May2014

SCENE SARASOTA | MANATEE

M AGA ZINE

Doctors Hospital

Leading Technologies with Hometown Care

THE EDUCATION ISSUE

THE NEXT GREAT

College Town Talented

TEENS

Creating

Leaders

MAY 2014 $3.95 U.S.

spacious

floorplans

Based on the popular Murano plan, which swept every category in this year’s Parade of Homes, The Verona has new features to appeal to this market segment and to blend the living areas together with larger open spaces. The Verona will feature disappearing corners and large sliding glass doors to bring the outdoor spaces in, and enhance the Florida lifestyle and year round entertaining. The single story Verona model will be 3,600 square feet with three bedrooms and four bathrooms, plus a den, bonus room, and a Florida basement. The expansive open floorplan will also include a large outdoor dining and living area with a tropical island pool.

CGC018525

named

TM

by the national homebuilders association & builder magazine

construction

superior

Featured at The Concession the verona

reputation

stellar

visit the concession real estate sales office for your private tour of the verona by lee wetherington homes

7700 Lindrick Lane | Sarasota, FL 34202 | (941) 388-0501 Monday - Saturday, 10am - 5pm | Sunday Noon - 5pm | Tuesday by Appointment

INTRODUCING AN EXCEPTIONAL NOT-FOR-PROFIT CARE FACILITY...

Whether you need Skilled Nursing care or you need to “Bounce Back” after a major illness or trauma, the unique, not-for-profit facility that is Hawthorne Village of Sarasota has high quality healthcare and a full range of rehabilitative therapies.

MEDICAL CARE & SUPERVISION

SPECIALIZED REHABILITIATION SERVICES

• With its 120-bed Skilled Nursing facility, the amenities and services are exceptional • Personal Physician • 24-Hour Nurses • Highly-Trained Physical, Occupational & Speech Therapists • Registered Dietician and Nutritional Management • Social Services • Full-Time Activities Director

• Through the innovative “Bounce Back” program, you can Rehab, Recover, Return Home® • Interdisciplinary Team of Experienced Professionals • State-of-the-Art Therapy Equipment • Evidence-based care & Individualized Treatment • Physical, Occupational & Speech Rehabilitative Therapies • Case Management to Maximize Benefits • AJ’s Fitness Center at Hawthorne Village helps you focus on Flexibility, Strength Training, Balance & Endurance

ACCEPTING MEDICARE, PRIVATE PAY PATIENTS & MOST INSURANCES

CALL FOR YOUR PERSONAL TOUR 5381 Desoto Road | Sarasota, FL 34235 | 941.355.6111 | www.hawthornevillageofsarasota.com License # SNF130471051

EOE

est.

2014

The Best in the Game Come Together

The Concession Golf Club plays host to the inaugural Concession Cup

Jack Nicklaus Honorary Captain

Tony Jacklin Honorary Captain

Paul Azinger Honorary Chairman

Gary Koch

Opening Celebration Host

Join Jack, Tony, Paul, Gary and the best mid-am and senior amateur golfers from the US and Great Britain/Ireland in celebrating the inaugural Concession Cup at The Concession Golf Club April 29th – May 3rd Created by supporters of amateur golf, The Concession Cup is an event designed to celebrate the game through international competition while giving back to three worthy causes — Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation, Orphan’s Heart Foundation, and the Sarasota/Manatee and Tampa Bay chapters of The First Tee. The event is a biennial competition played between teams comprised of leading male Mid-Amateurs (8 players), Senior Amateurs (8 players), and Super Senior Amateurs (2 players) from the United States and Great Britain/Ireland. The Concession Cup is fortunate to include participation from greats of the game, such as Paul Azinger (Honorary Chair), Jack Nicklaus and Tony Jacklin (Honorary Captains), and Gary Koch (Emcee and Host of the Opening Celebration), all of whom will attend the Opening Celebration on Tuesday, April 29. The event will deliver a world-class experience for its participants, sponsors, volunteers, attendees and members of The Concession Golf Club.

The Concession Cup Am-Am $8,500

The Concession Club $2,500

• Each team to include three (3) paying amateurs and one

• VIP Hospitality – four (4) guests per day Thursday through

(1) competing amateur from the Concession Cup or golf professional with a special connection to The Concession Golf Club

Saturday (complimentary food and beverage each day) • Two (2) invitations to the Opening Celebration, Tuesday, April 29th

• Each amateur to receive a registration gift package • Continental breakfast and lunch after play (includes premium bar service)

• Two (2) invitations to the Recognition Breakfast, Thursday, May 1st • Name recognition on the official sponsor board

• Six (6) invitations to Opening Celebration, Tuesday, April 29th • Two (2) invitations to the Recognition Breakfast, Thursday, May 1st • VIP Hospitality – six (6) guests per day Thursday through Saturday (complimentary food and beverage each day) • Name recognition on the official sponsor board

Benefiting:

Sarasota/Manatee

Contact: Kip Eriksen: 1-614-339-1042 or keriksen@hnssports.com

www.concessioncup.com Special Thanks To:

RIVER VIEW TERRACES Special pricing on any Ashbury or Brookside 1st, 2nd or 3rd story floorplan in Building 18 ends soon!

er Terraces – TheRiver Ashbury Terraces – The Broo

Ashbury

Brookside

2 Bedrooms Baths | Dinette 2 Bedrooms| | 2 2 Baths | Dinette

2 Bedrooms | 2| 2Baths | Dinette 2 Bedrooms Baths | Dinette

FROM $155,524*

FROM $165,326*

11'0" x 9'3"

12'4" x 7'7"

13'4" x 7'4"

Pantry

Dinette

Lanai

Lanai

Ref.

Master Suite 12'0" x 14'0"

Kitchen

OR

Living Room 13'8" x 13'4" WIC

DW

Living Room 17'8" x 14'5"

WIC

Dining Room

Linen

10'4" x 9'5"

Master Bath

Dining Room 13'8" x 10'0"

D

Bath #2

Linen

W

Linen

Ref Space

W

WIC

Laundry DW

Laundry

Master Bath

Bath #2 D

Closet

Closet

Kitchen 9'0" x 9'0"

Pantry

8'0" x 8'5"

Foyer

Foyer

Master Suite

Bedroom #2 11'10" x 11'0"

Dinette

1,194 Sq. Ft. A/C

Entry

1,318 Sq. Ft. Total

1,

10'0" x 12'0"

112 Sq. Ft. Lanai 12 Sq. Ft. Entry

9'0' x 7'4"

Bedroom #2

11'0" x 14'5"

Entry

1,

ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIEDMAKE UPONREFERENCE AS CORRECTLY STATING REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REP ANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, TO THE BROCHURE AND TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503 FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPE O THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503 FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED

BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. Plans and elevations are artist’s renderings and may contain options, which are not standard on all models. Lennar reserves the right to tist’s renderings and may contain options, which are not standard on all models. Lennar reserves the right to make changes to these floor plans, specifications, dimensions and elevations without prior notice. Stated dimensions and square footage are approximate and should no and elevations without prior notice. Stated dimensions and square footage are approximate and should not be used as representation of the home’s precise or actual size. Any statement, verbal or written, regarding “under air” or “finished area” or any other description or mo ze. Any statement, verbal or written, regarding “under air” or “finished area” or any other description or modifier of the square footage size of any home is a shorthand description of the manner in which the square footage was estimated and should not be construed to indicate c escription of the manner in which the square footage was estimated and should not be construed to indicate certainty. Copyright © 2009 Lennar Corporation. Lennar and the Lennar logo are registered service marks of Lennar Corporation and/or its subsidiaries. Lennar Homes, LLC e Lennar logo are registered service marks of Lennar Corporation and/or its subsidiaries. Lennar Homes, LLC – QB 3682. 3/09

888-214-1687

TAKE YOUR PICK!

GOLF MEMBERSHIP INCLUDED WITH EVERY CONDO PURCHASE!*

HERITAGE HARBOUR’S

R iver S trand G C C OLF AND

OUNTRY

LUB

All the Lifestyle! All the Amenities!

27-hole championship golf course by Arthur Hills • Billiard & card rooms Tuscan-inspired, 39,000 sq. ft. clubhouse • 8 Har-Tru lighted tennis courts Fine dining • State-of-the-art fitness center • Resort-style & exercise pools

Welcome Home Center Open Mon–Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-6pm Directions to Community: I-75 to exit 220 East (SR 64), 1/2 mile to first light (Grand Harbour Pkwy.), left into Heritage Harbour, 1/4 mile to stop sign, left on River Heritage Blvd., community ahead 1/4 mile past stop sign.

SM

E V E R Y T H I N G ’S INCLUDED HOMES

SM

E V E R Y T H I N G ’S INCLUDED HOMES

*Pricing for first, second, and third floor units in Building 18 only. Limited availability. See your Lennar New Home Consultant for further information. Stated square footages are approximate and should not be used as representation of the home’s precise or actual size. Prices subject to change without notice. Copyright © 2014 Lennar Corporation. Lennar, the Lennar logo, Everything’s Included Home and the ei logo are registered service marks of Lennar Corporation and/or its subsidiaries. CGC 1507191. 4/14

Education May 2014

Volume 57 No. 5

42

62

42 DOCTORS HOSPITAL OF SARASOTA Delivering Leading Technologies with Hometown Care

By Sue Cullen

50 THE NEXT GREAT COLLEGE TOWN

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

74

53 TUNEFUL TEEN TITANS Maria Wirries, Christopher Eisenberg, Daniel Landers and Sam Woolf

By Steven J. Smith

62 LEADING THE WAY Q & A Interview with Dr. Barbara Shirley

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

66 TEACH ME TO LEAD Training Today’s Kids for Tomorrow

By Jenni Stahlman and Jody Hagaman

71 COMPLETING SMOA 74 ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IS KEY TO OUR FUTURE

By Karen Fraley, CIG

COVER Photo of Doctors Hospital in Sarasota by Rob Villetto / Villetto Photography

10

SCENE

|

May 2014

scenesarasota.com

Exclusive Kitchens and More The Kitchen is the Heart of your Home

EXCELLENT QUALITY AND SERVICE FROM START TO FINISH Call for Your FREE In-Home Consultation

941-580-9005

Visit our Showroom: 6051 N. Washington Boulevard, Sarasota FL 34243 • www.exclusivekitchensandmore.com

DEPARTMENTS

40

22 EVENTS CALENDAR

SOCIALS 18 CPC’s Blue Ties & Butterflies 20 JFCS Celebrity Chefs Food & Wine Tasting & Golf Challenge 32 ODA’s Banyan Bash 34 LaMusica’s Interactive Dinner 35 Asolo Rep’s Starry Night Dinner 65 Woman’s Exchange Volunteer Luncheon 70 JHCF’s Eight Over 80 Celebration 81 AJC Human Relations Award Dinner 85 Salvation Army’s Glitz at the Ritz

76

92 Under the Roof at The Circus Arts Conservatory 93 Silver Lining Gala – From Victims to Victories

28 PERFORMING ARTS CALENDAR

36 CULTURE MATTERS Presented by The Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County

40 GALLERY SCENE Art Exhibitions presented by The Arts & Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County

GIVING 46 Catalytic Philanthropy GCCF’s Hunger Design Team 48 Ring of Power The Circus Arts Conservatory

By Jake Hartvigsen

76 SCENES FROM AN INTERVIEW

HEALTH MATTERS

Dr. Fritz Faulhaber

94 You’re Never “Too Old” for Orthodontics

By Gus Mollasis

By Matthew S. Bakers, DDS, MS

82 EDUCATION MATTERS

95 From Degeneration to Regeneration: It’s a New Generation

By James Leiber, DO

USFSM’s Dr. Bonnie Jones

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

96 SCENE LOCALLY

86 BEHIND THE SCENE Sarasota’s Society Maven Gives the Latest Scoop

By Debbi Benedict

12

SCENE

|

News Shaping Our Community

97 LITERARY SCENE

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

May 2014

scenesarasota.com

Stuart J. Roth Founder and President

Salt & Light Productions is the award winning non-profit organization dedicated to providing multi-media program services to charities across the nation.

Salt & Light Radio WITH

Stuart J. Roth

Saturdays at Noon

WSRQ

1220 AM/106.9 FM

Salt & Light Radio with Stuart J. Roth shares compelling testimonies from people in our community who inspire us to greatness and action.

We strive to address many of the social, economic and spiritual issues confronting families and individuals in life’s most challenging situations. Our radio program reflects the same commitment to public service that has been exemplified by our video program services at Salt & Light Productions.

Our mission is to serve others and be a source of inspiration and encouragement to those less fortunate.

We remain cognizant that “to whom much is given, much is required.”

7357 Merchant Court • Sarasota, FL 34240 • Phone 941.487.4061 • Fax 941.487.4062

www.saltandlightproductions.org

FROM THE EDITOR

F

or many who live outside our glorious state, Sarasota/Bradenton is perceived to be the land of little old blue-haired ladies and old

gents with sagging knees. Well we know better than that. With more and more young families staying here and moving here (thanks largely to Lakewood Ranch, our great weather, fabulous arts community, and great beach), we are also a community with outstanding education for students of all ages.

With this our Education issue, please read Ryan Van Cleave’s article proclaiming our city as the “next great college town.” As Van Cleave tells us, college towns are defined as “true melting pots,

where young minds meet old traditions and political, social, and cultural ideas of all kinds are welcomed.” Duh. If that’s the definition, we’ve got that covered!

Did you know that Sarasota boasts the current principal of the year for the state of Florida?

Dr. Barbara Shirley, principal at Alta Vista Elementary recently took the top honor. How cool is that? Dr. Shirley shares with SCENE readers her insight into the education challenges we face as well as her vision for the future.

SCENE follows the careers of four very talented locals who are making names for themselves on the national and international music scene – Maria Wirries, Daniel Landers,

We’re different and we know it.

Advice is not your typical advertising agency. We take pride in that. We get to know our clients and their business. We work hard, set high expectations, and always bring our best to every project. For over 15 years, we have been known for our creativity and customer service – and for our proven track record of helping clients achieve success. Put our experience, knowledge and resources to work for you. We have the expert advice you’ve been looking for.

Christopher Eisenberg and the adorable teen from Braden River High who is everyone’s “idol” right now, Sam Woolf. At print time, Sam was in the top six on American Idol. Remember their names. We will be hearing about them for quite some time.

There are lots of other interesting articles in this issue including stories on conservation education, bringing up leaders, and an interview with Dr. Fritz Faulhaber, a noted engineer and staunch supporter of education in our community, particularly in the field of science.

As we always do at SCENE Magazine, we report the good things happening around us.

Goodness knows we get enough bad news from television and newspapers. So, here are a few stats from sarasotacountyschools.net, which will hopefully make you feel good about the quality of education in our community and why we should continue to support education in any way we can.

• Of the state’s 67 school districts, Sarasota is one of only five graded “A” by the Florida Department of Education in 2013.

• Ninety percent of elementary and middle schools earned “A” or “B” grades in 2013.

• Sarasota is ranked fourth in student achievement of the state’s 67 school districts.

• A 2012 independent study by MGT of America concluded that the district is one of the best-run school systems the company has reviewed, citing high performance and innovative practices.

• Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) scores exceed state and national averages.

Go ahead. Call us or click.

941.907.9507 advice-inc.com Sarasota, Florida ad campaigns I media placement press relations I marketing strategies graphic design I event planning social media I community outreach

• The district has been recognized for outstanding arts education by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the National School Boards Association.

• 20 of 52 district schools have received the state Five Star Award for exemplary community involvement.

• More than 10,000 students, parents, community members and business leaders participate in the district’s PALS Partners in Education volunteer program.

• Volunteers provided about 264,000 hours of service annually, with an estimated value of $5.7 million.

When we have a high school student winning an award for her project called “The Effect of Aromatase Inhibitor Aminoglutethimide on Nitric Oxide Production of Human Endothelial Cells,” we should all feel proud!

14

SCENE

|

May 2014

scenesarasota.com

Family

is Life.

Enjoy it to the Fullest.

Member-owned since 1999, at Laurel Oak you will find very warm, welcoming, and friendly members. Whether you enjoy playing 36 holes of championship golf or hitting the balls on 12 har-tru tennis courts, swimming in a junior olympicsize pool, or like to socialize, dine and party with friends in a warm and inviting 45,000 sq ft clubhouse, we have a membership plan for your lifestyle. Don’t wait any longer. Call for your personal tour and enjoy family and life to the fullest.

CALL NOW FOR DETAILS OF OUR TRIAL MEMBERSHIPS

2700 Gary Player Blvd, Sarasota 941-378-3399 | www.laureloak.com

LOCALLY OWNED, OPERATED & PRINTED FOR MORE THAN 57 YEARS CEO/Publisher

Ronald Milton

Executive Editor

Julie A. Milton

Business Development

Salena Wilhoit

Account Executive Art Director Editorial Assistant Special Issue Director Distribution Contributing Writers

Tammy Whalen Michelle Cross Cheryl Galbraith Debbi Benedict Dick Jackson Debbi Benedict Sue Cullen Jake Hartvigsen Gus Mollasis Yara Shoemaker Steven J. Smith Ryan G. Van Cleave

Photographers

Josh Baldo Herb Booth David Dessauer Jake Hartvigsen Daniel Perales Cliff Roles

Address

2014

7269 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, FL 34241

Phone Fax Website

941-365-1119 941-954-5067 www.scenesarasota.com

SCENE Magazine publishes 12 issues a year by RJM Ventures, LLC. Address editorial, advertising and circulation correspondence to the above address. Sufficient return postage and self-addressed, stamped envelope must accompany all manuscripts, art work 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. ISSN 1535-8895.

16

SCENE

|

May 2014

scenesarasota.com

SOCIAL

CPC’s Blue Ties & Butterflies

The Child Protection Center’s signature event recently held at Michael’s on East – “Blue Ties & Butterflies” – was a huge success. Over 340 guests learned about abuse in our community, CPC’s mission and its partnerships with law enforcement, the State Attorney’s Office, and Department of Children and Families. Proceeds from this event will support CPC’s five core

LIST YOUR PROPERTY WITH ME AND YOUR FORECLOSURE DEFENSE IS FREE!*

programs as well as its mission in the prevention, intervention, and treatment of child abuse.

The committee and event chair, Alisa Pettingell, along with numerous sponsors, donors, and auction winners helped raise nearly $390,000 for CPC. Auction items included a John Hardy ring donated by Saks Fifth Avenue; “Faith” – a vibrant butterfly art piece by Sabine Wiedenhofer of Austria; and catered dinners from Michael’s On East. Key to the support of CPC and the success of the event was Coldwell Banker Previews International and Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate.

Photos by Cliff Roles

At Solutions Realty, we work in conjunction with a Board Certified Real Estate Attorney to defend your foreclosure and negotiate your short sale approval.

Alisa Pettingell, David Rovine & Graci McGillicuddy

Our Company has a proven track record of success in listing and selling underwater property. We have helped many homeowners solve their real estate problems through a short sale. Call today to see if we can help you too.

Aimee Cogan & Matt Otto

Wayne & Mindy Rollins

Keith & Linda Monda

Gail & Skip Sack

*Call today to learn more about our programs

(941) 302-4812 259 South Links Avenue Sarasota, Florida 34236 www.solutionssarasota.com Michael B. Edwards, Broker Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource Certified by National Association of Realtors Debbie & Wayne Seitl

18

SCENE

|

May 2014

Ed & Shelley Sarbey scenesarasota.com

Remember the good old days when your banker knew what was going on in your life?

If you liked those days, then we’ve got a community bank for you.

Iwan Mohamed and Jonathan Schneider are passionate about Sarasota/Manatee, know it well, and make decisions for their clients based on a local and global market. They want to help you grow your business and wealth.

Maximize your potential with BB&T, a top ten financial institution, 142 years strong.

941.225.4336

Iwan Mohamed, SARASOTA MARKET PRESIDENT

941.739.7028

Jonathan Schneider, MANATEE MARKET PRESIDENT

SOCIAL

JFCS Celebrity Chefs Food & Wine Tasting & Golf Challenge Event More than 100 golfers and 600 guests supported JFCS at their 10th Annual Celebrity Chefs Food & Wine Tasting and Golf Challenge at The Resort at Longboat Key Club on March 18th. Guests enjoyed an evening of fine wine and sampling the specialty dishes of 25 plus local restaurants — guests were also treated to old-fashioned egg creams, martini’s, and live music. Proceeds from the event enable JFCS to continue serving those most vulnerable in our community — children, adults, seniors, and veterans. Lauren and Steve Fineman served as event Co-Chairs, Shaun Benderson and Lisa Deutsch as Golf Challenge Co-Chairs, SCENE Magazine as media sponsor, The Resort at Longboat Key Club as venue sponsor, and Design Marketing Group as design sponsor. Photos by Cliff Roles

Ben & Gail Klein

Judy Vigder

Howie & Alison Madsen, Gerri Aaron, Patricia Caswell, Jan Chester & Larry Eger

Lisa Deutsch & Stephen Seindensticker

Steve & Lauren Fineman

Park with Prestige...

Space is Limited!

Lots from $229k and Home/Lot Packages from $899k

The Concession Real Estate Company, Inc. | 7700 Lindrick Lane | Bradenton, FL 34202 For a private tour or more information, call our Sales Office (941) 388-0501 or visit www.theconcessionrealestate.com

20

SCENE

|

May 2014

scenesarasota.com

Life can be complicated. Sometimes things don’t fall into place as easily as we would like. You need a partner who can see the big picture and fit the pieces together. At Icard Merrill, our attorneys have the necessary skills and experience in a wide range of legal fields, including business, commercial and construction litigation, real estate, land use, family law and estate planning. We provide a comprehensive approach to the practice of law, with your goals and well-being always our top concern. Let us work with you to solve the puzzles in your life.

941.366.8100 • icardmerrill.com Manatee, Sarasota & Charlotte Counties

CALENDAR

May Calendar For a complete listing of community events please visit scenesarasota.com

Photo by Cliff Roles

Coexistence Inc.’s Embracing Our Differences Through June 1 Island Park Sarasota, Bradenton Riverwalk and North Port High. International outdoor art exhibit intended to demonstrate in a positive way that diversity enriches our lives.

Free and open to the public. 941.928.0567 | embracingourdifferences.org

13th Annual SMHF Physicians Golf Tournament May 2 Laurel Oak Country Club 11:30 am. Includes golf, cart, lunch buffet, awards dinner, and all beverages. Benefits Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation’s Physicians Endowment for Sarasota Memorial staff education. Tickets: $295 | 941.917.1286 | smh.com

Classic Corvettes on the Circle May 3 St. Armand’s Circle Park 10:00 am. Over 200 original classic Corvettes, dating from 1953 to the present, will be on display in the Circle. Open to the public. starmandscircleassoc.com

4th Annual Food and Wine on Pine Event May 3 Pine Avenue in Anna Maria 11:00 am. Featuring more than 25 locally-owned restaurants, art, live music, fine wines and craft beers. Proceeds will benefit local art and children’s charities. 941.778.8705 | foodandwineonpine.com

SMART’s Kentucky Derby Day May 3 SMART Stables 4:30 pm. Watch “The Run for the Roses,” enjoy dinner, a live auction, ladies “best hat” contest, and music by One Night Rodeo. Benefits Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy. Tickets: $75 | 512.784.5804 | smartriders.org

22

SCENE

|

May 2014

scenesarasota.com

DISH AFTER DISH AFTER DISH… IT’S WHAT WE LOVE TO DO CALL CAFÉ GABBIANO FOR ON- OR OFF-SITE CATERING FOR YOUR NEXT PARTY OR BUSINESS EVENT

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

ONE PLACE. SEVENTEEN AGENCIES.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County’s Faded Jeans & Fancy Grits May 3 King Family Farm 5:30 pm. Southern style shindig under the oaks and along the Braden River. Enjoy food and fancy grits, live music, and dancing. Tickets: $75 | 941.761.2582 | bgcmanatee.org

YMCA Foundation’s Going for the Gold May 3 Frank G. Berlin Sr. YMCA 6:00 pm. Black tie event with dinner and live auction. Tickets: $250 | 941.951.1336 | thesarasotay.org

Asolo Rep’s 4th Annual Men Who Cook

ONE PURPOSE. For more than 23 years, the Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center

May 4 Mattison’s Bayside at the Van Wezel 6:00 pm. Local prominent business and community men come together to prepare their favorite recipes. Enjoy live music, auction, and shopping. Tickets: $150 | 941.351.9010 x4702 | asolorep.org

has been a place for low-income and at-risk

HOPE Family Services’ 17th Annual Black & White “Cinco De Mayo Night”

individuals, families and children to find help

May 8 IMG Golf & Country Club 6:00 pm. Benefits HOPE

when they need it most. Each dollar received

Family Services’ shelter and programs to provide life-saving help

serves a wide array of human service agencies

to survivors of domestic abuse. Tickets: $125 | 941.747.8499 |

who in turn help improve the lives of approximately 10,000 underserved community members per month.

hopefamilyservice.org

Bradenton Arts Movieville Film Festival May 8 – 18. Along with film screenings, the festival will include a grand opening celebration, a ShowBiz Expo, cocktail party honoring SCF film students, and a Black Tie closing gala. Bradentonareafilm.com/filmfestival

6th Annual Payton Wright Foundation Golf Tournament May 9 Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club 11:00 am. Dinner, live music and silent auction. Benefits the Payton Wright Foundation. Tickets: $50-$200 | 941.228.4886 | paytonwright.org

Please call or visit our website to learn more about how you can help make a difference.

Germain Toyota of Sarasota’s Companies Tee Off May 9 The Oaks Club 11:30 am. Benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast. Tickets: $1600 foursome of golf | 941.488.4009 | bbbssun.org/CTO

Selby Garden’s Mother’s Day Brunch May 11 Selby Gardens. Three seating’s: 10:00 am, 11:30 am and 1:00 pm. Treat mom to a spectacular Mother’s Day Brunch catered

by Michael’s On East. Featuring the contemporary and Brazilian jazz sounds of 2Saxy. Tickets: $18-$48 | 941.366.5731 | selby.org

1750 17TH STREET, SARASOTA FL 34234 941.365.4545 • www.gs-humanservices.org Jay Berman, Executive Director jberman@gs-humanservices.org

9th Annual Dick Vitale Gala May 16 Ritz-Carlton Sarasota 6:30 pm. Sarasota’s Dick Vitale hosts his annual gala to raise funds for the V Foundation for Cancer Research. Mike Brey, head basketball coach of Notre Dame; Nick Saban, head football coach of Alabama; and Tom Crean, head

24

SCENE

|

May 2014

scenesarasota.com

PAMARO SHOP F U R N I T U R E For The New Look Of Florida

Complimentary In-Home Design Consultations

64 years of providing Sarasota with an ever changing Florida look.

Available for immediate delivery.

Pamaro North

7782 Tamiami Trail | 941.355.5619

Pamaro East

5465 University Parkway | 941.359.0025

thepamaroshop.com

Pamaro South

4586 S. Tamiami Trail | 941.923.3299

basketball coach of Indiana. After party features The Four Tops.

Tickets: $1,000 | 941.350.0580 or 941.374.6026 | jimmyv.org

Bradenton Marauder’s Pirates & Princesses 5K Home Run June 13 Old Main Street, downtown Bradenton 7:00 pm. Par-

11th Annual Downtown Sarasota Craft Fair

ticipants are encouraged to dress as pirates or princesses. A

May 17 – 18 Downtown Sarasota 10:00 am. Featuring more than

one mile option is also available. Tickets: $15 - $30 | 941.747.

175 artisans and crafters. Open to the public. artfestival.com

3031 | bradentonmarauders.com

JFCS A Tribute to Veterans

The Ringling’s Summer Circus Spectacular

May 27 Michael’s On East 12:00 pm. Honoring individuals in our

June 17 – August 2. Annual Summer Circus Spectacular at the

community who inspire patriotism, provide service to others and

Historic Asolo Theater. Presented in collaboration with Circus

offer hope to veterans. 941.366.2224 x142 | jfcs-cares.org

Sarasota, this on-stage exhibition of circus artistry provides de-

Upcoming Events Savor Sarasota

lightful summer entertainment for children of all ages. Tickets: $12 - $15 | 941.360.7399 | ringling.org

June 1 – 14. Sarasota celebrates the highest concentration of Za-

22nd Annual Downtown Venice Craft Festival

gat-rated restaurants in Florida with two weeks of three course

June 21 – 22 Miami Ave. Downtown Venice 10:00 am. First-

feasts from participating restaurants. $15 for lunch; $29 for dinner.

rate outdoor-juried craft showcase featuring a vast array of craft

For a list of restaurants, visit savorsarasota.com

media. Open to the public | artfestival.com

Sarasota Music Festival

Suncoast Offshore Grand Prix Festival

June 2 – 21. The Festival runs each Thursday through Saturday

June 28 – July 6. This week-long celebration is filled with

the first three weeks of June and includes artist showcases at

fun, excitement and a variety of events up to and around the

Sarasota Orchestra’s Holley Hall and Saturday Symphonies at

powerboat race. Benefits the Suncoast Charities for Children.

the Sarasota Opera House. 941.953.3434 | sarasotaorchestra.

941.371.8820 x1800 | suncoastoffshore.org

org/sarasotamusicfestival.org

Pirouette® window shadings with Powerrise® Technology Silhouette® draperies with Ultraglide® Technology

AMERICAN-MADE CUSTOM DRAPES, SHUTTERS, SHADES, SOLAR SHADES & BLINDS

®

Palm Beach Lantana® shutters

DOMENICK’S BLINDS & DECOR

Parts & Repairs | Free Estimates | Free Installation (on orders over $300)

4540 Clark Road, Sarasota | 941-922-2345 | www.DomenicksBlinds.com 26

SCENE

|

May 2014

Lois & Domenick Falconetti

scenesarasota.com

STABIL CONCRETE PAVERS STABIL Concrete Pavers has become a trusted name in the Sarasota/Manatee area for all your paving needs. Our showroom features many products in a variety of shapes and colors for your selection along with samples for you to bring home. We carry both thin and thick pavers as well as 4 sizes of coping giving STABIL the ability to handle any job from new construction to a remodel of your current pool deck. Our well-trained staff will work with you from start to finish ensuring your complete satisfaction.

Showroom: 7080 28th Street Court East, Sarasota | Off Whitfield Avenue

941-739-7823 | www.StabilConcretePavers.com

PERFORMING ARTS CALENDAR

ASOLO REPERTORY THEATRE

THEATRE ODYSSEY

Hero: The Musical Through June 1 Aspiring comic book artist Hero Batowski lives anything but a superhero life. When a series of unexpected events occur, he must decide whether he’s ready to get his life on track.

9th Annual Ten-Minute Play Festival May 1 – 4 See nine ten-minute plays including the 2014 student winner at the Jane B. Cook Theatre at the FSU/Asolo Center for the Performing Arts.

I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti May 18 – June 15

VENICE THEATRE

941.351.8000 / asolorep.org

941.799.7224 / theatreodyssey.org

941.488.1115 / venicestage.com

PHOTO BY LANNY NAGLER

The Elephant Man Through May 11

This deliciously hilarious play celebrates Italian home cooking as both an expression of love and a source of comfort when the romance goes cold.

FLORIDA STUDIO THEATRE 941.366.9000 / floridastudiotheatre.org

Tom Jones Through June 1 Tom Jones, a charming young man of questionable birth, is madly in love with Sophia Western. But when Sophia’s father arranges for her to marry a loathsome man, she flees for her life.

A Cole Porter Revue: Too Darn Hot Through June 7 Conjuring up images of elegant women dancing with tuxedo-clad men, this Cole Porter musical revue takes you back to the 1930s.

LEMON BAY PLAYHOUSE

941.475.6756 / lemonbayplayhouse.com The Fourposter Through May 18 This comedy is a moving chronicle of a husband and wife from their wedding night in 1890 until they leave their home 35 years later.

SARASOTA ORCHESTRA 941.953.3434 / sarasotaorchestra.org

Outdoor Pops May 10 The Sarasota Orchestra closes its season with an outdoor Pops concert at Ed Smith Stadium celebrating their 65th anniversary.

Featuring guest artist, Molly Cherryholmes.

28

SCENE

|

May 2014

Based on the fascinating life of John Merrick, The Elephant Man focuses on his transformation from a sensational object of pity to a witty favorite of 19th century London’s aristocracy.

How I Became a Pirate May 8 – 25 Young Jeremy Jacob meets Captain Braid Beard and his mates, and is recruited to help find the perfect digging spot for their treasure.

WESTCOAST BLACK THEATRE TROUPE 941.366.1505 / wbttsrq.com

Bubbling Brown Sugar Through May 11 Journey back in time to the Harlem Renaissance (1920 - 1940) when audiences saw great talents entertain such as Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman and Billie Holiday. scenesarasota.com

TOGETHER WE OFFER COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTIONS • Residential and Commercial Real Estate Closings • Foreclosure Defense and Short Sale Negotiations/Closings

“Let my more than 20 years of experience in real estate litigation, foreclosure litigation and real estate transactions work for you. As a real estate expert, I can help you defend your foreclosure and negotiate a short sale approval with your lender.”

– Sheryl A. Edwards

Sheryl A. Edwards Board Certified Real Estate Attorney

The Edwards Law Firm, PL 1901 Morrill Street Sarasota, Florida 34236 941.363.0110 www.foreclosurelawyersarasotafl.com sedwards@edwards-lawfirm.com

FOR YOUR REAL ESTATE PROBLEMS

• Residential and Commercial Real Estate Sales • Short Sale and Foreclosure Certified by National Association of Realtors

“I have more than 25 years of experience in managing and selling real estate. Our company has a proven track record of success in listing and selling distressed and nondistressed real estate. List your short sale with me and your foreclosure defense is free.*” – Michael B. Edwards *call for more information on our programs

Michael B. Edwards Broker

Solutions Realty 259 South Links Avenue Sarasota, Florida 34236 941.302.4812 www.solutionssarasota.com mike@solutionssarasota.com

SOCIAL

ODA’s Banyan Bash Out-of-Door Academy’s Banyan Bash guests were enthralled by the transformation of the Uihlein Campus in Lakewood Ranch, which was illuminated with thousands of lights. The Quad was transformed with café-style seating provided by some of the finest local restaurants, while the fantastic sounds of the band, None Other, rocked the Wood Family Amphitheater. The Amphitheater also served as a terrific platform for the live auction. Funds raised supported the school’s technology needs. Event co-chairs were Jamie Becker and Donna Koffman and over 40 sponsors contributed to a successful evening including ArtisTree, PNC Wealth Management, First Watch, and Unique Air. More than $350,000 was raised in support of the people and programs that make Out-of-Door such an exceptional school. www.oda.edu/BanyanBash

Elizabeth & David Mahler

Photos by Cliff Roles

Dennis Chapman & Virgine Linse

Jeff Jordan, Sandy Elliott, Amanda Simon & Tammy Karp

Jessica & Octavio Ortiz

Scott Collins, Jill & Scott Ramsey

VOTED

MOST LIKELY TO IMPRESS

8” Round Graduation Cake

39

$

Customize with your school colors and message

Receive 1 dozen graduation minis

FREE

with purchase of cake!

Gigi’s Cupcakes of Sarasota 8435 Cooper Creek Blvd Bradenton, FL 34201 Tel: (941) 355-4380 www.GigisCupcakesUSA.com

32

SCENE

|

May 2014

scenesarasota.com

SOCIAL

La Musica’s Interactive Dinner La Musica guests and musicians recently played “Musical Chefs” at Michael’s On East for the organization’s second annual interactive dinner, this year sponsored by WUSF|WSMR and chaired by Janet Hunter. This fun and action-packed event was hosted by Phil Mancini, co-owner of Michael’s On East. La Musica cellist Dmitri Atapine and violinist Jennifer Frautschi took turns leading the crowd to cook two courses of the four-course dinner, which was met with rave reviews. Guests took turns at each table being “chefs” and followed the lead chef’s instructions to prepare the dinner for their table. The Interactive Dinner is part of a series of events taking place during La Musica’s International Chamber Music Festival every April. La Musica brings together the finest musicians from Europe and the Americas to present exciting programs of familiar and unusual chamber music. Photos by Cliff Roles

Sally Faron, Rob & Ken Pierce

Jonathan Collins & Jeremy Keller

Federico Agostini & Bruno Giuranna

Walton & Deborah Beacham

Susan Kretz & Dan Long

Donate today! allfaithsfoodbank.org

21,000 HELP FEED HUNGRY KIDS THIS SUMMER

Remember to put your bag of nonperishable food by your mailbox on Saturday, May 10, for the National Letter Carriers Food Drive 34

SCENE

|

May 2014

Your gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $500,000

All Faiths Food Bank  941-379-633 8171 Blaikie Ct. Sarasota FL 34240

scenesarasota.com

SOCIAL

Asolo Rep Starry Night Dinner Asolo Repertory Theatre recently wrapped up its 2013-14 Starry Night Dinner Series at the home of Larry and Debbie Haspel celebrating the production of HERO: THE MUSICAL. The evening was appropriately-themed “Superheroes” and guests were served “Kryptonite Kocktails” by Michael’s on East staffers. Asolo Rep Managing Director Linda DiGabriele dressed as Captain America, while others wore capes and masks. Tables were decorated with real DC and Marvel comic books, as well as Superhero glass cups which served as party gifts the attendees could take home. Guests received a behindthe-scenes look into the show from Playwright Aaron Thielen, and enjoyed two songs performed by the show’s two leads, Brian Sears and Laurie Veldheer, accompanied by Music Director/Composer Michael Mahler. The Starry Night Dinner Series is sponsored

by PNC Wealth Management and SCENE Magazine.

Larry & Debbie Haspel

Bold

Photos by Cliff Roles

Peg & Ken Abt

Anne Garlington, Stephanie Shaw & Flori Roberts

Judy Zuckerberg & George Kole

Bright

Etienne & Kim Bleach

Beautiful

MK Designs and The Golden Image Jewelry Store 30 South Palm Ave., Downtown Sarasota | 941.364.8439 | www.mymkdesigns.com scenesarasota.com

May 2014

|

SCENE

35

ARTS & CULTURE PRESENTED BY:

1 1) Ten-Minute Play Festival Theatre Odyssey May 1 - 4 Theatre Odyssey, dedicated to introducing local plays with local talent, will present its Ninth Annual Ten-Minute Play Festival at Asolo’s Jane B. Cook Theatre May 1 through May 4. This year, the winning play from Odyssey’s Student Ten-Minute Playwriting Festival, Elevate My Life

by Joseph Grosso from Lakewood Ranch High School, will be presented as well. Festival tickets are $18 per person or $5 for students with valid ID.

2

Why it Matters: Theatre Odyssey exists to promote the works of local playwrights as well as to provide opportunities to local actors and directors. Some short works originally produced by this company are published and produced all over the world. For example, a full-length work by one of the company's winning playwrights has just been read in front of New York City producers for full production there.

2) PoetryLife Weekend Bookstore1 and Florida Studio Theatre May 2 - May 3 Bookstore1 Sarasota and Florida Studio Theatre present PoetryLife Weekend which will provide memorable experiences to learn, love and live poetry. With featured poets Mark Doty, the only

3

American to have won Great Britain’s T.S. Eliot Prize, and Kevin Young, widely regarded as one of the leading poets of his generation, the two days of events celebrate, recognize and honor students, educators and our creative community. All proceeds go to benefit The PoetryLife Fund, a support for educators teaching poetry in the community. Tickets for all events can be purchased online at www.FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

Why it Matters: PoetryLife Weekend celebrates and supports inspiration in education. The events of this creative weekend will bring together the poets and readers of our community as they share their passion for poetry as well as their original poetry with the community. Check online for featured events.

3) Hero: The Musical

4

Asolo Repertory Theatre Through June 1 Asolo Rep’s Hero: The Musical tells the uplifting coming-of-age story of Hero Batowski, a 28-year-old aspiring comic book artist. Haunted by his past, Hero works at his dad’s comic book shop and still lives at home. When an unexpected event sends his life spiraling in a new direction, he is forced to finally create his own adventure. The critically-acclaimed new musical had its world premiere at the Marriott Theatre in the Chicago are in 2012. Tickets are available at www.asolorep.org.

Why it Matters: Featuring a fresh, upbeat pop-rock score, this brand new musical takes audiences into the world of comic books – a distinctly American phenomenon. This regional premiere, featuring some of Broadway’s biggest stars, continues the second season of Asolo Rep’s five-year American Character Project and its celebration of what makes this country and its people unique.

36

SCENE

|

May 2014

scenesarasota.com

FREEDOM. FRONT AND CENTER.

There is a place where freedom is front and center.

A place where stories of service and sacrifice are captured in carved stone and cast ore.

Where twin mosaic spires stretch toward the sky while stately eagles guard the entrances.

That’s the art of Patriot Plaza at Sarasota National Cemetery.

Night to Day, Here and Away by Ellen Driscoll

Watch freedom take center stage at the Patriot Plaza dedication June 28.

Ticket information for the dedication will be available June 1.

Visit patriotplaza.thepattersonfoundation.org for more information.

An initiative of The Patterson Foundation. thepattersonfoundation.org

The musical’s core message of discovering and embracing one’s inner superhero is a powerful takeaway for all audiences.

4) The Merry Widow Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota May 10 - 11 Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota presents highlights from Franz Lehar's masterpiece operetta, The Merry Widow, May 10 to May 11, at the Historic Asolo Theater.

The music of Franz Lehar's classic comes to life in this tale of a wealthy widow scheming to keep her money in her principality

by

finding

the

"right"

husband. Since its 1905 premiere in Vienna, The Merry Widow has enjoyed international

success

and

has

even

inspired filmmakers who have based various films on the plot of this beloved operetta. The score includes such well-known pieces as "Villa," "You'll Find Me at Maxim's" and the "Merry Widow Waltz."

Why it Matters: Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota brings nationally-acclaimed sopranos Susana Diaz and Lindsay Russell, tenor Gregory Schmidt, and baritone Andrew Garland to the stage of the Historic Asolo Theater for this production. Even better, these musicians will be accompanied by some of Sarasota’s great artists, including the artistic director of Gloria Musicae, Joseph Holt, on piano, and the Gloria

Dakkak

Musicae Singers.

Insurance

We Protect What’s Important To You Because You’re What’s Important To Us!

Full-Service Agency: • Auto • Life

• Home • Retirement

941-921-6630 | www.dakkakinsurance.com George & Mary Dakkak

38

SCENE

|

May 2014

“Protecting you is our family business.”

ARTS AND CULTURAL ALLIANCE OF SARASOTA COUNTY GUIDE TO ARTS AND CULTURE COVER CONTEST Local artists, including college and high school students, are invited to submit artwork representative of our vibrant arts and culture scene. The winning selection will be used as the cover of the 2014/2015 Guide to Arts and Culture. 40,000 copies of the guide will be distributed throughout the community in early October 2014.

For guidelines, specs & recognition contact Amanda Heisey at

(941) 365-5118 ext. 304 aheisey@sarasotaarts.org DEADLINE: July 1, 2014 scenesarasota.com

don’t Miss the action...

June 5-8, 2014

2014 Modern Pentathlon World CuP Final & oPening CereMony

For the first time in more than four decades, one of the most elegant olympic sports will hold its international championship on american soil.

Now, you have the exclusive opportunity to cheer on world-class athletes as they take their Olympic journey in the ultimate challenge of skill, agility and discipline.

thursday ~ June 5 th ~ 6:00

to 8:00pm opening Ceremony: The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art

June 5 th through 8 th, 2014 don’t Miss these Family Friendly World Cup Final events Fencing ~ Swimming ~ Riding ~ Running ~ Shooting Competition Venues: Sarasota Polo Club at Lakewood Ranch ~ Selby Aquatic Center

get your tiCkets today!

For Opening Ceremony and Competition Event tickets and schedules, visit www.sBPentathlon.com or call 941.564.9003 sponsored By: Visit Sarasota ~ Manatee Convention and Visitors Bureau ~ Gulf Coast Community Foundation DART ~ Schroeder Manatee Ranch ~ Observer Media Group ~ Sarasota Polo Club at Lakewood Ranch Grapevine Communications Advertising Agency ~ Semkohr ~ Scene Magazine

For more information: Email: tellMeMore@sBpentathlon.com

ARTS & CULTURE

GALLERY SCENE Presented by the Arts & Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County Expressions of Spring For many of us spring signifies rebirth, renewal and hope and to celebrate spring, Dabbert Gallery will open “Expressions of Spring,” an exhibit that allows each artist to express renewal or an awakening. Five Florida artists will be featured in the exhibit, which opens May 2. The artists are Luke Steadman, Nancy Turner, Willem Jerdon and Jeff Cornell.

Luke Steadman, a Ringling grad and most recent artist to join the Dabbert Gallery, has a quiet and contemplative style. "As an artist I want to reveal the unnoticed adventure underlying the routine of daily life,” says Steadman. “Art is the means by which I attempt to awake others to natural beauty."

Nancy Turner’s imagery (left) is about the stresses that women experience as a result of societal restrictions of their personal liberty.

Willem Jerdon creates authentic nudes and sensuous, compelling still-life paintings and Jeff Cornell uses soft pastel pigments and meticulously blends to create dream-like imagery of superb figurative realism.

Of her work, artist Beatrice del Perugia says, “My offbeat way of seeing things makes me laugh. I hope it makes you wonder and smile."

Dabbert Gallery | May 2 - 31 | 76 South Palm Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34236 | www.dabbertgallery.com

Intent to Deceive: Fakes and Forgeries in the Art World You can see famous works of art by Charles Courtney Curran, Honoré Daumier, Philip de László, Henri Matisse, Amedeo Modigliani and Pablo Picasso at the Ringling Museum May through August, but you may be surprised at who painted them. The exhibition “Intent to Deceive: Fakes and Forgeries in the Art World” displays the works of five of the most notorious art forgers from the 20th century to the present. Sixty pieces of art will be displayed as well as some of the original works the forgers copied.

“This exhibition is unique because it is organized around the individual forgers in an attempt to explore what motivated them to produce their deceptions,” said Chris Jones, associate curator for exhibitions at The Ringling. “We get a feel for their personal nar-

as well as understanding how advances in technology are aiding art

ratives and points of view and that provides a fascinating context

professionals in identifying authenticity, this exhibition brings to light

for the works themselves.”

the serious implications of these con artists’ intent to deceive. All of

The forgers, Han van Meegeren, Elmyr de Hory, Eric Hebborn,

the forgers fooled the experts by mastering techniques of the artists

John Myatt and Mark Landis were all unable to make a career

they copied, created false identities and background stories to build

based on acceptance of their own artistic style. They found fakery

credibility, constructed elaborate schemes to corrupt provenance

to be their most accessible avenue to recognition and commer-

documentation and went to great lengths to ensure their materials

cial success. By bringing to light these forgers’ frustrated artistic

would pass forensic examination. All relied heavily on the art of

ambitions, chaotic personal lives, and contempt for the art world,

deception.

The Ringling Museum | May 23 - Aug. 3 | 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota, FL 34243 | www.ringling.org

40

SCENE

|

May 2014

scenesarasota.com

Black Box Projects and Vanishing There are always great reasons to visit Art Center Sarasota and especially this May and June. There is the very interesting installment entitled, “Black Box Projects,” featuring the works of nine MFA candidates from the University of South Florida in Tampa. You’ll see cutting-edge work in photography, painting, sculpture, installation, video and printmaking.

A second equally interesting exhibit, “Vanishing,” curated by Mark Ormand, features selected works from the permanent collection of the Lemur Conservation Foundation, a Myakka-based organization that aids endangered primates.

These exhibits offer visitors the opportunity to see art that helps preserve our ecological heritage and art that creates a new direction for the future.

Art Center Sarasota | May 22 - June 27 | 707 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34236 www.artsarasota.org

Petticoat Painters 60th Anniversary One of the longest, continuously exhibiting women's art groups in the United States, Petticoat Painters was formed in 1953 to showcase the talents of female artists at a time when women had trouble getting their work exhibited. The group is limited to 20 Sarasota area professional artists, and prospective members are carefully considered after screening for artistic integrity and exhibition experience. Opening reception with the artists: Friday, May 9, 5-7pm. Right: Diane Schmidt, Handmaiden, watercolor, 22" x 30" Selby Gallery | May 9-30, 2014 | Selby Gallery is located on the Ringling College of Art and Design campus, one-half block east of 2700 N. Tamiami Trail on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Way in Sarasota. | www.ringling.edu/selbygallery scenesarasota.com

May 2014

|

SCENE

41

DOCTORS

HOSPITAL OF SARASOTA

By Sue Cullen Photos by Herb Booth & Daniel Perales

DELIVERING LEADING TECHNOLOGIES & PROGRAMS WITH HOMETOWN CARE

Advanced medical technologies are transforming healthcare and Doctors Hospital of

Sarasota has been bringing these new advancements to our community while never forgetting their mission to provide

exceptional and personalized care to every

patient, every day warmth, friendliness and personal pride.

Doctors Hospital has continued to expand its patient services significantly over the past few years in alignment with the evolving needs of the community. Most recently, it has become the only Southwest Florida hospital to add a new FDA approved robot for minimally invasive spinal reconstructive surgery and has opened Serenity Place, one of Florida’s only voluntary acute behavioral health care facilities for mature adults, said CEO Bob Meade. Additionally, Doctors Hospital expanded its capabilities in heart stenting, balloon angioplasties and other procedures to treat heart blockages. It also has built a strong reputation within the community for emergency services, cardiology, robotic surgery and spine care.

This drive to remain on the leading edge while delivering highly personalized care one patient at a time has earned the hospital a place on awards lists for overall quality of care, cardiology, orthopedics, and emergency care. That places Doctors Hospital among such healthcare luminaries as the Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, and Johns Hopkins. Most recently, Consumer Reports rated among the top two in the state of Florida for safety in its 2014 Safety and Mortality Ratings. “We would like more area residents to know how well we stack up with other hospitals across the nation in terms of quality care. Any major hospital, regardless of its stature, would

42

SCENE

|

May 2014

scenesarasota.com

be happy to point out that it has received the same awards we have,” Meade said. “Because we are a community hospital, we can offer more personalized care and a more relaxed atmosphere with a quality of care that can stand up to any well-known teaching hospital in the U.S.”

Dr. Thomas Sweeney and Dr. Tan Ly perform

The hospital now has become one of only 37 in the nation to add Mazor Robotics Renais-

minimally invasive spine

sance™ technology, which recently won FDA approval. The new robot gives spine surgeons the

surgery using the Mazor robot.

ability to perform complex surgeries without the long incisions of traditional open surgeries, which require extended hospital stays and longer recovery times. Dr. Thomas Sweeney and Dr. Tan Ly, fellowship trained spine specialists at the Southeastern Spine Center & Research Institute in Sarasota, have performed about 50 surgeries with the new Mazor robot. They agree that it has shown improved results even when compared with newer minimally invasive spinal surgeries, which often need just two small incisions for surgical tools and a camera to view the interior anatomy.

A CT scan of the patient’s spine is uploaded to the Mazor allowing the surgeon to preplan the surgery, including placement of stabilizing bone, rods or screws. During the surgery, the robot guides the surgeon with the highest level of accuracy.

“The Mazor lets us do a virtual surgery ahead of time, which allows for very accurate placement in the spine,” Sweeney says. “We already perform 100 percent of our surgeries scenesarasota.com

May 2014

|

SCENE

43

“With the addition of the Mazor robot, we now have the most comprehensive robotics program in Southwest Florida. It’s a great benefit for our patients because they don’t have to travel out of the area for more complex spinal cases. We also have the latest da Vinci robotic equipment and have expanded our operating rooms to meet the requirements for these surgeries, and the hospital will continue to grow its robotics capabilities.”

minimally invasively, but the Mazor robot has completely trans-

robotics program in Southwest Florida. It’s a great benefit for our

formed our practice. It also drastically reduces the amount of x-ray

patients because they don’t have to travel out of the area for more

exposure. We can do the whole surgery with only two exposures.”

complex spinal cases,” he says. “We also have the latest da Vinci

Surgery using the Mazor robot is particularly applicable for spinal

robotic equipment and have expanded our operating rooms to meet

reconstruction due to degenerative conditions that may result from

the requirements for these surgeries.” Meade says the hospital will

age, arthritis or osteoporosis as well as for slipped vertebrae, spinal

continue to grow its robotics capabilities.

fusion, fractures, spinal stenosis, and tumor biopsies, Sweeney says.

Although in its early days the da Vinci robot was used primar-

“The Mazor robot really has opened my eyes as to how well

ily for urology procedures, it now is used for cardiology, gynecolo-

patients can do with minimally invasive surgeries. With the robot,

gy, and general surgery procedures, says Nancy Jones, Director of

blood loss is decreased, radiation exposure for the patient and staff is

Surgery. “We have been doing colon resections, prostatectomies,

reduced to about 20 percent of what it used to be,” says Ly. “Patients

colpopexies to correct vaginal vault prolapse, and partial kidney re-

typically come out of the hospital sooner, need less pain medication,

movals with the da Vinci,” Jones says. “We also now are able to do

have a lower risk of infection, minimal scarring, and can start rehab

hysterectomy procedures that way and can really do anything that

earlier. I’m telling patients now that when we use the Mazor robot

needs to be done through the abdomen.” Another new technique

it makes a complex surgery easy and makes easy surgeries easier.

with the robot is highly beneficial for cancer patients. Those patients

I advise them definitely to be educated about all of their options.”

are injected with medication that causes the diseased tissue to light

Sweeney also emphasizes the importance of finding the right information for anyone needing spinal surgery. “Even though the

up, or fluoresce, when viewed with a special camera, which helps the surgeon remove the tumor while preserving healthy tissue, she said.

Mazor was approved by the FDA only recently, there is a vast

For Doctors Hospital, staying on the leading edge of medicine

amount of experience with it outside the country,” he said. “Be-

means considering all forms of wellness, including mental and emo-

cause doctors here are not as familiar with it, they may not know

tional well-being. Based on the community’s older demographic,

the advantages or are not trained on it yet. If doctors say you are not

the hospital also recently opened Serenity Place at Doctors Hos-

a candidate, it’s always good to get a second opinion.”

pital, which is one of Florida’s few voluntary acute care behavioral

Doctors Hospital has committed significant training and re-

health facilities for adults 50 and older. Serenity Place helps those

sources to robotic surgical advances, Meade says. “With the ad-

who suffer from major depression or anxiety that affects their daily

dition of the Mazor robot, we now have the most comprehensive

functioning as well as for those who need help managing other psy-

44

SCENE

|

May 2014

scenesarasota.com

Pictured left to right: Chuck Schwaner, Chief Financial Officer; Marilee Arnold, Director of the Emergency Department; Kathy Mitchell (seated), Chief Nursing Officer; David Hendriks, Director of Food and Nutrition Services; Bob Meade, Chief Executive Officer; Cindy Rogers-Brunner, Director of Rehabilitative and Respiratory Care Services; and Gilbert Algarra, Director of Environmental Services.

chiatric disorders. The facility includes 16 suites and takes a holistic

Doctors Hospital has been widely recognized within the health-

approach to patient care with an emphasis on wellness and cop-

care industry for its best practices and performance. In addition to

ing strategies. Many patients have never experienced psychological

the recent Consumer Reports best safety rating, the hospital was

problems before in their lives, but may be having difficulty dealing

named among the Top 100 Hospitals in the nation in 2012 and 2013

with grief from a traumatic loss or depression from a reduction in

by Truven Health Analytics (formerly Thomson Reuters), and earned

physical or mental ability.

an Everest Award ranking it among the very top in its category. The

“With older patients we emphasize that it is not a normal part

Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care recognized the hospital’s PCI

of aging to feel depressed, and that they are entitled to live as high

capabilities in its Chest Pain Center with PCI category, and The Joint

a quality of life as they can into older age,” says Michael Fitzger-

Commission cited it as a top performer on key quality measures in

ald, Director of Serenity Place. “That is why we not only focus on

spine surgery, COPD, diabetes, advanced primary stroke, advanced

medical management and psychotherapy, but we offer help through

heart failure, hip replacement, and knee replacement.

stress reduction, dealing with addictions, anger management, cop-

Other awards include: American Hearth Association (heart failure

ing with grief and loss, yoga, and pet therapy.” Meade says a moving

and mission lifeline), American College of Radiology, Blue Cross and

letter to the editor sent by a former Serenity Place patient shows that

Blue Shield of Florida (spine surgery, knee and hip replacement), Beck-

Doctors Hospital offers progressive, community-focused programs.

er’s Hospital Review (Orthopedic and Spine, 100 Top Community Hos-

The patient credited a stay at Serenity Place for saving her life and

pitals), and UnitedHealthcare® (premium specialty center.) Meade also

ultimately helping her create a life worth living.

particularly values Modern Healthcare’s Best Places to Work Award,

With an objective to save additional lives, Doctors Hospital be-

which Doctors Hospital has earned five years running, and Becker’s

gan performing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI), which

Hospital Review 100 Great Places to Work in Healthcare recognition.

includes stenting and balloon angioplasty as well as other proce-

“We’ve worked very hard to create a very personalized ap-

dures for clearing blocked arteries. When a patient is suffering a

proach that includes a concierge on every floor to help improve

heart attack, or STEMI (ST elevation myocardial infarction), fast

patient care and special programs like TLC, which provides trans-

treatment is crucial to a good outcome. Patients now can get treat-

portation, lodging and comfort overnight for patients who have pro-

ment faster because transport times are shorter.

cedures scheduled very early the following morning,” Meade said.

“The emergency room is vitally important to the community, and

“We believe a great work environment leads to great customer ser-

our approach is to be very transparent about the care patients re-

vice because we are able to attract and keep the best and brightest.”

ceive,” Meade says. “Our ER patients are seen quickly, and that adds

Having a low employee turnover rate helps create a team at-

to the quality of their care and experience. For heart blockages, we

mosphere among everyone from physicians to volunteers, which

have the best door to balloon times in the area, which means faster

fosters consistency of care for patients. “This includes everyone,

treatment to save heart muscle. Transparency also includes informing

even in our support areas who don’t have direct hands-on contact

the community of the efficiency of our Emergency Department by

with patients,” Meade says. “We have a fantastic physical plant. It’s

placing billboards around the area and posting current emergency

quiet and serene here, but it’s the caliber of people we have and

room average wait times on our entrance signage and website.”

their caring spirit that truly sets us apart.”

scenesarasota.com

May 2014

|

SCENE

45

46

SCENE

|

May 2014

scenesarasota.com

GIVING

Catalytic Philanthropy

Gulf Coast Community Foundation's Hunger Design Team Seated L to R: Judy Cahn & Hillary Steele. Standing L to R: Keith Monda, Jon Thaxton & Sandra Frank.

Story & Photo by Jake Hartvigsen Mention hunger and the image that comes to mind for many of us is

often were forced to forgo more fresh and nutritious food options

that of a child from the developing world with a shy smile and a look

for less healthy ones simply because they lacked adequate refrig-

of fading hope in her eyes. But what if you learned that the real face

eration units for storage. By providing funds to help purchase such

of hunger can be found much closer to home?

units, as well as a refrigerated mobile unit called “Sprout,” the team helped expand the overall quantity and quality of the local

One of the lesser known facts about life in our little slice of paradise

food supply while also increasing distribution.

is that more than half the children in Sarasota County schools qualify for free and reduced lunch and that nearly 20 percent live below the

Other examples of success include a “backpack program,” where

federal poverty level. Until recently, these were numbers of which few

K-12 students on free and reduced lunch are provided with nutri-

of us were aware and that even fewer discussed.

tious food and snacks each Friday to take home for the weekend, and a CASH (Campaign Against Summer Hunger) and Cans pro-

But all of that is changing thanks to Gulf Coast Community Foundation

gram, held during April and May of this year. Designed to fuel ef-

and a dedicated group of philanthropists they call the Hunger Design

forts to reduce summer hunger, the CASH and Cans program gen-

Team. Formed in 2012 and comprised of nine members from a diverse

erated a wealth of canned and dry goods for All Faiths Food Bank

array of highly-successful business backgrounds, the team is helping rede-

and other local service providers, as well as more than $500,000

fine the way hunger is understood and addressed in our local community.

in cash donations, during its opening weeks.

“These are donors who don’t want simply to write a check,” says Jon

“The strength of Gulf Coast Community Foundation,” says design

Thaxton, who as Gulf Coast’s Director of Community Investment is

team member Elaine Crouse, a former telecommunications exec-

helping spearhead the team’s efforts. “They want to be part of the

utive with AT&T, “is that they have the resources and expertise to

process and to explore ideas and solutions that may not have been

help individuals and organizations think bigger and seek solutions

considered, or even recognized, before. But what really binds them

they might otherwise have considered impossible. Together with

together is an intense desire to help children and their families living

their donors, Gulf Coast is transforming our region through bold

in our community who suffer from hunger.”

and proactive philanthropy.”

This new approach to giving, something Thaxton calls catalytic

Next up for the Hunger Design Team is an effort to expand food

philanthropy, is not for all. Members of the Hunger Design Team spent

distribution to thousands of underprivileged students during the

the better part of a year combing through white papers to examine

summer months. According to their research, more than 21,000

what other communities were doing, talking with experts to educate

area students qualify for free and reduced lunch throughout the

themselves about hunger and nutrition, and meeting with the heads of

school year, yet only 5,000 of them receive assistance once school

local agencies to learn about their services.

is out. The team hopes to close that gap by providing funding for an additional 3,000-5,000 students within the next 2-3 years and

It was painstaking work. But, as a result, team members began to

for the entire group by the end the decade. Given their success to

identify areas where infrastructure, distribution networks and com-

date, we wouldn’t bet against them.

munications could be improved to benefit children and their families not just in the short term but for many years to come.

For more information on The Hunger Design Team and how you can address hunger and nutrition in our region, contact

For example, they discovered that organizations like All Faiths

Gulf Coast Community Foundation at (941) 486-4600 or visit

Food Bank and the school district’s Food and Nutrition Program

GulfCoastCF.org.

scenesarasota.com

May 2014

|

SCENE

47

48

SCENE

|

May 2014

scenesarasota.com

GIVING

Ring of Power The Circus Arts Conservatory Story & Photo by Jake Hartvigsen Most kids do their homework while sitting around the kitchen table

wonderful job The Circus Arts Conservatory has done in developing

or perhaps curled up on the sofa. Twelve-year-old Morgan Campbell

this program.”

does hers while dangling from a ring suspended five feet above the living room floor. And her parents love it.

Some of that development, of course, comes from connections The Conservatory’s co-founders, Pedro Reis and Dolly Jacobs, have es-

Such is life when you are one of the featured performers in what has

tablished through their own lifelong involvement in the circus arena.

been called The Greatest “Little” Show on Earth, The Circus Arts Con-

Such A-list performers as Nik Wallenda, Encho, Trio Moscow and the

servatory’s Sailor Circus. Celebrating its 65th anniversary this year,

Platchov Duo regularly visit and work with students in Sailor Circus.

Sailor Circus is the nation’s oldest youth circus and one of the best-

Yet the Campbells are quick to point out that even more important

known training programs in the world for students ranging in age from

than these celebrities is the unique and creative vision Reis and Jacobs

eight to eighteen years old. In total, more than 10,000 young men and

bring to the big top.

women have graduated from the program, including an impressive list of corporate CEOs, doctors, lawyers and politicians.

Since founding The Circus Arts Conservatory in 1997 and taking over administration of Sailor Circus from the Police Athletic League in 2011,

“Morgan tried everything from soccer to dance to surfing,” says her

Reis and Jacobs have established a number of innovative communi-

dad, Greg, who is the executive chef and general manager of Braden-

ty outreach programs. Through The Conservatory’s Education Pro-

ton’s popular Pier 22 restaurant. “But the circus is what really captured

gram, for example, teaching artists visit Sarasota and Manatee county

her interest. She would be here all day, every day, if we let her.”

schools and engage students in learning explorations on such diverse topics as the sciences, language arts and theater. Similarly, The Humor

That level of commitment, combined with the life management skills

Therapy Program uses performers and entertainers to bring joy and

they saw Morgan and other students acquire through Sailor Circus,

an enhanced quality of life to children and adults in hospitals, nursing

prompted Greg and his wife, Colleen, to get involved as well. During

homes and assisted care facilities.

the performance season, they spend many hours each week assisting with everything from set design to staffing the concession stand

Yet, next up is The Conservatory’s most ambitious effort to date, a

and helping secure rigging for shows. Greg also provides catering for

$3 million “Under the Roof” Arena Improvement Campaign for the

VIP events and fund raising functions both for Sailor Circus and its

Sailor Circus building located on Bahia Vista Street in Sarasota. Once

non-profit parent organization, The Circus Arts Conservatory.

completed, the campaign will allow The Conservatory to modernize the iconic structure by adding air conditioning and other functional

“When you think about it, everything you want your child to learn

amenities needed to ensure safe, year-round use by students.

about in life is taught in Sailor Circus,” Greg says. “Responsibility, self-confidence, teamwork, trust and pride are all qualities students

As for the Campbells, they plan to do their part to support the cam-

learn and practice here every day. And you can see the lifelong im-

paign in any way possible. “When you see all of the joy, the social

pact that has by the way graduates keep coming back to teach the next

and physical skills, and the other positive benefits students derive

generation of performers.”

from Sailor Circus, it is really amazing. Supporting this campaign ensures that the quality of the facilities matches the quality of the

Colleen agrees, adding that adults benefit from the program as well.

kids involved.”

“Seventy-five percent of the reason we come here is because of our daughter,” she says. “But the other twenty-five percent is because of

For more information, visit The Circus Arts Conservatory online at

the relationships we’ve built, and those relationships are a result of the

CircusArts.org or call (941) 355-9335.

scenesarasota.com

May 2014

|

SCENE

49

Next Great College Town

The

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

A quick Google search for “great college towns” comes up with familiar names: South Bend, Indiana; Tallahassee, Florida; Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Madison, Wisconsin, to name just a few. But where would Sarasota, Florida rank on a list like this? Higher than you might think. I admit — we’re not going to have a 75,000-seat football stadium anytime soon, but we do have a lot of other college town things going for us. When Livability.com’s editors created a “great college town” list, they defined college towns as “true melting pots, where young minds meet old traditions, and political, social, and cultural ideas of all kinds are welcomed.”

Starting to sound a bit more like our little piece of the west Florida coast, doesn’t it? To find out a bit more about what kind of college town we have here, I went to the source — the four biggest area schools themselves.

50

SCENE

|

May 2014

scenesarasota.com

Ask relative newcomer to the area, New College President Donal O’Shea, how he responds to people who claim that Sarasota ISN’T a college town. His answer? “Just drive up North Tamiami Trail. You’ll pass Ringling College of Art + Design, which is growing rapidly in both size and reputation. You’ll pass USF Sarasota-Manatee, which offers degrees in business, education, hospitality, biology and the humanities. A little further north, SCF has both career training and bachelor’s degree programs.

And my college, New College of Florida, is one of the nation’s top liberal arts colleges, bringing in gifted students from all over the country.” Do the math, he suggests. Taken together, these schools educate more than 25,000 students every semester, covering every academic endeavor that a major institution would provide.

To offer some more details on how New College specifically contributes to the college town culture, O’Shea says, “In the chemistry and physics labs, they are working on federally-funded projects in nanotechnology and spectroscopy. In the Classics classrooms and even after hours, students help faculty translate ancient Greek dramas. Off-campus, in the community, our students tutor children in Newtown, teach at St. Stephen’s, mentor young men and women from Booker and Riverview High School, and help adults learn to read in the county’s literacy programs. And next year, we plan to bring in young women from across the Middle East via our Educate for Change initiative, which will give our American students more insight into the world while also training the next generation of leaders in the womens' homelands.”

State College of Florida’s President Dr. Carol F. Probstfeld points out that her school, too, has quite an influence on our area. “As the area’s oldest and largest public college,” she says, “we provide the community and students with a full array of college activities, including art exhibits, music and theatre productions, intercollegiate athletics and club-sponsored events.” She goes on to explain that impact goes far beyond their main campus. For example, SCF Venice hosts concerts, poetry readings and art exhibits at various campus venues. And SCF Bradenton is home to the College’s athletics fields and courts, and hosts arts exhibits, theatre productions and music performances that give their students an opportunity to showcase their talents and become involved in the local community.

“All one needs to do [to see what type of college town we have],” says Dr. Arthur Guilford, Regional Chancellor of USF Sarasota-Manatee, “is to come to the USFSM campus or even better yet, drive the five or so miles between SCF and Ringling College of Art + Design and stop and talk with all of the students enrolled in our institutions.” He’s quick to point out that their first 100 USFSM Freshmen are truly engaged, with many already participating in Student Government and clubs. Other students are volunteering in the community with Habitat for Humanity and others, doing internships with local businesses, and integrating a broad range of local arts organizations into their elementary education training. They seem committed to making a real difference in their community and at USFSM. He adds, “You will see them learning in our new science labs at Mote Marine Laboratory and at the Culinary Innovation Lab we recently opened on Main Street in Lakewood Ranch. Our student life activities have also increased dramatically this year and we are doing more student-oriented events specifically designed to enrich our four-year experience.”

All of the area’s higher education presidents are really trying very hard to create a cooperative atmosphere among our institutions, Guilford explains, and it’s that decision to work together that benefits our community and furthers the argument that this part of Southwest Florida is much more than a sleepy senior citizen haven.

scenesarasota.com

May 2014

|

SCENE

51

Ringling College of Art + Design President Larry Thompson points out that while all four schools clearly have different missions, they each serve different populations and therefore don’t directly compete with each other for students, as Guilford insinuated. Not so with sports, Thompson adds, citing the New College and Ringling College annual flag football rivalry that raises funds for good causes (All-Faiths Food Bank, American Cancer Society, and Visible Man Academy). Helping good causes is also the norm at Ringling, with over 15,000 hours of volunteer time given to the community per year with such groups and venues as the Roy McBean Boys and Girls Club in Newtown, Habitat for Humanity, The Hermitage Artist Retreat, and Sarasota Memorial Hospital. Plus Ringling is the driving force behind the Sarasota Museum of Modern Art/ SMOA project which will be a modern/contemporary art museum for the community and, as Thompson puts it, “will fill a gap in our cultural mosaic.”

We also have health-related higher education opportunities, too, such as Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine where students can get a Doctor of Pharmacy degree or study dentistry at the School of Dental Medicine. Plus the Florida State University College of Medicine’s Sarasota Campus provides third- and fourth-year clinical training through affiliations with local physicians, ambulatory care facilities, and hospitals. Clerkship directors direct students’ rotations in local healthcare businesses that specialize in family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, emergency medicine, and other areas of specialty.

Even PreK-12 college preparatory schools like The Out-of-Door Academy reap the rewards of being located here. As ODA Head of School David Mahler explains, “The presence of nationally-recognized colleges enhances our ability to recruit faculty from the top independent schools across the nation.” Couple that with Sarasota’s focus on the arts, and it attracts people who choose to be part of a vibrant learning community. “Increasingly,” he adds, “our website sees heavy traffic from not only the Sarasota area, but from across the globe. Last year alone, we enrolled families representing 28 different countries or territories.” And how many of those will seek higher education opportunities here versus elsewhere? More and more. “Great weather, amazing beaches, excellent educational institutions, an international population and a strong arts community are a powerful combination,” Mahler says.

My father often said that his preference was to retire in a college town, because that meant there’d always be a ton to do. That’s as good of a definition for college town as any other. And from just this small sampling of what four major higher education institutions — not to mention all the smaller ones like Argosy, Everglades, Webster, and Keiser Universities — offer within their walls and beyond, it’s clear that no matter one’s age, this area has a lot to offer. That’s what being a college town is really all about.

52

SCENE

|

May 2014

scenesarasota.com

l s u n f e a t n i u T en T e T By

it h . Sm J n e Stev

Anyone who thinks it takes decades to make a splash in the entertainment field needs to look

no further than the Sarasota/Bradenton area to

find four shining examples to the contrary.

Maria Wirries, Christopher Eisenberg, Daniel Landers,

Local Artists Making Their Mark in Showbiz

scenesarasota.com

and Sam Woolf are four youngsters who are taking the music world by storm these days, on both the local and national fronts. Their accomplishments at such a young age are truly remarkable.

May 2014

|

SCENE

53

PHOTO BY HERB BOOTH

54

SCENE

|

May 2014

scenesarasota.com

Maria Wirries Since her cover story in SCENE Magazine last May, 16-year-old

Maria has also performed at the Sarasota Opera House — sing-

Maria Wirries has been a very busy young woman, according to

ing the world premiere of a new jazz song written by Dick

Greg Gregory, husband to Maria’s mentor Ilene Friedman and

Hyman — and at Asolo Rep and Historic Asolo theaters, as well

Maria’s “honorary grandpa.”

as many other venues throughout the area. She fondly remembered her first performance with the Sarasota Orchestra.

“Maria has just accepted an offer from Penn State University to enroll in their musical theater BFA program this coming

“I was 12 or 13 and it was the first time I ever performed with a

academic year,” Gregory said. “Out of 600 applicants for this

live orchestra,” she said. “The sound of the orchestra and being

highly regarded program, only 12 students were selected and

with such wonderful people was incredible.”

Maria was number one. Needless to say, we're all very excited for her.”

Maria continues to be a featured vocalist with Gloria Musicae, was the female lead, Sarah, in Ragtime at the Manatee Play-

Gregory added Maria’s goal is and always has been Broadway.

ers theater, premiered two holiday songs by noted composer

She loves to perform in just about every medium including sing-

James Grant (with whom she studies composition), and was

ing, acting, dancing, composing, and figure skating. You name

the figure-skating singing soloist at the Ellenton Christmas ice

it. She does it all.

show. She has also been the featured vocalist for many charitable events, including Jewish Family and Children’s Services,

“Maria finished high school early and continued her studies

the Jewish Federation, Cat Depot, Sarasota Artists Series and

at State College of Florida, where she had been dual-enrolled

performed solo concerts at the Sarasota Bay Club and the Glen-

during her high school years at Manatee School for the Arts,”

ridge Performing Arts Center. In addition, Maria has composed

Gregory said. “That was just the beginning. In the past year

several songs that can be found on YouTube. Want to hear

she has made her New York debut, performed numerous times

them? Just search Maria Wirries for the following samples: “Art

with the Sarasota Orchestra at the Van Wezel and the Beatrice

is Calling for Me,” “Taylor, the Latte Boy,” “Alto’s Lament,” “The

Friedman Symphony Center.”

Girl in 14G,” and “By Strauss.”

scenesarasota.com

May 2014

|

SCENE

55

PHOTOS BY DON DALY PHOTOGRAPHY

56

SCENE

|

May 2014

scenesarasota.com

Christopher Eisenberg Currently a tenth grader in the Visual Performing Arts program at

all but one of the songs. It is currently available on iTunes, CD

Booker High School, Christopher is a talented singer/songwriter

Baby, and Amazon, and you can purchase an autographed copy

who, at age 12, auditioned for America’s Got Talent and was

via his website, www.everything-chris.com. He also traveled to

chosen as one of the top 48 finalists out of 70,000 hopefuls.

Germany with the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe to perform the hit “Soul Crooners 2” and recently traveled to Georgia as

“I was about 10 years old when I realized the power of my voice

the opening act to the teen sensation group Mindless Behavior.

and the music I sing,” he said. “Music inspires people, makes them happy and brings people and even countries together. So

Christopher is inspired by recording artist, rapper, songwriter and

that’s why I love singing. I get to make an impact on children,

actor Drake who, like Christopher is a Jewish, bi-racial perform-

our community and the world – all through my music.”

er. “His music speaks so much more in depth than most typical rappers do,” Christopher said. “He has a way of telling stories

Christopher, 16, attributes his mother Josephine as the most pow-

through his music, and that touches me in a specific way that

erful influence in his nascent career. “My mom wants the very best

inspires me and takes me to a place where I love to be. I also love

for me and has helped me realize that I can make anything happen

Tony Bennett. I want to meet him really bad. I look up to him.”

if I stay focused and work hard,” he said. “She has always understood how I feel about singing and my career and supports me

Ahead for Christopher is more shows with Mindless Behav-

110 percent. She even believes in me when sometimes I doubt my

ior, an appearance in Bubbling Brown Sugar with the West-

own talent. She is not only my mom but my manager — everyone

coast Black Theatre Troupe, a Mardi Gras Celebration with

knows her as the ‘momager.’ She handles all the business aspects

Booker Middle School, Paws on the Catwalk at the Ritz for

of my career. And of course she still ensures that my grades are

the Humane Society, a June appearance at the American

good and my homework gets done. I strive to be the best for my

Cancer Society’s Survivor Luncheon, a guest appearance at

mom – because she has been the very best mom to me.”

Dance Artistry’s annual dance recital, a July 4th celebration performance in North Port, and a summer tour up the east

This past year has been a whirlwind for the Sarasota native.

coast in July and August. For more information on Christopher,

He released his debut album, “XVI,” in November, co-writing

visit his website: everything-chris.com.

scenesarasota.com

May 2014

|

SCENE

57

58

SCENE

|

May 2014

scenesarasota.com

Daniel Landers As the senior member of our featured group of performers at

he grew up — some starting as far back as the second grade.

age 20, Daniel Landers started performing on a kid's television series for PBS when he was 4. It was a family production with

“I have also studied music theory and music business at the

his grandmother as executive producer, and he said he grew up

Frost School of Music at University of Miami,” he said. “And I’ll

on the set. Watching the older kids rehearse, he would memo-

be taking some courses at NYU while I am pursuing my career

rize the songs and choreography, and one day jumped into one

in NYC.”

of the live shows on tour.

That career is a busy one, with highlights this past year “I learned a lot about dedication and hard work from my family,

including the Halloween show at New York's famous venue

and have applied it to European tours I've done with my mom

The Bitter End, where artists such as Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder,

(TV star and recording artist Audrey Landers), as well as many

Billy Joel, Carol King, and even Lady Gaga all got their first

other ventures,” he said. “I got to the finals of X Factor in the

breaks. In March, he was featured as the opening act for Jeff

Netherlands my senior year at Pine View, and withdrew so I

Timmons of 98 Degrees at a new club called Slake, owned

could walk at graduation with my best friends, and twin brother.”

by Webster Hall.

Daniel counts Bon Jovi, Bruno Mars, Bruce Springsteen, and

“And I will be performing in an international Christmas TV

“a splash of Katy Perry” as his principal influences in music,

special filmed in Spain, and broadcast throughout Latin

and said he writes music every day. “It keeps me almost sane,”

America, as well as a New Year’s Eve show, to be filmed in

he said. “I'm really involved in producing my music as well,

Austria,” he said. “In each country, I try to sing at least one

and I'm always doing fun performances around New York City.

verse in their language. There are always so many fun adven-

Although I always come home to Sarasota to record my music!”

tures going on.”

Daniel added his family is tremendously supportive of him and

To learn more about Daniel and his music, including his soulful

his music, and his closest friends are still the ones with whom

new song “Love Me Tonight,” log on to danellandersofficial.com.

scenesarasota.com

May 2014

|

SCENE

59

60

SCENE

|

May 2014

scenesarasota.com

Sam Woolf Last but certainly not least is 17-year-old Bradenton sensation

ing music like them. And I think they’re cool, because they’re

Sam Woolf, who at this writing is one of the final six on the

down to earth and they seem like nice guys. A song I wish I

13th season of American Idol. Sam attends Braden River High

had written would probably be ‘In Your Atmosphere,’ by John

School and plans to enter Berklee College of Music following

Mayer. I like it just because the feel to it is different than what

his high school graduation.

I’ve been listening to lately. It’s a good song.”

I’ve been singing since I was really little and have always want-

Sam’s time on American Idol has given him a rare opportunity

ed music as a career,” Sam said. “I started playing guitar three

to get an up close and personal view of what the music busi-

years ago. I write my own songs and love performing.”

ness is really like. “Getting to know all of the producers and people who work on the show is really cool, because you get

Sam has been seen performing throughout the Sarasota/Bra-

to see and learn what each one of them does,” he said. “Also,

denton area. One spot he has particularly enjoyed playing is

each time we perform on stage we gain confidence and grow

MacAllister’s Restaurant in Lakewood Ranch, where he has

individually as artists.”

drawn sizable crowds. His style is mellow with a flash of rock and pays tribute to artists of the 70s, 80s and 90s as inspira-

When Sam’s American Idol experience ends, he plans to re-

tions for his laid back stage persona.

cord an album and continue pushing to get his name out to a growing audience that has come to appreciate his talent.

“Some music that I grew up listening to was James Taylor, ELO, and Brittany Spears,” Sam said. “Those are the ones that I real-

“I want to tour and have my own band,” he said. “And just

ly remember listening to and they remind me of my childhood.

share my music with the world.”

John Mayer and Ed Sheeran are my biggest influences, because I like the music they produce. I can picture myself produc-

scenesarasota.com

Sam’s website is samwoolfmusic.com.

May 2014

|

SCENE

61

Leading the Way A Q&A with Alta Vista Elementary School’s Dr. Barbara Shirley, 2014 Florida Principal of the Year

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

Since 1988, the Florida Department of Education has given the Principal Achievement Award for Outstanding Leadership “to recognize exemplary principals for their contributions to their schools and communities. The program honors principals that have spearheaded initiatives to increase student performance, promote safe learning environments and establish partnerships with parents and community members.�

At a state summit meeting in Orlando this February, Dr. Barbara Shirley of Alta Vista Elementary School found out that she was 2013-2014 Principal of the year. Our standout academic administrator sat down with me and shared some of her insights and ideas on our education system.

What is the biggest challenge facing the American education system today and what should we do about it?

In a challenging economy, ongoing reform is taking place within the educational continuum of early childhood learning through higher education. For every student in America to successfully graduate from high school prepared for college and/or a career, it is imperative that we provide adequate funding for schools. Less funding means smaller staff, fewer resources, and decreased services for students. Restoring school funding must be an urgent priority with educators, parents, communities, and lawmakers working together to find solutions that benefit all students. In Sarasota, we live in a community where people value education and are willing to support our public school system. This was recently validated by the successful support of the referendum to continue the one mil levy to preserve our quality schools.

Nationwide, poverty is another big challenge impacting education. Children from low-income families are less likely to have access to books or literacy rich environments, high-quality early care and prekindergarten programs.

They often experience health and nutrition problems, which result in chronic absences from school. These children may hear as many as 30 million fewer words than their middle-income peers before reaching kindergarten. Based on national research findings, students from families of lower socioeconomic levels who are not reading at grade-level by third grade will continue to struggle in school and are four times less likely to graduate from high school.

While Sarasota is known for its world class beaches, thriving arts and cultural community, and multi-million dollar homes, 52% of students are from low-income households. At Alta Vista, 93% of the students

62

SCENE

|

May 2014

scenesarasota.com

It truly does take a community partnership to raise children and we are fortunate to have a community that believes in education.

scenesarasota.com

May 2014

|

SCENE

63

receive free and reduced meals, which is indicative of the economic level of our families. Like many of our community Title I schools, we strive to develop programs to support the educational, financial, and medical needs of our families. We have developed strong community-wide support for our families by securing and providing nutritious food and meals, medical and mental health resources, summer learning programs, and educational opportunities for parents to help them learn new skills and obtain improved job prospects. Our community cares and is willing to do whatever it takes to support our schools, children, and families.

What is your own vision of education?

As an educational leader, my vision is to create a challenging learning environment with high expectations for student achievement by using research-based instructional practices that provide for individual differences and learning styles. Schools must promote a safe, orderly, caring, and supportive environment where each student’s self-esteem is fostered through positive relationships and student achievement is a priority. Alta Vista has achieved an “A” grade under the Governor’s A+ Program for ten consecutive years demonstrating that we continue to go above and beyond to meet the needs of our students. We were also recognized as one of fifteen Title 1 schools in the state receiving the Exceeding Expectations Award, which is indicative of the dedicated, highly-qualified staff who provide students with instruction and guidance needed to help them succeed; organizations, donors, and volunteers who give time and resources to support our students; parents who support the efforts of our school and are involved in their children’s education; and students who come to school eager to learn and try their best every day. At Alta Vista, we have created a “multigenerational community school “where our parents, teachers, and community members are actively involved in helping students be successful.

What do you think the most common misconception is about elementary school teachers?

The most common misconception is what it takes to be in the teaching profession today. Teachers today must develop a complex set of skills where they have to be extremely skilled, highly knowledgeable, and exceedingly well trained in research-based instructional practices. They have high standards and expectations for themselves and their students and are dedicated in their belief that every child has the ability to learn. Teachers work long, hard hours, often starting their day at 7:00 a.m. and leaving their schools twelve hours later. The day continues at home grading papers, developing lesson plans, making calls to parents, and creating a special instructional tool to reach a child who struggles to learn.

Teachers are passionate about doing what is best for their students and they have to persevere with great patience to overcome obstacles and find solutions to the hurdles that deter a child from learning. Teachers don’t seek fame — they unselfishly give of their time, energy, dedication and smiles to make a child’s dream of having choices for a better life come true. They simply care about making a difference.

In all of your experience as an education administrator, what has surprised you the most?

While I am not surprised, I am in awe and grateful for the tremendous support and commitment Sarasota has for the children and families in our community. In these difficult economic times, community commitment means even more.

By pooling our resources and working together, we have become a powerful force in providing a safe learning environment that is exciting, supportive, and making a difference in the lives of children and families. We have been very fortunate to partner with Mary Kay and Joe Henson and the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, along with other special donors and organizations who embody the spirit of giving — giving of time, giving of resources, and giving unconditional love and kindness to the children of Alta Vista.

With the support of these special partnerships, we can inspire in our students a passion for learning, a love of school, and a hope for a successful future. It truly does take a community partnership to raise children and we are fortunate to have a community that believes in education. With limited resources and greater needs in the school, all of our Sarasota schools need mentors, tutors, and financial resources that can help us achieve our goals in educating children so they are successful in life.

For more information on Alta Vista Elementary School, please visit www.sarasotacountyschools.net/schools/altavista/ or call 941-361-6400.

64

SCENE

|

May 2014

scenesarasota.com

SOCIAL

“Hats Off” to Woman’s Exchange Volunteers The Woman’s Exchange honored its more than 260 volunteers at the organization’s annual volunteer luncheon recently held at Michaels on East. This year’s “Mad Hatter” themed event acknowledged volunteers for their contribution to the Exchange and to the local arts community, which benefits from their hard work. The Woman’s Exchange will be awarding $250,000 in grants and scholarships at their awards celebration in June. In addition to supporting the arts, the Exchange will give back approximately $2 million this year to its consignors further benefiting the local economy. Since opening in 1962, the Woman’s Exchange, Inc. has awarded more than $7 million to support the arts of Sarasota and Manatee counties and is one of Sarasota counties largest scholarship providers.

Photos by Cliff Roles

Annette Breazeale & Susannah Hammersley

Karen Koblenz & Linda Ploger

Kim Fowler & Chris Hatch

Gary & Laurel Roberts

Paula Gross

John Haywood & Laure Baldwin

Pressed for Time?

Celebrating 25 years of impeccable service!

Sign up online

for our FREE

pick up &

Eco Conscious Coupons “Go paperless”

delivery service! Text: CARLSONCLEANERS (one word) www.carlsoncleaners.com scenesarasota.com

To: 585858

May 2014

|

SCENE

65

Teach Me to Lead

By Jenni Stahlmann and Jody Hagaman

Have you considered that the 2052 presidential

and are willing to work hard with excellence and optimism?

election candidates could be in the fourth grade

Aren’t those the traits we want in our future leaders in

right now? It’s sobering to realize that at this very

both the public and private sectors?

moment, we are raising the lawmakers, the scien-

We realize a lot of parents might think, “Yeah, but

tists, the media moguls — the actual people who will

my kid isn’t going to be the next president or even

shape our world.

a scientist or a CEO.” That could be true, but every

The question is, how are we training today’s kids

person has the potential to impact their community.

for their future adult roles? How are we intending to

One kid might not be the next president of the nation,

raise emotionally healthy adults who will care about

but he could be the future president of his Homeowners

their community and be passionate about their work

Association, and he will make decisions that affect

— strong, effective communicators who have stamina

people — for good or for bad.

66

SCENE

|

May 2014

scenesarasota.com

Wouldn’t it be awesome if our community’s businesses and non-profits, religious groups, schools and art centers were run by emotionally healthy people?

RAISING EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY LEADERS

In recent years, there’s been a big emphasis on building kids’ self-esteem, but unfortunately, some of the methods have been misguided. People need to know that they are valuable, but what makes a person feel worthy?

We can tell you what doesn’t — flattery. And isn’t it pure flattery when we tell our children everything they do is fabulous?

Every picture is a masterpiece. Every performance is stellar. Our kids are smart, and deep down, they know when it isn’t true.

What does that do to self-esteem?

Kids feel valued when we let them cook with us as we listen intently to their stories. They feel valued when we give them honest answers to their questions, even the embarrassing ones. They feel

RAISING CIVIC MINDED LEADERS

valued when we take their interest in robots seriously and when we give them honest feedback about their latest creation.

A kid’s self-esteem rises when they do hard things and taste real success. One of the best ways to build a child’s self-esteem is to encourage him or her to live with real integrity. A clear conscience is an amazing boost to authentic self-esteem.

Ever heard of The Paper Clips Project? In 1998, in a tiny rural town of fewer than 2,000 people, one school decided to talk to kids about the Holocaust. They wanted the discussion to help the group of mostly white, Christian kids understand the importance of accepting diversity.

The kids had the idea to collect six million paper clips to help them grasp the concept of 6 million Jews killed in the Holocaust. That simple idea inspired people from around the globe, and over a number of years, the school collected more than 30 million paper clips and erected a memorial in their town with an authentic German railcar to house the paper clips.

Kids have to first be invited into a conversation about something affecting people. And then they need to know their ideas are welcome. But after that, they need the adults in their life to show them how to make their ideas come true.

Passion and purpose are contagious! But how do we teach passion and purpose? It’s a question parents and teachers everywhere wrestle with. Perhaps it starts with the freedom to be bored.

Author Nancy Blakely wrote, “It is possible for boredom to deliver us to our best selves, the ones that long for risk and illumi-

RAISING PASSIONATE AND PURPOSEFUL LEADERS

nation and unspeakable beauty. If we sit still long enough, we may hear the call behind boredom. With practice, we may have the imagination to rise up from the emptiness and answer.”

As we require kids to disconnect from amusement long enough to become bored, and then make resources available for them to explore new things, some of them are bound to find passion.

But we also have to be willing to let kids change their minds and lose interest over time, knowing that eventually, if they’re allowed to keep searching, they will discover purpose.

scenesarasota.com

May 2014

|

SCENE

67

RAISING STRONG, EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATORS When we think of communication and leadership, we usually conjure images of public speaking and debate. Those are good. They build confidence and articulation.

But future leaders also need to be equipped with good phone skills, the ability to start and maintain a conversation and strong negotiation and conflict resolution skills.

Future leaders need to be good salesmen. Even doctors and lawyers have to know how to sell their services to the public.

And how about the much ignored but more important aspect of communication — listening? Leaders need to be trained to understand the subtleties of facial expression, tone and body language and also able to make the speaker feel understood and validated.

Leaders are readers, but reading takes stamina. Let’s challenge this generation to be avid readers of good books.

Let’s also trust them with difficult tasks. At age 17, George Washington was the official surveyor of Culpeper County, Virginia. The adults in his life trusted him to face the harsh conditions of the frontier. How many of us would send a 17 year old out to do that kind of work now?

Teens are physically strong, highly creative and mentally acute. So why not really

RAISING LEADERS WITH STAMINA AND WORK ETHIC

challenge them?

RAISING LEADERS OF EXCELLENCE Whether they intend to lead or not, people of excellence are influential. From an early age, kids can learn the difference between perfection, which is unattainable, and excellence, which should always be the goal.

When we teach kids to be early, to always make eye contact, to practice shaking hands and introducing themselves with a bright smile, to hold doors open for others, to leave every place better than they found it, to ask for help on anything that they don’t understand, to always send thank you notes — we are training future leaders.

68

SCENE

|

May 2014

scenesarasota.com

Nobel Peace Prize winner Nicholas Murray Butler said, “Optimism is essential to achievement, and it is also the foundation of courage and true progress.” Optimism kept author Victor Frankl alive

RAISING OPTIMISTIC LEADERS

during the Holocaust. Optimism encouraged Thomas Edison to try 1,000 times to make the light bulb. Optimism motivated Walt Disney to keep going, even after a Kansas City Star editor said he “lacked imagination and had no good ideas.”

When we teach kids to have a good attitude and a cheerful disposition, even in the face of disappointment, hardship and failure, we are raising leaders.

WHAT IS YOUR ROLE?

Parents, set goals for your kids, and remember, YOU are ultimately the director of your child’s education, even if you choose to partner with a school. Make choices for your children with the end result in mind.

Educators, be willing to do for just one kid what you wish you could do for everyone. Give them extra credit work. Use the standards and the lesson plans as a framework, but fill in the walls and floors of their education with innovative ideas.

Community leaders, offer internships, apprenticeships and job shadowing opportunities. Call local schools and scouting programs and homeschool groups, and offer to share your knowledge and experience.

When we’re all on the same page, working toward the same goal, we might just raise a generation who will lead the world well.

Jody Hagaman and Jenni Stahlmann are two moms with nine children between them (ages 25 to 1). As radio show hosts, writers, speakers and co-founders of a non-traditional private school, they are passionate about cultivating leaders and inspiring parents to raise their kids with the end result in mind. www.jenniandjody.com scenesarasota.com

May 2014

|

SCENE

69

SOCIAL

JHCF’s Eight Over 80 Celebration The Jewish Housing Council Foundation’s second annual Eight Over 80 celebration surpassed fundraising goals to support programs and services for residents of the Kobernick-Anchin-Benderson senior living campus. More than 300 guests at Michael’s on East honored eight individuals or couples over 80 years of age for their legacy of leadership, philanthropy and community enrichment. Honorees: (pictured standing): Lee Peterson, Ed Kalin, Sally Yanowitz, Herman Frankel, (seated): Ernest & Alisa Kretzmer, Jeanne Zabelle (and Bob Zabelle in blessed memory), Florence Katz, and Sally & Sam Shapiro. ABC 7 News Anchor Max Winitz was master of ceremonies. Margot and Warren Coville and Irving Bashevkin served as event co-chairs. Corporate Premier Sponsor was Gulf Coast Community Foundation and Premier Sponsors were Debbie and Larry Haspel and KBR Foundation. Photos by Cliff Roles and Carlene Cobb

Betty Schoenbaum & Shirley Silverman

Debbie & Larry Haspel, Heidi Brown & David Lyles

Gerri Aaron, Brian Lipton & Anne Virag

TOM & JERRY’S

BODY SHOP TOO

Sarasota’s Premier Auto Body Shop

For over 25 years, owner Jerry Sobiech’s success has come from the many satisfied customers who have had a positive experience, superior service and quality work that is second to none.

• European & High-End Auto Body Repair • Car Rentals • Washing, Waxing, Detailing Services • Paintless Dent Removal • PPG Water-Based Paint (No Toxins) • 100% Lifetime Warranty (Includes Labor)

CALL TODAY FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE 3920 Brown Avenue, Sarasota | 941.362.0863

70

SCENE

|

May 2014

scenesarasota.com

COMPLETING

SMOA

It really must get done and the generous people of Sarasota/Bradenton need to make sure it gets done. The fundraising campaign for Sarasota Museum of Art (SMOA) must be completed by May 31, 2014 so we can all enjoy Sarasota’s first contemporary/modern art museum – an important cultural venue that is sure to become a vital part of our community landscape.

SMOA, a division of Ringling College of Art and Design, received a $1 Million Challenge from an anonymous donor at Gulf Coast Community Foundation to complete its fundraising campaign and must raise an additional $1.45 million by May 31 to complete its $22 Million campaign.

This $1 Million Challenge follows the successful completion of a ‘Million Dollar Match’ program created in January by SMOA Board Member and Ringling College Trustee Elaine Keating. That program – which matched dollar for dollar donor contributions up to one million dollars – added $2.3 million toward the completion of the campaign in six weeks. scenesarasota.com

The anonymous donor said they were “inspired” by the leadership giving of Mrs. Keating and this was the best way that the donor could help finish the project. The donor offered the $1 Million Challenge on the condition that SMOA secure the balance of $1.45 million by May 31, 2014 – the close of the College’s fiscal year.

“We are incredibly grateful to Elaine Keating for her generosity to SMOA and now to the donor of this second $1 Million Challenge gift. The outpouring of philanthropic leadership for the project is just extraordinary. It has added momentum to our efforts and has been electrifying,” said SMOA President Wendy Surkis.

May 2014

|

SCENE

71

Lisa Hoke Swept Away Installation

SMOA began fundraising efforts in 2007 to transform the historic Sarasota High School into a modern/contemporary art museum and visual arts education center. As of the print date of this magazine, the campaign has raised $19,551,896.66 out of a total $22 million needed to renovate the structure and to establish an operating endowment.

“This Challenge validates the creative risk we took in undertaking this monumental project. To see this groundswell of community support is so gratifying and we look forward to opening the doors to the public in as little as 18 months after we secure final funding,” commented Ringling College President Dr. Larry R. Thompson. “I am passionate about the need for arts education and engagement across all age groups and the Sarasota Museum of Art/SMOA is a perfect complement to the many and varied arts and cultural resources that currently exist in our community,” said Thompson.

72

SCENE

|

May 2014

As Sarasota’s first art museum devoted to modern and contemporary art, SMOA interweaves exhibitions, educational programs and community outreach initiatives to engage a diverse audience and serve as a stimulating hub for creative discovery. When fully funded, SMOA and Ringling College will transform the former Sarasota High School building into nearly 60,000 square feet of exhibition space, a 110-seat, multi-purpose auditorium, sculpture court, indoor/outdoor café, classrooms and studios providing education programs for adults and children, and meeting spaces.

This year, SMOA continued its community education and engagement efforts through the ARTmuse program featuring installation artist Lisa Hoke.

Using massive quantities of everyday consumer materials, Lisa created one of her color-saturated installations with the assistance of volunteers from our community, akin to the work SMOA is scenesarasota.com

doing to re-purpose the location into a dynamic arts destination for contemporary visual art.

The 2013 ARTmuse ‘Stickworks’ project with artist Patrick Dougherty exemplified the power of art to engage residents and visitors, with hundreds of volunteers helping Patrick weave his work, thousands visiting and walking through his creation and millions seeing ‘Stickworks’ as they pass in their vehicles on US 41.

In addition, the historic Sarasota High School is now hosting “Origins,” a collaborative exhibition first created for the 2012 Venice Architecture Biennale in Venice, Italy by Sweet-Sparkman Architects and students from Ringling College of Art and Design, which showcases the sand of Siesta Key as an object of art.

“When I see the excitement and wonder of indiscenesarasota.com

viduals, grade school children, families, grandparents – the full spectrum of our community – who have come to visit our exhibitions at the historic Sarasota High School this year – I am even more motivated to make our dream a reality for all of us and to create a legacy for generations to come,” Surkis explained. “I am proud of what SMOA has been able to share with the community while we have been a ‘museum in the making.’ she added.

If you would like make a contribution, you may do so by contacting Wendy Surkis at Sarasota Museum of Art/SMOA (941-309-SMOA (7662) www.SarasotaMuseumOfArt.org); or, by contacting the Ringling College Office for Advancement (941-309-4733 | smoa@ringling.edu).

LET’S GET IT DONE! May 2014

|

SCENE

73

ENVIRONMENTAL

EDUCATION is

Key to Our Future

By Karen Fraley, CIG, Around the Bend Nature Tours

Education in the new millennium has many forms, but perhaps the most exciting is getting kids outdoors to learn hands-on in their local environment. This can be a daunting task in this age of the uber-test, but a collaboration of groups with a common goal is creating a success story on the southern shoreline of Little Sarasota Bay. Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast strives to protect the environment, character, and biodiversity of bays, beaches and barrier islands for future generations. They have welcomed Around the Bend Nature Tours and almost 1,400 students this school year to study the estuary ecosystem and surrounding environment at their Bay Preserve facility in Osprey.

A little over a year ago Around the Bend Nature Tours was approached by the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program with the suggestion of using Bay Preserve at Osprey as a southern site for the PIER education program. P.I.E.R. stands for Protection, Involvement, Education and Restoration.

The purpose of the PIER program is to educate students about local coastal ecology, promote the benefits of environmental stewardship and increase students’ environmental literacy and stewardship behaviors. The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program promotes this mission by funding these student field trips as well as teacher training courses at New College of Florida.

Since its inception, the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program has taken an active role in environmental education by publishing reports, developing curricula for schools and initiating community activities. In February 2003, SBEP launched PIER, an innovative education program aimed at educating and inspiring area students. The PIER Program is offered to public and private schools and home school students throughout Sarasota and Manatee counties. Nearly 53,000 students have participated since 2003.

“Educating our local youth is essential to the long-term environmental stewardship and sustainability of our area. The PIER program provides hands-on learning experiences that have a positive and memorable impact on our students,” said Sara Kane, Public Outreach Manager of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program.

Around the Bend Nature Tours has been providing standards-based field trips for schools in Manatee and Sarasota County since 2000 with over 53,000 happy students completing field studies over the years. Their mission is to give a sense of Florida as “home” by hearing the stories of the land and learning the science of sustainability. These field adventures are delivered by 12 guides who are certified either as Florida Master Naturalists by the University of Florida, or National Association of Interpretation, or both.

Around the Bend Nature Tours has built a business for environmental education by securing funding from many sources. The field trips at Bay Preserve are funded not only by the Sarasota Bay PIER Program, but also individual teachers apply for Classroom Grants through EdExplore SRQ supported by The Patterson Foundation, Sarasota Arts and Cultural Alliance, Education Foundation of Sarasota County and The Community Foundation of Sarasota County. The Southwest Florida Water Management District funds the 5th Grade Dip Net Field Study Program through the School District of Sarasota County, and also through individual classroom Splash! Grants.

74

SCENE

|

May 2014

scenesarasota.com

Gulf Gate 5th Graders dip nets in the estuary with Kat Giguere of Around the Bend Nature Tours. The goal is to collect, identify, classify and release the organisms in the grass flats of Sarasota Bay. Non-formal education has had resurgence in the last 10

ident of Conservation Foundation. “This land was saved

years. Research indicates that learning outside of the

to provide community access to Little Sarasota Bay and

classroom setting benefits both teachers and students.

educational programs such as these connect students in

A 2010 report by the Center for Advancement of Infor-

a deeper, more meaningful way to the environment.”

mal Science Education funded by a National Science Foundation grant states that formal-informal collabora-

Grades K-2 participate in the Crab Inquiry field study

tions can enhance students’ and teachers’ conceptual

in which they hear the story “Why the Crab Has No

understanding of science, improve student achievement,

Head”, observe and compare fiddler crabs, go on a

strengthen students’ attitude toward the natural world,

nature walk and a shoreline exploration. Grades 3-4

and help teachers integrate inquiry and new materials

participate in an Ecosystems Study where they become

into the classroom.

Osprey in a role-playing game, determine native and exotic plants as well as producers and consumers on

Before the Conservation Foundation stepped up with

a nature walk, and compare data at three stations at

their bay front field trip site, schools from as far south

Bay Preserve. Grades 5 and up participate in a Dip

as North Port would have to travel all the way to Ken

Net study in which they walk into the grass flats with

Thompson Park northwest of downtown Sarasota to par-

nets and collect organisms, then identify and classi-

ticipate in estuary studies. More time was spent on the

fy them using dichotomous keys. The SWFWMD 5th

bus than in the field. It has been a relief to teachers to

Grade Dip Net Program includes the Water Wonders

shorten the time on the bus and maximize the teaching

game in which students become water molecules and

on the ground.

cycle through the water cycle, and then write about their journey.

Taking advantage of the Bay Preserve site in Osprey are several grade levels from nine different schools in south

Teacher feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

Sarasota County including Lamarque Elementary 3rd and

One teacher wrote, “I absolutely loved these activities.

5th grade, Toledo Blade Elementary 5th grade, Cranber-

I wish I had more time in the classroom to teach like

ry Elementary 1st and 5th grade, Gulf Gate Elementary

this!”

Kindergarten and 5th grade, Laurel Nokomis School 4th and 7th grade, Oak Park South special needs school and

Collaborations like this benefit each partner’s mission,

the Fundamentals of Biology class from State College of

but more importantly by utilizing the strengths and ideas

Florida, Venice Campus with Dr. Andrew Swanson.

of each entity, collaborations keep costs down and maximize the potential outcomes for our students. After all

“We are delighted that Bay Preserve can be a great re-

that is why we are collaborating: for the students, they

source for this program,” notes Christine Johnson, Pres-

are the future of our community.

scenesarasota.com

May 2014

|

SCENE

75

76

SCENE

|

May 2014

scenesarasota.com

Scenes from an Interview:

Engineering a Beautiful Life:

Dr. Fritz Faulhaber

by Gus Mollasis

Throw away the stereotypes that you may have had about engineers. I have. Because the minute I met Dr. Fritz Faulhaber at his magnificent home, it was not the grandness of his manor that blew me away, it was the easy, down-home manner of Fritz and his beautiful wife Ping that made any typecast I had of engineers go right out the door. This is a couple who are on the same page in the book of their successful lives, and they have created each chapter with such incredible passion while keeping laser-like vision on all of life’s intimate and important details. From walking their little dog, to working on their next life-altering idea, to taking a little time each day to smell and nurture the flowers and plants in their personal one-acre garden of Eden, the Faulhabers are a powerful force. For all the comforts his hard work have afforded him, Dr. Fritz Faulhaber could have chosen to rest on his laurels. No, not this humble man with a brilliant mind and playful sense of humor. Learning about his life, beautifully engineered by education, passion and perseverance, what fuels Fritz Faulhaber became clear to me, as we chatted on a sunny afternoon and took a look at some scenes from an interview of his life.

Where were you born?

I was born near Stuttgart, Germany.

What is the greatest thing that your parents taught you?

I think perseverance. Both of them went through tremendous experiences at the end of World War II when they became refugees. They persevered. It didn’t matter what happened, you had to go on and do the things necessary to keep body and soul together. That was instilled in me. And also a degree of frugality, you should have seen my mother’s refrigerator. She saved every little bit of everything she ever ate.

(Laughs) You’d have to go over to her house and clean out the refrigerator every so often. It stays with me to this day.

I’m fortunate to have a great deal more means, but when I have alternatives, I definitely pick the more frugal one.

Finish the sentence: As a child I could most often be found…

Outside. I grew up in a small farming community in Germany. My mother would say good-bye to me in the morning and hello to me when I came back. It was filled with spending time with the farmers. My favorite place was the baking shop. The baker liked me. It was a small town up on a hill that would roll down into a valley. They had the water processing and sewage plant down at the bottom and they had open pipes. As kids, we’d slide down the pipe all the way down the hill. Of course coming home wasn’t such a happy experience. (Laughing) scenesarasota.com

Regarding your education, how early in your life was a good education stressed to you?

As long ago as I could comprehend. My father had a PhD in Engineering. My Aunt had two PhDs, one in math and one in biology. It was never actually said out loud, but you knew the implication was that if you didn’t get your PhD you were going to be the goat or the black sheep in the family. And my brother got his PhD as well. It was just assumed that you would get your PhD. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

It pretty much was always going to be in the business world and technology. My father was a very dominant, very bright, creative person and I looked up to him like nobody’s business. I was headed that way from the time I was 8-years-old.

I absolutely knew that I wanted to be an engineer.

Where did you matriculate while an undergrad?

I ended up in the United States and went to Shaker Heights High School near Cleveland. I came to the US when I was 10-years-old on the USS United States in the middle of December. I spoke no English. I didn’t know I was an immigrant. I just thought I was coming to visit.

For undergrad, I attended Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh.

Where did you receive your PhD? I stayed at Carnegie Mellon for my PhD. I received my May 2014

|

SCENE

77

electrical engineering undergraduate and I was given the opportunity to receive my mechanical engineering degree in one year, so I received two undergraduate degrees in five years, which I thought was a pretty good deal, especially given that we make motors (family business). I was a research assistant until a couple of years into my master’s degree. Once I received my masters, I was employed by the University under a grant given to Carnegie Mellon by the US Department of Transportation. They paid me a reasonable salary – so why leave?

Talk to me about America’s children. What do you think is missing the most in their upbringing and education?

I think clearly that the sciences, the engineering, the hands-on kind of experiences, instead of the virtual experiences, are missing. What I did as a kid was absolutely hands-on. You rebuilt engines; you built rockets; you experimented with all kinds of stuff. (Smiling and laughing) And you learned through that. Today a lot of kids don’t have any experiences with that at all. Part of it is simply that society, in general, has become much more risk adverse. You just don’t let the kids out. You don’t let them play with gasoline. It’s gotten very much risk adverse.

Kids play in a virtual environment. And that’s one of the reasons why I won’t buy science equipment for schools that use simulators. You can make the world behave perfectly on a computer, but the world is messy. The world doesn’t behave perfectly. It gives the wrong impression, especially in terms of science.

Ping Faulhaber joins the conversation: Ever since I married my husband, I have heard him talk about the way the education system teaches kids with regard to science. He says we are teaching kids in the text book phase. You can learn more easily by actually doing things. For example, riding a bicycle. You can’t learn that in a book or video, you need to get on the bike and ride. The way science is taught in school is very much the text book way. They really don’t have an experiment aspect. We have been big proponents for science and believe it is very important for moving society forward. That’s why when we formed our foundation, even before the STEM standards emphasizing Science, Technology, Engineering and Math came out, we believed in emphasizing science utilizing experience-oriented teaching with hands-on experiments.

Was there one mentor along the way that showed you the way?

My mother Ella was the consummate businesswoman.

She was from a northern part of Germany that is now Poland. Her family was very business-oriented. She definitely turned out that way herself. My early business lessons were really more from my mother than my father. She would talk more of how you turn creative thoughts into a company.

If you could write a brief theory for success for the child born in today’s world, what would it be?

It’s a little bit based on my experience in life. Certainly you

78

SCENE

|

May 2014

need the perquisites, education, some degree of health, but I always say persistence pays off. It’s as simple as that.

You just don’t give up. A lot of things we have done, even in our company, have taken years and years and years. I think kids give up too easily because we have an instant gratification stimulation society at this point. Disappointment is not an option because you can just do something else. I can tell you a quick story from last week when I was in Germany, from one of our customers who is making pumps for hearts. They introduce this pump into the heart through one of your arteries and it takes over part of the function of the heart. Basically it gives your heart a chance to rest from hours to months at a time. It’s not an artificial heart, but it’s an assist. It’s a VAD – a Ventricular Assist Device. We worked with this company for 12 years before they finally got a product on the market. It’s a product that’s saving a lot of lives, but it took 12 years! These folks stayed at it. We supported them with motor technology.

They didn’t quit after four years because they weren’t getting pay checks. They went for a long time and we stayed with them because we recognized that sort of persistence is necessary in our kind of business.

You were integral in the G. Wiz Science Museum and the creation of the FAB LAB. What was the best thing about that project?

It was probably the many compliments we’ve received.

It was really well accepted, and we will do generation number two of the FAB LAB. So many people were telling us that they were so grateful that they had such a facility. We had artists, architects and school groups – lots of people gave us great feedback.

What was your dream and vision for the G. Wiz Science Museum FAB LAB? (G. Wiz Science Museum closed in 2013) The idea was that we have arrived at an age and place where you can literally, with a minimum of skills, make anything.

If you have an idea of what you want and you can describe that idea to a computer, which is a discipline in itself, you can make it. You can 3-D print it; you can use machinery to generate it; you can use lasers to cut it; you can do nearly anything. And that’s part of the fun of what we would call personal manufacturing. You no longer are concerned about making a million of something. You’re making one just exactly the way you want for your purpose.

Why didn’t the G. Wiz Science Museum ultimately work in this town?

It had everything to do with the management of that entity. It just was poorly, poorly managed.

Is there room in this city of arts for a building and project dedicated to teaching kids the importance of science?

There is a tremendous void. We have Mote Marine and Selby Gardens and they are wonderful, but we don’t have anything right now in one building that fits the needs of scenesarasota.com

the kids as it relates to experimenting with science. We provide free experiment kits for school teachers so that kids can experiment with science like gravity and chemistry, and we have been doing that since 2006. We believe in providing these types of experiences to people. We now have our G. Wiz FAB LAB equipment back and we are actually looking for a location for it. We plan on building a science center that will initially be around 10,000 square feet and which will grow in size with continually changing environments and exhibits. We estimate it will be 40-50,000 square feet of a purpose built facility. It will be called the Sun Coast Science Center.

Tell me about the first time you met your wife, Ping.

When she applied for a job. She applied for an engineering job for my company in St. Petersburg and we hired her. So actually, as the joke goes, “She was working for me, and now, of course, I’m working for her.” (We share a laugh) What started the spark in each of you about each other?

What started the spark? Look at her.

Ping: We have a lot in common and a similar way of looking at things and what’s important in life. We are both very family-oriented. I think what did it for both of us was when we are on field trip in China. We ended up on the bus together for four or five hours and we just talked and we figured out that we were pretty darn compatible.

You are both very philanthropic. Tell us why you give so much back to the community and the causes that you support passionately.

We support a number of causes but our main interest is in hands-on science and hands-on technology. The more kids and young people that we can get interested in careers in science, the better everybody is going to be. It’s kind of like that old story, “Give a man a fish and he can eat for the day. Teach him how to fish and he eats for life.”

I think there are too many fish passed out and not enough lessons in fishing. It’s what motivated us and it is what made the US a very special place – that development and that ability to utilize science and technology to achieve wonderful things.

Ping: People often ask me why I came to America. I came for my graduate studies but I stayed for the opportunity that America provides. With this opportunity, you can work hard and use your talents to achieve things. Not everyone achieves success, but at least you have an opportunity.

What is the greatest attribute that an entrepreneur must have?

Again I go back to persistence and the ability to take risks. You have to be able to work those 24-hour days and you have to be able to put your house on the line in the end to be successful. Most entrepreneurs who started from zero did exactly that. scenesarasota.com

What is the greatest skill that a man of the sciences must have to succeed?

This is not my quote but I remember someone telling me this. The most famous or important words in science are not “EUREKA!” It’s “Hmmm, that’s funny.” Curiosity above nature is the number one ingredient that defines the scientist. He has to be curious as to what nature is dishing out.

As a kid from Detroit, naturally I’m interested in manufacturing, especially about things having to do with motors. Tell me what your business MICROMO (Micro Motion Solutions) is all about.

What we do is a variety of things. We do custom micro motion solutions for markets such as medical, aerospace, defense and robotics in North America. We have a tradition and history that started decades ago in Germany. My father, Dr. Fritz Faulhaber Sr., invented the FAULHABER coil. And from that, a new industry was born that produces millions of motors today. I’m very proud of our heritage and what we have accomplished.

Our motors are used around the world, including right here in Sarasota, where they are used in the DaVinci Robot at Sarasota Memorial Hospital.

The Faulhaber Group’s trademark states “We create motion.” What is it actually that you do create?

We are very diverse. Our motors are in robots, they are in ball bearings for watches, they are used throughout the medical industry in places like ultrasound scanning, medical robotics, portable and handheld medical pumps as well as feeding pumps just to name a few. There are too many to name.

Much of your success can be attributed to what guiding principle or mantra?

“We create motion” is probably the most famous three words that we live by. We do spend a lot of time talking about ethics and quality. Most of our production is in Europe so we talk about the environment and doing things the right way when it comes to people, products, whatever. We try to do it the right way. And because of that, I never have trouble sleeping.

Describe yourself in a sentence: My name is Fritz Faulhaber and I...

I’m proud to make things that help people. And I’m proud to have the family and community that I do.

If you were given the task and the money, could you bring back a city like Detroit to its former glory?

Yes I think so. I would do the same thing that I would do with a company and that is to first downsize and then sanitize. Downsize as much as possible. Get rid of all the junk that you can. Clean the place up and then create centers of excellence where you can draw like-minded people together to move it forward. That’s what I do in my business. It’s not any different.

May 2014

|

SCENE

79

So you would consider being the next mayor of Detroit?

No thank you. (Laughing) What is the best way to turn America into a stronger manufacturing power again?

That’s a very difficult mission because we have lost so much of our manufacturing expertise to other places.

There aren’t that many high school graduates these days who want to go and build something together in a factory.

The only thing that I can see that would save the manufacturing base in the United States is: a) development and use of advanced technologies and b) the relatively good business conditions that could be created that are currently not created. The Faulhaber Group has a lot of companies in Switzerland. We have more employees there than anywhere else in the world. It is such a difference how you are treated in Switzerland. You’re not seen as the enemy, you’re seen as partner. They come, they talk to you and say, “What can we do for you?” “We’re here to help you succeed and by you succeeding, we will succeed.” They give you all sorts of help. Someone from the government will even help you find a good employee. Here, I have never seen a mayor or anyone come to my business and say, “Hey, how can I help you.”

Do you agree with Einstein’s often quoted line that, “Imagination is more important than knowledge?”

No, not really. I would counter that with the idea of a prepared mind. Without a prepared mind, you’re not going to be able to imagine that idea. It’s just not free.

How do you know when you have an idea that will work and when do you know that it is time to move on?

It’s actually fairly easy. If nobody wants to buy it, move on. (Laughing) Describe your typical working day.

My typical working day is dealing with Europe in the morning and the USA in the afternoon. Since I run the Faulhaber Group that employs about 1500 people most of whom are in Europe, I do all my European stuff, my video conferences, phone calls in the morning. In the afternoon I concentrate on investments in the company and the sales here in the US. It stays with you 24/7 when it’s your own company.

How do you relax?

I like to read a lot and mess around in the lab with stuff not related to the business. I look at the beach. I’ll show you what I do love to do, and that is spend time in my garden across the way.

What is your greatest strength and what is something that you need to work on?

(Ping Laughs.)

My strong suit is my cerebral or intellectual curiosity and my weak point is my lack of spending time on physical activities.

If you could do anything else in your life for a living, what would it be?

This may sound really strange, but I would be a kinetic sculptor. I would create things like big mobiles, things that are really cool that have motion.

What is your definition of success?

I think for me, the definition of success is that because of our time here, we left the planet a better place.

Are you a spiritual or religious man?

No. Were you as a child?

My parents made me go to church. They didn’t go, but I had to go. (Laughs) You live in a massive and beautiful estate. What does your home mean to you?

It’s like a lover. It makes you happy every time you see it.

And that’s the way I feel about this house because of what we put into it. That’s the way I feel about the garden, and last but not least, that’s the way I feel about my wife Ping.

At the end of your life when all the engines stop running, how do you want to be remembered?

Obviously, fondly. More than that it relates to what I think is success. If people would say, “He made a difference to me, to us, to everybody,” that would be a great satisfaction for me.

Where does your apparently optimistic attitude come from? You are an optimist right?

An optimist is a person who says the cup is half full. A pessimist is a person who says the cup is half empty. An engineer like me says, “The cup is the wrong size.”

Writer’s note: After the interview, I joined Fritz for a tour of his “Mothers’ Gardens,” named after his mother and Ping’s mother.

Here, I saw a man interested in the beauty and magnificence of nature, where his curiosity can grow free and be constantly piqued by a changing environment. As he told me, “It’s always changing and it’s always different every day. You just have to look.”

DIAMONDS ALONG THE HIGHWAY Catch Gus Mollasis every second Thursday of the month on Florida’s number one PBS station WEDU and discover Florida’s Diamonds. Proudly Presented by Scene Magazine & Premier Sotheby’s International Realty.

May 8th 8:30pm – Embracing Our Differences 80

SCENE

|

May 2014

scenesarasota.com

SOCIAL

AJC Human Relations Award Dinner AJC (American Jewish Committee) honored its Executive Director, David Harris, with AJC’s 2014 Human Relations Award at a gala dinner at Michael’s On East. In addition, AJC Regional Vice President, Gerri Aaron received AJC’s prestigious Legacy of Leadership Award. Nearly 300 guests packed the ballroom to honor these remarkable humanitarians and to support AJC, the oldest human rights organization in the U.S. Event chairs were Larry and Debbie Haspel and Matt & Lisa Walsh, with Bea Friedman as honorary dinner chair. The evening highlight was a surprise $100,000 gift by Marilyn and Irving Naiditch to AJC in honor of AJC Regional Director Brian Lipton’s dedication and passion, which has resulted in new heights of success for the Region. The dinner netted $500,000, making it the most successful

Andy Maass & Brian Lipton

Photos by Cliff Roles

Marv Albert & Gerri Aaron

Stuart Siegel, Anne Virag & Bart Levenson

Jules & Sheila Rose

Marilyn & Irv Naiditch

THE CAST OF HERO: THE MUSICAL, PHOTO BY GARY SWEETMAN

fundraising gala for the West Coast Florida Region of AJC to date.

“ FRESH, FUNNY, AND

SIMPLY FANTASTIC ” CHICAGO SUN TIMES

REGIONAL PREMIERE

Book and Concept by Aaron

Thielen| Music and Lyrics by MICHAEL MAHLER Directed and Choreographed by DAVID H. BELL

ASOLO REPERTORY THEATRE

941.351.8000 | ASOLOREP.ORG

NOW PLAYING–JUNE 1 scenesarasota.com

May 2014

|

SCENE

81

EDUCATION

Education Matters

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

There’s no denying the facts – the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee is growing fast. They’ve been around since 1975 but it’s in the past decade that lots of exciting things are happening one after another. They no longer share buildings with New College. They’ve become separately accredited, meaning they can award their own four-year degrees. They have the lowest state university tuition in Florida. There’s a new biology major which features science labs housed at Mote Marine Laboratory.

A lot of the reason why there are so many impressive new things happening at USFSM is because of dedicated academic administrators like Dr. Bonnie Jones, a woman who began her second academic career there in 2005 after putting in a full 30 years of work in Ohio at the high school and university level.

While Jones has served as USFSM’s Regional Vice Chancellor for Academic & Student Affairs for some time now, she’s soon moving back to her original position at USFSM, Director of Institutional Research. What that means is that her next role will be to provide any kind of support needed for people in leadership roles. Generating environmental scans, compiling information on what kind of new programs are needed, finding partnership opportunities, and gathering assessment information are just some of the myriad of things she’ll be asked to do. It’s a position that keeps busy, Jones admits. But it plays right into her wide range of strengths and interests.

Jones has always been involved in education. While she passed through grades k-12, her father served as a high school principal. This meant she was always around high schools herself. At one point, she assumed she, too, would one day be a high school principal like her father. When the time came to look for principal jobs, those opportunities simply didn’t pan out. “They thought I was too young,” she recalls about that time in

82

SCENE

|

May 2014

scenesarasota.com

Dr. Bonnie Jones

her life. The people who actually got those principal jobs were decades older, she realized. Yet one of her Ph.D. advisors saved the day by mentioning that higher education looked more favorably on young female candidates than did k-12 districts, and that’s exactly where she got her start.

“The next thing on my plate,” she says about the impending position shift back to Institutional Research, “is to continue studying the factors that determine student success at USFSM.” A lot of people talk the talk about student success, but everyone at USFSM fervently believes it. They not only care about how the students do but they’re willing to actively help make it happen. Things like having a 15:1 student to teacher ratio help, as do so many of the noteworthy changes listed at the start of this article. The biggest project in front of her, however, is a full longitudinal success study of their first freshman class which started up in August 2013. The goal is to examine all the factors relating to a student’s ability to graduate.

Jones — and USFSM — wants to know what they do right and what they can improve on. It won’t

just be surveys about classes and professors, and a battery of student tests to find out that crucial information — though that’s surely part of it. It’ll also include comparing all the gathered information to a national and state database to see how they compare with other students and schools beyond their own walls.

The students are eager to help out with the five-year study. To even apply to USFSM to be part of that first freshman class, they had to write an essay on why they wanted to go there. “They get it,” says Jones about these 85 students. “They understand that they’re blazing a trail for future students and part of that responsibility is to be responsive to what’s required of them. Many go above and beyond.” And what they provide is important not only in terms of how to improve for next year, but for the years and decades beyond that.

This really ties into what the state of Florida is doing. It used to be that the more students a school took in, the more public money the university received. With all the belt-tightening at the state and national level, the new standard is quality over quantity. Funds are to be allocated according to outcomes such as post-graduation job placements, salaries for those jobs, overall graduation rate, etc.

Another reason USFSM is doing so well is because of its Pillars of Intellectual Engagement, which express the qualities every student graduating from USFSM should be able to capably demonstrate. These six pillars are critical thinking, communication, ethics, leadership, community engagement, and diversity. The faculty has paired these so that a single course can cover two related pillars. For instance, INR 3038: International Wealth and Power covers leadership and ethics. In a College of Hospitality and Technology Leadership class on International Food and Culture, Jones explains, “Students get a firm grounding in the food of the world and learn to be communally engaged by understanding and appreciating its diversity.”

The future of USFSM “is quite bright,” says Jones. While the school currently offers 42 bachelor’s and master’s degrees to 2,400 home campus students, the growing influx of freshman and the development of new programs might increase enrollment substantially. Plus there’s an opportunity to draw more students through building on-campus student housing. On the table for discussion, too, is a 10-year plan that includes a new student union and even, perhaps, a theater. If those things happen, it’ll be because people like Dr. Bonnie Jones found the need for them, proved that need with clear data and sound arguments, and then helped push the new initiatives forward. For that, current and future students will thank her.

For more information on University of South Florida — Sarasota Manatee, please visit www.usfsm.edu or call (941) 359-4200. scenesarasota.com

May 2014

|

SCENE

83

LEARNING THE TRICKS OF THE FAMILY TRADE For young businessman Donald Carlson, Jr. learning and helping to grow the family business is now the only craft he loves.

By Steven J. Smith | Photos by Daniel Perales

D

onald Carlson Jr. was performing as a magician at

the establishment of another location at 1435 E. Venice Ave.

Universal Studios a little less than two years ago when

in Venice. Donald Sr. is still at the helm, but plans to gradually

it occurred to him he might prefer coming back home

pass the baton to Donald Jr. and his sister Amanda over the next

to help run Carlson Cleaners, the family dry cleaning business.

several years, assuring the continuance of Carlson Cleaners

“I was doing about 15 magic shows a day and it got a little

into the next generation.

grueling,” Donald said. “I just kind of had an urge to leave

Carlson Cleaners’ secret to success? Donald Jr., 21, says it

that business and come back to learn the family business. I

is attention to detail, same-day service, and a laser-like focus

wanted to learn the dry cleaning business then grow it, with

on excellence. Free pick-up and delivery customers enjoy the

the aim of taking it over one day. We recently celebrated our

very special convenience of not having to make a special trip

25th anniversary, which is pretty exciting.”

to the dry cleaner. The company also uses an eco-friendly

Donald’s dad, Donald Carlson Sr., (pictured on opposite

solvent instead of harsh chemical cleaners. Carlson Cleaners

page with Donald Jr.) bought the first store on 3115 Southgate

handles a variety of household items as well comforters and

Circle in 1989 and with his experience and dedication, he

blankets, tablecloths and linens, pillows and cushions, drapes

turned it into a success. In 2008, the company’s growth inspired

and curtains, even area rugs and carpets. The company will

84

SCENE

|

May 2014

scenesarasota.com

SOCIAL

Salvation Army’s Glitz at the Ritz The 13th Annual “Glitz at the Ritz-Carlton — the Schoenbaum Humanitarian Award Luncheon — was held on March 20th.

Betty Schoenbaum introduced this year’s honorees, Alice Rau & Joyce Tate, community icons revered for their philanthropic endeavors. Salvation Army Area Commanders, Majors Ethan and Sue Frizzell, spoke about Hybrid Housing, a model of affordable options for those coming out of homelessness. The luncheon benefits the Families In Transitional Housing (FAITH) program, which helps homeless families achieve self-sufficiency and live independently.

Photos by Cliff Roles

Wendy Rose, Joyce Tate, Major Sue Frizzell & Michelle Crabtree

even move customers’ furniture for rug and carpet cleaning at no extra charge.

“I’m really passionate about our business,” Donald said. “I saw early on that our free pick-up and delivery service would be the quickest, most efficient way to grow the business, so I started knocking on doors and signing up customers. Since then we bought a new van, hired a driver, and the route is growing quickly. We offer free home or office delivery twice a

David, Molly, Alice & Norman Rau

Phil King & Ann Logan

week, and a lot of our customers love this service.”

Once the business fully passes into his hands, Donald plans to continue growing it by opening up additional stores, growing the pick-up and delivery route, and hiring more employees.

“We’ve always put special emphasis on treating our employees right,” he said. “We believe if you have happy employees you have happy customers.”

Like father, like son.

Donald welcomes the opportunity to show you the Carlson difference. Call the store at 941.955.1311, for pick-up and delivery, call 941.275.4647, or visit www.carlsoncleaners.com to learn more. scenesarasota.com

Betty Schoenbaum, Majors Ethan & Sue Frizzell Lydia McIntire & Jennifer Gemmeke May 2014

|

SCENE

85

SOCIAL

Behind the Scene

Society Maven Debbi Benedict Gives the Latest Scoop Come the first wave of heat and humidity, Poodle, and along with the hordes of Sarasota society, I am thinking of cool northern breezes. It seems like just everyone has a fabulous trip planned. What great adventure awaits you this summer?

Denise and Roberto Mei and their family have a magnificent trip planned. Denise, who I think is the happiest Realtor I know, and Roberto, who owns the yummy Café Baci, are taking son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Nicole, and daughter Lea, with her beau, James Buchanan, on a 12 day Crystal Cruise. It begins in Monte Carlo and then travels to many western European cities, including Barcelona, Spain, Lisbon, Portugal, Bilbao, Spain, and Bordeaux, France, which is an overnight stay and where Roberto has planned a trip to a favorite winery. Finally, they will disembark in Dover, England. From Dover they plan to travel to London and spend a week enjoying the city. What a divine trip! I would love to go to Monte Carlo to pay homage to one of the most beloved princesses, Princess Grace, and then end up in London where I might get to see baby Prince George. I think I may have to smuggle into one of Denise’s suitcases, or large trunk, as it may be!

Fashionable Audrey Coleman and husband, Bill, are off to Boston where they lived for many years. Did you know Boston is called “the intellectual city” for all its colleges, medical research institutions, and historic sites? They are going for the national convention of Bill’s fraternity. Audrey is looking forward to some serious shopping and getting in touch with their many old friends. Dallas is also on their itinerary this summer, where they are planning to visit their son. Audrey is hoping that it will be for his wedding and if it does happen, Audrey tells me, “We will be the happiest parents you could ever meet!” The rest of the summer they

86

SCENE

|

May 2014

scenesarasota.com

will just be resting and sitting around the pool with a cool drink and

making center in Parma and truffle hunting in the woods of Alba

going out to enjoy the many cultural activities that are here in the

on a private guided tour complete with the “trifolau” and his trusty

summer when the crowds are gone. Isn’t that always the best? I love

dog. Terri shared with me that although South Africa holds such a

to go to the theater here in the summer. It is just so easy.

special place in her heart, she’s thankful for more relaxed luggage

It seems like construction is the word for Deb Knowles and Larry Kabinoff this summer! They have just started building a new

requirements when traveling to Europe, as it was tough fitting six weeks of safari attire gear into one tiny duffle bag last year!

home on Siesta Key and are about to start a new summer home

Margaret and Bill Wise are taking part in the Asolo Rep summer

in Buena Vista, Colorado. They’ll be going up and down, as well

cruise aboard the Crystal Serenity. They will be sailing from

as back and forth, since their home in Sarasota will look out over

London to Lisbon with Asolo Rep’s most popular directors and

Sarasota Bay at sea level and their home in Colorado will look out

like-minded theater buffs, so the brochure says. On this voyage,

over mountaintops at 9000 feet of altitude. They are excited about

they’ll have the chance to visit some of the most glamorous ports

both homes, as the Sarasota home is designed for lots of parties

of Europe whose treasures mirror their breathtaking beauty.

and the Colorado home is designed for lots of visitors. I am almost

Sounds just like Margaret!

afraid to write that last sentence, as I expect now the well-shod feet

Though Dr. Arthur Guilford is gearing up to retire as Regional

of Sarasota will be beating a path to that mountain top once they

Chancellor of USFSM in January, his upcoming summer is filled to

know they are welcome! They expect both houses to be complete

the brim with travel. First it is a trip with the Dean of Hospitality

by this time next year.

and Technology Leadership and the Assistant Director of Global

The intrepid roving photographer, Cliff Roles, is planning another

Engagement to Panama and Peru to recruit students in the

solo “walkabout” this summer. Many of his friends and Facebook

Hospitality Program. They will be staying at a hotel close to Machu

followers enjoyed following his last summer’s walkabout. Cliff

Picchu that is run by the Hospitality Program in Peru. Next, he and

shared with me that he takes off with just his backpack and camera

wife, Lynn, are off to Europe for an Oceania cruise from Marseille

and will venture first to Australia for two months and then roaming

to Venice. They are particularly looking forward to visiting some

around New Zealand for a month. He assures all his many fans

smaller countries that they have not visited previously, as well as

that he will be back in Sarasota by October 1st to start capturing

going to Venice again. Arthur tells me he has wanted a series of

all the social happenings that we are all addicted to chronicling. I

Venetian masks for a long time and this just might be the time to

asked him what he was most looking forward to seeing and he told

search for a few. Their third trip will be to Key West where they

me the Outback and the wilderness, along with kangaroos, koalas,

will celebrate their son’s 40th birthday. Arthur said that he and

aborigines, Maoris, Hobbiton and Middle Earth! That’s our Cliff!

Lynn may be wearing black arm bands because it is hard for them

In the early summer, Peggy and Ken Abt will be touring

to think that they have a child who is turning the big 4-0! Their

the provincial French countryside with a couple who has been their

last trip for the summer will be to their condo in Sapphire Valley.

dear friends for almost 50 years. Their bucket list has always included

This will be a time to rest, hike, and swim, as well as visiting their

seeing the D-Day beaches, which they will do, and they are also

favorite restaurant, Canyon Kitchen. Phew! It seems like he might

looking forward to seeing Toulouse, Carcassone, Dordogne Valley,

HAVE to retire to recuperate after that busy summer!

Saumur, Mont-St. Michel, Giverny, and ending with a few extra

Sapphire, NC is the summer home of Debbie and Wayne Seitl.

days in Paris. After that, it’s on to their lakehouse in Vermont, which

They are on a small lake and Debbie tells me it is a wonderful area

Peggy shared is their family and friends gathering place. It’s a very

for hiking, golf, tennis, etc. Debbie will be gardening, baking, and

large log cabin residence and friends from Sarasota are always

playing tennis, while Wayne will be on the golf course as much as

welcome! Poodle, are you keeping track of everyone inviting us to

the weather permits. Sounds just like here! They look forward to

their summer homes? I know I am!

seeing many Sarasota faces coming to visit throughout the summer,

After a season packed with volunteer commitments, Bunny and

especially Roberto and Denise Mei, along with their family. Debbie

Mort Skirboll are heading back to Rochester, New York and the

and Wayne have been fortunate enough to have them visit on two

Finger Lakes area for the summer. They always go to Niagara on the

other occasions, and say it is always a treat to have Roberto cook for

Lake, which is a quant town just over the border in Canada. There

them. Debbie confided that Roberto might have been giving them a

they attend a play or two as part of the Shaw Festival and they love

subtle hint that their NC cookware was not up to par when he and

to have dinner at one of the fabulous wineries there. Friends always

Denise gave them a whole new set at Christmas and specified that it

play a big part of their summer, as they go to Buffalo, the Berkshires

needed to be taken to their NC home! They also anticipate making a

and Chautauqua to visit them and catch up.

trip back to Sarasota for Fourth of July week because they are still in

Late summer will see Terri and Michael Klauber returning to

the process of remodeling their downtown condo at Sarabande and

Europe to tour Northern Italy, specifically Tuscany, Verona and the

look forward to enjoying prime viewing of the fireworks from their

Veneto Region, Piedmont – the home of slow food – and a true

balcony overlooking the bayfront. Let me tell you, Poodle, watching

fashion mecca of the world, Milan. They’ll be guiding many dear

the July 4th fireworks from a downtown condo is simply the best!

friends who have traveled with them for years as part of their Gulf

For many years we were fortunate enough to be invited to Tana and

Coast Connoisseur Club journeys. The experiences that Terri is most

John Sandefur’s condo for fireworks and they appear so close that

looking forward are the interactive ones, including the Barilla pasta-

you feel like you can reach out and touch them!

scenesarasota.com

May 2014

|

SCENE

87

This summer will be a “light” travel season for Renee Hamad, or so she says. I’m not so sure about that! First, Renee will travel to Galapagos Islands with daughter, Karen, and her family. Everyone I have known who has ever travelled there, has positively loved it! Renee told me it should be exciting and different! Next trip is to Manhattan to meet her son, Mike, and his family for one week of fun - museums, plays, visits to the World Trade Center, SoHo, the zoo and knowing Renee, shopping, too! As always, she will spend three weeks on Long Beach Island, NJ at her Surf City House, where she will finally get to relax after a very busy two years as President of the Women’s Resource Center board.

Sharing the same birthday month, Susan Dabney and her good friend, are celebrating their birthdays together on her friend’s boat, Diamond Girl, a 103’ Palmer Johnson. They plan on sailing to the British Virgin Islands for a week and are looking forward to inhaling the pure salt air, soaking up the sun, and appreciating every moment with good friends, which I think is easy to do on a boat called Diamond Girl!

Improve your Image

with a Professional Portrait

Scott George tells me he and John Mason are taking a Sarasota vacation!

They want to enjoy their new home, new pool, new gardens, new dogs, and read and needlepoint, while being able to enjoy Sarasota and its beautiful beaches without the snowbirds. They have spent a lifetime traveling for business and living with second homes, so unless they can help it, they like to stay right here at home in paradise. How many others of us feel that way, too?

Now isn’t this interesting?! After visiting their new great grandson in London, Frank and Anne Folsom Smith are off to Tresco, Scilly, which is an island off Penzance. I don’t know if I have been living under a rock or what, but I have never heard of this marvelous place! Tresco is run as a timeshare business by the Dorrien-Smith family,

4367 Independence Court Sarasota, Florida 34234 BoothStudio.com Studio@BoothStudio.com

Schedule your portrait with us: 941-359-3456

which is part of Frank’s family, leasing it from the Duchy of Cornwall and in turn administering it for the crown. The family were Lord Proprietors of the Scilly Isles from 1834 to 1920. Once upon a time, Tresco was given by King Henry I to Tavistock Abbey which established a priory there. So Frank’s family has leased the land from the crown

88

SCENE

|

May 2014

scenesarasota.com

for over 200 years and have just renewed for another 100 years. It is situated in the trade-winds and was years ago the supplier for all the cut flowers in London.

Anne shared with me that it is truly a tropical paradise much like our Selby Gardens. It sounds perfectly magical!

Exploring, tasting, and meeting new

Michelle Crabtree

Realtor, Broker Associate, CLHMS, CRS, CIPS, GRI, PMN, ABR, TRC, RSPS, AHWD, SFR, GREEN

2014 Five Star Real Estate Agents “Best In Client Satisfaction” – 7 Years Women’s Council of Realtors

chefs for inspiration in the wine country

2013 “Entrepreneur of the

of Mendocino, CA is on Judi Gallagher’s

Year” & 2009 “Business

agenda this summer. It is an area she has

Woman of the Year”

never been to and she is so looking forward to visiting. A weekend in Washington,

2013 & 2007 SAR

DC and doing lots of restaurant reviews

“Meritorious Service Award”

will be coming up, while husband, Paul,

2010 Florida Realtor Honor

is attending the International Bacculureate

Society – 6 Years

North America conference. Later on they head to Rome and Sienna, Italy for work and then some cooking classes and tastings.

Judi also hopes to attend some more Springsteen concerts if the big man, Bruce, announces more. She and Paul are going to three Springsteen concerts in May! Do you think maybe they are rabid fans? A favorite for Judi is heading to New York City to the Edible Institute, where she said the seminars

2010 Director, Sarasota

Cell: 941.724.HOME (4663) Office: 941.907.9595 Email: Sales@CrabtreeHomes.com www.CrabtreeHomes.com

Association of Realtors (SAR) – 3 year term 2008 WCR Sarasota

A third generation local & Broker Sales Associate since 1982; dedicated to your needs. Serving Sarasota, Bradenton & Lakewood Ranch.

Chapter President 2005 WCR Sarasota “Realtor of the Year”

are amazing for food writers, of which, she is one of the best!

Staying in a gorgeous condo on the bay in Camden, ME for 10 days this summer sounds like a dream to uber-attorney, Jaime Wallace and Dr. Tom Akel. The very active couple is looking forward to hiking, biking and just being able to experience some of the great new restaurants! Jaime hasn’t been to Maine for over 20 years, so she

artist surgeon.”

“I was an before I was a

– Dr. Alissa Shulman

is really looking forward to it. As a long weekend, they are also going to the Windy City - Chicago. Jaime tells me Chicago has become a real foodie place and they like to investigate the newest trends.

I am dying to go to the Santa Fe Opera.

The photos from there look divine! That’s where Ina Schnell and Arthur Ancowitz are off to this summer, along with their friends, Joan Golub, Susan Brainerd, and Alan Quinby. They are intrigued to see the new opera, Dr. Sun Yat Sin, by Hermitage artist, Huang Ruo, which is being presented this season. Dr. Sun Yat-sen “depicts the epic struggle to overthrow China’s ancient monarchy and build a modern national identity for one of the world’s

BODY SCULPTING • LIPOSUCTION BREAST AUGMENTATION • BREAST LIFT TUMMY TUCKS • ARM & THIGH LIFTS

Sovereign Plastic Surgery Alissa M. Shulman M.D., F.A.C.S. Board Certified Plastic Surgeon 941.366.LIPO (5476) • www.SovereignPS.com 1950 Arlington Street, Suite 112 • Sarasota, FL 34239

oldest civilizations.” I am so happy to see scenesarasota.com

May 2014

|

SCENE

89

contemporary

opera

being

performed!

Other than that, Ina said they will also travel up to New York City for a visit and then just enjoy being home in Sarasota.

Turning Your Dreams Into An Address Wanda Martinetto REALTOR

As for me, my husband and I plan on spending the summer once again at the family farm in Vermontville, MI, a town of about 700 people, where we both grew up, which is about half way between Lansing and Grand Rapids. It is such a lovely small town existence. I get to leave my ball gowns and St. John suits back in Florida and live in

®

casual clothes for four months. Our oldest

Servicing Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota & Bradenton

daughter and her two children will spend the

Cell: 941.773.7807 Office: 941.556.0500 Email: Wanda@LuxuryLakewoodRanchHomes.com Web:

LuxuryLakewoodRanchHomes.com

month of July with us and we are planning a trip to Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes, along with our many nieces and nephews and their kids. Of course, I will not be climbing the dunes, but will be cheering everyone on, as they run up and roll down the

Keller Williams Realty 8210 Lakewood Ranch Blvd | Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated

magnificent dunes. My daughter is trying to replicate the terrific summers she had when my in-laws would take all their grandkids camping near Interlochen with all my mother-in-law’s siblings and their grandkids.

Both of my daughters loved this time when they were young and consequently are extremely close to a huge extended family

More than a printer…

Personalization

Financial Services

Healthcare

that all lived in Michigan, while they were growing up in Florida. Our grandchildren

Multi-Channel

of summers – riding the golf carts through the lanes in the corn and soy bean fields to

Direct Mail Hospitality

Business Development

are getting to experience the same kinds

Fundraising Real Estate

Self-publishing Authors

each of my husband’s sblings’ homes, along with all their second cousins, who seem like first cousins to them. Of course, my mother and sister will make sure to plan lots of

Book Publishing

Graphic Design

Tourism Business to Business

Appeals

Trade Show Marketing

Member Recruitment and Retention

possibly let my daughter and grandchildren have more fun with the Benedict side of the

Manufacturing

family than the Fedewa side of the family!

Are your families competitive like that too, or is it just my crazy family?

Higher Education

Nonprofit

outings with them, too, since they couldn’t

Copywriting

Until next time…TaTa! Collateral Printing

Make SERBIN your print marketing partner!

1500 N. Washington Blvd.

Sarasota, Florida 34236 941-366-0755 • 800-282-6192

Debbi Benedict is SCENE’s society maven and Special Issues Director. Contact Debbi at 941-483-4460 or debbibenedict@verizon.net

Mail-it DIRECT MAIL SERVICES

SerbinPrinting.com The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce PAF – Printing Association of Florida

90

SCENE

|

May 2014

AFP – Association of Fundraising Professionals PODi – Print on Demand Initiative

FPRA – Florida Public Relations Assoc.

XEROX – Premier Partner

scenesarasota.com

 & proudly present



 

June 16 16--21

  

     

 

 v 941.479.4349  e production@redgrass-creative.com TTL_14119

Residential or Commercial Shows from 17 countries, parties, workshops & more!

information | tickets registration VeniceStage.com/international

941-488-1115

Always a picture perfect job.

W

hile we are known for our highly visible commercial projects such as Riverwalk, and The Lake Club entrance. We also provide spectacular landscape for your residence.

After all, when it comes to your landscaping, nothing should be overlooked. We pay attention to details, starting with our client’s wishes, the quality of our plant material, the budget and schedule, because a job done right the first time – is cost effective.

2504 64th Street Court East Bradenton, FL 34208

941.745.2101 www.turnertree-landscape.com

Final

May 2014

SOCIAL

Under The Roof at The Circus Arts Conservatory The Circus Arts Conservatory recently launched its Under The Roof Capital Campaign in conjunction with the Sailor Circus 65th Anniversary Show LEGACY – to raise funds for air conditioning and renovations inside the Sailor Circus Arena, a full-time training facility for circus arts in Sarasota. The kickoff hosted 100 VIP Circus Supporters and included cocktails, delicious hors d’oeuvres from Pier 22, and admission to “The Greatest Little Show On Earth.”

Photos by Cliff Roles

Jane Bennett, Jennifer Mitchell & Sally Schule

Vince & Marge Maisto, Dolly Jacobs, Janet & Randy Ginn

Marcia Jean Taub & Linda McKnight

Shirley Brown & Linda Carson

Roxie & Tom Jerde

DVF LOUIS VUITTON JOHN HARDY MICHAEL KORS BLANQUE EILEEN FISHER

SAIL INTO

STYLE! 1922 BAY ROAD, SARASOTA 34239 | 941.926.3335 CARATSFINEJEWELRYANDWATCHES.COM

92

SCENE

|

May 2014

941.922.5535 | laurajeansconsignments.com 3830 S. Tuttle Ave. | Bee Ridge and Tuttle | TJ Maxx Plaza scenesarasota.com

SOCIAL

Silver Lining Gala – From Victims to Victories The first annual Silver Lining Gala – From Victims to Victories was recently held at Michael’s On East to benefit Sarasota Memorial Hospital Cancer Treatment Programs and to help uninsured cancer patients. Thirteen local survivors were honored among a crowd of family, friends, physicians and fans for not only conquering cancer, but for their contributions in giving back and making a difference in their community. Mistress of Ceremonies Joy Weston gave each honoree a heartfelt tribute accompanied a photo tribute. Yulonda Greene, Director of Patient Care Services of SMHCS Institute for Cancer Care, Center for Wound Healing and Spiritual Care Services spoke about new cancer treatment developments and SMHF CEO Alex Quarles and Florida Cancer Specialists’ prominent Oncologist Dr. Richard Brown spoke about the services that SMH provides it patients. Photos by David Dessauer

Dorthy Thomas & Diana Houston

Angela Long, Scott George & Bambi Famous Kane

Valerie & Timothy Blomquist

Kelly & Scott Engel

Pam Kelly & Katrina Turgeon

BlackTie

TREE SERVICES

941.894.7977

TREE SERVICES

941.894.7977

scenesarasota.com

TREE

SERVICES May 2014

|

SCENE

93

HEALTH MATTERS

You’re Never “Too Old” for Orthodontics

By Matthew S. Baker, DDS, MS There is a common misconception that adults are “too old” for Orthodontics. That could not be further from the truth! We have patients of every age at our office and nationwide over 25% of all Orthodontic patients are adults. Today, technology has greatly improved and we are able to offer treatment options to all patients no matter their age.

If you want the big, beautiful smile you have always dreamed of, chances are we can

Matthew S. Baker, DDS, MS Baker Orthodontics

make it happen. Our office is specifically designed with all age groups in mind enabling patients to find their visits pleasurable and comfortable.

There are various treatment options available to patients today allowing individuals

5911 N. Honore Ave, Ste. 222,

to select what best meets their personal needs. We have traditional metal braces that

Sarasota, FL 34243

most are familiar with and which are now smaller and lower profile than ever before. For

941.355.3808 DrBakerOrthodontics.com

our creative patients, we offer Wild Smiles® – fun-shaped brackets that come in shapes, like hearts, flowers, and stars. All of these brackets can be complimented with colored elastics that are changed at each monthly appointment, allowing patients to have even more fun while going through braces.

For patients who want a more aesthetic look, there are several options. Clear Radiance™ braces are not the cloudy ceramic braces of old that many people remember.

They use a newer technology that enables the brackets to be created from a single crystal of pure grown sapphire, which gives a truly transparent look. There are also tooth colored wires to help add to the aesthetic appearance. We find these are a wonderful option for patients who require traditional Orthodontics but would like to be more discrete during treatment.

Then there is the Invisalign® system for less extensive Orthodontic correction. Invisalign® has gained popularity over the years and many people are now familiar with this treatment type involving clear removable aligners instead of braces. This can be a great option for patients with less complex correction needs or who were previously treated as a child and have had tooth shifting from not wearing retainers. Not everyone is a candidate for Invisalign®, which is why we find it key to offer a variety of other treatment options.

Regardless of your thoughts and concerns about Orthodontics, we encourage all patients to schedule a consultation. The consultation at our office is always complimentary and we get a chance to simply talk about your smile. What do you like about your smile?

What do you want to change about your smile? All of the applicable treatment options and the benefits of each type are presented. Orthodontics has come a long way in the last several decades and treatment types have extensively changed. It is said that a smile is worth a thousand words, and research indicates that one of the most important aspects of a person’s appearance and persona is their smile. Today, it is never too early or late to get the smile that you have always wanted!

94

SCENE

|

May 2014

scenesarasota.com

HEALTH MATTERS

From Degeneration to Regeneration: It’s a New Generation

By Dr. James Leiber, D.O.

Dr. James Leiber, D.O. practices at Bradenton East Integrative Medicine located at 8614 East State Road 70 Suite 200 Bradenton, FL 34202 941-727-1243 beimonline.com

scenesarasota.com

Did you ever wonder how your body heals itself from injury? Or why it doesn’t heal and develops chronic pain? And why are we so complacent about getting replacements or surgery of our body parts? It certainly has become commonplace.

In the last decade, the number of total knee replacements performed annually in the United States has doubled, with disproportionate increases among younger adults. While total knee replacement is a highly effective treatment for end-stage knee osteoarthritis, total knee replacement recipients can experience persistent pain and severe complications. By the year 2030, knee replacements are expected to increase by 673% and revisions by 601%.

Despite being one of the most commonly performed procedures in this country, arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (for meniscus tears) lacks good evidence to support its use. Spinal fusion for arthritis in the low back is a similar story; evidence to support its use is limited at best and severe persistent pain after surgery or return of pain over time is not uncommon. Is this really the best that modern medicine can do?

Let’s go back to how normal healing occurs. All of our body tissues are struggling with constant wear and tear versus growth and healing. Micro-damage occurs all of the time. The normal tissue healing response is to send over platelets from the blood and to stop bleeding if present. Platelets then initiate the three phases of healing: inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. Many growth factors are released from the platelets and serve as signals to orchestrate and organize the resources needed to repair the damage and regenerate new tissue. Stem cells (immature cells that can ultimately turn into any type of tissue when signaled appropriately) are also called to the area.

Sometimes this process is impaired and unable to overcome the forces of degeneration.

Two common forms of degenerative conditions that result in chronic pain are osteoarthritis (OA) and tendinopathy. OA develops when there is an imbalance between the normal synthesis and breakdown of cartilage leading to pain and joint stiffness. Common sites include: the neck, low back, hips, knees, big toe, and thumb. It affects 30% of people ages 45 to 64, and 68% of those over age 65. Tendinopathy is a form of chronic pain that affects tendons which are the connections of muscle to bone. It is common in recreational and professional athletes and with occupational repetitive motion. Common tendons affected include: achilles, patellar (Jumper’s knee), hamstring, elbow (Golfer’s elbow and Tennis elbow), rotator cuff of the shoulder, and abductor cuff of the hip.

Once conservative options have failed, what exists besides surgery for these chronic degenerative conditions? With its origin in the concepts of prolotherapy (injection of irritants into ligaments as a way to stimulate inflammation and reengage the healing cascade), Regenerative Medicine has continued to gain favor. As an expansion of this concept, concentrated platelets from the blood (platelet rich plasma therapy also known as PRP) or stem cells from one’s bone marrow can be placed with strategic precision in these areas of tissue damage to stimulate healing and regeneration. In promising soon-to-be published research, patients with knee OA showed that 90 to 95 percent feel an average of 60 percent improvement up to three years later even with advanced arthritis when patients were treated with their own bone marrow derived stem cells. In tracking more than 1000 patients for up to 5 years, stem cells administered through image guided injections through the skin were shown to be extremely safe.

As for tendinopathies, physicians have traditionally tried using oral anti-inflammatory medications and injectable steroids. The rationale for these treatments has been recently questioned with evidence of detrimental effects on tendon healing and strength. PRP injections have been proposed as a promising alternative. One study investigating the use of ultrasound guided PRP injections for tendinopathies resulted in 82% of patients reporting moderate to complete improvement in symptoms.

So, if you suffer from OA or tendinopathy related chronic pain, the first step to improving your quality of life is to talk to an experienced physician who can discuss the full gamut of treatment options with you. I suggest exhausting your options and leaving surgery as a last resort.

May 2014

|

SCENE

95

LOCALLY

NEWS SHAPING

OUR COMMUNITY 2014 REGIONAL SCIENCE FAIR AWARD WINNERS

SCF FOUNDATION NAMES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The area’s most promising young scientists, engineers and inventors won monetary awards, other prizes, and – for two top-scoring high school students – a chance to compete in the international arena at the 25th annual Regional Science, Engineering and Technology Fair Awards. Susan Scott, executive director of the Education Foundation of Sarasota County, presented first place awards in each category in elementary (grades 3-5), middle (grades 6-8) and high school (grades 9-12). The two overall winners, Cardinal Mooney’s Courtney Astore and Sarasota High’s Rebecca Elsishans, will represent Sarasota County next month at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, all expenses paid by the Education Foundation.

The Dart Foundation Award for Medicine & Health was presented to Natalie Olson. The Dart Foundation Inspiration Award went to Courtney Astore, one of the two overall winners of the Science Fair for the second year in a row. Two Faulhaber Foundation Prizes for the Scientific Exploration of Nature were awarded to Jerry Allen DeBusk, Suncoast Polytechnical High and North Port High’s Kaitlyn West. Omar Y. Cooper Student Achievement Awards were presented to Pine View junior James Niffenegger and Sarasota High junior Rebecca Elsishans.

Over the next year, both will be able to meet other scientists, explore future education and career options, and do advanced research. EdFoundation.net

Cassandra Holmes has been named the new executive director of the State College of Florida (SCF) Foundation Inc. Holmes, a Bradenton resident, was most recently the development director for the Manatee Community Foundation, where she was responsible for generating more than $100,000 in operating and corporate sponsorships each year and $18 million in new assets.

She also oversaw the establishment of more than $8 million in new donor legacy funds. scffoundation.net

THE SARASOTA MUSIC CLUB AWARDS 2014 MUSIC SCHOLARSHIPS The Sarasota Music Club has selected eight music students to receive a combined $19,000 in 2014 Music Scholarship support to further their music studies. Winners of $3,000 scholarships are: Maria Wirries, soprano; Philip Hall, viola; and Natasha Snyder, violin. Sara Morich, flute, was awarded $2,500. Three students selected to receive $2,000 scholarships are: Ryan Brown, baritone saxophone; Logan Knutson, cello; and Nick McConnaughey, percussion. Cindy Grimes, piano, will receive a $1,500 scholarship.

USFSM MAINTAINS PRESTIGIOUS AACSB BUSINESS ACCREDITATION The College of Business at USF Sarasota-Manatee has maintained its business accreditation by AACSB International— The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

AACSB Accreditation is the hallmark of excellence in business education, and has been earned by less than five percent of the world’s business programs. usfsm.edu

96

SCENE

|

May 2014

SAINT STEPHEN’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL HAS BIG WIN AT STATE LATIN FORUM Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School (SSES) Students are celebrating after the Junior Division Latin team, thirteen 7th graders and two 8th Graders, made school history. For the first time ever, a Saint Stephen’s Latin team won first place at the Florida Junior Classical League (FJCL) Forum in the Academics Competition. The team of fifteen also placed 3rd in the overall competition and the Novice (Level 1) Certamen team came in 5th place. saintstephens.org.

GIVING MATTERS PRESENTS YOUTH PHILANTHROPY LEADERSHIP AWARD The Giving Matters 2014 Youth Philanthropy Leadership award was presented to Clarissa Liu and Carly Grimes, both seniors at Pine View, at the Annual Gems of Philanthropy Luncheon. The award recognizes high school students who have influenced the community and their peers through outstanding philanthropic efforts. The winners received a $2,000 prize to be awarded as a $1,000 scholarship to the winner’s choice of a post-secondary educational institution and a $1,000 contribution to her choice of a local nonprofit organization. cydonline.org

NORTH PORT HIGH SCHOOL EARNS TOP HONOR AT 2014 STEMSMART HIGH SCHOOL SUMMIT The three high schools that have been a part of Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s Stemsmart Education Initiative since its 2010 launch took the top three spots at last Friday’s Stemsmart High School Summit, hosted at Sarasota County Technical Institute.

North Port High School was crowned the overall 2014 Stemsmart High School Summit Champion. Finishing in second place overall this year was Venice High School, while Lemon Bay High School, the only Charlotte County school to compete, earned third place.

The Stemsmart High School Summit was funded by Gulf Coast Community Foundation. stemsmart.org. scenesarasota.com

cene

LITERARY S

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

The Second Letter by Robert Lane

(Mason Alley Publishing, softcover, 324 pages, $14.95).

Robert Lane’s debut novel features a wisecracking sleuth named Jack Travis who gets embroiled in the mystery behind a decades-old, unopened letter that’s somehow related to a CIA agent’s death in 1961. It’s fifty years later, and now Travis is asked by an ex-Army colonel to retrieve a stolen Cold War letter. How can he refuse? The colonel helped out his clever, fearless girlfriend, Kathleen, back when her deceased husband ran with the mob, and those criminals had become suspicious of her knowledge of their activities. She needed a new identity fast and the colonel saved her.

Set in West Florida, this book has some local flavor and appeal, yet that’s not all. A Tampa strip-club owner. The CIA. The IRS. Smuggling. Trafficking. Dirty politics. The Second Letter book has a lot going on — including a sizable cast of characters — but Lane never loses control of this high-stakes, fast-paced Florida crime caper. Fans of Michael Connelly, Ace Atkins, and Dennis Lehane will likely find Lane’s book satisfying in how it hits on all the right notes of a truly suspenseful story. And don’t worry — the fate of everyone who ever touched the letter will indeed be revealed along with all the other secrets you’re teased with throughout the text.

If Lane’s dynamic style of writing works for you, don’t worry about getting more from this debut author. He’s already hard at work on two new books. Scheduled for a fall release is a new Jake Travis book entitled Cooler Than Blood where Travis is tasked with finding a missing girl but his search puts him in a battle to protect Kathleen from her past. After that is another Travis book where an assassin disguises himself as a church cardinal.

For more information on Robert Lane or The Second Letter, please visit www.robertlanebooks.com

Odd Remains by Ginna Wilkerson (Eleusinian Press, softcover, 84 pages, $14.95).

A professor during my graduate school years at Florida State University once said, “Poetry is not big box office,” and he’s right. But that’s part of the beauty of poetry — with so little money in it, it’s one of the purest art forms there is. And that appreciation of beauty without sensationalism or consumerism is at the heart of this, Wilkerson’s first collection of poetry.

Odd Remains is an apt title for this book — the poems here indeed uncover the “odd” that “remains” when the veneer of the everyday is stripped away. There is beauty here, though it’s steeped in yearning and absence that somehow suggests a deep, rich past. Here’s a poem in its entirety that illustrates that phenomenon.

Lilies in the Window She breathes the indigo night air from a shadowy corner, angled to see — without being seen.

scenesarasota.com

May 2014

|

SCENE

97

Seven stark white lilies spread frost over the still room — far distant, a tangerine sunset casts embers over auburn fields.

A quickening of the night air quivers through the lilies — her breath, too, caressing their heads.

Part of the charm of these poems likely comes from the range of forces at work in Wilkerson’s life. She has an interest in Medieval Literature and the supernatural, plus dance, photography, religion, and Arthurian legends. Somehow, though, the poems don’t range too far afield and end up being a mishmash of topics, themes, and styles.

There’s a tightness and completeness to this collection that is unignorable.

If accessible, contemporary poems are your cup of tea, then give this new book a look. The poems here reward careful readers in quiet, unexpected ways.

For more information on Ginna Wilkerson or Odd Remains, please visit www.ginnawilkerson.com

The Weekend Book Proposal

by Ryan G. Van Cleave (Writer’s Digest Books, softcover, 256 pages, $17.99).

Disclaimer #1: If you’ve never, ever, ever thought about writing your own book, then this review isn’t for you. Disclaimer #2: I wrote this book.

The reason why I wrote this book? It’s because Disclaimer #1 doesn’t apply to many people because surveys show that

“I strongly recommend this book without reservation to anyone with dogs. We now have two loving, responsive, happy, and well-trained dogs, thanks to Southeastern Guide Dogs and their wonderful training techniques!”

– Gerald M. Greene, Ph.D.

80% of people believe they “have a book in them.” This book is designed to help them as well as writers who’ve already found some success but still crave more guidance. It works by demystifying the process on how to take a vague idea, hone it razor-sharp (meaning salable), then propose it to a literary agent or publisher BEFORE you commit months or years to writing the manuscript. If you’re going to write a book, wouldn’t you rather have a publishing contract in hand prior to making that level of commitment?

This book provides plenty of real-world samples of book proposals (from anthologies to textbooks to memoirs to nonfiction titles) that successfully earned contracts from some of the biggest and best publishing houses there are. Numerous authors, agents, and editors also offer insider advice in these pages, too, making this a multi-vocal, multiple teacher text to give any writer what they need to succeed in this increasingly difficult publishing landscape. And for those who want to write fast, there are “Hit the Gas” tips throughout designed to supercharge your writing and get the pages done in a hurry.

If becoming a published author is your dream, this book can give you a leg up on the competition.

For more information on Ryan G. Van Cleave or The Weekend Book Proposal,

Available at: Southeastern Guide Dogs Training Center & Dog Boutique 1618 Main St Sarasota, FL 34236 And online at GuideDogs.org/store

please visit www.weekendbookproposal.com or www.ryangvancleave.com

98

SCENE

|

May 2014

scenesarasota.com

WHERE GREAT MEMORIES, INNOVATIVE CUISINE AND IMPECCABLE SERVICE COME NEATLY WRAPPED.

So good, you’ll look for reasons to celebrate.

941.388.4415 | 431 St. Armands Circle | cafeleurope.net

New HOPE for Heart Disease

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID MANASOTA, FL PERMIT #88

When you suffer from severe aortic stenosis, you give up much of what makes life enjoyable, but don’t give up HOPE. Blake Medical Center is one of the select hospitals in the nation approved to provide transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for those considered high risk or inoperable using traditional valve replacement surgery. Isn’t it time you take back your life?

Edwards SAPIEN Valve

Learn more about percutaneous valve replacement and TAVR at BlakeMedicalCenter.com/TAVR. To discuss TAVR and see if it is right for you, call 1-855-FL-HEART, or ask your doctor for a referral.

MAY 2014 $3.95 U.S.

2020 59th Street West, Bradenton 941-792-6611 BlakeMedicalCenter.com