April 2022

C years 65 elebrating

SCENE'S SAPPHIRE ANNIVERSARY

+

scenesarasota.com

Asolo Rep's World Premiere Purposeful Pups • Worthy Waters Countdown to Giving

APRIL 2022 $3.95 U.S.

Est. 1987

Cosmetics, Implants and Bite Reconstruction Actual Patients

Smile Makeovers and Veneers

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After

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After

Dental Implant Surgery and Reconstruction

Before

After

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On-Site Laboratory with Master Technicians to Customize and Control Results Implant Dentistry

Cosmetic Dentistry

Orthodontics

Burr Bakke, DDS

Jill Morris, DMD

Cameron Johnson, DMD

• Fellow of the American Dental Implant Association • Fellow of International Congress of Oral Implantologists • Fellow of the American Academy of Dental Facial Esthetics • Member of American Academy of Implant Dentistry • Post Doctoral Instructor of Full Mouth Reconstruction

• Accredited Member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (only 550 accredited dentists worldwide) • Fellow of the American Academy of Dental Facial Esthetics • Post Doctoral Instructor of Full Mouth Reconstruction • Member International Academy of Oral Biological Dentistry and Toxicology • Practicing dentistry for 33 years

• Member of North American Association of Facial Orthotropics • Member of the American Orthodontic Society • Member of the International Association of Orthodontics • Member of American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine • International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology

(941) 877-6816 | SarasotaDentist.com | 3951 Swift Rd., Sarasota, FL 34231

Advanced Care and Dental Technology at One Location Stay Connected With Us

(941) 877-6816 | 3951 Swift Rd., Sarasota, FL 34231

R.G. “Kelly” Caldwell, Jr CEO & President and Jan Miller Senior Executive Vice President & Trust Officer Future Home of our Downtown Sarasota Office, Caldwell Trust Company, 27 S. Orange Avenue

GROWING FOR THE FUTURE

As Caldwell Trust approaches $2 billion in assets under management, accommodating your needs continues to be our top priority.

Our purchase of this 1936 historic Downtown building designed by acclaimed architect Thomas Reed Martin represents the solid foundation, deep roots, and growth of Caldwell Trust. Its legacy in our community aligns perfectly with the solid reputation of stability and strength we have earned since our founding in 1993 - a legacy we will proudly continue in our new home well into the future.

Discover how Caldwell Trust Company helps families achieve their financial goals and personal legacies; providing peace of mind.

BUILDING WEALTH | PRESERVING LEGACY

ctrust.com | 941-493-3600

Bringing a global perspective to local properties.

St. Armands Key | A4519666 | $10,900,000 Kristina Waskom | 941-266-8658

Anna Maria Island | A4524887 | $4,500,000 Kathy Harman | 941-900-9828

Siesta Key | A4527041 | $9,000,000 Brian Loebker | 941-735-4393

Sarasota | A4526783 | $2,595,000 Kathy Valente & Gregory Zies, LLC | 941-685-6767

Placida | D6122145 | $2,350,000 Kevin Mackin | 941-769-0198

MICHAELSAUNDERS.COM | 888.552.5228 Licensed Real Estate Broker

live. dine. play.

27 Hole Championship Golf Course 11 Lighted Har-Tru Tennis Courts 4 Pickleball Courts (end of June) Fitness Centre Professional Croquet Greensward Contemporary Dining & Events

Summer Memberships Available Now!

MAY 1–OCTOBER 31

7671 The Park Boulevard | University Park, FL 34201 | 941.355.3888 x234

universitypark-fl.com

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.

Worried about long product wait times? With our more than $1 million of inventory, you can complete your project efficiently and on time!

Shop our 6,000 sq.ft. Showroom for the Best & Most Extensive Collection Anywhere.

JOHN SMITHMAN, OWNER 5678 FRUITVILLE ROAD | SARASOTA, FL 34232 941.378.5678 | THEPLUMBINGPLACE.COM

SERVING OUR RISING

SARASOTAMANATEE REGION

The USF Sarasota-Manatee campus celebrates SCENE Magazine’s 65th anniversary and shared commitment to serving our growing and rising region.

With campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee, the University of South Florida is the fastest-rising university in America, according to U.S. News and World Report’s 2022 Best Colleges rankings. The USF SarasotaManatee campus features a unique, personalized learning environment-an inclusive culture in which faculty and staff know and support students as they achieve their career goals.

University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee campus 8350 N. Tamiami Trail | Sarasota, FL 34243

SARASOTAMANATEE.USF.EDU

WHY CHOOSE 301 GRANITE & MARBLE? At

301 Granite & Marble Inc. we offer complete

Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling. One Stop shopping for Flooring, Cabinets, Countertops and Backsplashes. We are ready to help you get the kitchen you want at a price you can afford. We will work closely with you from choosing just the right style and material to final installation.

Don’t wait to add beauty, value and timeless elegance to your home.

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LOCATION PAYNEW NEP ARK, APRIL 10 - 17th

G E T TIC KE TS NO W www.sarasotaopen.com For the first time in the history of the event, we are excited to announce that the Sarasota Open ATP Challenger will be held in the City of Sarasota’s

recently renovated Payne Park, located just steps

away from Main Street, which boasts an incredible food, art and shopping scene.

NEW VISION

The Owners of the Sarasota Open seek to implement a New Vison for the Tournament that brings together the City of Sarasota, the downtown business community, and the ever growing population of both tennis players and spectators of the game.

NEW OWNERS The New Owners of the Sarasota Open bring deep experience and a proven track record for designing, managing and growing tennis events.

PAYNEPARK, APRIL 10 - 17th

PAYNE PARK • APRIL 10–17

G E T TIC KE TS NO W GET TICKETS NOW www.sarasotaopen.com

VISIT WWW.SARASOTAOPEN.COM FOR MORE INFO

SCAN ME FOR MORE INFO + TICKETS

contents•features

94 102 72 80 89

celebrating sarasota REFLECTIONS from local notables

By Ryan G. Van Cleave sapphire scrapbook anniversary archives from our 65 years on the scene countdown to the 2022 giving challenge

By Sylvia Whitman

On the Cover

94

98

102

80

from puppy to purpose Southeastern Guide Dogs Creates Dogs with a Destiny

By Ruth Lando Worth the Two-Year Wait: asolo rep’s world premiere of knoxville

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

playing through Movie Shot in Sarasota Recognizes Pioneering Golfer

By Gus Mollasis

Commemorating the “sapphire” anniversary of Sarasota Scene’s 65-year history.

14

SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2022

JOHN CANNON HOMES Innovation and Beauty at every level of luxury

THE KYLIE

MODEL OPEN DAILY 9228 Starry Night Avenue | Cassia at Skye Ranch | 941 383.5886 For 35 years, John Cannon has designed and built homes for families just like yours throughout the west coast of Florida.

When you choose John Cannon Homes, you are selecting an award-winning team with the single goal of creating your home as you envisioned. Build a home that’s customized for you, your family and your lifestyle. Build with John Cannon Homes.

6710 Professional Parkway, Suite 100 | Sarasota, FL 34240 | johncannonhomes.com | CGCA18551

contents•departments

• socialscene • 24

41 42

THE LIST party pics

By Gina Liga

Name Here)?

Asolo Rep’s Starry Night Dinner Conservation Foundation’s Florida Cancer Specialists AAF Suncoast’s Prom Night

48

SFF Opening Party

49

SAM Season Announcement

51

Inauguration Of

110 ed matters The Water Quality Playbook: Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s Transformational Environment Plan

By Ryan G. Van Cleave • philanthropy • 62 working hard to make a difference Mike Horan and the Horan

Dr. Patricia Okker

Family Foundation

scene snaps

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

Sarasota Then & Now 106

120 What Happened to

______ (Insert Famous

at The ADDY’s

52

the find Sapphire Products

Party Under the Stars 46

60

• i n H E A LT H •

April Events Calendar

Bourbon & Boots 45

• insider •

scene together Jessica Luke &

66 when you believe SCF Faculty and Staff Give Back to Support Students

Alexander Taaffe

And Each Other

By Wendy Lyons Sunshine

By Nate March

By Alissa M. Shulman, M.D., F.A.C.S • a r t s + c u lt u r e • 114 BEST SEATS Performing Arts Calendar 116 art scene Visual Arts Calendar 118 MEET THE ARTIST Fabio Dal Boni 123 literary Scene A Conversation with Local Author David Adams Cleveland

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

Be Informed Be Entertained Be SCENE scenesarasota.com

16

SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2022

from the • publisher

“

I t i s a n h ono r t o co m m e m o r at e t h i s r e m a r k a b l e m i l e s t on e w i t h yo u .

or 65 years, Sarasota Scene magazine has been keeping pace with our exceptional community of doers and achievers.

I am so proud of being the current steward of Sarasota Scene. This publication has chronicled the community’s evolution since 1957. As the fourth publisher and owner, it is my pleasure to continue the tradition. Through both boom times and down times, we continue to bring the community positive, thoughtful, and celebratory news, photos, listings, profiles, and promotions.

Many of you have noted that Sarasota Scene is more relevant than it has ever been. A cornerstone of our mission is serving as cultural storyteller, chronicler, and sometimes even the narrator. We continue with our civic focus by supporting and partnering with nonprofits, foundations, and philanthropic organizations across the Manatee / Sarasota County area. We take our responsibility seriously, elevating wonderful initiatives that benefit children, mental health, the environment, secular organizations, seniors, healthcare, recreation, and fitness.

Of course, Sarasota is synonymous with “The Arts” and is a magnet for world class talent that exhibits, performs, and orchestrates our fine shows, events, and experiences.

Sarasota Scene celebrates and shares these treasures through articles, advertising, sponsorships, and promotions.

We thoroughly enjoy being one of the cultural nucleuses in this community. We are fans of the theater, opera, ballet, orchestra, chambers, museums, galleries: in short, drama, comedy, music, and mixed arts.

16

SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2022

H JOHN KNOWLES, PUBLISHER john@scenesarasota.com

Aimee D. Cogan

Forbes’ Top Women Wealth Advisors: 2019 – 2022 Forbes’ Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-In-State 2022 (Ranked #1 State of Florida North Area) These awards are a testament to Aimee’s experience, professionalism and dedication to her clients.

Contact the Bellwether Group at Morgan Stanley to learn more and see how they can help you or provide a second opinion.

The Bellwether Group at Morgan Stanley Aimee Cogan CFP,® CIMA® Managing Director — Wealth Management Wealth Advisor 2 N Tamiami Trail, Ste. 1100 Sarasota, FL 34236 941-363-8515 Aimee.Cogan@morganstanley.com advisor.morganstanley.com/ bellwethergroup/

Source: Forbes.com (February, 2022) Forbes America’s Top Women Wealth Advisors and Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-In-State ranking was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person and telephone due diligence meetings to evaluate each advisor qualitatively, a major component of a ranking algorithm that includes client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations, and quantitative criteria, including assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research, LLC and are not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK receives compensation from any party, including Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC nor its Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors, in exchange for the ranking. For more information, see www.SHOOKresearch.com.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the certification marks CFP,® CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER,™ and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements. © 2022 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC.

CRC 4336812 02/22

CS 294046_2162873 02/22

from the • publisher

During the last year or two of challenges, we have responded by profiling the special people working through the challenges, investing in the smaller nonprofits, and giving recognition and sometimes financial help to organizations on the front line. In turn, we have been gratified to have support from our readers, the community, and advertisers.

A little-known Sarasota Scene initiative has been our Extra Copy Donation Program, which has its roots back in October 2020. At the time, the arts and philanthropic communities were suspending most of their events for the upcoming season. To help the community continue to feel connected, we launched “Scene Snaps.” Readers were invited to submit photos, based on a monthly theme, for publication in the magazine. Soon we began to receive requests from readers for additional copies to send their loved ones across the country.

Rather than charge directly for these extra copies, we devised an approach to maximize the benefit to local philanthropies. Instead of paying us for each extra copy, the reader writes a check for the number of copies they want, at $5 per copy, to a local charity of their choice and we match that amount. Then we forward both checks to the organization, sometimes filtering the donation through a mating foundation—a micro donation at first, but then potentially quadrupling before reaching its final destination.

This program has now been extended to all back copies and all content topics. The charities appreciate the support, plus as an unforeseen outcome, these organizations often go on to continue respectful communication with the donors. Many donors continue that relationship through financial contributions, volunteerism, or event participation. It was their charity choice after all! And together, through this simple initiative, we all support this wonderful community.

Elegant Global Dining

Please join us in wishing Sarasota Scene magazine a happy 65th birthday. It really is SCENE as the people’s magazine.

481GOURMETSARASOTA.COM Reservations Suggested Call 941.362.0400 or find us on OpenTable.com 481 N Orange Ave, Sarasota, FL 18

SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2022

H JOHN KNOWLES, PUBLISHER john@scenesarasota.com

Rugs As Art ...And More!

36

Celebrating great years in this incredible community!

VOTED BEST RUG STORE IN AMERICA

AmericasMart and the Oriental Rug Importers Association

PLATINUM 100 RETAILER Sarasota Magazine

READERS’ CHOICE BEST RUG STORE Sarasota Herald Tribune

BEST OF THE BEST RUG STORE Sarasota Magazine

FRANK G. BERLIN SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Sarasota Chamber of Commerce

INSIGNIA AWARD FOR BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE Sarasota Chamber of Commerce

6650 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34231 South of Stickney Pt. Rd. next to Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse 941-921-1900 Mon-Sat: 9:30am - 6pm Sun: Closed www.rugsasart.com

Locally Owned and Operated Since 1957

EN

E MAGAZ

65 YEARS

UN

DED 19

E

F

O

I

N

SC

Vol. 65 No. 4

57

Publisher H John Knowles Editor–in–Chief Wendy Lyons Sunshine Strategic Partnerships Julie A. Milton Art Director Darcy Kelly–Laviolette Social Media & Digital Content Gina Liga Distribution Mike Straffin Accounting Sally A. Bailey Advertising Enquiries Paul McNamara Call/Text 917.751.6506 | paul@scenesarasota.com

Trust our chefs to prepare your Easter dinner. From hams, turkeys, prime rib roast and leg o’ lamb to fresh salads and extra-special desserts, we have what you need to enjoy a delicious -- and relaxing -- holiday.

Tom Garriott Call/Text 317.797.8135 | tom@scenesarasota.com Sharon Castellano Call/Text 203.984.7577 | sharon@scenesarasota.com Contributing Writers Ryan G. Van Cleave Sylvia Whitman Gus Mollasis Nate March Ruth Lando Contributing & Social Photographer Nancy Guth 1834 Main Street, Sarasota, FL 34236 941.365.1119 | Fax: 941.954.5067 | scenesarasota.com Subscribe at scenesarasota.com/magazine/shop

Serving the Sarasota area for over 50 years Historic Southside Village 1924 South Osprey Ave. Sarasota ∙ (941) 955-9856 MortonsMarket.com 20

SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2022

H John Knowles LLC, dba SCENE Magazine 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.

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thelist

• s oc i a l s c e n e •

1­

APRIL 2022 EVENTS CALENDAR

22

SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2022

13TH ANNUAL TIDEWELL FOUNDATION SIGNATURE LUNCHEON All proceeds from this event will help Tidewell Hospice provide care, comfort, and compassion to more than 10,000 patients and families this year.

The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota | tidewellfoundation.org

• scenesponsored •

1–10

SARASOTA FILM FESTIVAL Held annually in Sarasota, the Sarasota Film Festival emphasizes the best in cinema alongside exciting programs and events, with more than 200 films screened each year including features, documentaries, shorts, and kid-friendly picks.

Check the website for events | sarasotafilmfestival.com

Ready to reconnect with your passions? Start here.

Sarasota Bay Club Luxury Retirement Living On Sarasota Bay Renew Your Inspiration on a Bay Club Tour – Call Mimi Nowak or Dana Moe (941) 552-3284 1301 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, Florida • Visit Us Online At SarasotaBayClub.com

“ Residents can enjoy all the high-end amenities of luxury retirement at the Sarasota Bay Club. ” The 21 most luxurious retirement communities in America. – Fred Topel, MSN News

APRIL 2022 | SARASOTA SCENE

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• s oc i a l s c e n e •

• scenesponsored •

2

WILD ABOUT NATURE FESTIVAL Families of all ages are encouraged to take part in this fun-filled day of nature-based education and exploration.

The wide variety of activities include tree climbing, face painting, hula-hoop lessons, crafts, games, and so much more.

Bay Preserve | conservationfoundation.com

24

SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2022

2

7TH ANNUAL FOODLOSOPHY: A SARASOTA CULINARY EXPERIENCE Featuring some of Sarasota’s best chefs, the community will gather together to raise awareness and funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The evening will include live and silent auctions, an expertly prepared meal and the opportunity to experience a St. Jude patient moment.

The Overton | est.event.stjude.org

6

SPARCC AUXILIARY CELEBRATION LUNCHEON Celebrate the hard work and successes of this year’s fundraisers and outreaches.

Mattison’s Forty-One | sparcc.net

6

BLUE TIES & BUTTERFLIES The Child Protection Center’s signature event is a beautiful evening that local philanthropists and advocates look forward to year after year. This gala has raised momentous awareness and support the mission by ending the silence and secrecy of child abuse in our community.

Michael’s On East | cpcsaraota.org

7

AN EVENING FOR HEALTHY START An Evening for Healthy Start celebrates its 12th Anniversary with a selection of savory and sweet bites, craft beer and wine, great music, silent auction and raffle.

Sarasota Architectural Salvage | healthystartsarasota.org

• s oc i a l s c e n e •

Celebrating

49 YEARS

• scenesponsored •

8

PAWS ON THE DANCE FLOOR The Humane Society of Sarasota County returns to Art Ovation Hotel for their signature luncheon featuring a high-energy dance party, animal-themed shopping, exclusive HSSC swag, live auction and of course, cats and dogs!

Art Ovation | hssc.org

9

CHILDREN FIRST FAIRYTALE BALL Travel into the woods at this year’s Fairytale Ball. Enjoy a delicious dinner and libations while learning about a family in the program.

Michael’s On East | childrenfirst.net

ST. ARMANDS • 941.388.5239 APRIL 2022 | SARASOTA SCENE

25

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9

SCF FOUNDATION’S EVENING UNDER THE STARS

TUMMY TUCKS | BREAST LIFT | ARM & THIGH LIFTS | COOLSCULPTING

OPTIMIZE YOU

FAT GRAFTING | BODY SCULPTING | BREAST AUGMENTATION | LIPOSUCTION

This outdoor event will feature live music by The Pops Orchestra and the SCF Big Jazz Band. Enjoy dinner catered by Fins at Sharky’s, rousing musical performances, and a fireworks finale.

SCF Venice Campus | scf-foundation.org

15-17 Alissa M. Shulman M.D., F.A.C.S.

BOARD CERTIFIED PLASTIC SURGEON

941.366.LIPO (5476) WWW.SOVEREIGNPS.COM 1950 ARLINGTON STREET, SUITE 112 26

SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2022

COQUINA BEACH CRAB & MUSIC FESTIVAL The three-day festival will feature fantastic musical performances, vendor shopping, beverages, crab delicacies and freshly cooked food.

Coquina Beach | fairsandfestivals.net

QUALITY IS A STANDARD.

Consistency

Art.

IS AN

For more than 40 years, Lee Wetherington Homes has

constructed high-quality residential creations that embody

next-level luxury living on the Suncoast. Our team believes a dream home should be a symbol of your creativity, which

is why we take pride in designing and building custom homes wherever you’re located in Sarasota and Manatee Counties.

From the first consultation to a memorable move-in day, we can build your vision into a reality that lasts a lifetime.

941-922-3480 | LWHomes.com APRIL 2022 | SARASOTA SCENE

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• s oc i a l s c e n e •

BLACKBIRD

Pinkerton Theatre

APR 15MAY 1

“...an extraordinary, no-holds-barred drama” ~ TELEGRAPH

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD The Jervey Theatre

APR 15-MAY 1

TICKETS | VeniceTheatre.org | 941.488.1115 15-17

ROSFEST ART & PROG ROCK MUSIC FESTIVAL One of North America’s longest running and most beloved art rock music festivals, featuring 166 bands from around the globe.

Sarasota Opera House | sarasotaopera.com

19

JOSHPROVIDES 4TH ANNUAL INTERACTIVE DINNER & AUCTION At this celebration of life and hope for children and families living with epilepsy, you are the chef!

Enjoy a multiple-course dinner and auction led by Chef Jamil Pineda, Phil Mancini and Michael Klauber of Michael’s On East.

Michael’s On East | joshprovides.org 28

SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2022

G

rab your bell bottoms and come out to the Orioles’ Ed Smith Stadium for a night of music from a time when “catch you on the flip side” referred to vinyl records. Sarasota Orchestra backs the powerful vocals of Nashville-based duo Swearingen & Kelli, who faithfully recreate the magic of ‘70s singer-songwriters such as James Taylor, Carole King, Neil Diamond, Joni Mitchell, and more. A spectacular fireworks display closes out an evening of hits and home runs.

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SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2022

• s oc i a l s c e n e •

MOON & COMPANY EYEWEAR LUXURY & EXOTIC CUSTOM PRESCRIPTION EYEWEAR

Stock up on alentine’s Day looks on & Company Eyewear!

20

NATURE LECTURE & LUNCHEON WITH DR. JACK LONGINO Longino will provide a personal reflection on Sarasota ranch lands, describing how the animals and plants of the Longino Ranch inspired his career in the natural sciences, and how conservation efforts need to be persistent and long-term. Hosted by the Conservation Foundation and presenting sponsor Elizabeth Moore.

Michael’s On East | conservationfoundation.org

22

EASTERSEALS MEADOWS CUP An 18-hole Pro-Am scramble with brunch, complimentary refreshments on the course, dinner and awards. Proceeds benefit children, teens and adults with disabilities and their families.

The Meadows Country Club | easterseals-swfl.org

Call Us Today For A FREE Consultation!

SHAMIR-EYE-POINT TECHNOLOGY HI DEF LENSES made in ISRAEL.

WILL YOU

941-260-8523 • mooncoeyewear.com sales@mooncoeyewear.com 105 S Lemon AVE | Sarasota, Fl 34236

JOIN US?

Two years ago, The Jewish Federation of SarasotaManatee launched a community initiative: SAFE SRQ. In partnership with our national experts at the Secure Community Network (SCN), this initiative has given our region access to the latest technology, national trends, and best practices to ensure a secure and confident community.

Will you join us in keeping our community safe?

For more information, please visit our website JFEDSRQ.org/SafeSRQ

APRIL 2022 | SARASOTA SCENE

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• s oc i a l s c e n e •

THANKS TO YOU... The Exchange has been a proud supporter of the arts of our community since 1962.

Find your joy Sarasota’s #1 consignment shop    

The joy of shopping The joy of giving The joy of recycling The joy of supporting students and the arts in our community

OP H S W O N AT E N I L N O AWEX.COM

T SARASkO-up in Store Pic

DONATE SHOP CONSIGN VOLUNTEER

This purchase helped support 23 Art Organizations & 22 Students during fiscal year 2019-2020

539 S. ORANGE | 941-955-7859 | OPEN MON-FRI 9-4 & SAT 10-4 | www.sarasotawex.com

Home of the Glass & Mirror Specialists

23

CAUSE 4 HOPE GALA Help raise funds needed to provide year-round education, therapeutic and support programs and one-toone care advising for people with Parkinson’s and their caregivers.

Michael’s On East | neurochallenge.org

27 FRAMELESS EXPERTS Visit Our New Showroom Today for a

FREE Design

Consultation & Estimate

941-927-2535 www.theshowershopfl.com info@theshowershopfl.com 4180 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota FL 34231 32

SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2022

SARASOTA ORCHESTRA BRUNCH Sarasota Orchestra has made music education a priority for aspiring young musicians by providing an unparalleled experience for students at all levels. Enjoy a delicious brunch and special performances while learning more about these important education programs that benefit our community.

Michael’s On East | buy.sarasotaorchestra.org

Z HAPPENING

APRIL 26-27, 2022 NOON TO NOON GivingChallenge.org #GivingChallenge2022 #BeTheOne Presented by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County

The Giving Challenge returns this April for an exciting 24-hour online giving event, connecting 700+ nonprofit organizations with passionate donors to create enduring impact in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties.

Inspired yet? Here is how you can take part:

1

SAVE THE DATE

2

PICK A CAUSE

3

GIVE!

Visit our website www.GivingChallenge.org from Noon to Noon, April 26-27, 2022.

There are 700+ nonprofit organizations to choose from!

Make a secure online donation of $25 or more from your computer or mobile device — it’s that easy!

Informed by The Giving Partner, an online resource for charitable decisions, connecting philanthropy and our community.

TPF will match 1:1 up to $100 per donor

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• s oc i a l s c e n e • rotceriD sa nosaeS ht51 s’bbeW niaI gnitarbeleC

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MAY 1 | Sarasota Ballet :eettimmoC alaG latsyrC ehT sedohRCrystal odraciR dnGala a ,dnalluH airotciV ,nworB elleinaD ,inotreB ikciR Performance by the Sarasota Ballet, 2202 ,1 yaM ,yadnuS dinner by Michael’s On East, desserts and 4420 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota MP 00:5 dancing in Five 941.260.8905 esuoHPoints arepO aPark. tosaraS www.shellysgiftandchristmasboutique.com Sarasota Opera House | ot gnineve y ranidroartxe na rof su nioJ Monday - Saturday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm .tellaB atosarasotaballet.org saraS ehT fo rotceriD sa nosaeS ht51 s’bbeW niaI etarbeleC .esuoH arepO atosaraS eht ta tellaB atosand raS ehT yb ecnamrofrep gniticxe na htiw nigeb lliw alaG lats detaruc gninid yojne ot eunevMAY A elppa3en|iP32 no tnetAnnual ralucatcepsGirls a ot detInc. rocse eb lliw stseug ,ecnamrofrep e .kraP stnioP eviF ni srats eCelebration ht rednu gnicnad dnaLuncheon stressed htiw edulcnoc lliw gnineve ehT .tsaE no s’leahc .0Enjoy 0.000,1boutique $ ta gninnigebshopping elbaliava eraand stekca iT delicious pihsrosnopS luncheon.ELBALIAVA ECAPS DETIMIL .9156.522.149 ta ksiF leahcaR llac esaelp nortaP a gnimoceb no noitamrofni erom roF

Sarasota Municipal Auditorium | girlsincsrq.org

MAY 6 | Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation Golf Tournament The 20th annual golf tournament benefiting Physician’s Endowment at SMH. Laurel Oak Country Club | smhf.org MAY 6 | 17th Annual Dick Vitale Gala The mission of the Dick Vitale Gala is to raise funds for premiere pediatric cancer research across the nation..

Th Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota | dickvitaleonline.com

V IS IT S C EN ES A R A S O TA . C O M To submit your event for consideration, please send information to scenemagazine@scenesarasota.com 34

SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2022

2 0 T H

A N N U A L

B E N E F I T T I N G T H E P H YS I C I A N S E N D OW M E N T F U N D F O R S M H STA F F E D U C AT I O N

F R I D AY

5.06.22

• • • • •

LAUREL OAK COUNTRY CLUB 2700 GARY PLAYER BLVD.

Beverages included Player signature gifts from Titleist and Footjoy Golf attire Scramble format CDC guidelines will be followed

8:30 A.M. REGISTRATION 10:00 A.M. SHOTGUN START AWARDS RECEPTION TO FOLLOW

TO RSVP OR BECOME A SPONSOR GO TO SMHF.ORG/EVENTS

®

FAIRWAY SPONSOR

941.917.1286 | smhf.org

GOLF CART SPONSOR

SAVE THE DATE!

PRESENTED BY

FRIDAY MAY 6, 2022

Sponsorship opportunities available with access to Celebrity Meet & Greet Pre-Party beginning at 6pm

THE RITZ–CARLTON SARASOTA 1111 Ritz-Carlton Drive Sarasota, Florida 34236

THE 17TH ANNUAL

2022 GALA HONOREES

2022 RECIPIENT

GALA EMCEE

ROD GILMORE

KEVIN NEGANDHI

JOHN SAUNDERS COURAGE AWARD

KEYSHAWN JOHNSON

ESPN TV and Radio Host Former NFL Superstar

CHRIS EVERT

Hall of Fame Tennis Legend ESPN Tennis Analyst

SCOTT DREW

Baylor University Men’s Head Basketball Coach

ESPN College Football Analyst

ESPN

National Championship 2021

At the 17th Annual Gala, Dick Vitale will honor ESPN TV & Radio Host Keyshawn Johnson, ESPN Tennis Analyst Chris Evert, and Baylor University Head Men’s Basketball Coach Scott Drew.

Vitale will also recognize ESPN College Football Analyst Rod Gilmore with the V Foundation John Saunders Courage Award.

The mission of the Dick Vitale Gala is to raise funds for premiere pediatric cancer research across the nation, while simultaneously promoting awareness of pediatric cancer and how devastating it is to our children and their families. As in prior years, net funds raised are utilized for the best research nationwide so one day no child will have to experience this horrific disease.

“Jimmy V, in his famous ESPY speech, stated that every day you should be moved to tears, laughter and thought. You will feel all of those emotions at our 17th Annual Gala on May 6th.

It is such a spectacular night attended by our special honorees, guest celebrities, and especially my ALL COURAGEOUS TEAM, which features a number of youngsters who are cancer survivors.

My heart fills with joy seeing the generosity and kindness of all those who participate and make our event such a special night. I hope you will join us to help kids battling cancer.” — DICK VITALE

DON’T GET LEFT OUT! MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS,

SPONSOR OR DONATE AT

GIVESMART.COM DVGALA2022.

DVGALA2022.GIVESMART.COM OR CALL MARY KENEALY AT 941.350.0580

MUSIC & DANCING!

“DON’T GIVE UP. . .

DON’T EVER GIVE UP!”

ABOUT THE DICK VITALE GALA ®

— JIM VALVANO

Dick Vitale leads the V Foundation’s pediatric cancer research initiative. Since the first Dick Vitale Gala in 2006, this event has raised more than $44 million for cancer research. The V Foundation has awarded nearly $60 million in pediatric research grants.

THE V FOUNDATION The V Foundation for Cancer Research is dedicated to declaring Victory Over Cancer ®. It was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State University basketball coach and commentator. Since 1993, the Foundation has funded nearly $290 million in cancer research grants nationwide.

Event proceeds benefit cancer research funded by the V Foundation. The Foundation awards peer-reviewed grants through a competitive awards process strictly supervised by a Scientific Advisory Committee.

Don’t Ever Give Up, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) charitable supporting organization formed by and operated exclusively for the benefit of the V Foundation for Cancer Research.

Don’t Ever Give Up raises funds and awareness to end cancer by supporting cutting-edge research through the V Foundation.

The C rys Tal G a l a Celebrating Iain Webb’s 15th Season as Director PRODUCTION PATRON Bud and Betty Shapiro

DIAMOND PATRON

Karol Foss Patricia A. Golemme and Timothy Fullum Julie A. Harris Frank and Katherine Martucci

EMERALD PATRON

Sydney Goldstein Joe and Mary Kay Henson Richard Johnson Harry Leopold and Audrey Robbins Jean Weiller

SAPPHIRE PATRON

Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation BMO Wealth Management Community Foundation of Sarasota County Jan and Bill Farber Marnie and Stephen Grossman Gulf Coast Community Foundation JoAnn Heffernan Heisen Pat and Ann Kenny Phil and Kim Lombardo Richard March Bill and Linda Mitchell Stu and Gini Peltz Kimberley Anne Pelyk Micki Sellman Alison Gardner and Jan Sirota Hillary Steele Melliss Swenson Marcia Jean Taub and Peter Swain David Welle and Rosemary Reinhardt Anonymous

RUBY PATRON

George Allison, ASID and Alan Watkins, ASID Bob and Ginger Cannon Bailey Neil and Sandra DeFeo Fred and Lynda Doery Richard and Cornelia Matson Peter B. Miller and Dr. Martha Harrison Rosemary and Lou Oberndorf Mercedita OConnor Rich and Clare Segall Maureen and Tom Steiner Robin Klein-Strauss and Michael Strauss

PEARL PATRON

Ken and Peggy Abt Carol Arscott Ronelle Ashby Shari and Steve Ashman Isabel Anchin Becker Patricia Belote Marty and Barbara Bowling Bonnie and William Chapman Katie Couchot Cumberland Advisors Robin and Chase Curtis Sona and David Degann Kay Delaney and Murray Bring Rosalyn and Joel Ehrenpreis Laura Feder Frances D. Fergusson and John Bradbury Patsy and Ed Garno Valerie Gill Jane C. Gould and Stephen W. Fillo Gerald and Deborah Hamburg Family Foundation Amy Harding Charlie Huisking D’Anne Hurd and George Forsythe

Ann and Robert Jackson Barbara Jacob Andrea Justiniano Merrill Kaegi Erika Kahwaty Henry Kahwaty and Mary Dooher Vivian Kouvant Waldron Kraemer and Joan Lovell Peter E. Kretzmer Joan Switt Langbord Ron and Katherine Lee Melvy Erman Lewis Tina and Rick Lieberman Dr. and Mrs. Louis Marquet Joan Mathews Donna Maytham Rose Marie Proietti Pamela Revels Arthur Siciliano and B. Aline Blanchard Barbara Staton Joan Volpe and Ronald Kluck Lauren Walsh Thomas and Gwendolyn Watson Anonymous

MEDIA SPONSORS

Sarasota Scene Magazine The Observer

GALA PARTNERS

Michael’s on East Sarasota Opera House Sights and Sounds Beneva Weddings & Events Serbin Print Marketing & Publishing

• s oc i a l s c e n e • Jeff & Nikki Sedacca

Mary Braxton Joseph, James Joseph and Margaret Wise

partypics ASOLO REP’S STARRY NIGHT DINNER SERIES Asolo Rep’s Starry Night Dinner celebrated the production of Grand Horizons. Hosted by Jeff and Nikki Sedacca, who opened their home in Sapphire Shores, guests enjoyed an exquisite dinner and tropical cocktails served by catering sponsor, Innovative Dining.

Don & JoAnn Burhart with Michael Donald Edwards

Stan Writesel & Baylee

Alan Gravley & Beau

Beginning to End Interiors & Blinds

Kirk & Chris Voelker

941.924.4481 | www.B2END.com

Elizabeth Moore & John Knowles

320873-1

4453 Ashton Road, Unit C, Sarasota, FL 34233

APRIL 2022 | SARASOTA SCENE

39

• s oc i a l s c e n e •

CONSERVATION FOUNDATION’S BOURBON & BOOTS The Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast hosted their annual bootscootin’ fundraiser at Bay Preserve.

Attendees danced to live music, enjoyed mouthwatering cuisine from Michaels on East, and sampled a distinctive selection of distilled bourbons. All proceeds will benefit critical land conservation initiatives. Photos

by Terry Grady.

Photo: Diane Broda

Your Musical, Comedy, Drama and Live Music Destination!

40

ManateePerformingArtsCenter.com 502 Third Avenue W | Bradenton Box Office (941) 748-5875 SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2022

empath

TIDEWELL FOUNDATION

care

When the COVID-19 pandemic kept loved ones apart, Tidewell expanded its telehealth to improve patients’ quality of life. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we’ve been able to use VR and tablet technology to help patients make vital connections and explore the world beyond their windows.

Brighten lives today.

TidewellFoundation.org

Tidewell Foundation is grateful to our sustaining annual corporate partners for their ongoing sponsorship of the Foundation’s mission.

Partners in Excellence: Partners in Compassion:

A Celebration of Life & Hope for Children and Families Living with Epilepsy

4 Annual th

Interactive Dinner & Auction Where YOU can be the Chef!

Tuesday, April 19, 2022 at 6:00 PM Michael’s On East Dinner Chair Traci Smullen Reservations required by April 11, 2022 Contact Andria Bilan at Info@JoshProvides.org Media Sponsor:

H YO

• s oc i a l s c e n e • Danica Jokic & Vlado Konatar

Michael & Christine Burke

Kristine Teal, Rebeca Davis, Lynn Rasys, Kristin Caulley & Brian Garnat

FLORIDA CANCER SPECIALISTS PARTY UNDER THE STARS

NEED A LITTLE BLACK DRESS? Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation held

WE HAVE WE YOURS WE. HAVE its signature annual event, “Party Under the Stars” on February 26 at the Hyatt Regency in Sarasota. Guests enjoyed live entertainment, dancing, dining, and silent and live auctions with fabulous items. Proceeds from this event provide non-medical financial assistance to cancer patients in need.

NEED A LITTLE BLACK

Elizabeth Guancial, Avantika Mishra & Davender Kharae

DRESS? NEED A A LITTLE LITTLE BLACK BLACK DRESS? NEED DRESS?

1

HAVEYOURS. YOURS.

DESIGNING WOMEN BOUTIQUE Upscale Resale & Estate Liquidation

Where Fashion Meets Philanthropy Wishing Sarasota Scene Magazine heartfelt and warmest wishes on your 65th year of showcasing Sarasota in it’s finest light.

—Ida Zito, Designing Women Boutique

DESIGNING WOMEN BOUTIQUE Upscale Resale & Estate Liquidation

Where Fashion Meets Philanthropy

1226 North Tamiami Trail 941.366.5293 A 501c3 Benefiting Local Arts & Human Services Organizations Photography by: Markus Drew

DESIGNING WOMEN BOUTIQUE Upscale Resale & Estate Liquidation

Where Fashion Meets Philanthropy

Stop in today or visit DesigningWomenSRQ.org to learn more!

1226 North Tamiami Trail 941.366.5293 | SARASOTA A 501c3 Bene iting Local Arts & SCENE APRIL 2022 Human Services Organizations Photography by: Markus Drew

43

• s oc i a l s c e n e •

AAF SUNCOAST’S PROM NIGHT AT THE ADDY’S The American Advertising Awards, home of the ADDY® Award, is one of the industry’s largest creative competitions, attracting nearly 35,000 professional and student entries each year. The local AAF Suncoast chapter hosted a Prom themed ADDY® Award at CineBistro, featuring dinner, dancing, and a vote for Prom King & Queen.

BRING YOUR IDEAS TO LIFE THROUGH AWARD-WINNING VIDEO PRODUCTION, DESIGN & LIVE-STREAMING VISIT MAKSCHU.COM OR CALL 941.718.9671 TO LEARN MORE PRODUCTIONS@MAKSCHU.COM 44

SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2022

1957

2000 Dr. Samuel R. Neel, Jr. named first president of Manatee Junior College

1958 MJC Lancers win first baseball game

1959

Family Heritage House opens at MCC Bradenton

At SCF, we meet you where you are.

We’re everyone’s college.

First students graduate from MJC

1960 First students department of nursing established

We’re educating the region’s workforce.

Associate Bachelor’s Certificates

2003 SCF Lakewood Ranch Opens

2009 College changes name to State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota

2013 Dr. Carol F. Probstfeld named sixth president of SCF

1966

2017 Dr. Samuel R. Neel, Jr. auditorium dedicated

1978 The Manatee Junior College Foundation created

1980 Dr. Stephen J. Korcheck named third president of MJC

1985 MJC renamed Manatee Community College

We’re the region’s only four-year, full-college experience.

Fine and Performing Arts Student Clubs Intercollegiate Athletics We’re removing barriers to higher education.

Financial Aid Flexible Class Schedules Online Learning

Tessa Suplee ‘82 wins FL community colleges Lifetime Achievement Award

2018 Library and Learning Center opens at SCF Bradenton

2019 SCF Venice Library and Lake dedicated in honor of Dr. Bill Jervey, Jr.

2020 First drive-through graduation in SCF history

1997

2021 Dr. Sarah H. Pappas named fourth president of MCC

Celebrating 65 years of serving our community.

SCF.edu

Studio for the Performing Arts opens

• s oc i a l s c e n e • Ashley Fons, Carl Troiano, Charlotte Stewart & Anthony DiOrio

the

PERFECT VENUE Weddings • Birthdays • Anniversaries • Reunions • Retirements Bat/Bar Mitzvahs • Fundraisers • Corporate Events

Dan Boxer & Charles Williams

Courtesy of rbphotos.com

Lera Juno & Tianna Boswell-Porter

SARASOTA FILM FESTIVAL OPENING PARTY

Courtesy of rbphotos.com

More than 100 guests kicked off the 24th annual Sarasota Film Festival on March 15. The theme this year is “Upstream With a Paddle”. There will be nearly 200 films at this year’s festival, ranging from documentaries to comedies and everything in-between. The festival is April 1-10 at various locations throughout Sarasota.

Mark Duffy, Gus Mollasis, Ed Koplos, Rodney Piatt & Forrest VanAmber

Courtesy of rbphotos.com

Sarasota Garden Club

Paul & Jane Toliver

SINCE 1927

CALL NOW TO BOOK YOUR PRIVATE EVENT 941.955.0875 • www.sarasotagardenclub.org 1131 Blvd of the Arts, Sarasota, FL 46

SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2022

Paul & Petra Ratner

• s oc i a l s c e n e • Valerie Strenk & Tim Jaeger

Christa Molinaro, Emory Conetta & Keidra Daniels Navaroli

SARASOTA ART MUSEUM SEASON ANNOUNCEMENT On March 11, Sarasota Art Museum held an exclusive preview of its new season of thought-provoking exhibitions with Executive Director, Virginia Shearer. The preview was followed by a wine reception at the museum.

Lora Wey, Virgina Shearer & Larry Thompson

29 - 30 APRIL

SERENDIPITOUS MOVEMENT George Balanchine’s

SERENADE Mark Morris’

THE LETTER V Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s

ELITE SYNCOPATIONS Box Office 941.359.0099 SarasotaBallet.org

MEDIA SPONSOR

APRIL 2022 | SARASOTA SCENE

47

NEW LUXURY FROM AWARD-WINNING LUXURY BUILDER ALLEGRA HOMES

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gRECO REAL ESTATE LIcensed

Real

Estate

B roker

• s oc i a l s c e n e • Reverend Dwight Henry

Patricia Okker

Presentation of The Symbols Of Office with Mary Ruiz & Felice Schulaner

INAUGURATION OF DR. PATRICIA OKKER On February 23, New College of Florida officially welcomed Dr. Patricia Okker as the school’s new president. The inauguration ceremony was held outside College Hall and concluded with a lemonade toast on the bayfront. The “ReNEWing Community: Presidential Inauguration Week” leading up to the main event included festivities such as an academic showcase, virtual mini-classes, a juried student art exhibit and a symposium.

Blue Skye Pipes & Drums

Be the one

to create rays of sunshine for our community’s most at-risk children and families.

Your critical support helps those we serve shine brighter than ever before!

April 26–27 noon to noon Double your impact The 2022 Giving Challenge is hosted by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, with giving strengthened by The Patterson Foundation.

APRIL 2022 | SARASOTA SCENE

49

• s oc i a l s c e n e •

Scene Snaps I n h ono r o f o u r 6 5 t h a nn i v e r s a ry e d i t i on , r e a d e r s s h a r e d t h e s e r e coll e c t i on s o f S a r a s o ta— t h e n a n d now.

Richard Perlman shares, “My first trip here was to

the Lido Biltmore (now called the Limetree Inn on

Lido and still standing). For the past 25 years since

moving here in 1996, I have lived in the home I

built at Sandhamn Place on Long Boat Key.”

50

SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2022

• s oc i a l s c e n e •

the joyed n e n w ter Da 990s. her sis early 1 d e n h t a s rned Club in e retu h-Este y h g i e s , e K L 8 t 1 a a ng Bo her Donn y in 20 the Lo d awa t from r e e a s s s e n a n u tiful s and p 990s, beach e beau ’s husb early 1 a h t e n s h n t y o e jo a sinc After D says. ow en arasot and n ,” she S s a t in in o a s d a m e e to Sar chang area r of the ch has u y t M u “ a lanai. ral be e natu h t r e v howe

APRIL 2022 | SARASOTA SCENE

51

Turning passion into profession.

Est. 1931 | The School of Fine and Applied Art of the John and Mable Ringling Art Museum Originally founded by Dr. Ludd M. Spivey in collaboration with John Ringling, the school was first established as a branch of Southern College. In 1933, the art school separated from Southern College, changing its name to Ringling School of Art. The first class had 75 students who each paid $783 per year.

Est. 1978 | Continuing Studies at Ringling College Our programs continue to promote lifelong learning by providing educational and professional development opportunities for myriad audiences. Continuing Studies supports the academic mission of Ringling College by developing innovative programs that serve current and future students, and the broader community.

Est. 1986 | Ringling College Galleries For 30 years, the William G. and Marie Selby Gallery served as Ringling College’s inaugural campus art gallery. In 2016, the building closed its doors making way for the state-of-the-art Richard and Barbara Basch Visual Arts Center, opening in 2018. The Galleries and Exhibitions department has now grown to five unique gallery spaces on campus.

Est. 2015 | The Collaboratory / INDEX A unique partnership with The Patterson Foundation, the Collaboratory offers multiple ways to connect students with experiential learning opportunities. Rebranded in 2021 as INDEX – Industry Experience at Ringling College–every Ringling student has the opportunity to participate and gain important, professional experience before graduating.

Est. 2019 | Sarasota Art Museum In 2003, a group of 13 forward-thinking Sarasotans came together to further their goal of enhancing Sarasota’s rich cultural landscape with a contemporary art museum. Located in the historic Sarasota High School building, the Museum officially opened in December 2019 and offers visitors a place to see thought-provoking, boundarypushing exhibitions and participate in dynamic educational programming.

Ringling College of Art and Design Since 1931, Ringling College of Art and Design has cultivated the creative spirit in students from around the globe. The private, not-for-profit, fully accredited college offers the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in eleven disciplines and the Bachelor of Arts in two. The College’s rigorous curriculum employs the studio model of teaching and immediately engages students through a comprehensive program that is both specific to the major of study and focused on the liberal arts. The Ringling College teaching model ultimately shapes students into highly employable and globally aware artists and designers.

www.ringling.edu

• s oc i a l s c e n e •

Meet Your Family Medicine Specialist

Armani Orihuela, MD As one of the board-certified Family Medicine Specialists serving your community at FPG Family Medicine at Gulf Gate, Dr. Armani Orihuela provides families with comprehensive patient care – everything from routine check-ups, including flu shots, immunizations and wellness exams to ongoing care for dementia, asthma, COPD, diabetes, hypertension and heart failure.

Dr. Orihuela is also well versed in helping patients successfully make lifestyle changes such as smoking cessation, weight management and family planning. Fluent in both Spanish and English.

Linda Gifford sa

ys her grandson

Logan loves to go “Pop Pop,” aka D an Gifford. Loga n lives in Phoenix, Arizona, and enjo ys the beautiful waters in Saraso ta whenever he visits. boating with his

Specialty & Board Certification: Family Medicine Medical School: Medical University of the Americas Camps, Nevis, West Indies Residency: St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital, Youngstown, OH

Accepting New Patients!

To schedule an appointment, please call (941) 923-5882

Owen’s WEN of O h it w it, I ere I am es to vis t says “H m h o c ig r e B n eo Carla ol me som old scho f . Everyti o p t s m e a B C d.

Fish r seafoo there fo m e th cter.” take d chara n a m r a ch Florida

6128 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34231 firstphysiciansgroup.com

APRIL 2022 | SARASOTA SCENE

53

• s oc i a l s c e n e •

children y husband, “M , h c a b rz nts ne Wu en my pare Says Marla arasota wh S to d e c u introd first moved and I were When they s.

0 8 9 1 e ent in th tried retirem moved here y e th , Y N , nty a hester Cou arasota had from Westc lized that S a re n o so t d o, bu sidents (an in Key Larg full-time re r fo le y st fe ed li on Spyglass more round ght a house u o b y e h T . y too!) spent man better golf ia, and we c n a st re P TPC with them.

Hill Road in g vacations n ri sp l u rf e ond warm and w

After my

father die d

, my mo ther mov ed nextta condo remaine , Fairway d in Sara W oods, an sota unti d husband l her dea th in 200 Allen an d 0. My I finally g retireme ot our ow nt home n d re in am 2016 an forever! d plan to You’ll fin stay here d Allen r along th iding his e calm a bike eve nd beau ry day tiful stre Harbor A ets near cres. An us in d you’ll fi scenes in nd me p ainting lo acrylics w cal hich I ex Uptown hibit for Gallery o s a le at Art n Main S treet.” door to

a Saraso

Marlane with a special exh

historic architecture paint

ibit of her Sarasota

ings.

54

SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2022

g Shoppin 9. ’s in 198 Armand

er, at St.

n Kraem

m, Hele with mo

• s oc i a l s c e n e •

Paul Yungst, MD, captured

ry

alle t crawl g ds an ar

a esley le ome Ch r e J t s ti Ar isitors. recent v r fo r u to

remembrance of local lan

this iconic

dmark, the Ringling

Causeway, at dusk.

Everything from budget friendly to the very latest trends in designer flooring.

One Of The Largest Flooring Showrooms In Sarasota!

Call or Visit Our Website to Request a Free Flooring Estimate 941.315.2988 • yourflooringwarehouse.com 3333 N. Washington Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34234 APRIL 2022 | SARASOTA SCENE

55

• s oc i a l s c e n e •

veryone e and e n o y n A p Lady! w this e Shrim ge kne h id T r “ b , y a ll t ies rimp Says Ke sold sh the N. S r d e n v a o s e veled r decad ould who tra therefo s a s. We w w 0 e 7 h S ly r l. a a er!” k until e great g s. I thin for dinn m p e it im r r h e s and oth ve fresh and ha r e h m buy fro

Katherine (Kittie) Kelly and her sister made

headlines in Sarasota Scene in this article from 1962. In the years since, Kelly has handled,

collected, and loved all the creatures of Florida. Her favorite snake? The Indigenous Florida Blue Indigo.

In the

of the

ld o the o jacent t d a n io it tre add er came 54 thea um nev e 9 s 1 u a M r n fo ingling This pla of the R e id s t s l we origina n. to fruitio 56

SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2022

late 50 s, this sign h Out of ung on Door S the ea chool st side on Sie entry sta Ke y.

• s oc i a l s c e n e •

nd Dr. midt, a h c S n vo k at the er, Kay er Shar ’s moth ig y T ll e a K n Key ts o Kittie h Siesta ake sta t t u k o r s la in C cation Eugenie Haze ) lo e p a (C te old Mo . arly 60s in the e

Kelly a nd her family Siesta at their Key, a first ho 1924 b use on each c ottage .

ots assro r g l a t a s, circ nmen r Bay nviro u e t O s r e fi , Save for th asota r a S Logo n ni izatio organ .

960s late 1

Join us!

Enter by April 8 for the theme: Luxurious Lifestyle and Home Improvements Have you refreshed your living space? Installed a fine new feature, appliance, or accessory?

What’s your favorite home luxury? Send photos to wendy@scenesarasota.com.

APRIL 2022 | SARASOTA SCENE

57

• insider •

thefind

By Gina Liga

I n h o n o r o f o u r sa p p h i r e a n n i v e r s a ry, t h e s e p r o d u c t s w i l l k e e p yo u a n y t h i n g b u t b l u e !

2.

1.

58

SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2022

gol d & D i a m on d s o u r c e

Fox y L a dy

3.

Ly t e wo r k s

• insider •

1. SAMUEL DONG BUBBLE DRESS Water resistant rich duppioni triple wired collar cross tie bubble dress.

Foxy Lady $174 | foxyladysarasota.com 2. THE VAN TEAL “SIMPLY” LIGHT FIXTURE Coastal but modern, Simply features a Blending Sapphire acrylic shade in a rippled design. Paired with chrome hardware, this pendant will add modernity and color to any room.

By Van Teal.

LyteWorks $1,097.80 | lyteworks.com 3. WHITE GOLD SAPPHIRE & DIAMOND NECKLACE Truly a one-of-a-kind statement necklace! This Juleve inspired pear shaped sapphire and diamond necklace features 10.20 carats of brilliant sapphires, and 15.43 carats of stunning round and marquise diamonds. This necklace is 20 inches in length and set in 18 karat white gold.

Gold & Diamond Source $75,999 | VIP@GoldandDiamond.com

4.

g i v i ng t r e e ga ll e ry

m a l b i d e co r

5.

4. BUTTERFLY ROCKING CHAIR Make a statement on the patio or in the garden with this showpiece chair.

Hand-crafted of 3/16’ steel and handpainted using a unique dry brush and airbrush technique. Weather proof coating prevents oxidation.

In beautiful blue, teal and black.

Giving Tree Gallery $1,299 | thegivingtreegallery.com 5. RIVIERE LACQUERED TRAYS These exclusive hand-crafted trays are made in Italy and feature beautiful hand-braided leather handles in sapphire blue. Reminiscent of style from another era, these trays are suitable for the vanity, bathroom, coffee table, kitchen, or anywhere needing a sophisticated piece.

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APRIL 2022 | SARASOTA SCENE

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• philanthropy •

Working Hard TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE Mike Horan and the Horan Family Foundation

By Ryan G.Van Cleave

After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Michigan Tech University, Mike Horan worked for five years with Ajax Paving Industries, Inc. based in Michigan. It didn’t take long for him to distinguish himself as someone capable, dependable, and honest. When the owners wanted to establish a Florida branch of the company in 1981, there was one clear choice about the best person to send.

“They shipped an asphalt plant here from Michigan so we could do our first job in Englewood,” Mike explains about the company branch he was asked to launch. Because of the boom in Florida construction, Ajax Paving Industries of Florida grew to what it is today—eight asphalt plants, 500+ employees, and more than 600 pieces of equipment that handle paving jobs throughout Southwest Florida.

As of 2022, Mike has acquired full ownership of Ajax Paving of Florida from the original owners who sent him here so many years ago.

“I’m blessed to have worked for such a great family and with so many good people over the years,” Mike adds.

“A lot of those who’ve helped me from the beginning

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are retiring, some have passed away. We have worked hard to find the right mix of good young people working with us now. In addition, my oldest daughter and son-inlaw, along with our youngest son—all civil engineering graduates of Georgia Tech University—are working here and doing very well. We are so fortunate.”

From the start, Mike and his wife, Carol, learned the value and importance of hard work. “My dad and my wife’s father were factory workers in the spring and car parts industry, and my mother-in-law cleaned houses for a living. My mother worked part-time in a department store,” he says. “We didn’t grow up with lots of money, but even so, they taught us that it’s important to give back to the community, to be part of the community.

That’s how you live a life of character.”

Mike found an opportunity to put that commitment into practice soon after he moved to Venice. At the point, he had two very young daughters, so Mike and Carol took them to Mote several times—which, of course, they loved. Mike soon got to know some of the people there, and offered to provide an American flag, flagpole,

• philanthropy •

Dr. Crosby breaking ground at Mote sea

and monument at Mote’s entrance on City Island. That flagpole is still on site today. Another such opportunity came when Board of Trustees Chairman Emeritus Fred Derr, who one day asked Mike if he would donate the asphalt paving for the then-new Mote Aquaculture Research Park in east Sarasota County. Mike was happy to help as Fred is a friend and respected customer of Ajax Paving. “We did the paving for Fred and was able to take our people and crew who did the work on a tour of the facility, which was so very educational and interesting.”

Other local opportunities to help quickly emerged. Mike and Carol began supporting Catholic Charities, which among other programs offers free housing for unwed mothers along with training in life and job skills. Mike and Carol got involved with All Faiths Food Bank, too, because “the need is so huge.” Mike’s also on the Board for the YMCA of Southwest Florida, and he’s excited by the plan to put a YMCA in Arcadia. “There’s no place for any of the kids In the Arcadia area to learn how to swim!” he says. “Getting a YMCA out there will provide aftercare, summer camps, and exercise equipment, and there will be activities on the weekends for families. The

Mike Horan APRIL 2022 | SARASOTA SCENE

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• philanthropy •

people do not yet have what we have here in Sarasota or Manatee County, but making it happen for them has become my personal endeavor.”

In addition to donating money and in-kind services, Mike and Carol hold an annual charity event sponsored by their company, Ajax Paving Industries, that raises about $65,000 each year. “Because of COVID, we’ve given to a variety of charities to help those that are struggling in all the 18 counties we do business. It’s just the right thing to do.”

The primary focus of Mike and Carol’s philanthropy is education and the environment, so it makes perfect sense that supporting Mote has been a constant for them. When asked about the paving for Mote SEA, again Ajax stepped up to donate a large portion of it. In addition, to help with the ongoing Mote SEA campaign, the Horan Family Foundation made a sizable donation to build a high-tech classroom to support educational programming. Mike notes, “Every kid who goes to any kind of school—public, private, or parochial—will have a chance to take classes there and learn about our oceans. They will find out about our rivers, lakes, and our environment. That’s super exciting.”

thinking we might give them each $1,000. They will have to research and pick out what charities they want to support, then we will ask them to do a write-up. The oldest grandchild is fifteen and the second oldest is thirteen, so they’re getting to that threshold where it’s time to do things like this.”

Odds are that more than a few grandchildren will choose to support Mote, just as how they’ve seen their parents support it over the years.

“We’re family people,” explain Mike and Carol, who are humble people who often choose for their gifts and support to be anonymous. As Mike says, they live frugally and simply focus on faith and family. “We’ve been married for 46 years, and we are determined to do good for others because we’ve been so blessed. We have financial wherewithal that we never thought we’d have, and we are adamant that we’re not going to just sit here and do nothing. It’s time for us to give back.”

The moment Mike starts talking about Mote, his voice speeds up with excitement. “If you haven’t been to Mote and you haven’t talked to those dedicated people, it’s a life experience that you don’t want to miss,” he raves, citing the good work of President and CEO Dr. Michael Crosby and others. “People—especially young kids—need to go there and see what these people do.

It’s just an environmentally positive experience. The research that they do is incredibly important. If you are at all interested in the future of Florida and the future of our environment here on Earth, you must go there because it’s an education. A real education.”

Mike wants to ensure that his family carries on the traditions he and Carol have created. To that end, all four of their kids and all eight grandchildren have (or will be) asked to work for one summer with the company so they can build up a good work ethic and appreciate the business that has given them more advantages than Mike and Carol had in their youth. All the kids will also learn firsthand about philanthropy, as well. “We are

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

about Mote SEA, please visit mote.org or call 941.388.4441.

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Dr. Michael Crosby

FROM THE CREATORS OF RAGTIME AND WORLD PREMIERE MUSICAL!

APRIL 23– FRANK GALATI MAY 11 Music by STEPHEN FLAHERT AMES AGEE Lyrics by LYNN AHRENS TED MOSEL Directed by FRANK GALATI Book by

Based on the novel A Death in the Family by J Based, in part, on the play All the Way Home by

This moving and innovative new musical reunites the dynamic Tony Award®-winning creative team behind Ragtime, one of the most beloved musicals of all time. Based on James Agee’s autobiographical, Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, A Death in the Family, the story begins as Agee

struggles to write his greatest work— about the event that touched his young life and the effect it had on his mother, his town, and his own future.

A powerful illumination of the forces that shape who we are, Knoxville is a universal coming-of-age story about family, faith, and love—and about

the boy who will grow up to write it.

With a sweeping musical score and an extraordinary creative team and cast, this world premiere is a mustsee event!

Contains mature themes. Recommended for age 10+.

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APRIL 2022 | SARASOTA SCENE

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• philanthropy •

when you Believe!

SCF faculty and staff give back to support students and each other

By Nate March

If only we could do more! This is the sentiment of most who work at State College of Florida and who devotedly donate to the State College of Florida Foundation to support the students and each other’s programs and events. In the minds of many faculty and staff, it’s a “pay it forward” mentality, as they are themselves alumni of the community’s state college and have returned to what they consider home with extended family. They remember the personalized attention from faculty and staff who were dedicated to see them succeed, and they may also have benefitted from scholarships or programs funded by philanthropy.

For many of us, $20 is just $20. But for college students, it’s gas money they need to get to class or several lowcost dinners they’ll stretch through a week. Come on!

We all remember those “ramen noodles days,” and if not, weren’t you lucky! SCF faculty and staff witness daily how $20 could feed a student who may otherwise skip meals, $500 might spare tears over required course books and supplies, and how $1,100 may prevent another

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student from dropping out because he or she needs a computer to complete course work. In 2020-2021, employees were responsible for nearly $50,000 in giving to the SCF Foundation — money that goes a long way in determining whether college is an option or not for many students.

The need for donations raises the same questions again and again. What about state funding? Aren’t there scholarships? Doesn’t tuition and fees cover these costs?

And the answer is yes and no. These financial resources exist, but it’s simply not enough to support the more than 10,000 students SCF serves each year.

SCF is the regions’ only open access 4-year state community college - meaning anyone with a high school diploma or GED is welcome. The Foundation has been driving growth and new opportunities at the college since 1978, managing philanthropic efforts to channel the generosity of community donors, regional partners, and yes, the College’s own employees. More than half of SCF’s

• philanthropy •

employees made a monetary donation to the College last year. Nearly 20% of those employee donors are also SCF alumni. And if they don’t contribute financially, they do so generously with their time-volunteering at one of the Foundation’s community fundraising events.

“The pride employees take in making a difference in going above and beyond for students is one of the most rewarding things about working at SCF,” said Cassandra Holmes, SCF Foundation executive director. “Some employee donors have been reliably giving for over a decade, and some much longer.”

Where is the impact of employee giving? It’s everywhere at SCF. Half of employee donations for 2020-2021 carried no restrictions on use, allowing the Foundation to devote resources to the greatest needs. Specific academic programs and passions received 26% of employee donations, which includes things like scholarship investment, SCF Foundation events, or capital projects, like

the recently completed SCF Studio for the Performing Arts in Bradenton or the upcoming new science building at SCF Venice.

Keeping SCF broadly accessible in the face of changing political and socioeconomic environments, while also maintaining the high level of education students attain at the college, is an important and admirable goal.

SCF’s employees are immersed in these challenges, and some have experienced complicated circumstances firsthand in their own educational careers. At the SCF Foundation, 44% of its staff are SCF alumni, giving them a keen understanding of the critical nature of giving to the College’s success.

The reason for contributing to the SCF Foundation may differ for each employee, but all have their own powerful motivations to donate. Here are some of them in their own words.

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“I attended SCF (it was Manatee Community College then) as a non-traditional student: an immigrant mom with young children. I was fortunate to receive financial aid at the time, which made it possible for me to get my AA, and then go on to pursue a bachelor’s and a master’s in library and information sciences. I am now a librarian at SCF and every day I see students who are just like me, jumping through the hoops to achieve their dreams and support their families. Education is a human right and higher education should be available to anyone who wants to pursue a career. For that reason, I make sure to give back a little of what I received, by contributing to the SCF Foundation scholarships.”

Jamie Smith

—Alicia Long ‘98, Librarian/Access Services Supervisor

“I came to SCF in 1998 as a student seeking an AA degree. This experience changed my life profoundly because my career trajectory from paralegal to teacher was “made” here at SCF thanks to the wonderful faculty. I loved the paralegal profession that I spent 20 years working in, so I give to the Foundation in support of the profession because it is rewarding to people who like to help others. So, it’s really about helping people grow and shape their lives into a career that costs less than law school but brings with it the opportunity to help people.”

—Suzanne Bechtol ‘02, Associate Professor; Department Chair, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Alicia Long

Suzanne bechtol with Robyn, Trevor, and Heather

• philanthropy •

“SCF is such an important economic driver for our community, both as an employer in its own right, but more importantly educating essential sectors of our workforce. My family has been cared for by SCF nurses in local hospitals, SCF-educated early childhood teachers have taught my children, I’ve seen first responders who attended SCF in action, and some of our strongest community leaders are SCF alumni. I am SCF proud to live in this community and work at SCF, and that’s why I support the SCF Foundation.”

—Jamie Smith, Associate Vice President, Communications and Government Relations

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

about how you can join SCF’s employees in making a difference in the life of a student, visit SCF-Foundation.org 66

SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2022

scenesarasota.com APRIL 2022 | SARASOTA SCENE

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• leadingthescene •

HD Money WHERE YOUR FINANCIAL SUCCESS MATTERS

By Ryan G. Van Cleave With nearly 30 years of experience in the business, HD Money has been making a difference in the community through top-level wealth management. To share their expertise with a wider range of people, they recently created and launched Monorail, an app that brings together all your digital banking and financial matters in one easy place to keep it under control.

HD Money CEO Margaret Hixon wants to be clear that while she’s interested in financial technologies, the company is going to primarily remain a face-to-face business that operates on half a century of deep economic research.

“We manage on science instead of emotion,” Hixon says about her Sarasota-based company. “Our experienced advising team works daily to manage financial growth and protect assets. We believe in creating lifetime income and lifelong relationships.”

Whether you’re looking to keep your retirement savings from suffering in today’s rollercoaster markets or you’re still a long way off from collecting on Social Security, HD Money is there to help. “We build globally diversified portfolios that are built on evidence and data,” explains Hixon. “We don’t try to guess at how to leverage pockets of short-term, unpredictable trends. Our portfolio goal is to never take on more risk for less reward.”

Phillip Dickson and Margaret Hixon At HD Money, they aspire to protect client assets by taking a one-way trip up. There are ways to shield against losses and large market corrections without surrendering a commitment to growth. Contact HD Money today to learn how to make the most of your money without exposing yourself to undue risk. “We value transparency and want our clients to understand what we’re recommending for them, and why,” Hixon says. “We want to treat them like family.”

For more information about HD Money, please visit www.vimvest.com or call 941.925.2121.

APRIL 2022 | SARASOTA SCENE

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C elebrating

SARASOTA

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

April is Sarasota Scene's 65th anniversary, and the magazine wouldn't have survived and thrived for so long without the support of this terrific community. To help celebrate the wondrous place that we call home, we partnered with Kirstin Fulkerson and Kelly Carlstein at Gulf Coast Community Foundation to identify some of the area’s

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leading philanthropists who’ve committed to making this area so much more than great weather, stunning beaches, and first-rate restaurants.

Here are some of their favorite memories, experiences, and impressions of Sarasota.

“As a Sarasota native, I’ll never forget the day my mother DRAGGED me to the Asolo Rep to see an Italian comedy when I was 11.

I thought I’d hate it, but the performance sparked a lifelong love of the arts. I never intended to stay in Sarasota after college, but I’ve remained here primarily because of Sarasota’s ever-expanding cultural richness.

And in a full-circle moment, I’m now a proud member of the Asolo Board of Directors!”

—Charlie Huisking

“Sarasota’s thriving spirit, which supports our vibrant community, has always struck me as very special. Sarasotans work together tirelessly to improve the community and help those in need. Our unique spirit, volunteerism, and charitable impulses bring us together, in addition to supporting our thriving environmental, culture, and arts organizations.”

—Pauline Wamsler “We were of course attracted to the beautiful and plentiful water views, the high-quality abundant retail and services, the magnitude and excellence of the arts and civic events, but most importantly, the culture of Sarasota. The culture is one of helpful friendly acts to all from the people you meet on the streets to the government workers doing difficult jobs. “

—Joel & Gail Morganroth

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“Coming to Sarasota in 1991, I was immediately welcomed by open and caring people throughout the city. The smart, kind, and warm people who live here and love Sarasota continue to make this a remarkably wonderful place to live. The aesthetic beauty of Sarasota is matched by the heart of Sarasotans. I have found friendship, love, and support from a wide variety of people here, diverse in

“What we find special about Sarasota

age, ethnicity, and financial status. Thirty

is its diversity of humanity and cultural

years after first experiencing our city, I still

imperatives. Oh, and of course,

revel in the wonder of our warm and open

some good Italian restaurants! It also

community.”

empowers both Katherine and me to

—Deb Kabinoff

do something that can be eternal by our involvement in the Sarasota Ballet, Children First, Ringling College of Art and Design, Selby Gardens, and last but certainly not least, The Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition.”

—Frank & Katherine Martucci

“Living here in Sarasota for over 50 years, it is HOME! Through all the changes, Sarasota has retained its fundamental qualities: its warmth, both climate and friendliness; its caring nature for those less fortunate; its cultural heritage, bringing us life in so many ways; and its vibrancy for all ages! We are blessed to be a part of this community!”

—Dennis & Graci McGillicuddy 72

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“It should be no surprise to learn that what we find special about Sarasota is its incredible art. If the mere beauty of our beaches isn’t enough, we have world-class performing arts (Orchestra, Ballet, Opera, and Theater) along with internationally recognized museums both indoor (The Ringling, Sarasota Art Museum, and Mote) and outdoor (Selby Gardens, Myakka and Oscar Scherer State Parks, and Spanish Point). Very few large cities can boast this diversity and quality, much less smaller towns like us. Sarasota is just plain beautiful!”

La

—Sherry & Tom Koski “In addition to the fabulous weather and wonderful

people, what clinched the deal for us with Sarasota was the incredible array of cultural and arts organizations. I can’t think of another relatively small community in this country that offers such a variety of amazing performances, many of which are home grown. This is a community that supports the arts, knowing that what the arts contribute to the community is what enhances the aura of Sarasota.”

—Skip & Gail Sack “Sarasota is a small city that has all the bells and whistles of a large one in the realm of entertainment and culture and the natural beauty is overwhelming…but more importantly, it’s a city that takes care of the more unfortunate with its extensive philanthropic outreach. We can’t think of anywhere else we’d like to live.”

—Bob & Pat Gussin

Wh

from APRIL 2022 | SARASOTA SCENE

73

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“In 1975, as young parents of a two-yearold, we left the cold Canadian winters for warm, sunny Sarasota. In the early years, Sarasota was a quiet, unassuming town— which also described our business in its infancy. Sarasota is now on the national radar as a “destination,” and we’re able to support many incredible charitable organizations located here. Sarasota has been very good to us—it feels great to give back. We’ve truly lived the American Dream in this city over the past 47 years.”

—Bob & Lin Williams

“When I first arrived in the 80s, Sarasota was a sleepy little town.

Many of our roads were two lanes, the downtown Five Points Park was a fish market, and the adjacent library was a tire company. Downtown had no luster. But this town had the arts and add that to the beaches and great healthcare, and here we are today! The arts were and are playing a major part in changing this town. We are a small city with big-city arts. Top it off with Florida’s tax laws, and paradise is the right name for our vibrant Sarasota.”

—Margaret Wise

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“After living in several cities around the world, our impression when we first arrived here was that this was the place where we wanted to spend the rest of our lives. We enjoy the natural beauty, exceptional arts and culture, and friendly people—we’ve made so many lifelong friends! Since 2012, we’ve seen the city’s rapid growth and the many challenges that brings. Yet, when we watch the sunrise and sunset, we marvel at the beauty here and feel blessed to call Sarasota our home!”

—Ali & Gloria Bahaj

“We chose to live here in 1983 because we thought the Sarasota area was the best location in the whole state. We have never changed our minds and consider ourselves blessed to make our home in Nokomis where our son and granddaughter also live. The Venice Symphony and Venice Theatre, along with the Asolo, Van Wezel, and Florida Studio Theatre provide a rich cultural choice for us. The most important plus about our area is the concern and support given to the charitable agencies that help so many deserving causes.”

—Stephen & Redenta Picazio APRIL 2022 | SARASOTA SCENE

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“We moved to Sarasota for the beauty, warm weather, and golf, but quickly discovered that the true warmth and beauty of this community is its caring and benevolent culture. From the incredible arts organizations to the numerous social service agencies, this community strives to support the needs of all its residents in every respect. We feel truly blessed to have made this unique paradise our home!”

—Debbie & Larry Haspel

“While we love the arts in all its forms, we’re especially drawn to the Sarasota Orchestra, the Sarasota Opera, and every one of the professional theaters. Getting internationally recognized conductor Bramwell Tovey to serve as the Sarasota Orchestra’s new Music Director speaks volumes about the quality of that group. The Sarasota Opera, too, has iconic leadership through Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Victor DeRenzi who is the only person in the world to have conducted every musical note written by Giuseppe Verdi. And we can always count on the theaters here to provide high-quality performances that entertain while driving cultural change. All of this makes Sarasota a truly special place to live.”

—Jack & Priscilla Schlegel

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A DREAM GARAGE YOU OWN, A COMMUNITY YOU’LL LOVE. . .

DELUXE 24 X 50 SHOWN W/ OPTIONS

luxe

dream garage

HITS THE HEART STRINGS OF LOCAL CAR ENTHUSIAST AND COLLECTORS A customizable, private motor condo complex is coming to the heart of Lakewood Ranch and Sarasota, Florida. Luxe Dream Garage is developing a private community for car, RV, motorcycle, and boat enthusiasts with space to store your most prized vehicles and enjoy the camaraderie of others with similar interests.

Many enthusiasts have a problem with where to conveniently and safely store their cars, RV’s, boats, or motorcycles when their home garage just falls short. Luxe Dream Garage solves that problem and is already attracting an International clientele. Now potential owners can reserve their unit today by contacting the company directly.

The new community will be located in Lakewood Ranch right off Route 75 and University Blvd, just blocks away from the newly opened Waterside. The project consists of garage units of varies sizes and options. Construction is scheduled to begin July 1, 2022, with the first units being occupied end of the year. A private 2-story, 3,000 square foot luxury clubhouse will be completed within the same timeframe.

With a mission of serving the local community which is aligned with many of our new members’ philanthropic desires, Luxe Dream Garage recently raised over $5,000 for the local charity, Flight to the North Pole.

The response and interest have been very gratifying, says David Slone, Founding Partner. “There is a large car enthusiast community here. Just go to one of the many cars shows around town and see up to 400 cool cars in one place.”

Come enjoy exciting times at Luxe Dream Garage, which is already scheduling a Premiere Meet & Greet Social for new garage owners in early April. Get your engines started and create an active community with a common interest in celebrating the passion for their toys.

For more information, visit LuxeDreamGarage.com.

APRIL 2022 | SARASOTA SCENE

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The Covers While many of our vintage covers featured Miss Sarasotas and beautiful views, many also included highlights of local community, lifestyle, arts, and current events.

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RED CARPET SERVICE

40+

Years Experience

CE Pro s industry, Guenther was a pioneer of the home electronic end security starting in 1979, at age 17, by installing higha name for made has He systems for wealthy homeowners. h price le/hig profi himself in his industry through many high es.

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Cricket

COUNTDOWN to the

2022

Giving Challenge B Y S Y LV I A W H I T M A N

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Here’s the executive summary. From noon to noon on April 26-27, area residents can once again open their hearts and their wallets as part of the 2022 Giving Challenge. This virtual online giving event will continue a tradition that has raised $59 million in unrestricted funding for local nonprofits over the past 10 years.

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County hosts the Giving Challenge. It “encourages digital and in-person giving, as well as a tools to build ‘teams’ so participants can design their own best ways to drive support for their missions,” says Roxie Jerde, the Community Foundation’s president and CEO.

According to Jerde, what distinguishes the Giving Challenge from giving days in other locales across the country is the high level of community participation and the generosity of The Patterson Foundation. This year, The Patterson Foundation will provide a 1:1 match for all unique donations, up to $100 per donor, per organization, made online with a credit or debit card—with no limit on the number of individual matches from unique donors and no limit on the number of organizations a donor can give to. If you give $100 each to nine local nonprofits, say, The Patterson Foundation will turn your 900 bucks into $1800 worth of bang.

$19.1 million

for 686 nonprofits

including $7.5 million in matching funds from The Patterson Foundation

through 106,706 gifts

from 58,947 donors 88

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of which 23,000 were $25

The Community Foundation launched the first Giving Challenge in 2012, “the same year we introduced The Giving Partner (www.thegivingpartner.org) to the area as a resource for making informed decisions for charitable giving,” says Jerde. “The Giving Partner gives nonprofits a way to share their mission and program results and overall impact alongside key financial management, governance, and operational metrics.”

Transparency spurs philanthropy.

This year marks the 8th Giving Challenge. In the two off years (2019 and 2021), organizations focused more on capacity building—getting to know their new supporters and spreading the word about their work, according to Jerde. In many ways, the closing bell of every Giving Challenge is a wake-up call. Time to cultivate deeper, longterm relationships with donors. Time to turn the social media rush of the big day into engaging, ongoing communication. Time to steward those gifts.

Debra Jacobs, The Patterson Foundation’s president and CEO, finds the Giving Challenge matches her organization’s “consistent focus on collaboration that strengthens the impact of philanthropy beyond any individual act of generosity.” The challenge in the Giving Challenge extends to both donors and nonprofits: Let’s not make this a flash in the pan.

“One of the Giving Challenge’s aspirations is to connect regional nonprofit organizations with people devoted to their mission, along with businesses and other nonprofits to build effective partnerships,” says Jacobs. “Each organization has an opportunity to establish a solid network of supporters that can strengthen their work well beyond the initial 24 hours.

“In addition, the funds raised during the Giving Challenge are unrestricted, meaning each nonprofit organization can put these donations toward the greatest priority or opportunity it is working to achieve. Both of those benefits are vital to future planning while creating a strong resource to turn to when the unexpected strikes—attributes that came into even greater focus during the most recent Giving Challenge, which took place during the early days of the pandemic.”

From the history pages: All told, the first seven Giving Challenges hosted by the Community Foundation and strengthened by The Patterson Foundation brought in $59 million of “unrestricted funding for area nonprofits to respond to community needs with flexibility and innovation.”

For some perspective, let’s consider what else you might do with such a sum: Produce Sherlock Gnomes (2018, $59 million) Make an offer on the Oppenheimer Blue diamond (sold at auction in 2016, $57.9 million) Acquire a used jet (2020 Gulfstream G-600, $54.7 million)

Out of the 686 nonprofits in the 2020 Giving Challenge, 116—almost 6%-were participating for the first time.

Any 501(c)(3) public charity working in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and/or DeSoto county may register—as long as it has “demonstrated transparency” with a current, approved profile in The Giving Partner.

As host, the Community Foundation offers webinars and trainings. Registration closed at the end of February, but nonprofit support and education continues year-round. Online videos and slideshows explore topics such as goal-setting strategies, peerto-peer fundraising, and “how to meet your donors where they are, and help them become vested in your mission through successful storytelling.”

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As part of its push for collaboration, the Giving Challenge encourages organizations to work together in groups of five or more to create faceto-face Pop-up Giving Stations. Look for these around town at various times (though probably not in the wee hours) during the Giving Challenge window. Stay tuned to the Giving Challenge website for more info: www.givingchallenge.org/info/popupgivingstations

One day of giving, four weeks of food. In the 2020 Giving Challenge, All Faiths Food Bank topped the leaderboard with a record-breaking $621,261 in donations. Good thing: the largest hunger relief organization in Sarasota and DeSoto counties saw a 40% increase in new clients just as the lockdown confined volunteers at home and disrupted food collection.

At the time, Food Bank CEO Sandra Frank estimated that Giving Challenge proceeds would allow the organization to purchase food for a month.

To stoke Giving Challenge fever, the Community Foundation awards well more than a dozen prizes to participating nonprofits. These include random awards, for Donor Shoutout Tweets, for instance. Others involve competition and range from Best Video Commercial to Best Business Partnership. These are “another way to encourage the

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development of long-term relationships that go far beyond the 24-hour challenge,” says Jerde.

social media, and overall campaigns), and growing outreach (peer-to-peer fundraising and business partnerships).”

This year, nonprofits can submit in three prize categories.

“By the limiting the number of prizes, organizations can focus their resources and time on the prizes that are the best fits for their missions,” adds Jerde. “The prizes tie back to best practices for nonprofits in key areas such as governance (board member engagement), communications (videos,

In 2020, Easterseals Southwest Florida, which operates three separate nonprofits—Easterseals, InStride Therapy, and ABA Academy—all managed under the ES-SWFL umbrella, won Best Board Member Engagement. Every board member worked on teams during the Giving Challenge, 100% engagement.

The Giving Challenge brings all hands on deck. Two kids made all the difference for the JoshProvides Epilepsy Assistance Foundation during the 2020 Giving Challenge. With schools closed and childcare scarce because of the pandemic, CEO Andria Bilan enlisted her grandkids Azaelia, then 9, and Zander, then 5, to make video messages and write thank-you notes—part of their real-world education.

1.

As the Giving Challenge logo proclaims, “Be the One.” To participate in the Giving Challenge and make a difference in this community, visit www.givingchallenge.org between noon April 26 and noon April 27.

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Cricket

From Puppy Southeastern Guide Dogs Creates Dogs with a Destiny

By Ruth Lando When Katie McCoy’s eye disease, retinitis pigmentosa, robbed her of her peripheral vision and dimmed her view of the world, she took a leap of faith and joined her life with that of an extraordinary guide dog named Bristol. On that day in 2015, everything in her world became brighter and more hopeful. Katie was able to safely navigate crowds on subways and at George Washington University, where she attended graduate school. She felt much better about not bumping into random people or tripping on obstacles that once loomed dangerously out of sight.

Katie and Bristol are best friends and inseparable soul mates who live and work together every day from Katie’s home in Sarasota. Bristol gives Katie confidence, independence, and freedom. In return, Katie provides unconditional love, care, and devotion to her four-legged companion.

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to

Purpose

And it all began when Bristol was a fluffy newborn in the Neonatal Care and Whelping Center of the Puppy Academy at Southeastern Guide Dogs in Palmetto.

Like the other 250 pups born every year at the school, Bristol is a beautiful example of the art and science practiced by genetics and reproduction experts and veterinarians.

Working with a carefully selected breeder colony of elite males and females, and through cooperative breeding with other working dog schools, these pros produce the Olympic athletes of the service dog world. Behind every puppy are generations of the healthiest, smartest, and most loving guide and service canines, predominantly Labrador retrievers. Moms and babies are cared for in serene and immaculate accommodations until the pups are weaned at about six weeks of age. From day two onward, volunteers and staff use gentle touch and stimulation to provide the little ones with their first baby steps toward a lifetime of socialization and positive interaction with humans.

“At Southeastern Guide Dogs, our puppies are not only adorable and lovable, but they are also the foundation of

the future for the people we serve,” says CEO Titus Herman.

“Their two-year journey—from birth to being paired with someone who needs them—involves science and data, coupled with the expertise of caring staff and invaluable volunteers. When they grow up to be working dogs, they transform the way people with visual impairments, veterans with disabilities, and children with significant challenges experience the world around them.”

Early Education: Play with a Purpose For the youngest pups, Puppy Preschool is all about play with intention. The specially designed curriculum exposes growing puppies to different surfaces and stimuli, preparing for the day when they may need to be the eyes for someone with impaired vision. When they move on to Puppy Kindergarten at about six weeks, they continue to live, learn, play, and sleep with their littermates, enjoying a planned routine of stimulation, enrichment, and conditioning activities. An outdoor gym gives them room to run and be sweet little knuckleheads, while a puppy splash park offers a cool environment for recess. Until they graduate from Kindergarten and move on to the loving homes of volunteer APRIL 2022 | SARASOTA SCENE

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puppy raisers for the next stage of their journey, their little brains and bodies are challenged and developed in every moment spent in the Puppy Academy. Every dog is groomed to reach its maximum potential.

Building on the innovations of the early education program and the puppy-raising protocols that follow, Southeastern Guide Dogs creates extraordinary dogs that love people, love to learn, and are ready to work.

Guide dogs will help people with vision loss navigate independently and are trained in over 40 skills. Service dogs will help veterans and are trained in 15 to 20 skills. Kids Companion Dogs are skilled companion dogs that enhance independence for children with vision loss, preparing the way for a future guide dog. Facility therapy dogs provide comfort in military medical facilities nationwide. Emotional support dogs benefit veterans and help restore a more active lifestyle. And Gold Star Family Dogs give comfort to military family members who have 94

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lost a loved one in active service to the nation.

And thanks to generous and dedicated donors in the Southeastern Guide Dogs community, recipients never receive a bill for services or dogs.

Puppy Raisers Continue the Magic Puppy raisers are dedicated volunteers who give their furry house guests the benefits of love, playtime, training, socialization, and real-world exposures. A puppy’s life includes shopping expeditions, trips to the park, playdates, rides in the car, and often lessons in cohabitation with pet dogs, cats, and small humans. The pups learn basic skills and cues and begin to master the foundations needed for a future working dog.

Why? Because after about a year, these talented canines will return to Freshman Orientation for further assessments and advanced training at Canine University. If they have the health, desire, characteristics, and temperament, they may become a breeder, guide dog, service dog, emotional support dog, a facility therapy dog, Kids Companion Dog, or Gold Star Family Dog. Program graduates go on to transform the lives of people with vision loss, veterans with disabilities, and children with significant challenges.

No matter what their future holds, every puppy has a purpose.

The success of Southeastern Guide Dogs and its mission is tied to the deep and heartfelt commitment of donors and

"They are the foundation of the future for the people we serve."

—Titus Herman partners. They believe in supporting these dogs and the humans with whom they are paired, and give their time, talent, and treasure to make miracles happen for people like Katie and dogs like Bristol.

Julia (top) and Jake (bottom) are enrolled in the Sponsor a Puppy program. Lively and affectionate, Julia loves to play and explore. With her big heart and bright future, she’s one pup full of potential!

Smart, sweet, and spirited, Jake shares his big personality with everyone he meets. Someday, they’ll be life-changers.

Sponsor a Puppy: A Fun and Easy Way to Help At Southeastern Guide Dogs, the Sponsor a Puppy program enables puppy lovers to share the joyful journey of the creation of future guide and service dogs. For as little as $19 a month, sponsors—and recipients of a gifted sponsorship—can follow along as a selected puppy matures and trains to become a lifetransforming hero. By sponsoring a puppy for themselves or for a gift recipient, Sponsor a Puppy donors help all puppies reach their potential as they develop and learn. Regular Pupdates and photos keep sponsors abreast of the little ones’ personality, growth, and progress for a year.

When a Puppy Finds its Perfect Match Katie McCoy may not have known Bristol as just a wee nugget, but she knows how impeccably matched they have been as team for the past seven years. They met when Bristol was just 2 and have melded their personalities and lifestyle into one perfect unit. “Before Bristol, it was like living in a cave and I couldn’t figure out how to get out,” Katie says. “But with Bristol, it’s like a skylight opened in that cave, and I was able to follow it out and see the beauty of the rest of the world. Bristol will always guide me out of the darkness. She won’t let me be alone. And she’ll always push me to keep going and move outside of my boundaries. She is love and light.”

With innovative science, consistent education, affectionate care, and professional dedication behind them, every puppy bred, born, raised, and trained at Southeastern Guide Dogs carries the powerful potential to become someone’s “Bristol,” someone’s superhero. And that is a beautiful thing.

For more information on Southeaster Guide Dogs, visit guidedogs.org or call 941.729.5665.

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Worth the Two-Year Wait:

Asolo Rep’s World Premiere of

By Ryan G. Van Cleave While our community is blessed with a wealth of live theater options, we count on Asolo Rep to deliver Broadway-worthy gems each season. Tony-winning director Frank Galati’s new musical Knoxville was supposed to be one of those can’t-miss gems…back in April 2020. The arrival of COVID-19 derailed the show, which was based on James Agee’s Pulitzer-winning autobiographical novel A Death in the Family. With music from the Tony-winning team of composer Stephen Flaherty and 996 6

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lyricist Lynn Ahrens—who collaborated with Galati on the Broadway production of Ragtime—this musical was poised to be a major cultural event in Sarasota.

As they say in theater, “The show must go on!” and while it’s taken some time, for Knoxville, the show will finally go on.

Thanks to a generous grant from The Roy Cockrum Foundation, Knoxville will premiere this season to live audiences. Previews are April 15-22, followed by a full run from April 23-May 11.

The following is an interview conducted with Frank Galati, Stephen Flaherty, and Lynn Ahrens.

Frank Galati

I remember there being a lot of hype about this two years ago. And here we are again. What was it like to have that delay?

Galati: It was unprecedented, shocking, and maddening.

We were on the brink of setting our feet on the stage for the first time—we had our last run-through in the rehearsal room on a Sunday. By Tuesday, the show was postponed.

Unexpectedly, we had handed to us the most precious commodity you can have in the theater: time. Time for it to stew, to simmer, to seep in. We held fast to the conviction that no matter how unbelievably chaotic and cruel the world is, people still needed to hear the simple universal story of a father and a mother.

Ahrens: Whenever you start technical rehearsals and move toward previews, you always think it’s done. And then you watch the audience reaction and realize “Oh my God, it’s NOT done!” The delay gave us years to imagine it and to think about it. We made very meaningful, substantial changes. It’s taken on some new resonances over the past couple of years. Now we’re going back and we’re thinking it’s done. But of course, it’s not!

Flaherty: For me, it’s been about resilience. It’s about going

Stephen Flaherty & Lynn Ahrens

through catastrophic events, trying to make sense of those events, and trying to create something that’s beautiful and meaningful from it. That’s really what this show is about as well. For two years, we’ve been starving for that kind of connection, that kind of community.

There have been various adaptations of Agee’s story already. Where did you see new ground?

Flaherty: I purposely waited until I was well within the process to even see what the television movie was like and what the feature film adaptation had been. I’d never seen it on stage before. I’d read the book, but that was years ago.

I think the sound of our show is radically different from other versions, and that’s a conscious choice. It was the same thing as when we were working on Ragtime, where I purposely didn’t revisit the film version which featured Randy Newman’s first film score. He did a wonderful job, of course, though his take on it wasn’t my take. I wanted to have my own personal stamp.

Galati: I’ve known the novel for many years. It’s so striking, so moving, so complex. In the couple of years that we’ve been working on it, if somebody says, “What are you APRIL 2022 | SARASOTA SCENE

97

It’s a celebration of a town and a family and how we all go through crises together.

—Lynn Ahrens

doing?” and I tell them, they almost always say, “Oh, I’ve never heard of that.” Yet James Agee was a popular poet and a respected film critic who wrote pieces for Time magazine in the 40s. At the time of his death at 48, he was very well known. Why he hasn’t remained more in the forefront is something of a mystery to me. Perhaps people are daunted by poetry?

A Death in the Family is a riveting story and its bone true.

The ego pronoun of the narrator is James Agee, and this is the story of his parents and his first six to eight years of life. He didn’t change the names. It’s incredibly personal.

I called on my dear friends Stephen and Lynn to ask, “Do you know this? Can I send you a little outline?” The thrill of the conversations that we had when we first started talking about it felt amazingly liberating.

Ahrens: I knew of A Death in the Family, but I’d never read it. So, when Frank reached out to us, we read the play, which was a beautiful adaptation—very straightforward, honest, and touching. And then I read the novel. Now, we lyricists love language, so when I read that novel, it was like the top of my head blew off. “There are songs on every page, and I can go here, and we can do a song there!” It was so exciting and emotional because the songs were flying off the page of the novel and wanting to go into Frank’s play.

Flaherty: There was something about the ensemble nature of this story. Even if it was just a two-character scene, I wanted to see if we could find a way to keep the group 98

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energy of the storytelling present. I began to think of how people entertained themselves back in 1915. Around that time, every house had a piano and people would use music to entertain one another. Or they’d play a guitar on the porch. I said to Frank, “Maybe our actors should also be able to play instruments, and they should be able to accompany the scenes, even if they’re not technically in the scene. They could be playing an instrument or singing as vocal underscoring.” We did an early reading of the first draft in New York City, and I said, why don’t we just try this idea on two or three of the numbers, just to see how this would interface with the rest of the show. We wound up doing five or six numbers, and it was amazing. It worked.

In all your experience of working with Knoxville, what has been the most surprising thing for you? Other than the COVID delay, of course!

Galati: For me personally, looking at what was there at the beginning of the manuscript and is not there in the published version is terrifying. It is incomprehensively dark and scary. It begins in a nightmare. You remember it, Lynn?

Ahrens: It’s quite different. It’s very dark. I like our adaptation.

Flaherty: We should also point out that the play was originally done in three acts. There’s also a television movie with Sally Field and William Hurt, which is also three acts. Yet when Frank first presented his original draft, it was two acts, so we’d lost an act. Now we are doing it as one act, and it’s very focused, and very rich. There’s something about the one-act structure that feels right for this particular piece.

Another thing that Frank did—and this change happened midstream— was that he allowed James Agee himself to become a character. Our friend, the wonderful singing actor Jason Danieley, now plays the author James Agee. So, we have James Agee at one point in his life, and then we have the young boy version of the same character. That became really interesting to all of us, because there were interesting and sophisticated ways that his present and his past could merge, and how they merged in song had to do with him making sense of these events and what happened, because a child can’t fully understand what they’re going through at the time, especially during catastrophic events. There was something exciting musically about it, and it shows how music can connect the dots across time.

Stephen and Lynn, why is Frank the right person to direct this?

Ahrens: He’s the most brilliant director in America. It’s as simple as that.

Flaherty: Also, Frank’s big interest is taking great works of literature— especially American literature—and finding a way to theatricalize what’s on the page. He did that so brilliantly with Ragtime and with The Grapes of Wrath. Frank really knows how to put the human aspect of a story onto the stage.

Galati: I’m so humbled by my colleagues. Thank you very much.

Why is Asolo Rep the right venue to launch Knoxville?

Ahrens: Frank knows Asolo Rep very intimately—he lives two blocks away, you know! It was just a natural fit since he knows the producing artistic director [Michael Donald Edwards] very well and they’ve worked together before. For us, the size of the theater and the inherent nature of the organization, which is so nurturing and so detail oriented, is a good fit.

At Asolo Rep, you’re not only welcomed but you’re supported. You have complete artistic control, but you always feel that if you need anything, you just email or call, and somebody gets back to you immediately. It’s this wonderful hive of creativity.

proportion and space in the theater building itself that is absolutely perfect for this particular show. After we began discussing the possibilities for this musical, I was able to fly down and see a wonderful chambersize production of Ragtime in the theater.

I was able to go to the opening, and I saw it from the orchestra section. Then I went to the matinee the next day and I was able to watch it from the mezzanine. There’s something very intimate about the feel of Asolo Rep’s physical space that I thought felt perfect for this show.

It helps me develop the music whenever I know the physical space where we’re going to be telling the story because I can visualize it. I know what it’ll sound like. So, that was a real help knowing that this was where we’re going to give birth to this particular piece.

Last question. What’s the most important thing people should know about Knoxville?

Galati: There’s joy in the heart of it. It celebrates the dignity and depth of the human heart.

Ahrens: It’s a celebration of a town and a family and how we all go through crises together. And in these times where we’ve already been through two years of one crisis after another, it seems like an appropriate musical to celebrate coming out of that with joy. With theater. With music.

Galati: We have amazing support from The Roy Cockrum Foundation.

They targeted Asolo Rep. They came here under the radar, saw shows, and departed without announcing that they had come. Roy Cockrum was a student at Northwestern at the same time I was, and he didn’t know I was down here. So, I got a call from him, and he said, “Is there anything you’re working on that could use some wider support?” I told him, “Well, there is the idea of doing this musical….” Well, guess what?

Roy Cockrum lives in Knoxville.

Flaherty: The thing I find incredibly moving is that it’s about what an American family can endure and how it finds a way to go forward as a family, and how you can take something harsh and create beauty. I think that that’s why we all go to the theater. We want to be moved by other people’s stories. By doing that, we see ourselves in these stories.

Ahrens: So, there you have it!

For more information about Knoxville, please visit asolorep.org or call the Box Office at 941.351.8000.

Flaherty: I’d like to add one point. There’s something about the physical

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MOVIE SHOT IN SARASOTA RECOGNIZES PIONEERING GOLFER BY GUS MOLLASIS

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There’s a good chance that you have never heard of Ann Gregory.

Even Curtis Jordan—the screenwriter and coproducer of Playing Through, a film inspired

by Gregory’s incredible story that is scheduled for this year’s Sarasota Film Festival—had not heard much about her either.

Until his mother shared her golf memories.

“My mom played against Ann in the 1950’s, so I got to know her through that,” he explains.

He began to wonder why he didn’t know more about Gregory, a pioneer in golf, race relations, and in general, a pioneer as a woman.

“Her story resonated with me,” says Jordan.

“And while our film is a fictional story, it’s based on her life and her experience.” He strove to capture a moment in time, drawing from his own background in rowing and as a rowing coach at Princeton to dig deeper into the story.

“I had a good feel for athletics and the stuff underneath the skin that makes the difference in a good athlete,” says Jordan.

“I think a lot of men and women find sports as an avenue to allow them to be self-expressed and prove themselves and to find the things that they want out of life.”

He describes this story as “two women struggling with the issues of the time—whether it be race or gender and still wanting to open the door and make themselves known.”

Jordan and his co-producer Peter Odiorne connected through Peter’s father about two and half years ago. “Curtis and I are two 50-plus year old white guys telling this story,” explains Odiorne. “So regarding a director, we wanted to get a female perspective if not an African American perspective. And so we hired a female director, Balbinka Korzeniowska, to come on board.”

Gregory, who passed away in 1991, was the first African American woman to play in a national golf championship event. Despite the challenges she faced, “she was confident and wouldn’t let anything get her down. She didn’t want to be the focus and didn’t want to be the savior for everybody—yet she was inspiring,” Odiorne says. “We feel this is a human story first—like every great film from Raging Bull, Moneyball, or Hitchcock’s The Birds, first and foremost they are human stories.”

Jordan agrees. “There are a lot of issues here and we touched on all of them. But in the end it’s a human story. It’s about a handful of people who are just going through life and trying to be what they want to be. Some succeed and some fail.”

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Playing Through focuses on a slice of time when Gregory was making the leap from the world of Black golf tournaments to the world stage and encounters a white female golfer from the South named Babs Whatling.

While Ann Gregory is the inspiration for the film, inspiration for the Babs Whatling character is based on the writer’s mother and her real-life golf match with Gregory in the 1950s. In the film, actress Andia Winslow plays Ann Gregory and Julia Rae portrays Babs Whatling.

Logline: career, Ann Gregory finds the courage to be the first woman of c Jordan has his theories about why his mother didn’t share des with Babs Whatling, aknow privileged white woman from the sou more about meeting the famed golfer. “I just that her life changed dramatically after that tournament,” he explains. “I kind of based the story around that. This collision of these two women created the opportunity, the impetus for both of them to move forward and be more self-expressive and be more outgoing as to who they were as individuals.”

Playing Through was produced throughout the Sarasota region at locations including The Laurel Oak Country Club, Historic Spanish Point, and the Rosemary District.

ANN GREGORY WINNER OF NEARLY 300 TOURNAMENTS AND INDUCTED INTO THE U.S. GOLF ASSOCIATION HALL OF FAME. NAMED BY ARTHUR ASHE IN HIS BOOK, HARD ROAD TO GLORY, AS THE BEST BLACK AMERICAN FEMALE GOLFER OF THE 20TH CENTURY. AT THE AGE OF 76, SHE COMPETED AGAINST A FIELD OF 50 WOMEN AND WON THE GOLD MEDAL IN THE U.S. NATIONAL SENIOR OLYMPICS, BEATING HER COMPETITORS BY 44 STROKES. 1 02

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“This film would not have been made if it wasn’t for Sarasota, the institutions, performing arts, and individuals that are here,” says the screenwriter. “Peter and I had a dream of doing it and our budget was minute—so partnering with Ringling College and West Coast Black Theatre Troupe, plus the help of Sarasota Opera and of course Laurel Oak golf course and Philippi Estates and other facilities made all the difference in the world.”

Thanks to these many contributions, moviegoers at this year’s Sarasota Film Festival will enjoy a unique window into the world of Ann Gregory—wife, mother, and avid golfer.

“Her pioneering efforts and spirit have paved the way for other women to play golf with an easier path,” explains Jordan. “We see a lot of quiet courage in who she is.”

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Scene Together

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By Wendy Lyons Sunshine

COUPLES ON THEIR WEDDING DAYS

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MARCH

6, 2022

JE S S I C A ALEXAN

+

LUKE

DER TAA

FFE

Siesta Key native and Pine View graduate Alex Taaffe recalls one particular Harvard v. Yale football game in Cambridge, Massachusetts, because that’s where he first met California-raised Jessica Luke. The two exchanged numbers and later dated back in New York City. Bonding over a shared competitiveness in games and appreciation for great restaurants, they fell in love.

Both also enjoy careers in cutting edge finance and digital sectors. Alex is Vice President of Business Developmen t at GSR, a crypto currency market making firm. Jess is Manager of Enterprise clients at Pitchbook, a data service provider.

The pair escaped New York and moved to Sarasota during COVID. For their fourth anniversary of dating, Alex arranged a trip to Parrot Cay in the Turks & Caicos. There, over a private lunch in a romantic and secluded part of the island with white sand and crystal-clear water, he asked Jess to marry him.

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In March, their wedding celebration kicked off with a beach party at Longboat Key Club to welcome guests, some of whom traveled from as far as London, Germany, and Dubai. The ceremony took place on a warm and beautiful afternoon on the lawn of the Powel Crosley Estate. Jess wore a Badgley Mischka dress and Alex wore a black tuxedo with a white bowtie, later changing to a white dinner jacket.

The emotional ceremony and heartfelt exchange of vows left no dry eyes in the audience. Following a breathtaking sunset, the couple was announced from the top balcony of the Mediterranean-style mansion. Dinner and toasts were capped by an outstanding band whose saxophone and trumpet players engaged the dance floor, and sparkler cannons highlighted special moments between Jess and Alex. The send-off party continued indoors with a DJ and food late into the morning.

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• insider •

educationmatters THE WATER QUALITY PLAYBOOK: GULF COAST COMMUNITY FOUNDATION’S TRANSFORMATIONAL ENVIRONMENT PLAN

By Ryan G. Van Cleave The environmental message has been constant and clear—as much as we might wish it were otherwise, we’re doing real harm to the planet. We’ve been doing this for a long time, notes Jon Thaxton, Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s Senior Vice President for Community Leadership. “I’m a fifth-generation Floridan who was raised on a farm near Osprey,” he says. As far back as the 1960s, he remembers “crusty old fishermen” complaining about poor water quality and their inability to make a living because of red tide. They blamed the water issues on the endless creation of shopping malls and subdivisions. Decades later, they’ve been proven to be correct.

“We’ve taken a landscape that was designed for a particular pulse of water of a particular quality at a particular time of the year to come from the sky, to the land, and into the banks—a beautiful system that’s perfectly balanced,” Thaxton explains. “Then we came in and totally screwed the whole thing up. If you were to write a plan to destroy Sarasota Bay, you probably couldn’t have written a better script than what we’ve done in Southwest Florida, where we took the land that was hypersensitive to change and we developed it at a time when there were virtually no regulations. Now, rather than trickling into our bays and estuaries over months and months and months, this pulse of water gets endlessly flushed into the bay.”

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Jon Thaxton

Even worse, the water being dumped into the bay is full of nutrients which in small quantities might be good, but at the enormous levels they are, it’s incredibly damaging. It’s carrying nitrogen that’s an ordinary byproduct of our daily lives. It’s hard to think about how something that’s generally considered good or positive can be harmful, but think of it this way—eating chocolate or taking two aspirin a day is okay, but eating three pounds of chocolate or popping forty aspirin a day? That’s not a safe plan. Yet we’re doing the equivalent to our entire water system, only at a far greater level than this.

And Thaxton isn’t standing for it.

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• insider •

charged with permit compliance. We can do so with an interactive, electronic, or web-based platform so that when the science changes, or when improvements are made, we can update it. And if we design it correctly, it can have specific application to Sarasota County, while at the same time being scalable and transferable to other counties in our region and other places in the country.”

Dr. Dave Tomasko

From the start, Thaxton has been an environmental activist. He was a founding member of the Ecology Club at Venice High School in 1974, and his efforts to protect endangered species got him featured in National Geographic in 1996. Some years ago, the former three-term Sarasota County Commissioner who is widely known for his conservation work, set his sights on doing something about this devastatingly important water quality situation.

To a group of his environmentalist peers, Thaxton said, “We can spend a lot of time trying to educate 172,600 households in Sarasota County, and then have to reeducate them every three or four years, or we can target the decision makers, the policymakers, and the people

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With the help of Gulf Coast Community Foundation and a committee made up of regional experts and key industry leaders, that’s exactly what happened. They facilitated, researched, and wrote the Playbook for Healthy Waterways—a.k.a. the Playbook—which is a unique resource to generate and inform community-wide action to transform environmental water quality throughout the region. The target audience includes leaders from all levels of government as well as nonprofit environmental organizations, businesses, homeowner associations, and the agriculture industry.

Dr. Dave Tomasko, Executive Director of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, confirms that the level of detail in the Playbook is outstanding. Most resource management guidance for agencies or for the public is so general that it’s not especially actionable because everything seems “important,” he says. “Typically, such reports talk about ‘reduce pollution,’ for example. Fine, but how? What is the most cost-effective thing to do— septic tanks? Upgrading to higher treatment levels at wastewater treatment plants? Stormwater retrofits?” asks Dr. Tomasko. “The Playbook is incredibly detailed guidance. It’s important to note, however, that it only covers half of our watershed—it’s for Sarasota County. It’s relevant for the entire watershed, but there are details

• insider •

and lakes, and we let the vegetation grow to a height of a couple of feet, we can eliminate the vast majority of the nutrients being transmitted from suburban landscapes. That’s something half the people in Sarasota County can participate in right now. We’re also finding it saves homeowners associations money because they don’t have to get their muck from the ponds removed.”

about Manatee County that require us to add on to what the Playbook contains.”

That’s easily done, however, because the Playbook is a living document— it’s designed to be updatable. The 43 proposed activities within it can also be customized to fit the needs and challenges of other communities in Florida or beyond. The topics within the Playbook range from wastewater solutions to stormwater system management to wetlands restoration. One of the key issues, though, is how to effectively manage nutrient pollution. The excess nitrogen pollution which has been entering our waterways for generations is pushing the ecosystem to the brink.

One thing we can do right now, explains Thaxton, is to replicate what wetlands used to do. That can happen by keeping fertilizer from entering bodies of water. “If we create a 15-foot no-mow zone on the shores of ponds

Dr. Tomasko is pleasantly surprised by the level of enthusiasm for doing what needs to be done. “Our local governments have publicly committed to spending about $600 million over the next 5 to 10 years on upgrades to wastewater treatment plants and stormwater retrofits to help restore the water quality and ecosystem health of our bay. They’re not waiting for Tallahassee or Washington, D.C. to come to their rescue or to write checks for what is needed (although I’m sure they appreciate all the funding they can get). Not every location is like this, and that’s why I think the future is bright for the restoration of Sarasota Bay.” Though Thaxton and Dr. Tomasko have a terrific sense of the situation, don’t just take their word for it. Visit the website (www.waterqualityplaybook. org) to see the entire 10-chapter Playbook for yourself.

There’s hope, folks, because we have the play-by-play plan to guide us to a better pathway forward for ourselves and the environment. But having the Playbook only makes a difference if we act on that information. There’s a tipping point just ahead, so the time to act is now.

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

on Gulf Coast Community Foundation, visit GulfCoastCF.org or call 941.486.4618.

Help make higher education possible.

Cassandra Holmes 941-752-5390 HolmesC@SCF.edu SCF-Foundation.org APRIL 2022 | SARASOTA SCENE

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bestseats

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APRIL 2022 |

PERFORMING ARTS CALENDAR

artist series concerts of sarasota

941.306.1200/ artistseriesconcerts.org Max Tan, Violin & Joseph Holt, Piano April 7 Natalie Helm & Jesse Martins April 17-18

asolo repertory theatre 941.351.8000/asolorep.org Knoxville April 15 - May 11

choral artists of sarasota 941.387.6046/ choralartistssarasota.org Listen to the Earth April 24

circus arts conservatory

941.556.5349/circusarts.org Sailor Circus 73rd Annual Spring Performance April 21-24

florida studio theatre

941.366.9000/ floridastudiotheatre.org The Legend of Georgia McBride April 6 - May 22

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lemon bay playhouse

941.475.6756/lemonbayplayhouse. com Gid Pool Comedy Show April 9 James Hawkins April 16 The Psychic April 27 - May 15

manatee performing arts center

941.749.1111/ manateeperformingartscenter.com Night of R & B and Jazz with Nu Jazz April 2 Tim Boyd Comedy Show April 9

mccurdy’s comedy theatre

941.925.3869/mccurdyscomedy.com Jodi & Dale Tie The Knot Again April 3 Basile April 6-10 Dale Jones April 13-17 Bermuda Mavericks April 20-21 Ryan Hamilton April 22-23

Beneva Fruitville’s Drag Queen Bingo April 24

the sarasota ballet

941.359.0099/sarasotaballet.org Program 7— Serendipitous Movement April 29-30

sarasota concert association

941.225.6500/scasarasota.org Warsaw Philharmonic with Pianist Bruce Liu April 4

sarasota contemporary dance company

941.260.8485/ sarasotacontemporarydance.org In-Studio Performance Series Featuring Natalie Helm April 15-16 Cuban Project: Historias April 28 - May 1

sarasota opera

941.328.1300/sarasotaopera.org Derek Han Memorial Concert April 3 Innocence & Illicit Passion April 6

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Hear & Now and All That Jazz April 9 Strut & Fret April 10 From Darkness Into Light April 13 RoSFest April 15-17

sarasota orchestra

941.953.4252/ sarasotaorchestra.org Breaking Boundaries April 1-3 Unforgettable: Great American Songbook April 8-9 Quintessential Clarinet April 10 Saddles of the Silver Screen April 20-23

van wezel performing arts hall

941.953.3368/vanwezel.org Kenny G April 5 An Officer and a Gentleman April 6-7 Terry Fator: Who’s the Dummy Now? April 10

Illusionist Rick Thomas: Mansion of Dreams April 11 Johnny Mathis: The Voice of Romance Tour April 12 South Pacific April 14-15 Fiddler on the Roof April 19-21 Il Divo: Greatest Hits Tour April 22 Diana Krall April 23 Motown with a Twist April 26

venice institute for performing arts

941.218.3779/ veniceperformingartscenter. com Giselle April 3 Carillon Concert April 7 Queen Nation: A Tribute to the Music of Queen April 9 Jazz Divine, Sacred Rhythm April 15

New York Bee Gees Tribute April 16 The Venice Symphony: Fantasy, Firebird and Fabiola April 22 The Terry Myers Orchestra April 24 Breathe in the Air: A Pink Floyd Tribute April 30

venice theatre

941.488.1115/venicetheatre.org The Last Five Years March 4 - April 3

westcoast black theatre troupe

941.366.1505/ westcoastblacktheatre.org Broadway in Black March 10 - April 24 April fools Fete April 4

V IS IT S C EN ES AR AS OTA. C OM to s ubmi t your event for con sid eration , pl ea s e s end i nfor mat i on to s cenema ga zi ne@s cenes arasota.com

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artscene

Art Ovation Hotel—

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APRIL 2022 |

VISUAL ARTS CALENDAR

art avenue

440.227.4592 / artavenueflorida.com International Art: Dali, Picasso, Turovsky Current Local Artists: Vicki Chelf, Richard Moravits, Elin Li Current

art center sarasota

941.365.2032 / artsarasota.org Gallery 1: Osa Atoe Gallery 2: Marano Gallery 3: Susan Sidebottom Gallery 4: Juried Show Through April 30

art ovation

941.316.0808/artovation.com Alexander Solotzew: Life in Colors Through April 29

art uptown

941.955.5409/artuptown.com Evelyn McCorristin Peters Through September 30 1 14

Art Avenue—Natasha_Turovsky

SPAACES—Nneka Jones

State of the Arts Gallery

MARA Studio Gallery—Craig Palmer

SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2022

chasen galleries

mara studio gallery

dabbert gallery

meg krakowiak gallery & studio

embracing our differences

ringling museum

941.260.5787/chasengalleries.com Richmond: “Unfinished Business” Featuring Sandhi Schimmel Gold April 28 – May 14 941.955.1315/dabbertgallery.com Local Color, Florida Style April 1 – 30 941.404.5710/ embracingourdifferences.org Winter/Spring Showcase Through April 10 Bayfront Park, Sarasota

island gallery west

941.778.6648/ islandgallerywest.com Featured Artist: Pat O’Neill Through April 30

941.914.8110/marastudiogallery.com Craig Palmer: About Face Through April 29

941.400.2478/megkrakowiakstudios.com “Spring in to Art” April 1 – 30 941.359.5700/ringling.org Art from Within: Selections from The Ringling Staff Through May 2 As long as there is sun, as long as there is light.

Through August 13 Eleanor Merritt: Remembrance Through August 21 Metadata: Rethinking Photography from the 21st Century Through August 28

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Island Gallery West—Pat O'Neill

Dabbert Gallery—Joe Palmerio

Chasen Galleries—Sandhi Schimmel Gold

stakenborg/greenberg fine art

sarasota art museum

941.955.2787/sarasotafineart.com Embrace the year of the NEST: Art by Alexa Snyder, Michel Tcherevkoff, and Victoria Mayol Through April 30

the southern atelier

941.753.7755/southernatelier.org See Website for Classes & Studios

Annie Sloan Paint Stained Glass Ironwork Nautical

Meg Krakowiak—Surround Sunshine

Ballroom Florida: Deco & Desire in Japan’s Jazz Age Through September 25 The Marvelous Marbling of Matsui Kosei Through September 25 sarasotaartmuseum.org Judith Linhares: The Artist as Curator Through April 3 Danner Washburn: Effigy Hemric Through May 8 Felix Gonzalez-Torres Through May 15

• • • •

941.487.8001/stakenborgfineart.com “Go Figure” Figurative Art April 13

state of the arts gallery

• • • •

Furniture Lumber Vintage Decor

wyland gallery

941.388.5331/ wylandgalleriesofthefloridakeys.com David Wight April 1 – 3 Jim Warren April 8 – 9

spaaces

941.374.3492/spaaces.art The Queue: Beyond the Surface

by Nneka Jones April 15 – 29

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meet the artist

FABIO DAL BONI

Fabio Dal Boni’s unique vision and travel experiences are reflected in the unearthly colors of his fine art photography, colors that create lasting blissful emotions and reflect his Renaissance spirit. Born in Italy and raised in Latin America, Dal Boni infuses his art with the sensibility of both new pop art and fine art photography.

To capture the supernatural colors that he perceives when looking at the world, Dal Boni uses a new art medium that mixes photography, drawing and paint, and experiments with different old-school and digital instruments. His hyperrealism, realized on aluminum, takes on a magical luminescence and an incredible 3-D effect with stunning details.

Dal Boni is the in-residence artist at AlexArt International Art Gallery in Sarasota. His vibrant paintings have been exhibited at Art Expo New York (2020), Miami Art Basel (2019, 2018, 2017), Art Santa Fe (2019), and Art New York (2018).

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WHAT HAPPENED TO _______ (INSERT FAMOUS NAME HERE)?

By Alissa M. Shulman, M.D., F.A.C.S

When people ask me “What happened to (famous person)?”

I can honestly say that I don’t know. Anytime a previously glamorous celebrity has an unsettling new look, I can only surmise that is due to a combination of aging and bad decisions.

Recently there has been a flood of celebrities being shown “sans makeup” and deliberately wearing unflattering clothes, photographed at unflattering angles. This is the exact opposite to the “smoke and mirrors” we usually see. So often we only ever see celebrities posed, filtered, and specifically “MADE UP,” making it shocking to see their real images. While I am happy that less-than-flattering images make the rest of us feel normal, it is frustrating to hear that a “once perfect body” was marred by a doctor.

Some may assume “Plastic Surgery” did this to them; however, not all plastic surgeons are created equal and not all machines and technologies accomplish what they promise. Patients really do need to do their homework— to take the time to find the right plastic surgeon and take the time to discuss all options realistically. Get referrals from trusted medical professionals.

Unfortunately, aging happens, regardless. As far as “minimally invasive procedures,” I have always believed that mini procedure=mini results. Multiple “mini procedures” do not add up to actual surgery.

Often the famous prefer these little procedures done under anonymity, after hours. Personally, I do my best work in surgery during NORMAL early morning hours.

Trying to hide medical procedures can “backfire.” Even with the best of patients and doctors, complications happen and disappointed patients happen. So many 1 18

SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2022

factors are a part of aging, and we cannot compare ourselves to others—genetics, lifestyle, stress, diet, and environment all play a part. The only guarantee we have is: “We will age until we die.”

What I have truly learned in my 22+ years of plastic surgery experience is the many ways in which people age. For instance, the natural height decrease that will occur is not that simple. The long bones don’t really shorten. Most of the “shrinkage” occurs in the trunk, (decrease of intervertebral disc height, etc.). The unfortunate result is less vertical space in your abdomen. The organs and surrounding tissue still occupy the same space. This ultimately results in an increased width or girth, since the organ volume must go somewhere. Your weight may stay the same, but your waist band feels tighter.

Another phenomenon of aging is the inevitable excess of skin. This is partially from skeletal changes, decreased skin elasticity, weight change, and most likely, years of stretching over mobile joints. Sometimes, cutting of this skin is worth the risks of surgery, sometimes it isn’t. This is between you and your board-certified plastic surgeon.

We will never know the true story about what happened to ________, because we never knew their true condition before–and Barbie is not a real person..

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• a r t s + c u lt u r e •

LITERARYScene

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

A CONVERSATION WITH LOCAL AUTHOR DAVID ADAMS CLEVELAND It’s not often that art historians are able to transform a deep love for history into engaging novels, but since 2013, that’s exactly what David Adams Cleveland has done. His latest effort, Gods of Deception, imagines the final days of a judge who once presided over the 1950 Cold War trial of real-world Soviet spy Alger Hiss.

I chatted with David, a part-time Siesta Key resident, to learn a bit more about this book and his writing career.

What’s the casual dinner party answer to “Oh, you just had a novel published? What’s it about?”

Often this question is posed with an attitude attached (“if you’ve had a novel published and I didn’t already know about it, much less haven’t heard of you, then you can’t be much of a novelist”). One is then faced with the prospect of trying to temper such skepticism with the elevator pitch about the plot, or to casually wave the whole thing off, remarking: I write literary novels that only a chosen few reviewers and intelligent readers bother with.

It seems we live in a culture (the art world is not dissimilar) where fame is the coin of the realm. Or as an astute reader of mine once offered: If you only wrote shorter books, you’d be famous by now. To which I mention the refrain I’ve heard a hundred times at signings from Maine to Florida, at tiny indies or sprawling Barnes & Nobles: “Oh golly, such a long novel—but you know: (sotto voce) If I love a book, I never want it to end.”

What’s the story behind the story of Gods of Deception?

Since I first became aware of the Hiss spy case (“the trial of the century”) when I was studying history in college, I was always intrigued—how on earth could half the nation believe that Hiss was a spy after his conviction for perjury in 1950, and the other half believe he’d been framed by Hoover and the FBI and enemies of the New Deal led by his accuser Whittaker Chambers? One was reminded of the way the Dreyfus Affair divided France into warring camps for a generation, or how, more recently, the OJ trial split America.

“

Fiction writing and art history may seem like very different avocations, but I find that they neatly complement each other.

“

I remembered as a kid my parents watching heated arguments on William Buckley’s Firing Line between supporters of Hiss and partisans of his spy-handler, Whittaker Chambers. What exactly was at stake? Once the ultimate verdict began to filter in during the early 2000s with the declassification of Soviet cable traffic from the WWII era (Venona), and access to KGB files during the Boris Yeltsin presidency of Russia (after the fall of the Berlin Wall), and it was confirmed that Alger Hiss had indeed been a spy—an agent of influence sitting at Roosevelt’s right hand at Yalta, I began to wonder about the lawyers who had been on Hiss’s defense

APRIL 2022 | SARASOTA SCENE

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team. Hadn’t they suspected something fishy about their client’s earnest denials of wrongdoing? Did they know or suspect the truth all along or were they, too, confounded

by Hiss’s golden-boy stature as a member of the Eastern establishment? Like good defense lawyers they took any doubts to their graves.

I found myself inspired to develop one of my main characters in Gods of Deception, Judge Edward Dimock—a member of the Hiss defense team—who at 95 with failing memory is intent on finishing his long-delayed memoir about the Hiss trial. He summons his grandson, a Princeton astrophysicist, to his fabled Catskill retreat, Hermitage, to help uncover the truth about Alger Hiss. And so, through the Judge’s memoir and the sleuthing of his grandson, George Altmann, the harrowing inner workings of the Alger Hiss spy trail are revealed, along with a series of unsolved deaths surrounding the case.

Over the course of writing this novel, what surprised you the most?

I began my research for the book thinking that Alger Hiss was a spy for Soviet military intelligence back in the late 1930s, only to realize that the real damage he did was as an agent of influence in the highest reaches of the State Department during WWII and its aftermath. We now know that Hiss, a Soviet asset, sat at Roosevelt’s right hand at Yalta, and each morning was debriefed by his handler about the American and allied negotiating position visa-vis the post-war disposition of Eastern Europe and the Far East. On the way back from Yalta, stopping in Moscow with elements of the American delegation, Hiss was taken aside by the head of Soviet intelligence, and in a secret ceremony presented with the Order of the Red Star. Hiss was just one of over 500 Soviet agents embedded in the US government—including Roosevelt’s White House—and related war industries.

How do your various identities feed each other?

Fiction writing and art history may seem like very different avocations, but I find that they neatly complement each other. In my novels, I try my best to set scenes with the palette of a painter, while in my art history, I try to tell compelling stories about artists—the challenges and inspirations that shaped their art. I think the best novels not only provide telling details about the setting (character and plot)—their pages express a certain tone or atmosphere— something the reader feels in her bones—an emotional 1 22

SARASOTA SCENE | APRIL 2022

quality that stays with the reader long after the plot, or even the characters, have been forgotten.

What’s next for you?

I’m on the third draft of my fifth novel (working title, Reunions) about four women at their 40th reunion where they run into a graduating senior who’s the son and spitting image of a much-beloved classmate, who knows more about their past lives as students (and their torrid affairs) than any kid should know. It’s less than 400 pages, so my readers will be disappointed in its brevity.

Abbeville Press, who publishes my art history, also has me on tap to do a shorter version of my American Tonalism book, a book that will include tips on collecting, connoisseurship, and how to purchase art you will keep enjoying for the rest of your life.

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