Sarasota Observer 12.15.22

Boat parade crowd arrives early to bring the holiday cheer. SEE PAGE 19

Super-sized Santa

There are Christmas decorations…and then there are CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS.

An example of the latter inflates into its full three-storyplus height nightly on Camus Street, near Fruitville Elementary. (Yes, that’s a man near Santa’s right knee).

The 40-foot tall Santa, a model of which is available on e-Bay for more than $2,000, stands along a street lit with colorful archways and other decorations.

Santa puts up with a lot during Christmas, that naughtyand-nice list for one and roomtemperature glasses of 2% milk for another, but one thing the towering Father Christmas has a little trouble with is wind.

On a recent visit, he was a little off-kilter and had to be brought down for the night.

YOUR TOWN Green for go

Although it’s been open to multi-modal travel for several weeks while finishing touches were made, the city of Sarasota will hold a grand opening of the Ringling Trail complex street project 10 a.m. Thursday.

The ceremony will be held on the north side of the Ringling Boulevard-Legacy Trail intersection, just east of School Avenue.

The $2.7 million project reduced vehicle traffic to two lanes, added protective bicycle lanes, parking spaces and elevated bus stop platforms between the Legacy Trail at Payne Park and the downtown core.

Immediately following a ribbon-cutting ceremony, bicyclists can experience the new protected lanes in an organized ride along the Ringling Trail.

Lesley Dwyer

Eric Garwood

Dariela Delgado

Misty Pacheco and her dog Charlie ride through Bayfront Park in style as the 36th annual boat parade warms up on the water.

Andrew Warfield

Brick’s Smoked Meats at 1528 State St. is among the restaurants leading the charge to preserve parklet dining as a permanent fixture in downtown Sarasota.

TABS WHAT’S HAPPENING

WEEK OF DEC. 15, 2022

BY THE NUMBERS

Brennan Asplen, on the series of meetings that led to his departure as superintendent of Sarasota County Schools. Read more on page 6

Three Teacher of the Year finalists selected

n

Courtney Smith, of Booker High, was named high school teacher of the year; Joseph Conner, of Venice Middle School, was named middle school teacher of the year; and Timothy Ferguson, of Garden Elementary, was named elementary teacher of the

year. School officials made visits to each of the three campuses and surprised each teacher.

This year’s Ignite Education Teacher of the Year Award Celebration will be held on Jan. 18, at the Venice Community Center. All 40 school-based Teacher of the Year finalists will be honored, and one of the three finalists will be named the Sarasota County Teacher of the Year.

Statewide Teacher of the Year will be announced in July.

“It is so rewarding to be part of this tribute tour,” said Educa-

sionalism

Roundabout opens to traffic this weekend

Motorists can look forward to driving in the roundabout at U.S. 41 and Gulfstream Avenue this weekend.

Although the entire project won’t be completed until the spring, changes in the traffic pattern are expected to put the circle itself into operation on Saturday, Dec. 17.

The Florida Department of Transportation had expected to finish all of the roadwork portion of the project close to Thanksgiving, but the aftermath of Hurricane Ian diverted manpower and materials toward recovery efforts, resulting in a delay.

By the end of this weekend, though, motorists will be able to traverse the roundabout, but work on along U.S. 41 approaching and exiting the project area between Main Street and Fruitville Road will continue for several more months.

Beginning Friday evening, workers will start dismantling the temporary barriers and crossover lanes and also begin to install new signs.

Airline adds three spring break flights

Spring break plans for trips to a pair of Northeastern cities and one in the upper Midwest will be easier to book in 2023 now that a leading player at the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport is adding a trio of seasonal nonstops.

Southwest Airlines on Tuesday announced Saturday-only direct service from SRQ to Buffalo, New York; Providence, Rhode Island; and Minneapolis, operating between March 11 and April 8.

The Buffalo flight leaves SRQ at 9:35 a.m. Return flights to SRQ leave at 6 a.m., according to Southwest. com.

The Providence flight leaves SRQ at 10:35 a.m. Return flights to SRQ leave at 6:40 a.m.

The Minneapolis flight leaves SRQ at 8:30 p.m. Return flights to SRQ leave at 3:40 p.m.

are vi-

Although other carriers serve Minneapolis from SRQ, Providence and Buffalo are new destinations, though seasonal.

hree Sarasota County Schools teachers were named finalists for the district Teacher of the Year award on Monday during a surprise visit to each of their schools by administrators and members of the Education Foundation of Sarasota County.

tion Foundation President and CEO Jennifer Vigne. “The Teacher of the Year celebration is so important. We value this opportunity to partner with the district to highlight the amazing work of teachers across our county — all their sacrifice, dedication, profes-

and compassion. So much of what teachers do every day goes unseen, but they

tal in preparing the next generation. They keep our community thriving, and it is an honor to celebrate them.”

“After everyone was sworn in, seven minutes later, you’re voting to terminate me.”

Courtesy photo

Booker High School students surround teacher Courtney Smith.

Downtown restaurants push to keep parking-space dining as an option.

Keeping it outside

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

Dining al fresco in public parking spaces in downtown Sarasota won’t end as scheduled on Dec. 31, but unless the city implements a new program, it won’t extend beyond a newly rescheduled termination date of March 31, 2023.

And according to City Attorney Robert Fournier, the city will also have to identify a new justification for continuing the pandemic-era temporary measure of “parklet” dining, which allows restaurants to serve customers outdoors in cordoned areas covering street parking spaces.

Representatives of two downtown restaurants — Brick’s Smoked Meats and Duval’s — spoke to the Sarasota City Commission during its past two meetings about their need to continue the practice permanently, citing a holdover of some customers being reticent to venture indoors, the growing popularity of outdoor dining in downtown and the jobs supported by the revenue it generates.

In November 2021, city commissioners approved an extension of parklet dining through the end of this year. Unlike sidewalk dining permits, parklet space came free of charge. The parklet dining extension will come at a price to restaurants, City Manager Marlon Brown informed commissioners the city will charge $25 per day per parking space occupied through the end of the March.

In the interim, Brown has directed the city attorney’s office to research how other municipalities have implemented permanent parklet programs on city streets. Parklet dining was temporarily and broadly permitted under executive order of Gov. Ron DeSantis at the height of the pandemic.

Jonathan Van Dyke, general manager of Duval’s at 1435 Main St., said participating restaurants have appreciated the city providing free space during the pandemic and knows parklet dining going forward will come at a price. Duval’s occupies one angled parking space where it can serve 24 customers.

“We knew that was temporary,” Van Dyke said of the city’s largesse. “What we also recognize is that the demand for outdoor dining significantly increased. And we recognize that in order to be able to meet the needs of our city and meet the needs of the guests and residents, we would need to pay for that space.”

An investment in maintaining the additional seating parklets provide is important to the bottom line, especially for the family-owned restaurants that dominate the downtown culinary scene. While all may appear normal post-pandemic, Meghan Croke, general manager of Brick’s

Smoked Meats at 1528 State St., said it is anything but.

“The restaurant industry was hit pretty hard during the pandemic, and that continues in a different form,” said Croke, whose restaurant seats 28 in two parallel parking spaces. “It’s very difficult to staff. Our labor costs are up over 20%, and supply-chain issues continue to cause shortages and higher costs. So while the pandemic may have eased in terms of numbers of cases, the after-effects definitely linger, and the parklets have been a huge help.”

A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE

Of the 19 original parklets permitted by the city, 15 are still allowed and 14 remain active. All but three are on Main Street, one of them is on State Street and two at St. Armands Circle. They range in the number of parking spots occupied, but are typically one or two spaces.

Charging no fee for the spaces has cost the city parking revenue, hence the plan to charge per space used if and until a more permanent program is adopted. The city has many examples around the state to consider when crafting its own plan.

Parklets didn’t rise up out of COVID-19. San Francisco is generally credited with creating the first parklets in 2010, and the trend has swept across the country in the decade since. Some cities incorporate them as economic development or urban renewal tools. Tampa and Jersey City, New Jersey, now dub parklets as “streateries.” Tampa has waived fees and permits associated with sidewalk dining and removed parking meters to allow restaurants to build in areas along the specific streets. St. Pete Beach has a pricey plan. For $50,000, one restaurant has been allowed to build a parklet struc-

ture on a city street, taking over four parking spaces and paying $1,500 a month — or 10% of revenue from the outdoor seating — to rent the space for three years.

In 2015, the city of Miami Beach founded a pilot program for businesses on Washington Avenue, near the all-pedestrian Lincoln Road, to install parklets. In July 2021, Miami Beach published a 14-page guide for parklet design and implementation, specifying construction standards, color schemes, table types, menu boards and more.

In Polk County, the Lakeland Downtown Development Authority is installing parklets in front of two of downtown’s busiest restaurants on Kentucky Avenue. That will allow them to expand what the policy cites as “outside dining, a staple of the Florida dining experience, which has become even more popular during the pandemic.”

Such is the point made by both Croke and Van Dyke regarding customer demand. Van Dyke said reservations for their outdoor tables typically fill up first.

A PERMANENT LOOK

Brick’s and Duval’s are among the handful of downtown restaurants that installed sturdy, permanentlooking extensions of their restaurants into the street. Others have opted to stick with the metal barricades provided by the city or something in between.

“People are more conscious of their whereabouts and behavior. That means many prefer to dine outdoors, and the ability to provide that has been a huge help,” Croke said. “If the city wants to be more stringent on the installations, it just creates a better downtown atmosphere for all of us. Even if people aren’t dining,

“People are more conscious of their whereabouts and behavior.

That means many prefer to dine outdoors and the ability to provide that has been a huge help.”

Meghan Croke

it just brings an energy and sense of welcoming, and it seems to enhance the reputation for walkability and hospitality. I don’t really see many downsides, from our perspective.”

While some customers still prefer the perceived safety of dining al fresco, others simply prefer to be outdoors when weather permits.

The parklets provide that option in the downtown environment for restaurants lacking the outdoor space available to those in suburban locations, including downtown’s foremost competitor for disposable spending, University Town Center.

“Being in historic downtown, we have a natural beauty to the area, but we don’t have the ability to have patios with the exception of new construction,” Van Dyke said.

“Especially in the downtown core within the downtown improvement district, there’s not really the ability to rebuild buildings, some of them which have historic significance, and the ability to extend outdoors to have that outdoor dining.”

Parklets may go beyond helping level the outdoor dining playing field with suburban competitors. Croke said extending the seating into the street gives downtown restaurants a distinct advantage.

“There’s just something so special about downtown Sarasota. It’s the European flair,” she said. “We already have a lot of Europeans here and with the coffee shops and outdoor seating and the beautiful plants everywhere, it’s just such a cool city. Parklets just added to it, and I don’t think anyone wants them to go away.”

Duval’s at 1435 Main St. created an intimate environment for its outdoor dining area, which includes sidewalk and parklet space.

Started as a safety measure during COVID-19, the outdoor seating has become a favorite feature for customers.

Photos by Andrew Warfield

Meghan Croke, general manager of Brick’s Smoked Meats on State Street, says the parklet dining has become a favorite among customers and adds to the city’s European flair.

Quay residents raise air rights issue over building plans

A plan to build an 18-story condo tower spanning over Quay Commons, a primary road within The Quay, is challenged by residents claiming the developer of One Park is circumventing the public process.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

With what had become a controversial procedural matter before the Sarasota Development Review Committee behind them, developers of the planned One Park condominium tower in The Quay still face vocal opposition as they progress to the public process.

During two consecutive City Commission meetings, residents of The Quay spoke against an appli -

cation by Quay 1 and 9 LLC’s plan for One Park, an 18-story building, which seeks a development agreement amendment to allow construction directly above Quay Commons between Blocks 1 and 9.

Quay Commons is a street within the mixed-use development for residents to access other buildings at The Quay, the air rights over which opponents say would be violated by One Park, which is planned at the intersection of Quay Commons and Boulevard of the Arts next to the Hyatt Regency hotel.

Principals in One Park are Property Markets Group of New York City and Miami, and Sarasota-based JEBCO Ventures, which together comprise Quay 1 and 9 LLC.

The city’s development agreement for The Quay with GreenPointe Developers, which governs development over the entire 14.69 acres of bayfront property along Tamiami Trail, was approved by the

Andrew Warfield

Construction of the 18-story Bayso forms the backdrop to the Ritz-Carlton Residences, one of the first condo towers to be completed at The Quay.

City Commission in 2016.

At issue at the Nov. 21 City Commission meeting for the Quay Block 6 Condominium Association and its attorney Robert Lincoln was an emergency Development Review Committee meeting for the day before Thanksgiving.

Representatives of One Park countered that committee meetings are open to the public, are broadcast online and do not accept public comment, adding the meeting was a necessary step to begin the public process before the Planning Board on Dec. 14.

“This is the first time I remember people concerned about public input at a DRC meeting, because public input is not permitted at DRC meetings,”  Chris Gallagher, of Hoyt Architects, told commissioners on Nov. 21.

Raising more concern among those wishing to speak in opposition of the project was an inadvertent cancelation of that meeting, sent via email from city staff.

No one was more surprised than City Manager Marlon Brown, who explained that staff misinterpreted a message from him about the likelihood of his canceling the meeting because Lincoln was unavailable to appear on Dec. 14.

So the Development Review Committee took up One Park at its regularly scheduled Dec. 7 meeting with a likely Planning Board hearing on Jan. 11, 2023.

One Park’s attempt to amend the development agreement, Lincoln told commissioners, is an attempt to circumvent public participation.

“It’s completely contrary to the representations (GreenPointe) made to this body in 2016 to get approval of the development agreement,” Lincoln said, adding the developer shouldn’t have been surprised that proposed changes to the agreement would touch off public hearings

hearing for a major change to the plan requires sworn testimony and allows affected parties to provide full presentations with questioning by commissioners, followed by rebuttal.

“One Park instead submitted an application to change the text of the development agreement to bypass all of that,” Lincoln said.

Underway legal proceedings may settle the dispute prior to the Jan. 11 Planning Board meeting.

At the request of City Attorney Robert Fournier, attorneys for One Park filed for declaratory action with the 12th Circuit Court to confirm ownership and title of the air rights over Quay Commons and to confirm or deny One Park’s ability to purchase those air rights from GreenPointe.

Judge Hunter Carroll of the 12th Circuit said he could rule as early as Dec. 15.

Near the end of the Nov. 21 meeting, attorney Matt Brockway of Icard Merrill, whose firm represents One Park, countered prior statements made by opponents to the project.

“There were some statements made about the ownership of air rights that the members of Block 6 and the opposition own the air rights. That’s simply not correct,” Brockway said.

“There’s been no conveyance of those air rights. There’s no recorded deed. There is a recorded easement for the air rights over Quay Commons, but that easement is limited in height to 14 feet.”

Members of the city’s Development Review Committee expressed concerns about a tunnel-like development over Quay Commons, should the proposal to build over the street prevail.

Additionally, the staff report reads, “The massing that would be permitted by the proposed amendment to the Development Agree -

School Board again votes 4-1, ending Asplen’s tenure

ERIC GARWOOD MANAGING EDITOR

As expected, the Sarasota County School Board on Tuesday night voted to accept a deal with Superintendent Brennan Asplen to bring about his resignation after two-and-a-half years on the job.

For the third time since the new school board was seated after election of newcomers Timothy Enos and Robyn Marinelli and reelection of now-Chair Bridget Ziegler, the board voted 4-1 to move ahead with the removal of Asplen — this time for the final occasion.

Tom Edwards cast all three dissenting votes, beginning with the original vote during the board’s reorganizational meeting on Nov. 22 that set in motion negotiations leading to Asplen’s resignation.

On Tuesday, Edwards attempted to solicit a vote on retaining Asplen, though it was not supported.

“We tried,” Edwards said.

Ziegler, named the board chair at the Nov. 22 meeting, made the motion Tuesday to vote on accepting the terms of Asplen’s removal.

“I’ve had a lot of hard meetings or weeks as a board member for a variety of reasons, and this is no exception,” she said. “And I think I’m oftentimes very, and I do, I pride myself on being transparent in communicating in this, but I take this very seriously. If there was one thing I could change, I do agree that at the reorganizational meeting being able to provide more discussion.”

Asplen, who read a letter into the

record before leaving the meeting, told the board that the Nov. 22 meeting and the vote initiated by member Karen Rose caught him by surprise.

“After everyone was sworn in, seven minutes later, you’re voting to terminate me,” he said of the meeting held at Venice High School.

Marinelli said she seconded Rose’s Nov. 22 motion because she “listened to the comments in this room, the positives and the negatives, and I leaned over and apologized to Dr. Asplen.”

Rose earlier cited communication problems with Asplen and an atmosphere of tumult surrounding board meetings as her motivation to begin the process, which continued on Nov. 29, when the board took the first formal action to enter into separation negotiations.

After the vote that ended Asplen’s tenure in Sarasota County, the School Board unanimously approved the appointment of Chris Renouf, the chief academic officer of the school district, to serve as interim superintendent until at least Jan. 17.

Among the key points of the separation agreement between Asplen and the school board are that his departure will be considered a resignation and that his pay will continue for 32 weeks, along with pay from unused vacation time and sick leave.

Additionally, the agreement calls for a period of consultancy for three months. The financial cost of the agreement totals about $170,000.

Board member Tom Edwards was again the sole vote in support of the superintendent. Renouf will serve in the interim role until at least Jan. 17.

Courtesy photo Brennan Asplen came to Sarasota County Schools in 2020.

Right step for SMH board

meeting was, the board’s charge to the hospital’s quality committee to provide a transparent review of how SMH handled COVID-19 patients can produce two invaluable outcomes:

n An honest assessment of why COVID patients were treated the way they were.

n What not to do and what to do when the inevitable next pandemic strikes. What did the hospital learn?

It starts with “why?”

ing and respiratory therapy leadership, with our infection control staff, our clinical pharmacists and physician colleagues in infectious disease and other specialists,” he said. “We were aided in the evaluation of literature by our academic colleagues from the Florida State University residency program here at SMH. We monitored the national recommendations, and we applied those that were appropriate to local use.

ernment overreach.” Add to that the public factors of fear and, over time, distrust of government.

Put all this together, and it’s not off base to compare the pandemic to the fog of war. Plans are foiled. Surprises occur.

As it happened this past Nov. 29, this was an odd coincidence: Two of Sarasota’s most important public boards met for the first time with their newly elected conservative board members. And, as it happened, each of their meetings was scheduled to address a highly volatile issue that was the underlying influence that drove the new board members’ elections.

For the Sarasota School Board, that issue, broadly speaking, was the spread of woke-ism in the schools. But it coalesced — however right or wrong — into holding one man accountable, whether to keep or dismiss Superintendent Brennan Asplen.

For the Sarasota Public Hospital Board, the issue focused on a higher scale — life and death … how Sarasota Memorial Hospital treated COVID-19 patients during the past two years.

Both meetings and topics were important. For sure, having the right leader as CEO of public schools is paramount for the community’s future — educating our children to be productive citizens.

But over time, the hospital board meeting has the potential to serve as a historic moment for the future of Sarasota Memorial, as well as for hospitals around the region and nation. Handled correctly — as the

That is always the question to be answered. That’s what many of the speakers at the hospital board meeting wanted to know: Why?

Why were their loved ones given the drug Remdesivir, a drug the World Health Organization declared that hospitals should no longer dispense because of the deaths and harm it caused. “I need to better understand why my mother received it,” Jenny Naylor told the hospital board.

Her father wanted to know why his request for Ivermectin for his wife was refused. “What right does Sarasota Memorial have to deny my request?” he asked the board.

Many family members of deceased COVID-19 patients wanted to know why they couldn’t be at their loved one’s bedside before they died.

Dr. Kenneth Hurwitz, director of critical care medicine at the hospital, like all the speakers, had five minutes to explain the hows and whys of the Sarasota Memorial clinical staff during the pandemic.

In his remarks, you can hear that the hospital staff did its best and more. “The nurses, therapists, physicians and support staff all pitched in by working longer hours and extra shifts, and especially before the availability of the vaccines, they did so at great risk — personal risk to themselves and to their families,” Hurwitz said.

“We met regularly with our nurs-

“Our goal,” he said, “has always been to treat patients based on up-to-date, respected, published, peer-reviewed, evidence-based medicine.”

When you absorb the comments of Hurwitz, other physicians and SMH staffers who spoke, you can picture a cloud of strain and stress permeating the hospital at the height of the pandemic and a degree of uncertainty, doubt and second-guessing because of all of the competing information flooding the internet and media.

If you were in the shoes of the hospital CEO or the chief of medicine, you can presume much of the decision making had to revolve around managing risk. The inclination would be strong and compelling to go with the protocols that were coming from the so-called experts in Washington — Dr. Anthony Fauci and the Centers for Disease Control. There was the expectation of trust.

But take Ivermectin. Fauci dissed it as quackery and never acknowledged its efficacy. What’s more, we’re now learning Fauci and his cohorts influenced social media to tar and censor from their sites world-renown physicians and researchers who had reputable data that challenged the Washington orthodoxy, that Ivermectin and other treatments indeed worked.

One of the speakers at the hospital board meeting condemned what came out of Washington as “gov-

After the board heard from 33 speakers, roughly half of them sharing emotional, gut-wrenching stories, Dr. James Fiorica, chief of the system’s medical staff, noted: “This has been the most difficult two-and-a-half years in my history in Sarasota.”

No doubt this period will stand forever in history as a benchmark for the hospital system. And not just for SMH. What occurred at SMH also occurred at the more than 6,000 other hospitals across America.

If this were post-war, our military leaders would do what they always do: Conduct detailed post-mortems. And to its credit, and as it should, the new hospital board, has ordered its quality committee to take the first step: “after-action reviews” of how and why patients were treated the way they were and a thorough, transparent assessment — “what did we do well, what did we do badly, what lessons did we learn, what things would we do differently, how can we better prepared for a future pandemic,” according to Board Chair Tramm Hudson.

As Jenny Naylor, daughter of a deceased patient, admonished: “Please do the research and ask the really challenging questions … For my mother and for all others who seemingly died as a result of these protocols, I beg you to do your job.”

New Board Member Bridget Fiorucci cast the reviews in a broader context — that Sarasota Memorial can set the example for hospitals across the country. By doing its reviews, “We can be the change that everyone else needs in other healthcare systems.”

Morgan & Morgan represented a policyholder in a lawsuit and won a judgment, the insurance company was required to pay his fees (on top of the insurer’s own legal fees). That is expected to be eliminated.

Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944

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Maybe he realizes it. And maybe he understands that if he doesn’t get this right, this could wipe out his chances of being elected president.

While Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is riding high as the nation’s leader against woke-ism and a potential white knight presidential candidate for the nation’s Republicans, long after he is gone from Florida politics, his legacy will be tied to the issue Florida legislators are addressing this week in Tallahassee: property insurance.

Ugh. Talk about a subject that makes your eyes glaze over, gives you headaches and ranks up there with root canals. That’s property insurance.

But at this moment in Florida history, the issue of property insurance is a catastrophic economic disaster, worse in scope than the damage from Hurricane Ian.

While Ian wiped out and damaged an estimated $47 billion in insured property in Southwest Florida, the rising and increasingly prohibitive costs of homeowners’ property insurance affect every inch and corner of this wonderful state. Anyone who has a roof over his head has seen his/her property insurance premiums rise from year to year faster than Joe Biden’s inflation.

On Longboat, a property owner told us last week not to expect to see his annual Christmas lights because he is “hardening” the outside of his bayfront house. “I’m tired of paying $37,000 a year for insurance,” he said.

When a homeowners association on Longboat had its policies canceled this past summer, some of the residents in the development took what they could get for their $1 million single-family homes — a $50,000-a-year policy.

Those are top-end examples.

But everyone knows the story: The standard in Florida for has been in the range of 25% to 33% increases.

Pardon the cliché, but property insurance has gone through the roof.

Florida is the worst insurance market in the nation. And that’s primarily because of how Florida’s trial lawyers cajoled lawmakers in years past to adopt laws that created a feeding trough for a small group of unscrupulous lawyers, adjusters and roofers.

You’ve read and heard the stories: In 2020, Florida homeowners filed 8.8% of the insurance claims for all of the U.S., but Florida accounted for 79.1% of the property insurance lawsuits filed in the U.S. Those percentages have held each year going back to 2016.

We don’t have the space to explain, nor do you have the patience to read, all of the reasons behind this costly trend, but they bring a cascade of consequences: Insurance carriers keep raising rates to account for the costs of the lawsuits. They then must buy more reinsurance, but the reinsurers raise their

rates because of the unpredictable costs of litigation (on top of the damage costs from storms).

More effects: Since 2019, 10 Florida-based insurers went bankrupt — brought on by not having enough capital that would allow it to cover its policyholders’ claims from storms and litigation.

OK, enough of the Death-Bed state of Florida’s property insurance market. Gov. DeSantis, a few legislators (Most of them don’t know a thing about insurance.) and everyone in the industry knew at the beginning of the year the industry was on the verge of total collapse and in the emergency room with just a few months to live. It would need triage and hours upon hours of open-heart surgery in 2022.

The first round of triage occurred in May, seven months before the November election. DeSantis knew Charlie Crist would try to blame him for doing nothing. So that brought on the first special legislative session.

The triage helped. In the scheme of things, the changes adopted were minor adjustments stanched the gush of blood and allowed the industry to hang on for surgery.

Once DeSantis’ reelection was complete, the governor turned his attention to scheduling the openheart surgery. That’s what is occurring this week.

Once again, Sen. Jim Boyd, RBradenton, is the governor’s point man in the Senate. He sponsored the main bill SB 2A, which was described as the “kitchen sink” bill. It was 105 pages — a monstrosity that few normal human beings would understand.

But here are three of the most important elements:

n 1) It would eliminate one-way attorney fees. Heretofore, if, say,

Opponents of the bill say this will hurt Florida’s middle class and poor, because they will be less inclined to file suits because they can’t afford a lawyer. And the trial lawyers will be less likely to take on small claim cases.

To be sure, this will reduce the number of lawsuits.

n 2) It would eliminate the practice of assignment of benefits altogether. That means after Jan. 1, 2023, a policyholder can no longer sign whatever benefits he obtains from his insurance company to his lawyer or contractor.

n 3) It would require the stateowned Citizens Property Insurance Corp. to charge actuarially sound rates. That means Citizens can no longer charge rates less than what is being charged by other insurers. This is to provide a disincentive for Citizens to grow — and potentially increase the taxpayers’ liabilities to cover Citizens’ losses.

There are other provisions addressing reinsurance and the state catastrophe fund, including transferring $1 billion in taxpayers’ general revenues to help subsidize Florida insurers in need of additional reinsurance.

By the time the session ends, here’s what you can expect: Gov. DeSantis, Sen. Boyd and the Senate and House leadership will characterize these changes as extraordinarily successful heart surgery. The trial bar will castigate them.

And consumers: It will take at least 18 months for the changes to have any effect. By then, Gov. DeSantis will either be a hero and onto the national scene or have more work to do on property insurance.

Prediction: The latter. But that’s OK. At least he is addressing one of Florida’s most pressing economic challenges.

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MATT WALSH

Hearing the stories of families who lost loved ones during the pandemic was a gut-wrenching baptism for SMH’s new board members. But they responded the right way. Rather than look for blame, they chose to learn.

Hurricanes’ toll on park climbs over $3 million

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

hile Nathan Benderson Park is expected to finish repair work by the next racing season, a Sarasota County official said it will cost as much as $1.5 million to fix the wave attenuator at the park.

The damage was caused by Hurricane Ian Sept. 28-29.

The wave attenuator is a floating metal bridge where part of the attenuator is above water and part of it is underwater. It is meant to reduce waves that would cause havoc during rowing or paddling races.

The wave attenuator goes from the south end of the lake and runs northward just over a mile.

Nicole Rissler, director of Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources for Sarasota County, said IMG Construction, which built the attenuator, will handle the repairs.

She said the damage to the attenuator involves its connecting sections.

“It’s like really large Legos,” she said.

She said some connections were mangled and would have to be repaired, while in other cases, the entire piece was destroyed and would have to be replaced. She said in some cases, the bumpers and slopes that stop the waves were damaged.

The repairs will require new components to be manufactured and transported to the site.

While most components of the attenuator are above water, Rissler said some work will need to be performed underwater. She said once the contractor has assessed the situation, more details will be available on how the repairs will be completed.

Rissler said all the repair work to the park and the race course should be completed by April 1, when racing picks up.

The other expensive part of the project will be the stabilization of the southern end of the lake along with the starting area for races.

Sarasota County, which owns the park, already had budgeted $517,803 for shore stabilization efforts due to damage from Hurricane Irma in 2017. That project began on Aug. 15.

Hurricane Ian then further damaged the south end of the lake, with the price tag for repairs now set at $1.6 million.

The original project used limestone rocks and sheet piling along the shoreline to help resolve the erosion, which Rissler said were likely the same materials that would be provided in the new work that needs to be done.

The section of shoreline between the southern boat ramp and the start line will still have to go out to a new bid to be managed in a longer-term fashion as it was not part of the original contract, she said.

While the current situation isn’t able to host racing events, recreational users of the park have been able to use the trails in the area along

with being able to launch boats from the island.

Rissler said the county has been moving as quickly as possible.

“We’re actually very happy with where we stand today as far as repairs being completed, as well as those major contracts being put in place for the bigger repairs,” she said.

Additionally, she said other actions have been taken to improve the park.

Landscaping damaged by Hurricane Ian has been repaired, with trees either being removed or returned to their upright positions.

OTHER REPAIRS

For competitions to take place, other repairs as well will be needed to the race course.

Those repairs will be managed by Timothy Royalty at a price of $78,000.

One damaged component is the

floating launch platform for boats, which Rissler said has been removed from the water and will need to be replaced.

On the course, buoys that serve as competition lanes have been damaged.

Those include a network of cables anchoring them to the bottom of the lake.

Rissler said the mechanism for timing rowers has been damaged. It connects to the start line, with wiring and fiber running through the wave attenuator. Therefore, those components will have to be complete before the use of the course is restored.

Rissler said that while the kind of erosion suffered from Hurricane Ian was the same type caused by Hurricane Irma, it was much worse this time.

As with Irma, she said, the length

of the 3.6-mile lake allowed waves to gain significant force as they travelled toward the shore.

Rissler said the county has created an emergency amendment to its existing agreement with Earth Tech Enterprises Inc.

“If we were originally going to bring 10 truckloads of rock in, now we’re bringing 20 truckloads in, so it’s just exponential what they will need to do,” she said.

The original project had called for a temporary sidewalk along World Championship Drive, which would fix erosion beneath the current sidewalk. However, Rissler said there are currently no plans for a sidewalk.

Rissler said there is no timeline for the ramp.

“Every day we get things checked off the list,” she said. “My hope is that we will have a lot of our components ready to go on April 1.”

Ian Swaby

Fencing can be found in front of the southern shoreline at Nathan Benderson Park while work is being done to stabilize that area.

SUNDAY, DEC. 4

LITTLE RED WRITING HOOD

6:49 a.m., 1700 block of Cocoanut Avenue

Suspicion: Police arrived at a residence and met with a woman who said she was inside the home when she saw a woman outside her bedroom window wearing a red cape. She said the woman motioned with her hands to come outside, which she did, finding nobody there. When she returned to the bedroom, she said there was writing in yellow on the walls. The officer investigated and saw none of the reported graffiti.

Upon questioning, the woman said she recently returned home from work and took several prescribed medications.

SATURDAY, DEC. 3

SLASHED AND SMASHED

2:41 p.m., 300 block of Parkland Avenue

Property damage: A woman called police to report someone smashed her windshield after her roommate called earlier in the morning to report her vehicle’s tires had been slashed.

The windshield victim said she believes the damage to both vehicles was committed by the same person, a woman she knows “Needless to say,” the police report reads, “the two don’t like each other.”

The victim said the video doorbell captured an image of the suspected smasher and slasher arriving and leaving with another person, though no damage was done. She believes the two returned later and caused the damage, but no video evidence of that exists.

SATURDAY,

TALKING TURKEY

300 block of Golden Sands Drive

Criminal mischief: The owner of three Airbnb properties reported damage he believes was caused by renters. Over the course of the two prior weeks, the family had occupied all three properties, prompting numerous complaints from neighbors. In response, the owner revoked the rental agreement and, as a result, members of the family threatened to destroy the properties before leaving.

The owner reported that a flat screen TV had been damaged. He told police he had no last name for the renters but did have a first name of one of them, which he provided. The property owner only wanted the incident to be documented for insurance purposes. No further action was taken.

MONDAY, DEC. 5

SMOKING GUN

11:06 a.m., 2100 block of Bay Street

Dispute: A woman called police to have her male roommate removed from the residence, complaining that he used marijuana and had a concealed carry permit. She had rented a room to the man since Nov. 1. The complainant stated she had seen the man’s handgun, but he has never threatened her with it. The man said he is willing to leave but needs time to secure a new residence. He also said he did show the complainant his concealed carry permit and medical marijuana card before he signed the contract. The complainant agreed that she will return his security deposit, and no further action was taken.

FRIDAY, DEC. 9

POUR PAINT JOB

11:15 a.m., 3000 block of Dixie Avenue

Dispute: A woman called police to report her brother, in an agitated state, poured white paint over her house floor. Police arrived to find a thin layer of white paint on the floor from the living room to the front door. The floor had sustained previous damage due to a fire. The caller declined to press charges and police were unable to determine any real property damage to the home because of the aforementioned fire.

$100,000 donation aids Selah’s fight of human trafficking

The Patterson Foundation matches Longboat Key church’s $50,000 offering to form a new consulting branch.

DWYER STAFF WRITER

When a casual conversation over breakfast revealed a problem in Southwest Florida, members of Christ Church of Longboat Key went to work.

Jerry Fox heads the church’s mission committee. He’s also been attending church services with Art Wood in their hometown of Lake Forest, Illinois, for 45 years. Both

men own homes locally, too. Wood chaired the board for Selah Freedom in 2019.

Meeting for breakfast in July was nothing more than two old friends catching up, but it led to a $100,000 donation to Selah on Dec. 7 at their downtown Sarasota office. Christ Church donated $50,000, which was matched by The Patterson Foundation to cover start-up costs for Selah Consulting.

“I never knew there was a Selah a year ago,” Fox said.

Selah is a Hebrew word meaning to pause, rest and reflect. Selah Freedom is a nonprofit organization that provides housing, counseling and life skills to survivors of sex trafficking.

Now, through Selah Consulting, they’ll be helping the helpers, too.

“In addition to the consulting and

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Photos by Lesley Dwyer Connor LaGrange of The Patterson Foundation, Stacey Efaw and Laurie Swink of Selah Freedom and Jerry Fox of Christ Church of Longboat Key

mentoring services we do for other organizations, we also are building online courses for survivors,” coFounder Laurie Swink said. “A lot of times, we have organizations saying, ‘What is it that you’re using? What do you do with survivors when you get them?’ And so we are making those (resources) available to them.”

Swink says Selah has an 87% success rate of survivors finishing the program, and 100% of survivors in the residential program are working toward their individual education and career goals.

Just this year, 60 groups from across the U.S. and Canada have reached out to Selah for assistance. According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, Florida is third in the country, behind California and Texas, for the most trafficking cases.

The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office has a map on its website that dots reported cases. The area from Tampa down to Sarasota is as dotted in red as it is from West Palm Beach down to Miami.

“All of a sudden, you find there’s a major sex-trafficking issue down in Sarasota and Bradenton. The area from Tampa down here is No. 1 in a bad way, being the worst areas for sex trafficking,” Fox said. “That really got our congregation very excited about this.”

In addition to the $50,000 check, the congregation added more people to its already lengthy Christmas list.

There are more than 25 girls and women in Selah’s residential program right now, and all will receive gifts thanks to church members.

The combined donation will send a ripple from the Sarasota community out to dozens more.

Selah’s research found that there is a lack of resources nationwide for trafficking survivors. There are 1,644 beds in residential programs dedicated to sex survivors, yet 10,836 victims were identified in 2020 alone.

The new consulting branch of Selah will provide a how-to on building a residential program, an in-person, survivor-approved group curriculum, individual online courses for survivors with 24/7 access and staff and volunteer training.

“We get to hit the ground running in 2023 when we thought we were still going to be raising money, but here we are six months later,” Swink said.

Thank-you candles. Selah Freedom’s motto is “Bringing light into the darkness of sex trafficking.”

“We get to hit the ground running in 2023 when we thought we were still going to be raising money, but here we are six months later.”

— Laurie Swink

Park’s wildlife

Hurricane Ian substantially damaged Myakka River State Park’s infrastructure, as well as its ecology. As part of the Myakka River watershed, which holds flood waters — thus minimizing their impact farther afield — the storm also illustrated the importance of public lands for safeguarding our communities.

As the Myakka River is primarily rain-fed, its levels vary seasonally. During our wet summer, areas around the river, such as floodplain marshes and hydric hammocks, commonly flood. Florida’s native habitats are adapted to this seasonal fluctuation. And the normal hydrocycles of wetlands are crucial for our native flora and fauna.

As result of extreme rainfall associated with Ian, the river, already at flood stage before the storm, crest-

ed at 12.73 feet — well above major flood stage. With the park’s 7-mile long drive under water — park management surveyed storm damage by airboat.

Most structures and buildings in the park, including the historic cabins built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression, were flooded, and the park’s utility infrastructure, including waste and drinking water, was submerged.

Once the flooding receded, extensive recovery efforts commenced.

To assure visitor safety, to date, more than 18,000 cubic yards of vegetative debris — enough to fill 5.5 Olympic swimming pools — have been removed from just the main roads, picnic areas and campgrounds in the 58-square-mile park. Road shoulders, eroded from flooding, are

ENJOY THE WILD

Wild Florida is a monthly feature written by Miri Hardy, the first executive director of the Friends of Myakka River. Miri has been a Sarasota resident since 2014 and holds a doctorate in social psychology from Washington University in St. Louis. She is happiest exploring wild Florida, often on her bike, and capturing its beauty though the lens of her camera.

being back filled, and the park’s utility infrastructure is being repaired. While rangers work to return Myakka to those who love the park, its flora and fauna are proving more resilient than park infrastructure.

Once the park reopens, expanses of unspoiled wetlands, prairies, hammocks and pine lands, though clearly bruised, will once again be available for the rest of us to appreciate and enjoy.

—MIRI HARDY, FRIENDS OF THE MYAKKA RIVER CONTRIBUTOR

Friends of Myakka River exists to support Myakka River State Park and the Wild and Scenic Myakka River. Together, we’re protecting and sharing Myakka’s Magic, to the benefit of future generations, and our own. Follow us @FriendsofMyakkaRiver

For updates, visit FloridaStateParks.org/ Parks-AndTrails/Myakka-RiverState-Park.

An exploration beyond the pavement.

STILL CLOSED

Myakka River State Park remains closed while recovery efforts continue.

Photos by Miri Hardy

With the park closed to the public, a red-shouldered hawk uses what is typically a highly trafficked bridge as a hunting perch.

recovers faster than its infrastructure after Ian

A peninsular cooter, soaking up the sun on a cabbage palm repositioned by the storm.

Fast Break

RAMS HAMMER DOWN WINNING WAYS

Aslew of area swimming awards: Riverview

High’s Terri Leap was named the Florida Dairy Farmers Girls Swimming Coach of the Year on Dec. 13.

Riverview junior Gracie Weyant was named the Class 4A Girls Swimmer of the Year, while Sarasota High’s Andrew Eckhart was named Class 4A Boys Coach of the Year.

Cardinal Mooney High senior Jordyn Byrd finished second in Florida Dairy Farmers Miss Volleyball voting Dec. 7. Byrd, a University of Texas signee, had 571 kills, 206 digs, 52 aces and 48 blocks in 2022.

Welcome back, Marlon Mack: After spending most of the 2022 NFL season between practice squads, the former Booker High star had a 66-yard touchdown catch in the Denver Broncos’ 34-28 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Dec. 11. Mack finished with 77 total yards.

Last chance to sign up for the Christmas Glow Run, scheduled for 6 p.m. Dec. 17 at Nathan Benderson Park. Bright lights and holiday music will accompany runners as they complete their 5Ks. Registration is $45 and parking is $5.

Visit RunEliteEvents.com.

Mississippi State University football coach Mike Leach, 61, died Monday night from complications related to a heart condition. Leach coached former Booker wideout Osirus Mitchell with the Bulldogs and was a humorous character, but he was also a college football revolutionary on a larger scale, popularizing the air-raid passing concepts most teams use in their offenses today. “The Pirate” will be missed.

RYAN KOHN SPORTS EDITOR

It was over by halftime.  Literally.

The Riverview High girls soccer team (4-0-2) poured nine goals on Manatee High (0-9) by halftime Tuesday night, ending the game via mercy rule and sending their fans home early and happy. The win kept the Rams’ record unsullied by a loss through six games.

The Hurricanes’ defense did not have any answers for the Riverview attack, which got goals from six  players, led by sophomore Rachel Paule, who had a hat trick (three goals) and two assists. Freshman Olivia Shkorupa had two goals, while junior Juliana Epes, junior Majestic Van Ingen and sophomore Bailey Springman had one each.

“Our communication has been good,” Paule said. “That’s important. It has helped us improve.”

Manatee was not the toughest test the Rams have faced this season, and the Rams’ postgame mood was happy yet controlled. If Tuesday night proved anything, it is that Riverview has the firepower punish teams beneath them — but it still has a lot to prove in the games ahead, including a Friday matchup with Sarasota High (4-4-1) and a looming Jan. 17 match against typical district powerhouse Lakewood Ranch High (7-0-1).

In year two under coach Joe St. Onge, the Rams have surged to a good start. This past season, Riv-

erview finished 9-8-2 but steadily improved, finishing 5-2-0 over the last seven games.

“A lot of teams that we tied or lost to in the beginning of the year, we fared better against them in the end.”

There’s no better example of that then the team’s results against North Port High. The Rams started 2021-22 by losing 7-0 to the Bobcats. When they finally met again, it was in the district tournament — and Riverview downed them 3-1.

If that progression holds this season, the Rams are a team to be feared. With 13 players returning from this past year’s team, St. Onge said, the team’s on-field chemistry came together quicker than he expected. Also helping that area is all the off-

field activities the Rams do together — movie nights or pizza parties, typically — to take away some of the stress of the season. St. Onge said he gives all his Instagram posts about the program the hashtag of “#RamFam,” as he sees the team as its own family.

“Even a game like this (against Manatee), you see the unselfishness,” St. Onge said. “Players could have taken advantage and padded their own stats, but they chose to make unselfish plays and lay balls off to other girls for scores.”

All the chemistry in the world would mean little if Riverview did not have the talent to take advantage of it, but they do. After her hat trick, Paule leads the team with five goals, but 10 Rams have at least one goal through six games. St. Onge said after the Rams played Gulf Coast High on Nov. 29, a 3-1 Rams win, he received a text from the Sharks’ coach relaying what the Sharks defenders thought of the Rams attack: It was relentless. That word sent St. Onge’s heart soaring, he said. It’s how he wants his team to play, to never give other teams a chance to catch their breath.

It was how the Rams themselves felt when facing Venice High in the district tournament last year; their season ended with a 3-0 loss. It was a learning experience, St. Onge said. Already, the team has improved on that result; the Rams tied Venice 2-2 in their season opener. The two teams will possibly meet again in this year’s district tournament. St. Onge suspects his team will be ready.

“We’re playing for January and February (the postseason),” St. Onge said. “My mantra has always been, ‘Have fun and get better.’ That’s all we’re trying to do.”

The Rams are 4-0-2 and in good position to improve on last season’s 9-8-2 record.

Rams freshman Olivia Shkorupa corrals a ball out of the air and heads towards the Manatee High goal.

Rams sophomore Bailey Springman sprints down the field against Manatee High.

“I want to be better. I want everyone to be better. I think I’m great at pushing my teammates to do that.”

— Riverview High’s

Rachel Paule

File photo

Cardinal Mooney High senior Jordyn Byrd

Photos by Ryan Kohn

“My mantra has always been, ‘Have fun and get better.’ That’s all we’re trying to do.”

— Joe St. Onge

Calling it fair

From November through January, Sarasota High baseball coach Greg Mulhollen trades his cleats for squeaky sneakers.

For the past seven years, Mulhollen — a physical education teacher at the school during the day — has spent his winter nights on the hardwood, dressed in a vertical-striped shirt and with a whistle that hangs from his neck. He’s a basketball official, calling games between area

high schools. And he does a lot of them: between six and eight games a week, Mulhollen, 44, said. The hobby makes his days long, but he has his reasons for doing it this long.

He must, right? Because Mulhollen is a coach himself, he is well aware of the ire officials can face from coaches, players and fans during games. Yet he signed up for the job anyway. Most of the appeal at the time, Mulhollen said, was using the gig as built-in exercise.

Mulhollen said he runs between one and two miles a game, depending on the game’s pace. By the end, he is legitimately tired.

“You’re sprinting up and down

the court,” Mulhollen said.

It helps, too, that Mulhollen is a genuine basketball fan and came into the gig with a good knowledge of the sport’s rulebook. When he heard there was a shortage of referees, it all made too much sense.

What Mulhollen didn’t expect, at the time, was how much doing his ref job would change his perspective on his coaching job.

“It’s given me a deeper level of patience,” Mulhollen said. “And it’s taught me not to challenge judgment calls. A foul in basketball, that’s my judgment. I either think something’s a foul or it’s not. In baseball now, I try not to challenge ball and strike calls or whether a

baserunner was out at the plate or safe. That’s totally the view of the umpire, and they’re not going to change the call regardless.”

Mulhollen said he has a deeper level of respect for officials in all sports now, not just basketball and baseball. It takes conviction to make a call knowing one team will get mad at you for it, no matter what it is.

As a former Little League umpire myself (not to brag), I can confirm how thick-skinned an official needs to be. Officials also need to be knowledgeable, and though Mulhollen knew plenty of basketball’s rules before starting the gig, there are still some calls that are rare, but he needs to be ready to whistle at a moment’s notice, like double fouls (one on each team). In terms of judgment calls, Mulhollen has to make quite a few, like whether a defender’s feet were moving or set on a block/charge call. And he has to make the call without hesitation.

“If you’re late, that’s a bad look,” Mulhollen said. “You just have to go with your gut.”

The more a referee prepares, the more comfortable a referee will be in those situations, and the biggest thing one can do to prepare is get in the correct position. That’s where the running comes in, Mulhollen said; hustling is the expectation.  Mulhollen said his favorite officiating experience was calling a game involving the IMG Academy National Team, which aired on ESPN. The court was dripping with NCAA Division I talent, Mulhollen said, and since then he’s followed those athletes as they have transition to the college ranks.

“Every play was at the rim,” Mulhollen said. “There were multiple alley-oops. It was a pretty cool atmosphere.”

As much respect as Mulhollen has for baseball umpires, he won’t ever become one. Not only is it tough with his high school baseball responsibilities, but Mulhollen said with how many people in the baseball community he knows, it would often feel like a conflict of interest. Plus, the exercise component of the job is not there. Standing at the

plate for two-and-a-half hours or more isn’t exactly a sweat-starter.

So Mulhollen will stick with basketball, and he’ll continue to do it locally. Though he’s done a few college-level games, Mulhollen said he has no aspirations of moving up the levels or making officiating his career. He got into the business, in part, because the area needed officiating help. It still does, so he can’t abandon it now.

Now, if he had started this journey years earlier? Maybe that story would have a different ending. Mulhollen said he wishes he had started sooner, if only to see where that would have taken him. But he’s also content where he is and with whom he calls games. Mulhollen said the officiating community here is a tight-knit group, one with little ego, despite what some fans may think.

“It’s a great group of guys,” Mulhollen said. “Their purpose is to call the best game they can for the players.”

If it is a group that you — yes, you reading this right now — are interested in joining, Mulhollen thinks you should get involved. Sarasota County always needs more officials, in more or less every sport, including high school and club levels. As the area continues to grow, more schools and club teams are going to be established, and the need for officials will grow. Why not get involved now? Yes, it is a thankless position to a degree, but Mulhollen thinks the internal benefit is worth the effort.

“It’s rewarding and satisfying to be in control of a game and make sure it is played fairly by both sides,” Mulhollen said. “And it’s great for building relationships. So if you’re willing to run and blow a whistle, check it out.”

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Call Paul Stern at 941.330.3051 for further details.

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PAUL STERN 941.330.3051 paul@sarasotabrokers.com

JAMIE STERN 210.612.6654M jamie@sarasotabrokers.com

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

Greg Mulhollen has learned a lot from the perspective shift.

Ryan Kohn

Sarasota High baseball coach Greg Mulhollen spends some of his free time working as an area basketball referee.

Rachel Paule

Paule had a hat trick and two assists in the Rams’ 9-0 home win over Manatee High on Tuesday.

When did you start playing soccer?

I started about five years ago with FC Sarasota. Since then, I have developed a lot. I now play at Tampa Bay United SC. But I started because of (U.S. Women’s National Team player) Alex Morgan. I saw her play once and thought, ‘I bet I can do that too.’

What is the appeal to you?

Soccer helps you develop as a person as well as a player. You learn things that are going to help you (in life). You develop your own characteristics and personality.

What is your best skill?

I think it is how hard I work. I want to be better. I want everyone to be better. I think I’m great at pushing my teammates to do that.

What have you been working to improve?

Definitely my skill moves so I can beat defenders. Improving those will allow me to contribute more to my team. But really, everything. What ever my coach asks me to do, I have to be able to do it.

What are your goals for this season?

Personally, a goal is to improve my confidence to take longer shots and use my skills.

What is your favorite food? I love pasta, any kind.

What is your favorite movie?

I love the ‘Harry Potter’ movies. I could watch them any day, any time.

What is your favorite subject in school?

Definitely math this year. At the beginning of the year I did not like math, but my teacher (Kristina Dugan Weccele) has helped me and my class see how math can help us in our daily lives.

Which superpower would you pick?

Invisibility. I think it would help me score more goals.

What is the best advice you have received?

Don’t focus on the past. Look to the future. That’s what you can change and improve. You can’t correct the past.

Finish this sentence: “Rachel Paule is …”

… Loud. Sometimes on the field I forget how loud I can be. But I’m just trying to communicate.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Rachel Paule is a sophomore on the Riverview High girls soccer team.

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.

Watt’s hot this season?

As fashion trends go, so go seasonal decorations around Sarasota.

Hemlines up, hemlines down. Star Wars characters up, Star Wars characters down.

In years past, we’ve seen LEDs replace mini lights, which replaced old-school screw-in bulbs, which probably replaced Dickensian-era candles at some point.

When Britney Spears was still it, colorful strands of icicle lights dangled from eaves and gutters and sequential blinkies lit the way along driveways and sidewalks.

There have been light-up plastic cartoon characters penguins (don’t they live at the South Pole?) snow globes the size of Charles Barkley, and those laser thing-

amajigs that project dancing stars into the tree tops and – as it turns out – the eyes of low-flying airline pilots.

All available on QVC when Amazon was still just a rain forest.

And now? After a casual drive through neighborhoods around Sarasota, the 2022 trend is clear.

We mean that literally.

Clear lights are in vogue, casting a simple warm white light whereever they are draped.

By no means do we suggest this is a comprehensive look at the state of decorating in Sarasota, but here are a few examples of what’s chewing up some kilowatt hours around town this year.

— ERIC GARWOOD

Photos by Eric Garwood

This display in the 3400 block of Shady Brook Lane in North Sarasota danced with the beat of holiday tunes playing softly for passers-by to enjoy.

A passer-by could easily read by the light from the decorations on Habana Drive. From one end of the corner lot to the other, white lights glisten.

Inflatable cartoon characters, such as Yukon Cornelius from the classic “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and others form the centerpiece of a display in Kensington Park.

Softly playing holiday music enhanced the experience of this home on Forester Pond Avenue, which is decorated with a variety of colors and blinking lights.

Not to be outdone by the new tree in St. Armands Circle, the tree in Five Points Park stands in quiet dignity. Similarly illuminated trees surround the park.

Illuminated trees and wreaths form the basis of a home’s motif in the 1200 block of Hillview Drive in Harbor Acres.

Boat parade makes waves of holiday cheer

anta came dashing through the Sarasota Bay on Saturday night, but not in a one-horse open sleigh — rather a boat with a lot more horsepower.

Suncoast Charities for Children and Marina Jack presented Sarasota’s 36th annual Holiday Boat Parade of Lights on Dec 10.

Bayfront Park and Marina Jack attracted hundreds of families to the waterfront. Many brought their lawn chairs, blankets and snacks as they waited for night to fall and the brightly festive boats to showcase their holiday spirit.

Director of Special Events Lisa Baer said the organization starts planning the Holiday Boat Parade of Lights around September and October, but most of the boat registrations start coming in around October and November.

“We invited residents from The Haven,

which is one of the nonprofit agencies that we provide funding to. They are bringing out 12 special-needs clients that live year round at The Haven, and we will have Santa saying ‘Hi’ to all of them,” Baer said.

The parade started near Longboat Key came down under the Ringling Bridge and spent most of the time at the Marina Jack Yacht Basin area.

Twenty-five boats participated in this year’s boat parade. Each boat did a 360-degree turn to exhibit their decorations to the crowd and a set of judges on the Marina dock. Many boats blew their horns and blasted holiday music as the crowd cheered for their favorite boat.

“We always love to have this event. Since it’s a free community event, everyone comes out, and the best view is at Bayfront Park right by Marina Jack,” Baer said.

DARIELA DELGADO

—

Photos by Dariela Delgado

Santa dashes through the bay on his brightly decorated boat.

A brightly decorated boat cruises through the Marina Jack Yacht Basin area.

Lucy Nicandri and Lisa Baer

Patti Tebo and Darlene Marks wait for the boats to arrive.

Charlie wears his reindeer nose as an eye patch.

Selby’s lights now in bloom

“I could not imagine a more beautiful evening to officially flip the switch and kick off this year’s Lights in Bloom Holiday light show,” said Community Impact Vice President Kirsten Russell. Selby President and CEO Jennifer Rominiecki and Russell invited Keely Ramsdell and her two sons, Oliver Elliott, 9, and Xavier Lawson, 3, to assist with the switch flip.

“Strengthening families is one of the missions of the Community Foundation that means the most to me,” said Russell.

Keely Ramsdell is a graduate of the Community Foundation’s 2Gen initiative. “The Community Foundation invests in parents as part of their 2Gen initiative, which supports parents through scholarships, stipends and a navigator to guide them through the process,” said Russell. This exhibit will run through 23, and Dec. 26-30 and Jan. 1, 3-5.

— DARIELA DELGADO

Photos by Dariela Delgado

Linda Carson, Jennifer Rominiecki and Marianne McComb

Community Impact Vice President Kirsten Russell, Oliver Elliott, Keely Ramsdell and Xavier Lawson

Selby Gardens presents more than 2 million lights during the holidays.

Joanne and John Foley at the entrance of the caterpillar tunnel.

Ryan Helme and Jade Sedacca pose in front of vibrant flamingos.

Democratic Club hears from UnidosNow

DARIELA DELGADO STAFF WRITER

The Longboat Key Democratic Club held a luncheon with three UnidosNow leaders at the Sarasota Yacht Club on Dec. 8.

Recently retired UnidosNow Executive Director Luz Corcuera, incoming Executive Director Cintia Elenstar and Strategic Initiatives Director Lisa Ramirez gave a presentation on how Hispanics and Latinos in Florida view the Democratic Party and what Democrats can do to forge connections with these influential voters and earn their support.

“The Latino population has grown tremendously in Sarasota and Manatee, and it is projected that by 2060, we will have 111 million,” said  Corcuera.

According to Lisa Ramirez’s presentation, Hispanics comprise 30% of the total population in Florida, but 21% are registered Florida voters in 2022.

Ramirez’s presentation consisted of information provided by UnidosUS and Mi Familia Vota. These two national organizations are dedicated to civic engagement work. She referenced a survey they conducted in

July and August of 2022 of Florida Latino voters and its key findings.

“Despite what happened in Florida in the midterms, nationally twothirds of Latino voters did vote Democratic,” said Ramirez. “U.S. Latino voters — across the board — focus on life and survival priorities as well as women’s reproductive health.”

According to Ramirez, the survey responses show strong support

for policies to address issues such as housing and rental assistance, health insurance assistance, investing and education assistance for students who fell behind during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as universal background checks and mental health supports.

“Another big issue that our community is facing is the mis- and disinformation campaigns in Spanish language outlets,” said Ramirez. She said she believes that this is problematic because Spanish speakers don’t have access to the variety of resources that English speakers have and the quality of information found is lower. As an example, Ramirez says

that when a Google search is conducted in Spanish, it usually renders less credible information than when conducted in English.

“Partially, the reason for this is the lack of fact checking and scrutiny the English language media has to confront. Some national organizations like UnidosUS and Mi Familia Vota have called for FCC intervention on this. The FCC has not responded,” said Ramirez.

Another factor Ramirez mentioned is communication, messaging and leadership development. “Especially with language and symbolism that’s being used to promote participation, there’s a lack of cultural and historical context for some Latino voters with this language and symbolism,” said Ramirez.

Ramirez gave two examples: the direct translation of the word, “progresista,” which translates to

progressionist and the image of the raised fist in the air. “These all have associations with leftist dictatorships for some voters — not everyone — for example, some Venezuelans and Cubans. It can be very triggering and steer people to the other direction.”

Ramirez also emphasizes education as an important aspect of getting voters and civic participation at higher levels with Latinos and demystifying the voting process.

According to Ramirez, nationally, 30% of Latino voters are 18-29 years old, and 68% of Latino youth voted for a Democratic U.S. House candidate.

“It’s super important to register new voters, but if a new or young voter feels intimidated or ill-equipped to cast a ballot, then it doesn’t matter that they are really registered,” said Ramirez.

Group leaders present to the Longboat Key Democratic Club on the power of the Hispanic vote.

Recently retired UnidosNow Executive Director Luz Corcuera greets the Longboat Key Democratic Club members.

Incoming Executive Director Cintia Elenstar makes a presentation to Longboat Key Democratic Club members.

Photos by Dariela Delgado

Longboat Key Democratic Club Board Members Howard Veit, Francine Achbar and Bob Gary.

BEST BET WEDNESDAY, DEC. 21

CORESRQ AT THE BAY: TAI CHI 8 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. at The Bay Sarasota, 655 N. Tamiami Trail. Come out and enjoy this outdoor group class using ancient forms of Chinese exercises. Free. For information, visit TheBaySarasota. org.

YOUR CALENDAR

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16

THE CRYSTAL CAVE’S ANNUAL SOLSTICE HOLIDAY MARKET

5 p.m. - 8 p.m. at The Crystal Cave, 1899 Fruitville Road. Shop last minute holiday

from Boccatta. Free. For information, call 346-6203.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18

A TASTE OF CHANUKAH FESTIVAL

4 p.m. - 6 p.m. at Phillippi Estate Park, 5500 S. Tamiami Trail. Celebrate Chanukah with the entire family. There will be a snow slide and a helicopter in the sky to rain down gelt from above. Tickets are $10 and children under 13 are free. For information, visit ATasteOfChanukah. com.

STRINGS CON BRIO CONCERT

5:30 p.m. - 6:25 p.m. at The Green at UTC, Enjoy the sounds of the season by this string orchestra. A selection of seasonal favorites will be performed under the holiday lights. This is a free event, but seating is limited. Guests are encouraged to bring chairs. For information, visit UTCSarasota.com.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 19

INDIVIDUALIZED IPAD AND IPHONE WORKSHOPS FOR SENIORS

10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. at Friendship Centers, 1888 Brother Geenen Way. Come to the Friendship Centers for one-on-one workshops to help you navigate your iPhones and iPads. Learn at your own pace on your own

devices with an expert in helping seniors learn about their devices. Sessions are $3 for members and $6 for others. For information, call 556-3265.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21

THE IDELSON LIBRARY FILM MATINEE SERIES PRESENTS

FIDDLER: A MIRACLE OF MIRACLES

1:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. at Temple Beth Sholom Sainer Social Hall, 1050 S. Tuttle Ave. This documentary chronicles the story of the international Broadway blockbuster “Fiddler on the Roof” by exploring its themes as well as its extensive reach across time and cultures. Refreshments, including popcorn. Tickets are $5 for TBS members, and $8 for others. For information, visit TempleBethSholomFL.org/Event.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22

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. Free. Call 373-1800.

CORESRQ AT THE BAY: PRIMETIME

7:30 a.m - 8:30 a.m. at The Oval, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Join in on this low impact class that includes resistance training. This total body conditioning will target muscles in your core. Bring your own mat or towel. Free, but registration is required. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.

File photo

Casey Key properties sell for a combined $8.5 million

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

Atwo-property sale on Casey Key tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. Rita Collins sold two properties at 1906 Casey Key Road to Scott and Meredith Hermann, of Nokomis, for $8.5 million. The first property was built in 1955, it has three bedrooms, three-and-two-half baths, a pool and 4,388 square feet of living area. The second property was built in 1997, it has one bedroom, one bath and 1,379 square feet of living area. They sold for $4.1 million in 2020.

SARASOTA

LAWRENCE POINTE

Teresa Davis Graison, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the Unit 102 condominium at 101 Sunset Drive to Russell Jackson, trustee, of Sarasota, for $1.2 million. Built in 1978, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,474 square feet of living area. It sold for $129,900 in 1980.

THE OSPREY AVENUE

Elizabeth Sublett, of Sarasota, sold her home at 642 Ohoi Place to Eastchester Properties LLC for $750,000. Built in 1925, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 850 square feet of living area. It sold for $356,000 in 2017.

RIVO AT RINGLING

Randall Gilmore, of Sarasota, sold his Unit 708 condominium at 1771 Ringling Blvd. to Relaxation Location LLC for $735,000. Built in 2006, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,442 square feet of living area. It sold for $490,000 in 2019.

MARBLEHEAD

Anneliese Diepolder, of Austria, sold her home at 2538 Marblehead Drive to David and Andrea Fay, of Sarasota, for $675,000. Built in 2004, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,109 square feet of living area.

RENAISSANCE

Russell Jackson, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the Unit 1602 condominium

Together, the two houses at 1906 Casey Key Road offer nearly 8,000 square feet of living area.

at 750 N. Tamiami Trail to Michael Edward Graham, of Sarasota, for $620,000. Built in 2001, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 1,000 square feet of living area. It sold for $365,000 in 2019.

GULFSTREAM TOWERS

Christie Rosen, of Amherst, Massachusetts, sold her Unit 906 condominium at 33 S. Gulfstream Ave. to Patricia and Carl Mayer, of Sarasota, for $527,000. Built in 1964, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,055 square feet of living area. It sold for $320,000 in 2016.

TROPICAL SHORES

Stanley and Ursula Green, of Lake Elsinore, California, sold their home at 1725 Livingstone St. to Maximus Dsouza, of Sarasota, for $515,000. Built in 1957, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 1,767 square feet of living area. It sold for $120,000 in 2010.

SOUTH GATE

Madeline DiSanti, of Sarasota, sold her home at 3259 Elmore Place to Alexei and Montana Kazanovich, of Sarasota, for $504,000. Built in 1984, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,596 square feet of living area. It sold for $320,000 in 2017.

Kimbal Patrice Viscuso, of Sarasota, sold her home at 2482 Wisteria St. to 2482 Wisteria LLC for $500,000. Built in 1969, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,380 square feet of living area. It sold for $409,000 in 2021.

SIESTA KEY

GULF AND BAY CLUB

Brunswick Development Co. sold the Unit 311 condominium at 5770

TOP BUILDING PERMITS

Midnight Pass Road to 700 Hunters Row LLC for $982,500. Built in 1980, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,337 square feet of living area. It sold for $615,000 in 2002.

SIESTA ISLES

Dana Johnston and Laura FeldmanJohnston, of Raleigh, North Carolina, sold their home at 5315 Shadow Lawn Drive to Jason McGuire and Cynthia Burke, of Sarasota, for $811,000. Built in 1968, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,271 square feet of living area. It sold for $510,000 in 2013.

VISTA HERMOSA

Scott Paul Kemp and Dianne Marie Kemp sold their Unit 34 condominium at 145 Vista Hermosa Circle to Scott Karbon and Heather Karbon,

SEE REAL ESTATE, PAGE 28

Other top sales by area

SARASOTA:

Buccaneer Bay

$5.9 MILLION

Farhan Majeed and Umbreen Khalidi, of Sarasota, sold their home at 7350 Captain Kidd Ave. to Todd and Holly Wright, of Caledonia, Illinois, for $5.9 million. Built in 2016, it has five bedrooms, four-anda-half baths, a pool and 4,608 square feet of living area. It sold for $3,025,000 in 2020.

SIESTA KEY: $1.08 MILLION

Sara Sands

Catherine Sturm sold her home at 5023 Windward Ave. to Dockside Homes LLC for $1.08 million. Built in 1962, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,832 square feet of living area. It sold for $250,000 in 1993.

PALMER RANCH: $1.35 MILLION

Prestancia

Xiaodan Wei and Xiang Li, of Osprey, sold their home at 4236 Las Palmas Way to Mark and Christina Beck, of Sarasota, for $1.35 million. Built in 1988, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 4,210 square feet of living area. It sold for $779,000 in 2017.

OSPREY: $953,000

Park Trace Estates

Thomas McKenna Jr., of Sarasota, sold his home at 360 Park Trace Blvd. to Summer Turner, of Conifer, Colorado, for $953,000. Built in 2000, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,133 square feet of living area. It sold for $470,000 in 2016.

Courtesy photo

In this season of giving, a gift of as little as $25, $50 or $100 will enable The Bay to be a world class, central park for Sarasota.

Your help and support will ensure this new public park looks incredible and delivers surprisingly delightful experiences to every park guest every day -- every year.

The Bay preserves, restores and transforms 53 acres of precious city-owned land along Sarasota Bay into a blue and green oasis - providing a sustainable bayfront gathering place for the community to experience a wide range of park uses.

Everyone who came to The Bay for the ten-day grand opening, everyone who enjoys a walk in the park, and everyone who participates in free park programs and events is encouraged to become a Friend of The Bay.

Every dollar donated by a Friend goes to operate, maintain and program the park. Your gift of only $25, $50 or $100 will enable you, your family and friends, neighbors and visitors to enjoy The Bay, and enable others to experience that same joy.

EVERY GIFT UP TO $1,000 WILL BE DOUBLED BY A MATCH FROM OTHER GENEROUS FRIENDS OF THE BAY

Park guests and other supporters who choose to become Friends of the Bay will help enable The Bay to be one park for all – open and accessible, free and welcoming to the full and rich diversity of our community, now and for generations to come.

Please help SHARE THE JOY of The Bay to ensure more park is built, maintained and enjoyed by all.

Become a Friend of the Bay Today!

Real estate

trustees, of Luxemburg, Wisconsin, for $575,000. Built in 1971, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,036 square feet of living area. It sold for $350,000 in 2016.

PALMER RANCH

ESPLANADE ON PALMER RANCH

Lauren Van Kirk and Loren Anderson, of Poughkeepsie, New York, sold their home at 5315 Cicerone St. to Peterl Corp. for $1.1 million. Built in 2021, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,312 square feet. It sold for $738,400 in 2021.

TURTLE ROCK

Alan and Mary Ann Gates, of Sarasota, sold their home at 5069 Timber Chase Way to Gerald and Nicole Gallo, of Sarasota, for $655,000. Built in 1997, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,024 square feet of living area.

ARBOR LAKES ON PALMER RANCH

Nathan Kindig and Linda Joy Kindig, of Green Cove Springs, sold their home at 6133 Anise Drive to Olivia Aybar-Torres and Pedro Aybar, of Sarasota, for $650,000. Built in 2015, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,029 square feet of living area. It sold for $400,000 in 2017.

FAIRWAY WOODS

Patricia Novak, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the Unit 1302 condominium at 7764 Fairway Woods Drive to Lynette Oakley, of Sarasota, for $590,000. Built in 1985, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,556 square feet of living area. It sold for $357,500 in 2004.

MIRA LAGO AT PALMER RANCH

Concetta Sleight, of Sarasota, sold the home at 3826 Mira Lago Drive to Gary Edward Cunningham and Joyce Marie Cunningham, of Jacksonville, for $550,000. Built in 1995, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,911 square feet of living area. It sold for $300,100 in 2013.

Florence Oprondek, trustee, of Norridge, Illinois, sold the home at 4028 Jardin Lane to Michael and Delesa Morris, of Stuart, for $505,000. Built in 1994, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,642 square feet of living area.

OSPREY

MERIDIAN AT THE OAKS PRESERVE

Henry Nicholson, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the Unit 503 condominium at 385 N. Point Road to Eitan Sachs, trustee, of Osprey, for $730,000. Built in 2000, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,203 square feet of living area. It sold for $455,000 in 2014.

BAY OAKS ESTATES

Robert and Christine Goodier, of Sarasota, sold their home at 514 Oak Bay Drive to Beverly Antonides, trustee, of Osprey, for $672,000.

Built in 1999, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,846 square feet of living area. It sold for $348,000 in 2015.

NOKOMIS

CALUSA LAKES

Joann Jordan, trustee, of Nokomis, sold the home at 2175 Calusa Lakes Blvd. to Rudina Gjinali and Dritan Gjinali, trustees, of Ontario, Canada, for $680,000. Built in 2002, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,126 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $350,000 in 2010.

Brenainn Durkan, Laurel Durkan, Allison Durkan and Brooke Durkan sold their home at 2007 White Feather Lane to Michael Gautier and Frank Prell, of Nokomis, for $501,000. Built in 2002, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,578 square feet of living area.

THURSDAY, DEC. 15

High: 78 Low: 58 Chance of rain: 93%

FRIDAY, DEC. 16 High: 70 Low: 53 Chance of rain: 3%

SATURDAY, DEC. 17 High: 70 Low: 55 Chance of rain: 45%

SUNDAY, DEC. 18 High: 62 Low: 47 Chance of rain: 15%

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, Dec. 15 7:11a 5:37p

Friday, Dec. 16 7:12a 5:37p

Saturday, Dec. 17 7:13a 5:38p

Sunday, Dec. 18 7:13a 5:38p

Monday, Dec. 19 7:14a 5:38p

Tuesday, Dec. 20 7:15a 5:39p

Wednesday, Dec. 21 7:15a 5:39p

Monday, Dec. 5 0

Tuesday, Dec. 6 0

Wednesday, Dec. 7 0

Thursday, Dec. 8 0

Friday, Dec. 9 0 Saturday, Dec. 10 0 Sunday, Dec. 11 0

YEAR TO DATE: 2022 51.65 in. 2021 45.79 in.

MONTH TO DATE: 2022 0.00 in. 2021 0.00 in.

CHANDELIER, BROWN METAL, MANY BULBS, LIKE NEW $25. (941) 920-2494

EXERCISE BIKE “Marcy”

December 22 •East County & Longboat: Thursday, 12/15 noon •Sarasota / Siesta Key: Friday, 12/16 noon D December 29 •East County & Longboat: Friday, 12/16 noon

/ Siesta Key: Monday, 12/19 noon J January 5

Adult Care Services

Lawn Services

Painting

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Services

in SRQ

CERTIFIED HALOTHERAPIST in SRQ

CERTIFIED HALOTHERAPIST in SRQ

We are exited to announce, on-site staff member Jesse Turner has completed all requirements and now designated a Certi ed Halotherapist! MySOWsrq is honored to have him on staffHis education, knowledge and application of halotherapy and how it impacts respiratory conditions as well as respiratory hygiene, and overall wellness are great assets to add to our wellness center; as well as raise awareness in our local community. (941) 378-2444

We are exited to announce, on-site staff member Jesse Turner has completed all requirements and now designated a Certi ed Halotherapist! MySOWsrq is honored to have him on staffHis education, knowledge and application of halotherapy and how it impacts respiratory conditions as well as respiratory hygiene, and overall wellness are great assets to add to our wellness center; as well as raise awareness in our local community.

We are exited to announce, on-site staff member Jesse Turner has completed all requirements and now designated a Certi ed Halotherapist! MySOWsrq is honored to have him on staffHis education, knowledge and application of halotherapy and how it impacts respiratory conditions as well as respiratory hygiene, and overall wellness are great assets to add to our wellness center; as well as raise awareness in our local community. (941) 378-2444

We are exited to announce, on-site staff member Jesse Turner has completed all requirements and now designated a Certi ed Halotherapist! MySOWsrq is honored to have him on staffHis education, knowledge and application of halotherapy and how it impacts respiratory conditions as well as respiratory hygiene, and overall wellness are great assets to add to our wellness center; as well as raise awareness in our local community. (941) 378-2444

(941) 378-2444 www.mysowsrq.com

www.mysowsrq.com

www.mysowsrq.com

www.mysowsrq.com

CERTIFIED HALOTHERAPIST in SRQ