Aravilla Memory Care... Happiness is here!
24/7 on-site licensed nursing Engaging activities
•
Month-to-month rental
•
Chef-prepared cuisine
Deficiency free since opening •
Locally owned and operated
Call today for a tour.
AHCA
3251 Proctor Road, Sarasota, FL 34231 941.444.9398 | info@aravilla.com | Aravilla.com
DEFICIENCY FREE
Assisted Living Facility #12551
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A New Twist on Assist! Welcome to Senior Life, Reimagined.
Have Fun. Feel Good. Live Well. Opening October 2018
Tropical resort-like living
•
Daily recreational activities Month-to-month rental
•
Multiple unique dining venues •
24/7 on-site licensed nursing
Locally owned and operated
Call today for a tour. 3251 Proctor Road, Sarasota, FL 34231 941.444.9398 | info@aravilla.com | Aravilla.com Assisted Living Facility License Pending
AUGUST 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE
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Meet Dr. Morris & Dr. Bakke
From the proprietor to the managers to its outstanding staff, everyone at the E legendary Cafe L’Europe is committed to excellence as you partake in an 197 3 STA BL ISH ED
unforgettable culinary adventure.
Parking is plentiful on the Circle
New Summer Hours: Open for Lunch & Dinner Noon to 8:30 Sun - Wed Noon to 9 Thurs - Sat Closed Mondays through August 27
ESTABLISHED 1973
431 St. Armands Circle, Sarasota | 941.388.4415 | cafeleurope.net CONTINENTAL CUISINE | FINE WINES | CRAFT COCKTAILS | PIANO MUSIC ALFRESCO DINING | PRIVATE DINING | PRIVATE DINING CATERING
CONTENTS features
42 SARASOTA BOOMERS
42
Where are they now? By Jacqueline Miller
56 LIVE YOUR DREAM What’s on your bucket list? By Jacqueline Miller
68 AGING CARE Preparing for the future
ON THE COVER Cover Design by Darcy Kelly-Laviolette. Photos of Sarasota boomers from the Sarasota Scene archives.
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Pictured: Top Row L to R: Patricia and Dr. Larry Thompson (2013); Katie and Michael Moulton, Leslie Koalin, Wendy Cook and Lynn Ferguson (1983) Second Row L to R: Janis Collier, Wendy Resnick, Joel Gray, Ellen Wagner and Judith Kulman (1980); Katherine Harris, Peggy Wood and Margaret Wise (1991) Third Row L to R: Debra Jacobs, Karen Bell and Chuck Sidlow (2010); Joe Angeleri and Mrs. Robert DesRochers (1985); Fourth Row L to R: Jeff and Julie Riddell (1986); Jacqueline Morton, Sandra Lundqvist (2004); Dr. Kumar and Linda Mahadevan (1994) Fifth Row L to R: Ed Chiles (1995); Sandy and Vern Buchanan (2002)
Click to View Featured Models
CONTENTS departments
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22 SOCIAL SCENE 16 THE LIST August Events Calendar PARTY PICS
22 BLVD Groundbreaking
INSIDER 28 THE FIND
Anti-aging beauty products
& treatments
104 LAUGHING MATTERS
The fire sale episode
By Ryan G. Van Cleave
PHILANTHROPY 34 A LEGACY OF CARE AND SERVICE
Sophia LaRusso By Ryan G. Van Cleave
ON THE TOWN 74 SCENES FROM AN INTERVIEW
Andrew Ford: Buying, selling and trading on his good name By Gus Mollasis
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80 EDUCATION MATTERS Why everyone should know about 2-1-1 By Ryan G. Van Cleave
101 EAT & DRINK Slice of Paradise By Rick Dakan
BEACH READS 83 WHAT SHE LEFT by Neil S. Plakcy
88 THE DANCE by Grier Ferguson
ART & CULTURE 94 BEST SEATS Performing Arts Calendar
96 GET INSPIRED Cultural happenings brought to you by the Arts & Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County
99 LITERARY SCENE Ryan reviews three beach-read-worthy novels By Ryan G. Van Cleave
Be Informed Be Entertained Be SCENE scenesarasota.com
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We ’ r e FIXTURES In Our Community!
FOR OVER 30 YEARS, THE PLUMBING PLACE HAS WORKED HARD TO EARN
THE TRUST OF OUR CUSTOMERS AND CONTRACTORS. WITH OVER 150 YEARS OF COMBINED EXPERIENCE, OUR FRIENDLY AND KNOWLEDGEABLE STAFF DELIVERS EXCEPTIONAL CUSTOMER CARE.
SHOP OUR 6,000 SQ.FT. SHOWROOM FOR THE BEST & MOST EXTENSIVE COLLECTION ANYWHERE.
5678 FRUITVILLE ROAD SARASOTA, FL 34232 941.378.5678 THEPLUMBINGPLACE.COM
from the executive editor
I
IT WAS THE SUMMER OF 1954 IN THE BRONX, NEW YORK. A baby girl was born to a construction worker and a homemaker. She was named after her mother’s mother and was the couple’s third child. The baby had both sets of grandparents and aunts and uncles living within a few-mile radius and grew up in a loving and nurturing environment. As a young child of five, she was allowed to go outside and play with all the kids on the block. She played hopscotch, ran relay races, played in the dirt, caught bugs in a jar, and threw softballs on the street. Cars would go by at a very slow speed, as if they were in the way of all the kids playing on the street, instead of the other way around. Then she would go inside and do her homework before dinner. Ozzie and Harriet and Father Knows Best were two of her favorite shows to watch on the family’s black-and-white TV. She was a good kid, got good grades and always tried to make her parents and her grandparents proud. By the ripe old age of ten, she was riding the New York City trains going to Yankee games with her friends. A bit of a tomboy? You bet. She liked competition and pouted when she didn’t get the best grades in her class. But she never realized as a family they never had that much. Life was simple then. You didn’t have to dress a certain way or have tons of toys and gadgets. If your dad didn’t drive a fancy car, no one cared. Some people didn’t even have a car. Neighbors knew each other and helped each other. People liked you for who you were, not for what you had. That child was me and boy, am I glad it was. For me, being a child in the 50s and early 60s was a time of innocence, of incredible family bonds, of strong neighborhoods and close neighbors. My 91-year-old mother still talks to a few neighbors from back then. The bonds of their friendship have certainly stood the test of time. You probably guessed that since there is a big “Boomer Issue” graphic on the cover, I am telling you this story because I am a Boomer. And to my fellow Boomers out there, I’ll bet you have a story similar to mine. Since we’re now all starting to get “up there,” don’t you find yourself thinking more and more about yesteryear? Maybe it’s because we’re yearning to go back to simpler times as we age. Keep things less complicated. Unwind some things that have caused us stress. Take more time for ourselves. Maybe even catch some bugs again (or not). I’m definitely heading that way! Being the lovers of our community that we are at Sarasota Scene, we thought you’d enjoy looking at some old photos of some of our Boomers of today. We know who a lot of them are, because many still live here; some we do not. If you spot an old friend, and if seeing their photo brings back some great memories and puts a smile on your face, then we’ve accomplished just what we wanted to do. If you think you know who someone is but you’re not sure, visit scenesarasota.com and check out our digital magazine. You’ll find the answers on page 92. Enjoy this issue, this month and most of all, who you are and how far you’ve come.
Want to submit some comments or questions? We’d love to hear from you at julie@scenesarasota.com.
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DID YOU KNOW? August was named after Augustus Caesar, the first emperor of the Roman Empire. It has two birthstones: Peridot (the oldest known gemstone) and the Sardonyx. Its official flower is the Gladiolus. Every year, fans mourn the death of Elvis Presley (Aug. 16, 1977). August is often referred to as the “dog days of summer” but not because of dogs. It has to do with the star Sirius, also known as the dog star, which rose at the same time as sunrise during the month of August in ancient Roman times.
B E A N E D U C AT E D I N V E S TO R . Understanding more about your investments is not out of reach. Vimvest Advisors exists to help you understand how to scientifically and sustainably invest.
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P R E - C O N S T R U C T I O N
P R I C I N G
THE COLLECTION CONDOMINIUM 13 3 5 S E C O N D S T R E E T, S A R A S O TA , F L 3 4 2 3 6
Locally Owned and Operated Since 1957
T H E C O L L E C T I O N133 5 .C O M
Vol. 61 No. 8
CEO/President Ronald Milton Publisher/Executive Editor Julie A. Milton Vice President, Sales & Marketing John Knowles Account Executive Linda Krysinski Graphic Designer Darcy Kelly-Laviolette Communications Specialist & Editorial Assistant Bobbilynn Hollifield Distribution Dick Jackson Contributing Writers Sue Cullen Jacqueline Miller Gus Mollasis Ryan G. Van Cleave Rick Dakan S TA R T I N G F R O M T H E M I D - $1 M I L L I O N S
jonathan abrams
N O W TA K I N G R E S E R VAT I O N S
REALTOR®
Social Photographer Nancy Guth Contributing Photographers John Revisky Kelly Kearns
941.232.2868
JonathanAbrams@michaelsaunders.com www.SRQHouse.com
443 John Ringling Blvd. Ste. #F Sarasota, FL 34236 941.365.1119 | Fax: 941.954.5067 scenesarasota.com 5100 Ocean Blvd | Sarasota, FL 34242 Office: 941. 349.3444 | michaelsaunders.com
D E V E LO P E D B Y
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SARASOTA SCENE | AUGUST 2018
RJM Ventures LLC, dba SCENE Magazine of Southwest Florida publishes 12 issues a year. Address editorial, advertising and circulation correspondence to the above address. Sufficient return postage and self-addressed, stamped envelope must accompany all manuscripts, artwork and photographs submitted if they are to be returned or acknowledged. Publisher assumes no responsibility for care of return of unsolicited materials. Subscription price: $12.95 per year, $19.95 for two years. All contents copyrighted. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.
LIVE inspired. Our award-winning Life Enrichment program was created to provide our residents with exciting opportunities for entertainment, inspiration and personal growth. We offer: • Revolving calendar of educational workshops and classes • Fun experiences • Exhilarating social events
First 4 to bring in this ad will receive $2,000 off your first month’s rent!*
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social SCENE
ROAR! Ringling Order of Art Readers
THE LIST PARTY PICS
scenesarasota.com
Sarasota Slam Fishing Tournament
august 2 – 3
The LIST AUGUST 2018 EVENTS CALENDAR
The Ringling ROAR! Ringling Order of Art Readers The Ringling’s Education Center 10:30 a.m. Free | ringling.org
2 – 30
The Ringling Art After 5 Thursdays | 5:00 p.m. $15 | ringling.org
PICK YOUR FAVORITES!
This month’s calendar is loaded with art, music and educational events. Try instructive programs for all ages at The Ringling while you soak up knowledge and the cool A/C air. Think + drink (science) at South Florida Museum. Learn a new painting technique at Selby Gardens. And if you don’t mind a few sweat beads, enjoy the many outdoor festivals, concerts, bike rides and wine walks.
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Manatee-Sarasota Building Industry Association Sarasota Slam Fishing Tournament Wrap-Up Marina Jack 12:00 p.m. Auction, weigh-in, bbq & party. Supports Harvest House sarasotaslam.com
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The Ringling ROAR Big Kids! Searing Wing 10:30 a.m. $2 | ringling.org
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social SCENE
Music on Main
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Lakewood Ranch Main St. Music on Main 6:00 p.m. Performance by Wild Root benefits CAN Community Health Free to attend; food & drink available to buy lakewoodranch.com
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Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center Very Merry Jerry Day 5:00 p.m. Musical tribute to Jerry Garcia. Bands include Stumble Creek, the Al Fuller Band and Ship of Fools. $15 | wslr.org
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Chefs Collaborative Sarasota 5th Annual Sustainable Seafood Dinner Louies Modern 5:30 p.m. Formerly known as Trash Fish, the dinner utilizes
invasive seafood species $125-150 chefscollaborative.org
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Marie Selby Botanical Gardens In Dialogue with Nature: Glass in the Gardens The Ringling 11:00 a.m. Walk & Talk Tour of Kotler-Coville Glass Pavilion. $20 | selby.org
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Perfect for those times when you don’t want or have time to cook but still crave something delicious. Morton’s kitchen offers an amazing array of gourmet entrees and comfort foods, all prepared from scratch and packaged to go. Save time, money and effort while savoring the city’s best take-out, hands down. Don’t miss our huge selection of freshly made salads too!
City of Venice Casual Bike Ride City Hall Parking Lot 2:00 p.m. visitvenicefl.org
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South Florida Museum/ Bishop Planetarium think + drink (science) 7:00 p.m. Reservations required $3 - $5 | southfloridamuseum.org
Historic Southside Village 1924 South Osprey Avenue Sarasota ∙ (941) 955-9856 MortonsMarket.com AUGUST 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE
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social SCENE
Venice Wine Walk
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Players Center For Performing Arts Spotlight Awards Players Main Stage 6:00 p.m. Annual volunteer event Free admission | theplayers.org
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Manatee Chamber Business After Hours Firkins Mitsubishi, Bradenton 5:00 p.m. $10 | manateechamber.com
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AJC 2018 Summer Lunch & Learn Series Michael’s On East 11:30 a.m. Confronting extremism and anti-Semitism in Europe $28 | jfedsrq.org
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Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Capture Nature with Alla Prima Painting Carriage House
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10:00 a.m. Workshop on alla prima technique $65 | selby.org
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Venice Main Street Wine Walk Downtown Venice 5:00 p.m. Wristbands available at the kiosk in Centennial Park $10 | visitvenicefl.org
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Umbrella House Tour
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Sarasota Architectural Foundation Umbrella House Tour
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Goodwill Manasota Good Reader Program Goodwill’s Manatee Bookstore 11:00 a.m. 1-hour story time for kids age 5 – 8 experiencegoodwill.org
SARASOTA SCENE | AUGUST 2018
Sarasota Sailing Squadron Sarasota Bay Watch Clam Jam
1300 Westway Drive, Sarasota 11:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. $20-40 sarasotasailingsquadron.org sarasotaarchitecturalfoundation.org
8/19 – 9/3
Englewood Pioneer Days 2018 Family-friendly festival to celebrate the town englewoodpioneerdays.com
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Sarasota Opera Guild’s Summer Salon Luncheon
Manatee Chamber Bird Key Yacht Club 2018 Manatee Small Business of the Year Awards 11:30 a.m. Manatee Performing Arts Center 7:30 a.m. $40 | manateechamber.com
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Calvin Falwell, bass clarinetist $40 | sarasotaopera.org
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American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Kick Off Reception The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota 5:30 p.m. Complimentary valet MakingStridesWalk.org/ SarasotaManatee
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Mixon Farms Arts and Crafts Fair 10:00 a.m. Free | mixon.com
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Music Compound Back to School Bash 10:00 a.m. Live music, food truck, bounce house, beer Free | musiccompound.com
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Venice Main Street Barstool Open 5:00 p.m. Adult putt-putt golf; costume contest for bestdressed golfer $25 | visitvenicefl.org
social SCENE
UPCOMING events
the OFFERED BY STEPHANIE CHURCH
Click to view listing 1627 PEREGRINE POINT COURT • The Landings, Sarasota 4B/3½B • 3,230 SF • Completely Renovated • New Plumbing & Electric Offered at $1,450,000 Grey Matters Symposium
SEPT. 15 | A Taste of Downtown Sarasota Opera House 1:00 p.m. Benefits the Sarasota Youth Opera $75 | sarasotaopera.org
SEPT. 22 | Suncoast Blood Bank 7th Annual Red Hot Event Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall 6:30 p.m. $125 | redhottickets.org
Click to view listing 1874 WISTERIA STREET • West Of The Trail, Sarasota 5B/3B • 2,638 SF • Retiled Roof • Two Zone A/C • Separate Guest House Offered at $1,100,000
SEPT. 27 – 30 | Florida Watercolor Society 47th Annual Exhibition, Convention and Trade Show ArtCenter Manatee | Hyatt Regency $25 - $56 | floridawatercolorsociety.org
SEPT. 28 | Roskamp Institute Grey Matters Symposium Michael’s On the Bay at Selby Gardens 11:00 a.m. $50 | roskampinstitute.org
Click to view listing 5179 FLICKER FIELD CIRCLE • The Landings, Sarasota 4B/3B • 3,135 SF • ½ Acre Lot • Fireplace • Heated Pool & Spa Offered at $865,000
STEPHANIE CHURCH BROKER ASSOCIATE
S CE NESAR ASOTA .COM for the latest social scene party pics. To submit your event for consideration, please send information to scenemagazine@scenesarasota.com
941.724.5448
Stephanie@StephanieChurch.com StephanieChurch.com
201 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Ste 1 • Longboat Key, FL 34228 AUGUST 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE
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AUGUST 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE
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social SCENE Keith, Cara & Alivia Redding
Olivia Valek & Koblenz
PARTY pics
Debbie & Jim Herzoff
BLVD GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY Kevin Daves of Core Development, which gave us the Ritz Carlton Sarasota and The Concession, proudly put the first shovel in the ground for BLVD, a new Sarasota luxury condo project with resortstyle amenities on Boulevard of the Arts. BLVD will be an 18-floor tower with 49 condos and panoramic city and waterfront views. Keith Redding and his team at Key Solutions are the exclusive sales agent. To learn more, visit blvdsarasota.com.
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Kevin Daves
Brenda Patten & Evan Berlin
The Smoky Mountain Retreat atat Eagles The Smoky Mountain Retreat EaglesNest Nestisisa a1,000 1,000acre, acre, award winning, gated community, ideally award winning, gated community, ideallylocated locatedbetween between Maggie Valley and Waynesville. With Maggie Valley and Waynesville. Withoutstanding outstandingviews, views, 2222 miles of of wide paved roads, city miles wide paved roads, citywater, water,buried buriedutilities utilitiesplus plus a well funded homeowners association,this thismay maybebethe the a well funded homeowners association, community and lifestyle you have beensearching searchingfor. for. community and lifestyle you have been
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MOKY MOUNTAIN R ETREAT R EALTY SSMOKY MOUNTAIN R ETREAT R EALTY EVELOPER & SALES TEAM : DDEVELOPER & SALES TEAM:
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Check our website SmokyMountainRetreat.com for more info on our property and vacation rentals Check our website SmokyMountainRetreat.com for more info on our property and vacation rentals Smoky Mountain Retreat Realty, Inc. • 26 Gaddis Branch Road., Maggie 828-926-5300 AUGUSTValley 2018 | •SARASOTA SCENE 23 Smoky Mountain Retreat Realty, Inc. • 26 Gaddis Branch Road., Maggie Valley • 828-926-5300
Should Retired Baby Boomers Spend More and Worry Less? BY SUE CULLEN
Many Baby Boomers, often shackled by the fearful teachings of their Depression era parents, are not spending enough of their savings early in retirement, and Sarasota author and business owner David Kennon is on a mission to stop retirees from sabotaging their own retired years. “For 18 years, I’ve sat down with thousands of retiring Baby Boomers to help them determine optimal timing for their Social Security benefits. From nearly all of them I hear the same refrain, ‘I’m worried I’m going to outlive my money.’ It doesn’t seem to matter whether they have $200,000 in the bank or $2 million, the dread is the same,” Kennon says. “I’ve also sat down with many people in their 80s and 90s to whom I always ask the same question, ‘What advice do you have for those of us who are just starting our retirement journey?’ And the answer is nearly always the same. ‘Spend more money earlier in your retirement. By the time we realized that we wouldn’t outlive our money, we were too old to enjoy it’.”
Kennon uses historical data to back up his recommendation. “One reference I use is a 30-year study by the Federal Reserve that tracked retiree spending and found, incredibly, that people, on average, were dying with about 60 percent more money than the day they retired. This is the biggest injustice facing the Baby Boomer population today,” Kennon says. “It is painful to see the regret in the faces of people nearing the end of their life when they realize they missed their only chance to enjoy the money they worked so hard to save.”
“You deserve to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Spend the money.”
As outlined in Kennon’s new book, Spend More, Worry Less (SpendMoreWorryLess.com/Amazon.com), Kennon’s formula for a better retirement follows three steps. The first is to invest retirement savings in a diversified portfolio of stocks and bonds with at least half of the money in stocks. Second, take out 5 percent per year from those savings starting the very first year of retirement. Last, spend the money. “When clients tell me they don’t really need the extra money, I still insist they begin withdrawals. I refuse to let them die with all of this money,” he says. “You deserve to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Spend the money.”
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Kennon notes that 87 years of economic history point to the same fact. Assuming the money is invested and working as outlined in his first step, people who withdrew 5 percent from their savings each year would have ended up dying with more money than they started with 100 percent of the time. “It doesn’t matter if you retired in 1940 or 1960 or 1997. If you took 5 percent per year, 20 years later you would have ended up with more than you started with,” he says. “This isn’t my opinion, it is purely historical data. The simplest way to understand it is this. If a diversified portfolio of stock and bonds does not return an average of 5 percent between
now and the end of your life, it is the first time in modern economic history that it hasn’t.” Kennon says he spent three years developing his book, which he believes could radically alter the way Baby Boomers view their savings and spending for the rest of their lives. He also gets his message out by hosting a website, StopLivingScared. com, and his radio program, Dave Kennon’s Retirement Revolution, which airs on 93.7 FM, 103.1 FM and 930 AM. “My overwhelming conclusion is that the transition from working and saving to retiring and spending is a stressful experience due to the intense fear of running out of money,” he says. “It doesn’t help when Baby Boomers watch the daily stock market coverage on television. The continuous fear-based rhetoric seen on the financial news adds to the Depression era mentality from their parents. That profoundly affects their mental state, which in turn affects their decisions about whether they can afford a new kitchen, take that vacation, spoil their grandkids, or support a cause they believe in.” Could Kennon’s message spread throughout the country? That’s his plan. “The country needs to start a national conversation about this terrible injustice,” he says. “It is causing so much needless worry, pain, and regret.” David Kennon offers securities through First Allied Securities, which is a Member of FINRA/SIPC.
DAVID KENNON, author of "Spend More, Worry Less"
CONNECT: Kennon Financial | 1 South School Ave, Penthouse Suite, Sarasota, FL 34237 | 941.556.6307 | StopLivingScared.com
AUGUST 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE
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AN EXCEPTIONAL, LUXURIOUS NOT-FOR-PROFIT SKILLED NURSING & REHABILITATION CENTER
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• Personal Physicians
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• Licensed Physical, Occupational & Speech Therapists
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insider
The FIND 60: THE NEW 40!
HERE’S SOME PRODUCTS AND PROCEDURES SURE TO HELP BOOMERS LOOK AND FEEL MORE LIKE GEN X’ERS!
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SARASOTA SCENE | AUGUST 2018
1. SARASOTA IV LOUNGE The Cell Repair IV cocktail helps with cholesterol levels as well as reduces symptoms of angina & increase stress tolerance for cardiac trauma patients. 90 min – 2 hrs | $225 | sarasotaivlounge.com 2. SARASOTA PLASTIC SURGERY CENTER Use this award winning anti-aging system and get ready for smoother, brighter, and more even-looking skin. This transformational collection includes TNS Essential Serum®, HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator and Lytera® 2.0 Pigment Correcting Serum. Set sells for $521 | sarasotaplasticsurgery.com
MICHELLE CRABTREE Broker Associate, REALTOR® A third-generation local and broker associate since 1982, Michelle is dedicated to serving your needs in Sarasota, Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch.
3. RITA MEDICAL ELITE The Fotona 4D® facial treatment is a revolutionary non-surgical procedure to address skin laxity, lines, wrinkles, loss of volume, and uneven tone & texture on the face. $250 - $1,250 | ritamedicalelite.com
941.724.4663 michelle.crabtree@premiersir.com crabtreehomes.com
4. CRYOXL AT HYDR8 PREMIERSOTHEBYSREALTY.COM
Cryotherapy decreases inflammation while increasing serotonin levels and collagen production. In addition, the average person burns between 400-600 calories during warmup. Packages and subscriptions are available. $55/session | cryoxl.com 5. OMEGA 3 INNOVATIONS Omega Cure fresh cod liver oil delivers the full-spectrum of omega-3 fatty acids to hydrate the skin and help ward off wrinkles. $45 | 255 mL (8.6 oz) omega3innovations.com
6. NIA CLINIC CooLifting leaves skin looking and feeling tighter and firmer in just a few minutes. There is no pain or post-treatment downtime and you can resume your normal skin regimen the next day. Contact clinic for pricing niaclinicmedspa.com
Each office is independently owned and operated.
SAFARI IN
NOVEMBER The animal kingdom is on full display on an African safari.
7. LASER LOUNGE The sclerotherapy treatment removes unsightly spider veins, leaving the skin smooth and youthful. Contact the spa for pricing thelaserloungespa.com 8. LES CISEAUX SALON & SPA Anti-Aging facial reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles as well as improves color, tone and texture. $115+ | lesciseauxsalonspasarasota.com
insider Contact Lisa Silvestri to start planning. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
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PHOTO BY NANCY GUTH
Derrick Maginness, Phil Hammersley and Erik Hanson of Norton, Hammersley, Lopez & Skokos, P.A.
REAL ESTATE DISCLOSURES: AVOID THE MONEY PIT BY SUE CULLEN
A flourishing real estate market not only produces a bumper crop of "for sale" signs, but also sparks a corresponding increase in disputes between buyers and sellers over property defects. While caveat emptor–let the buyer beware–no longer is the norm under Florida law, both buyers and sellers have obligations that must be met to avoid a dispute. A landmark decision in 1986 by the Florida Supreme Court in Johnson versus Davis represented a change in sellers’ obligations and set requirements in cases where buyers claim sellers did not disclose known defects.
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“Johnson versus Davis placed an affirmative duty on
list of things that are wrong. Even if the seller eventually
the seller to disclose issues that were not expected previ-
agrees to pay, it can be a lengthy and expensive dispute.
ously. Before that, it was caveat emptor,” said attorney Phil
Many times, it gets to the point where the buyer and seller
Hammersley, a shareholder of Norton, Hammersley, Lopez
are arguing more about who pays attorney fees than the
and Skokos (941.954.4691/nhlslaw.com), a Sarasota law firm
defect claim itself.”
concentrating in business, tax, real estate, trial practice, and dispute resolution.
Nondisclosure claims also must demonstrate that the defects were not readily observable and that the buyer was
Hammersley and associates Erik Hanson and Derrick
unaware of them. “One buyer purchased a home on stilts
Maginness counsel clients that four requirements must be
and then filed a claim against the seller for not disclosing
met to be successful in bringing, or defending against, a
flooding during the rainy season,” Maginness said. “The
nondisclosure claim. “Buyers first have to prove the sellers
court said it is no secret that it rains heavily in Florida
had knowledge of the defect at the time the house was sold,”
at certain times of year and that the local regulations
Hanson said. “Everything starts with the sales contract, which
required the home to be built on stilts. A buyer must take
are commonly as-is contracts, placing the onus on the buyer
reasonable steps to ascertain the material facts relating
to get an inspection. Even then, the seller still has to disclose
to the property and to discover them if they are reason-
defects known to the seller.”
ably ascertainable. The court ruled against the buyer in
Sellers should also know that deliberately misleading
that case.” Misrepresentations and omissions may not be
buyers or not telling them about defects they know about
actionable where the exercise of ordinary diligence might
are not the only ways to lose a dispute. Forgetting about an
have discovered the truth.
issue that occurred in the past or not having the knowledge
Buyers often rely on home inspectors to uncover major
to understand that an issue existed are not valid defenses.
defects, but do so without delving into the limits of what
A problem that has been repaired, and reasonably believed
home inspectors’ contracts say they will do and the recourse
to be resolved, does not have to be disclosed, but sellers may
a homeowner has if the inspector misses a major issue. Home
want to do so anyway. “In one case, a seller did not disclose
inspectors’ contracts often contain limits of liability, which
a leak that happened years ago, and the court held that the
sometimes are limited to the cost of the inspection itself,
seller’s belief that the problem was repaired meant they were
and waivers of consequential damages. When hiring home
not required to disclose it,” Maginness said. “Five years later,
inspectors, Norton Hammersley attorneys advise buyers
the buyers pulled the wall apart and brought action against
find an inspector who is a licensed general contractor, ask
the seller claiming the leak had done damage.”
what kind of inspection will be made, check references,
In certain situations, sellers may not have received a disclosure statement from the previous owner or have ex-
and consider having a knowledgeable friend–preferably who is a contractor–accompany the inspector.
tensive knowledge of the property, but can still run into
The fourth element under Johnson versus Davis is that
issues if defects are discovered. “This can apply particularly
the undisclosed defect must materially affect the price of the
to investors who may never have lived in the house and are
home. In other words, if the defect were disclosed, buyers
not aware of all its quirks. Providing the disclosure, if they
would pay less for it. “Sellers should not take comfort in
received one when they bought the home, is a good idea for
that though. My advice is to disclose everything. Keep
investors or any seller for that matter,” Hanson said. “Once
very good records of upgrades and repairs and consider
a nondisclosure claim is filed, you can get into all kinds of
turning copies over to the buyer,” Hammersley said. “If
other issues, such as whether the work was done properly by
sellers do not meet their disclosure obligations, that house
a licensed contractor. Plaintiffs often come in with a laundry
can become a money pit in more ways than one.”
CONNECT: Derrick Maginness, Phil Hammersley and Erik Hanson of
Norton, Hammersley, Lopez & Skokos, P.A. | 1819 Main Street, Sarasota, FL 34236 | 941-954-4691
Click to View Video Tour of Residences
(941) 366-7667 ~ 1301 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, Florida ~ SarasotaBayClub.com 32
SARASOTA SCENE | AUGUST 2018
Discover the Many Benefits of Luxury Retirement Living in the Heart of Downtown Sarasota Just minutes from the symphony, the ballet, the opera, and the museum, Sarasota Bay Club is surrounded by a rich array of arts, culture and some of the most incredible dining and shopping on the Florida Gulf Coast. When it comes to choosing the perfect location for your retirement lifestyle, Downtown Sarasota is truly a place of never-ending activity that can be found just outside your door. Sarasota Bay Club offers exquisite condominium residences featuring a broad selection of expansive floor plans, designed for comfort and convenience, each with its own uniquely gorgeous view. Sarasota Bay Club boasts an unrivaled list of first-class amenities, including award-winning dining and a wide range of healthcare services, all set in an exclusive resort-style campus overlooking sparkling Sarasota Bay, with Saint Armand’s Circle and Longboat Key just minutes away. You’ll enjoy a wide variety of activities in our state-of-the art theatre, including world-renowned live entertainment, lectures, and a full array of opportunities to enrich your life. For those who demand nothing less than the very finest of lifestyle choices, this is the ultimate retirement address. Right where you want to be!
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philanthropy
A LEGACY OF CARE AND SERVICE BY RYAN G. VAN CLEAVE | PHOTO BY KELLY KEARNS
When Sophia LaRusso and her husband were living in New York, they remained busy, busy, busy. He was a hospital administrator at Bellevue Hospital Center and she was the Director of Operations for an international not-for-profit organization. Go to work in the city. Head to Grand Central Station for the train back home in Westchester County. Care for the house and family. Repeat.
“Talk with her for a moment, though, and you’ll quickly realize the deep emotional That’s the type of schedule that doesn’t connection she has with SOPHIA allow for much else, Sophia admits. LARUSSO Pines of Sarasota, a notSo, when they moved to Sarasota to live full-time in 1994—after owning a house for-profit rehabilitation and being part-time residents here since ’88—the first thing they decided? Get involved in the community. They came for and senior care the arts and culture, as well as the weather, but the welcoming and philanthropic community that has been nature here drew them in and created opportunities to get involved right from a part of Sarasota for 70 the start. And they luckily met people who helped connect them—her with the Community Foundation of Sarasota years.” County, where Sophia first served as Chair of the Grants Committee and subsequently on the Board for ten years, including chairing it for two. “When I went off the Board,” explains Sophia, “I became a Community
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Foundation volunteer consultant, meaning I was given an opportunity to work with multiple boards of nonprofit organizations over the years.” Her work primarily focused on two areas: strategic planning and board development. “I’ve worked with so many people, so many organizations—it’s hard to say there’s a favorite!” Talk with her for a moment, though, and you’ll quickly realize the deep emotional connection she has with Pines of Sarasota, a not-for-profit rehabilitation and senior care community that has been a part of Sarasota for 70 years and is currently in the midst of a multimilliondollar transformation of its campus. “My mother lived with my husband and me for 34 years before she went to the Pines at age 94,” Sophia shares. “The quality of care she received during her five years there? It allowed me to sleep at night, knowing she was in the best of hands. If you feel comfortable trusting a loved one’s well-being to a facility or organization, you owe them big time. It starts with that.” That level of care was perhaps most evident through the attendant her mother was initially assigned. At 94, she was still independent, so she had
philanthropy
reservations about any attendant helping, much less a male! But within a month, she was “enthralled with him,” Sophia says. She’d allow only him to take care of her—no one else! At one point, she admitted that her beloved attendant was “the son she had never had.” And that meant a lot to Sophia. She also appreciated the intergenerational programs they had at Pines of Sarasota, so her mother could interact with children up to age 5 who were enrolled in their day care and child learning center. Another thing Sophia appreciated? That she could come anytime—day or night—and find her mom receiving the best of care. “I was in love with the staff. They became like family to me. They were wonderful.” Though her mom passed on after five years at the Pines, Sophia continues to support the Pines of Sarasota Foundation in a variety of ways. For ten years, she’s been a member of its Wit and Wisdom of Aging luncheon committee, which holds a major fundraiser every November. She’s been on its marketing committee and given presentations to the board as well as the Legacy Society. There’s also a plaque in its beauty parlor that’s dedicated to Sophia’s mother and a brick in her mother’s name outside the Memory Unit. Most recently, Sophia served on the search committee for the new President of the Foundation that hired Janet Ginn, this past January.
To list the organizations and groups that Sophia cares about requires a spreadsheet, thanks to her ongoing efforts and interactions that began with the Community Foundation. But she’s clearly keen on Easterseals Southwest Florida, saying that “it is a fantastic organization to work with!” She’s also a fan of the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County, which makes sense for someone who always has tickets for Urbanite, Asolo Rep, Florida Studio Theatre, and so many others. The Westcoast Black Theatre, too, is one she holds dear, as much for the quality of the troupe’s musical and dramatic performances as the fact that her late husband of 43 years helped to provide theater space for them to get started. Thanks to her three-days-a-week tennis exercise and the different organizations she belongs to, Sophia runs into all kinds of people. She’s amazed when she learns—as she did with someone a few weeks back—that they’ve never been to a local theater show. Leave it to Sophia, though, to sell them on the idea of attending the 10-Minute Play Festival in May at the Asolo/FSU Center for Performing Arts’ Cook Theater. “10-minute plays are great,” she adds. “At the age I am now, that’s about my attention span!” To chat with Sophia is to quickly realize that she wasn’t joking about getting involved in the community when AUGUST 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE
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philanthropy
Bradenton Bradenton East Integrative Medicine BradentonEast EastIntegrative IntegrativeMedicine Medicine
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she arrived in Sarasota back in 1994. Since then, she’s had her own TV show. She served on the Board of the Mental Health Community Center for several years. She was a member of the Tourist Development Grants Panel and chaired the Tourist Developmen Policy Committee of the Arts and Cultural Alliance which gives grants on a competitive basis to arts organizations from tourist tax dollars.
When Whenchoosing choosingyour your When choosing your healthcare provider, healthcareprovider, provider, healthcare consider a physician consider a physician consider a physician who whosees seesYOU YOUas as who sees YOU as a Whole Person, WholePerson, Person, a aWhole NOT A SET NOT A SET OF NOT A SET OF OF SYMPTOMS. SYMPTOMS. SYMPTOMS.
But it all circles back to the 25-acre campus of Pines of Sarasota with its 240+ residents and 400+ employees, which clearly has a dear place in Sophia’s heart. She notes how a few might think negatively about it because it used to be the Sarasota Welfare Home, first operated by the Kiwanis Club of Sarasota. “But they are STILL the Sarasota ‘welfare home’—a place where love lives and residents’ welfare is still of utmost importance. They’re treated with dignity and respect.” And Sophia remains impressed with the new leadership at Pines of Sarasota.
Integrative medicine practitioners spend time listening to Integrative medicine practitioners spend timewith with their Integrative medicine time their Integrative medicine practitioners practitioners spend spend time with their patients, listening to their histories and looking at the interactions among genetic, patient histories and looking at genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that can influence long-term health.
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While Foundation President Ginn and President/CEO Mike Ward both have under a year of service there, Sophia sees how they think collaboratively and strategically about the Pines along with the members of the organization’s Corporate and Foundation Boards of Directors. How to change it. How to renovate and improve its programs and services. How to keep differentiating themselves from other senior care facilities that might be beautiful and big, but ultimately don’t have the high quality of employees that makes all the difference. Most importantly, Pines of Sarasota remains steadfast to its mission to provide residents with a place built to accommodate their changing needs while free from worry about outliving their financial resources. “At some point, I’ll be ready to move into the Pines myself,” Sophia says. “And I know they’ll be there—and be ready—for me.”
F O R M O R E IN F O R M AT IO N
on Pines of Sarasota, please visit
941.330.7616 36
SARASOTA SCENE | AUGUST 2018
SARASOTA
www.pinesofsarasota.org or call 941.365.0250.
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ASSIST
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ARAVILLA SARASOTA ASSISTED LIVING
T
he first thing you notice when entering this gorgeous three-story building is how lively, bright, and reminiscent of an upscale resort environment it is. Aravilla Sarasota is a luxury assisted living rental community, which means none of the expensive buy-ins of other communities. Aravilla offers two restaurants, a breakfast bistro, sports pub, and an outdoor barbecue pit. Great food and a great experience. Wine & dine your friends at the piano bar. Enjoy Cornish game hens, fresh salmon with dill sauce, prime rib, and Yorkshire pudding. For the health-conscious, there are gluten-free and Mediterranean choices. The Aravilla Sarasota commitment starts on day one—all incoming residents get complimentary concierge assistance for their first day. The concierge ensures a seamless
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transition to the resident’s new home, introduces them to new friends, shows what Aravilla has to offer, and gives the team time to appreciate the resident’s needs, wants, and desires. At The Studio, residents bring their creativity to life with art classes, karaoke, social media instruction, culinary classes taught by its Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef, Fred Astaire dance classes, and life-long learning. Care is professional, compassionate and discreet. Aravilla has 24/7 on-site licensed nursing, medication management, and onsite physical, occupational, and speech therapies. Residents live in their own apartments at Aravilla safely, independently, and comfortably as their care requirements change.
Latest Aravilla Renderings.
Aravilla Sarasota is locally owned and operated. “It’s all part of what makes Aravilla Sarasota special,” notes CEO Jim Soper, who started working in health care with his mother at 14. He’s since had over 30 years of senior living development and management experience working on over a dozen senior care communities on the Gulf Coast of Florida. Soper explains: “It’s our ‘assist with a twist’ philosophy.” 20 years ago, people went to assisted living because they had no other options. The twist at Aravilla is that it’s the sort of place one WANTS to come to even when they are active and independent. “We expand our resident’s horizons, so they can live life on their terms, not on anyone else’s. I call it ‘building with our ears,’” says Soper. “We listen to their needs, their wants, their desires. We work to incorporate it all back into our brick, stone, and foundation, as well as our philosophy. We strive to provide them with a home that feels like their home.” “Ultimately, we’re not asking people to fit into our box,” says Soper. “We’re asking potential residents this question: ‘May we participate in your world?’ We work here, but it’s their home. We want to treat them that way.” This 120-apartment community will become home for new residents late this fall. For more information on Aravilla Sarasota, 3251 Proctor Rd., Sarasota, please visit www.aravilla.com or call 941.444.9398.
Aravilla is locally owned and operated. Featured above are owner and CEO Jim Soper & Executive Director Carol Copenhaver.
AUGUST 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE
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Dedication of the Green Bamboo Pavilion at Selby Gardens. 1979 42
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SARASOTA BOOMERS
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Example of Nostalgic: A person who looks back at old photographs and remembers good times. By Jacqueline Miller In the 19th and 20th centuries, nostalgia was considered a form of melancholy. Researchers today say that is definitely not true. Nostalgia makes people feel better giving them a stronger feeling of belonging and affiliation. Memories of old friends and good times certainly bring a smile to our faces reminding us of our roots and continuity.
Do you recognize any of them? We do.
Since Sarasota Scene was founded in 1957, we have a treasure trove of old photos in our magazine archives. We thought we might bring smiles to your faces as you look at photos of young Sarasotans of the past who are our Boomers of today.
We’ll give you the year and tell you what they were doing. Hopefully that will help you remember!
We know many of them are still continuing to make their mark in our town. But there are many we don’t know. Perhaps we’re off in age by a year or two (or three or four), so if your photo is included and you’re not a Boomer, well then you fooled us.
Curious for the answers? Turn to page 92 and you will find their names. Have fun!
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1973 Junior Welfare League Provisionals Teenage volunteers of Los Amigos de las Americas
Model in bikini and skirt from Sea Stable on Longboat Key
Heart Fund Ball
Summer Fun
1974
Getting ready for tennis at the Longboat Beach and Tennis Club
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Senior Cotillion at the Holiday Inn
Music Ensemble from the New College Summer Music Festival perform at the Woman’s Exchange
1975 Celebrating in a 1935 Rolls Royce at the Grenadier
Modeling jumpsuit from The Beach Shop
Fun at Sarasota Jungle Gardens
Junior Cotillion Spring Dance
1976 Dancers from the Sandy Young Studio
Showing a donated watch at New College’s “Action Auction”
Senior Cotillion, Hyatt Hotel
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1977
Promoted to Vice President at Longboat Key Bank
Guests aboard the 41-foot ketch “Enterprise”
Kissing Booth at the annual convention of the Licensed Practical Nurses Association
JGA Champion gets trophy
Season Kick-off Party for Asolo Theatre
Beach jogging friends
Having fun at the Distinguished Home Tour
Herald Tribune’s 10,000-Meter Road Run
1978
The latest beach fad – inner tubing 46
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Fashion Focus salon owner goes to World Congress of Hair in Tokyo
Sarasota students traveled to six European countries
1979
American Business Woman’s Association Gala
Bird Key Yacht Club Luau
Getting ready to play at Nick Bollettieri’s tennis program at The Colony
Farewell celebration for the 80-foot yacht Sangamo
Tennis prodigy demonstrates forehand technique at The Colony
AUGUST 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE
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Pine View graduate shows his scale model of Our House at the Beach
Phi Beta Kappa Association Annual Dance
1980
Office manager at Albritton’s Grove Store
1981
Woman’s Exchange Annual Grant Awards
Ad agency ladies hold a media party
Junior League Holiday Tour of Homes
Decorating for New College’s Mistletoe Ball
Wine Tasting event at The Colony
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Get together at the Four Winds Resort on Longboat Key
Herald Tribune Advertising Awards
New College Clambake
1982
Showing ceramics from The Limetree
Party for the opening of The Excelsior on Siesta Key
Asolo Theatre Opening Night
Florida West Coast Symphony Music Center
Meadows Pro Tennis Clinic
Ringling Museum’s Children’s Festival
1983
Selby Gardens “Night of the Moon” event
AUGUST 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE
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At the Circus with a newborn white tiger
1984
Modeling at the Symphony Association Fashion Show
Out-of-Door Academy’s annual “Extravaganza”
Models from the fitness and fashion store Somebody
1985
Bal de Coeur Cocktail Reception
The Parade of Homes
New VP at United Federal Savings and Loan Association
July was a record-breaking month for births at Sarasota Memorial
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1986
Masters of Hair Design new salon opening
Coquille Harvest Ball
Dinosaur Club event
The Symphony Association’s Designers Showcase
Enjoying Father’s Day Brunch at the Hyatt
AUGUST 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE
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Mistletoe Ball committee members
1987
Sarasota Diagnostic Center’s “An Evening of Silver and Gold”
Celebrating first anniversary of public relations firm
New College Foundation Clambake
Party by the Cartoon Classic Fund-Raising Committee to benefit the Joan Browne Critical Care Unit at SMH (named for the late wife of Sarasotan Dik Browne, creator Hagar the Terrible) 52
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BOOMER BLISS
1983 1970
1968
1973 1967 1974
1970
1970 AUGUST 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE
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LIVE YOUR DREAM BY JACQUELINE MILLER
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WHAT’S ON YOUR BUCKET LIST? Fulfilling our dreams becomes so much more important as we age, with traveling always near the top of the dream list. So what, besides the alwayspopular safaris, are some of the trending “must do before you get to heaven” bucket list trips? I asked local travel expert Lisa Silvestri of Silvestri Travel for the answers. And while she admitted there are way too many good trips from which to choose, she did pick a few incredible choices to put in your bucket.
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ALL ABOARD Since 1990, Rocky Mountaineer, the world’s largest privately-owned luxury tourist train, has welcomed more than 2 million guests to inhale the mountain air and let nature take their breath away. The unparalleled experience onboard the all-dome fleet offers rich, historic storytelling, world-class cuisine, a first-hand look at the vast and untouched wild beauty of the Pacific Northwest, and an opportunity to share memorable moments and make lasting friendships with fellow travelers. With over 65 vacation packages, you can choose from four unique rail routes, which travel through iconic destinations such as Seattle, Vancouver and the majestic Canadian Rockies in Alberta. This luxurious train travels by daylight, with overnight stays in destinations such as Kamloops, Whistler, and Quesnel, BC, so guests do not miss a single moment of the breathtaking scenery along the way. Rocky Mountaineer onboard hosts provide engaging storytelling of the passing regions and never fail to point out the glacier-capped mountains, tumbling waterfalls, and fleeting wildlife. The culinary adventure onboard reflects the regions through which the train travels, highlighting local ingredients, such as local produce, Pacific salmon, and prime Alberta beef. Rocky Mountaineer executive chefs take inspiration from the landscape unfolding outside of the train windows when designing all menus.
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Rocky Mountaineer’s season runs from mid-April to mid-October and travels at an average speed of 30 mph. It is the only all-daylight journey to travel the historic routes from Vancouver through the Rockies, so you don’t miss a moment of the majestic scenery. Four Unique Rail Routes: First Passage to the West (Vancouver – Lake Louise or Banff) Journey through the Clouds (Vancouver – Jasper) Coastal Passage (Seattle – Jasper, Lake Louise or Banff) Rainforest to Gold Rush (Vancouver – Jasper via Whistler and Quesnel)
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SOFT BREEZE In 1998, Sir Richard Branson went to Morocco with the goal of circumnavigating the globe in a hot air balloon. While there, his parents found a beautiful kasbah and dreamed of turning it into a wonderful Moroccan retreat. Eventually Branson purchased the kasbah and made his parents’ dream come true.
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Located in Asni, a little village and marketplace in the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco, Kasbah Tamadot (tamadot means 'soft breeze' in Berber) is a romantic and magical property perfect for relaxation and a cultural discovery of Moroccan food and customs. It is approximately a 45-minute drive south of Marrakech Menara Airport and approximately one hour south from central Marrakech. This tranquil and secluded hotel has 28 rooms and suites, including a Master Suite and ten Berber Tents. Each room at Kasbah Tamadot is decorated in a unique style with artifacts from around the world. The luxurious Berber tented suites offer stunning views of the Atlas Mountains, king-size beds, large soaking tubs (some with mountain views) and private terraces with sun loungers and outdoor dining areas. Some even have private plunge pools. They also all come equipped with split air conditioning units to keep cool in summer and warm in winter. Accessed through the herb and vegetable garden, the tented suites are perfect for those looking for a little more privacy.
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In their quest for guests to achieve optimum relaxation, everyone is asked to switch off their phones or put them on silent. Tranquility is paramount. You can indulge in spa treatments in the luxurious Asounfou spa, cooking lessons, tennis, private dining under the stars. Kasbah Tamadot recruits 95% of its staff from the surrounding communities; along with the extended family of 4 mules, 3 donkeys and 2 camels, a stay at Kasbah Tamadot is like a stay in a true Moroccan home. Something quite special is the opportunity to learn about the local culture and for guests to really immerse themselves in it. You can venture out to the local villages to enjoy a cup of fresh mint tea in a traditional Berber home and visit the Berber Boutique, which donates 30% of its revenue to Eve Branson’s Foundation in support of local projects. As they say at Kasbah Tamadot— Salim Alikoum (peace be with you).
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DANCE WITH THE LIGHTS If you want to check the Northern Lights off your bucket list, you need to go to Iceland. Did you know Iceland is the optimal destination to see the Lights and that September through April are the best months? While other countries like Norway, Canada and Finland also offer good opportunities to catch this incredible phenomenon (since they also have longer hours of darkness in winter), they face more cloud cover challenges to view the Lights than does Iceland. Also, due to the nature of the earth’s magnetic field, the Northern Lights only appear at the poles, usually above the 60° latitude mark in the north. Iceland, which sits at the latitude of approximately 64° north, is in a perfect position. The Northern Lights appear as dancing lights high in the sky and vary in color, mainly green, but can be purple, red, pink, orange and blue depending on the elements being ionized. To witness the aurora borealis in all their glory in Iceland requires patience, luck and optimum conditions. For the best experiences, you can hunt the Lights in a jeep tour with an expert guide who uses the latest forecasts to lead the hunt. You can also witness glaciers and volcanoes during the day. For a different perspective, you can take a Northern Lights cruise to take in some incredible coastal experiences. But your best friend for viewing the Northern Lights is time. Going for just a couple of days makes it doubtful you’ll have a sighting. You need to plan to stay for as long as you can. And one of the best towns in which to do your waiting is Akureyri. Nestled at the bottom of the beautiful Eyjafjörður fjord and surrounded by mountains, Akureyri is known for its mild climate, picture-perfect scenery and a number of good quality restaurants. It is an enchanting, cosmopolitan town that is still somehow quintessentially Icelandic. The area around Akureyri attracts people from all over the world wanting to experience the volcanic rock formations and geothermal landscape. As for where to stay, Akureyri’s Hotel Kea is a fourstar hotel which, according to a TripAdvisor review, is “pretty high-quality compared to many of the other hotels in Iceland which tend to be more of a motel quality.” And, if you’re lucky, you can view the phenomenon of the Northern Lights right from your hotel balcony.
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AGING CARE When it comes to preparing for the care of a loved one, there’s a lot to know about assisted living, memory care, home care, rehabilitation and skilled nursing care. How do you know what to look for and what questions to ask? Hopefully we’ve made it a little easier for you with the help of some local professionals.
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FROM KARLIE HAACK, Director of Sales & Marketing Harbor Chase of Sarasota, an assisted living and memory care community 941.468.2838 | haronline.net
HOW CAN I PREPARE FOR ASSISTED LIVING? Preparing for assisted living can be a difficult and emotional decision. At best we don’t know where to start. We often wait until a serious life change occurs before we consider options. Some best practices for preparing for your future is doing things like researching communities in advance. Get a feel for the type, style and culture of the community you might call home someday. Consider your medical needs as well as emergency management options. Many long-term care policies are available and give considerable financial peace of mind. WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW WHEN RESEARCHING FOR CARE FOR THE FUTURE? Know all your options! There are many types of care; familiarize yourself with Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care and Long-Term Care Skilled Nursing communities. Find out the difference between them, so that when you are in need of senior living options you know what type of community to start with. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, like what type of license they have, staffing, nurse in the building and other things that you might personally find important when looking at a future home. Once the time comes when you might be considering making a move, know your budget. Find out what you can afford for monthly rent and care at a community. WHAT BENEFITS PAY FOR ASSISTED LIVING / MEMORY CARE? There are two types of benefits that will help pay for your rent and care at an Assisted Living and/or memory care. Long-term care insurance, which we touched on earlier and veterans benefits. To see if you qualify for veterans benefits or spousal benefits contact your local VA.
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WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CRITICAL QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN SELECTING A PRIVATE DUTY HOME HEALTH AGENCY? While there are several questions to ask a potential agency when seeking care for a loved one, one of the most important is “Are caregivers your employees or are they independent contractors?” This is critical, because if the caregiver is an agency employee, the caregiver will be covered by workers’ compensation insurance, and the agency will be paying the applicable payroll taxes. This means that the family receiving the care will be insulated from liability if the caregiver is injured on the job, which happens far more often than people realize. It also means that whenever the caregiver seeks benefits such as social security, the government will not come looking for the family to help cover those costs.
FROM MICHAEL JUCEUM, Right at Home Providing In-Home Care Services and individualized care programs 941.929.1966 | rightathome.net
MY LOVED ONE NEEDS 24/7 IN-HOME CARE. WHY ISN’T THAT COVERED BY MEDICARE? Medicare never covers anything that is deemed to be long-term care. Medicare will cover a limited amount of in-home care while a person is recovering from an illness or injury, including a variety of therapies, wound care and limited (2-3 weekly half hour visits) for personal hygiene (bathing). Medicare never covers housekeeping, meal planning and preparation, grocery shopping, etc. In addition, Medicare will never cover ongoing daily assistance with what are known as Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), which including bathing, dressing, feeding, toileting and transferring. Ongoing ADL assistance is by definition “long-term care” and is beyond the scope of Medicare. HOW DO I KNOW THAT IT IS TIME FOR MY FAMILY MEMBER TO HAVE IN HOME CARE, OR ALTERNATIVELY, TO SEEK ASSISTED LIVING? First and foremost, it is about safety. Ask the following question: “If my loved one is left alone, will they be able to recognize there is an emergency such as a fire, and will they be able to evacuate the premises without assistance in a timely manner?” If the answer to either part of the question is “no”, the person should not be left alone. The question then becomes whether to supply in-home care or look into assisted living, and there are multiple things to consider at that point, such as budget, interest in activities (socialization), and other lifestyle considerations. AUGUST 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE
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FROM MATTHEW MUNDING,
FROM WENDY BROWN,
Community Liason
Home Care Assistance
The Inn & Bayshore Place at Sarasota
Providing high quality care based on a
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proprietary science-based approach.
Nursing and Assisted Living Center.
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WHAT IS SKILLED NURSING? Skilled Nursing Care is for those who need ongoing long-term nursing care or for those who need short-term concentrated rehabilitation while recovering from an acute illness or surgery. WHO PAYS FOR SKILLED NURSING? Long-term nursing care is covered by long-term care insurance, Medicaid or private pay. Short-term rehabilitation is covered by Medicare, Medicare Advantage and most commercial insurance plans. Medicare Part A can help pay for your care in a Skilled Nursing Facility if you meet certain conditions: 1. Three consecutive nights in an inpatient acute care hospital setting 2. Admitted to Skilled Nursing Facility within 30 days of hospital discharge 3. Physician certifies that you have a need for the skilled nursing and rehabilitation services on a daily basis 4. Your condition requires daily skilled nursing services provided on an inpatient basis 5. Your care in the Skilled Nursing Facility is directly related to your inpatient hospitalization WHAT SHOULD YOU LOOK FOR IN A SKILLED NURSING FACILITY? Ask for a list of all the services offered, the number of beds, amenities, about the staffing, cost and fees, and outcomes. WHAT IS CARDIO-PULMONARY REHABILITATION? At The Inn, our Medically Complex Cardio-Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program is for patients who require comprehensive care for these and other conditions: • Stroke • Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery (CABG) • Pacemaker Care • Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) • Emphysema • External Defibrillators (Life Vest) • Pleural Disorders – Myocardial Infarction (MI)
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WHAT IS HOME CARE? Home care is rooted in the principle that older adults should be free to age at home with the level of care they need to be safe and comfortable. To that end, most home care providers work hard to ensure that their clients are able to live as independently as possible while receiving the care they need to maintain a high quality of life. Our population is aging rapidly, and with an aging population comes an increased need for different care options, particularly when 9 out of 10 older adults have expressed a strong preference to “age in place” or stay in their own homes. In its simplest terms, home care means assistance with activities of daily living and household tasks. Ideally, home care also provides meaningful companionship for older adults and peace of mind for their families. WHAT CONCERNS DOES AGING PRESENT FOR EACH INVOLVED PARTY? For your parents, it may be fear of dependence or frailty or mortality. For your siblings, it may be feeling overwhelmed at the prospect of caregiving, or worried at the thought of your parents being alone in an emergency. It is important for everyone to communicate and address their concerns to prevent fear from overwhelming the conversations. WHAT ABOUT PROGRAMS THAT EXERCISE THE MIND OF YOUR LOVED ONE? We offer a program called Cognitive Therapeutics Method (CTM) that was designed by our scientific research team to target the five domains of the brain. While changes in cognitive functioning are a normal part of aging, there are proactive ways for older adults to stay cognitively healthy for longer. The Cognitive Therapeutics Method exercises not only memory, but all five domains of the brain that have been shown to be affected by cognitive aging. This activity-based program is done one-on-one with the client and caregiver in the privacy of their own home. It is a wonderful way to engage our clients while providing cognitive benefits.
What do you want to be when you grow up? Do You Have An Elderly Loved One Who Wants to Stay at Home but Needs Help? If so, meet Home Care Assistance. High Caliber Caregivers. We hire 1 in 25 applicants. Our caregivers are the industry’s most experienced, thoroughly trained and vetted caregivers. Balanced Care. Our unique Balanced Care Method™ promotes healthy mind, body and spirit, and helps our clients thrive at home. Brain Health Experts. Our proprietary Cognitive Therapeutics Method™ is a non-pharmacological activities program to keep aging minds sharp and engaged.improving sleep and promoting positive wellbeing. Wendy Brown, owner, works directly with clients and their families. She is passionate about promoting options that lead to happy, healthy lives for the seniors she serves.
Call today to schedule a FREE assessment! 941-702-5525 I HomeCareAssistanceManasota.com 1226 N. Tamiami Trail Suite #301, Sarasota, FL 34236
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on the town
WITH
SCENES FROM AN INTERVIEW ANDREW FORD
BUYING, SELLING AND TRADING ON HIS GOOD NAME
H
by Gus Mollasis
E’S AUTHENTIC. A one-ofa-kind man with a rich and diverse history in Sarasota who loves what he does. And what he does is tell people what something is worth, from treasured family heirlooms to paintings picked up at an estate sale. If Andrew Ford were a painting, he would be priceless. He has a passion for appraising, selling, trading and auctioning fine art and antiques. He does so with a genuine smile, a firm handshake, and an easygoing demeanor that creates long, trusting relationships. He does it the old-fashioned way - over time - one at a time - with each and every customer that enters the door at Sarasota Trading Company in Historic Burns Square, Sarasota Estate Auction and Ford Art and Antiques. Andrew proudly wears the heritage of his Ford family name as a father, husband and businessman every day of his life. Originally from New England, Ford, a certified appraiser and collector, has carved out a wonderful life in our town. He’s gotten to know many people and what is valuable to them. A seascape painting of the Gulf. A Chinese plaque. A sterling silver set handed down from your grandmother. 74
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But no matter what treasures come in and out of his door, what he treasures the most are his clients. As I prepared for my interview, I wondered what my Jimmy Cagney autograph was worth. Well, wonder no more. I knew that Andrew Ford could give me the right answer. So I smiled. Okay, so it wasn’t a Mona Lisa smile, but it was smile nevertheless as we sat down and looked at some scenes from an interview of his life.
“But no matter what treasures come in and out of his door, what he treasures the most are his clients.”
on the town
How did you find your way to Sarasota? In the 1970s , my dad bought multiple houses in the village on Siesta Key. It was a different time then on Siesta Key, a little quieter. In the late 70s, we sold some of these homes and moved near Point of Rocks. Were you a good student? I was a good student and my father stressed the importance of education. One of my relatives was the superintendent of schools. I was always told “without an education life is going to be tough.” It seems to me that even today you still enjoy learning. Ever since I was four or five years old, I always had collections of objects. My father started me with a jack knife collection. I was into pocket knives growing up. Buying and selling. Every time I would go to a shop, I’d find a pocket knife and the owner would feel sorry for me because I was so young, and I’d get a good deal on a knife. During my freshman year of college, I sold that pocket knife collection for a strong sum of money. Where and what did you study? I went to a couple of private schools in Florida. For college, I attended Northeastern, a business school in Boston where I studied International Business. I was fairly fluent in Spanish.
Where were you were born? New Bedford, Massachusetts, which is the whaling capital of the world. At one point, it had the highest per capita income of the world. Paint a picture of your childhood growing up. I lived on the water. I grew up on a compound where we had our antique shop and a few houses, so I was always in the business. I was the eldest boy in the family. As soon as I could lift anything, my dad had me on the payroll from day one. My first job when I got my license was to deliver some merchandise to New York City.
What did you want to be when you grew up? We all have dreams of sports, theater and movies and things like that. But it was always drilled into me from day one to be a merchant one way or another. Buying and selling early on was a lot of fun and always gave me a lot of joy. And that’s what you’re doing today. Yes, I’m living the dream. Even when I was younger in college and we had a sports team, I referred to myself as Andrew Ford and Company because I knew someday I’d be working for myself. AUGUST 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE
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You’re always learning. Do you consider yourself an expert in your profession? I try not to use that word. You’re really setting a bar to a level for failure when you claim that you know it all and that there is nothing else to learn. In this business, I’m learning every day. I know that you host your own Facebook Live show, “What It’s Worth,” but do you also watch other shows like Antiques Roadshow on PBS? I do watch. I know many of the individuals that you see on the Antiques Roadshow. I’ve sold them many objects and they’ve come to Sarasota to see me and some pieces. Many of them are considered the masters in the antiques world. Tell us about your Facebook Live show “What It’s Worth.” It really gets the word out and it shows how we appraise. Most of them are verbal appraisals and they are objects that are coming out of local estates. In operating your three businesses you wear many hats. How do you tie the businesses together? I suppose that from a buying perspective when I go to an estate, I’m always looking for objects that are going to perform better in different venues. Fine art and antiques are great for our auctions, but they are also great for our high-end trade shows. Antiques are really important regionally. What works in fashion in Florida doesn’t always work in the Northeast, and vice versa. 76
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Your knowledge about all things art and antiques is uncanny. How do you stay in the know about so much information? I do a tremendous amount of reading of trade journals, reference guides and newspapers that are involved with the arts that inform me of trends. I love reading about artists, especially older artists. Through the past 25 years, I’ve handled tens of thousands of paintings and objects through the auction. I do the research when I buy a painting with my own money. I like to learn as much as I can about the artist and their background. Is there a particular genre of art or antiques that is your strong suit? Originally it was American furniture. In the 1990s when I first started, and even through the early 2000s, American furniture really was the apex of collecting. Then there started to be a decline in certain pieces, so I started to favor art in general. You’ll notice that the art has truly increased in the last 20 years, and brown, or American furniture, has decreased over the same period. What is the biggest determining factor in ascertaining what something is worth? It probably requires a handful of factors that really determine value. When I talk about art, I think about scarcity. You hear about an artist after they pass away. For anyone with an infinite number of paintings, it’s hard to gauge the value. Once it’s a finite number and the artist has passed away, and there are only
on the town so many paintings or works left, that’s when you start seeing an uptick in value. It’s remarkable to think that a master painter like Van Gogh never sold a painting when he was alive. You find that a lot with artists. They tend to be peculiar when it comes to social experiences, so a lot of these artists don’t quite know how to market themselves properly. What do you like to collect? I collect paintings, furniture and silver. I’ve always been an aficionado of American silver in particular. Do you grow attached to things and are there some items you would never sell? There are certain things I own that I would never sell. The Titanic baggage claim ticket is one of them. But for the most part, I don’t get terribly attached. I’ve learned that there is more around the corner in this business, and it’s best not to hold on to everything. Finish the following sentences: A great piece of art is one that… Evokes a certain amount of emotion
and movement. In every painting, you’re looking for the action in the painting itself. The execution, whether it be a sculpture, a painting or even a cabinet. I’m looking for lines. When buying art you should always purchase… What you love, first and foremost. But I would add areas where there is wide collector spectrum. If you get into too narrow a field, you’re really eliminating who might be a buyer on the secondhand market. A good investment in art and antiques is one that… Has scarcity to some degree. You want to buy something that’s not readily available, and something that holds its value over longevity. What is the most challenging aspect of your job? Understanding that the materials you’re playing with and the markets and trends, and whether or not a market is going in an upward or declining direction. To be able to understand your customer by asking them questions and being able to listen is paramount. I’ve found that listening is half the battle. You have to able to listen to what your customer is asking for.
How have you seen the markets change over the years? Where before antique dealers were influencing the buying and selling, now through social media, the designers and magazines like Southern Style and Antiques Magazine are really the influencers now. You’re starting to see on magazine covers people using an 18th century chest with a contemporary painting to create an environment that’s pleasing to the eye and that seems relevant today. What’s the biggest joy your profession brings you? I really enjoy the social aspect of the business. Talking with people. The stories they tell me. How they came to Sarasota and how they came into the objects that they have. How some have been passed down by family members. I’m fascinated by that. What advice can you give to those selling their items or heirlooms? It might sound strange, but I tell people to sell the object when you have money. Don’t wait until you’re in a position where you are going to get squeezed. The best leverage is when you don’t really need the money. I’d imagine it’s most difficult to tell people the unvarnished truth about a particular item, that the old treasured sculpture is not worth 5 or 6 figures but in fact it is quite common. That is difficult. What’s hard is seeing the face on someone when you feel they’re really in need of the money. I sometimes overpay on an object when their needs are immediate. I don’t mind doing it. It gets your karma up. How much fun do you have auctioneering? I have a great time; I enjoy it tremendously. It’s been a long journey. I remember back in the day doing my first auction and doing less than fabulous numbers and being so psyched and excited at how well I did. A lot of things passed. We weren’t well known. Now if we don’t do anticipated and much higher numbers than those over our two-day auction, I want to cry.
“What It’s Worth” Facebook Show AUGUST 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE
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on the town Why do some items pass at auction? A combination of things. Was it improperly marketed? People look up objects based on keywords that you include in describing the object. So if you don’t have a good description, people won’t be able to look it up. Vague terms don’t work. You have to be object-specific. That’s how they find you. Some people are looking for French porcelain or English furniture or American Impressionism. You’ve got to know your objects. To me, research is the most fascinating part of the whole business. I’m thrilled when I have a great object but don’t quite have enough information on its background. I get on the Internet and start connecting the dots as to the object’s background. I haven’t sold the item yet, but I’ve learned a whole lot about it, and to me that’s exciting. Part II of your Asian Auction is taking place on August 11 and 12. Can you tell us about Part I of that Asian Auction? Years ago I did an appraisal talk in Lakewood Ranch and a woman brought in some Chinese export porcelain. Whatever I said to her at the time resonated and she kept my information. Five years later she came into my shop and told me that she wanted to give me the opportunity to sell some of her objects. Her great-grandfather was a missionary and serious collector in China, acquiring antiques and porcelains that had ties to the area. I always encourage my consigners to allow me to estimate items at a low level so it creates interest. Instead of putting that big 50 thousand dollar estimate on something, we estimated a plaque from this collection at around a thousand-dollar level. That created interest domestically as well as internationally. Everybody thought they were going to steal the item, so everybody wanted to put in a bid. Before the sale we knew we had a $41,000 bid on the object we originally estimated at a thousand dollars. We’re already at $41,000 and we had eight phone bidders. I ended up hammering the item at $190,000 plus the buyer’s premium. So it’s a quarter milliondollar plaque. Patriotic porcelains from this collection are coming up for sale in Part II of the Asian Auction.
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on the town What’s that feel like? It’s thrilling. It’s a job well done. When you have the consignor in the audience watching and they nearly have tears in their eyes, you know you’ve done well for yourself and the consignor. You feel good because you have a fiduciary responsibility to get the most for your client. It’s a very satisfying feeling. Tell us about the baggage claim ticket from the Titanic that you said you will never sell. Years ago our family acquired a baggage ticket that belonged to Eva Hart, a little girl who escaped with her mother on a lifeboat on that ill-fated night during the maiden voyage of the Titanic. It is a rare collectible and one that could bring in six figures at auction. That would be extremely difficult to part with. To me, that piece of antiquity from the Titanic means something different altogether, because our family lost four Ford family members when the Titanic sank in the frigid waters of the North Atlantic at 2:20 am on April 15, 1912. Having grown up in the business, what are the important things that your dad taught you about the art and antique business? My dad was an authority and wellrespected as a buyer, seller and appraiser. He was one of the founding members of the New England Appraisers Registry, a high-society group of appraisers who did and still does appraisals for Harvard and Boston University. The most important thing my dad taught me was to be consistent, honest and upfront with your clients right off the bat.
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Is there a piece of art or an antique you’ll leave to your son to remember you by? I was given a mirror, an American Federal period Queen Anne mirror, that belonged to one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence who is a distant relative of mine. That’s certainly an object that I would like to hand down to my son and hopefully to his son and keep it in the Ford family. Note: Part II of Sarasota Estate Auction’s Asian Art Auction will be held August 11-12 at 11a.m. to 4 p.m. at 6030 Lockwood Ridge Rd., Sarasota.
3947- A CLARK RD SARASOTA, FL 34233 941-925-9663 | ultimatedesigncenter.com AUGUST 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE
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on the town
Education MATTERS By Ryan G. Van Cleave
WHY EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT 2-1-1 Everyone knows what happens when they dial 911. And certainly, most know what happens, too, when they punch in 411. But I confess—I didn’t think anything would happen if I dialed 211 on my phone. So imagine my surprise when this month’s Education Matters assignment had me speaking about exactly that with Dr. Kameron Hodgens, Executive Director and CEO of The Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center. “211 is a phone, text, and message-based referral system for social services,” continues Dr. Hodgens. “It’s for those who need assistance with shelter, mental health care, daycare support, addiction help, food, rent, mortgage, and utility payments. It’s also instrumental during and after disasters.” For those who needed intermediate or long-term recovery assistance from Hurricanes Irma and Maria, this service was a godsend. “211 is a great gift to the community,” she says about this free and confidential service that helps people connect with the local human service resources they need, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Even better, a live person with more than 80 hours of training will answer questions and direct callers to resources. They know how to work with people who may feel frustrated, worried, or confused and help them sort through their priorities, figure out what specific needs they have, and guide them forward in a useful manner. Many 211 callers understandably end up relieved and hopeful. 211 has been available to our community since 2003. Initially, it was its own nonprofit, supported by the local United Way and funded primarily by Sarasota and Manatee counties. As the communities’ knowledge of the service grew, so did the number of calls. Increased call and intake responsibilities added strain to an
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already over-burdened system, therefore sustainability was in jeopardy. A collaborative of local funders came together to address the capacity issues and explore partnership possibilities to meet and address community demand. Through a due diligence process, the funders discovered an opportunity to partner with a successful, existing 211 call center in December 2017. Now the 211 service for Manatee, Sarasota, and Desoto counties is handled by Heart of Florida’s United Way Center in Orlando. It’s a sizable organization that provides 211 services to 22 counties in Florida as well as clients in Minnesota, Iowa, Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania. But understandably, the funders were concerned that outsourcing calls to Orlando would mean losing touch with local services and the local guru on all things 211 related, Christina Russi. Enter Glasser/Schoenbaum. “The timing
was perfect. A broader vision of the board and staff of Glasser/ Schoenbaum is to be the vocal, virtual and geographical hub of comprehensive human services in our area.” Russi joined the team at Glasser/Schoenbaum during the negotiations with Heart of Florida as the 211 Community Liaison, helping to bring that vision to reality. “211 gives our residents in the tri-county region of Desoto, Manatee, and Sarasota counties a platform and a voice to express their needs and offers a nonjudgmental, compassionate response,” states Russi. “It’s also a unique connector of people to community services.” In short, Russi believes that the 211 service is a demonstration of enhanced contact center technology and the spirit of empathy united in the quest for answers to people’s everyday problems. Dr. Hodgens says, “As a community, we’re really excited
on the town
about the enhanced capacity that the Orlando-based 211 call center provides locally. Here we are in hurricane season, and they’re able to partner with our local Emergency Operations Centers to message relevant assistance and outreach data to the public during a disaster. Where the sand bags are. Where to find fresh water. Which shelters are closed. Which shelters can accommodate the elderly and people with special or medical needs.” A May 2018 report reveals that 211 Information and Referral Specialists had 2,400+ contacts from our three-county area. 52% of these sought 211 for help for the first time. 24% were unemployed. 21% were disabled. 27% had no health insurance. The average wait time when they reached out via 211? Only 80 seconds. Customer satisfaction rate? 100%. And perhaps most important, the percentage who would contact 211 again? 100%. This type of comprehensive, revealing data is published monthly on the website, and the encouraging numbers are holding strong. Dr. Hodgens admits that the primary challenge these days is timely PR. “My team is busy redesigning the website, printing up rack cards, and making business card promo materials. We talk about 211 at library meetings, education meetings—anywhere we can get in front of people. We’re now working on PSAs for the radio and creating posters for the public buses in both English and Spanish.” The school system is interested in sharing information about 211 as well, requesting cards to put in every students’ backpack for back-to-school in August. While Dr. Hodgens has been at Glasser/Schoenbaum for almost four years, she worked at Easter Seals Southwest Florida before and has a strong commitment
to helping others. “I believe in nonprofits working together,” she explains, “not operating in a vacuum.” That’s what Glasser/Schoenbaum is all about. The campus is 5 acres of 14 buildings, housing 18 nonprofits. That creates easy accessibility for anyone who needs help. “A person in need can get multiple services in one location without wasting time traveling to multiple locations,” she notes. She adds that the 211 call center is equipped to handle extra functions beyond taking phone calls, too. Text your zipcode to 898-211 and you’ll get a fast response. Chat online via their website, www.211SuncoastCares.org, and chat with a live operator 24/7. You can also use the database on their website and search at your leisure. Thanks to a new and improved 211 capacity and services, the community’s ability to respond to those in need is easier and on the rise.
F O R M O R E IN F O R M AT IO N
about The Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center, please visit GS-HumanServices.org or call 941.365.4545. For more information on 211 locally, dial 941.365.4545 x104 to speak with Christina Russi or visit www.211suncoastcares.org. AUGUST 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE
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SAVE THE DATE
THE ROSKAMP INSTITUTE PRESENTS THE 2ND ANNUAL
GREY MATTERS
A SYMPOSIUM ON ALZHEIMER’S RESEARCH
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2018 FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT WWW.ROSKAMPINSTITUTE.ORG
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BEACH eads R W
hat’s better than lying in a lounge chair, toes tucked into the sand, relaxing to the sounds of breaking waves, all while immersing yourself in a great story? This month, we feature two exclusive short reads by Florida authors for you to enjoy, all illustrated by Sarasota Scene’s talented designer and illustrator extraordinaire, Darcy Kelly-Laviolette. Enjoy!
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WHAT SHE LEFT
A
By Neil S. Plakcy Illustrations by Darcy Kelly-Laviolette
t one o’clock, I tipped the edge of the Venetian blind and peered outside. The sun glittered off Old Tampa Bay in harsh shards that made me wince. There wasn’t a breath of wind. I let the blind drop and turned back to the room, glad for air conditioning. I didn’t know when he’d come, but I knew he would. I made a pitcher of iced tea, poured myself a glass, and then walked back and forth across the floor.
She set up challenges for me whenever I came to visit. She’d send me miles in the heat for a single can of soda, make me fish off the bridge for our supper, force me to navigate the corners of her tiny cabin in the dark until I was as expert as a blind man. She struggled to make me self-reliant, and I have been, for the most part. Waiting on anyone else made me angry and edgy, as if I had to put my life on hold until the rest of the world caught up to me.
It was a small house, a living room, galley kitchen, and a single bedroom in an L off the back. A couple of the pale pink tiles in the bathroom were spidery with surface fractures, and there were rust stains around the drain of the kitchen sink, but the rest of the house had aged well. When we sold it, the buyer would undoubtedly raze it and replace it with a McMansion, maximizing the water views.
I paced for a while, drank the iced tea, remembered my grandmother. After a while, I looked out through the blinds again. The sun was lower, filtering through the fronds of the cabbage palm at the edge of the patio. The leaves of the hibiscus hedge swayed a little. When I looked toward the bay, I saw a fine spray of sand in the wind, sweeping across the water in gentle waves. It was hard to hear what was going on outside over the air conditioner’s hum, but I heard an occasional low rumble of distant thunder, and the clouds started gathering on the horizon.
I remembered coming over here from Miami when I was a child, that long drive across the heat-soaked flatlands, the air shimmering in the distance over the promise of the bay and the Gulf of Mexico beyond. That was when my grandmother lived here, an independent old bird who thought I was growing up too soft in the city.
Soon there was no sun at all, just the restless breeze and heavy skies. I hoped he’d get in before the rain, so we could get this over with, but as I watched the clouds shift, I realized that was a foolish hope. I angled the blinds so that I could see outside and sat back in a plaid easy chair that smelled of mildew and salt.
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Beach reads One minute it wasn’t raining, and then the next it was, a shower that steamed on the patio tiles and blocked my view of the bay. I sat there mesmerized by the rain, the low bursts of thunder, and the heavy pounding on the flat roof, and I didn’t hear or see his car until he was standing on the porch in the lee of the hipped roof, banging on the door.
THE WALL STREET DISRUPTOR
He was drenched, even from the short dash from his car to the front door. There was no wind any more, just the steady opaque lines of rain. “Jesus, I forgot how hard it came down out here,” he said as he pushed past me, into the living room, shedding water like a dog. “Let’s get this over with fast,” I said. “Not so fast,” he said. “Remember, this was my life, too.” I looked at him. We didn’t look anything alike. He was tall and thin, with dark hair and darker eyes. He looked like our father. I was shorter, heavier, my hair sandy and my eyes a pale green. But something as inexorable as the tide out on the bay pulled us together, and then apart again. “You hardly spent any time over here,” I said. “You didn’t even like Gran.” “She didn’t like me, you mean,” he said. “She used to tease me, saying you were tougher than I was. Man, that made me mad. You were just a little squirt.”
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I glanced past him. The rain had tapered off and there was a breeze rustling through the trees again, but the sun hadn’t come back. “The box is over there,” I said, pointing toward the kitchen counter. It was a square wooden one, without any ornamentation, just a keyhole and a hinged lid. Simple and plain, like Gran. “Well, let’s do it,” he said. “You got the key?” I held it up. We both crossed the room to the kitchen counter. “I feel like we ought to say something,” I said. “A prayer or something.” “Jesus, and the old bat thought you were the tough one,” he said. “Just open the box.” I slid the key into the hole and turned it. I felt the hinge release and I flipped the box open. Just after Gran died, my brother and I both got letters from her attorney. She had left the house to me, but the contents of the box were to be divided equally between the two of us. My brother thought there’d be cash in there, shiny coins and crinkled bills the old girl had hoarded for years.
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“Jesus,” my brother said. The box was filled with grainy, sepia-colored photographs. He dumped it on the counter. The photographs spilled out, and a few of them landed on the floor. “No money?” he asked to no one in particular. “I told you there wouldn’t be any money.” I picked up one of the photographs and read off the back. “Great grandfat her Finch.” I flipped the picture over. The man on the front was stern and sour looking, with a handlebar mustache that drooped at the ends. He wore a suit and a stiff white collar and sat on an old-fashioned chair. “Great Aunt Emily Sternhagen,” my brother read from the back of a photo. He showed me a picture of a young woman who looked remarkably like our mother, a sweet, heartshaped face, blonde hair piled up on top of her head. She wore an ivory locket around her neck. My brother and I sat on the floor, flipping through the pictures. When I looked up, over his shoulder, I could see that the sun had emerged from the rain clouds. We set up a pattern and organized all the pictures. While we worked, we talked. He’d left our parents’ house for college when he was
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eighteen and never looked back. I was four years younger, and I missed him the way I’d miss an arm or a leg. He sent me three postcards during the next four years, and I kept each, analyzing the brief messages for hidden meanings. I probably spoke to him, in person or on the phone, only two or three times a year, but he was always around me, an ache, an echo in my head. By the time he graduated from college, I was leaving high school myself. He took off for California and never looked back. When our parents were killed in a car crash, he was in Alaska and couldn’t get home in time for the funeral—so he didn’t come back at all. By the time Gran died, he’d been out of touch for at least five years. Her executor had to hire a private investigator to track him down. “I have a kid, you know,” he said, when it got close to sunset and we took folding chairs and big glasses of iced tea out to the patio. “He’s four. He lives with his mom in Ketchikan.” “You see him?” He nodded. “There’s no work there, or I’d live around the corner and play catch with him after school every day.” I stared at him. That wasn’t the big brother I’d had. He’d as soon have played catch with me as poked his own eye out. “I’ve changed,” he said. “You know, with Gran gone, you and Eric are my only family.” “I’d like to meet him sometime,” I said.
Beach reads “Yeah, I think that would be good,” he said. “Introduce him to his uncle. We could tell him about Gran. Maybe when he’s older I could bring him down here.” He looked at me. “You keeping this place?”
I’ve got nothing besides a six-year-old Jeep with a busted right window.”
Until that moment, I’d believed I was going to sell the house, take the cash and go walkabout for a while. Maybe Europe, maybe Australia. But seeing those pictures, connecting to the past, made me reconsider. “Maybe I’m going to stick around for a while.”
He shook his head. “I don’t want the real estate,” he said. “But I do want to stay in touch. I kind of lost my way for a while. But I’m thinking if I know where you are, that you’re here, maybe I can use that as a base. A point to navigate from.”
We sat there and watched the sun sink slowly toward the horizon. “Why do you think she did it?” my brother asked, finally. “What was the big deal?” I shrugged. “You know how she was,” I said. “Maybe it was a trick she played on us. Getting us to think there was something valuable in that box. Toughening us up, against other disappointments in the future, maybe.” My brother shook his head. “I’m not disappointed,” he said. “I was mad when she left you the house. I wanted her to recognize I had some claims on her, too. I wanted to own this place. I wanted to have something I could leave to Eric when I go.
“I’ll give you half,” I said. “If you want it. If you’ll bring Eric here.”
I remembered going out shrimping with Gran in her old fishing boat. The night would stretch around us, acres of black velvet, and she’d point out the stars to me, teach me how to use them to find my way. There was an old plaque somewhere around the house that read “Polaris.” Gran had named the cottage after the north star. She’d told me once it was so my brother and I could always find our way back there. We watched the sun drop and waited for the flash of green, but it must have been too humid. I tried to figure out if I was disappointed at finding the pictures. I didn’t think so. The sky around us darkened fast, shading from blue to violet to gray to black. My brother and I finished the last of our tea and went back inside.
Neil Plakcy is the author of over twenty-five romance and mystery novels. A thirty-year resident of South Florida and a graduate of FIU’s MFA program in creative writing, he lives in Hollywood with his partner and two rambunctious golden retrievers. www.mahubooks.com
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THE DANCE
By Gier Ferguson Illustrations by Darcy Kelly-Laviolette
E
very night, Doris Flanagan drank apple juice out of a champagne coupe.
Tonight, she brought the pale pink glass into the bathroom where she was drawing herself a bath. She set it down on a table next to the tub, then poured Lily of the Valley bubble bath into the water and swished it around with her hand. As the water rose, she took off her house dress, held onto the edge of the tub, and slid inside. She was careful—not wanting to end up with a broken hip like her friend Gladys. Doris had to be able to dance. When she was settled in the water, she took a sip of apple juice from the coupe. Then she put the glass back
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down on the table, careful not to drip on the cassette player next to it. She pushed the play button. Benny Goodman’s “Sing, Sing, Sing” filled the bathroom. It was one of the songs the DJ played at every Woodhaven Community Center Open Invitation Dance Party. It was like clockwork—during each dance at 7:30 p.m., the song would come on. Doris went every Friday night. For the past three months, she had been taking swing dancing lessons with Julian Ivanov at Ballroom Baby, a dance studio downtown. She went to two lessons with Julian a week. During their first lesson, Doris asked Julian if he could teach her a dance routine to “Sing, Sing, Sing.”
Beach reads “It’s a fast song,” he had said. “It won’t be easy.”
“A dance tonight at the community center.”
“I’m not looking for easy,” Doris had said. “I’ve always loved that song, and I’ve always wanted to dance to it.”
“Well, we’ll get you fixed up real nice. Did you have a specific color in mind?”
“Then you will,” Julian had said.
Doris pointed to her dress. “Purple. Like my dress.”
Each week, they learned more of the song, measure by measure. At her last lesson earlier that week, Julian had her go through the whole routine. When the song ended, he smiled.
“Let’s see what we have.” Kathy brought over a tray of nail polish filled with reds and pinks and creams. She held one of the bottles up to the fluorescent lights above, as if inspecting an envelope in hope of discovering its contents. “This looks like it might do the trick!” She shook the bottle to mix the color and then held it next to Doris’s dress.
“You’re ready,” he declared And tonight, she would dance to “Sing, Sing, Sing” in the middle of the community center dance floor. It would be the first time anyone other than Julian would see her do the routine. Doris picked up a can of shaving cream from the edge of the bathtub, shook it, and squirted it in a line down her right leg. She worked the cream into a lather, picked up her razor, and swiped it away in rows like she was mowing a field of grass. She thought about the strappy gold dance shoes she was going to wear to the dance and shaved the hair on her big toes, too. When she had finished shaving and washing, she dried off with a peach terrycloth towel. Then she opened a yellow jar filled with Jean Naté perfumed dusting powder. Doris lifted the powder puff from the jar and dabbed her arms and legs and neck, breathing in the spicy floral scent she’d used since she was sixteen.
“Perfect,” Doris said. “That will look perfect.” For the next two hours, Kathy trimmed Doris’s nails, filed them, pushed back her cuticles, and applied two coats of “Lovely Lilac” polish to her toenails and fingernails. When she was done, Doris put her gold shoes back on, careful not to smudge. In the car, Doris gripped the steering wheel with her fingers spread apart so she wouldn’t chip a nail. When she pulled into the community center parking lot, she looked in the rearview mirror at herself. She used her fingers to brush her eyebrows into place. Then she put on some rosy red lipstick. The wooden doors of the community center were wide open, and from the car, she could see into the auditorium where the dance was beginning. The room was glowing. Light poured out into the parking lot.
She looked at the white clock in her bathroom cabinet. It was almost time to leave. She put on her bathrobe and went into the kitchen. There she made herself a piece of toast with sugar and cinnamon, standing over the kitchen sink to eat it. A few grains of sugar fell into the sink as she took each bite.
It wasn’t one of the grand dance halls she used to go to in Chicago when she was growing up. This one was different. The community center auditorium had a vending machine in the corner, a peeling linoleum floor, and a seventies-era disco ball mounted on the ceiling. But it was full of people dancing.
When she was finished, Doris did her makeup, brushed her hair, and put on the new chiffon dress she’d bought for the dance. She fastened the gold dance shoes on her feet, walked out the door, and got into her car.
Doris got out of her car and approached the open doors. She took a deep breath and wondered if Julian was right about her being ready.
Doris had a 4:30 p.m. appointment at Nails by Nancy for a manicure and pedicure. She would make it just in time. When she walked into the nail salon, an employee ushered her to a seat at the back of the room. “You must be Doris,” the woman said. “I’m Kathy. I’ll be helping you today.” Kathy had Doris sit down and put her feet into the soapy water in front of her.
When she walked in, she found a couple dozen people dancing to the “Electric Slide.” Jason, a regular dance attendee of about forty, called to her from the edge of the dance floor. “Doris!” Jason was always so good about asking her to dance, she thought. He once told her she reminded him of his dear Aunt Linda. “Save me a dance?” he asked, walking up.
“Getting ready for a special occasion?” Kathy asked. Doris nodded. “I’ll be sure to.”
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“I know I have to ask you early,” he said. “Your dance card fills up!” He winked at her. Doris walked over to the snack table at the edge of the room. The long table was covered in a gold tablecloth. Bowls of pretzels and cheese crackers were interspersed with plates of snickerdoodles and chocolate chip cookies. At the end of the table was a bowl of pink punch. Doris ladled some into a cup. Then she sat down in a folding chair by the edge of the dance floor and waited. She scanned the room, noticing the regulars—a group of retirees, some middle-aged folks, and a few young couples. Doris looked at the clock on the wall. It was 7:29. Julian should be there. If he didn’t come soon, they would miss it. She watched the second hand on the clock tick closer and closer to 7:30. It was almost “Sing, Sing, Sing” time. Doris stared at the doors to the auditorium, waiting for him to walk in. A second later, a figure entered at a near run.
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The DJ’s voice boomed through the auditorium’s speakers. “And now, it’s time to grab a partner. We’re traveling back in time to the golden age of swing.” Doris heard the drums start and then the brass. It was “Sing, Sing, Sing,” just like she thought it would be. “Here we go!” Julian took her hand and led her to the dance floor. They waded through the crowd of dancers and didn’t stop until they were right in the center of the dance floor. As they began to dance, Doris looked down, trying to make sure she was doing the steps right. “Don’t look at your feet!” Julian said over the music. “Just look at me.”
“Julian!” Doris called to him.
Doris looked at Julian for a second. Then she looked around the room at all the people around her. Everyone at the dance was watching them. They had formed a circle around them.
“Doris, my darling!” He leaned down and kissed both of her cheeks. “I’m so sorry I’m late.”
Julian squeezed her hand. “Just pay attention to yourself. You know the routine. Just dance.”
“It’s okay,” she said. “You’re here.”
Doris closed her eyes.
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Beach reads
When she opened them, she was standing in the middle of an enormous dance hall with polished wooden floors. Gleaming chandeliers hung above her, and a 25-piece big band was stationed at the front of the room. Her feet seemed to move without her even thinking about them. Her gold dance shoes lifted off the ground and landed again as she did triple steps, back steps, and turns. Her chiffon dress lifted into the air around her as she moved, and as soon as the airy fabric draped back down, it billowed back up again. The song was fast, but Doris was keeping perfect time. Julian spun her once, twice, three times. They moved across the dance floor, in sync with each beat of the song. She swung her arms to the music, then hunched down and moved forward as she snapped her fingers to the beat.
Doris looked around. She was standing under the revolving disco ball in the community center auditorium. Dozens of people stood around her. They were clapping, too. “You did it!” Julian lifted her left arm into the air like a champion boxer who had just won a match. “To Doris!” “To Doris!” the crowd echoed. She could hear them, but she didn’t respond. She was lost somewhere between the Woodhaven Community Center auditorium and the grand dance hall with its gleaming chandeliers. Somewhere she thought she might like to stay for a while.
Grier Ferguson is a staff writer for the Business Observer newspaper. She is a
The music got louder and louder. They danced all the way around the floor, then back to the center. Julian spun Doris again. The brass let out the final note, and Julian dipped Doris toward the floor. She put her arms out with a flourish. The song was over.
member and officer of Sarasota Fiction Writers. She earned a degree in journalism from the University of Florida, where she was an active member of the swing dance club.
“Let’s hear it for Doris!” The DJ put his microphone down so he could clap. AUGUST 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE
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SARASOTA BOOMERS
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Opener: Dedication of the Green Bamboo Pavilion at Selby Gardens – Lynn Rutledge, president of the local Ikebana chapter
We promised you the answers. Here they are! Did you recognize anyone?
1974
Summer fun - Unknown Senior Cotillion at the Holiday Inn – Ted Bertolett, Jaybe Floyd and Kraig Koach Heart Fund Ball - Unknown Getting ready for tennis at the Longboat Beach and Tennis Club – Debbie Rankin and Vangie Van Etten
1977
Kissing Booth at the annual convention of the Licensed Practical Nurses Association – Jody Brener and Thomas White
1973
Model in bikini and skirt from Sea Stable on Longboat Key – Terry Garrison Junior Welfare League Provisionals – Mrs. Robert Kimbrough, President and Mrs. Daniel Bailey (top left), Mrs. John Saba, Provisionals Chairman and Mrs. W. W. Busby and Mrs. James H. Lanier and Mrs. John W. Meshad (bottom right) Teenage volunteers of Los Amigos de las Americas – Vicky Parker demonstrates how to give an injection with Monica Coppolino (“the patient”). Looking on are Susan Pagel and Debi Elliott.
1975
Celebrating in a 1935 Rolls Royce at the Grenadier – Craig Sager was owner of the Rolls Royce. Shelley Hill was a librarian. Music Ensemble from the New College Summer Music Festival perform at the Woman’s Exchange – Festival Brass Quintet, all Woman’s Exchange Scholars (names unknown) Junior Cotillion Spring Dance – Gigi Quealy and Elene Jones Modeling jumpsuit from The Beach Shop – Mrs. John Binns
1978
Promoted to Vice President at Longboat Key Bank – Michael Long
Having fun at the Distinguished Home Tour – Mrs. Burwell Jones and Mrs. Jack Kahn
Guests aboard the 41-foot ketch “Enterprise” – Nancy Prine and Ann Morris
Season Kick-off Party for Asolo Theatre – Sharon Farris and Trish Holcomb
Beach jogging friends – Clark Carry, Bill Locatell, Don Delfosse, and Craig Miller JGA Champion gets trophy – Rick Stallings is presented his trophy by Michele Kopchak
1980
Phi Beta Kappa Association Annual Dance – Stan Stathis and Lucinda Meekins Ad agency ladies hold a media party – Linda Bartholemew, Janet Cameron and Terry Martin Office Manager at Albritton’s Grove Store – Holly Persson Junior League Holiday Tour of Homes – Linda Dooley and Sally Morse Pine View graduate shows his scale model of Our House at the Beach – Jorge Lopez
1983
Meadows Pro Tennis Clinic – Greg Jones and Rob Harris Selby Gardens “Night of the Moon” event – Richard Capes Ringling Museum’s Children’s Festival – Linda Allison and son Chris, Sarah Coe paintes tattoo on Neven Benton, who is held by Kim Horbath
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Herald Tribune’s 10,000-Meter Road Run – Paige Gill and Brian Guzzo Fashion Focus salon owner goes to World Congress of Hair in Tokyo – Richard Weintraub The latest beach fad, inner tubing – Jerry Gloss
1981
Decorating for New College’s Mistletoe Ball – Cindy Duggan (left), Libby McGinnis (on the ladder) and Kara Duggan Woman’s Exchange Annual Grant Awards – Pamela and Jay Keys with son Sean Herald Tribune Advertising Awards – Mr. & Mrs. John Wilson Wine Tasting event at The Colony – Michael Klauber, Michelle Maby and Katie Wetzel Get together at the Four Winds Resort on Longboat Key – Janice Cleary and Barbara Davis
1984
At the Circus with a newborn white tiger – Wade Burke Out-of-Door Academy’s annual “Extravaganza” – Tom and Linda Wallin Modeling at the Symphony Association Fashion Show - Unknown
1976
Fun at Sarasota Jungle Gardens – Cheryl Heinlein, Miss Sarasota Senior Cotillion, Hyatt Hotel. – Tod Bertolett, Debbie Collins, Pat Stiffens and Jay Brady Dancers from the Sandy Young Studio – Elizabeth Palmer (foreground), Amy Rozar and Alicia Hoffman (second row), Caitlin Larsen, Jody Ginsberg and Devora Millman (third row), and Leslie Young and Michele Kopchak (top row) Showing a donated watch at New College’s “Action Auction” - Mrs. Jerry Schneider showing a gold bracelet watch designed by Christian Dior and donated by Simon’s Jewelers.
1979
Sarasota students travelled to six European countries – Posing at the Parthenon: Kim Shaw, Danielle Derosiers and Suzanne Holliday (top row), Kelli Jeffers, Kathy Fleck and Kathy Wilde (bottom row); At the Acropolis: Danielle Derosiers, Rick Martin and Ellie Evers (top row), Margaret Hoskinson, Will Warren and Shari Wentz (bottom row). Bird Key Yacht Club Luau – Tina Warren and Sandy Hyde American Business Woman’s Association Gala – Angie Singleton Tennis prodigy demonstrates forehand technique at The Colony – Rill Baxter Farewell celebration for the 80-foot yacht Sangamo – Hosts were Mr. and Mrs. Jay Foley. People in photo unknown. Getting ready to play at Nick Bollettieri’s tennis program at The Colony – Tina Bafle, Laurie Saba and Mindy Kauffman
1982
New College Clambake – Richard and Robert Davidson and Jane Kusic Asolo Theatre Opening Night – William Sherry and Joanna Brown Party for the opening of The Excelsior on Siesta Key – Pam Daniel Showing ceramics from The Limetree – Ashley Grant Florida West Coast Symphony Music Center – Gretchen Serrie, general manager
1985
Models from the fitness and fashion store Somebody – Martha Gallagher (standing) and Dana Van Tillborg Bal de Coeur Cocktail Reception – Don and Sandy Snyder with Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Kusic New VP of United Federal Savings and Loan Association – John Smithman (now owner of The Plumbing Place) July was a record-breaking month for births at Sarasota Memorial – Ellen Wells and son Richard, Helen Glauser and daughter Cara, and Marta Klauber and daughter Molly The Parade of Homes – Lee Wetherington and Laura Glasser
1986
Masters of Hair Design new salon opening – Debora Blomster, Connie Simmons and Jacqueline Desrosiers; John Benson Waterman and Freddie Canesse
CELEBRATE!
Coquille Harvest Ball – Dr. James and Beverly Marsh The Symphony Association’s Designers Showcase – Mr. & Mrs. Jay Swick, Bruce Stebe and Paula Prewitt Dinosaur Club event – Sheriff and Mrs. Geoff Monge Enjoying Father’s Day Brunch at the Hyatt – Mark Hughes, Krista Buckhand, Stefan Kartman, Paul Zafer, Jeanne Johnson, Cindy Finks, Jennifer Elowitch and Lisa Suslowicz
Whether you’re celebrating the holidays or another special occasion, Cafe L’Europe’s elegant private and semi-private dining rooms are the perfect choice.
1987
Sarasota Diagnostic Center’s “An Evening of Silver and Gold” Joan Stuart Celebrating first anniversary of public relations firm – Jo Morello Mistletoe Ball committee members – Kristy Lonsdale and Diana Cullen New College Foundation Clambake – Andrea and Randy Lyon with Sandy Snyder Party by the Cartoon Classic Fund-Raising Committee to benefit the Joan Browne Critical Care Unit at SMH (named for the late wife of Sarasotan Dik Browne, creator Hagar the Terrible) Phil and Ann Beauchamp, Scott and Kim Merritt, and Sandy Snyder
Boomer Bliss
1967: Mrs. Steve Peters 1968: Sister brides: Rita Knight married Richard G. Jackson and Kathryn Knight married Francis J. LaGasse, Jr. 1970: Bottom left: Susan Elmendorf married Jeffrey Roberts Second from bottom left: Pamela Morey married Stephen Hart Far right: Denise Horn married Richard Watermeier 1973: Deborah Bellm married Robert Lyons
ESTABLISHED 1973
1974: Mary Barbara Ludi married Edward W. Scripps III 1983: Ruth Lovelace married Ward Patton III, grandson of Sarasota Scene founder Ward “Bud” Patton Note: We apologize for not knowing the first names of the ladies featured in the 1970s. As indicative of the times, it was the husband’s name that was used.
CALL TO BOOK YOUR PARTY TODAY! 431 St. Armands Circle, Sarasota 941.388.4415 | cafeleurope.net
AUGUST 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE
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arts&culture Larry Hamm’s “The Clown” from Theatre Odyssey’s 10-Minute Play Festival
Artist Series Concerts Asolo Repertory Theatre
Best SEATS PERFORMING ARTS CALENDAR
The Ringling’s ToniLemon Dove:Spectropia. Bay Playhouse
FSU/ASOLO CONSERVATORY FOR ACTOR TRAINING 941.351.8000 / asolorep.org Dog Days Theatre The Turn of the Screw August 7 – 26
FLORIDA STUDIO THEATRE 941.366.9000 / floridastudiotheatre.org John C. Court Cabaret Music Of The Night Through August 19 Gilbert & Sullivan Unplugged August 22 – Sept 23 Gompertz Theatre Other People’s Money Through August 19 Bowne’s Lab Theatre Reel Music Through August 9 Comedy Lottery Through Sept 22 New Musical Workshop: Haunted Hotel August 10, 17, 31 Mixed Nuts August 10 & 24
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The Players
Keating Theatre New Play Workshop: Into The Breeches August 10, 17, 31 New Play Workshop: The Cottage August 10, 17, 31
LEMON BAY PLAYHOUSE 941.475.6756 / lemonbayplayhouse.com Women of Comedy August 10 – 11
MANATEE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 941.748.5875 / manateeperformingartscenter.com Stone Hall Newsies August 9 – 26 Bradenton Kiwanis Theater Becoming Dr. Ruth August 23 – Sept 9
THE PLAYERS CENTRE FOR PERFORMING ARTS 941.365.2494 / theplayers.org Mainstage James & the Giant Peach Jr.
arts&culture
Venice Theatre
August 3 Auditions for Backstage August 4 Summer Sizzler Series On Golden Pond August 8 – 12 Players Backstage Theatre Before Steepletop August 21 – 26
THE RINGLING 941.359.5700 / ringling.org Museum of Art: Monda Gallery Volumes August 12 – Sept 9 Exhibits: Museum of Art: Searing Wing A Kaleidoscope of Color: The Costume Designs of Miles White Through August 5 Circus Museum 250 Years of the Circus in Print Through September 10 Education Center Museum of Art Mondays Mondays
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe
SARASOTA OPERA 941.374.2914 / SarasotaOpera.org Ricky Nelson Remembered
Friday Fest feat. Rebel Heart August 17
August 18
VENICE THEATRE
HD at the Opera House Romeo et Juliette - Opera Film
941.488.1115 / venicestage.com The Pinkerton Summer Cabaret Festival Through August 26 MainStage VT SummerStock Presents Into the Woods August 3 – 12
August 5 Romeo and Juliet -Theater Film
August 12 Rigoletto - Opera Film
August 19 Don Quixote - Ballet Film
August 26
WESTCOAST BLACK THEATRE TROUPE
Classic Movies at the Opera House North by Northwest
941.366.1505 / westcoastblacktheatre.org Rockin’ Down Fairytale Lane Through August 12
August 2 Rio Bravo
August 16 URBANITE THEATRE 941.321.1397 / UrbaniteTheatre.com Wakey, Wakey August 3 – Sept 2
VAN WEZEL PERFORMING ARTS HALL
For a full list of this season’s performing arts events, view our annual Arts & Culture Guide. SCENESARASOTA.COM
To submit your performance season, please send information to SCENEMAGAZINE@SCENESARASOTA.COM
941.953.3368 / vanwezel.org
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arts&culture
Art Uptown Gallery
Dabbert Gallery
AUG 30 – OCT 5 Art Center Sarasota
GET Inspired CULTURAL HAPPENINGS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE ARTS AND CULTURAL ALLIANCE OF SARASOTA COUNTY
707 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota (941) 365-2032 Possibilities: Members-Only Juried Exhibition Through Aug 17, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Elsewhere: Juried Exhibition 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. artsarasota.org
AUG 3 Art Uptown Gallery 1367 Main St., Sarasota (941) 955-5409 Dog Days of Summer: Opening Reception 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. artuptown.com
AUG 3 Dabbert Gallery 46 S Palm Ave., Sarasota (941) 955-1315 Summer Showcase 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. dabbertgallery.com
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arts&culture
Ringling Museum of Art
Hermitage Artist Retreat
AUG 3 Hermitage Artist Retreat 6660 Manasota Key Rd., Englewood (941) 475-2098, ext 2 Concert on the Beach: Brothers in Song with violist Ralph Farris, Native American flutist Robert Mirabal 7:15 p.m. hermitageartistretreat.org
AUG 12-30 The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota (941) 359-5700 VOLUMES by Ezra Masch Aug 12 - Sept 9, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Thurs until 8:00 p.m.) VOLUMES - Special Performance: Taylor Gordon AKA The Pocket Queen Aug 16, 7:30 p.m. & 8:30 p.m. VOLUMES - Special Performance: Brian Blade Aug 23, 7:30 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.
VOLUMES - Special Performance: Greg Fox Aug 30, 7:30 p.m. & 8:30 p.m. 250 Years of the Circus in Print Through September 10 Exhibition: Circus Museum ringling.org
THROUGH SEPT 2 Marie Selby Botanical Gardens 900 S Palm Ave., Sarasota (941) 366-5731 In Dialogue with Nature: Glass in the Gardens Museum of Botany & the Arts 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Botanical-Inspired Stained Glass Through August 9 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Hand Built Clay Pots Through August 17 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. selby.org
THROUGH AUG 24 North Port Art Center 5950 Sam Shapos Way, North Port (941) 423-6460 “Salt of the Earth” Gallery Exhibit 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. northportartcenter.org
THROUGH SEPT 14 Ringling College Galleries 2700 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota (941) 359-5700 Octavio Perez - Illustrations Patricia Thompson Gallery ringling.edu/galleries
Have an upcoming visual art event? Send your event details to COMMUNICATIONS@SARASOTAARTS.ORG
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arts&culture
Meet Photographer
CARYN J. KOFFMAN Through the art of photography, Caryn presents a simplified and restricted view of a subject. Nothing is changed or removed, only emphasized by zooming in on detail using her telephoto lens to capture the essence. She attempts to bring the viewer in by isolating the subject, cropping away any distractions. Caryn views the world through the lens of the camera, working spontaneously and instinctively with no preconceived ideas or hidden agendas; in many cases she takes only one shot of a subject. View Caryn’s Artist Profile at sarasotaarts.org
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arts&culture
LITERARY Scene By Ryan G. Van Cleave
RYAN REVIEWS THREE BEACH-READ-WORTHY NOVELS
SEND DOWN THE RAIN by Charles Martin Jacksonville author Charles Martin’s latest novel is a big-hearted love story centering around the life of Joseph Burns, a 62-yearold Vietnam vet who won’t talk about the special ops tours of his youth. He hides from the world in a remote North Carolina cabin when he runs across two children and a mother—illegal immigrants—fleeing a Mexican drug lord. Good guy Joseph takes care of the bad guy and then helps the woman search for her brother in Florida. This brings back a flood of emotions since Joseph’s childhood love, Allie, lives in Florida, too. She married Joseph’s estranged brother and has since gotten divorced. When she encounters her own tragedy, Joseph is compelled to help, leading to a bittersweet reunion. At the story’s center lies this question: What does it mean—and what level of sacrifice does it take—to truly love someone? “When I wrote my first New York Times bestseller,” says Martin, “I was ten years married and telling my wife that I loved her, but a part of me was still questioning what that actually meant or looked like in practice. A decade later, Send Down the Rain goes deeper into the question of what it really, truly means to love someone forever.” Then he adds: “I won’t say it’s my best book, but I will say that I’ve never written anything better.” Martin’s latest effort is first-rate. It’s full of grace and beauty and redemption. And like his novel The Mountain Between Us, which was released as a major motion picture in 2017 starring Kate Winslet and Idris Elba, this one, too, seems tailor-made for the big screen. Rating:
CharlesMartinBooks.com
SOMEBODY’S DAUGHTER by Rochelle B. Weinstein Somebody’s Daughter, the fourth novel by Miami writer and former entertainment industry executive Rochelle B. Weinstein, examines young love in the digital age. Emma and Bobby Ross seem to have it all. A Miami Beach home. A successful business. Lovely twin daughters, Zoe and Lily. The respect from their community. Then on the night of the twins’ fifteenth birthday party, a private indiscretion with Zoe and a classmate goes public in the worst way possible. Then the entire family suffers the nightmare scenario that every single parent today worries about, thanks to the reality of living in a world where, at the touch of a button, your livelihood and reputation can be destroyed. Worse, Emma’s got her own secret from a time long before the digital age, and her own daughter’s plight might make her own mistakes public, too. This timely book is sure to create useful family conversations. It’s not Nicholas Sparks sweet, but perhaps that’s a good thing. Rating:
RochelleWeinstein.com
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arts&culture
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BROKEN GROUND: A JAY PORTER NOVEL by Joe Clifford In this novel, the fourth in the series, handyman and parttime investigator Jay Porter is asked by a recovering addict, Amy Lupus, to find her MIA younger sister, Emily. She hasn’t been seen since being dropped off at the Coos County Center rehab facility, run by Porter’s nemeses Adam and Michael Lombardi. The more Porter looks into things, the more it seems that newspaper intern Emily didn’t use drugs and was instead doing some investigative journalism on the Center that might have turned up something sinister. Porter can’t help himself—sure he wants to find the girl, but he also wants to stick it to Adam and Michael, who clearly deserve whatever bad karma the world has in store for them. It’s kind of refreshing for a protagonist to be anything but a person out for personal redemption. Let’s be clear. Porter IS an interesting main character. This ex-insurance claims agent, ex-boozer, and ex-husband meets Amy at an AA meeting, which he attends because he’s trying to keep his own life clean and sober. For once. Plus he suffers from panic attacks that seem appropriate for such a damaged soul as well as the teeth-chattering cold of a Northeastern winter. He’s also got a gruff, no-nonsense voice that’s gritty in all the right ways, though it definitely moves this into the adult language category.
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The ending isn’t especially shocking, but the character study of Porter and the unflinching look at the world of addiction is worth exploring. Rating:
JoeClifford.com
on the town
Eat &Drink DELICIOUS DISHES AND DRINKS + THE PERFECT PLACES TO PARTAKE
Oleary’s Tiki Bar & Grill AUGUST AUGUST2018 2018 | | SARASOTA SARASOTASCENE SCENE 101 101
on the town Bahi Hut’s Cobra’s Fang
slice of paradise By Rick Dakan
THE BAHI HUT 4675 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34234 941.355.5141 Open Daily 4:30pm - 2:00am The Bahi Hut, located on Tamiami Trail not far from the Ringling Museum in front of the Golden Host Motel, has many reputations. Depending on when you came to Sarasota, your impression of it can be very different. Back in the 1950s, it was on the front of the new wave of Tiki bars sweeping across the country. Pictures from that era show bar patrons in suits and furs. The past six decades have been up and down for the Hut’s rep, but with a fresh new refurbishment and some exciting new cocktails, it’s a brand new era for this Sarasota landmark. That’s in large part thanks to the efforts of Scott Spear. Using his museum restoration background and a passion for Tiki, Scott (a graduate of Ringling College of Art and Design) and his fellow Ringling grad Steve Patmagrian, have poured hundreds of hours of love and expertise into restoring the Bahi Hut to its original style and charm. “This is one of the oldest tiki bars in the country,” explains Scott. “The intersection of the Tiki Bar and mid-century modern, Sarasota School of Architecture from 1954.”
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Bahi Hut
Scott and Steve have been very precise with their restoration, guided by the classic beauty of the original space. “Much of the decor has been here since the 70s or earlier,” Scott says. “We did as much subtractive work inside as restoration. We added a few things but took away some of the less authentic decorations.” They also cleaned the smoke-stained glass panels, refurbished the entire front of the bar, and installed two huge new tikis, carved by a local artist on site from palm trees cut down in their parking lot, A key part of reviving the bar has been introducing more traditional, intricate Tiki cocktails. The Bahi Hut still has its infamous Mai Tais (limit two per customer), but the new craft cocktails really are something special. The Bahi Welcome is inspired by the Caribe Welcome, which became the Piña Colada. “It was created in 1949 by Ramon ‘Monchito’ Marrero,” Scott says. “Our version is a creamy blend of coconut and spiced rums, lime juice, a hint of apricot brandy, a hit of Bacardi 151 and some house-made grenadine.” It’s a much more subtle and balanced drink than your typical Piña Colada. It’s still sweet and it still packs a punch, but isn’t cloying.
on the town
Oleary’s T iki Bar & Grill
Oleary’s T iki Bar & Grill
The cocktails use locally made Siesta Key Rum from Drum Circle Distilling. In addition to the Bahi Welcome, there’s the Cobra’s Fang, which is an authentic version of the classic Don the Beachcomber drink, created in 1937. “We plan to introduce more,” Scott says. “There’s a lot more prep, a lot of “touches” to make the drink and some special ingredients.” The new drinks are great, but it’s the atmosphere that makes the Bahi Hut such a pleasure. Art is a big part of the Tiki Bar appeal, and the Bahi Hut has an eclectic mix of wood carvings from all over the world and some wonderful work from local artists. Famed pin-up artist Gil Elvgren lived on Siesta Key and was a regular. Legend has it that the portrait of the woman who lived next door to him (who modeled for many of his paintings) was inscribed to the Hut to settle his bar tab. Renowned illustrator Thornton Utz created the wonderful image of the iconic Bahi Hut sign, that still adorns t-shirts and menus. That atmosphere got a whole lot more inviting now that there’s no smoking inside. It’s a friendly, diverse crowd of area locals and tourists. “You can come in and breathe,” says Scott. “The
crowd has mellowed since we ended smoking, and the whole area of north 41 is reviving.” If you haven’t been in years (like me) or never been at all, now is the time to revisit the Bahi Hut. OLEARY’S TIKI BAR & GRILL 5 Bayfront Dr Sarasota, FL 34236 941.953.7505 Hours: Mon - Thurs: 8am - 10pm Fri - Sat: 8am - 11pm Entertainment: Mon - Sun: 12pm - 3pm Sun - Thurs: 5pm - 9pm Fri - Sat: 6pm - 10pm If you prefer the open air for your Tiki atmosphere, there’s Oleary’s Tiki Bar & Grill located on a prime waterfront location in Sarasota’s bayfront. There isn’t the history or the style at Oleary’s, but there is all that water. Along with live music and plenty of outdoor seating, this is a more family-friendly venue (with playgrounds in the adjacent park). In addition to the view, Oleary’s also has a large menu of casual fare: burgers, sandwiches, wraps, and some straightforward seafood offerings.
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insider
Laughing MATTERS THE FIRE SALE EPISODE by Ryan G. Van Cleave | Illustrations by Darcy Kelly-Laviolette
F
or the past few weeks, I’ve been thinking of doing a Reese’s peanut butter cup 1-2 combo with two other things that I dearly love and think belong together.
Bubble wrap. Blanket forts. My wife learned of this scrumptious Master Plan when she stumbled upon the blueprints taped all over the bathroom walls, and she quickly assured me that . . .
I have to interrupt this month’s regularlyscheduled humor column for a Special Bulletin. My friend—whose name I will not mention, though it rhymes with Shmahbert—has gotten old. I mean make-it-through-an-entire-daywithout-taking-slipper-socks-off old. Like when-you-have-aflat-tire-people-aren’t-afraidto-stop-and-help-you old. Like no-one-has-to-explain-to-you-whySean-Connery’s-a-celebrity old. How do I know that my pal is closer to ancient than not? Three days ago, he sneezed . . . and blew out his back. I mean down-for-the-count stuff, with pills and braces and heating pads and unguents that stink of eucalyptus. Plus the moaning. Egads, the crabbing. Good lord—the whining! Here’s why we’re having a Public Service Announcement/Special Bulletin regarding this. I am exactly one year OLDER than him. And after putting all that high-powered high school math to spectacularly good use for the first time in, oh, maybe 25 years, I’ve determined the following three things.
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1. I’m saving a ton on entrance fees for marathons these days. 2. Getting shingles on my house with a 30-year guarantee no longer holds the same appeal. 3. I might just be old, too. This is rather upsetting. John Mellencamp wisely warned me about this in his song “Jack and Diane” when he intoned: “Hold on to 16 as long as you can.” I didn’t listen because I was too confused whether he was John Cougar Mellencamp, John Mellencamp, Mellencamp, John Cougar, or Lord knows what variation he had that month. Still, in my mind, I’m 16 and have been for some time now. Perhaps I’m a slightly more robustly . . . ahem . . . mature 16, but it’s 16 nonetheless! Until my younger-than-me buddy goes and starts falling apart in obvious, hard-to-ignore ways, which makes me reexamine things a bit closer to home and admit I might not be 16 any longer. Some of those closer-to-home concerns? Like how I wanted freckles as a kid. And now I have them. And they are HUGE! Like how standing in the shallow end of the pool counts as swimming.
insider Like how my joints are far more accurate than the Weather channel. Okay, okay. I’m getting older. Not old. But older. I can accept that—kind of. And I find solace in the idea that if John Travolta can make a comeback, so can I, right? He’s like waaaaay older than me. Plus one. In pursuit of my own Travolta-like rejuvenation, I’ve been eager to find ways to combat the possibility that I—like my broken-down, younger-than-me pal who is popping Doan’s back pills like Pez candy—might one day soon experience age-related issues. Here are three of my latest efforts. 1. Mark Twain once said: “Whatever a man’s age, he can reduce it by several years by putting a brightcolored flower in his buttonhole.” Well, I don’t have any flowers handy, so I went with strawberry Twizzlers. And I mostly just have t-shirts—no buttonholes but a few do have pockets! So I stuck a couple of Twizzler ropes right in there like a candy bouquet before heading out for some shopping. I’ve got to say, Mr. Mark Twain—your advice blows. But the Twizzlers were tasty!
a Sam’s-Club-sized vat of Icy Hot. He’ll surely be thanking me for the yummy treats later.
Now back to our regularly-scheduled humor column! . . . and then the men in hazmat suits came and took away all the goats! Seriously—what can you expect for a buck fifty, right? So if you know anyone who wants to buy 200 sheets of slightly-used bubble wrap on the cheap, let me know. I’ve got to move this stuff. Fast!
2. Bird poop. A little Google sleuthing proved that Victoria Beckham uses cream made from nightingale crapola to keep her skin soft and succulent. “Eww!” you might be saying about rubbing that stuff into your pores. I agree. Just remember—I didn’t say that I USED it, but that I’ve considered it. And rejected it. For now. 3. I replaced all my underwear. I have no idea how this is supposed to be a help, but a 96-year-old young-at-heart lady I know swore by this tactic. (She also said the Queen of England occasionally stopped by for smoothies, so her advice could be a bit suspect. But a fresh drawer of underwear is certainly a plus regardless for nearly any situation!) For now, though, I remain relatively intact in terms of age-related aches and pains. And my mind is still as sharp as a butter knife. I also take comfort in how most of life’s major disappointments are now behind me. I’ll also never have to assemble another bike on Christmas Eve. And by the day, I’m less and less likely to be subjected to a strip search. Good things, no? And don’t worry about my pal. I sent him some cans of Campbell’s chicken soup, a basket of bran muffins, and
So, fellow oldsters—want to tell Ryan how a pint of ice cream lasts all month in your fridge? Or how Preparation-H is now a multi-use product? Or how cottage cheese and dry toast make a fine meal? Or how after all those years of telling the kids to turn the TV down, you’re now asking them to crank it up? Send those gems to ryan@scenesarasota.com today!
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on the town
BOOMER LOVE UNDER THE RINGLING BRIDGE Photo by John Revisky. 1 06
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