Sarasota High senior Alyssa Bartolome knows the feeling of seeing her art displayed and understands it’s a privilege not all schools offer. With that in mind, she returned to her former school to host the first McIntosh Middle School Art Expedition as her Eagle Scout Badge project.
The member of Troop 1920, an all-female Boy Scouts of America troop, partnered with art teacher Holly Pisaturo of McIntosh Middle for the exhibition held Jan. 20.
It featured 1,200 pieces in the school’s media center.
“It will be a very nice cap to my school life,” she said of the badge. “It will definitely help me in school coming forward, and also, it’s something that I hope my kids will be able to do.”
Time traveling at the temple
This year marks the 70th anniversary of Temple Emanu-El, so the congregation celebrated with a look at the past.
Over 150 members turned out for the 1970s-themed party wearing bell bottoms, sequins, tie-dye, prairie skirts, jumpsuits, wigs and disco attire.
They also enjoyed foods from the era including wedge salad, Green Goddess dressing, beef stroganoff, sweet and sour meatballs, pineapple upside down cake and fondue.
“What a fun night!” wrote Temple Emanu-El Senior Rabbi Brenner Glickman. “From beginning to end, there was nothing on the agenda but fun. I couldn’t believe how everyone was in costume.”
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Sarasota Station on its way
Ian Swaby
Embracing Our Differences staff Michaela Stockhill, Christina Fraser, President and CEO Sarah Wertheimer, Elizabeth Chicoine and Patrick Arthur Jackson celebrate the opening of the free, juried art exhibition in Bayfront Park. The exhibit, featuring 50 billboards of art, is on display through April 19.
Courtesy image
McCullough Pavilion building is set against the backdrop of the former Sarasota County Administra-
Ian Swaby
Holly Pisaturo and Alyssa Bartolome
Courtesy image
Temple Emanu-El Rabbi Michael Shefrin and B’nai Mitzvah Coordinator Marni Mount
BY THE NUMBERS
$2.5
“This
new property is intended
as an expansion, not a replacement.”
Hermitage Artist Retreat Artistic Director and CEO Andy Sandberg on a donation of land and buildings Read more on page 5A
Lido Beach renourishment gets underway
Aproject to renourish Lido Beach began this week.
Although the beach will remain open for the duration of the project, sections may be temporarily inaccessible as work takes place.
Work begins at the north end of the beach, moving south as the project progresses. Signs will be posted notifying beachgoers of temporary closures.
Contractors will stage large equipment in the parking lot south of the Lido Beach Pavilion. The pavilion, concessions
area, Lido Pool and the north parking lot will continue regular operations throughout the project.
This coastal protection project is being executed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in partnership with the city of Sarasota, part of a 50-year agreement to renourish Lido Beach at approximately fiveyear intervals.
As a result of the impacts of multiple tropical weather systems in 2024, Lido Beach has experienced accelerated shore-
line degradation. The project will restore 1.2 miles of eroded shoreline at a cost of $12 million, paid for by federal funding. Resilience will be improved by depositing 200,000 to 300,000 cubic yards of sand sourced by the concurrent dredging of New Pass.
The project is scheduled to be completed in early April, ahead of sea turtle nesting season.
For information and project updates, visit Engage.SarasotaFL.gov/Lido-Beach-Renourishment.
SRQ sees record 4.5 million passengers
The year 2025 was a record-breaking 12 months as Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport closed the calendar year having served more than 4.5 million passengers.
In December, 417,468 passengers traveled through SRQ, representing a 3.05% increase over December 2024, at 405,115. Total passenger activity for the 12-month period ending December 2025 reached 4,514,781, a 6.34% increase over calendar year 2024, which had 4,245,686.
“The continued growth we have experienced at SRQ over the past several years has been exceptional,” said SRQ President and CEO Paul Hoback in a news release. “Surpassing 4.5 million passengers in 2025 is an important milestone and reflects strong demand for affordable and reliable air service. “
Passenger count at SRQ has more than doubled since the last full prepandemic year of 2019, when the airport served some 1.9 million.
Courthouse ranks among nation’s nicest
Civic buildings can be among the most overlooked structures across America, and often for good reason.
To find the county’s most underrated civic buildings, LoveVsDesign. com, a custom wallpaper website, commissioned a nationwide survey to which 3,014 respondents nominated those in their state they consider beautiful yet not celebrated for their history, craftsmanship and architectural personality.
Ranked No. 10 is the Sarasota County Courthouse at 2000 Main St.
Of the building, the website wrote, “This courthouse is a standout of Mediterranean Revival design, with sun-washed stucco walls, terracotta accents and a slender tower that rises gracefully above the complex. … a handsome reminder of Sarasota’s artistic heritage that rarely gets the recognition it deserves.”
The courthouse was joined on the list by one other Florida civic structure, Tampa City Hall.
To view the entire report, visit LoveVsDesign.com.
Affordable housing development finally leaves the station
Groundbreaking puts on track Mark Vengroff’s fulfillment of his late father’s vision to convert a Park East industrial site into Sarasota Station, an affordable-housing complex.
ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER
Just as Mark Vengroff offered closing remarks at the Jan. 15 groundbreaking for Sarasota Station, a DJ hired for the event blared “Eye of the Tiger” over the speakers, a musically symbolic gesture at the request of members of his One Stop Housing organization.
After all, the event marked the culmination for the CEO and managing partner’s navigation of the bureaucratic and financial jungle necessary to bring the vision of his late father, Harvey, to reality.
Or it may have simply been because, “It’s kind of my theme song,” Vengroff said.
Whatever the reason, dozens of One Stop Housing staff, elected officials, philanthropic leaders and supporters stood under a tent in damp, chilly weather to celebrate the beginning of the end for the nearly two-decade quest to build the 100% affordable-housing project.
“For those of you who knew my father, he was extremely focused on what he believed: that if you work, you deserve a clean, safe and affordable roof over your head,” Vengroff told the crowd. “About 20 years ago, he purchased this land with his business partner, Bob Williams, with the intention to build workforce housing.”
That grand plan to build upwards of 500 affordable housing units on the former industrial property at the eastern edge of the Park East neighborhood off Fruitville Road met with years of government resistance, red tape and fiscal reality. Since 2015, the vision evolved through multiple iterations as the business model of One Stop Housing was simultaneously built into verticals from site engi-
WHAT ABOUT BOB’S TRAIN?
The beloved diner and circus museum converted from the Ringling circus train that rests on the Sarasota Station site isn’t going anywhere beyond a few hundred yards north.
neering to property management and every development step in between.
The result is an affordable-housing project of 202 apartment homes that One Stop Housing will build for a fraction of the cost, scheduled to be complete by the first quarter of 2028. Vengroff said the concrete block and steel construction of Sarasota Station will cost approximately $185 per square foot to build, compared to the average cost of $320 to $372 per square foot for stick-built.
That includes higher-end finishes such as granite countertops, custom cabinets and tile flooring.
“We’re building this at about 40% below cost, but when it’s done and we do the ribbon-cutting, you’ll get the tour,” Vengroff said at the groundbreaking. “You’ll see the granite countertops and the beautiful finishes. This is going to be truly worthy for those working folks who really deserve something like this.”
Residents will also have a clubhouse, elevators, indoor corridors and the wraparound services offered by OSH affiliate One Stop Cares.
FOR WORKING FOLKS
Among those “working folks” will be essential-service workers such as school system employees and law enforcement. Set aside are 25 units for the Sarasota County Schools and 20 more for the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, both reserving the
apartments for their employees.
Qualifying households will earn 60% below and 80% below area median income.
To make way for development on the site, Bob’s Train closed for business and the rail cars will be moved via crane and set upon tracks that will be installed there. Over the next two years, owner Bob Horn will work on rehabbing the cars, including John Ringling’s personal car, and will reopen once Sarasota Station is completed. SARASOTA STATION CAPITAL AND COSTS
But Sarasota Station won’t merely be an island of low-income housing. To make the project work, it is taking advantage of the Florida Live Local Act, and is the first such project underway in Sarasota. The state law permits additional density for a single project equivalent to that of any zoning district within a onemile radius, providing it includes requisite affordable housing units.
Enter David Weekley Homes and its plan to build 69 market rate townhomes on the south end of the site. One Stop Housing and Weekley applied together as a single project with Live Local facilitating the density without rezoning the property. The townhome portion of the development will replace the Vengroff Williams Inc. call center, which recently moved to Lakewood Ranch.
Weekley’s purchase of 3.5 acres brought $8.84 million to the project, and Sarasota County approved $15 million in first-round Resilient SRQ funding, both critical to providing the needed capital, said Vengroff.
In all, Vengroff and company assembled $41.4 million to build the $29.6 million project, the balance in soft costs apart from construction.
“You can’t talk about Mark too much,” said Sarasota Interim City Manager Dave Bullock. “He took an idea and a concept, and he came in with his reasoned approach, putting teams together that made sense, and he’s creating a project that’s going to serve the community for many, many years, probably generations.”
Although his son is finishing what he started, Harvey Vengroff will have an everlasting presence at Sarasota Station. The finishing touch, Mark Vengroff told the Observer, will be a bronze statue of his father, perhaps complete with his signature red T-shirt emblazoned with the One Stop Housing phone number. On the pedestal, he said, will be a signature Harvey Vengroff saying on the pedestal that has yet to be determined.
“I’m still trying to come up with that,” Vengroff said. “It will be something he would say, like, ‘I don’t speak Section 8.’”
with Resilient SRQ Grant funds. Remainder of balance applied to interest on loans, property taxes, insurance, bonding fees, impact fees, environmental studies and reports, closing and attorneys fees.
Because One Stop Housing is, literally, a one-stop developer from foundation to finishes, it is building Sarasota Station at $185 per square foot, a cost that includes all interior common areas, elevators, parking, underground site work and landscaping. Excluding those ares, the cost per square foot to develop only the residential units is closer to $120 per square foot, according to Mark Vengroff. The finishes include granite counter tops, custom cabinets and appliances. Construction is block and steel, which carries a higher cost than wood construction.
According to Vengroff, average cost for block construction is $400 to $466 per square foot, depending on finishes. Average cost per square feet for stick-built structures is approximately 20% less, or $320 to $372 per square foot.
This does not include savings realized with the soft costs of development, which includes architectural, civil engineering, mechanical, plumbing and electrical engineering. One Stop Housing average about 3% of the total for these costs vs. 8% to 12%, depending on the development company.
For example, If the construction is $30 million, the development fee is typically around $3 million, or 10% of construction. Development costs for Sarasota Station is $900,000.
“This is a $2.1 million savings on development alone,” Vengroff said.
Photos by Andrew Warfield
One Stop Housing CEO and Managing Partner Mark Vengroff speaks with supporters and press at the groundbreaking of Sarasota Station.
Courtesy image
A rendering of one of two buildings planned for affordable and workforce rental housing in Sarasota Station.
Mark Vengroff, with Bob’s Train, the diner that will be moved elsewhere on the Sarasota Station and renovated.
Challenger forces primary for County Commission’s District 4
Incumbent Neunder will face retired police Sgt. Jim DeNiro in the Aug. 18 preliminary election.
ANDREW WARFIELD
Sarasota County Commissioner and 2025 Chairman Joe Neunder will face Republican primary opposition this year for his District 4 seat. Jim DeNiro, a retired lawenforcement officer, has announced his candidacy for the 2026 election.
DeNiro retired from the Sarasota Police Department with the rank of sergeant after a 30-year career that included criminal investigations, narcotics enforcement, patrol operations, traffic and marine units, emergency management and service as team leader of the Underwater Search and Recovery Unit.
According to a news release, in leadership roles he managed unit budgets, personnel deployment, training costs and equipment purchasing — experience he plans to apply as county spending continues to rise.
Neunder is completing his first term on the commission, having been elected in 2022.
“Sarasota County families are paying close attention to rising costs, and county government should do the same,” DeNiro said in the news release. “When the County Commission approves a record $2.5 billion budget that draws roughly $23 million from county reserves, that level of spending warrants careful scrutiny, continued oversight and a renewed focus on fiscal discipline.”
DeNiro has served on the county’s Environmentally Sensitive Lands Oversight Committee, which works to ensure taxpayer-funded conservation efforts are transparent, effec-
tive and focused on protecting water quality, wildlife habitat and environmentally sensitive lands.
DeNiro said the impacts of population growth are felt most acutely in District 4, where residents are increasingly concerned about traffic congestion, infrastructure, stormpreparedness and the character of neighborhoods and coastal communities. The district runs from the southern half of Siesta Key to Nokomis Beach and from the shoreline to the border with DeSoto County.
In retirement from the city, DeNiro works as a Realtor and mortgage loan officer, experience he said reinforces the importance of keeping government efficient, taxes low and housing attainable.
“People in District 4 care deeply about protecting their homes, their savings and their way of life,” he said in the release.
“County government should focus on core services, spend responsibly and respect the taxpayers who make everything possible.”
In addition to County Commission District 4, incumbent Mark Smith will face a primary in District 2 against Kristina Sargent. District 2 covers much of the city of Sarasota. The county primary election will be held Aug. 18.
Courtesy image
Retired Sarasota
Police Sgt. Jim DeNiro is challenging incumbent
Joe Neunder for the Sarasota County Commission District 4 seat.
Manasota Key artist retreat receives $12 million gift of land, homes
A family donation of five buildings on 6.5 acres will allow Hermitage Artist Retreat to double its residency program.
ANDREW
WARFIELD STAFF WRITER
Amid struggles to maintain its mission and programming in the face of lingering hurricane damage to its campus on Manasota Key, relief for the Hermitage Artist Retreat came in the form of temporary access to nearby homes for its residencies, provided by a family of long-time supporters.
That has now become a permanent expansion of Hermitage. In late 2025, the Morrison and Steans families and their lone surviving matriarch, Adeline Morrison, donated their 6.5acre gulf-to-bay property including five homes — a combined value of approximately $12 million — to the nonprofit artist incubator.
Hermitage announced the gift on Jan. 15.
“This new property is intended as an expansion, not a replacement,” Artistic Director and CEO Andy Sandberg said in a news release announcing the gift. “To have a property of our own where we can host additional artists in residence is deeply meaningful. This will allow us to broaden the reach and impact of our Hermitage programming, and to dream even bigger about the possibilities for project residencies, artistic collaborations and more.”
Since the 2024 hurricane season damaged the buildings Hermitage leases from Sarasota County at Blind Pass Beach Park, little has been done to make repairs amid the process required for county government to qualify for FEMA reimbursement, which is not assured.
In October 2025, the Sarasota County Commission declined Hermitage’s proposal to acquire the park
not only provides immediate relief, but will ultimately double Hermitage’s artist-in-residence program.
According to the news release, the properties were built by the William Vanderbilt family in the early 1950s. Harold and Adeline Morrison and Harrison and Lois Steans acquired the properties from Samuel and Lydia Auchincloss in 1987, and for the past four decades they have used the homes as a retreat for their seven daughters — all ardent supporters of Hermitage — and their respective families and guests.
with a guarantee to operate there in perpetuity, and instead proposed a take-it-or-leave-it offer of cash for the nonprofit to make the repairs itself, which Hermitage rejected. Enter the Steans and Morrisons with their donation of property that
Grand Opening CELEBRATION
“Our parents believed in the mission and values of the Hermitage, and they understood firsthand the inspiration and importance of its Manasota Key home,” the families are credited in saying in a joint statement. “We donate this property to the Hermitage Artist Retreat filled with hope that it will always remain a place of kindness and tolerance where invited artists feel welcome; a place for fostering community, collaboration, connectivity and con -
versations; a place of inspiration and creation; and a place that stewards the rich ecology and diversity of nature.”
It is the largest gift Hermitage has received in its 23-year history. Although not adjacent to Blind Pass Beach Park, the property is less than half a mile away.
Meanwhile, the organization continues to await repairs to some of the county-owned beachfront structures at the park.
Hermitage intends to remain in the park as well, its lease with Sarasota County providing for extensions up through 2055.
“This has been an incredible period of growth for our organization,” said Hermitage Board President Carole Crosby in the release. “The organization is ripe for continued expansion, and we are hopeful that this extremely generous gift from the Morrison and Steans families will inspire others to recognize the value of supporting this vital arts organization.”
YEARS IN THE MAKING
Securing the transfer of the Morrison-Steans property to Hermitage Artist Retreat didn’t happen overnight. Rather, Hermitage Artistic Director and CEO Andy Sandberg told the Observer it was a process years in the making. It all started as a use of available space as needed.
“They were not necessarily using every space year-round and saw that we were growing over the years and invited us to have some overflow accommodations as their guests, to a limited capacity,” Sandberg said. “After the hurricanes, they obviously saw we were struggling, and they generously invited us to host artists there for even more of the property.”
That’s when consideration to donate the property accelerated.
“Every step of the process was really smooth and rewarding, because sometimes when you deal with family giving or multigenerational complex gifts, there are a lot of different perspectives,” Sandberg told the Observer. “It’s been amazing to see them all land on the same page. They’d fly down together to meet with me to discuss, and these are not people with nothing to do. These are busy people with careers and families and boards, and they really all invested in the decision-making and wanted to see the property put to good use.”
There are no conditions regarding use of the property, Sandberg said, only faith and trust it will be used to further Hermitage’s mission and to preserve the property.
“They are the most generous and wonderful people,” he said. “This was values-driven. It’s about seeing an organization that cares about the importance of the arts and conservation as well as caring for this place that they grew to love.”
OR
Courtesy images
Adeline Morrison is shown with Hermitage Artist Retreat Artistic Director and CEO Andy Sandberg.
An aerial view of the Steans/ Morrison property donated to Hermitage Artist Retreat.
Details firm up for reimagining schools
A K-8 and magnet school conversion begins next year at five campuses.
ERIC GARWOOD
DIGITAL NEWS EDITOR
The broad, November sketches of
a reimagining plan for a dozen Sarasota County public schools have evolved in early 2026 into more painted-in portraits of the years ahead.
Timelines, partnerships and logistics have come into a more detailed view alongside costs and funding options. Another progress report is planned in March, though school board members marveled at what had been done in the last two months.
“It’s actually only been 26 school days,” said Superintendent Terry Connor at a Jan. 6 school board work session, acknowledging that some work took place beyond the boundaries of instructional hours.
In sharpest focus are plans for denser uses of school capacities through conversion of several elementary schools into kindergarten through eighth-grade campuses; establishing a technology-innovation magnet school and creation of two regional Junior Achievement hubs.
Competition of private schools — often because of state-funded vouchers — homeschooling and charter schools drove the November plan, as did the realities of Florida’s Schools of Hope program, which allows school operators to co-locate facilities on campuses rent-free.
Four such co-location requests have been rejected by Sarasota County since last fall.
“I love that we are using our spaces to benefit more of the community,” School Board member Liz Barker said. “That’s something I had spoken with Mr. Connor about before I was even sworn in.”
Here are some of the details:
BROOKSIDE MIDDLE SCHOOL
Plans are moving forward to transform the school near Bee Ridge Road and South Shade Avenue into a magnet for grades 6-8 with a focus on machine learning, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and esports, beginning with a cohort of sixth graders in 2026-27.
In partnership with University of South Florida, the school, which could be renamed Gulf Coast Academy for Technology and Innovation, would likely not only connect with the university’s Sarasota-Manatee facilities but also the expertise of its faculty.
Chief Academic Officer Rachael O’Day said the university is instrumental in training teachers, developing curricula and setting up facilities.
“That was the first step, getting the commitment,” she said. “Not only in the phase of program development but also within implementation and beyond.”
One aspect not available now on Sarasota public schools is competitive online gaming.
“This is really taking off, and it’s something we don’t currently offer in the district, so we’re really exploring how can this be a major aspect of the Brookside program and partnership,” Connor said.
School Board member Tom Edwards cautioned the district to ensure any partnership with USF is immune from potential realignment of the school with New College of Florida, as has been proposed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
School Board member Karen Rose said connection with a university or college would propel not only Brookside but also the district.
“I got my master’s at USF, I love USF — I think it’s great to have in the neighborhood, but I also love New College,” she said. “Whether its USF or New College or such or State College of Florida we’re partnering with, I think that’s going to make us great.”
BOOKER ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE
Private-sector fundraising could begin by March for the $40 million it’s estimated to cost in converting portions of both Emma Booker Elementary and Emma Booker Middle schools into a pair of Junior Achievement hubs.
Similar to what’s offered in Tampa, Biztown and Finance Park would offer students a look at real-world economics and entrepreneurship. About $14.5 million would establish JA Biz Town, which could open for the 2027-28 school year.
Connor said Biz Town, which in Tampa is styled like a city street with corporate-branded “storefronts,” would likely come first. The middle school Finance Park would follow, at an estimated cost of about $26.5 million.
“This isn’t just about Sarasota County,” said Brandon Johnson, the district’s director of strategic innovation. “This will support multiple counties around us. “
The Tampa BizTown opened in 2005 and Finance Park in 2017. A
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NO, AND HERE’S WHY
In November, public documents show, Superintendent Terry Connor wrote letters of objection to Mater Academy and Somerset Academy, two Schools of Hope operators requesting public-campus space, spelling out the district’s objections.
Among them:
Superintendent of Schools Terry Connor speaks on the district’s plans to maximize utilization.
similar Polk County facility is on track to open in 2026-27. Among the Tampa sites sponsors: Kane’s Furniture, Chick-fil-A, the Florida Aquarium, USAA and Capital One.
K-8 SCHOOLS
NEW
Four elementary schools, Alta Vista, Gulf Gate, Wilkinson and Brentwood, would begin next school year by adding sixth graders, tacking on a grade each school year until 202829.
Wilkinson was recommended for closure last fall, with its students dispersed to other campuses also with lower than optimal enrollment.
By the time eighth-graders are flowed in, the four schools’ enrollment capacities are envisioned to climb into a range from 78% to 104%.
Sports will be part of the conversion, initially with intramural sports for sixth graders and then with middle school interscholastic volleyball, basketball, golf, tennis and track & field. If soccer and flag football are added to the broader middle school sports programs, then the new K-8 schools would get them as well.
Johnson said full sports facilities might not be immediately available.
“They may have to do away games when we actually have those home games, because of it being an elementary campus,” he said.
■ An instance of incorrectly identifying Booker Elementary as Emma E. Brooker Elementary;
■ Enrollment proposals that exceed student capacities;
■ Repurposing plans already approved locally and in Tallahassee;
■ In contrast to the specific objections raised, Connor also rejected Somerset’s requests, writing: “At this time, Somerset Academy does not appear on the Florida Department of Education’s approved list of Hope Operators. … Because operator eligibility is a threshold statutory requirement, the District is legally precluded from approving a School of Hope request from an organization that does not hold Hope Operator status. This requirement is not discretionary and cannot be waived by the District.”
No notifications of appeal have been received, Connor said last week. “I think it’s still out there pending what their decisions are for us particularly. But I think we have a strong legal argument.”
Reminding board members that the biggest price tags are to be paid by private donations, Connor said that more than $4 million of the $5 million expected costs would be part of the district’s capital budget. “But here’s the deal, either you’re going to generate more students, and that generates the funding for new teachers or you’re going to be moving students from one school to the next, which means the staffing follows that pretty closely,” he said.
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A show of forces
STEAM education and circus acts combine at Circus Arts Conservatory performance.
The circus arts often involve setbacks, said Bryan Burnstein.
That’s no less true when the performance requires the creation of numerous Rube Goldberg machines with various cause-and-effect mechanisms.
Burnstein, vice president of pro-
gram development and youth performance management with Circus Arts Conservatory, said the team spent “days upon days” testing and calibrating each machine to make sure it was ready for Marvelous, Miraculous Circus Machine.
The performance, held at Sailor Circus Arena from Jan. 14-16, centered on bringing STEAM concepts to life for students.
Inviting classrooms from schools in Sarasota and Manatee counties, it hosted more than 2,000 students across its three days this year.
“Circus is able to teach so much beyond just the technical skills, and obviously, science is part of everything that goes on around us, and to be able to take our art form and bring it into the schools, inspire kids, engage them in a way that they wouldn’t normally have had access to ... we know that we’re providing a memorable experience, a service to the community,” Burnstein said.
Heather Gomez, a fifth grade teacher at Alta Vista Elementary, said the experience was “perfect” because it shows the concepts kids
are learning in the classroom including force, motion and friction.
She says any time educators can bring real-life examples to students inside or outside the classroom, it helps them to retain the information.
“Now they’re going to say, ‘Oh, I remember when we did that,’ and then I can ask, ‘Hey, well, what did that show? Did that show force? Did that show motion? Was that kinetic energy?’ So then it’s getting us now talking about those science vocab words because they can visually see in their head from this experience.”
Burnstein said as the performance took place, many machines worked exactly as designed, while others needed small adjustments along the way and worked in the end.
“We all have setbacks. That’s part of circus. That’s also why we link these programs together,” he said. “We teach them about performing with purpose. We teach them about being able to overcome obstacles, challenges, failures, to rebound quickly and to be able to still have opportunities for success.”
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Photos by Ian Swaby Kaishad Caldwell demonstrates how as students bounce higher on the trampoline, they accelerate.
Kepler Henry and Sara Catalano activate a contraption and demonstrate cause and effect.
Alaina Loyal and Gia Sammelman demonstrate concepts including push, pull, kinetic energy and friction.
Helena Kushner watches as a contraption does its work.
Elle Capel-Davies, a fifth grader at Bay Haven School of Basics Plus, is invited to the stage to demonstrate concepts.
Chris “Bucky” Allison demonstrates concepts including torque, friction, angular momentum and centripetal force.
County, architecture group are drawing up a deal
Sarasota Commission approves moving forward with selling McCullough Pavilion to Architecture Sarasota.
ANDREW WARFIELD
s an organization, Architecture Sarasota “stewards the legacy of the Sarasota School of Architecture and provides a forum for the education, advocacy and celebration of good design in the global built environment,” according to its mission statement.
As the future owner of the building it occupies at 261-265 S. Orange Ave. — McCullough Pavilion — the organization will be a steward of its own historic property.
Built in 1960, the approximately 7,000-square-foot building on nearly a half acre has been home to a variety of uses including Barkus Furniture Co. and the office of its architects, William Rupp and Joseph Farrell, which now is the office of Architecture Sarasota President Marty Hylton.
In its 2024 Sarasota 100/Modern That Matters project, Architecture Sarasota listed the McCullough Pavilion as among the top 100 architecturally significant buildings in the county.
Known as the Scott Building at the time, it was purchased by Sarasota County government in 1999 and converted into a printing and mailing center.
Rehabilitated in 2015 through funding from major donor Nathalie McCullough, it reopened under the name McCullough Pavilion as home to Center for Architecture Sarasota, one of the legacy organizations to today’s Architecture Sarasota.
At its Jan. 13 meeting, the Sarasota County Commission by a 4-1 vote approved a request to sell the building to Architecture Sarasota for $2.5 million. In her dissent, Commissioner Teresa Mast said the property could fetch more via the invitation to negotiate process, and that main-
NEXT STEPS
The County Commission’s Jan. 13 actions direct county staff to engage Architecture Sarasota to draft a purchase and sale agreement, which will then be presented to the commission for approval. The date for closing on the deal has not been set.
taining the site as single-story commercial building on the edge of an encroaching downtown may not be its highest and best use.
After all, adjacent to the east is the Benderson Development-owned former Sarasota County Administration center and surrounding parking, and across Orange Avenue is a planned mixed-use commercial and residential complex.
“This building is on the National Register and on the local Register of Historic Places,” countered Commissioner Mark Smith, an architect.
“I believe strongly that we need to preserve our history, and that’s why I’m in favor … keeping in mind the in-house appraisal is $3.5 million and their offer is $2.5 (million).
“I’d also like to remind the board that they put a million dollars already into the building, so they’re closer than perhaps it would appear.”
Benderson, which is in the early stages of developing plans to redevelop the now-vacant county headquarters, had approached the county about buying McCullough Pavilion as well, which triggered the in-house appraisal.
Architecture Sarasota board member and adaptive-reuse expert Howard Davis told the Observer that members of the organization have connections with Benderson and
approached the developer about its interest in the property.
“They said it’s perfect. We (Benderson) just really wanted to make sure the perimeter around our project was going to be supportive of what we’re doing, and you’re a perfect user,”
The Scott Building, now McCullough Pavilion, was once home to Barkus Furniture, shown in this image from the 1960s.
Davis said. “You’re a cultural organization. You add to the dynamic street life. We’ve got an open front. There are things going on. If you want to pursue this, go ahead.” Florida statute permits local governments to engage directly with
WHO IS MARTY HYLTON?
For three decades, Morris “Marty” Hylton III has acquired experience in documenting, conserving and advocating for cultural heritage. Both an architect and historic preservationist, he collaborates with communities to develop strategies for preserving and managing cultural resources, applying his expertise on the resilience of historic places, particularly in coastal regions. For 14 years, he directed Historic Preservation at the University of Florida, where he founded the Envision Heritage program, integrating digital technologies into preservation practice. For two years, he served as a member of the city’s Purple Ribbon Committee for adaptive reuse of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.
nonprofit organizations in the disposal of surplus property. That allowed the county to negotiate the sale of McCullough Pavilion without undergoing the public-bidding process.
Over the past six months, Architecture Sarasota “got comfortable that we would be able to raise the money,” to pursue the purchase.
“It is truly a win-win,” Davis said, describing the preservation of a structure of historic significance a rare victory. “We preserve a very important building. It provides a perfect permanent home for us. This is an activated use. People come in and out of here. They can walk in and see whatever Marty’s got in the gallery right out front. It’s a great use from an urban planning standpoint.”
Once the building is under Architecture Sarasota ownership, some minor enhancements may take place. It has been a decade since the last round of renovations.
“But right now,” Hylton said, “we’re just really focused on getting the ink dry on the sale.”
Courtesy images
Architecture Sarasota President Marty Hylton (left) and board member and adaptive reuse expert Howard Davis.
Scan below for a full list of Open Houses, property details, driving directions and more
FOOL ME TWICE ...
1:37 p.m., 1900 block of Main Street
Disturbance: An anonymous caller lodged a complaint about a disturbance in a neighboring apartment, which turned out to be familiar to the responding officers as they had responded to a domestic disturbance in the same apartment in November 2025.
Answering the door was the same man who was asked if he had allowed the same woman back into his apartment, which he confirmed. The pair had met through an online dating platform and began a relationship, which he had quickly ended. The man said he was again having the same issues with her. The woman had left the apartment before officers arrived. Having not established residency, he was advised to call law enforcement if she returns.
MONDAY, DEC., 29
STANDING PAT
12:45 a.m., 1500 block of Main Street
Dispute: Having called 911, a man said he was attempting to enter a downtown dining and drinking establishment when he was told he was denied access until he submitted to a pat-down. He told a responding officer the security professional referred to him via a homophobic slur and that he — presumably referencing the bouncer — engages in carnal knowledge with his mother.
As the bar staff member is known to the officers, they were skeptical of the man’s claims, a suspicion confirmed by further investigation into the matter.
The bouncer said the man attempted to enter the property without the requisite late-night pat-down, to which the complainant responded angrily. As if it would result in a deviation of policy, he advised the bouncer that he was a doctor and possessed five highereducation degrees.
The officer then advised the complainant that he is denied service for the night and asked if he wished to provide his identification for the incident report. Asked what difference that would make, the officer responded it was policy to document all in-person encounters stemming
SATURDAY, DEC. 27
UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICE
9:54 a.m., 1300 block of Loma Linda Court
Civil dispute: A swap of electric bikes turned out to be something of a fraud.
The complainant advised an officer her son traded his Soleil 01 electric bike for a Razor mx500 via Facebook Marketplace, both valued at approximately $1,500, according to the incident report.
The woman stated a juvenile and his mother came to their address to execute the trade, and that the exchange of property appeared to be legitimate. However, after apparently not taking the mx500 for a test drive, her son discovered it required a new battery.
After making multiple contacts with their trading partners, presumably through the social media platform, they refused to reexchange the property. The complainant was unable to provide any direct contact information for the subjects.
Because the matter is civil in nature and no crime had been committed, the complainant was advised the officer would document the incident so she could proceed to take action through small claims court if she so chose.
from a 911 call. Then it got bizarre.
The officer reported that the complainant smelled of urine, and in providing his ID he reached into his pocket, withdrew a wallet from which he presented a wet retired Air Force identification card.
The officer asked if the substance was urine as he was not wearing gloves, which further agitated the man. He was advised the incident would be documented, and all three officers who responded to the scene agreed to the source of the odor emanating from the man and his wallet.
City passes control of Bay buildings to conservancy
Sarasota turns over management, rental and maintenance control to the bayside park’s operators.
ith renovations completed, under way and scheduled for four historic buildings within the Cultural District of The Bay park, the steward Bay Park Conservancy has secured an agreement with the city of Sarasota to manage rentals of the facilities. Work has been completed on the Blue Pagoda, Sarasota Garden Club and Chidsey Library buildings and is underway on the Bayfront Community Center. Still to come this spring are renovations to Municipal Auditorium, all structures owned by the city and located within The Bay park’s 53 acres.
Earlier this month, the Sarasota City Commission unanimously approved the amendment to move all management and operations of the structures of the Chidsey Library and the auditorium/community center into the partnership agreement between the two parties.
The BPC is leading the conversion of the city-owned property — which includes the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, the Centennial Park boat launch, the four buildings and more — into a signature green space. All facilities will continue to be owned by the city but managed and maintained by the BPC. The $200 million project is in the midst of Phase 2 construction and planning for Phase 3, all funded 50% by philanthropy and 25% each by the city and county with revenue derived from tax-increment financing collected on improved tax value of downtown properties near the park set against a benchmark of 2020 assessments.
Municipal Auditorium management includes the attached Bayfront Community Center. The Chidsey Library reopened late year as the offices for the BPC, which were moved from the Blue Pagoda. All four buildings are listed on the National Register for Historic Places. The benefit to the community, BPC Founding CEO AG Lafley told commissioners, is that rates to rent them for events are lower than commercial rental fees of private venues. For the city, benefits include capital improvements now and in the future, and maintenance and management of the facilities are the responsibility of the BPC.
Courtesy image
Sarasota Municipal Auditorium is managed by The Bay Park Conservancy.
SPORTS
FAST BREAK
FHSAA district tournaments are under way for high school soccer teams. On the boys side, Booker (10-6-3) will compete in Class 4A-District 10, Sarasota (8-6-4) in 7A-12, Cardinal Mooney (8-5-4) in 3A-9, Riverview (5-12-2) in 7A-12 and Sarasota Christian (6-9-1) in 1A-10. On the girls side, Sarasota Christian (10-5-1) carries the most regular-season wins, followed by Riverview (9-3-3), Sarasota (5-10), Booker (5-5-2) and Cardinal Mooney (5-4-3).
... A celebrity softball game, presented by the Baltimore Orioles and The Cause Collective, will be held at 1 p.m. on Jan. 31 at Ed Smith Stadium. The list of celebrities scheduled to appear, as of Jan. 19, includes José Bautista Brian Roberts Adam Jones John Shelby Jr. Josh Harrison Scooter Gennett Greg Oden Marlon Mack and Sam Womack. Gates will open at 11 a.m. and Sarasota Little League will be a beneficiary of some proceeds. Tickets can be purchased at MLB.com/ Orioles/Spring-Training/Celebrity-Softball-Game.
Jayden Rivers, wide receiver/cornerback for Sarasota football, put his skills on display at the Georgia vs. Florida High School Showcase on Jan. 11 at Daytona Stadium. He tallied six catches for more than 100 yards following his junior season with the Sailors.
... Cardinal Mooney boys basketball keeps on rolling this season, and as of Jan. 18, holds a sparkling 16-2 record. Coached by Curt Kassab, the Cougars opened 2025-26 with an 11-game winning streak. Their only defeats have come to Bullis (Maryland) on Dec. 29, 52-50, and Sarasota on Jan. 10, 65-56. A trio of double-figure scorers have led the way — junior guard Jamaal George senior guard Malakai Cuffy and junior forward Elijah Price Those three have delivered 15.3, 12.0 and 10.8 points per game, respectively. Cardinal Mooney completes its regular season with contests at Braden River (7:30 p.m., Jan. 23), vs. Winthrop College Prep Academy (7 p.m., Jan. 26), vs. Venice (7 p.m., Jan. 29) and vs. Booker (7 p.m., Jan. 30).
“I would love
for our SCS soccer
program
to
be able to compete in the highest level of high school athletics, and for us to ultimately win a state championship.”
MAKING HIS MARK
Nearing the end of his high school career, the senior guard ranks among the best scorers in the state.
The name “Josh Harris” was not listed on the roster for Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences boys basketball in 2019. As a sixth grader, he didn’t make it any further than tryouts.
He was cut. The Tigers didn’t want him. By leaving him off their squad, they sent the message that he simply wasn’t good enough.
That’s when basketball became something more than just a game for him — a lot more.
“He decided to be serious,” said Jeff Harris, his father. “So he’s done things every day to work toward getting to this point where we’re at now, and beyond.”
It was a humbling moment for the aspiring baller. At the time, it seemed like a setback. But he dedicated himself to his hoop dreams from then onward.
Failures are in the past. Successes define the present.
Josh Harris, now a senior guard for Riverview boys basketball, has put up some of the state’s best numbers this season. He’s averaged a teamhigh 24.2 points per game with a 47% field-goal percentage and 36% 3-point percentage, as of Jan. 18.
The 6-foot-4 talent stands at the top of FHSAA Class 7A with that scoring average. He’s one of just four players in all of 7A to put up 20-plus, per MaxPreps, and ranks T-24th in the state for scoring across eight classifications.
No longer is he fighting to be on a team. In his final season at the high school level, the team runs through him.
“What’s made it most special is just my last time going around and playing with these guys and playing for the school,” Harris said. “I really try to take every game very (seriously) and take everything in, because I won’t ever have this again.”
He was an offensive force in years past, too. After making varsity as a freshman and contributing 3.3 points per game in limited minutes, he became the Rams’ leading scorer one season later.
Sophomore year was his first as a starter and resulted in 12.6 points per game. Then he pushed that mark to 20.1 as a junior — again, spearheading the scoring effort. On Nov. 17, 2025, he became the 13th player in program history to tally 1,000 career points.
“He plays on fire all the time,” said Jeff Harris, who’s also the Riverview coach. “A lot of times, players
are afraid of success in the moment, and he’s just unafraid. He’s going to do whatever he has to do to be successful.”
The elder Harris was instrumental in instilling that “whatever it takes” attitude. He grew his own love for the game in South Bend, Indiana, and played at Saginaw Valley State University from 1996 to 2000.
Before Josh Harris was even enrolled in elementary school, Jeff Harris ensured there was a ball in his son’s hands. He gradually taught him what he knew about proper training and preparation.
But it wasn’t just a father’s presence that motivated Josh Harris to stay on the hardwood.
Clifford Harris, his grandfather on his father’s side, became the biggest fan of his young career. He played basketball for Washington High (Indiana) during the 1970s before serving in the U.S. Army and was a regular attendee of Josh Harris’ games until his death in June 2024.
Basketball runs deep in Harris’ blood. It always has. As his childhood in Sarasota evolved into its teenage years, he kept his sights on one school, and one school only.
“Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve wanted to come to (Riverview),” Harris said. “I always set goals that I was going to be one of those guys that they say, ‘He was one of the best players who ever played here.’”
With the Rams, he’s looking to polish off his high school days in a big way. The senior posted 41 points against McKeel Academy on Nov. 29, and not long afterward, set a new season high on Dec. 5 with a 42-piece against Booker.
Those sort of showings, though, put a target on his back. He’s gone from hunter to hunted — now double- and triple-teamed by opposing defenses after years of enjoying open looks.
Harris has regularly been forced to take contested shots in 2025-26, and his father-turned-coach has seen him sink a lot of them.
“He’s getting picked up full-court, full-denial,” said Jeff Harris. “Every gimmick defense that’s out there, we’ve seen, and he’s still producing at this high level. It’s pretty astounding, honestly.”
As of Jan. 16, he holds offers from a pair of NCAA Division III programs in Wabash College and the University of Southern Maine, but his recruitment is “completely open.” He prefers to play somewhere close to home at the next level, if granted the opportunity.
More college coaches have
“He plays on fire all the time.”
— Jeff Harris, Riverview basketball coach
approached Jeff Harris and his staff, but even when they evaluated Josh Harris and loved what they saw, they elected not to extend offers.
Some of them told him they weren’t taking on any 18-year-olds. Others said they would have to wait until after the season to see how many scholarship spots open up. The Harris family has now seen firsthand what recruiting in the era of name, image and likeness looks like.
Still, Harris is the No. 1 scorer in Class 7A and a standout in Southwest Florida. Has he been undervalued by coaches throughout the process?
“Yeah, you could say that,” Harris said. “It’s just something that will take time, and I’m willing to just keep working and wait for my time to come, because I know it’s going to come.”
His value to the Rams, though, speaks for itself. Their offense revolves around him.
Riverview — unlike SSAS — has no intention of cutting him anytime soon.
JOSH HARRIS’ TOP PERFORMANCES
THIS SEASON
Dec. 5 vs. Booker — points, 14-for-25 shooting, 6 rebounds, 3 assists Nov. 29 vs. McKeel Academy — for-31 shooting, 8 rebounds, 2 assists Nov. 17 vs. Southeast 35 points, 12-for-26 shooting, 5 rebounds, 3 assists Dec. 2 vs. Venice — 32 points, 10-for21 shooting, 3 rebounds, 1 assist Nov. 19 vs. Gateway Charter — 29 points, 10-for-18 shooting, 3 rebounds, 1 assist
Jack Nelson Junior midfielder Emily Simone welcomes a crowd of teammates after scoring a goal. Riverview girls soccer finished the regular season at 9-3-3 and earned the No. 1 seed for the Class 7A-District 12 tournament.
— Reagan Volkert, Sarasota Christian girls soccer SEE PAGE 18A
JACK NELSON SPORTS REPORTER
Photos by Jack Nelson
Josh Harris shows off his ball-handling skills before practice at Riverview High School. The senior guard leads all of FHSAA Class 7A in scoring, as of Jan. 18, with 24.2 points per game.
NELSON’S NOGGIN JACK NELSON
Trials and tribulations
The reigning FHSAA Class 3A state champion has struggled to stay in the win column but is starting to piece together the puzzle.
Every single Cougar met with her coaches individually before the season began. One by one, team members wrote down and vocalized what they wanted to accomplish above all else.
The No. 1 goal among them was unanimous, and ambitious.
“Each one of them down the line said, ‘state championship,’” said coach Cortney Sawyer. “They set the standard for what they wanted to do this season.”
Putting dreams into words isn’t an uncommon practice for athletes. Title hopes are held by just about every committed competitor.
There’s a sobering reality to championships, though. They’re easy to idolize and hard to achieve.
Cardinal Mooney girls basketball has learned that much in 2025-26. With five games remaining in the regular season, as of Jan. 19, the squad sits at 11-9. The Cougars have taken a roller coaster ride from November through January filled with more ups and downs than they’re used to.
For a while, their outlook was bleak. They opened at 2-5 and didn’t win consecutive games until Dec. 13. As the calendar turned to 2026, their resume still didn’t have much luster at 5-8.
But recent results have been more favorable. The group has won six of its last seven, gradually building those habits it embodied by ending last season on a 17-game winning streak.
“Just taking each game one at a time, especially as districts, regionals and states come along,” said junior guard Jadyn Watts. “And just scouting the right way for each team.”
Coach Marlon Williams, too, widened the void with his decision to step down after three seasons. All those departures left Cardinal Mooney in need of a leader and with only one returning player from its title-winning starting five.
So Sawyer stepped up.
Formerly an assistant under Williams, he carries familiarity with the program, and saw what it really took to reach the highest level of high school basketball in Florida.
“He’s still trying to keep our program alive,” said senior guard Talia Busser. “He knows what our goal wants to be, and that’s his goal, too. He’s doing his best, putting his best foot forward and doing the extra things for us.”
Busser is the all-important piece of continuity from 2024-25. She’s one of the purest shooters in Southwest Florida, and with four new starters around her, has successfully translated her talents.
Cardinal Mooney has every right to set an astronomic standard. It’s entitled to just that.
This program, after all, is the defending FHSAA Class 3A state champion, and has reached a remarkable five consecutive title games. Any finish this season short of a sixth will qualify as sheer disappointment considering such a track record.
It was quite the high for the Cougars on March 1, 2025. They hoisted the first state championship in program history after four straight seasons of settling for silver. They won bigger than they ever had before, but in the aftermath, they also lost — a lot.
Three of their five starters graduated, including now-Cincinnati forward Kali Barrett, who just so happens to be their all-time leading scorer. Four-star recruit Madi Mignery exacerbated the turnover by transferring to IMG Academy for her junior season.
Standing at 5-foot-7, the seasoned guard has averaged 8.3 points per game while shooting 42% from beyond the arc, as of Jan. 19. Compare those marks to 9.6 and 41% from last season and her consistency is undeniable.
“Definitely, in my opinion, the best shooter in this area,” Sawyer said. “She also does a really good job of coaching up her teammates as well as being coachable.”
Much of Cardinal Mooney’s early-season shortcomings can be chalked up to elite competition. Per the FHSAA, this group has the 11th-toughest schedule in the entire state, and the fourth-toughest in Class 3A alone.
When rotations have been almost completely revised, it’s a tall order to expect winning ways from the get-go. Part of the process did require integration of Watts and junior guard Jayla Griffin into the program as transfers from Sickles and Bloomingdale, respectively. But it hasn’t taken long for either of them to impose their will.
They’ve become a true dynamic duo as the team’s leading scorers this season. Griffin is responsible for 15.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game, while Watts boasts 15.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists in her own right.
“It’s been their coachability and endurance. For them to come in and play to that standard that we’ve set, they’ve done a tremendous job,” Sawyer said. “They work hard — high energy, high motor — every day in practice.”
These new-look Cougars inherited the pressure that comes with a title defense. Each of them willingly stepped into an exceptionally high standard.
A depleted roster hasn’t eased their efforts to meet it.
For their Jan. 17 game against The Villages Charter, only six players were active. Four different injuries have limited their depth to just one active bench player.
Still, they blitzed the Buffaloes 60-23 that day.
“Every time we step on the court,
we know what we’re holding with our team — that (title) expectation,” Watts said. “We just know that we have to hold those expectations every time.”
This team has learned the hard way that a championship pursuit is easier said than done. All goaloriented players seek that coveted state title, but only so many will actually earn it. Against the odds, wins have started to flow for the Cougars. They’ve suffered considerable losses from their roster and on their schedule to get here. Whether or not they ultimately deliver on preseason words is up to them.
Photos by Jack Nelson
Jack Nelson is the sports reporter for the East County and Sarasota/Siesta Key Observers. Contact him at JNelson@ YourObserver.com.
Cortney Sawyer watches the Cougars on the offensive end during their Jan. 17 game against the Buffaloes. In his first season as coach, the former assistant has Cardinal Mooney at 11-9 with five games remaining in the regular season.
Junior guard Jadyn Watts takes the ball down court for Cardinal Mooney girls basketball during a Jan. 17 game against The Villages Charter.
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Reagan Volkert
Age has been no obstacle for Reagan Volkert on the field. As a seventh grader, the forward has scored at will for Sarasota Christian girls soccer. The Blazers stand at 10-5-1 this season, as of Jan. 19, and are buoyed by her team-high 14 goals in 13 games. She’s scored eight goals this month alone. Volkert is the Sarasota Athlete of the Week.
When and why did you start playing soccer?
I have always enjoyed playing soccer growing up. I started playing soccer on recess with one of my best friends, Brynley, in first grade. I really wanted to join a team, but the school I was going to at the time did not offer it, and a club team wasn’t an option for my family at the time. I played soccer on recess with Brynley for first and second grade, then in third grade, she left the school, and I stopped playing after that. It wasn’t until this year that we joined Sarasota Christian School that I actually began playing soccer as an official sport.
Is there a highlight of your career that you’ve never forgotten?
If you would like to make a recommendation for the Sarasota Observer’s Athlete of the Week feature, send it to Jack Nelson at JNelson@ YourObserver.com.
He has given me the ability to do anything through him, and secondly, I would give attention to my coach and teammates.
What were your goals entering this season?
Entering the season, I didn’t have any true goals set for myself, but obviously, I wanted to have a winning record. Once I scored my first few goals, I set a goal for myself to get to 10 goals for the season. When I hit that, I set a new goal to reach 15 goals and I have one more to go.
When you’re not playing soccer, how do you spend your free time? Aside from soccer and school, I enjoy spending time with my family, going to the beach, playing sports like golf with my dad (BJ Volkert) and reading action novels.
My first game that I played this year is definitely a game I will not forget. I remember I was so scared when my coach (Armand Dikranian) put me out on the field, because I had never played before, and I really had no idea what I was doing. In fact, that same night while we were warming up for the game is when I found out how to kick a ball properly. I went on the field and I made my first goal. It wasn’t until then I actually realized how fun soccer was going to be for me.
To what do you attribute that sucI would attribute my success first and foremost to my Lord and savior Jesus Christ.
What’s one quote or piece of advice you’ve carried with you? Philippians 4:13, which says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” It basically means to me that whatever God has in his will for me, I can do it.
If you could meet any professional athlete, who would it be and why? I enjoy watching the Savannah Bananas, and I would love to meet them. I think they are great for entertainment and I love how outspoken they are about their faith.
If you could go anywhere in the world right now for a dream vacation, where would you go and why?
I would love to go and visit Australia to snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef. I enjoy the beach so much and I think I’d have a great time.
Finish this sentence. Reagan Volkert is ... A daughter, sister and athlete who loves Jesus, music and sports.
The Edge Sarasota: Created for a Select Few
Offering an elevated downtown living experience for the most discerning individuals, this exclusive ten-story boutique condominium represents a harmonious blend of private sanctuary and lively community, offering meticulously designed residences that redefine urban sophistication.
Each finely-appointed home in this desirable ten-story condominium provides a private paradise of meticulously chosen finishes and features to impress even the most selective buyer.
WHERE WELLNESS ISN’T AN ESCAPE-IT’S THE EVERYDAY
At The Edge, wellness is woven into the rhythm of daily life, with each thoughtfully designed space inviting balance, beauty, and a sense of renewal-mindfully crafted for those who seek more from where they live.
THE ART OF ENTERTAINING, PERFECTED
From expansive living areas to elegantly appointed gathering spaces, every detail is curated for those who love to host beautifully and live memorably.
A PINNACLE OF LUXURY IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN
Perfectly positioned at the center of Sarasota’s cultural, dining, and arts scene, The Edge offers a lifestyle defined by walkability and connec-
tion. Enjoy fine dining with friends, then walk to the theatre, opera house, or fine dining venue-all steps from home.
AN OPULENT OASIS SOARING ABOVE SARASOTA
The Edge’s amenities evoke the feeling of a luxury retreat with dedicated spaces for relaxation, unhurried enjoyment, and refined comfort.
Soak up sun-drenched afternoons on the private terrace, take a dip in the resort-style pool, relax in an intimate cabana, grill and dine al fresco while enjoying the sweeping views of Sarasota Bay. Close the day with a soothing soak in the spa, taking in panoramic views of the city’s sparkling skyline.
The state-of-the-art fitness center features top-of-the-line cardio and conditioning equipment, and a relaxing, meditative yoga studio for your wellness needs.
Greet guests in our sophisticated concierge lobby and elegant social lounge-welcoming spaces created for leisure, connection, and everyday enjoyment.
From pet spas to dedicated watering stations, The Edge provides a range of features tailor-made for pet lovers.
destination.
A working solution
Academy at Glengary offers a bridge for those recovering from mental illnesses.
IAN SWABY | STAFF WRITER
Joan Geyer says she’s visited mental health training facilities around the country. In many, she says, members aren’t permitted to work in the kitchens.
That isn’t the case at the Academy at Glengary in Sarasota, where she serves as trustee emeritus on the board of directors.
At the academy, planning the menu, then preparing it and serving it to guests, is a process many members know thoroughly.
As in a real restaurant, guests will offer tickets, and kitchen personnel will prepare each order, expediting it to someone else who will serve it to guests in the dining area. Those are some of the skills that members have the opportunity to practice, amid offerings that also include learning business and technology, and graphic design and multimedia.
A FRESH START IN THE KITCHEN
As the 501(c)(3) nonprofit is a vocational training facility, members don’t have to know any skills when they arrive.
However, chef instructor Benjamin Burnside says members have
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Info: Visit AcademySRQ.org.
ended up working at locations that include Tripletail Seafood & Spirits, Gecko’s Grill & Pub and Grillsmith Sarasota.
He also notes that at the academy, unlike with many restaurants, not a single case of food poisoning has ever taken place.
“I’m the only staff here on this side of the building, and I can’t do everything by myself, so we rely on members, and that’s on purpose,” he said.
Member Brent Jephson, a part of the kitchen team, says that he finds the experience meaningful as he works towards a better future.
“I feel like I have a sense of purpose by helping out here, but in an actual 9 to 5 job, I struggle to keep up with the pace and the interactions that go on,” he said. “They’re just a little too much for me.”
The organization follows the clubhouse model inspired by Fountain House, which was founded in the 1940s in Manhattan and is still in operation today, and it is an accredited program of Clubhouse International.
The academy has existed in Sarasota for eight-and-a-half years, and accepts patients referred from Cornell Behavioral Health Pavilion at Sarasota Memorial Hospital.
It also opened an additional location in Bradenton in 2024, after operating out of a leased property for two years. That location takes patients from Centerstone Behavioral Hospital and Addiction Center.
Others can also apply to join the clubhouses.
Director William McKeever says in the world of mental health, there is often crisis care, but few next steps to help people get back into society.
He says in the absence of that step, people isolate back at home, resulting in a cycle of rehospitalizations.
The clubhouse model is built on the Eight Dimensions of Wellness, but McKeever says it is unique in that it doesn’t involve the kind of staff one would typically find at a facility for mental health.
“We don’t hire therapists; we don’t hire case managers; we don’t hire peer specialists,” he said. “We hire folks that bring in skills.”
He says that this is a strength, in that members can enter without anyone analyzing their symptoms,
because staff don’t have the training to do so.
He says the organization’s aim is meeting needs that include workplace adjustment, taking feedback and direction, learning social skills and technical skills that may be rusty, and of course, community.
Geyer says for most members, going to culinary school, for instance, wouldn’t be ideal, for that environment is too structured.
“You’re talking about schizophrenia, bipolar illness, major depression, those kinds of things,” Geyer said. “The rug’s pulled out from underneath you. It’s overwhelming. It’s not easy to manage entirely by yourself.”
Burnside also said it creates better food when members don’t simply work off a checklist.
“If you want to be a good cook, you just have to taste your food constantly, not just follow the recipe … It’s all about tasting and making adjustments,” he said.
In general, kitchen members will learn knife skills, how to clean, take orders, serve and expedite, as well as softer skills.
“The chef may direct it in some way, but the members do too, and when a new member comes in, they can learn just as easily from a present member as they can from the chef,” Geyer said.
“I still find it very useful for my own self-worth that I can help in the kitchen,” Jephson said. “I feel that we’re making a meal every day. Everybody loves to get lunch. It’s a good way to build friendships.”
McKeever says that the rates at which members of the academy will be rehospitalized or have a legal involvement is less than 10% a year. Meanwhile, between 40% to 50% of members will engage in employment over the course of a year.
A MENTAL HEALTH ECOSYSTEM
Isabella Perez has enjoyed being among different disciplines during her time with the academy.
She has been involved in the kitchen while also learning how to work with computers, something she says she didn’t know much about, and learning receptionist skills.
“There’s a bunch to do here,” she said. “You never get bored. I never get bored.”
She said she doesn’t know what she would be doing otherwise.
“It’s really been helping a lot, getting me out of my comfort zone, getting out of bed in the morning, having motivation to do stuff, so it really just makes me want to try new things and just get to know people better,” she said.
The skills taught on the business and tech side include reception skills,
including over the phone, software, accounting and data entry.
John Peacock had experience in desktop publishing, which he says made the Graphic Design & Multimedia team the perfect area for him.
He says he likes being creative and having fun, which may mean creating a special daily menu.
Members also create other print designs like “thank you” cards to donors, birthday cards, the newsletter, the daily menu, the weekly menu, the calendar, business cards and logos and materials for fundraisers.
“It’s better than the other side of things, where I could just be sitting at home doing absolutely nothing,” he said. “So yes, this is encouraging. Builds confidence. Obviously, you get to socialize, and you can’t do that from home by yourself.”
A production studio also allows for work on video testimonials, videos for giving challenges, and a weekly audio version of the newsletter.
One major step that members can take toward the future, is transitional employment, which involves realworld jobs, with placement managers providing support.
The academy teams up with organizations such as Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Doctors Hospital of Sarasota, Publix, Gecko’s Grill & Pub, Sunset Automotive Group, the State Attorney’s Office and the Office of the Public Defender.
Roles are part time or full time, for six to nine months and can eventually can lead to long-term supported employment roles with an organization.
“Having that confidence to be able to go back into the workforce, it takes a lot,” Geyer said.
McKeever says for mental health, there is no quick fix. Members are welcome to stay as long as they need.
He says the policy involves “a big door in and a bigger door out.”
Although they can leave at any time, they’re always welcome back.
Brent Jephson and Chef Instructor Benjamin Burnside celebrate a job well done.
Photos by Ian Swaby Diego Peguero and Patrick Callahan prepare a meal of salmon, potatoes and asparagus.
The team prepared a meal of salmon, potatoes and asparagus.
Home of history
Michael Saunders & Co. unveils new art history display at its main office.
IAN SWABY
When Michael Saunders founded her business in 1976, she was inspired by Sarasota’s history to incorporate artistic elements into the business of selling real estate, she said.
“I think that we, over 50 years, have tried in every way to incorporate art, from doing incredible photography, white space in ads,” said Saunders, who is CEO of Michael Saunders & Co. “Everything we’ve done has been a nod to the arts.”
However, a new offering from the company, for which it hosted a celebration on Jan. 16, isn’t just a nod to the arts, it’s a full-on bow to them. She said the length of about 200 feet behind the glass wall of its main office, along Orange Avenue just off Main Street, was a place for a story she wants to be told again and again. That was the story of the colony of visual artists who were instrumen-
tal in establishing Sarasota as an arts and cultural destination.
“I hope our windows not only give joy and inspiration, but also educate and let the public know how rich this history is,” Saunders said.
HISTORY FINDS A SPACE
According to the display, Sarasota’s visual arts legacy flourished in the decades following World War II, leading to the city’s recognition as an “Artists Colony.”
Covering a timeline from 1945 to 1965, the display highlights the work of artists including Hilton Leech, Syd Solomon and Helen Sawyer, featuring QR codes that help explain each element.
The display started as a conversation between two friends.
Artist Tim Jaeger, who is director and chief curator of galleries and exhibitions at Ringling College of Art and Design, led the project, teaming up with Bill Hartman, a prominent painter and teacher in Sarasota’s arts scene, who provided photographs and memorabilia.
“Many of you know that spending time with Bill is like stepping into a living archive,” Jaeger told attendees.
“What began as a casual conversation in his office looking through
artifacts, paintings, photographs, old exhibition announcements and ephemera quickly turned into something much, much, much deeper.”
He said they talked about the past of Sarasota, and how the stories of its artists were slipping out of view due to what he said was a lack of “structure, resources and sustained attention.”
The conversation came to involve Michael Saunders and Susan McLeod, an artist who owned two galleries in Sarasota and worked with Saunders for some 30 years as a Realtor.
The group wanted to create an installation that could function as both a historical timeline and an educational resource.
“What became very clear very quickly was that the Sarasota Arts Colony was not just a group of individuals working in isolation,” Jaeger said. “It was a deeply interconnected community. These artists thrived off of one another. They challenged one another. They shared meals, studios, ideas, risks. They built something collectively that was far greater than any single career.”
McLeod called the display “a very
strong and wonderful, powerful gift from Michael to the city.”
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thrill to me, quite honestly,” McLeod said. “It’s been years that I have talked about it and it has been talked about, and the acknowledgement of the need to bring back the history of the visual arts in Sarasota, happened tonight.”
She said that what was probably the most rewarding aspect of the event for her was the amount of attendees, noting the project was well-supported, including by relatives of the artists whose work is showcased.
She says the role it serves won’t be final, but that it is reopening a piece of the community’s past for further exploration.
“My satisfaction from it is not that we could have said it all, but that we began the conversation,” McLeod said. “I think what we did tonight was to light people’s energy about exactly what we were bringing to the surface, that is the visual arts that began the reputation of Sarasota as being an arts and cultural core for the state.”
Drayton Saunders, Susan McLeod, Michael Saunders, Tim Jaeger and project contributor Andrew Ford of Sarasota Estate Auction
The new display highlights the history of the visual arts in Sarasota along about 200 feet of Orange Avenue, just off Main Street.
Photos by Ian Swaby
Michael Saunders looks at the display with her granddaughter, Kinsley Saunders, 9.
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Show of the century
The 100th anniversary of the Sarasota Yacht Club and St. Armands Circle was a oncein-a-lifetime event.
For Bill Hadley, co-chair of the YachtRodders group within the Sarasota Yacht Club, so was putting together a car show.
Although he is a car fan who enjoys attending shows, the group was working from scratch assembled its own show featuring vehicles also spanning 100 years.
“I spent the last six months going to car shows, inviting the best of the shows here, and we got them,” he said. “I’m really happy to see it all come together. It’s been amazing. We had a boatload of volunteers to help us put all this together.”
He said the event tied together the past in more than one way. Not only were both local fixtures being celebrated founded by John Ringing in 1926, but the yacht club was also originally known as the Sarasota Yacht and Automobile Club.
The event began with a parade of 35 cars, starting on Main Street in Sarasota and concluding on St. Armands Circle. The show featured a total of some 175 cars, including a display on the circle where exhibitors dressed in period costume to match the era of their car.
“What I love about the show is just the variety of different types of vehicles, and the idea that it represents 100 years,” said Candace Ordonez of Bird Key. “Really a beautiful sight and a great day.”
— IAN SWABY
Courtesy of Carissa Warfield The parade makes its way down Main Street in Downtown Sarasota.
Phil Annunziato looks over his 1959 Cadillac Series 62
Convertible, “Big Red,” that carried Sarasota Yacht Club Commodore Robert Milligan.
Photos by Ian Swaby
Tom Watson showcases his 1929 Ford Model A.
Mark Rosenthal learns about a phonograph from Tom Shults, who co-owns a 1926 Fort Model T Runabout with his wife, Debbie Shults.
Brigitte Burke and Sheryl Taritas get a look at the 1939 MG VA owned by Douglas Kniff.
Dave Freeman stands beside his 1949 Dia-
mond T 201.
Walking with the dream
The theme of this year’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast was “Mission Possible II: Building Community, Uniting a Nation the Non-Violent Way.” Honorees attested to the idea that work in the community was already revealing possibilities.
Monica Donley, founder of Sisters Sowing Seeds, which provides mentoring and services to girls and women, said that staff members welcome girls in need of a confidence boost. “Dr. King taught us that real change does not come through force, but through faith, discipline, love and action,” she said.
The breakfast, held at Robert L. Taylor Community Complex, preceded the Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Walk through Newtown, as well as the Dr. MLK Medical/Wellness Fair and Dr. MLK Park Festival Jan. 19
It honored Donley and Joseph Mack for community service; Meadow Lark Walker and David Morse for healthcare; Susan Imperato for education; and Valerie Buchand with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Buchand has held numerous roles with the city of Sarasota and community organizations, and has served on boards including Sarasota Housing Authority, Nuisance Abatement and Women on Status.
She said she was honored to be recognized.
“We often serve Dr. Martin Luther King, however, throughout the year, we must continue to understand that he was for the downcast, those that didn’t know how to get justice, those that just bowed their heads and endured the pain, but I’m so glad today that God is raising up somebody that will stand for the voiceless, that will stand for those that are afraid, and I’m just glad that I’m one of them,” she said.
IAN SWABY
—
Photos by Ian Swaby
Cheerleaders from Booker High School make their way along the parade route.
Students from Booker High School’s marching band perform during the parade.
Amanda Just, Melissa Bartalos, Pamela Wusthof and Chris Kilmer of the Democratic Women’s Club of Sarasota walk in the parade.
S.E. Sanders, Mayor Debbie Trice and Ronnique Hawkins
Sarasota MLK Celebration Committee Chair Jetson Grimes, honorees Joseph Mack, Susan Imperato, Valerie Buchand, Meadow Lark Walker, Monica Donley and David Morse and former Mayor Willie Shaw gather on stage.
Art of togetherness
Ingrid Cushman was inspired by familiar quotes when she submitted hers for the Embracing Our Differences art show, which opened Saturday at Bayfront Park and will run through April 19.
However, the 10th grader at Pine View School put her own twist on the idea, inspired by a school club, BuildOn, which is raising money to build a school in the east African nation of Malawi.
Paired with the artwork “World of Peace” by Makhliyokhon Ziyouddinova, the quote reads, “Dulling someone else’s pencil will not make yours any sharper.”
She said she was honored to have it chosen for the student “best in show” quotation award out of the 14,904 quotes and artworks submitted for the display, joining other contributors and community members for the grand opening.
Sarah Wertheimer, president and CEO of Embracing Our Differences, said the grand opening was an important part of the exhibition’s role in the community.
Cushman said the effect of the exhibition was not over, however, as she would use the prize of $2,000, which will be split with the school’s language arts program, to help fund the creation of the school.
“I’m using this money to go help fundraise the school in Malawi, so it’s going to help other people,” she said.
— IAN SWABY
Judge Charles E. Williams, chair of Embracing Our Differences’ board of directors, Linda Poteat-Brown, vice chair, and Sarah Wertheimer, president and CEO of the organization, pose together.
Ingrid Cushman received the “best in show” award for her quote on “World of Peace.”
Jaden Stotz, 16, adds to a piece of community artwork alongside Piper BorgiaHoward, 7, and Kelly Borgia of Gulf Coast Community Foundation.
Photos by Ian Swaby
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$5 million Bay Shore Road sale includes 2, 1925 homes
ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR
Stephen and Jill Bell, of Rockport, Massachusetts, sold two properties at 4311 Bay Shore Road to Robert and Betty Pelc, of Sarasota, for $5 million. The first property was built in 1925 and has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,177 square feet of living area. The second property was built in 1925 and has one bedroom, one-and-a-half baths and 856 square feet of living area. They sold for $3.27 million in 2019.
SARASOTA
BAYSO SARASOTA
Carmen and Victoria Galante, trustees, sold the Unit 1711 condominium at 301 Quay Commons to Lisa Cioffi Scovic and Michael Scovic, of Cincinnati, for $2.11 million. Built in 2023, it has two bedrooms, three baths and 2,072 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,943,100 in 2023.
THE CONDOMINIUM ON THE BAY
Joyce Marks, trustee, of Advance, North Carolina, sold the Unit 1517 condominium at 988 Boulevard of the Arts to James Carville and Mary Matalin, of Alexandria, Virginia, for $1,915,00. Built in 1982, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,315 square feet of living area. It sold for $310,000 in 1995.
GRANADA PARK
Dariusz and Joanna Baczewski and Robert Baczewski, of Northbrook, Illinois, sold their home at 1730 Reston Court to Kyle and Cara Stawicki, of Sarasota, for $1,725,000. Built in 2025, it has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 3,049 square feet of living area.
THE LANDINGS
Patricia and Dale Plass, trustees, sold the home at 5197 Flicker Field Circle to Patrick Foster and Allison Stewart Foster, of Sarasota, for $1,715,000. Built in 1989, it has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,392 square feet of living area. It sold for $900,000 in 2018.
KANAYA
Sherman Brown and Lois DelatteBrown, of Metairie, Louisiana, sold their Unit 501 condominium at 505 S. Orange Ave. to Pamela and Robert Taylor, of Sarasota, for $1.45 million. Built in 2007, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 3,003 square feet of living area. It sold for $810,000 in 2007.
SARASOTA-VENICE CO.
Robert Peters, of Ferrum, Virginia,
Other top sales by area
SIESTA KEY: $4,808,000
Sarasota Beach 316 Beach LLC sold the home at 316 Beach Road to Sarasota Coastal Capital LLC for $4,808,000. Built in 1996, it has eight bedrooms, eight-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,681 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,725,000 in 2017.
PALMER RANCH: $1.1 MILLION
Cobblestone on Palmer Ranch
William and Renee Stevens, of Ashburn, Virginia, sold their home at 4186 Cascina Way to Susan Ann Hines, of Sarasota, for $1.1 million. Built in 2016, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,024 square feet of living area. It sold for $646,800 in 2016.
OSPREY: $2.4 MILLION
Sorrento Shores
sold his home at 3011 Ashton Road to Joseph and Joanna Hally, of Sarasota, for $925,000. Built in 2004, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,002 square feet of living area.
Andi Easterling Hill and Robert Lane Hill, of Sarasota, sold their home at 3020 Gypsy St. to Conner McLean Gutherie, of Sarasota, for $505,000. Built in 1993, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,630 square feet of living area. It sold for $322,000 in 2021.
MIDWOOD MANOR
American Bank & Trust Co., trustee, sold the home at 1792 Floyd St. to Barbara Sassen May, trustee, and Stephanie Sager, of Sarasota, for $875,000. Built in 1951, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,015 square feet of living area. It sold for $340,000 in 2001.
EAGLES POINT AT THE LANDINGS
Karen Fuqua, of Thompson’s Station, Tennessee, and Lisa Bruce, of Nashville, Tennessee, sold their Unit 405 condominium at 5440 Eagles Point Circle to Joan Magiet, of Sarasota, for $715,900. Built in 1996, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,936 square feet of living area. It sold for $363,000 in 1996.
SIESTA KEY
THE TERRACE
Angela Van Vliet, trustee, of McCordsville, Indiana, sold the Unit 93 condominium at 5400 Ocean Blvd. to Christopher DiBianco and Karen DiBianco, trustees, of Altamont, New York, $1.87 million. Built in 1970, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 1,437 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.94 million in 2023.
HIDDEN HARBOR
James and Carolyn McEntyre, of Sarasota, sold their home at 5112 Jungle Plum Road to TDI Coastal Homes LLC for $1.6 million. Built
in 1975, it has two bedrooms, twoand-a-half baths and 3,074 square feet of living area.
SANDY HOOK
Katherine Hayes, of Sarasota, sold her home at 101 Sandy Hook Road N. to Benjamin Joseph Grandas and Kelsey Anne Grandas, of Sarasota, for $1,325,000. Built in 1964, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,143 square feet of living area.
ONLINE
See more transactions at YourObserver.com.
Dennis and Adrienne Asbury, of Nokomis, sold their home at 432 Sorrento Drive to Jeffrey and Donna Stearns, of Osprey, for $2.4 million. Built in 2007, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,657 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.08 million in 2018.
NOKOMIS: $825,000
Calusa Lakes 2072 Tocobaga Ln LLC sold the home at 2072 Tocobaga Lane to Joseph and Rebecca Stroh, of Vadnais Heights, Minnesota, for $825,000. Built in 1995, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,578 square feet of living area. It sold for $508,000 in 2025.
Photo courtesy of Michael Saunders & Co.
The home at 4311 Bay Shore Road was built in 1925 and has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,177 square feet of living area. The second property was built in 1925 and has one bedroom, one-and-a-half baths and 856 square feet of living area. They sold for $3.27 million in
YOUR CALENDAR
SATURDAY, JAN. 24
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE LENORA ZENZALAI HELM
4:30-5:30 p.m. at The Oval, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation’s artist in residence, Lenora Hammonds, known as LenoraZenzalai Helm, performs jazz. The concert also features bassist Mimi Jones, pianist Miki Hayama, drummer Thomas Taylor and guest performers from the Booker High School VPA Jazz Program. Registration encouraged. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.
SATURDAY, JAN. 24
TO SUNDAY, JAN. 25
SAIGON NIGHT MARKET LUNAR NEW YEAR FOOD AND MUSIC FESTIVAL
3-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday a J.D. Hamel Park, 199 Bayfront Drive. Free. This festival inspired by Southeast Asia will feature lanterns, cultural performances, international street food, games, crafts and music in celebration of the Lunar New Year. Visit SarasotaFL.gov.
MONDAY, JAN. 26
MAT PILATES AT THE BAY
6-6:45 p.m. at Sarasota Garden Club, 1131 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. Join Bodybar Pilates instructors for exercises focused on building the core while promoting fullbody strength, balance, and body awareness. Registration encouraged. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.
JAZZ JAM WORKSHOP
4-5 p.m. at Selby Library, 1331 First St. Free. Join Jazz Club of Sarasota for a monthly session that provides an introduction to jazz jamming and is ideal for beginners. Visit SCGovLibrary.LibraryMarket.com.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 28
DANCE AT THE BAY: BOLLYWOOD
DANCE WITH MEGHA VAID
6:30-7:30 p.m. at The Nest, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. Megha Vaid leads this dance-fitness program based on the film industry of India. Participants are invited to dress in bracelets, earrings or shiny attire. Registration encouraged. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.
BEST BET SATURDAY, JAN. 24 TO SUNDAY, JAN. 25
ST. ARMANDS WINTER ART FESTIVAL & SIDEWALK SALE 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at St. Armands Circle Park, 1 St. Armands Circle. Free. St. Armands Circle will feature various art media at booths, including life-sized sculptures, jewelry, paintings and crafts. Visit SarasotaFL.gov.
FOREST THERAPY WALK
1:30-3:30 p.m. at Historic Spanish Point Campus, 401 N. Tamiami Trail, Osprey. $40 nonmembers; $30 members. Admission included in course fee. Walk along the trails at Historic Spanish Point with Deborah Skorupski, a native Floridian and professional nature and forest therapy guide, and reconnect with your senses. The walk concludes in a tea ceremony. Registration required. Visit Selby.org.
THURSDAY, JAN. 29
CINEMA AT THE BAY: MIRACLE
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The Oval, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. Enjoy a movie under the stars at The Bay. “Miracle” (PG) is the true story of Herb Brooks, who led the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team to victory over the Soviet team in a match known as the “Miracle on Ice.” The Nest Café will served food, popcorn and drinks. Registration encouraged. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.
image
Locals Annabeth Howton and Jenna Barnett browse items at an art festival in St. Armands Circle.
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