Sarasota/Siesta Key Observer 7.4.24

SARASOTA/SIESTA KEY

Dude departure

Observer

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YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

FREE • THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2024

VOLUME 20, NO. 32

YOUR TOWN

Net-positive attraction

Selby Gardens’ new solar arrays will fully power the botanical complex, with juice to spare.

SEE PAGE 10A

Courtesy image

The governor

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.

FLAG DAY

Ian Swaby

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.

Ian Swaby

Luna Cassandra and August Ray help walk the flag across the bridge on Saturday, June 29.

Roughly 700 community members displayed a 700-foot Pride flag on the Ringling Bridge. SEE PAGE 6A

Revolutionary fashions

Turtle Tracks AS OF JUNE 30 TOTAL NESTS: 2024 Siesta Key 374 Lido Beach 140 Casey Key 1,254

Sarasota community members wear their love of history — and patriotism — on their sleeves.

SEE PAGE 1B

2023 313 143 1,473

TOTAL FALSE CRAWLS: 2024 2023 Siesta Key 645 536 Lido Beach 227 265 Casey Key 1,832 1,693 Source: Mote Marine Laboratory

Ian Swaby

Mary Beth McLeod

A+E

Just for laughs PAGE 18A

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2024

WEEK OF JULY 4, 2024

GCCF names leaders of philanthropy team

“If this were the private sector, we would call it profit.”

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.

Sarasota County Tax Collector Barbara Ford-Coates on her department’s budgetary practice. Read more on Page 11A

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.

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57,000

The square footage of solar arrays that were powered on at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.

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Number of Revolutionary War-era costumes that one member of the Sara De Soto Daughters of the American Revolution keeps at home.

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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).

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The Newtown community has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places, earning the city the Florida Archaeological Council Stewards of Heritage Award.

City wins award for Newtown preservation S ince 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.

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.

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2024

ETAL AGIC

Forced to move because of redevelopment, pipe-bending artist Scott Gerber (the Tube Dude) finds a new home.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

S

cott Gerber calls his Tube Dude creations “art a la carte.”

Given the nomadic his-

tory 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.”

Andrew Warfield

Scott Gerber poses with a Guitar Dude mailbox made for country music star John Rich.

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

Andrew Warfield

Tube Dude owner Scott Gerber makes cuts an alligator head fabricated from scratch.

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.

James Peter

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.

A Tube Dude egret mailbox stands, appropriately enough, on Bird Key.

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2024

For their eyes only Christian Ziegler’s phone contents to stay private, judge rules.

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ormer 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

File image

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.”

Christian Ziegler speaks at the 17th Street Park expansion groundbreaking Nov. 4, 2022.

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2024

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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

N

ew 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

Courtesy image

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.”

Outlined in red is the proposed site for a future development fronting Fruitville Road and Fourth Street near Tamiami Trail.

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2024

700 feet of Pride M

embers 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.

Pediatric psychologist Susan Moschos showed support from beneath the bridge on a paddleboard.

Photos by Ian Swaby

Justyn Hunter-Ceruti, Donna Hanley and Erica Serine lead the way.

Cindy Effron brings some bubbles to the scene.

Jessica Chapman and Cindy Lou Smith

Kaia and Lucile Desvenain

— IAN SWABY

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2024

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2024

OPINION / OUR VIEW

SARASOTA/SIESTA KEY

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.

H

appy 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

From a diary at Valley Forge 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-

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

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?”

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.

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.

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

Friedrich Hayek

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2024

LETTERS

City to pay $25K in legal fees for commissioner

9A

Battie ruled to be acting as elected official when he allegedly defamed a resident.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

W

hether 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.”

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.

File image

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.

Setting record straight on PACE

The motion from Sarasota City Commissioner Kyle Battie (pictured in October 2022) to dismiss a defamation suit brought by resident Kelly Franklin was granted.

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

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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.

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2024

Delhia McLaurin, Lisa Bohn, Daniel Entin and Oliver Nussbaum attend as part of Selby Gardens’ Camp Lookout.

Photos by Ian Swaby

Patrick Attwater, CEO of One80 Solar, flips the switch on solar power.

Switch flipped STAFF WRITER

A flatbread at The Green Orchid restaurant.

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

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.

Byrd spoke about the challenges involved in realizing the project.

“With the many years and challenges the project faced — COVID,

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I

t’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

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.

— Jennifer Rominiecki

Selby Gardens becomes world’s first net-positive energy botanical garden complex.

IAN SWABY

“It took a lot of effort to plan for this, but as of today, Selby Gardens will be home to the first netpositive energy botanical garden complex in the world, including the first net-positive energy restaurant.”

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2024

11A

Fiscal responsibility ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

T

he 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%

Internal Medicine

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.

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YOU’RE INVITED TO THE

CANDIDATES RALLY! Sat. July 27, 2024 Robarts Arena FREE Admission!

FREE Local Amish Pie!

Doors open at 10 a.m.

Speeches begin at 11:30 a.m

Invited Speakers:

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Come meet OVER 50 LOCAL CANDIDATES who will be participating in the Rally

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There will be over 50 candidates from Sarasota County, including Legislators, County Commission, and School Board Candidates. Municipal candidates from Sarasota, Venice & North Port.

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Tax collector shows department’s fiscal soundness during budget workshop as opponent presides.

8/26/21 3:27 PM

8/26/21 3:27 PM

12A

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2024 Designer Screen Shades | Fabric: Empire 5% | Color: Gray Mist

Register to lease short term Properties citywide that ­operate as short-term ­rentals are required to ­register by Oct. 31.

BLINDS•SHUTTERS DRAPERIES•WALLCOVERINGS

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

T

heraldtribune.com

he time has come for owners of vacation rental properties across Sarasota to begin registering their vacation rental properties with the city.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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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

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.

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2024

EVENT h t 4 July NOW - JULY 8TH

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

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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.”

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itself has been behind the establishment of the collective.

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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

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■ 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 ­ perating due to the climate and poor o

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.”

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ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

oy j The art

FST’s annual Sarasota Improv Festival creates spontaneous comedy with careful planning.

OF IMPROV MARTY FUGATE CONTRIBUTOR

I

mprov comedy doesn’t just happen. No. Strike that.

Should’ve said …

Improv comedy does just hap-

pen. 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

Courtesy images

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.

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 di-

“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.

“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

“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.”

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 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.”

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

Florida Studio Theatre’s 14th annual Sarasota Improv Festival takes place July 12-13.

rector at the time. Why create an improv festival? What was her goal?

IF YOU GO

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.

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.

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2024

Frame It Up

The comedy troupe Dad’s Garage will perform at the Sarasota Improv Festival on July 12-13.

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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.

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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.”

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2024

THIS WEEK

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.

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.

Courtesy images

www.manasotaonline.com

1734 South Tamiami Trail Venice, FL 34293 941.493.7441

SUNDAY

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 ‘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.

4551 N. Washington Blvd.

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CLASSIC MOVIES AT THE OPERA HOUSE: ‘THE SLEEPING BEAUTY’ 1:30 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave. $12-$20 Visit SarasotaOpera.org.

Watch a film of the Royal Ballet’s timeless production of “The Sleeping Beauty,” the enduring collaboration between composer Tchaikovsky and choreographer Petipa starring Marianela Nuñez and Vadim Muntagirov. The fairy tale-inspired ballet is accompanied by the orchestra of the 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.

STEVE HYTNER 7 p.m. at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd. $31 Visit McCurdysComedy.com.

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.

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2024

What Florida state budget cuts mean for Sarasota arts Arts and Cultural Alliance CEO Brian Hersh talks about the community’s response.

ART CUTS

A snapshot of Florida Culture Grants in Sarasota County Organization Arts Center Sarasota Asolo Repertory Theatre Florida Studio Theatre Key Chorale Marie Selby Gardens Sarasota Ballet Sarasota Opera Sarasota Orchestra The Sarasota Players Venice Theatre

MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

S

arasota 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?

Expected Fiscal 2025 $150,000 $150,000 $150,000 $57,000 $70,500 $150,000 $70,500 $70,500 $72,000 $90,000

Received Fiscal 2024 $45,297 $106,444 $106,807 $57,050 $98,088 $103,693 $105,445 $104,900 $89,187 $102,629

— Sources: State of Florida, local organizations

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.

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.

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

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.

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Ritz-Carlton Residences, Sarasota Bay

Classifieds 17B Games 12B Real Estate 7B Sports 9B Weather 12B

JULY 4, 2024

YOUR NEIGHBORS

Jenny and Jeff Robbins 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)

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

J

ohn 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

Ian Swaby

Mary Beth McLeod showcases hats and other components of her costume.

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.”

2B

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2024

Photos by Ian Swaby

Anastasia V., 8, Penelope O., 9, and Mya R., 8, pot the plants.

Growth opportunities 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.

Harmonee E., 11, Ja’Miyah J., 11, and Mariyah B., 11, pot the plants.

— IAN SWABY

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T

he 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,

Aubree D., 9 Gabriella M., 9, waters her plant.

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2024

Beach watch

3B

Local, family owned roofing contractor specializing in METAL | SHINGLE | TILE

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Off-duty lifeguard saves seven people from rip current at Lido Beach.

OBSERVER STAFF

A

CERTAINTEED LANDMARK CHARCOAL BLACK

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.

Sarasota County Fire Department Lifeguard Mariano Martinez

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n 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

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2024

St. Armands couture

S

t. 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

Tami McDermott, Kim Verreault, Danielle Gladding, Melinda Foster and Alison Kanter

Photos by Petra Rivera

Cafe L’Europe Director of Catering Sales Ashley Watts

Ramona Glanz and Andrew Vac

T. Georgiano’s model KJ T. Georgiano’s models finish the show in bright orange blazers.

Sandy Endres and Nancy Chanos

FOR CITY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 2

Wishing You a Happy 4th of July!

Join me in making Sarasota better every day VOTELIZALPERT.COM

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

Paid for and Approved by Liz Alpert for Sarasota City Commission, District 2

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LIZ ALPERT IS TODAY’S LEADER FOR SARASOTA’S FUTURE

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5B

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2024

149 Mckinley Drive, Lido Key

$12,000,000 | Land | Web# A4587932

$5,495,000 | 9 BR, 8.5 BA | Web# A4610225

Lisa Rooks Morris: M 941.544.3332

Inbal August: M 917.957.8111

4521 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota

1632 Floyd Street, Sarasota

$4,000,000 | 4 BR, 4.5 BA | Web# A4611837

$2,850,000 | 4 BR, 4.5 BA | Web# A4593582

Amy Drake: M 941.376.9346 Lisa Rooks Morris: M 941.544.3332

Lisa Rooks Morris: M 941.544.3332 Julie Guirguis: M 440.503.3713

1331 Quail Drive, Sarasota

3540 Bayou Circle, Longboat Key

$2,375,000 | 3 BR, 3 BA | Web# A4588224

$1,999,000 | 3 BR, 3 BA | Web# A4588697

Lisa Rooks Morris: M 941.544.3332 Julie Guirguis: M 440.503.3713

Inbal August: M 917.957.8111

1236 13th Street, Sarasota

6986 Country Lakes Circle, Sarasota

$1,800,000 | 6 BR, Multi-family residence | Web# A4614669

$825,000 | 3BR, 2.5 BA | Web# A4613182

Rex Glasson M: 941.587.6135 Catherine (Cathy) Palmer M: 678.524.1104

Inbal August: M 917.957.8111

1350 MAIN ST, SARASOTA, FL 34236. 941.867.6199 © 2024 DOUGLAS ELLIMAN REAL ESTATE. ALL MATERIAL PRESENTED HEREIN IS INTENDED FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY. WHILE, THIS INFORMATION IS BELIEVED TO BE CORRECT, IT IS REPRESENTED SUBJECT TO ERRORS, OMISSIONS, CHANGES OR WITHDRAWAL WITHOUT NOTICE. ALL PROPERTY INFORMATION, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO SQUARE FOOTAGE, ROOM COUNT, NUMBER OF BEDROOMS AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN PROPERTY LISTINGS SHOULD BE VERIFIED BY YOUR OWN ATTORNEY, ARCHITECT OR ZONING EXPERT. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY.

420049-1

1199 Westway Drive, Lido Shores

elliman.com

Make Your Next Move Exceptional

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2024

SARASOTA 340 W Royal Flamingo Drive 4 Beds 6/1 Baths 6,067 Sq. Ft. Barbara May 404-822-9264 A4601285 $8,500,000

SIESTA KEY 1660 Summerhouse Lane 701 3 Beds 3/1 Baths 2,490 Sq. Ft. Mel & Jan Goldsmith 941-356-6673 A4592295 $2,295,000

SARASOTA 139 N Blvd Of The Presidents 4 Beds 3 Baths 1,740 Sq. Ft. Bruce A Meyer, PA 941-266-8152 A4601025 $1,900,000

SARASOTA 5116 Admiral Place 4 Beds 2 Baths 2,243 Sq. Ft. Diane Fogo Harter 941-445-2431 A4614353 $1,600,000

SARASOTA 121 Holly Avenue 3 Beds 3 Baths 1,883 Sq. Ft. Cheryl Roberts 941-266-1450 A4603351 $1,595,000

SIESTA KEY 1660 Summerhouse Lane 102 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,110 Sq. Ft. Maurice Menager & Linn Dunn 941-238-8119 A4599994 $1,525,000

SIESTA KEY 4637 Ocean Boulevard 3 Beds 2 Baths 2,065 Sq. Ft. Olivia Marciniak 941-400-1623 A4613846 $1,250,000

SARASOTA 5233 Far Oak Circle 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,837 Sq. Ft. Robert Krasow 617-840-1181 A4599907 $1,145,000

SARASOTA 2390 Bay Street 3 Beds 3 Baths 1,759 Sq. Ft. Linda Driggs 941-374-2920 A4614313 $1,000,000

SIESTA KEY 5780 Midnight Pass Road 308 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,473 Sq. Ft. Carol Thomas 941-302-8157 A4583939 $950,000

SIESTA KEY 9150 Blind Pass Road 206 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 1,710 Sq. Ft. Stephen Weeks 941-504-3689 A4607823 $949,000

SARASOTA 410 Burns Court 1 Bed 1 Baths 791 Sq. Ft. Marybeth Flynn 941-704-1477 A4603161 $900,000

SARASOTA 1724 Oak Lakes Drive 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,516 Sq. Ft. Mary Jo Violett 941-928-8474 A4609788 $875,000

VENICE 13092 Rinella Street 3 Beds 2 Baths 2,068 Sq. Ft. Tammy Kitt 941-284-7274 N6130758 $849,000

SARASOTA 6117 Hollywood Boulevard 3 Beds 3/1 Baths 1,993 Sq. Ft. Kelly Quigley 941-356-9954 A4609088 $750,000

SIESTA KEY 1200 E Peppertree Lane 203 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,460 Sq. Ft. Michael Moulton 941-928-3559 A4602520 $725,000

SARASOTA 1709 N Tamiami Trail A421 1 Bed 1/1 Baths 803 Sq. Ft. Lisa Sebastian 941-544-5413 A4602157 $599,000

SARASOTA 4596 Friar Tuck Lane 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,850 Sq. Ft. Drew Russell 941-993-3739 A4614826 $535,000

VENICE 1295 Highland Greens Drive 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,906 Sq. Ft. Helen Moore 941-724-2030 N6132678 $529,200

SARASOTA 7528 Biltmore Drive 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 1,830 Sq. Ft. Kristina Rain 941-320-2639 A4611252 $515,000

VENICE 1002 N Cypress Point Drive 33 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,826 Sq. Ft. Joanne Hammar 941-204-1094 N6130314 $499,500

SARASOTA 3678 Gleneagle Drive 8B 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,505 Sq. Ft. Sue Keal 941-320-1689 A4614223 $350,000

SARASOTA 1312 Stafford Lane 1427 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,651 Sq. Ft. Phyllis Garfinkel 941-302-6400 A4613552 $345,000

SARASOTA 6281 Timber Lake Drive H5 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,312 Sq. Ft. Linda Driggs 941-374-2920 A4613463 $325,000

SARASOTA 2204 Bahia Vista Street D5 2 Beds 2 Baths 982 Sq. Ft. Pam Sweeney 941-266-9622 A4614490 $235,000

SIESTA KEY 1250 Hidden Harbor Way 5 Beds 5/1 Baths 7,506 Sq. Ft. Kim Ogilvie & Melissa Gissinger 941-376-1717 A4565141 $7,995,000

SARASOTA 360 N Washington Drive 4 Beds 4/1 Baths 3,951 Sq. Ft. Jeff Weller 941-266-8206 A4599067 $5,995,000

SARASOTA 660 Golden Gate Point S 61 & 62 2 Beds 2/1 Baths 3,405 Sq. Ft. Kelly Quigley 941-356-9954 A4608927 $3,200,000

888.552.5228 | MICHAELSAUNDERS.COM

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YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2024

JUNE 17-21

ADAM HUGHES

Other top sales by area

RESEARCH EDITOR

A

condominium 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

REAL ESTATE

Ritz-Carlton condo tops sales at $4.6M

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

7B

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

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.

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.

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

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.

See more transactions at YourObserver.com

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.

In with the new NOW TAKING CONTRACTS

DOWNTOWN SARASOTA SOTA Residences & Hotel | 941.462.3900 | From $1.8M | Visit the Main Street Gallery | thesota.com

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

DOWNTOWN ST. PETERSBURG 400 Central | 727.209.7848 | From the $900,000s | Call for an appointment | Residences400central.com

MOVE-IN SPRING 2024

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

GOLDEN GATE POINT

LONGBOAT KEY

1350 MAIN RESIDENTIAL Jennifer Van Langen and Sandra Van

TOP BUILDING PERMITS

CITY OF SARASOTA Address

Permit

Applicant

Amount

3270 Old Oak Drive

Accessory Structure Alan Town

$715,000

2810 Bay Shore Road

Garage/Living

Walt Harris, trustee

$234,671

555 N. Orange Ave.

Alterations

William Krocheski

$148,000

1399 Harbor Drive

Pool/Deck

Christoph Zinke

$90,213

90 S. Jefferson Ave.

Pool/Spa/Deck

Harry Beukelman

$70,000

3545 Honeysuckle Drive

Pool

Harry Gray

$64,925

1022 Osprey Ave.

Remodel

Richard Gibbons

$52,500

850 Shade Ave.

Pool/Deck

Vincenzo Palmigiano

$52,300

340 S. Palm Ave. #412

Alterations

Michael Williams-Jones $40,029

1562 South Drive

Generator

Daniel Snyder

#303/304

En Pointe | 941.685.1598 | enpointesarasota.com | From $2,775,000

Sales galleries open and available for virtual or in-person presentations.

Virtual home tours | OnDemand local experts | Interactive site and floorplans

MichaelSaunders.com/New-Homes | 844.591.4333 | Sarasota, Florida

$28,881 Source: City of Sarasota

The Residences at the St. Regis | 941.213.3300 | SRResidencesLongboatKey.com

Prices as of November 2023

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These are the largest city of Sarasota building permits issued for the week of June 17-21, in order of dollar amounts.

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2024

YOUR CALENDAR

SALES & RENTALS Your Hometown Favorite For More Than Eight Decades!

LOCAL, VETERAN OWNED & OPERATED SINCE 1939

LIVING IN STYLE

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.

File image

SATURDAY, JULY 6

HOT DOG DAY 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.

Rental- 2/1 | 615 S. Palm Ave #6, Sarasota

New Orleans - Downtown Sarasota | Corner unit/2nd fl MLS#A4613741 | Walking distance to downtown.

Furnished Annual Lease | $2,450 mthly | No pets Patrice Ivan - 941.993.0823

Villa For Sale-3/2.5 | 6581 Approach Rd #63

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.

55 + Westwoods Community, Sarasota | 2 car garage 2 outdoor screened liv. space | $439,900 | MLS#A4603598 Gina Mustari-Kiger - 941.313.5464

NEW PRICE

MONDAY, JULY 8 TO FRIDAY, JULY 12

Lakes Estates Waterfront Home For Sale Condo For Sale-2/3 301 Quay Commons #1605 | 5 bedrooms/3.5 baths|1594 Oak Cir N., Sarasota Downtown Sarasota | Unfurnished | NEW-Built in 2023 | Water & City Views | $1,695,000 | MLS#A4599559 Located on 1.36 acres | Lots of community amenities NOW $895,000 | MLS#A4604347 Jon Patella - 941.228.1613 Jon Patella - 941.228.1613

Patrice Ivan

Property Mgr,/REALTOR®

Jon Patella REALTOR®

Gina Mustari-Kiger REALTOR®

TUESDAY, JULY 9

427414-1

1440 First Street, Sarasota, FL 34236 Office: 941.955.1500

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.

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.

55+ ACTIVE LIVING COMMUNITY NOW OPEN IN PA L M E R R A N C H

Limited-time offer!

Get two months FREE on a 13-15 month lease.* *Terms and restrictions apply. Contact our leasing office for more details.

7350 HONORE AVE (813) 725-3616

•

•

SARASOTA, FL 34238

mira-apts.com

427196-1

8B

JULY 4, 2024

SPORTS Fast

Break

“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.”

— Colin Jacobs, Sarasota Sharks. SEE PAGE 11B

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

Ryan Kohn

Seth Mahlmeister (orange) has been a top offensive threat for the Sarasota Paradise.

S

arasota 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

t 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

CAMP UNITY PAGE 10B

Courtesy images

Saanvi Parmar smiles wide at the First Tee Leadership Academy, held June 17-22 in Atlanta.

Parmar q u i c k ly 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.

Riverview High’s Saanvi Parmar was one of just 48 attendees of the 2024 First Tee Leadership Academy in Atlanta.

10B

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2024

PROSE AND KOHN

RYAN KOHN

Football camp aims to bring community together Baraka Atkins and Dumaka Atkins show campers the proper way to burst out of a stance as a lineman.

D

umaka 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 J­ enkins,

Ryan Kohn

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-

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.

426054-1

The camp is the first of its kind put on by Truly Valued Inc.

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2024

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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WEATHER

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2024

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

FORECAST THURSDAY, JULY 4

SUNRISE / SUNSET Sunrise Sunset

High: 91 Low: 79 Chance of rain: 24%

FRIDAY, JULY 5 High: 90 Low: 79 Chance of rain: 63%

Thursday, July 4

6:40a

8:28p

Friday, July 5

6:40a

8:28p

Saturday, July 6

6:41a

8:28p

Sunday, July 7

6:41a

8:28p

Monday, July 8

6:41a

8:28p

Tuesday, July 9

6:42a

8:28p

Wednesday, July 10

6:42a

8:28p

MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, JULY 6 High: 90 Low: 80 Chance of rain: 58%

July 5 New

July 13 First

July 21 Full

July 27 Last

RAINFALL

SUNDAY, JULY 7 High: 89 Low: 80 Chance of rain: 58%

Monday, June 24

0

Tuesday, June 25

2.28

Wednesday, June 26

0.02

Thursday, June 27

0 0.54

Friday, June 28

Becky Edwards took this photo of sea grapes on Sarasota’s bayfront.

Saturday, June 29

0

Sunday, June 30

1.6

*Rainfall totals from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport

Submit your photos at YourObserver.com/contests. All submissions will be entered for the 2024-25. Weather and Nature photo contest. In February 2025, you will vote for your favorite photo, and the submission with the most votes will win a $500 gift card.

YEAR TO DATE: 2024 26.57 in.

2023 10.06 in.

MONTH TO DATE: 2024 0.00 in.

2023 0.02 in.

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Daily crossword puzzles available at YourObserver.com/crossword

INFINITY POOL by Adam Simpson, edited by Jeff Chen 126 Otherwise

51 ___ toad

127 Winery section

52 Used cursive, maybe

DOWN

53 Canadian territory

3 Tolstoy’s “___ Karenina” 4 Spot for a big needle?

5 Beagle’s bark 6 It might be put through a washer 7 Morales of “Ozark” 8 “I wanna try!”

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ACROSS 1 “Ah, well” 5 Biblical bro 9 U.S. island territory 13 “American Dad” network 16 It goes with jam at tea 17 V-Day bouquet 19 Nordic capital 20 “___ so?”

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28 Van Gogh flower 29 Living room sets 31 More risque 32 Too much 33 Sports goal material

34 Kinships

what might make the songs

36 “I’m not ___ judge, but ...” in this puzzle go on and on

99 Mila who voices Meg in “Family Guy”

38 Ranks above sgts.

70 *See 68-Across

100 Director Eastwood

39 *Carl Carlton classic

71 Negative conjunction

101 Steal

that’s adored to this day?

72 Fish eggs

104 Negative responses

44 Sticks around a diamond 73 All, for nothing?

106 Makeup cleansers

46 Jerk

75 Chasm

109 ___ and outs

47 Italy’s northern border,

76 Stubbed digit

110 Office note

essentially

77 Tom Yum, e.g.

111 *Queen song that keeps

50 Thanksgiving tubers

79 Tokyo dough?

you going?

51 Numbered GPS path

80 Allow to rent

115 Change lanes hastily

54 Business letters?

82 SSW’s opposite

117 Jacket on the slopes

55 Emeril’s catchphrase

83 Bic products

118 *Rod Stewart track that

58 Paunch

84 Doodled

never gets old?

60 Prohibition ___

86 Leaf-eater from Down

120 Thurman of “Pulp

61 Donut shape

Under

Fiction”

63 Blue Hawaii ingredient

88 What snoots might put

121 Not just heard

66 Chicken ___ king

on

122 So, so mad

67 Back of the boat

89 *k.d. lang hit that leaves

123 Fencing weapons

68 *With 70-Across, symbol you hungry for more? of endless repetition ... or

96 Freddy Krueger’s street

124 Confidante 125 That girl’s

author Hagen 27 Extreme pain 30 Show that the movie “Superstar” came from (Abbr.)

34 Walgreens competitor 35 ___-I-am (Seuss character) 37 Egg, in biology 39 UFO pilots 40 Salt, in Marseille 41 Chalky powder 42 Be liable for 43 Will Ferrell Christmas flick 44 Fries and wings with a pint, perhaps 45 Not a pro 48 Nursery vessel 49 Western brawl sites 50 Century units

crispy 56 Cheek-filler for a squirrel 57 Maggie’s mom 59 Shows, as teeth

“RDEF DK RDAF Z GPUEVKFO IFZGYFS ...

EDSKI, DI TDLFK IYF IFKI ZUO IYFU IFZGYFK IYF RFKKPU.” GZUZODZU SZMMFS OSZAF

61 Isn’t decided yet (Abbr.)

62 Bernie Sanders, for VT 64 Avg. size 65 Poetic praise 69 Stockings material 74 55-Down, e.g.

78 Chest muscle 81 “No Scrubs” group

“ZB NJOTLI SDLC OU DRGX OU ZL RG ZB ZUOTLI’D EUZV. R OTRGA R YJG GJZL JVUSO JGB OSGL RG OEU VLJOD.” BJGYB VSOPLI

83 Sty denizen 85 Pot for a stir-fry 86 Radio personality Casey 87 Part of a circumference 88 Farm drone 90 Where a squirrel might feast 91 Hide the ball in a tricky spot, in billiards 92 Some antique cookware 93 He could “sting like a bee” 94 “A Charlie Brown Christmas” composer Guaraldi 95 Health care coverage provider 96 Concludes with 97 Cry for attention,

“IPVGV OGV VJHTVYY JVF UOGSOISXJY XJ PXF IX PZGI O FXEOJ APDYSMOTTD, VEXISXJOTTD, BSJOJMSOTTD OJH YXMSOTTD.”

CTXGSO OTTGVH

Puzzle Three Clue: B equals F

2 Big-eyed primate

55 It can be ordered extra-

By Luis Campos Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present.

Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

Puzzle Two Clue: A equals K

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Puzzle One Clue: L equals V

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sometimes 98 Like household chores 101 Broadway productions 102 Warning signs 103 “Star Trek” collective in a cube 105 Motor oil company 107 Loan revision, in brief 108 Saw logs 110 Made a barnyard noise 112 Pageant title adornment 113 Spoken 114 Moistens 116 Ilk 119 Flock formation ©2024 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

7-4-24

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2024

13B

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References & resume requested.

Between Houses or Condos

Visa/MC 5360 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Suite 101 Longboat Key, FL 34228 Rental office 9a.m. - 5p.m.

M-F

Updated 2 br/2ba. 1 car garage, water view, vaulted ceilings, plantation shutters, fireplace, jacuzzi tub, turnkey furnished.

Excellent rental history. $499,900 Call 904-556-8900

Wagner Realty Since 1939 www.rentalsonlongboat.com

Homes for Sale 5 ACRES Lake Barn Near Fruitville I-75 Call for Price

Sarasota: 3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1 Car Garage House $359,000

*This position must be performed in the office. No remote work is available.

Bradenton: Pool Home, New windows, hvac, Completely Updated $689,900

Competitive pay, paid time off and health insurance available

Longboat Key: 4 pools, beach access. $465,000

SELL IT NOW!

Gulf Beachfront Home coming soon: 6.9 million

YourObserver.com/RedPages

wagnerlbkrentals@gmail.com

Ask about our special rates!

Venice: 2/2 Condo Plantation Golf Club. Call for Price

941-955-4888

Reservations 941-383-5577

THE MEADOWS GOLF &CC

Please email your resume and WPM typing speed for immediate consideration to kboothroyd@businessobserverfl. com. Please also specify your available date to start.

Autos Wanted CASH FOR YOUR CAR We come to you!

Ho Ho Buys cars.

941-270-4400.

Beachfront, Bayfront and In

Bradenton: Condo, 2 bed, 2 bath$229,900 Pet friendly 55+

Sarasota: Pool home, 4 bed. $649,900

Brooke O’Malley | Club Realty Call 941-726-2677

SELL YOUR STUFF FAST!

Adult Care Services CAREGIVER AVAILABLE for business assistant, nights, & some weekend travel.

Call Diane (941)545-5992 DAHLIA HEALTHCARE

GARAGE SALE Advertise as low as $17.50 per week!

Commercial Property for Rent

CALL 941-955-4888

FOR LEASE: 1,750 Sq. ft. in Bradenton. Office or Medical. Call Frank 941-720-2199

YourObserver.com/RedPages

Private Duty Concierge RN Here for all your healthcare needs.

Call Lori Wheeler, RN today.

941-806-8292

Auto Transport SHIP YOUR car, truck or SUV anywhere in the United States.

Great rates, fast quotes. Call Hawley Motors: 941-923-3421.

Cleaning BRAZILIAN CLEANING Service

by Maria. Residential. Meticulous Cleaning. Excellent References.

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This week’s Crossword answers

15% DISCOUNT FOR 4-WEEK RUN Color background: $ 5 per week Ad border: as low as $3 per week PLACE YOUR AD: Call: 941-955-4888 Email: RedPages@YourObserver.com

SEASONAL RATES

2BR/2BA LONGBOAT KEY condo. Welcome to your 2BR/2BAoasis LONGBOAT KEY luxurious in the premier condo. Welcome to youron community of Promenade luxurious oasis in property the premier Longboat Key. This prescommunity of Promenade on ents a rare opportunity to design Longboat Key.home This property presyour dream around the ents spectacular a rare opportunity to design Gulf views. your dream home around the $1,599,999 spectacular Gulf views.

Call Lindsey 727-698-9179 $1,599,999 Call Lindsey 727-698-9179 CONDO FOR SALE: All updated, 2 br/2 ba, garage/pool.

20 mins to beach. $225k 941-650-3744

First 15 words .................. $ 17.50 per week Each Add’l word ....... 50¢

Online: YourObserver.com/Red Pages

FIND BUYERS & SELLERS HERE! Handyman Services MITCHELL HANDYMAN. Painting, Carpentry, Tile, Pressure Cleaning.

Home Improvements, Repairs.

Small and large! 941-284-8488.

Health Services LICENSED CNA: 40 yrs experience with Alzheimer’s, dementia, autism, and other disabilities. Handle meds., perform memory exercises, grocery, bathing/ personal care and medical transportation.

College educated, references upon request. (Not an Agency) Part Time. Mornings only on M,W,F. $20 / hr. (min. 2 hrs.)

Cash or Check.

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Moving NATIONWIDE BEST RATE MOVERS For only $140 / hr get 2 men & a truck plus FREE boxes.

Call 941-465-3000

Painting CARLO DATTILO Painting Licensed & insured. Interior/ Exterior painting including drywall repair and retexturing.

Wallpaper installation & removal, pressure washing. Residential & commercial, condos.

Honest & reliable.

Free estimates. 941-744-1020.

35+ years experience.

SARASOTA PAINTING, LLC INTERIOR / EXTERIOR / CABINETS WE ARE THE BEST!!!

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Fully Insured.

CALL or TEXT Don 941-900-9398

Transportation TOP NOTCH TRANSPORTATION Airport Taxi Service Island to SRQ- $45 Island to Tampa- $90 Add XL- $20 Luxury cars • Over 8,000 trips Regular Hours • Never Late!

Doctors Appts. • All Rides on the Gulf Coast

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www.topnotchtransportation service.com

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers Puzzle One Solution: “Life is like a confused teacher ... first, it gives the test and then teaches the lesson.”

Canadian rapper Drake Puzzle Two Solution: “My father used to sing to me in my mother’s womb. I think I can name about any tune in two beats.”

Yancy Butler Puzzle Three Solution: “There are endless new variations on how to hurt a woman physically, emotionally, financially and socially.”

Gloria Allred

This week’s Sudoku answers

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GREAT FINDS LOCATED HERE!

THE BUSINESS OBSERVER newspaper is seeking a fast-paced, detail-oriented Proofreader / Typist for a part-time position in Sarasota, Florida.

Hours are 9am-2pm, Mon-Fri. Candidates must be able to type at least 75 WPM with great accuracy and proofread typed material and make corrections. Attention to detail is a MUST. Proofreading entails finding errors in the typed print that varies from the original document, not actually editing the documents for errors.

real estate

DARK BROWN Velour Lift Chair Like New. $195.

Call 740-424-5210

SENIOR LOOKING to purchase precious metals, diamonds, time pieces, coins, jewelry, antique and estate jewelry, and some collectors plates. Personal and confidential.

Please call Marc: 941-321-0707

You’re only cheating yourself.

ADVERTISE YOUR MERCHANDISE with the total value of all items $200 or less in this section for FREE! Limit 1 ad per month,15 words or less. Price must be included next to each item. No commercial advertising.

Ad runs 2 consecutive weeks in 1 Observer.

Call 941-955-4888 Or Email ad to: classified@yourobserver.com (Please provide your name and address) Or Online at: www.yourobserver.com Or mail to: The Observer Group 1970 Main St. - 3rd Floor Sarasota, Fl 34236

Help Wanted

peekers’ place

Items Under $200

Merchandise Wanted

auto

stuff

The Sarasota and Siesta Key Observer reserves the right to classify and edit copy, or to reject or cancel an advertisement at any time. Corrections after first insertion only. *All ads are subject to the approval of the Publisher. *It is the responsibility of the party placing any ad for publication in the Sarasota and Siesta Key Observer to meet all applicable legal requirements in connection with the ad such as compliance with towncodes in first obtaining an occupational license for business, permitted home occupation, or residential rental property.

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

Vacation/ Seasonal Rentals

home services

INFORMATION & RATES: 941-955-4888

redpages@yourobserver.com •yourobserver.com/redpages

RED PAGES AD RATES

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2024

Carpentry

Doors

McKnight Construction

Sliding Glass Door Repair

Remodel & Home Improvements

Cleaning Crystal Clear Windows in Southwest Florida Since 2023

941-504-9787

Divorce is never fun, but it does not have to be nasty & hateful! Protect your family relationships and assets from expensive Court litigation. Consider Divorce Mediation, the peaceful alternative.

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427778

Residential & Commercial Cleans

Call Today!

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Call me for a free 30 minute consultation before you call a Divorce Lawyer!

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KEENS HANDYMAN SERVICES

425487

STEVE PANEBIANCO H R S ome

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Hardware Repair Virus / Malware Cleanup Software & Printer Install New Computer Setups New Purchase Consults Seniors & Beginners

WE COME TO YOU

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DR. DAVID CIFRA, DC

Concrete

Midtown Medical Park 1215 S. East Ave. Suite 210 Sarasota, FL 34239

Michael Koch Concrete Inc. All Phases of Flat Work & Stone Work

www.SarasotaDiscCenter.com DrCifra@SarasotaDiscCenter.com

941-918-8587

427788

Free Estimates! • No Job Too Small 425476

24 Hour Care • Full Service Home Health Care www.tlchomecaresrq.com • (941) 320-9678 Now Hiring HHA’s & CNA’s

Contractor

GROW

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Construction Estimating • Custom Homes Design Build • Restaurants-New/Remodels Office Remodels • Financing Call to reserve your ad space: 941-955-4888 YourObserver.com/RedPages

Email Project Information: PCNestimating@gmail.com 941-527-9414 Trades welcome to join our network! Please send email

PALMER RANCH HOMEWATCHERS® Watching your home while you’re away

Bob & Carol Guthrie 941.993.6613 426471

Advertise as low as $85 per week.

The Only Thing You Have To Lose ... Is The Pain!!

Home Watch

Professional Contractors Network, Inc.

YOUR BUSINESS

Health

GET YOUR LIFE BACK!

Learn Computer Basics Phones/Tablet Help Apple & Microsoft Problems Solved On-Site and Off Much More! Call Today!

Pegatronics.com 425482

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Serving the Palmer Ranch Area Since 2007 Licensed & Insured

www.PalmerRanchHomewatchers.com PalmerRanchHomewatchers@comcast.net

SEARCH the RED PAGES for GREAT DEALS To place an ad

Call 941-955-4888

eRvice

FREE (941) 809-7311 ESTIMATES!

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Pegatronics Computer Instruction and Repair It’s Easier Than You Think!

FAST • EASY • SAFE

epaiR

• No JoB Too SmaLL • ScReeN RepaiRS • paiNTiNG/DRY WaLL • TiLe RepaiRS • & mUcH moRe!

6968 Beneva Road

SELL YOUR CAR!

Bathroom & Kitchen Remodeling • Concrete • Sheeting Drywall • Painting • Fence • Parquet • Stone Flooring • Tiles

TEXT OR CALL 574-354-7772

New & Refurbished Computers Servicing PC & MAC on Site or In Shop Virus and Spyware Removal- Free Software We Make Windows 10 User-Friendly!

Auto Service

941.279.5317

INTERIOR RENOVATIONS & ANYTHING FROM THE GROUND UP

COMPUTER REPAIR SALES & SERVICE

William J. Leininger, JD

Alex Akbaba

H A N DY M A N

KEENS HANDYMAN SERVICES

Computer

We have mediated divorces involving up to 15 million dollars of assets over past 30 years.

425489

BLUE BOX

Cleaner Than Clean Window Company

Divorce without Lawyers

Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator 677 N. Washington Blvd Sarasota, FL 34236 SarasotaDivorceMediator.com 941-727-5555

Handyman

426594

Attorney

Mike McKnight

941~400~6786

425477

Sarasota County

425498

425481

YoderAluminum.com

Free Estimates

427786

941.650.9790 941.650.9790 YoderAluminum.com

Owner /Insured Operator Insured

New Deluxe Rollers Will Make Your Doors Roll Better Than Ever Call Nick 928-2263 proslidingglassdoorrepair.com

425500

Dustin Yoder

Dustin Owner Yoder/ Operator

“FIX IT - DON’T REPLACE”

Professional Craftmanship on Carpentry • Cabinets Plank Floors • All Trims and Moldings Pressure Cleaning Services • Painting

427789

“Specializing inin6” Gutters” “Specializing 6” Seamless Seamless Gutters”

425478

Aluminum

427790

18B

YourObserver.com

GARDENS No Job is Too Small!

Complete Plumbing Services & Repairs Residential, New Construction and Commercial Serving the area since 1993 No Job Too BIG or Too SMALL. We DO IT ALL!

by Allison

Veteran Owned & Operated • Third Generation Master Plumber All Major Credit Cards Accepted Generalplumbingsarasota.com

941-923-8140

• Drain & Sewer Cleaning • Backflows Installation • Natural Gas Installations - Appliance Hook ups • Power Flush & Comfort Height Toilets • All Water Heaters - Tankless - Gas - Solar • All Major Plumbing Fixtures Repaired or Replaced • Garbage Disposals • New Water & Sewer Services • Dishwashers Installed • Wells & Pump Repairs Licensed & Insured State Lic CFC056748

Roofing

Personalized Full Service Gardening & Landscaping

Design • Maintenance • Cleanup Allison Abizaid, M.A. Concierge Gardening | Designer

Kenneth Fuhlman Inc.

941-400-0431 • gbyallison@yahoo.com • gardensbyallison.com

Building & Roofing Contractor

425485

Shell Work & Landscape Stone

• Aluminum, Vinyl, & Wood Soffit & Fascia Repair & Installation • Roofing Repair & Installation • Metal Roofing & Tile Roof Repair Specialists

Driveways | Yards | Dirt Work | Light Demo

Rich Briandi | 941-356-5616 Lic./ Insured

941-626-3194

Licensed & Insured CCC - 058059 CBC - 1253936

Movers

1/10/23, 10:25 AM

BLACK LABEL CAR SERVICE

941-955-4888 Painting

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DRGRABBARS.COM

*DRILLING CHARGES MAY APPLY FOR MARBLE, GRANITE OR PORCELAIN. COUPON REQUIRED.

941. 879 . 6732

Sarasota’s 1st Choice Painters for Over 25 Years

Res. | Com. | Lic. | Ins.

GLENN KROECKER

Formerly known as Sunrise Windows

954-1878 (cell) 780-3346 Licensed & Insured

Interior / Exterior / Cabinets.

UP TO

FULLY INSURED • OWNER OPERATED

SPECIALIZING IN KITCHEN & BATHROOM REPAIRS & REMODELS.

- FREE ESTIMATES 941-243-0995 • jsancorporation@gmail.com jsancorporation.com Lic#CBC1265920

SHOWER & BATH MAKEOVERS Cleaned - Regrouted - Caulked - Sealed

Call John 941.377.2940

Free Estimates • Sarasota Resident Since 1974

www.showerandbathsarasota.com

426470

CALL OR TEXT 941-900-9398 TODAY! OWNER: DON HUBIAK

Pet Care by Melanie Gates

5

$

Serving South Sarasota Only including: Palmer Ranch – Osprey – Nokomis

(941) 966-2960

STUFF

found here.

The Red Pages is the perfect store to buy andCOLOR sell locally!

You’ll find a wide rf selection SUN - FULL 2x2 175642 09-06-23 from antiques to furniture to condos!

RED PAGES Made for where you live. Here!

Call 941-955-4888 or visit YourObserver.com/redpages

INCLUDING SCREENS, TR ACKS, MIRRORS & FANS

SPECIAL 00

Pet Services

Pet Sitting (cats & sm/md dogs) Dog Walking (sm/md) Over 30 years experience Excellent references Administering medication

150

25 $

STANDARD WINDOWS

senior citizen discount. www.sunsetwindowcleaningsrq.com

PURIFIED WATER WINDOW CLEANING AVAIL ABLE!!

Call Tibor for FREE ESTIMATES 941- 284 - 5880 425514

Renovation, Construction and Remodeling Specialist

1/1

Serving Longboat Key Since 2005

425780

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425484

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425486

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Give Your Kitchen a Facelift!

hones-tpainting.com htpaintingfla@gmail.com

425499

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HONES-T PAINTING

364556 426478

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427792

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make your moving day a pleasure.

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Transportation

Wizard Moving SRQ Kitchen/Bath Remodeling

425491

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425509

Dave and Connie Grundy

General Plumbing Services Inc.

NEED HELP?

Find business and service professionals in the Red Pages.

YourObserver.com/RedPages

425494

Pinnacle Home Watch.com Stop Worrying About Your Home While Away

Plumbing

425519

Landscaping & Lawn

426984

Home Watch

$

19B

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2024

20B

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2024

READY TO MOVE BEYOND YOUR EXPECTATIONS?

Look No Further 20819 Parkstone Terrace Donna Soda

$6,999,000 941.961.5857

THE GULF COAST LUXURY LEADER

Scan below for a full list of Open Houses, property details, driving directions and more

BAYSHORE 1109 Bayshore Road Lisa Napolitano & Tamara Currey

$6,250,000 941.993.0025

TERRACE GARDENS 201 South Shade Avenue Roberta Tengerdy & Carolyn Collins

NOKOMIS 302 Bayview Parkway Melissa Caldwell & Courtney Green

ARBOR LAKES ON PALMER RANCH $1,259,000 941.266.8829

5930 Anise Drive Janet Boyden

$1,095,000 941.920.1500

1254 15th Street Mike Warm & Jeff DeJongh

PREMIER ON MAIN 2182 Fruitville Road Frank Lambert & Anita Lambert

5863 Cavano Drive Lori Carey & Leslie DuFresne

$3,950,000 941.504.0944

$1,200,000 770.595.8139

10805 Whisk Fern Drive Megan George & Maryanne Kurtz

$850,000 941.525.2740

216 Osprey Point Drive Judie Berger

PRESTANCIA

$1,150,000 941.726.1998

7738 Calle Facil Joel Schemmel & Sharon Chiodi

$795,000 941.928.3424

908 Circle Drive Megan George

THE OAKS BAYSIDE

ESPLANADE $789,000 414.803.2304

625 South Owl Drive Sandra Simic

SARASOTA NATIONAL

VALENCIA TERRACE

PRESTANCIA 7242 Villa D’Este Drive Ellen Kirkegaard

SARASOTA $2,148,000 941.321.2292

VENICE ISLAND

TOSCANA ISLES $762,900 941.780.3427

153 Vinadio Boulevard Sharon Chiodi

$1,145,000 941.587.4894

$794,900 941.726.1998

TREASURE ISLAND $749,000 941.809.0380

5396 Gulf Boulevard #306 Johnny Sokhon

$725,000 941.961.4579

The Next Evolution of Waterfront Luxury 78 Grand Bayfront Residences from $3.7 Million

Presentation Gallery Now Open at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota Hotel 1111 Ritz-Carlton Drive, Sarasota, Florida 34236 941.499.8704 | TheResidencesSarasotaBay.com ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING REPRESENTATIONS OF THE SELLER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, MAKE REFERENCE TO THIS BROCHURE AND TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A SELLER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. The renderings, terms, conditions, and statements contained in these materials are proposed only, and the Developer reserves the right to modify, or withdraw any or all of same in its sole discretion and without prior notice. The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Sarasota Bay are not owned, developed or sold by Marriott International, Inc. or its affiliates (“Ritz-Carlton”). KT Sarasota South, LLC uses The Ritz-Carlton marks under a license from Ritz-Carlton, which has not confirmed the accuracy of any of the statements or representations made herein. Sotheby’s International Realty® and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each office is independently owned and operated.

BROKERAGE | RENTALS | RELOCATION | NEW DEVELOPMENT MORTGAGE | INSURANCE | FINE ART CONSIGNMENT

PremierSIR.com VENICE | 941.412.3323

LAKEWOOD RANCH | 941.907.9541

LONGBOAT KEY | 941.383.2500

RENTALS | 941.203.3433

Sotheby’s International Realty® and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Property information herein is derived from various sources including,but not limited to, county records and multiple listing services, and may include approximations. All information is deemed accurate. Source: BrokerMetrics®.

418461-1

SARASOTA - DOWNTOWN | 941.364.4000