Sarasota/Siesta Key Observer 7.21.22

SARASOTA/SIESTA KEY BAC K TO SC H O O L

2022

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INSIDE SARAS OTA

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FREE • THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2022

VOLUME 18, NO. 34

YOUR TOWN

Mote’s big fish in a new pond County, scientific organization seal the deal on Benderson land, for $100. SEE PAGE 3A

SOLVING CRIMES WITH SCIENCE

Harry Sayer

All fall down

Setting up dominoes takes planning and patience, not to mention a steady hand.

Dominoes artist Nathan Heck is good at all that. The domino builder (and toppler) was recently invited to the Bazaar on Apricot and Lime to make a 10,000-plus domino landscape. Heck started the mammoth creation on July 15 and took time to teach youngsters about domino building basics along the way.

But on July 16, it was time for the big show. Dozens of children and parents gathered to watch Heck — with help from 8-year-old audience member Liam Parker — knock the first domino down and send the entire structure crashing down.

Fab Lab campers crack a ‘murder’ case and have fun in the process. SEE PAGE 1B

File photo

1 million rides

The Siesta Breeze Trolley recently carried its 1 millionth rider on Siesta Key. The trolleys have been going almost nonstop since the free service’s start in 2017 — which helps bring down traffic congestion with the many tourists that visit the area — and there are numbers to prove it.

The event was cause for celebration, featuring Sarasota Commission Chair Al Maio and Sarasota County Area Transit representatives.

The service runs 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day of the year. For information, call 311 or go to SCGov.net.

Turtle Tracks AS OF JULY 6 TOTAL NESTS: Siesta Key Lido Key Casey Key

2022 499 153 1,876

2021 471 87 1,265

TOTAL FALSE CRAWLS: 2022 2021 Siesta Key 554 533 Lido Key 195 226 Casey Key 1,787 1,573 Source: Mote Marine Laboratory

Harry Sayer

Diego Morales as Detective Monty Jack receives a phone call that there’s been a murder at the Faulhaber Fab Lab summer camp.

A+E

Soon to be served Andrew Warfield

In addition to a luxury restaurant, The Quay plans to build 5,000 square feet of retail space on this site.

The Quay receives initial approval for plans to build a two-story, 10,000-square-foot, high-end restaurant. SEE PAGE 5A

Diving into dance.

PAGE 13A

2A

TABS

W HAT ’S HAPPENING

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THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2022

WEEK OF JULY 21, 2022

Mural honors baseball great

“It will be a big eye-catcher on I-75.”

A four-story tall homage to a Negro League baseball all-star will be formally dedicated at 9 a.m. Thursday along Boulevard of the Arts.

The mural of John “Buck” O’Neil was painted by Matt McAllister on the side of the Rosemary Square building at 1468 Boulevard of the Arts. O’Neil grew up in Sarasota and played 12 seasons for the Memphis Red Sox and the Kansas City Monarchs between 1937 and 1950.

He was the first Black coach in major league baseball and will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, July 24.

O’Neil also was instrumental in the formation of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, serving as an honorary chair until he died at the age of 94 in 1996.

The mural was supported by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, The Baltimore Orioles Foundation, DreamLarge, Newtown Alive, RADD and the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition.

County Commissioner Nancy Detert on Mote SEA, under construction at Nathan Benderson Park, Read more on page 3A

BY THE NUMBERS 19

Condo units in a proposed mixed-use building at 1400 N. Tamiami Trail.

PAGE 4A

10,000

Square feet proposed for a restaurant in the city’s waterfront Quay development.

PAGE 5A

$618,484

Value of the five-year agreement between the city and Indigo Golf Partners for management of city-owned Bobby Jones Golf Club.

Voter information cards on the way

PAGE 7A

3

National jiu-jitsu gold medals won by 12-year-old Taber Jordan of Sarasota.

File photo

Most of the flights arriving and departing SRQ are close to capacity, airport CEO Fred Piccolo said.

PAGE 10B

SRQ monthly traffic takes a dip in June E

CALENDAR n Sarasota City Commission — Budget workshops, 9 a.m., July 25-26, City Commission chambers, City Hall, 1565 First St. n Sarasota School Board — Budget hearing to adopt tenative budget and millage rate, 5:15 p.m., Board chambers, Landings Administration Building, 1980 Landings Blvd.

ven with a year-over-year drop in passenger traffic at the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport in June, the destination’s chief executive said SRQ likely will still break its year-old 12-month record for arrivals and departures for 2022.

Rick Piccolo, SRQ’s president and CEO, said the drop is part of a nationwide trend of cutbacks by the airlines in the regularity of some flights, reducing the number of landings and takeoffs.

But, he said, the aircraft that are serving SRQ are near capacity.

In May, according to an airport activity report, there were 2,572 airline operations for that month, compared to 2,800 in May 2021.

Still 332,431 passengers either arrived or departed in May, a 15.21% increase year over year.

In June, 288,420 passengers used the airport, a 7.8% decrease in traffic, though more than 1.45 million passengers have passed though, an increase of 43%.

“We are starting to see a slight dip in the number of flights scheduled for our summer months,” Piccolo said in a

statement. “However, the aircraft servicing our airport is operating with much higher passenger loads than last year. This follows a nationwide trend of flight reductions due to much higher fuel prices, airline staffing shortages, and fears of a recession.”

Piccolo said the airport expects to surpass 3.5 million passengers for the year, which would break a record set last year.

Piccolo also said the airport expects the return of Air Canada’s direct flights to Toronto in the fall.

Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner will begin mailing voter information cards to all active registered voters this week. The new cards reflect changes in some voting districts as a result of the redistricting process following the 2020 U.S. Census.

Turner said that U.S. Congressional districts, state senate and house districts, county commission districts and school board districts have changed in Sarasota County.

“Voters should watch their mail for the updated cards and review their information, including party affiliation and election day polling place information, as soon as the cards arrive to be better prepared on election day,” he said.

Voters may update their information online at SarasotaVotes.gov/ Voter-Information. Voters may also use the My Voter Status quick link on the elections website to confirm their voter information, current voting districts and more.

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THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2022

DONE DEAL

Kelly Bang, left, and 3-year-old Presley came with their family for a Mote visit in 2019. Mote’s new aquarium facility will be twice the size of the City Island facility near Longboat Key.

On City Island for four decades, Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium wins final approval to buy land for its new attraction miles to the east.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

E Renderings courtesy of Mote Science Education Aquarium

Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium anticipates 700,000 visitors in the first year of operation of the Mote SEA.

TIMELINE Jan. 30, 2019: The County Commission approves an omnibus agreement for a Science Education Aquarium project between Sarasota County and Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium.

Jan. 29, 2020: Mote was deemed sufficient in meeting requirements of the conditions-precedent phase and as a result the county executes the short-term lease.

June 22 and 23, 2020: The county receives letters requesting that the county amend the omnibus agreement between Mote and the county to allow for Mote to begin additional site work for the project and accelerate certain portions of the project.

July 8, 2020: In response to the previous request, the County Commission provides the county administrator the authority to execute agreements with Mote.

Sept. 9, 2020: County Commission adopts a resolution approving the first amendment to the omnibus agreement, approving the first amendment to the short-term lease and authorizing the county administrator or designee to provide owner authorizations to Mote.

Oct. 27, 2020: Parking lot agreement under the short-term lease is executed.

March 9, 2022: County Commission adopts a resolution approving the second amendment to the short-term lease and approving the enabling work agreement, which allows Mote to conduct earth moving and drainage infrastructure activities to prepare the site for the ultimate vertical construction of the aquarium facility.

July 12, 2022: County Commission approves conveyance of 11.76 acres to Mote for the Mote Science Education Aquarium after the organization demonstrates proof of its ability to pay for construction of the facility.

ight dollars and 50 cents an acre.

Along a busy interstate highway.

Adjacent to some of the most valuable inland property along the central Gulf Coast.

In this time of rapidly escalating real estate prices, that kind of deal is unheard of but not impossible if you’re planning to build a tourismgenerating, $130 million aquarium on 11.76 acres of formerly countyowned land between The Mall at University Town Center and Nathan Benderson Park.

On July 12, the Sarasota County Commission unanimously voted to convey the site near I-75 to Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium for $100. There, the nonprofit marine research organization plans to build a new 110,000-square-foot aquarium. Mote closed on the land July 14.

“This is the culmination of about four years’ worth of work to get to the point to where we can convey the property so that we can begin the construction of the aquarium,” Assistant County Administrator Brad Johnson told commissioners.

“In January of 2019, we executed the omnibus agreement between the county and Mote for the construction of the aquarium. A year later, a short-term lease was entered into and then that has been amended twice over the years to allow for the infrastructure improvements to be made at the site to get to the point that we’re at today.”

Having demonstrated proof of its ability to pay for construction of the facility, Mote is clear to move forward on the project that will double the size of its four-decades-old aquarium on City Island.

Branded Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA), Mote reached a $90 million fundraising milestone in October 2021.

Michael Moore, special adviser to the office of the president who has led the fundraising campaign for the Mote SEA, said donations have picked up pace since the land was conveyed.

“The community’s response to the project is accelerating with prospective donors as they see the project is starting to materialize,” Moore said.

“Definitely when it comes out of the ground in a few months we know that’s going to help us toward the goal.”

Meanwhile, site work in preparation for construction continued.

The building pad has been formed and a pond at Benderson Park drained to replace pipes that enable

MOVING AHEAD

On Jan. 30, 2019, the County Commission approved an omnibus agreement for a science education aquarium project between the county and Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, which included: n Access agreement that allows Mote to access the property to complete all due diligence and conditions precedent. n Two-year lease that allows Mote to apply for land entitlements. n Purchase and sale agreement that allows the county to convey the property to Mote for construction and operation of aquarium. n A 40-year lease that allows Mote to build and operate the aquarium on site. n Insurance requirements and specify all insurance requirements for each step of the process. n A construction agreement that specifies the responsibility of Mote and the county for the duration of the aquarium construction. n A parking study by the county to assess parking requirements for the site.

flow between ponds, then refilled.

In 2018, the County Commission committed $20 million in tourist tax funding million toward construction. Once Mote has reached $110 million, the county funding will be the last money in.

According to Mote Vice President Dan Bebak, piling work will begin by the end of summer with completion of the three-story aquarium expected in 2024.

“Now that we own the land, we formally submitted for the final permit review to Sarasota County, and hopefully that will be done in a few weeks,” Bebak said.

According to its website, in 2019 it projected the Mote SEA will serve approximately 700,000 visitors in its first year, doubling the attendance of

the current Mote Aquarium. In addition to providing conference and events spaces, Mote projects nearly $28 million in annual economic impact beyond nearly $280 million of impact during construction.

“It will be a big eye-catcher on I-75,” said Commissioner Nancy Detert. “I can’t believe they get as many tourists as they get considering where they’re at. They’re hard to find, and it needs a lot of upkeep.

But once they build that aquarium, they should have millions of visitors because everybody’s going to want to stop there.”

While the Mote SEA will have the potential to capture the attention of some 52 million vehicles a year on the interstate, its existing facility will gain capacity to expand marine research.

“Back in 2018, this was kind of a three-legged stool,” Commissioner Mike Moran said. “The aquarium was obviously getting a lot of attention and will get a lot of attention, but the foundation is most related to the science laboratory. Most importantly (is) the career creation that’s going to come from this as people come from literally all over the world looking to work for Mote on the science side of the just amazing things that they do. … The underpinnings of this is the science behind all of it and the career creation that’s going to come about from this.”

The Mote SEA will be the latest in investments that appeal to the area’s demographic shift toward younger families. Commissioner Christian Ziegler recalled the entertainment limitations when he moved here in his early 20s two decades ago.

“There’s always been that challenge for families and for young people of what do you do in town. But now we’re moving to this next stage that I think is incredible for our community,” Ziegler said.

“When you start talking about this aquarium, pulling it off the island and putting it over by the UTC area near the highway, it’s a lot more accessible to everyone in the county.

Then you have the restaurants there.

You can really make a day of going to that area.”

All for $8.50 per acre, plus a couple of million dollars, Bebak added, that it took to get there.

A rendering of the Mote Science Education Aquarium planned for nearly 12 acres between the Mall at University Town Center and Nathan Benderson Park.

3A

File photo

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THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2022

Planning Board approves Tamiami mixed-use condo building Recused from the hearing, Sarasota Planning Board member Michael Halflants and his architecture firm get the nod for Whitaker Lofts in the North Trail Overlay District.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

H

aving recused himself from a Sarasota Planning Board agenda item because the proposal was initiated by his own architecture firm, board member Michael Halflants earned unanimous recommendation for approval from his colleagues for a new mixed-use project in the city’s North Trail Overlay District.

Halflants + Pichette Architects of Sarasota and Tampa is proposing Whitaker Lofts, a four-story, 19-unit condominium building over 8,400 square feet of retail space on a curvy wedge-shaped 0.62-acre corner lot at 1400 N. Tamiami Trail. The building is designed to fit the contour of the site shaped by the roundabout at Tamiami Trail and 14th Street while maintaining a massive grand oak behind the structure.

Three speakers with ownership stakes in the North Trail Overlay District spoke in favor of the project, adding that the design could set the tone for future development in the district along Tamiami Trail between 10th Street and University Parkway. The property has stood vacant for more than two decades on a high-profile site directly across North Tamiami Trail from Whitaker Gateway Park.

The quarter-circle site offers a challenging configuration with an irregular curve along U.S. 41, and the grand tree with a 75-foot diameter canopy at the center of the lot.

To preserve the tree, the building curves around the canopy, resulting in a shaded private courtyard.

Approval in hand, the matter now goes before the City Commission.

Rendering courtesy of Halflants + Pichette Architects

“Now I kind of almost see how when Mr. Halflants is here he’s trying to redesign everybody else’s project,” said Planning Board Chairman Terrill Salem. “That’s such a good job.”

All parking and utility facilities to serve the project are tucked behind the building, hiding them from view of the street. Amenities, also to the rear and beneath the natural canopy, will include a pool, spa and outdoor bar for residents.

“Our solution for this site is to create a simple curve, which reacts with the newly constructed roundabout,” said Gabe Nisula, project manager with Halflants + Pichette. “There is a slice through the building, which serves as a grand entrance to the raised courtyard in the back.”

Nine garden units will each have 12-foot ceilings and a raised private yard facing the tree. The 10 loft units above have two-story spaces that open to a balcony overlooking the bayfront. All 10 loft units also have roof terraces offering views of Sarasota Bay. Pricing for the residences

has not been set.

A varying blend of deep balconies and two-story shadowboxes on the façade are intended to create a play of light and shadow throughout the day. The balconies also provide cover for the retail entrances below. Additional cafe seating space doubles portions of the sidewalk to a total width of 18 feet. That results in an average sidewalk width along North Tamiami Trail of almost 12 feet, wider than the 8-foot requirement in the district.

A wide landscaped area designed by landscape architect Michael Gilkey is also being proposed along the sidewalk to further enhance the pedestrian experience, and more than doubles the city’s landscape mitigation requirements.

Some board members wondered aloud if allowing balconies to overhang public right-of-way would set a precedent that could become prevalent in future site plan approval requests.

“My concern is that we’re going to

have balconies not only going into a setback, but going over the property line,” said Daniel Clermont. “Are we setting a kind of a pseudo-precedent by doing something like this?

I haven’t seen it while I’ve been on the board where we have a projection over a property line. It’s in the public space as opposed to into a neighbor’s yard. We would never would allow that.”

The matter was taken up by the city Design Review Committee, the board was told, which determined the aerial intrusions were permitted

by Florida statute, and as an added benefit they function as a permanent awning.

Awnings and canopies overhanging public right-of-way are also commonplace throughout downtown.

“Providing a little shade is a good thing,” said board member Kathy Kelley Olrich. “It’s not a tree providing shade, but it does provide shade.”

NOW AVAILABLE

Extra sidewalk width outside Whitaker Lofts will accommodate outdoor cafe seating.

NOW AVAILABLE

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THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2022

5A

Planning board OKs restaurant and retail space in The Quay Unidentified 10,000-square-foot restaurant in The Quay receives a recommendation for approval by the Sarasota Planning Board along with 5,000 square feet of retail space.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

M

ore dining and retail options are planned for The Quay in downtown Sarasota after receiving a recommendation for approval by the city’s planning board on Wednesday.

Project developer Quay Venture LLC is proposing a 10,000-squarefoot restaurant and 5,000 square feet of retail space on Block 10 of the project, an internal parcel nestled between the historic Belle Haven building and the completed RitzCarlton Residences, the only two occupied properties in the development that began in 2016.

The Quay sits on 14 acres between U.S. 41 and Sarasota Bay between Boulevard of the Arts and Fruitville Road. The mixed-use multiphase development is divided into 10 “blocks,” each required to undergo site plan approval per the 2016 development agreement with the city.

Not yet publicly disclosed, the restaurant is promised to be a wellknown, high-end luxury destination brand designed with outdoor seating on first- and second-floor patios.

Although the restaurant appears to be locked in, the retail space is speculative at this time.

“We’ve shown the retail space split into four spaces. It could be one tenant, or it could be split into smaller tenants,” said Chris Gallagher, the vice president of Boyd Architects and the project’s engineer. “The restaurant building is really designed for one tenant. We’ve got a specific restaurant in mind here, and its focus is very much on the water overlooking

Andrew Warfield

Site work is under way along U.S.41 in The Quay where Lennar Muiltifamily Communities plans a mixed-use residential and retail development.

the water.”

The unnamed restaurant will join Jack Dusty, a 9,500-square-foot restaurant at the nearby Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota hotel overlooking the marina bookended to the north by the Hyatt Regency hotel.

Planning Board member Daniel Clermont, who cast the lone dissenting vote, expressed concerns over the restaurant’s encroachment on the historic nature of the Belle Haven, which was required to be preserved in the development agreement.

The 30 required parking spaces was called into question by several board members, but other available and approved parking within The Quay, Development Review Planner Amy Pintus told commissioners, provides more than adequate spaces.

“Required parking for blocks two and three was 267 spaces, and they

were approved for 406, and then four and five they were required to do 149 by code and they’re doing 260,” Pintus said. “There’s substantial parking in both of those projects, which are both already in their permit. So there’s going to be likely not any problems in parking.”

Presuming approval by the City Commission, when construction does begin it will be one of multiple projects under simultaneous development at The Quay, not to mention any lagging work on the U.S. 41/Gulfstream Avenue roundabout, which fronts the length of the Quay.

Site work is also under way along U.S. 41 where Lennar Multifamily Communities is building 240 luxury multifamily homes and 13,000 square feet of ground floor retail space next to the under-construction 18-story Bayso, which will add

149 luxury condominiums at The Quay.

With all that construction activity, Planning Board member Kathy Kelley Ulrich asked how the developer plans to maintain access to the site by residents and those wanting to access Quay Commons, a park area that is open to the public.

“Over the next three to four months, there are going to be four cranes swinging in this area. So we’re obviously concerned with health, safety and welfare,” said Grady Meyers, president of GreenPointe Development who also serves as vice president for Quay Venture. “that’s the biggest concern and we’re always going to be focused on that. So the limits around block two, three, we’re going to be very cognizant of that.”

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THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2022

HEATING & COOLING • APPLIANCES PLUMBING • ELECTRICAL

Ringling Bridge to be re-striped for shared bus/bike shoulder lane

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FDOT plans to ultimately mark dedicated lanes for the Bay Runner trolley, bicycles and e-scooters while preserving two travel lanes on Ringling Bridge.

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Pilots of two- and four-wheel vehicles crossing the Ringling Bridge in recent days have likely noticed changes in what was formerly a bicycle-only lane on the span between downtown Sarasota and Bird Key. The Florida Department of Transportation, which funded the project, has been re-striping and re-marking the space to create a 10-foot-wide shared bus/bike “shoulder,” with plans to ultimately create dedicated bus and bike lanes by summer 2024.

In 2018, the city of Sarasota initiated the concept in part to better facilitate trolley service over the oftencongested bridge.

The bus/bike shoulder marking project is expected to be completed

by August.

Launched in February, the openair Bay Runner trolley circulates from downtown to South Lido Beach through St. Armands Circle. The trolley service crosses the Ringling Bridge in each direction every 20 to 30 minutes.

No width has been added to the space previously reserved only for bikes, which at 10 feet means it’s just wide enough to accommodate the open-air Bay Runner.

The Bay Runner will be allowed to use the shoulder at the driver’s discretion when traffic is 15 mph or slower. Drivers will be trained on strategies to enter and exit the lane and how to safely coexist with bicycles and electric scooters.

Two-wheeled vehicles, according to Sarasota City Engineer Nik Patel, will have priority in the shared shoulder. When on the shoulder, the trolley must maintain a 50-foot clearance behind bikes and scooters and cannot exceed 25 mph. Once the trolley is in the shoulder, it remains there until the lane ends pending extraordinary circumstances.

“Ultimately, the drivers have to make sure that there is clearance between the bike and the scooters,” Patel said. “Drivers are trained how to get the bus on the shoulder

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and when to get on it. When traffic on the bridge is 15 mph or less, the driver has the option to get onto the shoulder. They first have to look for bicycles or scooters, and then if there’s clearance, they take the bus on the shoulder.”

The shared shoulder is temporary. The ultimate plan is to have a dedicated bike and scooter lane, a dedicated bus lane and two general travel lanes, all without changing the structure of the bridge. The protected 10-foot sidewalk on both sides of the bridge lane will remain.

There is enough width, Patel said, to accommodate the multiple uses.

“You’re going to have a 5-foot bike lane; an 11-foot transit lane, which is the dedicated bus lane; and then you’ll have two 10-foot travel lanes,” Patel said. Narrowing the general travel lanes from 12 feet, he added, will reduce the speeds while allowing room for the bus and bike lanes.

Coon Key Bridge just east of St. Armands Circle, which was third on the city’s list of transportation projects in 2021, fell to sixth this year.

City officials acknowledged it was the Florida Department of Transportation’s responsibility to widen the span to allow for better pedestrian and cycling access.

“The city’s leadership has had a long vision to increase micro-mobility within Sarasota,” said Mayor Erik Arroyo. “While in the past, projects would get kicked down the road after leaders failed to agree on a direction, the current City Commission took decisive action, which has paid off tremendously for the residents and visitors … These options reduce our reliance on gas, are better for the environment and create a sense of adventure that is testament to our area being one of the top destinations in the country.”

The Florida Department of Transportation is re-striping and marking a 10-footwide shared bus and bike “shoulder” in the space of the formerly dedicated bike lane.

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SARASOTA OBSERVER

Bobby Jones Golf Course under new management File photo

AROUND FLORIDA

Indigo Golf Partners manages golf courses and country clubs throughout Florida.

STAFF WRITER

F

or the first time since even before Bobby Jones the golfer christened it with an exhibition round of 73 in 1927, Bobby Jones, the golf course, will not be managed by the city of Sarasota.

On Monday, the City Commission unanimously approved a management contract with Indigo Golf Partners for the under-redevelopment golf course along Fruitville Road.

The five-year agreement is worth approximately $123,697 a year.

Reston, Virginia-based Indigo, which was acquired in January 2021

by Troon of Scottsdale, Arizona, will provide on-site management of the facility and use its proprietary IT and marketing platforms for operations.

Indigo will leverage Troon’s assets and experience of providing management services to more than 585 locations around the world.

Troon Vice President Joe Goodrich told commissioners on Monday the golf course should make money.

“For the operating pro forma on an annualized basis is for the asset, the cash positives are over $900,000 for a full year of operations,” Goodrich said.

Commissioner Hagen Brody said he was concerned that Indigo, as a for-profit company, could be in a position to cut corners to enhance its bottom line.

“We have more to lose as an organization from a profit standpoint if we don’t do a good job,” Goodrich said.

“If for some reason the city of Sarasota is not happy with us, it’s going to impact our business much more than anything. … Our goal is to do a good job for our clients. We’ve been working for the last two months without being paid, sitting in on agronomic meetings and meetings

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THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2022

OPINION / OUR VIEW

SARASOTA/SIESTA KEY

What are their core beliefs?

Political candidates will inundate us with mailers trumpeting how great they are or how their opponents are scumbags. But what voters need to uncover are candidates’ principles on the role of government.

10 QUESTIONS TO ASK THE CANDIDATES Here are questions we will be asking candidates for the upcoming elections in an attempt to uncover their core beliefs about government: MATT WALSH

B

race yourself. The silly season is now in full force.

There is no way to avoid it.

Day after day for the next three and a half interminable months, we all will be emptying our mailboxes of those incessant campaign mailers and trying to tune out the truth-less TV attack ads.

By November for sure, we’ll be beyond sick of it all.

But one of the most disappointing aspects of the 100 days will be this: Of all the aspiring candidates who tell us how wonderful they are and what scumbags their opponents are, nary a one of them will utter the words that have defined America for 250 years: “freedom” “liberty” and “individual rights.”

Not one of them will pledge during the campaign that he or she will vote only for legislation that expands your freedom and protects your individual rights and against legislation that takes away or curtails your liberty and rights.

Not one of them will take a stand in favor of the individual over the collectivist altruism. Not one of them will be a passionate promoter and defender of the principles of the Constitution — a charter for our protection against government power, not a charter for more government power.

Instead, they will campaign on how they will use the power of government and expand the reach of government to make our collective lives better. The incumbents, of course, will brag effusively how they already have expanded government for the benefit of the collective and want to keep doing more of it.

To be sure, to employ a strategy that emphasizes liberty and individual rights over the collective would go against all campaign strategists’ advice. It just wouldn’t fit the mold of standard politics.

Nor would it have the pizzaz or sizzle that makes for catchy TV sound bites.

You can be positive, up to a point, the strategists advise. And it’s good for candidates to portray themselves as church-going, community-involved, family men and women (e.g. watch for all the mailers and emails of candidates photographed with their children).

But at some point as well, when the polls get tight, the strategists all advise that the candidates will need to go negative.

We voters hate all that negativity and nastiness. We hate the false and truth-bending attack ads. But the

Two recent standard campaign mailers: When a candidate touts his or her political and community bonafides, in this case a Republican who is proud of filing a lawsuit to stop economic growth. Left: the standard negative slammer — portraying an opponent as an idiot unfit for public office.

sad fact is they work. As far back as 1944, before political campaigns took over TV, the late Austrian economist Friedrich Hayek wrote a whole chapter called “Why the Worst Get on Top,” noting: “It seems to be almost a law of human nature that it is easier for people to agree on a negative program — on the hatred of an enemy — than on any positive task.”

That is still true today (e.g. the defeat of Donald Trump).

The results of today’s standard, negative political campaigns leave voters to select candidates without knowing who they really are, what their inner character is or what their core beliefs and principles are.

Leonard Read, founder of the Foundation for Economic Education and author of the famous essay, “I, Pencil,” described our fate as often having to pick between two “trimmers” — “any candidate whose position on issues depends solely on what he thinks will have the most voter appeal. … To trim is to ignore the dictates of higher conscience; it is to take flight from integrity.”

To trim is not to be completely honest with voters on what you believe.

And similar to Hayek, Read also concluded: “When the worst get on top, it is because there are enough of the worst among us to put them there.” Voters go along with politicians too often because the can-

didates say what sounds good and reasonable.

Take, for instance, Sarasota School Board member Jane Goodwin. For years, she declared herself to be and voters perceived her to be a Republican (i.e., conservative).

Turns out, she was not.

Or, Republican Congressman Vern Buchanan. The 15-year congressman has a solid, 10-point plan for economic growth and tax and spending reforms, but when ranked by the Club for Growth, a leading free-enterprise advocacy group, Buchanan had the lowest ranking among Florida congressional Republicans in 2021 and has the second-lowest lifetime ranking because of his pro-governmentleaning voting record.

It would be refreshing to see voters reject the trimmers — the Joe Biden and Charlie Crist types who will say and do whatever it takes to win, rarely if ever revealing a core politico-economic philosophy.

In that vein, as we interview candidates this election cycle to make recommendations to voters, we will ask questions that we hope will reveal candidates’ true politico-economic philosophies and their principles and beliefs about government, taxation and the Constitution. In the end, candidates are either or: Either a candidate believes government’s role is that of a servant, protecting individuals rights via

What is the role of government?

Joe Biden promised he would end fossil fuels and raise taxes on the rich. Donald Trump promised he would rebuild America’s military and put America first.

That’s what politicians do: They make promises that they are going to use the government as a means to an end.

Rare is the politician who articulates what the role of government should be.

But in December 1963, author-philosopher Ayn Rand wrote succinctly

and simply what the role of government is. Here are a few excerpts from “The Nature of Government,” a chapter from her book, “The Virtue of Selfishness”:

men from criminals; the armed services, to protect men from foreign invaders; the law courts, to settle disputes among men according to objective laws.

n “If a society is to be free, its government has to be controlled.” n “Since the protection of individual rights is the only proper purpose of a government, it is the only proper subject of legislation: All laws must be based on indivdual rights and aimed at their protection.”

n “The Constitution is a limitation on the government, not on private individuals — that it does not prescribe the conduct of private individuals, only the conduct of the government — that it is not a charter for government power, but a charter of the citizens' protection against the government.”

n The proper functions of a government fall into three broad categories, all of them involving the issues of physical force and the protection of men’s rights: the police, to protect

n “Instead of being a protector of man’s rights, the government is becoming their most dangerous violator; instead of guarding freedom, the government is establish-

1) Explain what you believe to be the fundamental role of government?

2) When you are legislating and making laws, which of the following would take precedence over the other: the individual or the collective, “common good”? Why? 3) Why are you running for office?

4) If elected, what will be your guiding principles to determine whether to vote for or against legislation?

5) What role should the government play in the economy?

6) Should government subsidize the manufacture of electric cars and/or give tax credits to consumers for buying electric cars? Why? Why not?

7) What is your philosophy for taxation? Graduated income tax? Flat income tax? No income tax? Consumption tax?

Property tax?

8) A right does not impose an obligation on other men. Free speech is a right. There is no right to having a car. In that vein, is health care a right?

9) Given that many public schools and public universities — all supported by all taxpayers — were exposed the past two years for being turned into centers for socialistic and anti-American indoctrination via everyone’s tax dollars, how should that be remedied, or should it?

10) If you were king, queen or a tyrannical despot in charge of the country, how, if at all, would you amend the U.S. Constitution? Why?

limited powers; or a candidate believes the government’s role is that of a master exerting power and coercion over its subservient citizenry, placing the collectivist group and tribe above the individual.

If it is the former, you would expect the candidate to work to protect your freedom and restrain government’s reach and spending.

If it is the latter, you would expect that candidate to do what most of them do when elected: propose and pass more laws that grow the power and cost of government at the expense of individual and the expense of liberty.

If you have the opportunity to meet any of this year’s candidates, ask them this: Why are you running for office? Listen closely.

“If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.”

Friedrich Hayek

“Road to Serfdom,” 1944 President and Publisher / Emily Walsh, EWalsh@YourObserver.com Executive Editor and COO / Kat Hughes, KHughes@YourObserver.com Managing Editor / Eric Garwood, EGarwood@YourObserver.com Sports Editor / Ryan Kohn, RKohn@YourObserver.com Staff Writer / Andrew Warfield, AWarfield@YourObserver.com Digital & Engagement Editor / Kaelyn Adix, KAdix@YourObserver.com Editorial Designers / Melissa Leduc, MLeduc@YourObserver.com; José Valle, JValle@YourObserver.com A+E Editor / Spencer Fordin, SFordin@YourObserver.com Black Tie Editor / Harry Sayer, HSayer@YourObserver.com Director of Advertising / Jill Raleigh, JRaleigh@YourObserver.com Sales Manager / Penny Nowicki, PNowicki@YourObserver.com Regional Digital Director / Kathleen O’Hara, KOHara@YourObserver.com Senior Advertising Executive / Laura Ritter, LRitter@YourObserver.com Advertising Executives / Richeal Bair, RBair@YourObserver.com; Beth Jacobson, BJacobson@YourObserver.com; Jennifer Kane, JKane@YourObserver.com; Honesty Mantkowski, HMantkowski@YourObserver. com; Toni Perren, TPerren@YourObserver. com; Brenda White, BWhite@ YourObserver.com Classified Advertising Sales Executive / Lexi Huelsman, LHuelsman@ YourObserver.com Sales Operations Manager / Susan Leedom, SLeedom@YourObserver.com Sales Coordinator / Account Manager Lori Downey, LDowney@ YourObserver.com Digital Fulfillment Specialist / Emma Burke, EBurke@yourobserver.com Director of Marketing / Robin Lankton, RLankton@YourObserver.com Director of Creative Services / Caleb Stanton, CStanton@YourObserver.com Creative Services Administrator / Marjorie Holloway, MHolloway@ YourObserver.com Advertising Graphic Designers / Luis Trujillo, Taylor Poe, Louise Martin, Shawna Polana Digital Developer / Jason Camillo, JCamillo@YourObserver.com Director of Information Technology / Adam Quinlin, AQuinlin@YourObserver.com Chief Financial Officer / Laura Strickland, LStrickland@YourObserver.com Controller / Rafael Labrin, RLabrin@ YourObserver.com Office and Accounting Coordinator / Donna Condon, DCondon @YourObserver.com

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ing slavery; instead of protecting men from the initiators of physical force, the government is initiating physical force and coercion in any manner and issue it pleases; instead of serving as the instrument of objectivity in human relationships, the government is creating a deadly, subterranean regin of uncertainty and fear, by means of nonobjective laws whose interpretation is left to the arbitrary decisions of random bureaucrats; instead of protecting men from injury by whim, the government is arrogating to itself the power of unlimited whim — so that we are fast approaching the stage of the ultimate inversion: The stage where the government is free to do anything it pleases, while the citizens may act only by permission; which is the stage of the darkest periods of human history, the stage of rule by brute force.”

— MW

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SARASOTA OBSERVER

EV sales demonstrate free-market forces In the introduction to the July 14 editorial on fossil fuels, Mr. Walsh stated that “..the Biden administration forces Americans to shift to electric vehicles by choking off fossil fuel production.”

In fact no one is forcing people to buy electric cars. Longboat Key is awash in Teslas, and all major auto companies are developing electric cars, including in Europe where American government policies would obviously have no effect.

Consumers buying electric vehicles are exercising their freedom to choose; a perfect example of the free market.

The author of the editorial is described as a fellow at Prager University. It should be noted that Prager is not really a university. Its website says “Prager University is not an academic institution and does not offer certifications or diplomas.” It was begun by Dennis Prager, a conservative talk radio host.

DAVID KELLER LONGBOAT KEY

When did extreme become normal?

Two primary tenets of traditional Republican ideology are small government and personal freedom.

Ron DeSantis has recently withheld government funds and punished corporations for expressing an opinion that “offends” the far-right base. These opinions weren’t divisive or dangerous; they promoted peace, inclusivity and tolerance. Is this small government?

Are his stances on “right to choose” and mask-wearing illustrative of supporting personal freedoms?

I’ve been registered as a Democrat and a Republican, and have now landed as an Independent. I know there are many like me who do not ascribe to either party’s ideology completely; however with each party’s leaders pandering to the

THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2022

MONDAY, JULY 11 extremes in their respective party, I no longer want to be identified as a Democrat or Republican.

When did the extreme hijack both parties? Where do people like me who value small government, personal freedom, personal responsibility, a united country, fiscal responsibility, strong borders and an inclusive immigration program belong? To my extreme dismay, I understand the reality that a “third party” could never succeed, leaving me and millions of others without a “political home.”

Our only hope is that a new type of leader emerges. A leader who does not act with the only objective to get elected or re-elected but with the true welfare of the country as a priority. Integrity, honesty, courage, compassion, sacrifice these are a few of the words that describe true leaders. Let’s demand those things from ours.

SNACK ATTACK 8:23 p.m. 1400 block of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way Disturbance: Responding to a complaint about an unruly customer, officers arrived to find a female customer in a verbal dispute with a male customer who earlier had thrown lottery tickets at the woman. She responded by throwing an assortment of plastic-wrapped snacks toward the man. The officer reviewed video of the incident, determined none of the hurled objects struck their intended target, but observed the woman spit in the direction of the man. The officer examined the man’s shirt where he claimed the woman had spit on him, but found no evidence of “a stain or wet spot or evidence of spit/saliva.”

No further action was taken.

GIGI SILVERBERG SARASOTA

BE HEARD

Surely you have an opinion on a town issue. Let us hear it through a letter to the editor.

Email them to Managing Editor Eric Garwood at EGarwood@YourObserver.com.

Be sure to include your name and where you live.

1947 R I N G L I N G B LV D SAR A S O TA , F L

MONDAY, JULY 11

FIGHT NIGHT 7:48 p.m., Maple Avenue at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way Disturbance: Officers arrived at the scene where multiple juveniles had been fighting and were still arguing.

While there, two juveniles began fighting, prompting officers to intervene and separate the two. Throughout the entirety of the incident, the many uncooperative individuals rendered it difficult to discern the sequence of events. Ultimately, the parties departed from the area without further incident.

TUESDAY, JULY 12

NO MODEL EMPLOYEE 1:59 p.m., 1400 block of First Street Harassment: A disgruntled former employee harassing his former colleagues at a retail location brought officers to the store where the perpetrator had been employed for seven months, but in recent weeks was exhibiting aggressive behavior toward co-workers and customers.

After being confronted by management, the former employee allegedly went on to make passive sexual innuendoes to female staff. After being counseled again for his behavior, he yelled at a customer, causing the employer to reduce his status from full-time to part-time. Irritated over losing health benefits as a result, he was terminated on June 29, responding by sending insulting text messages to his former co-workers and manager. Wanting to docu-

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COPS CORNER

LETTERS

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ment the behavior, the manager called police. The officer called the former worker, advising him to stop harassing employees and that he was not to return to the store. The man acknowledged, adding he was angry with the manager and held no ill intentions toward him. Copies of the text messages were placed into evidence and no further action was taken.

THURSDAY, JULY 14

TESTOSTERONE SUPERIORITY 3:08 p.m. 2000 block of Adams Lane Disturbance: A security guard recently reported a dispute at a municipal park involving one man who was subsequently banned from the park for violating rules. The security guard stated the man had stopped him to question a previous situation for which he had been banned.

When the guard replied he had no information about a previous incident, the man began to hurl insults at him, then allegedly grabbed at his groin stating the security guard was merely jealous of his “testosterone superiority.” The man was then advised he was banned from the park for violating rule No. 9 which reads: “Profanity, reckless and boisterous behavior is prohibited.” The man admitted to his actions to police but denied grabbing at his groin, saying he was merely adjusting his belt. The perpetrator left the scene without incident with a copy of a trespassing form, which he signed.

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THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2022

‘Wild Kingdom’ reboot pays a visit The revival of the iconic TV show of the 1960s through 1980s shoots segment at Mote’s aquarium.

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

N

esting turtles and mating manatees are the summer stars around Sarasota, but they’re about to get national attention thanks to a reboot of “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom,” which concluded its original 25-year run in 1988.

The latest episode, “Protecting the Wild,” was filmed in the rehabilitation center at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium on July 13. Mote was the perfect subject and setting because of its research and conservation efforts.

“It’s unique in that this is a research laboratory,” said host Peter Gros, now in the role made famous

by Marlin Perkins from 1963 to 1985. “They’re doing a lot of scientific work, and now they’re sharing that knowledge with the public that comes through.”

Mote’s acoustic research will be featured in the episode. Researchers are studying manatee reactions onsite and in the wild. They want to know how stressed they become in proximity to the sounds created by

boats and people. Similar data exists on dolphins and sea otters, but not on manatees yet.

“The science that’s happening here is going to help us as conservationists, beyond Mote, to be able to say, ‘Hey folks, you need to keep 50 yards’ distance or whatever that number is,’” National Wildlife Federation Naturalist David Mizejewski said. “Then we can take it the next step further and advocacy groups can start saying we need to pass this regulation, and that’s how it all feeds together.”

In the social media age, this kind of data is more important than ever.

Gros recommends putting your cell phone away and grabbing a pair of binoculars instead when out in the wild.

“Selfies, in a sense, have become a threat to our endangered species,” he said. “Appreciate the animals, giving them distance and eliminating the stress.”

Production has followed suit.

“Protecting the Wild” makes its debut in January to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the first episode.

Thanks to technology including drones and motion cameras, filming is far less invasive now.

Both Gros and Mizejewski applauded the local community for the awareness and concern they show the area’s wildlife and say community involvement is at the crux of conservation. Whether it be through a donation to an advocacy group or

Photo courtesy Mutual of Omaha’s Wild KIngdom

“Wild Kingdom” films at Mote.

turning lights off so baby sea turtles don’t crawl in the wrong direction, it makes a difference.

“We all have these opportunities, and that’s a big message that we give at the National Wildlife Federation,” Mizejewski said. “That’s why we’ve teamed up. Because together, we hopefully can reach millions of people with the show and these messages.”

Long before Gros knew he’d build a television career out of his love for animals, he took a family vacation to Siesta Key. His twin sons were about 8 at the time, and he pointed out a sea turtle nest surrounded by yellow flags.

“I remember explaining what was

Lesley Dwyer

Peter Gros and David Mizejewski film an episode of “Wild Kingdom” at Mote.

going to happen and how far these turtles had swum to do this,” he said.

Years later, he was filming on the Great Barrier Reef where loggerheads leave their nests for 30 years and retrace their steps over 3,000 miles back to the same location to lay their eggs. He calls it “one of the miracles of nature that we don’t completely understand yet,” and said he’ll never forget the experience.

Since walking Siesta Key’s beach with his sons, Gros has taught countless other children and adults

the importance of conservation, and his passion hasn’t waned.

“This is a lifetime dream and opportunity for me to continue Mutual’s goal of educating people about conservation,” he said.

Ten episodes of “Wild Kingdom: Protecting the Wild” are set to air on RFD-TV and digital channels starting Jan. 23.

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Your Connection to True Living.

Paul and Stacey Hart are long-time Sarasota residents that truly enjoy living the Suncoast lifestyle. With knowledge in construction, investment, and staging, they are passionate about helping others with home ownership and investment properties.

Working as a team, Paul and Stacey bring different skill sets together to help buyers and sellers achieve their real estate goals here on the Suncoast.

To learn more about what the Suncoast lifestyle has to offer, contact Paul and Stacey Hart.

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AJC Lunch and Learn A JC West Coast Florida staff and supporters gathered for the latest in its Lunch and Learn series July 19 at Michael’s On East.

The speaker series’ July event featured Rabbi Noam Marans, the AJC director of interreligious and intergroup relations who has been recognized for promoting Catholic-Jewish dialogue with the organization.

Guests briefly mingled at the start of the event before sitting down for the lunch to start. Following an introduction by AJC West Coast Florida Regional Director Brian Lipton, AJC Regional Board member Veronica Brady welcomed Marans to the stage.

The audience ate a lunch of glazed salmon, grape tomatoes, Greek salad and more as Marans spoke.

The next Lunch and Learn event will be held with Holly Huffnagle on Aug. 16.

Photos by Harry Sayer

Speaker Rabbi Noam Marans and Veronica Brady

Ruth Maass, Tessie Jose, Andy Maass and Mark Schwartz

— HARRY SAYER

Cake was served at the luncheon.

Joseph Gianguzzo and AJC West Coast Florida Director Brian Lipton

Sue Johnson, Renee Sheade and Jacque Kaufer

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ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

in motion

Photo courtesy of Frank Atura

Students from the Margaret Barbieri Conservatory dance in a past edition of the Images of Dance program.

The Sarasota Ballet auditioned more than 1,000 dancers for its Summer Intensive, and 170 made the final cut to come and learn in person.

SPENCER FORDIN A+E EDITOR

T

hey’ve come from all across the country, bound by the same passion and bonded by the same experience.

And they’ve put in the work to make themselves better dancers.

Now, the students of Sarasota Ballet’s Summer Intensive are primed for the best part of their pre-professional journey; they’re ready to show the world what they’ve learned in four InMotion appearances at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts from July 28-30.

Lindsay Fischer, the Sarasota Ballet’s assistant education director, has been training the dancers and setting brand new choreography upon them.

Class by class and skill by skill, he’s seen their confidence and ability grow immeasurably.

“For some of them, it may be the first time they’ve ever done choreography that they can’t go to YouTube and look at,” says Fischer. “This is

made for them as they’re standing there.

“They get that experience of, ‘OK we’re going to try to do this, this and the other thing,’ and then it doesn’t work out. And sometimes I say, ‘Actually, I think this is going to be fine. You need to treat that preparation differently and you need to coordinate that arm differently. You need to use the space differently and you’re going to find that it’s going to look good.’”

Fischer, who worked as a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet and Dutch National Ballet, has only been in Sarasota for about a year.

But he’s had a long time to iron out his skills as a teacher; he ran the National Ballet of Canada’s Apprentice Program for 15 years.

Now, working with the Summer Intensive, Fischer is seeing dancers of a wide range in ages and ability.

The youngest dancers in the program are 12 years old, and they’re early in their development.

But the older dancers in the Summer Intensive may be as old as 21, and Fischer says that by that point they’ve had serious training at highend schools for seven or eight years.

Those latter students — the ones nearing their professional career — will be working on brand new choreography set to music from Verdi’s “Macbeth” at the InMotion performances. Fischer says they’ve gotten it the old-fashioned way, through

hard work and sweat.

“The group I’m working with is very accomplished,” he says. “Anything I would set on a professional dancer, I would probably set on these dancers. Maybe for some it will take a little bit longer to learn.

“It might be fuzzy for longer. They may think they’ve got it, but instead of being right 10 times out of 10, it’s only right six times out of 10. In the end, it only has to be right once.”

SELECT FEW

The most interesting part, though, is where the dancers came from and how they got to Sarasota.

Christopher Hird, Sarasota Ballet’s education director, said that more than 1,000 students from ballet schools all over America were evaluated for the Summer Intensive.

The final group of dancers numbers about 170, but not all of them came for the entire five-week program. Hird says the audition process lasted from January to March. During that time, every weekend the group either traveled to do an audition in person or did them via Zoom.

“I’m just thrilled that we’ve got this interest in Sarasota Ballet,” he says. “The numbers reflect that they want to come and train with us, which I think speaks a lot to the quality of the program. And the fact SEE INMOTION, PAGE 16A

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ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

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This arts group was formed all the way back in 1953 to showcase the work of talented female artists, and five current members of the group will chat about their inspirations and their artistic process. Lucy Barber, Susan J. Klein, Judy Lyons Schneider, Jana Millstone and Diane Schmidt will all be on hand to chat about their art, and what it means to be part of the collective.

‘THE FANTASTICKS’ 7:30 p.m. at Jervey Theatre, 140 W. Tampa Ave., Venice $24 adult, $15 college, $12 youth Visit VeniceTheatre.org.

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Talk about a show with staying power. “The Fantasticks” opened Off Broadway in 1960 and maintained a presence for 42 years and more than 17,000 shows, making it one of the longest-running musicals in recorded history. The book and lyrics were written by American Tom Jones, and the show has been making fans in New York and beyond for decades.

There will be six showings, with matinee and evening performances on both Saturday and Sunday.

BEYOND VAN GOGH 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Starry Night Pavilion, 195 University Town Center Drive $29-$84 Visit VanGoghSarasota.com

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Does it feel like Beyond Van Gogh has been here forever? The master’s immersive exhibit arrived in March, but it’s been extended twice due to rabid interest and is finally entering

its final days at University Town Center. The last day of the exhibit will be July 24, which means that you have a couple days left to stand amongst the sunflowers. Van Gogh while you can or you might wind up regretting it at some point.

FRIDAY CLASSIC MOVIES AT THE OPERA HOUSE: ‘TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD’ 7:30 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave. $12 Visit SarasotaOpera.org.

This 1962 adaptation of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel was nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, and it won an Oscar for Best Actor for Gregory Peck. Peck’s portrayal of Atticus Finch was named by the American Film Institute as the greatest hero in all of American cinema in 2003.

ARTCENTER MANATEE: MY HAPPY PLACE 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at ArtCenter Manatee, 209 Ninth St. W., Bradenton Free Visit ArtCenterManatee.org.

Where does art take you? At ArtCenter Manatee, they hope it takes you to a happy place. Come by and see this exhibition, which will be on display through Aug. 12, of art from local artists. Matteo Caloiaro, an alumnus of Ringling College of Art and Design, served as juror, and Jacqueline Clark’s “Pinka Dinka Do” won first place.

CITIZEN ARTS: MUSIC, THEATER AND DANCE 6:30 p.m. at Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail $5, registration required Visit SarasotaArtMuseum.org

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Have you ever wondered how an artist perceives the way their work interacts with the public? Composer Marcos Balter, theater-maker Sam Max and dancer Amanda Cantrell Roche will discuss their work and what they’d like people to take from it at this event.

PLAY READING: MASTER OF THE REVELS 3 p.m. at Keating Theatre, 1241 N. Palm Ave. $10 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

It’s a work in progress by playwright Jeffrey Couchman that is based on the true story of William Henry Ireland, a youngster who hoped to gain fame by forging notes and letters and even whole plays in William Shakespeare’s name. Couchman has previously written plays, screenplays and literary criticism, and he spent 10 years teaching screenwriting at the College of Staten Island.

‘MAYTAG VIRGIN’ 8 p.m. at Keating Theatre, 1241 N. Palm Ave. $39 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

They’re getting comfortable with each other. But can they get comfortable with themselves? This is the story of two teachers who live next door to each other in Alabama, and the open question is whether the past will allow them to build a future together.

SATURDAY LAUREN HENDERSON 8 p.m. at Fogartyville, 525 Kumquat Court $20 members, $22 non-members

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Jazz and R&B vocalist Lauren Henderson plays Fogartyville for one night only. Henderson sings songs in both English and Spanish, and her songs frequently contrast her Caribbean roots and her North American upbringing. Henderson has performed all over Europe and also in Mexico and South Africa, and she’s hoping to win new fans in her lone night in Sarasota.

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CHRISTMAS IN JULY 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Creative Liberties, 901-B Apricot Ave. Free Visit CreativeLiberties.net.

It’s your chance to add to your home decor while also supporting local artisans. The Creative Liberties team will open their studio to the public for an event with handmade gifts, food, and an interactive ornamentcreation activity. The neighboring Bazaar at Apricot and Lime will be holding a similar event, turning the area into an all-day arts market.

LASER LIGHT NIGHTS: AC/DC VS GUNS N’ ROSES 7 p.m. at Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, 201 Tenth St. W., Bradenton $15 Visit BishopScience.org.

It’s a Highway to Hell all the way to Paradise City. This laser light mash-up will send you through the canon of AC/DC and Guns N’ Roses, bringing you dazzling lights timed to the cacophonous wailing of Bon Scott and Axl Rose. If those bands don’t really do it for you, there’s a Van Halen show at 9 p.m.

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THE JERSEY TENORS PART II They’re not afraid to sing or Walk Like a Man. This show, created by Brian Noonan, will bring the Jersey Tenors’ original arrangements of songs from artists like Frank Sinatra, Frankie Valli, Queen and Elton John. And since they’re from The Garden State, you’re not getting out without hearing Bon Jovi.

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InMotion FROM PAGE 13A

that we have great faculty like Lindsay that people choose to come and work with.”

Surprised that some of the auditions were held over Zoom?

Don’t be. It’s the future.

Fisher says that phenomenon didn’t really exist until recently, but post-COVID, schools around the country are understanding how they can use technology to democratize their field of dancers.

“It’s not perfect, but it’s better than nothing. Like way, way better,” says Fisher. “I used to work in career counseling and placement. You would send videos and you would

send CDs and people would look at them and say, ‘Yeah, but I’ve got to see them in person.’ Now, we’ve realized that when you know how to use the technology properly, you can learn as much as you need to know about somebody over Zoom. …It’s not about having the privilege to jump on an airplane and go audition.

You can go to your local studio, you can stand in front of a Zoom camera and you have as much chance as somebody traveling in a limo.”

TRAINING METHODS

Once they arrive, the students at the Summer Intensive are separated into four age groups, and within those age groups, they’re ordered by skill so they can get trained at the proper level.

Sarasota Ballet has about seven full-time instructors working every

day with the trainees, and it has several others who can work twice a week or specialize in certain skillsets. The students are working six days a week, and it can be a long and grueling endeavor.

“Every day, the students get a full technique class of an hour and 45 minutes,” says Fischer. “Every day, they get either pointe or variations.

Every day, they get repertory. Then the fourth class, they’ll either get some other style of dance or they’ll get a conditioning class specifically for ballet. It’s not just going to the gym and lifting weights.

“We teach the anatomy of ballet; what joint or set of muscles are actually making that shape or that movement possible? Then you strengthen that, and that’s definitely something you don’t get at a lot of schools.”

Again, says Fischer, a lot of this is

Photo courtesy of Frank Atura

Willa Frantz, a past member of the training program, dances in Images of Dance.

IF YOU GO

INMOTION 2022 — SARASOTA BALLET SUMMER INTENSIVE PERFORMANCES When: 7:30 p.m. July 28; 2 and 7:30 p.m. July 29, 2; 2 p.m. July 30 Where: FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail Tickets: $25-$35 Info: SarasotaBallet.org

old hat for the top level students.

But for some of the youngsters, they’re just beginning to learn that their dreams will come with a physical cost. That part — working with dancers of different skills and age groups — is fun for Fischer, because it forces him to re-evaluate his methods of getting through to people.

“Some dancers throughout their lives are insatiably curious and want to know everything about what you’re thinking and why you’re doing it,” he says. “Other dancers prefer a more distanced approach.

They just want to be told what to do.

“Then there’s some dancers — I was one of them — who are very, very authority averse. And they learn very differently. When I get dancers like that in the room, I think, ‘Oh, this is going to be fun.’ I hear things and see things that I had not imagined.

These people are not listening to my drummer; they are listening to their own drummer and they are rocking to the rhythm they hear. And that is fascinating.”

Dancers grasp an understanding at a different point in their development, and Fischer says they aren’t necessarily curious about their instructors’ backgrounds.

At this point, they’re locked in on learning, and they’re focused on being the best dancers they can be.

“I don’t think it makes a big difference to them what your background is or where you come from or who you know,” says Fischer. “The important thing about teaching is to realize it does not matter what you know, who you know or how you know it.

“It matters whether you are able to help somebody else understand.

Teaching a skill is not a random accretion of experience. Lots of people have extraordinary experience. But they can’t teach.”

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‘Maytag Virgin’ explores the cycles of life at Florida Studio Theatre.

MARTY FUGATE CONTRIBUTOR

IF YOU GO

‘MAYTAG VIRGIN’ When: Through July 31 Where: Keating Theatre, 1241 N. Palm Ave. Tickets: $36-$39 Info: Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

tight. She’s clearly drawn to Jack.

But her conversation keeps veering off in random vectors.

It’ll all be going great, then something will set her off. Jack’s Maytag.

Or his statue of the Virgin Mary.

Or whatever.

Something will push Lizzy’s crazy button, and that will be all she wrote.

Moulton is great as the ultimate wacky neighbor, and (in keeping with the script) she lets you know there’s far more to her than the sitcom stereotype.

Jack is equally great as (essentially) his neighbor’s laconic straightman. There’s more to him, too.

Director Kate Alexander lovingly gives these compelling characters room to breathe.

She lets you get to know them.

And you want to!

In a way, you’re eavesdropping on Jack and Kate throughout the play.

Alexander’s staging and timing entices you to fall in love with them.

Kudos also to the imaginative talents who give shape, form and sound to this little corner of Sweet Home Alabama.

Pedro L. Guevara’s hyper-realistic Southern-fried set design, Mari Taylor Floyd’s costumes, Andrew Gray’s lighting design and Thom Korp’s sound design bring Lizzy and Jack’s microcosmic world to life.

“Maytag Virgin” has a lot to like.

Cefaly’s highly original play goes from strength to strength.

My only two quibbles?

Sometimes there’s too much to like. At other times, the play’s strength can be its weakness.

Photo courtesy of John Jones

Cefaly’s dialogue is brilliant, but rarely on the nose. Her characters occasionally spill their guts, get to the point and speak the plain truth.

Most of the time, their speech loops around like real-life conversations. That creates a naturalistic feel — and a long running time.

If you ask me, I’d cut about halfan-hour of clever digressions. But nobody asked.

The playwright’s indirectness is her strength. Maybe it’s my OCD talking, but sometimes I like a little focus. Two examples … n There’s no line in the play defining what “Maytag Virgin” means. n Jack is supposedly a physics teacher. You wouldn’t guess that by listening to him.

“The dryer works through a combination of centrifugal force and heat convection. There’s nothing

Satanic about it.”

Nope.

“Our relationship is the romantic equivalent of Schrodinger’s Cat. It’s neither here nor there.”

Nope again.

Quibbles aside, I loved Cefaly’s play. It’s smart, sweet, warm, loving and funny.

Most importantly the two characters feel real.

Speaking of which, let’s return to our two key character questions …

Will Jack and Lizzy get together?

You can probably guess, so let’s skip that one.

Next question …

What’s Lizzy’s problem?

The playwright doesn’t cheat you of an answer.

I won’t spoil the revelation.

But her answer, like the play itself, feels honest, human and real.

Blake Price and Rachel Moulton get comfortable with each other in “Maytag Virgin.”

THROUGH SEP 25

INFORMATION + TICKETS

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A

udrey Cefaly’s “Maytag Virgin” is a rom-com waiting to happen.

Set in small town Alabama, it shines a light on Jack (Blake Price) and Lizzy (Rachel Moulton), two recently widowed schoolteachers.

These 30-something singles wind up as neighbors, living in two shotgun shacks.

They meet cute in their backyards. Lizzy is hanging her wash on the clothesline; Jack’s putting his clothes in a shiny new Maytag dryer on the porch. Sparks fly, but they don’t kindle a romantic fire.

Will they or won’t they get together?

That unresolved question drives the play like a dryer spinning on “HEAVY DUTY: EXTRA HEAT.” Jack and Lizzy seem made for each other. They’ve both lost their spouses. They both need someone to love.

What’s the problem?

Ultimately, it’s really Lizzy’s problem. Jack’s ready to rock from the get-go. But Lizzy can’t go and won’t say why.

Lizzy’s unspoken secret is holding her back. Before love can grow, Jack has to find the key to unlock her heart. And that’s what Cefaly’s two-act play is all about.

Lizzy’s secret emerges over the course of the play. But slowly, slowly like an old-time Polaroid photograph developing before your eyes.

At first, it’s just a funny contrast of personalities.

Price’s Jack is likeable, downto-earth and straightforward. No hidden agendas, no secrets.

Moulton’s Lizzy, on the other hand, is a Rubik’s Cube of neuroses.

She’s bright, bubbly and wound too

A+E REVIEWS

Love, Life and Laundry

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JULY 21, 2022

YOUR NEIGHBORS THERE’S BEEN A MURDER Summer campers at Faulhaber Fab Lab use their wits to solve a crime most foul.

HARRY SAYER STAFF WRITER

T

he Faulhaber Fab Lab is in the question-answering business.

Most of those questions revolve around science, engineering, chemistry or math. Children at the lab’s summer camps get into the nitty gritty of those elements to discover more about the world.

But for the week of July 11-15, Fab Lab campers had a new question to solve: Who killed Alfred Pasta?

That dramatic — and a bit silly — premise formed the basis of the Fab Lab’s Murder Mystery week, a departure from the camp’s typical STEAM and STEM-focused projects.

The scene: A wedding party has gone terribly wrong, and groom Alfred Pasta, played by volunteer Sebastian Cuellar, has been poisoned and dies right at his table. Detective Monty Jack leads campers through an investigation where they inspect clues, collect evidence and interview suspects.

And that’s where the fun began.

“This is a little more outside the box,” said Jenn Sams Scott, the Fab Lab’s marketing and communications director who also supervises the campers. “It’s more encouraging

Photos by Harry Sayer

“This is a little more outside the box. It’s more encouraging creativity, innovation and problem solving.”

—Jenn Sams Scott

creativity, innovation and problem solving.”

Which isn’t to say science and discovery don’t play a role in the process. Campers started the week learning about fingerprinting, reading pH levels and learning about acids and bases — all important elements of crime scene investigation.

The kids discovered there’s been a murder at the midpoint of the week and used their new skills to investigate the crime and see what clues they can find and what red herrings

Sebastian “Alfred Pasta” Cuellar shows off his acting chops playing a dead body.

the murderer has placed to throw them off the track.

Camp counselors Alison Whiteside, Diego Morales and Hannah Silva led the workshop with the help of several volunteers. The camp hosted a forensics camp in the past, but this year the counselors added the mystery theme for more fun.

The counselors are part of Fab Lab’s SPEC program, a 15-member group of high school students who develop and run the summer classes themselves. They’re provided training and support at the start but then go out and think up the summer’s themed classes themselves.

Wrangling more than 20 campers takes effort, but the counselors had to go the extra mile this year by constructing a mystery narrative meant to stretch out for an entire week.

“We brainstormed everything, we had a list of themes,” Whiteside said.

“We settled on a wedding and kept

Peter Calvin checks pH levels in a lab room.

throwing out ideas.”

Morales plays Detective Monty Jack, while Silva and Whiteside play photographer Honye Lemon and Maid of Honor Rye Do, respectively.

The trio went all in on the theme, wearing outlandish costumes including a 1920s gumshoe-inspired outfit for Morales that he borrowed from a friend.

“I’ve responded to my character Monty Jack (so much) that I’ve forgotten my real name,” he said. “Playing the role is really fun; it feels very fluid.”

Eventually the campers learned that Silva’s Honye Lemon character committed the murder after being blackmailed by Whiteside’s maid of honor. But when they go to make an arrest, they find their suspect has been murdered, too.

The week ended with a trial complete with clues to accuse Whiteside’s Rye Do of the murder.

Whiteside’s punishment? Being the first to have a bucket of water dunked on her head — Silva and Morales also got dunked, just for the fun of it — and the day ended with a water balloon fight.

The mystery concluded satisfyingly, but Silva concedes it was hectic getting there.

“We had to make sure the story fit and the activities were engaging,” Silva said. “We didn’t have references in previous years to see what worked best and what didn’t, so it was a test run.”

The evidence that it went well, of course, was the children’s reactions.

“The kids learned something new, and that’s the most rewarding part,” Silva said.

“They were engaged with the story and what we came up with. Next year we’ll run it even better.”

Hannah Silva as Honye Lemon and Diego Morales as Detective Monty Jack

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t. Armands Circle was looking sporty July 16 for Lotus Cars on the Circle, sponsored by Lynches Pub. Lotus owners and members of the Suncoast British Car Club arrived in style.

The cars, not all Lotuses, ranged from classic to custom and also iconic. On the sidewalk entering into the Circle, a shiny silver DeLorean sat center stage, doors up.

Owner Nick Jaroslawsky said it was a myth that the upturning doors make parking the two-seater impractical. Instead, the design solved a problem.

“It was specifically designed for the gull-wing doors to allow you to park right next to somebody,” he said. “Your average car door is about a foot thick, and it takes at least 18 to 20 inches for you to just squeeze in and out of the door. This only takes 11 inches.”

Jaroslawsky and his wife, Meghan, found the car 10 years ago. Twelve years before that, the car had been abandoned in Queens, New York. Not only had it sunk into the ground, but also a cat was living in the back.

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“Me and her just really dug into it together,” he said. “It was our first commitment at the beginning of our relationship, and now here it is, all done, so it’s kind of like our baby boy’s all grown up.”

Meghan added, “We finished it up, and then a week later, got married.”

The couple married at Ca’ d’Zan and drove their labor of love to the Circle for a reception at Columbia Restaurant and an after-party at Lynches Pub. When pub owner Jason Burns asked them to drive the DeLorean from their home in Kissimmee, the couple happily obliged.

Dennis Labbe traveled from Fort Myers in his 1973 Lotus Europa. He has had the car for about 10 years and is its third owner. “The car’s been great,” he said, adding Labbe repainted the car to match the green and yellow Lotus racing colors from its less than engaging original brown.

Sarasota Harbour resident Rita Giovanucci was hoping to find a car to buy as a “last hurrah.” She said her short stature often makes seeing over the hood difficult.

Although she liked the Lotus cars, she said, they were a little too small. “There’s no room for golf clubs.”

Giovanucci will have another chance to shop Sept. 10 at Exotic Cars on the Circle.

—LESLEY DWYER

SARASOTA OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2022

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Marcelo Pizarro takes his turn behind the drums.

Bang the drums Summer campers learn all sorts of instruments at Music Compound.

HARRY SAYER STAFF WRITER

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he Music Compound summer camp is in full swing, and campers are learning to put on tunes with a variety of instruments.

The wide curriculum aims to introduce kids to different musical avenues and approaches in the hopes of inspiring them to keep on playing as they grow up.

“It’s an intro to music,” general studio manager Alyssa Martin said. “Every day is different. Piano, drums, guitar, vocals. There’s always a performance on Friday.”

The most recent week had kids diving into learning the drums and the piano, two different styles of music with different approaches and energies. Camp counselors led students in measured drum rhythms while others took younger students to the studio rooms to teach them about finger placement and how to play “Hot Cross Buns.”

Campers take intermittent breaks for snacks and lunch, not to mention the occasional step outside to play games.

It’s a tried and true practice that works for the music school, but this summer has been much busier than most.

Behind the scenes, Music Compound staff are working hard to make sure the music plays on. The organization is set to open a new location in East County and that requires quite a bit of manpower, planning and dedication amongst staffers.

The new camp also requires instruments. While the Music Compound has expanded its reach with another center, it hasn’t yet increased its inventory fully to provide for both locations. As such Martin, Music Compound owner Jenny Townsend and other staff have been transporting instruments back and forth between the locations depending on what campers are learning each week.

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Music Compound instructor Taylor Galford leads with the guitar.

Elia Cianfaglione and Levi Zipperer work with instructor Sophia Derias on making music.

“We do different (instruments) each week so we’re not butting heads when it comes to the instruments we have,” Martin said. “Right now we have all the pianos, but next week we’ll be shuffling them to East County.”

It’s a more peculiar juggling act than staff typically handle each summer.

“So far we’ve had a great summer,” Martin said.

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FRIDAY, JULY 22

CHRISTMAS IN JULY Runs through Saturday, July 23 at Bazaar at Apricot and Lime, 421 Apricot Ave. The Bazaar celebrates Christmas early with discounts and even an appearance from Santa Claus. Free. Visit BazaarOnApricotAndLime.com.

SATURDAY, JULY 23

SARASOTA MYSTIC FAIRE Runs 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 24 at Sarasota Municipal Auditorium, 801 S. Tamiami Trail. Psychics, mediums, readers and holistic vendors of all stripes return to the auditorium for its 11th year of lectures, sales and psychic possibilities.

THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2022

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NAMASTE AT THE BAY 9 a.m. at the Sarasota Garden Club, 1131 Boulevard of the Arts. Kristin Musolino leads a yoga class focusing on movement and breathwork at the Sarasota Garden Club. Free. For information, call 203-5316.

SUNDAY, JULY 24

BUCK O’NEIL COMMUNITY CELEBRATION 1 p.m. at DreamLarge, 513 Central Ave. Sarasota celebrates Ed O’Neil — a historic African American baseball player and later coach who grew up in Newtown — being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame with a watch party during the induction.

Free. For information, call 548-9889.

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OUTDOOR YOGA AT ROSEMARY PARK 6:30 p.m. at Rosemary Park, 531 Central Ave. DreamLarge hosts a weekly outdoor yoga session in the Rosemary District designed to build strength and flexibility. Free. Call 548-9889.

TUESDAY, JULY 26

SUMMER BEACH RUN 5:30 p.m. at Siesta Beach, 948 Beach Road. The summer series returns with weekly mile fun runs for kids on Siesta Beach. Registration at 5:30 p.m., run starts at 6. Visit SCGov.net.

tion including 3D printers, sewing machines, button makers and more.

Free. Call 861-2500.

GARDENING WITH MISS DINA 10:15 a.m. at Gulf Gate Library, 7112 Curtiss Ave. Miss Dina gives a tour of the library’s youth garden as well as explains of how fruits and vegetables thrive. Free. Call 861-1230.

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SHARK PARTY 1 p.m. at North Sarasota Library, 2801 Newtown Boulevard. Kids and parents are invited to a party with shark-themed games, activities and even a visit from a toothy friend or two. Free. Call 861-1360.

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SARASOTA 1350 5th Street 301 3 Beds 3/1 Baths 1,928 Sq. Ft. Heidi Lusk 941-681-5227 A4540753 $2,195,000

SARASOTA 1111 N Gulfstream Avenue 7D 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,736 Sq. Ft. Bernadette Caswell 941-320-8265 A4535300 $1,600,000

SARASOTA 1255 N Gulfstream Avenue 1001 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,901 Sq. Ft. Michael James & Laurel James 941-724-4034 A4541486 $1,500,000

SARASOTA 1646 7th Street Valarie Wadsworth 941-780-3858 A4531752 $1,369,000

SIESTA KEY 6300 Midnight Pass Road 505 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,240 Sq. Ft. Kristina Rain 941-320-2639 A4538428 $1,349,000

SARASOTA 770 S Palm Avenue 901 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,532 Sq. Ft. Barbara Dumbaugh & Victoria Lear 941-951-6660 A4538482 $1,325,000

SARASOTA 8356 Mareva Lane 4 Beds 3/1 Baths 3,397 Sq. Ft. Marci McFarland 941-961-3390 A4539730 $1,040,000

SARASOTA 3113 6th Street 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,500 Sq. Ft. Rudy Dudon 941-234-3991 A4540438 $1,000,000

SIESTA KEY 5760 Midnight Pass Road 404D 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,361 Sq. Ft. Joseph McDonald 941-375-9646 A4531860 $997,500

SARASOTA 3031 E Forest Lake Drive 4 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,270 Sq. Ft. The Collier Group 941-313-1212 A4538419 $995,000

SIESTA KEY 6326 Midnight Pass Road 404 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,054 Sq. Ft. Rudy Dudon 941-234-3991 A4538234 $975,000

SARASOTA 628 42nd Street 3 Beds 2 Baths 2,506 Sq. Ft. Francoise Borel 941-228-3768 A4534123 $949,000

SIESTA KEY 38 Sandy Cove Road 4A 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,471 Sq. Ft. Robin Leonardi 941-685-6270 A4536541 $899,000

SARASOTA 1709 N Tamiami Trail 510 1 Bed 2 Baths 1,332 Sq. Ft. Lenore Treiman 941-356-9642 A4539807 $899,000

SARASOTA 8265 Barton Farms Boulevard 4 Beds 3 Baths 3,027 Sq. Ft. Sherri Mills 941-350-7112 A4541125 $899,000

SIESTA KEY 6500 Midnight Pass Road 509 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,086 Sq. Ft. Rudy Dudon 941-234-3991 A4534472 $875,000

SARASOTA 7325 Villa D Este Drive 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,992 Sq. Ft. Stacy Liljeberg & John Garmong 941-544-6103 A4539368 $875,000

SARASOTA 101 S Gulfstream Avenue 15A 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,200 Sq. Ft. Ethel Lovelace & Mina Johnson 941-586-7390 A4538174 $759,000

UNIVERSITY PARK 7302 Kensington Court 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,799 Sq. Ft. Sharon Ross 941-320-4190 A4541195 $699,900

SARASOTA 4362 Indian Point Trail 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,253 Sq. Ft. Maurice Menager & Lin Dunn 941-238-8119 A4537170 $699,000

SARASOTA 2322 Arlington Street 2 Beds 1 Baths 1,020 Sq. Ft. Jill Berg 941-315-1199 A4535722 $595,000

SARASOTA 5408 Eagles Point Circle 202 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,695 Sq. Ft. Tara Lamb & Judy Greene 941-266-4873 A4540028 $525,000

SARASOTA 647 West Lake Drive 4 Beds 3 Baths 2,515 Sq. Ft. Valerie Telfair 941-315-5488 A4530115 $499,000

SARASOTA 5956 Wilshire Boulevard 47 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,990 Sq. Ft. Stacy Liljeberg & George Kolar 941-544-6103 A4539830 $440,000

SIESTA KEY 5613 Cape Leyte Drive 3 Beds 2 Baths 2,852 Sq. Ft. Rudy Dudon 941-234-3991 A4540750 $2,575,000

SIESTA KEY 555 Commonwealth Place 4 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,884 Sq. Ft. Kristina Waskom 941-266-8658 A4540492 $2,499,000

SARASOTA 5152 Admiral Place 4 Beds 3 Baths 3,307 Sq. Ft. Drew Russell & Jeff Hinrichs 941-993-3739 A4541153 $2,400,000

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SARASOTA OBSERVER

Cherokee Park home sells for $3.6 million

Other top sales by area

A

home in Cherokee Park tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. Jessica Tibbetts, of Sarasota, sold her home at 1753 North Drive to Ryan and Lindsay Martin, of Sarasota, for $3,632,000. Built in 1937, it has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,702 square feet of living area. It sold for $2 million in 2020.

SIESTA KEY: $2.9 MILLION

Revised Plat of Siesta Judy McMahon, of Framingham, Massachusetts, sold her home at 114 Edmondson Ave. to Margaret Jones, trustee, of Madeira, Ohio, for $2.9 million. Built in 1940, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,984 square feet of living area.

It sold for $3,125,000 in April.

VUE Randall and Karen Shaw, trustees, of Bedford, New Hampshire, sold the Unit 206 condominium at 1155 N. Gulfstream Ave. to Jeremy Nelson and Richard Corey, of Charleston, West Virginia, for $1.7 million.

Built in 2017, it has two bedrooms, three baths and 1,827 square feet of living area. It sold for $985,200 in 2018.

SAN MARCO Abraham Joseph Margolis and Helen May Margolis, of Sarasota, sold their Unit 604 condominium at 1188 N. Tamiami Trail to Arthur Foreman Jr., trustee, of Sarasota, for $1.05 million. Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 2,411 square feet of living area. It sold for $810,000 in 2007.

CEDAR COVE ESTATES Paul and Carolyn Sheatler sold their home at 1938 Baywood Terrace to Stephen and Laura D’Angelo, of Sarasota, for $970,000. Built in 1992, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,362 square feet of living area. It sold for $590,000 in 2020.

PAYNE PARK VILLAGE Thomas Martin Dudek and Katherine Marie Dudek, of Austin, Texas, sold their home at 421 Gowdy Road to Glen Falls Cottage LLC for $950,000. Built in 2019, it has three

OSPREY: $1.02 MILLION

Meridian at the Oaks Preserve Pieter and Janet Heijens, of Sarasota, sold their Unit 601 condominium at 409 N. Point Road to Pavel Hillel and Susan Hillel, trustees, of Osprey, for $1,025,000.

Built in 2004, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,594 square feet of living area. It sold for $630,000 in 2018.

PALMER RANCH: NOKOMIS: $1 MILLION $960,000 Prestancia Photo courtesy of Nick Gard, Coldwell Banker Realty

The home at 1753 North Drive in Cherokee Park was built in 1937. It has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,702 square feet of living area.

H.A. NICHOLS David Hopkins, of Hatfield, Pennsylvania, sold his home at 1704 Arlington St. to Ronald Shugar, trustee, of Sarasota, for $2.05 million. Built in 2001, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,545 square feet of living area. It sold for $800,000 in 2004.

REAL ESTATE

JULY 4-8

RESEARCH EDITOR

7B

THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2022

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

ADAM HUGHES

SARASOTA

|

bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 2,461 square feet of living area.

It sold for $631,000 in 2020.

COCOANUT AVENUE Gerald Walker and Craig Riley, of Sarasota, sold their home at 200 Cocoanut Ave. #7 to Mark Spears, trustee, of Sarasota, for $850,000.

Built in 1999, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,554 square feet of living area. It sold for $551,100 in 2019.

1500 STATE STREET William Wenzel and Matthew Wenzel, of Sarasota, sold their Unit 401 condominium at 1500 State St. to Rudina Gjinali and Dritan Gjinali, trustees, of Ontario, Canada, for $775,000. Built in 2017, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,028 square feet of living area. It sold for $521,000 in 2018.

Tamiami Trail to Gerardo Gerardi and Rosanna Ramirez, of Sarasota, for $547,000. Built in 2007, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,459 square feet of living area. It sold for $410,100 in 2007.

DENHAM ACRES Ronny and Maureen Wilk, of E. Amherst, New York, sold their home at 6115 Carlton Ave. to Daniel Rakitin, of Osprey, for $547,000.

Built in 1968, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,806 square feet of living area. It sold for $315,000 in 2020.

GULF GATE Richard Charles Meakin, William Ashley Thomas Meakin and Robert Paul Meakin, of Sarasota, sold their home at 3140 Prairie Lane to Bonnie Starr, of Sarasota, for $634,000.

Built in 1967, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,828 square feet of living area. It sold for $108,000 in 1993.

Stephen Engel, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the home at 3684 Boca Pointe Drive to Ross and Christy Bryans, of Sarasota, for $1 million. Built in 1992, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,914 square feet of living area.

It sold for $595,000 in 2003.

Blackburn Ridge H. Thomas and Victoria Davis sold their home at 4967 Topsail Drive to Timothy Smith and Cassandra Nisbet, of Nokomis, for $960,000.

Built in 2013, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,904 square feet of living area. It sold for $589,900 in 2013.

ONLINE See more transactions at YourObserver.com

SEE REAL ESTATE, PAGE 8B

In with the new NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION

SCHINDLER’S SIPPE LLC sold the home at 1726 Eighth St. to Paradise Isle Properties LP for $565,000. Built in 1971, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,569 square feet of living area. It sold for $91,400 in 2014.

BROADWAY PROMENADE Charles and Sharon Knaup, trustees, of Sarasota, sold the Unit 1414 condominium at 1064 N.

Longboat Key

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Renovations

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Solar System

John Aitken

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Windows/Doors

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$38,865

2551 Loma Linda St.

Windows/Doors

Taylor Demoss

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1755 Harmony Lane

Re-roof

Ann Delacruz-Rodkey

$21,900

$47,271

816 32nd St.

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Karina Krasomil-Osterfeld$16,697

500 S. Palm Ave. #72

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Renovations

Todd Britain

$14,976

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Mechanical

James Westman

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Downtown Sarasota

SARASOTA COUNTY Address

Permit

Applicant

1900 Casey Key Road

Tennis Court

Scott Hermann

Amount

4401 Midnight Pass Road

Windows/Doors

Robert Stull

$318,512

3856 Prairie Dunes Drive

Renovations

James Lowry

$248,098

6675 Peacock Road

Windows/Doors

John Hodges

$149,000

1355 S. Portofino Drive PH-C Windows/Doors

Charles Freyer

$141,440

890 Pinto Circle

Pool/Spa/Deck

Janet McCain, trustee

1011 Gulf Winds Way

Deck/Outdoor

Maura Ann Wheeler

$90,000

$386,000

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$90,461

Windows

John Huber, trustee

$73,900

5424 Avenida Del Mare

Windows/Doors

Mark Norwicz

$72,560

Source: Sarasota County, city of Sarasota

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SARASOTA OBSERVER

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2022

The

Real estate

Pearl

living area. It sold for $442,000 in 2019.

CRYSTAL SANDS Nancy Potter, trustee, of Nokomis, sold the Unit 603 condominium at 6300 Midnight Pass Road to Dennis Kern and Brian Sullivan, of Longboat Key, for $1.2 million. Built in 1970, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,240 square feet of living area. It sold for $775,000 in 2003.

FROM PAGE 7B

MORNING GLORY RIDGE Leah Johnstone and Laura Henry, of Sarasota, sold their home at 4311 Bell Ave. to Judith Homich, of Sarasota, for $520,000. Built in 1954, it has two bedrooms, one bath, a pool and 1,105 square feet of living area.

It sold for $57,200 in 2016.

JUST LISTED

SIESTA KEY Steven Caputo, of Sarasota, sold his home at 1223 Lyric Lane to Allison Marie Daugherty and Jason Matthew Daugherty, of Pittsburgh, for $1.06 million. Built in 1959, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,075 square feet of living area.

It sold for $143,500 in 1994.

BLOSSOM BROOK Karen Smith, of Portland, Oregon, sold her home at 2305 Grove St. to Kathleen Lentz and Charles Korger, of Sarasota, for $500,000. Built in 1957, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,308 square feet of living area. It sold for $95,000 in 2012.

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MIDNIGHT COVE Susan Lillia Baird Kennedy, trustee, of Newmarket, New Hampshire, sold the Unit 623 condominium at 6318 Midnight Cove Road to MIDNIGHT SKIES 623 LLC for $850,000. Built in 1979, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,720 square feet of living area.

It sold for $569,000 in 2015.

SIESTA ISLES Gary and Kathleen Hanzel, of Englewood, sold their home at 5414 Shadow Lawn Drive to Monroe County Real Estate Holdings LLC for $2.15 million. Built in 1961, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,989 square feet of living area.

It sold for $505,000 in 2010.

PALMER RANCH

SOMERSET COVE Patrick Adams, of Los Angeles, sold his Unit 8 condominium at 3927 Somerset Drive to Riley and Diane Smith, of Siesta Key, for $1.4 million. Built in 1990, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 2,758 square feet of living area.

It sold for $675,000 in 2017.

Penthouse Listed at $3,775,000

ESPLANADE ON PALMER RANCH Terry and Dorothy Green, of Pensacola, sold their home at 5361 Popoli Way to Richard Bukovich and Michel Carra, of Eastham, Massachusetts, for $775,100. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,918 square feet of living area. It sold for $448,700 in 2019.

SABAL PALMS Raymond and Kathy Linn Pearson, of Akron, Ohio, sold their home at 6525 Sabal Drive to 6525 Sabal LLC for $1.35 million. Built in 1958, it has four bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,848 square feet of living area.

It sold for $825,000 in 2020.

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SANDHILL PRESERVE Donald Scott Eckman, trustee, sold the home at 5968 Snowy Egret Drive to Ainour Werbock, of Sarasota, for $747,000. Built in 2017, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,675 square feet of living area. It sold for $388,000 in 2017.

NORTH HARBOR Shucheng Liu and Yue Juan Tan, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, sold their home at 1302 Roberts Bay Lane to John and Corinne Lomangino, of Sarasota, for $1.25 million.

Built in 1985, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,095 square feet of

VILLAGEWALK Sandra Stewart, of Sarasota, sold the home at 5524 Bilbao Place to Robert and Pamela Miller, of Sarasota, for $740,000. Built in 2001, it has four bedrooms, four baths and

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PROMENADE ESTATES D.R. Horton Inc. sold the home at 12536 Night View Drive to Daniel Guillermo and Teresa Amy Nicole Antivilo, of Sarasota, for $731,000.

Built in 2019, it has five bedrooms, three baths and 2,615 square feet of living area.

COBBLESTONE ON PALMER RANCH Jan and Mary Ann Chalfant, trustees, of Yorktown, Indiana, sold the home at 8717 Bellussi Drive to Rodney and Candace Secrest, of Bedford, Pennsylvania, for $700,000.

Built in 2017, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,664 square feet of living area. It sold for $419,100 in 2017.

THE COUNTRY CLUB OF SARASOTA Deborah Benham Graham, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the home at 3864 Spyglass Hill Road to John Grocki, of New Hyde Park, New York, for $665,000. Built in 1980, it has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,179 square feet of living area. It sold for $247,000 in 1996.

WILLOWBEND Bryan and Holly Droppert sold their home at 568 Crane Prairie Way to Timothy and Renee Spitz, of Effingham, Illinois, for $600,000.

Built in 2005, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,165 square feet of living area. It sold for $550,000 in January.

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Barbara Cochrane, of Holbrook, New York, sold the home at 5781 Ivrea Drive to Ed and Kate Kochis, of Sarasota, for $540,000. Built in 2002, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,534 square feet of living area. It sold for $196,700 in 2002.

rooms, two baths, a pool and 2,124 square feet of living area. It sold for $190,000 in 2013.

THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2022

BLACKBURN POINT MARINA VILLAGE Claudia Chase Owens, trustee, of Venice, sold the Unit 9 condominium at 1134 Beachcomber Court to 9550 High Gate 1525 LLC for $510,000. Built in 2005, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 2,040 square feet of living area.

It sold for $454,800 in 2005.

NOKOMIS LAUREL WOODLANDS Wolfgang and Brigitte Holtgen, trustees, of Laatzen, Germany, sold their home at 1112 Hoover St. to James and Jill DeMarco, of Nokomis, for $520,000. Built in 1996, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,199 square feet of living area.

It sold for $190,000 in 2001.

SUNRISE GOLF CLUB ESTATES Linda Hahnel and Kimberly and Craig Sheffield, of Sarasota, sold their home at 6126 Approach Lane to Nicholas and Amberly Walter, of Prior Lake, Minnesota, for $565,000. Built in 1985, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,580 square feet of living area. It sold for $293,000 in 2020.

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Built in 1994, it has three bed-

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— Sarasota Tsunami swimmer Sumner Chmielewski SEE PAGE 12B

HIGH

SPORTS

“You test your limits and then see it pay off at meets when you drop time.”

5 Ryan Kohn

Sarasota’s Taber Jordan has won gold medals at the American National Kids IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship three years in a row.

1

Sarasota Tsunami swimmer Taylor Schwenk won the Girls 13-14 200 meter freestyle (2:09.35), the 100 meter backstroke (1:05.87) and the 50 meter backstroke (30.20 seconds) at the 2022 Florida Summer Age Group Championships South meet, held July 14-17 at Selby Aquatics Center. Schwenk’s 50 meter backstroke time was a meet record.

Photos courtesy of Jocelyn Jordan

Sarasota Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athlete Taber Jordan won a gold medal at the American National Kids IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship for the third-straight year.

3 GOLDS ISN’T ENOUGH COMPANY 2

Former Booker High girls basketball player Jadyn Lattimore announced her commitment to Independence Community College (Independence, Kansas) on July 19.

3

Sarasota Sharks swimmer Lauren Milbaum won the Girls 13-14 800 meter freestyle (9:08.90), the 400 meter individual medley (5:10.20), the 200 meter individual medley (2:29.11) and the 400 meter freestyle (4:31.38) at the 2022 Florida Summer Age Group Championships South meet, held July 14-17 at Selby Aquatics Center.

4

Former Sarasota High pitcher Conner Whittaker, who attends Florida State University, holds a 3.14 ERA with the Amsterdam Mohawks of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League through July 19.

Taber Jordan said he is going for gold again at this weekend’s Pan Kids Championships in Kissimmee.

RYAN KOHN SPORTS EDITOR

I

f an athlete wins a championship once, maybe luck was involved.

Twice, and the luck conversation begins to vanish.

Three times, well, only a select few athletes know what that feels like, regardless of sport or age.

Taber Jordan is one of them.

Jordan, 12, captured the gold medal in the Male Teen 1 Orange Light division of the American National Kids IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship, held July 2 in Las Vegas. For Jordan, who competes for and trains out of Sarasota’s Vieira Martial Arts Academy, it was his third-consecutive gold medal at the event, though in different divisions each time because of age and belt differences.

MEET THE ATHLETE Age: 12 Sport: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Claim to fame: Three gold medals Favorite food: Any type of fish and any type of pasta (not necessarily together) Favorite hobbies: Watching fishing videos on YouTube and going fishing himself Favorite fishing catch: Either a nurse shark or a 6-foot-long tarpon Favorite school subject: History Dream super power: Super strength Best advice for newcomers: Don’t ever give up; stick with it and good things will happen

The results seem clear: Jordan is one of the most skilled Brazilian JiuJitsu athletes in the country, at his age but also in general. Yet Jordan said he has not thought much about

5

Booker High announced July 19 Christie Michals would join the girls basketball program as an assistant coach. Michals played college basketball at the University of Hartford in Connecticut.

ODDS AND ENDS. PAGE 11B

Sarasota Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athlete Taber Jordan puts a triangle hold on Sebastian King Acero during the American National Kids IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship.

what that means to him.

“I don’t really know,” Jordan said, then shrugged and smiled. “I guess it is cool.”

Jordan has been too busy to think about such lofty thoughts. He is still training, this time in preparation for the 2022 Pan Kids IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship, to be held July 23-24 in Kissimmee. Jordan has made short work of his U.S. competition in recent years, but has had a bit more trouble at the Pan Kids Championships, finishing third in 2020 and 2021 against competitors from across the Americas. He’s determined to finish first this time.

Jordan spent last week training with other top athletes in Fort Lauderdale to ramp up the difficulty level, getting in as much useful experience as he could. Jordan said he focused especially hard on guard passes (getting past an opponent’s knees while they are in the the guard position and establishing a more dominant position, which scores points). After guard passing, Jordan said, he is set up to perform a bunch of different submissions.

Jordan said he does not know why he’s been tripped up at the Pan Championships in the past. There have not been competitors using moves he has never seen or anything like that. He just needs to perform better, he said. He believes he has the skills to bring home gold if he does. He showcased those skills most effectively during the 2021 Nationals, when he was put into multiple submission holds by his opponent in the championship match but managed to escape them all.

As fierce as Jordan can be, he is as soft-spoken outside of it, not wanting to brag about his own skills. He does open up about the intricacies of the sport, like the various holds that Jordan uses to his advantage. Jordan said he likes to use maneuvers that are less commonly taught so other kids don’t know how to counter them, even if they are harder for him to execute.

As the sport has grown more serious — Jordan said his instructors don’t play games during his training sessions like they do with younger kids — Jordan has grown more attached to it. He could have stopped after one championship and no one would have batted an eye; most kids, in fact, quit the sport young after learning the basics. But Jordan has no plans to stop. He wants to be the best he can be, he said. His coaches at Vieira Martial Arts Academy believe his potential in the sport is unlimited as long as his passion stays alight and he keeps competing.

He already has at least one diehard fan: his mother, Jocelyn Jordan, who is proud of not only his strides in his sport but of his strides in life.

“I think he has matured a lot in the last three years,” Jocelyn Jordan said.

“He understands what it takes to get things done. He knows how to manage his time. He’s doing a lot of training and he’s still a straight-A student in school.”

Taber Jordan said there are times when he gets tired and does not feel like going to practice his craft, but he goes anyway.

Such is the life of a champion; there are truly no days off if you’re trying to be the world’s best, even at 12 years old.

“He understands what it takes to get things done. He knows how to manage his time. He’s doing a lot of training and he’s still a straight-A student in school.”

— Jocelyn Jordan

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER

PROSE AND KOHN

THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2022

11B

RYAN KOHN High catcher Satchell Norman.

Norman played his freshman season at Florida SouthWestern State College, a National Junior College Athletic Association school. He made quite an impression. In 52 games, Norman hit .376 at the plate, setting a FSW record, and tallied 16 doubles and 10 home runs, both of which are second in program history. Norman also made just three errors in the field.

Norman is the latest Sailors baseball alumnus to be drafted; last year, it was outfielder Vaun Brown by the San Francisco Giants in the 10th round.

Ryan Kohn

The NBP Dragons Senior B Mixed Small Boat paddles in its 2,000-meter race during the 2022 IDBF Club Crew Championships. The boat finished second.

Making knots of loose ends Dragon boats, Battie ready for another run, draft news and Babe Ruth success.

I

t’s one of those weeks where there’s lots of cool, smaller bits of sports news to share and not a lot of actual sports games to cover, so I’m breaking this column into sections. I’m willing to bet at least one of them will be of interest to you.

CLUB CREW CHAMPIONSHIPS ARE UNDER WAY

|

I previewed the International Dragon Boat Federation Club Crew World Championships, held this week at Nathan Benderson Park, in a more official capacity in last week’s paper, but now that the event is under way, I wanted to mention it again in case you missed the preview or you need a little more to sway you to check it out.

If you have never been to a dragon boat event, it can be difficult to get a sense of how hard these athletes are pushing themselves. The answer: quite hard. I was at Benderson Park on Tuesday morning taking in a few 2,000-meter races, which see the eight to nine boats in each heat paddle up and down

the park’s lake on an oval course.

At the end of each race, you could see the people in each boat slump a bit, taking time to breathe deep and relax their muscles before paddling back to shore. Take it from someone who has paddled in a dragon boat before: it is not easy.

The sport has a bit of a reputation for appealing to older athletes, and that is true, especially in our area, but the Club Crew Championships have divisions as young as 18U. These are top-tier athletes — approximately 2,800 of them — paddling for glory in our back yard. Best of all, admission is free.

Parking on the park’s Regatta Island is $15, but if you want to save that cash, you can park somewhere else and walk over. Thursday and Friday will feature 200-meter races and Saturday and Sunday will feature 500-meter races. Every day features championship races, so no matter when you go, you’ll see the most important race of someone’s year.

SARASOTA HIGH FOOTBALL ALUMNUS EARNS HONORS

Perhaps this will blow your mind as much as it did mine when I looked it up: as of July 20, the college football season starts in 38 days. Every year, it sneaks up on me, but this year it

feels especially soon.

(It also means high school football is coming even sooner; be on the lookout for our season previews in a few weeks.)

But before all of that, we need to get all the preseason awards out of the way. One local alumnus, former Sarasota Sailors running back Brian Battie, has been racking them up like a deli racks up pounds of pastrami. The University of South Florida star is projected to be the All-American First Team kick returner by Athlon Sports, Phil Steele, Walter Camp and Sporting News, with more likely coming in the days and weeks ahead.

Perhaps this is not a surprise.

Battie, entering his third season with the Bulls, did earn 2021 Consensus All-American status — meaning he earned first-team All-American honors on at least half of the NCAA-recognized AllAmerican teams — after averaging 32.5 yards per kick return and taking three for touchdowns. But it is a reminder that one of the best football players in the country is from our backyard.

SARASOTA GETS ANOTHER MLB DRAFTEE

Professional sports drafts are some

DON’T MISS THIS PRICE REDUCTION - CONDO ON THE BAY

BABE RUTH 15U SQUAD WINS STATES, ADVANCES

Photo courtesy of FSW Athletics

Sarasota High alumnus Satchell Norman was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2022 MLB Draft out of Florida SouthWest State College.

of my favorite events of the year, every year. Seeing all the hard work athletes put into their craft pay off is what athletics is all about, at least to me. They set out with a dream of literally being the best there is and they succeeded. Getting drafted is not a guarantee of anything other than another opportunity to prove themselves. Many of them would not want it any other way.

The 2022 MLB Draft began July 17 and ran through July 19. The Baltimore Orioles took shortstop Jackson Holliday, the son of former St. Louis Cardinals and Colorado Rockies great Matt Holliday, with the No. 1 overall pick; this, for Orioles fans like me, is great news.

It’s also great news for all baseball fans in Sarasota because you all get to watch Holliday tear up Ed Smith Stadium during Spring Training.

But that’s not the only Sarasotarelated note coming out of the draft.

In round 15 — 461 picks after the O’s took Holliday — the Milwaukee Brewers drafted former Sarasota

The Sarasota Babe Ruth 15U All-Star baseball team advanced through the organization’s state tournament in dominant fashion.

At the tournament, held July 13-17 at the Sarasota Babe Ruth fields, Sarasota went 4-0 and outscored its opponents 51-3, including a 10-0 win over Okeeheelee in the state championship game.

The team will now advance to the organization’s Southeast Region tournament, held July 26-31 in Williamsburg, Virginia. Sarasota is one of eight teams in the tournament. Winning that tournament would put the team in the Babe Ruth World Series, held Aug. 11-21 in Stafford, Virginia. It’s quite hard to make it that far, but never say never, especially with a team as commanding as the 15U squad was in the state tournament.

The Sarasota Babe Ruth 13U team lost its state title game to 9-2 to Altamonte Springs but will still advance to the Southeast Region since Altamonte Springs is hosting and gets an automatic bid. The tournament will run July 26-31.

Ryan Kohn is the sports editor for the Sarasota/Siesta Key Observer. Contact him at RKohn@ YourObserver.com.

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Sumner Chmielewski is a swimmer with the Sarasota Tsunami.

Chmielewski committed to Brown University on July 9.

my turns were bad or I started bad or something outside of the pool could have been better, like what I was eating or if I wasn’t working out as much. I always change something to make the next time better.

When did you start swimming competitively?

When I was 7 years old, my older sister (Laine Chmielewski) started swimming. Me, being the younger sister, I wanted to be like her, so I tried out for a swim team as well. I have done it ever since.

What made you want to commit to Brown?

The first thing that I found interesting is the school has an open curriculum. You don’t have to follow a certain path for a degree you want right away. I don’t know what I want to study yet, so that was appealing to me. The other thing is I got to meet some people on the swim team and they all felt inviting and welcoming. The program has an amazing environment.

What is your best stroke?

My best stroke is probably the butterfly. I think over time it just happened. I used to swim a lot of backstroke when I was younger but for some reason butterfly has given me my fastest times recently. My worst stroke is definitely breaststroke. It is more of a timing stroke and I just can’t figure it out. (Laughs.)

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If you would like to make a recommendation for the Sarasota/Siesta Key Observer’s Athlete of the Week feature, send it to Ryan Kohn at RKohn@YourObserver.com.

What are your next goals?

I am swimming in the 2022 Junior National Championships, which are Aug. 1-5 in Irvine, California. My end goal for the championships is to make the Olympic Trials cut for the 400-meter individual medley, which is 4:49.89. I feel pretty confident I can do it. I have been working with my coaches a lot to improve my breaststroke since that is my weak spot. I feel happy with how I am swimming right now.

What has been your biggest challenge?

I think the hardest part of swimming is the mental aspect of it. Sometimes after a meet, if I don’t do that great, going back to training can be difficult. I try to overcome it by learning from a defeat instead of just taking it. I make it a positive. Maybe

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I paint a lot, I go to the beach with my friends and I build a lot of LEGO sets.

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What is the best advice you have received?

Whenever I am leaving to go somewhere, whether that is a meet or practice or school or somewhere else, my dad (Paul Chmielewski) reminds me to have fun. It’s simple, but I think it’s important and easy to forget.

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SARASOTA OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2022

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

FORECAST THURSDAY, JULY 21 High: 91 Low: 76 Chance of rain: 24%

FRIDAY, JULY 22 High: 93 Low: 76 Chance of rain: 45%

SUNRISE / SUNSET Sunrise Sunset Thursday, July 21

6:47a

8:24p

Friday, July 22

6:47a

8:23p

Saturday, July 23

6:48a

8:23p

Sunday, July 24

6:48a

8:22p

Monday, July 25

6:49a

8:22p

Tuesday, July 26

6:49a

8:21p

Wednesday, July 27

6:50a

8:21p

MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, JULY 23 High: 93 Low: 76 Chance of rain: 58%

SUNDAY, JULY 24 High: 92 Low: 74 Chance of rain: 58% Pat Donnelly photographed this roseate spoonbill and white ibis in Village Walk pond in Sarasota.

July 28 New

Aug. 5 First

Aug. 11 Full

Aug. 18 Last

RAINFALL Monday, July 11

0.09

Tuesday, July 12

0.02

Wednesday, July 13

0

Thursday, July 14

0

Friday, July 15

0.43

Saturday, July 16

0.08

Sunday, July 17

0.36

*Rainfall totals from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport

Submit your photos at YourObserver.com/Weather. All submissions will be entered for the 2022-23 Weather and Nature photo contest. In February 2023, you will vote for your favorite photo, and the submission with the most votes will win a $500 gift card.

YEAR TO DATE: 2022 20.32 in.

2021 24.17 in.

MONTH TO DATE: 2022 2.33 in.

2021 5.86 in.

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2022-23 PHOTO CONTEST

A REFLECTION OF NATURE’S BEAUTY

celebrity cipher

©2022 Universal Uclick

ACROSS

34 Paw cushion 35 Mexican 35-Down 1 Coarse-toothed cutter 37 Like the Vikings 7 Mix 39 Author Amy 11 Payment promises 40 Consent to the instal15 Bit of trivia 19 Aggressive poker phrase lation of banana chandeliers?

20 You can often see 43 Boxer’s combo through it 45 “Dear Evan ___” 21 Tiny size 46 Chik’n ___ (vegan bite) 22 Woody Guthrie’s son 47 Admit an error 23 Supplier of St. Nick’s 50 Steam, for one steering mechanism?

51 Texter’s “My bad” 26 Heat or Flames, e.g.

52 “Shaquille and his entire 27 Next up, perhaps family are so judgy”?

28 Unagi, in sushi 29 One may last a lifetime 60 Energy-efficient bulbs (Abbr.)

30 Seven, on a sundial 32 “Poor venomous fool,” in 61 Chapel Hill sch.

62 Shrimp look-alike “Antony and Cleopatra” 63 Court pledge 33 Part of a tall cake

66 Behind on bills 68 Acura model 71 Enjoying something 73 Market with an opening bell, briefly 74 Etsy’s business 75 Palindromic French vote 77 Classic dog toy 78 What a court ruling prohibiting games with a Nintendo princess would cause?

83 Chess pros, for short 86 Measure of resistance 87 Scallops and such 88 Lin-Manuel Miranda, for one 90 Tennis legend Andre 94 Bilingual “Sesame Street” character

98 Utopian novel in which people get up late?

102 One of 12 on Mount Olympus 103 Silent performers 104 How a minimalist lives 105 “Help!”

106 Standard 107 “Lose Yourself” genre 108 TV coach Lasso 110 Zumba beginner in Britain?

111 Be sick 112 Bacteriologist who invented a dish 113 Poetic tributes 115 One who didn’t intend to become an attorney?

119 Do some programming 120 Destroy

uses circular logic?

54 Swirling current 55 Magic charm 56 Neighbor of Uru. 57 Subway unit 58 “Hotel ___” (Don Cheadle film set in Africa) 59 Persian retirement DOWN spots?

1 Creamy Italian rice dish 64 Squeegee, e.g.

2 Like Zoroastrianism 65 Like rear legs 3 Pro-V shampoo brand 67 “Don’t sugarcoat it” 4 Indian instrument 69 Keep reminding 5 “Immediately!”

70 Aunt, in Ecuador 6 Director Anderson 71 Notifies 7 Limited coverage pro72 Sun-brewed drink, vider at the Olympics? sometimes 8 Cow’s “flyswatter” 74 “Nightmare” street 9 Traveler’s stop 76 “That punch hurt!”

10 Legume in a Creole rice 79 DIY site dish 80 SAT component elimi11 “It all gets done” nated in 2021 12 Dip for Italian bread 81 Early astronaut Arm13 Jagged strong 14 Relative of Alexa 82 Chaotic places 15 12-Down, for one 83 Flashy music genre 16 Partial floor coverings 84 Hit maker?

17 More elegant 85 Ranch rush 18 Singer with the Heart- 89 Wrath breakers 90 Beer that sounds like 24 “___ knowledge is to 111-Across know the extent of one’s 91 Finishing, as donuts ignorance” (Confucius) 92 Addressed on Twitter 25 Makes, as a salary 93 Welds with an iron 31 Steeping process 95 “Understood” 34 Carefully plan 96 Deluge 35 Shoulder wrap 97 Holds in high esteem 36 One is pressed for cash 99 Prime rib option (Abbr.)

100 “Crazy Rich ___” 38 The “O” of NGO, briefly 101 Hot streak, in a saying 40 Not home 106 Just learning about 41 “Hold it, horse!”

109 Cobs with kernels 42 Little buzzer 111 Not too much 44 Most concise 112 Treaty 48 Chris Wallace’s channel 114 Darn it all?

49 Say, as the Lord’s 116 Grp. with moles Prayer 117 Big Apple sch.

50 Tonic’s partner 118 ___ Vegas Aces 52 Name within “Nobelist” 53 Kind of diagram that

“PI MIC KBPLH EH DJ EJ NBZZHNNHN, KBPLH EH DJ TIV EYMJ CUEHN U XHSS PIVM YMP LIC DYZW BO YLYUM.” – MHSNIM EYMPHSY

“POYCFHWJ FY VEVJ RKB, FYR’C FC? CMJVJ EVJR’C CMEC PERO JRFXPEY FR CMFY PKTJVR BKVGT.” – SJRJTFZC ZWPSJVSECZM

“XSGWG’J, HYPG, U CUWP VGGCHG MW U VUYH XSUX HYNGJ UX XSG FUAP MK UHH MK MLW SGUCJ, UVC XSUX’J EMLW – JUVCWU MS

KGUW.”

Puzzle Three Clue: F equals B

121 Jeri of “Star Trek: Picard” 122 Opening on Broadway?

123 Didn’t need to guess 124 Dateless 125 Soapy bubbles 126 Dark brews

By Luis Campos Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present.

Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

Puzzle Two Clue: X equals G

WEIRD AL by Trent H. Evans. Edited by David Steinberg

Puzzle One Clue: K equals J

crossword

© 2022 NEA, Inc.

sudoku Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.

©2022 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

7-21-22

Made for where you live. Here!

THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2022

RED PAGES INFORMATION & RATES: 941-955-4888

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home services

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Condos/Apts. for Rent

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DEADLINES: Classifieds - Tuesday at Noon Service Directory - Friday at 3PM • PAYMENT: Cash, Check or Credit Card The Sarasota and Siesta Key Observer reserves the right to classify and edit copy, or to reject or cancel an advertisement at any time. Corrections after first insertion only. *All ads are subject to the approval of the Publisher. *It is the responsibility of the party placing any ad for publication in the Sarasota and Siesta Key Observer to meet all applicable legal requirements in connection with the ad such as compliance with towncodes in first obtaining an occupational license for business, permitted home occupation, or residential rental property.

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.

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This week’s Crossword answers

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M-F

©2022 Universal Uclick

You’re only cheating yourself.

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This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers Puzzle One Solution: “Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.”

Nelson Mandela Puzzle Two Solution: “Mystique is rare now, isn’t it? There aren’t that many enigmas in this modern world.”

Benedict Cumberbatch Puzzle Three Solution: “There’s, like, a dark needle or a nail that lives at the back of all of our heads, and that’s your fear.”

Sandra Oh

This week’s Sudoku answers

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ENROLL TODAY

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REGISTER NOW

No Experience Necessary!

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ONLINE REGISTRATION OPEN NOW AT SARASOTACREW.ORG

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Table of Contents 6

School testing changes

8

By the numbers

OCTOBER 2022 4-5 Yom Kippur 12 End of first grading period 14 Professional day; no classes

16 Easy, healthy meals 18 Construction update 20 One parent’s take on the end of summer

26 People to know

JANUARY 2023 2-6 Winter break 9 Professional day; no classes 10 Students return 16 Martin Luther King Jr. Day; all district sites closed

SEPTEMBER 2022 5 Labor Day; no classes, all district sites closed 25-27 Rosh Hashana

13 High school survival guide

24 High School football schedules

2022-2023 Sarasota County public schools key dates

AUGUST 2022 3 Staff return 10 First day of classes

10 Transitioning to new schools

22 Look ahead

SCHOOL YEAR AT A GLANCE

File photo

Jerron Bell smiles after arriving at Emma E. Booker Elementary for the first day of school.

ON THE COVER: Alice and Sayanne Bianque, in August 2021, wait for Tuttle Elementary to open for the first day of school.

NOVEMBER 2022 21-25 Thanksgiving break; no classes 24-25 Thanksgiving break; all district sites closed DECEMBER 2022 1-6 Hanukkah 22 End of second grading period 23-30 Winter break

All fun.

No filter.

Girl Scouts.

Fun with friends. New adventures.

Making a difference. You’re ready to go and Girl Scouts is ready for you.

FEBRUARY 2023 20 Presidents Day; all district sites closed MARCH 2023 10 End of third grading period 13-17 Spring break; all district sites closed 20 Professional day; no classes APRIL 2023 7 Mini break; no classes 5-13 Passover MAY 2023 26 Final day for students 29 Memorial Day; all district sites closed

You can make a difference.

Volunteer with Girl Scouts.

We’re ready for you.

Scan to learn more.

Join us today at www.gsgcf.org or call 941-921-5358 | 800-232-4475

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Serving Preschool - 8th grade Project-based approach Low student:teacher ratios New 8.8 acre campus Instruction differentiated for each student's needs Outdoor learning and play in every grade Daily fine arts for each student Competitive athletics After-school enrichment and clubs Convenient hours for working families Open minded, studentcentered school community

Learn more www.CommunityDay.org 941-552-2770

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Welcoming of all families, faiths, ethnicities, genders, and gender identities

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EXAMS FOR THE YEAR Here’s what students can expect to be tested on throughout the school year.

FLORIDA ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT THINKING This is a progress monitoring assessment based on the Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking. It will be administered as a computer-based assessment three times per year. n Pre-K through 10th grade in English Language Arts n Pre-K through eighth grade in math.

STATEWIDE SCIENCE ASSESSMENTS n Fifth grade and eighth grade

Courtesy photo

END-OF-COURSE ASSESSMENTS n Algebra 1 n Geometry n Biology 1 n U.S. History n Civics

Eli Bailey, a third grader at Myakka City Elementary School, practices math on a computer.

New assessments on the way With the new Florida Assessment of Student Thinking, students will be tested three times a year.

LIZ RAMOS STAFF WRITER

G

one are the days of taking Florida Standard Assessments for English language arts and math at the end of every school year.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that eliminated the FSAs for English language arts and math and replaced them with a progress monitoring assessment, which is called Florida Assessment of Student Thinking.

Progress monitoring will take place three times a year: in August - September, January

and May to show how a student has progressed throughout the year.

Laurie Breslin, the executive director of curriculum and assessments for the School District of Manatee County, said the results of the progress monitoring assessments should be available within a week after the assessment.

“We can use those results to drive our instruction moving forward,” she said. “The positive side is we should have better access to the data, faster results, so that if something that we’re doing in the class-

room or as a district isn’t proving to be best for students, we have an opportunity to change that mid-stride so that we are bringing the best resources, the best instruction to our students.”

Breslin said teachers have been reacting positively to the new Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking, or BEST, standards as they provide more clarity in expectations.

The School District of Manatee County rolled out the BEST standards for English language arts in kindergarten through second grade last school year

and will roll out the BEST standards in English language arts for grades three through 12 and math for kindergarten through 12 this school year.

These are the standards students will be tested on in the progress monitoring assessment.

“Teachers are enjoying the way the standards have been written,” Breslin said. “They’re clear and concise, which is exactly what our teachers have been asking for. That allows us to bring that clarity down to the classroom level for students and allows us to bring that clarity forward for parents.”

Breslin said the assessments are designed to be single-day assessments taking half the school day, but the state hasn’t said exactly how long the exams will be.

“It will benefit students who are sitting to take that assessment because they will be required to sit for the assessment for a shorter length of

time, which is important, especially when you’re talking about the younger students,” Breslin said.

Breslin said the progress monitoring assessments also will allow for more communication between teachers and families as teachers can present the data to parents.

“When we’re able to give parents data on their child and then they’re able to talk to their child about what they see in the data, you just end up with a better system of communication, a better system of what the expectations are and what we need to do to support the student to reach those expectations,” she said.

Kelsey Whealy with Sarasota County Schools said the district is unable to speculate on the impact of the state’s new progress monitoring assessments, but the district already utilizes progress monitoring, among other tools, to track and guide students’ learning, growth and achievement.

In an April 12 Sarasota County School Board workshop, Amy Beechy, who focuses on instructional strategies and interventions for the district, demonstrated how the district uses its progress monitoring at the elementary level. Teachers are able to track a student’s performance for each foundational skill in subjects such as reading.

“With this progress monitoring tool, we are able to look at various (subjects) and see how students are performing to ensure we are seeing the full picture of the child and to be able to respond in the way that will best meet the needs,” Beechy said.

The tool allows for teachers to see whether students are meeting expectations, performing in an area that is not quite needing intervention but should be watched or needing interventions.

Breslin said the School District of Manatee County already has been doing benchmark assessments to “provide the best instruction” for students.

The benchmark assessments were conducted throughout the year similarly to how the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking will be conducted.

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Earn tuition-free college credits while still in high school.

Access campus libraries and academic support.

Take classes at SCF Bradenton, Venice, Lakewood Ranch or Online.

Start College ahead of the herd with dual enrollment at SCF SCF.edu/EarlyCollege Application deadlines

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.

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Spring 2023: December 1, 2022 | Summer and Fall 2023: May 15, 2023

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Sarasota County Schools

BY THE NUMBERS A numerical look at the school district.

44,000

9

Varieties of fruits served in school cafeterias

25

Students are enrolled (approximately).

16

The age at which a student can file a Declaration of Intent to Terminate School Enrollment.

2

Days of vacation earned by Superintendent Brennan Asplen each month, as per his contract.

18,000

Varieties of vegetables served in school cafeterias, including three forms of tomatoes (cherry, grape, sliced) and three forms of potatoes (red, white and sweet.

5,300

Number of employees (approximately).

91.64%

District attendance 2021-22.

32,000

Average number of meals served a day in the district.

3

According to the school dress code, sleeves must be no more than 3 inches below the armpit.

Students who ride a bus on an average day. (approximately)

15

High school sports offered.

4

Report cards issued in an academic year.

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Traditional, charter and alternative schools within the Sarasota County Public School district.

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30,000

Miles a day covered by the school district’s 200 buses.

5

Members of the Sarasota County School Board

200

14

Science classes available in both standard and honors for high school students.

25

Performing and fine arts classes available for high school students.

180

Days in the academic year

4, 10, 16

Academic credits needed to advance to 10th, 11th, 12th grades

20%

Portion of a high school student’s class grade that is based on “employability skills, such as attitude, organization and appropriate dress for class.”

Minutes of attendance required in elementary, middle and most high schools to be credited with a full day at school (270 minutes in a high school with block scheduling)

5

Social media platforms on which the school district posts.

Your kids activities made simple.

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Moving on up Students and parents reflect on moving into middle school and high school.

HARRY SAYER STAFF WRITER

S

Courtesy photo

Jace Bakert recently finished his grade school years at Lakeview Elementary School.

JOIN US FOR A FREE

chool, at any time and age, can be an uncertain experience.

Young children are already doing their best to learn and adapt, and each new grade can bring with it new challenges, fears and opportunities.

That push and pull of life is exacerbated when the student moves up to a whole new ecosystem — going from elementary school to middle school and middle to high school.

Local parents and children are grappling with that big transition as the new school year approaches.

SEE TRANSITION, PAGE 12

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Jace Bakert, an 11-year-old Lakeview Elementary School student who’s headed to Sarasota Middle School, is definitely feeling some of that anxiety.

The young student has some head start in what to expect in that he spent many grades at Southside Elementary before making the move to Lakeview for the last three quarters of the his last elementary school year.

“I didn’t think (my mom) would actually move me,” Bakert said. “I thought ‘What the heck?’”

The move between schools was easy enough, and Bakert has made friends over a shared love of assembling Lego figures and YouTube videos. But the idea of making a jump to middle school has been intimidating for Jace.

The idea of having several

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We Take Your Child’s Vision Seriously

Transition FROM PAGE 10

Signs of Vision Problems in Children: · Drifting of an eye · Crossing of an eye •Drifting of an eye · Squinting blinking •Drifting ofor an eye •Crossing of an eye · Sitting close toeye the television •Crossing of an •Squinting or blinking · Tilting or turning of the head •Squinting or blinking

•Sitting close to the television •Sitting close to the of television •Tilting or turning the head •Tilting or turning of the head

· Droopy eyelid · Excessive tearing •Droopy eyelid · •Droopy Headaches while reading eyelid •Excessive tearing · •Excessive Closing or covering an eye tearing •Headaches while reading · •Headaches Drop in school performance while reading

•Closing or covering an eye •Closing or covering an eye •Drop in school performance •Drop in school performance

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12

additional classes throughout the day, and a locker of his own to boot, has been a lot to take in. He feels confident in math and science, but juggling it all at once is a different matter entirely.

“I’m nervous about meeting new kids,” Bakert said. “And the new classes. I used to have like four subjects.”

Jace is an only child and his mother Jess shares his nervousness about the big transition. Jess was a military child and was used to going to new schools and going with the flow, but like any mother she worries that her son will be OK. “We’ve talked about how it’ll be different but everyone is going into sixth grade from different elementary schools,” Jess Bakert said. “He might even get to see some of his friends from (Southside); we’ll find out who’s there.”

Jess Bakert feels it might be a tough transition at first — simply having to manage several classes and managing his own time throughout the day will be a new challenge — but that her son will get used to the swing of things.

“Elementary school and middle school are very different,” Jess Bakert said. “Last year he was with students who were 5, now he’ll be with students who are 13. It’s a big difference for him.”

She’s spoken with other parents with kids who have recently moved into middle school and gets the sense that the initial shock gives way to being comfortable with the situation.

Bakert does have something of a plan when entering his middle school and trying to make new friends.

“I’m going to say hi (to people) a bunch of times,” Bakert said. “Eventually it should work out.”

Alex Kitcher, 13, on the other hand, feels somewhat more confident as he moves from middle school to high school when he joins Sarasota Polytechnical High School.

His transition from elemen-

Harry Sayer

Alex and Melissa Kitcher have been preparing for his jump to ninth grade.

tary to middle was all within Sarasota Suncoast Academy, with students he’d already known and grown up with.

That move was familiar, but heading to a brand new school offers plenty of opportunities.

Kitcher is aiming for a career in video game design and often plays multiplayer with friends.

He had a small but close friend group at Sarasota Suncoast Academy and the group would often head to the library together.

To his relief, several are joining him at Sarasota Polytechnical School.

“It makes me feel good, knowing there are friends I know and can talk to (going in) instead of being a lonely outcast,” Kitcher said.

Kitcher’s mother Melissa grew up in Queens and walked to elementary school before making a big move to high school. She remembers losing touch with friends as she went on, so she’s happy that her son will hang onto his core of friends as they start their new chapter.

“These are kids he’s been in class with since kindergarten,” Melissa Kitcher said. “It’s going to be good for him.”

There’s some small amount of nerves going in, but Alex Kitcher is excited for what the future will hold.

“I’ve been wanting to get ready and just jump into it,” Alex Kitcher said.

YourObserver.com

JULY 2022

High school survival tips STAFF WRITER

H

igh school can be tricky.

Students can be adjusting to a new campus, teachers and classes all while trying to figure out who they are as a person.

But even though the four years of high school can be daunting, some students have learned how to make the most out of their experience.

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK

Nathan Walmsley, a rising junior at Braden River High School, came from a small middle school.

He was overwhelmed with being on a campus with more than 1,700 students, but he made new friends and joined the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps to help adjust.

Students interviewed said freshmen should step out of their comfort zones and make new friends.

“It’s a big jump from middle school to high school,” said Samantha Malcolm, a 2022 graduate of the Out-of-Door Academy. “Be welcoming to other people knowing they are going through the same thing you’re going through. Be as kind and generous as you would want to be treated.”

Students said freshman year is an opportunity to experiment with extracurriculars.

“Get involved with sports or anything in general,” Walmsley said. “You don’t want to just be going home after school every day because that’s boring.”

High school academic rigor is higher than what students might expect.

Johnny Robinson, a rising

senior at ODA, said it’s important for students to find tricks that make them more productive and focused on school work. When he gets home after school, Robinson said remaining in the clothes he wore to school and keeping his shoes on helps him remain in the school mindset while working on his assignments.

GETTING OVER THE SOPHOMORE SLUMP

The excitement of being in high school ends after freshman year. Often sophomores find themselves in a slump.

Robinson said sophomore year can be more enjoyable if students keep a day-to-day perspective.

“Look for the best things every day,” he said. “I’ll wake up and think, ‘Oh, I have this cool thing to do today’ or ‘we

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To adjust to the academic rigors of Advanced Placement courses, Malco lm de pen d e d on her teachers more, meeting with them each morning and going over material she didn’t understand. She formed study g ro u ps w i t h classmates.

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JULY 2022

SURVIVAL GUIDE, FROM PAGE 13

chose as freshman fit them.

“If you tried something your freshman year and you think you aren’t that interested in it, don’t be afraid to just go and move onto something new,” said Adanna Wharton, a rising junior at Braden River High School.

JUNIOR YEAR: YEAR OF STRESS

Elayna Andrews, a 2022 Braden River High graduate, spent her junior year focused on academics, extracurriculars and her job.

She wishes she spent more time researching colleges.

“Then senior year, you can get applications done before the first day of school,” she said.

Students suggested visiting campuses and researching colleges they were interested in.

“Going to the (college or university) gives you a deep understanding if you really like it or not,” Robinson said. “I thought

Liz Ramos

Samantha Malcolm, a 2022 graduate of the Out-of-Door Academy, can’t wait to attend the University of Michigan after four years of hard work and dedication in high school.

I would love Rollins College, but I went there and I didn’t like it as much as I thought I would.”

Malcolm said junior year gives students an opportunity to take classes that help them

pursue their interests.

But Christian Bell, a rising senior at Braden River High, said not to feel pressured to take advanced courses.

In his junior year, Bell took five AP classes. He was told by several other students AP Seminar was an easy class, so he decided to take it.

“It’s just been dreadful to get through the class,” Bell said. “Unless you’re dead set that you want that AP class for yourself, not anybody else, don’t do it.”

Andrews, Malcolm and Robinson all suggested starting to prepare for the PSAT and ACT early, whether that means joining a study group, getting a tutor, doing practice tests or all of the above. Preparing early will help alleviate the stress that can come with these exams.

“Putting a little bit (of studying in) each weekend will definitely go a long way,” Malcolm said. “Create a study plan on your calendar because those testing dates will come at you before you know it.”

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As important as those junior year tests are, Malcolm said students need to find a balance between their academics and enjoying their junior year.

“The key to minimizing stress and still enjoying yourself your junior year is doing your best where you still are enjoying life, having fun with friends and doing what you want,” Malcolm said.

SENIOR YEAR: THE LAST HURRAH

Senior year comes with the excitement of finishing high school along with dreams of the future.

Malcolm spent the first half of her senior year putting together college applications.

She said students should start start putting together college applications the summer before senior year.

“It’s honing down your college list, where are you going to apply, seeing what the application requirements are and the different essays you’re going to have to write,” Malcolm said.

“It’s about planning.”

Malcolm and Andrews both said time management is key.

“I had to limit how much I would research my specific college because I’d be doing an assignment and get bored so I would start doing stuff for my university,” Andrews said. “I’d have to stop myself because my mindset would completely shift. I was like, ‘I can’t be focusing on my future. I have to focus on finishing this exam for this class so I can have the credits I need to move onto that stuff.’”

When it comes to writing college admission essays, Malcolm said students should focus on something meaningful because it makes it easier.

Seniors said not to forget it’s the last year of high school.

They wanted to take advantage of all the events and opportunities that brings.

“It’s a time to enjoy the person you became, the people you’ve met, the connections you’ve made and the things you’ve gotten involved in,” Malcolm said.

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JULY 2022

Meals take early prep work Here are some tips for low-stress meal preparation as your child heads to school.

RYAN KOHN SPORTS EDITOR

with their lunch since breakfasts usually lack one.

No matter what parents serve, Gennocro urges them to avoid giving kids food with lots of sugar since they should be having no more than six teaspoons of sugar a day, outside of things like natural sugar in fruit. She said children should not skip breakfast, even if they insist they are not hungry.

“At least half of families do not routinely eat breakfast,” Gennocro said. “Our brains need food to function. Skipping breakfast can affect memory, concentration and behavior.

It can contribute to a lack of energy. Plus, whenever kids do decide to eat after skipping breakfast, they tend to eat unhealthier than they would otherwise.”

Making sure kids drink water and stay hydrated throughout the day is also vital, Gennocro

Photo courtesy of Ello

If parents prepare a base meal for the week in advance, they can throw in different sides each day to add variety, like carrots and celery stick with hummus, a container of yogurt, or strawberries.

said.

Sometimes, offering many smaller items of food can be faster and easier than preparing a meal — while remaining just as delicious and healthy.

Lakewood Ranch’s Amy Hammon, whose children attend Pinnacle Academy, said she likes to prepare a “char-

cuterie board” for them, which they enjoy and Hammon can make whenever she has free time.

“I pre-cut fruit and spray it with lemon juice to preserve it,” Hammon said. “I then cut all the meats and cheeses for the week. That way, it’s all ready to go.”

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n the tug-of-war between getting kids to school on time and preparing healthy breakfasts and lunches, punctuality often wins.

Erin Gennocro, a nurse practitioner with Weiss Pediatric Care in Sarasota, said preparation can sway that equation the other direction.

Many healthy breakfast foods can be prepared the previous night. It is easy to dip a banana in yogurt and coat it with a low-sugar cereal such as Cheerios before freezing.

This provides a child with fruit, dairy and grains while taking no time in the morning.

Other items, like a healthy take on banana pancakes, can be prepared on a Sunday and served throughout the week.

Mash bananas together with a few eggs and cook them like pancakes, serving them with applesauce instead of syrup to cut down on sugar.

Lunches can be handled in a similar fashion, Gennocro said.

If parents prepare a base meal for the week in advance, like chicken salad, they can throw in different sides each day to add variety, like carrots and celery sticks with hummus, or a container of yogurt.

Changing sides each day ensures kids are getting different minerals and antioxidants.

The most important thing, Gennocro said, is that kids are getting some sort of vegetable

YourObserver.com

JULY 2022

Hammon said her “boards” — which are really bento boxes — typically consist of a mix of apples with Nutella, salami, turkey, grapes, berries, crackers, mini Mozzarella/tomato stacks and cucumbers with ranch dressing for dipping.

Hammon will also include pretzels or cookies as an afterlunch treat.

Hammon said she does similar things for breakfast, preboiling eggs and offering them alongside mini-bagels with cream cheese, berries and apple slices, among other things.

Being healthy is about more than just the foods kids eat.

Gennocro said the foundation of a good morning routine begins with quality sleep.

“If kids wake up tired, they will be cranky and less open to certain foods,” Gennocro said.

Gennocro said parents could take their children grocery shopping to make them part of the decision-making team and encourage them to eat healthy foods they otherwise would not.

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No matter what parents decide to make their children for breakfast or lunch, there should be certain elements present in each, accoring to Erin Gennocro.

BREAKFAST: Parents want to serve their kids something high in protein to keep them full until lunch, like eggs or yogurt. It is also good to make sure there is something with whole grains, like a piece of toast, an English muffin or a whole-grain cereal, as well as something with healthy fat, like avocado or a nut butter. A smoothie can contain a lot of these elements at once if it includes yogurt, avocado and fruit among its ingredients.

LUNCH: Gennocro urges parents to always include a vegetable because children likely will not get one with their breakfast.

If a child will eat salad, that is a great option, but so are carrot or celery sticks with hummus or ranch dressing.

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JULY 2022

Renovations help deal with growth ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

A

Eric Garwood

$18.1 million in face-lifts are planned for Bay Haven School for Basics Plus.

s the 44,000 students of the Sarasota County Schools prepare to return to the classroom for the 2022-23 school year, the district’s Construction Services division is busy planning four near-term construction projects, three of which will relieve crowding and create capacity for anticipated growth in the southern part of the county.

Scheduled to open in 2025, two new schools in Wellen Park

will serve every grade with a new K-8 and a new high school scheduled to open in time for the 2025-26 school year.

Covering 11,000 acres, Wellen Park, a planned community near Venice, will have 22,000 homes and some 60,000 residents at buildout.

A second K-8 at Clark and Lorraine roads will open a year earlier, and over the next two-plus years the Bay Haven School of Basics Plus will undergo necessary mechanical upgrades and renovations sensitive to the historic nature of the building.

In all, the four projects will cost $343 million and serve upwards of 5,700 students.

Here is a summary of the district’s four capital projects. n New high school in Wellen

Park: Architect-engineer and construction management

contracts are complete and design was scheduled to begin in August with construction to start in April 2023. With approximately 2,100 students in grades 9-12, the school is scheduled to open in August 2025.

In addition to classroom space, the project includes an auditorium, media center, gymnasium, cafeteria, full athletic facilities and site work on a compact site located within Wellen Park.

The district is planning to utilize a Florida prototype to reduce time and cost.

With a total of 425,000 square feet, the school will cost $155 million.

It is intended to relieve pressure at Venice High plus accommodate a projected increase of nearly 3,400 future students across all grades from Wellen Park.

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Renovations and new construction are part of the plan over the next few years as the school district plans for more students.

YourObserver.com

JULY 2022

n New K-8 school in Wellen Park: Architect-engineer and construction management contracts will be let in January 2023 and design should start in February 2023. Construction is scheduled to begin in January 2024 with opening expected in August 2025. With a budget of $85 million, the school will accommodate approximately 1,500 students, providing relief for Taylor Ranch Elementary School and accommodations for new Wellen Park students.

The new K-8 and high schools are located on adjoining sites on River Road. The schools will share sharing parking lots and bus loops.

New K-8 at Clark and Lorraine roads: Design is underway with construction expected to begin in January 2023 and opening expected in August 2024. It is the district’s intent to utilize a prototype K-8 concept. Final programing decisions are in process with a focus on STEAM and robotics.

Designed for 1,500 students, the budget is $85 million.

n

n Renovation at Bay Haven School of Basics Plus: Design work is scheduled to begin in July. The renovations will be phased-in over 24 to 30 months. The historic circa-1926 building requires careful demolition and specific renovation procedures to ensure that the finished project maintains its historic significance.

At $18.1 million, the project consists of setting up 10 existing portables on-site and possibly adding two additional units to house displaced students and staff, renovation of the building and restoration of the site.

The renovation includes electrical, mechanical and plumbing upgrades; structural remediation where necessary; new exterior doors and hardware; partial window replacement; new flooring, painting and partial casework replacement; new elevator; restroom upgrades; and new soffits and fascia.

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JULY 2022

The most wonderful time of the year Back-to-school season often comes just in time for parents, but it can be fraught with chores, lists and bigger-picture reflection.

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

Editor Mark Gordon in these pages in 2021 wrote about his son riding the bus to school for the first time after years of riding in the car.)

The only two summer chores I’ve yet to tackle are the school supplies list and a two-hour orientation.

And about that school supplies list . . .

I remember bringing notebooks, pencils and a binder to third grade in the ’80s.

Before we even get to those school-day staples, my son needs headphones, dry-erase markers, paper towels, disinfectant wipes, and that’s to name a very few items. The list grows with each new grade.

Back-to-school tax-free week was extended from July 25 to Aug. 7 this year, and I’ll need about that much time to shop.

Next up: Orientation, where I’ll join hundreds of other parents to line up and get my

File photo

hands on the latest and greatest uniform shirts. They will look exactly like last year’s polo shirts, but in different colors.

The colors have to change each year because life would be too easy if they didn’t.

To be fair, one of two colors stay the same. It’s a game of roulette if you bet on red or black and have one shirt that survived the previous year. Last year, I won. The minute I saw the colors, I ditched the orientation line.

After dropping him off the first day, I went into the school,

dropped $100 on shirts and hoped to hit the jackpot again.

But these are minor issues.

The bigger issue has nothing to do with lunches, supplies, uniforms or childcare.

Another summer means my son is another year older, and that hits harder than any of the typical summertime woes.

I love watching my son grow, but how I wish he could stay little.

Take that, Andy Williams.

Lesley Dwyer is the community reporter for the Longboat Observer.

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s summer moves from hot, humid days to hotter, more humid days, the solace of back-to-school nears, and an old, slightly sarcastic, Staples commercial reruns in my head.

“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” by Andy Williams plays as the Dad character dances with his shopping cart full of school supplies.

My son will look exactly like those kids in the commercial.

Head hung low, frowning.

For him, the summer ending

means no more Wednesdays at Skyzone and mid-day movie breaks.

But for me, the summer ending means full work days, easier childcare and no lunch planning every morning. Thank you, cafeteria workers.

Before starting at the Observer, I was a part-time working, but mostly stay-athome, mom. COVID-19 only made me more isolated.

Nothing will beat the feeling of sending my son back to school after having no social life and bumbling through being his teacher for a year.

But having taken on a new job a week before school ended in May, this fall term is looking to be a close second.

And while co-workers are supportive, I’m only one of two parents of school-aged children in the entire Sarasota news operation. But, it works.

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JULY 2022

Pay hike aims to solidify hiring, retention JOB POSTINGS

ERIC GARWOOD MANAGING EDITOR

When school starts in early August, Sarasota County Schools’ lowest-paid employees will begin reaping the benefits of a new, minimumpay plan designed to help in recruiting and job retention.

Superintendent Brennan Asplen told Sarasota County School Board members earlier this summer that progress in hiring for the coming academic

year is going well, and that he hopes to have as many openings as possible filled by the first day of school.

Helping that hiring push, particularly in the lowest end of the pay scale, was action taken by the school board in June, when members unanimously approved a $15 an hour minimum wage.

All school districts statewide were required to raise their minimum pay to that point before the 2023 fiscal year began on Oct. 1 to help with recruiting and hiring.

As several other districts in Florida have already done, school board members in June made sure that happened three months early.

“It’s a very good thing,” said

Administrative: 5 Teachers or others requiring certification: 144 Non-instructional: 37 (bus driver positions are listed once for multiple openings)

Board Chair Jane Goodwin.

For the lowest-paid noninstructional employees in the Sarasota district, the move to $15 an hour represents as much as a 5% boost from $14.36 an hour.

“In the summer, as you know, we hire a lot of people and hiring is going very well,” he told

File photo

Superintendent Brennan Asplen congratulates a Sarasota High graduate during ceremonies in May.

the school board on June 26 as it met off-site in Longboat Key. “We started hiring earlier this year so that we could pick up those very best teachers and other employees. So that’s going great.”

Asplen said job fairs were planned during the summer.

“Our goal, obviously espe-

cially in the instructional areas, is to have no vacancies whatsoever once the school year starts and hopefully we’ll get to that point,” he said.

In early July, the school district’s job board listed 186 openings out of a staffing level of about 5,300 employees. Of those openings, 37 fell in the

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School district’s lowestpaid employees will begin school year at $15 an hour.

As of July 7, there were 186 job listings on the Sarasota County Schools site, from a total staff of about 5,300 employees.

YourObserver.com

non-instructional category that holds most of the lowestpaid positions, such as foodservice workers and custodial help. On July 7, there were 144 openings in the instructional or certified category.

On the other end of pay spectrum, the school board also renewed Asplen’s contract in late June, granting him a 3% raise in base salary to $227,000.

Along with his base salary, Asplen’s contract calls for a $500 a month car allowance; $400 a month in unreimbursed business expenses; $20,500 deposited annually into a qualified retirement account and $50,000 in life insurance.

By the end of September, Asplen and members of the school board will discuss goals and objectives that are tied to an additional $15,000 in performance-based bonuses.

Those metrics are expected to be decided by Sept. 30.

“He came in under extraordinary circumstances,” Board Member Shirley Brown said.

“There was a community and a school district that was a little

JULY 2022

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23

bit in chaos, and then, oop, we added COVID to it. So you’ve had your hands full.”

Asplen said he was excited about the future.

“It’s all about helping our students be successful,” he said. “And giving them opportunities as they graduate from our school system.”

Goodwin said she thought stable leadership from the office of the superintendent down is an important thing.

“That’s one thing we don’t have to worry about with a new board coming in the fall,” she said of renewing Asplen’s deal.

Asplen will mark his second anniversary with the school district on Aug. 10.

The former deputy superintendent in charge of academic and student services in the St. Johns County School District was selected by the board in mid-July 2020.

He replaced Misti Corcoran, who served as interim schools chief and who is retiring this year, following the firing of Todd Bowden in November 2019.

Opening New Worlds in Education • Tutoring - All Subjects - All Ages • Speech and Language • Reading Programs • Master the Code - Reading and Spelling • Lindamood-Bell Phoneme Program • Wilson Reading System • Orton Gillingham - Phonics Based Reading

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• Study Skills • FSA (Florida Standard Assessments) • ACT and SAT • Academic Testing • Professional Staff

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JULY 2022

2022 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULES Lineups for Sarasota, Riverview, Booker and Cardinal Mooney high schools.

RIVERVIEW HIGH

(all games at 7:30 p.m.)

Aug. 26: away vs. Sanford Seminole High Sept. 2: away vs. Buchholz High Sept. 9: away vs. Palmetto High Sept. 16: home vs. Lehigh High Sept. 30: home vs. Venice High Oct. 7: home vs. Osceola High Oct. 14: home vs. Clearwater Academy International Oct. 21: home vs. Lake Gibson High Oct. 28: away vs. Sarasota High Nov. 4: home vs. Charlotte High

SARASOTA HIGH

(all games at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted) Aug. 26: home vs. Bayshore High Sept. 2: home vs. Manatee High Sept. 9: away vs. Booker High Sept. 16: home vs. Palmetto

Sept. 23: home vs. Calvary Christian Sept. 30: away vs. Cardinal Mooney High (7 p.m.)

Oct. 14: away vs. Venice High Oct. 21: away vs. Southeast High Oct. 28: home vs. Riverview High Nov. 4: away vs. Braden River High

CARDINAL MOONEY HIGH (all games at 7 p.m.)

Aug. 26: home vs. Booker High Sept. 2: away at Lakewood Ranch High Sept. 9: away at First Baptist Academy Sept. 16: away at Calvary Christian Sept. 23: away at Carrollwood Day School Sept. 30: home vs. Sarasota High Oct. 14: away at John Carroll Catholic Oct. 21: home vs. Bishop Verot High

Oct. 28: away vs. St. Petersburg Catholic Nov. 4: home vs. Bayshore High

BOOKER HIGH

(all games at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted) Aug. 26: away vs. Cardinal Mooney High (7 p.m.)

Sept. 2: home vs. Southeast High Sept. 9: home vs. Sarasota High Sept. 16: home vs. North Port High Sept. 30: away vs. Bayshore High Oct. 14: away vs. DeSoto County High Oct. 21: home vs. Wiregrass Ranch High Oct. 28: home vs. Lemon Bay High Nov. 4: away vs. Lakewood Ranch High (7 p.m.)

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JULY 2022

People to know in Sarasota County Public Schools Sarasota County Public Schools offer a variety of services for students. Here are important contacts to help families navigate who can help.

LIZ RAMOS | STAFF WRITER

A

s the new school year begins, families get to know the principal of their student’s school as well as their student’s teacher.

But there are other people in the Sarasota County

Schools families should get to know as well.

Courtesy photo

Bridget Ziegler speaks to members of the Longboat Key Republican Club in May.

JODY DUMAS ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER Contact: Jody.Dumas@ SarasotaCountySchools.net

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Contact: Brennan.Asplen@ SarasotaCountySchools.net

LEARN MORE AT: www.coresrq.org

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Does your child require tutoring year after year?

We can help!

BRENNAN ASPLEN SUPERINTENDENT The Sarasota County School Board selected Brennan Asplen to be the district’s new superintendent in July 2020.

Asplen’s contract will expire June 30, 2023.

YourObserver.com

JULY 2022

SONIA FIGAREDO-ALBERTS EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT EDUCATION SERVICES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Contact: Sonia.

Figaredo-Alberts@ SarasotaCountySchools.net

DUANE OAKES CHIEF OF SARASOTA COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS POLICE Contact: Duane.Oakes@ SarasotaCountySchools.net DR. HARRIET MOORE INNOVATION & EQUITY DIRECTOR Contact: Harriet.Moore@ SarasotaCountySchools.net

Shirley Brown from District 4 and Jane Goodwin from District 5 are not running for re-election to the Sarasota County School Board. Bridget Ziegler, from District 1, faces a challenger. Here are the members of the school board and those who are running for office in the Aug. 23 race.

Because there are two candidates in each of the three contested, nonpartisan races, the winners in August will take the seats.

ALLISON FOSTER HUMAN RESOURCES AND LABOR RELATIONS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Contact: Allison.Foster@ SarasotaCountySchools.net

DR. DENISE CANTALUPO OFFICE OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND CHOICE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Contact: Denise.Cantalupo@ SarasotaCountySchools.net

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SCHOOL BOARD

DEBRA GIACOLONE STUDENT SERVICES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Contact: Debra.Giacolone@ SarasotaCountySchools.net

CHRIS RENOUF ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT AND CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER Contact: Chris.Renouf@ SarasotaCountySchools.net

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Bridget Ziegler District 1 representative of the Sarasota County School Board Contact: Bridget.Ziegler@SarasotaCountySchools.net

Jane Goodwin District 5 representative of the Sarasota County School Board Contact: Jane.Goodwin@SarasotaCountySchools.net

Karen Rose District 2 representative of the Sarasota County School Board Contact: Karen.Rose@SarasotaCountySchools.net

THE CANDIDATES School Board District 1 Bridget Ziegler Dawnyelle Singleton School Board District 4 Lauren Kurnov Robyn Marinelli School Board District 5 Nora Cietek Timothy Enos

Tom Edwards District 3 representative of the Sarasota County School Board Contact: Thomas.edwards@sarasotacountyschools.net

STEVE CANTEES SECONDARY SCHOOLS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Contact: Stephen.Cantees@ SarasotaCountySchools.net

Personalized Orthodontic Care Shirley Brown District 4 representative of the Sarasota County School Board Contact: Shirley.Brown@Sarasotacountyschools.net

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INTERCOASTAL MEDICAL GROUP: CARING FOR YOUR FAMILY YEAR-ROUND

Back-to-School

Sports & Physical Exams Schedule y appointm our ents SOON!

Accepting new patients Convenient locations & hours Most insurance plans accepted

Cattleridge Medical Building 941-379-5121

3333 Cattlemen Rd., # 208, Sarasota, FL

David Mohr, D.O.

Melissa Rohrbacher, D.O.

Intercoastal Family Practice 941-953-5213

Palmer Ranch 941-921-6618

943 S. Beneva Rd., # 204, Sarasota, FL

Carrie Bonaroti, M.D.

John Steele, M.D.

Jessica Thomas, M.D.

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Julia Havlovic, M.D.

Anthony Spinella, M.D.

*Dennis Pail, M.D.

Beneva Family Practice: 941-365-7390 921 S. Beneva Rd., Sarasota, FL

Alex Austin, M.D.

Brittney Benjamin, Amanda Lindberg, M.D. M.D.

Randy Powell, M.D.

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Sy Rabins, D.O.

Diego Ramos, M.D.

Philip Rubin, M.D.

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