During Earth Day at The Bay on April 18, attendees had the chance to take a piece of the environment with them.
City residents were able to pick up trees offered by the city of Sarasota. With 200 trees available, 170 were given away, with the remaining trees set to be planted in city parks.
Senior Arborist Jackie Hartley said that attendees were “delighted” with the variety and size. She said the 10 species of trees, most of them shade trees, would grow to heights of between 35 and 60 feet.
“We like to encourage people to plant trees because we’re a small city and we value our canopy, and the more trees we can plant, the better off it is for so many things: for urban wildlife and water, runoff and, of course, shade,” she said.
Cadets tune In Cadets at Sarasota Military Academy already follow a military-style curriculum from grades 6-12. However, a new STEM initiative is expanding that training to also include radio and electronics.
Students will have an opportunity, over the next three years, to access the tools and materials to participate in antenna construction as part of their coursework.
Cadets will build handheld Yagi antennas for use in triangulation activities and hidden transmitter hunts, and will also learn soldering, how to calculate antenna resonance, and how to build coaxial cables for radio transmitting and receiving.
A $4,950 STEM grant from the Toshiba America Foundation will fund the antenna building lab, which is part of the new Introduction to Radio and Electronics science elective program.
$0.10
Ian Swaby
Senior arborist Jackie Hartley (center) and volunteers stand in front of the trees.
Courtesy image
WEEK OF APRIL 23, 2026
BY THE NUMBERS
5
“Our goal is to become the best club and restaurant in the entire world, and mark my words, one day, we’ll make it the top in the world.”
Acondominium tower that has yet to break ground is already making an impact in Sarasota. Sister publication the Business Observer reports 1000 Boulevard of the Arts surpassed $40 million in sales in its first 45 days, according to developer Kolter Urban.
When it is built, the tower will include 117 condominiums overlooking the Sarasota Bay, Quay Harbor and The Bay park. Floor plans range from one to three bedrooms, from 1,200 to more than 3,000 square feet.
Pre-construction pricing begins at $1.5 million.
Conversion from reservations to contracts began Feb. 1, according to Kolter Urban, and to build upon the forward progress, the developer is offering what it calls “selective pricing” on some units.
1000 Boulevard of the Arts will also include a Hyatt Centric Harborside hotel and ground-level restaurant.
Located near the corner of Quay Commons and Boulevard of the Arts, the site for the
condo project has been cleared, and the developer is awaiting construction permits. In early February, the former Hyatt Regency Sarasota was demolished to make way for the new project.
Recently, another Kolter Urban project in progress in Sarasota also saw an uptick in sales. Between mid-January and mid-February, the Ritz-Carlton Residences Sarasota Bay closed four sales totaling nearly $25 million, after the tower was topped off in December 2025.
Downtown restaurant closes on Main Street
A restaurant that has been open for nearly nine years in downtown Sarasota is closing at the end of April. Element lost its lease at 1413 Main St., the business announced on social media, and plans to open in a new, yet-to-be-determined location.
The last day in business for Element — which serves steak, seafood and pasta — will be April 26. In the meantime, the restaurant is scouting for new locations.
“The goal is to find a new home and be open by season of 2026,” Element owner Michelle Schlingmann said in the video announcing the closure.
Element has 22 employees, who “all have multiple jobs, own businesses and have side hustles,” Marketing Manager Lauren DiTaranto wrote in an email.
Arrests made in theft of Louisiana vehicle
Two out-of-state men were arrested near St. Armands Circle during a stop of a reported stolen vehicle. The driver, Collin Aymond, 33, of Louisiana and passenger Elliot Clark, 31, of Virginia were taken into custody by the Sarasota Police Department at the 100 block of John Ringling Boulevard.
At about 10:30 p.m. on April 11, officers were alerted that a stolen vehicle from Louisiana had entered the area of St. Armands Circle. After the vehicle was stopped, Aymond exited and ran. Clark remained in the vehicle and told officers he did not know it was stolen.
He said he was picked up in north Florida and offered a ride to Tampa and back.
Aymond is facing felony charges of motor vehicle theft, two counts of possession of a firearm by other state convicted felon, possession or use of a firearm during a felony and trafficking in oxycodone; and a misdemeanor charge of resisting an officer without violence.
Clark is facing a misdemeanor charge of trespassing a structure of conveyance, for remaining in the vehicle.
Courtesy image
A rendering of KolterUrban’s 1000 Boulevard of the Arts on the site of the former Hyatt Regency.
Puttin’ on the ritz
WARFIELD
ANDREW
STAFF WRITER
When Kevin Daves arrived in Sarasota in the early 1990s, he saw opportunity in what was missing — a luxury waterfront hotel in downtown, recognizing that potential of what is now The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota in the former location of the John Ringling Towers.
Expanding the Ritz-Carlton brand here, he turned his sights eastward to Lakewood Ranch and, through his Core Development Inc., developed a Ritz-Carlton-branded private golf course, which opened in 2005, as part of the Ritz-Carlton Members Club. Core Development then followed that up with The Concession Golf Club in 2006, designed by golf legends Jack Nicklaus and Tony Jacklin.
This fall, Daves’ latest project, 1000 North — in partnership with Michael Jordan, pro golfer Ernie Els, retired NFL player Tucker Frederickson, wine industry leader Bill Terlato and other notable names — will open as perhaps Sarasota’s most exclusive private club in the BLVD Sarasota condo tower at the corner of Boulevard of the Arts and North Tamiami Trail.
It’s the second location for 1000 North, the original opening on Jupiter Island in 2017. Unlike the original, though, 1000 North Sarasota will not be open to the general public.
Of all the places across the country to bring such a concept, though, the question begs: Why Sarasota?
“I have always believed Sarasota has the foundation to stand alongside the most refined destinations in the country,” said Daves. “With 1000 North, we are building on that legacy by introducing a private club experience centered on exceptional cuisine, elevated service and a true sense of belonging. It is about raising the bar in a way that feels natural to Sarasota’s continued evolution.”
Alex Elshimy, the club’s general manager overseeing the buildout of the 13,000-square-foot facility, said that bar is being set high.
“Our goal is to become the best club and restaurant in the entire world, and mark my words, one day, we’ll make it the top in the world,” Elshimy said. “Everything we do, all the people we’re hiring, everybody involved in this project, if they don’t believe in this vision they don’t belong here. Everything has to be done to the best way possible, to go above and beyond and you anticipate the guests’ needs before they even know that they need it. We live and breathe this hospitality concept.”
THE ‘MASTER OF NETWORKING’
What 1000 North is not is a golf, tennis or beach club. It is designed to augment the exclusive country club experience enjoyed by many of its members as a dining and social club, complete with suite of concierge services such as travel, local transportation, charter air and yachting arrangements, planning culinary and wine travel anywhere around the globe, even scheduling home maintenance.
“We are looking for those members who already have a golf membership somewhere, but they’re looking for
Private luxury club 1000 North builds on developer’s vision of a ‘refined destination’ city that began with the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.
CELEBRITY STATUS
In addition to a founding partnership group that includes Michael Jordan, pro golfer Ernie Els and retired NFL player Tucker Frederickson, 1000 North has as partners a number of athletes and celebrities including:
■ Keegan Bradley, professional golfer
■ Luke Donald, professional golfer
■ Rickie Fowler, professional golfer
■ Bryant Gumbel, former “Today Show” host
■ Dustin Johnson, professional golfer
■ Brooks Koepka, professional golfer
■ Ahmad Rashad, retired NFL player
■ Robert Richie, musician (aka Kid Rock)
■ Justin Thomas, professional golfer
■ Camilo Villegas, professional golfer
■ Serena Williams, professional tennis player
something else, and for those who don’t play golf and would like to join a nice community,” Elshimy said. “Our members all have the same things in common — they love food, they love wine and cocktails, they love to be pampered and they love convenience and services.”
That pampering includes deep familiarity with members’ preferences. Don’t have a rare wine they love? It can be sourced from anywhere in the world, providing it is available. Have a dish Mom used to make but no recipe? The club’s chefs will source the ingredients and attempt to replicate it. Need to store wines or spirits? The club has the capacity to store hundreds of bottles for each of the members in temperature-controlled rooms.
“We even have a separate generator just for the wine rooms,” Elshimy said.
Exclusivity, though, comes at a cost. The annual fee for members is $6,000, which is a relative value compared to higher-end country clubs. What is not disclosed is the initiation fee and, as the saying goes, “If you have to ask … ”
Daves said he is confident Sarasota’s trajectory will drive qualified membership.
“Over the years, I have seen firsthand how the market has matured, both in the sophistication of its residents and in their expectations,” he said. “When I shared that perspective, along with the momentum we are seeing in luxury development and lifestyle demand, it became clear Sarasota was not just viable, but compelling. The city is ready for this, and that alignment made the decision an easy one.”
Also ready is new member Stephen Buckley, CEO of Dakota Biotech.
“I am thrilled that there is going to be a club of this caliber in Sarasota,” Buckley said. “I believe the club will be a worthwhile investment as like-
minded business people will have the opportunity to network and talk together in a relaxed atmosphere, most likely introduced by the master of networking, Alex Elshimy.”
CUSTOM CULINARY
EXPERIENCES
1000 North will employ three executive chefs, one classically trained, one Michelin level chef to oversee a tasting menu and a traditional French gueridon chef to oversee tableside preparation of entire meals.
“It’s showmanship, an art that has been disappearing from America for years,” Elshimy said.
Also on staff is a dietitian whose full-time job will be to meet with members, learn about any dietary restrictions and work with the chefs to customize recipes exclusively for them.
“She will be with the chef to substitute some of the ingredients so it does not sacrifice the taste, the presentation or the integrity of the dish,” Elshimy said.
And, those preparing the dishes won’t be strangers to the members.
“Our chefs are required to come in the dining room and meet our members,” Elshimy said. “We don’t want the relationship between the member and the chef to be the server.”
The club will also offer a visiting celebrity chef program to work with the executive chefs to craft menus for special dining events, mix and mingle with members and even take photos with them.
Members will be asked to fill out a member profile regarding favorite foods, wines, cocktails and dining experiences they wish they could have, but can’t find, at least not locally. The data is collected and used to customize their experience.
“This is personalization at the highest level,” Elshimy said.
ALREADY EXPANDING
There are not yet any interior walls. None of the 2.1 miles of walnut has been installed. Nor are the shades that will automatically adjust to the moving sunlight across the expansive window, the grand piano bar in the main dining room, the floating staircase or any of the other finishes. Well before the 13,000-square-foot facility opens, 1000 North is already expanding.
As reported in sister publication the Business Observer, the club has recently announced the acquisition of an adjacent, but not adjoining, 10,500-square-foot property on Boulevard of the Arts between the BLVD building and Modern Hotel. The club is working on planning the function of the space.
“This expansion was not part of the original plan, but rather a strategic opportunity we moved on as membership demand exceeded expectations,” Elshimy said.
“Mr. Daves is currently working on the best use of the space, with a focus on enhancing the member experience in a meaningful and elevated way.”
Courtesy image
Alex Elshimy is general manager of 1000 North.
Images courtesy of 1000 North
The vision for St. Armands?
It depends on whom you ask
Flooding and traffic mitigation are common goals for St. Armands residents and businesses. The outlook on density, height and merchant mix in the area remains divided.
f there was one takeaway from the two-part visioning exercise about the future of St. Armands Circle it would be this: If floods resulting from occasional heavy rain events — never mind storm surge — are not mitigated, nothing else really matters. The same goes for addressing St. Armands’ aging infrastructure, both above and below ground. Certainly there were multiple conclusions delivered to city and county staff by participants during the first visioning session at Mote Marine Laboratory on Feb. 27. That data was then distilled, prioritized and delivered during the second session, also held at Mote, on April 13.
In addition to preventing flooding and addressing traffic, among the higher priorities expressed by residents of the city, St. Armands and Longboat Key were a degraded tenant mix and vacant storefronts, much of that attributed to recovery challenges in the wake of severe tropical weather events in recent years, especially 2024.
In summary, participants said St. Armands needs fewer “T-shirt shops” and more higher-end boutique offerings. Regarding traffic, “Solutions varied from removing all cars from the Circle, to another bridge away from the Circle, to various kinds of auto-
mated traffic management controls,” facilitator David Brain said. “The general gist is people would love to see cars go away, but obviously, the Circle thrives on people visiting, so making the cars go away altogether is probably not in our future, but there
Andrew Warfield City of Sarasota Business Relations Coordinator Rochelle Gallant speaks to the crowd at the second St. Armands Circle visioning session on April 13.
“The general gist is people would love to see cars go away, but obviously, the Circle thrives on people visiting, so making the cars go away altogether is probably not in our future, but there was clearly a concern to control traffic congestion.”
— David Brain, facilitator
was clearly a concern to control traffic congestion.”
Persistently lurking in the backdrop are suspicions about potential redevelopment of the commercial district. Pressures exerted on and by the merchants and building owners result from the question of whether
to improve their existing spaces until
— and presuming — flooding will be resolved, an underway initiative by Sarasota County that, in a best-case scenario, is five years away from starting.
Planning on how to spend $13.5 million in federal Resilient SRQ funding, plus another nearly halfmillion dollars matched by the city, is in its infancy. And even if freshwater flooding can be effectively addressed, severe storm surge — which inundated St. Armands twice in 2024 — is nearly impossible to prevent should it crest the planned 6.6-foot sand dunes to be installed along Lido Beach later this year. Therein lies the conundrum for both tenants and building owners around the Circle as hesitancy to improve properties lingers over uncertainty of flood resilience, at least in the near term.
St. Armands Residents Association Vice President Chuck Haff told the crowd that for 25 years he was an
investor in commercial properties
as a precursor to explaining the risk profile facing businesses and owners.
“If you think your business is going to flood every five years, then you have to cut your expected profit by 20% because you’re going to get wiped out,” he said. “If you could take that 20% probability of being flooded once every five years and bring it closer to zero, then you’re going to invest more. It’s all about the risk discount rate, and we need to reduce the risk discount rate.”
For now, he said, that risk profile is a deterrent to heavy investment.
Geoffrey Michel, who owns The Met at 35 S. Boulevard of the Presidents, brought up the unpopular notion among residents of adding second and third floors to buildings to help provide a more secure return on investment in the properties. He cited Naples, which has enabled flood-proofed design on the first floor and allowing residen-
tial on the second and third floors on its two most iconic retail districts — Fifth Avenue South and Third Street South.
“We all want new shops. We need new shops,” Michel said, his next sentence eliciting audible groans from the crowd. “But that said, the new shops need new buildings. So in the math conversation of risk resilience, the third floor allows a cost wash. I know it’s not a popular statement, but I do pay a significant amount of property tax.”
Absent the risk resilience, owners tend to shy away from investing in their buildings. Lido Key Residents Association President Carl Shoffstall suggested, at least in some cases, it may be intentional neglect.
“They’re not reinvesting in their buildings, and now they’re falling apart. So what’s the thing? Tear it down and build new and go higher?”
Shoffstall said. “We’re not talking about that, but that’s where this is leading. Floods are going to happen ... but we can mitigate them a little bit better. I’m worried about the height and the density and more traffic. We all want visitors because we’re blessed to live out here, but that’s where this is going. I can see it.”
Brain hinted at future meetings between staff, property owners and merchants, which concern residents regarding possible rezoning pressures to permit more height and density than currently permitted in the Commercial Tourism district.
Rochelle Gallant of the city’s Office of Economic Development said the purpose of any future meetings with commercial property owners will be “to understand things that are holding commercial property owners back. It’s not, ‘Well, why don’t you do this?’ It’s more of ‘What will help you to be able to do this?’”
Regarding tenant mix, Gallant said staff and the Economic Development Corp. of Sarasota County are pursuing a possible retail study to help identify the appropriate retail options for St. Armands and how they may be attracted to locate there.
ABOUT ST. ARMANDS ZONING
As Commercial Tourist, the zoning of St. Armands Circle serves tourism and local residents with an iconic mix of retail, dining and service businesses. Building height is limited to 35 feet, and hotels are prohibited, although hotel proposals have been attempted in the past. Residential use is permitted on upper floors to allow for a mixed-use environment.
The area is subject to the FEMA “50% rule,” which requires renovation costing more than half of the taxassessed value of the building — excluding land value — be made in compliance with current flood codes, serving as a deterrent to making substantial improvements. The rule includes requires the first floor be raised to or above the base flood elevation.
Proposals to amend the CT district that include raising height limits, permitting hotels and increasing density restrictions have been proposed in the past in the face of residents’ opposition over traffic and density concerns.
Image Courtesy of Visit Sarasota County
Sarasota deputy city manager announces his retirement
Patrick Robinson is headed to the private sector after 25 years of government service to the city, including two decades with the SPD.
ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER
Shortly before the April 20 meeting of the Sarasota City Commission began, Deputy City Manager Patrick Robinson announced via email to commissioners and senior staff the end of his 25-year career with the city, effective May 26. It’s a career that included rising to the ranks of deputy chief of police before being named deputy city manager in early 2021 by then City Manager Marlon Brown, who retired in October 2024.
“In everyone’s career, there’s a point in time or where an opportunity presents itself, and there’s a perfect one that this decision is primarily based,” Robinson told the
Observer of his move to the private sector. As of Wednesday morning, Robinson’s next employer had yet to make that announcement.
Robinson’s title with the city includes public safety director, which places under his purview the Sarasota Police Department led by Chief Rex Troche, who was named the city’s top cop in April 2022.
“Pat and I came up through the ranks together at the Sarasota Police Department,” Troche said. “We learned the job of proactive policing together, learning side by side, navigating challenges and growing together as leaders. He played a role in shaping operations and supporting our agency through periods of change.”
Robinson, 48, was raised in Sarasota, attending Phillippi Shores Elementary, Brookside Middle and Riverview High schools. As deputy city manager, he has overseen the Office of Emergency Management, Public Works Department, Parks and Recreation, Public Utilities Department, Information Technology, Office of Homelessness Response and more.
“Growing up here in Sarasota I have seen our area transform from a sleepy fishing village to a complex small urban environment with all the amenities and challenges of municipalities much larger than ours,” Robinson wrote in his announcement letter. “We have accomplished so much for our community by working together toward making the community better, and I am grateful for each of their partnerships and efforts over the years.
“I am proud to have been given the opportunity to be on the front lines with them for a brief moment in the history of our community.”
Although there was no commentary by commissioners on Robinson’s announcement at the end of Monday’s meeting, some shared their thoughts about his impending departure with the Observer.
“Pat Robinson thinks he’s so funny. That really helps when you have a high-stress, 24/7 job like he’s had for many years,” said Vice Mayor Kathy Kelley Ohlrich. “So, no joke, I wish him the best with less stress and screen and phone time as he begins the next phase of his life.”
Commissioner and former Mayor Kyle Battie said he and Robinson arrived at City Hall at about the same
time, and he relied on him to help navigate city governance.
“Pat was always accommodating to my every request and issue brought to my attention by any resident,” Battie said. “He always went above and beyond to meet all of those challenges. He also assisted in a number of ways of keeping me out of my own way. Whenever I need anything done where residents were concerned, I always went to Pat for assistance knowing that I could count and rely on him to make things happen.”
Robinson’s departure will come three days before the arrival of new City Manager Karie Friling.
In addition to former City Manager Marlon Brown, who retired in October 2024, he has worked alongside interim City Managers Doug Jeffcoat, Dave Bullock and, currently, Jennifer Jorgensen, who will return to her role as manager of governmental relations when Friling assumes her duties.
“When I was in the police department, it was always singularly focused on providing a safe environment for the residents and visitors who come here. But there’s so much more that goes into this,” Robinson said of his deputy city manager
role. “There’s so much that happens behind the scenes with government, but there are a lot of dedicated people that are on this team. There’s so much effort that goes into making Sarasota what it is. That’s what I’ve learned.”
Spanning 11 years, City Commissioner and three-time Mayor Liz Alpert has the longest-standing working relationship with Robinson from the dais, as both deputy chief of police and deputy city manager. Like Ohlrich she, too, acknowledged his flair for occasional irreverence tempered by a sense of duty.
“I’ve appreciated his gregariousness, his wit and his sense of humor, but mostly, I appreciated his ability to get things done,” Alpert said. “You could always count on him to make sure you got whatever you needed. I will truly miss him.”
Robinson moves on to what he describes as a “fantastic opportunity” with a long-standing organization in Sarasota and Manatee counties.
“To be able to leave having served over 25 years with the city and walk into a great organization is a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity,” he said, “and that’s really why I made that decision.”
Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties Welcomes David Barcomb to Board of Directors
Sarasota, FL (February 27, 2026) — Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties (BGCSDC) is proud to welcome David Barcomb to its Board of Directors.
“We are honored to welcome David to our Board of Directors,” said Bill Sadlo, President/CEO of BGCSDC. “His commitment to young people and the experience he brings will enhance our organization’s ability to deliver life-changing programs and opportunities to youth across Sarasota and DeSoto Counties. We are grateful for his service to help guide our work so that even more of our community’s future leaders can reach their full potential.”
An accomplished wealth management executive, Barcomb brings more than 30 years of experience building one of the nation’s most successful practices within Merrill Lynch’s Private Client Group. Recognized multiple times by Forbes and Barron’s for excellence in client service, leadership, and investment performance, he is known for his client-centric approach and disciplined investment management. Barcomb has served as a Managing Director and Wealth Management Advisor in Boston, MA, and Sarasota, FL. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Economics from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut.
As a Board member, Barcomb will help provide governance, strategic direction, and operational oversight for BGCSDC.
For more information about Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties or to learn how you can get involved, please visit bgcsdc.org.
ABOUT BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF SARASOTA AND DESOTO COUNTIES
Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties has been a leading youth-serving organization since 1970 and provides enriching after-school and summer programs to thousands of youth, ages 6 to 18, in Sarasota, Venice, North Port, and Arcadia. The organization’s mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need services the most—to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Programs are designed to empower youth to excel in school, become leaders, adopt healthy habits, and create plans for success after high school graduation.
For more information, visit bgcsdc.org or call 941-366-3911.
File image
Andrew Warfield
Patrick Robinson at the dais with Interim City Manager Jennifer Jorgensen during a recent City Commission meeting.
Two of former City Manager Marlon Brown’s highest-profile promotions were naming Rex Troche chief of police and Patrick Robinson deputy city manager.
Aiming for September
Bath + Racquet Residences & Club expects to move in its first residents and have the club partially opened by fall.
ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER
Walking through the construc-
tion that is the initial phase of the revived Bath + Racquet Residents & Club belies the goal of occupancy by its first residents in only a few months.
It’s an out-of-the-ordinary fusion of a residential development and private racket club, the site layout and design seamlessly integrating the club facilities and condominiums as imagined by Halflants + Pichette Architects of Sarasota.
The redevelopment of the nearly 60-year-old institution at Robinhood Road just off South Tamiami Trail into a mixed-use residential, commercial and private tennis and pickleball club continues at a breakneck pace as first-level floors have yet to be poured, and many of the units are still only at the interior framing stage. If all goes as planned, though, by this fall owners will be moving into their new condos and upwards of six of the 11 outdoor courts and many of the private club amenities will be ready, according to the developer.
“The intention is to start moving people into the residences sometime in August and September. I think the club will open up shortly after that,” said Jack Dolgin, Silver Sky Global Capital senior vice president of development.
Ground was broken for the rebirth of the venerable swim and tennis club in March 2025, after the demolition of prior structures and courts, filling in the outdoor pool and clearing the site. That began in July 2023 and was finished three months later. Completing the first phase of residences within 18 months, Dolgin, said, is an ambitious schedule.
Silver Sky is a development vertical model, Dolgin said, that doesn’t rely on a third-party general contractor for quality control and delivery schedule.
“We’re working seven days a week. We have anywhere between 200 to 400 guys here on any given day, really going full effort to deliver a beautiful product that helps the community,” he said. “Everyone’s been waiting for it, so it’s our job to deliver.”
“Everyone” includes buyers of 95 of the 161 units in the first phase, 30 of the remaining units being held by the developer as rentals. That means nearly 77% of available first-phase residences are under contract. Marketing of the 95 condos in the final phase that will bracket the outdoor club facilities has yet to begin.
Dolgin said the brisk sales — in addition to the private club lifestyle — can in part be attributed to the value compared to luxury condominiums in nearby downtown.
“We are the lowest-priced condos in Sarasota right now,” Dolgin
said. “We’re selling at about $750 a square foot, and in downtown Sarasota you’re spending $900 or more.”
Condo association dues, he added, are also comparatively low.
“Our HOA fees are also the most competitive in all of Sarasota, where we’re averaging 40 cents per square foot per month,” he said. “Yes, it’s not downtown Sarasota, but we offer such a nice product, along with the proximity to the club and amenities, that is unparalleled in the community. And we have a rich history.”
That history includes hosting the inaugural Virginia Slims of Sarasota in 1973, in which Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova and other top women’s professionals competed at the time.
In addition to the courts, club members will have access to a twostory clubhouse with a dining facility, fully equipped fitness center, club pool — all facilities and programs curated by former tennis professional Tommy Haas. He moved to the Sarasota area at age 11 to train under the tutelage of the late Nick Bollettieri.
The club operation and management are separate and apart from the residents’ association. The common thread, though, will be Silver Sky.
“We’ll retain some of the units, we’re part of the (condo) association and we’re going to be managing the club,” Dolgin said, “So we’re going to be here forever.”
MAKING A RACKET
Specs and stats of Bath + Racquet Club Residences & Club.
n Property size: 14 acres
n Residential structures: Four stories at 45 feet in height
n Construction: All concrete and block
n Units: 256 condominiums, 161 opening in the first phase
n Retail and commercial space: 21,000 square feet
n Residents’ amenities: Courtyards, pool, parking, storage, meeting rooms, running trail, parks
n Unit mix: 1 bed/1.5 bath from $499,000; 2 bed/2.5 bath from $632,000; 3 bed/2.5 bath from $899,000; flats, lofts and three-story townhomes.
n Club membership: Open to all owners, limited to the general public. Pricing not yet finalized.
n Club facilities: 11 outdoor tennis courts, several flexstriped for pickleball; two indoor tennis courts, two indoor pickleball courts and one indoor padel court; spa; fitness center; lockers; massage rooms; restaurant/cafe; juice bar; kids’ area; and pool
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Residents of some buildings in the redeveloped Bath + Racquet Residences & Club will have views of the courts and pool.
Jack Dolgin, of Silver Sky Global Capital, describes the site plan for Bath + Racquet Residences and Club.
Andrew Warfield
Andrew Warfield
The residents’ pool and outdoor amenity area at Bath + Racquet Residences & Club is positioned in a courtyard surrounded by condo buildings.
Courtesy images
Renderings of a kitchen (top) and living room in one of the condo units at Bath + Racquet Residences & Club.
Waldorf Astoria-branded condo project marks early progress
The Zenith office building and two other structures will be taken apart in phases to make way for what will become the tallest tower downtown.
ELIZABETH KING BUSINESS OBSERVER
Planning is underway to demol-
ish multiple downtown buildings and construct the Waldorf Astoria Residences Sarasota in their place. While the construction project will take a few years to complete, movement at the location — at the Five Points roundabout at Main Street and Pineapple Avenue — is expected to begin this summer.
Sarasota-based real estate investment and development company Jebcore Cos. is partnering with Winter Garden-based WMG Development and Hilton on the project. Real estate brokerage Michael Saunders & Co. is exclusively representing the property, where condos start at $2.2 million.
Sales began in January, and have been going well. “We wrote four contracts in the last two weeks,” Michael Saunders Director of Sales and Marketing Michelle Young said at an April 15 luncheon hosted by CREW Sarasota-Manatee, where she gave an update on the Waldorf Astoria Residences.
When it is built, the condo tower will be “the tallest building by ... 90 feet in downtown” Sarasota, Young said. The project will include 86 condominiums; 42,000 square feet of retail space; and 60,000 square feet of amenities.
The site where the condo tower and commercial space will be built encompasses the Zenith building, a parking structure and another building, Young noted. Together, the properties cost more than $22 million. Jebcore purchased the 12-story Zenith office tower at 1390 Main St. through an LLC for nearly $17.54 million in November 2025, according to Sarasota County property records.
The company also bought the twostory office building at 40 S. Pineapple Ave. for $4.5 million in September 2025, property records show.
Removal of the existing structures will be done in phases, according to Young.
“They’re actually going to be taking it apart instead of blowing it up,” Young said, starting from the inside with dismantling plumbing and electrical systems. The project team was working with FPL on the staging plan at the moment, she said.
“The plan is, if everything goes well ... they would start the demo early to mid summer,” Young said, taking the building apart a few levels at a time and removing debris. “It’s an eight-month process.”
Depending on the schedule and weather, groundbreaking for the Waldorf Astoria Residences Sarasota could occur in April or May 2027, according to Young. Florida-based construction firm Moss will oversee construction.
HIGH-END RETAIL, ATTAINABLE HOUSING
Adjacent to the condo tower will be a building with commercial space, what the developers call attainable housing and a garage.
Developers are speaking with companies that could deliver a restaurant there, according to Young. They “want to bring something fabulous ... that’s fitting of the Waldorf Astoria and to elevate downtown,” she said. The restaurant would be open to the public and would also have the capacity to provide meals and room service for residents in the condo tower, she added.
The project team is also working to attract “fashion houses” and “elevated retail” in the commercial area, she said.
To help get that going, On April 10 and April 11, the developers hosted designers such as Miu Miu, Prada and Valentino at downtown condo project The Edge, where “they did more than $100,000 in sales” that weekend, Young said.
“A lot of us in this space hear from consumers and developers that one
of the amenities that we’re missing is top-tier shopping for the luxury and the high-net-worth and the ultra-high-net-worth buyers” in Sarasota, Young said. “One of the reasons we held the pop-up event is ... convincing some of these brands that we have the market for them.”
Above the 42,000 square feet of commercial space will be seven onebedroom apartments designated as attainable housing, Young said.
“First and foremost, they would go to the staff within the Waldorf,” Young said, “and then next would be anybody working in the retail and restaurant sector. So hopefully, it’s helping house those people that are serving the residents and the guests.”
There will also be parking underneath the retail space.
CONDOS FIRST, HOTEL NEXT?
The condo tower will include floor plans ranging from one to five bedrooms with 14-foot ceilings and private elevator access. An amenity level will be located on the seventh floor, according to Young, with condos on floors eight through 22. Even though the building is technically 18 stories, there will be 22 floors due to half levels dedicated to parking, Young said.
Drivers will enter off Miramar Court, while a pedestrian entrance will be off Pineapple.
Among the amenities will be Waldorf Astoria’s signature Peacock Alley Lounge, a library, private dining room, wellness center with spa treatment rooms, Pilates and motion studios, infrared saunas and steam rooms, golf simulator, theater lounge, guest suites and spaces for children and teens, project officials previously said. A 25,000-squarefoot outdoor area will include a pool, hot and cold plunge, entertainment lawn, shaded grove, a pavilion with bar and grilling stations.
Construction is expected to last through the third or fourth quarter of 2029, according to Young.
The condo project is bringing the Waldorf Astoria brand to Sarasota, which Young said is establishing itself in the luxury market with proj-
ects like the Rosewood Residences on Lido and St. Regis on Longboat.
“We’re talking to other luxury brands, and they’re talking beyond the residences now,” Young said.
“The next thing is to prove to the brands that we can support the hotel that goes with it.”
BOTTOM LINE
Key takeaway: Developers behind the Waldorf Astoria Residences Sarasota are working to attract high-end businesses to the commercial space that will be adjacent to the tower. Meanwhile, demolition plans and condo sales are progressing. Core challenge: Taking apart three structures while minimizing impact on the surrounding area.
What’s next: Demolition will likely begin this summer, while groundbreaking is projected for spring 2027.
Courtesy image
The Waldorf Astoria Residences Sarasota will include 86 condos plus amenities.
SATURDAY, MARCH 14
SHE CAN SLEEP WITH WHOM SHE WANTS
10:50 a.m., Main Street at Pineapple Avenue
Dispute: Responding to an arguing female couple, an officer was told the dispute was over one of them “sleeping with a bunch of” the other’s friends, according to the incident report. Not denying the allegation, the accused advised “she can sleep with whomever she wants,” the report reads.
The jilted woman then advised the officer the alleged philanderer was following and harassing her, which she denied and advised she only wanted the woman to stop trash-talking her. She then left the area without further issue.
MONDAY, MARCH 16
KIDNAPPING WAS JUST ‘HORSE PLAY’
4:12 p.m., 1500 block of Main Street
Suspicious incident: Officers were requested to respond to a woman who said she witnessed be a kidnapping. The woman said she was driving on Main Street when she passed a surface parking lot where she witnessed a child “being thrown into a trunk of a sedan by an adult male,” according to the incident report.
It all happened so fast, the complainant said, that she was unable to describe clothing the child was wearing, but was adamant she had witnessed a kidnapping.
Naturally, such a statement resulted in the response of multiple officers to investigate. The initial responding officer called the business phone listed on a sign at the private parking lot, first speaking with an individual in Portland, Oregon, who connected the officer with a local representative of the company.
After explaining the nature of the investigation, the officer requested security video footage sent to his SPD-issued phone. Reviewing the footage, the officer noted an adult male and adult female walking with someone who appeared to be a child aged 10-12. The child walks up to a blue sedan and climbs into the trunk by his own volition. The
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18
WHAT A DUMBBELL
3:05 p.m., 1500 block of 23rd Street
Criminal mischief: A woman told a responding officer she witnessed her cousin pick up a 10-pound dumbbell from the yard and use it to strike his brother’s vehicle, which was parked in the street in front of the house. The incident report lists the brothers as having different last names.
The woman stated the man struck the vehicle — which did not have a license plate attached — several times on the hood and on the front passenger side door. He then dropped the dumbbell and left the area on foot.
The officer observed multiple dents on the hood and passenger door, and the dumbbell lying on the sidewalk next to the vehicle.
Speaking with the owner by phone, the officer was advised he did not wish to press charges. The damage was photographed in the event the victim changes his mind regarding prosecution. The victim was provided a case number and contact information.
adult male then appears to close the trunk, however the child opens it from the inside, climbs out and then enters the back seat of the vehicle.
The entire incident appeared to be “horse play,” according to the report. Neither foul play nor injury were apparent.
Assisted-living facility wins rezoning approval
On second reading, a divided City Commission approves Alderman Oaks rezoning without a site plan, opening the door for proposed renovation.
WARFIELD
ANDREW
STAFF WRITER
Aplan to convert some or all of the assisted-living units in a Laurel Park-adjacent facility to independent living apartments received approval on second reading by the Sarasota City Commission. The 3-2 vote was identical to the first reading.
Vice Mayor Kathy Kelley Ohlrich and Commissioner Jen AhearnKoch opposed the request to rezone Alderman Oaks at 727 Hudson Ave. from Residential Multiple Family to Downtown Edge. The vote on the first reading was held following a public hearing March 2.
Although the interior renovation of the property would result in fewer units, the current density of 47 units per acre is nonconforming with the future land use classification of Urban Edge, making the rezoning necessary.
Owner Alderman Oaks Inc. submitted the rezoning request without a site plan, expressing its intention to rebuild some or all of the interior to shift its business model and residential composition.
That was the primary sticking point as the rezone could permit, if the current or future owner later chooses, a build up to five stories on a portion of the property should a redevelopment include affordable housing. The current structure is three stories.
“There is about a 35-foot strip in the middle to the south that could be a five-story building because
it’s not within 100 feet of any other zoning district,” said attorney Patrick Seidensticker, representing the applicant, citing city zoning code.
And with a shift to a downtown zone district, such a project would need only administrative approval and leave it eligible for a Florida Live Local project of even greater height and density. The state law allows for a residential or mixedused development in certain zone districts to match the height and density of any zone district within a one-mile radius of a property, providing it meets affordable housing requirements. That radius brings the site within range of the city’s most dense and tallest zone.
Alderman Oaks Inc. has proffered the site would be restricted to residential use, other than any commercial needs required to operate a group living facility.
“The proffer limiting to residential uses doesn’t limit the height or doesn’t restrict if the existing structure were demolished for the owner to benefit from affordable housing increased density,” questioned Ohlrich.
“Correct,” said Development Services Manager Allison Christie.
“It just limits that they could not do a more intense use, like commercial retail or something like that. It’s limited only to residential.”
Owner Alderman Oaks Inc. submitted the rezoning request without a site plan, expressing its intention to rebuild some or all of the interior to shift its business model and residential composition.
Andrew Warfield Alderman Oaks has 60 assisted living units. It is seeking to add kitchens to convert them to independent living.
SPORTS
FAST BREAK
“My
family motivates me. They’re always supportive. And this sport makes me happy.”
— Layla Obaseki, Riverview track and field SEE PAGE 16A
Cardinal Mooney girls lacrosse made history on April 14. The program won its first district title by defeating Bradenton Christian, 10-9, in the FHSAA Class 1A-District 10 championship. It also marked the Panthers’ first loss all season. Sophomore midfielder Kayleigh Bergstrom had a team-high four goals in the victory, while fellow sophomores Gabby Ulrich and Kaitlin Carolan — midfielder and midfielder/attacker, respectively — pitched in five points each. The Cougars earned the No. 3 seed for the 1A-3 regional tournament and were scheduled to host No. 6 seed Gulf Coast (9-6) at 7 p.m. April 22, after the Sarasota Observer’s print deadline.
... Sarasota High softball has pushed its record to 17-5 this season, as of April 21, with six wins in its last seven games. Senior third baseman/pitcher Ashlan Guengerich boasts a .461 batting average, .711 slugging percentage and 35 hits — all of which are best among Sailors with 15 or more games played. Senior center fielder/ outfielder Gianna Williams (.630), junior outfielder/first baseman Jade Hendrickson (.431) and junior shortstop Olivia Lockhart (.403) are all hitting above .400, as well, though Williams has only played 10 games. In the circle, Gemma Mulhollen — a junior pitcher/outfielder — has a 2.10 ERA across 73.1 innings pitched, striking out 63 batters and walking 21.
... At the FHSAA 2A-10 track and field district meet on April 17 at Berkeley Prep, several Sarasota-area high school athletes triumphed. Cardinal Mooney junior Conneil Jackson won the 100-meter dash (10.84 seconds) and long jump (6.64 meters), while Booker sophomore Merrick Richardson placed first in the shot put (13.50). For the girls, Cardinal Mooney senior Sophia Steele won the 100-meter dash (12.71) and 200-meter dash (25.59), while senior teammate Grace Hroncich emerged victorious in the pole vault (3.15 meters) ... On April 16 at North Port High, the FHSAA 4A-12 track and field district meet was held. Riverview dominated, winning the high jump, pole vault, triple jump, discus and javelin on the boys’ side. Among girls, the Rams claimed victories in the 3,200-meter run, 100-meter hurdles, 400-meter hurdles, 1,600-meter relay, 3,200-meter relay, high jump and shot put.
Birdie or bogey?
PGA of America, The Concession reflect on Senior PGA Championship.
JACK
Bruce Cassidy Sr. and Brian Weimann shared a dream. They imagined a major golf tournament in their backyard, and over the last five years, worked tirelessly to make it happen.
The majority owner and general manager, respectively, of The Concession Golf Club in Lakewood Ranch strolled around their dreamturned-reality from April 16-19.
They saw legends of the game competing on their course. They saw spectators crowding the paths. And they saw a champion crowned on the 18th-hole green.
The 86th Senior PGA Championship is in the books, held at The Concession for the first time. It’s scheduled to return for 2027 and 2028 as part of a three-year agreement.
Stewart Cink shot 19-under par 269 across his four rounds on the par-72 course to secure the Alfred S. Bourne Trophy. In doing so, the 2009 champion of The Open Championship made Lakewood Ranch the home of his first senior major title.
“It’s definitely lived up to what we were thinking,” Weimann said. “It has been a dream, and we put that dream into a plan starting in ’21. So for the last couple years, we have been working up to this.”
From 2001-25, the Senior PGA Championship wasn’t held in the same location for consecutive years.
PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens played host from 19822000.
This year’s tournament was a trial run for 2027 and 2028. The PGA of America had four days of competition to identify the positives and negatives of how the club performed.
Eric Nuxol, championship director for the 2026 Senior PGA Championship, outlined the metrics used to evaluate The Concession.
“One of the first things is the amount of community support we see. Attendance is a number we use
ABOUT THIS YEAR’S CHAMPION
Stewart Cink put on a record-setting display April 19 to win the Senior PGA Championship. He shot a 63 in the final round to set a competitive course record at The Concession and finished at 19-under par overall.
The 52-year-old Ameri can’s scorching fourth round featured seven birdies and one eagle against zero bogeys. He entered Sunday one stroke behind the leader, but wound up with a six-stroke margin of victory over runner-up Ben Crane. Cink boasted six wins alltime on the PGA Tour Championship entering the tournament, and proceeded to notch his fourth victory in his last six individual tournaments played. He was named the senior circuit’s player of the year for 2025.
Jay Haas (2008, 2006), Steve Stricker (2023) and Rocco Mediate (2016) all withdrew from the field before Friday.
John Daly, who attracted large crowds during the tournament’s first two days, ultimately shot 3-over par and missed the cut by one stroke.
as a metric, but that’s not the only metric,” Nuxol said. “The impact that we have on the community, the relationships that we build (and) the amount of volunteers that we’re able to get are all things that help us determine (success).”
But the PGA of America, which has operated separately from the PGA Tour since 1968, wasn’t the only side with metrics in mind.
Cassidy and Weimann had targets of their own.
“It was kind of a short runway, and this being the first of the three years, we’ve had some internal goals that we’ve been looking at,” Weimann said. “Thursday exceeded those goals. Some of the hot weather (Saturday) afternoon may have pushed people out of here, because it got pretty steamy.”
Both Nuxol and Weimann pointed to weather as an overarching positive for this year’s tournament.
There was no rain during play.
Saturday was the hottest day, averaging 80 degrees with 70.2% humidity. The coolest was Thursday — 76.8 degrees and 54.1% humidity, on average.
That’s not something The Concession or the PGA of America could control, but plenty of sun throughout the tournament ensured no delays.
“(We heard) from multiple folks within our company and people we run across that this is the best weather we’ve had at this event in a long time,” Nuxol said.
On Thursday and Friday, there were more than twice as many golfers in action as there were Saturday and Sunday. Those who missed the cut went home Friday.
Past champions of the Senior PGA Championship in Ángel Cabrera (2025), Alex Čejka (2021) and Ken Tanigawa (2019) missed the cut.
“There (were) still some Hall of Fame golfers out there — major winners,” Weimann said. “People that follow golf, that know golf (know) the guys that are here are the best of the best.”
The focus now shifts to preparations for 2027 for Weimann and Co.
Chief among them is strengthening the connection between the Senior PGA Championship and the surrounding communities of Bradenton and Sarasota.
“Bringing in more of the local businesses, trying to get some more of that corporate hospitality would be, really, No. 1,” Weimann said.
“Once you bring the corporate hospitality in, the spectators follow. And then getting (the tournament) out into the market a little bit more.”
Nuxol served as operations manager for the 2025 PGA Championship, and was also involved in operations for 2023, 2022 and 2020.
Having been with the PGA of America for nearly nine years now, he believes The Concession will have no issues hosting in 2027 and 2028.
“Their club leadership, with Bruce Cassidy and Brian Weimann and their team, has really set themselves up for success going into the next two years after this,” Nuxol said.
Cassidy and Weimann hope this realized dream will eventually lead to another — bringing the PGA Championship to The Concession.
The Senior PGA Championship is their opportunity to court the PGA of America for a bid at that prestigious major, though hosts have already been determined up through 2035.
So Cassidy and Weimann will continue to dream.
“Them leaving here now knowing our property, knowing our golf course and knowing what we can do goes a long way,” Weimann said.
“We’ve got to date them before we can marry them.”
Jack Nelson Kayleigh Bergstrom helped power Cardinal Mooney girls lacrosse to its first district title in program history.
Stewart Cink (left) embraces his caddie after winning the Senior PGA Championship on April 19 at The Concession Golf Club. It marked his first major title on the PGA Tour Championship.
The Alfred S. Bourne Trophy sits by the firsthole tee. At 36 pounds, it ranks among the heaviest awarded in professional golf.
Spectators surround Stewart Cink by the 18thhole tee in anticipation of his winning moment. It was a dramafree finish with Cink leading by 6 strokes over Ben Crane.
NELSON SPORTS REPORTER
Photos by Jack Nelson
Pro golf has disappeared from Sarasota
Nine years have passed since the LPGA’s Sara Bay Classic was played here.
Florida has long laid claim to the title “golf capital of the world.”
Take a drive anywhere in the state and you’ll see it printed on plenty of license plates.
No other part of the country has more courses. As of February 2025, the total count is at 1,264, which is over 300 more than California’s next-closest with 955, per the National Golf Foundation.
It’s a big reason Florida’s population explodes during the winter, and why retirees choose here as their ultimate destination. Golf has proved to be a powerful magnet.
Sarasota is a fitting case study.
Both public and private offerings of the sport are plentiful, with enough sunny days in the year to essentially live on the links.
As it stands, though, professional golf is absent from here. This storied county in the “golf capital
of the world” seems to have become undesirable in the eyes of golf’s governing organizations.
Pros have been plenty active nearby, including the 2025 LPGA Founders Cup at Bradenton Country Club and the 2026 LECOM Suncoast Classic, which was held April 2-5 at Lakewood National Golf Club in Lakewood Ranch for the eighth consecutive year.
Legends of the game were out and about at The Concession Golf Club last week for the Senior PGA Championship — scheduled to return in 2027 and 2028.
If there’s been a deterrent for pro golf in Sarasota, history surely isn’t it.
This area is rich with it.
Opened in 1926, Sara Bay Country Club’s course was designed by legendary architect Donald Ross. It was then known as Whitfield Estates Country Club before renaming in 1964, and in its inaugural year, played host to then-top amateur Bobby Jones vs. then-top pro Walter Hagen.
Sara Bay later hosted the Senior PGA Championship from 1940-41 and the LPGA Sarasota Open from 1952-54. Most recently, it welcomed the LPGA’s then-Symetra Tour — now Epson Tour — for the Sara Bay Classic/Guardian Retirement Championship from 2012-17.
John Spiess, now in his fifth year as general manager of Sara Bay, wasn’t around when the LPGA pulled out of the club. He said the club’s renovation of its greens from spring through fall of 2018 likely played a factor in the tournament’s disappearance.
The club also began a nearly $9.6 million renovation of its clubhouse last month, which is expected to be complete by early 2027.
Sara Bay currently has no interest in bidding for a pro golf tournament.
“At this point, our board and golf
committee is leaning into amateur golf,” Spiess said. “We’re really big supporters of the Florida State Golf Association. We’re also starting to speak with the Western Golf Association on the potential of hosting some amateur events for them in the future.”
Ross also designed the first course of what’s now the city’s Bobby Jones Golf Course, which was originally opened in 1927. In its heyday, that club often welcomed World Golf Hall-of-Famers Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Gene Sarazen and Patty Berg.
Bent Tree Country Club and TPC Prestancia can’t be overlooked, either. From 1976-88, Bent Tree hosted the LPGA Sarasota Classic, while TPC Prestancia — operated by the PGA Tour — has been the site of 13 events on the now-PGA Tour Champions.
Eight of those were Chrysler Cups while five were American Express Invitationals. Among the club’s distinguished guest list during the ’80s and ’90s were Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Lee Trevino and ChiChi Rodriguez.
Bill Wickboldt, general manager of TPC Prestancia, did not respond to multiple requests for comment with regard to his club’s interest in hosting a pro golf tournament.
Pro golf was last played in Sarasota on April 23, 2017, when Hannah Green won the Sara Bay Classic. That means nine years have passed during which locals have been pushed to Bradenton to watch this sport played at a high level.
There’s no publicly available, official criteria used by the governing bodies of golf for tournament site selection. Major factors, though, have come to be widely accepted.
Course quality, spectator experience and commercial viability are crucial for any club making a bid to host these tournaments. And course
quality tops that list.
Athletes who choose golf as their full-time job expect championshipcaliber facilities. That entails regular raking of bunkers, well-mowed greens and filled-in divots, among other maintenance duties.
Bent Tree, Sara Bay and Bobby Jones underwent course renovations as recently as 2015, 2018 and 2023, respectively. Renovation of the Stadium Course at TPC Prestancia, meanwhile, is officially underway as of April 2.
Spectator experience is also paramount. Any prospective tournament host needs the space to accommodate large crowds. Substantial parking options should be provided, as should mass transportation to and from the venue.
Then there’s the importance of commercial viability. Simply put, no tournament organizer is going to enter an area where it doesn’t believe financial gain is possible.
All of the above is a lot for any golf club to consider when wanting to open itself to that kind of attention and traffic.
Clubs in Lakewood Ranch have stepped forward in recent years. They’ve succeeded in attracting both the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour Champions. Why not Sarasota?
Pro golf has a long history here. Locals have shown they care about the sport.
This is where a tournament belongs.
Jack Nelson is the sports reporter for the East County and Sarasota/Siesta Key Observers. Contact him at JNelson@ YourObserver.com.
Jack Nelson
Zach Johnson hits a sand shot during the Senior PGA Championship, which, last week, became the first senior major golf tournament contested in Lakewood Ranch.
Jeremy Gandon won the LECOM Suncoast Classic played from April 2-5 at Lakewood National Golf Club.
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Layla Obaseki
Success was plentiful for Riverview girls track and field at the FHSAA Class 4A-District 12 meet April 16, held at North Port High School. The Rams won seven events, and Layla Obaseki contributed two first-place finishes. The freshman topped the podium in the 100-meter hurdles (16.77) and 400-meter hurdles (1:10.51) while competing in the first postseason meet. Obaseki is the Sarasota Athlete of the Week.
What did you take away from your district meet performance? I think it went OK. I could’ve run better 100 hurdles, because that’s not usually my time. And the 400 hurdles was good.
Why do you enjoy competing with this team?
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.
What quote or piece of advice have you always carried with you? Don’t give up; keep on going. What’s a fun fact about you not many people know? I like to eat — a lot.
If you could go anywhere for a dream vacation, where would you go and why? Paris. I want to see the Eiffel Tower so much.
If you had to eat one food for the rest of your life, what would you eat? Taco Bell.
They’re all nice, and it’s a really fun team. It’s great because people support each other.
What were your goals this season? Just to have a good season. I didn’t have any specific goals.
How have you been working to improve?
I’ve been focusing on hurdles — focusing on my form and stuff. I can run better with better form, and I don’t really have the form down yet.
When and why did you start running track?
I got into the sport because my dad (Joey Obaseki) put me in it. I didn’t really like it at first, but running with my friends made me like it more. Winning made me like it, too. I started in sixth grade.
Why have you stuck with it?
My family motivates me. They’re always supportive. And this sport makes me happy.
What music helps you get in the zone during practice or before a meet?
I don’t listen to any.
Finish this sentence. Layla Obaseki is ... Nonchalant.
The Art of Waterfront Living at
Life revolves around the spectacular 30,000-square-foot clubhouse, now under construction and opening this fall. Designed as the heart of the community, it’s where neighbors gather around resort-style pools, enjoy shared meals at indoor-outdoor dining venues, and take a swing on the premier putting course. With a golf simulator, state-of-the-art fitness center, private cinema, and newly opened model homes showcasing stunning waterfront designs by the region’s most sought-after builders, this Lakewood Ranch community stands apart for those who value connection as much as luxury.
YOUR NEIGHBORS
ing involved, there’s also musical collaboration that brings a long history.
Gary Eason and his friend, Bill Green, started performing together while attending college in Indiana, playing gigs at local bars and a Loyal Order of Moose lodge.
Eason calls it “kind of amazing to us, really,” that today, they’re both residents of The Landings and are still performing together.
They both found their way to Sarasota for similar reasons.
Angie Eason’s family had spent the winters in Sarasota for 24 years, with Gary and Angie both visiting them during the holidays. Eventually, the couple decided they wanted their own residence there.
Meanwhile, the family of Bill Green’s wife had owned, for a similar amount of time, a residence on Longboat Key, a home which, after her mother died, became theirs.
A homegrown sound
Music brings the neighborhood together through a driveway band at The Landings.
IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER
Michael Cohen was taking a walk in his neighborhood when he turned a corner and heard a sound.
That was during the COVID-19 pandemic, at a time when the musician says there were no performing gigs, which left him “bored out of my mind” but with nothing other than home recording to keep him occupied.
But there in the driveway in The Landings was a group playing an upright bass, a banjo and a guitar.
Cohen approached and asked if they needed a bass guitar player. The banjo player, Gary Eason, replied, “You know one?”
Cohen has played with the band every Monday during season ever since.
The band, known as The Driveway Drifters, has become a ritual for many neighbors, as well.
Attendees trickle in from homes around the neighborhood and set up chairs on the driveway, just across from The Landings Racquet Club, for the performances that take place from October to April.
HARMONY AMONG NEIGHBORS
The band began with just Gary Eason and his wife, Angie Eason, who plays the upright bass, during a time he was working on a song for Good Friday and decided to bring it out for the neighborhood to hear.
After that, resident Peter McHugh stopped by and asked to join in, and
he was followed shortly afterwards by Bill Green, a friend of Gary Eason. McHugh died last summer, but today, the group consists of 10 people, although there is no formal membership for The Driveway Drifters.
“It becomes like a religious experience because you get to sing together in a group,” Cohen said, noting that many of the songs are “old traditional, folky bluegrass songs that come from the hills of Kentucky and Virginia and Tennessee.”
But the band’s music continues to bring people together, with performances drawing 30 or more people.
Arriving before the music begins, attendees enjoy refreshments and snacks the band brings along, and catch up with neighbors.
Each performance of about an hour and a half starts with the same two songs: “Blue Ridge Cabin Home” by Flatt & Scruggs, and “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere” by Bob Dylan, and each one closes with the hymn “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.”
Yet, from there, the music heads in other directions, spanning the genres of bluegrass, folk, classic rock and blues and featuring whatever songs members choose to include that day.
Eason emphasizes that each week, there’s a new learning curve for the members.
“I can tell you that everybody here is talented enough that we can kind of sit in and just make it work,” he said. “You show up. You have to, I guess, be confident enough in your knowledge of what’s being played that you jump in where you can and do your thing.” However, as much as there’s learn-
“We come down every year, and I get to see my buddy in the wintertime,” Green said.
He says their performing together happens “probably” as regularly as it ever has since the old days.
Yet, the rapport on the driveway also is central to the performances. Members will look at each other and ask who wants to present a song, or sometimes, the audience will request songs, as well. Sometimes when a song isn’t suggested, the band will turn to the bluegrass playbook.
According to member Ron Fellman, the appeal of the band comes from “making music with your friends.”
“There’s something about instruments and voices joining together where one plus one or nine plus nine equals much more than the mathematical sum,” he said.
MUSICAL MEETUP
For the neighbors who attend, the weekly concerts are also a tradition.
“It’s something that happens every week, that there’s always some new music,” said Linda Wegner. “And I like just listening, just about any kind of music. And it’s a regular neighborhood event. It’s important.”
Living just around the corner, she says it offers something much easier than listening to music at a more formal venue.
“This is just something you walk out of your house around the corner and it’s happening. So it doesn’t require planning,” she said.
Frank Pipers, a longtime resident of the neighborhood, has attended the performances for years.
“It just drives everyone into a wonderful feeling,” he said. “Everybody loves it. It’s just a lovely, lovely way for everyone to get together.”
In fact, band members Ron and Debbie Fellman were introduced to the band as audience members. They discovered The Driveway Drifters when they walked by and began listening to the music, and after three years of serving as spectators, finally started to perform with the group.
“I was a teacher for 30 years, and I just always used my guitar to work with kids,” Debbie Fellman said. “I
was not a music teacher, but I loved being around music all the time. We loved coming by here and loved seeing what they were doing. These guys have been so patient.”
“And welcoming,” added Ron Fellman, who plays the cajon, a boxshaped, Afro-Peruvian percussion instrument. “I think that’s the key.”
Debbie Fellman says while she doesn’t play to the band’s caliber of performance, it’s a “real treat” to be part of it.
While staples of the tradition always remain, the band also felt the challenge of losing McHugh, a percussionist, last year.
McHugh would lead the group in the John Denver song “Home Grown Tomatoes,” which Angie Eason said had “really touched our hearts.”
“We haven’t actually had the guts to play it,” she said. That is, since his celebration of life.
The group said they figured he’s still with them today, leaving out a chair for him sometimes.
“It was hard for us,” said Angie Eason. “For almost two months, nobody sat in his chair. It was hard, especially when his wife would come pedaling by and listen.”
She said he was “a big asset to the driveway band.”
Although the performances are about to come to a close this year, attendee Betty Greenspan says the band performs in weather of all kinds.
Gary Eason says if the weather is “iffy,” they’ll crowd into the garage.
Sometimes, Greenspan says, she’ll open the window and say, “Good job!”
It’s not just the immediate neighbors that have embraced the band; they have also been invited to play at community events.
“There’s always people who like traditional type music, which is kind of what we play, and I think people get a kick out of it, as long as you keep it upbeat. I think they enjoy it,” said Gary Eaton.
Cohen notes that not that many communities have similar opportunities for live music.
“It’s a more interesting phenomenon, I think, than just that we enjoy it, but the fact that other people do it too is huge, I think, for the community,” he said.
“There’s something about instruments and voices joining together where one plus one or nine plus nine equals much more than the mathematical sum.”
— Ron Fellman, band member, at left
A crowd gathers outside as the Driveway Drifters perform. The members pictured include Angie Eason, Gary Bowen, Debbie and Ron Fellman, Bill Green, Gary Eason, Lynn Cassell, Mike Lawless and Michael Cohen. One band member, Eugene Moleiro, was not in attendance.
Gary Bowen and Debbie Fellman perform.
Lynn Cassell, Mike Lawless and Michael Cohen perform.
Angie Eason plays the bass.
Photos by Ian Swaby
Rethinking the Dental Chair
For a lot of people, going to the dentist has always been pretty straightforward: fix the tooth, handle the issue, move on. And for some, that works just fine. But for others— especially those dealing with bigger health concerns—it can start to feel like something’s being missed.
World Class Dentistry works from a very different perspective: your mouth isn’t separate from the rest of your body.
“Traditional dentistry often centers on teeth and gums,” says founder Dr. Jill Morris. “We look beyond symptoms to understand how oral health connects to overall health. It’s about supporting the whole body.”
That shift matters, especially for patients who’ve been searching for answers. Many come in dealing with chronic issues like Lyme disease or autoimmune conditions, and at some point start to wonder if their oral health could be part of the puzzle.
That’s where the World Class team steps in.
Dr. Sydney Johnson, a holistic and cosmetic dentist currently advancing her training in naturopathy and biologic dentistry, often helps patients address one of the most overlooked stressors on the body: old mercury amalgam fillings. “These materials are neurotoxic and can place a significant burden on the body,” she says.
But removing them isn’t a quick swap. Safe removal requires specialized protocols—advanced technology, protective barriers, and a highly trained team—to minimize exposure and support the body along the way. From there, treatments like ozone and laser therapy can help reduce infection and encourage healing, often without more invasive procedures.
That same root-cause mindset carries into orthodontics. Dr. Cameron Johnson looks beyond straight teeth to how the jaw develops—and how well a patient is actually breathing.
“When a child’s airway is compromised, it can affect everything from jaw growth to brain development,” he explains. Mouth breathing, tongue ties, even chronic allergies can show up as snoring, trouble focusing, or behaviors often labeled as ADHD.
Using advanced imaging and a comprehensive exam, he evaluates the full picture—airway, tongue position, movement—not just alignment.
It’s a different kind of dentistry. One that asks better questions first.
And it’s very much a family approach.
Drs. Cameron and Sydney Johnson grew up in this philosophy, shaped by their mother, Dr. Morris, and their father, dental surgeon and naturopath Dr. Burr Bakke.
Because here, the goal isn’t just a better smile.
It’s a healthier patient.
Healthy variety
With summer approaching, there are decisions for kids and parents to make about how to stay active.
However, Pamela Peters, membership coordinator at the Sarasota City YMCA, said the organization hoped to offer kids the bigger picture with Healthy Kids Day on April 18.
Held at multiple YMCA branches, including the Palmer Ranch YMCA, the event at the city branch featured activities including table tennis, baseball and martial arts. It also included the chance to connect with nonathletic resources, such as Sarasota County libraries.
Jack Snyder, a Major League Baseball player with the Tampa Bay Rays, said the event was a chance to teach kids the game he loves to play. He attended with the Bradenton organization The Sports Farm, where he is a trainer. He added that the event offered the chance “to show them we’re not meant to do just one thing.”
“Experience everything. Find something that you’re passionate about and have a good time. That’s what it’s about,” he said.
— IAN SWABY
Khloe Sanchez, 7, practices baseball.
Mi-Seon Poma, 4, plays table tennis with an instructor from Palms Table Tennis.
Major League Baseball player Jack Snyder of the Tampa Bay Rays plays table tennis.
Elizabeth Hall of Cypress Pillar Healing Arts teaches Ian Lopez, 10.
Photos by Ian Swaby
Music Compound
student Gianna Krick, 8, sings for attendees.
Sweet success
Girls from Girls Inc. graduate the Young Chefs Academy program.
It was the same treat, baked on that same day — April 7 — one year ago.
This time, though, the cooking process was different, said Dennis O’Sullivan, owner of Young Chefs Academy.
He said the girls at Girls Inc. were making the coffee cakes by themselves, with a heaping measure of confidence alongside the flour and other ingredients.
The event was also attended by other Girls Inc. members who were invited based on their interest.
Ryker, a fifth grader, said when she started the course, she had learned a lot from watching her mom cook, although her experience was mainly watching cooking shows like “Nailed It!”
She said she thought she could do better than “the bad cakes on the show,” which features bakers with a poor track record trying to replicate complicated confectionery items.
Ryker said when she found out about the scholarship opportunity, she thought it was perfect.
“I always loved cooking,” she said. “I always wanted to do cooking, but I didn’t know there was a place that could teach you how to cook ... then I came and I get to eat it too, because I thought I’d just make it.”
O’Sullivan said one of the most important skills kids learn is “mise en place,” which is French for “putting in place.” He said the scholarship recipients learn how to get their ingredients out ahead of time and be prepared and then can take that knowledge back to their friends and families.
Toulmin Foundation and see it being implemented through Young Chefs Academy, it just means a lot,” she said. “Our girls have the best experience when it’s a collaboration, and that’s what we’re here to do, is introduce them to all of the things.”
Ryker said her favorite foods to make were Monterey chicken, M&M cookies and shrimp scampi. She said she cooked them for her father’s friends at his work, and for her family, with her father’s friends praising her cooking to him.
“I feel confident, and I feel like I know what I’m doing, and I can do it myself, by myself, and that I’m safe, because I know how to use all the tools and things,” she said.
Meadow, a seventh grader, said she will enjoy cooking for people around her and helping her family in the kitchen.
“I thought it was pretty simple because they tell us what to do step by step, and if you do mess up for whatever reason, they have you correct it almost immediately, not in a mean way, but in a, ‘Hey you messed up,’ kind of way,” she said.
The five graduates in attendance, out of a total of 10, left with copies of a children’s book, “Virginia G. Goes to the Symphony,” jackets from the foundation, “Culinary Scholar” commemorative pins and some new knowledge for the future.
The treats honored not only National Coffee Cake Day, but also the girls’ completion of the one-year program for which they had received a total of $23,000 in scholarships from the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.
Jamie Kattrein, director of community relations and advocacy with Girls Inc., said the partnership was a chance for the girls to learn something they otherwise wouldn’t.
“We know what we’re good at and we know when we need to partner with someone, so to be able to brainstorm a new program with the
She says she makes her parents eggs almost every Sunday, usually scrambled, but they have been improving since attending the academy.
“I feel pretty good about it,” she said of graduating. “I think it’s nice that I can talk to people, and I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, I graduated from a chef academy, and I know a lot of cooking skills.’”
AMENITIES
• Second resort-style pool
• Bahama Bar
services available exclusively to Esplanade residents.
• Second state-of-the-art fitness center
• Pickleball complex
NOW OPEN RESORT AMENITIES
• Multiple pools
• Fitness center
• Indoor gymnasium with basketball courts
• Sports fields
• Tennis, bocce and pickleball
IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER
Ryker, a fifth grader, Mia, a fourth grader, and Meadow, a seventh grader, bake coffee cakes.
Fourth grader Mia measures flour as part of following a recipe.
Photos by Ian Swaby
Sixth-grader Jaleeyah, seventh grader Arianny, Young Chefs Academy owner Dennis O’Sullivan, seventh grader Meadow, fifth grader Ryker, fourth grader Mia, and Bill Villafranco, a trustee of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation, stand together as the group of Girls Inc. members graduates.
Giving Challenge gathers more than $16.7M
A record 751 nonprofits participated in the biennial event, which attracted 50,000-plus donors.
IAN
Jasmin Graham, president and CEO of Minorities in Shark Sciences, said that after heading to The Bay park for 2024’s Giving Challenge, she was eager for the organization to return.
“There’s a lot of people that aren’t normally very active in philanthropy that are activated during the Giving
Challenge, so it’s a really great time to connect with new donors,” she said.
The Giving Challenge Pop Up Station at The Bay, held on April 15, highlighted 19 local nonprofits, allowing the public to engage with the organizations and make donations on-site.
The pop-up was part of the 24-hour Giving Challenge event, held from noon on April 15 to noon April 16 by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.
The biennial event raised more than $16.7 million, with over 50,000 donors making nearly 88,000 gifts to a record 751 nonprofits in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties.
Although the total raised this year was down from the $17.2 million raised in 2024, the number of nonprofits participating grew, as did the number of individuals making donations.
The Patterson Foundation once again matched all unique donations from $25 to $100, providing $6.5 million in matching dollars during this year’s challenge. Since it began providing the match in 2012, it has given more than $43 million.
Now in its 10th iteration, The Giving Challenge has raised nearly $110 million for area nonprofits since it began in 2012.
“This astounding grand total represents more than millions in funding for hundreds of regional non -
profits,” said Debra Jacobs, president and CEO of The Patterson Foundation, in a news release. “It represents thousands of new and reaffirmed donor relationships that will continue to strengthen these organizations well beyond the 24-hour Giving Challenge.”
Lisa
Intagliata, chief executive
officer of Resilient Retreat, said at the April 15 pop-up event that as a relatively young nonprofit founded in 2018, the Giving Challenge was important for mobilizing existing donors, as well as bringing in new ones.
“As a young nonprofit with a growing donor base, it’s essential that we expand our mission, expand our reach, expand what we’re doing in the community, so more people understand what we do, and then get support behind that,” she said.
The organization provides programs for survivors of abuse, first responders, and helping professionals.
Intagliata says the Giving Challenge is essential for continuing to offer those services free of charge.
She praised the “symbiotic relationship” between the nonprofits at the event, some of which partner with Resilient Retreat, and said it was important for organizations to communicate, stating there is no reason for one to add services if another is offering the same ones successfully.
“It’s really nice to see all of us coming together, not in competition, but supportive of one another, collaborating to provide even better services to the end user, to our participants, to our community, and we’re all part of the Giving Challenge,” she said.
Andres Bonett, of UnidosNow, types a poem for a donor on a typewriter he brought along.
Senior Aeon Johnson, and juniors Neil Acharya and Harry Xu, perform with the Pine View Jazz Band.
Photos by Ian Swaby
Lauren Luke of Resilient Retreat speaks with Traci Willingham of Neuro Challenge Foundation for Parkinson’s and Karen Misantone of Sarasota Opera.
FRIDAY, APRIL 24
ARBOR DAY CELEBRATION
9-10:30 a.m. at Arlington Park & Aquatic Complex, 2650 Waldemere St. Free. This celebration of Arbor Day features activities including a ceremonial tree planting. Visit SarasotaFL.gov.
SATURDAY, APRIL 25
FAMILY NATURE JOURNALING
10-11 a.m. at The Nest, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. Enjoy guided nature journaling, observing and recording the natural world through drawing and writing. Beginners and experienced journalers are welcome. All participants under the age of 16 must attend with a parent or guardian. Registration required. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.
LOCAL AUTHOR BOOK FAIR AT BOOKSTORE1
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 117 S. Pineapple Ave. Free. Meet local authors, buy their books and have them signed at this semiannual local book fair. A wide range of genres will be represented including fiction, memoir, poetry and mystery. Visit EventBrite. com.
SATURDAY, APRIL 25
APRIL LIMELIGHT POP UP MARKET
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime, 821 Apricot Ave. Free. The monthly pop-up at The Bazaar features guest vendors and pups from Tenderheart Charities, a brunch with live jazz, blues and classic rock, and 50 local vendors across the premises. Visit HamletsEatery.com.
MULTISENSORY EARTH DAY
10:30 a.m.
12:30 p.m. at Celebrate Earth Day at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota campus, 1534 Mound St. Explore nature with all of the five senses through a variety of activities. Participants may stay after the program to further explore the 15acre campus. This event is part of Suncoast Remake Learning Days. Registration is required. Visit Selby. org.
SUNDAY, APRIL 26
STEEL DRUMS AT SUNSET WITH MARK PIANTANIDA
6-7 p.m. at Sunset Deck, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Grab a drink
BEST BET
SUNDAY, APRIL 26
EDUCATION FOUNDATION
RINGLING BRIDGE RUN
10K at 7 a.m., 5K at 7:30 a.m. and Family Fun Run at 8 a.m. at The Bay, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. The Education Foundation of Sarasota County hosts its third annual Ringling Bridge Run. Both experienced runners and casual walkers are invited to this event supporting public school teachers and students in Sarasota County. Visit TheBaySarsaota.org.
and enjoy the sunset over Sarasota Bay amid the sounds of steel drums played by Mark Piantanida. Beverages will be available for purchase from The Nest Cafe bar cart. In case of inclement weather, the event will be moved indoors at the Sarasota Garden Club, 1131 Boulevard of the Arts. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.
MONDAY, APRIL 27
REMAKE LEARNING: BOOK BITES
4:30-5:30 p.m. at Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Library, 2801 Newtown Blvd. Free. This hands-on family storytime featuring the book “Ramen for Everyone” includes an activity in which families make and enjoy their own personalized bowl of ramen. Each family will take home a copy of “Ramen for Everyone” and a mini cookbook to re-create the recipe at home. Space is limited to the first 15 families to arrive. Visit SCGovLibrary.LibraryMarket.com.
THURSDAY, APRIL 30
CINEMA AT THE BAY: ‘MIRACLE’
7-9:20 p.m. at The Oval, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Relive one of America’s greatest sports moments in recognition of Team USA’s recent gold at the Winter Olympics. “Miracle” (PG) is the true story of coach Herb Brooks, who led the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team to victory over the defending gold medalist Soviet team. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.
YOUR CALENDAR
Set along the coveted bayfront of Golden Gate Point, Peninsula Sarasota offers an intimate collection of boutique luxury residences overlooking Sarasota Bay. With only a limited number of homes available, this private enclave delivers the serenity of waterfront living just steps from the vibrant energy of downtown Sarasota.
Each expansive residence—ranging from approximately 2,400 to more than 3,000 square feet—features open-concept living spaces, soaring ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows that frame breathtaking views of Sarasota Bay and the downtown skyline. Private elevator entry, oversized terraces with outdoor grilling areas, and beautifully curated interiors create a home designed for both relaxation and elegant entertaining.
Bay Island home tops sales
ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR
SRQ Home Holdings LLC
sold the home at 3550 Flamingo Ave. to Peter and Kelly Russell, of Bradenton, for $5.8 million. Built in 2025, it has four bedrooms, four-andtwo-half baths, a pool and 4,901 square feet of living area.
SARASOTA
MARK SARASOTA
Elizabeth Juliano, trustee, and Michael Juliano, of Sarasota, sold the Unit 1205 condominium at 111 S. Pineapple Ave. to Judy Lumby, trustee, of Dayton, Ohio, for $2.65 million. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 2,358 square feet of living area. It sold for $2,175,000 in 2024.
Brookdale Ltd. sold the Unit 816 condominium at 111 S. Pineapple Ave. to Steven Jay Katz and Bonnie Bock Katz, of Sarasota, for $1 million. Built in 2019, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,585 square feet of living area. It sold for $858,100 in 2019.
HARBOR VIEW ON GOLDEN GATE POINT
Walter and Audrey Stewart sold their Unit 403 condominium at 650 Golden Gate Point to Rene Shaffer, trustee, of Bloomington, Illinois, for $2,225,000. Built in 1962, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,837 square feet of living area. It sold for $2,595,500 in 2023.
SANSARA
Richard Rostant and Katherine Stout-Labuave, of Osprey, sold their Unit 902 condominium at 300 S. Pineapple Ave. to Charles and Sue Clark, of Sarasota, for $2.1 million. Built in 2016, it has two bedrooms, three baths and 2,291 square feet of living area. It sold for $2,084,300 in 2017.
SARASOTA BAY CLUB
Sarasota Bay Club LLC sold the Unit 1121 condominium at 1299 Tamiami Trail to Kenneth Morgan and Magnea Viggosdottir, of Sarasota, for $1.9 million. Built in 2003, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 2,052 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,075,000 in 2020.
SARABANDE
Nat Colletta and Sheila QueanoColletta, trustees, of University Park, sold their Unit 44 condominium at 340 S. Palm Ave. to Mary and David Barry, of Sarasota, for $1.55 million. Built in 1998, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,774 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.14 million in 2020.
THE LANDINGS
R. Malcolm Schwartz and Carole Ann Schwartz, of Sarasota, sold their home at 1690 Pine Harrier Circle to C. Anderson Cooper and Mary Jane Cooper, of Sarasota, for $1.45 million. Built in 1988, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,017 square feet of living area. It sold for $725,000 in 2017.
LE CHATEAU
Eliza Gale Racanelli and David
Michael Racanelli, of Sarasota, sold their Unit 44 condominium at 37 Sunset Drive to Steven Clevenger, of Minneapolis, for $1,395,000. Built in 1971, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,514 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.55 million in 2023.
PHILLIPPI LANDINGS
Eric Ole Thorsen and Ilene Kim Graff, of New York City, sold their Unit 801 condominium at 5531
Cannes Circle to Donald and Donna Anderson and Scott and Sandra Baker, of Siesta Key, for $1,358,000. Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,530 square feet of living area. It sold for $750,000 in 2010.
ORANGE PARK Arreglar LLC sold the home at 2441 Webber St. to Sarasota Real Estate Fund LLC for $1.05 million. Built in 2025, it has three bedrooms, threeand-a-half baths, a pool and 2,780 square feet of living area.
ESPLANADE BY SIESTA KEY
Richard McCampbell, trustee, sold the home at 2525 Vaccaro Drive to Kathlene Vasiliou, of Sarasota, for $925,000. Built in 2014, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,262 square feet of living area. It sold for $900,000 in 2025.
HARBOR HOUSE WEST
Brett and Sandra McDowell, of Sarasota, sold their Unit 34 condominium at 226 Golden Gate Point to Maryellen Torres, of Sarasota, for $820,000. Built in 1968, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,396 square feet of living area. It sold for $1 million in 2024.
SOUTH GATE
Mark Lloyd Davis and Hue Tuyet Tran Davis, trustees, sold the home at 2426 Wisteria St. to Matthew Evan Hand and Daiane Hand, of Sarasota, for $730,000. Built in 1958, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,570 square feet of living area. It sold for $720,000 in 2024.
HOMECROFT
A&G Property Investments LLC sold the home at 3455 Gardenia St. to Catherine Knepp, James Wagler, Matthew Wagler and Christopher Wagler, of Odon, Indiana, for
TOP BUILDING PERMITS
$718,000. Built in 1982, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 1,820 square feet of living area. It sold for $544,000 in 2023.
Brenda Gould and Tamera Kurtz, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the home at 3428 Hacienda St. to Milton Yoder and Carol Yoder, trustees, of Sarasota, for $575,000. Built in 1957, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,777 square feet of living area. It sold for $37,000 in 1978.
Other top sales by area
SARASOTA: $2.85 MILLION
The Tower Residences Joseph and Carol Wolfer, of Harrington Park, New Jersey, sold their Unit 801 condominium at 35 Watergate Drive to Charles Klippel, of Bradenton, for $2.85 million. Built in 2003, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 3,751 square feet of living area. It sold for $3.4 million in 2024.
PALMER RANCH: $1.1 MILLION
Beneva Oaks
John and Remi Schloff, of Jacksonville, sold their home at 3639 Beneva Oaks Blvd. to Arnaud Albert Foucher and Sandrine Maquet Foucher, of Sarasota, for $1.1 million. Built in 1988, it has four bedrooms, three-anda-half baths, a pool and 3,302 square feet of living area. It sold for $699,000 in 2020.
OSPREY: $4 MILLION
Casey Key
Jillayne Pinchuk, trustee, of Dubuque, Iowa, sold two properties at 854 N. Casey Key Road to 854NCASEYKEY LLC for $4 million. The first property was built in 1975 and has two bedrooms, two baths and 2,278 square feet of living area. The second property was built in 2002 and has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,184 square feet of living area. It sold for $4.35 million in 2024.
NOKOMIS: $750,000
Mission Valley Estates
Brian and Amy Lafevers, of Midland, Texas, sold their home at 1860 Mackintosh Blvd. to Olia Kerzhner, of Port Townsend, Washington, for $750,000. Built in 1978, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,996 square feet of living area. It sold for $689,000 in 2022.
Image courtesy of Realtor Barbara May
The home at 3550 Flamingo Ave. was built in 2025 and has four bedrooms, fourand-two-half baths, a pool and 4,901 square feet of living area.
Healthy habits can improve and preserve memory
Exercise, a good diet and getting enough sleep can pay big dividends on improving memory function and preventing memory diseases.
MIRABAI HOLLAND CONTRIBUTOR
he brain is your body’s processing chip. It controls everything: thinking, movement, senses, emotions, memory and lots more.
The brain does so much so well that we’re often unaware of it working. For instance, when we go out for a run our brain gets us in the mood for exercise, moves our body parts, feels the weather, sees the trail, feels the ground under our feet, smells the woods, and regulates our breathing and heart rate. And if we want to use that route again, we can memorize our route and everything we saw and felt and file it away as a long-term memory for future use, all thanks to our brains.
Short-term memories don’t usually last more than a few minutes, like that code you get texted to prove you are you. Your hippocampus, located deep inside the brain’s temporal lobe, helps form short-term memories and stores them in the prefrontal cortex. Once they’re no longer important, they’re gone.
But If that memory is important, like that running route we want to use again, it creates neural pathways, consolidates and transfers that short-term memory into a long-term memory. It gets stored in the cerebral cortex to be retrieved when you want to remember.
To recall a memory, your brain does a search. It retraces the neural pathways it used to create the memory. Then the memory plays back. It’s seldom perfect total
recall, but it’s pretty close. Memory loss is the brain’s inability to retrieve a memory. It’s one of our most feared health issues. Some mild memory loss is a normal part of aging because of changes that take place in the body, including the brain. Issues are normally small, like taking longer to remember someone’s name or forgetting to pay a bill. You’ll adapt. This is nothing to worry about.
MCI — mild cognitive impairment — is more serious. Chronic forgetfulness, trouble finding the correct word, getting lost in a familiar place. This condition requires life adjustment, but there are no personality changes or loss of self as with Alzheimer’s. Life stays mostly normal. The condition can remain stable or it may progress.
There are a number of tests you can take that can determine the severity of memory loss.
A PET scan may find plaque deposits in the brain that may mean Alzheimer’s or other dementia. If you’re at all concerned, don’t put off getting tested. The sooner any cognitive conditions are diagnosed, the more effective the treatment.
MEMORY TREATMENTS
Lifestyle plays a huge role in memory building and in prevention and treatment of memory loss.
Sleep. REM sleep, deep sleep with rapid eye movement, starts about 90 minutes after falling asleep. It helps move your memories from temporary storage in the hippocampus to permanent storage in the frontal cortex. Your brain prioritizes memories and makes the most useful ones important. That’s why you feel you want to sleep on it. For every hour awake you need a half hour of sleep to process and learn. Quality sleep is essential for staying sharp. Unfortunately, because our lives are so jammed full, it’s one of the
most ignored lifestyle practices.
Stress. It’s hard to sleep when you’re stressed all the time. Chronic stress shrinks your brain volume in memory-critical areas like the hippocampus, making memory retrieval harder. It can cause blanking out and focus problems. Elevated cortisol creates higher risk for depression and later-life dementia.
Research shows stress reduction techniques like yoga, meditation, deep breathing, stretching and exercise — taking a break to do something that brings you joy — if practiced regularly can break the cycle of chronic stress.
Diet. You are what you eat. Your body, including your brain, responds profoundly to good nutrition. Eating a healthy diet is one of the most significant positive changes you can make if you’re currently eating junk. Gradually ease in to substituting old favorite junk foods with new favorite healthy food.
The Mediterranean diet is considered the healthiest and easiest-
to-stay-on diet in the world. It’s not a strict set of rules, just guidelines that provide a delicious variety of healthy choices, enough for every taste. It lets you build your own personal cuisine.
It’s more plant-based. It features more fish, less red meat and occasional sweets.
Eating a mostly Mediterranean diet rich in fruits, vegetables and antioxidants reduces inflammation, slows cognitive decline and lowers risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s.
Exercise. Research shows exercise is major for mental health. It releases endorphins, serotonin, reduces stress and promotes quality sleep. It creates neural changes in the brain that help relieve depression, anxiety, lift mood and help you focus.
The winning combination is to build up to 150 minutes of cardio, 90 minutes of strength and 30 minutes of stretch per week. Patterned movement like aerobics and line dancing help preserve memory and cognition. It’s a
workout for your brain. Patterned movement lights up the hippocampus, the prefrontal cortex and the cerebellum, key memory areas of the brain. It’s never too late to start taking care of your brain health and preserving your memory. Start by making one easily doable lifestyle change and bring in new ones as each change becomes permanent. Kicking unhealthy habits and replacing them with healthy ones can spell the difference between good cognition as we age and cognitive decline.
Mirabai Holland is CEO of NuVue LLC, a health education and video production company. She is a certified health coach, exercise physiologist and wellness consultant for Manatee County government employees and has a private practice. She is also an artist who believes creativity enhances health. Visit MirabaiHolland.com or email her at AskMirabai@movingfree.com.
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