Sarasota/Siesta Key Observer 12.01.22

Stating his case

YOUR TOWN

Now on the job

It’ll be a blue Christmas for Michael Colatorti, Jordan Sullivan and Richard Vasquez this year, but not in the 1957 Elvis Presley sense.

The three pictured above this week were sworn in as the newest officers on the Sarasota Police force in a ceremony at police headquarters. Family members pinned their badges on their new uniforms.

Mayor Kyle Battie, Commissioner Erik Arroyo and Police Chief Rex Troche presided over the event.

The new officers now begin their field training program under the tutelage of more experienced officers.

Pettingells’ pies

St. Armands Circle-based Realtor Roger Pettingell and his family, wife Alisa and son Max, once again took part in their Thanksgiving tradition of donating pies to clients, with the option of passing the yummy desserts on to local food banks.

The Realtor from Coldwell Banker distributed more than 100 pies, all baked by Yoders of Sarasota.

“We’ve been doing this for 20 years, and it has become an integral part of Thanksgiving for our clients,” Pettingell said.

Out-of-town clients were offered the the option of donating their pies.

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PAGE 3A Siesta’s holiday parade starts the clock on the holiday season.

Courtesy photo Michael Colatorti, Jordan Sullivan and Richard Vasquez take the oath of office.

Courtesy photo

Roger Pettingell, his wife Alisa and son Max distribute pies for Thanksgiving.

Dariela Delgado

Mikayla Medeirus dresses up like a Dr. Seuss character during last weekend’s Light Up Siesta Key parade. File photo

The iconic Gulf Beach Resort sign has been preserved and will be incorporated into the site of the LKR at Lido Beach luxury condo development.

WEEK OF DEC. 1, 2022

Pasta place circles to land in St. Armands

A new takeout concept has entered the Sarasota market.

BY THE NUMBERS

Tree lighting, parade kick off holiday season TABS

he holiday season begins this weekend in Sarasota, starting with the lighting of the new tree at St. Armands Circle at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2. This year, the tree lighting is set against the backdrop of the six-week Holiday Spectacular in Circle Park.

On Saturday, the annual Christmas parade hosted by Sarasota Holiday Celebrations will be held downtown from 7-9 p.m. The parade route is Main Street from U.S. 301 to J.D. Hamel Park at Gulfstream Avenue.

Street closures for the parade are scheduled as following:

9 a.m. Saturday to 12:30 a.m.

Sunday: Main Street between Orange Avenue and U.S. 301. Osprey to US 301.

11 a.m. Saturday to 12:30 a.m. Sunday: Main Street between U.S. 41 and Orange Avenue.

Noon Saturday to 12:30 a.m.

CALENDAR

n Sarasota City Commission regular meeting — 9 a.m., Monday, Dec. 5, City Hall, 1565 St.

n Sarasota County Commission strategic retreat — 8 a.m., Friday, Dec. 9, Sarasota County Terrace Building, 101 S. Washington Blvd.

n Sarasota County School Board regular meeting — 6 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 13, Landings Administration Complex, 1980 Landings Blvd.

Sunday: Main Street between U.S. 301 and School Avenue; Fletcher Avenue between Main Street and Fruitville Road; Wallace Avenue between Main Street and Fruitville Road; East Avenue between Fruitville Road and Ringling Boulevard; School Avenue between Main Street and Fruitville Road; Audubon Place between Main Street and Fruitville Road; First Street between Audubon Place and East Avenue.

2:30 p.m. Saturday to 12:30 a.m. Sunday: Lemon Avenue between First Street and Main Street.

3 p.m. Saturday to 12:30 a.m.

DalMoros Fresh Pasta To Go opened its third franchise in St. Armands Circle on Nov. 23. The fastcasual concept originated in Italy, in 2012 by founder Gabriele Dal Moro. The 1,000-square-foot restaurant features outdoor seating and a mural by local artists Vitale Brothers. The DalMoros pasta machine is displayed prominently in the window so onlookers can watch it while it’s making pastas that are served with fresh sauces in to-go boxes.

The Sarasota location is being headed by Manager Chandler Caruso. Currently, there are DalMoros locations in Italy and Canada with future international expansions planned for Singapore, Barcelona and Mexico.

Woman charged in city homicide

Sarasota Police investigators last week arrested a 43-year-old woman in connection with the suspicious death of a 53-year-old man in the 800 block of Mecca Drive.

Eugenia Bright, a Sarasota woman with an address on Mecca Drive, was arrested on Nov. 21 and charged with second-degree murder. The name and address of the victim were withheld under the provisions of Florida’s Marsy’s Law.

She was held with no bond.

Sarasota Police were called to a residence on Nov. 21 in the 800 block of Mecca Lane for a welfare check relayed by co-workers of Bright. A caller to police was concerned because Bright had not shown up for work. Officers arrived to find Bright in and out of unconscious on a bed, and was taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital.

They also found blood on a nearby bathroom door and floor and discovered a 53-year-old man dead in an adjacent bathroom. A knife was found on a dresser and along with a note with specific funeral requests.

A witness told police of loud, female screams the night before coming from the apartment in which Bright and the body were found.

Sunday: Gulfstream Avenue between U.S. 41 and McAnsh Square.

“To really fit comfortably, make it 2024.”

City of Sarasota Planning Director Steve Cover on scheduling a look at new

zoning

considerations for St. Armands Circle, Read more on page 5A

File photo

The city’s new tree will be illuminated on Friday night.

School Board OKs resignation talks

ASPLEN’S STATEMENT TO PARENTS AND EMPLOYEES

sonally to Asplen without change, though she rated him “effective” overall in his most recent perfor mance evaluation.

LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITER

Emotions ran high Tuesday night at a special meeting of the Sarasota County School Board, called last week to con sider ending the employment of Superintendent Brennan Asplen.

Dozens of people arrived more than an hour early to the 5 p.m. meeting, many dressed in red to sup port Asplen, some carrying signs and demonstrating outside the Sarasota County Schools headquarters.

By the end of the nearly five-hour meeting, dozens of people had spo ken in support of both sides of the matter, school board members laid out their reasoning for moving ahead and Asplen himself delivered a pas sionate rebuke of those who sought his ouster.

Ultimately, the school board vot ed 4-1 to continue negotiations that started last week designed to prompt Asplen to resign. It was the same 4-1 vote that on Nov. 23 triggered the Tuesday meeting.

Tom Edwards was the dissenting vote in both meetings.

“I’m not Christian, but this makes me think of the Last Supper,” Robin Williams, president of the Demo cratic Public Education Caucus of Manasota said. “In this case, there wasn’t one Judas, but four. While it was not Passover or Easter, it was right before Thanksgiving. What deception and what a betrayal not only of Dr. Asplen but of the public, our educators and students.”

THE PUBLIC SPEAKS

About 50 people spoke largely in support of Asplen, though there were some critics of the superinten dent. No seats were left empty in the chambers with a crowd of equal size outside watching the meeting.

Individuals were called up in batches in hopes of ensuring a quick, smooth transition from speaker to speaker. Each person was allotted three minutes to speak on the matter.

Students, parents, educators and members of the community spoke.

“Tonight, when you make this decision do not disrespect or dehu manize our students,” Booker High School senior Nora Mitchell said.

“Do not claim that this decision is what is best for our students. Do not lie and say that you kept students in mind when you made this decision. Don’t mock us. Don’t lie and say that you care about your students, your staff or your teachers in this county.”

“Let’s be honest, this is your first stage in targeting every stu dent who is not white enough, rich enough, straight enough or conser vative enough,” Mitchell said. “The decisions that were made last week and what will be made tonight and

onward is a power play … The district is not working as one for the success of all, it is working as one for the suc cess of some.”

A consistent refrain from those supporting Asplen was a perceived political motivation by the new board majority, three of whom won conten tious elections in August, defeating a trio of Democratic Party supported candidates. Although non-partisan, Ziegler, Enos and Marinelli drew backing of not only the local Repub lican Party but also that of Gov. Ron DeSantis, who campaigned for and supported like-minded school board candidates statewide.

Not every one spoke in support of Asplen, though.

“Clearly you have not been here for the last two years,” Alexis Spiegel man of Moms for Liberty said, “We need a fresh start.”

BOARD MEMBERS EXPLAIN

Once board members began discuss ing the superintendent’s contract, they pointed to communication problems and tumult over the last two years.

“We don’t seem to be able to get away from controversy,” said school board member Karen Rose, who made the Nov. 22 motion to meet on Asplen’s employment. “It has plagued this boardroom for multiple years, for too long. It takes away from our students; it takes away from our teachers, and it takes away from the business of academic achievement.”

Rose said she has continually raised concerns at the dais and per

As has been reported in the media, I was contacted about working out a mutually agreeable separation from the School District shortly after last Tuesday’s board meeting at which the motion to terminate my contract was made. Though my wife and I were highly disappointed and plummeted into emotional turmoil by last Tuesday’s motion, after much reflection over the Thanksgiving holiday, it is with a heavy heart that I have accepted the fact that I will soon be separated by the School Board, as a collaborative relationship does not appear to be attainable. To that end, I seek not to be a distraction from the passionately steadfast commitment of our SCS teachers, administrators, employees, and the greater parent/ student community. I want the Sarasota County School District to heal; I desire for our community to be at peace. There is a board meeting scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday) evening at which the School Board will discuss its motion to terminate. I will work respectfully and constructively with the board to achieve an acceptable resolution to my employment separation. I ask that all attending the meeting do so with the same spirit in mind.

I have the utmost sincere confidence in the many talented and dedicated people who comprise our school district family. On the day I was sworn to your service, I entered Sarasota County Schools with the sole intention to work beyond the division and distrust that existed here and to restore a collaborative culture that would provide the best possible climate so that each student can reach his or her highest potential. My wife and I uprooted and invested our life here, both professionally and personally, with full intention to be part of this community into retirement. I wholeheartedly embraced SCS with high expectation and full commitment to its bright future, united to work as one for the success of all. I saw a district that was poised for growth and soaring achievement. I believe our Strategic Plan has focused us on an even stronger trajectory for the success of our students, despite the outside noise that often overshadows the vision. Division and hostility have never been part of my leadership fiber. This is why I have always held that our school district could collectively rise above the noise, and “do the work”. I still believe this. If I have one request, please do better by your next Superintendent; allow that individual to freely be the instructional leader focused on student achievement, not dragged into the quagmire of the political arena. With all due respect, please do not allow that to be Sarasota’s legacy.

In closing, in the aftermath of last Tuesday’s board meeting, I am completely humbled by the abundant outpouring of support from our past and present Sarasota County Schools teachers, administrators and support staff, our SC/TA Union, our business and community leaders, our committed foundations, the Herald Tribune and the good citizens of Sarasota. I wish Sarasota County Schools only the brightest future and healing. Please know that I leave you with the sincerest assurance that I have labored to faithfully serve our students, community, and SCS family of employees.

Rose and Enos both expressed concerns with the lack of growth in reading, science and math achieve ment scores.

“Those results have been inade quate for many years,” she said, spe cifically citing reading scores. “I do not see what I have asked to see, and I do not see change.”

Edwards did not hold back when expressing his dismay.

“I’ve had a front row seat for what I perceive to be a copycat politi cal agenda,” he said. “...You ran on transparency. You ran on not divid ing the community, and the first thing the first thing that you did was lie to the community by keeping to yourself that you were planning on firing the superintendent day one.”

ASPLEN SPEAKS

Asplen himself delivered an empas sioned statement, rebuking those who sought to remove him from office.

“I have a feeling I am going to be fired after tonight because I just can’t hold this back,” he said. “There are things that I just have to say.”

He too alluded to political motiva tions.

“It’s really confusing to me this whole thing,” he said. “...Whether I am here or not, which I probably won’t be now, but if I am not here and someone else comes in, you have to get the politics out of this school district.”

He said he leans conservative in his personal politics, but added such beliefs have no place in school administration.

“This school district could be number one, but we shoot ourselves in the foot every time,” he said.

In a letter to school district employees and parents earlier this week, Asplen made reference to making peace with his departure.

“It is with a heavy heart that I have accepted the fact that I will soon be separated by the school board, as a collaborative relationship does not appear to be attainable. To that end, I seek not to be a distraction from the passionately steadfast commitment of our SCS teachers, administrators, employees, and the greater parent/ student community. I want the Sara sota County School District to heal; I desire for our community to be at peace.”

NOW WHAT?

A follow-up meeting could take place Friday to finalize negotiated terms of Asplen’s resignation, if he chooses to. Otherwise, the school board said it could add consideration of his termination at their next regu larly scheduled meeting, which takes place on Dec. 13.

Board members vote 4-1 to move forward with negotiations for Superintendent Brennan Asplen’s resignation.

Photos by Lauren Tronstad

Joyce Peralta, Arthur Wasserman and Marc Schreiber hold signs along Tamiami Trail in protest of Brennan Asplen’s potential termination.

Katie Kephart holds a sign on the side of Tamiami Trail in support of Brennan Asplen.

City, police union agree to three-year deal

The Sarasota City Commission has approved a new collective bargaining agreement with the union that represents the Sarasota Police Department. The salary scale, though, will be reviewed annually.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

COMPETITIVE WAGES

First full-year pay at time of hire commensurate with qualifications:

CRIMINALISTS

Step 1: $51,600

Step 2: $53,122 Step 3: $54,689 Step 4: $56,302 Step 5: $57,962 Step 6: $59,405 Step 7: $61,157 Step 8: $62,961 Step 9: $64,820

OFFICERS

Step 1: $65,875 Step 2: $67,984 Step 3: $72,300

Step 4: $74,300

Step 5: $76,000

Step 6: $77,500

Step 7: $79,000 Step 8: $81,175 Step 9: $83,611 Step 10: $85,450 Step 11: $87,330 Step 12: $89,250

Step 13-20: $91,929

SERGEANTS Step 1: $88,960 Step 2: $90,738 Step 3: $92,553 Step 4: $94,404 Step 5: $92,292 Step 6: $98,218 Step 7: $100,182 Step 8: $102,186 Step 9: $104,229 Step 10: $106,314

LIEUTENANTS

Step 1: $107,000 Step 2: $109,209 Step 3: $112,342 Step 4: $115,476 Step 5: $118,609 Step 6: $120,000

competitive, the salary scale will be revisited annually.

“We’re actually slightly ahead as far as pay with the Sheriff’s Office,” Urbain said in an interview. “The only thing that’s concerning is they are not unionized, so they can adjust their salary at any point. We want to make sure that we stay competitive with them. That’s one of the reasons why the contract in its entirety is a three-year contract, however, the pay is only a one-year agreement.

“We’ll be back at the table next year and the following year to see where we’re at. That was by design in order to make sure that we’re staying

city competes for personnel with Tampa and St. Petersburg.

Patrol officers will move through steps based on anniversary date. All newly hired employees will receive the annual wage rate in effect at their time of hire commensurate with their qualifications.

Urbain said he hopes the new deal will help SPD better attract new offi cers and retain them as they move up through the steps in salary and in the ranks.

“There’s a big investment for each officer that we hire in terms of train ing,” he said. “We have to keep them as long as we can.”

Friday, Dec. 9 • 5-9 p.m.

Pictures with Santa Music Compound’s annual Holiday Concert Treats & Activities for Kids of ALL ages! Hot Cocoa & Castle Bouncy House Unbelievable Raffle Return of the Snow Slide!

Friday, Dec. 9 • 5-9 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 9 • 5-9 p.m.

Pictures with Santa Music Compound’s annual Holiday Concert Treats & Activities for Kids of ALL ages!

Pictures with Santa Music Compound’s annual Holiday Concert Treats & Activities for Kids of ALL ages!

Exhilarating Trampoline Adventurous Climbing Wall

Hot Cocoa & Castle Bouncy House Unbelievable Raffle Return of the Snow Slide!

Hot Cocoa & Castle Bouncy House

Unbelievable Raffle

Exhilarating Trampoline Adventurous Climbing Wall

TO BENEFIT

Return of the Snow Slide!

Exhilarating Trampoline Adventurous Climbing Wall

TO BENEFIT

Pictures with Santa Music Compound’s annual Holiday Concert Treats & Activities for Kids of ALL ages!

Hot Cocoa & Castle Bouncy House

Unbelievable Raffle

Return of the Snow Slide!

Exhilarating Trampoline Adventurous Climbing Wall

Mindy Ward, DO Internal Medicine

Medical School: Kansas City University College of Medicine, Kansas City, MO Residency: Internal Medicine, Florida State University College of Medicine, Sarasota Memorial

City,

City turns away zoning change for St. Armands

Sarasota Commission declines a proposal by the St. Armands BID.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

Few topics raise more inter est at Sarasota City Hall than changes in zoning on St. Armands Circle.

At its Nov. 21 meeting, the Sarasota City Commission heard a request by the St. Armands Business Improve ment District to direct staff to study possible changes to the Commer cial Tourist Zoning District with the intent to “promote mixed-use development in the area, improve upon the existing functionality and

aesthetics of the circle, and lay out framework for future development.”

Under consideration was a request to begin a new process that would have required additional community workshops and public hearings. Still, more than a dozen people spoke out against the BID’s request primar ily because changes sought include raising the maximum building height from 35 feet to 45 feet above the FEMA design flood elevation, a review of additional density and the addition of hotels as conditional uses.

Traffic in and around the circle was the main objection.

St. Armands BID Chairman Tom Leonard told commissioners the pri mary objective is to allow owners of century-old buildings to bring them up to contemporary standards.

“I’ve reached out to every property owner on the circle and the major ity of those operators feel that St. Armands needs more flexibility to allow it to maximize its potential,” said Leonard, who owns Shore res taurant there. Many buildings, he said, have 8-foot ceilings and nonconforming parking.

“Our hands are tied out there,” he said. “We’re not asking you to vote on this to approve it. We’re just ask ing you to vote on it so we can go through the public scrutiny process.”

This isn’t the first time the BID has attempted to affect zoning changes on the Circle. In 2008, it commis sioned a study that resulted in an expressed need for a hotel and gro cery store on the key.

“Not 10 grocery stores, not 10 hotels, one of each,” said Chris Golia,

president of the St. Armands Resi dents Association. “But the matter before you today would allow every single commercial building on St. Armands to have hotel rooms if the owners wanted to do that, so we’re very concerned about that.”

Golia cited community work shops in August 2021 and January 2022, during which an overwhelm ing majority of participants objected to the proposals being brought by the BID.

Prior to the City Commission meeting, the St. Armands Resi dents Association reported a recent survey, with nearly half of the resi dents responding, that showed 90% opposing a commercial building height increase and 87% objecting to a zoning text change that would allow boutique hotel usage and the potential for vacation rentals such as Airbnb offerings.

“To anybody who says all you’re doing is opening it up to public scru tiny, it’s already been done,” Golia said.

Carl Shoffstall, a Lido Key resident, neighborhood association president and one-time candidate for City Commission this year, objected to the BID bringing the matter to the city.

“It has nothing to do with ‘I got mine and nobody else should get theirs,’ ” Shoffstall said. “We don’t need hotels. There is a hotel approved already. I really have a seri ous issue with the people who are pushing this forward. We vetted this for over a year-and-a-half and it was resoundingly voted down.”

“We’re not trying to build towers out there,” Leonard said. “What we’re trying to do is bring St. Armands up to a developmental standard that makes it current with other cities like Naples, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Tampa and St. Petersburg.”

Leonard and Julie Ryan, the BID’s city-appointed business manager, told commissioners that the BID itself is up for renewal in 2023, and progress toward a zoning change may help ensure property owners there approve a renewal.

As a special tax district, the city returns the additional ad valorem revenue for BID use to enhance busi ness on the circle.

Erik Arroyo, supported by his  fel low commissioners, told Leonard

that on the heels of the approved comprehensive plan amendments and the myriad zoning amend ments to enhance affordable housing efforts that will follow, city planning staff is already overburdened to take on a zoning study.

City Manager Marlon Brown asked Planning Director Steve Cover to articulate the staff’s workload, and when it might be able to fit the BID’s request on its schedule.

“We do have a very heavy year ahead of us with the zoning text amendments related to downtown, which we’re going to be jumping on early next year,” Cover said.

Could it be done in 2023, City Manager Marlon Brown asked.

“To really fit comfortably, make it 2024,” Cover said.

Rather than tackling a year-pluslong process to review a wholesale text amendment change, Arroyo suggested property owners should bring proposals for specific projects individually rather than wholesale under the auspices of the BID.

Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch agreed.

“When I read this, it’s to autho rize city staff to prepare a zoning text amendment, which is a big ask of staff, and then it very specifically says review additional density in the comp plan,” Ahearn-Koch said. “I see this as a wide-open door. It’s not targeted. It’s not specific. We’ve not had a plethora of people coming down asking for any of this. To Com missioner Arroyo’s point, we have a lot going on, and to put this out there without it being targeted, I think we’re asking for problems.”

City Attorney Robert Fournier settled the matter among commis sioners’ minds with a timely legal interpretation of the BID’s request.  Specifically, it isn’t specific enough.

“If the BID has amendments that they want to request, they ought to be able to articulate them or to specify what they are. I don’t think they’ve done that,” Fournier said. “The BID says the changes are nec essary, and the residents say they aren’t. I think it’s unwise to autho rize a zoning text amendment unless you know exactly what the proposed amendment is, and I think this is a little too open ended for that.”

Andrew Warfield

Residents of St. Armands and Lido Key are concerned that adding density in St. Armands Circle will exacerbate traffic and parking there. The St. Armands BID’s request for a zoning text amendment study for commercial properties was rejected by the Sarasota City Commission.

COPS CORNER

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 23

HIS CALLING

LEAVING

CARD 9:29 a.m., South Shade Avenue at Novus Street

Criminal mischief: Graffiti sprayed on a location along the Legacy Trail brought police to investigate. The officer walked to the part of the trail where there were numerous “tags” advertising the creator “@itsDBob” sprayed in red paint.

The caller to police said she looked up the “@“ tag on social media, which identified the subject by name. A quick police database search for the subject’s name returned with a positive identification and address of the artist in question. Caller declined to prosecute, stating she just wanted it reported.

THURSDAY, NOV. 24

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

6 p.m., 1000 block of Tuttle Avenue

Dispute: A report about a family disturbance brought police to an Airbnb where a caller advised the father of her three children was yelling at her and embarrassing her in front of her family “for no reason.” They were staying at the residence at the time with several other family members.

The man told police he was a contractor overseas and is sensitive to people making fun of Muslims. He said that while in an Uber he felt the caller was making fun of the driver, who is Muslim. He stated he told her to “shut up” several times because he felt she was being disrespectful.

The officer reported it was evident that both parties were intoxicated. The officer said the man was being reasonable, and he decided that it was best if he left and stayed at a hotel for the night. The officer stayed on scene until an Uber picked him up.

FRIDAY, NOV. 25

TOO MUCH TOGETHERNESS

4:52 a.m. 900 block of North Beneva Road

Disturbance: A woman who wanted her phone returned by her ex-boyfriend, with whom she still resides, called police to settle the matter. When an officer arrived, the caller said she had an argument with the man about him speaking to and dating other women. She said during the argument he took her phone and left.

The man told police the caller started the argument with him by being loud and banging on his doors, adding the dispute was about him being with another woman while they are still living together. He advised that he called his mother, who told him to leave with her phone. The officer advised both subjects that to prevent further arguments they should think about other living arrangements. The man’s mother also lives at the residence.

No further action was taken.

The school board blew it

sets the tone. She needed to exhibit confidence and command of the meeting. She should have shown she was ready to articulate specifically why the board was meeting — and gone so far as to say what she hoped the outcome would be.

MATT WALSH

It is standard practice in business meetings to establish an “up-front contract.” Before a meeting begins, you establish with the participants the “why,” the purpose, and what you as the leader hope to accomplish by the end of the meeting.

That contract gives everyone the guardrails and road map to follow.

Initially, Ziegler appropriately articulated the seriousness of the meeting and gave the audience the standard admonition to behave. But she failed to express what she hoped the outcome would be.

minds that this entire affair was orchestrated after the Aug. 23 elections and before Tuesday’s meeting.

As one Sarasota business owner told us Tuesday night: “They are liars.” He offered no evidence. But he is convinced.

Not addressing that elephant created irreparable damage to the credibility of the board.

n Why? Author Simon Sinek wrote a famous book, “Start with Why?” And that key question was never specifically answered.

n The Asplen explosion eliminated all hope. Blame this on Ziegler, too. When she turned to Asplen after all of the board members made their judgment speeches, she effectively lifted the lid on a boiling pot ready to explode.

And explode Asplen did. She should have let it boil.

Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944

President and Publisher / Emily Walsh, EWalsh@YourObserver.com

Executive Editor and COO / Kat Hughes, KHughes@YourObserver.com

From start to finish, it was a disaster.

If you attended or watched as an observer all five hours of Tuesday night’s special Sarasota County School Board meeting, by the time the board reached its climax (e.g. figuring out the meaning on what it was voting), your conclusion likely went something like this: Those people don’t know how to be an effective board or how to be board members.

If this is what to expect from the new board, the school district, teachers, students, parents and taxpayers are headed for trouble. There is no way you could walk away from that fiasco feeling confident that success is in the future.

Oh, where to begin?

At the beginning.

A preview of what was to come occurred at the start of the meeting. Board member Tom Edwards made one of the two most pertinent comments of the night from a board member (he made the second one as well; more on that later). His first actually was a question: What was the purpose of the meeting?

Was it to discuss the termination of the superintendent’s contract, as board member Karen Rose moved at the Nov. 22 meeting? Or was it the motion the board members apparently voted on: “to discuss the superintendent’s contract”?

Two quite different things, to be sure.

Board Chair Bridget Ziegler was not precisely clear herself. After a bit of fumbling, Ziegler and the board settled on discussing the superintendent’s contract.

Next: Ziegler opened the meeting by asking for board comments, whereupon Edwards reminded her the agenda called for opening the floor to public comments.

Ziegler acknowledged she was a little rusty sitting as chair again. But all of this was not a good omen. It was going to be a long night. It was. And excruciatingly bad.

If board members were like professional sports team coaches, they would watch the “game film” and, we would hope, learn a lot from their performances.

Here are some of our assessments:

n The board members badly need a coach, an expert to school them on the role of a board; the role of board members; and how to conduct an effective meeting.

On the latter, as chair, Ziegler

While Ziegler told us over the weekend she felt unsure how the meeting would go and of its outcome, she also told us in that interview her hope was that the board and Asplen could agree to continue working together.

She made no mention of the latter, raising the question: Was that her genuine hope?

n Role of a board and role of board members: One conclusion you likely would make after listening to Superintendent Asplen’s outburst (more on that later) is some board members involve themselves too much in district operations.

That is verboten. The only time that is acceptable is if the CEO asks for the board’s involvement.

Let the CEO do his/her job. The board’s role is to watch the money; watch the direction of the business; and watch the CEO’s performance, which includes agreeing on goals, objectives and benchmarks to measure the CEO. Another role for a board member: Hand out praise to employees (with the CEO’s permission in advance).

In his diatribe of exasperation with the board, Asplen explicitly scolded board members for the politics that permeate what he deals with. “I spend more time on nonsense and can’t get my job done,” he said. “We’re always doing this nonsense all the time. If as a community you want to move forward, you have to quit this nonsense.”

n There was no discussion among board members to address this most basic question:

What would be best for the district, its students and employees — especially in light of the turmoil the district has experienced the past four years?

Audience members repeatedly raised the issue of past turmoil; Edwards, Ziegler and Tim Enos spoke about it. But none of the board members asked his/her fellow board members: What would be best: To continue to try to work with Asplen, or start over with the disruption that comes from Asplen leaving and trying to hire a new superintendent?

Board members failed miserably on that point. Instead, they focused on their personal-professional differences with Asplen.

n Was this apparent move to get rid of Asplen orchestrated? Was it a fait accompli? Did board members violate the Sunshine Laws?

None of the four board members who voted to discuss Asplen’s contract answered these repeated accusations from the audience.

This, too, was a major failure. The fact they did not address it, in effect, confirms in all those people’s

Indeed, everyone — in the audience, in Greater Sarasota — wanted board member Karen Rose to explain why she started this whole drama. Rose made the motion at the Nov. 22 meeting “to recommend the termination of the superintendent’s contract.” But she never explained publicly, and in detail, why.

At Tuesday’s meeting, she once again referred to her responses in her evaluation of Asplen. But even those responses leave everyone wondering.

In an interview Monday, Rose told us: “My sole goal was to initiate a process for how we are going to bring unity back to the district. I’ve had the opportunity to work for three decades in this district with unity. So the divisiveness has to be addressed … There has a been a strong, consistent voice for change in the district going back to COVID. … And I’ve tried for change on the dais and in one-on-ones. But I don’t see it.”

Like Ziegler, Rose told us in our interview she was open to and hoping Tuesday’s meeting would result in the board and Asplen working out an arrangement to continue.

Like Ziegler, she made no statement to that effect. She made no suggestions to end the divisiveness.

By the meeting’s end, Rose said her “adversarial relationship” was such that she could not work with Asplen. She called again for his termination.

n None of the board members, except Edwards, uttered a word toward wanting to explore or find a way for Asplen and the board to work together. This only reinforced the public’s perception the four board members want him gone.

A common refrain of many boards to CEOs is this: “What can we do to help you succeed?”

Robyn Marinelli said she told Asplen in another setting she wanted to help him succeed. But neither she nor any of the other board members posed this simple question: “What can we do to make this relationship successful and allow you to succeed at your job?”

n Ask questions. This is a role for the board chair. Everyone on the board sat Tuesday night as “a judger” — bloviating his or her points of view. The board chair needed to play the role of “learner” and ask questions as a way of guiding the discussion to a purposeful end. For example:

To Rose: Can you help us understand what it would take for you and Dr. Asplen to work together? Or, what’s preventing you from being able to work with Dr. Asplen?

To Asplen: Can you share your expectations of board members? What can we do more of to help you succeed, and what can we do less of to help you succeed? Or, can you describe in your mind’s eye how the ideal board would work with you?

They all need to read: “Change Your Questions; Change Your Life,” by Maralee Adams.

There is only so much anyone can take. And Asplen reached that point. The board members’ comments clearly solidified his decision to leave his job. He prefaced his tirade of picking apart board members’ criticisms by saying: “I feel I’m probably going to be fired after I say this. But I can’t hold back.”

And he didn’t.

Unfortunately, Asplen’s pent-up frustration and anger was so great, he violated a cardinal rule of being a CEO: No matter what, “stay in your adult.”

He lowered his stature when he lost his cool.

But it was understandable given the circumstances.

n Edwards’ second cogent comment came at the end of the meeting, after Asplen’s unbridled riff. Emotions were high; the air tense. Edwards rationally suggested the board and Asplen not make any decisions at that moment and take “time for all board members to let cooler heads prevail.”

This was the equivalent of advising not to hit the send key on a volatile email that would have grave consequences.

In that instant, Ziegler could have played rational peacemakerleader. Instead, she said, “I don’t know how we build a relationship to function together. I will defer to my fellow colleagues.”

She blew it.

n Irony of ironies: Speaker after speaker called for “getting the politics out of the school board.” Most of those were Democrats, many of whom had responded to notices from the Sarasota County Democratic Party to speak at the meeting in support of Asplen.

n Transparency: Based on the many people who were saddened and outraged that the new board moved so precipitously to oust Asplen, it was overly evident that board members have not been transparent, as they promised in their campaigns. Everyone went home Tuesday night still not knowing how and why specifically this tragedy occurred. Another failure.

n Irreparably harmed? This whole drama — yet to be completed — is a shame, travesty and big black mark on Sarasota County. While Asplen is not a saint, as many speakers noted, overall Asplen has done an admirable job in extraordinary circumstances. He is good at what he does. Under his watch, there is no operational or quality crisis that needs immediate triage.

What’s more, it remains an illogical mystery why the board — with two new members who have never sat on this school board — could not find a way to continue working with Asplen so board members could learn for themselves whether he is or is not suited for the job.

Of this we are sure: The four Republican school board members who will vote Dec. 2 to part officially with Superintendent Asplen will have much to do hereafter to prove they will not diminish or destroy what has been for more than three decades one of the best school districts in Florida and one of this community’s best assets.

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Sarasota school board members and Superintendent Aspen showed how not to operate as a competent board and poised leader.

Yes, with an explanation

Nearly all development plans that come before the Sarasota Planning Board have recommendation of approval by staff. Board members asked them why.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

When a development plan comes before the city of Sarasota Planning Board, nearly 100% of them come with recommendation for approval by the city’s planning staff. It was during the Nov. 18 meeting of the Planning Board when members asked why.

On the agenda were two develop ment projects: Bahia Vista apart ments at Tuttle Avenue and Bahia Vista Street, LKR at Lido Beach luxury condominiums on Benjamin Franklin Drive, both recommended by staff for approval.

As the board members debated the merits of Bahia Vista Apartments before it sent the project to the City Commission with its own recom mendation to deny approval, the question was asked why staff gave it the stamp of approval, as it does nearly every other development that comes before the board.

“Whenever we get a packet for planning board, the city staff always suggests approval, so by the time it reaches here, the city is in favor of it,” said Vice Chairman Daniel Cler mont, who chaired the meeting in the absence of Terrill Salem. “It gives the impression that the city is always in favor of any development plan. How often do you get approached and it just never gets here? I’m kind of interested to know …  is there some point where you say no?”

The path for staff approval, explained Manager of Long-Range Planning David Smith, runs through the Development Review Commit

tee, which consists of representa tives from every city department. Usually requiring multiple meetings, the DRC is a body that allows devel opers to meet with all departments at one time to receive feedback on adjustments to site plans in order to meet city code. Those meetings are open to the public but not to public comment as that step in the process is administrative and not political.

Whether the DRC likes the proj ect or not is irrelevant. All that is required is whether it meets all standards within the existing zon ing district or those applicable to a requested rezoning.

“There seems to be a misunder standing in the public’s perception of exactly what the Development Review Committee’s purpose is,” said Development Review Planner Amy Pintus. “Our purpose is to vet all projects before they come to you. They don’t receive DRC sign-off if they don’t comply with the code.

“Staff’s job is not to render an opinion on if we like something or not. It’s an issue of equal interpreta tion under the law, where we have to say if a project is compliant with city code or not. You don’t usually see a project unless it complies with code because we don’t issue DRC sign-off for projects that don’t comply.”

The DRC meetings include department heads or representa tives of planning, public works, sanitation, police, fire, city arborist and engineering. The back-andforth between the DRC and devel opers — who are often represented by a consultant, an architect and an engineer of their own — generally includes “comments” provided by staff, which for the most part pertain to requirements for adjustments in myriad areas such as setbacks, side walk widths, parking structures, dumpster locations, driveway loca tions, screening, floor heights, valet operations, fire suppression and more.

The end result is a proposal that meets city code requirements, or it typically doesn’t move on to the requisite political bodies for final approval.

That’s all well and good, but once a project is approved who ensures it is built to all the requisite standards, Clermont asked.

“The building permit has to be in substantial conformity with the site plan approval in order to get built,” said Assistant City Engineer Dan Ohrenstein. “We have our plans, reviewers for building permits as well as inspectors that make sure that it meets the what they had per

mitted.”

Conformity to the approved plans is also required to receive a certificate of occupancy, Ohrenstein added.

“For the record, since I’ve been on the Planning Board, I recall one application where staff recommend ed denial,” said member Kathy Kelley Ohlrich.

“I just want to reiterate that our role as staff is to review if something’s compliant with code or not,” Pintus replied. “It doesn’t matter if we like something or not. That’s not sup posed to come into play. If a devel oper is following the rules, we’re obligated to recommend approval. It’s an issue of equal interpretation. If we start recommending denial of projects that are compliant with code, the city will be facing lawsuits .

“I wasn’t passing judgment on it,” Ohlrich added. “I was just saying a statement of fact.”

The Planning Board did find itself in unanimous agreement with staff on LKR at Lido Beach, a 65-unit luxury

condominium development at 930 and 1008 Benjamin Franklin Drive. The developer of record is WSR-Lido Beach.

Destined for a 3.89-acre beach front tract is a planned 11-story development where the historic Gulf Beach Motel and Coquina on the Beach motel once stood. Those buildings were demolished in 2020. The iconic Gulf Beach Motel sign has been preserved and will be incorpo rated in the landscape.

A prior developer had originally proposed a 10-story building with 70 residential units. That, along with a 135-foot maximum building height, was approved by Sarasota City Com mission in 2021.The development will include eight residential floors and one amenity floor above two parking levels. The property will be managed by Rosewood Hotels and Resorts. No unit may be rented for fewer than six months.

Because of limited beach access in the area, the developer is required to provide a five-foot-wide easement on the north side of the property.

BEACH CONDOS APPROVED

Andrew Warfield

LKR at Lido Beach will be built at 980 and 1008 Benjamin Franklin Drive.

Courtesy photo

A rendering of LKR at Lido Beach, a 65-unit luxury condo development on the site of the former Gulf Beach Motel. Like nearly all plans before the Planning Board, it came with staff recommendation to approve.

Planning Board divided on new zoning district for The Bay

Members deadlock over a proposal to create a new zoning district for the park.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

Planning for a portion of the second phase of The Bay has taken a step forward with the recomendation to change the city’s future land-use plans on 8.83 acres that now serve as parking for the public boat launch at 10th Street and North Tamiami Trail.

A decision on a new zoning district to encompass most of the still-tobe-developed land — called the Bay Park Zone — will have to wait at least another month.

On Nov. 18, the Sarasota Plan

ning Board unanimously approved the future land use of the nearly nine acres from Open Space-Recre ation-Conservation to Metropoli tan Regional #5, which allows uses consistent with the already vetted and approved master plan for the 53-acre, $150 million park.

The four Planning Board members in attendance were divided, though, over a proposal to create a new zon ing district that would incorporate the 43 acres of The Bay outside of the recently opened first phase.

Representatives of the Bay Park Conservancy said a new Bay Park Zone designation would streamline development providing they remain consistent with the master plan.

In the absence of Chair Terrill Salem, the tie vote means the matter will return to the Planning Board at its Dec. 14 meeting. Vice Chairman Daniel Clermont and Michael Hal

Photos by Andrew Warfield

This public boat launch site at 10th Street and North Tamiami trail is part of The Bay’s “Canal District” now under development by the Bay Park Conservancy.

Blumetti and Ohlrich argued that a new designated zoning district would at the very least lend the appearance of removing the public from provid ing input on future phases of The Bay. Bay Park Conservancy CEO Bill Waddill countered that unless there are proposed changes to the master plan — the creation of which includ ed 340 public meetings attended by 11,300 people — the public process is complete, though workshops will still take place.

A proposed change in the master plan, such as adding large buildings, would trigger the public involvement and government approval.

Waddill told Planning Board mem bers the proposed Bay Park Zone is in response to an expressed desire to build more park faster and cheaper.

“In January this year, we received our second amendment to our longrange partnership with the city. Many of those discussions revolved around how can we build more park for our community sooner that costs less,” Waddill said. “When we’re in this year of 5-10% inflation, on a $30 million park if it takes two less years that’s millions less of taxpayer dol lars it costs.”

Development and operations of the park are a public-private venture with costs roughly divided equally between the city and the private sector. The city’s portion is funded by a portion of the penny sales tax and tax increment financing in the downtown bayfront core.

staff asked us what would be true

for you to build more park like in Phase 1 more quickly,” Waddill said.

“That’s what this is all about, so we don’t have to come back to the City Commission for a waiver to put a 32-inch trash can to replace a rusty 30-inch trash can along the water front, which we literally had to do this year.”

Although he supported the pro posed zoning district, Clermont echoed the concerns expressed by Ohlrich and Blumetti.

“The Bay is seen as a very positive thing, but the other thing I see loom ing down the road is you’re going to have to have a lot of public buy-in when you get to this performing arts center,” Clermont said. “If all of the sudden parameters change and it appears the project is going behind closed doors … what I’m afraid of is, as a matter of public policy, it may be a bad political move.”

Waddill clarified that the effort to build a new performing arts center is a collaborate initiative of the city and the Van Wezel Foundation, and that the Bay Park Conservancy has no involvement in that matter.

“That’s a completely separate ini tiative,” he said. “We have no say in the performing arts center. We sim ply create the park that sits around it.”

Waddill’s arguments fell short of convincing enough members to pre vent a month’s delay in the Planning Board’s recommendation to City Commission. Assistant City Attor

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flants supported the measure with Damien Blumetti and Kathy Kelley Ohlrich opposed.

UTC adds another brew house

“If you miss, you miss small,” he said.

He said the small size would also increase the ease of experimenta tion, as adding a small amount of ingredients impacts the final prod uct “dramatically.”

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

One executive is stepping up his game plan to continue a brew ery he said is important to the Southwest Florida region.

Leo “L.J.” Govoni, CEO and cofounder of Seaboard Craft Beer Holdings, has selected University Town Center for the next Fat Point Brewing location.

Although the brewery is named for its original location of Punta Gorda, which means “Fat Point” in Spanish, Govoni said successful craft beer establishments in Florida require multiple locations.

“Fat Point needs outposts,” Govo ni said, calling the University Town Center area a “fantastically managed and well planned-out shopping and hospitality center.”

The 2,500-square-foot venue, which will be located along Cattle men Road between Rocco’s Tacos and Tequila Bar and Ford’s Garage, has targeted a first quarter of 2023 opening, although he said he would open sooner if construction is fin ished.

Govoni said the site, which will offer beers brewed on location, will shift the company’s focus to small batch beers in order to allow “experi mentation” with the brand.

The new location is expected to give to as many of 60 new beers a year.

Some of those will join the brew ery’s signature lineup of coastal Florida-inspired beers.

The site will feature either a threebarrel or one-barrel brewing system, with four fermenters, in contrast to the 15-barrel system at Fat Point’s original Punta Gorda location.

Another reason he said he is expanding to Sarasota is the brew ery’s Punta Gorda branch is current ly closed and in the process of being moved across the street.

He said it was important for the company to keep the Fat Point brand present in Florida.

Fat Point Brewing was founded in 2014 by Bill Frazer and his brotherin-law Duncan Scarry, but Seaboard Craft Beer Holdings took over the struggling brewery in 2017.

Govoni said in purchasing the brand, he wanted to keep craft beer relevant in the area.

“Buying the brand was important to what we’re doing, because it was important to Southwest Florida,” he said.

The majority of current flagship beers, he said, was inherited from the original owners.

Govoni strives for cleanliness and complexity.

He also said customers can expect bold flavors.

“I think if we’re going to brew a tangerine wheat, that means that tangerine needs to kick you in the face,” he said.

“You need to have the aromatics as soon as you put that glass to your nose and mouth, the flavor needs to be there, and the finish needs to be perfect.”

He said the base product would also be of high quality, and that fla vors would not be used to mask defi ciencies.

“It’s very easy to take a bad or bland beer and add 100 things on top of it,” he said.

Govoni said the product would reflect the quality of the ingredients, the high levels of staff experience, and the quality of the equipment.

“I think all three of those triangu late together to consistently get that

balanced beer we’re looking for,” he said.

One notable aspect of most of Fat Point’s beers, he said, is that they are typically low in alcohol levels.

“You’re going to have a couple of them in a session and still feel good,” he said, describing them as a product someone could “consume all day in the sun.”

In addition to the newly created beers, customers will be able to experience items which were already popular at the original Fat Point location.

Govoni said of all beers inherited from the original brewery, he was proudest of the main flagship beer, the Big Boca, which features aro matic hops added for spicy and cit rus flavors.

“We’re really proud of what of what Big Boca is,” he said. “We’re proud of what it’s become and where it’s going.”

He described the product as “a really well-done and balanced, slightly sweet, approachable-style beer,” noting that it was also rela tively simple in its makeup.

Another personal favorite, he said, is Bru Man Chu, a Belgian Trippel which took home gold medals at the 2018 U.S. Open Beer Championship and the 2019 Best Florida Beer Pro fessional Championship.

He also encouraged guests to try the Winter Warmer.

This spiced ale, he said, was the company’s attempt to replicate Christmas and winter-inspired beers from the Great Lakes region.

“We just kind of went for it and I think we came close,” he said. “It was complex, a little nuanced, but well within style, well within intention.”

The question of who will ultimate ly assume the task of overseeing the brewing is not yet determined, he said.

He said the business could pro mote a staff member internally, although he was also drawn to the possibility of a newcomer.

“I also think there’s something uniquely exciting about someone

with a new vision, and new expecta tions,” he said.

The brand, he said, will grow to the strengths of whomever is chosen to lead the brewing process.

Featuring food items in addition to beers, the location will aim for a wide appeal.

Moving away from a previous piz za-centered concept, the menu will focus on coastal-inspired seafood fare, although other items includ ing familiar comfort foods will be offered.

“We hope to attract families, we hope to attract individual craft beer snobs, we hope to attract the guy that wants a place to get a beer,” he said.

Fat Point BrewingOpens first quarter of 2023. West District at UTC, between Rocco’s Tacos and Tequila Bar and Ford’s Garage. Serves Craft beers, seafood items, and pop ular handheld foods. FatPoint.com.

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The Punta Gorda-based brewery is opening a new location at University Town Center.

Fat Point Brewing is targeted for an early 2023 opening at UTC in Sarasota.

Courtesy photo

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The V holiday

JAY HEATER OBSERVER STAFF

The past 18 months have been tough on the now 83-year-old Dick Vitale, who has overcome mela noma, lymphoma and vocal cord dysplasia, all which threatened to end his life or at the very least end his broadcasting career. Thanksgiving 2022 was no sure

thing.

“I am very thankful we are all together,” his wife, Lorraine Vitale said. “We didn’t know if we would be. You’ve got to appreciate your health because sometimes you don’t realize what a blessing it is.”

Vitale said the recent struggles offered more proof that he has been blessed.

“Seeing my children and my grandchildren, I am so happy with

what they are doing in their lives. There are so many problems peo ple face, but all of them are doing well. They are thriving. What joy to grandparents, having them close in Lakewood Ranch.”

Vitale tries to pass the wisdom he has acquired over the years to his grandchildren. The struggles of his immediate past, though, have added perspective to some of his stories.

TOUGH TIMES

Take for instance, the one about per severing during tough times. That message had been drilled into him years ago by his parents and fam ily members. But Vitale said he failed to use that wisdom himself when he encountered his first tough time. It came in 1979 when he was

fired by Detroit Pistons owner Wil liam Davidson, a man he admired.

Vitale struggled in the NBA, follow ing a successful collegiate coaching career, when his roster wasn’t tal ented enough. It irked him and he repeatedly told that to Davidson.

“Bill Davidson always treated me like royalty,” Vitale said. “He would say, ‘You are your biggest enemy.’ But we couldn’t beat the Lakers, and we couldn’t beat Dr. J (Julius Erving) and the 76ers. It was driving me nuts and I was telling him about it.

“Lorraine kept saying to me, ‘You can’t do this. You are going to talk him into firing you.’”

In 1979, Davidson fired him.

“It was my first time dealing with a tough time,” Dick Vitale said.

All those lessons he had learned from his family took a back seat to his depression.

Lorraine Vitale wouldn’t have it, though.

“She told me, ‘You’re not the first guy this has happened to,’” Vitale said. “She was right. I was violating everything I believed in.

“The key in life, and I give my grandkids this talk, is how you han dle tough times,” he said. “You have two choices. You can just feel sorry for yourself, or you can pick up the pieces. (Getting fired) was a great lesson for me. I don’t care who you are, you are going to face obstacles and problems.”

He listened to his wife, and landed a job announcing the first college basketball game that ESPN covered, on Dec. 5, 1979 between DePaul and Wisconsin. He never looked back.

A NEW CHALLENGE

Sitting alone in a chemotherapy room early in 2022, he came to a crossroads once again. This time, his

path was clear.

He thought of the words by his good friend Jimmy Valvano, who in 1993, two months before his death from cancer, walked to the podium at the ESPY Awards program to receive the Arthur Ashe Courage and Humanitarian Award, and told the audience, “Don’t give up, don’t ever give up. That’s what I’m going to try to do every minute that I have left.”

“In chemo, I kept repeating those words to myself,” Dick Vitale said. “Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.”

On Nov. 15, after missing most of the 2021-22 season due to his medi cal struggles, Vitale returned to give color commentary in Michigan State’s victory over Kentucky in the Champions Challenge in Indianap olis. It started his 44th season with ESPN.

TODAY Through the highs and lows of his coaching career, and a broadcasting career that turned him into an icon, Vitale’s career has changed their lives.

But Lorraine Vitale said that even today, “nothing has changed between us.”

Dick Vitale did admit that he is more obsessed than ever to raise money for pediatric cancer research and awareness through the V Foun dation.

His 2022 gala raised $11 million for the cause, up from $6.5 million in 2021.

On ESPN’s website, he wrote, “I’ve seen firsthand the devastation that cancer can have on families, on chil dren, and on all of our loved ones. It can bring you to your knees. It robs you of so many things, including life itself for some of the most unfortu nate patients. I never lose sight of that, and that’s why I feel so lucky.”

So he sent out a plea.

“If you are able, think about how blessed you are,” he said. “Rais ing millions (for pediatric cancer research) has been one of the great thrills of my life. Now I have expe rienced it (cancer). Think of a doctor walking in and saying your child has cancer. It is life changing.

“So if you can, give.”

Dickie V talks turkey about lessons learned in a long career.

Dick and Lorraine Vitale had to persevere through the last 18 months as Dick was being treated for two forms of cancer.

A WAY TO GIVE THANKS

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Dressing up for Turkey Trot

Lakewood Ranch’s Shami Bhullar was about to run the fifth annual Florida Turkey Trot at Nathan Benderson Park on Thanksgiving morning dressed from head-to-toe as a turkey.

The pajama-looking outfit certainly looked warm.

“It’s my Halloween costume,” Bhullar said. “We’ll see how hot it is. You might find it on a bridge somewhere.”

The Florida Turkey Trot, presented by Publix, drew a sellout of 3,400 runners to raise funds for the Nathan Benderson Park Conservancy and the Big Bill Foundation, which was named for former Nathan Benderson Park Conservancy Board Chairman Bill Robinson, who died in 2020.

The race quickly has become a family tradition with many participants dressing the part.

Pittsburgh’s Josh Nichols finished the race wearing a complete turkey suit and looked like he was about to be served for dinner.

“I am a fried turkey,” Nichols said. “Extra crisp.”

Sarasota’s Roy Hobson won the race in 15:36. Venice’s Katherine O’Sullivan-Sams was the first female finisher.

The event also included a Turkey Row for the first time.

— JAY HEATER

The Meadows’ Christine Barro, Patricia Schultz, Luanne King, Donna Krusenoski, Jessie Maciel, Rosana Grillo and Marilyn Reed were color coordinated to run in the Turkey Trot.

Lakewood Ranch 11-year-old Kate Toscano, her mom, Leslie Toscano, and brother, 9-year-old Anthony To scano, get ready to run the Turkey Trot.

Pittsburgh’s John Nichols flies across the finish line in a complete turkey suit. “I am a fried turkey,” he said. “Extra crisp.”

Fast Break

Rocking the boat

Cardinal Mooney High is hosting the “Coach Cherry Holiday Hoops” basketball camp on Dec. 27 and Dec. 29 from 1-3 p.m. The camp is for players in grades 3-8. The camp is $30 a day and includes a ticket to a Mooney basketball home game. To register, email Coach Vince Cherry at CougarsBasketball2022@Gmail.com.

Interesting game alert: The Riverview High and Sarasota High boys soccer teams will face off at 7 p.m. Dec. 8 at Sarasota High. The two teams tied 0-0 on Nov. 18. Will someone score this time?

Want to watch something unique this weekend? The Last Paddler Standing event at Nathan Benderson Park on Dec. 3 will see participants paddle a 3.33-mile loop. The loop must be completed in under an hour — because at the top of the next hour, another loop starts. The event will continue until there is only one paddler left standing, however long it takes. There are 30 participants on the starting list. The event is free for spectators. For information, visit LastPaddlerStanding.com.

Another call: If you know of any area athletes doing something charitable during this holiday season, let us know by sending an email to RKohn@ YourObserver.com. We love to feature athletes doing right by their community.

Here’s an example: 30 Cardinal Mooney athletes, from across many sports, spent Nov. 22 volunteering at the Sarasota Ministerial Association’s annual Thanksgiving luncheon at First Sarasota Downtown Baptist Church.

With Riverview’s playoff loss to Venice on Nov. 25, the area’s high school football season is done. It was an exciting season all-around, even with an extended hurricane break in the middle. Here’s hoping 2023 is even better.

BY RYAN KOHN SPORTS EDITOR

The Sarasota High boys basket ball program has not had a win ning season since 2013-2014. On Tuesday, a determined group of Sailors and a new coach showed off a desire to change that.

After finishing 5-20 last season, Sarasota brought in former River view High and The Out-of-Door Academy coach B.J. Ivey to run its program. Ivey, a well-known name in the basketball community, took the Rams to a state championship game appearance in the 2015-2016 season. Don’t expect that kind of success in year one with the Sailors, but Ivey said he’s committed to building a culture of growth, both athletic and personal. That takes time.

Ivey likes how his players have responded.

“It’s a hard thing to do,” Ivey said. “Culture is what you do every day. These seniors, they have habits built up over three years. We’re trying to develop standards of behavior on and off the court and then hold the kids accountable to the standards they set for themselves. I’m excited about that.”

Ivey said he can feel the team get ting closer to those standards. The team’s desired identity is not com plex: Be strong on defense first, then pick up the tempo and get open looks via spacing (player movement) and ball movement, as opposed to a play er attempting to create his own shot.

The Sailors did what Ivey asked on Tuesday night. Bringing a ferocious defensive energy onto their home floor, the Sailors beat Ivey’s former squad, ODA, 58-32, using that ener gy to disrupt the Thunder’s offense. ODA rarely found itself with an open shot and was consistently hounded by Sarasota players in pursuit of steals; Sarasota ended the game with 22 of them.

The win brought the Sailors’ record to 2-1. Three games into 2022-2023, Sarasota has 40% of its wins from a season ago. It’s a small sample but also a sign of the improvements.

Junior center/forward Daniel Munn led the Sailors with 16 points against ODA and controlled the paint on the offensive end. Nick Tregembo,

a sophomore guard, added 11 points.

Munn said the team’s chemistry has increased a noticeable amount in 2022, in no small part because of the discipline and mental fortitude Ivey requires.

“They changed our mindset,” Munn said of the coaching staff. “It’s all completely different. We’re more disciplined. We’re passing the ball more. We’re clicking. We are work ing a lot harder (than last season) and we hate losing.”

The Sailors have struggled to win in recent seasons, but the pro gram’s talent pool was not empty. Ivey said he did not know much about the team’s roster before tak ing the  coaching position, as he did not see the team play in 2021-2022

while coaching ODA. Ivey said he took the job because of his relation ship with Principal David Jones, for  whom Ivey said he has “unbe lievable amounts of respect,” and because of the vision shared among the entire athletic department. Ivey said he was surprised by the athleti cism of his players. Though many of the Sailors are young, they have lots of room to grow.

That also means there’s a high potential of mistakes.

“One of the things that we’re going to struggle with is consistency,” Ivey said. “We want to see the things we’re practicing translate to the games more frequently.”

That showed in the team’s loss, a 69-59 road defeat to Venice, which also has a first-year coach in Luke Davis. After holding 22-14 lead at the end of the first quarter, the Sailors let the Indians take control. Against ODA, the Sailors shot 37% from three-point range; against Venice they shot 19%.

Not every game will go as smooth ly for Sarasota as the ODA game , but a manageable schedule and renewed focus can put the team in contention for a winning season, something that would mark significant prog ress. The team’s goals don’t extend past its reach: Munn said the team wants to gel enough over the course of the season to compete in the dis trict tournament, and get a win over rival Riverview High (0-3); accord ing to MaxPreps game data, the Sail ors have dropped 17 straight games to the Rams.

The two teams will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday at Riverview, then again on Jan. 10.

“I have a high basketball IQ. I feel like I have a good ability to rebound and read plays.”

— Sarasota High’s Daniel Munn SEE

File photo

Cardinal Mooney High boys basketball coach Vince Cherry.

Coach BJ Ivey is working to reshape the Sailors’ culture — while racking up wins on the score sheet.

Sailors boys basketball coach BJ Ivey said the team has focused on defensive intensity early in the 2022-2023 season.

Photos by Ryan Kohn

Sailors sophomore Harris Hawke takes a threepoint shot against The Out-of-Door Academy.

“We want to see the things we’re practicing translate to the games more frequently.”

College gridiron grants great seasons

August Drews played in three games this year as a redshirt freshman at Appalachian State. Drews caught his first career pass on Oct. 29 against Robert Morris, taking it 18 yards. In time, the 6-foot-5 Drews has potential as a blocker and a red zone target for the Mountaineers.

t always ends too soon.

Right when the college football season feels like it is shifting into its highest gear, it ends — or at least, the regular season does. That’s what happened Saturday, as teams across the country brought their schedules to a close and now wait for conference championship games to be played and for bowl game slots to be assigned. The first of those bowl games, the Bahamas Bowl, won’t be until Dec. 16. The wait isn’t long, but it can be excruciating for some die-hard fans.

If nothing else, the time inbetween provides a chance to reflect. For us, that means a chance to look at how Sarasota-area players fared in 2022. To no one’s surprise, there were plenty of former Rams, Sailors, Cougars and Tornadoes who played up their own high standards, and others who showed flashes of the potential they possess and (might) unlock in the coming years.

Let’s start with the undisputed star. South Florida stumbled and fell in 2022. The Bulls finished with a 1-11 record and fired coach Jeff Scott on Nov. 6. The one silver lining: Former Sarasota High running back Brian Battie had a stellar season. Battie, a sophomore, had 280 carries, 1,842 yards (6.6 yards per carry) and eight touchdowns.

Battie also caught 14 catches for 91 yards, plus 659 kick return yards. In becoming just the sixth Bull to rush for 1,000 yards, Battie is following in the footsteps of former Booker High running back Marlon Mack, who achieved the feat in all three of his Bulls seasons (2014-2016).

Hopefully, whichever coach Battie is playing for next year will know how to use him. He’s one of the quickest players in the country and can get  yardage with ease. It seemed like every time I checked in on a USF game, Battie was making something positive happen — not an easy feat on that team.

Michigan State defensive back Charles Brantley — a Sarasota native who spent two years at Riverview High before transferring to Venice High — saw plenty of playing time as a sophomore for the Spartans. Brantley played in 11 of the team’s 12 games and recorded 48 total tackles (22 solo) with two tackles for loss and a sack. Brantley also had a 32-yard interception return for a touchdown Oct. 8 against Ohio State and seven passes defended.

Brantley’s teammate, Jaron

Glover, is a former Riverview wide receiver. Glover, a 6-foot-1 freshman,  caught a pass for two yards this season, but seeing the field at all this early, for a big-time team such as the Spartans, is a victory. I’d expect Glover to be a key contributor in the next season or two.

Central Michigan junior Jacques Bristol, a Booker grad, remained a steady presence on the Chippewas’ interior defensive line. Bristol had 34 tackles (17 solo) and a sack, plus a pass defended, but his main contributions can’t be seen on a stats page. Bristol is a reliable disruptor in the running game.

Former Booker High wide receiver Talik Keaton, a junior at Marshall, missed the Thundering Herd’s November slate of games after suffering a lower-body injury against Coastal Carolina on Oct. 29, but he was on track to have his

most productive season yet. In eight games, Keaton caught 24 passes for 226 yards and returned 15 punts for 106 total yards.

Since getting 118 carries as a freshman thanks to a wave of injuries in the Minnesota backfield, former Cardinal Mooney running back Bryce Williams — now a senior — waited patiently for chance to meaningfully contribute again. He still wasn’t the Golden Gophers’ lead back in 2022, but Williams’ patience did pay off. He received 49 carries for 248 yards (5 yards a carry) and three touchdowns while spelling Minnesota star Ibrahim Mohamed. He likely could have been a starter for a smaller school; in the age of the transfer portal, I’m glad Williams got some reward for his decision to stay loyal to the team that signed him.

Former Sarasota High tight end

Zahodri Jackson, a former Riverview defensive back, transferred from Utah State to North Texas for his senior season. Jackson played in 10 games and recorded 10 tackles, four of them in the team’s regular season finale, a 21-17 win over Rice.

At the FCS level of NCAA’s Division I, former Sailor Jamall Thompson saw action as a freshman defensive end for the 10-1 Samford Bulldogs. Thompson, who is 6-foot-3, has 18 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. Samford is a serious FCS program, with their only loss coming to Georgia, so these numbers are more impressive than they seem at a glance.

It’s possible that a number of these players are playing for different teams next season. The transfer portal window opens Dec. 5 and according to many members of the college football media, there is going to be a metric ton of movement, not just from backups looking for greener grass, but from high-end starters on successful teams, who may bump out incumbent starters elsewhere. No one knows how it will shake out, but my hope is that however it does, it allows these kids and others from the area to keep doing their thing, wherever they can. They deserve that much.

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

Some players played up to their own high standards, while others showed flashes of the potential they possess.

Courtesy photo

Charles Brantley was one of Michigan State’s most valuable cornerbacks in 2022.

Daniel Munn

Daniel Munn is a junior center/ forward on the Sarasota High boys basketball team. Munn, who is 6-foot-5, scored 16 points in the Sailors’ 58-32 home victory over The Out-of-Door Academy on Tuesday.

When did you start playing basketball?

I began the summer of my sixthgrade year. I started with AAU ball and then played for Sarasota Middle and Sarasota High. I have always been tall, and some of my friends played basketball, so I gave it a shot.

What is the appeal to you?

It gets me away from all the stress of school and personal- life stuff. It’s something to do. I also just like the sport in general. It’s fun.

What is your best skill?

I have a high basketball IQ. I feel like I have a good ability to rebound and read plays.

What have you been working to improve?

My conditioning and my strength. Shooting a little bit as well, but mostly conditioning and strength. I was a little out-of-game shape dur ing our early preseason practices

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.

so the conditioning work has been helping.

What is your favorite memory?

In eighth grade, my Sarasota Middle basketball team won the league championship. That was great.

What are your goals this season? We want to have a winning season because last season was not so good. We want to beat Riverview High, our rival, and then hopefully win our district.

What is your favorite food? I love some good barbecue, ribs and that sort of thing.

What is your favorite TV show? I just started watching ‘Breaking Bad’ and I’m liking that a lot. But I also love ‘The Office.’

What is your favorite subject? I’m taking ACE Chemistry right now. It’s my hardest class, but I enjoy it.

Which superpower would you pick?

I’d want to be able to fly. I could go anywhere, and it just seems cool.

What is the best advice you have received?

Try new things. That sounds basic, but for me I have been a socially awkward kid at points of my life. I had to learn to do things and try things, and now I do it all the time. It has expanded my view of life.

Finish this sentence: “Daniel Munn is …”

… Understanding. I try to put myself in other people’s shoes and see where they’re coming from.

FROM THE PLUMBING PLACE

Beautiful

It’s a frustrating reality for many Gulf Coast homeowners

Beachy start to the holidays

What better way to head into the holiday season than with palm trees and sand in between the toes?

Light Up Siesta Key and Village Holiday Parade was held Saturday in front of hundreds of eager people. The community gathered on the corner of Ocean Boulevard and Avenida del Mare where the parade started and headed north toward the village.

Families and children applauded along Ocean Boulevard where people on floats and in parade cars tossed candy, glow sticks and other holiday goodies. Holiday music blasted through the parade car speakers as the crowd cheered to bump it up louder.

The parade was led by the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce and featured local businesses and groups. Santa Claus brought the parade to a grand finale with his mega boat that was suited for the Siesta Key ambiance.

— DARIELA DELGADO

Photos by Dariela Delgado

Santa Claus makes his appearance in Light Up Siesta Key Holiday Parade.

Red Tiger Martial Arts walk along Ocean Boulevard.

Joe White, Jeneva Hospodarsky and Ian Page represents Two Tides Free Ride in Light Up Siesta Key Parade.

Mrs. Claus makes her appearance in Light Up Siesta Key Holiday Parade.

Kristin Hale, Lauren Bogart, Dara Simon, Gabriella Kephart, Wesley Pratt and Alexis Frey ride with Siesta Key Oyster Bar.

Thanksgiving lunch a big hit

The Sarasota Ministerial Association hosted its annual Thanksgiving luncheon at First Downtown Baptist Church to give those who are experiencing homelessness a homemade holiday meal.

This was the Sarasota Ministerial Association’s 22nd annual Thanksgiving community luncheon. Local government representatives, community leaders and other faith leaders joined the benefit.

“Many desire to recognize Thanksgiving by giving back to those less fortunate. This luncheon is our community caring for others by having a meal with them, and giving to the local organizations who serve our homeless daily,” said Sarasota Ministerial Association President Rev. Tom Pfaff.

Members of Cardinal Mooney High School’s St. Vincent de Paul volunteer club prepped every table with slices of pumpkin pie before the doors were opened to let the special guests inside.

When the doors opened, the special guests were invited into the gymnasium and ushered to tables with colorful handmade hats.

“I love the homeless,” said Ginny Hoenig, a volunteer who crocheted every hat in advance for every special guest.

Rev. Dr. Tom Pfaff said he does this community luncheon celebration for three reasons, “The lord told us to do this, to take care of those in need, we love our neighbors and we live in a community that cares.”

— DARIELA DELGADO

Nathan Sutthoff, Lucas Hassler, Grant Yeagley, Piper Yegley, Lauren Martinez and Ellie Martinez hold slices of pumpkin pies.

Ginny Hoenig holds one of her handmade crocheted hats.

Photos by Dariela Delgado

Courtney West and Cuyler King provide music for the guests to listen to as they enjoy their meal.

Dr. John Cross, Peter Brown, Samantha Brown, Zeb Land gather together and wait to welcome the special guests.

Longboat Mexican eatery finally open

BY LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

La Villa Mexican Grill is the lit tle Longboat Key engine that could. It took Estella Villegas 16 months to open the new restau rant located at 5610 Gulf of Mexico Drive.

The COVID-19 pandemic slowed everything down from remodeling to buying tables and chairs. Ville gas would know, this is not the first restaurant she and her husband have opened.

The original La Villa opened nine years ago outside Tampa. The menus are representative of differ ent regions in Mexico because the cuisine varies across the country.

“I lived in Mexico City for 19 years

and never ever heard the word faji tas,” she said. “We don’t eat burritos in Mexico City either. That’s more of the northern part of Mexico.”

Both dishes are on the menu, and both offer vegetarian options.

Villegas left Mexico City for the United States at 19 years old. She started out in the Tampa Bay area, then gave Chicago and Dallas a try, but returned to where she started to settle down in 2003 with her hus band and two children.

The kids are in college now, but help with the restaurants when on break. Still a family business, hus band Juan Pingarron runs the Valrico location, and her nephew works with her on Longboat Key.

“My husband is the one who cre ated most of the dishes,” Villegas

said. “He’s at the other restaurant, but we’re planning to bring him here once the season gets busy because he’s the best cook.”

As with any homemade family dinner, it may take a little longer to prepare. Soon, a mariachi band will play weekly on Wednesdays. For now, it’s every other Wednesday.

“Please be patient because noth ing is premade, precooked, frozen or canned,” Villegas said. “Everything is fresh and made at the time you order it. We use the best products.”

With rising prices, Villegas says it’s tempting to go with lesser quality ingredients, but the couple choose not to. Pingarron drives to a produce market in Plant City two to three times a week to keep both kitchens freshly stocked.

They also have a liquor bar, and Villegas says people really like the margaritas.

La Villa is open seven days a week from noon to 8 p.m.

It took owners 16 months to open La Villa Mexican Grill. Now it’s serving authentic Mexican dishes, margaritas and mariachi on Gulf of Mexico Drive.

Photos by Lesley Dwyer

Estella Villegas front and center with Mariachi Contemporaneo. The band plays every other Wednesday for now, weekly during peak season.

La Villa Mexican Grill serves beer, wine, liquor and margaritas.

La Villa Mexican Grill features mariachi music every other Wednesday.

Dreamers Academy building dream campus

The bilingual charter school has announced that it will be relocating to a new education campus and plans to open its doors in August 2023.

DELGADO STAFF WRITER

Dreamers Academy’s new educa tional campus is under construc tion at 2146 Myrtle St. and plans to open for classes in August 2023.

The new 43,100-square-foot, two-story building is being con structed not only with classrooms for K-5 grades but also with breakout spaces for small group instruction, outdoor learning spaces and a play ground designed by the students.

“This is a dream come true,” said Head of School Cathy Rodriguez. “We’re in our second year in opera tion to be able to build a new build ing that has been designed and cre ated with our students and families in mind and to maximize the duallanguage model.”

Dreamers Academy’s new cam pus is being financed by the Florida Development Finance Corp. Accord

ing to the corporation’s website, it’s a statewide, special development financing authority for economic development purposes. It is the first time the state agency has issued a bond investing in a new public

school.

“Our dual language model is a much-needed program and our families demand it. There is a need in the community where they really want their children to learn both lan

Asked if moving into a bigger campus would create more student admission and the hiring of more

Dreamers

DARIELA

guages from native Spanish speakers and native English speakers,” Rodri guez said.

Courtesy rendering

Academy has announced that it will be relocating to a new education campus in the Historical Newtown community and plans to open its doors in August 2023.

bilingual teachers, Rodriguez says, “Absolutely. For next school year, we are looking at potentially 450 stu dent enrollment, but the full capac ity of the building is 652 students.”

Rodriguez said that she is most excited about the library, which she calls the Dreamers Academy’s Bib lioteca Tech Center.

The media center is being funded by a $110,500 grant from Impact100 SRQ and will be an asset to the com munity and the heart of the school. It will feature an extensive collection of books in both English and Spanish.

“The Biblioteca Tech Center is going to be the heart of the school. We had the opportunity to create it and design it with furniture that makes it the most inviting. The kids are going to want and can’t wait to get to the tech center,” Dreamers Academy Founder Geri Chaffee said.

“We wanted to be where the com munity is and that would most benefit from the program,” Chaffee said. “We want to bring this program model to the place where children and families that are craving to be part of their community school. We want to be a resource for the children to thrive and their families.”

The Sarasota County School Board approved the charter school in late 2018 with the idea of opening in time for the 2019-20 school year, but throughout the following three years, school leaders couldn’t final ize a location.

School leaders originally aimed for a campus near 17th Street to be near to the county’s highest population of non-English speakers. However, leaders ruled out potential locations there due to environmental issues.

They then joined a partnership

with Save our Y when it changed ownership from the Sarasota Fam ily YMCA in August 2019. Dreamers pulled together millions in dona tions, tax-exempt bonds and state grants to purchase a portion of the Frank G. Berlin campus. But that partnership fell through in early 2020.

Then came COVID-19.

However, the contract between Sarasota County Schools and Dreamers Academy granted the charter school a three-year window to open, which it did at Temple Beth Sholom’s campus at the intersection of Tuttle Avenue and Bahia Vista Street.

Dreamers Academy is accept ing student applications through Jan.30 for the 2023-24 school year at DreamersAcademy.org.

“The Biblioteca Tech Center is going to be the heart of the school. We had the opportunity to create it and design it with furniture that makes it the most inviting. The kids are going to want and can’t wait to get to the tech center.”

— Geri Chaffee

Hillview Drive property resells for $7.25 million

Ahome in Harbor Acres tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. SRQ Home Holdings LLC sold the home at 1500 Hillview Drive to The Bialy-Meyer Trust for $7.25 million. Built in 1949, it has five bedrooms, five baths, a pool and 3,245 square feet of living area. It sold for $12 million in August.

SARASOTA

HIDDEN HARBOR

Christy Ramsey, of Bristol, Indiana, sold her home at 1280 Hidden Har bor Way to Candra Seley, trustee, of Sarasota, for $7 million. Built in 2002, it has four bedrooms, fourand-a-half baths, a pool and 5,649 square feet of living area. It sold for $3.3 million in 2016.

THE BLVD SARASOTA

Marc and Margaret Socol, of Bra denton, sold their Unit 1703 condo minium at 540 N. Tamiami Trail to Jerry and Louise Neff, of Sarasota, for $4.7 million. Built in 2020, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 3,671 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.75 million in 2020.

SARASOTA BEACH

Norine Cohen, of Siesta Key, sold her home at to Lawrence and Tina Landry, of Sarasota, for $1.2 million. Built in 1970, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,644 square feet of living area. It sold for $216,000 in 1999.

Susan Moss, of Sarasota, sold her Unit 803 condominium at 505 S. Orange Ave. to Michael Bello, trust ee, of Sarasota, for $2,075,000. Built in 2007, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 3,003 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,225,000 in 2015.

SANSARA

Edward and Betty Rosenthal, trust ees, of Sarasota, sold the Unit 202 condominium at 300 S. Pineapple Ave. to Thomas Rinaudo, trustee, of Sarasota, for $2.05 million. Built in 2016, it has two bedrooms, two-anda-half baths and 2,097 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.3 million in 2021.

ESPLANADE BY SIESTA KEY

Jacqueline Conroy, of Sarasota, sold

her home at 8117 Gabanna Drive to Sandra Marie Rackham, Tyler Ken neth Rackham and Shannon Les lie Rackham, trustees, of Ontario, Canada, for $1.24 million. Built in 2015, it has three bedrooms, threeand-a-half baths, a pool and 2,272 square feet of living area. It sold for $780,400 in 2015.

GRANADA

Patsy Jennings Taylor, of Sarasota, sold two properties at 3601 Flores Ave. to Marilyn Educate, trustee, of Sarasota, for $1.05 million. The first property was built in 1929, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,031 square feet of living area. The second property was built in 2002, it has one bath and 195 square feet of living area. They previously sold for $685,000 in 2014.

CONDOMINIUMS OF ORANGE CLUB

Joseph Albano and Susan Marie Beatty, of Sarasota, sold their Unit 403 condominium at 635 S. Orange Ave. to Jeffrey and Michelle Mariola, of Sarasota, for $749,000. Built in 2017, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,039 square feet of living area. It sold for $610,000 in 2019.

GROVE HEIGHTS

MSGNK LLC sold the home at 1965 Grove St. to Aubrey Elyse Pendle ton, of Sarasota, for $680,000. Built in 1947, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,360 square feet of living area. It sold for $635,000 in January.

SCHOONER BAY

Stuart and Darlene Gamble, of Osprey, sold their Unit 6614 condo minium at 6614 Schooner Bay Circle to Amber and Kyle Colbert, of Sara

TOP BUILDING PERMITS

sota, for $642,500. Built in 1983, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,860 square feet of living area. It sold for $600,000 in March.

SOUTH GATE

Zachary and Joanna Brewer, of Sara sota, sold their home at 2525 Hibis cus St. to Kevin and Marianne Oden, of Bradenton, for $635,000. Built in 1957, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,895 square feet of living area. It sold for $371,000 in 2018.

HUNTINGTON POINTE Carole Riccio, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the home at 4174 Hearthstone Drive to Metcalfe Property Man

SEE REAL ESTATE, PAGE 10B

Other top sales by area

SIESTA KEY

Beach

Sarasota

Norine Cohen, of Siesta Key, sold her home at to Lawrence and Tina Landry, of Sarasota, for $1.2 million. Built in 1970, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,644 square feet of living area. It sold for $216,000 in 1999.

PALMER RANCH Stoneybrook Golf and Country Club

James and Linda Sims sold their home at 8780 Pebble Creek Lane to Joshua Hartway and Denyse Turner-Hartway, of Sarasota, for $683,000. Built in 1997, it has three bedrooms, two-anda-half baths, a pool and 2,366 square feet of living area. It sold for $449,900 in 2021.

OSPREY Oaks II

John Baird Davis, trustee, and Rosalie Elizabeth Davis, of Osprey, sold the home at 450 E. Mac Ewen Drive to Michael and Elizabeth Carey, of Osprey, for $1.54 million. Built in 1998, it has three bedrooms, threeand-a-half baths, a pool and 3,088 square feet of living area. It sold for $665,000 in 2016.

NOKOMIS

Casey Key

Susan Brandon, trustee, of Oldsmar, sold the home at 1400 Casey Key Road to Ashraf Hassanein, trustee, of Bella Collina, for $1.83 million. Built in 1974, it has three bedrooms, two-anda-half baths, a pool and 2,460 square feet of living area.

File photo

Built in 1949, it has five bedrooms, five baths, a pool and 3,245 square feet of living area.

Real estate

FROM

agement LLC for $623,000. Built in 1994, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,888 square feet. It sold for $177,300 in 1994.

Nancy Hughes Solomon, of Wexford, Pennsylvania, sold her home at 8971 Huntington Pointe Drive to Vladislav and Angelina Grinchenko, of Saraso ta, for $500,000. Built in 1991, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,122 square feet of living area. It sold for $187,200 in 1991.

THE STRAND OF SARASOTA

Josef and Lucia Dovicak, of Blakeslee, Pennsylvania, sold their Unit A215 condominium at 1709 N. Tamiami Trail to Marian Park Forest Apart ments LLC for $575,000. Built in 2022, it has one bedroom, one-anda-half baths and 855 square feet of living area. It sold for $397,900 in April.

GULF GATE EAST

Suzanne and Robert Young, of Bra denton, sold their home at 4203 Kingston Court to Kyle and Kathryn Weiss, of Sarasota, for $570,000. Built in 1984, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,098 square feet of living area. It sold for $430,000 in 2005.

SARASOTA HIGHLANDS

James and Mary Ellen Sherry, of Port St. Joe, sold their home at 2724 Fort Worth St. to Eniko Gyuratz and Bala zs Kollar, of Sarasota, for $556,000. Built in 1960, it has three bed rooms, two baths, a pool and 1,856 square feet of living area. It sold for $276,000 in 2016.

FLORAL PARK HOMESTEADS

Burak and Marina Yavalar, trustees, of Bradenton, sold the home at 4232 Worcester Road to Andrew Stetsiv and Brooke Levine, of Nokomis, for $525,000. Built in 1957, it has four bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,581 square feet of living area. It sold for $231,000 in 2017.

SIESTA KEY SARASOTA BEACH

Sandy Deichman sold his home at 656 Avenida De Mayo to Lucia Barquet De La Cruz Living Trust LLC for $1.1 million. Built in 1950, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,642 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,225,000 in April.

WHISPERING SANDS

Bruce and Shari Hiller, trustees, of Sarasota, sold the Unit 106 condo minium at 20 Whispering Sands Drive to Richard and Diana Daffner, of Sarasota, for $985,000. Built in 1973, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,282 square feet of living area. It sold for $179,000 in 1992.

HARBOUR TOWNE

Campbell Minnich Rentals LLC sold the Unit 110 condominium at 1249 Dockside Place to Angela and Jef frey Brown, of Lafayette, Indiana, for $842,500. Built in 1982, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,217 square feet of living area. It sold for $900,000 in April.

PALMER RANCH STONEY BROOK

Joel and Charito Amistoso sold their home at 4046 Westbourne Circle to Christopher Matthew Sewell and Lisa Marie Sewell, of Sarasota, for $572,000. Built in 1995, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,951 square feet of living area. It sold for $155,900 in 1995.

ISLES OF SARASOTA

Frederick and Andrea Marcum, trustees, of Hamilton, Ohio, sold the home at 1539 Dorgali Drive to John and Regina Griffith, of Saraso ta, for $509,000. Built in 2012, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,764 square feet of living area. It sold for $268,600 in 2012.

ONLINE

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3

SARASOTA HOLIDAY

PARADE

7 p.m. on Sarasota Main Street, 1535 Main St.

Enjoy a fun-filled event with dancing, singing and floats, culminating with an appearance from Santa Claus. Free. For information, visit SarasotaHolidayParade.com.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2

OUTDOOR YOGA

AT ROSEMARY PARK

12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. at Rosemary Park, 531 Central Ave. Bring your mats, towels or just yourself to stretch your muscles with DreamLarge, who will host this event. This is free for everyone. For information, visit DreamLarge.org.

TREE LIGHTING

6:30 p.m. in St. Armands Circle. City commissioners will help throw the switch to light Sarasota’s new tree and kick off the holiday season. Parking is available in the St. Armands Parking Garage.

SATURDAY-SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3-4

SUNCOAST RENAISSANCE

FESTIVAL

10 a.m.- 6 p.m. at Sarasota Fairgrounds, 3000 Ringling Blvd. Step back in time with Sarasota’s beloved renaissance festival. Tickets are $26 for adults, youth (ages 5-11) $17 and children (under 5) are free. For information, visit SuncoastRenaissanceFestival.com.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4

BOOKSTORE1 POETRYMIC

2 p.m. -3 p.m. at Bookstore1Sarasota, 117 S. Pineapple Ave. Come out and listen to poetry from local poets. This is a free event, but you must reserve a ticket. For information, call 365-7900.

SARASOTA VEG FEST

11 a.m. - 5 p.m. at Payne Park, 2010 Adams Lane. Check out informative

presenters, mouthwatering, cooking demos, fun for kiddos, entertainment, competitions and more. This is a free event but must RSVP. For information, visit APlantBasedDiet.org/sarasota-veg-fest.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6

THE ELIXIR ACOUSTIC OPEN MIC

7 p.m. - 10 p.m. at The Elixir Tea House. 1926 Hillview St. Whether you are an aspiring stand up comedian or a comic veteran, you’ll find an appreciative audience at The Elixir Teahouse. This is a free event.

For information, call 373-1800.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7

BAILANDO AT THE BAY: BACHATA 6:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. at The Bay Sarasota, 655 N. Tamiami Trail. Fred Astaire Dance Studios will host dance lessons suitable for beginners and advanced dancers. This is a free event. For information, visit TheBaySarasota.org

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8

THE ELIXIR COMEDY OPEN MIC

7:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. at The Elixir Tea House. 1926 Hillview St. Whether you are an aspiring stand up comedian or a comic veteran, you’ll find an appreciative audience at The Elixir Teahouse. This is a free event. For information, call 373-1800.

THE BAZAAR ON APRICOT & LIME 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. at The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime, 821 Apricot Ave. Support local businesses and artists by shopping at The Bazaar. Entry is free. For more information, visit BazaarOnApricotAndLime.com

Give Children Hope This Year

Did you know that a local nonprofit organization served more than 9,000 children in the past year? Safe Children Coalition helps any child entering the child welfare system – no matter the circumstances – who needs assistance in Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties.

“Even in this expanse of all the children that we serve, there’s hope,” says Jacqueline House, the organization’s Vice President of Communications and Community Engagement.

“I see us as the keepers of the hope. Children and families who meet us on the worst day of their lives can depend on us to have hope when things are not looking so good and we can hold that hope until they can catch onto it and have that hope for themselves.”

That fits right into Safe Children Coalition’s theme for this year –Hope. Lives. Here.

It can be found in the most dire of situations. When Hurricane Ian passed through, it affected many of us but families who already had limited finances were hit hardest. “It was really important for us before the storm, during the storm, and after the storm to make sure we provided as many resources as possible to keep kids from coming into the child welfare system,” House says.

“Our staff were actually out on boats the day after the hurricane taking supplies (to impacted families),” says President and CEO Brena Slater.

House adds that while the hurricane was a big hurdle to overcome, it’s also a point of pride for the community and their staff who came together. “We’re very grateful for the community support,” she says.

Safe Children Coalition is the lead community-basedcare agency for Foster Care and Adoptions in Circuit 12

covering Sarasota, Manatee, and Desoto counties. Recently two young children had a surprise happy ending when they found a permanent home with their grandparents. “The little boy was so overcome with emotion that he couldn’t speak,” House says. “All he could do was cry tears of joy that they were actually going to be home now.”

“The myth is that 100% of our funding comes from the state and we can do whatever we want with that – and we can’t,” House says. “But I think the upside is that this is a great public/private partnership. Each entity is doing their part to take care of children in our community.”

Safe Children Coalition will honor some of their biggest champions during their Giving Breakfast, on March 23, 2023.

“We really want to recognize the community for being big supporters of us,” Slater says.

Anyone who wants to join their cause can do so by sponsoring or attending the breakfast event. At this time of year in particular, monetary contributions are greatly appreciated. Visit www.sccfl. org/donate to help them ensure all their children have presents –and hope.

While the organization does receive government funds - and just achieved a boost in the last legislative session - with thousands of children and families under their care, Safe Children Coalition also relies on donations.

FORECAST

THURSDAY, DEC. 1

High: 79 Low: 66 Chance of rain: 12%

FRIDAY, DEC. 2

High: 82 Low: 63 Chance of rain: 6%

SATURDAY, DEC. 3

High: 81 Low: 62 Chance of rain: 7%

SUNDAY, DEC. 4 High: 81 Low: 63 Chance of rain: 7%

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, Dec. 1 7:02a 5:35p

Friday, Dec. 2 7:03a 5:35p

Saturday, Dec. 3 7:04a 5:35p

Sunday, Dec. 4 7:05a 5:35p

Monday, Dec. 5 7:05a 5:35p

Tuesday, Dec. 6 7:06a 5:35p

Wednesday, Dec. 7 7:07a 5:35p

Monday, Nov. 21 0.2

Tuesday, Nov. 22 0

Wednesday, Nov. 23 0

Thursday, Nov. 24 0

Friday, Nov. 25 0 Saturday, Nov. 26 0.01 Sunday, Nov. 27 0

YEAR TO DATE: 2022 MONTH TO DATE:

by Stella Zawistowski. Edited by Ross Trudeau

By Luis Campos

Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

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