Last year, the Alliance Française de Sarasota hosted a small gathering for Bastille Day.
This year, president Helen Hreen called the organization’s celebration “a grand success.”
Held July 13 at Claudie’s, the event welcomed over 100 guests, she said, to raise funds for the organization, which she described as undergoing a new facelift.
She said the funds will go toward the organization’s mission, which is to “promote the knowledge and appreciation of the French language and Francophone culture, and to encourage understanding of and friendship with the Frenchspeaking world.”
new way to serve students
Lashawn Frost has been principal of Booker Middle School since 2011, but the educator will now be taking on a new level of leadership.
Frost has been selected as the new executive director of student services for the Sarasota School District. Frost said in a media release she was honored to serve in the role.
“My commitment is to an approach that nurtures the whole child, empowering every student to reach their highest potential,” she said in the release. “By fostering resilience and encouraging students to take ownership of their learning across all settings, we create pathways for success.”
Frost holds a Ph.D. in counseling and leadership from Cornerstone University, and is certified individually in educational leadership, school principal and school counseling for grades K-12.
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Sahib Shrine Center hosts ReptiDay. SEE PAGE 19
Ian Swaby
WEEK OF JULY 17, 2025
BY THE NUMBERS
The year the historical Outof-Door Academy opened on Siesta Key. PAGE 18 CALENDAR
n Sarasota City Commission regular meeting — 9 a.m., Monday, July 21, Commission Chambers, City Hall, 1565 First St.
n Sarasota County School Board regular meeting — 3 p.m., Tuesday, July 22, Board Chambers, Landings Administration Complex, 1980 Landings Blvd. (black awning entrance).
“The ultimate goal for Lido would be that we do not allow any motorized vehicles to beach onto Lido.”
Sarasota City Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch Read more on page 10
Lido Beach renourishment begins this fall
Beaches will remain open while a new round of renourishment and dune restoration gets underway on Lido Beach this fall, according to an announcement by the city of Sarasota.
Between 200,000 and 300,000 cubic yards of sand is expected to be added to 1.2 miles of shoreline. In addition, the creation of a dune system south of the Lido Beach Pavilion will add a layer of storm surge protection.
Although the beach will remain open, periodic restrictions on access to sites where work is
underway will occur.
Financing comes from $12 million in federal money and is part of a multiyear agreement between the city and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The agreement’s initial renourishment of Lido Beach took place in 2021. Sand dredged from Big Pass to the south was used to bulk up the shoreline by hundreds of feet using 700,000 cubic yards. Erosion-fighting structures were also built on the south end of Lido Key as part of that $12.7 million project.
The current project is expected to begin after Oct. 31, at the close of nesting seasons for shorebirds and sea turtles. The sand will come from New Pass maintenance dredging to the north.
Estimated completion of renourishment is early 2026. The vegetative dune system is anticipated to be complete by spring 2027.
Since the original work in 2021, according to the city, the recent series of storms has degraded the shoreline faster than anticipated.
County tourism trend continues downward
Although the number of visitors to Sarasota County was down in May when compared to the same month in the year prior, occupancy enjoyed a slight increase. That is credited, though, to a decrease in available units.
Visit Sarasota County published its monthly tourism report, showing a 0.9% dip in May despite a 0.3% increase in occupancy.
Fewer visitors resulted in less spending with 119,900 checking into area hotels, compared to 121,000 in May of last year, spending $130.6 million locally. Room nights sold in May numbered 248,400 compared to 250,714 in May 2024.
According VSC, “Property managers are less optimistic about the next three months with 71% of general managers reporting decreased demand compared to last year.”
The trend mirrors the fiscal year to date figures, showing a 6% decrease in visitors from 889,000 in 2024 to 845,500 so far this year. That resulted in a 4% decline in direct spending from $1.26 million year to date in 2024 compared to $1.21 million this year.
SMH deploys robots for knee replacement
Ten hand-held wireless robots are assisting knee replacement surgeries at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, which has deployed the TMINI Miniature Robotic System.
Developed by Think Surgical in partnership with Zimmer Biomet, TMINI is a next-generation robotic tool that provides the precision of robotic-assisted surgery into a compact instrument that integrates into a surgeon’s normal workflow. Shaped like a traditional power tool used in knee surgery, TMINI leverages robotic technology and pre-operative CT scans to guide accurate bone preparation and implant placement during total knee arthroplasty.
Orthopedic surgeons Sean Dingle and Edward Stolarski began using the TMINI in select knee replacement cases this week, with additional surgeons set to follow.
PURPLE RIBBON COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
IMMEDIATE RECOMMENDATIONS
■ he Purple Ribbon Committee unanimously agrees to recommend keeping the Van Wezel operating at peak levels until a new Sarasota Performing Art Center is completed and fully operational.
■ Continue ongoing efforts to dry-proof the Van Wezel per the 2025 Karins’ Engineering assessment to protect it from future storms.
■ The city and the Performing Arts Foundation should accelerate development of a new performing arts center to help lower the risk for interruption of performances from future storms.
■ Prepare a contingency plan to equip alternate venues should a major storm damage the Van Wezel.
■ Recommend aggregating, prioritizing and costing the recommendations from the 2021 /2025 Karins’ Engineering building assessments.
■ Hire consultants to develop immediate and phased (2025-2027) critical deferred maintenance on the building envelope, mechanical systems and theater equipment in order to keep the Van Wezel operating for the next five to seven years.
■ Move the existing scale model of the Van Wezel, which is currently stored in the building, to a temporary location safe from tropical storm systems.
ONGOING CONSIDERATIONS
Show must go on — for now
TPurple Ribbon Committee adjourns with final Van Wezel recommendation going to the city.
wo years, 28 meetings, the resignation of its chairperson and multiple draft reports later, and the city of Sarasota’s Purple Ribbon Committee has adjourned for the last time. Now, all that remains is the delivery of its report to the City Commission on its recommendations for repurposing the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.
The first 18 months of the committee’s work was an extended listening session, receiving input from performing arts groups, Visit Sarasota County, Ringling College of Art and Design, Van Wezel staff, Karins Engineering and members of the general public — to name a few — about what to do with the venerable venue should a new Sarasota Performing Arts Center be built.
Selected based on the diversity of their expertise, the panel of six, which started with seven prior to the November 2024 resignation of Lee-
En Chung, put the finishing touches on its report during its July 9 meeting. A tentative date of Aug. 18 is set to turn the matter over to the commission.
One need not read too far into the report to grasp the essence of the committee’s recommendation.
“The Purple Ribbon Committee unanimously agrees on a recommendation to keep the Van Wezel operating optimally at peak levels as our community performing arts hall until a new performing arts center is completed and fully operational,” read member Melissa Gissinger as the committee embarked on its final round of word mincing.
That opening remark is followed by a list of immediate recommendations and ongoing considerations, all of which suggested should the new venue be built — which is not a certainty until the city and the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation come to terms with an implementation agreement — the Van Wezel has more than served its purpose to the community in its current form.
The list is followed by 59 pages of backup material ranging from climate vulnerability to engineering assessments and topics in between, such as financial considerations, potential users and alternative functions.
Although the report offers no definitive guidance on what the Van Wezel’s new purpose should be, it does suggest a handful of options
“I think the principal concern is the viability of the building in its present location. That’s the crux of the matter.”
Bob Bunting
including immersive experiences, flexible event space, family entertainment center, or museum or science center, citing some examples from elsewhere, along with Florida and other states.
It is specific, though, on what should happen with the building should it suffer severe damage from a future storm. One recommendation read that should the Van Wezel sustain unrecoverable storm damage, it would seem prudent to clear the site and incorporate it into The Bay park.
Bob Bunting, the committee’s climate specialist, said the building should be weather-proofed to the extent possible as outlined in the 2025 Karins Engineering report commissioned by the city. However, “I think that’s a real issue, whether that building can be climate-proofed in the location that it is,” Bunting said. “The risk can be lowered, but where it is, unfortunately, is so vulnerable that anything beyond Category 3 is going to be a serious loss.”
Flood damage from Hurricane Milton, for example, required some $10 million in restoration costs to the lower portions of the building including the basement area, kitchen and Grand Foyer.
“I think the principal concern is the viability of the building in its present location,” Bunting added. “That’s the crux of the matter.”
Once the City Commission receives the report, the fate of the Van Wezel will first be determined by whether it decides to take the next step in the design of a new performing arts center. Presuming that moves forward — an assumption made by the committee in forming its recommendations — the commission must then decide how the Van Wezel may or may not be repurposed if not for a secondary performing arts venue.
■ Refurbish the scale model of the Van Wezel for future permanent public display to recognize the cultural and historical significance of the building.
■ The committee heard several ideas for reuse of the Van Wezel from citizens, venue and entertainment specialists and business experts about current trends and area needs as it relates to a re-imagined Van Wezel. The reuse of the building, however, is contingent on the effectiveness of the climate-proofing, insurability, compliance to current building standards, progress and location of a new performing arts center and a viable and sustainable proposal and alignment with The Bay park mission.
■ Should the Van Wezel sustain unrecoverable storm damage, it would seem prudent to clear the site and incorporate it into The Bay park.
■ If historic preservation is a consideration, prepare and submit all applicable documentation to appropriate agencies.
FINAL THOUGHTS
For the next few years, the staff at the Van Wezel will monitor and assess how well it withstands the environmental challenges it faces to help make more informed final decisions on the reuse and/or repurpose of the building. Here are some of the trends and examples of existing, successful ventures focused on shared experience and virtual reality that are lacking in Sarasota. Examples include:
IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES
■ Van Gogh Immersive Experience, Sarasota.
Department of
in civil structural engineering: Lee-En Chung (resigned)
That consideration would include all the costs associated with addressing deferred maintenance and operations of the building.
THE PURPLE PEOPLE
The seven members of the Purple Ribbon Committee are all residents of Sarasota: City of Sarasota residents at-large:
in historical preservation: Morris Hylton III
Financial expertise in the field of the performing arts: David Rovine Expertise in architecture, design of performing arts center, reuse of large public structures and buildings: Charles Cosler
Expertise in climate adaptation, FEMA and flood plains: Robert Bunting
Expertise
■
Wonder, Sugarland, Texas (Closed).
Superblue, Miami.
CENTERS/ GAMING
Golisano Children’s Museum, Naples.
Frost Museum of Science, Miami.
Orlando Science, Center, Orlando.
Bob Bunting is the Purple Ribbon Committee’s climate specialist.
Courtesy images
The rear of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall stands just feet away from Sarasota Bay.
Andrew Warfield
The Purple Ribbon Committee says the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall should continue to operate until the opening of a new facility.
ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER
Van Gogh Immersive Experience Golisano Children’s Museum
Frost Museum of Science
Courtesy images
Meadows CC files for bankruptcy
Bokor Ruppel & Burns LLP in Tampa, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Meadows Country Club in Sarasota, which has been around for nearly 50 years, has filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy. In a Chapter 7 case, bankruptcy code calls for liquidating nonexempt property and distributing the proceeds to creditors.
A representative answering the phone at The Meadows Country Club says the pool, racquet club and fitness center were open as of July 14, while the restaurant and golf courses are closed.
The members-only club filed for bankruptcy on July 7. It has between $1 million and $10 million in assets as well as $1 million to $10 million in liabilities, according to filings with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida.
The clerk of court notified the country club July 8 that it is missing several required documents. Among them are the statement of financial affairs, which includes the organization’s gross revenue. In addition, the country club has not filed a summary of its assets and liabilities. It has until July 21 to submit these and other missing documents.
The country club’s attorney, Michael Markham of Johnson Pope
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Since filing Chapter 7, The Meadows Country Club has notified more than 1,580 creditors. The majority are individuals residing in Sarasota, as well as companies and other entities. The Meadows Community Association, which represents more than 3,500 residences in the area, is one of the organizations that received the notice, and it has retained Steven M. Berman of Shumaker as its attorney, according to court filings.
The MCA owns the property where The Meadows Country Club is located. The association purchased more than 310 acres at 3101 Longmeadow from The Meadows Country Club Inc. in 2018 for $6 million, according to county property records.
The Meadows Country Club’s downfall was not unforeseen by the MCA. In its 2017 strategic plan, the MCA says that “failure of the country club” is among its major threats. In the bankruptcy case, a meeting of creditors is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Aug. 6 and will be held on Zoom, according to court filings. Creditors have until Oct. 14 to file a proof of claim, according to the clerk of court.
ELIZABETH KING BUSINESS OBSERVER
BLOCK PARTIES
Vacant vacation rentals on St. Armands Key and Lido Key have been ‘crashed’ into for three impromptu house parties.
ummertime boredom, vacant vacation rental homes and youthful indiscretion have converged to form a spate of break-ins by unauthorized occupants on St. Armands Key and Lido Key of late.
In recent weeks, trespassers, typically in their late teens and early 20s, have gained access to empty residences to hold house parties. The first reported incident of the summer occurred at 551 S. Washington Drive on St. Armands and, most recently, two at 460 N. Washington Drive.
The discovery of an incident at 551 S. Washington Drive after Memo -
rial Day weekend came when a real estate agent arrived to find empty alcohol bottles strewn throughout the house. The crime scene, however, was contaminated and evidence thrown out before law enforcement was called to investigate.
There was no sign of forced entry, said Sarasota Police Department Officer Helios Blanco, and the electronic door lock required an entry code.
“(The real estate broker) was going to look into it to see if any of her employees may have slipped something out or someone may have seen them typing in the numbers,” Blanco said. “Nothing was taken and nothing was destroyed. They just used the house just to have a party.”
Because there were no witnesses nor suspects identified in this case, Blanco said how many were in attendance could not be determined.
Such was not the case with a party held on July 2 at 460 N. Washington Drive. There, an estimated 100 people had packed a vacant vacation rental. An alarm did activate there, prompting a police response.
“According to the officers, they saw 100 kids running from the house, so they were having a party there without authorization,” said
Blanco, who was not on duty that night. In that incident, there was no apprehension of partygoers. Following each incident Blanco said he sent an email to all residents associations and homeowners associations, asking they inform their members of the unauthorized uses and to urge them to take basic precautions to make sure they lock their vacant homes, alarm systems activated and functioning properly, and be on the lookout for suspicious activities in their neighborhoods.
Just two nights later, another party commenced at that same North Washington Drive address as reported by a neighbor heeding the call for vigilance. This time, with word already spreading via social media platforms, the organizer forcibly entered the home through a rear entrance.
Apprehended was a 19-year-old male charged with burglary because of damage done to the door while entering. That raised his charges from simple trespassing, which police would have charged other attendees with if they had been apprehended.
Like two nights before, they scattered into a rainy night when the first law enforcement unit arrived.
“That’s a felony charge,” Blanco
said of the arrested perpetrator. “If they come in, damage something or steal something, that trespass becomes a burglary. That means it goes from a misdemeanor up to a felony, which is more punishable depending on the person if they have a criminal history.”
A burglary conviction can carry a sentence of up to two years at the discretion of a judge. If the accused has a clean criminal history, Blanco said, it would likely result in a fine or community service. “But even then, as a 19-year-old that’s not a good thing having a burglary charge on your record,” he said.
Failure to properly secure and monitor a vacant home, be it a vacation rental or a seasonal residence, can leave it susceptible to other criminal activities, as well. About two months ago, Blanco said a woman, apparently in search of unlocked vacant homes on Lido Key, found one, entered the house for a brief period, left and returned some two hours later with her son, two dogs and packed suitcases. The owner checked his security cameras later that day, noting the unauthorized occupancy and called law enforcement.
“She claimed that she had paid for it on Airbnb, but nothing about her story panned out,” Blanco said. “She said she had the email but it wasn’t working.”
Her case, he added, is with the State Attorney’s Office.
In all those cases, there was no property stolen and the only damage, other than leaving a mess behind, was to the back door at 460 N. Washington Drive.
Eliminating opportunity, Blanco added, is the best prevention for future unauthorized entry and use of the homes.
“So far, it’s just been these few incidents, but summer is still in full effect and we have another month, at least, until school starts up,” he said. “Some of the homeowners don’t even live in the state. They have property managers and alarm companies, depending if they’re even active. That’s why we remind the (associations) to inform their members so we can be notified and hopefully catch them and deter this because we’ve seen more than once that it goes unnoticed until it’s already too late.”
Carlin Gillen
This vacation rental home at 460 N. Washington Drive on St. Armands Key was the site of two unauthorized flash parties in recent weeks.
City sinks MarineMax extension
The marina operator sought to recoup a planned $11 million in investment to repair hurricane damage and enhance its facilities.
ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER
Having suffered significant damage from last season’s tropical turmoil, the leaseholder operating the marina in the city-owned Ken Thompson Park on City Island is seeking a 25-year extension to its current lease that expires in 12 years.
Saddled by long-term leases of city property in the past, the Sarasota City Commission didn’t feel the MarineMax proposal held water, and at its July 7 meeting, unanimously voted to instruct staff to enter into negotiations for a more traditional lease, one that extends 25 years from 2025 rather than from 2037.
MarineMax, which manages some 110 locations and 68 marinas, was seeking the extension in exchange for investing $11 million in repairs, renovations and additions to the marina it has operated since 1996. Its current 25-year lease commenced on Feb. 28, 2014, and expires on Dec. 31, 2037.
Represented by Bill Galvano of the Bradenton law firm of Grimes
Hawkins Gladfelter & Galvano, MarineMax suffered considerable destruction from the storms and requires essential repairs and replacement of facilities for the general purpose of operating a marina as well as related sales and a subleased restaurant building on the property occupied by The Old Salty Dog.
Of the estimated cost, approximately $5.8 million will address public infrastructure replacement — the seawall and bulkhead — and the remaining $5.2 million would replace the infrastructure of the private business, including the sales office and boat racks. In addition, MarineMax is asking for a rent credit applied to each year to reimburse $5 million
of the seawall and bulkhead cost.
Under the current lease, the base rent adjusts annually based off the consumer price index with a minimum of 2% and maximum of 4%.
During the prior three years, that escalator has increased at the maximum rate.
For 2025:
■ Base rent is $472,639, prior to rent credits
■ Rent credits total $132,975
■ Like rent, rent credits are also increased by the CPI-based escalator, with same minimum and cap
Total value for 2025 is $20,475.
■ Adjusted base rent for 2025 less the credit is $339,664, plus 3% sales tax
Rent credits are granted on the same CPI-based escalator to help MarineMax offset capital investment in the city-owned property.
One point of discussion among commissioners was that gray area that exists in all agreements the city makes with regard to special considerations — public benefit — as they grilled MarineMax Vice President of Real Estate Sam Lowrey about accessibility of temporary docking by the public, services such as fueling and boat maintenance available to nonboat storing customers and more.
MarineMax says it will meet its public benefit obligations “by maintaining a full-service marina and sales facility to enhance public access to recreational boating and waterfront amenities as existed prior to the hurricanes.”
Other public benefits provided by MarineMax since 2014 cited by Galvano include:
■ Support of 125 jobs
■ Investment of $2.8 million in infrastructure improvements owned by the city, exceeding its commitment by $1.1 million
■ Generating tourism, a state-
recognized public benefit
■ More than $10 million in on-site capital improvements
■ A $250,000 contribution to the city’s stormwater mitigation efforts
■ Working relationship with the Sarasota Police Department Marine Patrol
“Right now, they still have 12 years left,” Galvano said. “Milton came along. Helene came along. I don’t need to tell you what occurred there. And so they have a decision to make. They immediately put $1.7 mil -
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lion into recovery efforts, and now they’re at a crossroads. Do we just get things repaired and live out 12 years or do we invest $11 million more into this property? A 25-year extension will give them that financial security, and what they will create there is even better than what has been there, and will bring the property up to the highest level of resilience.”
Wayne Appleby, the city’s manager of economic development, said common lease extension practice is to reopen the lease, the option city
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commissioners unanimously preferred. That process includes an updated fair market appraisal of the lease value, which had not been done since the 2014 benchmark on which annual rent and rent credit increases tied to the 2%-4% annual escalator are based.
“Everything is up, especially since the last appraisal,” Appleby said of fair market value. “Since 2020, everything has gone up substantially, so as you use a CPI escalator, you don’t always keep up with that market. … So I think it’s why you would have a standard practice, if you’re going to renew a lease or you reopen a lease, that you do an appraisal.”
Mayor Liz Alpert, who did not preside over the meeting because of her remote participation, made the unanimously approved motion to reopen the lease, authorize a fair market appraisal and negotiate terms based on a 25-year extension beginning this year.
“I think it’s important for us to move toward having a more standard lease term,” said Vice Mayor Debbie Trice. “If we’ve got a commercial lease with a commercial tenant, let’s do what everybody else does in terms of the various terms and conditions.”
Courtesy image
A rendering of the boardwalk and public access of the proposed MarineMax post-storm renovations.
Carlin Gillen
MarineMax has operated its sales office in this temporary trailer since the 2024 hurricanes.
Corcoran’s compelling case
When you see what is occurring at New College, Richard Corcoran’s vision for consolidating three institutions deserves serious examination.
Editor’s note: This is the first of two parts on the future of New College of Florida, University of South Florida-Sarasota-Manatee and the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. This week’s installment focuses on the neglect of the campuses and the attacks on New College President Richard Corcoran’s vision.
Sometimes you don’t see it until you see it. So go see it. It just may change your mind. It changed mine. Take the drive … Drive to the University of South Florida-Sarasota-Manatee campus on Tamiami Trail and tour the property — all the way to the bayfront and around the Manatee Countyowned Powell Crosley mansion. Then go south on Tamiami to Edwards Drive, go west. Take that to Uplands Boulevard to the bayfront and go south. All that gorgeous land along the bayfront is state-owned land.
At the southern end of Uplands, you will come upon New College of Florida — its approximately 100 total acres stretching from the bay on the west and across Tamiami Trail to the east to the airport and including the late Charles Ringling’s beautiful bayfront mansion. The New College property stops at the northern border of the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art’s 66 acres. And that, of course, encompasses the priceless Ca’ d’Zan on the bay; the Mable Ringling Rose Garden; the internationally famous Ringling Museum of Art; the historic and current Asolo Theaters; Circus Museum; Center for Asian Art; Kotler-Coville Glass Pavilion, Ulla and Arthur Searing wing and Keith D. Monda Contemporary Art Gallery.
Just to the south of the museum property is the historic Ralph and Ellen Caples mansion and bayfront estate — also part of the New College campus since 1962.
Altogether, from USF to the southern border of New College, Florida and Manatee taxpayers own 200 priceless and historic waterfront acres. Add in all of the education and museum structures and infrastructure, and you’re looking at close to $1 billion in total value. This is unmatched Sarasota and Manatee history. And priceless indeed.
Yet, you can also say much of this property — in particular, the Ringling and New College campuses — over the past five to 10 years has been mismanaged and neglected. In the case of New College: grossly mismanaged and neglected. Walk all of the campuses. USF looks the best, thanks in large part to the construction over the past two years of the $43 million student center and 200-room Atala Residence Hall.
Down the way, thanks to the irrepressible drive of New College President Richard Corcoran, New College now looks dramatically different than it did before his arrival in October, 2023. Corcoran has poured more than $15 million state appropriations into renovating what was a mold-infested, dilapidating campus.
When Corcoran made his first visit to New College, here was the welcoming committee: The New College of Florida sign attached to the walkway over
Tamiami Trail had vegetation growing around the letters. Letters were chipped. Paint peeling. “It looked apocalyptic,” he said.
When he drove west on College Drive, two yellow, plastic corrugated greenhouses looked to be remnants of a hurricane damage — collapsed eye sores. When Corcoran asked how long they were like that, staff told him: two years.
Black mold was growing in the I.M. Pei dormitories around the air-conditioning vents. Refrigerators were rusty, bathroom counters worn and decades outdated. If you saw this as a college-bound student, you would have said: “No way.”
Inside the Charles Ringling mansion, chunks of ceilings were falling to the floor throughout the upstairs, a result of long-term lack of HVAC maintenance. All the chandeliers were broken. Stacks of paintings were stuffed into closets.
The entire campus was so tattered and neglected a donor who visited the campus for the first time said it looked like a place in the throes of bankruptcy.
Next door, the Ringling Museum had and has similar signs of neglect. Look at the accompanying photo of the famous Rubens gallery — trash receptacles to catch leaking water, while dehumidifiers hum in corners of the room to keep the priceless paintings from deteriorating. A volunteer said there are longstanding HVAC issues for which the museum has been trying for years to get the funding. Finally, he said last month, improvements should come this December.
Beyond that, walk the Ringling Museum campus. It doesn’t project the lush, manicured, cared-for feel or look of what you find at Walt Disney World. Weeds are in the sidewalks. Mildew dresses the rooftop sculptures. This is the state museum of Florida? The showcase of Florida museums?
Last week, nine months after Hurricane Milton, the museum
finally replanted the Mable Ringling Rose Garden. In the list of large capital expenditures for fiscal 202526 for Florida State University, the steward of the Ringling Museum, there is no major appropriation listed for the Ringling Museum.
Once you finish this tour, Cocoran’s vision — one unified campus under one, on-site leader and board — makes practical, and likely economic, sense. Open your mind. There’s a compelling, if not convincing, case.
WASTE OF TAXPAYER MONEY
To begin, let’s first note we opposed Gov. Ron DeSantis’ plans to reconstitute New College of Florida and the Legislature agreeing to invest what appears to be on track for $200 million of taxpayer money over five years to turn around what has always been a financially lostcause money pit.
Turnarounds so often require twice as much time, twice as much money and twice as much pain, disruption and perseverance as initially projected.
We made the case then that no sane business investor would invest in a New College turnaround. Certainly given the state’s many needs, we argued the amount of capital and time could be much better utilized. It made little sense for the governor and Legislature to use taxpayers’ money on this high-risk, expensive proposition whose return on investment would be a total guess.
Add to that, all of the angst and turmoil surrounding the nation’s public universities; the declining value of their degrees; and how they have been turned into woke, leftist, DEI sanitariums. New College had become ground zero for that among Florida’s public colleges and universities. Surely, we said, state government has far higher priorities and issues on which that time and taxpayer money would be better spent (or saved).
In fact, we argued, DeSantis should sell New College and let it become someone else’s turnaround venture, not the taxpayers’.
ATTACKED FOR EVERYTHING
The skepticism was not unfounded about the pain and disruption that would stand in the way of a complete transformation of New College.
Ever since Corcoran became president of New College in 2023, he has been excoriated and under relentless, hostile attack. No matter what he does, he is cast as the evil Darth Vader wielding an extreme right-wing light sword — in spite of facts to the contrary. A sampling:
■ He ordered the discarding of non-conservative books in a rightwing purge of LGBTQ materials. Not true. Roof leaks in the dilapidating library (thanks to previous administrations) destroyed hundreds of books.
■ He denies tenure to disliked professors. Not true. Corcoran told New College trustees he was unfamiliar with the tenure process and wanted to delay granting early tenure to seven professors. The board agreed. Protesters wore T-shirts that said: “Ban the fascists. Save the books. Protect academic freedom.”
■ Ruthlessly evicted the car museum. Not true. The owner of the museum was paying $10,000 a month on a month-to-month lease.
Research determined the property should generate $90,000 a month. The school was losing $900,000 a year. Corcoran told the museum owner he wanted to terminate the month-to-month lease and worked out a mutual year-anda-half departure.
■ Here is how the Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s editorial page described Corcoran’s efforts in April 2024: “his tireless quest to completely transform New College from a nationally high-ranking institution with an eclectic and left-leaning reputation into a decidedly middling-ranked, classical-oriented, right-wing college that seems obsessed with coveting property, talking trash, instigating conflict, destroying inclusivity, ignoring homophobia, worshipping jocks, alienating educators, avoiding transparency, denying tenure, making questionable hires and adding dubious courses.”
Then, of course, there is the gasping and screeching that exploded into a mushroom cloud when the news broke that Gov. DeSantis had included wording in his 2025-2026 budget to transfer the stewardship and operations of the John and Mable Ringling Museum and its assets from FSU to New College. After that, USF and New College agreed on wording to transfer USF assets to New College.
Like Florida panthers protecting their lairs from predators, USF and museum trustees and partisans erupted. They rallied to lobby local legislators and anyone else who could stop what everyone dubbed Corcoran’s “land grabs.”
USF and museum trustees and supporters celebrated later when the Legislature ran out of time, leaving the proposals in the bin of dead bills. But the hostility toward Corcoran continues to fester.
Last month at a USF board meeting in Sarasota, much of the meeting was devoted to continuing to fight Corcoran’s one-campus idea. USF history professor Scott Perry told the USF Board of Trustees: “It is obviously far more advisable to create a synergy with FSU than with an institution as incompetently run and as scandal-ridden as New College.”
Professor Perry’s vicious, visceral comments reflect a lack of facts and closed-mindedness that pervades much of the community. They should tour New College as a start.
Indeed, the question that deserves serious examination is this: Instead of knee-jerk rejection, what is the best structure longterm for the three state institutions that sit on those 200 acres of historic, priceless land?
In two-and-a-half years, Corcoran has birthed and begun executing a fresh, compelling vision.
Next week: How the New College transformation is working. Imagine an alternative.
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MATT WALSH
Courtesy photo Garbage receptacles to catch roof leaks as well as dehumidifiers are stationed in the Rubens Gallery at the Ringling Museum.
With the exception of the Crosley mansion, the 200 acres inside the red boundaries are owned by the state.
PRIVATE PROPERTY USF
NEW COLLEGE NEW COLLEGE RINGLING NEW COLLEGE NEW COLLEGE
SETBACK SNAFU
After learning Sarasota County sold 600 square feet of land it does not own, the developer of New Trail Plaza required a Planning Board adjustment to continue construction.
halt.
On July 9, representatives of the affordable housing developer appeared before the Sarasota Planning Board to seek approval critical to the completion of the 96-unit mixed-use project at 4600 N. Tamiami Trail, an after-the-fact granting of a front yard setback adjustment. Ground was broken on North Trail Plaza in June 2024 even as it awaited the bureaucratic execution of a land donation of approximately 600 square feet along Tamiami Trail requested by the Florida Department of Transportation.
As it turns out, the strip of land did not belong to the seller, in this case, Sarasota County. It already belonged to the state. And by the time that all came to light, the foundation was laid and cinder block exterior walls were up.
That blunder resulted in the buildings placed too close to the project’s actual property boundary, far too late to do anything about it.
Project consultant Joel Freedman explained how that oversight impacted the development’s conformity with city code.
“The building had already started to be constructed, so now the new property line is closer to the building than it was originally,” Freedman said. “We need a minimum 10-foot setback. We now have a 1.5-foot set-
back, so we need you all to grant an adjustment to allow for that reduction. It doesn’t change anything as far as what’s going to be out there on the ground. It’s just that the property line now goes in.
“It’s a mess, and it is very interesting that the county sold us property that they did not own.”
With four of five members present and the developer’s back figuratively — if not literally — up against the wall, the Planning Board unanimously approved the adjustment.
The development is laid out in two structures, a larger, four-story L-shaped building containing 90 residences and, at the southwest corner of the site, a two-story building with six residential units above 3,000 square feet of commercial space that will house offices of Community Assisted & Supported Living of Sarasota.
“A few days later, after breaking ground, FDOT came back to us and noticed that we had bought land that did not belong to the county, but belonged to FDOT,” said Blue Sky’s Mathilde Jarrett. “We had to do what they call a surplus of land purchase process, along with the donation that took six months. It was completed in December 2024, so this is why the property line changed and why now our setbacks changed and are not compliant.”
The project is a public-private
partnership, with Sarasota County allocating $4.2 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds and the city of Sarasota providing $400,000 in federal HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds and $600,000 in State Housing initiatives Partnerships funds. Blue Sky and CASL secured $30 million from the Florida Housing Finance Corp., a division of the Department of Community Affairs.
The setback adjustment will have no impact on the development itself.
The relationship between the buildings and the street will remain the same and the sidewalk will still be 8 feet wide as designed.
The latter came as welcome news to Planning Board members, who were already concerned about the close proximity of North Trail Plaza to Tamiami Trail.
“If we grant the adjustment, you’re still compliant with the sidewalk?” asked Alexander Neihaus. “I’ve got news for you. I’m not going to walk along Tamiami Trail there because (the building) is so hard up against the sidewalk.”
Chairman Dan Deleo described the building and sidewalk as “ridiculously close” to the state highway with a 45 mph speed limit.
“The existing sidewalk has not been replaced yet,” said Braulio Grajales of High Point Engineering of Tampa, the engineer of record for the project. “The new sidewalk is going to be 8 feet wide, so it’s not going to create that sense of proximity to the right of way as it shows right now.”
The chain link fence that surrounds the property and stands against the edge of the current sidewalk further exacerbates the perception of closeness to the roadway. Deleo used the opportunity to voice his displeasure with the New Urbanism-centric code that permits the development to be built close to the edge of the road.
“I remember when this first came to us, and it’s a good project,” Deleo said. “I don’t like having to be sort of forced into having to give this accommodation because, frankly, I think that the code allows it to be too close to (U.S.) 41 there anyway.”
Photos by Andrew Warfield
Already well under construction, New Trail Plaza required a Planning Board front yard setback adjustment over a property line snafu.
Sarasota development consultant Joel Freedman
CAT DEPOT SUPPLY &
Sarasota explores boat bans
Sarasota city and county seek to ban beaching and mooring boats near Ted Sperling Park and other city parks.
Sarasota County and the city of Sarasota are teaming up to place restrictions on the beach and in the water around South Lido Beach and Ted Sperling Park. And the city is taking it a step further to cover the 10th Street boat launch at Centennial Park and other waterfront parks.
To address a growing number of complaints from residents and to address safety issues, the two governments have tasked their respective staffs to draft ordinances to ban beaching of motorized boats and personal watercraft or anchoring them within 300 feet of shore.
The topic, discussed by the City Commission on July 7 and the County Commission on July 8, comes on the heels of the death of Luis Guevara, a 19-year-old player in the Baltimore Orioles farm system, who died while operating a PWC when he jumped a wake and crashed into another PWC off Lido Key on June 15.
Following the example of the county, the city also wants to explore regulating commercial operations — much of it not licensed — in those city parks.
Enforcement at Ted Sperling Park, where South Lido Beach is located, is a complex issue because it is a county-owned park within the Sarasota city limit.
The county government itself has no enforcement capability and must rely on the Sheriff’s Office, Sarasota Police Department and/or Florida Wildlife Commission.
The City Commission tasked staff to develop an ordinance that largely mirrors the county effort, which was posed by District 2 County Commissioner Mark Smith to his fellow commissioners the next day. The county has already approved an ordinance to
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regulate commercial activities in its water-access parks, implementation of which has been suspended in the wake of the 2024 hurricane season that left some of its boat launches, piers and bulkheads inaccessible.
The effort also targets nonlicensed commercial operators, some of whom arrive with their own PWCs they rent and engage in other forms of unsanctioned commerce.
“They’re buying alcohol. They’re vending. There is a slew of commercial activity that takes place when those boats get to the shoreline or above the riparian line,” said Deputy City Manager Patrick Robinson. A riparian line is the boundary between a landowner’s property and a body of water.
“I would ask for a motion directing staff to look into solutions pursuant or pertaining to commercial usage in our city parks, specifically Centennial Park and Ken Thompson Park, as it pertains to marine commercial uses,” Robinson said.
The effort should also include continuing to work with state and county partners to address weaknesses in ordinances that pertain to mooring and operating vessels within a certain distance of South Lido Beach and Ted Sperling Park.
Robinson helped craft two motions, both of which were unanimously approved. The first is to direct staff to investigate regulatory language related to commercial uses for rental of PWCs or other motorized marine vessels.
The second is to direct staff to craft language to regulate mooring or operating vessels within 300 feet of South Lido Beach, Ted Sperling Park, Ken Thompson Park on City Island, Centennial Park and all beaches within the city limit. Meanwhile, by unanimous vote, county staff has been tasked to bring back to the County Commission an agenda item for discussion to amend an existing ordinance to be specific to South Lido Beach and Ted Sperling Park that would ban anchoring or mooring any motor boats within 300 feet of the shore, unless permitted.
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THURSDAY, JUNE 12
3:11 p.m., 0 block
Property damage: A woman told an officer a 3-year-old girl who was walking with her mother threw a rock that struck the hood of her car. She did not see it take place, she said, but heard the impact, according to the incident report.
While the officer was speaking with the complainant, she wove a tale of international intrigue by stating Canada had sold a U.S. missile system to Turkey through Saudi Arabia. She also stated she was tired of being harassed constantly, without identifying by whom, and had filed reports with the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office.
The mother and child then left the area, and the complainant remained behind in her vehicle to eat a sandwich. The nature of the sandwich was not described in the report.
SATURDAY, JUNE 14
PUSH COMES TO SHOVE
8:19 p.m., 1300 block of Main Street
Fight: Initial reports of a physical altercation at a downtown restaurant suggested an elderly male was the aggressor. Providing contradictory evidence, however, numerous subjects on the scene produced video recordings the man was not the aggressor, although none of the videos showed the entire incident from the beginning.
According to the man, a “heavyset” female was standing in front of his chair and he asked her politely to move. He said the woman replied “No, I will not move,” receiving a similar response when he repeated his request. At that point, he said he gently used his hand to budge the woman from her personal space-violating position, which led to a mutual shoving match.
MONDAY, JUNE 16
LIFEGUARD STAND
VANDALISM
10:30 a.m., 400 Benjamin Franklin Drive
Criminal mischief: Lifeguards at Lido Beach told an officer they have been having ongoing issues with unknown subjects attempting to break into the lifeguard stand overnight. A complainant said he believes juvenile subjects on the beach become intoxicated and “willfully and maliciously” damaged the lifeguard stand, according to the incident report. Earlier in the morning in question, a complainant said he found the wooden board to the lifeguard stand removed from its slot. The board is held in place by a rope to block access into the stand. It is evident that a suspect or suspects forcefully removed the board from its slot, leaving damage behind. No subjects appear to have accessed the stand, and no items were missing from inside. There are no security cameras in the area that would have captured the incident. The complainant estimated the cost to make repairs at approximately $300.
The physical altercation spread from there when multiple individuals, all unknown to both combatants, became involved in the kerfuffle.
Because of the contradicting statements and inconclusive video evidence, no charges were filed.
MONDAY, JUNE 16
A HOSTILE WITNESS
12:05 p.m., 2100 block of Ringling Boulevard Dispute: A dispute that occurred between a divorce attorney and
his male client nearly became an altercation after the client arrived at the attorney’s office. The client said the attorney seemed irritated about an email he had sent to him and, as the attorney became more irate, shouted at the client to leave the office. That’s when the client said the attorney charged at him and “put the fear of God” in him, so he turned and fled.
The attorney stated the client came to the office without an appointment and that it was the client, not he, who became upset and belligerent.
He said he advised the client to leave his office or he would call law enforcement. Not surprisingly, the attorney said he will file a motion with the court to withdraw his representation of the client. For his part, the client stated he would file a complaint with the Florida Bar.
WellHouse founder Rebecca Dawson says she “can’t say we have ‘the world’s best water ... but I know our water is pure, I know it’s good and I know it’s going to be good for you.”
Bottle It Up
WellHouse has successfully gotten past some initial challenges — sourcing, partnerships, licensing, to name a few. Now the founder looks to scale the startup.
After her husband, Chad, was unexpectedly laid off from his job in orthopedic medical device sales in 2022, Rebecca Dawson felt compelled to increase her financial contribution to her family. She’d worked for a long time as a counselor, but she often offered her services on a sliding scale because her husband had a steady full-time job. She began thinking of new ventures, and wellness and water floated to the top of the idea pile. When her children were younger,
she always sought out pure water for them. She knew others shared that desire, especially with wellness being a major topic of conversation these days.
She officially launched Sarasotabased WellHouse in April, but the bottled water business was several years in the making. She first needed to find a water source, which she learned was a highly competitive space.
“Water is a huge market, but not a lot of competitors want you to enter that market,” said Rebecca Dawson, 48. “We talked to different places and they wouldn’t work with us.”
BOTTOM LINE
Key takeaway: Rebecca Daw-
son is navigating her Sarasota-based water bottling startup, WellHouse, through some early challenges. Core challenge: Building brand awareness without overspending. What’s next: Dawson and her husband, Chad Dawson, seek to launch a nonprofit to use some of the firm’s profits for charitable purposes.
Wanting to use glass bottles instead of plastic wound up working to her advantage, and she entered into a deal to source water from Bear Hollow Spring near Lake Placid, in central Florida. She prefers not to disclose the company she’s working with because of the competitive nature of the industry but says it “felt like an open door” once the sourcing was locked in. Next up came working through
“Water is a huge market, but not a lot of competitors want you to enter that market.”
Rebecca Dawson
certification and licensing requirements at the state level. Sourcing glass bottles proved the next challenge, both in terms of finding suppliers and the expense involved, but she was committed to using them.
“It’s the most nonreactive product,” says Rebecca. “If we’re going to drink a good product, we want it to stay a good product.”
The bottles come mainly from a supplier in Illinois, but she also works with a company in Texas. The water is all bottled locally in Sarasota at the commissary kitchen connected with the Pinecraft Ice Cream Shoppe. Rebecca’s kids had gone to school with the owner’s kids, which gave her the initial connection.
The company’s 16-ounce bottle is its signature size, which retails for $5 on WellHouseWater.com.
But it also offers a smaller 12-ounce size ($3) plus a 25-ounce bottle ($4) and one-gallon glass jug ($14). Wholesale pricing also is available.
The water is regularly tested, has a pH level of 6.9 (7 is considered pure) and contains natural minerals like magnesium, calcium and sodium. “I can’t say we have ‘the world’s best water.’ I don’t know what ‘the world’s best water’ is,” she said. “But I know our water is pure, I know it’s good and I know it’s going to be good for you.”
Rebecca is taking the lead with the business, but Chad is involved too and would love to make it his full-time gig one day. He currently owns Designs by Dawsons, which offers remodeling and woodworking services. The couple has completely self-funded the company. (They declined to share specific startup cost figures.)
WellHouse currently offers residential and commercial delivery services within the City of Sarasota, and its products can be purchased at both Sarasota locations
of juice spot Crop, Pinecraft Ice Cream Shoppe and Main Street Creamery in Sarasota. The company will also be participating in the Phillippi Farmhouse Market starting this fall and is looking at introducing five-gallon jugs for home water coolers.
“I have hit the ground running — our samples are out there in a lot of different places,” says Rebecca. That includes restaurants, hotels, wedding venues, spas and retail outlets.
“We’re trying to scale this thing, but in order to do it, you have to be very laser focused on who you’re doing it with,” said Chad Dawson, 50. “It’s an expensive process to bottle it and get it out there. You can’t just drop it off free for everybody. You have to be kind of lasered in on who you’re trying to target.”
Driving costs down as the company scales is one of Chad’s major focuses. “I’m constantly like, we’ve got to get this cheaper,” he said. “It’s a very expensive endeavor to get into until we hit scale.”
But he thinks that prudent approach will be an asset as the company keeps growing. “It’s been built on a more frugal, costconscious business model, which makes it more sustainable in the long term,” he says.
Giving back is important for the faith-based business, and Rebecca’s also in the process of establishing a nonprofit called Reservoir, through which some of the company’s profits can be used for charitable endeavors. “Our faith is a big part of this, and I feel like that is what makes us different,” said Rebecca. “We care about what we’re putting in here, and we care about the people that it actually goes to. We care about the companies that we work with. There’s just a lot of heart behind what we’re doing.”
Summer in Florida is not a bad time to try to grow a water business.
“It’s probably the best season for us to kind of get our feet wet and get in there just a little bit when people are not so busy,” said Rebecca. “So we’re just going to keep planting seeds.”
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BETH
Lori Sax
ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
The 2025 Sarasota Improv Festival celebrates the evolution of an art form.
ALL EYES ON IMPROV!
MARTY FUGATE CONTRIBUTOR
Improv comedy is a living art form. Like all living things, it evolves. In 2025, the emerging variants are smart, musical, narrativedriven, genre-fluid and inclusive. These mirthful mutations are hitting the stage at this year’s Sarasota Improv Festival. Seventeen edgy improv troupes take their art form into the future. Thanks to Sarah Durham, FST’s new director of improv, they’re doing it here and now. She’s leading the festival that FST Managing Director Rebecca Hopkins started back in 2009. Spoiler alert: Evolutionary overlaps ahead. Fasten your seatbelts. It’s going to be a bumpy ride ...
IF YOU GO
2025 SARASOTA IMPROV FESTIVAL
When: July 18-19
Where: Florida Studio Theatre campus, 1265 First St.
Tickets: Single tickets: $10-$25; festival passes: $75 (two days); $49 (Friday or Saturday only).
Info: Visit FloridaStudio Theatre.org.
Fractured fairytales (Silly stories, not short stories)
Forget quick-and-dirty punchlines. These troupes tell long-form tales with relatable characters, gripping story arcs and emotional depth — and make it all up on the fly. It’s probably how Homer created “The Odyssey.” It’s a 2,500-year-old technique, but it still works. What’s old is new again! And it’s still funny.
PARALLELOGRAMOPHONOGRAPH
(AUSTIN, TEXAS) These puckish sprites are the ninjas of shaggy-dog storytelling, well-drawn characters and interwoven plots. Their unscripted dramas feel like play readings; their cinematic snippets are grounded in savvy genre tropes. If brevity is the soul of wit, long-form hilarity takes a whole lot of soul. They’ve got it. July 18, 7 p.m. • July 19, 8 p.m.
The magical, musical improv tour
Time to face the music. Long-form stories are tough to improvise. Making up music and lyrics is an even higher level of difficulty. Ah, but listen carefully. You’ll hear the music playing in the 21st century improv scene — and at this year’s Improv Fest, too. You’ll hear everything from old-school Broadway show tunes to daredevil stunts on the hip-hop highwire. It’s all funny; it’s all good — and totally improvised. Here are four of this year’s musical mutations:
FORGOTTEN BROADWAY (ORLANDO)
The troupe’s name is a nod to “Forbidden Broadway,” a snarky satire of big-name Broadway blockbusters. Their show is a love letter to Broadway flops you’ve never heard of. This singing/dancing quartet mines (and mimes) the trajectory of falling Broadway stars. (Fictitious failures, so dry your eyes.) The show’s storylines and show tunes flow from audience input. The sidesplitting results are unscripted, unpredictable and unforgettable. July 18, 7 p.m. • July 19, 5 p.m.
NORTH COAST IMPROV (NEW YORK CITY) This talented troupe is the gold standard of freestyle hip-hop improv. Their act is a rapid-fire blend of rap battles, musical hooks and razor-sharp comic timing. It’s hilarious — but it sets a very high bar.
HOW TO IMPROVISE A BROADWAY MUSICAL
Shitzprobe! No, it’s not an unpleasant medical procedure. It’s a troupe headlining the Sarasota Improv Fest — where they’ll put on an improvised Broadway musical. We talked with Ali Reed, one of the show’s creators who is also in the cast.
How would you describe a Shitzprobe show? We improvise a Broadway musical without a script or prior rehearsals. We’ll showcase a special guest performer in the lead role. (Local performers) Joey Panek and Ben Liebert are our guests at the Improv Fest.
Sounds great. But let’s get back to “We improvise a Broadway musical.” That’s kind of like saying “We perform brain surgery wearing blindfolds.” (laughs) It kind of is.
You satirize Broadway styles, not specific works. What’s your secret sauce?
If I told you the recipe, it wouldn’t be a secret anymore. But I will say we’ve studied different storytelling structures in musical theater. We’ve narrowed it down to four variations. The Hero’s Journey is the big one. But that sounds too abstract. Like a diagram.
Or a chalk outline at a crime scene. Exactly! Our shows have a rhythm. What we do is in the moment. We’re not following a template.
You’re not thinking ... crikey! It’s time for the inciting incident! No. There’s constant communication. But it’s wordless.
Like telepathy?
More like scuba divers underwater. We’re on stage. All of a sudden ... it’s showtime! And we don’t have a show. The teammates and the band and our music director have to decide which direction we’ll go in. We gesture, we exchange looks. We’re not talking, but we’re asking each other questions ... “What’s a strong song structure? Who am I? Who are you? What’s the story?” We get on the same page — but just in that moment. What’s next? We don’t know yet. It’s fun ... but kind of like falling.
Do actual Broadway creators envy you?
One Broadway lyricist and composer (who will remain unnamed) saw our show. He said it was better than some of the stuff he’d seen on Broadway.
Great compliment! Yes, it was. But he didn’t sound happy.
The culmination of the Sarasota Improv Fest is the All Play show shown here in 2023.
New York City improv troupe Shitzprobe creates a Broadway musical based on audience suggestions.
Images courtesy of FST
2-Man, No-Show is another crowdpleaser returning to the Sarasota Improv Festival.
Don’t try it at home ... unless you’re in the shower. Never try it at parties.
July 18, 8 p.m. • July 19, 6 p.m.
SHITZPROBE (NEW YORK CITY)
These musical madcaps will improvise a full-blown, on-the-spot Broadway musical at FST. It’ll be a world premiere — like all of their shows. What’s the story? Audience suggestion plants the seed. Who stars? There are guest performers — who get thrown into the deep end of the improv pool. They’re always backed up by a troupe of seasoned pros, Broadway vets and a live band, so nobody’s drowned yet. But expect to be drowned in laughter. No S@!#. July 19, 4 p.m.
HERE: THE (IMPROVISED) MUSICAL (COLUMBUS, OHIO) “Here” is now here. The musical, that is. At the Improv Fest. Yes, another improvised musical. Tara DeFrancisco and Rance Rizzutto are the musical’s improvisers. Yet again, the musical’s premise is an audience suggestion. But the show’s similarity to other improv musicals ends there. The core premise can be brilliant or bonkers. So what? Either way, it’s merely a launch pad for the duo’s spontaneous themes, characters, songs and storylines. It’s an intimate back-and-forth, not sensory overload. And 90 minutes of pure genius. July 18, 8 p.m. • July 19, 7 p.m.
Satirical genrebending
These fast-talking, quick-thinking improvisers entered the catacombs of high and low art — and emerged with comedy gold. Beautiful objects ... of ridicule. If there’s a pop culture balloon, these troupes will pop it. Trendy targets, sure. But they also poke fun at 1950s TV shows, old detective movies and corporate training videos. Expect lots of nerdy fan service — and plenty of dead references, too. Only one person might laugh. That’s enough.
AVAILABLE CUPHOLDERS (AUSTIN, TEXAS) These prodigal parodists have a treasure chest of cultural artifacts. From Shakespeare, to sit-coms, to sci-fi, it’s all fair game. They’ll spoof Godzilla or Galadriel
alike with razor-sharp timing and sizzling invention. Their satire is brainy — but not heartless. It’s the comedy of empathy. You laugh with their targets, not at them. July 18, 9 p.m. • July 19, 6 p.m.
Outsiders included. Diverse voices heard
Everybody’s different; that’s something we all have in common. Seems obvious, but comic voices outside the mainstream have been marginalized for years. But not at this year’s Improv Fest. They’re bringing the outsiders in. And putting their diverse perspectives on stage. It’s inclusive, experimental, incisive, funny stuff. You probably haven’t heard it before. Here’s an inside look ...
DAD’S GARAGE (ATLANTA) Garage rock is edgy and fearless. This improv ensemble is, too. They combine their inclusive cast with alt-comedy collaborators — and join forces with drag queens, puppet masters and a rainbow of nonconformists. The genre-bending satire they create? The dial goes from smart satire
to delicious idiocy. You might see Shakespeare’s mission to Mars or a game show hosted by a drunken robot. Whatever you see, it’ll be funny as hell. July 18, 7 p.m. • July 19, 7 p.m.
Metaphysical comedy, no. Physical comedy, yes
Athletic, acrobatic improvisers get laughs with fearless movement, absurdity and character-based action. As the Three Stooges knew, comedy isn’t confined to the mind. These troupes want to get physical. And do. You’ll bust a gut laughing.
2-MAN, NO-SHOW (TORONTO, CANADA) This dynamic duo (aka Isaac Kessler and Ken Hall) delivers a volatile blend of physicality, screwball comedy and mind-bending improv. They’re interactive, unpredictable and fearless. And a perennial cult favorite to improv insiders. July 18, 7 p.m. • July 19, 5 p.m.
Chaos theory
When in doubt, throw all the improvisers on stage, stir vigorously, bring their comedy to a boil and see what happens. What manner of comedy? Whatever they’ve got. Speech, song, physical comedy, conceptual comedy, new wave, old school — it’s all in the stew. That’s the theory. Here’s the practical application ...
ALL PLAY. The Improv Festival’s grand finale is a pyrotechnic playground of improv games, instant sketches and surprise song parodies. More than 80 improvisors drop any remaining inhibitions — and mix it up. The resulting comedy isn’t mere anarchy. Think Bebop at its best, when the musicians hit the same telepathic groove. Think unscripted mayhem with the energy of a Mardi Gras parade and a pillow fight. See what I’m saying? If not, stay up late and see for yourself. July 19, 10:30 p.m.
Sarah Durham’s official title is “resident artist” at Florida Studio Theatre. She’s also its director of improv. Her work includes teaching at the FST school, writing for children’s theater and cabarets and constantly performing. The year 2025 marks a new responsibility. Nothing less than this year’s Sarasota Improv Festival. It’s Durham’s baby now. And it’s a very big baby. But she’s not overwhelmed. Durham’s doing the work she loves. And she’s happy to tell us why.
What got you hooked on improv comedy?
Improv’s in my blood. There was no ah-ha moment, no lightning bolt. It’s just who I am.
Who taught you the art form?
I’m a Second City-trained improviser. I’m also a sketch writer, so I’m constantly teaching myself.
How’d you become FST’s new improv director?
I was Will Luera’s assistant improv director for about three years. When he left last November, I stepped into the main role.
Are you enjoying the job so far?
It’s been a blast. I’ve been an improv fanatic for so many years. Now it’s great to be doing what I love with such a strong team. We’re having a lot of fun.
Does it get scary sometimes?
It’s scary in terms of the sheer volume of work. It’s organizational work, with so many complex details that I have to nail down. It makes the improv possible at FST. But it’s kind of the opposite of improv.
What could possibly go wrong?
Yeah, that is the question. Nightmare scenarios flash through my mind sometimes. Like forgetting to pick up a team for the Improv Festival or walking on stage barefoot or naked — or both. Those
nightmares haven’t happened ... yet. But empowering the art of improv has been a dream come true for me. I’ve been at FST since 2018, so this is my community.
Let’s talk about the evolution of improv comedy. The mutations are on fast-forward these days. What’s new at this year’s Improv Fest?
Almost everything! But gamebased improv is always new. It’s a very commercial form but still a lot of fun. Sounds Funny Players create on-the-spot games with the audience every night. They’re constantly inventing new ones.
Now let’s talk about old-school comedy. As I recall, Second City’s sketches were hybrids. A sketch would emerge in improv; they’d write it down and refine it. Am I right?
Totally. Improv is sketch comedy lightning; a script captures the lightning in a bottle. Second City pioneered that approach — and it revolutionized comedy.
Are any groups following in Second City’s footsteps? Yes. Unauthorized from NYC, definitely. Their sketches are a blend of improv and script — and that’s the Second Citystyle. Their show constantly evolves. And their director, Kihresha Redmond, trained right here at FST.
What do you predict for next year’s Improv Fest? Ask me next year.
Sarah Durham
Sarasota Improv Festival was the brainchild of FST Managing Director Rebecca Hopkins.
THIS WEEK
THURSDAY
SUMMER CIRCUS SPECTACULAR
11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at The Ringling’s Historic Asolo Theater, 5401 Bay Shore Road
$20 adult; $13 child
Visit CircusArts.org.
Pack up the car with Grandpa and the kids and head for the Circus Arts Conservatory’s annual Summer Circus Spectacular. This thrilling, 60-minute circus of fresh new acts is perfect for people of all ages with short attention spans. There’s room for walkers, strollers, wheelchairs, you name it — but please arrive early so ushers can store them. Make it a circus day by adding a ticket to The
DON’T MISS
‘THE TITAN AND THE MUSE: LOVE DELUXE’
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe stars Raleigh Mosely II and Jazzmin Carson join forces for a sexy concert featuring duets made famous by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown, and other iconic duos.
After its debut at The Bay Sarasota, “The Titan & The Muse: Love Deluxe” makes its WBTT premiere for three performances as part of the company’s Sizzlin’ Summer Cabaret series. Continues July 19 and 20.
IF YOU GO
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 17
Where: Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 N. Orange Ave.
Tickets: $35-$98
Info: Visit WestcoastBlackTheatreTroupe. org.
‘TOO DARN HOT: SONGS FOR A SUMMER NIGHT’
7:30 p.m. at FST’s Court Cabaret, 1265 First St. $39 and up Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
Alice M. Gatling stars as Dorothy, who introduces a troubled teen, played by Ethan Jack Haberfield, to the healing power of books.
Directed by Kate Alexander, the tale explores memory, identity and how relationships can transform our lives. Runs through Aug. 10.
SATURDAY
‘THE HIGH LIFE: CONTEMPORARY
PHOTOGRAPHY AND THE BIRDS’
10 a.m. at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 1534 Mound St. $28; $23 online Visit Selby.org.
Organized by the Foundation for the Exhibition of Photography and curated by photography experts William Ewing and Danaé Panchaud, “The High Life” features some 70 works of birds by more than 50 photographers from around the world. The works will be displayed in the Museum of Botany & the Arts and outside throughout the gardens. Runs through Sept. 14.
SUNDAY
PATTI SMITH: A BOOK OF DAYS
MONDAY
RAUSCHENBERG: A CENTENNIAL
CELEBRATION
The John and Mable Ringling Art Museum, 5401 Bay Shore Road Free with $25 admission; Mondays free Visit Ringling.org.
The Ringling joins museums around the world in honoring the centenary of maverick artist Robert Rauschenberg, who burst onto the art scene in the mid-20th century with collages he called “combines.” The exhibition includes works that The Ringling has in its collection, including pieces Rauschenberg created during his time on Captiva Island on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Runs through Aug. 3.
TUESDAY
‘LILLIAN BLADES: THROUGH THE VEIL’
10 a.m.. at the Sarasota Art Museum campus of Ringling College, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail Free for museum members; $20 Visit SarasotaArtMuseum.org.
Ringling’s famed Circus Museum for just $5 on the day of the show. Runs through Aug. 9.
‘A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD’
7 p.m. at FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail $15-$19
Visit AsoloRep.org.
Asolo Repertory Theatre rolls out a fun, family-oriented production that’s priced right. Adapted from Arnold Lobel’s children’s stories, Robert and Willie Reale’s musical follows the friendship of Frog and Toad through the seasons. Scott Keys directs. Runs through Aug. 3.
Carole J. Bufford easily skips eras and genres in this showcase of stories and songs featuring the months June, July, August and September. Whether Bufford’s singing songs by Janis Joplin or Randy Newman, she leaves the audience with something they never knew before. Runs through Sept. 14.
‘HOW SWEET IT IS’
7:30 p.m. at FST’s Goldstein Cabaret, 1239 N. Palm Ave. $18-$42
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
Led by Luke McMaster, an energetic trio demonstrates the enduring appeal of hits like “Tracks of My Tears,” “You Can’t Hurry Love” and “Stop! In the Name of Love.” Runs through Aug. 3.
‘DOROTHY’S DICTIONARY’
8 p.m. at FST’s Keating Theatre, 1241 N. Palm Ave. $42 and up
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
“
10 a.m. at Selby Gardens Historic Spanish Point, 401 N. Tamiami Trail, Osprey Included with $20 admission Visit Selby.org.
Selby Gardens collaborates with poet and musician Patti Smith, its artist-in-residence, on an outdoor exhibition of large prints taken from her newly published bestseller, “A Book of Days.” Runs through Aug. 31.
OUR PICK
Award-winning artist Lillian Blades invites visitors to get lost in her first solo museum exhibition, at Sarasota Art Museum. Her installation of “veils” combines handcrafted and found objects to create a mesmerizing display. Blades attributes her use of dazzling color to her childhood in The Bahamas and her process of creating large-scale assemblages to her late mother, an accomplished seamstress. Runs through Oct. 26.
SARASOTA CONTEMPORARY DANCE IN STUDIO: SEA LEE
A former member of Sarasota Contemporary Dance company, Sea Lee is a choreographer whose work has been presented by SCD, Moving Current Dance Collective and Co-motion Dance Theatre. Lee has also performed at such venues as the American Dance Festival and Ramallah Contemporary Dance Festival. Continues July 21.
IF YOU GO
When: 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday, July 19
Where: SCD Home Studio, 1400 Boulevard of the Arts, Suite 300
Jazzmin Carson and Raleigh Moseley II star in “Titan and the Muse” at Westcoast
Black Theatre Troupe from July 17-20.
schedule change is not related to Joel’s health, an Asolo spokesman said.
nation learned about the terrorist attacks, thrusting Sarasota into the spotlight.
(Jan. 21-March 14), the U.S. premiere of “The Unfriend” (Feb. 18-March 22), “Fiddler on the Roof” (April 14-May 24), “Marie and Rosetta” (May 6-31) and the rolling world premiere of Lauren Gunderson’s “Lady Disdain” (June 6-27).
Subscriptions for Asolo Rep’s 2025-26 season are on sale now. Single-ticket sales begin Monday, Sept. 8. For more information, visit AsoloRep.org.
Selby Gardens names new board leadership
The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Board of Trustees has elected new leadership and appointed three members to three-year terms.
Katherine Martucci has been named chair and Jeannie Russell vice chair for the 2026 fiscal year. In addition, new board members are Sherry Koski, Kevin O’Donohue and Nikki Sedacca.
mission and vision for the future during this transformative time.” Koski, a former executive, is dedicated to philanthropy with an emphasis on health, children and education.
O’Donohue has more than 35 years of experience in private equity, finance and management consulting and serves on the boards of several private equity funds.
Sedacca is an entrepreneur and strategic business leader with more than three decades of experience in fine jewelry design, contemporary art, luxury retail and interior and spatial design. She has served on numerous nonprofit boards and chaired high-impact fundraising events across the arts and education sectors.
When
Twyla Tharp to work on an updated version of their hit Broadway musical “Movin’ Out,” which was to premiere at Asolo Repertory Theatre.
The original “Movin’ Out” featuring Joel’s songs and Tharp’s choreography won two 2003 Tony Awards, one for Tharp (Best Choreography) and one for Joel and Stuart Malina (Best Orchestrations). But the new rendition of “Movin’ Out” will have to wait. On July 11, Asolo Rep announced the muchanticipated update will happen “in a future season.”
Instead, Asolo Rep Producing Artistic Director Peter Rothstein will direct a homegrown version of “Come From Away,” which will run from Nov. 12 through Dec. 28.
“Piano Man” Joel, 76, has been recovering from normal pressure hydrocephalus, a condition that creates problems with hearing, vision and balance. However, the
An Asolo Rep production of “Come From Away” is good news for those who got shut out of the Broadway touring production’s brief run at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Center on Feb. 18-20, including a Feb. 19 performance that was canceled due to sound problems. The show previously came to the Van Wezel for a weeklong run in 2021.
Written by the husband-and-wife team of Irene Sankoff and David Hein, “Come From Away” tells the story of a Canadian village’s hospitality to 7,000 travelers stranded after the 9/11 terror attacks. Its message of hope and brotherhood continues to resonate with audiences nearly a decade after its 2017 Broadway debut.
“As we approach the 25th anniversary of 9/11, I am honored to stage the docu-musical ‘Come from Away.’ Like the town of Gander, Newfoundland, where the musical takes place, Sarasota has a unique relationship to this watershed moment in American history,” Rothstein said in a statement.
While President Bush was visiting Emma E. Booker Elementary School, the president and the
Noted Rothstein, “Across the nation and around the world, people can recall where they were when they first learned of this tragedy and began to gather the strength to support each other through the difficult road to recovery that would lie ahead. ‘Come From Away’ is a chronicle of that strength and resilience, celebrating the best of humanity.”
In addition to Rothstein, the creative team for Asolo Rep’s “Come From Away” includes Kelli Foster Warder (choreography), Angela Steiner (music direction), Adam Koch (scenic design), Tracy Dorman (costume design), Paul Whitaker (lighting design), Michelle Hart (hair, makeup and wig design) and Greg Emetaz (projection design).
The remainder of Asolo Rep’s 2025-26 season remains unchanged. It will include the return of Rothstein’s moving a capella musical “All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914” at The Ringling’s Historic Asolo Theater on Dec. 3-9.
The new year will open with the new Pulitzer Prize-winning drama “Primary Trust” (Jan. 7-Feb. 11). It will be followed by Agatha Christie’s “The Mirror Cracked”
Martucci has served on the executive committee of the Garden Club of America, as well as other philanthropic boards and not-forprofit organizations. She previously served on the advisory board of the Northeast Community Center in Millerton, New York, as well as the chair of the board of Children First of Sarasota.
Russell is the former president of the Founders Garden Club of Sarasota, has served on numerous committees of the Garden Club of America and was a member of the Selby Gardens Advisory Committee. She mentors children for Big Brothers and Big Sisters and continues to support numerous philanthropic causes.
“Katherine Martucci has provided valuable insight as a trustee over the past several years, including leadership of our governance committee, and we are fortunate that she will lead our board as we embark on Phase Two of our transformative Master Plan with a groundbreaking ceremony later this year,” said Selby Gardens President and CEO Jennifer Rominiecki in a news release. “Jeannie Russell has also been a vital champion for Selby Gardens, and as a member of our Board of Trustees has helped Selby Gardens advance our
“Their combined expertise and their shared commitment to community will serve Selby Gardens well as we continue to grow and expand our mission,” Rominiecki said of the new board members in the release. “Together, they bring a wealth of professional experience and passion for community engagement that aligns with Selby Gardens’ focus on plant research, education and conservation.”
Continuing their service on the board of trustees are Ali Bahaj, Daniel Ball, Aaron Bellamy, Morgan Bentley, Mary Braxton-Joseph, Hosana Fieber, Renée James Gilmore, Jean Weidner Goldstein, Marcy Klein, Cornelia Matson, Marianne McComb, Keith Monda, Joel Morganroth, Michael Quillen, Audrey Robbins, Richard Sandor, Bruce Sorensen, Margaret Wise and Rominiecki.
Image courtesy of Matthew Murphy
Asolo Repertory Theatre will stage a production of “Come From Away” from Nov. 12 through Dec. 28.
Lori Sax
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens President and CEO Jennifer Rominiecki
YOUR NEIGHBORS
History in session
The Out-of-Door Academy holds on to a historic legacy as it moves forward.
IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER
If you were a student at The Outof-Door Academy during the late 1920s to early 1930s, you might have enjoyed an excursion few could boast about.
Students visited Thomas Edison, a friend of the school’s founders, at his estate in Fort Myers, to celebrate his birthday with him during the last three years of his life.
Along with meeting Edison, notable visitors to the school included Eleanor Roosevelt and Jane Addams, while Ralph Twitchell, a founding member of the Sarasota School of Architecture movement, designed two buildings at the Siesta Key campus.
Yet, when the school, a site on the National Register of Historic Places, celebrated its centennial year in 2024, an additional once-in-a-100year event took place.
Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Although many of the campus’s landmark buildings ultimately weathered the storm, the school decided it could not salvage one of its three older structures, a former dormitory, which is planned to be demolished before the start of school on Aug. 14 this year.
Yet campus administration says despite the hardships that were posed by the storms, the school is eager to embrace its history on a campus that joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.
A HISTORY OUT OF DOORS
In Siesta Key, the early wood buildings on campus are now dominated by a three-story concrete building, which was constructed in 1989, and topped with an array of solar panels, an anonymous gift from a school parent.
Yet the school’s real history is based around learning in the open air, as evidenced by the large outdoor cabanas still in use on the property. Founded in 1924 and a nonprofit entity as of 1977, the school serves more than 870 students, from pre-K to 12th grade, across its three campuses. Two women, Fanneal Harrison and Catherine Gavin, who were followers of Ovide Decroly, a European pioneer of progressive education who encouraged children in their
FOR MORE INFORMATION
The Out-of-Door Academy has three campuses in the area:
■ Lower School Campus on Clark Road, 11011 State Road 72, Sarasota ■ Uihlein Campus in Lakewood Ranch (Middle & Upper Schools), 5950 Deer Drive, Sarasota
For more information, visit ODA.edu.
individual interests, established it on the island.
They facilitated students’ engagement in activities like swimming, sailing, horseback riding and even carpentry, which allowed students to help construct school buildings.
LETTING GO OF THE PAST
Director of Enrollment Management
Laura Murphy said in the 36 years she has been at the school, she had thought many times while preparing for a storm that she wouldn’t return to a campus.
“This time, I didn’t think that, and this is what happened,” she said.
The school is now deciding what will replace the site of the former Boys’ Residence — most recently the welcome center and administration building — that was severely damaged by the storms.
Originally an army barracks, the building was gifted to the school at the time of its opening, with its prefabricated wood-frame design reflecting the simple and cost-effective nature of barracks.
“At that time, being gifted a building is very helpful to a startup school, like it was,” Murphy said.
Back then, she said, 70% of students were seasonal, arriving on a bus that would travel to northern states.
After the storms, the building’s floors were removed, and after examining the cost of repairs and
the safety of students, the school decided on its demolition.
It was a former student who gave the blessing to proceed.
Kent Hayes, vice president of Tandem Construction, attended the school, as did his mother, aunt and uncle.
“When Kent told us it wasn’t going to be saved, we knew that was the case, because this means a lot to him and his family,” Murphy said.
“I have a long history and respect for the school and campus,” Hayes wrote in an email to the Observer.
“Unfortunately, there are many factors that should be taken into account when weighing the admin building’s restoration vs. demolition, and I think ODA was very thoughtful in their approach as they evaluated and eventually concluded that the risks far outweighed the benefits.”
He said historical restorations tend to be cost and time-prohibitive, but more important for the school was prioritizing a “safe and resilient space” for students.
“I believe there are still many ways to pay homage to the administration building by saving the murals, fireplaces, light fixtures and doors,” wrote Hayes. “What doesn’t change is ODA’s long tradition of inspired education, and it doesn’t take this building to carry that forward.”
The campus will retain two murals, which were salvaged along with doors, as well as potentially one of the three fireplaces.
In 1926, Newton Hodgson painted a mural on the upper wall inside one of the building’s roof trusses, and in 1939, his cousin, Mary Cocker Fas sett, painted one on the opposite wall. Both paintings were intended to depict progress.
HOLDING ON TO HISTORY
Yet, staff members say the two Ralph Twitchell-designed build ings on campus serve as its major historic fixtures. The Catherine Gavin Memorial Library, a cabinlike wooden building, withstood the storms effectively, said Murphy.
Although water did reach the cab in, leading to work on its floors and electrical components, as well as repairs on its deck that are currently underway, its wooden structure held
up through the winds.
“This building, this building built by the students, is probably the strongest building on campus,” Murphy said.
Now an office space, the library was built in the 1920s by the faculty and students and named for Gavin, who died in 1933.
In 1992, it was moved to the center of campus, where it was placed on piers to protect it from flooding.
Communications spokesperson Jen Horvat said it has been used as an office by the head of school for a while. She said this location ensures the library is visible to all students.
Inside is a fireplace, as well as door latches and windows soldered by students. Like the former welcome center and administration building, it also includes murals in the roof trusses. However, these depict European history.
“It’s still very much the same building,” said Head of Lower School Jessica Banks.
Murphy said two individuals who returned to the school painted the murals at a time when she had been working there for five or six years and reflect what they would have learned as students during 1930s and 1940s.
Additionally, the school’s theater, now its multipurpose building, was designed by Twitchell around 1935 to 1936, and was moved to the southwest corner of the main campus in 1974, where it continues to serve the community, including as an election polling site.
The campus is where The Players Centre for Performing Arts began in 1932, utilizing the school’s library, and briefly the theater space, prior to the construction of its own theater in 1936.
However, not all of the history is wood buildings, and there’s one aspect that is set in stone.
In fifth grade, students create their own stones during art class, which are then added to the tiles on the outdoor walkways.
The tiles date back as far as the 1930s, and as space continues to fill, the school is looking at possibilities for the future, including mosaics or smaller tiles, said Banks.
When it comes to the site of the former welcome center and administration building, the use is still to be determined. Horvat says the space will most likely be a welcome center, with possible admissions office.
While the school looks to use the salvaged pieces of the building throughout the campus, it also eyes a new tie to its beach cottage history, Banks says.
“The classrooms need to be modern, they need to be the things that they are, but I think we also keep a good balance of what is a truly natural, beach, outdoor Siesta Key experience here, so whatever comes next
Photos by Ian Swaby
Jessica Bank and Laura Murphy stand in front of the original library.
Courtesy image Students read in the library shown in this historical photo.
The butterfly garden has been rebuilt since last year’s hurricanes.
Ralph Twitchell’s daughter, Sylva Twitchell Hutchens, designed one of the stones at the school.
Reptile Rendezvous
Ethan Rogge and his father, Mark, were allergic to furry animals.
So instead, at a young age, Ethan got his first gecko, and he soon was breeding and producing others, leading him to found SoFlo Reptiles.
The Naples-based business was a vendor at ReptiDay, the one-day version of the weekend ReptiCon events, held July 12 at Sahib Shrine Center.
Featuring reptiles from snakes to skinks along with nonreptilian animals, animal care products and merchandise, the expo featured just shy of 20 vendors according to Lisa Parker, manager of Vivid Special Events.
Ramon Acevedo called it an experience that was “very hard to find” locally and something not available in pet stores.
“ReptiCon is kind of like the only thing that a lot of people have in person for reptiles,” said his date, Sofi Sueiro, who also said getting in touch
with breeders was helpful, while calling herself “more of a bug person.”
Yet, bugs weren’t the only animals without scales.
Others included Felix, a skunk whom Alex Culver, of Pibbles and Company Exotic Animal Advocacy, had been trying to get to walk since he adopted the critter nine months ago.
At ReptiDay, Culver met Sarasota’s John Cox, a retired local deputy who founded RUCK9 (Rescuing Uniquely Created K-9’s), who has provided wheelchairs to dogs, cats and other animals in need.
Cox took Felix’s measurements and said he would be able to help Felix regain mobility. Cox said Felix would be his 541st rescue.
Culver said he was surprised by Cox’s willingness to help. “This has been amazing to us ” Culver said. “We’re big on animals, and it just doesn’t happen to us.”
— IAN SWABY
Home Discover
SHELLSTONE AT WATERSIDE
Sarasota, FL
Approx 1,692-3,733 sf
From High $500's 2 Amenity Centers Quick Move-Ins Available
MODEL CENTER
792 Blue Shell Loop Sarasota, FL 34240 941-361-2536
PALMERA AT WELLEN PARK
Venice, FL
Approx 2,375-3426 sf
From High $700's
Gated with Amenity Center Quick Move-Ins Available
MODEL CENTER 18188 Foxtail Loop Venice, FL 34293 941-361-2537
Dylan D’Angelo, 11, and his brother, Asher D’Angelo, 9, hold a Honduran milk snake and a Baja kingsnake.
Photos by Ian Swaby
Bethany Van Waardhuizen, her daughter, Aria Van Waardhuizen, 12, and her husband, Jon Waardhuizen, attended with Mushu, a bearded dragon.
John Dockery, 4, checks out an amphiuma.
Joshua Dockery, 11, makes a turtle friend.
Chameleons from Joe Rollo’s business, BCI Joe, are on display.
New life thrives in Myakka’s habitat restoration zone
Plants and animals continue to respond favorably to re-created floodplain marshes.
MIRI HARDY CONTRIBUTOR
Free-flowing rivers with natural fluctuations are essential for maintaining healthy ecosystems. When a river is dammed, habitats, as well as the plant and animal species that depend upon them, are negatively affected.
In 2022, as part of efforts to restore the natural flow of the Wild and Scenic Myakka River, an exciting habitat restoration project began at the Upper Myakka Lake.
A critical part of this project was removal of a weir built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, and filling in a bypass channel through the floodplain marsh, which was created in 1974 in an attempt to mitigate the weir’s negative impact.
Importantly, healthy floodplain marshes benefit not only Myakka’s ecosystems, but our human communities, too: By absorbing excess water during floods, they reduce the risk of downstream flooding. Vegetation and soil in floodplains also slows down floodwaters, preventing them from continuing to flow downstream to populated areas, where they can damage infrastructure.
Habitat restoration of a highly impacted area, especially floodplain marshes, which are seasonally underwater, takes time.
Over the past few years, the park established a habitat restoration exclusion zone, clearly defining the areas as off limits to park visitors. This helped reduce continuous trampling by park visitors, which suppresses natural revegetation due to degradation
of plant communities and soil compaction.
Importantly, plant life in this area is essential not only for controlling erosion but also for successfully restoring healthy habitats for our native wildlife, including insects, birds and reptiles.
This spring, with undisturbed endemic native groundcover coming into its own, wildlife continued to respond to the improved habitat, as well as to the protection provided by the restoration zones from human disturbance, with exciting results: To park visitors’ great delight, killdeer nesting efforts successfully produced chicks on both shores of the habitat restoration site for the first time.
Like all plovers, killdeer nest on the ground. Most successful nesting areas for this species have access to shallow water, which offers good feeding areas for newly hatched chicks. Myakka’s newly restored floodplain marshes now clearly fit the bill.
Friends of Myakka River exists to support Myakka River State Park and the Wild and Scenic Myakka River. Together, we’re protecting and sharing Myakka’s Magic, to the benefit of future generations, and our own. Follow us @FriendsOfMyakkaRiver.
Miri Hardy
Killdeer are dedicated parents known for their “broken-wing” display, feigning injury to lure intruders away from their chicks or nest.
The habitat restoration exclusion zone helped reduce continuous trampling by park visitors, which suppresses natural revegetation due to degradation of plant communities and soil compaction.
Saturday at the Market
The mouthwatering aroma of freshly baked bread filled the streets, and eye-catching, unique handcrafted gifts packed the tents July 12 at the Downtown Sarasota Farmers Market.
The market fills the streets of Lemon Avenue and Main Street to provide a home to the array of business to the locals and tourists alike.
“It brought a beautiful sense of community. The people who work here are just wonderful,” said Andrea Meythaler, owner of Bambooty Bodygear, one of the market’s nearly 80 vendors.
Meythaler designs, manufactures and hand dyes the bodygear, which is made from bamboo fiber.
Fernando Canales, of Arte Canales, welds and creates his pieces all from copper. His process involves cutting and forming the copper, and he adds to his artistry with decorative skill through acid formed patinas and heat.
Originally from Chile, Canales studied art when he was younger and has been a part of the downtown market for more than 15 years.
— CARLIN GILLEN
Shells and stones from the Fysikos Sea Sponge Co.
Hana Tiskiewic displays her handcrafted wooden “Bouncies from Bohemia” as well as her Doodlo towels.
Photos by Carlin Gillen
Morgan Mahan, Aviana Caragiulo and Davida Lentini are all smiles at the Camelot Breads booth.
A home in Harbor Acres sells
ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR
Timothy and Lynn Duoos, trustees, of Sarasota, sold the home at 1378 Harbor Drive to Charles Sizemore, of Sarasota, for $9.5 million. Built in 2003, it has four bedrooms, five-andthree-half baths, a pool and 6,235 square feet of living area. It sold for $4.2 million in 2015.
SARASOTA
LEWIS COMBS
Brandon and Katherine Ure, of Saugatuck, Michigan, sold their home at 1682 Hawthorne St. to Gill and Paul Grozier, of Libertyville, Illinois, for $3.8 million. Built in 1924, it has four bedrooms, fourand-a-half baths, a pool and 4,471 square feet of living area. It sold for $3.4 million in 2022.
WESTBROOK
Chris Fisher and Blair Moritz, of Ojai, California, sold their home at 1331 Quail Drive to Nicolas Billaud and Pascale Coic Billaud, of Sarasota, for $2 million. Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,437 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.6 million in 2022.
ONE ONE PALM
Robert David Paslaqua, of Sarasota, sold his Unit 203 condominium at 711 S. Palm Ave. to Kristen Boyd-Sullivan, of Sarasota, for $1,795,000. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 1,815 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,085,800 in 2019.
HILLS
Barry Spivey and Tami Conetta, of Alexandria, Virginia, sold their home at 1656 Hillview St. to Daniel Denton, trustee, of Sarasota, for $1.55 million. Built in 1940, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 2,915 square feet of living area. It sold for $480,000 in 2005.
BURNS COURT
SRQ Burns LLC sold two properties at 422 Burns Court to Mary Graham, trustee, of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, for $1.5 million. The first property was built in 1926 and has two bedrooms, one bath and 916 square feet of living area. The second property was built in 1926 and has one bedroom, one bath and 231 square feet of living area. They sold for $1.5 million in 2023.
LA LINDA TERRACE
Helen Margolis and Abraham Joseph Margolis, of Sarasota, sold their home at 2135 Hyde Park St. to Judeth Jensen, trustee, of Golden, Colorado, for $1.21 million. Built in 2022, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,033 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,203,800 in 2021.
Janet Carol Deremer Mitchell, trustee, of Whispering Pines, North Carolina, sold the home at 2110 Hawthorne St. to Dar 3406 Magic
million
Oak Lane LLC for $635,000. Built in 1966, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,695 square feet of living area. It sold for $360,000 in 2019.
HUDSON PARK
Joel and Margo Marver, of Sarasota, sold their home at 2434 Wood St. to Martha Tirinnanzi, of Sarasota, for $1.2 million. Built in 2015, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,231 square feet of living area. It sold for $530,000 in 2015.
MARK SARASOTA
Andrew Michael Economos, of Longboat Key, sold the Unit 1009 condominium at 111 S. Pineapple Ave. to Timothy Provost and Nurit Sonnenschein, of Sarasota, for $1.15 million. Built in 2019, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,591 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,002,000 in 2020.
Robert and Shirl Gauthier, of Sarasota, sold their Unit 1102 condominium at 111 S. Pineapple Ave. to Robert Haynes Chidsey and Monica Chidsey, of Sarasota, for $1.15 million. Built in 2019, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,535 square feet of living area. It sold for $990,000 in 2020.
SARASOTA BAY CLUB
Sarasota Bay Club LLC sold the Unit 1103 condominium at 1301 Tamiami Trail to Gertrude Smith, of Sarasota, for $1.15 million. Built in 2000, it has one bedroom, one-and-a-half baths and 1,161 square feet of living area. It sold for $867,000 in 2022.
PHILLIPPI LANDINGS
Christopher Cogan, of Sarasota, sold his Unit 201 condominium at 5531 Cannes Circle to Mark Henry Oldani and Maria Doris Oldani, trustees, of Sarasota, for $925,000. Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,024 square feet of living area. It sold for $875,000 in 2022.
SOUTHPOINTE SHORES
James Meenan, trustee, sold the home at 1838 Sandalwood Drive to Vincent Winoski, of Sarasota, for $700,000. Built in 1972, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,970 square feet of living area.
BAY HAVEN Beth Haynie, of Sarasota, sold her
home at 3001 Bayshore Circle to Justin and Summer Bloom, of Sarasota, for $650,000. Built in 1956, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 2,067 square feet of living area. It sold for $412,000 in 2019.
ESPLANADE BY SIESTA KEY
Neil Marinovich and Barbara Budd, of Aberdeen, North Carolina, sold their home at 5814 Cavano Drive to Charles Anthony Hallett, of Sarasota, for $635,000. Built in 2014, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,886 square feet of living area. It sold for $381,900 in 2014.
ONLINE
See more transactions at YourObserver.com.
Other top sales by area
SIESTA KEY: $3.4 MILLION
Crescent
Oasis Management LLC sold the Unit AS201 condominium at 6512 Midnight Pass Road to John Brian Aird and Meghan Rayleen Lawler Aird, of Saginaw, Michigan, for $3.4 million. Built in 2006, it has two bedrooms, three baths and 2,143 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.8 million in 2009.
PALMER RANCH: $1,038,000
Arbor Lakes on Palmer Ranch
Garry and Kyra Barger, of Sarasota, sold their home at 6318 Anise Drive to Lawrence Silver and Weihong Wang, of Sarasota, for $1,038,000. Built in 2015, it has five bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,331 square feet of living area. It sold for $595,100 in 2015.
OSPREY: $1,285,000
Meridian at the Oaks Preserve
Barbara Ann Edgecombe, trustee, and Michael George Edgecombe sold the Unit 801 condominium at 393 N. Point Road to John Lucas and William Takacs, of Osprey, for $1,285,000. Built in 2001, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 3,029 square feet of living area. It sold for $765,000 in 2012.
NOKOMIS: $745,000
Calusa Lakes
Bobby and Nell Fowlkes, trustees, of Charlotte, Tennessee, sold the home at 2183 Muskogee Trail to Mark and Faye Twohig, of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, for $745,000. Built in 1998, it has four bedrooms, twoand-a-half baths, a pool and 2,497 square feet of living area. It sold for $650,000 in 2021.
YOUR CALENDAR
FRIDAY, JULY 18 FAMILY
CHURCH
6-8 p.m. at Payne Park, 2010 Adams Lane. Free. This family event features food trucks, yard games, and a performance by Shayne Boyle (Insane Shayne), a former “America’s Got Talent” contestant known for his sports-related skits and stunts who holds the Guinness World Record for “farthest marshmallow propelled and caught in the mouth.” Bring family, friends and lawn chairs. Visit SarasotaFL.gov.
TUESDAY, JULY 22
THE Y: PRIMETIME+
7:30-8:15 a.m. at Sunset Deck, The Bay, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. This total body conditioning class advertises innovative body weight exercises spotlighting core muscles, including abs and glutes, and is suited to active seniors and beginners. In the case of inclement weather, the event will be moved indoors. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.
WAND SKILLS 101: TWEEN FLOW WANDS
2-3 p.m. at Gulf Gate Library, 7112 Curtiss Ave. Free. Best for ages 9-12. In this session inspired by the levitating spells of a famous wizardry world, use dancing flow wands, a type of prop that appears to float and glide magically, learning tricks to a “spellbinding soundtrack.” Visit SCGovLibrary.LibraryMarket.com.
FREE NUTRITION AND COOKING CLASS
2:30-3:30 p.m. at Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Library, 2801 Newtown Blvd. Free. Learn simple strategies for eating healthy and create tasty, healthy food to take home, along with a bag of groceries. Visit SCGovLibrary.LibraryMarket.com.
TEEN CRAFT ZONE: BEGINNER BOOKBINDING
3-5 p.m. at Gulf Gate Library, 7112 Curtiss Ave. Free. Ages 13-18 only. Learn the basics of bookbinding, the process of assembling pages and attaching them to a case to form a complete book and take home your own hardcover case. Registration required. Visit SCGovLibrary.LibraryMarket.com.
BEST BET
SATURDAY, JULY 19
LIMELIGHT MARKET
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Bazaar on Apricot and Lime, 821 Apricot Ave. Free. The Bazaar on Apricot and Lime opens its courtyard for guest vendors, adoptable dogs, live music and other offerings in this event held on the third Saturday of each month. Visit HamletsEatery.com.
THURSDAY, JULY 24
MOMMY & ME AT THE BAY: CORE & CRADLE
9-10 a.m. at Sarasota Garden Club, 1130 Boulevard of the Arts Free. This community pilates class is created by STOTT-certified Pilates instructor and new mom Somer Menozzi, and invites participants to build strength together. Bring a yoga mat and a water bottle. Baby carriers are optional, and babies are “welcome but never required.” First 1000 Days Suncoast will be on-site with information and resources. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.
CINEMA AT THE BAY: ‘FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF’
7:30-9:15 p.m. at The Oval, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts Free. Enjoy a free outdoor movie under the stars at The Bay. In “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (PG-13), a high school senior decides to take a day off from school to enjoy his favorite Chicago sites with his best friend and girlfriend. VisitTheBaySarasota.org.
Marta I. Coll, Esq.
M. Michelle Robles, Esq.
Emily M. Flinchpaugh, Esq.
Trixy jumps for a treat from her owner Paulette Nelson.
SPORTS
FAST BREAK
The Booker High football team announced its finalized schedule for the 2025 season. The Tornadoes will open with a Kickoff Classic preseason game at home against Manatee on Aug. 15. Booker will play some high-caliber opponents, including Auburn High (Alabama), a 10-1 team in 2024, Naples, an 11-3 regional champion team in 2024, and Seminole, an 8-2 team in 2024.
... Former Riverview pitcher Karson Ligon was selected 262nd overall in the ninth round of the MLB Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays on July 14. Ligon played at the University of Miami for two seasons before transferring to Mississippi State for his junior and senior years. Despite posting a 5.40 ERA this season, Ligon struck out 73 batters in 56 2/3 innings across 15 starts for a Bulldogs team that made the NCAA Tournament.
... Former Sarasota and Florida State pitcher Conner Whittaker is on a dominant run as a multi-inning relief pitcher with the Lynchburg Hillcats, the Single-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. Whittaker (6-1) has allowed two earned runs over his last 32 innings pitched, lowering his ERA to 2.48 on the season.
... The Sarasota Sharks women’s swim team dominated at the Florida Summer Age Group Championships from July 10-13 in Ocala, winning 22 gold medals. Sydney Hardy (11 gold medals) and Sophia Malkowicz (seven gold, two bronze) led the way in the 13-14-year-old age group while Vivian Hughes (six gold, two silver, one bronze) and Gwendolyn Fox (five gold) were the top performers in the 11-12-year-old age group.
... The Sarasota American 8-9-10-year-old All-Star team fell short of a state championship in Freeport. Sarasota rallied for four runs in the home half of the sixth inning to defeat Fort Lauderdale 6-5, but lost its next two games to West Boynton and Tampa Bay.
“As a senior and a captain, I’m helping out to get ready for this season and one more ride.”
OLYMPIC DREAMS
Cardinal Mooney alum Sean Laureano works for spot on Puerto Rico lacrosse team.
VINNIE PORTELL STAFF WRITER
Without lacrosse, Sean Laureano may not have embraced his heritage the way he has now.
The Cardinal Mooney grad went on a trip to Puerto Rico in June organized by the Puerto Rico National lacrosse team and saw the island through his father’s eyes.
“He was showing us around spots he went as a kid, certain beaches, places he went for food, and things like that,” Laureano said of his father, Jason, who grew up in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. “That was pretty special. He showed us what the island meant to him.”
The 20-year-old is in a prime position to earn a spot to represent Puerto Rico, because of his father being born there, in the 2028 Olympics when lacrosse makes its return as a medal sport for the first time since 1908. Laureano had the chance to explore his father’s home and experience the culture and flavors of Puerto Rico.
“While we were there, we got to tour Ponce, which is a city in Puerto Rico and meet their vice mayor (Malrese Sifre),” Laureano said. “We toured some of the local historic sites, and they’re actually building a sports academy there and they plan to have lacrosse there. So we toured the school and played some lacrosse for the kids to show off for the community. There weren’t as many fans as we hoped, but they embraced it for sure.”
Laureano grew up in Sarasota eating some basic Puerto Rican staples, like rice, beans and chicken that his father made, but he expanded his palate this summer, and found he enjoyed it.
While in Puerto Rico, Laureano tried local cuisine such as alcapurrias — meat inside a fried dough and plantain shell — and bacailito — codfish fried into a pancake shape at a local restaurant his father had eaten at before.
The Laureanos stayed in an Airbnb with modern amenities such as air conditioning and running water, but that wasn’t always what life was like for Jason Laureano growing up, when the island suffered from problems with its power grid.
The modern conveniences Laureano enjoyed were welcomed.
“It was really freaking hot,” he said.
SEAN
LAUREANO FAST FACTS
n Laureano broke his jaw when colliding with an opponent in a preseason match in 2019 and had to have his jaw wired shut, limiting him to drinking smoothies and talking through gritted teeth for six weeks.
“It felt like Florida. I thought I was going to get away from the humidity, but I definitely didn’t. It was in the 90s with pretty heavy heat.”
HOME AND ABROAD
Laureano stayed close to home to major in business and minor in data analytics at Rollins College in Winter Park, close to where he was born in Orlando and just over two hours from Cardinal Mooney to stay close to friends and family.
He’s currently home for the summer, living with his parents, Betsy and Jason, while working an internship with S-One — an imaging, design and printing company in Sarasota.
Laureano is a self-described “numbers guy,” which means he’s well aware that time is on his side when it comes to the Olympics.
Laureano was 18 when the International Olympic Committee announced in October 2023 that lacrosse would return as a medal sport.
“Of course that’s the dream,” Laureano said. “Being an Olympic athlete would be the coolest thing ever. It wasn’t much of a dream until they announced (lacrosse) would be in the Olympics because it hadn’t been a part of it for such a long time.”
By 2028, he will have nearly a decade of experience with the Puerto Rican lacrosse team and a full four years of lacrosse at Rollins.
Even if a spot on the Puerto Rican Olympic team doesn’t materialize, though, Laureano already has had the opportunity to travel to new places, embrace his heritage, and play his favorite sport at the collegiate level.
After he made the team, he has traveled to destinations such as Indianapolis for the USA Lacrosse Experience and to Limerick, Ireland for the 2022 World Lacrosse U21 Men’s Championship.
Laureano was an alternate on that team in Ireland. He enjoyed the
n Laureano is still close with his older brother, Christian Laureano, who motivated him to start playing in the first grade. Christian Laureano recently graduated from Mercer and moved to Memphis.
n Laureano was the lone senior on his Cardinal Mooney team in 2023. He led the Cougars with 64 goals and 34 assists during a 12-7
sightseeing, but admits he didn’t particularly care for the cuisine.
While watching the Czech Republic communicating in Czech at the 2022 Men’s U21 Championship in Ireland, he saw how the players could strategize during the match, and also get away with “talking a little bit of trash.”
Next month, before going back to Rollins, he will travel to South Korea to compete in the 2025 World Lacrosse Men’s U20 Championship Aug. 15-24.
Laureano said he wants to learn some Korean before his trip so he can better navigate the area, and is particularly excited about visiting Seoul, the capital of South Korea.
Laureano will turn 21 in December, which means his time on Puerto Rico’s Men’s U20 lacrosse team is coming to an end following his trip to South Korea.
As much as he hopes to further his position to make the Olympic roster, he said he wants Puerto Rico to finish in the top six, or even medal, after finishing eighth at the 2022 U21 Championship.
“First and foremost, it’s about being a leader to that team,” Laureano said. “I’m now one of the oldest after being the youngest, so I have to show I can step up in that moment and be that guy, if I need to, take control of the game or put someone in the right spot. In terms of play, it’s just not being too selfish and not forcing things, and making the right play.”
He wants to be that leader if he makes the Olympic team, though his Spanish is still a work in progress. However, he had enough knowledge to navigate conversations thanks to the common use of English on the island.
Laureano was impressed with how easy it was to connect with people in Puerto Rico and share a laugh.
The fact he had the chance to visit his father’s country and embrace the culture may give him the knowledge to be that leader for the Olympic team and continue playing the sport he loves.
“First and foremost, it’s about being a leader to that team ... ” —
— Colton Dempsey, Sarasota football SEE PAGE 27
Vinnie Portell
Booker High first-year football coach Carlos Woods will open the season against Manatee on Aug. 15.
season.
Vinnie Portell
East County resident Sean Laureano will play for Puerto Rico’s U20 Men’s Lacrosse team in the World Lacrosse Championship in South Korea from Aug. 15-24.
Sean Laureano, Matt Cassalia and Christian Laureano were brought together through lacrosse. Cassalia coached the Laureanos at Cardinal Mooney and encouraged them to try out for Puerto Rico lacrosse in 2019.
Images courtesy of Sean Laureano
Sean and brother, Christian Laureano
Sean Laureano
Sarasota striker could become a hometown hero
The plan couldn’t be going more smoothly for the Sarasota Paradise right now.
The USL League Two team just secured its second consecutive South Florida Division championship this month, and it will host a Southern Conference Playoff game — against Sporting Club Jacksonville at Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch on July 18 at 7:30 p.m. — for the first time in the club’s three-year history.
Better yet, the team has already announced it will make the move up to USL League One next season, where players will be getting paid a salary as opposed to League Two.
Sarasota native Andres Freire, a striker and the team’s leading scorer, is a prime example.
Freire’s soccer identity has roots in the local community.
Freire has come full circle from his youth soccer days, the highlight of which he said was scoring on bicycle kicks on back-to-back days with FC Sarasota at Premier Sports Campus — the home of the Paradise.
This year is a pivotal point in his soccer career.
He is set to play his final season of collegiate soccer this fall at Stetson University in DeLand, and plans to graduate with a degree in business
administration this December.
With graduation creeping closer by the day, Freire is still unsure where he will play soccer at the professional level, but wants it to be with the Paradise.
Freire has a quirky pre-game superstition he’s adhered to since high school. He begins by walking the field while listening to the “Summer of ’69” by Bryan Adams.
He then makes sure to touch each goal post to “put the posts on his side and not theirs.”
“When I was 8 or 9, my dad (Alejandro Freire) had one CD in his car, and (“Summer of ’69”) was my favorite song,” Freire said. “It was the second song on the track. Ever since then, I didn’t stop. Before every game, it was “Summer of ’69.” If you ask any of the guys who played with me over the years, they’re always like, ‘Why are you playing this song? What is it with this song?’ I don’t know, I love it.”
When his walk concludes, Freire then takes a pre-match shower to wash away any negativity.
That routine hasn’t wavered even when the results on the field didn’t back it up.
Freire broke his ankle at Stetson in the 2023 season and missed the entire 2024 season.
When he returned to the pitch this summer for the Paradise, he had to earn the coaching staff’s trust.
After starting the first game of this season, he was relegated to the bench for the following two matches.
“Very early on he struggled, and he struggled because of his approach to training,” Paradise coach Mirko Dakovic said. “I had to pull him aside and ask him to use the training sessions to better himself so that he could help the team and bring out the best in himself. Since he’s been back in the lineup, he’s been on fire.”
Freire, who joined the team in the summer and played his first game on May 17, has led the Paradise with 10 goals and six assists this season, including a match in which he recorded five goals and five assists in a 16-0 win over Miami AC on July 5.
Freire also coaches soccer at The Fitballer in Sarasota when he’s not playing.
Those local ties are essential to the future success of the Paradise.
What makes this team stand out from the rest isn’t that it’s about to become a professional soccer team. It’s that some of its players could become pro players in the area where they were born and raised.
ANDRES FREIRE’S BEST MATCHES THIS SEASON
Freire has been the difference between winning and losing several times for the Paradise this season. These are his top performances:
June 4: Freire scored in the 83rd minute and in the 89th minute to propel the Paradise to a 2-1 win over Fort Lauderdale United FC.
June 7: Freire scored in the 29th minute and in the 57th minute in a 2-0 win over Miami AC.
July 5: Freire scored five goals and dished out five assists in a 16-0 win over Miami AC, the largest margin of victory in club history.
Paradise founder Marcus Walfridson said the club will only keep a few players next season due to the higher level of competition in US League One. That makes sense. Fans don’t want to watch a losing team.
But do fans want to watch a rotating cast of college players recruited from around the country? I know I wouldn’t.
I’m not much of a soccer fan, but I would have much more interest in the Paradise if they’re able to retain players like Freire for the move up to USL League One.
I’ve watched three Paradise games this summer, and Freire has stood out to me each time. He has a nonstop motor, is always pushing the attack until the last second, and is often one of the first ones to congratulate a teammate after a goal.
Again, I’m no soccer expert, but I think he’s deserving of a spot on next year’s team, and I’m not alone.
“There are players here in our community who are capable of making the jump to the next level,
but not knowing my status, that’s not my decision to make,” Dakovic said. “I believe Andres does have what it takes. He just has to commit to using training sessions for selfimprovement every day.”
Freire still has some time to further his standing with the Paradise, beginning with the Southern Conference Playoffs. The Paradise will begin with the quarterfinals on July 18 and will move on to the semifinal round on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. with a win.
“I would love to play here next year, but it’s not up to me,” Freire said. “I’m trying to make a case for myself, but at the end of the day, we’ll see where life goes.”
Photos by Vinnie Portell
Andres Freire fights for position in front of the goal against FC Miami City defender Joaquin Domber in the regular season finale at Premier Sports Campus.
Vinnie Portell is the sports reporter for the Sarasota/Siesta Key Observer. Contact him at VPortell@ YourObserver.com.
Andres Freire (right) celebrates a goal alongside teammates Owen Barnett, Felipe Rojas and Jeffrey White in a win against Weston FC on June 28 at Premier Sports Campus.
Colton Dempsey
Colton Dempsey is a 5-foot-9, 175-pound senior running back who transferred from Lakewood Ranch to Sarasota this summer.
Dempsey rushed 147 times for 1,015 yards (6.9 yards per rush) with 13 rushing touchdowns and caught 11 passes for 128 yards as a junior last year with the Mustangs.
When and why did you start playing football?
I started playing tackle football when I was in third grade. I started playing flag football when I was in first grade, around 5 years old. I started playing football mostly because my dad (Nathan Dempsey) was a running back in high school and played at Ferris State, a Division II college in Michigan. I kinda wanted to be like my dad, and started playing and loved it.
What has been the most memorable moment this summer?
Watching how good our offense is going to be. We’re going to have a really good pass game, and we did not have that at Lakewood Ranch.
It’s going to be nice for me in the run game, and I’ll be able to open up the pass game. I’m going to complement Hudson (West), and he’s going to complement me. It’s been super cool to see that, and us dominate teams in seven-on-seven.
What is your favorite all-time football memory?
When I was a sophomore at Bradenton Christian, we beat Saint Stephen’s and our school hadn’t beaten them in 13 years or so. They stopped playing us because we got good, and they finally scheduled us again, and they came over and it was a very close, low-scoring game, but we beat them. We had a crazy party in the locker room and it was a ton of fun.
What has gone right for you this summer?
I’m getting smarter. My (football)
IQ is always getting better. I’ve been helping out the younger guys. As a senior and a captain, I’m helping out to get ready for this season and one more ride.
If you would like to make a recommendation for the Sarasota Observer’s Athlete of the Week feature, send it to Vinnie Portell at VPortell@ YourObserver.com.
What has been your most humbling moment in football?
In the spring, I was trying to pick up a block from a linebacker and I got smacked pretty hard. I didn’t fall down, but he sent me back a couple of yards. That was a little humbling. I looked around to see if anyone saw that.
What is your favorite meal to eat? I’m usually a ribeye guy. I love steaks, but lately I’ve liked a nice cheeseburger.
What is your favorite TV show or movie?
I like watching Marvel movies. Me and my family liked those Marvel movies when I was younger. Lately, I just watch a lot of college and NFL highlights.
If you’re not playing football, what are you doing?
Chilling at the house. I play video games, like NCAA Football, a little bit but not too much.
Who is your favorite football player and why?
I used to be a big Rus sell Wilson fan. I used to love to watch Rus sell Wilson, but I’m a Lions fan, so I like Jahmyr Gibbs a ton.
Finish this sentence. Colton Dempsey is ... One to watch out for.
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH
DON’T ROCK THE BOAT by Kareem Ayas, edited by Taylor Johnson
Luis Campos
MAINTENANCE/GROUNDS
Oversee
Back to School 2025
SARASOTA
INFANTS - PRESCHOOL JR VPK
We offer Infant, Toddler, Beginner, Early Preschool and Preschool programs for ages 6 weeks to 4 years of age.
VPK
VPK
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS
INFANTS - PRESCHOOL JR VPK
We offer Infant, Toddler, Beginner, Early Preschool and Preschool programs for ages 6 weeks to 4 years of age.
VPK
After Care School programs for grades K-6. We will drop your child off to their school & pick them up after school (including early dismissal).
After Care School programs for grades K-6. We will drop your child off to their school & pick them up after school (including early dismissal).
SCHOOL AGE PROGRAMS
SCHOOL AGE PROGRAMS
After Care School programs for grades K-6. We will drop your child off to their school & pick them up after school (including early dismissal). We offer Infant, Toddler, Beginner, Early Preschool and Preschool programs for ages 6 weeks to 4 years of age.
Our VPK and Frogstreet curriculum will prepare your child with the skills needed for success! Our teachers provide your child with an active & engaging curriculum each day! Child must turn 4 before 9/1/24. Classes start August 11!
Our VPK and Frogstreet curriculum will prepare your child with the skills needed for success! Our teachers provide your child with an active & engaging curriculum each day!
Holiday Breaks: Winter, Spring, Single Day Holiday
SUMMER CAMP (MAY-AUGUST)
Our VPK and Frogstreet curriculum will prepare your child with the skills needed for success! Our teachers provide your child with an active & engaging curriculum each day!
Child must turn 4 before 9/1/24. Classes start August 11! AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS
Call and schedule a tour today to learn about this newly designed to mirror VPK for children that miss the VPK cutoff.
Holiday Breaks: Winter, Spring, Single Day Holiday
SCHOOL AGE PROGRAMS
SUMMER CAMP (MAY-AUGUST)
Call and schedule a tour today to learn about this newly designed to mirror VPK for children that miss the VPK cutoff.
Call and schedule a tour today to learn about this newly designed to mirror VPK for children that miss the VPK cutoff.
10 week camp with a different theme each week Field Trips
Holiday Breaks: Winter, Spring, Single Day Holiday
10 week camp with a different theme each week Field Trips
Child must turn 4 before 9/1/24. Classes start August 11!
3 meals provided
3 meals provided
SUMMER CAMP (MAY-AUGUST)
SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS AUGUST 2025
SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS AUGUST 2025
PROPRIETARY CONNECTIONS CURRICULUM
BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS
10 week camp with a different theme each week Field Trips
3 meals provided
CHILDREN AND FAMILY EVENTS
CONNECTIONS CURRICULUM
PROCARE, PARENT ENGAGEMENT APP
EARLY LEARNING ASSESSMENTS
A MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR MICHAEL HARRIS
To paraphrase legendary U.S. Olympic Hockey Coach, Herb Brooks: “Great moments are born from great opportunity.”
Parents, that’s what you have here today.
Your children have more opportunities today than you had in school and if we want to go into the wayback machine, certainly more than I had in school.
In my day — yes, we had cars, I’m not that old — we had the clunky school buses, no air conditioning with windows that never opened, or, if they did, didn’t close when we got the South Florida storms soaking all your schoolwork.
Now, as you can read on page 24 of
this section, kids get to ride in aircooled comfort with electric buses.
While riding in the new buses, even your child’s Labubu won’t sweat. What’s a Labubu? It’s the hottest thing since you were collecting Beanie Babies, as you’ll see on page 32.
But parents, your child can start getting a jump on their careers with the array of unique courses (page 16) being offered in Sarasota County.
Kids today can look to broadcasting courses at Cardinal Mooney, marine science from Mote Laboratory and, of course, the Circus Arts Conservatory at Sarasota High.
When I went to school, I never bothered eating lunch at the “cafeteria.” Why? Well, to put it bluntly, it was lousy. Why were the peas brown and the meat was green? Parents, you know what I’m talkin’ about.
Now, look at page 14, your child gets whole grains and yogurt parfaits with berries. Parfaits? Hey, look, the right color for the berries too.
With every passing year, schools advance, and that only means great opportunities for your children.
Go get ‘em kids, we believe in you.
ON THE COVER: Lea Basulto and Lincoln Heath. Photo by Ian Swaby.
File photo
First grader Jhonson Jerre Francois and Amy Blyth at Alta Vista Elementary.
Balancing the books
School district to hold hearing for tentative budget for 2025 to 2026 school year.
IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER
As Sarasota County school district officials cite difficulties like rising class sizes and less state funding, they are working to balance those realities to deliver a top-notch learning experience as the budget cycle approaches for the 2025 to 2026 school year.
Bonnie Penner, chief financial officer of Sarasota County Schools, said when prioritization is necessary, the focus is always on the essentials of students’ education.
“Always, always, first and foremost is the classroom, making sure that at a minimum, we’re meeting class size,” Penner said.
During a June 17 school board workshop, Penner said the proposed $748 million budget will include board-approved raises for teachers, as well as additional costs for the new Skye Ranch School.
While noting the district’s focus on classrooms, Penner said nonetheless, it is examining which positions it is possible to leave vacant, while still allowing the district to adhere more closely to class-size limits.
In the past, it has tended to keep class sizes below the state limits, which are 18 students in prekindergarten through third grade, 22 students in 4-8, and 25 students in 9-12.
“The cuts to our federal funding and our state funding we cannot fully absorb in the district’s budget,” said Sarasota School Board Member Liz Barker. “It’s just not possible, but we will do everything in our power to protect the sanctity of the classroom.”
Barker says the district has
KEY DATES FOR UPCOMING BUDGET CYCLE
July 19: FDOE deadline to certify required local effort
July 22: Approval of advertisements for budget
July 29: Public hearing and approval of tentative budget
Sept.16: Public hearing and approval of final budget
the best outcomes when it keeps class sizes as small as possible.
“I’ve advocated with the superintendent, that I think that particularly our kindergarten classrooms, and I think to some extent, even our first-grade classrooms, we need to be particularly diligent about keeping those sizes small, because kindergartners, they’re not just there to learn to read and write, they really need so much help beyond that,” she said.
She said most of those classrooms have one teacher, and students may need help with needs like fine motor skills, tying their shoes, zipping their coat, or using the restroom.
“Where we may have worked really hard to keep our class sizes closer to 17 or 18 in those upper grades, fourth grade through eighth grade, we may have to bump those sizes up to be closer to the state standard, which is 22, and that will mean that it’s a lot more work for teachers, and it will mean less specialized instruction for students,” she said.
WHAT DOES A TEACHER MAKE?
When it comes to teacher salaries, Sarasota County ranks near the top of the state.
According to statistics from the Florida Department of Education, during the 2023-2024 school year, Sarasota County’s average teacher salary was the secondhighest among the state’s 82 counties at $68,428.16.
In 2024, the school board approved a minimum salary for instructional staff of $57,500 for 2024 to 2025, and $60,000 for 2025 to 2026.
That can also mean there are no county plans to hire more teachers as class sizes grow.
In June, the district implemented a hiring freeze to control costs.
Penner said the district is also looking at operational efficiencies, enhancing the use of grant resources, restrictions on nonessential travel, and examining contracts, licenses and overtime.
Despite these challenges, Penner noted that the preliminary budget still ends with a fund balance of 9%, higher than the 7.5% requested by the school board’s policy.
Another area where Penner has said the budgeting process is closely focused is the Literacy for All program.
The initiative was implemented by Superintendent Terry Connor in 2024, and was designed to individualize the reading instruction provided to students beyond what the former Reading Recovery program had offered, expanding literacy coaching and intervention and bringing them to all of the district’s schools.
“It would be very difficult for you to find middle and high schools that have literacy coaches,” Deputy Superintendent and Chief Academic
ENROLLMENT PROJECTIONS
2024-2025
Elementary schools: 15,993
Middle schools: 6,283
High schools: 12,193
Other schools: 3,728
Charter schools: 7,231
Scholarships: 3,929
2025-2026
Elementary schools: 15,413
Middle schools: 6,089
High schools: 12,291
Other schools: 4,489
Charter schools: 7,422
Scholarships: 4,752
Officer Rachael O’Dea told the Observer in 2024. “That’s a very different approach, and we’re probably one of the few in the state to have that at scale.”
The district also will need to manage the costs of the new Skye Ranch School, which opens in August.
The new K-8 facility, located at Clark and Lorraine Road, will begin serving students up to sixth grade, with seventh grade to come in 2026 and eighth grade in 2027.
In 2024, the school board voted unanimously to set a new boundary that will relocate 1,187 students from Ashton Elementary, Lakeview Elementary and Sarasota Middle School to the new school, which contains 1,382 student stations.
Penner told the Observer in June that the current team overseeing the budget, introduced under Connor in 2023, is “very well-resourced.”
She says the process of creating the budget involves working closely with other areas of the district.
“I meet with Mr. Connor once a week, meet with my budget team frequently, to see where we’re going with that, but also cabinet is very involved,” she said.
Penner will speak with schools about what their enrollment historically has been, and will involve the planning department, speaking about new neighborhoods coming in and other factors that may impact enrollment.
“This whole process really has a lot of input from the superintendent and the full cabinet, so they can see, not just here’s the strategic plan of where we want to go, but also each step of the way, this is how it’s going to impact it,” she said.
Ian Swaby
Alta Vista Elementary third grader Aria Grove works on an assignment
earn credits toward an associate degree.
Public, private and home-schooled students enroll in selected college classes.
12th-graders spend their senior year enrolled at SCF.
Sarasota and Manatee County public school juniors and Lemon Bay High School juniors ideally earn an associate degree by attending SCF full-time.
A MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT TERRY CONNOR
Greetings Sarasota County community members, I would like to start by offering my sincerest thanks to all of our students, families, teachers and staff members for their hard work and dedication this past school year. Additionally, I would like to extend a special thank you to our volunteers, community partners, and business partners who continue to serve our school communities. Though classes
began amidst a busy storm season, we ended the academic year in a place of stability and success. This would not have been possible without all stakeholders banding together to support each other, most importantly our students.
Our traditional public schools help form the foundation of our strong community, and I could not be prouder of the many accomplishments and milestones our school communities achieved this past year. Our academic team has been hard at work poring over assessment insights to ensure that our instructional team members are dialing in on key points and strategies that continue to propel our students forward.
In January, Sarasota County Schools learned our graduation rate for the 2023-2024 academic year was 92.5%. This is the highest graduation rate in our school district’s history — excluding the
2019-2020 graduation rate, when the Florida Department of Education waived the assessment requirements for graduation because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2023-2024 results directly correlate to the seemingly indefatigable care, skill and effort put forth by our teachers. We likely will not know our 2024-2025 graduation rate until next spring, but I am optimistic that our students will continue to excel.
As interest in our community has steadily increased year over year, we have seen more families moving to the county. The area’s natural amenities and arts and cultural highlights are certainly a huge selling point, but the most compelling factor for a family to relocate is the community’s educational offerings. Sarasota County Schools is excited to be adding a new public school to its award-winning family of campuses this fall.
Skye Ranch School, located at 9501 Lorraine Road, will officially open to its first students this August. Though it will eventually serve as a kindergarten through eighth grade campus, Skye Ranch School will initially only be available to incoming kindergarten through rising sixth grade students in the upcoming school year. This stateof-the-art school will offer a robust Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) curriculum with a specialized focus on science, mathematics and robotics.
The following school year (2026-2027) will see the opening of another brand new, traditional public school: Wellen Park High School. Featuring a modern, three-story 325,000-square-foot academic building, Wellen Park High will also boast a comprehensive athletic complex. A perfect addition to the already active lifestyle within the
master-planned Wellen Park, the school’s athletic amenities will include a synthetic turf football field, a nine-lane running track, multiple courts, and fields for various sports.
Our community will continue to change and grow, but rest assured that Sarasota County Schools will not lose sight of our core vision. We will continue to strive to be the premier education provider that empowers every student to thrive in an ever-changing world through innovation and continuous advancement. We are honored to serve the wonderful children and families of Sarasota County.
I hope that everyone continues to enjoy their summer break. We will see you on Monday, Aug. 11, for the first day of school!
TERRY CONNOR SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
SCHOOL YEAR AT A GLANCE
File photo
Mauricio Hammal Pellegrino, Tuttle Elementary principal Patricia Folino and Maykol Canales prepare for a “Save Fred’ activity in Mayra Ocasio’s fourth grade art class.
Construction means growth
As the school year approaches, Sarasota’s school district progresses on several high-profile construction projects.
IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER
Predicting growth in the school district is always a challenge, said Jody Dumas, executive director of facilities at Sarasota County Schools.
He said over the last five years, Sarasota is beginning to grow in certain areas of the district, and those areas are typically in Lakewood Ranch.
He said the district has also been eyeing Palmer Ranch east of Interstate 75, and south Sarasota County in Wellen Park.
Overall, he said, the district’s population has been trickling “a little bit up and a little bit down.”
Nonetheless, the district has some major construction projects still on the way. Here is some of the major work that is upcoming.
SKYE RANCH SCHOOL
The district’s major development this year is the opening of the new Skye Ranch School at Clark and Lorraine roads, its first new school in more than 15 years.
The school will be available to incoming kindergarten through rising sixth grade students, although it will eventually serve as a K-8.
Dumas said in June the project was on schedule, and the district was readying the facility, adding staff and adding in furniture.
“Between now and August ... our real big focus will be trying to get that, make sure that’s open and ready to go, and that’s going to be a beautiful facility,”
he said.
Budget: $106 million
Capacity: 1,382
Completion: August 2025
SPORTS FIELD HOUSE RENOVATION AT BOOKER HIGH SCHOOL
For years, a building near
“Overall, the district’s population has been trickling “a little bit up and a little bit down.”
Jody Dumas
Wellen Park High School in North Port is scheduled to open summer 2026.
Booker High School’s football field was a mechanical room serving the school’s chillers.
However, with the equipment no longer present in the space, the district is converting it to a space with features that will include football locker rooms, a team room and coaches offices.
“We’re excited about that. That’s really going to be nice for Booker High,” Dumas said.
The project follows the opening of a new track last year.
Budget: $2.2 million
NEW HIGH SCHOOL IN WELLEN PARK
This year, construction continues on a new high school in Wellen Park, North Port.
The district’s first high school since North Port High in 2001, the 363,600-squarefoot space will include an auditorium, media center, gymnasium, cafeteria and athletic facilities such as an area for sand volleyball that will serve a new districtwide volleyball program.
“That’s coming along nicely. That’s still on schedule,”
Dumas said.
Budget: $210 million
Capacity: 1,967
Completion: Summer 2026
THE FARM AT MCINTOSH MIDDLE SCHOOL
With The Farm at McIntosh Middle School now open and welcoming students, work continues on the agricultural and livestock facility with Phase 2.
“Phase two of the farm is moving along very, very nicely,” Dumas said. “That should be ready to go and we should have a lot of students on campus here as we get into new school year.”
Features of Phase 2 include an additional barn, as well as a nearly complete teaching kitchen hosting farm-to-table foods.
Budget: $8 million
Timeline: Phase 2 opens Sept. 2025
SARASOTA HIGH SCHOOL RENOVATION
Two classroom buildings at Sarasota High are undergoing
a heating, ventilation and air conditioning renovation, which also involves upgrading finishes, ceilings, floors, paint, cabinets, some doors and lights.
The project began in Building 13 and has now moved into Building 14.
“We’re moving. We’re on schedule in that project,” Dumas said.
Budget: $37.5 million (as of Nov. 2024)
SARASOTA MIDDLE SCHOOL RE-ROOF
After several years of roofing at Booker Middle School, the district is now headed to Sarasota Middle School for the same project, Dumas said.
Budget: $12.9 million
Completion: 2028
GARDEN ELEMENTARY TOTAL SCHOOL REPLACEMENT
After Garden Elementary School in Venice suffered significant impacts from Hurricane Ian in 2022, the district settled on a demolition and total replacement of the build-
ing. Dumas said the project was breaking ground “almost immediately.”
The project will keep a new cafeteria building for other uses later on, while transitioning students into another new building.
Budget: $80 million Capacity: 950
Completion: Summer 2027
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN LAKEWOOD RANCH
The district is preparing to introduce a new elementary school in Lakewood Ranch.
“We are moving closer to that. So we’ll start on that the end of next year, probably,” Dumas said in June.
He said this school will relieve population growth in the Tatum Ridge area.
5-year forecast: $77 million
BAY HAVEN SCHOOL OF BASICS PLUS HVAC RENOVATION
In June, Dumas said the renovation at Bay Haven School of Basics Plus was wrapping up.
The improvements were intended to address aging con ditions in the interior, updating features including security, air conditioning, lighting, walls and carpeting.
Budget:
Completion: 2025
SARASOTA
HIGH
AUDITORIUM RENOVATION
Funding begins in 2026 for a new performing arts center at Sarasota High. The project will involve the demolition of the current auditorium as well as some ancillary buildings, construction of a new theater and music suites, and the renovation of old music spaces into classrooms.
The project will allow the district to “add 10 or 12 classrooms and increase the capacity of the school as well,” Director of Construction Services Jane Dreger recently told the school board.
Budget: $75 million
Status: Project begins in 2027.
Fueling education
How Sarasota’s school district feeds thousands of students each day.
IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER
If you think back to the past, you might remember a time when pizzas in school cafeterias tended to be not round, but square.
Sarasota’s school district gave students of all grade levels the nostalgic treat of square pizza as the 2024-2025 school year ended.
That’s just one example of how the school district hopes to entice kids to dine with it, said Sara Dan, director of Food and Nutrition Services at Sarasota County Schools.
Feeding a district is an undertaking that involves meeting nutrition requirements, the
needs of students with varying tastes, and allocating all the products and ingredients across a public school system that serves around 45,000 students.
However, Dan says a passionate team keeps the service in motion.
Dan describes the district’s meal program, which is funded independently throughout the regular school year, as a restaurant within the district.
The National School Lunch and Breakfast Program, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which sets standards involving factors like whole grains, vegetable subgroups, protein and portion size, funds the program.
“We’re exposing (students) to good, nutritious choices,” Dan said. “Our pizza isn’t like just regular pizza. The cheese is reduced fat, the grain, it’s a whole grain crust.”
However, within those requirements, there’s still room for the district to experiment, and Dan, who is one of three
Ahealthy smile is important at any age, but for kids and teens, it can shape how they feel about themselves and how they interact with the world. “I’ve seen how confidence and attitude improve from the beginning of treatment to the end. Even the shy ones end up smiling and feeling good about themselves,” says Dr. Karen Varone. A successful treatment plan for a healthy smile isn’t one-size-fits-all-it’s different for every child or teen. That’s why Dr. Varone offers free, in-depth consultations for parents exploring orthodontic options. A personalized approach is essential to finding the right path forward.” During the consultation, parents will get all the information they need to decide what is
right for their schedule, kids, and family,” she explains.
During the consultation, Dr. Varone explains the differences between braces and Invisalign options, including Invisalign Teen, Invisalign Expanders, and Invisalign First. Designed with growing mouths in mind, these options offer clear aligners that are removable, easy to clean, and much less noticeable than traditional braces. That means fewer disruptions to sports, music, meals, and self-esteem.
Invisalign First, designed for children ages 7 to 12, gently guides jaw development and corrects bite issues early. This often prevents more complex orthodontic problems later. Early treatment typically lasts 6 to 12 months and lays the foundation for
registered dieticians on staff, says the menu brings “inspiration from other districts, inspiration from restaurants, inspiration from just all sorts of sources.”
“We really look at the quality of everything and we try to balance everything, taking into consideration the cost,
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taking into consideration the quality, making sure it meets the guidelines. There’s just a lot of there’s a lot of factors involved,” she said.
She said the program serves around 22,000 to 26,000 lunches and 30,000 to 40,000 meals per day, including breakfast, lunch, supper and snacks. Some items are ready made, while there are from-scratch creations, like the macaroni and grilled cheese sandwich. Although staff perform taste tests on the foods, the ultimate test, she says, is its popularity with students.
“Students are the best judge of anything because they’re going to be honest,” she said. “If they don’t like it, they’ll tell you.”
Sourcing of ingredients comes from various locations through Gordon Food Services. Dan said the department is currently in the process of rebuilding some supply chains for local ingredients that were affected by the pandemic, while the Florida Department of Agriculture is “constantly”
Confident Smiles Start With Clear Options
lifelong dental health.
Invisalign Teen comes with smart features specifically tailored for teens. Because Invisalign aligners are comfortable and barely noticeable, they reduce embarrassment, minimize disruptions, and provide more motivation to stay on track. “Sometimes students come in who are nervous about how orthodontics will impact the activities they love, such as athletics or music, acting, and singing. They relax when they discover that Invisalign won’t affect their speech or comfort. And, since a standout feature of Invisalign
aligners is their comfort and discreetness, it won’t affect a budding athlete’s ability to be on the field.”
From an oral hygiene, scheduling, and comfort standpoint, Invisalign is often far superior to traditional braces, and requires fewer appointments. However, thanks to Dr. Varone’s high level of expertise, all treatment options lead to the same significant improvements. “In my office, we get top results with either method, and feel confident putting the decision in the hands of the family to decide what’s best for them.”
LAKEWOOD RANCH: 6286 Lake Osprey Dr. PHONE: (941) 907-8898
SARASOTA: 2916 Bee Ridge Road
PHONE: (941) 922-6444
WEBSITE: www.mvorthodontics.com
Courtesy image
Students receive a meal in a school dining area.
working to connect the district with local farmers.
“If we can find something locally sourced, we will definitely try to purchase it if we can afford it,” she said.
Distribution of items goes throughout the district using the order guide sent with the menu. They also look at food production records.
“Say I’m making macaroni and cheese, I may need 25 pounds of macaroni, and this many pounds of cheese, and it literally tells them every ingredient,” Dan said.
The order will be checked by area managers, who ensure the location manager hasn’t missed any items, and then checked again by the operations team, before being sent to the companies which provide the food and supplies.
Dan says anyone can enjoy the meals within the school district.
“Any student within Sarasota County can participate, so we would like everybody to. That’s the goal,” she said.
The district works with par
ents on plans for students with medically documented food allergies.
She says some families will avoid registering for the meals because of the fear of taking food away from a child in need, but she says they need not be concerned about this.
“If student A and Student B are both on meal benefits, their two meals go to be reimbursed. It’s not one over the other,” she said.
In Sarasota County, about half of students receive meal benefits, with either free breakfast and lunch, or reduced prices.
With so many students relying on the district’s meals, Dan says it’s the work behind the scenes that makes all the difference.
“Our team has so much heart,” she said. “You work with amazing people. You get to work around kids, which are wonderful, and you get to work in a district with a lot of great supportive school staff who want their kids to be successful.”
Career Certificate
To meet the demand for training, MTC offers over 50 career certificate programs in fields such as Manufacturing, Allied Health, Health Science, Construction, Culinary, IT, Digital Arts, Salon Services and more. Many programs can be completed in a year or less, focusing on preparing students for better careers and providing industries with a skilled, professional workforce.
Preparing students for academic and personal success by receiving instruction to help them pass the GED test and earn a State of Florida High School Diploma.
English language learners work toward language proficiency, transitioning to postsecondary education, and gaining employment.
Enables employers to develop industry-standard training for apprentices through on-the-job training, related technical instruction, and structured wages.
Allows junior and senior high school students from Manatee County to take post-secondary courses either full-time or part-time while completing academics at their high school.
Special Election
From circus skills to hands-on marine biology experience, here are some of the possibilities for unusual ways to learn.
As a town with features from circus roots, to an upcoming science education aquarium, Sarasota offers educational opportunities that go beyond the ordinary. Here are some of the unusual school courses in Sarasota that students can take advantage of. WALK THE
The original circus program at Sarasota High School began within the school in 1949. According to Lead Magnet Teacher Dakota Carrera, because of Sarasota’s deep roots in the circus, the school decided to tailor its offerings to the children of circus performers in the area.
FC SARASOTA SOCCER CLUB
File photo
Zaylie Ellis of Sailor Circus, walks the tightrope.
“They didn’t play football or baseball, they were circus kids,” Carrera said.
Today, the Circus Arts Conservatory’s Circus Magnet Program serves both Sarasota High School and Booker Middle School.
It is the only program anywhere in the county integrating the circus arts into the school system, according to Bryan Burnstein, the organization’s vice president of program development and youth performance management.
It also offers a variety of classes and opportunities outside the school system.
“When I tell my friends from other states that I do circus, they’re all like, ‘Wait, what do you mean?” said Piper Fancher, who is now a ninth grader at Booker High School. “And the next thing is they all think it’s really interesting, because they’re all learning the normal stuff, like either art or music, but then here, I’m going to a circus arena and training acts. They all think it’s really cool.”
“She’s living art, performing
to music,” Carrera elaborated.
Fancher said there is something for everyone, whether people are stronger when it comes to climbing, juggling, or doing flips in the air.
Burnstein also notes this year, programs are expanding.
This year will be the first time that the high school program offers two pathways, with opportunities for students
who want to perform as well as another for those who simply want to train in the skills.
Meanwhile, the middle school program is doubling in size.
Ella Abrahamson, now a sophomore at Booker High School, said what keeps students returning is the “great environment” and the people.
“The coaches keep push -
ing you to try your hardest,” she said. “They don’t just give up and they’re like, ‘OK, well, that’s what you can do, so that’s what you’re gonna do.’ They’re like, OK, well, if this is what you can do, then let’s try to do something else, do a little add on... and before you know it, you just have something that you’re so proud of.”
The programs set expecta -
tions of students, including a 3.0 GPA and volunteering 50 hours a year with the Circus Arts Conservatory.
Instructors say whether students are looking to take the circus in a professional direction, students will get interpersonal skills and confidence, helping them in any arena.
“It’s a great place for you to learn to be in the shows and how it feels to be on stage, and work with these coaches that have been doing this professionally for so many years,” said Ava Weller, a junior at Sarasota High School.
For more information: Visit SarasotaCountySchools.net.
A NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY
Sebastian Bruno, a junior at Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School, had grown tired of the pressure of sports and was looking for something to
Ian Swaby
Lead Magnet Teacher Dakota Carrera
Courtesy image
The Cougar Network uses an array of professional equipment.
fill the void.
He decided to join the school’s Cougar Network, which launched in late 2024 and gives students hands-on experience in TV production and announcing.
“I still love sports, it’s more just like the pressure that comes with the actual game. I didn’t find it fun anymore, and I’d rather just analyze other people playing the game,” he said. “I’m still connecting with the sport, but I’m not under that amount of pressure.”
Nonetheless, do not underestimate the educational opportunities at the Cougar Network, which broadcasts sports games of the Cardinal Mooney Cougars, and activities including concerts, ceremonies, graduations and the morning announcements.
“We try to make it look as close to a professional ESPNlevel broadcast as we can, with multiple cameras, full graphics, replay,” said instructor Ryan
Krause. “I can’t really think of any other schools who are doing it quite to that caliber that we’re doing it at.”
Some features of the program include a full control room, a TV studio with a green screen, and abilities like video graphics and instant replay. Students will learn skills like operating a camera, techniques of filming, lighting, how to direct and how to set up equipment.
“I loved it so far, definitely, and I’m doing it next year as well,” Bruno said.
Krause said he brought the idea to the school’s principal, Ben Hopper, who provided the funds for the program, amid its growth in sports.
“We’ve got a lot of big sports teams that are going pretty far and doing really well, but we were lacking kind of an elective program that kids could take in the art/tech field,” Krause said.
The program provides different capacities for students to work in. Erin Sugg, a junior, participates behind the scenes from the camera.
“I always watch the games
back to see what we can improve on,” she said. “I’m always like, that wasn’t a very good shot, and just trying to learn from our mistakes, and seeing how we can make it smoother next time.”
Students who are on air delve into the research side of broad-
casting, and learn what goes into being able to talk about a topic for hours.
“When I first get behind the mic, it’s shaky, like I’m a little nervous, but by the time the game gets underway, everything’s flowing, you just feel comfortable,” Bruno said. “And
especially me. I’m a sports guy. I know a lot about sports, so it’s pretty easy just to do it. Just talk about what you know.”
Krause said the opportunities are growing, with plans underway to merge with the school newspaper for a onestop shop for communications.
For more information: Visit CMHS-Sarasota.org.
IMMERSED IN SCIENCE
Education is an important aspect of Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, notes Kathryn Gentile, a communications coordinator at the aquarium.
That’s true when it comes to homeschool students as well, with Mote’s homeschool programs offering a chance for students to gain hands-on experience in marine biology.
“When I was little, I actually did want to become a marine biologist,” said 13-year-old Ariel Rischer. “And Mote has really helped me find a passion for it.”
Mote offers homeschool days
File photo
Nicolas Hunter shares how boating accidents might affect a Sea Turtles shell as a part of Mote’s Homeschool Program projects.
for age groups from 6 to 14. The aquarium also offers the Mote Homeschool Advanced Program from age groups from 9 to 16, which allows students with a strong interest in marine science to meet once a month, collaborating on STEAMbased projects.
Starting in the fall, both offerings will take place at both Mote’s City Island campus and its new aquarium, Mote SEA, allowing activities in the water and at the aquarium.
“It’s kind of like a way to get better outreach, to meet more people and kind of push us out into more social environments, so we get better at public speaking, speaking to new people and overall just presenting our ideas and topics to the public,” said Isabelle Gunderson, a junior in the Mote Homeschool Advanced Program.
Gunderson said the program has encouraged her steps toward the future, and she has always been interested in STEM as well.
She said she will probably go into a robotics engineer-
ing field, and might dabble in marine robotics.
Mackenzie Hall, a senior who worked with Gunderson on their “Manager Mangrove” project, said in creating the project, they wanted to tackle trash, something that affects mangroves significantly.
She said it was an opportunity to demonstrate a topic that they cared about to the public.
“I have always been interested in marine life and marine biology. I don’t have a specific ‘thing’ yet, I just love the ocean and everything in it. But yes, this has been on my pathway for a very long time,” Hall said.
Gentile notes the Mote SEA facility largely focuses on education.
Set to open at Nathan Benderson Park in 2025, it will feature teaching labs where local students can learn about marine science for free, and will partner with local public schools as well.
For more information: Visit Mote.org.
your child up for a bright future starts with providing them with a solid foundation for a lifetime of learning. At Ivybrook Academy Sarasota, we take an innovative approach to preschool and are redefining how parents view early childhood education.
Schools to storm shelters
Converting schools into storm shelters is a carefully orchestrated operation.
Allison Foster was principal of Phillippi Shores Elementary School at the time Hurricane Irma impacted
Sarasota in 2017.
“I will say that first storm, I was a little bit surprised,” she said, referring to the time she learned she would be involved in opening the school as a hurricane shelter.
She said her husband asked what she knew about opening a shelter, stating surely there was already a team in place.
“I said, ‘I think I’m it, I think I’m the leader of it,” she said.
Each year, Sarasota County Schools combines its efforts with teams from Sarasota County to open hurricane shelters in the schools across the district each year.
Foster, who is now principal of Southside Elementary, said it’s a large team effort that makes it possible for the district to convert the schools into shelters — and back again, so that students can resume their education.
READYING A REFUGE
According to Jody Dumas, the district’s executive director of facilities, this year’s preparations finished over springtime. This included their team checking and rechecking buildings, testing and fueling generators and implementing checklists.
He also says the district is constantly trying to improve
Passion Thrives. Performers
its speed of recovery.
“It depends on the storm and the amount of damage, on how long that cleanup takes, but I know our superintendent is always very, very anxious to get school back open, number one, so we don’t have to affect the schedule, and then number two, we know that especially after a major storm, getting people back into normal routines is important,” Dumas said.
Last year, in which the district faced the impacts of three successive hurricanes, Debby, Helene and Milton, opening shelters for the latter two storms, it altered the year’s schedule.
The district moved the end of its first semester from Dec. 20, 2024, to Jan. 16, 2025, while including three makeup days, lengthening high school course times, and lengthening days.
Dumas says everything went as planned in terms of shelters.
“Last year was a busy year
SEE SHELTERS, PAGE 22
IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER
File photo
Shelter staff welcome visitors at Southside Elementary during Hurricane Milton.
certainly, as we responded to the hurricanes,” he said. “I think our sheltering activities went very, very well for all the community. No big problems. Everything kind of went as planned in terms of the way we thought the shelter should go.”
Foster said today, she’s been involved in the shelter process so many times that now, it’s a responsibility she’s used to handling.
“It kind of comes with the territory, I guess,” she said.
In early June, she said there weren’t plans at that point to reopen Southside Elementary as a shelter this year.
She said the teamwork involved is important to the success, noting the “great” team from Sarasota County that first came to Southside Elementary over the summer, to become acquainted with the campus.
“It was a great collaborative effort,” she said. “We opened two times last year, and I
think both times it went very smoothly.”
All administrative staff, including principals, are part of the shelter management program, while essential school district workers in areas like construction and maintenance also contribute.
Foster said at Southside Elementary, the work involved collaborating with teachers to make sure the building was ready, pushing desks and other
furniture to the backs of rooms, preparing radios and working with the district’s food and nutrition services staff.
The county staff worked on activities like registering residents, ensuring residents had transportation and engaging with residents throughout their stay.
She said the shelter did lose power, after which her team helped address the situation, bringing flashlights to rooms.
Dumas said only a few school sites have full power generators, and some have no generators, but only hookups for generators.
He said while a generator can allow some cleaning to take place earlier, most consequential for school reopening is the restoration of full power.
“Until we have that full power, it’s not reliable for a school space … I would say for us, the most critical thing in recovery is having reliable power back from (Florida Power & Light),” he said.
Foster said the shelters serve an important purpose for the community, but being able to reopen schools is also important.
“I think it’s great to open them, have a safe shelter, and then on the flip side, when the hard part has passed, that we can then relocate and get the schools back in operation,” she said. “I think that’s important for the community.”
Dumas said after the storm passes, the goal becomes working with the county to reopen
schools as quickly as possible, breaking down shelters, ensuring people have homes they can return to, and transporting people to alternative facilities that are available.
As soon as the storm ends, district condition assessment teams head out to make rapid assessments of all the school sites, while in the storm’s aftermath, the school district works closely with the county’s communication staff, mirroring their public announcements.
Foster said the speed of the reopening depends on how many residents occupy the shelter, noting during Hurricane Irma, Philippi Shores Elementary hosted more than 2,000 people.
“That took a lot, and people were stuck inside for a long time because of the duration of the storm, so we had to clean all the carpets and we had a lot that had to happen to get the school back in operation,” she said.
Courtesy image
Beds are arranged at a shelter during Hurricane Idalia.
Back to School on batteries
School district continues experiment with electric buses.
IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER
School districts across the U.S. are increasingly moving toward electric school buses, and Sarasota is no different.
The shift has been driven by a combination of factors, including environmental concerns, the potential for cost savings, and government funding opportunities, although some also note the quieter nature of electric buses.
After receiving a grant from the Department of Environ -
mental Protection in 2022, Sarasota’s school district has purchased six of 10 possible electric buses.
What’s the future of this mode of transportation for the district?
Director of Transportation
Keith Little says at this point, it remains to be determined what the cost impacts will ultimately be.
“For us, it’s going to be exciting in the next year or two,” he said. “As we as we get a few years of data underneath our belt, the true test is going to be when they get out of warranty. How many problems do we have? How much does it cost when we actually have to pay for the repairs, versus right now, everything’s covered under warranty?”
Sarasota County steadily used two of its electric buses last year without any issues.
A MULTIYEAR STUDY
Little said in November 2024, a standard school bus cost the district $159,010, and an electric bus cost us $414,481 at the time of purchase. However, due to the grant
program, the district receives payments offsetting the cost differences between the two buses. The grant requires the district’s oldest diesel buses to be scrapped as the electric ones arrive.
Ages 5 to Adult
The installation of chargers at the district’s transportation depot in Osprey is in conjunction with Florida Power &
Ian Swaby
Light.
Little says currently, the district is still continuing a multiyear evaluation and he is not yet able to form any conclusions about the benefits of electric buses versus those of diesel buses.
“I don’t know that we’re necessarily expanding it this second. I think we’re going to hold on,” he said.
However, thus far, he said there are no issues.
“The two that have been running consistently, we haven’t had really had any problems,” he said. “The drivers haven’t said anything. The students haven’t said anything, the mechanics. It’s been pretty easy going from those two so far.”
He says electric buses run in all directions from the Osprey depot, but do not service the whole county.
A total of three electric buses previously were in operation, but during the year, one of
them had to be returned to the manufacturer for repairs, due to issues with a battery pack that was under warranty.
Although the original grant covered 12 buses, an increase in costs resulted in the grant being revised for 10.
The grant’s original expira-
tion date was the end of June this year, but because the district hadn’t yet purchased all 10 buses, officials received a twoyear extension.
“We did extend the grant for two more years to give us time to look into, basically, what’s the cost truly going to be to us,
“In theory, there’s a lot less maintenance costs associated with the buses.”
Gary Donahue
before we get down the down the road and say, ‘OK, yeah, we’re just going to blindly buy four more,” Little said.
Although he emphasizes the overall costs are not yet clear, the electric buses bring some undeniable benefits. Little noted drivers have observed the quietness of the buses compared to diesel buses, and said he thinks students tend to be quieter as well, because of less of a need to talk over the noise.
“The pros, obviously, is that they’re quiet,” said lead mechanic Gary Donahue. “In theory, there’s a lot less maintenance costs associated with the buses. The cons are that, unlike a conventional bus, if they run out of fuel on the road,
we’ve got to tow them in.”
Donahue said the district has to be cognizant of mileage between charges.
He said the base maintenance on the buses, including components like tires and brakes, as well as the body, is the same as diesel buses, while the difference lies in the actual power components, for which the mechanical work requires a specific certification.
He said they had to delay the most recent order of regular buses, due while waiting for the impact that the tariffs of the Trump administration might have on the overall bid prices.
Little said costs are hard to predict, and cites how costs like electricity have rapidly risen the last few years.
“Obviously the cost of fuel and diesel has been higher than it normally has as well...” he said. “I think it’ll be interesting to see how the tariffs, depending on where the parts are manufactured and that sort of thing, what impact it has on it.”
Ian Swaby
Director of Transportation Keith Little says the school district is still gathering information on how the electric buses are faring.
Suppor t for academic success
Programs focused on health & wellness
Daily snacks provided at no additional cost
Scholar ships may be available based on eligibility
Busing available to select Clubs from par ticipating schools
Leader ship and civic engagement
Sarasota County evens the playing field
Female athletes at the prep level have more opportunities than ever before.
VINNIE PORTELL STAFF WRITER
In the world of high school sports, the phrase “Title IX” has become synonymous with equality for female athletes, but it may surprise some people how drastic of an impact it’s had.
Founded in 1920, the Florida High School Athletic Association for the next 50-plus years only offered girls three sanctioned sports: swimming and diving, tennis and golf.
girls cross-country, girls track and field, girls basketball and girls soccer.
The FHSAA and its member schools have been playing catch up ever since.
Many of the most recent sports to be sanctioned are girls sports, including flag football (2003), girls weightlifting (2004), competitive cheerleading (2008), beach volleyball (2022) and girls wrestling (2022).
High schools in the Sarasota area are starting to adapt to those changes, with some new opportunities coming soon.
BEACH VOLLEYBALL SUCCESS
Unsurprisingly, beach volleyball has been a perfect fit for the Sarasota area.
Sarasota, Riverview and Cardinal Mooney have each added the sport, with the latter two even building their own oncampus sand volleyball courts.
These programs have been some of the best in the state during the sport’s brief history. Cardinal Mooney made it to the state final four in 2023, and each area team finished this past spring ranked inside the top 90 teams in the state out of 257 squads.
High school boys had nine sports sanctioned before there was a fourth option added for girls.
In 1972, President Richard Nixon signed into law Title IX, which prohibits gender-based discrimination in any education program or activity that
receives federal funding,. It’s no coincidence what followed.
From 1974 to 82, the FHSAA sanctioned girls volleyball,
“You want to provide as many opportunities as you can for female athletes to participate,” Sarasota High Athletic Director BJ Ivey said. “We want to boost up our female athletes to make it more equitable with the amount of male athletes that we have participating.”
Dr. David Freeman, a Board Certified Orthodontist, has proudly been providing personalized comprehensive orthodontic care to children, teens, and adults in Sarasota for over 20 years. Freeman Orthodontics is a private, established orthodontic office supported by a talented and committed team focused on excellence.
Recent Mooney graduate Izzy Russell is the prime example of the difference of sanctioning sports like this. Russell earned a scholarship to play beach volleyball for Austin Peay this fall
Their office is warm, efficient, and inviting.
Personalized Orthodontic Care for Children, Teens, and Adults
Dr. Freeman passionately supports schools and nonprofits that serve children of all ages, animals, and those in need. Freeman Orthodontics is trusted and well-known throughout the community for quality care, treatment results, and community involvement.
Vinnie Portell
Cardinal Mooney’s No. 1 pairing, Kelsey Fisher and Izzy Russell, celebrate scoring against Bradenton Christian in a 2-0 win on April 9.
and experienced four years of winning.
That area success has Booker Athletic Director Carlos Woods excited about the potential to add the sport.
“We just hired Angelik Byrd as our new volleyball coach, so it’s something that I will definitely present to her to see if it’s something she will be interested in adding as well,” Woods said. “As long as she’s on board and we go through the appropriate channels to see if it’s something we can get off the ground, I’d love to add beach volleyball as well. It’s just another avenue for us to give our athletes more exposure and generate more scholarship opportunities.”
FLAG FOOTBALL COMING SOON
Oddly enough, flag football, sanctioned by the FHSAA over 20 years ago, took until this past spring for the first Sarasota area school to compete in games.
Booker began practicing in 2024 to prepare for its first sanctioned games this past
spring, and although the Tornadoes finished with a 1-4 record, its efforts led to results. Recently graduated receiver
HOMESCHOOL
Jewell Kerr earned a late offer to play flag football for Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas despite playing just five games in her career.
Adding flag football makes sense at a school like Booker, which has a rich tradition of success on the football field.
Cardinal Mooney will add flag football next spring and Sarasota is making plans to add it in the near future.
“Flag football was easy,” Cardinal Mooney Athletic Director Rafael Fernandez said.
“It’s one of the fastest growing sports in the state of Florida. Manatee County has them throughout their county, and for some reason Sarasota County didn’t. You see a need, you fill a need.”
GIRLS WRESTLING AND LACROSSE ON THE RISE
For years, wrestling was a sport doing a noticeable disservice to female athletes.
Girls were allowed to compete with boys wrestlers during regular season meets, but didn’t have a sanctioned post-
season tournament to compete in.
That changed in 2022. It’s becoming one of the fastestgrowing sports in high school athletics, and each Sarasota area high school has added the sport.
Cardinal Mooney was the most recent to add wrestling this past spring, but the only reason it was late to the party was because it didn’t have a boys wrestling team until this past spring, either.
Boys and girls lacrosse hasn’t caught on statewide like other new sports. There are just 204 girls lacrosse programs and 206 boys lacrosse programs, but Sarasota County has been on the forefront of adapting to the times.
Sarasota, Riverview and Cardinal Mooney have each added the sport.
REACHING EQUALITY
It took decades for girls sports to catch up to boys sports at the high school level, but participation numbers are finally starting to even out.
SONG
Vinnie Portell
Caroline Steinwachs drives toward the goal in a match against Cardinal Mooney earlier this season. The Riverview senior led her lacrosse team to a district title.
TIMELINE OF STATE-SANCTIONED SPORTS
Track and Field: Boys in 1915, Girls in 1975
Swimming and Diving: Boys and Girls in 1920
Basketball: Boys in 1922, Girls in 1976
Baseball: 1922
Softball: 1988
Tennis: Boys in 1922, Girls in 1938
Golf: Boys in 1927, Girls in 1947
Cross Country: Boys in 1947, Girls in 1974
Football: 1963
Wrestling: Boys in 1965,
In the 1971-72 school year — the year of Title IX — the National Federation of State High School Associations reported 3.66 million high school boys athletes in the nation compared to just 294,015 girls.
In the most recent survey conducted from the 2023-24 school year, there were 4.63
Girls in 2022
Girls volleyball: 1974
Weightlifting: Boys in 1974, Girls in 2004
Soccer: Boys in 1977, Girls in 1982
Flag football: 2003
Boys volleyball: 2003
Water polo: Boys and Girls in 2005
Lacrosse: Boys and Girls in 2008
Competitive cheerleading: 2008
Beach volleyball: 2022
million boys participants to 3.42 million girls participants. There is still work to be done, but with local schools planning to add opportunities for female athletes in the coming years, there might come a day sometime soon when girls athletes are afforded just as many opportunities as their male counterparts.
All the Accents
Accessories dominate 2025 back-to-school fashion.
DANA KAMPA STAFF WRITER
Accessorizing can be the most fun, expressive part of assembling a back-to-school outfit, and the popularity of adding those personal touches is undeniable given the explosive popularity of the “Labubu” trend, oversized hair bows and character-based apparel.
The China-based company Pop Mart started a global craze with the introduction of its furry, monster-faced dolls sold in mystery packs, which people took to modeling on bag straps.
The exploding market also inspired look-alikes from other brands, earning the nickname “Lafufus.”
Incoming Riverview High School senior Amalia Mat thews said Labubus have defi nitely been popular this year, but so have other accesso ries, like lip glosses clipped to keychains and purses. She said this lines up with the more simple, fresh makeup looks trending right now.
On the other end of the spectrum, bolder prints, like camo and animal print, are making a resurgence.
“I’ve been seeing the cheetah, leopard and zebra prints everywhere, from bathing suits to dresses to skirts,” she said. “I feel like it’ll still be in fashion this school year.”
One unique trend is the uncommon combination of bubble-gum pink and emerald green, inspired by the release of the Broadway-inspired movie “Wicked.” The sequel is scheduled for this November, and the color combo is sure to remain on clothes racks.
Bold aesthetics aren’t just accessories, though.
Top: Oversized water containers remain an essential accessory. Middle: From metallic gold to neon, bold sneakers are trending now. Bottom: Pink and green combos made their way into fashion trends this year with the popularity of the Broadwayinspired movie “Wicked”.
Trending tennis shoes run the gamut from metallic gold to neon on black.
Oversized clip-in hair bows and ribbon-like jewelry are popping up in stores for fashionistas of all ages.
Teen fashion trends are experimenting with more atypical silhouettes as well, opting for a more cropped but
SEE STYLE, PAGE 34
wide style with shirts to go with high-waisted pants.
However, Matthews said parents doing back-to-school shopping shouldn’t get too caught up in chasing particular trends. Rather, they can pick up
She looks forward to seeing what prom dresses will be popular this year, especially considering how fashion-forward students have been bringing back bold colors and sparkle — almost “tacky cute” — but with a contemporary flair.
Above all else, Matthews
Sarasota Youth Opera is thrilled to present Hans Krása’s Brundibár This fully staged production features professional sets, costumes, and orchestra, with our Youth Opera members performing lead roles and chorus.
+ Positive Environment + Experienced Coaches + 14x FL State Champions (2011-25) + 2021 & 2022 U19 World Champions + 2024 USA Olympic Medalists (Rower and Coach)
