Sarasota/Siesta Key Observer 9.14.23

Tzeva pitches in

In response to the wildfires that ravaged Hawaii’s island of Maui in August, a restaurant in Sarasota lent a helping hand.

On Sept. 9, Mediterranean restaurant Tzeva, located in Art Ovation Hotel in Sarasota, donated 20% of lunch and dinner proceeds to the Lahania Fires Chef Collective, helping to feed impacted communities in Maui.

The restaurant is working directly with chef Jason Raffin, a member of the collective who also lost his home and belongings in the Maui fires. He is a former co-worker of Peter Hough, assistant director of food and beverage at Tzeva. Raffin’s team of chefs is serving around 1,000 plates a day, Hough said. “We had a full dining room that night. We got a lot of ‘mahalos,’ which is really cool.”

St. Armands has a pump system designed to tackle flooding, but it couldn’t keep up with Idalia’s storm surge. Why?

SEE PAGE 3

Monica Gagnier Gale Fitch of Nokomis

WHAT’S HAPPENING

WEEK OF SEPT. 14, 2023

BY THE NUMBERS

Historic Indian Beach estate sells for $6M

A historic property in the Indian Beach community has sold for just more than $6 million. The home at 900 Alameda Lane was initially listed on Jan. 23 at $11.9 million and was reduced to $8.9 million before closing on Aug. 31 at $6,025,000. Located on 210 feet of private waterfront, the four-building estate stands on nearly two acres of manicured gardens. It boasts a resort-style pool and features a 3,209-square-foot, two-bedroom, three-bath main house, a guest cottage and a carriage

house above one of the two-car garages.

The original two-story farmhouse dates to 1894 and was incorporated into a complete remodel, which well-known architect Frank Folsom Smith designed for himself and his wife, Anne. The couple bought the property in 1987 for $150,000.

“He ripped it apart, designed the remodel and added the pool,” said Eric Hill of Exit Bayshore Realty who represented Peterman. “The property is stunning.” Smith was a well-known

Sarasota listing hits market at nearly $34M

A nearly $34 million listing hit the market on Siesta Key.

Situated on nearly an acre with more than 140 feet of direct water frontage, the custom-built home is an 11,275-square-foot, eight-bedroom, 12-bathroom bayfront estate in Harbor Acres.

The home is offered at $33,825,000.

Completed in July 2022, the modern British West Indies-style residence was designed by Naplesbased Stofft Cooney Architects, built by Perrone Construction of Sarasota and landscaped by Stephen Hazeltine of Venice.

The home features detailed architectural ceilings, multiple bay-facing terraces, a luxuriously appointed kitchen, large primary suite and two substantial private wings for family and guests.

Indoor-outdoor spaces include a club room with a bar, lounge and media area; a multitiered resortstyle overflow pool and spa; outdoor kitchen; and expansive gathering areas overlooking the bay.

Homeless vets benefit event set for Sept. 23

modernist architect and part of what has become known as the Sarasota School of Architecture. Anne made a reputation as an interior designer. The buyer is Michael Peterman, the founder of VeraData, a machine learning analytics company based in Fort Myers.

“What really appealed to Michael was the history of Frank and Anne. When we went to the first showing he fell in love with the original attributes of everything that comes with the property,” said Hill. “

Jewish Family & Children’s Service of the Suncoast will its their 12th annual Stand Down event to benefit homeless veterans at the Sarasota Fairgrounds from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 23. Dozens of community partners including small and large businesses and local and state agencies will be available to assist veterans in receiving medical care and to provide eligibility for housing and employment.

This year JFCS expects more than 100 homeless veterans to attend. Each will have access to multiple health services and free screenings and will also be given a large rucksack filled with toiletries, clothing, boots, undergarments, personal items and non-perishable foods.

Local judges will attend so veterans can learn if they may have charges dropped at Veterans Amnesty Court in order to more easily apply for rental properties.

“We are already more expensive than the county. There has to be a better way of addressing this.”

Sarasota Commissioner Erik Arroyo, Read more on Page 5

Glitch

Designed for a 25-year rain event, St. Armands’ pumping system was overwhelmed by a perfect storm of king tide and Idalia’s surge.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

Oblong and concave, St. Armands Key is like a giant bowl that can fill with water during heavy rains and storm surge events.

That’s why buried beneath the stylish surface of the commercial district in the center of St. Armands and the tony residential neighborhood that encircles it is a pump and drainage system designed to remove excess stormwater and send it into the Gulf of Mexico.

The drainage system, which was installed and is maintained by Sarasota County via interlocal agreement with the city, is designed for a 25-year event — 9 inches of rain within 24 hours.

Although it passed Sarasota well offshore, Hurricane Idalia brought conditions that far surpassed the 25-year event standard. The storm dealt St. Armands Key battering westerly winds combined with not only a high tide, but a king tide — an infrequently occurring exceptionally high tide. That combination breached seawalls around the Key, overwhelming the system.

It was as Sarasota County Public Works Director Spencer Anderson said, “a perfect storm.”

In the aftermath, businesses on St. Armands Circle were left with more than a foot of water on the streets and some water breaching their buildings. There was more severe street flooding on the north end as police closed off access to the key until the bowl could be emptied. That left merchants and residents alike wondering why the pump system failed and how such a failure could be prevented in the future.

Installed in 2008, the active drainage system, Anderson said, has performed as designed. Idalia, though, demonstrated weaknesses in the system, which are in the process of being addressed.

Chief among those weaknesses was the electrical system failing when the control panels became submerged in sea water.

“When the project was originally constructed, there was significant demand by the community to make the system as low profile as possible,” Anderson said. “We did that and mounted the electrical control panels fairly low to the ground, and we found out that’s not a good idea. We are looking to raise those electrical panels to a higher elevation to hopefully avoid a similar flooding of those electrical components in the future.”

The system rendered inoperable, the county dispatched crews and temporary equipment to pump the trapped water out. Those pumps will remain in place until the electrical panels are replaced and other repairs are made.

in the drainage system

“The long lead-time item are the electrical panels that were submerged,” Anderson said. “They do take some time to manufacture, so we expect that within about 90 days we’ll have the system back up and running as it was prior to the storm.”

‘SMELLY CORNER’

Soon after the storm ended, St. Armands Residents Association President Chris Goglia was in communication with city and county officials about the conditions there. Spending the summer at his second home in Rhode Island, he received emails from about 10 residents about conditions they found once they were allowed to return home.

One homeowner, he said, had to leave his vehicle and walk several blocks to his house, wading in thighdeep water, where he found six inches of water throughout his home.

After he opened his front door and garage to begin drying out the home, a pickup truck drove by, Goglia was told, sending a wake into the house.

“He had the foresight to put some of his furniture up on blocks, and he was able to save a lot of his furniture having done that,” Goglia said. “But he said all his appliances are gone.

The drywall has got to be taken out two feet above the floor and replaced. He said he’s still waiting for the final number from his insurance adjuster, but he suspects it’s going to be north of six figures.”

The man’s home, Goglia said, is located on the northeast quadrant of the island, the low point that experienced the worst flooding.

That’s near the location of the first, and for a while only, pump station at the intersection of North Washington Drive and Madison Drive. That was the only pump in operation on St. Armands prior to the project to install the islandwide system 20082009.

“I don’t know when it was installed, but that is the lowest part of the island,” said Anderson. Coincidentally, that station also happened to be damaged by a vehicle crash the night before Idalia and was not operational.

“A temporary pumping system was installed early Wednesday morning, however it was impacted by flood waters during the storm later that day,” Anderson said. “Once flood waters receded enough to allow personnel to access the station late Wednesday, the temporary pumping system was restored and flood waters were pumped down by Thursday morning.”

The area around that original pump station has been an ongoing source of issues, according to Goglia. While perhaps not related, that area was the site of a small sinkhole in the road in 2020. And, Goglia said, there is consistently a rancid odor around that intersection.

THE ‘PERFECT STORM’

The conditions that resulted in flooding on St. Armands from Idalia, according to County Public Works Director Spencer Anderson:

n Roughly three feet of storm surge in addition to the high tide with westerly winds from the hurricane.

n The stormwater pumping network’s electrical system was submerged by the flood waters, leaving the system inoperable.

n The stormwater system will drain with gravity flow as long as the tidal condition isn’t higher than the outfall. In this situation, the tidal surge was too high so the island could not drain by gravity.

n The pump system was designed for protection from rainfall events not expected to coincide with a tidal surge event that would result in overtopping the seawall system. Once the seawalls are overtopped pumping cannot overcome the volume of water coming over seawalls.

“Just walking around with my family over the years, there’s always an odd smell coming out of the ground where this pump is,” Goglia said. “We’ve always referred to it as ‘smelly corner.’”

Since Hurricane Idalia, Goglia has been in communication with Anderson, seeking details of how the pump system failed, whether the system was even adequate to handle a seawall overflow and, if so, how to prevent it from happening again.

“Could it have been prevented? And even if the answer is no, that’s fine. The more important question is what can be done to keep it from happening again in the future or minimizing the impact in the future?” Goglia said.

THREE FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL

Like any coastal community at sea level, St. Armands is perennially prone to high-water events, not only from storm surge but also heavy rains. The pump station system provides a measure of protection, Anderson said, but is not equipped for waters overtopping seawalls located behind private residences.

Lido Key provides a measure of protection from a surge, but resulting rising water surrounding the island brings flooding.

“This was a unique event, a perfect storm as far as tidal conditions, wind direction and surge, and it resulted in a flooding condition that the system was not designed to provide protection against,” Anderson said. “This system actually does protect as it was designed to do fairly well. There are very few flooding events on the

island compared to what it was prior to it.”

Although more recently built homes on residential streets are elevated above flood stage by code, as many as half of the approximately 200 residences on St. Armands are original, one-story, midcentury homes built on slabs at ground level.

The highest elevation on St. Armands is three feet.

“Now you have to build up, and that’s good government at work, recognizing there’s a problem and making sure people build in such a way where they’re not affected by this,” said Goglia. “Maybe 30 years from now they’ll all be built up, but they’re not right now and so a lot of people suffered from this event.

It’s one thing to say the storm surge coincided with a king tide and therefore the water came over seawalls and flooded the island. But no one has been able to tell me how they’re going to deal with it.”

Or, perhaps everything that can be done has been done.

“It’s got two design criteria,” Anderson said of the drainage system. “One is for no structure flooding during a 25-year event, which is 9 inches of rain in 24 hours; and no street flooding for a three-year event, which is just over two inches of rain in a certain period of time. Those are the things that it could be reasonably designed for.

“Any storm event beyond that was expected to overtop the seawalls, because they’re so irregular around the island because they’re all individually owned by the property owners.”

Courtesy photo

Many St. Armands residents returned home after Hurricane Idalia to find 2 feet or more of water on their streets and inside their homes.

Public gets preliminary Payne Park plans peek

The Players unveiled a conceptual plan for the expansion and renovation of Payne Park Auditorium during a community workshop.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

What do the development of the $110 million Atlanta Braves spring training campus in West Villages and the plan to expand and renovate Payne Park Auditorium have in common?

Former Venice City Manager and Development Consultant Marty Black.

Now managing partner of The P3 Group, Black led a community workshop Monday evening at the auditorium, where The Players Centre for Performing Arts, through its subsidiary The Stage at Payne Park, proposes to invest millions to convert the city-owned building into its long-awaited new permanent home.

“I got pulled into this because I’ve done a series of public-private partnerships with local governments and know what the cities can do and what they can’t do and what we can ask,” Black told the group of about 30 in attendance. “I have a little bit of that experience, and also in my time at the city of Venice, with some publicprivate partnerships. My role is really to help facilitate this on behalf of The Players and the other communitybased organizations and to act as a conduit to here for the community.”

On display was a preliminary concept, which Black cautioned was not deeply engineered and is merely a starting point for the discussion.

“This was just the first stab at a first draft type of thing to elicit feedback so that we can then prepare a design and begin that process,” Black said.

That feedback was generally positive toward use of the building by

community-based performing arts groups led by The Players.

The primary points of concern were paving some of what is now green space between the auditorium and the playground, expansions on the east and south sides of the building for backstage and lobby space and how patrons would travel to the building after parking in nearby garages and in parking areas within the park.

Black said the use of the building will require some on-site parking. The conceptual drawing shows 96 spaces, about one-third of what the city would require for the approximately 300-seat capacity of the building. Other patrons would park in garages and in public parking scattered around the park. Perhaps some form of shuttles could be employed to transport the more remote parkers.

Most of that new parking area would be concrete or asphalt to meet firetruck access requirements, although the plan shows some pervious surfaces as well.

Nearby residents who use Payne Park, though, objected to the parking lot concept because it would adversely impact the natural grass area that borders the park’s trail and would add runoff to a pond adjacent to the west side of the building.

It was suggested The Players look into the 1.25-acre city-owned empty lot at the nearby northeast corner of Laurel Street and South Washington Boulevard for possible parking within a short walk from the auditorium.

With a tax assessment value of $1.87 million, though, the city would have

to determine if that is the highest and best permanent use of the site. Black said he would look into that possibility.

One attendee questioned whether a performing arts venue would be legally permitted on land that is deeded to the city for recreational use.

“Many parks throughout the country have everything from performance pieces, just like the Van Wezel in The Bay Park,” Black said. “This is obviously a much smaller scale and more community based, but it meets the definition. I’ve testified as an expert witness on these kinds of things. It clearly meets a definition of a public recreational

facility. It doesn’t mean it has to be owned by the public, but it has to be open to the public.”

In May, the City Commission unanimously approved entering into a 10-year lease with The Players for the auditorium with two subsequent 10-year optional renewals. The building is currently used for Parks and Recreation Department offices. The Players will pay the city $100 per year plus $1 per ticket sold for each performance, and could invest upwards of $9 million in expansion and renovations, all subject to city approval.

The Players formed The Stage at Payne Park to execute the building improvements and oversee opera -

tions of the facility, and is currently assembling a consortium of other community-based performance groups for use of the facility and perhaps contributing to the construction costs.

Black told attendees the process is in the very early stages. The Players expects to cut the ribbon to the facility in September 2025.

“There are no final designs. We’ve put together conceptual piece to look at what might be possible. The intent is to keep this structure in place as it is. There will be interior renovations and other work to accommodate a larger stage. It’s not the intent to demolish it or remove it, but adaptive reuse of the facility.”

Andrew Warfield

About 30 people attended the community workshop, facilitated by consultant Marty Black, to provide input about plans to renovate and expand Payne Park Auditorium.

MORE CASH FOR TRASH

for collecting residential and commercial solid waste and recycling.

we can do in-house,” Jeffcoat said in August. “If you look around, pretty much the only contractual arrangements with outside firms other than being done in-house is by counties. You look at Northport, Bradenton and Venice, they’re all doing it inhouse because of that reason.”

Sarasota city residents aren’t alone in facing higher solid waste collection fees. The East County Observer reported Manatee County residents’ rates will increase by 65% starting next fiscal year.

MAKING CONNECTIONS

In calendar year 2022, the city installed 176 new water connections and eight new sewer connections, accounting for at a deficit of $290,000. Those installations do not include connections to larger meters of six and eight inches, for which the city charges actual cost.

During a July 10 budget workshop, the utilities department presented a master plan update to the commission, part of the presentation including a proposed new rate structure for new water, reclaimed water and sewer installations.

fiscal year on our utilities web page,”

Nicklaus said of the rate schedule. “It will be amended and be based on current pricing, current labor rates and current equipment costs. Charging for the actual costs for the specific needs of each individual installation is the plan.”

The priced charged by the city for wastewater connections is $700, against an actual average cost of $2,111, a deficit of $1,411.

Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch asked why the city had not been charging the actual cost for installing new services.

“We just were more focused on the master plan and funding it through the (utility) rates,” Nicklaus said. “But then as we looked at it again, with inflation it was like well this is really severe and we have to address it now. The issue, too, is the customers that are six- to eight-inch are paying those actual costs. We just want to bring this to the smaller meters.”

The theme for this year’s city budget season is covering costs in the areas of enterprise funds, services for which the costs are, in theory if not in practice, covered by the service users and not spread across the tax base.

Before the City Commission during its Sept. 5 meeting were rate increases for solid waste collection and connections to the city’s water and sewer systems, both proposed to fill the gaps between revenues and expenses. Both were approved by 4-1 votes with Commissioner Erik Arroyo dissenting both times.

Commissioners approved on second reading an increase to the fees

Just as he did on first reading on Aug. 21, Arroyo was opposed.

“We are already more expensive than the county. There has to be a better way of addressing this,” Arroyo said. “Just two years ago, we had an emergency situation and we were buying iPads and a bunch of other things that, at the time, I did not feel were conducive to a department that was in such a dire need to address this. The solution is not always higher fees. Sometimes it can be done by finding opportunities elsewhere. “I would in the future entertain the discussion of seeing where we are with the county if there are any synergies there for addressing this.”

Effective Oct. 1, solid waste fees for residential customers will increase by $4.42 per month, up from $24.55 to $28.97. The ordinance also includes an 18% hike across the various levels of service for commercial customers.

In addition, rates for both residential and commercial customers will rise by 4% in fiscal year 2026.

During the Aug. 21 first reading, Public Works Director Doug Jeffcoat told commissioners the increases were necessary to cover expenses and to build a three-month reserve fund for the department. He added attempted negotiations with Waste Management, the contract hauler for Sarasota County, did not yield any potential savings.

“The cost associated with that contract was much higher than what

“And the discussion was that the current fees were not capturing the actual costs of that of the new installations,” said Tony Centurione, the city’s utilities general manager.

“We’ve tracked the actual costs and they’re significantly higher on average than the current charges.”

“Significantly higher” as in a loss to the city of an average of $1,575 for smaller installations and up to $3,695 for larger. Those costs include piping, labor, concrete and more. They do not include repairs to asphalt, if necessary, which can vary widely.

The proposed rate schedule is intended to be flexible, according to Utilities Finance Manager Mark Nicklaus.

“It is going to be published every

Arroyo, who has been consistently opposed to rate hikes on city services throughout budget season, noted the utility fund balance had been steadily increasing yearly and asked why the installation rate increase was necessary and what the plans are for the additional revenue. The general utility reserve account at the end of fiscal year 2024 is projected at just more than $11.9 million.

“This is just capturing the expense of doing the work, so this is not creating any additional revenue,” said City Manager Marlon Brown. “Right now, we’re not capturing the actual cost, so we’re using existing utility revenue to make up for what we should be charging. This is not a profit-type situation. What we put in is what we’re getting back out. Nothing more, nothing less.”

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

City incentivizes developers to build attainable units

The Sarasota City Commission approved incentives for public parking and attainable housing, though the lack of public input remains a point of contention.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

Prior to unanimously approving on second reading the city’s new affordable housing ordinance within the four downtown zoning districts, staff addressed a handful of changes made since first reading approval in August.

That discussion among commissioners resulted in more clarity to what constitutes a building entrance, public parking and sidewalk incentives for additional density and whether community workshops should be mandatory or voluntary.

Language was clarified about an extra floor and bonus densities when public parking is provided in association with the new developments and when additional sidewalk widths and pedestrian amenity space are included.

The two topics that stimulated the most discussion among commissioners were building entrances and community workshops.

During the first reading, Commissioner Erik Arroyo surfaced the subject of the so-called “poor door,” an entrance separate from that of the building’s market rate apartments for residents of the affordable and attainable units.

During second reading, staff and City Manager Marlon Brown said the ordinance stipulates that all entrances must be indistinguishable, and if there are separate entrances, they would be dedicated for owner-occupied units and rental units, should a development include both.

Developers most likely won’t intermix for-sale and rental units on the same floors, Planning General Manager Ryan Chapdelain said, so separate — but indistinguishable and functionally equivalent — entrances will be permitted for owners and renters.

“If you’re mixing them, there are financing challenges irrespective of if they’re attainable or not,” Chapdelain said. “If you have rentals interspersed with market-rate owneroccupied units, there are financing challenges for the developer to be able to do that.”

Otherwise, the affordable units — whether for-sale or rentals — must be equally dispersed among like dwellings throughout the project, and all with the same front door.

Qualifying projects throughout all downtown zones must dedicate at least 15% of the bonus density units for attainable housing, spread equally among what is considered a monthly cost feasible — including utilities — for those earning 80% or below area median income (AMI), 81%-100% AMI and 101%-120% AMI.

The median household income for Sarasota County in 2021 was $69,490.

NO PUBLIC WORKSHOPS

In addition to a density bonus when a developer includes the requisite number of affordable, attainable or workforce priced units, the ordinance includes incentives for providing public parking spaces and sidewalk designs beyond those required in the zoning districts.

When a development provides a minimum of 25 public parking spaces on-site, the maximum building height may be increased from 10 stories to 11 in the Downtown Core.

The gross floor area of the additional story may be up to two times the gross floor area allocated to the city for public parking. The public parking must be in addition to the minimum required parking for the project. On-site public parking must be identified by signage, clearly visible from one or more streets.

Public parking may not be used for valet purposes and the available

hours must be consistent with the hours of operation for city-owned parking facilities.

A development will also be eligible for an additional story above the maximum 10 stories in the Downtown Core when providing at least five public parking spaces (three times the gross floor area of additional public parking) and a sidewalk system with a minimum 8-foot-wide pedestrian zone and 6-foot-wide amenity zone (four times the gross floor area of the enhanced sidewalk).

Because any development meeting all criteria for the density and height bonuses in exchange for including attainable housing will undergo only administrative review and approval, just like luxury residential projects in the downtown zoning districts, they will not require input from the surrounding community.

That doesn’t sit well with Commissioners Jen Ahearn-Koch and Debbie Trice, who agreed that, while project approval will not follow the political process, both the community and the developer benefit from sharing information and should be required, especially downtown, because of the quadrupling bonus density of 50 units per acre to 200 units.

Their position didn’t set well with Mayor Kyle Battie. “You don’t want to use words like ‘discriminatory,’ but when it’s not done presently, then I don’t see why we need to try and implement that now,” Battie said of a community workshop mandate. Arroyo said requiring public work-

DENSITY BONUSES

n Downtown Neighborhood Edge (DTNE): Residential dwellings may be built to a maximum density of 18 units per acre, or up to 72 units per acre in accordance with the downtown attainable housing density bonus.

n Downtown Edge (DTE): Residential dwellings may be built to a maximum density of 25 units per acre, or up to 100 units per acre on projects within and in accordance with the Rosemary Residential Overlay District (RROD). Development outside of the RROD may be built up to a maximum density of 100 dwelling units per acre in accordance with the downtown attainable housing density bonus. Building heights are limited to five stories or seven stories in the RROD when urban open space is provided, or a transfer of development rights occurs for a development project.

n Downtown Core (DTC): Residential dwellings may be built up to a maximum density of 50 units per acre or up to 200 units per acre in accordance with the downtown attainable housing density bonus. Building height is limited to 10 stories, 11 when public parking and enhanced sidewalk systems are included.

n Downtown Neighborhood (DTN): Residential dwellings may be single-family or multiple-family up to a maximum of 12 units per acre, or up to 35 units per acre in accordance with the Missing Middle Overlay District. Building height is limited to three stories.

shops would add another layer of disincentive for developments that have proven to be difficult to incentivize in the downtown zones.

“We don’t require public workshops for luxury housing. There should be no reason to require it for when they’re going to be providing some workforce housing,” Arroyo said. “The same scale of the building applies. This isn’t going to be like some mass distortion from what would be presented under a luxury

housing model.”

Ahearn-Koch insisted that her point was not the affordable housing element, but rather the matter of density that should require some measure of public input.

For now, community workshops for developments with attainable housing are voluntary per the ordinance, and both Ahearn-Koch and Trice said they supported approval regardless in deference to the need.

Courtesy rendering Osborn Sharp Architects

The first phase of Sarasota Station by One Stop Housing on Fruitville Road is planned for 201 units, at least 20% of them priced at or below the range for 80% of the area median income.

North Tamiami apartments near the DRC finish line

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

With a new name and partial signoff from the Sarasota Development Review Committee, a project combining three apartment communities into one along North Tamiami Trail is expected to go before the Planning Board, likely in November.

The project was formerly known as Sapphire North and Sapphire South. In 2022, developer Roers Cos., with offices in Tampa, acquired both planned developments and the property standing in between — currently a Super 8 motel — and combined the three lots into one and rebranded it under the working name of Roers Sarasota Tamiami Apartments.

The project address is 4309 N. Tamiami Trail. When it appeared before the DRC Sept. 6, the project had a new name, Calypso Sarasota, a 225-unit rental community on the 5.75-acre site. It will be developed under North Trail Overlay District standards with incentives of up to 35% additional density under stateoffered incentives in exchange for including gray water technologies.

As defined by Florida statute, gray water includes water from baths, showers, clothes washers and sinks not including the kitchen. It is captured, filtered and disinfected to be reused on-site for flushing toilets and irrigating nonedible portions of the landscape.

A single vehicle access into the parking and amenity area, located behind the street-facing four-story building, will be at U.S. 41 and 42nd Street and will include 284 parking spaces. The project does not include any attainable units.

With few lingering comments remaining to be addressed by the developer, pending an administrative adjustment final plans must be submitted to the DRC before being placed in the Planning Board agenda.

TOWN HOMES ON ASPINWALL

A resubmittal to the DRC, a 12-unit, development is proposed

by architecture firm Halflants + Pichette under the working name of Aspinwall Multifamily. The project site is on 0.5 acre at 2352 and 2368 Aspinwall St. at the southeast corner of Aspinwall and Seeds Avenue.

The site is located within the Downtown Edge zoning district with a future land use classification of Urban Edge. It is one block north of Fruitville Road between Lime and Shade avenues. Vehicle access is proposed from Seeds Avenue. The project does not include attainable housing. Since its original submittal, the developer has added one residential unit.

The development proposes eight two-story units along Aspinwall Street with surface parking in the rear and parallel parking along the street. The proposal includes a two-story duplex structure and two detached dwelling units adjacent to the surface parking lot.

Toward the rear of the property is a community swimming pool and spa with a lounging area for residents’ use. Elevated porches separate the interiors from the sidewalk along Aspinwall. Each of the residential units contains private garden spaces shaded by a canopy structure. The project will require another resubmittal to the DRC.

Courtesy photo Calypso Sarasota will be placed adjacent to U.S. 41 with parking and amenities to the rear.

A new path for local public transit

Despite population growth, county bus systems have seen a decline in riders.

These are trying times for transit agencies across the United States, and Sarasota County Area Transit and Manatee County Area Transit are not exceptions. As the accompanying charts show, ridership on both county bus systems was falling despite growing population even before the pandemic, fell more during the pandemic and shows little signs of recovery so far.

This is a real problem when both counties are planning on increasing transit use.

Across the nation in a postCOVID world, transit agencies are facing anemic ridership and spiraling budget deficits. Most agencies face a fiscal cliff next year once supplemental COVID funding ends. For SCAT, the drop in federal funding could be over $5 million, around 40% of annual operating costs, while for MCAT the hit will be smaller but still significant.

Yet, rather than steering their systems in a new direction, both agencies are largely hewing to a strategy of doing more of what hasn’t worked in the past. While there are some commendable experiments with new service offerings, such as the Breeze trolley and dial-a-ride services, more is needed to adjust to new realities.

Without major changes, SCAT and MCAT will either need major increases in local funding or steep service cuts. Local service cuts will harshly effect transit-dependent riders (those without access to a vehicle). Many of these riders have no other way of reaching their employer, leading to lost jobs and economic activity for both them and the local economies. But increasing county budgets for transit comes with major tradeoffs. What other services will have to be cut to free up money to sustain public transit?

Fortunately, there are five actions that SCAT and MCAT can take to increase ridership, reduce financial pain, and improve their long-run sustainability.

FIRST, is fully funding bus service for transit dependent riders. Over the past 30 years, too much focus has been on service for transit-choice riders (those with access to automobiles). This is partly due to both counties’ goals of increasing ridership — you have to attract choice riders if you want to increase the percentage of trips on transit. But very few transit agencies across the nation have found a way to increase choice rider transit

use, even with large increases in expenditures.

Instead, agencies need to focus on their core bus customers. The best way to grow ridership is to provide more reliable service that comes more frequently, ideally every 15 minutes. Houston provides a model. Led by transit consultant Jarrett Walker, ridership in Houston grew by up to 20%. The redesign also made the system more fiscally sustainable.

SECOND, transit fares are far below the cost of providing the ride. For transit dependent riders this makes sense, but for choice riders, even the full cost of a bus ride is less than the cost to drive including fuel, depreciation, tolls and parking. In many communities the cost to drive alone is about eight times as much as even a full cost transit fare. So, cost savings don’t really work to attract choice riders, so stop trying. Instead focus on providing appealing, reliable, pleasant service that riders might sometimes choose over driving. Expanding bus passes for students and similar programs focusing on transit-dependent riders will allow continued low fares for those users. Special passes for tourists could be an option as well to help increase their use of buses rather than driving and parking at local attractions.

THIRD, replace low ridership bus routes with paratransit or ondemand rideshare. Not every transit

route in Sarasota and Manatee counties has the ridership to justify a 40-foot fixed-route bus. In many cases, variable-route, on-demand transit service is a better option. Sarasota County has Breeze ondemand service, but it could be expanded further. A number of cities have experimented with partnership with ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft and found the cost of providing rides on those services for the same as a bus fare can be a bit less than running a bus service on sparse routes.

FOURTH, contract out bus service. In Europe and Asia and some U.S. cities, bus services are contracted out to national bus transit companies. The two biggest advantages of contracting are more flexible and targeted service and lower costs. Contractor service is evaluated on performance-based criteria and focuses on how happy the service makes customers. Costs are lower because economies of scale eliminate the duplication of many management functions. Contracting brings accountability. If the private entity does not abide by the contract terms, then the public agency can fine the contractor or cancel the contract. If the contractor produces exceptional service, then the public agency can reward it. When the public agency provides the service, there is no incentive to improve service because the agency is not going to punish itself.

FIFTH, make greater use of intelligent transportation systems. There are many ITS features including transit priority for signalized intersections, electronic message boards, sophisticated real-time apps and variable bus information systems. Each of these systems can improve the passenger experience at a minimal cost. For example, traffic signal prioritization has been proven to reduce delays by 20% on bus rapid transit lines. However, many systems only use TSP when they are behind schedule. TSP should be used all the time to keep buses on schedule, not wait until they are behind schedule. A change in focus based on best practices in public transit could help SCAT and MCAT be more successful at what transit is good at, which is providing mobility for people who don’t have other options. That is a much more solid foundation for the future of transit in the two counties than continuing to hope and dream that people will decide to use transit rather than drive. We’ve been trying that for decades and it hasn’t worked yet.

Baruch Feigenbaum is the Reason Foundation director of transportation policy, and Dr. Adrian Moore is the vice president of Reason Foundation. Moore lives in Sarasota.

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Restoration then renovation

Cafe L’Europe closes for repairs after damage from Hurricane Idalia.

Café L’Europe will be closed temporarily while the restaurant addresses damage sustained due to Hurricane Idalia. The restaurant plans to reopen in mid-September.

The restaurant was flooded with about a foot of water, delaying the third phase of the three-phase remodel, which was to include the building’s facade. Café L’Europe was celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

The restaurant’s owners, Amanda and John Horne, decided to postpone the final phase of its renovation until next summer because of the damage. This caused a shift in focus from renovation to restoration, according to a media release.

“The flooding did give us an opportunity to look at some of the

bones and infrastructure of that front room,” said Eleni Sokos, director of brand strategy for Oysters Rock Hospitality, which represents the Café. “We got to see how much the level of construction is required there. I wouldn’t say it was worth it. But it helps us make a more informed decision.”

During the hiatus, Café L’Europe has a construction crew working on the restoration. Sokos said the crew removed the restaurant’s new wooden flooring, which was installed during the second phase of the renovation and replaced it with tiles that will withstand any future hurricane damage.

“We’ll be back to work next week and, when we reopen, we will have a new point-of-sale system,” said Sokos. “So that’s another thing that this gave us the opportunity to do. We are looking at going to brunch seven days instead of just the weekends. And we have been working really hard on the bar menu: bar bites and cool new cocktails. And of course, our award winning wine list. There’s some new additions coming out to that as well.”

Let’s avoid a cookiecutter downtown

Redevelopment pressure within Sarasota’s Downtown Core Zoning District will negatively impact the built environment downtown. The Downtown Core Zoning District is roughly bounded on the north by Fruitville Road, on the south by Ringling Boulevard, on the east by U.S. 301 and the west by the Downtown Bayfront Zoning District.

The Bayfront Zoning District is the first few blocks from the bay.

The Downtown Core contains many buildings that do not exceed two stories in height. While many of these buildings may not be historic, they help enhance the overall character of the downtown.

In 1983, the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects and the city of Sarasota brought together a study. This study acknowledged what we all know. There are many aspects of Sarasota which make it attractive. The point of the study was to improve on a good thing. One of the action items in this study was to: “Develop main view corridors from the downtown to the Bayfront.” Another goal was to “... maintain not only the historically significant structures, but historical character of the downtown.”

Longtime City Planning Board member Bob Lindsay once said: “Most people do not comprehend what the fully built downtown will look like.”

This statement was made before the current downtown zoning districts were created, but those new districts only tweaked what were previously vested zoning rights. One of the significant changes with the “new” downtown zoning districts was the formation of the Downtown Bayfront Zoning District. This new district allowed new buildings to be constructed to 18 floors. However, the Downtown Core is limited to 10 floors. This is effectively creating a wall between the Downtown Core and the bay.

Currently, property owners can sell easements for view to adjoining property owners, but this is not enough incentive when they can sell their property to a developer who can redevelop a one- or two-story parcel into a 10-story project.

Allowing owners of low-height developed property in the Downtown Bayfront and Downtown Core Zoning Districts to sell their development rights above their existing height to a developer in the Downtown Core would increase the odds that these older properties, which provide a large amount of character to the downtown, would be preserved.

For example, if a two-story parcel in the Downtown Core sold its excess development rights, it would forever stay at that scale and allow a developer of another property in the Downtown Core to build to 10 + eight stories or a total of 18 to provide a better chance of a view corridor to the bay. Without change, the Downtown Core will become a monolithic boring streetscape of 10-story buildings devoid of character or charm.

— JIM TOALE, SARASOTA

Jim Toale is a retired real estate attorney and lifelong resident of Sarasota.

PETRA RIVERA STAFF WRITER

Courtesy photo

Cafe L’Europe is temporarily closed for repairs due to damage caused by Hurricane Idalia.

Courtesy photo

A spectacular view of Bird Key and the Sarasota skyline from a Plymouth Harbor apartment.

Teacher shortage below state average

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

Sarasota County Schools’ percentage of vacant teacher positions remains lower than average in the state of Florida.

According to Florida Press Secretary Bryan Griffin, statewide teacher vacancies are approximately 2.4% of positions.

Superintendent of Sarasota County Schools Terry Connor said on Aug. 22 that 2% of teaching positions within the district remained unfilled.

Meanwhile, Connor said there are ways the district is able to fill that remaining 2%

“We’ve been really good at being able to leverage our current staff members who may not be attached to students,” Connor said, noting that while the ideal situation is to have a single teacher assigned to each classroom, long-term substitutes and other alternatives are possible.

Nonetheless, teachers said a number of challenges affect the profession, contributing to the vacancies that do exist, even as Sarasota remains a relatively robust district.

STRETCH AND LEARN

Angela Stephanides, a geometry teacher of about 20 years who currently teaches at Riverview High School, said in the math field, there are times when teachers may need to teach outside their content area, something they may be uncomfortable with.

“You have to be willing to just jump in and learn; you can’t be scared of not knowing, and you have to be able to go ask for help when you need it,” she said.

Luckily, she feels supported by administration.

“I love Riverview, the administration’s great; they’re very supportive, and they’re very understanding. I

really just love teaching high school,” she said.

She said another factor is class sizes, which have increased over time, while at the same time, many kids are often absent or are struggling.

“Testing is just outrageous,” she said, stating teachers may feel liable for students who do not put the effort in to perform well, especially in a subject like geometry that they must pass to graduate.

The job involves long hours, including working to midnight each night, she said.

“If you want to do it right, you have to put everything into it ... and you have to genuinely care about the kids,” she said.

CLIMATE CHANGE Mary Holmes, a teacher of 35 years who teaches special education at Oak Park Elementary, said the current political climate is affecting how teachers perform their jobs in a way it did not in the past.

“Things have just really whittled away, and then there’s just been so much political influence in the past several years, it’s not a profession I recognize anymore,” she said.

She said one example was after the murder of George Floyd in 2020, she played a video on the topic for students.

“And now all of a sudden, the community is blowing up and people are calling the school board and saying that it’s inducing white guilt, and I’m like, did you watch the same thing that I did? If was so innocuous, I couldn’t believe we were talking about the same thing,” she said.

She said teachers must now censor topics they previously did not and have recently had to take down signs on topics like tolerance, patience, forgiveness and acceptance.

“All of a sudden, we had to take down all these huge signs that had really scary ideas like, tolerance, patience, forgiveness, acceptance,

because SEL — social emotional learning — was inducing white guilt.”

Holmes said she does her best to make all students feel welcome, although sexual identity now lies at the forefront of discussion around schools.

“I have pictures of my family on my desk, but a teacher who’s gay, may not,” she said. “They’re certainly not allowed to answer the question, who’s that?”

Jessica Thomason, who recently enrolled with the district as a substitute, said she is grateful for her other career as a pharmacist.

“I know that if I get fired for playing the wrong movie in class accidentally, I would still have a means of having a job,” she said.

Stephanides said these kinds of issues do not impact math significantly, although she is having to redo the process for introducing a new textbook after finding out it was not followed correctly. This means students could end up switching to the new curriculum midyear.

CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR

School Board Chair Bridget Ziegler said the main factor in teaching shortages is behavioral issues with

Ian Swaby

students rooted in mental health and other issues and said her conversations with teachers reflect this being the case.

“The fact is that the teacher shortage is national, in very progressive Democrat states and very red Republican states with all kinds of different legislation,” she said. “I don’t dismiss how challenging it is to be a teacher these days, because it seems as though society in general is asking our educators to solve all of society’s problems, and oh, by the way, teach them.”

Ziegler said data shows improving literacy should be the main priority.

“That is the tide that lifts all boats,” she said.

For Thomason, the safety net of her role as a pharmacist is also financial in nature.

“There’s probably a ton of reasons for teacher shortage, but I don’t really feel like many young people with families can accept the price of insurance for their kids,” she said.

SOLUTIONS SEARCH

Connor said there are many creative or innovative solutions for filling gaps in the district.

He said 95% of vacant classrooms

are picked up by substitutes, and in critical positions, the district tries to prioritize long-term substitutes, while the remaining positions can be filled by other staff, such as an instructional coach who is not tied to students.

Students without a full-time substitute can also join another classroom or receive video instruction overseen by a substitute, or other teachers can pitch in to help, he said.

School Board Vice Chair Karen Rose said this year, the school did not quite meet its expected enrollment, which will help with the shortages. Nonetheless, she said having substitutes fill roles can be challenging, especially with topics like math and science.

Connor said he believes teachers deserve more elevations in their pay scale.

“Teachers work more than just eight hours; they really work more than just 10 months,” he said, noting they perform a great amount of work during the summer in preparation for the next year.

Ziegler said the board has done a “tremendous job” in the area of pay, with record raises each year, while it is always evaluating its offerings to find out how it can improve benefits.

“Our health benefits are something we pride ourselves on,” she said, stating that while an “unfortunate” rate increase did take place this year, the district provides a “very robust offering of benefits.”

Board member Tim Enos also suggested raising pay.

“I know that we have to be more competitive in that arena ... I know that currently we are behind other counties in our starting pay,” he said.

Connor said it is important that Sarasota leverage local colleges and universities to ensure internship opportunities including open contracts for interns. He said he is also looking at Grow-Your-Own programs, including for paraprofessionals who want to become teachers.

“We’re not 100%, where we want to be,” Connor said. “But we’re at 98%.”

The superintendent of schools said unfilled teaching jobs are being handled as effectively as possible.

Riverview High teacher Angela Stephanides leads a geometry lesson.

Scan

Make A Plan.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 1

FAMILY BACKUP

5:46 p.m. Cocoanut Avenue near Myrtle Street Dispute: Having been nearly struck by a car, a complainant told an officer she was in the street talking to a man in his vehicle. She said she responded by striking the passing car with a grocery bag in order to get the driver’s attention. It worked. The driver of the offending car, also a female, reportedly stopped and began yelling at her. The complainant said the woman told her she “didn’t want any of this” and that she “has 10 brothers,” apparently without specifying what her brothers would do.

The complainant said the woman then drove off. The complainant was unable to provide an actionable description of the car or the driver and no further investigation ensued.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 3

A PANE IN THE GLASS

12:10 a.m., 2200 block of Dixie Avenue

Property damage: A juvenile yelled to his mother after his bedroom window was broken from the outside by an unknown assailant, prompting her to call law enforcement. The woman reported she heard her son yelling at approximately 11:55 p.m. Both confirmed they did not see anyone outside as the curtain was drawn.

The outside pane was broken but the inner pane remained intact. Officers canvassed the surrounding area, locating no witnesses or camera footage. The boy’s mother said he gets into fights at school and this incident could be related, but no names were mentioned.

MONDAY, SEPT. 4

FAKE FIGHT

7:30 p.m., 3500 block of Goodrich Avenue

It Makes a Difference.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 5

PLANTER POT PERP

5:33 p.m., 1100 block of Cocoanut Avenue

Fight: Officers were dispatched to investigate a fight in progress. Upon arrival, they met with a juvenile who stated he was “play fighting” with friends in his front yard. He further stated there were no issues with anyone and everyone had left prior to the officers’ arrival. The juvenile was advised to be more cognizant of his surroundings because of others’ belief that he was fighting.

Property damage: Police were dispatched to an apartment building to investigate a potential perpetrator of damaged porch planter pots. The complainant stated she was in an argument the day prior with her neighbor and afterward noticed one of her small planter pots was broken. The next morning, she said she woke to find some plants removed from her pots and more pots damaged. She added she suspects the neighbor because they have never gotten along.

The victim said the value of her pots was $75. There were no witnesses or any cameras that captured evidence of anyone damaging the pots.

A+E INSIDE:

HOT TICKETS: ‘Hamilton’ is one of seven Van Wezel premieres during the 2023-24 season. 17>

BLACK TIE INSIDE:

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

SEPTEMBER 14, 2023

Escape to Venice! (FL)

Less than 18 miles south of downtown Sarasota lies the nearly 100-year-old city of Venice. While it may have been pegged as a sleepy town for arts and entertainment in the past, insiders say that has changed significantly in recent years. “Venice has become its own arts and culture destination,” said Christine Kasten, executive director of the Venice Symphony. Kasten cites both the quality and quantity of Venice’s shows, events and happenings.

Among the highlights of this year’s season are Michael Feinstein’s “Hooray for Hollywood” show with the Venice Symphony, celebrating its 50th anniversary. Other anticipated upcoming performances are “Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville” and Jeff Daniels’ “Pickleball,” at the Venice Theatre.

In a season filled with glittering events, one promises to stand out: the symphony’s Jan. 5 fundraiser “Venice Nights,” which will transform the town’s community center into a replica of its Italian namesake. It’s probably safe to assume the gondolas will be on wheels, but with plenty of water nearby, who knows?

After Ian destroyed its primary performance space on Sept. 28, 2022, the nearly 75-year-old Venice Theatre deserves some major “props” for rallying and producing a full season in temporary spaces.

Those include the 130-seat Raymond Center and the 90-seat black box Pinkerton Theatre, which reopened in January. To keep the show going, the Venice Theatre had to borrow physical seats from the Manatee Performing Arts Center and Theatre Winter Haven.

The Raymond Center is hosting mainstage musicals and plays that normally would be at the 432-seat Jervey Theatre, according to Executive Director Kristofer Geddie.

“A Christmas Carol” will play in December and, in what turns out to be a tribute to the recently departed singer, “Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville” will open in January.

The Pinkerton will continue staging Venice Theatre’s more inventive programming, Geddie added, with “Pickleball” playing from Oct. 27 through Nov. 19,  a festival of three one-person plays called “SoloFest” in December and more.

The Venice Theatre is also presenting concerts at three other local venues: Venice Community Center, Pine View School Auditorium and The Venice Performing Arts Center.

Murray Chase, the former Venice Theatre executive director who is now restoration supervisor, admits that the rebuild of the Jervey Theatre is challenging on a few fronts.

Chase is grappling with the need to upgrade outdated building and electrical facilities to meet modern standards, the escalation of the cost and the availability of building materials. “We can’t (just) replace what we had,” Chase said in an interview.

In a letter to its stakeholders last week, the theater said it has been working with Sweet Sparkman Architecture and Interiors, Magnum Builders and Boone Law Firm to apply and be approved for rezoning, a height exception and the exterior redesign.

Due to increased costs, more damage being discovered and the complexity of the restoration, Venice Theatre needs to raise an additional $7 million to make a complete recovery, the letter said. The Jervey Theatre is expected to reopen in late 2024, it said.

In addition to the Jervey Theatre, VPAC is a key venue in town for performances of all kinds, including theater, music and dance.

Derek Blankenship, the new executive director of the Venice Institute for the Performing Arts, which manages and produces entertainment and educational programs at VIPA, said he is personally looking forward to seeing both Tony Danza and the Dallas Brass this season.

A professional trumpet player for more than 20 years, Blankenship waxes nostalgic when he talks about his high school experience playing with the Dallas Brass. The ensemble’s March 21 performance offers a mix of classical masterpieces, Dixieland, swing, Broadway, Hollywood and patriotic music.

Tony Danza “puts on a great show,” said Blankenship. The star of TV’s “Taxi” and “Who’s the Boss?” is backed by a four-person band. He sings, tells stories and jokes and even breaks out a little soft shoe and ukulele playing, Blankenship added. Danza comes to Venice on March 9. VPAC shows also include a bevy of tributes to stars such as Tina Turner,

Neil Diamond and Rod Stewart.

Part of Sarasota Public Schools, VPAC serves as the education and performance center for Venice High School students. It also provides space for a trio of longtime area arts companies: the Venice Symphony, the Venice Concert Band and the Venice Chorale. It hosts about 300 events a year, said Blankenship.

The Venice Concert Band, under the artistic direction of Bob Miller, has six performances scheduled at VPAC between November and April. The Venice Chorale, led by new Artistic Director Brent Douglas, will stage three concerts during that time.

VPAC is also the semi-permanent home to one of only three mobile carillons in the western hemisphere. Five performances of the 48-bell Andrew W. Crawford Memorial Carillon are scheduled between December and March.

Because of the carillon’s construction and placement, the bells are fully visible during concerts. This is quite a sight since the largest bell, called the bourdon bell, weighs one ton. All 48 bells have a combined weight of 13 tons. Together, they produce four full octaves of sound.

The Venice Symphony celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2023-24 with six concert weekends at VPAC, in what Music Director Troy Quinn predicted will be its “biggest and boldest season” ever.

Highlights include the symphony’s season opener Nov. 17-18, “A Symphony Fantastic!” with guest artist Andrew Bain, principal horn with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and “Disney’s Maestro: A Tribute to Alan Menken” Feb. 23-24, with guest

< LET’S TOAST: Children win at first Suncoast Charities Casino Night 16

CONTRIBUTOR

town’s cultural attractions are worth the 18-mile trip from Sarasota.

Nearly a year ago, Hurricane Ian destroyed the Venice Theatre main stage, the 432-seat Jervey Theatre.

Tony Danza will sing, tell stories and jokes, and even do a little soft shoe and play the ukulele when he comes to Venice on March 9.

Courtesy photos

Michael Feinstein will perform with the Venice Symphony when his “Hooray for Hollywood” show comes to the Venice Performing Arts Center on Feb. 9.

artist Key Chorale of Sarasota. In what promises to be an outstanding special event, “Hooray for Hollywood with Michael Feinstein” is at VPAC Feb. 9-10.

“The symphony has never presented a guest artist of (Feinstein’s) caliber before,” noted Kasten, the Venice Symphony president and CEO, who added that other milestone celebrations are in the works.

In April, the Venice Symphony hopes to present a free concert in a downtown Venice location featuring a chamber ensemble of its musicians.

“We are looking forward to our 50th anniversary celebration and fundraiser Venetian Nights, when the Venice Community Center will be transformed into the streets of Venice, Italy,” she added. Venetian Nights is scheduled for Jan. 5.

Venice also has attractions for visual art aficionados.

The Venice Gallery & Studio owned by Clyde and Niki Butcher, features the large, black-and-white works of renowned environmental photographer Clyde, as well as the candy-colored hand-painted photography of Niki.

Clyde Butcher, whose work has been likened to American wilder-

ness photographer Ansel Adams, is primarily known for his evocative photos of the Florida Everglades, Big Cypress Preserve, the Myakka River and other Florida landscape treasures.

The Venice Art Center has served Venice artists and art community for more than 65 years. The organization hosts a dozen exhibitions, mostly year-round, that feature local and national artists, plus hundreds of classes for the community and special events.

Want to get outdoors in Venice?

Five thousand years of Florida history is ripe for your exploration at Selby Gardens Historic Spanish Point.

The 30-acre campus is located just north of Venice on Little Sarasota Bay in Osprey. Visitors can opt for a guided walking or tram tour or wander on their own to discover archeological, botanical and history-based exhibitions that include a prehistoric shell midden and a pioneer homestead.

Long in the shadow of arts and entertainment powerhouse Sarasota, Venice is finding its own place in the A&E sun.

“We see more and different types of people coming from Sarasota, Fort Myers and elsewhere,” said Blankenship.  “Come by and see for yourself,” he added.

NEW VENICE ARTS LEADERS EARN UNEXPECTED PROMOTIONS

When Kristofer Geddie and Derek Blankenship met in July for a getto-know-you lunch, neither knew that each was about to become the head of their respective Venice organizations.

Today they are the executive directors of the Venice Theatre and the Venice Institute for the Performing Arts, respectively.

“What were the chances of that?” quipped Blankenship, who was named VIPA’s executive director almost exactly one year after he joined the nonprofit as director of education and general operations.

Blankenship succeeded Reno Manne, who died in March. A popular local longtime tennis coach, Manne served as VIPA executive director from 2021-23.

Blankenship’s new post is a multipronged position that includes managing the programming of the 1,090-seat Venice Performing Arts Center and overseeing VIPA’s arts education and programming.

Over at Venice Theatre, Geddie stepped into longtime Executive Director Murray Chase’s shoes when Chase decided that overseeing repairs and renovations after Hurricane Ian was a full-time job. Geddie, who holds a BFA in Musical Theatre and an MA in Arts Administration, was previously director of diversity at the Venice Theatre.

Before arriving in Florida, Geddie traveled the world as a company manager and principal singer for Jean Ann Ryan Productions on Norwegian Cruise Line. He directed productions such as “Once On This Island,” “Lady Day At Emerson’s Bar and Grill,” “Fences” and “Dreamgirls.”

As executive director, Geddie is managing Venice Theatre’s 2023-

24 season: Fifteen shows in total between the temporary 130-seat Raymond Center and the 90-seat black box Pinkerton Theatre, plus concerts at VPAC and other venues.

Geddie also oversees Venice Theatre’s extensive education arm. Prior to Hurricane Ian’s destruction of the main Jervey Theatre nearly a year ago, the Raymond Center was going to be renovated into a new Arts Education Center.

That renovation is on hold as the Raymond Center, which is only a third of the size of the Jervey Theatre, serves as the main stage until the Jervey is rebuilt.

As the Venice Theatre tries to recover from Ian with the help of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation and other supporters, here’s how Geddie sees his role: “Right now and for the foreseeable future the impact I need is to make sure the Venice Theatre survives.”

EMILY LEINFUSS

Courtesy photos Kristofer Geddie Derek Blankenship

VENICE, FROM PAGE 13

THIS WEEK

THURSDAY

‘CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REMIXED!’

7:30 p.m. at FST’s Goldstein Cabaret, 1239 N. Palm Ave.

$18 and up

Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

“The Jersey Tenors” and “The Surfer Boys” veteran Vaden Thurgood has created his own musical revue about Creedence Clearwater Revival founder John Fogerty. Runs through Oct. 22.

SATURDAY

‘TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY’

10 to noon at the Children’s Garden, 1670 10th Way

Adults $10; children (3-12) $6

Visit SarasotaChildrensGarden. com.

Aye, Matey, get your pirate on with stories by Pirate Pete, a visit to a pirate ship and a (temporary) tattoo parlor, and a treasure hunt.

OUR PICK

‘SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD’

The Manatee Players transports the audience for “Songs for a New World” from the deck of a Spanish sailing ship to a New York penthouse with a rousing score that weaves together pop, gospel and jazz. Runs through Sept. 24.

IF YOU GO

When: 7:30 p.m. on Thursday

Where: at Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Ave. W, Bradenton

Tickets: $27

Info: ManateePerformingArtsCenter. com

DON’T MISS

JAZZ THURSDAY AT THE SAM

Gather on the Marcy & Michael Klein Plaza to hear Sarasota Jazz Project, a 17-piece jazz ensemble that plays both original compositions and familiar tunes all arranged in a Big Band style. Sip on refreshments and nibble on small bites from the Bistro.

IF YOU GO

When: 5:30 p.m. Thursday

Where: at Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail

Tickets: $20

Info: SarasotaArtMuseum.org

JIM BREUER’S ‘TRUE BREU’

WEEKEND

6 p.m. at Art Ovation Hotel, 1255 N. Palm Ave.

$135 and up Visit JimBreuer.com.

The evening starts with a pre-show mixer featuring music, games, drinks and appetizers before Jim Breuer records his “Breuniverse”

podcast. At 7:30 p.m. Breuer performs his comedy show and Q&A.

TUESDAY

OPENING RECEPTION FOR

JADE GRIFFIN ART EXHIBITION 5:30 p.m. at Fogartyville, 525 Kumquat Court

Free Visit WSLR.org/Fogartyville.

In “The First Theatre Production,” Jade Griffin explores themes of identity, politics and Black culture in her surreal, narrative-driven oil paintings. Exhibit runs through Oct. 15.

Intimate musical experiences.

Season 28 | Stars Ascending

NEXUS Chamber Music

October 1 • 4:00 pm • First Presbyterian Church

Back by popular demand!

This Chicago-based chamber music collective creates engaging classical music experiences for a broad audience. Co-founder Alexander Hersh is joined by Marlboro Music Festival alums Stephanie Zyzak and Evren Ozel in a program of piano trios by Haydn, Brahms, and Ravel.

Ilya Yakushev, piano

October 10 • 7:30 pm

Historic Asolo Theater

Winner of the 2005 World Piano Competition, Yakushev will be joined by a string quartet, including Daniel Jordan, concertmaster of Sarasota Orchestra, for Shostakovich’s Piano Quintet and Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition.”

Joseph Parrish, bass-baritone

October 18 • 5:30 pm performance followed by dinner

Plantation Golf & Country Club

Winner of the 2022 Young Concert Artists Susan Wadsworth International Auditions, Parrish will sing traditional spirituals, opera arias, and music from the Broadway stage, accompanied by Joseph Holt on piano.

Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota offers a diverse range of 26 concerts featuring emerging and accomplished classical, chamber, jazz, and pop artists from around the globe.

Full concert schedule/tickets: ArtistSeriesConcerts.org

Children win at first Casino Night

Saturday, Aug. 26, at Sarasota Event Center | Benefiting Suncoast Charities

Suncoast Charities for Children held a Casino Night fundraiser

Aug. 26 as part of its Suncoast Summer Fest series. The event capped off the series, which featured several events, including a golf tournament, a fun run and a fishing tournament. The Sarasota Event Center was filled with patrons who gathered to try their luck in the name of a good cause. The Casino Night event raised $20,000, which will benefit a new children’s therapy fund in honor of Ron Foxworthy, a former Suncoast Charities board member.

Because of rising health care costs, many families lack the insurance coverage required for certain therapies. This scholarship fund will help children with special needs receive the care they require, such as speech, physical,

occupational, feeding and aquatic therapy. The James M. Doss Charitable Foundation provided seed money for the scholarship.

The funds raised during Summer Fest are particularly important because they come during a time of year when donations typically slow. Suncoast Charities supports six local nonprofits throughout the Sarasota, Manatee, Desoto and Charlotte County areas. Last year, the Suncoast Summer Fest raised $154,000.

OBSERVER STAFF

Chairs (center) Stephanie and Paul Kotlarczyk with Courtney Poppell and Brittany Ingles.

Photos by Nancy Guth Josh Boothby and Leigh Thornton

Hot tickets at the Van Wezel

MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER

A+E EDITOR

Hot tickets — how do you get your hands on them?

That’s the burning question for Mary Bensel, executive director of the city-owned Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, the purple pride of Sarasota.

In a season where demand for “Hamilton” is off the charts, everyone wants to know how to get a seat for the no-holds-barred show about the nation’s first Treasury Secretary and his wanton ways.

Sure, it’s been awhile since LinManuel Miranda’s boundary-breaking musical swept the Tony Awards in 2016. Since then, the touring show of “Hamilton” has been to Tampa’s Straz Center three times.

It’s coming to the Van Wezel from March 26 to April 7 and everyone in town wants a ticket now.

Here’s the deal. The best way to get a seat for “Hamilton” is to become a Van Wezel subscriber and get a ticket as part of a package of shows. The date for single-ticket sales has not been announced, but Van Wezel subscribers will get the first shot.

Can’t afford to become a subscriber? Become an e-club member at no cost — yes, you read that right — and get a jump on the masses. The day after tickets go on sale to subscribers, they will be opened up for e-club members, Bensel said.

Last but not least, members of the general public will get their turn on day three.

Whatever you do, Bensel says, don’t go to the top of the Google listings and buy from a ticket reseller unless you want to pay a hefty markup and maybe even get left out in the cold. “Some resellers advertise tickets that they haven’t even got yet,” she says.

Some trigger-happy ticket buyers make the mistake of clicking on the first offer in Google listings instead of scrolling down the list to buy on the Van Wezel website.

“I once saw a lady crying at the box office when she found out the ticket that she had bought online for $300 (from a reseller) was selling for $40 at the box office,” says Bensel. “I’m not kidding.”

There are rules regarding the resale of tickets by government entities such as the Van Wezel and nonprofits like The Straz, but suffice to say they are not strictly enforced.

Some people might not know artists have the ability to dictate who can buy tickets first, Bensel says. Case in point: When single tickets for 2023-24 Van Wezel events went on sale Sept. 1, one of the Oct. 22 shows for America’s reigning King of Comedy, Sebastian Maniscalco, was already sold out.

How could that be? According to Bensel, members of Maniscalco fan clubs got first dibs. Those were the terms dictated by the white-hot comedian, who hit the silver screen (and a window) earlier this year in “About My Father,” also starring Robert DeNiro.

“There was a pre-sale for fan club

members for one show, and our subscribers got to buy tickets for the other,” Bensel explains.

Unlike some people, Bensel doesn’t have a problem with that.

“Sebastian’s fans made him who he is today. It’s great that he looks after them,” she says.

With “Hamilton” in the Van Wezel lineup, Bensel says this promises to be the biggest and best season for the purple performing arts venue since “The Lion King” played in 2019.

The more than 37,000 theatergoers who attended “The Lion King” from March 14-31 that year spent a collective $3.5 million at the box office, according to the Van Wezel, which makes such financial information public because it is a government entity.

If 2019 rings a bell, that might be because it was the high water mark for the arts and entertainment world.

A year after “The Lion King” came to Sarasota, the pandemic shut down theaters and other performance venues across the country. Many haven’t returned to their 2019 attendance levels and have been forced to curtail their seasons, lay off staff and even close their doors.

With “Hamilton” in the mix, Bensel said the 2023-24 season is shaping up as a record-breaker for the Van Wezel.

It’s going to get some help from other high-profile shows, including “Hadestown,” a modern musical retelling of the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. It comes to the Van Wezel from Jan. 30 through Feb. 4.

Personally, Bensel is fired up about “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” a musical about Motown superstars

The Temptations (Feb. 21-25); “The Cher Show,” a tribute to the enduring singer who is one of rock’s original divas (Jan. 10-12); and “Phantom of the Opera” star Sarah Brightman’s Christmas concert (Dec. 14).

She confides that William Shatner,

IF YOU GO

For more info about “Hamilton” and other Van Wezel shows, visit VanWezel.org. Don’t forget to join the free e-club to be next in line to buy single tickets after subscribers.

the original Captain Kirk in “Star Trek,” is also on her personal mustsee list. He’s at the Van Wezel Nov.

11. “Some people don’t know it, but I’m a Trekkie,” Bensel says.

Other shows sure to bring out faithful fans include doo-wop royalty Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, coming to the Van Wezel on Nov. 18, and the Allman Betts Family Revival on Dec. 12. The revival features an array of guests performing two sets — one for the songs of Greg Allman and the other for the songs of Dickie Betts.

Even though tips about how to get hot tickets dominate the conversation, anyone talking to Bensel would be remiss if they didn’t ask: Does Sarasota really need a replacement for the Van Wezel?

As plans are drawn up for a new Sarasota Performing Arts Center, the beloved purple venue has been named one of “11 to Save” by the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation.

There’s no question Sarasota is ready for a world-class performance venue and the Van Wezel isn’t it, Bensel says without hesitation.

She is not exactly an impartial observer. Bensel was a member of the four-person task force that selected Renzo Piano Building Workshop to design a replacement for the aging Van Wezel, which was built in the 1960s.

It’s not just the size of the Van Wezel, which has 1,741 seats, that is a problem, Bensel says. It’s the tech-

nology, which hasn’t kept up to date with the needs of touring Broadway shows.

When “The Lion King” came to the Van Wezel, Bensel says the head carpenter for the show told her, “I’ve had every problem before that I’ve had here but never all at the same time.”

The city has agreed to split the $300 million cost to build a new 2,250-seat venue with the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation. Filling those extra seats won’t be an issue, Bensel says. “Just look at the growth in the number of people moving to Sarasota and visiting,” she says.

A top-notch venue “changes the level of talent you get. It will open the door to bigger acts,” Bensel adds. In other words, “If you build it, they will come.”

Demand for ‘Hamilton’ is expected to surpass 2019’s ‘The Lion King.’

“Hamilton” is one of seven Van Wezel premieres during the 2023-24 season.

Courtesy photos

The Allman Betts Family Revival, featuring the songs of Greg Allman and Dickie Betts, comes to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on Dec. 12.

Mary Bensel is the executive director of Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and served on a task force that selected Renzo Piano Building Workshop as architect for Sarasota’s new arts venue.

A WHOLE NEW WORLD

With eFoil boards,

The waters of Sarasota Bay are glassy as the flying surfboard lesson begins, but the journey feels surprisingly like a thrill ride — no waves required.

As the motor kicks in, the front of the board rises above the surface, and the rider shifts his weight forward to balance. The motor may be small, but its effect on the board is powerful.

As the rider rises to his knees, then feet, the froth at the edges of the board falls away as it lifts above the surface on its fin, its submerged wings gliding beneath the water.

It’s a sight that has evoked comparisons to the hoverboards in “Back to the Future” and earned the boards the name of “flying surfboards.”

Known as eFoils, these electric foil boards have been growing in popularity following their introduction in 2017 by Lift Foils.

Among the local businesses that have embraced the technology is Sarasota eFoil, operated by Dustin Johnson and Seth Hajek.

“The closest thing I can compare it to is a magic carpet ride,” Johnson said. “It’s like, impossible, but these make it possible pretty much.”

LEARNING TO FLY

When Johnson and Hajek opened the business two-and-a-half years ago, the eFoil was still in search of a niche, but the board’s reputation, and the public demand, is growing, they said.

“The only drawback to going in early is, it’s still so new, so people don’t know to look for it yet, but once you get over that hump — we’re already established, we’re here, we know the terrain, we know the areas, we know the perfect places to go,” Hajek said.

Both men discovered eFoils while they were spending time in Puerto Rico, the base of the Lift Foils company, of which they are now an affiliate.

When they tried out the boards however, they realized learning to use them wasn’t easy, finding the experience “intimidating.”

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Sarasota eFoil

5221 Ocean Blvd. Unit 4. Features Lift eFoils for lessons, rentals and sales as well as SeaBob rentals and sales. Call 941-799-5722 or email Info@ SarasotaEFoil.com.

eFoil Sarasota Features Lift eFoils for lessons, rentals and sales. Call 689-244-6555 or email Rich@EFoilSarasota.com

“It was like, here’s the board, you figure it out yourselves,” Johnson said. “We’ve learned what to do and what not to do, and we can translate that over to all our clients and our customers, to make it just as easy and as smooth as possible.”

Their lessons, usually 90 minutes long, are held in varying locations around Sarasota, depending on weather and water conditions, and begin with the basics — how to get on the board, how to control it and how to position yourself effectively.

Hajek said customers with no watersports experience have mastered the board in as little as 10 minutes. Of course, the learning process isn’t as easy as the press of the “start” button on the remote control.

If you’re not a surfer, you’ll need to acquire your balance, and even with the speed set to a lower level as you begin, the movement feels fast, for being on water.

If you’re inexperienced in surfing — as this writer was — you might find yourself falling more than once; but that’s not a big deal. Johnson or Hajek will be there on an eFoil of their own to help fetch your board, and they’ll

have plenty of advice to offer you via waterproof radio helmet.

Once you begin to acquire the art of the eFoil, a sense of freedom and exhilaration sets in, and the lesson can then move on to the true objective: free-range exploration.

Meanwhile, the user can rest assured that watchful eyes are fixed on the board’s technological components; its computer hooks to a data cable, which is able to transmit information on any issues — e.g. overheating circuits — to the owner’s cellphone and also to Lift Foils.

Hajek said the eFoil is easier to master than a traditional surfboard.

One reason it’s easier, he said, is that it is propelled with a motor, rather than a wave, which means the user has a long straightaway in the water where they are in control of the speed.

At the same time, he said, it allows users to pick up some of the skills of surfing.

“You build a core balance with these, which definitely is needed for surfing for sure,” Johnson said.

That doesn’t mean that it works just as well in reverse, however — surfers will need to abandon some of the techniques they regularly practice.

Although the price tag of an eFoil is out of range for many — purchasing your own board costs at least several thousand dollars — the boards are easy to maintain, Johnson and Hajek said.

When finished, the user pops the battery out, places it in a case and rinses the saltwater off the board, including its waterproof internal components.

The user occasionally must apply corrosion inhibitor, or perform firmware updates via smartphone.

For people of many different ages, it’s the future of watersports, say the two instructors.

“More people are starting to have these and bring them out for just an extra activity, something different, something that just feels fake because once you’re flying, it does feel fake,” Johnson said. “It doesn’t feel real. It’s pure fun.”

ANOTHER WAY TO EXPLORE

Sarasota eFoil was among the companies in the area that didn’t stop at just eFoils.

Johnson and Hajek noticed that many customers had a dilemma — they wanted to rent an eFoil, but their spouse or partner wasn’t interested and was in search of a more relaxing

water activity.

“We were like, no, we don’t have anything else, and then we’re like, you know what, this would be a perfect thing for people who wanted to have something more leisurely they could do, that there’s not really a learning curve involved in; it’s just kind of fun,” Hajek said.

The Seabob, or “high performance underwater scooter,” looks something like a mini Jet Ski, although it doesn’t seat the user; they just grab the handlebars, and go.

However, don’t let it’s small size fool you. The Seabob packs a power that feels similar to that of the eFoil.

The shop offers rentals of Seabobs, but partners with ZEUS (Zoom Electric Ultimate Sports), which fulfills the sales side of the equation.

“More people are starting to have these and bring them out for just an extra activity, something different, something that just feels fake because once you’re flying, it does feel fake.”

— Dustin Johnson, Sarasota eFoil

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

‘magic carpet rides’ are real life in Sarasota.

Photos by Ian Swaby Seth Hajek and Dustin Johnson of Sarasota eFoil

Dustin Johnson riding an eFoil board. Johnson and Seth Hajek started their business two-and-a-half years ago.

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PENINSULAGOLDEN GATE POINT

Construction is underway on Golden Gate Point as the Gault Family Companies has officially broken ground on Peninsula Sarasota, a 23-unit luxury condominium development at 223 and 283 Golden Gate Point. Units in the two mid-rise towers are priced from $2.6 million. The three-bedroom floor plans, and three-bedroom with den floor plans range from 2,400 to more than 3,000 square feet.

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Sarasota community remembers the fallen

USF Sarasota-Manatee hosted its annual 9/11 memorial event at Sarasota National Cemetery.

Members of Sarasota’s community and beyond came together at Sarasota National Cemetery the morning of Sept. 11 to remember the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, in an event hosted by the University of South Florida’s Sarasota-Manatee campus.

Although it was not the first year the ceremony was held, it was the first time it was hosted at the cemetery’s Patriot Plaza amphitheater rather than the USF Sarasota-Manatee Campus.

This was due to the construction of new dorms at the school, said Carlos Moreira, director of campus engagement for veteran success and alumni affairs on the campus.

“Because of the significance of the event, we felt it was more appropriate to come here than to any other location,” he said of the cemetery, which is devoted to veterans.

The ceremony hosted speakers, including retired New York firefighter Matt Bruce, who was assigned to the New York City Fire Department on 9/11.

It also featured members of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and Sarasota Police Department, and musical performances by individuals including students of St. Stephen’s Episcopal School in Bradenton and “America’s Got Talent” semi-finalist Daniella Mass, who sang the national anthem.

Bruce recounted his experience being trapped beneath the collapsed World Trade Center for 13 hours, resulting in an injury to his leg.

He said there are still many first responders who are uncounted for financial assistance as they were not listed on the duty sheet that day.

“I can tell you that this year alone, 331 first responders have died since the first of the year with lung and heart diseases,” he said.

Dava Guerin, a tour guide at Sarasota National Cemetery, praised the choice of the venue.

Her late husband, Terry Bivens, was scheduled to be interviewed by CNBC at the World Trade Center on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, due to his role as senior packaged food analyst at Bear Stearns, but the interview was canceled, and when the attacks came, he was able to evacuate the city.

After the former coastguardsman died four years ago, he was buried in the cemetery.

“It’s extremely meaningful to me — this day and every day that I’m here,” she said, calling the cemetery “hallowed ground.”

She said the event was also teaching civics to younger children, referring to the student choir from Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School.

“These amazing little kids — look what they’ve learned already, and they’re going to remember that their whole lives.”

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

The event was preceded on Sept. 9 by the planting of 2,977 American flags, one for each person who died on 9/11, in the Sarasota-Manatee campus courtyard.

Photos by Ian Swaby

Matt Bruce, a retired fire training captain assigned to the New York City Fire Department during 9/11, speaks at the event.

Students from Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School in Bradenton sing “God Bless America.”

Members of the Sarasota Police Department and others line up for the wreath placement ceremony.

Sarah Bjelke, Kelly Bjelke, who was presented with a flag in honor of David Bjelke, and Ryan Bjelke, of Plant City.

Big-screen conservation

PETRA RIVERA STAFF WRITER

Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium livened up research on Sept. 9 with a cinematic presentation of five films made by award-winning filmmakers.

“Maybe people don’t want to read a research report, but they definitely want to come in and watch a movie,” said Andria Piekarz, chief development officer at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium.

That’s why Mote hosted the 2023 International Ocean Film Festival in its WAVE center.

At the Mote International Film Festival, Pop’s Sunset Grill Food Truck provided a variety of food and drink options for people to enjoy during films. The films spanned a variety of different marine topics. Piekarz said the goal was to keep everyone from children to adults engaged while learning new things.

The festival combined a mix of short films and longer pieces.

The first film “Horseshoe Crabs: How 350-Million-Year-Old Sea

Creatures are Vital to Human Survival” by Andrea Kramer, was an animated film bringing awareness to the role horseshoe crabs play in testing the safety of vaccines.

“Blue Carbon” by Paul Nicklen was a three-minute film exploring the relationship among oceans, air and land and how they are critical for a healthy ecosystem.

“Bottle Cap,” by Marie Hyon & Marco Spier, at five minutes long, told the story of Shelton, a fiddler crab, who finds what he thinks might be a useful implement.

The two longer films were “Plant-

ing Coral Forests” and “Impossible Wave.” “Planting Coral Forests” by Johann Vorster focuses on the coral reefs along Kenya’s coastline.

“Impossible Wave” by Jessica Frankovelgia and Jay Johnson is the story of bringing surfing to the Olympics. It won the 2023 Female Filmmaker of the Year award in the international Asian Film Festival.

The event concluded with a piece on Mote’s senior shark researcher, Dr. Demian Chapman.

“A film festival, in our objective, is to tell a bunch of different stories and get people connected to the importance of our oceans,” said Piekarz.

“So we try to weave in stories of what Mote’s doing.”

Piekarz started working at Mote as director of development in 2019.

Before she came to Mote, she served as director of philanthropy for the Conservation Foundation of the

Gulf Coast. She brought her passion for philanthropy to Mote in leading growth in its fundraising efforts across more than 20 marine science programs.

Mote has a full slate of events as the season approaches. On Sept. 21, from 4-5:30 p.m., it’s hosting Women of Mote, a panel featuring women scientists who have had an impact on Mote.

On Oct. 14, from 7-10 p.m., the craft beer festival, Sharktoberfest, will take place after hours in the aquarium. Guests will be able to enjoy live entertainment, receive gift bags and sample different brews for $55. There are also multiple opportunities coming up to attend Mote’s marine science 101 course.

Registration for these events is available on Mote.org/Events/.

Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium hosted an ocean film festival to share marine research with the public.

Photos by Petra Rivera

The Mote International Film Festival was held on Sept. 9.

At the Mote International Film Festival, Pop’s Sunset Grill Food Truck provided a variety of food and drink options for people to enjoy during films.

Andria Piekarz hosted the 2023 Mote International Film Festival on Sept. 9.

A note of creativity

After Emily Kaufman finished the craft session, which she had been enjoying with her family on Sept. 10, she had something she’d wanted for years.

She now had a shofar, a ram’s horn trumpet and traditional Jewish musical instrument used to signify victory and celebration.

“I am very excited to have a personal shofar for our new year,” she said. “I have been wanting one since high school, 35 years ago.”

The Community Shofar Factory saw families come together to make their own shofars. The event was presented through a partnership between Hershorin Schiff Community Day School, Chabad of Downtown SRQ and Chabad Lubavitch of Sarasota & Manatee Counties.

The instrument is sounded on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, held from Sept. 15-17 this year, and on Yom Kippur, held from Sept. 24-25 this year.

“This is an opportunity just for our Jewish families to celebrate the new year and for non-Jewish families to become familiar with and experience the traditional Judaism in a hands-on sort of way,” said Hershorin Schiff, head of School Dan Ceaser.

The event began with a short presentation on types of shofars, different types of horns and what types of horns are kosher, before moving on to the workshop where participants created

their own using ram’s horns shipped from the east coast of Florida.

Also on offer were apples and honey, a traditional dish of Rosh Hashanah.

Sam Valentin, who attended with her 4-year-old son Beau Peterson and his grandmother Debbie Valentin,

TRAIL BLAZERS

said although the family is not Jewish, they enjoy learning about different cultures.

“We learned a lot about how (shofars) are made, along with different animals — what can be used to make the horn — and the different criteria,” she said.

There was no shortage of gold shirts, signs, flags and messages of hope, to be found during Blaze of Hope’s Walk for Childhood Cancer on Sept. 9. There were even more than last year, said the group’s president Shawn Platt.

While last year’s walk drew about 100 participants, the turnout this year was around 150, despite less advertising for the event, he said.

“Seeing that everybody is getting used to us and seeing us all the time just brings more awareness to our cause, and it’s awesome,” Platt said.

The nonprofit provides financial assistance to families of hospitalized children with life-threatening medical conditions. CEO Lisa Moore founded the organization in honor of her son Blaze. Born

in 1999, Blaze died after he was diagnosed with liver cancer at 7 months old.

Beginning at the Hart’s Landing bait and tackle shop near the base of the John Ringling Causeway, the walk proceeded across the causeway and back, with walkers wearing gold shirts emblazoned with the group’s logo and carrying signs and flags, drawing notice from drivers on the bridge.

Many of the walkers present were small children.

“Nothing better than seeing smiles on the kids’ faces, as they all should be,” said Bettye Restle, a partner of Blaze of Hope.

Members of Suncoast Community Church also were present.

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Seven-year-old Pyper Hutchinson and 4-year-old Griffin Hutchinson run along the bridge with 4-year-old Rory Hutchinson and Heather Hutchinson in back.

— IAN SWABY

Photos by Ian Swaby Reid Buchanan and Dana Buchanan, 3, polish a shofar.

Analise Gallant, 6; Yonatan Rachmin, 7; Isaiah Gallant, 2; Maya Moronta, 9; Jacob Shefrin, 7; Mia Sinanian, 7; and Ari Sinanian, 10

wanted to support (Blaze of Hope),” said church member Heather Hutchinson.

Among Blaze of Hope’s achievements is the annual September lighting of the John Ringling Causeway, in gold, for cancer awareness month. After Moore and Platt met with then-mayor Erik Arroyo more than a year ago, the idea was proposed to and approved by the city commission.

The nonprofit will now partner annually with Hart’s Landing for the event.

The charity’s impact hasn’t been limited to the community of Sarasota. Platt said the group has also achieved bridge lightings in 70 other

locations, with some as far away as Australia.

“It’s really spread. Spread like fire,” Platt said.

— IAN SWABY

Tristan Sauveur, Brady Bench, Joshua Small, and cancer fighter Landon Chandler, are all 14 years old.

The group moves onto John Ringling Causeway with Dawn Grooms and President Shawn Platt in front.

Summer Worship

Sundays at 10:00am

Sunday Coffee Hour at 9:00am

All Are Welcome!

The calming quiet of the water. The refreshing warmth of the Florida sun. This is your slice of paradise. Picture yourself here, ideally situated on Sarasota Bay at Plymouth Harbor.

With so much to explore and experience so close to Downtown Sarasota, St. Armands Circle and beyond, you’re never far from a new adventure.

Imagine a home where there is less reason to hurry or worry and more occasions to breathe, laugh, and drink it all in.

Learn more about Plymouth Harbor on Sarasota Bay by calling (941) 200-0254 or visiting plymouthharbor.org.

40 North Adams Drive, Sarasota, FL • 941.388.1234

Three-property deal in Whitakers tops sales at $6M

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

Athree-property sale in Whitakers tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. John Wolf, Plenary Guardian, and Frank Folsom Smith, of Sarasota, sold three properties at 900 and 910 Alameda Lane to Michael Peterman, of Sarasota, for $6,025,000. The first property at 900 Alameda Lane was built in 1970 and has three bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,209 square feet of living area. The second property at 900 Alameda was built in 1973 and has two bedrooms, two baths and 912 square feet of living area. The property at 910 Alameda was built in 1991 and has one bedroom, one bath and 678 square feet of living area.

SARASOTA SHORELAND WOODS

Gregory and Linda Marks, of Flat Rock, North Carolina, sold their home at 1642 Shoreland Drive to Penelope Kingman, trustee, of Sarasota, for $1.8 million. Built in 1963, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,159 square feet of living area. It sold for $625,000 in 2011.

SARASOTA BAY CLUB

Sarasota Bay Club LLC sold the Unit 1110 condominium at 1301 Tamiami Trail to Audrey Heimler, of Sarasota, for $1.65 million. Built in 2000, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,186 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,174,000 in 2018.

Sarasota Bay Club LLC sold the Unit 308 condominium at 1301 Tamiami Trail to Harry and Gayle Yaverbaum, of Sarasota, for $900,000. Built in 2000, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,546 square feet of living area. It sold for $429,200 in 2014.

LEWIS COMBS

Valerie and Brian Jones, of Sarasota, sold their home at 1640 Waldemere St. to Wojtek Pajor and Ashley Russo, of Sarasota, for $1.2 million. Built in 1950, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,826 square feet of living area. It sold for $645,000 in 2017.

RINGLING BOULEVARD

R. Kenneth Clark, Dayna Hollins and Daniel Hollins Gritzer, trustees, sold the home at 2535 Main St. to Todd and Emily Sue, of Woodland Hills, California, for $915,000. Built in 1947, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,402 square feet of living area. It sold for $250,000 in 2009.

BAYVIEW HOMES

Judith Drachman, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the Unit 304 condominium at 5400 Eagles Point Circle to Beverly Anne Dickinson, of Denver,

Other top sales by area

SIESTA KEY: $4.25 MILLION

Bay Island

William and Michelle Tingle sold their home at 3726 Flamingo Ave. to Natalie Marie Keep, of Frisco, Texas, for $4.35 million. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,000 square feet of living area.

PALMER RANCH: $1,275,000

for $780,000. Built in 1990, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,904 square feet of living area. It sold for $359,500 in 2015.

ESPLANADE BY SIESTA KEY

Philip and Gail Janus, of Acton, Massachusetts, sold their home at 8231 Varenna Drive to Tiffany Loel Williams Jr. and Karen Elaine Williams, of Broadview Heights, Ohio, for $762,000. Built in 2014, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,886 square feet of living area. It sold for $472,000 in 2018.

INDIAN BEACH

Rick and Peg Hughes, of Easton, Maryland, sold their home at 4104 Turks Cap Place to Deborah Zara Kobylt, trustee, of Los Angeles, for $699,000. Built in 1948, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,680 square feet of living area. It sold for $118,000 in 2011.

BROADWAY PROMENADE

Robenalt Investments LLC sold the Unit 1617 condominium at 1064 N. Tamiami Trail to Killian and Ann Hunt, of Sarasota, for $640,000. Built in 2007, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,447 square feet of living area. It sold for $628,400 in 2007.

BAY’S BLUFF Sujatha Prabhakaran and Grant Edward Boxleitner, of Munster, Illinois, sold their Unit 103 condominium at 1100 Imperial Drive to George Sahm and Jeanine Frumenti, of Sarasota, for $629,000. Built in 1971, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,160 square feet of living area. It sold for $265,000 in 2011.

FOREST LAKES COUNTRY CLUB ESTATES

Brian Miller sold his home at 3341 Pine Valley Drive to Jennifer DeStefano, of Sarasota, for $595,000. Built in 1967, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,773 square feet of living area. It sold for $148,500 in 1998.

WOODPINE LAKE

Teddy Harrison, of Denver, sold her home at 3029 Woodpine Lane to Tamara Crawford, of Sarasota, for $543,000. Built in 1979, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,072 square feet of living area. It sold for $345,000 in 2021.

FOREST OAKS Chris Kennedy, of Sarasota, sold

TOP BUILDING PERMITS

GREENBRIAR HOMES

Wood Street Villa LLC sold the home at 2832 Wood St. to Gerald and Lorene Nolt, of Peach Bottom, Pennsylvania, for $524,900. Built in 1957, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,276 square feet of living area. It sold for $417,300 in 2022.

ONLINE

See more transactions at YourObserver.com

Prestancia Sheila Ruth Pottorff, of Sarasota, sold her home at 3691 Boca Pointe Drive to Gregg Kaplan, of Sarasota, for $1,275,000. Built in 1992, it has four bedrooms, four-anda-half baths, a pool and 3,606 square feet of living area. It sold for $920,000 in 2018.

OSPREY: $2,675,000

Oaks Jon Roger Lumsden, of Gay, Georgia, sold two properties at 324 Osprey Point Drive to Bruce Morgan and Cynthia Graves, of Osprey, for $2,675,000. The first property was built in 1998 and has five bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 4,433 square feet of living area. The second property was built in 2001 and has one bath and 1,325 square feet of living area. They sold for $1,625,000 in 2018.

NOKOMIS: $1.1 MILLION

Mission Valley Estates

Elizabeth Krueger, of Melbourne, sold her home at 850 Pinto Circle to Ted and Cindy Eaton, of Nokomis, for $1.1 million. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,441 square feet of living area.

the home at 5310 Matthew Court to Arian Cabrera Alvarez and Melba Felipe Espinosa, of Sarasota, for $525,000. Built in 1995, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,630 square feet of living area. It sold for $175,000 in 2009.

Courtesy of Martha Thorn of The Thorn Collection, Coldwell Banker Realty

A three-property sale in Whitakers tops all transactions in this week’s real estate.

The first property at 900 Alameda Lane was built in 1970 and has three bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,209 square feet of living area.

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SUNDAY, SEPT. 17

SUNDAYS AT THE BAY FEATURING

BRI RIVERA & BAND

6-7 p.m. at Sarasota Garden Club, 1130 Boulevard of the Arts. Enjoy a free performance by Bri Rivera & Band in this free, weekly music and performance program. Bri Rivera was raised in Cidra, Puerto Rico, and began playing the country’s national instrument, the cuatro, at age 12. For information, visit TheBaySarasota.org.

conservation projects.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 17

WEDDING SHOW

Noon to 4 p.m. at Robarts Arena, 3000 Ringling Blvd. $10 online; $15 at door; children under 16 enter free. Hosted by The Bridal Exchange, this wedding show features top vendors from the area, giveaways, food and cake samples and more. For information, visit SarasotaFair.com.

MORNING PADDLE —

KAYAKING WITH MOTE

8:30-10 a.m. at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway. Members, $40.50; nonmembers, $45. This guided kayak tour of Sarasota Bay, held each month, will lead you across shallow seagrass beds, revealing the area’s wildlife. Look for animals including dolphins, manatees and birds. For information, visit Mote.org

MONDAY, SEPT. 18

MUSIC BINGO

SATURDAY, SEPT. 16

INTERNATIONAL TALK-LIKE-

A-PIRATE DAY AT SARASOTA

CHILDREN’S GARDEN

10 a.m. to noon at Sarasota Children’s Garden, 1670 10th Way. Garden admission for ages 13 and up, $10; ages 3 and up, $6; infants and toddlers 2 and younger free. Children will enjoy a storytelling of Pirate Pete, a visit to a pirate tattoo parlor, fun folklore, pirate ship coloring sheets and a treasure hunt. For information, visit SarasotaChildrensGarden.com.

YOUTH OCEAN CONSERVATION

SUMMIT

9:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway. $25. Registration includes activities, lunch and a T-shirt. Visit Yocs.org. This event will bring together young ocean conservationists in middle school and high school at Mote Marine Laboratory and globally through an online experience. Participants can choose from three tracks to learn about resources and funding to launch ocean

7-9 p.m. at The Green at University Town Center, 125 N. Cattlemen Road. Free. UTC hosts this twist on classic bingo every third Monday of the month. Become the first to yell “bingo” by guessing the songs’ artists or titles, and win a prize. For information, visit UTCSarasota.com.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 21

CINEMA AT THE BAY: ‘INCEPTION’

7:30-9:30 p.m. at 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Enjoy a screening of “Inception” (PG-13) under the stars. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio as a professional thief who steals information by infiltrating the dreams of his targets. Enjoy food from Currywurst Truck SRQ, and bring your own blankets and chairs. For information, visit TheBaySarasota.org.

UTC NIGHT MARKET

6:30-9:30 p.m. at The Green at University Town Center, 125 N. Cattlemen Road. Free. In honor of football season, visit the “UTC Night Market — Tailgate Edition” and browse goods, art jewelry and more with special entertainment and drinks from Bar George and live music by Crossfire Creek Band. For information, visit UTCSarasota.com.

Courtesy photo

SEPTEMBER

SPORTS

Fast Break

Sarasota Sharks swimmer Addison Sauickie took home gold medals in the women’s 200 freestyle (1:58.09) and in the women’s 4x200 freestyle relay (7:52.48) at the 2023 World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships held Sept. 4-9 in Netanya, Israel, while representing Team USA. Sauickie also earned a silver medal in the women’s 4x100 relay (3:37.71) and a bronze medal in the women’s 400 freestyle (4:08.94).

Staying at the Junior Swimming Championships, Sarasota Sharks swimmer Sienna Angove took a home a silver medal in the women’s 4x100 medley relay (4:01.96) while representing Team Canada. Angove and her teammates also took home a bronze medal in the women’s 4x100 freestyle relay (3:40.40) and the women’s 4x200 freestyle relay (7:53.09).

… Sarasota Sharks Masters Swimming coach Rick Walker was named the U.S. Masters Swimming Coach of the Year on Sept. 11. In a release, USMS said the award goes to someone who “exemplifies the highest standards in Masters coaching, including growth and development of Masters swimming with an all-inclusive approach, one that welcomes swimmers of all levels and abilities.”

The Cardinal Mooney High boys and girls golf teams both won their divisions of the 2023 Mooney Match Play Championship, held Sept. 9 at The Founders Golf Club. The girls won in a playoff over Venice High, while the boys won 3-2 over Circle Christian Academy. The tournament awards were presented by 1993 PGA Championship winner Paul Azinger.

Former Riverview High football wide receiver Jaron Glover, a redshirt freshman at Michigan State University, had two catches for 60 yards in the Spartans’ 45-14 win over the University of Richmond on Sept. 9.

Addison Dempsey began her state title journey on Dubai’s waterfront.

RYAN KOHN SPORTS EDITOR

Some people learn to run long distances on a track. Others learn on forest trails or in suburban neighborhoods.

Addison Dempsey learned on the Deira Corniche, a waterfront promenade in Dubai.

Dempsey lived in Dubai for seven years after being born in New Jersey. She grew up there and still has lots of friends there.

She was there during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. That’s when she learned to run, after previously playing soccer.

Her parents, Patrick and Jennifer Dempsey, would run in the mornings. Addison followed in their footsteps on the waterfront. It was how she explored that part of town, Dempsey said.

Sometimes she’d go left at the end of the way; other times she’d go right. She ran around palaces and she ran around fish markets, and she did it all in Dubai’s sweltering heat.

To give an example of what she faced, Dempsey checked Dubai’s temperature at 3:15 p.m. local time — or 11:15 p.m. in Dubai. It was 106 degrees, with the “feels like” temperature at 115 degrees. The days, Dempsey said, got even hotter and more humid.

So coming to Sarasota in 2021 was no sweat.

That’s when Dempsey, then a sophomore, decided to put her training to the test and join Cardinal Mooney High’s cross-country and track and field teams.

In the time since, Dempsey, a senior, has become one of the top runners in the state. She knew she could reach this level at her firstever meet, when she found herself running in front of not just Mooney’s girls runners, but Mooney’s boys runners.

“I was like, ‘I kinda like that,’” Dempsey said with a smile.

Last fall, Dempsey finished second (17:54.00) in Class 2A at the Florida High School Athletic Association state meet, held at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee. The winner of that race, Jillian Candelino, is now running for the University of Tennessee. That means Dempsey is the top returnee and the favorite to

take home gold at states come Nov. 17.  Dempsey is trying not to think about that.

“It puts a lot of pressure on me, and I don’t always do well with pressure,” Dempsey said. “I’m trying to go in there feeling like everybody else. I’m just some average runner.”  If nothing else, Dempsey’s running experience is different than almost anyone else’s. She misses Dubai sometimes, she said. The people there, but also the comfort.  Dempsey said she would often go to the mall by herself or with a friend while in Dubai, and people could leave their phones at a table out in public while using the restroom without fear of them being stolen. In America, that isn’t the case — though she has much fondness for her birth country too, she said.  Dempsey’s current schedule is also different than most. She has a “study hall” as her first period class at Mooney, and the school allows her to use that time as she sees fit, which usually means getting in her main runs for the day to beat the heat. Sometimes she runs on the Mooney track, but she has occasionally run at nearby Nathan Benderson Park for variety.

“I don’t have to actually be in school until about 9 a.m., which is nice,” Dempsey said. “Maybe I should use that time for studying, but running is my thing, so … ”  Dempsey shrugged.

State champions do what they have to do. That’s evidenced by the rest of her routine. Every few days, Dempsey will cross-train by swimming for 45 minutes, then “aquajogging” for another 45 minutes, which means running back and forth in her family’s backyard pool.

The swimming helps with her breathing, she said, while the aqua-jogging relaxes her muscles.

Dempsey said her family made fun of her for aqua-jogging until recent visits to colleges have revealed that their athletes also use aqua-jogging in their programs, which gave her vindication.

For someone of Dempsey’s capabilities, the cross-country regular season is more about getting properly prepared for the state meet than winning every meet in between. Still, Dempsey has shown why she’s the favorite. She’s won three of the four

races she’s run with ease, and though she finished second at the Seffner Christian Invitational on Sept. 9 at Holloway Park in Lakeland, she was the runner-up to IMG Academy sophomore Eliana Black — someone she will not face at states.

Even so, Dempsey was not satisfied with her finish, and is going to alter her training as a result.

“That was a learning experience,”

Dempsey said. “I wasn’t happy with my outcome. I learned that mileage (in training) isn’t going to get you far. Who cares how well you can run a 6K? You have to run a 5K (at states) and you have to run it fast. I’m going to start cutting down my miles and go for quality over quantity.”

At the same time, Dempsey is starting to think about her future.

Some of the schools she’s talked

Photos by Ryan Kohn

Addison Dempsey’s finishes this season:

n Won the 2023 Dunbar Tiger Jamboree, held Aug. 19 in Buckingham Park in Fort Myers (18:07.50).

n Won the 2023 Lemon Bay Invitational, held Aug. 26 at Lemon Bay High in Englewood (18:04.70).

n Won the 2023 DDD Sommer Invitational, held Sept. 2 at Estero Community Park in Estero (18:45.50).

n Finished second at the 2023 Seffner Christian Invitational, held Sept. 9 at Holloway Park in Lakeland (18:40.10).

File photo

Addison Sauickie

— Carley Ramsden, Sarasota High volleyball junior libero. SEE PAGE 29

Sarasota cross-country runner

Cardinal Mooney senior Addison Dempsey spent seven years living abroad in Dubai.

HIGHLIGHTS

PROSE

Instant impacts

Through three weeks, teams are winning with expected and unexpected pieces of the puzzle.

The only bad thing about the high school football season is how short it is.

We’re three weeks into the 2023 season as I write this. That seems like a small sample size, and it is to a certain extent, but it’s also more than a quarter of the way through the regular season. We’re entering the meat of the schedule starting this week. No more talk of slow starts or anything of the sort: If teams are going to make a playoff push, they need to do it now.  They’ll do so, in part, with the players below. I’ve taken a look at the players making the biggest impacts through three weeks. Some were expected to have big years; some were not. But preseason expectations don’t matter anymore, only results, and these kids are getting results.

MICHAEL VALENTINO, CARDINAL MOONEY HIGH

I’ll confess: I wasn’t sure how Valentino would do under center for the Cougars at the beginning of the season.  I had never seen him play prior to 2023, so all I had were his stats last season at Charlotte High: 1,090 passing yards, a 52% completion percentage, nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Not bad, but not

great, either.  He’s been great for the Cougars in 2023. Through three games, all wins, Valentino has thrown for 462 yards (with a 62% completion percentage), seven touchdowns and just one interception. He’s also run for 247 yards and three touchdowns. On an offense filled with skill players holding NCAA Division I commitments or offers, Valentino is proving he can hold his own.

JORDAN RADKEY, BOOKER HIGH

Tornadoes junior defensive lineman

Jordan Radkey has been a tackling machine in 2023. Radkey has 32 tackles through three games, with four tackles for loss, a sack and two quarterback hurries. When it comes to stopping the run, there are not many doing it better than Radkey right now. Thanks in part to his play, the Tornadoes limited Sarasota High to 56 rushing yards last week.

THE RIVERVIEW HIGH RUSHING ATTACK

I couldn’t limit this group to a single player when it seems like anyone who touches the ball in the Rams’ backfield has a chance to reach the end zone on a given play.

Take junior running back DJ Johnson. He has 355 yards and four touchdowns on 44 carries through three games. That would be impressive on its own, but take this into consideration: The team’s changeof-pace back, sophomore Isaiah Belt, has 30 carries for 298 yards and four touchdowns. And senior

quarterback Braxton Thomas can scoot as well. He has 30 rushes for 98 yards and, you guessed it, four touchdowns. That totals 751 yards and 12 touchdowns for the trio — in three games.  The Rams’ passing attack has been strong too, as you’ll see below. But the backfield has been the driving force behind Riverview’s scoring machine. Putting 52 points on Palmetto High (1-1) while scoring on every possession, as the Rams did Sept. 8, is one of the more impressive feats I can remember. Keep the rushing attack up, and there’s a lot more points coming.

TYREN WORTHAM, BOOKER HIGH

I could have easily placed Booker senior receiver Josiah Booker on this list, as he has 292 yards and four touchdowns through three weeks. But I had to give props to someone averaging two whole touchdowns per game, and that’s what Booker teammate Tyren Wortham is doing.

Wortham, a sophomore, has nine catches for 220 yards and six touchdowns in three games. The 6-foot Wortham is averaging 24.4 yards per catch and has become a reliable option for junior quarterback Alex Diaz.

ANTHONY CAMPBELL, RIVERVIEW HIGH

Campbell, the Rams’ senior wide receiver, has been one of the area’s premier deep threats in 2023.

Campbell has eight catches for 240 yards and three touchdowns so far this season, good for 30 yards per reception.

One of the many fun matchups I’m looking forward to watching when Riverview plays Cardinal Mooney on Sept. 14 is Campbell, alongside sophomore teammate Anthony Miller, going up against Mooney’s airtight secondary.

CHRIS RUDOLPH, SARASOTA HIGH

Things have not gone well for the

Sailors in 2023, as they sit at 0-3 with an 88-31 point differential. But senior wide receiver Chris Rudolph has made some positive plays, including an impressive touchdown on the sideline in week one against Fort Meade High and an eight-yard score in week two against Manatee High.

If the Sailors are going to get in the win column, looking Rudolph’s way early and often would be a wise move.

BRYCE FULDA, CARDINAL MOONEY HIGH

Sophomore Mooney defensive lineman Bryce Fulda has impressed with his early season play. Fulda has two sacks, three tackles for loss and interception in addition to generally sowing chaos on opposing offensive lines. Fulda’s play has helped the Mooney secondary shut down opposing passing attacks thanks to quarterbacks having limited time to throw.

ALEX DIAZ, BOOKER HIGH

Junior quarterback Alex Diaz came to Booker from Sarasota High after throwing for 911 yards (with a 50.5% completion percentage), 10 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 2022. That completion percentage has not changed much — it’s at 50.9% through three games — but everything else has.

Thanks to Booker looking to attack downfield as much as possible, Diaz has thrown for 630 yards, eight touchdowns and just one interception thus far. If he can keep the turnovers to a minimum, Diaz has the arm strength to be a dangerous passer in the Tornadoes’ offense.

AND KOHN RYAN KOHN

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

Ryan Kohn

Cardinal Mooney senior quarterback Michael Valentino transferred to the program from Charlotte High for the 2023 season.

Carley Ramsden

Carley Ramsden is a junior libero and captain on the Sarasota High volleyball team. Through Sept. 11, Ramsden has 34 digs and 12 assists. Sailors head coach Daris Rodriguez said Ramsden’s passion for the game helps lead the team.

When did you start playing volleyball?

I started in sixth grade at Sarasota Middle School. I have always been involved in sports. It was just another thing I found interesting. I actually ended up playing club volleyball for three years in middle school too, but now I only play high school volleyball since I play club softball. (Ramsden is also on the Sailors’ softball team.)

What is the appeal to you?

I like the competitiveness of the game and how fast it is. It requires a different way of playing sports (than softball). It’s just fun.

What is your best skill?

It’s probably my serve-receive or covering off of the block. I’m fast and good at tips, stuff like that.

What have you been working to improve?

Making sure I’m still when digging the ball and trying to be as accurate as I can.

What is your favorite memory?

Beating Riverview High at Riverview during my freshman year. We both had huge student sections there and it was loud. It was such a close game, going five sets. It was so competitive.

What are your goals for the season?

As a team, we have a good atmosphere. We’re all close. I think we can have a successful season. But I’m also trying to be smart with myself.

I’m trying to get a softball scholarship, so my personal goal is to play as competitively as I can without going over the top and getting hurt. And within that, I want to be the best player I can be for my team.

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 is your favorite food?

I like a medium-well steak a lot.

What is your favorite TV show?

It’s probably “Outer Banks.”

What is your favorite school subject?

I like anatomy and physiology. I want to go into the health science area in the future.

Which superpower would you pick?

I would want unlimited strength.

That seems like it would be helpful.

What are your hobbies?

I love to be on a boat. I love fishing.

That’s how I’ve grown up. That’s what my family does outside of sports.

What is the best advice you have received?

You have to ride the wave. There are going to be highs and lows. You have to understand that if you work hard enough, good things will happen for you.

Finish this sentence: “Carley Ramsden is … “

A leader. I like to take control in (challenging) situations and lead by example. That’s in sports, in life, in everything.

By Luis Campos

Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another. “PV’HH FHPFOG CDKDX JCV CVXDVG DE

9/11. ... PV ZHVTUV JCFJ PV PRHH KVIVX

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Puzzle One Clue: M equals U

“RN RG’Z COIUG NAY CO, RG MRFF HO. GXAZO MAYLZ IYO CV CIUGYI RU FRNO, IUL RG XIZ UOBOY FOG CO LAMU.”

KOUURNOY XTLZAU

Puzzle Two Clue: A equals Z

“V’N UROYJU GJ R BVN REN CPRZ KVOY CRCJU CPREJW OYRE GJ R ARE REN CPRZ KVOY R KIARE’W YJRUO.”

VUVWY WVEFJU EVRPP YIURE

Puzzle Three Clue: Z equals Y

© 2023 NEA, Inc.

BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE by Aaron Rosenberg, edited by Jeff Chen

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