She’s the world’s fastest land animal, and she’s been tasked with getting new support for conservation off to a running start. Last week, Big Cat Habitat fulfilled a long-held dream when it announced the arrival of Zuri, its first cheetah.
All-terrain access
A beach-friendly accessibility chair that helps those with mobility challenges enjoy our sandy beaches is now available for public use at Lido Beach.
The EcoRover is an electric, hand-controlled track chair with all-terrain treads that can easily traverse sand, allowing enjoyment of the beach. Based in North Port, the EcoRover chair was invented by company President Cordell Jeter, a paraplegic as a result of injuries sustained in an auto accident.
The EcoRover chair includes storage for an oxygen tank, umbrella and tools. For those without the use of their hands, a remote control is available to allow a companion to walk alongside and control the chair.
The EcoRover may be reserved for up to four hours at no cost from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
After working with cheetah facilities across the country, the rescue finally acquired Zuri, who had been a surplus animal at a Florida facility. She is planned to serve as an ambassador for Big Cat Habitat, and by extension, cheetahs in the wild, via events like fundraisers and special dinners. Clayton Rosaire, vice president and COO of Big Cat Habitat, said being raised by humans from birth will give her an ideal temperament for the role. Turtle Tracks
AS OF JULY 27
Annabelle Hill supports Camille Wright as she emerges from the water during a Sarasota Sharks Synchro Team practice.
Courtesy
WEEK OF AUG 1, 2024
BY THE NUMBERS
571
Requests made to the Sarasota Police Department in 2023 for redacted bodyworn camera video. PAGE 6A
$1.35B Budget for Sarasota County Schools’ new fiscal year, down from $1.5 billion last year. PAGE 12A
$775,000 The cost, roughly, of St. Paul Lutheran Church’s renovations to a historic building designed by architect Victor Lundy. PAGE 6B CALENDAR
n Sarasota City Commission regular meeting — 9 a.m., Monday, Aug. 5, Commission Chambers, City Hall, 1565 First St.
“Our response time to crimes will be more efficient and officer safety,
which is paramount for us, will be vastly improved just through those four positions.”
Sarasota Police Chief Rex Troche. Read more on Page 6A
CareerEdge makes upskilling grants
CareerEdge Funders Collaborative has extended upskilling work grant funding to nine local companies and organizations. The workforce initiative of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce designed the grant program to provide workers with the necessary skills to thrive in a rapidly evolving job market.
The grant program supports employer initiatives that enhance the skill sets of workers in a diverse range of industries. CareerEdge offers grant funding to eligible employers to increase employees’ skills, accelerate promotions and provide wage increases.
Grants were awarded to Adams Group of North Port, Air Products of Palmetto, Bartelt Packaging of Sarasota, Badger Bob’s Services of Sarasota, Easterseals Southwest Florida, Jeld-Wen Windows & Doors of Venice, Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Sun Hydraulics of Sarasota and Veteran Air Home Services in southern Manatee County.
Fitch ranks county hospital district
‘AA-’
The Sarasota County Public Hospital District, which includes Sarasota Memorial Hospital, has earned “AA-” ratings on outstanding revenue bonds from Fitch.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota has been named one of Time magazine’s 100 “World’s Greatest Places” for 2024, the publication has announced.
Selby Gardens is one of only eight places in the U.S. that made the list. It’s the only Florida location in its category and the only botanical garden on the list.
n City of Sarasota Community Workshop — 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 6, Discussion of proposed transfer of development Comprehensive Plan amendment, City Hall, 1565 First St. Selby makes ‘World’s Greatest Places’ list
Time, in describing Selby as a “thriving oasis of banyan trees and mangroves,” notes its new solar array, “now set to become the world’s first net-positiveenergy botanical complex thanks to the installation of a 57,000-square-foot solar array. (It exceeds the facility’s energy demands by more than 10%.)”
Time said it solicited nominations of places, including hotels, cruises, restaurants, attractions, museums and parks from its network of correspondents and contributors, as well as via an application process, “with an eye toward those offering new and exciting experiences.”
Other locales on the “places to visit” list include Maui Cul-
tural Lands in Hawaii, the Kamba African Rainforest in Kenya, the Matterhorn Alpine Crossing in Switzerland and the Museum of Solutions in Mumbai, India.
“The completion of Phase One has allowed our organization to be recognized as a global leader for sustainability, as well as an international innovator for botanical gardens, museums, cultural organizations, scientific institutions and restaurants worldwide,” Selby Gardens’ President and CEO Jennifer O. Rominiecki said in a media release.
The ratings reflect SMH’s “leading market position in a growing service area, robust historical operating cash flow levels and strong liquidity position,” according to a statement.
SMH is the leading provider in the area, with a 71% combined market share in FY 2023 between its main and Venice campuses, according to a statement.
Fitch says it expects the health care system to remain a regional leader “bolstered by its ongoing strategic capital projects,” such as 34 new rooms opening at the Venice hospital by the end of 2024, bringing its total number of beds to 220; an outpatient cancer pavilion coming to Sarasota in 2025, plus a possible future outpatient cancer center at Venice; and a hospital in North Port in the master planning stage, a combined $1.3 billon in capital spending.
Courtesy image
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is one of only eight locations in the U.S. that made Time magazine’s list.
We’re No. 11!
ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER
The good news is Sarasota has surpassed Green Bay, Wisconsin, in the 2024 U.S. News & World Report’s annual “Best Places to Live” rankings. The less positive development is that Sarasota fell from No. 5 to No. 11 on the list.
But not as far as Green Bay, which slid from No. 1 last year to one spot behind Sarasota. Both cities were assessed an overall score of 6.7, but Sarasota’s sun, sand and overall lifestyle eked out the win over the “frozen tundra” in the publication’s ranking methodology.
“I think a common thread through all these surveys, whether we’re moving up the list or down the list, is that we’re making the list,” said Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Heather Kasten. “There are many cities that aren’t making these lists year in and year out. We may slide up and down, but the bottom line is we’re coming out on the top of these lists in so many different categories.”
And what keeps Sarasota appearing on such lists?
“I think it’s just our quality of life in general, being able to live an active outdoor lifestyle,” Kasten said. “One of the key predictors of health is activity and being able to be outside. It does get hot here in summer, but for the better part of the year, there is the ability to get out and move your body, especially in this beautiful area.”
But why the slip from fifth to No. 11 this year? Kasten said she thinks that’s primarily because of the city’s ongoing affordable housing issue.
The ranking methodology backs that up.
The overall score factors in a quality of life index (32%), value index (32%), desirability index (19%), and job market index (22%). No matter how nice a city might be to live in, it must be affordable to live there.
Of the value index, which measures how comfortably the average resident of each city can afford to live within their means, 50% is weighted on housing costs versus median household income.
“Sarasota’s popularity with both the over-65 and under-65 sets means rising home prices, and many people who want to live here are priced out,” the report reads. “For a city of its size, Sarasota is not a cheap place to live. In fact, average rental prices for an apartment are even slightly higher in Sarasota than in nearby cities like St. Petersburg and Tampa.”
The overall score gap between No. 1-ranked Naples and Sarasota is only fourth-tenths of a point. Among other Florida cities, Sarasota is ranked second. As is typical, U.S. News & World
Affordability appears to be a factor in the city ranking 11th by U.S. News & World Report, but at least it beat Green Bay this year.
THE TOP 10 ... AND SARASOTA
WHAT’S IT LIKE TO LIVE IN SARASOTA?
Locals already know, but this is how U.S. News & World Report describes Sarasota to the rest of the world:
“Sarasota has a distinct vibe that’s different from Florida’s relative coastal cities, with its own vibrant arts scene, beachy atmosphere and burgeoning food culture. People who choose Sarasota as their home are generally called by its unique charm. This city of more than 55,000 people has a renowned opera house, a number of rooftop bars and the popular beach of Siesta Key nearby. What makes the region special is its duality — downtown Sarasota boasts resorts and fine dining, but strolling Siesta Key Village or St. Armands Circle offers a more intimate, seaside ambience.
“The region has a number of formal art opportunities, like the Sarasota Orchestra, the Asolo Repertory Theatre, the Sarasota Opera and the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. The region attracts classic live music acts — think the remaining Beach Boys — but has a harder time attracting younger, more current performers.
“Downtown Sarasota’s bayfront is a popular spot to walk and admire the extensive view without spending a day on the sand. The region also has a number of tiki bars and seaside restaurants for those looking to kick back and enjoy the Old Florida lifestyle — O’Leary’s Tiki Bar and Grill and New Pass Grill and Bait Shop are local favorites.”
Report cited the area’s beaches, the arts and culture scene, St. Armands and Siesta Key as main lifestyle attractions, but it also pointed out the city’s continuing skew from a retirement haven to a destination for young professionals and families.
“There was once a time when Sarasota was dismissed as a playground for retirees, but that reputation is slowly changing as more young professionals make it their own,” the report reads. “One of the city’s up-and-coming neighborhoods is the Rosemary District, where eclectic murals decorate storefronts and modern condominiums and hotels sit near casual breakfast cafes.” Sarasota does benefit from the continued in-migration from other states that rapidly accelerated during the pandemic.
“We know from the Florida Chamber that about 750 people a day are moving to Florida,” Kasten said. “We know that net income migration is about $4.8 million per hour, and that’s based on people’s W2s moving from other states. That really doesn’t even capture all the retirement money.”
Courtesy images
Gleaming condo towers along Sarasota’s bayfront create a scenic view in the 11th best place to live in the U.S.
Public art is scattered throughout the city, such as the Jumping Fish sculpture in the roundabout at Cocoanut and North Palm avenues.
Siesta Beach is a main attraction for Sarasota visitors and residents.
The downtown culinary scene was cited in U.S. News & World Report’s ranking.
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art is among the city’s most significant cultural assets.
Specialized Dental Care
Meet the District 1 candidates
Teresa Mast and Alexandra Coe square off in County Commission District 1 to replace Mike Moran.
ith Mike Moran’s term limited after eight years and Gov. Ron Desantis’ appointee Neil Rainford facing competition for his District 3 seat, there will be at least one new face on the Sarasota County Commission this fall.
What likely won’t change is all five county districts will be represented by Republicans. But what’s new is that the board will no longer be an all-men’s club.
With no registered Democrats running for three seats on the board — incumbent Ron Cutsinger is unopposed in District 5 — the Aug. 20 primary election is effectively closed.
In the District 1 race, voters who live in the east Sarasota area will decide between Teresa Mast and Alexandra Coe. The primary closed to Republican voters after Hope Williams, the daughter of Mast’s campaign manager, filed to run as a write-in candidate.
According to the Sarasota County Elections Supervisor website, the Mast campaign has raised $248,258, Coe $33,821 and Williams zero dollars.
Under Florida statute, if candidates from only one political party file to run for office, then all voters can vote in the universal primary. The addition of Williams to the ballot as an independent makes it a closed primary, locking those not registered as Republicans out of the polls in August. In District 3, Republicans Rainford and Tom Knight are joined by independent candidate Shari Thornton and write-in candidate Janique Tenney. Tenney has raised no campaign funds, while Rainford has banked $293,039, Knight $225,501 and Thornton $22,663.
Rainford was appointed to the commission to fill the unexpired term of Nancy Detert, who died in April 2023.
The top issues for city voters will differ in large part from those countywide, with the exception of the portion of Siesta Key that is within the city limits. There, residents continue the yearslong battle against county government to prevent higher-density development, specifically in regard to thus far legally rebuffed efforts to build hotels on the barrier island.
Opposition to the hotels, led by Siesta Key resident Lourdes Ramirez, had a series of legal wins in 2023, the arguments based on the county’s Comprehensive Plan update that limits density of residential uses.
In fall 2021, the County Commission approved the 170-room Calle Miramar in Siesta Key Village on a 0.96-acre beachfront site and a second 120-room hotel on 1.17 acres on the south end of the island at 1260 Old Stickney Point Road. Along the way, the county recategorized hotels from residential to nonresidential use, then argued in court that the residential density cap of 26 units per acre no longer applied.
Siding with Ramirez, in August 2023, 12th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Hunter Carroll sided with Ramirez in ruling the plan inconsistent with the Comprehensive Plan. It appears another run at building a hotel in Siesta Village will come before the next commission.
In December, the commission voted 3-1, with Mark Smith opposed, moving forward with staff study of a privately initiated Comprehensive Plan change by Benderson Development that would redefine transient accommodations, such as a hotel, as nonresidential uses, eliminate maximum densities and limit hotels as a use to 15% of the total combined acreage of the commercial zoning districts on the island. Benderson is proposing a 210-room hotel on the site of a retail center on the 5200 block of Ocean Boulevard. Neither Mast nor Coe referenced
WHY ARE THEY RUNNING?
The Observer’s candidate survey asked both Teresa Mast and Alexandra Coe why they are running for the County Commission. Here’s what they said:
“Having graduated, married and raised a family in Sarasota County, I am deeply committed to ensuring a legacy we can all take pride in. I envision a community where our children and grandchildren can live, work and play safely, with access to agriculture, affordable housing, well-paying careers, vibrant arts, business opportunities, world-renowned schools and the chance to stay local. We need leadership that listens and makes decisive choices to benefit the entire county, now and for future generations.”
development pressures on Siesta Key and other barrier islands in responses to candidate surveys from the Observer.
Also in question for city residents is continued county tax increment financing funding for a potential Sarasota Performing Arts Center, with all five commissioners voting against releasing TIF funding for the contract with the project’s architect, at least three of the five remaining on the board after the election, and both Mast and Coe expressing opposition to public-private funding strategy.
Cutsinger and Smith, the commission’s two representatives on the city-county Bay Park Improvement Board, balked at spending TIF tax revenues — which are collected from an increase. The city and the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation decided to fund the archi -
tect contract on their own. Further participation by the county in the SPAC is uncertain, but answers to the Observer survey indicate neither Mast nor Coe have any appetite for funding a replacement for the Van Wezel via the interlocal agreement with the city for The Bay Park, in which a new facility is proposed to be built.
“I am a strong advocate for the arts community and commend the progress made in the Bay Park improvements. However, I do not support imposing additional taxes on residents for this project,” Mast wrote. “Instead, I envision a philanthropic capital campaign, to which I am willing to personally contribute, as a more effective way to fund these enhancements.”
Responded Coe, “While TIF can be a powerful tool for revitalizing
blighted areas and stimulating economic growth, its use for funding a new performing arts hall at The Bay Park does not align with these objectives. Sarasota County should focus TIF funds on projects that address genuine community needs, promote equitable development and ensure the efficient use of public resources.”
In the survey, Mast and Coe were also asked to list their three top issues facing the county and how would they address them.
On growth, Coe wrote that the county must adhere to the 2050 Plan, respect neighborhood agreements and cease variances that allow excessive density and alter the character of communities. Flooding mitigation should include using recovery funds from Hurricane Ian to enhance resilience rather than diverting resources to unrelated projects. Finally, she
MELISSA FAITHFULLY PLEDGES TO:
• Honor the unique character of each neighborhood, their history, and the diverse cultures that enrich District 1. Lower real estate taxes for homeowners and small businesses. Improve and expand city services.
• Create affordable and low-income housing, focusing on seniors and those in need.
• STOP giving away city assets to developers without compensation to the citizens of Sarasota!
• NOT accept funding from developers, PACs, special interest groups or former politicians.
• Respect YOU along with your ideas, thoughts and concerns!
“I am running for Sarasota County Commissioner to ensure that our government remains responsive to the needs of its residents. Ultimately, I want to represent the will of the people and work toward a government that truly serves its community.”
Alexandra Coe
advocates support for diverse land uses to accommodate affordable housing for various ages, incomes, and families.
Meanwhile, Mast prioritizes countywide infrastructure and investment into traffic reducing projects within the current budget. Next is public safety.
“We must always be on the cutting edge of fully funding and maintaining the highest and best technology and personnel for Sarasota County for all of our first responders,” she wrote. Finally, she pledges to work to lower taxes and reallocate funds for additional services “that enhance the ability to keep Sarasota affordable.”
The complete candidate surveys for Teresa Mast and Alexandra Coe are available at YourObserver.com News/Elections/.
Teresa Mast Courtesy images
Teresa Mast and Alexandra Coe are running for the District 1 Sarasota County Commission seat.
Candid about cameras
Police Chief Rex Troche makes his case for growing SPD’s video capabilities.
ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER
Freedom of Information Act requests for Sarasota Police Department body camera videos have grown exponentially since the program was implemented in May 2021. To keep up with that volume and the workload required for fulfillment, the SPD has requested an additional body-worn camera records specialist for next fiscal year.
During last week’s budget workshop, Police Chief Rex Troche explained to city commissioners why one records specialist and a supervisor, the current staff assigned to the task, are not enough to keep up with the demand that the SPD is required to meet.
“In 2023, there were 571 requests for redacted video,” Troche said. “Each video has to be looked at minute by minute, and we put people in those positions who understand what needs to be redacted and what can be released. There’s always a concern to make sure that we’re not rushing this process with all these increasing requests for video, and that we’re ensuring that we’re redacting what we need to avoid any type of litigation down the road.”
The source of the increasing demand? A spokesperson for SPD told the Observer it is a combination of an influx of people who post videos to YouTube for financial gain, and the growth of the body-worn camera program in general.
More available videos result in more requests for them. And like
it or not, social media posters earn income for achieving certain thresholds of views, all courtesy of the city taxpayer.
From calendar years 2021 to 2022, SPD fielded a 500% increase in request volume, largely because the program was gradually implemented beginning in May. The first full-year comparison from 2022 to 2023, though, brought another 121.3% increase. In all, there were 258 requests in calendar year 2022, 571 in 2023. Through July of this year, there were 331.
Of all of those requests since 2022, 434 of them have been from enterprising social media posters.
Troche said he expects demand to continue to rise.
“They’re getting video they don’t have to pay for per statute, and then they’re putting it online on YouTube and various social media, and it’s lucrative for them because they get the amount of hits and they make money off of it,” Troche said, “We’re seeing that happen more and more and more.”
That budget issue carries an impact of $61,000 for compensation.
The police department is also seeking an additional $690,518 to implement a Real-Time Operations Center with a mission to leverage existing technology to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of law enforcement responses.
The request reads, “Further, it aims to improve officers’ ability to detect, disrupt, and prevent crime. This is accomplished through live monitoring of myriad law enforce-
ment resources such as license plate readers, law enforcement databases, security cameras and data analysis tools.”
Implementation of the program requires one sworn supervisor and six civilian analysts for 24-hour coverage of the city. Of those, only four new hires will be needed because the SPD can reallocate a sergeant and two analysts to the task.
“We have come to the point where we’re trying to be even more efficient, and we can leverage our technology that’s already out there, and we can solve crimes in real time,” Troche told commissioners. “That’s a game-changer in law enforcement like no other.”
For example, when a call comes in for service, the analysts can dispatch officers to the location while tapping into more than 60 accessible cameras located throughout the city, providing them with real-time assessments of the situation before they arrive on the scene or track movements while in pursuit.
“They’re letting the officers know what they’re seeing in real time through the video,” Troche said. “It’s
“We have come to the point where we’re trying to be even more efficient, and we can leverage our technology that’s already out there, and we can solve crimes in real time.”
Police Chief Rex Troche
really limited to your imagination and the expertise that we would need for these people to come on board. It will reduce crime immensely, our response time to crimes will be more efficient and officer safety, which is paramount for us, will be vastly improved just through those four positions.”
In all, an additional $293,126 is proposed for personnel and a capital expenditure of $397,392 for hardware and software.
Courtesy image
The Sarasota Police Department’s body-worn camera program began in 2021.
Observer recommends
Republican voters have solid choices to replace Rep. Tommy Gregory for House District 72. One candidate’s qualifications stand above the others.
Whoever wins among the four Republican candidates seeking to replace state House District 72 Rep. Tommy Gregory, expectations for effectiveness in Tallahassee will be high.
In his three terms in office, Gregory rose among his Republican colleagues in the House as a low-key, smart, respected, analytical lawmaker. In 2023, as chair of the House Judiciary Committee, Gregory led the effort to do what lawmakers had been trying to do for 40 years — sweeping tort reform. This was legislation that broke Florida’s trial lawyers’ hold on the Legislature with statutes that made them wealthy, made Floridians poorer and gave Florida the reputation as one of the worst states for costly, frivolous lawsuits.
Perhaps one of the ironies of Gregory’s signature legislation is that he is a lawyer himself.
Fellow Republican lawmakers, business leaders and Manatee taxpayers were sorry to see Gregory resign his seat June 30 to become president of the State College of Florida — a win for the college, a loss for taxpayers in Tallahassee.
To be sure, the four Republicans seeking to replace Gregory know much will be expected of them.
The question now is which of the four — Bill Conerly, Alyssa Gay, Richard Green or Richard Tatem — can extend the legacy?
This is one of those rare races when all four candidates could serve the district well.
On the issues — such as taxation, the role of government, Florida’s property insurance crisis, recreational marijuana and others — little separates them philosophically. They all espouse conservative bona fides. (For the candidates’ position on issues, click the Elections tab on the homepage of YourObserver. com.)
Which candidate, then, is most likely to serve taxpayers’ interests and be able to play and win in the ugly, jostling-for-power politics that goes on in the Capitol?
n Gay is playing up her youth. She is the youngest of the four at 32 and a lifelong Manatee resident. “You want fresh, future-minded people in the House; you want younger people to be involved in the process,” she says.
Gay started her own marketing company. “Starting a business, working with clients, learning to
ELECTION ’24
FLORIDA HOUSE DISTRICT 72
CANDIDATES ON THE ISSUES
To see candidate profiles and questionnaires, click on the Elections tab on YourObserver. com.
work with people” are all experiences a legislator needs, she says.
While attending (and eventually graduating from) State College of Florida and the University of Florida, Gay served as a legislative intern for then-Rep. Steube. That “opened my eyes to the opportunity our legislators have to truly work for the people,” Gay said.
n Green, 39, is a thoughtful senior attorney for the statewide law firm of Lewis, Longman and Walker P.A. In his practice as an environmental, land-use and governmental litigator, Green has found himself entrenched in the dealing with Florida Department of Transportation, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Department of Health, Florida Department of Children and Families Services and the Florida Department of Agriculture.
“My experience includes drafting amendments” to state statutes, he says. “I am not doing this for fame, and certainly not for fortune,” Green told the Observer. “I am doing it to serve.”
n Conerly, 59, is a senior project manager and shareholder at the Kimley-Horn engineering and planning firm. A resident of Manatee since age 15, he also is a Navy veteran.
Of the four candidates, Conerly talks most stridently about what he wants to accomplish in Tallahassee and his support of Donald Trump. He told Florida Politics in April:
“We can continue to kick the can down the road, year after year, on issues like immigration, insurance and our quality of life, or we can act. I am running to take quick action, just like President Trump,” Conerly said. “The politicians in Tallahassee should be on notice: I won’t be making excuses or empty promises on insurance rates, I will
Lion and the ostrich
The contrast between the speeches of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Congress and that of interim “President” Kamala Harris after meeting with Netanyahu was, well, frightening, demoralizing and distressing. Frightening and distressing for the American people.
If you didn’t watch Netanyahu or read his text, you should. Then, watch Harris’ remarks after her meeting with Netanyahu. The lion and the blind ostrich. Here we are, ostensibly the most powerful democratic republic in the world and the leader of the free world, and yet we now have as our nation’s de facto president an individual who is so obviously feckless; oblivious to right-and-wrong reality; in a job far beyond her ability; and, like her predecessor on every foreign-policy matter, wrong on the Israel-Hamas war.
What’s more, how insulting for Harris, the head of the U.S. Senate, not to attend the speech of the prime minister of our leading ally in the Mideast, instead going to a sorority convention in Indiana. That says it all. So do the two speeches.
Here is Netanyahu describing what happened on Oct. 7: “Like Dec. 7, 1941, and Sept. 11, 2001, Oct. 7 is a day that will forever live in infamy.
RECOMMENDATIONS AT A GLANCE
For the Aug. 20 primary elections
U.S. Senate
Republican — Rick Scott
Democrat — None
U.S. Congress-District 16
Republican — Eddie Speir
Democrat — Neither
Florida House District 72
William “Bill” Conerly
MANATEE COUNTY
County Commission
District 1 — Carol Ann Felts
District 3 — Talha “Tal” Siddique
District 5 — Ray Turner
District 7/At Large — George Kruse
School Board
District 1 — Mark Stanoch
District 3 — Charles Kennedy
Property Appraiser
Charles Hackney
Supervisor of Elections
Scott T. Farrington
be lowering them come hell or highwater.”
OK, put the rhetoric aside. That’s not really Conerly’s persona. Many Manatee residents, business owners and members of the Manatee County Planning Commission know Conerly as an even-handed, analytical, trustworthy and smart individual. For the past 12 years, Conerly served on the Planning Commission, 10 of them as chair.
Paul Rutledge, a fellow planning commissioner with Conerly for eight years, says he has disagreed with Conerly at times on the board. But he says Conerly “is very respectful and respectful to the community. His process of getting through difficult situations was very measured, level and unemotional.
“He didn’t take the chairmanship as an ego thing,” Rutledge says. “He wasn’t there to aggrandize himself. We need people who have a heart for service, not just on the board, but in their homes. People’s hearts, how they conduct themselves and how they conduct themselves with people are critical. He’s all good on those. Check the box on each one of those.”
n Tatem is a retired, 30-year Air Force veteran. A graduate of the Air Force Academy, Tatem served as a pilot and an assistant professor at the academy.
A Riverwalk resident, Tatem was elected to the Manatee School Board in 2022 in his first run for public office. Props to Tatem for
THE SPEECHES
SARASOTA COUNTY
County Commission
District 1 — Teresa Mast
District 3 — Tom Knight
School Board
District 2 — Karen Rose
District 3 — Gregory Wood
Tax Collector
Charles Bear
Sarasota Public Hospital Board
At Large Seat 1 — Sharon Wetzler DePeters
At Large Seat 2 — Kevin Cooper At Large Seat 3 — Pam Beitlich
Central District Seat 1 — Sarah Lodge
Charter Review Board
District 1 — Nicholas Altier
District 3 — Tom DeSane
District 4 — Greg “Tex” Bukowski
being willing to serve in the often thankless world of public office and wanting to make a difference.
But here’s the “but”: An ethos of every branch of the armed forces is the mission — completing the mission. Tatem was elected to a four-year term on the school board. Giving up that seat before the end of his term to run for a legislative seat that may be more to his liking is giving up on the mission. It certainly colors perceptions of his motivations — that he is in it for him, to climb to the next step.
Altogether, each of these candidates would represent the District 72 taxpayers and voters well in Tallahassee. There is no wrong choice. Indeed, it’s encouraging to see the promise of the two young candidates — Gay and Green. They should be encouraged to stay involved in the community and continue to build their reputations and name recognition. Their days will come.
But when you paint an entire picture — someone who has deep roots in Manatee; demonstrated success in his or her profession; has the right principles for limited government, fiscal responsibility and the freedom philosophy; demonstrated the temperament and motivations to serve first for others; and has the learned wisdom of how government and the government process works — one candidate sits above the others.
We recommend: William “Bill” Conerly
Now had Harris attended Netanyahu’s speech, she would have heard this:
the
principle is
— a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.” Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944
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“It was the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah. It began as a perfect day … And suddenly, at 6:29 a.m., as children were still sleeping soundly in their beds in the towns and kibbutzim next to Gaza, suddenly heaven turned into hell.
“Three thousand Hamas terrorists stormed into Israel. They butchered 1,200 people from 41 countries, including 39 Americans … And these monsters, they raped women, they beheaded men, they burnt babies alive, they killed parents in front of their children and children in front of their parents. They dragged 255 people, both living in dead, into the dark dungeons of Gaza … ”
Now read what Harris said about Oct. 7. Mind you, she didn’t need to repeat all of the vivid, gorey details. But here’s what she said:“Hamas is a brutal terrorist organization. On Oct. 7, Hamas triggered this war when it massacred 1,200 innocent people, including 44 Americans. Hamas has committed horrific acts of sexual violence and took 250 hostages. There are American citizens who remain captive in Gaza.”
Now, before Harris said that, she also said, “I said it many times, but it bears repeating: Israel has a right to defend itself … ”
But at the end of stating that, she added: “and how it does so matters.”
n Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Congress: Youtube.com/ watch?V=RKkcstwPd9K n Kamala Harris after meeting with Netanyahu: Youtube.com/ watch?v=pW41MZVnqKU&ab_ channel=LiveNOWFromFOX
There you go. She did not condemn with forceful emphasis the barbaric leaders of Hamas and what they perpetrated. Netanyahu called Hamas “rapists,” “murderers” and “terrorist thugs.” But with her six words — “and how it does so matters” — Harris clearly signaled she is not really a supporter of Israel, especially not a supporter of eliminating the terrorist thugs who have vowed for decades their mission in life is to wipe out Israel and its people. Here’s more of Harris lecturing: “I also expressed with the prime minister my serious concerns about the scale of human suffering in Gaza, including the deaths of far too many innocent civilians. And I made clear my serious concern about the dire humanitarian situation there, with over two million people facing high levels of food insecurity and half a million people facing catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity … We cannot look away in the face of these tragedies. … And I will not be silent.”
“The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has shamefully accused Israel of deliberately starving the people of Gaza. This is utter, complete nonsense. It’s a complete fabrication. Israel has enabled more than 40,000 aid trucks to enter Gaza. That’s halfa-million tons of food, and that’s more than 3,000 calories for every man, woman and child in Gaza.
“If there are Palestinians in Gaza who aren’t getting enough food, it’s not because Israel is blocking it; it’s because Hamas is stealing it.”
Netanyahu also quoted the foremost military historian at West Point, who says, “Israel has implemented more precautions to prevent civilian harm than any military in history and beyond what international law requires.”
Shockingly, at the end of her remarks, Harris said the “war in Gaza is not a binary issue.” She couldn’t be more wrong. As Netanyahu said: “It’s a clash between barbarism and civilization. It’s a clash between those who glorify death and those who sanctify life.”
If Harris truly believes in Israel, she would know and endorse that the only way to a better future is the elimination of Hamas and its leadership.
She is the ostrich — her feckless head in the sand.
— Matt Walsh
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Sarasota County Commission cuts will affect at-risk children
When county commissioners cut $510,000 from early learning, they created far-reaching negative effects.
The Sarasota County Commission recently voted against funding parental choice school readiness child care.
Commissioners cut $510,000 from the program, the amount voted through last year, and turned their backs on a long-term partnership with the Legislature and governor. And to make matters worse, that cut likely will cause the loss of an additional $292,000 in matching state funds for parental choice in school readiness.
This devastating cut will have negative consequences that will flow down to at-risk children, the county’s criminal justice system, business stability and future government budgets.
The Legislature created the Early Learning Coalition in recognition of the importance of school readiness child care services. The statutes that create the ELC are listed under Chapter 1002, “Student and Parental Rights and Educational Choices.” It requires the Florida Department of Education to, among many things in school readiness, “pre-
serve parental choice by permitting parents to choose from a variety of child care categories.”
Statutes allowed for the creation of Early Learning Coalitions throughout the state. Sarasota’s ELC is its own 501(c)(3) with a board of directors.
The cross-section of the community required to hold seats on this board reflects the importance of school readiness in a variety of areas affecting our quality of life and economy.
The governor appoints the chair and two other members who are private sector business members. Among the other required seats are a local workforce development board member; a children’s services or juvenile welfare board chair or executive director; a county commissioner; the public schools superintendent; a Department and Families regional administrator; a president of a Florida College System institution; and many others.
Among the many ELC responsibilities are: “Each early learning coalition shall: (1) Administer and implement a local comprehensive program of school readiness program services … which enhances the cognitive, social and physical development of children to achieve performance standards.”
This is clearly about more than just day care.
State taxpayer funding for parental choice in early learning school readiness is allocated through the state ELCs. The local ELC reports that federal laws prohibit ELC
employees from fundraising and that all of the ELCs that receive state match money use either local county government or children services council funding as their matching money.
So that means, if no county dollars, then no state dollars.
Which also means Sarasota County will no longer receive its fair share of state funding for parental choice in early education, and fall behind in early education.
Now consider these effects:
There are 202 businesses struggling to keep and hire workers that now have an employee child care problem because of these cuts. The most affected are the self-employed, who are typically small-business owners who don’t have economies of scale to leverage for child care. Many self-employed struggle to stay afloat, especially with the economic blows we have been dealt in the last five years with COVID and Hurricane Ian.
When you glance through the list of employers affected, you see employers with essential workers — Sarasota Memorial Hospital and Publix, for instance.
Governments were on the list as well — the Sarasota School Board and city of North Port. Retailers such as Hobby Lobby and Detwiler’s had employees on this list, as did charter schools, including the Sarasota Military Academy. Even the U.S. Army is an affected employer.
There are 251 working poor parents or ALICE (asset limited, income constrained, employed) families living paycheck to paycheck. This money was a hand up for the working poor for educational choice, not a handout to those refusing to work.
Now, these families will likely have a choice to make — either leave their young children home alone while they work, or, more likely, stop working to stay at home and care for their children because they can’t afford day care.
In the latter case, these families will likely end up on welfare and cost all of us a lot more, while a business loses that employee. These cuts occurred while the County Commission lowered the millage rate during an election year. This will be an economic blow to
each of these businesses and will cost all of us a lot more money when these kids are older and become a part of the expensive parts of our government systems.
We also have no idea what this will cost us in Tallahassee in terms of damaged relationships with the Legislature and Gov. DeSantis, who firmly believes in parental choice and found this investment in educational choices for our children and economy worthwhile. The county budget is not finalized until September. There is still time for the County Commission to help the working poor continue to work; small businesses with their employee shortages; and more importantly, help at-risk young children in their most important developmental years become productive students and citizens through school readiness educational choice. Your commissioners can be contacted at Commissioners@SCGov. net.
Christine Robinson is executive director of the Argus Foundation.
CHRISTINE ROBINSON
Publix is one of several employers with essential workers affected by recent Sarasota County Commission cuts to funding for parental choice school readiness child care.
There has been a lot of talk about medical freedom over the past two years, in particular since I and a handful of candidates ran for a seat on the Sarasota County Public Hospital Board in the wake of the pandemic. I was one of two nurses who successfully ran on the Medical Freedom platform in 2022. We were both passionately focused on one thing — advocating for patient rights.
With the hospital board primary elections just weeks away, I am troubled by the statements and stances of some of today’s candidates who are claiming to stand for medical freedom.
This time around, the slate of Medical Freedom candidates has morphed into something much more political ... and polarizing. The candidates seem more interested in advancing an organized political agenda rather than a genuine public interest in our community hospital.
This political divide will not help patients and, I fear, presents an imminent threat to the quality, safety and longevity of a valued, 100-year-old public institution — Sarasota Memorial Hospital.
When I ran for the hospital board, our nation and community were emerging from two years of fear, isolation and sorrow. Once on the board, I shared a lot of that angst with SMH administrators and physician leaders — two years of frustration and heartache I witnessed working as an advocate for patients and families terrified of being hospitalized with COVID. To my surprise, I found sympathetic ears and responsive hearts. They understood the trauma some of us experienced and went out of their way to address every question and concern I brought to them.
Over the past two years, we listened and learned from each other. We do not always agree, but we have been able to reach consensus and work collaboratively on what’s most important — protecting the health of our community and five-star care provided by Sarasota
Courtesy image
The Sarasota County Public Hospital Board primary election is Aug. 20.
Memorial.
My time on the board has shown me that the administrative and medical leaders at SMH are a team that deeply cares for patients and wants to ensure that every treatment path reflects the patients’ values and comfort level. As a longtime patient advocate, I am grateful for the extra steps SMH leaders have taken to promote and support patient rights, including the enhanced nurse-led patient advocacy program and the important commitment the hospital board has made to respect and recognize those rights and the sanctity of the patient-physician relationship.
Medical freedom is not just about the right to access specific medications or treatments. It embodies the broader principle of allowing patients to collaborate with their doctors to make informed, mutual decisions about their care. It’s about respecting individual choice.
But that broader concept, in my opinion, is lacking in today’s Medical Freedom movement. Candidates are more interested in stirring the pot and advancing personal agendas rather than the health of our community. Their approach can be seen as disruptive, counterproductive and could sabotage SMH’s reputation and ability to recruit skilled physicians.
If elected, their tactics threaten to slow or stop progress and Sarasota Memorial’s strong legacy of providing high quality care.
As the hospital board primary elections near, I urge everyone to research who they are voting for and better understand the partisan influence driving today’s Medical Freedom movement. On Aug. 20, vote for candidates who prioritize patients, not politics, and whose focus revolves around what truly matters — ensuring access to the best care.
— PATRICIA MARAIA BSN, RN, SECOND VICE CHAIR OF SARASOTA COUNTY PUBLIC HOSPITAL BOARD
District 5 candidate sets record straight
I ask that you make a correction for fair and accurate journalism.
Your opinion piece (“Source of Manatee’s strife,” July 25) stated, “If you speak to them (Robert McCann and Ray Turner) separately, they have the same themes: Manatee is growing and will continue to grow, and the County Commission must take steps to address the stresses of growth and plan for the next 20 years.”
At no time did I say that Manatee will continue to grow. That is a mischaracterization of my answer to your “growth” question in your candidate questionnaire.
Turner and I are polar opposites on this issue, and that distinction should be made painfully obvious to all voters.
I stated, in answer to the “growth” question:
“Manatee County’s population expansion calls for a multifaceted strategy that takes the environment, society and economy into account.
“Maintaining the county’s distinctive character while attaining sensible growth requires cooperation between local enterprises, government and citizens. This includes maintaining green spaces, encouraging purposeful developments and building walkable neighborhoods.
“Green spaces, parks and waterfront areas contribute to residents’ quality of life. Zoning laws can lessen urban sprawl by promoting higher-density housing close to commercial and transit hubs.
“Protecting the environment while balancing expansion is crucial.
“Quality of life indicators, such as access to health care, education and cultural amenities should be prioritized.
“Economic growth, while important, should not come at the expense of residents’ well-being. Conservation initiatives should be used to protect Manatee County’s natural beauty.”
– ROBERT MCCANN DISTRICT 5 CANDIDATE FOR MANATEE COUNTY COMMISSION
Sarasota Schools budget reduced
School board adopts tentative budget and new millage rates.
IAN
SWABY STAFF WRITER
The Sarasota County School Board voted unanimously to adopt the tentative budget and new property tax rate it had approved for advertising on July 23.
The budget, at $1.35 billion, is a decrease from last year’s $1.5 billion, while the total recommended millage of 6.131 mills is a slight decrease from the 6.18 levied last year. Taxpayers would see a bill of $613 for every $100,000 of taxable value, a decrease of $4.90 per $100,000 in taxable value.
Nonetheless, the millage will draw higher revenue due to rising property values. The operating millage serves the purpose of hiring staff for the school district, paying negotiated salaries and fringe benefits, and covering the cost of goods and services.
The final vote on the budget will be held in September.
PUBLIC WEIGHS IN
Two community activists took the opportunity to comment on the new budget. Rhana Bazzini called the budget “as rational as we are able to,” but also highlighted her concerns around funding directives from the state level, including the passing of House Bill 1 in 2023.
The bill made school vouchers available to all students eligible for K-12 public schools, through the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program and the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options Program. The latter of those items was an education savings account, a type of account controlled by parents for approved educational expenses.
“I understand we do have a lobbyist, and it seems to me that we need to have our voice heard in Tallahassee, so I think it behooves us to make sure that we give direction to our lobbyist to speak for us regarding where fundings are coming from,” she said.
Carol Lerner offered similar concerns to Bazzini’s.
“I spent about a day reading the budget, and I actually find the budget book very interesting and very revealing,” she said, stating she agreed with Bazzini that the district had a “Tallahassee problem and not a Sarasota problem.”
She quoted from a section of the budget book found on pages 9 and 39, which discussed a decrease in state and federal revenue sources taking place.
She noted that the book attributed the current “relatively flat” status of state funding from the Florida Education Finance Program, to an increase in students using the Family Empowerment Scholarship created by House Bill 1.
“If that funding had been put into the district’s schools, our budget would be in a lot healthier shape,” she said.
She also said a chart on Page 39 of the budget book that showed if the current $9,966 per student in funding had kept pace with inflation, it would be $14,699 per student, about 32% higher than today’s amount.
She said a third area of concern, which was “not so much a Tallahassee problem” was a decrease in the number of students in the public schools.
“Given that there is ... a growing decline in the birth rate and the increased privatized options and the high cost of living here in Sarasota, I think that’s going to be an issue, and I just hope we don’t get like Broward County and Duval County where they’re actually closing schools.”
The only board member to offer comment was Bridget Ziegler.
“This is the first budget I’ve supported in quite some time for a variety of different reasons, and it’s never been about the hard work staff has done and continues to do, but I think it reiterates the confidence I have in our leadership, the direction we’re going, keeping out things that really, where I thought in the past, were kind of putting us off track. I think the results of our scores really speak for themselves.”
John Lutz, Sarasota Memorial Hospital Board candidate, dies
Lutz, a Democrat running for at-large Seat 2, died after a fight with leukemia.
JIM DELA
DIGITAL CONTENT PRODUCER
John Lutz, a Democratic candidate for the Sarasota Memorial Hospital Board, died July 24 after a three-month battle with leukemia, the family announced.
An obituary published in the Albany (New York) Times Union said Lutz, 64, died of acute myeloid leukemia with his family by his side.
The Sarasota County Democratic Party chair Daniel Kuether announced Lutz’s death Sunday morning by email.
“It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of John Lutz, a dedicated and passionate advocate for health care,” the email said.
“John carried over 40 years of experience in hospitals, health systems, and healthcare consulting, striving to enhance access to medical services and ensure fiscal responsibility … Our thoughts and condolences are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
Lutz was running for the Hospital Board’s at-large Seat 2, against Republicans Kevin Cooper and Stephen Guffanti, and write-in candidate Donna Hurlock.
Kuether could not speak on if or when the party will replace Lutz on the ballot, saying the party was waiting for guidance from the Supervisor of Elections office.
Lutz earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry at SUNY Oneonta in 1980 and earned a master’s degree in public health at Yale Business School in 1984. He joined Albany Associates in Cardiology in 1989, becoming CEO. In 1997, he was CEO of Prime Care Physicians until his transition to consulting on the national level in 2006.
“It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of John Lutz, a dedicated and passionate advocate for healthcare.”
Daniel Kuether
He later retired and moved to a golf community in Englewood with his wife, Holly Nelson Lutz.
He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Holly Nelson Lutz, and four daughters, Meredith Lutz Olsen (Aaron), Brittany Lutz Harris (Colin), Aislinne Lutz and Elleanor Lutz, a brother, Samuel; several nephews and one grandchild.
The family is planning a memorial gathering in celebration of John’s life Oct. 5-6 in Albany, New York.
Courtesy image
John Lutz, a candidate for the Sarasota Memorial Hospital Board, died July 24.
COPS CORNER
Noise disturbance: An officer was dispatched to an apartment complex where contact was made with a complainant who explained he had an ongoing issue with residents in the apartment above his, and he wished to make a report regarding loud music, stomping and more occurring over his head.
The officer stepped inside the complainant’s apartment and reported that “it was very loud.”
The officer then made contact with the upstairs neighbor who apologized for the noise and advised he would shut down the party for the night, which at that hour was pretty much over anyway.
SUNDAY, JULY 21
READY, AIM, BACKFIRE!
1 a.m., intersection of Main Street and North Orange Avenue
Disturbance: Officers drew firearms when responding to a complaint about possible gunshots emanating from a car, which was reportedly being followed by a motorcycle eastbound on Main Street. An officer in the vicinity of Fruitville Road and North Lemon Avenue had also seen a similarly described vehicle accompanied by a motorcycle.
A traffic stop was made of the vehicle, which had previously been cited for a loud, backfiring exhaust. No firearm was found. Additionally, the motorcycle operator confirmed hearing loud popping sounds but did not witness the presence of a firearm.
As a potential felony traffic stop, guns were drawn and pointed by law enforcement.
MONDAY, JULY 22
DOG DISPUTE
Unspecified time, 100 block of Seagull Lane
Dispute: The day after a woman arrived at SPD headquarters to make a supplemental report about a neighbor allowing his dog to continually urinate on her property and ruining her lawn, an officer met with her at her Bird Key residence along with a county animal control officer.
The complainant produced a video of the neighbor’s small dog running
SUNDAY, JULY 21
MORNING SKINNY-DIP
7:08 a.m., 1400 block of South Tamiami Trail
Trespassing: A woman who was not a guest was discovered skinny-dipping in a hotel pool by the night manager.
The subject advised officers that she had been with her “baby daddy” when she got out of the car and he left her. Naturally, she then disrobed and went swimming because she was hot. Officers determined she did not meet the criteria for the Marchman Act and advised her she was being issued a trespassing warning. She was then transported to the Salvation Army.
unleashed down the street, so she called animal control. The video also shows the man taking photos of the front of her residence. The complainant now believes the neighbor is intentionally allowing his dog to soil her grass in retaliation.
When interviewed, the subject told the officer that the dog is relieving itself on city right of way and not on the complainant’s private property, which was determined to be accurate. He also stated he noted “deficiencies” with the complainant’s home and photographed them to be submitted to the homeowners association.
The officer suggested the two warring factions not communicate with each other, and the subject said he would make certain that his dog would not enter the woman’s property.
Given the unneighborly dispute, though, the city right of way between her property line and the street, however, is likely still fair game.
Engaged:
Brian Mariash and Dara Vilar
Sarasota wealth manager and philanthropist Brian Mariash and his fiancé Dara Vilar are thrilled to share news of their recent engagement. Brian popped the question this summer at Sarasota’s iconic Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, a nod to the very beginning of their nearly 13-year friendship.
Brian and Dara were first introduced in Tampa shortly after Brian co-founded Mariash Lowther Wealth Management here in Sarasota. Dara was studying biomedical sciences at the University of South Florida when the two became connected through mutual friends.
The pair hit it off instantly, especially when Dara showed support for Brian’s daughter, Lexi, a then-9year-old with a love for sea turtles and a powerful desire to engage in philanthropy. Lexi made her mark by fundraising for Mote Marine, a passion project enthusias-
only made sense for Brian to bring their journey full circle with an intimate proposal in front of Mote’s otter exhibit.
Dara is a licensed pharmacist passionate about diversity and inclusion, health equity, and animals. Throughout her career, Dara formed strategic partnerships with patient assistance programs, enabling her to counsel and dispense medications at no cost to patients with rare conditions across the country. Dara believes strongly in the value of diversity, which is one of many reasons she loves
and traveling abroad. Dara’s explorations include Cuba, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Egypt, Turkey, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
Brian leads a private wealth management team in downtown Sarasota. His mission is to “educate, connect, and contribute” – a philosophy he lives by both personally and professionally. Brian is a familiar face to many in the local nonprofit community, having supported many philanthropic initiatives and previously serving on the boards of the
Andrew L. Clark, Esq.
M. Michelle Robles, Esq.
Janet and Curt Mattson Owners
SEX, DRUGS & ROCK ‘N’ ROLL
The Sarasota Players stages Green Day’s explosive rock opera, ‘American Idiot.’
With its incendiary concept album
“American Idiot,” Green Day went straight to the explosive heart of the post-9/11 generation. Broadway director and playwright Michael Mayer (“Spring Awakening,” “Hedwig and the Angry Inch”) collaborated with Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong and distilled his Grammy Awardwinning album into a rock opera. Director/choreographer Brian Finnerty is bringing this multisensory experience to the stage in the Sarasota Players’ latest summer production. Expect a pulsating score, raw emotion and a snapshot of three lifelong friends traveling a long, hard road into a not-so-brave new American century. According to Finnerty, you’d be an idiot to miss it. He was happy to share what’s down the road …
Why did you decide to produce this musical?
The Players wanted an edgy show that college students on summer break would enjoy. We considered many options, but “American Idiot” excited this age group the most — and it would also appeal to adults. I also love Green Day, along with our director of education. (Many people auditioned simply because they love Green Day.) So, the decision was a combination of casting younger performers, attracting audiences who love this music and our own personal love for Green Day. Aside from all that, it’s a fantastic show.
How would you describe this musical to someone who has never heard of Green Day?
Pure chaos — and a great rock opera. Mayer adapted it from Green Day’s “American Idiot” concept album. They also drew on the journals of Billie Joe Armstrong — Green Day’s lead singer, guitarist, composer, lyricist, you name it. What they created is an hour-and-a-half of nonstop song and dance, with a relatable and timely story.
What’s the basic story?
The musical follows three friends who move to the big city to improve their lives—only to make their lives worse. One stays home due to his pregnant girlfriend; one gets depressed and joins the military; and another becomes a drug addict. Despite its sad moments, it’s fun, high-energy and honest, with smart
IF YOU GO GREEN DAY’S ‘AMERICAN IDIOT’ When: Aug. 7-18 Where: The Sarasota Players, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 1130 Tickets: $13-$30 Info: ThePlayers.org
orchestrations and beautiful harmonies.
What does the show look like?
In our production, it looks like a garbagy grunge-a-palooza. The floor features the heart hand-grenade symbol from the album cover; the walls are covered with posters, eviction notices, newspaper articles and magazine clippings. We also have pieces like scaffolding, spinning couches and staircases. It’s an immersive setting that draws you into this grungy world. David Walker’s costumes have the same punk feel.
Who’s your set designer?
Kelly Jar is doing scenic painting, and the cast and I are dressing the space.
It’s a collaborative effort.
What’s your take as a director/ choreographer? It’s a challenging show with nonstop, high-energy performances. I’m lucky to be working with such
a great cast. Directing this production has given me a greater appreciation for this musical and Green Day. Creating the choreography has also been rewarding. It’s more grungy than other rock musicals I’ve done — and I love its blunt attitude. This show says “Screw you” to traditional musicals and remains current and applicable. I’m thrilled for people to see it.
Who’s playing the lead roles?
Jason Ellis is Johnny, Judah Woomert is Will, Benjamin Eisenhour is Tunny, Vera Samuels is St. Jimmy, Caitlin Ellis is Whatshername, Amanda Heisey is the Extraordinary Girl and Lexi Lowther is Heather. The ensemble actors all get a chance to shine.
What’s the cast’s take on the show? They’re very excited — sometimes too much so. They love discussing Green Day even during choreography. Everyone is positive and supportive — and that’s made rehearsals a blast.
“Their story is relatable. It’s not a happyhappy story — but life is like that. The music might be a little loud for older audiences, but we have earplugs.”
— Brian Finnerty
MARTY FUGATE CONTRIBUTOR
Brian Finnerty is directing “American Idiot” at the Sarasota Players from Aug. 7-18.
The stars of “American Idiot” at the Sarasota Players get their grunge on in a local convenience store.
Images courtesy of Brian Finnerty
Well, the script features dated, ignorant language. We decided to
it because it reflects the story’s reality. This is the story of an American Idiot, right? He should sound ignorant. Tech has a heavy reliance on lighting and projections, a wireless rig for guitars and a live band. That’ll be our biggest challenge, but we’re up for it.
I figured there’d be a live band. Will there also be a mosh pit?
Our live band is led by Michelle Kazanowski, with Tommy Bush on guitar, Dorian Boyd on bass and Aaron Downard on percussion.
(We’re in talks for more string instruments.) There won’t be a mosh pit. If audiences want that experience, they’ll have to find it elsewhere.
Is “American Idiot” this rock opera’s signature song?
It’s one of many great songs.
“American Idiot” is a protest song that sets up the story well, featuring the entire cast. It does go straight to the heart of the story.
Do you think baby boomer theatergoers will relate to the music, story and characters? I do. Every adult age group has seen
their friends and loved ones in similar situations. Their story is relatable. It’s not a happy-happy story — but life is like that. The music might be a little loud for older audiences, but we have earplugs.
Whatever the age demographic, why should people see this show?
Because “American Idiot” is not your usual musical. It’s darker, grittier, loud and unapologetic. The story is relatable and told through Green Day’s music. Even non-Green Day fans can love the show. The dancing, lighting, vocals and cast’s energy make it a really wild ride.
What’s your ideal audience take-away?
I hope they’ll see that life isn’t always cushy and comfortable. This show features sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll, but it’s more than that. It’s a showcase of talent, stamina and camaraderie. I read an article about walkouts during the original Broadway show. One critic said, “Some people fear hyper youth voicing their opinions through punk rock.” I’d like to think local audiences are fearless. If you go with an open mind, you’ll enjoy the show.
Hermitage Artist Retreat receives $238,000 in grants
The Hermitage Artist Retreat (pictured above) has been awarded nearly a dozen grants totaling more than $238,000. The awards will help support a variety of programs and initiatives, including residencies for Hermitage Fellows, arts education and program accessibility.
Among the organizations that each gave the Hermitage $50,000 grants or more are Sarasota County Commission’s tourist development/arts program, the Welles Murphey Fund at Gulf Coast Community Foundation, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County and the Koski Family Foundation.
In addition, the Hermitage received a $15,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and $10,000 from The Exchange to promote “Hermitage Sunsets @ Selby Gardens” and “Hermitage Sunsets @ Benderson Park.”
The Exchange also awarded the Hermitage a $5,000 Elizabeth Lindsay Arts in Education grant to support its work in bringing leading artists to Sarasota County public schools.
“We are deeply appreciative for these generous grants from both new and longtime supporters, all of which will provide invaluable support and resources to the diverse and accomplished Hermitage artists who are making a meaningful impact in our community and with audiences around the world,” said
Hermitage Artistic Director and CEO Andy Sandberg in a statement.
A leading national arts incubator, the Hermitage hosts artists on its Manasota Key campus for multiweek residencies where they create and develop new works of theater, music, visual art, literature, dance, film and more.
Key Chorale hires first event manager
Key Chorale appointed Tom Tryon as its event manager, a new position for the symphonic chorus. Tryon recently retired to Sarasota following a career of more than 30 years working in entertainment, special events and catering at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando.
Before joining Disney, Tryon worked at Busch Gardens, Tampa Bay, and in professional theater in Chicago, including the Goodman Theatre, Pegasus Theatre and Victory Gardens Theatre.
“Tom has been a member of our professional core for a number of seasons and has been a volunteer with our development team as well. When he said he was thinking about spending more time with Key Chorale, we were thrilled,” said Key Chorale Artistic Director Joseph Caulkins. Added Caulkins: “Being able to tap into his extensive work at Disney, presenting a number of major events, will really add that professional polish to our events. With this being our 40th anniversary season, the timing just couldn’t be better.”
Green Day’s
“American Idiot” gives its ensemble cast a chance to shine at the Sarasota Players.
Image courtesy of Barbara Banks
THIS WEEK
THURSDAY
SUMMER CIRCUS SPECTACULAR
11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Historic Asolo Theater, 5401 Bay Shore Road $20 adults; $15 kids Visit Ringling.org.
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.
‘THE MUSIC OF LAUREL CANYON’ 7:30 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 Sept. 1.
‘THE OUTSIDER’
8 p.m. at FST’s Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St.
$29-$46
OUR PICK
EMILIE-CLAIRE BARLOW
Canadian jazz singer EmilieClaire Barlow has released 12 self-produced albums and has picked up two Juno awards (Canada’s answer to the Grammy) along the way. She brings her considerable talents to Fogartyville to support her new album, “Spark Bird.”
IF YOU GO
When: 8 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 3
Where: at Fogartyville, 525 Kumquat Court
Tickets: $14-$34
Info: Visit WSLR.org.
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
After the past few weeks in politics, we could all use some laughs. Florida Studio Theatre serves up a comedy about the world’s least likely candidate for governor who just might be exactly what the voters want. Let’s hear it for democracy! Runs through Aug. 18.
‘DEAR JACK, DEAR LOUISE’
8 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.
FRIDAY
OPENING RECEPTION FOR ‘METALLIC MIRAGE’
6 p.m. at Define Art Gallery + Studio, 68 S. Palm Ave.
Free
Visit DefineGallery.com.
Define Art Gallery and other downtown Sarasota galleries are keeping alive the tradition of the First Friday Artwalk. Define’s opening showcases metallic artwork in a variety of mediums, from gold and silver leaf to iridescent paints and metal. The gallery recently added three new artists to its roster: Eddie McClure, of Parrish, Robert Davis, of Orlando, and Odilia Iaccarino, of Dallas. On view through Sept. 27.
CLASSIC MOVIES AT THE OPERA HOUSE: ‘A STAR IS BORN’
7:30 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave. $12
Visit SarasotaOpera.org.
There have been several big-screen versions of “A Star is Born,” but this 1954 film is the one on the American Film Institute’s list of the Greatest Movie Musicals (No. 7) as well as the U.S. National Film Registry. Starring Judy Garland and James Mason, this musical drama follows a romance
SUNDAY
HD AT THE OPERA HOUSE: ‘IL TROVATORE’
1:30 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave. $12-$20
Visit SarasotaOpera.org.
In this film from the Metropolitan Opera’s 2015-16 season, Anna Netreboko plays Leonora, a young noblewoman in love with the titular troubadour (tenor Yonghoon Lee), but who is the object of desire of Count di Luna, sung by Dmitri Hvorostovsky. Rounding out the cast is Dolora Zajick in her signature role of Azucena, a gypsy woman.
between a movie star whose career is waning and a showgirl whose star is on the rise.
SATURDAY
‘FAST TIMES AT JOHN HUGHES HIGH’
7:30 p.m. at FST’s Bowne’s Lab, 1265 First St.
$15-$18
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
Inspired by classic 1980s teen movies such as “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” “The Breakfast Club” and “Risky Business,” FST Improv will create its own story of teenage angst and big hair in “Fast Times at John Hughes High.” (The high school’s name is a nod to the director who gave “Brat Pack” actors such as Molly Ringwold, Rob Lowe and Emilio Estevez their start.)
TUESDAY
‘THE FOUR C NOTES’
8 p.m. at FST’s Goldstein Cabaret, 1239 N. Palm Ave.
$18-$42
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
For fans of Frank Valli and the Four Seasons, the doo-wop sound never goes out of style. With “The Four C Notes,” Florida Studio Theatre continues the tradition of presenting summer cabaret shows inspired by doo-wop. Runs through Oct. 13.
WEDNESDAY
at the Opera House on Aug. 4 at the Sarasota Opera House.
SARASOTA MUSIC ARCHIVE JAZZ
HAPPY HOUR
6 p.m. at Geldbart Auditorium, Selby Library, 1331 First St. Free with registration Visit JazzHappyHour.org.
Sarasota Music Archive presents Synia Carroll, a local favorite who lit up the lobby at the Art Ovation Hotel during the Sarasota Jazz Festival singing “Water Is My Song: A Jazz Journey” with Mauricio Rodriguez on bass and Chuck Stevens on guitar.
GREEN DAY’S ‘AMERICAN IDIOT’
7:30 p.m. at The Sarasota Players, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 1130 $30/ Student $13 Visit ThePlayers.org.
Broadway director and playwright Michael Mayer (“Spring Awakening,” “Hedwig and the Angry Inch”) came together with Green Day lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong to translate and transform the band’s “American Idiot” album into a rock musical. Directed by Brian Finnerty, this show, filled with tunes from the Grammy-award winning album, is just the cure for the summertime blues. Runs through Aug. 18.
DON’T MISS MONDAY NIGHT JAZZ AT THE CABARET
The Jazz Club of Sarasota keeps the music going during the sizzling days of summer with the MJR Latin Project featuring Pablo Arencibia, Zach Bornheimer, Andy Fornet, Carlos Javier Navarro and Mauricio Rodriguez. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for dinner and bar service.
The Metropolitan Opera’s performance of “Il trovatore” plays at HD
Courtesy image
Did somebody say ‘doo-wop’?
‘The Four C Notes’ brings back the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.
MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
August 3 is a special day for John Michael Coppola. But it’s not his birthday or his wedding anniversary. It’s the anniversary of a Chicago bride who asked him to perform the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons at her 2013 reception.
That performance led Coppola to create his Four Seasons tribute show, “The Four C Notes,” which will play at Florida Studio Theatre’s Goldstein Cabaret from Aug. 6 through Oct. 13.
The bride-to-be got Coppola’s name from a wedding planner who had seen him in the Midwest production of the hit Broadway show “Jersey Boys,” which played in Chicago more than two years.
“We keep in touch every year on Aug. 3,” Coppola said in a recent telephone interview. “She’s got two little girls now.”
A native of New Rochelle, New York, Coppola moved with his wife to Chicago in 2007 to become part of the “Jersey Boys” Midwest production. “I’ve never looked back,” he says. “All of the guys from the Chicago ‘Jersey Boys’ tour moved back to the East or West coasts, but we stayed. We love it here.”
Coppola says he owes his livelihood to Frankie Valli, who is still on the road himself at age 90. (Valli performed a show in Sarasota in November 2023 at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.) “My entire adult life has been about Frankie Valli,” says Coppola.
Actually, that’s not exactly true, since Coppola is also the creator of a 2011 show, “A Jersey Voice: Sinatra to Springsteen ... and Everyone in Between.”
Coppola says his late Uncle Frankie would be proud of his role in keeping the tradition of doo-wop alive on stages throughout the Midwest and in Florida. The Four Seasons fan taught his nephews (Coppola has a twin brother) how to sing “I Wonder Why,” by Dion and the Belmonts, when they were growing up.
Following the success of “The Four C Notes,” which Coppola produces, directs and choreographs, he has stepped back from performing. Instead, he relies on a roster of 15 singer/dancers to appear in the show. “I have a first-rate group of guys that I keep in rotation,” Coppola says. “It’s not like there’s an A team and a B team. Everybody is great.”
The four crooners making their FST debut in “The Four C Notes” are Max Trotter, Ethan Lupp, Tyler Meyer and Michael Ferraro. Catherine Randazzo, FST associate artist/literary manager, will be the line producer for the show, which she has been trying to bring to the summer cabaret since she discovered it about five years ago.
The FST run is the longest residency to date for “The Four C Notes,” which mostly does one-night appearances, Coppola says.
Its Sarasota run continues FST’s tradition of presenting doo-wop shows in its summer cabaret series that began about two decades ago with “The Wanderers.”
“It was a huge hit,” says Ran -
IF YOU GO
‘THE FOUR C NOTES’
When: Aug. 6 to Oct. 13
Where: FST’s Goldstein Cabaret, 1239 N. Palm Ave.
Tickets: $18-$42
Info: FloridaStudioTheatre.org
dazzo. “The audience demanded more of this musical era, and FST developed two more shows.” One was “Unchained Melodies” and the other was an updated “Wanderers” that played two seasons ago.
Like Coppola, some of the performers in FST’s recent summer cabaret shows were veterans of “Jersey Boys.” Among the FST shows they have performed in were last year’s “The Surfer Boys,” “The Jersey Tenors” (2017) and “The Jersey Tenors Part II” (2022).
In the process of creating a 90-minute ode to the Four Seasons (cut down to 75 minutes for FST’s summer cabaret), Coppola has become an expert in all things Frankie Valli.
Fun fact: “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” the 1967 single released by a solo Valli and written by Four Seasons bandmate Bob Gaudio along with Bob Crewe, was actually three different songs before it was distilled into one.
It rose to No. 2 on the charts, freed Valli from the restrictions of always having to sing falsetto and was the singer’s biggest solo hit until “My
Eyes Adored You” in 1975.
Who knew that the Four Seasons did a cover of Carole King’s “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow,” which was a hit by the Shirelles? That song is in the long version of “The Four C Notes,” but ended up on the cutting room floor to whittle the show down to FST’s 75-minute requirement.
As the name “Jersey Boys” implies, Valli hailed from the Garden State, but the Four Seasons and other doo-wop bands were favorites in the Midwest, says Coppola, due to the efforts of the late Chicago deejay Dick Biondi.
Biondi, who died in 2023 at age 90, was a fast-talking deejay on WLS, was a huge promoter of doo-wop and is also given credit for being the first disc jockey to play The Beatles in the U.S.
Given the Chicago-Sarasota connection that has existed since Bertha Palmer arrived in Florida by train in 1910 from the Windy City, it makes sense to bring “The Four C Notes” to FST.
“Even after all these years, doowop never goes out of fashion,” Coppola says. “Having four guys sing in harmony brings out a certain reaction.”
Even if you’re not old enough to have been around in “December, 1963,” the Four Seasons song best known as “Oh, What a Night,” “The Four C Notes” is bound to bring back memories and make new ones.
“Even after all these years, doo-wop never goes out of fashion. Having four guys sing in harmony brings out a certain reaction.”
— John Michael Coppola
Courtesy images
“The Four C Notes,” an ode to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, plays at FST’s Goldstein Cabaret from Aug. 6 to Oct. 13.
Special needs dog and American Ninja Warrior clear all the obstacles they have faced.
JAY HEATER
EAST COUNTY OBSERVER
By his own account, Sarasota’s Kyle McCreight was broken. Lonely and depressed after going through a divorce, McCreight decided in 2019 to adopt a dog — three-legged Tre from Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue in Lakewood Ranch.
He did so with the hope of focusing on something other than himself. But months after adopting the black Labrador retriever, McCreight learned Tre might lose his other back leg as well.
“I noticed him falling a lot,” said McCreight, who is an occupational therapist at Doctors Hospital in Sarasota. “His hip was disintegrating. The vets removed a joint, so basically, there is no hip there. They pinned his knee.”
He treated Tre like he would a patient at Doctors Hospital, working with him each day. Pushing lightly against his back leg and allowing him to push back. It didn’t seem to be working, though.
Weeks passed and McCreight continued working with Tre, who couldn’t get off the floor. It was an interesting mix because McCreight had been training in the hopes of landing a spot on “American Ninja Warrior,” the longtime NBC series that tests the fittest of athletes on what is billed as “the world’s most difficult obstacle course.”
McCreight was in peak physical condition, and he was paired with a dog who couldn’t walk. Then one day, everything changed. Working in his backyard, McCreight watched as Tre struggled to his feet, then walked 10 feet before collapsing.
It was a heroic effort, and it let McCreight know things would be all right. He was consumed with emotion.
A SIMILAR STORY?
What: Cato, a 3-year-old Lab mix who lost a leg after being hit by a car
To see Cato: Call Nate’s Honor at 747-4900 or go to the website at NatesHonorAnimalRescue.org.
Kyle McCreight says: “I hope people adopting consider a dog with special needs. It will be that much more rewarding. Those dogs need a home, too.”
So he did a very un-Ninja Warriorlike thing. He cried.
“I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, he can walk again,’” McCreight said. “It was so motivating.”
FINDING TRE
While doubting the judiciousness of his decision to adopt Tre in those first few months after he brought him home, McCreight realized it was one of the best decisions he had ever made.
When he picked up Tre from Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue, he thought he was doing it mostly for the dog.
“As much as I needed a dog, he needed someone to handle his situation,” McCreight said. “But I needed a purpose, too. I remember thinking, ‘This just feels right,’ although I didn’t know what to expect.”
He had heard good reviews about Nate’s, and he had seen Tre’s photo on the website, so he made the trip to Lakewood Ranch, eventually playing with Tre in the grass for about an hour before making up his mind.
“They told me Tre was the sweetest dog ever,” he said of Nate Honor’s staff members. “They said no one had come to see him. He was thin,
week. (The show airs on Mondays at 8 p.m.) While he knows how he did, he signed a contract to not divulge the outcome.
Those who win their way through to the finals and complete the final course can win $1 million. In the show’s 16 seasons, only three competitors have claimed the grand prize. The show debuted in 2009. The show does have some regular competitors, and McCreight hopes to earn more appearances. He already has applied for season 17.
His appearances have led to him being somewhat of a celebrity in Sarasota. He and Tre speak to nonprofits and make appearances for DogPerfect owners Kyle Emery and Linda Ryan, who have Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota and University Park McCreight has taken Tre to the Sarasota Severed Society, which has a slogan of “Ordinary Amputees Living Extraordinary Lives,” and Ocala’s Never Say Never Foundation, which has a vision “to help children and young adults with challenges to overcome adversity with a positive attitude and to understand that you can do anything you want if you put your mind to it.”
“We set up an obstacle course for the kids at a Never Say Never event, and one of the kids who had no arms was just having a blast on the obstacle course that I had put together. It was so inspirational. And they loved Tre.”
At Never Say Never events, McCreight said kids were called up at the end of the event and surprised with new prostheses. He now does a fundraiser (GoFund.Me/653c0d39) to raise money for prostheses for those kids.
Tre’s journey to adoption was just one of many successful adoption stories that come out of Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue.
and you could see some bald spots on his skin. Nate’s (staff) loved him. They were just unsure how he would progress. A vet told me he would never be the kind of dog who would chase squirrels.
“But I remember his eyes. You could see love. His eyes were full of joy.”
Rob Oglesby, who is president of Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue, was not surprised that McCreight cherishes Tre.
“We always say we rescue people as much as we rescue animals,” Oglesby said.
He said potential adopters often come to Nate’s because they are going through a tough time in their life.
“We never know the reason (for their struggles), and they don’t tell us,” Oglesby said. “But they know this is unconditional love. Dogs and cats are there for you.”
While Tre took awhile to be adopted, Oglesby said there is always someone willing to connect with a pet who might have physical challenges.
“One time we had a dog for three years, and it was very difficult (to get interest from the public in him),” Oglesby said. “Then he lost a leg, and
right away he got adopted. People want to help.”
THE TRE EFFECT
After Tre’s 10-foot stroll, he quickly began to recover from his surgery, and he and McCreight were just getting started. McCreight, who now is 36, would take Tre to City Island and wade out waist deep. He would hold Tre, who would doggy paddle around.
As Tre battled through adversity, McCreight figured that he should, too. He picked up his efforts to land a spot on “American Ninja Warrior,” but besides getting rejection notes, he broke his wrist in training.
“I was thinking that I wasn’t cut out for this,” he said. “But Tre was getting through everything, and he always had such a good smile. You know, dogs live in the moment.”
Tre’s courage and determination inspired McCreight to rededicate himself to training for “American Ninja Warrior.” He kept applying, and on the fifth attempt, in 2022, he was accepted. He competed in 2023 and is back on the show this year, having qualified for the semifinals.
He doesn’t know when his next competition will air on the show, so people will have to watch each
“My ultimate dream is to own a Ninja gym,” McCreight said. “I could do therapy with kids. I could use my platform.”
STAYING HEALTHY
With more responsibilities and appearances, McCreight wanted to make sure Tre, who weighs 70 pounds, stayed trim and healthy. Emery and Ryan hooked him up with DogPerfect’s Senior Nutrition Specialist Kyle Baker.
Baker said dogs like Tre were the reason he got into the pet nutrition industry.
“When I came across Tre, the main thing was to add strength to the rest of his joints and increase his mobility and flexibility. We wanted to take out the inflammation,” he said. He used hyaluronic acid in food and treats to add lubrication to Tre’s joints. DogPerfect now sells WildPaw Wonder Bites, which were developed by Baker and now is used by McCreight for Tre.
Baker hopes McCreight and Tre can inspire others to adopt dogs with special needs.
“This dog literally changed my life,” McCreight said.
Courtesy images
This photo was taken June 29, 2019, the day Kyle McCreight adopted Tre at Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue in Lakewood Ranch.
Set sail at any age
Sarasota Sailing Squadron teaches adults to sail in weeklong camp.
WRITER
ay Tal Gongolevsky didn’t have a passion for sailing when she enrolled her son in a summer camp at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron, but after seeing his enthusiasm for it, she yearned to learn herself.
“It is the coolest thing to see my son sail,” said Gongolevsky. “So when I found out I could learn at the same time that he was, I thought it would be a great way to connect with him.”
Instead of finding ways to fill her time while her son was at camp, Gongolevsky signed up for the first adult sailing camps, introduced to
LEARN TO SAIL
Adults can pay $350 for a nine-hour camp of sailing lessons during the summer. The lessons are held from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday through Thursday. For more information, call 388-2355 or email SSS@ SarasotaSailingSquadron.org.
the squadron this year by the new general manager, Eduardo Sylvestre.
After a week of sailing over the waves of Sarasota Bay, Gongolevsky has already signed up for another week to get certified to join the boatsharing program at the squadron.
Sylvestre hopes these camps will provide opportunities for adults like Gongolevsky to master the skill in one week.
CRASH COURSE
Throughout the year, the squadron offers adult sailing lessons spread over a long period. Sylvestre said they will usually start with a theory class first and then go out to the water on the next lesson.
Sylvestre hopes these one-week camps make learning to sail affordable and more accessible. Adults attend a nine-hour crash course that teaches the basic skills of sailing split up from Tuesday through Thursday. According to Sylvestre, most beginners finish the week ready to sail on their own.
With Alan Staniforth as their instructor, campers start the course by learning the different parts of the sailboat and their purposes. Then they head out on the water that same day and work as a team to build their sailing skills and become familiar with the boat.
Sailors have the opportunity to take the camp multiple times in the summer to practice but by the end of the first or second week, they usually feel confident in their skills.
SAILING FOR EVERYONE
Sylvestre said the adult sailing camps are open to more than just the SYS
parents. David Zilinskas decided to learn this summer because it reminded him of his childhood of windsurfing.
“It wasn’t exactly smooth sailing at first, but since today is the last day, I have definitely learned a lot,” said Zilinskas. “It was also so fun. There was one day when we were in the middle of the kids’ races, and Alan decided to join the race. Small things like that made the whole experience.”
After living near water his whole life, Christian Santa Cruz was surprised he hadn’t learned to sail sooner. Learning to sail with Gongolevsky and Zilinskas, he said the biggest challenges of the week were the technicalities and timing of sailing. For him, it was at first tricky to know when to how to multitask on the sailboat.
BEST OF THE BEST
Originally from Brazil, Sylvestre started working at Sarasota Sailing Squadron in December. His father gave him his first sailboat when he was 10 years old. Sylvestre inherited
his father’s sailing school in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and made a name for himself in the sailing world. He taught in South America, Africa and Asia and became an expert for the International Sailing Federation.
Sylvestre came to the U.S. to teach sailing at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. He also taught at multiple yacht clubs across the country such as the Manhattan Yacht Club and the California Yacht Club.
Sylvestre said many of the adults who have taken the camp became members because they fall in love with sailing after their first week. He hopes to hold an intermediate camp in the fall to follow up with these new sailors.
“Growing up sailing and being on the water, that was my backyard,” said Sylvestre. “So discovering it as an adult gives you a whole other meaning to it. It means that you can control your own narrative. When you master it, you feel like the king of the world.”
Photos by Petra Rivera Alan Staniforth is a sailing instructor for adults at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron and also teaches throughout the season.
Through the adult sailing camps, sailors can earn certifications after two weeks.
Community spotlight
New coalition of LGBTQ+ groups gathered to ‘light the bridge’ on July 28.
IAN
SWABY STAFF WRITER
Mackenzie “MJ” Jianelli was returning to Florida from a HealthHIV conference in Washington, D.C., when he learned of the “Freedom Summer” directive from Gov. Ron DeSantis.
He found himself disconcerted by the decision to light bridges only in red, white and blue throughout Pride Month.
“Since my relocation for the last seven years, I have always seen those lights, and those lights have been a beacon of hope, showing and paving the way that if, nothing more, we can always look forward to June, and perhaps June can turn into July, and July can turn into August,” Jianelli said.
As a health education program consultant at Orenda Health & Wellness, he began reaching out to local organizations supporting the LGBTQ+ community, meeting with group leaders and brainstorming.
He had an event in mind to kick off the coalition’s work, inspired by the Grand Flag March over the bridge on June 29, that he felt would be a fitting way to illustrate the coalition’s message.
With a theme of “Pride 365,” celebrating the recognition of Pride not only in June but also throughout the year, members of the coalition gathered at the John Ringling Causeway on July 28, bringing lights, projectors and banners.
The weather that night affected the event.
To protect the high-end lighting and projection equipment, attendees did not walk atop the bridge as originally planned.
They created the projection display on the underside of a section of the causeway rather than on the side of the bridge as originally intended, and projected rainbow lights on the
underside of the bridge instead of onto the water from the top of the bridge.
Coalition members also carried the banners onto the pier at Hart’s Landing beneath the bridge.
The two laser projectors, which each created an animated text reading “365,” shone at 4,500 lumens each and totaled about $8,000 in cost. They were operated from a battery pack by digital artist Michael Murphy.
Shannon Fortner, executive director of Fabulous Arts Foundation, said the rain impacted attendance in addition to the plans.
However, Fortner said the coalition will hold this event quarterly and that its goal is to “continue to grow and bring in other orgs so that we can work together to hold space for the community and really listen to the community and know what their needs are.”
The coalition includes Fabulous Arts Foundation, Florida Transgender Alliance, SEE Alliance, PSL Tampa Bay, ANSWER Suncoast, Equality Florida, Stonewall Democratic Caucus of Sarasota and Voices of Florida among other organizations.
“And we just want to remind everybody, no matter who you are, you are welcome here in the state. You belong here in the state,” Tsi Day Smyth, executive officer and vice president at Voices of Florida, said.
Ian Swaby
An animated “365” was projected underneath the bridge.
The power of preservation
How Newtown became the largest Black historic district in Florida thanks to cultural coalition’s yearslong effort.
IAN
SWABY STAFF WRITER
When Vickie Oldham began documenting the history of Newtown in 2015, the president and CEO of the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition found little information readily available about the city’s Black community, which dates to 1914.
But now, in partnership with the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, the SAACC is preparing to open a new museum site in Newtown in a warehouse space next to Truvine Church, which is located at 1947 31st St.
It’s an example of how the project, which started off with a seed of an idea, has made possible a new Sarasota cultural institution, said Oldham.
What began with Oldham being contracted by the city of Sarasota to document Newtown’s history led to its listing on the National Register of Historic Places in May of this year, and helped earn the city a Stewards of Heritage Award from the Florida Archaeological Council in July.
The district is now the largest Black historic district in Florida, based on the number of contributing resources, and joins St. Augustine as the only other city to receive the award in its 50 years of existence.
HISTORY TO LIGHT
The push for the city to recognize Black history with a National Historic District designation began with Fredd Atkins, Sarasota’s first Black
mayor, who grew up in Newtown.
At the time, Oldham was living in Georgia.
City of Sarasota Senior Planner
Clifford Smith played an instrumental role in the preservation efforts that began in roughly 2008.
“I think that much of this honor goes to Dr. Cliff Smith, who championed historic preservation of the African American community, and he was there to support me at each step of the way, and I think that honor absolutely goes to Newtown residents, too, who kept the drumbeat up in asking the city to recognize its history,” Oldham said.
After his first examination of Newtown, Smith had to report back to Atkins that the features were not currently in place to warrant a National Historic District designation, which resulted in a strategic plan to meet the federal requirements.
The first step was to work out the boundaries of Newtown, based on the multiple maps the city possessed. They ultimately settled in favor of Myrtle Street to the north, 19th Street to the south, the Seminole Gulf Railway tracks to the west and U.S. 301 to the east.
Oldham was then brought on board, and she chose to brand the preservation effort as “Newtown Alive.”
The first phase involved a research report based on primary and secondary sources, oral history interviews and educational resources.
The efforts took place over the course of a year, with Oldham hiring Rosalyn Howard, an accomplished cultural anthropologist at the University of Central Florida. (Howard died in 2023.)
Newtown’s history had never been comprehensively documented at the time, Oldham said, which meant searching in libraries, history centers and often residents’ garages, in boxes where old pictures were stored.
She said everything she learned enlightened her to aspects of the town’s history, like the wade-ins that led to beach desegregation, the lawsuit to open single-member voting districts so that residents could have a Black representative, and the boycotts of segregated schools.
She learned that during the wadeins, which began in 1951 and fully integrated beaches by 1964, residents of Newtown faced considerable opposition to their efforts of
LEARN MORE
To learn about the historical markers or to book a tour of Newtown, visit NewtownAlive. org.
resistance.
Beachgoers placed nails beneath the car tires of activists so that they would not be able to get back home, and reported their license plate numbers, with many participants losing their jobs.
“There was a cost that activists paid in order to open these beaches for everyone, and it made me certainly, certainly appreciate their sacrifices and their courage and their determination, and the dignity at which they approached this whole issue, and I learned that Newtown residents under the NAACP leaders — they were not passive, far from it.
They fought for every right that African Americans have in Sarasota. And that gave me such a pride. It really just boosted my pride when I learned this history in its fullness.”
The research report laid the foundation for the second phase, which involved placing a trail of 15 historical markers, and a mobile app.
Newtown leveraged the project, Oldham said, by introducing a book, “Newtown Alive,” published in 2017, as well as trolley tours of the area.
Residents were also asked to apply for historic designation for their homes if they were over 50 years old to make them classifiable as contributing historical resources.
The style of the buildings, Smith
said, is known as frame vernacular or masonry vernacular, and is a “small, inexpensive, utilitarian house” built without formal training.
The Newtown Historic District now includes 731 contributing resources, including Galilee Cemetery, New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church and other churches, and homes.
Restoration work had to be performed on buildings, and the city received a grant from the National Park Service for $50,000 for underrepresented communities, and a matching grant from the Newtown CRA, hiring the engineering consultant Terracon.
Oldham said along the way, it became clear to her and the people of Newtown that a new physical structure was needed where the history could be housed, and they took their request to the Sarasota City Commission in 2019.
They asked for a small seed grant for Phase 3 of the project, of $200,000.
Their advocacy resulted in the Leonard Reid House, which was formerly part of Overtown, the original African American community that is now the site of the Rosemary District, being relocated to Newtown at the intersection of Orange Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way.
“Some people from other communities are coming to me and asking, ‘How did you get started? What did you do?’” Oldham said. “And I can share the story, because I believe that we have a wonderful template for other communities to get started with historic preservation, that will eventually lead to heritage tourism.”
Photos by Ian Swaby
Vickie Oldham, president and CEO of the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition holds a copy of “Newtown Alive,” a book about the community’s history that she co-authored with the late Rosalyn Howard, who was a cultural anthropologist at the University of Central Florida.
The Leonard Reid House
High beams
IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER
St. Paul Lutheran Church is a place steeped in Sarasota history.
With its distinctive, signature rooflines curving toward a high point in the center, it is said the ceiling lights in the original sanctuary were so high, the Wallenda family of high-wire performers had to change them for the congregation, walking along the wires that hold the roof together.
“It’s one of the stories, anyway, that gets told through the generations here,” said the Rev. Ashley Nicolls, adding that some people knowledgeable about the church’s history consider the anecdote to be true.
One historical aspect of the church that can’t be disputed, however, is the architectural significance of two of its buildings, the work of architect Victor Lundy.
Designed by Lundy are the fellowship hall (the original sanctuary) built in 1959, as well as the education building created in 1962, the latter of which just saw completion of a renovation costing around $775,000.
As of July 1, the church is included in the National Register of Historic Places.
RECREATING LUNDY’S WORK
When the congregation was consulted on whether it wanted to undertake a project restoring the education building, which houses the church’s preschool, the answer was a resounding yes, Nicolls said.
“We really said, ‘Do you guys just want a new building?’ And the teachers, the families, they said ‘No, we love this building. This is part of who St. Paul is, it’s part of why we come and choose to come to (the Early Childhood Learning Center),’ and so I was shocked with that answer.”
Known for his use of modernist architecture, Lundy, now 101, is considered one of the leading members of the Sarasota School of Architecture.
He is behind sites such as the United States Tax Court Building in Washington, D.C., built in 1974, the inflatable snack bars at the 1964 New York World’s Fair and Sarasota’s distinctive Blue Pagoda building at The Bay Park, which originally served as headquarters of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce.
According to the church’s website, Lundy constructed the fellowship hall at a time when flat roofs were common, stating God could be found in the heights of the ceiling while the people were represented by its base.
The distinctiveness of his work, which results in the difficulty of repairs, has led to many Lundy buildings being demolished.
“We’re the first people to take out Lundy beams and try to re-create it rather than just tearing it down, which a lot of Lundy’s buildings have had happen, so that was a bigger cost than they expected, a lot more time and a lot more specifics of how to do it,” Nicolls said.
Discussions on the project started in 2019.
The original bid was $400,000, but a matching grant from the state, which the church obtained with assistance from the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation, was not enough to cover the project when the bid rose to $665,000 and then carried an actual cost of about $775,000.
The specifics of restoring the beams had exceeded the expectations of the contractor, she said.
After the preschool was moved into the fellowship hall in March 2024, the work began.
Restoration work took place mainly across the exterior, and involved replicating the roof awnings and the
architecture’s tongue and groove features, as well as the distinctively shaped, curving Lundy beams.
The wood had been leaking during the rain, while additional posts added during a 1990s renovation were helping support the building amid the decay of some beams.
Some distinctive glass side panels remain to be restored.
“They’ve really struggled with it. They’ve broken pieces trying to get
that exact arch,” Nicolls said. Nonetheless, activity has been able to resume in the building.
The church still isn’t finished with its mission, however. Nicolls said members have rejected any notion of selling the property.
This despite that it offers more space than needed, with the sanctuary hosting about 100 people on a Sunday but having a capacity for 400, and with a cost of about
$150,000 for upkeep, including volunteer services such as lawn mowing and contract work.
Meanwhile, she said, the preschool is aimed at providing the highest quality educators and does not serve as an income generator for the church.
Nicolls said she would love to obtain an endowment for an ongoing preservation plan and hopes to see the buildings returned even closer to their original form.
The renovation of the education building in the 1990s had also partitioned it into classrooms and added AC ducts.
“It reminds us every single day when we look at these buildings, that God is here; God’s in the midst,” Nicolls said. “So many times we can forget God is in our daily life. I hope when people just drive by Bahia Vista, past our church, they remember that, hey God’s here, Jesus loves you. Whatever your faith is.”
Dr. Philip Murphy brings to Intercoastal Medical Group at the Hyde Park office a wealth of knowledge and experience in Internal Medicine.
Undergraduate: University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
Medical School: Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Blacksburg, VA
Residency: Internal Medicine, Broward Health Medical Center, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Certification: Board Certified, American Osteopathic Board of Internal Medicine
Hospital Affiliations: Lakewood Ranch Medical Center; Doctors Hospital; Sarasota Memorial Hospital
St. Paul Lutheran Church is on a mission to preserve its historic Victor Lundy architecture.
Photos by Ian Swaby
Preschool Director Lisa McLean, the Rev. Ashley Nicolls and Assistant Preschool Director Iven Ayad
Ocean View home tops sales at $4,125,000
ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR
Ahome in Ocean View tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. Kenneth and Marina Sommers, of Palm Springs, California, sold their home at 8201 Midnight Pass Road to Robert and Laurie Bennett, of Sarasota, for $4,125,000. Built in 2018, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 5,034 square feet of living area. It sold for $3.5 million in 2019.
SARASOTA
OYSTER BAY LANDINGS
Marshall and Andrea Frank, of Sarasota, sold their home at 1451 Rebecca Lane to Christopher and Kimberly Keelin, of Sparta, New Jersey, for $2,875,000. Built in 2007, it has four bedrooms, five baths, a pool and 4,691 square feet of living area. It sold for $2 million in 2017.
LA LINDA TERRACE
Courtyard Modern Builders LLC
sold two properties at 2163 Hillview St. to Ilene Zall, trustee, of Sarasota, for $2.75 million. The first property was built in 2023 and has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,218 square feet of living area. The second property was built in 2023 and has two bedrooms, one bath and 694 square feet of living area. They sold for $1,825,000 in 2022.
SAPPHIRE SHORES
Robert Salie, of Sarasota, sold the home at 5151 Sun Circle to Desmond and Krista Varady, of Sarasota, for $2.3 million. Built in 1988, it has four bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,376 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.13 million in 2017.
POINSETTIA PARK
James and Virginia Dalton sold two properties at 1845 Bougainvillea St. to Neil Reddy, of Sarasota, for $2,041,300. The first property was built in 1941 and has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,727 square feet of living area. The second property was built in 1941 and has one bedroom, two baths and 800 square feet of living area. They sold for $1.25 million in 2019.
BAY PLAZA
Patricia Lombard, of North Hollywood, California, sold the Unit 1104 condominium at 1255 N. Gulfstream Ave. to Jerel Johnson, of Sarasota, for $1.48 million. Built in 1982, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,822 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.02 million in 2015.
ONE WATERGATE
Shannon Marie McAllister, of Goshen, Kentucky, sold her Unit 3-C condominium at 1111 N. Gulfstream Ave. to Nancy Lynn Laudando and Nancy Hart, trustees, of Sarasota, for $1,325,000. Built in 1974, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,736 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,145,000 in 2022.
DESOTA PARK
John Joseph Travers and Judith Elizabeth Pilbat, of New York City, sold their home at 1966 Hyde Park St. to Alex and Lynette Ramos, of Siesta Key, for $1,275,000. Built in 2015, it has four bedrooms, threeand-a-half baths, a pool and 3,321 square feet of living area. It sold for $850,000 in 2018.
HOMELANDS DEVELOPMENT
Patrick Brogley LLC sold the home at 2302 Hyde Park St. to J A & A Group LLC for $718,500. Built in 1956, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,524 square feet of living area. It sold for $425,000 in 2023.
GULF GATE
Ieva Navarro, of Sarasota, sold her home at 2501 Moorings Lane to Sharon Rothbloom, of Sarasota, for $700,000. Built in 1966, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,765 square feet of living area. It sold for $450,000 in 2022.
GOLFVIEW
Gideon Oscar Baugher IV and Erlinda Jane Baugher, of Sarasota, sold their home at 2740 Belvoir Blvd. to Ehab Loza and Shirly Mikhail, of Yorba Linda, California, for $660,000. Built in 1966, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,625 square feet of living area. It sold for $260,000 in 2017.
PELICAN COVE
Howard Wurtzel and Ester Wurtzel, trustees, of Avondale Estates, Georgia, sold the Unit 156 condominium at 1515 Clower Creek Drive to Paula Rayman, of Watertown, Massachusetts, for $600,000. Built in 1979, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,320 square feet of living area. It sold for $498,800 in 2021.
FOREST OAKS
Alan Butterworth and Pamela Meyers, of Roan Mountain, Tennessee, sold their home at 5335 Matthew Court to Casey Johnson and Sophia Bolakas, of Sarasota, for $555,000. Built in 1994, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,779 square feet of living area. It sold for $287,500 in 2007.
ONLINE
See more transactions at YourObserver.com
Other top sales by area
SARASOTA: $3.9 MILLION
Hollywood Boulevard
Jeffrey Rudd, of Sarasota, and Wendy Rudd, of Atlanta, sold their home at 6330 Hollywood Blvd. to Rhyan Finch and Chantel Ray Finch, of Sarasota, for $3.9 million. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 4,735 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.6 million in 2009.
PALMER RANCH:
$1.3 MILLION
Legacy Estates on Palmer Ranch
Debra Fahs and John Francis Cuspilich, of Ventnor City, New Jersey, sold their home at 5377 Trails Bend Court to Michael and Amy Janay, of Sarasota, for $1.3 million. Built in 2021, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,063 square feet of living area. It sold for $723,900 in 2021.
Prestancia
Dennis McChesney sold the home at 4255 Boca Pointe Drive to John Lyth, trustee, of Sarasota, for $1.3 million. Built in 1988, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,312 square feet of living area. It sold for $510,000 in 1999.
NOKOMIS: $525,000
Laurel Woodlands
Renee Coil, of Columbus, Ohio, sold her home at 1133 Hoover St. to Michelle Tavares, of Glendale, Arkansas, for $525,000. Built in 1987, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,844 square feet of living area. It sold for $355,000 in 2020.
Ian Swaby
The home at 8201 Midnight Pass Road was built in 2018 and has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 5,034 square feet of living area.
BEST BET
FRIDAY, AUG. 2 TO THURSDAY, AUG. 8
SUMMER SARASOTA GEM SHOW
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Sarasota Municipal Auditorium, 801 N. Tamiami Trail. $5. Browse vendors of gems and jewelry. Exhibitors include Amber Room, Bead Place, Beads in Vogue, Cascades Gems, Cosmic Eye, Darklyn, El Mineral World and many others. Visit HRGemShows. com.
SATURDAY, AUG. 3
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Mall at University Town Center, 140 University Town Center. Free. Kick off the new school year with the
to gather supplies, participate in an interactive school supply scavenger hunt and connect with local businesses. Visit EventBrite.com.
SUNDAY, AUG. 4 BRUNCH AT THE BAY FEATURING LIVE MUSIC BY GUSTAV VIEHMEIER
8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (brunch) and 11 a.m. to noon (live music) at The Nest, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Free to attend. Enjoy new brunch items, as well as the regular menu, at The Nest Café, while listening to Gustav Viehmeier perform a blend
of jazz, folk, metal and gypsy fusion. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.
TUESDAY, AUG. 6
HULA-HOOPING FOR ALL
5-6 p.m. at Jack J. Geldbart Auditorium, Selby Library, 1331 First St. Free. Join Amy the Hoop Lady for fun games featuring music and Hula-Hoops. Visit SCGovLibrary. LibraryMarket.com.
SCHOOL SUPPLY BINGO
4-5 p.m. at Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Library, 2801 Newtown Blvd. Free. In this free bingo game, all winners will all be able to choose a free school supply item as their prize. Visit SCGovLibrary.LibraryMarket.com.
THE Y: PRIMETIME
7:30-8:15 a.m. at Sarasota Garden Club, 1130 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. This low-impact cardiovascular class spotlights core muscles, including the abs, glutes and more. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 7
END OF SUMMER PARTY
1-3 p.m. at Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Library, 2801 Newtown Blvd. Free. This end-ofsummer celebration for all ages features a dig for buried treasure, a face painter, an airbrush artist and more. Visit SCGovLibrary. LibraryMarket.com.
POETRY WRITING WORKSHOP WITH DOUG KNOWLTON
4-6 p.m. at Bookstore1Sarasota, 117 S. Pineapple Ave. $40. This workshop featuring Doug Knowl-
ton, a writer of poems and lyrics since the 1960s, uses Beginner’s Mind to “free one’s inner poet.” It meets in the loft at Bookstore1Sarasota on Wednesdays for five sessions, on Aug. 7, 14, 21, 28, and Sept. 4, from 4-6 p.m. Visit SarasotaBooks.com.
THURSDAY, AUG. 8
TAI CHI
12-1 p.m. at Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Library, 2801 Newtown Blvd. Free. Learn the gentle art of tai chi, a low-impact exercise,
SATURDAY, AUG. 3 AND WEDNESDAY, AUG. 7
YOGA IN THE GARDENS
9:30-10:30 a.m. (arrive at 9:15 a.m.) at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Downtown Sarasota Campus, 1534 Mound St. Nonmembers $20; members $10. Enjoy a peaceful mind/ body yoga experience in the environment of Selby Gardens. Bring your own water bottle, sunscreen, sunglasses, comfortable clothes and towel or yoga mat. Visit Selby.org.
consisting of flowing movements, that benefits mind and body. Visit SCGovLibrary.LibraryMarket.com.
EVENING NAMASTE AT THE BAY WITH DAN BUE
6-7 p.m. at Bayfront Community Center, 803 N. Tamiami Trail. Free. Join Dan Bue, who was introduced to yoga practice while on active duty in the U.S. Navy. He enjoys sharing his knowledge with fellow veterans and the local community. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.
SPORTS
Fast Break
Former Sarasota Crew
rower Clark Dean and his U.S. Men’s 8+ boat teammates won their preliminary heat at the 2024 Paris Olympics on July 29, earning a spot in the event’s A Final at 5:10 a.m. on Aug. 3. The boat’s lead coach is Sarasota Crew head coach Casey Galvanek.
… On July 24, the Florida State Board of Education ratified a Florida High School Athletic Association plan to allow high school athletes to profit from name, image and likeness deals. Companies that sign athletes to name, image and likeness deals can feature them in commercial endorsements, promotional activities and social media content. The FHSAA initially approved the plan in June. High school football practice (noncontact) began July 29 for Sarasota-area teams. Programs can begin contact practices Aug. 3. The regular season begins Aug. 23, and all area schools will be in action: Sarasota High will host Cardinal Mooney High at 7:30 p.m.; Riverview High will visit Naples High at 7:30 p.m.; Booker High will host Lely High at 7:30 p.m.; and Sarasota Christian School will host Bishop McLaughlin Catholic at 7 p.m.
Former Sarasota High baseball stars Conner Whittaker and Owen Ayers officially signed their contracts with the Cleveland Guardians and Chicago Cubs, respectively, after being selected in the 2024 MLB Draft this month. The 15thround pick Whittaker received a signing bonus of $150,000, while 19th-round pick Ayers received a signing bonus of $50,000.
“I think this year we have the most athletic team we have ever had, just in terms of pure skill.”
— Devin Mignery, junior, Cardinal Mooney football. SEE PAGE 13B
Olympic pursuits close to home
Fencing and synchronized swimming clubs offer fun and high-level instruction.
IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER
People of all ages find themselves inspired every four years by the feats of strength, skill and agility on display at the Summer Olympics.
But in Sarasota, there are opportunities every year to learn technical sports like fencing or synchronized swimming — if you’re up to the challenge.
LET’S DUEL
For many observers, the sport of fencing looks like something straight out of “Star Wars.”
With the precision and energy the sport requires, it’s an apt comparison.
“You have to be quick, and you have to think about what your opponent’s going to do, and it’s more like a chess game in a way that requires some physical strength and speed,” said Ray Zhang, 25, a student at Sarasota Fencing Academy.
John Davis, head coach at the school, was also inspired by lightsabers as a child, when he began fencing at age 8.
A former resident of Ohio and a lifetime member of USA Fencing with over 35 years of experience, Davis said he received one phone call after another with requests for lessons when he moved to Sarasota.
“I don’t know how they find me,” he said.
In September 2023, he opened the academy, which now teaches about 40 people.
Around the same time, in October, Andrew Stetsiv was establishing SRQ Fencing Club.
A native of Ukraine and an A-rated sabre fencer with 25 years’ experience, Stetsiv comes from three generations of fencers.
His father, Oleg Stetsiv, founded Bergen Fencing Club in New Jersey, and is currently attending the Paris Olympics with his student Mitchell Saron, one of three Olympians produced by the academy.
What Stetsiv admires about the sport is the individuality it offers.
“I like sports in general, so whether it’s soccer or basketball or football, I just like the competitive spirit, but what I like about fencing is it’s an individual sport, so basically, you take full responsibility for your results, passions, everything, as opposed to team sports, where you can always blame someone for losing or this or that, so that’s why I like fencing.”
Although fencing may have originated from swordplay, it has come a long way technologically, and one of the major focuses at Sarasota Fencing Academy is on staying up to date.
Sarasota Fencing Academy. Visit SRQFA.com. SRQ Fencing Academy, Sarasota City YMCA Branch, 1075 S. Euclid Ave. Visit SRQFencingClub.com.
Sarasota Sharks Synchro Team. Visit Facebook.com.
Davis highlighted the wireless scorekeeping equipment, which keeps score electronically while keeping fencers free from the pull of wires. Most national and local championships use wired equipment, he said. He also points across the room — at a scorekeeping device that was made in Germany and at another that was made in Italy.
Students can practice with electronic and robotic targets and can even be rewarded at the end of the lesson with a virtual reality fencing activity.
However, with the growth of technology, the demands of the sport are still intense.
“At the end of our class, we make sure you lose 1,000 calories, so you get sore and tired, but you’ll be happy because your fitness level, your endurance, your brain,” he said.
“I love swimming, but I started fencing, I was shocked at the amount of involvement and energy that I had to do, with a three-minute game,” said Davis’ wife, Ela Davis.
Your endurance can be tested through the three different methods of fencing: sabre, where fencers aim above the waist; epee, which involves the full body as a target; and foil, which includes the torso only.
Also note that in 2019, the fencing federation of France officially recognized lightsaber dueling as a competitive sport.
LEARN IN SYNC
The Sarasota Sharks Synchro Team is open to ages 6-18 who have some swimming ability already.
When Annabelle Hill, 15, first witnessed a synchronized swimming performance, she was intimidated by the idea of practicing the artistic sport herself.
“I was so impressed, and I was thinking, I could never do any of this stuff,” she said.
Today, however, she’s swimming right in sync with everyone else on the Sarasota Sharks Synchro Team, which teaches those ages 6-18.
Synchronized swimming has now become the first sport she has seriously pursued.
Although the sport has its challenges, it clicks with some people, and certainly isn’t impossible, said swimmers.
The team recently performed at the 2024 Junior Olympic Championships in Gresham, Oregon, where it received seventh place.
An important part of the experience is the camaraderie, said swimmers. Swimmers work together to keep time to music, beginning by practicing the movements on land, and then bringing them into the water.
In many respects it’s similar to dance.
Camille Wright, 15, said although she started in the sport relatively late, her background in dance and ballet helped her through the learning experience.
“A lot of those skills transfer over, like picking up on choreography and dancing, moving with the team. It’s a lot like doing it on land. It’s just the added element of water makes it a lot more difficult and was something I had to adapt to.”
For Hill, the sport fulfills her former desire to be involved in ballet.
“I feel a lot less clumsy in the water. I’m able to move,” she said. The team teaches different skill levels, but one thing it won’t entertain teaching is swimming, said coach Erin Bacon. Students who are joining must at least know “a couple” of strokes.
For Anjali Mayor, 17, getting started was simple.
“It’s pretty fun to get started,” she said. “There is a learning curve, there is the basics you can get on right away, but I think maybe everyone hits a plateau at some point.”
Caroline Clissole, 15, struggled with the basics before finding her way forward.
“It really helped that, because if you look around, a lot of people are around my age, that I had so many people at the same age as me learning about the same skills,” she said.
According to Camille Wright, 16, a routine becomes second nature at some point.
“I think a large part of it is building a good enough muscle memory so that you can just do it. You don’t even think about it,” she said.
“I was so impressed, and I was thinking, I could never do any of this stuff.”
Claire Vu, 10, duels with Laurel Karp, 14, at SRQ Fencing Club.
Image courtesy of Rowing2K
Sarasota’s Clark Dean (middle) is representing the United States in the men’s eight at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Sophie Miller emerges from the water.
— Annabelle Hill
Photos by Ian Swaby
Sarasota Olympians make international statement
The Games have a long way to go, but this group has already captured America’s heart.
On July 29, the American social media scene found its daily main character in the form of U.S. men’s gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik.
People loved his bespectacled sideline look, a rarity in all sports but especially gymnastics. They loved that he has been deemed a “pommel horse specialist,” only participating in that event during the men’s team competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics, when others on the team competed in four or more events. They loved that, as the time of the pommel horse crept closer, Nedoroscik seemingly got more and more relaxed, at one point closing his eyes while resting in a chair.
“In that moment; I’m doing my breathing exercises,” Nedoroscik said on the “Today” show July 30. “We always try to keep our heart rate down. In that five minutes I’m sitting there, I’m visualizing my routine over and over again.”
But “Pommel Horse Guy,” as he came to be known, is more than a meme. When it was finally time for him to perform, it was the last American routine of the competition, and the U.S. needed his best. Anything less, and the team might have found itself off the podium.
Nedoroscik delivered: His pommel horse routine earned a score of 14.866, tied with Japan’s Takaaki Sugino for the second-best pommel routine of the day behind Great Britain’s Max Whitlock (15.266). The performance helped the U.S. secure a bronze medal, the country’s first men’s gymnastics team medal since 2008.
Prior to the Olympics, Nedoroscik and teammate Brody Malone spent time training at Sarasota’s EVO Gymnastics, where they honed their routines under the guidance of coaches like Sam Mikulak, a threetime Olympian himself. In gymnastics, points can be deducted for the smallest of mistakes, so every detail of a routine matters. It took months of prep — physical and mental — to get everyone’s routines in top shape for Paris. Even then, the initial qualification round didn’t go well for
everyone. Malone fell twice on the high bar and once on the pommel horse, uncharacteristic mistakes for the former world champion. Gymnastics is hard, and the pressure of perfection only makes it harder, even for the world’s best.
Yet, when the lights were brightest, Malone and Nedoroscik did what they went to Paris to do.
“I went back to the gym and reset my mind,” Malone said on the “Today” show. “I went into that competition confident that I was going to be able to hit for the team.”
He was right. Malone gave a rock-solid performance across the pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars and horizontal bar. Watching Malone and Nedoroscik perform was like watching a magic show. I don’t know how they do the things they do, and I don’t care. I just want to sit and bask in the wonder of it.
The same goes for athletes who prefer flying through water to flying through the air.
Although Malone and Nedoroscik arrived in Sarasota recently, U.S. swimmer Emma Weyant was born and raised here. She attended Riverview High and swam for the Sarasota Sharks before heading to the University of Florida. Weyant won silver in the Women’s 400 individual medley at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and she just signed a deal with Visit Sarasota County to feature her name, image and likeness in the organization’s promotional materials. In ways both metaphorical and literal, Weyant is the face of the Sarasota sports scene to a lot of people.
Weyant swam the 400 IM again in Paris on July 29. Her competition was tougher this time. Not only did Weyant have to race U.S. phenom Katie Grimes, the only person at the Olympics to swim in both pool and open water events, but she had to face world-record holder Summer McIntosh, a Canadian swimmer who has spent time training at Selby Aquatic Center with the Sarasota Sharks.
At first, it appeared Weyant had made a miscalculation: She started slow, perhaps too slow. At the halfway point of the race, Weyant trailed Great Britain’s Freya Constance Colbert for third place by approximately two seconds. Most swimmers would not be able to make up that much ground, even if the back half of the race is their strong suit. Weyant is not most swimmers.
Though McIntosh would cruise to a gold medal (4:27.71), and Grimes held on for silver (4:33.40), Weyant tracked down Colbert and overtook her for bronze, touching the final wall in 4:34.93. It is just the second time since 1968 that the U.S. had two swimmers on the 400 IM podium.
“I’m pretty confident in my training, especially being with the (University of) Florida distance group,” Weyant said in a USA Swimming release after the race. “We know how to train for the last 50. I’m really fortunate for (coach Anthony) Nesty and all the coaches there for giving me confidence for the back half.”
With a few exceptions, Olympic swimmers typically do not have long careers. There is a possibility that the Paris games are Weyant’s last. If so, she has made her hometown proud — not only for winning hardware, but for being a fantastic representative of the city, displaying perseverance during her races and poise afterwards.
Everyone at the Olympics is part of the elite, but it seems like Sarasota’s connections are a cut above the rest. We’re not done, either: Rower Clark Dean and shooter Mary Tucker still have events to go, and Malone and Nedoroscik have individual gymnastics events to complete, as does McIntosh. It is our athletes who are capturing the heart of America — and for good reason.
Ryan Kohn is the sports editor for the Sarasota/Siesta Key Observer. Contact him at RKohn@ YourObserver.com.
USA Gymnastics/John Cheng
Stephen Nedoroscik acted as a “pommel horse specialist” for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Devin Mignery
Devin Mignery is a rising junior quarterback on the Cardinal Mooney High football team. Mignery threw for 1,303 yards, 12 touchdowns and three interceptions in 2023 while splitting time with current Florida Atlantic University quarterback Michael Valentino. Mignery also ran for 896 yards and 10 touchdowns.
How did you start playing football?
I was exposed to the game at a young age. Both of my grandfathers played, and my dad (Andy Mignery) played for the University of Michigan. I started with flag football, and when it was time to play tackle, I loved that, too.
What is the appeal to you?
The brotherhood of the team. Not just on the field. It is a huge part of my life, all the friends I have made through football. I love all the coaches, too.
What is your best skill?
Being able to manage the game. At Cardinal Mooney, we call it “the 10-yard war.” You need to manage the 10-yard war and keep moving the ball and get first downs. Don’t make stupid decisions. Get it to the athletes in open space.
What have you been working to improve?
My speed in short bursts, 10 to 15 yards. In our offense, that burst is the difference between us getting three yards or maybe breaking loose for 15-plus yards.
Do you prefer running or throwing as a quarterback? It doesn’t matter to me, honestly. I will say that I like running it when I get a good chance because it keeps the defense on their toes and helps my guys get open.
If you would like to make a recommendation for the Sarasota Observer’s Athlete of the Week feature, send it to Ryan Kohn at RKohn@ YourObserver.com.
What is your favorite memory? It has to be winning the state championship last year. It was the culmination of everything. My freshman year, I was second string on varsity, so I didn’t get to play much, maybe some minutes here and there. Last year was the first time in awhile I had played real football. We also had a great group of seniors, so to send them off that way was special.
What are the expectations for this season?
We have set a high standard. I think this year we have the most athletic team we have ever had, just in terms of pure skill. It’s up to us to find a way to use everybody in the right way and make it all work. We are looking forward to putting it all out there.
What is your favorite TV show?
“Suits” on Netflix.
What is your favorite subject?
Math. Ever since I was little, I have been relatively good with numbers.
OLYMPIC GAMES by Amie Walker and Rebecca Goldstein, edited by Jeff Chen
By Luis Campos
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(Longboat Key, FL) Respond to errors or faults identi ed during s/ware testing, incl delivering updates on s/ware dvlpmt & engg project progress to sr mgmt & executive teams. Doc & demonstrate tech’l solutions by dvlpg documentation, owcharts, layouts, diagrams, charts, code comments, & clear code using ability to write clean, maintainable, & well-documented code w/ multiple prgmg languages such as PHP, JavaScript, Java, etc. & exp w/ SQL & data store technologies, video technologies, containers, codecs & live streaming systems. Help provide leading edge dvlpmt practices, incl analyzing reqmts to determine best approaches for implmtg new features or xing bugs using exp in web dvlpmt & strong understanding of the practical application of object-oriented prgmg concepts. Understand & advocate for needs of users, test new features to ensure s/ware works as intended, & recommend changes to existing code to improve functionality. Help administer & con gure servers & virtual machines & perform multi-threaded prgmg & optimize heavy apps using advanced data structures & algorithms. Perform code reviews & deployments of new features & bug xes to production environments. Bach in Comp Sci, S/ware Engg, or Comp Communications & 4 yrs exp in job or 4 yrs exp as Lead S/ware Engineer in online video platform &/or cloud service provider industries. Rumble USA, Inc, Attn: Michael Ellis, 444 Gulf of Mexico Dr, Sailboat Sq. 3, Longboat Key, FL 34228.
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 nding errors in the typed print that varies from the original document, not actually editing the documents for errors.
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VICE PRESIDENT, ENGINEERING (Longboat Key, FL) Review s/ware engg staff’s work to ensure high quality standards are met, incl inspecting the proposed code changes in places that are mission-critical & that have immediate & negative impact on org’s users across the web, mobile, & TV platforms, as well as advtg effect on org’s systems, such as storage, content delivery networks, private & public networks. Act as info security expert & lead for keeping co secrets, such as passwords, digital keys, & other forms of security access codes. Dsgn & improve fraud protection mechanisms, abuse & DMCA response routines, & other security & protection procedures & technologies. Take lead role in dsgn & integration of sophisticated technologies, such as Machine Learning algorithms, to maintain website stability & availability during bot attacks & safeguard against monetary fraud. Dsgn & support scalable email sending systems for delivering large numbers of subscription noti cation emails, electronic digests & newsletters. Dsgn & improve geographically distributed topology of internal co. services, such as d/bases, search, video encoding, livestreaming, etc. to ensure robustness, redundancy & high availability of such services by working w/ Procurement dept to obtain reqd h/ware & s/ware. Propose, orchestrate, & actively participate in deployment of database schema changes, ensuring safety of operations & consistent availability of regular backups. Continuously monitor integrity & accessibility of backup copies, & conduct regular backup restoration drills to maintain staff readiness, ensuring minimal response & recovery times in the event of system failures. 10 yrs exp in job or 10 yrs lead s/ware/IT engg exp in IT industry. Rumble USA, Inc, Attn: Michael Ellis, 444 Gulf of Mexico Dr, Sailboat Sq. 3, Longboat Key, FL 34228.
