February 2021

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•

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Morgan Stanley is proud to congratulate

Aimee Cogan, CFP®, CIMA® Named one of Forbes’ Top Women Wealth Advisors Being named to Forbes’ 2020 list of Top Women Wealth Advisors is a testament to your experience, professionalism and dedication to your clients.

Thank you for the work you do each day and for carrying forward the culture of excellence at our firm.

The Bellwether Group at Morgan Stanley Aimee Cogan, CFP®, CIMA® Family Wealth Director Managing Director — Wealth Management Wealth Advisor 2 North Tamiami Trail, Suite 1100 Sarasota, FL 34236 941-363-8515 aimee.cogan@morganstanley.com advisor.morganstanley.com/the-bellwether-group

Source: Forbes.com (March, 2020). Top Women Wealth Advisors ranking was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person and telephone due diligence meetings to evaluate each advisor qualitatively, a major component of a ranking algorithm that includes: client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including: assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research, LLC and not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK receives compensation from any party, including Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, nor its Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors in exchange for the ranking. For more information: www.SHOOKresearch.com. © 2020 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC.

CRC 3050671 04/20

REC001 CS 9956155 12/20

cfsarasota.org

COMMUNITY CARE Caring for our community means being a resource during challenging times. We are proud to respond to Emergency Needs & Disaster Relief and initiatives around Preventing Homelessness, that address Health & Hunger issues, provide care for Animals & the Environment, and assist with Placemaking through housing, transportation, and economic support.

EMPOWERMENT & SUCCESS A successful life is one filled with purpose. What that looks like for each of us differs, but the paths to reaching one’s greatest potential are common to all of us. We invest in Education, Academic Enrichment, Career Development, Scholarships & Mentoring, and opportunities to create Lifelong Connections so that everyone can be empowered to realize their dreams.

BELONGING & CULTURE To have a place or group where you belong inspires passion and creativity. By supporting organizations whose work Bridges Generations and Unites the Community around Cultural Development & the Arts, we are here to help build the community we all want to live in.

Author and resident Nancy Schlossberg:

“I Really Like Everything About The Place!”

“I remember when we were looking at Sarasota Bay Club, I said to my son and daughter-in-law, I want you to visit retirement communities and tell me what you think, honestly, with no thought to what the finances are.

When I asked for their conclusions they said, it's a no brainer – Sarasota Bay Club.

And I asked, why? They said, it’s the energy – you can just feel it.

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TOGETHER / tԥ • ge • thԥr / adverb

the harmony that plays when lives converge

Love is a universal right—something that everyone deserves to experience. For us, providing care is an act of love, and we’re proud to offer it to every member of our community.

One relationship at a time, through the warmth of human connection, the Tidewell Foundation is advancing care and brightening lives for those who need it most. From the world-class services of Tidewell Hospice, to grief counseling for kids, to music and pet therapy, your generosity makes it all possible.

Brighten lives today. TidewellFoundation.org

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

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- DAVID B.

CONTENTS features

54

54 BACKSTAGE WITH THE SARASOTA BALLET Four Takes on the 30th Anniversary Season

By Sylvia Whitman 60 CITY SCENES Photo Journal of Our City

By Nancy Guth 78 GOLF The Best Game in COVID

By William Bradford Nichols

36

60

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SARASOTA SCENE | FEBRUARY 2021

84 HEROES WITH PAWS A Look at the Life of Hard-Working Dogs

By Wendy Lyons Sunshine

ON THE COVER Sunset photo of Bird Key Park

by Nancy Guth

CONTENTS departments

98

SOCIAL SCENE

INHEALTH

24 THE LIST February Events Calendar 32 SCENE SNAPS People & Their Animals

101 102

INSIDER

ARTS & CULTURE

46 THE FIND Valentine’s Day

By Gina Liga 87 SPOTLIGHT Every Dog has its Day: New Year, New Digs for the Humane Society of Sarasota County

By Sylvia Whitman 93 EDUCATION MATTERS Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

PHILANTHROPY

12

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SARASOTA SCENE | FEBRUARY 2021

INTERVENTIONAL PAIN MEDICINE

By Dr. Fabian Ramos 4 TIPS FOR A HEALTHIER YEAR

By Dr. Jasmine Dukandar

48 COMMITTING TO CHANGE Skip Sack and Gulf Coast Community Foundation

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

96 98

BEST SEATS Performing Arts Calendar GET INSPIRED Cultural happenings brought to

you by the Arts & Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County

103

LITERARY SCENE Three fantasy novels to bring some magic to 2021

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

105

LAUGHING MATTERS The One About Sciurus Carolinensis

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

Be Informed Be Entertained Be SCENE scenesarasota.com

46

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from the publisher

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.”

—Marcel Proust

I

I FIND THIS QUOTE PARTICULARLY INSPIRING AT THIS TIME, having recently traveled to visit my daughter Brianna and her husband Mitch—a great guy—who just moved into their first home. But the most amazing part of my visit was meeting my new grandson, Swift, for the first time.

The journey required planning and logistics plus quarantine, and it was made even more memorable by lost baggage, a COVID-rationalized reduction in customer service, and an unexpected sea plane flight to replace a scheduled flight that got canceled. Despite these challenges, the cross-continent travel was well worth it.

My grandson is the smartest, most talented, 3-month-old. He laughs now and smiles all the time. He was born during the pandemic, in the midst of all the social and economic challenges associated with the current situation. But every day that Swift opens his eyes, it is with wonderment and curiosity. We should all adopt that perspective on life, to appreciate how we truly live in one of the most amazing places in the world.

We may have stumbled into 2021. but count me among those who are optimistic about the year. Even amid COVID, the social season has begun.

Many of our venerable institutions, foundations, and organizations are working and finding ways to promote modified offerings.

The Sarasota Memorial Hospital Gala was a success. So much time and planning went into providing an entertaining, informative fundraising event, and the organizing committee showed their creativity and commitment to detail. The Sarasota Ballet, Sarasota Opera, and many other organizations are providing limited and innovative performances.

We are looking forward to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties Steak and Burger outdoor event early this month.

The year 2021 will be known as the year of innovation, accommodation, and adaptation.

16

SARASOTA SCENE | FEBRUARY 2021

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from the publisher This month, Sarasota Scene celebrates where we live and play. Ours is a city of many facets and dimensions, and in this issue we invite you along to witness our wonderful region with fresh eyes. Photographer Nancy Guth captures a vibrant local kaleidoscope of cityscapes, seascapes, and local venues. Southeastern Guide Dogs and Sarasota K9 Search & Rescue invite us along on their training sessions.

Discover how our vibrant golf community is faring and smile at readers’ valentines to their companion animals in Scene Snaps.

I want to thank those of you who follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Social media activity has been awesome and we appreciate all the likes and comments. Please keep sharing, as most of the posts support organizations in our community.

We also appreciate all the new subscribers to our magazine and e-newsletter. Thank you so much for your support.

Please remember to frequent locally owned and operated business in Sarasota and Manatee Counties. They are the fabric of the community.

Support the Sarasota Scene!

Everything you need for Valentine’s Day. Elegant food, fine wine, fresh flowers, divine desserts and specialty gift baskets.

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Sincerely, John

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Locally Owned and Operated Since 1957 Vol. 64 No. 2

Publisher H John Knowles Editor-in-Chief Wendy Lyons Sunshine Strategic Partnerships Julie A. Milton Art Director Darcy Kelly-Laviolette Social Media & Editorial Content Gina Liga Distribution Mike Straffin Accounting Sally A. Bailey Contributing Writers Ryan G. Van Cleave Sylvia Whitman William Bradford Nichols

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SARASOTA SCENE | FEBRUARY 2021

Contributing & Social Photographer Nancy Guth

1834 Main Street, Sarasota, FL 34236 941.365.1119 | Fax: 941.954.5067 | scenesarasota.com

Subscribe at scenesarasota.com/magazine/shop H John Knowles LLC, dba SCENE Magazine publishes 12 issues a year. Address editorial, advertising and circulation correspondence to the above address.

Sufficient return postage and self-addressed, stamped envelope must accompany all manuscripts, artwork and photographs submitted if they are to be returned or acknowledged. Publisher assumes no responsibility for care of return of unsolicited materials. Subscription price: $12.95 per year, $19.95 for two years. All contents copyrighted. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.

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The 2021 Parade of Homes

EXCLUSIVE ADDRESS. EXTRAORDINARY LIFEST YLE.

Community of the Year

17 MODELS TO TOUR | FEBRUARY 20TH –MARCH 14TH The Lake Club just celebrated its most successful year ever, and now's the time for you to discover the incredible lifestyle and gorgeous residences of this best-selling luxury village.

Genoa, the newest enclave by STOCK, has expanded to include four neighborhoods with more than 20 spacious floor plans from which to choose. And STOCK’s exclusive custom homebuilding division, Stock Custom Homes, is making its debut in The Lake Club with two exquisite estate homes under construction, joining the list of the area’s finest luxury homebuilders.

With a 20,000-square-foot Grande Clubhouse, spa & fitness, tennis, pickleball, fabulous dining, lifestyle director, concierge and more, The Lake Club offers the most coveted lifestyle of any village in Lakewood Ranch.

From the $700s to over $3 million

THE BEST-SELLING LUXURY VILLAGE IN LAKEWOOD RANCH THE LAKE CLUB INFORMATION CENTER: 8307 Lake Club Blvd., Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 | (941) 907-9088 | thelakeclublwr.com ANCHOR BUILDERS | ARTHUR RUTENBERG HOMES | STOCK CUSTOM HOMES | JOHN CANNON HOMES | LEE WETHERINGTON HOMES | STOCK LUXURY HOMES BROKER PARTICIPATION WELCOMED. ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS REFERENCE SHOULD BE MADE TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. NOT AN OFFERING WHERE PROHIBITED BY STATE LAW. PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.

SarasotaBallet.org

941.359.0099

THE SARASOTA BALLET

ALA

Photo Credit Matthew Holler

APRIL 18, 2021

CELEBRATING

THE 30th ANNIVERSARY SEASON An extraordinary evening of world class ballet and fine dining celebrating The Sarasota Ballet’s 30th Anniversary Season.

If you would like to be a part of our upcoming celebrations please contact Lauren Stroman at Events@SarasotaBallet.org or 941.225.6510.

Listed below are the remarkable sponsors who are making this event possible.

PERFORMANCE SPONSOR Bud and Betty Shapiro DIAMOND SPONSORS Karol Foss Patricia Golemme and Timothy Fullum Julie A. Harris Frank and Katherine Martucci EMERALD SPONSORS Sydney Goldstein Harry Leopold and Audrey Robbins Phil and Kim Lombardo Jean Weiller SAPPHIRE SPONSORS Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation BMO Private Bank Jean Weidner Goldstein JoAnn Heffernan Heisen Richard Johnson Pat and Ann Kenny Bill and Linda Mitchell Mercedita OConnor Stu and Gini Peltz Micki Sellman Hillary Steele Curt and Melliss Swenson Marcia Jean Taub and Peter Swain

RUBY SPONSORS George Allison, ASID and Alan Watkins, ASID Bob and Ginger Cannon Bailey Paul Cantor and Michelle Roy Community Foundation of Sarasota County Gulf Coast Community Foundation Peter G. and Patricia D. Laughlin Robin Klein-Strauss and Michael Strauss Peter B. Miller and Dr. Martha Harrison Tom and Maureen Steiner PEARL SPONSORS Ken and Peggy Abt Maryann Armour Christopher and Natalie Armstrong Shari and Steve Ashman Isabel Anchin Becker Barbara Brizdle James Brooks Canandaigua National Bank & Trust William and Bonnie Chapman Cumberland Advisors Neil and Sandra DeFeo Sona and David Degann Kay Delaney and Murray Bring Fred and Lynda Doery Murray Duffin Laura Feder Frances D. Fergusson and John Bradbury Jennifer Gemmeke

Valerie Gill Jane C. Gould and Stephen W. Fillo Sherry and Michael Guthrie Renee Hamad D’Anne Hurd Barbara Jacob Kenneth and Victoria Kolbe Tassana and Michael Landy Joan Switt Langbord Melvy Erman Lewis Tina and Rick Lieberman Peter and Teresa Masterson Joan Mathews John and Mary Ann Meyer Gloria Moss Rosemary and Lou Oberndorf Dorothy O’Brien and Richard Antoine Kimberley Pelyk Charles and Charlotte Perret Pamela Revels Theda Bohrer Wendy & Tracey Charitable Foundation Thomas and Gwendolyn Watson David Welle and Rosemary Reinhardt Sheila and Merrill Wynne

MEDIA SPONSORS Observer Media Group Sarasota Scene Magazine GALA DONATIONS Jonathan Strickland Coleman and Rick Kerby Wanda Garofalo Edward and Roberta Hamilton Henry and Ellen Mason Jack and Lenore Rubin Joan Volpe and Ronald Kluck Anonymous

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social SCENE

The LIST

FEBRUARY 2021 EVENTS CALENDAR

Love is in the air! Whether you’re looking for social distanced date ideas or outdoor fun for the whole family, Sarasota provides a variety of events sure to put you in the Valentine’s Day spirit.

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SARASOTA SCENE | FEBRUARY 2021

1 – 4 » The 32nd Annual Gulf Coast Games for Life A multi-sport event for adults aged 50 and over. Events include corn hole, basketball, bocce ball, cribbage, cycling, golf, horseshoes, shuffleboard and more.

Various locations in Sarasota County, Manatee County and North Port | scgov.net 5 » Tidewell Foundation Signature Luncheon The 12th annual luncheon is hosted by the Tidewell Foundation and benefits Tidewell Hospice. Featuring keynote speaker Lorna Luft.

Virtual | tidewellfoundation.org

optimism / op • tuh • miz • uhm / noun

feeling nostalgic about the future

It starts with caring. That’s how we bring hope to our community. And we get to do it every day.

One relationship at a time, through the warmth of human connection, the Tidewell Foundation is advancing care and brightening lives for those who need it most.

From the world-class services of Tidewell hospice, to grief counseling for kids, to music and pet therapy, your generosity makes it all possible.

5 » The Boys and Girls Clubs of Sarasota and Desoto Counties Steak & Burger A fundraising event announcing the Youth of the Year, featuring a homestyle BBQ with all the fixings. bgcsdc.org

6 – 7 » Winterfest at the Mansion Art & Craft Show Features an exhibition of paintings, bronze, stone, clay, glass, metal, wood, pottery, sculptures, seafood, craft product, photography, fiber, and much more.

Phillippi Estate Park 10times.com/art-and-craft-show 7 » Spread the Love Handmade Valentine Workshop Help spread the love in our community!

Make your own Valentine’s Day cards for your loved ones, or donate them to local nursing homes.

Pineapple Yoga + Cycling Studio | pineappleyogastudio.net

26

SARASOTA SCENE | FEBRUARY 2021

11 » Wine Cellar Social Club: Valentine’s Edition Enjoy a traditional wine tasting with your sweetie! Taste 6 unique wines paired with hors d’oeuvres and a sweet valentine’s treat.

Michael’s Wine Cellar michaelswinecellar.com 1 – 28 » Photoville FENCE Exhibition Featuring more than 90 photographers annually, this exhibition brings compelling visual stories into public realm. The outdoor exhibit is social distance friendly.

Nathan Benderson Park | nap.com 1 – 28 » Acoustic Sunsets at The Ringling Enjoy live music on the Ca d’Zan terrace with a different local solo musician on select evenings. Food and drink are also available for purchase.

The Ringling Ca d’Zan Terrace | ringling.org

12 – 14 » The 14th Annual Native American Art & Music Festival Experience the culture and artistry of the Native American people.

Featuring authentic, handmade, oneof-a-kind arts and crafts, paintings, pottery, jewelry, sculpture, bead work, leather pieces and more along with storytelling, dance and Native American food.

Sarasota Fairgrounds sarasotanativeamericanindianfestival. com 19 – 21 » Thunder by the Bay Music & Motorcycle Festival Come see some great looking motorcycles with food, fun, live music and more.

Sarasota Fairgrounds thunderbythebay.org

For those ready for what’s next

Michelle has been a third-generation local and broker associate since 1982. Some of her awards include: • Five Star Professional - 13th year and the Florida REALTORS® Honor Society - 13th year.

• Her designations of importance are: Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLHMS), • Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) and Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS).

• She also earned the Commitment to Excellence (C2EX) endorsement from the National Association of REALTORS® for agents who are committed to practicing business at the highest standards.

MICHELLE CRABTREE 941.724.4663 Michelle.Crabtree@PremierSIR.com MichelleCrabtree.PremierSothebysRealty.com Sotheby’s International Realty® and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity. Property information herein is derived from various sources including, but not limited to, county records and multiple listing services, and may include approximations. All information is deemed accurate.

20 » 10th Annual Superheroes Race This event features a one-mile fun run, a 5k and a 10k. Bring the whole family and join as a walker, runner, sponsor or volunteer.

Nathan Benderson Park | nbp.com

Theatre classes for ALL ages!

21 » Anna Maria Island Privateers Thieves Market A flea market, pirate style! Hundreds of vendors offering food, handmade jewelry, apparel, antiques, etc. Come hang with a real pirate and check out the 60ft pirate ship.

G.T. Bray Park, Anna Maria Island amiprivateers.org

PLEASE VISIT WEBSITES FOR OFFICIAL STATEMENTS/UPDATES ON EVENT STATUS DUE TO CHANGING STATE OF FLORIDA AND CDC GUIDELINES.

Learn more!

VeniceTheatre.org | 941.486-8679 FEBRUARY 2021 | SARASOTA SCENE

27

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

UPCOMING events

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

MAR 4–7 | 37th Annual Greek Festival Greek food, festivities, music and dancing.

St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church sarasotaorthodox.com

THANKS TO YOU...

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

Find your joy Sarasota’s #1 consignment shop  The joy of shopping  The joy of giving  The joy of recycling  The joy of supporting students and the arts in our community

NO WS O SAR NLI HO P ASO NE Pic TA k-u WE AT p X in S

.

toreCOM

DONATE SHOP CONSIGN VOLUNTEER

This purchase helped support 23 Art Organizations & 22 Students during fiscal year 2019-2020 539 S. ORANGE | 941-955-7859 | OPEN MON-FRI 9-4 & SAT 10-4 | www.sarasotawex.com 28

SARASOTA SCENE | FEBRUARY 2021

MAR 7 | Feast Upon the Fields A fundraiser hosted by the Conservation Foundation.

Triangle Ranch conservationfoundation.com MAR 13 –15 | 34th Annual Anna Maria Island Arts & Crafts Show Enjoy artists and crafts in the heart of the island.

Anna Maria Island City Hall | annamariaislandchamber.org

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

B E N E F I T I N G C O N S E R VAT I O N F O U N D AT I O N O F T H E G U L F C O A S T

12:30 PM S U N D A Y, M A R C H 7 , 2 0 2 1 TRIANGLE RANCH F O R S P O N S O R S H I P A N D R E S E R VAT I O N S , V I S I T

CONSERVATIONFOUNDATION.COM/FEAST2021 941.918.2100

Masks are required and COVID-19 safety protocols will be observed.

PHOTO: GLENN GARDNER

LOWE MORRISON & LEIZA FITZGERALD

ELIZABETH MOORE HOWARD & SHERRY DAVIS

PREMIER SPONSOR

HELICOPTER SPONSORS

Ariane Dart

Jonathan & Michelle Mitchell, Mitchell Family Foundation

AMBULANCE SPONSORS

The Boscia Family Foundation Donna and Jon Boscia

Arthur S. Karp Family Foundation

The Schleicher Family Foundation

30

SARASOTA SCENE | FEBRUARY 2021

Barbara and Gary Rodkin

Eric and Doreen Spiegel

smhf.org

Thank You

2021

SPONSORS

FIREFIGHTER SPONSORS Ravi and Virginia Akhoury

M. Beverly and Robert G. Bartner Bonnie and William Chapman

Leesar and Cooperative Services of Florida Meisner Electric

Cardiovascular Center of Sarasota and El Shahawy Family Foundation

Keith Monda and Veronica Brady

Phil and Julie Delaney

Tiffany and Tommy Taylor Family

CPPI / APG Engineering

Drs. Joel and Gail Morganroth Sandi Stuart and Mike Murray

Sarasota Anesthesiologists, P.A.

First Physicians Group – Administration

Sarasota Emergency Associates

Grain Management

Jim and Charlie Ann Syprett

Gresham Smith

Michael and Karen Valentino

IBERIA Wealth Advisors

Susan Wilson / Morgan Stanley

Katherine M. Keeley, M.D.

Williams Parker Attorneys at Law

Kerkering, Barberio & Co.

POLICEMAN SPONSORS Boar's Head Brand

SaraPath Diagnostics

Hautamaki & Horiuchi – Personal Physicians of Sarasota

Sharon and Tom Taylor

DeAngelis Diamond

Doug and Carolyn Ann Holder Elita Krums-Kane

Lung Associates of Sarasota

Dr. Alissa Shulman – Sovereign Plastic Surgery Strategic Interests, LLC Tidewell Foundation/ Tidewell Hospice

Radiology Associates of Florida, P.A.

Celebrating our Healthcare Heroes

FEBRUARY 2021 | SARASOTA SCENE

31

Scene Snaps

This month, readers celebrate their connection with animals. Here are their furred, feathered, and scaled friends—guaranteed to bring you a smile!

Handler S

ally Anne

Gendron

relaxes wit h therapy d ogs from Child Prote the ction Cen ter’s PAW S program specially tr ained to c alm and c omfort ab children. used Cracker, o

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44

SARASOTA SCENE | FEBRUARY 2021

A road trip with your honey can be an exciting adventure.

But not when you’re going for radiation.

Did you know that 1 in 3 people are diagnosed with cancer each year?

Last year 6,000 of those cases were in our area and over half of those people sought treatment elsewhere. We believe no one should have to leave home for cancer treatment and soon, patient-centered, comprehensive cancer care will be available right here. That means, finding hope at home instead of losing it on the road.

You have the power to give hope. Please consider a gift to help support the Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute.

Hope comes home. Give today.

941.917.1286 | smhf.org A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-435-7352 WITHIN THE STATE OR BY VISITING www.freshfromflorida.com/divisions-offices /consumer-services.

REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. (REGISTRATION #CH103) THE HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION WILL USE THE FUNDS FOR THE STATED PURPOSE BUT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO USE THE GIFT IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH ITS CHARITABLE PURPOSE IF THE STATED PURPOSE IS IMPOSSIBLE OR IMPRACTICAL TO ACHIEVE.

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FEBRUARY 2021 | SARASOTA SCENE

47

philanthropy philanthropy

Committing to

Change Skip Sack and Gulf Coast Community Foundation

By Ryan G. Van Cleave | Photo by Nancy Guth

While Burton M. “Skip” Sack is one of the most enthusiastic philanthropists in our community, he never expected to be in a position to be able to help so many because his own beginnings were so humble.

In 1951, he landed his first real job—as a Howard Johnson’s dishwasher. “I absolutely loved it,” he admits, which explains why he worked there every day after school and on weekends. Each summer, he shifted to working there fulltime. “My goal in life? To be a Howard Johnson’s manager.”

That plan was curtailed because of the Korean Crisis— Skip quite literally quit high school to join the Marines.

“Under Massachusetts law,” he says, “if you completed your first semester of your senior year and had passing grades, you could earn your diploma if you joined the military within thirty days, which I did.” But he quickly learned the power of upward career mobility when he was stationed at Camp Ushur in Quantico, VA, where officers came to train.

48

SARASOTA SCENE | FEBRUARY 2021

“I was one of 130 enlisted men around 800 second lieutenants. By nighttime, my arm felt like falling off, I was saluting so much,” he says. Something else he quickly noticed was that officers lived two to a room while Skip shared a squad bay with 65 others. All that helped Skip realize that he wanted—not wanted, but needed, he corrects himself—to go to college. So, he fired off a host of applications. He literally got the acceptance letter from Cornell University the day he went to the post office to change his address and be discharged from the military in the morning. Five days later, he started in Cornell’s first-rate hotel and restaurant program.

In the late 1950s, Cornell’s tuition was a mere $600 a semester, but Skip still wouldn’t have been able to afford it without the unexpected generosity of others.

“I received a scholarship for $500, and another for $750, plus a grant for $500, which was extremely helpful since that covered tuition and living expenses.” This proved to be a vital early lesson in generosity for him.

philanthropy

Gail & Skip Sack

The lesson about the importance of helping out others?

It stuck.

Skip graduated in 1961 and was earning $6,500 a year, but he committed to giving $750 to $1,000 a year to charities in the greater Boston area. And after his decades-long career as a restaurateur went exceptionally well—he received a lot of stock options when the corporate office bought back all the high-performing Applebee’s he owned and ran—Skip retired to Sarasota and eagerly sought ways to give back. That’s when he partnered with Gulf Coast Community Foundation.

“They’re terrific partners,” Skip says. “They do a great job vetting potential charities when I’m interested in something. And they also bring me opportunities about organizations with a need and then carefully explain why I should consider making a contribution, which I usually do.”

Gulf Coast Community Foundation helps Skip and his wife, Gail, find ways to support the two main areas of their

philanthropy—the homeless and the hungry. “Especially veterans,” clarifies Skip. His firsthand experience with the hard, often-thankless work the military does stays with him. That’s why he gives so much to support Goodwill, the Salvation Army, and Harvest House, as well as JFCS of the Suncoast and its military assistance program. “Our veterans should be taken better care of, but since that’s not happening, I’m doing what I can to help,” he says.

As to why Skip retired to Sarasota versus other warmweather options, he has a simple answer. “There’s no place I’d rather live than Sarasota,” Skip says with a laugh. “I’m from Boston, so I always thought I’d retire to the East Coast where all my friends retired to. But I came here and it’s just a whole different world.” They checked out Sarasota because his mother-in-law lived here, as did his grandmother. From the start, Skip and Gail fell in love with the area.

“It’s such a beautiful place, and the people are simply wonderful,” Skip says. “Plus there are more arts opportunities here than anywhere else in Florida. And FEBRUARY 2021 | SARASOTA SCENE

49

philanthropy philanthropy

“Our veterans should be taken better care of, but since that’s not happening, I’m doing what I can to help.”

— SKIP SACK

this is such a philanthropic community, too. I look at Graci and Dennis McGillicuddy—they’re an amazing couple who donate so much money and so many hours of their time. We think the world of them. They’re true role models for us.”

Skip also is a supporter of the arts. “This community, to have a world-class orchestra like we do, to have a worldclass ballet? It’s just mind-blowing. We see every play at the Asolo Theatre. The acting is just extraordinary.

Every time we go, we try to bring another couple with us to expose them to it.”

You can’t be a successful restaurant owner without incredible attention to detail, and Skip brings that to his philanthropy, too. To better understand what a food bank was and how it worked, he accepted an invitation from All Faiths Food Bank CEO Sandra Frank to see their biweekly veterans’ pantry. “I went by around 9 am and was stunned to see 100 people waiting in line,” Skip explains. He asked Frank if the long line was because the food bank might run out of food each day. She explained that wasn’t the case, but they chose to come early just for the chance to talk with people in the same position they’re in.

Hearing and seeing the plight of area veterans really got to Skip. “They come with suitcases, wheeled carts, and trash barrels on wheels. Then they take home two weeks of food—about 72 pounds on average,” he says.

“I watched one man fill up a trash barrel on wheels, then roll it to the bus stop at the end of the street, and drag this huge container of food up onto the bus. It’s amazing.”

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SARASOTA SCENE | FEBRUARY 2021

Skip does more than just support individual causes and organizations. He’s also working to ensure his family has a legacy of giving. “Gulf Coast helped me set up foundations for each of our five kids so they could get involved and give them the opportunity to make donations of their own to people and organizations in need.”

By any measure, Skip has been successful in his work and his philanthropy. His idea on success is this—it comes from a confluence of three things: talent, luck, and timing.

Talent alone won’t get your where you want to be. “I’ve been the beneficiary of all three of those.” But even so, he admits “I wish I had more money.” Not to hoard or satisfy his ego, but to give away.

“I marvel at people like MacKenzie Bezos,” he says.

“She gave $4 billion in the past few months alone? That’s incredible, but the need is still so great. I wish we could all do more.”

While Skip never became a Howard Johnson’s manager, he’s made peace with that. With the help of Gulf Coast community Foundation, he’s instead found his true calling—finding a way to change our community for the better, one life at a time.

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

about the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, please visit www.gulfcoastcf.org or call 941.486.4600.

Victor DeRenzi, Artistic Director Richard Russell, Executive Director

Welcome to Sarasota Opera’s

2021 Winter/Spring Opera Festival

SPRING

WINTER

The redesigned season will feature 60 to 90-minute performances to a socially distanced audience. Or view all operas online from wherever you are!

The Happy Deception

Maid to Mistress

(L’inganno felice)

by Gioachino Rossini

(La serva padrona)

by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi

February 12–25

February 19 – March 4

Il signor Bruschino

Dido and Aeneas

by Gioachino Rossini

by Henry Purcell

April 9–24

April 11–25

All operas performed in the original language with real-time titles for both in person and online versions.

SARASOTAOPERA.ORG | (941) 328-1300 61 N Pineapple Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236

Paid in part by Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax revenues.

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

The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation

Amy Wood and Richard House | Photography Frank Atura

DIGITAL WINTER/SPRING SEASON PROGR AM 5

BALANCHINE & GRAZIANO 26 FEBRUARY - 2 MARCH 2021

The Sarasota Ballet Box Office 941.359.0099 | SarasotaBallet.org

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Three Generations of Mortons.

only full-service liquor store offering top shelf and name brand liquors, beer, wines, cigars and bar accessories for delivery on the Key.

F

or more than 50 years, Morton’s Gourmet Market has been Sarasota’s go-to place for all things related to fine food and wine. A family-owned business led by father and son Eddie and Todd Morton; the store has a reputation for offering an exceptional customer experience. Their Osprey Avenue location is the center of the operation, with its full-scale deli and gourmet-to-go specialties, extensive selection of prime meats, seafood and a wonderful bakery with coffee bar.

Morton’s has everything one might need for entertaining or hosting any size event or gathering including an impressive array of fine wines, craft beers, exotic cheeses, and beautiful floral arrangements.

Locals and visitors alike turn to Morton’s during the holidays and special occasions for hand selected unique gift baskets, the convenience of their complete dinner menus, and fully prepared foods for take-out. Morton’s is also known for their award-winning catering department, which handles events of all sizes with a full menu of party favorites and custom planning services for any size gathering. In response to customer needs this year Morton’s installed a full-service curb side pick-up and delivery component.

Morton’s second location on Siesta Key, Siesta Market is a smaller version of their original concept, with an island twist, and offers a variety of staple groceries, fresh produce, meat and dairy. They stock a wide selection of beer and wine, as well as to-go prepared foods for easy picnics. Next door is Siesta Village, the Village’s

“The changing business environment due to COVID-19 has resulted in stepped up CDC guidelines throughout to ensure the safest possible surroundings for valued customers, staff and vendors while in-store or on-property”, says co-owner Eddie Morton. “During these trying times it becomes quite a challenge; however, we take it very seriously. We’ve incorporated new safety measures to enhance the customer experience while keeping our friendly hometown flavor. We have made it comfortable to say hello during shopping. An efficient and memorable experience is one of our hallmarks. Regardless of size of order, our experienced staff are ready for your requests on the phone, on-line or in the market.”

As family members continuing to join the team, The Morton family will always be an integral part of the Sarasota community.

One of the many ways they give back to the community is the family established and maintained Morton Culinary Education Fund which through customer purchases awards scholarships to Sarasota County students interested in pursuing a culinary career.

Historic Southside Village ∙ 1924 South Osprey Avenue, Sarasota (941) 955-9856 ∙ MortonsMarket.com

Backstage with The Sarasota Ballet

RYOKO SADOSHIMA & RICHARD HOUSE IN SIR PETER WRIGHT’S MIRROR WALKERS - PHOTO BY MATTHEW HOLLER.

FOUR TAKES ON THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON

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By Sylvia Whitman In the before time, when The Sarasota Ballet fantasized about celebrating its 30th anniversary, no one imagined rehearsing in masks. Or performing before cameras instead of people. Or offering ballet students a Zoom option. And yet, from a variety of perspectives, this strangest of seasons is turning out better than anyone had a right to predict in the dark days of last March, when the ballet cancelled its highly anticipated performances of Sir Frederick Ashton’s Romeo & Juliet. In other words, so far, so…remarkable.

Richard House soloist • 2nd season

After more than eight years with The Australian Ballet, Richard House was itching for a change. “I was looking into certain repertoire that companies did. I always enjoyed [George] Balanchine and American choreography, but I was torn between that and English choreographers, like [Sir Kenneth] MacMillan and Ashton. I came across The Sarasota Ballet; I realized that they basically do all of that, all at the same time.” His reaction: “Wow.” The audition window had just closed, however. But as House read the 2018-2019 season announcement, he couldn’t turn away. “So, I sent [director] Iain Webb a message: Would you possibly be open for me doing a light audition and I’ll just fly to Sarasota?”

Webb said yes, so House jetted halfway across the world and showed off his skills for four days. Webb said yes again, so House hopped on another plane back to Melbourne to close down his old life. “I had to go straight into performances of Giselle in Australia.” After one of the matinees, “I went in and resigned and said, ‘I have to take this position overseas.’”

“It was all a bit of a whirlwind,” House concedes. “A bit impulsive, but it just felt right.”

Enter the coronavirus in 2020. Webb’s selections for the fall digital programs allowed dancers to practice in small FEBRUARY 2021 | SARASOTA SCENE

55

PHOTO BY MATTHEW HOLLER.

“It’s a really nice thing that the arts can still give to people who are quarantining at home or scared to go out.

As much as we’re missing the live audience, it’s been so exciting to see how we’re connected.”

— Richard House bubbles. But everyone wears masks in class and rehearsals—to the amazement of House’s unmasked mates back in Australia. “We just get on with it. We just do it,” House has told them. “It’s funny—it almost makes you stronger because you’re so much more conscious of breathing. It was a learning curve at the start, but to make this happen as a company, we’ve all had to do it.” Masked in person beats online from your kitchen any day, House says.

Safety protocols do present challenges, “especially when you’re partnering. When you are lifting the girl, sometimes your mask will get in the way, or it’ll be knocked off. Or sometimes, you’ll go into a lift and it’s so strenuous and you just want to take a big gasp of air, and all of a sudden you inhale a mask.”

House adds, “If I’ve taken anything from this year, it’s to find the silver lining. At least we’re dancing.” In the fall, he performed Balanchine, including a snippet of The Four Temperaments. House’s family had planned to fly to Florida to watch him perform in the 30th anniversary season—nix that. But they watched the video. “It’s a really nice thing that the arts can still give to people who are quarantining at home or scared to go out. As much as we’re missing the live audience, it’s been so exciting to see how we’re connected.”

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Ellen Overstreet principal • 9th season

Ellen Overstreet joined The Sarasota Ballet at 19, after an open audition. She signed the contract and moved from Houston to Sarasota within days. “I honestly didn’t know much about Sarasota. The appreciation and knowledge that our audience has for the arts is mind blowing.”

In the past decade she’s ascended the ladder—from corps to coryphée to junior principal to principal. “It’s kind of wild to think about how much I looked up to the principals when I got here and now being one of them—it’s a surreal feeling. This company has really given me my career.”

Like House, Overstreet has huffed in her mask through cardio-intense (jumping) sequences of choreography.

But she’s found her silver lining in performance.

“When we are all in our costumes and everyone’s in their makeup and without masks, everyone just looks so beautiful.

Overstreet has missed the live audience. But videography has meant “when we did a solo or a pas de deux”—like her October balcony scene from Romeo & Juliet—”we had our time to film them on stage; it was kind of under our control. If we made a mistake, we could go back and fix it.”

For the second half of the 30th anniversary season, Webb has chosen longer works. “It’ll be interesting to see how that plays out,” Overstreet says. “Less nitpicky little repeats and more, we need to get a nice, full firsttime filming. That’ll take extra focus and extra awareness of each other. It’s going to be more of a team effort.”

PHOTO BY MATTHEW HOLLER.

ELLEN OVERSTREET & RICHARD HOUSE IN SIR KENNETH MACMILLAN’S CONCERTO. - PHOTO BY MATTHEW HOLLER.

“Richard and I had a funny moment: We were doing a pas de deux, and we were on either side of the stage, and we just had to walk slowly toward each other. And we almost couldn’t keep a straight face. It was the most bizarre thing to see each other’s lips and mouth.”

Kate Honea

principal & assistant ballet mistress 18th season Kate Honea and The Sarasota Ballet grew up together. She attended the company’s ballet school before continuing her training at the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School. She returned in 2002 and by 2009 had been promoted to principal. “Certainly, after this quarantine, I felt a little older than usual, but what I love about this company is all the young dancers here and all the rest we do. It forces me to stay young because I have to be in such great shape.”

In the fall, Honea danced in cat ears and tail in Ashton’s La Chatte Métamorphosée en Femme and in a full, swirling skirt in Balanchine’s Tarantella. Rehearsing in protective equipment—that’s something dancers get used to, “like pointe shoes for the women; it’s something that’s always going to be painful, always going to be hard.” But dancers “always have that strength, that drive to push through. And because we are lucky to have this opportunity, we’re all willing to do that.

The support of Iain and Maggie and the whole team and the company is so helpful. That’s what makes us want to push through those tough times where you just want to take that mask off and step on it.”

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KATE HONEA IN GEORGE BALANCHINE’S TARANTELLA - PHOTO BY FRANK ATURA.

She agrees with Overstreet that filming sharpens focus. “You really want to make sure that you do the first take the best, or else you’re going to have to go back, which I recently had to do with Nutcracker; I had to film a couple of times, to get the perfect one.

There is a little bit more pressure; you put it on yourself because this is going out on film, and they have a record of it.”

But nothing compares to a “having the audience there, their energy. We feed off of that. You never really know what’s going to happen because it’s a live performance.

You just have to go out there and live in the moment.”

Iain Webb

PHOTO BY MATTHEW HOLLER.

director•14th season

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All dancers learn to think on their feet, which comes in handy when you’re directing a company during a pandemic. With the March 2020 cancelations and lockdown, The Sarasota Ballet committed to the wellbeing of its dancers and supporters. It’s easy to forget the many unknowns behind the decision to go digital in the fall and establish a new normal.

In rehearsals for the program pilot, Honea and two other ballerinas wore masks—and gloves. With a laugh, dancers discovered one recipe for cosmetic disaster: masks over makeup. Now the routine excludes gloves, and masks come off just before the last rehearsal. “Everyone has to feel safe and comfortable,” says Webb. “I got a really sweet email

from one of the young dancers that said, ‘I feel totally happy to hold hands with my fellow colleagues.’”

As vaccines roll out this spring, Webb hopes to stage some live performances, letting in small groups, perhaps 50 people at a time. But “we have to take that day by day,” says Webb. “Health and safety are foremost in every decision we make.”

For now, the winter/spring programs remain digital. The anniversary season will culminate in May with Ashton’s classical Birthday Offering and Twila Tharp’s modern Nine Sinatra Songs. Originally written for The Royal Ballet’s silver jubilee, Birthday Offering inspired elaborate costumes, now under lockdown. “So, we’re actually having a complete set made, which we will own.” They’ll make dancers “look and feel beautiful,” says Webb, and become part of the fabric of the company.

DANIELLE BROWN, RICARDO RHODES, HARVEY EVANS, & THOMAS LEPROHON IN SIR PETER WRIGHT’S SUMMERTIDE - PHOTO BY MATTHEW HOLLER.

Webb credits this trying experience with making The Sarasota Ballet stronger. Now the dancers “are really caring about each other; they’re really looking and making sure they’re safe wearing masks, doing social distancing outside of the studio. They’re not only looking after themselves, but they’re looking after their colleagues and the organization.” The staff, from

finance to marketing, has done the same, Webb says. “Everybody has worked so well together; we’re one of the few organizations that are back on this scale, working.”

Ensemble Whether it comes during the 30th anniversary season or shortly thereafter, containment of the pandemic is top of everyone’s wish list. First, House says, he’s throwing out all his masks. “And I’m going to hug my friends. I’m going to kiss them, love them, hug them, all that kind of stuff.”

Overstreet and Honea second the hugs, lots of hugs, group hugs.

“Guys, the first thing we’re going to do is have the biggest dancer-staff party there’s ever been,” promises Webb. “And then the next thing will be to do that with our amazing audience.”

For more information about The Sarasota Ballet’s Digital Winter-Spring season, visit www.sarasotaballet. org/events/type/all/all.

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Takin’ It To The Streets Photographer Nancy Guth takes a fresh look at familiar, local pleasures during unusual times.

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Sailing on the Bay with Captain Joey

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Art Ovation Hotel

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Art Uptown Gallery, Downtown Sarasota

Dabbert Gallery, Downtown Sarasota

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Community Gardens, Sarasota

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Dogs of Downtown Sarasota

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Smokin’ Joes Pub, Downtown Sarasota

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The Overton, Downtown Sarasota

Darcie Allen Trio Performing at Salute FEBRUARY 2021 | SARASOTA SCENE

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Kids at the Playground

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Zooey Seraphine at Pineapple Yoga Studio, Downtown Sarasota

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Vantage Point: Old vs. New in Downtown Sarasota

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Bird Key Park FEBRUARY 2021 | SARASOTA SCENE

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GOLF The Best Game In COVID

Esplanade Country Club at Lakewood Ranch 78

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Sara Bay Country Club

The Oaks Country Club

By William Bradford Nichols

Safety. According to several golf clubs in the area, it all comes down to that one word. Safety is probably the biggest reason for the explosion of interest in golf last year.

The year 2020 ended up being the sport’s biggest ever, even though the National Golf Foundation, or NGF, reported that the industry lost approximately twenty-million rounds last spring due to course shutdowns, lockdowns, and anxiety around the pandemic. As states began to reopen, more and more people took to the links, shattering almost all records. Susan Green, the Director of Membership and Marketing at the Oaks Club in Osprey, believes that part of that growth stems from golf’s inherent safety. That when it comes to outdoor activities, almost nothing is safer.

For starters, golf is an open-air game. Sure, there are lots FEBRUARY 2021 | SARASOTA SCENE

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“

The Oaks, which already had an immense fleet of 300 golf carts, purchased more to match the 30-35% increase in rounds they have seen this year.

The Oaks Country Club

of games you can play outdoors, but golf has some important differences. You can play by yourself for one, although it is much more fun to play with others. Not only that, but you also get to choose the others you play with and avoid interacting with people outside of your group on the green. You don’t even have to touch anyone else’s equipment.

This distinction separates golf from other outdoor sports. In racquet sports, like tennis or pickleball, the game itself demands you touch the ball your opponent has touched. But in golf, it is recommended you never touch another player’s golf ball as most golfers prefer to mark their own positions on the course. On top of that, many clubs sanitize their rental equipment.

In today’s climate, many are choosing to buy their gear.

Golf equipment sales topped 1 billion for the months of July through September. This amounts to the most

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Socially distancing golf carts

sales recorded since the NGF started tracking sales 24 years ago. This could be due to the large number of new players, which the NGF reported jumped 20% last year. That is half a million more than the 2.5 million new players in 2019, a number that had already blown past the previous record set at the height of Tiger Woods’ fame.

While safety is built-in to the game already, the most complicated part of golf’s upsurge has been safely accommodating this large number of new golfers. To facilitate this influx, The Oaks, which already had an immense fleet of 300 golf carts, purchased more to match the 30-35% increase in rounds they have seen this year.

In addition, The Oaks chose to get rid of shotgun rounds.

Shotgun rounds are when up to 18 groups of players start at different holes and meet up at the same time at the end of the round. Traditionally, a shotgun blast marks the tee time, though most clubs now use a bullhorn. Since

Sara Bay Country Club The Oaks cannot have their employees staging all of those carts at the same time, these had to be canceled. Greene says that most of their golfers, rather than being resistant to the change, are grateful for the new rule. Especially since it opens up more time slots for regular rounds.

To golf in this private club this year, you’ll need to join the long waitlist. So long, in fact, that it is now closed. The fastest way in is to buy a home in The Oaks. And if that’s what you want to do, you will have to move quickly. They normally have anywhere from 60 to 80 homes available at this time of year. Currently, they only have around 15. Proximity to Pineview school means that they have a good mix of young families too.

Dennis Bundy, Director of Membership at the Sara Bay Country Club, has noticed a similar rise in golf’s popularity.

Founded in 1926, Sara Bay has been serving the golf community for almost 100 years. They have also taken similar precautions to protect members from the virus. As a result, they too have noticed an increase from last year’s numbers.

Though still a private club, Sara Bay is not attached to any of the local communities.

Membership comes with year-round reciprocal privileges with Bird Key Yacht Club, but to become a member, you will need sponsorship or a referral from a current member.

Sara Bay Country Club Dining

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Esplanade Country Club

Esplanade Country Club

Esplanade Country Club 82

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Those in the Sarasota area who might not be able to get sponsorship or a referral at the moment might try their hand at the Esplanade Country Club at Lakewood Ranch, where the course wraps around a nature preserve. The Esplanade is currently open to the public, meaning that you do not have to be a homeowner or a member to hit the links or to practice your tee at their driving ranges, according to Cammie Longenecker, President of Active Lifestyle Brand, and Erin Kennedy, Taylor Morrison’s Communication Manager. If you like the club and want to stay in it, you will need to purchase a home.

As soon as the Esplanade Country Club at Lakewood Ranch and its sister community, the Esplanade at Azario at Lakewood Ranch sell out of homes, the course will go private.

One thing all the clubhouses and courses agree on is that golf is the game for these somewhat perilous times. It is a social sport that allows for human connection. It also has the added benefits of fresh air, the outdoors, exercise, the fact that it can be (and is being) enjoyed by people of all ages, and what’s more, social distancing is practically built-in.

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Heroes with Paws

A Look at the Life of Hard-Working Dogs

Certified Guide Dog Trainer, Christine Fulton, works with guide dog in training, Peyton.

By Wendy Lyons Sunshine

8844

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Southeastern Guide Dogs Southeastern Guide Dog puppies leave their litter at 10 weeks of age and go live with a volunteer host family. A year later, the pups return to the Palmetto campus for formal training. These carefully bred and raised Labrador retrievers will become guide dogs, service dogs, and skilled companion dogs for people with vision loss, veterans with disabilities, and children with significant challenges.

The organization is dually accredited by both the International Guide Dog Federation and Assistance Dogs International. Amid COVID-19, guide dog and service dog training and classes have continued with social distancing protocols in place.

By the time a Southeastern Guide Dog gets a real-life work assignment, it will have received over 3,000 hours of training.

In 2020 . . .

25

19

210

Volunteer homes

Certified

Dogs received

hosted puppies

guide dog

training

in Sarasota

trainers on staff

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Sarasota K9 Search & Rescue teams train for 16 hours or more each month, using scenarios that reflect real life situations.

Sarasota K9 Search & Rescue Sarasota K9 Search & Rescue has a single mission: assist public safety officials in finding missing persons, human remains, and crime scene evidence.

The organization’s more than two dozen volunteer members and dogs (“K9s”) respond around the clock, 365 days a year, to requests from local, state, and federal law enforcement.

Depending on their specialty, K9s may certify through the North American Police Work Dog Association, National Association for Search & Rescue, and the Georgia K9 Tactical Tracking Trailing Program. The certification process typically takes one year, at minimum.

K9 Pippin and Handler Judy Kozora, on a water training exercise.

K9 Handler Cindy O’Neill and K9 Nalu

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K9 Handler Dwight Townsend and K9 Alex

In 2020 . . .

20

9

total deployments

deployments in

throughout Florida

Sarasota County

SPOTLIGHT

Every Dog has its Day NEW YEAR, NEW DIGS

FOR THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF SARASOTA COUNTY

BY SYLVIA WHITMAN When the Humane Society of Sarasota County’s board of directors signed off on the biggest renovation and expansion in the animal shelter’s almost 70-year history, the world had not yet heard of COVID-19. The pandemic interfered with fundraising and delayed construction by a couple of lockdown months. But tails were wagging in January as the nonprofit welcomed sojourning pets and eager adopters into the centerpiece of its rejuvenated facility—a sprawling new complex of cat condos, dog pods, adoption viewing rooms, offices, and spaces for education programs and training courses.

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Rendering of new HSSC facility

Shelter staff and animal-welfare experts consulted with the architect, so amenities contribute to making animals more adoption-worthy by sustaining their physical and mental health. For dogs, single-occupancy pens feature a cot, toys, and doors to fenced outdoor patios. The cat wing includes a kitten suite and individual cat condos with accessible litter-box cabinets and outdoor ventilation; two cat colony rooms lead into a screened outdoor “catio” that faces a shade garden for felines to contemplate.

Simply put, it’s the cat’s meow.

Most animals don’t stay long. In 2019, the Humane Society of Sarasota County (HSSC) took in 1,898 animals—1,410 dogs and 488 cats. Pet-loving Sarasotans adopted the vast majority, with a few transferring to local shelters or rescue groups. HSSC qualifies as a no-kill shelter, which means that although it euthanizes a few very ill or incorrigibly aggressive animals, it achieves a “save rate” greater than 90%. HSSC’s actual save rate in 2019 was 98%. Even in upside-down 2020, with a long hiatus on walk-in adopters, the save rate fell only to 96.6% of 1,484 animals under care.

But regionally—and especially across the state and the Southeast—the number of needy animals often outstrips the capacity of local rescue operations, says HSSC’s new executive director, Anna Gonce. The reason? “Southern States have not done a good job with spaying and neutering.” All those litters of kittens and puppies grow up.

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Anna Gonce, HSSC Executive Director

“In national rankings of deaths in shelters, Florida is the fourth worst; about 45,000 animals a year die,” Gonce says. Expanded facilities not only let HSSC better serve the immediate community; it supports a broader movement, which aspires for Florida to become a no-kill state.

HSSC’s expansion, now moving into the final phase, with another building demolition and reconstruction underway, should increase the shelter’s capacity by 50%. In 2021, says Gonce, HSSC is aiming to serve 2,700 critters. “We’re their temporary stop on the way to finding a home.”

insider

BEYOND ROOM AND BOARD Small truckloads of transfers arrive regularly from other Florida counties, as well as Louisiana, Georgia, and Texas. HSSC coordinates with partner shelters so that it receives animals with a good chance for adoption. Since Sarasota has so many older residents, many of them living in condos, pooches under 40 pounds match well here.

The process requires much more than a lick and a promise. At intake, animals undergo a full checkup at the on-site clinic. Vets perform sterilizations, remove growths, pull teeth, and treat everything from orthopedic problems to parasites. Gross but true: Medicine can kill deadly heartworms, but a dog’s body has to absorb the decomposing bits, which travel to the lungs and can clog small blood vessels. To avoid fatal complications, dogs must rest, so HSSC has several small pens floored with AstroTurf to allow canine patients outdoor time without the temptation to run and romp.

Regular meals and individual daily walks by a volunteer or staff member help to calm canine nerves, and behavior modification plans (or basic obedience training) usually

turn bad boys and girls into better-mannered mutts.

Large, fenced kennels and an agility yard near the dog pods offer space for animal-person play. Staff behaviorists also “interview” newcomers. How do animals react when someone touches their ears, tails, and paws? Do they enjoy the company of other dogs or cats? Do they respond to commands? What happens when a hand (a fake hand, to start) hovers over their food bowl? Traumatized dogs often exhibit barrier aggression (don’t fence me in) or resource guarding (keep your paws off).

Profiles written by behaviorists with input from volunteers help adoption counselors with matchmaking. One “shy and timid” newcomer, for instance, a winsome black mixed breed, “warms up slowly” with a disposition both “sweet and calm.” Gonce says most pet seekers come in after they spot a cute face on the website, but adoptions are more likely to take if humans understand the reasoning behind labels like “single-dog home” or “experienced dog owners only” or “no kids <10 yrs.”

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REGULAR MEALS AND INDIVIDUAL DAILY WALKS BY A VOLUNTEER OR STAFF MEMBER HELP TO CALM CANINE NERVES.

foster animals until they’re ready to bond. Foster pet parents may bottle-feed kittens, for example, or offer a quiet living-room spot in the sun to an ill or anxious dog who needs a break from the shelter hubbub.

Once they’re healing and made available, most animals find a home within a month. For needier long-term residents, HSSC sometimes incentivizes adoption. Charlie, for instance, a 75-pound retriever/ black lab mix, loves to play—loudly. “A big strong boy,” he’s also “very reactive to other dogs.” So, he qualifies for a “Slumber Party,” a totally subsidized 3-to-30-day home stay, a no-risk trial for a potential adopter. The “TLC Program” encourages prospective pet parents to consider animals, often seniors, with chronic health conditions; the shelter picks up the vet bill for that long-term care.

Cat Viewing Room

A HUMANE COMMUNITY Although Gonce started with HSSC just last October, she has deep roots in animal welfare (and three dogs and a semi-feral cat at home). She has worked for the American Humane Association, run a parrot sanctuary, and served as founding president of Spay Neuter International Project. As part of Best Friends Animal Society, she led its program based in Salt Lake City, working to make Utah a no-kill state. About five years ago, she moved to Sarasota to raise her young daughter, parenting and working 90

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Front Entrance

for Habitat for Humanity Sarasota. “And then the stars aligned,” she said.

At HSSC, she heads an experienced staff that sees the “purrfect” new campus as the base of a communitywide exchange between people and animals. For pet owners, HSSC offers puppy training and obedience classes (well-behaved dogs are much less likely to end up in shelters), a public veterinary clinic with affordable prices (all proceeds return to the shelter), and end-oflife services. There’s even a memorial courtyard in the new facility.

For children age 6 to 11, HSSC runs “Fur Fun” summer camps. Guest speakers include llamas, pygmy goats, and assorted reptiles, as well as whoever’s in the dog pods or cat rooms. Once those sessions resume in person, campers will enjoy making crafts in the new building’s multipurpose room. The Teen Program will also meet there; it teaches older kids about companion animals and trains them as shelter volunteers, if they wish. Although HSSC has taken its outreach online during the pandemic, everyone agrees that nothing compares to slobbery kisses and roaring purrs in person.

Ginny Armington, director of community outreach, oversees more than 100 pet-therapy volunteers who bring their animals to meet and greets at sites like longterm care facilities and colleges, where students need to “paws and relax.” The shelter also wants to continue its Collars & Scholars Program, a joint effort with The Florida Center for Early Childhood, funded by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. Over nine weeks in the spring of 2019, fourth and fifth graders selected by the mental-health therapist at Gocio Elementary School participated in lessons with puppets, activities, journals, and lots of hands-on-fur time with shelter animals and therapy dogs. HSSC would like to unleash the program in other Title 1 schools.

Animals have a way of bringing out the best in people.

“Empathy and compassion are not inborn traits. They’re learned,” says Armington. “We’re teaching kids what it’s like to be part of a humane community.”

HSSC is planning a grand opening for its new facility in June 2021. Fundraising for construction is ongoing, with major naming opportunities still available. For more information, please email agonce@hssc.org.

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the Sandy Claws Beach Run

insider

Education MATTERS

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

FUN, LEARNING AND MORE THROUGHSARASOTA COUNTY PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES Besides the vibrant arts scene and the irresistible weather, the biggest area attraction has to be the world-class beaches, right? Well, it’s the Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department we should be thanking, since they take care of those, from daily trash removal and facility cleaning to managing artificial reefs and marine signage to providing land stewardship and environmental management of beach and dune areas, wetlands, bay waters, and other protected habitats. Add in their care of 100+ athletic fields, 100+ parks, and 50,000+ acres of the county’s natural areas and trails, and it’s hard to grasp the range of all they do.

But in addition to all that, the Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources department also has more programming and events than anyone might expect. For example, they’ve fully embraced online delivery, offering activities in art (“Water Plant Art” and “Owl Crafts and Facts”), wildlife (“Snakes of Florida at Shamrock Park” and “Solutions to Pollution at Siesta Beach”), and nature (“Pedicab Ride Along the Legacy Trail” and “Nature Walk at Old Myakka Preserve”). That’s just the start of it, though.

Recent specialty programs have proven to be a hit, such as the 16th annual Breakfast with Santa at Newtown Estates Park, which was reformatted to a drive-through event thanks to COVID-19. Every participant got a to-go

the Sandy Claws Beach Run

breakfast and each child 12 and under also received a toy.

Another successful December event was the Sandy Claws Beach Run. For similar safety reasons, it shifted from live to virtual—participants were asked to choose their distance and run at any location they wanted, including any of six parks (Nokomis Beach, Phillippi Estate Park, Rothenbach Park, Shamrock Park, Siesta Beach, and Ted Sperling Park at South Lido Beach) where each had a Sandy the Crab photo frame to help create some social-media-worthy keepsakes.

All proceeds benefitted Sarasota County’s Summer Camp scholarship fund.

One of the more exciting upcoming programs is the Afternoons at the Mansion lecture series, which serves as a fundraiser for the renovation of the Historic Keith Farmhouse. For $20 on Feb. 21 and March 28, you can enjoy an afternoon at the historic mansion at Phillippi Estate Park while learning about Sarasota’s history and enjoying light refreshments in a socially distanced, limited-capacity setting.

Program Coordinator Priscilla Brown notes that the 1916 Edson Keith Mansion lends itself well to small lectures in an historic setting. When they celebrated the 100th anniversary of the estate in 2016, people requested more information about the history and archaeology of the site. That’s where the concept of Afternoons at the Mansion program was developed.

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Historic Keith Farmhouse

Brown adds that she hopes people bear with them as they negotiate “the often-changing CDC guidelines and protocols to try to keep all attendees safe while enjoying fascinating historical facts, interesting tales of the early days of Sarasota—even before we became a county 100 years ago this year—and well-informed speakers who have a vast knowledge of the various historical aspects of the Sarasota community. We always end our presentations by the speakers opening the floor to questions and comments, which has provided some in-depth discussions and often a bit of hilarity. History is not dead; it is exciting information to stimulate the minds of us all.”

Another upcoming event of note is Beach University, a series of educational environmental seminars that began in 2006 as a collaboration between popular Beach Ambassador Program volunteers and county staff. Jonathan Poyner—one of the program’s organizers—adds that the impetus for the free classes really came from Dr. Bruce Broadbent, a retired University of Pennsylvania professor who winters in Sarasota and serves as a Beach Ambassador. “Dr. Broadbent, his wife Joyce, and other Beach Ambassadors are still involved in the planning and setup of this series,” Poyner says.

Each year, the program offers a variety of interactive seminars that teach about life along the shore and how we can help preserve the dynamic but delicate ecosystem.

The topics in this year’s programming include: Invasive Vegetation and How it Relates to You; Beach Safety 101; Climate Action—Plant for Birds; Life in the Dune; A History of Siesta Beach and the Key; and Ecology Research from Mote Marine Laboratory.

Poyner says, “Sarasota County wants to welcome all to this environmental education series that is sure to inspire 94

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Beach Ambassadors Program

people to help protect our precious resources and life along the Gulf shoreline. Come discover what nature and history have been trying to teach us all along.”

Beach University takes place from 9:30-10:30am at the Siesta Beach main pavilion every Thursday in March (4, 11, 18, and 25) as well as two additional Saturday dates (March 13 and 27). Co-organizer Catherine Wunderlich notes that “this year, we ask for participants to bring their own chairs, and we recommend social distancing and wearing a mask if unable to social distance.” If you can’t make it live, the March 4 meeting will also be available on Facebook @ SRQCountyPlay for anyone who would like to tune in virtually.

This is just a sampling of the many things Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources helps make happen.

If you care about concerts, farmer’s markets, guided walks, informative talks, beaches, and parks, consider looking into becoming a volunteer—the need is great, and the options are many.

Whether you’re a volunteer, a program participant, or simply an appreciator, come be part of all the parks offer.

It’s more than you imagined!

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

on Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources, please visit www.scgov.net/government/parks-recreation-and-natural-resources or call 941-861-5000.

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ARTIST SERIES CONCERTS OF SARASOTA

Best SEATS PERFORMING ARTS CALENDAR PERFORMING ARTS EVENTS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PART

BY THE ARTS & CULTURAL ALLIANCE OF SARASOTA COUNTY. ALL LISTINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. PLEASE CHECK WEBSITES FOR UPDATES.

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941.306.1200 / artistseriesconcerts.org Amore - Love Songs with Anthony Nunziata February 10 Women of Note: Live at Selby Gardens February 18

ASOLO REPERTORY THEATRE 941.351.8000 / asolorep.org Monday Musical Moments Every Monday Online Engage: On Air Every Wednesday Online Brush up your Shakespeare with Diana Coates February 8

THE BLUE ROOSTER 941.388.7539 / blueroostersrq.com Paul Thorn: Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Never Too Late To Call A Solo Acoustic Show February 14 & 15

FLORIDA STUDIO THEATRE 941.366.9000 / floridastudiotheatre.org Online Reading: The Drolls February 5 Online Discussion: Life vs. Technology February 11 Online Reading: As You Are February 12 Online Reading: America In One Room February 19 Online Reading: American Rhapsody February 26

MOVING REAL PRODUCTIONS tickettailor.com/events/ movingrealproductions Touch Me Real Through February 28

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THE PLAYERS CENTRE 941.365.2492 / theplayers.org In Love with Shakespeare February 4-14

THE RINGLING 941.359.5700 / ringling.org The History of Museums: Virtual Museum Intensive Through February 23 Redress: The Plantation as Marker, Memorial and Monument February 6 Under the Banyans with Sarasota Orchestra February 21

THE SARASOTA BALLET 941.359.0099 / sarasotaballet.org Digital Program 5: George Balanchine’s Donizetti Variations & Ricardo Graziano’s Amorosa February 26 – March 2

941.953.4252 / sarasotaorchestra.org Music Moves Us Online Live Stream Performances - TBD Serioso February 4 – 9 Classical Dinner 2: American Sounds February 18

SARASOTA OPERA 941.328.1300 / sarasotaopera.org The Happy Deception February 12 – 17 Maid to Mistress February 19 – 28

VAN WEZEL PERFORMING ARTS HALL 941.953.3368 / vanwezel.org Audra McDonald February 13 Broadway HD February 28

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THE VINOY RENAISSANCE 727.894.1000 / marriott.com Soul n’ Love Featuring Violinist Omari Dillard February 13

WESTCOAST BLACK THEATRE TROUPE 941.366.1505 / westcoastblacktheatre.org WBTT LIVE! On Demand See a select show via your Computer, Tablet, Smart Phone or Smart TV. Once you purchase your ticket, you will receive an email confirmation with instructions.

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

SCENESARASOTA.COM

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

Note: Events are subject to change.

Please check event online before attending.

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941.951.0620 | 530burnsgallery.com ARISE Through February 9

ARTCENTER MANATEE 941.746.2862 | artcentermanatee.org Florida Suncoast Watercolor Society Aqueous Exhibit February 2 – March 5 Island Gallery West Curated Show February 2 – March 5

ART CENTER SARASOTA 941.365.2032 | artsarasota.org Staying Connected Through March 5 Cynthia Mason and Neil Bender, Vitus Shell, ASALH: Black Muse 2021 Through March 5

DABBERT GALLERY 941.955.1315 | dabbertgallery.com Live: Inspired to Imagine February 2021

EMBRACING OUR DIFFERENCE OUTDOOR EXHIBIT 941.404.5710 | embracingourdifferences.org Embracing Our Difference International Art Exhibit Through April 1

NORTH PORT ART CENTER 941.423.6460 | northportartcenter.org Members Choice Exhibit 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Through February 5 “Get Inspired by Architecture” 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

February 6 – March 5

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PALM AVENUE ARTS ALLIANCE palmavenue.com First Friday Walks Romancing the Arts February 5

THE RINGLING 941.359.5700 | ringling.org Frans Hals: Detecting a Decade February 14 – May 16 Larry Rivers: Boston Massacre February 14 – May 16 Sam Gilliam February 21 – August 15 Re-making the World: Abstraction from the permanent collection Through May 2 Kabuki Modern Through June 27

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RINGLING COLLEGE OF ART + DESIGN 941.359.5700 | ringling.edu/galleries Regan Dunnick: Plum Bobs Ulysses pt. 1 View Online or Live by Appointment Through February 12 Sheryl Haler: Back to the Garden

By Appointment Through February 12 Storytellers: Faith Ringgold + Aminah Robinson

By Appointment Through February 12 A Few of Our Favorite Things Online: www.baschgallery.com Through March 27

SARASOTA MUSEUM OF ART 941.309.4300 | info@sarasota.art Janaina Tschäpe: Between the Sky and the Water Through May 2

Your support impacts a student’s future.

Contact Cassandra Holmes 941-752-5390 or HolmesC@SCF.edu

Have an upcoming visual art event?

Send your event details to COMMUNICATIONS@SARASOTAARTS.ORG

SCF-Foundation.org FEBRUARY 2021 | SARASOTA SCENE

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arts&culture

Meet Artist

SHARON WOELFLING

Sharon Lennox Woelfling paints traditional watercolors and abstract acrylics based on images in the world around her. Her passion for coastal America has drawn her to the west coast of Florida where she and her husband have enjoyed a beach life-style for many years.

Woelfling has a life-long passion for everything coastal. The beautiful summer skies in Florida are integral to her “ENDLESS SUMMER” series, as are graceful sailboats, sea life, and various moods of the sea. Tropical colors, ever-changing skies and sea, people enjoying the beauty offered by land and seascapes, all offer never-ending inspirations for this artist.

Woelfling is a signature member of the Florida Suncoast Watercolor Society (FSWS), participates in juried exhibits at many venues in coastal Florida where she has won awards for her work. After college, she taught art in middle school, watercolor classes in adult education, and has offered private watercolor classes for adults and children. Most recently, she is excited to have been juried into the lovely Island Gallery West in Holmes Beach, Anna Maria Island, Florida where she now exhibits both watercolor and acrylic paintings.

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InHEALTH INTERVENTIONAL PAIN MEDICINE

By Dr. Fabian Ramos, M.D., DABA, DABPM, DABIPP, FIPP

WHAT IS INTERVENTIONAL PAIN MEDICINE? Interventional pain medicine is a complex and relatively new specialty originally derived from the field of anesthesiology, which has evolved during the last 30 years thanks to advances in biomedical technology and the sciences of neurology, surgery, physical medicine, orthopedics, psychiatry, and psychology.

Interventional pain medicine specialists evaluate whether pain is a symptom of tissue damage or an underlying disease, such as a malignancy, or a direct nerve condition such as neuropathies, pinched nerves, multiple sclerosis, shingles, etc. They focus on the diagnosis and treatment of pain symptoms and the mind, using a multiple modality, personalized approach to rehabilitation that restores function, and enjoyment, very frequently in coordination with therapists, primary care physicians and other specialists.

WHAT ARE THE LATEST ADVANCES IN INTERVENTIONAL PAIN MEDICINE? Current treatments performed by pain specialists are now helping patients with previously unresponsive types of chronic pain. For example, exceedingly difficult and persisting disc degeneration symptoms are now helped by selectively ablating the transmitting nerve inside the body of the vertebra during a one-hour, outpatient procedure. Sacroiliac buttock pain persisting after back fusions, or in women after labor, is now relieved by inserting a glue-like bone material inside the joint space during a 30-minute outpatient procedure that avoids traumatic fusing screw surgery. Leg weakness, heaviness, and inability to walk that improves when leaning (for example on a shopping cart), typical in spinal stenosis, is now treated in select patients with a removable, penny size and totally reversible titanium device. This 20-minute outpatient procedure is performed without touching or violating internal spine structures and in most cases, avoiding laminectomy or spine surgery.

Continually evolving pain modulation technology allows insertion of tiny electrodes in the nerves, body, or spine to block, diminish or change pain signals by delivering electrical and magnetic fields which are now imperceptible to the human being.

Improvements in bone cement materials allow for stabilization of even severe fractures through a quarter-of-an-inch access in the skin and make it possible to treat more severe vertebral fractures with almost complete permanent relief after a onehour outpatient procedure. Common procedures like epidural injections are now performed through blunt cannulas that improve safety and results.

WHO IS A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR A PAIN MEDICINE SPECIALIST AND WHAT TYPES OF PAIN ARE TREATED? Any patient who has pain that persists beyond the expected time of healing is a candidate, especially if alternatives such as ibuprofen, resting, ice, stretching, or OTC patches or creams have failed. If pain persists, a knowledgeable interventional pain specialist can promptly guide the correct steps towards a definitive diagnosis, treatment and improvement.

HOW QUICKLY WILL I FIND PAIN RELIEF? The onset of improvement can be fast, and the curve of sustained improvement depends on the individual diagnosis. Interventional pain medicine cannot “cure” aging, but like any other medical specialty works by modulating and managing the disease. A knowledgeable pain specialist will work with you to treat and guide you to live your life with the best functional outcomes at the minimal physical and psychological cost.

Ramos Center For Interventional & Functional Pain Medicine 100 3rd Ave W., Bradenton, Fl 34205 2540 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, Fl 34239 1370 E. Venice Ave., Suite 104, Venice, Fl 34285 2061 Englewood Rd., Suite 2A, Englewood, Fl 34223 941.708.9555 | ramoscenter.com FEBRUARY 2021 | SARASOTA SCENE

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InHEALTH 4 TIPS FOR A HEALTHIER YEAR

By Jasmine Dukandar, Board-Certified Gastroenterologist at Florida Digestive Health Specialists

COLON CANCER WON’T WAIT – YOU SHOULDN’T EITHER Are you putting off your colonoscopy due to the pandemic? Don’t. When COVID-19 gripped the country, screenings plummeted nearly 90%. And more importantly, diagnoses fell by more than 30%.

These statistics are extremely worrisome. Approximately 1 in every 23 Americans is diagnosed with colorectal cancer and more than 50,000 people die from it every year. It is the nation’s second deadliest and third most common cancer. Fewer diagnoses indicates that we’ll see more cancer cases in upcoming years, and most likely at more advanced stages.

SCREENINGS ARE SAFE AND LIFESAVING As the pandemic continues to impact our communities, people are cautious about going anywhere that isn’t necessary. This is undoubtedly a smart approach.

However, for the vast majority of the population, the risk of skipping a cancer test is far greater than the risk of getting a colonoscopy. The CDC requires offices and surgery centers to follow rigorous protocols to ensure patients receive care in a safe environment.

A colonoscopy is the number one way to prevent colorectal cancer and reduce fatalities from this deadly disease. Remember, the goal of a colonoscopy is to detect abnormal cells before they develop into cancer and to find cancer at its earliest stages, when it’s easiest to treat.

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45 IS THE NEW 50 While the overall rates of colorectal cancer have been decreasing, the incidence in people under the age of 50 is slowly but surely increasing. For example, Black Panther actor Chadwick Boseman made headlines recently when he died of colorectal cancer at age 43.

More and more young people are being diagnosed.

New recommendations from reputable medical societies, like the American Cancer Society, say screening should begin at age 45 (rather than 50) for people of average risk. People who have a family history of colorectal cancer should talk to their gastroenterologist to determine whether they should start screening even earlier.

UNDERSTAND THE WARNING SIGNS Symptoms of colorectal cancer can include bloody stool, abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, and a change in bowel habits. However, many patients are asymptomatic in early stages, which is why routine screenings are crucial to catch this scary disease when it’s most treatable. So if you’re 45 or older, if you have a family history of colorectal cancer, or if you’re experiencing symptoms – go see your gastroenterologist.

Gastroenterology Associates of Sarasota 2089 Hawthorne, St #200 Sarasota, FL 34239 (941) 365-6556 FDHS.com

arts&culture

LITERARY Scene

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

THREE FANTASY NOVELS TO BRING SOME MAGIC TO 2021

THE DARK ARCHIVE: AN INVISIBLE LIBRARY NOVEL

BY GENEVIEVE COGMAN

I’m a bit late to the game library since The Dark Archive is the seventh book in The Invisible Library series, but never once did I feel like I was missing out by jumping in at this point. There’s enough here that one can sense a far larger world without feeling like they came into a movie after the halfway point.

This story follows Irene Winters, a no-nonsense spy who works for the mysterious Library (which feels a bit like the Library in Lev Grossman’s The Magicians). With her team—Vale (a world-class detective), Kai (a humanlooking dragon), Catherine (her new assistant, a young fae) and others—she’s tasked with retrieving rare books across multiple realities. The problem is that Irene seems REALLY good at running into trouble along the way.

The setting is clearly based on historical London/Western Europe—this might not be an issue for some, but it could be a bit familiar (witness a fantasy London as the setting in another review below). But the action is fairly nonstop, and the magic is pretty cool. There’s also a dose of steampunk here that I enjoy (though the romantic subplot might use a bit more oomph to make to make it truly memorable).

Ultimately, this is a smooth read that feels more like the start to a series than the seventh book in it. And the epilogue reveals that far more is to come for Irene and the Invisible Library. In the meantime, feel free to read the previous half-dozen novels to discover for yourself why this series is a fan favorite.

RYAN’S RATING: WWW.GRCOGMAN.COM

THE RUTHLESS LADY’S GUIDE TO WIZARDRY

BY C.M. WAGGONER

The pitch for this book is a grabber—a historical sapphic bodyguard romance that showcases thieves, witches, and fire magic. Wow! What it turned out to be is a murder mystery of sorts set in a kind of Victorian London. The star of the show is Dellaria Wells, a down-on-her luck thief (with fire magic!) who gets a job from a want ad and ends up with a team of women hired to protect a wealthy young lady from assassins.

Sidenote 1—If it sounds as if there are a lot of ladies here, you’re right. In fact, nearly every character here is female. Even more in line with the current mood in society, the book has queer and nonbinary characters, and in fact seems to embrace any type of relationship whatsoever. Don’t worry, though—there is pure female friendship here—it’s not all coy looks and heart-thumping delights.

Sidenote 2—This novel is set in the same world as Waggoner’s previous book, Unnatural Magic, and others in the series, though The Ruthless Lady’s Guide to Wizardry works completely as a standalone. Readers who know the other books will be rewarded in small Easteregg fashion throughout, though, or so I’ve been told from series fans that I’ve asked.

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arts&culture The language has the weighty ornateness one expects from a Victorian story, complete with invented language and extra-fancy sentence structure. For some, that’s surely a plus. And Delly is a true walking disaster with a strong, root-for-her motive—wanting to earn enough money to keep her mom out of trouble. The slow-burn love story between her and bodyguard Winn is a welcome bit of fun, interspersed among all the trouble and mayhem and disasters.

For a book about deadly magic and a dangerous drug ring, though, the plot moves a little slower than expected at times. Still, the unique magic system and enjoyable cast of characters are quite interesting.

RYAN’S RATING: WWW.CMWAGGONER.COM

THE AWAKENING (THE IMMORTAL WIZARDS, BOOK 1)

BY ANDREAS SUCHANEK

I felt like I knew what to expect with Suchanek’s The Awakening. Is there a Wall like we see with George R.R. Martin? Check. It’s kept magic hidden away from normal society for centuries. Is there magic cast by Latin-sounding words à la Harry Potter? Check. Are there portals to jump around the world à la Cassandra Clare? Check, check, check.

While the story clearly utilizes a lot of existing fantasy tropes, I rather like the heroine, Jennifer Danvers—she’s got just enough sass, competence, and stubbornness to be interesting. Plus, she’s got a pivotal role here, because when her friend dies, a new “heir to magic” (Chosen One!) comes under her tutelage. Will they be ready when an ancient evil prepares to shatter the Wall and bring disaster upon the world?

I’m not sure I understand the logic of who the immortals are—Einstein, Joan of Arc, da Vinci, etc.

But I like the idea of having famous historical figures play a bigger role than they do in our memory.

At times, I was quite taken by the story. Yet I was constantly aware that this was self-published. It really needed an editor to help comb out little slipups and (at least with the Kindle 11004 4

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edition) use indentations while getting rid of those superfluous spaces between every paragraph.

The story’s probably a solid 3.75 out of 5, but the above points bring the overall rating down one click for this reader, I’m afraid. For other readers, your mileage may vary. If you want a book that leans into most fantasy world tropes, this book might prove delightful—especially because there’s no irritating romantic subplot.

I’ll likely check out the second book in the series to see where Suchanek wants to take us, and to watch how his storytelling ability grows.

RYAN’S RATING: WWW.ANDREASSUCHANEK.DE

arts&culture

Laughing MATTERS THE ONE ABOUT SCIURUS CAROLINENSIS

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

I

don’t mean to frighten anyone, but someone has to say something, so here goes—Florida is currently experiencing a plague.

No, I don’t mean COVID-19. I mean the OTHER plague.

I rushed back inside to read all the right critter-in-your-attic online articles and watch too many overly-enthusiastic-antirodent YouTube videos that all mostly boiled down to one thing—call a professional. Yet I found no signs of anything wrong up there. Just those noises, which were now totally gone. So, what the heck did I need a professional for, right?

I’m talking about squirrels.

The other day, I heard a noise that I swore was coming from the ceiling fan in my groundfloor home office. A kind of skritchy-scratchy thing that had me worrying about having to make a Lowe’s or Dan’s Fan City run to replace my 10-year-old Westinghouse 19” fan, and that got me freaking out since my hair hasn’t yet unkinked after the last home repair job that involved electrical work. (Who knew you had to flip ALL of the fuses in the garage to shut the power off? I mean, there ought to be a manual or something….)

I decided it’d be prudent to at least check the outside of the house to see where any creature might or might not have ninjaed into my hopefully varmint-free world. I crept around the yard, broomstick in hand, just in case. Not that I’d use a broom as a weapon or anything—I didn’t have the courage for such a thing.

But I’d sure wave that DollarTree broom at any creature in a threatening manner like I was a scarecrow whose pants were literally on fire. I could do that. I come from a long line of non-confrontational, animal-fearing adults.

I thought I was safe. It was all in my imagination. I was in the clear. Then, to my utter horror, I saw it—an Easter Gray squirrel the size of an Elf on the Shelf, just standing on its hindlegs on my roof not twenty feet away.

Gloating. Lurking. Menacing.

Honestly, what surprised me was how the noise shifted from the fan to the smoke detector to the closet light like a Bermuda Triangle of home repair issues, point to point to point. I came to realize that the common denominator was Up. My neighbor had a raccoon in his attic last year, so I figured maybe this was the sequel to that end. I went to the garage and got out my ladder to crawl up into the attic (not an easy proposition—we have 15” ceilings out there because giants lived in this house before us, apparently). I flicked on my flashlight’s high beams, stirred through the ocean of pink insulation, and found…nothing.

That’s when I saw the Other Squirrels. At least three of them. Maybe more. Probably a LOT more. One in the neighbor’s sycamore. One atop the next-door pool cage roof. One near the water behind my house. They all looked at me and chittered angrily. Frighteningly. Squirrely.

No raccoon tracks, no rat dropping, no rabbit chew marks.

Nothing. But I just knew some critter was up to no good.

It was total Squirrelmageddon. So, I dropped my broom and ran.

It stared at me. I gulped.

It hissed. I whistled my broom once through the late-afternoon Florida air.

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arts&culture Once I locked myself inside my car in the driveway, I called my friend from Chicago. He’d had squirrel problems before, so I figured he’d know what to do. Those city squirrels couldn’t be any tougher to deal with than Florida squirrels, I hoped.

The other squirrels were gone—they had already booked it. I tossed down my broom, let out a shriek, and charged back inside, where I sprawled on the living room floor, muttering, “The horror! The horror!”

“They were like a team!” I shouted into my phone. “A horde!”

Florida Wildlife 1 Ryan Van Cleave 0

“But they didn’t DO anything?”

“Well…not yet.”

He shamed me into going back to assess the situation. Carefully, stealthily, I crept into my backyard. To my surprise, I saw that the same aggressive squirrel was still on my roof, standing there on the edge like he owned the place. I looked at the other squirrels and got to thinking that THEY were thinking exactly what I was thinking.

“That squirrel is going to jump!”

Like a pirate walking the plank, the roof squirrel did exactly that—he took the plunge. Only here’s where things got weird.

Instead of splatting onto patio bricks, that maybe-not-so-suicidal squirrel spread its limbs wide, showing stretchy batwings like some kind of horrific squirrel demonspawn, and that thing cackled with squirrely laughter and it FLEW! It just zipped across my well-weeded lawn, soared over the stretch of water behind my house, and shot off into the dusky distance.

A few days later, my younger daughter said she THOUGHT she heard a mouse in the garage. “I don’t care,” I told her, shivering at the thought of yet another face-to-face confrontation with Mother Nature. Let’s face it—she had my number. “He can have the garage.

I rarely use the car anyway.”

“But Dad,” she pleaded. “That’s where all the frozen pizzas are.”

She was right. Our upright freezer was out there, loaded from its frosty bottom to icicley top with Tombstones and Breyer’s.

And that’s how the Van Cleave family went on a nonpizza, non-ice-cream diet at the start of 2021.

If you’ve had your own terrifying encounters with Florida wildlife—bonus points for armadillo wrestling or a roseate spoonbill divebombing—please let me know ASAP. I’m compiling evidence for a tell-all book that will reveal the REAL story of what’s going on here in the wilds of the Sunshine State. That or it’ll be a new diet fad book called The Florida Wildlife Cleanse.

In either case, please send me your contributions at SPAM@SceneSarasota.com. Seriously. I want to know!

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