JOHNSON H O M E S
A S P E CTAC U L A R V I E W
of Living
Once you see Plymouth Harbor and meet the people who call it home, you will change the way you think about your future. You’ll meet active, independent-minded people from around the world — who share a love of boating, a passion for helping others, and a natural spirit of friendship. Our view on whole person wellness emphasizes a multi-dimensional approach maintaining broad interests and a healthy lifestyle for an active mind and body. Residents treasure the time they spend in their lovely, spacious apartment homes
– yet appreciate all of the thoughtful services and amenities that are part of the Plymouth Harbor lifestyle. And they love the beautiful setting that looks like a first-class resort, but feels just like home. If you love gracious living and the finer points of a sunrise and a sunset over Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, then Plymouth Harbor is the place for you. Come see for yourself – and get a new perspective on retirement living. Call us today for a tour of our award-winning campus, luxury accommodations and amenities.
A S P E C TA C U L A R V I E W O F R E T I R E M E N T 700 John Ringling Blvd. Sarasota, FL 34236 • (941) 365-2600 • www.PlymouthHarbor.org A Not-For-Profit Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC). OIR #88039
November 2014 Volume 57 No. 11
70 48 HOLIDAY GIFTS 54 A WINNING FORMULA OF LUXURY AND STYLE Joan Morgan, Dream Weaver Collection
62 AN ANGEL AMONG US SunCoast Blood Bank By Jacqueline Miller
66 INTRODUCING DR. SANDRA STONE New leadership brings new excitement to USFSM By Ryan G. Van Cleave
70 PRESERVING FLORIDA’S PAST, PROTECTING ITS FUTURE Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast By Jake Hartvigsen
76 SARASOTA BALLET La Fille mal Gardée By Sue Cullen
78 BEAUTY'S MORE THAN SKIN DEEP
87 SARASOTA ORCHESTRA POPS SERIES
The Landers women give back
Music of the movies, Broadway, and Billy Joel
By Sue Cullen
By Steven J. Smith
82 THE PLAYERS THEATRE
88 FASHION
Still defining community theatre after 85 years
Welcome to the Jungle Produced by John Revisky
104 LIFELONG LEARNING AT THE RINGLING MUSEUM By Ryan G. Van Cleave
COVER
Samantha, Zayden & Angel Burt photographed by John Revisky for the SunCoast Blood Bank
8
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scenesarasota.com
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DEPARTMENTS
58
22 EVENTS CALENDAR SOCIALS 36 SMHF Key to the Cure 50 SCLO’s Share the Light Luncheon 118 Plymouth Harbor Wellness Center Grand Opening
37 PERFORMING ARTS CALENDAR 45 CULTURE MATTERS Presented by The Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County
GIVING 58 Turning Bright Ideas into Something BIG Dean Eisner
60
By Jake Hartvigsen
60 A Pillar of Philanthropy Harold Ronson By Jake Hartvigsen
96 SCENES FROM AN INTERVIEW Harry Potter illustrator Mary GrandPré By Gus Mollasis
108 EDUCATION MATTERS The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee By Ryan G. Van Cleave
110 BEHIND THE SCENE Sarasota’s Society Maven Gives the Latest Scoop By Debbi Benedict
120 LITERARY SCENE By Ryan G. Van Cleave
96
122 SCENE LOCALLY News Shaping Our Community
10
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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
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CALL OR STOP BY FOR YOUR PERSONAL TOUR 5381 Desoto Road | Sarasota, FL 34235 | 941.355.6111 | www.hawthornevillageofsarasota.com
AT
LAKEWOOD RANCH
FROM THE EDITOR
B
eing a boomer, I am old enough to have watched the 1951 film adaptation of Charles Dicken’s A
Christmas Carol, starring the great British actor Alastair Sim, a gazillion times. To me, it is by far the best version of this classic with parts that frightened me and parts that made me cry from sentimental happiness.
My brother, sister, and I watched this movie together over and over every holiday season from the time we were very young until it became embarrassing and we had to stop. No kidding. I have no doubt that if the three of us were together all these decades later during the holidays, we would go down memory lane and watch it again. Ah, the importance of traditions. At the end of the film, the narrator tells us, “Scrooge was better than his word. He became as good a friend, as good a master and as good a man as the good old city ever knew, or any other good old city, town or borough in the good old
We’re different and we know it.
world…and it was always said that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any
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.
if you want to be a good person and “keep Christmas well”, please read An Angel
man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us.” During this holiday season, no matter what you believe or how you celebrate, Among Us. It shares the heartwarming stories of local people whose lives have been affected by the important work of Suncoast Blood Bank. From infants, to young adults, the elderly and everyone in between, Suncoast Blood Bank has been key to saving many in our community. Our support of this organization is vital, and I hope after reading these impactful stories of lives they have touched, you will feel compelled to give blood and donate to Suncoast Blood Bank. Have you ever given a holiday gift of Harry Potter books to the children in your life? I am sure many of you have and will agree that the cover and chapter illustrations make the books come alive. In a magical interview, SCENE’s Gus Mollassis sits down with the creator of these powerful illustrations, Sarasota’s very own Mary GrandPré.
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
16
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In closing, let me share with you an important life lesson watching A Christmas Carol a gazillion times instilled in me. No matter the hardships and sadness we face in life, being a good person, a good friend and helping others in any way we can is a life path well chosen. If we try to remember that each and every day, it can be a “good old world”. Happy Holidays!
scenesarasota.com
A Room With A View! Overlooking the bayfront, just minutes from all the shopping, dining, theatre, and the arts that make downtown so special, Sarasota Bay Club offers outstanding services and amenities that are personalized to fit your lifestyle. From complimentary valet parking to fine dining, the freedom to design the ideal retirement lifestyle is all yours. Sarasota Bay Club ownership is carefree, with all maintenance included, and complete health care and rehabilitation services conveniently located on-site.
R
Full-Service Retirement Living On Sarasota Bay ~ Discover The Difference For Yourself!
Call To Schedule A Bay Club Tour Today! Linda Ware or Dana Moe at (941) 552-3284
Discover just how much value Sarasota Bay Club has to offer.
1301 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, Florida 34236
(941) 366-7667 Visit Us On The Web At
www.SarasotaBayClub.com
West Bradenton
South Bradenton Lakewood Ranch
[L-R] Rochelle A. Nigri, Marketing Client Service Associate; Melanie Barber, Sr. Registered Associate; Linda Mikos, Portfolio Associate; Kathy Francoletti CTFA ®, Sr. Vice President, Financial Advisor; Scott L. Rockwell, Vice President, Financial Advisor; Aimee Cogan CFP® CIMA®, Executive Director, Wealth Advisor Richard T. Williams III CFA®, Sr. Vice President, Financial Advisor.
A busy schedule shouldn’t get in the way of a plan for your future. It’s easy to lose track of your financial plan when your days are filled with other responsibilities. As Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors, our team — the Bellwether Group — can work with you to understand your goals and help you create an investment strategy The Bellwether Group at Morgan Stanley
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Two North Tamiami Trail, Suite 1100 Sarasota, FL 34236 941-363-8514 www.morganstanleyfa.com/ bellwethergroup/ rochelle.nigri@morganstanley.com
© 2014 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC.
CRC1025234 10/14 CS 8029794 SEG010 10/14
LOCALLY OWNED, OPERATED & PRINTED FOR MORE THAN 57 YEARS
It’s your brain that hears. Not your ears. FELLOW HEARING AID USER DOUGLAS GIBSON INTRODUCES BrainHearing™ Technology by Oticon TO SARASOTA “I know what happens when you have a hearing challenge. The natural relationship between your ears and brain is disrupted. It takes more effort to follow what is being said. You feel tired at the end of the day.
CEO/President
Ronald Milton
Publisher
Julie A. Milton
Editor
Sue Engelhart
Account Executives
Kathy Herbst Ron Shields
Art Director
Michelle Cross
Special Issue Coordinator
Debbi Benedict
Distribution Contributing Writers
SPATIAL SOUND allows me and my patients to
CALL TODAY for a free hearing evaluation, consultation & demonstration. No purchase necessary. Free trial available. * Based on 2013 Oticon Alta International Satisfaction Study, overall satisfaction for both new and experienced hearing instrument users.
941.927.2424
2344 Bee Ridge Rd. #101 (corner of Shade) Sarasota, FL 34239 www.gibsonshearing.com 20
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Debbi Benedict Sue Cullen Jake Hartvigsen
hear in 3D so we can follow conversations that come from different directions.”
I INVITE YOU to experience for yourself the difference that Alta+ BrainHearing™ Technology can make in the quality of your life.
Dick Jackson
Gus Mollasis Steven J. Smith Ryan G. Van Cleave Photographers
Herb Booth Daniel Perales John Revisky
Address
7269 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, FL 34241
Phone
941-365-1119
Fax
941-954-5067
Website
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. scenesarasota.com
Survive Cancer Better For many cancer survivors, winning back their lives often comes with debilitating side effects from treatment. We believe their courage deserves better, which is what inspired Sarasota Memorial to become the region’s first Oncology STAR® Certified Program for Cancer Rehabilitation. STAR is the gold standard of cancer rehabilitation, a comprehensive approach to addressing pain, weakness, speech, incontinence, depression and other treatment side effects with personalized care plans. Our goal is to improve symptoms and quality of life so our patients haven’t only survived cancer, they’ve survived cancer better.
Call Sarasota Memorial’s STAR Referral & Information Line at (941) 917-STAR (7827) or visit smh.com/STAR to learn more.
CALENDAR
November Calendar For a complete listing of community events please visit scenesarasota.com
Photo entitled “Friends” by John Revisky
Women Contemporary Artists Juried Exhibition Through December 4 Art Center Manatee. Women Contemporary Artists presents the WCA Members Juried Autumn Exhibition. A reception is planned for November 6, 5 to 7 pm. A lecture by artist Eleanor Merritt will be presented as part of the event. womencontemporaryartists.com Children’s First Rockin’ Lobster November 1 Sharkey’s on the Pier, 6:30 pm. Enjoy sunset on the Gulf of Mexico, a delicious Maine lobster dinner, rockin’ music, and sand under your feet. Tickets $125 | 941.953.5507 ext. 152 | childrenfirst.net 2014 Snooty’s Gala Shaken, Not Stirred November 1 South Florida Museum, 6 pm. Prepare to be stirred, if not even shaken, by this annual fundraiser named in honor of Florida’s most famous manatee. Tickets $200 | 941.746.4131 ext. 17 | southfloridamuseum.org New College Foundation’s 36th Annual Clambake November 1 New College Bayfront, 6 pm. Slip on a pair of topsiders or wedges and crack into a savory lobster at an old-fashioned New England Clambake. Tickets $150 | 941.487.4888 | ncf.edu USF Sarasota-Manatee Brunch on the Bay November 2 8350 N. Tamiami Trail, 11:30 am. Celebrate making higher education possible for local students during an afternoon of food and tropical splendor under the tents on campus. 941.359.4737 | usfsm.edu/brunch 22
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scenesarasota.com
POWER AND PRIVILEGE IN SPAIN’S NEW WORLD
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS: Art in the Spanish American Home, 1492–1898 NOW THROUGH JANUARY 11, 2015
The first major exhibition in the United States to explore the private lives and interiors of Spain’s New World elite from 1492 through the nineteenth century, focusing on the house as a principal repository of fine and decorative art. Behind Closed Doors: Art in the Spanish American Home, 1492–1898 is organized by the Brooklyn Museum Generous support for this exhibition has been provided by National Endowment for the Humanities.
This exhibition was paid for in part by Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax revenues and also through the generous support of the Arthur F. and Ulla R. Searing Endowment and the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art Foundation.
Virgin (detail) Philippines and possibly Mexico, Guatemala, or Ecuador, probably 18th century. Brooklyn Museum, Frank L. Babbott Fund, 42.384
941.359.5700
ringling.org
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Visit Our Market in Historic Southside Village 1924 S. Osprey Ave. | Sarasota (941) 955-9856 | MortonsMarket.com 24
SCENE | November 2014
Catholic Charities Sugar Bowl Show of Shows November 2 Venice Community Center, 2 pm. Sponsored by Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, and the local Knights of Columbus Councils, the show will feature Brian Gurl performing American Masters of Music. Benefits the Sugar Bowl Fund. Tickets $20 | 941.496.8181 | catholiccharitiesdov.org Asolo Starry Night Dinner Series: South Pacific November 3 Home of Stanley Kane on Siesta Key, 6:30 pm. Highlighting the production of South Pacific and honoring Warren and Margo Coville. Tickets $250 |941.351.9010 ext. 4702 | asolorep.org/starrynights Lilly Pulitzer Fashion Show Luncheon November 3 Sarasota Yacht Club, 11:30 am. Lunch, cocktails, fashion show, and raffle benefitting the Junior League of Sarasota and Goodwill Manasota. 941.914.2279 | jlsarasota.org, experiencegoodwill.org Pines Wit & Wisdom of Aging Luncheon November 5 Michael’s on East, 11:30 am. Luncheon benefits Pines of Sarasota. Panelists include pro golfer Paul Azinger, Jean Weidner, founder of the Sarasota Ballet, and Cliff Roles, actor, emcee, and photographer, 941.955.6293 | pinesfoundation.org Sarasota Orchestra Evening with Anu & Friends November 5 Longboat Key Club, 6 pm. Join Anu Tali and distinguished soloists for an up-close-and-personal experience. Dinner and performance followed by conversation. Tickets $150 | 941.487.2737 | sarasotaorchestra.org Women’s Resource Center Heart & Sole Fashion Show and Luncheon November 6 Plantation Golf & Country Club, 10:30 am. The Women’s Resource Center of Sarasota County luncheon features an elegant fashion show, shopping, silent auction, and music. Tickets $50 | 941.485.9724 | thewomensresourcecenter.org PINC Sarasota One-Day Conference November 6 Florida Studio Theatre Gompertz stage. PINC. Sarasota, presented by Ringling College of Art and Design, features 16 international speakers from varied fields who share a common passion for what they do and absolute faith in the power of innovation, inspiration and creativity. A dinner follows at The Francis. | pincsarasota.com Food Bank of Manatee’s Empty Bowls November 6 and 7 Main Street Lakewood Ranch and Renaissance on 9th in Bradenton 11 am. Guests enjoy a variety of soups provided by local restaurants and then select a scenesarasota.com
We’re 1 #
at Doctors Hospital
“The kind of individualized care we got here—it gave us real peace. They made us feel special and really important. We don’t think we could get that kind of care anywhere else. Read more about each of our experiences at DoctorsOfSarasota.com/patients.”
—Brenda & Myron Robinson, Sarasota, FL da Vinci® Si™ Surgery System
robotic surgery 5731 Bee Ridge Road at Cattlemen Road, Sarasota DoctorsOfSarasota.com | 1.888.685.1596
handcrafted ceramic bowl to keep. Proceeds benefit the Food Bank of Manatee. 941.747.4655 | foodbankofmanatee.org
Ritz Carlton dining tents. Tickets $250 | 941.870.0002 | lakewoodranch-rotary.com
Night of Hope Gala November 7 Ritz-Carlton Sarasota, 6 p.m. Benefits Center for Building Hope, which offers free information, programs, and services to cancer patients, caregivers and family members. Enjoy dinner, entertainment, and prizes. Tickets $500 | 941.921.5539 | centerforbuildinghope.org
Big Brothers Big Sisters Sneaker Ball November 8 Venetian Golf and River Club, 6 pm. Wear your finest, but sneakers are a must. Tickets $85 | bbbssun. org/sneakerball
Fall Family Festival at Bay Preserve November 8 Bay Preserve at Osprey 11 am. Benefits Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast. Free family fun with hands-on activities including access to Historic Spanish Point. 941.918.2100 | conservationfoundation.com Junior League’s Art of Food Festival November 8 top of Palm Avenue parking garage, 6 pm. The Junior League of Sarasota is hosting the inaugural Art of Food Festival to capture what is unique to Sarasota. Tickets $100 - $125 | jlsarasota.org Rotary Club of LWR Uncorked November 8 Sarasota Polo Club, 6 pm. A special wine and food pairing event followed by dessert and dancing under the stars. Select dining in the Michael’s on East or
All Faiths Food Bank Bowls of Hope November 9 Philippi Estate Park, 11 am. Select a handmade bowl and sample soups and desserts from local restaurants. Tickets $25-$100 | 941.379.6333 | allfaithsfoodbank.org Callaghan Tire Charity ProAm November 9 – 11 Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club and the Ritz-Carlton Members Club. All proceeds go to Golfers Against Cancer, which supports research centers requested by the Callaghan family. $1,750 per player. 941.751.1577 Birdies for the Brave Golf Tournament November 10 TPA Prestancia. Supported by the PGA Tour, Birdies for the Brave is a national outreach initiative dedicated to honoring and showing appreciation to the courageous members of the U.S. armed forces and their families. 941.922.2800 ext. 3244 | heritagegolfgroup.com
A S O LO R E P E R TO RY T H E AT R E
DIRECTOR’S TAKE Luncheon M O N E Y. P OW E R . S E X .
W E D N E S DAY D E C E M B E R 3 , 2 0 1 4 • 1 1 A M Harborside Dining Room at The Resort at Longboat Key Club
F E AT U R I N G Michael Donald Edwards Asolo Rep Producing Artistic Director and Melissa Kievman Director of Asolo Rep’s Sotto Voce Chairs Ann Charters and Margaret Wise present a lunch and stimulating conversation with Asolo Rep’s directors, exploring the theme of the season: Money, Power & Sex. LEAD SPONSOR
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MEDIA SPONSOR
VENUE SPONSOR
Tickets $100/person Call 941-351-9010 ext. 4702 Email SpecialEvents@asolo.org www.AsoloRep.org/Directorstakelunch scenesarasota.com
Sarasota Opera presents
The Opera Gala
A Wedding to Remember Gala Chair – Mrs. Carol Brualdi
Saturday, January 31, 2015 – 6:30pm Hyatt Regency Sarasota Black Tie $250 per person Join us for Sarasota’s Most Elegant Evening! Performance by Principal Artists from The Marriage of Figaro, Live Music for dancing by 42nd Street Big Band
For reservations, please call Jennifer Simms (941) 366-8450 ext 402 or jsimms@sarasotaopera.org Online tickets available at www.sarasotaopera.org SpOnSOred by:
JFCS 10th Annual Grace Rosen Magill Lecture November 10 The Francis, 11:30 am. Dr. Ellen M. Umansky will speak about Spiritual Healing and American Jews. Tickets $45 | 941.366.2224, ext. 142 | jfcs-cares.org 2014 Chalk Festival in Venice November 10 – 17 West Miami Avenue in Venice. This community-based cultural event has been accepted to compete for a Guinness Book World Record by creating the largest anamorphic pavement art at the Venice Municipal Airport. chalkfestival.org Kobernick-Anchin-Benderson’s Keeping the Dream Alive November 12 Michael’s on East, 7:30 pm. Keeping the Dream Alive features the Sarasota Opera performing a variety of musical genres and a sumptuous dessert buffet. 941.377.0781, ext. 404 | kobernickanchin.org Forty Carrots’ Wine, Women and Shoes November 13-15 various times and locations. A three-day event including a vintners reception, fashion show luncheon, and winemaker dinners. 941.365.7716 | fortycarrots.com Glasser/Schoenbaum’s A Fashionable Evening: A Tribute to Phil King November 14 The Hyatt Regency, 6 pm. An evening to hon-
or former Executive Director Phil King and benefit the Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center. Includes a sit-down dinner and dancing. 941.365.4545| gs-humanservices.org Siesta Key Crystal Classic November 14-18 Siesta Key Beach. Master sand sculpting competition. Tickets $6 | siestakeycrystalclassic.com Girls Inc. Progressive Dinner at The Concession November 15 The Concession, 6 pm. Tour models and enjoy great food and libations. Meet the builders and support Girls Inc. Tickets $60 | girlsincsrq.org The Artful Lobster November 15 The Hermitage, 11 am. Feast on a gourmet lobster buffet in historic buildings nestled among the coastal environment of Manasota Key. Proceeds benefit artist retreat. Tickets $175 | 941.475.2098 | hermitageartistretreat.org Florida Cancer Specialists’ Fiesta Bajo Las Estrellas November 15 Center for Building Hope, Lakewood Ranch, 7 pm. Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation’s second annual Fiesta Bajo Las Estrellas (Party Under the Stars) features a celebration of Mexican food, culture and music. Tickets $100 | foundation.flcancer.com/party-under-the-stars
Introducing Gigi’s
Southern Comfort Pecan Pie
A timeless dinner table dessert, with a secret ingredient from Tennessee’s famous private reserve. Gigi’s Southern Comfort Pecan Pie is baked fresh right here at our kitchen for a limited time only this November and December. Available in 9” and mini sizes. Order ahead online now for quick holiday pick up, or ask for an order form at the bakery.
Gigi’s Cupcakes of Sarasota 8435 Cooper Creek Blvd • Bradenton, FL 34201 • Tel: (941) 355-4380 • www.GigisCupcakesUSA.com
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Sarasota Orchestra Season Opener Brunch November 16 Michael’s on East, 11 am. Brunch with musical accents of past Wilkof Concerto competition winners. Music Director Anu Tali will speak about The Sound of the Future. Brunch is sold out. To be added to the wait list, contact mhoffman@sarasotaorchestra.org. Reserve tickets early for next year. Tickets $150 | 941.487.2737 | sarasotaorchestra.org RCAD 14th Annual Golf Tournament November 17 Laurel Oak Country Club. Event includes 18 holes of golf, prize eligibility, golf shirt, luncheon, awards banquet, and more. Provides scholarship funds to deserving Ringling students. Tickets $400 players; $100 awards banquet only | 941.309.4728 | ringling.edu/golftournament Planned Parenthood’s High Tide at High Noon November 17 Sarasota Yacht Club, 12 pm. Annual luncheon and fashion show fundraiser. Proceeds benefit the prevention education programs of Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida. Tickets $75 | 941.365.3913 ext. 1124 | plannedparenthood.org/ppswcf Sarasota Southside Rotary Club Golf Tournament November 17 SaraBay Country Club, 11 am. Proceeds benefit Children First. Shotgun start at noon with dinner
and an auction to follow the tournament. Tickets $110 | sarasotasouthsiderotary.org AJC Civic Achievement Award Dinner November 19 Michael’s on East, 6 pm. American Jewish Committee will present its 2014 Civic Achievement Award to Michael Klauber and Phil Mancini, co-proprietors of Michael’s On East. Tickets $200 | 941.365.4955 | ajc.org Historic Spanish Point’s Havana Nights Party at the Point November 21 337 N. Tamiami Trail, Osprey, 6 pm. Cuban music, dancing, cuisine, and more on Little Sarasota Bay to benefit Historic Spanish Point. Tickets $150 - $250 | 941.966.5214, ext. 2950 | historicspanishpoint.org/havananights Make-a-Wish “Wish” November 21 Michael’s On East, 8:30 pm. All white party with club essentials like a vodka luge and strolling champagne diva dress. 941.952.9474 | wishsrq.com Boys & Girls Club Sarasota Dream Makers Ball November 22 Hyatt Regency Sarasota, 6 pm. This signature event features BGCSC Dream Makers, those who are connected to The Boys & Girls Club of Sarasota County though
With your help, we can give families in need a turkey dinner this year.
Donate today! www.allfaithsfoodbank.org 941-379-6333 8171 Blaikie Ct. Sarasota 34240
Get your tickets online today!
Nov. 9, 2014, 11 am-2 pm Phillippi Estate Park, Sarasota 30
SCENE | November 2014
Enjoy a VIP experience for just $100 Regular tickets: $25 www.allfaithsfoodbank.org scenesarasota.com
In 1953, Icard Merrill planted its hopes in this community. As our community has grown and blossomed, so has the firm. Sixty years later, we are still here, actively engaged in many different aspects of this special area we call home. Our experienced attorneys counsel clients on legal matters ranging from business, construction and civil litigation to real estate, family law and estate planning. Over the years, we have devoted countless hours and donated our resources to support local causes. We do this because we care. This is our home; you are our neighbors. Our roots run deep.
941.366.8100 • icardmerrill.com Manatee, Sarasota & Charlotte Counties
volunteerism and giving. 941.366.3911 | boysandgirlsclub.com
At Turner Tree and Landscape it’s about
Boys & Girls Club Manatee Little Wishes Big Dreams November 22 Manatee Performing Arts Center, 6 pm. Honoring the 2014 Magnetic Men, and benefiting Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County. Cocktail reception, dinner, and the presentation of the 2014 Magnetic Men in the Theatre. Tickets $150 | 941.761.2582 | bgcmanatee.org 23rd Annual Ponies Under the Palms November 23 Lakewood Ranch Main Street, 8 am. Mustang and Ford enthusiasts from throughout the region will be competing for awards. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Tidewell Hospice and Southeastern Guide Dogs. 920.944.8137 | mustangclubofwestcentralflorida.org
For over 30 years, Turner Tree and Landscape has been your one-stop source dedicated to delivering exceptional, full-service residential and commercial landscape service, big and small.
941.745.2101
turnertree-landscape.com
2504 64th St. Ct. E., Bradenton
Jane VanBergen
“After years of patchwork dentistry resulting in a variety of colors in caps and fillings, I decided it was time for a new smile. I consulted with my dentist and after six months of visits, I was very unhappy with the unnatural, oversized look of my teeth. My brother had his smile recreated by Dr. Christine Koval. I was so impressed by his natural-looking, pristine smile that I made an appointment with Dr. Koval. In only three weeks, I have a new, gorgeous smile that I am proud of and I am no longer self-conscious! My advice is to consult with Dr. Koval, an experienced cosmetic dentist for your best smile. You’ll be happy you did.” Awarded 20 Gold Medals for Smile Makeovers by the Florida Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.
For a complimentary consultation call 941.923.5406 To view our extensive smile gallery visit askdrkoval.com ENHANCE YOUR SMILE. ENHANCE YOUR LIFE.
Christine Koval, D.M.D. ı Restorative, Cosmetic & Laser Dentistry ı General Dentistry 2477 Stickney Point Road, Suite 216A ı Sarasota, FL ı 941.923.5406 ı www.askdrkoval.com
scenesarasota.com
November 2014 | SCENE
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PNC’s Senior Vice President and Wealth Director Jeffrey Boyd
PNC WEALTH MANAGEMENT
Commitment to Community Two well-known and highly-regarded names in the Sarasota financial services industry have come together with PNC Wealth Management ®’s selection of veteran wealth management executive Jeffrey Boyd as its new Senior Vice President and Wealth Director. Boyd now has responsibility for leading PNC’s team of experienced financial services professionals and for fostering both the Sarasota office’s reputation for delivering a highly personalized client experience as well as the high regard PNC has earned for community support and involvement. “Having worked in wealth management here for many years, I have always been impressed by PNC’s commitment to the market and to the community here,” Boyd said. “I’m excited about the opportunity to build from the great platform that is already in place and add my touch to the tremendous success here.” Boyd earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from
the University of Florida and has 30 years of experience in commercial banking and wealth management primarily in the Sarasota-Manatee area where he has lived since the mid-1980s. During that time, he has gained a reputation for building a successful wealth management office from the ground up and creating strong teams focused on providing a great experience for clients. “We have a broad team here with lenders, portfolio managers, trust advisors and planners. You don’t see that depth in the market in many places,” he said. “We have all of the high touch client services you’d expect of a very sophisticated boutique provider, but we also have an enormous amount of bench strength that allows us to deliver a superior client experience. Plus we have the experience of one of the nation’s largest financial services firms. It’s the perfect blend.” PNC Wealth Management’s clients work with a lo-
strong feel for the clients you work with and the professionals on staff, and they feel the same way.” With season about to begin and snowbirds returning, Boyd says there will be a lot of people to meet and events to attend. “Over the next six months, PNC also will renew its investment in, and commitment to, a number of not for profit organizations,” he said. “That’s not the norm anymore, and it is unfortunate. I’m thrilled to be with an organization that values great corporate citizenship.” Personally, Boyd also has committed himself to community service. “My two children were raised here, and this is where I’ve chosen to make my life,” he said. “I’m passionate about working for a company whose investments in talent and treasure have shown the same commitment to the community I feel I’ve made with my life choices.” In addition to volunteering at the Ringling Museum of Art, Leadership Sarasota, Sarasota New Leaders Council, Junior Achievement, and Leadership Manatee, he has served as Chairman of the Manatee County Economic Development Council, Vice President, Chairman and Treasurer of the Manatee Chamber of Commerce, and President of the St. Stephen’s School Board. Boyd also has been Leadership Chairman and on the Executive Committee of the United Way of Manatee County, Chair of the South Tampa Bay Council, and served on the Leadership Board of the Tampa Bay Partnership. For Boyd, commitment to high standards of client service, a dedicated professional staff with a high degree of experience, and a strong commitment to the community initially attracted him to PNC, and he hopes to continue the standard of excellence that has been delivered over the past seven years. “It is not my intent to come in and fix what is not broken. We have a great staff and a great group of clients,” he said. “My role is to build on the excellent foundation that already has been established and to take it to the next level.”
cal team of professionals, which includes a relationship manager who serves as a central point of contact with responsibility for bringing together the experience needed for an individual client’s needs. The team also includes a trust advisor who handles compliance and day-to-day management, investment advisor who develops a custom portfolio, private banking advisor delivering concierge-level services, and wealth planner who works with estate, philanthropic, and tax planning considerations with a client’s attorneys and tax advisors. “A lot of attention has been paid to putting together a collegial group that works well together with the desire to provide high end service to the client,” Boyd said. “The entrepreneurial spirit here is refreshing, and that commitment is impressive.” Boyd joined the PNC Wealth Management team in August, and his initial goal has been to get to know all of the staff professionals and clients. “Meeting with people and families is what I like best,” he said. “We have a tremendous group of professionals who don’t need a lot of hand holding, but I’m here as a backup and as a ringleader. I’m happy to play either role. I always knew there was a great team here, but the depth of experience has been a delightful surprise along with the very favorable ratio of clients to professionals. People have time to focus on what they need to focus on.” He believes having dedicated, experienced people is the foundation of a great client experience because high net worth clients often have sophisticated needs requiring the ability to look beyond clients’ initial requests. “A great experience starts when appropriate professionals are at the table so we can discern the greater need and advise clients wisely. My best contribution comes with big picture ideas, empathy for clients’ needs, and then finding the right team to surround clients and fulfill those needs,” Boyd said. “In this business, you make amazing friends, and it’s a two way street. You have to have a
The material presented in this article is of a general nature and does not constitute the provision by PNC of investment, legal, tax or accounting advice to any person, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or adopt any investment strategy. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice. The information was obtained from sources deemed reliable. Such information is not guaranteed as to its accuracy. You should seek the advice of an investment professional to tailor a financial plan to your particular needs. For more information, please contact PNC at 1-888-762-6226. The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (“PNC”) uses the names PNC Wealth Management®, Hawthorn, PNC Family Wealth® and PNC Institutional Investments® to provide investment and wealth management, fiduciary services, FDIC-insured banking products and services and lending of funds through its subsidiary, PNC Bank, National Association (“PNC Bank”), which is a Member FDIC, and uses the names PNC Wealth Management® and Hawthorn, PNC Family Wealth® to provide certain fiduciary and agency services through its subsidiary, PNC Delaware Trust Company. Securities products, brokerage services and managed account advisory services are offered by PNC Investments LLC, a registered broker-dealer and a registered investment adviser and member of FINRA and SIPC. Insurance products may be provided through PNC Insurance Services, LLC, a licensed insurance agency affiliate of PNC, or through licensed insurance agencies that are not affiliated with PNC; in either case a licensed insurance affiliate may receive compensation if you choose to purchase insurance through these programs. A decision to purchase insurance will not affect the cost or availability of other products or services from PNC or its affiliates. Hawthorn and PNC do not provide legal or accounting advice and neither provides tax advice in the absence of a specific written engagement for Hawthorn to do so. PNC does not provide services in any jurisdiction in which it is not authorized to conduct business. PNC Bank is not registered as a municipal advisor under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Act”). Investment management and related products and services provided to a “municipal entity” or “obligated person” regarding “proceeds of municipal securities” (as such terms are defined in the Act) will be provided by PNC Capital Advisors, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of PNC Bank and SEC registered investment adviser. “PNC Wealth Management,” “Hawthorn, PNC Family Wealth” and “PNC Institutional Investments” are registered trademarks of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. Investments: Not FDIC Insured. No Bank Guarantee. May Lose Value. Insurance: Not FDIC Insured. No Bank or Federal Government Guarantee. Not a Deposit. May Lose Value.
1549 Ringling Blvd, Third Floor
Sarasota, FL 36236
941.363.5060
PNC.com/WealthManagement
SOCIAL
SMHF Key to the Cure A sold-out crowd of 1,600 happily chatted, noshed and perused the merchandise as well as Saks Fifth Avenue’s sleek new digs at the new Mall during the Key to the Cure Grand Opening event October 14. This year, the event not only kicked off the annual four-days of shopping benefitting Sarasota Memorial Hospital Foundation, it also was the inaugural event for the store giving attendees a pre-opening sneak peek. Thanks go to event chairs Aimee Cogan, Alex Miller, and Ariane Dart for a fun and very special evening. Two percent of the proceeds from the kickoff event and the four-day shopping event benefit Women’s Cancer Programs at Sarasota Memorial Health Care Systems.
Aimee Cogan, Ariane Dart & Alex Miller
Photos by Kathryn Harrison
Roy, Sandra, Brenda & Oliver McConnell
Dr. Claudia Moricz, Marina Bourantonis, Bebe & Dr. Michelle Scala
Leslie Grey, Karen Roth, Kem Lindsay & Stephanie Church
Fall Into Beauty
Unique Exotic and One of a Kind! MK Designs and The Golden Image Jewelry Store 30 South Palm Ave., Downtown Sarasota | 941.364.8439 | www.mymkdesigns.com
PERFORMING ARTS CALENDAR
ASOLO REPERTORY THEATRE 941.351.8000 / asolorep.org The Water Engine Cook Theatre November 4 - 23 South Pacific November 11 – December 28 A romantic story of two couples and how their happiness is threatened by the realities of war and their own prejudices.
FLORIDA STUDIO THEATRE 941.366.9000 / floridastudiotheatre.org RAP-Punzel Through November 14 In this adaptation, Punzel uses her love of language and rhyme to overcome her fears and fully realize her authentic self. Hairspray November 12 – January 10 Big moves, big music, and bigger hair. Dancing in the Street Through February 6 Featuring the Prima Donnettes. Out of Bounds Through January 3 FST Improv.
LEMON BAY PLAYHOUSE 941.475.6756 / lemonbayplayhouse.com Ladies in Retirement Through November 9 In this mystery/drama an ex-actress lives with her female companion in a remote house. Showcase: Marcy Downey November 15 It’s My Party: The Fabulous 50s and 60s.
MANATEE PLAYERS 941.748.5875 / manateeplayers.com The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Through November 9 This happy go lucky view of small town vice and statewide political side-stepping recounts the good times and the demise of the Chicken Ranch, known since the 1850s as one of the better pleasure palaces in all of Texas. scenesarasota.com
Godspell Through November 16 Based on the Gospel according to St. Matthew, Godspell boasts a string of well-loved songs like Day By Day and Learn Your Lessons Well. Almost Manilow November 15 - 16 Recreates the Manilow concert experience.
THE PLAYERS THEATRE 941.365.2494 / theplayers.org The Adams Family: A New Musical Through November 9 The macabre cartoon family that has been loved and imitated for generations. A Calyp-Soul Christmas November 21 Featuring John Patti The Players Follies Play Reading Festival November 23 Swingin’ Thru the Sixties November 23 With Jimmy Mazz
THE RINGLING 941.359.5700 / ringling.org Art of Performance-Cambalache November 7 - 8 East Los Angeles group presents Una Historia de Fandango, a performance inspired by the fandango of Son Jarocho – the music and dance of Veracruz.
SARASOTA BALLET 941.359.0099 / sarasotaballet.org Balanchine, Tuckett & Bruce November 21 – 22 Two company premieres of George Balanchine’s Rubies and Christopher Bruce’s Sergeant Early’s Dream and the reprisal of Will Tuckett’s Lux Aeterna accompanied with live music by Key Chorale.
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SARASOTA OPERA 941.366.8450 / sarasotaopera.org Pagliacci Through November 15 Despite his real-life humiliation at his wife’s infidelity, Canio the clown must go on with the performance. The Hobbit November 15 - 16 Sarasota Youth Opera presents the prequel to The Lord of the Rings. The opera recounts how the comfort-loving Bilbo Baggins accidentally acquires the golden ring of power.
SARASOTA ORCHESTRA 941.953.3434 / sarasotaorchestra.org
Celtic Thunder Symphony November 20 So You Think You Can Dance November 21 Gloria Musicae: In Thanksgiving November 23 Melissa Etheridge: This is M.E. November 23 Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour November 28 Kenny Rogers with Linda Davis November 29
Masterworks – Framed November 7 – 9 Showcases three Russian composers: Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3, Shostakovich’s Gadfly Suite, and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition.
Camelot November 30
Chamber Soiree – String Quartet November 16 Schubert’s Quartettsatz, Haydn’s Opus 20, and Mendelssohn’s String Quartet No. 2.
The Full Monty November 4 – 30 Seeing how much their wives enjoy watching male strippers during their girls’ night out, six unemployed steelworkers come up with a bold way to make some quick cash.
Songs of War I Have Seen November 20 – 21 A staged concert portraying domestic life during World War II. It combines text written by Gertrude Stein with narration by members of the Orchestra.
VAN WEZEL PERFORMING ARTS HALL 941.955.7676 Capitol Steps November 1 Susan Boyle November 5 Phillip Phillips November 12 Wanda Sykes November 16 Evil Dead The Musical November 18 Mannheim Steamroller by Chip Davis November 19 38
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VENICE THEATRE 941.488.1115 / venicestage.com
God of Carnage November 13 – 30 Winner of the 2009 Tony Award. After a playground altercation between 11-year-old boys, two sets of Brooklyn parents meet to resolve the matter.
VENICE SYMPHONY 941.488.1010 / thevenicesymphony.com A Musical Kaleidoscope November 21 and 22 A variety of music styles and talents, including a special guest conductor, Imre Pallo, guest vocalists from the Metropolitan Opera and opera choruses sung by Exsultate! Venice’s Chorale.
WESTCOAST BLACK THEATRE TROUPE 941.366.1505 / wbttsrq.com Little Shop of Horrors Through November 16 A lively Motown rock ‘n’ roll score about an extraterrestrial plant with a man-eating appetite. scenesarasota.com
Name: Glory Home: Sarasota, Florida Age: 8 weeks Education: Preschooler, Southeastern Guide Dogs Profession: Guide dog in training Favorite Activity: Running hard, napping harder Hobbies: Wrestling with my siblings, anything involving food Yearbook Superlative: Class clown Destiny: Inspiring love, enabling freedom
It’s hard to believe seeing her now, but one day, she’ll be someone’s personal superhero. Already a combination of the best of her mom and dad, it takes two years—and people like you—to groom her to achieve her full potential. When she does, she’ll provide the gift of independence to one very deserving human being. And it all starts right here, in her hometown. Find out how you can help at GuideDogs.org
Sarasota's only leased apartment home that provides all levels of living on the same campus: Independent Living | Assisted Living | Secure Memory Care | Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation
NO BU Y-IN
The perfect blend of enriching lifestyles and compassionate care founded on Jewish family values
Call today for your personal tour: 941-225-8369 kobernickanchin.org | 1951 North Honore Avenue | Sarasota, FL 34235
Sponsored by Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Housing Council, Inc., Kobernick-Anchin-Benderson operates on a non-discriminatory basis for admissions, services and employment. Assisted Living Facility # 8951 • Skilled Nursing Facility # 130471046
Academic Excellence Saint Stephen’s
Collegiate Student-Athletes
BRADLEY BEAZANT ‘14 HANNAH HOWELL ‘13 RICE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY SOCCER
PETER MOORE ‘13
PHOEBE ZHAO ‘14
TUFTS UNIVERSITY TENNIS
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY GOLF
For more information contact Linda Lutz, Admissions Director 941.746.2121 ext. 1568, LLutz@SaintStephens.org, www.SaintStephens.org, Saint Stephen’s serves grades PK3 - 12
S A R A S OTA M E M O R I A L H E A LT H C A R E F O U N D AT I O N , I N C . PRESENTS
a nighT of a ThouSand CraneS
January 24, 2015 6 P. M . T h e r i T z - C a r lT o n , S a r a S o T a $375/gueST b u Y Y o u r t a b l e s o r t i c k e t s t o d a Y. F o r i n F o r m at i o n o n s p o n s o r s h i p o p p o r t u n i t i e s p l e a s e c a l l 9 4 1 . 9 1 7.1 2 8 6
Palm Shops Avenue Stroll Historic Palm Avenue and shop with some of Sarasota’s finest collection of merchants. Discover exceptional fine jewelry, fine art galleries, rare oriental carpets, exquisite home accessories and much more. Palm Avenue’s First Friday Walks are from 6 till 9 pm. Enjoy shopping, dining and live performances. W W W . P A L M A V E N U E . O R G
Gaze into this historic Ottoman design and feel magically transported via carpet to ancient Constantinople. This 5-foot round Sardis carpet is hand knotted using vegetable dyed, hand spun Turkish wool. Art To Walk On 16 South Palm Avenue | 941.951.5454 | arttowalkon.com
Nourish the spirit along with the senses when you dine on this elegant Acanthus Gold place setting layered with Firenze Marbleized Medici in gold and platinum by Juliska. MELANGE HOME 64 South Palm Avenue | 941.444.7969 | melangehomedecor.com
Attention princesses! Create your own royal retreat with bold artwork, custom French settee, and a touch of whimsy that defines you as a princess who knows her own style. Sink back into your heavenly goat fur and custom-made pillows and bask in the admiration you deserve. Marianne E 60 South Palm Avenue | 941.373.1260
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Immerse yourself in this exhilarating landscape interpretation titled “Royal Moon” and allow your stream of consciousness to go beyond the five senses. An original 30 by 60 inch acrylic on canvas by Barbara Krupp. Dabbert Gallery 76 South Palm Avenue 941.955.1315 | dabbertgallery.com
Add some myth-tique to your garden with a classically beautiful, life size, bronze maiden from Greek and Roman mythology. At home near water features and in the garden, this lovely nature goddess, Naiad IV, also enhances interior spaces. While sculptor Glenna Goodacre has made a name as creator of The Vietnam Women’s Memorial in Washington, D.C., The Irish Memorial in Philadelphia, and Ronald Reagan’s Presidential portrait in Simi Valley, Calif., here she shows the power of her artistry on a more intimate scale. Galleria Silecchia 20 South Palm Avenue | 941.365.7414 | galleriasilecchia.com
Indulge your culinary desires with a grand tour of the world’s most delectable delights. Imagine yourself picnicking on the Seine in Paris. Watch those tiny bubbles of Krug Gran Cuvee Brut Champagne rise in your flute while you nosh on a wheel of piquant, soft Epoisses cow’s milk cheese and velvety Palme d’Or Duck Foie Gras Mousse. Dessert? Belgian chocolates, of course. As Good As It Gets 49 South Palm Avenue | 941.373.1839 asgoodasitgets49palm.com
While cooking for a group or just dinner for 2, dare to imagine your dream kitchen come true. Be inspired by a wide selection of top quality cabinets with a range of price points to make your dream cabinetry a reality. LUBÉ of Sarasota 53 South Palm Avenue # A | 941.954.0200 | lubeofsarasota.com scenesarasota.com
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Fashion
in
Philanthropy Is Always
A Fashionable Evening: A Tribute to Phil King
You are cordially invited to join us for an evening full of delightful surprises. Enjoy a delicious sit-down dinner and dancing to the fabulous sounds of “Double Vision” as we honor our former Executive Director, Phil King
FRIDAY NOV 14, 2014 6 PM The Hyatt Regency 1000 Boulevard of the Arts Sarasota, FL 34236 Kindly RSVP by November 8, 2014 For tickets or sponsorship opportunities, please call (941) 365-4545 Fashionable Attire Black Tie Optional Cocktails-6pm Dinner-7pm Dancing to Follow
benefiting the Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center
ARTS & CULTURE PRESENTED BY:
Sarasota Chalk Festival Avenida de Colores November 14 - 17 The Sarasota Chalk Festival, which relocated to Venice this year, welcomes artists who use chalk as their medium and the road surface as a canvas. This year’s theme will celebrate extinct and endangered species through visuals, performances, and storytelling. Parking is at the Venice Airport Fairgrounds where the Largest 3D Pavement Art will be created, securing the Guinness World Record for the USA. The current record is held in Germany by Gregor Wosik - one of the festival’s participating artists. The painting is an illusion to trick your mind into believing the runway has opened up to reveal an underwater abyss of sea life. The illusion will take two weeks to complete and measure 42 by 450 feet for a total of 18,900 square feet. Why it matters: The Sarasota Chalk Festival is a cultural community event that supports sustainability by attracting significant tourism and commerce to area businesses. The Sarasota Chalk Festival remains the only international festival in Sarasota County that welcomes anyone to participate in and attend for free. It is the only festival worldwide that welcomes roughly 95 percent of the world’s most famous artists in this discipline each year – creating a global community of pavement artists while remaining accessible, inspiring, and inviting to beginner and novice artists. The festival partners with artists, businesses, and residents, and each donate time, resources and skills. This partnership makes the festival a success each year – with 93 percent of its budget being in-kind support. The festival artists waive their professional fees back to the community – a contribution of roughly $1 million each year.
Siesta Key Crystal Classic Master Sand Sculpting Competition Mote Marine Laboratory November 14 - 18 The Siesta Key Crystal Classic Master Sand Sculpting Competition brings together top-notch sand sculptors to build towering artworks using the beautiful white sand of Siesta Beach. This collaborative community event features a Vendor Village with fantastic food, shopping and more. The event’s centerpiece is Siesta Beach, a local treasure that was dubbed America’s No. 1 Beach in 2011. Why it matters: The Crystal Classic draws the community together, supports art and culture and benefits a great cause, sea turtle research and conservation by Mote Marine Laboratory. Mote is a world-class, independent marine science institution in Sarasota whose work benefits vital marine species, including endangered and threatened sea turtles. Mote staff, interns and volunteers monitor sea turtle nesting every day of nesting season, May 1 through October 31, along 35 miles of Sarasota County beaches including Siesta Key. scenesarasota.com
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941-351-8000 // 800-361-8388 ASOLOREP.ORG SPONSORS
La Musica presents
Sonata a Due
December 8, 2014 | 6:00 p.m. Charles Ringling Mansion at New College of Florida
recital featuring
Federico Agostini, violin Derek Han, piano
dinner catered by
Michael’s On East
sponsored by
reception recital dinner www.LaMusicaFestival.org For Reservations and Information:
Janet Hunter, 941-371-6798 janet.hunter@comcast.net
Exsultate! Chorale November 21 Exsultate! Chorale is the Venice Symphony’s guest to inaugurate the Venice Performing Arts Center on November 21. Themed Cantus Carmina, “the singing of songs”, the Exsultate! concerts this season run through April. Why it matters: Exsultate! Chorale was formed in 2001 to promote “the choral art through artistic excellence and education” and “public appreciation of the highest artistic standards”. It has more than 100 highly qualified singers now and was recently named the new Venice Performing Arts Center’s official chorale. A significant tourist tax grant award for February’s Carmina Burana concert heralds the added benefit of joint ventures with the Venice Symphony, both newly based at the Center. More than 10 years ago, the nationally-recognized Apprenticeship Program began selecting annually five Venice high students for active Exsultate! membership and music study scholarships. Current and past apprentices keep the Chorale vital. Added last year, the Exsultate! Youth Chorus of 20 to 50 local fourth to eighth graders performs at each concert. Venice High’s La Voci de Venezia honors chorus appears regularly. Exsultate! explores diverse genres of quality choral literature from antiquity to contemporary, sacred through secular, humorous to sublime, and from various cultures and countries. Thus, every concert “matters”.
delightful waterfront dining for every occasion
Smack Dab on the Gulf Voted Florida’s Best Beach Bar Fabulous Sunset Views • Live Music Fresh Seafood • Full Service Tiki Bar 1600 Harbor Drive S., Venice
941.488.1456 • SharkysOnThePier.com
scenesarasota.com
Upscale Dining with an Unparalleled Gulf View
Old Florida Smokehouse Restaurant
Fresh Sushi, Steak & Chops Handcrafted Cocktails Private Dining Room Available 1600 Harbor Drive S., Venice 941.999.FINS • FinsAtSharkys.com
Smack Dab on the Myakka River Over 20 Craft & Domestic Beers Live Entertainment 5000 E. Venice Ave., Venice 941.485.7221 • SnookHaven.com November 2014 | SCENE
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From practical to unique, from luxe to fun, we searched for gift ideas to help take the stress out of your holiday shopping. So take a deep breath, browse through our picks, and hopefully you’ll breathe a sigh of relief.
Need the perfect house gift? Resin sea life on an acrylic base makes a beautiful memento of time by the water or an accent for anywhere in your home. $39.00 each. Pamaro Shop, 5465 University Pkwy., Bradenton. 941.359.0025
Don’t worry about the fit! This beautiful Stretch Cuff Bracelet with .55ct of SI I G, H color White Diamonds fits every woman. Exclusively at Coffrin Jewelers, Southside Village. 941.366.6871
Need unique fashions and accessories for about a third of retail price? Who doesn’t want to save especially during the holidays? Shop labels and styles from around the word at Laura Jean’s Consignments, 3830 S. Tuttle, Sarasota. 941.922.5535
This holiday season curl up with a good book, a favorite movie, or a classic vinyl recording. Crosley turntable now available starting at $99.95. Barnes & Noble, 4010 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 941.923.9907 48
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Support the arts in our community and find something special for the most discriminating person on your list by shopping at the Woman’s Exchange. L-R: Soapstone Carving of Wild Horses - $179.99; Necklace and Pendant Set designed by EMER Thompson $969.99; Sterling Silver Navajo Cuff, signed by artist $1,169.99; Embossed Sterling Silver Box $144.99, Vintage Sterling Silver Compact $199.99; Navjo Necklace designed by Richard Singer $569.99. Woman’s Exchange, 359 S. Orange Ave., Sarasota. 941.955.7859
Not sure what size to get? Problem solved. These comfortable Alpine pattern leggings have a seriously soft waistband and adjustable leg band. Her legs will look long and lean in this flattering texture that fits every figure perfectly. One size fits most – REALLY! $60. Tina Stephens, Mall at University Town Center.
ellaZjewels handcrafted custom-made wire bangles, made with copper-based metal with beads ranging in size, shape and material, are a unique gift to suit everyone’s individual style. $20. Order online at ellazjewels.com. Also available at T. Georgiano’s Shoe Salon, Sarasota. 941.870.3727
Painstakingly crafted ships, skyscrapers, robots, aliens, insects, and even majestic flying beasts from fantasy and science fiction come to life in renowned artist Mike Doyle’s Beautiful LEGO 2: Dark. You can purchase this awe-inspiring tabletop book for $39.95 at Books-AMillion, Bookstore1 & Barnes & Noble.
Dare to be different? This abstract hand carved pendant in 14k white gold is featured around a 3.6 ct Oregon Sunstone. White Diamonds are sprinkled throughout and Green Sapphires add the finishing touch. $4200. MK Designs, 30 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota. 941.359.8037 scenesarasota.com
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AAA Flat Rate Moving & Storage EXPERIENCED, FAST & RELIABLE Know what you are paying BEFORE you move. Our certified technicians are the best for all your packing, moving and storage needs.
WE CREATE CUSTOMERS FOR LIFE! Voted Best Mover in Sarasota every year since 2009 by the US Small Business Jack Wallace, Owner Commerce Association! 941-922-4466 | AAAMovingSarasota.com
SOCIAL
SCLO’s Share the Light Luncheon Community champions Joel Swallow, who is Chairman of the Mayors Feed the Hungry initiative, and Nate Jacobs, founding Artistic Director of the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe along with its core performers were honored at Second Chance Last Opportunity’s signature 19th Annual Share the Light luncheon. WBTT core performers who were recognized at the Michael’s On East luncheon included Tsadok Porter, Teresa Stanley, Apphia Campbell, Jnana Cooper, and Henry Porter. In addition to honoring those who work to bring light to the community, attendees also celebrated successes in SCLO’s mission to break the cycle of poverty through a range of programs and services that includes basic life skills educational training and counseling that helps clients take a step toward selfsufficiency and independence. Photos by Jenny Acheson Photography.
Margie Nellum Lee, Janet Hunter, Audrey Coleman & Marion Moss
Hillary Steele & Joel Swallow
Phyllis Clay & Pique Rose
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Available for immediate delivery.
PAMARO SHOP F U R N I T U R E
Complimentary in-home design consultations.
For The New Look Of Florida
64 years of providing Sarasota with an ever-changing Florida look. Pamaro North
7782 Tamiami Trail | 941.355.5619
Pamaro East
5465 University Parkway | 941.359.0025
Pamaro South
4586 S. Tamiami Trail | 941.923.3299
thepamaroshop.com
Balanchine RUBIES
Tuckett LUX AETERNA
Bruce SERGEANT EARLY’S DREAM 21 - 22 November 2014 | Sarasota Opera House
“Absolutely breathtaking [Lux Aeterna]” - Anna Dearing, The Observer
The Sarasota Ballet Box Office | 941-351-0099 x 101 | www.SarasotaBallet.org |
Exquisite Living At Lakewood Ranch Country Club This unique 4,600 sq. ft. 4 BR/3.5 BA Anchor home is the quintessential environment for a discerning couple, reflecting a comfortable yet elegant lifestyle in Portmarnock – one of the most desirable neighborhoods in the Country Club at Lakewood Ranch. Architectural curb appeal and a beautiful and inviting walled garden create a warm welcome at the estate-like entrance. Superb architectural details impress throughout this classic home with two fireplaces, a luxurious master suite with a Zen-like master bath, an impressive office retreat, a fabulous kitchen and family room, and a lush and very private lanai, pool and spa. The Country Club at Lakewood Ranch is a private membership club offering 54 holes of golf, an 18 court tennis center, and a fully equipped athletic center. The community features beautiful streetscapes, shimmering lakes, and nature preserves. All of this is just minutes away from Lakewood Ranch Main Street and the new University Town Center Mall both with fabulous shopping and dining.
Offered at $1,529,000
For more information call 941-504-5637 Michael B. Edwards, Broker
Photo by John Revisky
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A Winning Formula of Luxury and Style Joan Morgan of Dream Weaver Collection
Being able to survive in a retail landscape where boutiques come and go faster than badboy singer John Mayer’s girlfriends is a sure sign that the owner is attuned to the desires of Sarasota’s accomplished and cosmopolitan shoppers. As the owner of a high end boutique that has celebrated its 32nd anniversary, Joan Morgan is in very rarified company. She is the founder of Dream Weaver Collection on St. Armands Circle, and many businesses could learn a valuable lesson from her approach. Dream Weaver’s longevity is testament to Morgan’s unwavering focus on what her clientele is seeking and her clear vision of the retail niche she fills along with a keen eye for stunning fashion that works in real life. “My shoppers are always looking for unique things that
For those who love the ease of the Florida lifestyle,
they can’t get anywhere else,” Morgan says. “I specialize
Morgan also has opened Planet, a sister boutique next
in small designers who don’t go into major production, so
door, to complement Dream Weaver’s offerings. Planet
there is nothing mass produced, nothing made in China. All
specializes in what Morgan describes as lifestyle clothing
my design are from the U.S. and Europe.” While each de-
with fabrics like pima cotton knits, linen, and microfiber,
signer has a signature style all her own, Morgan’s selections
which work for tropical climes. “The clothing is light-
follow a theme of wearable luxury with clothing that moves,
weight and perfect for layering,” she says.
is comfortable to wear, and still looks great after a long day
Stepping inside Dream Weaver is like a spa treatment
or evening. Another thing that differentiates Dream Weaver
for the senses, satisfying and stimulating at the same time,
is its full custom option. “If a woman comes in and sees
with its cornucopia of textures punctuated by vibrant col-
something she likes, we can have the designer make some-
or. Catherine Bacon, who has been one of Dream Weav-
thing similar for them in everything from extra small to extra
er’s top designers for 25 years, exemplifies the boutique’s
large,” she says. “My staff has been with me a long time.
approach. “My collections are informed by my intention
They have the skill to make a woman look her very best.”
to keep clothing as art available and special. Everything
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55
is created in California and is a cottage industry. Select pieces from Catherine Bacon’s fall line
Each piece is either limited edition or one of a kind,” Bacon says. “I work with specific palates each season and engage in the creative process with the various textile artists. They are encouraged to express themselves freely within the parameters of the season’s theme and colors.” While Dream Weaver’s clothing, ranging from chic daywear to all-out glam-wear for galas and special occasions, certainly is fashionable and stylish, trendy is not a word that Morgan favors. “We are totally not trendy. We sell clothing that is timeless and unique to the individual,” she says. “We are more fashion forward, ahead of the trend, like with our art to wear. Now there is an art to wear trend.” Looking at what Dream Weaver shoppers are browsing, designer Annette Görtz’s line gets a lot of perusal. Her clothing skims and floats around the body with a look that is effortlessly stylish. With a flair for the dramatic, it is easy to pick out Mashiah’s fashions, which are unapologetically indulgent. Fabrics are sumptuous and colors tend to be dramatic, saturated, and vibrant – even the black and white designs seem more intensely hued. Also popular are the classic looks of Sympli designs. They come in three fits – snug, relax, and tunic – for “real bodies, real shapes.” These also are fluid, body-skimming designs that are a dream for travel. Trunk shows are a big part of the Dream Weaver experience. Morgan hosts 14 shows annually with the designer present, or in the case of European designers, with their representatives present. This month, New York designer Emmelle will be in the store all day November 13 and 14 with her evening cocktail wear in time for holiday celebrations and a gala-packed season. “When we have a designer here, it is actually the best time to come in if you want something custom,” Morgan says. “It’s a lot of fun, and we can do something really special. Whatever someone buys from us, whether it’s custom or from one of our collections in the store, we want it to be an investment piece that can be in their wardrobe for years and never look like it’s last year’s piece.”
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Turning Bright Ideas into Something BIG Dean Eisner
Story & photo by Jake Hartvigsen Many entrepreneurs would be happy to build a solid company that generates a healthy profit, but Dean Eisner thinks bigger than that. As CEO of privately-held Manheim, Eisner helped turn the company into a world leader in buying and selling autos at auction and online, eventually worth more than $3.8 billion. Likewise, while most of us look forward to retirement as a time to slow down and perhaps improve our golf game, Eisner saw his as an opportunity to transform southwest Florida into an economic engine for innovation, imagination, and entrepreneurship. Thanks to some help from Gulf Coast Community Foundation and a team of fellow retired CEOs and business executives, his vision for our area’s future just might become a reality. “Community and education have always been important to me,” says Eisner, who holds degrees from Purdue University and the University of Michigan, and who quickly became active on the boards of such local organizations as Mote Marine, the Arts and Cultural Alliance, and Ringling College of Art and Design when he relocated here from Atlanta three years ago. “Naturally, I was impressed by the beauty and the cultural opportunities I saw in Sarasota, but I was also amazed at the number of great educational institutions we have. Places like Ringling College, New College, USF, and others.” Equally amazing to Eisner, though, was the number of bright young people who left the area each year because they didn’t believe there were enough jobs here. “We are a community of really smart people, yet many of our recent college graduates go elsewhere because there aren’t enough developing industries to employ them. That didn’t make sense to me,” he says. So Eisner turned to what he does best. He started thinking…and planning. He met with friends and colleagues to gauge their interest in getting involved. He read reports from the Sarasota EDC about emerging opportunities in fields like digital arts, healthcare, marine science, and sports performance. And he visited the University of Miami to learn about an innovative business incubator they had started, called LaunchPad. scenesarasota.com
Eventually, he landed on an idea. What if Sarasota were to leverage the knowledge of its vast network of retired CEOs and business executives to help innovative start-ups launch their own area businesses? All that remained was to find a community partner with the resources and expertise needed to turn this concept into a reality. Gulf Coast Community Foundation was a natural fit. “I can’t say enough good things about everyone at Gulf Coast,” says Eisner. “From the moment I first met with them, they grasped the value of this idea and have been instrumental in making the initiative happen.” Called BIG, which stands for Bright Ideas on the Gulf Coast, the initiative is a sort of concierge service designed to connect people with innovative ideas to resources that will allow them to create new businesses, grow existing ones, and attract relocations to the area. As part of the process, aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners meet with a group of up to 20 retired CEOs and other experts assembled by Gulf Coast who assist them with finding resources for everything from business plan development to marketing, capital investment, technology, and more. “The aim of BIG is not to provide services that already exist in the community,” says Eisner. “Instead, our experts are there to help make connections and to help strengthen the fabric of our community. In other words, they won’t help you write your business plan, but they can put you in touch with people in your field who can. That is a huge benefit for companies that are just getting started.” Since its launch in fall 2013, the results have been impressive. To date, more than 200 entrepreneurs have presented their ideas to BIG’s panel of experts, with nearly as many still waiting in the wings. Perhaps even more impressively, Gulf Coast officials say they can hardly keep up with requests from retired business executives who want to serve on the panels themselves. For more information on Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s BIG initiative, visit BIGgulfcoast.org or call 941.486.4619. November 2014 | SCENE
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A Pillar of Philanthropy Harold Ronson
Story & photo by Jake Hartvigsen Harold Ronson knows a thing or two about overcoming adversity. As the youngest of four siblings growing up in Brooklyn during the Great Depression, he lost his mother when he was just 14 years old. She was “a victim of poverty,” he says, recalling his family’s daily struggles to make ends meet. Then, after joining the U.S. Navy in 1944, he endured fierce campaigns at Iwo Jima, Okinawa and the Philippines during World War II, barely escaping each battle while friends and fellow soldiers fell around him. More challenges followed, including the loss of his wife, Kay, in 2012 to Alzheimer’s disease. Yet, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico in his luxurious seventh floor condominium on Longboat Key, what Ronson recalls most are the people he met along the way who gave him a chance to succeed when life placed obstacles in his way. It is the lessons he learned from those experiences that have shaped his commitment to philanthropy ever since. “When I came back from the service, I found a job in a textile factory making $47 per week,” he says. “Then one day the foreman pulled me aside, and said ‘What are you doing here? You can do so much more with your life.’ He told me about the G.I. Bill, and I enrolled at Philadelphia University (then known as Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science). That advice changed my life.” Upon graduation, Ronson got a job as a plant chemist and engineer at W. Lowenthal & Co., a wool manufacturer in upstate New York established in the 1880s. But with an outdated factory and increasing pressure from international competition, the company soon faced bankruptcy. Again encouraged by co-workers and associates who recognized his business talents, Ronson purchased the company and moved it to South Carolina where he built a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility and returned the company to prosperity. He eventually sold Lowenthal to HanesBrands in the late 1980s, after nearly 38 years with the company. “Life has been good to me,” he says. “Part of that was hard work, but part was just being lucky enough to have good people in my life when I needed them. Their generosity, as well as the lessons scenesarasota.com
I learned from some tough experiences, made me determined to give back in any way I could.” And has he ever given back. For his lifetime achievements and his dedication to helping others, Ronson was recently named a Doctor of Philanthropy by Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation. He is also a longtime supporter of Weill Medical College at Cornell University, the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, and the National Alzheimer’s Association. Locally, he has served on the boards of Friendship Centers, Sarasota Opera, and a number of other nonprofits. But one organization that remains closest to his heart is Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation. “My wife, Kay, was a professor of nursing, so healthcare and education always played a special role in our lives,” says Ronson, whose two daughters chose careers in medicine as well. “When Kay was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2000, those causes became even more important to me.” Impressed by the quality of care Kay received during her battle with Alzheimer’s and determined to help other individuals and families facing similar struggles, Ronson didn’t hesitate when Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation contacted him seeking support to help build the hospital’s new Courtyard Tower. Thanks to his donations and thousands of others, the new $168 million tower opened last year, providing state-of-the-art equipment and facilities to meet our area’s evolving health care needs. In recognition of Ronson’s generosity, the hospital named a wing in the new tower in Kay’s honor and recently honored Harold as one of its Pillars of Philanthropy. “Our generation has been called ‘The Greatest Generation’ because we always sought to make the world a better place,” Ronson says, reflecting on a lifetime of experiences, success and, at times, sadness. “But you can only do that by sharing, and when you do, it’s a great feeling.” For information on Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation, visit smhf.org or call (941) 917-1286. November 2014 | SCENE
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Angel Among Us An
SUNCOAST BLOOD BANK
Samantha, Zayden & Angel Burt Photo by John Revisky
By Jacqueline Miller
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A
lthough it is one of the community’s most vital resources, you may not know about the SunCoast Blood Bank until, that is, you or a loved one really need it. While its colorful bloodmobiles are very visible on the local roads and at blood drive locations, many are unaware of the profound impact this nonprofit has had on the lives of thousands of people. SunCoast is more than a traditional blood bank. Its staff provides around the clock transfusion services and bedside therapies for those battling cancers and rare blood disorders. They also work with hospitals to improve patient outcomes, and have participated in research aimed at developing vaccines for ovarian cancer. These stories illustrate how suddenly the SunCoast Blood Bank’s presence can play a critical role on a very personal level, and how once that happens, it’s impossible ever to take its vital mission for granted again. scenesarasota.com
Left: Angel Burt holding son Zayden
Left: Hannah Marsh just after bone marrow transplant Below: Hannah, 5 years after transplant
J
une 9, 2012, started as a day of celebration for a young couple expecting their first child. When Angel and Samantha Burt arrived at the baby shower
being held in their honor, they had no idea that within hours Angel would be fighting for his life. “I had been having some trouble breathing for a couple of weeks before that,” Angel said, “but I thought maybe I had an infection. I never thought it would be what it turned out to be.” Angel had no idea that a time bomb was ticking inside his body. During the shower Angel collapsed, experiencing extreme respiratory distress. He was rushed by ambulance to Sarasota Memorial Hospital where his heart stopped, and he had to be resuscitated. The Burts credit rapid response from EMS, gifted sur-
second and then need blood transfusions within the hour in order to survive, no matter what your age.”
geons, and blood donors for saving Angel’s life. “You try to prepare yourself for the worst on the drive to the hospital,” Samantha says. “I thought maybe it was an allergic
as a deep vein thrombosis in his leg. He was only 19 years
A
old at the time.” During and after surgery, Angel received
bleed, bruising, and purple spots all over her body. ER
49 pints of blood, an astounding number considering
doctors found that her platelet count was fatally low and
that the average human body normally contains 10 pints.
her organs were shutting down. Fortunately, a quick di-
“From what the doctors have said, they were just pouring
agnosis showed that Hannah had hemophagocytic lym-
the blood into him in order for him to stay alive,” she said.
phohistiocytosis (HLH). HLH affects about one in 1.2 mil-
Angel was diagnosed with lupus anticoagulants, which is
lion children and causes an immune system malfunction,
a disorder that causes increased clotting within the body.
destroying red and white blood cells and platelets. She
Angel spent six weeks in Sarasota Memorial recover-
didn’t respond to the treatment, and her only hope of a
reaction or something, and then he wound up in surgery for nine hours. Doctors did open heart and lung surgery to remove a blood clot, which was two feet long and started
ing from his near-fatal experience. While he was in the
nother family that will be forever grateful to blood and platelet donors is the Marsh family. Hannah Marsh’s story began in 2008 when she was five
years old. She woke up one morning with a severe nose-
cure was a bone marrow transplant.
cardiac step-down unit, Samantha went into labor. Nurs-
“There was no match in our family or in the entire U.S.
es were able to wheel Angel to her side in time to be
We finally got a match in Germany,” said her mom Kelly
present for the birth of their son, Zayden. Today Angel is
Marsh. “Hannah received the transplant one day before
“as good as new,” Samantha says. In addition to enjoying
her sixth birthday, but for all the months leading up to
fatherhood, Angel is studying acting and recently audi-
that, she was totally dependent on blood transfusions.” In
tioned for parts in two movies. “If it wasn’t for those who
all, Hannah received more than 300 life-sustaining units
donated blood, he would not be alive,” Samantha said.
of blood and platelets.
“People really have no idea when something will happen,
Hannah’s older sister Shelby became a blood donor
and they’ll need blood. You can be at a baby shower one
as soon as she was old enough, and the youngest plans
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63
to donate as soon as she turns 16. Hannah’s and Shelby’s smiling faces will soon be displayed on a SunCoast bloodmobile. Kelly, who serves on the board at the Sarasota Academy of the Arts, now organizes blood drives at that location and also donates blood regularly. Kelly is also the chair of the annual Red Hot! Casino night being held on March 21 at The Francis to benefit SunCoast Blood Bank. “Before this happened, I really didn’t understand the importance of having a local blood bank that screens and crossmatches the appropriate blood for transfusion as well as having an adequate, safe blood supply within the community,” she said. “I did not have any conception that I personally would go through something like this.”
P
Thomas Welsh Photo by John Revisky
erhaps the most dramatic case in recent history is Bob Cowles. On Valen-
sicians, he began donating again. He wants to assure
tine’s Day in 2008 Bob, then age
those who are leery about needles that blood donation
69, was getting out of bed when
is painless and only takes about half an hour.
he collapsed, in tremendous pain. Healthy and without warning, Bob
rapid blood loss.
T
had suffered an aortic aneurysm, generally fatal due to
Bob Cowles Photo by Barbara Banks
homas Welsh is on the other side of blood donation’s life-giving circle. The Sarasota resident, who definitely is 90 years young, has been donat-
ing blood for nearly 65 years. Having given his first unit
A miraculous chain
on December 2, 1949, Thomas has donated 54 gallons of
of events including
blood through the SunCoast Blood Bank alone, and he
EMS, physicians, and
has a record of every pint he’s given. He estimates (con-
59 local blood donors
servatively) that the total amount he’s donated is more
saved his life. Bob un-
than 60 gallons. “In 1946, my wife needed an operation
derwent a 12 hour sur-
and a blood transfusion,” Thomas said. “At the time, they
gery that required 69 units
did not know where to get the blood, but we found that
of blood to save his life.
her sister’s girlfriend’s husband could be her donor. The
Bob’s story caught the attention of national media. “Apparently I ended up as
next time I heard about blood donation, I said I’m going to go do that, and I’ve been doing it ever since.”
the person who received the most blood ever during
Today, Thomas is among the very small number of
a surgery, and Good Morning America talked to me
people who donate platelets. Although blood donors
about my experience while I was in recovery,” he said.
can donate every 56 days, platelet donors like Thomas
“Donating blood is very important to help save others’
can donate as frequently as every two weeks. SunCoast
lives. The doctors told me that without the blood bank,
Blood Bank must keep type AB platelets on the shelves
they would not have been able to operate.” Bob had
at all times in order to save the lives of critically ill new-
donated blood consistently starting when he lived in
borns because type AB is the only type of platelets that
Buffalo because his nephew was diagnosed with leuke-
newborns can receive. Platelet demand is increasing due
mia. As soon as he was medically cleared by his phy-
to the many cancer patients that require platelet transfu-
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SCENE | November 2014
scenesarasota.com
sions to combat side effects of chemotherapy. Thomas
the-art tests for infectious diseases, which alone costs
donates platelets 24 times per year, the maximum num-
$1.5 million annually. SunCoast Blood Bank relies on fi-
ber of donations allowed in a 12 month period, and he’s
nancial donors to keep up with the costs associated with
clear that he would donate more if he could.
acquiring ever-advancing technology and equipment.
“Hannah, Angel, and Bob are the reason we do what we
For
“ Serving our community is a privilege, but it is also bile,
a tremendous responsibility. We must have the right do every day. Serving our community blood products on our hospital shelves at the right time is a privilege, but for critically ill and injured patients.” it is also a tremen-
dous responsibility. We must have the
instance,
new
– Scott Bush Chief Executive Officer of SunCoast Blood Bank
a
bloodmorecently
purchased solely through
dona-
tions, had a price tag of $300,000. To give an idea of the expense asso-
right blood products on our hospital shelves at the
ciated with collecting those lifesaving platelets Thomas
right time for critically ill and injured patients,” said
donates, just one platelet collection instrument costs
Scott Bush, Chief Executive Officer of SunCoast Blood
$65,000. Now, for the first time in the SunCoast Blood
Bank. “This sounds simple to so many, but when only
Bank’s 65 year history, it is broadening its reach to appeal
5 percent of the public donates, it often creates dif-
to individual financial donors. “We receive tremendous
ficulties for the blood bank and hospitals. We are so
support from our local foundations, but we must expand
grateful for our donors who help spare families the
our donor base to include individuals who believe in our
anguish of losing a loved one. Hannah, Angel, and
mission,” said Bush.
Bob will tell you that they would not be here today if it weren’t for them.”
Along with the blood bank’s day-to-day lifesaving mission, it is a designated first responder in the event
Fortunately, SunCoast Blood Bank is able to meet the
of catastrophes of any kind, and the blood bank must
needs of the community even though the number of peo-
stand ready to serve the community in an emergency
ple who donate blood is shrinking. The blood bank must
situation. The blood bank also provides Mononuclear
collect more than 49,000 units of blood and platelets
Cellular Therapy, which uses the patients’ own white
annually to serve patients in Sarasota, Manatee, DeSoto,
blood cells to prolong life for men suffering from Stage
and Charlotte counties. “Many people do not realize that
4 prostate cancer. SunCoast also participated in a re-
SunCoast Blood Bank is a registered 501 (c)(3) nonprofit
search trial designed to help create a vaccine to prevent
charity that is dependent on volunteers to literally give
ovarian cancer from recurring.
a part of themselves in order to help their friends and
“Having a local blood bank that provides 24/7 trans-
neighbors in need,” said Bush. “That help can come in
fusion services 365 days a year that is able to respond to
the form of people donating their lifesaving blood or from
a crisis situation within minutes is an absolute treasure
people donating with their wallets to ensure that their
for any community,” Bush said. “SunCoast plays a critical
community retains a blood bank and transfusion center
role in the overall health and wellness of our community,
that is locally operated.”
but unfortunately it’s a charity that is often overlooked by
Raising awareness of SunCoast Blood Bank’s critical
the public or at least until a person’s wellness is endan-
importance with people who don’t have an immediate
gered. There are not many nonprofits with the mission to
need is one of the challenges it is addressing along with
save lives, but saving lives is something that this organiza-
the misperception that the nonprofit does not need finan-
tion does without fanfare each and every day.”
cial donations because people donate blood. Costs are
Platelet donor Thomas put it best. “It’s something I
high to collect, test, process, match, store, and distribute
can do, and why not share with people who need it,”
the blood so that a safe supply is ready when people need
he said. “If anyone is thinking about donating, I say go
it. Each donor must be screened and cared for during the
ahead and do it. What do you have to lose? But the per-
donation process, and to keep the blood supply safe, the
son who doesn’t get your blood does have something
blood itself also goes through a battery of 13 state-of-
to lose.”
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November 2014 | SCENE
65
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Introducing
Dr. Stone...
New Leadership Brings New Excitement to University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee By Ryan G. Van Cleave
ne of the main challenges faced by a regional chancellor,” says Dr. Sophia Wisniewska, who holds that top administrative position at University of South Florida St. Petersburg,” is the budgetary concerns. It’s the same pressing concern every school has.” That’s a concern Dr. Sandra Stone will be facing as the new regional chancellor of University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee. The school has experienced significant transition over the past few years, and this new hire allows a prime opportunity to help continue to define the institution’s strategic plan, further develop the campus life, and deepen ties to the Sarasota and Manatee communities. Wisniewska, who served as chair of the national search to replace retiring Regional Chancellor Arthur Guilford, says enthusiastically that “Dr. Stone just had the right combination of experience, leadership skills, and personal attributes. She immediately comes across as [being] easy to get along with, flexible, and a nice person who will make contact with the community and inspire faculty, staff, and students.” Wisniewska is quite positive about the future of USFSM and its trajectory of growth and maturity. “Bringing in new leaderships and having new plans,” she adds, “is a powerful
scenesarasota.com
way to energize the campus and community.” Stone, 59, comes from Dalton State College where she was vice president for academic affairs. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology and sociology at the University of West Georgia, a doctoral degree in sociology from Emory University, a post-doctoral certificate in organizational behavior from the Freeman School of Business at Tulane University, and is a certified mediator. She has more than 30 years of experience in social services, health care, and education. Multiple members of the search community were impressed with her ability to listen carefully and respond thoughtfully to the nuances of each question. During a conference call with media after the announcement of her hire, Stone said she’s excited about the opportunities presented at USFSM and says she looks forward to developing a clear vision for the future after her appointment begins on November 1. “We will definitely look to growing the campus and continuing to establish more of a traditional campus flavor for our students to enjoy,” she said. One likely way to do that is to create residential housing, which only makes sense now that USFSM has enrolled its second class of freshman — 91 new students — into the new four-year degree-bearing
November 2014 | SCENE
67
curriculum from more than 40 academic programs. Some of the other concerns she’s looking to address include creating new academic buildings and bringing in additional dynamic, inspiring professors. Part of her role, too, will be to work with state legislators to get the support USFSM will need to move forward. Another plus for this hire is that Stone already has ties to the USF system because her husband earned a Ph.D. in clinical psychology at USF in 1977, and he’s the one who first informed her about the regional chancellor vacancy. The growth potential at USFSM proved too compelling, despite her successes at Dalton State College where she helped create the first Faculty Senate, developed the college’s first online degree program, and established the Center for Teaching and Learning. She also expanded the Center for International Education to include educational and cultural exchange opportunities with universities in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Now she hopes to bring the same level of energy and growth to USFSM, which has “a lot of enrollment growth, and a lot of change,” she says. “It’s a very exciting time there. I have experience with transition and leading change. I hope I can bring some skills that will be helpful to them.” Byron Shinn, the president and managing partner of Shinn & Company LLC who is also chair of the USFSM Campus Board and served on the regional chancellor search committee, strongly approves of this hire, saying, “Dr. Stone understood from the faculty’s perspective where higher education is going, especially at a research institution like ours where we’re trying to provide effective graduates who will be leaders in our community. We want our graduates to stay in the community to build and improve our companies.” Shinn is just one of a number of community leaders who have taken great ownership of USFSM’s future. Why does he choose to do so? “The children are 25 percent of the population, and they’re 100 percent of our future.” Plus, he and his wife both graduated from the main campus of USF as did one of their children. Helping students develop careers is a crucial element of the USFSM educational experience. In fact, one of the first things you see once you walk in the front door is the career services office. “You know you’re here about your career,” Shinn says about the purposeful placement of that office. He’s quick to add that the school has special scholarships to help underprivileged students get a USFSM degree. “We even have people assigned to area high schools, both public and private, and these people inform students about our financial support opportunities.” In short, he says, if a local student wants to go to USFSM, the school will figure out how to make it happen. With community leaders like Shinn onboard, Stone already has key resources in place to develop USFSM further as a key player in the shaping of tomorrow’s leaders. Her personality and accomplishments make her ideal for championing academic and student success, handling legislative priorities, and working with faculty and community relationships. Those who are interested in seeing Stone and her contagious enthusiasm for education and community firsthand may attend the 21st anniversary of the USFSM’s Brunch on the Bay scholarship event on November 2. The USFSM website describes the event as a venue where guests “celebrate making higher education possible for local students during an afternoon of food and tropical splendor under tents on the North Tamiami Trail campus.” “USFSM is clearly a special place with an exciting future,” Stone says. “I am grateful for the opportunity to help shape that future alongside our talented faculty, students, and supporters in Sarasota-Manatee.” As Shinn succinctly explains, “The future of USFSM is bright. Quite bright.” 68
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Tour of Europe Passport Series is back!
Preserving F ’ P W Protecting I F lorida s
ts
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ast
hile
uture
By Jake Hartvigsen
scenesarasota.com
Turn back the clock to just over a decade ago. The country has recently come out of a recession, and both the state and local economy are picking up speed. Property values are on the rise, and development is a hot topic being discussed throughout the region. Gathered around a dining room table are about a dozen individuals. M any are longtime Floridians, and all love our area because of its unparalleled natural beauty and its rich environmental resources. Yet, they share a common concern as well. What if that environment was left unprotected? What if the natural beauty, biodiversity, and quality of life that attracted so many of us to southwest Florida were suddenly to disappear and be lost forever for future generations to admire and enjoy?
It was under just such circumstances that Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast was founded in 2003. And, while the Foundation has since expanded to include ranchers, developers interested in smart development, business owners, anglers and others, the concerns shared by that original group of caring citizens are as real today as they were eleven years ago. “I ask people all of the time why they live here,” says Conservation Foundation President Christine Johnson, who is herself a fifth generation Floridian. “And the answer is always the same. They came here because our area offers the whole package. Yes, we have great culture and great schools, but just as importantly we have an amazingly beautiful and diverse natural environment.” That beauty includes not only bays, beaches and barrier islands, but the wet and dry prairies, hardwood and flatwood forests, coastal hammocks, and undeveloped ranch lands that form our region’s watershed as well. As a private non-profit, and one of only four nationally-accredited land trusts in the state, Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast is helping protect and preserve them all for current and future generations. This is accomplished by holding conservation agreements and owning nature preserves, by sponsoring events and workshops to educate the public about responsible land stewardship, and by collaborating with individuals, organizations, government, and communities to preserve and protect precious resources. Most importantly, thanks to support from individual and corporate donors, grants, and land preservation contracts, the lands saved by Conservation Foundation are protected not just for years to come, but forever. “Our aim is not only to conserve land for nature but to conserve it for people as well,” says Johnson in discussing the land trust’s mission. “To do Tatum Sawgrass Marsh at Triangle Ranch by Glenn Gardner scenesarasota.com
November 2014 | SCENE
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Map Illustration by Chris Peterson Robinson Preserve Expansion
Mercy on the Manatee Conservation Area
BRADENTON
Triangle Ranch
Ringling Boulevard Park
Sheps Island Ranch
SARASOTA
Siesta Key Preserve
Bay Preserve at Osprey
Casey Key Conservation Area
O-Bar-O Ranch Conservation Area
Blackburn Point Park Michael Biehl Park
Rocky Ford Preserve
Longino Ranch Conservation Walton Ranch Area Conservation Area
Myakka Pines Preserve Warm Mineral Orange Springs South Venice Hammock VENICE Creek Lemon Bay Tarpon Ranch Preserve Preserve Point PORT Landing Manasota Key Merkle Park
Conservation Area
Manasota Scrub Preserve
CHARLOTTE
CHARLOTTE HARBOR
Pine Island Preserve at Matlacha Pass Pine Island Flatwoods Preserve
Completed Projects Potential Projects
that, we are constantly holding listening sessions and workshops to engage the community and ask them what they want us to protect.” Among the items mentioned most often during such sessions are expanding the number of nature and recreational trails in the area, increasing connectivity between protected areas and public lands, and creating more adjacencies between protected properties. All are important elements in Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast’s portfolio of protected lands, which include sites like historic Bay Preserve in Osprey, a 5-acre parcel nestled along Sarasota Bay adjacent to Spanish Point. Open to the public seven days a week, Bay Preserve is not only home to the Foundation’s headquarters but is frequented annually by thousands of local residents, anglers and kayakers who come to enjoy its tranquil setting. Sarasota Crew practices there as well. Others include properties as diverse as Siesta Key Preserve, one of the last remaining nesting grounds for the diminutive Snowy Plover; Michael Biehl Park in Venice, a tiny pocket park located next to Venice Theatre; and a 150-acre parcel now part of Robinson Preserve in Manatee County. Work is under way to have bird watching trails and an educational center at the latter site within the next two years. The expansion will dramatically increase both the size and recreational opportunities available at Robinson Preserve, which annually draws more than 400,000 visitors.
In total, Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast has protected 31 properties and nearly 8,600 acres. Those are impressive numbers, but the real value of the land trust, according to Johnson, lies in the quality of life for the citizens of southwest Florida those assets help safeguard and maintain. “Water quality is a huge issue in Florida,” she says. “It is anywhere in the country, but especially here, since so much of our livelihood and quality of life depends on the marine environment. But you can’t have healthy bays and inlets, or a healthy Gulf of Mexico, without also protecting what goes on upstream. That’s why we’re working really hard in the Myakka River and Manatee River watersheds to protect those lands and to keep contaminants from flowing into our bay and gulf waters.” Toward that end, Conservation Foundation recently requested support from the state’s Florida Forever program to help conserve three parcels in the Myakka Island Conservation Corridor. If protected, the project will add up to 7,560 acres of critically important properties to the more than 110,000 acres of conserved land already protected along the central section of Myakka River, known locally as “Myakka Island.” Protecting these lands will help connect Myakka River State Park with the Crowley Preserve in the north, provide a permanent environmental buffer for the Myakka State Park campground in the west, and safe72
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Myakka River meandering thru Triangle Ranch by Glenn Gardner
Kayaking the Upper Myakka Lake at Myakka River State Park by Daniel Perales
guard a floodway that is estimated to supply more than 60 percent of North Port’s drinking water in the south. Tony Carlton, whose family has owned one of the properties for more than 100 years, says he can think of no better way to celebrate his family’s heritage and love of the land than to protect and share it with others. “I was born on this ranch in 1934 and grew up roaming its woods, fishing and swimming in the river and watching and learning about wildlife,” he says. “My wish and that of my family is that the property be preserved and protected into the future for others to enjoy as well.”
Fall Family Festival at Bay Preserve
“We are building a legacy for future generations,” Johnson says, “and that is really important. None of us ever wants to look back and say to our chil dren and grandchildren, ‘I remember when Florida was a paradise’ and to have that be just a distant memory.”
On behalf of Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, Johnson says she finds inspiration and hope in the thoughts and feelings expressed by Carlton and others who have stepped forward over the past eleven years to help preserve and protect the lands that make southwest Florida so special. Anyone who would like to find out more about the Conservation Foundation’s efforts and how to support them may visit conservationfoundation.com or call 941.918.2100. scenesarasota.com
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Sarasota Ballet’s
La Fille mal Gardée By Sue Cullen
Premiering on the eve of the French Revolution, Jean Dauberval’s La Fille mal Gardée, The Wayward Daughter, was revolutionary in its own way at the time. The ballet discarded the more stilted format relying on technical tricks that was fashionable at the time for a warmer treatment based on clear narrative, engaging characters, and a bright comedy of manners. Debuting in 1789, two weeks before the beginning of the revolution, the ballet’s portrayal of farm life complete with hard-working peasants, arrogant landowners, and forestalled lovers contrasted with Queen Marie Antoinette’s stately and mannered shepherdesses sporting in an idyllic pastoral setting.
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Having rediscovered Hérold’s 1928 score in The Royal Opera House, the late composer and conductor John Lanchbery convinced Sir Frederick Ashton to create an entirely new version of La Fille mal Gardée. Aston’s version expresses character development through dance and pantomime, embraces components of court and folk dance as well as the romance of ballet and showcases his gift for comedy. All of this serves to tell the love story of Lise and Colas. “Everyone will enjoy this ballet, and kids especially are going to fall in love with this performance” said Iain Webb, Director of The Sarasota Ballet. “It’s lighthearted and offers comical surprises throughout. When the curtain falls the audience will be smiling.” Webb can speak of this with confidence given the favorable audience response it received in April 2013. Principal dancers Kate Honea portrayed a winsome Lise and Ricardo Graziano depicted Colas as a stalwart suitor worthy of her love in the physically-demanding lead roles. Honea is a Sarasota native who joined the Sarasota Ballet in 2002 and has danced the company’s full repertoire. Brazilian-born Graziano joined the company in 2010 and has performed in Christopher Wheeldon’s The American, George Balanchine’s Divertimento No. 15 and The Prodigal Son, and Ashton’s Les Rendezvous. As the story of The Wayward Daughter goes, Lise is the pretty daughter of Widow Simone, a successful farmer determined to have Lise make a good marriage with Alain, the foolish, albeit well-situated son of Thomas, a wealthy vineyard owner. Eschewing this marriage of convenience, Lise holds to her love for Colas, a handsome local farmer, setting up a battle of wills with her mother. At dawn the cockerel and hens chorus sees the farmhands off to work in the fields while the Widow Simone shoos Colas away, insistent that Lise greet Thomas and the buffoonish Alain. The ballet proceeds on a romp through the cornfield with a dance of celebration led by Colas while the harvesters tease Alain, and Colas and Lise display their love in a pas de deux. The Widow’s interference is sidetracked with a humorous clog dance. Despite the widow’s determination, her best efforts are comedically thwarted at every turn leading to the inevitable, and audience-delighting, happy ending. The Sarasota Ballet, complete with live ponies to add a touch of realism to the farm setting, brings to life the engaging characters, enlivens the broad range of dance from classic ballet to folk, and with a live performance with the Sarasota Orchestra does justice to Hérold’s enchanting music. “The musicians of the Sarasota Orchestra are excited to once again collaborate with the Sarasota Ballet,” says Daniel Jordan, Sarasota Orchestra’s Concertmaster. “To combine a live orchestra with dance is always a special experience. La Fille mal Gardée is a delightful mix of music and ballet that is a perfect way to spice up your holiday season.” Performances will be at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall at 7:30 p.m. December 19 and at 2 and 7 p.m. on December 20. For more information about La Fille mal Gardée or to purchase tickets, visit sarasotaballet.org or call 941.359.0099, extension 101. scenesarasota.com
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MORE THAN
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SKIN DEEP
By Sue Cullen | Photo by John Revisky
scenesarasota.com
While the Landers ladies can fill up a room with their strawberry blond beauty and trademark
thousand-megawatt smiles, it’s quickly apparent that their beauty is far more than skin deep.
These accomplished women are at home playing on a larger celebrity stage of television and
movie stardom, Miss USA pageants or making a splash on reality television. When they actually are at home in Sarasota, they are equally
known for their compassion for animals and their passion for helping them and others.
any remember Judy Landers Niedenfuer from her roles in movies and television series The Love Boat, VegaS, and BJ & The Bear as well as appearances on iconic shows like Happy Days, Charlie’s Angels, Fantasy Island, and The A-Team. Her multi-talented daughters Kristy Landers Niedenfuer and Lindsey Landers Niedenfuer Leins have made waves on hot reality shows like Keeping Up with the Kardashians and Jersey Shore in Official Hot Mess, an MTV chart-topping pop rock band. When Lindsey married husband, Justin, the entire band, and Judy, made an appearance on TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress. Kristy is just wrapping up an appearance-filled year as Miss Tennessee USA and was a semi-finalist in the Miss USA pageant. Now, Lindsey and Kristy are focusing on their event planning company, The A List. Closer to home, the three also are known for their support of Satchel’s Last Resort, which unlike many other animal shelters does not euthanize dogs and cats deemed “unadoptable,” but rather works to rehabilitate or bring them back to health so they can be placed in a good home. However, if they are not good candidates for life outside a shelter because of serious health or behavioral issues that can’t be mitigated, Satchel’s gives them a permanent home. “I grew up with my mother Ruth Landers, who was an animal lover, and I became one, too,” Judy says. “It’s in the genes, and I passed down my love for animals to my daughters.” All three lend their time and talent to supporting Satchel’s and other nonprofits. In September, they hosted their second annual Yappy Hour, a successful fundraiser that helps Satchel’s fulfill its mission to help the most vulnerable scenesarasota.com
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dogs and cats live a full life. Satchel’s doesn’t “warehouse”
in traditional costumes from around the world.
its residents (those who live there permanently) or guests
The three also recently traveled to support U.S. troops as
(adoptable pets), but provides walks and playtime several
part of Kristy’s ambassador responsibilities as Miss Tennes-
times a day, furniture to lounge on, and even gives car rides.
see USA. She is a board member and the first female nation-
The Landers, who share their homes with six
“ I grew up with my mother Ruth Landers, who was an
dogs, five birds, animal lover, and I became one, too. It’s in the genes, and a 5-footlong
iguana
named
Spike,
”
and I passed down my love for animals to my daughters.
– Judy Landers Niedenfuer
al spokesperson for
Operation
Troop Aid, which sends
care
packages
and
other
needed
goods to de-
learned about Satchel’s Last Resort when they were des-
ployed troops. One lucky Landers dog, Leo, a teeny bun-
perately trying to save the lives of two dogs. Both had been
dle of peachy Pomeranian fluff with a great big personality,
picked up by animal services in a county north of Tampa.
helped them out. “We traveled to Fort Campbell and went
“One was 12 weeks old and had eaten cough drops, and
rappelling with the soldiers there,” Kristy said. “Leo went
the other was caught in a hog trap,” Lindsey said. Even
with us. He’s spent a lot of time on the road this year.”
though their conditions were treatable, they were deemed
Lila is another four-legged member of the Landers
unadoptable and slated for euthanasia. When that hap-
household, who the kind-hearted ladies literally scooped
pens, an individual can’t adopt them directly, and the dog
off the streets and saved. Lila’s story also is a cautionary
or cat must be turned over to another shelter.
tale for anyone who rescues animals and wants to place
Determined to save the dogs, they sought help. “Iris East-
them in good homes. Lila was running wild. “We called
man of Satchel’s made us honorary members so I could go get
her the werewolf,” Judy says, because of her wild behavior
the dogs,” Judy said, and Lindsey fell in love with the puppy.
and the fact that she is a huge bundle of fur. For six months,
She and Justin had just gotten engaged, so they sent him a
she searched for Lila’s owners, advertising, scanning for a
picture of the dog. “Justin saw the picture and said ‘that’s my
microchip, and contacting all the shelters, and meanwhile
dog’,” Kristy said. Now Troy, a Catahoola leopard dog and pit
Lila was working her way into everyone’s hearts.
bull mix is part of the family. “He turned out to have such a
With a full household of pets already, Judy was hoping
beautiful personality,” Judy said. “And he’s so kind and caring.
to place her with a loving family, which she did — multiple
If someone is upset, he knows,” Kristy concludes. (The three
times — but Lila was big, boisterous, and had difficulty ad-
are so in sync, they seamlessly and delightfully, complete
justing to new situations — and she always came back. Fi-
each other’s sentences.) The other dog now has a home with
nally, a woman in North Port wanted her. When they arrived
Satchel’s, and he’s aptly named Landers. “Satchel’s is wonder-
to drop Lila off, Judy had misgivings. The house appeared
ful because they take dogs that are not adoptable, which is
to be empty. The yard wasn’t fenced like they were told it
not their fault, and give them a beautiful life,” Judy says.
was, but the woman really wanted Lila, Judy said. “After
The Landers also lend their support to the Boys and Girls
we dropped her off and were driving back, I couldn’t stop
Club of Sarasota County and Southeastern Guide Dogs,
crying,” she said, feeling something was very wrong and
including its Paws for Patriots program. With Lindsey and
regretting leaving Lila with the woman. They turned around
Kristy focusing their efforts on The A List, Kristy says she’s
and went back to find Lila locked in the garage, which also
looking forward to spending more time in Sarasota. The
housed a variety of skulls. So, they scooped Lila up, took her
two sisters already have many glam events to their credit,
home, and she’s been a permanent member of the house-
including at the Playboy Mansion and E! Entertainment.
hold since. “We called the police,” Judy said, “and they told
They have been lending their creative and organization-
us this kind of thing has happened before. People should be
al talents to local events as well, including the Boys and
really careful about who they give an animal to.”
Girls Club’s Dream Makers Ball, which is coming up on
It couldn’t be clearer that these accomplished women
November 22 at the Hyatt Regency. This year’s theme is
exemplify the saying that beauty is as beauty does, and
“It’s a Small World”, and Lindsey and Kristy are taking the
that for the Landers women, beauty is not just skin deep
opportunity to get the kids involved by having them dress
but goes all the way to their generous hearts.
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The Players Theatre 85 Years Young and Still Creating its Own Definition of Community Theatre By Sue Cullen
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When the curtains came up on Lend Me a Tenor in September, The Players Theatre marked its 85th year of embodying the true spirit of community theatre while definitely holding its own against the pros on Sarasota’s cultural coast. Its longevity is testament to a passion for developing talent within the community, instilling a love of performing arts in upcoming generations, and for entertaining audiences, all of which have been hallmarks throughout The Players’ history. The number of notables who have trod the boards over the years is impressive. To put that longevity into perspective, in 1929 when Fan-
debut in As Husbands Go during the 1932-33 season. In
neal Harrison and Catherine Gavin, who owned the Out-of-
1957, while in town to film The Greatest Show on Earth,
Door School, were exploring the idea of launching a little
Charlton Heston stepped up to fill the role of a sick actor
theatre in 1929, Sarasota boasted a population of 8,000
in a play reading of Candida. Future stars who performed
whose ranks swelled to 13,000 during the winter months. A
at The Players include a teenaged Jayne Meadows, Ellen
prominent couple had moved into their new house (dubbed
Marshall, who starred in the television series Dallas, Polly
the Ca d’Zan) up the Trail from The Players’ future home just
Holiday, who played Flo in the sitcom Alice, and Broadway
three years previously. It was the first community theatre on
performers, Sara Inbar, Sasha Hanna, and Ashley Rose Orr.
Florida’s West Coast and only the second in Florida at the
Charlie Barnett, a rookie fireman on the TV series Chicago
time. It grew to be the largest community in the Southeast
Fire, attended The Players Summer Camp at age six.
during the 1960s.
Introducing children to the theatre has been a tradition
The theatre’s early years were ones of moving and strug-
almost since day one. A children’s department was set up
gle as the Depression took hold. The first show was pro-
during the 1933-34 season, which produced plays by and
duced in an abandoned Siesta Key Club house and the
for children during Saturday matinees, and in the 1980s,
fledgling theatre performed from four different locations
a Children’s Summer Theatre Workshop was instituted.
during its second season. It finally settled down at 950
During the last decade, The Players launched the Perform-
Main Street, overcoming a slight drawback with that loca-
ing Arts Studio as well as The Players Kids. Today, the the-
tion — having to build the stage around an elevator shaft.
atre has more than 300 students age 3 and up and offers
Fortunately, with a bit of prescience regarding the poten-
30 performing arts classes. Because The Players does not
tial for the arts here, the City of Sarasota donated land at
turn anyone away, its Building Better Scholarship Program
the corner of North Tamiami Trail and 9th Street, which The
is vital to 50 students each year who would not be able to
Players has called home since 1936. The current building
participate otherwise. In addition, the theatre also provides
is the second iteration of the theatre facility. The original
3,500 free tickets to local charity organizations annually
pecky cypress theatre, designed by Sarasota School of Ar-
through its Charity Preview Performance Program to reach
chitect’s Ralph Twitchell, was eventually replaced by the
underserved audiences and at-risk youth in the community.
current building in 1973.
The Players has received a number of recognitions, in-
Over the years, The Players has offered audiences fare
cluding as Cultural Organization of the Year in the Sarasota
ranging from Broadway hits like You Can’t Take It with You
Chamber’s Small Business Awards. It also has gained at-
in the 1930s, to Carousel and South Pacific in the 1950s, and
tention and accolades for its unique co-management team
The Sound of Music in the 60s. In this decade, The Players
model with Managing Director Michelle Bianchi Pingel
took a risk with Tommy and produced A Chorus Line to au-
handling the business operations and Kin with responsibili-
diences’ great delight. A Chorus Line, which ran in February
ty for creative goals and the quality of the product on stage.
2012, was the highest grossing show in The Players’ history.
“Over the last seven years, Jeffery Kin and I, along with
The theatre also has provided many opportunities to novice
a wonderful supportive board of directors, have propelled
playwrights from its very beginnings, and The Players’ Artis-
The Players into one of the most professional community
tic Director Jeffery Kin has continued that tradition with a
theatres in the area,” Pingel says. “We have implemented
variety of festivals and events for non-published plays.
a five-year strategic plan, launched an endowment cam-
In addition to the many residents who have honed their
paign, and set the theatre on a path for financial stability
skills on and off stage at The Players, it has proven a benefi-
long into the future.” All that can be said to that is “Thanks,
cial stepping stone for those who have gone on to success-
and if the next 85 years are like the first, we can’t wait to see
ful professional careers. Montgomery Clift made his acting
what the future will bring.”
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NEW YEAR’S EVE
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From top: Andrew Lane, Alli Mauzey, Michael Cavanaugh & Susan Egan
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SARASOTA ORCHESTRA POPS SERIES Music of the Movies, Broadway, and Billy Joel By Steven J. Smith
IF YOU’RE A LOVER OF MOVIE THEMES, BROADWAY MELODIES OR THE MUSIC OF LEGENDARY SINGER-SONGWRITER BILLY JOEL, THE SARASOTA ORCHESTRA’S POPS SERIES SHOULD BE ON YOUR MUST-SEE LIST THIS COMING SEASON, ACCORDING TO PRINCIPAL POPS CONDUCTOR ANDREW LANE. “It’s going to be a great series,” Lane said. “We’ve lined up a lot of extraordinary talent and three concerts you won’t want to miss.” For its Pops Series, the Sarasota Orchestra brings in artists from around the country who have a special affinity for the concerts in which they’ll perform. “One particular thing we’ve done for many years is bring in Broadway and movie artists,” Lane said. “We’ll be doing that again this season. Our first program, Voices of the Movies, will feature singer Susan Eagan, who was the original Belle in Beauty and the Beast on Broadway. She’s a fabulous vocalist and has an incredible personality.” Eagan will perform songs from such movies as Lullaby of Broadway, High Noon, White Christmas, Fiddler on the Roof, and The Way We Were, to name a few. “We’re opening with an Oscar song medley and going through a lot of favorite composers like Rodgers and Hammerstein, Marvin Hamlisch, and Henry Mancini,” Lane said. Next up is a salute to Billy Joel featuring Michael Cavanaugh, who played piano and sang lead vocals in the band for the Joel-inspired Broadway hit musical Movin’ Out. “Billy Joel actually selected Michael Cavanaugh for that show,” Lane said, “and Michael knows Billy Joel very well. They’ve performed together on stage. This program will honor all the great hits of Billy Joel, sung by someone handpicked by Billy Joel himself. You can’t get much better than that.” Rounding out the series is a tribute to music of Manhattan’s Great White Way, called On Broadway. “We’ve done a Broadway concert every year,” Lane scenesarasota.com
said. “It continues to be one of our audience favorites. So we’re bringing it back this season with Alli Mauzey, who starred in Wicked on Broadway. Alli is a fantastic performer.” Mauzey will sing selections from Wicked, Jesus Christ Superstar, Chicago, Carousel, Annie Get Your Gun, Les Miserables, and more. Lane has conducted the Orchestra’s Pops Series since it began in the 2004-2005 season and has conducted the orchestra for more than 10 seasons. “I started working with the youth orchestra,” he said. “From there I went on to work as a guest conductor with the Sarasota Orchestra. It kind of evolved over time.” Lane added he always had an interest in Pops concerts and was Principal Pops Conductor with the Orlando Philharmonic. He said the term “Pops” began with the Boston Pops Orchestra, which was founded in 1885. “Most people think Pops is short for ‘popular,’ but I think the term is derived from the celebratory nature of the music with champagne corks popping,” he said. “Because typically the concerts they were doing up in Boston were kind of casual and people would enjoy their beverages and food during the concerts.” Voices of the Movies is being performed January 16 and 17, The Music of Billy Joel on March 19 and 20, and On Broadway’s two-night stand takes place April 10 and 11. All concerts begin at 8 p.m. and are performed at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall at 777 N. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota. Ticket prices range from $32-$74. For more information, visit SarasotaOrchestra.org or call 941.953.3434. November 2014 | SCENE
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Welcome to the
Jungle John Revisky Photographer: Ricky Perrone Hair and Makeup Artist: Alyssa Woods Fashion Director and Stylist:
with Molinari Model & Talent Project Coordinator:
Ben Nathan
Special thank you to Carl Abbott for letting us use his fabulous property!
Fabiana Filippi fox trim knit vest. Salvatore Ferragamo belt. Citizens of Humanity Rocket jean. Fabiana Filippi suede bootie. Dabakarov 18 karat white gold earrings with rutilated quartz and diamonds. Erickson Beamon cuff. Armani Collezioni guru collar jacket. J Brand Mick jean. Robert Graham Vanderbilt wingtip. Apparel available at The Met and jewelry available at June Simmons Jewelry, St. Armands Circle.
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Vince hooded jacket. Zanerobe Sureshot pant. Blackstone Shoes Sport Oxford in taupe nubuck with contrasting leather trim. 18k gold dipped shark's tooth pendant on black leather strap. J Brand Lowell denim jacket. J Brand Kane straight leg jean. Comune Manchester belt. Blackstone Shoes high top sneakers in leather with suede inserts. Asian bobble pendant on brown leather strap. Available at Influence Style, St. Armands Circle. Shoes available online at blackstoneshoes.com. Pendants available at Coffrin Jewelers, Sarasota.
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Sarah Pacini zipper cardigan. Ivan Grundahl leather front stretch pant. Susan Greene necklace of antique silver Tibetan charms. Stretch denim jacket by Annette Görtz. Lauren Vidal stretch textured pants. Amy Kahn Russell semi-precious stone earrings. Necklace of freshwater pearls, crystal, and sterling silver. Available at Dream Weaver Collection, St. Armands. scenesarasota.com
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Bohemian Rhapsody velvet jacket. Moto rider pant. Verdino silk scarf. Madelyn chain necklace. Marin braided leather necklace. Romancing the Stone ring. Baroness black boots. Lost in the Garden blouse. Strangers with Candy shorts. Outback suede hat. Highline belt. Bardot ring. Boho Luxe jade necklace set. Dream with Me boots. Available at Bohemian Bliss Boutique, Sarasota.
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Rose cut diamond bead chandelier earrings. Rutilated quartz and diamond ring. Available at Coffrin Jewelers, Sarasota.
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Hyats sport jacket by Sand. Rag & Bones Henley tee. Sand scarf. Hugo Boss Caleb trouser. Etro paisley belt. Robert Graham Rex printed bag. Available at The Met, St. Armands Circle.
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Armani Collezioni leather jacket and tuxedo shirt. Etro bowtie. J Brand Tyler jean. Max Watches rose gold watch. Blackstone Shoes high top sneakers in leather with suede inserts. IRO Vika jacket, Etro paisley scarf. Rag & Bone legging. Helmut Lang shoes and Baryon pouch. Ring and earrings of tanzanite and champagne diamonds in 14 karat yellow gold and sterling silver. Apparel available at The Met and jewelry available at June Simmons Jewelry, St. Armands Circle. Shoes available online at blackstoneshoes.com.
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Scenes from an Interview:
Mary GrandPré by Gus Mollasis
When she tells you that anyone can draw, you believe her. You believe her in the same way children and adults have believed in J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter series and the characters that she, Mary GrandPré, created as the illustrator for that legendary literary and worldwide pop culture phenomenon. What you believe about her most, though, are the words she speaks about a wonderful life she has painted for herself over the years. Perhaps it is the Midwest soil and Minnesota roots of her youth that still ground her, but there is nothing pretentious about this artist, who is responsible for creating the look of one of the most recognizable characters in the history of pop culture. What you see when you look at her is the joy of the child who still lives within. She remembers the great lessons along her path: of getting lost in her art, of being encouraged by her Dad, and being anointed by the wizard named Harry, and particularly, the need for always finding quiet times to pause as she seeks what to draw next on the pages of her life’s book. Recently I sat down with Mary GrandPré at a not-so-quiet coffee shop, and we shared a look at some of the colorful scenes from an interview of her life. Your name is very unique and beautiful. It means great prairies. It represents the Midwest, and it’s my Dad’s name.
the basement. I would help him paint the house. We were a pretty good team. My Mom was great, too, but my Dad and I really worked well together.
Where were you born? I was born in Aberdeen, South Dakota, but I grew up in Minnesota. My parents are from the Dakotas, and we moved to Bloomington when I was a child. Home to me is Minnesota, but we’ve been here in Sarasota for 10 years now and it feels like home.
Do you remember the first thing you ever drew? The first thing I remember was Mickey and Minnie Mouse. I got lots of praise for it. When you get a lot of praise, it encourages you. I copied him from a comic strip, and then I started to draw things around the house like flowers and still lifes. My Dad built me an easel made of metal. I set that up in the basement and painted in oil paints. Salvador Dali was a big influence when I was in junior high and I got into surrealism.
If you were drawing me a picture of your childhood what would it look like? I grew up in a strict Catholic environment. I was not a happy girl in school. We went to mass every day in a pretty church filled with stained glass windows and statues. There was a lot of visual stimulation for me as a kid. That’s a lot of what I remember from my daily life. I realized in my years growing up as an artist that a lot of that imagery comes into my work. So I am grateful for that. I draw on that now, and that’s really a part of me. Drawing became an outlet for me to express myself. My Dad got into it as well, and we would draw together a lot. It was hard for me when he passed. He was a big influence on me. He was a carpenter, a woodworker who worked with his hands. I would paint the rocking horses he made in his workshop in scenesarasota.com
When did you realize you had a special talent in illustrating, and who encouraged you to pursue it? I remember doing this greeting card for someone who was sick. I drew a vase of flowers on the cover of the card from a vase that was on the table. I don’t think it was anything really special. I just remember my Mom showing somebody and talking about it not knowing that I could hear her. She told this woman, “I think she’s really got something special here.” When a kid hears that, and they know their parents are not just inflating them, then that’s when I started to believe it. November 2014 | SCENE
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Where did you receive your formal training? Minneapolis College of Art and Design. I only graduated a few years ago. I had wanted to get out there and be a freelance artist, so I left with a few credits short figuring my portfolio would speak for me and get me the work, not the degree. So I kind of dropped out of school, waited tables, and was supporting myself. Eight years ago MCAT invited me back to have a show and do some presentations, and they awarded me the rest of the credits I needed to get my degree. Are you also gifted in other areas of the arts? No this is my thing. I can cook, and I love to dance. How did you land this landmark job of drawing one of the most popular characters in pop culture? Well it really wasn’t a landmark at the time. It became that. At the time, it was just like any job. I was freelancing, and I had done a few children’s books. The art director at Scholastic, David Saylor, called me based upon some of my work that he had seen. He asked if I had time to look at a manuscript and possibly do a cover for this book and maybe some inside spine art. I was living in St. Paul, and I was extremely busy so I turned him down. He asked if I could adjust some things, and if I would think about it. He was persistent. I liked the sound of the project and what the story was all about, so he sent me the manuscript, and I read the book. There was talk that there might be three books, but there was no sign as to how big it could be. I liked the story so much that I said I’m going to make room for this. I’m glad I did. I signed a contract, which I had to revisit later, and just went for it. In creating the Harry Potter character, is it a direct collaboration with J.K. Rowling? I don’t talk to the author. Seldom does an illustrator talk with the author. I start with sketches for the cover and then I go from there. I go through the manuscript, and I highlight important areas and what characters look like, then I start my sketches. Basically I’m just taking notes from what the author’s describing, thinking about what scenes can go into the book, and what might be a chapter heading without giving too much away to the reader. When did you get an inkling that this was going to be a big thing? Not in the beginning. David (Saylor) said there may be three books. Usually there is a lot of time between books, and I was told that there would be about a four to five year span of three books. So I thought, good gig, nice art director, and an interesting story. I liked the magic of it. He liked my drawings and my work, so I thought 98
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this was a good job. I guess my realization came when the third book came out and it started to show up on 60 Minutes, the news, and all over television. You would see the Harry Potter covers all over the place. It was starting to become this big thing, and it grew and grew and grew. I remember looking at the TV one night thinking “Wow,” and that there are more books coming and this isn’t just a book. I remember thinking I needed some legal representation because I was on a work for hire contract. I didn’t own any copyright to any images. I don’t often do this type of work for hire contract, but I figured, “Ah, it’s a book cover.” I had to find an attorney who wasn’t somehow involved with Warner Brothers or Scholastic to represent me. It became very complicated, but it worked out okay. I consider my experience with the Harry Potter books to have been a good thing and not just for monetary reasons. It was good for opening doors to meet a lot of great people, and I don’t mean people to push my career ahead. I mean kids who were really into reading who would come up to me in line and say, “Wow, the book is so much better than the movie,” or “I never really liked reading until I started reading Harry Potter,” and “your pictures made me want to check out the next chapter.” That’s powerful stuff. And since then I have had a child. After the Potter explosion, we adopted a girl from China. I have come to realize how much of a gift the whole experience was for me – to be a little part of the excitement that it brought to kids’ lives is really cool. Were you shocked at how big Harry Potter became? Yes, because it came to my life like any job. I’ve worked on other projects that were out there, like the animated films Ice Age and Antz. Those were interesting projects, and it was fun to see my influence up there on the screen. I was a tiny part of those projects. But the Potter thing got crazy weird. I was thinking to myself, “Really?” This is this big. Wow. The other thing is the artwork. It’s not really my best work, so I kind of cringe a little bit at the whole thing just because when something gets that much attention, light and eyeballs on it, you want it to be really good. But I’m my own worst critic. The work has come to define me, and that’s both good and bad because I like to move on and am not an artist who likes to repeat herself. I’m always looking for something new and different to do. Finish the sentences: When I close my eyes and think of Harry Potter I see… His face and his glasses. (Laughs} Harry Potter is a joy to read because… You don’t know what’s going to happen next. It’s suspenseful and magical and represents a part of us. scenesarasota.com
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When I draw anything, I owe my readers... My best representation of what the story is about in a way that creates a sense of wonderment in them. Great illustrators must always… Be true to themselves and to what they are portraying.
detail. I try to capture the essence of the person or character, their attitude and not just what they look like. J.K. (Rowling) is somebody offering me this box of candy. She gives me so much to work with, so much description that is done in such a beautiful way, it gives me a chance to dive in and put my own spin on it.
How many times have you read the Potter books? I had to read each one to do the work. And now I’m reading them again with my daughter.
What do you use to draw with? Sketching, I use a soft lead pencil. Tracing paper is the best for me because the pencil slides across the paper.
Are you seeing different things as you share them with your daughter? I’m appreciating them more. I’m not under pressure. I don’t have a deadline. I’m not trying to remember what everyone looks like. (Laughs)
So you are old school much like the Disney illustrators. Yes. Very much so. I don’t do computers. I tried. I’m not interested. I think there are some incredible artists who use them, it’s just not for me.
Was there a book or character that you fell in love with in your youth the way the youth have fallen in love with Harry Potter? Peter Pan. It was the first one I remember being a large format picture book. It was as if I could just fly into the artwork. It was so realistic and big. I lost myself in its pages. The hardest part of my job is….. Staring at a blank piece of white paper. The best part of my job is…. Finishing a piece and being happy with it. Where do you think great ideas come from? I think they come from just quiet moments. Speaking for myself, I think we try to find the most obscure and amazing idea, and it’s not there if you try too hard. I think they come from peaceful times when you’re not trying to think about it, when you are open and quiet. Can anyone draw? Yes. Anyone can draw. Did you read funny papers or comics as a kid? Yes, my Dad would spread newspapers on the floor. Then he would get on the floor with his big belly and read to us, do all the voices, and act it out. We got into it. He was a storyteller and a great influence. What is your typical routine when you are creating your characters? I get my cup of coffee or tea, and I grab a pencil and pad and put on some good music. I concentrate on what the book is telling me and try not to get too wrapped up in 100
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Word Association. J.K Rowling: Gracious. Salvador Dali: Crazy Norman Rockwell: Amazing. He was old school but amazing at what he did. Walt Disney: Magical Mickey Mouse: My friend Charles Schulz (Peanuts creator): Feels like my neighbor or somebody I could sit down at the table and just draw with. Honest. You were one of the few people able to read the Potter series books before they were released to the public. How difficult was it to keep the secret? I had to sign a confidentiality form that said I would keep the secret. I also had to sign something that said I had a safe in the house, which I purchased from Home Depot. I couldn’t tell people that I had the manuscripts. I would get a phone call from Scholastic, and they would say, “We’re going to be sending somebody down with something.” And they had code words like, “the eagle has landed.” Seriously, because if there was a leak, and there were leaks, I would get a call from some legal office asking me if I followed protocol. I never leaked anything to anybody but there were times when somebody did, and you’d hear a bit of the story before it came out. My husband knew that it was in the house, but he wouldn’t ask me or bug me about it. I didn’t tell any of my friends because I didn’t want to talk about it. It was quite serious and silly at the same time. There was always a little bit of pressure associated with it. No matter what I was doing at the time, I had to focus on it when it arrived. It often arrived at Christmas. If there was a holiday or work on my board that had due dates of their own, everything had to stop. It was always a rush. scenesarasota.com
When people look at Harry Potter, what do you hope they see in him? I hope that no matter where you are in your life and no matter what you have been through, you can always draw on your strength. There is always something there, even if it’s a tiny bit left. I think he offers hope to kids and adults too, maybe, in a really fun way. Do you have a favorite in the series? The first book, Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone, when we meet Harry. How did you keep your enthusiasm up for the series? It’s hard because there is a long span of nothing. You have other jobs, and you are changing your focus. Then you get the call, and boom, you’re back. How did you find your way to Sarasota? My husband was offered a job at Ringling College where he teaches. He came on as the department head for illustration. He stepped down and is teaching there today. You have taught at Ringling. What is the one piece of advice that you gave to all of your art students? There were a lot of talented students, and I wanted to challenge them. Some of them thought they had it all. They knew what they were going to do, they had their style, and they were going to get that portfolio out there. Confidence is great. My thing was that you have to continually challenge yourself. You can’t get too comfortable in what you do especially if you want to grow as an artist. I gave them individual assignments based on what they needed to challenge themselves with. I gave a guy who just worked in muted palettes an assignment to work with bright colors, and I gave another student an assignment to get off the computer and do a drawing. I wanted to show them that they have to constantly do that for themselves when they are out of school. I want them to continue to grow and try something new. Favorite way to relax and unwind in Sarasota? Sitting in our lovely Asian garden that my husband created. There are no bugs, it’s cool, we can actually sit there, and I have a gin and tonic. We’re talking with our daughter, and that’s my favorite time of day. What’s the best thing about growing up when you did? There were so many wonderful things. The Beatles. Twiggy. The music was great. Pop art was cool. What’s the best thing about growing up today? I think there is more opportunity. I hope parents have scenesarasota.com
become smarter about what’s healthy and about the environment and that we prepare our kids better. Did you color outside of the lines when you were a kid? No. I grew up in a Catholic upbringing. They tried to make me right handed. I was trying to be perfect. I’m trying to color outside the lines now. That’s my challenge. (Laughs) How has your child influenced your work? Julia Wren has taught me to color outside the lines. She’s honest and funny. I just watch her draw, and I think to myself “I wish I could do that.” It’s because she’s free and hasn’t had the boundaries drawn around her yet. There’s a fine line between doing something well and being too uptight about something. A kid doesn’t know or care about that, they just go. As we get older, we forget where that heart is. How is the feeling different when you see your art displayed in a gallery or exhibition? I feel pretty happy. One of my biggest complaints about my illustrations is that I am sometimes not happy with the reproduction of the colors. But when my art is displayed in a gallery, it’s just there. What you see is what you get. That’s how it left the studio. Do you view your collective work as one painting? I consider it one connected path that started from the time I first drew with my Dad, through Harry, and up until now when I am looking for that next thing. What famous artist would you like to have capture you on canvas? Matisse. It’s not Salvador Dali, because he takes a lot of control. Matisse achieves that freedom. If I can’t be free, at least paint me like I’m free. In recent years, you have created more for yourself and have been involved in various charities. How gratifying is that? Recently I became involved in something I’m really enthused about. I’m on this Dragon Boat team, the Breast Cancer Survivor team. The name of our boat is Survivors in Synch. I’m a breast cancer survivor of seven years now. We had a big event in October that coincided with the opening of the new mall. It’s an exciting part of my life that really has nothing to do with art. When I’m stuck on something in the studio, and I’m in the boat paddling away, all of sudden the answer comes to me, and I wasn’t even trying to find it. Actually I’m trying to figure out how I can give something back and maybe create some artwork that helps fund our endeavors as a team while raising awareness. November 2014 | SCENE
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You have illustrated a host of children’s books. What makes a good children’s book? A good story. It has to be entertaining. I don’t think it has to teach a lesson. It has to be able to hold a child’s attention. It can’t speak down to them, and it should help them use their own interpretive skills. The pictures have to support the story and bring more life to the whole experience of reading. You created the Minnesota State Fair poster. Tell me what that means to you being a Minnesota girl at heart. That was fun because I got the call to do that when I was in Florida. It made me feel connected to the state fair again. I used to go every year. You have a collaborated with your husband on a book. How different is that from working on the Potter series? Totally. It’s like being on the dance floor with two people who want to lead. (Laughs) We do totally different things. We love each other’s work, and we love each other. We are really nice to each other, so we don’t say sometimes what you want to say. We figured out we should do what we each did best, so he did the lines and shapes while I focused on shading and pastels. We passed it back and forth, and it worked out. And we may never do that again. (Laughs) Regarding your work on the cover of Time magazine and Showcase 16 and all the many awards including the Society of Illustrators, what keeps you interested and enthused so that you can continue to do the work? I am tough on myself. I’m kind of going through a struggle with my art. I’m okay to talk about it because I think artists need to talk about this more. I’m in the search and find mode. I’m trying to rediscover myself a little bit. It’s really hard when you have been doing something so long, and you’ve been labeled as an artist. I really have to get all the voices out of my head. Part of me needs to go back to when I was a kid again and find what it is I really love to do when I draw. When you work on the job for so long, and it’s not just the Potter stuff, you work so long at pleasing a client that you forget what drew you to the art in the first place. So I’m trying to go back to that and bring to it what I know from years of experience. It’s a hard thing to combine. You’re trying to get two strangers together. I’m doing a lot of experimentation in the studio. I feel like I’m back at square one and that I’m a new artist again. It’s exciting and daunting at the same time. Is there a motto or mantra that you live by? It’s kind of like what I’m teaching my daughter now. Just be kind to others and be honest. Do you think you will ever put down the pen or paint brush and stop creating? No. It’s a part of me that will always be there. If you are a spiritual or religious person, what do you think God looks like? I’m a spiritual person, and I think God is a swirl of many colors. He is an abstract beautiful painting. After all the characters have been drawn, how do you want to be remembered? Like when I’m dead? (Laughs) I want to be remembered fondly. I would love to know that I inspired some kids, young or old, to express themselves and enjoy drawing. 102
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scenesarasota.com
Lifelong Learning at the
Ringling Museum
By Ryan G. Van Cleave
Most of the articles I write for SCENE are done with a traditional journalistic approach, meaning that the role of the writer is to be a dispassionate observer whose job it is merely to report. It’s an effective “Just the facts, ma’am,” kind of approach. This topic, however, is so dear to my heart that I can’t help but jump right in. I’m a lifelong learner myself, after all, as is my wife, my best friend, my parents, and many of my colleagues. Since the 1990s, scientific studies have shown that a challenged, stimulated brain is a crucial component to having a vibrant life at age 50 and beyond. I’ve had friends and relatives who reach this point in their lives only to feel intellectually withered. They don’t want that. No one wants that. Enter the idea of “lifelong learning,” a term coined by artist Leslie Watkins to refer to the voluntary, on-going pursuit of knowledge for personal or professional reasons. Like other museums, the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art believes its role in the community is to inform and educate, which means its doing its part to help seniors fully engage their brains, heighten their physical activity, and maintain healthy social relationships. In a community like ours, this makes sense. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, Sarasota County has the third highest percentage of residents aged 65 and over, the second highest percentage of residents aged 75 and over, and the highest percentage of residents aged 85 and over. But whether you’re right out of college, enjoying your retirement years, or somewhere else on the spectrum, the museum has offerings for you, too. Maureen Thomas-Zaremba, the museum’s Curator of Education, points out that “having a mix of generations in programs creates a richer experience for everyone by being a forum for different points of view and the exchange of different knowledge.” Thomas-Zaremba also emphasizes that the public programs offered are exactly that — public. People don’t need to be a member of the museum to attend. Plus these offerings are extremely affordable. This means all of the lifelong learning programs offered through the museum are open and available to the entire community.
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For Adults The lifelong learning opportunities for adults are vast. For instance, there’s Collecting Recollections, Bayfront Garden Workshops, Viewpoint Lectures, and the Literati Book Club, among numerous other choices. College-age students aren’t left out in the cold, either. With a valid college ID, they can attend the Ringling Underground, Viewpoint Lectures, Symposia, and the Conversations lecture series for no cost. Thomas-Zaremba says attendance in all of the adult programs is great. The Viewpoint Lectures, in particular, frequently sell out. And the Bayfront Gardens Workshops have been a “runaway success.” Also, they’re having to rethink how to offer the Art After 5 gallery talks because the crowds are simply growing too large. What it all says to her is that the museum is effectively reaching out to the community and meeting its needs. “It’s our ongoing job to listen and respond,” she says. For Kids The commitment to lifelong learning starts early, and one way to foster that is the ROAR! (Ringling Order of Art Readers) reading program. This event invites families with children ages four to seven to the art library — a great resource that most people don’t even know about — where a Ringling staff member reads an art-based story and then engages with the participants in a related craft activity. I know all about this program because my kids have been attending it over the summer for years. Even my oldest daughter, who is well past the upper age limit, enjoys ROAR! “It’s a lot of fun,” says Veronica, my younger daughter. “I especially like it when Ruben peeks out from a shelf of books and waves.” Ruben the Library Lion, a full head-to-toe costume worn by another Ringling staff member, is the book-loving mascot of the library, and every appearance he makes brings shrieks of delight from the children. The only downside here is that, while it’s free, registration is required since the event space limits participation to 20 children, and an adult must accompany each child. For Educators It’s not just my kids who go to the museum to learn — my wife does, too. Every other month during the school year, she scenesarasota.com
attends the Saturdays for Educators, which each has a special topic that connects with the museum’s collections and special exhibitions. Led by an expert in the field, this three-hour event costs only $5 and includes lunch as well as a private tour of a relevant part of the museum, which that month’s topic references. There’s no pop quiz or test at the end. But there are clear takeaways in terms of knowledge, insight, and a greater appreciation for historical and artists’ contexts. For teachers, in particular, those are extremely useful things for personal development and classroom content delivery. Plus attendees get three in-service hours of credit, which help for teacher certification renewal. “It’s the humanity of art that connects us across the distance of time and cultures and makes it timeless,” explains Thomas-Zaremba. “It’s our job as museum educators to create the connections, make the objects accessible, and assist visitors to be in awe of the authentic without being intimidated. I don’t think most of us take it for granted, but it’s always a great reminder that museums offer the authentic experience. It stills thrills me to look at a 500-year-old portrait and consider the person in the painting and the artist who painted it.” The museum is a big place, though, and requires a lot of TLC. It can always use volunteers who like to work in the garden, interact with families and children, drive visitors on the trams, and help support the lifelong learning offerings in a variety of ways. Those who are interested may visit the museum’s website and click on the volunteer tab. Thomas-Zaremba adds, “The Ringling docent program also offers opportunities for lifelong learners to engage with the collections. It’s not for everybody as it demands a long-term commitment to ongoing training in content and tour skills, but if you like people and learning about art, the circus, grounds and gardens, historic homes and your community legacy, you might want to consider learning more.” When I finally get done with classroom teaching, you can be sure that this is something I’ll be looking into, too. What better use of one’s time than to give back to your community, support education, and educate yourself all at once? For more information on the Ringling Museum’s Lifelong Learning Program, please visit ringling.org or call 941.359.5700. November 2014 | SCENE
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EDUCATION
Education Matters By Ryan G. Van Cleave
“We are all here on earth to help others; what on earth the others are here for, I don’t know.”
— W.H. Auden
The Jewish Federation was formed in the late 1950s as part of the nationwide post-WWII efforts to help Jewish refugees find homes in the U.S. and in Israel. While offering financial support has always been at the heart of what the organization does, The Jewish Federation’s clear mission is: “to save Jewish lives and enhance Jewish life in Sarasota-Manatee, in Israel and throughout the world.” To those ends, The Jewish Federation focuses on three key areas preserving Jewish heritage, providing help for those in need, and protecting the people of Israel and countries around the world. The list of the Jewish Federation’s successful ongoing local efforts is a long one including the Jewish Film Festival and special engagements with speakers such as journalist Campbell Brown or hit reggae artist Matisyahu. It also has partnerships with community organizations, including Embracing Our Differences, All Faiths Food Bank, Selah Freedom, Selby Botani108
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al Gardens, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre, Perlman Music Program/Suncoast, and more. But some of the most interesting education programs it’s championing are those that too few people know about. Here’s a bit more about those programs. The PJ Library Program Begun in 2005, the PJ Library was created by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation as a Jewish early childhood initiative. Each month, families enrolled in PJ Library receive a free Jewish-themed children’s book. Suzanne, a PJ Library parent, had an incredible experience with this simple program. “Our family loves to read, so what could have been better than having Jewish books sent to our kids each month? They loved opening the envelopes and discovering new stories, and we loved that our traditions and history were being passed down. Now that they are a little older, we look back on our ‘PJ days’ as the time in which their strong Jewish identities were just starting to form, with the help from a wonderful surprise each month.” scenesarasota.com
Thanks to the generosity of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation and other donors, hundreds of area families have known experiences like that of Suzanne. And this program has become so popular it’s now being replicated throughout the entire country. Jeremy Dictor, Director of S.T.E.P. and Family Programs, says the program remains free for participants because The Jewish Federation believes in the importance of encouraging families to connect to Judaism in their homes through these books. But it also creates a sense of community among young families through its story time programs and events. “By offering books for children to age eight,” says Dictor, “the PJ Library instills a love of Judaism at a young age, and encourages the growth of literacy skills in children.” Student Academic Travel Dictor is also responsible for teen travel programs at The Jewish Federation, but even more interestingly, he’s also an alumnus of them. Years ago, he participated in the Bob Malkin Young Ambassadors Programs, where he experienced what he calls the most influential moments of his teenage years. “The Young Ambassadors program was a profound experience for me,” he says, “and helped instill in me a love of Israel, and a real connection to my Jewish identity. Thanks to that experience, I was inspired to work in the Jewish professional community. Now, as an employee of The Jewish Federation, I have the opportunity to help Jewish teenagers have their own experiences exploring their own Jewish identities. It’s an incredible thing.” Thanks to wonderful donors, The Jewish Federation provides many travel opportunities for students. Teens can attend Israel policy conferences in Washington, D.C., through AIPAC. They can discover and develop their leadership skills and explore Israel through the Bob Malkin Young Ambassadors Program. With both international and domestic travel options, and programs running anywhere from three days to eleven months, The Jewish Federation is able to offer a wide variety of experiences. Teenagers interested in studying abroad can also benefit from scholarships offered by The Jewish Federation for the Alexander Muss High School in Israel — an accredited high school program where students can learn about the history of Israel through hands-on scenesarasota.com
learning opportunities. For those interested in a longterm travel experience, The Jewish Federation even offers travel subsidies for teens interested in attending a Masa program, which provides volunteer and study opportunities in addition to internships in Israel for five to 12 months. Applications for this year’s Teen Travel programs close on November 30. Project Light ESL (English as a Second Language) and literacy instruction recently began on The Jewish Federation’s campus in Sarasota because of discussions that began on an Interfaith Mission to Israel in April 2013. During the 10 days of travel throughout Israel, interfaith community leaders discussed the needs of Sarasota residents learning the English language. One of the challenges some of them faced was having to drive or take the bus to the Project Light office in Bradenton. In effect, that distance made it impossible for many interested people to take the free ESL classes. The program is now housed at Hecht School of Music, which had two free rooms. Generous donors fully fund the program on the campus. While some students struggle to attend classes due to the challenge of working multiple jobs or finding childcare during the two hours of class, they juggle their lives and show up eager and ready to learn. Through the activities and cultural and educational programs of The Jewish Federation, people connect with and support their community, and join with people who are passionate about their work and compassionate to those in need. “We are steeped in our traditions and unrelenting in our pursuit of progress,” says Martin W. Haberer, JFSM Associate Executive Director. “We are proud of our culture and welcoming of all people. We are committed to and supportive of our beautiful community,” added Haberer. To better appreciate all that The Jewish Federation does, just ask the hundreds of people, whose lives are positively impacted on a regular basis in Sarasota-Manatee alone. The smiles on their faces will tell you what genuine giving is all about. For more information about the The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee or its programs, please visit www.jfedsrq.org or call 941.371.4546. November 2014 | SCENE
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SOCIAL
Behind the Scene
Society Maven Debbi Benedict Gives the Latest Scoop Are we finally all calmed down after the excitement over the opening of the new mall? I hope so. Now it is time to get down to the real business of Sarasota – the social season! I do believe, oddly enough, the month of November is THE busiest month of all. Let’s get right to the scoop! One of my favorite highlights of the fall season is the Sarasota Orchestra’s Season Opener Brunch held at Michael’s On East. This year’s theme is Fanfare 300, in honor of the 300 plus students in its youth orchestra programs. I am told the far reaching programs are aimed at youth of varying ages and helps turn on a new generation to classical music, which I am thrilled about. It’s so important that our youth are exposed to the classics. Local superstar, the orchestra’s Music Director Anu Tali, will speak about “The Sound of the Future.” The co-chairs are Anne and Tom Essner and Sherry and Tom Koski. Tom is definitely following in the philanthropic shoes of his terrific Mom, Beverly Koski. What makes this event standout? Well, not only the marvelous music by John Miller’s jazz ensemble and vocalist, Ally Couch, but also the table centerpieces which are guided by design team, orchestra board president, and noted interior designer Anne Folsom Smith and Cindi Perkins. The inspiration varies from year to year, including past hits such as lampshades, hats, and piano jewelry boxes. A huge team of volunteers provides incredible artistry in their one of a kind individual creations. It’s so fun to walk around to see each unique centerpiece! The already sold out event’s top sponsors, in addition to the Essners and the Koskis, are PNC Wealth Management, Velma Bernstein, and Christine and William Isaac. 110
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You know things are going well economically in the community because we keep adding new fundraisers! Tops on the newest of the new list is Make-A-Wish’s WISH – the White Party and yes, you have to wear white. I don’t care if you don’t look good in white. You live in Florida – get a spray tan, and you’ll look just fine. Chairs are Kimberly Mancini and Elizabeth Wexler and they promise a hip, young, trendsetting party, with the feeling of being invited into an exclusive club party. The ballroom at Michael’s On East will be draped in white with pearls, diamonds, and feather accents. Orchids hanging from the trees and candle light flickering will help set the mood. For the adventurous ones, there will be martini pong and a vodka luge. Tito’s Vodka, Tiffany and Sons, and SCENE Magazine are sponsors. Bringing a little Palm Beach vibe to Sarasota will be Goodwill Manasota and the Junior League of Sarasota’s Lilly Pulitzer Fashion Show Luncheon at the Sarasota Yacht Club chaired by Liz Reuth and Denise West. Not only will Lilly’s new resort collection be modeled by celebrities like ABC7’s Hayley Wielgus, but there will also be vintage Lilly dresses on display. A special Lilly themed cocktail will be served and the decorations, I am told, will look like a Lilly bomb exploded. The indomitable spunk of a Lilly print never fails to lift my spirits! Sponsors are Yellow Strawberry Salon and Hand & Stone Spa. Marsha Panuce’s panache is evident once again as she produces and emcees Planned Parenthood’s High Tide at High Noon luncheon at, very fittingly, the Sarasota Yacht Club. Chairs are Laura Proctor, Allison Scanlon, and Bianca Lawrence. Bellinis and a sparkling peach punch scenesarasota.com
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start off the day, followed by fashions from Little Bo-Tique, L.Boutique, Terra Nova, Martin Freeman, and Anna Molinari. By the way, can I say how much I appreciate the serving of a non-alcoholic drink for those of us who either don’t drink alcohol or can’t drink because we are working? I wish more organizations would do that. We non-drinkers like to feel special, too! Top sponsors are Cornelia and Richard Matson, Nancy Reinheimer, and SCENE Magazine. Did you know the beautiful Susan Brennan, who is now the Managing Director at New York Private Bank and Trust, was once the homecoming queen at Michigan State University? Well, she was, and it is of no surprise to anyone who knows her that the vivacious Susan wore the crown. Susan is chairing The Hermitage Artist Retreat’s Artful Lobster with great aplomb. What could be better than culture and lobster on the historic gulf front Hermitage campus? A musical performance by Ruthie Stephens starts off the event, followed by Michael’s On East’s magnificent lobsters. Cliff Roles will auction off adventures, and a paddle raise for renovating the new Palm House will be started with a challenge grant from Gulf Coast Community Foundation. Top sponsors include Larry and Carol White Bold, The Frank Duckwall Foundation, Key Agency, and Murex Properties. The second new event this month is Florida Poodle Rescue’s Puttin’ on the Poodle luncheon at Michael’s On East and no, you cannot bring your poodle, Poodle. Nancy Ambrose is the chair and Janet Hunter is the event coordinator. The Sarasota Ballet will perform, in poodle costumes, no less! Scott Anderson is the emcee and auctioneer of a small live auction
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and paddle raise for dogs with special medical needs. The invitation pictured some of the most adorable poodles that had been rescued. I could barely contain myself! They really are as cute as can be. Sponsors include Myrna Band, Deborah Beacham, Chari Isaacs, Gloria Moss, Mary Ann Robinson, and Terry and Susan Romaine, among many others. Another event that is always a sellout is the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ (AFP) National Philanthropy Day Celebration Luncheon at Michael’s On East. There are always so many see and be seen type of folks in the room that you can barely walk around, and you never have enough time to talk to all the swells there, but that’s a good thing! Chairs are two great gals and favorites of mine, Stacey Corley and Jennifer Vigne. Awards are given for Outstanding Corporate Sponsor, of which SCENE Magazine is a nominee, and also three other categories. Space doesn’t permit me to include all the nominees, but I will list Outstanding Individual Philanthropist nominees. They are Paul Bowman, Flora Major, Joan Mendell, Joseph Strosnik, and Gloria Webel. Major sponsors include The Patterson Foundation, Bob Carter Companies, and Mote Marine Laboratory, followed by Mosaic, Publix Super Market Charities, and The Ringling. I am always impressed by the beauty of the Founders Garden Club’s annual luncheon, which is already sold-out. This year’s Flower Talk theme is Gems in Bloom and is chaired by Barbara Dubitsky and Beth Gourlay at The Francis. Every detail is always seen to and a great deal of effort is made to make this an elegant and visually outstanding event. The scenesarasota.com
event invitation is a joy to receive, as it is always an original botanical watercolor by Sue Benjamin, which is then framed and auctioned. The décor plays off the painting. Dianne Lewis Battista, senior consultant for Christie’s New York and London is the featured speaker and her topic is “A Walk Through the Garden of Jewelry Design”. A flower show and boutique is included in the day’s activities. Sponsors include Wells Fargo, Rectrix Aviation, Williams Parker Harrison Dietz & Getzen, Intercoastal Medical Group, Alfred Hernandez, MD, and Firkins Automotive Group. The honorary chair of the Pines of Sarasota Foundation’s Wit & Wisdom of Aging Luncheon was to be the recently passed Tana Sandefur. Instead, “The Tanettes”, led by Betty Schoenbaum and Graci McGillicuddy and wearing hats and gloves, will each share a one or two line tribute to sweet Tana. The main event of the luncheon, held at Michael’s On East and chaired by Melissa Lerner and Marilyn Shuman, will be the panel discussion about the wit and wisdom they have achieved in their lives, led by moderator ABC7 newscaster Ray Collins and panelists, photographer Cliff Roles, ballerina Jean Weidner-Goldstein, and professional golfer, Paul Azinger. SCENE Magazine is the sponsor. A sophisticated feeling surrounds Key Chorale’s 30th Anniversary Luncheon, held at Michael’s On East and chaired by Marita Marsh and Richard Storm, with honorary chairs, Alisa and Ernie Kretzmer. Soprano Mary Wilson will perform “displaying her rare virtuosity in dazzling works” by Antonio Vivaldi with a string quartet and featuring harpsichordist Ann Stephenson-Moe. At a Key Chorale luncheon, it’s all about the scenesarasota.com
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music! There is a large silent auction, too. Sponsors include Marcia and Michael Corrigan and Francine and Peter Gray, followed by Capstan Financial Consulting Group, the Huisking Foundation, and Irwin Jones. How do you honor the dapper Phil King? By hosting an evening that’s about his legendary fashion sense, that’s how! The Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center’s A Fashionable Evening Tribute to Phil King will be at the Hyatt Regency, chaired by Marlene Hauck, Gail Welch, and Bunny Skirboll. Honorary chairs are Betty Schoenbaum and Sam Shapiro. Of course they might throw in a little about how he guided the center to big successes and collaborations during his tenure as executive director. There are many surprises that I don’t dare divulge, but I can tell you that dancing will be to the Double Vision Band. The evening will also be an opportunity to welcome new center CEO/Executive Director Dr. Kameron Partridge Hodgens. Top sponsors in addition to Betty and Sam are Gerri Aaron and Marvin Albert. I don’t know how AJC (American Jewish Committee) Regional Director Brian Lipton, does it all. He is always jetting off to Germany or New York City to take care of AJC business, plus has time to put on terrific events like the annual Civic Achievement Dinner, this year honoring Phil Mancini and Michael Klauber at, guess where, Michael’s On East! Of course he has help. This year’s dinner chairs are Renee Hamad, Jules and Sheila Rose, and Dr. Larry Thompson, and honorary chairs, the Benderson family. Their committee is huge, which means all sorts of influential and prominent folks are supporting this gala dinner. It is a simple, but glamorous and impactful, dinner where AJC shares all it is doing with global advocacy and recognizing the honorees, whose contributions have helped uplift the shared life of our community, which Michael and Phil have done repeatedly for many of us. Alright, who remembers the music of legendary mambo musician, Grammyaward winner Tito Puente? His music made you want to dance the night away. If you are lucky enough to be at Spanish Point’s Havana Nights Party at the Point, you will hear his son Tito Puente, Jr. and his Latin band carrying on his father’s legacy. Mojitos will be served along with authentic Cuban food from Michael’s On East on the White Cottage lawn. Cuban activities such as cigar rolling demos, Salsa dancing demos, and a dominoes tournament will transport you to the enchanting languor that is Havana. Event chairs are Barbara and Todd Stainbrook and Kristen and Joe Farrell, with honorary chairs Mary Evelyn Guyton, Pauline Joerger, Cornelia Matson, Margaret Wise, and Peggy Wood. Sponsors are John and Suzette Lodge and Gulf Coast Community Foundation. Plantation Golf & Country Club in Venice is the delightful location for the Women’s Resource Center’s Heart & Sole: Elegant Fashion Show and Luncheon chaired by Liz Maggio. Honorary chair is Ann Thompson. The annual fundraiser, also known as Fall Gathering, will feature a fashion show with evening apparel provided by Contessa Couture Boutique and the center’s Encore & More Consignment Shop. The Vocal Vixens trio will provide the entertainment. Fashion show models include Sarasota County Commissioner Christine Robinson, Venice Council member Jeanette Gates, and Tracy Knight, the wife of Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight. I cannot close this column without sharing a few memories of local philanthropist and my friend Tana Sandefur. She was always so dear to me scenesarasota.com
and always started our lunch conversations by saying, “Tell me all the latest gossip!” My most memorable, and the most beautiful, social event I ever attended was the opening gala of the Ringling Museum’s Searing Gallery, of which Tana was the event chair. The gracious Tana had invited my husband and me to sit at her table on the glorious evening surrounded by the splendor that is the Rubens Gallery. It was a night I will never forget for so many reasons. Her personal parties were also legendary, especially her, and husband John’s, Fourth of July parties at their condo in Marina Towers. The year I broke my ankle, she insisted I come, even though it was so hard for me to get around, but she made it worth all the trouble. When we arrived, she had taped a “Reserved for Debbi Benedict” sign on the best seat in the house, a big recliner at the window, so I wouldn’t miss out on all the fabulous fireworks going off right outside. She was a friend to many and a generous donor to several organizations. As I wrote this column, I noticed she was either chair, honorary chair, or on the committee of several of this month’s events. Her sparkling personality, her gentle voice, and love for Sarasota will be missed by all. Until next time…TaTa!
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SOCIAL
Plymouth Harbor Wellness Center Grand Opening Attendees at Plymouth Harbor’s ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil its new comprehensive Wellness Center were equally entranced by the sleek, modern facility as its breath-stealing south and west facing floor-toceiling windows showcasing an enviable view of Sarasota Bay. The 10,000 foot center was christened with a celebratory grand opening and dedication to honor those who helped bring the expansion to fruition. The spa-grade facilities feature a fitness room with a wide range of cardiovascular and resistance training equipment, group fitness and dance studio, warm water indoor therapy pool, activity alcove, art studio, wood shop, hobby shop, The Commons social area, and creative wellness studio. The Wellness Center was made possible through more than $1 million in private donations to the Plymouth Harbor Foundation by many residents, staff, and family members. plymouthharbor.org.
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LITERARY S By Ryan G. Van Cleave
Andrew D. Cratsley’s Keepers of Runes and the Tower of Shadows (CreateSpace, softcover, 280 pages, $14.00)
Hardcore fantasy fans and casual elf-lovers alike will find much to admire in this debut book by Andrew Cratsley. In this stirring tale, an overconfident knight named Corinth is sent out into the world to learn humility…and vanquish the trouble caused by Khalid. Along the way, Corinth has a host of adventures. He battles assassins. He’s captured by an elven necromancer. He discovers a mysterious tower inhabited by unseen forces. As he overcomes challenge after challenge, the idea that he is invincible is harder than ever to shake. But is he? “The road to completion was wrong,” explains Cratsley about this novel. “I am a private study in literary arts, and my work transformed over the years as I studied my craft.” Clearly he figured out how to manage craft issues because while this book follows a tried-and-true fantasy model, the world is richly developed and the characters are well-wrought. Anyone who loves The Lord of the Rings, The Mortal Instruments, or the Percy Jackson series might find themselves at home in this world of mayhem, magic, and mystery. Those who want to explore this world more deeply can watch for book two in the series, The Rise of Khalid, which Cratsley hopes to see released in 2015. For more information about the author or Keepers of Runes and the Tower of Shadows, please visit www.keeperofrunes.com
Susan Slater’s Rollover (Poisoned Pen Press, hardcover, 224 pages, $24.95)
The second book in the Dan Mahoney mystery series, Rollover, follows insurance investigator Mahoney to Wagon Mound, New Mexico, to examine the details of a bank robbery. The robber tunneled into the bank and, instead of going to the vault to extract millions in cash, went for the safety deposit boxes. What’s missing? A valuable Tiffany necklace that has survived the fateful Titanic voyage. A note slipped under his door that reads “It’s not what you think” throws everything into question. A New Mexico transplant who now lives in Florida, Slater based this book — as she does with all of her books — in reality. In this case, the robbery occurred in 1998. “I remember reading about it and thinking how novel! A tunnel that ended up in the safe deposit box area, not the money vault,” she recalls. And the real robbery happened during the Bean Day Festival, a raucous celebration sure to keep law enforcement’s attention elsewhere. One of the real challenges in writing this book was that Slater moved to Florida during the middle of its writing. She had to rely on memory, road maps, and notes to complete it with the same level of authenticity and authority that she’s known for. 120
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During a recent book-signing tour in New Mexico and Arizona, Slater met a man who’d worked at the bank during the time of the actual robbery. He simply wanted to share with her that he liked the ending — one of those wonderful reader response moments that authors treasure. Just like Slater herself, Dan and Elaine have moved to Florida and the next book, Hair of the Dog — about Daytona’s greyhound racing scene — looks to be out in the middle of 2015. She’s got plans for more Dan Mahoney books after that, with tentative titles such as Epiphany, Widow’s Walk, and even a NASCAR-themed one called The Fast Lane. For more information about the author or Rollover, please visit www.poisonedpenpress.com/susan-slater/
Classics Revisited
Christina Hamlett’s Media Magnetism (Outskirts Press, softcover, 324 pages, $14.95)
I generally don’t get too excited about business books — most of what they offer can readily be found via a bit of sleuthing online or personal experience in your own field of expertise. But a rare few are timely, well-written, and profoundly helpful. Media Magnetism is one of those books. So many authors, entertainers, businesses, organizations, and events could use PR in a big way. More PR. Free PR. Better PR. Eye-catching PR. Hamlett has gathered together some of the most media-savvy people in the industry to share many lifetimes of hard-won knowledge about these very topics. In these pages, she shows you how to survive (and thrive) in front of a TV camera. How to prepare for your first interview. How to create and maintain a media contact. How to angle an idea into a media-worthy story. How to become sound-bite savvy. How to work with photographers and videographers. In short, seasoned pros and beginners alike will find great value in a book that’s as generous, clear, and focused as this one. If you want to attract the favorable publicity that you want and deserve, take a good look at Media Magnetism. For more about the author of Media Magnetism, please visit www.mediamagnetism.org. scenesarasota.com
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LOCALLY
NEWS SHAPING OUR COMMUNITY
GLASSER SCHOENBAUM NAMES NEW PRESIDENT/CEO & BOARD POSITIONS
The Glasser Schoenbaum Human Services Center appointed Kameron Partridge Hodgens, PhD, as President and Chief Executive Officer and has elected the following members to serve as Officers for the 2014-2015 term: Robert Coppenrath, president, Jack Kidd, vice president, Sam Shapiro, immediate past president, Jonathan P. Whitney, of Lutz, Bobo, Telfair, Dunham & Gabel, secretary, and Michael Johnson of Edward Jones, treasurer. Nelle S. Miller also was appointed to the board. gs-humanservices.org
RINGLING MUSEUM NAMES NEW OFFICERS
A new slate of officers has been named for The John and Mabel Ringling Museum of Art Foundation Board of Directors. Mike Urette , founder and chief executive of Great American Corporation in Tampa now serves as Board Chair, Paul Hudson, Managing Director and Private Client Advisor at U.S. Trust, as Vice Chair, and Nancy Parrish, a private investor and collector, as Treasurer, and Jane Skogstad, whose background is in commercial interior design, as Secretary. The terms are for the next fiscal year, ending on June 30. ringling.org
CONSERVATION FOUNDATION HIRES DIRECTOR OF PHILANTHROPY
Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast has hired Andria Piekarz in the new role of Director of Philanthropy. Piekarz serves as the chief team strategist for fund development. She previously was Vice President of Philanthropy for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast. conservationfoundation.com
GIRLS INC. ELECTS NEW BOARD PRESIDENT
Jennifer Compton, a partner with Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP, was
named Girls Inc. of Sarasota County board president with a one-year term. Along with the executive director Robin Rose, Compton will help steward the nonprofit to ensure it’s reaching the maximum amount of girls with the National Girls Inc. curriculum. girlsincsrq.org
ART CENTER SARASOTA ADDS NEW BOARD MEMBERS, ELECTS OFFICERS
Art Center Sarasota recently welcomed Mariano Vera, Rosenda Calloway, Darlene Arbeit, Diana Paver, and Sue Gross to its board of directors. The board also elected new officers Billue Guignard (chair); Nancy Jenkins (vice president); Sue Gross (treasurer); Diana Paver (secretary); and Joel Persky (governance chair). artsarasota.org
AGENCIES TO OPEN “EMERGENCY ROOM” FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES
An emergency housing facility and portal to social services for homeless families in crisis situations has opened in Sarasota County. The North County Emergency Family Haven, which is located at 2447 Mango Avenue in Sarasota, will be run by Harvest House Transitional Centers. Gulf Coast Community Foundation played the lead role in coordinating the new system and funded start-up costs. gulfcoastcf.org
RINGLING COLLEGE TO BUILD SOUNDSTAGE & PRODUCTION COMPLEX IN NEWTOWN
Ringling College of Art and Design plans to build a 30,000 square foot professional soundstage and commercial post-production complex in Newtown. The project was the brainchild of Ringling President Dr. Larry R. Thompson and Semkhor’s David Shapiro, who with Ringling College co-founded the College’s Digital Filmmaking Studio Lab. ringling.edu
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