Spirit of America 2020 by The Observer Group Inc.

Observer JULY 2020

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Happy 4th of July

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SPIRIT OF AMERICA

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JULY 2020

CONTENTS

LETTER

Kathleen Houseweart finds ways to connect with her father — at a distance.

ALSO INSIDE Calendar..................6 Kids: Why we celebrate July 4.......8 Life’s Little Pleasures............... 10

WHAT MATTERS MOST The pandemic has given us time to pause, and reflect, on what’s most important.

hen we plan this section honoring our nation’s independence and patriotism each year, we look for common themes that unite us as Americans. After all, that’s perhaps the thing that makes us most American — we come from different backgrounds and cultures, yet we all call the same slab of land home. Lately, it may not feel like there’s a lot of unity to celebrate. But this section is about looking for the good, and as we started planning our stories, we found that amid this global pandemic, there were actually a lot of unifying things going on in our community. Amid the shutdowns and the strife, there was a response. There were people who, despite stay-at-home orders and government shutdowns, felt a duty to continue to connect, to help, to keep their communities strong. And through all of this loss and restriction, people gained clarity. As if all of our complicated and busy lives were suddenly condensed and brought into focus. The people and stories on the following pages represent that clarity. They embody the things we hold dear, the things worth

PROFILES

April Glasco sprang into action to adapt and serve those who need it most.

Service Casey Weismann ............ 12 Family Kathleen Houseweart ......... 14 Community April Glasco.......... 16 Education Jeanette Nowaski................. 18 Service Cheri Devries........ 20

Debby McClung continues her practice to help others through a challenging time.

The Arts Sarasota Opera.................... 22 Community Debby McClung................22 Faith Oasis Church.........24 Quiz........................26

fighting for: They embody what matters most. Although a little lofty an idea, we hope these stories serve as a reminder of what’s good at a time when we feel so divided. Whatever is happening, we still share so many values as a country: Community. Service. Family. Faith. It turns out, the things that matter most to some of us actually matter most to a lot of us. But saying things matter isn’t enough. Which leads to another prized American quality: the will to take action. It would have been easier to stay home, to take it easy, to focus on themselves. Yet these folks made every effort to take action for what they deemed most important. Whether it is a daughter visiting her father through the glass doors of his assisted-living facility, a nurse who provides compassion and comfort for her patients, or opera singers delivering impromptu inspiration — they all found ways to keep others’ spirits up, to let them know they aren’t alone, to send a message that we’re in this, together. These types of efforts have happened throughout our country’s history when times are tough, and they’re things we can be proud of. Things like being selfless. Being giving. Being kind. That’s something we can all agree on celebrating this holiday. — KAT HUGHES, EDITOR

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State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate and baccalaureate degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota. State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota does not discriminate on the basis of sex, pregnancy, race, religion, age, national origin/ethnicity, color, marital status, disability, genetic information or sexual orientation in any of its educational programs, services and activities, including admission and employment. Direct inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies to: Equity Officer, 941-752-5323, 5840 26th St. W., Bradenton, FL 34207.

SPIRIT OF AMERICA

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EXTENDED THROUGH JULY 26

CALENDAR

File photo

Welbert, Filipe and Lidia Siqueira, of Sarasota, attended the Nathan Benderson Park Fireworks Show for the first time in 2019.

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The fireworks show returns for its fourth Independence Day celebration Friday, July 3 at Nathan Benderson Park. To keep with social-distancing guidelines, there will be no live music or food and beverages sold, and the event will be a drive-in style. Ticketed viewing areas are on Regatta Island, in the Green Lot on North Cattlemen Road and on the park’s south end. Fireworks explode over the lake beginning at 9 p.m. Admission is $15 per vehicle. Beginning June 24, tickets will be sold at MySuncoast.com and NathanBenderson-

Park.org. The fireworks show will also be televised for the first time on ABC7 on Saturday, July 4. Call 358-7275.

FIREWORKS 4-MILER

Although Fit2Run’s annual race has been canceled, it is still offering a virtual run. The race will provide a shirt, race bib and medal for virtual participants. Race results can be submitted July 3-5, and participants will be entered to win running gear from Fit2Run upon submission. Awards will be announced July 6. Visit FB.com/ Fit2RunSuperstore.

‘AMERICAN FANFARE’

spread its vocal patriotism — even if it can’t do so in person this year. The virtual “American Fanfare” celebrates with highlights from previous Independence Day concerts, such as George M. Cohan’s “You’re a Grand Old Flag,” John Philip Sousa’s “Star and Stripes Forever,” Julia Ward Howe’s “Battle Hymn of the Republic” and Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America.” The compilation will be streamed over various online platforms including YouTube and Facebook. Visit FB.com/ ChoralArtistsOfSarasota, or call 387-6046.

Choral Artists of Sarasota is making sure it can still

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FROM THE KIDS

WHY DO WE CELEBRATE THE

FOURTH OF JULY? Kids celebrate the holiday the only way they know how — as America’s birthday.

Join us for a better, brighter future. Be part of the solution.

NAT KAEMMERER

“That’s America’s birthday, the day America was born. I eat popcorn while mom barbecues, and I get in the pool and spend time with my family.”

“That’s when Sarasota was born. When you’re alone, by yourself, that’s independence. I spend time with my family. It’s like a birthday party.” – Jake C., 6

STAFF WRITER

– Lauren D., 9

“We’re celebrating the birthday of America because it’s Independence Day. We do fireworks, then go out to eat at a restaurant and then watch more fireworks.”

“That was when they were born. It was their birthday, the country. Me and mommy just sit and watch fireworks, and we go to a little playground.”

“Before the Fourth, on the third, we wake up at midnight and do a countdown, then fireworks. [On the Fourth of July] we sleep because we stayed up so late.”

– Remarion W., 10

– Callie D., 6

– Luis Q., 10

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SPIRIT OF AMERICA

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MAN ON THE STREET

MISSING YOU!

You will miss me when I’m gone. You’ve probably heard those words before, but did you think it would be apropos to a pandemic? Our local residents shared some of life’s little pleasures they missed most when they were quarantined. JAY HEATER | MANAGING EDITOR

MASSAGES

FISHING

HUGS

PICKLEBALL

DATE NIGHT

FAMILY VISITS

“I took massages and facials for granted, but this made me realize how much I use it. I play soccer, go to the gym, and I never stop working at home, so I get the massages for relaxation. It is my chance to get some peace and quiet from the rest of the world. I went three times the first week they reopened.”

“I missed being [at Quick Point Nature Reserve on Longboat Key]. You always can find a place to fish here, no matter the wind direction. This park gives you all kinds of different exposures to the winds and tides. There are lots of greenbacks, [a bait fish], schools of them. Then I fish for mangrove snapper. When I couldn’t come here, I didn’t fish for a while. It was a weird time.”

“I miss human contact. I am a hugger. You still can’t hug. I see a friend, and I can’t hug her. Sometimes a hug is all you need. Sometimes you are having a bad day, and a hug makes you feel better. It’s sharing love. I don’t worry about my nails or hair. I can always put my hair in a ponytail. But I miss a hug.”

“My wife, [Marci], and I love to play pickleball, and we had to stop playing when she was going through her second round of breast cancer treatments. We had just started back playing in February, then this all happened. It becomes less fun when you lose the simplicity of it. We noticed things that are important that we tend to not think about because we all move so quickly through life.”

“Dining out is No. 1. for me. I miss date nights with my husband, [Rich]. That’s our thing, and we do it once or twice a week. We go to Mattison’s in Sarasota, and we were there the first day they reopened. We also go to the Grove the most. We can sit outside there.”

“I miss being able to visit with my dad, [David]. He lives at the Pines of Sarasota, and I never thought that would happen where it would be locked down so tight. They still haven’t opened it up. I also definitely miss having my nails done, along with my spa days. And I went the first day I could go back to the gym.”

– RAJ SINGH LAKEWOOD RANCH

– YVONNE SCHLOSS SARASOTA

– MARC DEGRAN SARASOTA

– KAREN MEDFORD LAKEWOOD RANCH

– MICHELLE BIANCHI SARASOTA

– SCOTT SEABAUGH LONGBOAT KEY

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SERVICE

CASEY WEISMANN

I tell my patients all the time, we’re neighbors taking care of neighbors. I like that it’s a real community hospital. I wouldn’t trade this job for the world.” – Casey Weismann

A Sarasota Memorial Hospital nurse faced her fears to combat COVID-19. RYAN KOHN | STAFF WRITER

asey Weismann takes off her shoes and places them in a box in her trunk before getting in her car to drive home. She gets in her car and sanitizes her hands before revving the engine. Once home, she remotely opens her garage door, one that she had installed after the coronavirus arrived in the U.S. Her old door had to be lifted by hand. In the garage, Weismann changes her clothes, throwing her worn scrubs immediately in the wash. She then takes a shower before finally being able to relax. For as long as the pandemic exists, this is Weismann’s routine.

Even in a pandemic, Casey Weismann wouldn’t trade her job for the world.

“I’m the farthest thing from a germophobe,” Weismann said. “Even I had to change things.” Weismann has been a nurse at Sarasota Memorial Hospital for 12-and-a-half years, the past three in the intensive care unit. She’s seen a lot, she said, but she’s never seen anything like the patients with COVID-19. It is not just how sick they are — which is frightening on its own — but how many of them are that sick.

ers nervous. They were learning about it, which would help once it arrived, but that was little comfort in the face of a disease that could take over an entire community. Even as doctors informed the team of how much personal protective equipment the hospital had, seemingly enough to last through a crisis, the team knew that was no guarantee of safety. Weismann never considered quitting or even calling out of

“They can turn in the snap of a finger,” Weismann said. “Someone who was previously awake and talking, suddenly we have to tell their family that we’re putting in a breathing tube. We don’t know when they’ll be able to talk to each other again. Emotionally, it’s crushing.” Weismann said that before the pandemic, word of the effects of COVID-19 coming from other countries made hospital work-

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work. She was scared. The whole hospital was, she said. In Weismann’s mind, that fear was no excuse not to do her job. “I became a nurse because I loved science, and I loved people,” Weismann said. “I never considered doing something else. I want to do right by others. I like being helpful and spreading positivity. It’s something my family instilled in me from an early age. “During all this, especially in

the COVID-19 pod, you have to mentally prepare. Square your shoulders, and take a deep breath. You never know what you’re going to go into and find. Some days are joyful. … Other days, someone will pass away, and you know you were the last human touch they felt. Lately, there’s been a higher percentage of sad days. But that’s the job. That’s being a nurse.” Don’t call Weismann a hero. Weismann said she appreciates the sentiment but does not feel she deserves it. She’s just doing what she signed up to do, she said. Weismann does not know what the future holds in terms of the pandemic. The hospital closed its COVID-19 ICU pod May 23, but patients with the disease remain in the hospital, and more could arrive any time until a vaccine is widespread. The situation is fluid, Weismann said. The scary days are not over, but she knows she and her fellow hospital workers can handle them. “I tell my patients all the time, we’re neighbors taking care of neighbors,” Weismann said. “I like that it’s a real community hospital. I wouldn’t trade this job for the world.”

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FAMILY

KATHLEEN HOUSEWEART

My son, [James], said to him, ‘I wish I could hug you right now.’ I think we all felt that way. It doesn’t get any easier. But I think my dad loved it.” – Kathleen Houseweart

A Sarasota daughter copes with the limited ability to connect with her father in an assisted-living facility. RYAN KOHN | STAFF WRITER

he door creaks open, and for a few seconds, Kathleen Houseweart can see her father, Mercier, through glass. They wave to each other and try to sneak in words of comfort, an “I love you,” before the door inevitably cuts off any lingering sentiments. Then they have to wait for a nurse to step on the pressurized switch again, when the door, one of two at the Grand Villa Senior Living Community’s front entrance, will reopen.

Kathleen Houseweart brings birthday wishes to her father, Mercier.

Although they are able to look at and speak to each other through the second door, there is no physical contact allowed, like there has not been since the COVID-19 pandemic began. “I always leave there with a lump in my throat,” Houseweart said. Houseweart said Mercier, who turned 89 on June 2, moved to Sarasota from Winthrop, Mass., in May 2019. In Winthrop, Mercier had lived in his childhood home, one he literally helped his

enjoyed the first 10 months of the arrangement. Their favorite place to go was Urfer Family Park. She said Mercier, who uses a wheelchair, loved going through each of the exercise stations, seeing how much more he could do each time. Now he’s as isolated here as he would have been in Winthrop. He lives in a small apartment. He takes care of himself but has meals delivered by nurses and gets routine check-ups. For much of each day, he is alone. “I feel tremendous guilt,”

family build. But his wife, Kathleen Mercier, died, and Houseweart could sense her father was getting lonely. She and her significant other, Paul Page, persuaded Mercier to come for a six-month visit. He would be closer to people he loved, she said, and she would help him get hearing aids. By the end of the visit, Mercier did not even want to go back for two weeks to collect his belongings, though he eventually did. Sarasota was where he wanted to be. Houseweart and Mercier

Harry Sayer

Houseweart said. “Every reason he came here for has been taken away.” Houseweart said she has considered taking Mercier out of the facility entirely and having him stay with her. That presents its own set of questions, though. Both Houseweart and Page have been working outside their homes since the pandemic began. Would they risk passing an illness to Mercier? Would he even want to come? Houseweart said she asked him once whether he would want

to leave his facility right now if he could, and he hesitated. Houseweart said she talks to Mercier daily over the phone. She brings him groceries once a week, giving him both essentials and surprise treats, such as blueberry pie or a fresh melon. She is determined to do as much for her father as she can while he’s stuck indoors. For Mercier’s birthday, Houseweart gathered friends and family and made signs celebrating his life. One was adjoined with a drawing of Snoopy, a character he enjoys. The Grand Villa caretakers agreed to let Mercier sit outside on the patio for a few minutes while looking at his loved ones standing in the parking lot. Caretakers also presented him with a birthday cake. Houseweart was still not able to be next to him, but it was something, and something is a lot better than nothing. “My son, [James], said to him, ‘I wish I could hug you right now,’” Houseweart said. “I think we all felt that way. It doesn’t get any easier. But I think my dad loved it. I could see the tears in his eyes. He’s always the center of attention. In a situation like this, making people feel loved is the best you can do.”

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COMMUNITY

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April Glasco lends a hand to those in need through Second Chance Last Opportunity.

APRIL GLASCO When she saw a new crisis, Glasco jumped to adapt and serve her community. NAT KAEMMERER | STAFF WRITER

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on what the people need.” They also distribute masks, baby formula, diapers, toys and other household items. They offer computers for people to get online and get forms for unemployment benefits or other paperwork they might not be able to access. “Whatever they struggle with at that moment, we take care of it because we don’t want them to block that door to where they want to give up,” Glasco said. Still, Glasco and her teammates don’t want the counseling and support that’s the hallmark of Second Chance to fall by the wayside, so they stand ready to administer whatever their community members need, whenever they need it. Folks will come by on days when there’s no distribution, and Glasco has the door open to receive them. She and her team ask them how they’re doing and what they need, just generally trying to check up on community members. Glasco knows that there will be a need for long-term counseling as people in the historically Black community deal with the trauma of the moment, from the coronavirus pandemic to America’s reckoning with racism. She hopes that she and Second Chance can be there as a landing pad, a place where her community can come to focus on what they’re working through personally and not have to worry about where their children will get their next meal. “We have to keep the community in a place of hope and not let them give up on what they see at this present moment,” Glasco said.

Our mission is to provide a gateway of hope for individuals who come through with an immediate need, those struggling with mental health or something they need right away and don’t know where to go.”

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To figure that out, she started with surveys. She then built a vision based on those responses, of how she could best serve the community she had been part of since she was 14. Today, Glasco, 57, and her team of volunteers and mental health professionals provide support, counseling and education to help those struggling learn tools to succeed in life. More than that, she said, her organization gives hope. “Our mission is to provide a gateway of hope for individuals who come through with an immediate need, those struggling with mental health or something they need right away and don’t know where to go,” Glasco said. “Second Chance is here to give them back that strength to keep going.” Now, as more and more of its community members lose stability, income and homes during the coronavirus pandemic, Second Chance has become a source of food and necessities for hundreds. Previously, the organization didn’t focus on bringing in food to distribute, but as Glasco saw a new crisis developing in her community, she again sought to provide what it needed. “This is what we do, and we’ve been doing it for 31 years,” she said. She serves more clients than ever, but luckily, donations have poured in from farms, stores and community members. On Monday, they serve about 150 families, on Wednesday, 300. By Friday, it climbs to 500 or more. “It’s truly a crisis out here, where there’s a lot of lost people that don’t know what to do,” Glasco said. “Right now, we’re focusing

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JULY 2020

EDUCATION

JEANETTE NOWASKI

It is about the kids and their experiences and their education. They shouldn’t miss out on that just because we’re not together in the brick-and-mortar school.” – Jeanette Nowaski

The kindergarten teacher has found unique ways to connect with her students while learning online. BRYNN MECHEM | STAFF WRITER

hen Jeanette Nowaski greets her students, it’s not uncommon to find her dressed up like a hot dog or Princess Leia. Nowaski, a kindergarten teacher at Bay Haven School of Basics Plus, is always looking for unique ways to connect with her students. “I say all the time that the best investment I ever made was the hot dog costume,” she said with a laugh. “All the kids now know me as the hot dog lady, but it’s worth it because it brings a smile to all their little faces.”

As the “hot dog lady,” Jeanette Nowaski brings smiles to her students.

That sentiment was only amplified when the district switched to e-learning. Although Nowaski said it was difficult to keep up relationships with her students, she felt called to find a way to connect, even if it was online. “One of my biggest passions is teaching children to be their best selves and be good people,” she said. “So I’m just trying hard to connect with them, not only on an academic level but on a social and emotional level.”

learned what her students preferred and began channeling her efforts into those areas. The favorite among her students was a full-class Zoom, which can be challenging with 18 children aged 5 and 6. “It’s interesting, especially with kindergartners,” Nowaski said. “They want to share their pets and toys. I had one student jumping up and down on the bed. Another was wearing a Darth Vader mask. I think it’s hilarious.

In the last months of school, Nowaski tried to connect with her students in anyway she could. She made herself available on Zoom, Skype, text, email, Class Dojo, FaceTime and Facebook. She even had a private YouTube channel where she did weekly readalouds of some of her favorite children’s books. She bought special lights and a microphone and learned how to edit special effects into her videos for the segment. As time went on, Nowaski

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It just cracks me up.” However, the meetings were a great way for students to continue connecting with their classmates, which helped boost their mental well-being. In addition to the Zoom meetings, the class participated in a weekly restorative circle where students read a story that promotes kindness or empathy. Nowaski’s favorite is “Have You Filled a Bucket Today?” by Carol McCloud. The book teaches chil-

dren about how being kind to others can make them and you happy. “We share ideas on how they can fill other people’s buckets, and in doing so, they help fill their own buckets,” she said. “It’s just really important, especially right now, to express kindness. It’s good for their emotional well-being and increases their positive feelings.” But Nowaski isn’t just focused on the kids. She also worked with parents to create individualized lesson plans for the families because she realized that some parents are essential workers and couldn’t help their students every hour of the day. “I can’t imagine having to work full time and then be a homeschool teacher and a parent,” she said. “It’s just crazy, so I wanted to help with that.” Even though she had to work harder and find more creative ways to connect with her students during remote learning, Nowaski said she was more than happy to do it. “It’s about the kids,” she said. “It’s not about me or how I may be feeling. It is about the kids and their experiences and their education. They shouldn’t miss out on that just because we’re not together in the brick-and-mortar school.”

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is pleased to welcome Robert ToaleToale, & Sons, Robert Debbie Toale and their sons, Jason and Jeff, to our family Welcome to theof firms in Sarasota and Manatee County. As proud Dignitymembers Memorial of family. North America’s largest network of funeral, cremation and cemetery service providers, the Toale family will continue their commitment to serving families with personal, compassionate care.

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In honor of the Toales and in recognition of their longstanding dedication to the Sarasota and Bradenton area communities, three local funeral homes will be renamed to reflect this change in leadership, and two of the funeral homes will undergo renovations to better serve our community with beautiful new facilities and enhanced capabilities. Rely on the Toale family and your local Dignity Memorial professionals to help you and your loved ones celebrate each life like no other.

THE DIGNITY MEMORIAL NETWORK is pleased to welcome Robert Toale, Debbie Toale and their sons, Jason and Jeff, to our family of firms in Sarasota and Manatee County. As proud members of North America’s largest network of funeral, cremation and cemetery service providers, the Toale family will continue their commitment to serving families with personal, compassionate care.

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SERVICE

CHERI DEVRIES

We lost almost our entire workforce due to the stay-athome orders and due to them being an older [population]. We had to shut the whole place down. There was no way to social distance [in the store].”

The organization Mothers Helping Mothers rethinks its distribution system during the pandemic.

– Cheri DeVries

PAM EUBANKS | SENIOR EDITOR

hen the COVID-19 pandemic struck in March, Cheri DeVries met a challenge she had never before faced. The organization she leads, Mothers Helping Mothers, was forced to shut down services altogether. In operation since 1990, the all-volunteer not for profit provides items to Sarasota and Manatee county families in need at no cost and without qualifications.

Harry Sayer

Cheri DeVries, of Mothers Helping Mothers, assists with online shopping.

To make the idea work, DeVries knew the format would have to change. They set up the online ordering system and limited hours to a one-hour pickup window from 11 a.m. to noon Wednesdays and Thursdays. The back parking lot of the MHM building at 5933 N. Washington Blvd., Sarasota, was converted into a circular

pickup loop, so customers could drive up to collect their orders. MHM would also have to reduce the number of clients served from about 50 to 30 per day (twice weekly). With one volunteer, Rosemary McCullen, almost single-handedly packing orders, DeVries and her family — her husband, Jon,

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orders and due to them being an older [population],” DeVries said. “We had to shut the whole place down. There was no way to social distance [in the store].” DeVries said the roughly 3,000-square-foot storefront is set up in such a way that social distancing would not be possible. DeVries thought the organization would have to close its services completely, but MHM Outreach Coordinator Jaye Clements had another idea: What if they created a spreadsheet of inventory and allowed families to shop online instead?

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Clients normally would come to the Mothers Helping Mothers storefront to shop for whatever items they needed, such as a crib, children’s toys or household wares. Clients are allowed to shop for their families once every four months, and about 30% of those coming were new to the organization’s services, DeVries said. About 100 volunteers would come by each week to help accept and sort donations, assist during store hours and restock supplies for customers. “We lost almost our entire workforce due to the stay-at-home

and their children, Chloe and Gabi DeVries and Natalie Hays — now restocked inventory and carried prepared bags of supplies to customers as they arrived, dropping them into vehicles in a nocontact system. DeVries said demand is up, and about half of customers are new to MHM now. Although not everyone has access to a computer, customers are finding ways to access the system, such as with cellphones or public computers, DeVries said. There has been an increased demand for educational toys, bouncers and other items families need while quarantined at home. DeVries said her “army of angels” — volunteers and supporters — continued to make donations of any items she requested. They also are doing more to prepare donations in advance. For example, they now sort and prepackage children’s clothing by sizes, so it does not need to be sorted after arriving at the MHM campus. “It’s really been a community pulling together to support us,” DeVries said.

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JULY 2020

100% College Acceptances - $10 Million in Scholarships

CLASS of 2020

CARDINAL MOONEY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL Our 2020 graduates have been accepted to these colleges and universities Florida Institute of Technology Florida International University Florida Polytechnic University Florida Southern College Florida State University Furman University George Madison University George Mason University Georgia Institute of Technology Georgia Southern University Heidelberg University High Point University Hillsdale College Holy Cross College Indiana University-Bloomington Iona College Jacksonville University Johns Hopkins University Johnson & Wales University Long Island University CW Post Louisiana State University Loyola University Maryland Lynn University Marquette University McKendree University Miami University-Oxford Michigan State University Middle Tennessee State University Missouri State University Molloy College Monmouth College Montclair State University Muhlenberg College Nazareth College New College of Florida New York University Nova Southeastern University

Ohio Northern University Ohio State University Ohio University Our Lady of the Lake University Pace University-New York Palm Beach Atlantic University Pennsylvania State University Providence College Purdue University Queen's University Rider University Ringling College of Art and Design Ripon College Rollins College Rutgers University Saint Edward's University Saint Francis University Saint Leo University Saint Vincent College Sam Houston State University Santa Fe Community College Savannah College of Art and Design Seton Hall University Southeastern University Southern Methodist University St. Petersburg College State College of Florida Stetson University Syracuse University Tallahassee Community College Texas A&M University Texas Christian University The University of Alabama The University of Arizona The University of Tampa The University of Tennessee Thomas University

Troy University United States Naval Academy University of Arkansas University of Arizona University of Central Florida University of Cincinnati University of Colorado Boulder University of Florida University of Jamestown University of Kansas University of Kentucky University of Miami University of Mississippi University of Nebraska-Lincoln University of Nebraska-Omaha University of North Carolina University of North Florida University of Notre Dame University of Pittsburgh University of Rhode Island University of South Carolina University of South Florida University of West Florida Valdosta State University Vanderbilt University Villanova University Virginia Tech University Viterbo University Wabash College Wagner College Wake Forest University Webber International University Western Connecticut State Univ. Western Kentucky University Western Michigan University West Virginia University Wichita State University

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Adrian College Albion College Appalachian State University Arizona State University Auburn University Ave Maria University Baldwin Wallace University Ball State University Benedictine College Berry College Boston University Bryant University Bucknell University Butler University Catawba College Catholic University of America Centre College Chaminade University of Honolulu Chapman University Clemson University Coastal Carolina University College of Charleston College of Saint Mary Concordia University Chicago Denison University DePaul University Drexel University East Carolina University Eckerd College Elon University Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Emory University Ferrum College Flagler College Florida Atlantic University Florida Gulf Coast University

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JULY 2020

THE ARTS

SERVICE

SARASOTA OPERA DEBBY MCCLUNG The group has entertained the community with performances from artists’ living rooms to their driveways.

McClung was losing business at the peak of her yoga studio’s season. But she had to keep teaching.

MARK BERGIN | STAFF WRITER

NAT KAEMMERER | STAFF WRITER

hen the coronavirus started canceling performances and closing businesses in March, the shift from a busy season to isolation at home was unsettling for many. As the uncertainty cloaked the community, a voice rang out — literally — filling downtown’s Five Points Park with a clear vibrato. It was an opera singer, performing on the sidewalk in front of the Sarasota Opera House for passersby to enjoy.

hen the coronavirus pandemic hit, Debby McClung was in the middle of one of her busiest yoga seasons ever. But for health and safety, she shuttered Feel Good Yoga & Massage on Longboat Key in mid-March. “I actually took a break for a week to get myself together,” McClung said. “And then I just thought: ‘I can’t go without yoga. And now I’ve created these hungry people that can’t go without yoga. What in the world am I going to do?’”

The Sarasota Opera’s “Suddenly Opera” pop-up mini concerts were about more than music, though. They were a reminder of art’s ability to soothe. “We felt it was important to keep that music going for our community,” Sarasota Opera Communications Coordinator Lana Mullen said. “For all of us who love the arts, and especially for those of us who love music and opera, music is an amazing balm. Music heals; music brings people together. We felt that it was important to keep it going and keep that connection to the community somehow.” Mullen said people have turned to the Sarasota Opera and the arts in general as a distraction from the pandemic. The Sarasota Opera had four Winter Festival productions running when it shut down in midMarch. Since then, after its miniconcerts highlighted performers lingering from the Winter Festival, the opera has connected with the community using Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube to offer virtual experiences and encourage others to join in. It’s unclear when the performance venue will be allowed to reopen. Sarasota Opera Executive Director Richard Russell said he’s had conversations about best practices for how the Sarasota Opera can operate in the future, including with the people who run Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Asolo Repertory Theatre and Florida Studio Theatre. “We’re all talking about how we can all safely operate in making the right decisions for our community, and we’ll continue to do

It became a deeply emotional time for her. She turned inward, trying to find a path forward. McClung, 61, has developed a close relationship with her students, and she felt she had to share the healing power of yoga with those who might be hurting. “For this community, it’s become a way of life for them to begin healing,” McClung said. “It’s a physical practice that has made them stronger and healthier. It’s an emotional practice for them, too. It’s a tool for them to be able to cope better. And so this pandemic took away those tools.” Zoom was the obvious answer, but she and her students weren’t exactly tech whizzes. She took to Instagram and Facebook, sharing candid videos with her followers about what was to come and what they could lean on her for in the coming weeks. As she began her Zoom classes, she did them for free. McClung knew there would be a steep learning curve, and she didn’t feel right charging for an unsteady practice when her students turned to her for comfort and calm. She found that her students did want to pay her, though. One student stopped by after a class and gave her some compensation for the classes she’d taken, knowing that McClung’s studio was her only source of income. She’s grateful for every single student. “I still get emails weekly from them saying: ‘This has saved me. This has enabled me to still have my spiritual connection to you and to Feel Good Yoga and to myself,’” McClung said. She slowly began charging for classes, though at half the rate she would take for an in-person

File photo

that, but we’re all waiting,” Russell said. “There’s such uncertainty because we’re waiting to see the trajectory of the virus.” “There was also that physical moment on April 2 when we were told by the local authorities that we needed to stay home,” Mullen said. “I think it even more strengthened the need and the desire to stay connected.” Many of the Sarasota Opera’s social media posts have been well timed with the unfolding events of the current pandemic. Some of the opera’s posts remember the life of Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi, who left Paris for Italy because of the great cholera pandemic of 1849. “It is possible that because of [his] quarantine, Verdi lived to write his greatest works,” Sarasota Opera Artistic Director Victor DeRenzi said. “We think he would advise you to stay home.”

Abigail Raiford sings an aria from “The Magic Flute” during a “Suddenly Opera” presentation in March. The pop-up mini concerts reminded people of the arts’ ability to soothe.

Harry Sayer

class. Her goal was to share her skills and the calm and strength that her practice has taught her. She’s begun a partnership with the Longboat Key first responder community, which had been taking classes with her in-person before the pandemic started. She gave the first responders access to her virtual classes, so they could do yoga whenever they wanted. These days, she’s beginning inperson classes again, outdoors at Bayfront Park on Longboat Key. Her loyal Zoomers don’t want her to stop, though. McClung gets views from everywhere in the U.S. and Canada. “On the inside, I’m just so happy even though all of this is happening,” she said. “Because what matters most is I’m still able to give my heart and soul and my skill of meditation and mindfulness and yoga to anyone who wants it from anywhere in the world.”

After a busy season, Debby McClung closed her Feel Good Yoga & Massage studio on Longboat Key. Instead, she took to Zoom, offering classes for the community to provide comfort and calm.

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FAITH

OASIS CHURCH COVID-19 didn’t stop church members from staying connected in small ways. LIZ RAMOS | STAFF WRITER

hile driving around Manatee and Sarasota counties May 16 to make stops at assisted-living facilities and the homes of Oasis Church members, Hannah Kessie cried several times. Kessie, a children’s pastor at the church, hadn’t been able to see fellow church members in two months because of COVID-19. Instead of congregating at the church every week, she was spending most of her time at home in St. Petersburg.

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Oasis Church moved its services online in March as a result of the pandemic. Although the church was still meeting online every Sunday and had small groups continue through Zoom, it wanted to take it a step further by connecting with its congregation in a safe way in-person. Kessie organized a parade that would take a small group of church members to put a sign with a message of hope in members’ yards and sing a blessing. “As a Christian, God called us to not do it alone,” Kessie said. “It’s so important with mental health and people feeling isolated for them to know they have a family and people behind them and that people are thinking about them.”

Raquel Mateer, an administrative assistant to Pastor Steven Coad, wanted to continue the church’s Mother’s Day tradition of having a photo backdrop for families to take photos to commemorate the day. Mateer wouldn’t let COVID-19 stop the tradition. The Lakewood Ranch church opened its doors May 10 for a drive-thru photo booth where families could park at the entrance, hop out for a photo and then return to their cars. They followed social distancing guidelines and other health and safety protocols. Mateer has had to stay home to protect her 2-year-old daughter, Emery, who has special needs,

Raquel Mateer sings during a Friday night prayer group.

Photos by Harry Sayer

Hannah Kessie organized a parade to uplift other members while the church was closed and having services online.

as well as care for her 7-year-old son, Alexander, and 9-year-old daughter, Alina. She knew others were in the same boat, so she wanted to provide an opportunity for people to have a chance to see church staff. “It was just for a few minutes, but it was uplifting,” she said. “For those families that came, everything we did was completely worth it in my opinion.” Church members are able

to reconnect with Oasis as the church begins to hold in-person prayer groups once again and resumed in-person Sunday services June 14. Whether the church was meeting online or in-person, it wanted to assist members who were in need or were being impacted by COVID-19. That’s where Dianna Fort, a church volunteer, stepped in. Fort went on a hunt for toilet

paper and bought extra groceries for other families when she was shopping. She helped with feeding custodians and emergency room staff at local hospitals. Fort was already volunteering at Hungers End Food Pantry, so she decided to put together packages and deliver them to the foster families at the church who weren’t getting the assistance they normally would because the church was closed. “We just felt it was something we could do,” Fort said. “It didn’t take a lot of effort on our part. It just kind of seemed like a logical thing we could do. It’s great to help people — don’t get me wrong; that’s why we get involved in things like this — but it felt like it was the right thing to do.” Fort loves seeing the creative ways people come up with to help others, but she said she’s not a creative person. “Delivering groceries was a pretty easy thing that we could do,” she said. “We’re just happy to help them.”

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HISTORY

GO FOURTH, AND TAKE THIS QUIZ You might be as American as apple pie, but do you have the right recipe to succeed at Fourth of July trivia? Find out with The Observer’s annual holiday quiz. Get them all right, and you deserve an extra hot dog. JAY HEATER | MANAGING EDITOR Who was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence? a. Benjamin Franklin b. John Hancock c. Thomas Jefferson d. Sam Adams

How many people signed the Declaration of Independence? a. 28 b. 43 c. 56 d. 74

Joey “Jaws” Chestnut set a record in 2018 by eating 74 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes in the Nathan’s Famous annual hot dog eating contest July 4 in New York. How many did he eat in 2019 to win the contest? a. 83 b. 71 c. 65 d. 101

Who is the only U.S. president born on July 4? a. Gerald Ford b. Theodore Roosevelt c. Calvin Coolidge d. Harry Truman

After the Declaration of Independence was made public in 1776, military personnel and civilians in the Bowling Green section of Manhattan melted a statue of King George III to make: a. Beer steins b. Nickels c. Horseshoes d. Bullets

What newspaper first printed the Declaration of Independence? a. Pennsylvania Evening Post b. East County Observer

c. Philadelphia Inquirer d. Washington Post

On the first American flag, what shape were the 13 stars arranged in? a. Circle b. Square c. Triangle d. X

What U.S. president congratulated New York Yankee Dave Righetti after he pitched a July 4 no-hitter against the Boston Red Sox? a. Richard Nixon b. Gerald Ford c. Jimmy Carter d. Ronald Reagan

c. Thomas Jefferson d. James Madison

13 a. 5 b. 6 c. 7 d. 8

John and Abigail Adams ate this kind of soup to celebrate July 4: a. Clam chowder b. Turtle c. Duck d. Chicken

How many stripes on the U.S. flag are red?

a. Battle of Lexington b. Battle of Bunker Hill c. Battle of Fort Ticonderoga d. Battle of Yorktown

What was the first state to make July 4 a holiday? a. Delaware b. Massachusetts c. Pennsylvania d. New York

Where was the U.S. capital before Washington, D.C.? a. Philadelphia b. Virginia Beach, Va. c. Boston d. Hartford, Conn.

What building was built 1,776 feet tall to honor our independence:? a. One World Trade Center b. Empire State Building c. Willis Tower d. John Hancock Center

George Washington led American and French soldiers in defeating Gen. Charles Cornwallis in this final battle of the Revolutionary War:

What president held the first July 4 celebration at the White House? a. George Washington b. Sam Adams

ANSWERS 1c; 2b; 3d; 4a; 5c; 6a; 7a; 8c; 9b; 10a; 11a; 12c; 13c; 14b; 15d

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