Sarasota/Siesta Key Observer 5.4.23

Leading the way to a home

Michelle Young, chair of the Leadership Sarasota Class of 2023, a program by the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, said when the class began its project to provide a comfortable and safe place for children in foster care, the Sarasota home they refurbished was a different place than it is today.

The changes to the home serving the needs of 10- to 17-year-olds, made for the benefit of the Safe Children Coalition, involved landscaping, refurbishing the fence, adding a basketball court, rescreening the lanai, adding furnishings to the lanai, roof and ceiling repairs and a mural.

“What you see here is seven months of planning, scheduling, and a lot of elbow grease from this incredible class,” Young said.

SENSITIVITY TRAINING

Hands-on inspiration

How do you inspire the next generation of health care workers?

At HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital, caregivers brought their children to the hospital to explore careers in health care for National Take Your Child to Work Day, April 27.

“We had about 18 kids,” said Monica Yadav, the hospital’s director of communications and community engagement.

“The kids were really excited and had lots of energy.”

It was the first time since the start of the pandemic that the hospital was able to hold the annual event.

After having their pictures taken for their hospital badges, the children got to tour the hospital’s different departments. In the operating room, the kids tried on surgical outfits and learned about the surgeons’ tools.

Ian Swaby

Jacqueline House and Michelle Young

Courtesy photo Cameron Cruz and Jenna Morsy

WEEK OF MAY 4, 2023

BY THE NUMBERS

Sarasota County Commissioner Mike Moran. Read more on Page 4

SPAC task force meets May 12

The task force charged with selecting a project architect for the proposed new Sarasota Performing Arts Center will meet 9 a.m. Friday, May 12, in the SRQ Media Studio at City Hall.

During the meeting, the panel will review its findings from tours of buildings designed by the six semifinalist architecture firms and narrow the pool to a short list of candidates to be interviewed.

The meeting is open to the public.

Citizen comments are limited to three minutes for each person with a collective time limit of 30 minutes. The meeting is available via livestream and a recording will also be available following the meeting. They can be accessed via the city’s website at Sarasota.gov.

Grant to help rewild Celery Fields site

The Sarasota Audubon Society has received a $75,000 grant from Gulf Coast Community Foundation to rewild the Quad Parcels at the Celery Fields, a joint project with the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast.

Ringling Trail wins top project award

As the first protected bicycle lane project in the SarasotaManatee region, Ringling Trail has been recognized by the American Public Works Association Florida Chapter as project of the year in the $2 million to $5 million category.

The award was given during the recent AWPA annual conference in Jacksonville.

The Ringling Trail Complete Street project transformed a one-mile stretch of Ringling Boulevard from a four-lane road into a complete street with a dedicated bicycle lane and expanded

multimodal and connectivity opportunities between the Legacy Trail, downtown and the bayfront. It opened in December 2022.

Ringling Trail runs between Lime and Pineapple avenues and features protected bike lanes, parallel parking spaces, elevated transit stops and other enhancements.

Criteria considered by the AWPA judges include community need, commitment to sustainability, accomplishments under adverse conditions, economic challenges and creative use of resources. Cost-saving and

sustainability measures included conducting construction engineering and inspection services in-house and reallocating concrete parking wheel stops as bike lane dividers. Ringling Boulevard between U.S. 41 and Lime Avenue was identified as a potential complete street in 2019. The $2.7 million Ringling Trail complete street project was funded through the Sarasota County penny sales tax, economic development funds, multimodal impact fees and Federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars.

The two environmental nonprofits have collaborated since late 2020 when Sarasota County conveyed the 33-acre property adjacent to the Celery Fields as a conservation easement. Together they are raising funds to improve the property.

The Quad Parcels, located at the intersection of Palmer Boulevard and Apex Road, buffer the western edge of the 440-acre Celery Fields from industrial areas. With more than 250 species, Celery Fields is a nationally and internationally recognized birding destination and vital to water quality and flood protection in the region.

The rewilding will increase habitat for birds and other wildlife while expanding water storage and filtration.

Planned improvements include plantings, meadows, woodland areas, trails, shaded picnic areas, ADA-compliant walkways, a bird observation platform, discovery area for children and more.

“I have great hesitation when the government tries to get involved in controlling people’s behaviors.”

Courtesy photo

Sarasota Assistant City Engineer and avid bicyclist Dan Ohrenstein rides the Ringling Trail on his commute.

Land purchase is music to Orchestra’s ears

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

Now that the Sarasota Orchestra has closed on its 32-acre site on Fruitville Road, the 75-yearold organization is developing plans to build a new music center, a project intended to serve its needs for the next 100 years.

Last week, the orchestra completed the $14 million purchase from Walmart Stores East LP of a vacant 32-acre site at 5701 Fruitville Road. It was a cash purchase, leaving the orchestra free to continue its fundraising feasibility study, which will guide its plans to design and build an 1,800-seat concert hall to specifically showcase acoustic music. Plans also include a 700-seat flexible-use performance space, multiple rehearsal and practice rooms, music storage and office space.

It will be one of only four concert halls for acoustic music in Florida, and the first on the Gulf Coast, joining New World Center in Miami Beach, Knight Concert Hall in

MUSIC CENTER PLANNED FACILITIES

■ 1,800-seat main performance venue.

■ 700-seat flexible space with removable seats for chamber music, cabaret, banqueting and other activities.

■ Multiple rehearsal and practice rooms suitable for ensembles of all sizes serving the orchestra’s education and festival programs and community arts organizations.

■ Reception areas for donor functions and community events.

■ Secure, weather-proof library for sheet music storage.

■ Dedicated backstage areas where musicians can comfortably store instrument accessories and prepare for performances.

■ Administrative offices and related storage.

Miami and Steinmetz Hall in Orlando.

The orchestra had first considered building a new facility in Payne Park near downtown, but when the City Commission failed to approve that proposal, the orchestra launched the search for a new site.

“There were several criteria. One was to be able to have enough acreage to achieve long-term goals,” said Orchestra President and CEO Joe McKenna. “Another was the ability to build up to 110 feet in order to create a concert hall. You need cubic volume of space to create that acoustic, and that’s really done by the width and height of the building.”

A conditional rezoning of the property will allow the orchestra to build to its desired height, which McKenna said is ideal for acoustical music.

The orchestra expects to finalize its project scope and timeline later this year, following the completion of a fundraising feasibility study, which is underway and will continue through midyear.

MUSIC CENTER TIMELINE

Key milestones in the Sarasota Orchestra’s quest for a dedicated facility.

2014 Needs assessment and market analysis projects commence.

2017 Space program determined.

2018 Site search begins.

2021 Due diligence completed for 5701 Fruitville Road.

2022 Intent to purchase announced; zoning approval process begins.

2023 Sarasota County approves zoning amendments; land purchase completed; fundraising feasibility continues.

The location of the inland site less than a mile west of I-75 also provides the benefit of protection from severe weather and more convenient access to the growth of the two-county area.

“It was with an eye toward removing the vulnerability that is associated with coastal locations. This particular site on Fruitville Road is a fantastic site. It’s a great location,” said McKenna. “It really is the crossroads of the Sarasota-Manatee region as we look out over the next 25, 50 and 75 years. We’re really excited at the prospect of a music center for the region that would be home to the orchestra but also provide space for other music organizations in particular that are so in need of both rehearsal space and performance space.”

A FIVE-YEAR PROCESS Currently, the orchestra is using six venues to put together its annual schedule.  McKenna said owning and controlling its own facility would allow it to prioritize its schedule while still accommodating other music organi-

zations.

“The orchestra is a highly collaborative enterprise. That won’t change,” McKenna said. “We know that there are other music organizations that need performance space and others that might even need rehearsal space.”

Concurrent with the fundraising feasibility study, the first step toward building the music center is hiring an acoustician and theater planner to provide the functional requirements to the project architect once selected. McKenna said that could occur by the end of the year. Once it is determined how much the orchestra can expect to raise via philanthropic efforts, the project cost can be determined and parameters provided to the architect.

The process, from beginning of design to completion, he said, is five years.

“This analysis work will help us arrive at a campaign objective, and then the campaign timeline and all of the related details,” McKenna said. “These are once-in-a-generation kind of projects. It’s common for this kind of rigorous process to result in the outcome that you want, which is a first-class concept.”

The concept will include more than one-third of the site set aside and preserved for passive use. “Our vision is that about 12 acres would be held back for water features and natural areas so it has a really good sense of place,” McKenna said.

That place will be just more than six miles west of its current primary venue on Sarasota Bay, the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. While removed from the downtown environment, the location is near the growing University Town Center area west of I-75 and Fruitville Commons east of the interstate just south of Lakewood Ranch.

The location will allow the orchestra to tap into the population from North Port through Manatee County.

“One of the things that really excites the orchestra about this is we see our region evolving and developing,” McKenna said. “When you think about what the Sarasota area will be, this location is really at the crossroads straddling the SarasotaManatee county line.”

ROOM FOR EVERYBODY

The orchestra’s ambitions come during the Sarasota Performing Arts Center Foundation’s philanthropic campaign to raise funds for its proposed $275 million-plus facility at The Bay, to replace the Van Wezel as the city’s primary theater.

Funding for the SPAC must be at least 50% private.

McKenna said a budget has not yet been determined for the new music center, but that there is room among the philanthropic community for both campaigns to progress simultaneously.

At 1,741 seats, the Steinmetz Center in Orlando, which opened in 2022, cost $240 million to build.

“We think there’s room in the community for both organizations to be successful,” McKenna said. “Next year will be our 75th anniversary season. It’s one of the leading orchestras in the Southeast. It’s grown the Van Wezel’s calendar, and as a result of the success, the Van Wezel’s calendar has become more constrained. This building first and foremost relieves the calendar pressure, and since we’re looking to go to a new space to raise the acoustical standard and play in a room that’s designed acoustically for music, that’s a winwin for the whole region.”

After acquiring its 32-acre site, the Sarasota Orchestra begins planning for a new music hall campus.

Andrew Warfield

Sarasota Orchestra President and CEO Joe McKenna at the Orchestra’s new site off Fruitville Road near I-75.

Courtesy photo

The Sarasota Orchestra closed on this 32-acre site at 5701 Fruitville Road near I-75, which President and CEO Joe McKenna calls the crossroads of Sarasota and Manatee counties.

The site map shows the plans for the Sarasota Orchestra’s new home on 32 acres on Fruitville Road.

BUTT-BANNED BEACHES?

Sarasota County beaches where a smoking ban would be in effect.

n Blind Pass Beach Park

n North Jetty Park

n Manasota Beach Park

n Caspersen Beach Park

n Nokomis Beach Park

n Palmer Point Beach Park

n Turtle Beach Park and Campground

n Siesta Beach

n Siesta Key Beach accesses

n South Lido Beach

lives.”

Commissioner Mark Smith took the opposite position.

County beach and park smoking ban ordinance in the works

County commissioners voted 3-1 to direct staff to prepare an ordinance that is enforceable.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

Following the lead of the cities of Sarasota and Venice, the Sarasota County Commission on Tuesday approved a staff recommendation to prepare an ordinance to ban smok-

ing on county beaches and in county parks.

The legislative action is enabled by House Bill 105, which was signed into law in 2022 and permits local jurisdictions to ban smoking on public beaches and in parks. The bill does not apply to unfiltered cigars. The Sarasota City Commission banned smoking on beaches last fall except in designated smoking areas.

In a 3-1 vote with Commissioner Mike Moran opposed, staff was directed to draw up the ordinance and to contact other jurisdictions that have already approved simi-

lar bans to learn about effective enforcement measures.

Enforcement was one of two primary objections raised by Moran during a discussion before the vote.

“I have great hesitation when the government tries to get involved in controlling people’s behaviors,” Moran said. “There’s an element of personal accountability on the one side of controlling people’s behaviors. I get it with the youth parks and where kids are around, and I get it that you have kids on a beach. I just feel a real slippery slope there of government intrusion into people’s

“I believe the government’s role is to protect us from ourselves on occasion. That’s why we have speed limits, so I don’t have a problem with prohibiting smoking,” Smith said. “We prohibit it in restaurants. The litter is huge on Siesta Key and every other beach and beach access. I believe it’s important for the health of our children that we keep it out of parks and the beaches and just for a cleaner environment, so I’m strongly in favor.”

Commission Chairman Ron Cutsinger struck a more conciliatory tone while coming down in favor of a smoking ban.

“I hear you Commissioner Moran and I agree that we have to be careful about rights, and in someone’s home or in a private area, I understand that. But out in public where it affects others, I think we haven’t figured out how those boundaries come into play,” Cutsinger said.

“I have to tell you when someone’s smoking near me, I have to get away from it because it just takes over the whole area. I am going to support this because I believe it makes the most sense and I think just the public has the right to visit their beaches and other areas without the issue of smoke.”

Litter is a secondary problem, with the county’s Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources reporting thousands of cigarette butts collected

from the beach sand.  Moran also raised questions about enforcement, suggesting that if he asked the sheriff he’d hear his deputies have more important things to do than become the smoking police, and that in order to do that he’d need to hire several more deputies for that duty alone.

Moran asked Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Director Nicole Rissler if members of her staff would be willing to be deputized to carry out enforcement.

“We’d have to look into that further,” she said. “County staff does not have the ability to enforce. That falls to law enforcement and I’m not knowledgeable enough of what that would take to change that and provide that ability to staff, so we’d have to look into that further.”

Cutsinger said he would expect the enforcement issue to be mitigated by a robust education campaign including ubiquitous signage informing beachgoers that smoking is not allowed by law. Awareness and public pressure, he added, will be a necessary element in enforcement.

“I think a lot of the enforcement will come as people become more aware of it,” Cutsinger said. “We will have voluntary compliance and peer pressure, but beyond that maybe we won’t get 100% enforcement, but we’ll certainly cut down on the amount of smoking.”

Moran said he was concerned about confrontations between beachgoers over the smoking ban or between smokers and non-law enforcement personnel. He asked County Administrator Jonathan Lewis if a proposed ordinance can contain punitive elements strong enough to discourage smoking.

“Maybe we put something in that a person could be trespassed from the property, and there are other avenues to look at,” Lewis said. “Just picking a high number out of the air, I don’t know if we could do a $500 littering fine, but we can vet all that and bring it back to you. Staff may be out there and they’ll use education. The problem is when somebody else comes to the county staff and says you go stop them from doing that. Then those things can get complicated.”

There was no time frame set for the ordinance to appear before the commission.

File photo

A county ordinance aims to discourage cigarette litter on beaches by banning smoking.

Neighbors ask city to block construction of Obsidian

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

Sarasota developer Matt Kihnke has officially announced plans to build the tallest building in the city, Obsidian, an 18-story luxury condominium tower in downtown Sarasota.

At 347 feet tall, it would be by far the city’s tallest building. It would rise nearly 200 feet taller than the neighboring Bay Plaza residential building to provide multimilliondollar views commensurate with the price tag of its 14 full-floor condos, which benefit from four stories of amenities and parking.

The city’s zoning code on the bayfront and downtown core permits buildings to have a maximum of 18 stories. But a story is on average 14 feet tall, meaning a typical 18-story building would be about 252 feet tall. The tallest building in the city is The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, at 261 feet tall, according to HighRises.com.

Obsidian’s height has been met with concern from Bay Plaza residents, some of whom voiced their issues at this week’s city commission meeting. The commission, though, doesn’t have approval authority over Obsidian. Projects in the downtown zoning districts are reviewed and approved by city staff in what is known as “administrative” approval after running through the gauntlet that is the Development Review Committee. In the case of Obsidian that process is not yet complete.

Located at 1260 N. Palm Ave. across from Art Ovation Hotel and the Palm Avenue parking garage, Obsidian is designed to expand from 4,200-square-foot units on the lower floors to 6,200 square feet beginning on the ninth floor to maximize views of Sarasota Bay. That doesn’t include upwards of 1,400 square feet of outdoor balcony space.

Marketed by Michael Saunders

& Co., the three- to five-bedroom condominiums will be priced from the upper $4 millions.

But first it must clear the DRC and receive administrative approval by the city’s development services director. That’s where questions remain about the height of the ceilings and interstitial space — the space between floors — that ultimately results in the height of the building. Other than 18 stories, the zoning code doesn’t define height limitations, but staff — and opponents — do have questions.

Those include, per staff comments, that several floors are proposed with additional space beyond the maximum 14-foot measurement of a story, a combination of ceiling height plus interstitial space. Also, staff provided comments about large amounts of interstitial space proposed between floors 4 and 5, 17 and 18, and the top floor and rooftop.

“Please provide a narrative explaining the purpose for this additional space,” the comment reads. “If the intent is to have higher ceilings, these floors will count as two stories per the downtown code.”

Kihnke said the interstitial space is necessary to properly serve the uniqueness of the building.

“The interstitial space designed is to allow for better management of the mechanical systems without having to drop ceilings throughout the project,” he told the Observer.

“This allows us to meet the design intent and a requirement for this building. Additionally, we have large structural transfer beams that will utilize this space. Interstitial space is not unique to this building or any other building that is currently in design or under construction in downtown.”

According to DRC documents, the Development Services Department must evaluate whether Obsidian is in keeping with the intent and stan-

dards of the land development regulations, whether there are ways to improve effects on adjoining properties, and whether the 70 feet of total interstitial space, per the zoning code, amounts to an additional five stories of building height.

“As currently proposed, this amount of interstitial space does not meet the intent of the downtown code and its ability to regulate building height,” reads the staff comments document.

RESUBMITTAL ON ITS WAY

Several speakers opposing the project before the City Commission this week specifically cited building height, concerns about wind between buildings, construction dust and noise and safety.

“This project’s unusual height and the incredibly small space between 1260 Palm and Bay Plaza are dangerously close to each other. We are an older structure, and despite our structural integrity no one can predict what damage our building could sustain during the construction process of a skyscraper on a quarter-acre footprint with so little room for error,” said Bay Plaza resident Phyllis Dreyfus. “There are risks that can have devastating consequences, damage to our foundation, or the simple misadventure of falling materials that could easily land on our property and when people are entering and exiting their cars and our auto court because it is that close.”

Kihnke said the construction plans, including staging and safety standards, are city enforced and that erecting tall buildings in tight spaces is not out of the ordinary.

“Several buildings have been constructed on small sites in Sarasota,” Kihnke said. “Some of the most recent examples are The Collection, The Jewel, DeMarcay and Epoch. The city requires us to provide them with

a staging plan prior to receipt of a permit.”

“It will be more than 100 feet taller than the tallest existing condo building in Sarasota,” Ron Shapiro, who is among the organizers of the opposition, told commissioners. “The developer achieves this by including more than 70 feet of interstitial space, much more than any other building in the city, and much of which we believe is not justified. The skyscraper will be shoehorned into a small quarter-acre lot dangerously close to existing adjacent buildings. This skyscraper is just not compatible with the arts district neighborhood.”

The DRC provided additional comments regarding the Obsidian development application during its April 5 meeting. A second resubmittal is scheduled to be reviewed during its meeting on May 17. With the application going through the administrative site plan process, a determination ultimately will be made by the development services

director.

Public comments are not received during DRC meetings. Those are strictly communications between representatives of all developmentrelated departments of city staff — planning, utilities, traffic, fire, etc. — to ensure code and infrastructure compliance.

If ultimately approved by the development services director, Obsidian could find its way before the Planning Board. Legally recognized aggrieved persons — defined as those being injured to a degree exceeding the general interests of the community — may appeal to that body. First, though, a majority of the Planning Board must agree those persons qualify as aggrieved.

If approved, Obsidian will occupy a parcel that is currently home to seven storefronts in a single-story building. Kihnke closed on the property more than a year ago.

By code, Obsidian is required to have at least one commercial space at the street level.

Bay Plaza residents tell commissioners the planned 347-foot condo tower is out of scale and is detrimental to the neighborhood.

Ticket to ride

County planning trolley service between airport and downtown Sarasota.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

By next season, Sarasota County plans to offer a shuttle service on trolley-like vehicles between downtown Sarasota and the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.

On Tuesday, Jane Grogg, the county’s director of transit, presented to county commissioners preliminary plans to operate two trolleys over a limited downtown loop to the airport and back along U.S. 41 in 20- to 30-minute intervals. No capital or operational cost figures were included. That will all come during upcoming budget meetings. But Grogg said the ideal plan is to purchase two used vehicles, customize them and put them into service sometime between October and January.

Pre-owned trolleys listed on TrolleyBrokers.com show prices ranging from $29,000 to $150,000, depending on age, mileage, condition and features. Grogg told commissioners the trolley pictured in her presentation was a demonstration vehicle that is available for purchase.

“Being a demonstration trolley, we have a little bit more flexibility and quicker purchasing, so we’re looking for opportunities like that,” she said. All the while we’re considering any new vehicle acquisition.”

The cost to ride is projected to be $2 per person. The vehicles will be equipped with technology to utilize the county’s Breeze Rider app, as it does for its Siesta Key shuttle service. The downtown loop is yet to be determined but will be mapped out for convenience to the downtown hotel and condominium towers.

“If I owned a hotel in downtown Sarasota, I might literally pay to be one of your stops,” said Commissioner Mike Moran.

“We’re looking at that, too,” responded County Administrator

DOWNTOWN VISITORS

Sarasota County’s airport shuttle proposal includes this visitor data for 2022, according to Visit Sarasota.

■ 39% of visitors stayed in downtown Sarasota.

■ 68% visited downtown Sarasota during their stay.

■ 39% of visitors arrived by plane, a 12% increase from 2021.

■ Of visitors arriving by plane, 54% flew into SRQ, which represented a 6% increase over the previous year.

Jonathan Lewis.

Grogg said county staff is engaged in ongoing meetings with airport representatives on staging and operating the shuttle. It comes at a time when the airport is executing an aggressive building plan to expand its limited parking.

“Sarasota County has consulted with the airport on this to ensure there were no operational issues,” said SRQ President and CEO Rick Piccolo. “We are supportive of the shuttle as it will ease some of the parking issues and also provide further convenience to our facility for users.”

County staff is also planning meetings with city counterparts in the coming weeks to discuss logistics and with hotel managers regarding their level of interest in participating and hosting trolley stops. A collaboration with Visit Sarasota is hashing out an awareness campaign to make visitors — who would otherwise use a ride-sharing service or rent a car — aware of the service.

The buses will resemble trolleys with upgrades, such as ramps to help facilitate luggage loading and handicapped access and baggage stowage. And unlike the city’s open-air Bay Runner trolleys, they will be air conditioned.

“We’ve noticed that the vehicle choice is very important. We have a lot of success with our trolley service on Siesta Key and the tourists seem to be attracted to that type of service,” Grogg said. “There is an increase in visitors arriving by plane at SRQ as well as the number who are visiting and staying downtown while they’re here. So the proposed characteristics that we are looking at include a direct service with limited stops primarily at the airport and then a small number of cluster stops in the downtown

Sarasota area.”

Commissioner Mike Smith echoed Grogg on the success of the Breeze trolley on Siesta Key.

“Our experience on Siesta Key has been tremendous with the trolley service,” he said. “I think we are averaging close to 300,000 riders annually. We’ll get into the nuts and bolts later, but I think this is a great idea. And I know that people will ride trolleys. Before they’ll touch a bus, they’ll ride a trolley.”

Grogg told commissioners the bulk of SRQ’s arrivals and departures occur between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. To provide for two-hour advance passenger departures and lagging arrivals in the evening, she recommends operating the service between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.

BAY Jewelers

Courtesy photos

The interior of Sarasota County’s airport shuttle would resemble a vintage trolley but be equipped with modern amenities.

Your Friends Are Waiting

When was the last time you swung a racket or hit a golf ball, biked the trail or simply took a long walk with your favorite person to talk to?

Joint pain can creep up on us, faster than we’d expect, robbing us of the activities and experiences we used to treasure. Shoulders get stiff. Hips hurt. Knees creak and the back aches.

Before you know it, you’re spending more time watching Friends than seeing your own.

At Sarasota Memorial, our award-winning team of orthopedic specialists and surgeons is nationally recognized for excellence in joint repair and joint replacement, using the latest robotic and minimally invasive techniques to rebuild and restore, so you can get back to the things you love and the people you love sharing them with.

smh.com/ortho

So don’t wait . Life’s too short to spend it on the sidelines.

He tried to fix the Navy

Thomas Modly’s new book, ‘Vectors,’ gives the untold context to what was a national controversy in 2020.

and details that explain how and why the incident occurred.

Maybe some will say what we’re about to say is to be expected.

After all, the book is only Modly’s version. But when you read “Vectors,” you cannot come to any other conclusion than Modly’s dismissal of Crozier was the right thing to do.

In fact, Crozier said so himself.

On page 457, Modly recalls:

“As I began to discuss my reasons (for dismissing Crozier), he abruptly interrupted me and said, ‘Sir, you don’t have to say anything more. I respect you as secretary.

I put you in a difficult position. If I had been in your shoes, I would have relieved me too … but I did it for the crew.’”

And so begins Modly’s story as undersecretary of the Navy for the next 19 weeks.

He approached the job as he does everything — with deep thought and reflection. He researched the average time acting secretaries of the Navy lasted in their jobs — 110 days. He vowed that even though he was “acting” secretary, he was not going to be an actor or a pretender. He was going to take action.

Modly’s first step was to do what he does with everything: He made lists. He made 11 lists of priorities by category, each with 10 objectives he wanted to accomplish — 110 objectives in 110 days.

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

Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944

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

Executive Editor and COO / Kat Wingert, KWingert@YourObserver.com

Managing Editor / James Peter, JPeter@YourObserver.com

Sports Editor / Ryan Kohn, RKohn@YourObserver.com

Staff Writers / Ian Swaby, ISwaby@ YourObserver.com; Andrew Warfield, AWarfield@YourObserver.com

Digital & Engagement Editor / Kaelyn Adix, KAdix@YourObserver.com

Most of you probably don’t recognize the name — the Hon. Thomas B. Modly.

In early 2020, he was the national media’s villain. But in truth, Modly, now a Siesta Key resident, is an unsung American hero.

If you don’t remember Modly’s name, you most likely remember the story in the early stages of the COVID pandemic.

It was late March 2020, and news spread nationally and worldwide as fast as COVID spreads that it was quickly infecting the crew of 4,500 sailors aboard the USS Teddy Roosevelt in the Pacific.

Capt. Brett Crozier, commander of the ship, ignited the news with “a signal flare” email that he sent over an unsecure network to a small group of Naval aviators, bypassing his chain of command. The email, picked up by and published in the San Francisco Chronicle, was instantly interpreted around the world as a Code Blue cry for help from one of our nation’s most powerful military assets.

In the days that followed, as the “TR” firestorm continued to spread, Modly, then acting secretary of the Navy, flew to Guam and relieved Crozier of his duty for violating the Navy chain of command. The story exploded, as if a bomb blew a hole in the side of the ship.

In the aftermath, the national media characterized Crozier as the hero trying to save his crew from COVID. Modly became the villain, a Trump political appointee who unfairly threw the captain overboard. Social media posts called him a traitor, and Joe Biden implied Modly’s action was “criminal.”

Predictably, President Trump was not happy and wanted to intervene.

But at 4 p.m., April 7, 2020, a week after Crozier’s departure from the ship, with the firestorm still red hot, Modly resigned. He had served as acting secretary for 19 weeks.

For three years, while Americans’ memories of this incident have faded, the record still stands online: Modly was the villain.

That should no longer be the case. Modly told his story this month with the release of his book, “Vectors: Heroes, Villains & Heartbreak on the Bridge of the U.S. Navy,” a No. 1 best-seller on Amazon.

Modly gives his version of what happened with Capt. Crozier and the Teddy Roosevelt. And he does so in an even-tone voice, with straightforward, believable and honest storytelling. He provides what never came out — rich context

“Vectors” is vindication. It’s what good people in the news business often say and know: There are always at least two sides to every story, and we should not rush to judgment (almost an impossibility today in this tidalwave of instant, nonfact-checked information). Context matters, and Modly provides plenty of it with recollections of events and details that show and reveal much about the Navy, the Pentagon and the ugly politics of Washington, D.C.

“Vectors” is so much more than vindication for Modly and so much more than the story of the Crozier and the “TR.”

Altogether, “Vectors” is Modly’s memoir — of his service in the Trump years, from 2017 to early 2020 as the undersecretary of the Navy (the Navy’s COO) and ultimately, the acting secretary of the Navy (the Navy’s interim CEO).

It’s a short period for a memoir. But in the structure of the book — a chronological journey, this comes through: Thomas B. Modly is the kind of person this country needs in our military, the Pentagon and Congress. He’s exceptional in his deep love of country and patriotism, and those characteristics repeatedly surface throughout the book. One moving section was his swearing in as undersecretary at the Naval Academy and his speech. Modly describes his time as a midshipman as “a life-defining experience.”

“For me, the swearing-in ceremony was surreal,” he writes. “In all the years I’d spent walking through and past Memorial Hall as a midshipman, I’d never imagined that I would be there 30-plus years later being sworn in as the Navy’s undersecretary. It just wasn’t something that I thought would ever happen, nor was it a position to which I had realistically aspired … I wanted to make a statement that I wasn’t there for the pomp and circumstance but rather to have an impact on the future of the Navy and Marine Corps.”

He tried mightily to make that impact. He wasn’t in it for the political glory, like so many others.

As you read, Modly demonstrated a seriousness and intelligence that we wish everyone in Washington and the Pentagon would emulate. His grasp of how to be an effective leader; of the world as it relates to the nation’s security; and of what needs to be changed and how to change an extraordinarily complex organization is, well, astonishing.

For 400 pages, 80% of the book, Modly chronicles in engaging storytelling his mission as undersecretary and acting secretary to change the Navy’s culture — from one of intransigence and resistance to that of agility and accountability. Just imagine the near impossible task of trying to change the culture of a business with an annual budget of $250 billion, 520,000 employees and no motive to make a profit.

Colleagues told him in an oftrepeated refrain: “Tom, you can’t fix government.” You can see through Modly’s experiences how that is 99% true.

As Modly chronicles his short terms as undersecretary and acting secretary, he opens wide the hull to the inner workings of the Navy, Pentagon and Washington, D.C. politics. And it’s shocking.

Shocking at how dysfunctional everything is there and how resistant to change the entire apparatus is. He may not have intended it, but his stories of what he encountered leave you with the impression that the Department of Navy and Pentagon have been an operational and business disaster, and if the United States goes to war with any of our foreign adversaries, we are not the superpower we think we are. Not even close.

Worse, our congressional politicians are oblivious, egregiously negligent and not at all inclined to do anything about it.

The structure of the book reflects Modly’s personality of thoughtfulness, his vast knowledge of so many subjects and impressive leadership style.

The first four chapters set up the narrative, filling in the reader on Modly’s family and background and his appointment as undersecretary. Modly is of modest middle-class means, the son of Eastern European immigrants who escaped the Nazis in World War II, settled in Cleveland and lived ordinary, productive lives, always grateful for the freedoms afforded to them in America. They instilled in him a love of country.

The background chapters culminate in Chapter 5, with the resignations in 2019 of former Defense Secretary James Mattis and Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer. Both ran aground with Trump.

“I knew it would be physically impossible to meet all 110 objectives,” he writes. “But I also knew each one was important.”

Modly also decided to do something a Navy secretary had never done — send out a weekly communication to every activeduty and reserve Sailor and Marine and all Navy civilian employees.

These weekly memos — sent via an unclassified email — were intended to give everyone insights and an understanding of what was on Modly’s mind. Modly called these weekly emails “Vectors.”

A “Vector,” he writes, tells you where to go and how fast.

Modly sent out 19 weekly Vectors, one for each week he served as “acting.” The Vectors became the frame for the book. Modly corresponded his Vector messages with his weekly calendar, enabling him to refresh his mind on the events of the weeks and reconstruct a captivating narrative of the hectic life of the secretary of the Navy.

Modly also includes at the end of each chapter a discussion of “Heroes” and “Villains.” The heroes were “people who were unsung, people who do things behind the scenes and are never the ones you ever hear about too much.”

Modly’s villains are obstacles that get in the way of and often prevent success — time, complacency, arrogance, pride, routines, cynicism. All of these and more abound inside the huge Navy and Pentagon bureaucracy.

Modly wrote the last half of the book at the Selby Library in downtown Sarasota, spending two to four hours in the morning in a cubicle on the second floor.

He finished the book a year ago. It took him a year to get it published.

“Vectors” is a book for every American who has an interest in our security. It should shock all of us into demanding more from our politicians in D.C.

“Vectors” especially should be a must-read for everyone in the Navy, Marines, Pentagon and Congress. Modly’s stories of what he did and why are great lessons in leadership — for the military and private sector.

Thomas B. Modly has been an extraordinary public servant for American citizens and taxpayers and has performed a great public service with “Vectors.”

Two years ago, when we first interviewed Modly, we asked if he still thought about the “TR.”

“I think about it every day,” he said.

Last week, we asked again: “Oh, sure. I will think about it the rest of my life. I’m not obsessing over it. It’s part of my story now.

“I think about it all the time.”

Once you read the book and have all of the context, you should surely conclude: He made the right decision.

Go to YourObserver.com/opinionVectors for an unabridged version.

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The following is an excerpt from the Epilogue of “Vectors.”

As first year midshipmen (plebes) at the Naval Academy we were all required to shout “Beat Army, sir!” every time we turned 90 degrees to change our walking direction inside a building.

It eventually became an act of compliance — and defiance. The louder and more expressively we screamed “Beat Army,” the more it disturbed the peace that normally

permeated the halls. That shout, that one phrase, shattered the silence of submissive conformity to which we were expected to comply.

Although we were the lowest of the lows at the Academy during that first year, the cacophony of “Beat Army” chants bonded us together as a class.

Its significance extended beyond just a football game, or the broader rivalry with West Point. “Beat Army” taught us the importance of maintaining relentless focus on our ultimate adversary. It reminded us that we weren’t

alone in that focus. It reinforced our understanding of what our team was about and who was on it. It taught us to never, ever give up the ship …

“Beat Army” gives us purpose — and hope.

So I say, “Beat Army” to the status quo, to time and to complacency.

“Beat Army” to complexity and to divided memories.

“Beat Army” to inertia, to empty rhetoric, and to arrogance.

“Beat Army” to isolationism and to detachment.

“Beat Army” to the dysfunctions of the network and to the fair share

myths. “Beat Army” to pride and to the sexy stuff.

“Beat Army” to gracelessness, to fear and to frustration.

And most importantly, “Beat Army” to the cynicism that erodes both the trust we have in each other and the love we must have for our nation in order to defend it.

Say it loud. Live it louder. Confront the villains and defeat them.

“Beat Army” today. “Beat Army” tomorrow.

“Beat Army, sir!” Forever, and ever and ever more.

Observer Media Group Inc. is locally owned.

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1970 Main St. Sarasota, FL 34236 941-366-3468

MATT WALSH ‘BEAT ARMY, SIR!’

Courtesy photos

Former Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas B. Modly lives on Siesta Key.

Community’s vision for The Bay has become a reality

CATHY LAYTON

The Bay Park Conservancy has designed and built 14 acres of new public park along Sarasota Bay and is now permitting the next phase.

We officially celebrated the formal opening of The Bay Park last October and welcomed 50,000 visitors to The Bay Park during the 10-day grand opening. Another 100,000 visitors have enjoyed the park since its opening. More than 150,000 guests have taken a walk at The Bay in the first four-and-a-half months!

The public-private partnership between the city of Sarasota and BPC is working for the entire Sarasota city and county community. This success has been channeled by our guiding principles: being aspirational; honoring our cultural heritage; preserving/conserving/ restoring our blue and green oasis; activation and connectivity. Our sixth principle, sustainability, is now our primary focus, although it has been our keystone from the very beginning of this project.

Adequate funding to complete the development of all 53 acres of new public park on Sarasota Bay is in place. We are in an enviable position for capital improvements. The Bay relies primarily on private contributions and gifts for its annual operations, maintenance and programming support, which is completely separate and distinct from capital funds.

Through membership programs, top park destinations thrive through strong community support for park operations, maintenance and programming. This support comes from individuals, businesses, foundations and organizations.

To date, we have been able to offer programming that is free to everyone thanks to the extraordinary generosity of 102 Founding Business Partners, who each contributed $2,500 or more to create

and test programs, activities and events. Our goal is to double that number of business partners.

Parks need friends, too, which is why we created “Friends of The Bay,” a park membership program suitable for individuals or families who want to ensure our park sparkles for generations to come.

Five-thousand park guests participate each month in one or more of The Bay’s free programs, activities, and events (health and fitness, yoga, dance, music, movies, nature walks, padding, pickleball, stargazing and more). Our hope is that those guests who are able will become a Friend of The Bay.

The Bay has been lauded for its beautiful botanical gardens, oneof-a-kind mangrove walk, inviting Common Ground lawns, a unique Ibis Playground, a sunset deck, a resilient shoreline, and more. Strong partnerships, like Friends of The Bay and business partners, ensure that our high-quality and well-maintained park looks as good as it did on opening day for generations to come.

We invite you or your business to be a part of this achievable ambition of an aspirational park by becoming a Friend of The Bay or a business partner of The Bay today.

has

Cathy Layton is chair emeritus of The Bay Park Conservancy, Inc.

by Dental Implant Specialists

We eventually learn that the tease of “lifetime brass” really means a lifetime of maintenance and repair. There is a practical solution to this common problem – Bronze or Stainless

Both materials offer excellent salt tolerance and oxidation/corrosion resistance with a minimum of maintenance. A variety of styles and finishes provide a perfect match to existing color schemes including rich patinas of classic bronze, contemporary polished or matte nickel, and black.

File photo

The Bay master plan.

Sarasota Military Academy High School teacher arrested

Little put a sign on the door stating testing/tutoring was in progress.

The student said he asked the teacher what she was doing after school that day, and she responded the she was cleaning her classroom. He then reported saying, in a kidding fashion, he could help her if she needed help. The teacher accepted the offer.

OBSERVER STAFF

Sarasota Police have arrested a Sarasota Military Academy High School teacher. Michelle Little, 29, of Sarasota is facing a felony charge of indecent, lewd or lascivious touching of a 17-year-old male student.

Detectives began their investigation after representatives of the school contacted police regarding rumors involving the student and Little. On April 25, SPD patrol officers were called to the school and spoke with Little, who was then placed on administrative leave by the school. The student was interviewed on April 27 at the Child Protection Center.

The student said Little made sexual comments to him several times over several weeks. On April 17, the student said he went to Little’s classroom during lunch. The student said

The student returned to the classroom after school and said Little closed the blinds on the door. The student said he and Little “made out” for 10 to 15 minutes before he left the classroom.

Little has been transported to the Sarasota County Jail and is scheduled for her first appearance on Saturday, when her bond will be set.

Sarasota Military Academy has sent the following statement to faculty, parents and students:

“The high school administration was made aware of an alleged incident that happened between a staff member and student that is being investigated by the Sarasota Police Department. We have come to learn that an arrest was made by the Sarasota Police Department, and any updates regarding this case will be released by the SPD.”

Michelle Little, 29, is facing a felony charge of indecent, lewd or lascivious touching of a 17-year-old male student.

Courtesy photo

Sarasota Military Academy

Say

SKYSCRAPER to a ADVERTISEMENT

• A massive 342-foot skyscraper towering over North Palm Avenue, more than 100 feet taller than any other existing condominium building.1

• Built on a tiny footprint (0.28 acre) abutting neighboring property lines by mere inches and potentially threatening their structural integrity. 2

• Requiring the demolition of seven retail businesses (6,350 sf) and replacing them with only one small retail space (640 sf).3

• Obscuring an architecturally distinguished building designed by famed Sarasota School architect Tim Seibert.4

THE PROPOSED 1260 N. PALM AVENUE TOWER IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE CITY’S STATED DESIRE FOR A PEDESTRIAN-FRIENDLY DOWNTOWN WITH A VIBRANT RETAIL CLIMATE.

WE URGE CITY OFFICIALS TO DENY THE PROPOSAL FOR THIS BEHEMOTH SKYSCRAPER.

EMAIL YOUR OBJECTIONS TO:

Lucia Panica, Development Services Director Lucia.Panica@sarasotafl.gov

Marlon Brown, City Manager Marlon.Brown@sarasotafl.gov City Commissioners CityCommissioners@sarasotafl.gov

(1) Hoyt Architects, 1260 Palm Avenue Architectural Site Plan, dated October 28, 2022 (2) Hoyt Architects, 1260 Palm Avenue Architectural Site Plan, dated October 28, 2022 (3) Freedman Consulting & Development Application for Administrative Site Plan on behalf of Palm Properties, LLC, dated October 2022, page 1 (4) Bay Plaza, designed by famed architect Tim Seibert, one of the founders of the Sarasota School of Architecture 403397-1

Image: Hoyt/Hal/Imerza

block of Morrill Street

Criminal mischief: A woman confronting reckless two-wheeler riders told police one of the riders damaged her vehicle. The complainant advised that riders of four electric bicycles or motorcycles were weaving in and out of traffic. When stopped at a traffic signal she rolled down her window and told the four subjects to stop driving recklessly. One of the subjects, she said, called her a colorful colloquialism for a female dog, while another kicked her driver side mirror, breaking it. All of them then fled westbound on Main Street. She told police that if the subjects were found she wished to press charges.

FRIDAY, APRIL 22

WATERED DOWN

2:14 p.m., 4800 block of Old Bradenton Road

Property damage: An apartment tenant who said she was treated rudely by property management regarding leaks from upstairs said the leak began several days earlier. Water was leaking into her kitchen from the unit above, and property management yelled at her when she contacted them to report the damage. Then when she arrived home on April 22, she noticed water coming from upstairs into her living room, saying she believed the damage is being done intentionally because she feels the property manager is prejudiced. Contact was made with the upstairs neighbor, who advised that someone repaired the leak the previous week. She was then told since the repair was made the leak had gotten worse. The officer instructed both tenants to contact property management as soon as possible.

FRIDAY, APRIL 22

BACK TO BARTOW

11:17 p.m., 1500 block of Benjamin Franklin Drive

Dispute: A social media post sparked an argument between a couple that brought police to Lido Beach. The complainant state she got into an argument with her boy-

SATURDAY, APRIL 23

PHANTOM PHLEGM

5:31 p.m., 2000 block of Adams Lane Dispute: A woman called police after yelling at a man’s child for picking flowers off a bush at Payne Park. The complainant said she yelled at the child because she was “hurting the plant by picking flowers because it has feelings.”

The complainant stated that a male subject who was sitting close by yelled back at her and told her to not yell at someone else’s child. She yelled back, then proceeded to lie face down on a blanket in the grass.

She said she believes the male subject then spit on her as he was walking away. She said she did not see the alleged salacious sputum nor did the officer observe any saliva on her. The man told the officer he was dipping tobacco and was spitting but was several feet away from the complainant and never sprayed spittle in her direction. The officer found no evidence of tobacco residue on the woman and advised both parties to avoid each other.

friend of four months over the post, but that no physical altercation had ensued and that she had decided to leave the hotel at which they were staying and return home to Bartow.

Prior to the officer’s arrival, the subject male had briefly blocked the woman’s vehicle with his truck, preventing her from leaving because she refused to give him the key to their room. The complainant said she was not aware she had the key, but upon closer examination found she had two. The two had separated before the officer’s arrival and were driving away but stopped to be interviewed.

The officer observed no sign of a physical altercation on either party, and the complainant continued on to Bartow and the man returned to the hotel.

O Omazing

Mother's Day Gift Guide

MOLLY MAID OF SARASOTA, MANATEE & CHARLOTTE COUNTIES

1461 Tallevast Rd • Sarasota, FL 34243

941-753-2220 • www.MollyMaid.com/gift-certificates

What does mom really want this Mother’s Day? A CLEAN home and TIME to herself! Give her a Molly Maid gift certificate so she can take some time off from housework and enjoy some me time! Gift certificates are easy to get and easy to give. To all moms Happy Mother’s Day from Molly Maid!

CAFE L’EUROPE

431 St Armands Circle • Sarasota, FL 34236

941-388-4415 • www.CafeLEurope.net/contact/reservations

Join us in celebrating Mother’s Day! Our all-day menu starts at 10am with a wide selection of Café favorites, including seasonal features for brunch and dinner. Brunch options include Florida Benedict, Quiche Florentine, Ham and Eggs, and Bread Pudding. For dinner, enjoy Coquilles St. Jacques, Chicken Milanese, and much more, from 4pm to close. Reserve your table now!

LE

MACARON

362 St Armands Cir • Sarasota, FL 34236

140 University Town Center Dr • Sarasota, FL 34243

941-552-8872 • www.LeMacaron-US.com

Handcrafted by our team of French chefs, these classic pastries come in unique flavors like Sicilian Pistachio & Mango Jam. We use the finest glutenfree ingredients. Visit our pâtisserie to enjoy French Macarons, quality French gelato, classic French pastries, European-style beverages & homemade candies. Order your gift boxes now!

BARTLETT JEWELERS

Creekwood Crossing I-75 & SR70 Bradenton, FL 34203 941-751-6600 • www.BartlettJewelers.com

Show mom your love with a classic paperclip necklace from Ti Sento. Locally owned and operated since 1973, Bartlett Jewelers has been your full-service, jeweler offering the area’s finest collection of timeless jewelry pieces. We offer several styles of bridal and fashion jewelry as well as repair and remounts.

ELYSIAN FIELDS

1273 S Tamiami Tr • Sarasota, FL 34239 8207 Cooper Creek Blvd • University Pkwy, FL 34201 941-361-3006 • www.ElysianFieldsGifts.com

Elysian Fields continues to be Sarasota’s ideal destination for one of a kind, hand selected gifts. Now also located in The Shoppes at UTC, make sure to stop by to find something special for the mothers in your life. This year’s featured product comes from Penny & Rose - A Scent For Your Thoughts. Fill every room with warm nostalgia and excite your home this Mother’s Day!

MAE REID MERCANTILE

817 Honore Ave • Sarasota, FL 34232

941-323-3815

www.instagram.com/MaeReidMercantile

One of Sarasota’s newest and truly unique shopping destinations. Find fanciful gifts & irresistible treasures in this nostalgic location! Locally owned and proud to offer American made decor, accessories & gifts. Stop in, stroll and find something special for your Mom or Grandmother. Happy Mother’s Day!

SIRIUS DAY SPA, SALON

DIAMOND BAY JEWELERS

& MED SPAS

11585 E SR70 • Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 8512 Cooper Creek Blvd • Bradenton, FL 34201 941-357-4611 • www.SiriusDaySpas.com

The Perfect Gift for the Moms in your Life, a Gift Card from the #1 Spa, Salon & Med Spa in Lakewood Ranch/Sarasota/Bradenton. Full service Hair & Nail Salon, Spa, and Medical Spa featuring 200+ services including Massages, Facials, Botox, Fillers, Permanent Make Up, Laser Hair Removal, Morpheus8, IPL, Lash Services and More.

MOLLY’S!

A CHIC AND UNIQUE BOUTIQUE

1874 Stickney Point Rd • Sarasota, FL 34231

711 S Osprey Ave • Sarasota, FL 34236 941-921-1221 • www.MollysSarasota.com

Two locations for people seeking a fun and exciting personal shopping experience. Named best Gift Store in Sarasota for 4 years, you are sure to find something special to give or get for yourself. Beyond gifts, both locations have a large selection of quality shoes, jewelry, apparel and accessories too.

MONKEE’S OF LAKEWOOD RANCH

1561 Lakefront Dr, Ste 104 • Sarasota, FL 34240

• www.MonkeesofLakewoodRanch.com

941-358-8868

Mother’s Day is quickly approaching! Stop by Monkee’s Boutique in Lakewood Ranch to find all of your Mother’s Day needs. Brand new Julie Vos jewelry, Hammit Bags, and Lemon Jelly sandals all make fantastic gifts! We get new shipments daily, so stop by any day of the week and check out what’s new!

Located in the Bay Street Village & Town Center 3976 Destination Dr, Unit 105 • Osprey, FL 34229 941-786-1013 • www.DiamondBayJewelers.com

From classy adornments to engagement specialties, Diamond Bay Jewelers has what you need to create your style for any occasion. Come enjoy the exquisite experience of fine jewelry and expert watchmaking. Jewelry repair, custom design and redesign services available with over 30 years of experience.

ASPIRE POLY FURNITURE

717 Cattlemen Rd • Sarasota, FL 34232 941-946-8887 • www.AspirePoly.com

Treat your Mom to outdoor furniture that they will love for years to come! Poly furniture is made of recycled plastics, free from rust and require no repainting, perfect for the Florida lifestyle. Visit our showroom to see our large selection of products, & options to custom design your Mom’s favorite colors. Or let her choose with a gift card!

MASSAGE ENVY

1279 S Tamiami Tr • 941-308-7600 4055 Clark Rd • 941-927-6200 2855 University Pkwy • 941-556-6400 4734 Cortez Rd W • 941-909-0800 www.MassageEnvy.com

Give the gift of ME time for Mother’s Day!

The past couple of years have been...a lot. We could all use a little more self-care these days! Encourage someone you care about to put themselves first with a gift card that lets them choose customized experiences and goes where they go. Massage Envy gift cardseasy to give. Easy to love!

LEONARD’S NURSERY

8000 Fruitville Rd • Sarasota, FL 34240 941-302-3933

Show your Mother your appreciation by giving her a potted plant designed for this special occasion or a unique gift from our newly opened Gift Shop. Bring in this ad in between 5/9 and 5/13 and receive 10% off on all nursery stock (trees excluded) or our Gift Shop. For those Mothers who are difficult to shop for, gift cards are available as well!

A new point of view

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

While other children were dancing exuberantly to international folk music, 11-year-old Beckett Hill chose a more physically restrictive activity at the International Intergenerational Event at Senior Friendship Centers on April 28.

“I felt stiff and dizzy and tired,” he said, after experiencing the Sarasota Aging Sensitivity Suit.

Yet, he said he was glad for the experience and would even repeat it. He wasn’t intimidated by trying on the unusual gear in a room of other attendees — at least, not too much.

“It wasn’t really hard; it was easy and hard,” he said.

Hill said he had wanted to know what it was like to be in one’s 70s and 80s. The experience was accomplished through the suit’s extensive features including bungee cords

that ran from the suit’s helmet to its waist, mimicking spinal curvature and limited spinal extension.

Based on the suit originally designed by MIT AgeLab, who called it AGNES (Age Gain Now Empathy System), the suit was recreated in Sarasota in January 2023 after the lab gave its blessing to the Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County.

Erin McLeod, president and CEO of Senior Friendship Centers, said the center’s hope was that by mixing an experience of age and culture at the International Intergenerational Event, it might be able to bring more awareness to the larger world around it, including issues associated with aging.

Event organizer Jenny Macias said when she found out about the Aging Sensitivity Suit, she thought it was a great way to create more empathy for the elderly community.

McLeod said in requesting the

suit, the organization was seeking to help people understand not just the physical nature of aging, but its social nature as well.

“There’s a lot of ageism in the world, and I think as young people, we hustle around and push past people, not understanding they’re slowing down for a reason,” she said. “You instantly have empathy when you feel that extra pull on your back or the muddiness in your ears.”

In addition to the bungee cords, the suit included a neck collar to limit joint mobility, wrist guards to reduce wrist flexibility, gloves to reduce tactile sensation, earplugs for reduced hearing and glasses for reduced visibility, among other features.

McLeod said the suit demonstrates how issues like arthritis can make basic tasks more difficult, including picking coins out of a jar, buttoning one’s clothes and operating a smartphone or other device. It helps people understand hearing loss, which is often mistaken for dementia because it reduces communication, and neuropathy, which causes tenuous movements and difficulty feeling the ground under one’s feet.

McLeod added the suit was also important for helping others understand the sense of isolation older people experience.

“You become invisible to society, often you’re discounted as being old, so therefore your opinion, your idea doesn’t really count,” she said. “And that’s a challenge. A lot of people begin to feel marginalized, like they don’t matter anymore. Something that’s very important to us is that they feel like they matter and their voice can be heard.”

Since its creation in January, the department has been taking the suit to events and has even partnered with Suncoast Technical College for certified nursing assistant training for about 60 students performing geriatric rotations.

The students reported their reactions in surveys, mentioning physical restriction and fatigue while wearing the suit, and also, the following day, a sense of loneliness.

The event also mixed cultural experiences and community with the experience of aging.

Many seniors in the room were flexing their joints. The Sarasota

FEATURES OF THE SARASOTA AGING SENSITIVITY SUIT

n Reduced hearing (earplugs)

n Clouded vision (goggles)

n Limited joint mobility and selection, and limited extension of the spine (neck collar)

n Reduced shoulder mobility (elastic bands running from hip to wrist)

n Reduced flexion and extension of the wrists (wrist guards)

n Reduced tactile sensation and restricted hand movement (two layers of rubber gloves)

n Compression of musculature, tightened joints, restricted movement, and fatigue (knee and elbow braces)

n Restricted movement, reduced spinal extension mimicking spinal curvature, and reduced spinal rotation (bungee cords running from suit helmet, to hip)

n Reduced sensation in feet (shoes)

If you are interested in bringing the Sarasota Aging Sensitivity Suit to an event, contact Quiana Tolbert at 941-780-8074 or Quiana.Tolbert@FLHealth.gov.

Grapeviners demonstrated dances from countries including Greece and Romania, sometimes accompanied by children in attendance who were eager to participate.

“I was really hoping for a little bit more kids,” said Macias. “But I think the ones that came had an enjoyable time.”

The event was part of Suncoast Remake Learning Days and promoted foreign language programs at the center and offered American, Italian, Mexican and Mediterranean food from Tamiami Tap.

“I think it’s important to bring generations together, families and older adults together, to give people a chance to see each other as human beings and break down barriers, so, then pretty soon, you realize we’re all just people,” said McLeod.

Interactive event on aging combines empathy and culture.

Ian Swaby

Eleven-year-old Beckett Hill tries on the Sarasota Aging Sensitivity Suit.

FDOT executive: Keeping up with growth a ‘tough row to hoe’

District One Southwest Area Office director says efficiency and safety are the primary goals for I-75 plans and beyond.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

In the face of explosive population growth and the constant flow of tourism, moving people efficiently is mission critical to the Florida Department of Transportation.

More than that, the agency is seeks to minimize conflict points and, where they exist, design them in a manner that reduces the severity of crashes.

Wayne Gaither, director of the FDOT District One Southwest Area Office, delivered that message during the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce State of the Community event last week.

“Communities are in the center of what we are working toward,” Gaither said. “We work to be good neighbors. There is no one size fits all as we are working through our projects. What works in one area certainly does not work in another and may not be the vision and the goals that the communities are looking for, so we are working with the communities through various methods to gather an understanding of what it is you want and then promoting the transportation needs for specific communities.”

That involves working closely with metropolitan planning organizations and at the city and county levels with an eye toward reducing serious injuries and fatalities on the state’s roadways.

“That’s a tough row to hoe to try to move the needle on, and it’s not something that has been happening

as efficiently as quickly as we would hope,” he said. Gaither addressed the following topics during his message to Chamber members.

ON THE SUPPLY CHAIN FOR HIGHWAY PROJECTS: It’s not a surprise to anyone here that it is difficult getting the materials necessary to keep projects moving forward. Transportation has also felt these issues to the point that project costs have increased dramatically and to the point that projects have been delayed because we have not been able to get the raw materials to keep the project moving on the construction schedule.

ON KEEPING UP WITH GROWTH: We’ve discovered through a lot of communication with the communities that the transportation networks are a huge issue for making sure that folks can get to and from work on a reliable schedule. That’s been a tough thing with the growth that’s taking place here. Transportation networks, roadways across the board have all taken a huge hit as far as the reliability of the timing that you can expect to get from point A to point B.

ON GROWTH IN FDOT DISTRICT

ONE: Florida is one of 11 mega regions. These regions account for more than 70% of the nation’s population and jobs. In District One, population growth has been outpacing the rest of Florida, but also been outpacing the growth patterns of a lot of other areas across the United States. Typically when we work on our projects, we plan for a growth percentage of 2% to 3%, and in several areas, we’re noticing that growth is at 20% to 30%. That’s a tough number to try to keep up with, especially considering the

timeline that it takes for projects to move through. From the point of conception of an idea of a project through getting a project completed is about 10 years. That’s if things are running smoothly. We are finding things have not been running smoothly on a lot of projects.

ON THE WORK AT THE INTERCHANGE OF I-75 AND CLARK ROAD: This is a project that is going to improve safety by adding capacity along I-75. It’s going to address the lane overflow, which is where people are getting off the interstate to get onto the off ramps and it bleeds back onto the interstate. It’s not a safe use of the interstate. We’re going to convert the ramp into a diverging diamond, and the benefit of the diverging diamond is it provides a more efficient flow of traffic off of the interstate. We’ve certainly thought outside the box on some of the projects where we’re addressing congestion and promoting efficiency for roadway network and for promoting safety.

ON HOW GROWTH PATTERNS ARE AFFECTING HIGHWAY PLANNING: What we’re noticing is recent residential, commercial and industrial types of developments in District One are being organized along the I-4 and I-75 corridors, and 80.2% of the population and 84% of the trade industry jobs are within 10 miles of either of the interstates or expressways. Sarasota and Manatee counties are expected to combine with a population of over 1 million by 2035.

ON THE PLANNED NEW INTERCHANGE AT I-75 AND FRUITVILLE ROAD: It will change the interchange from a partial cloverleaf design to a diverging diamond, and we’re finding that is

an extremely effective treatment especially at some of the highertraveled interchanges. District One will also be widening about two miles of I-75 between Palmer Boulevard to north of Fruitville Road. This is an effort for a current project to fit in with our managed lane study that we know is coming down the road. What we don’t want to do is have a lot of throwaway on existing projects and we also don’t want to put ourselves in a position to where we underdesign or underbuild a section of road and then end up having to back and try to address it later on.

Andrew Warfield Wayne Gaither, FDOT District One Southwest Area Office Director, speaks to the Sarasota Chamber during last week’s State of the Community event.

SPORTS

Fast Break

The Sarasota Scullers will host their annual sporting clays fundraiser at 8:30 a.m. May

27 at Sarasota Trap, Skeet and Sporting Clays in Nokomis. The event is a 50-shot tournament, and it will also feature a silent auction and a raffle, the main prize of which is a home rowing machine. Registration for the tournament is $150 for an individual or $500 for a team of four, and raffle tickets are one for $25 or five for $100. The Scullers are also holding learn to row camps throughout the summer, taught by head coach Bernhard Stomporowski. For more information on the fundraiser or the learn to row camps, visit SarasotaScullers. org. ... Nathan Benderson Park will hold a Learn to Row event on May 14-15 at 9 a.m. each day. The eight-hour course, split four hours each day, will give participants the skill set to row a single scull. Registration is $200. For more information or to register, visit NathanBendersonPark.org.

... The Cardinal Mooney High football program is hiring former Palmetto High head coach Dave Marino as its offensive line coach, the team announced May 2.

... Former Sarasota High baseball catcher Satchell Norman is off to a hot start with ACL Brewers Gold, the rookie affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. Norman is 11-for-32 (.344) with two doubles, three RBIs and four stolen bases through 10 games.

... Former Cardinal Mooney

High indoor and beach volleyball coach Chad Sutton was named head coach at Mercer on April 6. Sutton, who led the Cougars to an indoor volleyball state title in 2019, was previously an assistant coach at Coastal Carolina.

PROVING GROUNDS

Spring football practice is officially underway, and that means the 2023 season is not far behind. As area teams reassemble and get their first looks at what they may look like come fall, here is one question to ponder for each program. The answers may not come quickly — or at all — this spring, but they will help determine how teams fare in the 2023 season.

RIVERVIEW HIGH: WHO GAINS AN EDGE

IN THE QB ROOM?

The Rams have an incumbent starting quarterback in Jeremiah Dawson, a 6-foot-4 rising senior who threw for 759 yards, seven touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2022. Dawson could win the job again in 2023, but he’ll have to fend off competition from new additions to the school’s QB room.

Anthony Miller, a rising sophomore, came to the Rams from Venice High after quarterbacking the Indians’ freshman team, and has an electric arm: He launched a ball 66 yards in the air at the Jacksonville Jaguars High School QB Skills Challenge on April 23.

Also new to the Rams is Braxton Thomas, a rising senior transfer from Desert Vista High in Chandler, Arizona, who threw for 2,275 yards, 22 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2022.

The starting position likely won’t be settled this spring, but it will be a chance for all competitors to show the coaching staff — including new offensive coordinator Brody Wiseman, the former head coach at Sarasota High — what they can do. A bonus: Whoever wins gets to play alongside five-star defensive back/ wide receiver Charles Lester III.

SARASOTA HIGH: WHAT DOES JOSH PHILLIPS’ VISION FOR THE SAILORS LOOK LIKE?

The Sailors hired Phillips in January after Wiseman and the school parted ways after the 2022 season. Phillips, who served as the Manatee High defensive coordinator last

season, has an eclectic background within the sport. He played college ball at Yale, played for the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe in 2002, spent a training camp with the NFL’s Houston Texans, then played two seasons for the Chicago Rush of the Arena Football League before getting into coaching. Even on the sidelines, Phillips’ influences and experiences are vast. He had stops with California as a strength and conditioning coach, with Wagner as a defensive backs and special teams coach, and with Granada High in Livermore, California, where he was the defensive and passing game coordinator, prior to Manatee. How will that experience come together now that Phillips has a program all his own? Time will tell.

In January, Phillips said he believes in the running game and the passing game working in tandem, especially when trying to make concepts like play-action passes as effective and believable as possible. On defense, Phillips said talent dictates scheme even more than it does on offense.

Now that Phillips has had a few months to evaluate what talent he has, spring will be a chance to see how his plans have come together. It won’t be the full playbook, but it will give a rough idea of how the Sailors will aim to play come fall.

CARDINAL MOONEY:

CAN THE COUGARS’ TALENT GEL?

For a Class 1A school, the Cougars generate a lot of football talent. Several Mooney players currently hold scholarship offers from NCAA Division I teams, including rising senior running back Carson Beach (South Florida, Tennessee), rising junior defensive back Chris McCorkle (West Virginia and Michigan State, among others) and rising senior defensive back Teddy Foster (Tennessee, Southern California among others). Last year’s team also featured defensive end Jack MacKinnon, who signed with Michigan as a preferred walk-on, and linebacker JR Rosenberg, who did the same with Texas A&M.

Yet the Cougars finished 4-7 in 2022 and lost 38-7 to John Carroll Catholic in the first round of the

postseason. It was not what Head Coach Jared Clark and his staff envisioned at the beginning of the season, especially after going 8-4 in 2021 and returning all that talent. Offense was especially troublesome, as Mooney was held to fewer than 20 points five times.

Can the program get back to its winning ways in 2023? A strong spring would be a good start. If the Cougars can figure out how make its individual talent gel into a cohesive team, there’s reason for Cougars faithful to be excited about the fall season.

BOOKER HIGH: CAN SCOTTIE LITTLES CONTINUE THE PROGRAM’S GROWTH?

The 2022 season was a big step forward for the Tornadoes. After going 0-8 in 2021, Booker finished 2022 at 6-5 in the first year under head coach Scottie Littles — and Littles believed the team was capable of more. Coming within a few plays of beating Frostproof High (10-3) in the first round of the postseason before losing 34-31 was a sign of how close. There will have to be answers to looming questions in 2023, like who plays under center following the graduation of senior Will Carter Jr. But Littles’ dedication to discipline and getting the details of the game right has already paid dividends; in year two, Littles can continue to shore up those aspects of the team with more of his preferred scheme.

Having a weapon like rising senior wide receiver Josiah Booker helps: Booker, who caught 58 passes for 957 yards and nine touchdowns in 2022, holds offers from 10 NCAA Division I schools.

The Booker offense is also expected to feature a heavy dose of Karaijus Hayes, a rising sophomore athlete who recently picked up an offer from Miami.

And on defense, the Tornadoes have another player with a Hurricanes offer in Kevontay Hugan, a rising sophomore defensive end who also has offers from Maryland and Penn State.

Having young players like Hayes and Hugan that Littles can mold into productivity machines is a boon to the team’s outlook.

“My mom (Carol Selke) thought I should try running because she was a runner. I always liked it, but once I thought ‘Maybe I can get good at this,’ that’s when I started trying hard.”

— Cardinal Mooney’s Rosemary Selke SEE PAGE 18

File photo

Bernhard Stomporowski — nicknamed “Stompo” — was named the director of rowing and head coach of the Sarasota Scullers in December.

RYAN KOHN SPORTS EDITOR

As practice gets underway, here’s what to watch for with each area team during its spring games later this month.

Left to right: Rams junior Jeremiah Dawson throws a pass to sophomore running back DJ Johnson in the flat. Joe Ziegler should be a force at running back for Sarasota in 2023. Cardinal Mooney sophomore running back Carson Beach (22) runs away from the dive of Lakewood Ranch senior Sam McCracken. Booker High junior wideout Josiah Booker.

PROSE AND KOHN RYAN KOHN

Playoff teams fight to stay alive

When I say that the spring sports season is the most chaotic of the year, I mean it.

Just look at the mess of postseason goings-on that we have right now. Baseball and softball are in their district tournaments. Track and field is gearing up for regional meets. And beach volleyball, after having completed one state tournament, is preparing for a second state tournament.

The Sarasota area has teams involved in all four sports. That’s a good thing. It also makes it hard to keep up with it all (as even I can attest). So, until the postseason is over in a few weeks — or, at least, as long as our teams stick around — I have decided to use this space as a playoff news vessel, bringing you exactly what you need to know to stay informed on the postseason.

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

The Sunshine State Athletic Conference state champion Cardinal Mooney High beach volleyball team (20-1) had a May 2 home match against The Classic Academy (9-3) in a Florida High School Athletic Association state tournament playin game. (This designation is a bit ridiculous, in my opinion; you can just consider it the equivalent of a regional match in any other sport.)

As of this writing, the outcome of that match is unknown; the winner of the match will play either Berkeley Prep (15-1) or Calvary Christian (10-3) in the next round at 5 p.m. May 5. If Mooney is the team to

advance, it will host its next match. The winner of the May 5 match will head to Tallahassee May 12-13 for the actual state tournament. Should Mooney advance past The Classical Academy, its May 5 match will be a difficult one, head coach Chad Davis said, but also a great one, no matter the opponent.

TRACK AND FIELD

All four schools had athletes score big wins at their respective district meets.

At the Class 4A District 8 meet, held April 22 at North Port High, Riverview High and Sarasota High showed off. Notable results include Sailors senior boys runner Caleb Bradley winning the 200-meter run in 22 seconds flat — as well as the 400-meter run (48.01 seconds) — and Rams junior thrower

Luis Castaneda staying on track for state success by winning the discus (46.58 meters). Both teams will next compete at the Class 4A Region 2

meet on May 5 at Sumner High.

At the Class 2A District 11 meet, held April 26 at Lake Placid High, Booker High and Cardinal Mooney took home wins as well. Booker junior Jayson Evans showed off his sprinting speed by winning the boys 200-meter dash (21.74 seconds) by nearly a full second, as well as the 100-meter dash (10.92 seconds), while Tornadoes runner and jumper Terrietta Smith took home the girls 100-meter dash (12.21 seconds) and the long jump (18 feet, 3 inches). Mooney also had a number of victories, including sophomore Rosemary Selke in the girls 800 meters (2:33.65), senior Gage Hassler in the boys 800 meters (2:05.06) and senior Marc Dalmau in the discus (142 feet, 5 inches). Qualifying Booker and Mooney athletes will next compete at the Class 2A Region 3 meet on May 3 at Calvary Christian High.

BASEBALL

The sport’s district tournaments are ongoing. As of May 2, three area teams are still alive: Sarasota High beat Lehigh High 12-0 on May 1, Cardinal Mooney had a bye into its tournament’s second round and Sarasota Christian squeaked by

Gulf Coast HEAT 16-15. Booker and Riverview were eliminated from their district tournaments with May 1 losses.

All three teams still alive will be in action the rest of the week; if they win enough, district championship games will happen at 7 p.m. May 4. Sarasota High (19-7) has the best shot based on record and talent, but the Sailors also have the toughest road to get there, having to play a Venice High team that is 14-12 but has won three games in a row, then probably Lakewood Ranch High (16-7) in the district championship.

SOFTBALL Sarasota and Cardinal Mooney remain alive as of May 2, while Booker and Riverview have been eliminated.

Like in baseball, the Sarasota softball team (18-4) has the best chance to end the week with a district title. The Sailors will host North Port High (12-10) and should they win (as expected), they will likely face the back-to-back state champion Lakewood Ranch High Mustangs in the district final at 7 p.m. May 4. That could mean a game for the ages. The teams have played twice

this season, with both games going into extra innings and each team winning one of them. You won’t want to miss it.

LACROSSE

Not all updates can be fun. The Cardinal Mooney High boys lacrosse team came close to advancing to the regional finals in the Class 1A state tournament, but dropped a heartbreaker to the Community School of Naples on April 26, 13-12. The game was tied late, but CSN’s Noah Cardoza scored with 43 seconds to go, and Mooney could not respond despite a flurry of pressure around the Seahawks’ net. CSN advanced to face Tampa Jesuit on April 29, when they lost 9-7. The Cougars ended their season 12-7. They were the last area team left alive, so the 2023 area lacrosse book is now closed.

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

Local teams and athletes in track and field, baseball, softball and beach volleyball are still alive.

Photos by Ryan Kohn

Sailors senior Tyler Maszak slides safely into second base.

Riverview High’s Luis Castaneda is a Class 4A contender in the discus.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Rosemary Selke

Rosemary Selke is a sophomore on the Cardinal Mooney High track and field and cross country teams. Selke won the 800-meter run (2:33.65) at the Cougars’ district meet, held April 26 at Lake Placid High.

When did you start running?

I started running in the fourth grade.

My mom (Carol Selke) thought I should try running because she was a runner. I always liked it, but once I thought “Maybe I can get good at this,” that’s when I started trying hard.

What is the appeal to you?

I like running with my team and helping my teammates out however I can. I also like the competitiveness of it.

What is your favorite event?

It’s probably the 800 meters right now. I used to be a sprinter, but this year I have been running middistance races, and it has been working out.

What is your race strategy for the 800? I try to hang back and then speed up towards the end. I’m not someone who likes to lead for the entire race.

What is your favorite running memory?

It is probably going to the state meet in Tallahassee with the cross country team last fall. It was my first time running cross country and going up against the best runners in the state was a great experience, as was spending all that time with my team.

I’m going to run cross country next year, too, so hopefully I can get ever better.

What are your postseason goals?

I would like to get under 2:30 in the 800. I think that’s a good goal for me this year.

What is your favorite food?

Chocolate milk. I drink it almost every day.

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.

What are your hobbies?

I like to draw. I’ll draw whatever is on my mind, something creative. I like to spend time with my family, too.

What is your favorite subject?

I like English. It’s fun to write and express myself in that way.

Which superpower would you pick?

Probably the power to heal. I don’t like seeing others hurt.

What is the best advice you have received?

Coach Mac (Christi McDonald) convinced me to try middistance races. I didn’t think I would be good at them, but I tried it and I did decent. I’m glad she told me to give it a shot. Since I’m going to run another season of cross country next fall, I might try some long-distance races next track season, too.

Finish this sentence: “Rosemary Selke is ...“ ... Determined and hardworking.

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

Like many 11th grade students, Evanah Torres sometimes finds herself overwhelmed by school work on top of choir practice and other extracurriculars.

Yet, as she paints a wooden fence across from Riverview High School each afternoon, it doesn’t feel like work. It’s just another way to showcase her artistic abilities.

“I get to express myself, and I also get to show it to people who are passing by,” said Torres, whose panel of the fence features a sunset surrounded with orange sky and waters of gradated blue. “It makes me feel happy that I can bring that little bit of joy to others. And it also brings joy to me.”

Being chosen to paint the mural alongside nine other students was an opportunity she didn’t expect — not only because art opportunities were difficult to come by in her former home in Puerto Rico, but also because murals are new territory for Riverview High School.

That, and this project was initiated at the request of a homeowner.

Tom Cole had long thought about adding a mural to the fence alongside the Proctor Road home where he has lived for 12 years with his girlfriend, Nicole Rossler. However, it was Hurricane Ian that resulted in the idea becoming a reality.

After the storm forced him to install a new fence, what better time was there to have someone paint it?

He reached out to Riverview High School and connected with ceramics instructor Caiti Bauer.

Bauer wanted to bring a touch of color to a campus she said is otherwise made up of largely white walls.

She said the fence will be a step toward bringing murals to the school grounds, an initiative for which she has now gained approval from Principal Erin Haughey.

Since the beginning of 2023, Bauer has been working with Cole on the project, which involves students each painting one of the 10 panels of the 38-square-foot section of fence.

The project will end with Cole awarding $500 to the mural panel that students select as the winner in a vote to be held before the end of the school year on May 26.

A MURAL IS BORN

After Cole and Bauer connected, the project unfolded rapidly.

“I was absolutely amazed at the response Riverview gave,” Cole said,

complimenting the work of Bauer and Haughey. There was an application period of roughly three months in which students could submit their suggested designs for the panels. Cole then selected the top 10 designs.

Cole said in a world in which lots of hatred and negativity is seen on social media and on the news, he wants to show people the good in the community through the actions of the students.

“Kids should be able to be outside, do what they love to do, express themselves and do something that people appreciate,” he said.

Bauer said based on the insistence of Cole, a graduate of Sarasota High School, the purpose of the display is to represent not only Riverview High

School, but all of Sarasota. Therefore, no imagery specific to Riverview was included.

Bauer and Cole also said the display deliberately avoids anything polarizing or political, focusing on celebrating the location of Sarasota.

THE WORK IS THE REWARD

Each afternoon since early April, students have headed to the fence and have often painted on weekends. Bauer accompanies students, and Cole occasionally steps outside to speak with them.

While students lead the creation of their panels, other student volunteers provide assistance, helping fill in certain areas. Everyone will receive around 50 volunteer hours for the project, but multiple students said contributing to the mural was itself a reward.

“This is a great opportunity because I have two more years at Riverview, and I want to help spread inspiration throughout the community by doing art that everyone can see for years to come,” said Bridget Weccele, a 10th grade student.

Weccele said she has been an artist since elementary school and became involved because she is a member of the National Art Honor Society. Outside of the mural, she paints frequently and also enjoys sketching and doodling.

Her panel in the mural mimics a broken wall, through which a sunset can be seen.

“Art really is like a language,” she

said. “It’s able to express a lot, and I feel very connected to art because I’m able to express whatever I want.”

Torres said she wasn’t concerned about receiving an award.

“If I won the $500, it would be awesome, it’d be great, but it would also be great if it is given to someone who needs it more than I do. I think the process is worth way more than the monetary gain I can achieve from it.”

Bauer said the mural has taught students leadership.

“It’s been a learning experience for them, not just with the murals, but also to be in a leadership position, where they’re instructing their friends: ‘Hey, I need you to do line painting,’ ‘I need you to fill in this space with orange’ — whatever the circumstances.”

Cole said if people see the murals and appreciate the students’ work, they may consider having students paint murals in other areas, as well as donating to the arts program at Riverview High School and perhaps at Sarasota High School. Weccele said she hopes the project will inspire even more artists.

“I’m hoping that when people do see this artwork, and especially mine, they’re inspired to do art and not be afraid, just go beyond their limit, and spread ideas, and experiment, because in art, you can’t really do anything wrong. You do one thing and you can add on, (paint) over; nothing stays the same in art.”

Ceramics teacher Caitlin Bauer with Bridget Weccele, Mila Meyer, Luna Gutierrez, Sophia Nikias and Arianna Nikias.

YOUR CALENDAR

FRIDAY, MAY 5 CINCO DE MAYO-SECOND STREET CARNIVAL 11 a.m.-midnight. at 1435 Second St. Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with tacos, margaritas and beer specials, as well as more than 10 local vendor stations. For this event, Circo: A Taco and Bourbon Joint, partners with Blaze of Hope, a local nonprofit that supports families with children impacted by life-threatening medical conditions. This event is free. For information, visit CircoSRQ.com.

SATURDAY, MAY 6 GET YOUR MUTT MOVIN’ — 5K RACE AND FUN WALK 7:30 a.m. (5K run) and 8 a.m. (fun run/walk) at Payne Park, 2010 Adams Lane. Bring along your mutt for the third annual fundraiser benefitting CoreSRQ and Satchel’s Last Resort Animal Rescue and Sanctuary. Awards will be given to the fastest overall female and male runners and to the top three finishers in each age group. Also enjoy a vendor market featuring pet-friendly businesses and food and bakery items. 5K run $35. Fun run/walk $20. For information, visit RunSignUp.com.

CORVETTES ON THE CIRCLE

8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Armands Circle. This Corvettes-only car show by the Skyway Corvette Club is celebrating its 25th anniversary. All proceeds go to the Honor Flight Central Florida, a nonprofit dedicated to providing veterans with honor and closure. Registration $50. For info, visit SkywayCorvetteClub.com.

SATURDAY, MAY 6 TO SUNDAY, MAY 7 CRAFT FAIR 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 1 Central Ave. A variety of jewelry, pottery, ceramics, photography, painting, clothing and more — all handmade in America — will be on display, ranging from $15 to $3,000. An expansive green market with plants, orchids, handmade soaps and more complements the weekend, blending nature with nurture. This event is free. For information, visit ArtFestival.com.

SUNDAY, MAY 7

TEMPLE EMANU-EL MITZVAH DAY Noon at Temple Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Road. Over 300 volunteers

BEST BET

FRIDAY, MAY 5

CINCO DE MAYO CELEBRATION

AT FRESH FRIDAYS

7-10 p.m. on Palm Avenue, adjacent to the Art Ovation Hotel, 1255 N. Palm Ave. The Downtown Improvement District and Art Ovation Hotel team up for a tasteful, fresh take on Cinco de Mayo celebrations at this month’s Fresh Fridays event. Former “American Idol” finalist Jonathan Cortez returns to headline the night’s music. Also included are Mexican-inspired cuisine, free Polaroid pictures and free gifts. Parking is available at Palm Avenue and State Street parking garages. Free. For information, visit DID-Sarasota.com.

will be participating in two dozen different projects, including crafting friendship bracelets for foster families, making lunches for the homeless and baking cupcakes for charity, benefiting charitable organizations throughout Sarasota-Manatee. Free. For info, visit SarasotaTemple.org.

MONDAY, MAY 8

MEMORIAL DAY CELEBRATION

DISHES

6-8 p.m. at Publix Aprons Cooking School, University Walk, 2875 University Parkway. In a hands-on cooking class, learn how to memorialize your celebration by learning how to make a chilled pickled Florida shrimp roll and reverse-grilled jerk pork shoulder steaks with pineapple-serrano hot sauce. Tickets $60. Ages 18 and up. Visit ApronsCookingSchool.Publix.com.

Courtesy photo Former “American Idol” finalist Jonathan Cortez (left) will be headlining the Cinco de Mayo celebration at Fresh Fridays.

A literary feast

Bookstore1Sarasota book fair spotlighted 28 local authors.

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

Outside Bookstore1Sarasota, downtown Sarasota visitors found new stories to experience and fresh conversation with local authors.

Taking place April 22 and 29, which was Independent Bookstore Day, the Local Author Book Fair spotlighted 28 local authors and was one of two fairs the bookstore holds throughout the year. The second book fair takes place in the fall.

“It was fantastic,” said Andrea O’Brien. “It was very inspiring to talk to authors and to see where they were coming from and what inspired them to write their book. I just learned so much from listening to their experiences.”

Among the authors looking to meet potential readers was Lucy Beebe Tobias, who wrote the 2008 book “50 Great Walks in Florida” as

BOOKSTORE1SARASOTA

Store location: 117 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota Contact: 365-7900 or 365-7902

To sign up: To receive notification when applications open for the book fair, visit SarasotaBooks.com/ LocalAuthorBookFair.

well as the 2015 book “Florida Gardens Gone Wild(er)”.

Tobias said in selecting the locations of the walks for the former book, which all feature “wild Florida,” she wanted to hear from locals throughout the state rather than selecting locations based on their appeal to tourists.

A former writer and photographer for the New York Times in Florida, she spent a year wandering through Florida, talking to people for ideas on locations and cataloguing her walks through sites such as Rainbow Springs State Park in Dunnellon.

Bryn Durgin, director of programming at the bookstore, said the event allows attendees to get to know the books through their authors instead of the other way around.

“People fall in love with the author before they fall in love with the book, which is a really unique experience,” she said.

Durgin said on both weekends some authors sold out of their book copies. She said even small numbers of purchases, such as four in one week, can land a book on the store’s bestseller list.

Author Brian J. Morra said he sold all but one copy of his book “The Able Archers,” a Cold War thriller about one American and one Soviet participant who help prevent a global nuclear war, and had even received speaking engagements.

Durgin also said the event was valuable for allowing authors to network among themselves, as many accomplished writers are not sent on tour by publishers.

“It’s such a remarkable opportunity for authors to learn from one another and to connect because writing a book is such a solitary process,” she said.

WIDE RANGE OF GENRES

The authors and their books spanned the spectrum of genres, with some authors taking a more fantastical direction in their work, but for Eddie

J. Morales, that direction was still tied to his past.

Morales said he has enjoyed writing horror fiction since he was entertaining his high school classmates with writing assignments. Although he worked as a business analyst previously, he began self-publishing five years ago.

His 2022 autobiographical horror novel, “Haunted by Life: A Paranormal Coming of Age Story,” follows a boy named Javier who is followed by a ghost while moving from Puerto Rico to New Jersey while dealing with dark family secrets.

Photos by Ian Swaby Andrea O’Brien learns about “The

Simone Knego.

Morales said he lived in both locations when he was younger. In fact, he claimed a ghost haunted his home in New Jersey and helped inspire the story.

Launching a book can be a challenge, he said, especially as he manages the process independently, creating his own covers and using his own photographs. He said book fairs can be “very helpful” for local authors.

For Lakewood Ranch resident Lucille Messina, the book fair was a chance to reach people struggling while caring for a disabled or medi-

cally fragile child.

Messina’s daughter, Jacklyn Messina, who was born in 1984 and lived for just over 11 years, had a degenerative neurological disease and could not walk, talk or see. After her death, Lucille Messina wrote the book “Waiting to Hear ‘Momma’ — A Mother’s Memoir.” She said the title comes from the fact that while all parents wait for the day that their child will say “Momma” or “Daddy,” not all parents get to hear those words.

“If I can help one person, who knows what that one person will go

Lucy Tobias wrote “50 Great Walks in Florida” and “Florida Gardens Gone Wild(er),” but also offered the additional enticement of Ghirardelli chocolates.

on to do in life?” said Messina. “It’s wonderful because this is what community is about, helping one another survive and struggle.”

Sara Jonas wrote the children’s book “Ham’s Big Adventure” for the benefit of The Tidewell Foundation in honor of her friend, Jamie Meyers, who died of brain cancer in 2016.

The book’s main character, Ham, is a young pirate who travels to outer space on a mission to find where love is hidden.

“I think it’s great that they put this on for local authors to help support them and get the word out, because it’s so hard to get the word out, and as somebody who was born and raised local, this is great for giving back to the local people as well,” she said.

Michael Lortz wrote the book “Curveball at the Crossroads,” the story of a baseball player who suffers a career-ending injury and strikes a deal with the devil to make a comeback.

Lucille Messina wrote “Waiting to Hear ‘Momma’” about her journey caring for her daughter, Jacklyn Messina, who lived from 1984-1995.

The change starts within

Plymouth Harbor resident Bernie

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

Plymouth Harbor resident and former Boston University professor of sociology Bernie Phillips wants to build a more cohesive and collaborative world, one retirement home at a time. For the second year in a row, Phillips is offering a series of four weekly lectures at Plymouth Harbor’s Hobson Hall auditorium. The lectures series is called “Fulfilling Our Infinite Potentials: Solving the World’s Problems” and is based on a book that he co-authored, “Creating Life Before Death: Discover Your Amazing Self.”

“My focus is on continuing in Plymouth Harbor, to make them shine out like the city on the hill,” Phillips said. “And then from there, we can go to other retirement homes. It could go to businesses, it can go to political groups — everywhere.” Philips said to change the way the world works would require overturning our fundamental assumptions, or paradigm. It also requires looking inward before taking outward action.

“We are so far from emphasizing ourselves, it is almost unbelievable,” he said.

On a societal level, he believes there are certain issues that result from people’s current outlook: a world with strict hierarchies, narrow specialization and personal conformity.

His vision is to empower individuals to avoid specialization, interacting widely between different areas. He said research indicates that smaller companies, which feature more of this type of interaction, have

commendable as she treats you and your family as her family. The support staff is amazing and they made the process so seamless. I would rate them 100 ‘s if I could. Thank you!

Compliments to Dr Barré for answering my questions in simple terms. I’m a worker comp patient and I appreciate the straight talk information. Grateful for her expertise.

Phillips leads a lecture series, ‘Fulfilling Our Infinite Potentials: Solving the World’s Problems.’

Photos by Ian Swaby

Bernie Phillips is in the process of offering the lecture series “Fulfilling Our Infinite Potentials: Solving the World’s Problems.”

IF YOU GO

Where: Hobson Hall, Plymouth Harbor, 700 John Ringling Blvd.

When: Tuesday, May 9 (Session 4); and repeats of Session 4 on the second Tuesday of each month, starting June 13.

been shown to be more efficient. This, he said, could have an effect on many of the world’s problems.

“(People) would share the possibility of what they’re there to do, which is how to actually solve problems,” he said. “The idea there is this: To be able to help others, you have to help yourself.”

“I don’t handle bureaucracy well, so I relate to what he’s teaching,” said lecture attendee Betty Mann McQueen.

Nonetheless, she said, she has long worked in her position dealing with infrastructure in the county, in keeping with Phillips’ goal of living up to one’s potential.

McQueen also said that adults need to do more to increase their personal abilities. She said isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic had shown her how many struggled with basic life skills, such as cooking themselves a meal.

She said these are the issues she sees Phillips dealing with but on a bigger scale.

A FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE

One problem within the field of sociology is that sociologists and social scientists are too invested in communicating with one another, rather

than with the public, Phillips said.

So Phillips decided to begin speaking to the public with his first lecture series in 2021.

It’s possible to trace everything back to a simple concept, he said.

A motto of “head, heart and hand.”

All you has to do is remember “The Wizard of Oz” and the qualities sought by each of Dorothy’s friends in Oz: the Scarecrow (head), the Tin Man (heart) and the Cowardly Lion (hand.)

“The academic head and heart together doesn’t exist to any great extent,” he said, adding that women have the potential to improve the field of sociology through a combination of hand and heart.

Although Phillips had a long career as a university professor, he said education doesn’t need to be about handing out diplomas, so he chose to focus on sharing his teaching at Plymouth Harbor, a continuing care retirement community, where he plans to repeat a portion of his lecture series titled “Personal and World Evolution” on the second Tuesday of every month on an indefinite basis.

Phillips said the staff at Plymouth Harbor has been supportive of his efforts. He noted that Beth Watson, vice president of foundations, suggested taking the cause beyond Plymouth Harbor to invite the whole community.

Phillips plans to take his message

even farther afield.

In 2024, he hopes to visit the American Sociological Association’s annual meeting in Montréal, to promote his ideas to fellow social scientists.

If his plan unfold as he hopes, Phillips sees a world that’s soon to be on an upward trajectory.

“Imagine a stairway that’s wide enough for the whole human race to climb. It doesn’t narrow as it gets further out. It’s infinite, it keeps going, and people can move across to other areas. They can communicate and learn from others and teach others. That’s my vision, right there.”

Bernie Phillips discusses the “Alice in Wonderland” quote “Everybody has won and all must have prizes.”

A monument to resilience

Newly donated art installation at Ringling College honors veterans.

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

Amonument to military veterans called Testimonies (Resilience) was unveiled April 28 inside Ringling College’s Ulla Searing Student Center.

The gift from The Patterson Foundation was relocated from Patriot Plaza, a 2,800-seat outdoor amphitheater that opened at the Sarasota National Cemetery in 2014 and was created through a partnership between The Patterson Foundation and the National Cemetery Administration.

The photo by Sean Carpenter depicts Specialist Dean Oldt greeting his father, Dennis Oldt, as he returns home to Philadelphia in 2008 after serving in Iraq.

The monument also features quotes from Kathy Sargent, author of the chapter “Army Mom, Serving in the Silent Ranks” from the 2009 book “Love You More Than You Know” by Janie Reinart and Mary Anne Mayer.

Debra Jacobs, president and CEO of The Patterson Foundation, said the foundation’s goal with Patriot Plaza was to serve veterans in a lasting way, through an outdoor exhibition honoring service and sacrifice.

“We created an endowment to make sure that Patriot Plaza will look as wonderful in the year 4,500 as it does today,” she said.

However, some of the photos in the Testimonies series were becoming delaminated due to the humidity, requiring them to be replaced.

The 16 images of Testimonies were chosen by artists who culled through over 6,000 photographs, from the Civil War to the War in Afghanistan, Jacobs said.

Some were still in excellent condition, Jacobs said, and after being removed from the Georgia white marble in which they were embedded, they could be repurposed for other locations.

As a result, many have been donated to community partners including Goodwill Manasota, the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus, and now Ringling College.

The unveiling began with a ceremony held outside the Ulla Searing Student Center. Student Natalie Perez sang “The Star-Spangled Banner,” while poems were read by students Alyssa Quidachay and Marcus Adkins.

Adkins served four years in the military, including as a combat photographer in Operation Enduring Freedom from 2010 to 2011. He said when he returned home, he missed the experience of greeting his family since he was being evacuated due to a medical issue.

Adkins is also president of the college’s Veteran’s Club and said

the photograph embedded in the school’s new monument was heartwarming to see.

“For me it’s absolutely amazing,” Adkins said. “Being a senior and the president of the club, and actually having this my last year is absolutely mind-blowing, and I’m sure the veterans that come after me will appreciate it as well.”

THE RIGHT LOCATION

Scott Lempe, a veteran and consultant for The Patterson Foundation, said the foundation chose Ringling College because it reaches out specifically to veterans and their families through its Military/Veteran Affiliated Services Department.

Lisa Goss, assistant director of financial aid and veteran services at the college, said the department helps chart students’ transitions from military life to civilian life and promotes resilience.

“The life of military-connected families is one of constant change, and sacrifices are made — missed birthdays, missed anniversaries,” she said.

The department offers assistance in applying for benefits, provides information on education benefits and college processes and connects students with resources such as advising, counseling services and financial aid.

The college also participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which provides additional financial assistance to veterans and dependents

who already qualify for all standard benefits and reach the VA’s annual tuition limit.

Ringling College President Larry Thompson said the college has more than 20 students who are veterans from multiple branches, as well as about 50 students who are dependents of veterans and are utilizing VA educational benefits. He said many faculty and staff have served in multiple branches of the military.

“One of the things that is often taught in the military is resilience, because that helps those people cope with adversity, adapt to change and

overcome what seem to be insurmountable challenges,” he said. “That describes, I think, military service.”

Goss said the monument’s presence itself serves the school.

“It’s all part of that connection,” she said. “When they feel they’re connected, they are so much more successful in college overall. We’re setting them up for success by connecting them with the right resources.”

Ian Swaby

Ringling College President Larry Thompson and Veteran’s Club President Marcus Adkins unveil the monument.

Condominium in The Vue sells for $4.5M

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

Acondominium in The Vue tops all transactions in this week’s real estate.

Robert and Sara Lumpkins, trustees, sold the Unit 1805 condominium at 1155 N. Gulfstream Ave. to Thomas Sprague and Laurie Anderson, trustees, of Boston, for $4.5 million. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, three-and-ahalf baths and 2,816 square feet of living area. It sold for $3.55 million in 2019.

SARASOTA THE CONDOMINIUM ON THE BAY Leighrob Corp. sold the Units 1909 and 1910 condominium at 988 Boulevard of the Arts to Saile Development Inc. for $2.9 million. Built in 1982, it has two bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 3,870 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.9 million in 2020.

William and Maryl Levine, trustees, of Longboat Key, sold the Unit 1016 condominium at 988 Boulevard of the Arts to Patricia Elmone, trustee, of Sarasota, for $1,075,000. Built in 1982, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,555 square feet of living area. It sold for $690,000 in 2019. 506171 N. B. Inc. sold the Unit 512 condominium at 988 Boulevard of the Arts to Leighrob Corp. Inc. for $600,000. Built in 1982, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,729 square feet of living area. It sold for $410,000 in 2010.

HANSEN

Randolph and Beth Ann Walling, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, sold their home at 1734 Hansen St. to Gary Manasse, trustee, of Sarasota, for $2 million. Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,762 square feet of living area. It sold for $845,000 in 2013.

Gambino Family Properties LLC sold the home at 3932 Sunshine Ave. to Daniel Sienkiewicz, of South Abington Township, Pennsylvania, for $899,000. Built in 1976, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 918 square feet of living area. It sold for $615,000 in 2021.

Other top sales by area

SIESTA KEY: $1.59 MILLION

Sarasota Beach

Michael Perry, of Sarasota, sold his home at 268 Island Circle to Joseph and Kelley Church, of Chesterfield, Missouri, for $1.59 million. Built in 1966, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,235 square feet of living area. It sold for $725,000 in 2016.

PALMER RANCH: $1,175,000

Arbor Lakes on Palmer Ranch

Mark Raymond Hagar and Jessica Marie Hagar, of Sarasota, sold their home at 6251 Anise Drive to Benjamin Szczypek Bala and Priscila Bala, for $1,175,000. Built in 2015, it has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,108 square feet of living area. It sold for $825,000 in 2020.

NOKOMIS: $1.4 MILLION

OF ORANGE

TOWNHOMES

CLUB

Wayne Gronberg and Carol Myers sold their Unit 626 condominium at 626 Rawls Ave. to Ashley Boyum and Lesley Cook, of Sarasota, for $1,465,000. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 2,092 square feet of living area. It sold for $775,000 in 2019.

SOUTH GATE

Todd and Regina Duncan sold their home at 3411 Jaffa Drive to Matthew and Courtney Grover, of Sarasota, for $1.2 million. Built in 1956, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,845 square feet of living area. It sold for $355,000 in 2015.

Steven Plotkin, of Sarasota, sold two properties at 2518 Tulip St. and 3304 Mineola Drive to Aletha Lovier, of Sarasota, for $744,000. The property at 2518 Tulip St. was built in 1958 and has three bedrooms, one bath and 1,298 square feet of living area. It sold for $195,000 in 2005. The property at 3304 Mineola Drive was built in 1957 and has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,093 square feet of living area. It sold for $220,000 in 2003.

Clearwater Capital Partners USA LLC sold the home at 2126 Tetlow Place to Kendall Hall and Spencer Baron, of Sarasota, for $680,000.

TOP BUILDING PERMITS

Built in 1961, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,765 square feet of living area. It sold for $510,000 in 2022.

See

Preserve at Mission Valley Marilyn and Carlton Brown, of Sweden, Maine, sold their home at 621 Vanderbilt Drive to David Lima and Matilde Hidalgo Lima, trustees, of Nokomis, for $1.4 million. Built in 2005, it has three bedrooms, threeand-a-half baths, a pool and 3,879 square feet of living area. It sold for $850,000 in 2013.

Courtesy photos

This condominium in The Vue tops all transactions in this week’s real estate at $4.5 million. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 2,816 square feet of living area.

Boat enthusiasts on board with this show

Joe Grodzik said he couldn’t afford a yacht, but he was still eager to explore the yachts included in the more than 200 boats on display at Marina Jack during the Suncoast Boat Show, April 21-23.

“Beautiful stuff — you can’t beat it,” he said. “It’s a pleasure to come out and enjoy this beautiful day and beautiful show.”

Business Development Manager Nickolas Pantner said the selection this year at the Suncoast Boat Show marked an increase over previous years, a change that did not go unnoticed by guests.

“It seems bigger and better than it has in years,” said attendee Paul Bloom. “There are more boats, and there are larger boats.”

Pantner said in addition to featuring a large number of boats, the show was also intended to offer something for everyone.

“We have everything from the smallest paddle board to an 80-foot yacht,” he said.

He said visitors could buy whatever supplies they may need in addition to simply obtaining a boat, describing “hats, fishing poles, you name it — all that good stuff.”

The event also offered extra entertainment for kids, with a daily fishing clinic that supplied a free rod and reel for participants to keep.

— IAN SWABY

Seven-year-old Jett Claymore, Kristen Shepherd and 5-year-old Bodhi Claymore

Madeline Giordano, Guy Salani and Jenna Salani

Photos by Ian Swaby

Boats line the docks beside Marina Jack.

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NEXT-LEVEL THINKING by Rich Katz and Jeff Chen, edited by Jeff Chen

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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This week’s Crossword answers

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers

Puzzle One Solution:

“What happened to your hand?” “It got hit by a mirror.” “How’d that happen?” “I lost my temper at myself.”

Wes Anderson’s “Moonrise Kingdom”

Puzzle Two Solution:

“If you want to achieve anything special in life you have to work, work and then work some more.” David Beckham

Puzzle Three Solution:

“You don’t really have to say much when your headline is ‘Drag Queen Robs Burger King.’” Journalist Willie Geist

This week’s Sudoku answers