He’s only a rising senior, but you can call him “Gov.” Pine View student Terry Shen earned the title of governor at the American Legion’s 80th annual Boys State on June 15-22 in Tallahassee. The youth leadership and government instruction program brought together hundreds of talented rising seniors from across the state.
Shen was elected by his peers as governor, the highest office at the event.
“I got to make bonds with people I normally wouldn’t have — with other kids who are the best at what they do,” said Shen. “I learned so much in that one week. How to build community and relations.”
As governor, Shen took part in elections and campaigns and ratified and vetoed bills as he worked to ensure collaboration between the two fictional political parties at Boys State. He also delivered an address as governor.
Serenity on Siesta
Even before she moved to Sarasota from Delaware four years ago, Lynn Hagen had her sights set on teaching yoga on Siesta Key Beach. Now she leads some of the Sarasota County-recognized Beach Yoga classes three times a week.
“People come with such positive energy,” she said. “It’s life-changing, and you leave feeling like a complete, peaceful being.” Since she began offering the classes about three years ago, she has developed a following of regular attendees.
Hagen offers the sessions Tuesday and Thursday mornings and Wednesdays at sunset.
Net-positive attraction
Selby Gardens’ new solar arrays will fully power the botanical complex, with juice to spare.
Ian Swaby
Ray
flag across the bridge on Saturday, June 29.
Ian Swaby
Mary Beth McLeod
Courtesy image
Ian Swaby
BY THE NUMBERS
$26,619.11
Total legal fees for City Commissioner Kyle Battie, of which the city must pay $25,000 in his defamation case. PAGE 9A
57,000
The square footage of solar arrays that were powered on at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. PAGE 10A
6 Number of Revolutionary War-era costumes that one member of the Sara De Soto Daughters of the American Revolution keeps at home. PAGE 1B CALENDAR
n Sarasota Planning Board regular meeting — 9 a.m., Wednesday, July 10, Commission Chambers, City Hall, 1565 First St.
n Sarasota County School Board regular meeting — 6 p.m., Tuesday, July 16, Board Chambers, Landings Administration Complex, 1980 Landings Blvd. (black awning entrance).
“If this
were the private sector, we
would call it profit.”
Sarasota County Tax Collector Barbara Ford-Coates on her department’s budgetary practice. Read more on Page 11A
City wins award for Newtown preservation
Since the Florida Archaeological Council began recognizing entities with its Stewards of Heritage Award 50 years ago, only one city, St. Augustine, has been so honored.
Sarasota has now joined that exclusive list.
On Monday, the FAC delivered the award to the city, specifically citing the work of Senior Planner Clifford Smith for his 15-year effort to include the Newtown Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. According to a letter to the city
from FAC President James Ambrosino, the Heritage Award was established to recognize the role of the general public, individuals and organizations in preservation, research, education or the promotion of public awareness of Florida archaeology.
The awards are given biennially in conjunction with the Florida Anthropological Society.
“When I started seven years ago, it’s just been a real joy to work with Dr. Smith,” said Planning Director Steven Cover. “He’s got a tremendous knowledge and
has really expanded what we’ve been able to do here and here in Sarasota. When you get phone calls from cities all over the state constantly asking about our historic preservation program, we’ve done something right.”
On April 19, 2024, the National Park Service officially approved the Newtown Historic District listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Including the Galilee cemetery, a total of 731 historic resources contributed to the listing.
GCCF names leaders of philanthropy team
Gulf Coast Community Foundation has made two moves in its leadership team. Joe Carter has been named vice president of philanthropy, and Sasha Pyatte was promoted to director of philanthropic partnerships.
Carter joins GCCF after 20 years as vice president of development at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, where his focus on philanthropic strategies for donors allowed them to meet their charitable and financial goals.
During his prior tenure, Carter presented to nonprofits and professional advisors in the state, region and at national conferences on various charitable topics as they relate to business, tax and estate planning. Pyatte joined GCCF in May 2022 as a philanthropic advisor and served as interim vice president of philanthropy. She will lead the team that works directly with donors to help them reach their philanthropic goals through co-investment and leveraging opportunities.
Her prior roles include director of advancement and strategic partnerships at the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation and director of philanthropy for Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.
No
more
plastic bags for yard waste pickup
Changes to yard waste pickup for city residents went into effect Monday, July 1 — plastic bags will no longer be collected.
Leaves, small branches and vegetative material should be placed in a reusable container or paper bags and placed curbside for regular pickup. Waste may also be bundled and tied with compostable twine, provided the material is 48 inches or shorter.
Materials improperly prepared will not be collected or will require a special pickup for an additional fee.
The change is the result of the contractor that collects residential yard waste for the city announcing it will no longer accept plastic bags. Residents with questions may call the Solid Waste Division at 263-6170.
Newtown community has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places, earning the city the Florida Archaeological Council Stewards of Heritage Award.
METAL AGIC
Forced to move because of redevelopment, pipe-bending artist Scott Gerber (the Tube Dude) finds a new home.
ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER
Scott Gerber calls his Tube Dude creations “art a la carte.”
Given the nomadic history of his company in and around Sarasota, perhaps it could be called “art on a cart.”
Part sculptor, part metal fabricator and, most recently, part powder coater, Gerber’s multiple moves from downtown to St. Armands then back to downtown have been capped off with him landing in south Bradenton.
There, Tube Dude has more than twice the space he had before to create whimsical metal sculptures from the original classic mailbox to mermaid outdoor showers.
What began in 2010 as the former yacht builder found himself in the throes of a shrinking market due to the Great Recession has blossomed into a global business. Tube Dudes and Dudettes, along with mailboxes in the design of aquatic birds and sea life, pets, wildlife and large exhibition pieces, can be found on display around the world.
Tube Dudes and Dudettes are custom made to represent owners’ professions, recreation interests, lifestyles and more, all with the trademark face with a cheek-tocheek grin meeting large round eyes.
Now in his new 16,712-squarefoot space at 2306 60th Drive E., more than double the square footage he had at 1710 Main St., Gerber and his staff of five are in expansion mode. That includes an investment of some $100,000 for powder coating equipment necessitated by lagging turnaround in outsourcing that step in production.
Now he offers powder coating to other fabricators.
“One of the reasons why we moved into a building so large is we got into the powder coating ourselves,” Gerber said. “That’s a 500-degree oven, and every time that door opens, a lot
of hot air comes out. Now my painter has a whole area to himself, and he’s able to keep it super clean with no grinding, no cutting, nothing else on that side of the building.”
Gerber is also adding a line of marine furniture that, like the sculptures, are made of marine-grade aluminum and powder coated for coastal environment durability.
Tube Dude’s latest move wasn’t voluntary, but it is serendipitous — trading high visibility for square footage. The space the business occupied for five years at the corner of Main Street and Pine Place, along with the rest of the block, will be razed to make way for an apartment building.
“The city tried to kick us out when we first moved in because they said that what we were doing was industrial, but it just so happened that we didn’t meet the city’s definition of industrial, but we did meet the definition of an artist’s studio,” Gerber said of his prior location. “We had five wonderful years there, and it was great because very few places in a metropolitan situation can you do welding and grinding and cutting and all that. It was great for our customers because they would get to come see how the art developed.”
Examples of Tube Dude’s work are scattered throughout the city, St. Armands and Longboat Key, the most visible pieces being the wide variety of mailbox designs. Gerber said the mailbox is like the business card of a home, making an impactful first impression and providing a hint of the owner’s personality.
Mailboxes embedded in flamingos, ibis, sandhill cranes and others are prominent, but there are also surfers, octopus, tennis players and more, the portfolio limited only to the customers’ imaginations.
The vast majority of the more than 10,000 pieces produced by Tube Dude, Gerber said, start as custom designs by request.
THE CLASSIC
After shuttering his yacht-building company and laying off 40 employ-
BIG PRAISE FROM LITTLE DUDES
Of all the accolades Scott Gerber has earned from customers, the most satisfying he said he receives are from kids.
“It’s when a 3-year-old would come into the gallery and has a vocabulary of maybe 100 words, and it just about brings tears to your eyes when they point to a piece and say the words ‘tube dude.’ It’s impossible to not smile.”
ees, Gerber sought a business that would help lift him out of his funk. He turned to his expertise in metal fabricating and artistic inclinations to make people smile, thus the signature smiling face on all the dudes and dudettes that leave the shop.
He knew he was on to something while installing his first two pieces — identical classic mailboxes — one at a mansion in Tampa and one at a tiny bungalow locally.
“The first one I delivered was to a house that had to cost $20 million,” Gerber said. “It was all marble on the outside and they had three white Bentleys in the driveway. My second delivery was to a young couple whose house on a good day, maybe cost $50,000. It was the exact same mailbox, and no matter what their house cost, both customers loved their mailboxes just as much.”
The classic mailbox is now built, powder coated, delivered and installed — all by hand — for $1,800. According to the Tube Dude website, a peacock mailbox is priced at $4,200. In between are egrets, flamingos, mahi mahi, sailfish and more. There are also dudes and dudettes for gardening, sports, musicians, artists and dozens more.
The most expensive orders to date are the three-piece Piece, Love and Happiness installations in New York City and in Mexico City, commissioned at a price of $250,000.
Among the newest popular pieces is the mermaid outdoor shower, which sells for $4,200. Fully portable, all it requires is connection to an outdoor hose.
“They are all through the Caribbean,” Gerber said. “The whole East Coast is very receptive of them. It will cost you $3,000 just to have a plumber come out and install a piece of PVC pipe with a shower head on it. You can move it anywhere you want. One hand can hold your towels and your soap and you can hang wet bathing suits on the fingers.”
Also new are pool rails in the shape of blue herons, swans, dolphins, flamingos — practically any form aluminum tubes and sheets can be bent, welded, powder coated and installed.
GLOBAL REACH
The move out of downtown into an industrial park north of SarasotaBradenton International Airport will limit Tube Dude’s foot traffic visibility, but not its reach. Gerber credits Gallery Manager Susan Clark for the company’s profile on its website and on social media platforms.
He said a recent posting of a picture of flamingo pool rails drew more than six million views worldwide. As a result, “We just built 20 flamingo pool rails,” Gerber said.
Tube Dude also has a large customer base in the Northeast. The company’s contract installer is soon departing for The Hamptons with some 20 deliveries and a six-foot heart to be installed at the New Jersey home of a top executive of Pulte Homes.
Celebrities are also fans of Tube Dude, among them country singer John Rich. Tube Dude recently built a “Guitar Dude” mailbox that will be delivered to his new home in Franklin, Tennessee.
Marketing efforts include select art shows, the next one in Texas. Gerber is designing pieces to appeal to that audience.
“Cowboys, of course,” he said. “Maybe a football player colored silver and blue.” Texas, Gerber said, is a fertile market. “We’ve never shown there, and we are right for Texas because everybody has a big yard, and they don’t like HOAs out there.”
Ironically, Gerber doesn’t have a Tube Dude mailbox at his own home.
“I don’t have one at my house only because I haven’t decided which one I want,” he said. “I would say that 99% of our creations are designs of our customers. I’m afraid to pull the trigger on one just because I know that my next great customer’s idea will be the one I really want.”
Until the next customer after that.
Andrew Warfield
Scott Gerber poses with a Guitar Dude mailbox made for country music star John Rich.
Andrew Warfield
Tube Dude owner Scott Gerber makes cuts an alligator head fabricated from scratch.
James Peter A Tube Dude egret mailbox stands, appropriately enough, on Bird Key.
For their eyes only
Christian Ziegler’s phone contents to stay private, judge rules.
JIM DELA
DIGITAL CONTENT PRODUCER
Former Florida Republican Party Chair Christian Ziegler’s cellphone contents will remain private, a judge has ruled, saying Ziegler’s constitutional rights were violated.
In a 48-page decision released July 1, Sarasota Circuit Judge Hunter Carroll said, “law enforcement’s handling of the three overbroad warrants were patently unreasonable and violated Mr. Ziegler’s constitutional rights.”
Ziegler had been under investigation of alleged sexual battery and video voyeurism after he admitted to taking cellphone video of himself having sex with a woman whom he and his wife, Sarasota School Board member Bridget Ziegler, previously had a sexual tryst.
The woman, who was never publicly identified, claimed she was intoxicated during the encounter with Ziegler and therefore could not have given consent for the Oct. 3, 2023 incident.
The fallout from the investigation cost Ziegler his job as state party chair, and has led to calls for Bridget Ziegler to resign her school board position.
After viewing the video from Ziegler’s phone, the Sarasota Police Department declined to file sexual assault charges but asked the state attorney’s office to consider video voyeurism charges. In March, the state attorney declined to file those charges.
Several news organizations, along with the Florida Center for Government Accountability and a group known as The News Media Coalition led by Michael Barfield, filed motions to release the video and other information found on Ziegler’s
phone, arguing it was public record.
The Zieglers sued to stop the release of that information, claiming it would cause public humiliation.
“Cellphones today can contain a person’s entire life story,” Carroll wrote in his ruling. “While today’s seizure is not from the entirety of one’s home — but 18 square inches of a cellphone and the content of electronic storage media — it is functionally the same.”
Carroll ruled that most of the evidence collected from Ziegler’s phone is not public record because it was seized in violation of his Fourth Amendment rights.
“There is precedent in Florida for a court to order law enforcement to destroy illegally seized material in violation of a person’s Fourth Amendment rights,” Carroll wrote. “And that is what Mr. Ziegler requests, and the Court grants that request.”
The only evidence Carroll ordered to be preserved, pending any appeals, is the video Christian Ziegler voluntarily provided to the Sarasota Police, 14 photographs taken by a forensic specialist on Dec. 1, 2023, of Christian Ziegler’s cellphone and screens during the video turnover; and any of his data previously made public.
Barfield said via email that his group may appeal the ruling, citing the public’s “right to know about the Zieglers’ hypocrisy.”
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File image
Christian Ziegler speaks at the 17th Street Park expansion groundbreaking Nov. 4, 2022.
Let’s make a deal
The currently unproposed project would exchange increased maximum height for an enhanced pedestrian experience, public parking and affordable housing.
ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER
New ownership of an acre of prime downtown property rezoned for development in 2018 was back before the City Commission on Monday, seeking amendments to proffers made six years ago by previous ownership.
Representatives of Fourth and Trail Development, the contract purchaser of the six-parcel site, were seeking to raise building height to 10 stories, the maximum permitted in the Downtown Core Zone District, on some parcels of an as-yet unproposed project in exchange for streetlevel enhancements and the inclusion of affordable housing units.
At the request of the new owner and representatives of land planning consultant Kimley-Horn, commissioners unanimously voted to send the rezoning request back to the Planning Board for further review.
The site includes four parcels along Fourth Street and two fronting Fruitville Road, partially enveloping the low-rise Encore condominiums. The proffer changes occurred after the rezoning was recommended by the Planning Board to be denied by a 4-1 vote at its Feb. 14 meeting.
The applicant and property owner at the time of the 2018 rezoning approval included proffers to limit the height of the development to three and five stories. Fourth and Trail requested to remove those proffers, allowing future development on the site up to the maximum height allowed in the DTC.
Following the Planning Board’s recommendation to deny, the applicant amended its original applica-
tion, which included input from meetings with Rosemary District leadership and resident representatives of the Encore condominiums.
Rather than remove the two proffered conditions limiting the height of future development, the applicant proposed one new proffered condition, which would allow development on the subject property to be built to the maximum height permitted by the zoning code only if the following certain conditions are met:
■ Provide 25 public parking spaces with an additional five public spaces specifically for residents and guests of the adjacent Encore condominiums.
■ Provide a sidewalk system with a minimum eight-foot pedestrian zone and six-foot amenity zone where fronting Fruitville Road, and a sidewalk zone with a minimum 22-foot pedestrian zone fronting on Fourth Street.
■ If the development contains residential units, provide 15% of those units exceeding the maximum base density to be attainable units pursuant to the downtown attainable housing density bonus.
■ All street trees will be canopy trees with spacing closer than is required by code.
BROADER APPROACH
Since the February Planning Board appearance, Kimley-Horn Senior Planner Bill Waddill joined the project, taking a more holistic approach regarding the development, setting the tone for improvements throughout the Rosemary District and surrounding area.
The firm is working with multiple developers in that area of downtown, and Waddill said he has met with
others, as well, in the interest of creating higher street-level standards throughout the district.
“We have determined that all of the neighbors would like an improved pedestrian area of 18- to 22-foot pedestrian zones that include wider sidewalks and meaningful tree verges of eight to 10 feet or more to plant canopy trees that will actually grow,” said Waddill, who returned to Kimley-Horn eight months ago after serving as COO of the Bay Park Conservancy.
“We have one shot at this for the next 75 years to get this right, and anything we can do to get these applicants to utilize the incentives in place for attainable housing, public parking, better sidewalks, better shade trees, and, oh by the way, maximize the revenue in The Bay Park Improvement District, we ought to be doing.
“We’re working closely with all of them.”
Philip DiMaria, also of KimleyHorn, said the amended proffers would provide, “A once in a 75-year opportunity for a win-win-win.”
While that may be, Allison Chris-
tie, the city’s manager of development services, told commissioners that staff cannot make an affirmative recommendation on the proffered proffer changes.
“Staff does feel the decision to amend previously proffered conditions is a policy decision that should be made by the Planning Board and City Commission,” she said.
Mayor Liz Alpert asked DiMaria and Kimley-Horn colleague Waddill if their client would consider making another run at a Planning Board endorsement with proposed amended proffers in hand, which prompted a brief recess for that discussion to ensue. Upon returning to the dais, DiMaria said, “Mayor, with your permission and the Commission’s permission, we’d like the opportunity to go back before the Planning Board to discuss the revised proffer statement and our community conversations.”
Prior to the vote, Alpert said, “I think it makes a lot of sense, because there are a lot of moving parts here, that it would be better if it were vetted that way and you should get it right for the next 75 years.”
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Courtesy image
Outlined in red is the proposed site for a future development fronting Fruitville Road and Fourth Street near Tamiami Trail.
700 feet of Pride
Members of the LGBTQ+ community were highly visible the morning of June 29 in an area spanning much of the John Ringling Causeway.
During the Grand Flag March led by Project Pride SRQ, around 700 community members marched with what, at 700 feet, is one of the world’s largest progressive Pride flags. They began at Hart’s Landing and walked to the center of the bridge.
“Today is a day of love and celebration,” said Jason Champion, president of Project Pride. “We are built off the fact of honoring, celebrating and supporting the community, and today is a great way to wrap up Pride month with stretching out that 700-foot flag.”
This year’s event took on new meaning due to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ “Freedom Summer” directive requiring all bridges be lit only in red, white and blue.
Jules Rayne, a community organizer at Equality Florida, was among the speakers to address the topic.
“LGBTQ+ is the prime example of what real patriotism is: the freedom from government tyranny, a place to live free, where everyone is created equal and imbued with life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” she said.
The event featured additional speakers, including Neil McCurry, husband of Project Pride cofounder Katie McCurry; Kira-Lynn Ferderber, an educator for Planned Parenthood; Tsi Day Smyth, VP of Voices of Florida; Sarah Parker, president of Women’s Voices of Southwest Florida; and Zander Moricz, executive director of SEE Alliance. — IAN SWABY
For Sarasota City Commission - District 2
Photos by Ian Swaby
Justyn Hunter-Ceruti, Donna Hanley and Erica Serine lead the way.
Jessica Chapman and Cindy Lou Smith
Cindy Effron brings some bubbles to the scene.
Kaia and Lucile Desvenain
Pediatric psychologist Susan Moschos showed support from beneath the bridge on a paddleboard.
Greatest civil document
The Declaration of Independence was much more than a secession from tyranny. It changed the world.
MATT WALSH
Editor’s Note: The original version of this was published June 29, 2023.
Happy Independence Day. On this day 248 years ago, while Americans declared their independence and established a new nation, the world also changed for the better — in ways that few at that time could imagine.
There is no debating: The founding of the United States of America has to be one of the Greatest Stories Ever.
From the Pilgrims settling at Plymouth Rock to the Declaration of Independence to the writing and adoption of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights, to everything those events spawned over the past 248 years, America’s founding has to be up there with Creation; Moses and the Israelites’ 40-year journey to the Promised Land; and the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Assuming you agree, it makes sense then that the Fourth of July is celebrated the way John Adams hoped it would be celebrated. After the Founders voted to adopt the Declaration of Independence on July 2, Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail:
The Declaration of Independence “will be the most memorable epocha in the history of America.” He said the day should be “solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other from this time forward forever more.”
Through the generations, we Americans have obliged Adams’ wish with gusto — red, white and blue parades, topped with the quintessential American feast of grilled hotdogs, mustard, potato chips, corn on the cob, watermelon, homemade brownies and, yes, Bud Light. And the fireworks.
But this is a sad guess: If you walked Siesta Key beach and conducted Man (or Woman) on the Beach interviews, asking why we celebrate Independence Day, of course, many of us would cringe these days at the stupidity of so many Americans. You can envision the interview:
Interviewer: “Why do we celebrate Independence Day?”
Interviewee: “Uh, because we beat the Germans and Japanese in World War I?”
WHAT FOUNDERS DECLARED
This is the final paragraph of the Declaration of Independence — the “what” the Founders were declaring:
“We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do …”
Ugh.
Ever the optimist, we still want to believe most adult Americans do indeed know why we celebrate Independence Day. (See box above for the exact words.)
Throughout our history, Americans have instinctively invoked the words liberty and freedom with the Fourth of July. More specifically, of course, we are always reminded on this national holiday of Thomas Jefferson’s immortal words in the second paragraph of the Declaration:
“We hold these truths to be selfevident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
THE DEEPER MEANING
It’s probably true that most Americans at the time of the Declaration focused on the proclamation that they were no longer under the tyrannical rule of the British king and empire; they were free of his injustices, usurpations and pillaging. But in the words of the late President Calvin Coolidge, the Declaration “had a much broader and deeper significance than a mere secession of territory and the establishment of a new nation.”
In a 4,500-word speech July 4, 1926, in Philadelphia — on the 150th anniversary of the Declaration, President Coolidge delivered what should be regarded as one of the most insightful explanations ever recorded of the profound meaning of the Declaration of Independence. Coolidge called the Declaration “the most important civil document in the world.” And among the reasons for such a noble title, Coolidge said:
“Three very definite propositions were set out in its preamble regarding the nature of mankind and therefore of government. These were the doctrine that all
men are created equal, that they are endowed with certain inalienable rights and that therefore the source of the just powers of government must be derived from the consent of the governed.”
These were not new principles in the 18th century, but as Coolidge noted, these three principles “had never been assembled before and declared in such a combination.
“It was not only the principles declared, but the fact that therewith a new nation was born which was to be founded upon those principles and which from that time forth in its development has actually maintained those principles, that makes this pronouncement an incomparable event in the history of government.”
Absorb that. In 1776, that was the first time in world history anyone put on a piece of parchment that all men are created equal and endowed with the inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
WHO IS THE STATESMAN?
It is noteworthy that 150 years after the issuance of the Declaration of Independence, President Coolidge spoke as he did about the profound nature and importance of Jefferson’s words — that they still stood steadfastly a century and a half later as the principles that defined the United States and that made the United States exceptional.
But now, nearly 100 years after Coolidge, when, if ever, do you hear our so-called national leaders discuss or profess an embracing conviction to the principles that all men are created equal and we all are endowed with the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?
Keep your ears and eyes attuned to President Biden, Donald Trump and any candidate for a legislative position. Listen closely whether they express a vision whose principles and values would be devoted to those the Founding Fathers established.
Likewise, who among the many candidates has demonstrated the kind of character of the statesmenleaders who constituted our leading Founding Fathers? Who among those running for office has the stature to set foot in the same room as George Washington?
In the 2000 book, “Founding Brothers,” the Revolutionary Generation,” historian Joseph J. Ellis, gave readers a sense of the awe of Washington:
“In the America of the 1790s, Washington’s image was everywhere … His commanding presence had been the central feature in every major event of the revolutionary era: the linchpin of the Continental Army throughout eight long years of desperate fighting from 1775 to 1783; the presiding officer of the Constitutional Convention in 1787; the first and only chief executive of the fledgling federal government since 1789. He was the palpable reality that clothed the revolutionary rhapsodies in flesh and blood, America’s one and only indispensable character.
“Washington was the core of gravity that prevented the American Revolution from flying off into random orbits, the stable center around which the revolutionary energies formed. As one popular toast of the day put it, he was “the man who unites all hearts. He was
the American Zeus, Moses and Cincinnatus all rolled into one.”
Who among candidates today can possibly rise to the statesmanleader level of Washington, or, say, Abraham Lincoln or, in modern times, Ronald Reagan?
Lincoln at Gettysburg: “It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here have the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that the dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
Reagan at the 1964 Republican National Convention: “It’s time we asked ourselves if we still know the freedoms intended for us by the Founding Fathers,” he said.
“James Madison said, ‘We base all our experiments on the capacity of mankind for self-government.’
“This idea that government was beholden to the people, that it had no other source of power except the sovereign people, is still the newest, most unique idea in all the long history of man’s relation to man.
“For almost two centuries we have proved man’s capacity for selfgovernment, but today we are told we must choose between a left and right or, as others suggest, a third alternative, a kind of safe middle ground.
“I suggest to you there is no left or right, only an up or down. Up to the maximum of individual freedom consistent with law and order, or down to the ant heap of totalitarianism …”
When he concluded his Fourth of July address, Coolidge told his fellow Americans: “If we are to maintain the great heritage which has been bequeathed to us, we must be like-minded as the fathers who created it. We must not sink into a pagan materialism.
“We must cultivate the reverence which they had for the things that are holy. We must follow the spiritual and moral leadership which they showed. We must keep replenished, that they may glow with a more compelling flame, the altar fires before which they worshipped.”
BE RESILIENT
Deep down, we have to believe most Americans are longing for the end of the strife that has torn this great nation apart for the past 15 years. They are wrought and withered over being told the country they love and its past are evil. The enmity that splits us in half has become our Gettysburg.
As you wave your flag or fire up your grill on the Fourth of July, we’ll encourage you as we did in 2021: Wave that flag hard. Be resilient, as resilient as the pilgrims who landed at Plymouth Rock and as courageous as the Founding Fathers who pledged their lives, their fortunes and honor with their signatures on the Declaration of Independence.
Continue to believe in and practice the magnificent principles that all men are indeed created equal and stand strong for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
“If
Friday, Dec. 19, 1777
Papa came in from milking and said, “The soldiers are coming.”
Elisabeth, Sally and I hurriedly ate our porridge, then wrapped ourselves in our cloaks and scarves …
“I want to go see the soldiers,” Sally said. But Papa said we must stay by our fence.
“It’s too cold,” he said, as big flakes of snow began to fall. The fields were turning white, and the road looked like frosting with chocolate showing through.
Twice we went inside to warm ourselves, for the wind cut through our clothes. Finally through the gray we saw them. Three officers on horseback led. We ran outside to
cheer, but the men were quiet and thin. The sight of them took my breath away.
“They have no shoes,” Elisabeth whispered.
We watched for several minutes as they passed by. We were unable to speak.
Their footprints left blood in the snow.
As I write this upstairs, my candle low and our room cold, I think I shall never again complain. For many hours we watched the soldiers march single file into our valley.
Hundreds and hundreds were barefoot, the ice mud cutting their feet.
Some had rags wrapped around their legs because they had no trou-
sers … no trousers, imagine! Mama cried to see their misery. Without thinking, I ran up to a boy — he seemed to be Elisabeth’s age (15) — whose arms were bare. I threw my cloak over his shoulders, and the look of relief in his eyes is something I shall never forget.
Sally gave her mittens, and Papa wrapped his scarf around the neck of one poor boy playing a fife.
As the soldiers passed, I saw other families had done the same — if the Quakers had, I know not — but I recognized Mrs. Potter’s cloak, her blue one with red trim, and someone had draped a shawl over a small drummer boy. So many were coughing and had runny noses. Elisabeth said, “Can we not please bring some of them in to warm by our fire?”
Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944
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When we saw the horseman riding back and forth among the men we knew him to be the Commander in Chief, George Washington. His cape fell below his saddle, and his tricorn was white from snow. I shall remember him always. He called continually to his soldiers, words of encouragement, and he had a most dignified bearing.
Editor’s note: The preceding is an excerpt from “Dear America — The Winter of Red Snow, The Revolutionary War Diary of Abigail Jane Stewart, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, 1777.”
The book is historical fiction by Kristiana Gregory, an acclaimed author of American history written for middle grade and young readers.
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1970 Main St. Sarasota, FL 34236 941-366-3468
City to pay $25K in legal fees for commissioner
Battie ruled to be acting as elected official when he allegedly defamed a resident.
ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER
Whether the Sarasota City Commission may choose to cover $10,000 in legal fees in addition to the $15,000 it approved in February for Commissioner Kyle Battie’s defense against a defamation lawsuit was not up for debate at Monday’s meeting.
City Attorney Robert Fournier explained the city had no choice.
Judge Stephen Walker, of the 12th Judicial Circuit Court, on June 12 ruled that Battie’s Jan. 12 presentation that allegedly portrayed city resident and local government critic Kelly Franklin as a racist was delivered in his official capacity as an elected official. As a result, he is shielded from allegations of slander. It also means that, because he was acting in his official capacity, the city must pay his fees.
The litigation is over a social media post with racial overtones that Franklin is alleged to have made regarding the grand opening in 2023 of Corona Cigar Co. At that Jan. 12 meeting, Battie produced a crumpled printout of the post that Franklin called a hoax.
In the end, commissioners voted 4-0, with Battie recused, to pay the additional $10,000 now, and then consider covering those costs going forward should Franklin make good on her pledge to file an amended motion by end of day July 2.
“What I had told the commission then was that there would be a legal obligation for the commission to cover these fees in the event that the conduct that gave rise to this lawsuit was found by the court to be undertaken in the course of performance of official duties while serving the public purpose,” Fournier told the commission. “Under those circumstances, you would have a legal obligation to pay those fees.”
Battie’s total owed to the Sarasota law firm of Bentley Goodrich Kison is $26,619.11. Once the city meets its $25,000 deductible, insurance will cover the balance and will continue to do so going forward in the event of further legal action.
Those expenses could be substantial. Franklin told the Observer she won’t stop at the circuit court level.
“If the case is still dismissed on the basis of absolute immunity for defamation from City Hall — no matter how calculated and malicious and planned in coordination with others the defamation is — I will appeal all the way to the Florida Supreme Court,” she wrote in an email.
Fournier added that if there is an eventual ruling that Battie was not acting in an official capacity, the insurance carrier may decline coverage. Meanwhile, commissioners will decide on July 15 whether it will pay future legal bills until the outcome is determined.
Franklin spoke remotely during Monday’s public hearing.
“A circuit judge has found that a decades-old Florida Supreme Court ruling potentially creates absolute immunity for any elected official in Florida to falsely vilify a critic,” she said. “We the people cannot afford to allow this intentional and malignant abuse of power to manufacture a license-to-lie loophole for municipal officials. That is the precedent that will be set if this ruling is allowed to stand.”
Battie doubled down on his position that no proof has been provided that Franklin didn’t make the post.
The motion from Sarasota City Commissioner Kyle Battie (pictured in October 2022) to dismiss a defamation suit brought by resident Kelly Franklin was granted.
Setting record straight on PACE
Outlined below are inaccuracies in your recent editorial, “Moran, tax collectors in a Supreme Court fight,” published on June 27.
MISLEADING PRACTICES AND TAX BILLS
The column stated “tax collectors have sued Florida PACE, alleging PACE’s lending practices are misleading, often resulting in large increases in property tax bills and assessments that surprise homeowners and, in many cases, also have resulted in long-term tax liens being placed on homes.”
It’s important to clarify that Florida PACE Funding Agency ensures transparency through a recorded confirmation call where all terms are reviewed with the homeowner. This process includes multiple levels of affirmation to ensure understanding. Homeowners have the option to have another person on the call with them for support.
PACE LENDING PROGRAM VS. FPFA
The column uses PACE and FPFA/ Florida PACE interchangeably. FPFA is one PACE provider among several. It’s crucial to differentiate between the broader PACE program and FPFA’s specific operations.
CONTRACTORS MISLEADING HOMEOWNERS
The column said: “Tax collectors opposed to this have argued” … that the program’s contractors often
have misled homeowners. FPFA does not assign contractors and does not have any affiliation with contractors. Licensed contractors (licensed by Florida’s Construction Industry Licensing Board) are approved to work with PACE clients. Homeowners select their own contractors after being approved for funding by FPFA, maintaining full control over this process.
In the PACE program, the contractor selected by the property owner agrees not to receive payment until the property owner is entirely satisfied. This stringent consumer protection measure sets PACE apart from other financing options.
Unfortunately, there have been cases where Florida PACE’s logo has been used by contractors on their advertisements. FPFA sues anyone who is illegally using their logos in a predatory manner.
EQUATING MIKE MORAN WITH FPFA
The column suggests that Mike Moran is personally suing tax collectors, stating “Moran and PACE also sued the collectors …” and referring to FPFA as “his” agency. It’s important to clarify that Mr. Moran as the executive director represents FPFA. The lawsuits and press releases are issued by FPFA, not Mr. Moran personally.
— PACE PROGRAM FLORIDA
Courtesy image
Mike Moran, executive director of Florida PACE Funding Agency, was the subject of a June 27 opinion column that sparked a letter to the editor in response.
Switch flipped
It’s been a project far more complex than the flip of a switch — but flipping a switch was still a major step involved.
After unveiling Phase One of its master plan in January, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens celebrated the activation of 57,000 square feet of solar arrays designed to power the facilities.
Bringing together various parties involved in the project, including staff, board members, support-
ers and contractors, in addition to campers from Selby Gardens’ Camp Lookout, the event, held June 27, honored the occasion with the ceremonial flipping of a switch.
“It’s really exhilarating to be at this moment,” said Jennifer Rominiecki, president and CEO of Selby Gardens.
“It took a lot of effort to plan for this, but as of today, Selby Gardens will be home to the first net-positive energy botanical garden complex in the world, including the first netpositive energy restaurant.”
The complex is considered net positive because it generates more
energy than it consumes, with an excess amount of 10%.
Serving as its primary power source is a 50,000-square-foot solar array atop the Morganroth Family Living Energy Access Facility, which also contains a parking garage, the
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“It
restaurant The Green Orchid by Michael’s On East, which draws much of its produce from a rooftop garden located in the facility, and The Garden Shop.
Meanwhile, the adjacent Steinwachs Family Plant Research Center provides an additional 7,000 square feet of solar infrastructure though its Elizabeth Moore Rooftop Garden and Solar Array.
Generating 1.27 million kilowatts annually, the solar panels will offset the release of 1,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually, equivalent to the amount sequestered in more than 1,000 acres of forest in the United States, according to John Byrd, associate principal and director of design performance for the architecture and design firm Overland Partners.
supply chain issues, inflation, just to name a few — I couldn’t be more thrilled to be standing with you here today, to see this vision realized,” he said.
Patrick Attwater, CEO of One80 Solar, described the project as taking “five years and pretty much everything I’ve ever learned in my career in the solar industry of 15 years or so.”
So far, everything is running smoothly, with no noticeable differences following the switch to solar power, according to Michael Klauber, owner of The Green Orchid restaurant and Michael’s On East.
Visitors can see the generation of the energy in real time, through monitors on the first floor of Selby Gardens’ welcome center.
There is still more to come with Phase One.
With the solar power now switched on, Selby Gardens is eligible to prove over the next 12 months that the complex warrants the Living Building and Living Community Petal Certification by the International Living Future Institute.
A media release said the master plan has also been guided by the international landscape architecture studio OLIN, civil engineer KimleyHorn, and construction manager Willis Smith, and powered by the Barancik Foundation.
IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER
Selby Gardens becomes world’s first net-positive energy botanical garden complex.
Photos by Ian Swaby
Patrick Attwater, CEO of One80 Solar, flips the switch on solar power.
A flatbread at The Green Orchid restaurant.
Delhia McLaurin, Lisa Bohn, Daniel Entin and Oliver Nussbaum attend as part of Selby Gardens’ Camp Lookout.
Jennifer Rominiecki
Fiscal responsibility
Tax collector shows department’s fiscal soundness during budget workshop as opponent presides.
ANDREW
WARFIELD STAFF WRITER
The two candidates running for Sarasota County Tax Collector met during the Sarasota County Commission’s three-day budget workshop June 19-21 with 10-term incumbent Barbara Ford-Coates, a Democrat, sitting opposite Commission Chairman Mike Moran, a Republican, whose second and final term at the dais expires this fall.
Following a polite intro by Moran, Ford-Coates presented her fiscal year 2025 budget request, sounding much like the fiscal conservative Moran espouses himself to be, perhaps setting the campaign stage for a role that is arguably apolitical.
Ford-Coates’ presentation highlighted the frugal fashion in which she operates the constitutional department, initially pointing out that the average cost for county tax collectors in Florida is 50% higher than her office and 120% higher throughout Southwest Florida.
“To put this in perspective, my budget would be $5 million more if I were operating at the state level and $10 million higher if I were operating at the same rates as other counties in Southwest Florida,” she told commissioners.
For fiscal year 2025, FordCoates’ budget request is for a 5.9%
increase. From just over $11 million to $11.73 million, that’s an increase of $653,818.
“That consists of a 3.2% increase for continuation of services that I do control, and the remaining 2.7% is from expenses that I do not control, including health insurance rates, internal service charges and retirement rates,” Ford-Coates said.
She said in the past 16 years, the annual tax collector’s office increases were among the lowest of all county departments, even though it was required by the state to take over driver’s license services, resulting in a workload increase of 30%, as the county population grew by 25%.
The office employs 103 full-time equivalent positions.
“Because we are able to keep our costs so low, we estimate returning approximately $19 million this year. That represents revenue of $29 million, less our expenses,” she said.
“If this were the private sector, we would call it profit.”
The office generates revenues from fees to collect property taxes, which amounted to $16.3 million to the county in fiscal year 2023. From that, $1.9 million was paid to the tax office from the county’s general fund.
“With the continued high rate of inflation, keeping our continuation increase at only 3.2% is a testament to the efficiency of my staff,” FordCoates said. “Please note that our increase for next year will be more than offset by an increase in revenue of $2 million. I’m happy to answer any questions.” There were none.
GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES FY2009-2025
Dept. FY09 FY25* Difference
of Elections
• BCC = Departments controlled by the Sarasota County Commission
Register to lease short term
Properties citywide that operate as short-term rentals are required to register by Oct. 31.
The
On Feb. 5, the Sarasota City Commission approved on second reading expanding the ordinance from the barrier islands to citywide. The ordinance goes into effect Jan. 1, 2025, but owners have between now and Oct. 31 to file their paperwork with the city.
The cost to register is $500, which includes an initial safety inspection by the city, with an annual renewal fee of $350 and a re-inspection fee, should one be necessary, of $100.
Until now, the city’s prior ordinance applied to the barrier islands only, about 135 properties.
The web-crawling Granicus software used by the city of Sarasota indicates more than 700 homes operated as vacation rentals on the city’s mainland, in response to which residents have complained about disruptions to the ease of enjoyment of their properties.
Requirements of legally operating vacation rentals within the city limits include:
n Minimum stay of seven full days and nights.
n All vacation rentals meeting the state’s definition are required to obtain a vacation rental dwelling license from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
n Obtain a local business tax receipt certificate to operate as a vacation rental business.
n Obtain a certificate of registration with the city to advertise or operate as a vacation rental.
n Owners submit proof of active local and state licensure and tax requirements and inspection for minimum safety and informational standards.
n Pass city inspection.
Homes zoned single family are limited to 10 guests, or two people per bedroom, plus two additional persons.
Additionally, only guests registered to sleep in the vacation rental may be on the property between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.
The city is required to post on its website a summary of the obligations of the property owner related to registration and operation of the vacation rental and the property owner is required to provide to guests details about the city’s noise ordinance. Parking is limited to vehicles that can fit in the driveway.
In addition to safety monitoring, requiring vacation rental property owners to register with the city provides a point of contact with the city government for neighbors in the event of disturbances resulting from the short-term rental use of homes in residential neighborhoods.
More information and registration forms for vacation rentals is available on the city’s website at SarasotaFL. gov.
FRIDAY, JUNE 21
DEFENSE OF HONOR
10:52 p.m., 1500 block of Main
Street
Assault: An officer was flagged down by a man following a scuffle that occurred on the sidewalk along Main Street. The complainant stated he was walking on the sidewalk with his girlfriend when three males approached and began speaking inappropriately to his girlfriend. After responding to the remarks, the complainant said it became physical when the subjects punched both himself and his girlfriend. Although the girlfriend did not wish to report the incident, the complainant said his front tooth was cracked during the altercation and wished to have it documented. The three subjects had already left the scene, though.
SUNDAY, JUNE 23
KEEPING IT COVERED
400 block of Benjamin Franklin
Boulevard
Disturbance: Threats of performing a lewd and lascivious act prompted a complainant to call law enforcement, even though the expressed intent of a man to expose himself never happened. The complainant described the subject, but an initial search of the area yielded negative results.
As officers were preparing to leave, the same complainant flagged them down after locating the subject, who told officers a second unknown person told him to expose himself, at which he became upset. He added that he was waiting for a friend but would leave the area. It was determined he did not fit the criteria for Baker Act or Marchman Act. After stating he lives in Venice, he walked away from the area. It was determined no crime had occurred, although questions about who told him to expose himself — real or imagined — or why remain unanswered.
TUESDAY, JUNE 25
REAL HEAD SLAPPER
10:03 p.m., 1300 block of Main Street
Disturbance: Enjoying a late evening al fresco dining experience, a man told police an unknown female approached and attempted to talk
FRIDAY, JUNE 21
BIRD WATCHING
7:10 p.m., Lido Beach
Dispute: After a woman argued with a man about his proximity to a bird sanctuary enclosure on the beach, an officer responded to investigate. The complainant called to report the man potentially bothering the threatened birds while walking a parasail toward the water, passing too closely to them.
The complainant said she works for a nonprofit that helps keep sea birds like black skimmers safe during mating season. She told an officer the man did not enter the enclosure or touch any birds, but that she told him to get away from the enclosure. The man took exception to her order, which led to a brief verbal altercation before the man continued toward the water.
After discussing the incident with a Florida Wildlife Commission officer, it was determined that no code violation had occurred.
to him. He advised her he could not understand her because of her heavy Spanish accent and she also appeared to be intoxicated, adding she kept repeating the word “black” in reference to his skin color.
The complainant said he “kindly” asked the woman to leave him alone, and when she began to walk away slapped him on the back of the head. He advised that he “gently” pushed her away and immediately contacted law enforcement.
After being identified, an officer spoke with the subject, who was indeed highly intoxicated and could not complete a sentence. It was determined that a battery had occurred, but the complainant declined to press charges. The woman left the area with a friend and with no further incident.
July 4th EVENT
Shared environment
The Resilience Incubator at SunCoast Blood Centers brings together several environmental organizations.
ithin a bucket of compost there are hundreds of thousands of organisms performing work at a microscopic level, said Tracie Troxler, executive director of Sunshine Community Compost.
She said those microbes are the ones performing much of the composting work; staff are just working with them.
She also said that a new Resilience Incubator, a collaboration involving 11 area nonprofits in a shared office space, will bring together environmental advocates in a way similar to how the components of the natural world collaborate.
The new office space at the Suncoast Blood Bank held its ribbon cutting June 28.
“It’s like a mirror of the ecosystem,” Troxler said. “The more healthy the ecosystem is here, the more healthy the ecosystem is outdoors.”
HOME FOR IDEAS
A multiorganization collaboration
itself has been behind the establishment of the collective.
Envisioned by Amber Whittle, executive director of Southface Sarasota, the Resilience Incubator is hosted at the SunCoast Blood Bank facility and supported by the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, the Gulf Coast Community Foundation and the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.
Joan Leonard, community liaison for SunCoast Blood Centers, described the space’s ability to drive blood donations in the community as she spoke to attendees at the ribbon cutting.
She said it would also help save
Photos by Ian Swaby
Back: Joyce Norris, Community Harvest SRQ; Joan Leonard, Suncoast Blood Centers; Matt Sauer, the Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation; Kirsten Russell, Community Foundation of Sarasota County; Kameron Hodgens, Gulf Coast Community Foundation; Amber Whittle of Southface Sarasota; Elizabeth Moore, Suncoast Stargazers; Tracie Troxler, Sunshine Community Compost; Rich Scissors, Florida Veterans for Common Sense; and José García of Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay. Front: Jasmin Graham of Minorities in Shark Sciences and Abbey Tyrna of Suncoast Waterkeeper
Tracie Troxler and Alex Thompson of Sunshine Community Compost
NONPROFITS IN THE RESILIENCE INCUBATOR
■ Community Harvest SRQ
■ Elizabeth Moore / Suncoast Stargazers
■ Florida Veterans For Common Sense Fund Inc.
■ Minorities in Shark Sciences
■ Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay
■ Sarasota Bay Watch
■ Southeast Sustainability Directors Network
■ Southface
■ Suncoast Waterkeeper
■ Sunshine Community Compost
■ The Recycling Partnership
lives through environmental and veterans’ causes, and add to “everything that we’re doing to create this community as it grows by leaps and bounds.”
Indeed, with nonprofits varying in their focus, plenty of diverse perspectives were on offer, and the space even contains room for additional nonprofits.
Veterans were one group that was well represented.
Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay performs construction and building rehabilitation for low-income seniors and veterans. Brandy Canada, its senior director of operations, said there are numerous environmental considerations involved in its construction work.
“There’s a lot of energy efficiency and global stuff that ties into resiliency for the community, and then ... we piggyback off of that by doing the inner area, the neighborhoods, the families, the people that are growing up here,” she said.
“We’ve been concerned about climate change for a long time because it is a national security risk,” said Rich Scissors, a volunteer with Florida Veterans for Common Sense.
Scissors said some issues that affect the military are impacts to military bases due to sea level rise, natural disasters, mass migration due to the climate and poor operating
conditions.
Jasmin Graham, president and CEO of Minorities in Shark Sciences, is also eager to bring another perspective — while helping to increase its presence in the scientific community overall.
“We bring that lens to this space of making sure that when we’re thinking about protecting our environment, who are we protecting it for, who’s involved, who gets to be part of those conversations?” Graham said.
“I think that we bring that important aspect to this group, and so I’m really excited to see how we can weave our environmental justice with all of these other organizations’ great work.”
Expectation for the new space is that members of different organizations will have the chance to share ideas, both formally and informally, and even personnel and equipment.
“To be a part of this space is amazing; it’s an amazing opportunity to have, especially for some of the younger folks here to be able to share their ideas and what they would like to see for the future,” Canada said.
Members of individual organizations who previously were limited in their ability to collaborate in person, now have the ability to do so as well.
“We moved out of our houses and came here, so it’s really great to not be working in my dining room,” said
Abbey Tyrna, executive director of Suncoast Waterkeeper.
Whittle said the space will also help provide training opportunities to the nonprofits, many of which are small and volunteer-driven, helping them manage needs like events, fundraising and strategic planning.
Speaking to attendees at the ribbon cutting, Whittle described the experience of finally seeing the vision of the collaboration come to fruition.
“The Resilience Incubator will allow us to collaborate formally and informally, increase our impact on the community and learn from each other and from our partners,” she said. “So from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you all for this journey and for believing in me and our dream.”
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Residency: Internal Medicine, University of Connecticut, Farmington, Connecticut
Certification: Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Geriatric Medicine
Hospital Affiliations: Doctors Hospital; Sarasota Memorial Hospital
ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
The art OF IMPROV joy
MARTY FUGATE
Improv comedy doesn’t just happen. No. Strike that.
Should’ve said …
Improv comedy does just happen. It’s spontaneous by definition.
That said, this spontaneous combustion of comedy needs a place to happen. A crucible, an incubator, a stage. A place where improv artists can sharpen each other’s skills. A place where an improv audience can gather and grow. Creating that kind of space demands commitment and planning. That’s where Florida Studio Theatre comes in.
Back in 2001, it launched the FST Improv troupe. At the time, it was the only unscripted comedy game in town. The troupe rehearsed and learned backstage. They offered intermittent improv shows on FST’s cabaret stage. In 2004, they ratcheted it up to year-round performances.
FST’s annual Sarasota Improv Festival creates spontaneous comedy with careful planning.
“I actually had two goals,” she says. “I wanted to expose local improv artists to the exciting national scene. I also wanted to expand the Sarasota improv audience.”
Hopkins adds that improv comedy was still an emerging art form in 2009.
“Whose Line is It Anyway,” it’s like that. So, we got the message across. We sold tickets — and we sold out! Our first festival was a total success.” Hopkins laughs. “I was just as surprised as anybody.”
The attendees left sweating, but they left happy. If we could pull off the festival under those conditions, why stop with just the one? We knew we had to do it again.”
In 2009, FST took it to a whole new level. The theater launched its first Sarasota Improv Festival. FST Managing Director Rebecca Hopkins was FST’s improv director at the time. Why create an improv festival? What was her goal?
“Sarasota was a sophisticated arts town, but we’d somehow missed out on the art of improv,” she says. “To get the festival off the ground, I had to find a way to explain it to them. People would ask me, ‘What the heck is improv?’ I’d say, ‘If you’ve seen
IF YOU GO
She had originally envisioned the Sarasota Improv Festival as a oneand-done event. Its surprising success led to a change of plans.
“We built it and they came,” she says. “More importantly … they stayed! Our 2009 improv festival had all kinds of challenges — including a total breakdown of our AC system.
The 2024 Sarasota Improv Festival
When: July 12-13
Where: at Florida Studio Theatre campus, 1265 First St. Single tickets: $10 and $25
Passes: $75 for two days; $59 for Saturday; $49 for Friday
Info: Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org for a full schedule of performances.
FST decided to make the improv festival a yearly happening. Its repeat performance in 2010 was an even bigger smash than its inaugural event. Yet again, the shows all sold out, 2011’s festival was even bigger — and 2012 topped that.
As the improv festival blossomed, FST was simultaneously expanding its campus. It transformed the
The Austin, Texas, comedy troupe Available Cupholders returns to the Sarasota Improv Festival on July 12-13.
Tropical Punchlines will appear at the Sarasota Improv Festival on Saturday, July 13.
old TheatreWorks auditorium into the Gompertz Theatre — a space comprising two cabaret stages and a mainstage. That allowed FST to keep ticket prices low by running three simultaneous improv shows at different venues.
The 21st century rolled on. FST’s more-is-more strategy worked like a charm. Year after year, the improv festival kept growing. Area improv artists grew with it.
Locally and regionally, the festival nurtured homegrown talents. Will Luera is FST’s current improv director. He describes the festival’s regional impact as “transformative.”
INSPIRING THE CREATION OF NEW TROUPES
“The festival brought world-class improvisers to our doorstep, exposing local talent and audiences to the craft’s cutting edge,” Luera says. “We’ve seen area performers grow by leaps and bounds after participating in festival workshops and sharing the stage with legends.”
FST’s annual festival also inspired the creation of several Sarasota improv groups, including Lazy Fairy Improv and the Early Bird Specials. It also helped jump-start Tampa’s vibrant improv scene.
Nationally, the festival put Sarasota on the improv comedy map. Its honor roll of visiting troupes includes Dad’s Garage of Atlanta, the Upright Citizens Brigade, based in New York City and Los Angeles, and Available Cupholders from Austin, Texas.
These A-list improvisers definitely entertained area audiences. But they also interacted with local improv talents. As a result, Sarasota became part of a national (and international) improv network. And an improv destination rivaling the scene in Austin, Los Angeles and New York City.
The Sarasota Improv Festival’s exponential growth made it the leading celebration of its unscripted art form in the Southeastern U.S. This growth continued until 2020.
Then the pandemic happened. That was spontaneous, too. Unlike improv, it wasn’t funny at all.
Sarasota’s stages all went dark. FST was no exception. It canceled the real-life 2020 Sarasota Improv Festival. But improv artists think fast. The show still went on — in virtual reality. The fest was a Zoomonly event that bummer summer.
In 2023, the Sarasota Improv Festival came back strong in the real world. Hopkins wasn’t surprised.
“The improv festival brings people together,” she says. “After COVID killed the party, the community was eager to share in the celebration — and laugh themselves silly.”
Hopkins laughs at the memory.
“It was kind of like hitting the reset dial,” she says. “Our last live festival was 2019. After that, we went through a three-year gap until our next live shows. During that time, Sarasota had a whole new crop of residents and visitors. We couldn’t assume they’d all been to the festival — or had ever been exposed to improv comedy.”
That old question popped up again: What the heck is improv comedy?
“We had to explain it all … again. It was back to ‘Improv Comedy 101.’
But we filled the seats — and the 2023 audience left happy this time, too,” Hopkins says.
She smiles. “I expect we’ll do it again.”
The comedy troupe Dad’s Garage will perform at the Sarasota Improv Festival on July 12-13.
THIS WEEK
THURSDAY
‘RHINESTONE COWGIRLS’
7 p.m. at FST’s Goldstein Cabaret, 1239 N. Palm Ave.
$18-$42
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
Created by Nancy Allen Productions, this musical tribute to some of the first ladies of country features such classics as Patsy Cline’s “Crazy,” Tammy Wynette’s “Stand by Your Man” and Carrie Underwood’s “Last Name.” Runs through July 28.
‘THE MUSIC OF LAUREL CANYON’
7 p.m. at FST’s Court Cabaret, 1265 First St., Sarasota
$18-$42
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
If you know, you know. But not everyone knows about Laurel Canyon, the neighborhood above West Hollywood’s Sunset Strip that became home to folk musicians such as Joni Mitchell, Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young and The Mamas and the Papas. Runs through Aug. 25.
‘DEAR JACK, DEAR LOUISE’
7 p.m. at FST’s Keating Theatre, 1241 N. Palm Ave.
$29-$46
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
Acclaimed playwright Ken Ludwig tells the story of his parents’ courtship during World War II. The play follows U.S. Army Capt. Jack Ludwig, a military doctor stationed in Oregon, who begins a life-changing pen-pal relationship with Louise Rabiner, an aspiring actress living in the Big Apple. Runs through Aug. 11.
DON’T MISS THE SARASOTA PLAYERS NEW PLAY FESTIVAL
Not only is Sarasota a hotbed of live theater, it is also an incubator for playwriting, especially during the summer months. For more than two decades, the Sarasota Players has hosted its new play festival, a week of readings of never-heard-before works with local directors and actors. Playwrights compete for the opportunity to have their plays produced with full sets, costumes, lighting and sound.
IF YOU GO When: 7:30 p.m. July 8-12
Where: at 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 1130 Tickets: $10 each night Info: Visit ThePlayers.org.
FRIDAY
OPENING RECEPTION FOR ‘GLOBAL RHYTHMS’ QUILT EXHIBIT
5-7 p.m. at Art Ovation Hotel, 1255 N. Palm Ave.
Free
Visit ArtOvationHotel.com.
Bradenton artist Michael R. Stevenson brings his bold quilts to the Art Ovation Hotel for a four-day residency. Stevenson comes from four generations of quilters but did not take up his textile art until retiring as a professor. His meticulously crafted quilts incorporate pieces he has collected from his travels over the years. Following the opening reception, Stevenson will be in residency each day from 4-8 p.m. through July 8.
CLASSIC MOVIES AT THE OPERA HOUSE: ‘ON THE WATERFRONT’
7:30 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave. $12 Visit SarasotaOpera.org.
Escape the summer heat with an air-conditioned screening of Elia Kazan’s classic film “On the Waterfront” at the Sarasota Opera House. The film’s stars, Marlon Brando and Eve Marie Saint, look different on the big screen than they do if you stream the gritty tale on your laptop. The famous words, “I coulda been a contender” take on a whole new meaning.
SATURDAY
OUR PICK SUMMER CIRCUS SPECTACULAR
If you’ve never seen a performance in The Ringling’s jewelbox venue, the Historic Asolo Theater, here’s your chance. Presided over by Ringmaster Jared Walker, the Summer Circus Spectacular includes contortionist Uranbileg Angarag, acrobatic hand balancers The Bello Sisters, hair hang artist Camille Langlois, slack wire performer Antino Pansa and clown Renaldo, a veteran of the Big Apple Circus. Runs through Aug. 17.
IF YOU GO When: 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., Friday, July 5
Where: at Historic Asolo Theater, 5401 Bay Shore Road Tickets: $20 adults; $15 kids Info: Visit Ringling.org.
‘FREEDOM THE MUSICAL’
7:30 p.m. at FST’s Bowne’s Lab, 1265 First St. $15-$18 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
Feeling patriotic but looking for a laugh? Florida Studio Theatre Improv explores “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Laughter” in this one-night-only performance that promises to reveal the secret history of the American Revolution.
‘RADICAL CLAY’
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The Ringling Art Museum, 5401 Bay Shore Road Free with museum admission of $25; free Mondays and $15 from 5-8 p.m. on Thursdays Visit Ringling.org.
Like women in other parts of the world, Japanese female artists have historically faced opposition to pursuing careers. “Radical Clay,” an exhibition of 41 ceramic sculptures by 36 contemporary artists, includes the works of veterans such as Mishima Kimiyo and Tsuboi Asuka and relative newcomers Mori Aya and Kawaura Saki.
Royal Opera House conducted by Koen Kessels.
WEDNESDAY
JAZZ HAPPY HOUR
6 p.m. at Geldbart Auditorium, Selby Library, 1331 First St. Free with reservation Visit JazzHappyHour.org.
The Sarasota Music Archive presents the Kevin Celebi Septet, “Hamonic Sanity.” Light refreshments are available.
Film and TV actor Steve Hytner brings his considerable talents to stand-up comedy in this special onenight show. Hytner is well known to TV sitcom fans for his appearances on “Seinfeld,” “Modern Family,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and many other hits.
Courtesy images
What Florida state budget cuts mean for Sarasota arts
Arts and Cultural Alliance
CEO Brian Hersh talks about the community’s response.
Sarasota arts organizations got some unwelcome news last month when they learned that $32 million earmarked for state cultural grants in fiscal 2025 had been rejected by Gov. Ron DeSantis. When he signed the fiscal 2025 budget into law on June 12, DeSantis vetoed cultural and museum grants as part of $950 million in funding cuts. Of that, the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County estimates $3 million was destined for Sarasota’s vibrant arts community. The Cultural Alliance says the cuts don’t make sense economically because of the valuable role the arts play in attracting tourism and generating income and employment in Sarasota, which has been trademarked “Florida’s Cultural Coast.”
According to the Cultural Alliance, nearly half (47.5%) of all attendees at arts performances and events are from outside the county, and 2.3 million attendees participate in cultural events in Sarasota County each year.
As employers, nonprofit arts groups contribute more than $176 million annually to household income within the county, the alliance says.
Brian Hersh, Arts and Cultural Alliance president and CEO, took time to discuss what the arts grants cuts, which are unprecedented in the history of the state’s cultural funding, mean for local cultural groups.
Were you surprised by Gov. DeSantis’ recent rejection of arts funding grants in the latest budget?
The cuts were unprecedented. It hasn’t happened since the state started the program in the late ’70s.
Will Sarasota’s arts and tourism be hurt by these cuts?
All of the organizations that will not receive funding from the state will be negatively impacted.
Sarasota’s cultural institutions have bounced back from pandemic disruptions to a greater extent that some of their peers across the country. Do these cuts have the potential to derail that progress?
Any funding cut is a setback.
How does Sarasota promote itself as an arts destination?
Our friends at Visit Sarasota County have trademarked Sarasota as Florida’s Cultural Coast. When you look at our population size and see how many arts organizations we have (as well as individual artists), you can see Sarasota County has
a tremendous breadth of arts and culture.
In addition to the depth of arts and culture, Sarasota County produces performances and exhibitions of high artistic excellence.
These elements are what set Sarasota apart, especially when paired with our stunning beaches.
What is your view of government’s role in the arts?
Public support of the arts is incredibly important, especially while ensuring arts and culture is accessible to the community.
Is there any evidence that government funding of the arts helps stimulate economic growth?
Many studies have shown the economic impact and vitality of arts and culture. A recent survey from Americans for the Arts showed the return on investment was nine to one. For every dollar invested, the return was $9. That’s quite a positive impact.
Does the Arts & Cultural Alliance have any plans to help members offset these cuts?
We can continue to convene and collaborate across the arts and cultural sector among organizations and artists. There are opportunities, but many of these things take time.
What we want to continue to convey in Sarasota, across the state, country and international markets is that Sarasota is a vibrant community — with arts and culture as an important aspect of our identity.
Sarasota has generous individual donors and community foundations that help support the arts. Can they be counted upon to make up the difference in funding?
Support from donors and philanthropic organizations will be incredibly important. Individuals can help, of course, with donations. In addition to making a donation, community members can also help support the arts by buying a ticket or entrance to an exhibition or by becoming a member.
Individuals can also volunteer. Find a way to help fill a need for our many organizations by rolling up your sleeves. Our organizations have great stories to tell. Be sure to share these stories on social media. These are just a few ways to help out now. Arts and culture goes beyond economic impact. Arts builds community. Quality of life is important, and arts and culture go a long way toward stimulating the vibrancy and well-being within Sarasota County.
Nancy Guth
Brian Hersh spent more than 20 years in the field of nonprofit arts administration before becoming president and CEO of the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County in June 2023.
,500,000
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YOUR NEIGHBORS
THE FABRIC OF HISTORY
Members of local patriotic organizations explain what it takes to re-create the fashions of the Revolutionary War era.
FIND OUT MORE
For more information on DAR and SAR, visit DAR.org and SAR.org.
To browse historical costumes, visit Townsends. US and Samson Historical. com.
IAN SWABY | STAFF WRITER
John Adams once wrote in a letter to James Warren that silks, velvets and lace were materials that must be dispensed with, according to Daughters of the American Revolution member Mary Beth McLeod.
“They saw them as extravagances, and, of course, they came from Britain, so what they wanted to do was not buy the tea, not buy the silks, not buy the fabrics,” she said of society during the era of the American Revolution.
So it goes for those in the present day looking to re-create the fashions of the past.
Some who are doing so include members of the Sara De Soto Daughters of the American Revolution chapter and the Saramana Sons of the American Revolution chapters, who can often be seen wearing their costumes at patriotic events throughout the year.
“It’s actually quite fun,” said DAR member Jenny Robbins of the costumes. “It’s so different than what we wear now, and it’s interesting to get an idea of what our ancestors experienced in their day-to-day lives.”
SEWING HISTORY
Those who wear the costumes say the attire helps them feel connected to the patriots of the past.
That’s the concept on which both DAR and SAR were founded. Both organizations are open only to those who can prove descent from someone who participated in or aided the cause of the American Revolutionary War.
There are multiple ways to find 18th-century attire, one of them being as easy as ordering from an online retailer.
Robbins and her husband, Jeff Robbins, who belongs to SAR, often purchase their costumes from two retailers of 18th-century historical attire, Townsends and Samson Historical.
“I have different jackets and heavy coats from both companies, and I can mix and match those easily,” Jenny Robbins said.
On the other hand, McLeod sews her own garments.
“The problem with purchasing some of the outfits is they use the
wrong textiles, so I won’t purchase them if they’re the wrong textiles. I’ll make my own,” she said. “I can make it my own too. I like certain colors, and I like certain styles. Sometimes you can’t find those exact things that you want.”
McLeod’s interest in costumes began when she became a Civil War reenactor with Company K, to which she still belongs. She carried her hobby with her into DAR.
McLeod had long held an interest in history, having grown up in the town of Deerfield, Massachusetts, location of the Raid on Deerfield in 1704 during Queen Anne’s War.
Her work involves meticulous research and the use of the simpler fabrics that are permitted by the time period, such as linens, cottons and wools, materials she said are easy to obtain today.
McLeod showcased for the Observer what was known as a riding jacket, representing a more affluent individual planning to go horseback riding.
She noted the style of the garments as befitting the time period.
“The styles were tight-fitted; the sleeves were tight,” she said, also noting the lace in the front of the garment, as well as the feature of the skirts being open in the front and showcasing the petticoat, something she said was stylish at the time.
When sewing these garments, it’s important to keep the stitching simple, she said.
“It has to be straight stitch,” McLeod said. “A lot of these new sewing machines have fancy stitching on them. You don’t do that.”
Her research ensures each detail of the outfit is authentic; her Civil War outfits even incorporate real buttons from the era.
Finding buttons from as long ago as the Revolutionary War proves to be a challenge, but she still incorporates replicas of ornate buttons that she buys.
“They had simple ones and they had elaborate ones, depending on
who you were, so I’m representing a woman that has a little bit of money,” McLeod said.
Topping off the whole setup was a tricorn hat she created by pinning up a regular round-brimmed hat. She decorated the hat with ostrich feathers, which are much harder to find than in the 18th century, when they were a sought-after commodity, she said.
However, she said there is one store in Sarasota that carries them: Hobby Lobby.
While she has given away outfits over the years, she keeps six at home right now.
“It’s part of the DAR experience,” McLeod said. “They like to let the public know what we’re all about, and it’s fun for the public to see you dressed like this, and they appreciate it. You have no idea how many people come up to me and thank me for portraying this person and showing them how they dress and explaining it to them.”
Among SAR and DAR members, you may also find some outfits less typical of the era.
Craig Paige finds that when serving in the color guard for SAR, his outfit, which he describes as looking at bit like the one of Andre the Giant’s character in “The Princess Bride,” draws some questions.
His costume, which he ordered from Townsends, is based on his ancestor having served as a privateer, or a sailor who had the role of attacking enemy ships for the Continental Congress.
It features slops, or very loosefitting pants designed for maneuverability, and he also carries tools including a replica boarding axe, which privateers would have used to
latch onto the side of a ship they were trying to overtake.
The costume and his ancestry have special significance for Paige, who served for four years in the Navy and 24 in the Coast Guard.
“I spent a lifetime, and naval service between the Navy and the Coast Guard. That was very cool for me to find out that I have an ancestor that did that as well, for the Revolutionary War,” he said.
Although some, including McLeod and Paige find that their outfits are extremely comfortable, wearing clothing from centuries ago can be inconvenient for those used to the luxuries of modern attire.
One reason is the lack of specific right and left shoes.
Craig Paige’s wife, Colleen Paige, who, as a nonmember, enjoys dressing up in honor of her husband’s ancestors, opts for modern shoes.
“I have a pair of those, and they’re not very comfortable at all. I don’t know how people walked around in them,” she said.
Jeff Robbins also highlighted the series of six buttons used to fasten men’s pants.
“I do think that the greatest invention probably was from Whitcomb Judson, who, in 1892, patented the zipper, so we owe a lot to Mr. Judson,” he said.
“I do think it is interesting to think about,” Jenny Robbins said. “It was just regular people who took up the cause to fight for their independence, and it’s impressive, I think that they chose to do that, because it certainly wasn’t easy … I’m very proud of my ancestors. I think it inspires you to be a better Patriot, or American.”
Jenny and Jeff Robbins
Ian Swaby
Mary Beth McLeod showcases hats and other components of her costume.
Courtesy images
The Saramana Sons of the American Revolution color guard at the Daughters of the American Revolution Flag Day Luncheon, with Craig Paige (second from left)
Growth opportunities
The girls at Girls Inc. already have gardens where they can grow their own vegetables, so a flower-planting activity on June 26 at the Girls Inc. facility in Sarasota in collaboration with Suntory Flowers and Sun-Fire Nurseries fit right in with their experience.
“We are thrilled; the girls love to garden, love to plant,” said Angie Stringer, president and CEO of Girls Inc.
She said the plants were also a “perfect” tie-in with the organization’s Grow the Girl campaign, supporting girls and women ages 9-24 in a variety of ways, including athletic skills,
healthy habits and relationships. It also tied in with the Fourth of July, with the flowers (almost) sporting patriotic colors, with their combination of red, white and purple.
Renee Phinney of Palm Printing and Glen Rieth of Royal-Tees Screen Printing & Embroidery, both supporters of Girls Inc., helped create the businessto-nonprofit connection.
Delilah Onofrey of Suntory Flowers said that after supporting Girls Inc. through donations, the Japan-based company was glad to finally become involved on a personal level.
Connecting with your doctor when you need them most is crucial.
At Gulfshore Personalized Care, it’s possible to meet your medical needs anywhere at any time. Thomas Arne Jr., DO, FACC, proudly offers patientcentered care through concierge services, such as 24/7 access and same-day visits. Call us to schedule your no-obligation meet & greet with Dr. Arne today.
Dr. Arne
1250 S Tamiami Trail, Suite 401, Sarasota, FL 34239 941-366-2194 | gulfshorepc.com
Photos by Ian Swaby
Anastasia V., 8, Penelope O., 9, and Mya R., 8, pot the plants.
Beach watch
Off-duty lifeguard saves seven people from rip current at Lido Beach.
OBSERVER STAFF
An off-duty lifeguard is credited with saving seven swimmers on June 22, when rip currents swept them more than 200 yards off Lido Beach, Sarasota County officials said. Sarasota County Fire Department Lifeguard Mariano Martinez was relaxing at Lido Beach after his shift when he received a water rescue alert through a phone app, according to a news release from the county. A storm had just passed through the area, creating conditions for rip currents — powerful channels of water capable of pulling even the strongest swimmers out to deeper waters.
Despite being off duty, Martinez said his instincts kicked in and he leapt into action, grabbing a rescue tube and entering the water.
Upon reaching the swimmers more than 200 yards offshore, Martinez discovered nine swimmers, most of them in distress.
Martinez, in Spanish, urged the group to stay as calm as possible. He quickly secured one swimmer with a rescue tube, helping a mother and daughter to shore before returning for five others. The remaining two people were able to swim out of the current and get to shore on their own.
He made multiple trips to rescue the remaining swimmers, using bodyboards to bring them back to shore safely.
“I have, always, in my car, or wherever I am, my rescue stuff because I love responding,” said Martinez, a six-year veteran lifeguard for the county, with 15 years of lifeguarding experience in his home country of Argentina.
“I can’t explain the feeling,” said
Martinez. “You cannot explain when you are watching a person and his or her life is in your hands.”
Six of the rescued swimmers were evaluated, and one was treated and released at the scene by Sarasota County Fire Department personnel.
“It’s days like this that make the work we do so rewarding,” said Sarasota County Fire Department Lifeguard Chief Rick Hinkson.
Rip currents are dangerous. Swimmers are advised to always stay near a lifeguard and know their limits. If there’s ever a doubt about whether they should enter the water, don’t take the risk.
If caught in a rip current, remain calm, signal for help and swim parallel to the shore until out of the current’s grip, then head diagonally towards the shoreline, the news release said.
For Sarasota County beach conditions, visit VisitBeaches.org. Sarasota County Fire Department lifeguards are on duty, in their stands from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. daily on six beaches: Lido, Siesta, Nokomis, North Jetty, Venice and Manasota. Learn more about rip currents and rip current safety at NOAA.gov.
St. Armands couture
St. Armands had a French makeover on June 25 and styled itself after St. Tropez.
Cafe L’Europe partnered with Sarasota boutique T. Georgiano’s for its first fashion show. Fashion enthusiasts and Cafe L’Europe regulars mixed and mingled in bright and elegant fashions to accompany the event’s St. Tropez theme.
“I have been wanting to do a fashion show for a while now,” said Ashley Watts, director of catering sales at Cafe L’Europe. “After putting feelers out, everyone mentioned how great T. Georgiano’s and Tatyana were. She loved the idea, and it turned out to be this fabulous event.”
After a cocktail hour with the cafe’s hors d’oeuvres, the show began with a runway that ran through the restaurant’s two back rooms and down its bar. Models strutted through the crowd of 90 people in a variety of unique looks, including swimwear and cocktail attire from T. Georgiano’s.
DJ Rossy Weiss curated an upbeat and fun environment with music for the models to dance to while guests applauded them down the runway. Along with DJ-ing the event, Weiss is the designer of the line Aquamala Swimwear, which was featured in the show.
— PETRA RIVERA
Liz’s plan to keep Sarasota moving forward:
Drastically reducing the number of homeless individuals in the City
Creating and improving our public parks and green spaces, such as The Bay, Bobby Jones Golf Course and Nature Park, and the new playground and splash pad at Bayfront Park
Creating incentives to preserve our historic structures
Making our Downtown more vibrant and walkable while maintaining its charm
Championing incentives to create more attainable workforce housing
Increasing transportation options such as the trolley, electric scooters and bikes, and dedicated bike lanes
Working with our Arts & Cultural Institutions to make sure their future in our City is protected
Reducing violent crime and supporting law enforcement
Photos by Petra Rivera
Cafe L’Europe Director of Catering Sales Ashley Watts
T. Georgiano’s models finish the show in bright orange blazers.
Tami McDermott, Kim Verreault, Danielle Gladding, Melinda Foster and Alison Kanter
T. Georgiano’s model KJ
Ramona Glanz and Andrew Vac
Sandy Endres and Nancy Chanos
$12,000,000
$2,850,000
Ritz-Carlton condo tops sales at $4.6M
ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR
Acondominium in Block 6 of the RitzCarlton Residences tops all transactions in this week’s real estate.
Janet Oliver, trustee, and Ron Damele, of St. Helena, California, sold the Unit 1204 condominium at 401 Quay Commons to Marc Gineris, of Dallas, for $4.6 million. Built in 2021, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 2,984 square feet of living area. It sold for $2,535,700 in 2021.
SARASOTA
BEAU CIEL
Karen and Neal Neilinger, of Greenwich, Connecticut, sold their Unit 603 condominium at 990 Boulevard of the Arts to Timothy Matthews, Laura Hope and Stephen Matthews, trustees, of Ontario, Canada, for $2.29 million. Built in 2003, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 2,335 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,065,300 in 2014.
MARBLEHEAD
Stephen Vigar and Margot Leonard sold their home at 2514 Marblehead Drive to George Rauch IV and Kathleen Hogan Rauch, of Sarasota, for $2,248,600. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,978 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,425,000 in 2020.
INDIAN BEACH ESTATES
Don David Price, trustee, and Marcia Wood, of Sarasota, sold the home at 5320 Eastchester Drive to Beatrice Fernandez and Nancy Jill Platkin, of Sarasota, for $1,575,000. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,294 square feet of living area. It sold for $90,000 in 1995.
BURNS COURT VILLAS
Hobart and Janis Swan, of Sarasota, sold their Unit 16 condominium at 1521 Oak St. to Michelle Mogavero, trustee, of Chicago, for $1,525,000. Built in 2007, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,910 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.05 million in 2020.
Q Douglas and Lisa Pratt, of Bradenton, sold their home at 255 Cosmopolitan Court to The Real Estate Parking Co. for $1,325,200. Built in 2016, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 2,586 square feet of living area. It sold for $995,000 in 2021.
SARASOTA BAY CLUB
Sarasota Bay Club LLC sold the Unit 401 condominium at 1301 Tamiami Trail to Michael and Janet McHugh, of Sarasota, for $1.24 million. Built
in 2000, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,832 square feet of living area. It sold for $525,000 in 2015.
THE CONDOMINIUM ON THE BAY
Kristen Comeau, trustee, of Alexandria, Virginia, sold the Unit 712 condominium at 988 Boulevard of the Arts to Ali Omar El-Haj and Samar El-Haj, of Sarasota, for $1.24 million. Built in 1982, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,729 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,235,000 in 2022.
MCCLELLAN PARK 1750 South Oval Road LLC sold the home at 1750 S. Oval Drive to Oval Street LLC for $1,125,000. Built in 1928, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,360 square feet of living area. It sold for $850,000 in 2022.
SOUTH GATE
Audria Gardner Wooster sold the home at 2531 Siesta Drive to Todd Page and Liceth Page, trustees, of Bradenton, for $925,000. Built in 1959, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,998 square feet. It sold for $146,000 in 2012.
EAGLES POINT AT THE LANDINGS
Robert Edgar Goodman and Sondra Kay Goodman sold their Unit 101 condominium at 5440 Eagles Point Circle to Zone Management Group Inc. for $795,000. Built in 1996, it has three bedrooms, two-and-ahalf baths and 1,936 square feet of living area. It sold for $780,000 in January.
Paul Douglas Wilson and Jayne Ann Wilson, of Carmel, Indiana, sold their Unit 201 condominium at 5440 Eagles Point Circle to Dennis Malchow, trustee, of Naperville, Illinois, for $790,000. Built in 1996, it has three bedrooms, two-and-ahalf baths and 1,936 square feet of living area. It sold for $520,000 in 2009.
1350 MAIN RESIDENTIAL
Jennifer Van Langen and Sandra Van
Langen, of Sarasota, sold their Unit 803 condominium at 1350 Main St. to Michael Parrish and Barbara Parrish, trustees, of Sarasota, for $727,000. Built in 2007, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,336 square feet of living area. It sold for $535,000 in 2019.
ONLINE
See more transactions at YourObserver.com
Other top sales by area
SIESTA KEY: $3,355,000
Tortoise Estates
Neil and Violet Rosenblit, of Palm Coast, sold their home at 1241 Tree Bay Lane to Val Elizarov, of Sarasota, for $3,355,000. Built in 1984, it has five bedrooms, five-anda-half baths, a pool and 7,343 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.82 million in 2018.
PALMER RANCH:
$915,000
The Hamptons
Barry and Barbara Gerber, trustees, of Sarasota, sold the home at 4952 Bridgehampton Blvd. to Scott and Carol Townsley, of Long Beach Township, New Jersey, for $915,000. Built in 2000, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,494 square feet of living area. It sold for $375,000 in 2002.
NOKOMIS: $875,000
Mission Valley Estates
Steven and Joan Johnson sold their home at 1820 Mission Valley Blvd. to Ariel and Kenia Acosta, of Nokomis, for $875,000. Built in 2015, it has three bedrooms, two baths, and 2,172 square feet of living area.
File image
The Unit 1204 condominium in the Ritz-Carlton Residences has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 2,984 square feet of living area.
YOUR CALENDAR
BEST BET
SATURDAY, JULY 6
NAMASTE AT THE BAY WITH MICHELLE ROY
9-10 a.m. at Bayfront Community Center, 803 N. Tamiami Trail. Free. Enjoy a yoga session with Michelle Roy, who has been teaching since 2001 and practicing massage therapy since 2007 and incorporates Reiki and aromatherapy into her practice. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.
SATURDAY, JULY 6
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hamlet’s Eatery, 821 Apricot Ave. $4 beer. Enjoy a wide variety of hot dog toppings, with meat and vegan hot dogs, and listen to live music as Hamlet’s Eatery celebrates Hot Dog Day. Visit HamletsEatery.com.
CODING CLUB
2-3 p.m. at Selby Library, 1331 First St. Free. Meet and learn from other coders while you work on your coding project in this club led by Levi Szantosi. Visit SCGovLibrary. LibraryMarket.com.
MONDAY, JULY 8 TO FRIDAY, JULY 12
WRITING BOOTCAMP
3:30-5 p.m., Monday to Friday, at Youth Program Room, Selby Library, 1331 First St. Free. Creative Writing Professor Emily Carr helps participants creatively express stories from their own lives through Moth-style storytelling, performed on stage. Visit SCGovLibrary.LibraryMarket. com.
TUESDAY, JULY 9
THE Y: BOOTCAMP
6-6:45 p.m. at The Oval, The Bay Park, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. This 45-minute workout led by fitness professionals from The Y uses body-weight exercises to improve your strength and condi-
tioning. Bring a mat or towel, and a water bottle for hydration. Visit TheBaySarasota.org
TRAVELOGUE: THE GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS
2-3:30 p.m. at Gulf Gate Library, 7112 Curtiss Ave. Free. Ages 18 and up. Traveler Jane Mahler discusses the Galápagos Islands. Follow in Charles Darwin’s footsteps by learning about the sites he visited in 1835 on these islands located 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador known for their diversity of plant and animal life. Visit SCGovLibrary.LibraryMarket.com.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 10
KNITTING AND CROCHETING
CLUB
10:15 a.m. to noon at Fruitville Library, 100 Apex Road. Free. Join this group at the Fruitville Library to practice your crochet projects. All ages and skill levels are welcome. Visit SCGovLibrary.LibraryMarket. com.
ESCAPE ROOM: AREA 51
1-3 p.m. at Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Library, 2801 Newtown Blvd. Free. For sixth graders and up. Discover the truth of whether aliens are real in the library’s Area 51 escape room. Registration takes place the day of the event. Visit SCGovLibrary.LibraryMarket.com.
SPORTS
Fast Break
Seth Mahlmeister
been a top offensive threat for the Sarasota Paradise.
Sarasota Paradise soccer attacker Seth Mahlmeister is tied for 11th in USL League Two in goals (8) as of July 1, four behind league leader Alec Hughes of the Western Mass Pioneers. The Paradise are in first place in the South Florida division with 20 points after nine games. The team’s final home game is at 7:30 p.m. July 9 against Miami AC. The Dick Vitale Gala announced June 28 that its 2025 event, its 20th anniversary, will be May 2 at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. The event will feature University of Connecticut men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley, Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive lineman Michael Strahan, Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame guard Grant Hill, ESPN anchor Hannah Storm and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame guard Nancy Lieberman as honorees.
Sarasota girls golfer Alana Kutt finished tied for seventh (72-68—140) at the Florida State Golf Association Junior Girls’ Championship, held June 28-29 at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair. Kutt finished four strokes behind winner Hannah Hall of Rockledge. Kutt attended IMG Academy in 2023-2024 and will play for Coastal Carolina University next season. Cardinal Mooney High graduate Addison Dempsey was named to the All-Florida MileSplit Senior Girls Track and Field Team on June 28. Dempsey is the team’s 3,200-meter run representative; she won the event (10:35.87) at the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 2A state meet, held May 16 in Jacksonville. Dempsey will next run for the University of Miami.
“I
like trying to push myself to the limit every day. There is always something you can work on that will make you better. You are always learning.”
CONFIDENCE ON THE COURSE
Saanvi Parmar said she felt like a brand-new person after attending the First Tee Leadership Academy.
RYAN KOHN SPORTS EDITOR
It was a change noticeable on sight.
When Saanvi Parmar, a rising junior at Riverview High, returned from a week at the First Tee Leadership Academy in Atlanta, people in her life immediately noticed a difference.
“They were like, ‘Oh my gosh, you are glowing,’” Parmar said.
It was not just from the Atlanta sun. At the weeklong event, held June 17-22, Parmar and other attendees got lessons in leadership from some of the brightest and best in their fields, including Maya Moore, a four-time WNBA champion and a advocate for criminal justice reform; Atlanta United CEO Garth Lagerwey; and PGA Tour Superstore Chairman and CEO Dick Sullivan.
Parmar was one of just 48 invitees to the event. She applied through the First Tee of Sarasota/Manatee, a youth golf program she has attended for approximately two years. First Tee focuses on golf, but also seeks to help its youth with self-confidence, proper etiquette and other life skills.
Initially, it was not her decision to join. Parmar said her family informed her that they signed her up for the organization’s summer camp.
She arrived for her first session two days later, not sure what to expect.
Parmar had previously only played putt-putt with her family; real golf was a mystery.
After finishing the camp, Parmar asked to go back.
“I felt comfortable,” Parmar said.
“The coaches were great, and in general, it was so fun, all the games we played — putting, chipping and on the range — and things like water balloon fights. I became friends with the kids around me.”
THE FIRST TEE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY
Held June 17-22 in Atlanta
Attended by 48 teens from across the country, including Riverview High girls golfer Saanvi Parmar.
Featured talks from Maya Moore, a four-time WNBA champion and an advocate for criminal justice reform; Atlanta United CEO Garth Lagerwey; PGA Tour Superstore Chairman and CEO Dick Sullivan; Atlanta Falcons President Greg Beadles; and Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation Chief of Staff Kelley Gulley
Attendees also visited the PGA TOUR Superstore Support Center, the Coda building, Atlanta United’s training facility, the College Football Hall of Fame and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights
Parmar quickly became entrenched in the First Tee ecosystem, attending as many events as she could and even volunteering to help coach younger players. Fast forward to now, and Parmar has honed her own game; she holds a spot on the Riverview High girls golf team.
Attending the organization’s Leadership Academy was an honor, Parmar said. It required first going through a five-week leadership program at the local chapter, after which a group of people from the PGA Tour Superstore — which partners with First Tee on the Leadership Academy — selected five people from the chapter to apply for a spot at the Academy. Parmar’s application earned it.
Getting to listen to the Academy guest speakers would provide plenty of wisdom on its own, but that was just the beginning of the experience for attendees. Like a professional conference, each day of the academy featured workshops where attendees were asked to carry out tasks meant to teach them. One day for instance, Parmar’s group had to figure out a way to keep four balls suspended in the air at the same time; another day, they had to build a bridge. Each activity was connected to a point about leadership.
“A big theme was that your first attempt will never be the best one,” Parmar said. “It’s about growing and working together as a team to get to the right solution.”
The group also got to visit places around Atlanta, like Atlanta United’s training facility and the College Football Hall of Fame and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.
One day, the group went to a zip line and obstacle course.
“It was scary,” Parmar said. “I get stressed and nervous in those situations. But my friends were all, ‘Come on, you can do it,’ and I did. It felt like a big bonding moment.”
Parmar said it was her favorite day of the academy.
Upon returning, Parmar glowed. But she also felt different inside. Parmar said she has always had a fear of failure. In school, that manifested the most when it came time
to take an exam. She felt like she had one chance to get it right, and anything less than high marks would be a failure — in her mind, at least. The academy changed her perspective.
“It was freeing,” Parmar said. “I took a step back. In real life, it’s not just one chance. You grow and take things away from your failures and push forward. That resonated with me. We are all human. Failure is a part of life.”
Parmar is only getting started with First Tee. She will continue to attend classes and volunteer, and in the future, she would like to help with the Academy. Parmar said several of the attendees’ chaperones throughout the week were past attendees themselves. Parmar would like to give back in the same way.
She’s thankful to the organization that changed her outlook, not just on golf and leadership, but on life.
“I hope more people get into it and see the opportunities it can provide,” Parmar said.
Ryan Kohn
(orange) has
— Colin Jacobs, Sarasota Sharks. SEE PAGE 11B
Courtesy images
Saanvi Parmar smiles wide at the First Tee Leadership Academy, held June 17-22 in Atlanta.
Riverview High’s Saanvi Parmar was one of just 48 attendees of the 2024 First Tee Leadership Academy in Atlanta.
Football camp aims to bring community together
Dumaka Atkins was all smiles. Atkins, a former Florida State University football offensive lineman and the head coach at Booker High from 2016 through 2018, was coaching linemen alongside his brother, former NFL player and current Sarasota High defensive coordinator Baraka Atkins, on June 28 at the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex. They weren’t going easy on anyone, encouraging all players to be aggressive and fire out of their stance the instant the football was snapped.
“It’s about hard work and finishing drills,” Atkins said. “Technique, as you get older your coaches will want different things. But working is working.”
The brothers were there as part of a free football camp for Sarasotaarea youth put on by Truly Valued Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to making sure “every individual has the opportunity to reach their full potential and lead a fulfilling life,” according to its website.
Though the organization is not new, the June football camp — held over two days, June 28 and 29 — was its first foray into such an event. Truly Valued CEO Shavonne Sams said more than 200 kids signed up for the event.
The purpose of the camp was two-fold. On one hand, Truly Valued wanted to give underserved kids in Sarasota a no-cost opportunity to learn from some of the best football minds in the region. In addition to the Atkins brothers, the camp featured instruction from former NFL players Mike Jenkins,
Amarri Jackson, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Chris Hannon and Ace Sanders, as well as former Arena Pro Football players Demond Sams and Ken Walton and former Indoor Football League player Torry Johnson. All the coaches have ties to the Sarasota-Bradenton area in some way. Jackson, Hannon and Johnson attended Riverview High, and the Atkins brothers were grads of Booker High.
On the other hand, the camp was about more than football. Demond Sams, the husband of Shavonne Sams, said he wanted the camp to be a source of unity.
“Our two counties are divided,” Sams said. “There is a lot of confrontation right now. But look (at the field), everyone is working together. This is a family oriented thing. We are letting them know that we don’t have to be divided. We get together with the kids, we
fellowship with the kids, and we all just bond.”
There have been a handful of tragedies involving former or current area high school athletes in recent years. The most high-profile incident happened May 18, when former Sarasota High standouts Brian Battie and Tommie Battie were shot while at Tallywood Centre Plaza.
It was apparent that Truly Valued hopes to keep future generations of athletes as safe from those situations as possible. In a release, Shavonne Sams said she aims for camps like this one to foster teamwork and promote mental well being from exposure to such a supportive environment, eventually reducing juvenile crime in the area.
If the organization succeeds, it will be because kids fondly remember the experience they had at the camp. That should not be a prob-
Baraka Atkins and Dumaka Atkins show campers the proper way to burst out of a stance as a lineman.
lem. On June 28, the kids in attendance were locked into practice. They spent time at the beginning of the camp warming up as one big group before breaking into positional groups.
Quarterbacks worked with Hannon on their accuracy and footwork, stepping into the pocket before throwing footballs into small pockets of netting. Linemen, working with the Atkins brothers, learned proper technique and honed their power. Defensive backs worked with Rodgers-Cromartie on their backpedaling, while receivers worked with Sanders on routerunning.
Perhaps the liveliest portion of practice came when the instructors pitted the receivers against the defensive backs in one-on-one situations. Since no one wanted to look like a fool, everyone gave coming down with the ball, or with a
deflection, their best effort.
That includes the coaches. After each rep, Rodgers-Cromartie and Sanders would pull their players aside and tell them what they did right or wrong and give them some encouragement for next time. They also were not afraid of giving the players a bit of ribbing. On a particularly broken play, Jackson — who was serving as quarterback for the drill, drawing up routes with the receivers before each rep — called out a camper for the miscue.
“Hey, you didn’t do what you said you would!” Jackson said with a laugh.
The player laughed too.
It was the type of camp the coaches would have attended themselves when they were young. Dumaka Atkins said one particular group helped him on his way to Florida State.
“I can remember (Sarasotaarea stars) Tim Johnson and Pat Carter, me and my brother used to go to their camps,” Atkins said. “I remember how much it helped us because we were too big to play youth league back then. So for the larger kids and the kids who are not as experienced, this is heads and shoulders above what they would get from watching a YouTube video.”
Here’s hoping the kids learned a lot, and here’s hoping Truly Valued keeps holding camps like this one. The more kids in the area learn the importance of togetherness, the better off everyone will be.
Ryan Kohn is the sports editor for the Sarasota/Siesta Key Observer. Contact him at RKohn@ YourObserver.com.
Ryan Kohn
Colin Jacobs
Colin Jacobs is a swimmer with the Sarasota Sharks. Jacobs, 15, won the 2024 U.S. Open Water Junior National Championship at Nathan Benderson Park on May 5, swimming 7.5 kilometers in 1:28.23. With the win, Jacobs will represent the U.S. at the 2024 World Aquatics Open Water Junior Championships, held Sept. 6-8 in Alghero, Italy.
Why did you start in competitive swimming?
Well, I had always done swim lessons since I was little. I played other sports like soccer and tennis and golf, but I was not a fan of being in the heat 24/7. Swimming was nice because, well, who doesn’t want to swim in a nice, cool pool and have a good time? So I started competitive swimming, and I took it more seriously over time. I’ve developed a passion for it now.
What is the appeal to you now? I like trying to push myself to the limit every day. There is always something you can work on that will make you better. You are always learning.
How did you start in open-water swimming?
My first one was probably three years ago. I always liked to swim distance events more than shorter events. My coaches said it would be cool if I tried an open-water swim. So I did the Florida Open-Water Championships and I liked it a lot.
What’s the biggest difference in open water swimming?
Well, in pool events, you have your own lane lines. There is nobody else right next to you, hitting you or elbowing you like there is in open water swimming. Also, open water events are longer, so in practicing for them, we are hitting more distance. And sometimes we will put three or four people in a lane so we get the feel of it.
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.
Did you expect to win at Junior Nationals?
Not really. I was actually sick less than a week before the event, so I did not have any sort of expectations. My strategy was just to not let myself get caught in a pack of swimmers where I’m getting elbowed and I have to work extra hard to get past them. I would have been happy with a top-five (finish). Halfway through the race, I was in a solid position and I thought, “You know what? I’m not hurting much right now. I’m going to push this pace stay with the lead group.” And it worked out.
What are your goals for the Junior Championships in Italy?
I want to finish top three. I have confidence in my training, and I have a couple months until then. I’m trying to hammer out the reps.
What are your hobbies?
I like to play golf with friends or go to the beach. When I’m out of the pool, I try to make sure that I’m not constantly thinking about swimming, so I also like doing things like reading.
Finish this sentence: “Colin Jacobs is … “ … Driven. I always try to excel and be the best that I can be.
NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH
INFINITY POOL by Adam Simpson, edited by Jeff Chen
By Luis Campos
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