The Landings Eagle - June 2024

JUNE

KENTUCKY DERBY PARTY page 4

Nature Day By the Bay Successbeyondexpectations

SubmittedbyJackieMassari,LMASocialChair

We all had our fingers crossed on April 21 as we hoped that all our planning would come to fruition.

The weather was on our side, with the sun in the sky and a slight breeze coming off the water.

And so, we celebrated what will hopefully be the first of many Landings’s Nature Days, honoring our local environmental treasures and the good earth as well. And equally importantly, enjoying the company of other residents, many of whom we never see on an ordinary day.

6

Approximately 200 or more residents and their guests came to learn, explore, have fun fishing, kayaking, face painting and enjoying ice cream or maybe a cold beer. Of the 200 attendees, approximately 50 were children; the youngest to join us was 3-weekold

Jack Unger and the oldest, well, perhaps that is better left unsaid.

Young and old were ferried into the waters surrounding the kayak launch by Randy Harm, Ellen and Jon Demos, and Ken Drost, with help from Jeanie Virball. Some ventured independently into the waters with a little instruction.

Younger folks tried their hand at fishing, many even catching, under the guidance of Norm Olshanky,

the official fish whisperer, with support from Kim Cooper. One young man took three kayak rides and caught a snapper. What a day!

At the top of the Nature Trail, the day concluded with four Landings musicians, Gary Eason, Angie Eason, Michael Cohen, and Peter McHugh, providing musical entertainment.

There were many who contributed to the success of the day: Darka Hawrysz, who chaired the event, and her committee, Judianne Smith, Alcie Howard, Maralyn Kaufman-Davivd, and Jackie Massari.

But in summary, it was a successful day for all who participated! Shall we do it again?

PASSAGES: BORIS MALDEN page 8

LANDINGS RESIDENT

There were folks who told us that they have never been on the trail before and there were those who left knowing more about mangroves, composting, butterflies, oysters et al. Parents were overheard directing their children to the exhibition tables before they could grab an ice cream treat.

Volunteers Who Work for You ByDanBella BobKueppers

This is the twentieth in a series of articles highlighting the special volunteers who help make The Landings such a wonderful community. The Eagle interviewed Bob Kueppers for this issue.

Business. They left the Twin Cities in 1981 and moved to New York City on assignment with a firm that eventually became the financial services firm, Deloitte & Touche.

In The Landings, in addition to being Cloisters HOA president, Bob, until recently, has been active in The Landings Holiday Charitable Foundation.

Bob retired from Deloitte in 2015.

PROFILE: ALEX SOKOLOFF page 10

We’ve all been by the Cloisters and have seen the impressive twin markers that bookend its entrance and bear its name. Those of us walking or on bikes may have taken a quick circuit through the Cloisters and back out again. But no doubt a lesser number of us know the president of the Cloisters Homeowners Association (HOA). Meet Bob Kueppers.

In the mid 1980’s, Bob engaged in a fellowship with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C., then returned to New York as a partner with Deloitte. He eventually became Deputy CEO of Deloitte US, working with large clients such as General Motors, Boeing, Dow Chemical, and Best Buy.

While his primary residence is in Sarasota, he splits his time between Florida and the New York area.

Bob still does consulting work for companies through affiliations with a couple different firms.

He and his wife of 47 years have two sons. Bob enjoys fishing and walking, is an amateur musician and a wine collector. About living in The Landings, he observed, “As a place to live, The Landings works because so many of our residents volunteer their valuable time to benefit the community. No one cares more about our neighborhood than those of us who call The Landings home.”

KID’S CORNER: LUKE UNGER, 4 page 18

Bob and his wife, Libby, purchased their home in the Cloisters in 2014. They bought it from someone who at the time was president of the Cloisters HOA. They were told that if he they bought the house, the job came with it! Sure enough, Bob became HOA president and has served in that capacity ever since.

The Cloisters is one of the smallest HOA’s in The Landings, with only 10 homes. Reflecting on the position, Bob commented, “Fortunately, in our case, HOA president involves working well with your neighbors and getting a little help from everyone from time to time.”

Bob and Libby are from St. Paul, MN. They married in 1976, the year Bob graduated from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of

A top regulatory expert, Bob has worked extensively with the SEC, the U.S. Treasury Department, and with committees and members of Congress, frequently handling high profile matters for public companies facing investigations by the SEC and other agencies. Following the demise of Enron and Worldcom, he worked closely with both private sector and government regulators on financial industry reforms.

Bob became active in volunteer and non-profit work for several organizations, often as chair of the organization. Notably, he joined the board of the United Way of New York City in 2010, becoming chair in 2012.

The Mayor of New York City proclaimed May 10, 2016 “Robert J. Kueppers Day” in New York City in recognition of his leadership of the United Way.

FourLandingsmusicians,GaryEason,AngieEason,MichaelCohen,andPeterMcHughprovidemusical entertainmentduringNatureDayatTheLandings.Formorecoverageandphotosofthisevent,gotopage12-13.

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President’s Report ByJeffSmith

We are in the final stages of the Road Restoration Project. During the next few weeks our contractor (Gator), engineering firm (Stantec), and our Roads Committee will be jointly inspecting the work and determining what is remaining on the “punch list” to be completed and if so, who is responsible. At this time, we can fully address our resident’s “punch list” to determine the status of each item with follow up if necessary. We are confident that we will soon satisfactorily complete a major initiative with more than acceptable operational outcomes and a very favorable actual/budget comparison. Thank you, Roads Committee!

The next initiative that will start soon (there is certainly no rest for your volunteer board) is the Security Modernization Project. While this project is not the largest ever undertaken by LMA in financial terms (that was the roads project) it just may be if measured in terms of the impact it will have on our residents. All of us, our guests, and service providers will interact with the security system in some way daily. There will be many questions that need to be answered and they will be as we progress with the initiative. I thought we would start the process with this Q&A. We will also devote most of the June 6 th Board Meeting to this subject, which will also be available on zoom.

Q: Will there be an assessment associated with the initiative?

A: No. Funding in the security reserve is more than adequate for all aspects of the initiative. (including North and South gate replacements)

Q: Why is the security modernization initiative necessary?

A: Three reasons:

1. Financial: Security accounts for 35%-42% of LMA’s total operating budget. Labor, the cost of the contract through Guard One, has risen from approximately 70% of the security budget (in the last decade) to 92%. The rate of increase continues at an unsustainable pace. Installing modern technology will mitigate further increases and is projected to save LMA approximately $17,500 per year by eliminating one guard from the 11 p.m. -7 a.m. shift (currently there are two). This equates to a savings of $25 per resident per year based on current costs. This year’s labor costs were 7% higher than the previous and that factors into an overall increase of 6.5% in the overall security committee budget. Fiscal responsibility mandates that we must take steps to reduce future increases.

2. Improve the Quality of our security: Modern technology will reduce congestion at the main gate. Guests and vendors will be able to use the automated resident entry lane when their license plates are registered in the system. (This can be done online or by contacting Pinnacle if necessary.) The reduction should be significant when you look at the scale of our gate operations. In April, residents entered our gates 37,918 times. (main 16,878, north

14,867 and south 6,042). However, the area where we can achieve efficiency is nonresidents (landscapers, pool service, various service providers vendors and deliveries, guests, Uber and other rideshares and Uber Eats).

We estimate the non- resident category at 20% of overall April entries of 45,418.

Two important facts to consider: peak entries occur in the January-March period and Uber Eats category is increasing exponentially. The ability for residents (or LRC) to clear many in this category by registering their license plate for a specific period will allow use of the resident line avoiding interaction/identification at the gate.

(For instance, a resident may register uber eats for a 30-minute period, a contractor for a 30-day period from 9 a.m. -5 p.m., a family member for any time within a one-year period which is the maximum the system will allow).

The system will keep track of all nonresidents on site at a given time (through license plate readers). If an event occurs, the system can identify if a specific guest or vendor is still on site.

3. Improve the reliability of resident information and enhance communications. Landings resident information (data) is currently housed (and applied) in multiple different databases, none of which communicate with each other, none of which are completely accurate. The software component of this security system will consolidate at least four current resident data sources. Thereby establishing one main reliable and continually updated single source database acting as the informational foundation of the system.

Other community-wide applications will benefit which include email and texting capabilities as well as an enhanced resident directory.

Q: Is the plan to eventually do away with all guards?

A: No, your board is committed to one guard on site 24/7. It should be noted that if economic or other circumstances should make this impossible, the system is capable of operating on an autonomous basis.

Q: How will one guard operate during the 11 p.m. -7 a.m. shift?

A: The guard will periodically “patrol” during this time and be available should a in person response be warranted. Analytics within the system will identify if a pedestrian or cyclist passes the barrier arms at the gate or is in the kayak area of the nature trail and an alert to the guard will be sent. The guard will then take appropriate action.

Q: What part do the south and north gates have in the initiative?

A: It has become clear that the gates have aged out. The downtime we experience when damaged or broken is unacceptable as is the cost to repair ($20,000 last year).

The fact that this has happened during the Security Modernization initiative allows us to replace/enhance north and south barrier arms and swinging metal gates (which will be motorized) while making sure that their operations will blend

seamlessly the technology that is being introduced.

Q: How will the north and south gates be configured?

A: New barrier arms will be installed that are shorter and faster. The existing metal gates for both north and south will be motorized and integrated with the barrier arms. We anticipate that the barrier arms will open at five seconds or less (the current time is five seconds from decal reading). (Note: residents will use the same decals that are now in use). The swinging gates are anticipated to take ten seconds starting from decal reading. Congestion will be controlled because the swinging gates have a delay in closing so that if a second resident follows only the barrier arm needs to open. The value in using both the barrier arm and swinging gates is that it will limit unauthorized individuals from entering.

Q: How will residents on foot or bicycle enter the north and south gate?

A: Pedestrian gates will be provided that will allow entry 24/7. Entry will likely be by punch pad.

Q: When will these changes occur?

A: Securiteam, the vendor selected by the board, has a very comprehensive process and timeline that has been activated now that the contract has been signed. There will be an orderly process prior to implementation which on average will take about 90-days (see below for key steps). Community training sessions will be held at convenient times during this time and will be provided again in the fall when our snowbirds return. At every step, the community will be informed so that there will be no surprises.

Because the Securiteam implementation can take place prior to replacement/enhancement at the north and south gates, there is a separate process in selecting a vendor for this part of the modernization. An acceptable proposal has been received for the north and south gate replacement, but the Security Committee is waiting for a second proposal prior to making a recommendation. The committee expects to make a detailed recommendation to the board in the July Board Meeting.

*KEY STEPS

- Project kick-off call

- Ordering hardware

- Exporting/compiling date

- Database built out

- Preparing onsite IT and infrastructure

- Database approval

- Database import

- Hardware installation

- System testing

- Training

- Resident engagement

- Go-live

Further information is available by contacting one of the members of the Security Modernization Task Force: Judy Greene, Eddie Goldstein, and Jeff Smith

LMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

JEFF SMITH President

JUDY GREENE ................... Vice President

HANS HAWRYSZ Treasurer

ELIDA RAMBERGER Secretary

SUE CAMINS Director

EDDIE GOLDSTEIN Director

LOUIS GONCALVES Director

JACKIE MASSARI Director

JOHN SCHMIDT ........................... Director EMILY RIDDLE Property Manager — Pinnacle Management Company

LMA COMMITTEE CHAIRS:

HANS HAWRYSZ Finance

EDDIE GOLDSTEIN Communications

NORMAN OLSHANSKY The Eagle

MARALYN KAUFMAN Environmental

JOHN SCHMIDT ... Governance Advisory

HARVEY GRELLER Hazardous Waste

JEFF SMITH Lakes & Drainage

PAUL WEINER ...................... Landscaping

HARVEY CAMINS LMA Property Mgr Needs Comm.

JUDY GREENE Maintenance

JACKIE MASSARI Kayaks

PAUL WEINER......................... Nature Trail

SUE CAMINS .......................... Nominating

ELIDA RAMBERGER ........................ Roads

JUDY GREENE Safety & Security

JACKIE MASSARI.......Social/Community Events June 2024

EDITORIAL Tuesday 6/4, 1 PM Poolside Room

Thursday 6/13, 4 PM Poolside Room

SAFETY Monday 6/10, 4 PM Multipurpose Room

BOARD Monday 6/17, 2 PM Lakeside Room SOUTH I

Tuesday 6/18, 9:30 AM Lakeside Room SOUTH III

Monday 6/17, 11 AM Poolside Room SOUTH IV

Monday 6/10, 4:30 PM Poolside Room SOUTH VI Wednesday 6/26, 5 PM Lakeside Room

© Serving The Landings Community since 1992|27th State Media, LLC | 941-312-0665 6547 Midnight Pass road, PMB 70 Sarasota, FL 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

Gettin’ our Derby On!

ByEllenDemosandDanBella,PhotosbyRickWaller

On the first Saturday in May, the Landings Racquet Club held an inaugural Kentucky Derby Party. Since it was a first-time event, we had to “go big” like they do in Kentucky. The room was decorated with “golden horseshoes”, with horses on everything right down to the napkins!

About 85 folks dressed in Derby finery attended and were not to be outdone by the jockeys in their silks. The ladies didn’t disappoint with their colorful fascinators and hats, a thing of beauty to be sure!

Three of the finest bartenders in The Landings (Jon Demos, George Ulrich, and Dan Bella) served up Mint Juleps, Lillies, and mocktails.

Rumor has it, some of the best cocktails ever served!

Friends and neighbors brought favorite appetizers to share; word

on the courts is that everyone outdid themselves - “better than the average spread”! We played trivia with topics of bourbon and Derby, and what Derby party would be complete without a great Derby pie? Who knew that adding chocolate chips & a “dash” of bourbon to the standard pecan pie would make it taste so good! Betty Greenspan won the pie contest on her first try. Congratulations, Betty!

Someone said, “A Derby party isn’t complete without betting.” Just ask Jim and Sandy Goldman who took home 50% of the pot, a very thick stack of bills to enjoy. The winning didn’t stop there, as there were so many door prizes that we lost track of them all.

Thanks to the volunteer committee who put this event together and to everyone that

helped make it a successful event. Your enthusiasm was noted, and you made the Kentuckians in the crowd proud!

Ellen Demos took the lead in organizing the event and was instrumental in making the event a success. Others who gave invaluable assistance included Helen Bella, Donna Couzens, Jill Eisner, Sharon Goldman, Cathy LaRosa, Gayle Maraval, Joan Sussman, and Karen Ulrich.

The pictures capture the fun and pageantry of the event. (To view the photos, log in to the Landings website with your resident’s credentials and go to: Home page > Racquet Club > LRC event photos > Kentucky Derby Party.) The event was such a success, people are already buzzing about the next one!

OUTDOOR RECREATION

Reviewed December18, 2023

Tara H. via TripAdvisor

SECOND VISIT

This was our second visit, this time with family from Minneapolis near Christmas. WHAT a perfect delicious dinner on all levels! My daughter's family, very discerning food critics, said the Dungeness crab was equal to the best they had in Latin America. They inhaled their supper with gusto!

We love the more natural low key atmosphere and the close proximity of the staff to the dining area. This helps them too in observing guest experience, valuable feedback.

The fresh fish selection of approximately 8-10 varieties is impressive and well represented with truly delicious options. We had their fresh steamed clams in butter — small super fresh and so sweet. Even saved the broth to make homemade Italian clam marinara later! And their crab cake was amazing.

The "maraschino cherry" of our perfect dinner was their EXCELLENT key lime pie, home made by them, served with genuine whipped cream.

Enjoy!!!

President’s Report

Despite many club members heading to summer destinations, The Landings Racquet Club continued to have many activities in May.

Thanks to new board member, Ellen Demos, the club hosted its first Kentucky Derby Party.

News From the Court

Several members said that it was one of the best parties ever. Yes, Ellen is from Kentucky and knows exactly how to successfully host a Derby party.

Tennis play continued, with another round robin, and it is now easier to get prime court time with fewer members

ByAdrian“Mo”Moghina

COVID Strikes Again; Art Show Rescheduled

competing for courts.

Our annual lunch for veterans was held on Memorial Day. It is always such a heart-warming event.

We expect to shortly launch the renovation of our poolside kitchen and will replace the carpet in the Lakeside

room. We hope to limit the disruption to club activities but do expect some dust and noise in the weeks ahead. I hope you enjoy all your June activities and I look forward to seeing you at the club!

www.islandvp.com

Manager’s Report ByKevinLechlitner

There was a great turnout for the Racquet Selection 101 seminar. As you improve your skills and game, you start to realize that the feel of your racquet is very important for your performance.

By Marie-Louise McHugh

you are it’s more important that your string tension is higher to help you maintain control of the ball. If you are the type of player that feeds off your opponent’s power, then you want the string tension to be lower.

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.

once a week. Also, if you are the type of player that sweats a lot you need to have a grip that is tackier so that your hand doesn’t slip during the moment of contact with the ball.

Kayak outing set for Feb. 26

June is here and the season is officially over. Now it is time for us to do some projects around the club.

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.

“newbies.”

between the courts are scheduled to be replaced this summer too. The annual tennis court resurfacing project is also coming up soon, but I will write more about that next month.

When you play a match, you need to let the racquet and the strings work for you. That means that you have practiced the paths of your swings for all the shots that you enjoy hitting and you are sending the racquet on that path with clear confidence to help you execute the shot correctly.

What specific tension your strings are strung at really matters depending on the type of player you are. In general, the more aggressive player

But one of the most important parts of the feel of your racquet is the feel and connection of your hand to the grip of the racquet. That is why you should be very aware of when it’s time to change your over grip. I’ve noticed that most players don’t change their over grip consistently. In general, if you play at least three times a week you should change your over grip at least

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

Obviously in Florida, it is extremely hot and humid in the summer and that is why I use the Tourna Grip XL that helps absorb any excess moisture but still has a dry feel. Take in account the type of over grip you chose because it can make a big difference in your performance.

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

LHA

We will take a break from the social round robin and pro exhibition in June and resume them in July.

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.

As you can see, this is going to be a summer full of projects at the club. Thank you in advance for your continued patience during these improvements to our facility.

Meeting Notes

Stay hydrated and safe and see you on the courts.

By the time you read this, the screen enclosure on the Lakeside Clubhouse patio will already be replaced. Also, the Lakeside Clubhouse will receive new carpeting. Both the Poolside Clubhouse and Fitness Center will be getting new roofs beginning in early June. If we didn’t replace those two roofs, we couldn’t obtain insurance for the buildings beneath them. Thanks to forward thinking by the LRC Board of Directors, this substantial project will be paid for out of our capital reserves.

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

The Poolside Clubhouse kitchen will receive a needed upgrade and the four canopies

down when they are done using them regardless of the time of day they leave. This will help protect them from getting damaged during one of these storms. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

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.

With summer upon us, that also means the afternoon thunderstorms will hopefully be starting soon. We could certainly use the rain. These storms can bring strong winds, too. Those winds become a problem when the umbrellas on the pool and coffee deck are left open. I would like to encourage members to put the umbrellas

See you on the water!

The board approved landscape changes on Pine Harrier Circle and 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

Thank you to John Janes, Scott Shields, and Dave Siddons for coming to play in the tennis exhibition we had on May 17 th . They are all great players who donated their time to put on a superb display of men’s doubles. By default, I was the fourth in the group as our resident tennis pros were unable to play this time. I had a great time playing with them. Those guys are always a lot of fun to play with. Look for more entertaining exhibitions between now and the end of the year.

ParticipantsintheMay17thexhibitionattheLRC:JohnJanes,KevinLechlitner,AdrianMoghina, ScottShields&DaveSiddons.

Landings resident Ingrid Wiemer and her son Austin are walking the 125-mile Portuguese Way of the Camino del Santiago trail. This photo was taken at the Barosa waterfalls in Spain. Only 30 more miles till they reach the pilgrimage endpoint at Santiago del Compostela!

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It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Boris Malden. Boris passed away on April 12 at the age of 76.

As Landings Racquet Club members, he and Elizabeth, his wife of 39 years and better known as Beth Malden, attended events at the Racquet Club.

Boris and Beth took extensive cruises all over the world,

enjoying life together to the fullest. Boris was known for his talent as a producer, in television, special events, and feature length films. He was nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards in 2016 and 2017 for House of Cards as Outstanding Drama Series. He was also nominated for the 2017 Producers Guild of America Award for House of Cards. He

Boris Malden

applied his production skills to numerous shows on CBS, ABC, NBC, TNT, Lifetime, A&E, Starz, Fox, and USA Network.

For those with Facebook access, there is an incredibly moving tribute to Boris posted on April 12 by Cheeba White, who bid, “farewell to one of the most amazing people I have ever met.” Cheeba wrote, Boris “had

a keen eye for potential … had a way of changing people’s lives for the better” and, “His generosity was only surpassed by his humility.”

A memorial service will be held on June 15 from 1 - 4 p.m. at the Landings Racquet Club. Boris is survived by his wife Beth, and daughter Krystina.

Treehouse resident Alex Sokoloff seems to have been born to live and work globally. His deep interest in understanding and contributing to different cultures goes back generations. His grandfather fought in WWI and subsequently escaped Stalin’s oppressive regime by immigrating to France. He later moved to the United States. Alex’s father was born in France, fought in the Yugoslavian underground during WWII and then also immigrated to the United States. Alex inherited his family’s penchant for travel, making graceful transitions, as well as their passion for understanding life from multi-cultural perspectives. So, it is not surprising that Alex spent twenty years serving in the Foreign Service. He lived on several continents working his way up to seniorlevel positions at embassies in Malaysia, Liberia, Rwanda, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas and Washington, DC.

Alex, what made you interested in a career that required living and working in many foreign countries?

It was a natural choice for me given my family’s international background. When I was a child, my father worked overseas, and we traveled quite a bit. I really enjoyed living in foreign countries and being exposed to many different cultures.

Tell me about your academic and career trajectory that led to a foreign service career.

I majored in Foreign Service and Development Economics at Georgetown University. But it wasn’t until several years later that I joined the Foreign Service. My earlier work gave me the international experience that ultimately led to that career. When I graduated from Georgetown I took a job as a relationship

manager with Chemical Bank on Wall Street. My focus was on establishing financial relationships with emerging African and Middle Eastern countries.

Did that involve a lot of travel?

Oh yes. I was based in the United States and traveled extensively to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Yemen, and other countries. I left after about seven years to go into business with my father.

What kind of business?

At that time, Morocco had liberalized its policy toward foreign investment. My father had retired and proposed that we start an importing and distribution company to bring American made consumer goods to the Moroccan market.

Did you move to Morocco?

Yes. Our business was headquartered in Casablanca. My first wife and I moved to Mohammedi, a gorgeous beachside community between Casablanca and Rabat. My father would come for months at a time, but we were permanently located in Morocco.

What was that like?

It was a wonderful life! We lived there for about seven years. Morocco is a beautiful country with a fascinating history and culture and wonderful beaches, skiing, mountains, sand dunes, great food, and proximity to Europe. We thoroughly enjoyed living there.

While in Morocco you and your first wife McClain decided to adopt three children from Russia. What made you decide to do that? It was 1993 and the Soviet Union had collapsed. Russian orphanages were essentially overrun with children. We felt it was time to adopt children and given my Russian heritage we felt it would be a good idea to adopt a sibling group.

And?

Well, after a lot of bureaucratic paperwork we were able to adopt three siblings. The twins were five years old, and our little boy was two. There were business reasons for us to return to the States but our primary reason for returning was to expose our children to American culture.

We owned a house in Key West. So, that was our first stop back in the country.

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What did you do for work?

McClain got a wonderful position as Director of Public Relations for Nike in Portland, Oregon. We thought that would be a good place to raise our kids. So, off we went. I was working on a book about our experiences in the adoption world and took responsibility for being home with the children. However, shortly after starting her job McClain was tragically diagnosed with Stage four colon cancer. That changed everything. She was only 46 years old.

How tragic. What did you do?

We decided to move back to Key West which was McClain’s happy place. I worked in sales as she underwent treatment. She passed away about a year later.

I am so sorry. So, you were left raising the three young children by yourself?

Yes. It was hard. Very luckily for me, McClain and I both knew and liked Peggy who was going through a divorce at the time. Our children attended the same school. After my wife died Peggy and I eventually got together, married, and blended our two families. We raised six children and traveled with them around the globe.

Which leads to your Foreign Service career. How did you make that happen?

After Peggy and I married, I took and passed the Foreign Service exam. For the next twenty years, until my recent retirement, I enjoyed serving multiple roles in the Foreign Service in seven countries. I’ve enjoyed an amazing career and I think it was a wonderful, exciting, and enriching experience for our family.

Tell me a little bit about the various roles you played in the different countries you served. There are five different role concentrations that Foreign Service Officers fill. They include specializing in political, economic, consular, management and public policy areas. Over the course of my service, I worked in all those areas.

What were your most rewarding assignments?

There were many. I got great satisfaction from reporting on human rights issues and then working with governments and NGOs

to create policies to address these problems. I enjoyed helping emerging countries like Rwanda and Liberia to improve their economies by forging bridges with U.S. companies. I enjoyed advancing U.S. policy and building strong, positive relationships with the countries where I served. It was especially gratifying to work with the U.S. Global Health Security Agenda to stop the Ebola virus from spreading both within Liberia and throughout the world.

Given your consular experience, what are your thoughts about immigration?

Well, we desperately need immigration to fill jobs that Americans aren’t filling. We need immigrants in both skilled and unskilled roles that will simply not get done without them. We are an aging population, and we desperately need more people. But we need to go about it intelligently. The laws around who is and who isn’t allowed to immigrate to the U.S. haven’t changed since the 1950s. Suffice to say they are outdated and need revamping.

Alex, I want to thank you for your service and acknowledge that we have just touched ‘the tip of the iceberg’ in learning about your impressive professional and personal life. But now bring us up to the present. What’s next for you? Right now, Peggy and I are both recovering from some health issues and we’re enjoying relaxing and staying put here in The Landings. We love the Sarasota lifestyle and have made wonderful friends. As far as my future, I will probably make myself available for occasional consulting gigs with the Foreign Service. I may also do some volunteer work in the Sarasota community. Taking it easy, occasional travel, watching our adult children thrive and new adventures make us excited about our future.

Inaugural Nature Day

Look

SubmittedbyDarkaHawrysz

exhibit provided guidance on how to attract more local birds and pollinator insects by including native plants in home gardens.

At the mangrove exhibit, visitors learned to identify the different mangroves through leaf types.

The Manatee Audubon Society, while providing detailed information on our shorebirds, taught the young folks to use binoculars like accomplished birders.

The Florida Native Plant Society’s

They were encouraged to sign-up to grow-out a mangrove seedling in early fall for The Landings habitat rehab projects. They also had an option to take a mangrove seedling to grow in their backyard.

The Sarasota Butterfly Club, led by President Susan Morris, along with

Facepainting & Treats

Exhibitors

Fishing

by the Bay Highlights

several of her members, provided an engaging exhibit with live butterflies. It was a real hit. The club studies and researches butterfly populations in our area.

Jason Mellica, from Advanced Bromeliads and the Bromeliad Society, joined us at the event.

He’s a University of Florida Botany graduate and an expert grower and hybridizer of bromeliads.

His bromeliads and orchids, which were for purchase, were exquisite.

Joe and Carol Balsey, previous residents of The Landings, hobbyists

and avid collectors of fossils, provided information on a large selection of fossils, including those native to Florida.

Landings resident, Jeff Smith, provided an exhibit demonstrating how oysters naturally filter and clean the water.

Frank Pipers, another talented resident, provided samples of owl boxes and turtle platforms as well as plans as to how to build them. Some of the turtle boxes are currently floating in our lakes.

Digging in the Dirt Has Benefits

SubmittedbyMaralynKaufmanDavid,LMA EnvironmentalCommitteeChairperson

The Environmental Committee

showed its presence at The Landings Nature by the Bay event on April 22 nd with volunteers of all ages helping with set up and break down of tables for the event, an exhibit explaining composting methods and highlighting the benefits of composting for our environment, and a nature-related fun scavenger hunt for children (with the help of teenagers Gavin and Teagan Bower who helped create the kids’ nature ‘scavenger hunt bingo, distributed the clues along the nature trail, and added

a pop-up youth book donation!).

Thanks also to Dawn and Ken Drost (compost table), the Treibly family (Amy, Scott, and children), the Duban family, and the Bower family (Mark, Kristy, Gavin, and Teagan) for volunteering on Nature by the Bay.

The environmental committee is pleased that the compost exhibit attracted a lot of interest with potential new composters, adding to our already enthusiastic and helpful compost station volunteers and participants that help our community excel!

Kayaking

Two new benches on Nature Trail

No rest for the weary? Well, now there is, a little at least. Along the Nature Trail, there are two new benches that will offer a respite and a little shade for those who would like to stop and rest awhile on their trek to and from the gazebo.

The benches have not been secured to their current placements as we assess to see if this location is the best.

As you know, at certain times of the day and during certain seasons, there is little shade on the Nature Trail. If you have a suggestion for a better location, please email jackiemassari@ yahoo.com to offer you observations. In the interim, have a seat.

Paw Prints

By: DeeRicapito

Were you ever lucky enough to experience love at first sight? Being kissed by your pooch or kitty looking into his eyes is a real “feel-good” moment and can change your biochemistry.

In studies, people who held the gaze of their loving dogs or received

lots of dog kisses showed increases in hormones such as oxytocin, a feelgood hormone. Even more amazing, the dogs in the study showed similar increases in the same hormones! Clearly, the benefits of bonding are mutual.

I get that same happy

Happiness is...Reflection

Have you ever noticed how reflections have a way of slowing things down? We take time to check our reflection in the mirror. We enjoy our reflection in the slow ripples of a mountain lake. We’re mesmerized by the reflection of light in a stained-glass window.

As summer hits and baseball is in full swing, families are gearing up to enjoy summer activities together. Time has a way of slipping away quickly so it’s the very best time to slow down and take a minute to reflect on the important things in life.

There’s no better way to do that than sitting together a spell and enjoying a cup or cone

feeling closely gazing, petting, our newly adopted “eleven-yearold” orange and white tabby, Frito. His purring confirms the mutual affection we share with one another.

Of course, toys, treats and cat nip helps me get on his good side immensely!

Landings Directory

These are new owner(s) in The Landings:

of this month’s featured flavors Peach Ice Cream (loaded with peaches and would make a Southerner proud!) or Lemon Ice (A zesty Lemon-flavored ice.) And no better place to do that than Abel's Ice Cream, Sarasota’s favorite local ice cream shop, family-owned since 2011. Abel's award-winning ice cream is the place for a delicious taste of summer.

Abel’s Ice Cream 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 www.abelsicecream.com or connect with us on Facebook and Instagram.

- David & Jamie Fullington , 5430 Eagles Point Circle #402, - Sandra Rollings, 4893 Kestral Park Way N, - Robert Carey, 4828 Peregrine Point Circle W, - Michael & Debra Werman, 5168 Kestral Park Terrace, - Johnathan & Lindsay Fox, 5169 Kestral Park Lane, - David & Jan Feinman, 1474 Landings Circle. For current owner information, use the online resident directory on the Landings website. www. residents.thelandingsofsarasota.com as your source for current resident directory listings and other Landings information. Directory information is updated on the site no less often than weekly and changes are made to other Landings information when available. If you want CURRENT INFORMATION, use our website’s Resident Directory! We encourage every resident to check their online directory listing for accuracy. Additions, changes, or corrections to the online directory may be requested by clicking on Update Your Profile.

Celebrate Summer

At Captain Curt's Crab & Oyster Bar

Kick off your Summer with buy one get one half off Snow Crab Legs, available the entire month of June

While you're here, don't forget to Check Out our World Famous Clam Chowder, Real Fruit Daiquiris, Coffee Shop, Karaoke Nights, and More

Breakfast & Lunch

PictureYour Photos on the Landings Resident Website!

ByEddieGoldsteinandBobManteiga

Our community website (residents. thelandingsofsarasota.com) is a work in progress, with continual opportunities for improvement and to make it more visually appealing.

We invite you to contribute by submitting your photos from around The Landings.

Each page of the website has a header/banner photo. Many pages have the same exact aerial photo, which looks like this:

This is a nice shot, but it would be ideal to profile unique relevant photos on each page. For example, here’s a photo taken by Bob that appears on the Lakes & Drainage Committee page (residents. thelandingsofsarasota.com/lakes-and-drainagecommittee)

Certain sections are particularly well suited for unique photos. Each Committee has its own page (residents.thelandingsofsarasota.com/lmacommittees), and each association has its own page (residents.thelandingsofsarasota.com/associations). Think about submitting your shots for the top of any of these pages.

Keep in mind the technical challenge: the header dimension is 1400 × 325 (long and thin). Shoot in landscape mode, center your subjects, and leave sufficient room for cropping above and below. If editing, minimize distortion while altering image size; if you’re uncomfortable editing, simply send in a photo that you deem appropriate, and we will edit it for you.

Bob and Eddie will curate displayed photos from the submitted entries. There’s no specific submission deadline, but the sooner you send in your photos, the sooner they may be featured on the website!

Please submit all photos to Bob Manteiga at roberto@uri.edu. (If you encounter any log in issues, email web@thelandingsofsarasota.com).

Immerse yourself in a community that nurtures personal growth and celebrates the joy of uncovering the creative spirit within.

Please call us at 941.966.5611 to schedule a tour and learn more. Scan the QR Code to visit our website.

Kid’s Corner

LukeUnger,4,PreschooleratSpanishLegacyPreschool

ByHeidiBodor

Languages: Spanish and English

Do you have brothers and sisters? I have one sister Giuliana, 3, and one baby brother Jack, 1 ½ months.

Do you have any pets? We have a dog named Lily

How long have you been in The Landings? We have been here a couple of months

What do you like most about the Landings? I like fishing and the Nature Trail

Favorites:

Ice cream: Mint or chocolate. I like them separately or together.

School subject: I like working at school.

Book/s: We have a big orange book that has a

collection of Dr. Seuss stories in it.

TV Show: Cat in the Hat Knows a lot About That! Color: Red, green, and blue

Favorite Food: Eggs! (Cooked any way - I am the egg monster!)

Least favorite food: I don’t have any.

Holiday: Halloween

What do you like doing in your spare time?

Running around, swimming, and riding bikes

What do you want to be when you grow up? A scientist

What are your favorite interests? Dinosaurs and outer space

Where is your favorite place to visit? Chicago or Arizona to be with family

What is one great thing about your family?

Having a new baby brother!

What else are you involved in? I’m going to be the narrator in a play called Los Tres Osos.

If you had a million dollars, what would you spend it on? Eggs!!! I love eggs.

What is your favorite kind of game? Puzzles

Who is someone in history that you’d like to be friends with? Why?

I’d like to be friends with Jesus because I love Jesus.

If you were invisible for a day, what would you do?

If I were invisible for a day, I would scare my mom and dad and spy on them.

Just for Laughs

ByDeeRicapito&BillWhitman

Let’s all cheer for fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers, and godfathers. May you be rewarded for all you do for others and may you find joy in the love of your family.

Husband says, “For the last 30 years all you’ve done is find mistakes in everything I’ve said”.

Wife replies, “31”!

Wife holding a pot at the dining table says to him, “For your dining pleasure this evening we are offering two choices, take it or leave it!”

I told my dad that I wanted to walk down the aisle. So, he sent me grocery shopping!

I tried to remarry my ex-wife. But she figured out I was just after

My dad walked into the paint store to get thinner. It didn’t work.

Last night my dad joined a group of procrastinators. They haven’t met yet!

My dad got booted from the coffee shop because he wore a tea shirt.

My wife wanted to disgrace me in the presence of her friends and said I wasn’t good in bed. She was shocked when they all disagreed with her.

The Landings January bike outing to Myakka Park was a great success. Lots of gators and wildlife seen throughout the park including this limpkin, pictured above. The Bird and Canopy Walk were closed due to Hurricane Ian damage but we were able to identify some great hiking trails to explore on our own and during future visits.

Resident Real Estate Team

The Landings’ multi-million-dollar-producing team, Judy Greene and Tara Lamb. With world-class marketing, leading resources and local connections, our proven strategies continue to deliver exceptional results for our customers.

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

Please call your Landing’s Real Estate Team JUDY and TARA to inquire about properties for sale in The Landings!