The Landings Eagle - April 2023

Becoming a Citizen

The United States of America has historically attracted people from all over the world seeking new opportunities. One Landings resident, Valentina Valentini Bruno, decided to follow her heart to America after falling in love with her now husband, John Bruno. She recently took her Oath of Citizenship after five years of pursuing naturalization. Becoming a U.S. citizen requires dedication and discipline, traits Valentina embodies, as shown through her impressive scientific career.

Valentina was born in Cagliari, Italy, where she progressed through her education, earning a master’s degree in biology and a Ph.D. in Toxicology. After spending a few years working as a post-doctoral scientist, she became an assistant professor in Pharmacology at the University of Cagliari. She specialized in researching the neurobiology of addiction and other brain disorders. Her passion for science is what initially brought Valentina to the United States.

In 2012, Valentina spent three months as a visiting scientist at The Ohio State University,

Columbus, Ohio, to work in John Bruno’s lab with a special visa. Through her work, she met and fell in love with John.

In 2015, Valentina decided to move to America to live with him. She loved the energy of the big university and appreciated the financial support scientists receive in America. However, she did have to adjust to the cold winter with her little dog, Bilbo. Valentina and John married in 2017.

Around this time, she realized that she wanted to become a part of the American way of life and decided to start the naturalization process. The process was a long five years and required her to continue renewing her green card (initially earned with the marriage), providing her with permanent residence. She also had to pass a written and oral test to complete naturalization.

In 2018, while undergoing the process of naturalization, John retired, and the pair moved to Florida to live in Longboat Key. Valentina left her position at the University of Cagliari after her realization that her heart was here in America, along with her desire for citizenship. She started to work for a scientific company based in the Netherlands as a consultant and service support for U.S. customers.

After their move to Longboat Key, they were disappointed by the lack of community and decided to try out Sarasota instead. They couldn’t find a high-rise overlooking the marina that suited them, and by chance discovered The Landings.

They immediately felt comfortable at The Landings and knew it was a special place to live. Though it differed from home in Italy, she was passionate about The Landing’s funloving energy.

Valentina continued to prepare for the naturalization process by studying 100 possible questions about civics, geography, and politics. She had to answer six questions out of ten correctly for the oral test and accurately write a sentence for the written test. After passing both tests, she took her Oath of Citizenship.

Valentina is proud to say she is both Italian and American and maintains dual citizenship. She considers how her story holds different value than other situations she has seen. Valentina is aware others might move to America out of necessity and is grateful to have the privilege of this move to be a choice. She had the opportunity to choose to follow her heart and love. Her family back in Italy supports her choice to become an American citizen. Her dual citizenship allows for easy traveling between both countries. She misses her family but knows they now have a vacation opportunity to visit. She understands the importance of speaking to her family back home and tries to call her mom daily. This August, she turns 90, and Valentina will be there to celebrate with her. Valentina advises those who move from home to “keep in mind what your priorities are and keep in contact with your family as much as you can.”

Though her family is in Italy, Valentina has found more family and friends through the community in The Landings. Her good friends Dee and Judi

organized a lunch cruise around Sarasota Bay to celebrate her Oath of Citizenship. Valentina was delighted to see more than 50 of her friends from The Landings had come to celebrate her citizenship with her. Many partygoers wore red, white, and blue attire, with Valentina sporting red lipstick, a white top, and blue trousers. She was impressed to see all her friends recognizing America and her newfound citizenship.

The two-hour cruise consisted of a delicious lunch, chatting with one another, and enjoying the beautiful coastline of Sarasota Bay. It was an emotional day for Valentina, and she couldn’t be more grateful to those who came out to celebrate with her. Though Valentina followed her heart to America after falling for John, she also fell in love with America. On her newfound citizenship, Valentina says, “now I can vote and help to ensure that the America that I fell in love with remains”.

The Landings Rocks Out at Annual Pool Party

ByCarolynFriday,LandingsSocialReporter

PhotostakenbyRickWaller

The poolside at LRC was rockin’ and rollin’ under the stars on a perfect spring evening last month. Lisa Rott and the Island Hoppers revved up the crowd with tunes from the Beatles to Dua Lippe. Partygoers grooved and jitterbugged for hours. And, perhaps amazingly, no one fell into the pool.

Norm Olshansky led a congaline around the pool as the festivities kicked off. “So many people have been looking forward to this party, and it took a strong team to coordinate all the parts and pieces for this complex event for more than 140 people,” said

Paige Packman, chair of the LRC Social Committee.

Co-chair of the event, Ingrid Weimer, and her committee spun a “Bali-Hai” scene with beach ball lights floating in the pool, sand & shell centerpieces on the tables, banners, colorful leis, funky palms, and umbrellas! So many thanks go to Ron Pierce, Wayne Trotter, Dawn Smith, and our own Olivia for the set-up. Yummy gyros and other Mediterranean-style dishes were provided by Maggie on the Move, a St. Petersburg-based food truck- although not without a few timing issues. But not

even those hiccups could spoil the mood.

Everyone left smiling and humming and looking forward to next year’s big pool party. “At least half a dozen people asked me why can’t we do this event monthly? That is truly a testament to a great party,” said Paige.

If you missed the fun, photographer Rick Waller snapped some lively group photos, which you can download from this link: https:// photosbyrick.smugmug.com/ LRC-Pool-Party-March-2023/nBN3mST.

PHOTO SHOP: SEASCAPES AND OTHER WATER IMAGES, PART 2

CORNER, MAZZY

GETTING TO KNOW THE ARTIST IN THE LANDINGSKAREN GUNDERSHEIMER

This report will be straightforward and deal with the progress your board is making and the key issues that we are dealing with.

The first issue to discuss is our financial status especially given the turbulent economic environment. The finance committee (of which I am a member) is paying close attention to developments daily. LMA is in a strong financial position made possible by the “Road Reserve Assessment”. LMA holds nearly $4.0 million in deposits and an additional inflow of approximately $1.0 million is expected due April 1st.

All deposits are FDIC insured and held in units of $250,000 or less at multiple banks to remain under the FDIC threshold. All deposits are in liquid money market funds; there are no dated securities such as Treasury Bills or Certificate of Deposits. These are not appropriate for LMA at this time for two reasons: We do not know when the roads project will start and we do not know the exact cadence of required payments. We have negotiated an interest rate of 3.5% for our deposits.

Regarding the roads project, the request for bids has gone out and an informational meeting for potential

contractors has been held today. The engineering firm Stantec, our advocate in the process, will be in position to advise the roads committee of results/ recommendations shortly after our April 6 th board meeting. This means that both a town hall meeting to inform our residents concerning a potential contract and a Special Board Meeting will be scheduled a minimum of two weeks from when the roads committee has received the results of the bids. The roads committee will inform you of updated developments and schedules in their report for the April 6 th board meeting.

The security appraisal has moved forward, a contract has been executed and the security committee will be able to report developments (not results, which will be expected in May) at the April 6 th board meeting.

Progress has been made in all our key committees and will be reported on by Chairpersons. I am especially pleased with the progress of the communications committee which has taken on the difficult task of improving our database and making our web site more accessible and effective.

Finally, the Five-Year Plan, is moving forward and is on schedule. Interviews

of board member and committee chairs have been completed and a first draft compiling the results has been written. The draft is now being used as a basis for the interviews being undertaken with Association Presidents. The timeline to complete these interviews is in early April and the input will be combined with that already received from the board and chairs to make modifications to the first draft.

While this is going on, a survey will be formulated, discussed, and drafted for feedback from the board prior to sending out to our residents. We expect a draft Five-Year Plan will then be completed and ready for board discussion and implementation early to mid-May. I will be recommending that we hold a town hall meeting to discuss the plan with the community prior to implementation.

LMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

JEFF SMITH President

JUDY GREENE Vice President

HARVEY GRELLER Treasurer

SUE CAMINS Secretary

AMY DRACHMAN Director

RAY LEE Director

AMY LYONS Director

ELIDA RAMBERGER Director

HARRY MOSER Director

EMILY RIDDLE

Property Manager — Pinnacle Management Company

LMA COMMITTEE CHAIRS:

HARVEY GRELLER Finance

EDDIE GOLDSTEIN Communications

NORMAN OLSHANSKY The Eagle

MARALYN KAUFMAN Environmental

AMY DRACHMAN Governance Advisory

SUE CAMINS Governing Docs Review

HARVEY GRELLER Hazardous Waste

JEFF SMITH Lakes & Drainage

PAUL WEINER Landscaping

HARVEY CAMINS........................LMA Property Mgr Needs Comm.

JUDY GREENE Maintenance

JACKIE MASSARI Kayaks

CALI LAMPTON Nominating

ELIDA RAMBERGER Roads

MIKE KNUPP Safety & Security

AMY LYONS Social/Community Events

HARRY MOSER........................Standard Op. Procedures (SOP)

Inge Stanton’s Obit and Inspiring Life

including his car and driver’s license. That license would be the link that brought her back to her hometown nearly 80 years later as an honored guest.

town’s former synagogue damaged during Kristallnacht.

April 2023

BOARD & COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Landings resident Inge Stanton who shared her remarkable story in a Landings College talk in February 2020, passed away on February 6 th , the day after her 93rd birthday. Inge was a long time Landings resident, seen most often swimming her daily laps in the LRC pool, swinging her racquet on the tennis courts, or walking on our Nature Trail.

Born in 1930 in Lichtenfels, a small town in Bavaria, Germany, she was the oldest of two daughters of Alfred Marx, a merchant with a prospering fur and tanning business, and his wife, Ellen Marx. The family’s happy life was disrupted when the Nazis came to power. Inge had vivid memories of Kristallnacht, the night of November 9-10, 1938, when Nazis broke into her family’s home and smashed every plate, crystal, and piece of glass they found.

During the rampage, Inge, then age 8, hid in the third-story attic of their home, where Christian renters protected her from the Nazi intruders. Before the family fled to England in 1939, the Nazis confiscated her father’s possessions,

Inge’s family emigrated to the United States in 1940, settled in Queens, New York and rebuilt their lives. Inge attended schools in New York, ultimately earning a master’s degree in child psychology. She married her high school sweetheart, Erwin Stanton, worked as an elementary school reading teacher for special needs children for 34 years, and raised two daughters, Suzanne, and Nancy.

Fast forward to 2017, almost 80 years after the Marx family fled Germany, when a Lichtenfels district official discovered in the town’s archives 13 driver’s licenses confiscated from Jewish residents in the 1930s. He passed on the 13 licenses to a local high school where a teacher assigned 14 students to research the fate of those 13 Jewish license holders as their senior year project.

The students located a relative of Inge through the internet. In 2018, Inge, family members and other descendants of those Jewish license holders who had survived the Holocaust, were invited to Lichtenfels to attend the presentation of the findings of the students’ research project. The students created large banners describing the fate of each license holder and spoke about their project at meeting in the town’s community center located at the site of the

Inge spoke at The Landings about the moving experience and friendships formed with a younger generation of Germans during that trip. She signed the town’s guest book for visiting dignitaries and participated in a ceremony where small brass plaques, called Stolpersteine or stumbling stones, were placed in front of her former home in honor of each member of her family who had lived there. At the end the week-long events, Inge was presented with the original driver’s license of her father and of her uncle, Siegfried Marx. The 13 licenses project and events received wide press coverage in Germany and internationally. The banners created for the 13 licenses project were exhibited in other German towns, translated into English, and became an exhibit in the United States, giving Inge a second career as a speaker and late-in-life celebrity.

For a short video about her special life experiences and visit with her family to Germany, check out vimeo.com/195914950.

Despite her harrowing experiences as a child, Inge led a full, rich and active life, her motto being, “We should enjoy everything there is to enjoy.” Ten years after Erwin passed away at age 65, Inge met her second love, Jim Klein with whom she enjoyed 13 years together at The Landings before he passed away. Inge spent her last day swimming her daily laps for an hour in the LRC pool before suffering a fatal fall. She is survived by two daughters, Suzanne Stanton Schlesinger and Nancy Stanton-Tuckman, sonsin-law, Jeff Schlesinger, and Steve Tuckman, and six grandchildren.

GROUP DATE/ TIME/ PLACE

BAYVIEW

CARRIAGEHOUSE II

EAGLE EDITORIAL

LHA

LMA BOARD

LMA SAFETY

LRC MONTHLY

LS III

LS IV

LS VI

TREEHOUSE

Happiness is...Chocolate

With Spring in the air, we’re all gearing up for warmer weather and longer days. And between seasonal holidays and Girl Scout cookie season, nothing says Spring like chocolate.

Abel’s Ice Cream is going all in with the most decadent chocolate ice cream flavor of all –German Chocolate!

Coconut caramel and walnuts mixed into Abel’s award-winning chocolate ice cream? Yes please!

Snowbirds and locals alike will flock to Abel’s for this tantalizing treat.

But why stop with a cup or cone of goodness?

So many other choices abound. Shakes or floats with rich sweetness or their handmade chocolate truffles from Sweet Shop USA. The possibilities are

Monday 4/17, 5 PM Lakeside Room

Thursday 4/20, 4 PM Lakeside Room

Tuesday 4/4, 1 PM Lakeside Room

Thursday 4/13, 5 PM Poolside Room

Thursday 4/6, 7 PM Lakeside Room

Monday 4/10, 4 PM Multipurpose Room

Monday 4/17, 3:30 PM Lakeside Room

Monday 4/3, 11 AM Poolside Room

Thursday 4/20, 4 PM Poolside Room

Monday 4/17, 5 PM Poolside Room

Tuesday 4/25, 5 PM Lakeside Room

practically endless. And if chocolate doesn’t happen to be the center of your universe, Abel’s is stacked with other tasty options like Black Cherry exploding with Bordeaux cherries or Butter Pecan loaded with lightly salted, roasted pecans.

Join your friends and neighbors at Abel’s Ice Cream and feel like a kid again! Abel’s is located at 1886 Stickney Point Road, Sarasota in the South Bridge Plaza. Open Sunday through Thursday from Noon-9:30 pm, and Friday and Saturday from Noon-10 pm. Learn more online at our website, www.abelsicecream.com or connect with us on Facebook and Instagram.

© Serving The Landings Community since 1992|27th State Media, LLC | 941-312-0665 PO Box 35105, Sarasota, Florida 34242. Publishers: Brion Palmer

To advertise in print or on-line call 941-312-0665. Advertising Representatives: Irene Brooks and Brion Palmer. Please note that contributing writers and photographers are acknowledged with bylines accompanying their submissions. We sincerely thank everyone for their contributions.

The Landings Eagle is published monthly and is partially funded by The Landings Management Association & Landings Racquet Club, but is independently edited and reported by Landings residents. The Landings Eagle is published by 27th State Media, LLC, a Florida LLC. Advertising rates and information will be gladly furnished by calling 941-312-0665, We are ready to answer your questions and to assist you in preparing your ad at no extra charge. All advertising and editorial content is subject to editing to conform to our style, and is copyrighted 2020 by 27th State Media, LLC and may not b e reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Violators will be prosecuted under federal law. The publisher reserves the right to edit or reject copy for any reason. 27th State Media, LLC is not responsible for any claims made by the advertisers.

To access each issue of The Landings Eagle, please go to: www.islandvp.com. Simply scroll down to The Eagle image and click on it for the current issue. If you would like to view past issues, click on the text, “TO VIEW PAST ISSUES OF The Landings EAGLE, CLICK HERE”That will bring you to a list of the back issues going back to July 2013. For anything earlier you will need to go to the website: www.landingseagle.com

Jerry and Jill Williams, owners of Abel’s Ice Cream

LRC Social Program Rockin’ and Rollin’!

BySocialChair,PaigePackman

Wow, March at the LRC was humming with LRC social events, activities, plus fitness classes and recreational outings! The Rock and Roll Pool Party was a grand success with 150 attendees. Singers and dancers, you’d best start practicing for the Karaoke Event which will be held on Sunday April 2 nd at 5:30 PM. Believe it or not, we’ve even teed up a few new events:

- RummiKub on Thursdays in Poolside Room from 2-4 PM, hosted by Dena Schneider Green.

- Friday Sunset Socials, which meet-up at 5:30/6 PM in Lakeside porch (on a trial basis).

The social season will slow a bit in May, with some activities continuing year-round, so you won’t be bored!

A BIG thanks goes out to Social Committee Members for their hard work and creativity to make this social season a success: Helen Bella, Jill Eisner, Carolyn Friday, Gayle Maraval, Heidi Nightingale, Olivia Lorenz, Ron Pierce, Jen Trotter, Valentina Valentini, Fern

Local Easter services

E S T A K E Y C H A P E L

Vaughan, and Ingrid Weimer. We are lucky to have LRC’s Olivia Lorenz in her new role to help plan social events. We are also grateful to Kevin and LRC maintenance staff Jeremy, Barris, and Brett for doing the heavy lifting to setup and takedown these events! A LOT of work, yet well worth it!

If you have any suggestions for new social events or classes, please reach out to Olivia or me at ppackman@gmail.com, as we are always looking for new ideas! Thank you.

LRC CARDS & GAMES

Time Class

Canasta

Mah-Jongg Learning Group

ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE

PALM SUNDAY, APRIL 2

Saturday, April 1st 4pm Sunday, April 2nd 8 am and 10 am (Church)

am (outside under canopy)

HOLY THURSDAY, APRIL 6 Mass of the Lord’s Supper

Adoration following the Mass concluding with Night Prayer 9:45 pm

GOOD FRIDAY, APRIL 7 Passion of the Lord

Community Easter Sunrise Service

6:30 a.m. on April 9th

Siesta Key Public Beach near historic pavilion

~ Bring a Beach Chair or Blanket ~

Palm Sunday

April 2nd at 9:45 a.m. in the Sanctuary

Maundy Thursday Service

April 6th at 6:00 p.m. in the Community Center

Easter Egg Hunt

Saturday, April 8th at 10:00 a.m.

Campus Grounds

Free and open to the public

Traditional Easter Worship

9:45 a.m. in the Sanctuary with Full Choir & Brass Nursery Provided • Hearing Loop System Available

Wednesday, 1-3:15 PM

Poolside Room

Mondays, 1 -3 PM Lakeside Room.

Most Wednesdays, 6 PM in Poolside Poker

Thursdays 2-4 PM, in Poolside Room. No experience required!

Signup Info

Hosted by Nancy Friedberg at Nancy611@comcast.net No fee.

Questions? Contact Betty Greenspan at 941-780-1528.

To signup, email Ron Pierce at rwpierce55@gmail.com

Signup at club, 12 players max. Hosted by Dena Schneider Greene. No fee.

Watch for Kevin email, $5 fee 1st and 3rd Tuesdays in Lakeside Room.

LRC

Art Studio

Thursday 10 AM –1 PM Lakeside. Art Exhibit on April 13th 10-1 PM.

For more info, contact Marie at mchughmld@gmail.com.

Look for LRC announcements or email

LRC RACQUET SPORTS

LRC RACQUET SPORTS

These activities limited to LRC members only.

These activities limited to LRC members only.

ClassTime Signup Info

Pickleball Mon. Wed., Thurs. 2:30-4:30

Sundays 9:30 –11:30 AM No signup required, meet on court 8. Join PB TeamReach group with code LPBS

Ping Pong Wednesdays, 10–12 PM Multi-purpose Room No signup needed.

Tennis Round Robins & Pro Exhibitions

April 21st Friday at 2 PMSignup in advance at LRC. $7.50 fee for event and beverages.

Friday at 2 PMSignup in advance at LRC. $7.50 fee for event and beverages.

5394 Midnight Pass Rd, Siesta Key 941-349-4174

StMichaelsSiesta.com

Pine Shores Presbyterian Church 6116 Crestwood Avenue (941) 922-1597 ~ www.pineshorespres.org

Triples Tennis Social Mixers

Triples Tennis Social Mixers April 7th, May 5th, 3:30 PM Signup in advance at LRC. BYOB social mixer after.

April 7th, May 5th, 3:30 PM Signup in advance at LRC. BYOB social mixer after.

OUTDOOR RECREATION

OUTDOOR RECREATION

ClassTime Signup Info

ClassTime Signup Info

Biking Sunday April 23rd, 9:30AM departure from club. Signup with Norm at Nfpconsultingresources@gmail.com JoinTeamReach (LBS)

Biking Sunday April 23rd, 9:30AM departure from club. Signup with Norm at Nfpconsultingresources@gmail.com JoinTeamReach (LBS)

Fishing Contact the Landings “Fish Whisperer” if learn how to fish or fish with a friend.

Fishing Contact the Landings “Fish Whisperer” if learn how to fish or fish with a friend.

Golf Weekly social golf group that plays Thursday afternoons at Serenoa Golf Club.

Golf Weekly social golf group that plays Thursday afternoons at Serenoa Golf Club.

Signup with Norm at Nfpconsultingresources@gmail.com

Signup with Norm at Nfpconsultingresources@gmail.com

Reservations required, contact Sue at scault@comcast.net to sign up.

Reservations required, contact Sue at scault@comcast.net to sign up.

Kayaking Saturday April 15th, 10 am Depart from Landings Gazebo To join TeamReach, use Group Code LKS.

Kayaking Saturday April 15th, 10 am Depart from Landings Gazebo

To join TeamReach, use Group Code LKS.

SOCIAL EVENTS

We are closed on Easter Sunday, but would like to wish everyone a HAPPY EASTER!

“This is a small family run restaurant and the owners are onsite there. The owners and staff are friendly and welcoming. The service is great, but the food is phenomenal ! We had the blackened grouper, crab cakes and fish stew. It was seasoned and prepared perfectly! We found it because we were looking a place to eat after a movie, and if we hadn’t looked for reviews on TripAdvisor we would never have found it. It’s in a small plaza in the back corner and does not stand out. It was 45 minutes from where we were staying but it was so good we had to go back again. Each of the last 3 years we have stayed for 2 months on longboat key and this was the best seafood restaurant we’ve been to, hands down! It was nice to meet the owner who it turns out was from the town next to us in Connecticut. You must try it, but I would recommend reservations at dinner time as it’s a small place.”

Racquet Club News

LRC President’s Report ByBethCotner

March was a very busy month at the club. Tennis courts were fully booked, with round robins, triples, and pro exhibitions providing players many activities. Pickleball players were actively enjoying their games, Koffee Klatchs were well attended, and the Rock & Roll Pool Party was a big success.

Newer activities, such as canasta, bridge, Mah-Jongg, and the writing workshop attracted a lot of new participants and offered the nontennis and pickleball players many alternatives.

The Landings Free College had record attendance with interesting presentations by the President of Mote Marine, Dr. John Bruno, and Irv Kushner.

Be sure to check out the LRC fitness schedule for fitness classes, Aqua Zumba, or sound bath meditation. During the month we completed painting the clubhouse and replaced

Manager’s Report ByKevinLechlitner

The 2023 season will be winding down soon. Before some of you head north for the summer, I would encourage you to update your contact information with us. Please take a moment the next time you walk through the Pro Shop or speak with us on the phone to complete this task.

Establishing an emergency contact and phone number is also a good idea especially if you live alone. It will only take a minute so please do so at your earliest convenience.

Klatsch breakfasts.

Especially when we are serving made to order pancakes and fresh fruit. Nelson & Dawn were in the kitchen all morning serving up blueberry & banana pancakes with a smile. It has been an annual tradition with them for many years and it is greatly appreciated.

our outdated AED device. We are also working to make the club more handicapped accessible. Please let me know if you have other suggestions to further improve our club. Thank you for your support and let’s all look forward to an action-packed April!

News from the Court

ByAdrian“Mo”Moghina

Most tennis players in the world play doubles. Unfortunately, when we see tennis on television, we usually only see singles being played.

Singles is a totally different game than doubles. If you are a crafty singles player, you never have to go to the net to win points. You can play from the baseline and pick on your opponent’s weaknesses and force them to miss or let them beat themselves by just getting the ball in play and let them make lots of errors.

But in doubles, the best doubles teams come to the net together on a regular basis and position themselves to cover the high percentage shots to force you to take shots from the baseline that you might not like to take (such as the more difficult down the line shots).

The two most important shots for your team to cover in doubles when you are both at the net are the down the middle shots and the lobs.

By using the staggering position at the net, you can cover both of those shots effectively. In the staggering position, one net player is closer to the net than the other net player. If the net players are not staggered and in the wrong place on a regular basis, the opponents have no pressure to aim closer to the lines.

That’s why your movement, positioning and poaching is

extremely important to your success.

When you are the net player closer to the net than your partner, you should be very close to the finishing line or what I will start calling from now on as the kitchen line. This line is approximately halfway between the service line and the net. If you are physically inside the kitchen line in tennis this area is called the finishing zone.

The great thing about tennis compared to pickleball is that you are allowed to volley from inside the kitchen line. And it’s to your team’s advantage to volley from there because that means that your opponents have less time to prepare and react.

Also, you have more chances to hit down on the ball and spike the ball. The super angles are also much easier from the finishing zone. The next time you see a doubles match on TV notice how many points end with a net player in the finishing zone putting the ball away.

Our next social round robin and pro exhibition will be on Friday April 21 st from 2-5 p.m. This event is on Landings Day. We will do Cardio Tennis, Triples, and finish with a chance to win individual prizes by hitting targets on the court.

Sign up at the Pro Shop.

See you on the courts.

Thank you to Nelson & Dawn Smith for manning the griddles for our pancake breakfast on March 22 nd. I’m always amazed at the participation level for the Koffee

I’d also like to thank the LRC Social Chair, Paige Packman and her army of volunteers that put together one of the biggest social events of the year. For the second year in a row, the Caribbean themed happy hour on the pool deck complete with live music from Lisa Rott & the Island Hoppers along with Maggie on the Move food truck was a tremendous success. Thanks to Rick Waller

as well for photographing the festivities. The pictures turned out great and showed how much fun everyone had at the event. The next big social function on the calendar is the Happy Hour Karaoke on Sunday, April 2 nd .

Weekly Tennis Clinics April 2023

Line Dancing with a Pro

Among the many extremely talented people living in The Landings, is dancer and choreographer Marc Mitchell. A Canadian ballroom champion and now a professional teacher of line dancing, Marc is passionate about sharing his love of dance with others. And in April, that will include members of the LRC.

A lithe, handsome man, with a hint of “je ne sais quoi” flair, Marc gets excited just ticking off all the positives of line dancing. Of course, it is “fabulous cardiovascular exercise,” he says. But It’s also very good for the head. “It’s a mind-game. First the brain learns the dance steps, then it gets the message to your feet.” According to Marc, there are even studies which prove that line dancing helps prevent dementia. Who wants to dispute that?

All those wonderful health benefits aside, line dancing is just plain fun. “You don’t need a partner to line dance, so it encourages people to be social,” says Marc. And then, well, “music just bonds people.” And the fun is catchy. It has become the second most popular activity practiced around the world.

The kind of line dancing we’re talking about here is not the Electric Slide from the 80’s or Fred and Ginger’s The Continental. You don’t need Western boots and a cowboy hat to hit the floor with Marc. What Marc teaches is modern line dancing. After demonstrating a few friendly steps to beginners, Marc pairs them to a range of tunes, from Frank Sinatra to Pit Bull. Modern line dancing is

applicable to pop, Latin, blues, jazz, big-band, and country. “I teach people how to dance, not just the dance,” says Marc. Marc’s bond with music began when he was 8 years old living in Montreal and his aunt gave him a guitar. He studied and became a renaissance classical guitarist before graduating from college with a degree in graphic arts. But upon graduation, the practical side of Marc Mitchell steered him to the family toy manufacturing business and from there he became a product development consultant until he retired at age 59. But during that time, when he wasn’t traveling the globe, he, and his wife Nicole, became proficient ballroom dancers. One day, that all changed. Nicole had been wanting to try line dancing and finally, reluctantly, Marc agreed. And he’s never looked back. In the past 8 years, he has choreographed over 100 dances. Many can be found on his website dancewithmarc.

com. In some of the videos, if you look closely, you will recognize the room he is dancing in. It’s the all-purpose room at the LRC Fitness Center. When he’s not chacha-ing on a dancefloor, creating a new choreography or teaching seniors to dance, Marc will be piloting a boat in Sarasota Bay. Fishing is his other great passion. He has shared both loves with his family. Marc and Nicole have two children and five grandchildren. “They all dance and they all fish,” he bragged.

Although the Mitchells sold their Eagles Point condo during Covid, they return each year for the season. Marc’s dance commitments kept him in Canada for much of this winter, but he will return in April. He has graciously agreed to give three more lessons on April 12 th, 19 th , and 26 th from 5:30-7 p.m. in the Lakeside Room. Sign-up sheets are in the LRC office for those who are interested.

Landoliers in Concert

Conducted by Suzanne Stearns

Sunday, April 16th, 4pm at LRC

Listen to your neighbors sing popular show and pop tunes followed by refreshments

First come first ser ved: $5 cash at door

The Lubben Brothers are back with Key Chorale for American Roots: Crosby Still, & Nash

On April 22nd and 23rd Key Chorale welcomes back e Lubben Brothers, an acoustic folk group made up of triplet brothers Michael, Tom, and Joshua, to re-create and re-imagine the music of the folk-rock genre. Key Chorale Chamber Singers explore the 30-year discography of the folk-rock group Crosby Stills & Nash, and other artists known for their intricate vocal harmonies and timeless melodies. CSN meets choral music!

“Harmony is such a big part of what gives Crosby Stills & Nash its unique sound,” said Maestro Joseph Caulkins. “And harmony is what makes a choir so special, so, adding a full choir to their music really made sense. This show will have a sort of MTV Unplugged feel. When you hear these new customized charts, created especially for these concerts, you’ll hear a combination of

finding a fresh take while staying true to the roots of their music.”

e groups will combine on several of their classics including “Judy Blue Eyes,” “Marrakesh Express,” “Teach Your Children” and “Our House.” ey will also perform “Seven Bridges Road” by the Eagles and a folk-inspired arrangement of Neil Young’s “Old Man” by the Wailin’ Jennys.

Triplets and high-energy acoustic musicians, e Lubben Brothers specialize in tight vocal harmonies and an eclectic blend of folk instruments involving banjo, mandolin, tin whistle, accordion, hammered dulcimer, and ddle. Diving into classical music at a young age, their modern songwriting style merges folk roots with complex pop ideas. ey will be joined by electric bass, electric guitar and drums.

e performances:

Saturday, April 22, 4 PM

Church of the Palms

Sunday, April 23, 5 PM

St. Boniface Episcopal Church

Tickets are $35-$45. For tickets, go to keychorale.org or call the box o ce at 941-552-8768.

WE WANT TO BE YOUR JEWELER!

Unlike big chain stores, Diamond Bay Jewelers is a locally owned, family business offering the most complete in-house repair services backed by over 30 years of experience.

Every Tuesday is Appraisal Clinic Day: make an appointment to come in and get an updated value on your jewelry by one of our very experienced GIA gemologists. It's very important to update the valuable pieces in your jewelry collection especially since all precious metals, diamonds, and colored stones have gone up dramatically in the last few years. We aim at becoming your trusted go-to family jeweler. We carry a vast selection of diamonds and colored stone jewelry and are proud to carry the new fresh & trendy Imperial Pearls Collection.

We look forward to serving Sarasota, Osprey, and Venice from the beautiful Bay Street Plaza.

What we offer:

• Jewelry and watch appraisals by a GIA certified Gemologist

• Laser jewelry repairs: unlike traditional fire torch use, repairs can be done with modern laser technology on even the most delicate gemstones.

• Custom design and redesign services: create new pieces or breathe new life into your old pieces.

Did you know that

Looking into the water at Siesta Key Beach is an incredible, captivating feeling - hues of blue and green dancing in light waves on top of crystal white sand with sunlight reflecting on it. Undeniably, the “Siesta Key Watercolor GemstoneTM” has captured the colors of this experience.

It’s no secret that the sand on Siesta Key Beach is composed of 99% pure quartz. The crystalline white sand of Siesta Key is luxurious, soft, white and cool to the touch 365 days a year. This is why our beloved beach has been revered as one of the most beautiful in the world. Wanting to capture the experience and essence of Siesta Key beach was the goal of the proprietor of Silver City, Monica.

“Tourists always wish they can somehow take their vacation memories with them,” so with this in mind, Silver City designed the Siesta Key Watercolor GemstoneTM. They were able to capture the colors of Siesta Key’s blue/green water and put it into a quartz gemstone. This quartz gemstone is a fusion of the tropical colors that surround us. Just looking into the clear, beautiful gemstone will transport you back to our island paradise representing the Sea, Sky and beautiful sand of Siesta Key Beach.

Silver City has now become a “Must Stop” destination for tourists (Currently named #1 shopping destination on TRIP ADVISOR on Siesta Key). Shining brightly among the cases of this uniquely mirrored store lies the much raved about Siesta Key Watercolor GemstoneTM Every jewelry piece is designed and made by Silver City Sarasota. The staff of Silver City Sarasota is very proud of their unique collection and variety of designs in Sterling

Siesta

Purchase 2 appraisals, get the 3rd FREE! ($100 value)

Key has a Gemstone?

Silver and in 14K gold.

Getting to Know the Artists in The Landings ByMarie-LouiseMcHugh

Organizing The Landings Artists Art Show is a real joy. This year’s was no exception. I had the privilege to discover and introduce new artists to The Landings community. Karen Gundersheimer, with her small sculptures made of repurposed found objects, is one of them. She piqued my curiosity now that we are trying to recycle more to protect our environment. On a recent visit to Karen’s home, I spent some time in the studio she created in a large lanai. It is full of all sorts of objects she collects, from tabs of soda cans to keys, old coins, fasteners, anything she can loop together to give it a new life. She has several containers with what she calls “chaos”, left-over roofing materials, sardine cans, corrugated cardboard, etc. She is in the process of creating assemblages of colored cardboard pieces from a box she received from a friend. This collage will become a thank you card for that friend. She has an incredible affinity to work with odds and ends, creating surprises by playfully assembling them. Karen told me that she had been a children’s book illustrator and writer for over 30 years but had grown tired of deadlines and the pressures of the publishing world. Without any formal training, she wrote and illustrated her first children’s book “Happy Winter” in the early 1980s. She used her great imagination to lead her into this career.

Karen was born in Philadelphia, attended Friends School in Germantown and later studied literature and Italian at Sarah Lawrence College. After graduating, she spent one year at the Accademia Di Belle Arti in Rome. She loved living in Europe and met her husband Ben on a trip to Paris.

Back in the U.S.A. she got noticed by Harper Collins Publishing where she worked for many years. The first book she illustrated for them “The Witch Who Was Afraid of Witches” was a huge success.

Ulltimately, after 30 years, the publishing industry had changed. She moved to Washington DC where she started walking and collecting “stuff”–pieces of broken taillights for instance. She mounted them in a printer’s tray to create an interesting quilt-like collage. This started her exploration in creating works with found objects. Karen, and her husband Ben, moved to The Landings in 2018 thanks to her sister-in-law who resides in Sarasota, and local realtor Judy Greene. They are now snowbirds, spending summers in New Hampshire. They appreciate The Landings as a place conducive to discovery, they love the diversity of the area and access to many cultural events.

Update for two Landings writers and Art: Agnes Shipper’s book “Sabine’s Odyssey, A Hidden Child and Her Dutch Rescuers” is now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other online book sellers. It has received very positive reviews.

Lee Delfausse’s book “Snow Sanctuary” is selling very well, and Lee is preparing its audio-book version this week. Her new book and sequel “No Sanctuary Here” just came out on Amazon and Lee is scheduling numerous readings when she returns to Vermont.

The Thursday LRC Art Group will host an Open Studio on Thursday, April 13 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Lakeside Room. Come and see what this wonderful group of artists has created.

Discover the advantages of using a seasoned agent with a proven track record in the Landings. Contact me today to discuss how I can help you achieve your goals.

Karen Gundersheimer in her studio. Gundersheimer’s illustrated Children’s Books.

SmallSculpturesmadeofrepurposedobjects.

Quilt-likeworkmadeofprinter’sdrawerandbroken taillights.

Newcomers Event a Big Success

PhotostakenbyRobertManteiga

Hello!! Welcome! So nice to meet you! Where did you come from? These were the sentiments heard most often at the LMA’s Newcomers celebration held last week in Lakeside. Friendly and smiling, pleased to meet new friends, people who had moved into The Landings since last March gathered to meet one another and the boards of LMA and LRC. Newcomers were able to ask questions and speak about their

transitions to life in our neighborhood.

Newcomers put a thumb tack on a U.S. map to mark their hometowns. Not surprisingly, the I-75 corridor, in the Midwest and the New York and Boston metro areas were well represented. We warmly wish all our new residents a wonderful and great experience at The Landings full of activities that keep you healthy and make you happy!

COVID Strikes Again; Art Show Rescheduled

By Marie-Louise McHugh

We are sorry to have to announce that because of a major outbreak of COVID-19 at The Landings, all indoor activities at the Landings Racquet Club have been cancelled until further notice. This includes the scheduled return of the Landings Artists Art Show. We have a new date for this event: Saturday, February 11th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Same artists and same set up in both the Lakeside and Poolside Rooms.

Kayak outing set for Feb. 26

Kayaks galore! There has been so much interest and activity surrounding kayaking activities that another adventure is planned for Sunday, February 26th at 10 a.m., launching from the Nature Trail.

Once again, John McFetridge has agreed to pilot this outing. It has been posted on TeamReach, but we wanted to make sure that all were informed. if you have not done so already, we encourage you to sign up on TeamReach. We expect to receive help from other experienced kayakers for those who are

LHA Meeting Notes

The Landings Homeowners Association held its regularly scheduled board meeting on January 12th at 5:00 p.m. at the Landings Racquet Club. The board approved landscape changes on Pine Harrier Circle and

“newbies.”

Our January 21st outing at Turtle Beach was quite the success. There were more than 36 people who joined the outing, most of whom then gathered for lunch at a nearby restaurant. John led that with assistance provided by Wayne Trotter.

There have been complications getting the 2023 billing and annual contracts issued by Pinnacle. By the time you read this, it is hoped that we will be back on track.

See you on the water!

a replacement roof on Peregrine Point Drive.

The next regular meeting is at 6:00 p.m. February 9th, in the Poolside Room at the Landings Racquet Club followed by the Association’s Annual Meeting of

Members at 7:00 p.m. Meeting material will be mailed or, if the member has so elected, emailed to each member. Please return the proxy or register on-line to be sure we have a quorum for the meeting.

Denise Watermeir

Gerri Broderick and Mike Broderick

PeterandVirginiaMermin

Denise Watermeir

HollyandRichardHerbst

Mark and Minda Salander

MarkandMichelleEngdahl

JohnandEllenDemos

TimothyTutag

Amanda Wallace

Sue Kimball and David Lannik

JerryandNancySolar

Eileen Demoll

Carl and Melissa Williams

Landings Volunteers Who Work for You

This is the seventh in a series of articles highlighting the work of special volunteers who help to make the Landings such a wonderful community. The Eagle interviewed Amy Lyons for this issue.

Trivia Challenge is Back!

ByPaigePackman,LRCSocialChair

After only five Trivia events in the past two years due to COVID, Trivia Challenge is back with a vengeance at The Landings! More than 40 people are coming, with team rivalries stronger than ever. Look out for teams such as the Flying Monkeys, Densa, Starlings, They Should Have Stuck to Tennis, and CRS (Can’t Remember @#$%)!

On February 21st, I was lucky to be a guest of “They Should Have Stuck to Tennis” team, when they broke a new Landings record with 92 out of 95 possible points, the highest score in Kevin’s 17 years of hosting Trivia.

Kevin somehow manages to

announce questions and track scores while microwaving popcorn. He even finds time to taunt the teams by playing Elton John’s “Rocket Man” song during a break, which was a Trivia lyrics question later in the evening.

Trivia Challenge is held at 7 p.m. on first and third Tuesdays of the month in Lakeside Room. You can munch on popcorn, pretzels with your choice of beverages, including IPA beer and hard seltzers, while mulling over Trivia answers. Don’t know anyone? No problem, you can find a seat at an open table. Come and join the fun some Tuesday evening!

You may know Amy as a new LMA board member, or for her work on the board of the Villas at Eagles Point, or from her service on the board of 5440 EPCA, or from her tennis exhibitions with our pros at The Landings. More on her tennis career later in this article. Did you know she has lived in Sarasota since 1979 and in The Landings, on and off, since 1990? She is almost a Sarasota native. In May of 1990, she married her husband Robert Lyons and moved into his home in The Landings.

Rob and Amy had four sons, and wanted a larger place, so they moved to Foxfire West in 2001, east of the Interstate. Once the children were grown and on their own, they decided to move back into The Landings. The boys currently range in age from 28-38. When asked what attracted her to The Landings, she without hesitation, said: “It was the location, great tennis courts, fitness facility, nice neighbors, diversity of ages, safe community and the feeling of the vegetation, landscaping and environment.” She spoke about being on the LMA board and what she hopes to accomplish. She is currently the LMA social committee chair and wants to bring more people together for activities so that neighbors can meet each other. She wants to focus on the many new and younger families who have moved into the community. She has also been asked to be a liaison between the LMA and LRC. She further said: “I hope that my service on the board will help improve communications between and among residents, that owners will be encouraged to maintain their properties which will be for the benefit of all and can help The Landings better compete with some of the newer communities”.

Amy was a tennis prodigy from the time she was a child. Her parents moved with her to Sarasota from Dayton, Ohio when she was 14 to be near to and participate in training at

Bollettieri Tennis Academy, which is now IMG. She said that another positive for her move to Sarasota was that her Ohio tennis coach moved to Sarasota with her family and for many years was a pro at Sarasota’s Bath and Racquet Tennis Club. She was a star player. While playing Juniors, she rose to become the 3rd best player in the U.S. She also played doubles with her sister, Kathy Rosenberg, and reached number one in the ranking in the USTA 18 and under division. By the time she was in her senior year at Riverview High School, she turned pro. As a professional tennis player, she traveled the world with the Women’s Tennis Association. When asked how many countries she played in, she indicated so many that there had to be more than 10. She rose in the ranks to achieve the top 50 in the WTA World rankings. She played at Wimbledon, only to be beaten in the second round by Martina Navratilova. She went on to win the second round at the French Open.

After six years on the Pro Tennis Tour, Amy became a local tennis pro and taught at Bath & Racquet Club and obtained her real estate license. She is still active as a tennis player. She is on one USTA 9.0 team 55 and over in The Landings and another which is a Florida statewide intersectional team. What an impressive pro tennis career by our own, Amy Lyons!

When asked what she does in her free time, she indicated that she exercises twice a day, loves to read, and has taken up golf. She is also involved with the Joey Gratton Foundation, which helps provide the opportunity and the means by which children can actively participate in organized sports. The Foundation, with Amy’s help, raises money for many needs at the Boys and Girls Clubs. She also volunteers with the Make a Wish Foundation.

This is one busy lady who, fortunately for The Landings, has decided to give more of her time to volunteer and support our special community.

THE PHOTO

SHOP:

Seascapes and Other Water Images Part II

ByBobManteiga

We received so many submissions for our series on Seascapes and Other Water Images, that we decided to publish the article in two parts. Last month’s column featured four photographs by three landings residents. This month’s column will include an additional seven photographs, and a slightly more detailed description of each. We hope you enjoy them.

The photo of the yellow lifeguard stand on Siesta Key Beach was taken by Paul Weiner, using an Olympus EM-1 II camera. Of note is the very thin line of sandy beach designating the horizon, the overwhelming presence of dark, ominous clouds in the background, and the one dab of color way off to the right of the photo to which one’s eyes are immediately drawn. I was captivated by this photo the first time I saw it hanging on Paul’s living room wall. His photo of the Chenonceau Chateau in Chenonceau France, was taken with the same Olympus E-M1 II camera. It is an image in which all the elements suggest calmness and serenity.

The photo of the Pt. Bonita Lighthouse in San Francisco was taken by Betty Greenspan, on an I Phone 13. What attracted me originally to this photo, in addition to the

overall composition, is the interplay of light and dark, as well as the sense of danger and vulnerability that the image evokes. The walkway leading to the lighthouse, precariously perched on a rocky cliff, reminds me of an arm reaching out to touch the sea.

The two photos of the pond lilies were taken by Letitia Schuman on an I Phone 6 S at the Biltmore Estates in Asheville, NC. Letitia’s artistic images capture very beautifully the interplay between light and water, while evoking a sense of peace and tranquility. They remind me of Monet’s impressionistic paintings.

“Cool Horse” and “Three Tree Reflection” were recent submissions by Nancy Isseks. The photo of the trees, while slightly less surreal than the somewhat similar image published in last month’s column, possesses, nevertheless, a certain mystic quality that draws us in to it. There isn’t much I can say about the photo of the horse getting a most welcomed shower other than the fact that I absolutely love it.

Our May issue will be dedicated to “postproduction editing techniques”. So, if you have any photographs that meet these criteria, please send them to me at roberto@ uri.edu.

Point Bonita Lighthouse in San Francsico, CA photo taken by Betty Greenspan.

YellowlifeguardstandonSiestaKeyBeachphototakenbyPaulWeiner.

“ThreeTreeReflection”phototakenbyNancyIsseks

PhototakenatBiltmoreEstateinAsheville,NCbyLetitiaSchuman.

Chenonceau Chateau in Chenonceau, France photo taken by Paul Weiner.

Landings Golf Outings ByReidMacCluggage

Sue Ault organized the first Landings Golf Group outing during the early days of the Covid pandemic to encourage activity considered “safe” and “to bring the community together.” It started with only three or four players from Eagles Point. Today, residents from many Landings communities often fill four foursomes Thursday afternoons at the Serenoa Golf Club.

“We all like to play golf,” Sue said, “but we’re not competitive. Our members play at different skill levels, and while perfecting their golf skills, make it a social event as well, and a good opportunity to meet new people from The Landings.”

Sue said that only fifteen percent of golfers have an established handicap and post scores. “They are the golfers who should play by the rules of golf.” The other eighty-five percent, she said, need the rules to be relaxed to have more fun and to quicken the pace of play. “This is the first statement in our ‘Casual Rules of Golf’ that we give to each player as they join our group,” she said.

Twenty-four golfers are registered to play, men and women, including some couples. Most play 18 holes but some choose to play only nine.

The first foursome tees off at 12:35 p.m. Play ends around five o’clock and some golfers like to stay afterwards at the restaurant to enjoy a beer or soft drink with their fellow duffers.

“Serenoa is good to us,” Andy Padden said. “Pleasant people, good equipment, including golf carts with GPS yardages, and best of all, a free drink!”

Serenoa is out Clark and east of I-75. Drive time is less than a half-hour from The Landings.

“We are currently limited to four tee times,” Sue said, “which means only 16 can play, but we often have openings, and with advance notice, we could be able to add tee times. So, if new players are interested, they should contact me.”

Sue can be reached by email at scault@comcast.net or by phone at 502-817-6272.

Landings players on the practice green at Serenoa, from left, Tim Tutag, Phillippe Maraval, Reid MacCluggage,Terry Mahoney, John Rogers, HowardTaylor, Andy Padden,andSueAult.

COVID Strikes Again; Art Show Rescheduled

Kayak outing set for Feb. 26

“newbies.”

By Marie-Louise McHugh

We are sorry to have to announce that because of a major outbreak of COVID-19 at The Landings, all indoor activities at the Landings Racquet Club have been cancelled until further notice. This includes the scheduled return of the Landings Artists Art Show. We have a new date for this event: Saturday, February 11th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Kayaks galore! There has been so much interest and activity surrounding kayaking activities that another adventure is planned for Sunday, February 26th at 10 a.m., launching from the Nature Trail.

Il Pane! ByChefValentinaValentini Going to the Dogs ByKarenSnyder

On March 5 th , the kitchen at LRC turn into a “professional” bakery with the first bread baking class. As soon as the class was announced, Valentina had to add an extra date (March 11 th ) to accommodate the high demand. The inaugural class was a success!

Same artists and same set up in both the Lakeside and Poolside Rooms.

Valentina and the new “bakers” (16 total) baked 20 loaves of a delicious Italian bread (see pictures). After the class, each of them was happy to take home their “creation” together with some bruschetta topping that was prepared while baking the bread. How long do you think that bread last?

them to communicate.

Once again, John McFetridge has agreed to pilot this outing. It has been posted on TeamReach, but we wanted to make sure that all were informed. if you have not done so already, we encourage you to sign up on TeamReach.

Thus, Winnie is never off leash.

Our January 21st outing at Turtle Beach was quite the success. There were more than 36 people who joined the outing, most of whom then gathered for lunch at a nearby restaurant. John led that with assistance provided by Wayne Trotter.

We expect to receive help from other experienced kayakers for those who are

Carole and Malcolm Schwartz are the proud owners of Winnie, the Blenheim King Charles Cavalier Spaniel. Winnie was appropriately named after Sir Winston Churchill who resided in Blenheim Palace located in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, U.K.  It was Sir Winston’s birthplace and ancestral home.  Blenheim is one of the colorings of the breed.

Winnie will be four in August and as a neighbor of the Schwartz’s, he gets tons of walks and hugs daily.

Winnie was born in Ocala, Florida.  Unfortunately, two years ago, suddenly Carole noticed that he wasn’t responding to her voice and later after a visit to a neurologist, they discovered that for some unknow reason, Winnie had lost his hearing.

LHA Meeting Notes

Dogs who lose sight or hearing depend on the other senses to get them through the day. Winne loves to chase butterflies and birds and of course, their shadows. It must be delightful to watch him. The hound in Winnie’s breed affords him a superior sense of smell. Those little anoles we have in abundance in all of our yards do not stand a chance with a King Charles Spaniel.

There have been complications getting the 2023 billing and annual contracts issued by Pinnacle. By the time you read this, it is hoped that we will be back on track.

See you on the water!

The Landings Homeowners Association held its regularly scheduled board meeting on January 12th at 5:00 p.m. at the Landings Racquet Club.

The board approved landscape changes on Pine Harrier Circle and

Carole and Malcolm have learned to use hand gestures and to make sure Winnie is paying attention to

Carole says that Winnie’s purpose in life is to take out the entire anole population in The Landings.

a replacement roof on Peregrine Point Drive.

Winnie is friendly with the dogs he knew before going deaf, but with new friends on the block, Carole must hug the dog and then hug Winnie as if to say,

The next regular meeting is at 6:00 p.m. February 9th, in the Poolside Room at the Landings Racquet Club followed by the Association’s Annual Meeting of

$730,000

2 Bedrooms l Office/Den l 2 Bathrooms l 1,603SF

Ready to move into! On Phillippi Creek, this lovely updated condo is being sold turn-key furnished The expansive terrace is an added bonus.

“This dog is a fine new friend, Winnie”. Winnie’s folks believe he is a real trooper and has made the adjustment to his hearing loss quite well. He is indeed an adorable canine member to our dog fleet here in The Landings. Be sure to text Karen at 941-855-0347 for your dog to appear in our Eagle.

Members at 7:00 p.m. Meeting material will be mailed or, if the member has so elected, emailed to each member. Please return the proxy or register on-line to be sure we have a quorum for the meeting.

The real estate market is changing. Interested in having a current market value of your residence?

I’m here for you!

joan.koplin@premiersir.com

Day Tripping: Staying Local ByBettyGreenspan

Since traffic is a challenge this time of the year, I decided to checkout fun and interesting places here in our own backyard. Visitors from all over the globe come to Sarasota to take advantage of the local flavor, sports, art, music, theater, and of course, our famous beaches. The Visitor Center inside the Chamber of Commerce building at 1945 Fruitville Road is a great resource for updated info, brochures, and maps. Grab the Visit Sarasota Guide and go. What an amazing playground we enjoy and sometimes take for granted. We’re all aware of attractions like The Ringling with its famous Circus and Train Museum, the Sarasota Art Museum which is part of the Ringling College of Art and Design better known as SAM, Selby Botanical Gardens, Mote Marine, Jungle Gardens, Sarasota Classic Car Museum, Big Cat Habitat, and Ed Smith Stadium. But there is so much more to explore. My focus this month and next will be on lesser known and free attractions. The Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy at 212 North Tamiami Trail is one of my favorite places to take

visitors because it’s so unusual.

Museum founder Mary Lee, a graduate from Ringling College of Art and Design, curates the museum with smiles in mind. This is a oneof-a-kind museum of abstract and whimsical displays. Two pink 1,200-pound flamingos flank the entrance, you can’t miss it!

It’s open November to May, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 1-4 p.m.

The downtown area alone has so much to see it’s hard to remember it all.

Start at Marina Jack, view some mega yachts which seem to grow in size and number every year, and enjoy a drink while fantasizing about winning the lottery.

O’Leary’s Tiki Bar at Bayfront Park rents boats and has music in the evening so check the schedule. Walk around the park and view the Ringling Bridge which I sometimes walk at night when it’s lit up and you can see the beautiful lights of the city.

Stroll up Main Street and see a mixture of the old and new stores and buildings. There are many

coffee shops to frequent if fatigue sets in!

My favorite place downtown is The Selby Library. Constructed in 1998, it’s a two-story building with a large central foyer enhanced by a large mobile. It also has a 200-seat auditorium.

The Friends of the Library group operates a bookstore, a fun place to browse.

An arch-shaped children’s aquarium forms the entrance to the youth library which holds 3,200 gallons of water, weighs 10,000 pounds, and houses tropical fish.

Selby Library is also home to the largest “Creation Station” makerspace in Sarasota County with access to items like 3D printers, sewing machines, Cricut die cutting machines, virtual reality and more.

Oh, I should also note, The Sarasota Music Archive is a part of the “special collections” department of Selby. It contains several hundred thousand recordings, tapes, books, sheet music, and memorabilia. It’s located on the second floor and sells vinyl LP’s, CDs, and other musical items

in its store. Who knew?

You could spend days on end exploring here!

Think rainy day fun!

Bookstore 1 at 117 S Pineapple Ave. displays wonderful books and interesting gifts. They often have poetry reading and visiting authors, certainly worth a visit.

Wander the streets past the Opera House, Florida Studio Theater and keep going.

The Art Ovation Hotel has a great roof top bar as does a few other nearby hotels. There are amazing views of the city and bay with interesting drink and food menus.

My favorite lunch spot is Duval’s on Main Street. Wonderful, candied BLT sandwiches and fish tacos are offered at very reasonable lunch prices! My favorite place for dinner is Selva Grill, fantastic, have someone treat you!

Do not miss the Saturday morning Farmers Market on Lemon Ave.

Next month I’ll review more of Sarasota including great parks and neighborhoods.

EventheWhimsyMuseumis ‘GoingtotheDogs”.

BeautifulsettingoutsideO’Leary’satBayfrontPark.

SelbyLibraryhasanarrayofofferingsforeveryinterest.

Kayak Outing to Bird Rookery!

ByPaigePackman,LRCSocialChair

On Sunday February 26th, John McFetridge led another kayak excursion to the main bird rookery, just west of Edwards Island, and a 30-minute paddle north from The Landings. It was a picture perfect 75-degree day on calm intercoastal waters.

We were lucky to spy Roseate Spoonbills nesting in colonies with egrets, ibises, and herons on the island, where they were building nests in the mangroves and shrubs near the water. Male

birds were busy collecting sticks for females to erect nests lined with moss and strips of bark. We heard Anhinga chicks chirping for their parents to feed them by giving them regurgitated fish in their open bills.

It was magical to be able to observe communal rookeries of nesting seabirds in our very own backyard!  Stay tuned for details on our next kayak outing scheduled for Saturday, April 15th

at 10 AM

Kayak Committee Working on Launch Options

SubmittedbyJackieMassari,KayakCommitteeChair

Developing a safer launch system for getting kayaks into the water from the Nature Trail continues to be a priority for the kayak launch subcommittee, led by Richard Goldsmith.

Constraints related to safeguarding the mangroves present its own issues. Estimates from several providers indicate that the costs are significantly more than anticipated. Additionally, the process of permit approval is lengthy; currently estimated at 8-10 months. Nevertheless, the committee continues its efforts!

A list of all kayakers and their berths

are listed on TeamReach as well as posted on the LMA bulletin board and on the racks. Hopefully this information will encourage those who need an additional kayak or two for visitors or who don’t own a kayak but would like to do some kayaking to contact a renter. We encourage those to post such requests on TeamReach. This method is currently being used successfully.

Another kayak outing is scheduled for April 15 th at 10 a.m. Please plan to join us! If you don’t own a kayak, borrowing one from another kayaker is encouraged. See you on the water!

PhotoscontributedbyJillBloom,AnneParsons.andPaigePackman.

Do you have brothers and sisters?

One half-sister, Chloe, 20

How long have you been in The Landings? My mom has been here about two years.

What do you like most about The Landings? I like that everything is built close together and convenient like the tennis courts to the condos.

Favorites:

Ice cream? Cookies and Cream School subject? Writing TV Show? Cooking shows Video game? NBA 2K Mobile – it is a basketball game with card characters.

Sport? Basketball Sport Team? Celtics

Color? Purple Movie? Paw Patrol

Food? Spaghetti with meatballs/

Tiramisu

Least favorite food? Cheesecake

One word to describe you would be: Unique

What do you do in your spare time? I color.

What do you want to be when you grow up/get older? A basketball player

Do you take any lessons? My dad coaches me for my basketball lessons.

What is the greatest thing ever invented? The phone. If we never had phones, how could I text my friends? I’d have to go to their house without them knowing!!

If you could make a new holiday, what would it be? Why? Crazy Day – a day where everyone can look crazy and sound crazy. It would be funny.

What do kids your age think about most? Video games

If you were a box of cereal, what would you be and why? Apple Cinnamon Cheerios because I eat them every morning and they taste just like cinnamon.

If you could do something like your dad/mom, what would you want to be able to do? I wish I was able to play better tennis like my mom. Tell me about your business.

I have a rubber band bracelet business. It’s called Mazz-Jazz Bands. I sell them through my mom. (If anyone is interested, contact the club.)

What famous person would you like to meet and have lunch with? Candice Parker. I’d ask her if it’s hard to get into the WNBA.

If you could change anything in

the world, what would you change and how? Racism

If you could wake up tomorrow with a superpower, what superpower would you want to have? Invisibility. I would play pranks on my dad!

If you could have any 3 wishes granted, what would they be? To get into the WNBA, to meet Candice Parker, and that everybody would have a superpower.

Favorite place to visit? Alabama because we get to see family there.

One thing you have always wanted to do but haven’t yet? To play tennis more

One great thing about your family? We are all athletic.

What is something that you're thankful for? Family and friends

If you could live in a house shaped like anything, what would it be? A

triangle because that’s the strongest structurally.

If you had your own country, what would it be called? Florida. I’d name the country after my state!

If you had to give away all your toys but one, which one would you keep? One of my stuffed animals

What is your favorite word? Why?

My name - Mazzy. It’s a unique name and it means precious pearl.

If you could, what two animals would you combine? A dog and a cheetah – a dogtah!

If you had a million dollars, what would you spend it on? I’d pay rent and bills and then be able to spend some on myself.

What’s the greatest thing about being you? That I am really smart and cheerful.

Kid’s Corner ByHeidiBodor MazzyCacic,9,4thgraderatAnnaMariaElementarySchool

The Florida Butterfly Orchid

ByHansHawrysz

Orchids are the most abundant plant family in the world with 30,000 different species each adapted to live in a specific environment.

One of the most interesting but elusive inhabitants of The Landings is the Florida butterfly orchid or encyclia tampensis which was discovered by John Torrey in Tampa in 1847. The butterfly orchid is one of the showiest native orchids. A cluster of their blooms looks like tiny colorful butterflies that are colored yellow, copper, green, orange, or bronze. These diminutive yet showy flowers appear in late spring and early summer and their honey-like fragrance attracts a variety of bees, which are the plant’s primary pollinators. They have lanceolate shaped evergreen leaves that can grow up to 12 inches long. The fruit is a capsule that is filled with many tiny seeds. Once the capsule opens, the seeds are wind dispersed.

They are also epiphytes, as are most orchids, which means that they typically grow on the bark of tree trunks and branches especially in conditions of high humidity. They do not harm the host tree but use it as a platform to get access to light and air. They have a strong affinity for southern live oaks but also grow on bald cypress and mangroves. Butterfly orchids have

ButterflyorchidscanbeseeninTheLandings. been spotted around The Landings and especially in the Treehouses where there are many older live oaks. As you bike or walk around The Landings, look up and see if you can spot the butterfly orchid in the trees. If you spot one in your walks, take a picture, and send me an email so we can create a map.

Fishing at the Gazebo

The big story this past month was the effect of the red tide on fishing. It was sad to see so many dead fish floating in the intercoastal by the gazebo and throughout our region. It was timely that The Landings College program included a presentation by Mote Marine. Despite the red tide, catching fish continued to be successful (even though the numbers caught per outing in March were down).

As you can see, from the photos below taken in March, there continues to be a good variety of species and size of fish. Several people joined the Fish Whisperer for their first fishing experience and other, more experienced fishermen, joined in the fun.

Over 30 different species of fish have been caught at the gazebo. People ask if fish caught at the gazebo are edible. The answer is a very positive YES, if the size is right and within state established limits. Some species are NOT good fish to eat. Three of the most common species caught at the gazebo are especially good for eating (mangrove snapper, sheepshead, and pompano).

Pictured below is Jary Ernberger with a stringer of mangrove snapper, the first he had taken home and eaten, caught at the gazebo. He will attest to how good they tasted.

As the weather gets warmer and the red tide retreats, fishing should get much better at the gazebo. If you or your guests would like to experience fishing at the gazebo with the Fish Whisper, you can contact him at nfpconsultingresources@ gmail.com.

Gizeh Pearl White

Joel Gross caught this nice snapper his first-timefishingatthegazebo.

Steve Holtzkener with a beautiful ladyfish.

RandyHarmswithasilverjennie.

Jary Ernberger with a stinger of mangrove snapper.

The Fish Whisperer (Norman Olshansky) with a yellow tailed jack cravelle

SEA CHANGE:

Residents heard first-hand from Dr. Michael P. Crosby, President, and CEO of Mote Marine, about the organization’s research and its exciting future. Some of their vital discoveries include discovering a variety new treatment for deadly coral diseases, new methods to monitor sick manatees and help threatened sharks.

We also heard what’s planned for Mote SEA being developed in Benderson Park. Also presenting was Dr. Beth Brady, a postdoctoral research fellow at Mote who conducted research right outside The Landings in Robert’s Bay. She is researching the impact of blue-green algae on seagrass that may negatively impact manatees.

Both Dr, Crosby and Beth Brady are well versed in the “red tide” crisis and spoke about innovative solutions that Mote Marine is developing and plans to scale up for commercial use.

It was a hopeful message for the possibility of controlling red tide soon. It was very encouraging to hear from academics who are passionate about marine biology and protecting the environment for sea animals and the rest of us.

Landings Publix Opens!

Photos by Robert Manteiga) Group Photo:  left to right, Don Featherman (longstanding Landings Resident and Mote Marine volunteer), Dr. Beth Brady, Dr. Michael Crosby, Jeff Smith

Kitchen Ladies Recipe Corner

Compiledby:DeeRicapito

Beth’s Birthday Recipe Hit!

Texas Caviar Ingredients:

• ½ C sugar

• ½ C light olive oil

• Mix and set aside.

• 1 can (14 oz.) of white corn, drained and placed on paper towel.

• 1 can (15 oz.) of black beans, drained, rinsed, and placed on paper towel.

• 2 bunches of green onion chopped.

•1 red pepper chopped.

Directions:

- Combine all the above and let stand in refrigerator 3-4 hours.

- Crumbled Feta cheese (4-6 oz) is added right before serving.

- Can be assembled the day before (except for the Feta cheese).

- Serve with Tostito Scoops.

Just for Laughs

Compiledby:DeeRicapito&AnitaKincade

Top “10” jokes that you can’t help but laugh at and, some of these we can all relate to.

10. One minute you’re young and fun. Next, you’re turning down the car stereo to see better.

9. I’m in a place in my life where errands are starting to count as going out.

8. I don’t always go the extra mile, but when I do, it’s because I missed my exit on the highway.

7. I see people my age going mountain climbing. I feel good just getting my leg through my pants without losing my balance.

6. I’m on a whisky diet. I’ve lost three days already.

5. It’s weird being the same age as old people.

4. Some people are like clouds, once they disappear it’s a beautiful day.

3. Why do they call it rush hour when nothing moves?

2. Sober or not- if a cop stops me and tells me to recite the alphabet backwards, I’m just going to put myself in the back seat of his car!

1. Starbucks is planning on selling beer and wine. Apparently it’s getting difficult to sell sober people a $12 cup of coffee. Last but not least…”I got gas today for $1.39 … unfortunately, it was at Taco Bell.”

Your Landings

Resident Real Estate Team

Now is the best time to sell your home in The Landings. Call Judy and Tara today.

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It’s the perfect time to achieve the lifestyle you’ve always wanted and take advantage of your home’s value. Contact us today for a free home valuation and learn our strategy to selling success.

BethCotnercelebratesrecentbirthdaywithsome Texas Caviar.