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The Sarasota observer

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The Sarasota observer
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America's Newspapers
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Sarasota observer (Sarasota, Fla.)
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Sarasota, FL
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Newspapers -- Florida ( lcsh )
Newspapers -- Sarasota (Fla.) ( lcsh )
Florida ( fast )
Florida -- Sarasota ( fast )
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America's Newspapers

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University of Florida
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University of Florida
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Copyright, Observer Media Group. Permission granted to University of Florida to digitize and display this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
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INSIDE ObserverYOU . YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.VOLUME 19, NO. 31 YOUR TOWN FREE • THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023Condence through bikingThe thrill of adventure that riding a bike can provide should be available to all, and a local nonprot, Adventure for All, is working to ensure that’s possible. The Adventure Biking Program empowers individuals with disabilities by instilling self-condence and independence through bicycling. The program was made possible thanks to a grant from the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation. Already, eight participants ages 9 to 15 have successfully completed the beginner and intermediate levels of the program. þ  The pr ogram oers three levels of instruction, starting with an Intro to Biking class, which teaches foundational skills with the goal of being able to pedal independently for at least 20 yards. þ  Lifting up spirits through upcyclingAs attendees gathered at the Rosemary Art & Design District on June 24 to switch out their outts at the district’s clothing swap, Alina Olonsky’s thoughts were elsewhere, with her family. She gathered numerous items — shorts, tank tops, dresses and more — to send to her approximately 50 family members in Ukraine. Amid the ongoing war, as well as ooding in the country after a June 6 dam collapse, her family, who live in Kyiv, are “denitely afraid to sleep at night,” she said. Clothing can be dicult to obtain in Ukraine, but she was able to trade out old items that belong to her mother, Soa Olonsky, for new ones to suit the dierent family members. The event, hosted in partnership with Phillip Thierman, founder of Sarasota Swaps, was held in recognition of International Upcycling Day. þ  SARASOTA/SIESTA KEY Andrew Wareld Ocer Andrew Pickart, right, escorts a Sarasota Police Department K-9 unit to a patrol vehicle.Ian Swaby Town Square center Director Jill Grinnell, Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Heather Kasten and owners Sherri Finn and Michael Finn. Dining in a prime locationUpscale Surf ’n’ turf eatery Ocean Prime is headed to Sarasota’s waterfront. SEE PAGE 5 Andrew Pickart, 4, wanted to be a Sarasota police ocer. He got his wish. SEE PAGE 7Awards that countTurtle TracksAS OF JUNE 17 TOTAL NESTS: þ 202 3 þ 202 2 Siesta Key þ 22 6 þ 2 75 Lido Beach þ 1 02 þ 86 Cas ey Key þ 1, 041 þ 833 T OTAL FALSE CRAWLS: þ 202 3 þ 202 2 Siesta Key þ 361 þ 221 Lido B each þ 1 92 þ 8 5 Casey Key þ 1,1 60 þ 6 75Source: Mote Marine Laboratory Courtesy photoCoach Kate Maccarone with a youth athlete. A+EA shining project PAGE 10Meet the small businesses making a big impact. SEE PAGE 14 The walk to remember

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2 SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 rffntbbbnbbbnbtnb bntbbnbnbbtnbb bbnbbnnnbbfnt‘bbn‘’ nbn“”fbnbbtb bnbt“”•bbtn Stores Hours: Mon-Sat 9-9, Sun 11-6 rfnftbfnrf60 MONTHS FINANCING*bnfbfff SOUTH SARASOTA rbb NORTH SARASOTA n‘ ’“” ”• BRADENTON –‘ —r’“ ELLENTON ••rf — VENICE rr‘ r’““ •” PORT CHARLOTTE f‘ —r • NOW OPEN! “ ‘‘‘ ‘‘ $ $ 799 799 99 99 “‘“‘ ‘‘—‘’‘‘‘ —‘——— $ $ 599 599 99 99 $50 OFFANY PURCHASE OVER $499$100 OFFANY PURCHASE OVER $999$400 OFFANY PURCHASE OVER $3999$200 OFFANY PURCHASE OVER $1999$500 OFFANY PURCHASE OVER $4999$300 OFFANY PURCHASE OVER $2999 ‘“ ——— —’ $ $ 699 699 99 99 rt rt “ – $ $ 399 399 99 99 bt— bt— 401578-1 Sarasota Memorial Health Care System has broken ground on a $75 million Research and Education Institute. Designed to promote collaboration, discovery and innovation in medical education and research, the ve-story, 80,000-square-foot facility will house SMH’s expanding clinical research division, clinical and graduate medical education programs, medical library and a new simulation center designed for hands-on training. With Florida State University as its academic partner, SMH provides residency and fellowship training programs that help attract and retain physicians locally. Nearly half the residents have stayed on at SMH after completing their training, while nearly 70% remained in Florida. “Bringing together skilled physicians, clinical investigators and nurse educators, the new Research and Education Institute will centralize everything we do under one roof, providing our physicians, clinical sta, residents and fellows enhanced opportunities to work collaboratively in an innovative clinical education environment,” said SMH President and CEO David Verinder in a news release. Currently, the education and training programs are housed in the hospital. Consolidating the programs into one facility will enhance collaboration, while creating more clinical space at SMH for bedside care. Slated to open in 2025, the research facility is being built at the intersection of Arlington Street and Laurent Place, the site of the former Doctors Gardens medical oce building. The 1950s-era building was demolished last year to make room for the new facility and a parking garage for about 300 vehicles.BY THE NUMBERS WEEK OF JUNE 29, 2023 “This swearing in ceremony is for a special young man, Andrew Pickart. At only 4 years of age, he’s already shown us incredible strength and bravery.”Sarasota Police Chief Rex Troche. Read more on Page 7Expect delays, closures during holiday eventsSarasota beaches will be buzzing with activity over the July 4 weekend, which will result in certain restrictions and closures. The 38th annual Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix will be held July 1-2 at Lido Beach, and the Bayfront Fireworks Spectacular is set for July 4, at Bayfront Park, 1 Marina Plaza. Fireworks will begin at 9 p.m. Parking lots at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall between Van Wezel Way and 10th Street will be closed from midnight, June 29 until 10 p.m. July 2. The P-1 Racing Pit party will be held from 6-11 p.m. on June 30 in the Van Wezel Parking lot. The Centennial Park boat ramp, the staging area for the boat races, will also be closed midnight, June 29 until 10 p.m. July 2. On the water, New Pass west of the New Pass Bridge will be closed July 1 and 2 during the boat races. On July 4, U.S. 41 will be closed between Orange and Gulfstream avenues from 7-11:30 p.m. The parking lot at Bayfront Park will be closed once it has reached capacity. No parking will be allowed on the south end of Bayfront Park. Parking will also be prohibited in the median of John Ringling Boulevard. Expect delays of up to an hour exiting the boat race viewing area and bayfront following reworks.Sarasota market ranked No. 2 for relocationSarasota is the No. 2 market in the country for relocating, according to Clearwater-based PODS Enterprises. The portable moving and storage solutions company identies the top 20 cities people are moving to with the release of its third annual relocation trends report. The report analyzes consumer movements throughout the past 15 months. Sarasota slipped one spot from the No. 1 position in last year’s report, replaced at the top by Myrtle Beach, South Carolina/Wilmington, North Carolina, which jumped up ve positions from No. 6. Other Florida markets in the top 20 are Orlando, No. 3; Ocala, No. 4; Jack sonville, No. 8; Tampa Bay, No. 9; and Melbourne, No. 12.Courtesy rendering A rendering of Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s new Research and Education Institute.9,500Approximate square footage of the planned Ocean Prime restaurant in The Quay.PAGE 56Downtown Sarasota restaurants currently using parklets for outdoor seating.PAGE 6 12On average, the number of pounds of pizza a competitor needs to eat to win the “The Big Ritchie” challenge at Rico’s Pizzeria. PAGE 22 CALENDARSarasota City Commission regular meeting — 9 a.m., Monday, July 3, Commission Chambers, City Hall, 1565 First St. Sarasota County Commission regular meeting — 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 11, Sarasota County Administration (South County), 4000 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice.Sarasota County Commission regular meeting — 9 a.m. Wednesday, July 12, Commission Chamber, County Administration Center, 1660 Ringling Blvd.SMH builds Research and Education Institute TABS WHAT’S HAPPENING

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 3 ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITERRiding in a maintenance vehicle from the No. 8 tee box toward the green at Bobby Jones Golf Club, Richard Mandell said one of his favorite features of the golf course lay just ahead. The architect hired to design the $12.5 million project to restore the city-owned course to its original Donald Ross layout has seen it all. He’s restored 10 Ross courses and has rebuilt or designed from scratch 64 others. So it’s often what’s imper ceptible to the uninitiated that captures his attention. The feature doesn’t affect the play of the par-3, unless a duffed tee shot stops on the downward slope of it, leaving an awkward stance, but after the cart crossed a small rise and stopped, he pointed back to the mound complex between the tee and the green. “That mound right behind you,” he said. “You can’t see it from the tee, but it’s there.” Like all other elements included in the reimagining of the original Donald Ross 18 holes that were later incorporated into 36, the diminu tive mound is all about drainage, the topography designed to turn the floodplain that was the Bobby Jones Golf Complex into a properly draining course, directing stormwater into a newly created wetland that will eventually become a nature park. That and other subtle contours around the course, which replicates the layout and signature Donald Ross greens when it opened in 1926, also add character to an otherwise flat piece of land. It’s been seven years since the city awarded Mandell the contract to bring the municipal property back to life. After multiple iterations by the city since the original plan to rebuild all 36 holes, work finally began in earnest in spring 2022, two years after the course was closed. Last Thursday, the sprigging of the greens started at No. 15, which Mandell described as one of the last major milestones of the construction. “We are at the big milestone. The next one is to finish the short course. My shaper is out there just cleaning it up, getting rid of all the weeds and shaping it,” said Mandell. “In two weeks, I’ll come back, and I will finalize all the little details and paint the grass lines. I’ll come in for two days and we’ll work sunup to sundown each day.” The Bobby Jones course is Donald Ross’ creation restored and enhanced. The short course — a nine-hole “adjustable” par-3 — is all Mandell. Located across Circus Boulevard, Mandell has imagined a course that can follow multiple directions and be changed, likely on a weekly basis, to provide a varying playing experience, not just in routing, but with tees playing to different greens as well.WATCHING THE GRASS GROWOnce the greens on the Ross course are sprigged, they will take approximately eight weeks to grow in, and at that point the course is considered playable. Grass throughout the course will have twice that amount of growing time, though, before play begins with a planned opening this fall. “The front nine will be sprigged (this week) and we’re not looking at opening until November, so we’ve got four months of growing in,” Mandell said. “The grass is going to be in great shape.” Both the Ross course and the Mandell short course, he said, will open simultaneously. Prior to sprigging, the greens are staked off in grids that allow Mandell to examine and give final approval for the playability of the slopes and effectiveness of the drainage. Mandell consults diagrams on his phone while stepping off sections of the putting surfaces to ensure they are as designed. Once planted and grown in, they can’t be changed, short of reconstruction. Once sprigging is complete, work between now and November will shift to cleaning up native areas on the front nine — construction worked its way from 17th Street to Fruitville Road, so the front nine was the last to be shaped and planted — plus manicuring playing and nonplaying areas and growing in fairways and rough. The massive practice range will also be planted. In addition, the temporary clubhouse will be delivered and installed, on-course restrooms on opposite corners of the property are under construction, the driving range ser vice building has been plumbed and, at the short course, a small service building will be constructed. The existing parking lot will be paved and remaining debris from demolition and construction will be removed. All that work is the responsibility of Jon F. Swift Construction of Sarasota. Mandell, who simultaneously balances multiple projects, is gratified to see the course nearing completion, particularly when, at times, it appeared it may never get started. “I never thought we wouldn’t get to this point,” Mandell said. “I’ve never had a project that just went belly up on me, so it was just a matter of time. I just bided my time while the city went through whatever process it needed as this went from 45 to 36 to 27 holes.” Despite delays in getting the project started, Mandell said he is more than satisfied with the end result. “There are a lot of features that exceeded my expectations. The short course will definitely exceed my expectations because that one I didn’t have a complete vision of when I started,” he said. “The Ross course, like other renovations, you know how it’s going to turn out. If it’s a new course, I have a vision of what I’m doing before I start, but the short course here was an opportunity for me to freelance, so that was a lot of fun.”Sprigging the greens at the city-owned golf course means the rebuild of the Donald Ross design is nearing completion.Sprig fever: Bobby Jones nearing rst tee time ‘VERY OLD FLORIDA’More than a golf course, Richard Mandell set out to create an experience with the restoration of Bobby Jones Golf Club. þ  While f ollowing the Donald Ross original design, the course has been lengthened where it could be, a process that, along with other clearing to remove incompatible vegetation, uncovered some pleasant surprises. “We cleared a lot of trees, but it’s still a nice walk in the park,” Mandell said. “The oaks we were able to save really frame some of the holes. Eighty years ago, somebody planted those oaks, but in the area of holes 10 and 11 and 18, there was just about an acre-and-a-half of Brazilian pepper that were 50 feet tall and some of those oaks were buried in that. We got rid of all the Brazilian pepper and, lo and behold, there they were. þ  “I lo ve the stateliness of the live oaks on the front nine. And I love the ride. I love the ride or the walk that you’re going to take from the clubhouse to the driving range, how that path weaves through the oaks. It’s just going to be really serene and picturesque — and very Old Florida.” That Old Florida vibe may be reected by the permanent clubhouse should the City Commission approve the latest iteration of a design Jon F. Swift Construction proposed. Earlier this year, the commission requested the contractor return with an enhanced proposal over the original $2.5 million design. The latest proposal could cost between $7.5 million and $9 million. þ  That c ost is not included in the nearly $20 million budget for the golf course, wetlands creation, temporary clubhouse and accessory buildings, all funded by a $20 million bond and a $3 million grant from the Southwest Florida Water Management District.Golf course architect Richard Mandell watches as the rst green, No. 15, is sprigged at Bobby Jones Golf Club.Photos by Andrew WareldGolf course architect Richard Mandell checking the drainage grid of the 13th green before it is sprigged.

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4 SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 FOURTH JULY SALEOF Heating & Massage Power Plus System BalanceAdapt ErgoAdapt Heating & Massage Power Plus System BalanceAdapt ErgoAdapt Balance & Glide System S-M-L S-M-L S-M-L S-M-L ComfortZones ComfortZones Balance & Glide System RECEIVE $100 OFF for Every $1,000 Spent on STRESSLESS SEATING.*PLUS Extra Storewide Savings! copenhagen imports 7211 S. Tamiami Trail Sarasota, Florida 34231 *See Sales Associate for Details Mon.-Sat. 10-6 • Sun. 12-5 941-923-2569 copenhagen-imports.com *With qualifying purchase. See sales associate for details. 405786-1 rfntbffnbn 402213-1 ftfnbfnnbf ttfftfn402216-1 WILLS, TRUSTS, ESTATE PLANNING & PROBATECall for a ee 15-30 min. consultationIt’s never too early to seek to have your loved ones protected.941-315-2114 M. Michelle Robles, Esq. 401125-1 399388-1 Sarasota’s BestVoted One of 29 Years in a Row! r r Janet and Curt Mattson Owners Wallcoverings & Blinds, Inc. Since 1989941-925-7800mmwallcoveringsblinds.com 4801 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota Across from The Landings heraldtribune.com WINNER Luminette Operating Systems PowerView Automation 401656-1 rrfrntbtnr tnrftrrrrff r ff ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITERThe plan for a 342-foot condominium tower at 1260 Palm Ave. is moving ever closer to sign off by the city departments represented on the Development Review Committee. Obsidian, planned for 14 luxury residences and 18 floors, received partial sign-off during the June 21 DRC meeting, which prompted Chief Planner Allison Christie to explain the process to opponents of the proj ect who attended the session. “For the record for everyone here and listening, I’ll just explain what partial sign-off means,” Chris tie said. “Approval or denial of the project is not taking place at this time. It’s just the majority of the departments on the DRC have no more comments, so we will not have any more DRC meetings (regard ing Obsidian). They will work with the departments individually to get comments addressed, and ultimately the decision will be with the director of development services.” That individual is Lucia Panica, who will be responsible for determining if the plans for Obsidian meet all legal standards of the zoning code. That is not a certainty, given the DRC’s lingering concerns. “As proposed, the total building height is 342 feet, which is significantly taller than neighboring buildings and other buildings within this zone district and the rest of the city,” reads one comment. “The overall building height could be reduced to improve the effects on this adjoining property.” Another comment pointed out that a solar study indicates Obsidian would block sunlight from solar panels installed on the roof of the city-owned Palm Avenue Garage across the street from the site. The DRC has requested the developer provide a more detailed solar study on the impacts of shade not just on the adjacent Bay Plaza condominium building but on other nearby structures as well. Unmentioned dur ing the meeting was greater-thantypical interstitial space between a number of floors, which opponents have charged artificially adds height so upper floors can provide views of Sarasota Bay Plaza. “We provided staff all of the infor mation they requested and that is required under the zoning code,” said Obsidian developer Matt Kihnke, president of MK Equity Corp. That written response Kihnke referred to, “Notes have been added to the elevations and the section labeling the interstitial space. Additional detail of sizing of the mechanical, plumbing, fire protection, electrical and structure will be provided as part of the building permit set when engineering is completed.” Other lingering matters include Obsidian seeking administrative adjustment for a reduction in the required retail frontage at the street level, facade minimum requirements not including calculations for the garage opening and other technical issues. Should any application for administrative adjustment be denied, the site plan will need to be updated to comply. Opponents of Obsidian, largely residents of Bay Plaza, have organized, held rallies and spoken before the City Commission. Although project approval in the Downtown Core zoning district is administrative, that decision can be appealed to the Planning Board by a legally recognized aggrieved party, the status of which is subject to interpretation.Obsidian receives partial DRC sign-o The upper oors of Obsidian would oer bayfront views to the east and downtown views to the west. Courtesy rendering

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 5 rfntbt rf rf rnt bbbbb rfntb frr tnfnn bf tn t bt THE LEADERS IN SARASOTALUXURY REAL ESTATE btn nrfnrntb‘nt’bf t bnt tbt t bt t bt tbnt tbtb ff 402388-1 ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITERNearly a year after the Sarasota Planning Board approved an up to 10,000-squarefoot restaurant space in The Quay, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants on Tuesday made it official that it will build its 18th Ocean Prime location there. With restaurants in Orlando, Tampa and Naples, Sarasota will be the Columbus, Ohio-based group’s fourth Ocean Prime in Florida when it opens in late 2024. Located on Block 10 in The Quay, Ocean Prime is planned for more than 9,500 square feet of space across two levels of dining. It will have seating for more than 350, two bars and two private dining rooms. The second floor will feature sliding glass walls that open to the outdoors overlooking the Central Quay. Block 10 in The Quay is located next to the historic Belle Haven building, the preservation of which was central to the general development agreement between the city and Jacksonville-based GreenPointe Developers, which is developing The Quay under the entity Quay Venture. “GreenPointe Developers and Cross Lake Partners are thrilled to welcome Ocean Prime to Quay Sarasota Waterfront District,” said GreenPointe President and CEO Grady Miars in a news release. “It was a natural choice to bring Ocean Prime’s award-winning elevated experience to Quay Sarasota’s scenic waterfront setting, and we know it will enhance the experiences of those who live, work and play here.” Cameron Mitchell, founder, president and CEO of CMR, is no stranger to Sarasota. In addition to Mitchell being a frequent visitor, sister company Rusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern operates a Rusty Bucket location in University Town Center. “We look forward to bringing our extraordinary Ocean Prime dining experience to Sarasota,” Mitchell said in the news release. “Sarasota is close to my heart and where I have vacationed with my family for nearly 20 years.” Founded in 1993, the CMR family of restaurants includes 24 brands operating in 14 states and Washington, D.C. In addition to the restaurant space, last year the Planning Board approved 5,000 square feet of retail space on Block 10. “We’ve shown the retail space split into four spaces. It could be one tenant, or it could be split into smaller tenants,” Chris Gallagher of Hoyt Architects told the Planning Board at the time. “The restaurant building is really designed for one tenant. We’ve got a specific restaurant in mind here, and its focus is very much on the water overlooking the water.” Ocean Prime patrons will have a view of the marina and a sliver of Sarasota Bay, especially from the second floor. The restaurant is nestled in the center of The Quay sur rounded by built and planned condominium towers on three sides and by Lennar Multifamily Communities’240-unit luxury multifam ily development with 13,000 square feet of ground floor retail space along Tamiami Trail. Although not within The Quay, Ocean Prime joins Jack Dusty, a 9,500-square-foot restaurant at the nearby Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota hotel that fronts the marina bookended to the north by the Hyatt Regency hotel, which is slated for redevelopment. Per the general development agreement, The Quay is entitled to up to 695 residential units, 175 hotel rooms, 38,922 square feet of office space and 189,050 square feet of commercial space.Upscale steak and seafood restaurant coming to The Quay.PRIME TIME ON THE MENUOcean Prime’s Tampa dinner menu includes appetizers ranging from $19 for white true caviar deviled eggs to $29 for a “surf n turf” of scallops, braised short rib and gremolata (a condiment made of chopped parsley, lemon zest and garlic). Salads range from $15 to $29; seafood entrees from teriyaki salmon at $51 to twin lobster tails for $65; steaks from $56 to $66; and sides such as smoked gouda tater tots at $15, roasted Brussels sprouts at $17 and baked lobster mac & cheese at $44, to name a few.PRIME LOCATIONSSarasota will join a list of major metropolitan areas with Ocean Prime restaurants. Beverly Hills, California Boston, Massachusetts Chicago, Illinois Columbus, Ohio Dallas, Texas Denver, Colorado Detroit, Michigan Indianapolis, Indiana Kansas City, Missouri Las Vegas, Nevada Naples, Florida New York City Orlando, Florida Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Phoenix, Arizona Tampa, Florida Washington, D.C. Courtesy renderingOcean Prime plans to build a two-story, 9,500-square-foot restaurant on Block 10 in The Quay.

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6 SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 We are pleased to welcome Justin Shinn, MD, Head and Neck Cancer and Microvascular Surgeon to the First Physicians Group network. Dr. Shinn is a board-certied head and neck surgeon who treats patients with both benign and malignant tumors of the head and neck involving the oral cavity, nose, pharynx, larynx, salivary glands, thyroid, and skin. He also specializes in airway reconstruction, partial laryngectomy/voice preservation, micro-vascular reconstruction and transoral robotic surgery (TORS). First Physicians Group WelcomesJustin Shinn, MD To schedule an appointment, call (941) 262-0500First Physicians Group Head and Neck Surgery1901 Floyd Street, Sarasota, FL 34239 firstphysiciansgroup. com Specialty : Head and Neck Cancers including mouth, tongue, throat, gland and skin cancers as well as microvascular reconstruction Board Certification : American Board of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Medical School : University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA Residency: Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN Fellowship: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 404876-1 ELEGANTLY DESIGNED ESTATES rfntf rbf b rrr rfrfrbrrrrfr rbrr rrrr rbrr rbfrb rbfr rrr rrrrbrf400217-1 PHIPPS HOME DESIGNExceptional home design since 1994 rfn tbrrr 40 North Adams Dr., Sarasota, FL • 941.388.1234 • Questions? Contact: michael@saklc.comSummer Worship Sundays at 10:00am Sunday Coffee Hour at 9:00am All Are Welcome!401466-1 ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITERPending Sarasota City Commission approval, a citywide parklet dining policy will go into effect when the current temporary extension that allows restaurants to set up tables in parking spaces on city streets expires on Sept. 30. Gradually growing across the country for more than a decade, the parklet trend was turbocharged during the pandemic as restaurants struggled to offer dining space to meet the comfort level of customers hesitant to dine indoors. Today, there are seven Sarasota restaurants that are using parklets to expand their dining space, six in downtown and one in St. Armands. Installations range from permanent-looking extensions of the restaurant to parking spaces surrounded by metal barricades. City officials listened to restaurant owners who now depend on the parklets for revenue and on June 21 held an information session that laid out plans for design, aesthetic and maintenance standards plus fees that will be charged for the use of otherwise revenue-producing parking spaces. Downtown restaurants using par klets occupy either one or two park ing spaces, be they parallel or angled. Although they will be permitted citywide, with one exception, parklets will likely be used primarily in downtown where restaurants don’t have the advantage of patio space enjoyed by their suburban counterparts. Parklets will not be permitted where a parking bond exists — an area where parking revenue is used to pay bond debt on a parking structure — specifically on and around St. Armands Circle. In addition to assisting restaurants still in recovery from lost business during the pandemic, city staff has identified parklets as an enhancement to urban vitality. “We’re excited to explore the potential of parklets,” said City Engineer Nik Patel during the presentation. “They are creative ways to transform parking spaces into vibrant community spaces.” Parklets generate income for the restaurants but cost the city in parking revenue, so they will come at a price. One parklet space will cost $35 per day, or $12,600 per year based on a 30-day month. A second space will come at a discount, a total of $60 per day, or $21,600 per year, for two. Currently, the six restaurants that utilize parklets pay $25 per parking space per day. That cost includes lost parking revenue to the city and administrative costs to oversee the program. It doesn’t include, though, the cost to the restaurant to build parklets that conform to the new standards of aesthetics and diner safety. Par klet users must also have a sidewalk cafe permit, which costs $274 per year plus $5 per square foot of outdoor dining space used for sidewalk cleaning. “Our primary goal is to ensure the process is transparent, fair and feasible for all stakeholders,” Patel said. “The permit process is designed to ensure adherence to all parklet standards while fees are structured to cover the necessary regulatory measures and maintenance, including parking fees.” Parklet permits will be valid for two years, and not every restaurant will be eligible. The number of spaces available on any one block will be limited to four, or 20% of all spaces, whichever is greater. For example, the 1300 block of Main Street has 23 parking spaces. Allocating four spaces for parklets is 17%, which would be allowable. A fifth space, though, would constitute 22% and would not be permitted. Parklets will also not be allowed to block fire hydrants or other fire department facilities or occupy any handicapped-dedicated spaces. There must also be a four-foot separation between a parklet and an angled parking space. Wheel stops will be required to be installed, at the restaurant’s expense, between parallel parking spaces and parklets. There will be multiple design standards required to address customer safety, cleanliness of the parklet and durability of materials and furnishings. All current parklet users will be required to upgrade their facilities to the city-adopted standards. Building contractor Mark Baldwin, who is also a partner in Lucille Pizza and Wine Bar on Main Street, said many restaurants will struggle to meet the costs associated with the proposed parklet standards, most of which have been borrowed from par klet policies of other municipalities. “As somebody who knows exactly what’s involved in what you’ve presented, it’s exceptionally involved and extremely costly,” Baldwin told staff members. “I’d say just based on what I’ve seen, it’s at least $50,000 between permit fees, construction and the fees overall. I think that may be some people in the community may not realize how little restaurants actually profit, and this seems very unfeasible as a whole.” “It does have to be commercial, and I understand the costs associated with that,” said Assistant City Engineer Dan Ohrenstein. “People are going to be sitting right next to a vehicle ... so public safety is important. Cleanliness is important. Also, we do have storm events, so we want to make sure that the parklet is not going to fly off during hurricanes, so there are a lot of components to make parklets permanent, and that’s why the standards have been put in place.”The policy presented would cost Sarasota restaurants at least $13,000 per year plus construction to oer on-street dining in city parking spaces.City proposes permanent parklet plan PARKLET DESIGN STANDARDSProposed requirements for city parklets include: Raised to be ush with the curb 1-foot clearance to travel lane 4-foot clearance to next parking space Bracketed to curb and pavement Have wheel stops on each end Be ADA-compliant Minimum 8-foot vertical clearance to any vertical elements Edge wall 26-42 inches high and 1 square foot on tracfacing sides Walking/rolling surfaces must be rm, stable and slip resistant Sealed by a professional architect or state-licensed engineer City building permit required prior to construction File photoBrick’s Smoked Meats at 1528 State St. has been among the restaurants leading the charge to preserve parklet dining as a permanent xture in downtown Sarasota.

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 7 donate & shopHave large items to donate? Call to schedule your free pick up.( 941 ) 444-5783 www.habitatsrq.org 3 Stores 1 Location Monday Saturday 10:00am 5:00pm 2095 17th Street SarasotaBuilding Materials | Furniture | Appliances Art | Decorative Accessories | LampsOur vision is everyone deserves a decent place to live. donate & shopHave large items to donate? Call to schedule your free pick up.( 941 ) 444-5783 www.habitatsrq.org 3 Stores 1 Location Monday Saturday 10:00am 5:00pm 2095 17th Street SarasotaBuilding Materials | Furniture | Appliances Art | Decorative Accessories | LampsOur vision is everyone deserves a decent place to live. 396352-1 Tuesday-Saturday rffntbfbtnt rff rfn WANTED SUSPECTCOCAINE POSSESSION 402842-1 CASH REWARDSFOR ANONYMOUS TIPS THAT LEAD TO AN ARREST rr 402848-1 rfntbr t tff ffn f 404738-1 ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITERWhen representatives of Make-A-Wish Southern Florida were planning a Siesta Key beach vacation for a New Jersey family with a critically ill child, they made a discovery that prompted them to get the police involved. Andrew Pickart, a 4-year-old who has battled neuroblastoma most of his life, has a fascination with police. Thanks to the Sarasota Police Department, his wish was enhanced Monday when he was sworn in as an honorary officer by SPD Chief Rex Troche. Andrew and his family, who live in Egg Harbor Township, New Jer sey, were treated to a morning full of police activities at SPD headquarters after being sworn in before a room filled with sworn and nonsworn personnel. Troche administered Officer Pickart’s customized oath while holding him at the podium in the briefing room. “Do you promise to take all the bad people to jail?” “Yes.” “Do you promise to keep your mom and dad and your family safe?” “Yes.” “And do you promise to be a good and great police officer?” “OK.” “Officer Andrew Pickart, you are now an honorary Sarasota police officer.” Not even a rousing round of cheers and applause fazed Andrew, who was calm and composed throughout the morning as he met and shook hands with Troche, members of the command staff and representatives of every division who presented him with challenge coins, a tradition of showing mutual respect for fellow officers. SPD went all out for Andrew’s special day, starting with the arrival of the family — parents Anhthu and Michael; brother, Erik; sister Kyra; and grandmother Annette Tran — at headquarters. After Andrew explored a police motorcycle and patrol SUV, they were escorted to the quarter master’s office, where he received a uniform and badge. An elevator ride to the sixth floor took them to Troche’s office, where they met in a conference room and Andrew’s official photo was taken for his ID badge. From there, it was off to the brief ing room for the swearing in. “Today we will swear in one of our newest police officers into the SPD family,” Troche said. “I would like to thank the Pickart family for allowing the Sarasota Police Department to be a part of Andrew’s special wish. This swearing-in ceremony is for a special young man, Andrew Pickart. At only 4 years of age, he’s already shown us incredible strength and bravery that is quite inspiring. “Andrew, my young friend, today you are granted a special title because of your bravery. We need officers like you to keep the city of Sarasota safe.” Following the ceremony, activities moved outdoors for demonstrations by SPD’s SWAT and K-9 units. The morning was capped off by some quiet family time back in the brief ing room with Troche, when Andrew was presented with police-themed gifts to commemorate the day. The Pickart family will continue their beach vacation until Thursday, when they will leave Officer Pickart’s jurisdiction and travel to Orlando to visit with relatives there. ABOUT MAKEAWISHBased in Sarasota, Make-AWish Southern Florida has granted nearly 14,000 wishes since 1983 to children who suer from critical illnesses. The Southern Florida chapter’s territory includes 22 counties in southeast and southwest Florida, plus the U.S. Virgin Islands.SPD swears in youngest police ocerMake-A-Wish and police department ensure 4-year-old cancer patient’s wish comes true. Four-year-old Andrew Pickart and his family are greeted with a sign outside the Sarasota Police Department headquarters. They are (from left) parents Michael and Anhthu, Andrew, son, Erik, daughter Kyra and grandmother Annette Tran. Andrew Pickart checks out a patrol vehicle.Photos by Andrew WareldAndrew Pickart receives police challenge coins from representatives of SPD’s divisions.

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8 SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 “If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.” Friedrich Hayek“Road to Serfdom,” 1944 2020 The Observer Media Group Inc. All Rights ReservedYourObserver.comPresident and Publisher / Emily Walsh, EWalsh@YourObserver.com Executive Editor and COO / Kat Wingert, KWingert@YourObserver.com Managing Editor / James Peter, JPeter@YourObserver.com Sports Editor / Ryan Kohn, RKohn@YourObserver.com Sta Writers / Ian Swaby, ISwaby@ YourObserver.com; Andrew Wareld, AWareld@YourObserver.com Digital & Engagement Editor / Kaelyn Adix, KAdix@YourObserver.com Copy Editor / Gina Reynolds Haskins, GRHaskins@YourObserver.com Senior Editorial Designer / Melissa Leduc, MLeduc@YourObserver.com Editorial Designer / Miguel Elasmar, MElasmar@YourObserver.com A+E Editor / Monica Roman Gagnier, MGagnier@YourObserver.com Director of Advertising / Jill Raleigh, JRaleigh@YourObserver.com Sales Manager / Penny Nowicki, PNowicki@YourObserver.com Regional Digital Director / Kathleen O’Hara, KOHara@YourObserver.com Senior Advertising Executive / Laura Ritter, LRitter@YourObserver.com Advertising Executives / Richeal Bair, RBair@YourObserver.com; Beth Jacobson, BJacobson@YourObserver.com; Jennifer Kane, JKane@YourObserver.com; Honesty Mantkowski, HMantkowski@YourObserver. com; Toni Perren, TPerren@YourObserver. com; Brenda White, BWhite@ YourObserver.com Classied Advertising Sales Executive / Lexi Huelsman, LHuelsman@ YourObserver.com Sales Operations Manager / Susan Leedom, SLeedom@YourObserver.com Sales Coordinator / Account Manager Lori Downey, LDowney@ YourObserver.com Digital Fulllment Specialist / Emma B. Jolly, EJolly@YourObserver.com Director of Marketing / Robin Lankton, RLankton@YourObserver.com Marketing Specialist / Melanie Melone, MMelone@YourObserver.com Director of Creative Services / Caleb Stanton, CStanton@YourObserver.com Creative Services Administrator / Marjorie Holloway, MHolloway@ YourObserver.com Advertising Graphic Designers / Luis Trujillo, Taylor Poe, Louise Martin, Shawna Polana Digital Developer / Jason Camillo, JCamillo@YourObserver.com Information Technology Manager / Homer Gallego, HGallego@YourObserver. com Chief Financial Ocer / Laura Strickland, LStrickland@YourObserver.com Controller / Rafael Labrin, RLabrin@ YourObserver.com Oce and Accounting Coordinator / Donna Condon, DCondon @YourObserver.com SARASOTA/SIESTA KEY Observer Media Group Inc. is locally owned. Publisher of the Longboat Observer, East County Observer, Sarasota/Siesta Key Observer, Palm Coast Observer, Ormond Beach Observer, West Orange Times & Observer, Southwest Orange Observer, Business Observer, Jacksonville Daily Record, Key Life Magazine, LWR Life Magazine, Baldwin Park Living Magazine and Season Magazine CEO / Matt Walsh President / Emily Walsh Vice President / Lisa Walsh Chairman Emeritus / David Beliles 1970 Main St. Sarasota, FL 34236 941-366-3468 The founding of the United States of America has to be one of the Greatest Stories Ever. Let’s say in the top five. For nearly 250 years, that moment has changed the course of the world. From the Pilgrims settling at Plymouth Rock to the Declaration of Independence to the writing and adoption of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights, to everything those events spawned over the past 247 years, America’s founding has to be up there with Creation; Moses and the Israelites’ 40-year journey to the Promised Land; the birth of Jesus Christ; and the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Assuming you agree, it makes sense then that the Fourth of July is celebrated the way John Adams hoped it would be celebrated. After the Founders voted to adopt the Declaration of Independence on July 2, Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail: The Declaration of Independence “will be the most memorable epocha in the history of America.” He said the day should be “solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other from this time forward forever more.” Through the generations, we Americans have obliged Adams’ wish with gusto — red, white and blue parades, topped with the quintessential American feast of grilled ’dogs, mustard, potato chips, corn on the cob, watermelon, homemade brownies and, yes, Bud Light. And the fireworks. This is a guess: If you walked Siesta Key Beach and conducted Man (or Woman) on the Beach interviews, asking why we celebrate Independence Day, of course, many of us would cringe these days at the stupidity of so many Americans. You can envision the interview: Interviewer: “Why do we celebrate Independence Day?” Interviewee: “Uh, because we beat the Germans and Japanese in World War I?” Ugh. Ever the optimist, we still want to believe most adult Americans (especially those older than Gen Zers) do indeed know why we celebrate Independence Day. (See box for the exact words.) Forevermore, Americans have instinctively invoked the words liberty and freedom with the Fourth of July. More specifically, of course, we are always reminded on this national holiday of Thomas Jefferson’s immortal words in the second paragraph of the Declaration: “We hold these truths to be selfevident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” It’s probably true that most Americans at the time of the Declaration focused on the proclamation that they were no longer under the tyrannical rule of the British king and empire; they were free of his injustices, usurpations and pillaging. But in the words of the late President Calvin Coolidge, the Declaration “had a much broader and deeper significance than a mere secession of territory and the establishment of a new nation.” In a 4,500-word speech July 4, 1926, in Philadelphia — on the 150th anniversary of the Declaration, then President Coolidge delivered what should be regarded as one of the most insightful explanations ever recorded of the profound meaning of the Declaration of Independence (see below). Coolidge called the Declaration “the most important civil document in the world.” And among the reasons for such a noble title, Coolidge said: “Three very definite propositions were set out in its preamble regarding the nature of mankind and therefore of government. These were the doctrine that all men are created equal, that they are endowed with certain inalienable rights and that therefore the source of the just powers of government must be derived from the consent of the governed.” These were not new principles in the 18th century, but as Coolidge noted, these three principles “had never been assembled before and declared in such a combination. “It was not only the principles declared, but the fact that therewith a new nation was born which was to be founded upon those principles and which from that time forth in its development has actually maintained those principles, that makes this pronouncement an incomparable event in the history of government.”WHO IS THE STATESMAN?It is noteworthy that 150 years after the issuance of the Declaration of Independence, then President Coolidge spoke as he did about the profound nature and importance of Jefferson’s words — that they still stood steadfastly a century-anda-half later as the principles that defined the United States and that made the United States exceptional. But now, nearly 100 years later, when, if ever, do you hear our so-called national leaders — specifically, the “presidential wanna-be’s” — discuss or profess an embracing conviction to the principles that all men are created equal and we all are endowed with the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Keep your ears and eyes attuned to President Biden and all of the Republican presidential hopefuls this weekend. Listen closely whether in their Fourth of July speeches they express a vision for the nation whose principles and values would be devoted to those the Founding Fathers established. In that vein, who among the many presidential candidates has demonstrated the character of the statesmen-leaders who constituted our leading Founding Fathers? Who among them could set foot in the same room as George Washington? In the 2000 book, “Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation,” historian Joseph J. Ellis gives readers a sense of the awe of Washington: “In the America of the 1790s, Washington’s image was everywhere His commanding presence had been the central feature in every major event of the revolutionary era: the linchpin of the Continental Army throughout eight long years of desperate fighting from 1775 to 1783; the presiding officer of the Constitutional Convention in 1787; the first and only chief executive of the fledgling federal government since 1789. He was the palpable reality that clothed the revolutionary rhapsodies in flesh and blood, America’s one and only indispensable character. “Washington was the core of gravity that prevented the American Revolution from flying off into random orbits, the stable center around which the revolutionary energies formed. As one popular toast of the day put it, he was ‘the man who unites all hearts.’ He was the American Zeus, Moses and Cincinnatus all rolled into one.” Who among the candidates can rise to the statesman-leader level of, say, Abraham Lincoln or, in modern times, Ronald Reagan? Lincoln at Gettysburg: “It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here have the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that the dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” Reagan at the 1964 Republican National Convention: “It’s time we asked ourselves if we still know the freedoms intended for us by the Founding Fathers,” he said. “James Madison said, ‘We base all our experiments on the capacity of mankind for self-government.’ “This idea that government was beholden to the people, that it had no other source of power except the sovereign people, is still the newest, most unique idea in all the long history of man’s relation to man. “For almost two centuries we have proved man’s capacity for selfgovernment, but today we are told we must choose between a left and right or, as others suggest, a third alternative, a kind of safe middle ground. “I suggest to you there is no left or right, only an up or down. Up to the maximum of individual freedom consistent with law and order, or down to the ant heap of totalitarianism ” When he concluded his Fourth of July address, Coolidge told his fellow Americans: “If we are to maintain the great heritage which has been bequeathed to us, we must be like-minded as the fathers who created it. We must not sink into a pagan materialism. “We must cultivate the reverence which they had for the things that are holy. We must follow the spiritual and moral leadership which they showed. We must keep replenished, that they may glow with a more compelling flame, the altar fires before which they worshipped.”BE RESILIENTDeep down, we have to believe most Americans are longing for the end of the strife that has torn this great nation apart for the past 15 years. They are wrought and withered over being told the country they love and its past are evil. The enmity that splits us in half has become our Gettysburg. As you wave your flag or fire up your grill on the Fourth of July, we’ll encourage you as we did in 2021: Wave that flag hard. Be resilient, as resilient as the pilgrims who landed at Plymouth Rock and as courageous as the Founding Fathers who pledged their lives, their fortunes and honor with their signatures on the Declaration of Independence. Continue to believe in the magnificent principles that all men are indeed created equal and stand strong for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Happy Independence Day.OPINION / OUR VIEWGreatest civil document MATT WALSHThe Declaration of Independence was much more than a secession from tyranny. It changed the world. Biden Trump Pence Haley DeSantis ChristieWHO IS THE STATESMAN-LEADER?Kennedy WHAT FOUNDERS DECLAREDThis is the nal paragraph of the Declaration of Independence — the “what” the Founders were declaring: “We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do ” These are the eight presidential candidates leading in the polls. Keep your ears and eyes attuned to President Biden and all the Republican presidential hopefuls this weekend. Listen closely whether in their Fourth of July speeches they express a vision for the nation whose principles and values would be devoted to those the Founding Fathers established. Who among them has demonstrated the character of the statesmen-leaders who constituted our leading Founding Fathers? Scott Here is an excerpt from President Calvin Coolidge’s July 4, 1926, speech on the Declaration of Independence. In this passage, Coolidge warns Americans that the ideals in the declaration ow from religion: “A spring will cease to ow if its source be dried up; a tree will wither if its roots be destroyed. “In its main features, the Declaration of Independence is a great spiritual document. It is a declaration not of material but of spiritual þ­ conceptions. “Equality, liberty, popular sovereignty, the rights of man — these are not elements which we can see and touch. They are ideals. They have their source and their roots in the religious convictions. They belong to the unseen world. Unless the faith of the American people in these religious convictions is to endure, the principles of our Declaration will perish. We can not continue to enjoy the result if we neglect and abandon the cause. (To read the entire speech, go to: YourObserver.com/Coolidge.) — MWTHE DECLARATION’S RELIGIOUS ROOTS

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 9 rfnnntn b rfntbf rffrrnn tbnfftbrrffr frftbt b bb 402835-1 941.343.9396 | www.GrantsGardens.com 397680-1 VOLUNTEER DRIVERS NEEDED rfnfnntbbbffn rfntbt bf ff bfr405044-1 THURSDAY, JUNE 15PHONE LOST, BUT NOT STOLEN þ  3000 block o f Old Bradenton Road Disturbance: A complainant advised ocers that four individuals came to her home demanding the return of a cellphone. A female had knocked on her door saying that the complainant’s son had stolen her phone. The complainant said she did not know the woman but added the woman has an ongoing issue with her son. The complainant said a male was standing across the street holding a black item at his side that appeared to be a gun. No video or photo evidence was captured of the incident. þ  The c omplainant said she wanted the subjects to be told not to come to her residence again and that she was threatened by a female subject. While on that call for service, a female called dispatch and advised that she was threatened by a woman at the previously referenced location regarding a missing phone. Ocers met with that caller at another address and said her phone was not stolen and was at the Sarasota Police Department property room. þ  The subject advis ed that no one had a gun near the complainant’s home and said the dispute was verbal. She also told police she would not return to the complainant’s home.FRIDAY, JUNE 16SLOW GETAWAY þ  1 0:18 a.m., 1000 block of North Tamiami Trail Property damage: A victim told police she had parked her vehicle briey near the entrance of a boat launch to sit by the water with a friend. While there, a male approached and started to argue with her, telling her to move her vehicle. The victim’s friend said she saw the man kneel by the front driver side of the victim’s car before hearing the sound of air being released from a tire. The witness then saw the man leave on a blue bicycle. Ocers observed the valve stem on the tire had been damaged and the tire was at. The tire itself was not damaged. Should the suspect be identied and located, he will be charged with criminal mischief.SUNDAY, JUNE 18NONQUALIFIED BUYER 3:47 p.m., 1900 block of Boyce Street Trespassing: A real estate agent called police to a home she had listed that belongs to her brother. The complainant said she had received a text message from a would-be buyer, and that after meeting with her in person had determined she was not a qualied buyer. Still, she witnessed the woman inside the fenced-in property earlier in the day walking around the home. The subject was located and informed that if she returned to the property she would be arrested.TUESDAY, JUNE 20DOESN’T TALK TO COPS 1:04 a.m., 300 block of North Conrad Avenue Dispute: A complainant advised an ocer that he was in a dispute with the juvenile son of his cousin and that while in the kitchen, the boy “begin to give him attitude” while preparing a bowl of ramen noodles. The man also said he believes the youth has access to a rearm. The man stated the altercation was only verbal in nature and that no threats of violence were made. Ocers met with the juvenile in the backyard, reporting that he was very uncooperative and requested ocers leave the property on multiple occasions. He said he was attempting to be respectful and moved to the backyard to eat his ramen noodles. He then stated he does not talk to cops and requested ocers leave the property. No further action was taken.WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21DAY DRINKING 3:40 p.m., 400 block of Benjamin Franklin Boulevard Intoxicated person: An ocer met with a lifeguard supervisor in reference to an intoxicated male who was rescued from the Gulf of Mexico by lifeguards. The subject was cooperative and intoxicated, but was able to walk o the beach under his own power. The ocer requested that the subject sit down at a table and not drink any more that day. The subject was also asked if he wanted to go to detox, which he declined. The subject stated that he was done drinking for the day and he would catch the trolley o the island later. TUESDAY, JUNE 20 NO BUZZARDS, NO BODY 10:30 p.m., 2500 block of Pershing Avenue Disturbance: While working a previous call, an ocer was approached by a man who advised that his wife had told him she overheard two male subjects talking about a dead body in the vacant eld o the 2000 block of MLK Jr. Way. Two ocers investigated two abandoned homeless sites in the vacant eld nding no body. The eld is covered with sawgrass six to eight feet tall. The report further reads, “There were no buzzards ying overhead and no foul smell of a decomposing body in the area.” No further action was taken. COPS CORNER

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YOUROBSERVER.COMJUNE 29, 2023 < REVOLUTIONARY IMPROV: FST stages a onenight show in honor of our nation’s birthday. 13 EATING WITH EMMA: The best lobster rolls in Sarasota and Manatee counties. 12 >A+E INSIDE: ARTS + ENTERTAINMENTHONOR THY FATHERRingling College curator creates a tribute to his Episcopal priest dad.MARTY FUGATECONTRIBUTORTim Jaeger is the chief curator of galleries and exhibitions at Ringling College of Art and Design. He’s also an accomplished artist in his own right. As a painter he’s, well, painterly. His approach is gestural, with lots of multilayered impasto and loose, energetic brushwork. Coloring inside the lines is not Jaeger’s style. But a recent passion project took him out of his comfort zone. Late in 2021, Jaeger accepted a commission to design and create 41 windows for a chapel in Tampa’s Berkeley Preparatory School. His art would comprise Biblical vignettes and nods to other faiths. It would speak to the hearts of students. It would also have a deep, personal meaning to the artist. “Berkeley Prep is affiliated with the Episcopal Church,” Jaeger says. “I’m the son of an Episcopal priest. Receiving this commission was very humbling for me.” As a child, Jaeger grew up listening to his father’s sermons in the Grace Episcopal Church in Paducah, Kentucky. A well-behaved kid, he sat without fidgeting in a church pew. He listened intently, while simultaneously drawing on church bulletins. His father’s lessons took hold in his heart. But the training of his hand and eye would ultimately lead to his life’s work as an artist. “I always knew I wanted to be an artist,” Jaeger says. “Following in my father’s footsteps just wasn’t my path. This commission is a magical way to honor his path. It’s not my usual medium — and I really wanted to do it right!” The artist received the commission thanks to a drawing of St. Francis ministering to a flock of birds by the river. He showed it to Brandon Peete, the school chaplain. Jaeger explained that it would be one of many gentle religious scenes, including the baptism of Jesus and Jacob’s dream of a ladder to heaven. Tapping a master glass artist for assistance, “I explained that the vignettes would be religious,” Jaeger recalls. “But I also wanted to give the students a sense of freedom and creative expression, whatever their belief system.” Peete evidently liked the way the artist thought. Jaeger got the commission. Gentle scenes or not, it was an incredibly ambitious project — on a scale the artist had never before attempted. To create the images he’d envisioned, Jaeger reached out to the master glass artists of our region. Jim Piercey was his first choice.Courtesy photosRingling College Chief Curator Tim Jaeger (left) worked with stained glass artist Jim Piercey to bring Jaeger’s drawings to life. Details of the stained glass windows that Tim Jaeger created for the chapel at Berkeley Preparatory School in Tampa.“These windows are also my way of honoring my father’s legacy”— Tim Jaeger

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 11 rfrnftbntfn fnrfbrnnrfnnbnf f‘’rf“’’”fn”nfr• ‘fffnnb–f’f‘fff‘”n’bf——’’ ’f‘nfbb‘fffnnb“b fnnffnbff“bff”ffb’“b ’’f‘fnf”’fbf”fn nfrnfnfffn“b’rfnf ‘fnffn’’ffnfrnn“’ RECLAIMING HOMECONTEMPORARY SEMINOLE ART – –” –” –”–” 380875-1 405531-1 2542 17th St., Sarasota, FL 34234 For pricing and services, go to www.catdepot.orgCAT CARE CLINICrOpen to the PublicBy Appointment Only 941.366.CATS (2287) 401591-1 “Jim had the only studio space around equipped to do this project,” he says. “Jim taught me a lot of the technique and installed everything we created. This will be the first chapel in the United States with fused glass windows.” What’s the difference between fused glass and stained glass? According to Jaeger, it’s a big dif ference. “Stained glass art is like making a mosaic,” he says. “You create the image with different pieces of colored glass. You assemble the pieces and then solder them together with melted lead. With fused glass, you’re melting different transparent layers of glass together. You can get more of a painterly effect within the glass itself. I even painted directly on many of the pieces.” Fused glass gives windows a painterly effect Jaeger adds that this painterly quality is the reason he chose the fused glass process. That said, it’s a far cry from painting on canvas. “Fused glass is a constructive medium,” he explains. “In painting, I can be spontaneous. With fused glass, it’s all planning — there’s no intuition involved. I have to design everything first. So, I’ll build a draw ing in Photoshop. I create outlines of figures divided into segments — then plan out exactly what colors go where.” Big job, needless to say. Jaeger didn’t try to do it alone. While work ing side by side with Piercey, Jaeger also collaborated with Kathleen Bromley and her team of glass artists at KatGlass Studio in Clearwater. Everyone involved pushed their artistry to the limit — and loved every minute of it. “Working on this project has been very rewarding,” says Piercey. “Fused glass takes us all out of our comfort zone, and that’s always a learning experience. I’ve learned a great deal from Tim, and I think he’s learned quite a lot about glass as well. It boils down to telling the story the chaplain wanted to tell — and that’s been a fairly painless process.” After the chaplain approved the mock-up for a specific window, Jaeger gave Piercey the design along with a general idea of the colors he wanted. “He leaves it up to me to interpret his color palette, and that’s pretty much it,” says Piercey. “Everyone involved has been super accommodating. Window by window, it’s all gone smoothly.” “The fused glass art we created for this chapel was revolutionary — as far as I know, it’s never been done on this scale before,” adds Bromley. “Old-school leaded glass can be heavy-handed. Here, entire windows are made of fused glass with no divisions. When the sun hits just right, it’s like he’s painting with light.” Bottom line? Jaeger had help. But it was still a lot of hard work. How hard? “Looking back, this was two years in the making. Over 7,000 miles back and forth from Sarasota to Orlando. Two flat tires, one shattered windshield. Nearly 300 panes of glass. Countless drawings and emails. 41 windows. One chapel.” Jaeger smiles with satisfaction. And notes that Berkeley Chapel was consecrated on April 15. During the time that Jaeger created the stained glass windows, his father lived in a nursing home. “He wasn’t in a good shape,” Jaeger recalls. “I did this for my father, on many levels. He passed away before I finished. I wish he could’ve seen it — but I did send him drawings and photos, and they really meant a lot to him. This art speaks to the hearts and minds of the students. But these windows are also my way of honor ing my father’s legacy. I’m confident that they’ll shine for a long, long time.” Jaeger’s drawing for a window of Jacob’s Ladder. “The fused glass art we created for this chapel was revolutionary — as far as I know, it’s never been done on this scale before.” — Kathleen BromleyA closeup of a stained glass window at Berkeley Preparatory School’s chapel.

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12 SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 OUR SHOWROOMS ARE OPEN Special Financing Available 1734 South Tamiami Trail Venice, FL 34293 941.493.7441 4551 N. Washington Blvd. Sarasota, FL 34234 941.355.8437 2510 1st Street West Bradenton, FL 34208 941.748.4679 www.manasotaonline.com385050-1 EMMA JOLLYCONTRIBUTORAs a native New Englander, during this time of year, I start really missing the place I will forever call home. I yearn for northern summer weather (sans humidity and afternoon tsunamis), chasing fireflies even in my 30s and eating the nation’s best lobster rolls with my sister. My younger sister, Maddie, is a lobster enthusiast — to put it mildly. She rates the buns, lobster meat and overall experience on her Instagram page, called Ladies Who Lobster. In honor of Maddie’s upcoming birthday, I put on my thinking cap and eating bib and turned into a lady who lunches on lobster. I found the best luxurious summer seafood sandwiches in Sarasota and Manatee counties. Let’s get crackin’.LAKEWOOD RANCH LOBSTER POUND SEAFOOD BISTRO AND FISH MARKET8740 State Road 70 E., Lake wood Ranch; 941-755-3474;LWR þ­Lob sterPound.com Owned by Jim and Kelly Pierzga, this market and bistro serves up seafood with staff hailing from Long Island, New England and Lancaster, Pennsylvania. I was immediately transported back to Connecticut in a way that, no lie, brought a tear to my eye. Order up to 30 minutes before closing time (6:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 7:30 p.m. Friday through Saturday). How We Roll:New England or Connecticut style? If we’re offered chunks of lobster poached in butter, drizzled with lemon on a New England roll — the Burke girls are sold on Connecticut-style ($23.99). Jim and his chef pack on nearly a pound of fresh lobster. You Butter Believe It:The Toss Up roll ($33.99) allows foodies to feast on both styles so you don’t have to choose. Want to see what a real storm looks like? Let’s try our best to nosh on the Nor’easter with sultry stacks of lobster on double buns — then we can roll into a nap time. Also, the clam chowder ($6.99) had my tastebuds doing cartwheels, so we can’t leave without that.THE MAINE LINE þ  FOOD TRUCKLocations updated weekly on website; 941-246-9090; TheMaineLine.net Owner Kurt Turner was heavily disappointed in the lack of homecooking vibes when he and his wife, Brenda, moved to town — so they brought the Pine Tree State to the Sunshine State in a scrumptious way. This gourmet food truck serves up some of Maine’s finest offer ings. We’re lining up for the lobstah extravaganza. How We Roll:The classic lobster roll with warm butter, lemon, coleslaw and chips ($22.95) takes me right back to New England. With each bite of lobster, the air gets less humid, and I feel like I’m home sweet home. You Butter Believe It:Lobster tacos with cilantro lime sauce, lobster quesadillas, lobster grilled cheese, lobster mac and cheese and a crabster roll (crab meat and lobster) are offered to those who skip the classic. The next time you’re in town, Maddie, I can’t wait to munch on the Maine maniac mega lobster roll with 1 pound of lobster on a 12-inch roll, coleslaw, chowdah, chips and a bib ($64.95) with you.DETWILER’S FARM MARKET2881 Clark Road, Sarasota; 6100 N. Lockwood Ridge Road., Sarasota; 6000 Palmer Blvd., Sarasota; 1800 U.S. 301, Palmetto; 1250 U.S. 41 BYP, Venice; 941-378-2727, Detwiler þ­ M arket.com When I was starting my new job in Sarasota, I noticed my mentor’s Boston accent within moments of meeting her. I noticed myself becoming distracted in my training session. I just wanted to ask her where to get a more than decent lobster roll. Where she sent me to “pahk the cah” sur prised me in the best of ways. How We Roll:The colossal chunks of lovely lobster salad nestle within a traditional New England roll for an unbeatable, unbelievable price of $15.99. The surplus of shellfish in this cold-rendition roll is just as generous as it is delicious. You Butter Believe It: While you’re at the sub shop, be sure to order a lobster bisque (12 oz. for $4.99 and 16 oz. for $5.99) or clam chowder for the same price. We can also head to the seriously splendid seafood counter and continue our lobster explorations in three more delicious ways — lobster-stuffed flounder, lobsterstuffed mushrooms and lobster cakes are available for purchase too.KELLY’S ROAST BEEF5407 University Parkway, Bradenton; 941-263-1911; KellysRoastBeef.com Did you know that this chain has been in business since 1951? Kelly’s has come a long way from Revere Beach in Boston to the Gulf Shores of Bradenton but still holds true to its New England roots by serving up seafood that will have you salivating. How We Roll: We’re rolling with the succulent North Atlantic lobster mixed with the correct volume of celery and accurate amount of may onnaise. This lobster roll ($24.95 and up) is served with an overwhelming selection of fantastic sides, including French fries, onion rings and a side of Kelly’s own tangy tartar sauce. You Butter Believe It:Let’s take a short break from the lobster lifestyle and snack on the clam or scallop roll ($25.95 each) and treat ourselves to some cheese fries ($5.95) because we can. The seasoned fries are topped with melted cheddar cheese sauce with real bacon.RIVERHOUSE WATERFRONT RESTAURANT995 Riverside Drive, Palmetto; 941729-0616; RiverhouseFL.com Yes, there are three options for waterfront dining with a mouthwatering lobster roll moments away from my front door. I’m ab-shelllutely ready for this last stop on the lobster tour. How We Roll:Order up a New England-style lobster roll (market price). It’s offered at both the Reef & Grill, the ground level with indoor and outdoor dining, as well as on the Second Floor. Chopped cold-water lobster, mayo, celery and onion are all positioned perfectly on a New England style roll. You Butter Believe It:Maddie, I have three words to end here — lobster pot pie ($18). Three more? I love you. I can’t wait to bite into the blend of lobster, whitefish, shallots and more tucked under a baked puff pastry with you. Or we could get a big lump of lobster and a big lump of knobs. The lobster corn chowder ($18) is defined as a house favorite. EATING WITH EMMAThe Giant Connecticut roll ($34.99) from Lobster Pound tastes like home. Riverhouse in Palmetto knows how to roll. Detwiler’s is a fan favorite of a Boston transplant.Get crackin’ on the best local lobster rollsIn honor of my lobsterloving sister, here are some local dishes that remind me of home sweet home.The Maine Line Food Truck goes big or goes home. Kelly’s brings the Northeastern way of things to Sarasota.Photos by Emma Jolly

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 13 3709 N. Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota Monday Saturday 9 AM 6 PM, Sunday Noon 5 PM Presidents' Day Heirloom-quality solid w ood f urniture custo m built by Amish woodw orkers YEARS YEARS Save Up To 20%July 4th Storewide SaleJune 29-July 4 3709 N. Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota Monday Saturday 9 AM 6 PM, Sunday Noon 5 PM Presidents' Day Heirloom-quality solid w ood f urniture custo m built by Amish woodw orkers YEARS YEARS Save Up To 20%July 4th Storewide SaleJune 29-July 4 405334-1 61 N. Pineapple Ave 389759-1 THURSDAYSUMMER CIRCUS SPECTACULAR 2 p.m. at Historic Asolo Theater, 5401 Bay Shore Road $15-20 Visit CircusArts.org. Circus fans of all ages can experience the best of the circus arts at aordable prices thanks to the ongoing partnership of The Circus Arts Academy and The Ringling. Master of Ceremonies Heidi Herriott, a third-generation American circus artist, presides over performances by hand balancers, clowns, jugglers and aerial rope artists, to name just a few genres. Runs through Aug. 12. ‘THAT MUST BE THE ENTRANCE TO HEAVEN’ 7:30 p.m. at Urbanite Theatre, 1487 Second St. $39 Visit UrbaniteTheatre.com. In this world premiere by Franky D. Gonzalez, four Latino boxers all chase a world title to achieve their personal versions of heaven. But are the sacrices required to win the championship belt worth it? Runs through July 9. ‘SHEAR MADNESS’ 8 p.m. at FST’s Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St. $25 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org. There’s been a murder in a local hair salon, and it’s up to Sarasota audiences to outwit the suspects and catch the killer in this interactive comedy whodunit. Runs through July 16. ‘BLACK PEARL SINGS!’ Florida Studio Theatre 8 p.m. at FST’s Keating Theatre, 1265 First St. From $25 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org. “Black Pearl Sings” tells the story of an unlikely friendship forged during the Depression between Susannah, a Library of Congress musicologist who wants to record undocumented slave-era music, and an African American prisoner, Pearl, who has the knowledge and memories that Susannah needs for her project. Runs through July 30.FRIDAYDISNEY’S ‘FROZEN’ KIDS SHOW 7 p.m. at Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Ave. W., Bradenton $11.50-$20 Visit ManateePerformingArtsCenter. com. Beat the heat with this stage adaptation of the popular Disney lm “Frozen,” featuring favorite songs from the lm such as “Love is an Open Door,” “Do You Want to Build a Snowman” and “Let It Go.” This For KIDS By KIDS Production also includes new songs from the Broadway production. ‘FINDING NEMO JR.’ 7 p.m. at The Players Centre, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail $17 Visit ThePlayers.org. þ  This s tage adaptation of the popular Pixar lm “Finding Nemo” features new music by Kristen Andersen. What’s more, it’s only 60 minutes long, so it’s perfect for kids who get dgety during long shows. Runs through July 2.WEDNESDAYSTEVE WHITE 7 p.m. at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre $25 Visit McCurdysComedy.com. Steve White got his rst break from hometown buddy Eddie Murphy when he was cast in “Coming to America.” White has also been a mainstay of Spike Lee lms, with roles in “Do the Right Thing,” “Clockers” and “Malcolm X,” to name a few. Runs through July 9. THIS WEEK OUR PICKFST IMPROV PRESENTS ‘FREE DOM!’ Feeling patriotic and looking for a laugh? FST Improv promises “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Laughter” in this one-night-only performance that reveals the secret history of the American Revolution. IF YOU GO When: 7 p.m. Saturday, July 1 Where: FST’s Bowne’s Lab, 1265 First St. Tickets: $15 Info: Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org. DON’T MISSTHE SURFER BOYS From the group that brought you The Jersey Tenors comes a rousing tribute to the band that took America on a “Surn’ Safari” in the early 1960s. Four Broadway veterans bring The Beach Boys’ biggest hits to life with classics like “California Girls,” “Good Vibrations,” “Barbara Ann” þ  and man y more. Runs through Aug. 13. IF YOU GO When: June 29, Runs through Aug. 13. Where: FST’s Goldstein Cabaret, 1265 First St. Tickets: $18 Info: FloridaStudioTheatre.org.Courtesy photosThe Surfer Boys brings the songs of the Beach Boys to the Sarasota stage at FST’s Goldstein Cabaret through Aug. 13. FST’s Independence Day improv show “Freedom!” will appear at the Bowne Theatre on Saturday, July 1. Third-generation circus artist Heidi Herriott is the master of ceremonies at the Summer Circus Spectacular, which runs through Aug. 12 at Historic Asolo Theater.

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rfntbttftrfntbttfbbnbnbbnnbnntntttfttbntbtf rf ntrbnbf rfr fr rfrntbnfn t tbn tt 401638-1 YOUR NEIGHBORSJUNE 29, 2023 Classieds 25 Games 24 Real Estate 19 Sports 21 Weather 24IAN SWABY STAFF WRITERDavid Crawford said he was thrilled to be named as a finalist for the Community Impact Award and be among the “amazing” organizations honored at the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Frank G. Berlin Sr. 2023 Small Business Awards. As the owner of Catalist Realty, a brokerage firm built on a model of offering 15% of all commissions to a charity of the homebuyer’s choice, he said his company’s mission was made possible through Sarasota’s philanthropic community. That community, he said, was on display with the awards, which were presented during a luncheon on June 23 at the Hyatt Regency and included honorees such as Rise & Nye’s and All Faiths Food Bank, organizations to which Catalist Realty had previously donated. He added that a “thriving” chamber of commerce was also important to help local businesses. “This event today is hands down a favorite event that we do every year,” said Sarasota Chamber CEO and President Heather Kasten, citing the organization’s mission of supporting businesses in a competitive market, helping them grow and creating an attractive business climate. Ed Hill, vice president of the chamber, said he could speak for the value of the awards, having originally experienced them while representing the Venice telecommunications company Lightspeed Voice. “The additional exposure this event gives businesses — you cannot put a price on it,” he said. RISE & NYE’SA downtown coffee shop, Rise & Nye’s, won the Community Impact Award, thanks to its unique mission. Of the 35 people who currently work at Rise & Nye’s, most never had a job before they began working at the coffee and ice cream shop at 1534 State St., said owner Beaver Shriver. Since its founding two years ago, the shop’s purpose has been to provide jobs for people with developmental disabilities and to serve as a two-way street between staff and customers, said Shriver. While the staff receive a job, a pay check, a share of the tips and a chance to show their talents, customers also benefit by having the chance to meet people with disabilities. “Here they are, making your cof fee, making your beignets, smiling, sitting down with you. It’s just been an honor to be able to create the space for these people,” Shriver said. “They want to have jobs; they want to have boyfriends and girlfriends; they want to get their own house and live on their own — they just want to do all the same things that all of us do.” Shriver said the shop helps right the fact that an inclusive environment was often denied to such people in the past. “We’ve neglected these people, marginalized them, institutionalized them, forgotten them for way too long, and it’s just high time we give them a chance to shine,” he said. He noted that while the bakery’s mission appears to be hitting home, it also offers quality products, hav ing been voted best coffee shop two years in a row through a Sarasota Magazine reader poll. “It’s been great to see recognition and appreciation of what we’re doing,” he said of the Community Impact Award.STAGE DOOR STUDIOSStudents from across the 16 years that Stage Door Studios has been in operation have returned there with stories of the impact dance had on their lives, said owner Jill Athridge, whose company won the WomanOwned Business Award. Although Athridge knows a thing or two about running a business, bringing experience from the New York restaurant scene, she said the studio, which she described as the largest in the Sarasota and Manatee County area, is about more than turning a profit. “What I do is not about making great dancers,” she said. “It’s about making great kids.” Among the skills the kids learn are time management, body awareness, and being able to perform and be confident in front of an audience, she said. The studio also works closely with schools, having served as a business partner of multiple schools since its founding. When she established the studio in 2007, Athridge was working at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse on weekends to pay her bills and purchase props, and there were 40 kids participating. That number has since risen to 750, but it isn’t just the efforts of one woman that have made the business a success. “I have an incredible staff of women that support me and that continue to move our mission forward,” she said. “It is hard being a woman, where most people don’t always take what we do seriously. It is a really great honor to be up for that.” Yet she said it was important for the students as well, who are mostly girls. “Having this award shows them that their dreams are important to us,” she said.HERRERA PSYCHOLOGYThe winner of the Minority Business Award, Herrera Psychology has grown considerably since its 2016 founding. When Dr. Stacie Herrera started the practice, she intended to serve as its sole proprietor, but she found such an overwhelming demand for its youth-oriented ser vices that she sought out more staff. “I’ve been so thankful to find values aligned, passionate individuals who have a diversity of background, and thought, and expertise, who are now able to work with youth,” she said. The practice offers individual therapy and group therapy focused on helping children and teens, as well as evaluations for learning disabilities, autism, ADHD, and any type of anxiety or depression that may affect a student’s ability to perform. Herrera said as she worked to establish the practice, she saw that the reality of running a business did not align with the definition of “freedom” typically associated with the idea, but amid her hard work, she was able to assemble a “very strong team.” She called the group’s psychologists excellent collaborators, adept at having raw and honest conversations that result in everyone feeling seen, heard and valued. “I think what makes us exceptional is that we are all about being part of each family’s village,” Herrera said. She said the practice not only works with families, but ensures they are connected throughout the community. An important part of that mission is innovation. For instance, this summer, Herrera Psychology is providing skill-building workshops to help kids learn to manage the emotions “that come with being a human.” 2023 SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS FINALISTSLARGE BUSINESS AWARD First Watch Restaurants, Inc. (Winner) Dutchman Hospitality Group FCCI Insurance Group MEDIUM BUSINESS AWARD Florida Elevator, Inc. (Winner) DMSI JMX Brands SMALL BUSINESS AWARD One Stop Housing LLC (Winner) Express Employment Professionals Wealth Strategies Partners COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD Rise & Nye’s (Winner) All Faiths Food Bank Catalist Realty LLC MINORITY BUSINESS AWARD Herrera Psychology (Winner) Aginto | A Digital Agency Jah Movement NONPROFIT AWARD Education Foundation of Sarasota County Inc. (Winner) Humane Society of Sarasota County Sarasota Ballet of Florida Inc. RISING STAR AWARD Town Square Sarasota (Winner) Castle Concierge The Breakfast Company WOMANOWNED BUSINESS AWARD Stage Door Studios Inc. (Winner) BSWANKY MakSchu LLC WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION AWARD PGT Innovations (Winner) Children First Sarasota Memorial Health Care SystemThe Sarasota Chamber of Commerce awards highlighted area businesses that are positioned for continued success and have provided opportunities for the community.A business community that cares Ian SwabyPGT Innovations sta Rob Moulds, Debbie LaPinska, Lakewood Ranch Medical Center Chief Operating Ocer Diego Perilla, and PGT Innovations sta Je Jackson, Don Vichitvongsa and Stephanie Cz“I’ve been so thankful to nd values aligned, passionate individuals who have a diversity of background, and thought, and expertise, who are now able to work with youth.”— Dr. Stacie Herrera, winner of the Minority Business Award

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 15 LA BELLASARA $3,699,000464 GOLDEN GATE PT., #503 3BR/4.5BA | 3,490 SF FAIRWAY BAY $934,0001930 HARBOURSIDE DR. #141 2BR/2BA | 1,442 SF WATER CLUB I $3,495,0001241 GULF OF MEXICO DR., #704 3BR/4BA | 3,045 SF VISTA BAY POINT NEW PRICE $3,299,000128 GOLDEN GATE PT. #1002A | 3BR+DEN/3BA | 3,477 SF PENTHOUSE WITH PRIVATE ROOF TOP TERRACESARA SANDS $2,290,0005182 SANDY BEACH AVE. | 3BR+STUDY/4.5BA | 3,398 SF 116’ OF WATERFRONT | WATERCRAFT STORAGE W/ UPLAND CUT SIESTA COVE $3,495,0005212 SIESTA COVE DR. | 5BR/6BA/2HB | 5,133 SF | ON 1.5 WATERFRONT LOTS 120’ OF NEW DOCK | 1,000’ OF SCREENED AND OPEN DECK AREASIESTA KEY | THE SEA BREEZE $2,900,0009008 MIDNIGHT PASS RD., #5 | 3BR/3.5 BA | 3,700 SF PRIVATE 2-CAR GARAGE & ROOF TOP TERRACE | DEEDED BOAT DOCK CONFUSED ABOUT NEW CONSTRUCTION OPTIONS? DEMYSTIFY THE EXPERIENCE CALL THE ACKERMAN GROUP! 941-387-1820 PENDING PENDING PENDING PENDING PENDING PENDING AVAILABLE PROPERTIES 595 BAY ISLES RD., SUITE 250 | LONGBOAT KEY, FL 34228 • 443 JOHN RINGLING BLVD., STE., F | SARASOTA, FL 34236 941.387.1820 www.ackermansrq.comTOP PRODUCING SMALL TEAM IN SARASOTA COUNTY RYAN ACKERMAN ryan@ackermangroup.net BARBARA ACKERMAN barbara@ackermangroup.net THE ACKERMAN GROUP LIDO REGENCY $549,0001700 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN DR.#5F, SARASOTA1BR/1.5BA • 981 SF • Bay and city views LA BELLASARA $4,289,000 464 GOLDEN GATE PT., #503 , SARASOTA, FL3BR/4.5 BA • 3,490 SF • 2-Car Garage COREY’S LANDING $1,899,0003414 FAIR OAKS LANE, LONGBOAT KEY SIESTA COVE $4,250,0005212 SIESTA COVE DRIVE, SARASOTA 10,000 lb. LA BELLASARA $3.395,000464 GOLDEN GATE PT., #202, SARASOTA CONFUSED ABOUT NEW CONSTRUCTION OPTIONS?DEMYSTIFY THE EXPERIENCE — CALL THE ACKERMAN GROUP! 941-387-1820PRE-CONSTRUCTION ONE PARK SARASOTA Completion : Fall 2026 THE EVOLUTION Completion : Fall 2023 THE EDGE Completion PENINSULA SARASOTA Completion THE DEMARCAY Completion :: Fall 2023 688 GOLDEN GATE PT Completion : TBD THE COLLECTION 1355 2nd Street Completion : Winter 2023 EN POINTE Completion : Winter 2024 ZAHRADA 2 1546 4th Street Completion : Fall 2025 ROSEWOOD RESIDENCES Completion : Fall 2026 VILLA BALLADA Completion :: Fall 2025 NOW PENDING NOW PENDING AQUARIUS CLUB $1,260,0001701 GULF OF MEXICO DR. #207, LONGBOAT KEY NOW PENDING NOW PENDING NOW PENDING NOW PENDING NOW PENDING NOW PENDING NEW LISTING NEW LISTING NEW LISTING NEW LISTINGWATER CLUB I $3,495,0001241 GULF OF MEXICO DR., #704, LONGBOAT KEY, FL 3BR/4BA • 3,045 SF terraces.THE SEA BREEZE $3,199,0009008 MIDNIGHT PASS RD., #5 SARASOTA, FL SOTA 1703 Main Street Completion : S 2025 595 BAY ISLES RD., SUITE 250 | LONGBOAT KEY, FL 34228 • 443 JOHN RINGLING BLVD., STE., F | SARASOTA, FL 34236 941.387.1820 www.ackermansrq.comTOP PRODUCING SMALL TEAM IN SARASOTA COUNTY RYAN ACKERMAN ryan@ackermangroup.net BARBARA ACKERMAN barbara@ackermangroup.netTHE ACKERMAN GROUP LIDO REGENCY $549,0001700 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN DR.#5F, SARASOTA1BR/1.5BA • 981 SF • Bay and city views LA BELLASARA $4,289,000 464 GOLDEN GATE PT., #503 , SARASOTA, FL3BR/4.5 BA • 3,490 SF • 2-Car Garage COREY’S LANDING $1,899,0003414 FAIR OAKS LANE, LONGBOAT KEY SIESTA COVE $4,250,0005212 SIESTA COVE DRIVE, SARASOTA 10,000 lb. LA BELLASARA $3.395,000464 GOLDEN GATE PT., #202, SARASOTA CONFUSED ABOUT NEW CONSTRUCTION OPTIONS?DEMYSTIFY THE EXPERIENCE — CALL THE ACKERMAN GROUP! 941-387-1820PRE-CONSTRUCTION ONE PARK SARASOTA Completion : Fall 2026 THE EVOLUTION Completion : Fall 2023 THE EDGE Completion PENINSULA SARASOTA Completion THE DEMARCAY Completion :: Fall 2023 688 GOLDEN GATE PT Completion : TBD THE COLLECTION 1355 2nd Street Completion : Winter 2023 EN POINTE Completion : Winter 2024 ZAHRADA 2 1546 4th Street Completion : Fall 2025 ROSEWOOD RESIDENCES Completion : Fall 2026 VILLA BALLADA Completion :: Fall 2025 NOW PENDING NOW PENDINGAQUARIUS CLUB $1,260,0001701 GULF OF MEXICO DR. #207, LONGBOAT KEY NOW PENDING NOW PENDING NOW PENDING NOW PENDING NOW PENDING NOW PENDING NEW LISTING NEW LISTING NEW LISTING NEW LISTINGWATER CLUB I $3,495,0001241 GULF OF MEXICO DR., #704, LONGBOAT KEY, FL 3BR/4BA • 3,045 SF terraces.THE SEA BREEZE $3,199,0009008 MIDNIGHT PASS RD., #5 SARASOTA, FL SOTA 1703 Main Street Completion : S 2025 595 BAY ISLES RD., SUITE 250 | LONGBOA T KEY, FL 34228 • 443 JOHN RINGLING BLVD., STE. F | SARASOTA, FL 34236 LA BELLASARA DOWNTOWN $3,995,000464 GOLDEN GATE PT., #503, SARASOTA, FL 3BR/4.5 BA • 3,490 SF • 2-Car Garage SIESTA COVESIESTA KEY $3,987,0005212 SIESTA COVE DRIVE, SARASOTA WATER CLUB I LONGBOAT KEY $3,495,0001241 GULF OF MEXICO DR., #704, LONGBOAT KEY, FL 3BR/4BA • 3,045 SF THE SEA BREEZE SIESTA KEY NEW MOTIVATED PRICE $2,900,0009008 MIDNIGHT PASS RD., #5, SARASOTA, FL SORRENTO SHORES MAINLAND $949,000449 S. SHORE DRIVE, OSPREY NEW PRICE NEW PRICESTANDING UNITED WITH UKRAINE941.387.1820 www.ackermansrq.com RYAN ACKERMAN ryan@ackermangroup.net BARBARA ACKERMAN barbara@ackermangroup.netAVAILABLE PROPERTIESCRYSTAL SANDS SIESTA KEY6300 MIDNIGHT PASS RD., #101, SARASOTA, FL • 2BR/2BA • 1,240 SF • $1,395,000 NEW LISTING NEW LISTING NEW PRICE NEW PRICE 404544-1 NEW PRICE REDUCTION

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16 SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 rfnt rnb n bn$5,000r 5650 Gantt Rd, • Sarasota, FL 34233(One block north of Clark Road) 941-413-7997 • DiscoverSaraBella.com ALF License #13578 rf nftrnnnnrbrfrfnnbnrtr Transitioning to a senior living apartment can be overwhelming. From coordinating a move, to selling a home and even unpacking!MEMORY CARE INDEPENDENT LIVING ASSISTED LIVINGttrnrrtbtrn 5650 Gantt Rd, • Sarasota, FL 34233(One block north of Clark Road) 941-413-7997 • DiscoverSaraBella.com ALF License #13578 rf nftrnnnnrbrfrfnnbnrtr Transitioning to a senior living apartment can be overwhelming. From coordinating a move, to selling a home and even unpacking!MEMORY CARE INDEPENDENT LIVING ASSISTED LIVINGttrnrrtbtrn 5650 Gantt Rd, • Sarasota, FL 34233(One block north of Clark Road) 941-413-7997 • DiscoverSaraBella.com ALF License #13578 rf nftrnnnnrbrfrfnnbnrtr Transitioning to a senior living apartment can be overwhelming. From coordinating a move, to selling a home and even unpacking! MEMORY CARE INDEPENDENT LIVING ASSISTED LIVINGttrnrrtbtrn 5650 Gantt Rd, • Sarasota, FL 34233(One block north of Clark Road) 941-413-7997 • DiscoverSaraBella.com ALF License #13578 rf nftrnnnnrbrfrfnnbnrtr Transitioning to a senior living apartment can be overwhelming. From coordinating a move, to selling a home and even unpacking!MEMORY CARE INDEPENDENT LIVING ASSISTED LIVINGttrnrrtbtrn 402891-1 FRESHEN UP YOUR SPACEQuick Response & • INTERIOR & EXTERIOR • DRYWALL REPAIR • STUCCO REPAIR • EPOXY FLOORING • POWERWASHING • TEXTURINGFor Your Free Quote & call us Today! 401152-1RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL rf rfrntbnrnrfr tt f trtr frrtfrtt rf frfrt frftff tr941 263-0397 ‘rt’fftrf’“”””•rtrttfb•t 402577-1 IAN SWABY STAFF WRITERAfter the O’Keefe family started boating in 2009, they found a love for the pastime, and let down an anchor in the boating community. Yet while the six boats the Lakewood Ranch family owned increased in size, so did the maintenance needs. John O’Keefe decided to bring his background in software to the issue, leading the creation of the app called YachtWave, which made its debut at the Suncoast Boat Show held April 21-23. The app is available foriOS and Android or online. “I can’t think of a better place (than Sarasota) to have built and launched an app,” he said. “Maybe Fort Lauderdale would be its rival, but Sarasota, which is a major hub for boating on the west coast of Florida, was the perfect place. It’s like the stars coming into alignment that I’m able to launch it here.” While he said the online version of the app is complete, the next major step is the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show from Oct. 26-30, which will showcase a full-featured release of the mobile app.AT THE HELMOriginally, O’Keefe used a spreadsheet to record his boat’s maintenance, inventory and identification information. Mega-yachts, which are boats over 90 feet in size with a crew and a captain, use software to track their maintenance, he said, but that software costs thousands of dollars per year. But smaller boats have the same needs as larger ones, he said. “When people ask us about the boating lifestyle, my wife (Debbie) and I tell people, you have to love it. It’s not only the cost of it; the amount of work that it takes to manage it is tremendous, and if you’re not loving it, then it’s not worth it.” As O’Keefe searched the apps available, he found them to be fragmented. He was looking for a service that was professional and definitive, something that would bring together the features the average boater would need in one place. Since the launch of YachtWave, he said, the feedback has been promising. “We’ve had a really, really good response, both from individual boaters, as well as businesses in the boating industry,” he said. Unlike similar apps, the app is cur rently free to download. “What I want for this app is adoption,” he said. “What I want is to get people to use it, provide good feedback, and make it the best boating app out there.” YachtWave is far from O’Keefe’s first venture in the realm of software. Having earned a degree in engineering, in the early days of the internet he started a software company, Fine Point Technologies, which provided support automation for dial-up internet service providers, to help users connect to the internet and solve issues. In 2005, he started a technol ogy company called ITelagen, which provided IT services to the health care industry; he ran it for the past 15 years. As he moved upwards in his career, he found that software development began to be performed by employees who worked under him. In his semiretirement, he was glad to merge his passion for software with his boating industry knowledge. His boating qualifications are significant, as he boasts a 100-Ton Master Captain’s License from the U.S. Coast Guard, which certifies him to operate as a charter boat captain, although he does not use the license professionally.A MULTIFACETED APP FOR A COMPLEX PASTIME þ  O’Keefe said the app brings together maintenance, inventory and more, with additional features planned for the future to fully meet the needs of boaters. Maintenance required on boats include two engines and a generator which all have individual maintenance schedules. Also, users must stay on top of components’ maintenance before they break. In the family’s boat recently, he said, an exhaust fan broke, which would have caused a lack of air flow to the engine. Once on the way back from the Florida Keys, a fuel filter became clogged, but the family kept the boat moving by using a spare on board. Stored in the O’Keefes’ boat are thousands of dollars of spare parts — propellers, impellers, filters and more. The app helps users keep track of how many parts they need and cur rently have, which John O’Keefe said is important in times of supply shortages, when inventories are slow to be replenished. There are also receipts to be tracked, another need the app will address. “If you don’t have that informa tion and proof of maintenance, it becomes very, very difficult to sell the boat later,” he said. He also has some more ambitious ideas planned for implementation prior to the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show taking place from Oct. 26-30. Since the Suncoast Boat Show, the app has acquired just over 1,000 signups, he said. When that number reaches 6,000 or 7,000, he said, the app can incorporate additional features, including some currently available online. The mobile app will gain a feature of the online app, which is the ability to fill out a logbook automatically using the start and end points of a journey. This capability, he said, incorporates data on weather, including conditions and temperature, and will prevent users from having to go through the “mundane” and “arcane” process of filling out the data manually. O’Keefe plans to add tracking capabilities, which can display the boat’s location. He also believes artificial intelligence can be an asset to the app, after seeing its ability to automate the creation of 100 characters of code at a time during the app’s creation. “I strongly believe there’s applications for AI in every industry, and I’m convinced there’s going to be good applications for it to help boat owners,” he said. “When you buy a boat, you could spend seven figures on it, and there’s really no tech support line to call for it.” Even though the app may already be released, he’s still looking forward to this definitive version. “I’m excited about it,” he said. “It’s getting back to something I enjoy doing, in a leisure industry that I really enjoy as part of my personal life.”The YachtWave app is intended to be a ‘one-stop shop’ for all needs related to boat care, maintenance and use.Keeping it shipshape ABOUT THE APPFor info, visit YachtWave.com. Features: Quick & easy login, boat details, share with others, engines info, assignable tasks, inventory, maintenance logs, checklists, cruise logs, notes, oine access, data privacy and security. Available on: iOS, Android, and web Courtesy photoJohn O’Keefe, brand ambassador Julianne Gentile and Debbie O’Keefe

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 17 Electrical Water Treatment SEE HOW MUCH MORE YOU CAN SAVE! The Home Service Pros Who Care LIC # CAC1816020 • PLBG CFC1428223 • ELEC EC13009313 $100 OFF COMPLETE INSTALLATIONof Phyn Plus Smart Water Assistant Saves on Homeowners Insurance Policies FREE WATER ANALYSIS $100 Credit 941.866.6210CALL NOW! 404533-1 The Area’s most Trusted Name since 1974 or visit www.AquaPlumbingSarasota.com 404244-1 rfnntb rfnfftbrrnnr nn rtnffnfrffn ffnn nffrnrnfrrn fnf rnfff nffnnnfrffbrfn nnnrr nnffnrffnnn nfffbr nfnffnfbn rffnnffrnf r rfntbn nfrb 404206-1 rfntb bb rfntr fbtnrfffr fntf bnr brfrrnf bffrnr rfnrt IAN SWABY STAFF WRITERCarolyn Angiolillo knew she wanted a career in the out doors from the time she was attending St. John’s Univer sity in Queens, New York City. Through summer jobs, she quickly found that desk work wasn’t her talent, especially when a job as a receptionist didn’t last as long as she’d planned. “I got fired because I didn’t know how to answer the phone correctly,” she said. After graduating, it was difficult to find jobs in her field of environmental science, but then her professors at St. Johns University suggested an opportunity — a ranger for Prospect Park in Brooklyn. The city was establishing a new program, based on the model of the National Park Service, intended to improve the quality of the city’s parks. “When that job came up, I said, ‘This would be perfect.’” Angiolillo would go on to serve in high-ranking roles with the ranger program, overseeing city parks, including Central Park. At the time, the city was bouncing back from the fiscal crisis of 1975 and Mayor Ed Koch was pursuing a revitalization of the park system, founding the Central Park Conservancy in 1978. Infrastructure was deteriorating, said Angiolillo, crime was frequent and many people avoided Central Park entirely. The Dairy Visitor Center and Gift Shop was closed, Belvedere Castle had been vandalized and the Sheep Meadow and Great Lawn were sand lots. “Even though there were garbage cans, people littered on the ground,” she said. Starting her career in 1979 at Prospect Park, she underwent three weeks of training, learning interpretive and tour skills, crowd control and conflict resolution. Soon equipped with a familiar uniform that included a Smokey Bear hat, a gray shirt and green pants, she set to work, which included patrolling and teaching guests not to throw charcoal from a grill onto the grass or dump car oil into the lake. Her success developing educational curriculums centered on the parks and later expanded the ranger program into low-income neighbor hoods, sent her climbing the ladder with the urban park ranger program. In 1981, she was appointed deputy director and in 1983, she became director of the Manhattan and Queens boroughs. Her work in the latter role involved overseeing the supervisors of the park rangers and performing field work like crowd control. Over time, she said, the effects of the ranger program became evident in the city’s parks. “We went from having no one in the park to having tens of thousands of people in the park, riding their bikes and jogging.” Although Central Park became a peaceful and tranquil environment, with buildings restored and lawns reinstalled, the responsibilities weren’t always pleasant, she said. Often, she’d discover a crying child without parents in sight. Her days might end at the police station alongside as many as 10 lost children. “A lot of people would be having such a great time that they would lose track of their kids during the day,” she said. Angiolillo supervised park events, getting the chance to see musicians such as Elton John, Simon and Garfunkel and Diana Ross perform. Although Angiolillo since came to live in Longboat Key before moving to The Meadows in Sarasota in April, she sees a different Central Park from the one she once knew in New York City today. Litter can scarcely be found, she said, while joggers hold onto their plastic bottles to take them to the nearest recycling center. “As we worked year after year, and you saw the difference, you really appreciated the impact you had,” she said.Sarasota resident Carolyn Angiolillo served as an urban park ranger in New York’s Central Park.On patrol in America’s favorite park CAREER TIMELINENEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF PARKS & RECREATION 1979: Urban park ranger 1980: Program assistant (responsible for building programs) 1981: Deputy director of all ve boroughs (The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island) 1983: Borough director of Manhattan and Queens 1986: Acting director of park ranger program 1986: Trainer of supervisors NEW YORKERS FOR PARKS (Now known as The Parks Council) 1988: Director of Urban Conservation Corps. WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY IN NEW YORK 1994: Manager of guest services FLORIDA 2007: Development assistant, Pines of Sarasota Foundation 2008: Recreation manager, Manatee County Parks & Recreation 2014: Development assistant, United Way of the Suncoast Courtesy photoCarolyn Angiolillo, left, in her park ranger gearIan SwabyCarolyn Angiolillo

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18 SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 r fnrtb rn b btbt r rfnrt r bb tt rfnrt b bbtt r fnrt rr‘rr b btbbt br rfnrt rr‘rrr’ b tbbbt rfnrtb rr b tt bbrr rfnrtb ’r b btt rfnrtb bbb tt ’nr bb btt “r rfnrtb ”’ bb tt b• rfnrt ”r bb tt r” rnrt r bbb tt r bbb btt r fnrtb “t‘t”” bb btt rfnrt bbb btt nrr rnrt nr” b btbt ’r rfnrt n b tt rnrtb ’nr bb btt r nrt ”’ bb tbt rnrt ”r bb tt nr” rfnrt ”–n‘ b tbt nrrb rnrt rr b tt nrr rnrt bbb btt nrr r nrt n bbb tbbt rnrt ’nr b btbt r rnrt bbb btbt r rnrtb tt — rnrt —n” bb tbbtb r 401885-1

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 19 rf ntbtb rffrnntbbtbbr r rfrffrnntbbtbbrf fntfbftf fffftb ftfb t tft ff Licensed Real Estate Broker Prices as of December 2022 401837-1 CITY OF SARASOTAAddress þ P ermit þ Applic ant þ Amount 28 77 Oak St. þ R enovations þ Jon Clark þ $86 ,000 1545 Hillview Drive þ R esurface Pool þ R obert Caldwell þ $84 ,000 2533 Davis Blvd. þ P ool/Deck þ W illiam Cromie þ $ 72,000 1845 Goldenrod St. þ S olar System þ D onald McGraw þ $6 5,324 800 N. Tamiami Trail #1012 þ R enovations þ Maria W ynne þ $60 ,000 3144 Irving St. þ R emodel þ Llo yd Nolt þ $44 ,000 2441 Walker Circle þ R e-roof þ Henr y Jackson þ $42,984 431 S . Lime Ave. þ R e-roof þ Mark F aust þ $18 ,625 3810 Flamingo Ave. þ Gener ator þ K evin Hanna þ $18 ,000 2114 Datura St. þ P ool Cage þ S andra King, trustee þ $1 7,200 SARASOTA COUNTYAddress þ P ermit þ Applicant þ Amount 7 339 Periwinkle Drive þ A ddition/Ren. þ Jas on Flatch, trustee þ $4 73,700 4822 Ocean Blvd. #9D þ R emodel þ W illiam Everly þ $156 ,400 8025 Midnight Pass Road þ R e-roof þ Andr ew Chaikovsky þ $91, 800 2287 Bayshore Road þ W indows/Doors þ John L arocca þ $91, 055 4018 Westbourne Circle þ P ool þ Armen Khrimian þ $90 ,000 2881 Grand Cayman St. þ S olar System þ C onnie Hinshaw þ $86 ,158 323 Yacht Harbor Drive þ R e-roof þ John Blut enthal þ $80 ,000 5400 Ocean Blvd. #14 þ Alt erations þ K urt Wright þ $6 5,000 1713 Sandalwood Drive þ R e-roof þ K urt Spieske þ $6 3,840 These are the largest city of Sarasota and Sarasota County building permits issued for the week of June 12-16, in order of dollar amounts.Paradise Shores home tops sales at $5.95MRESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS JUNE 12-16SARASOTASAN REMO ESTATESJames Neis, of Dunedin, sold his home at 1410 Siesta Drive to Adnan Dedic, of Sarasota, for $3.2 million. Built in 1979, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 4,119 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.05 million in 2017.THE LANDINGSRichard and Kathryn Stern sold their home at 4816 Peregrine Point Circle W. to Randy and Melinda Powell, of Sarasota, for $2,569,000. Built in 1991, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,698 square feet of living area.OYSTER BAY ESTATESPeter Scanlan, of Sarasota, sold his home at 4409 Camino Real to Michelle Witzer, trustee, of Sarasota, for $2.37 million. Built in 1968, it has three bedrooms, three-and-ahalf baths, a pool and 4,336 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.2 million in 2015.SUNSET ROYALERobert Morris, of Oceanside, New York, sold his Unit 416 condominium at 711 Beach Road to Maria Bogdanova, of Warminster, Pennsylvania, for $1.25 million. Built in 1969, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,248 square feet of living area. It sold for $45,000 in 1973.1350 MAIN RESIDENTIALArthur and Christine Friedman, of Sarasota, sold their Unit 1401 condominium to William Jeffries and Amy Jeffries, trustees, of Centreville, Virginia, for $1,075,000. Built in 2007, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,364 square feet of living area. It sold for $810,000 in 2021.BAY PLAZAChristian Panin, trustee, sold the Unit 206 condominium at 1255 N. Gulfstream Ave. to Robert and Billie Delaney, of Sarasota, for $989,000. Built in 1982, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,654 square feet of living area. It sold for $890,000 in 2021.SARASOTA BAY CLUBSarasota Bay Club LLC sold the Unit 506 condominium at 1301 Tamiami Trail to Diana Bacon, of Sarasota, for $950,000. Built in 2000, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,546 square feet of living area. It sold for $475,000 in 2014.HIBISCUS PARKGarrett Grace and Linda Eiko Anzai, of British Columbia, Canada, sold their home at 2526 S. East Ave. to James Ian Murrhee, of Sarasota, for $900,000. Built in 1952, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 1,846 square feet of living area. It sold for $330,000 in 2020.RIVERVIEW ESTATESJacob Aslanian, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the home at 2535 Riverview Court to David Suwinski and Jaclyn Hahn, of Sarasota, for $830,000. Built in 1982, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,554 square feet of living area. It sold for $165,600 in 1992.THE LANDINGS TREEHOUSEKenneth Cole III and Anne Ireland, of Sarasota, sold their Unit 2 condominium at 1363 Landings Drive to Peter Brayton Scanlan, of Sarasota, for $809,000. Built in 1981, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,932 square feet living area. It sold for $430,000 in 2018. Source: Sarasota County, city of Sarasota REAL ESTATE TOP BUILDING PERMITSADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITORA home in Paradise Shores tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. Randy and Melinda Powell, of Sarasota, sold their home at 2168 Sparrow Court to Richard Bendure, trustee, of Johns Creek, Georgia, for $5.95 million. Built in 2001, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 4,643 square feet of living area. FOREST LAKES COUNTRY CLUB ESTATESMargaret Sweeney, of Sarasota, sold her home at 2115 Brookhaven Drive to Samuel and Ada Ruth Blank, of Bird in Hand, Pennsylvania, for $805,000. Built in 1965, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,875 square feet of living area. It sold for $758,000 in 2022. Ian SwabyA home in Paradise Shores tops all transactions in this week’s real estate at $5.95 million. Built in 2001, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 4,643 square feet of living area. SIESTA KEY: $2.98 MILLION El PresidenteLinda and James Gammello, trustees, of Sarasota, sold the Unit 210 condominium at 6326 Midnight Pass Road to The Parking Co. for $2.98 million. Built in 1975, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,793 square feet of living area. It sold for $855,000 in 2002.PALMER RANCH: $1.25 MILLION Arbor Lakes on Palmer RanchDavid and Shaina Starr, of Orlando, sold their home at 6199 Anise Drive to Gustavo Adolfo Romualdo and Johana Romualdo, of Sarasota, for $1.25 million. Built in 2016, it has four bedrooms, three-and-ahalf baths, a pool and 4,087 square feet of living area. It sold for $633,100 in 2016.OSPREY: $825,000 Park Trace EstatesStuart and Darlene Gamble, of Sarasota, sold their home at 138 Willow Bend Way to William Hughes, of Osprey, for $825,000. Built in 2000, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,506 square of feet living area. It sold for $725,000 in 2022.NOKOMIS: $555,000 VermeerJennifer Neighbors, trustee, of Garner, North Carolina, sold the home at 1438 Vermeer Drive to Abdullatif Najib Elhabash and Priscila Farias Ronqui Elhabash, of Nokomis, for $555,000. Built in 1987, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,129 square feet of living area. It sold for $162,800 in 1993.Other top sales by area ONLINESee more transactions at YourObserver.com

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20 SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 HURRICANE HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS PREPAREDNESS Whether you need to prepare Whether you need to prepare or repair, these businesses or repair, these businesses are here to help... are here to help... 405545-1 Factory Showroom: 1847 61st St., Sarasota Near the corner of 301 & University PkwyState License C-GC151684 r f nrrtbb tb t frrrf ntb r ttr rnCALL FOR A FREE IN HOME CONSULTATION Trusted by Florida residents & businesses for over 40 years! Taking Taking Orders Orders for 2024! for 2024!Windshutters has you covered Plan now. Stay safe. We can help.batteriesplus.comBradenton6240 14th Street WestLakewood Ranch11557 SR70 ESarasota4401 Bee Ridge Rd HURRICANE SEASONIS HERE Limit 1 Expires 11.30.23 CDP11031Offer valid on in-stock products at participating Batteries Plus locations and online. Not valid with other offers or business pricing. Some exclusions may apply. No cash value. Coupon may not be reproduced. 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NO GIMMICK ZONE• Kitchen Remodeler • Bathroom Remodeler • Window Replacement2022 BEST 405739-1 Protect & Beautify Your Home With New Energy Ecient Replacement Windows YOUR CALENDARFRIDAY, JUNE 30SUNCOAST SUMMER FEST KICKOFF PARTY þ  5-9 p .m. at Joyland, 8341 Lockwood Ridge Road. $28.52 to $135.23. Begin your Fourth of July weekend with an open bar, casino-style games, music, and raes. For information and to register, visit SuncoastSummerFest.org.FRIDAY, JUNE 30 TO SUNDAY, JULY 2POWERBOAT GRAND PRIX þ  Lido K ey Beach, 400 Benjamin Franklin Drive. Free; VIP tickets $150-$350. Watch high-performance powerboat racing featuring APBA and UIM Class 1 boats and approximately 90 competitors. Purchase ocial Grand Prix merchandise at the Pit Party or Tunaskin store at 17 South Blvd. of the Presidents, St. Armands Circle. For information, visit P1Oshore.com.MONDAY, JULY 3NBP FIREWORKS ON THE LAKE 5-10 p.m. at Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle. Free; Parking $30 (Regatta Island) and $20 cars; $50 RVs (South lot); VIP tickets $75. Hosted by Lamborghini Sarasota, this year’s event includes live music by Kettle of Fish, a kids’ zone, food trucks, family friendly activities and the Publix Fireworks 5K on the Lake race, all concluding with a reworks show around 9 p.m. For information, visit NathanBendersonPark.org. RED, WHITE, AND TEQUILA POOL DAY & BUFFET 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Sarasota Modern, 1290 Boulevard of the Arts Sarasota. $45–$450. Relax with friends and family as you enjoy food and tequila, with tunes by Joey D Entertainment. For information and to register, visit Eventbrite.com.TUESDAY, JULY 4FOURTH OF JULY ALLAMERICAN COOKOUT þ  5:30-9:30 p .m. at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 1534 Mound St. Members $25; nonmembers $35; children ages 5-17 $10; children 4 and under free. Enjoy all-American favorites from Michael’s On East, Uncle Dave’s Popcorn, The Purple Belle Ice Cream Truck and Kona Ice, family friendly activities and games and the reworks in Sarasota Bay. For information, visit Selby.org. BEST BETTUESDAY, JULY 4BAYFRONT FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR þ  F ree. The area’s signature reworks display is organized by Suncoast Charities for Children in partnership with Marina Jack and produced by Pyrotecnico. According to Suncoast Charities for Children, the best viewing is from Bayfront Park at 5 Bayfront Drive. Seating can also be found at other locations downtown. For information, visit SuncoastSummerFest.org. IAN SWABY STAFF WRITERRich Iven, director of operations for Zoom Electric Ultimate Sports, said having lived in Sarasota since 2000, he has seen the amount of trash left on beaches after Fourth of July. However, he wasn’t the only business concerned about the issue; about four other local stores will participate in a planned July 6 cleanup of Siesta Key Beach, as well as staff from AT&T, where Iven also works. The cleanup will take place 7-9 a.m., with everyone meeting at the Siesta Beach playground. While beach litter is also being addressed by groups like Keep Sarasota County Beautiful, Iven hoped Zeus, an electric sports vehicle shop and rental provider, could offer its own efforts. Iven will be deploying the resources of the store, using electric tricycles being to help move the burlap trash bags provided by the city of Sarasota. With staff, friends, family and AT&T staff included, he expects a turnout of 30 but welcomes others who wish to attend. “The more people show up, the better,” he said. Iven hopes to entice participants with the possibility of a free experience on some of the store’s other rental equipment, including eFoil electric surfboards and SEABOB underwater diving scooters. “We just wanted to do something that reflects both the business values, and how much we care about the area,” Iven said. “We have fun stuff to do in a beautiful place, and we just want to keep it beautiful, and keep it fun.”A local sports store partners with AT&T to clean up post-Fourth of July litter left on Siesta Key beaches and show some love for the area’s beauty.Locals team up to clean up Ian SwabyManager Grace Quattro, Director of Operations Rich Iven and Assistant Manager Alison Frate for Zoom Electric Ultimate Sports

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Paul Hoffmann’s athletic future changed because of a single email. Hoffmann was living in Seattle in 2013 when he received the note from his then-boss. Come try dragon boat, it said. No experience necessary. Only four practices required to compete. Hoffmann didn’t know anything else, but he was a marathon runner and was intrigued by what he found after a quick Google search for “dragon boat.” “I was like, ‘Eh, I can do four practices,’” Hoffmann said. Hoffmann said the chance to use the sport as an upper body workout, while still running marathons, was the type of cross-training he found appealing. And as it turned out, he was good at it: Hoffmann quickly transitioned from his initial team — a community team — to a recreational team, to a competitive team. A decade later, Hoffmann has been named to Team USA for the 2023 International Dragon Boat Federation’s World Dragon Boat Championships, held Aug. 7-13 in Pattaya, Thailand. Hoffman was one of 10 Benderson Park athletes named to the team on June 20, joining paddlers Mandy Boyers, Doreen Clyne, Don Bickel, Brian Long, Dana Trimble, Duneska Grant and Joni Carone, plus steerer Angela Long and drummer Paula Murray. The appointment is technically Hoffmann’s third Team USA spot, though he personally doesn’t count his 2021 appointment, because that year had its world championships canceled due to the pandemic. Hoffmann did compete at the 2019 championships, also held in Thailand, where competed in the Senior A Men’s boat and won silver and bronze medals, but no gold. That’s something he’s chasing this year, as a member of the Senior C Men’s boat. “I have that drive to train and to help the team get to that point,” Hoffmann said. “This is the ultimate team sport. There’s 20 paddlers in the boat. So you want to give every thing you have got to help your team get there.” It’s not only about the gold medal. Hoffmann said he wants to hear the national anthem play over the loudspeakers while on the podium. Hoff mann said the thrill of representing his country on the national stage is a feeling with no equivalent. “You put that uniform on, and it has the red, white and blue and the USA, and it is just an honor,” Hoff mann said. “You have earned it, but it is still an honor. After doing this, you look at what Olympic athletes are doing. You understand the dedication and training that goes into representing the country. It’s a privilege.” Mandy Boyers, who will race on the Senior A/B Women’s team, has a similar story. Like Hoffmann, Boy ers started in dragon boat in 2013, at a community festival in Burlington, Vermont. She didn’t consider herself to be an athlete and was at the festival to be social, but she decided to give it her best shot. Never could she have guessed where that decision would lead her. She, too, is headed to the world championships, after also having her 2021 stint on Team USA canceled. “It’s overwhelming,” Boyers said. “I worked hard for this. It feels incredibly satisfying that this goal that I have had for years has finally come true. “I tear up when I think about putting that uniform on.” Boyers said she never knew how competitive she was before trying the sport, and she’s proud of how driven to improve she has become. Boyers said she was a “study nerd” growing up. Before dragon boat racing, she said, she was out of shape. Getting into the sport helped Boyers turn her overall fitness around, and led to her losing 30 pounds. “It’s possible for other people, too,” Boyers said. “I never thought I could compete at this level, but I have. It is amazing to see it happen.” Boyers said Benderson Park’s facilities give its paddlers an advantage in training. Not only can local paddlers practice year-round, unlike in northern states where the water gets too cold in the winter, but the park offers the chance to train in singleperson outrigger canoes. Boyers said spots on her Team USA Senior A/B Women’s boat were decided by time trials conducted in those canoes. Access to them can be tough to find, and Boyers said the canoes can cost thousands of dollars depending on the manufacturer. Boyers has also been working with personal trainers to improve her strength, she said, something she has not done previously. “You can continue to do this sport as you age because it is age brack eted,” Boyers said. “You don’t have to go against 20-year-olds. I can go against people my age, which is awesome.” BIG EATS. PAGE 22 Former Riverview High football wide receiver Malachi Wideman was ruled eligible for the 2023 NFL Supplemental Draft, which will be held on July 11. The Supplemental Draft is for players who were not eligible for the standard NFL Draft in April and requires the league to approve each player’s entry on a case-by-case basis. Wideman had 12 touchdown catches at Jackson State University in 2021 but was ruled ineligible to play in 2022. Wideman started his high school football career with the Rams before nishing at Venice High. þ  ... Former Sarasota High baseball catcher Satchell Norman is hitting .346 with one home run and nine RBIs in eight games with the Arizona Complex League Brewers (Milwaukee Brewers) as of June 27. The 20-year-old Norman was drafted in the 15th round of the 2022 MLB Draft. þ  ... Nathan Benderson Park will hold a Learn to Row event July 8-9. USRowing certied instructors will teach new rowers how to use the sport’s fundamentals to put their best oar forward. The course will entail four hours of instruction each day. Registration is $200 per person. To register or for more information, visit þ­ Nathan þ­ BendersonPark.org. þ  ... Four Sarasota Sharks swimmers — women’s swimmers Gracie Weyant, Addison Sauickie and Michaela Mattes and men’s swimmer Amadeusz Knop — will compete at the Phillips 66 National Championships, held June 27-July 2 in Indianapolis. Weyant is scheduled to swim in the women’s 200-meter individual medley, 400-meter individual medley and 200-meter breaststroke. Sauickie is scheduled for the women’s 50-meter freestyle, 100-meter freestyle, 200-meter freestyle and 400-meter freestyle. Mattes is scheduled for the women’s 200-meter freestyle, 400-meter freestyle, 800-meter freestyle, 1,500-meter freestyle and 400-meter individual medley. Knop is scheduled for the men’s 800-meter freestyle, 1,500-meter freestyle and 200-meter backstroke. Fast Break Courtesy photoSatchell Norman File photosMandy Boyers (front left) and nine of her Nathan Benderson Park teammates will paddle for Team USA in Thailand at the 2023 World Dragon Boat Racing Championships. Don Bickel, coach Angela Long, Brian Long, Mandy Boyers, Joni Carone, Paul Homann, Paula Murray, Doreen Clyne and Dana Trimble (not pictured: Duneska Grant) were selected to represent Team USA at the World Dragon Boat Racing Championships. Dragon ridersTen athletes will represent Nathan Benderson Park at the 2023 World Dragon Boat Racing Championships in Thailand. SPORTSJUNE 29, 2023 “I don’t watch a lot of TV. If I do watch, I’ll go to Netix and turn on something basketball related.”— Connor Heald SEE PAGE 23

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22 SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 r fr frntbf r f n tb t tn r rfntbr r r r r r r r f f n n t t r r b b fnt ntbtb rfntb bffn rbrntr 402653-1 PROSE AND KOHN RYAN KOHNIt is nearly July 4th, and as much as that day makes me feel patriotic and proud to be an American, it also makes me think about hot dogs and perhaps the greatest athlete the 50 states have ever known. I am talking, of course, about Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, the reigning Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog-Eating Contest champion of the world. On July 4, 2022, Chestnut ate 63 hot dogs and buns to win the title, which sounds like a lot until you remember that Chestnut’s world record is 76 hot dogs, which he set in 2021. From that perspective, 2022 was a down year for Chestnut, but the competition itself was weird — Chestnut was recovering from a leg injury, and he was interrupted during the competition by a fan wearing a Darth Vader mask who was seeking some unearned attention from the inter net. It did not matter much; Chestnut threw down the trespasser and continued eating, and by the end of his 10 minutes, he still smoked the competition. I truly believe Chestnut, 39, is one of the greatest athletes living today. I even went with my father to watch the competition in person on July 4, 2013, when Chestnut won by eating 69 dogs, at the time a world record. His hot dog capacity is well known, but think about all of the other foods he has trained his body to hold: Chestnut owns the world record for eggs (141 hard-boiled in eight minutes), cheesesteaks (23 6-inch subs in 10 minutes), jalapeno poppers (118 in 10 minutes), bowls of gumbo (15 16-ounce bowls in eight minutes) and cherry pie (17.5 pounds in eight minutes). That’s just a taste. You can see more of his records at Major LeagueEating.com. The point is, the man has range. I played baseball and football growing up. I was not raised to gorge on 390 shrimp wontons in eight minutes (another Chestnut record). A large eating capacity is not a skill I have. But I greatly respect the people who do, and I have a hunch that some people with that capacity reside in Sarasota. So, in the spirit of the day, I’ve compiled a list of some food challenges in the area, in case you decide to take on one in Chestnut’s honor this July 4th.MUNCHIES 420 CAFEMunchies calls their challenge “Fire In Your Hole!!” and it is wing-based. Eat 10 wings coated in the cafe’s special, secret sauce, and you get a free T-shirt and, according to the menu, “eternal glory,”while competitors who fail the challenge will get shamed on the internet. Talk about high stakes. Since the rise of the entertaining and actually insightful celebrity interview show “Hot Ones,” I’ve taken an interest in hot wing challenges, but this one sounds even worse than what Sean Evans puts his guests through. The challenge is required to have 24 hours notice, and participants must be 18 or older and sign a liability waiver before chow ing down. A sign that the challenge is no joke? Former “Man vs. Food” host Adam Richman attempted the challenge and failed. If you want to try your luck, it will run you $32.99. Wimps need not apply, as the cafe’s menu says. In this case, I think I’m OK being a wimp.RICO’S PIZZERIANow this is what I’m talking about. Rico’s Pizzeria’s challenge, “The Big Ritchie,” is about three things I like a lot: friendship, determination and delicious pizza. The challenge goes like this: Two people get 45 minutes to eat an entire 24-inch pizza with three toppings, including the crust. Rico’s estimates that the average challenge equates to 12 pounds of pizza. That’s a lot of food, but with a friend helping you, it doesn’t sound impossible if you want it bad enough and bring a big enough stomach. Contestants can drink whatever they want during the challenge, with water being free and soda or beer coming out of the contestants’ pockets. This, to me, is the ideal food challenge. Nothing against hot foods, as I like them quite a bit, but when talk ing about food challenges, I always picture them as eating “X” amount of food in “X” amount of time, as is tradition in the hot dog world. Call me a purist if you must, but it’s how I feel. I would absolutely watch Chestnut and another MLE compet itor take Rico’s challenge head-on. If you attempt the challenge, make sure you keep your stomach contents intact. Otherwise, you’ll have to clean up the mess yourself — though Rico’s helpfully says it will provide you with a mop. Each winner receives a T-shirt and gets their meal for free, as well as the pride of knowing that they accomplished a great feat. A failure means the challenge will cost about $60. SOLORZANO BROTHERSHosted at the pizzeria’s Webber Street location, the Solorzano Brothers’ “Gavone Challenge” is done solo. Competitors must down a 20-inch cheese pizza (New Jersey style), plus six “softball-sized” gar lic knots and a basket of cheesy gar lic bread, all in 30 minutes or less. It sounds like the limit on a human’s consumption of carbs in that time frame, but it also sounds delicious. Again, this is the type of challenge I respect the most, as it’s purely about how bad you want it. Professional food challenge-taker Randy Santel attempted the challenge in 2021 and finished in 27 minutes, 6 seconds. At the time, Santel was just the third person to complete the challenge, which should give some idea of how tough it is. Challenge champions receive their meal for free, plus a T-shirt, a $25 gift token and a picture on the restaurant’s wall of fame. Losers have to pay for the meal to the tune of $35. The challenge has to be set up ahead of time by calling 926-4276.Get your competitive eater onIn honor of July 4th’s hot dog eating contest, these local challenges will have your mouth and stomach putting up a ght. File photosMarc Kohn and Ryan Kohn attend the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog-Eating Contest in Coney Island, New York, in 2013. Rico’s Pizzeria oers “The Big Ritchie” pizza challenge. Munchies 420 Cafe oers the “Fire In Your Hole!!” wing challenge. Ryan Kohn is the sports editor for the Sarasota/Siesta Key Observer. Contact him at RKohn@ YourObserver.com.

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 23 A Patient Focused, Multi-Specialty Group National Expertise Multiple Locations 8.26.21_IMG-Kassover-LWRII-18x24poster.indd 1 8/26/21 3:27 PM WELCOMES A Patient Focused, Multi-Specialty Group National Expertise Multiple Locations 8.26.21_IMG-Kassover-LWRII-18x24poster.indd 1 8/26/21 3:27 PM A Patient Focused, Multi-Specialty Group National Expertise Multiple Locations 8.26.21_IMG-Kassover-LWRII-18x24poster.indd 1 8/26/21 3:27 PM A Patient Focused, Multi-Specialty Group National Expertise Multiple Locations 8.26.21_IMG-Kassover-LWRII-18x24poster.indd 1 8/26/21 3:27 PM Hematology/Oncology rfrfntbfrfrfbfntbf rfntfbrrffffntbf rffb trr fbfbrfb rbtrr rr941-200-1125rffwww.intercoastalmedical.combt Galina Vugman, MDfrr 404682-1 PRESENTING SPONSOR: MR. JOE C. HEMBREE MR. 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KNOWLEDGE. SERVICE. FAUCETS SINKS TUBS VANITIES SHOWERS MIRRORS STEAM ROOMS SAUNAS TOILETS BIDETS DOOR AND CABINET HARDWARE LIGHTING ACCESSORIES Straightforward Name. Convenient Location. Outstanding Showroom. YourObserver.com What is your favorite TV show? I don’t watch a lot of TV. If I do watch, I’ll go to Netix and turn on something basketball related like “Last Chance U.” But usually I’m either in the gym or sleeping or watching lm and making highlight tapes to send to coaches. þ  What is y our favorite school subject? I like learning about the body. I’m going to go to school to be a chiropractor. I just like helping people who are struggling with their body. It’s nice to help them move and do all the things they want to do. þ  What is the be st advice you have received? My mom (Stephanie Heald) is always telling me, “Go be great.” That’s always stuck in my head. þ  Finish this s entence: “Connor Heald is ” Dedicated. þ  C onnor Heald is a rising senior boys basketball player at Cardinal Mooney High. Heald scored 39 points in a Florida Association of Basketball Coaches camp June 18. þ  Ho w did you start playing basketball? I was just exploring a bunch of dierent sports when I was young. I picked up a basketball and I have loved the sport ever since. I play it every day. I just love the energy of it. þ  What is y our best skill? I’m a good shooter. I always have been. I work on it every single day. I get up between 300 and 500 shots per day. þ  What ha ve you been working to improve? My leadership. During my sophomore year at Cardinal Mooney, we had a great leader. His name was AJ Russo. After he graduated, I knew I had to step up and be a leader. I’m vocal with the team. I’m still working on it. I think I’m a good leader, but I’m working to be better. What is your favorite basketball memory? It has to be my shot at the buzzer against Riverview High (on Jan. 12, 2022). We came into that game super underrated. No one thought Cardinal Mooney could beat Riverview. They overlooked us. I mean, they had three NCAA Division I athletes. But it was a close game, and I took the shot late. I knew it was going in. Seeing the crowd get super quiet, except for the Mooney fans, was such a good feeling. þ  Ho w is your game feeling right now? I’m super condent going into July. I’m waking up at 5 a.m. every day and doing everything I can to get better. I’m doing three or four workouts a day because I want to play at the next level. þ  What is y our favorite food? I like Bualo wings a lot. þ  Connor Heald 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. ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

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24 SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 rfn ntbtbfnn nf rf nrt rf ntb f nn b f r ‘ n f’ r“” ’• b– n— ’ ’ r n f bb ff f• b r ’ ’ f f ’ rt – r’ r rr’ r r n’– ’– ’ ” nf’ f b r’’ n“ n nrf f ’’ f r ––– ’ b ” rb – ’ n b– — b’ t ” — r” f f — f b–– rf ’ b • ’ ’– ’ n n f r’– “ rn” r rb’ r r— rrft r r ’ t’’ bb f f nn n nb n ‘ n n— n n n’ r b nf rfntbfff nrnn fnfnnrrf nttnb tntf rtt nrrrfr rrr rnrr rtb bbrnr trrtr ttrb rntb rt 2023 NEA, Inc. r f6-29-23 402032-1 rfntbbnftrfnfnfrrfnfrtnff rfrnfr tbrrbat MANASOTA FLOORING INC KITCHEN | CABINETRY OUTDOOR PAVERS 399842-1 NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH RAINFALL SUNRISE / SUNSET MOON PHASES*Rainfall totals from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport WEATHER Wendy Bond captured this photo of an air plant at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota.FORECAST Submit your photos at YourObserver.com/contests. All submissions will be entered for the 2023-24 Weather and Nature photo contest. In February 2024, you will vote for your favorite photo, and the submission with the most votes will win a $500 gift card. July 3 Full July 17 New July 9 Last July 25 FirstTHURSDAY, JUNE 29High: 92 Low: 75 Chance of rain: 43%FRIDAY, JUNE 30High: 96 Low: 76 Chance of rain: 10%SATURDAY, JULY 1High: 93 Low: 78 Chance of rain: 22%SUNDAY, JULY 2High: 92 Low: 79 Chance of rain: 58% YEAR TO DATE: 2023 þ 1 0.04 in. 2022 þ 1 7.59 in. MONTH TO DATE: 2023 þ 2.38 in. 2 022 þ 7 .70 in. Monday, June 19 þ 0 T uesday, June 20 þ 0 W ednesday, June 21 þ 0 .01 Thursday, June 22 þ 0 .76 Friday, June 23 þ 0 S aturday, June 24 þ 0 .06 Sunday, June 25 þ 0 þ Sunris e þ Sunset Thursday, June 29 þ 6:3 7a þ 8:28p Friday, June 30 þ 6:38a þ 8:28p Saturday, July 1 þ 6:38a þ 8:28p Sunday, July 2 þ 6:39a þ 8:28p Monday, July 3 þ 6:39a þ 8:28p Tuesday, July 4 þ 6:39a þ 8:28p Wednesday, July 5 þ 6:40a þ 8:28p

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rfntbbtb bfrtbtbbttbtbbtbfrrfnftbf fffn rfn tbrbbrbbb bbbbb bbbbbbbbrb bbbn bb brbbbbrb brbbbbbbbrb bbbnbbrb bbbnbbtbbfrrrtbbfrbf Items Under $200 ADVERTISE YO UR MERCHANDISE with the total va lue of all items $200 or less in this section for FREE! Limit 1 ad per month,15 word s or less. Price must be included next to each item. No commercial advertising. Ad runs 2 consecutive weeks in 1 Observe r. Call 941-955-4888 Or Email ad to : classified@you ro bserve r. com (Please prov ide your name and address) Or Online at: www.youro bserve r. com Or mail to : The Observer Group 1970 Main St. 3rd Floor Sarasota, Fl 34236 B&D IR O N $ 10, Kitchenaid hand mixer $40, Mr Coffee $10, Oster toaster $10. (941) 966-6816 B OS E WA VE music system IV, espresso black, $180. 941-321-2694 BRI G HT O N C HERIE Italian leather purses, (bundle of 3) silver, white & brown, like new. $125. 941-504-0165 DRIVE WHEEL C HAIR, 18”W, black & blue. 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RUBBERMAID DUEL rfntb t Announcements RELOCATION OF rf nntbnn nn rnnn bb nf nn nn nnnn nn ntbn nn nnn ‘n’n “”“”nn nn•tb–” •––“ nnf——n n— Boat Slips for Rent/Sale 48X21 BO AT SLIP P07, rfntb n n t n t b ‘ Ga rage / Moving/ Esta te Sales YARD SALE r fntbn tn ntt ttn btn tnr ntrb t bnn Merchandise Wanted S ENI O R L OO KIN G to purchase precious metals, diamonds, time pieces, coins, jewelry, antique and estate jewelry, and some collectors plates. Personal and confidential. Please call Marc: 941-321-0707 Autos for Sal e C ARPET C LEANIN G VA N 2014 Ford van, 85,000 miles, 50 HP, Kubota engine. 813-645-7723 Autos W anted CA SH FOR Y Y O O U U R R C C A A R R We come to you! Ho Ho Buys cars. 941-270-4400. DESPERATELY NEEDED Low mileage, cars and trucks. Also rare or unusual vehicles. Larry 941-350-7993 ST OR AG E FA CILITY Boat / RV / Tr ailer. Secure facility, low monthly rentals, Clark Rd area. 941-809-3660, 941-809-3662. WE BUY c c a a r r s s . . t t o o p p $ $ $ $ p p a a i i d d f f o o r r y y o o u u r r v v e e h h i i c c l l e e s s . . C C a a l l l l H H a a w w l l e e y y M M o o t t o o r r s s : : 9 9 4 4 1 1 9 9 2 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 2 2 1 1 . . Motorcycles rf ntbnrn nnn br bff tfnrf jo bs Help Wanted HELP WANTED: RELIABLE MAID WORK 1 day each week, 4 hours in AM. $25/hr. 941-388-2083 real esta te Condos/Apts. for Rent UNIVER S ITY PARK RID G E rfnff tbfnf f rrnr ntnrn V acation/ Seasonal Rentals WEEKLY MONTHLY SEASONAL RA TES rrfr rntrb rt trf tt b‘ ’rr‘tr“ ” tbb r hom e serv ice s Adul t Care Services (CAREGIVERS) ELDER CARE/COMPANIONS job is for 5 Days a Week – 5 Hours per Day – Salary is $20 per Hour. Clean record, good recommendations, mobile, with many skills For more details about the position, email (holt.j88@yahoo.com) IN-HOME PERSONAL CARE •Meal Prep •Daily routines •RT Background •Hospice Experience •Doctor appointments 15+ years experience. Excellent local references. 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Lic./Ins. 941-400-3342.www.braziliancleaningbymk.com EUROPEAN HOUSEKEEPING r frntbb nn Health Services CNA-CAREGIVER Daily routines, meal preparation, doctor appointments, shopping and companion. Excellent local references. Call Lisa 845-544-3243 Home Services VETERAN OWNED & OPERATED Fully Insured / Free Estimates (941) 413-9185 Landscaping/ La wn Services PROFESSIONAL GARDENER r frn t b nt t rt Painting CARLO DA TTILO Painting Licensed & insured. Interior/ Exterior painting including drywall re pair and retexturing. Wallpaper installation & re moval, pressure washing. Residential & commercial, condos. Honest & reliable. Free estimates. 941-744-1020. 35+ years experience. SARA SO TA INTERIOR PAINTING HIGH-END INTERIOR PAINTING WE ARE THE BEST!!! Fully Insured. CALL or TEXT Don 941-900-9398 rfntbtb‘bbtfr YARD SALE r fntbn tn ntt ttn btn tnr ntrb t bnn Adul t Care Services r rfnfnn rfn nfftbnn rn rn nfff nf t ttnf fnfn fft nnrft bf brt nfrr tn rfntnrfnrttnfbbb b rfnrttnfbbb

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26 SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 Aluminum 941.650.9790 YoderAluminum.com Dustin YoderOwner / Operator Insured “Specializing in 6” Seamless Gutters” 404969 941.650.9790 YoderAluminum.com Dustin YoderOwner / Operator Insured “Specializing in 6” Seamless Gutters” At torney rrfrfnntbrfr nn405295ntbnbn bfrtfrf rbbbbbbn rbnt trrn rrr nntbnrn rrrrbbbbnbfb Auto Service 405073 SELL YOUR CAR! FAST • EASY • SAFE WE COME TO YOU941.270.4400HoHoBuysCars.com 5-Star Rated Autos W anted 404782 DESPERATELY NEEDED Low Mileage, Cars & Trucks. Also Rare or Unusual Vehicles. UNIQUE SPORT & IMPORTS 941-350-7993 Carpentry rfffnr ftbfrb fb rfr frrrfntfrffffrffbf 404499 Computer 405360Computer Repair & Service Virus & Malware Removal / Protection New System Set Up / Data Transfer Networking: Wired/Wireless Installation Data Recovery / Remote Support One-On-One Tutoring / Training Is Your Computer Feeling Sick? Let Us Fix It!Call A GeekCOMPUTER SERVICES (941) 351-7260call-a-geek.netOver 18 yrs serving Manatee/Sarasota Counties 6968 Beneva Road(Next to Beneva Flowers)941-929-9095 New & Refurbished Computers Servicing PC & MAC on Site or In Shop Virus and Spyware RemovalFree Software We Make Windows 10 User-Friendly! DON’T THROW YOUR COMPUTER OUT THE WINDOW – CALL LORITECH!COMPUTER REPAIR SALES & SERVICE405081 Hardware Repair Virus / Malware Cleanup Software & Printer Install New Computer Setups New Purchase Consults Seniors & Beginners Learn Computer Basics Phones/Tablet Help Apple & Microsoft Problems Solved On Site and Off Much More! Call Today! 404377 Doors Sliding Glass Door Repair New Deluxe Rollers Will Make Your Doors Roll Better Than Ever Call Mark 928-2263proslidingglassdoorrepair.com “FIX IT DON’T REPLACE”405074 Furniture Repair 404970 Patio Furniture Repairs.com Patio Furniture Repairs.com rfrntbf 941-504-0903 941-504-0903 FREE PICKUP FREE PICKUP / / DELIVERY DELIVERY • • FREE ONSITE QUOTES FREE ONSITE QUOTES Health Board Certied in the specialty of non-surgical spinal decompressionGive Us a Call We Can HelpFREE CONSULTATION 941.358.2224 Recognized Among the Best Recognized Among the Best Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Physicians in America Physicians in America Midtown Medical Park 1215 S. East Ave. Suite 210 Sarasota, FL 34239www.SarasotaDiscCenter.com DrCifra@SarasotaDiscCenter.comThe Only Thing You Have To Lose ... Is The Pain!! Do You Have Neck or Low Back Pain? Do You Want To Avoid Surgery? 404379 Home Wa tch PALMER RANCH HOMEWATCHERSWatching your home while you’re awayBob & Carol Guthrie 941.993.6613 Serving the Palmer Ranch Area Since 2007 Licensed & Insured www.PalmerRanchHomewatchers.com PalmerRanchHomewatchers@comcast.net404791 Pinnacle Home Watch.comDave and Connie Grundy Stop Worrying Stop Worrying About Your Home About Your Home While Away While AwayCALL PINNACLE TODAY! 941-306-1999405075 FIRST RESPONDER OWNED & OPERATED (941)544-0475dan@shorelockhomewatch.com www.shorelockhomewatch.com405076 404971 Kitchen/Bath Remodeling 405077 SHOWER & BATH MAKEOVERSwww.showerandbathsarasota.com Cleaned Regrouted Caulked SealedCall John 941.377.2940Free Estimates • Sarasota Resident Since 1974 Call us today! 941.628.8579www.ezslider.com DON’T DON’T let your let your PATIO DOORS PATIO DOORS be a be a DRAG or your DRAG or your WINDOWS WINDOWS be a be a PANE!! PANE!!Window Repairs • Sliding Glass Door Repairs Sliding Glass Door Deadbolts FREE IN-HOME ESTIMATES 405361 rf

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 27 Kitchen/Bath Remodeling 941.966.0333 COMPLETE INSTALLATION PACKAGE$235INCLUDES 2 MOEN STAINLESS STEEL ANTI SLIP CONCEALED SCREW GRAB BARS (16” & 24”)LIFETIME GUARANTEE • LICENSED • BONDED • INSUREDCOVERAGE AREA: LAKEWOOD RANCH TO S. VENICE CALL BEFORE YOU FALL GRAB BARSDRGRABBARS.COM 364556 CALL BEFORE YOU FALL$235 $249* GRAB BARS INCLUDES 2 MOEN STAINLESS STEEL PEEN ANTI SLIP CONCEALED SCREW GRAB BARS 16” & 24” *DRILLING CHARGES MAY APPLY FOR MARBLE, GRANITE OR PORCELAIN. COUPON REQUIRED. COVERAGE AREA: PARRISH TO NORTHPORT 405362 405363 GLENN KROECKER954-1878 (cell) 780-3346Licensed & InsuredTHE GRAB BAR GUY Landscaping & La wn 404792 Washed Shell r River Gravel Boulders r Pavers Driveways r Patios Plants r Palms fntbtn Mass age 404793 health & well-beingMM41568 rfn tbb frbrfrffr rf Move rs 404794 Wizard Moving SRQFor $149 per hour you get:A truck, 2 men with equipment, experience and a great attitude to make your moving day a pleasure. Licensed and insured #IMT708 Painting Faulkner’s Faulkner’s Driveways Deck Staining Roof CleaningPainting & Pressure Cleaning Free Estimate941-922-3996 941-822-4270404785 rf rf rf nttbn rff rff 404786 Pet Services Pet Care by Melanie Gates • Pet Sitting • Dog Walking • Over 24 years experience • Excellent references(941) 966-2960405082Serving South Sarasota Only including: Palmer Ranch – Osprey – Nokomis Pl umbing No Job Too BIG or Too SMALL. We DO IT ALL! All Major Credit Cards AcceptedGeneralplumbingsarasota.com• Drain & Sewer Cleaning • Backows Installation • Natural Gas Installations Appliance Hook ups • Power Flush & Comfort Height Toilets • All Water Heaters Tankless Gas Solar • All Major Plumbing Fixtures Repaired or Replaced • Garbage Disposals • New Water & Sewer Services • Dishwashers Installed • Wells & Pump Repairs941-923-8140rfntVeteran Owned & Operated • Third Generation Master Plumber405083 General Plumbing Services Inc. Complete Plumbing Services & RepairsResidential, New Construction and Commercial Serving the area since 1993 Roong GULF GATE ROOFING INC.Specializing in Re-Roong & Repairsrfnt941-228-9850 Joe Murray, Owner Fully Insuredrr 404796 Roong 405079 • Aluminum, Vinyl, & Wood Soft & Fascia Repair & Installation • Roong Repair & Installation • Metal Roong & Tile Roof Repair Specialists Kenneth Fuhlman Inc.941-626-3194Licensed & Insured CCC 058059 CBC 1253936 Transportation 405080 BLACK LABEL CAR SERVICELuxury for LessBooked Referral Program Next Ride with Booked Referral All Airports, Hourly & Tours www.blacklabelcarservice.com 1/10/23, 10:25 AM chrome_qrcode_1671726737617.png https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=rm&ogbl#search/royaltreasurecasino%40yahoo.com?projector=1 1/1 10% off941-248-4734 Trees 405084 Windo ws Res./Com. Lic./Ins. Sunset Window & Pressure CleaningFormerly known as Sunrise Windows Serving Longboat Key Since 2005 Call Tibor for FREE ESTIMATES | 941284 5880rfnftfbb$150 UP UP TO TO 25 25 STANDARD STANDARD WINDOWS WINDOWS INCLUDING SCREENS, TRACKS, MIRRORS & FANS SPECIAL$500 www.sunsetwindowcleaningsrq.com senior citizen discount. rf rfntbrf ntrbr nr

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28 SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 rffrntbrtnnrrrrrftrrtnnrftrnnr rtfnrtnrttrtrnn rfrfntftbftrrrfffbrff ffnfnfbrffrfnr rf‘’“ ”‘“• nff tbtb t t t r rfntnb trtfntnb rfntbffttbtr tbfftbrb ttfbrb rf r nttn tnb nb tnt ntttnt 403572-1

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JULY 2023Observer

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2 SPIRIT OF AMERICA | JULY 2023 397094-1 rfntbrbfbfbbtrft trbrrrrrrfrr rfrrfbrfrrfttr rf nn rf

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SPIRIT OF AMERICA | JULY 2023 3 BENCHMARK RESULTS • STRATEGIC MARKETING • PERSONALIZED SERVICE SOLD! $3.6MMQUEENS HARBOUR $4.85MMTHE SANCTUARY LANDMARK SALE$2MMWESTON POINTE$1.95MMCONRAD BEACH$2.7MMLONGBOAT KEY CLUB RECORD SALE$1.55MMEMERALD POINTE NORTH$4.8MMCOUNTRY CLUB SHORES HOME/LOT$16.9MMSIESTA KEY PENDING SALE404149-1 IAN ADDY, PAREALTOR , MBAGAIL WITTIGBROKERASSOCIATEIanAddy@MichaelSaunders.comGailWittig@MichaelSaunders.com941.387.0100 WWW.ATHOMESARASOTA.COM ALLOW US TO EARN YOUR BUSINESS

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4 SPIRIT OF AMERICA | JULY 2023 405087-1 Contents8 Calendar 10 Guide to the perfect Fourth 12 Fireworks shows 19 Hunting down dreams 28 Speech quiz 30 Holiday cocktails 2216 26RECIPE FOR SUCCESSAlex Ortega’s dedication to Turtles on Little Sarasota Baby has given him the dream of a lifetime.FIRST IN THE FAMILYShelbie Ricks is the rst in her family to graduate college, giving her new opportunities. þ  COMMUNITY IMPACT Manatee and Sarasota nonprots make it their mission to help community members survive and thrive.ALSO INSIDE

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SPIRIT OF AMERICA | JULY 2023 5 FIND YOURS HERE EDUCATION. CAREER. FUTURE. -E arly Childhood Education -E lementary Education -E xceptional Student Education -H ealth Services Administration Nursing -P ublic Safety and Emergency Management -S upervision and Management Stat e College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate and baccalaureate degrees. Contact t he Commissio n on Co lleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Deca tur, GA 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 fo r questions abou t the acc redi tation of State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota. State Col lege of F lorid a, Mana tee-Sa rasota does not disc rimina te on the basis of sex , pregnancy, race, religion, age, national origin/ethnicity, color, marital status, disability, genetic information or 941 752-5599, 5840 26th St. W., Bradenton, FL 3420 7. APPLY TODAY!SCF.edu/FindYours 941-752-5050 Advance Your Career with a Bachelor’s Degree 403954-1

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6 SPIRIT OF AMERICA | JULY 2023 rfrntrbt r tffnttrbbbr 403827-1 NOW – SAT AUG 12 rfntfn br $20 $13 b Incredible Family Entertainment rfntbf f 390626-1 Every Fourth of July, we dress in as much red, white and blue as possible to show our most patriotic selves. We enjoy the parades and feast on hot dogs and apple pie. We might enjoy a beer or two, safely, of course. Then, we end the night with a patriotic flair as fireworks light up the sky. But sometimes I wonder if we get so caught up in celebrating that we forget the reasons why we’re celebrating. We forget the choices and sacrifices made to get us to this point. We forget the countless hours of hard work and dedication it’s taken for any of us to achieve success or reach our hopes and dreams. We forget that sometimes simply living in this country affords us opportunities we might not have otherwise. America is known as the land of opportunity after all. The U.S. is known for being the place where people can achieve anything if they put their minds to it, no matter who they are. So this July 4, the Observer reflected on the notion that America, indeed, is the land of opportunity. We reflect on our region’s history and see how Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch came to be an arts mecca and a top-selling multigenerational, master-planned community. We take a look at a few of the people who influenced these pieces of American paradise. We often think of the American dream as it pertains to our land of opportunity. It didn’t take us long to find people in the area who have made the most of it. Although people differ on the state of education today, individuals like Shelbie Ricks and Alejandro Peralta remind us how far an education can take you. We see hard working people every day tirelessly dedicating themselves to their jobs, businesses and families. Whether it’s dedicating your life to a restaurant that gave you the opportunity to build a fulfilling life starting at 16 years old, or being a hunter who wants to educate others, or an attorney helping youth in the justice system, there are plenty of examples of people living their American dream right here in our area. We’ve seen time and time again the opportunities we’ve had and that we’ve seized and the successes that have stemmed from those opportunities. More importantly, we’ve seen how people have taken that success and used it to help others, to extend that opportunity chain. Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch are home to countless nonprofits that are always ready to give a helping hand whenever needed. So while you’re enjoying your slice of apple pie or watching a kid light up at the sight of a sparkler, take a moment to reflect on your life. Think about the opportunities you’ve been given, the ones you’ve worked so hard to grasp. Think about how far you’ve come and how far you can go. Then, think about what you can do for others. As President John F. Kennedy said, “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.”Opportunities for allThe American dream is alive and well in Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch. In celebration of:LIZ RAMOSSENIOR EDITOR

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SPIRIT OF AMERICA | JULY 2023 7 SEE HOW MUCH MORE YOU CAN SAVE! LIC # CAC1816020 • PLBG CFC1428223 • ELEC EC13009313or visit www.AquaPlumbingSarasota.com941.866.6210CALL NOW! rfntrnrb rtrfn trtrrbrrff nrbtrrf nrrrrnrrr rtfrr r404143-1$100 OFF COMPLETE INSTALLATIONof Phyn Plus Smart Water Assistant Saves on Homeowners Insurance Policies FREE WATER ANALYSIS AND $100 Credit

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8 SPIRIT OF AMERICA | JULY 2023 FRIDAY, JUNE 30 TO SUNDAY, JULY 2SARASOTA POWERBOAT GRAND PRIX The Powerboat and AquaX Pro Series jet ski and powerboat racing return for the weekend o Lido Beach. A block party Friday night kicks o the weekend. Race viewing is free. For more information, visit P1Oshore.com.SATURDAY, JULY 1 TO MONDAY, JULY 3FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL From 2-7 p.m. Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Sunday and 3-9 p.m. Monday in the parking lot of The Mall at University Town Center, 140 University Town Drive, Sarasota, celebrate Independence Day at the Suncoast’s largest food truck festival. More than 75 food trucks will be on site, along with a family zone. Admission is $5. Monday night will end in reworks. For more information, visit MallAtUTC.com.MONDAY, JULY 3BRADENTON MARAUDERS INDE PENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION Watch the Florida State League’s Bradenton Marauders go toe-to-toe with the Threshers in a classic baseball competition. The gates open at 4:30 p.m. with the game starting at 6:30 p.m. at McKechnie Field at LECOM Park, 1611 Ninth St. W., Bradenton. The rst 1,500 fans will receive a specialty T-shirt, and reworks will follow the game. Tickets are $10-$14. For more information, visit MILB.com/bradenton. FIREWORKS 5K ON THE LAKE The Fireworks 5K on the Lake race begins at 7 p.m. Race day registration and packet pick-up open at 5 p.m. The race will provide a race shirt and a glow-in-the-dark medal for all participants. Stay for a race after-party with food and drinks. Fireworks explode over the lake beginning at 9 p.m. Race registration is $30-$40. For the virtual race option, registration is $35. For more information, visit FireworksOnTheLake. com.TUESDAY, JULY 4LONGBOAT KEY’S FREEDOM FEST AND HOT DIGGITY DOG PARADE Longboat Key’s annual 15-minute parade along Bay Isles Road begins at 9 a.m. at Bicentennial Park. Attendees of all ages will throw on their most vibrant red, white and blue attire for a day of games, patriotism and celebration. Free. Call 383-2466. ANNA MARIA ISLAND PRIVA TEERS FOURTH OF JULY PARADE The Anna Maria Island Privateers will again bring swashbuckling fun to the Fourth of July with its annual public parade. The event is open to all interested parties, including local businesses, families and other salty sea dogs who are looking to live the pirate life. The parade kicks o at 10 a.m. at Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach. Free. Visit AMIPrivateers.org. ‘AMERICAN FANFARE’ Choral Artists of Sarasota is joined again by Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble for its annual Fourth of July concert celebration. The concert will be performed at 4:30 p.m. July 4 at the Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave. Tickets are $5-$50. Visit ChoralArtistsSarasota.org. ALLAMERICAN COOKOUT þ  If y ou prefer a more natural venue for your July Fourth merriment, check out the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ All-Amer ican Cookout. The event will have all-American food for purchase and a number of activities and games before the reworks. General admission is free for children 4 and under, $10 for children 5-17, $25 for members and $35 for general public. All-inclusive tickets are also available with valet parking, a buet, an open bar and prime reworks seating. Visit Selby. org. þ  CalendarFrom races to the classic reworks, check out these events to help you celebrate Independence Day right. SUNCOAST SUMMER FESTFRIDAY, JUNE 23BOB RIZI MEMORIAL GOLF CLASSIC Breakfast from 7:30-9 a.m.; shotgun start 9 a.m. at The Meadows Country Club, 3101 Longmeadow, Sarasota $800 per foursome, which includes breakfast, a tee sign and lunch For more information and to register, visit SuncoastSummerFest. org.WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28“FRIENDLIEST CATCH” FISHING TOURNAMENT By invitation onlyFRIDAY, JUNE 30WAVES & WHEELS KICKOFF PARTY 5-9 p.m. at Joyland, 8341 Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota $100 For more information and to register, visit SuncoastSummerFest. org.SATURDAY, JULY 1FUN RUN Registration is 1011 a.m. at Marina Jack. Boats, cars and motorcycles are welcome. $25; $125 for kicko party, fun run entry and event shirt; $350 for VIP Captain’s Package For more information and to register, visit SuncoastSummerFest. org. Dogs dress their best for the 2022 Hot Diggity Dog Parade and Costume Contest. Zoe Sledge has her face painted at the 2022 AllAmerican Cookout. Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix returns for a weekend of fun. Tryla Larson, Sharon Gould and Ivan Gould at the 2022 Freedom Fest on Longboat Key.File photos

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SPIRIT OF AMERICA | JULY 2023 9 ASK US ABOUT SPECIAL FINANCING Retailer Name & Logo PRODUCT FEATURED: PERFECT MANOR COLOR: BRIJNAL MORE LIL-HELPER MOMENTS ARE MADE ON MOHAWK ASK US ABOUT SPECIAL FINANCING Retailer Name & Logo PRODUCT FEATURED: PERFECT MANOR COLOR: BRIJNAL MORE LIL-HELPER MOMENTS ARE MADE ON MOHAWK ASK US ABOUT SPECIAL FINANCING Retailer Name & Logo PRODUCT FEATURED: PERFECT MANOR COLOR: BRIJNAL MORE LIL-HELPER MOMENTS ARE MADE ON MOHAWK www.manasotaonline.comrfrfnrt b rt rnrr n nr 404209-1 Thank you for your continued support for these 40+ years that we have been in business as a family owned and operated company. We are so blessed and thankful as we celebrate the Spirit of America. Come On In Our ShowRooms areOPEN

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10 SPIRIT OF AMERICA | JULY 2023 WINDING OAKS LONGBOAT KEY3 BR | 3 BA | VILLA $1,399,000 941-284-9208 | Toni Giliberti Realtor405111-1 Celebrate Your Freedom at a new home rfnfffnfr tbnbnbbbb bbnnb bbbNew Sarasota Location!404608-1 JUNE 30JULY 2 The 38th annual Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix brings three days of racing fun from June 30 to July 2. Who can resist races between million-dollar cigarette boats? The event kicks off with a block party June 30. You don’t need a ticket for the offshore races, which start July 1. For more information about the Powerboat P1-produced race and other Grand Prix events, visit P1Offshore.com. JULY 2 With a weekend full of fun, you have to keep your energy up. What better way to do that than to stop by the Suncoast’s largest food truck festival? More than 75 food trucks will be at The Mall at University Town Center from noon to 6 p.m. for the Food Truck Festival, which also includes a family zone. Admission is $5. For more information, visit MallAtUTC.com. JULY 3 You might feel like you’ve had too much to eat during all the festivities. Burn off those calories at the Publix Fireworks 5K on the Lake race at 7 p.m. at Nathan Benderson Park. There’s also a kids’ dash. To register for the race and to buy an event-day parking pass, visit RaceRoster.com. The cost for the race, including chip timing, T-shirt and a glow-in-the-dark finisher’s medal, is $45. What better way to celebrate finishing the race than staying for Fireworks on the Lake, which runs from 5-10 p.m. Dance to live music by Kettle of Fish, enjoy a kids zone and eat even more from the food trucks. Finish off the night with a bang. Fireworks begin at approximately 9 p.m. For more information, visit FireworksOnTheLake.com. JULY 4 9 a.m. Start your Fourth of July off early with Longboat Key’s Freedom Fest and Hot Diggity Dog Parade. Get decked out in red, white and blue and show off your American spirit. Check out the furry friends who will put on their most patriotic outfits in hopes of taking home a prize. The annual 15-minute parade along Bay Isles Road, which has become known as “The Shortest Parade in America,” begins at 9 a.m. at Bicentennial Park. Following the parade, enjoy a bite to eat and a butterfly release. For more information, call 3832466. 4:30 p.m. After an exciting morning of watching canines compete in the parade, take a break and enjoy patriotic sounds at the “American Fanfare” concert. The Choral Artists of Sarasota, along with the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble, will perform their annual Fourth of July concert celebration at 4:30 p.m. at the Sarasota Opera House Tickets are $5-$50. Visit ChoralArtistsSarasota.org. 5:30-9:30 p.m. Not in the mood for music? Head to Selby Gardens instead for an All-American cookout with familyfriendly activities and games. You can watch the fireworks there. Upgrade your celebration and enjoy a buffet dinner and open bar in the air-conditioned event center as well as prime seating for the fireworks. Admission is $35 for the outdoor festivities and $200 for the indoor party. Visit selby.org. 9 p.m. It’s the time you’ve been waiting for: fireworks. You can watch fireworks for free at the Bayfront Fireworks Spectacular, with seating around Island Park, the bayfront and downtown. Visit SuncoastSummerfest.org.GUIDE TO A PERFECT FOURTHMONICA ROMAN GAGNIER A+E EDITORFood, fun and reworks — there’s no shortage of opportunities to enjoy the Fourth of July weekend. With so many events happening in Sarasota and Manatee counties, why only celebrate July 4? Make it a weekend of American fanfare. Here’s a way to make the most of your July 4 holiday: JUNE 30: Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix JULY 3: Publix Fireworks 5K on the Lake, Benderson Park JULY 4: Hot Diggity Dog Parade, Longboat Key JULY 4: Bayfront Fireworks Spectacular, downtown Sarasota

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SPIRIT OF AMERICA | JULY 2023 11 405089-1 Village A 501(c)3 Helping Others Since 1833 YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE Red, White & YOU NEW SUMMER HOURS • 2711 Mall Dr. (Gulf Gate) • 941.444.9343 When you shop atSarasota St. Vincent de Paul ri Store Help us help others! 405091-1 • OVER 5,000 FRAME MOULDING STYLESMATS FILLETS LINERS • All Paper Art/Canvas & Needle Art Framing • Mirrors Framed To Fit Any Size OpeningMon.Fri. 9:30 5pm Sat. 9:30 -12:30pm6578 Superior Ave.(941) 924-6656FrameItUpGallery.com Custom Custom PICTURE & PICTURE & MIRROR FRAMING MIRROR FRAMING25% OFF Any Frame Order 405090-1 Frame It Up Frame It Up VOTED SARASOTA VOTED SARASOTA Readers’ Choice Readers’ Choice “WINNER” “WINNER” Best Framing Services! Expires 7/15/2023 2162 Gulf Gate Dr | 941-922-0914 | www.seascapeaquariums.com • Huge Fish Selection • Aquarium Supplies • Reptiles • Bunnies • Birds • Corals405092-1 CELEBRATING 48 YEARS! CELEBRATING 48 YEARS! YOUR ENTIRE PURCHASE! 10 10 % % OFF OFF women’s fashion • unique jewelry gifts • hand bags accessories • swimwear 6612 Gateway Avenue, Sarasota 508 9714410Open Mon Thur 11am 5pm & Fri Sat 10am 6pmSAIL AWAY STUDIOSASCOASTAL CHICBOUTIQUE 405093-1 Serving Sarasota for over 50 years! Fast and Friendly Service! 941-925-3875 | 6503 Superior Avenue Let us do your laundry! 405095-1 and Dry Cleaning BOB’SCLEANERS 405096-1 So ranos & & rSign up for upcoming Events @ sopranossocialclub@gmail.com (941) 716-6496 | 2120 GULF GATE DR. rfmake up Gulf Gate Village. nttnbn

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12 SPIRIT OF AMERICA | JULY 2023 rffntbtff 403320-1 941-732-0043 WHYWORRYCALLCURRY.COM 241 Interstate Court, Sarasota, FL 34240 Florida State License CCC1325654 404145-1 Come see why SKOBis a true landmark on rf ntrbr n rb Friday SaturdaySundayMonday -Thursday OystersHappy Hour12 for $12 405070-1Sunday Brunch 9 aM 11:30 aMComplimentary Bloody Mary or Mimosa Fireworks MONDAY, JULY 3FIREWORKS ON THE LAKE Take part in this reworks show with festivities beginning at 5 p.m. at Nathan Benderson Park. The reworks will begin over the lake when the sun goes down, around 9 p.m. $20-$50 per carload. A VIP experience is available for $75 per person. For information, visit FireworksOnTheLake.com.TUESDAY, JULY 4BAYFRONT FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR The reworks display will kick o around 9 p.m. with seating around Island Park, the bayfront and downtown. Free. Visit SuncoastSummerfest.org. SIESTA KEY COMMUNITY FIREWORKS The Siesta Key Community Fireworks show, now in its 31st year, has families and friends ocking to Siesta Key’s white-sand beaches for an evening of fun. The Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce hosts the community event on Siesta Key Beach. Fireworks are free, but the event has sponsorships available that provide free parking, free beverages and snacks, as well as preferred seating at the hospitality area for the best view. Viewing area opens at 6 p.m., and reworks start at dusk. Visit SiestaKeyChamber. com. VENICE FIREWORKS There are few better ideas than traveling down Tamiami Trail to catch the impressive reworks show launch from the south jetty at Venice Beach around 9 p.m. The free 30-minute show can be checked out at several area beaches from Caspersen to Nokomis. The south jetty and Jetty Jack’s Refreshment Deck will be closed to the public. Visit VeniceGov. com. PALMETTO FOURTH OF JULY FESTIVAL þ  The P almetto Community Redevelopment Agency’s annual Fourth of July festival will again be a lively affair, with craft beer and food vendors at Sutton Park, 1036 Sixth St. W., Palmetto. Live music and kids activities start at 6 p.m., and reworks will begin at dusk. Event is free. Visit Facebook.com/PalmettoCRA. NORTH PORT FREEDOM FESTIVAL The city of North Port’s annual Fourth of July celebration will begin at 5 p.m. at CoolToday Park, 18800 W. Villages Parkway, North Port. There will be local food and merchandise vendors, as well as kids activities and lawn games. The reworks show will be approximately 9-9:30 p.m. Visit NorthPortFL.gov. File photoPeople gather at Bayfront Park to watch the show on July 4, 2022.

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SPIRIT OF AMERICA | JULY 2023 13 404639-1 Major Appliance Centers rfntf bfff ff rfntbn frttn SALES Extravaganza!SALE STARTS 6/21SEVERAL JULY 4TH SPECIALS THROUGHOUT THE STORE BEST PRICES OF THE YEAR INSTANT REBATES AVAILABLE FOR SELECT PACKAGES JAY HEATERMANAGING EDITORWith the July 4 holiday upon us, we celebrate our country’s liberties, which we often translate as giving us the freedom to seize an opportunity. Yes, the land of opportunity often can mean chasing our personal dreams to build a product, a company or a fortune. However, it can also mean shaping the lifestyle of a particular area to build a unique community. Here in our region, Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch are shining examples of how the actions of a group of individuals can combine to influence the trajectory of those communities and to eventually set them apart. Those actions have been responsible for building one of the nation’s top arts and cultural communities and the country’s No. 1-selling multigenerational, master-planned community.THE TURNING POINTTwo major factors led to Lakewood Ranch transitioning from an actual ranch to one of America’s most desired residential communities. The first was the opening of the Manatee County section of Inter state 75 in the early 1980s, along with the highway’s final length of completion in 1993. “It was a point at which oppor tunities came to our doorstep,” said Laura Cole, a senior vice president for Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, the developer of Lakewood Ranch. “I-75 put a positive light on the possibilities.” At the time, SMR was operating cattle ranching, citrus, tree and turf farming and aggregate mining oper ations. Since the early 1900s, the Uihlein family, an original owner of Schlitz Brewery, owned the 33,000acre property. It was in a word, wild, and not inviting to anyone wanting to build a home and raise a family. With the new interstate, though, thoughts of a residential community gained credence as potential residents would have easy access to several major metropolitan areas and jobs. If a new community was built, those from Tampa to Fort Myers would have easy access to any businesses in the new community. Still, another push was needed to move SMR forward. That flew into the picture in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Both Manatee and Sarasota counties were concerned about over crowding at the Sarasota-Manatee Airport and were looking at Lakewood Ranch as an attractive site to build a new, larger airport. Eventually, the airport authority threw out the idea of building a new airport in Lakewood Ranch in 1985. Cole said government agencies considering an airport for Lakewood Ranch was a “pressure point,” which caused the Lakewood Ranch parent company to consider other options. One was building a residential community. Members of the Uihlein family, SMR’s board and Rex Jensen — now the company’s CEO and president who first joined SMR in 1990 — began taking trips around the country to examine other master planned communities. “It was the same story, that you needed a group of believers,” Cole said of the thought of building a residential community where most people didn’t think it was possible. “It took a lot of belief. A thousand people would say it wasn’t viable. The reality is that you have to make it work.” SMR, which began its transition to building residential neighborhoods in February 1994, made it work. Today, Lakewood Ranch has more than 63,000 residents in 33 residential villages. More than 40% of the 33,000 acres has been set aside as open space or recreation with green space, trails and parks. “It was nice that (the Uihleins) owned that land,” Cole said. “The family had that land a long time, and it allowed us to accommodate a longer-term vision. With that land, (SMR) didn’t have to maximize prof its on everything. Lakewood Ranch was built with less density. It is a great place, a great community with a great lifestyle. The most impor tant elements were the parks and the trails.” Cole said the other key was forming the stewardship district and the Community Development Districts to maintain the community’s infrastructure.THE ART OF BUILDING A COMMUNITYSarasota and its beautiful beaches were destined to become a thriv ing community based on their pure beauty. But what kind of community? Would it offer more than a chance to get a tan or to escape winter snow? While a push to develop a city along Sarasota Bay began in the 1880s, it was in the 1920s that Sarasota received a major boost toward becoming the arts mecca that it is today. John and Mable Ringling began vacationing in Sarasota in 1909 and they immediately began buy ing property. John Ringling built a 30-room mansion named C d’Zan, which was completed in 1926. By that time, Ringling had also made Sarasota the winter home of his cir cus. A museum later was added for his extensive art collection. Sarasota had become a haven for art. As years passed, the community built its arts reputation like none other. Wealthy people moved to the area to enjoy the arts, and arts groups and benefactors moved to the area to be involved in a like-minded community. “Sarasota is a special community,” said Shaun Greenspan, a Sarasota resident whose “The Sarasota Experience” debuted this spring on WEDU, the region’s PBS member station. “And what do rich people do when they have nothing to do? They go to the arts.” Greenspan’s documentary (pbs. org/video/the-sarasota-experience-lfc9dr/) covers every facet of the development of Sarasota and it also offers a meticulous and fascinating look at the formation of its arts community along with a look at those who were responsible for building it. Whether it is strengthening its arts community or its core values, Greenspan said Sarasota’s ability to evolve is perhaps its best quality. “Sarasota always has been a pioneer town,” Greenspan said. “It still is, in my opinion, a pioneer town. One thing constant is change. People say, ‘I wish Sarasota would remain the same.’ But because it changes, it always improves itself.” Among the many arts organizations that have formed a community like none other are the Sarasota Opera, the Asolo Repertory Theatre, the Sarasota Ballet, the Players Center for Performing Arts, the Circus Arts Conservatory, the Urbanite Theatre, the Sarasota Orchestra and the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe. Top venues include the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and the Asolo Repertory Theatre. Greenspan said the wealth, the beautiful beaches, the airport all combined to form a “perfect confluence” to build a renowned arts community. “But it is the wonderful sense of community that I like to talk about,” Greenspan said. “People here have the opportunity to create the city they want.”While Sarasota built its arts reputation to separate from other beach communities, Lakewood Ranch carved paradise out of the wild.Lands of opportunity SchroederManatee Ranch CEO and President Rex Jensen has helped his company seize opportunities to make Lakewood Ranch one of the most desirable communities in the U.S.Courtesy photosThe Sarasota Ballet is just one of the region’s ne arts groups.

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14 SPIRIT OF AMERICA | JULY 2023 VISIT OUR NEWLY EXPANDED SHOWROOM rfntbf fWWW.ELEGANTOUTDOORS.COM SHOP OUR SUMMER SALE EVENT f Enjoy life outdoors Enjoy life outdoors Celebrating our Freedom! Celebrating our Freedom! SCAN FOR AN EXCLUSIVE OFFERShop small and support your local businesses! MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER A+E EDITORWhile seizing the oppor tunity to create thriving, and unique, communities in Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch took the proverbial village, three individuals provided the vision to help launch those efforts. Frontier Florida was not for the faint of heart, so much so that some of the Scottish settlers who arrived in the 1800s decided to return to their homeland. But the area’s trailblazers didn’t. They helped build the region into what it is today. They made tangible, lasting changes in their environment and inspired others to do the same.LEWIS COLSON: FORMER SLAVE MAKES HUGE IMPACTFormer slave Lewis Colson arrived in Sarasota in 1884 and helped map out the city. He became a spiritual leader in the African American community. Is he well known today for his exploits? Perhaps not. A man and a woman talking on a bench at Selby Five Points Park probably don’t realize they owe Colson a debt of gratitude, and the same can be said of the man coming out of the Selby Library. If these Sarasota denizens notice the historical marker in the park at One Central Avenue and take the time to read it, they will learn that Colson worked as an assistant to engineer Richard E. Paulson of the Florida Mortgage and Investment Co. Born in 1844, Colson arrived in Sarasota in 1884. The following year, Colson drove the stake into the ground at Five Points, which became the center of the city that grew from a fishing village. There were many firsts Colson’s life. He was the first Black to register to vote in Manatee County. Along with his wife Irene, a midwife, he founded the first African American church in Sarasota after becoming a minister. Colson was the first minister of the Bethlehem Baptist Church, where he served from 1899 to 1915. In 1925, the first hotel was con structed in Sarasota for Blacks. It was named the Colson Hotel. It had 25 rooms, all reserved for African Americans, who were not allowed to stay in other hotels. Why did Blacks need their own hotel in Sarasota? Like everybody else, they were caught up in the Flor ida Land Boom of the 1920s, which created work. “Sarasota was a growing community, and African Americans were learning about job opportunities,” said Vickie Oldham, CEO of the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition Inc. Oldham was inter viewed for the WEDU PBS documentary, “The Sarasota Experience.” The days of being first didn’t end for Colson when his life ended in 1922. He and Irene were the first and only Blacks buried in the historic Rosemary Cemetery, which was owned by his former employer. JOHN SCHROEDER PUT LAKE WOOD RANCH ON THE MAPJohn Schroeder is not a household name. But at one time the German immigrant, who arrived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1846, ran one of the largest lumber companies in the U.S. In 1905, Schroeder bought a 45-acre property that eventually spawned Lakewood Ranch. Schroeder was attracted to Florida for its timber, but the friends he sold his land to viewed it as a vacationland. To keep his Wisconsin lumber mills humming, Schroeder needed wood. He found it in Florida. In 1905, he put together a company called Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, which is the parent company of today’s planned community of Lakewood Ranch. He began buying parcels of land, assembling a 48-square-mile tract that eventually became known as Lakewood Ranch. After his death, his three sons continued to run the company that bore his name. They decided to diversify into furniture. But things didn’t work out for the Schroeders in the furniture business. They needed money, and they needed it fast. Their friends, the Uihleins, bailed them out by buying their land in 1922 for as little as $2 per acre. But friends being friends, the Uihleins kept the name SchroederManatee Ranch Co., or SMR, for short. For nearly 70 years after the Uihleins took control, agriculture was the focus, but these activities weren’t always profitable. No matter. The Uihleins used their Florida land primarily for recreation. In the 1980s, however, SMR began taking the first steps toward building a planned community, and that included holding discussions with Manatee County Commissioners. It would take until 1994 for SMR to gain the consensus and regula tory approvals needed to create its first neighborhood, Summerfield. Slowly, the community began to take shape with the addition of homes, corporate offices, country clubs, a business and entertainment hub, a post office, a hospital, a sports complex and a polo club. A lot of the credit for SMR’s transition into real estate development goes to the company’s past two presidents — John Clarke, who retired in 2002, and Rex Jensen, who currently holds the title of CEO. Lakewood Ranch has a population of about 63,000 residents in 33 residential villages. It is considered the No. 1 planned community in the U.S.BERTHA PALMER LEFT HER MARK ON SARASOTAChicago socialite and Florida land developer Bertha Palmer hasn’t been seen in Sarasota since 1918, but her presence is still felt everywhere. History remembers her as the wife of wealthy Chicago developer Potter Palmer. But Bertha carved out a new life in Florida as a businesswoman. The community of Palmer Ranch bears her name. Many of the streets she named are unchanged — Honor (her maiden name and the name of her first son), Lockwood Ridge, Tuttle, Webber and Macintosh. Who was this formidable woman? She was born in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1849 and married Potter Palmer, a man more than 20 years her senior. He built Chicago’s famous Palmer House Hotel, which still exists today in The Loop. The legendary Chicago department store Marshall Field was originally founded by a consortium led by Potter Palmer. After the Fire of 1871 wiped out the Palmer House and other Chicago landmarks, Bertha helped her husband and other city leaders rebuild. When the widowed Palmer and her family arrived in Sarasota on a luxurious Pullman train car in February 1910, the city’s only hotel was so humble that a newly opened sanitarium was quickly commandeered to accommodate the party. It wasn’t long before Palmer bought more than 80,000 acres in and around Sarasota. Palmer proved herself an able steward of the land. She is credited with rolling out innovations that improved the Florida ranching, citrus, dairy and farming industries before she died in 1918. She was no stranger to how draining land could create development potential. It was what her husband and his business partners did to pave the way for Lakeshore Drive and the Gold Coast of Chicago. Such was Palmer’s influence that other well-heeled Midwesterners followed her lead. One of them was Owen Burns, who gave Burns Court it name. Burns bought the holdings of the Florida Mortgage and Investment Co. from Sarasota pioneer John H. Gillespie for $35,000, gaining ownership of would be 75% of today’s city limits, according to historian Jeff LaHurd. “Give the Lady What She Wants,” was the axiom coined by Marshall Field. In the case of Bertha Palmer, the lady gave Sarasota what she wanted — her idea of civilization.Lewis Colson, John Schroeder and Bertha Palmer were trailblazers in frontier Florida.They seized opportunities Lewis and Irene Colson John Schroeder Bertha Palmer

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SPIRIT OF AMERICA | JULY 2023 15 rfnfft btffffnrfn tbbnrtb bbtrnbn tt tt nn b rrrttrnbb rnn brrrn trnbbnrr nrbbr bnnrtrn bb rfb rffb fntbfb t rffn ffffffbb ffbfr bfbfn fffnfn bfrfnnffnb bfnf fnbf f‘‘’“”b fnfn bfrf•rfb t –t —tt —t “ “ 403298-1

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16 SPIRIT OF AMERICA | JULY 2023 rfntfbntt ff 405107-1 br frf r rfnftbfn nftttntfnf tftttn fnttn fnnn nfnn fnffnt nnnnfnfn ffnnn tfnt nntnrn ttfnn nfnn fttb nfnttfntnt fnt LIZ RAMOS SENIOR EDITORGrowing up, Shelbie Ricks often was reminded of one of her mother’s sayings. “Use my ceiling as your floor,” her mom, Ginger Davis, would say, nudging her daughter to set high goals for herself. Ricks, 21, kept that saying in mind through her days at Braden River High School and now as she begins her agriculture teaching career at Lakewood Ranch High in August. She is an eighth generation Manatee County resident and a fifth generation rancher. All her life, she has been involved in her family’s businesses. Her par ents, Ginger and Luke Davis, own an arboriculture business (Olive Branch Tree Care), and her grandparents, Linda and Jim Parks, own a feed and farm supply store (Come See, Come Sav). In high school, Ricks took dual enrollment classes and graduated from high school in 2020 halfway to her associates degree. After graduation, Ricks had a choice to make. She could either stay home and help her family with their businesses, or go to college. She remembered her mother’s words. “Use my ceiling as your floor.”FIRST IN THE FAMILYOn May 4, Ricks followed through on her mom’s advice. She walked across the stage to accept her diploma from the University of Florida. She became the first in her family to graduate from college. “It kind of leaves me speechless,” Ricks said. “My family is well known here in Manatee County, so it gives me a sense of pride to add something else to our plate.” Ricks said she wouldn’t have been able to get to graduation day without the love and support of her family and husband, Britton Ricks. She told her family she was willing to stay home and work for the businesses instead of going to college, but her family pushed her to pursue her dreams. Linda Parks said seeing her granddaughter be the first to graduate from college was awesome. “We are so proud,” Parks said. “There are no words in the diction ary to express how proud I am.” At the University of Florida, Ricks joined the Gator Collegiate Cattle women’s Association and the UF Block and Bridle Club. She also traveled to the Florida State Fair as one of the first showmen of the UF Brahman Show Team. They assisted with research to advance the genetics of the UF Brahmans. Ricks said she tries to use knowledge she has gained to keep her family’s agriculture businesses updated. “Being able to be knowledgeable with the new, modern technology for beef cattle and being on the forefront of the new genetics that are out there help better our herd and stay on top of diseases and pests that are attack ing the industry,” Ricks said. Ginger Davis said no one in the family has had the horticulture knowledge that Linda Parks, Davis’ mother, has until Ricks went to college. “We always say if we could clone my mom, we would be in a good place because I don’t have that horticulture knowledge,” Davis said. “But now, Shelbie hopefully can help us. I’ll be having to text her while she’s working (at school) to say, ‘Hey, what about this plant?’”ADDING TO A LEGACY Ricks is looking forward to the school year at Lakewood Ranch High. “It’s a full circle moment for me,” Ricks said. “I knew I always wanted to come back to Manatee County. I didn’t know where I was going to be, but it’s definitely something I’ve prayed for.” When she first started college, Ricks said she wanted to be a large animal vet, but she realized it wasn’t the best path for her because she wanted to raise a family. Ricks said her love for education began when she was in FFA at Braden River High. She competed in an agriculture education competition where she simulated a lesson plan and delivered a lesson to college students. She was judged on her lesson and the information she was providing. Ricks said it gave her the opportunity to see how creative she can be teaching others. She also knew agriculture teachers in Manatee County through her family’s businesses and understood the sense of community among the teachers. Like those teachers, she wants to pass the torch to younger generations. “There’s a place for everybody in agriculture,” she said. Courtesy photosShelbie Ricks (center) is the rst in her family to graduate from college, earning a degree at the University of Florida.Shelbie Ricks will pass on her family’s agriculture knowledge as a teacher at Lakewood Ranch High after being the rst in her family to graduate from college.Building on a legacy ABOUT THE GRADSHELBIE RICKS Age: 21 School: University of Florida Year graduated: 2023 Degree: Bachelors of science and agriculture education Family: Husband, Britton Ricks; father, Luke Davis; mother, Ginger Davis; grandparents Linda and Jim Parks; siblings Shaylynn Davis, Garrett Vincent and Tristen Karantonis Career: Agriculture teacher at Lakewood Ranch High School “We are so proud,There are no words in the dictionary to express how proud I am.” Jim Parks

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18 SPIRIT OF AMERICA | JULY 2023 IAN SWABY STAFF WRITERAs Sarasota’s Alejandro Per alta strolled through Johns Hopkins University in March, he knew it was the next step along a path where “every decision, every calculated step,” had led him. The path began before he was born. That trail began because of the sacrifices made by his parents, Car los Peralta and Johanna Jacome, who immigrated from Ecuador. Because of the hardships his family experienced along the way, Alejandro Peralta wants to make the most of every opportunity. Carlos Peralta immigrated from Ecuador to the U.S. at 19 years old in 2000. Throughout his life, he had seen college graduates in Ecuador who were underemployed, such as taxi drivers who held doctoral degrees. “There are private schools that are very good, expensive too, but in the end, you’ve got your degree in a place that you can’t use it most of the time,” Carlos Peralta said about education in Ecuador. While living in Worcester, Massachusetts, Carlos Peralta met and married Johanna, who was on vacation from Ecuador. Not long after ward, Alejandro Peralta was born. The couple was filled with dreams, but as undocumented immigrants, the way forward was not easy. “Every time when we went to work, or to take Alejandro to school, we were risking everything,” Carlos Peralta said. “We always believed in the American dream,” Carlos Peralta said. “We knew that millions of people did it already before us, so why not us? We knew if we did the right thing, pay ing our taxes, living out of trouble, we had a lot of chances to eventually get our citizenship, and that is what happened.” Carlos Peralta became a citizen in 2017 and Jacome in 2018. Today, Carlos Peralta works on heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems for Bay to Bay Test and Balance. He is currently working on systems at NASA. Jacome is a metrology engineer for Omnia Scientific. A PLAN YEARS IN THE MAKINGFrom a young age, Alejandro Per alta felt a deep drive to help others as well as a passion for anatomy and the brain. By fifth grade, he memorized the bones of the body and was working out a pathway to medical school. “I found out that just researching the brain isn’t enough,” he said. “I wanted to contribute to society. I wanted to contribute to the better ment of human health, so that’s why neurosurgery was such an attractive option to me. I was lucky to find out so young, so I could be focused on one dream.” There have been many early mornings and late nights involved, but he has been rewarded by the Father Connie Dougherty Memorial Scholarship Fund and with a merit-based scholarship from Johns Hopkins University. He graduated from Sarasota High School seventh in his class in May. Alejandro Peralta said he took every advanced course available, participating in the School of Excellence in Math, Science, and Technology and Advanced International Certificate of Education programs. Currently, he is working with tutors on college-level courses. His goal is to double major in neuroscience and molecular and cellular biology with a minor in medical Spanish. Behind his goals, he said, is a sense of gratitude and responsibility regarding the educational opportunities his life, along with his parents’ decision to immigrate to the U.S. “I always have the reminder that if (my parents) were able to get this far, having to work three times as hard as everyone else, I know that in my position, being born here and hav ing those opportunities right here for the picking, I have no excuse to not reach my goals and even go beyond that as a physician,” he said. Carlos Peralta said the education his children are receiving in the U.S. is “the most important gift you can give to your kids.” Alejandro Peralta's acceptance to Johns Hopkins University is a dream come true for everyone in the family. “That was what we’ve been look ing for, what we’ve worked for,” Jacome said. “Every moment that we’ve spent talking to them, always telling them how it’s important to work hard for your dreams, I (can see it happening) right now.” Due to his goal to increase the accessibility of healthcare every where, Alejandro Peralta plans to practice neurosurgery in Ecuador and the U.S. “The American dream really exists,” Carlos Peralta said. “If you work hard, with honesty, eventually the dream becomes a reality.”ALL IN THE FAMILYPeralta wanted to avoid placing financial responsibility for additional educational opportunities on his parents. In 2017, Alejandro Peralta, alongside his now 13-year-old brother, Santhiago Peralta, founded a home care business, BrosSK. As a result, Alejandro Peralta has paid for tutoring, SAT classes, tennis lessons and United States Tennis Association tournaments. His business also is rewarding due to the time spent with his siblings. Every afternoon, the siblings do their homework together, with one teaching the other. They’ve also inspired one another; Mia Peralta, who is 9, and Santhiago Peralta both intend to become neurosurgeons as well. “It’s like a superpower — just with your hands, you can save people’s lives,” said Santhiago Peralta. “I want to do that with my brother and sis ter.”Alejandro Peralta, whose parents came from Ecuador to pursue their dreams, continues their story in America.Carrying on the dream Photos by Ian SwabyMia Peralta, Johanna Jacome, Santhiago Peralta, Alejandro Peralta and Carlos Peralta are happy to be living their American dream. Alejandro Peralta holds a letter of acceptance from Johns Hopkins University.“We always believed in the American dream. We knew that millions of people did it already before us, so why not us? Carlos Peralta rfntb tf rfrfn rff r r fntbbrrbb r r 405113-1rfrnfttb rf LOOK NO FURTHER...n t For a FREE Estimate call 941-714-0068 today or come visit our showroom at 1202 Gary Ave, Ste 9 Ellenton, FL 34222 www.mobilityplus.com/manatee b LIFT CHAIRS, POWER CHAIRS AND MOBILITY SCOOTERS 405266-1

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SPIRIT OF AMERICA | JULY 2023 19 Thank you all for being such wonderful customers and friends over the years! Dean and Janet Mixon We are excited to take some of Mixon’s favorites on the road! If you have a location that you would like us to serve with our truck, give us a call or email info@mixon.com Market.mixon.com Mark your calendar! Our Deli and Ice Cream department will be open September 7th-9th during our auction! You are welcome to come in and take a look at what we are auctioning and grab a bite to eat! We will continue to do Gift Fruit shipping. We will be taking orders starting in October 405043-1 JAMES PETER MANAGING EDITORShe was supposed to be an accountant, or maybe a lawyer. Instead, she became a professional big-game hunter and the host of her own outdoor adventure TV show. But Sarasota’s Larysa Switlyk didn’t discover her calling until she was 23 years old — and even then it took a combination of luck and nerve. “I didn’t have the opportunity to get outdoors. I made one,” said Switlyk. As the nation celebrates its freedoms on July 4, Switlyk is a prime of example of having the opportunity to choose a course in life. Does Amer ica offer the opportunity to pursue dreams that might be considered unusual or odd to many? Switlyk’s story is proof that it, indeed, does. Growing up in Albany, New York, and the daughter of two doctors, Switlyk said she had limited oppor tunities for interscholastic sports and extracurriculars. The family rarely fished, even after moving to Longboat Key in 1995. Switlyk’s exposure to outdoor pur suits was limited to a fishing rod pur chased at the Longboat Key Publix and the lucky catch of a flounder on a hand line when she was 11 years old. Switlyk finished high school at Sarasota High and then attended the University of Florida where she earned bachelors and masters degrees in accounting. She dreamed of working in Manhattan. She worked as a tax intern the summer of 2006 in New York City. “It was too much work, stress, too much drinking. It was working 12 hours a day. I watched my man ager there miss (making) partner. (He said) ‘I put my life and soul into this,’” Switlyk explained. “I realized I could waste 10 years of my life (there).”LUCK AND NERVESwitlyk was back in Florida, considering law school and hearing excuses from friends why they couldn’t go on a backpacking trip. “I’m not going to wait around for anyone,” she said. She went solo. At 23, she spent six months living out of her bag. First Australia, then New Zealand. “I pushed myself to see what I could try. Bungee jumping, I camped for the first time, skydiving,” she said. “I wanted to learn how to fly fish.” She was on South Island, New Zealand in 2007. When Switlyk showed up at the outfitter, the guides told her that fly fishing season was over. Did she want to go on a hunt? “I didn’t know anything. I’d never shot a rifle before. I showed up with hiking boots and a backpack,” she said. Before the guide, Shane Johnson, would take her out, he wanted to make sure Switlyk could shoot properly. After hitting a target 100 yards away twice, Johnson took her on a deer hunt, where she bagged a deer on her first try. When Switlyk returned to the U.S. she wanted to share her newfound passion with her family, but her par ents and brothers were confused. “Why are you killing animals?” they asked. “They thought something was wrong with me,” Switlyk said. “Because they didn’t understand it, they didn’t like it.” She thought she might be able to change people’s perceptions on hunters and educate people about how hunters care about nature and healthy animal populations and how hunting contributes to conservation and the defense of public land access. But first, Switlyk needed to find a way to fund her passion.GETTING WILDShe found an unconventional way to fund her passion. She obtained her real estate license and sold houses on Longboat Key. She’d use the money to hunt any chance she had. It was around this time she saw a show on ESPN called “Get Wild.” The outdoor program hosted by Cindy Garrison took viewers on hunting adventures around the world. She gave herself five years to make a TV show. It took her three. From the outside looking in, “Larysa Unleashed,” seems like a dream job for a hunter or angler. Switlyk is quick to point out that it is. But the finished product, a halfhour show about a hunting or fishing adventure, is the result of scripting, storyboarding and painstaking planning. Expeditions are expensive propositions. “There’s so much more office work behind the scenes. It’s the most work I’ve ever had,” Switlyk said.EDUCATION UNLEASHED“People confuse hunting with poaching,” Switlyk said. “Hunting is very regulated. Hunters are the first line of defense in conservation. They protect habitats, they manage populations. Their dollars support it.” Since she began her show, she has hunted 100 species on trips in 60 countries and has seen up close the positive impact of hunters, she said. “If not for hunters, all the (game) animals in Africa would be poached,” Switlyk said. “If there’s no value to the animal, there’s no reason to keep the animal around. Hunters add value to the animal. Societies will save these animals because they’re lucrative.” In hopes of educating more people, she formed a nonprofit, Unleashed Outdoor Education and Wildlife Conservation, in 2022 with a twopronged mission — to educate people about hunting and conservation and to give more people the opportunity to get outdoors, whether it’s as hunters, anglers or hikers.Sarasota’s Larysa Switlyk takes a path less traveled to make her mark as an adventure TV host.Hunter takes aim at biggame opportunities WHERE TO WATCH“Unleashed Global Adventures” starts in September on the Pursuit Channel (Dish & Direct TV) and Wild TV; Watch Roku on Women’s Outdoor Network Courtesy photoLarysa Switlyk of “Larysa Unleashed” has formed a nonprot to educate more people on the benets of hunting.“I pushed myself to see what I could try. Bungee jumping, I camped for the rst time, skydiving. I wanted to learn how to y sh.” Larysa Switlyk

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20 SPIRIT OF AMERICA | JULY 2023 rrrf ntb rfntbn rn tn brrrfnrnrf rr frnrf n brrNow Open Wednesday Sunday for Dinner in our Fine Dining Room MAINLAND 404523-1 br br r t f LIVE MAIN LOBSTER SNOW CRAB b‘bPRIME RIB ’ff“ rf rnntbtnt tn r fnnr t rf ntbtb rfnttbfr ntrfntbttttfnfb fntnfttttfff405108-1ff ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITERStefan Campagna’s law career began in the courtroom, not as an attorney but rather as a defendant. He was facing a jury of his peers, which in this case were fellow teenage offenders tasked with deciding what kind of penalty they would impose on the 16-year-old Campagna. The now 36-year-old Sarasota native and attorney ended up behind bars following a spree of breaking into cars and stealing anything of value. He was charged with 27 felonies, including one charge for taking a stolen vehicle for a joy ride. His court date was with Teen Court of Sarasota, a youth jury program that employs diversion oppor tunities for juvenile offenders and opportunities for civic engagement for student volunteers. “Honestly I fell into that behavior the same way I think that most every teenager does — just poor decision making,” Campagna said. “For lack of a better term, being an idiot in the moment.” Campagna could have blamed his life situation for his troubles. Along with a younger brother, he grew up raised by a single mother living in a small apartment. He could have said he fell in with the wrong crowd. Instead, teen court held him accountable for his actions. Campagna credits his experience in teen court, and the adults who oversee it, with putting him on the track for personal and professional success. Not only has he built a career in criminal law, but also he is dedicated to giving back to the program that saved him by serving on the teen court’s board of directors and volunteering as a judge, which is the only adult role during teen court proceedings. He also serves as the program administrator for the National Association of Youth Courts. Now as a criminal attorney often defending youths in juvenile court, he said those found guilty in the system need to be held accountable as well. “A lot of people like to blame it on divorced parents or bad friends, but poor decision making is why many kids fall under that same umbrella,” he said. “I’m sure their lack of decision making is probably a product of their environment, but what we need to focus on is how do we improve the decisions.” Campagna’s desire to give back is rooted in the support network that surrounded him inside and outside of teen court. He credits the principal at the time at Pine View School, Steve Largo, with allowing him to remain enrolled and to eventually graduate. He also cites Heather Todd, the executive director of Teen Court of Sarasota, who was his case worker at the time, along with then-executive director Katie Self and his mother for keeping him on the right path. That path led to a degree from University of Central Florida and then, after a year off while working for Sarasota County, he went to the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University in New York. Although his record had been expunged with successful completion of his teen court sanctions, Campagna’s brush with the law and teen court experience was the focus of his application essay. And a scholarship. While at Hofstra, Campagna did some public speaking about teen court and was allowed to start a program in New York, which had none at the time. Eventually, it was two women who would lead him to return to his home town — his mother and wife, Camile. Returning to Sarasota, becoming involved in teen court was never in question. Over the past decade, Campagna has guest lectured at high schools, colleges and governmental and community-based forums across the country. He served as a panel member at the American Bar Association’s 2011 Mid-Year Meeting, during which he advocated the successful passage of the ABA Resolution in Support of Youth Courts. He said teen court participants are offered a second chance with continued support beyond conclusion of the program. “A lot of times if you give somebody a second chance, especially in the criminal arena, they just go right back to what they were doing because that’s what they know,” Campagna said. “So instead of just saying, here’s your second chance, go on out there and try and figure it out by yourself, they’re also given the resources to take advantage of that second chance.”Sometimes opportunity simply means a second chanceStefan Campagna used his second chance to become an attorney and champion Teen Court of Sarasota. NO PUBLIC FUNDINGTeen Court of Sarasota Inc. is a nonprot almost excessively funded through private donations. While teen court serves the county of Sarasota, especially the county judicial system, it receives no funding from the county. Information about how to donate is available on SarasotaTeenCourt.org.Stefan Campagna returned to his home city to start and raise a family.Courtesy photosStefan Campagna volunteers as a Teen Court of Sarasota County judge in addition to serving as a board member. “I’m sure their lack of decision making is probably a product of their environment, but what we need to focus on is how do we improve the decisions.” Stefan Campagna

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22 SPIRIT OF AMERICA | JULY 2023 1707 1st Street E. Bradenton 34208 (Where Highway 41 & 301 meet at 17th Ave.) LIVEENTERTAINMENT 80,000 405102-1 ENTIRE MARKETOPEN FRI., SAT., & SUN. MAY thru OCT 9am-4pmFRESH 405103-1 rfn tbbtt brb tbb tbtb 397824-1 LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITERWhile some successful people go to extremes to grasp a life oppor tunity, others toil away for years, working hard to make their American dreams come true. Such is the story of Alex Ortega, who has created a successful life for both himself and his family through his work ethic. Ortega described his journey while going through his workday at Turtles Restaurant on Little Sarasota Bay.9:00 A.M. þ  Ortega arrives at Turtles and walks the restaurant, inside and out, to be sure everything is clean and ready. He makes sure the bathroom is stocked, the coolers are set to the right temperatures and there’s no debris in the parking lot. Ortega knows every inch of Tur tles, having worked in the same restaurant since he was 16 years old. He left his home of Aguascalientes, Mexico for the first time and didn’t speak English. He was hired to wash dishes. In 1986, two families — the Fla nagans and the Kellehers —opened Turtles. The waterfront restaurant on Siesta Key has since been passed down to the next generation. But there’s a third family that operates the restaurant — the Ortegas. Just three years after Turtles opened, Alex Ortega joined the staff and has since risen through the ranks. Now at 50 years old, he’s the Now 50 years old and the general manager, Alex Ortega achieved his own American dream starting at Turtles when he was only 16, at a time he didn’t speak English.Daily grind pays o Photos by Lesley DwyerAlex Ortega started building a career for himself at Turtles on Little Sarasota Bay when he was 16 years old and new to the country.

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SPIRIT OF AMERICA | JULY 2023 23 rfrntrfbr frfntb rfrrrrfntbrf t r t t 404807-1 general manager. His family also calls Turtles home. His son Ezequiel is the assistant manager and his brother Julian is the kitchen manager. His brother Manuel is the sous chef, and his daughter Maria waits tables part time.9:35 A.M. Ortega is back out the door to go to the bank and run errands. He’s used to a fast-paced life, constantly going in and out of the restaurant for errands. He returns to address any customer needs. He grew up on a ranch outside of Aguascalientes, a city in central Mexico, with his mother, father and six siblings. His father was a teacher, and his mother stayed at home. It was idyllic until Ortega was 8 years old and his father died of an aneurysm. His mother landed a job in the school system and worked tirelessly to keep seven children clothed and fed. By 15 years old, Ortega was eager to help. He had cousins living in Ruskin, working in tomato fields. When they came home to visit, they were wear ing nicer clothes and Nike sneakers. Ortega had never dreamed of leaving Mexico, but he suddenly saw the U.S. as an opportunity to help his family. At the time, it was fairly easy to obtain a green card. Getting to Flor ida was the bigger challenge. Ortega crossed the border illegally, swimming across a river and walking for two days before feeling safe enough to stop to get food. He worked in Ruskin for less than a year before moving to Bradenton. He was still picking tomatoes, but he’d gotten his green card through the rancher for whom he worked. Four months later, a cousin told him Turtles was hiring. Five years later, Ortega became a U.S. citizen. 10:15 A.M. Ortega sees all the deliveries have arrived and the kitchen is ready for lunch service. The kitchen crew is in full swing, chopping vegetables and simmering soups. Back when he started, Ortega remembered thinking that scrubbing clam chowder out of soup bowls was a step up from making $70 per week picking tomatoes, but he wasn’t content to stay behind the sink. He learned English and began moving up in the ranks. He moved from the dish area to the prep station and was promoted from pantry chef to sous chef. Eventually, he worked his way up to kitchen manager.11:50 A.M. He walks around the restaurant checking in on diners. When James Rainey, the same gen eral manager who hired him to be a dishwasher, retired 15 years ago, it was a given Ortega would take over the position. “I felt so motivated that the people I worked with believed in me. Not many people stay in one job for so long. I’ve seen so many chefs and managers here,” Ortega said. “What made me stay was my future, my career. I never got a chance to go to school, to have a career. I was so young when I lost my father, and my mom worked so hard to support all of us.”12:40 P.M. The lunch rush has Ortega back and forth from the hostess stand helping to greet and seat guests. The only positions Ortega didn’t hold in the restaurant before becoming the general manager were server, bartender and host. Since taking on the role, he’s done all three. There is nothing Ortega asks of his staff that he’s unwilling to do himself from bussing tables to mixing drinks. While covering the host stand, he didn’t stop wiping down the menus.3:35 P.M. Ortega is back upstairs in his office to squeeze in more paperwork before the dinner service. “I’m the general manager, but I’m also the secretary because I do pay roll and help with advertising. My son is in charge of the bar and banquets,” he said.5:15 P.M. Ortega starts pouring beer and wine as dinner service picks up. “I just run. I host, run food, bus tables —whatever needs to be done,” Ortega said. Ortega always has had a fierce drive and a work ethic to match. He knew hard work would pay off. When he was hired, he was dou bled up in a two-bedroom apartment off Fruitville Road, 15 miles from the restaurant. He rode his bike until he could afford to buy his first car, a 1979 Pontiac Trans Am. He couldn’t afford the tuition or time off for college, so he went to VoTech, which is now Sarasota County Technical Institute, and obtained certifications as a cook, sous chef, chef and kitchen manager.7:45 P.M. The dinner rush is over, so it’s time for Ortega to call it a day. It’s a day that has earned his family more opportunities. Ortega’s American dream carries on through his children. His assistant manager and son, Ezequiel, graduated from the University of South Florida with a degree in biology. Like father, like son —Ezequiel also started working at Turtles when he was 16. In fact, all four of Ortega’s children have worked at the restaurant at one point or another. “When my dad was flustered because somebody didn’t show up, he’d ask if we wanted to make a few dollars,” Ezequiel said. “Now, I try to help relieve some of the stress that comes with managing a restaurant. Whenever he has something going on, I can be here. I’m his son, so I care about his wellbeing.” Ezequiel originally intended to become a physician’s assistant. When he was suggested to fill the assistant manager position after graduating, Ortega’s answer was “No, he has other plans,” but the owners made an offer anyway. “He did some math and said, ‘Dad, I think this is perfect for me.’ He can easily buy his own home now, and he’s 29. He got married, and I’m a grandpa,” Ortega said. “We have such a good relationship. It’s amaz ing. I can trust my family, so I can take some time off.” Alex Ortega chips in everywhere at the restaurant. If there’s food sitting in the window, he’ll serve it himself. Alex Ortega lls in at the hostess stand to greet and seat guests. Turtles on Little Sarasota Bay has become a family-run restaurant over the years. Ezequiel Ortega is the assistant manager, Alex Ortega is the general manager, and Julian Ortega is the kitchen manager. Alex Ortega starts pouring beer as the tables ll for dinner.“I felt so motivated that the people I worked with believed in me. Not many people stay in one job for so long.” Alex Ortega

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24 SPIRIT OF AMERICA | JULY 2023 61 N Pineapple Ave 389760-1 405109-1 TRY TODAY rfntrbrtbbftftrbttfbrrttfb tftrrnntntntrtbbbrrrb nrntbrrrttrbbbttrtfbbttrnrr brftrrrrrrbtrrtrrrrtfrtt rbtrbrrbrtbtnttrbrrbtrbtbrbtr rftftrtfbftntrbbrrrrbr nrfbrnnttfbtbnbntfbftr rntrrrtbbbnbbrtrfbbbrr rrrrtrftrbr‘’“ r f rfrnt rff LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITERA passion for caring for others’ needs, especially their health needs, was instilled in Sarasota’s Sue Wise at a young age by her parents. She grew up in small-town Michigan on a farm that was run primarily by her father and brothers. “(The farm) was very much based on Midwestern ethics and values with the way business was done,” she said. “It was very communitycentered.” In 1977, her father and brothers were killed in a plane crash. The crash changed her perspective on life and drew her toward pursuing her own dreams in the nursing field. “I wanted to focus on the private duty side,” she said. “I felt like that was going to give me a lot of oppor tunities and ways to grow personally and professionally. That’s when I decided to take a chance and open up the company when I moved to Sarasota.” She started Take Care Home Health in 1995 with an office in Venice and four employees. Now, the company has four offices, one of which doubles as a care management office, and just under 400 employees. The offices are located in Sarasota, Venice, Bradenton and Port Charlotte.LIFELONG PASSIONWise’s passion for nursing was influenced by her mother, Ruth. She admired her mother’s passion for her job and the way she often went above and beyond for her patients at the children’s hospital where she worked. One particular memory that stuck out to Wise involved a birthday cake. Her mother came home from work and told her about a boy in the hospital celebrating his birthday the next day but he didn’t have any family to celebrate with him. The pair worked together to bake a cake and make sure the boy would feel loved. “I saw how much she loved what she did,” Wise said. “I decided to give nursing a shot. I have continued to love it. Nursing is a phenomenal career. There’s so much opportunity. It’s so rewarding to feel good about what you’ve done at the end of the day.” Wise attributes her success to her and her team’s work ethic and relationships they build with clients and each other. “Part of it is continuing to have that rapport and relationship with clients,” she said. “That certainly helped the foundation of my busi ness. It makes it more of a community-centered business where people know that we care and that we go to the extent we do to make sure they have what they need.”INVOLVING FAMILYTwo of her daughters eventually expressed interest in joining the family business as they, too, had found a passion for health care. Courtney Snyder and Erika Borland have taken the responsibilities of president and vice president respectively. Both Snyder and Borland have held other jobs and pursued other inter ests before deciding that the family business was what they were looking for as a career. “They love the community,” Wise said. “They love the entrepreneurial side of the business where you can create and grow. That’s the wonder ful thing about the country we live in. It’s in our hands as to how far we want to push it to make it successful and what direction we want to take it.” Wise said working with her daughters has been an enjoyable experience. “I have not found it to be challenging,” she said. “Some people say ‘does that make it hard?’ No, I think it makes it enjoyable. It’s an added treat that I spend so much time at work, and I also get to see two of my daughters.” Working with Snyder and Bow land has allowed her to shift her focus from the business side to her true passion — caring for those who need it. The two handle more of the business side such as the company’s website and the potential to pursue additional services. “I tend to like to be able to be with the clients and deal with the nursing issues,” Wise said. “(Working with them) allows me to focus and hunker down on that while they deal with the direction the company is going and what we might look at differ ently.”The death of her father and brothers in a plane crash led Sue Wise in a new life direction, and she eventually started Take Home Health Care in Sarasota. ABOUT TAKE CARE HOME HEALTHThe family-owned and operated company specializes in at-home healthcare and meeting their patients where they are at. About 65% to 70% of the company’s clients require help with their every day needs outside of medical care, what founder Sue Wise categorizes as unskilled care. The remaining percentage require skilled care, which covers all medical care that a nursing professional would have the skills to do. “Because we have such a large base of employees, we’re able to provide both skilled and unskilled,” Wise said. “If something were to happen to someone we were providing unskilled care to such as needing wound care or care after surgery, we are able to ip into the skilled care in addition to the unskilled. They won’t have to seek out services elsewhere.”Trajedy spurs career of caring Take Care Home Health’s rst oce opened in 1995.Courtesy photosTake Care Home Health is run by Sue Wise and two of her daughters, Erika Wise Borland and Courtney Wise Snyder.“There’s so much opportunity. It’s so rewarding to feel good about what you’ve done at the end of the day.” Sue Wise

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SPIRIT OF AMERICA | JULY 2023 25 404692-1 r rfnrtbrtbb n rf404776-1 r fnt fb 404774-1 310 West Venice Ave • 941.484.1313 Shop our new summer linesand enjoy great deals!Let’s Get Social! Seaside Chic/Beach Daisy BoutiqueJohnny Was, XCVI, Made in Italy, Bella Dahl, Wooden Ships, Hobo, Uno de 50 404775-1 rfntbbtbftb ttbbff tffrtr fntbr r 941-488-3029114 Nokomis Ave. S.Historic Downtown Venice Since 1983 One block off Venice Ave. FINE ART • CUSTOM FRAMING • HOUSE CALL BY APPT. www.collectorsgalleryandframery.com 941-488-3029114 Nokomis Ave. S.Historic Downtown Venice Since 1983 One block off Venice Ave. FINE ART • CUSTOM FRAMING • HOUSE CALL BY APPT. www.collectorsgalleryandframery.com rffn tb nfff rfnntbrf 404771-1 VOTEDBESTMediterranean Restaurant 404777-1 r fntbf bt rfrn tb b r f nt r f n t b t b t f b n bb t tt b b b f f b f b f f b f nb f b fb f rfnrrtbt rfnntttt bb trfnrnntb 404772-1 404773-1 Follow us on 941-488-7788 | 303B West Venice Avenue Lisa’sTOTAL PURCHASE20% OFF Resort Wear | Sportswear Unique Handbags | Jewelry | Accessories July 14th & 15th ONLY! rf ntbnt t t b rfntbnf r frntbbntbt btb rfn404770-1

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26 SPIRIT OF AMERICA | JULY 2023 HARVEST HOUSEFounded: 1992 Mission: To democratize affordable housing, addiction recovery, work force development and food security to improve economic status and stabilize lives How it accomplishes its mission: By having nine supportive housing campuses and 25 affordable rentals, encompassing more than 400 beds and serving more than 1,000 individuals annually First-hand account: Arianna Adoptante, 28, started abusing substances when she was 18. Over time, Adoptante said her substance abuse caused a lot of issues with her family and led her to years of couchhopping without a place to consider home. In 2020, Adoptante became pregnant. She tried a different rehab centers, she said, but none were all that effective. The restrictions they placed on her life caused even more pressure and didn’t help her. Adoptante’s son, Asher, was born in August 2021, and Adoptante was still struggling. Florida Department of Children and Families became involved, giv ing Adoptante an ultimatum: get the help she needed or be deemed an unfit mother. That is when Adoptante decided to try Harvest House, a decision she is thrilled she made. Adoptante is staying at one of Harvest House’s supportive housing campuses as part of the organization’s addiction services program, where she can stay for up to two years. Adoptante said the program puts an emphasis on freedom: there are some necessary check-ins, she said, but she’s being allowed to live her life and grow as a person as a result. “(Other places) don’t give you the ability to make your own choices,” Adoptante said. “It’s overwhelming. There’s a lot of structure and you’re always in meetings or in groups talking about how to get sober. At Harvest House, I actually get to put all those skills I spent learning into practice (on her own) to see how successful I could be. It has been great to have people supporting me while still feeling like I’m in control of my life.” Adoptante said she has set a goal to have enough money at the end of her stay to afford an apartment for her and her son. WOMEN’S RESOURCE CENTERFounded: 1979 Mission: To engage, educate, enrich and empower women of all generations. How it accomplishes its mission: Providing women (and men) with life skills training, career planning and educational scholarships in Manatee and Sarasota Counties. First-hand account: Six years ago, Adrianne Luetzow was referred to the Women’s Resource Center after she experienced a disturbance in her family’s home life. Luetzow, 40, is a mother of five, and after suddenly finding herself alone, was in a difficult position. Her driver’s license was suspended, she said. She was having trouble paying bills. She had been out of the work force as a stay-at-home mom for approximately a decade. Working with Regina Morris, a WRC case manager, Luetzow started putting her life back together. Luetzow said the WRC helped link her with a pro bono attorney who got her license cleared. They enrolled her in financial literacy classes. Luetzow met with WRC volunteers who helped polish her work resume. From there, Luetzow went back to school, taking classes with Sarasota Technical College to obtain an accounting certificate. Separately, Luetzow said, the center offered her counseling for domestic violence. She’s now been back in the work force for more than two years, work ing with Sarasota Medical Products. “Now, my family is stable, my finances are stable, and we have a vehicle,” Luetzow said. “(The center) was so helpful to me in a time of crisis, just knowing that I could reach out about any area of need.”MANASOTA BUDSFounded: 2002 Mission: To provide families with a neutral and supportive forum for sharing and networking, and to promote understanding and acceptance of Down syndrome. How it accomplishes its mission: Programs and social gatherings designed for everyone from “Baby Buds” (0-2 years old) to “Cool Buds” (adults), giving the opportunity to build meaningful friendships and support one another. First-hand account: After Patricia Crauwels gave birth to her daughter, Rachel, she only heard the “nos.” Rachel, now 22, was born with Down syndrome. Crauwels, 64, said the geneticists and other medical professionals she talked to focused heavily on the things Rachel would never be able to do. “I’ll never forget it,” Crauwels said. “It was all negative. It was mindboggling, to be honest.” What Crauwels wanted was a place her daughter would be given positive support, as well as a place where she could work out her own feelings. Crauwels felt adrift, she said, unsure of what she should be doing. When she found Manasota BUDS — Bringing Up Down Syndrome — it was a relief for her and for Rachel. While Rachel participated in things like BUDS’ musical therapy program, Crauwels talked with other parents Nonprots lend helping hand RYAN KOHN SPORTS EDITORAmericans have each other’s backs. It’s an idea taken for granted, often forgotten until someone we know needs help, but it is true that at our lowest moments, someone will be willing to help. Since assisting each other is a foundation of who we are, here’s a highlight of nonprof it organizations that help this community every day, in various ways. Whether it is by advancing someone’s career, giving someone a place to stay, helping someone improve their communication abilities or just helping someone feel better about themselves when they’re at their lowest, these organizations are making a difference.Our region’s citizens step forward to provide opportunities for those less fortunate.Harvest House CEO Erin Minor embraces a Freedom client after she receives her graduation certicate.Courtesy photosThe Women’s Resource Center was founded in 1979 to engage, educate, enrich and empower women of all generations. A group of Buds participates in a painting session. r fffnttbbn nnttbnb fn ft r fntb nrf 405114-1 rfrrn r t b r trn rbb bb 405161-1 405173-1 r fntb rrnfnn r fntb n

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SPIRIT OF AMERICA | JULY 2023 27 rfntCHECK OUR REVIEWS ONLINE rfrrrrfn rtbttt r frtb t nrtb r frt t rf r r t t rtb r rr ff r fntbnrn rr nrntnrn TEETH IN A DAY IMPLANT TEETH VENEERS ESTHETIC GUM GRAFTING GUM DISEASEDENTAL IMPLANTSby Dental Implant Specialists 404815-1 r rf nntbbnnb nrtbrr bnnbbn f‘‘ 405100-1 about all the questions and concerns she had: what worked for someone else when trying to solve a delayed speech issue or which doctors were best for a given issue. Crauwels said the group was an invaluable resource, especially for the first seven years of Rachel’s life, while Crauwels learned how to best care for her. Today, Crauwels is on the organi zation’s board and is happy she can contribute to an organization that helped her throughout the years. As Crauwels knows, it is the seemingly little things that can mean the most. She and Manasota BUDS recently hosted a picture day for families at the organization’s office. Many families with children with Down syndrome don’t typically have family photos, she said, partially because it is difficult to find a photographer patient enough to work with the children. At the BUDS’ organized picture day, Crauwels said, that wasn’t an issue, and the families were grateful to finally have that opportunity. Events like that are what made the organization so important, Crauwels said. “It’s an amazing thing,” Crauwels said. “You immediately have your support group.”CREARTE LATINO CULTURAL CENTERFounded: 2012 Mission: To be a creative and supportive hub for the Latino community in Sarasota and Manatee counties How it accomplishes its mission: By giving members of its community the opportunity to learn new skills, either on or off stage, and by offer ing learning opportunities like English classes First-hand account: Norma Castillo, 46, moved to the U.S. from Mexico City 20 years ago. When she arrived, she did not speak English, barely knowing how to say hello. It made it difficult to interact with the majority of goods and service providers in the area, few of which offered Spanishspeaking services. Over time, Castillo’s English improved, but she still did not feel confident in her abilities, Castillo said. Even now, when talking about more complex subjects, Castillo prefers to speak Spanish or go through a translator. But Castillo hopes that is beginning to change. Castillo said she has been involved with CreArte Latino for about two years, ever since she dropped off her daughter, Carla, to participate in one of the organization’s children’s theater workshops. Castillo said her daughter had such a great time, the rest of her family has become involved, too. Castillo started going to the organization’s Let’s Speak English classes in the hopes of becoming a more fluent and confident speaker. Castillo said CreArte has enriched her life in other ways, too. After seeing the plays the organization gave a spotlight — plays that focused on the culture of many Latino communities across the world — she was moved to give it a shot. Castillo acted in a multilingual play called “Agridulce,” which translates to bittersweet. The play focused on immigration, which Castillo said meant a lot to her given her own experiences. “I felt many emotions,” Castillo said of the acting experience. “I was happy to represent my history in a play that told so many stories.” Castillo said her involvement in CreArte has allowed her to feel more connected to Sarasota-Manatee as a whole — English and Spanish speak ers alike — and is excited about what her new communication skills, and confidence, will take her. CreArte Latino Cultural Center allows its clients to express themselves though art while also oering enrichment classes like Let’s Speak English.

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28 SPIRIT OF AMERICA | JULY 2023 www.intercoastalmedical.com A Patient Focused, Multi-Specialty Group National Expertise l Multiple Locations 1993 1993 1993 2023 2023 2023 30 30 th th ANNIVERSARY ANNIVERSARY30th ANNIVERSARY 404860-1 rfnr trbr brbnrfntbrr brrrb trtrrrr rrr rfrr‘ ’r“nnnt’br “nr” tr•–btrbr “nr— t—r•tb– fnrrrrr brr rrbrbr fnrtrb bb rbrbn rr 405101-1 Quiz: Who said it?Many speeches have become memorable throughout history. Can you match these quotes from famous speeches to the American who said them? 1 “Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” A:_______________________________2 “Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” A:_______________________________3 “First of all, let me assert my rm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustied terror which paralyzes needed eorts to convert retreat into advance.” A:_______________________________4 “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed — we hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.” A:_______________________________5 “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.” A:_______________________________6 “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” A:_______________________________7 “I feel that the people have got to have condence in the integrity of the men who run for that oce and who might attain them.” A:_______________________________8 “We must whip ination right now.” A:_______________________________9 “It is a crisis of condence. It is a crisis that strikes at the very heart and soul and spirit of our national will. We can see this crisis in the growing doubt about the meaning of our own lives and in the loss of a unity of purpose for our nation.” A:_______________________________10 “Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve. America was targeted for attack because we’re the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining.” A:_______________________________11 “Human rights are women’s rights and women’s rights are human rights.” A:_______________________________12 “I declare to you that women must not depend upon the protection of man but must be taught to protect herself, and there I take my stand.” A:_______________________________13 “This is why I say it’s the ballot or the bullet. It’s liberty or it’s death. It’s freedom for everybody or freedom for nobody.” A:_______________________________14 “We are one nation and their pain is our pain. Their dreams are our dreams and their success will be our success. We are one heart, one home and one glorious destiny.” A:_______________________________15 “America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.” A:_______________________________ANSWERS 1. Patrick Henry — Addressing the General Assembly 2. Abraham Lincoln — The Gettysburg Address 3. Franklin D. Roosevelt — First inaugural address 4. Martin Luther King — “I Have a Dream” 5. John F. Kennedy — Inaugural address 6. Barack Obama — Speech on Super Tuesday in 2008 7. Richard Nixon — Checkers speech 8. Gerald R. Ford — Address to a joint session of congress on the economy 9. Jimmy Carter — Televised speech on energy 10 . George W. Bush — Sept. 11, 2001 address to the nation 11. Hillary Clinton — Remarks to the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women 12. Susan B. Anthony — Speech in San Francisco in 1871 13. Malcom X — “The Ballot or the Bullet” 14. Donald Trump — Inauguration speech 15. Harry Truman — Special message to congress Martin Luther King — “I Have a Dream” Jimmy Carter — Televised speech on energy Harry Truman — Special message to congress Hillary Clinton — Remarks to the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women Patrick Henry — Addressing the General Assembly Malcom X — “The Ballot or the Bullet” John F. Kennedy — Inaugural address Gerald R. Ford — Address to a joint session of congress on the economy Franklin D. Roosevelt — First inaugural address Patrick Henry — Addressing the General Assembly Barack Obama — Super Tuesday speech Donald Trump — Inauguration speech Susan B. Anthony — Speech in San Francisco Abraham Lincoln — The Gettysburg Address Richard Nixon — Checkers speech George W. Bush — Sept. 11, 2001 address to the nationLIZ RAMOSMATCH THE NAME TO THE QUOTE

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SPIRIT OF AMERICA | JULY 2023 29 STUDENT-ATHLETES Siesta Key Campus: Pre-K-Grade 5 | Uihlein Campus in Lakewood Ranch: Grades 6-12 | Sarasota, FL941-203-3640 | www.ODA.edu 100%ACCEPTANCE RATE GRADUATES 84 14,724CUMULATIVE SERVICE HOURS $8.8IN TOTAL SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDEDNCAA11MILLION 389858-1

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30 SPIRIT OF AMERICA | JULY 2023 Season SubscriptionsNow Available Single Ballet TicketsAugust 2023 941.359.0099 | SarasotaBallet.org 2023 2024 Season 404211-1 AMBER WAVES OF GRAIN Ingredients 2 oz. Redwood Empire Rye Bourbon 1 oz. cashew infused simple syrup angostura bitters, cinnamon and lemon zest Tank Freedom Tower Amber Ale Directions Build cocktail like a traditional Old Fashioned in a glass mixing carafe. þ  Stir long enough to make cocktail ice cold without diluting. þ  Top with Freedom Tower Amber Ale by Miami’s Tank Brewing Co. þ  Finish with two extra dashes of angostura bitters, a touch of cinnamon dust and fresh lemon zest. STRAIGHT UP AMERICANO þ  Ingr edients 1.5 oz. Tito’s vodka þ  1 oz. Java Dog espresso cold brew þ  .5 oz. Aperol þ  .5 oz. Kahlua þ  .5 oz. water þ  Dir ections Shake ingredients hard and double strain into a coup glass with a brown sugar rim. þ  Garnish with two dashes of orange infused bitters, a fresh Florida orange peel and espresso beans. þ  THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE Ingredients 2 oz. Papa’s Pilar light rum þ  1 oz. heavy whipping cream þ  1 oz. fresh blueberry thyme puree þ  1 oz. simple syrup þ  Dir ections Paint red stripes inside of a goblet glass with grenadine syrup and freeze in a glass chiller. þ  Shake ingredients hard in a shaker and strain into a goblet. Pack with ice. þ  Top with homemade whipped cream and fresh blueberries and strawberries. þ  Few places in Sarasota exude more of an Americana vibe than MADE, located at 1990 Main St. MADE serves up locally sourced American comfort food in a comfortable setting. Cicconi, who has been at MADE for two years, is a Pittsburgh native and has been in the restaurant business for 19 years. She is working with MADE owner, operator and chef Mark Woodruff on a new craft cock tail menu they plan to roll out for the July 4 weekend. The first July 4 cocktail Cicconi created is The Red, White and Blue. It’s a rum-fueled milkshake that gets its name from a garnish of whipped cream and fresh strawberries and blueberries. There’s also some red via grenadine syrup and blue from blueberry thyme puree. You can serve it for dessert but why wait? The second July 4 selection, Straight Up Americano, is an easyto-make coffee vodka martini that uses locally sourced Java Dog cold brew. Served in a coup glass, it’s sure to win fans among coffee drinkers or those who need a jolt of caffeine to keep going for fireworks. “Everyone loves it,” Cicconi says. Cicconi describes the last July 4 cocktail she created, Amber Waves of Grain, as an “elevated” version of the classic Old Fashioned because highquality ingredients raise the alcohol level. Cicconi uses Redwood Empire Rye Bourbon to give the drink a lift. It’s topped with Freedom Tower Amber Ale from Miami’s Tank Brew ing Co., which gives it a foamy head. You’re sure to have a stirring Fourth when you serve one —or all — of Cicconi’s holiday-themed cock tails. Here’s to the Land of the Free!These three patriotic drinks will guarantee a starspangled holiday.Just add reworks Monica Roman GagnierRhiannon Cicconi, MADE Restaurant mixologist MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER A+E EDITORTo celebrate our nation’s birthday, we asked MADE Restaurant mixologist Rhiannon Cicconi to create three patriotic cocktails. She came through with ying colors — red, white and blue, of course.

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