Raining Berries, a new coffee shop at Southside Village, is celebrating its grand opening with a special guest appearance by former MLB pitcher Edwin Jackson, a World Series champion with the St. Louis Cardinals. He pitched for the Tampa Bay Rays early in his baseball career and played from 2003 to 2019 with various teams.
Jackson owns the shop with former Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl and current Pittsburgh Steelers star Kenneth Gainwell. Customers will have a chance to meet Jackson and receive gifts including signed baseballs, while supplies last.
The event runs from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 21 at 1935 S. Osprey Ave. For updates, visit the Raining Berries Southside Village page on Facebook.
Parking for major events is a flat $5 fee and free on Sundays. Even though parking is free that first hour, the city reminds drivers that they must still register upon parking. Visit SarasotaFL.gov for more information.
WEEK OF JUNE 19, 2025
BY THE NUMBERS
“We never envisioned our downtown to be a bar scene as it is today, with all the problems of excessive loud partying.”
Former City Commissioner and Mayor Mollie Cardamone
Read more on page 5A
Mote Marine begins its process of moving aquarium
July 6 will be the last day members of the public can visit the Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium facility on City Island, the organization announced Wednesday afternoon.
The marine center is transitioning its public outreach to a $132 million facility west of I-75 near University Town Center.
Under the name Mote Science Education Aquarium, the new center at Nathan Benderson Park will center around public education. When first announcing the project in 2018, experts anticipated it could draw upward of 700,000 visitors in its first year.
That means the City Islandbased facility will be closed to
the public during the transition, allowing researchers to focus on animal rehabilitation and research.
“Mote’s long-standing plan in the preparation for the new facility has included a period of time where operations at Mote Aquarium on City Island would transition to focus efforts on animal quarantine and transfer, as well as staff and volunteer training for Mote SEA operations,” the organization said in a public release.
Visitors have only a few weeks to get tickets for their last visits to the center.
“The following day, July 7, all operations at Mote Aquarium on
City Island will transition to dedicated preparation and support for the opening of Mote SEA,” the release continues.
The center said it does not yet have a date set for opening the new facility, the timeline for which hinges upon water parameters and quarantine procedures for moving the animals there.
“This major transition period is an extremely exciting milestone along the pathway to a grand opening for Mote SEA, where Mote will continue to open a window into the globally significant marine science research conducted at Mote Marine Laboratory,” the statement said.
Chamber earns national accreditation
Citing its sound policies, effective procedures, and positive community impact, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has awarded the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce a 5-Star Accreditation.
According to the news release, the U.S. Chamber’s Accreditation Program promotes excellence in the chamber industry and fosters a pro-business environment. To earn accreditation, a chamber must meet standards in governance, government affairs, communications, and technology.
Local chambers are rated as Accredited, 3 Stars, 4 Stars or 5 Stars. State chambers are recognized as either Accredited State Chamber or Accredited State Chamber with Distinction. The Accrediting Board, a committee of U.S. Chamber board members, makes the determination.
Newsweek ranks SMH among nation’s best Sarasota Memorial Hospital has received national recognition for excellence in specialty care, named by Newsweek in its 2025 rankings of America’s Best Hospitals for Specialized Care.
The hospital was listed among the best hospitals in the nation across five specialties,including:
• America’s Best Hospitals for Cardiac Care 2025, No. 158
• America’s Best Hospitals for Endocrine Care 2025, No. 171
• America’s Best Hospitals for Neurological Care 2025, No. 132
• America’s Best Hospitals for Orthopedic Care 2025, No. 200
• America’s Best Hospitals for Pulmonary Care 2025, No. 174
According to Newsweek, the specialty rankings are based on an evaluation of performance including quality of care, patient outcomes, recommendations from medical professionals and accreditations from global health organizations.
“It’s an honor to have our teams recognized for their extraordinary work to provide the best care to our patients and community,” said David Verinder, CEO of Sarasota Memorial Health Care System, in a news release.
last day the Mote Aquarium on City Island will be open to visitors will be July 6. Mote is planning to open its new facility soon near Benderson Park.
A more resilient St. Armands?
Now that Sarasota County has received approval from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, its plan is to spend, in general terms, $210 million in hurricane recovery grant money. Local jurisdictions are submitting requests for a share of those dollars.
Dubbed Resilient SRQ, the county’s action plan earmarks buckets of funds for creek dredging, roadway and bridge improvements, flood mitigation and other infrastructure.
The city of Sarasota has submitted applications for four projects, including a request for $10 million to address recurring flooding problems on St. Armands Key with an emphasis on one of the county’s economic engines, St. Armands Circle.
The other three project applications, all on the mainland, are Hudson Bayou Resiliency and Stormwater Mitigation, $5.7 million; Whitaker Bayou Resiliency and Stormwater Mitigation, $14.5 million; and Sarasota Stormwater Resiliency and Flood Mitigation Initiative, $11.93 million.
Compelling arguments can be made for each of the proposed projects, but perhaps none more so than St. Armands, which flooded three times during the 2024 hurricane season and has suffered multiple freshwater flood events in recent years.
Consistent failures of the overwhelmed pump and drain system on St. Armands have resulted in regularly flooding businesses in the lowlying St. Armands Circle and the older ground-level homes that surround the business district. Storm surge from both hurricanes Helene and Milton engulfed the Circle with several feet of water, forcing nearly all retailers, restaurants and other businesses to close for weeks or even months as they cleaned up, dried up and fixed up their establishments.
“I often hear that St. Armands is the county’s number one tourist destination, and if that is true, I would hope that the county says, ‘What can we do to protect this asset?’” said Chris Goglia, president of the St. Armands Residents Association. “It’s not just the city’s asset, it’s the county’s asset, and they need to make sure that businesses can open in weeks, if not days, instead of months and to make sure that the roads are open so that tourism and commerce can continue.”
Goglia’s assessment of the popu-
ST. ARMANDS RESILIENCY AND FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECT
The St. Armands Resiliency and Flood Mitigation Project is a comprehensive effort to reduce storm-related flooding, strengthen stormwater infrastructure and enhance coastal resilience for one of Sarasota’s most critical commercial and residential areas.
KEY PROJECT COMPONENTS
Stormwater Drainage System
Enhancements:
■ Upgrade pump stations with corrosionresistant equipment and backup generators and design to 100-year storm
■ Install tide backflow prevention devices at stormwater outfalls
■ Improve weirs and control structures to better regulate stormwater flow
MORE THAN ST. ARMANDS
HUDSON BAYOU RESILIENCY AND STORMWATER MITIGATION
Project description:
The Hudson Bayou Resiliency and Stormwater Mitigation Project is a critical flood mitigation and water quality improvement initiative that will enhance the stormwater conveyance capacity of the Hudson Bayou through dredging, bank stabilization and improved stormwater outfalls.
Key project components:
■ Comprehensive design, engineering and permitting for environmental compliance
■ Dredging the entire Hudson Bayou to restore depth and improve stormwater conveyance
■ Sediment testing and safe disposal of dredged materials at approved upland sites
■ Bank stabilization and native vegetation planting to reduce future erosion and sedimentation
■ Stormwater infrastructure improvements, including upgrades to outfalls and flood control structures to enhance drainage efficiency
Project cost:
■ Total $7 million
■ City of Sarasota and surtax contribution: $1.3 million
■ Resilient SRQ funds requested: $5.7 million
WHITAKER BAYOU RESILIENCY AND STORMWATER MITIGATION
A comprehensive flood mitigation and water quality improvement initiative that will enhance the stormwater conveyance capacity of Whitaker Bayou through dredging, stormwater infrastructure upgrades and water quality enhancements.
Key Project Components:
■ Comprehensive design, engineering and permitting for environmental compliance
larity and economic impact of St. Armands Circle comes with backing by USA Today, which recently named it the seventh best shopping center in the U.S.
SOLUTIONS
POSSIBLE
On the list of projects proposed for St. Armands are stormwater drainage and pump station upgrades, underground stormwater vaults, permeable pavement and drainage and the purchase of removable flood barriers. City Engineer Nik Patel said those measures aim at mitigating the impact of heavy rain events — not necessarily storm surge from the nearby Gulf shore — that have flooded businesses and homes as the aging pump and drain system. Sarasota County manages the system via interlocal agreement with the city.
Minus the flood barriers, the St. Armands mitigation projects are part of a Complete Streets proposal, which was shelved because of its $45 million price tag and no identified state funding.
St. Armands Circle Association
Executive Director Rachel Burns said she would like to see some specifics, such as locations of new equipment, what the permeable pavement might include, whether to add any new storm drains and placement of the stormwater vaults.
Those answers aren’t available yet, Patel said, as infrastructure planning has gone no further than the Complete Streets conceptual stage.
The flood barriers, though, would resemble those successfully deployed by Tampa General Hospital during recent storms.
“They’re easily put together, and essentially, they’re to put around the St. Armands businesses because they got impacted quite a bit,” Patel said. “If we knew a major storm or major flood event is coming, this could provide flood protection for the businesses. It’s also to protect the roadways, too. Our plan is to make sure the evacuation routes clear.”
Burns said any new pumps and drain pipes won’t matter unless there are more outfalls to swiftly remove water from the roadway.
“Two weeks ago, we had a heavy downpour, and all the pumps were working. I drove around, I watched the water swirling, trying to go down the drains but the water coming down was at too fast a rate for the number of drains,” Burns said. “There was no impact on the merchants, but there was water over the curbs, and that just was a regular rainstorm.”
NO PROJECT PRIORITIZED
Which projects the county chooses to pursue with the Resilient SRQ funds begins with the Public Works Department — which manages stormwater for the city — and those administering the Resilient SRQ program. Patel said the city is not in a position to advocate for or prioritize its applications with county personnel.
Resilient coastal and roadway protection measures:
■ Design storm surge protection measures along John Ringling Boulevard and St. Armands Circle
■ Install underground stormwater storage vaults to absorb excess water
■ Incorporate permeable pavement and infiltration elements for enhanced drainage Flood barrier system for emergency response:
■ Purchase and deploy removable flood barriers to protect key roadways and businesses during storm events
■ Integrate with Sarasota’s emergency response and evacuation strategy
■ Coordinate with FDOT, Sarasota County and the city to align regional resilience planning
FUNDING AND COST BREAKDOWN
The total project cost is $10 million, with the city of Sarasota contributing $478,000 in local funds. Resilient SRQ is requesting the remaining $9.52 million to fully implement the project.
■ Design, engineering and permitting, $1.5 million
■ Stormwater drainage and pump station upgrades, $3.8 million
■ Underground stormwater vaults, $2.2 million
■ Permeable Pavement and drainage, $1 million
■ Purchase removable flood barriers, $1.5 million
■ Total project cost, $10 million
“We are partnering with Sarasota County Public Works to assist them with application process assuming that they want to move those projects forward as part of the program,” Patel said. “We submitted our projects, and if they decide that they want to move forward we’re going to be working closely with them.”
The Sarasota County Commission will ultimately determine which countywide projects put forth by staff will receive funding.
It pleases Goglia and Burns that St. Armands Circle is among those preliminary considerations.
“We are extremely happy that the county and the city are looking to actually make some improvements to St. Armands Circle,” Burns said. “There haven’t been any major improvements to the infrastructure in 20 years.”
While Goglia urges residents to advocate for the St. Armands projects via the association’s newsletter, as its representative to the Coalition of City Neighborhood Associations, he recognizes all the city’s applications are high priority,
“I’m very aware that it’s not just my neighborhood that’s having problems,” he said. “I think the Phillippi Creek basin has received the most attention, but the city has the Hudson Bayou and Whitaker Bayou as well and the people in those neighborhoods are very concerned about those waterways and the flooding issues associated with them.”
■ Dredging of Whitaker Bayou to restore depth and improve stormwater conveyance
■ Sediment testing and safe disposal of dredged materials at approved upland sites
■ Bank stabilization and native vegetation planting to reduce future erosion and sedimentation
Stormwater infrastructure improvements include:
■ Upgrades to outfalls and flood control structures to enhance drainage efficiency
■ Installation of nutrient-separating baffle boxes to capture sediment, trash and pollutants before entering Sarasota Bay
■ Construction of floodplain storage and pollutant removal areas to reduce flooding and nutrient loading
Project cost:
■ Total: $14.5 million
■ Resilient SRQ funds requested: $14.5 million
■ City of Sarasota contribution: $0
SARASOTA STORMWATER RESILIENCY AND FLOOD MITIGATION INITIATIVE
Bee Ridge Road and Beneva Road — Phillippi Creek Problems:
■ Street flooding on evacuation routes due to sediment accumulation
■ Stormwater ponds in the Forest Lakes subdivision are at reduced capacity Resiliency Improvements:
■ Sediment removal and restoration of stormwater ponds to permitted capacity
■ Installation of nutrient-separating baffle boxes to capture sediment, trash and vegetation
■ Floating wetlands and filtration systems to remove pollutants from runoff
■ Total cost: $5,259,236
Pinecraft — Phillippi Creek Problems:
■ Historic headwaters of Phillippi Creek with high sediment deposition and erosion
■ Dense urban development has little stormwater treatment
Resiliency Improvements:
■ Convert an existing wet pond into a dry pond with enhanced pollutant removal capacity
■ Stream restoration along Phillippi Creek to improve bank stability
■ Denitrification wall installation to filter groundwater pollutants
■ Sediment removal and stabilization to reduce ongoing erosion
■ Total Cost: $2,074,518
Sarasota Memorial Hospital and U.S. 41
— Coastal Basin Problems:
■ Street flooding in Harbor Acres subdivision due to tidal influence and limited drainage infrastructure
■ Drainage from dense commercial areas impacts residential flooding
Resiliency Improvements:
■ Enlarge outfall pipes to increase capacity and reduce street flooding
■ Install one-way check valves to block tidal flooding from entering the drainage system.
■ Nutrient-separating baffle boxes to capture debris and prevent pollutants from reaching the bay
■ Total cost: $4,666,246
St. Armands Circle was several feet under water following Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Chris Goglia, president of the St. Armands Circle Association, is one of several neighborhood leaders encouraging the city to reconsider its stance on regulating hosted rentals in residential areas.
Lori Sax St. Armands Circle Association Executive Director Rachel Burns says her mission is to find new and innovative ways to bring people to St. Armands Circle.
ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER
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Ringling Museum remains under auspices of FSU
A local group hails failure of the proposal to transfer control to New College of Florida.
ERIC GARWOOD
DIGITAL
Sarasota’s John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art will remain under the auspices of Florida State University for at least the coming fiscal year and not transfer to the control of New College of Florida.
Florida legislators this week completed work on a $115.1 billion statewide spending plan, a month-anda-half beyond the normal deadline for such approval. On Tuesday, the local group Citizens to Protect the Ringling posted a statement celebrating “a major victory,” saying the transfer plan was not part of the agreed-to budget.
News site Florida Politics reported in early May the proposal to transfer the museum’s management and also place New College of Florida in charge of the University of South Florida’s Sarasota-Manatee campus would not be further considered in Tallahassee this legislative session, citing local opposition.
“The proposed transfer raised concerns about New College’s capacity to manage the complex museum operations, given the institution’s recent financial challenges and the resignation of its Alumni Association chair, who cited ‘fiscal and operational mismanagement, among other serious academic and enrollment allegations,’” Nancy Parrish, president of Citizens to Protect the Ringling and a former board chair of The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art Foundation, said in the statement.
Florida State has managed The Ringling since 2000 on 66 bayfront
acres, including the Ca’ d’Zan (the Ringling mansion), the Museum of Art, the Circus Museum, the Historic Asolo Theater, Bayfront Gardens, and other buildings and grounds. Together with the FSU Center for the Performing Arts, it is now one of the largest university art complexes in the United States, according to The Ringling website.
In February, New College President Richard Corcoran wrote an oped piece that laid out the reasoning for the transfer of the museum. In it, he wrote: “The decision to bring The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art under the stewardship of New College of Florida is one of those moments — an alignment that strengthens Sarasota’s role as Florida’s premier hub for arts, education and scholarship, while ensuring that this historic and cherished museum remains deeply connected to and preserved by the community that has shaped it for nearly a century.”
Four paragraphs inside Gov. Ron DeSantis’ proposed budget for 2025 directs FSU to work with New College “in transferring all duties, responsibilities, and state financial obligations of the Ringling including but not limited to, the art museum, the Ca’ d’Zan, circus museums and the Ringling Museum of the Circus, to New College of Florida.”
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Courtesy image Florida State has managed The Ringling since 2000 on 66 bayfront acres, including the Ca’ d’Zan, the Museum of Art, the Circus Museum, the Historic Asolo Theater, Bayfront Gardens, and other buildings and grounds.
Former mayor laments some aspects of downtown master plan
Mollie Cardamone, who was among the city leaders when the current plan was developed, tells update committee of the current plan’s self-inflicted flaws.
hen it comes to experiencing the evolution of Sarasota since the 1950s, few can claim to have the historical perspective of former Sarasota City Commissioner and Mayor Mollie Cardamone.
Arriving here with her family on VJ Day in 1945, the raucous celebration surprised them as soldiers based at what is now Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport filled the streets in celebration.
“I’m sure my folks wondered what we were coming to because of no car
radios then that would announce that,” she recalled.
A graduate of Sarasota High School and Florida State University, Cardamone returned to the city after marriage and was a member of the first faculty of Riverview High School when it opened in 1958.
In 1986, she was a member of a committee that wrote a new city charter, co-founded the Coalition of City Neighborhood Associations in 1990, and was elected to the City Commission in 1993, going on to serve two terms as mayor.
During her tenure, the city set about updating its downtown master
plan with the help of New Urbanist Andres Duany and the Miami-based architecture and town planning firm Duany Plater-Zyberk, now branded DPZ CoDesign. Through that effort is the creation of the Sarasota Downtown Master Plan 2020, a plan now in the initial stages of a refresh via the 13-member Downtown Master Plan 2020 Update Committee.
At its May 28 meeting, the committee invited Cardamone and four other city residents and leaders — who were at ground zero in the development of the current plan — to provide a historical perspective as it sets about its quest to reimagine its future. Joining her was David Smith, the city’s manager of long range planning, commercial real estate broker John Harshman, attorney Bill Merrill and Gillespie Park Neighborhood Association leader Linda Holland.
Cardamone recalled a downtown when she and her husband owned a retail store, Children’s World, for 37 years. There was a train station at the location of Mattison’s and another station on the east end of Main Street. There was a Greyhound bus station. Retailers included JCPenney and Sears alone with dress shops, shoe shops and the venerable Gator Club.
“So you ask what happened? Malls came to America,” Cardamone said. “Developers developed big projects outside of cities. They sucked the businesses out of downtowns all over America, leaving abandoned and destroyed towns.”
Prior to the 1986 and 2020 master plans, downtown Sarasota became much the same. Fewer businesses resulted in reduced activity as slum and blighted conditions took over.
Cardamone and Holland had heard of this new concept called New Urbanism and about a conference in Portland, Oregon, where one presenter was Duany himself, who had drawn recognition for helping design the Seaside development in the Panhandle.
Naturally, when it came time to select a consultant for the Downtown Master Plan 2020, Duany was at the top of the list. The concept did not come without a measure of controversy, par-
ticularly regarding Duany’s insistence on administrative approval of downtown developments, providing they conformed to the zoning code, one he developed and left in the city’s hands for refinement.
Cardamone pressed the commission to adopt Duany’s plan verbatim, a vote she lost. It took another three years for staff to tweak the master plan and accompanying zoning code that were eventually adopted.
“I think that was a huge mistake,” Cardamone said. “I think we should have done what I thought we should have done. It wouldn’t have taken three years to work out some little bugs. We had a collective vision for our downtown to be walkable, with buildings built to the street, for interesting windows, restaurants and galleries and retail shops. We never envisioned our downtown to be a bar scene as it is today, with all the problems of excessive loud partying.”
Despite the best efforts of the current master plan, Cardamone said she laments what she described as a downtown that is too loud, fosters too many bar fights, has too many homeless and noisy traffic, all of which collectively fall short of the desired peaceful and walkable downtown the 2020 plan envisioned.
“We failed in keeping the desired walkability effort,” she said.
She closed by telling the committee members they have a chance to address those shortcomings with their master plan update.
“I will remind you that more than 125 years our forefathers decided that our downtown needed a plan, and they had the best town planner in America at the time by the name of John Nolen,” Cardamone said. “Our commission hired Andres Duany, a highly recognized planner, to master plan our downtown area 25 years ago. I ask you to honor those great planners by finding the absolute best planners for our city.
“I have always referred to the city of Sarasota as a world-class small city. It still is, and now you have the awesome responsibility to take us to another new level.”
Andrew Warfield
The Sarasota Downtown Master Plan 2020 is going through the initial stages of an update.
Temple Beth Shalom apartments rejected by Planning Board
The century-old synagogue wants to sell six acres of property for a multifamily development.
ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER
Banking its financial future on selling a portion of its land for an apartment development, the Sarasota Planning Board dealt at least a temporary blow to Temple Beth Shalom.
The synagogue has partnered with Gilbane Development, which plans to build a four-story, 275-unit multifamily complex to include 20 attainable housing units on the southern six acres of its 10-acre site. The temple would remain on the northern four acres.
The property is at the northwest quadrant of the intersection of Tuttle Avenue and Bahia Vista Street, directly across from Bahia Vista apartments, which is currently under development. That amount of development intensity at an intersection that for years has been vacant at the two corners gave the Planning Board enough pause to recommend to the City Commission denial of a future land use map amendment, rezoning and site plan for the development.
In addition, Temple Beth Shalom would need to secure approval by the city manager via provisional use permit for the religious institution to be located on property zoned Residential Multifamily-7, which allows for 50 units per acre.
At 100 years, the synagogue is the oldest in Sarasota, currently with 350 families and approximately 700 members. Temple Beth Shalom representatives told Planning Board members its numbers have declined over the past decade, and to remain in place, it wished to sell the six acres, which includes two institutional buildings whose leases expire
in 2026 and will require significant capital investment to maintain viability.
The project would invoke the city’s affordable housing density bonus for residential developments along commercial corridors and centers, which in this case requires seven units be priced attainable per the ordinance. Gilbane is offering to build 20, nearly three times the minimum.
Manager of Long Range Planning
David Smith told board members staff recommends approval as it finds no aspect of the plan detrimental to the public benefit.
Plus, he said, the current zoning permits by right development of nearly the intensity of the Gilbane plan.
“The land use classification of Community-Office-Institutional does allow the 250 dwelling units on site that could be developed as part of a mixed-use project,” Smith said.
“This particular project is providing 25 units more than what could go on there today without the land use change.”
That, he said, dispels any argument that approving the application is precedent-setting, as was the concern for the Bahia Vista Apartments across the street, approved by the city commission in March 2023.
“They’re both along roadways that are minor arterials meant for moving traffic,” Smith said. “From my standpoint, I don’t believe there’s really a precedent or an issue.”
Still, the Planning Board had plenty of issues, not the least among them the number of attainable units the city would receive in exchange for granting the land use change.
Another was allowing Gilbane to build to the density of a 10-acre site when the development would occupy only six acres, regardless of its code permit.
“We’re following the rules and going above and beyond the rules with the additional affordable housing,” said project consultant Joel Freedman.
SOUTH
The Comprehensive Plan Amendment to change the future land use category is based on the entire 10-acre site, explained Development Review Senior Planner Amy Bavin, which carries the higher base density units than only the six acres would permit. A joint use agreement would transfer that development density from the temple’s four acres to Gilbane’s six.
“They would have to submit a boundary adjustment application in order to separate the parcels,” Bavin said. “When a boundary adjustment is requested, they have to demonstrate that each parcel complies with the zoning code, so that southern parcel would not comply unless they included a sort of transfer of development rights within the joint use agreement.”
With a greater density land use classification to the south — the Bahia Vista Apartments on the edge of the Arlington Park neighborhood — Smith told the Planning Board it
could be argued the Gilbane/Temple Beth Shalom plan would not establish precedent as precedent already exists.
Establishing that precedent, however, was the argument Arlington Park residents made for nearly a decade as they fought, eventually unsuccessfully, to prevent the Bahia Vista Apartments from being built on the site of the former Doctors Hospital of Sarasota. That plan, too, was rejected by the Planning Board — as Arlington Park Neighborhood Association Second Vice President Flo Entler reminded the board — but approved by the City Commission.
“More traffic will be cutting through the neighborhoods, a negative impact on the neighborhoods. This is not a public benefit,” Entler said during the hearing. “There seems to be no development plan. A project approved over here, a project approved over here. Who is paying attention to the big picture?”
Courtesy image
The site map shows the location of the Temple Beth Shalom property at the northwest corner of South Tuttle Avenue and Bahia Vista Street.
BAHIA VISTA STREET
LYLE STREET
Vatter President,
Fascist kings behead you
Calling Trump a fascist, dictator king is the Democrats’ new mantra to get you to hate Trump even more. The gullible protesters have no clue what a real king does.
Let’s acknowledge we have no beef with — as Amendment 1 to the Constitution says — “the right of the people peaceably to assemble.”
And as the saying also goes: Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion.
But everyone with a half-functioning brain knows when you see videos of violence — throwing rocks, fire Molotov cocktails, stomping on police cars, lighting Wayz cars on fire, engaging in physical melees with local and federal law enforcement officers — that is not peaceable assembly.
It makes you sick that George Soros thinks that funding all those ignorant thugs and hooligans is contributing to the betterment of our country and society.
If anyone should be deported or jailed, he should be at the top of the list — for aiding and abetting. If you hate the United States so much, then leave.
That goes for all of them.
But here’s another part of all this that gets into your craw. It’s obvious that many of the sign wavers along Tamiami Trail and elsewhere Saturday have no clue of history and are gullible, social media-influenced sheep.
“IN AMERICA, WE DON’T DO KINGS! They’ve defied our courts, deported Americans, disappeared people off the streets, attacked our civil rights and slashed our services. THE CORRUPTION HAS GONE TOO FAR! NO THRONES! NO CROWNS. NO KINGS! … “We’re raising our flags for liberation … ”
So said the Democratic Party of Sarasota County on its website before Saturday’s protests.
King Donald Trump?
This obviously is the Democratic Party’s new messaging — to make the malleable masses think we have regressed and degenerated so far that we’re back in the Revolutionary War days. That we’re enduring, under Trump, the same “abuses,” “usurpations” and “despotism” of King George.
Remember those? Jefferson listed 27 of them, among them:
■ “He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
■ “He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.
■ “He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
■ “He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
■ “He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
“For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
“For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
“For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
“For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
“For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
“For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
“For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
• “He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation … ”
Sound like Trump?
If only the protesters knew what real kings did in France. From Robert Darnton’s “The Revolutionary Temper, Paris, 1748-1789:”
In 1750, with much of Paris in economic misery, the king’s police were ordered to round up beggars, confine them to prison or ship them off to Tobago. The police also kidnapped children, from age 5 to 10, snatching them off the streets and holding them for ransom. The kidnappings were so pervasive they ignited riots.
Public executions were common. Condemned men and women would be paraded in a cart past gawkers, then climb the stairs of the scaffold. Executioners would place the noose around the convicted soul’s neck, remove the support on which he or she stood, leaving the man or woman dangling in the air. Death would come in 10 to 20 minutes, but the body would be left hanging long enough for everyone to see.
If the convicted criminal were a nobleman, he was privileged enough to have a choice — the noose or beheading by ax. At one site in northern Paris, hanged corpses’ “remained exposed to the public for months while their flesh rotted off.” This was to remind the people of the king’s authority.
Indeed, French monarchs truly believed God anointed them. King Louis XIV’s preacher wrote that French kings “have received from God himself the greatest and most absolute power to make laws for improvement, administration to control them, judicial authority to punish and compensate.”
Is that Trump?
We all cringe at times when Trump goes beyond the norms of past (do-nothing) presidents.
But Trump rightly scoffed after a reporter asked him what he thought of the upcoming No King protests:
“I don’t feel like a king. I have to go through hell to get stuff approved. The king would have never had the California mandate. He wouldn’t have to call up Mike Johnson and John Thune say, ‘Fellas, you have got to pull this off.’ And after years, we get it done. No, no, we’re not a king.”
Is he a fascist? That, too, is the common refrain.
It’s likely most of the protesters cannot recite what fascism really is.
Definition: “A governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism.”
That was Hitler. That was Mussolini. Trump? C’mon.
What is so puzzling and disturbing is this: For the past four years,
HOW DEMOCRATS RALLY PROTESTERS
If you happened to drive the Ringling Bridge-Tamiami Trail roundabout Saturday afternoon, you saw the protesters lining both sides of the street, such as this snapshot. Who are these people? The online flyers of the Sarasota County Democratic Party pretty much tell the story.
Americans were disgusted how the people directing Joe Biden’s presidency opened the U.S. borders to an invasion — yes, invasion — of 10 million illegal aliens. They just walked in unchecked — among them killers, rapists and human and drug traffickers, likely millions oblivious to and uninterested in following the laws that we American citizens are expected to abide and to which we are held accountable.
Exasperated at losing our country, Americans elected Trump to stop the flow and approved deporting the worst of the invaders. But now the Democrats — the same people who preached “No one is above the law” and ordered authoritarian lockdowns during COVID — are protesting against upholding our laws and claiming Trump is the authoritarian dictator.
This just gushes with irony, hypocrisy and stupidity.
Trump haters, try this: the Arthur Laffer Rule of One. Say a group of 10 illegal migrants from all over the world, unable to speak English, simply walks through your front door uninvited and starts living
with you — crowding your bedrooms; sleeping on the living room floor; dirtying your bathrooms, consuming your food, leaving trash and debris all over the house.
They brought children who are sick; women who have been raped. They have no money. They expect you to feed them, even though you already are struggling to feed your own children. One of them, a male, has molested your child. What would you do?
You know darn well what you would do.
As these protesters scoffed at Trump’s parade honoring the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, as they waved their vulgar signs or burned their cities, they triggered the following thought: Where were they on D-Day, June 6? Did they give an inkling of thought, respect or gratitude to the sacrifices their forebearers made for them on Omaha Beach or Iwo Jima?
Sadly, these pliant, pitiful protesters haven’t a clue what a fascist dictator king really is.
“If
Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944
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Unfazed by vulgarity, anti-Trump protesters lined both sides of Tamiami Trail just south of the Ringling Bridge-U.S. 41 roundabout Saturday afternoon as part of the national No King protest. Editor’s note: We intentionally blurred the profanity.
New College receives $2.5M gift for contemplation, education center
a space that embodies the values of reflection, learning, and community,” New College President Richard Corcoran says in the statement.
“The Contemplation and Education Center will serve as a sanctuary for students, faculty and the broader Sarasota community.”
The
gift, will fund the design, construction and long-term preservation of the school’s Contemplation and Education Center, New College officials say in a statement. The gift comes from the DSF Charitable Foundation, which is led by co-Executive Directors David and Sara Scaife; David Scaife’s late father was Richard Mellon Scaife, a grandnephew of businessman and philanthropist Andrew Mellon.
David and Sara Scaife, husband and wife, the release states, and have a deep appreciation for the “region’s cultural and educational landscape” and live on the east coast of Florida.
“If approved by the Board of Trustees, this gift from the DSF Charitable Foundation allows us to create
The center, which is planned to be built directly on Sarasota Bay, will
“be a light-filled, open structure designed in harmony with its natural surroundings and support a range of academic, spiritual and civic functions,” the school says. It will host interfaith ceremonies, meditation and reflections, academic lectures, Socratic dialogue and community gatherings such as weddings and memorials. It will also serve as a revenue-generating venue aligned with the college’s mission — offering opportunities for meaningful connection and support for the Honors College.
Construction of the center, the release states, is subject to New College of Florida Board of Trustees approval.
10-story residential building, pizza restaurant planned for Ringling Boulevard
A 50-unit residential tower and a new pizza restaurant have pre-application conferences with the Sarasota Development Review Committee.
ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER
Planning for redevelopment continues to make its way along the northern boundary of Laurel Park along Ringling Boulevard.
The latest entry is a proposed development known as Ringling & Osprey, a 10-story, 50-unit residential building at 1776 Ringling Blvd. and 222 S. Osprey Ave. The project had its pre-application conference with the city’s Development Review Committee on June 4.
The location consists of two parcels totaling 0.64 acre at the southwest quadrant of the intersection, currently the site of an office building and a multifamily residential structure, which will be demolished for the new development. They are separated by a nonutilized dead-end right of way known as Osprey Court which, combined with the two properties, results in a 0.77-acre project site.
Because the developer, Sarasotabased PFI 721 Development, is seeking no adjustments or changes to the future land use designation of the property, the project will require only administrative review and approval. By including two attainable housing units within the building, the development is taking advantage of the city’s bonus density incentive program.
The proposed building is expected to feature a variety of amenities including meeting rooms, a fitness center and a pool deck. Additionally,
according to the application, “The public realm will be improved with street trees and wide sidewalks consistent with the Sarasota City Plan, zoning code, and the Engineering Design Criteria Manual … Context sensitive urban design of the Osprey Avenue and Ringling Boulevard frontages will establish a sense of place, positively contributing to the urban fabric of downtown Sarasota and better emphasize pedestrianoriented streets.”
Another pre-application was held for a new restaurant, a Proper Pizza franchise, planned several blocks east at 2283 Ringling Blvd. Proposed is a 2,204-square-foot restaurant in an existing building at the intersection with Lime Avenue.
Property owner and restaurant partner Sean Zametz is planning an interior renovation of vacant space to accommodate a bar area, dining room and patio seating to the rear of the building, bringing another dining option to the east end of the downtown area.
Proper Pizza was founded in Los Angeles in 2018 by Marc Spenziero and Igor Popovic. The brand is known for its traditional New Yorkstyle pizza, as well as pasta and other menu offerings.
Courtesy image
Executive Director and VP of Advancement of the New College Foundation Sydney Gruters holds a check from the DSF Charitable Foundation with New College President Richard Corcoran.
Andrew Warfield
The site of a planned
10-story, 50unit residential building at the corner of Ringling Boulevard and South Osprey Avenue.
In a split decision, the Sarasota Planning Board recommended approval of Sage Park townhomes planned for the old Circus City site.
ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER
Although not enthusiastic about the architecture or lack of guest parking, the Sarasota Planning Board has recommended site plan approval for a townhome development on the former “Circus City” site on Beneva Road north of Fruitville Road.
By a 3-2 vote at its June 11 meeting, the Planning Board endorsed a project for 83 townhomes, to be built by national home builder DR Horton, on the 7.5-acre site that was once a mobile home village as part of the 155acre Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus winter headquarters.
Previously known by its working name Beneva Road Townhomes, the development is called Sage Park.
The Sarasota City Commission approved rezoning of the site to accommodate the development in August 2024. Attorney Charlie Bailey explained to the Planning Board it could not consider the site plan then because the zoning text amendment had to happen first.
Permitted density at the site is 13 units per acre. The DR Horton plan includes 11 units per acre.
Planning Board members were generally pleased with the site layout and buffering from surrounding properties, but other than levels of service along Beneva and Fruitville roads — which is not a factor to be considered in site plan approval — a lack of parking and the design of the
buildings were enough to cause two members, Terrill Salem and Shane Lamay, to oppose recommending the plan. Representing the developer, attorney Charlie Bailey emphasized the project addresses a needed price point in for-purchase residences within the city limit. The units are anticipated to sell in the range of $380,000.
“Although this is not the ‘missing middle’ overlay, the housing stock that’s being realized is the type that was the goal or intent of the missing middle in terms of single family,” Bailey said. “Although there are no affordable or attainable housing, they will be market rate.”
Arguing that modest price can still be attractive, Lamay, an architect, lamented the design he described as indistinguishable from one townhome to the next.
“There are several examples around town of really successful townhome situations that get people excited,” he said. “This is one of those that kind of starts to scare people off, and it’s a shame because this is what we need so much. That is a huge negative about this.”
Bailey responded the economic realities of land and construction costs don’t necessarily support sophisticated architecture for less than $400,000 per unit.
Andrew Warfield Planning Board member Shane Lamay voted against the Sage Park townhome development site plan.
SOLID WASTE UPDATES
Shift change
In his year as commodore, Michael Landis has helped lead Bird Key Yacht Club through occasionally tumultuous waters, including the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton and pending teardown of the old clubhouse. But he said the support of his team and a touch of humor helped the club navigate a way forward.
He hands over the title to his current second-in-command at a change of watch ceremony on June 21 at the Field Club. The commodore sat down with the Observer to reflect on his tenure and background, and share some advice for his successor.
“I’m most proud of the people I had the opportunity to work with,” Landis said when asked about his favorite part of serving as commodore. “We have a phenomenal board, and it’s great to be part of that group. We all respect each other, we
Bird Key Yacht Club prepares for change of watch.
get along well, we work hard and we play hard together.”
Landis, who has lived in the area for the past 13 years, was born in northeastern Pennsylvania and was a longtime resident of New York, where he met his wife, Cathy. The two recently celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary.
He celebrated at his own incoming ceremony this past June, when he replaced Commodore Steve Horton. His family came to the Bronx from Sicily, and he worked in Manhattan for most of his career. His background is in construction, specifically with a global elevator and escalator company.
“We were basically designing and building high-rise buildings and maintaining them,” he said.
He continued, “The last big project I put together was with Larry Silverstein for towers three and four of the World Trade Center.”
The day the towers fell was emotional, Landis said, but he appreci-
DANA KAMPA STAFF WRITER
Dana Kampa
Incoming Bird Key Yacht Club Commodore Tony Britt and outgoing Commodore Michael Landis swap memories and advice in anticipation of the Change of Watch on June 21.
ated being in a position to help as the city worked to recover.
“I, unfortunately, watched them come down, but I was there as we started to rebuild,” he said. “We were down in the red zone every week. Some of our construction riggers helped move the steel beams off the buildings — off the rubble, I should say.”
While it was a difficult time to experience, Landis said he and a friend still make time to talk on the phone every anniversary.
Landis loved the city, but his work later took him to New Jersey to head the North American headquarters of a Swiss construction company, and eventually to worldwide travels to Europe, China and South America. He first got into the construction industry after a stint in the U.S. Army, after which he received a full honorable discharge.
“I’ve had the opportunity to see a lot of places and build in a lot of different environments,” he added.
Nearing retirement and having seen his children off to college, he and his wife started making regular trips to warmer climes in the winter. While they visited several destinations, they always looked forward to seeing friends in Longboat Key who had called it home for 30 years.
Landis first connected with the Bird Key Yacht Club when seeking advice from member Marvin Quin about a nonstop sail from Sarasota to Key West, called the Bone Island Regatta.
Now, he enjoys taking out “Even Tide,” a Sabre 34 built to handle even heavy North Atlantic conditions. He learned how to sail while lifeguarding in the Poconos area and has bareboat sailed throughout the Caribbean.
A CLUB WITH HEART
There are plenty of aspects of the club he appreciates, but he said at the heart of it, it comes down to the close connections members form.
“The club just speaks for itself,” he said. “Everyone is friendly, whether you’re a sailor, a power boater, tennis player or whatever. At the end of the day, we’re all just good friends.”
One of the largest projects to arise in his tenure is the upcoming demolition and rebuilding of a clubhouse. Leaders needed to adjust the timeline when facing skyrocketing construction costs.
But Landis and Britt took the development in stride, even donning Wayne and Garth costumes for the club’s “Party On” celebration that would have marked demolition day for the 65-year-old building. Britt said they have been making progress with the project.
“We’re absolutely committed to getting this done, but we’re going to do it intelligently,” Britt said. “As we’ve said to members, we’re going to build it without compromising the integrity or vision of the club.”
Besides stewarding the project of the clubhouse, Britt said he plans to work hard to maintain the club’s platinum status, voted upon by 4,000 people in the yachting community.
Landis said maintaining a good sense of humor is essential for keeping an organization going when unexpected challenges arise.
Britt said he plans to do everything in his power to keep the good times coming, and he shared his appreciation for how welcoming members consistently are to new additions.
He and his wife, Irene, didn’t consider themselves part of the typical club crowd when they first moved to the area. But she shared her interest in the Bird Key organization, and they tested the waters with a summer program.
“I’ve joked that when my wife and I joined, we thought we’d be surrounded by the equivalent of Thurston Howell III from ‘Gilligan’s Island,’” he said. “But that’s the furthest thing from the truth ... It’s amazing because members have done such great things, but they’re just regular friends here. That’s not going to change.”
The incoming commodore said he knows many clubhouse neighbors already, but he plans to visit every nearby residence as he assumes his new role.
Landis plans to stay involved with the club, and he said with the support of General Manager Tammy Hackney and fellow team members, he has no doubt Britt will take on the new role flawlessly.
“Really, Tony doesn’t need advice,” Landis said. “He’s going to do an absolutely fabulous job of carrying on this momentum that we’ve started the past few years toward building a new clubhouse.”
phase of
in the first half of 2027.
Here are just a few resort-style amenities you can expect when you
• Multiple dining venues
FRIDAY, MAY 30
CONDO CLUBHOUSE
VANDALIZED
6:30 a.m., 700 block of John Ringling Boulevard Burglary: A witness arrived at a condo association clubhouse to find a rear sliding door left ajar and an expended fire extinguisher lying on the floor of the building. In addition, most of the pool furniture had been tossed into the swimming pool adjacent to the clubhouse. Another witness advised hearing some commotion at approximately 10:30 the night before, but did not see any issues in the area.
Upon arrival, the complainant saw the open door and spent material from the fire extinguisher covering the entire area. With no evidence of forced entry discovered, the officer believes the subject entered through the opened slider. A partial fingerprint was lifted from the handle of the fire extinguisher and was submitted for processing.
There was no video evidence available and no known suspect at the time of the report. The complainant requested prosecution if an arrest is made.
MONDAY, JUNE 2
DRAWER DROPPER
6 p.m., 1900 block of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way Lewd and lascivious act: After being informed the business outside of which he was loitering was closed and asked to leave the premises, a man inexplicably responded by exposing all of himself to anyone and everyone in the area.
A complainant said when she told the man the business was not yet open, he became irate and a verbal altercation ensued. The man then began running back and forth along the sidewalk, yelling at multiple people, then stopped in the middle of the street, pulled down his shorts and displayed all of himself, yelling “Call the cops!”
As the complainant complied with his request, the man ran northbound.
An officer then spoke with another victim of the midstreet striptease who observed the man removing his shirt and throwing it, followed by his shorts with intent to expose himself to him. The same officer
TUESDAY, JUNE 3
MAKE A WISH! 10:27 p.m., intersection of Main Street and Central Avenue
Fight: Two patrons drinking together at a downtown establishment got into a fight over coins being scooped from a fountain. The victim said the other man began “running his mouth toward him” and eventually headbutted him. The victim then fought back, causing a laceration above his assailant’s left eyebrow.
The incident started, the head-butted man said, when he was grabbing change out of a fountain when his drinking partner became upset and attempted to push him into the fountain because he was “taking kids’ wishes.”
A nearby witness made no mention of the coin-gathering allegation but did confirm the man who head-butted the other started the fight, but was quickly dispatched as he was “beaten up” in return. The case was considered mutual combat and no further action was taken.
also spoke with two juvenile victims who confirmed the other witnesses’ accounts of the incident. There was no video evidence available, but the grandmother of the two juvenile victims said she would be able to identify him in a lineup, presumably fully clothed. The man’s wallet was left behind and he was identified, but a canvass of the area was unsuccessful. The case was forwarded to the Criminal Investigations Division for further investigation.
ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
SMOOTHER SAILING
MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
How do you dig out historic buildings engulfed by 9 feet of sand?
By hand, mostly.
If it seems like hard work, it is, according to Dave Newman, operations and facilities manager of the Hermitage Artist Retreat on Manasota Key. The arts incubator was hit by both Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024.
In addition to using professional contractors, the Hermitage was assisted in sand removal by neighbors, according to Andy Sandberg, CEO and artistic director.
“That expression about ‘neighbors helping neighbors’ in Florida really is true,” says Sandberg, who joined the Hermitage in 2019 after a career as a performer, director and producer on Broadway and London’s West End that’s not over yet.
By now, Sandberg, a native New Yorker, is an old Florida hand, having survived not just Helene and Milton, but Hurricane Ian, which struck in September 2022.
It turns out that it’s not just Sandberg who wants the Hermitage to survive. So do its neighbors, patrons and fellows, as the artists who come for residencies at the idyllic beachfront sanctuary are known.
Incorporated as a nonprofit in 2002, the Hermitage is on the National Register of Historic Places. Some of its buildings date back to 1907 and are quite storm-resilient, says Sandberg. He likens managing hurricane preparations and recovery to “directing a play, only it’s not as much fun.”
On a recent Friday afternoon, sitting on a screened porch overlooking the Gulf in the Hermitage Palm House, Sandberg was in high spirits. He had recently returned from not just one, but two reunions.
After making sure his visitor takes a seat facing the water so they can enjoy the view, Sandberg excitedly relays the news that Sarasota actress Ann Morrison is joining the touring production of “Kimberly Akimbo,” whose music was written by Hermitage Fellow Jeanine Tesori.
Morrison will join “Kimberly Akimbo” in Cleveland after the close of Asolo Repertory Theatre’s production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” on June 29. She is playing King Herod in the rock opera.
“Annie is perfect for the role of Kimberly,” exudes Sandberg, who keeps a foot in the theatrical world himself. “Having known her for many years, I immediately thought of her when I saw the New York production.”
“Kimberly Akimbo” tells the story of a teenager with a rare genetic condition that causes her to age rapidly, requiring a player who can act youthful but who has a mature appearance.
Now about those reunions: The first was at Yale, where Sandberg was a member of the Ivy League college’s famed Whiffenpoof singing group back in his university days. The second was a gathering in New York City of the Hermitage’s starstudded alumni ahead of the Tony Awards ceremony on June 8.
More than 200 Hermitage alums gathered at the Sanctuary Hotel’s Haven Rooftop on June 2 to toast the arts incubator’s national and international impact. Among those attending were Pulitzer Prize winners, Tony and Grammy Award winners, MacArthur and Guggenheim fellows, National Book Award winners and others.
While Sandberg was up in New York, he found a plastic bottle of hand sanitizer in a restaurant with the Hermitage label on it. It’s a relic from the COVID-19 era, when the organization handed them out at events.
“Would you like one?” Sandberg asks.
DON’T CALL IT A ‘HIDDEN GEM’
In describing the Hermitage reunion, Sandberg makes a special plea:
“Don’t call us a hidden gem. We’re one of the most important artistic organizations in Florida and in the country,” he says.
With his showbiz background, no one can accuse Sandberg of hiding his light or the Hermitage’s light under a bushel. If anyone’s working overtime to make sure Sarasota is mentioned in the same breath as entertainment capitals New York, Los Angeles and London, it’s Sandberg.
But in addition to hosting and attending glitzy parties, Sandberg’s job involves wrestling with hurricanes and making nice with Hermitage donors and neighbors. Besides pitching in with sand removal, those helpful folks hosted some Hermitage fellows who weren’t able to stay on the retreat’s campus because of hurricane cleanup.
Sarasota County is the Hermitage Artist Retreat’s landlord, but much of the cleanup costs have been borne by the Hermitage itself. Approximately $750,000 has been spent to date, and another $250,000 in expenditures will be necessary to get the premises back in shape, Sandberg says.
Of course, when you’re dealing with historic structures, government regulations come into play. But that doesn’t preclude upgrades to the grounds and to the 2000-era Palm House.
After the Hermitage and its helpers removed tons of sand from its campus, Sandberg and Newman decided to widen the path that runs from the Palm House to the nearby Whitney section of the retreat, to accommodate golf carts, and then covered it with small shells. The enclave is named for Alfred Whitney, who built a hurricane-proof house and a water collection system in the 1940s.
What once was a water-filled cement pool next to the Palm House is now empty and seems to be headed for removal, pending permits and approvals. But that’s the least of Sandberg’s worries.
He and Hermitage Managing Director Stacia Lee are preparing to host their first beachfront event since the hurricanes hit last year. The June 26 program will feature Daniel and Patrick Lazour, finalists for the 2024 Hermitage Greenfield Prize, and returning Hermitage Fellow Mark Sonnenblick.
In addition to a Hermitage residency, the Greenfield Prize comes with a $30,000 commission. It rotates between theater, music and visual arts.
Hermitage fellows, whether they’re Greenfield Prize winners, are
SEE HERMITAGE, PAGE 16A
The Hermitage Artist Retreat hosts its first beach event since being hit by two hurricanes in 2024.
Hurricane Helene destroyed the main road on Manasota Key leading to the Hermitage Artist Retreat.
Image courtesy of Nancy Guth
Hermitage Artist Retreat CEO and Artistic Director Andy Sandberg enjoys the Florida lifestyle.
Courtesy images
The campus of the Hermitage Artist Retreat on Oct. 10, 2024, the day after Hurricane Milton made landfall.
Sand dunes rise to nearly the top of the first floor at one of the Hermitage Artist Retreat’s historic buildings following Hurricane Helene.
night of their show, Aug. 23, a storm mercifully passed by even though it looked as if the concert would be rained out.
required to interact with the public. They often use community events as an opportunity to workshop new material. Local audiences appreciate the sneak peek of work heading to world-class stages.
If you’re not up to date on current theater news like Sandberg is, let us tell you that Sonnenblick is coming to Englewood after a West End collaboration with Elton John in “The Devil Wears Prada.”
Sonnenblick also appeared at a Hermitage event at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in January, where he gave audiences an in-depth look at how songs are written and woven into a narrative musical.
The Lazour Brothers recently received several nominations for their New York production of “We Live in Cairo.”
Welcoming the Lazour brothers back to the Hermitage Retreat is meaningful for Sandberg because the two brothers were the last artists to perform on the beach in 2024 before the hurricanes arrived. On the
In the weeks following the hurricanes, the Hermitage, like other arts organizations in Sarasota, had to cancel performances and scramble for venues. A Hermitage event that was moved to the roof of Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe was ultimately canceled.
Not all Hermitage fellows were up for dealing with a hurricane-ravaged community. One who was: Britton Smith, a Hermitage Greenfield Prize winner. Smith headlined a program at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens on Oct. 17, a little more than a week after Milton hit.
Smith, a Tony award winner and Hermitage Greenfield Prize finalist, is the band leader for an alternative soul band called Britton and the Sting.
“I was so grateful to Britton and to Selby, which was in the midst of its own hurricane cleanup,” Sandberg says. “We didn’t know how many people would come, but it was packed.”
“Don’t call us a hidden gem. We’re one of the most important artistic organizations in Florida and in the country.”
— Andy Sandberg, CEO and artistic director of the Hermitage
Another artist who wasn’t afraid to make the trip to Sarasota post-hurricanes was Claire Chase. The Hermitage fellow presented a solo flute program called “Destiny of Density” on Dec. 5 at Selby Gardens’ Historic Spanish Point campus. “Claire is just wonderful,” Sandberg enthused.
For this year’s first beach performance, Sandberg is expecting to fill all the Hermitage’s 500 beach chairs. He encourages attendees to bring their chairs, just in case.
DONORS MAKE PROGRAMS POSSIBLE
As are all Hermitage performances,
the June 26 program, “Key Change: Return to the Beach” is just $5 with registration. What makes it possible to host public events that are essentially free is the generosity of Hermitage donors. The Lazour Brothers residency was sponsored by Carol White Bold and Larry Bold, while Sonnenblick’s residency was sponsored by Jane and Bill Knapp.
Even though the Hermitage has plenty of beach chairs, it doesn’t have public restrooms. Sandberg advises attendees to “go before you go. It’s only a 60-minute program.” Bring any beverages you would like to consume during the concert.
Those traveling to Hermitage Beach should take the south bridge to Manasota Key, the Tom Adams Bridge, because of ongoing road repairs.
As the Hermitage restores its buildings and grounds, it’s also restocking its team. The organization is currently conducting a search for a development director and a programming director.
The old Navy slogan “It’s not just a job; it’s an adventure” could easily apply to Sandberg’s operation, which often calls for all hands on deck.
Come hurricane season, those hands may be hoisting sandbags or wielding shovels.
IF YOU GO
‘KEY CHANGE: A RETURN TO THE BEACH’ WITH DANIEL AND PATRICK LAZOUR AND MARK SONNENBLICK
When: 6:30 p.m. on June 26
Where: Hermitage Beach, 6660 Manasota Key Road, Englewood.
Tickets: $5 with registration.
Info: Visit HermitageArtistRetreat.org.
Courtesy images
An aerial view of the Hermitage Artist Retreat on Manasota Key during an event on the beach.
Daniel and Patrick Lazour return to the Hermitage Beach on June 26.
HERMITAGE, FROM PAGE 15A
ALL ABOARD the SS Ben Liebert
The theater kid turned director hits his stride at Florida Studio Theatre.
MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER
ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
It’s been said that theater kids never grow up. Ben Liebert is no exception to the rule.
Liebert has a childlike enthusiasm for “Dames at Sea,” which he’s directing at Florida Studio Theatre. He also has a personal connection. No, “Dames at Sea” wasn’t the Broadway musical he saw as a child that ignited his love for the stage; that distinction goes to “Beauty and the Beast.”
But Liebert starred in “Dames at Sea,” a sendup of Busby Berkeley’s legendary film musicals of the 1930s, when he was growing up in Verona, New Jersey. He played the lead, Dick, a sailor songwriter, while classmate Beth Spektor starred as his leading lady, Ruby, a dancer fresh off the bus from Utah.
Liebert and Spektor were exchanging texts and photos on June 12, the night that “Dames at Sea” opened at FST to an enthusiastic response from subscribers, who normally fill the house during the first three weeks of a run.
“A lot of my memories have guided me through the process” of directing and choreographing “Dames at Sea,” Liebert said in a telephone interview. “I’m trying to draw on that fun and joy.” FST’s “Dames at Sea” stars Devin Johnson as Dick and FST newcomer Emily Ann Brooks as Ruby. Theatergoers may remember Johnson from his winning turn as Ogie in FST’s recent production of “Waitress.”
With a smile that occupies the bottom half of his face, Johnson’s hard to miss.
Rounding out the cast, which is just six players in FST’s rendition as opposed to nearly 60 in the school production of Liebert’s youth, is Jenna Coker-Jones as the diva, Mona, Joel Newsome doing double duty as a Broadway director and a Navy captain, Kelsey Stalter as the jaded hoofer Joan and Lucky as her sailor beau.
“Dames at Sea” first hit the stage back in 1966 with an Off-Off Broadway production that starred Bernadette Peters, later a stalwart of Stephen Sondheim musicals who is currently starring in “Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends” on Broadway. The original “Dames at Sea” never made it all the way to the Great White Way until 2015.
A veteran of Broadway and touring productions such as “Fiddler on
the Roof,” “Wicked” and “Grease,” Liebert describes his theatrical sweet spot as being a “Venn diagram where musicals and comedies intersect.”
Liebert may be just 5 feet, 4 inches tall, but he holds his ground. He’s not afraid to push back, especially when it comes to the notion of art as pure escapism. “Sure, the musicals of the 1930s helped people escape the gloom of the Great Depression for a couple of hours, but art is more than that. It’s not about avoiding your problems; it’s about reinvigorating your soul,” he says.
Featuring book and lyrics by George Haimsohn and Robin Miller, with music by Jim Wise, “Dames at Sea” has sometimes been dismissed as derivative. Back in 2015, Jesse Green, now New York Times theater critic, wrote a withering review for the website Vulture of the fast-tapping tale of a struggling Broadway show that gets relocated to a Navy ship.
“The opening number, ‘Wall Street,’ is a weak-tea dilution of ‘We’re In the Money;’ Cole Porter’s ‘Begin the Beguine’ gets reduced to ‘The Beguine’ (‘Do you remember ... those nights of splendor in Pensacola?’); and the chord progression of ‘The Man I Love’ is lifted wholesale for an infinitely inferior torch song called ‘That Mister Man of Mine.’”
Ten years later, some of Green’s concerns seem overblown. “We’re embracing the pastiche with -
out slipping into parody,” Liebert explains in describing his approach to the musical. (I had to look up “pastiche,” which is an “artistic work in a style that imitates that of another work, artist or period.”)
As an example, Liebert points to a moment when Joan nearly falls while holding out her hand as she describes the massive size of an engagement ring.
According to Liebert, “Dames at Sea” doesn’t get the love it deserves because it’s not produced that often, due to a dearth of tap dancers.
IT
WAS THE SHOES, NOT THE DANCE
When he was growing up in a theatrical household (his father, Mark Liebert, is a professional actor), Liebert took dance lessons from his father, but he didn’t take to tap dancing at first.
“The first time I ever tap danced on stage, my feet hurt and I didn’t like it,” he recalls. “It was because the shoes were too small. They had been purchased six months earlier and my feet had grown.”
After performing in school and community theater productions, Liebert attended NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, where he majored in musical theater. A study abroad program led to a role in a touring production of “Grease Das Musical,” which took Liebert and his fellow
IF YOU GO
‘DAMES AT SEA’
When: Through June 29
Where: FST’s Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St.
Tickets: $42 and up
Info: Visit FloridaStudioTheatre. org.
cast members all across Europe. In 2015, Liebert made the transition to directing. He made his FST debut as a choreographer in 2021 with “Laughing Matters,” after answering an ad for a comedic cabaret choreographer. FST Producing Artist Director Richard Hopkins was directing and the two got to know each other.
In 2023, Liebert saw another ad from FST, this time for a permanent position for a director/choreographer. He applied and came down to Sarasota on a trial basis in September 2023 and joined the theater company, which Hopkins has been running since 1980, on a full-time basis this past May.
Since then, Liebert has directed eight shows — four mainstage productions, two children’s theater productions and two cabarets. Questioned whether that level of productivity can be sustained, Liebert says the teamwork at FST ensures that he’s not carrying the load alone.
Those concerned about Liebert’s breakneck pace will be glad to hear that he and his wife, Lauren Kadel, director of operations for the Platinum National Dance competition, are taking time to celebrate their 40th birthdays this year with a trip to Barcelona in August.
Before 2021, Liebert had never visited Sarasota, despite being active in regional theater around the country. He was pleased to discover a vibrant downtown scene, of which FST is a major part. “You never know if a town is going to have life,” he says. “It always hit or miss.”
To be sure, Liebert’s working hard at FST, but he doesn’t mind. “So often as artists, we bounce from gig to gig. I’m enjoying having a wonderful theatrical home where I can stretch myself as an artist and do different kinds of things,” he says.
Courtesy image Ben Liebert is Florida Studio Theatre’s resident director/choreographer.
Image courtesy of Sorcha Augustine
Emily Ann Brooks takes center stage in Florida Studio Theatre’s “Dames at Sea.”
THIS WEEK
Image courtesy of Jason Quigley
DON’T MISS
‘HEIRLOOM’
SUNDAY
HD AT THE OPERA HOUSE: HERALD’S ‘LA FILLE MAL GARDÉE’ 1:30 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave. $20 Visit SarasotaOpera.org.
Fans of Sir Frederick Ashton, rejoice! “La fille mal gardée” (“The Wayward Daughter”) was the last ballet choreographed by Ashton. It tells the story of Lise, a farmer’s daughter who defies her mother’s marriage plans for her. An ode to the English countryside, this Royal Ballet rendition stars Natalia Osipova as Lise and Steven McRae as her true love, Colas.
MONDAY
RAUSCHENBERG: A CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
OUR PICK
THURSDAY
SUMMER CIRCUS SPECTACULAR
11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at The Ringling’s Historic Asolo Theater, 5401 Bay Shore Road
$20 adult; $13 child Visit CircusArts.org.
Pack up the car with Grandpa and the kids and head for the Circus Arts Conservatory’s annual Summer Circus Spectacular at The Ringling’s Historic Asolo Theater, a jewelbox venue that elevates any show. This thrilling, 60-minute circus of fresh new acts is perfect for people of all ages with short attention spans. There’s room for walkers, strollers, wheelchairs, you name it — but please arrive early so ushers can store them. Make it a circus day by adding a ticket to The Ringling’s famed Circus Museum for just $5 on
THIRD ANNUAL JUNETEENTH ARTS FESTIVAL
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s third annual Juneteenth Arts Festival runs all day, both inside and out, at the WBTT campus. There will be live performances by WBTT artists, food trucks, displays by visual artists and a screening of “Soul Crooners: The Documentary.” Don’t miss student performers at 5 p.m. and a jazz concert starring Dee Lucas at 6 p.m., both inside the Donelly Theatre.
IF YOU GO
When: 11 a.m. Sunday, June 22
Where: Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 N. Orange Ave.
Nate Jacobs and members of Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe host the third annual Juneteenth Arts Festival on June 22. Gabriel Kahane will perform in “Heirloom,” the final Friday night concert of the Sarasota Music Festival, on Friday, June 20.
the day of the show. Runs through Aug. 9.
‘BEETLEJUICE JR.’
7:30 p.m. at The Sarasota Players, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 1130 $20 Visit ThePlayers.org.
It’s summer children’s theater season. When you see a familiar name with the appendage “Jr.,” it means the show is about 60 minutes, its performers are young and/or both. This musical, presented by the Sarasota Players Studio, the community theater’s youth arm, follows Lydia Deetz, an unusual teenager who finds some otherworldly friends when she and her father move to a new house. Runs through June 22.
‘HOW SWEET IT IS’
7:30 p.m. at FST’s Goldstein Cabaret, 1239 N. Palm Ave.
$18-$42
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
As the mercury rises, locals know how to escape the heat with Florida Studio Theatre’s Summer Cabaret. The series kicks off with a Motown tribute called “How Sweet It is.” Led by dynamic vocalist and songwriter Luke McMaster, an energetic trio demonstrates the enduring appeal of hits like “Tracks of My Tears,” “You Can’t Hurry Love” and “Stop! In the Name of Love.” Runs through Aug. 3.
‘JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR’
7:30 p.m. at FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami
$35-$95
Visit AsoloRep.org.
This is it — the one we’ve been waiting all season for!
Broadway director Josh Rhodes (“Spamalot”) returns to Sarasota to direct and choreograph Asolo Rep’s production of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” the granddaddy of rock musicals. The show is everything we’d hoped for — and more. Runs through June 28.
The history of Sarasota Music Festival Director Jeffrey Kahane’s family runs through this program, which features two pieces composed by his son Gabriel Kahane. Gabriel will first play solo piano on his piece, “October 1, 1939/ Port of Hamburg.” Then father and son will switch places as Gabriel conducts the festival orchestra and his father plays piano on Gabriel’s three-movement concerto called “Heirloom,” which tells the story of three generations of their family.
IF YOU GO When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 20
Where: Sarasota Opera House Tickets: $29-$52 Info: Visit SarasotaOrchestra.org.
FRIDAY
LIZ LONGLEY
8 p.m. at Fogartyville, 525 Kumquat Court
$26 Visit WSLR.org.
Nashville-based artist Liz Longley has a new album, “New Life,” which explores the impact of motherhood on her life, including a bout of postpartum depression and changes in relationship dynamics. In 2020, Longley made a name for herself with “Funeral For My Past,” released after an amicable split with her former record label and a blockbuster Kickstarter campaign.
SATURDAY
SARASOTA MUSIC FESTIVAL FINALE
7:30 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave. $29-$72 Visit SarasotaOrchestra.org.
Festival alum Elena Urioste performs Korngold’s post-Romantic Violin Concerto, instantly recognizable from film scores. Also on the bill is Robert Schumann’s Symphony No. 2, which pays tribute to the music of Haydn, Mozart and Schubert, while also honoring Bach. The Sarasota Orchestra is promising a real “Hollywood ending” for the 61st edition of the Sarasota Music Festival. We can’t wait!
The John and Mable Ringling Art Museum, 5401 Bay Shore Road Free with $25 admission; Mondays free Visit Ringling.org.
The Ringling joins museums around the world in honoring the centenary of maverick artist Robert Rauschenberg, who burst onto the art scene in the mid-20th century with collages he called “combines.”
The exhibition includes works The Ringling has in its collection, including pieces Rauschenberg created during his time on Captiva Island on Florida’s Gulf Coast, where he moved in 1968 and remained until his death 40 years later. Runs through Aug. 3.
TUESDAY
‘GEORGE HARRISON: A GARDENER’S LIFE’ 10 a.m. at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 1534 Mound St. $28 Visit Selby.org.
“George Harrison: A Gardener’s Life” is the ninth installment of the annual Jean and Alfred Goldstein Exhibition Series. Walking around the 15-acre sanctuary on the Sarasota bayfront where gardens and botanical displays have been erected to mirror those in Harrison’s estate, Friar Park, you can’t help feeling that the late Beatle would approve of this living tribute. Pro tip: Arrive as soon as you can after opening time for a serene experience. Stop for lunch in the world’s first net-carbon free restaurant, The Green Orchid. You can’t go wrong with the BLT. Runs through June 29.
‘TOO DARN HOT: SONGS FOR A SUMMER NIGHT’ 7:30 p.m. at FST’s Court Cabaret, 1265 First St. $39 and up Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
Songstress Carole J. Bufford easily skips eras and genres. Whether she’s singing songs by Ray Charles, whose ditty, “Sinner’s Prayer,” is featured in Ryan Coogler’s crossgenre hit film “Sinners,” Frank Sinatra or Patsy Cline, she exudes a retro vibe. What’s more, her cool costumes in “Too Darn Hot” evoke everything from flappers of the 1920s to the neo-swing era of the 1990s. Runs through Sept. 14.
Telling a tale of Black family life without the usual cliches
Urbanite’s ‘From 145th to 98th Street’ has a few big moments but focuses on small decisions.
MARTY FUGATE THEATER CRITIC
Nia Akilah Robinson’s “From 145th to 98th Street” has premiered at Urbanite Theatre. Her play is about many things. It’s about changes of address and attitude. It’s about dreams deferred. It’s a sharply drawn family drama. It’s about the spirit of a place. It’s about the family rooted in that place. But it’s mostly a play about decisions. The time is 2014. Harlem’s the place. The Curtlys are the family. They’re an African American family. Before the play opens, they’ve left Harlem. Their new apartment is about 50 blocks away — in a mixed neighborhood on 98th Street. Jackie (Imani Slates) and Cedric (Brian D. Coats) did it to create a better life for their teenaged kids, Fatima (Sol Fuller) and Jamal (Ibukun Omotowa). A better school district, more economic possibilities.
But Jamal feels cut off from his roots and moves out. He gets a job at a gym and pursues his dream of a rap career. Fatima feels intimidated by privileged classmates and secretly starts to abandon her college dreams.
The family’s coming apart. But, as the play opens, a local news station falsely identifies Jamal as a robbery suspect. He gets beaten up by self-appointed crime stoppers as a result. He returns to
IF YOU GO
‘FROM 145TH STREET TO 98TH STREET’
When: Through June 29
Where: Urbanite Theatre, 1487
Second St.
Tickets: $30-$44
Info: Visit UrbaniteTheatre.com.
his family’s home — bruised and traumatized. But that attack is a catalyst. It starts bringing the family back together.
Director Jerrica D. White keeps the action and dialogue naturalistic and low-key. The rhythms of life ebb and flow unpredictably. You see without being seen. Think “fly on the wall.”
The actors breathe life into Robinson’s sharply defined characters. Each makes you feel for the dreams they’ve put on hold. Jackie, the Curtly matriarch, is a type-A personality. She has an eagle eye for detail and runs the family with military precision. Her character’s tough because she has to be. Beneath her stoic mask, she longs to leave her physically punishing job. In the spirit of “Candide,” Jackie dreams of moving to someplace that’s green and cultivating her garden.
Her husband, Cedric, is a retired bus driver and an ex-martial arts champion. He’s packed an unused room with his old karate trophies and still practices first thing every morning. He dreams of a more serene lifestyle — and a détente with his wife. His character’s back-and-forth with Jackie crackles with authenticity.
Jamal dreams of pursuing his music and being taken seriously.
Fatima is a volatile mix of potential and self-doubt. She dreams of college — but fears she’s not smart enough (or Black enough). Dawn (Ariel Blue), the Curtlys’ next-door neighbor, initially comes off as a busybody when she calls in a noise complaint at the worst possible time. Dawn later apologizes — and it turns out she’s a therapist who dreams of helping people. She becomes a surprising family resource.
The Curtlys’ family affair unfolds in Frank Chavez’ believable set. It won’t be gracing the cover of Architectural Digest anytime soon. The apartment’s uptown but not upscale — a wellused, well-kept, middle-class enclave, complete with a working refrigerator.
Adrienne Pitts’ costumes flow from the characters’ inner lives. Jamal’s T-shirts are my favorite. They change like mood rings from scene to scene. Now, it’s a Notorious B.I.G. T-shirt. Moments later, it’s a Treyvon Martin T-shirt. You always know what Jamal’s feeling. In this play, that’s always the point.
Robinson’s witty script is spiked with occasional heartbreak. But it’s not the typical Black trauma play. It’s just a slice of family life in the African American community. Speaking of which, she’s never didactic. The play’s conflicts are ripped from the headlines — in the New York Post.
But Robinson avoids the insulting cliches of Black experience. Harlem isn’t a hellhole. Midtown isn’t heaven. Jamal smokes pot — so what? There’s no “Just say no” message. Jamal’s the victim of mistaken identity. But no SWAT team kicks down the family’s door.
The playwright also shuns a permissive point of view. Jackie and Cedric want what’s best for their kids. Jamal never went to
college; Jackie fights to make sure Fatima will. But what if that’s her choice? Who is she to decide? The mother, that’s who. The nuanced script has the ambiguity and complexity of life. That’s a risky dramatic structure — it demands focused attention. There’s no ticking clock, no sharp turning points, no life-or-death stakes. It’s just life. Very few big moments. A multitude of small decisions.
Should Fatima mail in the acceptance form to Montclair State College?
Should Jamal protest or sue the local CBS news affiliate?
Should Cedric speak his mind? Should Jackie offer guidance but let her kids make their own choices?
Good news! The characters all make the right choices. Spoiler alert: By the end of the play, their deferred dreams have all come true. Fatima’s in college, and Jamal’s doing good works at a notfor-profit. Cedric and Jackie are leaving their empty nest and moving to a house with a yard in New Jersey where Jackie can finally put her green thumb to good use. That’s the end of the Curtlys’ journey in 2014.
I wonder where they’re at in 2025?
Images courtesy of Sorcha Augustine
Brian D. Coats and Imani Slates star in “From 145th to 98th Street,” which runs through June 29 at Urbanite Theatre.
Ibukun Omotowa and Sol Fuller play brother and sister in Nia Akilah Robinson’s “From 145th to 98th Street,” which runs through June 29 at Urbanite Theatre.
YOUR NEIGHBORS
A world in miniature
Local library volunteer showcases collection of dolls from around the world.
IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER
Building a doll collection wasn’t something Jennifer Joseph began intentionally.
When she was a young adult, she would often buy dolls as mementos from places she visited, and although she had the idea of a collection in her mind, it ultimately came together of its own accord.
While she bought many of the dolls herself, her family, friends and students she worked with all contributed.
She says those people have become part of the memories found among what she says is approximately 80 dolls representing 40 countries.
That includes the country of her birth, Guyana, as well as others as diverse as Spain, Senegal, China, Norway and Jamaica.
Thanks to the Friends of the Betty J. Johnson Library organization, for which she volunteers in the library’s bookstore, her lifetime collection is now there.
One doll at a time Joseph believes her connection with dolls probably began with her father, Vincent Chung, who died when she was young.
“He was 45, I was just about 7, and the last gift I had from him was a doll, so I suspect there’s something in there about connection and remembrance and special people, all coming together,” she said.
Throughout her life, she also worked primarily in higher education administration, and is a founding member of the Freedom School at Association for the Study of African American Life and History in Sarasota.
She says the curiosity she feels about other places in the world is what she hopes to inspire in others.
Since she moved to Sarasota from Chicago about five years ago, the dolls had been in storage because of a lack of space.
IF YOU GO
BETTY J. JOHNSON NORTH SARASOTA LIBRARY
Where: 2801 Newtown Blvd.
Info: Visit SCGov.net.
advocates on behalf of the library, besides managing the bookstore, whose sales benefit the library’s activities.
“I’m thrilled to see them out, hopefully for others to enjoy and be curious about,” Joseph said.
Joseph says the dolls come from many parts of Africa, Europe and the Caribbean, as well as many other countries, and describes them as showing “an incredible diversity.”
However, while the features of the dolls themselves are diverse, so are the ways in which they were acquired.
During her time living in England, Joseph visited many European countries.
As her then-husband was a professor of African Studies at Oxford, they also lived in many African countries with their three sons from the 1970s to 1980s.
They spent time in Sudan, Senegal and Nigeria, while their location and his work also brought them to other neighboring countries, including Togo, Ghana, Cameroon, South Africa and Tanzania and Kenya.
During that time, she obtained many African dolls, although she says other focuses, such as like being a mother and settling into new environments, often were at the forefront of her life.
One thing Joseph says she took away from the experience was the diversity of Africa, including its more than 50 countries and the different languages and geographical regions.
She says what she learned was “in some ways, the realization that people are people the world over.”
The collection continued to grow after she moved to New Hampshire and worked at Dartmouth College, serving in admissions, then as a dean of first-year students and then as the leader of an academic support program.
She says students she worked with would often bring back dolls for her from the countries they visited.
“I often think about that, that they wouldn’t know that I still remember their names and think of them when I see and I take these dolls out,” she said.
The remaining portion of the collection comes from the contributions of friends and family.
“Of course, it’s very touching that people remember, ‘Oh, you collect dolls,’ and when they think about bringing you something, I get a little doll,” she said.
For instance, her youngest son, Robert, made a trip to Guyana and brought back a small doll where a plant seed makes up the head.
She says although it’s difficult to choose a favorite among the many unique dolls in the collection, one does hold a special meaning for her because her son brought it to her from the country of her birth.
Her second son, Anthony, brought back one from an antique store after a visit to China, as well as a cornhusk doll by Iroquois Indians in Niagaraon-the-Lake, Canada.
Her oldest son, Mark, brought dolls from Belize and Norway.
She says apart from the memories attached to each doll, her interest also comes from her curiosity about she said. “Wherever you go, wherever you go, you will find a doll, but then they’re drawing on all these local materials.”
For instance, she bought another doll in Guyana dressed entirely in some type of leaves.
She said that in the tropics, leaves, including banana, coconut and palm, go through drying, shaping, coloring and are used for a variety of purposes, from thatching houses to
Many of the dolls also carry their unique meanings and traditions, such as a fertility doll from Ghana.
Common across African countries, tribal women hoping to become pregnant carry these and care for them as though they were an actual baby.
Then there is a basket of six Mexican Worry Dolls, all of which are smaller than an inch.
Worry Dolls originate from Guatemala and traditionally are given to children so they can tell one doll a story about something worrying them before placing it under their pillow that night.
Joseph said the Betty J. Johnson Library is a space where she’s happy to showcase the collection and try to find its
She says there is something “very special” about the library, including the fact its namesake, Betty J. Johnson, is still involved in the community. “I just saw her recently and had a chance to tell her that I feel that it’s her special spirit that is in this place, but it’s just a great library, in terms of the resources, the programming, and, of course, the bookstore,”
Jennifer Joseph has collected approximately 80 dolls from about 40 countries.
Photos by Ian Swaby
The collection’s punk doll and palace guard both come from London.
Joseph has a trio of dolls from Senegal.
Dolls, including one of a dancer from India (front), are displayed in the bookstore.
COMMUNITY UNITY
Residents of all ages turned out for the third annual Diverse Fest at The Harvest, which aims to uplift community members from all walks of life.
KAMPA STAFF WRITER
Sarasota community mem -
bers celebrated a vast array of identities last weekend at an ever-growing yearly celebration, enjoying tunes, connection and camaraderie.
The Harvest Sarasota hosted its third annual Diverse Fest on June 14 at the church, featuring a full day of musical entertainment, booths for local organizations and family friendly fun.
The Rev. Dan Minor said he is amazed at how the celebration has
grown each year. He said organizers first launched the festival when conversation concerning diversity
“became a political football.”
“We felt this shouldn’t be about politics,” he said. “It’s about human rights. So we started this event, not in protest of that, but to have something in Sarasota that’s sending a different message: that every person in our community, no matter how they love, how they vote, what they look like, the color of their skin, their gender or anything else, should feel welcome, loved, seen and valued.”
He shared his appreciation for community sponsors, particularly
SeacoastBank, who facilitated making the get-together bigger than ever.
The turnout pleased KK Burchell, who coordinated the event. She said the event originated when she and a co-worker considered hosting an event at the church for Pride Month.
But they realized they could expand the celebration to include people of many identities, for June also includes Juneteenth and closely follows Mental Health Month.
“We wanted to celebrate everyone, especially when we have so many amazing organizations already focusing on pride,” Burchell said. “Last year, we had way more people
show up than we expected. Everyone seemed to enjoy it and just wanted it to be even bigger.”
Both Minor and Burchell are members of the church’s band, which was one of many musical acts to grace the stage that afternoon. Also performing were members of Dingbat Theatre Project, Merge Eleven, Azara Ballet, Midas Dancers, IIZTOC and Jah Movement.
Singers from Dingbat Theatre Project kicked off the day’s musical offerings and promoted its current run of the show “Pippin” that runs through this weekend.
The event also featured a variety of artists and crafters, including local painter Sam North, who runs the brand “Sammy thrashLife.” He never saw himself going down the path of becoming an artist, but when he sought support dealing with addiction recovery and managing borderline personality disorder, advisors recommended he express himself through paint.
Now, his works are on display at local shops and other venues.
North said he believes it is the humor and bright color in his art that particularly draws in viewers.
Elena Torres Biset, owner of Creative Coaching, recently launched a coaching business for families with members diagnosed with ADHD, and she said she appreciated having a venue to connect with people who may find her services useful.
“My daughter is also trans, and this is a fantastic place to reach out and meet other people,” she said.
Diverse Fest also featured representatives from local LGBTQ+ organizations, like PFLAG Sarasota.
The national organization started more than 50 years ago as a resource to help families navigate their relationships with a member who has changed their identity. It claims to be the largest national organization offering education about the LGBTQ+ community for allies.
The local chapter, which is 8 years old, meets the last Monday of the month at 6 p.m. at the Oasis Center.
Sheila Weiss, a founding member, said the group is happy to help out anyone who wants guidance, even just through a phone call.
“We come together to offer resources and programs and fellowship and conversation for folks
who are traveling their own journey, whether for themselves or with a family member,” she said. She said the group is open to anyone, adding, “We have grandparents that want to be accepting and have their grandchildren in their lives who may be trans or nonbinary. And they’re learning, and they become fantastic advocates for people. It’s so amazing to watch.”
Learn more at PFLAGSarasota.org.
Project Pride SRQ, which recently hosted Silver Pride, shared updates on its upcoming events, including a quarterly neighborhood cleanup day on July 19 at 1825 S. Osprey Ave. Looking ahead to next year, Minor said coordinators may make small adjustments, such as shifting the date to earlier in the year to beat the heat, allowing them to host the fest outdoors and continue to grow the celebration.
To keep up with events at The Harvest throughout the summer, visit HarvestSarasota.com/EventsCalendar.
Louise Kingman and 3-year-old Graceson attended this year’s Diverse Fest. Louise said they regularly attend church at The Harvest Sarasota and appreciated all the family friendly activities at the festival.
DANA
Photos by Dana Kampa
Members of The Harvest Band, including the Rev. Dan Minor and KK Burchell, perform at the church’s annual Diverse Fest on June 14.
$15,500,000
Volunteers dive for trash, no treasure
Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium volunteers found large pieces of doors, docks, chairs and beach equipment at a recent beach clean up.
On the morning of June 14, Mote Marine hosted its Sea to Shore: Clean and Explore event at Ken Thompson Park. Volunteers took to land and sea as paddleboard and diver clean-up crews combed the waters.
Mote also showcased its homeschool program’s youth-led projects, ranging in studies of sunscreen, mangrove trees and the protection of sharks.
“It’s kind of like a way to get better outreach, to meet more people and kind of push us out in a more
social environment,” explained Project Mangrove Manager Isabelle Gunderson.
The most common items found throughout were cans, bottle caps and straws. Yet, volunteer divers found large masses of debris, such as wooden planks and building debris, as well.
“Mote has a really big foothold within the Sarasota and Tampa Bay communities,” said Kathryn Gentile, PR coordinator and part of the dive cleanup.
— CARLIN GILLEN
Photos by Carlin Gillen
Nicolas
Mote’s Homeschool Program projects.
Mote Marine’s PR coordinator, Kathryn Gentile, poses with her scuba gear and trash she collected from her dive.
Dancing with Pops
Sundays at The Bay had a special twist last weekend at The Oval, drawing a full house of families looking for a way to celebrate Father’s Day.
The Rockefellers played for the first time at The Bay, offering fan-favorite throwback songs like “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing,” “My Girl,” “Still the One,” “Smooth Operator” and more.
Jonathan Farthing, owner of J.F. Gator Construction, turned the upper deck of the stadium into a dance floor as he and his daughter, Julianna, swayed to the tunes of the rock ’n’ roll band.
He said their family was glad to find a laid-back, fun event where they could enjoy the early evening breeze and celebrate the holiday.
The Rockefellers are an ensemble band based in Naples, led by vocalist Autumn Tselios.
Attendees brought their dogs and bubble-blowing tots to enjoy the summer event, catching a breeze off Sarasota Bay while taking in saxophone solos and guitar riffs.
— DANA KAMPA
SHELLSTONE AT WATERSIDE
Sarasota, FL
Approx. 1,692-3,733 sf
From High $500's 2 Amenity Centers Quick Move-Ins Available
MODEL CENTER
792 Blue Shell Loop Sarasota, FL 34240 941-361-2536
PALMERA AT WELLEN PARK
Venice, FL
Approx. 2,375-3426 sf
From High $700's
Gated with Amenity Center Quick Move-Ins Available
MODEL CENTER 18188 Foxtail Loop Venice, FL 34293 941-361-2537
The Rockefellers’ lead vocalist, Autumn Tselios, plays a special Father’s Day show at The Bay.
Photos by Dana Kampa
Jonathan Farthing and his daughter, Julianna, turn the top deck of The Oval into a dance floor as they celebrate Father’s Day with a special Sundays at the Bay show.
Andrew L. Clark, Esq.
M. Michelle Robles, Esq.
Emily M. Flinchpaugh, Esq.
JOYFUL JUNETEENTH
The sixth annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way street fair celebrated some of Newton’s best food and craft pop-ups.
DANA KAMPA STAFF WRITER
In celebration of Juneteenth, Event Coordinator Gwendalyn Fleetwood brought back an annual Newtown event featuring food, music, culture and community for its sixth year.
The block party took place on June 14 on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way, where 26 local entrepreneurs lined the streets with booths offering soul food, handcrafted jewelry, sweet treats, educational resources and more.
Fleetwood said she first launched the event out of a desire to lift up community members, give neighbors an opportunity to connect and bring a bit of fun to the area.
“I started it because when COVID hit, a lot of people were laid off, and many weren’t working,” she said.
“A lot of people were looking for jobs and things to sell to keep them going.”
The timing fell near Juneteenth, and Fleetwood said she thought it would be the perfect theme.
The festival also supports Second Chance Last Opportunity, which has been part of the celebration since the beginning.
April Glasco, CEO and founder of Second Chance Last Opportunity, said she was delighted to see the variety of vendors joining this year’s block party.
“I love that they bring their talent and specialties to the community,” she said.
SCLO is a nonprofit that has been empowering underserved people in the community since 1995, offering educational materials and facilitating a food pantry.
Among the local businesspeople was repeat vendor Natasha Mil -
house. She is going on four years of running Nhouse Taste of Soul catering, aiming to offer more soul food options to the Sarasota culinary scene. With the motto “Changing Souls One Plate at a Time,” the Sarasota-born owner said her vision is to bring a brick-and-mortar restaurant to her neighborhood.
“I don’t ever want to add salt, add pepper, add other things to give me a good plate of food,” owner Milhouse said. “One simple thing I’ve learned about people is that they love good food, and I noticed in the area where I grew up that we didn’t really have any soul food restaurants that have been consistent.”
At the Juneteenth event, she featured her homemade wings, one of the most popular of which is her barbecue Hennessy-based sauce, and loaded boiled peanuts.
She said she appreciated having the chance to network with fellow businesspeople in Newtown, add -
ing, “We do it better when we do it together.”
The festival also featured some young go-getters, including 15-yearold Randy Johnson, who started his treats-focused business, Everything Dipped by King.
He specializes in candy-dipped sweets like pineapple and grapes, but he also offers savory snacks like a spicy bowl with hard-boiled eggs. Using online video tutorials as a guide, Johnson taught himself to make his confectionery delights and started making treats two years ago.
“The spicy bowl has sausage, pickled eggs, banana peppers and other spices,” he said.
Running the pop-up has taught him about cooking and financial management, and he said he looks forward to seeing his business grow.
The Juneteenth fest featured more than culinary booths. Nicole Hird, of Love Thy Waistbeads, sold strands she made and designs from entre-
During Juneteenth, the historic Leonard Reid House is shining a spotlight on local leaders with a special exhibit by portrait photographer Michael Kinsey. The Sarasota-based artist has captured the likeness of local innovators in fields that include national security, the performing arts, civil rights and more.
Kinsey graduated from the Ringling College of Art and Design, and he often works in black-and-white photography, utilizing varying depths of field and compositions to show each individual’s personality.
Those featured in his show include harpist Ann Hobson Pilot, corporate attorney David Wilkins, U.S. Ambassador James S. Joseph, theater manager Travis Ray, entrepreneur Jetson Grimes and many more.
Mydahlia Glover, administrative event manager at The Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition, said the exhibit also has a bench where visitors can sit and “admire these very proud but positive faces.”
“Even though they’re not smiling, per se, there’s a joy in the eyes,” she said of one subject. Glover said the House is featuring a variety of events this month associated with the exhibition, including a screening of the “Voices” documentary at 6 p.m. on June 19. Register at EventBrite.com or contact Glover at MGloverSAACC@outlook.com or 813-419-0454.
The exhibit will be on display at the Leonard Reid House through July. It is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, or by appointment.
preneurs in Nigeria.
“We have a lot of different designs,” she said. “I started out exclusively making my own, but when the business started taking off at marketplaces, I realized I needed more beads than I can make alone.”
She said the jewelry is eye-catching and confidence-boosting, but it also serves a practical purpose of helping wearers monitor weight loss. While a scale can keep track of pounds lost,
she said waistbeads can be a helpful guide when people who are training to lose fat but gain muscle. Most waistbeads are designed to be worn round the clock, but she said she also offers removable strands.
Attendee Marc Dortch said he enjoyed the fellowship among community members that day.
“I loved the positive atmosphere everywhere,” he added, encouraging people to come again next year.
Mydahlia Glover smiles while giving a tour of the Michael Kinsey portrait photography exhibit the historic Leonard Reid House is featuring during Juneteenth.
Photos by Dana Kampa April Glasco, CEO and founder of Second Chance Last Opportunity, served dual roles at the Juneteenth block party, sharing resources like children’s books and promoting her new venture, Lady’s G Soul Food.
MICHAEL SAUNDERS & COMPANY PROUDLY PRESENTS
THE SUMMER OF
Opportunity OPEN HOUSE
Extravaganza
ONE DAY ONLY! SUNDAY, JUNE 22
More than 200 homes across Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, and Lee Counties are opening their doors for this extraordinary event.
Your dream home could be just a visit away!
If you wait for the headlines to say “Now is the time to buy” – it may already be too late.
Quay Commons condo
ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR
Francis Norman Burzik and Catherine Marie Burzik, trustees, of Sarasota, sold their Unit 803 condominium at 401 Quay Commons to Patrick Mulva and Mary Mulva, trustees, of Sarasota, for $6.9 million. Built in 2021, it has four bedrooms, five baths and 4,818 square feet of living area. It sold for $4,545,600 in 2021.
SARASOTA
SAN
UDA FIDU Inc.,
$4.45 million.
2006, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 5,160 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.75 million in 2011.
MATHENY
Eric and Sophie Baal, of Madrid, Spain, sold their home at 1718 Prospect St. to Bernard Nigro Jr. and Stacey Leigh Sovereign, of Alexandria, Virginia, for $3,462,500. Built in 2020, it has four bedrooms, fourand-a-half baths, a pool and 4,282 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.56 million in 2020.
GRANADA Christopher and Sophann Bretz, of Sarasota, sold their home at 3800 Flores Ave. to 3800 Flores LLC for $1.25 million. Built in 1948, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,924 square feet of living area. It sold for $965,000 in 2022.
MARK SARASOTA
Alphonse and Tracey Lucchese, of Falmouth, Massachusetts, sold their Unit 613 condominium at 111 S. Pineapple Ave. to Todd and Elizabeth Rieke, of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, for $1.25 million. Built in 2019, it has two bedrooms, twoand-a-half baths and 1,482 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.1 million in 2020.
THE LANDINGS
Lloyd and Sally Sammons, of Dover, Delaware, sold their home at 4892 Peregrine Point Circle E. to Steven and Lia Koyner, of West Chester, Pennsylvania, for $1.2 million. Built in 1984, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,654 square feet of living area. It sold for $375,000 in 2010.
SAPPHIRE SHORES
John and Melanie Danza sold their home at 494 Sapphire Drive to Nancy Zigelbaum and Philppe Barcessat, of Sarasota, for $1.15 million. Built in 1955, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,674 square feet of living area. It sold for $141,500 in 2012.
CORAL COVE
Randall and Karen Crete sold their home at 1841 Cockleshell Drive to Danielle Mathews, of Sarasota, for
$920,000. Built in 1961, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,179 square feet of living area. It sold for $107,000 in 1989.
POINSETTIA PARK
Cheryl Cucinotta, of Sarasota, sold the home at 1834 Bougainvillea St. to 1834 Bougainvillea LLC for $850,000. Built in 1966, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 1,003 square feet of living area. It sold for $397,000 in 2013.
ALINARI
Carmen Celia Arroyo, of Ridgefield, New Jersey, sold the Unit 403 condominium at 800 N. Tamiami Trail to Anne and Jeffrey Silver, of Sarasota, for $715,000. Built in 2007, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,323 square feet of living area. It sold for $433,000 in 2007.
CENTRAL PARK
Taylor McFadden and Lindsay Burns, of Sarasota, sold their home at 1723 Fifth St. to George Depero, of Sarasota, for $675,000. Built in 1955, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,176 square feet of living area. It sold for $410,000 in 2022.
FULMER
Bradley Miller, of Sarasota, sold two properties at 2930 Prospect St. to Laban Schmidt and Arlo Dean Schmidt and Sharon Kay Schmidt, of Sarasota, for $665,000. The first property was built in 1956 and has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,200 square feet of living area. The second property was built in 2023 and has two bedrooms, one bath and 677 square feet of living area.
WESLO WILLOWS
Joseph Edward Tennes, of Carmel, Illinois, sold the home at 2428 Whippoorwill Circle to Lyudmila Dutil, of Sarasota, for $650,000. Built in 1973, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,921 square feet of living area. It sold for $765,000 in 2023.
1500 STATE STREET
Daniel and Melody Suzor, of Holmes Beach, sold their Unit 303 condominium at 1500 State St. to Frederic and Ester Vallat, of New York City, for $625,000. Built in 2017, it has one bedroom, one bath and 736 square feet of living area. It sold for $379,000 in 2017.
RUSTIC LODGE
Michael Fordham, of Petaluma, California, sold his home at 2538 Floyd St. to Alexandra Ingram, of Sarasota, for $619,000. Built in 1959, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,388 square feet of living area. It sold for $175,000 in 2016.
BRUNKS ADDITION TO CITY OF SARASOTA
Terrence Stewart, trustee, of Bradenton, sold the home at 2770 Temple St. to Douglas Colkitt, of Sarasota, for $600,000. Built in 1957, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,132 square feet of living area. It sold for $390,000 in 2006.
ONLINE
See more transactions at YourObserver.com.
Other top sales by area
SIESTA KEY: $2.25 MILLION
Secluded Harbour
Amanda Atlas, of Sarasota, sold her home at 1241 Big Oak Lane to Tracy Prizant, trustee, of Poland, Ohio, for $2.25 million. Built in 1979, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,848 square feet of living area. It sold for $235,000 in 1987.
PALMER RANCH: $1,275,000
Silver Oak
Joseph Brann and Christine Brann sold their home at 8994 Wildlife Loop to Sean Kristofer Thorne and Jillian Barrie Liese, of Sarasota, for $1,275,000. Built in 2002, it has five bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,542 square feet of living area. It sold for $695,000 in 2015.
OSPREY: $3,525,000
Southbay Yacht and Racquet Club
C. James and Karen Tranter, trustees, Syracuse, Indiana, sold the home at 275 Lookout Point Drive to Christopher and Michele Brown, of Osprey, for $3,525,000. Built in 2007, it has five bedrooms, five baths, a pool and 5,279 square feet of living area.
NOKOMIS: $640,000
Mission Valley Estates
John and Katinka Ivey, of Nokomis, sold their home at 1358 Ewing St. to William Robert Welling and Shannon Leigh Welling, of Nokomis, for $640,000. Built in 1993, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,022 square feet of living area. It sold for $575,000 in 2006.
Courtesy image
The Sarasota home at 1718 Prospect St. sold for
$3,462,500. It was
YOUR CALENDAR
BEST BET
FRIDAY, JUNE 27
TAKE HOME A FURRY FRIEND
Noon to 7 p.m. at The Humane Society of Sarasota County, 2331 15th St. The animal rescue is hosting a mega adop tion weekend, waiving adoption fees for all available animals. Special extended hours are noon to 7 p.m. on Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Bring a leash and collar for dogs and a carrier for cats. Visit HSSC.org.
SATURDAY, JUNE 21
READY, SET, STRIKE!
8:30 a.m. at Siesta Beach, 948 Beach Road. The Sunshine State Outdoor Volleyball Association hosts a beach volleyball tournament this weekend, offering top-level competition, cash prizes, live music and more. Check-in begins for the men’s and women’s open at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday. Register in advance. Visit SSOVA.com for the full schedule.
CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY
9 a.m. at Bayfront Park, 5 Bayfront Drive. Free. Yoga by the Bay with Erin is a free one-hour yoga class celebrating International Yoga Day. Email ErinHurter@gmail.com with questions.
FEEL THE RHYTHM 6 p.m. at The Oval, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. Catch singer Kristopher James for his first performance at The Bay. James blends R&B and rock, inspired by the tunes of Otis Redding, Amos Lee and others. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.
MONDAY, JUNE 23
PARTY WITH THE ANIMALS
2:30 p.m. at Selby Library Jack J. Geldbart Auditorium, 1331 First St. Take in a live, interactive animal presentation with three interesting critters. Geared toward children ages 5-9. Visit SCGovLibrary.LibraryMarket.com.
TUESDAY, JUNE 24
VIEW ‘THE BROADWAY MELODY’
SUNDAY, JUNE 22
JUNETEENTH ARTS FESTIVAL
11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe campus, 1012 N. Orange Ave. Free and open to all ages. Local artists, including students at the Ringling College of Art & Design, will share their works and live performances. Includes food trucks, documentary screenings, workshops and a jazz concert at 6 p.m. with saxophonist Dee Lucas. Visit WestcoastBlackTheatre.org.
5 p.m. at Selby Library Jack J. Geldbart Auditorium, 1331 First St. Enjoy a showing of Harry Beaumont’s “The Broadway Melody.” The 1929 film is a Best Picture Oscar winner and follows a pair of sisters trying to make it on the vaudeville circuit. Geared toward adults. Visit SCGovLibrary. LibraryMarket.com.
SPORTS
FAST BREAK
“Everyone
was swimming fast, and I dropped a lot of time, but the best part was seeing a lot of my friends drop time.”
The Sarasota High football team has received an influx of talent from Lakewood Ranch this summer. Former Mustangs players Colton Dempsey Jayden Rivers and Viktor Monoki have announced on X they are transferring to play for the Sailors this fall. Dempsey, a running back, rushed for 1,015 yards and 13 touchdowns last fall. Rivers, a running back and cornerback, broke up four passes and forced a fumble before he broke his ankle in Week 4. Monoki, a receiver, had 10 receptions for 93 yards in six games.
... The Sarasota American Little League 8-9-10 All-Star team won a district championship with a 13-0 win over Englewood. Sarasota American will next advance to the sectional tournament June 20-22 in Lehigh Acres.
... The Sarasota Little League 9-10-11 All-Stars won a district championship with an undefeated run through the district tournament. Sarasota will next advance to the sectional tournament July 11-13.
... Sarasota quarterback Hudson West, a rising sophomore, has continued to pick up collegiate interest this summer. A week after announcing an offer to the University of North Carolina, West announced he has received offers to Virginia Tech and the University of Kentucky.
... MaxPreps ranked The Cardinal Mooney football team No. 8 overall in Florida and No. 1 in Class 2A for the 2025 season in rankings released June 7.
... A recent study done by PodPlay Pickleball Business Guide determined that Sarasota is the pickleball capital of the United States. According to the study, there are 26.14 pickleball courts per 100,000 people in Sarasota. The second-most courts per person in the country was found to be in Bradenton, where there are 19.31 courts per 100,000 residents.
NATURALLY GIFTED
Kymistrii Young overcame a lack of football experience to become a DI recruit.
VINNIE PORTELL STAFF WRITER
Kymistrii Young had never played an organized sport until his freshman year at Parrish Community High School.
Now, the rising senior wide receiver at Cardinal Mooney Catholic is preparing to base his future around football after committing to play for Purdue University on June 1.
Young chose the Boilermakers over scholarship offers from 23 other Division I programs, including Miami, Florida State, Penn State and Michigan State.
“Some schools offered me, but I feel like they offered me just to offer me,” said Young, who said he felt as though the coaching staff at Purdue made him a priority recruit. “When me and my family went up there, it just felt great.”
The fact Young has garnered that type of interest at the next level might not shock anyone who has watched him play wide receiver for the Cougars on Friday nights, but it’s something he never even considered for himself four years ago.
Young, who has 13 siblings, grew up with his grandmother, Ava Lawerence, in St. Petersburg. He said his grandmother didn’t want him to play sports — or even go outside — because of the threat of violence in their neighborhood.
When his father, Gary Young, earned custody of him the summer going into his seventh grade year and he moved in with him in Parrish, that changed.
Young’s father encouraged him to try playing sports, and with cousins like Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson and former USF receiver Amarri Jackson, there was a good chance Young had some natural athleticism, as well.
Young’s first organized football experience came as a freshman at Parrish Community, and he made an immediate impact with 14 receptions for 181 yards and two touchdowns as the team’s only freshman to record offensive stats in more than one game.
Even with some early success, Young had to make up for missed time. That meant learning plays, adjusting to a practice schedule and keeping the faith when things didn’t go his way at times.
“Everybody always has doubts when it gets hard,” he said. “Everybody’s going to be like, ‘Oh, I can’t do this,’ but you just keep pushing because you can’t quit once you start something. That’s what my dad told me.”
After catching two touchdowns in the spring game of his freshman year, Young started to realize he could have a future in football.
He became Parrish’s top scoring threat in the passing game as a sophomore with 22 receptions for 483 yards and a team-high eight receiving touchdowns.
However, playing football at Parrish didn’t suit Young, who said he needed more structure. That led him to transfer to Cardinal Mooney, where he has blossomed into a highly sought-after DI-caliber player.
Young found what he was looking for at Cardinal Mooney, including what he said was the “best coach he’s played under” in head coach Jared Clark, academic encouragement that has helped him raise his GPA to a 3.3 and the exposure to college recruiters that comes with playing alongside other DI prospects.
The competition he faced in practice every day last year may have made the biggest difference.
Matched up against cornerback Chris McCorkle, now a Kansas Jayhawk, Young had to adjust to a new level of play.
“I don’t think he was used to losing, and Chris would get him sometimes, so he had to fight through that,” Clark said. “A guy like that who has had a ton of success and is naturally gifted at football, he struggled when he got here during fall camp when him and Chris were going at it.”
Clark said Young was primarily utilized on go routes and fades at Parrish because he was a 6-foot-2 receiver with speed.
Now, however, Young has become a polished all-around receiver.
After an explosive preseason performance against Booker last year with what Clark estimates was 200 yards and three touchdowns, Young would be the team’s top receiver.
He finished with 25 receptions for 626 yards and 10 touchdowns — leading the Cougars in each category — and Clark said Young should be even better this fall.
Even with those stats, Young didn’t arrive on the radar of many college recruiters until he ran a 4.4-second 40-yard dash at a football camp this spring.
Then, the offers began to flood in.
Three years after playing football for the first time, Young has raised his expectations.
He said he hopes to have 1,000 receiving yards in his senior season this fall, and carry that success with him to college.
“I just want to leave a legacy there,” Young said. “Wherever I go, I want to have a legacy at the end.”
SARASOTA PREP FOOTBALL RECRUIT WATCH
There are several rising senior football players in the Sarasota area with Division I football offers. Some have committed, while others have yet to make their decision.
CARDINAL MOONEY
Kymistrii Young (WR) — Committed to Purdue Bryce Fulda (DE) — Committed to Western Kentucky Da’Ron Parks (IOL) — Has 47 Division I offers and has visited Auburn, Rutgers, Florida State, Kentucky and Ohio State Elijah Golden (DL) — Has 40 Division I offers and has visited Oklahoma, Alabama and Notre Dame LaRon Dues (CB) — Has 23 Division I offers and has visited West Virginia and Indiana Macaiden Brown (S) — Has 13 Division I offers and has visited Liberty and Buffalo
BOOKER
Tyren Wortham (WR) — Committed to UCF Karajius Hayes (S) — Committed to Vanderbilt Dylan Wester (ATH) — Committed to Pittsburgh Kevontay Hugan (DL) — Committed to Indiana
Chauncey Kennon (CB) — Has 37 Division I offers and has visited Florida, Miami, Georgia, Florida State and LSU
RIVERVIEW
Jamaun Thompson (Edge) — Has Division I offers from USF, Akron, Eastern Kentucky, New Mexico State and UTSA
“Everybody always has doubts when it gets hard ... but you just keep pushing because you can’t quit once you start something. That’s what my dad told me.”
— David Melnychuk, Riverview graduate SEE PAGE 13B
Vinnie Portell
Sarasota High second-year football coach Amp Campbell has added three new players via transfer from Lakewood Ranch this summer.
Kymistrii Young turned himself into a Division I-caliber football player despite never playing the sport before high school.
Image courtesy of Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School
— Kymistrii Young File image
Cardinal Mooney receiver Kymistrii Young had a breakout performance in last year’s Kickoff Classic preseason game against Booker with three touchdowns.
Sarasota Crew boat secures youth national championship
It felt unfair at first that the 2025 US Rowing Youth National Championships featured its most important races on Father’s Day.
Hundreds of fathers who support their children all year long were standing around in sweltering heat and unforgiving sunshine at Nathan Benderson Park waiting patiently for their kids to race in an event lasting nearly nine hours.
Many of those fathers had traveled from across the corners of the country — from Washington, California, New York and Massachusetts — and some surely had to return to work soon.
As the day unfolded, however, it came into focus how there was nowhere else these men would rather be on Father’s Day.
Fathers raced down the beach line to follow their children’s boats, jubilantly cheered them on and high-fiving anyone within reach when races were over.
Seth Wilson was one local father who made the most of his day.
Wilson biked down the beach to follow the Women’s U16 Eight race to follow the Sarasota Crew boat, which included his twin daughters, Brooke and Addison Wilson.
Brooke, Addison and their crewmates — Gabrielle Davis, Maya Jewell, Megan Murdock, Isabella De Liz, Sydney Soboleski, Rose Ottaviano and Lillian Teague — finished the 2,000-meter race in 6:56.81,
WOMEN’S U16 EIGHT FINAL A RESULTS
1st: Sarasota Crew (6:56.81)
2nd: Community Rowing, Inc. (7:02.45)
3rd: Los Gatos Rowing Club (7:03.16)
4th: River City Rowing Club (7:11.38)
5th: Austin Rowing Club (7:14.34)
6th: Marin Rowing Association (7:14.83)
7th: RowAmerica Rye (7:18.73)
8th: St. Ignatius College Prep (7:18.94)
more than five seconds ahead of the pack, to win a youth national championship.
“It’s an awesome experience,”
Seth Wilson said. “They’ve been working so hard, and this year they’ve been really great. Each race I’ve been able to see them grow.
Even from five or six weeks ago, when they had their state race in the same lake here in Benderson to now, they were able to take 15 to 17 seconds off their time on the same course. The whole boat has been fantastic, and of course, I’m super proud of Addison and Brooke.”
More than 3,500 rowers competed in 130 final events from Friday evening through late Sunday after-
noon after two days of time trials and semifinal events.
The final events were broken up from A through E classifications, with the top boats competing in the A class for national championships.
Sarasota Crew had three boats
make it to the A Finals — the Women’s U16 Eight (1st), the Men’s U17 Eight (3rd) and the Women’s Youth Four (6th).
The Women’s U16 Eight national championship was a story of resilience.
Coach Sebastian Spivey said the hurricanes disrupted the training season, which caused the team to switch locations between Nathan Benderson Park and Blackburn Point Park in Osprey.
The Women’s U16 Eight team fell short of a state championship in the Florida Scholastic Rowing Association Sweeps Championships in April, but that might have been the best thing to set them on course for the national championships.
Unlike other areas of the country, Sarasota Crew rarely has as much
competition in-state, which can make it difficult to rise to the challenge on a national stage.
“We win, but the problem of winning a lot is that you have to continue to find ways to push yourself,” Spivey said. “It’s easy to always have a target to chase rather than to have a target on your back. They had a pretty stinging defeat, and that was the big motivating factor that got them here.”
Photos by Vinnie Portell
The Sarasota Crew Women’s U16 Eight boat of Addison Wilson, Brooke Wilson, Gabrielle Davis, Maya Jewell, Lillian Teague,
Megan Murdock, Isabella De Liz, Sydney Soboleski and Rose Ottaviano won their class at the 2025 U.S. Rowing Youth National Championships on June 15 at Nathan Benderson Park.
Vinnie Portell is the sports reporter for the Sarasota/Siesta Key Observer. Contact him at VPortell@ YourObserver.com.
The Sarasota Crew Women’s U16 Eight boat pulled away from the pack to win a youth national championship by more than five seconds.
David Melnychuk
David Melnychuk just graduated from Riverview last month, but he’s already competing against some of the best swimmers in the nation. Melnychuk, who is going to swim for the University of North Carolina, went to the USA Swimming National Championships from June 3-7 in Indianapolis.
He placed 12th out of 32 competitors in the 200-meter long course backstroke with a personal-best time of 1:59.53.
When and why did you start swimming?
I started swimming when I was 10. I was watching the Rio Olympics in 2016, and I saw Michael Phelps. I was just amazed at how beautiful it looked and I really wanted to try that. After that, I watched videos of him and other swimmers and I started practicing at my community pool by myself to get the feel and learn the different strokes.
What was the best moment of your senior year?
It would probably be winning the third-place medal at the Winter Junior Championships in the 200yard backstroke. I had set a goal that I wanted to get top three in that competition before the season started, but I had to drop a lot of time to do that. I was confident that the work I put in would be enough, and when I reached that goal, I was super excited.
What is your favorite all-time swimming memory?
I would say in 2023. I was at a meet in Ocala called the Futures Championships. Over the summer, we as a team had an incredible experience training and racing, so when we got to that meet, it was honestly a lot of fun. The team came together and supported each other. Everyone was swimming fast, and I dropped a lot of time, but the best part was seeing a lot of my friends drop time.
If you would like to make a recommendation for the Sarasota Observer’s Athlete of the Week feature, send it to Vinnie Portell at VPortell@ YourObserver.com.
What was it like competing in the USA Swimming National Championships?
It was a super cool experience, honestly. Swimming against Olympians, world championship medalists and NCAA champions was like nothing else. I hadn’t been to a meet this large and this fast, so for a first-time experience, I took it all in. I tried to learn from whoever I saw there that was faster than me.
What is your favorite meal?
Probably tacos or burritos. I get them with rice, beef, lettuce, salsa, cheese and sour cream. Chipotle is always good. I love those as a postrace meal. Not pre-race because sometimes your stomach can get a little funky.
What is your favorite TV show or movie?
My favorite movie is “The Shawshank Redemption.” I think the story is incredibly written. I can’t find any faults in the story. I think the way it’s acted and written is as close to perfect as you can be.
What is your go-to warm-up song? “California Girls” by Katy Perry. It always gets me in the mood. It can get me hyped, but if I’m feeling pressure it also lets me back away from it and lose myself in the song.
Finish this sentence.
David Melnychuk is ... Hard-working.
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH
THURSDAY, JUNE 19
FRIDAY, JUNE 20
SATURDAY, JUNE
SUNDAY, JUNE 22
TECH START-UP by Dylan Schiff, edited by Taylor Johnson
By Luis Campos
people,
Gordon Silver captured this photo of a blue Egyptian water lily in full bloom at Selby Gardens in Sarasota.
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Notice: All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.
Unit 1305 for monthly rental in Copperleaf the Brooks. Contact donnamariecos5@icloud.com
THREE BEDROOM CONDO Unit 1701 available for monthly rental in Copperleaf the Brooks. Contact donnamariecos5@icloud.com
Homes for Rent
2BR/1.5BA NOKOMIS
Unfurnished Guest House for rent. 2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths. Pool and water access. Walking distance to Nokomis Beach. $2,000 a month. A yearly contract is required. Contact (219) 313−6401
3BR/2BA Parrish Beautifully updated in gated Chelsea Oaks. LVP Flooring. New appliances, nishes, xtures, crown, paint and more. Large den with full size closet ideal for dual of ce, home school, or 4th bedroom. Oversized lanai with lake view. Community pool, playground, basketball. $480,000 (941) 504-3874 https://youtu.be/ojGMetuOumI HOUSE FOR SALE Wonderful 4 bedroom 2 bath home for sale in Philippi Gardens. Covered at X ood zone private Key West style, tropical backyard and pool area. $725,000 Contact Robert Day, Rose Bay international Realty. (941) 400-1247 RoseBay.com
