Sarasota/Siesta Key Observer 4.13.23

Fighting on the same team

Tony McEachern said one purpose of his commemorative walk on April 8 was the journey, which began and ended at the Team Tony Cancer Connection Center on S. Osprey Avenue. He said being with those who support him represented his experiences since he was diagnosed 20 years ago with a Grade 3 anaplastic astrocytoma brain tumor and given two years to live.

Although McEachern said he was disappointed that he didn’t achieve the planned 20 miles for the walk, only walking about 8 miles, he said the situation mirrored the unpredictable road of his cancer journey over 20 years.

Lori Kayser, who co-founded the Team Tony Cancer Foundation with McEachern in 2010 and is being treated for breast cancer, said the goal of the foundation is to create a warm and welcoming environment.

Girl Scouts garner Gold Awards

Two Sarasota Girl Scouts recently won the highest honor in Girl Scouting, the Gold Award. The award recognizes high school Girl Scouts who address issues they are passionate about by planning and implementing a project that produces lasting change in their communities and beyond.

Alexis Morrison, who is homeschooled in Sarasota won a Gold Award for her project, “Mental Health Awareness.”

Faith Chaney, a student at Sarasota High School won a Gold Award for her project, “Periods Aren’t Taboo.”

Chaney and Morrison, along with 10 other young women, will be recognized on April 30, at the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida Gold Award Celebration Luncheon at the Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice.

Siesta keys in on a new town

FINDERS KEEPERS

The Siesta Key Egg Hunt brought together multiple generations of local and visiting families. SEE PAGE 20

Rocking the Opera House. INSIDE

‘A gift to the city’

The first phase of the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens master plan construction is nearly complete. SEE PAGE 4

A movement to create a new town government on Siesta Key nears a milestone on the road to incorporation. SEE PAGE 3

Ian Swaby

Christopher Geisel, 2 years old, finds the egg jackpot.

Andrew Warfield

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens President and CEO Jennifer Rominiecki describes Phase 1 construction.

Ian Swaby

Courtesy photos Alexis Morrison (top) and Faith Chaney (bottom)

WEEK OF APRIL 13, 2023

BY THE NUMBERS

County Commissioner Mike Moran. Read more on page 9

BPC hires first CFO

The Bay Park Conservancy has taken another step in growing its executive team, naming Steve Germaine as the nonprofit organization’s first full-time chief financial officer.

Germaine will initially report to Founding CEO AG Lafley, then to new president and CEO Stephanie Crockatt when she joins the BPC in June 2023. The conservancy is responsible for planning, developing, operating and maintaining The Bay, the 53-acre city-owned park on Sarasota Bay.

“Steve is a seasoned accounting and financial manager with more than 20 years of experience as the financial head of a major for-profit business and with significant nonprofit experience,” said Lafley in a news release.

For the past 20 years Germaine has served as controller and then vice president of finance and CFO of the largest division of Timex Corp. His prior financial experience was with both large and mid-size publicly and privately held companies in various manufacturing sectors.

He also has served as the treasurer for nonprofit organizations that support children, college athletics, church and community.

City wins ninth straight budget report award

Investigation cancels One Park hearing

The controversy over the proposed One Park development in The Quay has quickly escalated from a battle over a change in the general development agreement into a criminal investigation.

Planning Board members and a full house of speakers had planned on Wednesday to continue the legislative public hearing that began at their March 8 meeting. The board was scheduled to make a recommendation for the amendment to the City Commission,

one that would allow One Park developer Quay 1 and 9 to build over Quay Commons with a breezeway above the street.

Deputy City Attorney Michael Connelly, however, told the board that the hearing has been canceled, pending the outcome of an investigation over a contact between what he described as a partner in One Park and Planning Board member Michael Halflants.

Quay 1 and 9 is a partnership of Miami-based Property Markets Group and JEBCO Ventures

of Sarasota. PMG Founder and CEO Kevin Maloney told the Observer that contact was from a minor investor in One Park through JEBCO, and that the Halflants’ firm was one of several asked to bid on a minor service for a different project.

Halflants did not win the contract, and he declined to recuse himself from the hearing.

Still, City Manager Marlon Brown suspended all hearings regarding One Park until the investigation is concluded.

For the ninth consecutive year, the City of Sarasota has received the Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting for producing a budget summary document aimed at transparency and readability for the public.

The award is presented annually by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA), recognizing cities and counties that make annual financial reports accessible and understandable for those with no background in government finance.

The award recognizes the city’s report for fiscal year 2021. It was reviewed by GFOA judges and evaluated on criteria including reader appeal, understandability, dissemination methods and creativity. The award-winning report is available at the City of Sarasota’s website.

“God broke the mold with Nancy. Her knowledge, expertise, and leadership will be deeply missed.”

government.

KEY VOTES NEAR FOR

PROPOSED NEW TOWN

The bill that would allow barrier island residents to vote to create a new town is now in the House Ways and Means Committee.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

Residents of Siesta Key have moved closer to a referendum on whether to incorporate.

Legislation is now moving through the Florida House of Representatives that, if approved and signed into law, would place the matter before more than 6,000 voters on the ballot for the 2024 general election.

In January 2023, members of the Sarasota County delegation approved placing the ordinance on its agenda, introducing a bill to permit the referendum during the 2023 legislative session. That bill, introduced by Rep. Fiona McFarland, now resides in the House Ways and Means Committee.

“On Wednesday, March 29, House Bill 923, creating the Town of Siesta Key, passed unanimously in the House Local Administration, Federal Affairs & Special Districts Subcommittee,” said Save Siesta Key Chairman Tim Hensey, who along with fellow Siesta Key resident Tracy Jackson is leading the incorporation effort. “While we still have several stops to go before this becomes law, we are cautiously optimistic that the Legislature will grant what all citizens deserve, the opportunity to vote.”

Most of Siesta Key is in unincorporated Sarasota County, and for years some residents have complained of neglect by Sarasota County government. The tipping point, said resident and activist Lourdes Ramirez, was the 2021 removal of density restrictions that permitted two hotels to be approved for construction.

Those planned hotels are currently being challenged in state court, with Ramirez scoring an early round win in her lawsuit against the county in her

effort to stop a 170-room hotel on Beach Road in Siesta Key Village, approved by the county in November 2021, when it also removed the density cap for transient accommodations.

Ramirez challenged in the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings that the removal of the density restrictions is in violation of the county’s comprehensive plan. On April 3, Administrative Law Judge Suzanne Van Wyk sided with Ramirez, leaving the county and developer 30 days to appeal. If that ruling stands, it will also prevent a second, 120-room hotel, planned for the south end of the island, from being built. Previously, a maximum of 26 hotel rooms per acre were allowed, and only if no more than 25% of them included kitchens.

Ramirez said she supports the Siesta Key incorporation movement.

“I think that was the last straw that broke the camel’s back,” she said of the hotel approvals. “We’ve been frustrated out here with the constant county action, which was detrimental to us but beneficial to other people outside of Sarasota County. We’ve just had it up to our eyeballs, and the hotels were the last straw.”

McFarland introduced the bill on Feb. 17. Should it be approved by the House Ways and Means Committee, it will go before the full House of Representatives for a vote. Presuming Senate approval, Gov. Ron DeSantis will have 30 days to sign it into law. The 2023 legislative session ends on May 6.

The charter provides for a referendum to create the town to be held on Nov. 5, 2024. If approved by majority vote of the affected residents, the Town of Siesta Key is created and incorporated. The charter provides for the first regular election of commission members to take place on March 11, 2025.

STANDARDS FOR INCORPORATION

An area proposed for incorporation must meet the following conditions in order to be eligible:

n Be compact, contiguous and amenable to separate municipal government.

n Have a total population, as determined in the latest official state census, special census, or estimate of population of at least 1,500 persons and be located within counties with a population of 75,000 or fewer, and of at least 5,000 persons in counties with a population of more than 75,000.

n Have a minimum distance of at least 2 miles from the boundaries of an existing municipality within

the county or have an extraordinary natural boundary that requires separate municipal governments.

n Have a proposed municipal charter that prescribes the form of government and clearly defines the responsibility for legislative and executive functions, and does not prohibit the legislative body from exercising its power to levy any tax authorized by the Florida Constitution or general law.

n Have a plan for incorporation honoring existing contracts for solid waste collection services in the affected areas for the shorter of five years or the remainder of the contract term.

MANIFEST DENSITY

Barring extraordinary circumstances, a proposed municipality must have an average population density of 1.5 persons per acre. The FDOR 2022 study indicates an estimated population of 6,769 for the proposed municipality, which spans 2,284 acres in total and 2,049 acres in total land mass. This would result in a population density of 3.03 persons per acre.

THE BOTTOM LINE

POWERS OF THE TOWN

n A commissioner-manager form of government.

n Town commissioner, mayor and vice mayor.

n Administration by town manager and provision for town clerk, town attorney, personnel and planning.

n Adoption and enforcement of ordinances and resolutions.

n Financial management, including budget administration, capital program and public records.

n Authority to raise revenue for municipal purposes, including imposing ad valorem taxes.

n Powers of initiative and referendum.

n Amendments to the charter and severability.

n Transition provisions, including a referendum election, initial council election, eligibility for state-shared revenues, local revenue sources, local option gas tax revenues, contractual services and facilities (including existing solid waste contracts), and the continuation of existing county municipal services taxing service units.

A 2022 study by the Florida Department of Revenue provided these estimates of annual revenues, expenses and countywide fiscal impact for an incorporated Siesta Key:

TOWN REVENUES

Ad valorem taxes (at 0.50 mills):

$4,389,051

Electric franchise fees: $283,424

Alcoholic beverage licenses: $8,323

Investment earnings: $20,000

Code enforcement fines: $10,000

General government charges and fees: $1,020

Total: $4.71 million* The Economic Impact Statement submitted for the town projects revenues of $4,714,086 in FY 2025.

*Does not include countywide revenue sharing estimates of $2.1 million.

TOWN EXPENSES

Local government: $3,293,700

Public Works: County taxes plus $460,946

Planning and zoning: $584,440

Sheriff: County taxes plus $375,000 Library, parks and recreation, building inspections and fire/ rescue are funded by county taxes and assessments. Water and sewer provided by private provider or Sarasota County Utilities via fees by individual customers.

TOTAL EXPENSES

Combined town and county cost to Siesta Key residents based on the adopted fiscal year 2021 budget.

Sarasota County Sheriff: $2,076,017

Transportation/SCAT: $522,853

Emergency Medical: $907,043

Public works: $797,425

Building inspection: $214,792

Culture and recreation: $985,897

Code enforcement: $28,922

Planning and zoning: $361,138

All other county services: $17,792,054

Total: $23,687,141

ANCILLARY FISCAL IMPACTS

The Florida Department of Revenue prepared revenue sharing estimates for Siesta Key had it been incorporated during the state fiscal year 2022-23. There are four municipalities plus the county whose total distributions and revenue sharing would have been negatively impacted by the incorporation of Siesta Key, which would have garnered nearly $2.1 million.

North Port: Loss of $69,770

Sarasota: Loss of $49,849

Venice: Loss of $23,439

Longboat Key: Loss of $4,221

Sarasota County: Loss of $1,955,355

ADDITIONAL IMPACTS

The estimated impact of incorporation on discretionary taxes based on estimated interlocal agreements is a loss of $1.25 million to Sarasota County. The estimated impact of incorporation on county revenue sharing is a loss of $123,254 to Sarasota County.

Tracy Jackson and Tim Hensey are cautiously confident that most Siesta Key residents would prefer independence from county

Orchid oasis grows on the bay

It’s an unlikely location, but this 15-acre prime bayfront property that is home to the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens downtown campus was left in the care of executors of its namesake to create a unique botanical research garden.

What could have been sold in parcels by its board of trustees for high-density residential towers at the entrance to the Hudson Bayou neighborhood is instead being preserved in perpetuity as a botanical garden, thanks to a master plan, campaign and expansion befitting what is touted as the home of the “world’s best scientifically documented collections of orchids and bromeliads.”

That’s a title that Selby Gardens takes seriously, so much so that

among the new buildings under construction in the master plan is a research center that will house all of its science activities and collections, including a herbarium, laboratory and library, restaurant and gift shop.

It’s all part of the first of three phases of a $72 million reimagining that will increase the capacity and enhance the visitor experience and education Selby Gardens offers. The gardens currently attract approximately 230,000 visitors per year

Selby Gardens President and CEO

Jennifer Rominiecki calls the master plan and campaign a gift to the city. The only public funding for the project is a $1.1 million appropriation from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.

“The economic impact is expected to be more than $78 million and it will create and support nearly 3,000 jobs,” Rominiecki  said. “That’s really

why the state supported it, but the rest of the funding is private, and so this is really a gift to our community. At the same time, it will help make our region an international leader in sustainability.”

That sustainability comes in the form of an 84-by-40-foot storm water vault buried beneath the site, built below the temporary visitor parking lot when construction began in early 2022. The vault will collect all water running onto the site and filter out impurities before being emptied into Sarasota Bay.

A solar array will make Selby Gardens the first net-positive energy botanical garden complex in the world, generating more electricity than it consumes. The new restaurant will also be net-positive energy, and will have a rooftop garden to help supply foods for the kitchen.

The Palm Avenue vehicle entrance

will become a pedestrian boulevard, removing traffic from the center of the complex. Vehicles will enter the new 450-space parking deck off either Orange Avenue or U.S. 41. The parking structure will be topped with a 50,000-square-foot solar array, providing covered parking on the top level. Visitors will enter a new open-air welcome center for ticketing. From there they can visit a new welcome theater, restaurant or gift shop before touring the gardens.

Even the parking structure will be green. Called the Living Energy Access Facility, or LEAF, it will be lined with cables to support vines that will completely cover the outside of the structure when mature. Other first phase improvements include a publicly accessible multiuse recreation trail, which opened December 2022, and off-site roadway improvements.

Old homes of no historical significance on Orange Avenue that were used for Selby Gardens office space were demolished to make way for the LEAF. New office space will be located in the research center building.

All Phase 1 construction is scheduled to be completed by October 2023. Meanwhile, fundraising continues for the remaining phases, and planning for Phase 2 is underway.

Of the $92 million capital campaign goal, $20 million is earmarked for endowment. Of the nearly $57 million raised to date, $51.6 million is

budgeted for Phase 1.

“Phase 2 is really about new glass houses for living collections as well as an indoor-outdoor learning pavilion for our education programs for children and adults,” Rominiecki said. “Phase 3 is really about unifying the pathways throughout the whole footprint, fixing our dockage and seawalls and doing a full historic renovation of the Payne Mansion, which is our museum building. The project was very much front loaded, and we did that because of the urgency of our needs for resiliency. Having the world’s best scientifically documented collections of orchids and bromeliads, we need to shore them up, get them out of the flood zone and safeguard them.”

The Campaign Capping Challenge was launched in October 2021 with pledges from a group of loyal Selby Gardens supporters to help secure the funds needed to complete the initial phase. With that goal now in sight, project manager Willis A. Smith Construction of Sarasota has pledged to triple all new gifts of up to $250,000, for a total of $750,000.  “Gifts to our Master Plan at all levels are welcome, and naming opportunities continue to be available,” said Rominiecki. A gift of $2,500, for example, will secure naming rights on a solar panel. “This project will transform not only Selby Gardens but also the Sarasota community and beyond.”

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

The first phase of the Selby Gardens downtown campus master plan nears completion.

Courtesy rendering

A rendering of the new welcome center at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens downtown campus.

Andrew Warfield

The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens welcome center under construction.

St. Armands BID renewal stumbling out of the gate

Tensions over the makeup of the business improvement district board cloud the election to extend special tax district extension.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

As its Sept. 30 sunset approaches, the St. Armands Business Improvement District renewal is mired in controversy on multiple fronts.

The first-round attempt at securing enough votes from landowners in the district fell shy of the requisite majority needed to renew the special tax district for another 10 years. That requires the process to start again with a second petition for another round of voting, which was received by the City Commission on Monday.

Renewal is not determined by a majority of votes, but rather a majority of the votes weighted by the assessed tax value of the properties. In theory, an owner of a building comprising 50.1% of the overall assessed value of all the properties there — if there was such a property — could approve renewal with a single vote.

With more than enough property owners’ signatures needed to hold another election, BID Chairman Tom Leonard said the renewal effort is buffeted by headwinds from some building owners, claiming the extra tax is not producing projects that enhance revenue for landlords and merchants around the circle.

That matter became conflated with a later Monday discussion over filling two vacant seats on the fivemember BID board, during which Leonard called St. Armands Residents Association President Chris Goglia “a liar” after he endorsed one of the candidates and commented that the BID has recently skipped voluntary joint meetings with the residents and merchants association groups.

Goglia and current BID board

member Casey Gonzmart endorsed St. Armands Circle Association

Executive Director Rachel Burns for one of the seats. Burns, who heads the organization of St. Armands merchants, and Leonard butted heads this past year over his initiative to hold the first Winter Spectacular to highlight the new $286,000 Christmas tree, courtesy of a city grant, in the circle park. That forced her, she said, to cancel some long-standing December events there.

Adding to the controversy, Burns later canceled the 44th annual tree lighting ceremony, which historically had been the purview of the Circle Association. The city reinstated the tree lighting. Burns said she didn’t vote to renew the BID and said why.

“It is a hefty voluntary tax on every property and every merchant, and I do not believe that based on current spending decisions that the board is showing fiduciary responsibility,” she said. “St. Armands Circle has an opportunity to improve the infrastructure and guest experience to increase tourism and revenue generated. It’s simple economics. The BID has a lot of tax dollars, but their spending is not generating income.”

Although Ahearn-Koch supported Burns because of her “serious financial banking background that is badly needed at the BID board,” that rankled Leonard and Mayor Kyle Battie.

“I hope that anybody who applies to be on the BID board, by the way, does support the BID,” Leonard said. “If you’re not voting for us to be renewed and then you want be on the board, you’re kind of contradicting yourself.”

Battie added, “It’s like canceling Christmas, and then you want to be on the board. I’m sorry. I take issue with that and that was huge in my book in terms of not being eligible.”

Burns’ application for the BID board faced further scrutiny from city staff, which categorized her as a owner-merchant because her husband’s business is a tenant there.

The board already has its maximum number of owner-merchants.

Although Burns insists their entities are separate businesses with no

cross-ownership, Vice Chairman Liz Alpert and Commissioner Erik Arroyo agreed with staff’s assessment. Ultimately, commissioners voted 4-1, with Jen Ahearn-Koch opposed, to delay filling the two vacant seats on the BID board until the special district is renewed, if it is at all. In the interim, City Attorney Robert Fournier told commissioners they could, if they so choose, craft an ordinance to change the makeup of the BID board to accommodate more owner-merchants.

BID RENEWAL

Prior to the BID board vacancies discussion, Leonard said the renewal process is being challenged by perceptions of some property owners that they aren’t getting their money’s worth for the additional property taxes they pay. He cited a 2008 master plan for St. Armands, of which he said only one project, the parking deck, has been accomplished.

PANTS ON FIRE?

“We built a parking garage that we pay for part of it,” he said. “As far as I know, no other private organizations ever had to pay for a garage, but yet we have no say when it comes to income or optimizing the parking revenues or controlling expenses.”

Goals of the BID also occasionally meet opposition from St. Armands residents, Leonard suggested, sometimes leading to conflicts before the City Commission and staff. Master plan elements not developed include public restrooms, “complete street” redesign and a small grocery store on the circle, among others.

Now that the petition has been certified by staff and received by the commission, the minimum 120day voting process, per state statue, begins. Ballots will be mailed to all property owners within the BID and voting will continue through Aug. 7. It may be continued if necessary should approval fall short and not all ballots are received.

During Monday’s City Commission hearing about the St. Armands Business Improvement District board vacancies, BID Chairman Tom Leonard and St. Armands Residents Association President Chris Goglia engaged in a heated exchange.

“For the 20 years the BID has existed, the BID, the merchants association and the residents association have met monthly or every other month to talk about issues that affect us all,” Goglia said. “Over the last several months a representative from the BID has not attended these meetings of residents, merchants and property owners. I’m not sure why that is. We’d like to continue to work together. I think it’s because of disagreements, but I’d like to continue talking about those so that the arguments don’t leak over into the public.”

Leaked into the public, it did.

“Chris, you’re sitting here lying and it’s a shame,” Leonard responded. “My name is slandered. He’s a liar, and he’s lying in front of me.”

Andrew Warfield

The St. Armands Business Improvement District sunsets on Sept. 30, 2023, unless property owners there vote to renew for another 10 years.

City extends SPAC pact deadline

sion that conflated the extension request with demands by AhearnKoch and Commissioner Debbie Trice for further developed cost projections that SPAC Foundation officials and City Manager Marlon Brown said was needed in order to produce the numbers they want.

ANDREW WARFIELD

STAFF WRITER

It’s going to take more than a year longer than anticipated to develop an implementation agreement for the proposed new Sarasota Performing Arts Center.

That’s why leaders of the SPAC Foundation appeared before the City Commission last week seeking an extension of the deadline to present the proposed agreement, which was due this month, to the city. Commissioners voted 4-1 to grant the extension until November 2024, with Jen Ahearn-Koch opposed.

The vote followed the usual parade of public speakers both supporting and opposed, and a lengthy discus-

“You’re asking for a number that we don’t have here and we’re asking for this extension to allow us time to get to that number,” Brown said, adding that if the projected cost exceeds the estimated $285 million then commissioners will have the latitude to not enter into the agreement. “This commission can say, ‘You know what, let’s cut bait. Let’s stop this process and let’s not move forward. We’re not spending $350 million.’ That decision will come later and there’s no commitment from this body to say we will spend those dollars.”

A task force appointed by the SPAC Foundation and the city is in the midst of a search for an architecture firm to design the new facility

planned for the northwest corner of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall parking lot. Once the firm is selected and an estimated construction cost is available, the budget for the capital project can be developed and included in the implementation agreement to be considered by the commission.  The SPAC Foundation will select the architect. The commission will have approval authority of the contract to design the facility. The completed SPAC will be owned by the city and paid for by 50% tax dollars from the tax increment financing district on properties surrounding the The Bay park and 50% in private funding and grants secured by the foundation. The agreement will include a business plan demonstrating operational viability.

Another point to be resolved is the language of a non-compete requirement of a repurposed Van Wezel Hall.

Laura Hennessey, CEO of the SPAC, told commissioners the implementation agreement is not a unilateral process and will require the approval

of the city and Bay Park Conservancy, which is responsible for development and operation of The Bay.

“There are nine elements that need to go into the implementation agreement,” Hennessey said. “The first seven components of that implementation agreement actually require the design architect to be on board, which isn’t going to happen until this July. Several of those components, including a joint construction logistics plan and outline of responsibilities for the design and construction along with the Bay Park Conservancy. That will require very extensive collaboration with the BPC as well as the Van Wezel Hall and the city.”

Jim Travers, chairman of the SPAC Board of Directors, said the process of developing plans for the new facility has reached a critical juncture, and that the extension is a necessary step to keep the process moving forward.

“We’re in the middle of architectural selection. We have a state

Mayor Kyle Battie

appropriation of $1 million supporting that. I have a donor who pledged $10 million, partly because we have an agreement together,” Travers said.

“The bottom line is the stakes are high. We stand on what we negotiated a year ago, and these terms are subject to the non-compete which we’re willing to work toward and get that concluded as soon as we can reasonably do.”

Vice Mayor Liz Alpert also warned that stakes are high because there’s real risk of losing the SPAC to a location outside the city.

“This is an extension. That’s all it is,” Alpert said. “We are talking about the merits of what we already approved, and all of these other things will come. Why would we shut down this process now before the SPAC had time to get answers to all the questions we have? If we shut it down now, we’ll have lost another important cultural facility in this city. The SPAC wants to build a new performing arts center. They’re going to build it somewhere. Let’s hope it’s in our bayfront and let’s not lose it like we lost the orchestra.”

Alpert’s reference was to the Sarasota Orchestra, which after years of dissatisfaction with the acoustics in the Van Wezel, decided to build its own facility on 32 acres off Fruitville Road east of the city limits.

“Make no mistake about it, if we keep dilly-dallying and messing around and going back and forth with this, someone will approach the SPAC out in the county about building a facility out east,” warned Mayor Kyle Battie. “That will happen. That’s what happened with the orchestra.”

Courtesy rendering

A conceptual drawing shows the location of the proposed new Sarasota Performing Arts Center at The Bay.

“Make no mistake about it, if we keep dilly-dallying and messing around and going back and forth with this, someone will approach the SPAC out in the county about building a facility out east.”

Universal school choice won’t defund public schools

Opponents to Florida’s education savings accounts are misguided. Data show their predictions of doom for public education haven’t occurred.

When Gov. Ron DeSantis signed HB 1 into law in late March, Florida became the largest state in the country to adopt universal education savings accounts.

ESAs are publicly funded accounts that families can use to pay the costs of their child’s K-12 education, including private school tuition, tutoring, learning supplies and many other services.

Joining the ranks of Arizona, West Virginia, Utah, Iowa and Arkansas in adopting universal school choice, Florida is now giving all families the choice to withdraw from public school and opt for an ESA of about $8,700 per child if it fits their needs.

While state residents already are accustomed to a robust landscape of education choices, this bold new program will usher in a new era of customized education in Florida.

But state Democrats and education associations continue to voice their opposition to the school choice expansion. Their main objections are to the high potential cost of the program — with one estimate as high as $4 billion — and to the possibility that the ESAs will siphon money away from public schools.

Both concerns are misguided.

The precise cost of the new ESA is hard to predict because fiscal analysts don’t know how popular the program will be with families. But astronomic estimates, such as the $4 billion figure published by the Florida Policy Institute, are far too high.

Students using private school choice scholarships and who switch out of public schools already account for half of FPI’s $4 billion estimate — but both these popula-

tions are already funded by taxpayer dollars. In other words, funding ESAs for these students wouldn’t require new money.

FPI’s $4 billion figure also features some questionable premises, such as the assumption that 12% of newly eligible public-school students will apply for the ESA when it becomes available in July.

Data from 27 school choice programs in Florida and 18 other states reveal that the rates at which eligible families opt to use ESAs are usually lower. In an analysis published in Education Next, Marty Luekin and Michael Castro of EdChoice note that “for most programs, take-up rates remain below 2% for the better part of a decade.”

To be sure, Florida’s new ESA program will impose costs on taxpayers because of its availability to home school families and families already enrolled in private schools who weren’t previously eligible for school choice scholarships. This population isn’t currently receiving public dollars, and many parents will jump at the opportunity to have their education costs covered by an ESA.

But up until now, these families have been paying twice for their child’s education. They pay property and sales taxes to support a public education system that doesn’t fit their child’s needs and then reach into their own pocket again to pay for private school tuition. For these parents, an ESA allows them to pay once for the education that’s best for their child.

The state’s school choice opponents also warn that the ESA program will strip funds away from public schools. But under Florida’s enrollment-based funding formula, public education dollars already leave school districts when students

move or transfer. ESAs just allow families the option to take those dollars with them even if they leave public education. At the same time, any school that has a student and their associated funding leave also has one less student and their associated costs to teach. Over time, that balances out.

Moreover, recent decisions of school choice-friendly governors belie the claim that school choice programs defund public education. Concurrently with his support of school choice expansion, DeSantis has devoted $2.8 billion to teacher salary increases alone since he took office and is still pushing for $200 million more.

Similarly, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders recently signed a universal ESA bill into law while also raising the state’s minimum teacher salary by $14,000. Far from stripping money away from public schools, ESAs have meant a windfall for the traditional system.

Florida’s new universal ESA will empower the families that need it, whether that’s because their child has a disability requiring specialized services or because they want their child getting more one-onone attention with a math tutor. But there’s scant evidence to suggest it will lead to a mass exodus from public schools that strains school district budgets or takes money out of teacher paychecks.

Adrian Moore is the vice president of Reason Foundation and lives in Sarasota. Christian Barnard is a senior policy analyst .

“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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NANCY DETERT: A LIFE OF PASSION FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE

The Sarasota County commissioner was an advocate for for foster children and people with disabilities.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

Mother. Grandmother.

Friend.

Those are words often used when honoring the life of the recently deceased. More than three decades of service as an elected official at the state and local levels, though, is a description reserved for a select few.

Nancy Carroll Detert was all of those, and according to those who knew and worked with her, much more.  Detert, 78, died at her home in Venice on Wednesday, April 5. She was a stalwart among Sarasota County politics, leaving a legacy of public service beginning with the Sarasota County School Board, where she served from 1988 to 1992. She then served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1998 to 2006 and the Florida Senate from 2008 to 2016. She was elected to the Sarasota County Commission in 2016 and reelected in 2020. She served as vice chair in 2017, chair in 2018, and was serving as vice chair for 2023.

Born and raised in Chicago, Detert attended Siena Heights University in Michigan. She moved to Florida in 1978 with her husband and three sons and founded Osprey Mortgage Co. in Venice, which she operated for 25 years.

But that’s only part of her story.

“She is well-known and respected by people in both parties who agreed and disagreed with her,” reads a statement released by the Republican Party of Sarasota County. “Nancy did her homework, knew the issues and knew the people in her community. She was always an honest broker, doing what she believed was right, even if it hurt her politically. Nancy leaves a legacy of caring,

WHAT’S NEXT?

Because there were fewer than 28 months remaining in Nancy Detert’s term on the Sarasota County Commission, per statute Gov. Ron DeSantis will appoint a replacement until the next general election. That will be held in November 2024, when Detert’s term as the District 3 representative was set to expire. Additionally, a new vice chair must be selected by the commissioners.

fighting for the people in her community, and being a quiet friend to countless people. Her passing leaves a huge hole, not just in the Republican Party or in politics, but in our community.”

That void will be felt in many corners of the county. Detert repre -

sented the County Commission on multiple boards and committees, including First Step of Sarasota, Airport Advisory Commission, Gulf Consortium, Bay Park Improvement Board, Sarasota Consortium Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, Tourist Development Council and Venice Main Street. In addition, she had previously served on the Economic Development Council, Canvassing Board and the Sarasota-Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Among her chief accomplishments in the Florida Legislature was a bill that extended foster care from age 18 to 21, named the Nancy Detert Caring and Compassionate Act. She was a staunch advocate for improving the quality of life for Floridians, especially for foster children and people with disabilities. Her support and advocacy for the Loveland Center in Venice, a nonprofit serving children and adults

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

Comments from Sarasota County commissioners and management about Nancy Detert

“Nancy was a mentor and a dear friend. I loved her ability to cut through the noise and get to the heart of the matter. She had a reputation for common sense and was dedicated to serving the community she loved right up until her last day. This is a huge loss for our community, but Nancy’s legacy will continue as we come together to reflect on her life and those she inspired.”

— Chairman Ron Cutsinger

with intellectual and developmental disabilities, led to the creation of a 42-unit residential facility that was named the Nancy Detert Residences at Loveland Village in her honor. She is survived by brothers Jim (Lynda) and Denis (Robin), and sisters Marilyn and Kay (Mike). She is also survived by her sons Mark (Sandy), Bryan (Jackie) and Jamie (Karla). She had nine grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, two greatgrandchildren, and four step-greatgrandchildren. She was a descendant of Charles Carroll, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. The family requests donations be made in her honor to Gulf Coast Community Foundation, 601 Tamiami Trail S., Venice, FL 34285 (with memo line: Nancy Detert Memorial Fund). Those funds will go to her favorite causes and passions.

“I’m shocked and sad. I loved her like a sister. Some of the hardest laughs I’ve had were with Nancy. My heart goes out to her family. God broke the mold with Nancy. Her knowledge, expertise, and leadership will be deeply missed. As we mourn her loss, we honor her legacy by continuing to work toward the goals she held dear.”

— Commissioner Mike Moran

“Nancy was a treasure. Her service to Sarasota County is unequaled, from her time at Sarasota School Board, State Representative and State Senate, to County Commissioner, she worked tirelessly to help achieve our organization’s mission and goals and beyond. Nancy always gave her unfiltered, honest opinion and will be greatly missed.”

— Commissioner Mark Smith

File photo

Nancy Detert parlayed her influence as a state and local elected official to benefit the lives of foster children and people with disabilities.

The business community comes together

A chamber executive staff member said the turnout at the expo saw a significant increase over previous years.

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

When the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce held the annual Sarasota Chamber Grand Expo on Thursday at the Robarts Arena, there was one major difference from previous years, said Vice President Ed Hill. He said attendance in the past typically approached 300-350, but this year, it was over 500.

“Everyone who attended felt the attendance was much, much greater than it had been in previous years,” he said.

Bringing together 83 exhibitors from the local area, the expo, sponsored in part by and presented by Sam’s Club, provided an opportunity for chamber members to connect with the community.

Hill said, as a former business owner, he considers it essential that businesses have a forum for generating leads for deals with other businesses through a direct-to-consumer model.

For instance, if an exhibitor performs wedding planning, the exhibitor could connect with someone who

is planning a wedding, or someone who knows a person who is.

“That’s what the chamber is about,” he said. “We want to help businesses grow.”

Hill said a public expo also provides a unique environment for businesses to form connections. One company, Beneva Flowers & Plantscapes, he said, generated substantial interest by distributing free glasses of Champagne. Hill said among the organizations that could benefit greatly from the expo was Sarasota Paradise, a men’s pre-professional soccer team that is starting play this year.

“Last night, over 500 people could become more familiar with that organization,” he said.

Hill said the public at large being invited to the event, with no restrictions, increased the exposure exhibitors could receive. Attendees included other members of the chamber, business owners in the community, and even retirees, he said.

One reason for the increased attendance, Hill said, could be a more robust advertising campaign than was seen in previous years, which involved additional ads, and mailers being sent to households within a given zip code. Another possibility, he said, was that the public was more

SIMPLY THE BEST

eager to engage with the community after COVID-19.

The expo also provided an opportunity for business-to-business services as well, Hill said, while noting the presence of both local businesses and larger companies such as Sam’s Club and Comcast.

Angélica Castañeda Ríos of C&C; Supplies and Services LLC said the event could lead to local businesses supporting one another.

“I think it was a good opportunity, because everyone wants to know local businesses,” she said. “We can make business together between us.”

She said she had successfully generated a business deal during the

ABOUT THE CHAMBER

A nonprofit established in 1921, the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce includes about 1,200 member companies and organizations and aims to achieve a balanced economy that enhances the quality of life locally. For more information visit SarasotaChamber. com.

event.  Hill said the feedback the chamber received was extremely positive.

“People just had a good time,” he said. “They enjoyed themselves.” Margie Pierrelouis of Margwine Organization, which seeks to empower young girls to reach their potential, called the expo an exploration of the “endless opportunity and possibilities of Manatee and Sarasota counties.”

“As a chamber member, I was just waiting for it to come around, and am excited for it every year,” she said.

“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

Photos by Ian Swaby Sarasota Chamber Vice President Ed Hill and Event Coordinator Lisa Wood

Angélica Castañeda Ríos of C&C Supplies and Services said the event created connections between local businesses.

Grand Opening

Come celebrate the opening of 81 Oaks Senior Living! Savor, sip and step out as you enjoy gourmet hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, live music and tours of our resort-style community. 81 Oaks is a successful aging community offering expert, compassionate care and a variety of amenities, classes and programs to encourage you to thrive and live your best life.

Meet the 81 Oaks team, dedicated to your well-being and supporting you in your goals and dreams.

THURSDAY, APRIL 20th

4:30 – 7:00 PM

Call (941) 200-1984 OR visit 81oaks.com/rsvp to RSVP today. Senior Living

New pond maintenance guidebook to combat red tide

Barancik Foundation announced in 2021. The grant allowed START to found the Healthy Pond Collaborative, through which it administers the funds.

THE GUIDE

Abbey Tyrna, executive director of Suncoast Waterkeeper and a University of Florida extension office scientist, said that nearly all waters entering Sarasota’s bays do not meet the criteria to be safely fished and swum.

Although ponds are intended to prevent 80% to 90% of nutrient pollution in waterways, research has found they only remove about 40%.

Tyrna said that with 6,600 ponds in the county, 4,500 of which connect to bays, a small group of experts are stretched to their limits in managing the ponds — meaning clear expectations needed to be set.

“What better way to do that than to approach the 4,500 detention ponds with a comprehensive guide on how to manage them?” Tyrna said.

The Healthy Pond Collaborative, which includes both Suncoast Waterkeeper and Solutions

To Avoid Red Tide, among other organizations,debuted “The Healthy Ponds Guide: The Essential Guide to Establishing and Maintaining Healthy Neighborhood Stormwater Ponds in Southwest Florida,” in December 2022.

Sandy Gilbert, chair of Solutions

To Avoid Red Tide, said pond management is vital, since research from the Department of Environmental Protection and the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute in St. Petersburg shows a direct correlation between stormwater releases and red tide.

The debut of the guide, available on the organization’s website, follows a grant of $250,000 by the

The 62-page guide is targeted at individuals and HOAs that own ponds, offering a detailed breakdown of best practices. Among the topics covered are pond anatomy, how to evaluate maintenance contractors, how to enhance buffering and shorelines and how to manage runoff and pollution.

Tyrna said the collaborative hopes to highlight six major practices for ponds it has found that are not being widely observed. The first is obtaining the permits for one’s pond so that aspects — such as its piping, components and water flow — can be compared to their original state when the pond was built.

Once pond owners have the permit, they can achieve the 40% figure for nutrient reduction, she said. However, more must be done to reach 80% or 90%.

She also said pond owners must add plants to their ponds, including a vegetative buffer to stabilize the shoreline and reduce runoff; they must place plants in the pond to support the food web while ensuring that invasive species are eliminated and herbicides are avoided when possible.

Some of the guide’s advice includes creating a 3- to 10-foot buffer zone filled with more than 50% native and Florida-friendly plants, as well as planting rain gardens to divert gutter water away from ponds.

Although new legislation has been introduced that will address issues with the management of stormwater ponds, Tyrna said, these laws do not apply to the existing ponds.

Nonetheless, Gilbert said the collaborative was receiving some help from Sarasota County, as it will be spending $500 million on upgrades

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

Sarasota County ponds are only preventing around half the red tide-fueling pollution they are designed to filter, said a local scientist.

THURSDAY, APRIL 6

TRANSACTION FEE

8:40 p.m., Ninth Street at Central Avenue

Dispute: After hearing varying stories about a dispute between a man and woman over a private transaction of $60, police determined no crime had occurred. When officers arrived, the two parties were separated and statements given that were not only contrary, but also changed multiple times throughout the interviews.

When the dust settled, the officers determined that a third party had given the man the $60 to pass on to the woman, who was the complainant in the incident. The varying reasons given for this exchange of money included birthday money for the woman’s daughter, child support and the purchase of narcotics. The man, though, gave the woman only $40, resulting in a heated argument over the remaining $20.

The complainant admitted the argument became slightly physical before they separated and she called the police. After the officer explained to her that the dispute was civil in nature and that no crime was committed, both parties went their separate ways and no further issues were reported.

FRIDAY, APRIL 7

FINAL PAYCHECK

12:37 p.m., 2700 block of Fruitville Road

Dispute: An argument about a final paycheck that became physical brought police to a business where the complainant advised he had been recently been fired and was there to pick up his check. He further stated the manager of the business initiated a verbal argument before trying to push him out the door.

An officer reported speaking with a witness who stated she did not see who started the argument, but confirmed both men were yelling at each other. The manager said the terminated employee refused to sign a form in exchange for his final payment, and accused him of snatching the check from his hand. The manager admitted to trying to grab the check back, but said he never put his hands on the complainant in an aggressive manner.

SATURDAY, APRIL 8

DRY DOCKING

11:10 p.m., 900 block of Boulevard of the Arts

Dispute: A person who witnessed suspicious activity at a boat lift called police to report that an unknown boat was docked there. The complainant was not the owner of the lift, and neither was the owner of the boat, who it was eventually determined had traded the vessel with another person on March 25. The boat began taking on water, the boater said, so he entered the bay in search of somewhere to dock. He spotted the empty boat lift and used it to raise and dry out his boat.

The witness said he saw two other boats following the first boat, and became suspicious that the docked boat was trespassing and that it may have been stolen. The boat owner explained the other two boats were owned by acquaintances.

The boat owner further told the officer he had traded his previous boat with a person in Orlando and produced the title, which was still registered to the prior owner. He said he had 30 days to change the title. The boat had not been reported as stolen and the officer called the prior owner who confirmed the trade.

The owners of the boat dock were not present during the incident, and the boater was able to dry his boat enough to move it to his dock at Marina Jack.

The officer informed the complainant that he was issued a trespassing warning. He then received his check and left the property without further incident.

Bookin’ it

Tornadoes sprinter has eyes on state spots

RYAN KOHN SPORTS EDITOR

The construction is ongoing. The sentence could describe the Booker High track, where crews literally were rebuilding it. The statement could also have been made about the football field on April 11, as well as other parts of the Booker campus. As a result, the track and field team was forced to train on a grass field next to the stadium.

Ongoing construction also describes Booker junior Jayson Evans’ track career. Evans, a sprinter, is the type of athlete always looking to get 1% better each day. Booker

Head Coach Sheldon Cantrell called Evans the hardest worker on the team. With the way last year finished, Evans said, he had no other choice but to keep building on his running foundation.

Evans, then at Riverview High, made it to Class 4A regionals in the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes.

Evans missed qualifying for states by 0.14 seconds in the 100 (11.09 seconds) and by 0.50 seconds in the 200 (22.59 seconds). It was a frustrating moment, he said. But he didn’t dwell on it; there was work to be done.

Now at Booker in Class 2A, Evans is facing new competition, but his situation is similar. According to Athletic.net data as of April 11, Evans is ranked ninth in the class in the 200-meter dash (22.02 seconds) and 16th in the 100-meter dash (10.92 seconds). He has a chance to qualify in both events — annually two of the most popular and competitive track events — but neither is guaranteed.

That means Evans will just push harder.

“That will has always been in me,” Evans said. “I don’t know why. I just used to see all these people who were faster than me, and I wanted to be faster than them.”

Evans was brought into track and field by his mother, Tarra Driskell, who is now an assistant with the Booker program. Driskell joked that Evans’ involvement in track was less of a decision and more of a mandate from her. He wasn’t always thrilled to be running at the beginning, she said, especially when she would assign him extra laps to do on days she was unhappy with his effort.

Fast Break

“Jayson used to get smoked on the track,” Driskell said. “He was not coming close to first place. But I think that is what helped him. He wanted that feeling of getting medals. That was his drive.”

After about a year of losing, a switch flipped. Evans changed from begrudgingly running in practice to happily running in practice. He saw improvement in his times, which was the motivation he needed.

Driskell said that’s when he picked up the pace, winning races and doing more work on his own. Eventually, he became the runner — and hard worker — he is today. It’s tough to say whether his success stems more from the work he does or his natu ral ability. Driskell is just proud that Evans found the right balance of the two.

Driskell said she’s just as proud of the growth Evans has made off the track since coming to Booker. He was always a quiet child, she said, one who was always respectful when speaking. The new school has started bringing out more of his personality. He’d still prefer to stay home and play video games, she said, but he’s happy in his new environment.

Evans has developed in other ways, too. Evans played on the Booker football team in the fall as a safety. He’s played football since his childhood but only became a consistently productive player once his speed improved, allowing him to cover deep balls as well as rush the passer off the edge. Under first-year football coach Scottie Littles, Evans blossomed, recording 75 tackles (10 tackles for loss) and six sacks in his first season at the varsity level. On a Booker team with big prospects for 2024, Evans is a key piece.

But that can wait; Evans has unfinished business on the track. On April 11, he and a group of Booker runners strapped themselves to weighted sleds while doing drills. It’s a workout designed to up the resistance on key muscles. When the weights come off, the muscles find their normal workload to be easier, allowing runners to go faster.

That’s the idea, anyway. Whether it works come postseason, which begins April 19, remains to be seen. Evans said he has no precise technique when it comes to cutting

down his times. It’s just something that happens, especially at this point in the season. Going against the top competition brings out the best in you, Evans said.

Even though Evans’ coaches tell him not to think during his races, he can’t help it. He envisions himself getting out to a lead, then crossing the finish line first. He then tries to make it happen. He’s not conscious of anything else in those moments, not even how his legs feel. He just thinks, then runs. The construction is ongoing, and he’s going to see it through. States or not, Evans is ready to give it each race his all.

“I want to be the best of the best,” Evans said. “I know it won’t be easy, but I’m here. I’m going to keep trying.”

Former Sarasota High running back Brian Battie had seven carries for 32 yards (4.6 yards per carry) in Auburn University’s spring game April 8. Battie transferred to the Tigers from the University of South Florida this offseason.

At USF, Battie was named to the All-American Athletic Conference Second Team as a running back (1,186 yards and eight touchdowns) and was a consensus NCAA All-American at kick returner in 2021 (650 yards, three touchdowns).

... In March, eight Riverview High Rams soccer players — Mateo Rizzo, Cameron Fortier, Emelie Selberg, Taylor Simone, Maliah Camille Jones, Phillip Marrs, Gustavo Trope Mayer and Jack Bates — received Andrew Monroe scholarships. The scholarships were awarded by the Andrew Monroe Memorial Scholarship Fund, named after the former Rams athlete who died in a car crash in 2011, and were funded from a January 5K run. The next run will be Jan. 14, 2024. For more information, visit AndrewMonroe.com.

... Alongside fellow Cardinal Mooney High junior defensive back Teddy Foster, who has a multitude of college offers, Cougars sophomore Chris McCorkle is starting to see his profile rise. McCorkle received an official offer from Michigan State University on April 6 and took visits to Florida State University, the University of Notre Dame and the University of Louisville in recent days, as he posted to his Twitter account.

... Riverview High boys basketball senior Jason Jackson won the dunk contest at the Sarasota/Manatee All-Star boys and girls basketball games, held April 7 at the State College of Florida, ManateeSarasota. Jackson, who is headed to play for Texas Tech University, also had 24 points in the All-Star game itself.

“I think I’m a versatile player. My coaches will joke with me about how I’ve played everywhere. I think that gives me a full understanding of the game. ”

— Riverview’s Caroline Steinwachs SEE PAGE 17

Courtesy photo

In 2022, former Sailor Brian Battie became the sixth USF Bulls running back to record 1,000 rushing yards in a season.

“That will has always been in me. I don’t know why. I just used to see all these people who were faster than me, and I wanted to be faster than them.”

Booker junior JAYSON EVANS

Photos by Ryan Kohn Booker High junior Jayson Evans sprints with a weighted sled during an April 11 track and field training session.

Sarasota Open aces another year

Who’s ready to watch some aces do their thing?

The Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open is back at Payne Park Tennis Center for its 2023 iteration, the second under owners Remington Reynolds and Steve Gareleck. After a strong showing in year one, I was looking forward to experiencing it again this year, and after attending, I can say that it is still a great time.

There are some basic upgrades made to the tournament this year.

The general admission seats on the main court are closer to the action than last year, for instance. For the players, the tournament is worth more ATP points — 125, up from 100 — as well as more money, carrying $160,000 in prize money instead of $100,000. And there are things to do besides watch tennis. You can look at a collection of pieces from Art Avenue that includes works by Salvador Dali and other namebrand artists. There is also delicious food being served every day; on April 11, that meant Mademoiselle Paris, which was serving sandwiches, quiches and other delectables.

And, of course, there are plenty of spots to get an adult beverage or two, or however many you can carry.

You could go to the tournament and have a good time without giving the players on the court a second thought, other than clapping when one of them hits a rocket shot down the line. But I suspect that if you’re reading this, you would like to at least know something about the people you’re watching, looking for a good story in which to invest your rooting interest.

If that’s you, I have good news. There are compelling stories everywhere you look.

Take an evening match between

Alex Rybakov and Bruno Kuzuhara. Rybakov, 26, won the match (5-7, 6-3, 6-4) over Kuzuhara, 19. Rybakov, a left-handed player, has never been ranked higher than 289th in the world in the ATP Tour standings and currently sits at 386 — but after beating Kuzuhara in the tournament’s second qualifying round, he’s in the main draw of the tournament. That means ‘Rybo,’ as his ATP Tour page says he is known, has as legit a chance to win the thing as anyone else. Despite being a pro since 2019 and never having won an ATP Tour or ATP Challenger Tour event, Rybakov is alive. The Texas Christian University graduate was feeling it, too. After the match, he flashed the school’s signature “Horned Frogs” hand signal to the crowd in celebration.

But Kuzuhara, even in defeat, is a story in his own right. Kuzuhara was born in Brazil to parents of Japanese heritage, but the family moved to Coconut Creek shortly after his birth and he has American citizenship. In 2022, Kuzuhara became the fourth American men’s player to win the Junior Australian Open, following Andy Roddick, Donald Young and Bradenton’s Sebastian Korda. All three of those players, at some point, sat at No. 36 or higher in the ATP Tour rankings. If Kuzuhara can continue following the path that trio has laid out, he’s in for a long and successful career, one where losing to Rybakov in Sarasota Open qualification is long forgotten.

Those are just two players I happened to watch, but there are stories throughout the field. Take Denis Kudla, a player who once appeared to be a rising star in the sport, even representing the U.S. at the 2016 Rio Olympics, but has

struggled in recent seasons. Could a win at the Sarasota Open be the thing Kudla needs to turn his career around? Or what about Jack Sock, who also represented the U.S. at the 2016 Olympics (and won two medals as a doubles player) and ended the 2017 season ranked No. 8 in the world in singles. Could he win his first event since that 2017 season, when he won three?

Then there’s a guy like Jason Kubler, who participated in last year’s event and reached the second round before losing to Daniel Elahi Galan (who is also back after winning the whole thing). But unlike Kudla and Sock, who have recently struggled, Kubler has surged since last year’s event. A year ago, he was ranked 182nd in the world; he’s currently ranked 70th, and he’s the No. 1 seed in this year’s tournament.

Like last year, I encourage anyone who attends the tournament during a day session to walk around and check out all the different matches happening at a single time. Locking onto one match can be fun, but it’s rare to get the chance to see so many players’ different styles at one time.

You’ll get to hear the differences, too. One of the best things about tournaments like these is getting

insight into how players conduct themselves on the court. Some are quiet, some are less quiet. In the match I saw, both Rybakov and Kuzuhara were quite vocal. Rybakov let out an “Oh, come on!” after a shot he thought landed in play was ruled out. His plea was rewarded: the officials came together and ruled that the point should be replayed. (Rybakov lost the restarted point anyway, but that’s the way it goes sometimes.)

So go and have a great time, and pay attention to who you’re watching. You never know who will become a big name in the future, be it one year or five years from now.

The tournament runs through April 16. Ticket prices vary by date and type and can be purchased at SarasotaOpen.com. Tournament results can be found at ATPTour. com.

Photos by Ryan Kohn

Alex Rybakov advanced to the main draw of the Sarasota Open by beating Bruno Kuzuhara.

Bruno Kuzuhara, 19, lost to Alex Rybakov, 26, at the Sarasota Open, but has a bright future.

Caroline Steinwachs

Caroline Steinwachs is a sophomore on the Riverview High girls lacrosse team. Steinwachs has 56 goals and seven assists in 2023, helping the Rams to an 11-6 record.

When did you start playing lacrosse?

I started in the third grade. I played for a team called the Sarasota Seahawks which was actually coached by (Riverview High Head Coach) Ashley (McLeod). I had a friend (Camille Johnson) who was already into it. She convinced me to do it.

What is the appeal to you?

I like the speed of the game. It’s different than a lot of other sports. And there are a lot of complexities to it.

Even if you’re not the most athletic person, you can almost beat the game mentally. You can figure out how to beat someone off the draw by countering what they’re doing, or doing something similar on the attack, breaking down how they’re defending you.

What is your best skill?

I think I’m a versatile player. My coaches will joke with me about how I’ve played everywhere. I think that gives me a full understanding of the game. It’s a great skill to have.

What have you been working to improve?

I’m more of a natural defender, so I’m always trying to improve my dodging skills and overall being more confident (on offense) and attacking the cage.

What is your favorite memory?

It has to be winning the district tournament last year. It was the first time in program history that we have done that, which was cool. We will always be

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.

remembered as the team that won districts first. Plus, it’s fun to bring home a trophy.

What does the 2023 team still have to do moving forward?

We just have to make sure we don’t expect to win. We have to earn everything. If we want another district title, we have to put it all out there and execute and take it.

What is your favorite food?

I love steak and mashed potatoes. I usually get my steak cooked medium or medium-well.

What is your favorite TV show?

It’s probably “Criminal Minds.”

What is your favorite subject?

Last year I liked biology and this year I like anatomy and physiology, especially anatomy. I like that I can relate things back to athletics, like how your muscles work. It’s cool to know.

Finish this sentence: “Caroline Steinwachs is ... “ Tenacious. I like to be able to do things. I’ll keep working at something until I get it

Nature nurtures learning

For 7-year-old Lillian Huff, the sight of a turkey vulture swooping overhead as she’s practicing reading, writing or arithmetic is a regular feature of her schoolroom.

About 70% of the day at Roots Nature & Leadership Academy is spent outdoors, said Briana Santoro, who founded the school in September 2022 on the property of Presbyterian Church of the Covenant.

The daily schedule can involve growing herbs, mixing paints out of natural materials, or exploring the woods during Woods Wednesday, which is held each week.

“We really want to raise the whole child,” Santoro said.

The school serves students from pre-K to eighth grade. It has 25 students this year and is set to bring in 45 next year. The school combines nature-based learning with Montessori education, a teaching method that emphasizes students’ natural interests and activities while using related hands-on materials.

“Instead of worksheets, they’re using sticks to count out groups of 10,” said Lindsay Richards, an educator for grades 1 and 2. “They’re doing skip counting by actually using jump rope and counting up to 468.”  Richards said students benefit from studying skills beyond those in traditional academic subjects.

“All of those concepts are also really empowering — knowing that you can grow something yourself, feed yourself and treat ailments all yourself. You can tell these kids all feel super powerful.”

NEW APPROACH TAKES ROOT

For Santoro, the mission began with her two sons, 5-year-old Kingsley Santoro and 7-year-old Austin Santoro, who both now attend Roots. After she couldn’t find the kind of school she envisioned for them, in October 2021, she decided to take the matter into her own hands.

Not long afterward, she was met with a stroke of luck. While searching on Google Maps, she found the

DAILY SCHEDULE

9-11 A.M. Morning Flow

A combination of Montessori and nature-based outdoor learning

11-12 A.M. Special skills

Varying topics including music, yoga and meditation, archery, outdoor gardening, cooking, and other skills

12-1 P.M. Lunch and free play

1-2:40 P.M. Project-based learning

A cycle of five themes throughout the year, which this year have included entomology (the study of insects), cartography, oceanography, herbology, and entrepreneurship.

2:40 P.M. Cleanup

3 P.M. Pickup

CONTACT INFORMATION

Address: 7950 S Tamiami Trail

Phone: (941) 921-7012

Email: Hello@ rootsacademysarasota.com

self-sustainability, the second pillar.

The third pillar is emotional intelligence. The school devotes a considerable amount of time to helping children understand emotions, teaching them how to express their feelings, use strategies such as box breathing, and resolve conflicts through role-playing.

The fourth pillar, leadership, she said ties into entrepreneurship — not merely in a business sense, but also in the sense of being able to achieve any goal.

“I wanted them to feel the sense that they could accomplish anything that they set their mind to, and that they have the confidence to be able to then go out and do that.”

A DAY AT THE ACADEMY

One of the major differences for students at Roots is a sense of freedom — a model known as “freedom within limits.”

the learning environment.

For instance, the younger students, the Seeds, will bring in items that interest them (such as a shark’s tooth or a mushroom) and use cards provided by the teacher to finish a sentence about the item using phonetic units.

Each class is equipped with a garden that students tend. The school grounds feature a butterfly conservatory and a fully operating outdoor kitchen. An expansion will add sports fields to supplement the current basketball court, an area for practicing special skills, and a thatched-roof pergola and gardens.

Six-year-old Mia Williamson said she enjoys seeing the rabbits that inhabit the campus — including one named “Jack-Jack,” who lives under one of the small barns where school materials are stored. She also likes seeing the bald eagles that nest in the woods.

expansive property at Church of the Covenant just south of her home in Coral Cove. After contacting the church, Santoro found out that the Weekday School of the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, which had been located there since 1975, had closed in 2020 and that the church was seeking a tenant.

“I said, ‘I’ll be there in two minutes.’ And the rest is history.” Santoro said the school is founded on the premise that learning is more than just academics, as expressed by its four pillars. The first pillar is problem-solving.

“I wanted (my sons) to have this sense that everything is figure-outable, and see every problem as an opportunity,” she said.

Meanwhile, she said “real skills” such as gardening, cooking, sewing, and woodworking fulfill the need for

Students set goals, which are aligned with county and state objectives, through the help of a teacher. Although the teacher will serve as their guide, the children have the flexibility to decide what time of day to work on different items and which ones they will choose that day.

Santoro said a student-led approach helps ensure that students of different ages and abilities reach their full potential. Some of the kindergartners, she said, read at a thirdgrade level.

Having taught all over the world, Richards said she had dreamed of working in outdoor education.

“I walked in, and all the pieces fit,” she said. It was like someone had actually created my dream school. I always thought I was going to have to make it, and it actually existed. This has been the most magical year of teaching for me.”

Aspects of the outdoors permeate

Additionally, students learn a variety of special skills including music, yoga and meditation, archery, gardening and cooking.

One familiar fixture of education parents won’t find at Roots is grades. Instead of assigning grades, teachers track mastery through recording sheets, with small class sizes of 12-15 students allowing them to closely observe each student’s progress.

“What’s more important is that a child has worked very hard toward accomplishing a goal, and that they’re very proud of themselves,” Santoro said. “Applying grades to that is unnecessary, and has different challenges on both sides.”

She said children who receive good grades can end up exerting less effort, while students who receive low grades can develop perceptions of themselves as not being smart.

“We want to change the language around that,” she said.

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

Roots Nature & Leadership Academy follows a model of student-led learning.

Seven-year-old Lillian Huff works on a school assignment.

Photos by Ian Swaby

Briana Santoro (pictured with her husband Steve Santoro) is the founder of Roots Nature & Leadership Academy.

Families come together over Easter eggs

Patty Casey said each year she volunteers at the annual Siesta Key Easter Egg Hunt, she enjoys watching children with their parents.

“I just love the kids,” said Casey, who serves as president of the Kiwanis Club of Siesta Key. “They get so excited.”

She said the April 8 event was an excellent multigenerational opportunity that provides many children, whose families might be staying in Siesta Key for Easter, with the chance to attend an event with their grandparents, who might live on the island.

Held annually by the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce, this year’s event was at the Siesta Key Chapel property instead of the former location of Turtle Beach.

Marisa Merlino, promotion and event manager with the chamber, said while the event brought together businesses and families, its primary purpose was to offer a celebration

that could be attended by out-of-town families.

She also said the experience was improved this year because of the new location, which offered more shade and restroom facilities.

In addition to the egg hunt, included in the experience were animals presented by Sarasota Jungle Gardens and Big Cat Habitat, and a bracelet craft station by the Girl Scouts, as well as other fun and games staffed by many Kiwanis volunteers.

Patricia Pool said she was having an excellent time with her three grandsons, Micha, Caleb and Owen Palmer. She said she appreciated the event’s multiple Easter egg hunts, which allowed participants to spread out.

Girl Scout Mackenzie Valenca, who is 14 years old, said it was exciting to see the importance of the event in the community.

— IAN SWABY

Photos by Ian Swaby

Joe Kiss, 7-year-old Pippa Neff, Katie Neff, 4-year-old Axel Neff (junior), Axel Neff (senior) and 2-year-old Archer Neff.

6-year-old George Barnet, Mark Salander, Kiersten Barnet, 2-year-old Elin Barnet, Minda Salander and Alex Barnet

Sage Leyendecker, who is 1, searches for more eggs.

Shawn Egan, 3-year-old Eliana Egan, Wendy Egan and 4-year-old Macallister Egan

6-9 p.m. at 6293 Lake Osprey Drive. The Coder School hosts this dropoff video game night where kids ages 7-11 can play Mario Kart on the school’s big screen TVs, with pizza and juice provided for all players. Admission is $40. For information, visit theCoderSchool.com.

SATURDAY, APRIL 15

VENICE DOLL CLUB & FX DOLL & TOY SHOW

8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Veterans of Foreign Wars post 3223, 124 S. Tuttle Ave. Discover a variety of antique and vintage dolls and toys at this sale comprised of 70 tables featuring bisque dolls, Barbie dolls, tin toys and more. Door prizes, raffles and a silent auction are included. Admission from 8-9 a.m. is $10; free after 9 a.m. Visit FXToyShows.com.

FAMILY SATURDAY

10 a.m. to noon at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota Campus, 1534 Mound St. Kids and families can spend Saturday morning, once a month through May, enjoying art and nature activities at Selby Gardens. At a variety of different stations, visitors can create their own nature-inspired art with materials including tempera paint, crayons, colored pencils, markers, and colored paper. This event is free for members and is included with admission for nonmembers. Admission for adults $26; $11 for ages 5-7; ages 4 and younger admitted free. For information visit Selby.org.

SUNDAY, APRIL 16

SIESTA KEY FARMERS MARKET

8 a.m. to noon at Siesta Key Village, 5104 Ocean Blvd. Peruse food, artwork, jewelry and other items at this weekly outdoor market featuring live music. This event is free. For info visit SiestaKeyFarmersMarket.org.

MONDAY, APRIL 17

TOWN HALL MEETING

DISCUSSING AGING SERVICES

IN SARASOTA COUNTY

10-11 a.m. at Dwyer Room, CenterPlace Health — Sarasota Adult Clinic, 1900 Brother Geenen Way. The public can offer comments on the status of aging services in the

The Forks & Corks Food and Wine Festival will be held April 20-24.

BEST BET THURSDAY, APRIL 20

TO MONDAY, APRIL 24

FORKS & CORKS FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL

File photo

Now in its 16th year, this popular festival will include dinner events, university master classes and its most attended event, The Grand Tasting, held in the courtyard of the Ringling Museum at 5401 Bay Shore Road. The festival is hosted each year by The Originals, a group of more than 60 independent restaurants that joined together to represent the local food scene. An online food and wine auction will also be held from April 17-23. The festival’s April 24 event, The Trade Tasting, is open only to hospitality industry personnel. For locations, times and information, visit EatLikeaLocal.com.

area at this town hall event held by Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida, a nonprofit organization serving adults ages 60 and older and adults with disabilities. This event is free. Visit AAASWFL.com.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19

DANCE AT THE BAY:

BOLLYWOOD DANCE

6:30-7:30 p.m. at The Nest, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Get your workout and dance at the same time with BollyX, a dance-fitness program drawing its inspiration from India’s film industry. Attendees are invited to dress in shiny attire as they dance through expressive movements to eclectic world music. Registration is required for this free event. For information, visit TheBaySarasota.org.

Make it a Day!

Jump start your day with a cold brew coffee and sand volleyball before squeezing in a spa treatment and an afternoon of shopping. And as the sun begins to set, gather family and friends for dinner and drinks under the stars. Whether you’re in the shops, on the Plaza, or at the park, you’ll find new ways to spend the day at Waterside Place every time you come. Our year-round events, Sunday farmers’ market and weekly live music are open to everyone.

explore our directory + events!

Believers come together on Good Friday

Although it was difficult to keep count of the crowd flowing down Main Street on the morning of Good Friday, Craig Burness, leader of the Men’s Ministry at Church of the Redeemer, said the hope of 1,000 people attending the event might have been met.

Despite the event’s growth over time, he said the basic setup of the Stations of the Cross walk hasn’t changed since the ministry founded it 22 years ago. It has since become a partnership between the church and the Sarasota Ministerial Association.

“We’re just carrying on that tradition and keeping it simple and effective,” Burness said.

Sarasota’s Stations of the Cross tradition — and observances around the world — drew inspiration from the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem. The Via Dolorosa is the path Jesus Christ is believed to have walked to reach Mount Calvary, the site of his crucifixion.

The Stations of the Cross walk comprises 14 stops, each representing part of the story of Jesus’ crucifixion.

The three-quarter-mile journey, which extended from the Regal Hollywood theater to the doors of the Church of the Redeemer, drew the participation of clergy and members of numerous area churches, as well as County Commissioner Joe Neunder and city of Sarasota Mayor Kyle Battie.

— IAN SWABY

Photos by Ian Swaby

The walk begins with the Rev. David Svihel, priest associate for Christian formation and outreach at Church of the Redeemer, carrying a cross. County Commissioner Joe Neunder (left) also participated.

Jacki Boedecker, Sherry Erb, Anneliese Floyd and Susan Kruger

Seven-year-old Levi Siljestrom takes a rest on the shoulder of his mother, Casey Siljestrom.

Pastor Linette McClelland of Center of Hope Church reads her event program while listening to a speaker.

Samantha Zeller and Allison Sneed

San Remo Estates home sells for $8.35 million

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

Ahome in San Remo Estates tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. John and Jennifer Folvig, of Sarasota, sold their home at 3740 Tangier Terrace to James and Christina Mucha, of Sarasota, for $8.35 million. Built in 2021, it has five bedrooms, fiveand-a-half baths, a pool and 5,277 square feet of living area.

SARASOTA

ONE88

Andrew and Cheryl Hall, of Chicago, sold their Unit 402 condominium at 188 Golden Gate Point to Waco Street LLC for $5,999,900. Built in 2015, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 2,879 square feet of living area. It sold for $3.9 million in 2016.

CAMINO REAL

Nicholas and Sara Ferguson sold their home at 4540 Camino Real to Ryan Shumacher, trustee, of Temecula, California, for $5,418,000. Built in 2021, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 5,192 square feet of living area.

BLOCK 6

Drew and Anne Horowitz, of Sarasota, sold their Unit 1004 condominium at 401 Quay Commons to David Zaccardelli, trustee, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, for $4.6 million. Built in 2021, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 2,984 square feet of living area. It sold for $2,803,600 in 2021.

POINSETTIA PARK

Leslie Turner, of Sarasota, sold her home at 1874 Oleander St. to Drew and Anne Horowitz, of Sarasota, for $2.9 million. Built in 2008, it has five bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,763 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,289,000 in 2018.

MIDWOOD MANOR

Jonathan and Kendal Brugger, of Sarasota, sold their home at 1739 Waldemere St. to Per Calvin Soderberg, of Sarasota, for $2,725,000. Built in 2014, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,659 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,627,000 in 2020.

Other top sales by area

SIESTA KEY: $4.15 MILLION

Hidden Harbor

Tim Nilson, of Sanford, North Carolina, sold his home at 5315 Hidden Harbor Road to George Manooshian Jr., of Sarasota, for $4.15 million. Built in 2000, it has four bedrooms, five baths, a pool and 5,098 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.5 million in 2017.

PALMER RANCH: $1,245,000

Courtesy photo

This home at 3740 Tangier Terrace sold for $8.35 million. Built in 2021, it has five bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, a pool and 5,277 square feet of living area.

BAY VIEW ACRES Thomas Cantillo III and Mary Gavin Cantillo, of Osprey, sold their home at 6756 Ave. B to Michael Sutton, of Sarasota, for $1,675,000. Built in 1969, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,534 square feet of living area. It sold for $235,000 in 1992.

RED ROCK LANE

Alegria LLC sold the home at 4050 Red Rock Lane to Charles Jordan Minges and Christine Minges, of Sarasota, for $1.5 million. Built in 1963, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 3,418 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.25 million in 2021.

SAPPHIRE SHORES

John and Melanie Napp, of Spring Lake, New Jersey, sold their home at 351 N. Shore Drive to Nader and Mervat Faltas, of Topsfield, Massachusetts, for $1,435,000. Built in 1971, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,502 square feet of living area. It sold for $550,000 in 2018.

NASH’S

Christopher Kurvin and Kelly Drost, of Sarasota, sold their home at 5216 Nash Place to Gregory Hanes, trustee, of Sarasota, for $1.16 million. Built in 2011, it has one bedroom, two-and-a-half baths and 2,485 square feet of living area.

CONDOMINIUMS OF ORANGE

CLUB

Joseph Peter Deroy and Isabelle

Levere Deroy, of Sarasota, sold their Unit 402 condominium at 635 S. Orange Ave. to Michael Kneeland and Roxzene Hunter, of Sarasota, for $1.15 million. Built in 2017, it has four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,442 square feet of living area. It sold for $809,100 in 2017.

TOP BUILDING PERMITS

ESPLANADE BY SIESTA KEY

Cecile Alexander, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the home at 2483 Vaccaro Drive to C. Eugene Jones and Judith Jones, trustees, of Sarasota, for $1,075,000. Built in 2014, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,330 square feet of living area. It sold for $497,600 in 2014.

John Rumberg Jr., trustee, sold the home at 8220 Varenna Drive to John and Deborah Carmichael, of Sarasota, for $659,900. Built in 2015, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,639 square feet of living area. It sold for $434,900 in 2015.

See

Villa D’Este Elizabeth and Shawn Berry sold their home at 7336 Villa D’Este Drive to Gloria Anne Detwiler, of Sarasota, for $1,245,000. Built in 1988, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,993 square feet of living area. It sold for $800,000 in 2022.

OSPREY: $1.75 MILLION

Sorrento Shores

M. Page Dettmann and David Robert Dettmann, of Nolensville, Tennessee, sold their home at 345 S. Shore Drive to Adam Warren Petrilli, of Osprey, for $1.75 million. Built in 1995, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,484 square feet of living area.

NOKOMIS: $2,456,000

Casey Key

Lena Schlabach, of Osprey, sold her home at 1208 Casey Key Road to Brian Harrison Alvarez and Sohanny Gross, of Nokomis, for $2,465,000. Built in 1976, it has two bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,023 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.1 million in 2021.

Elizabeth Lewis, program specialist with Sarasota County Schools, said the Exceptional Student Education Agency Fair is an important resource for students with disabilities and their families.

The event, hosted April 6 at Suncoast Technical College, involved between 35 and 50 local agencies discussing education from pre-K to college and drew about 200 families, said Lewis.

Sue Hill was among the attendees who enthusiastically welcomed the resources offered

She said the fair would be extremely helpful for her 6-year-old grandson, Brentley Green. She takes care of Green, who has spina bifida, and hopes to get him involved in the Special Olympics.

Lewis said many materials these organizations offer are only available in person, and the fair offers people the opportunity to make direct connections with representatives of different services.

— IAN SWABY

Photos by Ian Swaby

Suzy Wilburn of Southeastern Guide Dogs, and Carson

6-year-old Brentley Green, Sue Hill, 9-year-old Mikiah Savens and 5-year-old Sofia Green

Lacey of the Florida Agency for Persons With Disabilities and Pauline Lipps of Sarasota’s local Family Care Council

KAYSER SUKI SCOLLO

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BUSINESS NEWS by Rebecca Goldstein, edited by Jeff Chen

Luis Campos

Home Services

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*It is the responsibility of the party placing any ad for publication in the Sarasota and Siesta Key Observer to meet all applicable legal requirements in connection with the ad such as compliance with towncodes in first obtaining an occupational license for business, permitted home occupation, or residential rental property.

Notice: All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

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