Sarasota/Siesta Key Observer 3.30.23

YOUR TOWN

Musk ado about New College

Raccoons to grace roundabouts

In January, the city’s Public Arts Committee narrowed its options for art for the center of the Fruitville Road roundabout to three options. But after a commissioner pointed out that the “snowbirds” used in one weren’t even local, it sparked a new idea.

At the committee’s March workshop, a local artist, I.B. Skullpten, presented a new vision for the roundabout art. He proposed replacing the “snowbirds,” with year-round Sarasota residents — raccoons.

“From the trash cans at Ted Sperling Park to the backyards of Arlington Park, raccoons are a ubiquitous presence here,” Skullpten said. “Why not honor their intelligence, ingenuity and resilience as a proud marker for our city?”

Committee members balked at the proposal, but knowing the commission usually picks the opposite of their selections, they forwarded it as a finalist. The commission will select the winner April 1.

Guerrilla group revels in red tide

While red tide is considered a problem by most residents, a guerrilla group calling themselves Let Them Eat Fish considers tourism to be a bigger issue.

After Sarasota County raked all of Siesta Key’s beachfront on March 8, residents woke up to more dead fish 10 days later, but it wasn’t a resurgence of red tide.

While revelers were out listening to bagpipes and drinking green beer to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, a group of grumpy leprechauns hauled pots o’ fish kill to the beach to scare away tourists.

Piles of stinky fish and a sign that said “Go home” were found in front of the Siesta Key Public Beach Pavillion. If you have information, police ask that you call 366-3468.

Courtesy rendering

The 400-foot-high “Eye of Ringling” Ferris wheel will give visitors to St. Armands a whole new view of the coast. Signage on the site of the former Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall already reflects the change in ownership.

WEEK OF APRIL 1, 2023

BY THE NUMBERS

Musk plans for private, new New College

In an unexpected move, Florida officials have sold New College of Florida to Tesla, Twitter and SpaceX executive Elon Musk.

The iconoclastic billionaire’s acquisition of Sarasota-based New College comes weeks after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis initiated a left-to-right transformation of the school.

DeSantis, saying New College had drifted too far into “woke” ideas, appointed six new board members for the school in early January. The move led to weeks of protests from some students and alumni, and brought national political attention to the 110-acre campus on Sarasota Bay.

Musk, 51, paid $1.96 billion for New College — a significant number honoring the year — 1960— the school was founded, according to a statement.

Musk, worth $184.7 billion, paid for the school in a combination of cryptocurrencies, including bitcoin, ethereum and tron; some cash from his former account at failed Silicon Valley Bank; coins he found in the fountain at Bayfront Park in downtown Sarasota; and financing through the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. To sweeten the New College deal, Musk will also provide 100 Florida officials three years of free Twitter blue-checkmark subscription services, one free ride on a SpaceX Super Heavy Rocket and a dozen free Tesla rides around Tallahassee.

“I’m so stoked to buy New College,” Musk, a 1997 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania,

said in an exclusive interview with the Sarasota Observer “Spaceships and EVs and tweets and stuff are nice, but higher education, that’s the bomb, man. It has long been a passion of mine.”

Musk plans to take the public college private, much like he did with the social media site Twitter.

Musk famously walked into Twitter’s San Francisco headquarters holding a kitchen sink just before the deal, indicating he planned to get rid of a lot of things.

Musk started the transition this week, when he terminated all the board members, along with new president Richard Corcoran. Musk, known for his micromanaging style, named three co-presidents of New College, who will each work 10 days a month. (In

Ringling Boulevard: For bikes only?

Less than a year after it opened, city officials are already considering making changes to the Ringling Boulevard “complete street” concept. Frequent conflicts between rolling vehicles, parked vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians on the multipurpose driveway are prompting discussions about what the one-mile stretch of Ringling Trail should be.

The city has brought in a design consultant, who recommends removing cars from the roadway.

“The whole point of converting Ringling Boulevard from four lanes to two, adding a bike lane, painting the asphalt green near intersections, adding bollards, installing green concrete barriers and putting parking spaces between the travel lane and the bike lane — have I left anything out? — was to create a bikeway,” said Schwinn Bias, the consultant. “There is just too much going on there, so why not just make the whole thing a bike trail?”

Circle back

Sarasota city officials have added a wrinkle to the four new roundabouts that run along U.S. 41 from 10th street through Gulfstream Avenue: reverse directions on odd-numbered days of the month.

months with 31 days Musk will be president for one day, officials familiar with the deal say.)

The presidential trio is made up of close Musk friends: popular podcaster Joe Rogan; Ari Emanuel, the famed Hollywood agent who is the inspiration for the Ari Gold character on the hit HBO show “Entourage;” and Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey. Musk said he’s particularly excited about working with Rogan. It was on Rogan’s show, in 2018, when Musk, of course, famously (and allegedly) lit up a joint.

“We are going to turn New College into the Princeton of the South,” Musk said, a reference to those who wanted to turn New College into the Hillsdale of the South, mirroring the Michigan’s school’s conservative curriculum.

The plan, says the city’s director of traffic congestion, Robinson W. Patrick, is rather simple. On even days drivers in traffic circles will do as they’ve been doing. That means drivers entering the circle will, per normal, yield to traffic and then proceed in a counterclockwise direction, said Patrick, also the city’s vice president of first impressions.

But, starting April 9, every odd day in every month motorists will drive clockwise. The program starts April 9 to give drivers, who, for the most part, are very accommodating and appreciative of changing traffic patterns, time to adjust to the changes. “Sarasota residents, tourists and snowbirds are wonderful humans, every last one of them,” Patrick said, “and they will handle this change with the grace, space and happy faces they always do.”

For assistance, call (941) 3663468.

“We could all use a pause on Tamiami Trail for an hour or two.”

Notreallya Wallenda, on his planned hirewire stunt that will close U.S. 41 in Sarasota for two hours on April 1. Read more on page 4

Courtesy photo

Elon Musk said he’s excited to take his get rid of “everything but the kitchen sink” philosophy to New College.

Van Wezel discovered to be on Seminole property

The Seminole Tribe announces plans to repurpose the Van Wezel as a casino, add circus-themed hotel.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

The future of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is settled, and it doesn’t require any buy-in from the public.

As they were studying the potential repurposing of the Van Wezel, members of the city’s Purple Ribbon Committee discovered forgotten documents that show the Seminole Tribe of Florida holds the deed to 18 acres that now comprise a portion of The Bay, the 53-acre park along Sarasota Bay, which includes the ground on which the Van Wezel now stands.

As a gift to the city when it was founded in 1902, the tribe had conveyed the rights to use the property. Documents show however, that those rights were to revert back to the tribe after 100 years.

Thwarting the Bay Park Conservancy’s intentions of avoiding the commercialization of The Bay, the

tribe quickly developed plans to convert the Van Wezel into a casino and announced it would partner with Circus-Circus Hotel and Casino of Las Vegas to, in a nod to Sarasota’s big top legacy, build a Circus-Circus flagged hotel adjacent to it.

“I guess this makes our job a lot easier,” said committee consultant Jack R. Wilde. “We were going to be guiding the committee about concepts to repurpose the building, but now this revelation has played our hand for us.”

“Between the hotel, the casino and the new theater, The Bay will become the entertainment destination of the region.”

Although the Van Wezel stands on ground that was created by filling in a portion of Sarasota Bay, the Seminoles hold riparian rights on its portion of the bayfront. Riparian rights in Florida are those enjoyed by

GAMES PEOPLE PLAY

Games to be offered to customers at the Seminole Circus-Circus Hotel and Casino in Sarasota:

CARDS — 75 TABLES

real property owners whose upland property extends to the normal highwater line on navigable waters. That means the former bay-turned-fill on which the Van Wezel stands is tribal property.

As Native American land, the city has no zoning authority over the site.

Conveniently, the purple color scheme of the Van Wezel will remain and be incorporated into the hotel, which will have a big top-style roof stretching upwards of 150 feet atop a 20-story, purple-and-white striped building.

Purple, as it turns out, is the symbol of wisdom among many Native American cultures.

“It would be very unwise of us to not take advantage of this opportunity now that it has been brought to our attention,” said Seminole spokesperson Penny Ante. “We’re going to roll the dice and see if we can make Sarasota the premier gambling destination of Southwest Florida.”

The Seminoles also own Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa. The leadership there, which oversees the tribe’s casino development and operations, calls its new Sarasota location an ideal addition to its gambling and hospitality holdings.

The tribe is also developing plans to create a waterborne shuttle ser-

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vice to ferry passengers across Sarasota Bay to St. Armands and Longboat keys. The motorized boats will be designed in the shape of oversized “Longboats” that will hold 30 passengers each.

The discovery settles the debate over whether a new performing arts center should be built to replace the Van Wezel.

“Looks kinda like they have to now,” Ante said.

“Between the hotel, the casino and the new theater The Bay will become the entertainment destination of the region.”

‘Human Habitrail’ planned for The Quay

to provide all the ambiance of being outside and none of the discomfort, with views of The Quay, downtown and whatever glimpses of Sarasota Bay there are between the towering condo buildings.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

Creating connections between residents in the multiple condominium towers that will comprise The Quay is central to the development plan. That’s the genesis of a new proposal to create a network of overstreet pedestrian corridors at the second level of all the buildings. It’s been dubbed the “Human Habitrail” — a nod to the 1970s-era Habitrail product that connected hamster, gerbil, Guinea pig and other rodent habitats via transparent plastic tubes.

The Quay’s version will be a climate-controlled walkway allowing residents to walk from building to building while sheltered from the elements. It will be glass enclosed

“I got the idea from my childhood, when I had Habitrail tubes all over my bedroom, and I used to watch those little vermin scurrying about from cage to cage,” said Gabril Rodenthe, who is spearheading the project. “I even had them running overhead, which is why I thought the same experience could be rendered on a human scale in The Quay.”

The Human Habitrail network will run between the two Ritz-Carlton Residences buildings, then on to Bayso, into and through Cordelia along U.S. 41 and terminate at One Park. Users will then be able to exit through the One Park garage and into the building’s planned breezeway.

To ensure the Human Habitrail is accessible only to residents of The Quay, all entry points will be equipped with retina scan technology.

Rodenthe envisions the walkways as a way for residents in The Quay to socialize without having to go out-

side. Engineers are designing bumpouts along the habitrail to accommodate low-impact exercise stations like cardio wheels.

“It will be just like the Guinea pig experience, only without all the sawdust,” he said.

Courtesy

“I got the idea from my childhood, when I had Habitrail tubes all over my bedroom, and I used to watch those little vermin scurrying about from cage to cage.”

Gabril Rodenthe

Residents of The Quay will be able to walk throughout the development without having to step outside.

Pictured is one possible design for the new casino and hotel signage coming to the space formerly occupied by the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

Penny Ante

GOTCHA!

St. Armands eyes a new centerpiece

Drive at Madison Drive.

ANDREW WARFIELD

STAFF WRITER

England has the Eye of London. Central Florida has the Orlando Eye.

Not to be outdone, Sarasota will soon have the Eye of Ringling, a 400-foot-high observation Ferris wheel destined for the park at St. Armands Circle. The wheel will complete John Ringling’s vision, its proponents say, of making the circle the focal point of the Gulf Coast of Florida.

“Residents of St. Armands, Lido and Longboat keys have not historically been receptive to activating Circle Park for commercial uses like a for-profit carousel or holiday festival, but who could not like a giant Ferris wheel that you can see from 10 miles away?” said Bailey Barnum of Three Ring Enterprises, promoter of the project. “It will be a beacon of light, literally, up and down the Gulf Coast.”

Similar to the Orlando Eye, Eye of Ringling will seat 480 passengers in 30 gondolas that will complete a rotation in 22 minutes. It will be owned by the city, the $90 million price tag funded in part by a new tax increment financing district along Lido Beach and parking revenues from a 12-story addition to the city parking structure at North Adams

“At a passenger capacity of more than 1,300 per hour, we’re going to need somewhere for all of those visitors to park,” said Barnum. “It’s a classic Hegelian dialectic. We create the need for parking, then create the parking, then profit from both. It’s a win-win for everybody.”

Proponents of the project say residents of Longboat and Lido keys need not be concerned about traffic peaks disrupting their trips through St. Armands, across the Ringling Bridge and into downtown Sarasota.

“At 1,300 passengers per hour, it’s just going to stay busy all the time,” Barnum said. “Just think about the revenue potential. The city could even put toll booths on the Ringling Bridge and charge people to come and go.”

Preliminary design sketches currently working their way through the city show the wheel positioned in the center of the circle park facing west toward the beach and east toward downtown. An A-frame support structure will anchor the wheel just inside the park space.

Barnum shrugged off concerns of businesses around the circle may have about the ability of the infrastructure to handle the volume of visitors the Eye of Ringling will bring.

“Well I guess the city is finally going to have to build some public restrooms out here,” he said, “so that’s a plus.”

A sophisticated LED lighting system will allow operators to program an unlimited variety of light shows on the wheel that will be visible at night for miles.

“From this wheel riders will be able to see as far away as University Town Center,” Barnum said. “More importantly, you’ll be able to see the wheel from there. They may have stolen the aquarium, but let’s see Benderson top this!”

Traffic estimates by the Florida Department of Transportation have indicated that the new roundabout at U.S. 41 at Gulfstream Avenue will not support the capacity needed for the additional traffic the Eye of Ringling will generate, estimated at 5,000

more vehicle trips per day.

Plans are underway to add two more lanes to the traffic circle, a project expected to take 18 months to complete.

To gather public input on the plan, the developer has set up a hotline at (941) 366-3468.

For those expressing outrage about the project, Barnum offered some words of wisdom.

“You know what they say,” he said. “There’s a sucker born every minute.”

The Eye of Ringling will bring thousands daily to ride the big wheel.

Happy April Fools’ Day from the Sarasota Observer! The stories on pages 1 through 4 are not real news. Hope you’re as relieved as we are!

Courtesy photo

A towering Ferris wheel will soon grace the park at St. Armands Circle.

Observer

on Siesta Key

Magical creatures on Spanish Point

On the morning of March 26, 2-year-old Eden Hull found the magical moment she’d been waiting for — the chance to offer a simple hello.

It was a greeting she had been practicing for one of the “unicorns” found at the Enchanted Garden Family Festival at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ Historic Spanish Point campus.

Hull said while she enjoyed riding the unicorn, saying “hi” was her favorite part of the experience.

“She’s been practicing saying ‘hi’ to the unicorn all day,” said her mother, Angelica Hull. “All the way here, she was practicing in the car.”

Ellian Rosaire of Rosaire’s Riding Academy & Pony Rides said the festival was one of three unrelated events for which the academy had provided unicorns for that weekend, calling them “very popular.”

SCAT drivers top rodeo competitors

Three Sarasota County Transit bus drivers are among the best on the Gulf Coast, recently earning the highest average score in the annual Interagency Bus Roadeo in St. Petersburg.

Drivers Gabe Cole, Jeff Lander and Scott Dailey competed against others from Manatee Area Transit, Hillsborough Area Regional Transit, Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority and GoPasco.

The rodeo evaluates a driver’s ability to deliver a smooth, safe, timely ride.

Winning drivers qualify to compete in the Florida Triple Crown Bus Roadeo in Orlando March 31-April 1. Dailey and Cole advanced to the statewide competition.

“These competitions are a welcome opportunity to celebrate the dedication and professionalism of public transit drivers with neighboring transit agencies,” said Director of Sarasota County Transit Jane Grogg in a news release.

Ian Swaby

Ten-year-old Kylie Ung, 12-year-old Isaiah Edwards, 11-year-old Isariah Edwards, and 13-year-old Isaialyah Edwards take a ride at the Sarasota County Fair.

Ian Swaby

County land-buying fund may run dry by 2029

Rising maintenance costs may deplete the Environmental Sensitive Lands Protection Program in six years unless voters approve a referendum to extend it a second time.

Since a 1999 voter-approved referendum established its Environmental Sensitive Lands Protection Program, with a 2005 extension through 2029, Sarasota County has made 90 acquisitions of some 40,000 acres for permanent conservation.

In addition, since 2005, the county’s Neighborhood Parkland Program made 23 acquisitions comprising approximately 116 acres. Its expiration is only six years away, though, meaning the end of the 0.25 mill funding source for the acquisition and maintenance of the land.

County Commissioner Mike Moran sounded what he called a “fire alarm” during the commission’s first 2024 budget workshop of the fiscal year, on March 22, telling his fellow board members that without a timely referendum, after 2029, revenue for maintenance will have to be pulled from other areas of the budget.

“You can see as we sit today, if you never bought another blade of grass, it’s $3 million,” Moran said of the looming maintenance fund balance deficit. “This board needs to have a discussion, and definitely the board after that, that you’d better be careful buying one more blade of grass if you can’t maintain it.”

Moran sounded that warning particularly to freshman commissioners Joe Neunder and Mark Smith because, should they be reelected when their terms expire in 2026, they will be the only current commissioners serving at that time. Moran, Nancy Detert and Chairman Ron Cutsinger will reach their term limits in 2024.

“If you’re sitting here in (fiscal year 2027 or 2028) and you don’t have a penny to pay for this maintenance, ( County Administrator) Jonathan

(Lewis) is going to ask you where do you want me to cut?” Moran said. Smith did take a moment to look into a future minus the current majority of members on the commission.

“Those of us who may be here longer may be looking at a point in time where this is going to be 50% acquisition and 50% maintenance,” Smith said. “The more access you have to the properties and the more equipment that we put out there, the maintenance is going to keep going up. Also there are going to be fewer opportunities to purchase land as the county keeps getting developed, so we need to have an aggressive approach to purchasing. We won’t be purchasing as much in the future just because there won’t be the land there, but until we get there, we’d better buy it while it’s there.”

SLIDING SCALE

Currently, 15% of the revenue for the Environmental Sensitive Lands Protection and Neighborhood Parkland programs is earmarked for maintenance. At $3.03 million in designated revenue and projected maintenance costs of $4.46 million, by the end of the current fiscal year, that’s a oneyear deficit of $1.43 million.

Factoring in 8% inflation and expansion expense annually through 2029, the maintenance fund balance deficit swells to nearly $9.2 million if no changes are made. An increase in the maintenance allocation to 20% reduces that deficit to $1.3 million, and at 25%, allocation would create a maintenance fund balance surplus of $6.6 million.

Those projections vary by rate of inflation and program expansion.

Shifting the balance to a higher maintenance percentage, though, means less money for acquisition, although short of an approved referendum, further acquisitions

couldn’t be maintained anyway. The maintenance costs are, in part, a result of commission direction that taxpayer-acquired park land should be made accessible to the taxpayers. That means facilities must be built and maintained.

Staff is recommending a sliding percentage of 20% to 25% of total ESLPP/Neighborhood Parkland Program revenue dedicated to management and maintenance, and evaluating for further need on an annual basis within the normal budget process. Staff also anticipates continued acquisition of land and increased public access and appropriate programming of those lands, plus continued capital development and improvements such as restrooms, picnic areas, kayak launches and other recreation amenities where appropriate.

“We have seen an increase in cost to manage these lands as well as level of service,” said Nicole Rissler, the county’s director of parks, recreation and natural resources. “We are now cleaning our restrooms seven days a week. We heard loud and clear from

our community and our visitors that we needed to increase that level of service in 2017. And it (initially) cost less than $1,000 to remove exotics from one acre. That costs us almost $5,000 today.”

Moran suggested staff should be granted the flexibility to apply whatever percentage of ESLPP and Neighborhood Parkland Program funds necessary to “make the red numbers go away.” That plan will be presented during formal budget hearings this summer. Meanwhile, Lewis told commissioners, staff can begin planning for a referendum to extend the program, and its dedicated funding mechanism, beyond 2029.

“I think 2026 is a really good idea because if you go out to the voters, and let’s say it failed, you could go back out again in 2028, which would give you enough buffer time for when the funds stop in 2029,” Moran said.

“It won’t fail in 2026,” Cutsinger said confidently. “It’ll pass by 75%.”

FABULOUS OR FAIL? AVOIDING THE PITFALLS OF HOME DESIGN

Anyone who has lived in a home that does not have enough counter space, storage, room for guests, etc... knows the frustrations of being in a home that just isn’t working.

Most people know what isn’t working but they aren’t sure how to fix it. Designing a home that is right for you goes far beyond the number of bedrooms you need. Your home should reflect who you are and how you want to live.

Brian Phipps of Phipps Home Design believes in this philosophy and has been turning wish lists into reality for over 25 years. Each of the 1,700 luxury homes that he has designed in Longboat Key, Bird Key and Anna Maria is distinctive because the owners have different ideas of the perfect home.

Phipps distinguishes himself by focusing solely on residential projects.

“We’re more efficient than a lot of designers,” Phipps says. “Some take two years to design a home. We can get the construction started in months as opposed to years.”

“Being streamlined is key,” Phipps says. “People are busier than ever. It is important that we get the design done right and that we are efficient in our approach to the project.”

Clients begin by sharing their dreams and requests. Early on, Phipps recalls receiving files of magazine pages from clients. Today, inspiration comes in digital form and social media posts. From there, Phipps infuses his own ideas with the clients’ to arrive at “workable” ideas.

Positioning of the house is also a primary factor. In fact, Phipps walks the property with the clients to determine the size of home that the lot can accommodate, as well as how to best take advantage of the views and natural light.

He then gets down to the details of his clients’ preferences - including the kitchen sink. For home design, Phipps leans toward the Palm Beach and Boca Raton aesthetic, where he cut his teeth in the business.

“East Coast stylization has worked well on the West Coast,” he says.

Several past clients have hired him to remodel the homes he designed decades ago. “It’s nice to be able to walk into a house 25 years later and nothing has changed,” Phipps says.

“It was that nice to begin with.”

Besides comprehensive design packages, Phipps Home Design also helps in working with other professionals, including builders, landscape architects and interior designers. The result is an exquisite home, inside and out, that complements its surroundings.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

File photo

The Sarasota Springs Trailhead at Legacy Trail is an example of public access on lands acquired by Sarasota County.

Annual report activities by the numbers.

Sheriff’s Office 2022 in review

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

With a staff of 1,036 sworn deputies and civilians, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office serves a population of 452,373, plus an estimated seasonal population of 96,000 over 725 square miles. That doesn’t include an estimated 2.5 million tourists and visitors per year.

With a total fiscal year 2022 budget of $243.5 million, the Sheriff’s Office provides patrol, traffic, corrections, court and more services. In advance of the fiscal year 2023 budget season, Sheriff Kurt Hoffman released his 2022 annual report on the department’s activities on the ground, in the sky, at both ends of a leash and on horseback. Here are some of those policing activities by the numbers.

MOUNTED PATROL

Five horses, two full-time and five part-time riders and a barn technician. The unit participates in community events and parades, conducts traffic enforcement and more.

Training hours: 1,406

PERSONNEL

Sworn corrections deputies: 210

Civilian employees: 363

Sworn law enforcement deputies: 463

Hours worked on horseback: 5,200 K-9

UNIT

Six K-9 teams focus on crime prevention and public education. K-9s and their handlers initiate missing person searches, apprehend fleeing criminals, conduct high-risk vehicle stops and article searches, perform drug odor and explosive detection and more. Deployments: 1,298

2022 ADOPTED BUDGET

BPC names its first full-time chief executive

Olmsted-designed parks and 850 acres.

Lafley said Crockatt is coming on board at a critical juncture, the BPC having opened the first phase of the park along Boulevard of the Arts and embarking on design for the second phase of the project, the Canal District surrounding the public boat launch at 10th Street and North Tamiami Trail.

Operating a not-for-profit conservancy tasked with building and managing a multifaceted public park requires full-time, salaried leadership. For the first time since its 2018 founding, the Bay Park Conservancy has filled that position, naming a veteran public park developer and operator as president and CEO.

Last week, the BPC announced Stephanie Crockatt will succeed Founding CEO AG Lafley, who has volunteered in that capacity.

In partnership with the city of Sarasota, the BPC is designing and developing The Bay on 53 acres of city-owned land on Sarasota Bay into a signature park. It is also responsible for operating, maintaining and programming the park as it opens to the public.

“It’s exciting to think of what’s to come and the fact that they’ve really got their master plan in place,” Crockatt said. “It’s exciting to think about and to be able to build the organization that is going to sustain this vision and its mission. It’s just an honor. It’s a great opportunity.”

Beginning late May or early June, Crockatt will assume overall responsibility for building out The Bay. She is a veteran park conservancy leader with development and fundraising experience as executive director of Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy in Buffalo, New York, the first nonprofit organization in the U.S. to manage and operate an entire urban park system consisting of six

“Without going through the whole list of what Stephanie’s capable of doing and has already done more than once, she’s going save us a ton of money,” Lafley said. “Frankly, we couldn’t get up the learning curve fast enough to catch up with what we’re trying to do. It just wouldn’t be possible, and that’s why we’re bringing her in.”

In addition to building a professional staff to operate The Bay, Crockatt will spearhead funding to support ongoing operations, maintenance, programming and endowment, building on the partnership with the city and relationships with the county, foundations and philanthropists, business partners and friends of The Bay.

As Lafley steps down, Crockatt will report to BPC Board Chairperson Jennifer Compton and work closely with the executive committee. Advantageous to her role, she said, is the groundwork that has already been laid by a group of volunteers with little background in creating and operating a conservancy.

The BPC was formed as a notfor-profit organization to implement the master plan for The Bay, which was approved by the Sarasota City Commission. The BPC entered a long-term partnership with the city to help fund, develop, operate, maintain and program the park for the benefit of the community.

The first 14-acre phase of The Bay opened in October 2022. Planning for Phase 2 at the Canal District will begin in May. The completed park will cost an estimated $175 million-$200 million and will take approximately eight to 10 years to complete over four or more phases.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

Stephanie Crockatt will become president and CEO of the nonprofit charged with building and operating The Bay.

Stephanie Crockatt

The Bay is a career ‘top three accomplishment’

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

When Stephanie Crockatt joins the Bay Park Conservancy in about two months as president and CEO, it will mark the end of AG Lafley’s official role as volunteer founding CEO. At age 76, Lafley, the retired chairman and CEO of Proctor & Gamble, says he will use his newfound time to focus on startup businesses he is helping to grow as well as other community initiatives, likely including work with the BPC in other capacities as needed. Leading the BPC since it was founded in 2018, Lafley calls the opening of the first phase of The Bay and the groundwork laid for completion and sustainability of the city’s 53-acre bayfront park among his greatest professional and civic accomplishments. This week, he spoke with the Sarasota Observer to share his thoughts about how far The Bay has come in five years and about handing over the keys to his successor.

How did you become involved in the BPC?

I was one of the nine citizen volunteers who agreed to serve on the master planning committee. It was always a joke that I got up to go to the restroom at the second meeting and I ended up being named chairman. I chaired the master planning group from inception through recommendation of the master plan, which was approved by the city in September of 2018. They asked me to step off the board and to be the so-called founding part-time volunteer CEO, which is what I’ve done since the project was initiated.

Did you have any intention of being involved this extensively?

My commitment was to get the park open, and I’m really happy that we opened 14 acres last October.

We overcame Hurricane Ian and a whole bunch of other COVID- and recession-related challenges, but Job 1 was to get the park open to the public. And then Job 2 was to get the funding strategy and mechanisms in place. The tax increment financing is a huge piece of the capital funding. Job 3 was to build an organization that will really become a park conservancy. That’s the piece that we’re working on now, and that’s why the announcement of Stephanie Crockatt is so important. She’s been doing this job for the last nine years leading Buffalo Olmsted Parks.

This isn’t the kind of job you can just advertise on a job board and find qualified candidates. What specialities are required?

These jobs are far more complex and in some ways more challenging than starting (businesses). That’s a lot simpler. You know, who is the customer, what your market is, what’s the product or service offering that’s unique and distinctive, and how to find the right employees who are going to deliver. You have all of that in a nonprofit park conservancy, but then when you’re in a public-private partnership with a government entity it just gets way more complicated. Your funding sources are more complicated, your stakeholders are much broader. It isn’t just the customer who uses the park. It’s every citizen who has a point of view about what they want their park to be. So these are chal-

lenging jobs, and there aren’t that many people who can do it.

In what areas did your business background and operating the BPC overlap?

There are leadership and management principles that are applicable, but you really have to think through that application in the public space. The city owns the land. The city owns all the buildings. The city owns all the improvements. We are an agent of the city, a partner of the city and parks are for the public.

I try to walk in the park at least one time every day. It’s a joy to see that we’re delivering on Job 1. The whole genesis of this was to take these 53 acres and make them open and accessible and ultimately free and welcoming to everyone in our

community and our region.

I’m just so excited we had 50,000 in 10 days for the opening. We welcomed our 150,000th guest in February, so in a little over four months 150,000 people have through here. It’s not exactly if you build it, they will come, but if you build it, they will check you out. And then if you program it, they’ll come back. And then if it’s clean and well maintained and welcoming and safe, they’ll keep coming.

How does this compare to your other career accomplishments?

I’m not prone to overstatement. In fact, I’m probably more inclined to understatement. I’ll be 76, and this is one of the two or three proudest team and community accomplishments I can think of, counting all

the businesses, counting Center City development in Cincinnati, counting helping the comeback from the (1995) Kobe (Japan) earthquake. Counting all the businesses that we started. This is definitely a top three accomplishment, and it’s a community accomplishment. We have some 30 external partners that helped us to design plan and build the park. We have over 50 partners that help us program, maintain and operate the park. I love being a small part of putting this together because we did it like a any startup. We networked and we partnered everything we could because we want to spend every dollar on building the park and then we want to spend every dollar programming and activating the park. I’m just one of many volunteers.

What are your thoughts as you hand off what you helped create to Stephanie Crockatt?

This is a huge step up for us. It was a huge step up for us to open this much park and then continue to operate it. Now we’re going to take another big step. We’re going to do four capital projects in three to four years. The capital improvement cost is going to be $65 million, not $35 to $40 million. And oh, by the way, at the same time we’re going to be operating a park that’s attracting a half-a-million visitors in the first year. We might be approaching a million guests in the second year, so we need somebody who really has done this and has done all the parts of it.

Where do you go from here?

There are some obvious things (the BPC) could ask me to do and hang around, but at this time in my life I want to work on things that make a difference and I want to do work that I think clearly adds value. But I also care about the park and I care about the city, so I’m not going anywhere. This is my permanent home.

When Stephanie Crockatt takes over as president and CEO of the BPC, the volunteer founding CEO will step back, but not step away from The Bay.

Courtesy photo

AG Lafley helped lead the formation of the Bay Park Conservancy and the opening of the first phase of The Bay.

Closed eatery sold

Nearly a year after closing its doors, the former Café Baci restaurant, a landmark property in a high-traffic part of Sarasota, has been acquired for about $3 million.

East Manatee County-based Benderson Development acquired the property, at 4001 S. Tamiami Trail, in a $2.8 million sale that closed March 23. The property had been on the market, but under contract, since last May, when the longtime owners shuttered the restaurant. As soon as the last contract was up — with no closed sale — Benderson reached out to the Sarasota broker with the listing, Eric Massey of Michael Saunders & Co. That was in February.

“We’re going to reimagine the property,” said Mark Chait, executive director of leasing for Benderson Development.

Benderson is one of the largest retail and restaurant landlords in the country, with more than 800 properties in 40 states, and it has been growing its portfolio. It’s also worked on multiple redevelopment projects, especially ones Chait said might include new construction. “Our company has a long history of buying properties and significantly redeveloping the properties,” he said.

The restaurant — the place where many in Sarasota held wedding rehearsal dinners, anniversary celebrations and other big-ticket events — had been open in Sarasota, just south of the Bee Ridge Road intersection, for more than 30 years. The location is what attracted Benderson in the first place.

“We didn’t buy it with a specific user in place or in mind,” Chait said. “We just think it’s a great piece of real estate in Sarasota. We specifically think Café Baci is extraordinarily well located. We’re excited about what redevelopment might come.”

As evidence of its work in this area, Benderson points to its work on The Landings, a property a few miles south of Café Baci. Since 2012 when it was purchased, Benderson has renovated the center to one that’s anchored by a recently rebuilt Publix. The center also now features multiple retail and dining spots, including Florence and the Spice Boys, The Breakfast Co., Origin Craft Beer & Pizza Café, Apollonia Grill, Starbucks, Mantra Fitness, StretchLab, EoS Fitness, Daruma, DogPerfect and Tripletail Seafood & Spirits.

“We just know that whatever Benderson does, they do it beautifully,” said Denise Mei, who, along with her husband, Roberto Mei, owned the restaurant.

Realty firm ranked

Thanks to a $3.67 billion sales volume in 2022, Michael Saunders & Co. has been recognized in the RealTrends 500 annual survey of the top 500 residential real estate brokerages in the U.S.

The Sarasota-based real estate company is ranked No. 77 in sales, the highest among locally owned firms. The rankings are based on closed residential sales in 2022.

Founded in 1976, Michael Saunders & Co. has more than 600 agents across Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties.

A 12,000-square-foot waterfront estate in Sarasota’s Harbor Acres was the company’s largest sale in 2022, closing at $17.5 million in July. It also set a record for the highestever residential sale in the tri-county region.

“It is truly an honor to be recognized among the top 15% of real estate companies across the U.S. for sales volume,” said founder and CEO Michael Saunders in a news release. “We are very proud of our 2022 performance, which culminated in the second best year in sales volume in the company’s history.”

The RealTrends 500 is produced by RealTrends, a part of HW Media.

Courtesy photo

The former Italian restaurant sold for $2.8 million.

Are we the Byzantines?

Nowhere is it foreordained that America has a birthright to remain the world’s preeminent civilization. We should take heed from all of the parallels that led to the fall of the Byzantine empire.

EVERY BIT HELPS

Kudos to former Longboat Key resident Sandy Gilbert, current chair of the Solutions to Avoid Red Tide organization. He’s a great example of determination and never giving up.

For 20 years, Gilbert has been a START leader, nudging elected officials and the residents of Sarasota and Manatee counties to employ practices and habits with storm water runoff and fertilizers to help reduce the effects and spread of red tide.

The following column by classics historian Victor Davis Hanson appeared two weeks ago in The Epoch Times. It’s alarming and scary to read how the fall of the Byzantine Empire mirrors exactly what is happening in the United States today.

Hanson says the Byzantines never woke up to stop what they were doing. Hopefully, there is time for Americans to avoid the same fate.

— Matt Walsh

When Constantinople finally fell to the Ottomans on May 29, 1453, the Byzantine Empire and its capital had, up to that point, survived for 1,000 years beyond the fall of the Western Empire at Rome.

Always outnumbered in a sea of enemies, the Byzantines’ survival had depended on its realist diplomacy of dividing its enemies, avoiding military quagmires and ensuring constant deterrence.

Generations of self-sacrifice ensured ample investment in infrastructure. Each generation inherited and improved on singular aqueducts and cisterns, sewer systems and the most complex and formidable city fortifications in the world.

Brilliant scientific advancement and engineering gave the empire advantages like swift galleys and flamethrowers — an ancient precursor to napalm.

The law reigned supreme for nearly a millennium after the emperor Justinian codified a prior 1,000 years of Roman jurisprudence.

Yet this millennium-old crown jewel of the ancient world that once was home to 800,000 citizens had only 50,000 inhabitants left when it fell.

There were only 7,000 defenders on the walls to hold back a huge Turkish army of over 150,000 attackers.

The Islamic winners took over the once magical city of Constantine and renamed it Istanbul. It had been the home of the renowned Santa Sophia, the largest Christian church in the world, for over 900 years. Almost immediately, this “Church of the Holy Wisdom” was converted into the then-largest mosque in the Islamic world, with minarets to follow.

So what happened to the once indomitable city fortress and its empire?

Christendom had cannibalized itself. Western Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy fought endlessly. Westerners often hated each other more than they did their common enemy.

In the final days of Constantinople, almost no help was sent from Western Europe to the besieged city.

In fact, 250 years earlier, the Western Franks of the Fourth Crusade had detoured from the Holy Land to storm the supposedly allied Christian City of Constantinople. Then they ransacked it and hijacked the Byzantine Empire for a halfcentury. Constantinople never quite recovered.

The 14th-century Black Plague killed tens of thousands of Byzantines and scared thousands more into moving out of the cramped city.

But the aging and dying empire battled more than the challenges of internal divisions or an unforeseen but deadly pandemic and the empire’s disastrous responses to it.

The last generations of Byzantines had inherited a global reputation and standard of living that they themselves no longer earned.

They neglected their former civic values and fought endless battles over obscure religious texts, doctrines and vocabulary.

They did not expand their anemic army and navy. They did not reunite their scattered Greek-speaking empire. They did not properly maintain their once life-giving walls.

Instead of earning money through their accustomed nonstop trade, they inflated their currency and were forced to melt down the city’s inherited gold and silver fixtures.

The once canny and shrewd Byzantines grew smug and naive. Childlessness became common. Most now preferred to live outside of what had become a half-empty, often dirty, and poorly maintained city.

Meanwhile, they underestimated the growing power of the Ottomans, who systematically pruned away their empire. By the mid-15th century, Islamic armies were ready to exploit fatal Byzantine weaknesses.

Sultan Mehmed II grandly announced the Ottomans were now the real, the only world power. Ascendant Ottoman armies would eventually move on to the very gates of Vienna in an effort to rule all the lands of the ancient Roman empire.

We should take heed from the last generations of the Byzantines.

Nowhere is it foreordained that America has a birthright to remain

the world’s preeminent civilization.

An ascendant China seems eerily similar to the Ottomans. Beijing believes that the United States is decadent, undeserving of its affluence, living beyond its means on the fumes of the past — and very soon vulnerable enough to challenge openly.

Left and right seem to hate each other more than they do their common enemies.

Like the Byzantines, Americans gave up defending their own borders and simply shrugged as millions overran them as they pleased.

Our once iconic downtowns, like end-stage Constantinople before the fall, are now dirty, half-deserted, dangerous and dysfunctional.

America prints rather than makes money, as its banks totter near bankruptcy.

Americans similarly believe they are invincible without ensuring in reality that they are. Our military is more worried about being “woke” than deadly.

Like Byzantines, Americans have become snarky iconoclasts, more eager to tear down art and sculpture that they no longer have the talent to create.

Current woke dogma, obscure word fights, and sanctimonious cancel culture are as antithetical to the past generations of World War II as the last generation of Constantinople was to the former great eras of the emperors Constantine, Justinian, Heraclius, and Leo.

The Byzantines never woke up in time to understand what they had become.

So far, neither have Americans.

Victor Davis Hanson is a conservative commentator, classicist, and military historian. He is a professor emeritus of classics at California State University, a senior fellow in classics and military history at Stanford University, a fellow of Hillsdale College and a distinguished fellow of the Center for American Greatness. Hanson has written 17 books, including “The Western Way of War,” “Fields Without Dreams,” “The Case for Trump,” and “The Dying Citizen.”

Copyright The Epoch Times. Reprinted with permission. To subscribe to the Epoch Times, go to: subscribe.theepochtimes.com/.

Gilbert knows we’ll never eradicate the annoying stuff. But thanks to his and others’ determination, through their Healthy Pond Collaborative, they published in December 2022

“The Healthy Ponds Guide: The Essential Guide to Establishing and Maintaining Healthy Neighborhood Stormwater Ponds in Southwest Florida.”

With more than 4,500 ponds connected to the bays in Sarasota County, employing the guide’s practices can help stop 80% of the nutrients that flow into the bays. Like Gilbert, that can make a big difference.

EVIDENCE MOUNTS

Day by day, more truth comes out about how Dr. Anthony Fauci and the D.C.-based public health agencies lied and hid information from the public regarding COVID-19 and the vaccines.

All this information brings to mind the headline published on this page in November 2021: “Do Not Vax Your Children” and the accompanying article quoting doctors at a COVID summit in Ocala. Readers were appalled we would spread such a contrarian message.

But now, it turns out, those doctors who were scorned as wackos knew what they were talking about. Indeed, consider two recent reports worth reading:

n Daniel Horowitz, senior editor at The Blaze and host of the Conservative Review podcast, published March 22 a report entitled: “They knew: FOIA document shows government anticipated mass vaccine injuries, then observed them from day one.”

Check it out: conservativereview.com/ horowitz-they-knew-foiadocument-shows-government-anticipated-mass-vaccine-injuriesthen-observed-them-from-dayone-2659636848.html.

n In its March 15 edition, The Epoch Times published a report entitled, “Doctors Around the World Say It’s Time to Stop the Shots.” Authors Jennifer Marguilis and Joe Wang quote doctors and researchers who have been doing studies and compiling data on the adverse effects of the vaccines. Check it out: theepochtimes. com/health/doctors-around-theworld-say-its-time-to-stop-theshots_5103024.html.

— Matt Walsh, mwalsh@yourobserver.com

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

Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944

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VICTOR DAVIS HANSON

Courtesy Instanbul.com

The walls of Constantinople, which today is Istanbul, Turkey.

Roundabout coming to busy Siesta Key intersection

The Sarasota County Commission has approved the $2.9 million roundabout at Midnight Pass and Beach roads. The seven-month project will begin in the second half of 2024.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

Nearly three years after Sarasota County began the process of exploring the potential of a roundabout at the busy Siesta Key intersection of Midnight Pass and Beach Road, the project has been given the green light to proceed by the County Commission.

On March 21, commissioners unanimously approved two ordinances that pave the way for the $2.9 million project to begin in the second half of 2024. With a construction duration of seven months, the anticipated completion of the project is early 2025. The plan is to avoid construction during the heaviest traffic months.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Spencer Anderson, the county’s Public Works director, told commissioners the intersection will remain open throughout construction, although periodic lane closures may be necessary.

The intention is to create a better flowing intersection with enhanced safety features for bicycles and pedestrians.

Although Midnight Pass, also known as State Highway 758, was taken over by the county in 2019, the project is state funded. In two separate motions, the commission authorized execution of the agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation for construction services and amended the fiscal year 2023 budget to appropriate the state funding for the project.

“Roundabouts are polarizing,” Anderson told commissioners. “There are various points of view on them. The (metropolitan planning organization) did a recent study on some findings based on several

roundabouts within the ManateeSarasota County area and found that they are proven safety countermeasures for situations similar to the intersection of Beach Road and Midnight Pass. They reduce crashes, and more specifically, they reduce crashes that result in fatalities or significant injury.”

A frequently used counter argument is that roundabouts can also be confusing for some drivers, but overall, traffic planners across the country are embracing roundabouts as a solution to busy and dangerous intersections, Anderson said.

Highway 758 is one of two pri

mary roads connecting Siesta Key to the mainland, crossing the north bridge before turning south as Higel Avenue then forking left as Midnight Pass Road and continuing less than 2 miles to Beach Road. It then continues south to the second connecting road to the mainland at State Road 72.

Beach Road, meanwhile, runs along the coast, serving many of the Siesta Key public beach areas. All that makes the intersection the pivot point for much of the key’s traffic.

Residents and commissioners alike have raised concerns about disruptions during construction and about accidents in the circle afterward.

“My understanding from previous presentations is that the intersection was going to be impassible for a period of time,” said Commissioner Mark Smith. “My memory is that it was a month that there would be no traffic going through that intersection. Am I accurate?”

Anderson assured him he was not.

“I don’t think it would be a wise idea to direct traffic through the neighborhood,” Anderson said. “We have no intentions of closing the intersection. Potentially unintended

situations may require situational closures, however, the charge for the contractor will be to maintain twoway traffic through the duration.”

Commissioner Joe Neunder asked Anderson what happens in the case of a crash that shuts down the roundabout.

“The center apron is actually mountable, so you have a significant width around the outside of the center of the roundabout that you can actually drive on,” Anderson said. “It’s designed to be driven on for larger trucks that have a wheelbase that doesn’t quite make the radius of the roundabout, so that does provide somewhat of an alternate route if we needed to navigate traffic around it. At other times, the police on scene will have to make decisions on how to best manage traffic, and if the intersection is shut down, they’ll have to divert traffic.”

Before the votes, Commissioner

FREE LECTURE SERIES April 2023

What We Know & How We Know It:

Breakthroughs & Discoveries in the World of Neuroscience

NOT JUST FOR CARS

Pedestrian and bicycle safety features designed for the Midnight Pass and Beach Road roundabout.

n Reduced pedestrian conflict points

n Rapid rectangular flashing beacons at controlled crosswalks

n 10-foot-wide sidewalks around perimeter

n Bike ramps between roads and sidewalks

n Shorter crosswalk to splitter islands

n Wider paved shoulders

n Street lighting

n Slower traffic due to roundabout design

Nancy Detert recommended staff facilitate additional public engagement as the design process of the roundabout moves forward. She cited the roundabout at Jacaranda Boulevard at Venice Avenue in Venice as having more accidents after it was converted from an intersection than before. It then had to be redesigned.

“I hope you are going to meet with the public as soon as possible,” Detert said.

“I think the board would feel better if you got some community involvement and maybe the community needs to understand the choices better. It might even get them on your side with a fuller explanation because people talk and they don’t always give accurate information to each other ... Let’s hear from the public and see if they have some good suggestions.”

Every day, we’re learning more about the miracle of the human mind and how the brain functions. And every new discovery brings us one step closer to managing, treating and even curing neurological disease. During this free lecture series, hear directly from SMH neurologists and neuroscientists about how new understanding and advanced breakthroughs are creating new possibilities. A brief Q&A will follow each presentation.

Tuesday, April 4, 4:30-5:30pm

} Mauricio Concha, MD - Breakthrough in the Treatment for Early Alzheimer’s: Light at the End of the Tunnel

Thursday, April 6, 4:30-5:30pm

} Dean P. Sutherland, MD - Parkinson’s Disease

Tuesday, April 11, 4:30-5:30pm

} Brian A. Wolf, MD - Epilepsy: Diagnosis and Management

Tuesday, April 18, 4:30-5:30pm

} Rejo P. Cherian, MD - Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

SMH-SARASOTA

Sarasota Memorial Hospital Auditorium - First Floor 1700 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34239

This is a FREE LECTURE SERIES with FREE VALET PARKING at main hospital entrance. Light refreshments served. RSVP required. Reserve your space by phone at (941) 917-7777 or online at smh.com/lectures. smh.com

Courtesy rendering

Construction of an FDOT-funded roundabout at Midnight Pass and Beach Road on Siesta Key is scheduled to begin construction in the second half of 2024.

Sarasota Memorial Presents

Republican Club of Longboat Key, Inc.

P.O. Box 8181

Longboat Key, FL 34228-8181

DINNER MEETING!

Tuesday, April 11, 2023

Reception: 5:30 PM to 6:00 PM

Dinner / Meeting: 6:00 PM to 8 PM

Longboat Key Club and Resort

Harbourside Ballroom

3200 Harbourside Drive (North Gate by Publix)

Longboat Key, FL 34228

GUEST SPEAKER: Ronna Romney

• Served as director for Park-Ohio Holdings Corp., NASDAQ(PKOH) publicly traded logistics and manufacturing company, since 2001

• Lead Director of Molina Healthcare, Inc. NYSE(MOH) Board of Directors from 2003 to 2017. Vice Chairman of the board 2017-Present

• Director of Molina Healthcare of Michigan from 1999 to 2004 Media Experience

• Hosted “The Ronna Romney Show” a three hour a day talk show on Detroit’s WXYT-Radio 1992-1994

• Hosted “The Ronna Romney Show” a three hour a day talk show on Detroit’s WJR-Radio 1994-1996

• Co-hosted “Back-to-Back” A television show offering differing points of view on current political issues. 1996- 1994

Political Experience

• From 1982 to 1985, appointed by President Ronald Reagan to serve as Commissioner of the President’s National Advisory Council on Adult Education

• From 1984 to 1992, served on the Republican National Committee for the state of Michigan

• From 1985 to 1989, appointed by President Ronald Reagan to serve as Chairwoman of the President’s Commission on White House Presidential Scholars. (First Woman Chairman)

• From 1989 to 1993, appointed by President George H. W. Bush to serve as Chairwoman of the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships. (First Woman Chairman)

• Candidate for the United States Senate in 1996 for the state of Michigan. Lost to Carl Levin Education and Awards

• Honored as one of the NACD (National Association of Corporate Directors) Top 100 Directors for 2015

• Selected as one of WomenInc. Magazine’s 2019 Most Influential Corporate Board Directors

• Holds a B.A from the Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan

Published Books

• “Momentum: Women in American Politics Now”

• “Giving time a Chance: The Secret of a Lasting Marriage” Ronna and her husband Bruce Kulp have lived on Longboat Key for over 20 years. They also have a home in Michigan. She is the mother of five children and grandmother of eleven children.

MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS

MEMBERS: $70

NON-MEMBERS: $75

Because we must give a final number to the Club for dinner, the deadline for reservations is 3pm, Friday, April 7th. Reservations will not be accepted after that date.

Thank you for your understanding.

Make your reservation online and pay securely with your credit card or register to pay by check by going to our website, rclbk.org.

We do not accept credit cards at the door.

For more information, please contact our President: Garnett Black | gblackrclbk@gmail.com

Tax-Aide at Sarasota libraries helps those in need

AARP FOUNDATION

TAX AIDE

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

Mike Roberts said his favorite applications for volunteer tax-aide positions come from people with relatively little tax-preparation experience.

Roberts manages the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program in select Sarasota County libraries. He said he looks for applicants who have filed their own taxes before or perhaps assisted their neighbors in filing taxes.

“I love it. It’s perfect. We can train you from there,” he said.

After all, Roberts describes the efforts of the program — funded by the AARP and certified by the IRS— as being by the community and for the community. Volunteers can come from all backgrounds, though experience as a certified public accountant can be helpful, Roberts said. Likewise, the program accepts users from all socioeconomic backgrounds.

Roberts said while tax-preparation experience is helpful in handling the more difficult cases, it isn’t necessary, thanks to the training that volunteer tax-aides receive.

The only expectation of program users is that they request help with their taxes. Roberts said he’s particularly interested in serving people with low or moderate incomes since they may not be able to afford a taxpreparation service.

The program remains available from Feb. 1 to the end of tax season, which is April 18 this year.

Ellen India, the adult services coordinator with Sarasota County Libraries, said the service follows libraries’ overall purpose.

2-6 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through April 18. Selby Public Library, 1331 First St. Call 941-500-2257 (outgoing message only). Available at Gulf Gate Public Library (7112 Curtiss Ave.) and Fruitville Public Library (100 Apex Road) by appointment only. To volunteer with AARP volunteer, visit AARP.org.

“This is our main mission. It’s in our DNA, so to speak. We play a key role in empowering community members in as many ways as we can, and one of them is financial stability.”

India said the library is also working with United States Suncoast to offer Volunteer Income Tax Assistance at libraries that do not currently provide tax help. This year, the VITA service is being offered at Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Public Library and is available until April 8.

Roberts said that as anyone who has ever tried to fill out their taxes knows, understanding what to do is never easy.

Despite being a volunteer of 15 years, Roberts said, “I still run into situations where I look something up for somebody and it’s got something a little bit on the strange side. I have to read it three, four, five, six times to understand it.”

However, volunteers include some certified public accountants who can help with some of the more complex issues. India said due to difficulties with taxes, the popularity of the service has endured.

“The demand always exceeds what we are able to provide,” she said. “They’re just such an important resource for the community. They’re always busy. They’re very popular at every location where we have them.”

The programs, which are funded by the AARP and certified by the IRS, accept users from all socioeconomic backgrounds.

TO THE HUMAN HERO BEHIND THE

In this last year, you’ve delivered more than 4,400 babies into this world. You’ve relieved pain and restored mobility for the 1,081 recipients of hip and knee replacements. You’ve mended 6,609 broken hearts and helped more than 1,000 families through the shock and trauma of a sudden stroke. You cared for this community from head to toe and touched the lives of 345,151 patients.

And you did it all without superpowers. Without a shield or secret identity to hide behind. Without the assurance of invincibility. Through the good days and the hard days, through long hours and countless weekends, you missed family and friends because people you never met needed you more.

Sometimes it’s easy to forget the person behind the profession, and we forget to say those two simple words...

THANK YOU HAPPY DOCTORS’ DAY

THURSDAY, MARCH 16

THE NOISES FROM ABOVE 11:09 p.m., 1500 block of North Lockwood Ridge Road

Noise complaint: Police responded to a tenant’s noise complaint that her neighbor in the apartment above her was moving furniture. The complainant said she had not spoken with the upstairs neighbor that evening and that the alleged noisemaker had moved in about three weeks prior.

The officer went upstairs and knocked on the apartment door.

When the woman answered, the officer observed the apartment was dark. The woman said she had just awoken. She further stated the complainant knocked on her door in the past, telling her to turn off the music. Just before the officer arriving, she said the woman was banging on the ceiling with a broom. Going back downstairs, the officer advised the complainant that the woman was asleep, not moving furniture and advised her to stop banging on the ceiling, to which she agreed. The upstairs resident said she will contact the property manager regarding her issues. No crime was committed.

MONDAY, MARCH 20

GRANDMA WANTS QUIET

4:30 p.m., 2200 block of Bahia Vista Street

Noise complaint: Police responded to a complainant who said he had been in an argument with a resident upstairs over loud noise, and that he lives with his grandmother who was becoming upset because of the noise. He said he politely asked his neighbors to quiet down, which sparked the dispute. Another resident made video of the dispute on her cellphone, and while no individuals could be seen, cussing and yelling were audible. The officer attempted to make contact with the upstairs neighbors, but received no answer at the door. The complainant was advised to call again if future issues occur.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22

CAR-SALE PROCEEDS DISPUTE

1:34 p.m., 1000 block of North Orange Avenue

Dispute: A woman contacted the front desk at SPD with a complaint

SATURDAY, MARCH 18

HE SHED EVICTION

8:23 p.m., 1500 block of Tarpon Avenue

Civil dispute: A woman attempting to evict a man living in a shed on her property was told by police she would have to initiate a legal eviction process to have him removed. The responding officer contacted the man, who was waiting outside of the shed he lives in, but would not provide his personal information. He was upset because the woman had taken his mattress from the shed.

The officer advised the man that the property owner was going to begin the eviction process and he needed to begin looking for another place to live. Both were advised to contact law enforcement should any further civil issues or verbal altercations occur.

that a mechanic had sold her 2011 Mercedes Benz while it was in his possession and that he reneged on his promise to pay her the $7,000 from the sale. The complainant, through a translator, told police she dropped off the car for repairs in May of 2022 and was later told by the mechanic he sold the car. He gave her $1,500 as a payment toward the total, but when she went to the shop months later to collect the balance she discovered the shop was out of business.

The translator said she called the man, who declined to meet with her, repeatedly saying, “Give me some time.” The officer advised her that once she accepted a portion of the money as a deposit toward the sale, it was a business transaction; if he refuses to pay her she would have to file a claim in civil court.

Fast Break

nal Mooney High, said he credits the team’s success to the chemistry the players have. They are not afraid to “go to war for each other,” Mulhollen said, which matters more than fans might think. Against Lemon Bay, the team’s defense was not as strong as it had been in previous games, but instead of finger-pointing, other aspects of the team made up for the defensive mistakes. In future games, those roles might be reversed.

It’s the sign of a team that can beat anyone at any time. But it isn’t easy on its coach.

“If my hair isn’t falling out (yet), it’s turning gray,” Mulhollen said with a laugh. “It’s fun to be a part of this, but it sure is stressful.”

The Miss Florida MidSeason Softball Tournament is coming to Sarasota for the first time since 1996. The tournament is hosted by Miss Sarasota Softball, Visit Sarasota County and Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources and will be held March 31-April 2. Players ages 6-16 will compete on more than 100 teams for glory — and have a lot of fun. Games will be held across the Miss Sarasota Softball Complex, 17th Street Park and Fruitville Park. Games will be played at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on March 31, while action the next two days will begin at 8 a.m. For more information, visit MissSarasotaSoftball.org.

... Former Riverview High swimmer and Olympic silver medalist Emma Weyant, a sophomore at the University of Florida, earned two honors from the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America on March 27. Weyant earned First-Team honors in the 500 freestyle and 400 individual medley. Weyant also finished third in the 400 IM (4:03.50) and sixth in the 500 free (4:38.46) at the NCAA Championships, held March 1618 in Knoxville, Tennessee.

... Riverview High rising sophomore quarterback Anthony Miller picked up his first NCAA Division I offer from Campbell University on March 27. Miller played for the Venice High freshman team in 2022 before transferring this offseason.

... The Sarasota Sharks swim school is looking for instructors for four weeks in April and May, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day. Sharks instructors receive a complimentary masters membership and an open swim membership at Selby Aquatic Center. Anyone interested can send an email to KWeyant@ SarasotaSharks.org.

Whatever it takes

RYAN KOHN SPORTS EDITOR

Even the Sarasota Sailors’ coach was at a loss for words.

“Somehow, some way, they find ways to win,” coach Greg Mulhollen said. “I don’t know. It’s a different way every night.”

This particular night — a March 23 contest against Lemon Bay High — left Mulhollen literally scratching his head after completing the handshake line, a small smile spreading across his face. The Sailors, who entered the game 8-2, were playing their third game in three nights and facing a 9-2 Manta Rays team that was relatively fresh.

Mulhollen said before the game that his team was tired. That showed in the first inning, as a fielding error with two outs extended the inning and eventually let a run score. The Sailors would tie the game, but a passed ball scored another Lemon Bay run in the third inning.

started the inning with a solo home run — the first varsity home run of his career — to tie the game. It broke the Sailors out of their offensive slump: An RBI single from senior Luke Jackson and a two-RBI single from junior Michael Bendever broke the game open. Senior pitcher Tanner Crump closed out a complete game the next inning for a 5-2 win.

“We’re dogs out there,” Maszak said after the game. “We’re not going to ever give up. We’re not losing. We step up in big situations and make big plays.”

There’s not much evidence to refute Maszak’s claim. In each of their wins, the Sailors have done whatever was required of them.

Sometimes, like against Lemon Bay, that meant one particular hitter made a play and sparked a rally. Other times, like in a win over Braden River High, it meant the entire offense exploded for a 14-2 win. Other games had little to do with offense; on March 6 against Charlotte High, Crump threw a complete-game onehitter, with 10 strikeouts and zero walks in a 2-0 win. He holds a season ERA of 0.54, and the Sailors have a team ERA of 1.57.

The Sailors’ numbers show how difficult it is to face them. Senior Rex Smith leads the team with a .387 average, but five other Sailors regulars have an average of .286 or higher. That consistency throughout the lineup forces opposing pitchers to be at their best all game. One area lacking for the Sailors thus far has been a consistent power threat: Maszak, Jackson and junior infielder/pitcher Bernard Barnes Jr. are tied for the team lead with one home run.

If the team keeps getting timely hits and dominant pitching, it may not matter. That axiom will be tested in April, as the team will face tough tests like Lilburn, Georgia’s Parkview High (15-2) — a Georgia Class 7A

Final Four team in 2022 — and 8-4 Venice High, which handed the Sailors a 1-0 loss on March 9.

“We can’t have an off night,” Mulhollen said. “Especially when teams step into this stadium, because they bring their ‘A’ game.”

As of March 28, the Sailors have played one game since the comeback against Lemon Bay. It was March 27, a road game against district foe Lakewood Ranch High. Sarasota won 3-2 in extra innings, thanks to a Maszak single that scored two runs. The team is now 10-2, with a 4-0 record in extra-inning games.

Senior Tyler Maszak

The score would hold at 2-1 until the bottom of the sixth inning, when one swing of a Sailor bat changed the team’s fortunes.

The team’s putting it together under first-year coach Mulhollen, who took over from high school baseball legend Clyde Metcalf.

Mulhollen, who was an assistant with the program last season and previously was the head coach at Cardi-

me, meaning if I improve myself, my throws will go farther. If I don’t, they

Courtesy photo

Former Riverview High swimmer and Olympian Emma Weyant and Sporti announced a collaboration on a swimwear collection Jan. 11.

Photos by Ryan Kohn

Sailors senior Rex Smith leads the team with a .387 batting average as of March 27.

PROSE AND KOHN RYAN KOHN

O’s primed for big 2023

By the time you read this, the Baltimore Orioles will be gone.

After another successful and festive Spring Training spent at Ed Smith Stadium and various other Sarasota facilities, the Orioles headed to Boston to begin the regular season against the American League East rival Red Sox. The teams will open their seasons at 3:30 p.m. March 30.

Traditionally, this is the time when a lot of baseball fans here stop caring about the O’s. They either carry an allegiance to the Tampa Bay Rays or to the team based in whatever city they moved to Sarasota to escape. It is rare to see any Orioles gear while walking the streets here after March.

It makes some sense. I, too, carry an allegiance to my former hometown team with me — mine just happens to be Baltimore. I have followed the team for as long as I’ve understood the concept of sports, even in the doldrums that have been the last eight or so years of Orioles baseball. In my darkest moments as a fan, I almost swore off the squad for good, until last year’s team brought my fandom back to life like a shock from Dr. Frankenstein.

For anyone who likes baseball but doesn’t feel connected to one particular team, or who attends Orioles spring games because they’re local but has allegiance to another organization or even for a baseball agnostic, I think this year’s team could provide the same shock to you.

I’m not going to ask anyone to give up their current fandom for the

Orioles. That would be crazy. What I am suggesting is make a little more room in your heart for Baltimore, at least for 2023. I think it will make the baseball year more fun and, frankly, I think this team is going to be deserving of more fans.

They’re going to be good, for one thing. Last year’s team flirted with the idea of being good for about three-and-a-half months, from mid-May through August, and almost reached the postseason, missing a Wild Card spot by three games. But they weren’t good, or at least not consistently good. Their team ERA was 3.97, 17th in MLB, but their starting pitchers struggled, throwing just 41 quality starts (27th in MLB). Offensively, the O’s had an OPS of .695 (20th in MLB) meaning, in layman’s terms, that they struggled to get on base and hit the ball hard, two fairly important parts of baseball.

And yet, they nearly made the postseason anyway.

The biggest reason for the winloss turnaround was catcher Adley Rutschman, who, at the time of his call-up in May, was the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball. Rutschman hit .254 with 13 home runs and 42 RBIs as a rookie, but he also transformed the pitching staff with his ability to frame pitches, as well as his general ability to manage the staff’s emotions. Between innings, Rutschman doesn’t jog back to the dugout, he jogs to the mound to give his battery mate a fist bump and shoulder hug, and they then head to the bench together. With Rutschman on the team, the Orioles were 12 games over .500. He’s going

to be an MVP candidate soon, perhaps even this season. He’s incredible to watch, and even if the rest of the team was full of rubes, he’d be a reason to closely follow the Orioles.

The team’s not full of rubes, though. Third baseman Gunnar Henderson has a chance to be the American League Rookie of the Year. He hit .259 with four home runs and 18 RBIs after a September call-up to test the waters, and he has such strong hair that his helmet has trouble staying on his head. Infielder Jorge Mateo led the American League in steals last season (35); outfielder Cedric Mullins was second (34). They both have blazing speed and use it often. Outfielder Anthony Santander tied for fifth in the American League with 33 home runs. Closer Felix Bautista, nicknamed The Mountain for his 6-foot-8, 285-pound frame, had

the seventh-highest fastball velocity in baseball, throwing it 99.2 mph on average.

Those are all highly impressive feats that help their team win games, but more importantly, they are cool. The O’s are a riot to watch when everything is clicking, playing baseball more like it was 2003 than 2023. They hustle on the bases and stretch their arms to corral low throws and dive for grounders and make rocket throws from their knees and hit dingers and throw fastballs you can barely see before they’re in the catcher’s mitt.

Baltimore general manager Mike Elias took a lot of gruff from fans for his approach to rebuilding the team since being hired in 2018 — which, more or less, amounted to sacrificing a few seasons, on purpose, to gain more and better draft capital for the future — but it resulted in what the team is now. The Orioles were the third-youngest team in baseball last season and may even be younger in 2023 by season’s end, when prospects like pitcher Grayson Rodriguez and infielder Jordan Westberg arrive to help a postseason charge.

There might be better teams in the league, but no team will be more fun or play harder or have as bright a future. Come next Spring Training — the 15th at Ed Smith Stadium— you might have the chance to take a picture with an award-winner in Rutschman or Henderson. These are players your baseball-loving kids are going to idolize. They’ll learn a lot about hustle and respect for the game and for teammates from watching Baltimore, and I think you’ll enjoy them, too, even if only secondarily to your favorite team.

So turn on their games once in awhile and watch what they do. You won’t be disappointed.

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

The baseball team has been a downtrodden franchise for years, but that should change in 2023.

File photos

The Baltimore Orioles, who host Spring Training games at Ed Smith Stadium, are finally ready for some regular-season attention from Sarasota fans.

Orioles General Manager Mike Elias has spent five years building the team’s roster to create a winner.

Luis Castaneda is a junior track and field thrower at Riverview High. Castaneda is No. 1 in Class 4A in the discus (171 feet, 11 inches) as of March 28, according to Athletic. net data. He also competes in the shot put, weight throw and hammer throw.

When did you start throwing?

I started in sixth grade. This guy Gary Dixon was my middle school coach. I still work with him, actually. But he came up to me one day and told me he wanted to see me throw, so I went to a practice and I liked it. I thought I would throw super far, but that didn’t happen. I had to work for it, but I liked that.

What is the appeal to you?

The focus is all on me, meaning if I improve myself, my throws will go farther. If I don’t, they won’t. It’s all on me. I like that responsibility.

What is your favorite event?

I like the discus and the weight throw. Not that I’m bad at the others, but those two are the events I’m best at right now. I plan on getting better at all my events.

What was your offseason training like?

I would go to the gym for two hours each day. Then I’d do some drills and at the end do some light throws, but it was mostly just practice. I also focused on my form when I was throwing. I used (resistance) bands to get the form down for all my events.

What is your favorite memory?

When I was in eighth grade I went to the Junior Olympics in Satellite Beach. I was on my fourth throw (in the discus) and my dad (Luis Castaneda Sr.) was getting on me to throw further. I ended up setting a pretty good PR there and finished sixth, and I remember us celebrating right there at the event.

What are your goals for this season?

Well, a general goal is to continue to improve my form overall. But I want

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

to hit 56 meters (183.7 feet) in the discus. I think that would put me in a good place for this summer and would help colleges look at me.

What is your favorite food?

I like tacos, especially chicken tacos.

What is your favorite movie?

Luis Castaneda ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

I have to say “300.” I love that movie. Which superpower would you pick?

Super strength. (Laughs.) That would help a lot.

What is your favorite school subject?

This year I like marine biology a lot.

I’m learning a lot I didn’t know about red tide, things like that.

What are your hobbies?

I usually play soccer on Sundays, and I like to go fishing, too.

What is the best advice you have received?

Coach Dixon, he always tells me, “Don’t suck, and throw far.” It’s that simple.

Finish this sentence: “Luis Castaneda is ...” ... Competitive. I don’t like to lose, to be honest. I always want first place.

A CAMPAIGN GETS MOVING

All Faiths Food Bank CEO Sandra Frank said residents of Sarasota are often surprised to learn the high levels at which hunger occurs in the community. Frank said about 50% of children in Sarasota lack access to food during the summer months.

“It’s a shocking number — almost half of kids,” she said. “Looking out over the gorgeous day, it’s hard to realize almost half of the kids in schools need free and reduced-price lunches.”

This is why it was important for the food bank to launch the 10th anniversary of its Campaign Against Summer Hunger, which lasts from April 1 to May 15, with an event that would draw in many members of the community.

The food bank once again hosted its Walk to End Summer Hunger at Nathan Benderson Park on Sunday, which included a complimentary breakfast and the options of a one-mile and a 5K walk.

Chief Development Officer Denise Cotler said last year, as a result of the campaign, the food bank was able to feed more than 35,000 children during the summer and hopes to do so again. A matching challenge for $900,000 announced at the walk will help in meeting that goal.

Attendees said they were there for the cause as well as the experience and community offered by the walk.

“Sarasota is one of the richest areas. It’s a shame that anyone should have to go hungry,” said Peggy Jendreski. “It breaks my heart.”

Barbara Kaminsky said as a result of working at Ashton Elementary, she sees a high number of children who are on free or reduced lunches, which encouraged her to come to the walk for a second time.

Nancee Niemiec praised the whole experience.

“It was my first time and won’t be my last,” she said. “I would definitely support this again.”

She said the breakfast items on offer were “delicious,” while her fellow attendees were “very, very nice.”

— IAN SWABY

Photos by Ian Swaby

Todd Griffie, Melanie Jendreski, Michele Heaven and Peggy Cox cross the bridge during the walk.

Charlie Moone, 4-year-old Logan Moone, 2-year-old Peyton Moone and Nikki Moone prepare for the walk.

Nancee Niemiec, Barbara Kaminsky, Ruta Bukauskas and Marilynn Shelley Bob and DD Goerke

Charles Sweigard walked with Beau, a Labradoodle, while David Sweigard walked with Tula, a hound mix.

A family of veterans and canine companions

CANINES FOR HEROES

Email: Mark@ CaninesForHeroes.org

Phone: 941-961-5069

For information visit CaninesForHeroes.org.

Tom Evelyn said his dog, a golden retriever named Ansbach whom he trained to provide therapy at nursing homes and hospitals, was always a source of calm for him. He recalled that during one trip to a hospital, a patient in a wheelchair accidentally ran over Ansbach’s tail, but the dog didn’t flinch.

“He looked at me like he was saying, ‘You owe me one,’” Evelyn said.

That dedication to ideal behavior, he said, is the mark of a well-trained animal. Before Ansbach died in September 2022, Evelyn was looking to

help provide veterans around the community with a similar experience through service dogs.

It’s something he cannot do alone but has found he can pursue through a group effort with one veteran’s organization in the community helping another.

Evelyn, who retired from a 28-year military career in 2005, serves on the leadership committee of IslandWalk Veterans, a group within IslandWalk at the West Villages in Venice that

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

Ian Swaby

Mark and Sandra LaFlamme and their dogs Allie and Cowgirl

was started about seven months ago and represents about 2,500 homes.

As a result of their fundraising efforts, a ceremonial presentation of a check for $10,000 is set to take place at the sixth Annual IslandWalk Car Show, managed by the group for the first time, on May 29, 2023.

After the group decided to host a golf fundraiser, the Veterans Serving Veterans Golf Tournament, in February, Evelyn began seeking an organization it could support. Once he had narrowed the focus to dogs, he finally settled on Canines for Heroes, operated by Sarasota’s Mark and Sandra LaFlamme.

It may be a small operation, but that was what appealed to him, as it meant the nonprofit’s focus was entirely local.

However, he was also attracted to the couple’s commitment to offer dogs not only to veterans but also to first responders, other heroes he and the LaFlammes said were important to recognize, since they also are susceptible to PTSD because of the injuries they witness each day.

Mark LaFlamme said the donation would help sustain the nonprofit.

“IslandWalk Veterans really stepped up to the plate,” he said. “Our biggest challenge by far is the fundraising. When we have the funds, we train dogs. When we don’t, we try to get the funds.”

The funds will primarily support the certification of Sandy, a golden retriever who belongs to Mark Power, as a service dog.

Evelyn said providing the donation was a simple decision.

“Very few things will change somebody’s life, but this will, so it was really easy for us.”

The golf tournament, which was held in Capri Isles in Venice on Feb. 18, attracted 138 golfers from Lakewood Ranch to Fort Myers, although only 80 had been expected, Evelyn said.

Mark LaFlamme said service dogs meet a crucial need for veterans, as the transition between combat and civilian life can be challenging for service members. Having joined the Air Force in 1985 and retired in 2006, LaFlamme participated in Operation Desert Storm as well as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“With the military, you can be fighting Friday and back at the job

IF YOU GO

Annual IslandWalk Car Show, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 29. Display vehicle check-in from 8-9 a.m. Car registration $40.

IslandWalk residents receive preference. To register your car online, visit Form.JotForm. com/HOAIslandWalk/CarShow. To register a car by mail, send a check payable to Veterans of IslandWalk c/o Gary Spinazze 19836 Petrino St., Venice.

Monday,” he said.

After his third deployment, he was faced with the suicides of two fellow service members, which pushed him to create the nonprofit in 2016. He said veterans will be taken off duty if they have to seek treatment for PTSD.

“They take you away from your group, and that’s your life, your guys.”

Sandra LaFlamme said families, including spouses and children, are affected when veterans withdraw from the workforce and those around them. The LaFlammes said service dogs can aid in healing their mental and emotional scars by providing an unconditionally committed companion.

“It’s the bonding,” Mark LaFlamme said. “It’s almost a sense of security — that’s my dog; that’s my helper; that’s my buddy.”

Sandra LaFlamme said having experienced a traumatic brain injury as a child, she understands the benefit animals and engagement with a source of positivity and responsibility can provide.

“Everything you do that brings positive things into your life, everything that you do that gets you reengaged, you’re concentrating and focusing, and it’s giving your brain a chance to heal around where that brain injury is.”

“When everything else is wrong, the dog is always there; they’re always your friend,” said Evelyn. “And when life has gone crazy, it’s just nice to come to somebody for whom nothing matters but you. A dog is part of your life, but to the dog, you are his whole life.”

•

WINNERS

Category 1: Coast to Coast Pools, Prestige at Beachwalk by Manasota Key by Divosta

Category 2: Coast to Coast Pools, Pallazio at Esplanade at Skye Ranch by Taylor Morrison

Category 3: Coast to Coast Pools, Mystique at Talon Preserve at Palmer Ranch by Divosta

Category 4: Coast to Coast Pools, Esplanade at Azario Lakewood Ranch by Taylor Morrison

Category 5: Coast to Coast Pools, Skye Ranch by Taylor Morrison

Category

Coast to Coast Pools, Antigua at Palmero by Taylor Morrison

Category 7: Coast to Coast Pools, Edgewater at Gran Place by Sam Rodgers

Category 8: Coast to Coast Pools, Java at Park East at Azario by Taylor Morrison

Category 9: Waterscapes Pool & Spas, LLC, Patriot at Wysteria by Neal Communities

Category 10: Waterscapes Pool & Spas, LLC, Legacy at Windward by Neal Communities

Category 11: Coast to Coast Pools, Juniper at Sweetwater at Lakewood Ranch by M/I Homes

Category 12: Waterscapes Pool & Spas, LLC, Kiawah at Grand Park by Neal Communities”

CUSTOM HOME WINNERS

• Category 1 Overall: The Bellara at Star Farms by John Cannon Homes

• Category 2 Overall: Solstice at Star Farms by Lee Wetherington Homes

• Category 3 Overall: The Adelaide at Founders Club by John Cannon”

LANDSCAPE WINNERS

Category 1: ArtisTree Landscape - The Bellara at Star Farms Category 2: Trent Culleny Landscape - Margo III at The Lake Club

Category 3: Trent Culleny Landscape - Gardenia III at The Lake Club

Category 4: Trent Culleny Landscape - The Little Palm at Oyster Bay

Category 5: ArtisTree Landscape - The Adelaide at Founders Club”

SINGLE FAMILY HOMES (CATEGORIES 1-28)

• Category 1

•

Bermuda at The Willows by Medallion Home

Barbados at The Reserve at Twin Rivers by Medallion

•

•

St. Michael The Archangel Holy Week Schedule

HOLY WEEK

Ryan Dunn,

FRIDAY, MARCH 31

COOKING FOR THE ARTS

6:30 p.m. at Michael’s On East, 1212 East Ave. S. Southside School Foundation for the Arts hosts its first annual Cooking for the Arts event, in which guests cook a four-course meal for their tablemates under the direction of local celebrity chefs Phil Mancini and Jamil Pineda. Tickets are $225 per person. A live auction will include tickets to a Taylor Swift concert, an Ed Sheeran concert and a wine dinner at Michael’s Wine Cellar. For information visit SouthSideFoundation.org.

NOSHING IN NATURE: ORANGE YOU GLAD TO LEARN ABOUT VODKA?

6-8 p.m. at White Cottage, Selby Gardens Historic Spanish Point Campus, 401 N. Tamiami Trail. Learn about the botanical, cultural and culinary history of the Florida’s famous symbol, the orange, from Selby Gardens’ Vice President of Regional History John McCarthy. Then, discover a variety of vodka made from the Florida orange, which will be incorporated into a series of craft cocktails. Selby members $64; non-members $69. For information, visit Selby.org.

SATURDAY, APRIL 1

AQUA EGG HUNT

1 p.m. (ages 4 and under), 1:20 p.m. (ages 5-8), 1:40 p.m. (ages 9-12, shallow water), 2 p.m. (ages 9-12, deep water) at Arlington Park & Aquatic Complex, 2650 Waldemere St. Kids take to the water to hunt for eggs, including a “golden” egg that will award special prizes. Cost is $2 per child. For information, visit LetsPlaySaratsota.com.

ASTRONOMY AT THE BAY

8-10 p.m. at Common Ground, The Bay Park, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Turn your focus to the stars in this event held by Suncoast Stargazers. Attendees can view the night sky through the array of telescopes provided on-site or bring their own. This event is free. To reserve a spot, visit Eventbrite.com. For more information visit TheBaySarasota.org.

BEST BET

SATURDAY, APRIL 1

BEST BET: 37TH ANNUAL RUN FOR THE TURTLES

7-10 a.m. at 948 Beach Road. Run across Siesta Key Beach in the largest fundraiser held by Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium for its Sea Turtle Conservation & Research Program. The program studies and protects sea turtles along 35 miles of nesting beaches in Southwest Florida. Participants can run either a 5k or a one-mile race. Registration is $40. Each registration will fund the marking and monitoring of five sea turtle nests. For information, visit Mote.org.

MONDAY, APRIL 3

MEDITATION MONDAYS IN THE MANGROVES

9-10 a.m. at the Blue Pagoda, The Bay Park, 655 N. Tamiami Trail. Find peace walking and sitting among the beauty of mangroves at The Bay Park. This nondenominational meditation session is hosted select Mondays by a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Science instructor. Attendees are advised to wear comfortable, loose clothing and bring water, and a portable chair or blanket as the session will take place on the trail. No prior experience is needed. This event is free. To reserve a spot, visit EventBrite.com. For information, visit TheBaySarasota.org.

Modern tropical style rises to meet urban sophistication in the heart of walkable downtown Sarasota. Pairing an intimate collection of luxury tower residences with the curated amenities of a boutique hotel, SOTA delivers serviced simplicity to a stylish new address overlooking the city.

Sarabay Acres home sells for $4.4 million

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

Ahome in Sarabay Acres tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. Owen and Lindsey Thiessen, trustees, sold the home at 722 Sarabay Road to Carl and Carolena Grivner, of Osprey, for $4.4 million. Built in 2003, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 4,202 square feet of living area. It sold for $3.71 million in 2021.

SARASOTA

SAPPHIRE SHORES

James and Dawn Martell sold their home at 314 Ringling Point Drive to Jeffrey and Sally Ann Friedman, trustees, of Sarasota, for $4 million. Built in 1988, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 2,747 square feet of living area. It sold for $609,000 in 1999.

HARBOR VIEW ON

GOLDEN GATE POINT

Douglas Stewart sold his Unit 403 condominium at 650 Golden Gate Point to Walter and Audrey Stewart, of Sarasota, for $2,595,500. Built in 1962, it has two bedrooms, twoand-a-half baths and 1,837 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.6 million in 2021.

BEAU CIEL

Igor and Svetlana Vernik, of University Park, sold their Unit 702 condominium at 990 Boulevard of the Arts to Thomas Wiggers and Wendy Carlsson, of Sarasota, for $1,775,000. Built in 2003, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 2,335 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.25 million in 2019.

VALENCIA TERRACE

Maria Gelinas sold the home at 1325 Cocoanut Ave. to Karl Volkmar and Wendy Volkmar, trustees, of Sarasota, for $1.2 million. Built in 1927, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 3,029 square feet of living area. It sold for $79,900 in 1994.

Katherine Kelly, of Sarasota, sold her home at 1205 Cocoanut Ave. to Brian Wagner and Deirdre Patton, of Sarasota, for $865,000. Built in 1925, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,746 square feet of living area. It sold for $95,000 in 1999.

SAPPHIRE HEIGHTS

Tanya Steel, of Sarasota, sold the home at 4840 Eastchester Drive to David and Theresa Bennett, of Sarasota, for $925,000. Built in 1971, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 1,819 square feet of living area. It sold for $529,000 in 2020.

GROVE HEIGHTS

Joan Ewers, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the home at 1949 Grove St. to Merlin David Yoder and Teby Wammack Yoder, of Sarasota, for $850,000. Built in 1972, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,512 square feet of living area. It sold for $565,000 in 2005.

Q TOWNHOMES

Teresa Stone, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the home at 232 Cosmopolitan Court to James and Stephanie Nolan, of Sarasota, for $782,000. Built in 2015, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 1,552 square feet of living area. It sold for $400,300 in 2015.

RIVO AT RINGLING

Lone Pine Investments LLC sold the Unit 1003 condominium at 1771 Ringling Blvd. to Robert Todd Eliason, of Sarasota, for $740,000. Built in 2006, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,440 square feet of living area. It sold for $670,600 in 2022.

PHILLIPPI LANDINGS

Richard and Stacy Fontana, of West Haven, Connecticut, sold their Unit 302 condominium at 1921 Monte Carlo Drive to Brad Steven Lerner and Melissa Jekonski-Lerner, of Sarasota, for $569,000. Built in 2006, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,720 square feet of living area. It sold for $375,500 in 2019.

SOUTH GATE

Krista Pizzurro and Brian Short, of Rochester, New York, sold their

TOP BUILDING PERMITS

Other top sales by area

SARASOTA: $4,316,000

Harbor Acres John Thompson, of Sarasota, sold his home at 1393 Harbor Drive to Thomas Woycik, trustee, of Sarasota, for $4,316,000. Built in 2022, it has seven bedrooms, seven baths, a pool and 4,392 square feet of living area.

SIESTA KEY: $3.4 MILLION

The Terrace Catherine and Douglas McClure, of Chelsea, Michigan, sold their Units 142 and 143 condominium at 5400 Ocean Blvd. to Thomas Fogarty and Consuela Fogarty, trustees, of Malvern, Pennsylvania, for $3.4 million. Built in 1970, it has four bedrooms, four baths and 2,374 square feet of living area. It sold for $3.3 million in 2022.

PALMER RANCH: $1,675,000

Legacy Estates on Palmer Ranch

home at 2508 Tulip St. to TMG Ventures LLC for $529,000. Built in 1959, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,276 square feet of living area. It sold for $257,000 in 2016.

LOMA LINDA PARK

Magida Diouri, of Sarasota, sold her home at 2106 Temple St. to Raymond and Bonita Kirton, of Sarasota, for $525,000. Built in 1955, it has three bedrooms, one-and-a-half baths and 1,001 square feet of living area. It sold for $73,000 in 1998.

SIESTA KEY

SIESTAS BAYSIDE

Dominic and Elizabeth Jones, of Sarasota, sold their home at 713 Treasure Boat Way to Kenneth and Julie Fender, of Ashburn, Virginia, for $3.1 million. Built in 1985, it has three bedrooms, four-and-ahalf baths, a pool and 2,898 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.09 million in 2014.

Wade and Paula Tucker, of Sarasota, sold their home at 5313 Greenbrook Drive to Kevin Harron and Kimberlee Brown, trustees, of Gloucester, Massachusetts, for $1,675,000. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,279 square feet of living area. It sold for $929,800 in 2019.

NOKOMIS: $2,175,000

Casey Key Linda Hamilton, trustee, of New Orleans, sold the home at 121 Casey Key Road to SRI GMR Properties LLC for $2,175,000. Built in 1954, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,427 square feet of living area. It sold for $850,000 in 1998.

ONLINE

See more transactions at YourObserver.com

Courtesy photo

A home in Sarabay Acres tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. The home at 722 Sarabay Road sold for $4.4 million.

Community fun at County Fair

Sarasota County 4-H member Camile Gehan, age 13, wasn’t at the Sarasota County Fair for the rides and roller coasters. She stood in the Houser Show Arena, grooming her cow Sunshine for the beef-breeding show taking place the following day.

“It’s fun. I like getting to groom her and getting her ready for the show,” said Gehan, who was involved in the show for the first time.

The skills on display at youth agricultural shows made up part of the scene at the Sarasota County Fair on Wednesday.

Held March 17-26 at the Robarts Arena the fair featured rides and attractions provided by Belle City Amusements — food stands from numerous independent vendors, face painting and magic shows, among other offerings.

“It’s a great atmosphere. Just a good time to get out,” said Ricky Rowles, who has been coming to the fair for about four years.

Gehan’s mother, Heather Gehan, said the fair was an excellent opportunity for young people to showcase their abilities.

— IAN SWABY

“Anne Friedland knows her business inside and out and has great follow through! Anne and her staff managed to do the impossible and calm my panic at the complexity of the purchasing and selling of properties! The amount of paperwork and foresight needed to process the properties through the system is incredible and these ladies were able to do this with panache!! Kudos for jobs well done!!” — Jo, Bradenton

Jackson Rapean, who is 10 years old, and Rich and Cindy Rapean

Photos by Ian Swaby Belle City Amusements provided the fair’s midway.

NATURE’S

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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CATCH-ALLS by David Karp, edited by Jeff Chen

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