The Newtown Easter Parade was established in 1960 but went into hiatus for nearly 20 years before its return in 2023.
On April 4, the community of the historic Black neighborhood, the city of Sarasota and others came together to host the Easter Spring Fling Festival & Parade.
The parade involved community members, organizations and schools, with participants such as the Riverview Kiltie Marching Band. Attendees also had the chance to enjoy festivities and vendors.
“This is the best parade I’ve seen in years,” said attendee Roger Bryant. “We had the bands, we had everybody. This was great this year. This was actually great. I enjoyed it very much. I even brought my chair.”
Walking far to protect children
Former state Sen. Lauren Book began walking to Tallahassee in 2010, but her advocacy against child sexual abuse grew to involve thousands of others.
On April 8, Book passed through downtown Sarasota during the 11th annual Walk in My Shoes, held by the nonprofit Lauren’s Kids, founded by Book, herself an abuse survivor.
The 1,500-mile walk leads from Key West to Tallahassee. Here, Book was joined by members of Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center and Craig Schaeffer, a prosecutor from the office of State Attorney Ed Brodsky.
“I believe when you can hit the road with people to understand what their true issues are, you can make a difference,” Book said.
$0.10
Facing general uncertainty
Ian Swaby
Sophia Lashina, 3, find eggs during the Good Friday Worship Service at the Sarasota Fairgrounds.
Andrew Warfield
Ian Swaby
Ian Swaby
Second graders Landry Shorb and Au’brei Harris, of Star Lab, ride in the Easter Parade.
WEEK OF APRIL 9, 2026
BY THE NUMBERS
46 Townhomes planned on the site of the former Sarasota Lanes bowling center. PAGE 4A
$4 MILLION
Funding gap for Sarasota Housing Authority’s plans to expand McCown Towers senior housing. PAGE 9A
50,000
Easter eggs prepared for children at last week’s Good Friday events at Sarasota Fairgrounds. Some of them were dropped from a hovering helicopter. PAGE 4B
CALENDAR
n Sarasota City Commission regular meeting — 9 a.m., Monday, April 20, Commission Chambers, City Hall, 1565 First St. n Sarasota County School Board regular meeting — 10 a.m., Tuesday, April 21, Board Chambers, Landings Administration Complex, 1960 Landings Blvd. (black awning entrance)
“We really do want and need
the additional parking, but I don’t think that we can see our way clear for the another $4 million. But we’re 100% behind you.”
Sarasota Mayor Debbie Trice to SHA President and CEO William Russell. Read more on page 9A
City awards Mira Mar construction permit
Construction may now begin on Mira Mar Residences, the revenue-generating condominium development that is planned to fund the restoration of the historic Mira Mar building along 400 feet of frontage on South Palm Avenue.
This week, the city of Sarasota issued the construction permit on the twin 18-story towers that will house 70 luxury condos. Construction will focus primarily on the rehabilitation of the historic portions of
the existing buildings. Work will then shift to preliminary construction of the residential towers before turning back to the rehabilitation project.
“This is an incredibly important milestone that has been years in the making,” said Patrick DiPinto, owner of Seaward Development. “It officially kicks off the rehabilitation portion of the project, and to be stewards of the history and legacy at this site is an incredibly humbling position that we take very seriously.”
Historic restoration expert Rick Gonzalez, president of REG Architects, will oversee the rehabilitation. Most of the interior work will take place within the building and underground.
Built in six months in 1922 on a foundation of beach sand, Mira Mar was the city’s first hotel and first luxury residences.
Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2028 and reservations for the condominiums are now being accepted. The sales gallery is at 1258 N. Palm Ave.
City
transportation staffers promoted
They’ve been called the city of Sarasota’s “dynamic duo” of transportation by Mayor Debbie Trice, and dubbed the “transportation twins” by this news outlet.
But as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end.
The band that is Alvimarie Corales and Corinne Arriaga hasn’t broken up, but they are now playing different instruments.
Recently, Corales was promoted from chief transportation planner to capital projects manager and Arriaga elevated from senior transportation planner to Corales’ prior role of chief transportation planner.
The two came to the city at about the same time in 2021, having both worked together at the Sarasota-Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization. There, they were colleagues since 2017.
Corales and Arriaga will remain closely aligned as much of the capital projects workload includes transportation initiatives.
SPD officers prevent suicide attempt
Officers with the Sarasota Police Department were involved in the rescue of a man in distress on Friday, March 27. Shortly after 2 a.m., they responded to reports of a man straddling the ledge on the sixth floor of a parking garage.
Officer Michael Banasiak began talking to the man seated on a ledge. After officers Kassidee Plumley and Orlando Perez arrived to assist, a rescue opportunity presented itself when the man accepted an offer from Banasiak to help him open a bottle
Reaching for the bottle, Banasiak grabbed the man by the arm and, with assistance from the other officers, pulled him to safety.
“This situation shows why ongoing crisis intervention training is so critical,” said Sarasota Police Chief Rex Troche. “It also reminds us how powerful empathy and human connection can be. Our officers’ mission goes beyond enforcement. We’re here to safeguard lives by meeting people with compassion, awareness and support.”
Image courtesy of Seaward Development
rendering of the Mira Mar building set against the backdrop of Mira Mar Residences, the project that will pro-
million restoration of the historic structure.
A taxing situation
CITY OF SARASOTA OPERATING FUND
The general fund is the city’s primary account for dayto-day operations.
Unlike enterprise funds such as the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Bobby Jones Golf Club and water and sewer service, which cover their own expenses with revenues and fees they generate, the general fund pays for services that are not selfsupporting.
In fiscal year 2026, $57 million in property taxes goes into this fund. Of that, 51% is generated from property taxes paid by homesteadexempted owners, the target of property tax reduction or even elimination. Services that fund pays for include:
■ Law enforcement
■ Parks and recreation
■ Maintenance of locally controlled streets
■ Landscaping of all city properties
■ Community development initiatives
■ Administrative support
HB 203
Phased out elimination of nonschool property tax for homesteads. It raises the nonschool homestead exemption threshold from a range of $25,000-$75,000 to $25,000-$150,000 and indexes it annually for inflation.
DESCRIPTION
■ Adds $100,000 more to the homestead exemption each year for nine years
■ Fully exempts homestead property from nonschool ad valorem taxes starting in 2037
■ Prohibits reducing overall law enforcement funding below the greater of either the fiscal year 2026 or fiscal year 2027 budget
■ If approved via statewide referendum, effective beginning in fiscal year 2028
IMPACTS
TO THE CITY
■ $23 million cumulative impact over 10 years to the general fund, The Bay tax increment financing district and Newtown Community Redevelopment Agency
■ Tax shifts to renters, business owners, and non-homestead properties
STATUS
■ Approved by 8030 vote and referred to the Senate
ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER
Whether the Florida Legislature approves placing a constitutional amendment referendum to fundamentally transform property taxes on the statewide ballot remains anyone’s guess. And even if so, whether it reaches the 60% voter approval threshold to be enacted is also unknown.
As former Sarasota City Commission candidate and regular meeting commenter Martin Hyde said at the commission’s March 23 meeting, “They couldn’t pass legalizing pot.”
Still, prudence dictates local jurisdictions begin thinking about how they might respond to a referendum approval that takes a significant bite out of their annual budgets and how — or even if — they may be able to make up the difference.
In Sarasota, residential property taxes generate just more than half of the revenues that comprise the city’s general fund, the tranche that pays for a litany of essential services the city provides.
At their March 23 meeting, commissioners heard from Interim City Manager Jennifer Jorgensen and Director of Financial Administration
Kelly Strickland about the potential impact House Bill 203 might have should it be taken up and approved by the Florida Senate in time to make the November 2026 general election ballot.
The 2026 legislative session has ended, but the Senate can still call a special session to take up the matter, or it could be added to the agenda of an already scheduled session called for April 20-24 on redistricting.
House Bill 203 was the only one of several possible property tax reform proposals to receive a vote of the full house, passing 80-30.
The city’s property tax rate is 3.2730 mills, which means for every $1,000 in taxable value, a homeowner pays to the city $3.27 in annual property taxes. That’s minus the $50,000 homestead exemption enjoyed by city residents and other exemptions available to seniors and handicapped.
Strickland warned about some possibilities to make up for the gap in revenue — which had it been implemented in the current fiscal year would amount to as much as $23.5 million of the $57 million total generated by property tax.
She further cautioned raising some taxes to fill the void fall outside the allocation jurisdiction of the city.
“If the property tax goes away, and we need taxes to be able to still fund cities and counties, what do those taxes look like?” Strickland said. “It could be potentially a sales tax. Well, sales tax is monitored and run by the state, so you’re taking the ability to pass that tax and monitor that tax away from local cities.”
With spending authority under the auspices of state government, Strickland said the city loses the autonomy to determine how that money is allocated locally.
“It takes away the uniqueness that each city and county has to deal with in their own community,” she said. “If those decisions move up to Tallahassee, we lose that ability to make those spending decisions and revenue decisions that are important to our local community.”
BOND DEBT AND OTHER FUNDS
Special tax districts will also be impacted. Residents of Golden Gate Point, for example, pay an extra millage rate for its streetscape special district, this year receiving $280,000.
The Bay park tax increment financing district applies $1.5 million annually toward debt that supports development of the park plus another $1.7 million bond for future capital projects. The Newtown Redevelopment Agency received $575,000 this fiscal year in special millage revenue.
All would be impacted by property tax reform.
And repayment of bond debt,
If a bill passed by the Florida house goes to statewide referendum, it could mean a gap of tens of millions in general fund revenue in Sarasota.
POTENTIAL IMPACT ON HOMEOWNERS AND CAPITAL PROJECTS
PART-TIME RESIDENTS
A large number of luxury condo owners, such as those in The Quay, as well as nonresident single-family homeowners do not qualify for homestead exemptions and would not be eligible for property tax reform.
HOMESTEADED RESIDENTS
Property tax reform is aimed at providing tax relief for homesteaded properties, which comprise 51% of the current city fiscal year’s $57 million in property tax revenue, or just more than $29 million.
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUNDING IMPACTS
The source of funding for the public portion of The Bay park is generated via a tax-increment financing district assessed against improved value of the area surrounding the park, such as The Quay and the Rosemary District, set against a benchmark of 2019 tax values. Those revenues would be adversely affected should changes take place.
Image courtesy of city of Sarasota
Kelly Strickland
“If the property tax goes away, and we need taxes to be able to still fund cities and counties, what do those taxes look like?”
Kelly Strickland
Strickland told commissioners, is not optional.
“So we would have to pay them from salaries or some other area of the city,” Commissioner Jen AhearnKoch remarked. “We would have to pay them no matter what, right?”
“We’re not going to default,” Strickland confirmed.
Potentially further clouding the future financial picture of the city is the likelihood some part-time homeowners who have not moved their official residency from their home state may do so should property tax reform in some shape or form be implemented.
“If the homestead exemption grows exponentially, I would assume there might be some people who are currently nonhomesteaded who would look to become homesteaded,” Jorgensen told commissioners.
“If our current (homesteaded population) is 41%, we would probably figure that would go up with people applying for homestead if the exemption is so great it makes sense for them financially to do that.
“That’s going to skew our numbers a little bit, as well.”
FLORIDA PROPERTY TAX REFORM PROCESS
The Florida House of Representatives created the House Select Committee on Property Taxes in the spring. During the 2025-26 legislative session, seven house joint resolutions were filed with no proposals emerging from the senate or executive branch. The legislative process includes:
■ A state constitutional amendment is required
■ Joint resolutions approved by a three-fifths vote in both the House and Senate
■ Resolution placed as a proposed amendment on the November 2026 ballot
■ Requirement of 60% approval of voters statewide to become law
HOW MIGHT PROPERTY TAX BURDEN SHIFT
Cities use property taxes to pay for fundamental services such as law enforcement emergency response, street and sidewalk repair, parks and neighborhood-based services. Impacts can include:
■ Higher taxes on renters, nonhomestead property owners and businesses
■ Increased taxes and fees such as sales tax, city fees and vice taxes
■ Decision-making shifts from local communities to Tallahassee
Source: Florida League of Cities
File photos
Courtesy image
Bowling center files plans to redevelop into complex of four-story townhouses
s the transformation of Fruitville Road near downtown continues eastward, the redevelopment of the vacant Sarasota Lanes bowling center at Lime Avenue near Main Street is next up.
The owner of the nearly 2-acre site, Sarasota Lanes LLC, is proposing demolition of the 29,702-squarefoot building to make way for 46, four-story townhomes in eight buildings on the site currently home to the no-longer-operating bowling center and parking lot.
No attainable housing is proposed as part of the development.
The proposed project made its first appearance before the city’s Development Review Committee on April 1, which required a resubmittal as multiple staff comments remained to be addressed.
Each home will have its own twocar garage with individual refuse and recycling containers that will be managed by the individual homeowners.
The plan shows vehicle access provided from East Main Street only via a driveway next to the Kane Plaza office building.
Currently zoned Commercial General with a future land-use classification of Urban Edge, the applicant is requesting a rezone of the site to Downtown Edge, an implementing zone district of the Urban Edge future land-use classification.
The plan includes two five-unit buildings and six six-unit buildings, six of the structures lining the perimeter of the property surrounding two more in the center of the site.
To achieve the desired density on the acreage, the applicant is seeking a 20% reduction in the minimum required lot size from 1,800 square feet to allow a minimum lot size of 1,441 square feet for certain lots. The applicant is also pursuing a Planning Board adjustment to eliminate the private yard requirement for each single-family attached residential zoning lot.
The west side of the property borders the Legacy Trail parallel to School Avenue, and the east side an existing car wash.
That driveway is shown to cross the Legacy Trail.
Sarasota Lanes Manager Tom Hubbard is listed as the applicant.
“This is a significant investment in the area, which should encourage continued redevelopment on the surrounding properties,” he said in the application.
That redevelopment momentum has already begun. Sarasota Lanes’ proposal comes on the heels of other nearby Fruitville Road redevelopment plans.
They include 1899 Fruitville Road, a five-story, 324-unit residential project to cover the block between Gillespie and North Osprey avenues; and Fruitville Gateway, a 274-unit multifamily building covering just more than 3 acres within the block of North Washington Boulevard, East Boulevard, Fruitville Road and Fourth Street.
Sarasota Lanes would be razed to make way for 46 townhouses, according to a proposal from the property owner.
Image via Google Maps
City pursues First Street parcel for workforce-housing project
One small parcel remains between two larger properties the city has acquired for a workforce housing project. Staff is instructed to pursue a letter of intent to purchase.
ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER
Nearly two years have passed since the Sarasota City Commission approved the purchase of two parcels on First Street across from City Hall with the goal of building workforce housing apartments there.
Since then, little progress has been made on the initiative introduced by former City Manager Marlon Brown, with the exception of preliminary negotiations between the city and First Street Credit Union. That’s the lone holdout in a potential assemblage of three parcels that stretch between Orange Avenue and the back of a strip of businesses fronting Lemon Avenue.
On Sept. 16, 2024, the city closed on 1590 and 1544 First St. for $7.3 million, and since has held commercial leases on those properties. Central to the site, the credit union at 1558 First St. held out, prompting preliminary plans of two towers wrapping around the parcel — measuring 65 feet by 100 feet, or 0.15 acre — which is regarded as likely a higher construction cost than a single building.
During their April 6 meeting, Wayne Appleby, the city’s economic development and real estate manager, updated commissioners on the status of that negotiation and sought approval to proceed to a deal to be brought back for consideration by August 2026. Appleby also proposed the com-
LETTER OF INTENT TERMS
The letter of intent is a nonbinding document outlining terms agreed to by the city and First Street Credit Union to be included in a future option agreement. Terms would be in effect upon an executed option agreement.
Option period: Initial one-year period, which may be extended for an additional four years at one-year increments.
Option fee: Following a 90day due diligence period, a $50,000 nonrefundable fee will be paid by the city. For each subsequent year the city extends, a fee of $15,000 will be paid.
Assignment: The city may assign the option agreement to the eventual selected developer at any time within the five-year option period. The remaining financial burden would shift to the developer.
Exercise option: The city or the selected developer may exercise the option at any time within the five-year period.
mission hire a real estate consultant to help guide the city through the process.
In the end, commissioners voted 4-1, with Jen Ahearn-Koch opposed, to instruct Interim City Manager Jennifer Jorgensen to negotiate and present a non-binding option agreement to purchase the credit union building and parcel and to proceed with hiring the consultant.
On Feb. 25, a letter of intent was executed between previous Interim City Manager Dave Bullock and First Street Credit Union, which allows for exclusive negotiations between
the parties to reach an option to purchase agreement.
Bullock’s tenure in the city manager’s office ended in early March, when he resumed his retirement.
Commissioners expressed frustration with the lack of any progress since the property purchase, a sentiment shared by Appleby and staff. And don’t forget, he added, the city is on its third interim city manager since Brown’s retirement in October 2024.
By the time the option-to-purchase agreement is brought back to the commission, new City Manager Karie Friling will have begun her tenure.
“There’s a whole lot more due diligence to be done, and we have to remember we’ve had three different city managers,” Appleby said. “We restart the conversation every time we get a new city manager. There’s a number of reasons why it’s dragged on. I feel the same frustration. That’s why the real estate consultant firm is being brought on, so that it can work with you.”
The housing project is envisioned as a public-private venture with funding assistance from local foundations. The commission’s vote to
the best path forward was to remain collaborative partners in advancing the project … and to delay a funding agreement until the project was more defined and identified the income levels of the housing units.”
That’s where the expertise of a real estate consultant is needed to guide the city in finding the balance between aspirations and fiscal reality, particularly with regard to balancing the rent structure with selfsustainability without government subsidy.
“You’re going to have to balance all your wishes,” Appleby said. “That (consultant) is going to tell you what’s going to cause a subsidy for you every year, so if you lower your wishes, maybe it’s not everything (you) want, but (you) can live with it. That’s the sweet spot if you can get there.”
approve the purchase of the first two parcels included direction to work with the Barancik Foundation, Community Foundation of Sarasota County and the Gulf Coast Community Foundation for funding assistance. Since then, according to Appleby’s presentation, the foundations and city representatives “determined
Should the project eventually move forward, the model calls for the financial burden to be shifted to the selected developer and operator. The city has received two unsolicited bids for the project from Sarasotabased affordable housing providers One Stop Housing and Community Assisted & Supported Living.
Courtesy image
The proposed site of a city-owned attainable housing development across First Street from City Hall. The red X marks the location of the city’s credit union office, which is now being considered for purchase by the city.
Andrew Warfield
Sarasota Economic Development and Real Estate Manager Wayne Appleby updates the City Commission on the First Street Workforce Housing project.
Benderson kicks off push to rezone former county headquarters site
The developer makes its first appearance before city staff on an application for zoning changes at the former Sarasota County Administration Center.
ANDREW WARFIELD
n the five months since Sarasota County government vacated its former administration center at 1660 Ringling Blvd., the county branding has been removed from all exterior surfaces.
Inside and surrounding the building, Benderson Development subsidiary CCB Associates 1 has been planning for a vertical and horizontal expansion of the building into a mixed-use project, details of which have yet to be revealed.
Although the entire property, which includes a parking lot along both sides of Morrill Street adjacent to the historic Laurel Park neighborhood, includes 2.88 acres, owner representatives from development consultant Kimley-Horn appeared before the city’s Development Review Committee on April 1 with an application regarding a 1-acre segment of the site.
It’s an important acre, containing the footprint of the building along Ringling Boulevard and immediate surrounding parking on the north side of Morrill Street. That building currently straddles two zoning districts — Downtown Core to the north and Downtown Edge to the south — and a corresponding split future land use designation of Downtown Core and Urban Edge.
The applicant is requesting a rezone without a site plan of the Downtown Edge portion to Downtown Core with an associated Comprehensive Plan Amendment to change the future land use classification from Urban Edge to Downtown Core.
Simply put, the developer is seeking a single zoning designation to allow the entire building height,
rather than just one portion of it, to be raised to up to 10 stories.
The Downtown Edge zone district restricts building heights to five stories. Downtown Core permits 10 stories. The existing building is six stories.
Both requests require City Commission approval, the enabling Comprehensive Plan amendment a supermajority.
Benderson acquired the property from Sarasota County for $25 million in December 2021, leasing it back to the county through 2025 while its new administration building was planned and constructed in the Fruitville Farms area off Fruitville Road in the northeastern corner
of the county. Originally scheduled to be occupied by the start of 2026, construction is nearing completion as staff has been scattered throughout the county and County Commission meetings have been held in the South County headquarters in Venice.
The first community workshop about the redevelopment was held in August 2023 to receive feedback from residents on the original proposal for the redevelopment. That was followed in October 2023 by a three-day planning charrette, which compiled input from city residents to shape a development plan for the property and to study alternatives. Those results and anticipated
development applications at the time were shared with the Laurel Park Neighborhood Association at its membership meeting in February 2024. Since then, Benderson reengaged the community on its plans and an additional community workshop was held in December 2025 focusing only on the parcel containing the existing building and surrounding parking area.
Significant among those changes was the abandonment of potential to build residential properties in the parking lot on the south side of Morrill Street against the neighborhood boundary. Instead, Benderson proposes to create improved parking for the commercial aspects of the redevelopment and green space.
The proposed zoning changes would allow redevelopment of the existing building, as the application reads, “either within its existing footprint or with modest expansion, facilitating adaptive reuse.”
“The proposed future land use and zoning amendment supports the principles of New Urbanism and aligns with the goals established within the Sarasota City Plan,” the application narrative reads. “The applicant intends a redevelopment that promotes a vibrant, walkable environment along Ringling Boulevard, complementing the recent Complete Street improvements.
This amendment enables the adaptive reuse of the existing building, allowing vertical expansion while utilizing existing infrastructure.”
It further describes the redevelopment “will activate the streetscape, support multimodal transportation and enhance nearby public spaces, furthering the city’s vision for a connected, livable urban corridor on Ringling Boulevard. Additionally, there will be economic development benefits of attracting employees and supporting a diversity of land uses downtown.”
Because zoning change requests without a site plan require little input from city staff pertaining to building code, the request received partial DRC sign-off.
Simply put, the developer is seeking a single zoning designation to allow the entire building height, rather than just one portion of it, to be raised to up to 10 stories.
Courtesy image
The map shows the up-to-date future land-use map of the 1660 Ringling site. Benderson development is seeking to rezone the upper portion of Urban Edge to Downtown Core, leaving the green hatched area as Urban Edge.
Don’t panic about sports betting in Florida
Although some are concerned access to sports betting may increase gambling addiction, data show the number of those with a problem has remained stable over the past 35 years.
Calls to Florida’s gambling helpline have surged 138% since legal sports betting launched in 2023, according to the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling. But before Florida legislators contemplate restrictions that would push bettors back into the arms of offshore sportsbooks, they should ask a basic question: Do rising helpline calls actually mean more Floridians are becoming addicted to gambling? The answer is no.
When Massachusetts legalized mobile sports betting in early 2023, calls to its gambling helpline shot up by 121%. But of those roughly 2,000 calls received in the months after launch, more than 1,000 were not from people struggling with addiction at all. They were bettors trying to figure out how to use their new apps.
“The spike was driven largely by sports wagering advertisements listing the helpline number, which confused customers into calling it for technical support,” said the Massachusetts Department of Pub-
lic Health.
Florida has one legal mobile sportsbook. Hard Rock Bet is new and heavily advertised, and its advertisements prominently display the 888-ADMIT-IT helpline number. It would be extraordinary if calls did not increase sharply. Conflating a spike in helpline volume with a spike in gambling disorder is a category error.
The same problem afflicts a widely cited study published in JAMA Internal Medicine last year, claiming a 23% cumulative increase in internet searches for gambling addiction help since 2018. The National Council on Problem Gambling, the country’s leading organization on this issue, explicitly warns that its own helpline traffic “should not be used as a proxy to estimate problem gambling prevalence.” Searches tick up after legalization for the same reason calls do, in that there is more advertising and more public awareness of both betting and the services that help people with it. People who were already struggling are now more likely to know where to turn.
What does the data on problem gambling actually show? According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, the national rate of severe problem gambling among adults has held steady at around 1%, with another 2% to 3% experiencing mild to moderate problems— consistent with the historical average. Even the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling cites a 2011 study showing that just 1.2% of Florida’s population was engaged in problem and pathological gambling.
Panicked stories about gambling often ignore boring statistical truths over pragmatic figures. Those large percentage increases become much less concerning when you factor in the small baseline number of people affected. Florida has roughly 23 million residents. Before sports-betting launched, an estimated 588 people a year were calling the helpline about online gambling.
After legalization, that figure rose to around 1,400. That means the share of Floridians contacting the helpline about online gambling went from around 0.003% to roughly 0.006%.
A shift from three people in every hundred thousand to six is rather
hard to characterize as an epidemic.
The empirical research tends to suggest that the legal status of gambling is not the key driver of problem gambling.
A 2025 longitudinal study tracking American sports bettors across states that legalized during the study period versus those that kept prohibitions found no significant difference in problem gambling severity between the two groups — though the authors acknowledge the study was powered to detect only large increases, leaving open the possibility of more modest effects.
After many states legalized lotteries and casinos in the 1980s and early 1990s, there was a short-lived uptick in related bankruptcies. But that effect had largely disappeared by the mid-1990s. When online poker exploded in the 2000s, the same warnings were sounded. Howard Shaffer, one of the world’s foremost experts on gambling addiction, concluded in 2011 that problem gambling rates had remained relatively stable across 35 years of dramatically expanding gambling access.
None of this is to say that sports betting cannot harm individuals. Some people, particularly young men, who are disproportionately represented among heavy bettors, can wind up in severe financial difficulty. But it should be noted that today’s typical sports-bettor is disproportionately college-educated and earns above the median income. This does not match the portrait of a young or poorer population being freshly victimized.
Before legalization, an estimated one third of Americans were already betting on sports, channeling roughly $150 billion annually to offshore books with no age verification and deep ties to organized crime.
Legislators concerned about rising helpline numbers should be aware that regulatory overreaction is unlikely to reduce the number of problem gamblers and will almost certainly drive more bettors to platforms with no consumer protections whatsoever.
Guy Bentley is Director of Consumer Freedom and Adrian Moore is vice president at the Reason Foundation.
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ADRIAN MOORE AND GUY BENTLEY
Guy Bentley
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Sports betting online became legal in Florida via Hard Rock Bet in 2023.
Senior public housing remains $4M short
With $8 million already pledged for public parking, the Sarasota City Commission declines adding $4 million for Housing Authority’s McCown Towers funding gap.
MORE DIFFICULT OR TERMINATED
William Russell said Sarasota Housing Authority has a June deadline to either have all the funding for McCown Towers secured or to file an extension with the Florida Housing Finance Corp. to remain eligible for state funding for the project.
An expansion could be built without the city’s participation in parking, Russell told commissioners, but at this late stage, “It would just make it maybe even more difficult,” he said.
And what would likely happen if the $4 million gap isn’t filled in time and no extension is requested?
“We would have to terminate the project and give the money back to the state,” Russell said.
know we’re short.” There remains some disaster recovery funds to be granted by the county, and Russell said he plans to return to the county board to request at least some of the needed money toward the capital stack necessary to move forward with the project.
“The reason we want is because we own the land. We have the funding lined up,” Russell said.
At the corner of Cocoanut Avenue and Boulevard of the Arts, SHA plans to build the expansion atop a surface parking lot.
and St. Armands.
And at $12 million for 160 parking spaces, that’s $75,000 each, well in excess of the average cost to build structured parking. To cover that, rates would have to be increased on street parking in the area.
“The numbers that I’ve seen are between $35,000 and maybe $55,000 on the high end,” Parking Division General Manager Broxton Harvey told commissioners.
“That’s sort of what complicates us funding something like this from a parking perspective,” replied Vice Mayor Kathy Kelley Ohlrich.
In practical terms, the cost per space would be even higher. Finance Director Kelly Strickland told commissioners interest paid on $8 million would bring the total cost to $12 million over the 20-year debt service repayment.
As for $12 million in bond debt if the city were to grant SHA’s wish for an additional $4 million?
“That would be $19 million,” Strickland said.
“Then we’re going in at about $120,000 a spot,” said Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch.
Interim City Manager Jennifer Jorgensen said the costs of doing business — to issue bonds, miscellaneous fees and interest — are not generally factored into equations when it comes to bond counsel approval, although upwards of $75,000 per space would likely not receive endorsement.
needed public parking spaces to serve the Rosemary District and The Bay park nearby. Having been turned down by the Sarasota County Commission in its latest allocation of Resilient SRQ
federal grant funding, SHA President and CEO William Russell was back before the City Commission on April 7 hoping, but not directly asking, for largesse beyond the city’s prior commitment of $8 million toward the third phase of McCown Towers, a five-story building that would envelop a parking structure partially owned by the city.
“It’s literally $4 million to make a $50 million project go,” Russell said. “You guys have always been a great partner, so I just wanted to let you all
Located one block east of The Bay park and within the growing Rosemary District, the project would help solve the city’s shortage of parking in the area to serve both the park and the neighborhood. However, with $8 million already committed, a 50% increase in funding was too much for the commissioners to consider.
City-owned parking is funded by bonds intended to be repaid with revenues the parking generates.
At its March 23 meeting, commissioners approved changes to the parking program as revenues were falling short of covering the cost of personnel, maintenance and debt service of paid parking in downtown
“We don’t put those into it because every parking garage is going to have those same costs,” Jorgensen said. Another round of County Commission discussion about remaining Resilient SRQ funds will potentially take place later this month, Russell said, although he has received no notification of it appearing on meeting agenda.
If it does, Russell will take with him a letter of support from the City Commission signed by Mayor Debbie Trice
“We really do want and need the additional parking, but I don’t think that we can see our way clear for another $4 million,” Trice said. “ But we’re 100% behind you in whatever we can do to help you find somebody else to pony it up.”
Image courtesy of Slocum Platts Architects
The expansion of McCown Towers would surround the parking structure that would include 160 public parking spaces owned by the city.
Andrew Warfield
Sarasota Housing Authority President and CEO William Russell told the City Commission the McCown Towers expansion has a $4 million funding gap.
Responding to a call about a disturbance, an officer encountered three offending juvenile males and one barely adult male loudly revving engines of pricey vehicles, disrupting the otherwise tranquil evening.
The subjects were seated inside a red Porsche, a red Ferrari and a white Mercedes AMG, for no apparent reason other than intentionally being a nuisance with the vehicles running and emanating noises that once would have suggested a muffler needed replacing.
None of the four were listed as living within the Sarasota city limit.
After obtaining their information, the officer was informed by the complainant who worked for a property that she had asked them to leave, but they refused. She asked that all subjects be given trespass warnings. As a result, they were informed that should they return, they may face formal charges.
TUESDAY, MARCH 9
SOMEBODY’S WATCHING ME
11:27 a.m., 1600 block of 22nd Street
Disturbance: A woman convinced she was being followed and harassed by all airplanes and helicopters within SarasotaBradenton International Airport airspace, a postman delivering a package to her neighbor, a lawn company cutting grass in a nearby lot and Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office deputies finally took out her frustration on the driver of a white pickup who parked near her in a pizza restaurant parking lot.
While entering the parking lot she, was driving behind a white truck. She entered the lot in the oncoming lane and “aggressively passed” the truck, according the incident report, before parking.
The driver of the truck, meanwhile, backed into the space next to her, a practice that is generally enough to elicit anyone’s ire.
The woman then stepped out of her vehicle, stood in front of the
truck and yelled at the driver, “I know you are following me!” She then reported the driver intentionally lurched the truck forward before stopping. The complainant’s in-car video system recorded the alleged altercation, showing her verbally engaging the driver of the truck. It also recorded the truck moving forward, but was determined to not be with malicious intent, but rather adjusting its position within the space. The report also indicates it is common for large, diesel-powered vehicles to slightly lurch forward when the brake is released because of high-idle torque inherent to diesel engines. That matter settled, the officer turned attention toward the complainant, who claimed her mother is helping criminal organizations and unknown government entities follow and harass her. That prompted the officer to take her into protective custody.
Sarasota Children’s Museum signs 19K-square-foot lease
The lease for the museum is contingent on Sarasota County school board approval.
ELIZABETH KING BUSINESS OBSERVER
An emerging museum that has been gaining momentum has found its future home in Sarasota. The Sarasota Children’s Museum has signed a 19,000-square-foot lease at Wilkinson Elementary School. In a Monday morning social media post, museum officials say the deal is contingent upon approval by the Sarasota County Board, and they hope to have the keys in hand by July 1.
Volunteers have been working for more than two years to come up with a place for families in the Sarasota area that would be interactive and educational. The organization, launched by working moms and other women, registered as a nonprofit in November 2023.
“The nearest children’s museums are 50 to 60 miles away. Not anymore,” the Sarasota Children’s Museum says in the Facebook post.
When it opens, the Sarasota Children’s Museum will provide immersive learning experiences for
Boutique Living.
families at the campus on Wilkinson Road. There, the school operates at 50% capacity.
This past fall, the Sarasota Observer reported that Wilkinson Elementary had been considered for closure but was later moved onto a list of schools that would be transformed into K-8 campuses in the coming years. The goal for Wilkinson was to operate at 78% capacity in the 2028-29 academic year. It was not immediately available when the children’s museum may open. However, the plan when it does is to create regional appeal.
“This museum will serve children and families across Sarasota, Manatee, DeSoto and Charlotte counties — because access to extraordinary learning experiences should never depend on your ZIP code,” the organization says.
Signing a lease is the latest success for the group, which in February received a $250,000 grant from the Barancik Foundation so it could transition from all-volunteer to an executive director-led organization.
The Quiet Side of Downtown. The Best of Sarasota.
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.
Image via Sarasota Children’s Museum / Facebook
The Sarasota Children’s Museum has signed a lease at Wilkinson Elementary School.
By the water, in the water, on the water. Whenever you wish. Wherever you want. All this, steps to the city, yet tucked privately away on Golden Gate Point. In Sarasota, only Amara offers unobstructed city and bay views from every residence, along with the luxury of a private marina.
George Washington Rauch IV, known to everyone as Geordie, passed away unexpectedly on March 4, 2026, in Sarasota, Florida, after suffering a sudden cardiac event. He was 45 years old.
Geordie was born on May 22, 1980 in Sarasota and raised on Longboat Key, the beloved son of George W. Rauch III and Sally Rauch of Longboat Key, Florida. He grew up surrounded by the waters and natural beauty of the place he would always
Family was at the heart of Geordie’s life, and he loved them fiercely. He is survived by his loving wife, Katie, who has been by his side since before he left for Naval boot camp 22 years ago. They were married on April 21, 2007, and together built a beautiful life centered around their three children: George, Molly, and Patrick, who were the absolute pride and joy of his life.
He is also survived by his parents, George W. Rauch III and Sally Rauch; his sister, Ellie Falck, and her husband Vic Falck, along with their sons Hayne and Drew; and his brother, Andy Rauch, and his wife Stacy, along with their sons Logan and Luke.
Geordie graduated from Bradenton Christian School before earning his bachelor’s degree from the University of San Diego, where he fully embraced his love of the
ocean and spent as much time as possible surfing the California coast.
In 2005, following his calling to serve his country in the years after September 11, Geordie joined the United States Navy. True to his nature, he did nothing in moderation. Determined to challenge himself at the highest level, he pursued the grueling path of becoming a Navy SEAL. After completing Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training, he graduated from BUD/S on October 9, 2009—one of the proudest and happiest days of his life.
Geordie loved being a SEAL. He took deep pride in being part of a team, in the discipline and challenge of training, and in serving alongside the men who became his brothers. During his service he deployed to Iraq, where he was awarded the Naval Combat Action
Ribbon in recognition of his service.
After leaving the military in 2014, Geordie returned home to Sarasota and founded Calusa Brewing with his lifelong best friend and brother-in-law, Vic Falck. What began as a passion project grew into something much more—a place where community gathers, friendships form, and countless memories are made. Together they built a brand to be deeply proud of. Calusa Brewing will celebrate its 10th anniversary this April, a milestone that stands as a testament to their vision, hard work, and love for bringing people together.
Geordie felt closest to God in nature. Whether hiking the Tetons with his family or boating and fishing the waters near his home, those were the places where he felt most at peace and most himself. He had a gift
for finding joy in the little things—especially a funny video or story—and loved sharing those moments of laughter with others. Those who knew Geordie will remember his strength, humility, and deep loyalty. He loved quietly and fiercely, and he lived with a spirit of gratitude and grace.
One of Geordie’s tattoos was the third verse of the hymn Amazing Grace:
“Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come; ’Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far, and Grace will lead me home.”
Those words now feel especially true.
Vibrant Senior Living Coming Soon to Lakewood Ranch!
Emerson Lakes Is Now Accepting Reservations.
The first phase of construction is now underway. This includes the beautiful Coral Ridge Clubhouse and three residence buildings: Sandhill Point, anticipated to open in the fall of 2026, followed by Laguna Springs and Mangrove Run, opening in the first half of 2027.
Everyday Resort Living
Here are just a few resort-style amenities you can expect:
• Multiple dining venues
• Outdoor pool with a walk-up bar
• State-of-the-art fitness center
• Pickleball and bocce ball courts
• Outdoor fitness center with meditation garden
• Firepits
Predictable Costs, Exceptional Value
Our community’s smart financial structure will provide peace of mind and security by streamlining most bills into a simple monthly payment. Your Monthly Service Package covers:
• Utilities, maintenance, and property taxes
• Cable TV, internet, and landline phone
A Community You Can Trust
• Use of fitness center, pool, and dozens of other amenities
Emerson Lakes℠ is a part of Erickson Senior Living,® one of the largest senior living providers in the nation. Here, you’ll enjoy a maintenance-free, independent lifestyle backed by over 40 years of trusted experience.
SPORTS
FAST BREAK
“Even though you have to put in the hard work and practice all the time, it all pays off, because winning is fun.”
Ava DiPasquale, a 14-yearold swimmer for the Sarasota Tsunami, was crowned the 3K knockout women’s junior champion at the USA Swimming Open Water Junior National Championships. As part of the April 2-4 event at Nathan Benderson Park, the race entailed a successive 1,500-meter swim, 10-minute rest, 1,000-meter swim, five-minute rest and 500-meter swim. DiPasquale won the race by a “body length,” per Tsunami coach Ira Klein. She’s ranked sixth in Florida among girls age 13-14 for the 2025-26 season, and 79th nationally, per Swimcloud.
Noah Kumar, a 2020 Cardinal Mooney graduate, missed the cut at the LECOM Suncoast Classic, which was held from April 2-5 at Lakewood National Golf Club. He shot 71 in the first and second rounds — even par — but the cut line was set at three under par. It was Kumar’s first tournament on the Korn Ferry Tour after spending his 2025 season on the PGA Tour Americas. The winner of this year’s Suncoast Classic was Jeremy Gandon, a 29-year-old Frenchman, who shot 22 under par. ... Sarasota girls and boys basketball teams were named the academic champions in FHSAA Class 7A for their sport this season with cumulative team GPAs of 3.81 and 3.72, respectively. The boys finished with a 25-7 record and reached the first state title game in program history, falling to Miami Columbus 53-50. The girls posted a 14-13 record, but were led by senior guard Paisley Binswanger, who set the program’s all-time scoring record at 1,726 points.
... Sarasota baseball is approaching the end of its regular season, sitting at 18-4 as of April 6. The Sailors are powered at the plate by senior first baseman/outfielder Kole Ayrault and junior third baseman/right-hander/shortstop Braedon Mackay Ayrault carries a team-high .441 batting average with 23 RBIs in 68 at-bats, while Mackay has hit .409 with 31 RBIs in 66 at-bats. Mackay also boasts the team’s lowest ERA — 0.67 — among pitchers with 20-plus innings. Remaining games for Sarasota are vs. Cardinal Mooney at 4:30 p.m. April 9 and vs. Venice at 6 p.m. April 10.
Fundraising for their father
Chase and Drew Smith turned their grief into passion for pediatric cancer research.
REPORTER
“Hospice” is a heavy word.
It can take a toll on the relatives of affected individuals.
For those terminally ill patients, it’s an alternative to the pains of curative treatment. They can maximize their quality of life for however many days they have left.
Scott Smith’s esophageal cancer spread to his heart by August 2023. Two of his sons, Chase and Drew Smith, were beginning 10th and eighth grade, respectively, at the time.
When their father was put on hospice care, they were old enough to understand the time remaining with him was finite.
“It could be we have a few weeks with him. It could be months until the illness takes over,” said Chase Smith. “But all the hospice meant is we knew what the end would be.”
So they savored every moment they shared with Scott Smith before his death Oct. 14, 2023, at 55 years old. It wasn’t his first battle with the disease — his esophageal cancer was caused by radiation treatment he underwent for Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2012.
Less than a year later, Chase and Drew Smith sought to make a realworld difference in his memory. And they haven’t wavered from their mission.
Now a senior and sophomore at The Out-of-Door Academy, the two Sarasota residents held their
third annual fundraiser April 1 at the Thunder Classic track and field meet, benefiting pediatric cancer research through The V Foundation.
They’ve raised more than $30,000 in the past two years, and as of April 7, had raised $7,705 in 2026. They hope to collect $15,000 in donations this year when all is said and done.
“That sounds so crazy, just saying it,” said Chase Smith. “But this community has already proved to us twice that if we shoot for the stars, they’ll help us out.”
At the meet, the brothers set up a tent next to the track where people could make donations. The concession stand was stocked with Chickfil-A sandwiches — courtesy of the chain’s UTC location — for which all proceeds were donated.
They’ve partnered with The V Foundation since year one, feeling like the foundation best embodies their mission. Scott Smith, after all, was a close friend of Terri Vitale, the eldest daughter of Dick Vitale.
Vitale, a four-time cancer survivor himself, has raised $105.4 million for pediatric cancer research since his inaugural gala in 2005.
His name — legendary in the basketball world as an ESPN broadcaster — adorns the student center at ODA.
Much like Vitale with his passion project, Chase and Drew Smith have found pediatric cancer research is a cause people are eager to get behind.
“Even my friends who aren’t really filled in on the topic, necessarily, everyone seems to want to support,” said Drew Smith. “Especially being my friends, but also for just how big of a cause it is.”
They knew it was the right initiative. And they knew their school was the right place.
So the next step was finding an event that resonated with what they wanted to achieve.
A home track and field meet piqued their interest. At ODA, those are free for the public to attend.
Because spectators are accustomed to paying for high school sporting events, the brothers trusted those people would have dollars to give.
Their choice was also inspired by their father, who had a lifetime love for the out-
doors. Chase Smith still hasn’t forgotten his childhood memories of riding their bikes, playing baseball or football together in their back yard.
The family moved to Florida from New York when he was 6 years old because Scott Smith wanted his kids to grow up in a place where they could enjoy the outdoors year-round.
“Although there are other events that happen on campus where there will be lots of people, not all of it’s going to be related to sports,” said Chase Smith. “It would have been something my dad would have loved to come to — just to watch my friends run.”
Chase and Drew Smith were 15 and 13 years old, respectively, when their father died. They were toddlers during his first battle with cancer, but during his second, were old enough to understand the warning hospice carried.
They know lots of families never had that luxury. Many lose their loved ones without any warning at all.
So the brothers maintain gratitude for the time they had with their father, no matter how challenging it was to see esophageal cancer run its course.
“It’s difficult to see someone who you’ve idolized your entire life start becoming less capable and seeing them in pain,” said Chase Smith. “It’s something I wouldn’t wish on anybody.”
Chase Smith, who’s a finalist for this year’s National Merit Scholarship, won’t be around to spearhead next year’s fundraiser. He’ll be a college freshman, away on a new adventure.
This was Drew Smith’s first year being fully involved in planning and executing the fundraiser, as other school volunteers supported his older brother in years past.
Next year and beyond represent his opportunity to carry the torch.
“ODA is very helpful for students in what they’re passionate about,” said Drew Smith. “If you’re able to go at it and try to get grants or donations for something you care about, it can be really impactful for students and the organization.”
The brothers have fought for pediatric cancer research in their father’s memory. They’ve done so for three years running, with no plans to stop in 2027.
What would Scott Smith say to them now, if he himself attended their fundraiser?
“I’m sure he’d have some sort of pun or corny Midwest phrase to go with,” said Chase Smith. “But I think he’d be amazed.”
HOW TO DONATE
If interested in supporting Chase and Drew Smith’s initiative, you can donate at VFoundation. DonorDrive.com/ Campaigns/2026Out-of-Door-Academy-Track-AndField-ConcessionsFundrai.
The V Foundation was co-founded in 1993 by ESPN and Jim Valvano, former NC State men’s basketball coach, who died from bone cancer later that year. It has since funded over $458 million in cancer research grants throughout North America.
Image courtesy of USA Swimming
Ava DiPasquale became a junior national champion at the USA Swimming Open Water Junior National Championships.
— Kayleigh Bergstrom, Cardinal Mooney girls lacrosse SEE PAGE 18A
JACK NELSON SPORTS
Drew Smith (left) and Chase Smith are two of Scott Smith’s six children. He’s also survived by Nicholas Smith, of Noblesville, Indiana, Jacob Smith. of New Orleans, Alexa DeBartolo, of New York City and Ashley DeBartolo of Miami.
Photos by Jack Nelson
Chase Smith (left) and Drew Smith have raised nearly $40,000 for pediatric cancer research, as of April
7. This was the first year Drew Smith was fully involved, after Chase Smith ran the fundraiser in 2024 and 2025.
PGA Tour Champions could use a jolt of charisma
Some Happy Gilmore emotion would be welcome at next week’s Senior PGA.
Doing Happy Gilmore’s bull dance and feeling the flow.
Cursing out a ball for not going to its home.
Happy’s bad-mannered approach to golf ruffled a few feathers, but for most, it was mesmerizing. His unapologetic antithesis to stoicism drew unprecedented crowds to courses.
Albeit an extreme depiction, the Dennis Dugan-directed comedy classic showed golf fans and outsiders alike in 1996 that charisma can, in fact, go hand in hand with the sport.
It’s time the PGA Tour Champions took a page out of that script — minus the copious drinking and profanity. These golfers might be 50 or older, but that doesn’t mean they have to act their age.
Allowing emotions to shine through at The Concession Golf Club from April 16-19 would also improve the Senior PGA Championship’s entertainment value. As a whole, the senior circuit is in need of some flair.
“This is the sports psychology generation that’s rolling into town,” said Bradenton’s Paul Azinger, the 1993 PGA Championship winner, and U.S. captain for the 2008 Ryder Cup. “These guys think differently. They think like champions. But it’s not like it was, where you have all this charisma flying off these players.”
The legends will compete in Lakewood Ranch April 16-19.
Among them will be six World Golf Hall of Famers, 11 former Senior PGA Champions and 21 past PGA Tour Major champions.
Stewart Cink, Zach Johnson and David Toms top the seasonlong points list, as of April 6, and they will be joined at The Concession by Vijay Singh, Ernie Els and Bernhard Langer.
The names alone make this tournament worth watching for locals. These players’ talents — despite their age — are objectively impressive on this stage.
Azinger, who is the Golf Channel analyst for PGA Tour Champions, said Cink and Els are must-watches for him. He’s also eager to see
Johnson’s short shots and Steve Stricker’s wedge game. His bucket list extends further.
“I want to see what Steven Alker looks like in person. I haven’t really noticed him, but now he’s such a dominant player,” Azinger said. “Then you’ve got Langer … you start to get an understanding of the precision that’s required to play great. It’s not about size — you just have to be accurate. And that’s what he represents.” Greatness, though, can only be so strong of a magnet. Golf fans have
always been attracted to players who are moved by triumph and failure, or those who allow emotions to flow freely.
People tune in or go in person to see those reactions. But as it stands, the senior circuit needs more charismatic players.
Interest in the PGA Tour Champions has declined in recent years.
Per the U.S. Television Database, the average audience for senior events on Golf Channel in 2023 peaked at 280,000 viewers. In 2025, peak viewership was much less — 203,000.
Since the database’s earliest available numbers in April 2022, the three highest peaks have been 310,000 on May 28 of that year, 280,000 on July 14, 2023 and 284,300 on Jan. 24, 2026. Those dates coincided with the Senior PGA Championship, Kaulig Companies Championship, and Mitsubishi Electric Championship, respectively.
The drop — at least, in part — is due to a lack of players who grab and keep people’s attention. This is no longer the era of entertainers such as Chi Chi Rodriguez and Jack Nicklaus. John Daly will be in the field at The Concession, but he hasn’t won on the PGA Tour Champions since 2017.
A subtle tip of the cap or gracious wave might be the lion’s share of emotion that spectators will witness at The Concession next week.
“I wish somebody could do a dance or something after they made a birdie,” Azinger said. “I’m not everyone, but I told my grandson, ‘Bud, you need to learn how to moonwalk and not scratch the greens after you make a putt.’”
The root of the problem is that Tiger Woods has yet to appear on the senior circuit, despite being eligible. Phil Mickelson won four Champions Tour events in six appearances, but then went to LIV. Charisma oozes out of both of them.
Combined, those two have won 21 Majors on the PGA Tour, which is the same number of former major champions who will appear at this year’s Senior PGA Championship. Woods has stepped away from competitive golf to focus on his health following his March 27 arrest on suspicion of DUI in a rollover crash. Mickelson, meanwhile, has been with rival LIV Golf.
Their absences have stripped the PGA Tour Champions of more than just two bona fide golfing greats. They’re also some of the game’s most charismatic representatives. Both Woods and Mickelson seem to share Azinger’s philosophy. “I enjoyed making that putt as much as you did clapping for it,” Azinger said. “That’s the way I feel. If you’re going to clap, I’m going to let you know I also enjoyed it.”
While there won’t be a Woods or Mickelson at The Concession, there is some charisma. It would be unfair to overlook Rocco Mediate or Daly, who at ages 63 and 59, respectively, still play styles of golf which can be entertaining.
The PGA Tour Champions doesn’t need golfers trading punches with game show hosts or diving into hazards to wrestle alligators for lost balls, and we know real-life re-creations of Happy Gilmore aren’t likely. But wouldn’t it be fun to see figures of similarly unfiltered charisma?
Jack Nelson is the sports reporter for the East County and Sarasota/Siesta Key Observers. Contact him at JNelson@ YourObserver.com.
APRIL 18 • 1:00PM- 3:00PM
Ernie Els reads the green at The Concession during the 2023 World Champions Cup. He’s No. 6 on the PGA Tour Champions money standings, as of April 6, and will be playing the Senior PGA Championship.
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Kayleigh Bergstrom
The postseason has arrived for Cardinal Mooney girls lacrosse. It begins against Saint Stephen’s Episcopal at 7 p.m. April 10 in pursuit of the FHSAA Class 1A-District 10 title.
But that’s not the only accolade within Kayleigh Bergstrom’s reach.
The sophomore midfielder is on the cusp of 100 goals this season for the Cougars, having scored a team-high 86, as of April 6. Bergstrom is the Sarasota Athlete of the Week.
What has enabled you to be a prolific scorer this season?
Just working as a team. Knowing exactly where everyone is on the field, when I should cut and when I can take a second to let everyone else get through as well, so that we all have equal opportunities.
How has this season compared to what your goals were coming in?
I definitely went into this season wanting to be better than I was last season and really make a big impact. I think that’s what I’m doing with my stats and everything increasing.
Why do you think your team has been successful?
We’ve really worked together this year, and we’ve had great chemistry on and off the field. There’s been no problems or drama or anything, because we do all just love each other and want what’s best for each other.
What do you think of Saint Stephen’s Episcopal as a first-round opponent?
I feel pretty good since we had a win against them earlier in the season. But anything can happen.
How have you worked to improve? I’ve definitely been trying to always see the open person and always think one or two steps ahead. I would never want to just take the ball myself and then lose it, in a way, when there’s open girls. So I’m just really working hard on constantly having my head on a swivel and being aware of everything in the game.
When and why did you start playing lacrosse?
I started playing in kindergarten. My older siblings had played, and my older brother (Duke Bergstrom) in particular. We were playing in the back yard and I was using his stick and everything. I just decided I really liked it.
Why have you stuck with it?
There’s definitely been ups and downs, but no matter what, anytime I’m out there during the game, I’m just genuinely having fun. That’s something that I really enjoy. Even though you have to put in the hard work and practice all the time, it all pays off, because winning is fun.
What quote or piece of advice have you always carried with you?
Coaches like to tell me a lot, “One play is not just one person’s fault.” That really helps me because if I have a mistake or something, I get in my head a lot and think that whatever happens from that play was all my fault. But there’s things that lead up to that and after that, so just one mistake does not define you as a player.
If you could go anywhere for a dream vacation, where would you go and why?
I want to go to Italy so bad. I think it’s so pretty and I love seeing all these videos and photos there. I would just love to be there.
9,
Hoppy moments
Even before 10 a.m. on April 4, a line had formed outside the gazebo at Siesta Key Village, where the Easter Bunny was seated.
The bunny also remained busy for the rest of the morning, with a steady procession of kids and, sometimes, adults.
“I was blown away by the turnout,” said Laura O’Donnell, organizer of the event, which involved the participation of a variety of local businesses.
As owner of the recently opened home and gift store Bungalow Imports in Siesta Key Village, and the mother of three — Ivy, 2, Ellie Beril, 4, and Sienna Moon, 13 — she wanted to do something for the community and for its kids.
While the egg hunt usually held by the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce did not take place this year, the Key
nonetheless had the chance to enjoy a free community celebration with the event.
“I love the small-town feel,” she said of the area. “I love the locals, all of the local business owners, and so I wanted to do something that could give back to all of the families and anybody with kids who wanted to come and see the Easter Bunny.”
With door-to-door visits, O’Donnell obtained donations for gift bags offered to the first 140 kids, as well as giveaway baskets.
The major gift bag donation came from Wendall Jacobsen of Beach Bazaar, who says he donated almost $600 worth of products, while Realtor Dan MacKinnon helped with social media and created an event website.
— IAN SWABY
CEO
and Laura O’Donnell
Maria Morley, her son Lorenzo Morley, 8, and Nico Manzano, 8, meet the Easter Bunny.
Pace DeMarchi, 4, and Weslie DeMarchi, 6, leave with gift bags.
Luke Loudermilk, 1, meets the Easter Bunny.
Brice Hyland, 2, likes the contents of his gift bags.
Ellie Beril O’Donnell, 4, surprises the Easter Bunny.
Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce
Sarah Firstenberger, Renee Chase
Photos by Ian Swaby
Walking as one
Early on Good Friday, Jayne Cobb was standing at Main Street with a group from Covenant Mennonite Fellowship. They were among many denominations present for the Stations of the Cross walk, an Easter week tradition downtown. Cobb said the group likes to come out to be part of the event each year.
“I really enjoy being with people of different faiths anyway, and other Christians walking toward a single goal warms my heart,” she said. She also noted the event’s ethnic and gender balance of religious leaders.
The walk, along most of Main Street from U.S. 301 to the west, is part of a tradition that grew out of the processional route, the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem.
Participants stop at 14 stations, each representing a part of the story of Jesus’ crucifixion.
This year was the event’s 30th anniver-
sary, started by Church of the Redeemer, while it also marks 25 years of the Sarasota Ministerial Association conducting it alongside the church.
The event regularly draws a turnout of about 1,000 people, and the Rev. Tom Pfaff, president of the Sarasota Ministerial Association, estimated that it had reached that mark again.
Attendee AJ Scheip said the chance to be part of an event involving many people was an opportunity for spiritual growth.
“We can receive grace, and we’re able to build each other up, so I think that’s the biggest thing for me is that I’m able to build myself up from other people,” he said. “Iron sharpens iron, so when I find other people, that gives me more grace.” He said the No. 1 factor that drew him to the walk was the opportunity for “public witness,” with the event taking place in a public setting outside local shops and restaurants.
“Of course, it’s Good Friday,” he said. “There’s that religious side, but there’s the freedom side, to be able to practice.”
— IAN SWABY
Photos by Ian Swaby
The Rev. Mason Waldhauser, associate rector for adult formation at Church of the Redeemer, leads the walk.
Timothy Abramov, Christiana Victor, Elyse Byler, Rose Prophete, Grace Prophete and Joy Prophete sing along to music led by Sara Wright (not pictured) at First Sarasota Church.
High-flying festivities
This year, the venue was the Sarasota Fairgrounds instead of Payne Park.
Nonetheless, the annual Good Friday event by First Sarasota Church continued a trend of drawing thousands.
To match the turnout, Good Friday at the Sarasota Fairgrounds also featured about 50,000 Easter eggs across the various egg hunts for different ages, with some of them dropped from a helicopter.
“Even adults were impressed with the helicopter egg hunt,” said attendee Victoria Kafando. “It’s amazing.”
The event also included inflatables, a rock climbing wall and face painting, with activities breaking for a Good Friday Worship Service.
“At our church, we want to reach everyone, but we especially want to communicate to the next generation, so that’s why we do things like this,” said Pastor John Cross. “We have thousands of kids and parents together to have fun and also to hear about God’s love.”
— IAN SWABY
Pastor John Cross (center) speaks to attendees during the Good Friday Worship Service.
Zaden Daniels, 5, sorts through some eggs.
Photos by Ian Swaby Eggs are dropped from the helicopter.
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.
Seder and solidarity
IAN
SWABY STAFF WRITER
rene Ross says Passover is a celebration of freedom, and that she was glad to have the chance to enjoy it with family.
“We’re grateful that we have that freedom,” she said. “Not everybody does. There’s a lot of problems in the world, and so my main word would be ‘grateful’ we can be together.”
The Passover Seder is a meal traditionally observed at home. However, about 310 people turned out for the Passover Seder held by Temple Emanu-El on April 1 at The Ora.
The feast, held at the start of the holiday, includes symbolic foods and rituals that relate to the story of the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt.
Rabbi Brenner Glickman, who led the ceremony, said the core message of Passover is one of redemption.
For Ross, Passover was also an occasion affirming a state of order.
“The word Seder means order, so if I say, how are you, and you say ‘beseder,’ that means everything’s good, everything’s in order,” she said. “That is why we use the book, and we eat our dinners in a certain order. There is a lot of tradition in this holiday.”
“We tell the story of how our ancestors were slaves in Egypt, and God heard our cries and redeemed us, saved us with extraordinary miracles, 10 plagues, the parting waters of the Red Sea, and brought us through to freedom,” Glickman said. “And in telling that story, we remember our history, and we listen out for people today who are oppressed, and pray that someday, all people will be free.”
The temple also offered a Passover to-go meal for those members who did not plan to cook.
“It means so much because we all have a lot of fret and worry about our world today,” he said. “To come together in a spirit of celebration and community to perform rituals and eat the foods that we remember from our childhood and every year since, it fills us with a lot of happiness. And ultimately, the message of the Seder is one of hope: that even though Pharaohs continue to live today that torment us, that someday, there’ll be a true freedom for everyone. Someday, everyone will be able to eat. Someday, everyone will be able to live together in peace. And that is our ultimate prayer that concludes our Seder. That’s our ultimate goal.” Attendees highlighted the significance the holiday held for them.
Michael Harshman said the meal was a chance to enjoy the kinds of large Passover gatherings he once did in Ohio, which he says no longer happen, with his sister and parents now gone.
“It makes me think about a long time ago when we were in a different part of the world, and every Passover, we had a large gathering of family, and that doesn’t happen anymore,” he said.
For Temple Emanu-El Past President Michael Richker, Passover holds a unique meaning, alongside his other favorite holiday.
“I was released from my slavery of my addiction on Thanksgiving, and the Jews were let go their slavery from bondage on Passover, so that’s why Passover and Thanksgiving are my two favorite holidays,” he said. Thanksgiving is the anniversary of his sobriety date 37 years ago, in 1989.
Meanwhile, at the time of Passover, he looks to observe the holiday’s traditions.
“I eat matzah,” he said. “Even when I go out at a restaurant, I don’t eat bread. I come to a Seder. I make sure that my children, who live in Chicago, observe Seder.”
ing mindful of the overall financial picture. You don’t need to be an expert to explore these options; your trusted advisor or Gulf Coast Community Foundation can help guide you through what makes the most sense for your situation.
When donors have a clear strategy, they are better equipped to respond to opportunities and challenges as they arise. With the right support and a clear sense of your goals, giving becomes less about complexity and more about connection—connecting your values with real impact in your community. Above all, confidence in philanthropy comes from knowing you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Ultimately, navigating philanthropy with clarity and confidence means asking the right questions: What are my goals? Which assets are best suited for giving? How can timing enhance both impact and tax outcomes? With the right guidance and a willingness to plan ahead, giving becomes not just something you do—it moves from transactional to intentional, and more importantly into something you feel good about every step of the way.
Navigating philanthropy today requires more than generosity— it calls for clarity, strategy, and confidence. As charitable giving becomes increasingly intertwined with financial planning, tax considerations, and evolving assets, donors and professional advisors alike have an opportunity to approach philanthropy in a more intentional and impactful way.
tax rules, emotional decision-making, and the types of assets donors actually hold. Whether a donor is selling a business, preparing for retirement, or thinking about the future of their family, these moments create natural opportunities to align charitable goals with broader financial plans. Approaching these decisions thoughtfully helps ensure that giving is both meaningful and effective.
more confident when it’s time to act. It’s also helpful to remember that giving isn’t limited to cash. Many people choose to give in other ways like donating stocks or property, which can sometimes be a smart way to support causes they care about while also be-
For many people, philanthropy rarely exists in isolation. It often intersects with major life events, complex
While tax season often puts philanthropy top of mind, it doesn’t have to be a last-minute decision. In fact, some of the most effective giving happens when there’s a plan in place ahead of time. Thinking about your charitable goals early in the year can make the process smoother and help you feel
Ian Swaby Steve Ross, his mother Irene Ross and sister Kimberly Ross
2025 San Remo Estates
ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR
Paradise Land Holdings
LLC sold the home at 3621 San Remo Terrace to Garrett Wickham, trustee, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, for $8.5 million. Built in 2025, it has five bedrooms, five-and-two-half baths, a pool and 5,461 square feet of living area.
SARASOTA
HARBOR ACRES
Virginia Campbell sold the home at 1504 S. Orange Ave. to Sharon Broadway and Carey McKenzie, of Sarasota, for $1.75 million. Built in 1954, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 3,238 square feet of living area. It sold for $96,000 in 1983.
CHEROKEE PARK
Johnson Savary Jr. and Laura Fern Rees, of Sarasota, Mary Elizabeth Savary Taylor, of Vienna, Virginia, trustees, sold the home at 1671 South Drive to Alex Ramos and Lynette Muzaurieta Ramos, of Siesta Key, for $1.64 million. Built in 1948, it has four bedrooms, fourand-a-half baths, a pool and 4,767 square feet of living area.
RIDGEWOOD
Edward Sinjorgo and Elizabeth Schroder, of Sarasota, sold their home at 2305 Pine Terrace to Jacqueline Assuncao and Timothy Milway, of Sarasota, for $1.45 million. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 2,892 square feet of living area. It sold for $775,000 in 2019.
E Land Development LLC sold the home at 2335 Oak Terrace to Theodore Michael Royal and Ilona Davidovich, of Sarasota, for $1.3 million. Built in 2025, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,250 square feet of living area.
POMS PARK Maiden Lane Property LLC sold the home at 2318 Bay St. to Kristin West, of Sarasota, for $1,376,000. Built in 2024, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,421 square feet of living area.
THE LANDINGS
Susan Rand Lewis and Cynthia Lee Hutchings, trustees, of Sarasota, sold the home at 4761 Pine Harrier Drive to Karen Chamberlain, trustee, of Sarasota, for $1,305,000. Built in 1987, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,795 square feet of living area. It sold for $560,000 in 2003.
THE MOORINGS AT BAY POINTE
Mary Sterling-Wiener, of Sarasota, sold her home at 1622 Bay Point Court to Artem and Inna Korban, of Sarasota, for $1,225,000. Built in 1990, it has two bedrooms, three baths and 2,733 square feet of living area. It sold for $295,000 in 1995.
MARK SARASOTA
Ann Walborn, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the Unit 604 condominium at 111 S. Pineapple Ave. to Sharon Feil, trustee, of Chicago, for $1.1 million.
Built in 2019, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,513 square feet of living area. It sold for $683,400 in 2019.
THE DEMARCAY
Nancy Cooper Robb sold the Unit 1602 condominium at 33 S. Palm Ave. to Craig Postlewalt and Diane Weinberg, of Saint Michaels, Maryland, for $1,075,000. Built in 2024, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,412 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,915,000 in 2024.
LONG MEADOW
Vadim Latyshevich, of Sarasota, sold his home at 2222 Webber St. to Edward Sinjorgo and Elizabeth Schroder, of Sarasota, for $925,000. Built in 2024, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,854 square feet of living area.
FLORENCE
Marvin Cundiff and Doris Cundiff, trustees, of Sarasota, sold the home at 5910 Briarwood Ave. to Michael Stern and Susan Lenzi Stern, of Bedminster, New Jersey, for $875,000. Built in 2011, it has two bedrooms, three baths and 1,183 square feet of living area. It sold for $455,000 in 2006.
EMBASSY HOUSE
Frank Fashard Vaziri and Effat Vaziri Ghazi sold their Unit 404 condominium at 770 S. Palm Ave. to John and Sandra Goddard, of Sarasota, for $820,000. Built in 1975, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,408 square feet of living area. It sold for $555,000 in 2016.
THE LANDINGS TREEHOUSE
Arthur Levenson and Jamie Krasnow, trustees, of Sarasota, sold the Unit 32 condominium at 1493
Landings Lake Drive to John and Dayle Kellner, of Sarasota, for $675,000. Built in 1981, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 2,176 square feet of living area. It sold for $550,000 in 2020.
GULF GATE WOODS
Charles Craig Cort and Susan Cort, trustees, of Sarasota, sold the home
at 2876 Hardee Drive to Jacob and Lauren Poleyeff, of West Orange, New Jersey, for $667,500. Built in 1973, it has three bedrooms, twoand-a-half baths, a pool and 1,974 square feet of living area. It sold for $72,800 in 1978.
SIESTA KEY:
$3.9 MILLION
Siesta Cove
William Wagner, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the home at 5326 Siesta Cove Drive to Cherie Walker, trustee, of Sarasota, for $3.9 million. Built in 2018, it has five bedrooms, six baths, a pool and 4,435 square feet of living area. It sold for $825,000 in 2017.
PALMER RANCH:
$1.3 MILLION
Deer Creek
David Anthony Federico and Mary Federico, of Sarasota, sold their home at 8687 Woodbriar Drive to Diane Eisner Stroud, of Sarasota, for $1.3 million. Built in 1993, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 2,894 square feet of living area. It sold for $712,000 in 2019.
OSPREY: $550,000
Willowbend
Marina Vyshetsky, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the home at 510 Latitude Lane to Jeanne Cantu, of Los Angeles, for $550,000. Built in 2004, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,298 square feet of living area. It sold for $487,000 in 2020.
Courtesy of Realtor Jules Lojacono Mackie and B Positive Photography
The home at 3621 San Remo Terrace was built in 2025 and has five bedrooms, five-and-two-half baths, a pool and 5,461 square feet of living area.
YOUR CALENDAR
FRIDAY, APRIL 10 TO SUNDAY APRIL 12
SARASOTA BRADENTON HOME SHOW
10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Robarts Arena, 3000 Ringling Blvd. Free. This event offers the chance to engage with home improvement professionals in an interactive environment offering home, landscaping, and design resources. Visit HomeShowFlorida.com.
SATURDAY, APRIL 11
WESTCOAST BLACK THEATRE
TROUPE: ALLIGATORS & FLAMINGOS
BEST BET WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14
SPRING FEST
5:30-8 p.m. at Sarasota Police Department, 2099 Adams Lane. Free. The Sarasota Police Department is hosting its inaugural Spring Fest. The event features live music, free food and face painting, as well as offerings from the department, including emergency vehicles; police dog team, dive team and specialty unit demos; the marine patrol and traffic unit, the explosive materials unit and emergency response team, criminalistics and a junior SWAT challenge. Visit SarasotaFL.gov.
TUESDAY, APRIL 14
ARTS & CRAFTS: CHERRY
BLOSSOMS & SPRING TREES
11 a.m. to noon at Common Ground, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. Enjoy a free performance of Alligators & Flamingos by Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe at The Bay. In this show, from a series called “Rhythm & Tales,” Herbert the alligator wants only alligators to swim in Lodi Swamp, but Terry the flamingo knows that isn’t fair. The series teaches children about kindness, understanding and doing the right thing. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.
WALK TO DEFEAT ALS
Check in at 9 a.m., walk at 10 a.m. at Payne Park, 2010 Adams Lane. The Walk to Defeat ALS benefits education, support groups, access to care and advocacy against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, to provide hope to people living with ALS and their families. For information, visit ALS. org.
SATURDAY, APRIL 11
TO SUNDAY, APRIL 12
BAYFRONT SPRING ART IN THE PARK
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at J.D. Hamel Park, 199 Bayfront Drive. Free. This new arts and crafts show features various creations, gifts, apparel and accessories. Visit SarasotaFL.gov.
MONDAY, APRIL 12
SIGNATURE ARTISTS AT THE BAY: THE SARASOTA BALLET STUDIO COMPANY
6-7 p.m. at The Oval, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. The Sarasota Ballet Studio Company and students from The Margaret Barbieri Conservatory perform. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.
2-4 p.m. at Gulf Gate Library, 7112 Curtiss Ave. Free. Create a cherry blossom trinket dish. This is a twopart class, and the second half will feature a watercolor springtime tree painting. All materials will be provided. No registration is required; first come, first seated. Line-up tickets will be available at the reference desk one hour before the event. Visit SCGovLibrary.LibraryMarket.com.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15
JAZZ MASTERS SERIES: JAMES SUGGS QUINTET PRESENTS THE MUSIC OF LOUIS ARMSTRONG 1-2 p.m. at Selby Library, 1331 First St. Free. Join the Jazz Club of Sarasota in celebrating Jazz Appreciation Month with a tribute to Louis Armstrong. This series of four one-hour concerts is part of the Jazz Masters Series. Registration required. Visit SCGovLibrary.LibraryMarket.com.
THURSDAY, APRIL 16
CINEMA AT THE BAY: ‘APOLLO 13’
7-9:20 p.m. at The Oval, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. Enjoy a free outdoor movie under the stars at The Bay with “Apollo 13” (PG), commemorating the 56th anniversary of the extraordinary mission in which, after a serious internal spacecraft failure, NASA had to improvise a strategy to return three astronauts safely to Earth. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.
First Physicians Group is delighted to announce the addition of Neurosurgery and Spine Specialists to our award-winning healthcare system.
As part of this exciting transition, they will now operate under the name First Physicians Group Neurosurgery and Spine Specialists.
With over 30 years of expertise in neurological surgery for the brain, spine, peripheral nerves and surrounding structures, Neurosurgery and Spine Specialists has delivered exceptional care for patients with cerebrovascular diseases, brain conditions and tumors, hydrocephalus, spine conditions, peripheral nerve conditions, Parkinson’s disease, and intractable epilepsy.
As part of First Physicians Group the dedicated professionals of Neurosurgery and Spine Specialists including Drs. Robert Knego, Peter Mayer, Kenneth Vives, Ryan Glasser, and Andrew Fine, will continue providing the same services and level of care that patients have come to expect and rely on, but now with the backing of the entire Sarasota Memorial Health Care System and its quest to provide comprehensive and seamless healthcare to our community.
NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH
present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another. “HOVPNZV MNCCOVCKTV, QNZ’II TKGKL XVSLV, FZV CNLK OCANLVSTVIQ, HOVPNZV MNTXOXVKTMQ, QNZ’II TKGKL WOTOXP.” EKTBKI HSXPOTUVNT
