Waters Edge - February 2013

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Local Postal Customer

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ARTS ON THE HORIZON

DOWNTOWN & BEYOND

Investing For Your Future

up & down the trail

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MAILED TO THE FOLLOWING NEIGHBORHOODS • Bayview • Cherokee Park • Harbor Acres • Hudson Bayou • Hyde Park • Oyster Bay • McClellan Park • Paradise Shores • Red Rock • San Remo • South Poinsettia • Southside Village

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Circus Artist Dolly Jacobs Dolly Jacobs is one of the brightest stars of the American circus. Born into a circus family, her father was the renowned clown, Lou Jacobs, with Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Besides being a famous New York model, her mother, Jean Rockwell, was also a showgirl with Ringling Brothers.

While Lou was comically stuffing himself into the tiniest of clown cars, Jean was flying through the air in ensemble aerial presentations, and parading in elaborate costumes. Jean’s circus career was cut short, however, when she fell from an aerial revolving ladder while performing an aerial ballet at Madison Square Garden. (Yes, those amazing tricks can be dangerous!) While Jean was recuperating in the hospital, Lou Jacobs visited her as often as he could.

When she recovered, they married.

Soon two beautiful daughters came into the world: Lou Ann and Dolly Jean.

The girls were born in Sarasota, which, until 1960, was the winter home of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey.

Dolly followed the path of many other local children from circus families

By Diana Colson

when she began training at Sarasota High School’s youth circus, called Sailor’s Circus. She joined the Ringling show’s battalion of showgirls and went off to see the world, traveling in the same show as her father.

While on the road, the beautiful Dolly began working on developing a solo act of her own. At first she tried the tight wire, but that apparatus wasn’t for her. She felt she needed the freedom of aerial work.

Her godmother, Margie Geiger, helped her create an act. Married to Joe Geiger, one of the original Wallendas, Margie herself had performed for many years on the Roman Rings. Margie offered to teach her godchild the skills involved in this graceful and difficult circus art. In the summer of 1976, after several months of unrelenting work, Dolly was ready to audition the first version of her Roman Rings Act. The producers at Ringling Brothers loved the performance!

Dolly was chosen to debut this act in the 1976 edition of their Greatest Show on Earth.

Story continues on page 20

Boys of Summer The Baltimore Orioles return to Sarasota for 2013 spring training with a buzz in the air, likely a little more hop in their step and higher expectations than at any time in perhaps 15 years.

This will be the team’s fourth year playing at Ed Smith Stadium and the third since a $31.2 million renovation.

In the past three springs they came to the town in the wake of losing seasons. Lots of losing seasons. Fourteen consecutive.

But who’s counting?

Oh, yes, things are different in 2013. Why? Because of what happened in 2012. The Orioles roared out of the gate and went 93-69 in the tough American League East, finishing only two games behind the New York Yankees.

Photo By Trebor Britt Igor Trifan (37) of Moldova, near Romania, inscribes the heart he created using rosebuds on the Siesta Key shoreline.

He intends to email his photos and a very special message to his girlfriend Constanta. After living here for several years, he earned his U.S. citizenship last February.

To find out what Igor inscribed in the heart, go to our website www.siestasand.net

By Glenn Miller The 93 victories were the most for Baltimore since 1997 and the Orioles also earned their first playoff slot since that season.

They opened the playoffs by defeating the Texas Rangers in a one-game play-in round and then lost a five-game series to the Yankees.

Still, it was what happened between April and October that made it a special season for Manager Buck Showalter’s team.

Centerfielder Adam Jones finished sixth in American League Most Valuable Player voting. He not only played a sterling centerfield but hit ,287 with 32 homes and 82 RBI. Reliever Jim Johnson led the league with 51 saves, which also broke the team record.

Story continued on page 16

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Live Music on Siesta, Downtown Roars Yet Again Commentary by Paul Roat

Noise is definitely in the ear of the beholder.

Florida Supreme Court justices have decided that loud music from vehicles is a form of free speech and have ruled laws prohibiting such noise is legal.

Restaurateurs believe that loud bands are a vital part of their financial livelihood both on Siesta Key and in Downtown Sarasota.

Residents on Siesta Key and near Downtown Sarasota believe loud band music disturbs their serenity and have virulently opposed the noise. Sometimes the opposition has been successful. Sometimes not.

Loudness is pretty much a facet in the history of our part of the world. Call it quiet comfort versus growth.

Take Siesta Key as an example. The Key was a laid-back enclave of free spirits, retirees, and small businesses. There was the Crescent Club, the Beach Club, the Summerhouse, Gulf to Bay, lots of other establishments. Live music was muted but present, residents seemed to enjoy the entertainment, and there were no real complaints.

Fast-forward to a thriving “downtown” Siesta Village where every other business seems to cater to partygoers. Rock ‘n roll rules in the once-laid-back venues, and neighbors started to complain — sometimes complaining as loud as the music.

Siesta Key got Sarasota County officials to step in and have a code enforcement officer assigned to monitor noise in the Village. The last eruption on the Key apparently was around Halloween. No real noise complaints have been levied since, and although there seems to still be some tension bubbling the peace seems to be in effect.

Downtown Sarasota? Call that noise issue a work in progress.

Many years ago Downtown was the place to be. Shopkeepers reaped huge revenues, restaurants were packed by not only bank employees but bank customers, retailers were happy at both ends of Main Street although the middle of the “barbell” from U.S. 301 and U.S. 41 was always a no-man’s-land. Still pretty much is, come to think of it.

Things got quiet for a few decades. Malls took over the business that frequented Downtown. Main Street turned into something of a ghost town. The few restaurant/

bar/nightclubs turned to a triedand-true remedy of attracting patrons by providing live music.

And live music worked for business, along with a number of other civic improvements fostered by city officials. The heart of Sarasota, its Downtown, began to beat again.

But while Downtown was thumping along with its vibrancy and live music, a back-beat started.

Residents in condominiums Live music is alive at O’Leary’s on Sarasota’s along the Bayfront started to Bayfront Park. Photo by Paul Roat object to noise reverberating from live entertainment on the street which was interrupting their waterfront serenity.

Back then, homeowners won, live music lost, some businesses went out of business, and everything became quiet.

There is now a new tune being sung Downtown. Sarasota City Commissioner Paul Caragiugo has proposed lifting the ban on the city’s live music. Two public hearings have been held to date, business and resident resistance seem to be outlined, and a compromise may well be reached.

Noise is going to be an issue this election cycle.

Live music is a very valid question to pose to candidates, be they city or county.

The matter is basically a business versus resident, Not In My Back Yard quandary.

Live next to a vital business area on a barrier island and don’t expect noise? Duh. Live Downtown and complain about the noise from live music? Duh.

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Siesta Key Round-Up Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em

A court decision in late December means neither the city nor the county can enforce no-smoking ordinances banning lighting up on the beach. Sheriff’s deputies have not been enforcing the ban since early January.

The court ruling affects all public property. Indoor smoking is still banned. Circuit Court Judge Maryann Boehm ruled the city ordinance “prohibiting the use of tobacco products in nondesignated areas of city parks…is unenforceable and in conflict with the state statute known as the Clean Indoor Air Act.” While the ruling was against the city ordinance, it also applies to county public property. City Attorney Robert Fourner said he did not foresee an appeal.

The smoking ban was part of a city effort to address homeless and vagrancy issues in the downtown Five Points Park. However the efforts have boomeranged.

Judge Boehm’s decision said the city – and by extension the county – ordinances are “in conflict with the [Florida] Clean Indoor Air Act.” Through a glitch in the law, the legislature controls “regulation of all smoking, wherever located, in the state,” the judge found. That over-rules local ordinances.

Beach Road variance spiked

Audacity did not carry the day when Ronald and Sania Allen asked the Sarasota County Commission to build on two Beach Road lots that have been underwater in the past.

Their plans for a pair of three-story buildings more than 200 feet beyond the Gulf Beach Setback Line was shot down unanimously. The Allen’s paid $5.4 million for the lots in 2009; the previous owner bought them two years earlier for $500,000.

County Commissioner Nora Patterson said she’s seen the property under water. Hurricane Sandy in October eroded North Beach Road. “It’s falling in the water as we speak,” she said at

Visitor Publishing, LLC •

By Stan Zimmerman

the variance hearing. “This is a classic example of wanting to build a lot in harm’s way.”

There was significant local opposition to the variance request, because people feared approval would set a precedent, and defeat the construction setback. There was a hail of email to commissioners urging defeat. “Water has already flooded this area and covered parts of Beach Road and we have been told that with climate change and the rising levels of the oceanic waters, our coastline will become increasingly vulnerable,” wrote one concerned citizen.

The Allen’s lots are not the only platted parcels forward of the setback line. Some of the parcels date back to the 1920s.

Eyes on Big Pass

There is a great big mother lode resting to the northwest of Siesta Key, and County Commissioner Nora Patterson recommends keeping an eye on it.

At a meeting of the Siesta Key Condominium Council, Patterson talked about the future of Big Pass, and more specifically the treasure trove of sand in a shoal on its northern shoulder.

Big Pass has never been dredged, and is seldom used by large boats because the sands are constantly shifting. The Coast Guard refuses to mark the pass because it is so transitory. Sarasota County now marks the pass with two small buoys.

The City of Sarasota has always had eyes on the Big Pass sand lode to renourish its beaches on Lido Key. In 1998, Patterson told the council, the City of Venice made a pitch for the Big Pass sand too.

So far the county commission has resisted the attempt by cities to scoop out the shoal, she said. But she also noted the big cost of a beach renourishment is the cost of mining and transporting the sand. A Lido Beach renourishment from the Big Pass shoal

would be doubly cheap – free sand very close.

In theory dredging the Big Pass for navigation would allow the “harvesting” of all that fine, white sand. Patterson warned the condo council to monitor the discussion of any dredge of Big Pass because the final decision is up to the Army Corps of Engineers.

The cost of “crystal classic” white sand has skyrocketed in recent years because of high demand. Communities all over the Florida shoreline face beach renourishment issues, and inevitably they prefer white to tan or brown-colored sand.

Key shuttle in service

Siesta Shuttle Transportation is offering a way to connect the island to the rest of the world without driving. It is running a shuttle from Siesta Village and the public beach to Southgate Mall once an hour, seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The cost is $5 for a round-trip ticket, and kids under 12 are free. The bus will operate every half hour. For years Sarasota County has tried to develop a shuttle bus or trolley to-and-from the island, but did not find success.

Gulf Gate Library shuttered

The public library closest to Siesta Key will be closed for at least the next 18 months while a new one is built.

The books and services were transferred to the Westfield Sarasota Square Mall for the duration. The temporary mall location is scheduled to open Feb. 19.

A new and much larger Gulf Gate Library will rise at the current location, and doors are expected to open in 2014.

For customers taking public transit, the temporary mall location is on the same bus route as the old library.

4 | Island Visitor Publishing, LLC Island Visitor Publishing, LLC • FEBRUARY 2013 • 941.539.0205 • ebstein@comcast.net

February 2013 | 5 ebstein@comcast.net • 941.539.0205 • FEBRUARY 2013 • Island

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6 | Island Visitor Publishing, LLC Island Visitor Publishing, LLC • FEBRUARY 2013 • 941.539.0205 • ebstein@comcast.net

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February 2013 | 7 ebstein@comcast.net • 941.539.0205 • FEBRUARY 2013 • Island

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Helpful Tips to Save Money at the Pharmacy by Dee Ricapito & Kyle Cookery Buy generic medications. It is amazing how much money can be saved simply by switching to a generic alternative. Generic medications are required by law to be bioequivalent to and manufactured to the same standards as brand-name medications. Generic medications are also more likely to be covered by your insurance allowing your insurance company to foot most of the medical bill.

Ask your doctor for samples. This is most helpful when you need a medication for a one-time use (such as eye drops to be used for cataract surgery).

A warning should be issued if you plan on asking for samples for medications that you will use chronically. Most of the time these samples are expensive and doctors can only help you out for a month or two. Once your doctor’s supply runs out you’ll be stuck paying the expensive co-pays.

Buy a pill splitter and cut pills in half. Conditions have to be right in order to make this tip pay off.

Most insurance companies charge by the month (i.e. a 30 day supply will always cost you the same co-pay regardless of how many pills you get). Also, not every medication can be split (extended release products should almost never be split), and there is no guarantee that you will get a perfect split and perfect dose even with a pill splitter (this can affect medications such as Coumadin which has a narrow therapeutic window and requires more precise dosing).

Take advantage of assistance programs. Often times, drug companies will put co-pay assistance programs or coupons on their web sites in order to offset some of the costs of using their medications (Be sure to read the fine print on these coupons.

Most patients who are on Medicare are not eligible for these savings). There are also helpful web sites for patients who need extra assistance (needymeds.org).

covered by most insurance companies at lower costs than their OTC prices.

Use www.medicare.gov. Medicare part D plans are much more complex than they need to be. Some plans cover your medications better than other plans, some plans have deductibles, and some plans have contracts with your local pharmacies for negotiated prices. It is always wise to use the Medicare website (or call them at 1-800-MEDICARE) to compare current plans and evaluate the cheapest plan for you (note: these plans change every year and what might be a good plan for you one year may not be as good for you the next year. Remember to check this website during the open enrollment period every November. Also, every individual should check this website. Unless you use the same medications, it is unlikely that you and your spouse should be on the same plan if you want to maximize your savings).

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8 | Island Visitor Publishing, LLC Island Visitor Publishing, LLC • FEBRUARY 2013 • 941.539.0205 • ebstein@comcast.net

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He’s a former chairman of the Sarasota County Republican Party. He was serving on the SarasotaBradenton Airport Authority, and the Sarasota County Board of Zoning Appeals and the Tourist Development Council.

But in mid-December, Bob Waechter was arrested on third-degree felony charges. He’s charged with making a campaign donation in somebody else’s name. It’s a form of identity theft, and a felony.

Waechter made donations in the name of Lourdes Ramirez to two democratic candidates using a pre-paid credit card he bought in her name at a grocery store.

There was video of the exchange.

Ramirez is the president of the Sarasota County Coalition of Neighborhood Associations, and likely republican candidate for county commission in 2014.

But when she received a thank-you letter, she called the sheriff. The investigation led to Waecheter’s arrest.

Following the arrest, Waechter resigned his county boards in early January. He has supported every incumbent county commissioner, as well as virtually every other elected county official except the tax collector (who is a democrat). Plus, of course, his donations to democrats in Ramirez’ name, allegedly.

New Chief in town

“You don’t look like a police chief.” Those were her opening words at a town hall meeting in north Sarasota.

And she doesn’t. Petite and blonde with a crookedtooth smile, she’s an ageless charmer. And a SWAT

By Stan Zimmerman

team veteran, undercover cop, third-generation law enforcement officer. It’s easy to underestimate Bernadette DiPino, Sarasota’s new police chief.

More than 100 people applied for the job. But DiPino was the unanimous choice of a variety of citizen and professional panels who interviewed the finalists. In the selection process, DiPino stressed communication with the public. She vowed to give out her cell phone number so anybody could reach her, one-on-one.

“It’s a new day in Sarasota,” she said at her swearing in on Jan. 18. “I’m going to play here, eat here, have a good life here,” she said. “If you’re not happy with the answers you are getting, call me.” Her cell number is 780-2746.

With her retired Baltimore City Police Major father, her mother and active duty Baltimore City Police Officer daughter in attendance, DiPino was sworn in by City Manager Tom Barwin.

Walmart appeal to be heard

The Sarasota City Commission in February will hear a neighborhood appeal of a planning board decision to allow a Walmart Supercenter two blocks from the downtown courthouse.

The Alta Vista Neighborhood Association and others posted $1,600 to petition the commissioners for an appeal, which was granted by 4-1 vote in December. The appeal will be a de novo proceeding, means everything is heard anew.

The association says city planning staffers mis-read the zoning code.

Story continued on page 29

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February 2013 | 9 ebstein@comcast.net • 941.539.0205 • FEBRUARY 2013 • Island

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10 | Island Visitor Publishing, LLC Island Visitor Publishing, LLC • FEBRUARY 2013 • 941.539.0205 • ebstein@comcast.net

What Better Subject for Valentine’s Day than Lips?

Lips are the portals that help us take in food, liquids and air.

They are also important in communication, both verbal and non-verbal and let’s not forget they’re very important in relationships and for expressing love and affection.

Lips need care especially in the heat and sunshine of our area.

They tend to dry out and become cracked because they lack oil and sweat glands. They are also a clue to our overall health.

Keep this in mind for lip health...avoid or protect against dryness and the sun. ♥ Don’t lick them ♥ Avoid mouth breathing ♥ Stay hydrated ♥ Protect with frequent applications of thin coats of lip balm of at least SPF15.

So, be good to yourself in 2013 and remember that anything that doesn’t get better in a week or so needs to be checked out.

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Happy Valentine’s Day!

Opici Wine for Your Valentine

By Mary Catherine Rooney Ah, wine how I love thee. Let me count the ways…

February is the month of love and a great time to show your love for wine! That is what we are doing this month at Siesta Key Wines, we are celebrating the many ways that we love wine and you can too.

We love wine because… it’s the perfect drink. Only wine can change the taste of food and your mood with just one sip.

When a good glass of wine accompanies food it truly enhances the flavor of the dish.

Take a bold, juicy Malbec and pair it with a flavorful steak and you’ll taste flavors that you did not know were there when you tried each by itself.

We love wine because… it is the perfect drink after a long hard day at work, or at the beach.

We love wine because of its diversity. There are wines that can be refreshing on a warm Florida day and wines that can warm you up after having to shovel the snow off of your driveway as you wonder why you aren’t as smart as your friends who finally made the move to sunny Florida.

We love wine because… wine can refresh and warm you at the same time. There are two wines that do both: Opici’s Cocoa di Vine and Espresso Cocoa di Vine. We love that when you drink these you feel the cool rush from the cream and then you feel the warmth running through your body from the wine. The best way to enjoy both of these wines is on the rocks, that way they are even

more refreshing. This would definitely be a wonderful way to celebrate your Valentine’s Day, with that special someone.

The American Wine Legend who is responsible for all Opici Wines and especially the two Cocoa di Vines, Hubert Opici, was recently honored by Wine Enthusiast at their Wine Star Awards Dinner in New York City in January. He has had a wine career that has spanned more than 75 years, beginning as a delivery boy in his father’s wine business to being the head of a company whose portfolio contains more than 50 international brands.

We are delighted that his wines are made right here in Auburndale, Florida!

For a more elegant Valentine’s desert try our exclusive rich and silky Chocolate Raspberry Port. If you want to be more creative you can use this great wine to make an overly decadent Cheesecake with Chocolate Raspberry Port Ganache, this will definitely score you some extra points.

Come and sample of one of the featured wines at Siesta Key Wines in the Village. Who knows, you may discover your newest passion.

February 2013 | 11 ebstein@comcast.net • 941.539.0205 • FEBRUARY 2013 • Island

Visitor Publishing, LLC •

12 | Island Visitor Publishing, LLC Island Visitor Publishing, LLC • FEBRUARY 2013 • 941.539.0205 • ebstein@comcast.net

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Things we cherish and hold dear, To protect those things, the path is clear...

Take your camera and shoot pix a lot.

Include each corner, take more than one shot.

Open drawers and closets and under the bed, The garage, the trunk and even the shed!

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Condos in Common

By Scott Diamond

I’m looking at my rather new Word-A-Day Calendar for 2013. I’m not the type that flips to the end of thriller to see “who done it”. I tend to take it day by day. But looking into this constant reminder on my desk, I have not come across the word “paver” this year. The red squiggly line that appears under the word courtesy of Microsoft might be a clue. I guess adding this word to my desk top dictionary is possible, but it doesn’t appear in my Webster’s Dictionary left over from college.

Ditto with most Yellow Page directories. Might see a reference to interlocking pavers (hey, no squiggly line) that would refer you to construction, driveway, etc.

While interlocking pavers might be the drink of choice for home improvement that would seem to last a lifetime, asphalt is still used in so many situations. Typical installation could be two inches of bituminous (February 21) asphalt over a four inch sand base. Minor “alligator cracks” tend to appear, so “seal coating” is usually necessary early on. Think of it as the contractor’s version of RockPaper-Scissors. The seal covers the little rocks of the asphalt, but the alligator cracks will prevail. Rinse and repeat until those alligator cracks become a bear to deal with.

Next step is to repave since you’re probably now looking at a structural failure. In Florida,

not so much, since we tend to escape the freeze/ thaw cycle. NAPA, the National Asphalt Pavement Association not the auto parts chain, would tell you that a new one inch minimum overlay could be needed every 25 years.

Milling removes this first inch. After new asphalt is installed, a good emulsion (September 29) sealer should be applied with the hope that you will be in the black for five years.

Your Reserve Fund should be set up to deal with this likelihood. Fortuitous (March 23), no.

Certainty, yes.

Dizzy Dee’s Observations from the Comic Corner Some Mistakes Are Too Funny to Make Only Once... By: Dee Ricapito • When everything is coming your way you are in the wrong lane.

• Always keep your words sweet, you never know when you have to EAT them.

• Never buy a car you can’t push.

• Birthdays are good for you - the more you have, the longer you live.

February 2013 | 13 ebstein@comcast.net • 941.539.0205 • FEBRUARY 2013 • Island

Visitor Publishing, LLC •

14 | Island Visitor Publishing, LLC Island Visitor Publishing, LLC • FEBRUARY 2013 • 941.539.0205 • ebstein@comcast.net

The Recipe Corner |The “Kitchen Ladies” Recipe of the Month Compiled by Dee Ricapito

FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE CAKE

4 MILES FROM SIESTA KEY! 8201 S TAMIAMI TRAIL SARASOTA, FL 34238--LOCATED OUTSIDE WESTFIELD SARASOTA SQUARE MALL (NEXT TO COSTCO) WWW.COYNESPIER28.COM (941.921.0028)

Submitted by: Carole Berkey, she says, “It’s Fabulous, fudgy, and fast.” Hands on 20 min.

Total: 50 min. Serves 8. Cake keeps a week, also freeze it, & defrost overnight in the fridge and serve at room temperature.

4 oz. bittersweet chocolate 1 stick unsalted butter 3/4 cup sugar 3 large eggs 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder Whipped cream & berries (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 375 F, and butter 8-inch round baking pan. Line bottom of pan with a round of wax paper.

2. Chop chocolate into small pieces. In a double boiler or a metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water, melt chocolate with butter, stir until smooth. Remove from heat; add sugar, and whisk. Add eggs and whisk again.

3. Sift 1/2 cup cocoa powder over chocolate mixture and whisk until combined. Pour batter into pan and bake in middle of oven for 25 minutes, until top has formed a thin crust. Cool cake in pan on a rack for 5 minutes. Turn out onto a plate, then invert onto a serving plate.

4. If desired, dust cake with additional cocoa powder and serve with sorbet. Or, decorate with whipped cream and berries of your choice.

Or serve with whipped cream flavored with a dash of vanilla extract.

Carole & Jere enjoying a birthday at their Eagles Point condo.

They hail from Grosse Point, Michigan. Love the scenic views from their windows over a dozen years now.

February 2013 | 15 ebstein@comcast.net • 941.539.0205 • FEBRUARY 2013 • Island

Volunteers Instill The Joy of Reading PALS Partners in Education is a powerful volunteer program established by the Sarasota County School District. As part of its mission, PALS recruits and supports reading tutor volunteers for our public schools.

The goal of the program is to instill the love of reading by helping a child improve his or her reading skills. Reading volunteers are positioned to make a huge difference in the life of a child, and they do it in as little as one hour a week. Young minds frequently blossom when given this kind of one-to-one attention.

In addition to specific training in reading tutoring skills, all volunteers are offered training in the use of teaching strategies and learning tools, methods which are effective with students of any age. These multi-sensory strategies engage students in activities that connect to their previous experience and excite them about being active participants in their own learning. Before working with students, volunteers train to sharpen their existing skills or master new skills effective in enhancing student achievement.

To be effective, it is essential that the volunteer understand how different the child’s world might be from that of the world known by the volunteer. To that end, these unpaid helpers also are offered specialized training to work with students in poverty. They learn about various economic classes and how these affect the behavior of students. They learn the difference between generational and situational poverty, and the family structure that underlies these situations.

The PALS Elementary Reading Program has been in place for decades. In it, volunteers work with children from Kindergarten through Third Grade. Once qualified, the volunteer may choose to work in one or more of these grade levels at one of the Sarasota County Schools implementing the program.

New to the program is the PALS Middle School Reading Tutor Program. Called Chapter Chats, it matches middle school students with qualified volunteers to read together oneon-one for 30 minutes twice a week using popular non-fiction and fiction titles. Students targeted for this program are those reading significantly below level, many of whom are considered reluctant readers.

Sarasota’s middle school media centers offer both choice books and Chapter Chats.

Choice books are available to ALL middle school students by grade level and designed for independent reading. Chapter Chats are targeted for Level I struggling readers. They have

Visitor Publishing, LLC •

By Diana Colson

been carefully selected for length, interest, and readability. They also lend themselves to paired or partner reading between student and adult tutor.

The Chapter Chats program has been designed by Sarasota County reading specialists to embed the mechanics of reading within the context of reading for enjoyment. Middle school students involved in this program self-select their book from 50 available titles.

These books have been provided to the schools by PALS and chosen for their high-interest and appropriate reading levels. A volunteer then works with the student on a one-to-one basis to read the book. These adult reading coaches have learned to instruct students in comprehension, fluency, and vocabulary skills. Through the support of trained adult coaches, students spend time practicing their reading. This time spent in practice has proven to be invaluable.

The Chapter Chats half-hour tutoring program has been designed specifically to help students experience the joy of reading.

According to PALS coordinator, Tanice Knopp, PhD, “Through this program, volunteer tutors can help approximately 1,000 students annually improve reading skills. Studies indicate that supporting students who are reading real literature and other real-world reading materials increases their comprehension and fluency. Delivered by caring, trained volunteers, this program creates a relationship that encourages students to take the risks necessary to learn.”

In her welcome to volunteers, Lori White, Superintendent of Schools made this statement: “Volunteers enhance the educational experiences of our students while supporting our teachers and staff. As you work with our students, I would also ask you to encourage them to be excited about life—to have a positive attitude that will get them through challenging times as they grow and learn. You are teaching our students to be productive citizens of the community.”

If you would like to become involved in this remarkable PALS Volunteer Reading Tutor program at either the elementary level or middle school level, contact Tanice Knopp at tanice.knopp@sarasotacountyschools.net or at 941.927.9000 x 31500. If possible, all tutoring will be done one-on-one with the same student so as to form a supporting relationship.

The time commitment required is approximately one hour per week, and all training and materials are supplied.

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16 | Island Visitor Publishing, LLC Island Visitor Publishing, LLC • FEBRUARY 2013 • 941.539.0205 • ebstein@comcast.net

Boys of Summer

By Glenn Miller

Continued from cover story

It was a season for the young and the old. The Orioles called up 19-year-old prospect Manny Machado in the second half of the season and he didn’t disappoint, hitting ..262 with seven homers.

At the other end of the age spectrum was veteran DH Jim Thome, who was already in the big leagues when Machado was born in 1992 and contributed three homers to the 2012 Orioles.

But it was a core of players in the prime of their careers such as Jones that sparked the Orioles and should make visits this March to Ed Smith fun.

Those are players such as catcher Matt Wieters and first baseman Mark Reynolds, who each hit 23 homers last year. And shortstop J.J. Hardy who slugged 22 homers.

That core includes rightfielder Nick Markakis, who hit .298.

DH Chris Davis bashed a team-high 33 homers, which were the most ever by an Oriole whose primary position was DH, according to a season-by-season review of Orioles’ history on www.baseball-reference.com.

WhileJohnson set the team record in saves, most of the starting pitchers were solid. This wasn’t like the fabled 1971 Baltimore starting staff, which had four 20-game winners – Jim Palmer, Mike Cuellar, Dave McNally and Pat Dobson. The 2012 team leader in wins was Wei-Yin Chen, who was 12-11.

Maybe the 2013 Orioles will remind fans of the Orioles of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, teams that regularly won and reached the post-season. Between 1963 and 1986, the Orioles had only one losing season.

They won six pennants and three World Series in those days. Their lineups included Hall of Famers such as Frank Robinson, Brooks Robinson, Jim Palmer, Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken.

Those pennants and those great ballplayers are all part of Orioles history and tradition.

Sarasota also has a rich baseball tradition, one dating all the way back to 1924, when the New York Giants became the first team to have spring training in Sarasota.

That team was managed by one of the most colorful and successful managers in history – John McGraw.

The Giants won the National League pennant in 1924 but stayed in Sarasota only through 1927.

But Sarasota fans didn’t have to wait long for another big-league team from the northeast. The Boston Red Sox began training in Sarasota six years later, calling Payne Park home from 1933 through 1942 but because of travel restrictions during World War II no teams trained in Florida.

In 1946, though, with the war over, the Red Sox returned to Sarasota and remained through 1958.

Local fans were privileged to see some all-time Red Sox greats during those years, most notably Ted Williams. Other Hall of Famers on the Red Sox during their Sarasota years included Jimmie Foxx, Joe Cronin, Lefty Grove and Bobby Doerr.

Then Sarasota changed its Sox. After the Red Sox left, the Chicago White Sox began training in Sarasota in 1960 and remained through 1997.

White Sox notables included Hall of Fame manager Al Lopez, who hailed from nearby Tampa.

On-field Hall of Famers for the White Sox during their Sarasota tenure included Luis Aparico, Nellie Fox, Early Wynn, Hoyt Wilhelm and Tom Seaver, Carlton Fisk and Goose Gossage.

The Cincinnati Reds replaced the White Sox in 1998 and remained through 2008. Reds shortstop Barry Larkin, who played through 2004, is now a Hall of Famer.

Are there future Hall of Famers on the 2013 Orioles? Time will tell if any of those players who train in Sarasota now

will someday join Ted Williams, Al Lopez, Barry Larkin and the rest in Cooperstown.

For now, as the Orioles train and play Grapefruit League games in Sarasota, the goal is winning the 2013 American League pennant.

The Hall of Fame can wait.

Baltimore Orioles Home schedule Ed Smith Stadium DATE

Saturday, Feb. 23 Monday, Feb. 25 Wednesday, Feb. 27 Friday, March 1 Sunday, March 3 Wednesday, March 6 Thursday, March 7 Sunday, March 10 Thursday, March 14 Friday, March 15 Sunday, March 17 Wednesday, March 20 Thursday, March 21 Saturday, March 23 Monday, March 25 Wednesday, March 27 Thursday, March 28 Saturday, March 30

OPPONENT

Twins 1:05 Yankees 1:05 Red Sox 7:05 Pirates 1:05 Phillies 1:05 Brazil (World Classic) 1:05 Blue Jays 1:05 Pirates 1:05 Rays 1:05 Red Sox 1:05 Twins 1:05 Blue Jays 1:05 Pirates 7:05 Phillies 1:05 Red Sox 1:05 Yankees 7:05 Rays 7:05 Mets 12:05

TIME

p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m.

February 2013 | 17 ebstein@comcast.net • 941.539.0205 • FEBRUARY 2013 • Island

Downtown and Beyond

Visitor Publishing, LLC •

By Paul Roat

|Walmart feud continues, Main Street buyouts, elections loom Walmartians seem to draw fire and ire wherever they appear.

Plans for a Walmart in Newtown several years ago ran afoul of pretty much everybody when the site was determined to be a “brown field” — not as bad as a hazardous waste site, but not suitable for development. The property at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way and U.S. 301 is still undeveloped.

A Walmart at U.S. 41 and Myrtle Avenue, also in North Sarasota and a former Winn Dixie grocery story, had received some heat from folks who wanted less of a big-box facility and more of a neighborhood-friendly look. Big box won, the store is open, and business seems to be good.

Now the latest Walmart is under fire in east Downtown. The grocery/hardware/everythingstore corporate giant wants to take over the deserted Ringling Shopping Center on Ringling Boulevard, once home to a Publix, drug store, and thriving shops, and transform it into a 98,000-square-foot, 24-7 store.

Sarasota City planners approved the proposal

by Walmart. Residents went wild. Appeals were lodged to the Sarasota City Commission, which agreed to intervene and hear public comment on the matter and make a final determination, probably later this month.

Neighbors want the old shopping center resurrected. Barber shops. Soda fountains. Grocery stores. Restaurants. Who wouldn’t?

There is also a solid argument by a former city planning official that any new development on the site has to jump through a slew of new hoops, hoops Walmart skirted in its proposal and city planners did not address.

Opponents also add that turning the shopping center into a shopping center would negatively impact the neighborhood through increased traffic, noise, lighting, and all the rest of the nastiness that a vital shopping center can bring to a neighborhood that has had to deal with a shopping center for more than 50 years.

City commissioners will probably address the matter in February. It promises to be a lively debate.

Main Street sales, changes Main Street sales and changes may be afoot. Call it more of the same, but with some of the more being perhaps better.

Jesse Biter picked up property along the south side of Main Street from Pho Cali Vietnamese Café to Sarasota Hardware. Don’t panic, though, because he said he doesn’t plan to alter any leases until expiration of at least a year or two.

Check that last sentence. The Bullet Hole is within the new purchase, and apparently is moving

into the vastly larger Sarasota Hardware space. Could a shooting range be in Downtown Sarasota’s future?

Biter wants to add a long-longed-for wish for Downtown in the addition of more residents. His storefronts could add extra levels above the space for lowincome housing. If you work Downtown, why not live there, too?

He also apparently picked up the ground floor of the Palm Avenue Garage, soon to be the site of The Francis restaurant and catering business scheduled to open this month.

And the deciders could be …

Sarasota City Commission election season is upon us. By the numbers: Two at-large seats up for grabs. Every registered voter in the city may cast a ballot.

Six candidates running for those two seats.

Incumbent Commissioner and sitting Mayor Suzanne Atwell is running again. Commissioner Terry Turner is bowing out after one term in office.

Candidates are civic activist, former chair of City Coalition of Neighborhoods Association, Planning Board member, and attorney Susan Chapman; retired director of broadcasting for the National Basketball Association and sports and entertainment official Richard Dorfman; founder of the Gillespie Park Neighborhood Association, Coalition of City Neighborhood Associations, Sarasota Court Watch, and chair of the City of Sarasota Nuisance Abatement Board Linda Holland; pastor Kelvin Lumpkin; and retired acupuncturist Pete Theisen.

Election is March 12. With six candidates it is likely a runoff will be required to determine who is elected.

Expect candidates and electioneering to rear their/its heads in the weeks ahead. Candidate forums are sure to abound. Hot-button issues promise to be noise, neighborhoods-versusbusiness, crime, traffic woes, and jobs.

Why not go to a forum and ask away? See you there.

Support Our Local Businesses

Ringling Shopping Center in its glory, circa 1960s? Featured in the center, perhaps soon home for a Walmart Super Center, back in the day were: Publix, Green Stamps Merchandise Store, Center Shoe Repair, Grant’s Bakery, Jimmy Crews Barber Shop, Crowder Bros. Hardware, Beauteria Beauty Shop, Darby Cleaners, Diana Shops, F.W. Woolworth, Belk-Lindsey Department Store, Coach Butterfields Toys, and Touchton Rexall Drugs. Photo by Rex Carr.

18 | Island Visitor Publishing, LLC Island Visitor Publishing, LLC • FEBRUARY 2013 • 941.539.0205 • ebstein@comcast.net

Snapshots of Island Visitors

Photos by Jaye Clements - Lauren Bates Photography 3

1 2

4

5

6

7

8

9

1: Gabriele, Justin & Emma in front age 6 from Sarasota 2: Deliah age 7 and Amelia age 5 from New Orleans 3: Don from Sarasota with his children, Savannah and Trip (in stroller) 4: Bella age 11 with her dog Coco, Mary & William from Sarasota 5: Nadja, Ryan at Shell beach – from Sarasota 6: Tommi, Paloma age 8 months, and her mom Natalia – Sarasota 7: Scott from Anna Maria Island, Karen - SK, Cynthia from West Palm (sitting in front) and her daughter Isabella age 11 (behind her), Kristine age 10 from SK, and Teresa from Michigan 8: Lareina age 6 and her grandfather Dale, fishing on New Years day at Bay Island (North Siesta bridge) from Sarasota 9: Dominique age 11 and her brother Jacob age 12 from Sarasota

February 2013 | 19 ebstein@comcast.net • 941.539.0205 • FEBRUARY 2013 • Island

Soulful Advice From Donnarose

Q: Dear Donnarose, I’m sure you heard this question a hundred times. I’ve been hurt pretty badly in my last relationship. And no luck with finding love in the way I want it, as I keep attracting the wrong types of men.

I’m clearly missing something here. Can you shed some light on this? ~Rosetta A: ~’’Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.’’ ~Rumi Oh yes Rosetta, I’ve heard this question several hundred times. To jump right in here, I feel it is a common link you share with mostly all of the women I’ve spoken to, and that is forgetting to love yourself throughout your relationship. We were trained to love the man in our lives BEFORE ourselves; to put others first, THEN get to us. That simply won’t work. Because as you start to become more disconnected with your man, which makes you feel worse about yourself, the downward spiral begins. Your significant other will continue to receive less than loving treatment because it is how you are feeling about yourself. Nice words may come out of your mouth, but like I always say, the energy/vibe attached to them always wins, and will be what your man responds to. So, first, it is critical to get used to being and staying in what I call ‘’I Love Me’’ mode by doing what I call soul power writing.

And trust me, it works! That is, write down mini ‘’I love me’’ declarations and keep them handy. Things like, I LOVE ME!, I AM LOVE, I AM~ kind, caring, sweet, loving, gentle, strong, passionate, powerful, magnificent, and anything else that represents love for yourself. Perhaps email it to yourself, and read it often until it goes into your subconscious.

This will help you to remember who you are. Most of the women during their tough relationships forget who they are and give up their power. Be sure to retain that loving confident energy as if you believe what you wrote, because it’s true..you just forgot! Now right before you’re in the company of a man of interest, do an energy check, and ask yourself, would I be attracted to the energy/vibe I’m sending out? Is it secure, confident, loving, passionate, and open? If not, take a breath, and make an adjustment by thinking about those declarations, and have ‘’I believe’’ energy attached to them, and your energy will quickly shift. And finally, and equally critical to apply, is the wisdom in that Rumi quote above. It is an absolute must, to acknowledge, embrace and release (with love otherwise it won’t work) any dark negative emotions that you’ve held onto from ANY hurtful relationships, and only allow the love to carry over. For when you chip away all the dark energy emotions that built a wall of resistance, what is left of you is a masterpiece of Love. And this new wall of Love, unlike resistance, will allow you to embrace the love that has been waiting for you to let it in. Surrender..Allow..Trust..Love… ~♥

Q: Dear Donnarose, I work Mon-Friday in a fairly large office.

I am there a lot and surrounded by people who seem to always walk around with a negative attitude. I try to be nice but it doesn’t seem to work too often. Since I have to be there, how can I help to make my encounters with these people even a little more pleasant?

Thanks, Suzanne A: ~’’We are a reflection of each others light’’ ~ Molly Hahn Yes, we are a reflection of each other’s light..or darkness. The choice is ours. As we know in the music industry, they do a sound check so as to get the exact sound they desire to produce the optimum results. This concept is also a good way to receive the optimum outcomes you desire during encounters with people or situations, in or out of the office environment. Consider doing a light/energy check before you initiate or respond to any encounter. How are you showing up? Is the light switch on? Meaning, are you connected with your Inner light, the love of your soul?

If so, you will exude a higher level of energy which has love, compassion, kindness, peace, harmony etc. attached to it. This more often will produce an immediate shift and lift of that person’s energy you are speaking to. Or are you approaching this person or situation while walking in the dark, disconnected from your Inner light which is your soul? If so, walking in the darkness so to speak, attracts negative and lower energy where anything like victim consciousness, fear, rejection, feeling unloved, unappreciated, depression, etc. all reside.

Often this will attract like-energy and bring that part out of that person as well. Consider allowing yourself to go with your soul, and walk with your Inner light shining bright during each encounter. And you can totally trust that more often than not, the outcome will be much more to your desire. And you will walk away from that encounter and many more after that, with more ease and peace. ~♥ Bio: Donnarose Melvin is a professional psychic, medium and spiritual healer, whose pleasure it is to assist clients worldwide. Incorporating knowledge from her degree in psychology along with her clairvoyant, clairaudient, clairsentient and emphatic gift, she guides her clients towards peace and success. Send your questions to GoWithYourSoul@gmail.com or private message her via facebook: Go With Your Soul. Donnarose will select questions each month to share with you.

She regrets that unpublished questions cannot be answered individually. ~ ♥ For more guidance, check out her column on our website: www. siestasand.net

Sarasota History

Visitor Publishing, LLC •

By Paul Roat

|John Ringling’s bad luck with boats February was a cruel month for Sarasota entrepreneur, circus magnate, and yachtsman John Ringling.

Ann Shank, former Sarasota County Historian, sums it up best when describing Ringling’s boat disasters.

“One exploded and burned. Another ran into an unchartered object and sank. Small or large, John Ringling’s yachts were a signal to local residents that he had a presence in Sarasota.”

The “presence” element — horrible circus fire that killed more than 160 people in Hartford, Conn., failed real estate projects, an abandoned hotel left crumbling for decades on Longboat Key, bankruptcies — set aside, his boating problems and the cast of characters involved read like a mystery novel.

And anyone who has ever owned a boat will recognize this cacophony of catastrophes as being even beyond the kin of the joys of boat ownership.

Circa 1910, Ringling owned a small yacht named Wethea. He used the vessel to entertain dignitaries as they tooled around Sarasota Bay and other Southwest Florida ports.

Ringling exchanged the Wethea for the Vidoffner II in 1917. His latest 110-foot yacht began Ringling’s spate of bad boat luck Feb. 13, 1920, when it exploded. The boat was getting new engines and receiving other repairs at port in Tampa when it blew up.

Crewmember Ben Olson died in the explosion. Chief Engineer Erwin Gremli suffered serious burns.

Boaters may question why a boat needs new engines after three years, but the record is mum on the need or rationale.

Ringling was undeterred in his need for yachting and purchased the “Zalophus” for $200,000 in January 1923. She was 125 feet long, had six staterooms, and held smaller cabins for what could only be described as housing for myriad servants.

As historian Shank put it, “The Zalophus was well suited to the kind of hospitality Ringling hoped would impress potential investors and buyers, especially those whose name and fortune attracted attention.”

Attention did indeed strike the yacht at 3 a.m. Feb. 4, 1930. Reports indicate that the vessel struck an uncharted rock and sank.

Two crew members were injured, but the four passengers escaped without injury.

Then the mystery began and lasted for several years.

As Shank phrased it, “Years later the story emerged that two of the unnamed passengers

had been New York Mayor Jimmy Walker, who had several times visited the Ringlings in Sarasota, and actress Betty Compton.”

Also aboard was reportedly Mr. and Mrs. Sam Gumpertz.

Oh, and they were all on their way to Useppa Island.

And as an FYI, why was Ringling in New York when all of New York was visiting him in Sarasota?

Jimmy Walker, Betty Compton Jimmy Walker was a songwriter (Will You Love Me in December (as You Do in May)?) and was a New York State Assemblyman and Senator until his election as New York Mayor in 1926. He had no problem with speakeasies during his terms during Prohibition nor chorus girls like Betty Compton, for whom he left his wife.

After intense federal investigation, Walker resigned his office in 1932 and went to Europe, where he married Compton.

Walker’s life was featured in a 1957 film “Beau James” starring Bob Hope.

Samuel Gumpertz “Dreamland” morphed into Coney Island circa 1911 in New York. Samuel Gumpertz took over management. It was slated to be high-tech, high-class entertainment with what was described as 1 million light bulbs illuminating its buildings.

Oops.

Just before opening night there were some last-minute repairs to a concession called Hell Gate, a boat trek through dimly lit caverns.

There were leaks. There was tar to fix the leaks. The light bulbs began to explode. Fire ensued. Fire hydrants weren’t operational, and the facility was completely engulfed in flames and destroyed.

Useppa Island Useppa Island is located in Lee County northeast of Captiva and Sanibel. It was bought by Barron Collier (Collier County) in 1911 and at various points entertained dignitaries such as Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, the Vanderbilts, President Herbert Hoover, the Rockefellers, the Rothschilds, Gloria Swanson, Shirley Temple, and Zane Grey.

Useppa Island later gained some level of infamy as the staging ground for the ill-fated Central Intelligence Agency’s (whatever) at Bay of Pigs in Cuba in 1961.

20 | Island Visitor Publishing, LLC Island Visitor Publishing, LLC • FEBRUARY 2013 • 941.539.0205 • ebstein@comcast.net

Circus Artist Dolly Jacobs

By Diana Colson Continued from cover story

In the large 3-ring circus of the 1970’s, Dolly was but one of dozens of featured acts.

She quickly stood out, however, for she had all the qualities of a circus star: perseverance, perfectionism, ambition, and a keen artistic sense. The lady was not only gorgeous, she had a charismatic personality. In 1977 she was invited to the prestigious International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo, where she won the treasured Dame du Cirque (Lady of the Circus) award and an award from the City of Monaco.

For the next two years she polished her act. Fearless, she also trained on the flying trapeze. Now she began working on perfecting a somersault from the rings to a vertical rope, a move that had not been attempted for over 40 years. Without anyone to teach her this feat, she conquered it through pure determination and unstoppable drive. The circus producer was more than impressed! Dolly was given a solo spot in the center ring in the 1979 production of The Greatest Show on Earth. With that, a star was born!

South African aerialist Pedro Reis had also joined the Ringling show in 1984, where he and Dolly first met. At the end of that same year, Dolly left Ringling and joined Big Apple Circus.

It was later in 1986 that the two reconnected and became an item. However, with both circus careers skyrocketing, it was difficult to embark on a fulltime romance. In spite of the fact they worked in different shows, Pedro and Dolly continued to see each other whenever they could, maintaining a long distance romance.

In 1988, Dolly was invited back to the International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo, where this time she carried off a coveted Silver Clown Award presented to her by Prince Albert of Monaco himself, and again she received the La Dame du Cirque award. It was an enormous honor! Only a handful of circus artists had ever been invited twice to compete at the prestigious Monte Carlo.

When Pedro was featured as a solo performer with his Cloud Swing Act in 1990, he proposed to Dolly. Two days later, however, he suffered an accident that put him out of commission for an extended period of time. It also put the marriage on hold. Indeed, the wedding would not take place until October 26, 2007 at the Ringling Museum.

My husband and I were honored to be among the hundreds of guests who gathered to celebrate this breathtaking event.

By 1994, Pedro had recovered from his fall, and he and Dolly began performing together in a beautiful aerial pas de deux entitled On Wings of Love, which they performed in America, Canada, Japan and Germany. In 1997, Dolly was inducted

Water World

|Captain Jim Klopfer

into the Circus Ring of Fame at St. Armand’s Circle. The following year she was inducted into the Ringling Circus Museum Hall of Fame. In 2009, Pedro would also be inducted into the Circus Ring of Fame.

As if they didn’t have enough on their plates, in 1997 Pedro and Dolly had created Circus Sarasota, a non-profit organization that celebrates Sarasota’s remarkable circus heritage. In creating this establishment, they combined their years of experience with their passion for the art of the circus. The couple was determined to present the circus as the valuable art form they knew it to be.

Today, Dolly and Pedro continue to bring in talent from all over the globe to create a onering five-star European-style circus, a show that has few equals in North America. At Circus Sarasota, incredible acts of daring athleticism are interspersed with traditional circus acts to create a sophisticated and exciting showcase of family entertainment.

The 2013 show is entitled Nik Wallenda – His Journey Continues, and is running through Friday, February 15. It stars Sarasota’s own Nik Wallenda, the only person in the world to cross directly over the precipice of Niagara Falls. Here you can see Dolly Jacobs herself, performing an aerial act with exquisite grace and beauty.

Other 2013 performances include Encho and his hand-balancing act, the acrobatic antics of Duo Manduca, Quick Change artists Vladimir and Olga Smirnov, the ventriloquist Willer Nicolodi, and the skillful juggling of Duo Platchkov. The 2013 Ringmaster Extraordinaire is Paul Binder, founder of Big Apple Circus.

Nik Wallenda – His Journey Continues is presented under the Circus Sarasota “Big Top” at the corner of Tuttle Avenue and 12th Street.

Tickets start as low as $10, and multiple discount opportunities are available. The show runs through February 15. Call (941) 355-9805 or visit www.CircusSarasota.org. It’s a fabulous circus.

Go! You’ll be so glad you did!

Adventure Charters 941-371-1390

Weather and water conditions play a major factor in February. Cold fronts will come through, stirring up and cooling off the water. Luckily, there is a species that thrives under these conditions; sheepshead. These hard-fighting striped members of the porgy family will be plentiful around most structures along Siesta Key this month. Another benefit to targeting sheepies is that shore bound anglers have plenty of opportunities to catch these tasty saltwater pan fish.

The north end of Siesta Key is littered with docks, rip-rap, and the Siesta Drive Bridge. Cover, deep water, and good current flow results in prime sheepshead habitat. A live or frozen shrimp fished on the bottom will fool these fish, along with redfish, snapper, grouper, black drum, and flounder. Docks all throughout the canal system on Siesta Key may hold fish, especially if deeper water and current flow is present. On the coldest days the backs of dead end canals will be the best spots to try.

Rigging is pretty basic. When fishing in deep water in in a strong current, slide an egg sinker on the running line and then attach a #10 black swivel. Tie on a 24” piece of 30 pound shock leader and a #1 short shank hook. When fishing shallow structure, omit the sliding egg sinker and just use a pinch on split shot.

Hook live shrimp in the front under the horn; frozen shrimp should be threaded on the hook.

Surf fishing will produce sheepshead, too, along with pompano, whiting, silver trout, ladyfish, drum, and flounder. The key to good surf fishing is

Dave Buckley from Gettysburg, PA with a big sheepshead that he caught on a foggy winter morning near Bird Key

clean water; fishing is normally unproductive when the water is churned up and dirty. Conditions will be best after several days of light easterly breezes. The most productive time to fish the beach is two hours before high tide. Live and frozen bait will catch bottom fish. A white bucktail jig is a good choice for anglers who prefer to fish with artificial lures.

Big Pass on the north end of Siesta Key will be good for pompano, bluefish, ladyfish, and Spanish mackerel. Drifting with the tide and bouncing a jig on the bottom will fool all of these species. The pompano style jigs work very well in this application; they sink very quickly and stay close to the bottom.

Tipping the jig (adding a small piece of shrimp) can improve action when the water is dirty or the bite is slow.

Anglers fishing from shore can access Big Pass from N. Shell Rd. Speckled trout fishing will be good on the grass flats throughout the area. High tides in the afternoon are particularly good times to target trout. D.O.A. Deadly Combos and soft plastic baits on a jig head are very effective, as are live shrimp under a popping cork. Plenty of ladyfish will also be caught on the deep flats, as will the occasional pompano. Large shrimp fished under docks and along oyster bars will produce redfish, snook, and other species.

February 2013 | 21 ebstein@comcast.net • 941.539.0205 • FEBRUARY 2013 • Island

Sarasota Waters

Visitor Publishing, LLC •

By Paul Roat

|Some cool beachy things to think about February is one of the busiest months for people visiting our region. It’s also one of the coldest. Somehow, the twain still seems to meet on Siesta, Lido, and other beaches.

Some people just don’t care how chilly it is to enjoy the World’s Best Beach.

Below are some beach thoughts to ponder if the weather keeps you away from the sand.

Renourishment primer “So what’s the need for beach renourishment?”

That question was posed by a bright friend the other day in the wake of all the talk of pumping sand onto our beaches, both here and far.

Turtle Beach is due for a renourishment soon, perhaps as early as this year. Talk has swirled about replenishing sand at north Siesta Key at Big Pass for decades. Lido Key receives regular sand additions.

The renourishment need question sounds simple until you start to work it through.

Beach renourishment, for newcomers, is the practice of getting sand from some place offshore onto our beaches, which have lost sand and are now narrow strips of shore. The sand vanishes through a variety of reasons: erosion, tidal drift or, as some argue, sea level rise.

In Southwest Florida, erosion is pretty much a state of life for our beaches, so the shores tend to get skinnier and skinnier as the years go on and on.

If you’re thinking on the “green” side, beach renourishment can indeed be called an icky thing.

You’re digging up the critters from the Gulf of Mexico and disrupting their world as the sand ends up on the beach. Sand from somewhere out in the Gulf gets pumped onto the beach, be it a few hundred yards out or many miles away. Imagine the pipes, imagine the disturbance, imagine the unbalance of the environment.

Then you’ve got to think of female sea turtles, which have to traverse whatever pumps and pipes are out there to get to and from the shore during their nesting cycle in summer if there is any pumping activity going on which, it seems, always happens during the turtle nesting cycle from May to October.

And then there’s the sand coming from offshore onshore. What about the critters on the beach? What about the critters under the beach? What about the critters upshore of the beach, like birds and all the rest of the natural creatures that like to hang out near the water?

And to continue the “green” aspects of beach renourishment, there’s the price.

If or when there is such a project approved for an area, the state and feds generally agree it’s for 50 years. That means that about $1 million per mile will be allocated for new beach every 10 years or so. Those figures are not accurate per beach per project, but use the numbers as a ballpark.

So, you greenies will say, does this all mean that we’re killing turtles and other critters at an astronomical cost to just bring some sand to shore?

And don’t forget that the sand is coming to a place that all coastal engineers describe as “unconsolidated sediments.” Our keys are sandbars to protect the mainland. Nobody was supposed to live out here. Even the Native Americans stayed on the mainland, high atop oyster mounds. On the mainland. A few thousand years ago.

Yep, Siesta Key is mostly made up of unconsolidated sediments, basically, which isn’t all that different from a sandbar. Actually, it’s exactly like a sandbar, except people have chosen to live on it. Where’s the “beef” underneath? It’s not there except for Point of Rocks. What a beach renourishment project is doing is putting more sand on a sandbar where no one should be living on in the first place.

But? But we do live out here. As for the resorts, restaurants, homes, businesses — take the order of the above as you will —here we are.

For the perhaps “non-greenies,” a beach renourishment is a godsend. It generally adds 250 feet of width to a beach that is dangerously close to a house or a condo or a restaurant or a resort. The beach add-on adds on to tourist revenue, general business revenue, general happy-time revenue.

While you’re pondering the concepts of years ago and years to come, here’s a thought from years past.

Maybe 30-plus years ago there was a group formed called the citizen advisory committee to the Sarasota Bay National Estuary Committee. It was bunch of people who offered suggestions to all these technical and scientific types who all offered their thoughts to the rest of the bunch. Then there were the politicos who made the decisions, but we won’t go there.

What was interesting was what came out the first citizens’ group of what is now the SBEP.

There was some lively discussion regarding the best way to preserve and protect Sarasota Bay. Option No. 1: Put up a fence. Around the bay.

Preserve. Protect. Keep everyone out.

Option No. 2: Different.

Based on today, No. 2 won.

Watch your behinds on the beach these days Here’s some news that seems obvious, but perhaps is not: High and dry on the beach is best.

A University of Florida study revealed that those beachgoers who spend their time on dry sand rather than on the wet beach end up avoiding health issues.

We’re talking about sitting on the wet sand versus sitting on the dry.

Wet muck. Dry stuff. Nearly-bare butts. Go figure.

“What we found was that there was no increased health risk due to exposure to sand on the upper beach,” according to UF researchers.

“However, the longer the period of time people spent in the water and in the wet sand, the higher the probability that they would experience some gastrointestinal illness.”

Hey! Get or rent a chair, OK?

22 | Island Visitor Publishing, LLC Island Visitor Publishing, LLC • FEBRUARY 2013 • 941.539.0205 • ebstein@comcast.net

What’s Happening …on the beach • Beach Hoop Dance Class – Thurs. 6:30 – 7:45pm. Register at www. outwardspiral.net • Booty Camp by Evan Wed’s @ 8:30am and Sat’s @ 9:30am Call Evan Fernandez (860) 839-3111 • Free Yoga Mon-Wed.-Fri.-Sat. 8:00 – 9:30 am. Call 941-320-6693 to register.

• NIA Tues. & Thurs. 9 a.m., Siesta Public Beach (yellow lifeguard chair) Joy Donation: $10 Contact Kathy Oravec at 941-724-9719 or Kathyoravec@ gmail.com • Senior Beach Walks - Feb. 6-March 27 - Fee: $1 one-time registration fee Ages: 50 and up Participate in this self-guided beach walk along our beautiful beaches. Register before your one-mile minimum walk. Complete four walks and receive a free event t-shirt. For information call 941-861-5000.

Siesta Beach 8-9:30 a.m.

• Say ‘I Do’ Again - Feb. 14 Celebrate a renewal of wedding vows along the beautiful Siesta Beach sunset. Judge Becky Titus performs the nondenominational service beginning promptly at 6p.m. Light refreshments served. Arrive early for best parking. Fee: $5 per couple. Pre-registration by Feb. 12. Call 941-861-5000. Siesta Beach 6-7 p.m. …around the island • Siesta Key Farmer’s Market – every Sunday from 8am – 2pm in Davidson’s Plaza in the Village. 5124 Ocean Blvd.

• 19th Annual Siesta Key Craft Festival – Feb. 9th & 10th The festival will be located along Ocean Blvd. (in the Village) 10a.m – 5 p.m. Free Admission.

Discover wonderful creations from more than 100 crafters exhibiting and selling their work in an outdoor gallery. From photography, paintings, sculpture, jewelry and more showcased from local and traveling crafters.

• Orvis-Endorsed fly fishing school Feb. 16 The class will cover fly casting basics, line control, shooting line and the roll cast. Federation of Fly Fishers Certified Casting Instructor, Capt. Rick Grassett, will also cover leader construction, fly selection and saltwater fly fishing techniques. The course, designed for beginning and intermediate fly casters, will focus on basics but also work with intermediate casters on correcting faults and improving casting skills. Cost for the schools, which will run from 9 AM to 3 PM, is $150 per person and includes the use of premium Orvis fly tackle, a text book and lunch. Contact CB’s Saltwater Outfitters at (941) 349-4400 (941) 349-4400 for Info or Reservations. …on the mainland • 25th Anniversary Downtown Sarasot Festival of the Arts (Sarasota, FL) Main Street in Downtown Sarasota. Feb. 16th & 17th. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Free Admission. Ranked one of the TOP 100 Fine Art Shows in the nation by Sunshine Artist Magazine and celebrated as one of the area’s biggest this Arts festival is one South Florida event you do not want to miss. Set in an ideal location along downtown Sarasota’s premiere Main Street, The 25th Annual Downtown Sarasota Art Festival spans from 5 Points-Selby Park to Orange Avenue drawing in exceptional crowds and eager buyers. Join our all-star lineup of artists in the nation ranging from spectacular painters, sculptors, jewelers, and more!

• Take It To The Limit - Eagles Tribute Concert - Feb. 15, 2013 “Take It To The Limit” is a group of six professional-level musicians who spent more than two years putting together and perfecting their tribute to The Eagles. Audiences will be amazed at the painstaking effort taken to reproduce the music and vocal harmonies that are so important to these songs. This top-level show from top-level performers promises to deliver exactly what’s expected. Fee: $30, $25. Season tickets are available or purchase tickets to individual shows online at ww.parksonline.scgov.net or by calling 941-861-5000 or 941-861-1380. The Venice Community Center is located at 326 S. Nokomis Avenue in Venice.

• Venice Orchid Show and Sale - Feb. 2, 3 (11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun) Enjoy thousands of blooming orchids in 20 artistically unique displays. Sales of plants, supplies and orchid art from 15 premier vendors presented by the Venice Area Orchid Society. Visit vaos.org or email vaos. showinfo@gmail.com for information. Cost is $4 and takes place at the Venice Community Center.

• Barefoot Beach Bazaar - Feb. 16 - Fee: $20 indoor, $15 outdoor booth.

Enjoy a beautiful beach sunset, music, handmade arts and crafts from local artisans, refreshments, beach sand, and waves. Nokomis Beach Sat/.

Rothenbach Park.

• Demonstration Garden Tours - Master Gardeners will be in the demonstration gardens at Shamrock Park (3900 Shamrock Dr., Venice) the first Monday each month from 9-11 a.m. to give free tours and advice on Florida gardening. For information call 941-486-2706.

Arts on the Horizon

By Jaye Clements

|Museum of Art Courtyard! A place like no other…

“Ringling Underground” will be held at the Ringling Museum, Feb 7th. It will continue the first Thursday of each month until May. The grounds will have live music in a block party atmosphere. It is geared toward college students and young professionals. Evening hours are 8pm to 11pm.

Admission is $10.

There will be exceptional presentations by artists displaying works throughout the courtyard. The Underground is a great way to network in an inspiring environment. It is an awesome community experience!

This outdoor event will have you in awe of the Ringling, at night. Enjoy the arts as you mingle with a mix of people in the open air courtyard. Listen to live music and appreciate the rhythm under the stars.

If you happen to be an artist or know of any, check out this awesome opportunity to display art at Ringling Underground. http://ringlingunderground.tumblr.com/ If you prefer, you can join in on the fun early for “Art

After 5” on Thursday and stay for the Underground, no extra charge…Admission is the same $10. (from 5 to 8pm) Students are $5 with ID. (each Thursday evening) Earlier admission also allows you to visit the Miniature Circus and Wisconsin Railroad Car. Children 6 to 17 $5 and under 5 are free.

Take in our perfect Sarasota weather after 5pm, with cocktails and stunning views of the sunset from the terrace. The breeze off the bay is delightful in the evening. Sit back, relax and take in all the breathtaking art the museum has to offer.

Ringling in Bloom Feb 28th to March 3rd. Be a part of the art that springs to life! If you have a passion for flowers and gardens you will revel in the Ringling in Bloom experience. Connect with art in nature throughout this engaging event.

Discover the collection of rare and beautiful plants in the gardens with knowledgeable horticulturalists. http://www.ringling.org/inbloom.aspx

|Towles Court…

Nestled in historic downtown Sarasota rests a small artsy community called Towles Court, where century old, moss covered oak trees adorn this urban area...

Escape to a magical world on a moonlight walk, 3rd Friday of every month. Stroll from cottage to cottage style galleries. Enjoy music and refreshments along the way, as you delight in all the whimsical art from 6pm to 10pm. The ambience is enchanting…

It is an arts district like none other in our community.

You will be captivated by the creative atmosphere.

Each Studio is filled with artistic works of all types.

You can even chat with the artists.

It is one of our hidden treasures in Sarasota with galleries filled with unique works. Old style Florida bungalows offer many items, including jewelry, ceramics, paintings, photography, blown glass, antiques, and more…

Artsy flair is everywhere in this charming community. You’ll also find many cafes with excellent culinary choices, interior and graphic designers, fine art photographers, massage therapists and more…

Some artists even offer art classes and art therapy!

Normally open from 12pm to 4pm Tues – Sat. Towles court is located at 1938 Adams Lane Sarasota,

Florida (it can be reached by Links Ave or off 301 south of Main – it can also be reached by Morrill St.) In 1905 John Gillespie, Sarasota’s first mayor, built his home and a nine hole golf course in the area on land which is now called Laurel Park. The course gave Links Ave its name. Gillespie’s 3rd home “Golf Hall” may have been within the Towles district. The area was transformed into a small residential neighborhood in the 1920’s by William Towles. It was a neighborhood of professional and seasonal people. The area grew for 30 years, but with new shopping areas and other communities, the downtown region was drained and the district became a place for migrant workers to stay.

The homes became cramped apartments, neglected and dilapidated. The area was going to be demolished, but in 1983 it was rescued by a visionary named N. J. Olivieri. He anticipated a downtown revival and started buying up the run down homes in the area, hoping to build a charming colonial neighborhood.

But, in the 90’s his friends convinced him to develop an artist colony. In 95, the first of the artists began to roll in and the rest is history! His dream of a thriving community is kept alive within this colony of artists. http://towlescourt.com/

|Go Behind the scenes of the Van Wezel…

The Van Wezel and The Fine Arts Society of Sarasota present guided backstage tours.

See the orchestra pit, dressing rooms, and the “Green Room“where performers relax between shows.

Included in the tour is the FASS Art Collection.

Historic art is featured from area Artists who have lived and worked in Sarasota at one time or another. Many of the artists are exhibited in national and international

art shows and museums. Art dating from the 1930’s to date, decorate the hall.

The tours are offered on the first Tuesday of each month, 10:00am, in the main lobby of the Van Wezel and last approximately 1 1/2 hours. The fee is $5.00.

Tickets can be purchased at the Van Wezel box office or by calling 941.953.3368. Proceeds benefit the Van Wezel and the Fine Arts Society.

|West Coast Black Theatre Troup…

West Coast Black Theatre Troup – Soul Crooners 2 – soul music of the 70’s February 20, 2013 - March 24, 2013 - http://www. wbttsrq.org/soul-crooners-2

Back by popular demand, WBTT revisits the soul music of the 1970s. With memorable melodies, sweet sounding harmonies, and great vocalists. You’ll fall in love with the greatest singers of that era.

February 2013 | 23 ebstein@comcast.net • 941.539.0205 • FEBRUARY 2013 • Island

Across 1. Divorcees 4. Short-range missile 7. Send out 8. Type of species 10. “Film ___” 11. Approach (with to) 13. MASSACRE SITE (1989) 16. “So long” 17. Address figures (abbrev.)

18. “Go” (in Edinburgh) 19. Curved molding 20. Lascivious 21. ____ Laureate 23. Sliders 25. Caps 26. Newspaper essay 27. PC game 28. Sailboat style 29. Center 30. BEIJING’S “KREMLIN” 33. Arizona town 34. GM car 35. Scarce 36. What couch potatoes do 37. To blossom (poetic) 38. French preposition Down 1. Show feeling 2. Caesar’s unlucky number 3. Dr. ___love 4. RR (in Madrid) 5. Ray; smile 6. Ancient quaff 7. Printer’s measure 8. Cool and detached 9. Fertilized 12. Acoustic waves (abbrev.)

14. Xmas song 15. “As shown” (abbrev.)

19. Hospital wards 20. Modern light 21. “Cafe at ___” (Van Gogh) 23. Tendentiousness 24. Wrestler’s maneuver 25. Ms. Taylor, for one 26. Prayer gesture 29. “Rich as ___” 31. Navy seals work (abbrev.)

32. Soothing additive

China Shoppe

by Dr. Albert L. Weeks

Answers on page 27

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24 | Island Visitor Publishing, LLC Island Visitor Publishing, LLC • FEBRUARY 2013 • 941.539.0205 • ebstein@comcast.net

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On Saturday, April 6 at Payne Park in Sarasota, Family Living Magazine will host its annual Kids Day Fair. This year in addition to the Summer Camp Fair, Health & Safety Exhibits and the Education Station, all new to the 2013 event, is the Kids 4 Kids DASH. Children ages 3-12 will dash to raise money “4” Kids at All Children’s Hospital.

The first 100 runners will get goodie bags and T-shirts, plus awards will familyliving’s be given to all participants in the dash and bike competitions.

Registration for Kids 4 Kids opens at 9am along with all the Fun Zones. Pre-registration is recommended. Go to SRQKidsDay.com.

The DASH is just the beginning of a day of family fun. After the dash don’t miss the free Strider Bike International competition for young riders, a marching band, awards ceremony, bounces, arts & crafts and so much more.

It is a great opportunity to find the perfect summer camp for the kids, check out the latest trends in the Education Station, get your car seats

and helmets checked in the Health & Safety Zone, and enter to win Family Living’s cover contest. Plus there are ongoing performances until 1pm.

The newly renovated Payne Park is the perfect venue for this event. There will be schools, summer camps, after school activities, local businesses and health professionals on hand to share their information about community resources available to help parents make the very best 013 decisions for their entire family. If you haven’t already had an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful new circus playground and skate park you won’t want to miss this event!

Bring the whole family out for this fabulous, family friendly event! For more than 17 years Family Living Magazine, the area’s premier family resource, has enjoyed treating local families and businesses to a day of educational fun and safety.

Go to www.srqkidsday.com for more information and for Kids 4 Kids registration.

Come out and enjoy the day watching kids helping kids!

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February 2013 | 25 ebstein@comcast.net • 941.539.0205 • FEBRUARY 2013 • Island

Super Value Nutrition

|Celebrates 36th Anniversary with Relocation to “The Landings Shopping Center” After many years as a retail fixture on Main Street in downtown Sarasota, Super Value Nutrition is the newest tenant at The Landings which coincides with their 36th Anniversary in business. Super Value Nutrition, Sarasota’s premier source for discount vitamins, nutrition and health products, celebrated their grand opening on January 19, with special sale prices and savings on all products.

According to the store’s founder and owner, Doris Herman Shields, Super Value Nutrition has been Sarasota’s No. 1 store for vitamins, nutrition and health products, offering a wide selection of top quality brand-name products at low discount prices, since 1977.

It’s been family-owned and operated over the past 36 years and offers a complete range of name brand vitamins, supplements, minerals, herbs, weight loss and sports nutrition products at everyday low prices and spectacular savings. Super Value carries all the top brands including

Solgar, Jarrow, NOW, Natural Factors, Mega Foods, Country Life and many, many more.

Shields is excited about the store’s relocation and the new customers that she has met since opening in The Landings just 2 months ago. “We not only offer the best prices in town, but pride ourselves on providing exceptional customer service to all our customers, says Doris.

Her many loyal customers agree, which makes her very happy.

Be sure to use the coupons on page 24 for additional savings.

Visitor Publishing, LLC •

26 | Island Visitor Publishing, LLC Island Visitor Publishing, LLC • FEBRUARY 2013 • 941.539.0205 • ebstein@comcast.net

Investing For Your Future The Stock Market is the business of businesses. What this means is the professional Market Participants are primarily concerned with how companies are doing in terms of growth. The stock market professionals are not sympathetic to poor corporate performances, and with their armies of fundamental analysts who visit companies regularly, the giant funds of the market are able to assess firms better than anyone.

They accumulate stock over long periods of time, increasing their inventory or holdings of a stock based upon fundamental data not readily available to you, the average investor, or retail trader. Therefore, it would be prudent to follow their lead. Unfortunately, usually by the time you hear about a stock or it becomes “recommended” the giant funds have already begun rotation out of the stock with the slow distribution of their shares over time.

This is because by the time a stock is recommended, such as Apple was last year, it has reached the end of its product cycle and is headed for a contraction due to over expansion, and too many people owning the products they sell.

The giant funds recognize the symptoms of market saturation long before it is evident to the general public and most investors. The largest funds started selling out of Apple back in 2011.

Be aware that there is a whole different world that runs concurrently to yours when it comes to the stock market and investing. There are two types of professionals who dominate the market, the Buy Side institution and the Sell Side institution. These giant funds control most of the money invested in this country and other countries.

While most average investors are worried about the Fiscal Cliff or the Debt Ceiling, Institutions are seeking

By Martha Stokes, CMT

ways to diversify more in European investments while keenly aware of the risks of too low interest rates. Yes, interest rates that are too low and sustained for a long time and below normal levels pose problems for many buy side institutions.

They are also very concerned about China. While retail news tells you that China’s economy is recovering most wise institutional managers are scrutinizing Chinese banks were loan losses are escalating and reforms are causing more problems than resolutions.

Institutions are focusing also on which companies have the best of the best in terms of CEOs. CEOs and CFOs managerial strengths are the hallmark of fundamental investing strategies for most large institutions.

Both buy side and sell side analysts study CEOs to determine which are the very best in terms of managing the challenges facing business and industry. There are no excuses accepted by the institutions. A CEO can’t blame the economy, or China, or consumers, or whatever.

A great CEO must find a way around every problem, every obstacle, and create a stellar growth plan for his or her company. There is no tolerance for complainers or CEOs who try to use excuses for lackluster company performance.

As we head into the 4th quarter earnings season, companies that have weak reports or show signs of weakness in any area including guidance are already starting to show weakness in their charts. Stock values will drop for companies that do not come in with strong reports this season.

Now is a good time to check your holdings to make sure none of your stocks are at risk of a major top due to market saturation or a negative earnings report. Invest with Knowledge.

February 2013 | 27 ebstein@comcast.net • 941.539.0205 • FEBRUARY 2013 • Island

Pet Talk

By Dr. Anne Chauvet

Question: As a snow bird, I travel from Canada to Florida and back every year. My dog comes with me so we drive. Every time, I have to show proof of exam and vaccines at the border. Is that really necessary?

Answer: Dr. Anne - YES! Whether driving or flying, immigration wishes to make sure all animals entering their country is disease free. Although there are no guarantees, they rely on a full veterinary exam within a specific period of time (varies from country to country) and an updated set of vaccines. You will have to show all legal paper work including health check certificate endorsed by a certified veterinarian. I think we need to count our blessings as pet owners because travel to other countries like Australia and the U.K. would mean an imposed quarantine away from your dog. So what are we guarding against? The big one is Rabies which is endemic here in Florida. It is a one way street if your pet is affected and because it is transmitted through body fluids and bites, It is important to avoid rapid exposure and spread. Other problems that borders enquire about are respiratory viruses and gastrointestinal viruses. We may be the best owners ever but our dogs are low to the ground and love to explore and socialize so it is normal that they show a clean bill of health before entering a country.

Question: Emergency rooms are so expensive. What are my alternatives for my pet if I have a problem? Are there any low income urgent care places?

Answer: Dr. Anne - this is an excellent question. unfortunately no, there are no low income places for you to bring your pet to outside your regular vet hours. The emergency rooms are there to provide a service that would otherwise leave your pet at high risk for possibly fatal complications.

Working nights and weekends is not for everyone. But they are here for you and to put your mind at ease. There are many ERs for pets in Sarasota and Bradenton. I encourage you to find them out and visit them ahead of time. Inform yourself on the process and the prices. Get a feel for the facility and its staff. This will make it so much easier for you when you have to come in distressed. Some ERs even have programs and associate with companies like Care Credit that will assist you with the cost of the bill.

China Shoppe

by Dr. Albert L. Weeks

Answers from page 23

Dr. Chauvet earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Canada, completed a small animal medicine/surgery internship at the University of Illinois in Urbana and finished her residency in neurology/ neurosurgery at the University of California, Davis. She has been trained in small animal rehabilitation by the Canine Rehabilitation Institute of Wellington, Florida and is known internationally for her specialized work in the relatively rare field of veterinary neurology speaking to, training, and consulting with veterinary practices and organizations globally.

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28 | Island Visitor Publishing, LLC Island Visitor Publishing, LLC • FEBRUARY 2013 • 941.539.0205 • ebstein@comcast.net

Is there an electric vehicle in your future By Stan Zimmerman Gasoline prices continue to rise, driving the cost of transportation higher. It will also propel interest in alternatives to a century-long reliance on petroleum to fuel America’s restless movement.

Sarasota County averages 1.7 million car trips every day, with smaller households making five trips per day.

Two are commutes to-and-from work, and the other three are for errands or entertainment. The figures come from surveys conducted to validate the county’s road impact fee.

“The average household drives about 27 miles per person per day,” said Lisa Lisenson, the former Sarasota County greenhouse gas reduction coordinator. “The average trip length is about five miles, with a time of 20 minutes.” In other words, most local driving features short distances and slow speeds.

A growing constellation of electric vehicles fit into this shortand-slow driving universe, offering energy efficiencies up the equivalent of 1,000 miles per gallon.

That’s a figure from Deb Weatherby, who operates the Freedom 4 Bike Company on South Osprey Avenue, one block south of Siesta Drive. She and her husband Mike sell the Pedego brand, a state-of-the-art electric bicycle. “It’s only about 15 pounds heavier than a regular bicycle,” she said. “The 10-amp battery will take you 20 to 25 miles.”

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Unlike older styles, if the rider pedals along, the range increases. Pedegos have a disc brake in the front, a permanent-magnet motor in the rear wheel hub, and a quick-charge lithium-ion battery on the rear carrier.

Because it is a bicycle, it can use bicycle lanes along the highway. For a quick jaunt to Siesta Beach in the spring, the Pedego will be faster than a car. And parking is vastly easier.

Weatherby acknowledges the bike isn’t cheap. The manufacturer’s recommended price is around $1,800.

Even with a 10 percent federal tax credit, it is an expensive bicycle. But it is efficient. It costs about 10 cents worth of electricity to recharge the battery, and she estimates her electric bikes – with no pedaling by the rider – are achieving the equivalent of 1,000 miles per gallon.

In Florida’s benign climate, Weatherby’s electric bike offers two significant advantages – real fuel savings and healthy exercise. Capable of speeds up to 20 miles per hour, the beach is only 10 minutes from Weatherby’s shop. Downtown ditto. “The reception has been great,” she said.

Stop by her shop at 3604 South Osprey Avenue and check one of these bikes out for yourself. Take the ad in on this page and save $50.

February 2013 | 29 ebstein@comcast.net • 941.539.0205 • FEBRUARY 2013 • Island

Up & Down The Trail

By Stan Zimmerman

Story continued from page 8

Staffers are sticking by their guns. The store is planned for the nearly vacant Ringling Plaza east of the health department on Charles Ringling Boulevard.

Neighbors say a big-box supercenter isn’t allowed under the zoning code; city planners say it is allowed.

Neighbors say it is not compatible with the neighborhood, citing 24/7 operations adjacent to single-family homes.

Planners say that point is debatable. City commissioners have the final say…unless neighbors appeal their decision to circuit court.

City elections underway

Six people vie for two at-large seats on the Sarasota City Commission. One incumbent – Suzanne Atwell – is running for re-election, while five others are in the race.

They are Susan Chapman, Richard Dorfman, Linda Holland, Kevin Lumpkin and Pete Theisen.

The five-seat commission is composed of three members from neighborhood districts, and two elected city-wide The 2013 election is for the two at-large seats.

One is being vacated by retiring Commissioner Terry Turner.

The election is March 12, but it is unlikely any candidate will score half the total vote. A run-off is set for May 14. Early voting begins March 2.

City elections are non-partisan, but parties play a role nonetheless. Party leaders often see the city election as a “starting ground” for candidates.

For example two of the five county commissioners

were formerly Sarasota city commissioners – Nora Patterson and Carolyn Mason. However no Sarasota city commissioner has risen higher than that.

The uptick continues

By every measure Sarasota County economics continue to improve. Housing starts, housing sales, tax collections and tourist taxes are all up significantly over the prior period in 2011. Only gasoline tax collections are down, off four percent.

Housing starts almost doubled in number and value from November 2011 to the same month a year later.

The 25 permits in 2011 with a value of $5.6 million were trumped by the 48 permits and value of $9.2 million for 2012.

Sales of existing homes were not quite as dramatic.

The November-to-November figures show a jump from 602 sales to 764, a nearly 23 percent increase. Median prices for houses and condominiums combined in the period were up 12 percent.

Tax collections for Sarasota County for Fiscal Year 2012 were more than $2 million more than budgeted, representing about a two percent jump over expectations.

The tourist tax on short-term rentals showed a whopping 41 percent jump in 2012 over the prior year.

The county’s fiscal year ends Sept. 30, but the official tally (some people pay late) is held back until the end of the year.

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30 | Island Visitor Publishing, LLC Island Visitor Publishing, LLC • FEBRUARY 2013 • 941.539.0205 • ebstein@comcast.net

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Turtles Restaurant is located at the south end of Siesta Key on Little Sarasota Bay. It has been around since 1986, and customers enjoy great views of the water from anywhere inside the restaurant or outside on the deck.

The General Manager at Turtles is a delightful guy by the name of Alex Ortega.

His road to success is a fascinating one, for he has truly lived the American Dream.

Alex Ortega was born near Aguascalientes in Central Mexico, the fifth in a line of seven children. He grew up on a small ranch complete with horses, chickens, a housewife mom, and a father who was a teacher.

When he was eight, his father passed away, leaving a wife who had never worked to support the family.

In addition to taking care of her offspring, Alex’s mom was given a job by the school board to help support the family. All seven children saw how hard their mother was working, and were inspired to do all that they could to help.

In 1987—an era when green cards were not hard to come by— America beckoned as the land of promise.

Alex decided to join his cousins who were working in the fields in Ruskin, Florida. He was fifteen years old.

He spoke no English, but by keeping long, hard hours, he could earn sixty to seventy dollars a week. That would mean a lot to his mother back home. So, he went out every day very early in the morning to see who needed an extra worker. It was backbreaking work, but he was young and optimistic.

At that time, one of his cousins was working at Chez Med, a restaurant near Turtles, since closed. His cousin invited Alex over and told him to apply at Turtles.

Alex knew zero English, but dishes don’t talk much, so he applied for the job of dish washer.

He was the first Spanish speaking person to work at Turtles, so when servers came into the kitchen to ask for a particular plate, they would have to pick up one to show him.

As Alex looked around at the restaurant operation, he began to grow more and more ambitious. He moved from Dishwasher to Prep and from Prep to Pantry, where he made salads and the like. Pretty soon Alex was promoted to Expeditor— the person who takes a plate from the Chef and dresses it up with appropriate side dishes.

Alex never had the opportunity to go to Culinary School or to formally study English. He did, however, get his Food Manager Certification, and proudly showed

By Diana Colson..

me his most current certificate.

“What does a Certified Professional Food Manager do?” I asked.

“He knows temperatures, sanitizing, delivery,” responded Alex. “He knows everything there is to know about foods.”

Alex went back to school at what was then known as VoTech. There, classes were conducted in Spanish as well as English. He learned the skills to become certified first as Cook, then as Sous-Chef, then as Chef, and finally as Kitchen Manager. The owners of Turtles believed in him. Four or five years ago they made Alex Ortega the General Manager.

As Alex moved into management, he brought in the only people he could fully trust—his family. “About twelve or thirteen years ago, my three brothers came here to work so that they could help the family. They went into restaurant business. When I became General Manager, I put them in charge of the kitchen. Cooking, working—it is an art.

Julian is Kitchen Manager, Manuel is Sous-Chef, and Agapito is Cook. Whatever needs doing, they do it.”

In 1991, Alex had gone back to Mexico to marry his childhood sweetheart, Irma, in a civil ceremony. At that time he was only nineteen. He went back to Mexico again a year later for the ceremonial wedding. Today, the couple has four children: Ezequiel, who is eighteen, and on the Rams Team at Riverview; Sebastian, who is fifteen and attends Sarasota Polytechnic High School; Maria, ten, and Pedro, eight, who both attend Southside Elementary.

Alex’s three brothers also live in Sarasota along with their families, and their mother and grand-mother often travel from Mexico to visit.

“We believed in working hard, developing ourselves, paying our health insurance and living the American Dream,” Alex says with a grin. The brothers all work from four to sixty-five hours a week doing whatever it is that the restaurant requires.

Alex’s management team consists of Ken Idsardi, Amber Davis and himself. They handle the front of the house. His three brothers handle the back of the house.

This cheerful, articulate, good-looking guy has this to say about being in the restaurant business: “its fun. You meet a lot of people. It’s a great feeling. You get to meet people from many other states.”

Turtles Restaurant is located at 8875 Midnight Pass Road. Stop in and say “Hi” to Alex Ortega. He’s a charmer—you’ll be glad you did!

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February 2013 | 31 ebstein@comcast.net • 941.539.0205 • FEBRUARY 2013 • Island

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By Dr. Albert L.Weeks

The death of a loved one--spouse, child, or friend-- gets one, a survivor, thinking about love and affection. Having at the end of last year lost a close friend, I’ve been doing a lot of that lately.

One of the first poetic lines that came to my mind was written by George Santayana. In his sonnet, “To W.P.,” he spoke of his loss of a friend this way:

flops

Other poets and writers-Plato, Ovid, Keats, Shakespeare, Houseman-help make us appreciate what love is about., With you a part of me hath passed away; They describe love For in the peopled forest of my mind and affection as a concept above A tree made leafless by this wintry wind and beyond the Shall never don again its green array. physical presence Chapel and fireside, country road and bay, of the loved one.

Have something of their friendliness resigned; When we say we love persons and miss them when Another, if I would, I could not find, they pass away, I don’t think we have in mind the sentimental text of the usual Valentine’s Day card.

And I am grown much older in a day.

We probably think, as the poets say, of what the But yet I treasure in my memory person represents to us. The tangible object itself Your gift of charity, your mellow ease, (bowl of flowers, pet dog or cat, etc.) or the actual And the dear honor of your amity; person of our affection is or was imperfect. Towards all imperfect things and people everyone is For these once mine, my life is rich with these.

And I scarce know which part may greater be,— naturally ambivalent. What we love in an object or person of our affection is not something perishable, What I keep of you, or you rob of me. merely physical, external, or tangibly apparent about their selves. What we love or should love, above all, is the abstract beauty they represent.

This may sound “too abstract” to some realistic people. Yet this is what love is about, I think, if the love is truly deep and genuine.

After all, what endures and is lasting is what is imperishable. People are mortal; they perish. It’s the concept of them that we love, say the poets.

Plato makes this point in his great dialog, The Symposium.

Too, on the death of a friend, the poet Santayana, quoted above, wrote that he didn’t know what the greater was, what the person took from him spiritually when he passed on versus what he left with him, his survivor, by way of intangible memories. In other words, “keepsakes” about loved ones are mental. They are not “seen” via showy love verbiage. Maybe a degree of silence, even on Valentine’s Day, is appropriate.

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34 | Island Visitor Publishing, LLC Island Visitor Publishing, LLC • FEBRUARY 2013 • 941.539.0205 • ebstein@comcast.net

Morgan’s Restaurant offers some whimsical dishes Sometimes less is truly more, especially when it comes to Morgan’s Restaurant at Bentley’s Boutique Hotel in Osprey.

Morgan’s has undergone an interior renovation as well as a menu shift. The dining room is bright, with high ceilings and a trendy techno-style look with its modern tables and highintensity tiny spot lighting.

The menu, under the direction of Chef William Ecker, is minimal and whimsical. Ecker was formerly with a prominent local country club and brings a California-fusion twist to Morgan’s new menu, which features six appetizers and eight entrees. Manager, Greg Warner, said the menu will stay small, but will probably change frequently.

“For quality food, we like to keep the menu small,” he said.

Expect taste treats ranging from the Pacific Rim to New Orleans to the Caribbean to the Deep South and even as far away as Scotland.

Starters include Fire Cracker Shrimp ($9.50), hand-battered, crispy Tempura shrimp in a mild sweet and spicy sauce.

Feeling crabby? Try the Crab Cake New Orleans with its pan-seared lump blue crab cake. Add in the fried green tomato and Cajun Aioli and, at $11.50, you’ve got a starter that is a meal.

An appetizer highlight is the Tuna Tataki Clementine ($12.50): Ahi tuna marinated with soy and sake, served on a Clementine orange ponsu ginger cumber salad.

Entrees illustrate Chef Ecker’s fusion abilities.

Bentley’s Famous Fish and Chips ($13.50) is cod, wedge-cut fries, cole slaw and a Key Lime tartar sauce.

A carnivore favorite is Steak Frites a la Maison at $18. It features an 8-ounce piece of Black Angus Coulotte steak, served with french fries, asparagus and Chef Ecker’s special au Poive sauce.

Still looking to fill that meat need? Whisky Braised Short Ribs, at $19, should fit the bill: Boneless short ribs braised in burgundy wine, herbs, stock, and Jameson’s Irish Whisky barbecue sauce.

There’s also an exotic southern classic at Morgan’s in its Pan Meat Loaf ($15). The chef takes chopped Black Angus beef, adds pork, folds in sautéed onion, celery, garlic and herbs, then pansears it and serves it over whipped potatoes with a mushroom demi-glace sauce.

Lighter entrees feature Grouper Caribe. The fish is sauteed domestic grouper with a plantain crust, served with a spicy passion fruit rum butter sauce, for $23.

Another dish from the sea is Flax Seed Teriyaki Salmon ($18).

Morgan’s goes “across the pond” — maybe both east and west — with seared Scottish salmon in a flax seed crust, finished with saki ginger glaze and served on warm four-grain and vegetable salad.

Patrons fond of the bird will want to try the Martine Chicken Scaloppini. It’s a chicken breast sautéed with pearl onions and green olives and finished with vermouth vodka, served over wilted arugula, for $15.

You want something whimsical? Try Sharp Shrimp not just “Mac and Cheese.” The $16 entrée is sharp cheddar cheese sauce and pasta shells tossed with a sauté of rock shrimp and mushrooms.

Morgan’s also offers a six-item appetizer menu at

By Paul Roat

its full bar, as well as eight sandwiches.

Give the Buffalo Chicken Wings or the Grilled Caribe Jerk Chicken Wings served mild, hot, or sweet and spicy a try, both priced at $9.50.

Char-grilled Black Angus ground chuck is featured in all the burgers, priced at $9. They may be served with American, cheddar, Borsin, or Swiss cheese. A Cajun Blue Cheese burger features Cajun seasoning, sautéed onions, and bleu cheese.

The bar menu also has a Carolina Pulled Pork Sandwich on a Kaiser roll ($9.50), a $13.50 grouper sandwich, and Maryland Crab Cake Sliders ($12).

Bentleys Boutique Hotel features Morgan’s, open Tuesday through Sunday. There is a Tiki Bar poolside open from 4 p.m. to closing Monday through Thursday, noon to closing Friday through Sunday.

Café Bentley serves breakfast and lunch daily and opens at 7 a.m.

All facilities are located at 1660 S. Tamiami Trail, Osprey, phone 941-966-2121, email morganssarasota.com When you remember that cuisine trends of late call for smaller menus with fresher food, remember to think of Morgan’s Restaurant.

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This Bradenton Beach beauty has it all. Lush, tropical landscape with pool and spa right outside your back door. Three level unit with private elevator. Large wet bar and granite counters line one wall of the family room with wonderful custom windows on the other wall at the front. To top it all off, there is also boat slips available for owners use. This is a must see property. $450,000

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February 2013 | 35 ebstein@comcast.net • 941.539.0205 • FEBRUARY 2013 • Island

Beach Reads

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INVE$T IRA INVE$T YOUR IRA INVE$T YOUR YOUR IRA INVE$T YOUR IRA INTO REAL |”Encyclopedia Paranoiaca” by Henry Beard and Christopher Cerf INTO E$TATE! INTOREAL REAL E$TATE! E$TATE! INTO REAL E$TATE!

By Terri Schlichenmeyer

and the Staff of the Cassandra Institute

c.2012, Simon & Schuster $25.00 / $28.99 Canada 383 pages

You didn’t sleep very well at all last night.

Something was niggling at your brain and it was 2am before you found a solution. By then, you worried that you’d wasted too much time on work and not enough on sleep. You fretted about that for an hour, peeking at the alarm to be sure it was set properly, until you finally drifted off… 45 minutes before get-up time.

Sometimes, it’s really hard to turn your brain away from the inconsequentials. So why not read “Encyclopedia Paranoiaca” by Henry Beard and Christopher Cerf and find some things to really worry about?

Bleary-eyed, you crawled out of bed this morning and that’s probably good. Sleeping on your back can cause breathing problems.

Laying on your side causes wrinkles. Snoozing on your stomach can strain your spine. And you don’t even want to know what’s lurking in your pillows and mattress.

You make your way to the bathroom, but you best be wearing slippers: there are germs on bathroom floors. Don’t even think of jumping in the tub (which one researcher calls “bacterial soup”) or the shower (full of bacteria), grabbing a bar of soap (ditto), or having a seat on the biffy (hemorrhoids). In fact, don’t even enter the room if someone’s flushed with the seat up.

You don’t, by the way, have any hydrogen peroxide in there, do you? It’s a fire hazard.

For breakfast, well, that could be dicey. Fried foods contain toxins.

Bananas emit radiation. Cherries and peaches contain cyanide. Many

other fruits carry pesticides. Salt raises blood pressure, meat-eating can cause impotence, and salads can be high in fat. Coffee is bad for the environment, hot tea causes cancer, and tap water sickens over 19 million people each year.

Okay, so you’ll go outside for some fresh air. Or maybe not, since “fresh” air contains pollutants. Also, there are volcanoes outside, and they could instantly vaporize you and millions of others.

So, back indoors (avoid the welcome mat) but don’t sit down, don’t dance (polkas cause injuries), don’t get dressed (“clean” clothes aren’t necessary clean), don’t blow your nose, invest in gold, or grab your wallet. Don’t call anybody (phones are filthy). And whatever you do, seriously: don’t ever hire a clown.

Yeah, you know you’ve got a unique kind of book in your hands when you find an entry for “warthog rectum, unwashed.” That alone should tell you the tone you’ll find in “Encyclopedia Paranoiaca.”

With tongues firmly in cheek but with solid science and real facts, authors Henry Beard and Christopher Cerf give readers thousands of reasons not to do anything (although lack of exercise kills), go anywhere (the air on a plane – ick!), or eat anytime (food is deadly). This is a book that teaches while it entertains, and it’s easy to browse (but not in the bathroom).

Worrywarts with a sense of humor, trivia lovers, or anyone who wants something oddly fun will find it inside this deliciously quirky book. So grab “Encyclopedia Paranoiaca.” Just don’t take it to bed.

Beach Reads Bio: The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer. Terri has been reading since she was 3 years old and she never goes anywhere without a book.

She lives on a hill in Wisconsin with two dogs and 12,000 books.

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Watch for the “Judy & Tara’s Neighborhood” Open House signs on Sundays where “Just Looking” is always welcome. Please don’t hesitate to visit, call or stop us on the street... Your Landings Resident Real Estate Team is always ready to discuss the market and how we can be of service to you.

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1733 PINE HARRIER CIR, SARASOTA SHORT SALE “THE LANDINGS” Family home with pool. Fenced yard with fruit trees.

Newer tile roof, paver entryway, granite counters and stainless appliances.

Offered at $575,000

Homes for sale 1781 Pine Harrier Ci 1733 Pine Harrier Ci 1769 Pine Harrier Ci Condos for sale 5440 Eagles Pt Ci # 403 5440 Eagles Pt Ci # 204 1423 Landings Pl 1711 Starling Dr 1543 Landings Bv 1460 Landings Ci 1368 Landings Dr 4802 Kestral Pk Ci 1708 Kestral Pk Dr 1623 Starling Dr 1618 Starling Dr 1600 Starling Dr 5420 Eagles Pt Ci # 104 1611 Starling Dr 1627 Starling Dr 1619 Starling Dr 5218 Landings Bv

Price BR BA 1/2BA

649,900 575,000 525,000

4 4 4

3 2 2

0 1 1

899,000 625,000 485,000 449,000 425,000 349,000 325,000 299,500 250,000 239,000 236,500 230,000 229,900 189,000 179,000 179,000 174,850

3 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 2 2 2 2 2

3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

Based on information from Realtor.com, Sarasota Property Appraiser, and Sarasota Association of Realtors for the period ending 1/15/13. These properties listed and sold in the past 4 months by various MLS participating offices.

36 | Island Visitor Publishing, LLC Island Visitor Publishing, LLC • FEBRUARY 2013 • 941.539.0205 • ebstein@comcast.net