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ObserverYOU . YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.VOLUME 25, NO. 31 YOUR TOWNDay of Bingo lingo on the RanchWith eight people playing Bingo under the pavilion at Greenbrook Adventure Park, everyone was in on the joke when they heard “skinny legs.†That’s the funny way to call out “B-11†in Bingo lingo. þ S avanna resident Shari Greenberg (above) has been attending Bingo for All from 1011 a.m. on Wednesday mornings for two years. þ She c omes prepared with multiple Bingo daubers and a snowman holder for her extra cards. þ “My husb and and I camp all summer, so I got into it playing at the campgrounds,†Greenberg said. “When my husband suggested we play here, I said, ‘Sounds good!’ Today, the air conditioning person is coming, so he’s manning the house.†FREE • THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023PopStroke blessed with sunshineBradenton’s Millie Sica (above) placed her ball on the green of hole No. 4 at PopStroke and tried her best to sink a hole-inone. þ She jus t missed. þ Sic a’s grandmother, Von Sica, took her turn, followed by Millie’s mother, Melissa Sica. þ The Sic a family was at PopStroke on June 24 with Sunshine Kids, a nonprot dedicated to children with cancer. þ Millie Sica was diagnosed with a low grade glioma 10 years ago and will celebrate 10 years with Sunshine Kids on July 1. þ “I lo ve being here,†Millie Sica said of the special event with her fellow Sunshine Kids. Lakewood Ranch’s weekly newspaper since 1998EAST COUNTY A+EArtist’s shining project. PAGE 11 File photo Sandhill cranes are common in Myakka River State Park, one of East County’s favorite places to view nature.Jay Heater Maria MacDonald and Angela Massaro-Fain, of Sisterhood for Good, get ready to give out $110,800 in grants at the nonprot’s annual grant presentation. Thirty-two nonprots receive grants from Sisterhood for Good totaling $110,800. SEE PAGE 4First-term leaders rule CommissionThe resignation of third-term Commissioner Vanessa Baugh means seven rst-term commissioners will be in oce. SEE PAGE 3 Try these seven selections to enjoy nature in East County. SEE PAGE 8YOUR FAVORITE PARK PLACEOh brother! Sisters set another recordLiz Ramos Lesley Dwyer INSIDE
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2 EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 rffntbbbnbbbnbtnb bntbbnbnbbtnbb bbnbbnnnbbfnt‘bbn‘’ nbn“â€fbnbbtb bnbt“â€â€¢bbtn Stores Hours: Mon-Sat 9-9, Sun 11-6 rfnftbfnrf60 MONTHS FINANCING*bnfbfff SOUTH SARASOTA rbb NORTH SARASOTA n‘ ’“†â€â€¢ 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 LIZ RAMOS SENIOR EDITORAs a former Army mechanic, Paige Godwin thought enrolling in Manatee Technical College’s new diesel systems technician program would allow her to continue to develop her skills. However, Godwin was nervous about being one of the first students in a new program. Was it going to be worth the time? She wondered if she would have a job when she graduated from the program. She didn’t have to worry. She began working as a diesel systems technician for Coca-Cola in May, a month before she graduated from the program. Manatee Technical College received a $430,000 Job Growth Grant from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity to start the diesel systems technician program. The program started in October, producing its first graduates this month. Ryan Lazarus was one of the first students to enroll in the program after deciding Manatee Technical College’s marine program wasn’t for him. He said being a part of the first diesel systems technician class has been different. Due to its infancy, the program has made adjustments along the way, has received more equipment, and has developed partnerships with organizations such as Manatee County Search and Rescue. There were only five students in the program for its first class, but Adam Green, the diesel systems technician program instructor, expects to have at least 15 students when classes start in August. Green said the program is crucial to addressing the need for diesel mechanics. “In the last 20 to 30 years, the focus has been on going to college, getting an office job or something like that,†Green said. “All of the trades, across the board, are being undermanned. The knowledge base is retiring and not being replaced. If one day we run out of diesel mechanics, all of America will cease to move. Every facet of your life is supported by a diesel truck and you don’t even realize it. Without these students, it’ll just stop one day, so it’s impor tant that we maintain these trades.†The program begins with diesel engine theory and transportation logistics before moving onto the hands-on work with diesel equipment. Students worked on trucks for Manatee County Search and Rescue, providing them real-life, hands-on experience. For example, students repaired a U.S. Army-made light medium tactical vehicle, dissecting the engine and putting it back together, Green said. “(The students are) have a unique opportunity of working on active duty emergency services vehicles just about every day,†Green said. “We get new stuff in from them every day, fix it and send it back out to work. Being able to impact the community in a positive way and watch the students grow into professional diesel mechanics has been pretty awesome.†Godwin enjoyed working on search and rescue’s Humvee because it’s a vehicle she repaired several times while serving in the military. She could replace the shafts, brakes, rotors, hubs and more in no time. “It was easy for me,†she said. “I got it done quick and easy. The Humvee was my baby. That’s liter ally what the search and rescue guys call it. They’d say, ‘That’s her baby.’†Lazarus said the experience was cool but also slightly frightening, knowing a mistake fixing a problem with the trucks could result in the loss of life. “You have to be vigilant,†he said. “You have to care and watch what you do and how you do it. You have to make sure everything’s right.†Weeks before the students finished the program, each had already received job offers from multiple companies. “Ever since month one, employers have been here, visiting and talking about what they do and selling their benefits packages, compensation and everything,†Green said. “After awhile, employers began bidding against each other for their services.†Green said he was amazed to see so many employers recruiting his students. He recalled when he was looking for a job as a mechanic in the early 2000s and struggled to be interviewed. Once the students completed 75% of the program, they were able to start working full time. Students in the diesel program also saw success at the SkillsUSA competition, where they competed at the state level with only six months of training under their belts. The students walked away with a silver medal. “We were competing against other schools that have two-year programs and their students have been in their programs for 16 to 18 months,†Green said. “That’s pretty good. It says something about the students and the program we’re developing here.â€Manatee Technical College’s new diesel systems technician program meets an important industry need.New diesel program in high gear KEEP ON TRUCKINGAbout MTC’s diesel systems technician program Train to be: Diesel engine specialist and bus and truck mechanic Length of program: Full time, 1,050 hours (approximately 10 months) Industry certication: ASE-T6 medium and heavy duty electrical Location: MTC main campus, 6305 State Road 70 E., Bradenton Start dates: August, January Time: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays For more information: 7517900 ext. 46161 Photos by Liz RamosAdam Green, instructor of Manatee Technical College’s new diesel systems technician program, works with the program’s ve students, Ryan Lazarus, LJ Grover, Cade Cannon, David Ruiz-Martinez and Paige Godwin. Cade Cannon and LJ Grover, who are students in Manatee Technical College’s new diesel systems technician program, work on a Manatee County Search and Rescue vehicle.
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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 3 Whether that length of service is valuable in terms of getting things done or leads to an imbalance of power has been debated both at the local and state levels. Manatee County commissioners Mike Rahn and George Kruse pointed to Baugh’s “institutional knowledge†as a huge asset to the board. Baugh, though, said she believes in term limits and never would have run for a third term if she didn’t believe the county would have been taken in an unfavorable direction if one of those running for her seat in 2020 was elected. “Change is good,†Baugh said. “You get new ideas.†But she also acknowledged she gained valuable knowledge over time about how to get things accomplished. Kruse was adamant he will not run for a third term because he made a campaign promise not to do so. His first term is up in 2024. “I don’t believe anyone should be in any government position for more than two terms,†Kruse said. “I tried to get Tallahassee to institute term limits on us.†Rep. Tommy Gregory, Republican, 72nd District, said those in office for more than eight years begin to become “professional politicians†instead of citizens who want to become involved to help the community. House Bill 477, effective July 1, shortens terms for school board members from 12 years down to eight, but a similar Senate bill that would have limited county commissioners to two four-year terms died before reaching a vote. Former Manatee County Commissioner Carol Whitmore was running for a fifth term when she was defeated in 2022. The argument against term limits is that the citizens wanted Whitmore to be in office for 16 years and Baugh for more than a decade. Should a change be forced if the residents don’t want it? “Sarasota has term limits after eight years,†Rahn said. “The days of somebody sitting up there for 16 or 20 years are pretty much gone because I think the citizenry likes to see change and new ideas.†While Manatee County doesn’t impose limits on commissioners, Sarasota is one of 11 counties in Flor ida that does.ONLY FIRSTTERM COMMISSIONERSThe issue won’t come up soon, as Baugh, elected in 2012, was the only long-term commissioner left on the board. James Satcher, Kevin Van Ostenbridge and Kruse were elected in 2020. Rahn, Jason Bearden and Amanda Ballard are the newest members of the board, elected in 2022. They are all waiting to see who will replace Baugh, a task to be performed by Gov. Ron DeSantis when Baugh’s resignation takes place on July 31. There’s no set timeline on the appointment, but Sarasota County recently dealt with a similar situation when Commissioner Nancy Detert died in April. It took just over two months for the governor to appoint Neil Rainford. Interested parties can apply for Baugh’s job online through the gov ernor’s appointment office. Baugh was a Republican, as are the remaining six commissioners. “We all supported each other during our previous campaigns, so we had a cordial relationship with a similar enough view on many issues, certainly not all,†Kruse said. “If DeSantis puts somebody in who completely deviates from the ideol ogy or from the personalities of the current board, then it could make things a little more contentious. But even then, when somebody’s brand new, they typically don’t try to rock the boat.†Kruse would like to see an independent thinker join the board, someone who won’t tow any par ticular line but will look at things individually and do what’s best for the county in each case. Rahn said his ideal candidate will have a business mindset. “I look at the county like a business. It’s one of the largest businesses you can be a part of,†Rahn said. “I’d like to see a like-minded person who would come in and understand growth and comprehensive plans.†The commissioners agree that Baugh set the tone in terms of being fiscally conservative. “Commissioner Baugh’s depar ture is a loss for our Board of County Commissioners. Her fiscally conser vative mindset, as well as her wealth of knowledge of county government will be missed,†Ballard said. “The next District Five commissioner will have big shoes to fill.†Rahn said Baugh was passionate in pushing her beliefs. “I think her heart was really in it, being a public servant and serv ing the citizens of Manatee County. There will be a leadership void that the rest of us will have to pick up and continue on,†Rahn said. “Vanessa helped usher in this new generation of leaders you see.†THE ROAD FORWARDCommissioners agreed that one of Baugh’s strengths was her tenure. She spent 11 years building relationships the others haven’t yet had time to foster. With those connections, she championed road projects across Manatee County and the state as a whole. She’s the current chair of the Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council and has been a member of the Sarasota Manatee MPO since 2015. The MPOAC website describes itself as “a statewide transportation planning and policy organization.†Baugh pushed to get the diverging diamond interchange at Interstate 75 and University Parkway to be built sooner. She supported smaller projects, too, like speed bumps and a four-way stop to calm traffic on Tara Boulevard. “Vanessa was the biggest help. She walked the streets. She rode (her bicycle) with me,†Tara Preserve Board Chairman Darby Connor said. “There’s no question that what the county has done for us over the past few years has made our section of Tara Boulevard much safer. We have not had an accident or property damage in a year. That’s a record.†Van Ostenbridge and Rahn also serve on the board of the Sarasota Manatee MPO, but there are three seats. As chair, Van Ostenbridge will have to appoint another commissioner to take Baugh’s place. “Vanessa was instrumental in the MPOAC. That gave us the ability to reach out to people for needs we have,†Kruse said. “That said, Kevin has been on the MPO since he got on the board, so I think we’re going to have to lean a little bit more on him in the near term.â€ON-THE-JOB LEARNINGFollowing the resignation of Vanessa Baugh from the board, only rst-term commissioners remain.KEY BAUGH MOMENTSLike any politician, Vanessa Baugh has had her fair share of ups and downs over the years. Here’s a look back on her 11 years serving Manatee County. 2012 Elected to represent District 5 on the Manatee Board of County Commissioners. 2013 Elected First Vice Chairman of the Civic Center Authority. 2014 Elected chairman of the Tourist Development Council, the same year that the Mall at UTC opened with estimates of 100,000 visitors each day. 2015 Announced her reelection campaign with a focus on smart spending, strategic development and road repairs funded by impact fees. 2016 Elected chairman of the Board of County Commissioners, a role she’d ll again in 2021, 2022 and for less than two days in 2023. 2017 Elected chairman of the Manatee Port Authority, a role she served through 2019. 2018 Entered and dropped out of the race for Florida House District 73 seat, held by Joe Gruters at the time and currently held by Fiona McFarland. 2019 Selected as one of 37 county commissioners to serve on the Florida Association of Counties’ Water Policy Committee. 2020 Elected to serve District 5 for a third time after promising to ght tax hikes and to improve infrastructure and the quality of life for residents. 2021 Scrutinized for selecting two Lakewood Ranch ZIP Codes to selectively receive COVID-19 vaccines at a popup distribution site. Baugh later admitted wrongdoing to the Florida Commission on Ethics and agreed to pay an $8,000 ne. 2022 Reelected chairman of the Sarasota Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization for the second time. She was rst elected to the position in 2018. 2023 Resigned from her role as District 5 Commissioner due to family concerns. File photosCommissioners George Kruse, Amanda Ballard and James Satcher review material at a Manatee County Commission meeting Jan. 5. LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITERThe June 15 resignation of Vanessa Baugh due to family concerns brings up the question of whether the time for three-term Manatee County commissioners has passed. Baugh still had one-and-a-half years le in her third term, and had served 10-and-a-half years.Vanessa Baugh “Vanessa was instrumental in the MPOAC. That gave us a lot of inuence and contacts and the ability to reach out to people for needs we have, so it certainly doesn’t help us to have lost that.â€â€” George Kruse
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4 EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 401656-1 rrfrntbtnr tnrftrrrrff r ff 404244-1 rfnntb rfnfftbrrnnr nn rtnffnfrffn ffnn nffrnrnfrrn fnf rnfff nffnnnfrffbrfn nnnrr nnffnrffnnn nfffbr nfnffnfbn rffnnffrnf r rfntbn nfrb 404391-1 rfnttb b bb rfntb rfntb rfnnt nbb tfbbn 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 r402613-1 rfnt frbrffnr r fnr rf rft rrtrt ftt rrtft rrf tt rnt JAY HEATER MANAGING EDITORMaria MacDonald, the board chair for Sisterhood for Good, said her job was to bring the tissues. Esplanade’s MacDonald figured there would be plenty of tears June 22 during the Lakewood Ranch nonprofit’s annual grant presentation at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing. Each nonprofit was going to tell a touching story about why the money was needed upon accepting their check. “Oh my God, I get emotional,†said Sisterhood for Good founder Angela Massaro-Fain. “I already packed a bag of tissues.†But before the event began, all the Sisterhood for Good members were smiling. They were presenting 32 grants for a organization record $110,800. The amount smashed last year’s record of $76,850, which had beat the previous year’s total by $30,000. Those two years combined represent 59% of the $319,241 Sisterhood for Good has awarded since its first year — 2011 — when it presented two $500 grants. “When you think of $110,800 directly impacting life in the community, it is incredible,†MacDonald said. “When I hear people talk of Sisterhood for Good, I am humbled. And I know the incredible amount of time and effort this small organization puts into this community, without asking for anything in return.†Massaro-Fain said her nonprofit has been “transformed.†“We’ve grown so much,†she said. “Our ability to raise funds is differ ent now. Our bigger fundraisers are almost always sold out and we net a bigger profit. “I had no clue it would get this big, that we would have this kind of support. I thought we would have 20 to 25 women. We have 247. That’s a lot of ladies who want to give back.†Barbara Braun of Mothers Helping Mothers said her organization’s $5,000 grant would provide 25 car seats and 30 “Pack ’N Plays,†along with funds to help families in crisis. “This grant makes a huge differ ence,†Braun said. “These (Sister hood for Good members) are fabulous.†Jacqueline Woish collected a $2,350 check for Sarasota’s Operation Warrior Resolution, that was using the funds to provide 10 female veterans with brain-based Cortina Method therapy sessions. The method is a holistic approach to healing and easing trauma and PTSD. The grant was underwritten by Grapevine Communications, which is owned by Allison Imre, a Sisterhood for Good member. “What they are doing is absolutely amazing,†Woish said of Sisterhood for Good members. “They are women who are motivating others. What they do is powerful, and it is a beautiful thing.†Sisterhood for Good received 95 applications for grants and held an expo in May that was attended by 81 of those nonprofits. The demand is considerable but Sisterhood for Good has been able to greatly increase its reach. “There is no guarantee that we will continue to grow,†MassaroFain said. “But Sisterhood for Good knows how to throw a heck of a par ty.†For more information, go to SFGFlorida.org.Sisterhood for Good smashes its previous record by presenting $110,800 in grants.Relative success Jay HeaterJacqueline Woish, of Operation Warrior Resolution, receives a $2,350 grant from Sisterhood for Good’s Lorri Kidder. SISTERHOOD IMPACTWhat: Sisterhood for Good grant presentation When: June 22 Where: Gold Coast Eagle Distributing, Lakewood Ranch Amount of grants: $110,800 Amount of grants in 2022: $76,850 Number of grants presented: 32 Number of grants presented 2022: 25 Amount awarded since 2011: $319,241 Individuals directly eected with the grants since 2011: Approximately 25,000
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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 5 A Patient Focused, Multi-Specialty Group National Expertise Multiple Locations Cattleridge Medical Building3333 Cattlemen Road, Suite 208, Sarasota, Florida 34232www.intercoastalmedical.comMedicare and most insurances accepted Dr. David Mohr brings to Intercoastal Medical Group at the Cattleridge ofce a wealth of knowledge and experience in Family Medicine. Undergraduate: University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL Medical School: Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, Chicago, IL Residency: Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital, La Grange, IL Fellowship: Sports Medicine; St. Anthony North Hospital, Westminster, CO Certication: American Board of Family Medicine Hospital Afliations: Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Doctors HospitalNOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS!TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT, PLEASE CALL941 -379-5121WELCOMES David G. Mohr, DOBoard Certied, Family Medicine Lakewood Ranch II Ofce11715 Rangeland Parkway, Bradenton, Florida 34211www.intercoastalmedical.comMedicare and most insurances acceptedDr. Jessica Kassover brings to Intercoastal Medical Group atthe Lakewood Ranch II ofce a wealth of knowledge and experience in Internal Medicine. Undergraduate: Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Bradenton, FL Residency: Florida State University College of Medicine, Internal Medicine Residency, Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Sarasota, FL Certication: Board Eligible, American Board of Internal Medicine Hospital Afliations: Lakewood Ranch Medical Center; Doctors HospitalNOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS!TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT, PLEASE CALL941-538-0001 WELCOMESJessica Kassover, DOInternal Medicine rfntf bftf Lakewood Ranch II Ofce11715 Rangeland Parkway, Bradenton, Florida 34211www.intercoastalmedical.comMedicare and most insurances accepted Dr. Jessica Kassover brings to Intercoastal Medical Group at the Lakewood Ranch II ofce a wealth of knowledge and experience in Internal Medicine. Undergraduate: Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Bradenton, FL Residency: Florida State University College of Medicine, Internal Medicine Residency, Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Sarasota, FL Hospital Afliations: Lakewood Ranch Medical Center; Doctors Hospital NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS!TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT, PLEASE CALL941-538-0001 WELCOMESJessica Kassover, DOInternal Medicine Lakewood Ranch II Ofce11715 Rangeland Parkway, Bradenton, Florida 34211www.intercoastalmedical.comMedicare and most insurances acceptedDr. Jessica Kassover brings to Intercoastal Medical Group atthe Lakewood Ranch II ofce a wealth of knowledge and experience in Internal Medicine. Undergraduate: Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Bradenton, FL Residency: Florida State University College of Medicine, Internal Medicine Residency, Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Sarasota, FL Certication: Board Eligible, American Board of Internal Medicine Hospital Afliations: Lakewood Ranch Medical Center; Doctors HospitalNOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS!TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT, PLEASE CALL941-538-0001 WELCOMESJessica Kassover, DOInternal Medicine rfntf bftf Lakewood Ranch II Ofce11715 Rangeland Parkway, Bradenton, Florida 34211www.intercoastalmedical.comMedicare and most insurances acceptedDr. Jessica Kassover brings to Intercoastal Medical Group at the Lakewood Ranch II ofce a wealth of knowledge and experience in Internal Medicine. Undergraduate: Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Bradenton, FL Residency: Florida State University College of Medicine, Internal Medicine Residency, Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Sarasota, FLCertification: American Board of Internal MedicineHospital Afliations: Lakewood Ranch Medical Center; Doctors HospitalNOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS! TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT, PLEASE CALL 941-538-0001 WELCOMESJessica Kassover, DOInternal Medicine Lakewood Ranch II Ofce11715 Rangeland Parkway, Bradenton, Florida 34211www.intercoastalmedical.comMedicare and most insurances acceptedDr. Jessica Kassover brings to Intercoastal Medical Group atthe Lakewood Ranch II ofce a wealth of knowledge and experience in Internal Medicine. Undergraduate: Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Bradenton, FL Residency: Florida State University College of Medicine, Internal Medicine Residency, Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Sarasota, FL Certication: Board Eligible, American Board of Internal Medicine Hospital Afliations: Lakewood Ranch Medical Center; Doctors HospitalNOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS!TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT, PLEASE CALL941-538-0001 WELCOMESJessica Kassover, DOInternal Medicine rfntf bftf Lakewood Ranch II Ofce11715 Rangeland Parkway, Bradenton, Florida 34211www.intercoastalmedical.comMedicare and most insurances accepted Dr. Jessica Kassover brings to Intercoastal Medical Group at the Lakewood Ranch II ofce a wealth of knowledge and experience in Internal Medicine. Undergraduate: Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Bradenton, FL Residency: Florida State University College of Medicine, Internal Medicine Residency, Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Sarasota, FLCertification: American Board of Internal MedicineHospital Afliations: Lakewood Ranch Medical Center; Doctors HospitalNOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS!TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT, PLEASE CALL941-538-0001 WELCOMESJessica Kassover, DOInternal Medicine Lakewood Ranch II Ofce11715 Rangeland Parkway, Bradenton, Florida 34211www.intercoastalmedical.comMedicare and most insurances acceptedDr. Jessica Kassover brings to Intercoastal Medical Group atthe Lakewood Ranch II ofce a wealth of knowledge and experience in Internal Medicine. Undergraduate: Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Bradenton, FL Residency: Florida State University College of Medicine, Internal Medicine Residency, Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Sarasota, FL Certication: Board Eligible, American Board of Internal Medicine Hospital Afliations: Lakewood Ranch Medical Center; Doctors HospitalNOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS!TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT, PLEASE CALL941-538-0001 WELCOMESJessica Kassover, DOInternal Medicine rfntf bftf Lakewood Ranch II Ofce11715 Rangeland Parkway, Bradenton, Florida 34211www.intercoastalmedical.comMedicare and most insurances acceptedDr. Jessica Kassover brings to Intercoastal Medical Group at the Lakewood Ranch II ofce a wealth of knowledge and experience in Internal Medicine. Undergraduate: Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Bradenton, FL Residency: Florida State University College of Medicine, Internal Medicine Residency, Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Sarasota, FLCertification: American Board of Internal MedicineHospital Afliations: Lakewood Ranch Medical Center; Doctors HospitalNOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS!TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT, PLEASE CALL941-538-0001 WELCOMESJessica Kassover, DOInternal Medicine rffntf Treats Skin, Muscles & Fat rrrfr EM SCULPT rfn tbbtnn t fbtbbtbb 405059-1 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 LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITERThe state attorney’s office has dropped a driving under the influence charge against Manatee County Commissioner George Kruse. On June 20, state Attorney Darlene Ragoonanan sent a memorandum to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office stating that the Attorney General’s Office chose not to pursue the appeal. “Given that a significant portion of the evidence the State relied upon to establish the defendant’s impair ment has been determined to be inadmissible, this evidence would, therefore, not be able to be heard by a jury,†the memorandum reads. “The absence of this evidence, coupled with the lack of a DUI investigation at the scene, significantly limited the available evidence for the jury’s consideration on the issue of impair ment.†Ragoonanan said Wednesday that she could not comment further than the memorandum on the case. “They took a long time and did a lot of investigation into it and determined that without a couple sound bites from a video, there was insufficient evidence to move for ward,†Kruse said. “There were a lot of things that didn’t come out or couldn’t come out because it didn’t get to a point of going to trial.†Kruse was originally issued a citation for reckless driving after crashing his pickup truck into a tree at the entrance of his neighborhood on Greyhawk Boulevard on April 20, 2022. In June 2022, the state attor ney’s office charged Kruse with driv ing under the influence. The evidence Ragoonanan referred to in the memorandum included statements made by Kruse at the time of the crash that were recorded by the deputy’s body cam. At that time, the deputy was working a traf fic crash investigation. “It should be noted that the accident report privilege renders statements by a motorist to an investigating officer inadmissible in a criminal trial while the officer is determining the cause of the crash,†Ragoonanan wrote in the memorandum. The deputy did not convert the traffic crash investigation into a criminal investigation or read Kruse his Miranda Rights on the scene because he couldn’t place Kruse behind the wheel. While the state argued Kruse gave conflicting statements, the court agreed with Kruse’s attorney and ruled the body cam footage was inadmissible in January. “There are other facts to this case above and beyond a YouTube video, in which a portion of the video wasn’t even included when the video was sent out,†Kruse said. “It’s behind me, and the case is over. Now, hopefully, the work I’ve done during this case, and the work I’ll continue doing now that the case is dropped, will prove to everyone in Manatee County that I’m an asset on this board.â€The state attorney’s oce cites ‘insuciency of evidence’ in a memorandum to the Manatee County Sheri’s Oce.State Attorney drops DUI case against Kruse File photoThe state attorney’s oce has dropped a DUI charge against Manatee County Commissioner George Kruse.
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6 EAST COUNTY 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 Reserve your home site today! rfntbrfrnrtan Age-Qualied Community | 101 Amsterdam Avenue | Ellenton, FL 34222 EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY rrrAct now to secure your new home in this resort-style community.Private Marina • Pickleball Courts • 6 Swimming Pools 5 Clubhouses • 2 Fitness Centers • On-site Dog Park Riverside Pavilion Open oor plans • Low Maintenance Lifestyle • Exclusive Amenities 401645-1 LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITERWhen Dan Mohl’s equine therapy session nears its finish, instructor Ilee Finocchiaro places a speaker in the center of the riding ring. In the background, Bryan Adams goes into the chorus of “Summer of ’69,†as Mohl guides his horse Frieda from a walk to a trot. Mohl, 63, was a dressage rider before a back injury in 2017 and a hemorrhagic stroke in 2010. His therapy has led him to the Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy. SMART has been offering ther apeutic horseback riding and equine-assisted learning programs since 1987. In 2011, the nonprofit purchased a 23-acre equestrian center off County Road 675, where it is home to 14 horses. Due to the stroke, Mohl’s left arm has to be put into a brace, so it won’t hit the saddle as he rides. He’s lifted on top of the saddle with the help of a device called “SureHands†that hooks underneath his thighs and raises him up and over the horse. “The way the horse walks is the way people walk,†Mohl said. “I had to learn to walk all over again after my stroke, so the horse really helped.†Finocchiaro has been with SMART for nearly nine years and is the lead instructor. She says horseback riding helps Mohl with his balance, core strength and muscle tone. Finocchiaro gently straightens and bends Mohl’s left leg before he rides. He can stretch his right leg on his own. He maintains a daily exer cise routine with a physical therapist at The Fountain of Hope in Sarasota, the assisted living facility where he lives. To Mohl, there’s no better work out for his body or brain. During his 30-minute session, there’s nothing else to think about but Frieda’s next move. No matter the physical limitations of those taking the classes, equine therapy can help patients deal with anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, too. “We do a huge veterans program out here with a group called Operation Warrior Resolution,†Finocchiaro said. “We do retreats and six-week programs with them. When you think of disability, it doesn’t have to be something you physically see with your eyes.†SMART serves cancer patients, victims of sex trafficking and people with attention deficit disorder —any type of physical, emotional or cognitive disability. Riders are introduced to the horses before they get into the saddle. Those who might have a fear of riding get comfortable by grooming the horse, building a connection. SMART also offers an Equicizer, a wooden horse that moves like a real one. The nonprofit serves more than 450 participants and their families each year. The cost is $60 an hour for group lessons and $75 per halfhour for private lessons. Riders must be at least 4 years old. Program fees only account for 11% of SMART’s total revenues. It maintain a scholarship fund that supports riders who wouldn’t be able to afford the therapy other wise. Individuals and local organizations like the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund and Manasota BUDS contribute. “It’s so hard to get grants that allow us to put the money toward the participants. That’s why we rely so heavily on donations,†Finocchiaro said. SMART’s annual budget is about $400,000, of which about $40,000 goes to bales of hay alone. One bale costs $24, and the horses eat 35 of them every week. But SMART volunteers said a price can’t be put on something like a mother hearing her child audibly communicate for the first time. A volunteer with SMART for 15 years, John Moore shared a story he never will forget. “Years ago, I was leading the horse,†Moore said. “We had a young boy, probably 9 years old, who was nonverbal. And for the horse to go, you have to say ‘Walk on.’ Obviously, this kid didn’t say anything. Then, after a couple weeks, we got an ‘Aaaah.’†With that, Moore shouted, “Close enough, off we go!†He said about a month later, the “Aaaah†turned into “Aaaah on.†“The mother was almost in tears,†Moore said. “That’s one of the neat things that happen out here.â€The Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy oers therapeutic horseback riding and equine-assisted learning programs.Perfect horse sense at SMART ABOUT THE NONPROFITSARASOTA MANATEE ASSOCIATION FOR RIDING THERAPY Address: 4640 County Road 675 Mission statement: At SMART, we empower lives through the healing power of horses. Through therapeutic horse-related programs and activities, our SMART riders and their families’ quality of life is signicantly improved. Get involved: Call 322-2000 or visit SmartRiders.org. Photos by Lesley DwyerDan Mohl says horseback riding benets him as much mentally as it does physically. Dan Mohl needs help getting his left hand locked and unlocked o the bar of the lift. Ilee Finocchiaro assists him. NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT
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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 7 404429-1 rfnnntn b rfntbf rffrrnn tbnfftbrrffr frftbt b bb 402835-1 LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITERAfter four years, Nancy’s BarB-Q is packing up its location at 14475 State Road 70 and moving back to downtown Sarasota. “I’m not leaving by choice,†owner Nancy Krohngold said. “Lakewood Ranch Commercial would not make an agreement with me to extend my lease.†Lakewood Ranch Commercial is selling the property on the northwest corner of Lorraine Road and State Road 70 to Casto, a real estate development firm headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, with an office in Lakewood Ranch. “We’re going to put some money into the shopping center (Lorraine Corners) and update the exterior,†said Michael Chadwick, the managing director of southeast development. “It’s such a great intersection that’s obviously changed since SchroederManatee Ranch built it 15 or 20 years ago, so we’re looking to update it and bring an exciting new restaurant to the area.†Casto won’t close on the property until August, so no leases have been signed. There is a lot of interest in the space, and Chadwick said by midSeptember, Casto should have a lease agreement in place. “Any tenant that goes in there, most likely, is going to gut the interior,†he said. “To do that, they’re going to need permits and a build out. They probably won’t be open until May of next year.†For now, the last day to eat at Nancy’s in Lakewood Ranch is June 30. Krohngold said it will take a few weeks to set up the new restaurant, but she hopes to open in the Rose mary District on July 15. “We started in Lakewood Ranch with much less of a following than we had downtown. We were brand new to lots of people when we opened here on Lorraine Road, but we won over a wonderful customer base.†Krohngold said. “We regret that we can’t stay here and serve the Lakewood Ranch community.†Before opening in Lorraine Cor ners, the restaurant had a smaller space on Lakewood Main Street in Lakewood Ranch. The move to downtown Sarasota is a homecoming. Krohngold lives downtown and opened her first brick and mortar restaurant there in 2011. But for six years prior, Nancy’s was a catering business, a service that’s still offered. With a $295 minimum order, Krohngold said she will deliver to Lakewood Ranch. Otherwise, it will require travel for Lakewood Ranch residents to go to her restaurant. The new restaurant is located at 1525 Fourth St.The restaurant is returning to downtown Sarasota after not being able to extend its lease at Lorraine Corners.Nancy’s B-B-Q leaves Lakewood Ranch Courtesy photoNancy Krohngold, owner of Nancy’s Bar-B-Q, is closing her Lakewood Ranch restaurant and going back to Sarasota.
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8 EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 MYAKKA RIVER STATE PARKLocation: þ 13208 State Road 72, S arasota Hours: 8 a.m. to sunset Cost: þ $6 per vehicle; bike rentals $15-$40 for single-person bikes and $30-$80 for tandem bikes; boating $20 for rst hour and $5 for each additional hour; boat tours $20 plus tax for adults, $12 plus tax for children 3-12 and free for children 2 and younger Zoom through the seven miles of paved road on a bike or take a leisure hike down the Myakka Trail, which is a 38.9-mile hiking loop trail. þ Gr ab your horse and trot down the 12 miles of designated horse trails. þ E njoy shing, horseback riding and geocaching. þ B oat tours are available at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. No reservations are required, and tickets are sold on a rst-come, rstserved basis. þ Mor e information: þ FloridaStateParks.org/Parks-And-Trails/MyakkaRiver-State-ParkMIXON FRUIT FARMSLocation: 2525 27th St. E., Bradenton Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays Cost: Tram tours $12 for adults, $6 for children ages 3-12, free for children ages 2 and younger; Amazing Play Place $5 With Mixon Fruit Farms closing its doors July 29, the days to hitch a ride on Mixon’s Orange Blossom Express are numbered. þ T ake a tram tour to learn about the world of citrus. Have fun in the Amazing Play Place that includes a 20-foot slide, tetherball, a putting green and more. Visit the Wildlife Inc. Rescue to enjoy an interactive, educational show with rescue Florida animals, reptiles and birds. More information: Mixon.comJIGGS LANDING OUTPOSTLocation: 6106 63rd St. E., Bradenton Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays to Sundays Cost: Kayak and canoe rentals $15$85; boat rentals $35-$75 per hour; boat and kayak tours $20-$55 Jiggs Landing Outpost oers a peaceful view or a ride on the Braden River. þ Whether it’ s grabbing a bite to eat before listening to live music that’s available on certain nights, boarding a boat for a tour or shing o the dock, Jiggs Landing Outpost and its scenic beauty provides plenty of fun. þ Mor e information: JiggsLanding. comLAKE MANATEE STATE PARKLocation: 20007 State Road 64 E., Bradenton Hours: 8 a.m. to sunset Cost: þ $5 per vehicle; canoe or kayak rental $15-$20 per half-day and $5 for each additional hour; bike rental $3 per hour, $9 per half day, $15 per day; boat ramp $4 Take in Lake Manatee State Park as you ride your bike on the park’s 2.5mile paved interior road, or if you’re feeling more adventurous, there’s 2.34 miles available for o-road cycling. þ If y ou’d rather enjoy the park on foot, there’s 4.5 miles of trails for hiking. þ E xplore the 2,400-acre Lake Manatee by taking your boat out on the lake, but keep in mind the Manatee County ordinance that restricts the use of boat motors to 20 horsepower or less. þ If a bo at is not your speed, explore the shores of the lake in your canoe or kayak. Make it an overnight trip by camping in the 60-site camping area that’s within walking distance of the beach and shing areas. Make reservations at Reserve.FloridaStateParks.org. More information: FloridaStateParks.org/Parks-And-Trails/LakeManatee-State-ParkRYE PRESERVELocation: 905 Rye Wilderness Trail, Parrish Hours: Sunrise to sunset Cost: Free See what wildlife you can nd as you explore the 530-acre property. þ The pr eserve’s trail system goes through four ecosystems including the river community, sand pine scrub, oak hammocks and xeric oak scrub. There are designated trails for biking and horseback riding. You can also oat along the Manatee River in your canoe or kayak or sh from the shoreline. þ Mor e information: MyManatee.org/ ParksCONSERVATORY PARKLocation: 8027 Conservatory Drive, Sarasota Hours: Sunrise to sunset Cost: Free Walk along the paved trail and get your heart pumping with the exercise machines that are available along the trail. þ The 55-acr e park also includes a playground and a shing and wildlife viewing dock. More information: MyManatee.org/ ParksDAKIN DAIRYLocation: 30771 Betts Road, Myakka City Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays; closed Sundays Cost: Tours $8 per person, free for children under 2 years old After working to recover from the impact of Hurricane Ian, Dakin Dairy has brought back its farm tours. þ L earn where milk comes from and how milk gets from a cow to a bottle during the tour, which gives an opportunity to see the cows, the milk parlor and milking stations. During the tour, you’ll also taste Dakin Dairy’s chocolate and whole milk and make your own butter. þ T ours are at 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. þ Y ou can also grab a bite to eat at Pete’s Place at Dakin Dairy or shop the market. þ E very Saturday, Dakin Dairy Farms hosts a farmers market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. More information: DakinDairyFarms.com “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.com 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 8130 Lakewood Main St., Suite D207 Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 941-755-5357Publisher and President / Emily Walsh, EWalsh@YourObserver.com Associate Publisher — East County Observer / Lori Ruth, LRuth@YourObserver.com Executive Editor and COO / Kat Wingert, KWingert@YourObserver.com Managing Editor / Jay Heater, JHeater@YourObserver.com Senior Editor / Liz Ramos, LRamos@YourObserver.com Sports Editor / Ryan Kohn, RKohn@YourObserver.com Sta Writer / Lesley Dwyer, LDwyer@ 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 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 Tributes Coordinator / Kristen Boothroyd, Tributes@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 EAST COUNTYLIZ RAMOS | SENIOR EDITORFlorida is lled with natural beauty, and East County is no exception. Yes, it’s hot in the summer, but don’t let the heat get in the way of enjoying all that nature has to oer. At Jiggs Landing Outpost last week, a group of people found respite from the heat, sitting under the trees as they listened to live music provided by Donnie Bostic. As the wind picked up, the boats along the dock swayed in the water of the Evers Reservoir, providing a rhythmic and scenic background to the small stage where Bostic was performing. Jiggs Landing isn’t alone. Here are seven places to go in East County this summer to enjoy nature’s beauty.From parks to preserves to farms, East County has plenty of places to enjoy the outdoors. Walk on theWILD SIDE A spicebrush swallowtail buttery comes to a rest in Conservatory Park, in the University Park area. Rye Preserve has trails that go through four dierent ecosystems. Jerry Dakin, the owner of Dakin Dairy, has started the farm tours once again after not oering the tours due to impacts from Hurricane Ian. Chuck Wilson and Donnie Bostic of the Donnie Bostic duo often perform live at Jiggs Landing Outpost. Upcoming dates include June 29, July 4, and July 6.File photos
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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 9 397117-1 rfntbt OVER 60 YEARS!rfntfbff fff FINANCING OPTIONS AVAILABLEff ffrffFO-35378922rfntbtt n rttt rrrr ‘‘’ rrrr ‘‘’rff rff n r‘ “†‘bn r ‘nn •n–t——bb–—n—bb ftrbrfnttt rr ‘f ’“ nrftntt ‘nnrntt t ‘ ‘‘ rfttt rr‘f ’“’ nnrfttt r “ nrrfttt r ‘nrrtt t “ r“ ‘r‘ rfttt r “ nnr ftrb ftrb ftrb rfntbt OVER 60 YEARS!rfntfbff fff FINANCING OPTIONS AVAILABLEff ffrffFO-35378922rfntbtt n rttt rrrr ‘‘’ rrrr ‘‘’rff rff n r‘ “†‘bn r ‘nn •n–t——bb–—n—bb ftrbrfnttt rr ‘f ’“ nrftntt ‘nnrntt t ‘ ‘‘ rfttt rr‘f ’“’ nnrfttt r “ nrrfttt r ‘nrrtt t “ r“ ‘r‘ rfttt r “ nnr ftrb ftrb ftrb rfntbt OVER 60 YEARS!rfntfbff fff FINANCING OPTIONS AVAILABLEff ffrffFO-35378922rfntbtt n rttt rrrr ‘‘’ rrrr ‘‘’rff rff n r‘ “†‘bn r ‘nn •n–t——bb–—n—bb ftrbrfnttt rr ‘f ’“ nrftntt ‘nnrntt t ‘ ‘‘ rfttt rr‘f ’“’ nnrfttt r “ nrrfttt r ‘nrrtt t “ r“ ‘r‘ rfttt r “ nnr ftrb ftrb ftrb rfntbt OVER 60 YEARS!rfntfbff fff FINANCING OPTIONS AVAILABLEff ffrffFO-35378922rfntbtt n rttt rrrr ‘‘’ rrrr ‘‘’rff rff n r‘ “†‘bn r ‘nn •n–t——bb–—n—bb ftrbrfnttt rr ‘f ’“ nrftntt ‘nnrntt t ‘ ‘‘ rfttt rr‘f ’“’ nnrfttt r “ nrrfttt r ‘nrrtt t “ r“ ‘r‘ rfttt r “ nnr ftrb ftrb ftrb rfntbt OVER 60 YEARS!rfntfbff fff FINANCING OPTIONS AVAILABLEff ffrffFO-35378922rfntbtt n rttt rrrr ‘‘’ rrrr ‘‘’rff rff n r‘ “†‘bn r ‘nn •n–t——bb–—n—bb ftrbrfnttt rr ‘f ’“ nrftntt ‘nnrntt t ‘ ‘‘ rfttt rr‘f ’“’ nnrfttt r “ nrrfttt r ‘nrrtt t “ r“ ‘r‘ rfttt r “ nnr ftrb ftrb ftrb rfntbt OVER 60 YEARS!rfntfbff fff FINANCING OPTIONS AVAILABLEff ffrffFO-35378922rfntbtt n rttt rrrr ‘‘’ rrrr ‘‘’rff rff n r‘ “†‘bn r ‘nn •n–t——bb–—n—bb ftrbrfnttt rr ‘f ’“ nrftntt ‘nnrntt t ‘ ‘‘ rfttt rr‘f ’“’ nnrfttt r “ nrrfttt r ‘nrrtt t “ r“ ‘r‘ rfttt r “ nnr ftrb ftrb ftrb Major Appliance Centers rfntfbff fff rfntbtn nrnb bnnrrrtr rfntbt OVER 60 YEARS!rfntfbff fff FINANCING OPTIONS AVAILABLEff ffrffFO-35378922rfntbtt n rttt rrrr ‘‘’ rrrr ‘‘’rff rff n r‘ “†‘bn r ‘nn •n–t——bb–—n—bb ftrbrfnttt rr ‘f ’“ nrftntt ‘nnrntt t ‘ ‘‘ rfttt rr‘f ’“’ nnrfttt r “ nrrfttt r ‘nrrtt t “ r“ ‘r‘ rfttt r “ nnr ftrb ftrb ftrb rfntbt OVER 60 YEARS!rfntfbff fff FINANCING OPTIONS AVAILABLEff ffrffFO-35378922rfntbtt n rttt rrrr ‘‘’ rrrr ‘‘’rff rff n r‘ “†‘bn r ‘nn •n–t——bb–—n—bb ftrbrfnttt rr ‘f ’“ nrftntt ‘nnrntt t ‘ ‘‘ rfttt rr‘f ’“’ nnrfttt r “ nrrfttt r ‘nrrtt t “ r“ ‘r‘ rfttt r “ nnr ftrb ftrb ftrb TM TM TM TM GE GE GE GE GE GE TM rfnrftb rnn nt rfnrftb rnn nt r fntnn b It’s love at rst whi. At least it is now. When the Farmers Market at Lakewood Ranch started in 2017 at the Sarasota Polo Club, it had the smell of a winner, but there was no concentrated, in-your-face, bakery-goodness aroma. The booths were spread apart around the grounds, making it seem there were more vendors than there were. I would imagine that was by design as they worked with the concept. They had one produce stand, one. And your food choices were limited. Of course, you have to start somewhere, and the whole idea, shepherded by then-Lakewood Ranch Community Relations Director Monaca Onstad, was to get the market started. The idea was a winner, and Lakewood Ranch Communities knew it would just be a matter of time and place. Flash forward to current day, and the changes are obvious. Walk up to Waterside Place on a Sunday morning and breathe deeply. Ahhhhhh! Making the scent so interesting is a mix of many delights. It’s the fresh bagels, and the Philly cheesesteaks, the empanadas, and the potato knishes. Is that a Zaza cannoli? How about a Rock N Eggroll and a Wow Wow Lemonade? The vendors, more than 100 and growing, have bought into the Farmers Market at Lakewood Ranch, and the patrons are buying into them. None of this would have gone so well without the place, and Waterside Place — always the intended landing spot for the market — seems to be perfect. The market moved from the Sarasota Polo Club to the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center to Waterside Place in 2021. On opening day in November 2021, more than 15,000 customers showed up, even though Waterside Place itself was lagging in terms of open businesses due to COVID-19 hangover and supply shortages. If Schroeder-Manatee Ranch wanted people to have a reason to see its new entertainment hub, the farmers market was the perfect reason. Since that opening day, the market has averaged 8,000 to 10,000 visitors on Sundays over the last 12 months and about 3,000 to 5,000 on Sundays during the summer. The market runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., so a brief stroll through the heat is no big deal. The market itself covers three legs of a street that runs along Kingfisher Lake. The 100 vendors are plugged into the space like Legos, but it doesn’t seem crammed and could better be described as an intimate setting. The bonus is the lakeside, where those who stroll the market can find a seat along the lake and listen to the live music provided each Sunday. The density leads to that wonderful smell as you approach and makes it impossible to leave without tasting a little something. Morgan Bettes-Angell, the market’s manager, has been there from the start in 2017, and it’s obvious she has a sense of pride when she talks about the current market and its future. “We’re known for our food variety,†Bettes-Angell said. “We are known as a foodie market.†That makes sense. From Florida’s Freshest Fish Company to Bite Me Cookies to Happy Pickle, to We Be Poppin’ and on and on. Have you tried Dynasty Guacamole? How can something so green taste so good? Bettes-Angell and Nicole Hackel, the Lakewood Ranch Communities’ Events and Resident Experience manager, are about to get a good idea at how popular their market has become. The America’s Farmers Market Celebration, hosted by American Farmland Trust, runs through Sept. 19. People vote for their favorite farmers markets in the U.S. (one vote per email address). If you would like to participate, go to VoteLWR.com. For more information on the market, go to TheMarketLWR.com. The Farmers Market at Lakewood Ranch finished fourth in Florida voting last year and was 42nd in the nation. Bettes-Angell and Hackel said they didn’t find out about the competition last year until months into the voting and therefore couldn’t promote it. They are confident the market will finish higher this year, which is optimistic since their market is much smaller than many of the ones they face around the country. “One challenge we have is that a lot of markets have a different growing season,†Hackel said. “Our organic growers take a break (in the summer).†Indeed, when the contest is running, many states are in their prime growing season. The Lakewood Ranch market certainly isn’t at its peak during that time, so votes might be a little harder to come by. The contest, however, is more of a fun thing than anything, one more reason to do a little bragging about the nation’s No.1-selling, multigenerational, master-planned community. The Farmers Market at Lakewood Ranch isn’t likely to get a share of the contest’s $15,000 purse, but the payoff has been the growing numbers of vendors and patrons. Bettes-Angell is confident those numbers will continue to climb. She said moving to Waterside Place with its seating along the lake, its pavilion and its parks has been a game-changer. “It brings in more families, and they stay longer,†she said. Waterside Park still is being developed, and a splash pad and playground are expected to be completed by the end of this year. The park sits on an eight-acre island that is attached to the hub by a walking bridge. Families are sure to use the park before, during and after they visit the Farmers Market at Lakewood Ranch. “Every market is unique,†BettesAngell said, noting that farmers markets in other states often can be much larger than the one at Waterside. But bigger, she said, doesn’t mean better. She said her market’s variety, live music and programming, should count in the voting. She said the market also has formed a partnership with the nonprofit Transition Sarasota, which picks up leftover produce. Since Jan. 1, Transition Sarasota has picked up 3,245 pounds of produce, which has translated to 9,600 servings of food to those in need. Add it all up, and she hopes those who visit often will take time to cast a vote. After walking away with a knish and an empanada, I quickly cast mine.Love the LWR market? Cast your vote Jay HeaterLakewood Ranch Communities’ Morgan Bettes-Angell and Nicole Hackel are urging people to vote for the Farmers Market at Lakewood Ranch in the American Farmers Market Celebration. Vote at VoteLWR.com.SIDE OF RANCH JAY HEATERJay Heater is the managing editor for the East County Observer. Contact him at JHeater@ YourObserver.com.
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10 EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 404854-1 Family Practice with an Integrative Approach8614 State Rd. 70 E., Ste. 200, Bradenton, FL 34202 | (941) 727-1243Integrative medicine practitioners spend time with their patients, listening to their histories and looking at the interactions among genetic, complex, chronic disease.Offering Bioidentical Hormones risks associated with synthetic hormone replacement.ASK US ABOUT BHRT PELLET THERAPY AND HOW WE CAN MATCH YOUR NEEDS. Announcing Bradenton East Integrative Medicine is now part of INNOVACARE HEALTH Our Practitioners:Karen O. Brainard, M.D. Samantha L. Notman, D.O. Carol Lewis, APRN Bridgett Edwards, APRN APRNCamille Kasten, APRN healthcare provider, consider a physician who sees YOU as a Whole Person, NOT A SET OF SYMPTOMS. 397805-1 6310 Health Pkwy., Ste. 340 • Lakewood Ranch 217 Manatee Ave. E. • Bradenton 111 S. Pineapple Ave., Ste 301 • Sarasota CoastalEye.com • 941-748-1818 • Most Insurance Plans WelcomedComprehensive Eye Exams Cataract Surgery Advanced Lens Implants Glaucoma Care Macular Degeneration Pediatric Eye Care Neuro-Ophthalmology Dry Eye Treatment Diabetic Eye Care Oculoplastic Surgery Trust your eyecare to our board certied physicians.Murray Friedberg, M.D. Robert Edelman, M.D. Scott Silverman, M.D. Robert Sambursky, M.D. Pooja Khator, M.D. Jeffrey Davis, M.D. Jody Abrams, M.D. Paul Brannan, M.D. Selina Lin, M.D. Philip Ames, M.D. Neal Kansara, M.D.OPHTHALMOLOGY PRACTICELakewood Ranch’s 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 LIZ RAMOS SENIOR EDITORWhen Ermanno Morrone and his wife, Albana, came to visit the Sarasota area last November, they wanted to take a peak at houses. The New Yorkers wanted to move to Florida, but they thought that was still a few years off. Their real estate agent took them to Lakewood Ranch, and the Mor rones fell in love with the slice of paradise. Ermanno Morrone, who owns and operates Morrone’s Pastry Shop and Cafe on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx, New York, told his real estate agent he was curious about available business spaces in the area. When he walked through the door of a small business space on 53rd Avenue East and Caruso Road in Bradenton, he immediately knew it would become the new Morrone’s Italian restaurant and deli. “He was like, ‘I don’t care how long it takes, I want this place,’†Albana Morrone said of her husband. In February, Albana Morrone moved to Lakewood Ranch with their daughters, Mia and Gianna, followed by Ermanno Morrone in April. They went to work right away, preparing to open. Morrone’s of Arthur Ave. opened June 10. “That was the scariest thing to do for me, leave New York City,†Albana Morrone said. “We had a successful business, a beautiful home. To leave all that and come to another place we know nothing about, it was very stressful as a mother. I’ll never forget I was driving to work and thinking, ‘Oh my goodness, what if nobody’s there?’ My anxiety was through the roof. But then I see cars and people lined up at the door.†Albana Morrone describes her husband as a perfectionist who only wants the best for his family and his customers. After seeing the overwhelming response to the news of Morrone’s opening, Ermanno Morrone decided to limit the new restaurant and deli’s hours so he could focus on hiring a staff that could handle the influx of customers. “He wants everything from customer service to dining to be 100%,†Albana Morrone said. “He would rather close. He doesn’t care about losing money. He would rather make sure everything is 100%.†Born and raised on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx, Ermanno Mor rone started working at a bakery at 9 years old as a dishwasher. The job would inspire his passion for food and launch his desire to open his own bakery. “My husband uses old-school recipes handed down from generations in his family,†Albana Morrone said. “You can’t even find these types of recipes on the internet because a lot of people don’t do these things any more.†IF YOU GOMORRONE’S OF ARTHUR AVE. Where: 5913 53rd Ave. E., Bradenton Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays; open Sundays (dinner service will be added as a full sta is hired) Owners: Ermanno and Albana Morrone More information: MorronesOfArtherAve.comA slice of New York Liz RamosErmanno Morrone has opened Morrone’s of Arthur Ave., an Italian restaurant and deli, in east Bradenton.
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YOUROBSERVER.COMJUNE 29, 2023 < REVOLUTIONARY IMPROV: FST stages a onenight show in honor of our nation’s birthday. 15 EATING WITH EMMA: The best lobster rolls in Sarasota and Manatee counties. 13 >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 legacyâ€â€” Tim Jaeger SEE TIM JAEGER, PAGE 12
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12 EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 rfrnftbntfn fnrfbrnnrfnnbnf f‘’rf“’’â€fnâ€nfr• ‘fffnnb–f’f‘fff‘â€n’bf——’’ ’f‘nfbb‘fffnnb“b fnnffnbff“bffâ€ffb’“b ’’f‘fnfâ€â€™fbfâ€fn nfrnfnfffn“b’rfnf ‘fnffn’’ffnfrnn“’ RECLAIMING HOMECONTEMPORARY SEMINOLE ART – –†–†–â€â€“†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.†“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. Jaeger’s drawing for a window of Jacob’s Ladder. TIM JAEGER, FROM PAGE 11
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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 13 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 þÂLob 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 offerings. 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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14 EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 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’s Lab 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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401169-1 YOUR NEIGHBORSJUNE 29, 2023 Classieds 25 Games 24 Real Estate 19 Sports 21 Weather 24Cooking with class in Lakewood Ranch The main recipe for the “Cooking Queens†event held at the Lakewood Ranch home of Angela Massaro-Fain on June 23 went as follows. Eleven cups of camaraderie, a dash of laughter, a pinch of silliness and a sprinkling of love. Massaro-Fain, who wrote her “Bacio Di Cucina†cookbook to benet the Sisterhood for Good nonprot she founded, hosts the class as a social event as well as a chance to pass down her family’s traditions. The 10 women who attended all said they are pretty good cooks themselves but that the class is a can’t-miss social event, along with a chance to learn new recipes. Although most of the women in attendance were Sisterhood for Good members, the class is open to anyone who wants to learn the ner art of Italian cooking along with spending time enjoying the process with friends, both old and new. The attendees each threw in $11 to buy the ingredients, and any leftover money went to Sisterhood for Good. Lakewood Ranch’s Julie Benjamin said she is a good cook but that Massaro-Fain “takes it to another level.†She also noted that while it was fun learning to make manicotti from scratch, she probably would continue to buy store-bought pasta. “I have three kids,†she said of her lack of time to make recipes from scratch. Kathy Osterberg said she enjoys the class because it is “a team eort.†However, she also won’t hesitate to make any of the recipes at home. “Angela makes it simplistic,†she said. The June 23 menu included spinach salad with strawberries and candied sliced almonds, homemade manicotti with meatballs and sausage, and blueberry and lemon tart. Anyone who is interested in a future class can reach Massaro-Fain at Info@ SFG Florida.org.— JAY HEATER Lakewood Ranch’s Maribeth Phillips rolls a manicotti during the “Cooking Queens†class. Lakewood Ranch’s Kathleen Osterberg is about to try out the group’s cooking talent. Parrish’s Graceann Frederico, Lakewood Ranch’s Maribeth Phillips and Sarasota’s Roxanne Sima show o the goods before sitting down to eat.Photos by Jay heaterWhile it was a cooking class, all the women who participated in “Cooking Queens†say they consider themselves to be good cooks and that it’s just a great social event and a chance to try recipes. Julie Benjamin watches as Susan Hanus mixes the salad.
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16 EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 rfntbrfntbnrr brtn rffrntbrt nnrrrrrftrrt nnrftrnnrrtfnrtnrtt rtrnnrffnrf nffbnrnr rfrnnn tbr fnntbnrn frffntbf ftb b 392761-1 WHEN YOU THINK FANS THINK DAN’S! DC Motor Fans Available Design Your Own Fan Parts & Services Available TRADITIONAL MODERN CONTEMPORARY LARGE FANS Design Your Own Fan Parts & Services Available In-Store Warran es 1808 Cortez Rd #101 Loca ons Na onwide! www.DansFanCity.com (941) 755-3262 Bradenton E. Sarasota (941) 355-1153 6303 Center Ring Rd #101 Keep It Cool This Summer With An Outdoor Fan! LARGEST SELECTION OF FANS ANYWHERE! 402898-1 COMMUNITYTHURSDAY, JUNE 29, FRIDAY, JUNE 30, TUESDAY JULY 4LIVE MUSIC AT JIGGS LANDING Runs from 5-8 p.m. at Jiggs Landing, 6106 63rd St. E., Bradenton. The live music lineup at Jiggs Landing includes Donnie Bostic (Thursday), Al Fuller’s Moonlight Movers (Friday), and Donnie Bostic (Tuesday). All shows are free except the Friday show, which has a $5 cover. For more information, go to JiggsLanding.com.FRIDAY, JUNE 30 þ MUSIC AT THE PLAZA Runs from 6-9 p.m. at Waterside Place, 1561 Lakefront Drive, Lakewood Ranch. Singer Sara Nelms will entertain those who stroll through Waterside Place’s selection of restaurants and businesses. The entertainment is free. For more information, go to WatersidePlace.com. þ SATURDAY, JULY 1 THROUGH MONDAY, JULY 3FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL Runs from 2-7 p.m. on July 1, noon to 6 p.m. July 2 and 3-9 p.m. July 3 in Parking Lot 4, east side of the Mall at UTC, 140 University Town Center Drive, Sarasota. More than 70 food trucks will participate in the Suncoast’s Largest Food Truck Festival. A $5 Entry benets the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida Inc., Breast Cancer Foundation of Central Florida and Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy. For information, call 727-674-1464.SUNDAY, JULY 2FARMERS MARKET Runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Lakefront Drive in Waterside Place, Lakewood Ranch. The Farmers Market at Lakewood Ranch will run year-round every Sunday. Vendors will be oering seafood, eggs, meats, dairy products, pastas, bakery goods, jams and pickles, among other items. Other features are children’s activities and live music. For more information, visit MyLWR.com. YOGA IN THE PARK Begins at 9 a.m. at Waterside Place Park, 7500 Island Cove Terrace, Lakewood Ranch. Lakewood Ranch Community Activities oers yoga that is free to residents; $10 for nonresidents. For more information, go to MyLWR.com.TUESDAY, JULY 4PICKLEBALL AND FIREWORKS Begins at 8:30 a.m. at UMR Sports, 131 Upper Manatee River Road, Bradenton. Celebrate July 4 with this doubles pickleball tournament, which will hold women’s matches starting at 8:30 a.m. and men’s matches starting at 5 p.m. Registration is $70 per team. Spots are limited to eight teams in each division. To RSVP, call 737-0362. þ WEDNESDAY, JULY 5BINGO FOR ALL Begins at 10 a.m. at Greenbrook Adventure Park, 13010 Adventure Place, Lakewood Ranch. Lakewood Ranch Community Activities hosts Bingo. For more information, go to MyLWR.com. BEST BETMONDAY, JULY 3FIREWORKS ON THE LAKE Begins at 5 p.m. at Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota. This year’s NBP Fireworks on the Lake event will feature live music by Kettle of Fish, a kids entertainment zone, various food trucks and a 5K run, among other activities. The reworks will begin approximately 9 p.m. The event is free, however, Regatta Island parking is $30, and South Island parking is $20 for cars and $50 for RVs. VIP Viewing Experience tickets are $75 per person. For more information, visit NathanBendersonPark.org. YOUR CALENDARFile photo
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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 17 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. To receive discount, offer must be presented at time of in-store purchase or promo code entered at batteriesplus.com. See store for complete details.10% OFFAny Purchase 405647-1 RICH BRIANDILIC/INS FREE ESTIMATES 941-356-5616• TREE REMOVAL & TRIMMING • CLEAN-UPS • COMPLETE LANDSCAPING • SHELL WORK • MULCHING405648-1 405650-1 rfn rf rf rf rf 405649-1 Protect & Beautify Your Home With New Energy Efcient Replacement Windows The Right Windows Can Provide Safety & Save You Money!Call Us Today & Let’s Get Started! INFINITE HOME IMPROVEMENTSThe windows in your home are important for many reasons; from improved energy eciency, which can save money on your electric bills, to greater protection from high winds and hurricanes. New windows will improve the aesthetics and curb appeal while increasing the value of your home! Innite Improvements in Sarasota, Florida oers the latest energy star rated technology coupled with quality installation to protect and beautify your biggest investment, your home. We oer every type of window from single or double hung windows to sliders and casement windows. Whether you want aluminum or vinyl impact windows and door walls, we can meet all your needs. Call us today for a Free No Gimmick In-Home Estimate! Brian Higgins, Owner, with son KyleYou Will Always Be Given Our Best Price First!7004 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34231 • (941) 312-4455 Stop by our New Showroom Soon with Granite Slabs on site www.innitesarasota.com • Lic. #CGC1514713 AMERICAN MADE PRODUCTS • SENIOR AND VETERAN DISCOUNTS Our Designers are On-sta for your project continuity, with the experience to execute any project On Time and On Budget! NO GIMMICK ZONE• Kitchen Remodeler • Bathroom Remodeler • Window Replacement2022 BEST 405739-1 Protect & Beautify Your Home With New Energy Ecient Replacement Windows It was another busy Friday night at Waterside Place thanks to the popular Sights and Sounds music series. þ The Hermit age Artist Retreat entertained the crowd with “Songs from the Sand: A Hermitage Cabaret.†The Hermitage artists perform about 50 shows a year, usually at the beach on Manasota Key, where the retreat is located. This was the rst time they’ve brought a program to Lakewood Ranch, which was the original goal of Sights and Sounds, to attract such talent. “Having these organizations perform here at Waterside Place means that our residents don’t have to travel far to enjoy and support arts and culture,†said Nicole Hackel, the LWR Communities’ Events and Resident Experience manager. þ The pr ogram was comprised of songs written by Hermitage alumni fellows, including Jeanine Tesori. Tesori wrote four Tony-nominated scores for Broadway and won two for “Kimberly Akimbo ,†and “Fun Home.†“Fun Home†was also a nalist for the Pulitzer Prize. þ The ne xt Sights and Sounds is scheduled from 6-9 p.m. July 28, when Easter Seals and Everyone Rocks will “Rock the Spectrum.â€â€” LESLEY DWYERAnother sight to see Photos by Lesley DwyerThe Heritage Artist Retreat presents “Songs from the Sand: A Hermitage Cabaret†on June 23 at Waterside Place. Sue and Greg Lawrick bring their dogs Nala and Nanook to the show. The family only moved to Lakewood Ranch this past July, but they’re regular concertgoers — dogs included. Bradenton resident and massage therapist Eboni Lavender dances in the back to support her friends in the cast. Randy Stull, Jack and Michelle Pilkington and Vanessa Stull meet at Waterside Place. The Stulls came from downtown Sarasota and the Pilkingons from Braden Pines. Mary Margaret Hardesty is visiting her dad, William Lewis, from Tennessee. Lewis recently moved into Esplanade.
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18 EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 rfnttbf frfrrrr tt nttnttt trf brfnf rr bt ttbnnttt tr rfnf frrr btnbnttt trr rfnf frrr nbnttt f brfbnf frrr ntnttt rr rfntf rrrf bt bnnttt trr rfnf r bt tnttt tf rfbnf frfr‘rfn t ntttnttt br‘r’r bbrfbnf r“ b bnttt brfrft brfbnf f tt tbntt tâ€â€ rfbnf rfr‘ btbb ttnttt t’rff’rbt brfnf f tt nttt t’rff’rt brfnf f tt tnttt br rfbnbf rr bt tn f brfbnf frrr nttt bb‘rr brfnf r bt tnttt bff• rfbnbf –f bt btnttt btfr rfbntf rfn tt tnttt bfff• brfnbf rfr‘ btbb tnttt –f brfnbf frfrrrr tt tbnttt trrbt bbrfnbf rrfrr—rrf bt nttt rbtb bbrfnf r tbttb bbnttt ’frt bbrfntf frr‘ tnttt ––r’r b brfnf r‘r b tbnttt t’’’r rfbnbf ‘rr bt bbnttt rrt bbrfnbf r bb nttt bt–r bbrfnf rfr‘ btbb ttnttt tbb’ ––rfr‘ tb bbnttt r 401873-1
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EAST COUNTY 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 401849-1 Sullivan, of Denton, Maryland, for $647,000. Built in 2001, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,148 square feet of living area. It sold for $318,000 in 2017.GREENBROOKJerome Joseph Ciaravino, of Largo, sold his home at 15254 Blue Fish Circle to Amir Aryaan, of Lakewood Ranch, for $635,000. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, three-anda-half baths, a pool and 2,572 square feet of living area. It sold for $577,600 in 2022. Marsha Failor, trustee, of Westlake, sold the home at 14126 Cattle Egret Place to Charles and Yuchin Robb, of Lakewood Ranch, for $579,500. Built in 2004, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,034 square feet of living area. It sold for $337,500 in 2015.ROSEDALEPatrick and Susan Keefe, of Conover, North Carolina, sold their home at 8730 49th Terrace E. to Patricia Elaine Devine and Mervyn James Devine, of St. George, Utah, for $617,000. Built in 1999, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,844 square feet of living area. It sold for $357,000 in 2018.COUNTRY CLUBJohn and Deborah Ayres, of Sarasota, sold their home at 13706 Matanzas Place to Steve and Patricia Whinery, of Lakewood Ranch, for $1.76 million. Built in 2011, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,660 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.1 million in 2014.COUNTRY CLUB EASTBeverly Barr, of Maineville, Ohio, sold her home at 7630 Windy Hill Cove to Carolyn Jones Van Helden, trustee, of Lakewood Ranch, for $1.15 million. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,911 square feet of living area. It sold for $640,000 in 2019. John and Linda Measel, trustees, of Brighton, Michigan, sold the home at 14520 Whitemoss Lane to Kathleen Susan Hunt, trustee, of Rancho Cucamonga, of California, for $745,000. Built in 2012, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,872 square feet of living area.PRESERVE AT PANTHER RIDGERichard Ray Epps and Kelli Mock Epps, of Bradenton, sold their home at 22535 Morning Glory Circle to Jason and Kelli Lerner, of Bradenton, for $1,125,000. Built in 2015, it has ve bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,871 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,216,100 in 2020. Jayme Verman and Jenna Baverman, of Knoxville, Tennessee, sold their home at 23319 Red Robin Place to Thomas Magnowski and Richard Popiela, of Kildeer, Illinois, for $990,000. Built in 2003, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,188 square feet of living area. It sold for $720,000 in 2021.ESPLANADEDonald Keith Remling and Amy Crosby Remling, of Jasper, Georgia, sold their home at 13235 Sorrento Way to Michael Hanson and Wendi Lynn Hanson, of Ontario, Canada, for $975,000. Built in 2018, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,087 square feet of living area. It sold for $492,200 in 2018. Craig Brinda, of Lakewood Ranch, sold his home at 12650 Fontana Loop to Fenner and Susan Brownell, of Bradenton, for $899,900. Built in 2014, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,247 square feet of living area. It sold for $530,000 in 2020. Lisa and Jerey Martin, of Flower Mound, Texas, sold their home at 5202 Napoli Run to Melanie Traveler, of Tierra Verde, for $780,000. Built in 2015, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,920 square feet of living area. It sold for $830,000 in 2022.BRIDGEWATERBobbi Hopkins and Ramzy Medaa, trustees, sold the home at 13611 Swiwater Way to Joshua Adam Greenspoon and Sevasti Eleni Greenspoon, of Bradenton, for $950,000. Built in 2016, it has ve bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,861 square feet of living area. It sold for $632,200 in 2016. Robert Norman Anderson and Amy Beth Anderson, of Selma, North Carolina, sold their home at 5514 Goodpasture Glen to Mark and Nina Krzysko, of Bradenton, for $725,000. Built in 2015, it has four bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,221 square feet of living area. It sold for $455,000 in 2020.MILL CREEKJohn Mancini, of Parrish, sold his home at 1606 145th St. E. to Dariusz and Beata Bziuk, of Spotswood, New Jersey, for $885,000. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, threeand-a-half baths, a pool and 3,409 square feet of living area. It sold for $399,000 in 2013. BATP Properties LLC sold the home at 509 Woodview Way to Douglas and Georgia Klepp, of Bradenton, for $715,000. Built in 1994, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,614 square feet of living area.MALLORY PARKRoman and Petra Pistanek, of Bradenton, sold their home at 3430 Chestertown Loop to Mark and Tara Ward, of Bradenton, for $845,000. Built in 2021, it has four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,859 square feet of living area. It sold for $422,500 in 2021.EDGEWATERFusheng Jiang and Yanling Zhang and Zhijie Jiang, of Upland, California, sold their home at 6634 Windjammer Place to Legacy Life Foundation Inc. for $840,000. Built in 1999, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,855 square feet of living area. It sold for $750,000 in 2014.RIVER CLUB NORTHMartin and Karen Hafer, trustees, of Tenino, Washington, sold the home at 6465 Shoal Creek St. Circle to Thomas and Allison Kautzer, of Bradenton, for $715,000. Built in 1991, it has four bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,406 square feet living area. It sold for $330,000 in 2005.WILTON CRESCENTHoward and Rona Simon, of Sarasota, sold their home at 7889 Wilton Crescent Circle to Robert David Young and Victoria Garon Young, of University Park, for $700,000. Built in 1994, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,109 square of feet living area. It sold for $339,900 in 2003.COACH HOMES AT LAKEWOOD NATIONALJames Garland Bowman II and Robin Kay Bowman sold their Unit 3522 condominium at 17713 Gawthrop Drive to James and Susan Floyd, of Bradenton, for $690,000. Built in 2020, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,108 square feet of living area. It sold for $360,000 in 2020.WATCH AT WATERLEFEManage People LLC sold the Unit 32-D condominium at 9415 Discovery Terrace to Lisa and Richard Brakeeld, of Holmes Beach, for $650,000. Built in 2003, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,156 square feet of living area. It sold for $254,900 in 2017. Alexander and Audrey McLauchlin, of Ellenton, sold their Unit 28-C condominium at 9435 Discovery Terrace to John LaForge II, of Bradenton, for $520,000. Built in 2002, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,156 square feet of living area. It sold for $280,000 in 2018. Dorothy Ketterer sold her Unit 11-B condominium at 9623 Sea Turtle Terrace to William Kelly Burgess and Christine Manseld Burgess, of Bradenton, for $440,000. Built in 2001, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,666 square feet of living area. It sold for $265,000 in 2020.WOODBROOKVictoria Van Patten, of Westerly, Rhode Island, sold her home at 6476 Autumn Woods Way to Ralph and Carolyn Basler, of Sarasota, for $650,000. Built in 2013, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,253 square feet of living area. It sold for $418,000 in 2013.WATER OAKBraden and Maggie Sharrer, of Nokomis, sold their home at 6750 64th Terrace E. to Dominic and Lori REAL ESTATEADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITORA home in Lake Club topped all transactions in this week’s real estate. Allen and Shelley Wol, trustees, sold the home at 16921 Clearlake Ave. to Lawrence and Lucinda Krouk, of Lakewood Ranch, for $2.8 million. Built in 2020, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,596 square feet of living area Lake Club home tops sales at $2.8 million RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS JUNE 12-16SEE REAL ESTATE, PAGE 20Courtesy photo This Lake Club home at 16921 Clearlake Ave. sold for $2.8 million. It has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,596 square feet of living area.
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20 EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 RIVERWALK VILLAGE CYPRESS BANKSWilliam and Deborah Baggott sold their home at 7240 Spoonower Court to Elias Montoya and Lorena Zuniga Kirlis, of Lakewood Ranch, for $600,000. Built in 2001, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,903 square feet of living area. It sold for $306,200 in 2018.TARAJoanne Weaver, Cara Gorman and Mark Weaver sold their home at 6811 Drewrys Blu to Jerey Dean Tackeberry and Melanie Blair Tackeberry, of Bradenton, for $598,000. Built in 1992, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,517 square feet of living area. It sold for $316,000 in 2016. Christa Ursini and Gina Marie Ursini and Mark Anthony Ursini, of S. Salem, New York, sold their home at 6123 Aviary Court to Michael Joseph Kloss, of Bradenton, for $533,000. Built in 2001, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,761 square feet of living area. It sold for $203,200 in 2014.STONEYBROOK AT HERITAGE HARBOUR9056-1721 Quebec Inc. sold the home at 8009 Haven Harbour Way to James Truong and Yahui Ching, of Bradenton, for $597,000. Built in 2004, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,190 square feet of living area. It sold for $300,000 in 2019.CENTRAL PARKMaria Karp, of Nesconset, New York, sold her home at 4626 Claremont Park Drive to James and Kimberly Cascio, of Bradenton, for $595,000. Built in 2015, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,844 square feet of living area. It sold for $279,600 in 2015.HARMONYChristine Helmsoth Manseld Burgess and William Kelly Burgess sold their home at 5318 Bentgrass Way to Thomas Charles Grimme and Bea Wen Grimme, of Bradenton, for $595,000. Built in 2016, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,555 square feet of living area. It sold for $376,000 in 2016.RIVER POINT OF MANATEEWilliam and Kathleen Bernethy, trustees, of Bradenton, sold the home at 155 41st Circle E. to Joseph and Rita Obeid, of Bradenton, for $585,000. Built in 1995, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,957 square feet of living area. It sold for $550,000 in 2022. Kathleen Grim, of Bradenton, sold her home at 4017 Third Ave. E. to Kelly Hendricks, of Bradenton, for $465,000. Built in 1995, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,529 square feet of living area. It sold for $205,900 in 2003.THE MOORINGS AT EDGEWATERDavid and Susan Baldauf sold their Unit 201 condominium at 6556 Moorings Point Circle to Deborah Stickel, of Lakewood Ranch, for $585,000. Built in 2004, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,344 square feet of living area. It sold for $330,500 in 2004.HERITAGE HARBOURTimothy and Erica Abrams, of Chesapeake, Virginia, sold their home at 6866 Willowshire Way to Guy Henry and Amy Frances Henry, of Oakdale, Connecticut, for $553,000. Built in 2015, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,006 square feet living area. It sold for $307,500 in 2018.AVALON AT THE VILLAGES OF PALM AIREMary Lacey, of Sarasota, sold the home at 4911 Lakescene Place to Thomas Thanas and Theodora Thanas, trustees, of Sarasota, for $547,000. Built in 2001, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,909 square feet of living area. rf ntrrrbf rrnnn nbf bnfn rffnrrfbr t tb f t frffrfb rfrffbrrbbbr rtb rfntr rfbfrfb rfbfrfbrf rfbbbtr bbbn rbbt400874-1 405106-1 rf rr r f r ntbttntbrf rbn t FRESHEN UP YOUR SPACEQuick Response & • INTERIOR & EXTERIOR • DRYWALL REPAIR • STUCCO REPAIR • EPOXY FLOORING • POWERWASHING • TEXTURINGFor Your Free Quote & call us Today! 401152-1RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL Real estateFROM PAGE 19 ONLINESee more transactions at YourObserver.com
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PROLIFIC PADDLER PAGE 22 SPORTSJUNE 29, 2023 “Don’t always try to swing for the fences. Hitting a line drive is OK. þ â€â€” Lakewood Ranch Little League’s Mario Martinez Reyes SEE PAGE 23Former Lakewood Ranch High baseball star Grant McCray went 3-5 with an RBI and a stolen base June 25 in the A-level Eugene Emeralds (San Francisco Giants) 6-4 win over the Vancouver Canadians (Toronto Blue Jays). McCray now has 29 stolen bases on the season, which ranks second in the Northwest League, one behind leader Joe Stewart of the TriCity Dust Devils (Los Angeles Angels). þ ...Br aden River High rising sophomore Ronin Dangler nished second in the Age Group 14-15, 81 kilograms division of the 2023 USA Weightlifting National Youth Championships on June 25 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Dangler had a score of 191 kilograms (81 kilograms in the snatch and 110 kilograms in the clean and jerk). þ Former Lakewood Ranch High football star and NFL veteran Dominique RodgersCromartie signed with the Tampa Nightcrawlers of the American 7s Football League in May. Rodgers-Cromartie, 37, is playing defensive back and wide receiver for the Nightcrawlers in the 7-on-7 league. The Nightcrawlers will play the Baltimore Watchmen in the Eastern Conference Championship at 1 p.m. July 9 in Cincinnati. The game can be streamed on DAZN.com. þ Parrish Community High is looking for a varsity wide receivers coach for the 2023 season, as well as several junior varsity coaching positions. Interested candidates can email their coaching resumes to head coach Dylan Clark at þ Clark2R@ManateeSchools. net. þ The Braden River Little League’s Senior All-Star team won the District 26 championship on June 22. þ Ian Gilbertson, Carole Gilbertson, Don Hicks and Maureen Hicks (59) won the , Wine and Dine†event (best ball shamble format) held June 25 at University Park Country Club. þ George Piccirilli sank a hole-in-one June 25 on the No. 2 hole at Lakewood Ranch Country Club’s Cypress Links course. Piccirilli used a 6-hybrid on the 140-yard hole. Fast Break Courtesy photoGrant McCray has 29 stolen bases for Eugene Emeralds. RYAN KOHN SPORTS EDITORThe Lakewood Ranch Prepara tory Academy’s football field is an eye-catching sight off White Eagle Boulevard and Crossland Trail. While the area around the field is still under construction, with Ryan Construction handling the duties, the complex is expected to be ready by the time the 2023-24 school year begins in August. Cheryl Cendan, Upper school principal, said the field features AstroTurf and cost approximately $1.4 million. The cost is high but not unusual for a school that wants to have a competitive football program. What is unusual is that Lakewood Ranch Prep does not have a football program. At least, it doesn’t have one yet, and won’t for another two to three years, according to athletic director Racquel Standifer. Though the school’s community is excited about the prospect of fielding a team, Standifer said, the school does not want to rush things. “We have a lot of interest in football, but we’re taking it slow,†Standifer said. “It’s just about getting everything together. I think if you go too fast (when putting a program together), you tend to have to back track later and fix things. So we’re starting slow and adding a few steps here and there. With the field, we’re making the foundation.†A football program requires more than just a field and willing play ers, Standifer said. The school will need funds to raise money for things like equipment and travel. It can get sponsors to help with that, Standifer said, but when the school is already having to pay for uniforms — which can cost approximately $4,000 per sport — and equipment for its other sports, which include basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis, volleyball, golf, cross country and flag football, adding football now would be an expensive headache. Standifer said the school hopes that its incoming freshman class will have the chance to play football as seniors. The wait is not a problem for Lakewood Ranch Prep, Cendan said. The school, a member of Charter Schools USA, will be ready to host a program when the time comes, and in the meantime, the field can be used for soccer as well as certain gym class activities. Since the field was in the original plans for the school, the expense was not a surprise and was in the budget. It will be one of several athletic facilities on the 18-acre campus once construction on the upper school is complete, including a gym and tennis courts. The other facilities will be put to their intended use right away — but not the football field. Some schools do not allow other sports to practice on their football fields out of fear of the playing sur face being muddled, but that will not be the case at Lakewood Ranch Prep. Cendan said the reason the school invested in AstroTurf is because it is built to last. The turf’s density will ensure the field is still pristine once the football program arrives, even with other sports and classes using it. In the meantime, Lakewood Ranch Prep athletes interested in football are welcome to elect to play for a school that does have a program, as is customary at others schools without football programs, like the Sarasota Military Academy — though Standifer said she hopes they return once the Eagles themselves take the field. The football field is an example of Lakewood Ranch Prep’s ethos when it comes to athletics: patience. The Eagles have big goals, Standifer said, and hope to compete for state titles in many sports someday, but that day will has to remain on the horizon for now. The school has received provisional approval from the Flor ida High School Athletic Association to compete in FHSAA events as a Class 2A school. That status will remain for three years; during that time, the Eagles can play in FHSAA contests, but cannot compete for district, regional or state titles. The school is also in the process of getting its courses recognized by the NCAA so that its high-level athletes can obtain scholarships from NCAA member schools. Since the school uses standard Florida course codes, the school is confident it will get approval, but it is a process that takes time nonetheless. Despite these restrictions, the school will field its other programs this upcoming season, at both the middle school and high school lev els, with the high school teams competing as junior varsity teams. Even though the teams cannot compete for the playoffs, Standifer said, she expects everyone who represents the Eagles to have a great athletic experience. That could include placing high-level middle school athletes on junior varsity teams to better prepare them for varsity athletics in a few years, as The Out-of-Door Academy and other private schools have done. But every decision the school makes athletically will be to serve its students’ best interest. Right now, that means easing into the competitive side of sports and putting an emphasis on enjoyment. “I want to make sure our teams get good schedules,†Standifer said. “I don’t want anyone to get over whelmed.â€The school has built a football eld even though it will not eld a team for several seasons. Photos by Ryan Kohn Prep for the future READY, SET, GOLWR Prep athletic programs ready for 2023-24 MIDDLE SCHOOL: Baseball Basketball Cheerleading Cross country Flag football Golf (coed) Soccer (coed) Tennis Volleyball (girls) HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR VARSITY: Baseball Boys basketball Cheerleading Cross country Girls basketball Girls ag football Golf Soccer Tennis Volleyball Photos by Ryan Kohn Lakewood Ranch Prep’s Andrew Sirianni hits a layup against Sarasota Christian in a 2022 game. The Eagles had to play at outdoor public courts in 2022 as the school’s gym was not yet constructed. It will be ready in 2023. Cheryl Cendan, principal at Lakewood Ranch Prep upper school, and athletic director Racquel Standifer say the school’s football eld cost approximately $1.4 million.
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22 EAST COUNTY 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 KOHNA decade ago, Mandy Boyers was trying dragon boat racing for the first time during a community festival in Bur lington, 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. On June 20, Nathan Benderson Park announced that Boyers, a 52-year-old East County resident, will be one of 10 athletes from the park representing Team USA on its senior team at the 2023 International Dragon Boat Federation World Dragon Boat Racing Championships, scheduled for Aug. 7-13 in Pattaya, Thailand. Joining Boyers on Team USA will be Benderson Park paddlers Doreen Clyne, Don Bickel, Brian Long, Dana Trimble, Duneska Grant and Joni Carone, plus steerer Angela Long and drummer Paula Murray. The past 10 years have led Boyers to this moment, and she’s not taking any of it for granted. “I tear up when I think about putting that uniform on,†Boyers said. “It is humbling. It is an honor to represent our country and compete against the best in the world.†Boyers said she was immediately hooked on dragon boat after trying it at the Vermont festival. She said it was the sense of team-building and community within the sport that she noticed first. Over the course of the day, she began to notice things within herself, like a fire to out-pace other boats. She wanted more, so she joined Dragonheart Vermont, a local club. Over the years, she and her husband, Jayson Boyers, moved around the country, with stops in Michigan and Pennsylvania. Mandy Boyers joined dragon boat clubs at each location. It wasn’t enough, as the more Boyers competed, the more she wanted to improve her game. In Vermont, she had teammates who talked about making Team USA and competing at the world championships, and she decided she wanted to take that challenge on herself. Boyers said she researched the best places to train in dragon boat and found Benderson Park. Boyers began visiting the park each winter, and she fell in love not just with the park, but with the entire region. In October 2021, she and her husband moved to the area full time. In that sense, dragon boat not only brought Boyers new friends and new lessons about herself, but a new home. “The sport completely changed my life,†Boyers said. “I would not be here without it.†It changed more than just her location. 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 almost lived out her dream two years ago, when she was named to the Team USA roster for the 2021 championships, but that event, which would have been held in Hong Kong, was canceled because of COVID-19 restrictions. Boyers never got to wear the red, white and blue, but she has stayed prepared over the past two years, hoping she would receive another chance. Now that she has, the emotions are flowing. “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.†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 single-person outrigger canoes. Boyers said spots on her Team USA Senior A/B Women’s boat were decided by time trials conducted in those canoes. Unless a person has their own canoe, 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. She said her motivation levels are as high as they have ever been, and she does not see them dropping any time soon. “You can continue to do this sport as you age because it is age bracketed,†Boyers said. “You don’t have to go against 20-year-olds. I can go against people my age, which is awesome.†A trip to Thailand is Boyers’ reward for putting in the work. It will be an emotional trip at times, she said, but she’s ready to compete for a medal, and equally excited to experience a part of the world she’s never seen — even if she’s dreading the plane ride there. If that’s the cost of making her dreams become reality, Boyers will take the deal every time. Ryan Kohn is the sports editor for the East County Observer. Contact him at RKohn@ YourObserver.com. East County paddler earns spot in U.S. boat Courtesy photos NBP dragon boat coach Angela Long and nine NBP teammates were selected to represent Team USA at the World Dragon Boat Racing Championships. (Not pictured: Duneska Grant.) Mandy 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.
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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 23 PRESENTING SPONSOR: MR. JOE C. HEMBREE MR. DRAYTON SAUNDERSREAL ESTATE TRENDS IN SARASOTAWednesday, July 19, 2023Carlisle Inn – Sarasota11:30 AM 1:00 PM Member: $55 Non Member: $70 MEDIA SPONSOR: SUPPORTING SPONSOR: Register Today at sarasotachamber.com 404656-1 CALL TODAY FOR YOUR FREE CONSULTATION & XRAYS$2395 Implant, Post, & Crown. Offer expires 7/31/2023LOCATED OFF STICKNEY POINT (941) 260712 401145-1 rfntbr t tff ffn f 404738-1 VOLUNTEER DRIVERS NEEDED rfnfnntbbbffn rfntbt bf ff bfr405044-1 BUSY BEE TUTORING rfntf bbbnfn rf ntfb rfrrnf tbn rfntf tfffbfntf SWIMMING LESSONS 404293-1 n Show 23 and Gran Turismo 7. þ Which superpo wer would you pick? Invincibility. No one could hurt me. þ What is y our favorite school subject? Either science or history. I can remember stu from those classes easily. They’re interesting. þ What is the be st advice you have received? Don’t always try to swing for the fences. Hitting a line drive is OK. þ Finish this s entence: “Mario Martinez Reyes is †Competitive. I always play to win. Mario Martinez Reyes is a baseball player with Lakewood Ranch Little League. Martinez Reyes hit .571 with a home run and six RBIs over three winning games in the league’s 11U All-Star team’s district tournament, held June 17-18. When did you start playing baseball? I started when I was 5. I think I was just looking for a sport to play, so I tried it and I loved it. I play soccer and basketball as well. þ What is the appe al to you? I like being part of a team, and I like that you can play a lot of positions. I usually play third base, catcher or pitcher, and they all feel dierent. Plus, you get to hit. þ What is y our best skill? I’m a good hitter. I try to hit for contact more than I try to hit home runs. I like line drives. þ What is y our favorite memory? In 2022, I was playing for a club team called Pinnacle, and we won our league championship. We didn’t expect to make it to the championship game, which made it even bet ter when it happened. þ What is s o fun about All-Star baseball? There’s more competition, which makes it more fun. And it is cool that we can go to the state level or the regional level if we keep winning. I think we can go far if we keep hitting and elding well. þ Which pr ofessional players do you like to watch? I like Mike Trout. He’s a great hitter and he always gives full eort when elding. þ What is y our favorite food? I like sushi a lot. þ What ar e your hobbies? I like to play video games. I have been playing MLB: The Mario Martinez Reyes If you would like to make a recommendation for the East County 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 EAST COUNTY 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 THURSDAY, JUNE 29High: 95 Low: 75 Chance of rain: 43%FRIDAY, JUNE 30High: 96 Low: 77 Chance of rain: 15%SATURDAY, JULY 1High: 95 Low: 78 Chance of rain: 38%SUNDAY, JULY 2High: 95 Low: 78 Chance of rain: 45%FORECAST NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH RAINFALL SUNRISE / SUNSET MOON PHASES*Rainfall totals from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport WEATHER YEAR TO DATE: 2023 þ 1 0.04 in. 2022 þ 1 7.14 in. MONTH TO DATE: 2023 þ 2.38 in. 2 022 þ 7 .25 in. Gordon Silver captured these goldnches relaxing in a pine tree near White Eagle Boulevard. July 3 Full July 17 New July 9 Last July 25 First 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 6:3 7a þ 8:28p Saturday, July 1 þ 6:3 7a þ 8:28p Sunday, July 2 þ 6:38a þ 8:28p Monday, July 3 þ 6:38a þ 8:28p Tuesday, July 4 þ 6:39a þ 8:28p Wednesday, July 5 þ 6:39a þ 8:28p 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.
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rfntbbtb bfrtbtbbttbtbbtbfrrfnttfbfff tfn rfn tbrbbrbbb bbbbbb bbbbbbbrb bbb bb brbbbbrb brbbbbbbbrb bbbnbbrb bbbnnbbtbbfrrrtbbfrbf r rrf nfrn rfntbbfrfnr bnbffrfnrbt rr bfbntfbbbt bbbbnbbf n nnntbbfb nbbtbbbbf nfb n rfntbrf ntb r Items Under $200 15 PIE C E C orningware, excellent condition. $30, 941-932-1172 32 PIE C E S toneware dinnerware, black & tan design. $30, 941-932-1172 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 AVIATI O N B OO K, rf ntbr HAVAHART LIVE animal cage trap, new, $35. Car books, mustang/muscle car, (10) $15 each. (941)242-5436 PIAN O R O LL S 40 Aeolian piano rolls with 40& 50 music. $100 for all. (941)926-7254 R C A TV, 55†with remote, cable ready, great bedroom TV. $50 (941)724-9044 Items Under $200 RED PA GES EARLY DEADLINE The Observer Media Group will be closed on Tuesday, July 4th. Deadline for the July 6th editions will be due Friday, June 30th at 2:00 pm. 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 Sporting Goods BEACH’ N RIDES r r f f n n t t b b n n f n ‘ ‘’ “râ€â€â€¢â€œâ€“‘ 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. Autos W anted 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 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) Adul t Care Services PER SO NAL C ARE G IVERPrivate care: Meal preparation, errands, shopping, and more. Affordable hourly rates, available weekdays, weekends, and holidays. Minimal shift 5 hours can also provide overnight care. Temporary or long term care. Over 10+ years experience. References available. No new faces, one consistent caregiver. COVID Negative. Call Kati: 941-536-7706. Auto Transport SHIP YO UR car, truck or S UV anywhere in the United States. Great rates, fast quotes. Call Hawley Motors: 941-923-3421. Cleaning BRAZILIAN CLEANING S ervice by Maria. Residential. Meticulous Cleaning. Excellent References. Free Estimates. Reliable. Lic./Ins. 941-400-3342.www.braziliancleaningbymk.com 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. rff n rfnnrttt r frfn tbrf rfnft b r fn
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26 EAST COUNTY 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 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 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 REPLACEâ€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 r fntrb 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 Services Are You Having Dryer Difficulties? Residential 941-705-5468 Commercial • Dryer hot but clothes still wet after (1) drying cycle?• Dryer gets hot to the touch or doesn’t heat up at all?Take a simple test to see if your vent is clogged. Unhook your dryer vent & compare drying time. 405365 Home Wa tch 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 Irrigation ED’S RAIN MAKER IRRIGATIONIRRIGATION REPAIR MAINTENANCE (941) 725-8100 edsrainmakerirrigation@gmail.com Insured Servicing LWR, Parrish and NE Bradenton404784 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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EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 27 Kitchen/Bath Remodeling rfntbb405366 941.966.0333 COMPLETE INSTALLATION PACKAGE$235INCLUDES 2 MOEN STAINLESS STEEL ANTI SLIP CONCEALED SCREW GRAB BARS (16†& 24â€)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 404974 rf nt bt rfnnfttbn 405363 GLENN KROECKER954-1878 (cell) 780-3346Licensed & InsuredTHE GRAB BAR GUY rfntb r nf Landscaping & La wn No Job is Too Small!Design • Garden Beds • Landscape • Courtyards Clean-Up • Makeovers • Weeds • TrimmingAllison J. Abizaid Personal Gardening Services | Designer941-400-0431 • gbyallison@yahoo.com • gardensbyallison.com GARDENS 405367 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 405078 UNIQUE PAINTING & PRESSURE WASHING SERVICESCell 619-405-7650 Home/Ofce 941-758-4840Complete Interior & Exterior PaintingHomes Driveways Sidewalks Tile & Shingle Roofs Pool Cages & DecksFREE ESTIMATES Call Joel, Owner 30 Years Exp. Pl umbing Mark’s Plumbing Service404787Small plumbing repairs. Replace toilets, faucets, water lters, water softeners and repair leaks.RELIABLE • INSURED941-920-8221 Rescreening & Repairs Eldridge Re-Screen941-270-1561 “No Job Too Smallâ€Licensed Insured 404975 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 Screening 404976 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 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. rfntbrf ntrbr nr
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28 EAST COUNTY OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 P.S. e Key to Your Real Estate Success rrfntb bbtbbfntb ttrrrfntb Your Lakewood Ranch Neighbors and Home ExpertsOVER$650 MILLIONIN LIFETIME SALESTOP 1 % OF AGENTS IN MANATEE AND SARASOTA COUNTIES 700+ HOMES SOLD IN LAKEWOOD RANCH PSLuxuryGroup.com #1 REAL ESTATE TEAM IN LAKEWOOD RANCH 401669-1
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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.â€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.â€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‘‘’“â€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.â€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?’â€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.â€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.â€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).â€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.â€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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SPIRIT OF AMERICA | JULY 2023 21 JULY4SALE EVENT rfnttbfffn ‘’“ ‘’rfn rtbn“ rnnn rnn“ â€â€œ rnf rnn“ rnn rn“•“––—— •“––10% OFF DINING 15% OFF OUTDOOR 10% 50% OFF IN STOCK FURNITUREbbb““ ’““ “•“–– †COME BROWSE THE LARGEST IN STOCK SELECTION OF AMISH FURNITURE IN FLORIDA AND EXPERIENCE MILLER’S QUALITY FOR YOURSELF! ——• †—FAMILY OWNED + OPERATED 404146-1
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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.â€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.â€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.â€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.â€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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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.â€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.â€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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