October2013

SCENE SARASOTA | MANATEE

M AGA ZINE

THE VIBRANCY & SUCCESS OF

LAUREL OAK

COUNTRY CLUB

The Morton Family Cooks Up Good

Rediscover our Gems New!

Scene Together: Weddings & Engagements

OCT 2013 $3.95 U.S.

Conservation Foundation Saving Land, Forever

P LY M O U T H H A R B O R

THE PLACE TO PURSUE LIFE’S PASSIONS Originally from Florida’s East Coast, Lyn and Joe Deglman found the upkeep on their house in Longboat Key kept them from the many activities they enjoyed. They decided to trade lawn care and home maintenance for the freedom of condo living at Plymouth Harbor. Their new home, built to their specifications, even includes a custom doorway to accommodate an ornate rounded door and a faux fireplace and mantel that they brought with them from three previous homes.

Both continue to work, as well as volunteer, while enjoying the friendships they have cultivated in the vibrant community at Plymouth Harbor. An expert

in clock care and repair, Joe keeps regular office hours at his clock shop in Sarasota, while Lyn, a retired school psychologist, works part-time at a CPA firm. Keeping their hand in daily business and engagement with the community is their passion. Plymouth Harbor is their home and they delight in the lifestyle they have discovered in this lively community.

When quality of life, smart planning and the freedom to pursue passions and new interests are top priorities, Plymouth Harbor is the wise choice.

Call us today for a tour of our award-winning campus, luxury accommodations and amenities.

Sarasota’s First Choice in Continuing Care Retirement Communities

700 John Ringling Blvd. Sarasota, FL 34236 • (941) 365-2600 • www.PlymouthHarbor.org A Not-For-Profit Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC). OIR #88039

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

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

MEDICAL CARE & SUPERVISION

SPECIALIZED REHABILITIATION SERVICES

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

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

NOW ACCEPTING MEDICARE AND PRIVATE PAY PATIENTS

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

EOE

It’s little wonder that the new Manor and Estate designs at Lennar’s Bridgewater have quickly become the area’s star attractions!

Combine upscale, luxurious homes with the amazing amenities and prestige of Lakewood Ranch, and you have one, hot ticket!

Hurry, opportunities are limited.

Pre-construction prices from the $300s – $500s Up to 6 bedrooms, 4.5 baths and 3,800+ sq. ft.

SM

E V E R Y T H I N G ’S INCLUDED HOMES

SM

• 888-214-1687

Lennar’s New Manor and Estate Homes are heating things up in Lakewood Ranch!

AT

LAKEWOOD RANCH

Lakewood Ranch offers golf, resort pool with kids’ area, tennis, fitness center & spa, trails, multi-faceted sports campus, planned events & more.

6310 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 • Open Mon.-Sat. 9am – 6pm, Sun. 10am-6pm

BridgewaterLakewoodRanch.com Stated square footages are approximate and should not be used as representation of the home’s precise or actual size. Prices subject to change. Copyright © 2013 Lennar Corporation. Lennar, the Lennar logo and Everything’s Included Home are registered service marks of Lennar Corporation and/or its subsidiaries. CGC 1507191. 9/13

The Good Life October 2013 Volume 56 No. 9

41

46

41 GEMS OF SARASOTA Fabulous Culinary, Shopping & Service Experiences

By Yara Shoemaker

46 CONSERVATION FOUNDATION OF THE GULF COAST

50

A 10-Year Anniversary Retrospective

By Ryan G Van Cleave

50 THE VIBRANCY & SUCCESS OF LAUREL OAK COUNTRY CLUB

By Sue Cullen

56 SARASOTA OPERA REACHES OUT Special Events Highlight Sarasota Opera’s 2013-14 Season

By Steve J. Smith

COVER Photo of Laurel Oak Country Club by Herb Booth/Booth Studios

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Stuart J. Roth Founder and President

Salt & Light Productions is nationally acclaimed for its outstanding multi-media presentations and is the recipient of 2 Emmy and 34 Telly Awards.

Salt & Light Radio WITH

Stuart J. Roth

Saturdays at Noon

WSRQ

1220 AM/106.9 FM

Our production team provides high-definition photography of interviews and supporting video, topic research, script writing, editing, voice actors and graphics. For further information on how we can help your organization unleash its full potential, please contact Patty Dodson at 941.487.4061.

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

www.saltandlightproductions.org

DEPARTMENTS

38

16 EVENTS CALENDAR 24 PERFORMING ARTS CALENDAR SOCIALS 27 SMH Courtyard Tower Grand Opening 30 3rd Annual ESPO Golf Invitational

32 YARA’S WAY Recipes, Travel and Lifestyle Tips

By Yara Shoemaker

34 CULTURE MATTERS Must Attend Events from the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County

63

38 GIVING Eddie & Todd Morton: Cooking Up Good in the Community

By Steven J. Smith

58 SCENES FROM AN INTERVIEW Former Major Leaguer Mark Guthrie

By Gus Mollasis

63 SCENE TOGETHER Get All the Details Around the Best Engagements and Weddings in Town

By Debbi Benedict

69 EDUCATION MATTERS The Literary Council of Sarasota County

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

73 BEHIND THE SCENE Society Maven Debbi Benedict Gives the Latest Scoop

By Debbi Benedict

80 STORIES OF JOY The People and Passion Behind Community Philanthropy

By Joy Weston

83 HEALTH MATTERS

86 LITERARY SCENE

Shoulder Arthroplasty

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

By Caroline Chebli, MD

Lung Cancer Screenings Can Save Your Life

By Kelsie Corry, RN, Lung cancer patient navigator, Blake Medical Center

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88 SCENE LOCALLY News Shaping Our Community

scenesarasota.com

Discover What Makes Sarasota Bay Club So Different!

Sarasota Bay Club offers outstanding services and amenities that are personalized to fit your lifestyle.

From complimentary valet parking to fine dining on chef prepared meals, 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 & rehabilitation services conveniently located on-site.

z “The residents of Sarasota Bay Club are such a talented, successful, and culturally thirsty group. I absolutely know I made the right choice in moving here. My cup runneth over!”

Barbara Gochman Sarasota Bay Club Resident

z

Full-Service Retirement Living On Sarasota Bay Discover The Sarasota Bay Club Difference For Yourself Today!

Please Call To Attend Our Next Luncheon Event or Schedule A Personal Tour – Linda Ware or Dana Moe (941) 552-3284 Visit Us On The Web At www.SarasotaBayClub.com (941) 366-7667 • 1301 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, Florida 34236

FROM THE EDITOR

A SO LO REPERTORY TH EATRE p re s e nt s

DINNER

S E R I ES

FOUR dinners at exclusive Sarasota locations, each themed to one of Asolo Rep’s productions. Enjoy exquisite dining, fine wines and entertainment by Asolo Rep performers. Select the dinners that entice you the most, or sign up for all four! Tickets are limited.

Dinner 1

Show Boat Monday, November 4, 2013 • 6:30pm SieSta Key at the home of Stanley Kane

Dinner 2

PhilaDelPhia, here i Come!

Monday, December 16, 2013 • 6:30pm at Location TBA

Dinner 3

Vanya anD Sonia anD maSha anD SPike Saturday, January 11, 2014 • 6:30pm Harbor acreS at Bahama Flower, the home of Kevin Schoeler and Philip van der Voet

Dinner 4

“ What

constitutes a good life has not been a mystery for more than two thousand years. The good life is a life nurtured by a healthy sense of self-worth, brightened by a positive outlook, warmed by a loving family and loyal friends, grounded in congenial and challenging work and made meaningful by an involvement in something larger than ourselves. We also know for sure that happiness is a by-product of the good life and the good life is a by-product of good thinking.”

I

wish I could tell you that this quote is attributable to me, but despite the fact that I wish I’d said it, I’ve never uttered these words. They are attributable to Dr. P.M. Forni, a professor at

Johns Hopkins University, who co-founded the Johns Hopkins Civility Project in 1997. The civility project includes academic and community outreach activities aimed at assessing the significance of

civility,

manners

and

politeness

in

contemporary

society.

So what’s all the fuss about the good life? Well, it’s the theme of this

hero: the muSiCal Monday, April 7, 2014 • 6:30pm

month’s issue and whether or not you are fortunate to have a healthy

univerSity parK at the home of Larry and Debbie Haspel

issue you will find valuable as you navigate through your quest for the

sense of self-worth and a positive outlook, there is something in this good life. From the success of a local country club where members lead a very good life, to a local nonprofit saving our land, to a well-

SERIES SPONSORS

DINNER 3 SPONSOR

known local family supporting others, to the educational programs and outreach of one of our treasured arts organizations, to parents helping others who have children with autism, to volunteers who help adults with literacy issues, to enjoying and rediscovering many of our local gems, there are plenty of meaningful topics covered.

But getting back to Dr. Forni’s quote above: if happiness truly is a by-product of the good life and the good life is a by-product of good thinking, getting there by being more civil, mannerly, and polite is certainly a plus. The amount of rudeness in today’s world is sad. So get off on the right path and treat others with the respect and courtesy they deserve. Be more loving toward your family and friends and get involved in something that may be life changing for another. It doesn’t cost anything, it will make you feel better about yourself, and it just may

tickets & information specialevents@asolo.org P: 941-351-9010 ext. 4702

help lead you down the path toward the good life.

aSoloreP.orG/StarryniGhtS 12

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Icard Merrill Partners in Wills, Estate Planning, Trusts and Estates

Protecting Your Assets and Your Family’s Future Today each one of us is challenged to understand how the fast-paced, ever-changing world in which we live impacts both our day-to-day life and our long term future. Stability and success for ourselves and our families depends on our ability to respond, change, and grow as conditions change around us.

The team at Icard Merrill will guide you in developing a plan and strategy that will protect your interests during your lifetime - and beyond. Working closely with you, we’ll deliver sound advice over the long term, helping you adapt and modify your plan and portfolio as your personal situation or external influences dictate. Looking to the future, we counsel clients on avoiding future family conflict and legal problems. However, should it become necessary, we have the experience and skill to handle complex litigation issues.

Icard Merrill’s team of attorneys and legal professionals are dedicated to helping clients provide for their personal well-being while building a better future for their families. Our services include protection of both domestic and international assets, estate and income planning, transfer of wealth, business succession planning, guardianships, planned gift programs and probate and estate administration.

At Icard Merrill, we listen to our clients’ needs and concerns – and respond with legal representation designed to help them achieve their personal goals, while protecting their interests – today and into the future.

Pictured left to right: Michael L. Foreman, Todd D. Kaplan, Robert A. Drean, F. Thomas Hopkins, Troy H. Myers, Jr., Bruce P. Chapnick, John J. Waskom

We know how to play.

We create fantastic reasons to celebrate by sponsoring our own signature events. And every year they get bigger and better. This year is no exception.

Come play on the Ranch at our marquee events:

INTERNATIONAL BEER FESTIVAL October 26, 2013 Don't miss the third annual beer festival on Main Street in Lakewood Ranch as we kick our Tour of Homes season off!

TOUR OF HOMES October 25 - November 17, 2013 Don’t miss the most anticipated model home event of the year! Tour over 40 model homes by 15 home builders.

GRAND OVATION

February 1, 2014 Live performances from the Grand Ovation stages, special demonstrations and interactive booths and displays will bring Main Street to life with the Arts. Noon — 4 pm.

WINTERFEST

March 29 - 30, 2014 Winterfest will make its debut at Lakewood Ranch’s Premier Sports Campus. The two-day music festival will feature topshelf national and local musical acts of all different types.

Visit www.lwrwinterfest.com.

941.462.2347 Call for more details or for a complete list of current events go to: www.lwrevents.com Directions: Take I-75 to University exit 213, head east just past Lake Osprey Drive; University Information Center on right.

LOCALLY OWNED, OPERATED & PRINTED FOR MORE THAN 56 YEARS CEO/Publisher

Ronald Milton

Executive Editor

Julie A. Milton

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

Michelle Cross Cheryl Galbraith Debbi Benedict Dick Jackson Debbi Benedict Sue Cullen Gus Mollasis Yara Shoemaker Steven J. Smith Ryan G. Van Cleave Joy Weston

Photographers Herb Booth Cliff Roles Address Phone

7269 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, FL 34241 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.

Special Publications: Arts & Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County's Arts & Culture Guide, Doctors On The Scene, The Giving Book, Leading the Scene, Men On The Scene & Women On The Scene. scenesarasota.com

October 2013

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CALENDAR

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

Attendees from last year’s Planned Parenthood Safe Sex Halloween Bash photo by Cliff Roles

Boys & Girls Clubs Sophisticated Strut Fashion Series October 4 Ritz-Carlton Beach Club 11:30 am. Benefits The Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County. Luncheon includes three courses, wine and beautiful scenery. Tickets: $50 | 941.366.3911 | boysandgirlsclubs.com

33rd Annual Sahib Shrine Circus October 4 & 5 Sailor Circus Arena. Featuring high-soaring trapeze, aerial acrobatics, motorcycle stunts, wonder dogs, clowns, performing stallions, a trick roper and more. Tickets: $10 - $12 | 941.355.9805| circussarasota.org

5th Annual Ringling International Arts Festival October 9 – 12 Ringling Center for the Arts. Celebrate the rich diversity of the world today with performances in dance, music, theater, and film - plus soul stirring music and sunsets in the James Turrell Skyspace, and an unforgettable closing night in the Museum of Art Courtyard.

941.360.7399 | ringling.org

9th Annual Master Gardener Plant Sale October 12 Sarasota County Extension Offices 8:00 am. Proceeds support the Master Gardener program and its educational outreach programs. Rain or shine. Master Gardeners will answer questions and offer free advice regarding proper plant choices, care tips, and suggestions on proper locations for the plants. 941.861.9807 | mghelpdesk@scgov.net

15th Annual Patricia Snyder Golf Tournament October 12 Laurel Oak Country Club 8:30 am. Golf tournament to benefit the Patricia Snyder Children’s Fund at Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation. Tickets: $125 | 941.917.1286 | smhf.org

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Sutton Foster

Joan Rivers

Mark Russell

Jay Leno Just Added!

B.B. King

AL R FO S ET

L SHOWS ON S

AL E

N

!

OW

TIC K

Indigo Girls with Symphony Orchestra

TickeTs! 941. 953. 3368 or vanwezel. org

Tango Fire Bernadette Peters

Kenny Loggins

Michael McDonald Lang Lang

Aaron Neville

Buy Tickets Visit the Box Office at 777 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota • or Call 941-953-3368 • or Online at vanwezel.org Box Office Mon-Fri 10am-6pm • Sat 10am-4pm • Open later & Sunday on Show Dates Group Sales 941.955.7676 x2225 Mattison’s Bayside at the Van Wezel - dine before the show 941-921-3400 Performers, prices, dates and times are subject to change without notice.

Health & Wellness Expo October 12 Unity Church of Venice 10:00 am. Refresh and renew your mind, body and spirit. This event will focus on stress reduction, anti-aging, and overall health and wellness. Free Admission | 941.484.5342 | VeniceUnity.org

Interior Design Society’s 2nd Annual Party on the Pass October 12 Sarasota Sailing Squadron, City Island 6:00 pm.

Cookout, silent auction, live music and dancing courtesy of the sToneFish Band. Benefits Trinity Charities and the Education Foundation of Sarasota County. Tickets: $30 - $35 | 941.928.7015 | idssarasota.com

SMHF’s Key to the Cure October 17 Saks Fifth Avenue. A kick-off party launches a fourday shopping event at Saks Fifth Avenue during which a percentage of sales will benefit women’s cancer programs at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. Tickets: $75 -$125 | 941.917.1286 | smhf.org

Mote’s Night of Fish, Fun, and Fright October 18 Mote Aquarium 6:00 pm. Trick or treating, shipwreck-themed haunted house, food, drink, and underwater pumpkin carving in the shark tank! Tickets: $6 - $10 | 941.388.4441 x509 | mote.org/halloween

13th Annual Anna Maria Island Bayfest October 18 & 19 Pine Avenue. Music, food, arts & crafts, car show, kids zone, and live music.

7th Annual Golf Tournament and Church Challenge October 19 Laurel Oak Country Club 7:30 am. Benefits Samaritan Counseling Services of the Gulf Coast. Tickets: $100 | 941.926.2959 | samaritangulfcoast.com

“AutoRama on St. Armands” October 19 St. Armands Circle Park 10:00 am. View the newest, latest and greatest automobiles for 2013 & 2014 in a beautiful & relaxing setting. 941.388.1554 | starmandscircleassoc.com

A Night of Masquerade October 19 The Francis 6:30 pm. Enjoy an evening of glitz and glamour with dinner, libations, live auctions, Blackjack, Craps and Roulette tables. Benefits The Payton Wright Foundation.

Tickets: $200 | paytonwright.org

19th Annual Downtown Sarasota Art & Craft Festival October 19 & 20 Main Street 10:00 am. Jewelry, pottery, ceramics, photography, painting, clothing, and an expansive green market. artfestival.com

Mental Health Community Centers Inc. Show of Shows October 23 Michael’s on East 6:00 pm. Dinner, silent auction, and preview of upcoming performances several local groups. Benefits Prospect House. Tickets: $125 | 941.953.3477 | mhcci.com

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Hyatt Regency Sarasota Saturday, November 16, 2013 Honoring our Dream Maker, Glen Rey Casino Games, Gourmet Dinner, Table-service Champagne, Live and Silent Auction, Entertainment by Buzzcatz

Celebrating The Roaring Twenties

DreamMakersBall.com Tickets Available on line 941.366.3911 Presented by

The Annette J. Hagens Foundation Norman J. Shea, III and Matt A. Sperling, Trustees

Betty Schoenbaum

Child Protection Center’s Taste of SoMA

5th Annual Sarasota Pumpkin Festival

October 24 The Child Protection Center 5:30 pm. A South of Main Street Tasting and Awareness Event and Open House.

Everyone is welcome to enjoy food tastings from a variety of area restaurants and tour the Child Protection Center. cpcsarasota.org

October 25 - 27 Payne Park 12:00 pm. Benefits The Lazarus Foundation Kids Force. Features live music, hayrides, face painting, petting zoo, carnival rides and games, a large variety of cuisine, a costume parade, pie-eating contest, not so scary haunted House, trick or treating, and tons of family activities things to amuse all ages. Tickets: $5 - $7 | 941.706.3102 | sarasotapumpkinfestival.com

Goodwill Manasota Ambassador of the Year Award Dinner October 24 Hyatt Regency 6:00 pm. Award ceremony will recognizing those who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, commitment and dedication to our community. Tickets: $125 | 941.355.2721 x104 | experiencegoodwill.org

The Florida BlueBlues & Music Festival

Boo Fest Halloween Festival

3rd Annual International Beer Fest

October 25 Lakewood Ranch Main St. 6:00 pm. Children are invited to trick or treat along Lakewood Ranch Main Street, enjoy a costume parade and ghost stories before trotting through a haunted house. lakewoodranch.com/events

October 26 Main Street Lakewood Ranch 5:00 pm. Beer sampling, food from local restaurants, live entertainment and a Halloween costume contest. Benefits the Humane Society of Manatee County. Tickets: $25 - $65 | 941.757.1548 | lakewoodranch.com

October 26 Sarasota Fair Grounds. Enjoy great music, food, drinks, and much more. Partial proceeds benefits All Faiths Food Bank. Tickets: $27 - $32 | floridabluesandmusicfest.com

Planned Parenthood Safe Sex Halloween Bash October 25 Michael’s on East 9:00 pm. Halloween themed fundraiser features open bar, light refreshment, DJ, dancing, live entertainment and a costume contest. Benefits sexual health and prevention education programs of Planned Parenthood. Tickets: $85 - $100 | 941.365.3913 x1045 | safesexhalloweenbash.com

Mote’s Oceanic Evening October 26 Ritz-Carlton 6:30 pm. Enjoy an elegant evening of dinner and dancing. All proceeds benefits the research, education and outreach of Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium.

Tickets: $250 | 941.388.4441 x509 | mote.org

When Unique is Who You Are.....

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

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Save The Date

November 17, 2013 - 6PM

The Human Services and Arts Communities come together for one special night to perform a select few Broadway inspired performances you will not want to miss!

Proceeds from this event will help us raise the remaining funds for our new Children’s Medical Center.

For tickets or more information: Call us at (941) 365-4545 or email

Phillip King - pking@gs-humanservices.org Doris Pomeranz - dpomeranz@gs-humanservices.org

Sarasota Opera Curtain Raiser

Asolo’s Starry Night Dinner: Show Boat

October 27 Michael’s Wine Cellar 6:00 pm. Celebrating the kickoff of the 2013-2014 season. Tickets: $195 | 941.366.8450 x420 | sarasotaopera.org

November 4 The home of Stanley Kane 6:30 pm. Highlights the production of Show Boat. Tickets: | 941.351.9010 x407 | asolorep.org

Wit and Wisdom of Aging Luncheon

Brunch at USF Sarasota-Manatee

October 30 Michael’s on East 11:30 am. Moderator, Ray Collins, TV Anchor/Reporter. Panelists include Former Professional Tennis Champ, Mike Davies; President/CEO of Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Roxie Jerde and Former President of Florida International University, Dr. Modesto Maidique. Benefits Pines of Sarasota Foundation. Tickets: $90 | 941.955.6293 | pinesofsarasota.org/wit

November 10 USF Sarasota-Manatee campus 11:30 am. Brunch benefiting USF Sarasota-Manatee. Tickets: $100 | 941.359.4737 | usfsm.edu/brunch

Habitat for Humanity’s Haute for the Holidays November 15 Hyatt Sarasota 11:30 am. Featuring a fashion show and luncheon to benefit Habitat Sarasota. Tickets: $59 | 941.487.5518 | sarasotahabitat.com

Fright Night - Halloween on St. Armands Circle October 31 St. Armands Circle 6:00 pm. Children are invited to Trick-n-Treat in-style around the Circle. starmandscircleassoc.com

Upcoming Events Children First’s Flip Flops & Fashion

Boys & Girls Club’s “Dream Makers Ball” November 16 Hyatt Sarasota 6:00 pm. Celebrate the Roaring Twenties. Featuring casino gaming, top shelf champagne and cocktails, great entertainment and excellent food. Tickets: $350 | 941.366.3911 | dreammakersball.com

November 1 Sharky’s on the Pier 11:30 am. Luncheon and fashion show benefitting Children First. Tickets: $80 | 941. 953.5507 x124 | childrenfirst.net

It’s quite simple...

We provide Healthier Care.

At LernerCohen Healthcare, our patients are our primary concern. As a complete, concierge healthcare practice, we guarantee you always have access to your physician’s cell phone, we always know your name and care about your long-term well-being.

• Exceptional, Experienced Primary Care Physicians • Board Certified in Internal Medicine • Personal Attention • Unlimited Visits • 24/7 Access with No Waiting

Now accepting a limited number of new patients.

Call today to learn how life can be simply healthier.

Brad S. Lerner, MD • Louis M. Cohen, MD 1921 Waldemere Street, Suite 814 Sarasota, FL 34239 • LernerCohen.com

The Doctor Is In. Always. scenesarasota.com

941.953.9080 October 2013

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PERFORMING ARTS CALENDAR

ASOLO REPERTORY THEATRE

THE PLAYERS THEATRE

941.351.8000 / asolorep.org

941.365.2494 / theplayers.org

SHOW BOAT

Crazy For You

Main Stage

October 23 – November 3

November 12 – December 29

This tap-dancing musical extravaganza won the Tony Award

It was the first great American musical and may still be, after 86

for Best Musical and is sure to keep your toes tapping to all

years, the greatest of all time.

those timeless Gershwin hits!

The School For Lies

SARASOTA BALLET

Conservatory

941.359.0099 / sarasotaballet.org

October 30 – November 17 It’s 1966 and in the glittering salons of Paris, a surly mis-

Theatre of Dreams (FSU Center)

anthrope falls in love with the very fashionable Celimene,

October 25 – 27

causing chaos and catastrophe in everyone’s lives.

Presenting world premieres of new works choreographed

FLORIDA STUDIO THEATRE 941.366.9000 / floridastudiotheatre.org The Prima Donnettes

by dancers of The Sarasota Ballet, accompanied by live music.

SARASOTA ORCHESTRA 941.953.3434 / sarasotaorchestra.org

October 23 – February 1 Great Escapes – Mad Men Monty Python’s Spamalot

October 16 – 19

Main Stage

Set in the 1960s, the TV show Mad Men sets the back-

November 13 – January 4

drop for SO’s tribute to an era of massive changes in

This outrageous parody tells the tale of King Arthur and the

American culture.

Knights of the Round Table

LEMON BAY PLAYHOUSE

VAN WEZEL PERFORMING ARTS HALL 941.955.7676 / vanwezel.org

941.475.6756 / lemonbayplayhouse.com So You Think You Can Dance The Good Doctor

October 27

October 23 – November 10 In this comedy, a feisty old woman storms a bank, a father takes

Mamma Mia!

his son to a house to learn the mysteries of sex, a crafty seducer

October 29 – 30

goes to work on a wedded woman, and a man offers to drown himself for three rubles.

MANATEE PLAYERS 941.748.5875 / manateeplayers.com

VENICE THEATRE 941.488.1115 / venicestage.com Becky’s New Car October 1 – 20

Young Frankenstein

Becky Foster is stuck in middle age, middle management and

October 24 – November 10

in a middling marriage — with no prospects for change... until

From the creators of the record-breaking Broadway sensation

a socially inept and grief-struck millionaire offers her nothing

The Producers comes this monster new musical comedy

short of a new life.

Our Town

Frankenstein

October 31 – November 17

October 10 – 27

Explores the lives of people living in a small, quintessentially

Adapted directly from the classic novel, this “haunt-

American town. It is the world condensed into a small com-

ing” production makes its regional premier at Venice

munity with characters reflecting the hopes and dreams, the

Theatre after a critically acclaimed debut at Lexington

failures and successes, of people everywhere.

Summer Fest.

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Pro-Legends of Golf Jim Albus • Andy Bean • Bobby Cole • Jim Dent • Dow Finsterwald • Robert Gamez • Gibby Gilbert • Lou Graham Jerry Heard • Tommy Horton • Tony Jacklin • Warren Jacklin • Doug Johnson • Larry Laoretti • Wayne Levi • James Mason Jim McClean • Mark Mouland • Bobby Nichols • Lonnie Nielsen • Jay Overton • Phil Parkin • Dana Quigley • Joe Rassett Tom Shaw • Hollis Stacy • Sam Torrence • JM “Woody” Woodward • Jimmy Wright • Larry Ziegler

E

CA

GHAN T A L

IR

L

Pros subject to change without notice.

Charity ProAm 3 Day Event: November 7-9, 2013

Hosted By:

$1,750 per Player

Sponsored By: The Ritz-Carlton Members Club Callaghan Tire Waste Pro The Concession Golf Club Scene Magazine Bridgestone Tire Moffitt Cancer Center Continental Tire

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Friday, November 8, 2013

Saturday, November 9, 2013

The Concession Golf Club or

Today’s events will be held at

Today’s events will be held at

The Ritz-Carlton Members Club

The Concession Golf Club

• Practice – Call for tee times:

• 10:00 am – Brunch.

The Ritz-Carlton Members Club

The Concession Golf Club -

• 12:00 pm – Shotgun Start.

941.322.1465 or The Ritz-Carlton

• 6:00 pm – Tall Tales Party,

Members Club - 941.309.2900.

• 5:00 pm – David Edwards Trick Shot

including entertainment.

• 7:00 am – Breakfast • 8:30 am – Shotgun Start • Awards Party after Golf to include Cocktails & Steak Cookout.

Artist at The Concession Golf Club.

• 6:00 pm – Pairings Party and Auction at The Concession Golf Club.

More Than $200,000 Donated to “Golfers Against Cancer”

Callaghan Tire: Call Dan, Patty or Patsy for Information or Registration - 941.751.1577

SOCIAL

Courtyard Tower Grand Opening More than 1,000 guests attended the grand opening community event for Sarasota Memorial’s Courtyard Tower on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013. Tours were available of the new floors which included orthopedic, cardiac acute, mother baby, labor and delivery, and the neonatal intensive care unit. Children enjoyed the special activities in the new EPIC Park area. In the main courtyard, where a time capsule was on display, Sarasota Military Academy’s Color Guard and a student violinist performed the National Anthem in addition to presentations by Sarasota County Public Hospital Board Chair Richard Merritt, Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation Board Chair Margaret Wise, Foundation CEO Alex Quarles and Sarasota Memorial CEO Gwen MacKenzie.

Alex Quarles, Dr. Thomas Kelly, Diana Kelly, Matt Buchanan & Dr. Jacqueline Kelly

Jan & Dr. James Fiorica & Gwen MacKenzie

Lana Merritt, Dr. T. Logan Malone & Dr. Marguerite Malone

Pat Riley, Larry & Priscilla Mitchell

celebrate.

Margaret Wise & Carol Ann Kalish

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

Palm Beach Lantana® shutters

Welcome guests with beautiful window fashions by scenesarasota.com

Domenick’s

Blinds & Decor 4540 Clark Road, Sarasota, FL 34233

941-922-2345

www.domenicksblinds.com

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

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

– Sheryl A. Edwards

Sheryl A. Edwards Board Certified Real Estate Attorney

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

FOR YOUR REAL ESTATE PROBLEMS

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

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

Michael B. Edwards Broker

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

SOCIAL

3rd Annual ESPO Golf Invitational The Gator Region of the Florida Club Managers Association (FLCMAA) recently held 3rd annual Phil Esposito Golf Invitational, also known as The ESPO, an outstanding partnership with National Hockey League Hall of Fame member and founder of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Phil Esposito. The ESPO raises money for All Children’s Hospital, The Ronald McDonald House, and Special Olympics of Sarasota County. This year’s two-day event started with a fabulous pairings party at Longboat Key Club with the golf invitational at Laurel Oak Country Club. More than 250 people and many of Phil’s friends from the world of sports including Lightning players Seven Stamkos and Teddy Purcell and former NHL players Daren Puppa and Dave Andreyhuk, gathered to support this important event, which raised over $90,000.

FLCMAA has close to 650 members across all classifications at country, golf, city and yacht clubs. Its objective is to promote good relations among clubs and encourage the education and advancement of its members.

Nick Kearns & Jeff Hartigan

Photos by Carissa Warfield

Bob Max, Tammy & David Whalen

Judge Bob Farrance, Lou Merucci, Phil Esposito & Zack Kallis

Standing: Eric Kodren & Ed Rosenblum. Sitting: Charis & Cathy Kodren, Denise Ellison & Stephanie Hall

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October 2013

Rick Earl, Zach Lane, Frankie Suits & Robert Buschman

Bill Balkwill, Ken Levanti & Chris Souchak

Marty & Freddy Jenkins, Renee Puchalla, Brian & Carrie Bradley

Susan & Robert Limehouse

Phil Esposito & David Whalen

Scott Scamehorn, Tim O’Neil & Cliff Chasse scenesarasota.com

RINGLING COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN’S

13TH ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT TO BENEFIT STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2013

LIMITED FIELD–RESERVE TODAY! Ringling College is delighted to present our 13th Annual Golf Tournament at Laurel Oak Country Club.

Golfers receive 18 holes of Golf, Golf Shirt, Prize Eligibility, Luncheon, and Awards Banquet.

Scholarships bridge the gap between the cost of a college education and the resources of the college student. At Ringling College, 8 out of 10 students receive some form of financial aid. Scholarships enable students to pursue their dreams, motivate them to aim high, and prepare them for a lifetime of achievement.

Artwork: Jacob Neagle ’10, Illustration

To sponsor or play in this extraordinary event, go to: www.ringling.edu/golftournament For more information, contact Sarah Walcutt-Febish, Associate Director for Special Events, at swfebish@ringling.edu or 941.359.7589

LIFESTYLE

“ Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.”

- Mother Teresa

Yara’s Way

Spotlight

By Yara Shoemaker Fooled by Food

Think your fresh produce is an invincible shield against illness? Even superfoods can be mighty unhealthy if you don’t know what to look for. Discover the risks posed by some of the healthiest foods and learn how to avoid them!

Strawberries: We know these sexy berries as an aphrodisiac. However, the same tender texture that can be packed so full of nutrients can also absorb harmful pesticides! Buy organic berries for your guilt-free treat and be sure they contain nothing but that healthy sweetness.

Kale: Kale is the new healthy trend, but that popularity comes with a price! To fulfill the growing demand, more pesticides are used and because of kale’s curly texture, it is more difficult to clean and it’s a great hiding place for bugs. Be sure to wash it well.* Sprouts: Sprouts need warm, moist conditions to grow, making them ripe for bacteria including Salmonella and E. coli.

They’ve been the source of dozens of outbreaks, so be sure yours have the International Sprout Growers Association seal.* Check the sell-by date; look for bright green and white colors and firmness. *Learn more about this at www.yarasway.com.

Yara’s Table Seafood Paella Dress up your rice with lobster tail, scallops, exotic seasonings and more in this savory, smoky, Spanish meal.

• 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil • 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil • 4 garlic cloves, crushed • 1 onion, diced • 1/3 cup chopped celery • 1/3 cup chopped bell peppers, any color • 1 organic chorizo sausage, sliced thick (personally I don’t use it, but it’s optional) • 1/2 teaspoon each: smoked paprika, cumin, allspice, coriander • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

• 2 cups crushed organic tomatoes (or one 15-ounce jar) • 4 cups rice of your choice (for a healthy twist, use brown rice soaked at least 30 minutes) • 6 cups hot water, chicken or vegetable stock • 1 lobster tail, shelled • 1/2 pound firm fish filet, such as sea bass • 1 dozen mussels, scrubbed • 1 pound jumbo shrimp, peeled & deveined • 1/2 cup frozen green peas, thawed • Handful pine nuts and sliced almonds • 10 sprigs parsley, chopped

Heat 2 tablespoons each of olive oil and grapeseed oil in a large deep cast iron skillet. Sauté onion, garlic, celery, peppers and sausage (if desired) until they begin to brown. Add spices and cook another minute, stirring constantly. Add tomatoes and stir well with other ingredients. Add rice and continue cooking to coat with sauce for another minute. Pour in your hot liquid of choice and bring to a boil.

Reduce to a simmer and cook uncovered for 10 minutes. Stir as needed to let the liquid reach all parts of the rice. Chop lobster tail in large chunks and add to the rice, distributing them evenly. Cook 2 minutes, then cut fish filet into pieces and add to the rice. After 3 minutes, place mussels and shrimp around the pan, tucking them into the rice. Add peas and cover the pan. After about 5 minutes, check that the rice has absorbed all the liquid and the texture is al dente. When the rice is finished, fluff lightly with a fork and make sure all the mussels have opened. If any of the seafood looks translucent or the mussels are not wide open, continue cooking over low heat for another few minutes until everything is safely cooked through. Toast nuts in the remaining olive oil. Pour over finished rice and garnish with parsley.

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Kitchen Talk

Canned tomatoes in your homemade sauce are a shortcut in the wrong direction!

Hormone-disrupting BPA can leach right out of the lining. Avoid tainted tomatoes by picking up Pomi brand tomatoes in BPA-free Tetrapaks! Some brands such as Eden Organics also sell diced tomatoes in glass jars, which is an easy way to keep your leftovers safely. Now that you know your stuff, keep stirring that sauce!

Natural Allure Cheers to Your Hair Give your hair a sip of these three beverages to shine, nourish and lighten!

• Beer: the B-vitamins in barley will give your hair a boost and the alcohol will cleanse it and make it shine.

• Carrot juice: the vitamins A and C that help your body can also make your hair stronger and healthier.

• Chamomile tea: mixing a strong chamomile infusion with a few drops of lemon juice will gently lighten your hair color and give it some shine.

No Men Allowed Botox: Reading Between the Lines Botox has a wrinkled reputation, but what’s the real truth? We’ll lay out the facts to help you make a decision with confidence!

• Botox prevents your muscle from receiving an impulse from a nerve that would tell the muscle to wrinkle, meaning your skin will relax and get smoother over time.

• It’s almost painless – the needle is tiny, and the most you’ll feel is a brief little pinch! Many doctors can provide topical painkillers if you need them.

• You can have it done at any age: just like everyone’s face has its own unique look, everyone gets wrinkles at different times in their lives.

So why does one patient have a perfectly smooth forehead, while another turns out with a lopsided laugh? It’s all about the doctor. Find a trusted professional with a great reputation. Sarasota plastic surgeon Dr. John Fezza is on the Allergan advisory board and is a consultant, trainer, national educator and faculty on all of their cosmetic products, including Botox, Juvederm and Latisse. To learn more go to www.yarasway.com.

On the Move Asheville, North Carolina This year’s downpours have promised spectacular fall colors in the mountain haven of Asheville, North Carolina. The autumn leaves reach their peak in mid- to late October, from the 15th – 23rd in the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains, to the 20th-29th in the town itself. With mild temperatures ranging in the cool 40-70 F range, it’s the best time to get acquainted with the old-school glamour of the Biltmore Estate. From America’s largest home as your base, you can enjoy autumn outdoors in 75 acres of lush gardens and landscaped hiking trails. Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway to be surrounded in shades of red, gold and fiery orange, then head into town for a casual meal at the Market Place, where locals go for award-winning cuisine crafted from local Asheville ingredients. Finally, toast to nature’s beauty back at the Biltmore with a glass from the estate’s own vineyards.

Question of the Month What is the difference between mother’s milk and cow’s milk?

Find out the benefits, risks and real answers in my new book, Health On Your Plate!

For more amazing recipes look inside my new cookbook, Health On Your Plate, now available on Amazon!

Yara’s Way is a complete online lifestyle guide with unique approaches to healthy cooking, natural beauty, personal style, luxury travel and more. Yara Shoemaker is passionate about sharing her experience and advice to improve the lives of others and help everyone be beautiful from the inside out.

Find more great tips and recipes at www.yarasway.com scenesarasota.com

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ARTS & CULTURE PRESENTED BY:

1 1) Ringling International Arts Festival October 9-12 The Ringling and Baryshnikov Arts Center invite you to be a part of history as artists from all over the world come together to present the 5th annual Ringling International Arts Festival.

Celebrate the rich diversity of ideas and forms at play in the world today all on a beautiful, 66-acre waterfront estate on Sarasota Bay. From fabulous parties to Jazz Sunsets on the bay, the festivities continue all weekend October 9-12.

Why It Matters: Experience the international artists of RIAF showcasing the passion of

2

contemporary flamenco, controversial theater mourning sexual oppression in Russia, an inventive and jazzy quartet setting the score for a classic silent film, an Iranian theater group staging a 30-minute production of Hamlet in Farsi, and a contemporary dance troupe using motion to speak to your soul. Only The Ringling can bring such an incredible, diverse selection of global ideas to our local stages.

2) 15th Annual Awards Celebration October 21 Imagine a complimentary evening at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, the auditorium filled with avid arts and culture supporters, the energy and excitement palpable. Guests will be treated to live performances by the best and brightest local talents. Each year, guests leave

3

feeling inspired by the evening’s recognition of grant recipients, award winners and leading advocates for arts and culture.

Why It Matters: This free public event is an opportunity to recognize and say thank you to those who share their talent, time, and resources to enrich our lives through the arts. This celebration serves to emphasize that Sarasota is truly a community where artistic expression and inspiration meet. Want to join us? RSVP to Danae DeShazer at ddeshazer@sarasotaarts.org.

3) Itzhak Perlman & Perlman Music Program Alumni: Chamber Music Concert

4

November 6 Undeniably the reigning virtuoso of the violin, Itzhak Perlman performs chamber music with gifted PMP alumni in a concert featuring works by Mozart, Schoenfield, and Brahms. A classical music superstar, Mr. Perlman is beloved for his charm and humanity — and for his irrepressible joy for making music. This rare appearance is presented by The Perlman Music Program/Suncoast and The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, honoring "Israel at 65” and the 10th anniversary of the PMP Sarasota Winter Residency. Tickets: 941-953-3368; www.vanwezel.org. Info: www.PMPSuncoast.org; 941-955-4942.

Why It Matters: This is a rare opportunity for audiences to experience a legendary musical talent performing with young, profoundly talented musicians. It’s a moving celebration of

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STABIL

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

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4) Dawning of a New Season - Masterworks

for your convenience.

November 8 -10 The Orchestra begins its season with a sense of daybreak in Eller's gorgeous Dawn. Building to an ardent cli-

P LA C E

max, the music soon returns to the sub-

DESIGNER BATH & KITCHEN SHOWROOm

lime quiet with which it began. Pianist Lukáš Vondrácek will bring the house

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The concert concludes with Dvorák's

P LA C E

Symphony No. 7, a piece the composer called "capable of moving the world." It is a commanding masterpiece inspired by his hope for the dawning of a new Czech republic.

Why it Matters: Anu Tali is the first new Music Director for the Sarasota Orchestra in over 15 years and only Sarasota Orchestra's fifth in its 65 year history.

Her tenure launches a new era in Sarasota Orchestra’s extraordinary history.

Join Sarasota Orchestra for its hallmark Masterworks Series, powerful concerts featuring a powerhouse repertoire and

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guest artists from around the world.

Don’t miss Anu Tali’s first concert as the Orchestra’s Music Director. “The ovations insisted the audience could not get enough.” – Herald Tribune

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Visit SarasotaArts.org for additional events, artist profiles and information about Sarasota’s exciting season of arts and culture.

For your next real estate search, call Nancie at

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5678 Fruitville Road • Sarasota, FL

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October 2013

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GIVING

Cooking Up Good in the Community Eddie and Todd Morton

By Steven J. Smith | Photo by Daniel Perales Eddie and Todd Morton of Morton’s Gourmet Market — a Sarasota

Todd added other protégés have come to Morton’s Gourmet Market

tradition — have launched the Morton Culinary Education Fund, a

from either Keiser University or SCTI.

scholarship program designed to give back to the community their family has served since 1952.

“They want to do their externships here with us, as well,” he said.

“Depending on the program, it can be a two-month to six-month

The fund was set up through the Community Foundation of Sara-

program they need for school credit. Some have stuck around here.

sota County to provide culinary scholarships to graduating high

We had one student here who has since gone on to Eataly, a high

school seniors.

end boutique eatery in New York.”

“Two and a half years ago, Todd and I were discussing doing some-

Todd added it is important to the Morton family that they keep

thing for the community,” Eddie said. “A four thousand dollar schol-

the effort localized in the Sarasota community — to encourage an

arship — one thousand dollars per year over four years — goes out

outcropping of homegrown chefs — and they knew the Community

to one deserving senior each year, who plans to pursue the culinary

Foundation of Sarasota County was the right organization to admin-

field. We hope to increase the number of scholarships as the years

ister the scholarship fund.

go on and as we increase the fund.”

“The foundation didn’t have anything in their portfolio that had anyStudents can apply through his or her school’s guidance counsel-

thing to do with culinary, as far as scholarships go,” he said. “So we

or or the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. Scholarship

jumped at it. We felt it was the right fit for us. The foundation man-

requirements include the student must graduate from a Sarasota

ages the Sarasota Firefighters Benevolent Fund and I had heard some

County school and must focus on furthering their education in culi-

good things through the firefighters about them. We work with the

nary arts at such local higher learning institutions as Keiser Univer-

firefighters every year on a chili cook-off that benefits their fund.”

sity or Florida State University, for example.

Eddie said he hopes other area organizations will also look for ways “Anything in hospitality,” Eddie said. “It can even include Sarasota

to give back to the greater Sarasota community. “I think people

County Technical Institute, if they choose.”

need to be aware of the good that can be done,” he said. “We want something that’s going to be perpetuated long-term that can build,

Todd said the idea for the fund sprang from a wonderful mentor-

grow, and help more than one person per year.”

ing experience the Mortons had with Ruth Betts, an employee who came to them when she was in her mid-teens.

The Mortons have agreed to make themselves available as mentors and as a resource for the scholarship winners so that they have the

“Ruth caught the culinary bug here and went away to Johnson

greatest possible chances of future success.

and Wales University, a culinary school, to pursue a pastry chef career,” Todd said. “She did her internship over in London and

“We’re excited that we can do something for the Sarasota commu-

then came back to us. She was promoted up the ranks and be-

nity, after all they’ve done for our family,” Todd said. “We’re glad

came our pastry chef.”

we can do this.”

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WHERE GREAT MEMORIES, INNOVATIVE CUISINE AND IMPECCABLE SERVICE COME NEATLY WRAPPED.

So good, you’ll look for reasons to celebrate.

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Celebrate our 40th Anniversary with the Passport Series – a Culinary Tour of Europe!

Gems of Sarasota

by Yara Shoemaker

Life’s little pleasures come in many varieties: travel, food, art, fashion and beauty. For me, the food comes first! I wanted to put the spotlight on the great chefs who create the mouthwatering meals we enjoy in Sarasota’s best restaurants, so I took my camera and shot videos of what really goes on in their kitchens. To join me behind the scenes, visit yarasway.com, click on kitchen and then videos to see their creative hands in action. The next time you order your favorite meal, it will taste even better once you know just how much skill and artistry went into its creation!

Of course, a great time out in Sarasota isn’t just about the food – I also want to share some of my favorite local products and services that make every day here special. Keep reading to rediscover our town!

State Street Eating House

Jack Dusty at The Ritz Carlton

Roy’s

Imagine you’re in New York City at a cozy, yet trendy gastro-pub with servers in plaid shirts and water served in mason jars. Guess what? The Big Apple has come to Sarasota with Chef Christian Hershman at the culinary helm – if you’re lucky you might even catch him roaming the bright, open dining room with his signature funky bowtie! Begin your visit with their irresistible and award-winning Blackberry Bramble. Whatever you choose from the innovative menu will be presented with flair, but the crowd-pleasers are Fresh Fried Okra drizzled with white truffle oil and served in a brown bag, and stuffed Slow Roasted Whole Chicken “For Two”.

As a vegetarian, I have never been short on flavorful options, such as the handmade Sweet Potato Gnocchi and Chickpea Casserole. The fresh Mediterranean flavors and exotic spices used in these dishes, such as cumin and sumac, bring back memories of my mother’s cooking to my taste buds!

The nautical theme here will sweep you into a breezy, fun ambiance. Sit under the soft lighting of the waterfront terrace to enjoy beautiful Sarasota weather. Manager Patrick is passionate about setting Jack Dusty on a higher level.

From the servers clad in navy and white stripes to fresh bread baked in a tin can; from the famously creative bartenders to their live mermaid companions; everything here is thoughtfully composed to provide you a memorable night out! There is a nice mix of hipsters and sophisticates, dressed up and dressed down, so you can come straight from the office or bring a date. Start with the Fried Green Tomatoes with aioli and lump crab, and the tender Fried Calamari and dipping sauce with a pleasant spicy kick. Next I like to go for the Blackened Grouper Etouffee served with red beans and rice beside perfectly braised greens. Even Nola* residents approve of the light beignets shaken in a brown bag of sugar at the table.

But I can’t resist the Sticky Toffee Pudding served in its sizzling cast iron pot with a cool tin of ice cream on the side. *New Orleans

The spectacular service starts as soon as you walk through the doors with a warm “Aloha!” from the hostess. After you are seated, dedicated manager Robert Self is there to greet you with a yellow daisy for the ladies to put in their hair and to shake your hand. While this illustrious chain is famous for Hawaiian fusion cuisine, like the Roasted Macadamia Nut Crusted Mahi Mahi and the Curry Dusted Scallops, you can’t ignore the masterful skills of the sushi chef. There are plenty of raw options to please hardcore fans, but personally I love the cooked Ebi Shrimp Roll – it’s the perfect blend of sweet mango, salty shrimp and spicy habanero aioli. It was originally created by a Roy’s chef for a regular customer who gave up her beloved sushi during pregnancy! Another standout on the menu is the Maui Wowie Shrimp Salad with avocado and caper lime vinaigrette. But what I look forward to most is the end of the evening, when I can dig into a warm, delicate Chocolate Soufflé that rivals anything I’ve tried in Europe.

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Ebi Shrimp Roll at Roy's

Statement Rings at June Simmons Jewelry

Phil’s Salad at Michael’s On East

Roasted Duckling at Euphemia Haye

Oh M amma Mia! Authentic, memorable Italian food is the dinner and the show at this Gulf Gate favorite. Chef Giuseppe passionately crafts amazing dishes from scratch in his open kitchen – watch closely and you won’t find a can or a preservative in sight!

Everything is cooked simply, cleanly and with maximum flavor that comes from fresh ingredients and none of the excess salt and fat found in most “Italian-American” preparations. The Linguine Con Vongole (white wine sauce with clams) and the Shrimp and Scallop Linguine take me back to the delicious moments on my travels in Italy! I like to finish my meal with a superb cup of coffee and a decadent cannoli. The cozy atmosphere and little touches of Italy scattered everywhere set the Italian mood. The chef is a very skilled teacher and I would love to come back sometime for one of his popular cooking classes.

Michael’s On East As a wine lover, there is nothing better than to celebrate a special occasion with Michael Klauber’s cellar of over 1,000 international estate-bottled wines. To make your event exceptional, reserve the cellar with its candlelit charm surrounded by beautiful bottles. Sip an extraordinary glass of wine with romantic live piano music and spectacular gourmet food in the intimate dining room.

I like to start with Phil’s Salad, a creamy, cheesy stack of crisp greens and vegetables that was inspired by co-owner Phil Mancini. Although I have eaten swordfish in some of the world’s most notable restaurants, nothing comes close to Michael’s buttery soft preparation with tangy beurre blanc, capers, mushrooms and roasted red bliss potatoes. To end the meal on a sweet note, I like the French Vanilla and Mascarpone Cream Napoleon with peach blueberry compote.

Louie’s Modern This trendy spot is as fresh as its name suggests!

The beautiful layout of the dining room continues into an open kitchen with a wood-burning oven. Its downtown location is totally walkable and perfect for a business lunch, or you can even reserve the Francis, their special events space next door. This sister restaurant of Libby’s brings uniqueness not only with its flavors, but also with its presentation. On a typical visit, I would order the addictive Kale Caesar, but the most impressive and delicious appetizer on the menu is definitely the Burrata served on a pink salt plate!

Ripe local heirloom tomatoes are mixed with roasted cherry tomatoes, rich balsamic syrup and pickled cippolini onions to make a truly special stage for the creamy Burrata cheese.

Social Eatery & Bar on First Have you heard? This is Sarasota’s newest restaurant! Freshly opened in late September, this modscenesarasota.com

ern space breathes new life into the downtown restaurant scene. The Mediterranean-American menu is a wonderful mix of small plates and entrees that are great for sharing and reflect a philosophy of certified fresh, seasonal ingredients prepared simply. The focus is on local foods (like the house-made mozzarella and natural yeast in their pizza), combined with a few high-quality imports from Italy (such as real Prosciutto di Parma). My appetizer of Pretzel-Dusted Calamari was a brown bag of lightly breaded, tender fried calamari, shrimp, zucchini, artichokes and capers with a spicy dipping duo. It was savory, salty and spicy in a delightfully surprising combination. The Grilled Salmon Skewers over simply dressed arugula were moist and had the essence of salmon flavor; that freshly caught taste that needs only a squeeze of lemon and pinch of salt.

elet with mushrooms and spinach (light on the cheese because they serve generous portions!) and home fries cooked to crispy perfection.

Also try their fluffy golden pancakes with real maple syrup for a heavenly bite.

Selva Grill

seafood in a light tomato sauce.

Consistently delicious Peruvian food served with artful attention to presentation is one of the most surprising finds on Main Street. I love to sit at the open front terrace with a great view for people watching and enjoying the Sarasota evening breezes. My favorite vegetarian dish there is the House Chopped Salad – a mixture of crisp lettuces, avocado, corn, black beans and queso fresco with honey orange chipotle vinaigrette. The Inca Cod is a popular favorite, wrapped in a plantain leaf with stewed spicy tomatoes, chorizo and rice. From the many things I’ve enjoyed there, I get the feeling that there is no wrong way to order!

Simon’s Coffee House As a vegetarian, I was thrilled to find a breakfast spot that was as devoted to healthy, organic food as I am! This family business is serious about serving food they would eat themselves, so don’t be shy and try a shot of wheatgrass or a smoothie with probiotics. Personally, I like to catch up with old friends over a hearty West Coast Breakfast Sandwich – creamy avocado, fried egg, smoky soy bacon and Swiss cheese on whole grain toast.

Blue Dolphin Cafe The best breakfast on Lido Key is certainly at the Blue Dolphin. They have all the traditional favorites, but if you’re feeling adventurous, try an order of Huevos Rancheros with my healthy twist: sub egg whites, easy on the cheese and extra beans. That’s one delicious mouthful!

Yoder’s R estaurant Comfort food tastes better prepared the Amish way! The Travel Channel made their fried chicken and homemade pies famous, but let me introduce you to their breakfast! I like to start my Saturday morning early with an egg white om-

M editerraneo The blazing wood oven and masterful Northern Italian chef at this Main Street eatery are the keys to spectacular Mediterranean fare in a casual, comfortable setting. Though it sounds simple, the thin crust topped with subtle marinara sauce, fresh mozzarella cheese and basil leaves makes the Margherita Pizza a perfect companion to a glass of good Italian wine. I also love to dip their rosemary-topped Focacce (thin pizza bread, not to be confused with fluffy focaccia bread) in spicy oil. My favorite pasta is the Linguine Ai Frutti Di Mare, mixed fresh

Euphemia Haye This beloved place in a secluded location on Longboat Key is worth the drive! It’s a favorite of mine for special occasions. The devotion to fresh gourmet ingredients shines through everything on the menu. I’m going to let you in on an insider’s tip: if you think you’ve had good Caesar salad, try theirs mixed in a big wooden bowl with just the right amount of dressing and you’ll change your mind! Back before I became vegetarian, I used to order the juicy Roasted Duckling paired with extraordinary Sicilian Brussels Sprouts (yes, I used extraordinary and Brussels sprouts in the same sentence and I mean it).

C’est La Vie Whenever I’m running errands around Main Street and need a pick me up treat, I stop by this charmingly authentic French bistro. The pastries, especially croissants of all kinds, are my usual sins. Their bite-sized savory quiches and sweet tarts are great for entertaining. Of all the beautiful sweets that call my name, the opera cake wins my heart! It is delicate layers of almond sponge cake drizzled with coffee syrup and layered with ganache and coffee buttercream covered in a chocolate glaze. Pair it with a cup of smooth black coffee and outdoor seating that feels oh so Parisian!

Jim’s Small Batch I admit to being a bakery bread fan. There’s just no comparison between a warm loaf of chewy baguette and a bag of pre-sliced, preserved, preposterous sandwich bread! Jim, the owner and baker at Small Batch on Gulf Gate Drive, has made it his life’s mission to wake up before dawn every day to begin mixing the dough for his crusty creations. This love is baked into every loaf, including his fluffy October 2013

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ciabatta. When I want to fill my kitchen with the smell of toasted bread, I pick up a loaf of asiago, slice it thinly, drizzle both sides with a little olive oil and toast it in my cast iron pan.

Add a pinch of salt and I’m in heaven!

The Chocolate Bark Company This little shop sits tempting passersby on Gulf Gate Drive and I can assure you that you won’t regret stopping for a treat! They whip up myriad varieties of their signature Chocolate Bark with ingredients like ginger, orange peel or pistachio. My favorite is the Dark Chocolate Bark with Grey Sea Salt and Almonds. I gave it as a favor to guests of a baby shower I hosted and it was the perfect union of women, babies and chocolate!

Walt’s Fish M arket From the time I first walked into the market, I have always felt a warm welcome from the friendly staff at Walt’s. The family business has been here for many years and current owner Brett Wallin is keeping the tradition alive by respecting local wildlife and taking care of our waters. The local fish doesn’t get any fresher than this, and you can find just about anything you need from lobster to tuna; mussels to scallops; it’s all good! I usually order a whole hog snapper, which they filet fresh daily, and take it home to make my Crispy Snapper Filets*.

During Stone Crab season people line up for their famous crab dip and a bag of fresh local crab on ice. *Find the recipe at www.yarasway.com

Jessica’s Organic Farmstand If you’ve read my book or visited my website, you know I’m all about savoring local, seasonal and organic produce. So you should have no trouble imagining the lengths to which I went to find the ideal source for fresh ingredients to use when testing my new recipes. This is it; Jessica’s is the real deal! I always find what I’m looking for (and plenty that I wasn’t, but just can’t pass up) and the prices are reasonable. Best of all, I keep an eye out while I’m there for a worker from the fields bringing a case of freshly harvested butter lettuce or a box of just-dug-up radishes to be the first to grab one of these succulent prizes. I don’t know of any other place where you can see your food growing in a field nearby and bring it home within an hour of harvesting. Amazing!

After all that amazing food, let’s indulge in a few of Sarasota’s best shopping and service experiences!

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Crissy Galleries If you’re searching for a classic Tiffany lamp or antique European cut glass bowl to adorn your buffet, then look no further! Crissy specializes in 18th-20th century furniture, paintings, silver, estate jewelry, etc. Their large showroom houses wonderful surprises from collectible ivory to dinosaur fossils!

Burke A ntiques When I step into the Burke Antiques gallery I feel like I’m traveling the world and traveling back in time at once. The handpicked treasures are as diverse as can be, but that’s the charm of it! Whether you want an elegant addition, like a late-1800’s Venetian glass mirror, or a talking piece, like a purple silk Mongolian court robe, there is always something remarkable here to catch your eye.

The M et Fashion House, Spa & Salon High-end fashion and the latest trends bring fashionistas and stylish men to the Met on Saint Armands Circle. This is also the only place I have had a haircut that makes me smile the day I get it and several months down the road when it still looks fresh! The superior scissor work of Hrvoje Horvat (pronounced: herVOY-eh) is unmatched anywhere else in town!

The R itz Carlton Spa Massages here are divine, but of all the tempting treatments available at this spacious spa, hair design by Kassandra Williams is my favorite luxury to pamper myself before a special occasion. She knows her way around thick hair, and has mastered the challenges of extensions, color and updo’s with creative flair.

Elizabeth R ice, Inc.

Eri Vincent M akeup

This gallery’s unique combination of Biedermeier antique furniture on the floors and diverse fine art on the walls gives me something to wonder at everywhere I turn. Art and photography collectors will be impressed with contemporary favorites mixed in with great names like de Kooning and Miro.

Fashion, film and bridal makeup artist Eri does things with a makeup palette that draw beauty from every angle of a woman’s face. I love the confident glow I get from her natural style and blended colors.

Jewelry by Giorgio A sparkling night out starts with Giorgio’s exclusive Valencia, Italy designed diamonds and jewelry. His elegant eye for fashionable looks that last a lifetime has provided me with some of my favorite pieces, including high-quality 18-carat gold. The warm, personal service afforded every customer keeps me coming back to his Osprey Avenue shop just as much as the beautiful jewelry.

June Simmons Jewelry When I want to make a statement, I visit June Simmons Designs on Palm Avenue or in the Met Fashion House on Saint Armands Circle.

Liebe Smith Gamble has a fearless passion for continuing the business her mother built in LA, bringing high fashion pieces and fine jewelry to Sarasota. The jewelry couturier blends youthful boldness with everything fresh, sophisticated and chic.

Saks Fifth Avenue After the women’s department took over Saks, they brought in a flood of new designers. One of the best additions beyond the beautiful collections of casual and formal wear is in the expansive cosmetics department: La Mer creams are powerful potions made of fermented kelp. It is absolutely worth every penny for the fabulous results and the jars last longer than you’d expect.

Happy New Nails In most towns the best mani/pedi can be found in a big hotel or salon, but my favorite place to pamper my nails is a bright, sparkling clean shop in Paradise Plaza. Susan, the owner, has an artist’s touch and takes the time to do it right every time. When your treatment is over you’ll sit down at the drying station for a quick and refreshing back massage to send you out with a smile!

Siesta K ey Parasailing When family or friends come to visit, I often take them out to enjoy the beautiful Sarasota sunshine from a bird’s eye view. Parasailing is a great activity to get adults out of their workweek shells and also perfect for groups of mixed ages. If you want to give your guests from out of town an unforgettable experience to go with their sunburns, send them high up in the sky to see America’s #1 beach at a different angle!

We are proud of our hidden jewel of the Suncoast! This list is just a sampling of Sarasota’s treasures, along with world-class rowing and tennis, a thriving arts community, great healthcare and the famously white sands of Siesta Key that make our town irresistible! scenesarasota.com

AJC West Coast Florida 2013 Civic Achievement Award Dinner HONORING

Teri A Hansen President | CEO, Gulf Coast Community Foundation

Wednesday, November 13, 2013 6:00 p.m.

Michael’s On East, Sarasota, Florida

DINNER CHAIRS

Chuck & Margie Barancik David & Edie Chaifetz Ben & Stacy Hanan For Sponsorship information, please contact AJC Regional Director Brian Lipton: 941-365-4955 or liptonb@ajc.org www.ajc.org

www.ajc.org

Luncheon & Fashion Show

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2013 • 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SARASOTA INC

Please Join Us

HYATT REGENCY • SARASOTA Make

Fashions by CHICO’S Up & hair by CUTTING LOOSE

Haute Holidays for the

Habitat for Humanity Sarasota Inc.

LiMited seating • rsVp today caLL: (941) 487-5518 www.habitatsrq.org

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Manasota Key Conservation Area

Conservation Foundation of the Gulf C oast:

A 10-year Anniversary Retrospective Since 2009, Florida’s

conservation funds have diminished greatly.

Who’s still fighting the good fight to protect critical water resources, wildlife habitats, greenways, and trails? tion of the

Gulf Coast

is, of course.

But

Florida Water & Land Legacy Campaign

Conservation Founda-

promoting the statewide

to get permanent funding

for future conservation efforts isn’t all they’re doing. A nd what better time to look at their many efforts than their tenth anniversary!

By Ryan G. Van Cleave. Photo of Christine Johnson by Barbara Banks Photography

Let’s start with the stated mission of this organization that was

helping preserve and protect the natural wonders that make

started in 2003 by a group of citizens concerned about the

Florida, well, Florida.

environment. Formerly called the Sarasota Conservation Foundation, Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast is a private,

Conservation Foundation’s president, Christine Johnson,

nonprofit land trust that works with landowners and regional

explains the organization this way: “We’re the only orga-

governments to protect and preserve the bays, beaches, barrier

nization in our region that saves land, forever. Saving land

islands, and watersheds that define the character and ecology

ensures the natural integrity and biodiversity of our region,

of our region. They accomplish this by holding conservation

which is uniquely important to our way of life and our

easements and owning nature preserves, educating for respon-

quality of life for generations to come. To put it quite simply,

sible land stewardship, and collaborating with individuals, or-

our environment drives everything in our life: water quality,

ganizations, and communities.

exercise, the economy, peace of mind, etc.”

Basically, by working with landowners and governments to en-

Part of what makes Conservation Foundation’s efforts so suc-

sure good land management and smart developments, they are

cessful is that they’re an accredited land trust. This means

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Map Illustration by Chris Peterson Robinson Preserve Expansion

Mercy on the Manatee Conservation Area

that they’ve undergone intense scrutiny of their organiza-

BRADENTON

tion—top to bottom, inside and outside—in order to ensure that all the work they do will be important and last-

Ringling Boulevard Park

ing. “Going through that accreditation process made our very young organization grow up, fast,” admits Johnson.

Indeed, accreditation is quite difficult to get. Only 14% of

SARASOTA

Siesta Key Preserve

Bay Preserve at Osprey

Casey Key Conservation Area

O-Bar-O Ranch Conservation Area

Blackburn Point Park

Rocky Ford Preserve

Michael Biehl Park Merkle Park South Venice Lemon Bay Preserve Manasota Key Conservation Area

VENICE

land trusts actually get accreditation, which helps explain why Conservation Foundation is the only accredited land Walton Ranch Conservation Area

Myakka Pines Preserve Warm Mineral Springs Creek Preserve

Tarpon Point Landing

trust south of Gainesville. It’s actually only one of four land trusts in the entire state of Florida. Since being an accredited land trust is such an accomplishment, LEED

Longino Ranch Conservation Area

PORT CHARLOTTE

Manasota Scrub Preserve

certification v4 (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) guidelines offer points for donations to accredited land trusts by businesses seeking LEED certification. For businesses looking to get LEED certification, those points are quite an incentive to be generous!

CHARLOTTE HARBOR

What are some of Conservation Foundation’s own successes? Let’s begin with the numbers.

31– the number of properties they have protected 8,600 – the total acreage of protected land

Pine Island Preserve at Matlacha Pass

36 – the length (in miles) of a future public access trail on Pine Island Flatwoods Preserve

the Longino Ranch that’s perfect for hiking, nature walks, horseback riding, bird watching, and education study 30,000,000 – the total dollar value of Conservation Foundation’s assets

And let’s not forget about the other impacts they’ve had, like protecting rare, environmentally sensitive habitats like coastal dunes and pine uplands (which in turn protect other species, including humans!) Plus plenty of endangered animals like the Gopher Tortoise and Scrub Jay now enjoy safety because of Conservation Foundation’s work.

And the Snowy Plover? The only location in Sarasota where they’ve successfully produced hatchlings over the past three years is owned by Conservation Foundation.

Perhaps one of the most important impacts they’ve had is with the community itself. It starts with successful partnerships and collaborations. Some of those partners include Manatee, Lee, and Sarasota Counties; Sarasota Bay Watch; Selby Gardens; START (Solutions to Avoid Red Tide); Sarasota Crew; and Around the Bend Nature Tours, among other groups and organizations. But thousands of people of all ages enjoy educational opportunities thanks to Conservation Foundation’s events and programs where they learn the importance of land conservation for plants and animals. “Children, especially, have been impacted through our many education programs, bay seining, art in nature, water conservation, plant identification, etc.” notes Johnson. “In this high tech world, it’s imperative that future generations understand and know the importance of our natural environment.”

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Pine Island Preserve at Matlacha Pass

Burrows-Matson House, Bay Preserve at Osprey

Another noteworthy accomplishment is the creation of an online resource promoting ecotourism.

Built through a partnership of Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, Sarasota County, and Sarasota County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, this resource was designed to show that we’re more than just beaches and restaurants. See it for yourself at www.srqecoseeker.com.

The good news is that Conservation Foundation isn’t in a holding pattern — they’re moving forward and planning big things for the next decade of their existence. Johnson explains that in the coming years, Conservation Foundation will save hundreds of acres in focus areas that have a tremendous impact to humans, animals, and plants. “We are creating a map of our most environmentally sensitive lands that define the charac-

For more information about Conservation

ter and ecology of our region.” Doing so helps paint a clear

Foundation

picture and story of what needs to be protected and why. “In

visit www.conservationfoundation.com or

the next ten years,” Johnson adds, “we will become a house-

of the

Gulf Coast,

please

Suzanne Gregory, Director

hold name in our community because our community will

contact

know the value of saving land and the impact we have on the

Programs and M arketing, at (941) 918-2100

lives of our citizens.”

of

or Suzanne@conservationfoundation.com

One final thing to note about this should-already-be-a-household-name organization. The land they hold for conservation is held in perpetuity. Meaning forever. Period. They cannot sell the land, nor can they sell the conservation easements they own. Talk about a serious commitment to having an impact for future generations! Through the efforts of Conservation Foundation and their many partners, clean water and beautiful lands will continue to make this area a cherished travel destination and home for many. scenesarasota.com

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The Vibrancy & Success of

LAUREL OAK

COUNTRY CLUB

By Sue Cullen

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Laurel Oak Country Club has distinguished itself by creating an atmosphere that is welcoming, relaxed and congenial in pristine surroundings, yet with a vibrancy that is fun and engaging for members of all ages. It’s an appealing recipe judging from the Club’s growing membership, debt free status, and the recent place it has taken — twice — in the national spotlight.

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As much care goes into nurturing the friendships

are immediately involved in club activities. Our members

and connections that develop among members as is

take them into their games and social circles, and make

poured into the meticulously groomed grounds and

them feel part of the club,” she says. “Our conversion

well maintained amenities, which include two 18-

rate is good, but even if trial members don’t join right

hole championship golf courses, designed respectively

away, they have had a fabulous experience and tell others

by Rees Jones and Gary Player, and 12 Har-Tru tennis

what a great time they had.” Bolton consistently looks

courts. This member-centric focus has added more than

for creative ways to engage members through planned

70 full and associate memberships this year, says Dave

adventures designed to appeal to those who may not play

Whalen, general manager.

golf or tennis as well as opportunities for those who want

“Feedback from our new members is very positive.

They say they really feel like this is home even though

to get more casual enjoyment out of their games or who seriously want to take them to the next level.

they just joined,” Whalen says. “We engage people

It was all of the above that caught the attention of

from the moment they walk in the door, which is a trib-

the Golf Channel’s hit series “The Haney Project” which

ute to Christine Bolton and our membership commit-

features renowned golf coach Hank Haney teaching a va-

tee.” Bolton, who is Laurel Oak’s membership director,

riety of celebrities how to improve their game on some of

credits the one-time trial membership with helping to

the world’s finest courses. When Olympic Gold Medalist

boost the club’s ranks.

Michael Phelps came to the area to take batting prac-

“Thanks to our ambassadors, new and trial members

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tice with his hometown team, the Baltimore Orioles, the scenesarasota.com

show’s producers selected Laurel Oak’s courses as the

ticularly noteworthy achievement at a time when other

setting for one of the episodes.

clubs are still struggling, with some taking on more debt

“The number of times we were featured on the show

or opening their doors to the general public through sea-

was phenomenal, and the exposure was huge,” Bolton

sonal memberships and access to certain amenities, like

said. “Our website hits peaked that night as people around

dining, to boost cash flow.

the country saw our beautiful club. We were delighted

At Laurel Oak, current projects are being completed

that they selected us from among all the clubs here.” That

without taking on debt as reserves are funded. Recent

episode ran in April and in May, Laurel Oak was back in

improvements include renovated bunkers, a renovated

national view when one of the club’s tour pros, Lindsey

driving range, lighting for two additional tennis courts

Bergeon, was chosen to be on the Golf Channel’s “The

with plans to light the final two, and engaging a design

Big Break” golf competition reality show.

firm to refresh the interior of the clubhouse. On the draw-

Garnering this kind of national attention, particularly

ing board are plans for a possible wellness center offer-

coming out of one of the worst economic times in recent

ing services like yoga, Pilates and spinning classes. Even

history, speaks to the laser focus on fiscal responsibility

physical therapy is being considered to help those with

and on providing members with a great value. “We began

shoulder, hip or other issues get back to playing.

an $8 million capital improvement project in 2005, which

“We have two main areas of activity; the clubhouse

the membership chose to finance with a loan, and this

and the tennis center, which also is our activity complex,”

year we will retire that debt,” Whalen said. That is a par-

he said. “One day this summer we had more than 200

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people at the tennis center with the summer camp kids, swim team practice, water aerobics and people on the courts. We’ve found a way to keep high season going all year round.” The club also is participating in the PGA’s Play It Forward program and installing forward tees, creating a sort of executive course that enriches the game for young golfers.

...that indefinable feeling of being in the right place with the right people is created through the synergy of staff and members.

“An unintended consequence is that it allows older members an opportunity to play from those tees as well and forego the rigors of a

amount grows each time a member’s name is called

longer course,” Whalen said.

but is not present to collect the pot. During season,

Laurel Oak has built a reputation as a family club

more than 400 members attend with 200 during sum-

and currently has 200 children on its membership ros-

mer months. “People plan dinners and birthday parties

ter, but Whalen says they think of themselves in broader

around Wednesday nights, but it’s not about the money

terms, keeping in mind the diverse needs of its mem-

or prizes, it’s about being with your friends and who

bers whose ages range from early 30s to early 90s. He

you are going to see there,” Bolton says. “We have been

says they see Laurel Oak as a 50/50 club. About half the

mimicked, which is quite flattering.”

membership works, half are retired; half live in the Lau-

This month will see what is traditionally the year’s

rel Oak community, half don’t; and half are snowbirds

biggest party at Halloween. All ages are involved as

while half live here year-round.

members set up tables at the end of their driveways for

Programs to meet various lifestyles and interests

trick or treaters of all ages. In addition to candy for the

are continually evolving. A new golf membership has

kids, some members offer adult-only margarita stations

been added for those 35 and under who have joined

and even cater food. One member creates an entire

the Florida tour and need a place to practice. “There’s

themed Halloween fun house in her garage every year,

something about a Florida club that has young people

Bolton says. Afterwards, more than 500 people head to

around,” Bolton says. “It adds vibrancy and energy. They

the clubhouse for a Halloween Ball, with costumes and a

are the future of the game and the future of the club.” A

Haunted House, of course.

new tennis program called “Start to Finish” has been in-

This feeling of an engaged community and a safe en-

troduced for junior members who want to get into more

vironment is part of the attraction not only for the club,

serious competitive form, and a new tennis pro Mike

but also for the Laurel Oak community itself, Whalen says.

Wilson, USTPA, is on board to work with those who

“Three families who were already members moved here

aspire to play at tournament level.

for the security of it,” he said, “and three who moved to

Laurel Oak’s Adventures & Events, which Bolton in-

be closer to the water have moved back.” Whalen credits

stituted two years ago, has proven wildly popular and not

that in part to the seamless cooperation between the club

just with the non golf- and tennis-playing members for

and the Laurel Oak community association. However, that

which it was originally conceived. In addition to regular

indefinable feeling of being in the right place with the right

outings to the theatre, ball games and museums, mem-

people is created through the synergy of staff and members.

bers have kayaked, attended a rodeo, chartered LeBarge,

“I’m proud of our staff, many have been here for a

taken helicopter rides, and gone on a day trip by boat to

long time. They have a personal interest in, and knowl-

Key West. This year, plans include a polo match, go-kart

edge of, each member, not just their names, but their hab-

racing, ziplining, and lawn bowling.

its, likes and dislikes, and know their families,” he says.

Wednesday nights are the “it” nights to be at the

“When you have members who do not want to leave be-

clubhouse for the Wednesday Night Draw. Members

cause they have come to know and care for staff like their

must be present to win, and like the Powerball, the

own families, that’s a dynamic that is rare.”

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Zombies Helping Mummies Charity Costume Bash to beneet Mothers Helping Mothers, Inc. Saturday, October 19th 8:00pm - midnight at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing live music by

for tickets, visit our event

“Zombies Helping Mummies” on Eventbrite.com follow our event page “zombies helping mummies”

- Beer and Bud-a-Ritas

Gold Coast Eagle Distributing

- Select Wines - Heavy horror derves

Execution Chef Paul Mattison

- Other ghoulish surprises!

-Seasonal craft beer and cash bar available.

-Silent but DEADLY auction.

-Costume contest!

Since 1990, Mothers Helping Mothers, Inc., a 501(c)3 all volunteer, not-for-profit organization has been serving those in need in our community, providing individual and Emergency Family Assitance.

A portion of your ticket cost is tax deductible. for more information, please visit www.mhmsarasota.com

SARASOTA OPERA REACHES OUT Special Events Highlight Sarasota Opera’s 2013-14 Season

By Steven J. Smith

The year 2013 marks the 200th birthdays of Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner, as well as Benjamin Britten’s 100th birthday — and Sarasota Opera plans to celebrate each composer in style with plenty of special events slated for the community.

Executive Director Richard Russell said it’s all part of the opera’s mission statement to provide educational and outreach opportunities to the area.

“Reaching out to the community — providing access — is certainly one of my goals,” Russell said. “We want as many people as possible to come to the opera house and get to know opera, and to have access to it. And we do that through lots of opportunities with community groups and organizations throughout Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice, and even Arcadia.”

Opera can be a daunting art form for the uninitiated, because it ambitiously encompasses all of the arts — symphonic music, singing, dance, resplendent sets and costumes, and storytelling on a grand scale. However Sarasota Opera Maestro Victor DeRenzi said empowering newcomers with background information and history about opera — and its most celebrated composers — can turn the intimidated into lifelong opera enthusiasts.

“Not enough people know about opera,” DeRenzi said. “And people who do know opera don’t know enough about opera. And you can only know what opera is really about when you see it in a theater. Opera is for everybody in the community. It’s not an elitist thing. It’s our goal as a company to make sure that people who want to come to the opera know it’s there, and that we get more people to know about it.”

Russell agreed, and said Sarasota Opera is doing all it can to make opera available to everyone.

“Our ticket prices are just about as low as anybody’s, at $19,” Russell said. “You can barely go to a baseball game for that.”

Director of Audience Development Sam Lowry added this fall is the best time ever to enjoy a wide variety of Sarasota Opera events. An open house will take place in celebration of Verdi’s birthday on October 10 at the opera house along with a lecture series beginning the day before, at the Selby Library.

“The open house will begin at the library at 4 p.m., along with a short musical presentation, where we’ll be unveiling a series of exhibits that will be on display for the remainder of October,” Lowry said. “We’ll actually have a red carpet that will extend from the library to the opera house for our open house.”

Lowry added the event will serve as “an all-access pass” to the Sarasota Opera that day, allowing guests to explore the front of the opera house, take backstage tours, view samples from its costume collection, attend make-up demonstrations, and interact with artists and staff.

In addition, every Wednesday in October from the 9th through the 30th Sarasota Opera will present a program at the library called From Page To Stage.

“On October 9 at 10:30 a.m. I’m going to talk about the Verdi Cycle,” DeRenzi said. “What it means, how we’re doing it, how it has progressed, and its importance to the opera world.”

Other lectures will focus on the world of Richard Wagner (in anticipation of the opera’s winter series production of The Flying Dutchman) and the works of Benjamin Britten, in recognition of their milestone birthdays.

“We’ll also hold a screening at the library of the documentary film Tosca’s Kiss,” DeRenzi said. “At the end of Verdi’s life, he built a home for old opera performers, using royalties from his works to help support it into the future.

And it became a home to many great old opera singers. The movie is about the home and its legendary guests.”

Another lecture series, entitled Understanding Opera, will feature interactive sessions led by Executive Director Richard Russell and Artistic Administrator Greg Trupiano about the art form.

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Left: Members of the cast of Rigoletto came out to meet with student groups who attended the final dress rehearsal of the production. Photo by Rod Millington

Below: Sarasota Youth Opera’s presented the world premiere of Little Nemo in Slumberland included students and performers from Circus Sarasota, Booker High School, and the Out of Door Academy. Photo by Rod Millington

“We haven’t had any adult opera education for a number of years,” Russell said. “We do pre-performance talks, but we really haven’t done anything recently. And who better to introduce people to opera than an opera company?”

“This will be a course designed for adults,” Lowry added.

“There’s a $75 registration fee, and the lectures will be presented October 22, October 29, November 5 and November 12. Lectures will touch on the basics of opera, singing and music, words in opera, and building a production from the ground up — which will include visits to our scene shop, our costume shop, and our make-up rooms, so they can see all components of the process.”

All of the Understanding Opera lectures will infuse fascinating insights into opera, just in time for the company’s presentation of Johann Strauss’ classic Die Fledermaus — a delightfully whimsical operetta that mixes hidden identities with amorous intrigues — which opens on November 1.

Lowry said the underlying idea to all of the planned outreach events is to reinforce the passion of current opera-goers while piquing the interest of new, and even younger, audiences as well.

“Our youth opera program will be doing a production of Britten’s children’s opera The Little Sweep,” he said. “It was an opera designed to introduce children to opera. The story is about a young chimney sweep who is the apprentice of a very mean boss, and they’ve come to a house to clean its chimneys. The children of the house rally together to rescue the boy from his evil boss.”

Lowry added the children in the production will be cast from the opera’s Youth Opera Performance Program, which has given young people age eight and above an opportunity to participate in productions since 1984.

Sarasota Opera outreach concerts are a community staple — performed by artists for local civic, social, and service clubs as well as for area business functions and special occasions, making performances more accessible to the local population. Working on the belief that opera can benefit everyone, Sarasota Opera seeks to develop relationships with individuals from diverse cultural, ethnic, and socio-economic groups.

“For example, a couple of our singers will be going down to the Italian-American Club of Venice to do a performance there,” Lowry said. “That’s always in place, but we’re also proactively trying to create additional avenues and make opera accessible to more children and families in our area, both as audiences and as performers.”

Another outreach program in the works is the Sarasota scenesarasota.com

Culture Collective.

“We’re kicking that one off on October 19 at the opera house, as we plan to tap into the demographic of 21-40 in Sarasota consisting of young professionals,” Lowry said. “Seven different organizations in Sarasota — the opera, the ballet, the orchestra, Asolo Rep, the Asolo Conservatory, the Ringling, and the Arts Alliance — have partnered together. For a $99 membership, members will receive two free tickets to a performance offered by each of the participating organizations. Prior to that performance, there will be a special Culture Collective event designed exclusively for members. It might be a reception, a meet and greet, a backstage tour. Something that comfortably invites them into the space and gives them an education about what they’re about to see.”

Russell said there is no better time than now for the public to find enriching programs at Sarasota Opera.

“We want the community to come in and see what we do and how we do it,” he said. “We want to open our doors, let people in and experience what we do. It’s an important initiative for us.”

“We’re not only cultivating possible art lovers, but also the next generation of philanthropists for Sarasota,” Lowry added.

“The better the arts organization and the more respected it is, the more sophisticated the community is going to become.”

For more information about Sarasota Opera’s upcoming season and calendar of events, log on to www.SarasotaOpera.org or call 941-366-8450.

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Scenes from an Interview:

Former Major Leaguer

Mark Guthrie

by Gus Mollasis

For more than fifteen years he made his living throwing a baseball in the major leagues. Yet surprisingly, even this humble man who grew up in Venice, Florida may admit that he is a better pitcher today than he ever was during his playing days. Even though his days of World Series champagne and facing down the likes of George Brett are a distant memory, this southpaw pitches daily about things that mean the most to him. His love of baseball is still evident, but now he focuses on painting the corners of something that is even more meaningful to him – his family. He knows better than most that when life throws you a curve, you go with the pitch and hit it to the opposite field. When I threw Mark Guthrie some questions and we took a look at some of the scenes from an interview of his life, his answers were straight down the middle and filled with humility and wisdom.

Where were you born?

Buffalo, New York. I was the youngest of six. My father worked for Rich Advertising.

When did you come to the Sarasota area?

We moved to Scituate, Massachusetts when I was five or six and then moved to Venice, Florida when I was in the sixth grade. I consider myself a Floridian.

What were you like as child?

I was pretty quiet and a little heavy as a child. I played a little football but I was kind of a late bloomer. I always had a good arm and baseball took over my interest in High School.

Do you remember the first time that you played baseball?

Ever since I was a little kid. One of my dad’s jobs was being president of the Buffalo Bisons Baseball team for a couple of years. They were grooming him for the Major League baseball expansion team that never materialized. So baseball was a big part of my life even from an early age.

When did you first know that you were pretty good at the game?

I was okay. I really didn’t play till I was a senior at Venice High School. I just played never thinking I really had a future in it.

We had fun in high school. Larry Sanburg was our coach and he allowed us to have fun. I went to college at LSU with Craig Faulkner (former major league catcher/first baseman), who is the coach at Venice today. I was going there to become a petroleum engineer. Craig and I decided to try out for the baseball team and if we made it, we made it. We had never seen a college game. And we found out that we were a little better than we thought we were. We wound up making the team and it ended up getting more serious year after year. scenesarasota.com

Describe the experience that you are having coaching baseball today.

I’m GM and coach for a summer organization called the Florida Burn. We have eight different teams. We take these kids to a lot of the tournaments and they get a lot of exposure. I serve as a communicator between the college coaches, professional scouts and our players. We keep the lines of communication open. We give evaluations. You have to be honest with the coaches so that they will come back for your next guys. We try to place kids in good situations and mentor them as far as explaining what’s ahead, which is kind of an unknown for all these kids. Craig Faulkner and I started this a few years back. Initially it was going to be a hobby and now it’s become a full time gig (laughing). It keeps me in touch with the local kids and the community.

For the many baseball fans that have imagined playing in a World Series game, what was that like and did it exceed your expectations?

Yeah it definitely exceeded my expectations. It was unimaginable. It was nerve racking and very tense. It becomes more of a mental game. I wasn’t a great player, I was a survivor. If I had a let down day then it was over for me. That grind is intense for a full season. Once the playoffs start, I always felt it zones you in a little bit better.

If the World Series was the highlight, what was the toughest part about being a major league ball player?

The travel was the toughest part especially 15 years of it.

Someone once told me that once you get older you play for free and they pay you to travel (laughing). I knew when it was time to get out. I told my agent that if I couldn’t play with the (Tampa Bay) Rays and be near my family, then I don’t think I October 2013

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can make it work. I didn’t want to miss anymore than I already had. I wanted to be there and watch my kids growing up around the house. In your mind, you weigh if playing another year is going to change your life. You miss it and a lot of things about it, but it was the right move for me. No regrets.

How difficult was it to be traded?

The first time was tough. And then it kind of kept happening.

You learn the business and everything does become a business. I was very lucky to be with the Minnesota Twins for six years. And it was tough seeing our ‘91 World Series team get broken up in 1995. A bunch of us guys, a lot of pitchers, got traded at the trade deadline that year. It was hard in that we had been together and had done things together, like win the World Series. When Rick Aguilera got traded to the Red Sox, since we were playing them that night, he literally went over to the other clubhouse the same day he was traded and pitched against us that night. He was one of my best friends in baseball. He came into the game in a save situation, and I had just pitched the top of the ninth. I was sitting there and they announced that he was coming into the game and the fans gave him a standing ovation. It was rough. It was one of the only times I ever cried in the dugout.

What was your favorite ballpark?

I really liked playing in Yankee Stadium because of the atmosphere. But Jacobs Field in Cleveland and the stadium in Kansas City were great places to play. But in the end, I would say Dodger Stadium and Yankee Stadium.

Who are the worst and best fans in baseball?

Philly fans are the rudest. Boston fans are the toughest on both ends. I liked going there as a visitor and we played well in Boston. The fans would turn on them and it was so enjoyable.

And when I played in Boston, I got the chance to see them turn on me when I didn’t perform.

Give me the play by play of a pitching sequence that you are most proud of.

It’s funny you say that because as a kid I would throw the ball against the chimney of my house and I would announce the game to myself. We moved away in sixth grade, but one of our neighbors would come to the games when I pitched in Fenway Park. He told me that he would listen to me announce the games when I was a kid. I could never relax enough in the major leagues to think that same way I did when I was a kid. There was one day I was pitching and I had a good start going. George Brett was up to bat and he was going for the batting title that year. And I was thinking back to when I was a kid and I would announce that George Brett was batting as I threw the ball against the chimney. So he came up to bat and I said I’m going to have a little fun with this. I finally relaxed enough. It was the sixth or seventh inning of the game and I started thinking to myself, “How would I announce this?” I did it while he was at bat and I got him out. It was the only time I ever did

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that, and it was kind of strange because George Brett was always one of my favorite players.

Finish the sentence “I owe baseball….

That’s tough. I hate to be cliché and say everything. But baseball has taught me discipline; it was the one thing since I was a little kid that I always enjoyed. I can’t say everything, because my family comes first. But in that respect, baseball has done a lot for my family. I have three sons and most of the memories that we are able to share are about coaching them.

So that part of baseball, enjoying the games with my kids, is just as important to me, if not more, than my playing career.

What is your advice to kids who dream of becoming a major league ball player?

It’s a great dream but you obviously have to be realistic. Some kids think they love the game. But if you’re going to do it for a living and you’re going to do it every single day you really have to love it. Some kids who are playing four games on a weekend and get burned out aren’t going to make it. If you don’t really love the game and have some unusual passion for it, unless you’re ultra talented, you’re not going to make it.

The mental grind of the game demands that you have a love of the game that is beyond normal.

Baseball has been dealing with the issue of steroid use for some time now. If you were the Major League Baseball commissioner, what are the one or two things you would do to change or to protect the game?

Obviously the ultimate thing would be to put a lifetime ban for first time offenders, but you can’t do that because there might be a situation where someone is tested improperly. Until testing is 100% right, what can you do?

I think it will all take care of itself anyway. The fate of the guys who have been caught, as time goes on, may even get harsher for them, and I think the way that they will be remembered will be their punishment. You know what, a record is a record. Everyone can make their own judgments on who they believe is the record holder. I think that Major League Baseball is doing a lot. The cheaters are always going to be ahead of the testers. There is probably stuff going on right now that they are getting away with. The key is whether or not they are going to know when that testing catches up to them. That’s where they’re getting caught.

Do you put a guy like Alex Rodriguez or Mark McGwire in the Hall of Fame?

I don’t think you can. I don’t think it will ever happen because the guys that are in the Hall won’t let it happen. There’s no doubt about that. I think that’s almost 100%.

There’s another side of it where these kids from the Dominican get nailed. And if you were in the same boat, what would you do? There is no thought about records. They’re thinking, “If I can play one year, I can feed my family for 20 years.” I don’t look at them as bad people. I look at them as not yet knowing the rules. scenesarasota.com

If not a Major League Baseball player, what else would you have liked to have done?

I would have loved to have been a broadcaster, a play-by-play guy, because that’s always what I did as a kid.

You are an active philanthropist. Why is it so important for you and others to get involved and give something back?

We’ve done some charity events but my wife really does do the bulk of the work. She is the one that is the communicator, is very outgoing and good at it. It takes a lot of work to put on those events. We’ve done a few to raise money for autism here in Lakewood Ranch and in Arizona, and with Special Olympics in Sarasota. Anything we can help and be a part of, we’ll do it. But the people who are really doing the ground work are the people who deserve the credit. We have an eight-year-old son, Hayden, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of two. We’ve been very fortunate to be in the position we’re in to get him help.

We realize that most people don’t have that opportunity and it’s not all financial. Most people don’t have the time, with two people working. We have the time to get him to therapy and investigate other treatments and programs. So we try to help others by recommending some of these programs for other kids. My wife will talk to someone who has had a child just diagnosed with autism for hours at a time.

We have been in their shoes.

What did you do when your child was diagnosed with autism?

When we got diagnosed, we looked at each other and said, “What do we do now?” With autism, we’ve learned that there is such a wide spectrum and that every kid’s different.

We called people who had a child with autism and they would spend hours on the phone with my wife. Now we try to provide as much information to those people out there in need by recommending therapists and anything that can help. Our son was non verbal until he was three years old.

We’ve been to therapies where they’re reading him a book and he’ll make a sound, and they say, “Great.” And we look at each other. It’s such a long tedious road that he came through and he is doing great now. He’s mainstreamed in school. He used to go to Pinnacle Academy in Lakewood Ranch, which is the largest school in the state for kids with autism. There you see all sorts of levels of where kids are on the autism spectrum. It’s amazing the work the teachers do up there. We’ve had two great therapists, Jen Colombo and Michelle Adams, who are therapists in town, and

they have changed his life. Hayden’s at Tatum Ridge now and in an advanced program. He’s really a genius and has a photographic memory. It’s really quirky and funny how people mistake these kids with their developmental delay.

Many think its ignorance but most of the time it’s from over intelligence and that they can’t get it out. That’s what is so frustrating. I have a son Kevin who is at Brown, and a son Dalton, who is an honor student. I’m not bragging about my sons, they are great students, but Hayden blows them away.

We have been very lucky that he has been able to get it out.

He still has a little bit of quirkiness at times. He has trouble with transitions, going from one thing to the next.

What is the greatest thing Hayden has taught you about life?

He has taught us everything. Our lives changed. The desperation that you feel that day you are diagnosed. You hear about these things but it’s one of those happenings when you say, “It’s never us.” But what a blessing he’s been. He makes you appreciate the gifts you got. We’ve been through some battles and struggles with him, we still do every day. He’s his own guy. He’s going to do something special one day.

What is the mantra that you live by?

When I was younger, I would live by the Motley Crue lyric, “If you want to live life on your own terms, you got to be willing to crash and burn.” As I get older, I really don’t live that way anymore. I’m a little more conservative.

I don’t know. Most of the stuff we do is for our kids. That’s where we get our greatest satisfaction. I guess our mantra is, “They’ll understand us five years from now.”

What’s the greatest thing you learned from your parents?

My mom passed away when I was young. I was the youngest of six so I got to see a different dad then my siblings did.

Back then, dads weren’t as involved in raising kids but my dad totally switched his life around to raise me. So I think I learned that you have to adapt, and if you want your kids to be successful, you do what you have to do.

Many years from now when you throw the last pitch of your life, how would you like to be remembered?

I would like to be remembered by the kids I’ve raised and the kids I’ve coached. I tell the kids I coach that when I’m an old man walking around this town, I want to be able to sit down and have a drink or a Sprite with them, and know that we had fun and that I had a positive impact on their lives.

THE ACCLAIMED, SMART, FUN, PBS SHOW RETURNS

DIAMONDS ALONG THE HIGHWAY

Join host Gus Mollasis as he seeks the great untold stories on the people, places and history that make up the rich and diverse state that is Florida. Catch Mollasis every second Thursday of the month at 8:30 on Florida’s number one PBS station WEDU. Proudly Presented by Scene Magazine & Premier Sotheby’s International Realty.

October 10th 8:30pm – Encore Presentation Jack Kerouac Slept Here The untold story of the iconic writer’s time in Orlando and those who follow him.

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The Perfect Location for your Special Day From Small To Spectacular!

941-378-3608 ext 223 | laureloak.com 2700 Gary Player Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34240 | 1.5 miles east of I-75 at Bee Ridge Rd

Scene

Together

By Debbi Benedict

Engagements Slick in the City Erin Barker + Doug Christy Primi Urban Café in St. Petersburg, the scene of the first date of Erin Barker, Director for Planned Giving at The Ringling, and Doug Christy, an attorney with Wetherington Hamilton, also became the scene of a romantic (aren’t they all) wedding proposal.

Doug rented out the entire restaurant and coolly waited until dinner and dessert had been served to hand Erin a card celebrating four years of being together. While Erin read the card, Doug pulled out the round center-cut diamond ring, which had been designed by Erin’s cousin. As Doug slipped the ring on Erin’s finger, Etta James’ At Last wafted through the air. The happy couple danced and toasted with champagne to their future. Their wedding will be March 1, 2014 at the Charles Ringling Mansion on the New College campus, Doug’s alma mater.

Secret Op Brandy Coffey + Ricardo Ruiz del Vizo A chance meeting at The Table restaurant was the path to romance for Keller Williams on the Water Realtors, Brandy Coffey and Ric Ruiz del Vizo. They both wound up there separately with mutual friends and as Brandy said, “I was smitten right away!” Ric, who formerly was a law enforcement officer, serving as a liaison to the CIA in Counter-Terrorism operations, devised a covert proposal on Brandy’s birthday at the same restaurant where they had met seven years ago. With the entire restaurant in on the surprise, he presented her with an emerald cut diamond, accented with sapphires, and asked for her hand in marriage. Of course she said yes. The September 4, 2014 wedding will be at La Caille in Sandy, Utah.

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Tastefully Crafted Molly Klauber + Ethan Biter Nik Wallenda’s walk over the Grand Canyon was exciting for everyone watching, but even more so for restaurateur, Michael Klauber, who right in the middle of the heart-stopping viewing, received a heart-tugging call from his daughter (and his assistant general manager at Michael’s On East), Molly Klauber, telling him that her beau of two years, Navy Lieutenant Commander Ethan Biter, had just proposed to her at sunset on bended knee with a three carat round cut diamond ring, while vacationing on a private cruise to the Bahamas. As seemingly appropriate, their relationship has revolved around food. They met at the Gulf Coast Cheese Fest, founded by Molly, and their first date was a rollicking Biter family dinner at Bern’s Steakhouse in Tampa. A spring 2014 wedding in the Ringling Courtyard is planned. I bet the food will be quite spectacular, don’t you? Photo: Cliff Roles Photography

Wedding Shower Smooth Sailing Diana Kelly + Matt Buchanan Playing the game “How well do you know your fiancé” was very telling at the wedding shower of Sarasota’s young romantic couple of the hour, Diana Kelly and Matt Buchanan.

Of course, they know each other very well considering they met on the track team in high school at Cardinal Mooney! The shower, given by Meghan and Nick Buchanan and James Buchanan and Lea Mei, was aboard Sandy and Vern Buchanan’s yacht, The Entrepreneur, catered by Lea’s family’s restaurant, Café Baci, with desserts by the Short Giraffe. As a couple who love to cook, lots of useful presents to send all sorts of temperatures soaring in the kitchen and beyond including a Nespresso, his and hers aprons, a pizza stone, pieces from their Juliska place setting that they registered for, and kitchen goodies from their favorite, Sur La Table. Best present of all was the advice from family and friends on fun date nights and a happy marriage, which should be easy for this adorable couple.

Weddings A Scenic Affair Natalie Harrison + Mac Keith The mountains of North Carolina always had special meaning for Natalie Harrison, an inside sales rep for ServiceSource. As a young girl, the Bradenton native spent the summers at her grandparents’ Maggie Valley home. Early in her relationship with Mac Keith, whom she had met at Auburn University at a fraternity party when they were freshman, he started to join her at this magical place. One October as the leaves were starting to turn delicious colors of autumn, Mac planned a romantic get-away before he started his busy season as a CPA at PricewaterhouseCoopers. While

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driving home from a hike along the Graveyard Fields of the Blue Ridge Parkway, they stopped at an overlook to take in the scenery. Mac asked Natalie to start taking some pictures to distract her while he fished out the ring. When she finished snapping the photos, she turned around and there was Mac on bended knee. Their wedding was on June 22, 2013 at Roser Memorial Church on Anna Maria Island and the reception was held at IMG Academy Golf Club in Bradenton. Mac’s dad was his Best Man and Natalie's sister was her Maid of Honor. Natalie’s dress was by Jim Hjelm. It was alencon lace over charmeuse with a modified A-line and V-neck front and back, paired with an embellished satin sash. The reception’s theme was burlap and lace for a rustic, southern flair. A down home menu continued the theme with a popcorn bar as guests entered the reception, followed by grilled cheese and tomato soup shooters. The dinner menu reflected their heritage with different Florida seafood items and a variety of southern food, including a biscuit bar. Oneco Florist did the flowers. Auburn University had a special corner at the reception. College friends loved taking pictures with a framed portrait of Cam Newton and Mac’s groomsmen cake was made into the mascot, Aubie’s, head. The new husband and wife exited through an enchanting line of sparklers and were driven away to their future in an open-air trolley.

Photo: Kirstin Shontere Photography

Mazel Tov Lee Crowe + Dr. David Sax Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match, said Lee Crowe, an elementary school teacher from Atlanta, and Dr. David Sax, of University Park Dermatology. Tired of the dating scene, they enlisted the help of a professional matchmaker. The proposal came during a trip to Savannah to attend a friend’s wedding. Arriving at the Olde Pink House for dinner the night before the wedding, champagne and roses were on the table and Lee had a feeling that night was going to be THE night. As each course arrived, she waited. Finally after leaving the restaurant, she was convinced she had misinterpreted the signs until she saw the horse-drawn carriage, which took them to a gazebo in one of the historic squares. The carriage driver said couples who kiss in the gazebo have good luck and a happy life together. Well, we all know what happened then – a proposal, a ring, and a yes. They were married in an intimate outdoor sunset wedding at The King David Hotel July 7, 2013, overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem with a breathtaking view of the Western Wall. They were fortunate that their rabbi, Brenner Glickman from Temple Emanuel, was there on sabbatical and was able to perform the ceremony. Lee’s wedding gown was actually a bridesmaid’s dress she spied just as she was leaving the store after giving up on finding the perfect dress for her big day. The dress was a simple champagne colored, matte satin, empire-waist gown. Her moth-

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er made a sash for her and sweetly hand embroidered I love you on the inside. As it was just the two of them, there was no reception, but the groom did have one request, he wanted to see his beautiful, clean-eating bride, whom he never seen eat anything even resembling a baked good, eat a bite of their simple, single tier wedding cake. His wish was granted by his accommodating and loving bride.

Classic Radiance Jessica Gonzmart + Andrew Matheny A scavenger hunt is usually a game where you gather up items on a list, not usually where you gather up a fiancé, but that’s what happened to Jessica Gonzmart. Her five brothers and sisters were all in on the game when she went searching for a clue and ended up opening a door to find her beloved, Andrew Matheny, on his knee, ring in hand. I think she won the game prize that evening! Jessica, who grew up in Sarasota and now works in HR for McKinsey & Company in Tampa, and Andrew, who was raised in Tampa, and now works in engineering for Transworld Communications, found love online, as happens so frequently these days. Both had recently ended relationships and, as Jessica said, “Both of us are geeks, so we turned to the Internet to solve our woes and heal our hearts.” They were married on April 27, 2013 at the Ringling Museum of Art. The reception followed immediately after in the museum’s magnificent courtyard overlooking the bay front. The theme was Light and everything was reflective and classic. Table numbers were written on large mirrors. Other signage also used mirrors including a majestic mirror in the foyer leading the guests to their tables.

Flowers were by Flowers by Fudgie and the bride’s dress was by designer, Zac Posen, a sleeveless, champagne mist satin stunner. Jessica is a member of the Gonzmart family who own The Columbia restaurants. They, of course, catered the reception and pulled out all the stops. Guests were seated at long feasting tables and were served The Columbia’s iconic 1905 salad and filet loin. A five-tiered, cannoli-tasting wedding cake was made by Jessica’s aunt and uncle’s bakery, Montilio’s Bakery in Boston. After this glorious evening, the newlyweds left for their honeymoon to Santorini, Greece and Paris. Photo: Vita Bella Photography

Clear Skies Tracy Helbing + Seth Spalsbury When the bride’s mother is local TV weather forecaster, Wendy Ross, you know she is under a lot of pressure for a perfect day, weather-wise, for her daughter’s wedding. She didn’t need to worry.

The outdoor wedding at the venerable Field Club on March 30 went off without a hitch. Though both Tracy Helbing and Seth Spalsbury grew up in Sarasota and attended Riverview High School, they didn’t meet until a dinner party at a mutual friend’s. Both had left the area for college and Tracy had lived in Chicago for five years before returning home to work for Tervis in marketing, while Seth became a mechanical engineer for Sun Hydraulics. Seth also did a bit of “engineering” with his proposal to Tracy. The evening started off at O’Leary’s to celebrate a friends promotion.

After the celebration, she reluctantly went with Seth for a walk in a nearby park. Unbeknownst to

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her, Seth had hired a caricature artist to be the centerpiece of the proposal. Though she didn’t want to waste time getting her portrait done, Seth coaxed her into sitting down. When the artist finished and handed Tracy the caricature, she saw it mimicked the scene happening in front of her – Seth kneeling down beside her, proposing. The historic Field Club, with its old Florida feel, holds many fond memories for Tracy, whose grandparents, John and Ann Ross, are long-time members. In the main dining room overlooking the lagoon, the tables were covered in navy blue linens accented by lime green chargers. Each place setting had a monogrammed napkin, specially made by the bride’s aunt. The flowers, by Flowers by Fudgie, were split into tall cylindrical vases filled with limes, branches and floating candles. Other centerpieces were square vases filled with green disbud hydrangea, bright pink roses and orange gerbera daisies. The bride found her wedding gown at Brides Against Breast Cancer - a white Allure one shoulder modified mermaid dress with diamond and pearl embellishments. Beautiful dress, beautiful day, beautiful future.

Photo: ©Cassie Leah Photography

Traditionally Elegant Chelsea Veeneman + Albert Stickley III Immediately after meeting Chelsea Veeneman at a friend’s house while watching the NFL playoffs, AJ Stickley told friends he was going to marry her. Both native Floridians, Chelsea, a College of Charleston graduate, and AJ, a Florida State University and Thomas M. Cooley Law School graduate, returned to the area to start their careers – she in marketing with Nurse on Call Home Health Care and he as a Felony Prosecutor of the 12th Judicial Circuit serving Sarasota County. AJ recently opened up his own law firm in Englewood. After a two year courtship, AJ planned a romantic snowboarding trip to Breckenridge, CO. In a gazebo overlooking the mountains at sunset, AJ got down on one knee and asked Chelsea to marry him.

Their April 13, 2013 wedding was held at the Siesta Key Chapel. The bride walked down the aisle wearing a beautiful all lace Augusta Jones dress with a fitted bodice, all lace cap sleeves, and a fit and flair train. The reception followed at the Field Club with cocktails served on the terrace overlooking sparkling Sarasota Bay. The five-course dinner was served in the elegant dining room. Charming monogrammed menus were hand designed by calligrapher, Allison Banks from Montgomery, AL. The wedding cake, made by Cakes by Ron, was a four tiered beauty decorated with a replica of the delicate lace details from the bride’s wedding dress and their monogram. The groom’s cake was a tribute to his alma mater, Florida State - red velvet with cream cheese frosting. The flowers were by Becca McFadden from Quality Foliage Design. The Lounge Cats, a rat pack cover band, played music till the wee hours of the night. The bride and groom danced their first song to Dean Martin’s Ain’t Love a Kick in the Head. Just when you thought the party was over, the Field Club’s signature drink, The Whisper, was served and a slider bar was opened - a tradition of the bride’s father, who has a history of bringing White Castle sliders to every wedding after-party. The groom surprised the bride with a classic 1957 Lincoln as their getaway car as they drove off into the night. Photo: Tara Tomlinson Photography

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(941) 328-1300 SaraSotaopera.org

Verdi’s American Home

FREE EVENT oct 10 5pm Fun for the whole family, with performances by opera singers & the Youth opera Chorus, backstage tours, birthday cake & more!

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Season Sponsor

J. StrauSS, Jr. Nov 1, 5, 7, 13 8pm Nov 3, 15 1:30pm

this comedy of hidden identities features some of J. Strauss, Jr.’s most popular music. Sung in English.

The Little Sweep

BrIttEN youth opera Nov 9 5:30pm Nov 10 12:30pm

Operetta Concert Nov 12 8pm with the cast of Die Fledermaus.

Image: Die Fledermaus 2006 (Debra Hesser)

Die Fledermaus

Giuseppe Verdi’s 200th Birthday

THe SaraSoTa opera HouSe 61 N. Pineapple ave., Sarasota, FL 34236

Paid for in part by Sarasota County tourist Development tax revenues. Sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural affairs, and the Florida Council on arts and Culture.

scenesarasota.com

EDUCATION

“Literacy unlocks the door to learning throughout life, is essential to development and health, and opens the way for democratic participation and citizenship.”

– Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations

Education Matters The Literacy Council of Sarasota

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

Fact: As of 2011, America was the only free-market OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) country where the current generation was less well educated than the previous.

Fact: Over 70% of America’s inmates cannot read above a 4th grade reading level.

Fact: 1 in 7 U.S. adults are unable to read this Education Matters column.

Fact: The Literacy Council of Sarasota, a 501(c)(3) education organization whose motto is “Literary Matters,” is committed to building a more literate community by helping adults and families improve English language communication skills through personalized, needsbased tutoring.

Housed at the Glasser Schoenbaum Human Service Center on 17th Street in Sarasota, the Literary Council of Sarasota (LCS) has been making a profound difference in our community since 1978. Thanks to more than 250 volunteers and tutors, LCS annually helps 800+ area adults (age 16 and older) improve “their basic reading, writing, comprehension, and communication skills through one-on-one and small group tutoring.”

The impact of helping improve our community’s literacy cannot be overstated. 75% of Americans who receive food stamps perform at the lowest levels of literacy, and 90% of scenesarasota.com

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high school dropouts are on welfare. To empower people with the knowledge of reading and writing offers them a way to better their own life situation. But we’re talking about more than financial conditions here — we’re also talking about health. Recent reports show that low literacy levels directly cost the healthcare industry more than $70 million each year. How? If you can’t read the instructions on a prescription bottle, you probably won’t take your medicine correctly. And there’s a strong correlation between one’s general personal healthcare and literacy level.

Shon Ewens, LCS’s current Executive Director, explains that she’s always been “a non-profit girl.” After working as the Executive Director of a YMCA family branch in Birmingham, Alabama, she moved with her husband to Sarasota. “When it came time for me to look for a job,” she says, “the board chair of the Literacy Council called me because she heard I was looking for a position with a local nonprofit and asked me to apply. I had worked with literacy programs in the past with the YMCA but it was always with youth.” Now that’s she’s been with LCS for more than two years, she smiles as she admits, “It’s an incredibly rewarding job. The volunteers I work with on a daily basis have hearts of gold and the learners amaze me.”

One of those volunteers with a heart of gold is Barbara Moore, who retired to Lakewood Ranch in 2004 after having a career as a teacher in Connecticut. The more she learned about what LCS was doing here, the more she felt motivated to act. She knew full well that adults have far fewer educational options available to them than young people. She’s been with LCS for eight years now and she’s more committed than ever to eradicating illiteracy.

LCS is moving beyond the basic reading and writing education to other important areas. They have a workplace literary program that started off with a collaboration between Goodwill and LCS. Goodwill had employees leave the floor during their shift to take ESOL classes from LCS teachers. This helped the employees improve their English skills and enabled them to advance professionally and personally. Other companies that are interested in such partnerships need only to contact LCS to see if a similar arrangement can be made for their employees.

Another recent offering from LCS was the Financial Literacy Program, a partnership with the Community Foundation of Sarasota and Regions Bank. The weekly classes took place in Janie’s Garden in Newtown. The attendees each had the opportunity to build a savings account that was matched — up to $100 — by Regions Bank. The attendees were also educated in a variety of financial concepts and terms, from credit cards to mortgages to interest rates. To date, fourteen individuals completed the 12-session course and received the matching funds in their savings accounts. If more financial partners emerge, the program will be offered again. Participant April Sheffield explains the program’s importance in her life, saying, “I found this program very helpful and full of major financial resources I needed to know in order to make informed decisions concerning my banking needs, credit repair, and investing. It also helped me in educating my son at an early age in knowing the value of a dollar, investing, saving, and home ownership.”

LCS is also on the lookout for new ways to help educate our community. One potential area is with the GED (a high school equivalency test), which will become an electronic exam in 2014. Ewens adds, “We’re looking to add some technological literacy to our tutor training so our tutors can provide the necessary assistance to those students trying to earn their GEDs.” And another area LCS wants to help with is Health Literacy. Training tutors in this area can help them show students how to read nutrition labels and improve overall health care for themselves and their families.

Back in 2005 — before he became President — Barack Obama explained the importance of literacy in a speech entitled “Literacy and Education in a 21st-Century Economy.” He said, “But before our children can even walk into an interview for one of these jobs; before they can ever fill out an application or earn the required college degree; they have to be able to pick up a book, read it, and understand it. Nothing is more basic; no ability more fundamental.”

Whether you like his political views or not, President Obama gets it. Education matters. Literacy matters. To be illiterate is to be a non-participant in the democratic process. To be illiterate is to be missing the opportunities Americans reasonably expect.

Illiteracy isn’t genetic — it’s something that’s far too often passed down from parents who themselves are illiterate. Thanks to the heroic efforts of LCS, their volunteers, and tutors, illiteracy in our community might soon be a thing of the past.

For more information on the Literary Council of Sarasota please call (941) 955-0421, email info@sarasotaliteracy.org, or visit www.sarasotaliteracy.org

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scenesarasota.com

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OLUNTEER DONATE • V furniture • clothing • home décor student ten-minute playwriting festival

bedding • artwork appliances • doors • windows

A collection of original works by students from local middle and high schools

lighting • cabinets

Funds from the ReStore support affordable housing for families!

For store donation pick up:

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theatre O D Y S S E Y

January 17, 2014, 7:30 pm State College of Florida, Bradenton Campus Ann & David Howard Theatre

ten-minute play festival

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Coming Spring 2014 A Little Help!

2013 Festival Best Play Encore performances --

2013 season sponsors scene magazine gerri aaron gulf coast community foundation

Show of Shows October 23, 2013, 7:30 pm Michael’s on East, Sarasota Wine, Bites and A Little Help!

October 25, 2013, 6:30 pm Anna Maria Olive Oil Outpost 401 Pine Avenue, Anna Maria www.theatreodyssey.org or 941-799-7224

photographs ©Cliff Roles

SOCIAL

Behind the Scene

Society Maven Debbi Benedict Gives the Latest Scoop Don’t you think the opening of the social

it. When else do you get to nibble and nosh

season is a bit like the start of a new school

on tenderloin and lobster in the presence of

year, Poodle? When we were young we

magnificent works of art? Co-chairs Michael and

worried if we would be in the popular clique,

Kathy Bush, Steven and Cheryl Lee Dupré, Tom

if we had the right new school clothes, if our

and Allison Luzier, and Elli and Linda Streit are

new backpack was the cool one, and if we had

planning a cocktail reception in the new outdoor

the biggest box of Crayola crayons. Season is

courtyard of the Visitor Pavilion followed by the

the same thing, only now it’s are we on the

performance of Spain’s Rocío Molina, whose

right committees, are we wearing the latest

“danceable universe” is its own unique language

designer frocks, is our LV or Chanel handbag

and meaning featuring Flamenco, classical

the cool one, and is our mailbox filled with the

bolero, and traditional popular dance. Then

most party invitations. Let me give you a little

it’s on to dinner in The Ringling Museum of Art

first day of school advice – don’t be afraid to

galleries, with the theme RIAF Inspires: Timeless

get on the school bus and roll into the big girls

Style. Guests will have the opportunity to meet

and boys playground. They’re not as scary as

the artist from the evening’s performance and

they seem and you know what? They’re a little

curators will highlight items from the collection

insecure, too. Shh….don’t tell them I let you in

in each gallery. Each table will be “named”

on that little secret. Now go out and climb to

either by the host of the table or by a designer

the top of the monkey bars! Sarasota Society is

in the visual, performance or fashion world. Oh

a fun place to play!

my, so chi chi! Doesn’t it sound like the most

One of the most expensive gala tickets

scenesarasota.com

divine evening?

in town is The Ringling’s RIAF Opening Night

Those darling gals, Penny Hill and Jackie

performance and dinner. Of course, it is worth

Rogers, are again chairing Community AIDS October 2013

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Network’s CANDance at Michael’s On East. In fact I am told that they have agreed to do it for life! Now that’s dedication.

CANDance is truly one of my most favorite events. I know you are all just dying to see who of Sarasota’s elite will be twirling and dipping around the dance floor this year. The 2013 dancers are Eve Caballero, Cinde Carroll, Wendy Feinstein, Dr. John Fezza, William McComb, Jr., Ramses Serrano, and LeeAnne Swor. Now there’s a line-up, my dear. They are once again going with the red dress/black tie theme and I am told there will be a live auction with at least two fabulous trips. The night’s schedule will be turned around a bit with the dance competition coming first and the everpopular taxi dances rounding out the evening. Mary Ann Robinson is once again the major sponsor.

The biggest girls’ night out in town, though men show up, too, is Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation’s Key to the Cure at Saks Fifth Avenue. Chairs Dr. Allison Silver, Nikki Taylor, and Sally Schule have assured me that the biggest hit from last year, the Pink Lanyard with Pink Key extravaganza, will return once again. Last year they sold all 400 available keys to unlock great prizes, so this year they have upped it to 600! You will have a ninety percent chance of winning prizes from $10 up to five $5,000 prizes. Food stations from various restaurants including Michael’s On East, Roy’s, Mattison’s and Cosimo’s will be spread around the store. The first 500 guests will receive pink sequined Tervis tumblers. Ooooh, I just

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want to squeal with delight! Music will be provided by the adorable Brent Greeno. Does anyone not love the cute-as-pie Brent? A new activity for Sarasota that is being premiered that evening, (and aren’t we all always looking for something new?) is your chance to be Bumby’d. Okay, I didn’t know what that was either and I had to look it up. The New York Times had a big story on it. Just what is it to be Bumby’d? Two people will give you very positive Fashion Police type of appearance assessments. In the story the Bumbys wear masks. Hmmm, might be fun. Also on tap, the Photo Mingle which is like a photo booth on steroids. Your photo is taken and then appears on a large plasma TV, which you can then manipulate and send out immediately on Facebook and Twitter. Tarot card readers and glitter tattoo artists will also be on hand. I’m not quite sure how guests are going to be able to fit in all the fun!

One of the most creative and sometimes outrageous parties of the season is Planned Parenthood’s Safe Sex Halloween Party, with this year’s theme – Studio 13, Undead Disco, held at Michael’s On East. I’m told it is like Studio 54 meets zombies and vampires, the current creatures du jour. Eduardo Anaya is chairing what is

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sure to be the most talked about and Instagrammed party of the year! One of the big changes this year is a move to Friday night

unique designer furniture, fabulous accessories and area rugs at prices you have to see to believe.

from Saturday. There will be lots of “finger” foods with finger being

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spectacular, right down to what they do in the bathrooms! Right

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the operative word. There will also be a special hot dog cart or as they call it in Planned Parenthood lingo, “protect your weiner cart” and they don’t mean Anthony! The decorations are usually when you enter the atrium there will be a haunted version of the scenesarasota.com

Michelle Crabtree

Realtor, Broker Associate, CLHMS, CRS, CIPS, GRI, PMN, ABR, TRC, RSPS, AHWD, SFR, GREEN

2011 Five Star Real Estate Agents “Best In Client Satisfaction” – 6 Years 2010 Florida Realtor Honor Society – 6 Years 2010 Director, Sarasota Association of Realtors (SAR) – 3 year term 2009 Women’s Council of Realtors (WCR) Sarasota “Business Woman of the Year”

Cell: 941.724.HOME (4663) Office: 941.907.9595 Email: Sales@CrabtreeHomes.com www.CrabtreeHomes.com A third generation local & Broker Sales Associate since 1982; dedicated to your needs. Serving Sarasota, Bradenton & Lakewood Ranch.

2008 WCR Sarasota Chapter President 2007 SAR “Meritorious Service Award” 2005 WCR Sarasota “Realtor of the Year”

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NYC yellow cab to set the stage for a scary NYC scene. I am told there will be a skull disco ball, vampire and dismembered gogo dancers, a vampire bean bag lounge,

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a red lip couch and “Candy” Warhol. DJ Imminent will spin the frightening tunes.

Major sponsors are SCENE Magazine and the Herald Tribune.

Candlelight and arias - just another delightful Curtain Raiser Dinner with the Sarasota Opera at the romantic Michael’s Wine Cellar. Each fall opera lovers gather to welcome in the season and reconnect with old and new friends in the delicious ambiance that is the wine cellar. The opera has a multitude of social events throughout the season and the Curtain Raiser is one of its most elegant. Things you can always count on are Maestro Victor DeRenzi and

Keller Williams Realty

Executive Director Richard Russell’s warm

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performance of arias from the opera’s studio

Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated

and charming welcome, along with a artists, which I must say, are thrilling. The event is on a Sunday night and it’s a lovely way to end the weekend. Sponsors include SCENE Magazine, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, and SunTrust.

More than a printer…

Personalization

Financial Services

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Multi-Channel

Business Development

Flip Flops and Fashion Show luncheon in Venice at Sharky’s on the Pier, with chairs

Direct Mail Hospitality

sandals and sashay over to Children First’s

Fundraising Real Estate

Self-publishing Authors

Jennifer Horiuchi, Leslie Jones, Debbie LaPinska, and Jennifer Rust. This is a sold out event so in order to accommodate the hoards, they have decided to do away with

Book Publishing

Graphic Design

Tourism Business to Business

Appeals

Trade Show Marketing

Member Recruitment and Retention

This laid back beach event attracts women Manufacturing

from all over the county to the beautiful sands of Venice. Usually held the end of

Copywriting

or so to make it a little cooler experience Collateral Printing

for everyone. Thank you committee!! It’s an easy breezy day under the tent with

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lots of shades of blue and white décor and

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76

tent to make room for more table seating.

September, they have set it back a month Higher Education

Nonprofit

the boutiques lining the perimeter of the

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AFP – Association of Fundraising Professionals PODi – Print on Demand Initiative

FPRA – Florida Public Relations Assoc.

XEROX – Premier Partner

stunning orchid centerpieces. The fashion is the new kid on the block, along with the fashions of Sun Bug and L.Boutique.

The fashion show is always so much fun, as we get to see our friends model on scenesarasota.com

the catwalk. They get to keep the tent for two days, so the next evening, there’s a new event in town…

Let’s pretend we are on the South Carolina coast and doing the shag. Where are we really? On the beach at Sharkey’s On The Pier in Venice at Children First’s Rockin’ Lobster chaired by Janae and Jeff Bell, Kristy and Tom Cail, and Stephanie and Max Hannum, with a distinctive South Carolina beach feeling. While Children First’s Flip Flop luncheon has a summer beach vibe, the next night will turn into more of a fall event with lots of lanterns, burlap table runners, and the colors of eggplant and terra cotta.

Sounds like the best kind of fall!

The Pines of Sarasota Foundation’s Wit and Wisdom of Aging Luncheon does in fact dispense both wit and wisdom, along with a lot of charm. Michael’s On East will once again welcome a soldout crowd to this entertaining gab fest. Chairs are Melissa Lerner, Dr. Laura Wazen and honorary chair, Tana Sandefur. Some year’s, depending just who is on the panel, it is a little more raucous than others. I remember Jack Perkins was just a little naughty! This year the moderator is TV anchor, Ray Collins, who is sure to try to keep a lid on things, or maybe not! Panelists are former professional tennis champion, Mike Davies; President/CEO of Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Roxie Jerde; and former President of Florida International University, Dr. Modesto Maidique. In the past, the Pines Foundation has done a tremendous job with their luncheon paddle raise. People really get into the spirit. Of course,

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that usually happens after a very moving, and sometimes, amusing, video about the mission and the fabulous support they receive.

Major sponsors are The John and Tana Sandefur Foundation, followed by Lerner-Cohen Medical Practice.

Have you feasted on Mote Marine Laboratory’s own sustainable caviar and Siberian sturgeon yet? If not, their Oceanic Evening blacktie gala at the Ritz Carlton will be your chance to do so – yum! The evening’s theme, Exploring Our Future, will be the first opportunity for many in the community to meet new Mote President & CEO, Dr. Michael Crosby. Dancing to the music of The Crashers will round out the evening.

Do you want a “feel good” party? Then Goodwill Manasota’s Ambassador of the Year Dinner at the Hyatt is your place to be.

The dinner will honor those who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, commitment, and dedication to our community. From the list on honorees, I would say that was most definitely true. This

“ To me, architecture is the

anticipation of life in space.

My designs embrace the essence of life – capturing its natural spirit and evoking a feeling of oneness.”

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year’s Ambassadors are Stu Gregory, RE/MAX Alliance Group, Tana Sandefur, Turning Points, and Goodwill Employee of the Year, Margaretann Villani.

It looks like the school year, I mean the Social Season, is already going full tilt and it’s only just beginning! The only thing missing is the football game!

Until next time….TaTa! Debbi Benedict is SCENE’s society maven and Special Issues Director. Contact Debbi at 941-483-4460 or debbibenedict@verizon.net. scenesarasota.com

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By Joy Weston

T H E P E O P L E & PA S S I O N B E H I N D C O M M U N I T Y P H I L A N T H R O P Y

“I slept and I dreamed that life is all joy. I woke and I saw that life is all service. I served and I saw that service is joy.”

– Kahlil Gibran As an author and coach whose genre is personal growth and

into a strategic alliance with METRO Wellness and Care Center, the

whose name happens to be Joy, I love this quote since it shares

largest AIDS provider, opening three clinics to provide HIV/AIDS

the secret of happiness many have discovered. Yet as I have be-

medical services, with more to follow.

come “more seasoned,” I’ve come to accept the truth that my motives at the core are a bit self-serving. Because each time we

One of their greatest supporters is a force to be reckoned with – Bambi Famous Kaine.

give ourselves over to a passion greater than ourselves, it opens

“As challenges cross my path I know that I was meant to turn

our hearts to a sense of possibility that sparks creativity. Once we

tragedy into opportunities and be a shining light for others. In 2006

have tapped into our true talents and gifts we demand more of

we lost our beloved daughter in a car accident. Her promising life

ourselves and with that comes deeper feelings of self-respect and

was cut short. By establishing the Katelyn Joy Derstine Foundation

self-worth – qualities that are essential for having a more joyful

at Riverview High School, we can award scholarships to advance

and fulfilling life. We are all at our best when we are serving and

other kids lives. That same year I got cancer which gave me other

contributing to others. The people I am writing about here are

challenges and gifts that included the American Cancer Society

shining examples of truly knowing service as joy.

Courage Award. A few years later my adored sister-in-law died

April Glasco, the CEO and Founder of Second Change-Last Op-

of AIDS contracted from a bi-sexual boyfriend years earlier, so I

portunity, lives by Disraeli’s words: “The greatest good you do for an-

got involved with CAN/CCC and ever since have given them my

other is not just share your riches, but reveal to them their own.” She

full support. Seeing the difference they’ve made to individuals and

goes into the world of the challenge, sees a problem and does what

their families damaged by this disease is wonderful.”

she can to help create a brighter future. Since 1995, April has worked

Lee Dougherty Ross, Artistic Director of Artist Series Concerts,

to provide life skills, parenting and youth programs, and holiday food

proudly presented Celebrate Sarasota Performing Arts Festival

distribution to at-risk teens, low-income and homeless families.

2013 – a tasting of all the amazing forms of cultural arts available

Kim Cornetet, a successful Sarasota business woman, has been a devoted supporter almost since SCLO’s conception.

in Sarasota. Nineteen 10-minute performances delighted all during an afternoon and evening that was simply fabulous.

“Starting with a simple ‘yes’ to help with a fund-raising auction

“When people tell me that the music has brought them special

in a school parking lot, I have witnessed April’s relentless desire

joy, and when I see young people who are inspired by the various

to help the most challenged people turn their lives around. She is

performers they see and hear at our programs, I am grateful to

deeply involved in her own community on a personal level. Be-

have the opportunity to be a part of that joy. Oh gosh….my life

cause she is doing something very few us can, she has my respect

has been full of music, with my career as a singer and teacher

and has gotten our support for the last 17 years. But SCLO needs so

and my husband’s love of the classics. It seemed very important

much more, as there are so many damaged people out there. I re-

to begin the series of concerts to do our part in helping to keep

ally hope this piece opens the hearts of others to help her efforts.”

the musical arts alive and well. Music is our way of giving and the

CAN-Community Aids Network/Comprehensive Care Center

ticket to changing the world.”

was established in 1991 offering health services for people suffering

The Pines of Sarasota is celebrating 65 years of service with a new

from the effects of HIV/AIDS. Since then, CAN/CCC Sarasota has

initiative that includes Pine Education Institute, providing home and

become the “gold standard” of AIDS providers in the state, with a

professional caretakers with essential information, skills and strate-

full staffed state-of-the-art facility, and out-reach programs serving

gies, plus a series of 12 DVD’s sold at Amazon.com on care training

an area from South Sarasota to DeSoto and Charlotte counties. The

to improve communication on Alzheimer’s/ dementia.

latest initiative includes partnering with Sarasota’s prestigious Infec-

Tana Sandefur, a compassionate community leader and this

tious Disease Associates to offer additional services, plus entering

year’s honorary chair of the Pines’ Wit and Wisdom luncheon,

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scenesarasota.com

You are Invited!

Key To The Cure Be a Key Player in the fight against cancer

Thursday, October 17, 2013 ● 6-9 p.m.

Saks Fifth avenue ● Westfield Southgate ● $75 per person Shopping ● Food ● Open Bar ● Entertainment ● Purchase a limited-edition Key To The Cure T-shirt designed by Emilio Pucci

designer, Peter Dundas. This Saks Fifth Avenue exclusive t-shirt will be available on October 1 and Saks will donate 100% of the proceeds to Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation.

● Register to attend at SMHF.ORG. ● Be an event sponsor. ● Don’t miss our exclusive “key event” that may unlock some wonderful treasures! ● Shop at Saks Fifth Avenue Sarasota the weekend of October 17-20 when a

portion of proceeds will benefit Women’s Cancer Care programs at Sarasota Memorial Health Care System.* *Saks Fifth Avenue stores nationwide will donate 2% of sales Thursday, October 17 through Sunday, October 20 to local and national women’s cancer organizations.

Emilio Pucci limited-edition T-Shirt modeled by 2013 Key To The Cure Ambassador Jennifer Aniston

For more information, please call (941) 917-1286, fax to (941) 917-2270 or visit SMHF.ORG

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SPONSOr 9/11/13 11:51 AM

experienced both her mom and husband dying in nursing homes.

Dr. Allison Silver, KTTC co-chair for the second year and a

“Because the cost was so incredible, I saw how it can totally dev-

long-term committee member, is considered an unsung hero by

astate a family. So when I saw that the Pines is a monthly rental and if

all. Besides numerous dedicated hours, Allison was responsible

your funds run out they continue to take care of you at no charge with

for re-branding the event with a pink ribbon “Key Drawing,” cre-

pampering almost comparable to a resort level, they won my heart.

ating a huge additional profit. As an oncologist and also from

I have been a devotee ever since. Recently I went to a birthday party

a patient’s point of view, Allison says the quality of a hospital

for16 residents who are each 100 years old. It was beautiful seeing

makes all the difference.

them enjoying the experience with their friends and families – a great

“Thanks to the great leadership by SMHF CEO & President Al-

indication of the good care they get. So now after 65 years, we are

exandra Quarles and Lisa Intagliata, Director of Development, it’s

asking the community to help us with any financial support they can

an easy decision to give financial support and put in my time. I

afford or volunteer, as we need to expand desperately because of the

personally want to make sure that SMH is a great place for patients,

growing senior population, which one day could include you.”

my kids and other children. The fact SMHF continue to support

Sarasota Memorial Hospital Foundation (SMHF) helps Sarasota

other causes beside the hospital, makes it even better.”

Memorial Hospital provide: “…the latest in technology advance-

Sarasota is like a magical garden in some mystical fairytale

ments, thus recruiting many of the top physicians and clinicians to

where the service of joy is embraced by so many in our giving

our area, and ongoing education to retain the best and brightest.”

community. It seems to spread like a flowering weed, infinitely

Once a year Saks Fifth Avenue Corporate holds Key to the Cure

touching the lives of people we may never meet, across bound-

(KTTC) to help raise funds for a cure for cancer. Sally Schule,

aries we may never cross, in ways we may never imagine. It’s

Marketing Director of Saks Fifth Avenue’s Sarasota, chose SMHF

love in bloom.

to be the beneficiary of Key to the Cure so donations stay local and benefit women’s cancer care programs in our community.

Joy Weston is an International

“The KTTC event has to be my all-time favorite event and I

Best-Selling Author, Inspiring Speaker,

pour my heart and soul into it! My goal is that we raise enough

Communications Coach, and a

to put us over the $1 million mark for the event. This is our 11th year and the kick off to our social season and awareness about charitable giving for the year!”

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devotee of making a difference.

Contact Joy@JoyWeston.com.

scenesarasota.com

HEALTH MATTERS

Shoulder Arthroplasty

By Caroline Chebli, MD

Have you ever wondered why your shoulder is so stiff and painful? Does it make noises when you move it in any direction? Does it wake you up from sleep at night? It could be shoulder arthritis. While arthritis is much more common in the hip and knee, Dr. Caroline Chebli Kennedy-White Orthopaedic Center 6050 Cattleridge Blvd.

Sarasota, FL 34232 941-365-0655

the shoulder can also be affected. There are over a million hip and knee arthroplasties done every year while only 30,000 shoulder replacements are performed. Perhaps it is because we don’t walk on our arms. Many people with shoulder pain know how debilitating it is to not be able to use their arms for activities of daily living.

There have been many advances in shoulder replacement surgery in the past ten years.

Where the results were not so predictable in years past, shoulder replacement surgery has become one of the most successful surgeries to date. Our understanding of the shoulder anatomy and the muscles that control shoulder motion has greatly improved.

There are several different types of shoulder replacement surgery. A fellowship trained specialist in shoulder and elbow surgery can help determine which type is right for you. For example, many people are candidates for a total shoulder arthroplasty where the ball and socket joint are both replaced. The socket is a special type of plastic and the ball and stem are metal. Others who have had a rotator cuff tear in the past, but who can still lift their arm overhead may receive a shoulder hemiarthroplasty which replaces the ball and stem only. Still others who have rotator cuff problems but who cannot lift their arm over their head may require a specialized type of shoulder replacement called a reverse shoulder arthroplasty. This procedure reverses the natural anatomy of your shoulder and puts the ball where the socket is and the socket where the ball used to be. It is a great procedure to regain shoulder motion for overhead activities and to gain pain relief. Then there are those patients who have sustained a complex fracture of their shoulder. A shoulder replacement may be preferable to fixing the fracture.

Shoulder replacements can last upwards of 20 years if taken care of properly. This may require you to limit a lot of heavy overhead lifting and weight bearing activities such as push-ups and bench press. Many people find that their quality of life is greatly improved as the decrease in pain and increase in shoulder mobility allows them to get back to golf, doubles tennis, gardening, and swimming. They are also able to sleep better and perform normal activities with ease.

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“Our family has been impressed with the post-stroke rehabilitation therapy our mother received at the Benderson Family Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center,” says David Klein, retired chief executive officer, Excellus Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Ruth Klein says, “We are thrilled that our mother is safe and secure, with help if needed. She has many friends at Kobernick House, and she is joyfully embracing this new chapter in her life.”

Ruth, Sandy and David Klein

“How lucky am I? After one month of therapy at Benderson, I am happily living independently in Kobernick House.”

– Sandy Klein

Call Esther for a tour: 941-225-8369 kobernickanchin.org 1951 North Honore Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34235 INDEPENDENT & ASSISTED LIVING • SKILLED NURSING • REHABILITATION Sponsored by Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Housing Council, Inc., Kobernick-Anchin-Benderson operates on a non-discriminatory basis for admissions, services and employment.

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HEALTH MATTERS

Lung Cancer Screenings Can Save Your Life

By Kelsie Corry, RN, Lung cancer patient navigator, Blake Medical Center

In my line of work, you get a full appreciation of the life-saving potential of early screenings to detect possible health problems. I am one of two patient care navigators at Blake Medical Center.

My role is to help lung cancer patients. The other navigator works with breast cancer patients.

Our mission is to partner with patients and their families to help them “navigate” what sometimes seems like a daunting maze of tests, appointments, insurance, payment systems, information overload, and treatment options.

Kelsie Corry, RN Blake Medical Center 2020 59th Street West Bradenton, FL 34209 941-567-2839

I truly love my job. It’s immensely rewarding to help patients and their families through what is likely the most challenging time of their lives. Whether it is helping them decipher and choose the best treatment option or simply holding a patient’s hand, I am committed to being with them every step of the way.

When I see the devastating impact lung cancer has on patients and their families, it provides a clear and steady reminder of the importance of early screening. Much like other cancers, the possibility of a significantly better outcome increases if lung cancer is detected early.

At Blake Medical Center, we are now offering an affordable screening for lung cancer that really could save your life. You should consider having a lung cancer screening CT Scan if the following statements describe you: • You are between 55-74 years old.

• You are a current or former smoker and have a history of 30 or more “pack years” (Pack years are calculated by multiplying the number of packs per day by the number of years smoking).

• You have never been diagnosed with lung cancer.

• You have no prior history of cancer (other than non-melanoma skin cancer) within the past five years.

If you said yes to these statements, I strongly urge you to undergo the simple screening for only $199. I know with our busy lives, scheduling a screening such as this can sometimes fall to the bottom of the to-do list. Yet trust me when I tell you that taking the time to schedule and undergo a screening as soon as possible is worth it. There is real peace-of-mind to knowing your health status. And if a problem is detected, you likely have considerably more treatment options – and a better chance of beating cancer -- than you would have without early detection.

This issue is personal for me. My great-grandmother died from lung cancer, providing me a perspective on the challenge and complexity that accompanies diagnosing and treating the disease. And prior to becoming a patient care navigator, I worked for several years as an oncology nurse where I saw the toll cancer took on patients and their families.

I am proud to say the doctors and other medical professionals at Blake understand and appreciate the work I do. One of our thoracic surgeons has told me time and again how much of a positive difference I have made in the lives of his patients and their families.

Ultimately, my goal every day is to help lessen the fear and confusion that accompanies a cancer diagnosis. Most of my patients are surprised to learn I will be with them every step of the way. Yet they soon come to appreciate my presence and support. I have celebrated with patients when a biopsy came back negative or a treatment delivers good results. And I have cried with them as they heard the words “you have cancer.”

If you are hesitant, uncertain, or simply scared about getting a lung cancer screening, then I am here to help with support and information. You can call me at (941) 567-2839. I’ll be happy to answer your questions, and offer support and guidance regarding the CT Scan screening.

Don’t wait. Schedule a screening now. It could save your life.

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cene

LITER ARY S

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

A Sliver of Hope

(Libertary Company, paperback, 198 pages, $12.95)

Some books sneak up on you like a lazy June sunset and others rev up the engines on page one.

This book is the latter, with a tense April Fool’s Day that brings the world crashing down for sixteenyear-old Hannah and her identical twin sister, Hope. What I’m going to say next might sound like a spoiler, but it isn’t since it’s the tragedy which begins the main story. Right at the start of the book, Hope takes her own life. In that one impossible to understand action, Hannah not only loses a sister, but her best friend as well. She isn’t sure that she’ll survive the sea of misery that threatens to consume both her and her family. Eventually, her brother arrives home to help the family out, and with him comes his best friend, Julian, who just happens to be Hannah’s ex. Who better to work past the defenses Hannah has put up around herself and her heart than someone who knows her so deeply?

The book is written in journal form, as if Hannah is spilling her truest thoughts and emotions directly onto the page. This positions the reader in a perfect way to experience all that happens to Hannah after Hope dies. Even those who don’t have siblings — much less identical ones — will find themselves quietly rooting for Hannah as she struggles to work through her survivor’s guilt and distress.

Part of the effectiveness of this book comes from the research Nellenbach did. She explains, “I’ve read up on grief and counseling for several of my manuscripts, as tragedy seems to be the thing I most like to write about. For this book, I did do some reading and documentary hunting in terms of twins, especially the emotional and psychic bonds between identicals.” That kind of fundamental understanding shows in the strong emotional subtext of this story. Nellenbach is also a self-professed fan of Jane Austen, a fact which shows up in her own writing as her characters are heart-breakingly human in all the right ways.

To get a sense about Nellenbach’s writing, just look at the bio she provides: “Karla J. Nellenbach divides her time between dayjobbing, writing, and indulging in her Winchester obsession. The rest of her day is spent playing butler to a cranky old man masquerading as a housecat and two rambunctious puppies that closely resemble small horses. Having resided in the sunscape of Florida for the last decade, she’s still on a quest to see a real live alligator outside of the ‘petting’ zoo.” Talk about writing that has voice!

If that’s a voice that appeals to you, give A Sliver of Hope a chance, too. It’s a touching story that you won’t soon forget.

For more information on Karla J. Nellenbach, please visit www.karlanellenbach.com

No Escape (Zebra Books, paperback, 384 pages, $7.99)

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Mary Burton says “my hope is always to create a fast-paced novel that grabs you on page one and doesn’t let go until the very end,” and No Escape delivers. Right in the vein of Tony Hillerman and Nora Roberts, Burton’s new romantic thriller — her 24th — is chilling, complex, and gripping.

Here’s an overview of the story. Psychologist Jolene Granger heads to a prison to hear a dying confession from serial killer Harvey Day Smith. Among the grisly secrets he shares about undiscovered bodies is the work his murderous protégé is doing. Just as Smith himself did, his protégé’s victims are being buried alive so the screams and pleas for help can be savored as the earth rains down.

Granger is unnerved by Smith’s fascination with her. Plus she’s on edge thanks to working alongside Texas Ranger Brody Winchester, her ex-husband. As the body count begins to mount, Granger finds herself led down a path she never expected to go. The ending, too, will keep you guessing all the way to the final pages.

Some thriller writers fake their way through all the law enforcement details in their books — not so with Burton. She’s a graduate of the Henrico County Citizens Police Academy and the Richmond FBI

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Citizen’s Academy. She’s also a regular at the Writers Police Academy held in Greensboro, NC each year. For this book in particular, she needed to take a trip to Austin, TX in addition to doing a lot of research on Texas and Texas Rangers. All of that care and attention to detail shows in this slick, edge-of-your-seat book. Burton’s characters find themselves in dark situation that test their resilience, but they never lose hope. Readers appreciate how it’s always clear that good has the power to vanquish evil, and love serves as a strong undercurrent of every story, too.

If Burton sounds like an author you’d enjoy, you’re in luck because she’s the Celebrity Author for the 5th Annual Florida Writers Foundation Conference in Orlando (October 17-20). There’ll be plenty of chances to see and hear from here there, including her writing workshop entitled “Writing Your Book . . . The First Step.”

For more information on Mary Burton, please visit www.maryburton.com.

For more information on the 5th Annual Florida Writers Foundation Conference, please visit www.floridawriters.net

• • • • •

Biology in the Bay with a real biologist Kids Activities Old Fashioned Games Art Projects Food for purchase

• • • •

Water Fun Live Music Face Painting Enjoy Free Admission at Historic Spanish Point too! protected by

BAY PRESERVE AT OSPREY 400 Palmetto Avenue in Osprey

scenesarasota.com

www.conservationfoundation.com October 2013

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LOCALLY

NEWS SHAPING

OUR COMMUNITY LIST YOUR PROPERTY WITH ME AND YOUR FORECLOSURE DEFENSE IS FREE!* At Solutions Realty, we work in conjunction with a Board Certified Real Estate Attorney to defend your foreclosure and negotiate your short sale approval.

ART CENTER SARASOTA UNDERGOES RENOVATION Art Center Sarasota has a new ambience — and bright new look — thanks to several generous donors. A substantial gift from Howard and Betty Isermann helped the organization install a state-of-the-art air conditioning system. Additional funds from Sam Shapiro went towards new lighting in the lobby, and a gift from Elaine Charney allowed the center to renovate Gallery 3. Art Center Sarasota launches its 2013-2014 season on November 7, 2013, with “CUBEMUSIC,” a site-specific installation created by the renowned artist, Craig Colorusso, who explores the intersection of sound, light, and space in his sculpture. www.artsarasota.org

NORBERT DONELLY AND GOODWILL MANASOTA WIN THE 2013 EDC LEGACY AWARDS The Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County announced the winners of its 2013 EDC Legacy Awards at the organization’s annual meeting. The Clyde Nixon Business Leadership Award, sponsored by Sun Hydraulics, went to Norbert Donelly, chairman of Tervis. Donelly supports Booker High School’s Visual and Performing Arts program, the Sarasota Ballet, and West Coast Black Theatre Troupe as well as serving as a current board member of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation and a previous board member of the Spanish Pointe and Laurel Civic Center.

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

The 2013 Community Partner of the Year Award, sponsored by Halfacre Construction Company, went to Goodwill Manasota. The organization has grown into a major employer and economic driver. Goodwill Manasota employs more than 750 people and provides training and programs that lead to self-sufficiency and provides benefits to the area economically, socially and environmentally. www.edcsarasotacounty.com

SUNCOAST COMMUNITIES BLOOD BANK RECEIVES AWARDS Suncoast Communities Blood Bank (SCBB) received several awards at the Annual Florida Association of Blood Banks (FABB) annual conference, held in Saint Petersburg. SCBB received the Most Creative Donor Center Event award for its “Take a Bite Out of Blood Shortages,” drive, in honor of CJ Wickersham, who nearly lost his life after a shark attack off the coast of Anna Maria Island. SCBB received two awards from America’s Blood Centers (ABC) at their national conference in Washington DC. The Terumo BCT Award of Excellence

*Call today to learn more about our programs

(941) 302-4812

in Donor Recruitment was awarded to SCBB for demonstrating exceptional commitment to the volunteer blood community and to raising awareness for the need for blood donations.

Chief Executive Officer Scott M. Bush was elected president of the Florida Association of Blood Banks (FABB) at its annual conference in June. The mission of FABB is to expand and support blood banking education, donor recruitment, transfusion medicine, and

259 South Links Avenue Sarasota, Florida 34236 www.solutionssarasota.com Michael B. Edwards, Broker Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource Certified by National Association of Realtors

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administrative services through member collaboration. www.scbb.org

JFCS PRESIDENT & CEO CHAPMAN CELEBRATES 20 YEARS Rose Chapman, president and CEO of Jewish Family and Children’s Services SarasotaManatee, celebrated 20 years of service. Under Chapman’s leadership, JFCS has grown to become a leading social service organization offering 26 programs at 16 locations throughout Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota Counties. JFCS provides programs and scenesarasota.com

services to the entire community on a nondenominational basis. The mission of JFCS is to provide comprehensive counseling and social services to help people overcome life’s challenges. www.jfcs-cares.org

MANATEE RANKS AMONG FISCALLY STRONGEST LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN FLORIDA Independent credit ratings rank Manatee County’s financial standing among the top five percent of local governments out of nearly 500 cities and counties around Florida. In a debt and credit update to Manatee County Commissioners, an MBS Capital Markets analyst said Manatee has borrowed wisely over the years and its prompt, regular payment on large public projects has helped save millions of taxpayer dollars over time. Only four Florida county governments out of 66 others have a stronger rating than Manatee, said MBS managing partner Ed Bulleit. www.mymanatee.org

NEW COLLEGE OF FLORIDA ANNOUNCES ‘NEW TOPICS’ 20132014 SERIES



The 2013-14 six-program New Topics New College series will feature speakers from the worlds of medical research, global finance, international affairs, women’s rights, environmental conservation and rock and roll. The topics and speakers for this year are: a look at Florida Wildlife Corridor,

with

photographer

Carlton

Ward (Nov. 21); research into brain health, with Dr. Michael Mullan of the Roskamp Institute (Dec. 5); the creation of rock stars, with music executive Tony Michaelides (Jan. 21); the status of financial markets, with Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren (Feb. 6); the future of women’s health and rights, with Judy Norsigian, author of “Our Bodies, Ourselves” (Feb. 25) and the war in Afghanistan, with David Staats, former U.S. consul in Pakistan (March 19). www.ncf.edu/new-topics-new-college. scenesarasota.com



                   



      October 2013

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Event includes presentation to JFCS Award Recipients

Jewish Family and Children's Service is pleased to present the 9th annual GraCe roSen MaGill leCture GAiL KLEin & SuSAn MALLiTz, Co-CHAiRS

The Rabbi Sanford E. & Leah Saperstein Hope & Healing Award presented to Charlotte P. Graver

Religion in the Media The God Squad How we are the same and why we are different Featuring rabbi MarC GellMan

The Sidney J. Berkowitz Building Community Award presented to Clare & riCh SeGall

Monday, november 18, 2013 at 9:00 a.m.

Breakfast Buffet & Lecture Michael’s on East, 1212 East Avenue, Sarasota The God Squad, a television program and syndicated column featured Rabbi Marc Gellman, senior rabbi of Temple Beth Torah in Melville, NY and Monsignor Tom Hartman discussing issues related to religion and spirituality. Rabbi Gellman continues to write a weekly column, “The Spiritual State,” for Newsweek Magazine and also writes a nationally syndicated religious advice column that appears locally in Newsday.

eveNT SPoNSoRS

Ticket: $36 • Patron Ticket: $136 Patron ticket includes signed book & preferred seating Reservations are required by Friday, November 8th Please contact Stacy Quaid at 941-366-2224 ext. 142 squaid@jfcs-cares.org

Media SPoNSoR

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DiScovEr A nEw wAy to ExprESS yourSElf

Sleek Styling, Serious Performance…Meet the Jupiter 41! The Flagship 41 starts with a time-tested and proven deep-V hull design built for running through the rough stuff in comfort, while also offering speed when you want it courtesy of triple 350-hp Yamaha V-8 outboards. The Jupiter 41 is equally at home island hopping or trolling the 1,000-fathom line.

• Sleeping Accommodations for 5 or More • 60-gal. Livewell 2/90 gal. Fishboxes with Macerators • Custom Wood Cabinetry • Diesel Generator

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I f Yo u E n j oY T h E f I n E r T h I n g s I n L I f E , D E m a n D T h E V E r Y B E s T !

26’ fs

30’ fs

32’ fs/CuDDY

34’ fs/T

38’ fs/T/CuDDY

41’ Ex/Sb

for more information, contact jupiter marine at 941.729.5000 or visit www.JupiterMarine.com

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID MANASOTA, FL PERMIT #88