Permanently Planted

By Elana Boses

SunFlower School has a permanent home in the old Gulfport Presbyterian Church.

SunFlower School’s relationship and strength-based, child-centered, inclusive, hands-on education has endeared the school to Gulfportians as a community of learners for more than 50 years.

A half century ago, Eckerd College students who believed in a different educational model created the private school. Co-Directors Bevin O’Brien and Nicole Riveros currently run the school. The school is considered a project-based, nature-infused, and whole-child design education.

For more than 40 years, the kindergarten through fifth grade school resided within the Gulfport Presbyterian Church at 5313 27th Ave. S.

In April 2022, the 75-year-old church decided to close its doors. The school and church staff worked harmoniously together for decades. It was clear the legacy they built together had deep roots. O’Brien attended SunFlower as a child. She and Riveros are first and foremost educa- tors who stepped up together to run the school as directors. Although the real estate world was a foreign one, they embarked on a new mission to buy the church building as a permanent home for their school.

Forever Home

SunFlower closed on the property June 15, purchasing the entire parcel for $1.3 million. This is slightly less

Planted continued on page 6

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WinWay

Please point out to Gulfport property owners and The Gabber Newspaper readers that they may be unknowingly selling their houses to WinWay when they sign a contract to sell. Even if they’re offered a reasonable price they might actually get a better offer if they sell directly to an actual home buyer!

Most real estate contracts have in the first paragraph or so of the sale and purchase agreement the lines identifying “the seller(s)... and the

buyer(s)... and or assigns, as buyer.”

The last few words are usually printed in much smaller type and/ or placed in parentheses and can be checked or crossed out!!

I know from personal experience that WinWay paid someone else more than $13,000 to enter into contract on one of my properties and then, on the morning of the closing, assign it over to WinWay. I couldn’t legally get out of the contract at that point. I would never have considered selling to him, but I didn’t think to cross out the “or assigns” clause when I entered the contract. I could have sold it to anyone else and had $13,000 more in my pocket.

REMEMBER: Today is the first day of the rest of your life!

Gulfport is still an extremely desirable location for purchasing homes. People from all over love Gulfport like it is and are willing to invest with market prices as they are, they will still sign a contract that does not have a “or assigns” clause in it. Read the fine print, check out the buyers, and keep our town’s diverse character (and trees) alive.

—Dave Falwell, nearly 40-year resident

The Gabber Newspaper encourages letters (one per person, per month). Include your real name and city, and please keep it short –<250 words. We may edit letters for content, clarity, and length. We don’t print letters that incite violence, include attacks on private citizens, or that intentionally mislead people. Letters may appear online and/or in print. Comments on The Gabber’s website and social media may get printed. Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views of The Gabber owners, advertisers, or staff. Send letters to news@thegabber.com or 2908-B Beach Blvd. S., Gulfport, FL, 33707.