This sandhill crane and his mate have roamed the horse pasture outside of Victoria James’ Myakka City home for four years without incident. She’s even seen the pair welcome colts.
Now, her house is being remodeled. A week ago, the crane caught a glimpse of his reflection in the shiny new windows and started a war with himself. Each window hosted a new battle. He pecked and clawed at the perceived threat for days.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission calls his reaction a “territorial defense behavior” and reports that cranes have been known to cause damage to window screens and other property from seeing their own reflections.
The Buc stops here ... for reading
With the Sept. 5 kickoff of the NFL season, people around the country have been glued to the TV watching teams face off.
After the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won 37-20 against the Washington Commanders on Sept. 8, Myakka City Elementary School students were able to celebrate the win in a special way.
Students like Samantha Coleman (above) met C.J. Brewer, a defensive lineman for the Buccaneers, at Bishop Museum of Science and Nature on Sept. 10. Brewer was at the museum for Tackling Reading, an inaugural event to inspire a love for exploration, science and reading.
Buccaneers cheerleaders also attended.
Jay Heater
Becky Ayech has held fundraisers to help preserve the Old Miakka Schoolhouse for the past 39 years.
Lesley Dwyer
Manatee County commissioners saw how voters such as Bradenton’s Bob and Pam Luersen reacted at the polls during the primaries and have reversed some of their earlier controversial decisions.
This rescue effort almost complete
After nearly five years, Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue’s capital expansion will be finished in January.
LIZ RAMOS SENIOR EDITOR
ate’s Honor Animal Res -
Ncue’s Journey Home Capital Campaign has been quite the journey for Rob Oglesby, the development director for the nonprofit.
The campaign, which is an expansion of the nonprofit’s facilities to include a new training center, welcome and adoption center and cottages, broke ground in December 2019.
Now, almost five years later after the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, supply chain issues and more caused delays and the cost of the project doubled from $8 million to $16 million, Oglesby said they are rolling toward the finish.
He stood on the roof of the 23,000-square-foot welcome and adoption center after walking through the building, which finally had its drywall installed and is beginning to take shape inside.
Inside, construction workers with Benderson Development were hard at work in the lobby.
Oglesby said all the materials needed to complete the project are on property, so now it’s just a matter of doing the work.
The welcome and adoption center will house a veterinary clinic, education center, maternity ward, parvo ward, event space, a restaurant, an apartment for students on a veterinary externship and catios. The seven catios are screened-in areas so cats can be inside or outside.
The rescue is working on hiring a medical director and filling staffing positions.
BY THE NUMBERS
$16 MILLION: Project costs
23,000: Square footage of welcome and adoption center
4,300: Square footage of training center
5,000: Square footage of intake building
17: Cottages after construction is complete
120: Dogs that can be housed after expansion is complete
60: Cats that can be housed after expansion is complete
In September, Oglesby said the walls in the welcome and adoption center will be painted, the drop ceilings will be installed, as well as lights, fire sprinklers, air conditioning ducts and more. Then the cabinets will be installed, as well as flooring.
Oglesby said the project is expected to be completed by January.
Once the veterinary clinic is complete, Oglesby said staff will begin using it immediately to conduct in-house surgeries before officially opening it to the public.
The rooms for cats and dogs have unique features such as a solar tube to allow natural light to make its way into the building via the roof.
From the roof, a view of the entire Nate’s Honor grounds can be seen.
On a sunny morning Sept. 6, a dog was ready to jump into the boneshaped pool, a volunteer was grabbing another dog for a walk and another volunteer was working with a dog in the meet-and-greet pavilion.
“It’s coming out nicely,” Oglesby said of the entire project. “It’s a far cry from where we were.”
He could see the second meetand-greet pavilion, which leads into an entrance of the welcome and adoption center, being constructed so people can socialize their dogs
Rob Oglesby, development director for Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue, shows the apartment above the welcome and adoption center where veterinary externs will be staying.
with dogs at the rescue. The first meet-and-green pavilion is dedicated for people to meet and spend time with the dog they potentially could adopt.
Oglesby said the pavilion will be used as soon as it’s completed, which is expected in the next two months.
The new cottages are almost complete, and once they are, Oglesby said renovations will be done to the
eight older cottages because dogs were gnawing at the trim pieces.
The rescue also is becoming more high-tech.
There is Wi-Fi throughout the property, so an adoption can be done from a tablet virtually anywhere on the campus.
There is wiring for speakers along the path throughout the property so dog walkers can have music playing
outdoors.
Inside the catios, there are touchscreen monitors for the cats to play games. For example, Oglesby said the monitors can have fish and birds showing or there’s one in which a cockroach runs across the screen and if a cat touches it, the cockroach will multiply.
The cottages now have a screen displaying information about the dog staying in that particular cottage. The technology allows volunteers and staff to easily share where the dog is, what they are doing and more. For example, a volunteer can use the system to notify everyone the volunteer is taking the dog in cottage four for a walk.
Inside the event space is a large screen for people to use if they want to host webinars, classes and more. The room also will have nano microphones and speakers throughout so people can be heard.
The roof of the welcome and adoption center will be covered with at least 200 solar panels that will help keep energy costs low. Oglesby said the nonprofit added solar panels to its cottages 15 years ago.
Photos by Liz Ramos
The view from the roof of the welcome and adoption center shows the progress made in Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue’s capital expansion with the new playground, pool, meet-and-greet pavilion, training facility and more.
Manatee commissioners consider millage cut
Commissioner George Kruse said a cut of 0.15 mills, to be decided Sept. 24, won’t ‘move the needle’ for taxpayers.
LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER
After three motions, Commissioners Jason Bearden and Kevin Van Ostenbridge were successful in pushing through an attempt to reduce Manatee County’s millage rate by 0.15 mills.
One mill equals one dollar of tax levied on every $1,000 worth of taxable property. The 2024 millage rate is 6.2326.
In a 4-2 vote on Sept. 12, commissioners tentatively approved a measure that they said would cause Manatee County to give up about $10.5 million in annual revenues. If the 0.15 mills reduction is passed again at the Sept. 24 commission meeting, it goes into effect.
Commissioner George Kruse
FY 2025 BUDGET
Along with the millage, the tentative FY 2025 budget has also undergone changes since it was first proposed in June.
The net budget covers county services. The gross budget includes internal services and reserves. Both budgets increased from their original versions. Now, both will now have to account for approximately $10.5 million less in revenue. If approved by commissioners, the Sheriff’s Office budget will increase by 21% over last year, which equals $40.8 million. The majority of the increase is going toward new vehicles and employee salaries, both new hires and salary increases.
The long-awaited Aquatic and Racquet Center at the Premier Sports Complex remains on the list of “featured FY 2025 Capital Improvement projects,” but other projects, such as Lena Road and Lorraine Road fell off the list.
Only the basic work of connecting Lena Road and widening Lorraine Road will continue. Amenities such as buffered bike paths were pushed to future years.
The final public hearing and adoption of the FY 2025 budget is on Sept. 24 at 5:30 p.m. in the Patricia M. Glass chambers in the Manatee County Administration Building.
HOMEOWNER SAVINGS
These numbers were pulled from the FY 2025 budget presentation and illustrate the annual savings for homeowners once the millage is reduced by 0.15 mills.
FLORIDA AMENDMENT 5
Florida homeowners receive a $25,000 property tax exemption on their primary residences. If the home is valued over $75,000, an additional $25,000 exemption applies. Homeowners are exempt from all taxes, except school taxes, on those exemption amounts.
Amendment 5 proposes to increase the exemption amounts to account for inflation. If the amendment passes, the adjustment will be made on Jan. 1 each year based on the percentage change in inflation, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in its Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers.
cial circumstances to raise impact fees to the fullest extent. By Kruse’s estimate, that decision already cost the county $585 million over the next five years.
“If you would’ve charged the proper amount of those fees, we would’ve saved $15 million in debt service that could’ve been offset by lowering the taxes to the citizens,” Kruse said to the rest of the board. “We could’ve lowered this by 0.2 and not cost us a single penny of service whatsoever.”
WHERE WILL $10.5 MILLION COME FROM?
Van Ostenbridge argued that it shouldn’t be “the end of the world” to find $10.5 million in a $1.3 billion budget.
However, the money does have to come from somewhere, and the reduction puts the county into a negative rollback rate of 1.29%.
“What a rollback rate means is that growth in the county is not working on our behalf. It’s actually damaging the county,” McLean said.
McLean listed two main reasons to support that statement: The county’s bond rating, which is the equivalent of an individual’s credit score, will decrease, and the reduction of revenues will require the county to take on more debt.
At the original requested 0.3 mill reduction, McLean said it would have meant reduced levels of service or reduced capital infrastructure.
When asked by Kruse what reduction amount would allow her to sleep at night, McLean replied 0.05. McLean had recommended a millage rate of 6.6915 mills, which would have kept the operating millage at a positive 0.97%.
called the move a “fake millage cut” and said there are better ways to help citizens.
“I hate taxes, but we have to be cognizant of future projections,” he said. “There’s a lot we can do with $10 million, and this isn’t moving the needle for the vast majority of people.”
Bearden said he pushed to cut the tax because Manatee County residents are struggling every day to make ends meet and “every penny counts.”
His motion to lower the millage by 0.3 mills failed in a 4-2 vote after Sheila McLean, Manatee County’s CFO, said she didn’t know where the $21 million would come from, but services definitely would have to be reduced.
Van Ostenbridge made a second motion to lower the millage by 0.2 mills. Commission Chair Mike Rahn switched his vote in favor of the reduction, but the motion failed because of a 3-3 tie.
Van Ostenbridge made the third and final motion to reduce the millage by 0.15 mills, and Commissioner Amanda Ballard broke the tie, favoring the motion.
Commissioners George Kruse and Ray Turner opposed through all three votes.
Bearden said, in his opinion, there’s always a way to find cuts in government. Even though the 0.15 was a compromise, he was pleased to walk out of the meeting with at least some savings for residents.
“This (President) Biden economy has killed us,” he said. “Anything that I can do to continue to take an ax and knock down that rate, I’ll do. If a profit business can do it, why can’t we?”
Turner said Bearden’s motion was a surprise. In his view, asking staff members to cut their budgets should’ve been a conversation that was had at the start of the budget process in June.
“The CIP, infrastructure, the Sheriff’s Office — there’s too many things moving right now that we’re committed to, and where do we find the money?” Turner said.
Van Ostenbridge said only his fellow commissioners were surprised
by the motion because of Sunshine laws. He said he made it clear to County Administrator Charlie Bishop and Deputy County Administrator Evan Pilachowski that he would be making a motion to cut taxes. Bearden simply beat him to it.
Amendment 5 being on November’s ballot made both Turner and Kruse wary of the revenue loss. If the amendment passes, which Kruse suspects it will, then homestead property tax exemptions will increase with inflation, meaning the county will collect less property taxes from residents.
“We don’t know what the implication of that ballot initiative is,” Kruse said. “We don’t know what the implication of the affordable housing tax abatement is (Live Local Act). We might end up finding out that we’re losing $10 million to $15 million next year, just organically.” Kruse argued that there are more meaningful ways to help citizens. If the $10.5 million was invested into fixing stormwater issues, residents would likely save more money on insurance each year than they would through the millage cut.
He wanted to wait it out a year to be safe, especially in light of the board’s recent decision to not apply for spe-
While the reduction places the county in a negative rollback rate, Van Ostenbridge said it sends a strong message that the government is not growing.
At a reduction of 0.15 mills, Turner said he was comfortable that staff would be able to “figure it out,” and Bishop said it was “doable.”
“I will remind the board that there are 27 positions (new hires) recommended in the budget,” Bishop said. “Give me an opportunity to sit down with (the deputy administrators and CFO) to see where we can find the money.”
There were 21 new positions requested from seven departments during the original budget presentation on June 12. Public Safety had the largest request as the department asked for nine new staff members for the Emergency Communications Center, Beach Patrol and Code Enforcement.
Bishop will go before commissioners on Sept. 24 with the solidified plan. The second public hearing is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in the Patricia M. Glass Chambers at the Manatee County Administration Building.
At that Sept. 24 meeting, the millage rate and FY 2025 budget will be finalized and adopted.
CFO Sheila McLean presents the tentative budget and millage to commissioners on Sept. 12.
Photos by Lesley Dwyer
The final budget hearing will be held 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 24 at the Manatee County Administration Building.
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Eagle Trace residents concerned about project
LESLEY DWYER STAFF
WRITER
Amixed-use development proposed for approximately 20 acres off State Road 64 has some Eagle Trace residents worried it will cause additional flooding in the area.
“It’s a big concern for our community,” Eagle Trace resident Patty McHugh said. “We had flooding on State Road 64 (during Hurricane Debby), and that’s where the development is going to be.”
The proposal is for up to 300 multifamily units on 15.5 acres with 50,000 square feet of commercial space on 4.7 acres fronting State Road 64 between 117th Street East and Pope Road.
Penler, the Atlanta-based real estate investment firm behind the proposal, is not new to the area. Penler bought Tradition in Palm Aire for $48.11 million in 2020, completed a $5 million renovation and sold it in 2022 to RangeWater Real Estate.
The Planning Commission recommended approving Penler’s proposal in a 5-0 vote, “subject to the applicant proffering two additional stipulations regarding stormwater design and the setbacks of the three- and four-story buildings.”
The setbacks are to be 125 feet on the western and southern boundaries of the property, where it borders Eagle Trace. Penler also agreed to use the latest data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in its stormwater calculations.
“I understand the precedent we’re trying to set (with stormwater design), and I realize it’s kind of happening before our eyes,” said Connor McAdams, vice president of development for Penler. “We’re putting thought into it, and we’re more than happy to accommodate to a new standard that’s over and above what is probably going on today.”
But to allow for Penler’s requested density, the commission will have to agree to rezone the property from Agriculture to Planned Development Mixed Use, and change the Future Land Use Map from Urban Fringe 3
to Retail/Office/Residential.
“This development is a little over the top for what we have where we are,” Eagle Trace resident Deborah George said. “The intensity is far too much.”
To compromise on the commercial side with residents, Penler added a car wash, gas station, hotel/motel and medical marijuana dispensary to the list of “restricted uses.” Some of the “permitted uses” are medical offices, a bank, a strip shopping center and a restaurant, including a drive-thru.
Planning Commission members Richard Bedford and Cindy Kebba voted in favor of the changes because they allow for commercial uses instead of solely adding more residential units to the area.
“Commercial on State Road 64 totally makes sense,” Kebba said.
The project narrative submitted to the county in June offers a glimpse into possible commercial uses.
“(Casto out of Lakewood Ranch) was contacted to try to determine what kind of end users will be attracted to the site,” the narrative read. “They are forecasting a substantial amount of interest given the parcels’ great frontage along State Road 64 on the ‘PM’ side of the road for various fast casual restaurants, quick service restaurants and freestanding retail services buildings.”
The commission will vote on Penler’s requests at the Oct. 3 meeting.
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Change of direction
Giving back wetland buffers is the latest in a series of reversals by county commissioners since the primaries.
LESLEY DWYER
STAFF WRITER
The new faces won’t take their seats on the Manatee County Commission until November.
However, in the two commission meetings since the primary elections on Aug. 20, several decisions made by the current board — ones that drew considerable criticism — have been reversed.
Call-in comments to commission meetings have been restored — comments again will be allowed on the county’s social media as of Oct. 10 — and wetland buffers will be returned to 50 feet.
So what’s next?
On Sept. 10, Parrish resident Dalton Nelson asked commissioners for a “temporary moratorium on all new proposed and not started developments until we can get everything straightened out with a flooding problem and get it under control.”
Asked if a temporary moratorium is next, Commissioner George Kruse replied with an emphatic, “Nope.”
In the first meeting following the primaries on Aug. 27, Kruse had three items he wanted addressed because each was time-sensitive: Social media comments, control of the county’s historical sites and halting designs on parking garages at the Premier Sports Complex, the Convention Center and on Anna Maria Island.
“This isn’t the start of something; this is the extent of it,” he said. “There’s a new board coming on, some new members, and they have a right to speak.”
Commissioner Amanda Ballard made the motion to reinstate callin comments, and Commissioner Jason Bearden made the motion to reinstate wetland buffers. Both Ballard and Bearden, along with Com-
missioner Mike Rahn, are up for reelection in 2026.
“If they want to hang on to their seats, they’re going to have to make some major changes,” Bradenton resident Matt Bower said.
Joe Di Bartolomeo is running for the District 5 seat on the board. He said he appreciates the commissioners’ efforts to “finally hear the will of their constituents and make some final decisions for the greater good of Manatee County, instead of just the developers and special interests.”
THE WETLANDS REVERSAL
Bearden said he made a mistake when he made a motion in August 2023 to reduce wetland buffers in Manatee County.
That’s the reason he instructed staff to bring back the appropriate Comprehensive Plan amendments needed for the county to once again require 50-foot wetland buffers.
The vote in August had moved the buffer requirement from 50 feet down to the state standard of between 15 and 25 feet.
“The citizens spoke,” Bearden said. “God gives grace to the humble and resists the proud, so if I made a mistake, I’ll be the first to admit that I made a mistake.”
He said his initial decision was based on a belief that removing the buffers aligned with the constitutional principles and regulatory requirements. After receiving feedback from the community, he realized that in this case, citizens valued the preservation of wetland buffers over the impact of their own individual property rights.
Bower set the move in motion when he requested the county stop pursuing its claim for legal fees against former Commissioner Joe McClash. McClash sued the county in December 2023 over the commission’s decision to cut the wetland
buffers.
McClash dropped his case due to the financial risk of Senate Bill 540 that states any challenger to a Comprehensive Plan must pay legal fees for all parties if they lose the case. McClash was representing himself, while Manatee County used seven attorneys.
Bearden’s first motion of the day was to instruct the county attorney’s office to stop pursuing fees from McClash. Commissioner George Kruse seconded the motion, but it failed in a 4-2 vote.
Depositions are scheduled for Oct. 1, and a hearing is scheduled for Oct. 15. The court will decide the outcome, but commissioners can vote to not accept money from McClash.
While McClash is still on the hook for now, Bower was both shocked by and appreciative of Bearden’s turnaround during the commission meeting.
“For once, it’s nice to see a board listening to some degree,” Bower said.
Bearden’s motion to revert amendments that reduced wetland buffers carried 6-0.
Rahn felt the motion was happen-
ing too fast and would’ve preferred a workshop that included commissioners, residents and developers discussing the topic together before only commissioners cast their votes.
Van Ostenbridge, who lost the primary to Kruse, put up the most resistance to the wetlands motion.
He asked county attorney Pamela D’Agostino if the motion could expose the county to litigation, to which D’Agostino replied that she was not prepared to answer that question.
During the meeting, Van Ostenbridge said his concern stemmed from the county taking away property from owners, versus the prior action that awarded property to owners.
After the meeting, he declined to comment further as to why he would vote for something he was so adamantly opposed to. During the original vote to cut the buffers, Van Ostenbridge called the opposition
“radical climate activists.”
Staff still needs to return to the board with the “appropriate amendments,” which will then be voted on. If approved, the amendments will be added to the Comprehensive Plan.
Photos by Lesley Dwyer
Melody Reedy is one of several Manatee County residents to hold up signs during the land use meeting on Oct. 5, 2023, in an attempt to stop commissioners from cutting wetland protections out of the Comprehensive Plan.
Commissioner Jason Bearden makes a motion on Sept. 10 to reinstate 50foot wetland buffers within Manatee County’s Comprehensive Plan.
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Kate Mulligan takes over as executive director of the nonprofit.
a white horse. So they hired an executive director who certainly has the right credentials. The foundation announced on Sept. 3 that Kate Mulligan, who had been working as the general manager of ensembleNEWSRQ in Sarasota, has accepted the position. Besides more than 20 years of experience leading nonprofit organizations, Mulligan is a riding enthusiast who grew up on a horse farm in
MEET THE DIRECTOR
Who: Kate Mulligan
Hired: As the new executive director of the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation Age: 48
Lives: The Lake Club
Family: Husband, Mark Mulligan; two daughters, 11-year-old daughter Esme, 14-year-old Ainsley
Experience: Kate Mulligan has an MBA in nonprofit management and more than 20 years of experience in event planning, fundraising, marketing, management and leading nonprofits. Last job: She was the general manager of ensembleNEWSRQ in Sarasota Passions: Horses, singing
Jay Heater
Kate Mulligan is the new executive director of the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation.
Frenchtown, New Jersey, and who has competed on hunter jumpers.
She certainly hasn’t had difficulty clearing any hurdles in her professional career.
“The Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation is delighted that Kate has accepted the position of executive director,” said Mark Clark, board chair. “Her passion for people and for the vision and mission of the organization was clear throughout the hiring process. She is already a key player in the community, and we are excited for our future with Kate’s leadership. Her qualifications are matched equally with her desire to make a lasting impact in the region.”
Mulligan became enamored with the region years ago when she would visit the area with her husband Mark Mulligan. They loved the beaches and the riding facilities.
Mark Mulligan plays on the Barefield polo team at the Sarasota Polo Club. While Kate isn’t riding competitively anymore, her 11-year-old daughter, Esme, rides hunter jumpers and competes at TerraNova in Myakka and other venues in Ocala.
Kate and Mark, who have four hunter jumpers at their ranch, have two daughters, Esme and 14-year-old Ainsley.
While they started renting a winter home in the area 10 years ago, they bought a ranch in the Polo Club three years ago.
The more Kate Mulligan was around Lakewood Ranch, the more she loved it.
“This is a cool melting pot,” she said of Lakewood Ranch. “People come here for so many reasons. People just come to visit, and they never leave.”
The more she learned about the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation, the more she wanted to be part of the effort.
“I love that the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation is making such a big impact on other nonprofits,” she said. “This is just the tip of the iceberg for the organization. There is so much opportunity here. We have tremendous potential to grow.”
While she was brought on board partially because of her fundraising talents, she said a key part of her job is to make sure all donated funds are
being spent wisely and that donors are getting the best return on their investment.
She also wants those in the Lakewood Ranch area to know that “there is a place for absolutely everyone,” in the effort.
“This is a multitiered effort,” she said. “There are a lot of ways you can serve.”
If the Community Foundation wanted to find a person who could sing their praises, they also have found the right leader.
A former opera singer, Mulligan loves to sing jazz and performs with her husband at every major event in the lives of their family and friends.
“Singing for me is like breathing ... it is the rhythm of my life,” she said.
She actually met Mark through singing at an Opera summer music camp in Princeton, New Jersey. They later reconnected on a singing program that took them to Salzburg, Austria. Although they didn’t know each other well, there was a horseback riding outing on the trip and they were the only two who showed up. The romance was on.
While she loves to sing for fun, Mulligan said she always has been business oriented and that made sense for her career.
“When I was 12, I had a dog walking business,” she said. “By the time I was 14, I was a waitress and when I was 16, I was managing the restaurant — The Minuteman. I was the youngest person there, and I had to get 60-year-olds to take directions. I needed to get people to listen and to trust me.”
By 22, she was the executive director of Princeton Pro Musica, which had a 120-person chorus and a 60-person orchestra.
“No one else would take the job,” she said with a laugh. But it jump-started her career. She added an MBA from Rutgers in 2004. Along the way, she advocated for nonprofits such as Riding with HEART, Trenton Children’s Chorus, Roxey Ballet and Buckingham Friends School. Before landing a job with ensembleNEWSRQ, she was the executive director of the Trenton Children’s Chorus in New Jersey. She already has begun work with the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation.
Another Fall Hootenanny benefits Old Miakka Schoolhouse.
All in favor ... say I ... as in Miakka
JAY HEATER MANAGING EDITOR
It was an impromptu tour of the Old Miakka Schoolhouse, and local resident Becky Ayech wanted to start with the closets.
If she hadn’t started with the closets, just inside the front entryway, it would have been a short tour.
The building, constructed in less than a month in 1914 for $1,390, is a one-room schoolhouse.
Every inch of the building is beloved by the community — that’s Miakka with an “i” as opposed to nearby Myakka City with a “y” — and Ayech is the guardian of the sacred ground.
You would have thought that Ayech was unlocking the secrets of a tomb as she opened one of the closet doors, but like Al Capone’s vault, opened in prime time in 1986 by TV journalist Geraldo Rivera, it was quite empty.
That was OK because Ayech had stories to tell.
“The community used to keep treasures in here,” Ayech said with a smile. “In the country, you never throw anything away. You know, if you throw something away and then you need it, you will get the most punishable thing they can do to you.
“Make you go to town.”
Again, a wry smile.
It was in 2014 when Sarasota County came up with $30,000 to help preserve the community landmark. Ayech explained that it was in the early 2000s when Sarasota
NAME GAME
From the Crowley Museum and Nature Center:
“When A.M. Wilson registered the name of the settlement north of what is now Myakka River State Park in 1879, he insisted that the proper spelling of the “town” was “Miakka.” When a new development along S.R. 70 sprung up along the new railroad line and called itself Myakka City, people started distinguishing the two locations by referring to the original settlement as “Old Miakka.”
County had committed $60,000 toward “neighborhood planning” that was aimed toward preserving the rural lifestyle. The first $30,000 was spent on tree planting and documentation, but the other $30,000 was forgotten — by everyone but Ayech.
She reminded Sarasota County about the promised funds in 2014, and the money eventually was used for some renovation of the schoolhouse. Among the tasks was repainting the building, including the closets. Steps were rebuilt, a wheelchair ramp was repaired, doors and windows underwent repairs and the bell that sits on top of the schoolhouse was scraped and painted.
So what treasures were found when the closets were emptied to be painted?
“We found all kinds of good stuff,” Ayech said. “There were crooked nails and Phillips screwdrivers, bed frames ... all stuff that people in the country can use.”
If those around her find that Ayech says the word “country” multiple times a minute, it’s only because she doesn’t want anyone to be unclear about what she is trying to preserve.
Although the schoolhouse is her project centerpiece, it serves as a monument to a lifestyle that is slipping away. As of the 2020 census, Old Miakka’s population was up to 1,743, and development was creeping closer.
Annually for the past 39 years, Ayech has held the Old Miakka Fall Hootenanny & Schoolhouse Benefit to raise funds to maintain the schoolhouse and the two-and-a-half acres on which it sits. This year’s event is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6.
Last year, Ayech raised $5,000 at the fundraiser, which just about covers expenses for the year, minus any expensive repairs. The insurance on the building costs $1,300 and there are electric and water bills to pay.
The free event itself features live music, food and drinks, crafts, artwork, a silent auction and kids games.
“I am not Disney World,” Ayech said. After 39 years, Ayech is in danger of becoming as much of a historical landmark as the schoolhouse. She is a drum major whose marching band is shrinking.
IF YOU GO
What: 2024 Old Miakka Fall Hootenanny & Schoolhouse Benefit When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6 Where: Old Miakka Schoolhouse, 15800 Wilson Road, Old Miakka Cost: Free admission and parking
Features: Paintings by local artists, crafts, educational booths, live music by Sparky Baxley, along with the Myakka Community Orchestra, book signings by local authors, broomstick pony races, hog calling, rooster crowing, silent auction, Dakin Dairy ag wagon and a tour of the old schoolhouse
Food: Pork and chicken plates by Southern Smoked by JP, hot dogs, desserts, drinks
Benefits: Preservation of the 1914 Old Miakka Schoolhouse
More information: Call Becky Ayech at 322-2164 or send an email to Miakka1945@gmail.com.
In 1986, the Old Miakka Schoolhouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
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TIME LINE
OCT. 7, 1913 — Miakka asks for a $2,500 bond to construct a school.
AUG. 20, 1914 — Contractor J.E. Rogers is hired to build the school.
SEPT. 10, 1914 — Construction finishes on the school with a final price of $1,390.
SEPT. 24, 1914 — Professor Lee Hall and the first class of students attend the school.
1937 — A concrete sidewalk and outhouses are constructed.
1944 — Old Miakka Schoolhouse closes.
OCT. 26, 1948
— The Miakka Community Club purchases the school and property for $50.
JULY 3, 1986
— The school is officially listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
2014 — Sarasota County funds renovations to the schoolhouse. The Community Club oversees the installation of ceiling fans, new paint, new concrete steps and other improvements.
Four years after the schoolhouse was closed in 1944, the Old Miakka community formed the Miakka Community Club to preserve their rural lifestyle and to maintain buildings of historical significance, such as the schoolhouse, which currently is celebrating its 110th year.
“The Community Club held monthly meetings,” Ayech said. “That was pre-TVs and computers. They would invite speakers — somebody from agriculture or somebody from the Cattlemen’s Association — or before an election they would hold candidates forums.
“In 1980, I got involved. I live on five acres, and I raise, sheep, chickens, rabbits, goats and turkeys. When I moved here in 1978, I saw the schoolhouse. Wow!”
For years, the group was effective.
“The commissioners know our name,” Ayech said of the Miakka Community Club. “Do you think it is by accident this area is like this? Since 1948, we have fought to preserve it.”
As the years have passed, she worries who is going to follow to protect the country lifestyle, and maintain landmarks such as the schoolhouse.
Record keeping for the schoolhouse has been as sketchy as when it was built it was in Manatee County. The site became Sarasota County when it formed in 1921.
In her 70s, Ayech said she still is having fun, but she isn’t sure how long she will last.
So what about all the people with Miakka Community Club who have been just as passionate as she is?
“They’re all dead,” she said.
She urges younger members of the community to step up to fill her role, or to help her. What does she do to get people to help her when things get tough?
“I cry well,” she said.
She said anyone interested in joining the Miakka — with an i — Community Club can call her at 322-2164 or send an email to Miakka1945@ gmail.com.
“We fixed a lot of stuff in our generation (such as polluted waterways),” she said. “Now it's your turn.”
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Photos by Jay Heater
Becky Ayech says broomstick polo races are a highlight of the Old Miakka Fall Hootenanny & Schoolhouse Benefit.
Do research on Manatee’s tourist tax referendum
The 1% increase makes sense to keep our attractions pristine.
So
That’s what 3.8 million visitors generated in Manatee County in fiscal year 2023.
That’s people coming to our fair county ... and here’s the fun part ... then leaving after spending their money.
Sure, they can make it hard to get into your favorite restaurant. Yes, you might have to avoid the Cortez bridge at the height of season. And OK, those people who set up camp right next to you on the crowded beach could be playing a Tiny Tim collection on their boom box.
In general, though, I would argue that we should be glad they are here.
Why?
Well, think of all the small businesses that get a spike because of those visitors. It’s not just the hotels, liquor stores and bars. Perhaps it is the guy who rents kayaks, or the local gas station, or the corner Walgreens, or the charter fishermen, and on and on. It creates jobs.
Now, besides that enormous economic impact, Manatee County also charges a tourist development tax that generated $80 million in 2023. OK, I know you cringe when I say tax, but that is not a tax that you pay. It is paid by the tourists, who again, then leave. I will say that residents aren’t
completely 100% exempt from such a task. If we want to have a staycation, we could get zapped, and certainly if your friends or relatives visit, they can be affected if we don’t want them under our own roof. In general, though, the tax is paid by people who come — and then go.
This all deserves some thought, because on Nov. 5, we will be voting on a referendum that will be asking if we, the citizens, want to increase Manatee County’s tourist development tax from 5% to 6%.
It’s a decision that never has been made at the ballot box before. A state law that went into effect in 2023 now requires a referendum for a county commission to raise the tourist development tax.
Hopefully, taxpayers will do a little research because this isn’t an “in-your-face” kind of tax that will generate some emotion. I would imagine that such a tax will cause many of us to shrug our shoulders and say, “Whatever.”
Indifference could be the worst enemy for an increase to 6%.
If people don’t care, and they walk into a ballot box and see “tax,” they might just do a knee-jerk “No” and move to the next item on the ballot.
Elliott Falcione, the executive director of Manatee County’s Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, said it is important that the residents consider the importance of the tax.
No, that is not funds we can spend on the widening of Lorraine Road. The money only can be directed as the state allows.
Manatee County expects the extra penny to generate $7.8 million per fiscal year, all money that
will be put back to maintaining the tourist attractions that we have and creating new attractions or events.
Revenue from the tourist development tax pays for maintenance and improvements on amenities that both tourists and resident use, such as Premier Sports Campus and the Manatee Performing Arts Center.
It helps the county to entice attractions and events to come to our area, such as the Korn Ferry Tour golf event that comes to Lakewood Ranch on an annual basis or the World Champions Cup that now brings golf legends to The Concession. Those provide heavy economic impact and provide entertainment.
While some of those costs are flexible, the county annually spends 1% of the tax on beach restoration and maintenance. Then there is the annual cost of maintaining Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch, a huge economic impact driver.
More examples of what the tourist tax goes toward include renovation of the Anna Maria Island Pier, capital improvements at LECOM Park, capital improvements at the Myakka Historic Schoolhouse Museum, the water ferry service that now runs from downtown Bradenton to Anna Maria Island, and the renovation of the Bradenton Area Convention Center, among others.
The tax began at 2% in 1980 and then increased 1% at a time in 1986, 2003 and 2009. Sarasota, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties all have 6% tourist development taxes, so Manatee would be coming up to that level. The 6% is the maximum allowed by the state. For those of us in East County,
think of it this way. People from all over the world come to the beaches and to events such as the World Champions Cup. If we keep our attractions pristine and our events exciting, there is a good chance those tourists might want to relocate.
Now I know many residents are scared of growth, but also consider it increases demand for your home, and therefore, its value.
Falcione noted that in a study of first-time visitors to Manatee County, the county found that 94% return in the next 12 months. Those returnees often become regular visitors, and eventually homeowners.
Yes, that appreciates real estate.
Falcione lists five reasons that a 6% tourist development tax will be a benefit to the county.
1 — It helps sustain the economy 12 months a year. The county’s tourism efforts support events exclusively out of season to help businesses during slow periods.
2 — It builds the county’s assets at a cost to tourists and not residents.
3 — It sustains the beaches at no cost to the residents.
4 — It provides support for the arts and cultural organizations in the county, such as museums and theaters.
5 — It helps provide incentives to airlines to provide more service and choices to our airport.
So, while it’s not a school tax or millage, please take the time to look into the tourist tax and be well informed when it comes time to vote.
Courtesy image
Premier Sports Campus is one of many Manatee County amenities that the tourist development tax helps fund.
Jay Heater is the managing editor for the East County Observer. Contact him at JHeater@ YourObserver.com.
Renovated pickleball courts reopen
Upgrades at Lakewood Ranch Park include a hitting wall, shade structure and lighting.
LESLEY DWYER
fter moving from Minnesota to Lakewood Ranch in 2012, Lakewood Ranch Country Club resident Carol Lucas met most of her friends through playing pickleball, but not at the club.
Lucas likes to play at Lakewood Ranch Park because she said any player at any level can show up for open play and join in.
But that option wasn’t available when the courts went under construction for the past few months.
Regulars at Lakewood Ranch Park are glad to be playing there again. The courts are back open.
Manatee County finished the approximately $250,000 renovation to the pickleball courts in August. The facility went from five rather rough courts to six new asphalt courts with a hitting wall, shade structure, seating area, water bottle filler, lights and an additional 25 parking spaces.
The group of about 20 pickleball players at the park on Sept. 10 filled five of the six courts, but Lucas said come winter, there will be about 50 to 60 players there on a Tuesday morning.
Lucas wants Manatee County to lower its bar and focus on providing more neighborhood courts.
“Manatee has focused on building premier courts,” she said. “They built courts at G.T. Bray, which are gorgeous, but it takes you 45 minutes to get over there. They aren’t building neighborhood courts. They’re building competition courts.”
IF YOU GO
Lucas said there is a need for competition courts, as well, but she’s met a lot of residents from Parrish playing at Lakewood Ranch Park because there are no public courts in Parrish. The only courts were provided
by developers, which are then only available to residents in those developments.
While the Lakewood Ranch Park pickleball courts are open for play, there are a few things that still need to be tweaked.
Director of Sports and Leisure
Molly White said the courts will be closed for a few hours during the week of Sept. 16, but in the afternoon when play is typically light.
“These are minor adjustments that need to be made — add a yellow line around the edge of the concrete, adjust the net height, touch up the courts, which we didn’t have time to do before opening due to weather conditions,” White said.
Minor details aside, Lucas said it’s nice to have “real pickleball courts.” The original five courts were old basketball courts that the county painted pickleball lines on.
The retreat was founded in 1968 and sits on 110 acres overlooking the Manatee River.
LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER
Saying
“a pastor walked into a bar on Christmas Eve” sounds like the start of a joke, but in the case of Pastor Phil Derstine, it’s a true story.
The leader of the Family Church at Christian Retreat, along with several parishioners, have faithfully bar hopped for the last 35 Christmas Eves. In this case, though, bar-hopping means something different.
Four groups of carolers have covered open bars all over Manatee County.
“When I first started, I wasn’t sure if they’d let us come in, so I was respectful and asked permission,” Derstine said. “Well, the effect of our coming has been that we fill up the bars on Christmas Eve. They come to hear us sing.”
The pastor said the bartenders love the carolers so much that they advertise for them now. Each group brings an instrument. Derstine always chooses his accordion.
It’s the first time some of his parishioners have ever stepped foot in a bar, but they don’t go to drink. They go to deliver the gifts of hope, scripture and chocolate.
“At first, you’re apprehensive
because you’re going into a bar and people are intoxicated,” parishioner and recent staff member Laurie Houston said. “If they’re in a bar on Christmas Eve, things might not be going so well for them. I was surprised at the receiving of it and the tears that were shed. Seeds are planted, and that’s the beauty of it.” Derstine said the most common reaction is that people want to know why he and the other church members would give up time with their families to help them because they don’t feel worthy of the help.
“Some of them are crying in their beer,” Derstine said. “It’s amazing to me because until they turn the music back on, it’s such a change in culture in that bar to see everybody in prayer. It’s so well received because people are looking for hope.”
Derstine compares some churches to country clubs because they don’t go out into the world. The Family Church has about 300 local members, but Derstine spreads “the good news” to many more and encourages others to do the same. He also has a podcast and television show.
The Christian Retreat sits on 110 acres overlooking the Manatee River. Derstine’s father, Pastor Gerald Derstine, founded the retreat in 1968. He died in 2022 at age 93.
“He had a vision for establishing a conference center for people of all denominations to use,” said Joanne Derstine-Curphey, Pastor Gerald Derstine’s daughter and the director of communications for the retreat.
Derstine describes the church
Photos by Lesley Dwyer
Pastor Phil Derstine leads the Family Church at Christian Retreat. He also streams a podcast and television show from his office.
ABOUT THE NONPROFIT
The Family Church at Christian Retreat, 1200 Glory Way Blvd. Visit ChristianRetreat.org
Mission statement: We exist to establish God’s gospel and community, create a space for experiencing His love and transform our neighborhoods.
as “interdenominational” because there are so many denominations represented among its parishioners. The conference center attracts all denominations, as well.
The retreat was designed and functions to offer a place where those who visit feel the presence of God.
It’s easily spotted from Upper Manatee River Road because the entrance to the drive has landscaping features on either side that both prominently display the word, “Blessings.”
When entering on Glory Way Boulevard, drivers cross over the nine fruits of the spirit, which are painted on the pavement: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
The conference center holds the church, the Kids Zone, a prayer room and 27,000 square feet of meeting space. The campus includes private housing, two hotel buildings, an RV park, a youth center and amenities such as a swimming pool and bas-
ketball courts. There are 135 hotel rooms and suites on the property, which are used to host the groups using the conference center, youth camps and students of the Institute of Ministry, which is a 10-week Bible leadership training school the church offers on site.
The permanent residences on the property are split between 76 mobile homes for families and 64 condominiums for ages 55 and older.
Until 2016, the church gave tenants 99-year leases on the residences. Derstine-Curphey said it took several years to switch over, but all the mobile homes and condos are now privately owned. Parishioner Barbara Hollister owns a condo.
“It’s peaceful,” she said. “You can walk around and feel and experience the atmosphere. I live right across from the big cross. I step out in my front yard, and it’s right there. It’s a constant reminder of the presence of the lord.”
Derstine is hoping to add more housing at the retreat. The goal is to build a 100-unit assisted care living facility.
“It’s so needed in Manatee County,” he said. “We’re looking for a partner who’s done this many times before. We’ll provide the land, and we’ve done a lot of the preliminary engineering reports and such. We’re looking for someone we can trust.”
The property is already zoned as Planned Development Mixed Use, which allows for a facility to be built. Once built, the support services for residents already are in place.
The suites, which include kitchenettes, were designed with longerterm stays in mind.
ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
ROOF RAISING THE
Venice Theatre celebrates its 75th anniversary as it seeks to repair Hurricane Ian damage.
MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER
EDITOR
ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
During the early and mid-20th century, a movement swept the country. This was before the crazes for Elvis, coonskin caps and Hula-Hoops. Even before TikTok, Americans were subject to fads and manias. Seventyfive years ago, it seems every town wanted its own community theater.
Exactly when and why the Little Theatre Movement started is a subject of extensive debate and scholarship. But the local theater push appears to have been inspired by the European model. It also developed as a form of pushback against the rise of cinema, which was supplanting live theater in the U.S., and later, TV.
It was this desire to have live local theater that led to the founding of the Venice Theatre 75 years ago, according to Benny Sato Ambush, the theater’s artistic director.
The first meeting of the theater’s organizers was on Nov. 23, 1950.
Founders Muriel Olds-Dundas and Sonia Terry took out an ad in The Venice Gondolier that read, “Active memberships, which will cost $5, will be available to those who want to act, usher, take tickets, clean out the place or whatnot.” Participants were incentivized to attend with the promise of a picnic lunch.
Flash forward to present day. Today, the Venice Theatre is considered the second-largest community theater among the more than 10,000 such institutions in the U.S.
Its first production was George Kelly’s “The Torch Bearers,” a 1922 character-driven comedy about a community staging a play. To celebrate its diamond anniversary, in the
2024-25 season, Venice Theatre has revived the play within a play. “It’s our origin story,” Ambush says.
The new version of “The Torch Bearers” runs at the Venice Theatre’s Raymond Center from Sept. 20-Oct.
13. Normally, a big anniversary is cause for rejoicing and unabashed fundraising for a nonprofit cultural institution. That’s certainly the case with the Venice Theatre. However, the fundraising part took on a new urgency after the theater missed out on a $6 million federal grant earlier this year.
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT THINS
The Sarasota County Commission essentially snubbed the Venice Theatre in May when it decided how to spend more than $200 million in federal funds to help communities recover from Hurricane Ian and prepare for future storms.
The theater was counting on some of that funding to help rebuild its mainstage Jervey Theatre. The Jervey’s fly tower for storing stage equipment and its back wall were destroyed by Hurricane Ian in September 2022.
To add insult to injury, in June, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis unexpectedly vetoed $32 million in arts grants for fiscal year 2025. The previous year, the state cultural grants program delivered $70,500 to the Venice Theatre.
All told, the cost of rebuilding the 432-seat Jervey Theatre is $25 million, of which $9 million has been raised, including a $1 million donation from Jim and Donna Boldt. That still leaves a $16 million gap.
In the face of such a massive shortfall, Ambush is remarkably upbeat. Clearly, the theater’s trouper men-
tality is deeply ingrained in Ambush, a veteran arts educator and administrator who holds an MFA from the University of California at San Diego and a BA in theater and literature from Brown University.
Commenting on the theater’s ongoing recovery from Hurricane Ian, Ambush says, “Our community has responded beautifully. Many small donors have come through. The need is for a big one.”
LIFE HAD OTHER PLANS
Ambush first came to Venice in 2010 as an adjudicator for WorldFest, an event featuring theater companies from around the globe sponsored by the American Association of Community Theatre hosted by the Venice Theatre.
After serving as a WorldFest adjudicator (theater-speak for judge) again in 2014, Ambush returned to Venice full time in July 2021 as artistic director. He originally thought he would be staying for a year to help the company get back on its feet after Covid.
“They invited me to come down for a year only,” Ambush said in a telephone interview. “They asked me to help them plan the next 25 years and upgrade the acting quality.”
Ambush was recruited by Producing Executive Director Murray Chase to replace Alan Kollar, who died in August 2020. Shortly after Ambush helped the Venice Theatre reopen in 2022, Hurricane Ian struck and destroyed much of the structure that once was the winter home of the Kentucky Military Institute.
“There was no rebar,” Ambush says, referring to steel rods that reinforce concrete structures. “It was just cinder blocks and mortar. It just crumbled. Once it crumbled,
all that rain and wind came inside.
There was a great deal of damage to the roof.”
Ian’s arrival extended Ambush’s run at the Venice Theatre as Chase turned his attention to fundraising and Kristopher Geddie was named executive director in August 2023. Geddie was previously director of diversity at Venice Theatre.
Following the destruction inflicted by Ian, the Venice Theatre was able to transform its arts and education building, which was undergoing renovations, into the Raymond Center, which has 130 seats. It also performs in its existing black-box Pinkerton Theatre, which has 90 seats.
Concerts have been taking place in the Venice Performing Arts Center and the Venice Community Center and will continue to do so until the Jervey is rebuilt, Ambush says.
THE SHOW MUST GO ON
But until that day, the Venice Theatre has 300 fewer tickets to sell to its plays. That creates a deeper financial hole as production costs are spread over fewer seats than before. Still, the show must go on, and it will with great fanfare during the Venice Theatre’s 75th season.
The diamond anniversary season schedule has a total of 15 productions, Ambush says. Besides “The Torch Bearers,” other upcoming revivals from the theater’s long history are “Agnes of God,” “My Fair Lady” and “Alice in Wonderland.”
The 75th season also features Venice Theatre’s traditional annual productions of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” its Pinky’s Players shows for thespians with mental and physical disabilities and its Silver Foxes offerings by senior players.
Venice Theatre has revived its first show, “The Torch Bearers,” to open its 75th anniversary season. IF YOU GO ‘THE TORCH BEARERS’ When: Sept. 20-Oct. 13 Where: Venice Theatre’s Raymond Center, 140 Tampa Ave. W., Venice Tickets: $15-$35 Info: Visit VeniceTheatre.org.
“Our community has responded beautifully. Many small donors have come through. The need is for a big one.”
Benny Sato Ambush, Venice Theatre’s artistic director
Courtesy images
Venice Theatre’s first show, a 1950 production of “The Torch Bearers.”
For those who want something new, the Venice Theatre is producing three musicals, including “9 to 5,” based on the 1980 film about frustrated clerical staffers who want to get back at their boss. The film’s theme was written and recorded by Dolly Parton.
The other musicals are “The Lightning Thief,” about a youth who learns he has supernatural abilities, and “Don’t Touch That Dial,” which uses TV theme songs to encourage audience participation in a trivia contest.
Also making their debut this season are “The Learned Ladies,” a husband-hunting comedy written by the 17th-century French playwright Moliere, and “Syncopation,” which follows a meatpacker’s effort to find a suitable partner to help him launch a career as a ballroom dancer.
WorldFest is on hold until the Jervey is rebuilt, Ambush says, but other programs central to its mission are ongoing. “Our extensive educational and community engagement programs have continued without a hitch,” he adds. “Those programs will grow once we get back to our plan of renovating our arts and education center.”
SPREADING THE WORD
In addition to looking for big donors to help rebuild the Jervey, Ambush and his team have to spend a lot of time educating the public about why they need so much money.
Some patrons and donors have the misconception that insurance covers all the costs of rebuilding after a storm. Also helping drive up costs are inflation and the need for repairs to satisfy modern building codes, Ambush notes.
The Jervey Theatre roof, installed for $225,000 in 2016, costs $861,000 to replace today.
One silver lining is that an architectural and construction team was in place to renovate the arts center when Ian struck. That helped the theater pivot to fashioning the Raymond Center and beginning repairs.
As the hunt for big checks continues, does Ambush have a message for the community on the occasion of the Venice Theatre’s 75th anniversary? Yes, he does.
“We appreciate all the love and support we’ve gotten from our volunteers,” he says. “And we wouldn’t be here after 75 years without our audiences. Thank you!”
Courtesy photo
Hurricane Ian destroyed the Venice Theatre main stage, the 432-seat Jervey Theatre, in September 2022.
THIS WEEK
OUR PICK
APRIL MACIE
April Macie taps into her rough-andtumble upbringing to deliver explicit material, running the gamut from dysfunctional family drama to a history lesson on the first vibrator. Macie makes her way to the McCurdy’s stage fresh from appearances in Las Vegas. Come learn why her latest album is called “Shame.” Runs through Sept. 22.
Come out and sample bites from area restaurants such as Jack Dusty, Mattison’s, Michael’s On East, Rose & Ivy and Selva Grill to support Sarasota Youth Opera, which will perform at 2 p.m. There will also be raffle drawings.
SUNDAY
SEPTEMBER SERENADE
4 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 2050 Oak St. $43-$63 Visit ArtistSeriesConcerts.org.
Sponsored by Artist Series Concerts, “September Serenade” features violist Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt, clarinetist Bharat Chandra and pianist Natalie Nedvetsky playing trios by Mozart, Bruch and Robert Schumann, and an arrangement of Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet” for viola and piano.
BIG NIGHT OUT
8 p.m. at Fogartyville, 525 Kumquat Court $10-$18 Visit WSLR.org.
Celebrate Sunday Funday with Big Night Out, a seven-piece tropicalstyle dance band with a powerful horn section, grooving conga and Joni Adno’s commanding vocals.
MONDAY
‘NIGHT, REFLECTED’
7:30 p.m. First Congregational Church, 1031 S. Euclid Ave. $30 Visit ENSRQ.org.
EnsembleNewSRQ, the contemporary classic ensemble led by George Nickson and Samantha Bennett, returns to the Sarasota Opera House for the first show of its ninth season. The program, “Night, Reflected,” contemplates the cosmos with chamber music works.
TUESDAY
‘SHREK THE MUSICAL’
7:30 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail $45-$95 Visit VanWezel.org.
With music by Jeanine Tesori and book and lyrics by David LindsayAbaire, “Shrek the Musical” invites you to “fall in love all ogre again.” The green monster, who became a sensation in the 2001 DreamWorks Animation film, clearly has “legs,” as they say in the theater world. The unlikely hero gets an assist in his odyssey from a sarcastic donkey and a rebellious princess. Runs through Sept. 25.
DON’T MISS FRIDAY FEST: K-LUV & THE UNITED FUNK FOUNDATION When: 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20 Where: Van Wezel Lawn, 777 N. Tamiami Trail Tickets: Free Info: Visit VanWezel.org.
Say goodbye to summer by partying on the lawn of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall with K-Luv & the United Funk Foundation as Friday Fest returns after its hot-weather hiatus.
Strike up the Stiletto Brass!
Bradenton trumpeter Vince DiMartino joins the all-female band for a Sarasota performance.
MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
When some people see the word “stiletto,” they imagine knives. Trumpeter Amy Gilreath thinks of high-heeled shoes. That’s why she chose the name Stiletto Brass when she and tuba player Velvet Brown formed the all-female quintet back in 2010.
It’s not just a marketing shtick. Members of Stiletto Brass really do enjoy shoe shopping together in the spare time. They also like to kick up their heels, mostly on stage.
Sarasota music fans will get to see Stiletto Brass strut their stuff on Friday, Sept. 27, when they play at Holley Hall under the auspices of The Pops Orchestra.
The Stiletto Brass last performed in Sarasota as the featured guest at the Pops Orchestra’s “Jersey Boys, California Girls” concert in February 2018. When Pops conductor Robyn Bell heard that Stiletto Brass was planning to tour Florida again, “I jumped at the chance for the Pops to host them,” she says.
Adds Bell, “We are thrilled to bring this recital to our Cultural Coast, with the support of Pops board member Amy Schachter, for all to enjoy. Audience members will be amazed at the power, sound and versatility of this brass quintet. They are show-stoppers.”
Talk about a ringing endorsement.
The Stiletto Brass definitely has some big shoes to fill. Make that tall shoes. After all, they do wear red high heels for their performances.
All members of the Stiletto Brass — Gilreath, trumpeter Susan Rider, horn player Stacie Mickens, tuba player Brown and trombonist Natalie Mannix — have “day jobs,” mostly as
music professors. But their colleges — the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana for Gilreath and Penn State for Brown — let them take some time off for professional development, experiences that they pass along to their students when they return to the classroom.
Given the packed schedule of the band’s members, Stiletto Brass sometimes performs with guest players. In Sarasota, Megan Boutin will play trombone while Chicago musician and teacher Bethany Vaughan will serve as the band’s second trumpeter.
For members of Stiletto Brass, it wasn’t always an easy decision to play a brass instrument when they were growing up.
In a telephone interview, Gilreath said, “Velvet Brown, our tuba player, and myself came through the public school system when young ladies didn’t play brass instruments. It’s been kind of a hard road.”
One inspiration was Marie Speziale, the first female trumpet player to play in a major orchestra. Speziale retired from the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in November 1996. Today, Gilreath calls Speziale a “dear friend of mine and Velvet’s.”
For their Sarasota recital, Stiletto Brass will play a program called “Struttin’ with the Stiletto Brass.” It will feature selections in tune with the “struttin’” theme. These include a piece by trumpeter and composer Jens Lindemann about dodging taxi cabs in London called “When a Body Meets a Body,” “Central Park in the Morning” by David Chesky and “Struttin’ with Some BBQ” by composer Kenneth Abeling.
Other selections include an arrangement of George Gershwin’s “Summertime” and Gershwin’s “Someone to Watch Over Me.”
Rounding out the program will be a piece called “Scarpa” (shoe in Italian) that was commissioned for Stiletto Brass.
Adding some masculine energy to the show is the celebrated trumpet player Vince DiMartino, who was once Gilreath’s music teacher and now is a friend and collaborator.
DiMartino and his wife, Patti, moved to the Sarasota area three years ago so Patti could pursue treatment for a rare type of cancer at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa.
They still maintain a house in Kentucky, where DiMartino is the spokesman for Pickett Brass and Blackburn Trumpets in Lexington.
A native of Long Island, DiMartino says he has been playing music for as long as he can remember. “I’ve loved music forever,” he said in a telephone interview. “I played in the marching band, the concert band, the jazz band. I would volunteer to play ‘Taps’ at funerals.”
DiMartino’s list of credits spans the academic, classical and popular
music worlds. He began teaching at the University of Kentucky when he was just 23 and has been an artistfaculty member of the Skidmore Jazz Institute since its inception in 1988.
Classical music fans will be familiar with DiMartino’s work as a soloist with such symphony orchestras as Buffalo, New York, Sante Fe, New Mexico, Orlando, Rochester, New York, and Cincinnati.
Cincinnati was where DiMartino met Speziale. “She is one of the greatest people I know,” he says. “She’s from Tampa. She took me to West Tampa Sandwich Shop for the first time. It’s got the best Cuban anywhere.”
Despite his affiliation with many elite organizations, DiMartino believes in getting involved in music at the local level. Since arriving in Florida three years ago, he’s played at Latin Quarters on Beneva Road and with the Lakewood Ranch Woodwind Ensemble. “The most important thing you can do is play in your community,” DiMartino says.
IF YOU GO ‘STRUTTIN’ WITH THE STILETTO BRASS’ When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27
Where: Holley Hall, 709 N. Tamiami Trail.
Tickets: $35 and up Info: Visit ThePops Orchestra.org.
Don’t just
Stiletto Brass consists of (from left) Susan Rider on trumpet, Stacie Mickens on horn, Velvet Brown on tuba, Natalie Mannix on trombone and Amy Gilreath on trumpet.
Courtesy images Trumpet virtuoso Vince DiMartino
competitive cornhole, a beer garden with local brews, live music, a quarterback toss and multiple screens. Even for guests who didn’t know the difference between a Fiesta Bowl and a Siesta Bowl, event planners made sure every detail was perfect to ensure a true tailgate experience. Event chairs were Renee Phinney and Glen Rieth, Melissa and Scott Perrin and Danny and Fondren Watts.
With 53 chance-drawing donors contributing exciting gift bags, there was a constant stream of guests who had to decide which bag to place their ticket in for the best shot at winning. Guests donned T-shirts emblazoned with their favorite team names. An informal count declares the University of Florida the winner with the biggest fan base, while FSU and USF vied for second place. Also spotted: Florida Atlantic, University of Miami and College of the Holy Cross. — JANET COMBS
Suzanne Meister volunteers with her friend, Cynthia Sweeney, operations manager at Girls Inc.
Photos by Janet Combs Greg and Daria Ferreira
Kay Mathers, Gilda Dennis, Jen Maglio, Scott Dennis and Altom Maglio
YOUR NEIGHBORS
Building a passion project
Suncoast Builders Association builds playhouses for children with cancer.
LIZ RAMOS SENIOR EDITOR
Wearing a pink hard hat, Dianne Beaton of the Suncoast Builders Association’s Professional Women Builders Council gave instructions as workers put roof panels on a playhouse.
“Someone’s put together IKEA furniture before,” one of the workers joked, making the others laugh. Approximately 15 feet away, the association’s Young Professionals Committee already had completed the construction of a playhouse’s exterior frame and had moved to the interior, installing a sink and stove.
While those professionals usually are working on a grander scale, this project was every bit as important.
The work benefited the nonprofit Roc Solid Foundation, based out of Virginia, with a mission to “build hope for every child and family fighting cancer,” according to its website.
The playhouses the Suncoast Builders Association committees were creating during its Hearts & Hammers event Sept. 11 were for a 5-year-old girl and 3-year-old boy who live in the Tampa Bay area and have cancer.
“Your home is your special place, and it’s a safe place,” said Debbie Urban, the vice president of the Suncoast Builders Association. “Now these children are going to have their own home, their own special and safe place.”
Jessica Seper, director of membership, councils and committees for the association, said Roc Solid Foundation has been “amazing to work with” and she wants to become more involved with the nonprofit.
Seper said the playhouses were a way for members to give back to the community.
“We, as builders and developers, don’t always have the most glorious reputation, so this is our opportunity to give back to the community and show we’re more than just about building houses and creating developments,” Seper said. “We are about our local families. We want to offer support any way we can.”
The playhouses were decorated specifically for each child and delivered to the families Sept. 12.
The playhouse for the 5-year-old girl was covered with glitter and twinkly lights. Her favorite color is purple, so the sign stating “Dream Playhouse” was purple.
Inside the house, members of the
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATIONS
ROC SOLID FOUNDATION
A nonprofit helping children and families fighting pediatric cancer. Based out of Virginia, the nonprofit partners with other organizations to build playhouses, play sets and prepare ready bags for families to be prepared when they have to go to the hospital.
SUNCOAST BUILDERS
ASSOCIATION
The association consists of people in the building, construction, development and associated industries in the region. They work together to build and improve the community.
Professional Women Builders Council wrote encouraging messages. For example, Reaunetta Hatcher wrote “Girl Power.”
The 3-year-old boy’s playhouse had characters from Super Mario Brothers on the outside and Paw Patrol characters on the inside.
The association learned the children love coloring and crafts, so the association bought coloring books and arts and crafts items to put into the playhouses.
Besides providing a special playhouse, Hearts & Hammers also serves as a networking opportunity for the association’s members as well as a friendly competition to see which committee could build the playhouse the fastest. The winner would have bragging rights.
“It’s all friendly,” said Kim Boynton, the chair of the Young Professionals Committee and a Suncoast Builders Association board member.
“It’s interesting to see them come up with the same design in different ways. Two plus two equals four, but so does one plus three. It just depends on their technique versus our technique. We’re all winners in the end anyway.”
Seeing the committees come together for a good cause was heartwarming for Boynton.
“As a young child, I was that child who was receiving from the community. My parents didn’t have money,” Boynton said. “Being able to now be successful enough to be on the giving end makes make happy, knowing I’m continuing to pay it forward.”
After a successful first year partnering with Roc Solid Foundation, Seper said this is just the beginning.
Photos by Liz Ramos
Members of the Suncoast Builders Association’s Professional Women in Building Council complete a playhouse for a 5-year-old girl who has cancer.
Trent Seeland and Janet Ladwig, members of the Young Professionals Committee, work together on a playhouse.
Members of the Suncoast Builders Association’s Young Professionals Committee complete a playhouse for a 3-year-old boy who has cancer.
Kim Boynton, chair of the Young Professionals Committee, says she believes wholeheartedly in giving back to the community.
Health & Wellness Program. BABY
YOUR CALENDAR
COMMUNITY
THURSDAY, SEPT. 19
ORIGINS OF SARASOTA Begins at 2:30 p.m. at Braden River Library, 4915 53rd Ave. E., Bradenton. Join the staff of the Sarasota County History Center for a close look at the history of Sarasota in all its forms. The story stretches back to the Spanish colonial era and ties in with exciting developments of Florida’s past, The program features maps, photos and archival records from the History Center’s collections. The event is for adults 18 and older. For more information, go to ManateeLibrary.LibCal.com/ Event/12734874
FRIDAY, SEPT. 20 THROUGH
SUNDAY, SEPT. 22
LIVE MUSIC AT JIGGS LANDING
Runs from 4:30-7:30 p.m. each day at Jiggs Landing, 6106 63rd St. E., Bradenton. The live music lineup at Jiggs Landing includes Zooey (Friday), Zooey (Saturday) and Al Fuller (Sunday). All the concerts are free. For more information, go to JiggsLanding.com.
BEST BET
FRIDAY, SEPT. 20 AND
SATURDAY, SEPT. 21
MUSIC AT THE PLAZA
Runs 6-9 p.m. at Waterside Place, 1560 Lakefront Drive, Lakewood Ranch. Singer/songwriter Danielle Mohr will entertain those strolling through Waterside Place on Friday night while acoustic rock/pop entertainer Frankie Lombardi performs on Saturday. For more information, go to WatersidePlace.com.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 21
ROOFTOP YOGA
Begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Lakewood Ranch Library, 16410 Rangeland Parkway, Lakewood Ranch. The donation-based group class is designed to inspire and invigorate anyone from a beginner to a seasoned veteran. The instructor-led class for adults 18 and older focuses on balancing effort and ease through breath work and postures. Please bring a yoga mat. For more information, go to ManateeLibrary.LibCal. com/Event/12958463.
SUNDAY, SEPT. 22
FARMERS MARKET
Runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Lakefront Drive in Waterside Place, Lakewood Ranch. The Farmers Market at Lakewood Ranch, voted as the top farmers market in Florida for the second year in a row, will run yearround every Sunday. Vendors will be offering seafood, eggs, meats, dairy products, pastas, bakery goods, jams and pickles, among other items. Other features are children’s activities and live music. For more information, visit MyLWR.com.
YOGA IN THE PARK Runs 9-10 a.m. at Waterside Park, 7301 Island Cove Terrace, Sarasota. Start the morning off with gentle yoga with lake views. For more information, go to LakewoodRanch.com.
TUESDAY, SEPT. 24
ART AUCTION
Begins at 6:30 p.m. at Amira Choice Sarasota, 4100 University Parkway. The public is invited to an art auction fundraiser to support the Alzheimer’s Association. The event celebrates the talents of Amira Choice residents, including beautifully curated gift baskets and other items. There will be live music and drinks. Those attending are asked to wear dressy attire. For more information, call 259-8971.
File photo
Singer/songwriter Danielle Mohr returns to Waterside Place Sept. 20.
Toes in the sand
Some find volleyball more challenging in the sand than on a gym floor.
“Same rules, but it’s a completely different sport,” Bradenton resident Logan Finneran said. “I put all my might into a jump and get an inch off the ground.”
Finneran moved from Illinois to Bradenton four months ago with her friend, Elise Monroe. Both women played indoor volleyball in college.
On Sept. 11, they were learning how to maneuver through the sand at Waterside Place.
Harmony resident Dan Elmaleh helps organize Sunset Volleyball every Wednesday at Waterside from 6-7 p.m. for MVP Sports.
About 50 people showed up to play pickup, which Elmaleh said was a small crowd. On a busy night, well over 100 play and two grass courts are set up in the adjacent field.
The courts at Waterside will be refreshed just in time for the MVP Sports fall volleyball league that starts on Sept. 19. The nets are being replaced, the lines are being fixed and the sand is being smoothed.
— LESLEY DWYER
Gulfside Bank’s new location off Fruitville Road, east of I-75 is NOW OPEN!
It’s hard to believe that just five short years ago, Gulfside Bank opened its doors to Sarasota’s business community for the first time. We’ve been growing to meet the financial needs of a vibrant, thriving community ever since.
Today, Gulfside can do anything the big banks can do, only faster, with local decision making and a true personal touch you won’t find anywhere else. And we’re just getting started. Come grow with Gulfside.
Sarasota residents Ashley Migliore and Blake Austin are heading home after playing a set.
New Bradenton residents Logan Finneran and Elise Monroe are getting used to playing volleyball in the sand. Both played indoor collegiate volleyball.
Jules waits patiently for her owner, Giovanni Salvador, to finish playing.
Harmony resident Dan Elmaleh helps organize the volleyball events for MVP Sports.
Photos by Lesley Dwyer
MVP Sports organizes Sunset Volleyball at Waterside Park every Wednesday night.
This world is their oyster
Damon Moore, executive director of Oyster River Ecology Inc., held up an oyster rag pot with dozens of oysters attached to it.
He told Braden River Elementary School students that the rag pots and oysters will help clear water pollution.
Moore said 500 oyster rag pots students made on Sept. 12 will result in 1.25 million gallons of water being filtered each day.
“That seems like the whole ocean,” said Lucy Wells, a third grader.
The oyster rag pot project was one activity during Everglades Week, in which students learned about various habitats, animals, plants and more that can be found in the Everglades.
Moore said within a week or two, he would cover the students’ pots in cement, and once dried, they would be placed at the bottom of a river so oysters could attach to them and begin filtering the water.
— LIZ RAMOS
Third grader Mason Stephan shows off the oyster rag pot he created. Braden River Elementary School is creating 500 oyster rag pots, which will help filtrate up to 1.25 million gallons of water daily.
Photos by Liz Ramos
Kindergartners Azavier Williams and Marvin Hendon work together to make their oyster rag pot.
SPONSORED CONTENT
I can care for myself and get involved in my community again, thanks to Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.”
Patricia Shaw Surgical Patient
PATIENT IS BACK TO ACTIVE LIFESTYLE AFTER SURGERY
Patricia Shaw, 78, recently ended her years-long struggle with pain and infection when she became a Lakewood Ranch Medical Center patient.
More than 20 years ago, Shaw had a hernia mesh placed under her navel during a surgical procedure at another hospital. She never would have guessed it would lead to a string of complications and surgeries that would go on for two decades.
In March of 2022, Shaw was treated for an infection after the mesh broke apart. When her condition did not improve, she underwent hernia mesh removal surgery at another hospital.
The day following surgery, She went into septic shock. “I heard them say, ‘we’re losing her,’” she recounts. “The next thing I remember was that I woke up with an ileostomy bag and part of my intestines removed.
I was in that hospital for the next month and then had to go through rehabilitation because I couldn’t even walk.” Fortunately, after two more surgeries and experiencing serious complications, she was referred to Lakewood Ranch Medical Group general surgeon, David Dexter, MD. Following testing, he performed a very complex surgery at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center in April 2024. The surgery was successful, and Shaw had no complications.
BACK TO LIVING
Shaw credits the entire team with providing great care. “The nurses were always there and helped me deal with the pain in the first few days post-op. ”I used a walker within 24 hours under their supervision and was able to go home. I had physical therapy and nursing services for one month so I could be monitored between my monthly check-ins with Dr. Dexter,” Shaw explains.
“I had so much confidence in Dr. Dexter, and I respect his surgical skills. He explained everything and made sure I was knowledgeable about my experience,” she says.
Now, after a few months of healing, Shaw has returned to walking, swimming and enjoying the Florida sun. “I’m a pool person,” she laughs.
Third graders Ryan Burchett, Addison Delazzer and Eliana Gabriel show the progress of an oyster rag pot. It starts as a spike with a wooden square covered by a white rag. Then it is covered in cement and placed at the bottom of a river. Oysters attach to the pot and begin filtering water.
Damon Moore, executive director of Oyster River Ecology Inc., shows what the students’ oyster rag pots will look like after a year as they become covered in oysters.
grader Ethan Boardman admires an oyster rag pot. It took about
for the pot to look this way.
Country Club home tops local sales at $3.7 million
ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR
Ahome in Country Club topped all transactions in this week’s real estate. Three Crowns LLC sold the home at 12523 Highfield Circle to Arsh Singh and Rishita Solanki-Singh, of Lakewood Ranch, for $3.7 million. Built in 2007, it has three bedrooms, fiveand-a-half baths, a pool and 6,111 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.6 million in 2022.
LAKE CLUB
Murat Calkap and Zayda Sanchez Perez, of Demarest, New Jersey, sold their home at 7944 Matera Court to Lisa Kalo, trustee, of Lakewood Ranch, for $2.3 million. Built in 2023, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 3,180 square feet of living area.
SD TLC Holdings LLC sold the home at 8343 Pavia Way to Stephen John Fearn and Jayne Elizabeth Fearn, of Privett, United Kingdom, for $1,828,400. Built in 2023, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,638 square feet of living area.
WATERFRONT AT MAIN STREET
Arthur Mann and Susan Collier Mann sold their Unit 3-503 condominium at 10510 Boardwalk Loop to Adrian and Marjorie Teel, of Bradenton, for $1.2 million. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 2,241 square feet of living area. It sold for $859,000 in 2019.
LAKEWOOD NATIONAL
David and Filomena Freed, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 6016 Nicklaus Cove to William Carey, of Bradenton, for $1,185,000. Built in 2020, it has four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,359 square feet of living area. It sold for $611,000 in 2020.
MALLORY PARK
Neville and Jamie Hayes, of Charlotte, North Carolina, sold their home at 3406 Anchor Bay Trail to Robert David Kralowetz Jr. and Donna Hildebrand Kralowetz, of Bradenton, for $945,000. Built in 2019, it has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 3,199 square feet of living area. It sold for $575,000 in 2019.
COUNTRY MEADOWS
Steven Hosdale, of Vero Beach, sold the home at 424 Country Meadows Way to Donald Joseph Newman and Rebecca Lynn Newman, of Bradenton, for $825,000. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,436 square feet of living area. It sold for $535,000 in 2020.
POLO RUN
Frederick Daniel Roth III, of Canoga Park, California, sold his home at 17833 Polo Trail to Stephen McLaughlin and Debora De Oliveira McLaughlin, of Bradenton, for $775,000. Built in 2020, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,455 square feet of living area. It sold for $473,900 in 2020.
DEL WEBB
Patricia Marchini and James Louis Marchini, of Sarasota, sold their home at 6948 Gosport Cove to Christine Hale Christian, trustee, of Bradenton, for $765,000. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and is 2,000 square feet. It sold for $442,600 in 2017.
Charles and Regina Murphy, of Sarasota, sold their home at 17207 Seaford Way to Charles Langlois and Cathy Langlois, trustees, of Bradenton, for $759,900. Built in 2016, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,685 square feet. It sold for $611,200 in 2023.
HERITAGE HARBOUR
William and Garth Morrison, trustee, of New Braunfels, Texas, sold the home at 8715 River Preserve Drive to John and Iwona Serowik, of Brooklyn, New York, for $762,400. Built in 2009, it has four bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,381 square feet of living area. It sold for $775,000 in 2023.
Michael Warren Rushing and Oralia Rushing, of Parrish, sold their home at 6470 Willowshire Way to Mark and Dana Norkum, of Ontario, Canada, for $630,000. Built in 2015, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,297 square feet of living area. It sold for $408,200 in 2015.
CENTRAL PARK
Cynthia Griffiths-Novak and Stephen Ellis Novak, of Sarasota, sold their home at 12022 Forest Park Circle to Sara Diane Hawke, of St. Charles, Illinois, for $730,000. Built in 2014, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,836 square feet of living area. It sold for $444,700 in 2014.
Boston Glen LLC sold the home at 5003 Boston Common Glen to Joseph and Maramileysi Bentz and Ronald Bentz, of Bradenton, for $410,000. Built in 2013, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,495 square feet of living area. It sold for $267,000 in 2016.
Ursula Szekely, of Lakewood Ranch, sold her home at 4915 Newport News Circle to Vasiliy Maksimchuk, of North Port, for $317,000. Built in 2012, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,005 square feet of living area. It sold for $216,000 in 2017.
GREYHAWK LANDING WEST
Richard Gran, of Bradenton, sold his home at 12214 Goldenrod Ave. to Daniel Arzaga, of Bradenton, for $720,000. Built in 2021, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,203 square feet of living area. It sold for $542,900 in 2021.
COACH HOMES AT LAKEWOOD
NATIONAL
Larry and Debra Weigel, trustees, sold the Unit 6321 condominium at 6055 Worsham Lane to Kenneth Boyle Jr. and Mary Patricia Boyle, of Lewis Center, Ohio, for $700,000. Built in 2021, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,108 square feet of living area. It sold for $420,000 in 2021.
HARMONY
Mitchell Stanley Lagowski III and Janet Marie Lagowski, of Parrish, sold their home at 11438 Spring Gate Trail to Craig and Christine Gossman, of Bradenton, for $655,000. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,958 square feet of living area. It sold for $413,100 in 2017.
Linda Karacoloff, trustee, of Slingerlands, New York, sold the home at 5236 Bentgrass Way to Carlisle Emma Chiodo and Fernando Saenz de Villar, of Bradenton, for $485,000. Built in 2016, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,550 square feet of living area. It sold for $310,000 in 2019.
GREENBROOK
John Davis and Lois Bonner, of Richmond, Virginia, sold their home at 6333 Royal Tern Circle to Shaydon and Leah Santos, of Bradenton, for $640,000. Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,664 square feet of living area. It sold for $383,000 in 2014.
Eric and Jennifer Blake, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 6619 Pirate Perch Trail to Philip Datz and Pamela Rzonca, of Lakewood Ranch, for $629,500. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and is 2,592 square feet. It sold for $420,000 in 2017.
Edward Spencer sold his home at 6379 Golden Eye Glen to Christopher Constantinou and Teresa Tripodi, of Lakewood Ranch, for $460,000. Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,034 square feet of living area. It sold for $340,000 in 2021.
RIVERSIDE PRESERVE
Angela and Daryle Stewart, of Fountain Inn, South Carolina, sold their home at 926 Fernleaf Run to Michael Newsum and Paige Augustine, of Bradenton, for $595,000. Built in 2022, it has four bedrooms, three baths and is 2,811 square feet. It sold for $507,300 in 2022.
RIVERWALK VILLAGE CYPRESS
BANKS
7123 Bluebell CT LLC sold the home at 7123 Bluebell Court to Lisa Longo, of Lakewood, for $589,000. Built in 2001, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,093 square feet of living area. It sold for $356,000 in February.
PALM AIRE OF SARASOTA
Brit Passin and Harvey Van Duyne, of Sayville, New York, Diane Van Duyne, of Middletown, New Jer-
sey, and Emma Brit Moriarty, of Shrewsbury, New Jersey, sold their home at 6944 Country Lakes Circle to Michelle and Simon Collins, of Sarasota, for $585,000. Built in 1986, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and is 2,156 square feet. It sold for $372,500 in 2004.
GREYHAWK LANDING
Mahalia Laramie sold her home at 12291 Lavender Loop to Rachele Lesser, of Bradenton, for $515,000. Built in 2008, it has four bedrooms, three baths and is 1,844 square feet.
SPORTS
Fast Break
The Lakewood Ranch High girls golf team shot 3-under par (141) to win a Sept. 10 match against Venice High and Saint Stephen’s Episcopal held at Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club. Junior Emily Storm took medalist honors by shooting 6-under par (30). Freshman Willda Kuang (34) and sophomore Phoenix Scanlan (36) finished second and third.
Former Lakewood Ranch High girls cross-country runner Sydney Granack, a senior at the University of South Florida, finished 99th (18:18.14) out of 450 runners at the Southern Showcase meet held Sept. 13 in Huntsville, Alabama. Granack’s time helped USF finish 15th out of 49 teams.
… The NBP Paddling dragon boat organization competed at the IDBF Club Crew World Championships in Ravenna, Italy, held Sept. 3-9. Among other results, NBP won the 200-meter Breast Cancer Paddlers open race (57.24) and the 500 All Cancer Paddlers open race (2:38.90). The club also finished fourth in the 200 Senior B Mixed division (57.31), fifth in the 2,000 Senior B Women division (9:22.65), fifth in the 500 Senior B Mixed division (2:22.63), fifth in the 500 Senior B Women division (2:15.42), and fifth in the 200 Senior B Women division (54.36) among other results.
… The Out-of-Door Academy girls golf team shot 28-over par (172) to win a Sept. 10 match against Cardinal Mooney High (190) and Sarasota High (214) held at Serenoa Golf Club in Sarasota. ODA freshman Brooklyn Cullen shot 3-under par (33) to win medalist honors.
Mark Cappiello sank a hole-in-one Sept. 14 on the No. 11 hole at Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club’s King’s Dunes course. Cappiello used an 8-iron on the 169-yard hole.
“Sometimes you can get caught up in your own head. You can freak out and make a situation worse.”
Mustangs run with senior advantage
The experienced Mustangs could make the state meet for the first time since 2016.
RYAN KOHN SPORTS EDITOR
The Lakewood Ranch High boys cross-country runners know how to run a race.
It is about more than speed, senior Vayle Johnson said. It is about pace and mental strength, along with physical strength, especially when it comes to elbowing other runners out of the way at the starting line.
These are all things Johnson and the other senior Mustangs have learned during their first three seasons in the program.
Of course, speed ultimately matters, Johnson said. The Mustangs have plenty of that, too.
As of Sept. 12, the team has won two meets in a row: First the Mustangs hosted the Lakewood Ranch XC Invitational on Aug. 31, then the Green Devil Invitational at St. Petersburg High on Sept. 7. At both races, the Mustangs were led individually by senior Derek Robinson, who finished third (17:12.3) and second (16:21.5) respectfully.
Head coach Bill Zarrella said the team’s other top runners — seniors Jonathan Leatt, Vayle Johnson, Dylan Johnson and Vicente Rivera — jockey for position behind Robinson, which Zarrella likes. It creates a competitive atmosphere, he said.
At the Lakewood Ranch meet, it was Leatt who finished second among Mustangs and ninth overall (17:52.0).
At the Green Devil meet, it was Vayle Johnson, who finished sixth overall (17:12.1).
The Lakewood Ranch-hosted meet was the first cross-country meet the school had hosted in close to 20 years, Zarrella said. It saw 24 teams participate in the boys division and 25 participate in the girls
division. Now that the program has the groundwork laid, Zarrella said, he would like to make it a yearly occurrence.
Zarrella said it was nice to see his team defend home turf in the meet. Having a top group of senior runners means they know what is at stake this season. For the Mustangs, at stake is the program’s first Florida High School Athletic Association state meet appearance since 2016. Last season, Lakewood Ranch reached the regional stage but finished 14th; only the top eight teams move on to the state meet at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee.
The Mustangs said things will be different this year. Lakewood Ranch currently projects to be the No. 7 team in its region based on regularseason times, and its seniors believe they can go even faster. One reason? The competition the Mustangs have faced at recent meets has been mediocre. Once they start running with other state-contending teams, they said, they will push themselves to keep the pace.
The meat of the cross-country schedule begins Sept. 20 with the North Port Invitational hosted by North Port High. The meet is a favorite of many cross-country runners thanks to its flat and largely concrete course, which leads to fast times. The Mustangs are no exceptions.
“That is when we’ll see what we can actually do,” Dylan Johnson said. “We’ll see better schools and better times.”
The Mustangs are giv ing it their best shot. Multiple times a week, the runners complete dis tance runs of six miles to stay at their best. The seniors push each other dur ing these prac tices, which vary in location, but they also remember to have fun.
Robinson acts as a DJ, carrying a portable speaker that blasts music for the rest of the group. The music content varies based on mood, Robinson said. Sometimes it’s out-andout pop music, like Lady
ON THE GIRLS’ SIDE
The Lakewood Ranch High girls team has found early season success. The Mustangs won the Green Devil Invitational on Sept. 7 in St. Petersburg with an average time of 22:33. Lakewood Ranch was led by senior Kyleigh Halloran, who finished second (06:45.8). Sophomore Julia Mulligan (21:51.8) and senior Addison Shea (22:07.7) finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Gaga and Katy Perry. Other times, it will be country music, like Morgan Wallen and Zach Bryan. On more rare occasions, the group will run to hip-hop, too.
Zarrella said he believes in his team’s ability to break through to the state meet after years of building speed and endurance.
“We have a solid top five, and that’s what you need to advance,” Zarrella said. “They all want to be the captain. They all ask me about it. I have to say ‘I am (the captain).’
But it’s because they are competitive, which is good. And overall, we probably have 11 or 12 guys competing for 10 postseason spots.”
— ODA’s Carson Fisher SEE PAGE 28
Courtesy image
Lakewood Ranch High junior girls
golfer Emily Storm took medalist honors in the program’s win against Venice High and Saint Stephen’s Episcopal.
The Lakewood Ranch High boys cross-country team is aiming for its first state meet appearance since 2016. Back row: Derek Robinson, Jonathan Leatt, Joe Barr, Dylan Johnson, Colton Prater, Kenny DeStefano and Vayle Johnson. Front row: Michael Wagner, Vicente Rivera, Zachariah Kersey, Jacob Gomez and Jacob Smith.
Photos by Ryan Kohn
Lakewood Ranch High senior boys crosscountry runner Derek Robinson finished third (17:12.3) and second (16:21.5) at the Lakewood Ranch XC Invitational on Aug. 31 and at the Green Devil Invitational at St. Petersburg High on Sept. 7.
An East County football checkup
It might be hard to believe, but the high school football season is nearing the halfway point.
By now, area teams have played four games and are preparing for a fifth. At this point of the season, programs know what they are. They know their strengths and weaknesses, and the rest of the season will be about using that knowledge to improve.
Here’s a look at all four area teams and how they stand:
LAKEWOOD RANCH HIGH (3-1)
In 2023, there were signs of improvement in the Mustangs under first-year head coach Scott Paravicini, despite the team finishing 4-7. The running game was better — particularly with then-sophomore Liam Fernandez, a speedster, at quarterback — and the defense was tougher and more aggressive.
Both of those things have continued to be strengths of the team in 2024, and they have now gone to another level, as shown in the team’s record.
The Mustangs have established a two-headed backfield of senior Cullen McRae and junior Colton Dempsey, a transfer from Bradenton Christian. Both backs are averaging more than 7.2 yards per carry.
Against Southeast High on Sept. 14, it was Dempsey who carried the load after McRae left the game in the second quarter with an ankle injury. Dempsey finished with 111 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries in the team’s 28-22 road win. Fernandez has also proved his running ability under center as he had a 49-yard touchdown run against Southeast.
On defense, the Mustangs have allowed just 16 points per game. Against Southeast, Lakewood Ranch held Seminoles sophomore quarterback Louisen Desinor to just 10 of 24 passing.
The Mustangs’ biggest question is one of competition. The team
has improved, but by how much? Lakewood Ranch has proven it can beat lesser opponents, but it has yet to play a serious playoff contender.
The Mustangs have a bye week Sept. 20, but upcoming games against Lennard High (4-0) on Sept. 27 at home, and against Palmetto High (4-0) on Oct. 11 on the road, will show just how far Lakewood Ranch has come, and how far the Mustangs still have to go.
THE OUT-OF-DOOR ACADEMY (4-0)
The Thunder simply keep doing what they do well.
It’s a formula head coach Rob Hollway has implemented since taking over the program before the 2022 season — be physical, be aggressive and have fun.
Despite returning only one starting offensive lineman from last year’s team (senior Marvin Palominos), the Thunder have continued to maul opponents, letting star running back Allen Clark shine, sometimes to a record-setting degree.
Clark set a single-game program mark with 263 rushing yards in a 52-7 win over Central Florida Christian Academy (0-2) on Aug. 30. Clark is averaging 173 yards rushing per game.
The ODA defense also stayed true to its turnover-producing ways. Against rival Saint Stephen’s Episcopal (0-4) on Sept. 6, senior defensive back Carson Fisher returned an interception for a touchdown to seal a 12-2 win.
A favorable schedule means the Thunder should be the favorite in all of its remaining regular-season games except, perhaps, a road contest against Seffner Christian (4-0) on Oct. 18, a game which could be telling for both teams. Regardless of that game’s outcome, ODA is well-positioned to get back to the postseason and defend its 2023 Sunshine State Athletic Association Class 4A state title.
PARRISH COMMUNITY HIGH (3-1)
The Bulls dropped a hard-fought 21-14 home game against Palmetto High (4-0) on Sept. 13 after leading 14-7 at halftime.
That will not sit well with head coach Dylan Clark, an old-school leader who expects his team to always have its competitive juices at the maximum level and to finish games. In time, the game might serve as a lesson. The 2024 version of the Bulls, who in 2023 finished 7-4 and reached the postseason for the first time, has less varsity experience than last year’s team, but has represented itself well in the early part of the schedule. If it can use the Palmetto loss as a chance to improve, the Bulls can stay on track for another postseason run.
The Lakewood Ranch-born Jackson Volz was under center for the Bulls last year, but has since graduated. Under center now is his brother, Brycen Volz, a junior, who has completed 30 of 48 passes for 408 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Like Lakewood Ranch and ODA, Parrish prefers to get things done on the ground and with its defense. Junior running back Keyon Maxwell has five touchdowns while senior running back Jermaine Edwards has three.
On defense, seniors Ashton Springfield (9.0 tackles for loss) and Gage Cameron (8.5 tackles for loss) live in opposing backfields, often ending drives before they can get going. Senior defensive back Bryson Bender also has two punt return touchdowns and is a threat whenever he gets the ball in his hands.
Though Parrish will want a redo of the Palmetto game, holding the Tigers’ high-flying offense to 21 points is a respectable feat and bodes well for the rest of the season as the Bulls continue to grow. Parrish will next play Braden River High (1-3) on the road at 7 p.m. Sept. 20.
BRADEN RIVER HIGH (1-3)
The first win of the Jason Grain era at Braden River came Sept. 13 against Bayshore High (0-4).
After three weeks of disappointment, the Pirates put together a commanding effort on both sides of the ball, blanking the Bruins 35-0 at home.
After being under constant pressure in the team’s first three games, senior quarterback Lucas Despot was finally given time to work in the pocket and he responded, throwing a 38-yard touchdown pass to senior wideout Jaron Fields and running for scores of 33 yards and five yards.
Junior running back Julian Brown also had two touchdown runs, of 12 yards and one yard. On defense, the Pirates never were threatened by the Bruins’ offense.
The team celebrated by giving Grain the traditional Gatorade bath, then jumping in a group all around him. It has been a difficult start to the season for the Pirates, who on
Sept. 6, saw their eight-game winning streak against rival Lakewood Ranch snapped in a 41-3 loss. Grain has repeatedly said that the team’s goal is to get better every day as inexperienced players learn how to handle varsity football. It appears as though the Pirates accomplished that goal in the lead-up to the Bayshore game. How much that continues will determine the direction of the rest of the Pirates’ season. Braden River’s next test is hosting Parrish on Sept. 20.
Ryan Kohn is the sports editor for the East County Observer. Contact him at RKohn@ YourObserver.com.
Ryan Kohn
Lakewood Ranch seniors Jamarrion Roden (19) and Cullen McRae II (2) celebrate after McRae’s second touchdown of the game against Braden River.
SWIMMING LESSONS
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Carson Fisher
Carson Fisher is a senior defensive back on The Out-of Door Academy football team. Fisher had an interception return for a touchdown Sept. 6 in the Thunder’s 12-2 road win over rival Saint Stephen’s Episcopal. The Thunder is 4-0 and will play Sarasota Christian School (3-2) at home at 7 p.m. Sept. 20.
When did you start playing football?
I started when I was in third grade. I played flag football with some friends, and I liked it a lot. I started playing tackle football in sixth grade.
What is the appeal to you?
I like the camaraderie and playing with my friends. I also like the physicality of it. That may sound weird, but it’s true.
What is your best skill?
Either my catching ability or my zone coverage. Both of those are things I have practiced a lot and are important to my position.
What have you been working to improve?
I have been in the weight room a lot trying to get bigger, faster and stronger.
What is your favorite memory?
If you would like to make a recommendation for the East County Observer’s Athlete of the Week feature, send it to Ryan Kohn at RKohn@ YourObserver.com.
What is your favorite school subject? English. I especially like the writing parts of class.
What are your hobbies? I play other sports like soccer, and lately, I have been playing pickleball with friends.
What is your favorite TV show? I have to say ‘Breaking Bad.’
What is the best advice you have received?
Stay calm and play your game. Sometimes you can get too caught up in your own head. You can freak out and make a situation worse. Just stay calm.
Finish this sentence: “Carson Fisher is … ” … Dedicated. Sports-wise, schoolwise, I’m dedicated to everything that I start.
Last year, I played at Bradenton Christian School. We played Saint Stephen’s Episcopal for our home coming game, and we beat them (14-7). That was a cool moment, since Saint Ste phen’s was our big rival.
What is working for this year’s ODA team?
We have a lot of good players and we work well together. It’s a strong overall team. When I got here (from Bradenton Christian), all my teammates and coaches were supportive. Especially on defense, we knew we could be good (right away).
What is your favorite food? Ramen. I’ll get it wherever I can.
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