s foremost newspaper designers.

Lucky for us, they recommended we work with one of Mario Sr.’s proteges, Pegie Stark.

What you see this week is Pegie’s brilliance and creativity — the results of seven months of research, sketching, trial and error and training our designers.

Stark immersed herself in this process so deeply that she traveled to each of the cities where we publish weekly newspapers in Florida to digest the colors that reflect each community. You may not notice, but all of our color palettes in the paper are shades of color that reflect our environment. Now that’s paying attention to detail.

No doubt you also noticed a dramatically different frontpage design. It reflects two things — changing reader habits and expectations, and a design that is unique to any newspaper in America —Stark’s brilliance and creativity at work.

When we began the process, we were feeling our pages were becoming staid, almost like dullpatterned wallpaper.

Thursday, February 28, 2002

Schools

Staff Writer

KudOs, QuOTABLEs And COMMuniTy

+ Toot, toot

The East County Observer snagged nine journalism awards in The Florida Press Club’s 2005 Excellence in Journalism Competition.

With nine awards, the Observer won more accolades than any other newspaper in our class.

The awards include: • first Place, sports Action Photo: Brian McMillan • first Place, sports Column: Brian McMillan • first Place, Health Writing: Michael Eng • first Place, Religion Writing: Michael Eng • first Place, Portrait/ Personality Photo: Michael Eng • second Place, feature Photo: Michael Eng • Third Place, Crime news: Rob Brannon • Third Place, Environment Writing: Rob Brannon • Third Place, sports Writing: Brian McMillan

continued on page 6

Index Births 14A Business Directory 9B Buzz 2A Classifieds 10-11B Community Calendar 11A Cops Corner 12-13A 10B Crossword Ask Beatty 4B Obituaries 14A Sports 8B Two sections Vol. 4, No. 14

Staff Writer

opment has been its own worst enemy. The interest in the area created by SMR accomplishments has also increased the asking price for the property.

Peat said the continued development of Lakewood Ranch has increased the land value “in every way.” However, Peat declined to release the asking price for the optioned property. John Clarke, president and CEO of SMR, knows the price well and said it is too high.

“We won’t be held to a ransom,” Clarke said. He speculated Menke was asking about $30,000 an acre.

SMR acquired much of the land in that area years before construction began on the Lakewood Ranch, which renders most of its purchases out of character with the current land value. In one of the more recent purchases (July 2000), SMR bought a large parcel from Manatee Fruit Co. along Lorraine Road near the Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club and The Country Club II. That deal cost continued on page 7

continued on page 6

Stray parcel too pricey for Ranch

By Sean Roth Contributing Writer

They’re surrounded.

If you look at a map of Lakewood Ranch, there is a large L-shaped parcel in the middle of the Ranch development marked simply “Future Development.” But, the chances of SMR ever developing that land are uncertain at best.

That 320-acre parcel is the sole independently-owned parcel within the Lakewood Ranch development from SR-70 to University Parkway. The Ronald Taylor Family owns that piece of the development and has optioned 200 of its acres to Banker’s Insurance Group in St. Petersburg.

The land is heavily wooded with a number of wetlands eating up the buildable space. But because real estate is primarily a business of location, the property remains ideal. The parcel lies north of Lake Uihlein and east of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard across from Riverwalk in the center of Lakewood Ranch, one of the largest and most success real

estate developments in Manatee County’s recent history. About 2,800 homes have been built or contracted for in the development since construction started in 1995, and more than 1.5 million square feet of commercial space has been built or contracted for (900,000 of which is office space).

Option History

According to Barbara Peat, vice president of corporate communications speaking on behalf of Robert Menke, chairman of the board and president of Banker’s Financial Corp. (the holding company that owns Banker’s Insurance Group), the company bought the option on the land about six years ago with the plan of building a new facility and relocating a large portion of the insurance company. That idea has since been scrapped, and the property is being kept strictly as an investment, she said.

Catch-22

In relation to buying the parcel, SMR’s success with the devel-

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liked, but I wanted to expand to where there is foot traffic.”

Phillip Burch of Five Star Pet Salon said having BoneJour as a neighbor wasn’t a consideration when they moved next door in May, but he did say having two dog-related businesses next to one another provided opportunities for both of them.

“We have lots of customers who come here, pick up their dog and go over there for treats,” Burch

said. “(And) she would make sure people had our number, too. We’re going to miss her.”

In an e-mail sent to her customers early last week, O’Neil thanked them for their business and said they’d be the first to know when she decides on a location.

Although O’Neil couldn’t offer specifics on places she is consid-

See ShORT STACK page 2A

INDEX

Anne Armour ...................... 13C Business ...............................18A Business directory .................1d Classifieds...............................1d Community Calendar ...........14C Cops Corner .........................16A Crossword ..............................5d East County Living.................1C Observed.................................4A sports.....................................1B Vol. 7, No. 42 Four sections www.ecobserver.com

Builder seeks insight from locals Canadian homebuilder Mattamy Homes uses focus groups to help create its new community in Lakewood Ranch.

Photo by Bill Rosenberger

BoneJour owner Eileen O’Neil said she will reopen in Sarasota.

See BONEJOuR page 15A

Connor Jones and Kristen Mendez

New look

FIT FOR OR A BuST ShORE QuEEN

by Matt Walsh | Editor

Observer redesigned to give more — faster

+ Swing of things

Thanks to East County residents and Tara golf and Country Club’s spectacular golf course, Southeastern guide Dogs Inc. raied more than $35,000 at its Ninth Annual Golf Tournament Oct. 15.

More than 100 golfers participated in the event, which was organized as a four-person scram-

by Josh Siegel | Staff Writer OUR TOWN real estate

The gourmet dog bakery is less than one year old.

Just a few weeks shy of its one-year anniversary, BoneJour Gourmet Dog Bakery & Goods has closed the doors to its Lakewood Ranch shop.

Owner Eileen O’Neil, citing poor foot traffic, said she plans to search for a new location in downtown Sarasota.

“The location made it challenging,” she said of her store on Town Center Parkway. “The whole idea of Lakewood Ranch I

Photo by Brian McMillan

Juli Bowman, right, welcomed Emily Potts to the ranks of Lakewood Ranch High School royalty. Potts was named 2005 Homecoming Queen Oct. 14, and Jay Freed was named King. For more coverage on the Ranch’s Homecoming week, see Living, 2-5C.

growth by Pam McTeer | Staff Writer

Ranch forum details community’s future Schroeder-Manatee Ranch plans more integrated land uses for its upcoming developments.

During the next 10 years, Lakewood Ranch residents can expect to see more integrated land uses, affordable housing, updated building designs, a more proactive approach to road construction and just as much of its developer SchroederManatee Ranch Inc. Some of the ideas would

be “strange and risky,” SMR president and CEO Rex Jensen told nearly 200 Lakewood Ranch residents who attended the “Lakewood Ranch: The Next 10 Years” forum Friday night.

“But you’ve come to expect that from us, and we don’t want to disappoint.”

While Lakewood Ranch

currently has more than 13,000 residents, the number will only grow as SMR begins developing the company’s remaining 23,000 acres, Jensen said. Most of that property is north and east of the currently existing Lakewood Ranch.

Since 1995, SMR has built more than 5,600 homes, and since 1997, three million square

If you did a double take when you picked up this week’s East County Observer, don’t worry.

It’s still the Real Thing — your East County Observer.

Let’s just say we took the summer to have some cosmetic surgery — a tuck here, the removal of a wrinkle there, wider eyelids.

Or maybe you can compare it to the remodeling of the interior of your home. New artwork, new paint, new floors, updated bathroom and kitchen.

So here it is, after five months of construction and recovery time, and boy, we feel great.

Perky, full of energy, ready for the Season.

And we certainly hope you like the new look.

Let’s be reassuring: While we look different, our personality and content haven’t changed.

You’ll still find everything you enjoyed before in your East County Observer. And our mantra hasn’t changed: The East County Observer is still about you. As we say on page 1A, The East County Observer is all about “You. Your Neighbors.

Your Neighborhood.”

Why change the look? It’s time. We’ve had the same look

See REDESIgN page 4A

See gROWTh page 14A

thing I had ever seen before.”

We like that — that it is unique. We don’t want to be like other newspapers, and that uniqueness fits with Sarasota’s aspirations to be on the edge of creativity.

A great feature of the Mondrian design is its flexibility, while still allowing us to maintain a consistency with typefaces.

Because our design is on a grid, it allows more movement; we can incorporate proportional white space, giving the pages more energy and different looks.

You’ll see evidence of this on our front pages and in the new Black Tie section. When Stark was working on the design for

+ Lakewood crowns students Lakewood Ranch High School juniors Connor Jones and Kristen Mendez became school royalty March 31, after being named Mr. Mustang and Miss Lakewood Ranch.

Both students received free prom tickets, free parking in front of the school, free entry to sporting events and other perks.

Additionally, Beth Ciemniecki earned the title of junior princess, while Jalbelly Guzman was crowned senior princess.

Nick Bartoszak was named junior prince, and Austin Carter was named senior prince.

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Canada’s largest homebuilder is finding its niche.

For two days this month, Mattamy Homes representatives led private focus groups to learn about its newest market —

Lakewood Ranch.

The focus groups, held at Palm-Aire Golf & Country Club with local real estate agents and potential buyers who were handselected and compensated for their time, will help determine

the look and feel of Harmony at Lakewood Ranch — Mattamy Homes’ planned 675-home community.

For Mattamy Homes, which closed on 235 acres just south of the Central Park community for $17.2 million in January, the focus groups have provided a look into the unique demands of a new market.

“We have spent 35 years in this business, so clearly we

SEE MATTAMY / PAGE 8A

NORTH-SOUTH

SWEET SWING

by Josh Siegel | Staff Writer

Coast Guard endorses Fort Hamer Bridge A final environmental impact statement says the Fort Hamer alternative is better than two other options for the area.

EAST COUNTY — A long-debated northsouth connector across the Manatee River is closer than ever to being constructed.

A final environmental impact statement published online last week recommends Manatee County move forward with the design and construction of the Fort Hamer Bridge.

The URS Corp.’s report, which was overseen by the U.S. Coast Guard and published on its website, says the proposed two-lane Fort Hamer Bridge is the most viable north-south bridge alternative compared to two other options explored: expanding the Rye Road Bridge or doing nothing.

The bridge would connect Fort Hamer

+ MTI takes top awards The Manatee Technical Institute Postsecondary Chapter of HOSA, formerly known as Health Occupations Students of America, dominated the Postsecondary-Collegiate Division at the HOSA State Leadership Conference April 3 through April 6, in Lake Buena Vista.

MTI students won 17 firstplace, five second-place and eight third-place finishes.

MTI dental assisting program students earned honors, as well. Alexandra Harper-Creadon was awarded the Florida HOSA Foundation Scholarship for postsecondary students, and Xamadi Johnson earned the Barbara James Service Award for community service.

Medalists will advance to the HOSA National Leadership Conference in June, in Lake Buena Vista.

know what we are doing,” said Ed Suchora, president of Mattamy’s new Tampa division. “But every market has unique wants and needs that we need to understand. People like to feel valued and a part of the process.”

Suchora, who grew up in Bradenton, said Mattamy uses focus groups every time it enters a new market or has a large deal

SEE BRIDGE / PAGE 9A

Amanda Sebastiano

Gabbie Hotaling, 5, swings while she waits for the egg hunt to begin at Lakewood Ranch Community Activities Corp.’s Eggstravaganza event April 12. See more photos on page 1B.

File photo

U.S. Coast Guard Project Manager Randy Overton says he does not expect to host any more public input meetings.

the front pages, Mario Garcia Sr. encouraged her to envision the front page much like a storefront, or advertisement, telling shoppers what’s inside the store.

This is the way we are now — readers with so little attention span. We’re all scanners now.

So each week, we’re going to give you a fresh piece of Mondrian-inspired art on the front page, giving you a sense of what’s inside our weekly store of news, events and photos. It’s the same Observer, but it will be even more fun to read.

We’ll be anxious to hear and read what you think.

— Matt Walsh, Editor/CEO mwalsh@yourobserver.com OUR TOWN / PAGE 16A

INDEX

Calendar..........18A Classifieds ......14B

Cops Corner .....12A Crossword........13B

Neighborhood ....1B Real Estate ......10B

Sports .............20A Weather...........13B

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Our mantra is ‘You. Your neighbors. Your neighborhood.’

Stark presented a freshened version of what we had. Publisher Lisa Walsh said, “Uh-uh, too much the same.”

Stark said, “I’ve always wanted to do a Mondrian design.” Lisa Walsh said, “Go for it.”

Mondrian is named after Dutch abstract artist Piet Mondrian. He became famous in the 1920s for the use of what is called “asymmetrical balance” — lines and rectangles and simple, primary colors. To tease our new design, the past two weeks we published full-page samples of Mondrian-inspired art.

“The minute I saw it,” Lisa Walsh said, “I said, ‘That’s it — because it didn’t look like any-

WE ARE THE AREA’S LEADING

In this issue Lakewood Ranch to host annual party for residents. PAGE 7C

by Bill Rosenberger | Staff Writer

By Michael eng

Braden River Elementary School kindergartner Shelby Kovach selects bright and bold colors for her fishbowl project in art teacher Amy Smith’s class. The fishbowl is one of several costeffective projects Smith has introduced at the East County school.

For related story, see Schools at left.

EXCLuSIVE: COMMuNiTY CELEBRATiON

You. Your neighbors. Your neighborhood.

but we’re asking anyway.’

When Chicago native Fred Booth retired to Rosedale Golf and Country Club in 1993, land development codes, buffers, ordinances and stipulations were the least of his concerns. Good golf and warm Florida sun brought him to the East County, but with big business ventures looming at Rosedale’s gates, Booth’s retirement has been anything but paradise.

As chairman of the Rosedale homeowners association, Booth has spent the past year organizing the residents’ fight against developers of Creekwood East, a commercial development Manatee County approved years before Rosedale was drafted. The development wraps around Rosedale’s southern and western boundaries and includes six 1-acre lots along SR-70. Currently, the only barrier planned between these businesses and eight Rosedale homes is a 15foor buffer and chain-link fence.

“The chain-link fence is not real security in our eyes nor is it going to be a noise buffer of any kind,” Booth said. “Anybody could come through that chain-link fence and be in the backyards of those homes.”

Booth bought into the community largely because of its gated and monitored security entrance and said if he toured Rosedale with Creekwood East fully developed, he never would have moved there.

However, because the commercial project has already been through commission approval, unless Creekwood Investors Ltd., Creekwood East developer, volunteers to add more buffering or the county adds stipulations during the development’s administrative permitting process, Booth and his Rosedale neighbors are out of luck.

“They may be coming back to the county commission at some point to request a modification of the approved plan,” said Carol Clarke, Manatee County Planning Director. “At that point, it may be possible to require additional measures.”

“We have no right to ask for

BLESSED fuRRy fRiEnds

St. Stephen’s priests bless East County animals 11A

EAST COUNTY

Happy Easter and Passover!

SPORTS 1B

ShORT business STACK BoneJour closes Lakewood Ranch location

‘We have no right to ask for this,

With considerations about cutting art programs in schools fast approaching reality, being an art teacher has become not only a profession of paints and brushes but also one of top hats and magic wands. Art teachers have continually been forced to make do with less over the past decade, and now with cuts reaching the bone, those cost-cutting techniques may make the difference in keeping art in public schools.

This year, Braden River Elementary School art teacher Amy Smith received less than $700 for supplies. When divided among Braden River’s 1,000 students, that is less than 70 cents per student for the entire year.

“When we get our budget, they [the district] keep 20% of it, and we usually get that 20% in January,” Principal Ronna Moore said. “But, because of cuts in the fall, we didn’t get that 20%.”

However, although 70 cents couldn’t buy a box of crayons and construction paper at the local WalMart, Smith can stretch those dollars by using district products.

“Manatee County has its own warehouse for those things, so we can get them cheaply,” Moore said.

“We can buy a lot with that 70 cents.”

Still, to stretch her dollars, Smith developed several art projects that use little or no supplies. One of them is a paper bowl project that used scrap paper other teachers throw away.

“We took the extra paper and put

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Trust me you’ll get used to it — our new design.

Think of it this way: The same Tide, with the same cleaning power, just in a new container.

It’s the same Observer, with the same local content, just packaged differently.

Times change.

And you have to change with Walsh them. You don’t want to be driving around in that old Cadillac Eldorado that’s as long, as heavy and as inefficient as a World War II PT boat.

It was difficult Stark for us to believe we introduced our previous design a decade ago.

Talk about time for a new hairdo!

Women especially know how that goes. Just as hairstyles evolve, so does newspaper design. Indeed, you can see how the Observers have evolved since Ralph and Claire Hunter started the Longboat Observer in 1978.

I have to say, though, of all of our previous designs, the most recent one served us well. The Observers were recognized and

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

Q+A WITH LAKIS PAPE

GulfCoastGood.org The go-to website for giving and volunteering in our community!

Volunteers

Amanda Sebastiano

A native of Greece and a Greek Glendi volunteer, Lakis Pape uses his heritage to ensure the annual festival gives attendees a true cultural experience.

T

his week, the annual Greek Glendi Festival is back for its 31st year at St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church. The event celebrates Greek food, wine and music, showcased by those who know the staples of the culture best — the 250 festival volunteers.

Lakis Pape, a 14-year volunteer, is as Greek as his name suggests.

Here, Pape dishes on the essentials of a Greek kitchen and East County’s longtime cultural celebration. Opa!

needed at

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Q: How long have you been involved with the Greek Glendi Festival?

A: I’ve worked on the Glendi for 14 years. My wife, Linda, and I moved here from Columbus, Ohio, in October 1999, and we started getting more involved with the church about a year later.

with fun classroom activities including rocking infants, reading

Q: How has the Glendi changed since you first attended it?

A: When I started with the Glendi, there were a couple of tents, and that was it. Maybe 5,000 people came. Now, we have big tents and more than 10,000 people come. One year, we had 17,000 people.

books & helping with art projects.

Q: What’s your role with the Glendi?

A: I’m doing some of everything as a department chairman. I order the food and plan which foods we will cook. Popi Ameres and I work closely together to plan the menu and how much of each food we’ll have. We calculate how many pounds of lamb, beef, pork and chicken we’ll need and how many side dishes to make.

Q: Give us a snapshot of your day in the days before the festival starts.

A: My job starts early in the morning. My biggest job is managing food preparation, which is a lot of what’s going on the week before the Glendi. We prepare the food people are going to eat, such as cutting carrots and getting ingredients ready for sauces, dressings and other things. And everything is from scratch. So, when meats come in, we clean them, cut off the fat and skin we don’t want, marinate it in our special sauce and the night before the festival starts — and each night before a festival day — we bake the chickens and add more sauce. The sauce is everything.

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Q: How many hours did you dedicate to Glendi preparations this year?

A: In January, we worked 20 full

days of at least six to seven hours per day. That’s about 140 hours for each of the 15 or so volunteers who work in the kitchen. The festival has 250 volunteers, so volunteer hours total much more than that. We start planning the Glendi in June. When one Glendi ends, the work on the next one begins.

Q: What are staples in a Greek kitchen?

A: Greek cuisine is different from Italian — we don’t use a lot of garlic. We use some garlic, like in the garlic sauce we use in gyros. Cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon, oregano, olive oil, real butter, fresh tomatoes, and salt and pepper — of course — are important ingredients in Greek foods.

Q: Do Greek restaurants in America get it right?

A: Some restaurants in the states serve Greek foods, but they’ve Americanized them to make the dishes look pretty. The taste isn’t as good. When I went to Italy, the pizza didn’t look so pretty, but oh, it was good. Tasty foods don’t always look pretty.

Q: Does the local Greek Glendi stay true to Greek culture?

A: Absolutely. Each year, we have foods that are found in most Greek restaurants, such as the moussaka and baklava.

The Glendi’s food is the same as what you would find in Greece.

We make the béchamel sauce the perfect consistency — fluffy and a tasty mix of real cheese, eggs, milk and butter. If it’s too thick it has no taste; if it’s too thin it disappears. This event is a celebration of Greek food, wine, music and culture.

Q: What’s your favorite Greek dish? Is it served at the Glendi?

A: I love lamb shanks. If you go to other Glendi festivals, you won’t find lamb shanks like we have here. These lamb shanks are made how my mother and grandmother used to make them.

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

|

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

11A

Charles Totonis & Beth Barnett Pam Eubanks

It costs about $5,000 for Tara CDD to resurface a tennis court. The CDD plans to convert one of its two tennis courts to pickeball.

Tara CDD prepares for pickleball play The district plans to convert one tennis court for pickleball because of the sport’s popularity in Lakewood Ranch.

SENIOR EDITOR

— Residents of the Tara Preserve community soon will have more recreational options at their amenity center: tennis or pickleball.

Supervisors of the Tara Community Development District, the governing body for infrastructure and other property within The Preserve at Tara, voted Jan. 27 to convert one of two tennis courts into a pickleball court — maybe even two.

Supervisor Beth Bond made the suggestion, noting that the CDD soon will have to repave its tennis courts anyway. The sport, she said, is gaining popularity, as is evident in Lakewood Ranch’s Esplanade community.

“I spent one week, three times a day for seven days, (watching our tennis courts),” Bond said. “At no time were both courts being used.

It was nice weather. These tennis courts, for what they cost to maintain, are underused.”

Supervisors liked Bond’s suggestions of converting one court to pickleball and directed District Field Manager Jim Kaluk to get requests for resurfacing the courts. Last time, tennis court resurfacing cost about $5,000.

“I did play pickleball and I did enjoy it,” Supervisor Joseph Mojica said. “It’s good exercise and it’s lots of fun.”

Supervisor Michael Dyer agreed the idea may be popular among residents.

“At the Villages, pickleball is

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IN OTHER BUSINESS: n The CDD will hold a follow-up to its landscape workshops at 9 a.m. Feb. 7, at the Tara Preserve Community Center, 7340 Tara Preserve Lane, Bradenton.

Supervisors will discuss and prioritize landscaping issues in hopes of developing a long-term landscaping plan. n Supervisors used tablets to review agenda items.

The district’s management company, Rizzetta and Co., is offering the machines as a beta trial to its districts and seeking feedback from supervisors. n Supervisors granted approval to clear out invasive plants in wetland buffers in Cypress Strand. n Supervisor Beth Bond submitted a proposed tree policy, which supervisors will discuss at a future meeting.

No. 2 to decorating your golf cart,” he said.

The Tara CDD may even create an introductory program to introduce pickleball to residents.

Supervisors are considering purchasing about 10 rackets so community members can try the sport before purchasing their own equipment.

Contact Pam Eubanks at peubanks@yourobserver.com.

DISTRICT EXPLORES STORAGE OPTIONS Supervisors on the Tara Community Development District at Tara Preserve will modify the Tara Preserve Community Center to create more storage space for tables, chairs and other items.

Supervisors voted Jan. 27 to create a storage room directly opposite the field manager’s office.

Although the new room will cut into open space, it will create equal distances between walls off the center’s entryway. Cost for construction is not to exceed $8,000.

“The truth is very few (people)

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enjoy sitting in that corner there,” Chairman John Schmidt said.

Supervisor Beth Bond opposed the action, saying she was open to all other means of discussion, including renting off-site storage, but did not want to shrink usable space. Other options considered included building off-site storage or building an addition.

Supervisors, however, liked the idea of expanding the community center eventually. If approved, the addition will be on the side of the center closest to the parking lot.

The board agreed to consider the idea for a future year.

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

YourObserver.com

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

FAMILY DISCOUNT 2:09 p.m. — 7300 block of 52nd Place East.

Theft: An employee was caught on live surveillance providing discounts to family members and selecting items off shelves that he wanted them to purchase with the discounts.

JAN. 27

ALARMING THEFT 1:59 p.m. — 6800 block of Dominion Place.

Burglary: A woman left home to get her hair done and go grocery shopping; she left the house alarm off and the entry door to the garage open. When she returned, she discovered her jewelry was missing.

POP-UP BREAK-IN 4:24 p.m. — 7200 block of 55th Avenue East.

Burglary: A man reported someone broke into his vehicle by popping open the driver’s side lock through the window.

BIKER GANG 5:11 p.m. — 100 block of Woodstock Road.

Information Only: A woman reported that several boys on dirt bikes have been driving recklessly on the road leading up to her home. She also reported they yell obscenities at her when she asks them to move away from her property. She filmed them and presented a video to police. She also followed them to a nearby neighborhood where she believes they reside. Police agreed to patrol the area more frequently.

JAN. 28

KEYS TO THE THEFT 8:50 a.m. — 8100 block of Lakewood Main Street.

Vehicle Theft: Someone entered an unlocked vehicle that had keys sitting on the front seat, started the car up and drove away with it in an unknown direction.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

13A

SURVEILLANCE NABS SUSPECT 10:36 a.m. — 2900 block of 53rd Avenue East.

Theft: A store employee observed a man cutting security tags off items and stuffing the items down his pants. He fled before he was apprehended.

Video revealed the suspect left in a two-door red sports car, and police were able to find the car and the suspect in the area. More than $120 in store merchandise was recovered, and the suspect was arrested.

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Theft: A pro shop employee reported the theft of a golf club from the store.

February 7

JAN. 29

POLE PROBLEM 6:22 p.m. — 3400 block of 55th Drive East.

Theft: A man reported someone stole his fishing pole and reel that was leaning against the side of his home.

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REPEAT RUNAWAY 9:53 p.m. — 15600 block of Lemon Fish Drive.

Runaway: A mother called to report that her teenage son ran away from home for the third time. The last time he ran away he was located at a lunch eatery, but police couldn’t locate him there.

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NO LONGER WELCOME 11:09 p.m. — 2800 block of University Parkway.

Trespass Warning: A grocery store manager reported that three men were causing a disturbance in the parking lot.

They were trespassed from the property and expressed to police and the manager their disappointment in the decision as they walked away.

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PROMOTING ROWING During International Rowing Federation (FISA) President Matt Smith’s visit last week, he and representatives from USRowing, Visit Sarasota, Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Manatee and Sarasota counties, the Nathan Benderson Park Foundation and the Florida Sports Commission also met to discuss specifics of the 2017 World Rowing Championship, venue details and the possibility of expanding the sport of rowing in the Sarasota-Bradenton region. Blackketter said they are considering the addition of coastal rowing to the area’s rowing offerings.

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He said it’s an honor to be promoted by FISA .

“It shows that if you do your due diligence, you do your homework, it pays off,” he said. “That’s what we’re seeing and experiencing here. It’s crazy cool. I love it.”

Blackketter will travel in March to London for FISA’s joint commission meeting. He expects to meet with Tokyo representatives at that time to develop more specific times and dates to meet and discuss facilities.

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Leaders of Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center Association (SANCA), the organization that manages events at the park, plans to build a finish tower and boat house, among other amenities, at the site after securing approximately $22 million in funds.

They intend to complete projects before the World Rowing Championships in September 2017.

Smith’s visit served primarily to check in on the status of future amenities, as well as to see improvements completed since his last visit, including a floating road along the length of the lake that will be used by television cameras and wave attenuators.

“The wave attenuators they’ve developed here really work,” Smith said. “We’ve recommended them for the 2020 Tokyo Games.”

The 2020 Tokyo Games’ rowing site also will host the sports of canoeing and kayaking.

Smith said Tokyo organizers are seeking to create recreational areas for a variety of aquatic sports.

“They realize the course is very expensive to build and they are coming up with some alternative means, looking at multiuse,” SANCA President Paul Blackketter said. “We’re ahead of them, and FISA has accepted that we’re a little bit of the gold standard for a multiuse facility. We’ve demonstrated that you can build a venue and provide economic benefit to the community and have a sustainable program.”

Blackketter has spoken before with representatives of the Tokyo committee because he serves on FISA’s Event and Promotion

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

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Town Hall officials seek more control over gator removal to prevent poaching.

PAM EUBANKS

a targeted harvest area permit

allow operations staff to contact

see contact with alligator trappers. Currently, the FWC receives a nuisance alligator call, dispatches trappers and then Town Hall’s Operations Department OKs trappers to come on the property.

The new permit, though, would

lationship with a few trappers we trust,” Operations Director Ryan Heise said. “What we are trying to do is eliminate trappers who are poaching. This al-

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LAKEWOOD RANCH — LakeIf received, the U 5, 20 wood Ranch won’t adopt a new low the districts to directly over15 “This allows us to build a reSENIOR EDITOR

READING TIME Manatee County’s Conservatory Park has a new attraction — a Little Free Library. The wooden library is the sixth of its kind in Manatee County parks. The program follows the mantra of “take a book, return a book.” Randy Cooper, a longtime parks and volunteer, crafted the library with cedar boards and a handle recycled from an old chest.

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Following meetings last week, supervisors of Lakewood Ranch community development districts agreed CDD staff should apply for

SEE GATOR PAGE 2A

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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

17A

Pam Eubanks

Waterlefe CDD Supervisors John Brocki, Ken Bumgarner and Attorney Andy Cohen discuss the termination of an off-duty patrol contract with Florida Highway Patrol.

Waterlefe rethinks area patrol March or April. The board will discuss how to advertise the pending vacancy at its February meeting. Kalish’s term expires in November 2016. n The board authorized District Engineer Rick Schappacher to hire a consultant to evaluate the wall immediately past the roundabout on Waterlefe Boulevard, where it turns into Winding Stream Way. The cost is not to exceed $1,000. n On another matter, Schappacher said the golf course will pay about $9,000 for the inspection of 19 bridges along the course. Two bridges used extensively by golf course staff require some immediate repairs.

“The goal is to find what needs to be fixed and make repairs, not replace the whole bridge,” Schappacher said.

The Waterlefe Community Development District met Jan. 27, at the River Club at Waterlefe. The following is a summary of the meeting. n Board members voted unanimously to terminate a contract with Florida Highway Patrol and renegotiate with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office for patrol services. The district had used the sheriff’s office until it began requiring the CDD to pay for workers’ compensation insurance. The sheriff’s office eliminated the requirement, making its services more cost-effective.

“The numbers are dramatic,” Board Chairman Ken Bumgarner said. “We can do twice as much (for the same amount of money).” n Supervisor Mark Kalish said he will be moving and likely will serve his last meeting in

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THURSDAY, FEB. 5, TO SUNDAY, FEB. 8

GREEK GLENDI Takes place at St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church, 7671 N. Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota.

Come enjoy Greek music, food and wine, church tours, a kids area, vendor booths and other festivities. Guests can enter a raffle to win a 2015 MercedesBenz C300 or GLK350. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Feb. 5 through Feb. 7; and from noon to 8 p.m.

Feb. 8. Admission costs $4, but children ages 12 and younger are free. For information, visit sarasotaorthodox.com.

Laser Hair Removal

SATURDAY, FEB. 7

162183

HERITAGE HARBOUR RUMMAGE SALE Runs from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Beacon Lake soccer fields, in Heritage Harbour. The sale is open to residents of Stoneybrook, Lighthouse Cove and River Strand.

UNIVERSITY PARKWAY 941.351.5700 | www.IDEALIMAGE.com | Medical Director: Dr. Andrea Kreithen

LEARN TO FISH SEMINAR Takes place from 10 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 2 p.m. (two sessions offered) at the Summerfield Park Pavilion, Lakewood Ranch. The seminar targets children ages 5 to 15 who wish to participate in the Lakewood Ranch Anglers Club’s annual Youth Fishing Tournament, to be held from 8:30 a.m. to noon, Feb. 28, at Lake Uihlein. Volunteer anglers will teach casting, knot tying, bait use and other tips for becoming a good angler. For information, visit lwrcac.org.

MEGA HEART EXHIBIT AND HEART SMART DAY Runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Mall at UTC, 140 University Town Center Drive, Sarasota.

Lakewood Ranch Medical Center will host this educational event,

which features MEGA Heart, a 21-by-15-by-12-foot heart that allows visitors to step inside and learn about cardiovascular functions, observe examples of various types of heart disease and see displays explaining some of the latest medical treatments for heart problems. Lakewood Ranch Cardiology also will offer free blood pressure tests, and Drs. Jason Okhuhara and Emmy Satya, cardiologists, will be available to answer questions. For information, visit lakewoodranchmedicalcenter.com.

SUNDAY, FEB. 8

CLASSIC CAR SHOW AND STREET FAIR Runs from noon to 5 p.m. outside Wolves Head Pizza, 1837 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Lakewood Ranch. For information, visit wolvesheadpizza.com or call 251-4028.

SMR POLO CUP Starts at 1 p.m. at the Sarasota Polo Club, 8201 Polo Club Lane, Sarasota. Gates open at 11 a.m. for tailgating. Guests should bring their own lawn chairs and blankets, a picnic lunch and come out for an afternoon of

watching polo and divot stomping. The tailgate theme is Valentine’s Day. Judges will hunt for the best Cupid drink, best devilish dessert and best Valentine’s Day decor. For information, visit sarasotapolo.com.

TUESDAY, FEB. 10

SOIL MOISTURE SENSOR CLASS Runs from 5 to 6 p.m. at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall, 8175 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Lakewood Ranch. Representatives of Manatee County’s University of Florida IFAS Extension office will share about SMS technology and Florida-friendly landscaping. For information, visit lakewoodranchgov.org.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 11

NETWORKING SOCIAL Starts at 4 p.m. at The Windsor, 8220 Natures Way, Lakewood Ranch. Unwind with hors d’oeuvres prepared by The Windsor’s chef as you meet other professionals. The event is hosted by The Windsor. RSVP to 907-9177.

MARK WANDALL FOUNDATION COMMUNITY OUTREACH MEETING Runs from 6 to 8 p.m. at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing, 7051 Wireless Court, Sarasota. The Mark Wandall Foundation is working to bring a one-day Comfort Zone Bereavement Camp to the area in October. It is hosting the meeting to begin the process of securing volunteers, donations and community involvement. Light refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to wendy@themarkwandallfoundation.org.

Experience Downtown Lakewood Ranch Like Never Before.

This is The Lakeshore… 44 luxury condominium residences offering serenity for a select few by the water’s edge. Breathtaking views met with unrivaled convenience in the heart of Lakewood Ranch. Close to fine dining, shopping and entertainment… yet a world away from ordinary.

Our fit Specialist will find the perfect suit for your body

Ellenton - Swim Mart (on the driveway into Ellenton Premium Outlets)

941-721-8924

162181

5923 Factory Shops Blvd.

162499

For more information, visit TheLakeshoreAtMainStreet.com or call 941.702.4601.

Swimwear, Resortwear and Accessories for the Entire Family

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

TUESDAY, FEB. 10

ENTERTAIN M E N T

TARA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PTO/SAC MEETING Starts at 6:30 p.m. at Tara Elementary School, 6950 Linger Lodge Road, Bradenton.

The meeting will be held in the school’s media center. For information, call 751-7660.

FRIDAY, FEB. 6

B EST B ETS

MUSIC ON MAIN Starts at 6 p.m. at Lakewood Ranch Main Street. Parsley Craze will perform pop, rock and music from the 1960s. Proceeds from

JONATHAN CORTEZ Plays at 9 p.m. at the Polo Grill and Bar, 10670 Boardwalk Loop, Lakewood Ranch. For information, visit pologrillandbar.com.

Every Battery for Every Need

3

$

FRIDAY, FEB. 6, AND SATURDAY, FEB. 7

‘ALICE IN WONDERLAND JR.’ Shows at 7 p.m. Feb. 6 and Feb. 7, at Nolan Middle School, 6615 Greenbrook Blvd., Lakewood Ranch. Theater students will present this story filled with characters and memorable songs such as “Zip-a-dee-doo-dah,” and “I’m Late!” Tickets cost $5 for ages 5 and up. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. For information, call 751-8200, Ext. 2054.

SATURDAY, FEB. 7

THE SCHMITZ BROTHERS Play at 7 p.m. at Linger Lodge Restaurant, 7205 85th St. Court E., Bradenton. For information, visit lingerlodgeresort.com.

JOEL FISHER Plays at 9 p.m. at Polo Grill and Bar, 10670 Boardwalk Loop, Lakewood Ranch. For information, visit pologrillandbar.com.

SUNDAY, FEB. 8

ROBERT GARCIA Plays from 4 to 7 p.m. at Linger Lodge Restaurant, 7205 85th St. Court. E., Bradenton. For information, visit lingerlodgeresort.com.

SATURDAY, FEB. 14

VALENTINE’S DAY ON MAIN STREET Runs from 5 to 9 p.m. at Lakewood Ranch Main Street. Enjoy shopping and dining along with a romantic carriage ride. Carriage rides are free for you and your loved one. No reservations required. Rides available on a first-come, first-serve basis. For

99

WATCH BATTERY

Limit two installations. Limit one coupon per customer, per visit. Participation may vary by location.

Valid on in-store purchases only. Expires 2/28/15.

FREE CAR BATTERY CHECK

10

$

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB What: Presenters discuss topics such as photo editing before members vie for the “print of the month” title and show their work in a slideshow.

Tickets: Annual dues are $20 for individuals or $28 per couple. For information, visit lwrpc.com.

When: Meets at 7 p.m. Feb. 12 Where: Lakewood Ranch Town Hall, 8175 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Lakewood Ranch

00

OFF

ANY AUTOMOTIVE BATTERY

Offer good on single item. Limit one coupon per customer, per visit. Participation may vary by location.

Valid on in-store purchases only. Expires 2/28/15.

941.822.8133

8445 Honore Ave., Bradenton, FL 34201

8445 HONORE AVE.

(West Side of the Home Depot Plaza) HOURS: Mon - Fri 8:30am - 7pm Sat 10am-5pm Closed Sunday

UNIVERSITY PKWY

information, visit lakewoodranch. com.

FABULOUS

FRIDAY, FEB. 6

LAKEWOOD RANCH ART CLUB Meets at noon at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall, 8175 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Lakewood Ranch.

Come for an art class. For information, contact Donna McIntyre at 907-9061 or mcintyre6710@ gmail.com.

IN - STORE

REMOUNTING Frida6yt-h Feb- 5pm

MAHJONGG QUEENS Meets at 12:30 p.m. at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall, 8175 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Lakewood Ranch.

Come play mahjongg from 12:30 to 4 p.m. For information, contact Glenda Robertson at glendaron1@tampabay.rr.com.

10am

CIRCUS SARASOTA WINTER SHOW What: Performances include a seven-person pyramid stunt performed by tightrope walker Nik Wallenda and his team. Showtimes vary by date. For information or tickets, visit circusarts.org.

When: runs from Feb. 6 through Feb. 22 Where: Nathan Benderson Park, 751 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota

MURRAY MARGOLIS OWNER

Choose from hundreds of 14K, 18K or platinum ring, earring, pendant and bracelet mountings during this special event!

THE FAMILY JEWELER 8342 Market Street Lakewood Ranch | (941) 907 - 3418

‘THE PAJAMA GAME’ What: Lakewood Ranch High School’s theater department will bring to life a story about pajama factory workers who are fighting for wage increases.

Tickets: $10 general admission; $5 for students When: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 5 through 7 and at 2 p.m. Feb. 8.

Where: LWR High School, 5500 Lakewood Ranch Blvd.

ONLINE

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162569

FREEDOM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BOOK FAIR AND COMMUNITY BONFIRE Runs from 4 to 8:30 p.m. at Freedom Elementary, 9515 S.R. 64 E., Bradenton. The book fair runs from 4 to 6 p.m. and will be followed by the bonfire from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Teachers will be selling pizza, hotdogs, drinks, glow sticks and other items to raise money for classrooms. For information, contact Assistant Principal Laura Campbell at 7084990, Ext. 2014.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

|

162595

FRIDAY, FEB. 6

the event will benefit Take Stock in Children of Manatee. Guests can bring chairs, but no coolers. Dogs are allowed but must be leased. For information, visit lakewoodranch.com.

HONORE AVE

SCHOOLS

C LUBS

YourObserver.com

Your ultimate guide for what to do, where to go and who to know

THIS WEEK IN SARASOTA.

See a listing of upcoming events at

yourobserver.com/calendar

IT’S ON!

LOOSEN

YOUR

PANTS

SUNDAY BRUNCH is BACK! LET’S MEASURE

TRUST ME MEN, THEY ARE THE EXACT SAME SIZE

SUNDAYS 10:30 am - 1:30 pm

$25 per person + tax, gratuity & alcohol

Reservations 941-782-0899 x2 | pologrillandbar.com | Lakewood Ranch

162502

162503

YOUR PLATE LOOKS BIGGER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

INTERCOASTAL MEDICAL GROUP

SCIENCE SAVVY Eight East County middle school students and one high school student have earned bids to the 60th annual State Science and Engineering Fair to be held March 31 through April 2, in Lakeland.

Seventeen Manatee County students earned first place in the 2015 Lockheed Martin Manatee Regional Science and Engineering Fair Jan. 14 to Jan. 19 to earn top stops.

Students advancing are: n Simone Liang (Haile Middle) n Reed Blankenship (Haile Middle) n Zachary Vanschoor (Haile Middle) n Griffin Hudson (Haile Middle) n Caleb L. Phillips (Haile Middle) n Hanna Arduini (Haile Middle) n Haileigh Norris (Braden River Middle) n Cassandra Atzrodt (Nolan Middle) n Naima David (Braden River High) The youth received their awards during a ceremony Jan. 21, at Braden River High School.

Robert Browning IV, MD Board Certified, Surgery

Dr. Robert Browning IV brings to Intercoastal Medical Group at Lakewood Ranch a wealth of experience in Surgery to address your medical needs from the routine to the complicated.

Intercoastal Medical Group is a patient-focused health care provider comprised of more than 75 board certified physicians in multiple specialties dedicated to serving your health care needs.

Undergraduate: University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL Medical School: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN Residency: University of Florida, Shands Hospital, Gainesville, FL Certification: American Board of Surgery

INSPIRED FILM accepting new patients

IMG Lakewood Ranch Medical Office Building 941-362-8662

11505 Rangeland Parkway, Bradenton, FL 34211 (SR 70, exit 217 off I-75) Medicare and most insurances accepted

www.intercoastalmedical.com

A Patient Focused, Multi-Specialty Group National Expertise l Seven Locations

The short film “Alike,” created by students in the Inspired Minds program, took top honors at the Miami International Science Fiction Film Festival shorts competition.

Carrie Dutting, student writer/director, also took home the Young Prodigy award.

Emily Watrobsky, who portrayed the character Anna in the film, handled interviews about

YOUR TOWN

welcomes

Courtesy photo

Emily Watrobsky and Carrie Dutting represent Inspired Minds at the festival in Miami.

the film.

“We are so proud of them and all of the cast and crew that created this film,” Inspired Minds’ leader Heather Manley says.

“Alike” tells the story of Jaime, whose mother sold her to Gemini Labs — a government program that clones people.

Jaime, played by Dutting, questions the agency and its practices, and she must make a choice after meeting her clone.

“Alike” was filmed at Gene Witt Elementary School.

VOLUNTEER NOW Need something to do now through Feb. 22?

Nathan Benderson Park Volunteer Coordinator John Krotec needs you.

The park’s first major event of the season — The Modern Pentathlon World Cup — is a few weeks away.

To sign up or for information, visit volunteermark.com/nathanbendersonpark.

161273

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

160915

20A

22A

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

Lakewood Ranch’s regional run is over The Mustangs faced off against Fort Myers Jan. 29 in the regional playoffs and lost via penalty kicks.

JASON CLARY STAFF WRITER

It was a tough night for the threetime district champion Lakewood Ranch boys soccer team Jan. 29.

The Mustangs faced off against Fort Myers in the first game of the regional playoffs and lost via penalty kicks, 2-1 (5-4).

“It’s tough; they outplayed us,” Lakewood Ranch coach Vito Bavaro said after the game. “They wanted it more than we did.”

Through 68 minutes of the game, neither team had scored. It was a tough defensive game, and neither team finished around the net.

But with about 12 minutes left in the game, Fort Myers buried its first goal of the game and went ahead, 1-0.

Just minutes later, Fort Myers committed a hand ball penalty in the box, setting John Rivera up for a game-tying penalty kick, which was his second penalty kick goal in two games.

With about 10 minutes left in the game, Chris Fenton received his second yellow card of the game, which left Lakewood Ranch a man down for the remainder of the game, along with the two overtime periods that went

scoreless.

“When we lost Chris, we lost the capacity to create from the midfield,” Bavaro said. “The other kid punched him and he pushed him off, which gave him a second yellow card. That hurts. You have to be mentally tough as well as physically tough.”

It was the first yellow card for the Fort Myers player and he was allowed to stay in the game.

Bavaro told his younger players after the game to remember that feeling of falling short.

“I told the kids straight out, ‘I’m not going to sweet talk this and say you did great. They outplayed you and they beat you.’ I told the younger guys to learn from this, to see what they’re doing and feel what’s going on,” Bavaro said.

Though Lakewood Ranch will lose its entire defense and some midfielders next year, Bavaro said the Mustangs will be a soccer powerhouse for the foreseeable future.

“Three-time district champs, that’s something to be proud of,” he said. “We have a really good JV team; they lost only one game this year. We’re going to be a powerhouse for the next few years. We’ll get to states.”

Lakewood Ranch defender Chris Fenton plays defense against Fort Myers in a regional playoff game Thursday night in Lakewood Ranch.

“We have a really good JV team; they lost only one game this year.

We’re going to be a powerhouse for the next few years. We’ll get to states.”

Vito Bavaro, coach,

sultation!! n o C EE

Lakewood Ranch High School

Photos by Jason Clary

Call Today to schedule your FR

Ranch players line up to take penalty kicks against Fort Myers.

Facial Appeal

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Facials & Permanent Makeup

Expertise without the price tag 152122

WALK-IN CLINICS

Offering Facials, Waxing, Permanent Makeup and other services.

941-737-3474

9080 58th Drive East Ste 200 • Lakewood Ranch, Fl 34202 • www.facialappeal.com

www.SarasotaUrgentCare.net

EXIT 224

PALMETTO

ELLENTON

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Longboat Key

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41

3 SARASOTA 4 SARASOTA, Siesta Key

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SMH

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BRADENTON 4647 Manatee Ave. W. • (941) 745-5999

• Thorough Gentle Check Ups • Non Surgical Gum Treatment

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• Custom Implant Restorations • Crowns, Bridges and Veneers

6010 N. Lockwood Ridge Rd. Sarasota | 941.358.8830

6272 Lake Osprey Dr. • (941) 907-2800 1435 S. Tamiami Trail • (941) 554-4301

• Bio Compatible, Mercury Free Fillings • Comfortable Partials and Dentures

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No Appointment Necessary Walk-Ins Welcome Lowest Self Pay Rates Most Insurance & Medicare Accepted Flu & Pneumonia Shots Digital X-Rays, EKG’s & Labs On-Site

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

Blackberg/Barefield Farm defeats Tito’s in Rolls Royce & Merrill Lynch Cup OBSERVER STAFF

Blackberg Ranch/Barefield Farm played Tito’s in the Rolls Royce & Merrill Lynch Cup Sunday, at the Sarasota Polo Club.

Blackberg/Barefield took off to an early lead in the first chukker, with all four of the team’s players contributing to the 4-1 lead.

Co-sponsor Mark Mulligan scored the first goal on the north end. Then Jamie Mirikitani wove through traffic for the first of his four goals on the day.

Tito’s Steve Krueger converted a penalty 2 to get Tito’s on the board before Shane Rice of Blackberg/Barefield converted a penalty 2 as well. Derek Berg ended the first chukker with a goal on the north end from approximately 40 yards out.

In the second chukker, Tito’s rebounded to score three unanswered goals by James P. Uihlien, Joe Wayne Barry and Krueger, all from the field, to tie it at four goals to start the third chukker.

Krueger scored again at the start of the third chukker, to give Tito’s its first lead of the day.

Blackberg/Barefield responded, though, as Rice converted a penalty 2 before Mirikitani put two more goals on the board. Mulligan ended the half with a nice carry and goal, giv-

|

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

23A

JUST THE STATS

22 Points LaDazhia Williams scored during a 67-43 Lakewood Ranch girls basketball district victory against North Port Jan. 28.

20 Wins for the Lakewood Ranch boys basketball team on the season. It’s the first 20-win regular season in the team’s history.

2005 The last time the Lakewood Ranch boys basketball team won a district title.

The team’s pursuit of the title began Monday.

Courtesy photo

Blackberg Ranch/Barefield Farm defeated Tito’s 14-9 in the Rolls Royce & Merrill Lynch Cup Sunday, at the Sarasota Polo Club.

ing Blackberg/Barefield an 8-5 lead at the half.

Tito’s rallied three goals in the fourth chukker, including a 60-yard penalty conversion, a field goal by Barry and a breakaway by Uihlein. Rice kept the lead for Blackberg/Barefield though with a penalty 3 conversion and a goal from the field.

In the fifth chukker, both teams had end-to-end runs, only to be defended at the last

second. Rice converted a penalty 2, and Barry managed to score a goal for Tito’s, making it 11-9 going into the sixth and final chukker.

In the sixth chukker, Blackberg/Barefield had goals from Rice, Mirikitani and Berg, leaving Tito’s behind at the final horn with a final score of 14-9.

MVP for the day was Mirikitani. Best playing pony for the day was Midget, played by Rice.

WANT TO WATCH? There’s a match at 1 p.m. every Sunday, at the Sarasota Polo Club, 8201 Polo Club Lane, Sarasota. For more information, call 7202912.

32 Points the Out-of-Door Academy girls basketball team scored in a 32-28 Jan. 30 upset victory over Cardinal Mooney.

13 Points scored between the Lakewood Ranch and Sarasota girls basketball teams during the first half of a district championship game Jan. 30.

EAST CAMPUS K/1 AT

H A RV E S T U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U RC H LORRAINE ROAD ~ LAKEWOOD RANCH

O P E N I N G AU G U S T 2 0 1 5 AC C E P T I N G A P P L I C AT I O N S N OW • • • •

Small class sizes Low student-teacher ratios Academic excellence Global education

• Comprehensive academic program including art, library, music and chapel

• Foreign language 5-days a week • PE 5 days a week • Directly connected with main campus programs and activities

154002

For more information contact Linda Lutz, Admissions Director 941.746.2121 ext. 1568, LLutz@SaintStephens.org www.SaintStephens.org ~ Saint Stephen’s serves grades PK3 - 12

24A

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

|

LAKEWOOD RANCH CC

LAKEWOOD RANCH CC

UNIVERSITY PARK COUNTRY CLUB 7304 Chelsea Court $1,289,300 | Web ID A4107994 Louis Wery 941.232.3001

UNIVERSITY PARK 7318 Mayfair Court $929,000 | Web ID A4109238 Toi Estes 941.896.2317

LAKEWOOD RANCH CC 7531 Rigby Court $715,000 | Web ID A4108545 Sandi Ansilio 941.586.8679

UNIVERSITY PARK 6925 Conestoga Place $549,000 | Web ID A4111941 Jo Rutstein 941.587.9156

HIDDEN RIVER 4500 Hidden River Road $698,800 | Web ID A4111093 Katty Caron 941.928.3009

LAKEWOOD RANCH | GREENBROOK 6515 Coopers Hawk Court $547,000 | Web ID A4112333 Jim Soda & Stacy Haas-Goodwin 941.961.5857

CAPE HAZE MARINA 8250 Harborside Circle $390,000 | Web ID N5784017 Gwen Heggan 941.468.1297

ENGLEWOOD 7979 Manasota Key Road $2,950,000 | Web ID N5901602 Terry Herschberger & Bonye Smart 941.468.8439

6320 Manasota Key Road $2,000,000 | Web ID N5902066 Terry Herschberger & Bonye Smart 941.468.8439

FOREST AT HI HAT RANCH 9273 Swaying Branch Road $1,099,000 | Web ID A3976916 Brian Wood 941.928.8408

CAPE HAZE 235 Green Dolphin Drive $3,295,000 | Web ID N5900903 Melissa Caldwell & Terry Herschberger 941.266.8829

MANASOTA KEY

12515 Highfield Circle $1,375,000 | Web ID A4111286 Sandi Ansilio 941.586.8679

6911 Westchester Circle $1,495,000 | Web ID A4102381 Jim Soda & Stacy Haas-Goodwin 941.961.5857

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

ROSEDALE 8751 52nd Avenue East $389,000 | Web ID A4106952 Linda Apple 941.586.0553

BRADENTON 22915 Fuller Road $1,199,900 | Web ID A4103158 Gregory Van Natter 941.730.1999

PRESTANCIA 4287 Escondito Circle $899,000 | Web ID A4112658 Joel Schemmel 941.587.4894

BOCA ROYALE 14 Saint Croix Way $649,900 | Web ID N5901030 Bob Linthicum 941.228.9206

ROSEDALE 5219 88th Street East $495,000 | Web ID M5903913 Sheri Wofford 941.809.8366

CENTRAL PARK 11889 Forest Park Circle $355,000 | Web ID A4112305 Jim Soda & Stacy Haas-Goodwin 941.961.5857

LAKEWOOD RANCH CC

LAKEWOOD RANCH CC 6809 Belmont Court $1,795,000 | Web ID A4111947 Jim Soda & Stacy Haas-Goodwin 941.961.5857

FOUNDERS CLUB 9236 McDaniel Lane $1,199,000 | Web ID A4104962 Joel Schemmel 941.587.4894

CAPE HAZE

SILVER OAK 8965 Wildlife Loop $649,000 | Web ID A3981099 Ken Ipox 941.993.7279

7612 Desert Inn Way $465,000 | Web ID A4110698 Gloria Bracciano 786.348.9488

LAKEWOOD RANCH CC

FOREST AT HI HAT RANCH

BOCA ROYALE

4372 Camino Madera $724,900 | Web ID A4109119 Joel Schemmel & Sharon Chiodi 941.587.4894

LAKEWOOD RANCH CC

LAUREL OAK

13872 Siena Loop $598,300 | Web ID A4107232 Louis Wery 941.232.3001

3326 Charles Macdonald Drive $585,000 | Web ID A4112389 Jerry Zaback 941.350.6885

LAKE CLUB

PRESTANCIA

8030 Bowspirit Way $439,900 | Web ID A4106815 Jim Soda & Stacy Haas-Goodwin 941.961.5857

WATERCREST 6474 Watercrest Way, #203 $329,900 | Web ID A4109595 Sandi Ansilio 941.586.8679

9327 Swaying Branch Road $1,144,320 | Web ID A3956072 Brian Wood 941.928.8408

PRESTANCIA

59 Grande Fairway $729,900 | Web ID N5900970 Bob Linthicum 941.228.9206

LAKEWOOD RANCH 12013 Thornhill Court $339,900 | Web ID A3972091 Michelle Crabtree 941.724.4663

13219 Palmers Creek Terrace $1,675,000 | Web ID A4110720 Jim Soda & Stacy Haas-Goodwin 941.961.5857

7510 Rigby Court $1,199,000 | Web ID A4105054 Jim Soda & Stacy Haas-Goodwin 941.961.5857

LAKEWOOD RANCH CC

12535 Highfield Circle $2,100,000 | Web ID A3995775 Jim Soda & Stacy Haas-Goodwin 941.961.5857

LAKEWOOD RANCH CC

80 Buccaneer Bend $1,750,000 | Web ID A4104529 Helena & Per Nordstrom 941.228.7356

LAKEWOOD RANCH CC 7017 Kingsmill Court $799,000 | Web ID A4112117 Gloria Bracciano & Greg Van Natter 786.348.9488

LAKEWOOD RANCH

7018 Portmarnock Place $2,350,000 | Web ID A4110767 Jim Soda & Stacy Haas-Goodwin 941.961.5857

4634 Mirada Way, #32/33 $395,000 | Web ID A4108113 Joel Schemmel 941.587.4894

COTTAGES OF CALLISTA 4218 Callista Lane $325,000 | Web ID A4109167 Robert Sherman 941.313.1301

Over 16,400 associates | Approximately 730 offices | 56 countries and territories worldwide | 24 locations CLEARWATER | 727.585.9600 321 Indian Rocks North Belleair Bluffs, FL 33770

ST. PETERSBURG | 727.898.6800 102 2nd Avenue NE St. Petersburg, FL 33701

THE PLAZA AT FIVE POINTS | 941.364.4000 50 Central Avenue, Suite 110 Sarasota, FL 34236

VENICE | 941.488.2600 215 West Venice Avenue Venice, FL 34285

SOUTH TAMPA | 813.217.5288 202 South Moody Avenue Tampa, FL 33609

LONGBOAT KEY | 941.383.2500 517 Bay Isles Parkway Longboat Key, FL 34228

LAKEWOOD RANCH | 941.907.9541 8141 Lakewood Main Street, Suite 101 Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202

ST. ARMAND’S | 941.383.2500 540 John Ringling Boulevard Sarasota, FL 34236

premiersothebysrealty.com

161423

Sotheby’s International Realty® and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity. Property information herein is derived from various sources including but not limited to county records and the multiple listing service, and may include approximations. All information is deemed accurate.

Classifieds 17B Games 16B Real Estate 12B Weather 16B

FEBRUARY 5, 2015

YOUR NEIGHBORS MILITARY BALL

Rosedale Golf & Country Club honors veterans with golf tournament and seventh annual ball.

PAGE 2B

TRIVIA TIME School of Russian Ballet dancers entertain a growing crowd.

OVATION

CELEBRATION

Ballerina Alexia King focuses on her next move.

T

he East County appreciates the art within its community, from Lakewood Ranch High drama and art students to photographers and ballet dancers. To recognize the arts, on Saturday Lakewood Ranch Main Street hosted the ninth annual Grand Ovation. The four-hour event featured live comedy skits, as well as ballet and other dance performances by local students and other artists. The free event also featured show-and-tell presentations of alligators and forms of marine life.

Tabernacle students don their favorite team’s garb and test their Bible knowledge at the annual event.

PAGE 8B

NEIGHBORHOOD Combined Realtors associations set goals for 2015. 11B

– AMANDA SEBASTIANO

SEE MORE PHOTOS OF GRAND OVATION 7B

Photos by Amanda Sebastiano

147846

Four-year-old Kayden Holt works on a craft project.

2B

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

Rosedale celebrates military veterans

M

embers of the Rosedale Golf & Country Club honored veterans past and present during the club’s seventh annual Military Ball Saturday.

Active-duty members from each of the five branches of military service, as well as their spouses, and other guests enjoyed cocktails before a special program that included the presentation of colors by the Braden River High School JROTC. Col. Linda Gould served as the evening’s keynote speaker. Erika Parkes presented the POW/MIA table.

Rosedale also hosted a golf tournament fundraiser that day, as part of the festivities.

– PAM EUBANKS

Top: Dick Feltmer, Jim Donegan and Brian Ward enjoy drinks. Bottom: Ken and Darlene Hoffman laugh with friends.

Photos by Pam Eubanks

Top: Flotilla Cmdr. Bob Scott with his wife, Carolyn. Bottom: Hugh Fischer served in the U.S. Coast Guard.

U.S. Army Reserve retired Lt. Col. Dennis Dobbratz chats with Annette and Bob Ducatelli, retired Air Force.

special pricing!SAVE $5 ON REGULAR GARDENS ADMISSION!

SELBY GARDENS ANNUAL

Plant & Garden festival

FEBRUARY 21 - 22, 2015 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

SATURDAY ONLY

EARLY ADMISSION FOR MEMBERS (9 AM) don’t forget your wheelbarrow or wagon!

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens 900 South Palm Avenue • Sarasota, FL • 34236 • 941.366.5731 • www.selby.org 157942

162434

SATURDAY & SUNDAY

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Sotheby’s International Realty® and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity.

161428

Brian Wood 941.928.8408 theforestathihatranch.com

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

|

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

3B

One-of-a-Kind Masterpiece

The Country Club | 7031PortmarnockPlace.com | $3,950,000

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Coming Soon

The Country Club | 8102 Championship Court | $674,000

Guest House

The Country Club | 6927Westchester.com | $2,450,000 #1 Top Sale in Lakewood Ranch 2014

$2,325,000 | SOLD 162046

941.685.8420

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

University Park Women’s Club show their fashion style

T

he University Park Women’s Club held its annual Oh La La Fashion Forward event Jan. 28, at Michael’s On East.

The luncheon featured models in clothing from Dream Weaver on St. Armands Circle, as well as a 50/50 raffle to benefit charity.

– KRISTEN HERHOLD

Kim Brown and Debbie Briggs

Photos by Kristen Herhold

Arlene Irons and Terry Needell Top: JoEllen Grossman, Dana Balionis and Mary Bennett. Bottom: Suzanne Balestro and Susan Gordon

The theme of the event was Paris.

161500

4B

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

|

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

5B

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On the shore of Sarasota Bay.

Intimately close to downtownâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finest shopping, dining, arts, culture and entertainment.

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a s c E n t i a r E a lt y g r o u p licensed real Estate Broker

ec helononpalm.com Sales Center at 624 S. Palm Avenue by appointment.

941 .376.9346

Community features, amenities and pricing are approximate and subject to change without notice. The information and materials displayed on materials provided to you are solely intended to provide general information about proposed plans of WSR-Sarasota LLC. These proposed plans are conceptual in nature and are subject to change or cancellation (in whole or in part) at any time without notice. Land uses, public and private facilities, improvements, and plans described or depicted on any materials are conceptual only, subject to government approvals and market factors, and subject to change without notice. Nothing in these materials obligates WSR-Sarasota, LLC, or any other entity to build any facilities or improvements, and there is no guarantee that any illustrated or described proposed future development will be implemented. Neither the information and materials provided to you, nor any communication made or given in connection with and of the foregoing may be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty or may otherwise be relied upon by any person or entity for any reason whatsoever. Obtain the Property Report required by Federal law and read it before signing anything. No Federal agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. Equal Housing Opportunity.

162411

ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS MAKE REFERENCE TO THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN AND THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE.

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

Kiddie Academy preschoolers embark on reading adventure

Milman-Kover

6TH ANNUAL

MARCH 8-16, 2015

Photos by Pam Eubanks

Manatee Chamber of Commerce Assistant Vice President of Community Development Jahna Leinhauser reads a book to 3-year-old Keagan Cameron.

SPECIAL GUESTS AND EVENTS!

Children at Kiddie Academy celebrated Early Learning Literacy Week with special visits from local officials Jan. 28. Guest readers were Sharon Hillstrom, CEO of the Bradenton Area Economic Development Corp., Manatee Chamber of Commerce Assistant Vice President of Community Development Jahna Leinhauser and Philanthropic Educational Organization volunteer Katherine Skinner.

As part of the day, every classroom received new books and children enjoyed making bookmarks and headbands and retelling stories read to them.

Donna O’Dea, curriculum specialist, organized the event.

OPENING NIGHT: SUNDAY, MARCH 8TH THEO BIKEL in person plus Dessert Reception SUNDAY, MARCH 15TH: “Real Russ and Daughters Brunch”

6TH ANNUAL

SUNDAY, MARCH 15TH: DANI MENKIN in person, “Is that You?” Premiere, plus Dessert Reception

Mason Briles, 3, shows off his hat, based on the book “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!”

15 SCREENINGS

OF EIGHT GREAT NEW FILMS!

— PAM EUBANKS

GOD’S SLAVE HUNTING ELEPHANTS KIDON OPERATION SUNFLOWER THE STURGEON QUEENS UNDER THE SAME SUN We want your best photos of nature birds in flight, flowers in bloom, etc.

THEODORE BIKEL: IN THE SHOES OF SHOLOM ALEICHEM IS THAT YOU?

SCREENINGS

THEO BIKEL (Opening Night) THEO BIKEL GOD’S SLAVE HUNTING ELEPHANTS KIDON UNDER THE SAME SUN OPERATION SUNFLOWER THE STURGEON QUEENS IS THAT YOU?

March 8, 6:30PM March 10, 3PM March 9, 3PM March 10, 7PM March 9, 7PM March 11, 7PM March 9, 7PM March 11, 7PM March 11, 12:30PM March 12, 7PM March 12, 3PM March 16, 7PM March 15, 12PM March 15, 6:30PM March 16, 3PM

WEATHER & NATURE PHOTO CONTEST

WINNERS FOR JANUARY

Three monthly winners of the Photo Contest will each receive a

25

$

Gift Card

Monthly winners will be finalists for the

MARTIN KRESINSKE

ROXANA WALTERS

GRAND PRIZE

5,000

$

For tickets visit jfedsrq.org/jff or call 941.552.6304

Flooring Makeover

STAN SINGER

For complete contest rules or to submit your photos, visit the “Contests” page at

EXPLORING NATURE’S BEAUTY Sponsored by

EVENT SPONSORS:

MEDIA PARTNERS:

Martin Moore with UBS 160319

162415

6B

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

Grand Ovation

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

|

7B

Magic Scissors Alterations

FROM 1B

We Guarantee Highest Quality & Fastest Services • Formal Attire & Wedding Dresses • Hems while you wait (pants only)

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CAT CARE CLINIC

Low Cost Care for your Felines Exams, spay & neuter services, vaccines, microchips, dental cleaning

By Appointment Only - 941.366.2404

162442

NEW! Open to the Public

Sarah Rubin listens to Sophia Delacruz's questions about marine life.

2542 17th St., Sarasota, FL 34234 • 941.366.2404 • www.catdepot.org

U N I V E R S A L

PUZZLE ine

onl

CROSSWORD

Emely Fernandez

A crossword

that saves

your scores

Lorelai Bomar and Kloee Acquisto color pictures.

Hawthorne Village of Sarasota, a Not-for-Profit Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, invites you to attend a FREE community education seminar.

Foot & Ankle: Common Problems & Treatment Monday, February 9 • Noon - 1pm

Daniel Howard, DPM

Enjoy a light lunch and a discussion on common foot and ankle problems, such as bunions, hammertoe, fasciitis, tendinitis and arthritis, along with various treatment options including non-surgical.

Presented by Daniel Howard, DPM of Sarasota Orthopedic Associates. Fellowship Trained and Board Certified Foot and Ankle Surgeon.

Please RSVP by Saturday, February 7 to 941.355.6111

5381 Desoto Road, Sarasota, FL 34235 (Just East of Honore on Desoto Road) Marketing@HawthorneVillageofSarasota.com

www.HawthorneVillageofSarasota.com License #SNF130471051 EOE

162469

CALL 941-355-6111 TODAY

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

ENJOYING THE FRUITS OF OUR LABOR When the call came in for us to save some 200 trees from bulldozing, we of course said yes. Could we do it in two weeks and move hundreds of plants, too? Oh, and install the saved plant material in other community areas that lacked landscaping? ArtisTree crews were out in no time, with one bystander saying it looked like a ballet of coconut palms, Natal plums and ornamentals being lifted and swirled away to their new locations.

But a few days later, another call. They needed us to come back out. Imagine our surprise and delight when we were thanked with sweet, Natal plum jam and warm coconut bread made from one of the coconut palms. It made our day.

Photos by Pam Eubanks

Naara Silva, Savannah Roberts and T.J. Besterman are in the first grade.

Tab students frenzied for trivia

Do you have a “landscaper” in your life you’d like to thank – a relative, teacher, friend or company who introduced you to the joys of nature?

C

hildren at the Tabernacle Christian School dressed in their favorite team’s garb and headed to a grassy field Friday for the school’s annual Football Frenzy and Bible trivia event. Children competed against one another during a Bible trivia contest, while also enjoying games, lunch and other festivities.

– PAM EUBANKS

Above: Sammy Tabachnick, 10, enjoys the event. Right: Valeriy Serebryanskiy, 12, takes pictures for the school newspaper.

CUTMORE

If you are thinking of Buying or Selling a home in 2014 CALL THE CUTMORES Your Residential Real Estate Specialists Around The Ranch

IAN BROKER ASSOCIATE EMAIL

CELL 941.545.5616 cutmore.ian@gmail.com

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EMAIL

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CELL 941.545.0515 cutmore.julie@gmail.com

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artistree.com • 941.488.8897 • Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte counties • Celebrating 25 years

162184

Be watching for our launch of thankalandscaper.com later this month and make their day, too.

161927

8B

LBK

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

|

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

9B

Look as

young as you

feel

Facial Cosmetic Surgery & Facial Rejuvenation Techniques Thursday, February 12 • Noon - 1:45pm

Above: Rachel Dan, 9, pretends to be a wizard during a game. Right: Danielle Motta, 7, answers a question about Moses correctly.

Surgical Face Lift Neck lift Eyelid Lift Brow Lift Rhinoplasty (Nose) Otoplasty (ear) & more...

Non-Surgical SCULPTRA BOTOX® Cosmetic Restylane® JUVEDERMTM

Sumeet Bhanot, MD, FACS Premier Facial Plastic Surgery Center 1901 Floyd Street, Sarasota Refreshments Provided Call 366-9222 ext. 219 to RSVP Serving Sarasota, Venice and Lakewood Ranch

158721

Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgery - Training Yale University Gabriel Bedros and Jaden Valdez answer Bible trivia questions.

IMAGINE A WORLD WITH HALF AS MUCH FOOD.

Without crop nutrients, that would be our reality.

The work we do at Mosaic is critical to helping feed the world. We provide farmers with phosphate crop nutrients that enable them to produce more food on less land.

Essential crop nutrients — like phosphate mined and manufactured in Florida — are responsible for 40-60 percent of the crop yields farmers produce worldwide.* That translates into more abundant and affordable food here at home. As our world keeps growing, Mosaic keeps working to help put food on the table, for all of us.

®

We help the world grow the food it needs. mosaicco.com/florida 162119

*Source: Agronomy Journal

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

INTERCOASTAL MEDICAL GROUP

IT’S READ EVERYWHERE

welcomes

Headed on a great trip? Make sure to take your Observer along! Snap a photo of you holding your Observer on vacation, then submit it and you could win travel tickets, courtesy of Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.

alexander thacker, MD Board Certified, Family Practice Dr. Thacker brings to Intercoastal Medical Group at Lakewood Ranch a wealth of experience in Family Practice to address your medical needs from the routine to the complicated. Dr. Thacker is a graduate of Riverview High School.

Intercoastal Medical Group is a patient-focused health care provider comprised of more than 75 board certified physicians in multiple specialties dedicated to serving your health care needs.

Undergraduate: Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL Medical School: Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL Residency: Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center Family Medicine Residency Certification: American Board of Family Practice

BIRTHDAY BOWL

Chris and Brandon Neer, a Lakewood Ranch High student, brought their East County Observer along to Super Bowl XLIX in Phoenix. Even though the Seattle Seahawks lost, the two Seattle fans had a good time attending the game, at which Brandon also celebrated his 17th birthday.

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“It’s truly a happy aura that just permeates this whole facility, and everyone’s so friendly.”

— Pauline Westman, Former Short-Term Rehab Patient

Call us today to schedule a tour.

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149568

10B

FEBRUARY 5, 2015

YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD Stronger together The newly merged Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee is ready to build on its offerings.

PAM EUBANKS SENIOR EDITOR

Kathy Roberts, CEO of the Realtor Assocation of Sarasota Manatee, says discussions of a merger have come up three times in the nine years she led the Sarasota Association of Realtors.

July 2014: Leaders of both groups meet to discuss a merger.

July/August 2014: Associations use members to form task forces to investigate merger-related items, such as facilities and financials.

August 2014: Boards recommend a plan to merge.

Jan. 7, 2015: The MLS from both organizations merge.

December Jan. 2, 2015: Manatee 2014 and Sarasota associations’ membership databases merge.

Sept. 16, 2014: Membership of both organizations vote almost unanimously to approve the merger.

NEW CONSTRUCTION COMPLETE REMODEL POOL MAINTENANCE

The ONLY local pool company providing in-house construction

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September to December 2014: The organization appoints new committees, identifies new directors, develops a strategic plan and handles administrative changes.

SALE

SPRING

TIMELINE

When leaders of the Realtor associations of Manatee and Sarasota counties took a merger to the vote of the members in September, the common question wasn’t “Why are we doing this?”

Instead, it was “Why didn’t we do this sooner?”

On Jan. 1, the organizations officially joined to become the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee.

Combined, the new group has about 5,000 members and 500 business partners, or real estaterelated businesses.

“Sarasota was 4,000 members; Manatee had about 1,400, and there was some overlap,” association CEO Kathy Roberts said, adding the organization usually loses members in January but didn’t see the typical drop.

Roberts says staff and organization leaders have worked hard to keep behind-the-scenes changes from impacting Realtors.

Now, with a combined budget and services in place, the new association is completing outstanding business, such as changing the signs at its headquarters off Cattlemen Road in Sarasota and its satellite center in Lakewood Ranch, off Lakewood

Ranch Boulevard. It’s also working to expand offerings.

For example, the group has already identified potential facilities in west Bradenton for a service center, where Realtors could pick up lockboxes and signs.

“Hopefully, within a couple of months, we’ll have that up and running,” board President Stafford Starcher says. “We’re also looking to rent some place to bring education out to that area, as well. It’s tough to go all the way across the county (for these resources).”

“The market changes all the time; the more we can keep Realtors up on what is going on, the better equipped they are to work with their clients,” Starcher says.

“We have the wherewithal to offer more education in multiple places to make it easier for that Realtor to get that education.”

Starcher, who was going to

Jan. 13, 2015: The organization merges systems.

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REAL ESTATE

12B

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

Country Club Village home sells for $980,000

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

JAN. 19-JAN. 23

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

A

home in Country Club Village at Lakewood Ranch tops all transactions in this week’s real estate.

Gary Schuster, trustee, and Suzanne Schuster, of Bradenton, sold the home at 8016 Royal Birkdale Circle to David and Alice Young, of Bethesda, Md., for $980,000. Built in 2002, it has four bedrooms, three-anda-half baths, a pool and 3,610 square feet of living area.

Pam Eubanks

This home at 8016 Royal Birkdale Circle has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,610 square feet of living area. It sold for $980,000.

Kenwood Park John and Amanda Buscher, of London, sold their home at 8242 Abingdon Court to Roger and Linda Stelle, of Cary, Ill., for $580,000. Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, two-anda-half baths, a pool and 2,578 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $699,000 in 2008.

Edgewater Village Matthew and Melanie Coakley, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 6508 Windjam-

mer Place to W. Timothy Finn II, of Russell Springs, Ky., for $549,000. Built in 2001, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,948 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $610,000 in 2006.

Carlyle at the Villages of Palm-Aire Bryan and Deborah Sieber, of Bradenton, sold their home at 6718 Carlyle Lane to Earl and Jill Buono, of Sarasota, for $432,000. Built in 2001, it has three bedrooms, three baths,

6610 Coopers Hawk Court #A4106314 $699,000 Alex Ley

Lakewood Ranch 941-966-8000 941-504-6377

7915 Treesdale Glen #M5903984 $679,000 Deborah Angelo O’Mara

Lakewood Ranch 941-907-9595 941-730-0777

7229 Lake Forest Glen #A4112262 $659,000 Deborah Angelo O’Mara

6515 The Masters Avenue #A4111494 $629,000 Deborah Angelo O’Mara

Lakewood Ranch 941-907-9595 941-730-0777

15607 Leven Links Place #A4106041 $585,000 John Camino, PA

Lakewood Ranch 941-907-9595 941-685-5060

276 Sapphire Lake Drive #201 #M5903442 $550,000 Debbie Vogler

Lakewood Ranch 941-907-9595 941-730-0777

Bradenton 941-748-6300 941-705-3328

7632 Portstewart Drive #A4111474 $650,000 Deborah Angelo O’Mara

7759 Camden Harbour Drive #A4110915 $525,000 Diane Fogo Harter

SHARE YOUR

a pool and 2,323 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $290,800 in 2001.

Central Park Lisiane and Abel Jimenez, of Sarasota, sold their home at 4836 Boston Common Glen to Matthew and Lauralee Rueter, of Lakewood Ranch, for $429,000. Built in 2011, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,023 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $383,800 in 2011.

Lakewood Ranch 941-907-9595 941-730-0777

Bradenton 941-907-9595 941-445-2431

Patricia Bradbury, of Lakewood Ranch, sold her home at 11758 Forest Park Circle to David and Sarah Sidnam, of Bradenton, for $385,000. Built in 2012, it has four bedrooms, two-anda-half baths, a pool and 2,494 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $390,000 in 2014.

Central Park Lifestyles LLC sold the home at 12188 Longview Lake Circle to Alain and Marie-Agnes Colonna de Lega, of Lakewood Ranch, for

8312 Catamaran Circle #M5900826 $1,250,000 Deborah Angelo O’Mara

8235 Snowy Egret Place #A4111571 $515,000 Stacy Burton-Cunneen

Lakewood Ranch 941-907-9595 941-730-0777

Lakewood Ranch 941-907-9595 941-730-6194

21803 Deer Pointe Crossing #A4110847 $500,000 Chris Baylis

Lakewood Ranch 941-907-9595 941-735-4713

PHOTOS

22235 Panther Loop #M5846712 $499,999 Cheryl Roberts

512 56th Street #M5902020 $850,000 Cheryl Roberts

Lakewood Ranch 941-748-6300 941-266-1450

4415 N Rye Road #M5902614 $499,900 Trish Chandler

Parrish 941-907-9595 941-306-9533

Anna Maria Island 941-748-6300 941-266-1450

Share using #SaundersSights on your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or upload to TheSaundersBlog.com

YOUR PHOTO MAY APPEAR ON MICHAELSAUNDERS.COM

8212 Waterview Boulevard #M5903885 $499,900 Kere Lewis

Lakewood Ranch 941-907-9595 941-685-3270

7606 Silverwood Court #A4106113 $499,000 Heidi Cox

Lakewood Ranch 941-907-9595 941-685-1529

12150 Thornhill Court #A4107013 $464,500 Sherwin Taradash, PA

Lakewood Ranch 941-907-9595 941-448-3301

11109 Hyacinth Place #A4105158 $449,000 Gloria Totti-Cervoni

Lakewood Ranch 941-349-3444 941-544-7746

7228 Orchid Island Place #A4112478 $419,000 Chris Baylis

Lakewood Ranch 941-907-9595 941-735-4713

7702 Lake Vista Court #305 #A4108964 $384,000 Diana Michel

Lakewood Ranch 941-388-4447 941-266-2677

6624 Pebble Beach Way #A4111067 $382,000 Stephen Strong

Lakewood Ranch 941-907-9595 941-201-9662

6508 Moorings Point Circle #201 #A4104236 $369,000 Tara Lamb & Judy Greene

Lakewood Ranch 941-349-3444 941-266-4873

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

|

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

13B

TOP BUILDING PERMITS These are the largest building permits issued by the East County Planning and Zoning Department for the week of Jan. 19 through Jan. 23, in order of dollar amounts.

E AST CO U N T Y ADDRESS

PERMIT

APPLICANT

AMOUNT

3215 65th St. E.

Rebuild

James Kull

$275,000

5019 W. Country Club Drive

Remodel

Dat Lam

$106,500

12452 Highfield Circle

Pool

George Busby

$60,653

8039 Royal Birkdale Circle

Re-roof

Alfred Caliendo

$39,950

6502 Blue Grosbeak Circle

Pool

Eric Peters

$34,553

7577 Fairlinks Court

Re-roof

Allan Price

$29,750

5861 Carriage Drive

Door/Window

Thomas Corley

$26,700

22601 Night Heron Way

Pool

Caesar Villarosa

$24,250

9722 Sweetwater Ave.

Re-roof

John Carroll

$19,900

6905 Drewrys Bluff

Re-roof

George Erickson

$19,545

8305 Grosvenor Court

Mechanical

James Love

$18,164

6718 Hickory Hammock Circle

Re-roof

John Izzo

$16,057

7805 Derby Court

Mechanical

Nelson Linam

$16,000

1504 60th St. E.

Re-roof

James Johnson

$12,000

4490 Sanibel Way

Door/Window

Linda Galvin

13352 Purple Finch Circle

Mechanical

David Trick

$11,658

6420 Fox Grape Lane

Re-roof

Michael Maginness

$11,350

12105 Aster Ave.

Mechanical

William Mark Jr.

$11,164

6922 Chickasaw Bayou Road

Mechanical

John Kavis

$11,000

Country Meadows Garrett and Patricia Littlejohn, of Bradenton, sold their home at 840 148th Court N.E. to HP Florida I LLC for $420,000.

Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,422 square feet of living area.

It previously sold for $344,900 in 2014.

Source: Manatee County

Country Club Village at Lakewood Ranch Bank of America sold the home at 13888 Siena Loop to Jennifer Bencie, of Bradenton, for $380,000. Built in 2005, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,654 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $515,700 in 2014.

15707 Butterfish Place #A4109948 $314,900 Kathy Lewis

5512 109th Avenue E #A4103075 $279,900 Steve Durand

6931 Winners Cir #A3989315 $1,475,000 Nancy Phillips

Palmetto 941-748-6300 941-705-5510

Lakewood Ranch 941-907-9595 941-228-1213

Parrish 941-748-6300 941-447-2531

6818 Dominion Lane #M5902750 $1,200,000 Kimberly Walters

Lakewood Ranch 941-907-9595 941-907-0164

7413 Haddington Cove #A4104619 $1,160,000 Mary Pat Pihl

Lakewood Ranch 941-907-9595 941-932-3065

7509 Greystone Street #M5901893 $1,149,000 Deborah Angelo O’Mara

Lakewood Ranch 941-313-1591 941-730-0777

7250 Greystone St #M5845264 $999,000 Deborah Angelo O’Mara

Lakewood Ranch 941-907-9595 941-730-0777

6170 9th Avenue Circle NE #A4110714 $950,000 Debbie Vogler

Bradenton 941-748-6300 941-705-3328

13309 Lost Key Pl #A3997843 $949,000 Mary Pat Pihl

Lakewood Ranch 941-907-9595 941-932-3065

14520 Secret Harbor Place #A4111284 $899,000 Deborah Angelo O’Mara

Lakewood Ranch 941-907-9595 941-730-0777

8214 Regents Court #A4110838 $849,000 Nancy Phillips

University Park 941-907-9595 941-400-6078

9602 18th Avenue Circle NW #A4111099 $799,900 Patty Brooks

Bradenton 941-748-6300 941-545-1194

7630 Silverwood Court #M5902279 $795,000 Deborah Angelo O’Mara

Lakewood Ranch 941-907-9595 941-730-0777

14722 Leopard Creek Place #A4103587 $710,000 Susanne Cosgrove-Lee

Lakewood Ranch 941-349-3444 941-400-9068

Riverdale Revised David and Pauline Goldman, of Bradenton, sold their SEE REAL ESTATE 14B

2925 Terra Ceia Bay Boulevard #2202 #A4110938 $349,000 Dana Preston

Lakewood Ranch 941-907-9595 941-730-0777

8142 Miramar Way #A4107628 $327,000 Theresa Meyers

7936 St Simons Street #7936 #A4112699 $314,900 Catherine Lamphier

4907 4th Avenue Circle NW #M5903646 $274,999 Kathy Valente

Lakewood Ranch 941-907-9595 941-780-5214

University Park 941-907-9595 941-400-4219

Bradenton 941-748-6300 941-685-6767

6482 Watercrest Way #202 #A4103832 $324,900 Robin Bowman

8319 Whispering Woods Court #A4112114 $297,777 Michael Bruno

Lakewood Ranch 941-907-9595 941-779-5000

Lakewood Ranch 941-966-8000 941-320-3229

6906 18th Avenue W Bradenton #A4110742 $264,900 941-748-6300 Janet Fleming & Lynne Callahan 941-524-8240 or 941-720-3278

607 65th Street Court NW #M5904498 $850,000 Debbie Vogler & Cheryl Roberts

Bradenton 941-748-6300 941-705-3328 or 941-266-1450

Lakewood Ranch 941-907-9595 941-400-6078

Bradenton 941.748.6300 • Lakewood Ranch 941.907.9595 • IMG Academy 941.752.2683

160524

$252,300. Built in 2014, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,495 square feet of living area.

$11,781

7427 Greystone St #M5845815 $1,375,000 Deborah Angelo O’Mara

14B

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

REAL ESTATE FROM 12B

home at 201 Americas Cup Blvd. to Daniel and Susan Donnelly, of Bradenton, for $349,000. Built in 1998, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,326 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $280,000 in 2014.

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Fairway Lakes at Palm-Aire Country Club Donald Bassin sold his home at 5843 Fairwoods Circle to James and Louise Stevens, of Portland, Maine, for $346,000. Built in 1996, it has four bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,069 square feet of living area.

Rosedale and Golf and Tennis Club Cheryl Moyer, of Bradenton, sold her home at 8756 52nd Drive E. to David and Margaret Parsons, of Ontario, Canada, for $300,000. Built in 1994, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,837 square feet of living area.

It previously sold for $260,000 in 2010.

Ashley Trace at University Place Lisbeth Frey, of North Dartmouth, Mass., sold the home at 7603 Charleston St. to Brian Welcheck and Christina Foster, of Bradenton, for $325,000. Built in 2004, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,687 square feet of living area.

Creekwood Lauren LaCost and Carol Blauvelt, of Fort Wayne, Ind., sold their home at 7510 52nd Terrace E. to Windy Borden, of Bradenton, for $295,000. Built in 1994, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,060 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $101,000 in 2013.

Peridia Anna Androsh sold the home at 5090 Kilty Court E. to John and Diane Schlitt, of Moneta, Va., for $325,000. Built in 1992, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,525 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $250,000 in 1999.

Heritage Harbour Jeffrey and Lois Prater, of Bradenton, sold their home at 116 River Enclave Court to Robert and Lynn Massaroni, of Bradenton, for $290,000. Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 1,951 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $311,700 in 2006.

Mill Creek Bradley and Cynthia Severson, of Bradenton, sold their home at 203 Mill Run E. to Trevor Sikkink and Sarah Lane, of Bradenton, for $317,500. Built in 1994, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,224 square feet of living area.

First Bank sold the home at 13539 Fourth Ave. N.E. to Peter Wills and Christine Pollard, of Bradenton, for $290,000. Built in 1999, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,461 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $421,000 in 2005.

Longpond at Mote Ranch Scott and Cynthia Davis, of

Summerfield Village Laura Macht and Thomas Giuliano sold their home at 11227 Beebalm Circle to Adam Emposimato and Carol Barna-Emposimato, of Lakewood Ranch, for $255,000. Built in 2001, it has four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 2,076 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $310,000 in 2005.

Shanna Pentico, of Sarasota, sold her home at 11258 Beebalm Circle to Gabriel Anzziani, of Lakewood Ranch, for $215,000. Built in 2000, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,528 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $208,000 in 2004.

162347

F - Sat 11am - 11pm

YourObserver.com

OPEN FOR LUNCH

Sarasota, sold their home at 6924 Superior St. Circle to Susan Byron, of Sarasota, for $310,000. Built in 1995, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,770 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $200,000 in 2009.

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Tue Blackened Shrimp & Grits $1090

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Lunch Served

COUNTY OBSERVER THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015 ExpediaEASTCruiseShipCenters in Sarasota

YourObserver.com

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®

GRAND OPENING

REALTOR FROM 11B

assume the helm of the Sarasota Association of Realtors, said his goals for 2015 changed as soon as he learned he would help lead the newly combined group.

At the top of his list was making sure the joint organization was inclusive.

“We can’t think just of what’s good for Lakewood Ranch or Anna Maria Island or downtown Sarasota,” Starcher says. “It has to be inclusive. So far, so good. I’m extremely pleased with the buzz around this whole thing. I think people really want it to work well.”

Starcher also says the organization is looking at developing a disaster plan, so that Realtors can easily volunteer. The system would provide a way to spread the word that volunteers are needed for the American Red Cross or other organizations, for example.

“Our Realtors are really involved in their communities,” Starcher said. “When you think about that, people really don’t know how entrenched a Realtor is in his community. We would like the Realtor brand to be even better than it is today, and this is a way we can help step that up a little.”

Starcher says he’s taking things month by month, but he has plenty of ideas and aspirations.

Friday, February 06 - Saturday, February 07 | 10:00am - 6:00pm Ribbon-cutting ceremony will be on February 6 at noon

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downtown Sarasota.

| 610:00am Ribbon-cutting will be February at noon Friday, February 06 - Saturday, February 07 Ribbon-cutting on February 66 at |noon - 6:00pm Friday, February 06 - ceremony Saturday, February Ribbon-cutting ceremony will be on February 07 at noon10:00am - 6:00pm | noon Friday, February 06 Saturday, February 07 10:00am - 6:00pm Ribbon-cutting ceremony will be on February 6 at Ribbon-cutting ceremony will be on February 6 at noon COME HEAR ALL ABOUT OUR AMAZING GRAND OPENING SPECIALS COME HEAR ALL ABOUT OUR AMAZING GRAND OPENING SPECIALS COME HEAR ALL ABOUT OUR AMAZING GRAND OPENING SPECIALS ceremony will on February 6 at noon COME HEARwith ALL ABOUT AMAZING GRAND OPENING Celebrate usRibbon-cutting 25 years ofOUR expertise inbe cruise and land vacations & soSPECIALS much more.

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But, there’s a “but.”

“I only have a year,” he says.

“But we do have a great organization.”

Contact Pam Eubanks at peubanks@yourobserver.com.

region is experiencing a remarkable success story in real estate,” Association President Stafford Starcher says. “Sarasota and Manatee counties have never seen this level of combined sales activity, which actually surpassed the 200405 boom of a decade ago.”

Association CEO Kathy Roberts says the achievement is even more significant considering that during the boom years some sales were counted twice because they were listed in both counties and thus counted by both Manatee and Sarasota Realtor associations.

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REALTORS HIT SALES RECORD IN 2014 The Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee released figures Jan. 23 that show 2014 home sales in Sarasota County surpassed transactions during the real estate peak of 2004, with a total of 11,500 transactions — an all-time record.

In 2004, Sarasota County had 11,482 total sales.

In Manatee County, Realtors missed the record number of sales by just 28 transactions, selling 7,976 homes compared with the 8,004 home sales record set in 2013.

“This is truly historic news and clearly demonstrates our

15B

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for the firstNEW visitors per day * BRAND LOCATION BRAND LOCATION BRAND NEW50NEW LOCATION BRAND NEW LOCATION $ $ 100 GIFT CERTIFIC 100 GIFT CERTIFIC ATESATES 100 GIFT CERTIFIC ATES BRAND NEW 100 GIFTLOCATION CERTIFIC ATES for the first 50 visitors per * day * $

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for 50first visitors per day per $ thefor per day day* * forthe the first50 50 visitors visitors 100 first GIFT CERTIFIC ATES

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5215 University Parkway, Sarasota

(941) 254 (941)(941) 2546484 6484 254 6484 (941) 254 6484 5215 University Parkway, Sarasota (941) 254 6484 5215 Parkway, Sarasota (941) 254 6484 5215 University Parkway, Sarasota 5215University University Parkway, Sarasota

www.cruiseshipcenters.com/UniversityPark

Norwegian Cruise Line®, Holland America Line or Regent Seven Seas Parkway, Cruises®. New bookings only. Limit one gift certificate per household. Non-refundable and valid until May 31, 2015 (reservation and deposit must be made before this date). This gift certificate is a receipt only and is of no mone5215 University Sarasota www.cruiseshipcenters.com/UniversityPark tary value. Cancellation or changes to booked travel are subject to anyParkway, applicable Parkway, cancellation penalties.

This gift certificate is valid only through the above Expedia CruiseShipCenters location. Onboard spending, gratuities and additional amenities are not included. Fla. Seller of Travel No. ST39279 5215 University Sarasota 5215 University Sarasota www.cruiseshipcenters.com/UniversityPark www.cruiseshipcenters.com/UniversityPark www.cruiseshipcenters.com/UniversityPark www.cruiseshipcenters.com/UniversityPark www.cruiseshipcenters.com/UniversityPark *Gift certificates are exclusively redeemed at Expedia CruiseShipCenters in Sarasota: 5215 University Parkway, Sarasota, F1 34201. Gift certificate is redeemable for a $100 onboard cash credit on any 6-night or longer cruise with Celebrity Cruises®, Royal Caribbean International®, Princes Cruises®,

www.cruiseshipcenters.com/UniversityPark

*Gift certificates are exclusively redeemed at Expedia CruiseShipCenters in Sarasota: 5215 University Parkway, Sarasota, F1 34201. Gift certificate is redeemable for a $100 onboard cash credit on any 6-night or longer cruise with Celebrity Cruises®, Royal Caribbean International®, Princes Cruises®, *Gift certificates are exclusively redeemed at Expedia CruiseShipCenters in Sarasota: 5215 University Parkway, Sarasota, F1 34201. Gift certificate is redeemable for a $100 onboard cash credit on any 6-night or longer cruise with Celebrity Cruises®, Royal Caribbean International®, Princes Cruises®, *Gift certificates are exclusively redeemed CruiseShipCenters Sarasota: 5215 University Parkway, Sarasota, 34201. Gift certificate is redeemable forMay a $100 onboard cash credit any 6-night longer cruise Celebrity Caribbean Princes Cruises®, Norwegian Cruise Line®, Holland America Lineat orExpedia Regent Seven Seas Cruises®.in New bookings only.

Limit one gift certificate perF1 household.

Non-refundable and valid until 31, 2015 (reservation and on deposit must beormade before thiswith date).

This giftCruises®, certificateRoyal is a receipt only International®, and is of no moneNorwegian Cruise Line®, Holland America Line or Regent Seven Seas Cruises®. New bookings only. Limit one gift certificate per household. Non-refundable and valid until May 31, 2015 (reservation and deposit must be made before this date). This gift certificate is a receipt only and is of no monetary value. Cancellation or Holland changesAmerica to booked travel are subject to any cancellation penalties.

This gift is validper only through the above Expediaand CruiseShipCenters spending, gratuities andbe additional amenities are notThis included.

Fla. SellerisofaTravel No. ST39279 Norwegian Cruise Line®, Line or Regent Seven Seasapplicable Cruises®.

New bookings only. cancellation Limit onecertificate gift certificate household.

Non-refundable valid until Maylocation.

31, 2015Onboard (reservation and deposit must made before this date). gift certificate receipt only and is of no monetary value.

Cancellation or changes to booked travel are subject to 5215 any applicable penalties. This gift certificate is valid only through the for above Expedia CruiseShipCenters location.

Onboardorspending, gratuities and additional amenities areCaribbean not included.

Fla. Seller of Travel No. ST39279 *Gifttary certificates are exclusively redeemed at Expedia CruiseShipCenters in in Sarasota: Parkway, Sarasota, 34201. certificate is redeemable aonboard $100 onboard cash on any 6-night longer cruise with Celebrity Royal International®, Cruises®, value.

Cancellation changes to booked are CruiseShipCenters subject to any applicable cancellation penalties.

This Sarasota, gift certificate is valid only through the above Expedia location. gratuities and additional amenities are not included.

Fla.Princes Seller of Travel No.Princes ST39279 *Gift certificates are or exclusively redeemed attravel Expedia Sarasota: 5215University University Parkway, F1F1 34201.

GiftGift certificate is redeemable for a $100CruiseShipCenters cash credit on credit any Onboard 6-night orspending, longer cruise with Celebrity Cruises®, RoyalCruises®, Caribbean International®, Cruises®, Norwegian Cruise Line®, America Line or Regent Seven Seas Cruises®.

New Limitone onegift giftcertificate certificate household.

Non-refundable anduntil valid until 2015 (reservation and deposit must be made before Thisisgift certificate is aisreceipt only and is of no moneNorwegian CruiseHolland Line®, Holland America Line or Regent Seven Seas Cruises®.

Newbookings bookings only. only. Limit perper household.

Non-refundable and valid May 31,May 201531, (reservation and deposit must be made before this date).

Thisthis gift date). certificate a receipt only and of no monetary value.tary Cancellation or changes to booked traveltravel are subject to any applicable Thisgift giftcertificate certificate is valid through the above Expedia CruiseShipCenters Onboard gratuities spending, gratuities and additional amenities included. of Travel No. ST39279 value. Cancellation or changes to booked are subject to any applicablecancellation cancellation penalties. penalties. This is valid onlyonly through the above Expedia CruiseShipCenters location. location.

Onboard spending, and additional amenities are not included.are Fla.not Seller of TravelFla. No.Seller ST39279

*Gift certificates are exclusively redeemed at Expedia CruiseShipCenters in Sarasota: 5215 University Parkway, Sarasota, F1 34201. Gift certificate is redeemable for a $100 onboard cash credit on any 6-night or longer cruise, balcony category or higher with Celebrity Cruises®, Royal Caribbean International®, Princes Cruises®, Norwegian Cruise Line®, Holland America Line or Regent Seven Seas Cruises®. New bookings only. Limit one gift certificate per household. Non-refundable and valid until May 31, 2015 (reservation and deposit must be made before this date). This gift certificate is a receipt only and is of no monetary value. Cancellation or changes to booked travel are subject to any applicable cancellation penalties. This gift certificate is valid only through the above Expedia CruiseShipCenters location. Onboard spending, gratuities and additional amenities are not included.

Fla. Seller of Travel No. ST39279 162437

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16B

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

FORECAST

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

THURSDAY, FEB. 5

WEAT HER

High: 68 Low: 44 Chance of rain: 90%

FRIDAY, FEB. 6 High: 67 Low: 45 Chance of rain: 0%

SUNRISE / SUNSET Sunrise

Sunset

Thursday, Feb. 5

7:15a

6:14p

Friday, Feb. 6

7:14a

6:15p

Saturday, Feb. 7

7:14a

6:16p

Sunday, Feb. 8

7:13a

6:16p

Monday, Feb. 9

7:12a

6:17p

Tuesday, Feb. 10

7:12a

6:18p

Wednesday, Feb. 11

7:11a

6:19p

MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, FEB. 7 High: 73 Low: 48 Chance of rain: 0%

Feb. 11 Last

High: 75 Low: 56 Chance of rain: 0%

Visit YourObserver.com to submit your local weather or nature-related photos. Each weekly winner will be entered into a monthly drawing for a $25 gift card. One grand prize winner will receive a $5,000 flooring makeover, to be announced in October.*

Feb. 25 First

March 5 Full

RAINFALL

SUNDAY, FEB. 8 Mary Hoeymans submitted this sunset photo, taken from her backyard in Lakewood Ranch.

Feb. 18 New

Tuesday, Jan. 27

0.00

Wednesday, Jan. 28

0.00

Thursday, Jan. 29

0.00

Friday, Jan. 30

0.00

Saturday, Jan. 31

0.00

Sunday, Feb. 1

0.00

Monday, Feb. 2

0.20

*Grand prize winner must own a home in Sarasota or Manatee counties.

ONLINE

Enter your photos and see all the winning photos

at YourObserver.com/weather and by visiting The Observer’s Facebook page

YEAR TO DATE:

MONTH TO DATE:

2015 1.27 in.

2015 0.20 in.

2014 2.11 in.

2014 0.01 in.

4551 N. Washington Blvd.,Sarasota • 941.355.8437 2510 1st Street W., Bradenton • 941.748.4679 1734 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice • 941.493.7441

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CRYPTOQUIZ

POINT TAKEN by Jessica C. Crawford 112 Catcher’s need 113 “___ as good a time as any” 116 Owl noises 118 Temporary period 122 Not aboveboard 126 Part of the brain 128 Tire mishap 129 Spine-tinglingly weird 130 Arrival island for many 131 Trouble spot for Indiana Jones 132 Forms an opinion 133 Corn-chip dip

DOWN

©2015 Universal Uclick

ACROSS

35 Story with bite 38 Moisten, as a roast 1 Capo’s group 40 “If ___ told you once ...”

6 Pasta, potatoes and such 43 Bro or 18-Down, e.g.

11 Swimmers’ woes 45 “Long ___ ...”

19 “Dynasty” actress Linda 46 Temporary paper cur20 Garlicky garnish rency 21 Swallow routes 48 Earth, air, fire or water, 22 Common tablet PC e.g. feature 51 Rock with value 24 Waterproof roof joints 52 Bodybuilder’s exercise 25 Architectural band 54 ___ Bell (fast-food 26 ___ Arabia chain) 28 Jack and Jill’s carryall 55 Respect for others’ 29 Island near Java beliefs 30 Make fun of 57 Come up again 32 Examine, as evidence

59 Opposite of apex 62 Grand ___ (vintage) 63 Better suited 64 Refuse receptacle 66 Assessor 68 Like Scrooge McDuck 70 ___ carotene 71 Facial flaw 74 Drive-___ window 75 Producing an effect 78 “___ Man” (Village People hit) 79 Fishing nets 82 Civil War general 83 “Born in the ___” (Springsteen tune)

www.manasotaonline.com

154722

a a reflection reflection of of nature’s nature’s beauty beauty

1 “I never ___ man I didn’t like” 2 The Bard’s river 3 Goat-legged deity 4 Demons that prey upon sleepers 5 Masonry stones 6 Desert growths 7 Balloon’s filling 8 Some reddish deer 9 Sounds from a flock 10 Curve in and out 11 Amazon zapper 12 “... and make it fast!”

13 Santa ___, California 14 Sap-sucking insect genus 15 Hotdog topper, sometimes 16 Harrison in “Star Wars” 17 Breakfast item 18 Sibling, in brief 23 Cull 86 Vacation memento 24 “Jaws” sighting 88 Have a funny feeling 27 Two-person fight 89 Next life 31 Malayan island 91 Unwritten test 33 Ones leading the pack 93 ___ good example 34 Toyota model 94 Cause wonder 35 Pelvic bones 95 Small hairpieces 36 Fevers with chills 98 Tiniest bits 37 Leaders of movements 100 Radiation dosage 38 Antacid, for short 101 Fold, spindle or mutilate 39 Having no feet 102 Air pressure meas.

41 Soft palate 103 Overturn or overthrow 42 Hurricane heading, 105 Gentlemen (Abbr.) sometimes 107 “Answer, please” 44 Distrustful (Abbr.)

47 Bled in the laundry 110 Cook’s covering 49 “... yadda, yadda,

yadda” 50 Bad-mouths 53 Swiss canton or its capital 56 Mimicries 58 Knocking noise 60 Agendum, e.g.

61 Amend, as an atlas section 65 Actress Fabray, for short 67 With money to burn 69 “___ your call” 72 Guaranteed winner 73 Drag race participant 75 Old Irish memorial inscription 76 Period before a conflict 77 Ballerina’s skirts 80 “Steer” anagram 81 Parts of a baseball 84 Old photo tone 85 “___ we having fun yet?”

87 Bran type 90 Affected dandy 92 Thin plate or layer 96 Continental currency 97 Parodied 99 Colonizes 104 Main dish 106 “A Streetcar Named Desire” role 108 Sweater style 109 ___-cochere (carriage entrance) 111 Impressive degree 112 Pesky arachnids 114 Defeat a la Ali 115 Mumbai dress 117 In need of a massage 119 Bagel kin 120 Large wading bird 121 Clifflike, flat-topped elevation 122 ___ and downs 123 Her life is in order?

124 Modern evidence 125 Tennis court divider 127 “Bus” or “rod” starter

Each of the following cryptograms is a clue to the identity of a renowned dancer.

Using the hints A=E and C=R, decipher the clues to name the dancer.

1. H U F A C B 2. K G C U B O K X A 3. K X W Q A H B A R Q C E 4. H E J X A X A E D C E L 5. M G O Q A G U N R A This dancer has been called the “Picasso of Dance”:

SUDOKU

Solve the puzzle by placing the numbers 1 through 9 in each row, column and box.

Difficulty: Hard

02-05-15

CLASSIFIEDS

Thursday, FEBRUARY DATE, 2015 5, 2015

The East County 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 East County 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.

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

Items Under $200 For Sale

Personals

2 CHAIRS: swivel, upholstered, $90 each Call 941-756-6425.

*ADOPTION*: ART Classes to Zoo Trips & Everything in Between, 1st baby will be our King/Queen.

FLBar 42311. 1-800-552-0045.

Expenses paid. *Uma & Darren*

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

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

Business Opportunities JAN PRO CLEANING FRANCHISE: $950 Down Required, Financing Available for growth, Includes customers. Earn up to $10,000 Month+.

Call 941-907-8141.

Help Wanted DRIVERS: $5,000 Sign-On Bonus! Great Pay! Consistent Freight, Great Miles on this Regional Account. Werner Enterprises: 1-855-517-2507.

TAMMIE’S PATIO BOUTIQUE Showroom Manager Sales Associates (experience in retail sales a must) Administrative Assistant (computer skills required) For consideration, please send resume to: Email: tammie@tammiespatio.com

Commercial Property For Rent RETAIL 850/SQ.FT.: $1100/mo. (triple net).

2083 Siesta Dr. Call Fred, 941-922-3428.

Condos For Sale FREE! What every Real Estate buyer or seller needs to know!

Go to: www.yourmarketupdate.com

Homes For Sale TRUE 4BR+DEN, 3BA/2.5CG, Built 2006.

Accented with pillars, crown moulding, landscaping, granite. $350,000. Brooke O’Malley, CLUB REALTY 941-726-2677

Open House

BOWFLEX EXTREME Home Gym set. Hardly used, excellent condition, $200. (941)685−2756.

GOTTA CAR You Wanna Sell?

The good, the bad, or the ugly.

Call now!

727-400-1910.

WE BUY CARS. TOP $$ PAID FOR YOUR VEHICLES. Call Hawley Motors, 941-923-3421.

Garage/Moving/Estate Sales MOVING SALE: 6645 Cheswick St., The Carlyle in Palm Aire, 2/6, 8-3pm.

Merchandise Wanted CASH FOR Old Military Items. Swords, uniforms, insignia & old guns. Call 941-416-3280.

COINS, STAMPS, GOLD & SILVER WANTED. Paying Spot on Gold Bullion. IMMEDIATE PAYMENT. Suncoast Stamp Company, 8520 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 941-921-9761

Pools/Spas

Landscaping & Lawn Service

D L O S

BRAZILIAN CLEANING Service by Maria.

Residential. Meticulous Cleaning. Excellent References. Free Estimates. Reliable. Lic./ Ins. 941-400-3342.

CLEANING. RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL. We take pride in pleasing customers.

Vacation Homes, Resorts, Schools, Churches, 941-756-4570.

RESIDENTIAL CLEANING. 10 Years Experience.

Reliable. Dependable. Professional. Friendly www.yourobserver.com Service. Call 860-333-4574.

955.4888

RESIDENTIAL CLEANING. Dependable and detailed. 941-744-7983.

LAKEWOOD RANCH RANCH LAWN LAWN & & LANDSCAPE LANDSCAPE LAKEWOOD LLC. Unhappy Unhappy with with your your current current lawn lawn service? service?

LLC. Try us us for for free! free! First First week week free free with with no no contract contract Try when switching switching from from current current company. company. We We offer offer when complete lawn lawn care care and and landscaping landscaping services. services. complete FREE ESTIMATES. ESTIMATES. 941-373-5110.

941-373-5110.

FREE

Ann Newberry: 224-8806 Keller Williams Realty

4 Bil 4 Org 4 Bu 4 Fed

Painting/Wallpapering Masonry

CARLO DATTILO PAINTING. Licensed & insured.

Interior/ Exterior painting drywall repair ALL TYPES OFincluding MASONRY andSpecializing retexturing.inWallpaper installation pavers, & removal, concrete driveways, pressure washing.

Residential & commercial, decorative concrete, stone work, patios. condos.

Free estimates.

CallHonest for free & andreliable. honest estimates.

941-744-1020. 35+ years experience.

941-525-2435

Pet Services Painting/Wallpapering Painting/Wallpapering

yo

Team

“K-9 BOOT CAMP” CARLO DATTILO PAINTING. Licensed program. & insured.

Professional in-kennel pet obedience Interior/ painting including drywall 40 Exterior Acre facility.

35 years proven results.repair and retexturing.

Wallpaper installation Lakewood Ranch area. & removal, pressure washing.

Residential commercial, Von Asgard K-9 Center,&Inc. condos. Honest & - reliable.

Boarding Training - Free Sales.estimates.

941-744-1020. 35+941-322-0705 years experience. www.VonAsgard.com

DOGGY FREE D 3925 B doggyho

Tax $eason Is

7365 MERCHANT CT. #6 • SARASOTA PRESSURE WASHING: Computer Services Commercial. ECO Cleaning.

Residential

and

Roofs, lanais, pool 941-755-9700 COMPUTER TECHNICAL Support. H/W & S/W areas, etc. Roof coating also. 941-251-5948. problems solved.

Virus/Malware removal; www.cozzetteaccouting.com data recovery; Networking/ Internet Issues; Professional Services Upgrades; A+, Network+ Cert. Tech. Navy trained electronics tech veteran. 941-225-0046.

NEW YEAR Specials Water Heaters − Standard 40 gal. Electric in Home Improvement/ Remodeling Open Area $549.00 installed.

(941) 376−1185 FRED’S HOME IMPROVEMENT AND REPAIR. (Individual & Business) Painting, tile, kitchen backsplash, windows, RANCH CORPORATE PARK drywall, LAKEWOOD fans, just ask! 941-744-7473.

Accounting Services 7365 MERCHANT CT. #6 • SARASOTA Visit us online at IRS Representation CLASSIFIED LINE AD PRICE www.yourobserver.com

A

941-755-9700

$ First 15 words .....................................

17.50 per week www.cozzetteaccouting.com Each Add’l word .......................................................50¢ 15% DISCOUNT for 4 weekENROLLED Run DAVID COZZETTE AGENT AND MEMBER OFanswers N.A.E.A. This week’s Cryptoquiz Yellow color $5 per Week • Border as low as $3 per Week 1) Modern, 2) Chronicle,

Call: 955-4888 Tax Services (Individual & Business) Email: classified@yourobserver.com Online: www.YourObserver.com

3) Clytemnestra, 4) Maple Leaf Rag, 5) White House, Martha Graham

Accounting Services EAST COUNTY IRS Representation

This week’s Sudoku answers

Observer LONGBOAT

Observer

Have Your Taxes Prepare

Call For An Appoint

Reserved Space LP Reserved Spac

SARASOTA

Individual Tax Returns • Bu Accounting Services • P HOUSE CLASSIFIEDS LP # 56733 IRS Resolutions • Ta

Observer

IN E S I T week’s Crossword Certified answers Public VER MarkThisR. Smith, D A .

S 115 Tamiami Trail N. • Suite 7, Nokomis, ULT S E R T E 941-375-4118 • www.swagcpa GE PLAC RKET D MA 888 SSIFIE ALL 955-4 E CLA C IN L N M OR O HE O C .

T R IT IS VE ORE V ROBSER RN M U A O E L TO DS.Y SIFIE CLAS

HOT TUB with lounger, never used, maintenance free cabinet, 110 or 220 volt, can deliver, $1895.

941-462-0633.

“I am a CPA who provides personal se

Wright Accounting, Inc.

1226 N Tamiami Trail Suite 2oo • Sarasota, FL

Good Things To Eat FULL BAKERY. Custom baked cakes for any occasions. Red Barn Market #135. 713−1619.

P

THE CONCIERGE PROPERTY SERVICES. MOBILE GROOMING dogs. Call for appointment, Affordable, trustworthy, quality Housekeeping and www.furrytails4grooming.com or 795-0303.

Home Management. Great references from happy, LAKEWOOD RANCH CORPORATE PARK satisfied clients available. 941-320-2469.

Pressure Cleaning

134679

OPEN SUNDAY 1p.m. to 3p.m.

6611 Tailfeather Way Tara Preserve $269,900.

Maintenance Free - Golf Course Views 2BD/Den/2BA/2CG

BRAND NEW Serta Queen Pillowtop Mattress Set. Willing to sacrifice for $150. Need to sell quickly!

(941)387-4810.

YOU

Tax Services

Flooring

Furnishings

DO YOU Transpo Doctor Theater, houseke

Air Conditioning GULFSIDE A/C & Heating, LLC. SALES & SERVLandscaping Lawn Service ICE, FREE ESTIMATES!&10 MINUTE RESPONSE. DE LA ROSA LAWN CARE - Family owned and Visa/MC/Disc.

Lic. #CAC1816929 941-962-6863. operated. Now accepting new clients. Free estimates. No Auto yard too big or too small. Serving Transport Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch and Sarasota. Tony SHIP YOUR CAR, TRUCK OR SUV anywhere in De La Rosa, owner and operator 813-900-4056. the United States. Great rates, fast quotes. Call Licensed and Insured.

Hawley Motors, 941-923-3421.

GENTLEMAN GARDENER. Refine your space.

15 years LW RanchCleaning resident. I’m in your backyard!

941-724-5792.

BLUE FISH CLEANING INC. 941-705-3812.

Insured, Bonded. Affordable reliable home cleaning, $80, 2 cleaners, 2 hours.

w

Landscaping & & Lawn Lawn Service Service Landscaping Landscaping Lawn Service

PERSONALIZED INDIVIDUAL CARE IN YOUR HOME. Offering non-medical and medical care STEVE ALLEN FLOOR COVERINGS developed and designed for your wants and needs. PROFESSIONAL Includes: Homemaking, TILE & errands, MARBLEdoctor’s visits, transportation, meal prep in conjunction INSTALLATION with special dietary needs & medication supervision (plus so much more). For more details 20 YRS. EXPERIENCE call 941.377.4465 or visit our website at www.EldercareSarasota.com or E-mail us at: CALL FOR FREE ESTIMATE EldercareSRQ@aol.com.

Lic# 30211372, Bonded 726-1802 and Insured.

LIC/ INS

DAVID COZZETTE ENROLLED AGENT AND MEMBER OF N.A.E.A.

Autos Wanted

WE’RE NOT YOUR ORDINARY FLOORING INSTALLERS! We are more. We have multiple crews with over 20 years experience to master your tile and wood flooring installation. We specialize in tile that looks like wood, offset, patterns, and more. Call us.

You won’t regret it. Fully Licensed and Insured.

Joe Davis, 941.929.3000.

Adult Care Services Home Remodeling Home Improvement/ Improvement/Remodeling

134679

ADVERTISE YOUR MERCHANDISE with the total value of all items $200 or less in this section for FREE! Limit 1 ad per month, 15 words or less. Price must be included next to each item. No commercial advertising.

Ad runs 2 consecutive weeks in 1 Observer.

(No phone calls please.)

(Please provide your name and address) Email ad to: classified@yourobserver.com Online at: www.yourobserver.com Or mail to: The Observer Group P.O. Box 3169 Sarasota, Fl 34230 AUTO FLOOR mats! 2 pc. black, embossed W/Logo. Unused. Fits Grand Caravan 2012/15. $30. 941-228-0306.

AUTOGRAPHED: MLB, NFL & PGA Cards. Berra, Unitas, Nicklaus, $50/ea. 941-739-8272.

BONE CHINA: complete set, white/silver trim, $150. 941-907-8938.

CABINET: 53WX44"HX19"H, oak and glass, $100.

3 tiered walnut stand, $75. 630-605-3371.

HOLLYWOOD PICTURES: Miracle Star Shirley Temple, and Judy Garland (500). $200 for collection. 941-360-3557.

LEATHER RECLINER: New, off white. Sacrifice. $100. 941-358-6130 ROCKING CHAIR: Excellent condition. Solid wood (maple). $20. 941-773-4952.

ROMAN TUB Faucet: Elegant, new in box.

Chrome, polished brass. Only $79 O/B/O. 941-358-5270.

TABLES: COFFEE and end: square, bronzed metal frames, glass/ leather tops, $95/65.

941-792-5632.

TABLES: SOLID oak, glass-top, matching, oval coffee table and round end table. $150 for both.

941-907-6720.

TAYLOR MADE Bag & Clubs. LH, 3 through P/W, Driver & Odyssey Putter. $100. 941-758-1999

LV9431

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER INFO & RATES: 941-955-4888 • Fax: 941-362-4808 • EMAIL: classified@yourobserver.com • ONLINE:THE classifieds.yourobserver.com THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2014 HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 8:30am-5pm • DEADLINES: Classifieds - Monday at Noon • Service Directory - Friday at 3pm • PAYMENT: Check or Credit Card Thursday, March Cash, 6, 2014

%

10ount

Disc ew

Working together for success sin

Want your taxes prepared by experienced pro resulting in the lowest tax possible? Want all upscale, private setting at a reasonable f 2015

18B Classifieds 18B

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

THE EAST COUNTY OBSERV YourObserver.com Thursday, February 5, 2015

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

|

www.yourobserver.com

ALUMINUM

COMPUTER

LV9459

SERVICE DIRECTORY

HOME SERVICES

AMEROVENT

Insured

www.amerovent.net

DRYER VENT CLEANING SPECIALISTS Are You Having Dryer DifďŹ culties? â&#x20AC;˘ Dryer hot but clothes still wet after (1) drying cycle? â&#x20AC;˘ Dryer gets hot to the touch or doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t heat up at all?

Yoder Aluminum Inc.

Take a simple test to see if your vent is clogged. Unhook your dryer vent & compare drying time.

3680109-01

ANTIQUES/COLLECTIBLES

CONSTRUCTION t o Lis r TonteDrior-Exteturiocco

Let Us Handle Your Estate Sale

162190

I

Insured & bonded

Antiques and Chatchkes Conducting Estate Sales Since 1990

es/S g Finish ll Finishin a w y r D oring Flo ss Block ing Gla dow Wash 53 Win 01-97

SE HABLA ESPANOL

LET US HELP!

100

$

ARTISAN

CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, LLC

artisancsllc@gmail.com 941-2-822-1860 COVERING ALL OF SARASOTA AND MANATEE COUNTIES 941

With Interior Design Plan

RedeďŹ ning Interior Design

www.chiconthecheap.net chiconthecheap@gmail.com

A FULL SERVICE IRRIGATION COMPANY

DOORS

Maintenance - Repair -Installation

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Sliding Glass Door Repair

rain sensors

20 any irrigation

$

â&#x20AC;&#x153;FIX IT - DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T REPLACEâ&#x20AC;?

www.antiquesandchatchkes.com

SUNCOAST SPRINKLER CO, LLC

Irrigation Systems â&#x20AC;˘ Maintenance & Repairs Pumps â&#x20AC;˘ Valves â&#x20AC;˘ Controllers â&#x20AC;˘ Sprayheads System Revamps â&#x20AC;˘ Maintenance Contracts â&#x20AC;˘ Installations

APPLIANCE REPAIR

ELECTRIC

Appliance Repair

CALL 24/7 â&#x20AC;˘ RESIDENTIAL SPECIALISTS FOR ALL YOUR ELECTRICAL NEEDS!

(When completed in one trip)

Mel Steverson â&#x20AC;˘ 941-526-6832

941-779-3665 Licensed & Insured

KITCHEN/BATH REMODELING

SAVE $50

160632

/LFHQVHG DQG ,QVXUHG (6

The Service DirecTory

941.727.0272

FURNITURE REPAIR

WorkS for you!

PATIO REPAIRS, INC PATIO REPAIRS 941-504-0903

/54$//2 &52.)452% %80%243 s 777 0!4)/2%0!)23 .%4

CABINET MAKING

CABINET MAKER

HANDYMAN â&#x20AC;&#x153;The smallest things make the biggest differenceâ&#x20AC;?

Quality Work â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Affordably Priced

161139

160325

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10 YEARS EXPERIENCE â&#x20AC;˘ SERVING ALL OF MANATEE CO. www.agnershandyman.wix.com/handyman

941.587.8093

HANDYHANDZ Experienced â&#x20AC;˘ Reasonable Rates

Just call Paul â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 941-264-6990

CLEANING

955-4888

SMALL ENGINE REPAIRS

YARD & POWER EQUIPMENT SPECIALISTS Lawn mowers, chain saws, generators, grass trimmers, hedge trimmers, pressure washers, parts and more

www.smallenginerepairs.us

Call us: 941-739-5102

Small Engine Repairs, 5002 Lena Road, Unit 107, Bradenton, 34211 (off I75/SR70 E) 160083

LAWN TOPDRESSING

DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T LET YOUR

DRYER START A FIRE!

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160631

162191

Call Paradise Dryer Vent Cleaning Today

Dryers and washing machines were involved www.paradisedryervent.com in one out of every 22 home structure ďŹ res LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED reported to U.S. ďŹ re departments in 2006-2010.

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Pick-up & delivery service 162036

www.themastercabinetmaker.com

in the Service Directory

Visit our attractive showroom for friendly & informed sales advice from industry-trained technicians.

Quality Home Repairs â&#x20AC;˘ Odd Jobs

Palmetto

Grow your business

LAWN CARE

Agnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Handyman Home Services

INC.

Truly Custom Cabinets made in Palmetto, FL Design and Remodeling â&#x20AC;˘ Custom Countertops Custom special cabinets for mobile homes

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Call 955-4888 to reserve your space.

941-723-0278

Free Estimates

ON WORK COMPLETED!

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MOST REPAIRS Plus Parts $ at Retail

â&#x20AC;˘ Refrigerators â&#x20AC;˘ Ranges â&#x20AC;˘ Washers & Dryers â&#x20AC;˘ Ovens â&#x20AC;˘ Dishwashers â&#x20AC;˘ Icemakers (Frig. only) â&#x20AC;˘ Stoves

941-888-2988 FREE ESTIMATES rainscapeďŹ&#x201A;.com

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941.356.3318

161272

Calls Answered 24/7

160081

New Deluxe Rollers Will Make Your Doors Roll Better Than Ever Call Mark 928-2263 proslidingglassdoorrepair.com

$ OFF repair over 100

161550

FREE

YOUR SAFETY IS PRICELESS! 941. 979. 2707

CHEAP

IRRIGATION

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Consultation On-site By Appointment

The Master

CHIC

In-Home Consultation

Furniture â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Oil Paintings â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Collectibles & Other Antiques

85

Mark Daltonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on the

1-866-663-6062

Local Ads at Your Fingertips

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Once piece or entire estate Estate Jewelry, Sterling, Gold & Diamonds.

Highest Prices Paid on Estates

HOLIDAY PROJECTS GOT YOU DOWN?

16154

161129

15505 Lemon Fish Dr. Bradenton, FL 34202 OfďŹ ce 941-650-9790

160080

Dustin Yoder yoderaluminum@gmail.com

Commercial

161140

Yoderaluminum.com

941-705-5468

INTERIOR DESIGN

Friendly, Expert Computer Repairs

161547

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Specializing in 6â&#x20AC;? Seamless Guttersâ&#x20AC;?

Residential

â&#x20AC;˘ Topdressing is adding a compost/topsoil mix to rejuvenate your soil structure â&#x20AC;˘ Plant and weed problems can often be attributed to poor soils â&#x20AC;˘ Helps suppress disease-causing bacteria and fungus â&#x20AC;˘ Helps lawn retain moisture and nutrients longer making it less susceptible to drought

Only organic and sterile material used Joey McKinney

941-705-0106

joey@ďŹ&#x201A;oridatopdressing.comâ&#x20AC;˘www.ďŹ&#x201A;oridatopdressing.com

160384

THE EAST COUNTY OBSERVER Thursday, February 5, 2015 YourObserver.com

Classifieds 19B

www.yourobserver.com EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

19B

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

|

MOVERS

PET SITTING

160238

Leave your fur kids in their environment with trusted, loving care!

Providing quality pet care for 10 years!

No extra charge for multiple pets & Holidays!

EXCELLENT REFERENCES

480-694-0756

PAINTING

NEW YEAR SPECIAL!

941-713-0432 Direct 941-739-6777 Office

NEW CUSTOMERS

KIM KESLING WILLIAMS - Owner Interior • Exterior • Power Washing Carpentry • Minor Home Repairs • Odd Jobs

65

$

Certified & Insured References available

PER MONTH ONLY!

FREE ESTIMATES & ADVICE!

941.321.4582 suzettefive@yahoo.com FREE ESTIMATES

ll County Painting

Reliable, personal service from business owner.

Call 941-705-0400 NOW! www.blissfulpools.com

5 yr. spot free warranty

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10 SAVINGS %

Before

LOWEST PRICES

Professional Products Not Sold in Stores 80% Less Over Pest Control Co.

ScreenRe-screen ProsSpecialists and More

LICENSED & INSURED. Ask for Doug. 162192

528 E. Brandon Blvd.

813-651-4477

Five years in a row

If my enthusiasm doesn’t win you over,my Long list of Happy Clients will!

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161775

SCREENING

After

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TREES

NATIVE CUT TREE SERVICE

• Best Price on Palm Trimming Call Bob • Storm Preparation, Hauling & Mulching • Landscape Design & Installation 780-2267 • Monthly Shrub Pruning Licensed Landscape ANY OUTDOOR PROJECT & Insured

All Tree Work

Residential & Commercial

Renovations

WINDOWS Lic./Ins. se Window Washin i r n Su and Pressure Cleaning g

Res./Com. 160633

Brandon

922-1817

941-748-7400

Specializing in East Manatee and Lakewood Ranch

BUG BUSTERS

5900 Tamiami Trail

With this ad

Laurie Fox, Realtor SRES, SNS, SMS, E-Pro

Do-It Yourself Pest Control

746-6654

FREE ESTIMATES

Residential/Commercial Roofing • Specializing in Roof Repairs

REALTORS www.EastManateeProperty.com

PEST CONTROL

Yards • Business

Bisson Roofing Inc. Licensed & Insured • RC0067420 • NO HIDDEN COSTS Owner Supervises Every Job

ƚŽƉϮďŽƚƚŽŵƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞǁĂƐŚŝŶŐ͘ĐŽŵ

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Stop Ants • Spiders • Bed Bugs Roaches • Fleas • Ticks • House Termites

www.PantherHydroCleaning.com

161551

161773

941-737-4483

160649

a FREE estimate!

Place Your Ad Quickly

3790 14th St. W.

classifieds.yourobserver.com

160635

160798

Commercial

941-726-7077

Sarasota

Place Your Ad Online 24/7 ROOFING

• Interior & Exterior Painting & Wallcovering • Full Service Interior Design & Color Selection Assistance • Over 30 Years Experience Need a Referral? Matt Arndt, Owner Call today for

Bradenton

Rita@ TheLaskyTeam.com 160643

Houses, Pool Cage & Decks, Fences, Driveways & Walks Irrigation, Fertilizer, Rust & Battery Stain Removal

LAKEWOOD RANCH PAINTING

at

Rita Ferrell Lasky 941-780-3579

Harold@ TheLaskyTeam.com

BIODEGRADABLE PRODUCTS

Pressure Cleaning & Soft Washing Residential and Commercial

Call Steven@

Ask a Neighbor!

Harold Lasky 941-780-8514

SAFE ROOF CLEANING

Pressure Washing “Professional, Dependable and Reliable”

Residential

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices - Florida Realty

POWER WASHING

Interior / Exterior

allcounty-painting.com LICENSED AND INSURED

www.floridamoves.com/lora.carpenter

FULL WEEKLY POOL SERVICE

160086

160067

KK Painting and Handyman Services LICENSED

Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate 11215 State Road 70 #105 Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202

160620

Operator/Owner

POOLS

160224

LOCAL - LONG DISTANCE FREE ESTIMATES Phone (941) 704-4278 Fax (941) 538-3781 dmccarthy114@hotmail.com

Lora Carpenter, Realtor

tikitimepetcare@gmail.com

161774

“Will move anything from a couch to a household”

Dave McCarthy

REALTORS

TIKI TIME PET SITTING IN-HOME PET SITTING!

Dave McCarthy

I.C.C 361253 • DOT 812623 FL MOVERS #IM1102

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

LONDON BAY HOMES PROUDLY PRESENTS

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INSIDE: ARTS + CULTURE Master Builder David P. Gordon creates Sarasota’s operatic world. 7 Fashionistas for a Cause Fashion-forward locals get behind the bar for a good cause. 5

BLACK

EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

TIE

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

Photos by Heather Merriman

Above: John and Debra Sandefur Right: Amy Kaiser gets her face painted by Suzy Kalin

Circus Arts Gala HONORING TANA SANDEFUR

Gabriel and Kim Dominguez

Friday, Jan. 30, Under the Big Top at Nathan Benderson Park Benefiting The Circus Arts Conservatory Sarasota Honorary Co-Chairs: Jennifer Saslaw and Betty Schoenbaum

T

he lights atop the Circus Sarasota Big Top were shining the evening of Friday, Jan. 30, for the 2015 Circus Arts Gala. This year’s gala, held at its new location at Nathan Benderson Park, was dedicated to the late Tana Sandefur, a local philanthropist whose dedication and passion for The Circus Arts Conservatory dates back to its earliest days. More than 500 guests donning their interpretation of “circus glamorous” attire attended the event, which was expected to net more than $100,000 for the Circus Arts Conservatory.

Honorary Co-Chair Betty Schoenbaum and Jeremy Lisitza

THE MENU

The 2015 Circus Arts Gala menu featured a collection of Tana’s favorite foods.

Passed hors d’oeuvres — Tana’s favorite snacks, including potato pancakes, mini bison burgers and chicken nuggets

HEATHER MERRIMAN | BLACK TIE EDITOR

Above: Dolly JacobsReis and Pedro Reis Left: Lynn Barrie and Frances Broussard

Jonathan McCague with Bob and Joan Tufts

Entrée — A chateau of beef served as a nod to the hearty Midwest, where Tana was born Dessert — A tribute to Tana’s sweet tooth, dessert included a candied apple, a popcorn ball and a waffle-cone clown filled with chocolate mousse (right).

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

Sarasota Opera Gala: ‘A Wedding to Remember’ Saturday, Jan. 31, at Hyatt Regency Sarasota Benefiting Sarasota Opera

Above: Scott Anderson, Pam and Jerry Claiborne and Richard Russell

Above: Sandy and U.S. Rep Vern Buchanan, Teri Hansen and Wanda and Harold Libby

Photos by Heather Merriman

Above: Les and Chairwoman Carol Brualdi Left: Jerry and Wendy Feinstein

Above: Jennifer Rust and Amanda Pileggi. Left: Marsha Johnson, Bill Lloyd and Hillary Steele

DISCOVER WHAT’S ON NEW STAGES: ETHEL’S Documerica FEb 20 & 21, 7:30 pM $20–$30 / $10 with College ID A visual and musical snapshot of America in the 1970s, Documerica pairs ETHEL’s dynamic playing with photos from the National Archives.

Tickets on sale now!

Saturday, March 7, 2015 Sarasota Polo Club, Lakewood Ranch

3:00 pm 4:00 pm 6:00 pm 7:00 pm

RiNGLiNG uNdERGRouNd FEb 5, 8:00 pM, $10 Adult / Free with College ID Enjoy live music and art in the Museum of Art Courtyard. Check out up-and-coming artists.

Select galleries are open for viewing.

Join us for a great event and a great cause.

RoAR! RiNGLiNG oRdER of ART REAdERS FEb 7, 10:30 AM, Free

Everyone is welcome! Please join us for our 5th Anniversary of polo and fun as we raise money for advances in research, education and the treatment of cancer.

The Ringling Art Library’s family storytime, designed to engage children ages 4–7 in activities that connect art with early literacy.

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2015 PRESENTING SPONSOR:

Purchase your tickets online today.

Tickets and Information: ringling.org or 941.358.3180

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OpEN DAILY at 10:00 AM

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Since 2011 we have raised over $1 million.

With your help we can continue to make a difference in the lives of cancer patients and their families everywhere.

For sponsorships call 941.928.9296.

Through circus posters, explore the changing nature of commercial printing from wood block to the modern offset lithography process.

S TAT E A R T M U S E U M O F F L O R I D A

Gates Open Polo Match Begins Cocktails & Hors d’oeuvres Dinner & Dancing

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

TIE

Catholic Charities Ball

3

BLACK

Saturday, Jan. 31, at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota Benefiting Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice

Photos by Heather Merriman

Above: Anne and Hugh Windom with Tim and Linda Whitacre

Above: Co-Chair Mary KenealyBarbetta and Joe Barbetta with CoChair Danielle and Nick Gladding

Above: Bishop Frank Dewane, Joe Divito and Jim Owen Left: Jayne Delmedico and Karen Soscia

ONLINE

See more photos from this event and more at

yourobserver.com/blacktie.html

®

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

Selah Freedom Luncheon and Fashion Show ‘A New Beginning’ Tuesday, Jan. 27, at The Francis Benefiting Selah Freedom

Photos by Amanda Morales

Above: Laurie Deane, Sydelle Pittas and Teresa Simmons

Above: Kerry Connolly, Eleni Sokos, Nikita Ludera and Shannon Gower

Left: Mary Forristall; Above: Event co-chairs Susan Wilcox and Sandi Janneta Kristin Kochevar and Isabelle Blanch

GET EXCITED ABOUT FURNITURE LATELY?

Create a lasting impact on healthcare in our community.

Copenhagen Imports brings you the best selection of classic, contemporary furniture. Carefully crafted of the finest materials, our furniture collections transform your home into a haven of comfort and style. Come in today to explore how you can add something special to your home.

Call Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation today at 941-917-1286 to discuss your planned gift.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

BLACK

TIE

YourObserver.com

Photos by Heather Merriman

Above: Jessica Mlavsky, Kelly Crawford, Caleb Jones and Lana King. Right: Beverly

St. Hilaire, Lynn Cathryn Walters and Kathryn Carr

3rd annual Fashionistas for a Cause Thursday, Jan. 29, at Michael’s Wine Cellar Benefiting The Center for Building Hope

Above: Liz Murray and Bethany Holmstrom. Right: Mary and Ryan Heise with Jessica Papineau

Sally Schule, Roger Capote and LeeAnne Swor

Anne Weichel and Ashley Leon 5X8-PoshPlum-Sarasota-GrandOpening-Ad2_Layout 1 1/30/15 3:01 PM Page 1

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Shop Mon. to Sat. 10am to 5pm

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Wednesday, April 15, 2015, 6:00 PM Michael’s On East $175 Per Person

Suggested Donation:

$50 per person Chairs: Donna Koffman, Peg Roberts, Nikki Williams

Reserve Online at

2015btb.eventbrite.com or call 941-365-1277, Ext. 103

Sponsorship Opportunities Available

Showrooms •inElegant Naples, Bonita Springs and

Gold Butterfly Sponsors Graci and Dennis McGillicuddy Karen and Michael Valentino

Grand Opening Monday February 2 in Sarasota

Silver Butterfly Sponsors Elaine and Bill Crouse Design Works Gulf Coast Community Foundation The Arthur S. Karp Family Foundation Saks Fifth Avenue

Consignors Welcome •For info, e-mail us at Sarasota@theposhplum.com

Bronze Butterfly Sponsors Mr. and Mrs. Anthony L. Franke Pauline W. Joeger Ellen and Jeff Steinwachs Sheila and Merrily Wynne Bronze Butterfly Business and Media Sponsors iHeart Radio Norman’s Liquor Scene Magazine SNN SRQ Media Group

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Thursday, February 19, 2015, 6:00 to 8:00 PM Sophie’s at Saks Fifth Avenue, The Mall at UTC

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EAST COUNTY BLACK TIE

TIE

Ring Leaders of

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

FASHION HEATHER MERRIMAN BLACK TIE EDITOR

T

he Circus Arts Gala always brings out an exciting array of fashion, and this year’s “circus glamorous” theme was bound to be one with standouts. Black Tie pulled aside a few of our favorites at the event.

Photos by Heather Merriman

Mechele Leonard, left, and Colleen Campbell, right, sport ringmaster-inspired style

Above: Bru Relin dressed for a night out at the circus in this glamorous red ensemble. Above, right: Lauren Walsh goes circus glam with gloves and statement jewels.

Right: Barb Tye, donning a fabulous butterfly headpiece made custom by a friend. “It’s very heavy – I have to walk with very good posture.”

SEASON SARASOTA’S GO-TO GUIDE TO THE ARTS & SOCIETY

Don’t get left out this SEASON Spring 2015 Issue - March 5th

RESERVE YOUR ADVERTISING SPACE TODAY! Please contact your OMG representative, call 941.366.3468 or email advertise@yourobserver.com

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BLACK

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CIRCUS ‘FEARLESS’ ALL-STARS PERFORM 10 REVIEW ‘Knock Me a Kiss’

WBTT tackles Harlem Renaissance politics. 12

ARTS + CULTURE THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

SPOTLIGHT

Nathan Wilson

The recent New College of Florida grad fuses the disparate fields of science and sculpture into his works, shown at Ringling Underground. Complex yet practical, his work is an artistic evolution. ONLINE

HIGHLIGHTS

When designing opera sets, David P. Gordon aims to create scenes where the audience becomes immersed.

Art Center Sarasota The community gallery opened its first exhibits of the year with food, drink and performances. The main gallery showed local artists in a juried show.

ONLINE

FOOD

Master of the

HOUSE

David P. Gordon designs the epic settings of the Sarasota Opera’s winter season.

Sarasota Honey Co. What started as a victory garden turned into a buzzing business for one couple. Honey products aside, there is an even sweeter cause behind the business. PAGE 11

Photo by Nick Reichert

NICK REICHERT A&E EDITOR

W

hen David P. Gordon was 3 years old, his grandfather, a violinist in the Philadelphia Orchestra, thrust a child-sized violin into his tiny hands. Gordon came from a long line of classical musicians — his father was a cellist in the Philadelphia Orchestra and his great uncle was a violinist in the Budapest String Quartet. PAGE 8

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EAST COUNTY ARTS + CULTURE

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

MASTER: Setting the scene CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

“I think people think set design is just decoration or background. For me, it really is a crucial environment where the piece takes place and should become part of a whole world that the audience buys into.”

DAVID P. GORDON, Sarasota Opera set designer Courtesy images

David P. Gordon chose a rich and colorful design of 20th century Japan for the Sarasota Opera’s 2007 production of Giacomo Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly,” pictured top, from his model, above.

It was assumed Gordon would follow in their classical-playing footsteps.

But, a couple of months later, Gordon’s grandfather quietly confiscated the violin. Gordon didn’t have the chops to be a string player.

So, instead of the violin, he turned to crayons, pencils and pens for his creative outlet. And with opera and classical music constantly playing around the house, it wasn’t a leap for him to combine his love of drawing and his family’s deep roots in musical performance into his future career.

“When I was about 10 or 11 years old, my parents took me to my first opera, ‘Tosca,’” says Gordon. “I had heard a lot of them at home, and my mother told me the stories as we listened to them on Saturday afternoons. After I got home from my first opera, I came home and made a model set out of shirt cardboard and lit it with flashlights. I decided then and there that that was what I wanted to do.”

Working as a professional set designer for the last 30 years, Gordon has spent every season with the Sarasota Opera since 1995. Three out of the four productions in the opera’s winter repertory star Gordon’s scenic creations. The colorful, bombastic and diverse worlds of “Tosca,” “The Golden Cockerel” and “Don Carlos (Paris version)” first came to life inside Gordon’s mind.

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Save Our Seabirds would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to The Resort At Longboat Key Club for sponsoring this event.

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If you are unable to attend, please consider a tax-deductible donation to Save Our Seabirds

EAST COUNTY ARTS + CULTURE

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

9

IF YOU GO

SCENIC START

Where: Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave. Tickets: $29 to $135 Info: Call 366-8450

In high school, David P. Gordon’s art teacher connected him with Tony Award-nominated set designer Clarke Dunham. Gordon apprenticed with Dunham in his studio in Philadelphia as well as his offices in New York City.

“I would visit his house on Saturday mornings and show him what I was doing, and he’d give me advice and guidance,” Gordon said.

This mentorship continued when Gordon attended New York University’s prestigious Tisch School for the Arts. The young professional designer worked as an assistant in Dunham’s studio, which allowed him to make the connections to begin his own independent design career. In 1985, the year he graduated from Tisch, Gordon took his United Scenic Artist union exam and received his first independent opportunity to design. The Center for Contemporary Opera was searching for a designer for an upcoming production of Robert Kurka’s “The Good Soldier of Schweik,” and the organization asked Dunham if he could recommend someone. His apt pupil was more than ready to accept the challenge.

This first job was in Martin Luther King Jr. High School’s auditorium on Amsterdam Avenue, which was adjacent to the opera world beacon: the Metropolitan Opera.

“Tosca” by Giacomo Puccini Feb. 7 to March 28 “The Marriage of Figaro”

by W. A. Mozart Feb. 14 to March 27 “The Golden Cockerel”

by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov Feb. 21 to March 19

Gordon’s model, left, of the iconic Cafe Momus from Giacomo Puccini’s “La bohème,” came to life in 2006 at the Sarasota Opera, above.

“Don Carlos (Paris version)” by Giuseppe Verdi March 7 to 24

the imposing fortress of the Castel Sant’Angelo.

“The Golden Cockerel” is a Russion opera that deals with the inner-political workings of a despondent king in a near fairytale world. Gordon created a design pastiche that incorporates the work and design of 20thcentury Russian illustrator Ivan Bilibin and the French illustrator Edmund Dulac, who had both done illustrations depicting Alexander Pushkin’s original story on which the opera is based.

And this year’s production of “Don Carlos” is the original uncut Paris version that has all five acts instead of four. The challenge for Gordon is that acts two through

five are all set throughout Spain and share a common architectural style. But for the often-omitted first act, the opera opens in the dead of winter in the forest of Fontainebleau, France.

However, no matter the difficulty of the season, it’s worth all the research and attention to detail for Gordon to create the desired effect: complete audience immersion.

“If all the elements are correct, then the audience is going to buy into the world, and that’s the important part,” says Gordon. “When it all comes together, it transports you to a whole different place, and that’s what I’ve always loved about it.”

FUN FACT David P. Gordon’s grandfather kept his violin collection in the bathtub.

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while you research you learn all kinds of things. It’s a great general education.”

For this winter season at Sarasota Opera, Gordon dived into the architectural and production history of each piece as well as the most valuable asset: the music.

“In an opera you have the music to work with and that helps really describe the world that’s onstage,” says Gordon. “I feel you really have to know the material inside-out. It’s your most important piece of research.”

In “Tosca,” Gordon re-created the opera’s real-life Roman settings, such as the church of Sant’Andrea della Valle, the opulent mansion Palazzo Farnese and

Newspaper sponsor

“I think that people think set design is just decoration or background,” says Gordon. “For me, it really is a crucial environment where the piece takes place and should become part of a whole world that the audience buys into.”

Before the curtain rises, before the sets are built, and before Gordon creates rough sketches, he studies his shows. As a faculty member at Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts, Gordon emphasizes the intrinsic value of learning with each new production.

“I love the research,” says Gordon. “Everything you do takes place in a different world, and

EAST COUNTY ARTS + CULTURE

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

Big names under the

BIG TOP NICK REICHERT A&E EDITOR

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A

n integral part of Sarasota’s performing arts season is the winter show by Circus Sarasota, “Fearless,” which runs Feb. 6 through Feb. 22 in the big top at Nathan Benderson Park. The professional branch of the Circus Arts Conservatory, Circus Sarasota has enraptured audiences for 66 years with international circus performers who have spent decades mastering their unique art form. Before the big show, we share the stats of some of the circus’ well-known all-stars: Nik Wallenda, Dolly Jacobs-Reis, Rafael Palacios and Joseph Dominick Bauer.

31ST ANNUAL GREEK FESTIVAL

NIK WALLENDA

FEB. 5-8 THURSDAY – SATURDAY … 11 AM – 9 PM SUNDAY … NOON – 8 PM

Number years performing: 34 Number of Guinness World Records: Nine Longest distance traversed: 1,500 feet over the Grand Canyon Next long-distance performance: Wisconsin State Fair in August Number of members in The Flying Wallendas family: 16 Youngest Flying Wallenda: 14 years old Oldest Flying Wallenda: 70 years old Hours of practice the week before a performance: 30 to 40 Number of performers for his performance at ‘Fearless’: Seven, including his mother, Deliah, who hasn’t walked the tightrope with her family since 2001.

ADMISSION $4 / Kids 12 & Under FREE • PARKING FREE • Offsite Parking Shuttle Available – Look For Signs

THURSDAY FREE ADMISSION *

* Entry donations to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Manatee County

OF MANATEE COUNTY

GET YOUR RAFFLE TICKETS TODAY! 1st PRIZE:

Provided by Mercedes-Benz of Sarasota

2015 2015 Mercedes Benz C300 Mercedes Benz GLK350 MSRP $42,690

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2nd PRIZE: $7500 CASH

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$5000 Travel Voucher

$100 Donation (Only 1500 Tickets) TICKETS AT: www.StBarbaraFestival.org PH. (941) 355-2616 Email: StBarbara34243@gmail.com

DRAWING … SUNDAY, FEB. 8 @ 7 PM

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DOLLY JACOBSREIS AND RAFAEL PALACIOS Number of years performing: 40 and 47, respectively Name of act: Aerial pas de deux called “Wings of Love” Hours of practice the week before a performance: 15 Age when Palacios first started performing with his family: 3 Professional companies with which Jacobs has worked: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, The Big Apple Circus and Circus Sarasota Both have earned honors at: The International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo. Members of both Jacobs’ and Palacios’ families have been inducted into Sarasota’s Ring of Fame.

JOSEPH DOMINICK BAUER Number of years performing: 42, starting when he was 6 Family legacy: He is an eighthgeneration circus performer Other circus skills: Equestrian master Signature act: Cirque du Soliel’s “Wheel of Death” Number of horses in his production: Eight Hours of practice the week before a performance: 35 Origins of ringmaster suit: Handmade in Las Vegas Number of other ringmasters in his family: Zero 160343

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Photos by Nick Reichert

EAST COUNTY ARTS + CULTURE

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

FOOD + COOKING

Minimally Invasive Facial Rejuvenation: Botox • Juvederm Ultra Plus XC • Juvederm VOLUMA XC

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Lifeline Stem Cell Skin Care: 33% off all products through February 15th.

Jason Gould with Glenn and Alma Johnson, who bring honey and special-needs education to Sarasota.

~Take Your Youth to Infiniti~

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What’s the Buzz?

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Photos by Nick Reichert

TM

The Sarasota Honey Co. offers a career path for those with special needs.

NICK REICHERT A&E EDITOR

the m

usic

HONEY DO’S

Bil

Breed of bee used: Italian bees Number of individual colonies: 70 Number of bee yards: Eight Types of products made: Honey, candles and soap Product bottled by: Community Haven for Adults and Children with Disabilities

of

lyJ Ma

rch

decided to use bees to increase their yield through pollination.

While the duo’s bee collection kept growing, Johnson worked as the transition manager for the Family Network on Disabilities.

She led workshops and classes to help young adults with special needs transition from school life to public life.

“My husband asked me what I love to do and I said, ‘I love my kids and I love my bees,’ so we married them,” says Johnson.

She saw the bees as a great conduit for people with special needs in her youth group to learn about employment and etiquette and to pick up a hobby.

“I’m a certified beekeeper and I have three hives at my house,” says Jason Gould, a beekeeper with special needs at Sarasota Honey Co. “And now I’m planning to attend bee college in St. Augustine through the University of Florida. That’s my goal in life — to go to bee college.”

It’s accomplishments and dreams such as Gould’s that the Johnsons use to measure their business success.

“It is our ultimate vision to be able to grow the company where we could acquire a space to offer classes in core academics, life skills and employment skills for people with special needs,” says Johnson. “The beekeeping business would act as a means to support that vision.”

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Hand-picked by Billy Joel for the starring role in the Broadway musical, Movin’ Out, Grammy and Tony nominated Michael Cavanaugh joins the Sarasota Orchestra for a very special Pops concert. In this tribute to Billy Joel, you’ll hear many of the Piano Man’s biggest hits including She’s Got a Way, New York State of Mind, Uptown Girl, Just the Way You Are, It’s Still Rock and Roll To Me, Longest Time and River of Dreams.

Tickets from $32 941-953-3434 www.SarasotaOrchestra.org

20 14 _ 15

Sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.

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F

rom a distance they seem like ordinary wooden boxes. Four waist-high stacks stand in the corner of Alma and Glenn Johnson’s backyard, just off of North Tamiami Trail. The boxes are hand painted in bright colors, such as purple, orange, green and red. However, as one gets closer to these boxes, a faint hum grows into a clear and distinct sound — buzzing.

Those boxes are the heart of a local small business, the Sarasota Honey Co., that not only produces quality goods but also provides employment for Sarasota’s special-needs community.

At eight locations, including at Sweetgrass Farms, Myakka, and private residences in Sarasota, the Johnsons and their staff of special-needs children and adults tend approximately 70 colonies containing thousands of Italian honeybees. The Johnsons and staff are certified beekeepers by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

They tend to the hives every week by feeding the bees jars of sugar water, mending the wooden colony boxes and eventually collecting the sweet, sugary haul, whose taste varies based on where it was made. Residents of the Community Haven for Adults and Children with Disabilities make soaps and candles out of beeswax and bottle the honey from the hives.

The products are then sold online and at local food markets.

After a career that included traveling with the Cirque du Soleil’s North American touring company as a marketer and customer service attendant for patrons with special needs, Alma Johnson settled down in the Florida area in 2008 and met her now husband, Glenn. Unfortunately, nine months after their marriage, Johnson was diagnosed with cervical cancer and underwent surgery. As a way to cope after the surgery as well as start a healthier lifestyle, the two planted a victory garden to grow their own plants and vegetables.

It was obvious that the produce wasn’t reaching its full growth potential, and the Johnsons wanted to find a natural way to increase their yield. Thus, they

EAST COUNTY ARTS + CULTURE

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

‘Knock Me a Kiss’ tackles Harlem Renaissance politics MARTY FUGATE THEATER CRITIC

W.E.B. Du Bois was a giant of the Harlem Renaissance and the early Civil Rights era. But even giants have children and make all-too-human decisions about their welfare. Charles Smith’s “Knock Me a Kiss” — the current Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe production — considers the gigantic damage Du Bois did to his only daughter, Yolande.

What went wrong? The historical facts are up for grabs.

In Smith’s imaginative retelling, it’s all quite clear. In the Harlem of 1928, the vivacious, slightly spoiled Yolande (Emerald Rose Sullivan) has a thing for bandleader Jimmie Lunceford (Joel Patrick King).

It’s strictly platonic and that’s strictly her idea. Her father, Du Bois (E-Mani Cadet), thinks that’s a bad idea. Their family is African-American royalty — setting a national example by their intellectual and strictly genteel ways. Marrying his daughter to a coarse, jazz musician simply won’t do.

So, Du Bois pushes Yolande in the direction of the courtly Countee Cullen (Ethan Henry), the Harlem poet laureate and latter-day disciple of John Keats. Their resulting wedding ceremony rivals the Prince Charles/Lady Di shindig and has equally disappointing

results. Countee wants to keep the marriage platonic, though he feels differently about his friend Harold Jackman, “the handsomest man in Harlem.”

Countee and Yolande divorce in 1930. Yolande realizes the jazzman was her one true love.

She goes back to him, but that ship has sailed.

Director Chuck Smith navigates this intimate narrative with a keen sense of bigpicture history. Du Bois and Yolande’s bad choices reflect the era’s ugly racial politics. For Du Bois, the political trumps the personal — and he sacrifices his daughter on the altar of appearance. You laugh at the folly, cry at the pain.

One-note plays are easy.

But this story turns on a dime from hilarious to heartbreaking. It ain’t easy, but the talented actors give it everything they’ve got.

Cadet’s Du Bois is suitably patriarchal. He plays his role with stature, though the script makes Du Bois the bad guy — a domineering, pompous bully.

Henry’s epicene poet is definitely not the bad guy. As a gay African American in the 1920s, Countee is a member of two persecuted groups. He’s just the wrong man at the wrong time. Henry smartly conveys his quiet tragedy — and the failure of his brilliant rationalizations to sway the tide of the human heart. With his patois,

IF YOU GO “Knock Me a Kiss” runs through Feb. 8, at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe. Call 366-1505 or visit wbttroupe.org for more information.

charisma and dance moves, King fully sells you that he’s got the chops to be a Cotton Club superstar.

Sullivan evokes Yolande’s unfolding inner life as she grows from naïve entitlement to the sorrowful wisdom of loss. Makeba Henry gradually reveals her own loss as Du Bois’ stroke-impaired wife, Nina.

As Leonora, LaNisa Frederick provides a reality check to Yolande’s unrealistic ideals.

Leonora speaks truth, but fails to talk sense into her.

Kudos to the talented actors and director. Kudos also to Cristy Owen (for period costumes worthy of “Boardwalk Empire”) and Steve Patmagrian (for an evocative set conveying an intellectual warrior’s devotion to his people). As to the playwright? Kudos, with quibbles.

Smith’s script oscillates between naturalistic dialogue and haunting spells of spokenword poetry. It’s a long, strange trip, brilliantly written, but perhaps not entirely fair. His Du Bois verges on caricature.

I’m not looking for praise of

Courtesy of Don Daly Photo

W.E.B. Du Bois (E-Mani Cadet) has a serious conversation with his daughter, Yolande (Emerald Rose Sullivan), in “Knock Me A Kiss.”

famous men — just don’t cut them out of cardboard.

As history, take this play with a grain of salt. As allegory, it works just fine. “When somebody asks for a sacrifice, always check the fine print,” being the moral of the tale. As

Bogart once said, “The problems of three little people don’t amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world.” The crazy world comes first, kid. A lofty sentiment in 1942 “Casablanca.”

In 1928 Harlem, it’s a bad idea.

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