April 2018

APRIL 2018 $3.95 U.S.

scenesarasota.com

The

GOOD Life

| STATEMENT JEWELS + CLUB CHIC + FINDING THE BEST |

Meet Dr. Burr Bakke and Dr. Jill Morris Click to View Video

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SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2018

APRIL 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE

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SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2018

One Billion in Assets 25 Years Peace of Mind Yo u r Fa m i l y. Yo u r Fu t u re . Yo u r L e g a c y.

ctrust.com | 941.493.3600 Sarasota | 1561 Main Street, 34236 Venice | 1400 Center Road, 34292

APRIL 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE

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Inspired by you.

Building the future and restoring the past.

Concierge Custom Construction

Remodeling

Project Management

Click to View Portfolio of Homes

Created by us.

3534 South Osprey Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34239 941.924.1868 | NutterCustomConstruction.com

LEED Accredited Professional Florida Licensed Building Contractor CBC 060004

Florida Licensed Real Estate Broker BK3222256 Florida Licensed Home Inspector HI4630

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SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2018

A S P E CTAC U L A R V I E W

of Living

Once you see Plymouth Harbor and meet the people who call it home, you will change the way you think about your future.

You’ll meet active, independent-minded people from around the world — who share a love of boating, a passion for helping others, and a natural spirit of friendship.

Our view on whole person wellness emphasizes a multi-dimensional approach maintaining broad interests and a healthy lifestyle for an active mind and body. Residents treasure the time they spend in their lovely, spacious apartment homes

– yet appreciate all of the thoughtful services and amenities that are part of the Plymouth Harbor lifestyle. And they love the beautiful setting that looks like a first-class resort, but feels just like home.

If you love gracious living and the finer points of a sunrise and a sunset over Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, then Plymouth Harbor is the place for you.

Come see for yourself – and get a new perspective on retirement living. Call us today for a tour of our award-winning campus, luxury accommodations and amenities.

A S P E C TA C U L A R V I E W O F R E T I R E M E N T 700 John Ringling Blvd. Sarasota, FL 34236 • (941) 365-2600 • www.PlymouthHarbor.org A Not-For-Profit Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC). OIR #88039

CONTENTS features

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109

58

84

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58 GEMME COUTURE Photographer John Revisky

67 WHEN ONLY THE BEST WILL DO Whether it’s investing wisely, finding your dream home, luxury travel, or living the lifestyle you worked hard to achieve, these professionals know how to make sure you get just that.

By Sue Cullen

84 TOWN & COUNTRY Club Chic Fashion Photographer John Revisky

ON THE COVER Photo of model Hana Lyristis at The Founders Club

by John Revisky

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SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2018

Click to View Featured Models

CONTENTS departments

102 SOCIAL SCENE

PHILANTHROPY

23 THE LIST

50 MAKING A DIFFERENCE

April Events Calendar

PARTY PICS

34 Van Wezel Foundation Gala 36 38 40 42 44

Sarasota Ballet After Party Education Foundation’s “The Bash” SCF Foundation’s Avenues to the Future Sarasota Scene’s “A Royal Affair” Bethesda House Mardi Gras Madness Goodwill Mardi Gras Gala

SCENE TOGETHER Couples on Their Wedding Day

By Jacqueline Miller 108 Paige Samson & David Wyant 111 Charles Gordon & Maria Landínez

54 VOLUNTEERING FOR HOPE

97 EAT & DRINK

126 INHEALTH

129 LAUGHING MATTERS

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Putting the .com in Comedy

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2018

The Legendary Café L’Europe

By Sue Cullen

102 SCENES FROM AN INTERVIEW

Discoveries for the Adventurer in You Should I Have My Hernia Repaired?

By Jonathan Yunis, MD, FACS

IMPROVE LIVES Sandi Chapnick and JoshProvides Epilepsy Assistance Foundation

ON THE TOWN

46 THE FIND

Jerry Fleischer and JFCS of the Suncoast

By Sue Cullen

94 A BEACON OF HOPE TO

INSIDER

ONE LIFE AT A TIME Bill & Betsy Roe and Community Foundation of Sarasota County

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

20 Scenes Celebrating Sarasota Film Festival’s 20th Year

By Gus Mollasis

114 EDUCATION MATTERS The Sarasota Ballet’s Commitment to Kids

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

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ART & CULTURE 116 BEST SEATS

Performing Arts Calendar

120 GET INSPIRED Cultural happenings brought to

you by the Arts & Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County

124 LITERARY SCENE Ryan G. Van Cleave reviews books about dance, national parks, witches and a Cinderellastyle tale

Be Informed Be Entertained Be SCENE scenesarasota.com

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Degenerative Spondylolisthesis We speak spine repair

Sound like a foreign language? Not to us. We speak spine repair.

In fact, Sarasota Memorial is a regional leader in this highly specialized area of medicine.

Our experienced spine surgeons are fluent in diagnosing and treating complex conditions of the spine, including degenerative spondylolisthesis (“spon-de-lo-lis-thee-sis�).

We speak spine repair and that translates to the most advanced care and better outcomes for our patients.

For more information, visit smhspeaks.com/spine

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AN EXCEPTIONAL, LUXURIOUS NOT-FOR-PROFIT SKILLED NURSING & REHABILITATION CENTER SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2018

MEDICAL CARE & SUPERVISION

SPECIALIZED REHABILITIATION SERVICES

• Accepts Medicare, Insurance and Private Pay Patients

• Through the innovative Bounce Back Rehab inpatient and

• With its 120-bed Skilled Nursing facility, the amenities and services are exceptional

outpatient program, you can Rehab, Recover, Return Home®

• Personal Physicians

• State-of-the-Art Therapy Equipment

• 24/7 RN, LPN and CNA Staffing

• Evidence-based care & Individualized Treatment

• Licensed Physical, Occupational & Speech Therapists

• Physical, Occupational & Speech Rehabilitative Therapies

• Registered Dietician and Nutritional Management

• Case Management to Maximize Benefits

• Social Services

• AJs Fitness, an onsite fitness center, helps you focus on flexibility,

• Full-Time Activities Director

strength training, balance & endurance for those who have

• Interdisciplinary Team of Experienced Professionals

graduated from inpatient or outpatient rehab

License # SNF130471051

EOE

Click to View Video on Hawthorne Village

CALL OR STOP BY FOR YOUR PERSONAL TOUR 5381 Desoto Road | Sarasota, FL 34235 | 941.355.6111 | www.hawthornevillageofsarasota.com

Click to View Portfolio of Homes

MODEL HOME LOCATION: 3839 POMEGRANATE PLACE | 941.928.7991 205 NORTH ORANGE AVENUE, SUITE 102, SARASOTA LICENSE: CGC 1510640

|

MGBBUILT.COM

LUXURIOUS SINGLE FAMILY HOMES WITH THE CONVENIENCE AND PRICE OF A CONDO C L A S S I C C O L L E C T I O N AT G R A N A D A P A R K Nestled in the historic Granada neighborhood between North Siesta and Oyster Bay, Granada Park has one of the highest Walkability Scores of any new neighborhood in Sarasota. Walk and bike to nearby shops, restaurants, grocery stores and more.

It’s the perfect choice for those who want to live close to Downtown Sarasota and be West of Trail, and for those who want the convenience of maintenance free condo living but don’t want to share walls.

Built with exquisite attention to detail, exceptional quality craftsmanship, superior materials, and unmatched energy efficiency, you’ll delight in these classic homes with high ceilings, rich finishes, gourmet kitchens, indulgent baths, inviting porches and all of the new home luxuries that make your life at Granada Park truly enviable.

CHOOSE FROM SEVERAL CUSTOM FLOOR PLANS & HOMESITES FROM THE LOW $900,000s CALL 941-928-7991 FOR A PRIVATE SHOWING MODEL HOME LOCATION 3839 POMEGRANATE PLACE, 34239

from the executive editor

W

WHILE SHOOTING THE COVER AND FASHION SPREAD IN THIS MAGAZINE, my team and I had the pleasure of spending the day at the magnificent Founders Club.

Just spending the day outdoors, something I rarely do during week days, turned me into someone I didn’t recognize. I realized how much more relaxed and happy I felt, and how much I enjoyed the beauty that surrounded me. Now that, to me, I thought, is the definition of “the good life,” which just happens to be the theme of this month’s issue.

Perhaps it’s the club’s rural location east of the Interstate on Fruitville Road. Dare I say the air smelled cleaner? Maybe it was the beauty of the many majestic oaks, the peaceful feeling of the inviting walking bridge, and the Southern charm of the relaxed clubhouse. Whatever took over my body, mind and spirit was a welcome happening.

Photographer John Revisky captured several of these “good life” scenes at The Founders Club in “Town & Country,” a fabulous spring fashion spread featuring club chic clothes from local retailers. He also tempts us in “Gemme Couture,” with some photos of incredible jewelry also from local retailers for those who can afford some of the finer things in life. In “When Only the Best Will Do,” we’ve got stories on professionals from varied backgrounds on how they can help you achieve “the good life.”

In our monthly education piece, Ryan Van Cleave explores the summer camps at The Sarasota Ballet, which are not only for those who want to become the next Margot Fonteyn but are also for children with no prior dance experience.

There are camps for ages 4 - 7, as well as for ages 7 - 11.

The lessons learned help students listen hard, stay focused, recognize their flaws, and work in a team environment.

Our monthly philanthropy article features the amazing generosity of Bill and Betsy Roe, two inspiring community heroes who partner with the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, and who believe in not only giving monetarily, but being very hands-on with the organizations and causes they support.

Film Festivals in “Scenes from an Interview.” This year’s festival is taking place April 13 - 22. Visit sarasotafilmfestival.com for more information.

Every time we do our annual luxury issue, I realize I am a bit uncomfortable solely featuring articles about luxury that is attainable only to those with great means. I have to remind myself that it’s okay to be able to afford life’s finer things. After all, we’ve earned it, and there are so many of our readers who can afford the best. It is more than okay to buy that $100,000-plus necklace or that Bentley GT. But in my heart, I know that to truly have “the good life,” many of life’s simplest pleasures have to be included. Experiencing nature, slowing down our pace, reading a book, taking deeper breaths, being kind and respectful, and most of all, helping others. And there’s no better place than our town to do just that. Enjoy our incredible spring weather!

julie@scenesarasota.com

It’s also time for our quarterly wedding feature, “Scene Together.” We love doing these pieces on local couples whose stories are as special as they are. We also enjoy giving recognition to the many vendors in our town who work hard at making these events so memorable.

Gus Mollasis revisits scenes from prior interviews with celebrities who have excited our town at past Sarasota

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WINNER OF 19 PARADE OF HOME AWARDS

To View Residences, Click Here:

THE LUXURY. THE LIFESTYLE.

.

There’s much to discover at the most exclusive village in Lakewood Ranch.

With magnificent residences, a splendidly reimagined Grande Clubhouse underway, and enhancements that include indoor/outdoor dining, tennis, bocce, fitness center and resort-style pools, we’re sure to turn a few heads.

We invite you to tour our collection of fully furnished & ready-to-enjoy homes, featuring captivating designs from the area’s premier luxury homebuilders.

MATERA from the $700s VINEYARDS from the $800s LAKE VIEW ESTATES from $1 million CUSTOM HOME ESTATES from $1.4 million

MODEL PREVIEW CENTER: 8307 Lake Club Blvd., Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 | (866) 498-5253 | thelakeclublwr.com ANCHOR BUILDERS | ARTHUR RUTENBERG HOMES | JOHN CANNON HOMES | LEE WETHERINGTON HOMES LONDON BAY HOMES | MURRAY HOMES | NUTTER CUSTOM CONSTRUCTION | STOCK SIGNATURE HOMES BROKER PARTICIPATION WELCOMED. ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS REFERENCE SHOULD BE MADE TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. NOT AN OFFERING WHERE PROHIBITED BY STATE LAW. PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.

R E L E A S I N G

S O O N

DOWNTOWN SARASOTA

Locally Owned and Operated Since 1957 Vol. 61 No. 4

CEO/President Ronald Milton Publisher/Executive Editor Julie A. Milton Account Executive Linda Krysinski Graphic Designer Darcy Kelly-Laviolette Cover Photography & Photo Director John Revisky Communications Specialist & Editorial Assistant Bobbilynn Hollifield Distribution Dick Jackson Contributing Writers Sue Cullen Bobbilynn Hollifield Jacqueline Miller Gus Mollasis Steven J. Smith Ryan G. Van Cleave Contributing Photographers Nancy Guth Kelly Kearns

443 John Ringling Blvd. Ste. #F | Sarasota, FL 34236 941.365.1119 | Fax: 941.954.5067 | scenesarasota.com

5100 Ocean Blvd | Sarasota, FL 34242 | Office: 941.349.3444 | michaelsaunders.com 20

SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2018

RJM Ventures LLC, dba SCENE Magazine of Southwest Florida publishes 12 issues a year. Address editorial, advertising and circulation correspondence to the above address. Sufficient return postage and self-addressed, stamped envelope must accompany all manuscripts, artwork and photographs submitted if they are to be returned or acknowledged. Publisher assumes no responsibility for care of return of unsolicited materials. Subscription price: $12.95 per year, $19.95 for two years.

All contents copyrighted. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.

OOH LA LA!

THE DEF IN ITIVE ART HOT E L HA S A R R I V E D I N S A R A S OTA .

COM E DABBLE IN A CRE AT I V E C A N VA S OF C U R AT E D E X PE R I E N C E S IN THE COLO R FU L HE A RT OF DOWN TOWN .

1255 North Palm Avenue

ArtOvationHotel.com 941.316.0808

APRIL 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE

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Where Casual Ambiance

Meets Authentic Italian

5104 Ocean Blvd. | Siesta Key | 941-349-1423 | cafegabbiano.com OPEN DAILY 5PM-10PM. TASTING MENUS AVAILABLE SUNDAY TO THURSDAY. 22

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THE LIST PARTY PICS SCENE TOGETHER

social SCENE

Sarasota Orchestra Dinner Series 3

The LIST APRIL 2018 EVENTS CALENDAR

scenesarasota.com

Florida Winefest

april 2

Asolo Rep Season Celebration on Stage Hosted by Linda DiGabriele Mertz Theatre Stage 6:30 p.m. $250 | SpecialEvents@asolo.org

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Sarasota Orchestra

PICK YOUR FAVORITES!

April’s calendar is packed with many fun and charitable activities to enjoy before the summer heat swoops in. Wine-centered events are the perfect accompaniment for our magnificent springtime weather, and magical events benefit children. Add in our always thrilling film festivals, inspirational speakers, and performing arts, and you’ll have something special to do every day!

Dinner Series 3 Celebrating “The Red Violin” The Field Club 6:00 p.m. $175 | sarasotaorchestra.org

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Save Our Seabirds 7th Annual Sunset Soiree Selby Gardens 6:00 p.m. $200 | saveourseabirds.org

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Florida Winefest Winemaker Dinner Party Sarasota Outboard Club 6:30 p.m. $125 | floridawinefest.org

APRIL 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE

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The Ca’ d’Zan

The Sarasota Ballet

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Wine Walk to Ca’ d’Zan 6:00 p.m. $135 | ringling.org

27th Season Gala Honoring Sydney Goldstein Performance: Sarasota Opera House | 5:30 p.m.

Dinner: Art Ovation Hotel | 7:15 p.m. $500 | sarasotaballet.org

The Ringling

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Florida Winefest Banquet on the Block Lemon Ave 6:30 p.m. $200 | floridawinefest.org

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Mote Aquarium 32nd Annual Run for the Turtles Siesta Key Beach 6:30 a.m. $30 | mote.org

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Florida Winefest Grand Tasting, Brunch & Charity Auction Van Wezel Bayfront 11:00 a.m. $125 | floridawinefest.org

The Sarasota Ballet

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State College of Florida Foundation Evening Under the Stars SCF Venice 6:00 p.m. $20-30 | scf-foundation.org

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Hermitage Artist Retreat Greenfield Prize Award Dinner Honoree Martyna Majok Michael’s On East 6:30 p.m. $150 | hermitageartistretreat.org

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AJC Florida West Coast Human Relations Award Dinner

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Honoring Barbara Brizdle Michael’s On East 6:00 p.m. $275 941.365.4955 | sarasota@ajc.org

13 – 22

Sarasota Film Festival 20th Annual Festival sarasotafilmfestival.org

14 – 22

Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open Laurel Oak Country Club $100 – 125 | sarasotaopen.org

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Lighthouse of Manasota Art in the Dark Michael’s On East 6:00 p.m. $175 | lighthouseofmanasota.org

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La Musica's Musical Chefs Interactive Dinner Featuring artists Federico Agostini and Ruth Lenz Michael’s Wine Cellar 6:00 p.m.

$175 – 250 | lamusicafestival.org

14 – 15

Through Women’s Eyes International Film Festival Regal Hollywood 11 Cinemas Ticket prices and complete film listing at throughwomenseyes.com Reception only: $75 throughwomenseyes.com

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Hershorin Schiff Community Day School 2nd Annual Goldie Feldman Legacy Event Honoring Richard Hershorin Michael’s On East 11:00 a.m. $118 | communityday.org

Whatever inspires you, this is the place.

SarasotaBay Club Luxury Retirement Living On Sarasota Bay Come For A Visit and Be Inspired – Call Linda Ware or Dana Moe (941) 552-3284 Online At SarasotaBayClub.com • 1301 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, Florida Click to View Video Tour of Residences

APRIL 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE

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Children First Fairytale Ball 2017

SARASOTA SCENE Beginning to End Interiors & Blinds “YOUR FULL SERVICE DESIGN STUDIO”

sponsored events!

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FLORIDA WINEFEST Pique Nique Sur la Baie Van Wezel South Lawn 11:00 a.m. $175 | floridawinefest.org

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CHILDREN FIRST Fairytale Ball: If You Had Three Wishes Michael’s On East 6:00 p.m. $250 | childrenfirst.net

Visit our showroom and see the latest in home innovation

Stan Writesel & Baylee

Alan Gravley & Beau

941.924.4481 www.B2END.com 4453 Ashton Road / Unit C / Sarasota, FL / 34233 WCAA & IDS MEMBERS

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Everyone cares about Alzheimer’s Disease.

We understand it.

Asolo Rep Starry Night Dinner 2017

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For a Photo Tour, Click Here.

COMMUNITY VIDEO ARCHIVES Annual Awards Luncheon Honoring Michael Donald Edwards, Sarabeth Kalajian, Christine Jennings, Murf Klauber Michael’s On East 11:30 a.m. $90 communityvideoarchives@gmail.com

Brookdale Sarasota Midtown is pleased to announce the

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early-middle stages of Alzheimer’s and related dementias.

ASOLO REP Starry Night Dinner #3 Celebrating the production of Ragtime.

Private Home, Lido Shores 6:30 p.m. $250 | SpecialEvents@asolo.org

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GLASSER-SCHOENBAUM HUMAN SERVICES CENTER Collaboration Celebration Honoring three local nonprofit agencies Selby Gardens 11:30 a.m. $75 | gs-humanservices.org

upcoming opening of the Clare Bridge Crossings program.

Specifically developed to help persons with early-stage dementia, this program builds on the growing body of research on aging that shows well-designed programs can help sustain mental functions often impacted in the early to

Every Thursday in April | 4:30 p.m.

Join us for a sneak peek tour.

To RSVP, call (941) 954-1911 today.

Brookdale Sarasota Midtown Assisted Living 2186 Bahia Vista Street | Sarasota, Florida 34239 Assisted Living Facility # AL7099

124571-Sarasota Midtown-0118 SC SR

© 2018 Brookdale Senior Living Inc. All rights reserved. BROOKDALE SENIOR LIVING and BRINGING NEW LIFE TO SENIOR LIVING are registered trademarks of Brookdale Senior Living Inc.

brookdale.com Bringing New Life to Senior Living® APRIL 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE

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PAGEANT April 19-21 7:30pm one crown. six men.

Directed by Jared Walker

may the best “woman” win.

Tickets:$20

ALL

SEGD Sarasota Walkathon

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Child Protection Center

THE

Blue Ties & Butterflies Michael’s On East 6:00 p.m. $200 | cpcsarasota.org

GREAT

BOOKS

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ED) (ABRIDG

Girls Inc 30th Anniversary Celebration Luncheon: Pearls of Wisdom Sarasota Municipal Auditorium 10:30 a.m. $125 | girlsincsrq.org

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Southeastern Guide Dogs

THE PLAYERS FOLLIES PRESENTS

Sarasota Walkathon Payne Park 8:30 a.m. guidedogswalkathon.org

SPEAKEASY

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Forty Carrots

A musical revue with songs, sketches and dances from the Roaring 20s.

April 28th

7:30pm

838 N. Tamiami Trail Sarsota, Fl 34236 Tickets: $18

BerrDirected b y Ay y ers

941.365.2494 ThePlayers.org

Sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts & Culture

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Firefly Gala Featuring Jason Derulo Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota 6:00 p.m. $475 fortycarrots.com

The Ringling’s Blossoms & Brunch

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Argus Foundation Low Country Boil Meet & greet with elected officials Sarasota Outboard Club 5:30 p.m. $100 | argusfoundation.org

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Visible Men Academy Annual Shine On Event 921 63rd Ave E, Bradenton 6:00 p.m. $200 | vmacademy.org

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The Ringling Blossoms & Brunch Supports maintenance & improvements of the Bayfront Gardens 10:30 a.m. $120 | ringling.org

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Junior League of Sarasota Junior League Jamboree: Luau with the League Music Compound 4:00 p.m. $30 – 55 | jlsarasota.org

LOVING HOW YOU LIVE.

Video: How Your Design Becomes a Closet

©2018 California Closet Company, Inc. All rights reserved. Each franchise independently owned and operated.

You dream it. We design and build it.

Make every space your own.

Discover the boutique-like closet created for Eat/Sleep/Wear’s Kimberly Lapides on our website.

SARASOTA 1411 1st Street TAMPA 2906 West Kennedy Blvd

californiaclosets.com 8 00. 274. 675 4

Get the Best Night Sleep of Your Life At Dream Pricing.

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UPCOMING events

OWNER SANDY RODRIGUEZ CRAFTS YOUR ORGANIC MATTRESS IN HIS LOCAL FACTORY TO FIT YOUR BODY TYPE AND WEIGHT, PRESSURE POINTS AND SLEEP HABITS.

LIKE TO ELEVATE YOUR HEAD AND FEET? ADJUSTABLE BASES ARE AVAILABLE AS WELL. PRICING STARTS AT UNDER $2,000 SMHF Golf Tournament

MAY 1 | JFCS

STOP IN TODAY TO THE UNLIMITED COMFORT SHOWROOM AND GET STARTED ON THE PATH TO BETTER SLEEP.

DOWNTOWN SARASOTA’S DESTINATION FOR BEAUTY Hair | Nails | Skin | Massage

6th Annual Tribute to Veterans Awards Luncheon The Francis 12:00 p.m. $45 | jfcs-cares.org

MAY 4 | Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation 17th Annual Golf Tournament Benefits the SMH Physicians Endowment Fund Laurel Oak Country Club 9:00 a.m.

941.917.1286 | smhf.org

MAY 5 | Taylor Emmons Scholarship Fund 7th Annual Charity Golf Classic, Poker Night & Kentucky Derby Party Supports scholarships for Out of Door Academy Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club 10:30 a.m. (golf) | 6:00 p.m. (dinner + poker) $200 (golf, per player) | $125 (poker, per player) temmons.org

MAY 11 | 13th Annual Dick Vitale Gala

Fresh Salon and Spa 1819 Main St. Suite 118 Sarasota, FL 34236 941.906.7709 freshsalonsarasota.com 30

SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2018

Supporting pediatric cancer research Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota 6:30 p.m. $1,000 | jimmyv.org S C EN ES A R A S O TA . C O M for the latest social scene party pics.

To submit your event for consideration, please send information to scenemagazine@scenesarasota.com

The Islands that Once Stood Alone

ARE NOW WITHIN REACH

WATERFRONT ESTATE HOMES WITH HOMESITE FROM THE

$900S

With the new Fort Hamer Bridge, The Islands are now just a few minutes away from Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch and I-75. It’s the lifestyle you’ve always imagined, without compromise. Gated golf and boating community with huge waterfront estate homesites. Individual private boat docks with direct access to the Manatee River and onward to the Gulf of Mexico.

Featuring Models by: Arthur Rutenberg Homes John Cannon Homes Lee Wetherington Homes

941.208.4020

For a Video Tour of The Islands, Click Here.

www.LiveatTheIslands.com

Directions: From I-75: Take Exit 220 to SR-64 and head East. Turn Left at Upper Manatee River Road/Lakewood APRIL 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE 31 Ranch Blvd., bear Left onto Fort Hamer Road and go over the bridge. The Islands gatehouse is on the Left.

INTRODUCING

VIMVEST ADVISORS § “Our investment services are extremely low-cost through utilizing structured exchange traded funds that are globally diversified across 45 free countries and automatically rebalanced.” - Phillip Dickson CD Advisory Group has changed its name to Vimvest Advisors to align itself with the groundbreaking financial app created by its partner company, Vimvest.

The company has plans that are separated into three categories depending on clients’ time horizons. Plans for growth build on proven economic research that allow for growth while minimizing risk. Plans for protection help insulate savings from the vagaries of the stock market to provide guaranteed pension income, and plans for retirement include income planning, Social Security strategies, asset growth protection and tax analysis.

Vimvest Advisors works in a fiduciary capacity and has a buy and hold approach to investing. Its philosophy is based on 50 years of research by three Nobel laureate economists–Eugene Fama, Kenneth French and Merton Miller–who have helped shape modern portfolio theory.

Because Vimvest Advisors values transparency, they promote education, offering two workshops each month. These events are designed to provide helpful information about wealth building and retirement planning, including portfolio management, diversification, asset allocation, fee structures and more.

Vimvest & Vimvest Advisors Margaret Hixon, President; Stuart Dickson, Co-CEO; Phillip Dickson, Co-CEO Justin Bailey, CTO

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SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2018

WANT TO INVEST, SAVE, AND GIVE AT ONCE? THE VIMVEST APP MAKES IT EASY Wouldn’t it be great to save for the things that make life sweeter, invest in your future and support causes close to your heart all with the swipe of a card? The new and revolutionary Vimvest App lets you “vimvest” – automatically direct a portion of each dollar saved toward the goals you select whether they be long or shorter-term goals, and donate to causes close to your heart to help the community you love.

The Vimvest app, geared with Millennials and Gen-Xers in mind, is the brainchild of Vimvest Advisors, a local firm with decades of wealth management expertise and its new technology arm. The app’s unique capabilities have attracted the interest of Kevin Harrington of Shark Tank fame, who is the lead consultant for the app launch.

An Exciting Goal-Based App Designed to Help Young Investors with Savings, Retirement & Giving.

§ 941.925.2121 3322 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, FL 34239 vimvestadvisors.com |vimvest.com

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PARTY pics

Jill Morris, Jackie Rogers & Burr Bakke

VAN WEZEL FOUNDATION GALA The Van Wezel Foundation’s annual gala celebrated 30 years of supporting arts education for our youth. Starting with a fabulous cocktail party with silent auction on the Bayfront, guests then enjoyed a delectable dinner in an elaborately decorated tent as Jim Selinski & well as a spirited live auction conducted by Michael Klauber.

Erin Guzzo The evening culminated with an amazing concert by Barry Manilow, who shared with the audience that the Foundation’s support of the arts for children is what brought him to the Van Wezel on this special evening.

Tom & Sherri Koski

Ali Bahaj, Michelle Mitchell, Kathy Martella & Jonathan Mitchell

Alan Gravley & Stan Writesel

Judy Cahn & Richard Segall Pat Golemme & Tim Fullum

Sydney Goldstein & Vivian Kouvant

Iain Webb & Joe Volpe

SARASOTA BALLET AFTER PARTY Celebrating The Sarasota Ballet’s opening night of Sir Frederick Ashton’s The Dream and David Bintley’s ‘Still Life’ at the Penguin Café, the party was packed with the ballet’s biggest supporters as well as the stars and artists of the evening’s performance. Among the stars in attendance were Director of the Birmingham Royal Ballet and internationally renowned choreographer David Bintley, Music Director of American Ballet Theatre Ormsby Wilkins and Principal of Germany’s Stuttgart Ballet Friedemann Vogel. During the evening’s festivities Director Iain Webb presented special gifts: a Chagall art book with original lithograph to David Bintley, a porcelain statue of Sir Anthony Dowell to Friedemann Vogel and a porcelain statue to principal dancer Victoria Hulland of Dame Antoinette Sibley as Titania.

Donald Friedman & Harry Leopold

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Saeed Elhajoui

Gabriella Maulfain

Haley Burton

THE BASH: AN EVENING OF EXCELLENCE ANEW The Education Foundation of Sarasota County hosted its annual fundraiser at The Westin Sarasota, where guests were greeted by music from the Pine View Jazz Quintet upon arrival. The TOP 25 art pieces from the high school juried arts competition were on display, and during dinner, the art students and their teachers were recognized before a live auction of the TOP 5 art works.

Committee chairs were Sherry and Tom Koski.

Deanna Ainslie

Max Kunkel

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BLVDSarasota.com | 941.316.1499 ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, MAKE REFERENCE TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES,TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. NO FEDERAL AGENCY HAS JUDGED THE MERITS OR VALUE, IF ANY, OF THIS PROPERTY. ALL PRICES AND FEATURES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. ALL DRAWINGS ARE CONCEPTUAL RENDERINGS AND DEVELOPER EXPRESSLY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MAKE MODIFICATIONS.

social SCENE

Dr. Carol Probstfeld

SCF FOUNDATION: AVENUES TO THE FUTURE Held on SCF’s Bradenton Campus, State College of Florida Foundation’s event welcomed more than 225 guests.

The event, supporting SCF programs, scholarships and other needs, raised more than $100,000. Pamela Swain, Foundation board member, chaired the event. More than Jim Kuhlman, Elaine & 60 items were donated for the silent auction, and a live Rod Hershberger auction featured a private dinner with SCF President Dr. Carol F. Probstfeld, as well as a 7-night stay at Grand Caribe Belize resort.

Diane & Maury Kolchakian

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Merissa Mort, Matt Khinke & Lisa Morris Red Reynolds & Joe Picardi

Nati Shabbat & Nadav Gurevitch

Charles & Maria Githler

SARASOTA SCENE’S “A ROYAL AFFAIR” Sarasota Scene hosted a private celebration to unveil the monarch of motorcars, the 2018 Rolls Royce Phantom, at Dimmitt Automotive’s The Sarasota Studio. Guests enjoyed delicious hors d’oeuvres from Cafe L’Europe, viewed the latest Patek Philippe watches courtesy of McCarver & Moser, sipped on organic wine from La Cave de Sylvie, Buddy & Betty and enjoyed organic vodka cocktails from Floh Vodka.

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APRIL 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE 41 APRIL 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE 11

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Paula Crocker, Mary DuBois, Robert Foti, Terry Maze, Jan Tomlinson & Janet Burtnell Sheila & Dennis Charles

Florence & John Rogge

BETHESDA HOUSE MARDI GRAS MADNESS The good times were rolling at the Bethesda House Mardi Gras Madness event. The fundraiser, which benefits the Catholic Charities drop-in community center for people living with HIV, featured a Fat Tuesday Wine Pull, French Quarter Silent Auction, Big Easy Live Auction, and a 50/50 Drawing. Guests were dressed in colorful Mardi Gras colors and masks. The evening also included cocktails, dinner, and dancing to DJ Jeff Fortin.

Dina & Graeme Malloch

(

Father Fausto Stampiglia & Mark Scarmato

LOVE LIVES HERE

As we get older, life becomes less certain. What if an accident or illness makes it impossible to live without assistance? What if it’s time to find a new home that will help meet changing needs? That’s when our community counts on Pines of Sarasota. Now, we’re hoping we can count on you.

We’re embarking on a multimillion-dollar project to bring

much-needed renovations to our aging campus. Every dollar donated will be matched by a $2 donation from the Esther & Harold Mertz Foundation. Please give generously. Our residents count on Pines for everything they need to live with dignity and freedom from worry about their finances. With your help, we can show them love lives here, and in your heart.

Donations to Pines of Sarasota Foundation can be made online at pinesofsarasota.org/Love-Lives-Here or by calling 941.955.6293. For more information, contact Foundation President Janet Ginn at jginn@pinesfoundation.org.

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BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. NOT AN OFFERING WHERE PROHIBITED BY STATE LAW. PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.

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Inola Walston

Bill & Tavia Ames

CJ Bannister & Fred Lopez

1407 TANGIER WAY SOLD FOR $4,800,000 IN ONLY 32 DAYS

GOODWILL MARDI GRAS GALA Guests, dressed in beads and masks, enjoyed authentic Cajun food, open bar, live auction items, New Orleansstyle music, and dancing. Brent Greeno and Ryan Inskeep co-chaired the event with honorary co-chairs Julie and Jaime DiDomenico. Proceeds from the event support Goodwill’s programs.

Bob Rosinsky & Veronica Brandon Miller

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TRUST. KNOWLEDGE. SERVICE. For over 30 years The Plumbing Place has worked hard to earn the trust of our customers and contractors. And with over 150 years of combined experience, our friendly and knowledgeable staff delivers exceptional customer care.

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A N TON Y TUD OR' S

THE LEAVES ARE FADING GEORGE BALANCHINE'S

BUGAKU

SIR FREDERICK ASHTON'S

MARGUERITE AND ARMAND

27 - 28 APRIL 2018

SARASOTA OPERA HOUSE

941.359.0099 | SarasotaBallet.org

APRIL 5–22

APRIL 14

APRIL 26–MAY 13

A dramatic, comedic and heroic journey of the author’s eccentric relations—from the humor of her cosmetichording grandmoter and wife-seeking brother, to her thrill-seeking father who survived the Holocaust.

Jazz and R&B performances by Nu Jazz and Soul Sensations.

Proceeds benefit Take Stock in Children, The Panda Foundation, and Manatee Performing Art Center’s Conservatory Program.

This hilarious musical pokes fun at the Prohibition era in a clash of elegant socialites and boorish bootleggers, all set to the glorious songs of Gerorge and Ira Gershwin.

ManateePerformingArtsCenter.com 502 Third Avenue W | Bradenton 48

Ellen Overstreet & Ricardo Rhodes in George Balanchine’s Bugaku | Photography Frank Atura

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philanthropy

BILL & BETSY ROE

MAKING A DIFFERENCE ONE LIFE AT A TIME

BY RYAN G. VAN CLEAVE | PHOTO BY NANCY GUTH

When Bill and Betsy Roe sold their tech-industry manufacturing company and left Minneapolis to live in Florida full-time, Betsy said, “Billy, we have been so blessed in our own lives, I don’t want our lives to be purely about recreation.”

Not that there’s anything wrong with recreational activities, she explains, but rather they both felt a profound need to be actively giving back, making their new community a better place.

To that end, they found the perfect partner in the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.

“We came here and examined all of our options at the various foundations,” explains Bill. “The Community Foundation’s donor-advised funds really appealed to us. We discuss with them what we want from a philanthropic standpoint, and they vet all of our options before making recommendations. They do the majority of the work by guiding how we can best direct our energies into the community.”

Spend five minutes with either Bill or Betsy and it becomes clear that they’re far more interested in being hands-on in terms of their giving back than in simply writing checks. “We’ve really learned that the best way for us to contribute is with our boots on, by doing the work. We love to get into an existing system and then work under the excellent leadership that is 50

SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2018

“We’ve really learned that the best way for us to contribute is with our boots on, by doing the work. We love to get into an existing system and then work under the excellent leadership that is already in place. We have great respect for the people working ‘on the ground’ who are making the greatest difference in our community.”

- Bill Roe

already in place. We have great respect for the people working ‘on the ground’ who are making the greatest difference in our community.”

To begin with, for seven years now, they’ve been Guardian Ad Litems in the Twelfth Circuit, which means that they’re responsible for the oversight and care of the best interests of children who are taken from situations of parental abuse, neglect, and other challenging environments. As Guardian Ad Litems, they serve as legal representatives for these youths in most aspects of their lives, ranging from foster parents, doctors, teachers, therapists, and social workers. The Guardian program under the leadership of Toni LaTortue is an extraordinary program working with dedicated guardians, judges and caseworkers to protect children.

“We’re often the only constant in the lives of these children,” Betsy notes. Understandably, after being such an integral part of the children’s lives for a year or longer, Bill and Betsy have a hard time detaching from the children after their cases close. However, they continue to stay in touch with most of the children they serve, even after their cases close. They also continue to help

philanthropy

the families who often still need handholding while they get their lives back together. More than once during our discussion, Bill notes that the cases are always difficult and often sad. However, there’s great reward in witnessing and being part of the process that assures that the best interests of the children are being met.

Always looking at the positive, Bill says, “We’ve realized that our plan is to help one child, one person, one family at a time. The longer we have experience working in this area, the more we’re certain that we need to start this help at an early age, so that children don’t grow up repeating the same abuse and neglect in their adulthood they’ve experienced as children.”

As a result, Bill and Betsy are very interested in childhood education.

To this end, they brought their interests again to the Community Foundation and were directed to Principal Steven Royce at Gocio Elementary School. They both now serve as tutors there, helping with a new program to support students to become independent readers. Betsy explains that this is an extraordinary program directed by reading specialists Tamara Ellis and Jamie Ward, where

the population of children they’re serving is mostly unable to read, yet after 20 weeks in this program, they’re nearly reading at grade level.

Betsy adds, “Last fall, the beginning of this school year, it was just heartening to listen to Principal Royce be so excited about the results of the summer camp program we funded for the children at Gocio that combined both play and schooling.” The camp, referred to as MESI Camp, assures that while the children are having fun, they’re also being instructed so they do not forget all they’ve learned during the previous school year. As a result of the difference this camp made in the lives of the children and families, Bill and Betsy have agreed with Principal Royce to expand the program from kindergarten and first grade to include second grade and adding a pilot program for third grade. “The program’s growth might exceed our ability to support it,” says Bill, “but the Community Foundation’s there to help bring in others to meet Gocio’s needs. They’re terrific about creating new partnerships and bringing people together. President and CEO Roxie Jerde’s mission is inclusivity and believing wholeheartedly that many of

APRIL 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE

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philanthropy

us can do so much more than one of us, and together we can make a difference in our community.”

MICHELLE CRABTREE Broker Associate, REALTOR® A third-generation local and broker associate since 1982, Michelle is dedicated to serving your needs in Sarasota, Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch.

941.724.4663 michelle.crabtree@premiersir.com crabtreehomes.com

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When I asked how they made the transition from hard-working business owners to hard-working, hands-on philanthropists, Bill shares that their longtime Minneapolis financial advisor, Ross Levin, moved to action when Hurricane Katrina destroyed New Orleans. He paid for his colleagues and clients to go work in the 9th Ward, right at the start of the recovery and cleanup. Bill and Betsy joined Mr. Levin in New Orleans for two weeks. “When I started I didn’t know how to hold a hammer, but I learned to build a furnace box while Billy reroofed.

This was my first real experience working with my boots on,” Betsy reports. “You’ve never seen destruction of a whole city.

The smell of death was everywhere. It was an incredible experience to have people, who had had their entire lives stripped away from them, come up as strangers on the street to hug you and thank us for caring about them and helping them.”

And so they continue—with Community Foundation’s vital guidance and support— to do all they can. Bill says what he loves about Sarasota is that the city is big enough to have the big city problems, but also small enough to get your arms around and hopefully make a difference.

F O R M O R E IN F O R M AT IO N

about Community Foundation of Sarasota County, please visit www.cfsarasota.org or call 941.955.3000.

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SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2018

INTRODUCING

F1 MOTORSPORTS AND THE F1 GARAGE

With four decades of involvement in all aspects of the classic car market, from collecting and racing to frame-off restorations and Concours d’Elegance competitions worldwide, the Cogan family is now establishing a comprehensive, state-of-the-art automotive facility in the heart of downtown Sarasota located on 2nd Street, just off Fruitville Rd. and Lime Ave.

• • • •

Chris Cogan 941.952.8050 cogancars.com

• • • • • •

Exotic and Ultra-Luxury Cars Sales/Leasing and Purchase/Consignment Investment Advisory Services (one car or entire collections) Factory Trained Service of AMG/Mercedes, Aston Martin, Bentley, Ferrari, McLaren, Maserati, Pagani, Porsche and more Climate Controlled Car Storage Restoration and Historic Preservation Track and Concours Prep and Support Detailing – Hand Wash to Complete Concours Detail 16,000sf Modern Facility Fully-Insured, Security and Climate Controlled

APRIL 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE

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philanthropy

JERRY FLEISCHER

VOLUNTEERING FOR HOPE

BY SUE CULLEN

H

aving helped many people as a clinical psychologist over a 40-year career, Jerry Fleischer has found a satisfying balance between enjoying retirement and continuing to use his skills to help others through his volunteer work with JFCS of the Suncoast.

After completing his Ph.D. in clinical psychology at age 24, Fleischer gained experience through a postdoctoral fellowship at the famed Menninger Clinic’s psychiatric hospital. He went into private practice in Columbus, Ga., and was so successful that his group grew to 20 practitioners working in three offices. After recovering from a major heart attack in 2012, Fleischer and his wife began seriously considering what was next in their lives.

“We had been to Sarasota, liked it a lot and decided to move here four years ago,” he said. “We enjoy ballroom dancing and are both avid gardeners with plenty of space to garden here. I’m also a workout nut. I was kind of busy

54

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but not sure what I really wanted to do, and a friend of ours, Ken Marsh, and Rabbi Brenner Glickman suggested I call JFCS. They knew I was a psychologist and thought they could use my help.”

Since then Fleischer has been working alongside others, all social workers, as an intake volunteer fielding phone calls from community members seeking help.

“We are on the front line. Anyone who gets help from JFCS comes through us.

It is deeply satisfying when we can help people feel listened to and understood, as well as to give them hope. Their gratitude is often immediate and powerful,” he said. “JFCS is a remarkable social service agency and provides such a broad array of services.”

JFCS addresses needs throughout a person’s entire lifecycle. Services across six counties include homeless prevention and programs specifically for veterans. It also serves at risk youth, seniors, caregivers, cancer patients, and offers counseling services for mental

health. JFCS’ Building Strong Families program works with children and adults in a two-generation approach.

“People who call are in so much trouble and a lot of it is not their fault.

Some got injured or sick and can’t work, and we helped a lot of people who were victims of Hurricane Irma.

They were out of work and didn’t get paid. Many people who never had problems before couldn’t pay their rent and were facing eviction,” Fleischer said. “We really can use more volunteers in intake, and there is an amazing array of possibilities for people to volunteer at JFCS in many other areas. I find it so satisfying to be able to use my skills and really help people. I’m making a contribution to the community.”

F O R M O R E IN F O R M AT IO N

about JFCS, visit jfcs-cares.org.

To become a volunteer, call 941.366.2224.

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NEW 2018 QX80

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GEM M E CoUT UR E IMMERSE YOURSELF IN SOME OF LIFE’S FINER THINGS. | PHOTOS BY JOHN REVISKY |

McCARVER & MOSER 18k white gold necklace features various sizes, shapes and colors of 122 carats of blue sapphires, 1.75 carats of diamonds and a sprinkle of white South Sea pearls. $59,500 Matching 18k white gold bracelet has 85 carats of blue sapphires and 1.38 carats of diamonds with South Sea pearls. $29,700 5588 58

SARASOTA SARASOTA SCENE SCENE || APRIL APRIL 2018 2018 SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2018

From the Ombre Collection: 18k white gold necklace has 17.42 carats of perfectly graduated shades of blue sapphires and 2.36 carats of beautiful white diamonds. $25,750 18k white gold bracelet cuff has 6.06 carats of color graduated blue sapphires and .73 carats of white diamonds. $9,650 18k white gold dome ring features 12.80 carats of graduating sapphires and 1.13 carats in diamonds. $10,750

McCarver & Moser, 941.388.1331, mccarvermoser.com

APRIL 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE

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THAYER JEWELERS Elizabeth Rand 18k yellow gold necklace, bracelet, earrings and ring suite with alternating Sugarloaf Cabochon Black Jade and Cocholong Opals. $19,500

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Bottom left: Platinum ring with radiant cut diamond weighing 5.07 carats, flanked by two brilliant cut half-moon diamonds weighing 1.52 carats. $135,000

Top left: Platinum and 18k yellow gold three stone ring, featuring one cushion cut canary diamond weighing 7.18 carats flanked by two colorless step cut trapezoid diamonds weighing 1.50 carats. $145,000 Right: Platinum ring with a GIA certified natural color 11.16 carat cushion cut Sri Lanka sapphire surrounded by a halo of 2.05 carats of round brilliant cut fancy pink Argyle diamonds, and a second halo of .43 carats of round brilliant cut white diamonds. $125,000

Thayer Jewelers, 941.955.8820, thayerjewelers.com

APRIL 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE

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DIAMOND VAULT Magnificent statement necklace in white and yellow gold featuring yellow diamonds with white diamonds, Price Upon Request.

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SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2018

Bypass Bangle in yellow gold and white diamonds, $4,990 Flexible Bangle in white gold and white diamonds, $3,150 Criss-Cross Bangle in yellow gold and white diamonds, $7,320

Diamond Vault, 941.921.4016, diamondvaultjewelers.com

APRIL 2018 2018 | | SARASOTA SARASOTASCENE SCENE APRIL

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Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation’s

Annual Golf Tournament

Presented by RBC Wealth Management Friday, May 4, 2018, at Laurel Oak Country Club Two-Field Tournament! East and West Courses open.

Registration: 9:00 a.m.

Shotgun Start: 10:30 a.m.

Format: Scramble Sponsorships: Available

Event includes golf, cart, breakfast, awards luncheon, beverages and a signature player gift.

Media Sponsor

Golf Cart Sponsor

Presenting Sponsor

Helicopter Ball Drop Sponsors

Space is limited, so act now! Sponsorships are still available.

For more information or to reserve your space, call 941-917-1286. or visit SMHF.org Proceeds benefit the Physicians Endowment 64

SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2018

(Fund for SMH staff education)

SYMPLI SEMINAR APRIL 5 2 SEATINGS: 11AM AND 3PM

LOOK AND LEARN HOW TO TR AVEL

SYMPLI WITH 5 EASY COORDINATED PIECES THAT TAKE YOU ANY WHERE BEAUTIFULLY!

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RESERVATIONS APPRECIATED BUT NOT NECESSARY | CALL 941.388.1974

Relax and mingle at the bar...

From its inviting old world charm and sophistication to its timeless, artistic cuisine, let the legendary Cafe L’Europe take you on an unforgettable culinary adventure.

Open Daily for Lunch & Dinner 431 St. Armands Circle, Sarasota | 941.388.4415 | cafeleurope.net

66

ESTABLISHED 1973 REBORN AUGUST 2016

CONTINENTAL CUISINE | FINE WINES | CRAFT COCKTAILS | PIANO MUSIC | PRIVATE DINING | ON- OR OFF-PREMISE CATERING ALFRESCO SARASOTA SCENE | DINING APRIL 2018

WHEN ONLY

The Best WILL DO

| ARTICLES BY SUE CULLEN |

When it comes to the way we live, if we can afford the best, we want the best. Whether it’s investing wisely, finding your dream home, luxury travel, or living the lifestyle you worked hard to achieve, the professionals featured in this section know how to make sure you get just that.

SELECT ARTICLE PHOTOS BY JOHN REVISKY AND NANCY GUTH

APRIL 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE

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LIVING LIFE BEAUTIFULLY

THE FOUNDERS CLUB AND THE FOUNDERS GOLF CLUB Teeming with natural tropical beauty and old Florida charm, The Founders Club community and The Founders Golf Club provide residents and members the experience expected of an exclusive private enclave. Nestled within 700 acres, the feeling upon entering is one of spaciousness and graciousness that fosters the kind of ease only the good life can engender.

“The first thing you notice is the preservation of the foliage with the majestic 100-year-old oaks draped with Spanish moss, beautiful lakes, wooden bridges and the native palm trees. There is a relaxing Old Florida feel throughout the community,” said Juliette Valin, Director of Membership. “Even though The Founders Club has only been around since 2005 and is just 20 minutes from downtown Sarasota, you get the feeling of being back in time.”

Generous setbacks for stately homes from 2,500 to 8,000 square feet preserve privacy while offering unobstructed views of the signature Robert Trent Jones, Jr., 18-hole golf course. “The master plan was designed to set homes back from the 68

SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2018

road and the golf course so, as you travel through the community, you immediately notice that the homes are not crowded in.

Beautiful landscaping buffers homes and course alike,” Valin said. “You can sit on the lanai and enjoy the golf course view without feeling like the players are on top of you.” The community has only 262 home sites. In addition to re-sales and model homes for sale, more than 50 lots remain available, mostly through London Bay Homes, she said.

The Founders Golf Club is the community’s centerpiece, although membership is not required. About 60 percent of the membership, which is limited to 275 golf members, are not community residents but have joined to enjoy the Club’s premier amenities. No tee times are ever required, and the Club has one of the only caddie programs in the area. A one-acre practice and training facility is equipped with FlightScope Technology and instruction is available from PGA professionals. It is the only club in Sarasota County to offer Level 3 Titleist Professional Institute training, and the driving range even uses Titleist Pro-VI golf balls.

The course is challenging for seasoned golfers while also accommodating others with nine different tee combinations.

The 18-holes, which were designed in the Scottish Links tradition, are a par 72 and 7,094 yards in length from the black tees and 5,085 yards from the gold tees. Its most challenging tee position offers a rating of 74.4 and a slope of 143.

“The course is very walkable, and a lot of people like the ability to do that. We also have a Women’s Golf Association and organized men’s games and member groups always welcome new members,” Valin said. “What makes the course enjoyable for all levels is that the fairways are wide at the tees, but narrower and designed to reward more precise play at the greens.” A weekly complimentary clinic for children is also offered.

In addition, the Club offers a USPTA/ USPTR certified tennis professional for the community’s night-lit Har-Tru clay tennis courts, who works with members individually and holds complimentary weekly clinics for adults and children. A 24-hour private fitness facility is included and membership offers free access to weekly fitness training, yoga and Pilates

classes. Social memberships are available, too.

“The food is incredible and always top-notch.

Oysters on the half shell and tuna sashimi are favorites at our social and golfing events,” Valin said. “So much attention is paid to the details. At our recent Scotsman Member-Guest Tournament, the landscape team went all out to be sure everything was absolutely perfect.”

What truly sets The Founders Club and The Founders Golf Club apart are the camaraderie and the welcoming warmth of residents, members and staff as well as the devotion to a very high level of service. “From the time you enter the guarded gate, you can see that service is paramount. Our staff to member ratio is high so service is very personalized, which is harder to do at larger clubs,” Valin said. “Our members are addressed by name and the staff remembers what they like. When you walk in and the bartender is already preparing the drink you enjoy, that higher level of service is very evident.”

To connect with The Founders Golf Club, call 941.371.9720 or visit thefoundersgolfclub.com.

For The Founders Club – London Bay Builders, call 866-589-3998 or visit thefoundersclub.com.

Juliette Valin, Membership Director & Humberto Vainieri, President, Club Board

Click to take Video Tour of Club APRIL 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE

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A PARTNER IN WEALTH BUILDING J.L. BAINBRIDGE & COMPANY

“Fay and I started this in 1981 in a spare bedroom. We were managing about $2 million for 37 clients and today we’ve grown to more than $700 million in assets under management,” said Jerry Bainbridge, who serves as the firm’s President. “We have a love for investing; when we got out of college we put together $500, and by 1980, our investments were worth over $1 million.

This business is great because we really get to know and help people, and that is very rewarding.”

The company (941.365.3435/jlbainbridge. com) aims to deliver double-digit compound average returns over each five-year term through a conservative, long-term approach. This entails investing in quality growth companies that are at the top of their industries, demonstrate 70

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"

The company aims to deliver double-digit compound average returns over each fiveyear term through a conservative, long-term approach.

"

Nestled in the heart of downtown Sarasota, J.L. Bainbridge & Company, Inc. is a highly respected boutique wealth management firm that was founded on time-tested investment strategies and long-term client relationships. Founders Jerry and Fay Ellen Bainbridge grew the company through groundbreaking clientcentric initiatives that, more than 30 years later, are just now being implemented as best practices by others in wealth management.

exceptional financial strength, have a record of double-digit earnings growth and are fairly priced. The firm’s portfolio managers, which includes the Bainbridges, Joel Oldham, John Leeming, CFP®, and D. Ryan Thompson, CPA, conduct all research on individual equities. Every buy or sell decision is made unanimously by the firm’s investment committee.

“It’s not unusual for us to hold stocks for five years,” Bainbridge said. “Even in the 2008 and 2009 downturn, our phone was not ringing off the hook. Clients trust our investment philosophy and know that our approach will see them through times of uncertainty.”

All clients–whether at or near retirement or interested in building their nest eggs– have a dedicated portfolio manager who is available to discuss investments with them directly. J.L. Bainbridge also has a fiduciary responsibility that ensures the interests of clients always come first.

Additionally, all J.L. Bainbridge services are on a flat fee basis. And if clients aren’t completely satisfied, fees will be refunded.

“There has always been a desire for a oneto-one relationship with clients, and we don’t sell anything or take commissions.

The Bainbridges saw the value of having a fee-only relationship 30 years ago, and that’s where everyone is trying to go now,” Leeming said. “It’s rewarding that many of our clients have been with us through thick and thin and recognize that we work every day to be sure there is growth in their portfolios.”

Clients retain complete control of their assets, which are held in individual

Back Row: D. Ryan Thompson, John Leeming, Joel Oldham. Front Row: Jerry & Fay Bainbridge. accounts by Charles Schwab. This means funds are never comingled and clients benefit from significant regulatory oversight and 24-hour access to their accounts through Schwab’s secure account portal.

Regular communication is also a priority. Monthly client newsletters, along with mid-year and annual reports, provide insight about investments. Clients also receive reports from Schwab, and J.L. Bainbridge advisors are readily accessible to address questions or concerns. “We don’t have layers of people to go through to get answers. Our clients even have the cell numbers of the people who manage their investments,” Thompson said.

“The level of transparency is exceptional.” That transparency extends beyond current clients. Anyone can get a report of the firm’s investment results via the website.

With such a strong emphasis on openness and accessibility, creating a welcoming atmosphere is paramount, and the J.L. Bainbridge team is unanimous in crediting Fay Ellen Bainbridge with doing just that. The office has a warm atmosphere and

reflects the Bainbridges’ love for the local community, as much of the artwork came from the Downtown Merchants Association.

“When we built this building, I said if we are going to come to work here every day, it’s going to look like home,” she said. “We like to have clients and prospective new clients come and visit us in the office.”

Clients and prospective clients also are put at ease because the professionals at J.L. Bainbridge are well known through their active service on nonprofit boards and other community involvement with causes important to them. “We got into this business to help people, and we believe in giving back,” Oldham said. “All of us get deeply involved with our clients and their families. In a lot of cases, they think of us as friends and trusted confidants. We are really good listeners who know that everyone’s goals are different, and we want to be a partner who helps them achieve those goals.”

For detailed information about the J.L. Bainbridge investing program, please visit the website: www.JLBainbridge.com.

APRIL 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE

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LUXURY TRAVEL

REDEFINED

SILVESTRI TRAVEL

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Lisa Silvestri Luxury travelers have moved beyond simply ticking items off their bucket lists or indulging in ultimate foodie and wine experiences. Today’s high-end traveler not only seeks money-is-noobject experiences, but also desires to give back and truly experience other ways of life in a socially conscious manner.

“Luxury travelers set the pace for travel everywhere, and they are now beyond just experiential travel. It’s about unique experiences like being alone in the Sistine Chapel with just your guide, and people also want to live these really localized experiences,” said Lisa Silvestri of Silvestri Travel. “They want to feel like they are part of the culture and the community rather than just being off the beaten track. People want to stay in homes in the heart of town and join the local community in the traditional evening walk about town.”

Having the knowledge and expertise to create that kind of experience is one of the reasons travel agencies like Silvestri Travel (941.966.6535/ silvestritravel.com) thrive in a world of online booking. “When we get a travel request, we talk with everyone who will be on the trip individually, and based on that, we put together a trip that will provide the perfect experiences for everyone. It’s about making each person’s experience be what is driving him or her,” Silvestri said. “We always plan surprises for them whether it’s an after hours visit to a museum with a private guide, having the chef personally working with them and cooking for them at a restaurant, or being picked up in a vintage car and going to the palace for tea with the maharaja.”

One couple for whom she planned a 25th anniversary trip to Peru was surprised at Machu Picchu with a vow renewal ceremony conducted by a shaman in the Sacred Valley. Silvestri understands how to create exquisite travel because she is a passionate world traveler herself, starting at age 17 when she sailed around the

world. While she often books luxury travel in the U.S., international luxury travel remains hot.

“Italy is always huge, of course. Iceland is very hot right now. People want to see the Northern Lights, and there are a lot of unique things to do like glacial hiking, hot springs, and horseback riding with the wild horses,” she said. “The ultimate exotic destination is Sri Lanka. It really has been left untouched for decades because of the war. From beaches to coffee plantations in the mountains, it’s a very Zen country and is an up and coming place for people to go.”

Luxury travelers also are looking to give back and, wherever they are, retain their social consciousness. “People don’t go for elephant rides these days, but want to go to a sanctuary and be close to them,” Silvestri said. “They’d rather feed them, give them a bath or ‘adopt’ them than ride them.”

Building travel experiences around hobbies and avocations–from baseball to piloting airplanes–is one of Silvestri’s fortes, and she has developed a significant niche in motorsports experiences for those who love cars and motorcycles. “There are Formula 1 races anywhere in the world or we can arrange for someone to have their own experience driving on a major race track in a Ferrari or Lamborghini,” she said. “Whatever your passion, we can add an experience anywhere in the world from a sporting event and hanging out with the players to a four-wheel event.”

Another aspect of luxury travel is making it a hassle-free experience from booking to homecoming. “I make sure what is in my control is as seamless as possible and am always on top of it if something happens and they need me while they are away,” Silvestri said. “I am totally invested in whatever my client is doing. Whether it’s a Disney cruise or independent foreign travel to some exotic destination, I am there for my clients, who many times turn into friends.”

APRIL 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE

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LUXURIOUS LIVING STEPHANIE CHURCH

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With Sarasota piling up top national honors as one of the best places to live and retire, the real estate market has heated up with a wide variety of exceptional properties available, and navigating our ever evolving market requires an exceptional real estate professional.

Stephanie Church, a broker-associate and Coldwell Banker Global Luxury property specialist in the Longboat Key office (941.724.5448, StephanieChurch.com), has an upbeat view of the current season during which she’s been busy closing on a number of high-end properties and representing some very special listings.

“Season has been really good this year, and more stable than in 2017. Properties under $2 million are very active while any property up to $500,000 in good condition and priced properly is not lasting long,” Church said.

“Above $5 million is not quite as active but still good, and we seem to have gotten a few more high price properties, such as the $26 million home in the Longboat Key Club’s Regents Court enclave.”

Church has often landed among the area’s top producers through her in-depth understanding of the market and commitment to top-notch professional service. Those skills mean she often is chosen to represent outstanding luxury properties, such as two in the prestigious Sanderling Club on the south end of Siesta Key, which is Sarasota’s only single-family gated community on the Gulf of Mexico. One property is an ultra-luxury $12.9 million compound at 8218 Sanderling Road on 3.64 acres. “This property has 304 feet of beach frontage on

Click for Video Tour 8218 Sanderling Road

the Gulf and 306 feet on Heron Lagoon. The primary home is on the Gulf side and a second home has a dock on Heron Lagoon,” she said. “There is also a separate RV garage, private tennis court, and the property is gated.”

Another listing for $2.72 million at 7251 Plovers Way in the Sanderling Club hits notes that appeal to many of today’s buyers with clean, contemporary lines, upscale finishes and smart home technology. “This home has been renovated to the equivalent of new. It’s above base flood elevation, has all impact glass and is a smart home,” Church said. “People love to live outdoors and it is perfect for that type of lifestyle. The home has an incredible back yard with 225 feet on Heron Lagoon.

There’s also an outdoor saltwater pool, fire pit and majestic oak trees and foliage.”

Hot locations at the top of the market include the perennially sought-after Bird Key and Lido Shores as well as other areas to which homebuyers are gravitating. “Lido Shores is always popular because it has beach access.

We’re seeing many people interested in renovating or tearing down older properties there. Bird Key has always been desirable because of its location, and one of my listings there, a $4 million property, was under contract in only four months,” she said. “People are also tending to gravitate toward downtown to be closer to the arts and other amenities.”

At the same time, other buyers enjoy getting away to properties like The Oaks, The Concession and Gator Creek, where Church has a listing for an 8-acre private,

Click for Video Tour 7251 Plovers Way APRIL 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE

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Church sees steady growth continuing in the market, including new construction. “Statistics from various sources show new home starts are expected to increase by 7 percent with the majority of the growth in the $350,000 to $600,000 range,” she said. “Interest rates have gone up slightly, but that really hasn’t had a impact. Home ownership in general is seen to be increasing in 2018 in part because more millennials are deciding to buy.”

Tastes evolve over time and the clean lines associated with more modern and transitional designs for interiors and exteriors continue to gain in popularity. “The buyer pool for modern style has increased and the market is responding with more offerings in that niche,” Church said. “It still comes down to location, location, location though. We have such diverse neighborhoods and architecture to meet anyone’s desires. People ultimately look for what is conducive to their lifestyle.”

Click for Video Tour 7300 Chameleon Way

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A BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCE THE LASER LOUNGE SPA OF SARASOTA

Joshua Englin & Jeff Goldstein

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Joshua Englin and Jeff Goldstein opened the Sarasota location at 5802 Bee Ridge Road in January 2016 with the goal of providing the ultimate in client-focused experiences. Both men’s backgrounds are in the caring professions. Goldstein is a physician assistant and Certified Injector who approaches his work both as a medical professional and with artistry. Englin’s background in nursing home administration has helped them create a relaxing environment that engages the senses to put clients at ease.

“Because of the heartfelt welcome Sarasota provided and because of the talent Jeff has with injectables, we’ve gotten to the point of adding staff and adding lines,” Englin said. “Our growth is also because of the tranquil environment we provide. To us, it’s not just a procedure, it’s an entire 360-degree experience that engages the senses with soothing colors and calming sights, spa music, relaxing aromatherapy and smiling faces. Because we’re a medical spa and a lot of our treatments are subdermal, we want to soothe people to reduce any anxiety they may have through our environment and the level of customer service they receive.”

The experience starts when someone walks in the door and is immediately greeted by a client specialist schooled in the art of client satisfaction who escorts them to the lounge where clients can relax on plush couches in soft lighting and enjoy a large screen TV. The same attention to client comfort extends to the

treatments. “Jeff has an amazing bedside manner. He was born to be in medicine, and when you put all of that together, the more than 70 five-star ratings we’ve received in just two years speaks for itself,” Englin said. “We also are humble and want to work alongside people and provide service for everyone. Our prices are very affordable, which allows us to serve more people.”

"

To us, it’s not just a procedure, it’s an entire 360-degree experience that engages the senses with soothing colors and calming sights, spa music, relaxing aromatherapy and smiling faces.

—Joshua Englin

"

If there’s anywhere we desire only the absolute best, it’s when it comes to looking and feeling our best. Using a 360-degree approach to taking care of clients’ facial aesthetics, skin rejuvenation and anti-aging needs has helped The Laser Lounge Spa gain fivestar reviews and grow exponentially in just two years. And to demonstrate that top-notch care and medical spa services don’t have to break the bank, it offers everything from high-end facials and laser hair removal to injectables at prices most can afford.

This combination of caring, service and affordability has helped The Laser Lounge Spa (941-203-5111/ thelaserloungespa.com/sarasota) grow to a staff of eight, including four aestheticians, a medical assistant and two client specialists. Services encompass a range of injectables, such as the popular Voluma, which lasts up to two years and creates a very natural look. Goldstein also specializes in creating fuller, natural looking lips whether they have thinned out with age or to shape a pouty look.

A variety of chemical peels and facials are available, including a signature Epiwave Ultrasonic Facial for hydrated and glowing skin. Other services include Kybella, an FDA-approved injectable for diminishing under-chin fat, eyelash extensions, varicose vein treatment, cryotherapy to remove age spots, microneedling, dermaplaning, and leading edge laser hair removal.

A new Soprano Ice laser with builtin cooling reduces any discomfort significantly.

The Laser Lounge Spa also carries a variety of proven medical-grade skin care products, such as Skin Medica and SkinCeuticals, which allow clients to continue their regimens at home.

Satisfaction with all of these services is also paramount. “We truly believe that beauty comes from within, and if someone is not happy with the results, even if we feel they are aesthetically perfect, we are a thousand percent on board with making sure that client is happy, although that has actually never happened,” Englin said.

Giving back to the clients who have supported them is important to Englin and Goldstein, who enjoy spending time coming up with extravagant, fun-filled gatherings. In addition to offering deep discounts on services to show their appreciation, creative and somewhat whimsical events such as a Winter Wonderland and Masquerade Ball have featured a concert pianist and concert violinist, large-scale candelabra, and food catered by a private chef.

“We really want to create family-like encounters with our clients because they do become part of our family.

Our end product is top-notch, and we always want to be able to knock it out of the park for them and provide a full service experience,” Englin said. “And they have told us that because of the environment, how they are treated, and the results we achieve, they will continue to come back.”

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THE BEST SMART HOME

Andrew & Andreas Guenther

ADVANCED ESI An industry pioneer in customized home automation, Andrew Guenther, has spent nearly 40 years creating electronic systems that are both sophisticated and simple to operate. Although his business, Advanced-ESI–specializing in electronic systems integration–is based in Sarasota, he and his team have designed and installed systems worldwide with a client list that includes captains of industry and some of Hollywood’s and the music industry’s biggest names.

A Toronto native who moved to Sarasota with his parents at age 14, Guenther was always good with his hands and had an innate sense of how things work, constantly tinkering with everything from televisions and toasters to go-carts, motorcycles and cars. At age 17, he founded his business, and

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then sold the burglar alarm portion for more than $1 million when he was 25.

“I used the money to propel the audio, video and automation business forward. After awhile I got back in the security business,” he said. “A lot of this business comes down to skill and experience along with creativity, taste and design.

In the early days, the only people buying these systems were the very wealthy, including celebrities. That’s how we got connected with those types of clients. It was expensive because there was no product in 1979. We had to make it. No surround sound existed, so we modified commercial movie theater sound systems.”

"

Basically, if you can imagine it, we can do it. If you can’t imagine it, we can do it for you. We will design a system and have people live with it for 60 days.

Then we come back in and make modifications based on how they would specifically like it to work.

—Andrew Guenther

Today Advanced-ESI is a family business. Guenther’s son, Andreas, has worked with him since 2001 and the two men founded it three years ago. The company now offers lighting control, automated window treatments, heating and cooling, audio/video including media rooms and home theaters, and closed circuit cameras and security systems.

“We start with lighting design because properly lit spaces are critical, including art and sculpture. LEDs, linear lighting strips and trimless lighting incorporated into the drywall are popular today. It’s all part of lifestyle. Having proper music throughout the house affects your mood and so does lighting,” he said. “It’s not just fixtures, it’s controlling lighting from windows and having the AC adjust depending on the outside temperature. It’s all important in creating comfort. We tie it all together and automate it so it works itself.”

Systems can activate shades to come down when the sun reaches a certain position or to turn on specific interior and exterior lights to pre-programmed levels 10 minutes before sundown and automatically adjust to whatever time sunset is. “Automation only happens if it’s properly programmed, and when it is, it’s like having another person there to operate it for you. Or, you can override it if you want,” Guenther said.

“Basically, if you can imagine it, we can do it. If you can’t imagine it, we can do it for you.

We will design a system and have people live with it for 60 days.

Then we come back in and make modifications based on how they would specifically like it to work.”

Some of his more memorable projects are home theaters. One was created for a Tampa doctor who wanted it to have the feel of outdoor Tuscany, which they did through the creation of false walls and windows, a stone wall, starlit ceiling and working water fountain. “We can do a home theater from $30,000 to no limit,” Guenther said. “We’re one of only 20 home IMAX theater dealers in the world. Residential IMAX systems start at cheapest is $2.25 million, and only 11 have been sold worldwide to date.”

Voice recognition software is hot right now and a lot of people are requesting it, but Guenther is curbing his enthusiasm for now. “We are doing more and more with Amazon Echo and Alexa tied into the system because people want that,” he said. “Artificial intelligence and voice recognition have gotten a lot better, but it’s still evolving.

I have mixed feelings because it’s not 100 percent accurate. It’s temperamental and not always responsive to your commands.”

Advanced-ESI also has created systems for yachts and for aircraft through a sister company, SkyTheater. “Our philosophy is we do it right or we don’t do it. If you want lighting design, automation and security, we have the guys to do it. It’s not just me.

It’s everyone who works here.

Some people have been with me for more than 20 years. They have a lot of experience, and a lot of skill,” Guenther said.

“What’s really important are design, engineering and execution, which make the difference between a great, mediocre or lousy experience.

When something has that creative element to it, it’s only as good as the creator.”

APRIL 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE

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DREAM WEAVER

Zonda Nellis abstract silk tunic $1,060 Zonda Nellis silk pant $1,015 Lucia Antonelli Coral/Pearl necklace $1,155

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A BEACON OF HOPE

BY SUE CULLEN Out of tragedy, two parents transformed their grief into a beacon of hope for others by shining a light on a neurological disorder that is unpredictable, life threatening and alters the lives of those who suffer from it and their families. The Sarasotabased JoshProvides Epilepsy Assistance Foundation, created by Sandi Chapnick and her late husband, Bruce, offers a caring support group along with practical and potentially life saving assistance locally and nationally for those suffering from epileptic seizures, particularly children and teens.

“Our main goal is to support people and families who are dealing with epilepsy and give them hope. We want them to know that they are not alone, and they have someone they can talk to and benefit from our experience and heartache,” Chapnick said. “There are so many misconceptions, and people don’t talk about it. We need to get epilepsy out from behind the dark curtain and put a spotlight on the issue. People need to know there are resources available, and JoshProvides is one of those.”

JoshProvides’ genesis was the passing of the Chapnick’s 28-year-old son, Josh, from an injury when he fell during a seizure in 2008. Josh had his first seizure in high school on a bus with his soccer team. That was when they discovered the social isolation that often accompanies epilepsy, which results from a disruption in the brain’s electrical activity and affects one in 26 people. “After the season was

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TO IMPROVE LIVES over, the phone stopped ringing. It was really socially isolating for Josh,” Chapnick said. “People also are not able to drive following seizures which adds to the isolation. That’s one of the hardest things to deal with.”

Helping with transportation needs is one way JoshProvides (800.706.2740/joshprovides.org) helps those with epilepsy, including providing gas cards and bus passes or even travel expenses to the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio for additional evaluation. Cleveland Clinic neurologist Dr. Dileep Nair is on JoshProvides’ board as is local neurologist Dr. Ronald Aung-Din. Because seizures happen without warning, JoshProvides also helps children and adults with a variety of monitoring and detection devices. These include watches that will notify a caregiver of a seizure and provide location information so help can be sent. Because many seizures happen to children at night and can result in sudden death, monitors can alert parents. One monitor also provides a video recording of the seizure, which can aid doctors in diagnosis and treatment because there are more than 40 types of seizures.

JoshProvides also assists people in obtaining seizure response dogs to provide assistance during seizures, such as helping to break the person’s fall and lying beside them to offer comfort and protection, Chapnick said. Affording the medications to treat epilepsy also can be very challenging, and JoshProvides can make referrals for those seeking patient assistance. Since becoming a 501(c)3 in 2013, JoshProvides has assisted more than 120 families.

Other vital services JoshProvides offers are community education programs and a monthly support group.

Chapnick is available to speak to children in classrooms to dispel misconceptions and help teachers and administrators recognize that a student’s dazed look

may be the result of a seizure and not boredom or drugs. The support group, which Chapnick leads, connects participants with the latest research, treatment options and community resources. It also serves another important function. “The group is very welcoming, and they have bonded among themselves like one big family,” she said. “It provides a social atmosphere for the children and adults that they haven’t had before. They take comfort in knowing that others are overcoming the challenges associated with epilepsy.”

Group members also actively give back. They share their stories with donors and help Chapnick and JoshProvides’ new CEO Andria Bilan with fundraisers, such as last month’s 10th Anniversary Celebration Dinner and the upcoming Giving Challenge on May 1 and 2. Bilan joined JoshProvides in October and while many know her through her many years of executive nonprofit experience, few know that epilepsy is a cause close to Bilan’s heart. Her two nephews were diagnosed with the disorder as young children.

Other upcoming fundraisers sponsored by JoshProvides include the Family and Dog Walk, held during National Epilepsy Awareness Month in November, and a fun celebrity bartending event. These events are open to the public to learn more about epilepsy and provide support to clients of JoshProvides.

“There is so much negative stigma associated with epilepsy that we need to dispel, and when Josh was diagnosed, there was no readily available information.

Our goal was to provide hope and connections so other families could benefit from our experience and not have to struggle like we did,” Chapnick said. “Once people become part of our JoshProvides family, they reach back to us and pay it forward to help us help the next family.”

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on the town

Eat &Drink DELICIOUS DISHES AND DRINKS + THE PERFECT PLACES TO PARTAKE

Café L’Europe St. Armands Circle APRIL APRIL 2018 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE

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Café L’Europe The Renaissance of an Old-Time Favorite

By Sue Cullen

Ron Milton, Proprietor

Steeped in local history and radiating European charm, Café L’Europe has set the standard for congenial fine dining in Sarasota for 45 years. Now in its second year of new ownership, this venerable dining destination in the heart of St. Armands Circle has been refreshed with judicious renovation and a discerning eye for adding fine foods and wines. At the same time, the restaurant retains the Old World ambiance and menu favorites that have kept diners returning again and again since 1973 to this 240-seat icon.

“Café L’Europe was one of my favorite places to go. It had something different, and a staff that made me feel special every time. The restaurant had a flair and gave me an experience I couldn’t get anywhere else in town,” said Ron Milton, who partnered with long-time friend Joe Balzano and purchased the restaurant in August 2016. “It’s a restaurant made up of family, and when you come in, that’s what you are, family.” That respect for tradition while incorporating a new freshness has struck a chord with local diners who have catapulted Café L’Europe from a ranking of 45 to number 15 of 685 area restaurants and earned a 2016-2017 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence.

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Owning Café L’Europe (941.388.4415/cafeleurope.net) was a long-time ambition for Milton, whose French side fostered a talent and a passion for cooking. Having owned multiple businesses, including one with more than 500 employees for 15 years, he understands that service is key. “We have maintained a lot of the staff, some of whom have been here for 30 years, which says a lot in this industry. I have never seen a staff like Chef Rolando Casillas and his kitchen staff and managers Persefoni Nicolosi and William Maradiaga and their wait staff care and work so hard to put smiles on people’s faces and give them that fine dining experience they are looking for,” he said.

“We know that service and the experience are why people come here, and our promise is to give the best we have to give. We shoot for the stars, and if we’re not always perfect and we slip, we expect our clientele to tell us. I am available anytime if someone feels we haven’t achieved that mission.

We want the chance to be sure that our clientele are 100 percent satisfied with their experience when they leave.”

on the town

In addition to basking in glorious Gulf Coast weather with shaded al fresco European-style dining on the sidewalk, patrons also enjoy soft music with dinner in the Piano Room where jazz vocalist Amandah Jantzen performs on Friday and Saturday evenings during season. Also on Friday and Saturday nights, valet parking is available at the back of the restaurant. A series of monthly wine dinners featuring very fine wines paired with exquisite gourmet dishes have proven popular. So far this year, those have included Louis Latour, Caymus, Insignia, French Burgundy Grand Cru, and an Opus One black tie dinner.

One of Café L’Europe’s unique features is its location at 431 St. Armands Circle, which originally housed John Ringling’s real estate office. Milton and Balzano have invested more than $500,000 in replacing building infrastructure, including air conditioning and kitchen, as well as refreshing its look with new ceilings, walls, chandeliers, bathrooms, carpeting and more. The restaurant also is being reroofed. No detail has been overlooked from new European-themed artwork to new tables and chairs set with fine dining silverware and wine glasses. What remains unchanged are the restaurant’s original warm wood, brickwork, lustrous terracotta tile floors and regiments of wooden wine racks.

Potato Crusted Grouper

The menu is being tweaked, although Milton, operating partner, reassures that perennial favorites like Chateaubriand, potato crusted grouper, Dover Sole, liver and onions, fresh pasta Bolognese, crispy brandied duckling, and of course, the lobster bisque are not going anywhere. He does plan to add a couple of personal Maine Lobster and Gulf Shrimp Salad APRIL 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE

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THE DESTINATION FOR APRIL

on the town on the town

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favorites like short ribs and calamari.

And outdoor diners’ canine companions not only can enjoy a fresh bowl of water but also have their own full canine cuisine doggy-dining menu that ranges from Gustav’s steak tartare to a baked biscuit du jour.

Café L’Europe continues to be a soughtafter destination for private events ranging from birthday parties and business meetings to weddings and fundraisers. Its catering staff also handles off-site and in-home events. Milton invites those planning an event to call the restaurant’s catering coordinator, 941.388.4415, extension 4, for event planning assistance.

“We really are proud of the staff that has elevated our service here to second to none, and if you haven’t had the opportunity to visit Café L’Europe or you haven’t been here in awhile, we hope you’ll visit us,” Milton said. “We really do appreciate from the bottom of our hearts those who join us here, a lot of times over and over again, and who have taken the time to give us such outstanding reviews.”

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on the town

SCENES FROM AN INTERVIEW 20 SCENES CELEBRATING SARASOTA FILM FESTIVAL’S 20TH YEAR

by Gus Mollasis

A

S THE 20TH ANNUAL SARASOTA FILM FESTIVAL APPROACHES, I was excited to ask some questions of Eric Stoltz, whose portrayal of teenager Rocky Dennis (who suffered from a facial deformity) in the Peter Bogdanovich’s film classic Mask always moved me to do what all great films do – laugh, cry and think. Stoltz’s film Class Rank, which he directed, will open this year’s Sarasota Film Festival taking place April 13 through April 22.

I always look forward to those ten days in April when all of our attention turns to the magic of film. It also brings to mind some of the great artists and filmmakers I’ve had the pleasure to share some chats with over the years. But let’s start with some scenes from my interview with Eric Stoltz, the man behind the camera and the mask.

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SCENE 1: ACTOR & DIRECTOR ERIC STOLTZ

“I always look forward to those ten days in April when all of our attention turns to the magic of film.”

- Gus Mollasis

What is the greatest challenge for you as a director that you don’t have when you are acting in a film?

Stamina and self-reliance.

What was it like working with Bruce Dern in Class Rank, and what do you hope people take away when they see this opening night film at the Sarasota Film Festival?

It was a delight from start to finish. I’d known Bruce over the years, and he was always a truly interesting fellow but working with him gives you an idea, a

on the town other in my memory. People weren’t cruel to Cher, but her fame, just like Rocky’s looks, were ever present. It’s hard to imagine dealing with it on a daily basis.

What is the greatest thing you learned from working with Peter Bogdanovich?

An appreciation of great classic films. He would screen films for Laura Dern and me - projected! John Ford, Hitchcock, Wilder, Lubitsch, Welles. Then we’d sit around and chat about them. Of course, he would point out scenes that related to the film we were making, so it wasn’t entirely altruistic, but it was also a great learning experience for me.

How much has being an actor helped you with being a director?

I would hope a great deal. I prioritize performance over technique…although it’s not always my choice.

Why do you love film?

It is the perfect combination of words and music and image.

What’s the difference in the joy you receive from acting in a play versus film or television?

It’s been awhile since I’ve truly acted, but the play is immediate and electric. Film becomes a bit like reading an old journal by the time it comes out. Television is like juggling chainsaws and trying to remain calm.

very slight idea, of how imaginative and creative a man he is. As to what people see in the film, there are hopefully more than a few things they can walk away with, but overall, I would love people to have a good time.

Do you have a favorite scene or memory from Mask?

Well at this point it’s all a jumble, but I’ll tell you what stayed with me. While we were making the film, I’d go in at 4:30 or 5:00 a.m. to have makeup applied, and then we wouldn’t take it off for the rest of the day since it

took four hours to apply. We were shooting in Azusa, California, and at lunchtime I’d often walk around the neighborhood, just to stretch my legs and clear my head. People would see me (him) and shout rude things. Some kids threw some stuff at me – general inhumanity that I found surprising and oddly helpful.

But then after we did the film, I was walking along Central Park South with Cher, and a very similar thing happened with her. She’s so famous that simply walking down the block was no easy task. Those two experiences are related to each

What is the greatest thing you learned from working with Quentin Tarantino?

Quentin’s passion for film is intoxicating, and it inspires the cast and crew. When someone truly loves what they do, it tends to bring out the best in others.

What is the most important part of the collaborative film process?

Being able to spot a good idea no matter the source.

What are some of your favorite films of all time?

Network, I Vitelloni, On the Waterfront, Modern Times, Red River, The Godfather, and Duck Soup.

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on the town NOW, FOR SOME OF MY FAVORITE INTERVIEW SCENES WITH PAST STARS APPEARING AT THE SARASOTA FILM FESTIVAL. SCENE 2: OSCAR WINNER OLYMPIA DUKAKIS What is your advice to those who want to pursue their dreams and how did you keep believing in yourself?

If there is really nothing else you can do, then you should go for it. But if you have some other things that are calling you maybe you should do them, because this is a tough business. I had no choice. There was nothing else I wanted to do. Absolutely. I lived in a hallway. I had no peripheral vision. I had to do it.

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SCENE 3: OSCAR WINNER RICHARD DREYFUSS (PICTURED WITH GUS MOLLASIS) Name some of your heroes of the silver screen who made you want to be an actor?

Lots of people. Spencer Tracy. Humphrey Bogart. Cary Grant.

Charles Laughton, Jimmy Cagney, Errol Flynn and Marlon Brando.

Are you still the youngest man to win an Oscar?

I’m the youngest man to do a lot of things – most of those things we won’t talk about. (Laughs)

SCENE 4: OSCAR WINNER LOUISE FLETCHER Where did you go to create that character Nurse Ratched (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest) who has been named to AFI’s top ten villains of all time?

Somewhere deep inside. It feels great. Milos Forman brought her to life and made her a real person instead of a monster and I got to help a little with that. I’m proud of it – very proud of it.

SCENE 5: WITH EMMY WINNER AND OSCAR NOMINEE WILLIAM H. MACY What was it that drew you back to the Sarasota Film Festival?

And what is the distinction between some of your acting heroes whether they are leading or supporting?

Little films like Door to Door and Stealing Sinatra. We need these festivals. It’s one of the only ways you get them in front of buyers,

on the town particularly for movies of the week. If you don’t see it at a festival, then you often don’t get to see it with an audience.

Regarding acting, I’ve never drawn a distinction between character actors and leading men. There are the movie stars – the guys that do their thing – but acting is acting. I love the great actors.

SCENE 6: OSCAR, TONY, EMMY AND GRAMMY WINNER RITA MORENO If you can only keep one, which one of your major awards would you keep and what is the advice for those out there who are trying to make it in the business?

Probably the Tony. I want people to think of me as one Latino who stuck it out, who persevered and never gave up. That’s my advice. Don’t let anybody take your focus away from what is your vision and dream.

SCENE 7: COMEDIAN JACKIE MASON Tell me where your comedy comes from.

It comes from my mind. Where do you think it comes from? It doesn’t come from anything that has to do with you. You’ve never contributed to anything in society.

You haven’t accomplished anything on this earth. All you do is stand there and look for other people to entertain everybody. You make a living while I’m telling the jokes.

SCENE 8: DIRECTOR PETER BOGDANOVICH Your classic film, The Last Picture Show, was shot in black and white. Tell me about conversations with your friend and mentor Orson Welles about the power of black and white film.

I was a great admirer of Welles depth of field in his films and spoke to him about using new improved color film that would allow similar results. He told me as only he could, ‘You’ll never get the same feeling or depth in color.’ He was right as he was about so many things.

Black and white has the ability to focus the attention and emotion on screen and because of that, performances are better in black and white.

SCENE 9: DIRECTOR NORMAN JEWISON Tell me about the Cincinnati Kid with Edward G. Robinson and Steve McQueen.

I know something about character kid (imitating Edward G. Robinson). Steve McQueen against Edward G. Robinson – the young lion against the old man.

The ending of that picture is one that Hollywood didn’t like. They wanted the hero to win. But when the old man throws down and reaches for that Jack and gets it, it’s quite a switch. I love it when Edward G. Robinson looks at Steve McQueen and says, ‘You’re good kid, but you’ll always be second best when I’m around.’ (Laughs) It’s a wonderful film and it’s great to reminisce about things that work.

SCENE 10: TONY AND EMMY AWARD WINNER BLYTHE DANNER What is your mentoring advice to actresses pursuing their dreams on the stage and screen?

My advice is if you just can’t do anything else, and if your passion is so great that you cannot even entertain the idea of doing anything else, then you must pursue your dream. You have to do it wholeheartedly with all the passion that you have and hopefully you will keep at it and attain the level of success and satisfaction that you can live with. But you must also be prepared for the great ups and downs that are there and be thick skinned and be ready for rejection. And if you find that it isn’t for you, then you can go and open a pet store or something.

SCENE 11: OSCAR, TONY & EMMY AWARD WINNER CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER Like most actors, you have stated your preference to play parts with an evil side versus those that are overly good.

Of course. If you play too many goodie goodies it gets very boring indeed. I mean some of the best roles and interesting people are the bad ones. A lot of very great writers have written very great villains and I think I’ve played them all in my lifetime.

Compare the joy you get from theater versus TV or film.

There’s a huge difference. In theater, it is the one place you must work as an actor to be considered great. It is the place where great writing flourishes. The screen is all about visual suggestions. The less dialogue the better. The stage is for the writer and the actor. It’s where the great poetry and literature comes from. The stage is in front of a live audience. That’s the most wonderful thing – to hear the laughter every night.

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on the town me, my neighbor, my family, friends or anybody, that we are able to have a system in place to help them. There are also mental problems when dealing with the homeless, and we need to have services available to help them so they don’t fall through the cracks.

is interesting and beautiful and super cool, but that wasn’t what attracted me to the story and made me want turn over my life for a year. It was his drive to do things that nobody has done and what we can all learn from that. That is what was interesting to me.

SCENE 14: FILMMAKER RORY KENNEDY

SCENE 12: “INDIE QUEEN” ACTRESS JESS WEIXLER What is the secret to your relationship with Jessica Chastain and how it works in this business that so competitive?

I think we have a sister-like relationship.

It happened very early where we knew we would have each other’s back. We knew that we would always support each other and be happy for each other. This business can be competitive, but I feel it’s so nice to recognize that the feeling of being happy for somebody is actually a much bigger feeling than the feeling of being competitive, especially when you are learning from each other and you’re making each other better. I think one of the secrets or keys to our friendship is that we like helping each other be better and are so proud of each other when we have successes.

SCENE 13: TONY AWARD WINNER BEN VEREEN Film, theater and TV can shed light on important issues. Your role in the film Time out of Mind earned you high praise and was one of those teachable moments that shined the light on the plight of the homeless. What did that film teach you?

I have never been in the skin of the homeless. There by the grace of God go I. I have sympathy and a fear that one day it may be me. My want is to strengthen those who are empowered to make a difference so that if it ever happens to 1 06

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What do you hope people take away from seeing Take Every Wave: The Life of Laird Hamilton?

Obviously it’s a different kind of film than some of the films we just talked about and that was part of the appeal of it. It’s nice for all of us to simply challenge ourselves with a different kind of challenge. In this case, how do we capture an extraordinary athlete on enormous waves and how do you capture a life where it can go beyond the interest of purely the surf world where he’s had such an impact.

One of the things of great interest to me was that Laird is not only known as one of the greatest surfers in the world, but he’s also pushed the sport like nobody else has certainly over the last 50 years and arguably over the last 100 years. So that kind of commitment to innovation and continuing to not only push himself into things that felt scary, dangerous, daunting and unchartered territories, but also pushing the sport in a similar way, are the kind of values that I’ve always respected.

Courage. Commitment. And dealing with life’s challenges.

And in a different sphere those were similar values to the ones growing up in my family. I think there is a lot to learn from these kinds of physical challenges.

In my family, on vacations we would go rafting, skiing and sailing, and just being in nature. For my family, my mother and father, and my uncles and aunts, those were important values. When my Uncle Jack died, my father went and climbed Mount Kennedy as a way of processing that. It’s not entirely unfamiliar to me, his (Laird’s) attributes and what drives him. That question of what drives him to do these things that nobody has done before is what was appealing to me. I wasn’t interested in following a surfer for a year. I’m not a surfer. (Laughs) Surfing

SCENES 15 & 16: LEGENDARY DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKERS D. A. PENNEBAKER & CHRISTINE HEGEDUS Tell me about having Barbara Kopple present the award to you both – she having been both a protégé and colleague of yours who you saw something in and encouraged when she was a young filmmaker.

Christine: Pennebaker encouraged her. I saw Barbara as a contemporary, having met her when she came to our studio. She wanted to screen her rough cut of Harlan County. So, I met her on that day. We had a special situation at our studio where you could project separate sound and picture.

Back in those days you had to find a place that could do both, and we could do both.

Did you both know her piece was one of those special pieces and that she “had it?”

Pennebaker: Yes. We were a different breed. We were not looked on as professional filmmakers because we were using 16 millimeter and all professional filmmakers used 35 millimeters. So right away no one took us seriously. To do it in the face of there not being any outlet, no place you could to take it, show it or sell it. What could you do? We were like people who hunted dinosaurs. And there

on the town were no dinosaurs. And even if there were, you had to be really brave to go on the hunt. Barbara was fantastic because she had such guts and she was so ready to do anything that needed to be done to make a film about people that nobody cared about.

I’m very grateful for everything. As far as mentors, Tom Hanks has had a big influence on me.

SCENE 20: ACTOR SAM ELLIOTT One of my favorite of your films is Mask.

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about Mask?

Watching Peter Bogdanovich work, and also watching his cinematographer, Laszlo Kovacs, work. That was right off the top the most impressive thing for me.

That and working with Eric Stoltz and Cher – it doesn’t get any better than that.

SCENE 18: OSCAR WINNING ACTOR JON VOIGHT

SCENE 17: OSCAR WINNING DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER BARBARA KOPPLE

Who are some of the heroes in film that you admire?

I love the old classics like Mr. Smith Goes to Washington – Frank Capra and Jimmy Stewart. Great director and great actor. But even better Americans. They don’t make them like that anymore.

What did their work mean to you as a young filmmaker giving you that kind of recognition and nudge?

First of all, I had my first screening of Harlan County for Pennebaker and Chris at their place, when it was in rough cut. It was just quite amazing because it was all the people that I revered – Chris and Penny, the Maysles Brothers, everybody. All these people that I loved were there. I was so petrified to show my work to them because this was my first work.

Getting into the shoes of your fear at that point, because you’re up and coming, do you know what’s good and do you trust your instincts?

No. I knew I loved the film. And I loved the people and what was happening in the film, but to show it to people who were just so advanced in their careers and so brilliant, made my stomach have butterflies and that kind of thing.

I was so petrified to show my work to them because this was my first work.

For a more information about the Sarasota Film Festival, visit SARASOTAFILMFESTIVAL.COM

SCENE 19: OSCAR WINNING ACTRESS CHARLIZE THERON Regarding your success and your Oscar for playing Aileen Wournos in Monster, does it still feel like a dream to you? Also, who has been a big influence on you?

Yes, sometimes it feels that way. I take none of it for granted. I never could have imagined everything turning out as it has.

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social SCENE

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COUPLES ON THEIR WEDDING DAY

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NOVEMBER 4, 2017

PAIGE BARRIE SAMSON & DAVID LEE WYANT, JR.

social SCENE

SAMSON & WYANT They first locked eyes as Pine View second graders, and being typical kids of the opposite sex, they paid little attention to one another for four more school years.

Then in sixth grade, David started going out with Paige’s best friend, Johanna.

Paige approved so much of the pairing that she forced David to “propose” to Johanna with a rainbow-colored ring.

She thought David was “really nice” and she told him so in his yearbook. As their high school years went on, they rarely saw one another. Paige was not one to attend parties. David was. After graduating Pine View, Paige went off to Emory University and David went to Wesleyan University and then to the University of Memphis for Law School.

So, just what did happen along the way that would unite these two teacher’s pets to eventually become man and wife?

They did see one another again in 2003 when a bunch of Pine View friends got together. Paige vaguely recalls that night.

David remembers none of it. There’s a photo to remind them, but that’s about it. Their life apart continued. Years would pass.

Fast forward to 2015. Paige, who was VP of Entertainment Marketing at Ketchum, a global PR agency, was living in Los Angeles. She came home for the holidays and needed something to do. Her friend Emily told her that David, now a litigation attorney with Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, was having a party. Despite years of noncommunication, Paige texted David and got herself invited to the party. Paige says when she first saw David she thought “it all just felt natural and right.” David says when he first saw Paige he thought “she was extremely good-looking.” They had their first date the next day and became inseparable. Paige returned to work in LA knowing that a strong connection with David was forged. What followed was a lot of texting, talking, and FaceTiming.

Some health issues for David would bring the couple even closer. Paige spent a month in Boston by David’s side while he

recovered. When they returned to Sarasota, David had Paige’s engagement ring designed. He proposed in his apartment as he played his favorite St. Paul and the Broken Bones song with their dog KC witnessing the happy occasion.

This creative couple had their engagement photos taken at Pine View to honor their history with the help of their secondgrade teacher Mrs. Shea. For their Save the Date card, they hired makeup artist Hendickie Ewen to “age” them with latex faces. Barbara Banks created the perfect setting and photo to go along with their line: “Paige and David are going to grow old together…but first they are getting married!”

For their invitation, artist Michelle Guintu painted them in her signature style with hot pink circles on their cheeks. The painting was also an inspiration for their cake topper.

The magical wedding was held at Selby Gardens. The couple’s first dance was a combination of two songs – Taylor Dayne’s “I’ll Always Love You” and “Sugar Dyed”

by St. Paul and The Broken Bones, the song David played after he proposed.

Paige and David honeymooned at the Four Seasons Resort in Hualalai, Hawaii and then to The Boulders in Scottsdale.

What’s next for this beautiful couple? It’s the much-anticipated August arrival of their “honeymoon baby” boy!

Paige’s parents are Susan and Dr. Russell Samson. David is the son of Betsy Garner Wyant and David Lee Wyant.

Planner: NK Productions Wedding Planning | Venue: Selby Gardens | Rabbi: Lewis D. Solomon | Dress: Monique Lhuillier, Ready to Wear | Cake: The Cake Zone | Florist: Victoria Blooms | Photographer: Ryan Joseph | Videographer: Voila Cinematic Ceremony | Music: Classern Quartert | Reception Music: None Other | Paper Products: Write On | Lighting: Affairs in the Air | Hair & Makeup: Brides by Kelly Anne APRIL 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE

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DECEMBER 9, 2017

CHARLES GORDON & MARIA FERNANDA LANDÍNEZ

GORDON + LANDÍNEZ Born and raised in Tampa, Charles (Chuck) Samuel Squire Gordon’s family moved to Kentucky when he was 17. His family had deep roots in Kentucky’s Mercer County, which was named after his sixth great uncle, General Hugh Mercer, who was also a physician. He died in the Battle of Princeton in the county of Mercer in New Jersey during the American Revolution. The General’s wife, Isabella Gordon, was Chuck’s sixth great aunt. Their daughter, Ann Gordon Mercer, married Robert Patton, making Chuck a fifth cousin once removed to General George Smith Patton of World War II fame. His sixth great grandfather, John Gordon, also died in the last battle of the American Revolution, the battle of Blue Licks in Kentucky.

Chuck attended University of Louisville for both undergraduate studies and medical school and returned to Tampa for three years of General Surgery at USF/Tampa General/Moffitt. He decided to switch to Interventional Radiology, which required another five years of training at USF. In 2004, he joined Radiology Associates of Venice and Englewood after Venice Regional launched its open-heart surgery program. Years later, that’s where Chuck met the beautiful Maria.

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He had just finished a bedside procedure in the Cardiovascular ICU when he looked over and saw as he put it, “the most beautiful woman in the world” drawing blood from a patient. According to Chuck, her beauty was one thing, but her focus, intensity and skill were equally as captivating.

When he heard Maria speak to the patients with “that accent,” he noticed the patient smiling at her, not fully understanding what Maria had said to her, but totally understanding her kindness. He knew then that she would be someone who would make him happy. So, while he knew of her, he wanted to know more, and found himself looking for her, wanting to be near her, and be there for her, unconditionally.

Their courtship of course led to their engagement, which Chuck handled in the most traditional, respectful and genuine way.

He enlisted the help of Maria’s daughter, Valeria Ramirez, to ensure all went smoothly.

He proposed on one knee, declaring his unwavering love and devotion, and assured Maria that he understood he was not only marrying her, but her three children as well. Her magnificent ring with three large diamonds represent each of her children.

Maria, who came here in 2006 from Bogota, Colombia, is currently studying alternative medicine and is about to start a physician assistant program.

The couple’s favorite color is red because of their belief in love and passion, and Maria’s love of red Colombian roses, which are reminiscent of her home country. So, with their wedding date close to Christmas, red was everywhere. They married at the Ca’ d’Zan in a beautiful ceremony and reception shared with their family and closest friends.

For their honeymoon, they are planning a Mediterranean cruise in late spring.

Planner: Jennifer Matteo Events | Florist: Tailored Twig | Officiant: Pat Larose | Photographer: Katelyn Prisco | Videographer: Jessica Overholt | Music: Breezin Entertainment | Hair & Makeup: Kelly Anne | Décor Rentals: So Staged | Table & Chair Rentals: Palacios Events | Glassware & Flatware Rentals: US Tent | Linen Rentals: Nüage Designs | Caterer: Modern Events | Cake: Cakes by Ron | Gown: Calvet Couture | Signage: Signs in One Day

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6/2/2016 6:54:24 PM

on the town

The Sarasota Ballet’s Studio Company – Jonathan Leonard and Evan Leigh Thornton

Education MATTERS

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

THE SARASOTA BALLET’S COMMITMENT TO KIDS Here’s my disclaimer: I like the ballet. No, it’s even more than that. I’m a genuine fan of the ballet, especially when it’s paired with live music as it was this past weekend for the Dreams of Nature event at the Van Wezel, which opened The Sarasota Ballet’s 2018 spring season in a magnificent manner. While my two daughters couldn’t decide whether they liked Sir Frederick Ashton’s The Dream or David Bintley’s ‘Still Life’ at the Penguin Café most, I know what I liked—that there were so many young people in the audience. That’s part of what makes the arts in our area so special—they all get it. Young people aren’t only the performers who’ll be on stage in the future, but they’re the next generation of audiences, too. To that end, The Sarasota Ballet’s Education department has a commitment to young people that is admirable, and it starts with opportunities for kids to try it all out over the summer.

“Our summer camps are for everybody,” says Christopher Hird, Director of Education and Principal of The Margaret Barbieri Conservatory. “No prior dance experience is required. It’s perfect for anyone wanting to learn about dance.” The Step Into Ballet Camp is for ages 4-7, and this June, children will get to experience ballet, creative movement and they’ll even have the chance to design their own costume. What kid wouldn’t get excited about that? Older kids—age 7-11—can participate in the Children’s Summer Dance Camp. The full-day program will include classes in ballet, character, jazz, mime, specialty dance, and costume design. Hird notes that those who see how fun dance can be through these camps often end up joining The Sarasota Ballet School, which runs from August to May each year.

The Sarasota Ballet’s commitment to youth is also showcased in their April 29 event at the Sarasota Opera 1 14

SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2018

House, where The Sarasota Ballet Studio Company and The Margaret Barbieri Conservatory will perform a mix of traditional ballet and new choreography.

For the first time this year, they’ll partner with the Sarasota Youth Opera Chorus and the Sarasota Music Conservatory, bringing together talented young artists from both music and dance. And on May 5, The Sarasota Ballet School will perform Carnival of the Animals at Booker High School. This is

the first time they’ve performed at Booker, notes Hird, but everyone is excited about the opportunity and the chance to use the great facilities there.

When asked what the main difference is between dance in the US and dance in Europe, Royal Ballet School-trained Hird notes that overseas, dance is funded by the government. “In the US,” he explains, “you find that arts organizations are reliant on public support. Perhaps it’s because the arts have a much

on the town

“People will be blown away . . .We’ll create the jungle through an immersive manipulation of shadows, silhouettes, and projections..”

- Rick Miller

Margaret Barbieri Conservatory student Emily longer history in Europe. It’s part of the heritage. Here, it’s more challenging [for the performers] in that many don’t have the means to become a professional dancer.”

But he quickly points out that interest in dance in general has boomed, largely thanks to TV shows such as Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance? Hird says, “It’s enabling more of the general public to see what dance is and can be. It only benefits dance schools such as ours.”

Hird further explains that ballet training is incredibly helpful for young people, even if they don’t desire to one day dance for a ballet company. Why? For one thing, ballet dancers are teachable. They know how to listen hard, stay focused, recognize their flaws, and adjust what they’re doing by taking instruction from someone with superior skill. They’re also great team players. While ballet might seem like a solo event, it’s not. They feed off the energy of others and are constantly working in small or large groups. And perhaps most important, an understanding of ballet prepares you to do jazz, tap, or modern dance, as well as dancing on Broadway or even for Disney. “Ballet gives you movements and terms that other dance forms use,” Hird says. “If you have ballet training, you’ll stand above others in any type of dance.

You can always tell when a dancer has been trained in ballet. Many of our former students who’ve gone to other types of dance appreciate that now more than ever.”

In fact, one of the greatest pleasures for Hird and other dance instructors is when a student who isn’t quite as invested or isn’t working as hard as others suddenly finds inspiration. “You can practically see the switch,” says

Hird. “They develop drive and understand what all the hard work is about. It clarifies the goal for them in a useful way.

It’s so amazing to see dancers who come through that process go on to succeed.”

Above & Below: Students of The Sarasota Ballet School enjoying Summer Camps.

Photos by Frank Atura

What I hope my own kids take away from ballet is an appreciation for how it’s unique. Just watching a great performance shows that it’s possible to say things through dance that are difficult or even impossible to express in words. Plus, ballet has the capacity to touch people on a profound, abstract level. In a world that’s more screenbased and fast-paced by the moment, those powerful moments of beauty are valuable for anyone, from the youngest of children to the oldest of adults.

F O R M O R E IN F O R M AT IO N

about The Sarasota Ballet or their Education programs, please visit www.sarasotaballet.org or call 941.359.0099

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arts&culture

Larry Hamm’s “The Clown” from Theatre Odyssey’s 10-Minute Play Festival

Artist Series Concerts Asolo Rep’s Rhinoceros

Best SEATS PERFORMING ARTS CALENDAR

4/13

The Ringling’s Toni Dove:Spectropia.

FLORIDA STUDIO THEATRE

941.306.1200 / artistseriesconcerts.org From Cuba to Broadway: Sandra Lopez and Paul Posnak April 1 – 2 Suncoast Music Scholarships April 21 James Bond in Cello Case April 28 – 29

941.366.9000 / floridastudiotheatre.org Mainstage Honor Killing April 6 – May 25 Cabaret Shakespeare’s Greatest Hits Through June 10 Children’s Theatre Series The Boy Who Liked Pulling Hair April 14 – 28

941.351.8000 / asolorep.org Main Stage Rhinoceros Through April 14 Roe Through April 15 Gloria April 4 – 29 FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training Much Ado About Nothing Marie Selby Botanical Gardens April 17 – May 6

SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2018

4/8

ARTIST SERIES CONCERTS

ASOLO REPERTORY THEATRE

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MPAC’s Little Women

LA MUSICA INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER FESTIVAL 941.366.8450 / lamusicafestival.org Opera House Concert Sarasota Opera House April 9 – 18 Meet the Musicians April 11

LEMON BAY PLAYHOUSE 941.475.6756 / lemonbayplayhouse.com

arts&culture

4/6

Sarasota Orchestra’s Elina Vahala

Les Paul and Mary Ford Tribute

by Tom & Sandy Doyle April 14 The Tin Woman April 25 – May 13

MANATEE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 941.748.5875 / manateeperformingartscenter.com Broadway Series Stone Hall Little Women Through April 8 Nice Work If You Can Get It April 26 – May 13 Studio Series Bradenton Kiwanis Theatre 2.5 Minute Ride April 5 – 22

THE PLAYERS CENTRE FOR PERFORMING ARTS 941.365.2494 / theplayers.org Main Stage Pageant April 19 – 20

4/13

Toni Dove: Lucid Possession

THE RINGLING 941.359.5700 / ringling.org Toni Dove: Lucid Possession April 13 – 14

THE SARASOTA BALLET 941.359.0099 / sarasotaballet.org Great Masters of Dance Sarasota Opera House April 27 – 28

SARASOTA ORCHESTRA 941.953.3434 / sarasotaorchestra.org Masterworks The Red Violin April 6 – 8 Great Escapes Mavericks of Rhythm April 11 – 14 Pops The Cotton Club April 20 – 21 Chamber Soiree Romantic Wonders April 19

4/19

Van Wezel presents Yo-Yo Ma

NEEL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 941.752.5252 / scf.edu Music Theatre Ensemble Showcase April 16 Bradenton Symphony Orchestra: “Ain’t Life Suite” April 19 Picnic Jazz Band at the Pavilion April 12 Spring Fling Concert: “Step Right Up, It’s Carnival Time!”

April 26

URBANITE THEATRE 941.321.1397 / urbanitetheatre.com Women Laughing Alone with Salad

April 6 – May 6 VAN WEZEL PERFORMING ARTS HALL 941.953.3368 / vanwezel.org Visit website for complete listing of events

THE VENICE INSTITUTE FOR PERFORMING ARTS 941.218.3779 / veniceperformingartscenter.com Semi-Toned APRIL 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE

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WBTT’s Soul Man

April 6 High School Shows Songs for a New World April 27 – 29 Schedule a FREE Assessment!The Venice Symphony Taking Flight April 13 – 14

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941.488.1115 / venicestage.com Main Stage The Grapes of Wrath April 10 – 29 Stage II A Midsummer’s Night Dream Through April 8 Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical!

April 26 – May 20

WESTCOAST BLACK THEATRE TROUPE 941.366.1505 / westcoastblacktheatre.org Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill Through April 8 Soul Man April 18 – May 26

For a full list of this season’s performing arts events, view our annual Arts & Culture Guide.

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Alfstad& Contemporary: Mike Solomon

GET Inspired

CULTURAL HAPPENINGS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE ARTS AND CULTURAL ALLIANCE OF SARASOTA COUNTY

Art Center Sarasota: Cycle 4

MARCH 15 - APRIL 14 Alfstad& Contemporary

APRIL 3 Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

1419 5th Street Mike Soloman: Native Shores alfstadand.com 941-366-6400

777 N Tamiami Trail 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Van Wezel Art Tour vanwezel.org 941-953-3368

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APRIL 5, 12, 19, 26 Center for Architecture, Sarasota

707 N. Tamiami Trail Exhibit: Cycle 4: “Spectrum III” “iconcept: A 10-Year Retrospective” “New Reality” “Real – Not Real” artsarasota.org 941-365-2032

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APRIL 1 - 30 Island Gallery West 5368 Gulf Drive Jeffrey Sanchez Exhibit islandgallerywest.com 941-778-6648

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Island Gallery West: Jeffrey Sanchez

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Traditional Kintsugi Presentation thelonghaus.com 941-952-8279

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APRIL 10 - MAY 5 Florida Suncoast Watercolor Society Gulf and Pine Studio 10101 Gulf Drive FSWS Exhibition: Transparent Show suncoastwatercolorsociety.com

APRIL 11 Marie Selby Botanical Gardens 900 S. Palm Avenue 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

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2018 Dick Vitale Gala Help Dickie V Raise Money for Pediatric Cancer ESPN Hall of Fame Sportscaster and Lakewood Ranch resident Dick Vitale has raised over $21 million for the V Foundation for Cancer Research in the past 12 years to achieve a victory over pediatric cancer. Dickie V will try to shatter his record fundraising efforts from last year’s event at the 13th Annual Dick Vitale Gala to be held on May 11 at the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota.

This year’s event will honor ESPN television and radio personality Mike Greenberg, Florida State University Head Men’s Basketball Coach Leonard Hamilton and University of Michigan Head Football Coach Jim Harbaugh.

“It is hard to believe that we are in the 13th year of our annual Gala. This one is going to be off the charts with honorees Mike Greenberg, Leonard Hamilton and Jim Harbaugh – all dedicated to helping kids battling cancer,” said Vitale. “There will be a special tribute to two special children we’ve lost, Tony Colton and Chad Carr, during the evening. This year, we will break our record and raise over $3.5 million.”

Recruiting some of the biggest names in sports to his Gala each year, Vitale continues to build the support and momentum needed to defeat pediatric cancer. With just four percent of federal cancer research funding dedicated to pediatric cancer, Vitale and the V Foundation are eager to make a significant impact in finding cures for the leading cause of death by disease in American children.

Vitale leads the V Foundation’s pediatric cancer research initiative. His Gala is held each May to benefit childhood

cancer research. Last year, Vitale’s event raised more than $3 million and inspired countless others to support the cause. The V Foundation has awarded $30 million in pediatric research grants.

This year, Vitale and the V Foundation are excited to honor three great sports figures. Greenberg is a member of the National Association of Broadcasters Broadcasting Hall of Fame, a long-time ESPN personality and author of All You Could Ask For, a tribute to a family friend who lost a battle to breast cancer. Greenberg donates 100% of the proceeds from the novel to the V Foundation.

Hamilton, the most successful men’s basketball coach in Florida State history, has led the Seminoles to 299 wins in 16 seasons, and he is a three-time National Coach of the Year. Harbaugh is a 1987 Heisman Trophy finalist, former San Francisco 49ers Head Coach and current Head Football Coach at Michigan.

“The Dick Vitale Gala lives up to Jim Valvano’s recipe for a great day: you laugh, you think and you cry,” said Susan Braun, CEO of the V Foundation. “All this in all-star company leads to an evening of great fun—and most importantly—great help for children with cancer.”

The V Foundation has proudly awarded more than $200 million for cutting-edge cancer research. The V Foundation holds a 4-star (highest) rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest evaluator of charities, and is among the top 4% of cancer charities of all charities evaluated. The V Foundation is a GuideStar platinum-rated charity.

For more information about the 13th Annual Dick Vitale Gala or to purchase tickets, please visit www.jimmyv.org/vitale

LITERARY Scene

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

THIS MONTH, IT’S ALL ABOUT DANCING, NATIONAL PARKS, WITCHES, AND A CINDERELLA-STYLE TALE.

DANCE ACROSS THE USA

by Jonathan Givens Master photographer Jonathan Givens’ coffee table book, Dance Across the USA, represents the culmination of an epic 50-state journey handled over a 90-day period back in 2016. The purpose of this 22,264-mile trip?

Photographing dancers ranging from ages 5 to 61 in national parks and well-known settings/landmarks in each state.

Givens is quick to point out the obvious benefits that dance provides. Physical fitness. Self-esteem. Social interaction and the joy and friendships that often come with it. But he adds that his project reminds us of America’s majesty. “Our country covers a wide variety of ecosystems, great history, and beautiful scenery. With the recent rise in popularity of dance in the public eye, ranging from television shows like Dance Moms, So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing with the Stars, to films (Black Swan, Billy Elliot, the Step Up series) and of course Broadway, we can help harness the interest in dance to foster a rise in interest in our national parks and historic sites. With almost a 20% drop in visitation per capita since 1993, our citizens are focusing more and more on electronic media, while forgetting about the physical experience of our national history and beauty.”

Let’s be clear—the photos are stunning. Givens affirms that they’re all real. No strings. No wires. No trampolines.

No digital compositing. It’s hard to believe it’s true given how so many of the poses are transcendent and magical.

They included anecdotes about the journey (especially about the Mighty Buford, his van) are compelling, too.

Givens’ sense of commitment and enthusiasm is clear on every page.

In short, this not just the kind of coffee table book I’d buy, but it’d be one that I’d actually look at versus stack somewhere to be forgotten. It’s extraordinary. Plus, a portion of the proceeds supports national parks as well as the National Endowment for the Arts.

Rating:

www.danceatusa.com

SUMMERWIND MAGICK

by Rick Bettencourt In this new novel, local author Rick Bettencourt brings together two of his favorite things to write about—LGBT characters/issues and the city of Salem, Massachusetts. Summerwind Magick is an occult thriller that details the story of singer/actress Carolyn, whose future performance career is limited, thanks to her ongoing fears and worries over her traumatic past. Around her is an interesting cast of characters: her best friend Michael and his Seattle software tycoon partner, Carolyn’s manager, a deceased hippymusician, and a lot of witches and wannabes.

I’m a fan of magic, witches, and ghosts, and this book has all three, though many of the “spells” are of questionable nature, which is certainly part of the fun. Warning: this isn’t the Salem witch stories you read/heard about in school. And that’s a good thing.

The story’s a bit slow to start and it’s a thick read with numerous plots happening simultaneously, though Bettencourt’s skill with pithy dialogue, humor, and character development will win over many readers, to be sure. Bettencourt’s own brand of drama and humor make Summerwind Magick a colorful, fun read.

Rating:

www.rickbettencourt.com

AMONG THE SURVIVORS

by Ann Z. Leventhal Leventhal’s second novel is an odd kind of Cinderella story. The girl?

Twenty-one-year-old Karla Most, who learns that her dead mother lied about being a Holocaust survivor. The prince? Fifty-something Saxton Perry, who might just become her lover and protector. But Karla is struggling to figure out who she is and determine her place in the world. Prior to learning her mother’s secret, Karla wore black and had the self-esteem of a victim. Now? She’s not sure what to think.

And a trip to Germany is what she undertakes to figure things out.

Will Cinderella come home to her prince or will she find some other shoes to wear along the way?

While I don’t know Germany well, numerous readers and reviewers note that Leventhal does a skillful job of presenting it on the page. I can add that her depictions of New York life are equally solid and vivid.

Ultimately, this is an interesting comingof-age story. Some readers might not appreciate the level of intimacy and sex that’s described here in Karla’s various physical encounters with men, but the writing is emotionally taut in the right places, and Leventhal is an efficient writer.

The characters are flawed, but she manages to make you care.

Rating:

www.annzleventhal.com 1 24

SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2018

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InHEALTH SHOULD I HAVE MY HERNIA REPAIRED?

By Jonathan Yunis, MD, FACS

WHAT IS A HERNIA? A hernia is a defect or hole in the muscular abdominal wall that allows internal organs or fat to pass through it toward the overlying skin.

When a hernia occurs, one may notice a protrusion or bulge under the skin of the abdomen. The swelling or bulge can be painless, uncomfortable, or very painful. Some hernias present without an obvious bulge, which ultimately will develop slowly over time.

The most common hernias occur in the groin (inguinal and femoral hernia) and in the belly button (umbilical hernia). Many hernias occur in areas of previous surgical incisions (ventral incisional hernias) in the abdominal wall.

risk for ventral incisional hernia development is increased in smokers, diabetics, obesity, and surgical wound infections.

WHY DO YOU HAVE A HERNIA? Most hernias occur because of a genetic predisposition.

Repetitive heavy lifting or other forms of exertion are likely to cause the hernia to present earlier in your life.

Ventral hernias from an abdominal surgical incision will occur in 20% of all abdominal operations. The

WHY NOT HAVE YOUR HERNIA REPAIRED? The risks of your hernia repair should be significantly lower than your risk of leaving it untreated. While this seems obvious, historically one in four people who undergo hernia surgery are unhappy due to problems with chronic pain, infection, or recurrence. These complications are clearly avoidable.

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WHY HAVE YOUR HERNIA REPAIRED? 1. Pain - While most hernias are painless, if your hernia is causing intermittent discomfort or pain, then surgical repair is the solution to eradicate these symptoms.

2. Appearance - Hernias are often disfiguring and an experienced hernia specialist often offers an enhanced cosmetic outcome.

3. Size - The natural history of a hernia left untreated is unpredictable. While many hernias can remain unchanged over time, most hernias tend to get larger. Hernia enlargement over time can lead to a much bigger operation with a more difficult recovery. Smaller hernias are often amenable to outpatient surgery and with recovery that usually will not require prescription pain medicine.

4. Risk of Emergent Incarceration or Strangulation – Incarceration of a hernia is when the intestine is trapped in the hernia defect. This can result in obstruction of the intestine causing abdominal pain and vomiting. After a hernia incarcerates, it can strangulate the intestine contained within the hernia. This strangulation compromises the blood flow to the intestine and if surgery is not performed to relieve this, overwhelming sepsis and even death is a possibility.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO INSURE THE BEST CHANCE FOR A FAVORABLE RESULT? Seek treatment by an experienced hernia specialist whose practice is solely dedicated to hernia repair.

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Hernia repairs are common—more than one million hernia repairs are performed each year in the U.S. Approximately 800,000 are to repair inguinal hernias and the rest are for other types of hernias.

HOW SHOULD MY HERNIA BE REPAIRED? If you have a hernia, you have options.

Surgical options include conventional open surgery, laparoscopic surgery, and robotic surgery. Most repairs utilize mesh in order to reduce the risk of hernia recurrence. Some repairs can be performed without the use of mesh. There are many different types of mesh and it is generally safe when implanted by an experienced surgeon.

All hernias and the people who develop them are unique. There is no standard approach to hernia repair.

Careful analysis of each person’s lifestyle and needs along with the location and size of the hernia are necessary to formulate a proper solution. A hernia specialist will help you make the best decision.

Jonathan Yunis MD FACS Center for Hernia Repair 1435 South Osprey Avenue Suite 201 Sarasota, FL 34239 941.953.5917

9TH ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP GOLF TOURNAMENT THE RITZ-CARLTON MEMBERS GOLF CLUB Saturday, April 28th, 2018

ALL PROCEEDS GO TOWARDS OUR SCHOLARSHIP FUND BENEFITING SARASOTA COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES THAT WILL BE ATTENDING UF 1 PM SHOTGUN SCRAMBLE LIMITED TO 108 PLAYERS DINNER INCLUDED $150 ALUMNI MEMBERS $200 NON-ALUMNI MEMBERS CONTACT SARASOTA GATOR CLUB AT SCGCCOMMUNICATIONS@GMAIL.COM VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.SARASOTAGATORS.COM APRIL 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE

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Photography by Frank Attura

FEATURING THE SARASOTA BALLET STUDIO COMPANY MARGARET BARBIERI CONSERVATORY. WITH LIVE MUSIC BY The Sarasota Youth Opera & The Sarasota Music Conservatory

APRIL 29, 7PM SARASOTA OPERA HOUSE

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Different nationalities represented in our student body

insider

Laughing MATTERS PUTTING THE .COM IN COMEDY

by Ryan G. Van Cleave | Illustrations by Darcy Kelly-Laviolette

T

his past February, a colleague took the three-week Stand-up Comedy Boot Camp through the Humor Institute at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre. I supported my pal by attending the end-of-the-camp evening performance where the students each got on stage before a packed house and let ‘er rip, comically speaking, in an original three- to five-minute routine. My contribution?

Drinking two-and-a-half strawberry daiquiris.

Tripping on someone’s walker as I was en route to the bathroom. And laughing, as a nearby woman frowned and muttered to no one in particular, “like a better-than-thou lemur.”

Side note—I actually went to the Lemur Conservation Foundation this past December to see the holiday lemur parade (spoiler—they do NOT parade but rather just kind of mill around, NOT wearing uniforms, and NOT playing instruments). And I have to say, I didn’t see any particular lemur thinking it was fancier than the other lemurs. But then again, I’m no lemur expert, like this lady apparently believed herself to be.

Back to my McCurdy’s story—I was sorely tempted to ask that grouch if her ridiculous wrap was made out of imitation lemur fur or if it were the real McCoy, but my wife had tagged along to the McCurdy’s show and she doesn’t approve of me doing that kind of thing. I get one public off-color crack per week (at least while she’s around), and I was saving it for a to-do I was planning for the weekend at the Target on Fruitville. They were asking for it—trust me.

After the comedy night was over, my colleague suggested that I sign up for the next Stand-up Comedy Boot Camp. Not a chance.

For one thing, I already have my own regular stand-up performances—I have two shows a week at Ringling College. My students call them “classes.” For another thing, I have Twitter, the bathroom wall of the Internet. The place where the mind of a ten-year-old masquerades as an adult. And yet another reason? Stand-up comedy is super hard, and I subscribe to the wisdom of Homer Simpson: “If something’s hard to do, then it’s not worth doing.”

Seriously, stand-up comedy is not my thing. My comedy works differently. Let me show you. Consider the following: I was driving to work the other day and I saw a sign: “Lots for sale.”

But there was nothing there.

So the joke you just read? While it took you maybe 5 seconds to read, it took me thirteen minutes to write. After that fancy bit about driving, I ran into a destination debate about work/school/ grocery store, so I got up to fetch a root beer.

Then I came back and considered working a comma in somewhere while intermittently watching an old Backstreet Boys video (“All I Have to Give”) on YouTube. And the rest? I sort of pieced it together like verbal Mahjongg while playing with my imaginary cat, Rufus. Yep, I gave him a dog’s name because I’m allergic to cats.

And I don’t particularly like cats either, but I’m simply not creative enough to dream up a panda bear or platypus or something better.

As you no doubt see, my own brand of humormaking simply isn’t conducive to a live performance, I’m afraid. I prefer to wing it when it comes to the guffaw-making, and I’m admittedly slow. Lemur-slow, perhaps. Not even the comedy duo of Les McCurdy and Ken Sons could transform that kind of plodding process into a stage-worthy experience.

Plus I’m totally phobic about microphones.

Here’s the real takeaway and the point of this month’s column: I’m inspired by how Ken and Les give back to the comedy community. I’m inspired by my colleague’s brave stab at the live humor game. To be honest, I’m inspired by the whole flippin’ shebang, including the fashion guts of the angry woman wearing that lemur wrap.

So I’ve decided to start up my own self-help/educational enterprise for the humor impaired. (If the posts I see on Yahoo are any indication, it seems like a HUGE demographic these days.) I’m going to launch it online at TheGreatBigHaHa.com (don’t swipe that sweet URL—I’m still looking for the right GoDaddy coupon before I take on this kind of financial commitment). My plan is to cobble together all I know about being hilarious into a series of online modules.

For example, a module on marriage can show paid subscribers how to write a zinger like this: My wife said I’m totally immature. I told her to get out of my fort.

And a section on one-liners might reveal how to write this baby: When life gives you melons, you might be dyslexic.

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insider A module on the old switcheroo technique (you’ll have to ask Les if that’s a real term or not) could show folks this ha-ha trick: We were pretty incompatible in many ways, it seems. For example, I was a Virgo, and she didn’t like me.

But I’m realizing now that these are the only three jokes I know, so maybe this idea needs to be shoved back in the oven and cranked up to 600 degrees. Or maybe I need to hire a pair of virtual assistants to help, with at least one of them being a stand-up comedian. Though I’m reminded here of comedian Jonathan Winters, who said “I couldn’t wait for success, so I went ahead without it.” That’s encouraging in all the wrong ways.

4420 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota 941.260.8905 www.shellysgifts.com

Monday - Saturday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

I’ll leave you with three of my favorite Homer Simpson-isms, since his brand of humor is like Lay’s potato chips—you can’t stop after just one.

2018 Season Presenter CAN Community Health

theatre O D Y S S E Y

thirteenth annual

ten-minute play festival A collection of original works by local playwrights May 3rd - 6th, 2018 Scene Magazine and WUSF Public Media, Executive Producers

General Admission $25 Students $10 with ID

JANE B. COOK THEATRE at ASOLO/FSU CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

For more information, call 941-799-7224 or visit www.theatreodyssey.org

photographs by Cliff Roles

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• English? Who needs that? I’m never going to England.

• Marge, don’t discourage the boy!

Weaseling out of things is important to learn. It’s what separates us from the animals! Except the weasel.

• Lisa, vampires are make believe, like elves, gremlins, and Eskimos.

That’s it for now, folks. See you next time when we explore that age-old conundrum: Do penguins have knees?

Want to sign up for the email list for www.TheGreatBigHaHa.com just in case Ryan does it? Want to send Ryan your favorite Russian knock-knock jokes? Want to tell Ryan that your college diploma is really just a big receipt? Send it all to ryan@scenesarasota.com and keep your pinkies crossed.

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